What if Nokia saw the iPhone coming—and still couldn’t stop it?
In this episode, former Nokia strategy and market intelligence leader Timo Partanen shares an insider view of the company’s internal iPhone threat briefing. Nokia had tracked Apple for years and anticipated the hardware shift—but underestimated the power of Apple’s ecosystem, partnerships, and business model.
We explore why warnings didn’t translate into action, how internal silos shaped decision-making, and what modern leaders can learn about disruption, strategy execution, and platform thinking.
Nokia didn’t just collapse—it reinvented itself. This episode explores how leadership, emotion, and strategy combined to transform Nokia into a new kind of company.
In this explosive episode from Harvard Business School, Paul Nunes—co-author of Big Bang Disruption—explains why traditional S-curves are collapsing and how businesses can thrive in a world of hyper-speed innovation. Learn how to manage multiple S-curves, avoid catastrophic success, and orchestrate innovation in a networked economy.
Join Aidan McCullen as he welcomes Harvard professors Joe Bower and Clark Gilbert to explore how strategy truly emerges—from the ground up. Drawing from their book From Resource Allocation to Strategy, the conversation reveals how real-world decisions, not plans, shape organizational outcomes.
Join us as we welcomes the visionary Gary Hamel for an in-depth discussion on Competing for the Future. Hamel shares powerful insights on how organizations can develop foresight, escape the shackles of the past, and create lasting competitive advantage in a rapidly evolving world.
Join Aidan McCullen as he welcomes Paul Nunes and the late Ian Morrison to explore the critical concept of Second Curves. They discuss how organizations can anticipate disruption, transition before decline, and build a sustainable future through strategic foresight and innovation.
In this week’s Thursday Thought, we explore the importance of building capabilities proactively to help businesses navigate disruption and remain competitive. Through insights from Clayton Christensen and Stan Deetz, along with the lessons of the Spartan Warrior Mantra, we emphasize the value of ‘sweating in times of peace’ to avoid future crises. Featuring examples like Toyota’s long-term vision and strategies for strengthening core competencies, this episode offers actionable insights for leaders to prepare their organizations for the future.
In this Thursday Thought, we examine the perils of unquestioned mental models. Using the metaphor of monarch butterflies’ ancient migratory paths, we explore how businesses, like Blockbuster, can cling to outdated practices. Learn why it’s essential to challenge ingrained patterns, adapt to new realities, and foster innovation in a rapidly changing world.
In this episode, we are joined by Wendy Smith, co-author of ‘Both/And Thinking: Embrace Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems.’ Wendy elaborates on the nuances between dilemmas, paradoxes, and tensions, emphasising that these terms are not interchangeable and revealing the psychological and practical implications of recognising and navigating paradoxes. Drawing from her personal experiences and research, Wendy illustrates how both/and thinking can be applied to career decisions, organisational challenges, and broader societal issues. She discusses the limitations of either/or thinking and the harmful patterns it can create, such as intensification, overcorrection, and polarisation. Using examples from companies like Lego and Gore, Wendy shows how balancing tradition and innovation, centralisation and decentralisation, and other competing demands can lead to more sustainable success. The conversation also delves into the four types of paradoxes: learning, performing, organising, and belonging, and explores strategies to manage these tensions effectively. This episode is essential for anyone facing complex decisions in their personal or professional life. 00:00 Introduction to Both/And Thinking 00:12 Understanding Tensions and Dilemmas 03:08 Defining Paradox and Its Importance 05:23 Embracing Paradoxes in Real Life 08:00 Conditions That Highlight Paradoxes 16:51 Exploring the Four Types of Paradoxes 23:28 Navigating Organisational Paradoxes 31:23 The Paradox System Framework 36:57 Lego’s Journey Through Paradox 45:40 Conclusion and Further Resources
In part 2 of The Entrepreneurial Mindset, Rita McGrath, discusses the concept of the entrepreneurial mindset and the power of consumption chain analysis for businesses seeking to differentiate and innovate.
Rita illustrates how understanding each step of a customer’s journey, from need identification to product disposal, can unveil numerous opportunities for innovation and competitive advantage.