Today, I’m joined by Jason Lorber from the Stanford MBA Class of 1995 and David Goehring Freed from the Class of 2025.Jason is a consultant, comedian, and former Vermont legislator whose eclectic career has spanned politics, activism, and executive development. After earning his MBA at Stanford, Jason founded Aplomb Consulting and later served eight years in the Vermont House of Representatives, advocating for reforms in prison policy and public accountability. As a stand-up comic who once opened for Joan Rivers, Jason now brings the principles of improvisation into leadership coaching—helping teams find clarity, connection, and courage amid complexity. David is a second-year MBA student at Stanford GSB. Before business school, he worked at Walmart across capital markets, fintech, and international finance. This summer, he’ll join BCG in Boston, but he’s also building an aircraft maintenance company with his father—a venture rooted in safety, purpose, and generational partnership. At Stanford, David is co-leader of the R-Chucklers improv troupe and has discovered a deep commitment to authenticity and vulnerability as foundations of leadership. Together, Jason and David reflect on the power of improvisation as a life practice—from comedy stages to boardrooms to legislative chambers. They explore risk, reinvention, and the art of listening—reminding us that the best leaders don’t come armed with all the answers, but with a willingness to co-create what comes next. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Reconnecting and Backgrounds01:54 Life Changes and Relocation04:50 Improv and Its Impact07:52 The Role of Improv in Leadership10:57 Navigating Career Paths14:02 Legislative Experience and Public Service16:51 Career Choices and Family Business19:54 Comedy and Self-Expression30:25 The Joy of Comedy Nights34:04 The Art of Stand-Up: Preparation vs. Improvisation37:47 Improv Skills in Business42:07 Learning from Failure49:02 AI in Retail: Enhancing Creativity55:55 Navigating the Current World: Perspectives of a New GenerationJoin the Podcast Series Stanford MBA: From Baby Boomer to Gen Z | Class of ‘95 Meets Class of ‘25 Each of these episodes will feature a different pair of Stanford MBA people -- one from the class of 1995, and one from the class of 2025. Remember to rate, review, and subscribe to stay connected with future episodes! 📺 Also available on YouTube: Entire series playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSaVisoF0D_GKxVmHmakNxdpAJCb5_VTP More info: https://www.katharinemclennan.com/ Contact: [email protected] Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katharinemclennan/

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