In this episode, I speak with Prof Wim Naudé. Wim is an economist active in academia, business and public policy making. His focus is on innovation, technology and trade, and their consequences for human well-being, security, and prosperity. According to the Stanford and Elsevier rankings (version 5) Wim is among the top 2% of scientists in the world. ScholarGPS ranks Wim amongst the top 0,05% of scientists in the world, and rates him as a Highly Ranked Scholar™ in the field of Artificial Intelligence (#32 globally).

We discuss Wim’s research on the economics of AI and how this is something that is seldom taught or researched at business schools. Business schools do well to teach their students advanced data science, including the techniques of modern AI and the ethical principles that should be applied in its use. This is however not enough. Wim suggests that understanding the bigger picture is necessary if current and future leaders are to properly govern, not only the technology of AI, but the entire global digital economy.

Further reading:

Naudé W, Gries T, Dimitri N. Artificial Intelligence: Economic Perspectives and Models. Cambridge University Press; 2024.

Wim’s IZA Discussion Paper on this topic: What They Don’t Teach You about Artificial Intelligence at Business School: Stagnation, Oil, and War

In this episode, I speak with Willem Gous about how aspiring entrepreneurs can shift their mindset to unlock their entrepreneurial potential. As the founder of The Human Entrepreneur, Willem helps people to become self-employed through entrepreneurship training and building a business to become financially sustainable.

Willem Gous, an entrepreneur for more than 25 years and ASEB (African Startup Ecosystem Builder Awards) Startup Mentor of the Year 2023 South Africa, is a South African entrepreneur who developed a recipe for job creation in Africa. In his business, The Human Entrepreneur, he works with unemployed people in townships. He helps them develop the right mindset, mental fitness, and rhythm of success to start a profitable business with customers without external funding in just 5 weeks.

His focus on micro-entrepreneurship continues with his latest book, “Side Hustle Success - A Low-Cost, Low-Risk Way to Make More Money in 5 Easy Steps”. Written for Africa, easy, simple and contextual to the African continent, it focuses on awakening the entrepreneurial spirit in schools, universities and communities.

Website: https://TheHumanEntrepreneur.org

LinkedIn: http://za.linkedin.com/in/willemgous

In this episode, I speak with Felicity Hodkinson about how coaching can unlock previously untapped sources of imagination, productivity, and leadership.

Felicity Hodkinson is an experienced International Coaching Federation (ICF) credentialed PCC (Professional Certified Coach) level coach who works with individuals at all stages and transitions of their working life. She enables individuals to both connect to, and also show more of their inherent talent in their lives and work. She has a reputation for coaching in a style that has been described as ‘challenging, not soft’. She works intuitively and intelligently to create a space for growth that is bespoke for each client.

With over 20 years experience in marketing, commercial and change management within the food and retail industry, across both small business and corporate FTSE100 companies, Felicity brings lived experience to her passion for coaching. She holds an MSc in Organisational Transformation, and her continued development includes a Diploma in Supervision: A Relational Process.

She is committed to expanding the availability, access and quality of professional coaching and supports coaches with Mentor Coaching for ICF credentialing and with supervision. In 2020, Felicity led the UK Chapter of the ICF in the role of President, and remains a committed member of the ICF.

Connect with her:

• On LinkedIn
• Via her website: bendtheriver.org
• Visit ICF: https://coachingfederation.org/