HBR On Strategy

Sophie Bellon, Chair and CEO of Sodexo, discusses talent management, sustainability, and supply chain resilience. Topics include global strategy, digital transformation impact, local vs global supply systems post-pandemic, and collaboration in the food sector.

Harvard Business School professor Fritz Foley discusses Microsoft's strategic transformation in 2015, focusing on growth strategy, business models, and cultural evolution. Topics include shifting to subscription sales, aligning investors and employees, and overcoming risk-averse culture. Learn how Microsoft navigated challenges and drove growth.

Hear Harvard Business School associate professor Ayelet Israeli discuss the pros and cons of selling on Amazon. Topics include costs, competition, data challenges, brand strategies, and the decision-making process for leveraging the Amazon marketplace.

Project management expert Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez discusses common failures in project-based work, blaming executives' lack of understanding and dedication. He provides strategies for better outcomes, such as proper framing, prioritization, and team engagement. The podcast explores the evolution of project management, challenges in project prioritization, and the shift towards project-based work in companies.

Harvard Business School professor, Stefan Thomke, discusses Booking.com's innovative culture driven by large-scale testing and experimentation. Topics include strategy, digital travel, platform, and challenging management norms. Learn how the company sustained growth through a data-driven approach to innovation.

Peter Scoblic discusses the importance of scenario planning in future-proofing business strategies. He emphasizes the need for diverse perspectives, balancing short-term factors with long-term modeling, and preparing for potential crises. Scoblic uses examples like the US Coast Guard to illustrate the benefits of strategic foresight and imaginative scenario planning.

Lynn Good, CEO of Duke Energy, discusses the company's transition to renewables and net zero emissions. Topics include strategy adjustments for new technologies, testing assumptions, fostering collaborations, and navigating investments in grid infrastructure for clean energy transition.

Anne Morriss, expert in change leadership and problem-solving strategies, shares a five-step process for solving tough problems. Emphasizing the importance of trust and speed, she highlights the need for open dialogue and swift action in effective change leadership. Key topics include strategy execution, managing people, collaboration, and problem solving.

Harvard Business School professor Willy Shih discusses choosing manufacturing locations using a case study about Fuyao. Topics include production costs, inventory management, risks like customs delays and labor strikes, and evaluating cross-cultural management in global strategy.

Andy McAfee, MIT researcher and author, explains how Silicon Valley tech companies succeed through unconventional problem-solving and geek culture. He emphasizes the importance of company norms, human judgement vs data-driven insights, and the balance between leadership and innovation. Key topics include strategy, technology, start-ups, and competitive strategy.