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Rita McGrath

@rgmcgrath.bsky.social
389 followers 167 following 271 posts

Columbia University Business School Professor | C-Suite Strategist | Thinkers 50 Top 10 | Best-selling author | Founder, Valize and Rita McGrath Group linktr.ee/ritamcgrath

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Reposted by Rita McGrath
Andres Schäfer @andresschafer.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
A take on what is happening in VW and -by extension- in Germany: "Turning points are brutal for incumbents built on the previous paradigm’s logic", and cost cutting only buys time. shorturl.at/5jGj3. By @rgmcgrath.bsky.social. Note to @surplusmagazin.de
fastcompany.com
Volkswagen is a case study in what’s wrong with many of our biggest industrial companies
There’s a lot to learn from what’s happening with one of the world’s most consequential employers.
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Chris Shipley @cshipley.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
On today's episode of the Thought Sparks Podcast, I join @rgmcgrath.bsky.social to talk about our new essay collection, "Leading for Tomorrow", and what skills leaders need to meet the current moment. #ThoughtSparks #RitaMcGrathMedia #LeadingForTomorrow youtube.com/watch?v=HCPy6xhn7rI&authuser=0
youtube.com
Unlocking Human Potential with Rita McGrath and Chris Shipley and Scott Barry Kaufman
YouTube video by Rita McGrath
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Rita McGrath @rgmcgrath.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
It's Tax Day, and I'm thinking about competitive advantage. Specifically, the IRS has one of the most durable ones I've ever seen. No disruption, no new entrants, and extremely high switching costs. You have to admire the business model.
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Andres Schäfer @andresschafer.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
Based on the framework of @carlotaperez.bsky.social, @rgmcgrath.bsky.social cleverly outlines the blind spot nobody wants to see in the current debate: the crisis at Hormuz is an opportunity; the spike in oil prices, a market signal. Worth and necessary read. shorturl.at/6B8W1.
shorturl.at
Expensive crude oil: An inflation India might benefit from
Iran War: Rattling oil markets and predictions of $150 per barrel are forcing a reevaluation of cheap energy's long-held economic assumptions. This price shock, rather than a catastrophe, could be a n...
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Rita McGrath @rgmcgrath.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
Tickets are now on sale for the Global Peter Drucker Forum, happening November 4 and 5 in Vienna. You can get an early bird discount - and the theme this year is around innovation as the wellspring for growth. onlineregistrations.eu/events/druck...
onlineregistrations.eu
Registration form
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sabinanawaz.bsky.social @sabinanawaz.bsky.social · 17/12/2025
Power is like a broken volume knob. Everything communicated up is muted. Check out the full conversation with @rgmcgrath.bsky.social on her #podcast, Thought Sparks: lnkd.in/gz4y8sHq
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Rita McGrath @rgmcgrath.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
My piece on the end of the billable hour, in the December 15 edition of the Wall Street Journal – as AI can increasingly handle the routine work of professional services in a matter of minutes, how then do we value human judgment, creativity, and relationship management? @wsj.com
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sabinanawaz.bsky.social @sabinanawaz.bsky.social · 09/12/2025
Join my conversation with @rgmcgrath.bsky.social on her #podcast, Thought Sparks, where I shed light on how pressure - and not just power - corrupts, and insights into what managers can do about it: lnkd.in/gz4y8sHq
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Rita McGrath @rgmcgrath.bsky.social · 05/12/2025
When AI handles routine cognitive work in seconds and minutes, the remaining human contribution shifts toward judgment, creativity and relationship management — the value of which bears little relationship to time expended. Could this be the end of the billable hour? www.wsj.com/tech/ai/ai-g...
wsj.com
Say Goodbye to the Billable Hour, Thanks to AI
With AI taking over their grunt work, lawyers and other professionals may have to charge for outcomes rather than time spent
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Mark Vanderbeeken @vanderbeeken.app.leafplaza.eu · 04/12/2025
"Every company talks about “customer-centricity,” but surveillance pricing reveals the tension between serving customers better and extracting maximum value from them." @rgmcgrath.bsky.social www.fastcompany.com/91451686/dyn...
fastcompany.com
Why dynamic pricing is becoming the rule, not the exception
Is the era of fixed prices over?
