If/Then

This week on If/Then, we’re sharing an episode of The Future of Everything, a podcast hosted by Stanford School of Engineering professor and friend of the show Russ Altman.

Everyone has goals — some are monumental, others modest — but every goal matters. Szu-chi Huang, an associate professor of marketing at Stanford Graduate School of Business, is an expert on sustaining enthusiasm for individuals, customers, and employees across global corporations and organizations.

On this episode, Huang shares what it takes to stay motivated over time — not just at the beginning of a goal, when energy runs high, or at the end, when the finish line is in sight, but through the toughest part: the middle. She explains why motivation is a dynamic process that requires different tools at different stages, and offers practical advice drawn from her research on everything from retirement savings and loyalty programs to children’s health and social apps. Along the way, she and Altman explore how purpose, progress, and even a little social pressure can help us keep going — and how AI might someday coach us through.

More Resources:

•  Szu-chi Huang, faculty profile & If/Then episode
•  Russ Altman, faculty profile
•  The Future of Everything

If/Then is a podcast from Stanford Graduate School of Business that examines research findings that can help us navigate the complex issues we face in business, leadership, and society.

Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction

Russ Altman introduces Szu-Chi Huang, professor of marketing at Stanford GSB.

(00:03:31) Studying Motivation

Szu-chi shares what led her to study motivational science

(00:04:03) Defining Motivation

Motivation as the drive to close the gap between current and ideal self.

(00:04:57) The Science of Motivation

Studying motivation through behavioral and neurological data.

(00:05:48) Why It Matters in Business

How motivation science applies to leaders, teams, and customers.

(00:06:39) Motivation Framework

The strategies needed in order to stay motivated over time.

(00:07:42) The Mindset of Motivation

The different mindsets needed throughout the stages of motivation.

(00:09:21) Motivating Kids to Choose Healthy

A Collaboration with UNICEF to study what motivates children.

(00:10:55) Gamified Coupons in Panama

A study using gamified coupons to influence children's food choices.

(00:14:26) Loyalty Programs as Motivation

How customer reward programs act as structured goal journeys.

(00:16:47) Progress Versus Purpose

The different incentives needed in each stage of loyalty programs.

(00:18:29) Retirement Saving Lessons

How financial institutions apply motivational science to long-term goals.

(00:21:12) Motivation in Social Context

The role of social connections in goal pursuit and sustaining motivation.

(00:26:10) Designing Apps for Motivation

How redesigning user interfaces can help users stay motivated.

(00:27:20) AI as a Motivation Coach

Using AI to personalize feedback across all stages of goal pursuit.

(00:30:09) Starting and Sustaining a Goal

Practical strategies for launching and sustaining a goal.

(00:31:57) Conclusion

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This week on If/Then, we’re sharing an episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, a podcast hosted by Stanford Graduate School of Business lecturer and friend of the show, Matt Abrahams.

How do you communicate with others when you’re confused yourself? For fellow GSB lecturer Rob Siegel, leadership isn’t about avoiding uncertainty: it’s about embracing the clarity that ambiguity can bring.

In his latest book, “The Systems Leader: Mastering the Cross Pressures That Make or Break Today's Companies,” Siegel explores how leaders today are “living in dualities,” caught between managing existing processes and adapting to emerging disruptions. “The sooner we get comfortable with [change] in the sense of ‘I don't have to like it, but I can deal with it,’ then [we can] lead our teams and give them the calm to know they can get through this.”

On this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Siegel and Abrahams explore how to communicate effectively amid constant change. From preparation strategies for spontaneous speaking to building trust through candid conversations, you'll hear practical tips for communicating with clarity when nothing is certain but change.

More Resources:

• Rob Siegel, faculty profile
• Matt Abrahams, faculty profile
• Think Fast Talk Smart 

If/Then is a podcast from Stanford Graduate School of Business that examines research findings that can help us navigate the complex issues we face in business, leadership, and society. For a full transcript of this episode, visit our podcast’s website.

