Curious Leadership with Dominic Monkhouse E333 | The art of competitive advantage with top 30 global thinker Kaihan Krippendorff
Kaihan Krippendorff is a world-renowned business strategist, innovation authority, and CEO of Outthinker Networks - a powerhouse of chief strategy and innovation leaders shaping the future of business. A former McKinsey consultant, he’s heralded as one of the top 30 global thinkers in strategy and innovation by Global Gurus and Thinkers50, with a proven track record of helping organisations generate over $3 billion in transformative growth.
The bestselling author of six books, including Outthink the Competition and Driving Innovation from Within, Kaihan’s latest work, Proximity, is a Next Big Idea Club must-read endorsed by thought leaders like Adam Grant and Malcolm Gladwell. He’s a go-to voice for innovation and strategy, regularly writing for Harvard Business Review and Fast Company and hosting podcasts like Outthinkers and The Chief Strategy Officer.
Kaihan has partnered with global giants like Microsoft, IBM, Procter & Gamble, and JP Morgan, while teaching at top institutions like Wharton Executive Ed and NYU. A sought-after speaker and media contributor, he inspires audiences worldwide, blending his global perspective and multicultural insights from his base in Miami, Florida.
In this episode, Dominic explores the intricacies of strategic thinking and the critical distinction between strategic planning and true strategy. With Kaihan highlighting the growing importance of proximity in value creation, focusing on how businesses can innovate closer to the moment demand arises. They also examine the shifts in various industries including the evolution of defence technology, the disruptive impact of 3D printing on manufacturing, the need to rethink inventory and production processes, and how AI is reshaping information delivery.
Discover
Proximity as a Strategic Advantage: How businesses can achieve competitive advantages by creating value closer to the time and location where demand appears. Examples include Coca-Cola's Freestyle machines and advances in 3D printing for customisable solutions.
Strategic Insights from Ancient Principles: The 36 strategic patterns derived from ancient Chinese fables, such as “Seize the Deer in the Headlights Moment” and “Embrace What’s Been Abandoned,” which empower businesses to outthink competitors and exploit overlooked opportunities
Shifting from Planning to Creation: Traditional strategic planning processes and shifts in focus toward narrative-driven strategy, emphasising the power of constraints in sparking innovative ideas.
Sustainable Innovation in Multiple Industries: How proximity can lead to both environmental and business advantages. Real-world examples of sustainability-driven innovations include hydroponic farming and lab-grown meat, to eliminating waste in production and inventory management.
Book recommendations:
Bruce Greenwald - Competition Demystified
Marcus Collins - For The Culture
Kaihan’s books Proximity and The Art of the Advantage are out now
Dominic’s book Mind Your F**king Business is out now