The Perkins Platform

Leading at Large Scale: It's Not At 30,000 Feet After All

In this episode, I sit down with David C. Banks, former Chancellor of New York City Public Schools, to unpack what it really takes to lead a large, complex organization. Drawing on his experience leading New York City Public Schools, we explore decision-making under pressure, managing competing priorities, and building culture at scale. This is a candid conversation about leadership when the stakes are high, the spotlight is constant, and every move matters.

AI Is Coming Faster Than We Think: Lessons From the Pandemic

In this episode, I sit down with Andy Rotherham, co-founder and senior partner at Bellwether and the longtime voice behind Eduwonk, for a conversation about the uncertainty surrounding artificial intelligence and its potential impact on education. Drawing on a recent essay, Andy compares the current moment with AI to the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic when signals of major disruption were emerging, but institutions had not yet fully grasped what was coming. We discuss what leaders in education should be watching for, how to separate meaningful developments from hype, and what lessons from the pandemic might help schools and universities navigate the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

Cybersecurity Isn't Just for the IT Team: Leaders Are Now On The Hook

In this episode, I sit down with cybersecurity expert Suresh Sankaran Srinivasan to unpack what today’s organizational leaders need to understand about digital risk. We explore the different levels of the internet (what exists on the surface web, the deep web, and the dark web) and how those layers shape real-world threats. We discuss who should be concerned about cybersecurity breaches, why no organization is too small to be targeted, and the practical steps leaders must take to strengthen oversight, culture, and resilience in an increasingly connected world.

At The Junction of AI and Creativity: What Qualifies as Your Work?

In this episode, Punya Mishra joins me to discuss his chapter, “Beyond Boundaries: Transdisciplinary Creativity with Generative Artificial Intelligence,” from the edited volume Generative Artificial Intelligence and Creativity: Precautions, Perspectives, and Possibilities. We explore what the rise of generative AI means for human creativity, moving beyond simplistic utopian or dystopian narratives. Punya explains how AI can serve as a creative partner while underscoring the essential role of human judgment. Through concrete creative examples, the conversation bridges theory and practice to examine how AI can expand, challenge, and reshape creative work across disciplines.

Legacy: The Psychology of Being Remembered

In this episode, psychologist and researcher Dr. Brett Waggoner joins me to explore his work on legacy motivation.  Legacy motivation is defined as the psychological drive to leave a meaningful and lasting impact. We discuss why the desire to be remembered shapes decision-making, purpose, and identity, and how this motivation influences leaders across disciplines. Drawing on his research, Dr. Waggoner offers insights into how understanding legacy can help leaders align their values with long-term impact and build organizations that endure beyond any single individual.