Insight into business from the people at the top. Evan Davis meets influential business leaders for a round table conversation about the issues that matter to their companies and their customers. The BBC produces two radio versions of this programme - one for the UK audience that can be heard on BBC Radio 4 on Thursday evenings at 20:30 GMT, and one for the international audience that can be heard on BBC World Service on Fridays at 22:06 GMT.
Episodes available:
Indefinitely 
Thu, 28 Mar 13
Duration:
29 mins
Evan Davis chairs a round table discussion with business people who make money from education - from running low cost schools in Africa to training the next generation of lawyers.
Thu, 21 Mar 13
Duration:
29 mins
Evan Davis and guests explore the challenges and pitfalls of the wine trade.
Thu, 14 Mar 13
Duration:
28 mins
Evan Davis asks his guests about their tales of corporate turnarounds and explores what it takes to rescue a sinking company.
Thu, 7 Mar 13
Duration:
29 mins
Evan Davis meets three business leaders who sell goods and services to governments. How hard is it to win contracts and what are the challenges of doing business with the state?
Thu, 28 Feb 13
Duration:
28 mins
Evan Davis and three top names from the world of retail swap thoughts on how to save bricks and mortar shopping. They also consider what makes a good shop assistant.
Thu, 21 Feb 13
Duration:
28 mins
Evan Davis cuts through confusion and spin to present a clearer view of the business world. This week his guests talk about the challenges of doing business in and out of Africa.
Thu, 14 Feb 13
Duration:
28 mins
Evan Davis chairs a discussion providing insight into business from people at the top. This week, he meets three pioneers of alternative finance and asks - can they beat the banks?
Thu, 7 Feb 13
Duration:
28 mins
The traditional print book industry is being shaken up by the digital revolution. Evan Davis and guests examine what the publishing landscape might look like once the dust settles.
Thu, 31 Jan 13
Duration:
28 mins
Evan Davis cuts through confusion and spin to present a clearer view of the business world. This week he explores the gambling industry and how it's being tranformed by technology.
Thu, 24 Jan 13
Duration:
28 mins
Family firms are the backbone of the world's economies, but only a third survive to the second generation. Evan Davis and guests explore the ups and downs of running a business with your relatives.
Thu, 15 Nov 12
Duration:
29 mins
Planet New – the world of wonderfully innovative ideas that give rise to new products. There are many arguments about how to solve the world’s economic problems. But if there’s one solution that most will agree on it’s that we need more new products to drive capitalism and make us richer. Evan Davis and guests discuss the importance of innovation for the global economy and the impediments to this kind of creativity. They also swap thoughts on the ‘pivot’ – when to change your mind in business.
Thu, 8 Nov 12
Duration:
28 mins
Financial services have the power to enrich an economy – or to ruin it completely. But what kind of reform is required to get them fit for the 21st century? Evan Davis and a panel of top business brains discuss.
Thu, 1 Nov 12
Duration:
29 mins
What is the right price for a product or service? Evan Davis and guests discuss the different strategies companies use to decide what to charge. How much of it is educated guesswork as to what they can get away with?
Thu, 25 Oct 12
Duration:
29 mins
The Business of sport – Evan Davis speaks to the top business brains in the industry. How did they re-invent their sports and bring in new and bigger audiences?
Thu, 18 Oct 12
Duration:
28 mins
There's competition - and then there's super-competition. Evan's guests consider the perils and possibilities of doing business in an overcrowded market. And, ahead of the latest James Bond film, they swap thoughts on product placement and celebrity endorsement. How do you ensure your products are seen in all the right places and none of the wrong ones?
Thu, 11 Oct 12
Duration:
28 mins
Business is obsessed with quality - but does it really mean? Evan guests swap thoughts on how to get it high, and why might it end up low. They also compare notes on their respective weaknesses.
Thu, 4 Oct 12
Duration:
28 mins
Handling the company board is a delicate art. Stephanie Flanders' three guests have spent many years around the top table â they share their tips for mastering the hidden agendas and clashing egos. They also swap thoughts on the risks and rewards of running large incumbent companies as opposed to smaller startups.
Thu, 27 Sep 12
Duration:
28 mins
The product that made us: Evan Davis’s guests tell the stories of a product that has shaped the fortunes of their companies. They also discuss firing people - how easy should it be to dismiss an employee?
Thu, 20 Sep 12
Duration:
28 mins
Is Europe in decline? Or are its current woes mere bumps on the road to greater prosperity? Evan Davis and guests also debate the pros and cons of silos, those invisible barriers that can develop in almost any organisation.
