Shows
The SydcastThe Incredible Rob Kapilow: The Polyglot Pied Piper of MusicEpisode SummaryIn this final episode of Season 4, I bring you Rob Kapilow. A musical savant, innovator, and global presence, listening to Rob is like taking a master class in music, and in life. From Duke Ellington to Joseph Campbell, from Beethoven to the Beatles, and from Yale to Paris to Native American reservations, Rob Kapilow will take you on the classic Sydcast journey of discovery, creativity, and learning. Sydney Finkelstein Sydney Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. Professor F...
2023-01-021h 06
The SydcastBen Koldyke: From Football Coach to "How I Met Your Mother"Episode SummaryHow does it happen that an English teacher and sports coach becomes a renowned actor? Ben Koldyke – who played Don Frank on How I Met Your Mother and many other roles – tells us, along with cameo insights about Aaron Sorkin, Second City, and Dartmouth College.Sydney Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. He holds a Master’s degree from the London School of Economics and a Ph.D. from Columbia University. Professor Finkelstein has published 25 books and 90 articles, includin...
2022-12-2650 min
The SydcastMike Morin: A Life in RadioEpisode SummaryWhat is it like being on the radio? In New Hampshire, that means interviewing would-be Presidents, but for Mike Morin it also means being curious, open-minded, and occasionally even pulling crazy stunts that upset half of his listeners. A life in radio in the “Live Free or Die” state.Sydney Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. He holds a Master’s degree from the London School of Economics and a Ph.D. from Columbia University. Professo...
2022-12-1959 min
The SydcastLaurie Wallmark: STEM Books for KidsEpisode SummaryLaurie Wallmark is a pioneer – one of the first women at Princeton, a software engineer, a computer science professor, an entrepreneur who created an online bookstore before Amazon ever did, and now, an award-winning writer of picture book biographies of women in STEM, for kids. Passionate about science, writing, teaching, and learning, Laurie shares her story, on this episode of The Sydcast.Sydney Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. He holds a Master’s degree from t...
2022-12-121h 00
The SydcastAlejandro Juarez Crawford: Democratizing EntrepreneurshipEpisode SummaryHow do we make it easier for people around the world to learn and get the tools to innovate and become entrepreneurs? In this episode, founder Alejandro Juárez Crawford shares his answer: RebelBase, a company that is helping people understand problems and launch experiments that can become solutions. Erudite and articulate, Alejandro is that unique leader who can share his philosophy about innovation and purpose while grounded in the everyday reality of what works and what doesn’t.Sydney Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Ma...
2022-12-051h 06
The SydcastHannah Kearney: Olympic Gold MedalistEpisode SummaryHannah Kearney is an Olympic Gold Medal Winner in freestyle skiing. She’s won 46 World Cup races. And now she’s retired, and ready to reflect on what it’s like to be the best in the world and how you come down from that high to live a productive, and energizing, life.Sydney Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. He holds a Master’s degree from the London School of Economics and a Ph.D. from Columbia University...
2022-11-281h 01
The SydcastNot Lost in Translation, with Wendy PeaseEpisode SummaryHow’s life growing up in a neighborhood where no one looks like you? In this episode, I talk to a former student, Wendy Pease, who grew up overseas and learned to adapt to life where she was the one who stood out. Now, many years later, perhaps unsurprisingly, she runs a business focused on managing cultural and language barriers. From melting pots to immigration, on this episode of The Sydcast a deep dive into an entrepreneurial life set in motion long ago. Sydney Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Profe...
2022-11-2157 min
The SydcastBad Blood: Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos, with author John CarreyrouEpisode SummaryJohn Carreyrou literally wrote the book on Theranos – the bestseller “Bad Blood,” which built on his earlier writing at the WSJ that broke the story. With Elizabeth Holmes scheduled to be sentenced this week, I sat down with John to get the inside scoop on how he uncovered the Theranos fraud, his take on Holmes, what went wrong and why, and what her sentence is likely to be.Sydney Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. He holds a Master’s...
2022-11-1449 min
The SydcastSnap, with CMO Kenny MitchellEpisode SummaryWhat’s it like to work at the top levels of marketing in major companies? Kenny Mitchell – an Emmy Award nominated leader who combines creativity with business smarts – describes his move to Big Tech, life at Snapchat (he's the CMO there), augmented reality, and what he wished he knew when he was 20 years old that he knows now.Sydney Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. He holds a Master’s degree from the London School of Economi...
2022-11-0754 min
The SydcastTaking on Climate Change with Design Thinking: Silicon Valley's David JohnsonEpisode SummaryDave Johnson is a Silicon Valley attorney and climate change activist whose attention to design thinking suggests a less well-traveled approach to dealing with global threats.Sydney Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. He holds a Master’s degree from the London School of Economics and a Ph.D. from Columbia University. Professor Finkelstein has published 25 books and 90 articles, including the bestsellers Why Smart Executives Fail and Superbosses: How Exceptional Leaders Master the Flow of Tale...
2022-10-311h 00
The SydcastClimate Change, with Professor Maron GreenleafEpisode SummaryClimate change is here, from wildfires to hurricanes and a gradual rise in temperatures. Carbon offsets have become prominent weapons in the war against climate change, but what does it really mean in practice? And on the ground in Brazil? Maron Greenleaf is an anthropologist studying these very questions. What is she learning about the economics, science, and politics that underpin the battle for global sustainability?Sydney Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. He holds a Master’s degr...
2022-10-2448 min
The SydcastA Snapshot of Two Dartmouth Students Who Want to Change the WorldEpisode SummaryTwo women – one studying economics with her own fashion line (Avalux) and a member of the US 2020 Olympic team in rugby, the other a first-generation low-income Latina college student in bioengineering looking to increase representation in academia while studying developmental genetics in women’s health. An up-close conversation with Olympian Ariana Ramsey and aspiring PhD student Samantha Carranza, on The Sydcast.Sydney Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. He holds a Master’s degree from the London School of Econo...
2022-10-1746 min
The SydcastStudent-Athlete Kevin Boyce Takes On Brown UniversityEpisode SummaryUniversity students and Covid. Scholar-athletes fighting to preserve their sport in a diminished resource environment during Covid. African-American students willing to have the “uncomfortable” conversations with classmates, professors, and administrators. Competing to get better every day. Kevin Boyce from Brown University, on The Sydcast.Sydney Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. He holds a Master’s degree from the London School of Economics and a Ph.D. from Columbia University. Professor Finkelstein has published 25 books and 90 articles, including the best...