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Rita McGrath @rgmcgrath.bsky.social · 21/11/2025
Here's some exciting news: a number of my Thought Sparks articles are being released in Spanish in Gestión! Here's the first one: #Gestión #Estrategia #Innovación gestion.com.do/el-hambre-de...
gestion.com.do
El hambre de predicción en un mundo incierto – GESTION
Decir que a la gente no le gusta la incertidumbre es quedarse corto. La periodista Maggie Jackson ha escrito un libro al respecto, llamado Uncertain: The Wisdom and the Wonder of Being Uncertain (Inci...
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Rita McGrath @rgmcgrath.bsky.social · 23/10/2025
A new tool from the Thought Sparks Podcast - Action Points. Action Points are the shovel-ready strategic insights from my conversations with authors, thought leaders, and industry experts that join me on the Thought Sparks Podcast.
ritamcgrath.com
Thought Sparks Form A10007 - Rita McGrath
Rita's thoughts and insights on the industry are shared on her newsletter, Thought Sparks.
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Rita McGrath @rgmcgrath.bsky.social · 13/10/2025
Big news: I’m writing a new book. Over the past few years, I’ve advised C-suite leaders facing unprecedented levels of change. The most urgent question they’re asking? How do we build organizations that can adapt—fast? Coming October 13, 2026. #Permissionless #Unbossed #Strategy #Innovation
Rita McGrath, business strategist, signs copies of her book, "Seeing Around Corners".
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Rita McGrath @rgmcgrath.bsky.social · 09/10/2025
💡30 years ago, we introduced a radical idea: plan to learn, not to be right. Today, that idea - Discovery-Driven Growth - is more relevant than ever. In the mid-90s, the internet was just emerging, and traditional competitive advantages were starting to erode. apnews.com/press-releas...
apnews.com
Discovery-Driven Planning, A Transformative Approach to Managing Uncertainty, Celebrates 30th Anniversary
How Rita McGrath and Ian MacMillan’s revolutionary idea continues to shape strategy in an uncertain world.
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Rita McGrath @rgmcgrath.bsky.social · 16/09/2025
What do gunpowder, Pampers diapers, the iPhone, and Julia Child's The Art of French Cooking all have in common? They were massive forces of disruption that changed the way we live, all featured in Scott Anthony's new book "Epic Disruptions".
amazon.com
Epic Disruptions: 11 Innovations That Shaped Our Modern World
Epic Disruptions: 11 Innovations That Shaped Our Modern World [Anthony, Scott D.] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Epic Disruptions: 11 Innovations That Shaped Our Modern World
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Rita McGrath @rgmcgrath.bsky.social · 04/09/2025
I was sad to learn of the passing of fashion icon Giorgio Armani, who defined professional dressing for a generation. In 2024 I wrote an appreciation for an essay collection about him on the occasion of his 90th birthday, which I've reprinted. The man was a genius. www.linkedin.com/pulse/giorgi...
linkedin.com
Giorgio Armani Does Things His Way
In 2024 I wrote this appreciation for a collection of essays about Giorgio Armani on the occasion of his 90th birthday. Those who have singlehandedly spurred an inflection point in human affairs are a...
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Rita McGrath @rgmcgrath.bsky.social · 06/08/2025
I'm thrilled to announce that I'll be joining the MIT Sloan Management Review Editorial Advisory Board! It's an honor to offer guidance to SMR on the state of management, and collaborate with my fellow board members to help highlight the best and brightest in research and practice. #MITSloan
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Rita McGrath @rgmcgrath.bsky.social · 01/08/2025
Great piece in Forbes about strategic optionality, citing one of my favorite reminders that "Snow melts from the edges", from my book, Seeing Around Corners. www.forbes.com/councils/for...
forbes.com
Strategic Optionality: How Global Leaders Build Resilience By Design
The real danger isn't moving too quickly, but committing too early to a single path.
