Best Design Factory Global Network Podcasts (2025)

1
From Concept to Capital: Designing Smarter and Simpler Blended Finance Funds for Africa with Aly-Khan Jamal 41:09

Play Pause

9h ago41:09

41:09

Episode 181 with Aly-Khan Jamal, Managing Director and Partner at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Lagos, and co-author of the landmark report Scaling Blended Finance: Practical Tools for Blended Finance Fund Design. Aly-Khan Jamal brings deep expertise in development finance, capital mobilisation, and impact investing to this conversation on how ble…

1
56: Reinventing National Security: Teresa Carlson, Dr. Jason Rathje, and the Startups Powering the Future 46:11

2d ago46:11

46:11

In this episode of the Washington AI Network Podcast with Tammy Haddad, Teresa Carlson (president, General Catalyst Institute) and Dr. Jason Rathje (former director, Office of Strategic Capital, Department of Defense) discuss why reinventing America’s national security and industrial infrastructure is urgent—and how technology, talent, and better p…

1
Bridging Finance and Sustainability: How International Finance Can Support Sustainable Infrastructure in Africa with Dr Rufaro Nyakatawa 29:59

7d ago29:59

29:59

Episode 180 with Dr Rufaro Nyakatawa, a leading voice in sustainable finance and international development, and a key figure in shaping Jersey’s strategic engagement with Africa. Dr Rufaro serves as Sustainable Finance Lead at Jersey Finance, where she champions the role of international finance centres in mobilising capital for Africa’s sustainabl…

1
Forecasting Climate Risk with Geospatial AI: Sarah Russell of X , the Moonshot Factory at Alphabet 37:09

12d ago37:09

37:09

This episode, part of the Climate Rising series on climate resilience, features Sarah Russell, General Manager of Project Bellwether at X, The Moonshot Factory at Alphabet (formerly Google X). Sarah shares how geospatial data and artificial intelligence can help communities and businesses anticipate and respond to climate risks. Sarah shares insigh…

1
How a South African Startup Is Giving Underserved Communities Access To Instant Emergency-Response Services with Warren Myers 29:11

14d ago29:11

29:11

Episode 179 with Warren Myers, CEO and co-founder of AURA, a life-saving technology platform revolutionising emergency response in Africa and globally. Warren is on a mission to make safety accessible to all by building the world’s first global emergency response “clearing house” that instantly connects people in distress to the nearest vetted secu…

1
#38 - James Currier : Why Network Effects Are the Hidden Architecture of Civilization 52:27

17d ago52:27

52:27

We're joined by James Currier who explains how ‘network effects’ shape our economies, tech, civilisation and how to master that to our advantage. James is a five-time Founder, an angel investor in DoorDash, Lyft, and Patreon, and a Founding Partner at NFX. Before becoming an investor, James was the co-founder and CEO of Tickle, one of the internet'…

1
Africa’s Untapped Health Data: Inside the Mission to Transform Africa’s Health Data Economy with Estelle Dogbo 30:20

21d ago30:20

30:20

Episode 178 with Estelle Dogbo, systems strategist, healthcare executive, and founder of BioVana Research. Estelle has spent her career at the intersection of biotechnology, digital health, and pharmaceutical development building adaptive health systems across African markets and beyond. From commercial leadership roles at Sanofi and Roche to co-fo…

1
Closing the Loop by Recycling Apparel: Reju CEO Patrik Frisk 45:43

26d ago45:43

45:43

Patrik Frisk, CEO of ReJu, joins Climate Rising to discuss his company’s mission to recycle textile waste and build circular supply chains for apparel made of polyester fabric. Patrik brings his prior experience leading Under Armour and other global brands across the textile and footwear industry for over 35 years. Patrik describes how ReJu turns d…

1
55: Power, Prediction, and the AI Infrastructure Race: AMD’s Keith Strier and Rhombus CEO Dr. Anshu Roy 51:44