2022-10-1054 min
The SydcastElevating Women at Work, with Kristy WallaceEpisode SummaryDiversity in the workplace is top-of-mind for my MBA students and senior leaders alike. In this episode of The Sydcast, I want to profile one organization that’s on the front lines, creating opportunities for women in particular to fulfill their career potential. Kristy Wallace, up until very recently head of the Ellevate network, talks about unequal pay between men and women, transparency at work, imposter syndrome, and how to help women in the workforce break through these barriers.Sydney Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the...
2022-10-0357 min
The SydcastEverything You Always Wanted to Know About Cannabis, with Chris WalshEpisode SummaryCannabis is booming. Whether for medicinal or recreational purposes, more and more US states have legalized the business. How did we get here and where are we going next? A conversation with cannabis insider Chris Walsh on regulation, public policy, market growth, and which established industries will be the first to enter the game.Sydney Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. He holds a Master’s degree from the London School of Economics and a Ph.D. from Colu...
2022-09-261h 00
The SydcastHow Music Plays in Our Brains, with Professor Elizabeth MargulisEpisode SummaryThe Music Cognition Lab at Princeton University is where researchers study why we love music, how we process while listening, why we like what we like, and countless other creative questions that combine music, cognitive science, and neuroscience. Our guest on this episode of The Sydcast is the scholar and creative force behind the Lab, Professor (and pianist) Elizabeth Hellmuth Margulis.Sydney Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. He holds a Master’s degree from the London School of E...
2022-09-1952 min
The SydcastMighty Networks, With Silicon Valley Entrepreneur and CEO Gina BianchiniEpisode SummaryGina Bianchini is a Silicon Valley entrepreneur and founder of Mighty Networks, a platform for creators (of anything) to build out and monetize their content. As a past business partner with legendary entrepreneur and investor Marc Andreessen, Gina has deep roots in startup culture. Who is Gina Bianchini, what is Mighty Networks, and what’s it like to be a female entrepreneur in Silicon Valley in the age of Elizabeth Holmes?Sydney Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. He h...
2022-09-1252 min
The SydcastNatalie Tung: Revolutionary for Better High-School Education for GirlsEpisode SummaryBoarding school. Enrichment and personal growth experiences. A supportive community. Natalie Tung is creating all of this … for black and brown high school girls in Trenton. The idea took shape while Natalie was at Princeton and reflected on her own experience growing up in Hong Kong. Now, just a few years later, she’s hit the tipping point. Meet the budding “Sal Kahn” for minority high-school girls.Sydney Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. He holds a Master’s degree fro...
2022-09-0548 min
The SydcastMarcela Gomez: The Art of Multi-Cultural LifeEpisode Summary“Knowing the history of my family, knowing what my grandparents decided to do, changed my life.” On this episode of The Sydcast, a story of Hispanic culture in America and how Marcela Gómez connected the dots in a way that others seldom did. Her journey, from Bogota, Colombia to Miami, Atlanta, Nashville, and New York City.Sydney Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. He holds a Master’s degree from the London School of Economics and a Ph.D. from...
2022-08-291h 09
The SydcastThe Man With Ten Jobs, with Gautam MukundaEpisode SummaryA wide-ranging discussion with the multi-talented Gautam Mukunda. Leadership, Theranos, Failure and Learning, Luck, Russia and Ukraine, the Financial Crisis, Inequality, Innovation. Bezos, Jobs, Holmes, Neumann, Sackler, Putin.Sydney Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. He holds a Master’s degree from the London School of Economics and a Ph.D. from Columbia University. Professor Finkelstein has published 25 books and 90 articles, including the bestsellers Why Smart Executives Fail and Superbosses: How Exceptional Leaders Master the Flow...
2022-08-2253 min
The SydcastCrossroads for an Entrepreneur, with John PepperEpisode SummaryJohn Pepper is a restaurant entrepreneur, angel investor, and a hands-on advocate for the rights of low-wage workers. He’s been an Uber driver, confronted small-town Vermont politics, and turned a banned college fraternity house into a shared work space for startups. Motivated by social justice, sustained by business, he shares his story, on this episode of The Sydcast.Sydney Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. He holds a Master’s degree from the London School of Economics and a...
2022-08-1553 min
The SydcastFrom Politics to Venture Capital, with Colin Van OsternEpisode SummaryCareers zig-zag, they don’t go in straight lines. But yet there is a thread that connects our paths over time. This is true if you run for Governor of New Hampshire, grow one of the top online education universities in the US, or lead the biggest collection of angel investors in the country. And it’s true if you’ve done all of these things, as we’ll find out in this conversation with Colin Van Ostern.Sydney Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the Tuck Scho...
2022-08-0852 min
The SydcastWriting Entrepreneurship Books ... for Kids, with Lowey SicholEpisode SummaryLowey Bundy Sichol writes books about entrepreneurship for kids. Think Google, Lego, and Disney. A multiple award-winner who used to write business school case studies, Lowey has figured out how to communicate to children in a way that makes them want to keep reading. On this episode of The Sydcast, Lowey tells her story.Sydney Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. He holds a Master’s degree from the London School of Economics and a Ph.D. from Colu...
2022-08-0152 min
The SydcastThe Business of Reporting on Business, with Diane BradyEpisode SummaryDiane Brady is one of the top business journalists in the world, with writing and editing gigs at the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg Business Week, and Forbes. And also an old friend. She’s wise (“nobody needs more content, they need more intelligence”) and she’s a pro (“the best interviews are about listening”). In this episode, Diane and Syd on curating content, the future of journalism, and Elizabeth Holmes.Sydney Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth Col...
2022-07-2557 min
The SydcastNATO and Technological Warfare in UkraineEpisode SummaryUkraine is Ground Zero for war, but also all manner of newer technologies, from cyber to AI. What is NATO seeing, and learning, and what are the implications of the war for global security, technology, and innovation? James Appathurai has a front-row seat at NATO HQ, on this episode of The Sydcast.Sydney Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. He holds a Master’s degree from the London School of Economics and a Ph.D. from Columbia University. Prof...
2022-07-1856 min
The SydcastGeorge Boateng: The Impact Entrepreneur from GhanaEpisode SummaryWhat happens when a tech-savvy entrepreneurial young man from Africa comes to America for school? It’s his first time in the US and what does he learn? As he describes on this episode of The Sydcast, George Boateng learns that he is black. That simple, and powerful, observation will strike many listeners as profound, yet George understands that his identity is what he makes it to be. As we will hear, that includes an EdTech start-up that is teaching young people in Africa to code, an effort to mentor young Africans to develop solutions to...
