Thoughts

Boom Trust

As organisations strive and strain through the current economic storm, the survival driven response might well be to batten down the hatches, then steer straight ahead, steady-as-she-goes. Those rocking the boat are most likely to end up walking the plank. But Natalie Turner believes that now is the very time when captains of industry, and indeed skippers of L&D, ought to be trying something new. (more…)

The power of informal networks to drive innovation and change.

Intramezzo Networking Event 2010 from Newspepper on Vimeo.

How Logica wins business through innovation

Logica have engaged Entheo to help them drive more commercial value through the development of “innovation catalysts,” leaders who inspire others to innovate within the business and drive cultural change.

Red or Blue – Which Ocean are you swimming in?

The need for new ways of thinking about strategy is critical. With the rate of commoditisation increasing, even in highly innovative markets, companies need to be able to differentiate their products with something unique, that is not easily copied by competitors, and which is valued by customers.

Sink or Swim: Leadership Challenges for High Tech Businesses in the 21st Century

In the demanding world of Equity funded organisations one third of Venture Capitalists give their CEOs less than a year to prove themselves, whilst less than a tenth of company founders can expect to remain in charge of their businesses after Venture Capital investment; so rang headlines in the Financial Times in February 2008. Based on research, commissioned by the European Leadership Programme (ELP), a London based forum for CEOs of venture or private equity backed businesses, 52 UK based venture capitalists,1 gave their views on all aspects of the life cycle of the CEO. Ashley Ward, a founder of the ELP, says, “many companies bring in a new CEO in the hope that they can turn around an underperforming business, but this often doesn’t solve their problems.” The requirement for better qualified Boards, a support network of experienced experts, and leadership education that is practical and specific to the needs of high tech CEOs are just three pre-requisites for success, often measures that many venture capitalists fail to realise.

This article will explore the latter of the three criteria, the need for appropriate, hard edged leadership education equipped with management tools designed to address the challenges of 21st Century Leadership in hightech companies; fast moving, multi-cultural, adaptive, and overwhelmingly results orientated.