The Provocateurs

Hosted by Thinkers50 & Deloitte

BusinessInterviews guests

Website RSS feed

Episodes

Latest episode

Jul 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Provocateurs offer fresh insights, novel perspectives and unique ways forward in the face of uncertainty. A collaboration between Thinkers50 and Deloitte, the monthly Provocateurs podcast gives you direct access to the thoughts, experiences, stories and insights of remarkable leaders from around the world. The aim is simple: to provoke you to think and act differently through candid and thought provoking conversations with fantastic leaders.

Listen to episodes

46 recent

July 16, 2026Episode 4550 min

Spencer Glendon: What’s Not in the Model

What happens when the biggest risk to business isn’t in the model? Most financial models have a silent assumption buried at their core: that the climate will stay stable. Spencer Glendon spent nearly two decades in investment research identifying what others missed. His search for hidden assumptions led him to discover that climate stability underpins virtually every business model, yet most leaders still treat climate as a specialist issue rather than a core strategic concern. In conversation with Des Dearlove and Steve Goldbach, Spencer explores: why climate belongs in the boardroom, not in a box why markets have been so slow to price climate risk how to turn abstract climate science into practical decisions As the founder of Probable Futures , Spencer translates complex climate models into accessible tools, helping leaders understand probable future, rather than distant challenges or apocalyptic scenarios. This podcast is part of an ongoing series of interviews with executives. The executives’ participation in this podcast are solely for educational purposes based on their knowledge of the subject and the views expressed by them are solely their own. This podcast should not be deemed or construed to be for the purpose of soliciting business for any of the companies mentioned, nor does Deloitte advocate or endorse the services or products provided by these companies.

June 18, 2026Episode 4436 min

Samuel Monnie: The Case for Values-Driven Growth

What if the biggest problem with marketing today is the way we’ve been taught to think about it? Samuel Monnie , once a “reformed marketer” but now “marketing reformer,” argues that traditional marketing frameworks like the 4Ps (product, price, place, promotion) no longer reflect the world we live in. Instead, we should look towards a more human model: purpose, people, progress, and prosperity. Purpose: driving more inclusive, equitable outcomes – and positive impact People: leading with compassion, creativity, and connection Progress: creating better solutions that raise the bar for everyone Prosperity: building systems where business, society, and nature can thrive In this episode he explains why aligning business with values is not just ethical but a commercial imperative. He brings the data to dispel the myth that profit and purpose are in conflict. And explores how organizations can “learn, unlearn, and relearn,” embracing curiosity, listening more deeply to customers and employees, and focusing on progress over perfection. Samuel is co-founder and co-CEO of New York-based Purpose Hive . He has led brand and business growth at companies including Braun, Campbell's, Grainger, Safeway, Proctor & Gamble, and Sustainable Brands. This podcast is part of an ongoing series of interviews with executives. The executives’ participation in this podcast are solely for educational purposes based on their knowledge of the subject and the views expressed by them are solely their own. This podcast should not be deemed or construed to be for the purpose of soliciting business for any of the companies mentioned, nor does Deloitte advocate or endorse the services or products provided by these companies.

April 16, 2026Episode 4338 min

André Hoffmann: Profit Alone is No Measure of Success

What if the real purpose of business is not simply to make money, but to serve humanity? André Hoffmann is vice chairman of Roche Holding, co-founder of Intent , board member of the World Economic Forum, and co-author of The New Nature of Business: The Path to Prosperity and Sustainability . In this rich conversation with Thinkers50 CEO Mikko Leskelä and Kulleni Gebreyes, vice chair and US life sciences and healthcare industry leader at Deloitte, André challenges the traditional view that financial capital alone defines success. Instead, leaders must recognise: Three other forms of capital: natural, social, and human Why being an environmentalist and a capitalist is not a contradiction Nature is our life support system; if we destroy it, we destroy ourselves It's not how you spend the money that matters, it's how you make it Business should and can be a force for good in solving humanity’s biggest problems Discover how leaders can align profit and purpose, prosperity and sustainability, and ultimately become good ancestors. This podcast is part of an ongoing series of interviews with executives. The executives’ participation in this podcast are solely for educational purposes based on their knowledge of the subject and the views expressed by them are solely their own. This podcast should not be deemed or construed to be for the purpose of soliciting business for any of the companies mentioned, nor does Deloitte advocate or endorse the services or products provided by these companies.