Chapters: 

(00:00:00) Introduction

Kevin Cool previews season three and introduces a featured episode from Think Fast Talk Smart.

(00:00:40) Introduction to Rob Siegel

Matt Abrahams welcomes Rob Siegel and introduces his new book The Systems Leader.

(00:01:34) Teaching in a Time of Chaos

Rob explains how his course on systems leadership evolved amid global uncertainty and AI disruption.

(00:02:39) Frameworks for Modern Leadership

Rob outlines key leadership frameworks, including five cross pressures from his book.

(00:04:01) Communication’s Role in Leadership

They discuss how facts, context, and communication help leaders navigate uncertainty.

(00:06:18) Balancing Innovation and Execution

The conversation turns to managing the tension between creative innovation and operational goals.

(00:08:00) Leading Through Ambiguity

They explore how leaders can embrace ambiguity as a normal, strategic part of leadership.

(00:09:41) Navigating Short- vs Long-Term Thinking

Rob breaks down how leaders balance quarterly goals with long-term planning and vision.

(00:12:32) Strength and Empathy in Leadership

Matt and Rob examine how leaders can balance warmth and strength in team relationships.

(00:16:03) How to Keep Students Engaged

Rob shares his best practices for engaging students through preparation, spontaneity, and challenge.

(00:18:55) Building Trust Through Genuine Care

They reflect on the role of genuine interest in others as a foundation for trust and communication.

(00:21:35) Communication Role Models and Recipes

Rob names Irv Beck as a communicator he admires and shares his top three ingredients for great communication.

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Do you stick to the rules or do you roll through stop signs? Whether you’re “tight” or “loose” — how closely you adhere to social norms — has major implications for your life at home and at work. 

“To be effective, we want to be ambidextrous,” says Michele Gelfand, the John H. Scully Professor in Cross-Cultural Management and Professor of Organizational Behavior at Stanford Graduate School of Business. “Even if we might lean tight or loose, we want to be able to create a context where we can have both tight and loose elements.”

Sophisticated strategies will fail if they don’t account for deeply embedded norms, and Gelfand breaks down why the adage that “culture eats strategy for breakfast” is more than just a management cliché. 

“From the moment we wake up to the moment we go to sleep, [culture is] affecting everything from our politics to our parenting,” Gelfand says. “But we take it for granted — we don’t even think about it. So it’s kind of invisible. And that’s a pretty profound puzzle.”   

What’s the biggest cultural adjustment you’ve made? Share your story at [email protected].

This episode was recorded on January 28, 2025.

Related Content:

• Faculty profile
• Psst — Wanna Know Why Gossip Has Evolved in Every Human Society?
• Class Takeaways — The Art of Negotiation
• Why the Pandemic Slammed “Loose” Countries Like the U.S.

If/Then is a podcast from Stanford Graduate School of Business that examines research findings that can help us navigate the complex issues we face in business, leadership, and society. Each episode features an interview with a Stanford GSB faculty member.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

AI has the potential to reshape medicine. But translating its promise into solutions for providers and patients is a high-stakes challenge.

“There’s a lot more problems than solutions available,” says Mohsen Bayati, the Carl and Marilynn Thoma Professor of Operations, Information & Technology at Stanford Graduate School of Business. “So it’s ripe for innovation.”

From trust and privacy to hallucination and data quality, the complications are significant. Bayati says that safely and effectively integrating AI into an enormous industry that treats people in their most vulnerable moments requires safety guardrails, human oversight, and maybe even a leap of faith. 

“[We] need to have patience with the benefits of these systems,” he says.

Are you ready to interact with artificial intelligence at the doctor’s office? Sound off at [email protected].

This episode was recorded on March 4, 2025.

