Just Business Podcast

Justin Harlow discusses investing in the energy sector in emerging markets. He is the founder and managing partner of Tau Energy Partners, an energy investment advisory firm dedicated to emerging markets.

Angela Maria Kelley, of the Center for American Progress, talks frankly about the difficult practical and ethical questions surrounding U.S. immigration, and the inconsistent approaches in different states because of the deadlock at the federal level.

In a wide-ranging conversation, former U.S. ambassador Donna Hrinak discusses her regional responsibilities in Latin America, and her global work with other food and beverage companies, together with NGOs, to make packaged foods and drinks healthier.

As he retools Lipman, a New York advertising agency, Michael Mendenhall discusses a new approach to branding. He also talks about how companies' ethics are on display in an era of increased transparency, and how they can turn transparency into a business advantage.

Is the U.S. no longer the center of the economic universe? Credit expert Ann Rutledge discusses the recent credit rating downgrade of the U.S. economy and tackles the deeper underlying economic and moral issues, such as attitudes towards risk.  

David Aylward specializes in a new sector called mobile health, which uses cell phone and other communications technology to connect poor patients in developing nations to high-level health care. He is working to educate corporations about the opportunities in these markets.

What brought down the Celtic Tiger and will it rise again? Barry O'Leary, head of IDA Ireland (Industrial Development Agency), explains how and why Ireland went from boom to bust, and how foreign direct investment can play a role in its recovery.

Ashok Vasudevan has what it takes to build commercially viable and socially responsible global companies. Tasty Bite, an all-natural, ready-to-eat food sold in the U.S. and Australia, is ranked one of India's "Top-100 Best Companies to Work For."

Architect and sustainability expert Leigh Stringer is convinced that LEED green buildings are only a piece of the puzzle when designing a sustainable office. She argues that a crucial component is human behavior.

Is Bernie Madoff a monster or is it easier than you might think to slip over the line? Diana B. Henriques explores the ethical questions raised by Madoff's financial house of cards, which collapsed in late 2008.

Even though U.S. public policies are often lagging behind, pressures from shareholders and investors, greater transparency, and heightened risk awareness are all contributing to a new focus on sustainability for many companies, says Mindy Lubber.

How does capital flight work and how big a problem is it? Krishen Mehta of Global Financial Integrity (GFI) explains that in total, developing countries lose close to $1 trillion every year, of which 65 percent is related to commercial tax evasion.

Michael Ellis, from the sustainability consulting firm GreenOrder, discusses how companies can work with employees to make sure they're onboard with green initiatives--and why that's such an important part of green workplaces.

It's all about personal convictions: Bill O'Rourke explains how he grew Alcoa's business in Russia to $1B revenue without giving a single bribe, and how he fosters sustainability, health, and safety practices in his current U.S. position.

Author Alexis Madrigal examines the history of green technologies in America and shows how they have been entangled with culture, ethics, and government policies.

Scott Belsky's mission is to organize and empower creative professionals. "There's so much talk about how to be more creative, but there isn't enough discussion about the execution side of the equation--how can individuals and teams better execute and follow through on their ideas."

"We live in an age in which it is effortless to telecommunicate across the globe, in which we could all just dial in from some sylvan suburb," says Harvard economist Edward Glaeser. "But along so many dimensions, cities are more vital, more innovative, and more important than ever."

Everyone knows that the only real solution to piracy in the Indian Ocean is to stabilize Somalia and revive its economy, says Merchant Marine Captain James Staples, a piracy expert. As long as Somalians have nothing to lose, piracy will continue.

Women and girls are a powerful accelerator for change, says Nike Foundation's Swan Paik. By allowing girls to fall through irreversible trap doors in adolescence, the world is missing out on the tremendous potential that they have to offer.

Jerusha Klemperer, associate director of programs at Slow Food USA, explains the differences between slow and fast food and discusses food equity--how to make slow food more affordable and more widely available.