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    Leaders Unplugged

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    How do deans lead when the world turns upside down?

    May 19, 2025 • by David Bach, Felix Zeltner in Leaders Unplugged

    Global deans Catherine Duggan and Darren Dahl on leading through turbulence — and why optimism, not certainty, is the real power in today’s business education....

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    What is Leaders Unplugged?

    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.

    Welcome to Leaders Unplugged, a bi-weekly podcast by IMD, hosted by IMD President David Bach with Felix Zeltner.

     

    Global deans on leading through turbulence — and why optimism, not certainty, is the real power in today’s business education.

    In today’s episode, IMD President David Bach discusses how the rapid global shifts of the moment impact leadership education, with two of his peers:

    – Catherine Duggan, Dean of the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business
    – Darren Dahl, Dean at the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia

    Duggan challenges prevailing assumptions about the Global South, calling African leadership “a masterclass in managing volatility.” Dahl reveals how political instability in the US has made Canada re-evaluate its economic dependence – and sparked a surprising boom in university applications.

    This episode is packed with unplugged moments, like when Duggan compares running a business in Africa to “playing video games on hard mode,” and Dahl admits: “We’re not teaching students how to fall down.”

    If you’re in leadership, higher education, or just trying to make sense of this moment in history – don’t miss this one.

    Leaders Unplugged features real talk with the impactful. Candid, honest, actionable, and fresh from behind the scenes. It is presented by IMD in collaboration with Remote Daily.

    Expert

    Catherine Duggan

    Director, University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business

    Catherine Duggan is Director of the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business. Duggan brings more than 20 years of work in Africa, as well as extensive experience at top global business schools. She was previously the vice dean for strategy and research at the African Leadership University School of Business in Rwanda. Earlier in her career, Duggan served on the faculty of Harvard Business School, where she taught courses on political economy and leadership in the MBA and executive education programs.

    Expert

    Darren Dahl

    Dean, Sauter School of Business at the University of British Columbia

    Darren Dahl is Dean of the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia, Canada. From student in 1992 to his appointment as Dean in 2022, he has been an increasingly important part of the school for the past 30 years. Dahl received his BCom from the University of Alberta in 1992, and PhD from the University of British Columbia in 1998.

    Authors

    David Bach

    David Bach

    President of IMD and Nestlé Professor of Strategy and Political Economy

    David Bach is President of IMD and Nestlé Professor of Strategy and Political Economy. He assumed the Presidency of IMD on 1 September 2024. He is working to broaden and deepen IMD’s global impact through learning innovation, excellence in degree- and executive programs, and applied thought leadership. Recognized globally as an innovator in management education, Bach previously served as IMD’s Dean of Innovation and Programs.

    Felix Zeltner

    Felix Zeltner is a journalist and entrepreneur. He is the founder of Remote Daily, a media company specialized in building live talk shows for organizations around the world. He hosts Wunderbar Together, the leading German-American podcast, and is the co-author of “Stadtnomaden” (2019) and “Hype” (2024). Zeltner holds a double-degree in journalism from Munich University LMU and German Journalism School, and has received several awards for his reporting (Arte, ARD, Der Spiegel). He lives in New York City with his family.

    Expert

    Sergio Ermotti

    Sergio Ermotti

    Group CEO of UBS Group AG

    Sergio Ermotti is the Group CEO of UBS Group AG since April 2023, having also been CEO of the company from 2011 to 2020. He re-joined UBS from Swiss Re, where he was the Chairman of the Board of Directors. Ermotti started his banking career as an apprentice at a small bank in his hometown of Lugano, Switzerland. He is a Swiss-certified banking expert and a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at Oxford University.

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