Harvard Business Publishing: A Case Study - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 84]

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Nov 16, 2022

Matt Reustle, CEO of Colossus, offers fascinating insights into Harvard Business Publishing, rooted in the legacy of the Harvard Business Review. He discusses its century-long evolution and how it remains influential in shaping business education. Reustle highlights their successful transition from print to digital, the intricacies of customer demographics, and the challenges posed by emerging competitors. The conversation delves into the strategic importance of case studies, emphasizing practitioner-based learning as essential for understanding market dynamics.

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ANECDOTE

HBP's Undisclosed Success

Harvard Business Publishing (HBP) is a large, profitable media business within Harvard.
It generates substantial revenue and profit, yet remains relatively unknown.

INSIGHT

Origins of HBP

HBP's history dates back to the 1920s when Harvard Business School adopted the case study method.
This method, borrowed from Harvard Law, analyzes real-world business situations.

ANECDOTE

HBR's Shift to Profit

In the 90s, Ruth McMullen's high salary at HBR caused internal turmoil.
The shift towards profit and away from pure academics led to debates and turnover.

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This is Dom Cooke and today we’re breaking down Harvard Business Publishing. The media arm of Harvard’s world-famous business school was founded in the early 90s, but the seeds were sown a century ago, in 1922, when the first edition of the Harvard Business Review was printed.

100 years on, this secretive business has been through significant change. But the roots of influencing managers through academic research remain firmly intact. And despite its not-for-profit status, Harvard Business Publishing generates an impressive and growing income stream for its parent institution. To explore the business, I’m joined by our Colossus CEO, Matt Reustle. Please enjoy this breakdown of Harvard Business Publishing.

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

[00:02:19] - [First question] - A one hundred year old business that no one will talk about on the record, and their size and scale today

[00:04:54] - The history of the business from the 1920s leading up to today

[00:07:49] - What happened in the 90s and how that changed the trajectory of HBP

[00:09:24] - Changes over the past twenty years given the decline of print media

[00:14:08] - Detailed overview of HBP’s business model and offering case study access to the public

[00:21:19] - What else is published by them and how they monetize those offerings

[00:25:05] - How they interact with their parent groups, who owns them, and their relationship with them

[00:28:24] - Who reads the content they publish and who their customer base is

[00:30:05] - Which brand is more influential to which business and thoughts on their brand overall

[00:35:59] - When they first put up a paywall for their content and how successful it was

[00:39:24] - Anything they’ve done from a tech perspective that’s unique and noteworthy

[00:41:27] - Factors that will contribute to their continual future growth

[00:42:54] - Potential risks to Harvard Business Publishing in the years ahead

[00:47:48] - What Matt’s learned from studying HBP so closely for this episode