Rapid Response

Latest Episodes:

Can Rivian avoid the EV speed bumps? with founder and CEO RJ Scaringe Feb 18, 2025

Show notes

As demand declines for EVs, and Tesla’s Elon Musk wields power in the new Trump administration, electric automaker Rivian is taking this time to adapt its business and expand its brand. Rivian’s founder and CEO RJ Scaringe joins Rapid Response to share how the company is moving beyond the luxury SUV space — introducing a raft of new challenges and opportunities. RJ explores Rivian's recent $5.8 billion partnership with Volkswagen, the ongoing risk assessment for self-driving features, and how Rivian's AI-enabled 'technological plumbing' can accelerate the brand beyond incumbent manufacturers.

This episode is brought to you in partnership with Stripe — empowering businesses around the world to make progress.

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Musk’s DOGE agency and the real need to declutter government, with Jen Pahlka Feb 14, 2025

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As former US Deputy Chief Technology Officer, Jen Pahlka helped to create the US Digital Service (USDS) to upgrade the government’s tech capabilities. Today, the USDS houses Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), hell-bent on quick, disruptive change. Pahlka returns to Rapid Response to share why the motivation behind Musk’s disruption of the status quo isn’t necessarily wrong, arguing that we must clear the “sludge” out of government processes to finally create the conditions for substantive change. She also explores how AI can be used to streamline government work, the role of business minds in the White House today, and more.

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From Nike to Bud Light to Tubi: Lessons from the Super Bowl 2025 ads, with Autodesk's Dara Treseder Feb 11, 2025

Show notes

Super Bowl LIX had a clear winner on the field, but victory for brands was more hard-won. Sure, plenty of ad spots were star-studded, from Seal to David Beckham to Ben and Casey Affleck, but to what end? Many aimed for impact, but did they deliver? Autodesk CMO Dara Treseder offers hot takes on this year’s hits and misses from the big game’s ads. She joins host Bob Safian to break down what makes an NBDB (never been done before) moment, why so many brands adopted a “safe” approach, and what trends business leaders should note going forward.

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Return-to-office: What leaders are getting wrong, with Harvard Business School professor Frances Frei Feb 07, 2025

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As many organizations throughout the business landscape implement return-to-office mandates, the debate around RTO’s impact on performance and culture intensifies. Harvard Business School professor Frances Frei joins Rapid Response to bust popular myths around in-person work, and reveal the surprising intentions of many pro-RTO business leaders. Frei also shares insights about AI’s impact on corporate life, valuable tips to make your meetings more efficient, and more.

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Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol is here to put the brand back on top Feb 04, 2025

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Amid higher costs, longer wait times and waning sales, Starbucks is ready for a brand refresh. The company’s new CEO, Brian Niccol joins Rapid Response to reveal how Starbucks plans to go back to its roots and prioritize human connection in the hopes of restoring the brand’s position in US culture. Niccol also shares insights about evolving Starbucks’ business model, tackling the Chinese market, and how AI and tariffs are poised to shape the brand’s future.

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Brian Chesky on Airbnb's emerging reinvention Jan 31, 2025

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After 17 years, Airbnb’s Brian Chesky is hitting ‘reset’ — reinventing the business from the ground up and expanding the brand in unexpected ways. Chesky joins Rapid Response to explain why now is the right time for Airbnb’s ‘great reinvention’, how it connects to the evolution of AI, China’s Deepseek, and more. Chesky also shares his unconventional employee philosophy – what he calls “the fallacy of autonomy”, and takes us inside his relationship with Sam Altman, revealing previously unheard details about Altman's brief yet tumultuous dismissal from OpenAI.

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Reid Hoffman on AI ‘Superagency' Jan 28, 2025

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As Chinese AI developers send shockwaves through Silicon Valley, and Elon Musk spats with President Trump over AI policy, Reid Hoffman returns to Rapid Response to explore today’s AI landscape, and the secrets behind a concept he calls AI ‘Superagency’. Hoffman shares his vision for what an AI-infused workday will soon look like, how we address society’s greatest fears about technology, and more. As we enter a daunting new era — politically, socially and technologically — Hoffman urges listeners to choose curiosity over fear.

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Netflix’s wins, Meta’s shifts, and Changemakers, with CNBC’s Julia Boorstin Jan 24, 2025

Show notes

From Netflix’s new blockbuster earnings report to controversial moves announced by Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, tech and media are navigating seismic shifts amid a rapidly evolving political and cultural landscape. CNBC’s Julia Boorstin joins Bob Safian to decode the streaming wars, plus the business risks and reasons behind Meta’s abrupt changes of course. As leader of CNBC’s annual Changemakers list and author of the book “When Women Lead,” Boorstin also weighs in on why developing more women in business and entrepreneurship makes bottom-line sense in any era.

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Redefining work-life balance, with Neha Ruch Jan 21, 2025

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As return-to-office policies reignite the perennial debate over work-life balance, a cultural shift is underway. Neha Ruch, founder of Mother Untitled and author of The Power Pause, is leading the charge to redefine the role – and perception – of working parents. In this episode of Rapid Response, she explores how career pauses can drive personal growth, expand networks, and unlock better long-term career outcomes. As support systems for parents become increasingly strained, Neha sparks an essential dialogue about our well-being, self-fulfillment, and the evolving definition of success.

Find The Power Pause: How to Plan a Career Break After Kids--and Come Back Stronger Than Ever here: https://www.motheruntitled.com/thepowerpause

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The business world braces for Trump’s inauguration, with Zeno Group’s Barby Siegel Jan 17, 2025

Show notes

In anticipation of Monday’s presidential inauguration, businesses around the world are crafting their response and gearing up for four years of change. Barby Siegel, CEO of global communications agency Zeno Group, joins Rapid Response to explore how leaders should assess what issues are right for their business to speak out on, and how the new administration impacts the already evolving state of DEI, a polarized workforce, and more. While many executives feel intimidated by the increased societal pressure on businesses, Barby encourages listeners to instead embrace this new era as a hidden opportunity.

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