The Not Alone Podcast: Leaders in conversation
Welcome to Not Alone: Leaders in conversation — a collaboration between Elsevier and Prof Rafael Bras. We bring unfiltered perspectives on global issues by research and academic leaders.
Join us for fascinating insights from our esteemed guests, selected for their prominence and influence in higher education and related fields. Experts from MIT, Harvard, UCLA and beyond bring their conviction and passion to a wide range of topics, ensuring that our content remains relevant and impactful.
Every two months, we release a new episode — thought-provoking dialogues that inspire and spark meaningful conversation while illuminating the paths of academic leadership and innovation and fostering a community that thrives on shared knowledge and transformative ideas.
Follow our channel for fresh content!
Learn more about Not Alone:
https://www.elsevier.com/connect/collection/not-alone
To complement the podcast, we issue a monthly email newsletter. Interested in more topics? Sign up here:
https://www.elsevier.com/connect/collection/not-alone#8-not-alone-newsletter
Episodes
12 episodes
In conversation with ... Robert A. Brown
In this episode of Not Alone: Leaders in conversation, we trace how university leadership split between internal stewardship and external politics, and what that means for mission, trust, and culture. Robert A. Brown lays out why resea...
In conversation with ... Tony Chan
In this episode of Not Alone: Leaders in Conversation, host Rafael Bras speaks with Tony Chan about building a Western-style research university inside a rapidly changing Saudi Arabia, the rising political pressure on US academia, and ...
In conversation with ... Ana Mari Cauce
In this episode of Not Alone: Leaders in Conversation, Prof. Ana Mari Cauce reflects on her decade-long presidency at the University of Washington, exploring how authenticity, values, and a commitment to both diversity and free speech ...
In conversation with ... Dawn Freshwater
In this episode of Not Alone: Leaders in Conversation, host Rafael Bras speaks with Prof Dawn Freshwater, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Auckland, New Zealand. The conversation covers Prof Freshwater’s unique journey, from leavin...
In conversation at Elsevier's Impact Conference, Chicago - Part 2
Academic leaders engage in a candid exploration of higher education's role in society, examining how universities can better articulate their value while staying true to their missions amidst rapid technological and social change.• The ...
In conversation at Elsevier's Impact Conference, Chicago - Part 1
Academic leaders gather at Elsevier's 2025 Impact Conference to discuss how higher education can respond to global disruption and inspire hope through evidence-based solutions.• Judy Verses (Elsevier) discusses rebuilding trust in acade...
In conversation with... Tim Killeen
In this episode of Not Alone Leaders in Conversation, hosted by Rafael Bras, Dr. Timothy Killeen, President of the University of Illinois System, shares his vast experience and insights from an extensive career spanning physics, geophy...
In conversation with ... Marcia McNutt
In this episode of Not Alone: Leaders in Conversation, Dr Marcia McNutt, President of the US
In conversation with ... Julio Frenk
In this episode of Not Alone: Leaders in Conversation, host Rafael Bras discusses higher education, public health, and leadership with Julio Frenk, the incoming chancellor of the University of California, Los Angeles. Frenk, a former p...
In conversation with ... Larry Bacow
In the latest episode of Not Alone: Leaders in Conversation, host Rafael Bras engages in an in-depth discussion with Prof Larry Bacow, one of America’s most esteemed academic leaders, having held prestigious positions at MIT, Tufts and...
In conversation with ... Robert Langer
In this episode of Not Alone: Leaders in Conversation, hosted by Rafael Bras, Prof Robert Langer of MIT talks about his impressive career and contributions to medicine, including the co-founding of Moderna and the development of ground...
In conversation with ... John Hennessy
In the inaugural episode of Not Alone: Leaders in Conversation, host Rafael Bras engages in a profound discussion with John Hennessy, esteemed academic leader and Chairman of Alphabet. Prof Hennessy shares his insights on shaping higher educati...
