The Parlor Room

Hosted by Harvard Business School Online

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Jun 2026

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Join host and Harvard Business School Online Creative Director Chris Linnane as he sits down with HBS faculty to discuss business education in a way that’s both entertaining and insightful. The Parlor Room is your key to breaking down academic theory without sacrificing depth—all while gaining practical takeaways for navigating the business world.

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36 recent

June 17, 202612 min

Compilation Episode (Part 6): Where AI Surprises Us

In this compilation episode of The Parlor Room Presents: Hello AI, host and Harvard Business School Online Creative Director Chris Linnane explores one of AI’s most intriguing qualities: its ability to surprise us. Featuring HBS professors Nien-hê Hsieh, Christina Wallace, and Jake Cook, the conversation examines how AI is changing the way people work, create, and solve problems. From uncovering new approaches to complex challenges to empowering nontechnical professionals to build and experiment, the episode highlights unexpected lessons about innovation, creativity, and human potential in an AI-driven world. GUESTS Nien-hê Hsieh, Kim B. Clark Professor of Business Administration Christina Wallace, Senior Lecturer of Business Administration Jake Cook, Lecturer of Business Administration RESOURCES Nien-hê Hsieh on Ethical AI, Decision-Making, and Investing ⁠Christina Wallace on Developing an Entrepreneurial Mindset⁠⁠ Christina Wallace on AI and Entrepreneurship

June 10, 20261 hr 17 min

Felix Oberholzer-Gee on Winning with AI

In this episode of The Parlor Room Presents: Hello AI, host and Harvard Business School Online Creative Director Chris Linnane speaks with HBS Professor Felix Oberholzer-Gee about AI’s impact on productivity, jobs, and competitive advantage. He explains how organizations can use AI to create lasting value, why human judgment remains essential, and what the future of work may look like in an AI-powered economy. GUEST Felix Oberholzer-Gee, Andreas Andresen Professor of Business Administration RESOURCES Learn more from Oberholzer-Gee in the HBS Online credential, Core Business Essentials And the HBS Online course, Business Strategy Catch up on previous episodes of The Parlor Room, featuring Oberholzer-Gee: Felix Oberholzer-Gee on the Frameworks of Business Strategy

June 3, 202620 min

Compilation Episode (Part 5): Will AI Take My Job?

In this compilation episode of The Parlor Room Presents: Hello AI, host and Harvard Business School Online Creative Director Chris Linnane explores one of the most pressing questions facing professionals today: Will AI take my job? Featuring HBS Professors Nien-hê Hsieh, Christina Wallace, Joe Fuller, and Iavor Bojinov, the conversation examines how AI is reshaping organizations, changing the nature of work, and influencing hiring, management, and trust. From the rise of AI-powered startups to the challenges of adoption, ethics, and inequality, the episode offers practical insights into how professionals can navigate an AI-driven future and adapt to the evolving workplace. GUESTS Nien-hê Hsieh, Kim B. Clark Professor of Business Administration Christina Wallace, Senior Lecturer of Business Administration Joseph Fuller, MBA Class of 1960 Professor of Management Practice Iavor Bojinov, James Dinan and Elizabeth Miller Associate Professor of Business Administration RESOURCES Catch up on previous episodes of The Parlor Room, featuring faculty from this compilation episode: Nien-hê Hsieh on Ethical AI, Decision-Making, and Investing ⁠Christina Wallace on Developing an Entrepreneurial Mindset⁠⁠ Christina Wallace on AI and Entrepreneurship ⁠Joe Fuller on AI and Rethinking Work ⁠⁠Iavor Bojinov on AI Adoption, Trust, and Decision-Making⁠

