559: Professor of Finance at London Business School, Alex Edmans, on Why ESG and DEI Data May Contain Lies

559: Professor of Finance at London Business School, Alex Edmans, on Why ESG and DEI Data May Contain Lies

In this episode, finance professor and author, Alex Edmans, offers a rigorous examination of the narratives surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in corporate strategy. Drawing on his critique of widely cited studies, including those from McKinsey and BlackRock, Edmans illustrates how flawed data interpretations and confirmation bias contribute to the persistence of questionable claims. He warns against relying on correlation-based research that lacks causal rigor, especially when such findings are used to justify high-stakes decisions in boardrooms and policy circles.

Edmans identifies three recurring issues in the current DEI discourse: cherry-picked performance metrics that ignore long-term shareholder value; reverse causality, where strong performance leads to more diversity, not the other way around; and omitted variable bias, such as industry effects that confound diversity claims. He also critiques the narrow definition of diversity, which often reduces individuals to surface-level demographic traits while ignoring cognitive and experiential variation that may be more relevant to performance.

The conversation extends beyond DEI to explore the structural incentives within academia, consulting, and media that reward oversimplified narratives. Edmans notes that when ideas become dominant, dissenters face not only reputational risk but also institutional hurdles that discourage honest debate. The result is a professional ecosystem in which flawed research is amplified and poorly contextualized advice is recycled across geographies and sectors without regard for applicability.

Other key themes include:

  • The difference between demographic and cognitive diversity in strategic decision-making

  • The dangers of universalizing business practices without accounting for local context

  • Why flawed performance metrics (e.g., EBITDA) misrepresent firm success

  • How misaligned incentives distort executive behavior and perpetuate ineffective initiatives

  • The role of institutional culture in suppressing dissent and reinforcing groupthink

For senior leaders navigating complex decisions, Edmans' commentary offers a timely reminder: even widely accepted practices warrant scrutiny. In environments where performance is difficult to measure and cause-effect relationships are opaque, intellectual discipline, not ideological alignment, is essential.

Learn more about Alex Edmans here: https://alexedmans.com/

Get Alex's book here:

May Contain Lies: How Stories, Statistics, and Studies Exploit Our Biases—And What We Can Do about It. https://maycontainlies.com/

Here are some free gifts for you:

Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach

McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf

Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

Jaksot(499)

157: Google, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon and Facebook's AI advantage (Monday Morning 8 a.m. #29, part 2)

157: Google, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon and Facebook's AI advantage (Monday Morning 8 a.m. #29, part 2)

Hello everyone! This is Monday Morning 8 a.m., a weekly newsletter where we distill the insights from all of the distractions, articles, and emails that you receive in your inbox every day. In this newsletter, we're going to focus on four major themes from last week's news. To listen to the audio version of this newsletter, search for "Strategy Skills" in any podcast app. To get a written copy with links to mentioned articles sign up here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo To get a copy of some of the previous issues you might have missed, get the Strategy Insights book. If you love Strategy Insights and support it with reviews on Goodreads and Google Play (and support on Amazon is very much appreciated) by May 30th 2021, please email support@firmsconsulting.com as we will be sending 1-month access to the accompanying course as a gift to members who loved and supported the book with reviews. P.S. If you want to support the Monday Morning 8 a.m. and our other work, there are many ways you can do that, including reviews on iTunes / Amazon / Goodreads / app, purchasing our memberships / books, applying to join our prelaunch team, or just spreading the word. Some links above are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

25 Touko 20219min

156: 7-Eleven's inconvenient truth about convenience (Monday Morning 8 a.m. #29, part 1)

156: 7-Eleven's inconvenient truth about convenience (Monday Morning 8 a.m. #29, part 1)