2022-07-1148 min
The SydcastThe Path to University PresidentEpisode SummaryScholar, leadership guru, author, speaker, and influencer, for the last 7 years Christine Riordan has been President of Adelphi University in New York. How did she get there? How did her leadership work translate to when she was sitting in the corner office? How did she navigate running a large university during Covid? And how does she think about women and leadership? A master class on leadership, with Christine Riordan.Sydney Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. He holds a...
2022-07-0455 min
The SydcastAn Athlete's Life, with Anouk PattyAn Athlete's Life, with Anouk PattyEpisode Summary:So many people are afraid of change, but sometimes we get to talk to someone whose life is a case study of change. When it was clear that Anouk Patty – an NCAA champion ski racer – would not be good enough to reach Olympic medal heights, she changed. Business school and a successful career in tech strategy and deal-making followed. When Anouk realized that she was not living her true self, this mother of two came out as gay, at age 40. When she was diagnosed with...
2022-06-2752 min
The SydcastDr. Lucy Gilbert: The Cancer-Curing DoctorDr. Lucy Gilbert: The Cancer-Curing DoctorEpisode Summary:Dr. Lucy Gilbert – an oncologist at McGill University – has developed a genetic AI-based test to detect early stage ovarian and endometrial cancers, the third highest cancer-killer of women. In this episode of The Sydcast, Dr. Gilbert shares her journey from Singapore to London to Montreal, one of six physician sisters, now closing in on a revolutionary advance in cancer treatment.Sydney Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. He hol...
2022-06-2053 min
The SydcastJay Rosenzweig: The Man With Five CareersEpisode Summary:Every once in a while our guest on The Sydcast seems to do everything well. Jay Rosenzweig, this week’s guest, is a great example. Entrepreneurial “breathing” is in his bones, whether that means building a major executive search firm, investing in dozens of Web 3.0 startups, or spearheading major initiatives at multiple non-profit organizations (including the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights). Add in music recording artist, publisher of the most important report in Canada on the status of women in leadership, mentor to NBA players and company founders alike, and you start to get the pi...
2022-06-1359 min
The SydcastShelley Zalis: The Champion of EqualityEpisode Summary:Shelley Zalis is an entrepreneur, provocateur, connector, CEO, champion of women and equality, and (as some have called her) “chief troublemaker.” What makes Shelley so fascinating is that she simply refuses to accept the status quo when it’s broken, and what’s broken is the experience – both on the job and at home – of so many working women. The platform she has created and continues to nurture and innovate is The Female Quotient: “We Are in the Business of Equality.” On this episode of The Sydcast, the never-ending campaign to close the gender gap, with Shelley Zal...
2022-06-0656 min
The SydcastJeff Maggioncalda and Coursera: The Future of LearningEpisode Summary:Recently, Syd launched a set of four online courses on the Coursera platform – the Strategic Leadership “specialization” – getting a first-hand view of how education has shifted from traditional classroom to digital media. Since the Sydcast is all about learning, it seems appropriate for the first episode of Season 4 to kick off with the CEO of that digital education company, Jeff Maggioncalda. Not only is Coursera the biggest online education start-up with over 100 million learners around the world, but the company is also creating a complex ecosystem where traditional suppliers of learning – universities – are as much business par...
2022-05-301h 07
The SydcastStartup: Shark Tank is Only the Beginning, with Fitfighter CEO and Founder Sarah ApgarEpisode Summary:Sarah Apgar – Princeton and Dartmouth alum, Iraqi war vet, volunteer fire fighter and EMT, and startup founder – wants to create a fitness and wellness movement based on the FitFighter steelhose product. In three conversations over the last year, we learn about Sarah and her company, her life as a Mom, her aspirations for her business, and how the relentless move toward growth requires constant adjustment and deep resilience.Sydney Finkelstein:Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. He ho...
2022-01-031h 42
The SydcastA New Professor's Journey: Creating My Platform, with Danielle CallegariEpisode Summary:Italy. Food. Artisans. Culture. That is the life Professor Danielle Callegari is immersed in, and when you hear about it you’ll probably say, why didn’t I think of it! Except then you’ll need to spend years writing a book on Dante, then start the next book, cloistered in Italian libraries with no air conditioning during Roman summer. Danielle’s story is a story of the professor building a career, a brand, and a platform, an inside look at what it really takes to make it in academia.Sydney F...
2021-12-271h 33
The SydcastImpostor Syndrome Meets Super Talent - Who Wins? with Catharine KeeneEpisode Summary:Did you ever feel like you didn’t deserve the job you had? That you were faking it, and would soon be found out? That’s impostor syndrome in action, and my former MBA student Catharine Keene has been dealing with it for years. In this episode she tells her story, including how she’s figured out how to keep it under wraps as she starts her post-MBA career at one of the world’s leading consulting firms.Sydney Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Managemen...
2021-12-2045 min
The SydcastStartup: The Mommy Concierge, with CEO and Founder Joyce CadescaEpisode Summary:Successful MBA leaves high-paying Wall Street job to build a start-up dedicated to helping women manage their careers and families. Joyce Cadesca tells us why she made this move, and in this As It Happens series, visits with us three times over the last year to talk about the challenges and wins she’s racked up. The truth: it hasn’t been easy, but for this single mom of color the path she’s on is a true life passion, replete with reinvention and re-learning, but no regret.Sydney Finkelstein Syd Finkels...
2021-12-131h 05
The SydcastMBA: How Do I Know Where I Want to Work?, with Lia Parker-BelferEpisode Summary:At It Happens: MBA student Lia Parker-Belfer re-enters the workforce with her summer internship at Uber. Dedicated to a career of impact, joining legendary bro-culture Uber is a purposeful challenge, akin to many Gen Z’ers and Millennials who must come to terms with aspirational values in the corporate world. In this episode, we follow Lia, before and after, comparing expectations and reality, to see what she learned about Uber, and about herself.Sydney Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the Tuck School of...
2021-12-0652 min
The SydcastStartup: The Puzzle Maker, with CEO and Founder Kaylin MarcotteEpisode Summary:As It Happens: Follow puzzle-maker Kaylin Marcotte as she builds her startup JIGGY during Covid – growing, pivoting, and getting her first big break. In two conversations over four months, we get an inside look at how Kaylin and her startup manage early growth while learning both what she needs to do next and who she is as an entrepreneur and a person.Sydney Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. He holds a Master’s degree from t...
