The Future of Work - with Harvard Professor Felix Oberholzer-Gee | WPC Podcast

Even if you are optimistic about AI, we will run out of people before AI takes over the economy. Harvard Business School's Professor Felix Oberholzer-Gee explains what that means for business. In this episode of Workplace Conversations, AIMWA host Sandra Holloway sits down with Professor Felix Oberholzer-Gee, author of Better, Simpler Strategy, to talk about why strategy gets overcomplicated, why companies know more about their customers than their own people, and what actually makes someone want to work for you. Felix unpacks the value stick, willingness to pay and willingness to sell, why half of mid-size and large companies know almost nothing about their employees, and why two thirds of people who quit say they quit because of their boss. — ABOUT YOUR GUEST AND HOST Professor Felix Oberholzer-Gee is the Andreas Andresen Professor of Business Administration in the Strategy Unit at Harvard Business School. He is an award-winning educator and the author of Better, Simpler Strategy. He was in Perth for AIMWA's Senior Executive Forum 2026. Sandra Holloway is Chief Customer Officer at AIMWA, Western Australia's leading workplace development institute. — TIMESTAMPS • [00:00] Welcome to Workplace Conversations • [01:45] What Felix is most curious about when he teaches • [03:15] Why executives are too busy to think about the big picture • [04:05] Why good intentions hold companies back • [05:27] The shopping list of strategy • [06:16] What strategy actually is, and what it is not • [09:00] The value stick explained • [09:45] Willingness to pay and willingness to sell • [11:45] How companies measure willingness to pay • [12:50] Why half of companies know nothing about their employees • [15:55] Why quality and cost is a false choice in services • [16:50] Why we will run out of people before AI takes over • [17:15] What actually makes someone want to work for you • [19:20] Why purpose statements all sound the same • [20:00] The Amazon example: clear expectations beat nice words • [23:30] Why employee value propositions matter • [27:15] Activity versus strategy • [31:35] The light bulb lesson: automating the past • [34:10] Redesigning a process rather than automating it • [39:50] What separates genuinely effective leaders • [42:00] Why open-mindedness is the hardest skill to keep • [45:00] What leaders underestimate about their own words • [46:20] One question every leader should ask themselves — CONNECT WITH WORKPLACE CONVERSATIONS • Instagram:   / workplaceconversationspodcast   • Facebook:   / 61591403565312   • Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... • YouTube:    / @aimwestaus   — CONNECT WITH AIMWA • Website: https://aimwa.com/ • LinkedIn:   / aimwa   • Instagram:   / aim_westernaustralia   • YouTube:    / @aimwestaus   • Facebook:   / aimwesternaustralia   — CONNECT WITH PROFESSOR FELIX OBERHOLZER-GEE • LinkedIn:   / felix-oberholzer-gee   — ABOUT AIMWA AND WORKPLACE CONVERSATIONS AIMWA is Western Australia's leading workplace development institute and a not-for-profit registered charity. We deliver practical learning that builds real capability across leadership, management and business. Workplace Conversations is a podcast presented by AIMWA. Real people, real stories, real workplaces. We bring together sharp minds from across Australian business to talk about the issues that matter most at work. Subscribe so you never miss an episode.