306: Carolyn Buck Luce, Be your own hero

Welcome to Strategy Skills episode 329, an episode with a Senior Partner and the global leader in the Tech and Telecommunication practice at McKinsey and Company, Venkat Atluri. In this episode, we defined the emerging ecosystem economy and how most successful companies navigate and thrive in this new world. Venkat Atluri is a thought leader at McKinsey, a prolific author, and a sought-after speaker at industry events. He collaborates with top executives, boards, and investors to create value through end-to-end performance transformation, programmatic M&A, and new business building from scale-up to IPOs. He is keenly focused on the future of technology, with special emphasis on the cross-sector opportunities at the intersection of new technologies and emerging business models. He serves clients in the high-tech, media and telecommunications, advanced industries, and consumer sectors. He has a passion for advising venture capital and private equity investors. Venkat is a leading expert on vast and emerging opportunities created by the network connectivity of devices, systems, platforms, and people that are powered by software and hardware. He draws on this expertise to guide clients through the design and deployment of network and ecosystem-based businesses across sectors. He has held many leadership positions throughout his tenure at the firm. He co-founded and led McKinsey's IoT (Internet of Things) Practice. He also created a group that aims to incubate new analytic and digital assets, develop innovative client offerings, and build alliances and partnerships with innovators. He previously spearheaded digital, analytics, and tech-enabled transformations for clients in advanced industries, and also led the firm's global efforts in the Technology, Media & Telecommunications Practice to help clients fast-track and sustain transformational impact through leadership alignment, execution support, capability-building, and leadership development via a distinctive set of assets and exceptional digital-learning programs. Prior to joining McKinsey, Venkat held global operating leadership roles overseeing large businesses and functions, with a focus on product development, management, and deployment. Outside of McKinsey, Venkat serves on the board of 1871, a world-leading not-for-profit start-up incubator. He is the current chairman of the board and a founding member of Current Water, a not-for-profit that seeks sustainable solutions to water challenges through innovation and collaboration for developing and deploying the tools, practices, and technologies to promote sustainable blue economy growth. Get Venkat's new book here: The Ecosystem Economy: How to Lead in the New Age of Sectors Without Borders. Venkat Atluri and Miklós Dietz. https://www.amazon.com/Ecosystem-Economy-Sectors-Without-Borders/dp/1119984785 Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

15 Maalis 202357min

For this episode, let's revisit a Strategy Skills classic where we go back to the visioning workshop part of the study and re-visit some of the most important points you need to keep in mind. Click here to see the full study and here to see the merger study and market entry study. Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube: Structure of the visioning workshop Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

13 Maalis 20239min

For this episode, let's revisit a Strategy Skills classic from week 4 of the Corporate Strategy & Transformation study. Promoting women into leadership roles is a hot topic and, sadly, a debate. Why is it a debate? What are the elements that require further analysis? To paraphrase Marvin Bower, one does not ask a client if a woman should take over the relationship, one simply tells a client a woman is taking over. It is not the client's job to decide what is right. In this podcast, we explain why we have more female than male partners at FC and how we constantly develop them to serve in more and more senior roles. Click here to see the full study and here to see the merger study and market entry study. Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

8 Maalis 202316min

For this episode, let's revisit a Strategy Skills classic where we discuss how your cost of capital changes as you take on more debt and how this change is different between organizations. It's a crucial concept for this utility. We explain how the cost of capital change usually takes place and then we review the drivers at play that are different for this power utility vs. an average company. Click here to see the full study and here to see the merger study and market entry study. Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube: When too much debt is a good thing Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

6 Maalis 202320min

For this episode, let's revisit a Strategy Skills classic where we use economics to explain what is the role of government, when governments should intervene, how they should intervene, and when they should hand over certain activities to the private sector. If you want to further your understanding of strategy at the highest possible level you should listen to this. Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

1 Maalis 202318min

For this episode, let's revisit a Strategy Skills classic where we interviewed the author of LET THEM LEAD: Unexpected Lessons in Leadership from America's Worst High School Hockey Team. This book is a true story filled with unforgettable characters, stories, and lessons that apply to organizations everywhere. It includes the leader's mistakes and the reactions of the players, who have since achieved great success as leaders themselves. Let Them Lead is a fast-paced, feel-good book that leaders of all kinds can embrace to motivate their teams to work harder, work together, and take responsibility for their own success. John U. Bacon has written twelve books on sports, business, health, and history, and the last seven are all National Bestsellers. Bacon's radio essays earned him NPR's PRNDI Award for best commentary in 2014. He appears often on national TV, gives speeches across North and South America, and teaches at the University of Michigan, where he won the 2009 Golden Apple Award for "exceptional teaching." In 2006, he was inducted into the Ann Arbor Huron High School Hall of Fame for turning around the hockey team. Bacon is a decent hockey player, a mediocre Spanish speaker, and a poor piano player, but that has not prevented him from enjoying all three. Get John's book here: LET THEM LEAD: Unexpected Lessons in Leadership from America's Worst High School Hockey Team. John U. Bacon. https://www.amazon.com/Let-Them-Lead-Unexpected-Leadership-ebook/dp/B08NWWG72Y?ref_=ast_author_dp Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

27 Helmi 20231h 7min

For this episode, let's revisit a Strategy Skills classic where we interviewed the coauthor of Monster: A Tough Love Letter on Taming the Machines that Rule our Jobs, Lives, and Future, Ben Pring. Who is responsible for regulating and overseeing technology and online platforms? Is it the government? The ITs and developers? Or maybe…the users? In this episode, we deliberated the significance of technology in human lives and the negative consequences brought by irresponsible and abusive use of technology. Ben Pring is a widely acknowledged IT futurist and thought leader with a storied track record working with the biggest and fastest-growing IT vendors and with the most demanding and sophisticated IT buyers. Get Ben's book here: Monster: A Tough Love Letter On Taming the Machines that Rule our Jobs, Lives, and Future. Ben Pring and Paul Roehrig. https://www.amazon.com/Monster-Letter-Taming-Machines-Future/dp/111978591X Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

22 Helmi 20231h 7min

For this episode, let's revisit a Strategy Skills classic where we interviewed the author of Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life, Luke Burgis. Why do we want what we want? This topic is rarely presented in conversations, business meetings, or political agendas, but it has a comprehensive impact on our lives and shapes our societies. This episode explores the psychology behind human desires, role modeling, competition, and the awareness of intentional wanting. Luke Burgis has founded and led multiple companies. He's currently entrepreneur-in-residence and director of programs at the Ciocca Center for Principled Entrepreneurship at the Catholic University of America, where he also teaches business and develops new education initiatives. He's also the founder and director of Fourth Wall Ventures, an incubator for people and companies that contribute to the formation of a healthy human ecology. He graduated from NYU Stern School of Business and later from a pontifical university in Rome, where he studied theology. He lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife, Claire. Get Luke's book here: Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life, Luke Burgis. https://www.amazon.com/Wanting-Power-Mimetic-Desire-Everyday/dp/1250262488 Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo

20 Helmi 202353min