2021-11-291h 07
The SydcastRunning a Travel Company in the Age of Covid, with Lucy LiebermanEpisode Summary:Starting a job as a new CEO is not easy. Starting at the same time as a global pandemic is tougher. Now add in that the CEO – my guest, Lucy Lieberman – is running the travel company Tablet Hotels and you get the picture. With a career that went from digital startups in the early days of the Internet to managing global brands, Lucy has experience with pretty much every aspect of marketing, and she brings it all to her role as CEO. On this episode of The Sydcast, Lucy walks us through her path to the...
2021-11-211h 03
The SydcastCoaching in Red Sox Nation: Breaking Barriers and Unstoppable Dedication, with Bianca SmithEpisode Summary:Sometimes you know what you want to do with your life, and for Bianca Smith, that was baseball. Professional baseball. Her path to becoming the first Black woman to coach in professional baseball is a story of grit, single-minded focus, and force of personality. Still only 30 and a coach at a minor league affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, Bianca tells us how she got there and what life is like when you’re a 5-foot-tall woman teaching professional male athletes how they could be better baseball players.Sydney Finkelstein Syd Fin...
2021-11-151h 02
The SydcastUncolonized Latinas: A New Way Forward, with Valeria AloeEpisode Summary:Imagine carrying a burden of self-doubt and insecurity while everyone else only sees a smart young woman taking on the world of business. At some point something has to give, and for my guest on this episode of The Sydcast it did, via a nervous breakdown and an epiphany that has led to a new career of helping fellow Latinas come to terms with a culturally-derived inferiority complex that holds back an immense talent pool from fulfilling their potential. This is the inspirational and gripping story of Valeria Aloe.Sydney Finkelstein...
2021-11-081h 04
The SydcastRelaunch: How to Return to the Workforce, with Carol Fishman CohenEpisode Summary:Imagine taking a career break for 11 years and then returning to face an entirely different world of work, technology, and even culture. Carol Fishman Cohen did it, and quickly came to realize that there are many thousands of others – mostly women – who are looking to make the same transition. They had high-powered jobs, and now they want to get back in the game. As it turns out, hundreds of companies are thinking the same thing – how do we tap into this experienced talent pool? And so was born iRelaunch, Carol’s work force re-entry consulting and trai...
2021-11-011h 04
The SydcastWhat It Takes to be a Woman in Leadership, with Julie QuennevilleEpisode Summary:Episode 112. Julie Quenneville is a path-breaking CEO whose personal journey reads like a greatest hits of modern challenges for women who want to make an impact. From being married to a partner that wanted her at home, to navigating multiple male-dominated professional settings, to bringing up children as a single Mom with a high-powered career, Julie has, and is, living her own life. Add in a dedication to mentoring other women, the ability to communicate her message in powerful ways, and a forthright honesty that comes through in our entire conversation, and Julie Quenneville’s st...
2021-10-251h 01
The SydcastLessons on Life from Former White Collar Criminal Jeff GrantEpisode Summary:He is addicted to prescription opioids, he attempts suicide, he’s found guilty of white-collar crime and serves 13 months in prison. Now he’s out, free, and has a chance to do something good for others, and himself, with the rest of his life. This was, and is, Jeff Grant, and on this episode of The Sydcast we hear his story.Sydney Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. He holds a Master’s degree from the Lond...
2021-10-1857 min
The SydcastThe Woman Protecting us from Weapons of Mass DestructionEpisode Summary:Wendin Smith wanted Russia to stop polluting its largest lake and ended up becoming one of America’s leading thinkers on weapons of mass destruction. Her vantage point at the Department of Defense and now in consulting gives her access and insight to some of the most intractable challenges we face, from biological weapons to global cybercrime. In this episode of The Sydcast, an inside look and master class you wish you didn’t need.Sydney Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the Tuck...
2021-10-111h 00
The SydcastInvesting in Women and People of Color, with Venture Capitalist J-P PivergerEpisode Summary:Imagine an investing strategy that takes advantage of biases and imperfections in the marketplace. Sounds good? Now imagine that these investments are in startups founded by women and people of color, groups that have not had access to the same funding opportunities as others have. Sounds even better, doesn’t it? And that’s what my guest on this episode of The Sydcast, Jacques-Philippe Piverger, is all about, as he tells his story of entrepreneurship, investment, and impact.Sydney Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Manag...
2021-10-0459 min
The SydcastWhy do Humans Walk Upright? With Professor Jerry DeSilvaEpisode Summary:Why do humans walk on two feet? Every other animal motors on four legs (paws), and they do it way faster than we do, but we humans walk upright. If you thought evolution is supposed to select for attributes that enhance survival, then we have a real puzzle, among the most fundamental in human evolution. And that’s the puzzle Jerry DeSilva sets out to explain in his highly accessible book “First Steps,” and in this episode of The Sydcast.Sydney Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Profess...
2021-09-271h 04
The SydcastThe Jikaria Sisters∶ From TikTok Dancing to Brand InfluencersEpisode Summary:How did the dancing Jikaria Sisters – a JD, MBA and Engineer – become TikTok sensations in their spare time? And what should they do next? The three sisters talk about their upbringing, their new brand, and how they’re juggling their “real” careers with another one in the heart of social media. Lots of fascinating questions, from how to scale the brand to what to say to clients about something they see as much more than a side hustle. This is post-millennial Gen Z in action.Sydney Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein...
2021-09-2051 min
The SydcastDoug Galen∶ Supporting Social Enterprises, Silicon Valley StyleEpisode Summary:What would happen if you took Silicon Valley smarts and talent and applied it to helping social impact entrepreneurs scale their enterprises? Doug Galen decided to find out. Motivated by his daughter's drive to make the world a better place, Doug founded RippleWorks, an organization that has now helped social ventures in 59 countries and counting. This is his story.Sydney Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. He holds a Master’s degree from the London Scho...
2021-09-1359 min
The SydcastProfessor Emily Finn: How Our Brain Activity is as Unique as our FingerprintTSC 95: Professor Emily Finn: How Our Brain Activity is as Unique as our Fingerprint Episode SummaryNew Dartmouth professor and brain scientist Emily Finn talks about how our brains are wired and how we have something akin to a neural connection fingerprint. In addition to discussing the implications of this headline discovery, Dr. Finn shares her own motivations in her research and her personal journey in arriving where she is now in this episode of The Sydcast. Syd Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of...
2021-06-281h 01
The SydcastTom Mendoza: Technology and Culture from a Silicon Valley PioneerTSC 91: Tom Mendoza: Technology and Culture from a Silicon Valley Pioneer Episode SummaryTom Mendoza – NY kid who boot-strapped a career of impact; philanthropist; evangelist for building strong corporate cultures and how to do it (“Catch Someone Doing Something Right”); former senior Silicon Valley executive at NetApp; story-teller; teacher; engaging conversationalist. In other words, the perfect Sydcast guest.Syd Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. He holds a Master’s degree from the London Scho...
