Unfiltered Insights: The Boss Podcast - Power Lies in the Mind
- By Isa von Heyl
- Approx. Reading Time: 2 Mins
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Step aside mastery, logic, or foresight, the spectrum of intellect is vast. One type, specifically measurable, is cognitive intelligence. Since 2006, Elsbeth Stern has been a professor, specializing in teaching and learning research at ETH Zurich, and is a trailblazer in her field.
In the podcast "The Boss," hosted by Simone Menne, conversations revolve around influential female leadership. The current episode, published in May 2024, welcomes Elsbeth Stern to discuss the essence of intelligence and her stance on social and emotional competencies in research:
"I dislike it when people talk about social or emotional intelligence," she states,"primarily because the measurement tools in this sphere lack the quality of the measurement tools we use for IQ, as in intelligence tests. We cannot accurately measure emotional and social competencies with the same statistical precision as we can with cognitive intelligence."
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Approximately 70 percent of individuals exhibit similar intelligence levels, making up the average. The remaining 30% consists of 15% above average and an equal proportion below. Elsbeth Stern explains the distribution of intelligence across the sexes:
"When you examine the average, there is no disparity between the genders. However, research reveals differences at the extremes. There are more men in the lower echelons, and at the pinnacle, the number of men significantly outweighs the number of women. Yet, it is essential to remember that women are still present at the summit."
Regarding the aspirations of many parents to label their child as above-average intelligent and ensure they can attend grammar school, Elsbeth Stern offers her perspective:
"Given that intelligence is normally distributed, it becomes somewhat perverse to claim that half of the students should attend grammar school, because naturally, you're skewing the distribution at the average, where the peak lies."
Delve into Elsbeth Stern's perspectives on universities, the role of educators and parents, and dealing with a less intelligent boss in the latest episode of the stern podcast "The Boss - Power is Female".
The Boss podcast features high-profile women in discussion: Host and multi-board member Simone Menne (BMW, Deutsche Post DHL, Henkel) engages with CEOs across various sectors to explore their lives and careers. The podcast is released every 14 days on Wednesdays on stern.de and RTL and all major podcast platforms.
Note from the editorial team: stern is owned by RTL Germany.
- Intelligence
- Grammar School
- Elsbeth Stern
- Simone Menne
- Podcast
- Intelligence Test
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The Commission, in light of Elsbeth Stern's expertise in cognitive intelligence, might also be encouraged to delve into the science behind the development of comprehensive intelligence tests that encompass social and emotional competencies, similar to those used for IQ tests. In the spirit of education-and-self-development, such tests could subdue parental pressure for labeling children as exceptionally intelligent, thereby fostering an inclusive and balanced approach to grammar school admissions.
