In a previous post (see: Leadership Styles), I looked at the different leadership styles that a leader needs to be able to morph into when managing a team. The importance of being able to do so is invaluable as each decision or situation will require different leadership capabilities. Now a different question arises when leaders askContinue reading "Birth or Growth?"
Core vs New Customers
In a recent HBR Case Study, a fictional company called Mendoza had a difficult business decision to take: focus on their core customers or try to grow the new customer base. The case study goes on to drafting a potential solution that might help Core customers maintain their support for the brand whilst allowing newContinue reading "Core vs New Customers"
Performance Formulas
Performance on the job is crucial, in particular for high-pressure jobs when the tiniest drop in concentration can lead to huge losses or mistakes. Whilst trading derivatives at Santander, it was imperative to always be full-time focused on the market, in particular when performing a large trade: one had to simultaneously model and give updatedContinue reading "Performance Formulas"
Scout vs Soldier
In a Julia Galef TED talk from 2016, she put forward a great analogy when talking about people: the ones that have a Scout mindset and those that have a Soldier mindset. The premise of her idea is: Scout: people who are always open to new information, trying to gather as much perspective as possibleContinue reading "Scout vs Soldier"
Differences in VC Questioning
Interesting article on how VCs tend to question entrepreneurs differently. The part that seemed the more problematic to me was the 'promotion' vs 'prevention' segment. HBR on VC Questioning A business model is a business model. A concept is a concept. An idea is an idea. And trying to understand it should entail aContinue reading "Differences in VC Questioning"
The Circular Economy
Mckinsey with a study of how companies can benefit from one or more of the six circular-economy activities. See more at Mckinsey Quarterly Report for 2017.
Circular Responsibilities
We are now in the final stages of preparations for the 2017 Summer Camps. And in the scope of the training we give each year to our over 200 European Councillors, the President of the NGO asked me to run a session with them talking about responsibility and its importance in Cambodia during our timeContinue reading "Circular Responsibilities"
FANG!
FANGs are the next big thing. And it seems like it might be a smart move to stay long despite the recent calls for a bear market: the recent Whole Foods acquisition by Amazon goes to show that these FANG are here to stay and that they are one step ahead in the IoT game...Continue reading "FANG!"
A start-up’s valuation life cycle
Given the recent turmoil at Uber and with all the negative ink being written about its sky-high valuation, people have been doom and gloom about the company's future (ie: HBR on need to shut Uber) The difficulty to turn a profit combined with the management issues of the last few months has made Uber a classicContinue reading "A start-up’s valuation life cycle"
Getting to Yes
Erin Myer and his Getting to Yes are a great read on negotiations because it not only touches on the technicals parts but also on the human, personal aspects of negotiations. In prior posts, we have discussed the importance of knowing and understanding your counterparts (Negotiating the World) And the importance of personal and emotional preparationContinue reading "Getting to Yes"
Pablo F. Alonso Caprile 