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Rita McGrath @rgmcgrath.bsky.social · 16/07/2025
In a rapidly changing world, how should firms and leaders approach value creation? We're convening the Management Summit this September 23-24 in Lisbon to explore proven strategies for creating value. Learn more here: www.managementsummit.org
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Rita McGrath @rgmcgrath.bsky.social · 15/07/2025
Today's episode of the Thought Sparks Podcast features Frank Rose, a digital anthropologist and senior fellow at the Columbia University School of the Arts. Watch and listen to Frank's episode: www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCw0... #ThoughtSparks #ThoughtSparksPodcast #StrategicStorytelling #Persuasion
youtube.com
The Strategic Edge of Storytelling with Rita McGrath and Frank Rose
YouTube video by Rita McGrath
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Rita McGrath @rgmcgrath.bsky.social · 14/07/2025
Here's a scoop - you heard it here first, folks. Sylvia Acevedo, one of my personal leadership icons, rocket scientist, former CEO of the Girl Scouts and much more will be joining our September edition of "Leading Strategic Growth and Change," my Columbia Executive Education course.
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Rita McGrath @rgmcgrath.bsky.social · 11/07/2025
One of the best lines ever!
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Carlota Perez @carlotaperez.bsky.social · 13/04/2025
Maybe it's time to understand why, from the 1980s, US productivity went to profits and not to wages. It was the import of cheap consumer goods from China! Will wages have to go up and profits down now? Shouldn't the US specialise in high tech industries and services and pay better?
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Rita McGrath @rgmcgrath.bsky.social · 02/07/2025
Congratulations to Armstrong World Industries for making Industry Week's U.S. 50 Best Manufacturing List. It's an impressive achievement - from a growth perspective and to debut in the #2 spot. I'm thrilled to learn that CEO Vic Grizzle has found my research helpful in growing the company.
industryweek.com
Armstrong World Industries Targets Stability, Achieves Growth
The Pennsylvania-based maker of ceiling tiles and engineering architectural installations for buildings took a multi-year approach to targeting stability and adaptability, making...
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Rita McGrath @rgmcgrath.bsky.social · 01/07/2025
Today's episode of the Thought Sparks Podcast features Karla Trotman, CEO of ElectroSoft, Inc, the largest Black- and woman-owned electronics contract manufacturer in the United States and author of "Dark, Dirty, Dangerous: Building the Vibrant Future of Manufacturing". 💡 youtu.be/zG6j7AjpLjU?...
youtu.be
The Future of Manufacturing with Rita McGrath and Karla Trotman
YouTube video by Rita McGrath
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Rita McGrath @rgmcgrath.bsky.social · 26/06/2025
My guest on the Thought Sparks Podcast next week is Karla Trotman, CEO of ElectroSoft, Inc, the largest Black- and woman-owned electronics contract manufacturer in the United States. Tune in for the episode release at 11 am EST on Tuesday, July 1: linktr.ee/ritamcgrath #ThoughtSparksPodcast
linktr.ee
Rita McGrath | Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok | Linktree
Professor at Columbia Business School. Author, speaker, and strategic advisor.
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Rita McGrath @rgmcgrath.bsky.social · 24/06/2025
Thanks to @yetvart.bsky.social for this glowing review of Thought Sparks! Published biweekly on Tuesdays, Thought Sparks tie in new and enduring ideas around innovation and strategy with today’s business trends. Find Thought Sparks on Substack: thoughtsparks.substack.com
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Rita McGrath @rgmcgrath.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
Live from New York...it's a special edition of the Thought Sparks Podcast featuring Sharon Price John, Build-A-Bear Workshop CEO! Tune into "Thought Sparks Live" here: youtu.be/IjygirZBgcs?... #ThoughtSparks #ThoughtSparksPodcast #leadership #womeninleadership #womeninbusiness #strategy
youtu.be
Unlocking Confidence with Rita McGrath and Sharon Price John
YouTube video by Rita McGrath
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Rita McGrath @rgmcgrath.bsky.social · 13/06/2025
As reciprocal tariffs mount and global trade relationships shift, apparel brands are facing an #inflectionpoint. What exactly does this mean?👇 - Once-reliable assumptions about stable pricing, frictionless trade, and predictable costs no longer hold true.
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Rita McGrath @rgmcgrath.bsky.social · 12/06/2025
Mergers and acquisitions are an attractive strategy for companies looking to consolidate abnd recalibrate. I spoke with Jessica Binns at Vogue Business about fashion M&A and the uncertainty around US tariffs and supply chain issues. ➡️Read more here: www.voguebusiness.com/story/compan...
voguebusiness.com
The state of fashion M&A in 2025
Deal-making appears to be heating up again as strong players chase growth and scale — while distressed brands become targets in a volatile, high-interest-rate market.
