The Business Of

Hosted by AGSM | UNSW Business School

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Latest episode

Jun 2026

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EN-AU

About the show

Ever wondered what separates good businesses from great ones? The Business Of, from UNSW Business School, goes behind the headlines to explore the global forces, industry shifts and leadership challenges shaping business today. Host Dr Juliet Bourke speaks with leaders about technology, finance, marketing, consumer loyalty, AI and productivity, unpacking what truly drives successful businesses. Then Professor Barney Tan, Senior Deputy Dean at UNSW, breaks down the latest trends and ground-breaking research into strategies you can actually implement. Smart conversations. Fresh insights from leaders who've been there. This is The Business Of. Find out more - https://www.unsw.edu.au/business/our-schools/agsm/about-us/the-business-of-podcast https://www.businessthink.unsw.edu.au/

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 10, 202619 min

AI deepfakes - Could your reputation survive one?

It looks like your CEO. It sounds like your CEO. It isn't your CEO. And millions of people just watched it.  "You can easily just pay a subscription of $20 and create a fake of a brand," says UNSW Business School’s Associate Professor Eric Lim. That's the reality of a deepfake threat, and it’s already happening – from cloned voices to viral fake news reports.  A business can spend decades building its reputation, only for an AI clone to hijack it in seconds. Deepfakes are now so ingrained in our online world that it's hard to tell what's real, and what's a convincing scam.  You can't stop AI fakes from being made, and A/Prof. Lim says detection tools will always be one step behind. He says the strongest defence has nothing to do with technology, "you start with the individual, because that's the only defence that you can control."  +++   Want to hear more about how AI decides what you pay? Listen to our episode with Associate Professor Sam Kirshner.  The Business Of podcast is brought to you by UNSW Business School, produced with Deadset Studios. It’s hosted by Dr Juliet Bourke, and the transcript can be found on our website.  Want to follow the latest research and news from UNSW Business School and AGSM @ UNSW Business School? Subscribe to our industry stories at BusinessThink and follow UNSW Business School and AGSM on LinkedIn. Or listen to more episodes of The Business Of and subscribe to our UNSW Business School and AGSM channels on YouTube.  We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which this show was made. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 27, 202625 min

AI at work – Toby Walsh on the skills AI won’t replace

“The real threat isn’t a machine replacing you...it’s a competitor using AI to outpace you.”  If you’ve been weighing up how to bring AI into your workplace but are hesitant on how to do it, you aren’t alone.  Australia’s leading AI scientist, Scientia Professor Toby Walsh, Chief Scientist at the UNSW AI Institute says that, by handing AI your dull, repetitive tasks, you can focus on high-level decisions that actually drive growth.   Learn how to invest in an AI-literate workforce and why your human skills are about to become your most valuable asset.  +++  Interested in how AI is disrupting other industries?  Listen to our episode with UNSW alum Jackie Rabec, co-creator of ThinkMD ai, an app revolutionising healthcare.  The Business Of podcast is brought to you by the University of New South Wales Business School, produced with Deadset Studios. It’s hosted by Dr Juliet Bourke, and the transcript can be found on our website.  Want to follow the latest research and news from UNSW Business School and AGSM @ UNSW Business School? Subscribe to our industry stories at BusinessThink and follow UNSW Business School and AGSM on LinkedIn. Or listen to more episodes of The Business Of and subscribe to our UNSW Business School and AGSM channels on YouTube.  We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which this show was made. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 13, 202623 min

Work, interrupted - You're flexible. But are you focused?

Where do you typically log on for work?   For many people, it’s no longer a simple answer. A few days at home. A few in the office. A routine that shifts depending on the week, the workload, and when your dishwasher repair person is arriving.   Hybrid work promises more balance. But it also brought a new set of problems.  How do you stay focused when you are always contactable? How do you switch off when work is always within reach? And for leaders, how do you build a cohesive team, when your people are scattered?   UNSW Scientia Professor Manju Ahuja has spent years researching how flexible work is shaping decision-making and relationships, and how to reclaim the flexibility that was supposed to make work better.   +++  Interested in how to create better, healthier workplaces? Listen to our episode with UNSW Associate Professor Carlo Caponecchia on psychosocial safety at work.  The Business Of podcast is brought to you by the University of New South Wales Business School, produced with Deadset Studios. It’s hosted by Dr Juliet Bourke, and the transcript can be found on our website.  Want to follow the latest research and news from UNSW Business School and AGSM @ UNSW Business School? Subscribe to our industry stories at BusinessThink and follow UNSW Business School and AGSM on LinkedIn. Or listen to more episodes of The Business Of and subscribe to our UNSW Business School and AGSM channels on YouTube.  We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which this show was made. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