Related Content:

• Mohsen Bayati faculty profile
• A Peek Inside Doctors’ Notes Reveals Symptoms of Burnout
• Many Health Care Workers Are Emotionally Exhausted, and Technology May Be to Blame
• Why Hospitals Underreport the Number of Patients They Infect

If/Then is a podcast from Stanford Graduate School of Business that examines research findings that can help us navigate the complex issues we face in business, leadership, and society. Each episode features an interview with a Stanford GSB faculty member.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

“The way I think about trying to anticipate and shape the AI future requires us to take a step back and ask ourselves first, ‘What does this technology do? What does it enable?’” reflects Amir Goldberg, a professor of organizational behavior at Stanford Graduate School of Business. “That’s very different from asking ourselves, ‘How is the technology implemented?’” 

From locating the origins of innovation to identifying hidden barriers blocking new ideas, Goldberg presents a framework for harnessing novel technological capabilities like AI — capabilities that are essential for staying ahead of the competition.  

“The data/AI train is leaving the station,” he says. “The problem is, there are many trains — and some are going off a cliff.”   

Is your organization exploring how to transform its experience into data? Tell us your story at [email protected].

This episode was recorded on February 5, 2025.

Related Content:

• Amir Goldberg faculty profile
• To Discover Breakthrough Ideas, Look to the Outsiders
• Is Your Business Ready to Jump Into A.I.? Read This First.
• Why Investors Throw Money at Eccentric CEO

If/Then is a podcast from Stanford Graduate School of Business that examines research findings that can help us navigate the complex issues we face in business, leadership, and society. Each episode features an interview with a Stanford GSB faculty member.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Neil Malhotra, the Edith M. Cornell professor of political economy at Stanford Graduate School of Business, aims to identify the nature of our tumultuous political moment in his work. 

In this episode, Malhotra explores rising distrust, shifting political identities, and what these changes mean for individuals — and businesses. 

Plus, the billion-dollar question: “Is Trump creating a movement that is separate from himself or is it identified with himself?” Malhotra asks. “It remains to be seen.”

Is there a political question you’d like us to explore? Email us at [email protected].

This episode was recorded on December 18, 2024.

Related Content:

• Neil Malhotra faculty profile: https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/faculty-research/faculty/neil-malhotra
• A Surprising Discovery About Facebook’s Role in Driving Polarization
• Pulling Back From Polarization: How Business Leaders Can Step Up
• 10 Tips for Tackling Political Polarization in the Workplace and Beyond
• How the Supreme Court’s Abortion Ruling Played in the Court of Public Opinion

If/Then is a podcast from Stanford Graduate School of Business that examines research findings that can help us navigate the complex issues we face in business, leadership, and society. Each episode features an interview with a Stanford GSB faculty member.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sridhar Narayanan, a professor of marketing at Stanford Graduate School of Business, studies how small businesses operate and why they’re so important, especially in the developing world. 

“Modernizing small businesses will have a profound impact on economies worldwide in many ways,” he says. 

In this episode of If/Then, Narayanan explains why so many retailers still rely on cash, how modernization can boost revenue, and what these patterns reveal about credit access, trust in institutions, and global economic development.

Have you modernized a small business or did you choose to stick with what was already working? Tell us your story at [email protected].

This episode was recorded on November 5, 2024.

Related Content:

• Sridhar Narayanan faculty profile
• Upgrades Can Help Mom-and-Pop Stores Compete with Big Retail
• From Instinct to Insight: Crafting an Intentional Sales Strategy
• With “Retargeted” Advertising, Sooner Is Better Than Later

If/Then is a podcast from Stanford Graduate School of Business that examines research findings that can help us navigate the complex issues we face in business, leadership, and society. Each episode features an interview with a Stanford GSB faculty member.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Only a third of the global population is financially literate. Why? Because most of us don’t learn the basics of personal finance in school — or elsewhere. 

