Crypto and blockchain come up everywhere these days — at work, in the news, in conversations that seem to assume everyone else already understands what's going on. If you don't, you're not alone.

In this episode of Power & Impact, I sat down with two people I trust and learn from: Agnes Budzyn, founder of Bluedge Ventures, and David Schamis, co-founder and CIO of Atlas Merchant Capital. Both have spent years inside the world of crypto, and both are unusually good at explaining it without hype or jargon.

What struck me most is how practical the conversation became. This isn't about get-rich-quick stories. It's about how money moves, how trust is created, and how new financial "rails" are being built outside the systems we've relied on for decades.

We talked about why stablecoins matter, the difference between Bitcoin and Ethereum, and how blockchain works as a shared, transparent record. We also touch on why banks and governments that once dismissed crypto are now taking it seriously.

If you're curious about crypto but don't quite understand it, you're exactly who this episode is for. Think of it as a thoughtful walk through a complicated subject, with an eye toward what's real, what's noise, and what might shape the future of finance in the years ahead.

In this episode of Power & Impact , I sit down with business leader Nigel Travis, whose career spans some of America's most iconic brands, including Dunkin', Burger King, Jersey Mike's, and others from Blackstone's global portfolio. From his British roots to leading quintessentially American companies, Nigel reflects on how perspective, people, and disciplined execution shape enduring leadership.

Nigel shares what it takes to turn even struggling brands into growth engines, including the lessons he learned rebuilding Dunkin' during the financial crisis. Together, we explore why great leadership is less about control and more about listening.

The conversation also looks inside the boardroom, touching on private equity, effective CEO–chair relationships, and what makes Blackstone's culture distinctive. Looking ahead, Nigel offers candid views on AI, data security, and the future of work — along with advice for leaders navigating uncertainty and rapid change.

This episode is a masterclass in leadership and brand stewardship that's filled with stories and practical wisdom from one of the most respected operators in modern business. Please share your thoughts here.

In this week's episode of Power & Impact, I sit down with Azeem Azhar, a leading expert on the rapid growth of technology, to explore how acceleration itself is shaping the way we work and make decisions. As AI becomes part of everyday life, its influence now extends well beyond business, reaching into education, family life, and the expectations we place on institutions.

Azeem's perspective is shaped by an education at Oxford and years spent studying how technological progress compounds over time. He explains why change often feels sudden, even when it's been building for years, and why the pace we're experiencing today is closer to exponential than linear.

We discuss what this shift means in practical terms, from AI-native companies redefining work to the growing importance of adaptability and judgment for young people entering the workforce.

This episode offers a clear-eyed look at how to stay oriented in a world that keeps speeding up, and how to lead with intention when the future refuses to move in a straight line.