27d ago51:44

51:44

Recorded live at the 2025 SCSP AI Expo, this episode of the Washington AI Network Podcast features AMD’s Keith Strier and Rhombus Power CEO Dr. Anshu Roy in conversation with host Tammy Haddad. Strier, formerly at NVIDIA, discusses the global scramble to build gigawatt-scale AI “Stargates” and how infrastructure is reshaping national power. Dr. Roy…

1
The Future of Fashion Is African: Building an Ethical Clothing Factory in Rural Kenya with Jo Maiden 38:19

28d ago38:19

38:19

Episode 177 with Jo Maiden, founder and CEO of SOKO Kenya, a trailblazing ethical fashion manufacturer driving social and environmental impact from the heart of rural Kenya. Jo is a visionary entrepreneur transforming the global fashion landscape by proving that high-quality, sustainable production can thrive in Africa and uplift communities in the…

1
Extending Apparel Lifespan: ThredUp CEO James Reinhart 40:02

1M ago40:02

40:02

James Reinhart, CEO of ThredUp, one of the largest online resale platforms for secondhand clothing. James co-founded the company while he was a Masters’ student at Harvard and has spent the last 15 years scaling a national logistics and digital infrastructure platform for resale. In this episode James describes why the company decided to handle phy…

1
54: Strategic Intelligence: SCSP CEO Ylli Bajraktari on the 2025 AI Expo, National Security, and President Trump’s Approach to AI 23:43

2M ago23:43

23:43

In this episode of the Washington AI Network Podcast, Tammy Haddad is joined by Ylli Bajraktari, CEO of the Special Competitive Studies Project, for a conversation on U.S. AI strategy, national security, and the global tech race. Bajraktari previews the 2025 AI Expo in Washington, DC, including new national security programming, China’s AI ambition…

1
Education for Economic Resilience: What It Takes to Build Lasting Education Systems in Africa with Dr Samuel Kembou 41:47

2M ago41:47

41:47

Episode 176 with Dr Samuel Kembou, Global Co-Lead for Learning and Evidence at the Jacobs Foundation, a Swiss-based philanthropy advancing the learning and development of children worldwide. With a presence in Africa for over 35 years, the Foundation is known for its long-term commitment to strengthening education systems through rigorous research,…

1
#37 - Ravi Ramamurti : Reverse Innovation Secrets: How Emerging Economies Are Out-Innovating The West 46:18

2M ago46:18

46:18

We’re joined by Professor Ravi Ramamurti, founder and director of the Center for Emerging Markets at Northeastern University in Boston, who’s one of the world’s leading experts on innovation in emerging economies. Professor Ramamurti who along with his co-author coined the term ‘reverse innovation’ — the phenomenon where innovation flows not from W…

1
53: The Engine of Innovation: AI Startups, Graph Data, and Design Breakthroughs at NVIDIA 2025 GTC 31:53

2M ago31:53

31:53

In this special edition of the Washington AI Network Podcast, recorded live at NVIDIA 2025 GTC conference, host Tammy Haddad takes listeners inside the future of AI innovation with startups. NVIDIA’s Startup Guru, Howard Wright, shares how the Inception program supports over 27,000 startups worldwide, unlocking capital, customers, and compute to fu…

1
Designing for Circularity at Scale: A Conversation with Karen Pflug of Ingka Group 48:27

2M ago48:27

48:27

In the latest episode of Climate Rising from Harvard Business School, Karen Pflug, Chief Sustainability Officer of Ingka Group (IKEA), shares how IKEA is embedding circularity throughout its business model. She discusses how IKEA is redesigning iconic products like the Billy bookcase to make them easier to disassemble and repair, how secondhand ret…

1
The Future of Farming: Using Tech, Finance, and Human Networks To Connect African Farmers to Global Markets with Desmond Koney 44:05