2021-05-311h 15
The SydcastHow to Find the Next Google, Amazon, or Microsoft, With Investor Eric JacksonEpisode SummaryFinding the right place to start when it comes to investing in companies can appear mind-boggling, especially when times are constantly changing. Eric Jackson, President of EMJ Capitol, explains the complexities of companies, how to find the best investments, and the process of how he got started. Syd joins Eric Jackson to understand how to invest in and research the up-and-coming companies, niches, and trends.Syd FinkelsteinSyd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. He holds a M...
2021-02-221h 01
The SydcastSid Ganis: My Life in Hollywood with Lucas, Coppola, and SpielbergEpisode SummaryTake a trip through time with Sid Ganis as he shares how a couple of rejection letters shaped his amazing and long career as a motion picture executive and producer. Movie buffs will revel in his stories about working closely with George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, and Francis Ford Coppola, what happens off-camera during awards shows, and how Hollywood is evolving into a more socially conscious industry. Syd FinkelsteinSyd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth Col...
2021-02-1551 min
The SydcastIntroverts, Extroverts, and Leadership, with Karl MooreEpisode SummaryAre you an extrovert or an introvert? Karl Moore has interviewed hundreds of CEOs and concluded that many were neither. Or, more precisely, many were both. These “ambiverts,” who were outgoing when the situation called for it, introspective at other times, adjusted to the situation they were in. Which holds a pretty powerful lesson for each of us, whether it is how to communicate more effectively or how to show up at work and at home. Syd and Karl dig into this, and more, in this episode of The Sydcast.
2021-02-081h 04
The SydcastArt and Money, with Professor Chad EliasEpisode SummaryArt has long been considered a commodity but, thanks in large part to a technologically connected world, accessibility and availability have helped turn creative genius into “cultural capital.” Chad Elias combines an art history lecture with a business seminar to provide a comprehensive lesson on the ways art adds value beyond its beauty. Syd reconnects with his former teacher to discuss Andy Warhol, Banksy, and the business of art, in this episode of The Sydcast. Syd Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Manageme...
2021-02-011h 05
The SydcastMoj Mahdara: Beauty, Brands, and BusinessEpisode SummaryGenerational differences may seem to divide us but there is one thing that unites us all, change. Change is the catalyst that propels each new generation to make an impact and leave their mark on civilization and Moj Mahdara has secured her legacy with the launch of Beautycon, a diverse and inclusive beauty brand that aims to change the popular perception of beauty and our access to it. Moj and Syd discuss all things change; how to see it, how to make it happen, and most of all, how to accept it, in...
2021-01-2551 min
The SydcastFrom Clerk to CEO with Sara MathewEpisode SummarySara Mathew would describe herself as an accidental CEO, someone more lucky than good, but luck isn’t what propelled Sara from clerk to vice president at Procter and Gamble, it was because Sara gets things done. But to become CEO and Chair of Dun & Bradstreet, Sara had to overcome a singular challenge, herself. In this episode of The Sydcast, Syd and Sara talk about the benefits of feedback and failure, discomfort and self-awareness, and how everyone has the potential to make their own luck.Syd Finkelstein ...
2021-01-181h 00
The SydcastChristine Spadafor: Crafting a Career of ImpactEpisode SummaryRaised to believe she could be anything, Christine Spadafor has done almost everything, from competitive ice-skater to Harvard Law School to CEO. And a dozen other pretty cool things too. Which makes her an ideal Sydcast guest! While her deep background in healthcare helped her through her own personal health crisis, it has been her indomitable spirit and intellectual restlessness that has really powered Christine’s incredible journey, in this episode of The Sydcast. Syd Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the Tuck School...
2021-01-1156 min
The SydcastFrom Journalist to Startup CEO, with Jeff KofmanEpisode SummaryHow many Emmy-award winning journalists working in war zones in the Middle East do you know who go on to become startup CEO of a hot new media company? That’s Jeff Kofman, the guy who got fed up spending hours transcribing interviews while on assignment and thought, there has to be a better way. And there is, and he calls it Trint. In this episode of The Sydcast, Jeff shares his story of what it took to go from one world to an entirely new one, and some of the adventures he...
2020-12-2855 min
The SydcastKim Prince: Bringing "Nashville Hot Chicken" to Los AngelesEpisode SummaryIn the 1930s, when a fiery mistress decided to get her revenge, she did not serve it cold, she served it hot enough to burn and helped create the legendary Nashville-style Hot Chicken. Kim Prince carries on the family tradition with her restaurant Hotville and has been scorching tastebuds and the competition in Los Angeles. The importance of legacy and family are at the core of the conversation, in this episode of The Sydcast. Syd Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at th...
2020-12-211h 03
The SydcastDr. Kevin Hand - Is There Life Beyond Earth?Episode SummaryFrom the moment we first gazed upon the stars humans have wondered if there is life beyond our own planet. Dr. Kevin Hand, an astrobiologist at NASA, has traveled to the far reaches of our own planet, including to the bottom of the ocean with James Cameron, to learn what life might be like on another planet. Kevin talks with Syd about why we are searching for Goldilocks, how the universe is like a campfire, and the upcoming NASA mission to Europa, in this episode of The Sydcast. S...
2020-12-141h 03
The SydcastA Journey from Chez Panisse with Charles and Lindsey ShereEpisode SummaryChez Panisse has indelibly shaped California cuisine since its inception in 1971 and Lindsey and Charles Shere were there from the beginning, helping to change the landscape for female chefs. Influenced by the politics and art of Berkeley in the 1960s, Charles and Lindsey found their niche for unconventional thinkers and doers and they continue to live their life by following their hearts. Listen in for the era-spanning experiences of a chef and a composer, in this episode of The Sydcast.Syd Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the...
2020-11-3056 min
The SydcastA Personal Life in Journalism with the Wall Street Journal’s Rachel FeintzeigEpisode SummaryRachel Feintzeig, a columnist at the Wall Street Journal who writes about work and life, has a knack for asking great questions that resonate. Whether it’s how it feels to have a partner on the front lines of COVID to how to get noticed and promoted when working remotely, her writing gets to what people are experiencing, right now. On this episode of The Sydcast, it’s Rachel that answers the questions, about her journey as a reporter, how to make people mad, and the effects of COVID on the workplace.
