Tippie Leads with Nick Westergaard

What does critical thinking really mean in a world where AI can generate ideas, analyze information, and offer recommendations in seconds? How do we know what to trust—and when to question what we're given?

In this episode of Tippie Leads: The Big Questions AI Forces Us to Ask, Nick Westergaard talks with Erin Nelson, Associate Dean of Graduate Professional Programs and Professor of Practice in Management, about the importance of critical thinking in an AI-powered world. Later in the episode, we'll hear a story from Tippie undergraduate Evan Kartman about high school soccer, perseverance, and the importance of questioning your own perspective.

As AI makes information easier to access, the ability to think critically and make thoughtful decisions matters more than ever.

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Every time we use AI, we're making choices about what information we share. But how much is too much—and do we really know what we're giving away?

In this episode of Tippie Leads: The Big Questions AI Forces Us to Ask, Nick Westergaard talks with Thiago Serra Azevedo Silva, Assistant Professor of Business Analytics at the University of Iowa's Tippie College of Business, about the role data plays in AI, the trade-offs between convenience and privacy, and how we can make more informed decisions about what we share. Later in the episode, we'll hear a story from Tippie undergrad Ben Robinson about an ethical dilemma of his own.

As AI becomes part of more of our everyday lives, understanding what we're sharing—and what we're willing to give up—may be just as important as understanding what the technology can do.

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When should you start with AI—and when should you start with your own thinking? In this episode of Tippie Leads: The Big Questions AI Forces Us to Ask, Nick Westergaard talks with Pat Johanns, Associate Professor of Instruction in Business Analytics at the University of Iowa’s Tippie College of Business, Provost AI Fellow, and author of AI in Business: Creating Value Using Artificial Intelligence. Together, they explore how to think about when AI belongs in the process, when to lead with your own ideas, and how to make more intentional choices about using this technology.

We’ll also hear from Olivia Schroeder, a Tippie undergraduate and Story Lab storyteller from Spring 2026, who shares a story about standing out in a room, finding confidence in her own voice, and knowing when to trust her ideas.

As AI becomes a bigger part of how we work and create, knowing when to use it is only part of the equation. Knowing when to trust ourselves matters, too.

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How are people actually using AI? And what can we learn from the ways it’s already becoming part of our everyday lives?

In this episode of Tippie Leads: The Big Questions AI Forces Us to Ask, Nick Westergaard talks with Ken Brown, Tippie Children Professor of Management, about a national survey exploring how people are using AI—and some of the surprising patterns they found. From the finding that people use AI more for personal reasons than for work to the mixed feelings many have about the technology, the conversation explores how we’re adapting to AI, what we’re gaining from it, and what we might be giving up along the way.

We’ll also hear from Tippie student Gwen Piette, who shares a story about learning some “unusual new skills” on the job—and what it means to adapt when the workplace changes. Because understanding AI isn’t just about knowing what the technology can do. It’s about understanding how we’re choosing to use it, and what those choices mean for our work and lives.

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We’re starting the season with one of the biggest questions people have about AI: Will AI take my job? It’s a question that can’t be reduced to a simple yes or no. In the season premiere of Tippie Leads, Nick Westergaard explores what AI’s rapid evolution means for the future of work with Emily Campion, faculty member and Amazon Scholar at the University of Iowa’s Tippie College of Business. Together, they look at how AI is reshaping jobs and tasks, what workers should be thinking about, and how we prepare for a future we can’t fully predict.

We’ll also hear from Tippie student Dominic Dupoux, who shares a story about facing an uncertain future and finding a way forward. Because this question isn’t just about whether AI will change our jobs—it’s about how we respond when the world of work changes faster than we expected.

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How are people actually using AI? And what can we learn from the ways it’s already becoming part of our everyday lives? In this bonus preview of Tippie Leads: The Big Questions AI Forces Us to Ask, Nick Westergaard talks with Ken Brown, Tippie Children Professor of Management, about a national survey exploring how people are using AI—and some of the surprising patterns they found.

