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We often think of change and innovation as linked to disruption, but does disruption really create growth for your company? Charlene Li, an expert who has been helping companies grow for decades, has a different take on disruption. She firmly believes that disruption doesn’t create growth — it’s the opposite; growth creates disruption, and we dive into what that distinction means and why it can be so powerful.
For the past two decades, Charlene has been helping people see the future. She is the Founder and Senior Fellow at Altimeter, a disruptive analyst firm acquired in 2015 by Prophet, and an expert on digital transformation, leadership, customer experience and the future of work. She has authored six books, including The New York Times bestseller, Open Leadership and the critically acclaimed book, Groundswell. Her latest book is the bestseller The Disruption Mindset, which we discuss in this interview.
Disruption is something that happens in businesses and industries, but it’s not necessarily the first goal when you start. Charlene explains the how and the why behind disruption, and shares relevant case studies that bring the concept of disruption to life in a more tangible way. She also illustrates how growth creates disruption, not the other way around, and why defining your future customer is a critical aspect of growth and innovation. We discuss what it takes to make “big gulp” decisions, how leaders can cultivate a movement of disruptors, and why sometimes, we just need to get out of our own way.
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Charlene Li on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
Open Leadership, by Charlene Li
The Disruption Mindset, by Charlene Li
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