We believe curious leaders change the world. At Caltech Executive Education we work with CEOs and Leadership teams to build future-centric leadership capabilities at the intersection of business models, technology, and organization. Curious & Cuirky is about fast-paced conversations from the Course Leaders of Caltech Executive Education interpreting the latest in business through the lens of Platform Strategy, Innovation, Agility, Supply Chain, Marketing, Human Resources, and much more. Hosted by Tim Boyd CMTE website: ctme.caltech.edu Contact email: execed@caltech.edu
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May 26, 20261 hr 2 min
Innovation with the Power of Three; Why People are Talking Less in 2026; What are Private Microgrids?
Curious & Cuirky, our monthly live webcast, unites provocative thought leaders from Caltech Executive Education. Together they unpack innovation, and explore fresh takes on how to turn creativity into business growth. This isn't your grandfather's podcast. We poke fun at conventional wisdom while sharing insights on the hottest happenings in business, technology, culture and current events.
In our May 15, 2026 webcast, we explored these topics:
• Bringing the power of three to innovation
• Private microgrids… building behind-the-meter power assets to support growth
• Why are people talking 28% less in 2026 than in 2025?
Listen and watch as Mary Abbazia, Tom Spitale, Tim Boyd, Ginny Ertl, Alan Dunn and Bryan Mattimore shared their discoveries and expertise on marketing, logistics, leadership, business trends, science and more—and how these affect you in every area of your life.
And be sure to join us the third Friday of each month at 8:00 am Pacific Time for a new, lively webcast where you can participate and ask questions. Or just sit quietly and enjoy your morning cup of brew.
April 22, 202654 min
How do neologisms shape what we notice and influence what we talk about? What is the most epic chip building exercise in history? What can a ridiculous idea teach us about leadership?
Curious & Cuirky, Caltech CTME’s monthly live webcasts unpacks innovation and shares fresh insights on the most vital trends in technology-driven environments, always getting to the big why—examining thought processes, choices and implications.
We ask the important questions like:
🔎 How do neologisms shape what we notice and influence what we talk about?
💻 What is the most epic chip building exercise in history?
📋 What can a ridiculous idea teach us about leadership?
⚡Thought leaders from Caltech Executive Education (Mary Abbazia, Tom Spitale, Tim Boyd, Ginny Ertl, Alan Dunn and Bryan Mattimore) share their discoveries and expertise on business, culture, current events, science and more—and how these affect you at home, on the road, at work, and maybe even a dinner party.
Grab a cup of joe, sit back, watch, learn and be delighted.
March 23, 20261 hr 4 min
The battle among Netflix, Warner Bros and Paramount; What do Lady Gaga, Ben Franklin, Muhammad Ali, Winston Churchill, and Donald Trump have in common and more
Welcome to Curious & Cuirky, our monthly live webcast hosted by Caltech CTME (Center for Technology and Management Education) where we explore what truly makes moments of inspiration happen.
In our March 20, 2026 edition, our Caltech CTME Education Experts (Tom Spitale, Bryan Mattimore, Tim Boyd, Ginny Ertl, Alan Dunn) and special guest Kevin Noertker presented emerging ideas on trending business, tech, marketing and cultural topics.
They discussed:
✅ The battle among Netflix, Warner Bros and Paramount: what really happened
✅ What an apple and a centuries old library teach can us about innovation and discovery
✅ What do Lady Gaga, Ben Franklin, Muhammad Ali, Winston Churchill, and Donald Trump have in common?
✅ The next choke point in the global economy sits beneath salt flats.
Always interesting, always "cuirky" and curious. Enjoy this live replay of our March 2026 webcast. You'll walk away with a unique perspective on how to manage business challenges and stimulate your creativity.
February 24, 202657 min
How a hot dog built an empire - Why male birth control might actually work this time - Blockchain + Tuna = A better world -Creative ways to build resilience beyond the usual playbook.
n these fascinating round-table webinars, our education experts present emerging ideas on compelling business-related topics in talks of 5-10 minutes each. Then in an open discussion, they expand on their topics, inviting questions from attendees.
This month we explore how small signals turn into big shifts:
1. 🌭 How a hot dog built an empire: Why Costco’s smallest promise became its strongest strategy.
2. 💊 Why male birth control might actually work this time.
3. 🐟 Blockchain + Tuna = A better world
4. 📘 Creative ways to build resilience beyond the usual playbook.