Thu, 12 Jul 12
Duration:
28 mins
Roads, bridges, tunnels, pipelines, runways, cables - Evan Davis and guests examine the costly business of building and running infrastructure. They also debate the pros and cons of media training.
Thu, 5 Jul 12
Duration:
28 mins
Big brands vs own-labels. Evan Davis and guests swap thoughts on the evolution and hierarchy of brands. Who has the upper hand in the many battles being fought between big consumer brands and shops’ own-labels? They also consider consumer tastes – do their own customers have good taste, or do they just buy what they’re given?
Thu, 28 Jun 12
Duration:
28 mins
Capital allocation - do deserving companies get the money they need for investment, or do the undeserving get more than they should? Evan Davis asks his executive panel how well the market distributes capital to the right businesses.
Thu, 21 Jun 12
Duration:
28 mins
How do top executives spend their time each day? What does running a company actually involve? Evan Davis asks his guests to reveal the inner secrets of their diaries. They also consider the so-called Shareholder Spring – how investors are rebelling against corporate pay.
Thu, 14 Jun 12
Duration:
28 mins
How restrained should business be when selling products to customers that aren't necessarily that good for them? Plus, the psychology of competition - how focussed are companies on their rivals? Evan Davis and a panel of top executive guests debate the issues.
Thu, 7 Jun 12
Duration:
28 mins
Evan Davis and his guests discuss different types of employment contracts and ask how far employers should go in checking their employees' behaviour. Featuring Nick Buckles, CEO, G4S, Eric Born, CEO, Wincanton and Jason Iftakhar, Co-founder, Swifty Scooters.
Thu, 31 May 12
Duration:
28 mins
Europe is top of the agenda as Evan Davis asks his executive guests about the outlook for the Euro, and the risks and opportunities in the global economy more generally.
Thu, 29 Mar 12
Duration:
28 mins
Hard-boiled or soft-hearted - when is it right to be tough at the top? Evan Davis and his executive guests debate ruthlessness in business. Plus, capitalism in places that business overlooks - they also talk about investing and selling in deprived areas.
Thu, 22 Mar 12
Duration:
28 mins
Anatomy of a decision. Evan Davis and guests discuss executive decision making using examples from their professional life. They also swap thoughts on stress – their own and that of their employees.
Thu, 15 Mar 12
Duration:
28 mins
Good leadership - can you turn a mediocre manager into a brilliant boss? Self-help books and management courses may try, but good leaders are still hard to come by. So what does great leadership consist of, and do Evan's three guests have it? They also discuss dematerialisation - could their companies survive using 20% less of everything?
Thu, 8 Mar 12
Duration:
28 mins
Cock-up or conspiracy? Evan Davis asks his executive guests about mistakes and malpractice in business - why they occur and how best to avoid them.
Thu, 1 Mar 12
Duration:
28 mins
Reinventing a business is something this week's panel have all had some experience of - they work in pubs, cinemas and telecom services. But what are the possibilities and pitfalls of reinvention? They also swap ideas on what they think our children should be taught at school.
Thu, 23 Feb 12
Duration:
28 mins
The curious business of expert advice. Evan Davis's guests this week come from very different industry sectors, but have one thing in common - they're to some extent selling expertise, knowledge that the customer doesn't have. If consumers are in a state of relative ignorance, how can they shop around? What stops them getting ripped off? They also swap thoughts on religion in the workplace.
Thu, 16 Feb 12
Duration:
28 mins
Three young entrepreneurs share their headaches and hopes as they discuss the challenges of creating and running a business. Presented by Evan Davis.
Thu, 9 Feb 12
Duration:
28 mins
Does it really take a big ego to be successful in business? Evan Davis asks his panel about egos and narcissicm. And what's so special about the US when it comes to successful startups?
Thu, 2 Feb 12
Duration:
29 mins
Evan Davis and his panel talk cars. What road is the automotive industry on? Just where is it headed? They also consider whether it’s best to be a wage slave, with a regular salary, or to take a share of the profits of a business.
Thu, 26 Jan 12
Duration:
28 mins
It's become a dirty word, often associated with negatives like 'crony' and 'crisis'. Evan Davis asks his executive panel how they would redesign and rebrand capitalism. They also swap thoughts on when you reach your prime in business. First in a new series.
