Stanford Social Innovation Review Podcast

Buzz Thompson is a leading expert in environmental law and policy. He and his colleagues have worked to advance environmental decisions to governmental agencies. In this panel, he identifies models for interdisciplinary collaboration across areas of areas of expertise that can help us solve complex societal issues. Thompson has contributed a large body of scholarship that has connected government, nonprofit, and business sectors while advancing environmental and social agendas. Barton (Buzz) Thompson Jr. is the director of the Woods Institute for the Environment and a Stanford professor.   https://ssir.org/podcasts/entry/cross_sector_social_innovation

Teachers play a key role in influencing the future not only of students, but of the country and world as a whole. What contributes to teacher effectiveness? In this panel discussion, teachers and teacher educator experts discuss what they are doing to support and nurture the professionals who instruct our children. They consider what students need from teachers, the role of assessment in teaching, and the most effective investments to promote professional development. The panel was part of the Global Education Conference, held in partnership with Goldman Sachs and the Stanford School of Education.   https://ssir.org/podcasts/entry/global_education_conference_how_to_cultivate_the_best_teachers

Medical innovation continues to flourish, however entrepreneurs are faced with many challenges, including tougher regulatory demands which make it more difficult to get products to market. This panel discussion includes representatives from various investment firms who give a clearer picture of the funding landscape, advising early stage innovators with creative ways to navigate these complexities. From the 2011 Global Health Series organized by the Stanford Global Health Center in partnership with the Stanford Graduate School of Business, Stefanos Zenios, the Charles A. Holloway Professor and director of the Stanford GSB’s Program in Healthcare Innovation leads this panel which convenes Anne DeGheest of MedStars Venture Partners, Thomas McKinley of Cardinal Partners, Guido Neels of Essex Woodlands, Bryan Roberts of Venrock, and Beth Seidenberg of Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. https://ssir.org/podcasts/entry/capital_for_early_stage_innovation_panel_discussion

Two megatrends are locking in: Massive incentive change and information liberation, says Todd Park, CTO of the US Department of Health and Human Services. The federal programs must lead the way in changing from fee-for-service to incentives for value in healthcare. Medicare, Medicaid, and the Veteran’s Administration represent the largest repository of public health data in the world. More information about the public health, stripped of personal identification, is being made available so that innovators can use it to learn more about public health, and create health-maximizing options. Private insurers adopt the same pay structure as the federal programs, therefore, HHS must be the one to initiate more efficient means of delivering, and charging for, health value. Park identifies three parts to data liberation in the health care industry: 1) Patient data liquidity—including making records available to the patients themselves; 2) market transparency—listing benefits and pricing of every public and private ins

It was a bit of a shake-up in February 2010 when the Quadrennial Defense Review of the DoD listed resource scarcity and climate change as primary threats to global security. Now the defense sector is rolling out means of planning, strategizing, and reducing the use of resources. In many cases, what’s good for the environment also cuts costs and streamlines activities. Daniel Kreeger, Executive Director of the Association of Climate Change Officers (ACCO) outlines the relatively new position of “Climate Change Officer.” In a recent carbon disclosure project, professionals concerned with climate management came from as many as eleven different organization silos, from supply-chain management to public relations. Where many functions have been traditionally the provenance of one officer, and a commander’s term averages two years, coordination locally and across forces is smoothing the way and building awareness of sustainability issues. The Army and Navy are establishing environmental policies and establishing s

From solar shingles to locally implemented environmental waste collection, companies are creating products and corporate infrastructures that are about more than just profit. Aron Cramer, an advisor on corporate responsibility, points out several benefits in the revolution in this open-call conversation. He explains the need to bridge the gap between businesses for profit and nonprofit organizations, and how any working combination of the two would bring about social change, environmental improvements, and technological innovations. This open phone call challenges the stereotypes of business and philanthropy, as well the degree of separation between the two sectors. Cramer explains that a synthesis between the two, with an emphasis on the results-based movement of corporations and the socially-based goals of nonprofit organizations, would create investment in small businesses and corporate-social responsibility. Impact investing, social entrepreneurs, and locally-based businesses are part of a newly growing t

As an executive with UnitedHealth Group, Richard Migliori is responsible for ensuring clinical excellence and linking that excellence to practical clinical outcomes and robust business results. In this university podcast, he talks about innovation as the lifeblood of his organization, and the criteria by which innovative efforts are adopted. He emphasizes the need for the healthcare system to become more connected, intelligent, and aligned in order to be sustainable in the long-term. Migliori spoke at the 2011 GSB Healthcare Summit, sponsored by the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Richard Migliori is executive vice president of health services for UnitedHealth Group. He also serves as chief healthcare officer of UnitedHealth Group Alliances, a division of UnitedHealthcare Medicare and Retirement. Migliori joined UnitedHealth Group in 1996. He brings to his current executive position over 20 years of experience in the health care sector, including time as CEO of four diverse companies. He has published m

