Ivey Impact Podcast

We like to think workplace harassment is a problem of the past – but the numbers tell a different story.

In Canada, nearly half of women and almost a third of men report experiencing harassment or assault at work. Despite major investments in training, it’s clear that too few programs drive real engagement or meaningful cultural change.

So where are we falling short, and what will it take to move the needle?

In this episode of Dialogue with the Dean, Julian Birkinshaw sits down with Shannon Rawski, Ivey Assistant Professor of Organizational Behaviour and a leading scholar on workplace sexual harassment, to explore why harassment training so often misses the mark – and how organizations can build cultures that truly make a difference.

Drawing on more than two decades of research, Rawski reveals how workplace cultures can normalize harmful behaviour under the guise of “just joking,” why compliance-driven programs can backfire, and how immersive tools like virtual reality (VR) can help employees better recognize and respond to harassment.

The discussion extends to Rawski’s latest book, What the #MeToo Movement Highlights and Hides about Workplace Sexual Harassment: Spotlights and Shadows, an in-depth examination of how #MeToo advanced the dialogue on workplace harassment but left important blind spots unaddressed.

Honest, urgent, and deeply practical, this conversation challenges business leaders to move beyond checkbox compliance and instead build cultures of genuine respect, accountability, and safety.

If you are experiencing sexual harassment in the workplace, please remember that you are not alone and that support is available. The following resources can provide guidance and assistance:

-              Your Company’s HR team

-              The Ontario Human Rights Commission

-              Ontario Network of Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres

-              Assaulted Women’s Helpline

In this episode: 

1:19: A scholar ahead of her time
 3:15: It’s all fun and games…until someone gets hurt
 6:17: What to do when humor crosses the line
 9:25: The problem with most harassment training
 13:17: Could VR be the future of harassment training?
 17:09: When VR enters the Ivey classroom
 18:45: Why we still need to talk about #MeToo
 21:43: How to step in as a bystander – at every level

To learn more about the research discussed in this episode, please visit: 

The Devil is in the Details: Sexual Harassment e-Training Design Choices and Perceived Messenger Integrity:
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10551-023-05479-w

It’s All Fun and Games Until Someone Gets Hurt: An Interactional Framing Theory of Work Social Sexual Behavior:
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3976535 

Sexual Harassment Bystander Training Effectiveness: Experimentally Comparing 2D Video to Virtual Reality Practice:
https://journals.aom.org/doi/10.5465/AMBPP.2022.139 

The direct and indirect effects of organizational tolerance for sexual harassment on the effectiveness of sexual harassment investigation training for HR managers:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/hrdq.21329 

From railways to highways and power grids, Canada has a proud history of building big things. Yet in the last decade, progress has slowed substantially, with major projects bogged down in red tape, stakeholder conflicts, and political hesitation.

Now, with the recent passage of Bill C-5, the One Canadian Economy Act, the country is once again talking about pipelines, ports, mines, and clean energy corridors. But can Canada actually seize this moment? Can we put shovels in the ground, or will familiar obstacles stall another generation of nation-building?

In this episode of Dialogue with the Dean, Julian Birkinshaw sits down with Adam Fremeth, Associate Professor of Business, Economics and Public Policy at Ivey Business School, to explore why it’s so hard to build anything big in Canada.

Together, they discuss the tension between growth and gridlock, what Bill C-5 could mean in practice, and how business leaders can find opportunity in an era of complexity.

Engaging and thought-provoking, this episode sheds light on the political, economic, and social dynamics that will determine whether Canada’s next big building boom ever gets off the ground.

In this episode:

0000 – Intro

0917 – Putting Bill C-5 into context

1535 – Engaging with stakeholders early and often

2023 – Teaching the concept of perspective taking

To learn more about the research discussed in this episode, please visit:

One Canadian Economy Act:

https://www.canada.ca/en/one-canadian-economy.html

For centuries, business thrived by taking from the earth. But that profit has come at a cost: a biodiversity crisis threatening our future. In response, a new financial model is emerging – one where returns come not from depletion, but from restoration.

To explore what this transformation means for business and society, Julian Birkinshaw is joined on Dialogue with the Dean by Diane-Laure Arjaliès, Associate Professor of Managerial Accounting and Control & Sustainability at Ivey Business School, founder of School’s Sustainable Finance Lab, and a global leader in sustainable finance.

