Thinkset Podcast

On this episode of the Thinkset Podcast, host Eddie Newland talks with BRG Managing Director Ed Buthusiem about the growing trend of multi-national corporations joining highly regulated industries in search of margin growth. Ed describes this growing trend as the 'materiality trap', as many companies struggle to adapt their risk assessment procedures in these lucrative new industries. Topics include: motivation for this growing trend (1:15), how to avoid problems on the front end (3:40), structure of risk assessment programs (5:45), the materiality trap (7:20), calculating risk vs materiality (10:20), the regulatory viewpoint (16:00), venture capital savvy in dealing with materiality trap (19:00).

On this episode of the Thinkset Podcast, host Eddie Newland talks with BRG Managing Director Joe Bohling about the different experiences he has had in the world of performance improvement and leadership coaching. Topics include: The C-suite talent gap (1:45), Succession strategies in public companies vs closely held (4:36), Cultural differences in business environments (8:50), Characteristics of high potential performers (10:15), Pillars of sustained peak performance (12:40), The future of executive strategies addressing the V.U.C.A. environment (16:45).

Host Eddie Newland presents an interview conducted by Thinkset Magazine writer Joe Quinto. Joe was able to speak with Southwest Airlines President Tom Nealon about his continuing efforts to improve Southwest's digital infrastructure. Topics include: Southwest's $800M technological upgrades (1:17), implementing new system upgrades (3:54), future opportunities presented by technology upgrades (8:19), decision process leading into upgrade decisions (10:40), the next set of projects in the horizon for Southwest (12:40), how his current projects compare to his past experiences (15:15), and how Southwest handled the fallout from a technical glitch that canceled over 700 flights in July(16:35).

Host Eddie Newland talks with Mark Williams, an economist and Managing Director at BRG with over 20 years' experience in regulation and strategy of the telecoms, media and technology (TMT) sector. Topics of the episodes include the relationship between innovation and regulation, unexpected political results effect on the TMT sector and what the future may look like for consumers. Other topics: Comparisons to past inflection points in the TMT market (1:39), multiple-choice companies (2:56), the causality between industry and regulation (5:52), Brexit and the election of President Donald Trump possible effects on Net Neutrality (10:20), EU General Data Protection Rules (GDPR) impact on rules (14:22) and evolution of a 'digital single market' in the EU (17:20).

On this episode of the Thinkset Podcast we are joined by BRG Managing Director Larry Fallin. Larry joins us from his office in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia where he has worked for the past 30 years. In that time Larry has amassed operational management and consulting expertise with organizations across the US, Europe and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. He is a specialist in creating strategies, transformations, turnarounds, and increasing organizational value through innovation programs. On the podcast Larry talks about life in the Kingdom, how the things have evolved since he arrived in 1979 and what advice he has for others looking to do business in Saudi Arabia.

Tom Brown, global leader of BRG's Cyber Security & Investigations practice, discusses the impact and fallout of the WannaCry ransomware attack in Europe and the industries he sees as potential targets in the next waves of cyber-attacks. Other topics include security risks, reacting to attacks, preemptive investments in cybersecurity training, best practices, and advice for payment demands in a ransomware scenario.