We are all still in a bit of shock over the rapid decline in the market valuation of GE. As of this writing, the stock is hovering at 50 percent of its previous valuations, and a plan has begun to break the company into several pieces. Stock options are underwater and talented people are taking […]
This month, I had a chance to attend the Water Summit in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The purpose of the conference is to draw out the leaders from government, industry and academia to build a foundation of dialogue around an issue that is hard to find actionable agreement on: the availability of abundant, clean water for the […]
We have an interesting case study playing out right now: Ford Motor Company has had three recent waves of leadership changes that give evidence to the demands of leading a large mature firm into what has become a classic set of trade offs between optimizing the current business model and creating the next. For those […]
There is a fascinating property of water that while not well understood, provides a great organizational analogy for the role Growth Leaders play and where to find them. This unique property of water is the phase change it undergoes at freezing (zero degrees Celsius) and how it can be inhibited if the water is super […]
One of the perks of being a global advisor with deep roots in the Midwest is the advantage it provides in terms of helping me better see the rich contrast and unique ways each region is predisposed to building value. We all see things through the lens of our formative experiences, and after three decades […]
One airshow act that always pleases is when an aircraft lands on top of a moving car. What makes it immensely interesting every time I see the act, is knowing that every landing, even on a fixed runway, is unique due to wind, ambient temperature and traction. Add to that a moving vehicle and the […]
You’ve just landed your new role with your freshly-minted diploma and been given your first big assignment. As you prepare to get started, you recall that case study where a group went into the “war room,” held deep and lengthy brainstorming sessions and then had “the moment.” From there, it was merely a distribution problem. […]
When I travel internationally, I always find it fascinating to visit the corner office of my client. Inevitably there is a map of the world on the wall, and you can bet that the center of the map is where you are standing. Yes, it’s more than a metaphor – we all really want to […]
I had a conversation last week with the CEO of a mid-sized services firm: “I’m not complaining, business is really good, and we are growing double digits every year. But I’m realizing that I’m out of everything all at once – talent, plant space, equipment.” “What’s the right play?” The challenges of the current environment […]
Imagine this scenario: a small plane takes off in a gorgeous mountain area at a lower altitude with the intention of doing some sightseeing and begins to explore the upslope scenery. While taking in the beauty and enjoying the day, some subtle things are happening that reduce their safety minute by minute. First, the higher […]