May 27, 20261 hr 26 min

Christina Wallace on AI and Entrepreneurship

In this episode of The Parlor Room Presents: Hello AI, host and Harvard Business School Online Creative Director Chris Linnane speaks with HBS Professor Christina Wallace about how AI is transforming entrepreneurship and creativity. Wallace explains how founders are using AI to accelerate customer research, prototyping, branding, and operations—and why judgment, originality, and proprietary insight matter more than ever. She also explores the risks of overreliance on AI-generated work, the pressure AI places on artists and creators, and why rising expectations are redefining what it takes to stand out. GUEST Christina Wallace, Senior Lecturer of Business Administration RESOURCES Catch up on previous episodes of The Parlor Room, featuring Christina Wallace: ⁠⁠Christina Wallace on Developing an Entrepreneurial Mindset⁠⁠ Compilation Episode (Part 2): Early Career Advice for Building AI and Human Skills Compilation Episode (Part 4): How Mid-Career Professionals Can Lead and Grow With AI Plus: Explore Wallace's online course: Entrepreneurial Marketing

May 20, 202629 min

Compilation Episode (Part 4): How Mid-Career Professionals Can Lead and Grow With AI

In this compilation episode of The Parlor Room Presents: Hello AI, host and Harvard Business School Online Creative Director Chris Linnane gathers HBS faculty to share actionable advice for mid-career professionals navigating the AI landscape. Featuring professors Christina Wallace, Jake Cook, Iavor Bojinov, and Joe Fuller, the conversation explores how mid-career professionals can build AI fluency, apply their domain expertise, and create value in a rapidly evolving workplace. From identifying entrepreneurial opportunities to experimenting with AI tools and leading organizational change, guests share what it takes to stay adaptable, relevant, and competitive in an AI-driven future. GUESTS Christina Wallace, Senior Lecturer of Business Administration Jake Cook, Lecturer of Business Administration Iavor Bojinov, James Dinan and Elizabeth Miller Associate Professor of Business Administration Joseph Fuller, MBA Class of 1960 Professor of Management Practice RESOURCES Catch up on previous episodes of The Parlor Room, featuring faculty from this compilation episode: ⁠Christina Wallace on Developing an Entrepreneurial Mindset⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Iavor Bojinov on AI Adoption, Trust, and Decision-Making⁠ ⁠Joe Fuller on AI and Rethinking Work

May 13, 202642 min

Sunil Gupta on Marketing in the Age of AI

In this episode of The Parlor Room Presents: Hello AI, host and Harvard Business School Online Creative Director Chris Linnane speaks with HBS Professor Sunil Gupta about how AI is reshaping marketing. Gupta explains how generative AI is changing content creation, customer targeting, and brand strategy—and why marketers must go beyond efficiency to create meaningful differentiation. He also explores the evolving role of human judgment, the risks of over-automation, and what it takes to build trust in an AI-driven landscape. GUEST Sunil Gupta, Edward W. Carter Professor of Business Administration RESOURCES Learn more from Professor Sunil Gupta in the HBS Online course, Digital Marketing Strategy. Catch up on previous episodes of The Parlor Room, featuring Sunil Gupta: Sunil Gupta on Data-Driven Digital Marketing Strategies Compilation Episode (Part 3): Mid-Career Strategies for Thriving in an AI-Driven Workplace Related HBS Online Blog Posts: 4 Important Human Skills AI Can’t Replace How AI Training Can Help You Compete in Your Industry What Is a Customer Journey Map? Examples & Process

May 6, 202618 min

Compilation Episode (Part 3): Mid-Career Strategies for Thriving in an AI-Driven Workplace

In this compilation episode of The Parlor Room Presents: Hello AI, host and Harvard Business School Online Creative Director Chris Linnane gathers HBS faculty to share actionable advice for mid-career professionals. Featuring Professors Felix Oberholzer-Gee, Nien-hê Hsieh, Sunil Gupta, and Linda Hill, the conversation explores how to stay relevant in an AI-driven workplace by embracing new tools, building human skills, and adopting a “wayfinder” mindset to grow and create value. GUESTS Felix Oberholzer-Gee, Andreas Andresen Professor of Business Administration Nien-hê Hsieh, Kim B. Clark Professor of Business Administration Sunil Gupta, Edward W. Carter Professor of Business Administration Linda Hill, Wallace Brett Donham Professor of Business Administration RESOURCES Catch up on previous episodes of The Parlor Room: Nien-hê Hsieh on Ethical AI, Decision-Making, and Investing Felix Oberholzer-Gee on the Frameworks of Business Strategy Sunil Gupta on Data-Driven Digital Marketing Strategies Linda Hill on Leading Through AI-Driven Change