2020-11-231h 04
The SydcastBlair LaCorte: Master Class on Leadership in Business and TechnologyEpisode SummaryFrom military logistics to mega-concerts to self-driving cars, Blair LaCorte has had a seat at the head of the table. How does one person move so ably from industry to industry, and what do you learn along the way? In this episode of The Sydcast we skip the platitudes and get right to what leadership looks like in the trenches, what skills make the difference, and why curiosity is the secret sauce of business success. Syd Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of M...
2020-11-161h 10
The SydcastComedy and Tragedy with Second City's Kelly Leonard Episode SummaryWhen the world continues to throw new challenges your way, improv might be the most important life skill you’ve never learned. Collaboration, reading a room, dealing with failure, Kelly Leonard of legendary The Second City theater details how improvisation can benefit your life beyond creating a great sketch comedy. Kelly shares what it was like seeing John Belushi and Chris Farley on stage, working with Tina Fey and Stephen Colbert, what actor really surprised him, and more from behind the comedy curtain, in this episode of The Sydcast.Syd...
2020-11-091h 03
The SydcastReflections on Business, Bernie Madoff, and Donald Trump, with Jim CampbellEpisode SummaryIf you really want to shake up a family dinner just bring up sports or politics. Pepper in a bit of business and crime and you have Jim Campbell shaking things up on talk radio. From his start in radio, to his explosive interview with Bernie Madoff, and beyond, Jim has always had a passion for providing unbiased information in a world where facts matter less than ratings. Gain perspective on why some successful people become bad at what they do, in this episode of The Sydcast.Syd...
2020-11-021h 02
The SydcastJudge Fred Block: Politics, Sentencing, and CrimeEpisode SummaryAs the world rages around us it may seem like there is no rule of law to keep us safe but Judge Fred Block provides us with ample evidence to be optimistic about the enduring independence of the Judicial Branch. Speaking to Syd from Greece, Fred shares his journey to a judgeship, why New York is still a great place to live, and why he doesn’t consider the infamous Gotti trial to be his most important case. In this episode of The Sydcast, get an enlightening view from the bench with Judg...
2020-10-261h 06
The SydcastKevin Demoff: Talent, Diversity, and COVID in the NFL Episode SummaryFootball is synonymous with Sundays in America and the NFL draft has become almost like a celebrity awards show. What makes it so popular? Why have other sports not achieved that status? Kevin Demoff, Chief Operating Officer of the Los Angeles Rams, not only answers that question but also talks about how data drives the draft, why defense isn’t the best offense when it comes to hiring diversity, and how the NFL is continuing to operate under COVID. Get unprecedented access to the talent beyond the playbook, in this episode of The Sydcast...
2020-10-191h 13
The SydcastBob Wallace: An Entrepreneur Runs for Mayor Episode SummaryWhy is Bob Wallace – successful entrepreneur, advisor to senior executives, and author of multiple books on business – running as an Independent candidate for mayor of Baltimore? And why does this outsider, in a city where Democrats have dominated the political arena for decades, actually think he has a real chance to win? In this episode of The Sydcast, meet Bob Wallace and hear his story that took him from the Baltimore projects to the corner office, and now, maybe, City Hall.Syd FinkelsteinSyd Finkelstein is the S...
2020-10-1256 min
The SydcastThe Guggenheim Museum with Curator Megan Fontanella Episode SummaryThe Guggenheim Museum is one of the greatest art institutions in the United States, and in the world. Who works there? Who are these people we know as “curators?” What goes on behind the scenes in preparing exhibitions? The Sydcast goes on a road trip to the NY Guggenheim (pre-COVID) to talk to curator Megan Fontanella, who shares her passion for the stories behind the historic artworks in the collection, her journey to art and curatorship, and what it takes to create exhibits that bring art to life for patrons, critics, and general audie...
2020-10-0557 min
The SydcastHow to Live Longer, with Dr. Dariush MozaffarianEpisode SummaryCoffee, cheese, chocolate, carbs. We all love to eat, but we don’t completely understand how food affects our health and that’s what Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian wants to change. A cardiologist by trade and a food scientist by necessity, Dr. Mozaffarian appreciates the complex relationship between food and health and the need to make choices based on individual health needs, not broad guidelines. Put down that diet magazine and get ready to hear the real skinny on nutrition with Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, in this episode of The Sydcast.Sy...
2020-09-2856 min
The SydcastBill Helman on Facebook, Dartmouth, and SocietyEpisode SummaryBill Helman sits on the board of directors for some of the most influential institutions that are changing the business landscape and, as a partner at Greylock, he is helping to foster the next generation of big ideas. Internet conspiracy theories, flying cars, and a talent search for a president are among the scenery on this wild ride of an episode of The Sydcast.Syd FinkelsteinSyd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. He h...
2020-09-2152 min
The SydcastOliver Kremer: Mission Tacos in New York CityEpisode SummaryListening to Oliver Kremer of Dos Toros Taqueria illustrate the beauty of the burrito, it is easy to understand how he and his brother, Leo, found success bringing Mission-style Mexican food from San Francisco to New York. Oliver and Syd discuss the ingredients that came together to launch Dos Toros and how Oliver, Leo, and Dos Toros have grown and changed along the journey, in this episode of The Sydcast.Syd FinkelsteinSyd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the Tuck School o...
2020-09-1456 min
The SydcastShannon Polson: The Story of GritEpisode SummaryWhen taking off in an Apache helicopter you turn into the wind and face that wind head-on ... and that is how Shannon Polson takes on life. A fighter pilot, mountain climber, and author, Shannon is the embodiment of grit, whose energy and personal story inspires others to change, overcome, and transform. Syd talks with his former student about her unique military experience, family tragedy, and navigating life, in this episode of The Sydcast.Syd FinkelsteinSyd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at th...
2020-09-0749 min
The SydcastStuart Weitzman: The Man Who Made the $1 Million ShoeEpisode SummaryIf Stuart Weitzman - storyteller, entrepreneur, impresario - had a motto it would be “stand on the shoulders of others.” That simple phrase characterizes his approach to business, branding, and advertising and has helped him create a shoe that regularly walks the red carpet while remaining affordably accessible. From his first shoe design sketches to opening the first shoe store on Rodeo Drive, Stuart shares stories of how Stuart Weitzman shoes became a coveted celebrity brand, in this episode of The Sydcast.Syd FinkelsteinSyd Finkel...
