The Next Chapter by American Express Business Class

The role of a manager is to lead with purpose, streamline processes and motivate teams. But what does success look like for those new to the role? Asking questions, being curious and listening to your team is one place to start. In  “The Making of a Manager: What to Do When Everyone Looks to You,” Julie Zhuo identifies the next moves in a playbook for first-timers growing into the position. In this episode of the podcast “The Next ...

Ever notice that extroverts get more shine than introverts? In her book, "Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking," Susan Cain gives introverts center stage by showing how much they lose each time we undervalue them. Through research and interviews with extraordinary people, "Quiet" changes the narrative around introverts and, more importantly, transforms how they see themselves. In this episode of the pod...

Are some people predisposed to being a generalist versus a specialist? In his book, "Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World," author David Epstein discovers that early specialization is an exception, not the rule. Epstein, a former science and investigative reporter, argues that to succeed in any field, one must develop an array of interests. In interviews with renowned athletes, inventors and scientists, he explores...

What’s the recipe behind some of the world’s most-successful partnerships? Why do some flourish while others fail disastrously? In their dual memoir, “Black, White and The Grey: The Story of an Unexpected Friendship and a Beloved Restaurant,” co-owners Mashama Bailey and John O. Morisano detail how a Black chef from Queens and a white media entrepreneur from Staten Island built an award-winning restaurant in Savannah, Ga., called T...

Can a game help us explore life's answers? Or teach us about our own existence? Poker, neither a game of chance nor of mathematical precision, may hold clues. In her book "The Biggest Bluff: How I Learned to Pay Attention, Master Myself and Win," the psychologist and best-selling author Maria Konnikova enters the world of high-stakes poker as a novice and transforms into an expert. Along the way, she investigates the role that luck...

In the final episode of the season, Cardiff Garcia is joined by Malcolm Gladwell to discuss his work as co-founder and president of the audio production company Pushkin Industries, and host of “Revisionist History,” the successful podcast in which he reconsiders overlooked or misunderstood events of the past. The conversation took place in Pushkin’s recording studio in Hudson, N.Y., with topics spanning from what it means to challe...

How can the principles of conflict resolution apply to your next gathering? Priya Parker, a facilitator, strategic adviser and best-selling author of the book “The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters,” makes the case that coming together involves more than the proper etiquette – it’s the connection between the people. In this episode, Parker instructs listeners on how to plan more meaningful gatherings, from the birthd...

Adam Grant is an organizational psychologist, best-selling author and the top-rated professor at one of the world’s most prestigious business schools for seven years running. Grant’s influential book “Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World” makes the case for an outsider approach to problem solving, drawn from years of his own academic research, the groundwork of others and interviews with famous freethinkers. In this episod...

Every workplace needs a troublemaker. If that sounds odd, then check out “Professional Troublemaker: The Fear-Fighter Manual” by Luvvie Ajayi Jones. Ajayi Jones, a best-selling author and speaker, known for her honesty and wit, offers advice to readers on how to command the room at work and leave their fears at the door. She also chronicles her own rise as a self-described troublemaker. Earlier this year, Ajayi Jones adapted the wo...

Negotiations are an essential part of everyday life. We negotiate with our family members, our colleagues and people we’ve met for the first time. So why do so many business books claim that great negotiators should be uncompromising and cold? In “Bring Yourself: How to Harness the Power of Connection to Negotiate Fearlessly,” Mori Taheripour makes the case that the best negotiators are curious, empathetic and, oftentimes, the best...

How far can a person get on talent alone? Angela Duckworth is a researcher, teacher, MacArthur fellow and best-selling author who has dedicated her career to finding out what factors can lead a person to be successful. In her book “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance,” Duckworth draws from a mixture of firsthand experiences, interviews with high performers and academic research to make the case that a person’s ability to ov...