Renée Mauborgne

Renée Mauborgne, an economics professor at INSEAD and co-author of 'Blue Ocean Strategy', discusses innovative business strategies that encourage entrepreneurs to create new market spaces instead of competing for dominance in crowded areas. She highlights examples like Cirque du Soleil and Tesla, advocating for unique value delivery. The conversation also touches on non-disruptive innovation as a solution to job displacement in the age of AI, aiming for a balance between profit goals and societal impact.

Renée Mauborgne, strategy professor at INSEAD and co-author of "Beyond Disruption," discusses the concept of nondisruptive creation. She argues that innovation doesn't have to dismantle existing markets and jobs. Using examples like microfinance and Square, she reveals how new businesses can flourish while enhancing job stability. Mauborgne emphasizes recognizing unaddressed market needs, addressing poverty, and repurposing vacant spaces post-COVID as gateways for economic growth with less social harm.

Blue ocean strategy is a landmark business idea – first introduced in 2004 in an HBR article. But its co-creator Renée Mauborgne, a professor of strategy and management at INSEAD, tells IdeaCast host Sarah Green Carmichael that it’s not a guaranteed win. “What we’ve found is that managers’ existing mental models, the assumptions about what works in competing in existing industry space — they often apply to their efforts to create new markets. And that creates the failure,” Mauborgne explains. They discuss what specifically can go wrong when you try to implement blue ocean strategy, including the common traps managers fall into. And why it’s so important to know who your non-customers are and include them in your market research. Key topics include: blue ocean strategy, competitive strategy, growth strategy, and innovation, Ralph Lauren, Salesforce, product and service design, making your own market, innovation, sector growth, and strategy canvas. HBR On Strategy curates the best case studies and conversations with the world’s top business and management experts, to help you unlock new ways of doing business. New episodes every week. Listen to the original HBR IdeaCast episode: Blue Ocean Strategy and Red Ocean Traps (March 2015) Find more episodes of HBR IdeaCast. Discover 100 years of Harvard Business Review articles, case studies, podcasts, and more at HBR.org.

Renée Mauborgne, a strategy professor at INSEAD and co-author of the influential 'Blue Ocean Strategy,' discusses her latest book, emphasizing positive disruption and innovation. She shares insights on identifying unique market opportunities and the importance of embracing individuality in a conformist world. Renée highlights how technology can enhance creativity and the power of personal accountability in overcoming challenges. Through engaging anecdotes, she encourages listeners to redefine success by focusing on meaningful contributions rather than competition.

Renée Mauborgne, an esteemed strategy professor at INSEAD and co-author of the influential Blue Ocean Strategy, dives deep into the pitfalls of zero-sum thinking in business. She advocates for nondisruptive creation, which fosters new industries without harming existing ones. By shifting leaders' mindsets from competition to collaboration, she highlights how imagination can unlock innovative opportunities. Mauborgne shares insights on empowering individuals within firms and the importance of creating markets that benefit all, showcasing transformative examples like Square and GoPro.