Hello everyone! This is Monday Morning 8 a.m., a weekly newsletter where we distill the insights from all of the distractions, articles, and emails that you receive in your inbox every day. In this newsletter, we're going to focus on four major themes from last week's news. To listen to the audio version of this newsletter, search for "Strategy Skills" in any podcast app. To get a written copy with links to mentioned articles sign up here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo To get a copy of some of the previous issues you might have missed, get the Strategy Insights book. If you love Strategy Insights and support it with reviews on Goodreads and Google Play (and support on Amazon is very much appreciated) by May 30th 2021, please email support@firmsconsulting.com as we will be sending 1-month access to the accompanying course as a gift to members who loved and supported the book with reviews. P.S. If you want to support the Monday Morning 8 a.m. and our other work, there are many ways you can do that, including reviews on iTunes / Amazon / Goodreads / app, purchasing our memberships / books, applying to join our prelaunch team, or just spreading the word. Some links above are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

24 Touko 202110min

155: Taming the beast tech has become with actionable solutions. With Cognizant's Ben Pring

155: Taming the beast tech has become with actionable solutions. With Cognizant's Ben Pring

How can we take back control of technology so it will shape the society we want for ourselves instead of becoming a monster we can no longer tame? Monster: A Tough Love Letter On Taming the Machines that Rule our Jobs, Lives, and Future - https://amzn.to/3fAeX8T Ben Pring co-founded and leads the Center for the Future of Work at Cognizant, an American multinational technology company that provides consulting, information technology and outsourcing services. Ben sits on the advisory board of the Labor and Work Life program at Harvard Law School. In 2018 Ben was a Bilderberg Meeting participant. Ben was named as one of 30 management thinkers to watch in 2020 by Thinkers 50. He was recently named a leading influencer on the future of work by Onalytica. In 2007, Ben won Gartner's prestigious Thought Leader Award. His work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times, the London Times, the Drucker Forum Report, Business Insider, Forbes, and Fortune. Based near Boston since 2000, Ben graduated with a degree in Philosophy from Manchester University, in the UK where he grew up. Enjoying our podcast? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo We use affiliate links whenever possible (if you purchase items listed above using our affiliate links, we will get a bonus).

20 Touko 20211h 1min

154: Harvard's Gorick Ng on career secrets

154: Harvard's Gorick Ng on career secrets

"The book demystifies what managers expect but never explain and what top performers do subconsciously. These unspoken rules create an unlevel playing field between insiders and outsiders. My book bridges the divide by giving all early-career professionals the concrete, tactical advice they need to excel." The Unspoken Rules: https://amzn.to/2Rwzx1L Enjoying our podcast? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo We use affiliate links whenever possible (if you purchase items listed above using our affiliate links, we will get a bonus).

19 Touko 202159min

153: The experience economy strategy (Monday Morning 8 a.m. #28, part 2)

153: The experience economy strategy (Monday Morning 8 a.m. #28, part 2)

Hello everyone! This is Monday Morning 8 a.m., a weekly newsletter where we distill the insights from all of the distractions, articles, and emails that you receive in your inbox every day. In this newsletter, we're going to focus on four major themes from last week's news. To listen to the audio version of this newsletter, search for "Strategy Skills" in any podcast app. To get a written copy with links to mentioned articles sign up here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo To get a copy of some of the previous issues you might have missed, get the Strategy Insights book. If you love Strategy Insights and support it with reviews on Goodreads and Google Play (and support on Amazon is very much appreciated) by May 30th 2021, please email support@firmsconsulting.com as we will be sending 1-month access to the accompanying course as a gift to members who loved and supported the book with reviews. P.S. If you want to support the Monday Morning 8 a.m. and our other work, there are many ways you can do that, including reviews on iTunes / Amazon / Goodreads / app, purchasing our memberships / books, applying to join our prelaunch team, or just spreading the word. Some links above are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

18 Touko 202111min

152: The checkmate asset the world doesn't know China is attracting (Monday Morning 8 a.m. #28, part 1)

152: The checkmate asset the world doesn't know China is attracting (Monday Morning 8 a.m. #28, part 1)

