Episode 87: population crisis
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Looking Outside is for curious people looking for a fresh take on familiar topics, in business and beyond.
Business forecasts depend on the predictable patterns of population growth, both for customer sales and for workforce talent. But what happens when we see this growth halt, or even regress? Political demographer Jennifer D. Sciubba joins the show to dive into some of the largest societal and political dynamics intersecting with demographic shifts. From changes to the types of jobs on offer, to medical access, to urbanization, demographic changes influence a wide array of long term interconnected forces. And when it comes to this topic, Jennifer says, that long term lens is a gift.
To look outside, Jennifer intentionally listens for views of those opposite to her own - like following those she ‘wildly’ disagrees with on X. In wanting to speak with the widest swath of people possible, she wants to start by understanding what other people are seeing and how they’re interpreting the science. She compliments this with reading widely (and just for fun), where she often finds surprising links, connections and sparks.
As President and CEO of the Population Reference Bureau (PRB), Jennifer leads a globally respected organization dedicated to leveraging data and insight to improve the well-being of people everywhere. Since May 2024, she has guided PRB through a period of tremendous upheaval across the U.S. nonprofit and international development sectors—strengthening partnerships, fostering innovation and strategic risk-taking, and positioning the organization for long-term sustainability and impact.
As a translator and advocate for policy-relevant research, Jennifer works to make complex demographic and political dynamics clear and actionable for decision-makers and the public alike. She’s long asserted that a deeper understanding of fertility, mortality, and migration trends points us toward the investments we need to make today to shape the future we want tomorrow. Her forthcoming co-authored book, Toxic Demography (Oxford University Press, November 2025), reveals how population dynamics are intertwined with political ideologies, identity, and nationalism, and examines how demographic trends have been ideologically distorted.
Across her career, from the classroom to the boardroom, she’s sought to connect insight with action and to build organizations that learn, adapt, and lead with purpose.
Learn more about Jennifer D. Sciubba, Ph.D
Grab a copy of Jennifer's book 8 Billion and Counting
Learn more about the Population Reference Bureau
Connect with host, Jo Lepore on LinkedIn & Substack & jolepore.com
All views are that of the host and guests and don’t necessarily reflect those of their employers. Copyright 2025. Theme song by Azteca X.