Different industries. Unexpected connections. One common thread: strategy lives in the promises we make.
Always interesting, always "cuirky" and curious.
January 26, 202659 min
National Nothing Day - What Was That Again? - Leading Like You're Five
Curious & Cuirky, crafted by Caltech CTME, is an engaging monthly live webcast series bringing curious thought leaders from Caltech Executive Education together to share fresh insights on the hottest and most innovative news in business, culture, technology, enterprise, and creative expression.
In these fascinating round-table webinars, our education experts present emerging ideas on compelling business-related topics in lightning talks of 5-10 minutes each. Then in an open discussion, they expand on their topics, inviting questions from attendees. Always interesting, always "cuirky" and curious. You'll walk away with unique perspectives that stimulate your creativity!
Here's what we'll be talking about...
Nothing Day
National Nothing Day
In 1972, journalist Harold Pullman Coffin created National Nothing Day, a “non-event” observed every January 16th by “doing nothing.” Turns out, unless you’re contemplating black holes or a Seinfeld episode, thinking about nothing is hard. Let’s consider five somethings for nothing.
January 2026
What Was That Again?
From Ozempic to Cancer-Detecting Dogs: Why Smart Companies Still Get Signals Wrong
Using examples ranging from Ozempic’s impact on restaurants, to Barnes & Noble’s response to Amazon, we'll show you the difference between strategic success and overreaction.
Jan 2026
Leading Like You're Five
How do curiosity, honesty, and play build better leaders? Instead of demanding answers, curious leaders ask questions; instead of pretending to know, they admit uncertainty; and instead of rigid processes, they encourage playful experimentation, creating an environment where everyone feels empowered to contribute, learn, and innovate.
Curious & Cuirky, crafted by Caltech CTME, is an engaging monthly live webcast series bringing curious thought leaders from Caltech Executive Education together to share fresh insights on the hottest and most innovative news in business, culture, technology, enterprise, and creative expression.
In these fascinating round-table webinars, our education experts present emerging ideas on compelling business-related topics in lightning talks of 5-10 minutes each. Then in an open discussion, they expand on their topics, inviting questions from attendees. Always interesting, always "cuirky" and curious. You'll walk away with unique perspectives that stimulate your creativity!
Here's what we'll be talking about...
Time Mag 2025 Inventions
Best Inventions of 2025!
Time Magazine’s 100 Best Inventions!
Let's imagine what might have inspired some of 2025's most innovative inventions including: How to help cows burp less, wishing for a pacemaker you can inject into babies that also happens to be smaller than a grain of rice! Curious? Let’s get inventing!
Netflix Paramount Comcast
High Stakes 'War Game'
The unfolding battle among Netflix, Warner Bros., and Paramount is a real-time strategy playing out on the global media stage. We'll break down this ‘War Game’ in action—and what it teaches organizations about navigating disruption and simulating strategic options using AI and War Gaming techniques.
DoJ Security Transportation
Transportation of Evidence
Within the Department of Justice (DoJ) is a specialized logistics niche where security, compliance, and precision take precedence over speed or cost. We'll explore the critical role of chain of custody, tamper-proof packaging, and secure supply chains in preserving evidentiary integrity.
December 2, 202547 min
How to converge ideas with practical approaches.
Curious & Quirky unpacks innovation and gives you a fresh take on what leaders and teams get right...mostly. Our webcast series unites provocative thought leaders from Caltech Executive Education as they share fresh insights on the hottest happenings in the technology-driven business to get to the big why—examining thought processes, choices, and implications.
In our November 21 livestream webcast we discuss a wide range of compelling topics in business, culture, current events, science, and technology. See how to converge ideas with practical approaches.
October 22, 202555 min
Tough Decision:Panic or Execute? - Writing is rewriting:Writing is Rewriting - Finding your Brand:Where's Your Brand
Bridging the Gap Between Research and Leadership
Welcome to the Making AI Possible Podcast—your monthly deep dive into the latest breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and how they’re shaping the world around us. Produced at Caltech in Pasadena, California, this series features in-depth conversations with the people driving AI innovation forward. This podcast series features the latest AI advancements with some of the brightest minds in the field, such as groundbreaking research from AI industry leaders, labs here on campus, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), which Caltech manages for NASA.
