Outthinker Blog
The Outthinker blog offers our take on the latest news stories, trends, and ideas in strategy. Learn real-world examples of the Outthinker strategic process along with suggestions on how to apply them to your business
Mastercard Masters Proximity
Is a difference in seconds truly significant? In swimming and racing, seconds make all of the difference for who comes out on top. In technology,
Five Steps to Capture the Value You Deserve
Is it fair that teachers earn less than bankers or that nurses earn less than CEOs? The value you get to take home may have
Enel as a Competitor in Renewable Energy
How did a 58-year-old company that began with hydroelectric power in Italy come to be one of the largest, most dynamic, and valuable energy companies
Renewable Energy for the Future
As I skim through the morning stock market brief, renewable energy seems to ceaselessly reappear as a prominent figure in comparison to fossil fuels. Noting
Going Public in a Pandemic: Airbnb & Inflection Points
2020 has demanded that companies pivot like no other time in recent history. Organizations with the flexibility to adapt their business models to changing customer
OhmConnect and the Future of Energy Production
In the midst of a climate crisis, innovators have recognized a need to shorten the proximity between energy production and energy use. Amongst these innovators
The Pope, Big Business, and the Future of ESG
The Ultimate Strategy Is “be good” a part of your 2021 strategy? If not, you should reconsider. When I was in business school, we learned
What microbreweries, “micro-factories”, and the late Tony Hsieh can teach us about creating our 2021 strategy
Tony Hsieh’s Strategic Pattern As many of you know, we recently said goodbye to an amazing leader, former CEO of Zappos, Tony Hsieh. We learned many
5 Most Innovative Tech Companies Shaping the Way We Work
The ways in which we conduct day-to-day business are shifting rapidly. This is something that was already happening in recent years as a simple result
Stop Listening, Start Learning … To Avoid Being Disrupted
How did the startup Harry’s appear out of nowhere to disrupt an $18 billion market and topple entrenched giants Gillette and Schick from their perches?
Beyond Strategy
Last week I got to spend five and a half hours with one of the most influential strategic thinkers alive today, Gary Hamel. He has
How NPR Leapt Forward in Proximity
In March of 2008, the United States’ national public radio system (NPR) seemed to have a fatal and too common choice: to bet on the
Finding Your COVID Altitude
When an airplane hits turbulence, it seeks a new altitude. One without turbulence. Even better, one with tailwinds. Now, COVID has certainly injected turbulence rarely
PillPack, Proximity, and the Amazon Future of Pharmacies
If you want to predict the path of innovation in your industry, consider one unifying strategic concept: proximity. Introduced by innovation guru Rob Wolcott, proximity
Four Steps to Outthink COVID
We are dealing with unprecedented change invoked by the COVID-19 pandemic. What we need more than ever is a sense of hope. So, we’ve taken
