Innovation. It’s a term we hear nearly every day, yet it still feels intangible, inaccessible and, at times, downright impossible. “Many managers have a hard time applying [innovative thinking and…
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Popularity of business degrees has surged over the past 40 years. But having an MBA isn’t the same as having the vision and creativity to take a company forward in…
Collaborative consumption has a firm grip on the global economy, and it’s changing everything. But the business model of sharing – our cars, our homes, our offices – isn’t exclusive…
It defies logic: an elite team of an organization’s top performers fails to deliver, falling short of expectations. It happens often, and organizational visionary Thomas Malone believes he knows why….
The collaborative (or sharing) economy has exploded into a multi-billion dollar marketplace. It’s come on quickly and persuasively, and it’s here to stay, says Rachel Botsman, social innovator and global…
Science and the arts are often portrayed as polar opposites: scientists methodically pursue facts and truth while artists soar over the landscape of everyday detail to imagine and design what’s…
Align social initiatives with corporate objectives, and do well by doing good. Or so the theory goes. The practice of strategic philanthropy has taken hold over the last two decades,…
Healthcare is a contentious topic of conversation around many of our dinner tables, but most of us don’t even consider that the food in front of us is a big…
The leadership model is broken – and an entire generation of potential leaders is on the verge of falling through the cracks. Today’s organizations simply aren’t suited to thrive through…
It’s been five years since the U.S. recession was declared over, but Americans haven’t stopped asking: “When will things get better?” The Fed continues to feed more capital into the…
Health care continues to dominate business, government and personal agendas alike – uniting the world through a shared need for new approaches that deliver high quality outcomes of care and…
The World Wide Web has not yet fulfilled its promises – and full potential – for enabling more social interaction, stimulating business growth, and promoting greater equality and opportunities for…
There is no shortage of criticism for the financial sector, particularly in the incessant wake of the 2008 economic crisis. Yet, Wall Street’s size and profit continues to swell, and…
Schools are approaching the tipping point of a digital transformation that will change the way the world learns. How can we channel the indisputable surge of online learning into a…
Do ordinary citizens have the right to demand that outdated, misleading, or even simply potentially embarrassing information about themselves be removed from Google? Earlier this week, the European Court of…
In today’s hyperconnected society and increasingly globalized economy, it would seem geography is no longer the linchpin it once was for multi-national organizations. After all, the “death of distance” has…
The internet and social media sphere exploded with the recent news of Facebook’s $2 billion acquisition of Kickstarter-funded virtual reality company Oculus VR. The move signaled a momentous turning point…
Robert F. Kennedy once said a country’s gross domestic product (GDP) measures “everything except that which makes life worthwhile.” Even Simon Kuznets, chief architect of the macro-economic metric, warned against…
The startup movement has failed, but not necessarily for the reasons most believe. Roughly 50 million new companies launch globally each year. More than 75 percent crash and burn. And…
There is perhaps no greater force for change than a powerful idea. Thousands of such ideas have come to life through TED, commanding the attention – and inspiring action –…
Some believe rules are made to be broken; others consider rules mere suggestions for when circumstances call for them. But in business, rules – three of them, in fact –…
The U.S. healthcare system is in the midst of major disruption – by mobile technology. Since the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), investment in healthcare tech startups –…
Higher education – formal degree programs taught by brilliant, tenured professors in idyllic campus settings – is undergoing full-fledged disruption. But MOOCs and other more accessible, affordable, Internet-driven “alternatives” are…
Advances in technology grant individuals more freedom than ever, yet businesses continue to take it away—stifling it by adhering to outdated, inflexible, top-down, command-and-control styles of management. And it’s to…
For all of our talk about globalization, are we really as connected as we think? Renowned economist and global strategist Pankaj Ghemawat argues that as leaders around the world hail…
The world is all abuzz about bitcoin. The closest thing to cash in the digital realm, its valuation has skyrocketed, fueled in part by big brands’ recent decisions to accept…
Will Nicholas Negroponte’s predictions of today turn into the reality of tomorrow? We have no reason to doubt it.
It’s the 2013 word of the year. President Obama recently got flak for it. Even the Pope is doing it. The selfie has permeated our culture and is transforming everyday…
As the world mourns the loss of Nelson Mandela, he is remembered for his message of peace and reconciliation. From his own experience with South Africa’s political and spiritual leader,…
Big Data is not a buzzword or a fad. It’s a movement and a business growth strategy. And it’s not going away. In fact, if we heed the wisdom of…
When Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon in 1969, it was more than an epic Cold War milestone boasting America’s “better rockets.” The billion-dollar mission signified…
Gen Xers are moving into corner offices. Boomers are seeking ‘encore careers’ to extend their work life beyond retirement. Millennials are struggling to capture their career mojo in a still…
In July 1863, our nation suffered its bloodiest moment. The Battle of Gettysburg killed, captured or wounded more than 50,000 soldiers. It was a turning point in the Civil War…
Ideas have the power to change the world. It’s a mantra that propels organizations and individuals alike to innovate, to push boundaries, and stimulate change and progress. It’s also a…
Sure, every single business and sector is being disrupted. But where will we find the vision, creativity, and leadership to innovate to address this? That’s where Rosabeth Moss Kanter comes…
While the controversies and political differences in Washington have captured the attention of most health care consumers, health care practitioners and policymakers are focused on the progress taking place in…
Corporate credibility continues to deteriorate. Global natural resources are scarcer than ever. And for many Americans, “the dream” is slipping further from reach. Many fault big business for these pressing…
Michael Wheeler challenges conventional negotiation theories, both win-win and hardball approaches. You can’t script the process, he says. Whoever is sitting across the table may be as smart, determined and…
Success stories abound of wildly creative, ambitious executives boldly leading their enterprises into uncharted territory, emerging as vibrant, thriving organizations. But will these companies continue such progressive growth without their…
Positioning your business to successfully compete in the international marketplace requires a smart, forward-thinking and long-term growth plan. It should also include an imperative for more diverse leadership at the…
People crave certainty. We lionize those who make bold, articulate predictions about the future just as we hold steadfast to educated, scientific truths asserted by the “authorities.” But what happens…
Millions of new businesses are born every year – shouldn’t your idea become one of them? While entrepreneurs are typically grouped as studied innovators and experts, falling outside of these…
Turbulence is the world’s new normal. No longer should we continue contemplating, “What does it all mean?” but instead start seriously preparing for and expecting the unexpected. What we need,…
The title of CEO does not make a true leader. After all, there is an immense difference between being in power and having power. As the world becomes increasingly interconnected…
Many people believe innovation centers on creativity; that it’s about rare strokes of inspired genius and the ability to think “outside the box.” Strategist Larry Keeley challenges that assumption. Innovation,…
Agency Expands Exclusive Representation of, Amplifies Access to Foremost Thought Leaders CRANFORD, N.J., May 2, 2013 – Stern Speakers’ mission – to connect companies and organizations with leading visionaries and…
Economy. Education. Technology. Politics. Our world has evolved from a disjointed, yet fairly predictable, landscape to a complex maze of interconnected, ever-changing relationships and ideas. With so many conventions hanging…
Services account for more than 80 percent of the U.S. GDP and more than 80 percent of the U.S. labor force works in service industries. Despite the sector’s dominance –…
U.S. competitiveness is indeed at a crossroads. Confidence in the country’s leadership position is waning while profound pessimism for its future stays steady. The good news is – according to…