April 29, 202624 min

AFL coaching legend John Longmire on why motivation breaks down and how to fix it

At the start of the 2017 AFL season, the Swans were in serious trouble. After reaching the Grand Final the year before, expectations were sky‑high. Then came six straight losses. Confidence fell, pressure mounted, and nothing seemed to work.  So where do you begin as a leader when everything is going wrong?  Former @sydneyswans head coach John Longmire says a series of critical decisions helped turn the season around. He shares the non‑negotiables he relies on to motivate teams, rebuild belief, and create cultures that perform under pressure.  Now working with the Sydney Swans Institute, John partners with leaders across sport and business to lift performance and sustain it.  If you’re leading a team through uncertainty, or looking to raise your own performance, this episode offers a practical and proven leadership playbook.  +++  John Longmire is facilitating a special short course on leadership with AGSM at UNSW Business School on 12 May, 2026 – register here.  Interested in the business of sport? Listen to our episode with Drew Arthurson, Chief Operating Officer at Sydney Swans.  The Business Of podcast is brought to you by the University of New South Wales Business School, produced with Deadset Studios. It’s hosted by Dr Juliet Bourke, and the transcript can be found on our website.  Want to follow the latest research and news from UNSW Business School and AGSM @ UNSW Business School? Subscribe to our industry stories at BusinessThink and follow UNSW Business School and AGSM on LinkedIn. Or listen to more episodes of The Business Of and subscribe to our UNSW Business School and AGSM channels on YouTube.  We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which this show was made. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

December 3, 202523 min

Smarter ageing - how living longer is reshaping how we live and work

We’re living longer, but not all those years are healthy ones. In Australia, there’s now roughly a 12-year gap between how long we live and how long we live in good health – meaning many of us can expect a decade or more of life with health problems. So, how can we shrink that gap? UNSW Scientia Professor Kaarin Anstey is one of the world’s leading experts on cognitive ageing and dementia prevention. She explains why brain health is key to ageing well, and how demographic shifts are transforming workplaces and opening new markets in the ‘brain economy’. +++ The Business Of podcast is brought to you by the University of New South Wales Business School, produced with Deadset Studios. This episode is hosted by Dr Juliet Bourke, with insights from Professor Barney Tan. The transcript and show notes can be found on our website here. Listen to our episode with Aware Super’s Katrina McPhee here. Want to follow the latest research and news from UNSW Business School and AGSM @UNSW Business School and subscribe to our industry stories at BusinessThink and follow UNSW Business School and AGSM on LinkedIn. Or listen to new episodes of The Business Of and subscribe to our UNSW Business School and AGSM channels on YouTube. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which this show was made.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

November 19, 202527 min

Pampering our pets – Inside one of Australia's fastest-growing industries

Pet ownership is booming – and so is the business behind it.   From birthday parties for pets to organic food and premium grooming, consumers are spending big to keep their animals healthy and happy. So why are people so invested in their pets?   AGSM @ UNSW Business School MBA alumna Anneke van den Broek is the CEO and founder of premium pet-care brand Rufus & Coco. She explains our changing relationship with our pets and how it’s reshaping the multi-billion-dollar industry.   +++  The Business Of podcast is brought to you by the University of New South Wales Business School, produced with Deadset Studios.     This episode is hosted by Dr Juliet Bourke, with insights from Professor Barney Tan.    The transcript and show notes can be found on our website here.  Want to follow the latest research and news from UNSW Business School and AGSM @ UNSW Business School? Subscribe to our industry stories at BusinessThink and follow UNSW Business School and AGSM on LinkedIn. Or listen to more episodes of The Business Of and subscribe to our UNSW Business School and AGSM channels on YouTube.  We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which this show was made. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

