Charles Conn

Charles Conn, a former McKinsey partner and current chair of Patagonia's board, challenges conventional wisdom on transformation. He argues that rigid strategic planning can hinder progress, advocating for small experiments that foster learning. Conn emphasizes the importance of listening to critics and diverse perspectives to spark innovation. He shares a practical matrix for prioritizing challenges and highlights how a consumer-centric approach transformed orthodontics. His insights bring battle-tested wisdom to navigating change in today's fast-paced world.

Join Charles Conn, an investor and environmentalist, and Rob McLean, former Dean of the Australian Graduate School of Management, as they explore the value of 'imperfectionism' in strategic decision-making. They discuss how adopting a mindset that embraces calculated risks can drive innovation. The guests introduce the 'dragonfly eye' concept, emphasizing multiple perspectives for breakthroughs. They also highlight Amazon's incremental approach in financial services and the importance of storytelling in securing support for strategic initiatives.

Charles Conn, an investor, environmentalist, and entrepreneur, shares strategies for thriving in uncertain times. Topics include self-sabotage, clever breakthroughs, effective communication, embracing risk, curiosity, innovation from different perspectives, imperfectionism, compelling storytelling, and collective intelligence through outsourcing.

"Inside the Strategy Room" welcomes Charles Conn, an investor and entrepreneur, and Rob McLean, a Director Emeritus of McKinsey & Company. They discuss their book "The Imperfectionists" which explores developing strategies in uncertain times. They emphasize the importance of embracing imperfection, celebrating failure, and promoting experimentation and innovation within organizations. They also highlight the effectiveness of visual demonstrations and storytelling in building support for ideas.

Charles Conn, an investor and conservationist, shares insights on modern leadership strategies in uncertain times. He champions the idea of imperfectionism, urging leaders to take small, reversible steps instead of relying on extensive master plans. Conn emphasizes the importance of decentralized decision-making, advocating for trust within small cross-functional teams. He also discusses the necessity of tolerating failure and using diverse perspectives to uncover innovative solutions. This engaging conversation invites leaders to embrace adaptability and curiosity in their change efforts.