The Brain for Business podcast takes the lessons from evidence-based academic research in the brain, behavioural and organisational sciences - neuroscience, psychology, behavioural economics and more - and brings them to life for a business and organisational audience. Over the series we will speak to a range of neuroscientists, psychologists, behavioural economists, researchers and organisational practitioners, and look at some of the key aspects of human behaviour relevant to business and…
A 2025 article co-authored by our guest today, sought to answer two critical questions: Are exceptional performers at young ages and at later peak performance age largely the same individuals? And Do predictors of young exceptional performance also predict later exceptional peak performance? So what is the answer? And what might this mean for high performance across multiple domains? To explore…
A recent online article in the Council on Business & Society Insights, co-authored by our guest today, argued that... For much of the twentieth century, corporate governance was guided by a simple principal: maximise shareholder value, and broader social benefits will follow. But in an era defined by sustainability, ESG expectations, and growing demands for accountability, that assumption is…
The concept of the academic “ivory tower” is often thrown out as a criticism of a detached cohort of university researchers dedicating their lives to examining topics that are of only marginal interest or relevance to those working in the so-called real world. Yet perhaps the issue is less about what these ivory tower academics are researching, and more about how those very same academics…
In the minds of many, entrepreneurship is an inherently capitalist activity – an entrepreneur starts a business and, all going well, it grows and they make money. Yet how does this explain the concept of “social entrepreneurship” and all that it entails? To explore this further it is a pleasure to welcome Professor Sheila Cannon to the Brain for Business podcast. About our guest… Sheila Cannon is…
When it comes to innovation, decision making and other organisational processes, managing idea selection and maximising the outcomes in this selection process is critical, affecting both organisational performance and employee morale. So how do organisations select ideas? And how might they do this differently? To explore this in more detail I am delighted to speak to Professor Dmitry Sharapov of…
A recent paper, co-authored by our guest today, Professor Kristie Neff, addresses the question of how social class origin influences entrepreneurial performance most particularly in terms of individual-level risk-taking, and under what social network conditions the relationship between social class origin and entrepreneurial performance is most pronounced. About our guest… Kristie Neff is an…
In a 2022 paper published in Science Advances, our guest today along with co-authors argued that “Public attitudes that are in opposition to scientific consensus can be disastrous and include rejection of vaccines and opposition to climate change mitigation policies.” So what does this mean? And what are the implications for both science and society? To discuss this I am joined by Professor Nick…
When people set up their own business or go it alone, it makes sense for to want to establish their own identity, yet sometimes that might come at a cost… what if your identity is so distinctive that potential customers or clients don’t understand what you do or why you are so special? To explore the question of “optimal distinctiveness” in the context of strategic positioning I am delighted to be…
A 2020 article by the polling firm, Gallup, argued that: “The micromanager has become a bit of a boogeyman in the business world. Nobody wants to work for one. Few managers want to be one. Everyone has a horror story about one.” To explore the topic of micromanagement and its implications I am delighted to be joined by Dr Catherine Deen. About our guest… Catherine Deen is a Senior Lecturer in HR…
“Collective stupidity is fairly common in organisations. Firms full of very smart individuals who act in reckless ways that destroy them. Governments and nations that engage in acts of self-harm, descending into economic decline or civil war. Armies that repeat failed tactics. It’s easy to see collective stupidity as something others slip into because of their own idiocy or moral failings. But…
