We couldn’t be prouder to represent these transformative thinkers whose work continues to positively impact business and society
Read More
New book by public health expert Dr. Shantanu Nundy offers digital solutions for making health care accessible, affordable and equitable
New York Times Bestselling author Sherry Turkle’s timely new book asks us to reconsider the uses of empathy.
Domeyard’s Christina Qi teaches financial firms how to leverage machine learning when managing data so they can create agile cultures and systems
Civic innovator Mitchell Weiss offers business and government leaders a roadmap for experimenting with and implementing bold ideas.
These renowned Black thought leaders show organizations how to fuel innovation and productivity.
Companies with umbrella ambitions, not narrow solutions, are better able to pivot during disruption, says growth strategist Rory McDonald
In her new book, future of learning and work expert Dr. Michelle Weise shares strategies for building the workforce of tomorrow.
“Firms think machine learning is about superhuman powers until they realize that power is available to them too.” – Karim Lakhani, Harvard Business School
By shifting certain practices, firms can survive and even thrive while protecting the environment.
“It’s time to rethink our economy and repair our broken system,” says strategy guru Roger Martin in his new book “When More is Not Better”
In his award-winning HBR article, Gary Pisano explains why seemingly paradoxical management tactics lead to more innovative corporate cultures.
Can business save the world? HBS professor and author Rebecca Henderson answers “yes” in her timely and prescient new book.
Jeff Dyer’s analysis of two of the world’s most prominent billionaires offers contrasting lessons for leading your organization into the future.
You’re charged with leading growth in 2020. It starts with creating a culture of sustained innovation, says Gary Pisano.
You have access to nine of the 2019 Thinkers50 winners
Rosabeth Moss Kanter believes the greatest future breakthroughs will come from an unconventional mindset and bold action.
In a viral TED Talk, Efosa Ojomo makes a compelling case for innovation — and hope.
A recent CBS “60 Minutes” segment throws open the doors of the MIT Media Lab and provides insight into the visionaries who work there.
On episode 23 of the Minds Worth Meeting podcast, Harvard’s Gary Pisano argues that big business can innovate as well as startups – provided they understand strategy and culture.
From innovation to AI and life planning, these TED speakers offer fresh perspectives on the issues facing business and the world.
In this episode of the MWM podcast, Efosa Ojomo reveals how businesses can tap into the unseen growth potential of frontier markets.
Stern Speakers’ roster includes women who address innovation – from building dynamic companies to reforming our wider economic framework.
Our clients aren’t just in the news. They are the news.
In their book, Clay Christensen, Efosa Ojomo and Karen Dillon show how businesses can generate prosperity – for themselves and the poor.
In a TEDx presentation, innovation and design expert Larry Keeley reveals a new perspective on fostering a prosperous urban improvement.
What are the biggest obstacles to driving your company’s transformation? Too often, leaders think of the barriers purely in terms of technical or strategic issues. But Nathan Furr, INSEAD professor…
What is the biggest obstacle to large companies innovating and disrupting their industries? It may be perception. In an era where entrepreneurs are romanticized, we have become conditioned to believe…
In a new book, leadership expert Hal Gregersen reveals how asking better questions will solve your most vexing problems, while creating innovative cultures.
Leadership is an all-encompassing challenge. These sessions will help turn problems into opportunities for personal and organizational growth.
Hal Gregersen shows how emerging technology can not only solve problems but prompt new questions and drive innovation.
In an updated version of his acclaimed book, Mark Johnson shows companies how to capture value in new markets, and fend off disruption.
Beth Altringer shows that creating products people want depends on understanding needs and desirability.
Thomas Malone’s new book shows organizations how people and computers can accomplish far more together than either can alone.
In Forbes, Jeff Dyer and Hal Gregersen look beyond company structure to get at the heart of what makes for a dynamic enterprise: leadership.
NEW to Stern: Neuroengineer Ed Boyden is changing the way we understand the human brain and innovation in all fields.
In a new Harvard Business Review article, Robert S. Kaplan and co-authors reveal how to unblock innovation through reforming hospital financial structures.
In a society that seeks answers to problems, Hal Gregersen reveals the creative power of inquiry.
Efosa Ojomo offers the key to creating prosperity in developing nations.
In his latest research, Clay Christensen uses his “Jobs to Be Done” framework tackle America’s chronic disease epidemic.
Stern Strategy Group Senior Vice President Tara Baumgarten reveals how Alex Osterwalder made her a better strategic communicator in 2017.
