March 4, 2023 marks an important anniversary not just in the history of the nation and of the world, but of the power of effective communication. On that date 90 years previously, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was sworn in as President of the United States. This was a crucial event because Roosevelt, taking office at the…
Saturday, February 11 is Thomas Alva Edison’s 176th birthday. Edison, inventor of the modern incandescent light bulb, the phonograph and the motion picture camera, among other things that have impacted and defined today’s world, has special relevance for me and for Stern Strategy Group. One of his laboratories as well as his home and burial…
There’s a certain paradox in how organizations need to approach ESG communications issues right now. On one hand, 2022 saw somewhat of a backlash against ESG as a concept. The notion that companies have obligations to employees, communities and the planet in addition to shareholders took a beating as economic uncertainty squeezed profits and politicians…
March is Women’s History Month, and while much energy is focused on remembering great women from the past, we should honor – and actively learn from – great women in the present. These inspirational speakers and advisors at the top of their fields — from health care to virtual reality and addressing climate change —…
We have long known that artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to improve business productivity and customer experience. But in marveling at the magic of AI in specific roles, have we neglected the impact on society? Recently, concerns over data privacy, biased algorithms and an increasingly impersonal, dehumanized digital future have come to the fore…
As companies across industries face allegations of racial injustice by employees and customers, human resources and legal departments often struggle to develop strategies for addressing and eradicating racial inequity. Professor Courtney D. Cogburn, co-director of the Justice Equity + Technology laboratory at the Columbia University School of Social Work, says in order to achieve true social progress, society…
Corporate America faces an acute shortage of skilled workers to fill vital jobs. That may explain why companies like Amazon and Google have begun upskilling and reskilling their current employees rather than trusting that incoming college graduates will be capable of the tasks at hand. But for businesses unaccustomed to teaching new capabilities, this may itself prove…
The rise of global, instantaneous communication via digital platforms and devices has created uncertainty for once untouchable corporate brands. On one hand, the sheer volume of digital advertising and information makes it harder for brands to capture and sustain public attention. At the same time, brands thrust into the spotlight for negative reasons – such…
Thinkers50, a leading resource for the most impactful new ideas in business management and strategy, has unveiled the nominees for its 2019 Distinguished Achievement Awards. This year’s theme – “Breaking Boundaries” – refers to both the transformative power of these thinkers’ ideas and insights, and the fact that a record number of nominees are women. Stern…
Is your business successfully innovating to succeed in frontier markets? How are robots and wearables poised to transform health care? Do you have a strategy for living a happy life? These important questions are the subjects of five new TED Talks by disruptive innovation expert Efosa Ojomo, AI scientists Ayanna Howard, Rosalind Picard and Arnav Kapur, and leadership expert Karen Dillon….
Policy debates rage over health care – but how is technology transforming its delivery and impact behind the scenes? Two experts offer crucial insights into how technology in health care is revolutionizing the medical field. Read more to discover: AI wearables that detect epileptic seizures and can help you save a life The woman who…
Major changes are taking place in education – and schools, students, businesses and policymakers should be paying close attention. Read more to discover: How to put the ‘ART’ in Artificial Intelligence A better way to make decisions about college – for parents, students of all ages, and the colleges and universities receiving them. Hint: lifelong…
Stern Speakers’ roster includes many of the world’s greatest minds in technology. Their research continuously reveals how a sound technology strategy can drive business growth. Here are highlights of our tech speakers’ media coverage over the past month, and the insights they provide to the wider world. JONATHAN ZITTRAIN ENGAGES MARK ZUCKERBERG ON TECH GOVERNANCE…
Innovation may seem like an overused “buzzword,” but research indicates it’s yet to lose its luster. The need for leading companies and economies to constantly reinvent themselves through new products, services and business models is an eternal demand of the marketplace. Stern Speakers’ roster features many of the leading innovation experts of all time. Here…
Business has reaped the rewards of new technologies but is also vulnerable to the disruption they unleash. For every Netflix – dynamic, innovative companies that use tech to capture a market – there’s a Blockbuster, succumbing to disruption because its leaders failed to anticipate the future. From AI and robotics to blockchain and cybersecurity, Stern…
Many of our speakers are also acclaimed authors, and their latest books are starting and shaping conversations across every industry. From corporate innovation to the rise of artificial intelligence, here are five subjects to consider for your business needs. MASTERING “NEW POWER” IN A TRANSFORMED WORLD Nearly a year after it was first published, Jeremy Heimans’…
A new book by Clayton Christensen, Efosa Ojomo and Karen Dillon is encouraging innovation and transforming the way the business world, governments, and NGOs think about global poverty – and the mutually beneficial ways they can tackle it together. In “The Prosperity Paradox: How Innovation Can Lift Nations Out of Poverty” (HarperBusiness, January 2019), the authors use numerous case studies to…
Around every corner, it seems, the world is constantly changing – and it’s happening at record speed. From digital transformation to revamped political risk, leaders are faced with dilemmas requiring strategic decisions that could make or break a business. So, what does the forward-looking business leader put on his or her holiday wish list? Here…
