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New research on business leadership from Harvard Business School faculty on issues including skills development, authentic leadership, and creating value.
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Have We Lost Sight of Integrity?

by Bill George

Elizabeth Holmes. Sam Bankman-Fried. George Santos. The list of leaders caught trying to con the public keeps getting longer, often with dire consequences, says Bill George. Do we no longer value the truth?

Passion at Work Is a Good Thing—But Only If Bosses Know How to Manage It

by Sean Silverthorne

Does showing passion mean doing whatever it takes to get the job done? Employees and managers often disagree, says research by Jon Jachimowicz. He offers four pieces of advice for leaders who yearn for more spirit and intensity at their companies.

How Would the Leadership Style of Girl Scouts' Frances Hesselbein Fare Today?

Re: James L. Heskett

Frances Hesselbein's mission-driven leadership helped shift the nonprofit's image, and expand and diversify its membership. James Heskett reflects on the late executive director's reputation for storytelling and change management. Would her tactics work today? Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Confront Workplace Inequity in 2023: Dig Deep, Build Bridges, Take Collective Action

by Pamela Reynolds

Power dynamics tied up with race and gender underlie almost every workplace interaction, says Tina Opie. In her book Shared Sisterhood, she offers three practical steps for dismantling workplace inequities that hold back innovation.

How Would Jack Welch’s Leadership Style Fare in Today’s World?

by James Heskett

Some consider Jack Welch the best CEO of the 20th century, but two recent books examine his effectiveness as a leader. James Heskett ponders his early interactions with Welch and his complex legacy. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Inclusive Leadership Advice: Get Comfortable With the Uncomfortable

by Francesca Gino

People tend to seek sameness, but they can teach themselves to relish in the differences of the human experience. Francesca Gino offers these three principles from improv to anyone who's trying to lead more inclusively.

Gen Xers and Millennials, It’s Time To Lead. Are You Ready?

by Lane Lambert

Generation X and Millennials—eagerly waiting to succeed Baby Boom leaders—have the opportunity to bring more collaboration and purpose to business. In the book True North: Emerging Leader Edition, Bill George offers advice for the next wave of CEOs.

6 Strategies for Building Socially Responsible—and Profitable—Companies

by Lane Lambert

A new generation of business leaders is finding innovative and profitable ways to bring about positive change in the world. In the book Purpose and Profit, George Serafeim offers a roadmap for people at every career stage who seek to align their professional aspirations with their personal values.

Blissful Thinking: When It Comes to Finding Happiness, 'Your Dreams Are Liars'

by Dan Morrell

Happiness research is all the rage. Arthur Brooks shares how understanding the origins of joy can improve the way we lead organizations—and our personal lives.

Apple vs. Feds: Is iPhone Privacy a Basic Human Right?

by Avery Forman

Leaders today must be ready to take a stand on thorny social and political issues. A case study by Nien-hê Hsieh and Henry McGee examines how Apple CEO Tim Cook turned calls for data access into a rallying cry for privacy, and the complexities that followed.

Can the Case Method Survive Another Hundred Years?

by James Heskett

The case method pioneered by Harvard Business School has weathered a hundred years of controversy and criticism. However, is the approach the best way to teach people to lead in a world that demands more agility and adaptability? James Heskett asks. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Empower Your Employees to Make Better Decisions

by Pamela Reynolds

The impact of wise decisions can ripple out in an organization. In the book Decision Leadership, Max Bazerman and Don Moore explore how the choices of influential leaders, such as athlete Colin Kaepernick and Humu's Jessica Wisdom, motivate others to do better.

What Does Your Business Stand For? Why Building Trust Starts with Purpose

by Ranjay Gulati

Trust is fragile and must be nurtured. By tapping into their purpose, leaders can help their organizations embody the values and principles they espouse, says Ranjay Gulati in his book Deep Purpose: The Heart and Soul of High-Performance Companies. Closed for comment; 0 Comments.

A World of Difference: What Keeps Companies from Becoming More Inclusive

by Jen McFarland Flint

Inclusion can unlock excellence and innovation, but instincts and good intentions will never get you there. In this interview, Frances Frei and Francesca Gino explore the underlying factors that keep organizations from becoming more inclusive. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

As Disney Board Chair, What Would You Advise CEO Bob Chapek Regarding 'Don’t Say Gay'?

by James Heskett

Disney started the year off strong—until a controversial new law in Florida set off a public firestorm. What guidance should Disney Chairman Susan Arnold provide to Bob Chapek? asks James Heskett. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

5 Qualities That Help Companies Thrive for Decades—Even Centuries

by Sean Silverthorne

What makes a business resilient, agile, and enduring? Geoffrey Jones and Tarun Khanna analyze some of India's most successful companies and offer lessons for leaders everywhere in their book Leadership to Last. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

How Etsy Found Its Purpose and Crafted a Turnaround

Re: Ranjay Gulati

Etsy, the online seller of handmade goods, was founded in 2005 as an alternative to companies that sold mass-manufactured products. The company grew substantially, but remained unprofitable under the leadership of two early CEOs. Ten years later, Etsy went public and was forced into a new arena, where it was beholden to stakeholders who demanded financial success and accountability. Unable to contain costs, the company was almost bought out by private equity firms in 2017—until CEO Josh Silverman arrived with a mission to save the company financially and, in the process, save its soul. Harvard Business School professor Ranjay Gulati discusses the purpose-driven turnaround Silverman and his team led at Etsy—to make the company profitable and improve its social and environmental impact—in the case, “Etsy: Crafting a Turnaround to Save the Business and Its Soul.” Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Lessons from COVID-19: The Business Skills Doctors Need

by Michael Blanding

The pandemic forced many physicians to become supply chain experts and strategic planners. Robert Huckman and colleagues offer a roadmap for teaching doctors the management and leadership skills they need—before the next public health crisis. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Representation Matters: Building Case Studies That Empower Women Leaders

by Colleen Ammerman and Boris Groysberg

The lessons of case studies shape future business leaders, but only a fraction of these teaching tools feature women executives. Research by Colleen Ammerman and Boris Groysberg examines the gender gap in cases and its implications. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Effective Leaders Share the Spotlight with Their Teams

by Pamela Reynolds

Many executives make decisions alone and take credit for every win. Research by Yuan Zou and Ethan Rouen shows how leaders—and their companies—directly benefit when they engage and elevate colleagues. Open for comment; 0 Comments.