Together, they discuss the role of sustainable finance, pushing the boundaries of capitalism, and the development of the Deshkan Ziibi Conservation Impact Bond. A first-of-its-kind financial model, the Bond is already transforming outcomes in Canada – and sparking global change. The key to its success? “Two-Eyed seeing,” a powerful approach that weaves Western finance with Indigenous knowledge to restore balance with the natural world.

Thought-provoking and hopeful, this conversation reveals how finance, reconciliation, and business can move beyond extraction to create solutions that heal the land, empower communities, and redefine the very meaning of value.

In this episode: 

1:26: Can nature pay dividends?
 5:01: Breaking down Conservation Impact Bonds
 11:01: Why planting more may not equal conservation success
 15:35: Is Two-Eyed Seeing the key to better decisions?
 18:17: How Two-Eyed Seeing transforms the classroom
 21:51: The future of business is shared

To learn more about the research discussed in this episode, please visit: 

‘Let's Go to the Land Instead’: Indigenous Perspectives on Biodiversity and the Possibilities of Regenerative Capital: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/joms.13141

The Deshkan Ziibi Conservation Impact Bond Project: On Conservation Finance, Decolonization, and Community-Based Participatory Research: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3976535 

Can Financialization Save Nature? The Case of Endangered Species:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1911-3846.12810 

Celebrating the End of Enlightenment: Organization Theory in the Age of the Anthropocene and Gaia (and why Neither is the Solution to Our Ecological Crisis:
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3875545 

The Motivations and Practices of Impact Assessment in Socially Responsible Investing: The French Case and its Implications for the Accounting and Impact Investing Communities https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/0969160X.2022.2032239 

From financial fraud to environmental violations, stories of corporate misconduct are hitting the headlines with unsettling frequency. More troubling still, those are just the cases we see. Behind the scenes, countless smaller lapses unfold quietly, reshaping workplaces in ways that often go unnoticed.

So how do we move beyond the headlines and build ethical business cultures that last? 

In the season two premiere of Dialogue with the Dean, Julian Birkinshaw speaks with Hayden Woodley, Assistant Professor of Organizational Behaviour at Ivey Business School, about his eye-opening new research on emotional intelligence and ethics. He explains how stronger EI can lead to better decisions, how ethical behavior can be “contagious” across teams, and what leaders can do – from smarter hiring to intentional training – to create cultures of integrity.

Drawing on his expertise in team dynamics, Hayden also reveals how to create teams that disagree productively, foster true inclusivity, and avoid the traps of laissez-faire leadership.

Engaging and practical, this episode offers clear strategies for turning ethics from an overhyped buzzword into a real competitive advantage.

In this episode: 

2:17: What do winning teams have in common?
 9:21: The surprising role of emotional intelligence in ethics
 12:33: Why confidence turns ethics into action
 15:23: Can tomorrow’s leaders train their emotional intelligence today?
 21:14: The power of example
 24:30: Ethics: The blue pill or red pill?

To learn more about the research discussed in this episode, please visit: 

Emotional Intelligence and Business Ethics: Feeling Confident in Doing the Right Thing: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10551-025-06044-3

Mapping the traits desired in followers and leaders onto fundamental dimensions of social evaluation.
https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2025-07509-001?doi=1 

Constructive Controversy and Reflexivity Training Promotes Effective Conflict Profiles and Team Functioning in Student Learning Teams:
https://journals.aom.org/doi/10.5465/amle.2015.0183 

The Structure and Function of Team Conflict State Profiles: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0149206315581662

The Emergence of Group Potency and Its Implications for Team Effectiveness
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00992/full 

Examining Equity Sensitivity: An Investigation Using the Big Five and HEXACO Models of Personality: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.02000/full 

The Ivey Impact Podcast is back this September with Season 2 of Dialogue with the Dean! Join Ivey Business School Dean Julian Birkinshaw as he welcomes a new lineup of the School’s top thought leaders into the hot seat for conversations on the research and insights reshaping business and society.

Volatile markets, political upheaval, and economic uncertainty have left even seasoned investors wondering how to respond. But is there really such a thing as a “perfect” investment strategy?

