3 Takeaways™

Find out what the good life actually looks like based on Harvard's 75-year study of more than 700 men from when they were teenagers through old age, with the director of the study, Robert Waldinger. Learn the single most important thing that keeps us healthy and happy as we go through life and what predicts who will stay healthy and live longer. 

To learn more about Robert Waldinger and the Harvard Study of Adult Development, visit https://robertwaldinger.com. 

This episode was originally released Dec. 22, 2020.

Adi Ignatius, Editor in Chief of Harvard Business Review,  shares the biggest trends in the business world right now and how he sees the new world of work – including the future of the workplace, innovation and leadership. 

As Editor in Chief he oversees editorial activities at HBR, HBR.org, and HBR's book-publishing unit. He was previously deputy managing editor of Time and bureau chief of the Wall Street Journal in Beijing and Moscow. 

Adi is the editor of two books: "President Obama: The Path to the White House" and "Prisoner of the State: The Secret Diaries of Premier Zhao Ziyang." Both made the New York Times' bestseller list. He is the host of the Harvard Business Review video series “The New World of Work” - candid conversations on talent, tech, and the future of business. 

Lawrence Bacow, President of Harvard University, shares how he sees the future of education and the values he leads by at Harvard. Learn the role of universities in a democracy, the importance of teaching students to think critically and why he believes the value of a liberal education is higher than ever. 

“I owe my life to higher education. I think it’s been an engine of opportunity for so many.”

Lawrence Bacow is the former President of Tufts University and past Chancellor and Chair of the Faculty at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). 

He was raised in Pontiac, Michigan, by parents who were both immigrants. He earned his undergraduate degree from MIT and three graduate degrees from Harvard

Former Commander of Afghanistan General (Ret.) Stanley McChrystal shares lessons from Afghanistan, the impact of the withdrawal, what makes a great leader and what he is most proud of in his career. Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates has described General McChrystal as, "Perhaps the finest warrior and leader of men in combat I have ever met." Learn what General McChrystal believes to be the biggest risk facing the U.S. and the solution.

Gen. McChrystal rose to four-star general in the U.S. Army and Commander of both the International Security Assistance Force and Commander of the U.S. Forces in Afghanistan. He previously served as Director of the Joint Staff and as Commander of the Joint Special Operations Command. 

He is the author of several books, including Leaders and Risk, and is currently a senior fellow at Yale University's Jackson Institute for Global Affairs and co-founder of the McChrystal Group, a leadership consulting firm.

Steven Pinker shares why there is so much irrationality in the world – including conspiracy theories, and belief in fake news and medical quackery. Learn why he is optimistic about the future of democracy and the world, despite so much negativity and partisanship happening today. 

Steve is one of the world’s most renowned thinkers. He is a Harvard University psychology professor and author. Bill Gates called one of Steve’s  books his new favorite book of all time.

His most recent book is Rationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It Matters.

NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum shares on the future of sports, enhancing the audience experience, virtual reality, gaming and e-sports.

People are interested in what their favorite athletes and teams are doing off the court as well as on. Mark shares how entertainment driven strategies enhance the overall experience while growing the audience. 

Under Mark’s leadership, the NBA has formed NBA Africa, launched NBA Academies around the world, and created the Jr. NBA Global Championship.

In 2016, Mark was named to Forbes’ list of the Top 25 Most Influential Minorities in Sports.

Have you ever wondered how you could change someone’s mind  or make something go viral? Jonah Berger shares what works to change people’s minds – even under almost impossible conditions – and how to make things “catch on.” 

Jonah Berger is a professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and an internationally bestselling author. He is a world-renowned expert on change and on word of mouth, social influence, viral marketing, and how products, ideas, and behaviors catch on. He has taught tens of thousands of students and executives, and advised hundreds of companies including Apple, Google and Nike.

He is the author of The Catalyst: How to Change Anyone’s Mind and Contagious: Why Things Catch On

Michael Clinton, former President of Hearst Magazines, provides practical advice on creating the life you want. 

Michael has created an extraordinarily rich and multi-layered life. He is the part owner of a vineyard in Argentina, a private pilot, and has traveled to 124 countries. Additionally, Michael has run a marathon on all seven continents. While at Hearst he helped create Food Network Magazine, O, The Oprah Magazine, and HGTV Magazine.

In addition, Michael is the author of the book Roar: Into the Second Half of Your Life (Before It’s Too Late).

Learn how Square Co-Founder Jim McKelvey successfully created and built Square, how (as a start-up) Square beat Amazon, and other tips he has for the 3 Takeaways audience. Jim shares why sometimes doing nothing is the best response.

Square lets anyone with an iPhone, iPad, or Android mobile device and a bank account accept credit card payments. Jim McKelvey co-founded Square in 2009 with Jack Dorsey. 

Jim is a serial entrepreneur, inventor, philanthropist, artist, and author of The Innovation Stack: Building an Unbeatable Business One Crazy Idea at a Time. 

Co-founder of BlackRock Barbara Novick shares how she and her co-founders built the largest investment management firm in the world with $9 trillion under management and clients in over 100 countries. Learn the keys to BlackRock’s success. Barbara transitioned from Vice Chairman of BlackRock to Senior Advisor in 2021.