Lidiane Jones shares the leadership playbook most tech leaders ignore.

From growing up in São Paulo to working in Silicon Valley, Lidiane built her career on one thing: adaptability. In this conversation, she breaks down how to scale products globally, why senior leaders need to actually use their own product, and what the future of AI means for human creativity.

Lidiane Jones is a longtime tech leader who has spent her career building and scaling digital products at some of the world's best known companies. She's held senior roles at Microsoft, Sonos, and Salesforce, and served as CEO of both Slack and Bumble. Today she works as an adviser and board member, bringing a human-centered perspective to how companies grow, adapt, and lead.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

🌍 How growing up in Brazil shaped her approach to building products for a billion global users

📉 Why the innovator's dilemma nearly stalled Microsoft Office's move to the cloud

🎵 The Sonos principle "don't stop the music" that changed how she leads every team since

🤝 How she used her immigrant story to unite Slack and Salesforce employees after acquisition

🧠 Why senior leaders who don't use their own product are making a critical mistake

⚡ What AI should actually unlock for businesses (hint: it's not just productivity)

About the Guest:

Lidiane Jones is a Brazilian-American technology executive, investor, adviser, and board director. She has served as CEO of both Slack and Bumble, and held senior leadership roles at Salesforce, Sonos, and Microsoft over a career spanning more than two decades. She holds a BS in Computer Science from the University of Michigan.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lidianejones/

Silversmith Capital Partners: https://www.silversmith.com/senior-advisors/lidiane-jones

About the Host:

Paula Caligiuri is a Distinguished Professor at Northeastern University's D'Amore-McKim School of Business and co-host of International Business Today. Her research focuses on cultural agility, global leadership, and workforce development.

Northeastern: https://damore-mckim.northeastern.edu/people/paula-caligiuri/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulacaligiuri

🎬 Watch this episode: https://youtu.be/YLHWcYSGknY

International Business Today Podcast:

📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InternationalBusinessToday

🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2y21XexVdXEiTBdZQIuSyf

🍎 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/international-business-today/id1665009512

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/international-business-today-by-northeastern-university/

🌐 https://damore-mckim.northeastern.edu/podcasts/international-business-today/

🎓 Want to lead through change like Lidiane? Explore Northeastern's online business programs → https://online.northeastern.edu/

#TechLeadership #IBTPodcast #NortheasternUniversity #LidianeJones #Adaptability #WomenInTech #FutureOfWork #AIinBusiness #GlobalLeadership #SlackCEO #BusinessPodcast #CareerGrowth

🏥 How does a medical device go from concept to patient care? 💡

The medical device industry spans everything from IV tubing to surgical robots, requiring rigorous FDA approval, complex reimbursement negotiations, and global regulatory navigation. Innovation is essential - without R&D investment and strong IP protection, companies cannot compete in this highly regulated, research-intensive field.

🎙️ In the latest episode of International Business Today, "Inside the Medical Device Industry with Geri Cramer," host Ravi Sarathy sits down with Geri Cramer, Director of Health Economics and Market Access at Boston Scientific, to explore:

🎯 How the medical device industry differs from pharmaceuticals and its barbell structure 🔬 The rigorous pathway from clinical trials to FDA approval to market access 💰 How reimbursement from Medicare, Medicaid, and insurers shapes device adoption 🌍 Navigating global regulatory differences and launching products across markets 🤖 Where AI fits in device development, diagnosis support, and patient outcomes

💡 Whether you're in healthcare, considering a medical device career, or interested in health innovation, this episode reveals the complex journey from medical breakthrough to patient benefit.

About the guest: Geri Cramer is Director of Health Economics and Market Access for the Endoscopy Division at Boston Scientific. She holds a PhD in Population Health from Northeastern University, an MBA from UMass Amherst, and began her career as a registered nurse (RN, BSN). Her unique background combines clinical practice, research, and business strategy, with a focus on translating research into practice, shaping healthcare policy, and guiding the development of innovative medical technologies. She has 20 years of experience in the medical device industry.