Thu, 17 Nov 11
Duration:
28 mins
Evan Davis and his panel consider whether now’s the time for companies to pursue big, ambitious ideas – or is it a time for more modest aspirations? They also discuss banking with the boss of retail banking at Royal Bank of Scotland, and take stock of the consumer sector in the run-up to Christmas. Last in the current series.
Thu, 10 Nov 11
Duration:
28 mins
Evan Davis asks his panel about the importance of bonds to business. The boss of Heathrow reveals the trials of running an airport. And the panel considers whether a good manager can run any company of any type.
Thu, 3 Nov 11
Duration:
28 mins
What's the secret of a happy business marriage? Evan Davis asks his panel about the key partnerships they have with other companies. They also consider whether flat organisations work best.
Wed, 2 Nov 11
Duration:
29 mins
In the third programme in her series of debates about the financial crisis, Stephanie Flanders asks a panel of top economic thinkers whether the world has the institutions it needs to confront today's problems. Stephanie is joined in the studio by Willem Buiter, Chief Economist at Citigroup, Jim O'Neill Chairman of the asset management division of Goldman Sachs and Katinka Barysch, Deputy Director of the Centre for European Reform in London. They'll also discuss whether the lesson of the last few years - especially in the eurozone - is that national democracies and global markets simply don't mix. Producer: Caroline Bayley Editor: Stephen Chilcott
Thu, 27 Oct 11
Duration:
28 mins
A smorgasbord of topics as Evan Davis and his panel of guests discuss everything from Swedish business and Ikea, to the Eurozone crisis and product proliferation.
Wed, 26 Oct 11
Duration:
29 mins
Should we blame the bankers or the economists when it comes to the global financial crisis? And what can we learn from the current crisis? In the second of three programmes, BBC Economics Editor Stephanie Flanders discusses the global economy with high-profile economic thinkers, including billionaire investor George Soros; Sir Howard Davies, former director of the London School of Economics and Dr DeAnne Julius, chair of Chatham House and a former member of the Bank of England's monetary policy committee.
Thu, 20 Oct 11
Duration:
29 mins
As protests continue around the world against the financial sector, Evan Davis and three guests from that industry consider a fundamental question: does the sector create genuine wealth, or is it essentially parasitic, finding ingenious ways of distributing other people’s wealth to its own workers?
Wed, 19 Oct 11
Duration:
29 mins
What does the future hold for the Euro? BBC Economics editor Stephanie Flanders discusses how the current economic crisis will play out over the next decade. Joined by a panel of top economic thinkers, she ask if Western economies can expect to grow at all over the next few years, and will the Euro exist in ten years time? Stephanie is joined by Nicola Horlick of Bramdean Asset Management; David Roche of global investment research firm Independent Strategy and Will Hutton, chair of the Big Innovation Centre - a new think tank set up by the Work Foundation.
Thu, 13 Oct 11
Duration:
28 mins
Stephanie Flanders asks her panel about the dos and don’ts of marketing. They also discuss messiness in the workplace - does a cluttered desk really mean a cluttered mind?
Thu, 6 Oct 11
Duration:
28 mins
Evan Davis and guests consider whether it’s getting easier to create a new business in the wired world, or do lower barriers to entry mean it’s trickier to get noticed? They also discuss how good businesses are built on the back of mistakes.
Thu, 29 Sep 11
Duration:
28 mins
Evan Davis and guests discuss McDonalds. After a rocky period in the middle of the last decade, how well has the global burger chain managed to revive its famous fast-food formula? They also debate whether the progress of radical new technology has slowed down.
Thu, 22 Sep 11
Duration:
28 mins
Evan Davis asks his guests if it’s time to declare a state of emergency in the world economy. They also discuss the role rumours, hearsay and speculation play in business.
Thu, 14 Jul 11
Duration:
29 mins
Evan Davis asks his panel of top executives about the limits of automation. How far can they go in removing human beings from their business? Which processes are beyond automation? They also swap thoughts on the benefits of the corporate awayday.
Thu, 7 Jul 11
Duration:
29 mins
Evan Davis asks his panel of top executives about the perils and possibilities of running a fast-growing business. Many a company has crashed and burned due to a failure to manage rapid growth – but what are the speed limits? They also chew over the role of the business lunch.
Thu, 30 Jun 11
Duration:
28 mins
Evan Davis challenges his high-flying corporate guests to cast their minds forward to how the Web will look in 2020. Just what will have changed? They also consider the importance of storytelling. What business benefit is there in a good yarn?
