Perspectives

The Green Room by Deloitte podcast

The Green Room by Deloitte tackles a tricky question about the world around us every two weeks. From automation anxiety to zero waste, we call on clever experts and great research from across the firm and beyond to find the answer. And they’re usually just over 30 minutes as we know you’re all busy. Go ahead, untangle those headphones and join us in The Green Room.

Season 6

	Episode #41: Where do you start when everything matters? Who doesn’t love ticking things off the to do list? But when it gets a bit too long, overwhelm can take over. It’s the same when we think of the planet too. We all want to make a difference, but it’s hard to know where to start. So how do we make meaningful progress – and fast? Listen now
	Episode #40: Could technology make us more active? We all know we’d feel better if we were more active. But computers, smartphones and games consoles can keep us glued to our seats. However, that same tech can give us the chance to take part, learn new things and connect with what motivates us. So what if technology isn’t the problem - but part of the solution? Listen now
	Episode #39: Will the metaverse make work better? For some, the arrival of the metaverse seems like the plot of a sci-fi blockbuster. It’s exciting but it can be hard to grasp. Is it just the natural evolution of hybrid working? Or is it something more revolutionary? If used in the right way, does the metaverse have the potential to make work better? Listen now

Season 5

	Episode #38: What did we learn over the past year? The power of conversation never ceases to amaze us. After another fantastic year insightful discussions, we’re feeling a little nostalgic here in The Green Room HQ. For the last episode of the year, our hosts look back on their highlights. Listen now
	Episode #37: How is the conversation about disability at work changing? Talking about disability at work isn’t something new. There are 14.1 million disabled people in the UK. And it’s something that can affect us all. But how has the conversation changed over the years? And is it changing fast enough? Listen now
	Episode #36: How do you start a movement? Many of us are trying to change something – make our corner of the world a little bit better for those around us. But how do you identify what it is exactly you want to change? How do you share the journey as you gather momentum? And how do you keep going when things get tough? Listen now
	Episode #35: How do we create work that’s good for our wellbeing? Hybrid working. It sounds like the shiny solution to what the future of work is going to look like. But we wouldn’t blame you if you felt part excited, part wondering how it’s all going to work. So where do we go from here in a way that’s sustainable, inclusive and, most importantly, kind to ourselves and others? Listen now

Season 4

	Episode #34: What does it take to trust a business? Trust. It can be hard to define, but we all know how it feels. They say it takes a long time to build and a short time to lose. So what are the fundamentals of trust in business? And what happens when you get it wrong – is it lost forever? Listen now
	Episode #33: What’s the secret to performing at your best? What does it take to be the best you can be? And perhaps more importantly, how do you do it consistently? Maybe Team GB’s most successful female Olympian has the answer... Listen now
	Episode #32: Can a business make money and do good at the same time? What does it mean to be responsible? There’s no right answer. In fact, it’s easy to get it wrong. But when it comes to business, it can have a huge influence. How do businesses make social impact part of everyday decisions? What does it mean to be a responsible business? Is there a formula for doing it right? And to get there, do you have to do it all? Listen now
	Episode #31: Should my next car be electric? Vehicles running on clean electricity for miles. It seemed like something out of a movie – until it wasn’t. The modern car has changed the world. Mobility. Convenience. Status. Freedom. And lots of emotion. But there’s a new player on the market... Listen now
	Episode #30: Are women rewriting the rules? From politics to the boardroom, women are flipping the narrative that empathy and warmth indicate weakness. They’re telling other women looking up at them - if I can do it, you can do it too. There’s lots to celebrate. And we’ve come so far. But there’s still lots to do. So what’s it like to break through into the spaces men dominate? How does it feel to be outnumbered? What can we learn from those who’ve done it? And why are there rules that need breaking anyway? Listen now
	Episode #29: Is there light at the end of the tunnel? We’re all looking for a little hope at the moment. Since we launched The Green Room two years ago, we’ve seen the world around us change in so many ways. We wanted to take a moment to pause and reflect on some of the incredible conversations we’ve been lucky enough to take part in. Listen now
	Episode #28: Does the way we bank leave some people behind? They say money makes the world go round. And it’s not untrue. At the very least, it keeps our washing machines going round, the wheels on our cars spinning and the hours you clock in at work ticking. But if money is so embedded in our lives, why don’t we talk about it more? Why is it so hard to understand? And why are some people excluded when it comes to matters of finance? Listen now

