Cold Call cover art

Cold Call

Cold Call

Written by: HBR Presents / Brian Kenny
Listen for free

About this listen

 Cold Call distills Harvard Business School's legendary case studies into podcast form. Hosted by Brian Kenny, the podcast airs every two weeks and features Harvard Business School faculty discussing cases they've written and the lessons they impart.Copyright 2026 President and Fellows of Harvard College Economics Leadership Management Management & Leadership Marketing Marketing & Sales
Episodes
  • How Equitable Confronted Its Inertia After 160 Years in Business

    How Equitable Confronted Its Inertia After 160 Years in Business
    Jan 6 2026
    In 2019, Equitable’s CEO, Mark Pearson, set out to change how the 163-year-old financial services firm gets work done. He wanted the firm to speed up decision-making and empower employees through a flatter hierarchy, agile teams, and more opportunities to lead. Most divisions thrived under the new model. Others clung to old habits. Several years in, the effort sheds light on core questions: What does true cultural change look like? What makes it last? And how do leaders bring skeptics along? Harvard Business School Professor Das Narayandas joins Pearson and COO Jeff Hurd to discuss the case “New WOW at Equitable: A New Way of Working.”
    Show More Show Less
    35 mins
  • Climate Rising: Extending Apparel Lifespan with ThredUp

    Climate Rising: Extending Apparel Lifespan with ThredUp
    Dec 23 2025
    In this special holiday crossover episode from Harvard Business School’s Climate Rising podcast, Professor Mike Toffel talks with ThredUp CEO James Reinhart about the company’s mission to extend the life of apparel and reduce waste through resale. As thrifting becomes more popular and circular business models gain traction, Reinhart explains why ThredUp built a national logistics and tech platform, how it collaborates with big brands, and the growing role of AI and automation in the industry.
    Show More Show Less
    37 mins
  • Inside Coinbase’s Mission-First, Remote-First Bet

    Inside Coinbase’s Mission-First, Remote-First Bet
    Dec 9 2025
    In 2020, cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase made two bold organizational moves: going fully remote and banning political discussion at work. These decisions, aimed at reinforcing a mission-first culture, were supported by a written, codified approach to company values and a hiring philosophy designed to attract talent aligned with that mission. In this episode, Chief People Officer L.J. Brock joins case author and HBS professor Charles Wang and host Brian Kenny to discuss how Coinbase’s strategy, explored in the case “Mission First at Coinbase,” raises critical questions about focus, inclusion, and attracting top talent in a volatile industry.
    Show More Show Less
    28 mins
No reviews yet