Tippie Leads with Nick Westergaard

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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Being the CEO of your life requires the ability to look at the horizon while keeping your feet on the ground. In this episode, we explore how to maintain a vision for long-term planning while still navigating the immediate, often noisy demands of day-to-day leadership.

In this episode, we hear from Amy Kristof-Brown, the Henry B. Tippie Dean of the University of Iowa’s Tippie College of Business. A professor and expert in person-environment fit, Amy shares how to lead the “Tippie of tomorrow” today by balancing strategic goals with the realities of current management. She discusses the challenge of self-leadership and how to stay focused on your highest priorities even when short-term fires are constantly competing for your attention.

Later in the show, we hear from Tippie student Brynn Pietzsch. Brynn’s story takes us back to a pivotal leadership lesson she learned at a young age, exploring how those early experiences shape the way we manage ourselves and others today.

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

Episode Chapters

(00:00) Intro

(01:33) Self-leadership and the corporate athlete

(05:23) Energy management for long-term commitment

(07:06) Building confidence and the power of sharing ideas

(08:54) Developing empathy and active listening

(10:34) Balancing a major capital project with day-to-day operations

(15:59) Vision for the Tippie of tomorrow

(18:58) Student Story: Brynn Pietzsch on early leadership lessons

(24:17) Final TIP-pie: Bringing your best self to work

(25:32) Outro

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As you step into the role of CEO of your life, you have to decide where to double down. In this episode, we explore how to apply a high-level, managerial mindset to your resources, ensuring that you're investing in the right things.

Carolyn Reddick joins us to bridge the gap between financial discipline and personal fulfillment. Carolyn is an Associate Professor of Practice in Accounting at Tippie, bringing her CPA experience from PwC to the classroom. She is an expert in helping leaders think like investors when it comes to priorities and vision. She shares how to navigate the trade-offs of daily life with more clarity and purpose.

Later in the show, we hear from Tippie student Raffay Malik. Raffay’s story explores the weight of big ambitions and the moment he realized that pursuing a dream requires more than just passion.

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

Episode Chapters

(00:00) Intro

(01:30) Meet Carolyn Reddick

(03:07) Managerial accounting in daily life

(05:31) The importance of tracking and measurement

(07:52) Relevant vs. irrelevant costs in decision-making

(10:34) The three buckets of compensation

(13:43) Carolyn’s career pivot and value alignment

(17:12) Student Story: Raffay Malik on pursuing big dreams

(23:55) Final TIP-pie: Auditing your time and values

(26:51) Outro

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Being the CEO of your life means recognizing that every “yes” you give is a “no” to something else. To protect your vision and your energy, you must learn the high-level art of setting boundaries without burning bridges.

In this episode, we will hear from Michele Williams, an Associate Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship at the University of Iowa’s Tippie College of Business and the John L. Miclot Fellow in Entrepreneurship. Michele is an expert on the “people side” of business, specifically how trust and collaboration work across boundaries. Today, she shares how to navigate difficult professional requests and why saying no strategically is actually an act of leadership that preserves trust and long-term results.

Later in the show, we will hear from Tippie student Aaron Wendel, whose Story Lab story takes us back to a pivotal choice to walk away from a lifelong sport. Aaron shares how saying “no” as a sophomore in high school paved the way for future success in baseball, a shift in his college major, and a clear-eyed approach to his early career.

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

Episode Chapters

(00:00) Intro

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Being the CEO of your life means recognizing when your "discipline box" has become too small. Here is how to look beyond your primary field of study to find the fresh perspectives that fuel true leadership.

In this episode, we will hear from Alexandra Nica, an Associate Professor of Instruction in the Economics Department at the University of Iowa’s Tippie College of Business. Originally from Romania, Alexandra explores the intersection of economic logic and creative thinking. Today, she challenges the “stay in your lane” mentality, sharing why intentionally seeking out diverse interests is the key to solving complex problems.

Later in the show, we will hear from Tippie student Kyleigh Selepa, whose story takes us through the realization that her current path wasn't the right fit—and how an unexpected, close-to-home source helped her find a new major and a true calling. 

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

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Being the CEO of your life means managing your most valuable resource—your time. Here is how to navigate the complexities of the modern workplace without losing sight of the life you are trying to build.

In this episode, we will hear from Beth A. Livingston, the Ralph L. Sheets Associate Professor in Industrial Relations at the University of Iowa's Tippie College of Business. After receiving her Ph.D. from the University of Florida and spending 8 years at Cornell University, Beth moved to the Midwest to continue her research on the management of work and family. Her work has been highlighted in the New York Times, NPR, and the Harvard Business Review, and she is the co-author of the book Shared Sisterhood. Today, she is helping us audit our own “work-life portfolios.”

Later in the show, we will hear from Tippie student Jack Cantorna, whose Story Lab story explores the high-stakes reality of finding balance from a state of total imbalance.

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

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