Season 3

	Episode #27: Is technology our planet’s best hope? The impact we’re making on the planet is now happening at a faster rate than it can replenish itself. And we can’t afford to ignore it any longer. But could the very technology that’s shaped our world today now help us to save it? To help answer, we’re joined by Colin Butfield, Executive Director, Our Planet – WWF, and Siobhan Gardiner, Deloitte Ventures’ Climate Studio Lead. Listen now
	Episode #26: Will travel ever be the same again? Hands up if you had a trip cancelled because of COVID-19. Since lockdown, some of us have been discovering our local areas. Others probably need a holiday now more than ever. But we can’t imagine a future without travel. So where do we go from here? Listen now
	Episode #25: Do we care more about a brand or what they stand for? Humans are funny creatures. We wake up and brew ourselves a cuppa, using only our favourite teabags of course. We butter our bread using our favourite spreads (or not, you love it or you hate it after all) and we message our friends on our mobiles, the same make we’ve had for the last decade. So why exactly do we have such an emotional connection to them? Are we all just creatures of habit, easily charmed… or is there more to it? Listen now
	Episode #24: What’s it like to be Black in Britain today? How often do you think about race? If you’re white, chances are – rarely. That’s because you’re unlikely to be the only person in a room who looks like you. If you’re Black, race defines your experience from the day you are born. The street you grow up in. The school you attend. The friends you make. The jobs you go for. We might say we don’t see colour, but our skin marks every aspect of our lives. Listen now
	Episode #23: One year on: did anything go to plan? When our CEO Richard Houston took on the role in 2019, he spoke to our hosts about starting a new job and preparing for his next step. He was prepared for a challenging year, with uncertainty around Brexit, the ongoing audit debate and the pressures of life at the top. But what he couldn’t predict was a global pandemic. A pandemic that would turn our lives upside down and change the world forever. Listen now
	Episode #22: Can we finally stop talking about Brexit? At 23:00 on January 31, three years and four months after the EU referendum, the UK officially stopped being a member of the EU. But is it really all over? Can we finally stop talking about it? Or are we only just getting started? Listen now
	Episode #21: Are we buying less because we care more? Over the last few decades, businesses have struggled to keep up with our demand for more. But things are beginning to change. The research shows that we’re thinking more carefully about where and how we spend our money. But what does this mean? Are we really buying less, or just spending in ways that make us feel good? Listen now
	Episode #20: How much are we prepared to share for an easy life? We live in a data-driven world. And it would be pretty difficult to exist in it without sharing information about who we are and what we like. But are we trading our privacy for the convenient life data gives us? How far are we willing to go? Where is this valuable information going? And what happens when it all goes wrong? Listen now

Season 2

	Episode #19: Why do the experts keep getting it wrong? Back in 2016, economists said Brexit was unlikely to happen and the media reported that Hillary Clinton was a safe bet for the US presidency. Since then, it’s fair to say that world events have taken an unexpected turn. But why didn’t we see it coming? Did the experts really get it wrong or are we being unfair? Listen now
	Episode #18: Is technology really making our lives better? From smarter healthcare to remote working, technology has positively impacted our lives. But there are downsides to this always-on world too. From the impact on our physical and mental health to data security, should we completely switch off from technology? Or could we not live without it? Listen now
	Episode #17: Why aren’t we taught how to adult? Tax forms. Mortgages. Pensions. Most of us have to deal with them at some point in our lives, but do we really understand them? We all know we’ll have to take control of our finances when we ‘grow up’, but we don’t always know where to start. Listen now
	Episode #16: Are we taking young voices seriously enough? Today’s younger generation are the most informed, educated, connected generation in human history, with a lot of ideas too. But are young people really more engaged, or do they just have a bigger platform? Are we listening to them in the workplace and society? And how do we balance this energy with experience? Listen now
	Episode #15: Do working fathers have it easy? Comical stereotypes of dads often show fatherhood as a bit of fun, but more dads than ever before are now actively involved in parenting. So are we fuelling these stereotypes by treating working parents differently? And how can workplaces help today’s working fathers to get that work-family life balance? Listen now
	Episode #14: Why do we think about physical and mental health differently? We all have mental health, in the same way we all have physical health. So why do we only talk about it when something goes wrong? Is it time we stopped talking about mental and physical health and just talked about ‘health’ instead? Listen now
	Episode #13: Does starting a new job ever get easier? Starting a new job can be daunting, as our new CEO Richard Houston knows only too well. As he approaches his first 100 days on the job, we’re talking first day nerves and how to prepare for taking the next step. Listen now