2M ago44:05

44:05

Episode 175 with Desmond Koney, CEO and Founder of Complete Farmer, a Ghanaian agritech company which empowers African farmers to conduct their work in a much more sustainable and profitable way. Complete Farmer provides farmers with AI and data-driven technology to allow for "precision agriculture" so farmers can optimise their resources. The plat…

1
52: Inside NVIDIA’s 2025 GTC: Expressive Robots, AI Factories, and the Future of Intelligent Systems 35:03

2M ago35:03

35:03

In this special edition of the Washington AI Network Podcast, host Tammy Haddad takes listeners behind the scenes at NVIDIA’s 2025 GTC, where more than 26,000 developers, engineers, and thought leaders gathered to chart the course of intelligent systems. NVIDIA’s Dion Harris unveils the company’s new operating system, Dynamo, designed to power the …

1
Generational Wealth: How African Families Are Navigating Wealth, Succession and Investment Across Africa with Faizal Bhana and Claire Machin 38:06

2M ago38:06

38:06

Episode 174 with Faizal Bhana and Claire Machin, who are recognised voices in global finance and private wealth, working at the forefront of family governance, cross-border investment, and wealth structuring. Faizal serves as the director for the Middle East, Africa, and India at Jersey Finance, while Claire is the group director and head of privat…

1
51: Navy CTO Justin Fanelli and Space Llama Engineer Zane Price on Open Source AI—from Ships to Space 23:57

2M ago23:57

23:57

In a conversation recorded live at the White House Correspondents’ Weekend TGAIFriday Lunch, Navy CTO Justin Fanelli describes how he is harnessing AI to make our military smarter, safer, and ensure our war fighters keep their competitive edge. He also explains why the Pentagon is shedding “technical debt,” and moving at “flank speed” to outpace …

1
Advancing the Circular Economy: A Conversation with Lauren Rodriguez of Closed Loop Partners 43:45

2M ago43:45

43:45

Lauren Rodriguez, who leads partnerships at Circular Services, a Closed Loop Partners company, joins host Mike Toffel to discuss building the infrastructure and investment models needed to scale the circular economy. Lauren explains how Closed Loop Partners supports the transition from a linear to a circular economy through capital management, inno…

1
Africa’s Biodiversity Economy: Transforming Conservation Into Economic Growth and Sustainable Development with Edwin Tambara 55:21

2M ago55:21

55:21

Episode 173 with Edwin Tambara, Director of Global Leadership at the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF). Edwin shares AWF’s groundbreaking approach to the biodiversity economy, an innovative model that integrates conservation and economic development, driving both environmental preservation and community prosperity. AWF has played a pivotal role in …

1
Expanding Financial Access: Building a Marketplace for Agrocommodity Trade and Export in Nigeria with Abiola Jimoh 38:54

3M ago38:54

38:54

Episode 172 with Abiola Jimoh, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of XchangeBox, the company behind PayRep, a platform supporting payments, collections, and access to financial products for SMEs, farmers, and traders across Nigeria. XchangeBox focuses on improving access to financial services for underserved communities through its PayRep platform. By offering …

1
#36 - George Sivulka : Knowledge Work 2.0: The Company Creating The Multi-Agent Future 37:50

3M ago37:50

37:50

We’re joined by George Sivulka, Founder and CEO of Hebbia, for a conversation on how does the future of white collar work look like with multi-agents. Hebbia is backed by some of the most legendary technology investors of our generation including Peter Thiel (early investor: Paypal, Facebook), Marc Andreesen (early investor: Airbnb, Github, Coinbas…

1
Scaling Reuse with Vytal: A Circular Economy Conversation with CEO Fabian Barthel 46:49

3M ago46:49

46:49

Fabian Barthel, Co-Founder of Vytal, a circular economy packaging-as-a-service startup, joins host Mike Toffel to explore the innovation, behavioral science, and regulations shaping the market for reusable containers for take-out food and beverages. Fabian shares how Vytal is tackling packaging waste by building a reusable container system for rest…