2020-08-3155 min
The SydcastKen Shropshire: Sports, Race, and Social Impact Episode SummaryKen Shropshire is the master of making lemonade when life hands you lemons. Told by his coach that he would never make it as a professional athlete, Ken took what he knew and became a sports attorney and then parlayed that knowledge into a thirty-year career at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. His insight to the practical sociology of sports spans the Olympics, college, and professional sports worlds. Today he is an author and consultant in sports and he shares his epic journey with The Sydcast. Syd Finkels...
2020-08-2455 min
The SydcastLessons on Life, Entrepreneurship, and Impact with Maynard WebbEpisode SummaryFrom a young security guard at IBM to a white-hat hacker to a titan of technology in Silicon Valley, Maynard Webb has digitally done it all. Serving on the boards of some of the biggest players in the digital corporate world, Maynard has seen the industry rise and evolve and he’s still helping to make the world a safer, better, and more inclusive place. Maynard and Syd discuss how the COVID pandemic has affected the workspace, the insidious effects of systemic racism, and the journey he’s on to be more inform...
2020-08-171h 00
The SydcastRob Tod: The King of Maine BeerEpisode SummaryIn 1995, Rob Tod poured a Belgian-style white beer into a pint-sized hole in the US craft beer market and sipped his way to success. As the founder of the award-winning Allagash Brewing Company, Rob proves that if you do what you love you’ll never work a day in your life. Sharing his success with his employees and his community has created a company based on values, not profits. Rob and Syd also talk beer, business, B Corps, and more, in this episode of The Sydcast.Syd Finke...
2020-08-1056 min
The SydcastBees, Business, and Well-Being with Entrepreneur Carly SteinBees, Business, and Well-Being with Entrepreneur Carly Stein Episode SummaryLike bees turning pollen into honey, Carly Stein turned tonsillitis in Tuscany into Beekeepers Naturals, a company with the mission to bring a worldwide natural remedy to the medicine cabinets of North America and save the bees in the process. Overcoming negativity and pushing past anxiety, Carly is an inspiration to find happiness by following your heart and your dreams, in this episode of The Sydcast.Syd Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Man...
2020-08-0357 min
The SydcastThe Boston Red Sox, with CEO Sam KennedyEpisode SummaryFrom inside the hallowed walls of Fenway Park, Sam Kennedy shares how a mediocre baseball player from the South End of Boston who dreamt about playing for the Red Sox instead became their President and CEO. Sam and Syd talk about all things baseball, New England, and what it takes to turn a business into a dynasty when you are surrounded by excellence. Red Sox lovers (and haters) won't want to miss this inside look at how the Sox baseball machine plays the game, in this episode of The Sydcast. Syd...
2020-07-271h 01
The SydcastThe MacArthur Genius: Musician Mary HalvorsonEpisode SummaryExperimental musician Mary Halvorson shares her story of how a practical person made the impractical leap to pursue a music career when she met a truly inspiring teacher in college. Mary discusses creating music that is out of the mainstream, finding acceptance by going her own way, and how receiving the prestigious MacArthur Grant has impacted her life. Syd and Mary talk leadership, women in music, quarantine, and more, in this episode of The Sydcast.Syd FinkelsteinSyd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Man...
2020-07-2048 min
The SydcastEvan Golub: How Living with Lyme Disease Taught Me That "We Are Not Alone"Episode SummarySometimes Western medicine does not have all the answers. Evan Golub discovered this first hand after seeing over 30 different practitioners and receiving numerous misdiagnoses which left him frustrated and alone. This frustration lasted for 4 years until a functional medicine doctor finally got to the root cause of his sickness and properly diagnosed him with Lyme disease. Evan started interacting with other “Lyme buddies” and he realized the world needed a social media platform that is entirely dedicated to health conditions. Evan co-founded Wana (we are not alone) which created a simple way for p...
2020-07-0656 min
The SydcastEntrepreneurs in Trouble: Fighting Depression and Stress with Cherry Rose TanEpisode SummaryMost people look at the life of the entrepreneur and think, they’ve got it made. You’re your own boss, you call the shots, you’re making money, what a great life. But, the reality is very different. Incredible stress, ultra-long hours, doubts about everything that can never be shared with anyone else, and sometimes much worse. Even with a long lineage of entrepreneurs behind her, start-up founder Cherry Rose Tan found herself underestimating how tough and personal the start-up journey would be. Drawing on her own personal and professional experience, Cherry Rose is creatin...
2020-06-291h 01
The SydcastStewart Friedman: How to be a Better ParentSummary of the Show With Father's Day (and Mother's Day) just recently celebrated, it seems a good time to talk about parents and their unwavering role as leaders in the household. That's right, leaders. My friend Professor Stewart Friedman has spent a good part of his career advising leaders on life, and in his most recent book, Parents Who Lead, he connects the dots between parenting and leadership. It’s a fabulous idea, immediately practical and meaningful for so many of us. Stewart and I discuss what parents do and how they can do it even better, why...
2020-06-2258 min
The SydcastDr. Rita Charon: The Healing Power of Narrative MedicineEpisode SummaryHave you heard about "narrative medicine?" On this episode of The Sydcast, Syd talks with Dr. Rita Charon about how the blending of the art of humanity and the science of medicine created a new method for doctors to better treat their patients. It also turns out that the ideas of narrative medicine can be applied in many other contexts beyond medicine, including business, sports, entrepreneurship, parenting, and our lives in the age of COVID. Narrative medicine is tapping into something deep and fundamental in each of us as human beings...
2020-06-1551 min
The SydcastFathers and Sons in MLB: Ron and Mark ShapiroEpisode SummaryAs Major League Baseball gets closer to starting up this season, we visit with the CEO of the Toronto Blue Jays, Mark Shapiro, and his father, the “accidental agent” and sports insider Ron Shapiro. These two baseball lifers tackle the social and economic architecture of the sport, share personal stories of life in and around the game, and discuss the challenges people in baseball are facing to get back on the playing field. And one more thing - listening to the interplay between father and son will stick with you long after this...
2020-06-081h 04
The SydcastThe "Nerdy Girls" on COVID-19Episode SummaryWith dubious news articles clogging the internet it can be difficult to know where to find information you can trust and that’s where the Nerdy Girls come in. A group of ten (and growing) female public health experts, including guests of The Sydcast Alison Buttenheim and Lindsey Leininger, came together to provide evidence-based information on the COVID-19 pandemic to the public. Using their “Dear Pandemic” social media profiles, the Nerdy Girls have gone viral for their fact-based answers to everybody’s questions about everything COVID. Prepare to feel better informed after this epi...
