65 Going on Fabulous: Business Lessons from Barbie’s Enduring Success

Barbie is 65! Over the decades, Mattel’s iconic plastic doll has faced plenty of challenges. Yet last summer, the Barbie movie became one of the season’s biggest blockbusters. So, how does Barbie stay relevant through decades of change? It began…

Bayer’s New Model: Bill Anderson’s Vision and Early Results

Leadership Memo 2024-9 Over the past few months, we've been following Bill Anderson's audacious strategy to revitalize Bayer, the struggling German pharmaceutical giant. At the heart of this corporate experiment lies Dynamic Shared Ownership (DSO), a corporate experiment unlike any…

Beyond Hierarchies: The Challenges and Promise of Bayer’s Decentralization Strategy

Leadership Memo 2024-8 In recent months, I introduced you to the most audacious corporate experiment in recent years: Dynamic Shared Ownership (DSO). DSO is Bill Anderson’s bold strategy to revive Bayer, the struggling German pharmaceutical giant. I’ve explained what DSO…

How Feedback Fuels Cultural Growth: Lessons from Lufthansa Airlines

Imagine a company where feedback is not just an afterthought but a driving force behind cultural evolution. At Lufthansa Airlines, feedback goes beyond assessing performance—it's a cornerstone for shaping culture and fostering continuous improvement. In a recent candid discussion, Jens…

Meet Bill Anderson: The Man Behind Bayer’s Bold Move Towards Agility

Leadership Memo 2024-7 In April, I introduced you to the most audacious corporate experiment in recent years: Dynamic Shared Ownership (DSO). DSO is Bill Anderson’s answer to fighting bureaucracy. It’ll allow his company, the German pharmaceutical goliath Bayer, to get…

Beyond the Hype: Lessons from Nvidia’s Journey to the Top

A sold-out arena, a roaring crowd running from their seats to join the excitement, T-shirt signings—no, this wasn’t another city on Taylor Swift’s global tour. This was Nvidia’s annual conference, and the tech world hasn’t seen anything like it in…

Busting Bureaucracy: Bayer’s Bold Bet on Dynamic Shared Ownership

Leadership Memo 2024-6 In April, I introduced you to the most audacious corporate experiment in recent years: Dynamic Shared Ownership (DSO). DSO is Bill Anderson’s approach to fighting bureaucracy, the sinister force weighing on the company’s strategic options, and allowing…

Want to take a peek at the most audacious corporate experiment?

Leadership Memo 2024-4 Imagine the challenges facing a US$50 billion multi-national company with a 160-year history: share price at a 20-year low (down 50% from a year ago), litigation, high debt, and losing patents on some of their most important…

21st-century leadership traits as shown by Ukrainian President Zelenskyy (Part 3)

Leadership Memo 2023-6 “I am transfixed by the example of President Zelenskyy. I have watched every one of his addresses. He is plainspoken, quietly forceful, and unstinting with the truth. I have been studying leadership and fearlessness my whole life.…

21st-century leadership traits as shown by Ukrainian President Zelenskyy (Part 2)

Leadership Memo 2023-5 After more than a year, Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, continues to inspire his fellow countrymen to fight on, and he continues to lead an international campaign to garner monetary and military support. An amazing feat by a…