In our October 7 session of Making AI Possible, Director of AI Programs, Nicholas Beaudoin, sits down with Dr. Crystal Dilworth, Caltech PhD, global science communicator, and host of the 100+ year Watson Lecture series, about the evolving intersection of science communication and artificial intelligence. They discuss what AI can and cannot solve in bridging the gap between research and leadership, share stories of AI as both a personal collaborator and a team thought partner, and explore how AI systems carry cultural assumptions into the workplace and beyond. From training scientists to lead in entrepreneurial spaces, to weighing whether enterprise AI choices reflect or reshape organizational values, this conversation challenges us to consider how the tools we deploy shape the future we want to build.
Dr. Crystal Dilworth, AAAS IF/THEN Ambassador for STEM, is an international voice for science, strategic communicator, and non-profit board member. She received her PhD from the Caltech division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering in 2014 and for the last decade has worked as a science communicator, television correspondent, and start-up advisor. She is host of the historic Watson Lectures series at Caltech, and can also be found on networks including Voice of America, Al Jazeera, and CBS. Off-screen, Dr. Dilworth works closely with academic groups and early stage start-ups, training faculty and founders in public speaking, leadership communication, and storytelling. She is an advisor for the AI working group of the Future Talent Council, helping build best practices for AI integration into higher ed and executive leadership environments, and the start-up software company Instill.ai, building the world's first AI powered "culture operating system". ♦
As Caltech CTME's Affiliate Director of AI Programs, Nicholas Beaudoin intersects strategic program development with hands-on curriculum design, positioning AI/ML education programs at the forefront of technological transformation. Leading the AI programs at Caltech's Center for Technology & Management Education, Nicholas' focus is on delivering impactful learning experiences tailored to a diverse clientele, including private and public sectors, as well as government and non-profit organizations
September 4, 202557 min
Relax and unwind-Harley Davidson motorcycle-Supply Chain Management
Curious & Cuirky, crafted by Caltech, is an engaging monthly Zoom series bringing curious thought leaders from Caltech Executive Education together to share fresh insights on the hottest and most innovative news in the business world.
In these fascinating round-table webinars, our education experts present emerging ideas on compelling business topics in lightning talks of 5-10 minutes each. Then in an open discussion, they expand on their topics, inviting questions from attendees. Always interesting, always "cuirky" and curious. You'll walk away with a unique perspective on how to manage business challenges and stimulate your creativity. You won't want to miss it!
Here's what we'll be talking about...
Relax and unwind
Relaaaax!
August 15th is National Relaxation Day. In Bryan Mattimore’s new book, Genius at Your Side, Solving Everyday Problems with Help from History’s Greats, our great coach, Walt Whitman, gives us advice on how to stop rushing through life: "loafe at ease, observing a spear of summer grass."
Harley Davidson motorcycle
Born to Be Wild
From Tattoos to Turnaround: Harley-Davidson was once the ultimate symbol of brand devotion—customers even tattooed their logo on their bodies! But the brand has drifted from its core identity, illustrating the cost of losing strategic focus and customer alignment.
Supply Chain Management
Getting it Right
McMurdo Station is America’s Antarctic research station located on the southern tip of Ross Island. Its remote location and harsh climate demand exceptional supply chain management. Global supply chains that cannot fail may learn valuable lessons from this science outpost.
June 26, 20251 hr 0 min
Open Sesame - AI Technology Fog - Tariff Lessons - June 2025
Curious & Cuirky, crafted by Caltech, is an engaging monthly Zoom series bringing curious thought leaders from Caltech Executive Education together to share fresh insights on the hottest and most innovative news in the business world.In these fascinating round-table webinars, our education experts present emerging ideas on compelling business topics in lightning talks of 5-10 minutes each. Then in an open discussion, they expand on their topics, inviting questions from attendees. Always interesting, always "cuirky" and curious. You'll walk away with a unique perspective on how to manage business challenges and stimulate your creativity. You won't want to miss it!Here's what we'll be talking about...Open SesameThe Gate Was There for a ReasonWe delve into lessons in career growth, discipline, and dad wisdom—honoring the long path and those who taught us to walk it. AI Technology FogIn today’s AI gold rush, it’s easy to lose sight of strategy in the stampede for tools. We'll explore how history’s tech missteps offer the clarity we need to navigate in today’s AI-driven fog. Tariff LessonsPerhaps historical tariff lessons can clarify some of the predicted consequences and eventual outcomes of today's tariff climate. Are you ready to sleep more soundly?
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