April 29, 20261 hr 0 min

Joe Fuller on AI and Rethinking Work

In this episode of The Parlor Room Presents: Hello AI, host and Harvard Business School Online Creative Director Chris Linnane speaks with HBS Professor Joe Fuller about how AI is transforming the future of work. Fuller explains why organizations must rethink how work gets done—rather than simply adding AI to existing processes—and what it takes to build the skills and structures needed to use it effectively. GUEST Joseph Fuller, MBA Class of 1960 Professor of Management Practice RESOURCES Learn more from Professor Joe Fuller in the HBS Online course, Management Essentials. Related HBS Online Blog Posts: How Managers Are Using AI to Make Smarter Decisions AI-Powered Business Process Automation: When to Automate vs. Augment A Guide to Increasing Your Workplace Productivity with AI

April 22, 202614 min

Compilation Episode (Part 2): Early Career Advice for Building AI and Human Skills

In this compilation episode of The Parlor Room Presents: Hello AI, host and Harvard Business School Online Creative Director Chris Linnane gathers HBS faculty to share actionable advice for early-career professionals. Featuring Professors Nien-hê Hsieh, Christina Wallace, Joe Fuller, and Iavor Bojinov, the conversation explores how to build skills, develop expertise, and create value while working alongside AI. From using AI tools effectively to strengthening human skills like communication, curiosity, and empathy, faculty share what it takes to adapt, grow, and stand out in today’s evolving workplace. GUESTS Nien-hê Hsieh, Kim B. Clark Professor of Business Administration Christina Wallace, Senior Lecturer of Business Administration Joseph Fuller, MBA Class of 1960 Professor of Management Practice Iavor Bojinov, James Dinan and Elizabeth Miller Associate Professor of Business Administration RESOURCES Catch up on previous episodes of The Parlor Room, featuring faculty from this compilation episode: Nien-hê Hsieh on Ethical AI, Decision-Making, and Investing Christina Wallace on Developing an Entrepreneurial Mindset Iavor Bojinov on AI Adoption, Trust, and Decision-Making You can also watch The Parlor Room on YouTube.

April 15, 20261 hr 4 min

Linda Hill on Leading Through AI-Driven Change

In this episode of The Parlor Room Presents: Hello AI, host and Harvard Business School Online Creative Director Chris Linnane speaks with HBS Professor Linda Hill about why AI adoption depends on more than technology. Drawing on her research, Hill explains why leaders must rethink the way work gets done, teams collaborate, and organizations build the trust and capabilities to use AI effectively—and why the most successful companies treat AI as an opportunity to redesign work, not just automate it. GUEST Linda A. Hill, Wallace Brett Donham Professor of Business Administration RESOURCES Learn more from Hill in her course Leading in the Digital World, which is part of HBS Online's Learn more from Hill in her course Leading in the Digital World, which is part of HBS Online's Credential of Leadership, Impact, and Management in Business (CLIMB) and the Credential of Digital Innovation and Strategy Catch up on the previous Parlor Room episode, Linda Hill on Leading Change and the Paradoxes of Management Check out Hill's book mentioned in this episode, Collective GeniusCheck out Hill's book mentioned in this episode, Collective Genius Related HBS Online Blog Posts: 5 Digital Leadership Skills That Can Help Advance Your Career 3 Tips to Help You Lead in the Digital World AI-Powered Business Process Automation: When to Automate vs. Augment