1
AI and Solar: Why Financing Is the Missing Piece in Africa’s Clean Energy Puzzle with Dami Olawoye 31:35

3M ago31:35

31:35

Episode #171 with Dami Olawoye, CEO of Rivy (formerly Payhippo) and leader in renewable energy financing across Africa. Dami Olawoye is at the forefront of making clean energy accessible across Africa through Rivy, an AI-powered lender focused on enabling homes and businesses to switch to solar power. With Rivy’s recent rebrand and a $4M pre-Series…

1
50: Google’s Kent Walker on AI Standards, Quantum Breakthroughs, DeepSeek, and the DOJ Case 29:30

3M ago29:30

29:30

In the 50th episode of the Washington AI Network Podcast hosted by Tammy Haddad, Kent Walker, president of global affairs at Google and Alphabet, discusses his company’s pioneering role in artificial intelligence, the complexities of regulating this rapidly evolving technology, and the importance of public-private collaboration to address national …

1
From Dakar to Abidjan: Investing in Women Entrepreneurs in Francophone Africa with Stephanie Sarr Dioh 38:50

3M ago38:50

38:50

Episode #170 with Stephanie Sarr Dioh, Tech and Finance Business Leader, Gender Lens Investor and Board Executive at Women’s Investment Club (WIC). Stephanie SARR is driving inclusive economic transformation in West Africa through her pioneering work with WIC Capital, the first investment fund in Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire dedicated exclusively to s…

1
#35 - Dante Disparte : Fixing Broken Money: The Beginning of the Stablecoin Civilization 1:07:15

3M ago1:07:15

1:07:15

We’re joined by Dante Disparte, Chief Strategy Officer and Head of Global Policy at Circle, one of the biggest issuers of stablecoins (USDC) in the world. This year marks an important inflexion point for stablecoins as adoption and key regulation kicks in. We’re glad to have some one like Dante who has worked at the intersection of finance, technol…

1
49: Open-Source AI at SXSW: Innovators Transforming Finance, Healthcare, and Music 57:09

3M ago57:09

57:09

In this special SXSW edition of the Washington AI Network Podcast—recorded live at the SeedAI House—host Tammy Haddad interviews four innovators harnessing open-source AI to transform finance, healthcare, and music. Listen as Andrei Papancea (CEO, NLX), Dr. Kal Clark (founder, Zauron Labs), Martha Sylla Underwood (founder, Prismm), and award–winnin…

1
Carbon Credit Ratings and Market Integrity: A Conversation on the Calyx Global Case 42:21

3M ago42:21

42:21

In this bonus episode of Climate Rising, we share an episode from Harvard Business School’s Cold Call podcast, featuring HBS professor Mike Toffel and Duncan van Bergen, Co-Founder of Calyx Global. The discussion focuses on Mike’s recent HBS case study, Calyx Global: Rating Carbon Credits, which explores how the company is helping improve transpare…

1
How to Enhance Supply Chain Efficiency in Africa Through Product Digital Identity Management with Dare Odumade 58:49

3M ago58:49

58:49

Episode #169 with Dare Odumade, CEO of Chekkit Technologies and contributor to the recently published book Thrive: Mastering E-commerce the African Way published by the Africa Retail Academy at Lagos Business School. Dare Odumade is at the forefront of supply chain innovation in Africa through his work with Chekkit Technologies, a company on a miss…

1
The Structural Changes Required To Build Resilient Diagnostics and Healthcare Systems in Africa with Dr Allan Pamba 44:34

4M ago44:34

44:34

Episode #168 with Dr Allan Pamba, Executive Vice President at Roche Diagnostics. Dr Allan Pamba is a global health leader and seasoned executive at the forefront of transforming healthcare systems through innovation, access, and sustainability. As Executive Vice President at Roche Diagnostics, the world’s largest biotech company and a global pionee…

1
#34 - Prof. Jomo Kwame Sundaram : Why Most Countries Stay Poor – Growth, Power & Global Myths 1:03:06

