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Leaders Unplugged

IMD
Democracy
Sustainability
Authoritarianism
Political Science
Leadership
Business Leadership
Civic Responsibility
Political Backsliding
Decarbonization
Donald Trump
IMD
Elections
Civil Society
NIO
India
Geopolitics
Artificial Intelligence
Shipping Industry
Mærsk
Vestas

Leaders Unplugged is real talk with the impactful. Candid, honest, actionable – and fresh from behind the scenes. Presented by IMD in collaboration with Remote Daily. Hosted by IMD’s president, David Bach and Felix Zeltner.

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes19Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ManagementCareersBusiness

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Artwork for Leaders Unplugged

Latest Episodes

Kati ter Horst leads Outokumpu, the world's leader in sustainable stainless steel, at a moment when the old assumptions of globalization are breaking down.

In this episode of Leaders Unplugged, she joins IMD President David Bach to discuss her trans... more

Oona Hathaway on war, global rules, and why business leaders may regret staying silent as international law is violated.

Why does international law matter? How illegal is the Iran war? And what does business have to do with it?

In this episode of L... more

YouTube

In this episode of Leaders Unplugged, David Bach sits down with IOC President Kirsty Coventry to explore how she is navigating one of the most complex leadership roles in global sport today.

From the IOC’s new transgender policy on women’s sports – ... more

YouTube

A decade ago, NIO was an idea. Today, the Chinese startup is one of the most innovative electric mobility brands in the world. On this episode of Leaders Unplugged,  Mark Zhou, Executive VP and Chairman of NIO’s Product Committee, shares how they did... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Kirsty Coventry
President of the IOC, former Olympic swimmer and Zimbabwean Minister
International Olympic Committee (IOC)
Episode: Kirsty Coventry (IOC) on why leaders should train - and fail - like Olympians
Mark Zhou
Executive Vice President and Chairman of the Product Committee at NIO
NIO
Episode: Can NIO reinvent the automotive industry, Mark Zhou?
Rolf Habben Jansen
CEO of Hapag Lloyd
Hapag Lloyd
Episode: Hapag Lloyd CEO: What does resilience look like when trade routes break?
Guilherme Loureiro
CEO of Walmart Mexico (Walmex) and newly appointed Chairman of the Board of Walmex.
Walmart
Episode: Walmex CEO Guilherme Loureiro: What happens when leaders admit they're dinosaurs?
Gideon Rachman
Chief Foreign Affairs Commentator for the Financial Times
Financial Times
Episode: Gideon Rachman (FT): Can liberal democracy win the 21st century?
Bo Cerup-Simonsen
CEO of the Maersk-McKinney-Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping
Maersk-McKinney-Møller Center
Episode: From wake-up call to global coalition: How Maersk is pushing shipping toward net zero
Morten Bo Christiansen
Leads Maersk's decarbonization team
Maersk
Episode: From wake-up call to global coalition: How Maersk is pushing shipping toward net zero
Maria Vassalou
Head of the Pictet Research Institute and expert in finance, geopolitics, and innovation.
Pictet Research Institute
Episode: “It’s time for a complete reset” – Maria Vassalou on the future of investing
Daniel Ziblatt
Political scientist and director of Harvard University's Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies
Harvard University
Episode: Why Democracies Die – and What Business Leaders Must Do

Hosts

David Bach
Host of Leaders Unplugged, introducing guests and guiding the conversation
Felix Zeltner
Co-host of the show, frequently referenced in episode descriptions

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#137
Finland/Business/Careers
Apple Podcasts
#209
Belgium/Business/Careers
Apple Podcasts
#210
Singapore/Business/Careers
Apple Podcasts
#220
Sweden/Business/Careers
Apple Podcasts
#229
Switzerland/Business/Careers
Apple Podcasts
#242
Japan/Business/Careers

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Can NIO reinvent the automotive industry, Mark Zhou?
Q: What have you learned from globalization, especially when you started in China and then expanded to Europe?
Key lessons include the importance of tailoring vehicles to local needs (size, driving dynamics), respecting regulatory environments like GDPR, and building infrastructures and partnerships that align with local realities rather than copying success from one market to another.
Can NIO reinvent the automotive industry, Mark Zhou?
Q: So Mark, NIO was a startup less than a decade ago when you joined. How did you go from an idea really to challenging some of the biggest car makers in the world?
Mark explains that NIO leveraged a human-centric mission, avoided legacy constraints, and built a global R&D and design footprint to tailor products for local markets, while fostering a loyal user community that helped sustain the brand through difficult periods.
Why Democracies Die – and What Business Leaders Must Do
Q: What do you think businesses can do to help support democracy?
Businesses should leverage their influence strategically and form coalitions with other leaders to uphold democratic values.
Why Democracies Die – and What Business Leaders Must Do
Q: What role does the changing media and social media landscape play across the different countries that you've looked at?
The fragmentation of the public sphere due to social media has increased polarization and reduced the ability to mobilize in defense of democracy.
Why Democracies Die – and What Business Leaders Must Do
Q: How do you think about the role of citizens in this process, the information, the education that citizens really requires to engage in the democratic process?
Civics education is crucial; understanding the fragility of democracy through direct encounters with democratic activists can help engage citizens.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Age Range
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Frequently Asked Questions About Leaders Unplugged

What is Leaders Unplugged about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show features high-level conversations with leading business leaders, policymakers, and sustainability experts. Episodes frequently center on global economics, geopolitics, major industry shifts, and the future of work—covering topics like decarbonization, global supply chains, digital transformation, and democratic governance. Guests are often CEOs, chief strategists, or academic voices who bring practical leadership lessons, strategic pivots, and insights into how large organizations navigate risk, regulation, and rapid change. A distinctive angle is the emphasis on real-world leadership with a strong tie to global trends, from energy transitions and shipping decarbonization to asset management and democratic resilience. The format t... more

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1. I by IMD
2. Coaching Real Leaders
3. HBR On Leadership
4. Coaching for Leaders
5. Global News Podcast

How many episodes of Leaders Unplugged are there?

Leaders Unplugged launched a year ago and published 19 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Leaders Unplugged?

Recent guests on Leaders Unplugged include:

1. Kirsty Coventry
2. Mark Zhou
3. Rolf Habben Jansen
4. Guilherme Loureiro
5. Gideon Rachman
6. Bo Cerup-Simonsen
7. Morten Bo Christiansen
8. Maria Vassalou

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