In this episode of Dialogue with the Dean, Julian Birkinshaw speaks with Steve Foerster, finance professor at Ivey and author of two acclaimed books that blend behavioral finance, history, and practical wisdom. Together, they explore the psychology behind investor decision-making, the myths and realities of portfolio theory, and how timeless lessons can guide us through modern-day market chaos.

Packed with insight and perspective, this conversation offers practical guidance for investors looking to learn from history, develop their own philosophy, and make smarter decisions in uncertain times.

In this episode:

3:16 In Pursuit of the Perfect Portfolio

5:08 Harry Markowitz

9:46 William Sharpe

12:58 John (Jack) Bogle

18:50 Interviewing investing luminaries

20:27 Trailblazers, Heroes and Crooks

20:46 Ronaldo and Coca-Cola stock shock

23:09 Mastering inactivity

26:12 Power of keeping emotions in check

29:31 Upcoming biography on William Sharpe

To learn more about the research discussed in this episode, please visit:

Trailblazers, Heroes and Crooks

https://www.ivey.uwo.ca/impact/read/2024/10/trailblazers-heroes-crooks-and-smart-investing/

In Pursuit of the Perfect Portfolio

https://www.ivey.uwo.ca/news/news-ivey/2021/august/new-book-in-pursuit-of-the-perfect-portfolio/

Lessons on Learning from failure from a Nobel Prize winning economist

https://www.ivey.uwo.ca/news/news-ivey/2024/may/lessons-on-learning-from-failure-from-a-nobel-prize-winning-economist/

Impact Live – Market Mayhem: Investing amid chaos

https://www.ivey.uwo.ca/impact/watch/2025/03/impact-live-market-mayhem-investing-amid-chaos/

How can post-secondary institutions prepare students – and society – for a future defined by rapid technological shifts, geopolitical uncertainty, and unprecedented global connectivity?

In this special episode of “Dialogue with the Dean,” Julian Birkinshaw, Dean of Ivey Business School at Western University, sits down with Alan Shepard, Western’s eleventh President & Vice-Chancellor, to explore the evolving role of higher education. Together, they examine how universities can foster innovation, adapt to the rise of AI, and champion entrepreneurship through dynamic initiatives, like the Morrissette Institute for Entrepreneurship. The conversation also highlights why a diverse international student body is essential for post-secondary learning and how Ivey’s Bold Ambition is reimagining experiential business learning for a rapidly changing world. 

In this episode: 

2:12: How do universities evolve without losing themselves?
10:15: Why global perspectives belong in every classroom
14:44: Finding the balance between the three Ps: People, Planet, Profit
24:29: The rise of entrepreneurship at Western University
27:38: How Ivey is reimagining business education

To learn more about the initiatives discussed in this episode, please visit: 

Towards Western 150: https://strategicplan.uwo.ca/
Morrissette Institute for Entrepreneurship: https://entrepreneurship.uwo.ca/
Ivey’s Bold Ambition: https://www.ivey.uwo.ca/about/strategic-plan/

Planning for the future of clean energy involves balancing affordability, reliability, and sustainability - but can the global energy sector achieve ambitious climate change targets while keeping the lights on?

In this episode of Dialogue with the Dean, Julian Birkinshaw speaks with Brandon Schaufele, Associate Professor of Business, Economics and Public Policy, Director of the Ivey Energy Management Centre, about his research on how economic forces and government regulation shape our energy future. Schaufele explains the importance of energy on Canada’s economic well-being, the uncertainty in forecasting electricity demands, and how Canada is responding to changes in the U.S.

Charging the conversation are critical questions about this complex landscape: How does AI usage impact energy capacity? How should Canada frame the importance of the oil and gas sector? And more profoundly, should we be thinking about clean energy sources as just “different kinds of dirty”?

In this episode:

2:18 - How do we address climate change and keep the lights on?

5:15 - Do electric vehicles contribute to climate change?

7:28 - What is the state of Ontario energy?

11:30 - The influence of Canada’s oil and gas economy on federal and provincial energy policies

13:50 - Industry incentives and the federal carbon tax

16:00 - How is Canada responding to changes in the U.S.?

19:00 - Is AI usage threatening energy capacity?

