How do we make solid, faster progress in solving the world’s most intractable problems? According to the Clinton Global Initiative the past few days, we have to (a) collaborate; (b) think holistically; (c) circumvent obstacles to progress (including the U.S. Congress); (d) design the most user-friendly way, (e) measure it, and (f) “address the strategic… Continue reading Reinventing the Model for Solving Global Ills – Six Lessons from the Clinton Global Initiative 2012
Fashion Week 2012 in New York this past week showed that the latest muse is sustainability, and that this values-driven focus is giving birth to a stronger independent streak as well. Some of us thought it was settled that “sustainable” meant triple bottom line — people, planet, profit. But because the “profit” part gets tricky… Continue reading Driving Innovation at Fashion Week 2012: Sustainability and Independence
Looking for a job? Between 1 and 3 million new U.S. manufacturing jobs are being created in the energy field over the next 5 to 10 years. But before you say “I’m not an engineer,” remember: They hire administrative assistants, marketers, project managers, bookkeepers and finance people too, that is, all levels and skills. This… Continue reading Looking for a Job?
The Initial Public Offering (IPO) by Facebook last week highlights the classic American dream of “maverick start-up starts small, grows exponentially and hits the jackpot. ” Only… it doesn’t actually happen in a straight trajectory, as any entrepreneur or adviser will tell you, including Mark Zuckerberg. Zuckerburg’s management of Facebook’s evolution is a good illustration… Continue reading Fire, Ready, Aim: When Is Your Business/Product ‘Perfect Enough’ to Go to Market?
How did Tiger Woods win the most PGA tournaments of any golfer between the ages of 20 and 29 in history by far? How did Olympic Gold Medalist in swimming Dara Torres win four Olympic Silver medals at age 41? How did 48-year old Scottish singer Susan Boyle come from obscurity to number one on… Continue reading Setting Unrealistic Expectations to Commemorate Earth Day
What is the government’s role in driving innovation? Listening to Senators during the recent Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearings on the Energy Department loan guarantee program (specifically loans to the now-infamous Solyndra), you’d think the federal government has no role in American innovation. The lawmakers love it when they can show up at… Continue reading Innovation Requires Risk, but… Government Risk?
Women control $12 trillion of the global economy and make about 80% of the purchasing decisions, according to the Boston Consulting Group (not exactly a feminist-leaning company). The Washington Post says “Fixing the Economy: It’s Women’s Work” and that the “Fortune 500 firms with the best records of putting women at the top were 18… Continue reading The “Fierce Urgency” to Increase Women’s Leadership in ARPA-E — Blame All Around
Imagine being in the room when Grey Advertising’s Amanda Zolten suggested to her colleagues that they use her cat’s soiled litter box to pitch a new client. How many people laughed? Or rolled their eyes? Or even thought she’d be in trouble? That’s the problem. Corporate America is in its own way. Every day, in… Continue reading Corporate America Needs to Get Out of Its Own Way
