Leap year is an apt metaphor for what we must navigate now – exponential change in a world designed for linear evolution. Despite everyone’s hunger for finding some kind of stable new normal, it seems pretty clear that massive uncertainty isn’t going away any time soon. For some people, it’s terrifying. For others, it is exhilarating. Mastering this environment will demand investments in learning, time for reflection and the consideration of multiple possible futures. The good news is that uncertain times are also stocked with plentiful opportunities – if we have the courage to seize them.
In Case You Missed It
Pictured above is the Power Shift conference, organized by Peter Sims and his team at BLK SHP, reunited folks from across industries — filmmakers, strategy leaders, inventors, and authors. We discussed how we might spark a renaissance of creativity and collaboration.
Chip Conley, the author of a new book “Learning to Love Mid-Life”, joined me for an excellent Friday Fireside Chat about embracing the wisdom of mid-life, letting go of what doesn’t serve you, and the possibility of transforming your life at any age
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Large firms used to provide in-house executive development, training employees who spent their entire careers with a single company. Now, leaders are increasingly hired from the outside and are woefully unprepared for the uncertainties of leadership. A possible remedy? Peer-to-peer-networks.
By 2030, American women are expected to control much of the $30 trillion in financial assets that baby boomers currently possess, with effects on everything from women’s health issues, philanthropic contributions, and the very nature of the financial advisory business.
Systems that can engage in trial-and-error experimentation make progress exponentially, not in a linear fashion. That’s problematic, as humans aren’t wired to understand exponential change. How can we grasp the implications of exponential change – some thoughts.
In the News
Lights, camera, action! I was featured on KRON-4’s “Live in the Bay” TV segment to discuss what exactly seeing around corners means in our day-to-day lives.
Growth Igniters Radio re-released our conversation from way back in 2020 – the lessons are enduring! In this podcast episode, we talk about how to identify inflection points, and specifically, how to differentiate them from the “noise” that surrounds them.
In this piece for Inside Radio, Daniel Anstandig and I discuss AI and its role in management going forward. My view? It’s stuck looking at lagging indicators and lacks the insight needed for innovation (that humans luckily possess!)
The climate crisis has paralyzed us with indecision. My new piece in Dialogue shows that we can take the lessons we learned from addressing the hole in the ozone layer, and put them towards this new crisis.
Tool of the month: SparcHub Sage
We’re gearing up for the launch of SparcHub Sage, our software intended for consultants, small companies and smaller units of large companies to track their portfolios. (This function is usually accomplished with a whole mess of spreadsheets, powerpoints, and paper lists!) Check out this recording of our most recent live demo, and stay tuned for more information about our launch!
Upcoming Events
I’m packing my bags for Austin and heading to SXSW EDU! I’ll be on a panel called Reimagining Education for Workforce Leaders on March 6, where we’ll discuss how we can build education systems that support innovative leadership. If you’re at SXSW EDU, stop in for what is sure to be a great conversation.
On March 8, I’ll be leading a webinar entitled Financial Advice and the Looming Gender Inflection Point, as part of New York Life’s celebration of International Women’s Day. With the massive wealth transfer to women that will occur this decade, how do financial advisors embrace gender diversity, and become more gender bilingual? Register to tune into this fascinating discussion.
From March 18 to 22, I’ll be teaching my Leading Strategic Growth and Change course at Columbia Business School. Designed for strategy leaders looking to drive change in their organizations, this week-long course will help you achieve growth, even in high uncertainty. Claim your spot in the conversation today!
Get in touch, keep in touch!
I work with organizations to run workshops, provide training and offer ideas. Everything from one-on-one leadership coaching to speaking in really big conference rooms. Think that might be useful? Get in touch!
Twitter @rgmcgrath
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ritamcgrath
Website: www.ritamcgrath.com
Valize website: www.valize.com
Warmly,
Rita