Hello everyone! This is Monday Morning 8 a.m., a weekly newsletter where we distill the insights from all of the distractions, articles, and emails that you receive in your inbox every day. In this newsletter, we're going to focus on four major themes from last week's news. To listen to the audio version of this newsletter, search for "Strategy Skills" in any podcast app. To get a written copy with links to mentioned articles sign up here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo To get a copy of some of the previous issues you might have missed, get the Strategy Insights book. If you love Strategy Insights and support it with reviews on Goodreads and Google Play (and support on Amazon is very much appreciated) by May 30th 2021, please email support@firmsconsulting.com as we will be sending 1-month access to the accompanying course as a gift to members who loved and supported the book with reviews. P.S. If you want to support the Monday Morning 8 a.m. and our other work, there are many ways you can do that, including reviews on iTunes / Amazon / Goodreads / app, purchasing our memberships / books, applying to join our prelaunch team, or just spreading the word. Some links above are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

17 Touko 202117min

151: Jonathan Byrnes, MIT. Build a targeted business that the likes of Google & Amazon can't match

151: Jonathan Byrnes, MIT. Build a targeted business that the likes of Google & Amazon can't match

Every year, managers at companies large and small are finding it harder to compete with the likes of Google and Amazon, who are muscling into their businesses, stealing their customers, and cornering every conceivable market and service. Jonathan Byrnes, MIT-based expert on profits, pricing, and strategy, is a co-author of CHOOSE YOUR CUSTOMER: How to Compete Against the Digital Giants and Thrive (McGraw-Hill, May 11, 2021). The book illustrates how companies can survive—and win. CHOOSE YOUR CUSTOMER is a powerful and timely guide for managers to level the playing field against their biggest competitors by choosing and providing value to the right customers by: Identifying and focusing on the customers who are the most profitable. Providing services and experiences that can't be replicated by the tech giants, no matter how much data they have, or how much automation they use. Supporting your chosen customers' diverse and rapidly evolving needs to accelerate profitability and growth. These customer-driven strategies enable leaders to build a uniquely targeted business that the digital giants just can't match. From unbeatable customer service to superior pricing and product selection, CHOOSE YOUR CUSTOMER provides detailed and actionable advice on how to compete successfully with the aggressive giants and how to increase profits as a result. Enjoying our podcast? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo We use affiliate links whenever possible (if you purchase items listed above using our affiliate links, we will get a bonus).

16 Touko 20211h 13min

150: A strategy expert vs. a CEO (Monday Morning 8 a.m. #27, part 3)

150: A strategy expert vs. a CEO (Monday Morning 8 a.m. #27, part 3)

Hello everyone! This is Monday Morning 8 a.m., a weekly newsletter where we distill the insights from all of the distractions, articles, and emails that you receive in your inbox every day. In this newsletter, we're going to focus on four major themes from last week's news. To listen to the audio version of this newsletter, search for "Strategy Skills" in any podcast app. To get a written copy with links to mentioned articles sign up here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo To get a copy of some of the previous issues you might have missed, get the Strategy Insights book. If you love Strategy Insights and support it with reviews on Goodreads and Google Play (and support on Amazon is very much appreciated) by May 30th 2021, please email support@firmsconsulting.com as we will be sending 1-month access to the accompanying course as a gift to members who loved and supported the book with reviews. P.S. If you want to support the Monday Morning 8 a.m. and our other work, there are many ways you can do that, including reviews on iTunes / Amazon / Goodreads / app, purchasing our memberships / books, applying to join our prelaunch team, or just spreading the word. Some links above are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

14 Touko 202114min

Suosittua kategoriassa Liike-elämä ja talous

sijotuskasti
mimmit-sijoittaa
psykopodiaa-podcast
rss-rahapodi
ostan-asuntoja-podcast
rss-lahtijat
oppimisen-psykologia
pomojen-suusta
taloudellinen-mielenrauha
rahapuhetta
kasvun-kipuja
sijoituspodi
rss-seuraava-potilas
rss-viisas-raha-podi
rss-neuvottelija-sami-miettinen
rss-rahamania
rss-h-asselmoilanen
rss-laakispodi
rss-farmapodi
rss-rikasta-elamaa