March 18, 2026Episode 4243 min

Cécile Béliot: Business Without Sustainability Has No Future

Cécile Béliot is the first female CEO of Bel Group, known for iconic cheese brands The Laughing Cow, Babybel, and Boursin, as well as GoGo squeeZ fruit pouches. As only the second executive from outside the founding family to lead the 150-year-old company, she shares how she’s honoring legacy while driving transformation in today’s challenging environment – proving that companies can deliver both profitability and sustainability. Cécile defines sustainability through two interconnected pillars: social impact for providers (fair wages, financing the transition to regenerative farming) and facilitating healthy eating habits for consumers. To embed this vision at the company’s core, Bel transformed the Chief Financial Officer role into Chief Global Impact Officer – a bold move that changed how the entire organization thinks about performance and accountability. Cécile’s provocation to business leaders everywhere is simple but powerful. Put an "AND" in everything you do. Not short-term or long-term. Not purpose or profit. Companies that embrace the “AND” – managing the tensions rather than choosing sides – unlock innovation, collaboration, and the ecosystem transformation needed to thrive today and tomorrow. This podcast is part of an ongoing series of interviews with executives. The executives’ participation in this podcast are solely for educational purposes based on their knowledge of the subject and the views expressed by them are solely their own. This podcast should not be deemed or construed to be for the purpose of soliciting business for any of the companies mentioned, nor does Deloitte advocate or endorse the services or products provided by these companies.

February 5, 2026Episode 4129 min

Episode 41: Frances Frei

Frances Frei: Why Speed Doesn't Have to Break Things Frances Frei is a professor of technology and operations management at Harvard Business School and, together with her partner Anne Morriss , is the bestselling author of Uncommon Service: How to Win by Putting Customers at the Core of Your Business ; Unleashed: The Unapologetic Leader's Guide to Empowering Everyone Around You ; and Move Fast & Fix Things: The Trusted Leader’s Guide to Solving Hard Problems . Frances and Anne are #7 in the Thinkers50 Ranking . In this episode, Frances reveals the three pillars that define the architecture of trust, three key mistakes repeatedly made by organizations, and why "move fast and break things" is actually slower than moving fast and fixing things. Discover: Why every trust breakdown can be traced to one of three dimensions: authenticity, logic, or empathy Why you should look beyond the “usual suspects” when solving big problems and invite more “unusual suspects" to the table Why AI struggles with trust – and the crucial difference between engagement and empathy This conversation took place in London’s historic Guildhall during the Thinkers50 London Summit & Awards Gala in November 2025, with Frances joining Provocateurs hosts Steve Goldbach, leader of Deloitte’s Sustainability Business in the US, and Stuart Crainer, co-founder of Thinkers50. This podcast is part of an ongoing series of interviews with executives. The executives’ participation in this podcast are solely for educational purposes based on their knowledge of the subject and the views expressed by them are solely their own. This podcast should not be deemed or construed to be for the purpose of soliciting business for any of the companies mentioned, nor does Deloitte advocate or endorse the services or products provided by these companies.

January 15, 2026Episode 4034 min

Episode 40: Dan Pink

Dan Pink: Why Leaders Keep Getting Motivation Wrong (and How to Fix It) Daniel Pink is one of the world's foremost authorities on work motivation and human behavior. His seven best-selling books include Drive , To Sell Is Human , When , The Power of Regret , and A Whole New Mind . Recorded in London’s historic Guildhall during the Thinkers50 London Summit & Awards Gala in November 2025, this conversation features Dan in dialogue with Provocateurs hosts Des Dearlove, Thinkers50 co-founder, and Geoff Tuff, Deloitte’s Global and US Sustainability Leader for Energy, Resources, and Industrials. In this episode we discover: Why traditional “carrot and stick” motivators don’t work at work – and the three reasons organizations still cling to them The three key forces that genuinely drive human performance: autonomy, mastery, and purpose The three blind spots preventing leaders from unleashing these forces in their organizations Dan also challenges the tendency towards dehumanization in leadership and reveals how the emotion of regret, when properly harnessed, can transform leaders into better negotiators, problem solvers, and strategists. He leaves us with one provocative question every executive should ask before making major decisions: What will the you of ten years from now think about what you're about to do? This podcast is part of an ongoing series of interviews with executives. The executives’ participation in this podcast are solely for educational purposes based on their knowledge of the subject and the views expressed by them are solely their own. This podcast should not be deemed or construed to be for the purpose of soliciting business for any of the companies mentioned, nor does Deloitte advocate or endorse the services or products provided by these companies.

December 29, 2025Episode 3943 min

Episode 39: Reflections 2025

Steve Goldbach, Geoff Tuff, and Kulleni Gebreyes of Deloitte join Stuart Crainer and Des Dearlove of Thinkers50 to reflect on their highlights and insights from the 2025 Provocateurs series. Featuring in-depth conversations with leaders and innovators, the 2025 Provocateurs explored pressing topics from sustainability and space exploration to digital health, public policy, and food systems innovation. Throughout the series, compelling stories emerged that illustrate the power of systems thinking, reframing narratives, and leadership under pressure. We heard about seaweed and rum in Barbados: a circular economy success story combining waste products to create fuel. We learned how modulating electrical motors reframes sustainability as efficiency, delivering rapid returns on investment. And we listened as astronaut Eileen Collins described the extreme pressure of an aborted rocket launch, exemplifying agility and preparation as the essence of leadership. The 2025 Provocateurs guests included: Weslynne Ashton , sustainable systems scientist at the Illinois Institute of Technology Katie McGinty , VP and Chief Sustainability Officer at Johnson Controls Rajendra Pratap Gupta , founder of the Global Digital Health Summit Karthik Ramanna , from Oxford University's Blavatnik School of Government Eileen Collins , the first female space shuttle commander Selassie Atadika , award-winning chef, chocolatier, and innovator Anke Hampel , Chief Sustainability Officer at ABB * recorded live at Climate Week New York * Natalie Nixon , author of The Creativity Leap and Move. Think. Rest . What were your key take-aways from our 2025 Provocateurs? This podcast is part of an ongoing series of interviews with executives. The executives’ participation in this podcast are solely for educational purposes based on their knowledge of the subject and the views expressed by them are solely their own. This podcast should not be deemed or construed to be for the purpose of soliciting business for any of the companies mentioned, nor does Deloitte advocate or endorse the services or products provided by these companies.

