Skip to Content

Center for Leadership Development and Research

 

 

 

Sample Video: Managing a Prima Donna

Each video in the Leadership in Focus series is accompanied by a detailed teaching guide and teaching notes. Following is a sample clip from one case.

 

Brian NeSmith
CEO, Blue Coat Systems

Case Challenge: Brian confronts a technical prima donna who is difficult to work with and disruptive in meetings, but is also one of the company's highest performing technical professionals. He must decide how to handle the situation.

This segment provides a real world example of a classic leadership challenge. The video clip can quickly stimulate an engaging dialogue in the classroom about how to respond. Additional segments describe how Brian addressed the issue, the eventual outcome, and what he learned from it.

To view the entire video in full resolution mode,
as well as see additional videos available, please login to the collection, or sign up here.

Please Note: At this time, this collection is only available (at no charge) for academic educators and audiences.

 

 

 

Sample Teaching Notes

Click to download PDF

 

 

Each video is accompanied by a teaching guide and teaching notes, which include:

  • Background on company and leader
  • Possible teaching themes and issues
  • Suggested discussion questions
  • Ideas for role-plays, small group work, and individual assignments

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back to Leadership in Focus main page

Questions? Please email leadershipvideos@gsb.stanford.edu