WorkLab Havard's Raffaella Sadun on why it's so hard to become a Frontier Firm
Nov 19, 2025
Raffaella Sadun, Charles E. Wilson Professor at Harvard Business School, dives into the challenges of transforming into a Frontier Firm. She discusses the necessity for cultures built around experimentation and collaboration between humans and AI. Sadun emphasizes that there’s no universal playbook for AI strategy; it must be tailored to each organization's culture. She shares insights on effective reskilling techniques, the evolving role of leaders, and how employees can become innovators in their firms.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
AI Unlocks Tacit Knowledge
- AI's promise lies in making tacit expert knowledge accessible and usable across organizations.
- This could be revolutionary but requires firm-specific integration to realize productivity gains.
Start With Strategic Clarity
- Define your firm's core value and strategic boundaries before you experiment with AI.
- Use that clarity to evaluate which experiments advance your product, service, or cost goals.
Secure Broad Organizational Buy-In
- Build organizational buy-in by addressing winners and those who fear replacement early.
- Prioritize adoption across the firm so innovations don't stay isolated in labs.