Hal Gregersen wins big at Thinkers50!
Innovation drives our economy, revolutionizes industries, and provides an avenue to radically rethink existing ways of conducting business. But how do companies and entrepreneurs make sure they’re on the winning side of the innovation battle? Strategy+Business magazine has released its list of the top new books on innovation in 2017, and we are pleased to announce that all the chosen books were authored or co-authored by our clients. This holiday season, give the gift of innovation with these winning titles…
What sets a brand apart from its competitors? It’s not always the quality or cost of the product or service. A key differentiator is the engaging story behind the brand that connects to people on an emotional plane. Andrew Gordon, 20-year veteran of Pixar Animation and professional storyteller, has helped numerous companies distinguish themselves by…
Toys”R”Us, Kodak, Nokia, and Blackberry were well-managed, exemplary leaders in their industries – until they weren’t. Now, as they teeter on the edge of the abyss, it’s apparent that they…
Innovation guru Hal Gregersen has interviewed more than 200 CEOs across industries and from around the world. His discovery? A parallel crucial to reimagining business…
From traditional drive-throughs to food trucks, the fast-food landscape has never been more crowded or competitive. Yet, despite its odds, Pal’s Sudden Service – a U.S. chain of local hamburger restaurants – is experiencing steady growth and continues to expand. It’s all about scale…
Most of us believe we know what purpose our products serve. We assume we understand our customers – what they want, and how and where they want it. The amount of customer data at our fingertips is unprecedented, and yet, we’re not getting any better at innovating…
There was a time when cautious, conservative companies were investors’ best bets. No longer. Those that get to the top and stay there are grounded in creativity, constantly ideating and innovating. Forbes’ annual “Most Innovative Companies” list offers numerous…
Companies struggle with innovation, and Greg Bernarda believes he knows why. They’re still operating in the 20th century, a world where exploitation – executing and scaling products and services in known environments – is key currency for success. To compete in the 21st century, companies need to…
Technology has forever altered the leadership and business strategy landscapes, and it continues to enable disruption across nearly every industry. Surviving – and succeeding – is one of the greatest challenges managers face, and it requires not only a different mindset, but also a …
The breakneck pace of development, particularly in technology, fuels growth and prosperity around the world. Yet, for all the positive value created by constant innovation, there’s a dismal downside: increased global inequality. But what if the world’s innovators turned their sights on…
Most of us spend our entire life looking for the right answers – from the first day of school until retirement, success is measured by answers. But the real value of those answers is based on the quality of the questions. Good questions inspire deep thinking and…
Can you kick-start the economic growth of an entire region? It depends. How many billions do you have to throw around? Daniel Isenberg, entrepreneur and professor of entrepreneurship practice, has a better way. His method partners with stakeholders to help create growth innovation at a small fraction of the region’s businesses, which then drive growth in the entire area. More than theory, he’s worked scaling up success stories with major cities in the USA, Latin America and Northern Europe.
Karen Dillon will help you figure out your job. Not your profession – the “job” that your customers are trying to accomplish. “Jobs To Be Done” theory, as described in “Competing Against Luck: The Story of Innovation and Customer Choice” (HarperCollins, October 2016), co-authored by Clay Christensen and Dillon, explains this kind of job: it’s the progress your customer wants to achieve when they’re struggling. It can be small, like bottled iced coffee as a more convenient way to perk up in the morning, or huge, like the almost universal switch from film to digital photography.
Disruptive change is accelerating, enabled by the frantic pace of technological advancement. Mark W. Johnson, authority on innovation and co-founder of Innosight, has identified the businesses at greatest risk: “The companies most vulnerable to disruption today are those at the top of their game. In mature industries, incumbent leaders are extremely vulnerable to competitors offering greater simplicity, convenience, accessibility, and affordability.” He projects that over the next decade half the S&P 500 index will have turned over, thanks to disruptive innovation.
Taddy Hall and Karen Dillon, partners of Jobs Theory creator Clay Christensen, team up to walk through a compelling real-world application of Jobs Theory in this video. After introducing the theory, Hall applies it to a case study of International Delight’s recently introduced iced coffee line. Hall looks at the jobs performed by iced coffee in general, i.e. why consumers “hire” it every day, and then walks through the innovation process that created an entirely new product category in grocery store refrigerators.
