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…
In response to the world’s social justice awakening, many organizations are moving from talking about diversity, equity and inclusion to putting initiatives into action. Meeting planners are seeking out authoritative Black perspectives, accomplished Black professionals are being appointed to leadership positions, and companies are actively working to root out conscious or unconscious biases in product…
We marvel at the new connections enabled by our digital devices. Yet they also create barriers to creativity and collaboration in the workplace and inhibit communication in personal relationships. If we are always thinking about our phones, we cannot be fully present to each other, says MIT sociologist and New York Times bestselling author Sherry Turkle. And yet we are…
What if social media and related analytics could be leveraged in a way that unites, protects and creates a healthier society, economy and bottom line? Over the last decade, Deb Roy – executive director of the MIT Media Lab, director of the MIT Laboratory for Social Machines, and the newly appointed director of the interdisciplinary Center for Constructive Communication – has been…
Cultural change can happen quickly. While some organizations are good at responding to sudden changes, others may be less adaptive and miss new opportunities. According to global media executive, author and Columbia University lecturer Kai D. Wright, culturally fluent brands – those that understand and embrace diverse audiences – are much better at leveraging change when promoting products,…
How do brands successfully market and sell products and services? Historically, the answer may have been to explain to consumers why your offerings are better than those of competitors. But in an era of social media, consumer activism and the triumph of “feeling,” says marketing expert Kai D. Wright, it’s no longer enough. People don’t just…
It’s 2018 and more than a billion people utilize social media. For companies, organizations and government bodies, these platforms offer a way to expand their reach to target audiences, and Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, to name a few, are weaved into many people’s everyday lives. In this episode of Minds Worth Meeting, we speak with social…
Each day comes with challenges that the world has never seen before. This requires a special kind of leader that prioritizes problem-solving skills over influencing others. Minds Worth Meeting converses with leadership expert and MIT professor Hal Gregersen, who discusses problem-led leadership and how it is changing the world. Keep an eye out for his new…
Virtual reality is very close to becoming a major element of society. With its ability to alter perceptions of the real world, what implications does the emerging technology have for the future of business and society? Minds Worth Meeting chats with VR pioneer and Stanford University Professor Jeremy Bailenson, who discusses the possibilities, opportunities and dangers…
Virtual reality (VR) is on the brink of making a major impact on everyday life. Organizations of all types should take heed to the technology now, lest they miss out on the enormous benefits of a technology that can literally alter one’s perception of reality through virtual experiences. In his forthcoming book, “Experience on Demand:…
