What&#8217;s Next! with Tiffani Bova

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Sports Heaven: The Birth of ESPN

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The Next Evolution of AI with David Bach Jul 23, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova.

My guest today is Dr. David Bach, founder and CEO of Optios. David is a physician, neuroscientist, serial entrepreneur, and someone who spent years studying how elite performers from military pilots and financial traders to professional athletes make decisions under pressure. His work draws on more than $350 million of DARPA-backed neuroscience research to explore how AI and humans can work together more effectively in real time.

THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR…leaders, technologists, and innovators who want to better understand how AI can enhance, not replace, human performance.

TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE…we've spent years asking how AI can become smarter, but David argues we're asking the wrong question. The next breakthrough won't come from AI knowing more. It will come from AI understanding the people it's working with. Drawing on neuroscience research and work with elite performers, David explains how context, physiology, and cognitive awareness can help AI become a more effective partner in learning, decision-making, and performance.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Context is essential for AI to become truly useful.
Human-machine teaming outperforms either one alone.
Physiological awareness can dramatically improve learning and decision-making.
AI should augment human judgment, not replace it.
The future of AI depends on understanding people, not just processing information.

WHAT I LOVE MOST…David's Iron Man analogy perfectly captures where AI is headed. The greatest opportunity isn't replacing people with technology. It's creating a seamless partnership where each makes the other better.

Running Time: 31:36

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Why Great Companies Lose Their Way with Eric Ries Jul 16, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova.

My guest is Eric Ries, someone who has changed the way founders and companies think about innovation, experimentation, and growth through The Lean Startup. After spending decades helping companies scale, Eric has started asking a very different question: why do so many successful companies slowly become the thing they once set out to disrupt? His new book, Incorruptible, explores this.

THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR…founders, executives, and business leaders who want to build organizations that stay true to their mission as they grow.

TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE…most companies don't lose their values overnight, they drift away from them one decision, one incentive, and one compromise at a time. Eric argues that this kind of organizational corruption isn't caused by bad people, but by systems that reward short-term thinking over long-term purpose. He explains why mission, governance, and incentives must work together if companies want to grow without losing what made them successful in the first place. Most importantly, he reminds us that building a great company isn't just about scaling but about creating an organization that can stay true to its purpose over time.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Organizational drift happens gradually, not all at once.

• A mission should guide decisions long after a company begins to scale.

• Long-term value is created by serving customers and employees first.

• Great companies are intentionally built to resist corruption.

WHAT I LOVE MOST…Eric's bridge analogy perfectly captures the challenge leaders face. Corruption isn't inevitable, it happens when organizations are built with the wrong materials. Eric reminds us that leaders have the opportunity to design them differently from the start.

Running Time: 36:18

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How Is Incorruptible Going?

Eric's Book: Incorruptible: Why Good Companies Go Bad... and How Great Companies Stay Great

Building a Smarter Growth Strategy with Roger Martin Jul 09, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova. I'm thrilled to welcome you back to a series I did with my dear friend, Roger Martin. He's the author of the amazing book, Playing to Win. In our tenth episode, Roger Martin interviews me about my book, Growth IQ.

THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR…leaders looking to accelerate growth, make better strategic choices, and connect strategy with execution.

TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE…many organizations approach growth as if there's a single initiative that will unlock results. Roger and Tiffani challenge that idea, arguing that sustainable growth comes from understanding all of the options available and making deliberate choices about which ones to pursue. They discuss the ten growth pathways Growth IQ was built around, how leaders can combine those pathways for greater impact, and why context and sequencing matter just as much as the choices themselves.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Growth is rarely driven by a single initiative.
Strong strategies come from making deliberate choices.
Combining growth pathways creates greater impact than pursuing one in isolation.
Existing customers are often the biggest growth opportunity.
Sales execution and strategy must be developed together.

WHAT I LOVE MOST…Roger's reminder that you can't make decisions about categories you don't know exist. The more complete your view of the options available, the better your strategic choices become.

Running Time: 34:09

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The Future Belongs to Learn-It-Alls with Caroline Stokes Jul 02, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova.

My guest this week is Caroline Stokes, a leading strategist, executive coach, Thinkers 50 Radar honoree, and author of AfterShock to 2030. Her work focuses on helping leaders navigate reinvention in a world where the old playbooks may no longer apply. While we spend a lot of time talking about AI, disruption and transformation, Caroline argues that the real challenge may be something deeper: how leaders adapt themselves before they try to transform everyone else.

THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR…leaders navigating the changes of our world who want to stay relevant, help their teams adapt, and build confidence in an increasingly uncertain future.

TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE…many leaders are focused on transforming their organizations, but Caroline argues that the real challenge is transforming themselves first. As AI, economic uncertainty, and societal shifts accelerate simultaneously, old leadership playbooks are becoming less effective. Caroline explains why curiosity, continuous learning, and self-reinvention are now essential leadership skills. She also explores how leaders can use AI thoughtfully without losing the human connection that drives trust, collaboration, and meaningful change.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Curiosity is one of the most important skills leaders can develop.
AI should enhance human collaboration, not replace it.
Transformation starts with personal reinvention.
Fear slows adaptation while experimentation accelerates learning.
Leaders must help people navigate change, not just announce it.

WHAT I LOVE MOST…Caroline's reminder that it's never too late to become a "learn-it-all" instead of a "know-it-all." In a world changing this quickly, curiosity may be the most valuable leadership advantage we have.

Running Time: 29:40

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AfterShock to 2030: A CEO's Guide to Reinvention in the Age of AI, Climate, and Societal Collapse

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Becoming More Adaptable with Phil Le-Brun and Jana Werner Jun 25, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova.

This week we're talking about something almost every leader is wrestling with right now: why transformation is so hard even when they know they need to change. My guests are Phil Lebrun and Jana Werner, co-authors of The Octopus Organization, a book that challenges the traditional way companies are structured and led.

THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR…leaders navigating transformation and growth who want to build organizations that can meet the level of change.

TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE…most organizations approach change as a transformation project with a clear beginning and end. Jana and Phil challenge that idea, arguing that the current environment requires organizations to continuously adapt, learn, and respond rather than rely on top-down change initiatives. In this conversation, they explain why so many transformation efforts fail, how bureaucracy and rigid structures slow organizations down, and why behavior change matters more than new technology or organizational charts.

KEY TAKEAWAYS…

Transformation is often overused when continuous adaptation is what organizations really need.
Behavior change matters more than organizational charts or new technology.
Bureaucracy grows when organizations prioritize control over learning.
Curiosity and psychological safety fuel innovation and adaptability.
Leaders create lasting change by empowering the people closest to the work.

WHAT I LOVE MOST… Phil and Jana challenge the idea that transformation is something you complete. The organizations that thrive are the ones that treat learning and adaptation as part of everyday work.

Running Time: 29:13

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The Octopus Organization: A Guide to Thriving in a World of Continuous Transformation

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Phil and Jana's Substack:

The Octopus Organization

Phil and Jana's Book:

How To Learn Strategic Thinking with Roger Martin Jun 18, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova. I'm thrilled to welcome you back to a series I did with my dear friend, Roger Martin. He's the author of the amazing book, Playing to Win. In this episode, we're talking about the four key characteristics of strategic thinking.

THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR…anyone who wants to strengthen their strategic thinking and make better decisions in complex, uncertain environments.

TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE…many people think strategy is about making plans, setting goals, or controlling outcomes. Roger argues that strategic thinking starts by accepting the opposite: the most important variables are often the ones you don't control. Customers, competitors, and markets will ultimately do what they want to do. The strategist's job is to influence those outcomes by thoughtfully configuring everything within their control. In this conversation, Roger breaks down the four key characteristics of strategic thinkers. Together, he and Tiffani explore how these skills can be developed and why strategic thinking is less about innate talent and more about deliberate practice.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Strategic thinkers focus on influencing outcomes they cannot directly control.
The best decisions come from combining quantitative and qualitative information.
Strong strategies emerge when multiple variables are considered simultaneously.
Strategic thinking is a learnable skill that improves through practice and training.

WHAT I LOVE MOST…Roger's reminder that strategic thinking is not something you're born with. Too often, people assume strategy is reserved for a select few with a natural gift for seeing around corners. Instead, Roger reframes strategic thinking as a set of skills that anyone can develop.

Running Time: 31:02

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Show Summary on Substack

The Discipline Behind Hypergrowth with Denise Persson Jun 11, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova.

