Why Do Corporate People Talk Like This?

Ever heard a CEO admit they messed up a strategy meeting—or confused market share theft with actual theft? In this episode of Jest Business, Paddy and Rahul, as we ask the hard-hitting question: Can leaders take a joke… about themselves? From centipede moves to Southpaw manoeuvres, we dig into the absurd world of business jargon, one AI-powered buzzword at a time. So, if you’ve ever used ‘boil the ocean’ in a meeting, this one’s for you.

Discussion Topics: Why Do Corporate People Talk Like This?

• Coming up
• Rahul’s real reason for joining the podcast (spoiler: not expertise)
• When was the last time a leader cracked a joke?
• The one strategy meeting that sounded like a confession
• What in the world is a centipede move?
• AI is here… but does it do anything?
• How to sound smart in meetings (even if you’re not)
• Can you add AI to… literally anything?
• The magic trick consultants use to say nothing—beautifully
• Two reasons to master business jargon (and one of them is pure self-defence)
• The power of unknown unknowns (even when you know nothing)
• Introducing the Southpaw Manoeuvre
• The ultimate cheat sheet: how to AI-ify any statement
• Two new jargons to sprinkle everywhere
• No copyright on nonsense: go forth and jargon freely!

Our Host: Rahul Phondke & Paddy Rangappa

Rahul Phondke has been a prolific writer of humour columns since his childhood days which ended sometime last year. People are still wondering how this happened. He turned to writing humour at an early age in an effort to find some meaning to the angst of life, which he found almost immediately after his first two cans of beer. Based in Singapore, he is extremely sought after by the locals …unfortunately most of whom happen to be the police. He is an active member on Facebook and can be easily reached…unless he happens to owe you money.

Paddy Rangappa has worked in marketing for more than twenty-six years. After over a decade in Procter & Gamble in India, Indonesia, and Singapore, he became vice president, brand development for McDonald’s in Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa (APMEA) and developed strategies to significantly grow breakfast, beverages, and desserts, especially the McCafé brand, across APMEA. Outside work, Paddy is an avid tennis player and a freelance writer. He has also taught Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) to senior undergraduates and MBA students at the Singapore Management University (SMU). He is the author of Been There Bungled That and Spark.