Last week I caught up with a former student on Zoom. The two of us met at a small group dinner that included eight students and a faculty member (me) on Friday, March 6, 2020.

Ok, now that I have infuriated some of you with that headline, I beg all of you to stay with me for a moment…

It was 9 PM when my cousin asked me that question. Her father (my uncle) had died 12 hours prior and the two of us found a few moments to connect on the phone.

Ok, this is a continuation of my last post and has nothing to do with leadership or business. Or even systems.

I like to think that I was taught by great mentors how to do the “strategy thing.”

I remember being six years old at elementary school in the San Fernando Valley, a suburb of Los Angeles. I have vivid memories of ashes coming out of the sky ...

I was headed to Saudi Arabia for a week of teaching and meetings when my phone vibrated with a text: “Your flight has been delayed by 45 minutes...”

Several times during our years of teaching Systems Leadership we have explored the role of higher education and the...

I’m at the stage of life where I am checking items off my bucket list. One thing that I...

I used to love the end of August. You could feel the onset of Fall and the forthcoming milestones...

In the last two months the Wall Street Journal ran three articles that elicited a visceral revulsion and actual...

Over the last several years I have spent much of my time doing business outside of the United States...

In my almost 40 years in Silicon Valley I have been a part of or had a front-row seat...

At the end of last year, Stanford neurobiologist Robert Sapolsky received a great deal of attention for his latest...

As we approach the end of our journey in The Industrialist’s Dilemma, Maxwell Wessel and I were fortunate to...

In our six years of teaching the course, only a few of our guests have attended multiple times. In...

As we prepared for our session with Jim Fix, CEO of Waste Management (WM), Maxwell Wessel and I were...

As we reached the halfway part of this year’s course, we were fortunate to have Nick Tzitzon of ServiceNow...

Our fourth session this year was the first time we spent a whole class talking about a sports team...

In our latest session we got to examine a high-flying company disrupting the retail fashion space. Stitch Fix has...

We began the sixth year of teaching The Industrialist’s Dilemma by revisiting two companies who have had their businesses...

As we wrapped up the last three sessions of our course, we witnessed three very different leaders who showed...

As we hit the middle part of the course we saw patterns emerge in the leaders who visited: clarity...

Well, this year wasn’t what we expected.
In February we were beside ourselves with excitement given the amazing lineup of...

When we ended our class with Bill Winters of Standard Chartered, we knew that we had just seen an...

After spending the last three weeks exploring the challenges and growth of companies based in Asia, South America and...

When Alain Bejjani began his discussion after we finished teaching the Majid Al Futtaim case, he opened with the...

Over the last five years we have had several sessions when next-generation leaders have come into our class and...

Our fourth session of this year’s Industrialist’s Dilemma involved a company of immense size and scope. Samsung, which is...

Every now and again we end up with a classroom discussion that takes unexpected twists and turns. For five...

When Brian Cornell joined Target as its CEO in August of 2014, the company was struggling with the fallout...

When we designed the fifth year of The Industrialist’s Dilemma we worked to bring in guests from outside of...

As we finished our second year of Systems Leadership, our last session looked closely at the career and skills...

Bernard Tyson knows how to command a room.

Perhaps the thing that surprised us the most in our session with Ric Fulop was how far removed so...

Target should not be doing as well as it is.

We knew that when Katrina Lake agreed to come to our class we were going to have an engaging...

Our third visitor to Systems Leadership this year was Florent Menegaux, CEO of Michelin. During Menegaux’s visit we explored...

Our session on ecosystems with Steve Mollenkopf built on our Samsung session and provided insights on one of the...

Our second year of Systems Leadership started off with one of the most interesting combinations of new technologies and...

What a difference four years can make. As our study of The Industrialist’s Dilemma completed this academic quarter, we’ve...

When our session started with Hubert Joly, the CEO of Best Buy, we didn’t know what to expect. Best...

Some of our most lively classroom discussions have come when our students have had first-hand experience with our guest’s...

Walt Bettinger emphasizes how scaling can enhance customer service at Charles Schwab.

We were fortunate to have Thomas Tull come to our class for the third time in four years, but...

Pedro Earp contrasts innovative growth strategies at AB InBev.

As we prepared for Robinhood’s Co-CEO and Stanford alum, Baiju Bhatt, to visit The Industrialist’s Dilemma, we thought the...

Jim Murren on integrating physical and digital experiences at MGM Resorts.

I have to admit — I had this date highlighted on my calendar when AT&T Chairman and CEO Randall...

We finished this year’s Systems Leadership course with Tony Thomas, CIO of Nissan. The class session entailed a rich...

Carl Ice runs one of the largest railway systems in North America. And while most of our students may...

An introspective look at the challenges CEOs often avoid and how to confront them.

The complexity facing the United States healthcare market is staggering. With the percentage of healthcare spending approaching 20% of...

Thomas Tull joined our class and shared his activities in his newest venture, Tulco, an organization that acquires companies...

Exploring potential existential challenges facing social media platforms.

We had one of our most interesting sessions to date with Ganesh Bell, President of Uptake. While we explored...

Sharing insights from XSeed Capital's Robert Siegel and Jeff Thermond on venture capital trends.

Our discussion with Brynne Kennedy was unexpectedly rich and veered in unanticipated directions. Kennedy’s company, Topia, provides software and...

Most Stanford University graduate students have never owned a John Deere product. While they’ve all heard of John Deere,...