22:28 - Research on flaring and venting regulations

To learn more about the research discussed in this episode, please visit:

Policy Brief, November 2024: How Confident Should we be in Ontario’s Electricity Forecasts?

iveyenergycentre_policybrief_2025_iesoforecast.pdf

Ontario Should Tax Electricity Exports, Not Cut-Off Energy

Ontario Should Tax Electricity Exports, Not Cut-Off Energy

Policy Brief, January 2025: Electricity Demand and Oversight in Ontario’s Hybrid Market

iveyenergycentre_policybrief_2025_riskuncertainty.pdf

Canadians know climate change is happening, but do they care?

Canadians know climate change is happening, but do they care? - Western News

Experts root for agrivoltaics to solve clean energy, agricultural needs

Experts root for agrivoltaics to solve clean energy, agricultural needs - Western News

Range-anxiety about electric vehicles is especially felt amongst North American consumers. Two key initiatives have the power to dispel Canadians’ hesitancy in going electric: accessible public charging and worthwhile policy incentives. 

Julian Birkinshaw sparks discussion with Gal Raz, Associate Professor of Operations Management and Sustainability, and a Fellow at the Lawrence National Centre for Policy and Management, to weigh in on the challenges and barriers to EV adoption in this episode of Dialogue with the Dean. Raz explains how lessons from Norway and China could help Canada meet its zero-emission goals—and what Trump’s tariffs and Tesla’s polarized reputation could mean for the future of EV manufacturing.

In this episode:

2:17 - Canada’s progress on zero emission targets

3:45 – Is range anxiety the biggest turn-off for consumers?

5:23 – What can we learn from Norway’s world-leading EV policies?

8:12 – How China is becoming a top competitor in the EV industry

13:30 – Examining two types of EV policy incentives

17:44 – EV manufacturing investments in Canada and the impact of tariffs

22:52 - What is the future of Tesla?

26:34 - Advice for Canadian consumers and policymakers on EVs

To learn more about the research discussed in this episode, please visit:

From Roadblocks to Roadmaps: Diving into Canada’s EV readiness

From Roadblocks to Roadmaps: Diving into Canada’s EV readiness | Ivey Impact

Shaping Canada’s EV Future: Insights from the 2025 Ivey Idea Forum

Shaping Canada’s EV Future: Insights from the 2025 Ivey Idea Forum | Lawrence National Centre for Policy and Management

EV adoption to power the green transportation revolution

EV adoption to power the green transportation revolution | Ivey Impact

LNC Affiliated Faculty Awarded SSHRC Insight Grant to Conduct Multi-Year Research on EV Adoption

LNC Affiliated Faculty Awarded SSHRC Insight Grant to Conduct Multi-Year Research on EV Adoption | Lawrence National Centre for Policy and Management

Nicknames are everywhere—from “Beemer” and “Tarzhay” in the branding world, to quirky workplace monikers passed around the office. But while they often signal familiarity and fun, new research reveals a more complicated story.

In this episode of Dialogue with the Dean, Julian Birkinshaw speaks with Zhe Zhang, assistant professor of marketing at Ivey, whose latest research examines the double-edged sword of nickname usage by firms and also in the workplace. Together, they unpack how adopting consumer-generated nicknames can unintentionally weaken a brand’s authority, and why power dynamics matter when nicknames are used between bosses and employees.

In this episode:

2:07 Understanding the challenges of corporate nickname usage

7:49 When can embracing corporate nicknames be beneficial?

12:34 Examining nicknames in the workplace

21:54 What is the future of nickname research?

To learn more about the research discussed in this episode, please visit:

From Beemer to Tarjay: How nicknames impact iconic brands
https://www.ivey.uwo.ca/impact/read/2024/12/from-beemer-to-tarjay-how-nicknames-impact-iconic-brands/ 

The power (and peril) of office nicknames
https://www.ivey.uwo.ca/impact/watch/2025/03/the-power-and-peril-of-office-nicknames/ 

Research: The Rules of Using Playful Nicknames at Work
https://hbr.org/2024/10/research-the-rules-of-using-playful-nicknames-at-work 

BMW Is Powerful, Beemer Is Not: Nickname Branding Impairs Brand Performance

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00222429241266586