Season 1

	Episode #12: Should we be teaching kids to code? In a modern world dominated by software, has coding become the most important language of all? Or are we focusing on tech skills at the expense of all others… How do we ensure the next generation is properly equipped to enter the future workforce, and make sure they’re not left behind? Listen now
	Episode #11: Are our cities ready for the future? Over two thirds of the global population will call a city home by 2050. This growth brings with it some major challenges, and some big opportunities. From transport to housing, technology to the environment, there’s a lot to think about. So what does this mean for us? Listen now
	Episode #10: What’s stopping us from making the most of international markets? In a global world, the most successful companies need to be open to considering opportunities in other markets. But where do they start? Are UK businesses really making the most of opportunities abroad? What’s holding us back? Listen now
	Episode #9: Can creativity change the world? Creativity matters. Without it, we wouldn’t have science or medicine. We’d have no solutions, no innovation. Our economy needs new ideas to survive. But we don’t have enough of them. Why? Listen now
	Episode #8: Does the high street have a future? Once a bustling hub of activity, the high street as we know it is under threat. But is this really the end? Or the beginning? Will technology shape our future high streets in ways we can’t imagine? What does this all mean for retailers? And what about us? Has the way we shop changed for good? Listen now
	Episode #7: Does having a side hustle make you more productive at work? Research estimates that one in four of us run at least one business on the side. So we ask why are so many of us starting a side hustle? Does it distract from our day jobs? Or keep us motivated? Should business be putting its foot down? Or actively encouraging employees to pursue projects on the side? Listen now
	Episode #6: Is it tough at the top? David Sproul has led our firm through eight years of consecutive growth. And faced his fair share of challenges along the way. Was it all worth it? Would he do anything differently? And has he had a single day off in the last eight years? This week we ask: is it tough at the top? Listen now
	Episode #5: Will I ever feel good enough for my job? Have you ever questioned whether you’re good enough? Afraid people will find out you’re not capable? Felt like a fraud? You’re not alone. Imposter Syndrome affects 70% of people at some point in their lives. This week we’re joined by two very special guests to tackle our latest big question: will I ever feel good enough for my job? Listen now
	Episode #4: Can one small change save the planet? From reusable coffee cups to metal straws, we’re all familiar with the ‘war’ against single-use plastics. Eco-friendly options have become more mainstream, but how much difference can one small change really make? What else could we as individuals be doing to reduce our waste? And what’s the role of business in all of this? This week we ask: can one small change save the planet? Listen now
	Episode #3: What makes a great career? Careers matter. Not just in terms of livelihoods, but how we define our identities. What matters to you at work? From a good boss and great benefits, to being recognised and making an impact. This week we ask: what makes a great career? Listen now
	Episode #2: What can we learn from the underground economy? Tired of the same old advice from the same old places? How about some innovation lesson from narcos, pirates and hackers? Being proficient at new technologies is key to the success of underground economies. For these innovators on the edges of society, innovation isn’t a choice, but a matter of survival. This week’s big question: what can we learn from the underground economy? Listen now
	Episode #1: What will be the last job on earth? Would you trust a robot to lead an interview? Operate on you? Make your lunch? Technology is advancing at an unprecedented speed and many of us already work with robots every day. But what happens when the bots become more useful than us? Automation could take 30% of our jobs in the next 30 years. Some will disappear faster than others. This week we ask: what will be last job on earth? Listen now