The Chinese smartphone market has produced companies, leaders, and, of course, phones. But its most significant output is perhaps more unique: a user-centric innovation by Xiaomi that treats hardware as an afterthought rather than the main driver of sales. Clay Shirky, an NYU professor living in China for this academic year (he returns to teaching at New York University later this year), has been studying the $20 billion start-up and its techniques – the centerpiece of his new book, “Little Rice” (Columbia Global Reports).
No one would argue that there’s much work to be done with America’s infrastructure. It’s one of our President-elect’s priorities in his first 100 days. But how should it be approached?
In Rwanda, more than 80% of the population lives in homes with a dirt floor. In India, only 25% of the population can afford a refrigerator. Such poverty-stricken countries are not markets for business – or are they?
Do you really understand what your product means to your customer?
Are your services as carefully designed as your physical widgets? Does your service bridge the gap between your customers’ experiences and the advancement of your strategic goals?
There’s no question Tesla is a remarkable brand. Just the name evokes emotionally charged responses from both its critics and its champions. It records quarterly losses by the millions, and rarely hits company goals or meets new vehicle launch deadlines. Yet, Tesla has what your organization (and every other) covets…
Trying to satisfy your customers is a misguided mission. There is no such thing as a perfectly and permanently satisfied customer, argues Gabor George Burt, an innovation pioneer and mastermind on re-imagining market boundaries…
Is family a source of career conflict for you? Stew Friedman, the world’s leading work/life integration expert, would take that bet. But more than ever, he says, it’s not spouses and children causing the most angst – it’s mothers and fathers…
Middle children. Middle class. Middle market. None of them get enough attention – but according to Tom Stewart, it’s the American middle market that matters most to your growth.
Giggles and pitter-patters of little feet aren’t what you’d expect to echo through the halls of an elderly care community. Then again, fragile, silver-haired men and women, many in wheelchairs,…
Our cars are getting smarter. They dictate (and recalculate) directions, sync with our phones, help us park or switch lanes, and brake if we don’t before it’s too late. The…
There was a time not long ago when commerce flowed linearly. Companies produced products, shipped them out and sold them to consumers. Single product lines were profitable. Today, not as…
It’s a sticky subject. Is business education really necessary? Many believe such higher learning still matters – and so do those who teach it. Prominent professors (and their institutions) prepare…
Companies find it increasingly challenging to justify long-term, risky R&D investments. Innovation and strategy expert Gary Pisano believes it’s time to consider a different financing model, and he draws inspiration…
Entrepreneurial opportunity isn’t exclusive to the Apples and eBays of the world. The vast majority of successfully scaled ventures aren’t mythical unicorns with billion-dollar paper values; they’re workhorses that plug…
It’s no secret large organizations have an innovation problem. With deep resource pools and even deeper pockets, they should be breakthrough masters. But when it comes to execution, complexity and…
Ideas have the power to transform – industries, economies, communities and lives. It’s a mantra that propels organizations and individuals alike to innovate, push boundaries, and stimulate change and progress….
Small businesses signify the American Dream, and start-ups are the movers and shakers, embodying entrepreneurial spirit. Then there are the large, billion-dollar enterprise corporations – household names with deep pockets…
Surviving disruption – major, game-changing innovation – is one of the greatest challenges managers in established firms face. On one hand, we’ve been warned disruption can sneak up and quickly…
Familiar things are disappearing before our eyes. Remember photo albums, audio CDs and DVDs? Maps or road atlases? Even the trusty GPS unit has been replaced by an app that…
There is perhaps no greater force for change than a powerful idea. Thousands of ideas have come to life through the Aspen Ideas Festival, commanding the attention – and inspiring…
It is a rare CEO who doesn’t list innovation as a top priority. But innovation remains an elusive beast for most. Massive R&D investments have been made, processes built, training…
Innovation is a top priority for enterprises around the world. The quickening pace of technological change and mounting pressure of global competition are helping fuel the urgency. But leaders can’t…
Management has regressed, believes Harvard Business School Professor Clayton Christensen – in large part because innovation has become a numbers game rather than “substantive discussion about things not known.” But,…
Historically, science and business have lived in separate worlds. Science was the province of universities and not-for-profit research institutes, while business was conducted by profit-seeking companies operating in the realm…
The brain-body bond is powerful – perhaps more so, and in different ways, than most of us realize. In today’s always-on, always-connected society, it seems “mindfulness” is having a moment….
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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 –…
Will Nicholas Negroponte’s predictions of today turn into the reality of tomorrow? We have no reason to doubt it.
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…
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…
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,…
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…