African Leadership Academy is a social enterprise that was founded in 2004 with the belief that ethical leadership is the key to transforming the African continent. In this university podcast, co-founder Chris Bradford talks about the role of educational institutions in shaping the future of Africa. He also discusses the personal journey that took him from Kalamazoo, Michigan, to Johannesburg, South Africa, and how Stanford was an influential part of that process. Bradford spoke at the 2011 Stanford Africa Forum: Entrepreneurship and Development, hosted by the Stanford Graduate School of Business. https://ssir.org/podcasts/entry/chris_bradford_education_as_social_enterprise_in_africa

Africa poses remarkable opportunities for private equity investment, according to Thomas Barry, founder of the Zephyr Management investment firm. Pointing to the reliability of its renewable resources, its growing workforce, its expanding urbanization, and other strengths critical for business success, he reveals that, on this continent, reality is much better than the US public perception. He also talks about his own firm’s investment strategy on the continent. Barry spoke at the 2011 Stanford Africa Forum on entrepreneurship and development. https://ssir.org/podcasts/entry/thomas_barry_investing_in_africa

Chairman Thomas Gibian talks about how he helped Emerging Capital Partners become the first private equity firm to raise more than $1.8 billion to invest in companies across the African continent through seven funds. He sets the stage by discussing how the private sector was the engine of growth in China and India, and shares how some of the lessons have been applied to Africa. He talks about where the growing markets are in the African continent, and the promising future for entrepreneurs there. Gibian spoke at the 2011 Stanford Africa Forum on entrepreneurship and development. https://ssir.org/podcasts/entry/thomas_gibian_private_equity_in_africa

How have the growing demands for “high-performance nonprofit” impacted some of the oldest philanthropic organizations in the United States? In this panel discussion, the CEOs of three organizations reflect upon the speed and tact with which they must adapt their strategies and directions in a new century. Peter Goldberg opens on the importance of fostering a culture of innovation, so that one might effectively bridge the gap between a “high touch” and a “high tech” strategy. Cathy Tisdale discusses both the value of having an iconic brand and the potential pitfalls of overextending legacy procedures. Jim Gibbons emphasizes the need for reinvention in nonprofit, such that you can remain relevant to the communities that you serve. Leadership 18 members Peter Goldberg, Cathy Tisdale, and Jim Gibbons were invited by the Center for Social Innovation’s Public Management Program and the Center for Leadership Development and Research at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. https://ssir.org/podcasts/entry/gold

Environmental sustainability is on President Obama’s agenda, and in this panel discussion we hear from senior government energy and technology officials on what’s up and coming in this area. Experts discuss the administration’s policies, programs, and initiatives to support clean energy innovation and entrepreneurship, in particular. The event was a panel discussion convened by the Stanford’s Steyer-Taylor Center for Energy Policy and Finance, a joint initiative of the Stanford Graduate School of Business and the Stanford Law School. https://ssir.org/podcasts/entry/clean_energy_dc2vc_environmental_sustainability_and_energy_policy

Biotechnology, diagnostics, and genomics are increasingly changing the field of healthcare. In this panel discussion, company executives discuss how they became entrepreneurs in science and medicine, which new products they are developing, and what challenges and opportunities there are in these arenas. They also look at barriers to adoption and future trends that will affect this space over the next five to ten years. The discussion was part of the 2011 Healthcare Summit, held at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Donald Joseph, is CEO of BIO Ventures for Global Health (BVGH). BIO is the Biotechnology Industry Assocation. He previously served as COO for BVGH. Before joining BVGH, he served in senior executive positions in both legal and business roles at private and publicly held biopharmaceutical companies including Renovis and Abgenix, where he played a key role in its acquisition by Amgen. He has consulted for a number of biopharmaceutical companies and previously served as COO of the Institute for

Many would agree that healthcare delivery today is inefficient, ineffective, and segmented. In this panel discussion, experts talk about how they have persisted in delivering high-quality treatment. They discuss innovations in redesigning and scaling operations for wider benefit, the realities of implementation, and the need to train clinical workers in delivering compassionate care. The discussion was part of the 2011 Healthcare Summit, held at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Gerald (Jerry) Coil is special assistant to the CMO, AltaMed Health Services. He has served as an internal consultant at AltaMed; senior consultant at Cattaneo & Stroud, Inc.; executive vice president and COO at HealthSpring; president and CEO at MHN; senior vice president at Health Net; senior vice president, benefit administration, at Kaiser Permanente; partner at NorthShore LLC; and regional vice president, Pacific Rim at North American Medical Management/Phycor. Thomas Lee is an MD with One Medical Group. He specialize

