Life Threads https://www.london.edu/think/life-threads en © 2026 London Business School Life Threads is an eight-part podcast series hosted by Professor Lynda Gratton, exploring how longevity and the future of work are reshaping our careers and lives. Through personal stories, expert insights and thought-provoking conversations, each episode examines a different thread that contributes to a fulfilling, productive and sustained working life: mastery, cooperation, knowing, amplification, friendship, intimacy, calm and adventure. Created as a companion to Lynda Gratton’s book Living the 100-Year Life, Life Threads offers practical ideas for navigating career transitions, relationships and personal growth over the course of a longer working life. https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/b436e188-ab6b-11f1-bc32-4f31a0e9f653/image/5a791097e0f11efa212c7f34815793bb.png?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress Life Threads https://www.london.edu/think/life-threads no serial How to build a fulfilling working life that lasts Professor Lynda Gratton Life Threads is an eight-part podcast series hosted by Professor Lynda Gratton, exploring how longevity and the future of work are reshaping our careers and lives. Through personal stories, expert insights and thought-provoking conversations, each episode examines a different thread that contributes to a fulfilling, productive and sustained working life: mastery, cooperation, knowing, amplification, friendship, intimacy, calm and adventure. Created as a companion to Lynda Gratton’s book Living the 100-Year Life, Life Threads offers practical ideas for navigating career transitions, relationships and personal growth over the course of a longer working life. Life Threads is an eight-part podcast series hosted by Professor Lynda Gratton, exploring how longevity and the future of work are reshaping our careers and lives.

Through personal stories, expert insights and thought-provoking conversations, each episode examines a different thread that contributes to a fulfilling, productive and sustained working life: mastery, cooperation, knowing, amplification, friendship, intimacy, calm and adventure.

Created as a companion to Lynda Gratton’s book Living the 100-Year Life, Life Threads offers practical ideas for navigating career transitions, relationships and personal growth over the course of a longer working life.

]]> London Business School podcasts@london.edu Mastery with Grayson Perry and Herminia Ibarra What does it really mean to master something - and why does mastery keep changing? In this episode, Lynda Gratton sits down with Turner Prize-winning artist Sir Grayson Perry and leadership and career transition expert Herminia Ibarra for a conversation about creativity, reinvention, and staying relevant in a fast-changing world.  Grayson Perry talks about identity, the impact of option paralysis on creativity, and why he’s not worried about AI replacing artists. Herminia Ibarra shares why being great at your job could actually hold you back, how to escape a “competency trap,” and what it takes to reinvent your career - even when you’re not sure what’s next.  From the risks of sticking with what you know, to the courage it takes to start over, this episode is full of real stories, practical advice, and surprising insights on how to keep your career - and yourself - moving forward.  Host:  Lynda Gratton, Professor of Management Practice in Organisational Behaviour, London Business School.  Guests:  Sir Grayson Perry, artist, writer and broadcaster  Herminia Ibarra, Charles Handy Chair in Organisational Behaviour and Professor of Organisational Behaviour, London Business School.  Mentioned in this episode:  Living the 100-Year Life  Life Threads diagnostic  Working Identity  Act Like a Leader, Think Like a Leader  Grayson Perry musical  Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 02:00 Grayson Perry on art, craft and learning new skills 11:01 The difference between a hobby and a career 15:00 Identity, authenticity and mental health 29:15 Herminia Ibarra on career transitions and networks 40:38 The cost and trap of mastery Learn more: Listen to the full episode and follow the series for more.  Sign up to receive a curated selection of articles, podcasts and films direct to your inbox twice a month at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.london.edu/think?entry=true#subscribeScreen Follow us on social media: ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/school/london-business-school/⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/londonbschool/ Fri, 11 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0000 full 1 Professor Lynda Gratton Lynda Gratton, Grayson Perry and Herminia Ibarra explore creativity, career reinvention and why expertise must keep evolving. What does it really mean to master something - and why does mastery keep changing? In this episode, Lynda Gratton sits down with Turner Prize-winning artist Sir Grayson Perry and leadership and career transition expert Herminia Ibarra for a conversation about creativity, reinvention, and staying relevant in a fast-changing world.  Grayson Perry talks about identity, the impact of option paralysis on creativity, and why he’s not worried about AI replacing artists. Herminia Ibarra shares why being great at your job could actually hold you back, how to escape a “competency trap,” and what it takes to reinvent your career - even when you’re not sure what’s next.  From the risks of sticking with what you know, to the courage it takes to start over, this episode is full of real stories, practical advice, and surprising insights on how to keep your career - and yourself - moving forward.  Host:  Lynda Gratton, Professor of Management Practice in Organisational Behaviour, London Business School.  Guests:  Sir Grayson Perry, artist, writer and broadcaster  Herminia Ibarra, Charles Handy Chair in Organisational Behaviour and Professor of Organisational Behaviour, London Business School.  Mentioned in this episode:  Living the 100-Year Life  Life Threads diagnostic  Working Identity  Act Like a Leader, Think Like a Leader  Grayson Perry musical  Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 02:00 Grayson Perry on art, craft and learning new skills 11:01 The difference between a hobby and a career 15:00 Identity, authenticity and mental health 29:15 Herminia Ibarra on career transitions and networks 40:38 The cost and trap of mastery Learn more: Listen to the full episode and follow the series for more.  Sign up to receive a curated selection of articles, podcasts and films direct to your inbox twice a month at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.london.edu/think?entry=true#subscribeScreen Follow us on social media: ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/school/london-business-school/⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/londonbschool/ What does it really mean to master something - and why does mastery keep changing? In this episode, Lynda Gratton sits down with Turner Prize-winning artist Sir Grayson Perry and leadership and career transition expert Herminia Ibarra for a conversation about creativity, reinvention, and staying relevant in a fast-changing world. 

Grayson Perry talks about identity, the impact of option paralysis on creativity, and why he’s not worried about AI replacing artists. Herminia Ibarra shares why being great at your job could actually hold you back, how to escape a “competency trap,” and what it takes to reinvent your career - even when you’re not sure what’s next. 

From the risks of sticking with what you know, to the courage it takes to start over, this episode is full of real stories, practical advice, and surprising insights on how to keep your career - and yourself - moving forward. 

Host: 

  • Lynda Gratton, Professor of Management Practice in Organisational Behaviour, London Business School. 

Guests: 

  • Sir Grayson Perry, artist, writer and broadcaster 
  • Herminia Ibarra, Charles Handy Chair in Organisational Behaviour and Professor of Organisational Behaviour, London Business School. 

Mentioned in this episode: 

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

02:00 Grayson Perry on art, craft and learning new skills

11:01 The difference between a hobby and a career

15:00 Identity, authenticity and mental health

29:15 Herminia Ibarra on career transitions and networks

40:38 The cost and trap of mastery


Learn more: Listen to the full episode and follow the series for more.  Sign up to receive a curated selection of articles, podcasts and films direct to your inbox twice a month at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.london.edu/think?entry=true#subscribeScreen

Follow us on social media: ⁠⁠⁠

⁠https://www.linkedin.com/school/london-business-school/⁠

⁠https://www.instagram.com/londonbschool/

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