Thu, 23 Jun 11
Duration:
29 mins
Evan Davis asks his guests if we live in a world of short-term contracts – and other business relationships too. And he discovers how companies measure how well they’re performing. Is it just about the financial results?
Thu, 16 Jun 11
Duration:
28 mins
Evan Davis and his panel of executives swap thoughts on the importance of having the right contacts in business. Is it who you know that counts, as the cliché goes? His guests also reveal their greatest regrets.
Thu, 9 Jun 11
Duration:
28 mins
Evan Davis asks his panel of influential business leaders how they plan to economise in their use of raw materials. They also talk about building design - which matters more: how they look, or how well they work?
Sat, 4 Jun 11
Duration:
25 mins
Evan Davis asks his panel of influential business leaders if now is a good time for companies to sit tight and play it safe, or to be bold and take risks. They also debate whether there's anything wrong with a touch of greed in business.
Thu, 24 Mar 11
Duration:
29 mins
Evan Davis and his panel of top executives from the world of clothing and fashion discuss whether normal business rules apply in their world. They also talk about marketing, and the role of PR in getting their products noticed.
Thu, 17 Mar 11
Duration:
29 mins
Evan Davis and his panel of top business executives discuss recent events in Japan, and explore to what extent companies can prepare for major disasters. They also reveal how much they really know about life on the shop floor.
Thu, 10 Mar 11
Duration:
28 mins
Stephanie Flanders and guests discuss whether the economic future for countries like the UK will be flat. And as the German economy storms ahead of the rest of Europe, just what is the secret of its success?
Thu, 3 Mar 11
Duration:
28 mins
Stephanie Flanders and a trio of chief executives swap thoughts on how successful companies manage the business of time. They also discuss if it matters whether companies keep up with current events.
Thu, 24 Feb 11
Duration:
28 mins
Evan Davis asks his panel of top executives about the value of consumer research. Can companies learn anything useful about their consumers? They also debate whether business awards serve any purpose.
Sat, 19 Feb 11
Duration:
24 mins
Stephanie Flanders and guests discuss hyperconnectivity - the idea that there are more devices in use around the world than there are people using them. How does the panel cope with the sheer mass of incoming information, and devices to carry it? And does more technology mean better communication, or just less time to think? They also consider the role of intuition when making important decisions.
Thu, 10 Feb 11
Duration:
28 mins
Stephanie Flanders and her top business guests discuss the impact of political instability on how and where they do business. They also talk about how companies value their employees. Are they really their "most important asset", as is so often claimed?
Thu, 3 Feb 11
Duration:
28 mins
Evan Davis asks his guests how companies can keep up with the times and avoid becoming out of date. They also discuss which laws they would most like to scrap.
Thu, 27 Jan 11
Duration:
29 mins
Evan Davis asks his panel of top business executives to fast-forward five years and give their economic predictions for 2016. They also discuss the value of networking for your business and career.
Thu, 18 Nov 10
Duration:
29 mins
Evan Davis asks his panel of top executives about the decisions companies make about where they put themselves. What are the advantages of being near the competition? They also discuss the role of email in business.
Thu, 11 Nov 10
Duration:
28 mins
Evan Davis and guests discuss how companies plan for unforeseeable events and prepare for life's nasty surprises. The panel also talks about what to wear at work.
Thu, 4 Nov 10
Duration:
28 mins
Evan Davis and guests discuss how young upstarts can compete in a market dominated by an incumbent company. They also talk about company names and the obsession with changing them.
Thu, 28 Oct 10
Duration:
29 mins
Evan Davis and guests examine the relationship between company chairman and chief executive. They also discuss the merits of youth and age in the workplace.
Thu, 21 Oct 10
Duration:
28 mins
Evan Davis and guests discuss raw materials and emotion in the workplace.
Thu, 14 Oct 10
Duration:
28 mins
Evan Davis and guests discuss business logistics and customer service.
Thu, 7 Oct 10
Duration:
29 mins
Evan Davis and guests discuss new forms of marketing and the role of optimism in business.
Thu, 30 Sep 10
Duration:
29 mins
Evan Davis and top business guests debate whether market share is the best strategy. And corporate claptrap - why do intelligent business people sometimes fall in love with complete gibberish?
Thu, 23 Sep 10
Duration:
29 mins
Evan Davis and top business guests discuss whether the world economy can flourish even if the US does not. And sponsorship - how companies decide which events to back, and how much to spend.
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