Leadership

People who want to see a different kind of politics must get involved. —Condoleezza Rice, professor of political economy
10 Tips for Tackling Political Polarization in the Workplace and Beyond
Faculty Book
Faculty Book
Audio
Jacqueline Novogratz, MBA ’91, on the Role of Storytelling in Investing
Black and white portrait of Jacqueline Novogratz on a plain background, smiling at the camera.
Audio
Jennifer Hyman on the Power of Relentless Optimism
Portrait of Jennifer Hyman
See All View From the Top Episodes
Audio
Talk Less, Say More: How to Kick The Habit of Over-talking
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Video
Class Takeaways — Reputation Management
Five lessons in five minutes: Lecturer Allison Kluger shares tips on successfully managing your professional reputation.
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Executive Education

Remote, Office, or Hybrid Workplaces? Navigating the Tradeoffs
2024 Dates to Be Announced
In-Person
Leading with an Improv Mindset
Dates to Be Announced
Online
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Leadership in Focus

Leadership in Focus

Leadership in Focus is a large collection of case vignettes, teaching, and learning resources that bring real-world business challenges to life and spark lively discussions aimed at improving executive skills. Each short video is accompanied by teaching notes for added context, suggested discussion questions and role-playing ideas to help engage groups of managers in learning experiences of their own. Leaders may also experience the cases online with opportunities to calibrate their thinking for actionable insights.

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Latest Stories in Leadership

August 15, 2023
Audio
Making Great Strategy: A Masterclass with Jesper Sørensen
Stanford GSB professor shares practical advice for building winning strategies.
Management
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August 01, 2023
Written
Follow the Leader: How a CEO’s Personality Is Reflected in Their Company’s Culture
There’s no ideal personality type for executives — but businesses need the right one for success.
Management
Illustration of human figures cut out of paper, following behind a leader in a suit.
August 01, 2023
Audio
Talk Less, Say More: How to Kick The Habit of Over-talking
In this episode, Dan Lyons says it’s time we all zipped it.
Career & Success
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July 11, 2023
Audio
No Rules, No Trust: How Accountability Shapes Communication
In this episode, Anat Admati explains why we can’t build trust without a solid foundation of rules.
Leadership
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June 29, 2023
Audio
Jacqueline Novogratz, MBA ’91, on the Role of Storytelling in Investing
The founder and CEO of Acumen shares how more honest, inspiring storytelling leads to better business.
Leadership
Black and white portrait of Jacqueline Novogratz on a plain background, smiling at the camera.
June 29, 2023
Audio
Transforming your Leadership: Insights from an Executive Coach
An expert executive coach shares insight into the importance of reflection, delegation, and moving away from “heroic leadership.”
Leadership
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June 15, 2023
Written
In Putin’s Crosshairs, This Author/Investor Keeps Telling the Truth
Stanford GSB alumnus Bill Browder outed Russian government corruption, and Putin wants him silenced.
Government & Politics
a photo of Bill Browder and Olga Chumanskaya, MBA ’23, in conversation in Stanford. Credit: Lisa Sanchez-Corea Simpson
June 06, 2023
Written
Investigating the Unsolved Mysteries of Boardrooms and C-Suites
More than a decade and 100 papers later, Closer Look finds that there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to questions about corporate governance.
Corporate Governance
A blurry photo of a boardroom with figures standing and sitting illuminated by a bright window.
June 06, 2023
Audio
Taking a Stand with Your Brand: Genderless Fashion in Africa
An activist and a business owner make a bold fashion statement by standing up for LGBTQ rights.
Social Impact
Grit & Growth: The Podcast
May 30, 2023
Audio
No Regrets: How to Take Risks in Your Communication, Relationships, and Career
In this podcast episode, Dan Pink shares why we often over-index on risk.
Career & Success
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May 24, 2023
Audio
Jennifer Hyman on the Power of Relentless Optimism
The CEO and cofounder of Rent The Runway shares stories from the company’s inception to being one of 30 women who have taken a company public.
Leadership
Portrait of Jennifer Hyman
May 24, 2023
Written
Labor Pains: How Executives Can Help Broker Workers’ Discontent
Union advocate says organizing efforts shouldn't be seen as disloyal.
Management
portrait of Faiz Shakir standing in an empty conference room
May 23, 2023
Audio
“Um, Like, So”: How Filler Words Can Be Effective in Communication
Valerie Fridland explains the meaning we all ascribe to these words and how to use them more effectively in your communication.
Career & Success
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May 18, 2023
Video
Class Takeaways — Reputation Management
Five lessons in five minutes: Lecturer Allison Kluger shares tips on successfully managing your professional reputation.
Career & Success
title screen with an illustration of a reputation pyramid and the class title: Reputation Management
May 16, 2023
Audio
Strategy: It’s the Big Bets that Matter
Creating a well-thought-out strategy for your business requires accepting that you can’t control everything.
Entrepreneurship
Grit & Growth: The Podcast
May 01, 2023
Audio
Shantanu Narayan: Generative AI Won’t Replace Human Ingenuity
The Chairman and CEO of Adobe shares his perspective on the future of technology and digital experiences.
Leadership
Black and white portrait of Shantanu Narayan looking into the camera.
April 25, 2023
Audio
Executive Coaching: From Self-Doubt to Self-Awareness
Taking over his family business led this African entrepreneur to seek out a coach for strategic and emotional support.
Entrepreneurship
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April 25, 2023
Audio
Know What You’re Saying: How Communicating Tests Our Understanding
In this episode, Gregory LaBlanc says it’s not about what you know — it’s about how well you can communicate it.
Career & Success
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April 14, 2023
Written
How To: Diversify Your Company’s Board in Four Steps
A new guide details concrete ideas for bringing new people to the tables where decisions get made.
Corporate Governance
An overhead shot of a boardroom with a diverse group of people sitting at the table. Credit: iStock/AndreyPopov
April 05, 2023
Audio
Quick Thinks: How Others Define Us
In this bonus episode, Brian Lowery discusses his new book, Selfless: The Social Creation of You.
Organizational Behavior
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