REPORT

The future of capitalism

Reforming, reimagining or regenerating capitalism: Concerns were being raised long before the 2020 pandemic made even the most committed capitalists join the growing chorus of those calling for serious changes to the world’s dominant economic system. Here’s how the next generation of business leaders can fix capitalism to have a more positive impact for all.

Checklist for change

To rebalance capitalism, consider adding these items to your agenda.

Global alternatives

Here we present different takes on capitalism from around the world.

Paul Polman and Nitin Nohria: “This time is different”

More people are waking up to the fact that our current economic system isn’t working; they want to do things differently, not go back to how things were before.

Rebecca Henderson: “Business must step up”

The Harvard Business School professor and author of Reimagining Capitalism in a World on Fire believes the time has come to reimagine capitalism, with purpose-driven firms at the helm.

Looking toward a brighter future

It’s easy to get discouraged over the state of the world. Yet IESE Dean Franz Heukamp sees strong grounds for optimism.

THE BIG PICTURE

The Big Picture: The new drivers of value

When valuing companies, your market comparable may surprise you: a car company may have more in common with tech or luxury goods than another car company. Let’s take a look under the hood.

HACK

Patently underrepresented: Why humankind needs more female inventors

New research in Science finds that patents filed by female inventors are more likely to focus on women’s health, but that relatively few women are filing patents, pointing to untapped opportunities for innovation.

What’s in a number? Numerical nudging to boost motivation and decision-making

Try expressing your goals in large numbers to help put yourself in the right mindset to achieve them. And to prod customers to make sales decisions, try presenting them with round numbers first and then precise ones close to the point of purchase.

Optimizing influencers’ influence: Which brands to promote where?

Whose opinion about running shoes would you trust more: someone loyal to one brand or someone who mixes-and-matches their exercise gear? New research points to the latter. Get in touch if you see an application for your own company for this type of research and would like to explore ways to collaborate.

Three keys to a meaningful ESG strategy

This guide helps companies put their environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategies into practice.

+IESE

“Take a chance, I dare you”

Eghosa Oriaikhi Mabhena, CEO of Puma Energy Africa, understands that sustainability is not just about creating business models that respect the environment, but also about creating a working environment that attracts and retains diverse talent.

Carlos Uraga, co-founder of Nantek, is turning trash into treasure

Perhaps nothing symbolizes the environmental destruction of the past 50 years more than the vast quantities of single-use plastic choking the planet’s rivers and seas. This award-winning entrepreneur is doing something about it.

A sustainable work model: two to three times a week, the best option

A balanced look at the benefits and drawbacks of working remotely, taking on six myths that surround it and looking closer at employee/employer realities.

Ignasi Cambra, concert pianist, plays by heart

It has been a tough year, but Ignasi Cambra remains upbeat. Here he reflects on life, art and entrepreneurship.

SMART PICKS

Can we talk? Tips for having better conversations

Business leaders spend their days having all types of conversations. And as stakeholder demands increasingly pull CEOs in different directions, it’s vital to choose words carefully. Use these helpful resources to have constructive conversations.

KNOW

Lessons from 9/11: Operations in times of crisis
By Federico Sabria, Alejandro Lago and Fred Krawchuk

On the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States, it’s worth revisiting how leaders responded. That story contains useful lessons for distinguishing between clear, complicated, complex and chaotic situations, and managing the associated operations challenges accordingly.

Thinking out of the box
In conversation with Romain Boulongne

What, or perhaps more to the point how, is your target audience thinking about your products? When the product offer isn’t clear, change the way people think about it, as this professor explains from his research on banking in deprived areas.

4 principles to manage your career for the long term
By Dorie Clark

Just as CEOs jeopardize long-term growth by only focusing on quarterly profits, we risk falling into the same trap in our personal and professional lives. Follow these tips to break the short-term orientation, see the big picture, and tap into the power of small changes to transform your life and career.

FULL STOP

Managing stress before it manages you

COVID-19 has raised all our stress levels, but what can we do? Follow these tips to stop stress from overwhelming you and your teams, and strengthen your collective resilience.