2020-06-011h 02The SydcastGuest Episode - Office Hours: Syd Finkelstein on the Tuck School of Business PodcastEpisode SummaryIn this episode of The Sydcast the tables have turned on Syd and he is the featured first guest on the forthcoming podcast from the Tuck School of Business, Office Hours hosted by Kirk Kardashian. Kirk meets Syd at the intersection of psychology and strategy to find out what he has learned about leadership from his interviews, current topics in the business world, and what Syd thinks it takes to be a successful Tuck student and future entrepreneur in this evolving business world.Syd FinkelsteinSyd Finkelstein is the...
2020-05-2518 min
The SydcastKen Feinberg: How Much is a Life Worth?Episode SummaryWhen extraordinary events cause extraordinary compensations to be made, Ken Feinberg is the man on the world’s speed dial for action. Ken talks candidly about the emotional toll that comes with administering of some of the largest and most well-known compensation funds and how he established a career of being fair and objective in the face of extreme criticism in this episode of The Sydcast.Syd FinkelsteinSyd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth Col...
2020-02-0352 min
The SydcastCal Newport: What You Thought You Knew about School, Careers, and Work is Completely WrongEpisode SummaryHave you ever wondered how some people seem to have their entire lives in order? They have probably read the works of Cal Newport and learned how to work smarter, not harder by employing deliberate practice theory and avoiding the hyper-active hive mind to work less and relax more. Learn how to up your focus game and find passion in your work, in this episode of The Sydcast.Syd FinkelsteinSyd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. He...
2020-01-2758 min
The SydcastSteve Swayne: The Music TeacherEpisode SummaryAn unusual outfit for an unusual man, Steve Swayne unravels his connections to knitting and jazz and divulges how an almost perfectionist learned to improvise, find his own authentic self, and become an expert on Steven Sondheim all while describing an outfit that few would dare to wear. A pattern emerges of a man who will not be contained by rigid categorization and is leading us by example into a more tolerant, musically rich world, in this episode of The Sydcast.Syd FinkelsteinSyd Finkelstein i...
2020-01-2053 min
The SydcastPeter Winkler: The Puzzle Master Episode SummaryEveryone loves puzzles, and our guest on this episode of the Sydcast is a master. Pete Winkler is a Dartmouth College professor, author, mathematician, scientist, and puzzle master at the Museum of Mathematics in New York City. He’s playful, engaging, and ingenious. He teaches the art and science of deciphering puzzles in everyday life to students, hedge fund managers, and senior executives, and in this episode of The Sydcast, he teaches all of us a thing or two about puzzles and life. Syd FinkelsteinSyd Fink...
2020-01-1347 min
The SydcastMichael Lutzky on NPR: How to Thrive in a World of Media GiantsEpisode SummaryThe second golden age of radio is upon us and Michael Lutzky, the first Vice President of Business Distribution, pulls back the curtain on what NPR has in store for their loyal audience and hints at a future that might include a Netflix style news source. Fans of The Tiny Desk and NPR1 will appreciate this look into how NPR plans to survive and thrive far into the future, in this episode of The Sydcast. Syd FinkelsteinSyd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Ma...
2020-01-0657 min
The SydcastChuck Blanchard: Trump, Military Justice, and the Supreme CourtEpisode SummaryChuck Blanchard gives us a primer on the relationship between the military and politics by recounting his experience as General Counsel of the Air Force and Army and almost becoming a Congressman. He speaks candidly about being a clerk of the Supreme Court under Justice Sandra Day O’Connor and how the Court functions from an insider's view. If you’ve ever wondered how the government really works then don’t miss Chuck Blanchard on The Sydcast. Syd Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor...
2019-12-3048 min
The SydcastDan Richards: Global Rescue EntrepreneurEpisode SummaryDan Richards is the guy to call if you’re stuck – in another country, in a ravine with no one to help, or in a medical emergency. His company, Global Rescue, does just that. Where did the idea come from, why did he bite on it, how did he build it, and how has the whole thing affected his life? Stories from the front line of rescue, on the Sydcast.Syd FinkelsteinSyd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the Tuck School of B...
2019-12-2354 min
The SydcastAndrew Forsthoefel: The Guy Who Walked Across America Episode SummaryWhy does a kid just out of college decide to walk across America? Andrew Forsthoefel shares his unusual journey of discovery – what he did and how he did it – unveiling a family history he had refused to come to terms with until deep into his walk. In this episode of the Sydcast, a story of forgiveness, love and hate, and how telling a compelling story can transform culture.Syd Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmo...
2019-12-1646 min
The SydcastAlice Chun: Creating Light Out of DarknessEpisode SummaryAlice Chun is an entrepreneur driven to solve a problem that needed solving: how to provide light to people who have no electricity. Motivated to help in the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake in 2010, Alice changed her career and her life. In this episode of the Sydcast, listen to Alice describe what she did, and felt, and how that momentous occasion when she decided to do something put in motion a series of events that led to Nigeria, Syria, Hillary Clinton, and a start-up called Solight Design....
2019-12-0951 min
The SydcastFrom Child Prodigy to Seinfeld with Jonathan WolffEpisode SummaryThe creator of Seinfeld’s theme music, Jonathan Wolff was a child prodigy, trained in classical and jazz, working 3 jobs as a musician and composer while still in high school in Louisville, Kentucky, and the guy who composed music for dozens of primetime TV shows for decades. Along the way Jonathan amassed a wealth of stories and insights he shares on this episode of the Sydcast – about each of the Seinfeld characters, about Larry David, and about what a career in entertainment really looks like. Syd Finkelstein S...
2019-11-181h 10
The SydcastCreating Stories Worth Remembering with Bestselling Author Jodi PicoultEpisode SummaryFew modern writers have captured the zeitgeist of the era as eloquently as Jodi Picoult. Small Great Things, A Spark of Light, and more than a dozen others – powerful books with front-page themes such as racism and abortion that touch a nerve, and keep readers turning the pages. Jodi talks about it all, her early years, why she chooses to write what she writes, how she does it, why she loves her readers, and what it felt like the first time she hit #1 on the New York Times bestseller list.
2019-11-111h 01
The SydcastAn Entrepreneur in the Marines with Jack O'Toole Episode SummaryA US marine for decades, Jack O’Toole did what comes naturally to him – he became a leader, an innovator, an entrepreneur. In this episode of the Sydcast, we hear Jack share his story about life in the military and how he managed to navigate around rules meant to stifle creativity to become what most of us never thought possible – an entrepreneur in the military. All the way to his current world as co-founder and president of an innovative clean air tech firm snuffing out tobacco smoke where there shouldn’t be any...
2019-11-0457 min