Discussing the controversy surrounding Travis Kalanick's position on Uber's board.

We started this year’s Systems Leadership course with Joe Hogan, CEO of Align Technology. Joe was the perfect first...

Arguing that certain digital firms may benefit from postponing profitability.

As we proceed through the third year of The Industrialist’s Dilemma, the teaching team is beginning to see new...

We kicked off the first of six new guests in this year’s version of The Industrialist’s Dilemma with Logan...

Much has been written about the frame-breaking changes taking place in industrial markets driven by the combination of hardware...

Discussing challenges posed by outdated business ecosystems in modern markets.

Last week we were fortunate to have Tony Xu, GSB ’13 and CEO of DoorDash,as our classroom guest. While...

Encouraging optimism among venture capitalists and entrepreneurs in current times.

Highlighting a subtle yet significant liability that CEOs must be wary of.

In our session last week we were fortunate to have Rob Charter, Group President of Caterpillar, share his perspectives...

As we entered our final class session for the quarter we tackled one last industry dealing with astronomical changes...

Exploring the challenges UK tech startups face in the context of Brexit.

Reflecting on the overwhelming nature of modern news consumption.

We had hoped that when we arrived to this section of the course we would get to see differences...

This week the class transitioned from the “disruptors” to the “disruptees,” and gave us the opportunity to speak with...

Discussing the implications of political neutrality in professional settings.

Paying tribute to leadership and its enduring impact.

Given his lengthy experiences in both large and small companies, and drawing upon on his career successes and failures,...

Patrick Collison, CEO of Stripe, kicked off the first session of The Industrialist’s Dilemma on January 7, 2016, with...

Explores challenges industrial companies face amidst technological disruptions.

Reflects on feelings of betrayal within professional environments.

Emphasizes understanding the minimal viable strategy for startup success.

Discusses the continuous journey of aligning with like-minded professionals.

Sheds light on the implicit norms governing business practices.

Advises caution in handling critical aspects of business operations.

Outlines five key factors in selecting a startup co-founder.

Addresses challenges and strategies when facing an oversubscribed funding round.

Reflects on the contrasting experiences within Silicon Valley's ecosystem.

Identifies four pivotal trends transforming enterprise efficiency.

Emphasizes the importance of prioritizing critical tasks by learning to decline non-essential commitments.

Discusses strategic considerations for venture-backed companies when planning exit events.

Explores how user-generated content is influencing business strategies for brands and channels.

Offers a unique perspective on authenticity in personal and professional contexts.

Analyzes the benefits and potential pitfalls of partnering with strategic investors.

Defines success metrics and what it means to achieve 'winning' in various scenarios.

Highlights the significance of dedicating quality time to enhance engagement in relationships.

Emphasizes the value of seeking mentorship from younger individuals for fresh perspectives.

Discusses navigating high-risk situations without safety nets and the lessons learned.

Reflects on standing out and embracing individuality in challenging environments.

Explores when startups should adopt decisive leadership over collective decision-making.

Encourages acknowledging knowledge gaps and seeking expertise when necessary.

Discusses considerations and implications of accepting seed funding from venture capitalists.

Guides entrepreneurs on steps to take after receiving a term sheet from investors.

Highlights how attitude, rather than age, determines effectiveness and adaptability.

Argues that innovation is thriving and increased government intervention isn't the solution.

Evaluates the pros and cons of engaging with strategic investors in business ventures.

Examines a company's experience undergoing significant industry disruption.

Shares lessons from the MySQL case study discussed at Stanford on October 30, 2012.

Recaps Mark Gardner's visit to Stanford, discussing innovations at Life Technologies.

Explores the implications of sharing one's life openly on platforms like Facebook.

Compares and contrasts Northern and Southern California's cultures and economies.

Provides insights into Apple's internal processes and innovative environment.

Identifies the single most crucial responsibility of a CEO for company success.

Reviews the Android Ice Cream Sandwich update, noting minor improvements and challenges for Google.

Critiques Google's Android Ice Cream Sandwich release, labeling it an 'epic fail'.

Stan Baginskis from Cisco shares insights on fostering corporate innovation.

Sven Beiker discusses the evolving landscape and future prospects of electric vehicles.

Raj Joshi from Infosys reflects on the philosophy of 'you only live once' in business contexts.

Explores the rapid growth and market penetration of Google's Android operating system.

Profiles a notable entrepreneur renowned for inspiring and mentoring fellow entrepreneurs.

Highlights the balance between educational value and entertainment in content delivery.

Shares insights and commentary from Kopetz on industry trends and innovations.

Bruce Sohn discusses his experiences leading Fluidic Energy and First Solar.

Reflections on Chris Tsakalakis's guest lecture at Stanford, focusing on StubHub's strategies.

Shares enduring lessons applicable across various industries and time periods.

Offers perspectives on optimizing the effectiveness of corporate board meetings.

Argues that Facebook and Twitter's potential is underestimated for unconventional reasons.

Emphasizes the value and wisdom that older mentors bring to professional development.

A collection of spontaneous thoughts and reflections on various topics.

Encourages proactive strategies in business, even when facing potential challenges.

Discusses how diverse perspectives can enhance decision-making and innovation.

Explores scenarios where businesses find themselves competing against government entities.

Reflects on the emotional aspects of business ventures and personal passions.

Analyzes the significance of company size in venture capital and startup success.

Contrasts the principles of sound scientific research with effective business practices.