The Value of an Independent Brand

We’re delighted to be joined by Adi Ignatius, the Editor in Chief of the Harvard Business Review. HBR is over 100 years old and has created some of the best business content ever produced but few people talk about it as a media force. Last year it made $302 million in revenue, had 11 million monthly visitors to its website, and was followed by tens of millions of people on social media. There's no question it deserves paying closer attention to. That's exactly what Matt and I did in November last year when we did a Business Breakdown Episode on how Harvard Business Publishing works. Ever since that conversation, I've wanted to talk to Adi about the unique model HBR employs and how it operates. Please enjoy this conversation with Adi Ignatius.

For the full show notes, transcript, and links to the best content to learn more, check out the episode page here. 

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Show Notes

(00:03:50) - (First question) - His most memorable experience as a field journalist in Beijing

(00:06:13) - Why it’s so important for media leaders to be adaptable

(00:07:10) - His perspective on generative AI as it relates to media and journalism

(00:10:46) - The characteristics of the HBR that have enabled it to continue for over 100 years

(00:12:54) - The most impactful aspects of their business model and legacy

(00:14:39) - The roles of both their freelancers and in-house editors

(00:19:48) - How they capitalize on different platforms across the HBP brand ecosystem

(00:21:44) - Their signature Case Studies series

(00:24:20) - The relevance of print media versus digital formats in their business today

(00:25:57) - How their brand image continues to evolve naturally

(00:27:42) - The role of diversity in the HBR’s culture and design

(00:29:02) - The balance between their subscription-based model and advertising revenue

(00:32:20) - Broadness versus specificity in their content

(00:33:33) - Keeping their content timely but thorough in the era of digital immediacy

(00:35:53) - Their sizeable social media presence

(00:39:18) - How working with Harvard sets them apart

(00:41:26) - What he has learned throughout his career about branding

(00:44:30) - Their book HBR at 100 and the potential for true classics being made in the digital era

(00:46:53) - The common threads he can identify in their most influential articles

(00:48:40) - The Debrief