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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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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.

When Employees Feel a Sense of Purpose, Companies Succeed

by Ranjay Gulati

Corporate cultures tend to encourage conformity. At a time when employees expect more from their jobs, companies should make space for individuality, Ranjay Gulati argues in this excerpt from his book, Deep Purpose. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Curiosity, Not Coding: 6 Skills Leaders Need in the Digital Age

by Linda A. Hill, Ann Le Cam, Sunand Menon, and Emily Tedards

Transforming an organization starts with transforming its leaders. Data from 1,700 executives by Linda Hill and colleagues reveals the most important skills and traits leaders need now. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Scrap the Big New Year's Resolutions. Make 6 Simple Changes Instead.

by Kristen Senz

Self-improvement doesn't need to be painful, especially during a pandemic. Rather than set yet another gym goal, look inward, retrain your brain, and get outside, says Hirotaka Takeuchi. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Want to Build Better Leaders? Focus on Mindset, Skills, Knowledge

by Hise Gibson and Shawnette Rochelle

Too many companies fail to see the potential of their best middle managers—and lose them to other firms. Hise Gibson and Shawnette Rochelle offer a framework for helping these promising leaders grow. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Can Our Parenting Struggles Make Us Better Leaders?

by Ranjay Gulati

Like parents, leaders must know when to impose control and when to step back. Ranjay Gulati reflects on the benefits of authoritative leadership, and what it takes to achieve it. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Is the Business World Finally Ready for the Wisdom of Shibusawa?

by Geoffrey Jones and Rei Morimoto

Legendary financier Eiichi Shibusawa advocated for business prosperity that would also benefit society. One hundred years after his death, his message is resonating with a new generation of leaders, say Geoffrey Jones and Rei Morimoto. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Team Success Starts with the Individual—and with Love

by Ranjay Gulati

Many leaders see teams as collective units, but helping individual members reach their potential—personally and professionally—can open new opportunities. Ranjay Gulati looks at the philosophy of famed football coach Pete Carroll. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

What Companies Want Most in a CEO: A Good Listener

by Jay Fitzgerald

Financial expertise and operational experience will only take executives so far. More than ever, companies want senior leaders with strong social skills and emotional intelligence, says research by Raffaella Sadun and Joseph Fuller. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

How Do We Make Sure the Right People End Up with Power in Organizations?

by James Heskett

A new book argues that companies need to reward humility and empathy—antidotes to the hubris and self-focus of excess power. But is that easier said than done? asks James Heskett. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Readers Ask: How Can I Gain Power and Influence?

by Kristen Senz

Who has the real power in an organization? Julie Battilana says it comes down to two questions. She discusses power and more on Working Knowledge’s “Office Hours” series. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Can We Train for Trust?

by James Heskett

A culture of trust can improve employee—and company—performance. But can leaders be trained to foster trust among those they lead? asks James Heskett. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Feeling Powerless at Work? Time to Agitate, Innovate, and Orchestrate

by Jay Fitzgerald

Employees lower down the organizational ladder have far more power than they realize. If they worked together, they could effect significant change within their workplaces, says Julie Battilana. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Steve Jobs and the Rise of the Celebrity CEO

by Dina Gerdeman

A new book by Richard Tedlow digs into the careers of Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, and Oprah Winfrey to understand how CEOs went from nameless suits to acclaimed gurus. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

What Pirates Can Teach Us About Leadership

by Francesca Gino

Despite his reputation for ruthlessness, Blackbeard ran a surprisingly progressive and equitable ship. Francesca Gino highlights three lessons for today's leaders from the golden age of piracy. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Procter & Gamble’s Lean Innovation Transformation

Re: Emily Truelove

When Kathy Fish became Procter & Gamble’s Chief Research, Development & Innovation Officer in 2014, she was concerned that the world’s leading consumer packaged goods company had lost its capability to produce a steady stream of disruptive innovations. In addition, intensifying competition from direct-to-consumer companies convinced Fish that P&G needed to renew its value proposition to make all aspects of the consumer experience “irresistibly superior.” But making this change would require wholesale transformation from within. Can Fish bring lean innovation to scale at Procter & Gamble? Harvard Business School Assistant Professor Emily Truelove discusses the challenges of bringing this established company back to an innovative mindset in her case, “Kathy Fish at Procter & Gamble: Navigating Industry Disruption by Disrupting from Within.” Open for comment; 0 Comments.

IKEA Navigates the Future While Staying True to its Culture

Re: Juan Alcacer & Cynthia A. Montgomery

After years of success in providing quality furniture at affordable prices, Swedish furniture maker IKEA is challenged by the rise of online shopping and changing consumer behavior, plus the arrival of a new leader. The company's top executives know they had to step out of their comfort zones and embrace new strategic initiatives to stay relevant. But which initiatives will best enable IKEA to evolve while staying true to the company’s core values? Harvard Business School professors Juan Alcacer and Cynthia Montgomery discuss navigating a new future while preserving the company’s culture and identity in their case, “Which IKEA Do We Want?” Open for comment; 0 Comments.