AGSM at UNSW Business School

01/06/2026

Who’s responsible when AI starts making more decisions in our workplaces?

Join this year's Learn to Lead and hear from UNSW Business School's Associate Professor Yenni Tim, who will discuss responsible AI, organisational resilience and what it really means to lead through digital transformation.

You'll also hear from Professor Joel Pearson, who will explore what happens to human judgment when AI enters the picture, and Professor Claire Annesley, who will show how to combine digital data with human insight to solve complex, real-world problems.

Starting today and free for UNSW Alumni, enrol now: https://www.unsw.edu.au/alumni/professional-hub/build-your-skills/learn-to-lead

28/05/2026

Over the last century, humans have been getting smarter every year. Until now.

With the widespread adoption of AI, particularly its use for more routine workplace tasks, are we becoming more productive or outsourcing too much of our thinking?

UNSW Scientia Professor Toby Walsh explains the “Flynn Effect” and how a decline in human intelligence development could affect how we live and work.

The biggest risk may not be smarter machines, but losing the focus, grit and critical thinking that make humans valuable at work in the first place.

🎧 Listen now: https://pod.fo/e/420782

27/05/2026

Earlier this week, RioInspire, the leadership program co-created by AGSM and Rio Tinto for Indigenous leaders, was awarded the global Excellence in Practice Gold Award in Talent Development, recognising impact and innovation in Executive Education.

RioInspire combines culturally grounded leadership development with real business application to accelerate capability, strengthen enterprise influence and deliver measurable organisational outcomes.

Participants worked on enterprise-level strategic challenges, engaged directly with executive sponsors and developed the capability to influence governance, operational and community outcomes across a complex global organisation.

RioInspire also demonstrates the power of globally connected leadership development, bringing together Indigenous leaders across Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, Canada and the United States to strengthen cross-cultural insight, strategic influence and global leadership capability.

26/05/2026

Australians hold more than $4.3 trillion in superannuation assets, yet many retirees still spend less and draw down their savings more slowly than expected in retirement. New research from UNSW Business School suggests one overlooked reason may be the hidden transaction costs involved in buying annuities, which are financial products that convert super savings into a regular retirement income.

“In simple terms, the fixed cost changes annuity buying from a gradual process into a ‘wait, then act’ decision,” said UNSW Business School Associate Professor Yang Shen. “The cost also affects how much retirees spend, how much they keep in savings, and how quickly they draw down their wealth.”

The research shows that even small upfront fees can significantly shape retirement behaviour, delaying annuity purchases and contributing to more cautious spending patterns. The findings highlight the importance of designing retirement products and advice that help Australians turn their super savings into a more stable and sustainable income.

Read the full article here: https://www.businessthink.unsw.edu.au/articles/retirement-income-annuity-costs-superannuation-drawdown

21/05/2026

What separates a good leader from a great one?

Former Sydney Swans Head Coach John Longmire is well known for the loyalty he inspired in his team. He says great leaders need to take the lead from those they are leading, balancing strong values with emotional intelligence to stay connected through the inevitable ups and downs.

Listen to more from John Longmire on The Business Of Motivation here: https://pod.fo/e/409e07

19/05/2026

Why do people keep using social media platforms that they say make them feel worse? New research from UNSW Business School suggests the answer is not addiction, but social pressure. Users may want to leave, but feel compelled to stay because everyone else is still there.

“When people are judged by their number of followers or likes, there is extreme pressure to post and to participate in the network to keep up with their peers,” said UNSW Vice-Chancellor's Professor Richard Holden. “This is the very essence of a ‘rat race’.”

The research highlights how platform design choices, including likes, follower counts and engagement-driven algorithms, can intensify social comparison and make harmful networks harder to leave. For policymakers, businesses and parents, the findings raise important questions about the future of online communities and digital wellbeing.

Read the full article here: https://www.businessthink.unsw.edu.au/articles/social-media-harm-network-effects-bad-networks-unsw-research

18/05/2026

Looking to accelerate your career with an MBA?

Join AGSM @ UNSW Business School at the UNSW CBD Campus, Sydney on 28 May from 6:30 pm for a networking event and AGSM MBA information session.

Hear from alumni Eu-Gene Harpur (MBA Tech 2021), ICT Operations Leader at Trinity Grammar School, and Anthony Butler (MBA Exec 2024), Regional Director - NSW/ACT at Ediom as they share how their AGSM MBA improved their career success.

Register here:

Join this in-person event to learn more about AGSM’s MBA and Graduate Certificate Programs

14/05/2026

Hybrid work was supposed to make work, work better. Five years on from the great WFH experiment, we're still figuring it out.

For those with the flexibility to work hybrid, getting it right matters - for your focus, your team, and your productivity.

On the latest Business of podcast, UNSW Scientia Professor Manju Ahuja unpacks what hybrid work is really doing to the way we work, and what you and your team can do to make it work better.

🎧 Listen here: https://pod.fo/e/41507f

13/05/2026

The AGSM @ UNSW Business School Full Time MBA Class of 2027 has officially commenced. Welcome! 👋

Spanning 23 countries and a wealth of industries, our newest cohort brings an extraordinary mix of perspectives, ambitions, and experience to the program, averaging eight years of professional experience each.

During Orientation Week, they forged new connections, reflected on the careers and experiences that brought them to AGSM, and began laying the foundations for a transformative year ahead.

We can't wait to see what MBA FT2027 will achieve and the mark they'll leave on the AGSM community.

12/05/2026

Artificial intelligence is reshaping industries at speed, but according to UNSW Business School alumna and AI strategist Nicholle Lindner, many organisations are still focused on the wrong question. Rather than asking how to build stronger AI tools, she says leaders should be asking whether their systems, infrastructure and workforce are ready for large-scale AI deployment.

“The issue for our governments now is not faster or better AI. It’s actually how AI will be deployed. And are we ready for that? Are our systems and structures there?” asked Ms Lindner, Senior AI Leader & Strategic Advisor APAC at Deloitte. In an interview with Associate Professor Felix Ter Chian Tan, UNSW Associate Dean (International), she said organisations need to move beyond viewing technology as a cost centre and instead see AI as a driver of growth, innovation and long-term competitiveness.

For businesses, workers and future graduates, the shift will require adaptability, digital literacy and the ability to work across both technical and non-technical environments. As AI continues to transform industries, organisations that invest in readiness and long-term strategy will be better positioned to navigate disruption and growth.

Read the full article here: https://www.businessthink.unsw.edu.au/articles/ai-strategy-australia-nicholle-lindner-board-literacy-deployment