4M ago1:03:06

1:03:06

In this episode, we're joined by Professor Jomo Kwame Sundaram, a Malaysian economist and thought leader who served as the Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development at the United Nations (UN) and Assistant Director-General at the FAO. We explore how countries in the Global South can chart their own paths to prosperity. What makes a count…

1
48: AI Revolution: Senator Mike Rounds and Representative Zach Nunn Discuss Healthcare Breakthroughs, National Security, and Agricultural Innovation 49:10

4M ago49:10

49:10

Host Tammy Haddad interviews Senator Mike Rounds, co-chair of the Senate AI Caucus, and Representative Zach Nunn in this special edition of the Washington AI Network podcast, recorded live at the SeedAI House at SXSW. They delve into AI's transformative impact on healthcare, national security, and agriculture, exploring how AI accelerates medical r…

1
Investing in Carbon Markets: A Conversation with Luke Leslie of Key Carbon 43:26

4M ago43:26

43:26

Luke Leslie, Co-Founder and CEO of Key Carbon, joins Climate Rising as part of our series on voluntary carbon markets. Luke has spent over 20 years in carbon markets and finance, working in investment banking, private equity, and structured finance. Luke explains how Key Carbon is financing high-integrity carbon projects and how new overlaps betwee…

1
Why the West Isn’t Always Best: How Afro-Optimism Can Redefine African Succes with Adeolu Adewumi-Zer 37:42

4M ago37:42

37:42

Episode #167 with Adeolu Adewumi-Zer, who is a seasoned strategist, business leader, and author of the recently published book "Afro-Optimism Unleashed: Scaling African Excellence to the Global Stage Adeolu Adewumi-Zer is at the forefront of redefining Africa’s business narrative through her transformative SCALE framework and deep-rooted belief in …

1
AI and Agriculture: Using AI To Provide Quick and Effective Advice to Farmers with Dr William Derban 48:24

4M ago48:24

48:24

Episode #166 with Dr William Derban, Head of Programs and Partnerships at the Digital Innovations Group for Opportunity International, defining technical standards, developing business strategy, and negotiating collaborations across mobile money, mobile/cell-phone banking, and agent banking. Opportunity International is at the forefront of leveragi…

1
47: Global Innovation Champions: CTA’s Tiffany Moore and Ambassadors from Luxembourg, Ireland, and New Zealand on AI Readiness, Collaboration, and the Future of Tech Policy 55:08

4M ago55:08

55:08

Host Tammy Haddad is joined by Tiffany Moore, senior vice president of policy and industry affairs at the Consumer Technology Association, as well as Amb. Nicole Bintner of Luxembourg, Amb. Geraldine Byrne Nason of Ireland, and Amb. Rosemary Banks of New Zealand, whose countries have been named “Global Innovation Champions” on CTA’s Gloval Innovati…

1
#33 - Benji Leibowitz: What is ‘Decentralized-Science’ & How Will It Transform The Future of Science & Innovation 59:17

4M ago59:17

59:17

In this episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with Benji Leibowitz, Chief Operating Officer at Molecule and Co-Founder of Pump.Science. Benji is at the forefront of the Decentralized Science (DeSci) movement, which utilizes blockchain technology to democratize research funding and empower scientific communities. Benji Leibowitz has a diverse bac…

1
Navigating Carbon Markets: A Conversation with Alexia Kelly of High Tide Foundation 58:17

4M ago58:17

58:17

Alexia Kelly, Managing Director of the Carbon Policy and Markets Initiative (CPMI) at theHigh Tide Foundation, joins host Mike Toffel for the fifth episode in our series on voluntarycarbon markets. Alexia has worked for nearly two decades atthe intersection of carbonmarkets, policy, and finance, with roles spanning government, private industry, and…