Treating financial literacy as an afterthought can have serious consequences, from personal calamities to economic crises, according to Annamaria Lusardi, a professor of finance and the director of the Initiative for Financial Decision-Making at Stanford Graduate School of Business. 

On this episode of If/Then, Lusardi makes the case for treating financial education like preventative care: essential, cost-effective, and an enormous opportunity to improve people’s lives, boost workplace performance, and strengthen economic resilience.  

“We should learn about money as soon as possible,” Lusardi says. “As soon as the tooth fairy comes.”

Where do you go for financial advice? Tell us more at [email protected].

This episode was recorded on November 5, 2024.

Related Content:

• Annamaria Lusardi faculty profile
• On a Mission to Teach the World the Basics of Personal Finance

If/Then is a podcast from Stanford Graduate School of Business that examines research findings that can help us navigate the complex issues we face in business, leadership, and society. Each episode features an interview with a Stanford GSB faculty member.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Susan Athey, the Economics of Technology Professor at Stanford Graduate School of Business and founding director of the Golub Capital Social Impact Lab, studies the impact of technological innovations on workers, businesses, and society. 

Will the world’s economies successfully adapt to a future defined by artificial intelligence? On this episode, Athey shares what the stories of 22,000 laid-off workers in Sweden can tell us about who recovers from economic turmoil, how small design changes and product features can have outsize societal impact, and how AI could transform the way we work, from hiring to healthcare. 

What’s the best way to build a future that effectively integrates AI and supports workers? Tell us more at [email protected].

This episode was recorded on December 16, 2024. 

Related Content:

• Susan Athey faculty profile
• A Low-Cost, Scalable Way to Get More Women Into Tech
• A.I. Can Help “Personalize” Policies to Reach the Right People
• A/B Testing Gets an Upgrade for the Digital Age
• East Brother Light Station

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Modernizing a 150 Year Old Lighthouse
• (00:03:05) - Adapting to Advancing Technology
• (00:04:20) - Impact of Mass Layoffs
• (00:06:16) - Low-Cost Scalable Solutions
• (00:13:37) - AI’s Role in the Future of Work
• (00:19:45) - Managing Transitions in the Job Market

If/Then is a podcast from Stanford Graduate School of Business that examines research findings that can help us navigate the complex issues we face in business, leadership, and society. Each episode features an interview with a Stanford GSB faculty member.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Brian Lowery, the Walter Kenneth Kilpatrick Professor of Organizational Behavior at Stanford Graduate School of Business and the author of Selfless: The Social Creation of You, argues that identity is about much more than external characteristics, family history, or the collection of experiences that compose the chronology of our lives. In fact, Lowery argues, our identities are constantly being formed, shifted, and even co-created — by the people around us. 

In this episode, Lowery breaks down how leaders, colleagues, and even casual acquaintances influence the people we are continually becoming — and why recognizing this can change our lives and how we experience the people we know. Understanding this social conception of the self helps us effectively navigate challenges at home and in the workplace, strengthen key relationships, and even bridge political divides.

“All these constraints that you feel, maybe those are imaginary,” Lowery says. “The world opens to you, I think, if you believe this, but that is also what's terrifying about it. What's exciting is what's terrifying.”

Has someone in your life changed how you see yourself? Tell us more at [email protected].

This conversation was recorded on November 13, 2024.

Related Content:

• Brian Lowery faculty profile
• A Provocative Theory of Identity Finds There is No “You” in Self
• Let’s Make a Deal: Negotiation Tips from the Experts
• Quick Thinks: How Others Define Us
• Janet Varney

Chapters:

• (00:00:00) - Improv is a Team Sport
• (00:04:20) - Rethinking the Self
• (00:05:16) - Leadership and Influence
• (00:07:30) - The Leadership Experiment
• (00:11:55) - Trust in the Workplace
• (00:14:24) - Polarization and Social Identity
• (00:18:33) - The Influence of Proximity
• (00:20:55) - Changing Identities
• (00:24:38) - Conclusion

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