
The Innovation Show The Strategic Genius of Taylor Swift with Kevin Evers-esv2-96p-bg-10p
Jan 28, 2026
Kevin Evers, editor at Harvard Business Review Press and author of There's Nothing Like This, offers a strategic lens on Taylor Swift's rise. He covers fearless reinvention, blue ocean moves attracting new audiences, mastery of fan engagement through gamified hints, and the CEO-like vision behind her brand evolution. Short, sharp takes on risk, leadership, and turning artistry into a global business.
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Vision Paired With Early Hustle
- Taylor Swift combined deep vision with relentless hustle from a young age to shape her career trajectory.
- Kevin Evers argues that clear vision enabled her to make unconventional, high-risk decisions early on.
Choosing Hustle Over Major Labels
- Taylor chose Scott Borchetta's new independent label over a major development deal to protect creative control.
- Borchetta promised she could write and perform her own songs and hustled to make her a success.
Blue Ocean: Teen Girls As Non‑Consumers
- Swift and Borchetta targeted teenage girls as non-consumers of country music, creating a new market category.
- Evers likens this move to Marvel's blue ocean strategy of finding overlooked audiences.