From personal use to the workplace, the conversation raises bigger questions about how we’re adapting to AI, what we’re gaining from it, and why so many people still have mixed feelings about the technology.

The new season of Tippie Leads comes next Wednesday, October 7th!

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As we get ready for the October 7th premiere of the new season of Tippie Leads, we wanted to give you a little sneak peek. This season is about the big questions AI forces us to ask—and some of those questions may not have a simple, singular answer. One of the biggest is what happens to critical thinking when AI can increasingly do the thinking work for us?

In this preview of the upcoming season, we’ll hear from Tippie’s Erin Nelson, Professor of Practice in Management and Entrepreneurship and Associate Dean of Graduate and Professional Programs. Erin explores what critical thinking really means in an AI world, from questioning assumptions and challenging our own thinking to using AI as a tool that can push us to see blind spots and ask better questions. Because AI may be able to help us think—but we still have to be the humans doing the thinking.

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AI is changing how we work, how we learn, how we make decisions, and how we relate to one another. But beyond what AI can do, there are bigger questions worth asking.

Will AI take my job? How much of our data is too much? When should we start with AI—and when should we start with our own thinking? Can we be too productive? And what happens when AI becomes part of a team?

In this new season of Tippie Leads, we’re stepping back from the hype and asking what AI is making us rethink about work, leadership, learning, and our communities.

We’ll explore these questions with University of Iowa Tippie College of Business faculty who are thinking deeply about the changing world of work.

And we’re not necessarily looking for the answer. Some of these questions may not have one. The goal is to ask better questions—and to think more carefully about what comes next.

Tippie Leads: The Big Questions AI Forces Us to Ask. Coming soon.

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In this special bonus episode of Tippie Leads, we take a closer look at the daily battle for your time and how to win it. Drawing from the “CEO of Your Calendar” webinar, Tippie experts Rob Rouwenhorst and Michele Williams share actionable frameworks for navigating the dual nature of time management. Rob breaks down how to say “yes” to your goals by building high-impact habits, while Michele shares the strategic discipline required to say “no” and guard your boundaries. Together, they offer clear, practical guidance on how to move from a reactive schedule to a proactive operating plan.

Perfect for the week ahead, this bonus episode distills key insights from our season-long exploration of personal agency on the Tippie Leads podcast. Tune in to hear a thought-provoking conversation and practical takeaways that can be applied immediately to streamline your days and elevate your productivity, all delivered in an engaging, accessible conversation straight from the University of Iowa’s Tippie College of Business.

And finally, we’ll bring it all together with a Final Tip(pie) just for you.

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Becoming the CEO of your life is one thing when you're planning for the future, but it's another thing entirely to execute that plan. In our season finale, we focus on how to move from inspiration to integration by turning the insights from this season into a clear, personal operating system.

In this episode, we hear from Nicole Johnston, a Tippie alum, advisory board member, and leadership coach. As an expert in helping high-achievers bridge the gap between theory and execution, Nicole shares how to operationalize your vision and stay the course when things get complicated. She discusses how to take the "CEO" mindset and apply it to the practical realities of your work and life.

Later in the show, we'll hear from Tippie student Keegan Schaeffner. Keegan’s story explores the importance of finding your voice and the leadership lesson she learned about the power of self-advocacy during her very first job.

And finally, we will bring it all together with a Final Tip(pie) just for you.

Episode Chapters

(00:00) Intro

(01:43) Overcoming the overwhelm of advice

(03:03) Turning big goals into small actionable steps

(07:26) Using an opportunity cost mindset to say no

(12:25) How to conduct a personal time audit

(16:10) Breaking the busyness myth to lead strategically

(19:30) Creating time for innovative thought and outside interests

(22:30) Student Story: Keegan Schaeffner on the power of self-advocacy

(26:13) Final TIP-pie: Using the PECK acronym to lead your life

(27:41) Outro

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