📺 Watch Episode on YouTube:https://youtu.be/mF1JCUkQm3U 📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InternationalBusinessToday 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2y21XexVdXEiTBdZQIuSyf 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/international-business-today/id1665009512

#MedicalDevices #HealthcareInnovation #FDA #HealthEconomics #BostonScientific #GeriCramer #Podcast #RegulatoryAffairs #GlobalHealth #MedTech

Keywords medical devices, healthcare innovation, FDA approval, health economics, reimbursement, Boston Scientific, regulatory affairs, clinical trials, medical technology, Geri Cramer, Ravi Sarathy, global health, market access, patient outcomes, pharmaceutical industry, AI in healthcare, surgical robots, medical device regulation, healthcare policy, population health

$300 billion has already migrated from traditional banks into stablecoins. Under fractional reserve banking, every dollar withdrawn shrinks lending capacity by 2-3x—reducing credit, raising rates, and pressuring the entire banking system. Meanwhile, DeFi platforms offer higher yields through lower costs and automated execution. The competitive battle is real.

But DeFi isn't invincible. The November 2025 Balancer hack cost $120 million. Mt. Gox collapsed in 2014. And "decentralized" finance is becoming increasingly centralized—creating the exact single points of failure it was designed to eliminate.

In this episode, Professor Ravi Sarathy examines how DeFi is disrupting traditional banking, the security vulnerabilities threatening billions in assets, and the regulatory challenges nation-states must solve to prevent another 2008-style crisis.

You'll discover: → How stablecoins threaten bank deposits and credit availability → Why DeFi can offer higher yields than traditional banks → APIs and open banking: the battle over account access pricing → How banks are responding: copying, integrating, partnering → The centralization paradox in "decentralized" finance → Major security vulnerabilities: stolen keys, custody risks, governance flaws → Smart contract exploits and cross-chain bridge hacks → Mt. Gox and Balancer: $120M+ lost to security failures → DEX laundering and converting stolen crypto to fiat → Financial inclusion: DeFi serving the unbanked and refugees → Regulatory challenges: innovation vs. systemic stability → AML/KYC requirements and international harmonization → Lessons from 2008: preventing the next financial crisis

RESOURCES: Enterprise Strategy for Blockchain (MIT Press): https://mitpress.mit.edu D'Amore-McKim School of Business: https://damore-mckim.northeastern.edu

ABOUT THE HOST: Ravi Sarathy is a Professor of International Business and Strategy at Northeastern University's D'Amore-McKim School of Business and author of "Enterprise Strategy for Blockchain" (MIT Press). A crypto enthusiast who follows the industry closely, he brings academic rigor to understanding blockchain's business implications and systemic risks.

CHAPTERS: 0:00 - How DeFi Disrupts Traditional Finance 0:47 - Stablecoins: The $300B Threat to Banks 2:24 - Fractional Reserve Banking & Credit Contraction 4:14 - Yield Competition: Why DeFi Offers Higher Returns 5:59 - APIs and Open Banking Access Pricing 7:57 - How Traditional Banks Are Responding 10:55 - The Centralization Paradox 12:30 - Security Vulnerabilities: Stolen Private Keys 14:23 - Flawed Governance Models 15:30 - Smart Contract Exploits 17:13 - Cross-Chain Bridge Hacks 18:23 - Mt. Gox and Balancer Hacks 19:29 - Financial Inclusion: Serving the Unbanked 21:49 - Regulatory Challenges 23:39 - Systemic Risk: Lessons from 2008 24:20 - AML/KYC and Illicit Finance

ABOUT THE SHOW: International Business Today explores critical issues in global business with top academic experts. Hosted by professors from Northeastern University's D'Amore-McKim School of Business.

SUBSCRIBE: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InternationalBusinessToday Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2y21XexVdXEiTBdZQIuSyf Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/international-business-today/id1665009512

DISCLAIMER: This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency investments are volatile and carry significant risk. Consult a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions.

#DeFi #DeFiRisks #TraditionalFinance #TradFi #Stablecoins #BankingDisruption #CryptoSecurity #FinancialRegulation #Blockchain #DEX #SmartContracts #BalancerHack #MtGox #FinancialInclusion #SystemicRisk #AML #KYC

DeFi risks explained, DeFi security, decentralized finance, banking disruption, stablecoins, crypto hacks, Mt Gox, Balancer hack, cross-chain bridges, smart contracts, financial regulation, systemic risk, Ravi Sarathy