1
Increasing Japan-Africa Business Opportunities Through AI & Technology with Bernard Laurendeau 1:02:26

4M ago1:02:26

1:02:26

Episode 165 with Bernard Laurendeau, who is Managing Director of Enkopa Lab, which is at the forefront of driving successful Japan-Africa investments by leveraging AI and technology. With a focus on market diversification, the firm helps Japanese companies navigate Africa's complex business landscape. Enkopa Lab on driving successful Japan-Africa i…

1
Made in Africa, for Africa: How Ener-G-Africa Locally Manufactures Affordable Energy Solutions with André Moolman 26:22

4M ago26:22

26:22

Episode 164 with André Moolman, CEO of Ener-G-Africa (EGA), a renewable energy company dedicated to expanding access to affordable solar power across the continent. With a focus on low-income households and small businesses, EGA is tackling Africa’s energy challenges through innovative, cost-effective solutions that go beyond electricity, driving e…

1
#32 - Dr. Soumitra Dutta - How Emerging Markets Can Win the Global AI & Innovation Race? 48:37

5M ago48:37

48:37

In this episode, part of our brand new Emerging Market Innovation Series, we sat down with Soumitra Dutta, Dean of the Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford. He's an expert on global innovation and the author of the Global Innovation Index, which is used by governments and institutions worldwide to shape innovation policy. We're also joi…

1
46: Ben Brake, Germany’s Director General for Digital and Data Policy, on Europe's Digital Future and the Transatlantic Tech Relationship 21:30

5M ago21:30

21:30

Join host Tammy Haddad as she welcomes Ben Brake, Germany’s Director General for Digital and Data Policy at the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport, to explore how Europe’s regulatory approach to AI and digital policy is shaping its partnership with the United States. Brake responds to Vice President JD Vance’s critique of EU tech oversight,…

1
Enhancing Integrity Standards in Carbon Markets: A Conversation with Amy Merrill of ICVCM 42:29

5M ago42:29

42:29

Amy Merrill, CEO of the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) joins host Mike Toffel in this fourth episode of the Climate Rising series on voluntary carbon markets. Amy has extensive experience in carbon markets, including leading negotiations on Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and advising on global carbon finance. Amy explai…

1
Culture, Creativity & Community: How The Africa Centre Has Built a Home for African Heritage in the UK Since 1964 With Olu Alake 56:21

5M ago56:21

56:21

Episode 163 with Olu Alake, CEO of The Africa Centre, a cultural institution dedicated to celebrating and amplifying African and diaspora heritage. Since its founding in 1964, The Africa Centre has been a vibrant space for intellectual exchange, artistic expression, and community-building, evolving to meet the dynamic needs of the African diaspora …

1
45: Innovators at Paris AI Action Summit 40:37

5M ago40:37

40:37

In this special on-site episode of the Washington AI Network Podcast, host Tammy Haddad reports from the 2025 Paris AI Action Summit at the historic Grand Palais, where French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi convened top innovators, investors, and policymakers. Tammy interviews SCSP fellow Eli Sugarman on the launc…

1
Inside the Business of Afrobeats: International Festivals, Culture & Global Influence with Adesegun Adeosun (SMADE) 41:28

5M ago41:28

41:28

Episode 162 with Adesegun Adeosun (SMADE), CEO of SMADE Entertainment, Europe's leading Afrobeats music, live entertainment, and lifestyle promotions company. Since its inception, SMADE Entertainment has successfully planned, organized, and delivered some of the biggest Afrobeats concerts and festivals across the UK, Africa, and Europe. Their event…

1
#31 - Daniel Eriksson - Corruption 101 Ins & Outs: Fighting Corruption in the Age of AI & Tech 1:00:24

5M ago1:00:24

1:00:24

In this episode, we sat down with Daniel Eriksson, former CEO of Transparency International, to explore how corruption operates globally and what can be done to combat it. Corruption is one of the most pervasive challenges facing the world today. But how do we dismantle it, especially when it's deeply entrenched in political systems? Daniel has spe…