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Reposted by Rita McGrath
Jose Afonso Furtado @jafurtado.bsky.social · 10/06/2025
The Merger Mirage: The Triumph of Hope over Experience, by Rita McGrath @rgmcgrath.bsky.social / Thought Sparks - Substack thoughtsparks.substack.com/p/the-merger...
thoughtsparks.substack.com
The Merger Mirage: The Triumph of Hope over Experience
Synergy. Market expansion. Gaining share. Cost savings. Diversification. Talent acquisition. Owning a unique asset. Moving into a high-growth sector. These and many more reasons have often propelled c...
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Rita McGrath @rgmcgrath.bsky.social · 09/06/2025
Outside of political junkies in places like Washington, ordinary people are busy getting on with their lives. They aren't glued to the latest in 50+ announcements over tariffs, industrial policy or (yawn) bilateral trade agreements. I joined WHEC to break it down: www.whec.com/top-news/con...
whec.com
Consumer Alert: Steel and aluminum tariff hike could raise prices on cars, appliances, and more
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The tariff on steel and aluminum increased from 25% to 50% early Wednesday morning, raising concerns about its impact on consumers. President Donald Trump says he hopes the move redu...
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Rita McGrath @rgmcgrath.bsky.social · 05/06/2025
How can leaders make decisions under conditions of exponential change? My latest for Dialogue Review lays out methods for leaders to spot exponential change and make effective decisions.
dialoguereview.com
Masters of velocity - Dialogue Review
In a world defined by ... Read more
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Peter Georgescu @petergeorgescu.bsky.social · 04/06/2025
Many thanks to @rgmcgrath.bsky.social for featuring me on her Thought Sparks Podcast where we discussed how we can reclaim capitalism in service of a society that benefits us all. 💡 Find the episode on your favorite podcast platform: linktr.ee/RitaMcGrath #ThoughtSparks #RitaMcGrathMedia
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Rita McGrath @rgmcgrath.bsky.social · 04/06/2025
Amy Edmondson and myself in Basel last year for the Novartis Culture Lab, yukking it up with a (kid-you-not) dinosaur fossil. 🦖 We're convening in Boston today for this year's C-LAB, so stay tuned for updates over the next few days! @amycedmondson.bsky.social #NovartisCLAB #LifeAtNovartis
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Rita McGrath @rgmcgrath.bsky.social · 30/05/2025
What does optimistic leadership look like? 💡 My guest on the Thought Sparks Podcast next week is Peter Georgescu, chairman emeritus of Young & Rubicam. Tune in for the episode release at 11 am EST on Tuesday, June 3, wherever you get your podcasts: linktr.ee/ritamcgrath #ThoughtSparksPodcast
linktr.ee
Rita McGrath | Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok | Linktree
Professor at Columbia Business School. Author, speaker, and strategic advisor.
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Rita McGrath @rgmcgrath.bsky.social · 23/05/2025
Home Depot, Target, and Kimberly-Clark have made statements that they will maintain pricing levels, essentially absorbing the costs of tariffs for consumers. But will this strategy bear up? www.ntd.com/3-big-us-com... #Tariffs #TradeWar #Retail
ntd.com
3 Big US Companies That Haven't Raised Prices Due to Tariffs
NTD - To uplift and inform society by publishing quality content that embodies integrity, dignity, and the best of humanity.
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Rita McGrath @rgmcgrath.bsky.social · 20/05/2025
How might Trump's tariffs affect your grocery bill? Thanks to @usnews.com for the feature. The bottom line: Imported perishable goods like fruits and seafood will likely become more expensive, but consumers should brace for price increases across categories. money.usnews.com/money/person...
money.usnews.com
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Rita McGrath @rgmcgrath.bsky.social · 20/05/2025
What does it take for entrepreneurs to succeed? Today's episode of the Thought Sparks Podcast features Lori Rosenkopf, Vice Dean of Entrepreneurship at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. 🎧 Watch and listen to my conversation with Lori: youtu.be/EjJYpOGacsw?...
youtu.be
Becoming An Unstoppable Entrepreneur with Rita McGrath and Lori Rosenkopf
YouTube video by Rita McGrath
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Rita McGrath @rgmcgrath.bsky.social · 16/05/2025
With this week's announcement of a 90-day pause on tariffs, what impact will we see on the fashion industr,? 📺 For more on how tariffs might affect fashion and apparel, check out my recent feature on Fox 5 DC: www.fox5dc.com/video/1641745 #tariffs #fashion #tradewar #strategy #apparel #fox5dc
fox5dc.com
Tariffs and fashion
Columbia Business School Professor Rita McGrath joined Good Day DC to break down the link between tariffs and fashion.