November 5, 202524 min

Same product, different price – When AI decides how much you pay

What if you paid a different price for the same product – not because of demand, but because of your data. Prices change, whether it’s annual sales or seasonal variability. But what happens when AI sets the price – not just for the market, but for you? “The scope and the scale and the pervasiveness down to the individual with personalised pricing is pretty unprecedented.”  UNSW Associate Professor Sam Kirshner explores the trade-off between personalisation and privacy, and the importance of responsible AI use as companies employ new personalised pricing models.  +++ The Business Of podcast is brought to you by the University of New South Wales Business School, produced with Deadset Studios. This episode is hosted by Dr Juliet Bourke, with insights from Professor Barney Tan. The transcript and show notes can be found on our website here. Listen to our episode on how AI is reshaping the way we work with Professor Frederik Anseel here. Want to follow the latest research and news from UNSW Business School and AGSM @ UNSW Business School? Subscribe to our industry stories at BusinessThink and follow UNSW Business School and AGSM on LinkedIn. Or listen to new episodes of The Business Of and subscribe to our UNSW Business School and AGSM channels on YouTube. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which this show was made.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

October 22, 202527 min

Pocket Doctor – How the MedTech app is reshaping healthcare access

Millions of people lack access to reliable healthcare. Can technology help bridge global healthcare gaps? Dr Jackie Rabec (AGSM MBA 2020) is co-founder of MedTech company ThinkMD.ai, which builds tools that put a doctor’s expertise into the hands of frontline healthcare workers. She explains how the company is bridging health divides in low-income countries where doctors are scarce, and what technology could mean for healthcare all around the world. +++ The Business Of podcast is brought to you by the University of New South Wales Business School, produced with Deadset Studios. This episode is hosted by Dr Juliet Bourke, with insights from Professor Barney Tan. The transcript and show notes can be found on our website here. Listen to our episode with Australian med tech entrepreneur Hayley Saddington here. Want to follow the latest research and news from UNSW Business School and AGSM @ UNSW Business School? Subscribe to our industry stories at BusinessThink and follow UNSW Business School and AGSM on LinkedIn. Or listen to new episodes of The Business Of and subscribe to our UNSW Business School and AGSM channels on YouTube. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which this show was made.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

October 8, 202523 min

Burnout is holding us back – Here’s how to beat it

Burnout has gone from a buzzword to a business risk.   According to the latest Women’s Agenda Ambitions Report, 72% of women say they’ve experienced burnout in the past year. It’s no longer just a personal struggle—it’s a workplace crisis. So what’s driving this rising tide of exhaustion?   Angela Priestley, co-founder of independent news platform Women’s Agenda, shares the findings of their 2025 report, exposing the pressures pushing employees to breaking point and what leaders can do to stop it.  +++  The Business Of podcast is brought to you by the University of New South Wales Business School, produced with Deadset Studios.   This episode is hosted by Dr Juliet Bourke, with insights from Professor Barney Tan.  The transcript and show notes can be found on our website here.  You can read the full 2025 Women’s Ambition Report here.  Want to follow the latest research and news from UNSW Business School and AGSM @ UNSW Business School? Subscribe to our industry stories at BusinessThink and follow UNSW Business School and AGSM on LinkedIn.   We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which this show was made. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

September 24, 202523 min

Reaping the rewards – The promises and pitfalls of loyalty programs

That satisfying ding when you scan your rewards card. The little thrill of watching points accumulate. The smug satisfaction of using miles for a "free" flight. Sound familiar?  We're all players in the massive loyalty program game—whether we're collecting coffee stamps, airline miles, or cashback percentages. But here's the million-point question: Who's really winning?  Is that loyalty card in your wallet a golden ticket to genuine value, or are you just a willing participant in the most sophisticated customer retention scheme ever devised?  Steve Hui, founder of iFLYflat, explains the psychology behind those irresistible point systems, the real mathematics of "free" rewards, and the critical difference between programs that genuinely reward customers versus those that incentivise loyalty more than deliver true benefit.   +++  The Business Of podcast is brought to you by the University of New South Wales Business School, produced with Deadset Studios.   This episode is hosted by Dr Juliet Bourke, with insights from Professor Barney Tan.  The transcript and show notes can be found on our website here.  Want to follow the latest research and news from UNSW Business School and AGSM @ UNSW Business School? Subscribe to our industry stories at BusinessThink and follow UNSW Business School and AGSM on LinkedIn.   We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which this show was made. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.