This week, I'm delighted to speak with Denise Persson. She is the Chief Marketing Officer at Snowflake and co-author of Make It Snow: From Zero to Billions. Over the last 25 years, Denise has helped build and scale some of the most recognizable enterprise technology companies, including Snowflake, Apigee, and Genesis, guiding organizations through hyper-growth, IPOs, acquisitions, and major market shifts. What I really love about Denise's perspective is that she understands growth isn't just about demand generation or pipeline, it's about building the operational alignment, customer trust, and internal culture that allow companies to scale sustainably. So today we're going to dive right into these topics.

THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR…marketing leaders and growth-focused executives helping teams stay aligned while navigating rapid change and ambitious growth goals.

TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE…many companies believe growth comes from moving faster, launching more campaigns, or constantly evolving their message. Denise argues the opposite. Drawing from her experience helping scale Snowflake into one of the most successful technology companies in the world, Denise explains why some of the biggest growth opportunities come from creating clarity and not complexity. Denise and Tiffani discuss what happens when organizations grow faster than their processes, why customer advocacy is more powerful than any marketing campaign, and how leaders can balance innovation with consistency.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Category creation succeeds when customers immediately understand the value.
Consistency creates trust for customers, employees, and partners.
Hypergrowth often exposes gaps in leadership, hiring, and alignment.
Strong data foundations are essential for personalization and AI success.

WHAT I LOVE MOST…Denise's perspective that growth isn't always about doing more. It's often about creating more clarity. In a business environment that constantly encourages organizations to move faster, add more, and chase the next opportunity, her reminder that consistency builds trust feels especially important.

Running Time: 35:00

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Sometimes Wrong But Never in Doubt with George Barrios Jun 04, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova.

Today's conversation is about reinvention, resilience, and what it really means to lead when the pressure is at its highest. My guest is George Barrios, former co-president of WWE and the architect behind some of the biggest media and sports deals in history and author of the new book, Sometimes Wrong, But Never in Doubt.

THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR…leaders, ambitious professionals, entrepreneurs, and anyone navigating career pivots, high-pressure decisions, or uncertainty while trying to grow with confidence and conviction.

TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE…success isn't built on having all the answers but having the conviction to move forward before certainty arrives. George Barrios is a master at this: from helping transform WWE into a global media powerhouse to navigating a very public firing and reinvention, George explains why resilience, continuous learning, and a willingness to take calculated risks are what truly shape long-term success. Throughout the conversation, George and Tiffani explore the difference between confidence and arrogance, why leaders must stay in constant learning mode, and how reading, writing, and developing a strong point of view can separate great leaders from passive participants.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Conviction comes from preparation and doing the work.
Confidence and ego can look similar, but they are not the same.
Reading and writing are essential leadership habits.
Big opportunities often require moving before certainty exists.
Failure is often part of the path toward meaningful success.
Leaders grow faster when they actively develop their own point of view.

WHAT I LOVE MOST…George's perspective that confidence isn't something you're born with but something you build through curiosity, preparation, and action. His insight that "being passive creates self-doubt" feels especially important right now in a world where so many people are waiting for permission, certainty, or someone else to guide them forward.

Running Time: 26:00

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George's Book: Sometimes Wrong but Never in Doubt

How Great Companies Stay One Step Ahead with Roger Martin May 28, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova. I'm thrilled to welcome you back to a series I did with my dear friend, Roger Martin. He's the author of the amazing book, Playing to Win. In this episode, we're rethinking Warren Buffett's "moat" metaphor for competitive advantage.

THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR…leaders, entrepreneurs, strategists, and innovators who want to build a sustainable competitive advantage instead of competing in a race to the bottom.

TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE…most companies think about competitive advantage as something static, or what Warren Buffett famously coined the "moat" that protects the business from competitors. But Roger argues that this metaphor falls short in this day and age and introduces a more dynamic way to think about strategy: moving through "rooms" ahead of competitors. Roger explores why the best companies stay curious, how customer observation leads to innovation, why benchmarking can actually hurt differentiation, and how asking different questions is often the foundation of breakthrough growth.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Competitive advantage must evolve constantly, it can't stay static.
Customer observation often reveals opportunities data alone misses.
Benchmarking competitors too closely can limit innovation.
Sustainable growth comes from continuously moving to the "next room."

WHAT I LOVE MOST…Roger's perspective that competitive advantage is about continually evolving faster than your competitors. His "rooms" metaphor is such a powerful way to visualize innovation, customer learning, and staying ahead by asking smarter questions over time.

Running Time: 30:44

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