Behavior change is a step-by-step process, and psychologist and innovator Dr. BJ Fogg guides designers and researcher with “The Behavior Wizard,” which maps routes to the 15 ways to achieve behavior change. With specific health targets, whether it be to “eat quinoa for the first time” or “to stop smoking permanently,” his model outlines techniques to stop or decrease behaviors that are unhealthy or start or increase more healthful habits. Fogg is the Director of the Persuasive Technology Lab at Stanford and has taught the course Creating Health Habits with Social & Mobile Technologies, where students gained expertise in using technology to create habits in everyday people. He speaks in the 2011 Global Health Series organized by the Stanford Global Health Center in partnership with the Stanford Graduate School of Business. https://ssir.org/podcasts/entry/b.j._fogg_2011_stanford_healthcare_summit

The Jaquelin Hume Foundation engages in philanthropy by supporting free-market solutions to education reform. In this audio interview with Stanford Center for Social Innovation correspondent Ashkon Jafari, Executive Director Gisele Huff talks about the foundation’s investment strategy, and why innovation and technology initiatives are a big component of the organization’s giving. She also discusses education reform, what improvements the for-profit market can bring to K-12 education, and where the challenges to America’s school systems lie. https://ssir.org/podcasts/entry/gisele_huff_philanthropy_and_the_free_market_in_education

Four million babies die every year simply due to an inability to maintain their own body temperature. Incubators can save lives, but traditionally cost up to $20,000 and require a constant supply of electricity—prohibitive demands in many parts of the developing world. Leveraging the power of social entrepreneurship, Jane Chen and a team of her Stanford Graduate School of Business classmates developed Embrace, a portable and electricity-free alternative sold at about 0.1% of the cost of current incubators. In this audio lecture Chen discusses the challenges and rewards of the development process, and shares her insights on the attitudes that allow entrepreneurs to find success. Jane Chen was speaking as part of the annual Women in Management banquet organized by the Stanford Business School Alumni Association. https://ssir.org/podcasts/entry/jane_chen_solving_infant_mortality_with_social_entrepreneurship

We often find ourselves driven to consume unhealthy or damaging foods without fully understanding what motivates these cravings. In contrast with the predominantly physiological research in his field, the work of David Kessler contends that the fat, sugar, and salt in our foods are also capable of altering our brain’s chemistry in ways that drive these powerful compulsions. In this audio lecture he investigates the marketing strategies of multinational food companies and the ways in which they can exploit these habits. Former FDA Commissioner and author of the 2009 book The End of Overeating, David Kessler raises important questions about how we define the cultural norm for food consumption, what role our government should play in regulating food companies, and what ultimately is at stake for the United States. He stresses the difficulty in breaking our bad nutritional habits and still finding successful business alternatives. David Kessler was speaking as part of the Global Health Speaker Series organized by

Wouldn’t it be amazing if you knew how to get people to act on their best intentions? Jennifer Lynn Aaker has spent most of her career researching the science of getting people to do the right thing. In this keynote session she confesses her frustrations when her students don’t remember the things that she believes are most important in the classes she teaches. So in one class she conducted a crowdsourced experiment which literally changed the way Jennifer views and thinks about social media. In her class one of her students gave her a set of slides that told a very compelling story. She shares that story and explains how it led her to come up with a new theory for creating infectious action. By sharing Sameer Bhatia’s and Vinay Chakravarthy’s stories, Aaker identifies four key parts to what she calls the Dragonfly Model. With these four ideals, she believes there is a repeatable method that we can follow to get people to take action, but perhaps even more important, to influence people to get others to take

Established over 60 years ago, the United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has used its scientific expertise to help people throughout the world live healthier, safer, and longer lives. Tackling issues across borders, the CDC’s focus on global health has seen progress in curbing the spread of infectious diseases, as well as made huge gains in finding long-lasting and low-cost preventative measures to combat non-communicable diseases.  In this audio lecture CDC Deputy Director for Policy and Communication Donald Shriber speaks about how the agency coordinates and manages its efforts and resources to effectively respond to emerging threats to global health.  This lecture was convened as part of the 2011 Global Health Series organized by the Stanford Global Health Center in partnership with the Stanford Graduate School of Business. https://ssir.org/podcasts/entry/donald_shriber_global_health_speaker_series