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Rita McGrath @rgmcgrath.bsky.social · 16/05/2025
What does it tell us when the Fortune 500 CEO's surveyed by that selfsame publication suddenly turn pessimistic? It isn't good news for most of us. fortune.com/article/the-... #fortune500 #leadership #strategy
fortune.com
The CEOs of Fortune 500 companies are already beginning to plan for the worst
Data from a Fortune and Deloitte survey provides the first empirical proof that decision-makers are reeling under the weight of Trump’s trade war.
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Rita McGrath @rgmcgrath.bsky.social · 15/05/2025
The US and China have agreed to pause tariffs for 90 days - what strategic implications does this have for businesses and consumers? Check out my feature below for insights: dayton247now.com/news/your-da...
dayton247now.com
What the 90-day tariff reprieve means for markets and supply chains
NEW YORK, New York (WKEF) -- The U.S. and China have agreed to roll back tariffs for 90 days, hitting pause on an escalating trade war.
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Rita McGrath @rgmcgrath.bsky.social · 13/05/2025
I read books - a lot of them. But they are mostly business books, written mostly by academics and executives. So here's something completely different - my friend and colleague Cliff Schorer has fulfilled a long promise to himself and written a novel! www.amazon.com/Ritual-Innoc...
amazon.com
A Ritual of Innocence
A Ritual of Innocence [Schorer, Cliff] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. A Ritual of Innocence
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Rita McGrath @rgmcgrath.bsky.social · 09/05/2025
Tune into the @thinkers50.com accounts on Monday, May 12 for my social media takeover! I'll be announcing the 2025 Management Classics Booklist - their annual curation of the best of business books, with ideas and tools that have become foundational to management over decades.
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Reid Hoffman @reidhoffman.bsky.social · 08/05/2025
I’ve long believed Bill Gates deserves a Nobel Peace Prize. His decision to distribute virtually all his wealth through the Gates Foundation by 2045 is just the latest evidence of this fact. It reflects the kind of decisive, high-leverage action we need.
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Rita McGrath @rgmcgrath.bsky.social · 08/05/2025
A 64 year old social worker who votes independently is a "radical far-left activist?" Judge for yourself: www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
motherjones.com
Meet the 64-year-old social worker who was dragged out of a Republican town hall
Her offense? Asking Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) what it would take for him to stand up to Trump.
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Rita McGrath @rgmcgrath.bsky.social · 08/05/2025
Now that tariffs are finally here, their impact is becoming more clear. The Budget Lab at Yale says that US Citizens are facing a 28% level of tariffs - a level not seen since 1901! @annielowrey.bsky.social @theatlantic.com budgetlab.yale.edu/research/sta... #tariffs #seeingaroundcorners #policy
budgetlab.yale.edu
State of U.S. Tariffs: April 15, 2025
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Rita McGrath @rgmcgrath.bsky.social · 06/05/2025
Today's episode of the Thought Sparks Podcast features Garry Ridge, the longtime CEO of WD-40.💡 He's been named by Inc Magazine as one of the world's most admired CEO's, and the passion and purpose he cultivated at WD-40 are a testament to that. youtu.be/x-Zh31LX5VU?...
youtu.be
What WD-40 Got Right About Corporate Purpose with Rita McGrath & Garry Ridge
YouTube video by Rita McGrath
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Rita McGrath @rgmcgrath.bsky.social · 02/05/2025
And to close our time in Dublin: an Executive Breakfast Briefing hosted by the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School! Over 150 senior and C suite leaders convened to dive into the topic of inflection points, and how to identify weak signals while there's still time to act.
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Rita McGrath @rgmcgrath.bsky.social · 30/04/2025
What a great conversation we had on the Remarkable People podcast about innovation and disruption! Check out the full episode here: bit.ly/rminflection
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