December 4, 2025Episode 3836 min

Episode 38: Natalie Nixon

In this Provocateurs podcast special recorded at the 2025 Thinkers50 London Summit & Awards Gala , creativity strategist Natalie Nixon discusses how organizations can harness creativity as a strategic business competency. Challenging the misconception that creativity belongs only to artists, Natalie uses her “wonder-rigor” framework to demonstrate that the best engineers, scientists, CFOs, and leaders toggle between imaginative exploration (wonder) and disciplined execution (rigor). This chaordic balance between chaos and order is essential, she says, for driving sustainable innovation. Turning to AI and the future of work, Natalie contends that technology offers an opportunity for more distributed, improvisational ways of working – which appeal in particular to Gen Z – and AI can actually humanize organizations by creating liminal space for deeper collaboration and wonder. Natalie is the author of The Creativity Leap: Unleash Curiosity, Improvisation and Intuition at Work (Berrett-Koehler, 2020), and Move. Think. Rest. Redefining Productivity & Our Relationship with Time (Balance, 2025). This podcast is part of an ongoing series of interviews with executives. The executives’ participation in this podcast are solely for educational purposes based on their knowledge of the subject and the views expressed by them are solely their own. This podcast should not be deemed or construed to be for the purpose of soliciting business for any of the companies mentioned, nor does Deloitte advocate or endorse the services or products provided by these companies.

October 31, 2025Episode 3755 min

Episode 37: Anke Hampel

Anke Hampel: Recorded Live at Climate Week New York Anke Hampel is chief sustainability officer at ABB , a global technology leader in electrification and automation based in Zurich, and a member of the board of directors of ABB Germany. With a background in finance, procurement, supply chain, and innovation management in the consumer goods and packaging industry, Anke is driven by a mission to unite profit with purpose. Sustainability, she contends, is a business imperative, not a fluffy add-on. Moreover, sustainability is not the preserve of seasoned experts; everyone can and should play a role. In this special episode of the Provocateurs podcast recorded live at Climate Week New York , Anke presents the business case for sustainability and shares her learnings: Integrate sustainability into strategy: align your entire portfolio to your purpose by embedding sustainability targets directly into financial planning. Measure what matters: apply KPI’s to every phase of the product lifecycle to track circularity. Collaborate actively: as resources decline, close partnerships across your ecosystem are vital – or you risk losing your place in the supply chain. Manage climate risk: what cannot be insured cannot be financed – and data shows that climate-related risks are increasingly uninsurable. Hear more from Anke on why now is the critical time to make a strategic decision: Flee, Freeze, or Fast Forward. This podcast is part of an ongoing series of interviews with executives. The executives’ participation in this podcast are solely for educational purposes based on their knowledge of the subject and the views expressed by them are solely their own. This podcast should not be deemed or construed to be for the purpose of soliciting business for any of the companies mentioned, nor does Deloitte advocate or endorse the services or products provided by these companies.

October 16, 2025Episode 3633 min

Episode 36: Selassie Atadika

Award-winning chef, chocolatier, and founder of Midunu , Selassie Atadika is a Time 2025 Earth Award honoree and Yale’s inaugural Global Table Fellow . In this compelling episode of Provocateurs, Selassie demonstrates how intentional food choices can reshape entire systems. Food is more than just sustenance, she contends, it’s a powerful tool for transformation, touching every aspect of our lives from economics to environmental policy, health, and culture. Drawing from her experiences across 44 African countries, Selassie’s philosophy of "new African cuisine" – where culture, community, and cuisine intersect with environment, sustainability, and economy – offers profound lessons for addressing global food system challenges, while celebrating local traditions and creating economic opportunities for smallholder farmers. Discover more about the innovative business model of Midunu – a nomadic dining concept that combines research, education, and culinary experiences – and how Selassie is “leading through deliciousness” to create new possibilities for sustainable agriculture, preserve cultural heritage, and protect the environment around us. This podcast is part of an ongoing series of interviews with executives. The executives’ participation in this podcast are solely for educational purposes based on their knowledge of the subject and the views expressed by them are solely their own. This podcast should not be deemed or construed to be for the purpose of soliciting business for any of the companies mentioned, nor does Deloitte advocate or endorse the services or products provided by these companies.