HBR On Strategy

Learn how a former consultant revamped an independent bookstore post-pandemic to compete with online giants. Discover strategies for sustainable wages, community engagement, and reinventing brick-and-mortar retail in a changing market.

Former IBM CEO Sam Palmisano discusses the importance of establishing relationships with shareholders before issues arise. He emphasizes the value of long-term projections over quarterly outlooks, focusing on communicating a clear strategy to investors. Palmisano shares insights on navigating Wall Street, engaging with shareholders, and the impact of hedge fund activists on capital allocation decisions.

Efficiency is pursued by businesses, but it can have social and economic costs. Roger Martin explains the downsides of eliminating inefficiencies. He suggests shifting focus to long-term resilience and avoiding singular goals. Walmart and Southwest Airlines' lessons in pursuing variety and avoiding harm to customer relationships are discussed. Companies like Walmart, Target, and Costco implement the 'Good Job Strategy' for a more resilient workforce. Income inequality can be addressed through paying a living wage and diversifying purchases.

Hubert Joly, former CEO of Best Buy, re-defined the company's purpose by prioritizing fair pay and employee advancement. He found ways to work with competitors like Amazon. Joly discusses the challenges of leadership and the importance of embracing stakeholders and pursuing a noble purpose.

Learn about the growth strategy and challenges faced by Careem, the Middle East's first unicorn startup. From scaling operations to innovation and forging relationships with local governments, explore how Careem became a billion-dollar company. Discover the unique opportunities and challenges of joining a startup and the importance of reinforcing values while scaling a company.

Learn how to implement a value-based strategy in your organization by focusing on customer and employee satisfaction. Discover the importance of simplifying and prioritizing initiatives, shifting mindset for creating value and financial success, and transitioning to a value-based strategy. The episode covers strategy, creativity, design thinking, customer centricity, and competition.

Learn how IKEA evolved its strategy amidst challenges such as the founder's passing and the rise of online shopping. Explore topics like restructuring franchise agreements, balancing global growth with localization, and adapting to a changing environment.

Discover the value of superconsumers and how their insights can drive business growth. Learn from examples in vitamins, Velveeta cheese, and video games. Explore strategies for attracting new consumers through understanding superconsumers. Identify superconsumers and utilize existing data to target the right audience for superior growth.

Rohit Gera, a successful entrepreneur in real estate, discusses the challenges of succession planning in a family business. They explore topics such as growth strategy, leadership transition, Child Centric Homes in India, challenges of a family name, scaling up, and achieving success through facing challenges.

The podcast explores the rise of TikTok and how imitation can lead to better financial performance. It discusses the challenges faced by TikTok, competition between social media platforms, and the influence of political sentiment on the platform. The episode concludes with the host wrapping up the conversation and promoting their podcast.