The Not Alone Podcast: Leaders in conversation
Elsevier 15 episodes Oct 6, 2026
Not Alone: Leaders in conversation is a collaboration between Elsevier and Prof Rafael Bras that offers unfiltered perspectives on global issues from research and academic leaders. Guests are selected for their prominence and influence in higher education and related fields, with experts from institutions such as MIT, Harvard and UCLA sharing their conviction and passion across a wide range of topics. A new episode is released every two months, featuring thought-provoking dialogues that aim to inspire meaningful conversation about academic leadership and innovation. The podcast also has a complementary monthly email newsletter for listeners interested in further topics.
Episodes
In conversation with ... Dr. Karin Markides - President Emerita and Executive Advisor, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST)
In this episode of Not Alone: Leaders in conversation, host Rafael Bras talks to Professor Karin Markides about what university leaders can learn by choosing hard institutions in very different countries, then using those lessons to build stronger research cultures and real societal impact. We explore why trust in higher education is slipping, how sustainability needs systems thinking, and what AI
In conversation with ... Andrew Hamilton - Former President of New York University
In this episode of Not Alone: Leaders in conversation, Rafael interviews chemist and university leader Andrew Hamilton, whose career moved from Exeter and Cambridge to UBC, a postdoc in Strasbourg, and faculty roles at Princeton, Pittsburgh, and Yale, before senior leadership as Yale provost, Oxford vice chancellor, and NYU president (2016–2023). Hamilton describes how setbacks and “sliding door”
In conversation with ... Lily Kong - President of Singapore Management University
In this episode of Not Alone: Leaders in conversation, host Rafael Bras sits with President Lily Kong to probe trust, purpose, and the future of universities through the lens of Singapore’s model and global headwinds. From neutrality to rankings and the 100-year life, we explore how institutions can rebuild relevance without losing their soul.Topics include:• Singapore’s planning state and educati
In conversation with ... Robert A. Brown - Former President of Boston University
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 research finance is fragile, how immigration and AI shape the future, and where focus and courage will be required.Topics include:• Growth of constituencies and the provo
In conversation with ... Tony Chan - Former President of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
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 what AI can and cannot do. The through line is leadership that protects the university’s soul while adapting to new realities.Topics include:• Why KAUST adopted US-s
In conversation with ... Ana Mari Cauce - Former President University of Washington
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 guided her leadership through turbulent times.Topics include:• The journey from "reluctant administrator" to transformative university president• Why diver
In conversation with ... Dawn Freshwater - Former Vice-Chancellor University of Auckland
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 leaving school early to becoming a prominent academic leader across multiple continents. They delve into the challenges of higher education; the importance of fairness and
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 relationship between academia and private industry through the lens of Jurassic Park, where university research prioritizes public good over profit• Universiti
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 academia through open conversations and finding alignment on shared goals• Trust erosion patterns differ between US and European higher education systems due to str
In conversation with... Tim Killeen - President University of Illinois System
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, geophysics, and academic leadership. Dr. Killeen discusses his early life in Cardiff, his shift from pure physics to atmospheric sciences, and the various leadership roles
In conversation with ... Marcia McNutt - Former President of the US National Academy of Sciences
In this episode of Not Alone: Leaders in conversation, Dr Marcia McNutt, President of the US National Academy of Sciences, reflects on her remarkable journey and experiences in the realm of science and research policy. Dr McNutt, a renowned geophysicist and leader, delves into her early life influences, academic challenges, and career milestones, including her transitions from MIT to the Monterey
In conversation with ... Julio Frenk - Former President University of Miami, Chancellor UCLA
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 president of the University of Miami, shares his rich background—from his family's escape from Nazi Germany to his groundbreaking reforms as Mexico's Minist
In conversation with ... Larry Bacow - ormer President of Harvard University and of Tuft University
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 Harvard. The conversation, recorded on Oct 16, 2024, covers a wide range of topics including Prof Bacow’s aversion to titles, his career shaped by mentorship and se
In conversation with ... Robert Langer - Institute Professor at MIT, Co-Founder of Moderna
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 groundbreaking drug delivery systems. He shares his early influences, experiences with ADHD, the challenges he faced in academia, and his thoughts on leadership. Their co
In conversation with ... John Hennessy - Former President of Stanford, Chairman of Alphabet
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 education, his journey from Stanford professor and President to influential entrepreneur, and the pivotal experiences that shaped his career. The conversation to
