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Rita McGrath

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Rita McGrath, is a globally recognized expert on strategy in uncertain and volatile environments. She is a popular instructor, a sought-after speaker, and a consultant to senior leadership teams.

Summary:

Rita McGrath is regarded as one of the world’s top experts on strategy and innovation with particular emphasis on developing sound strategy in uncertain and volatile environments. Her ideas are widely used by leading organisations throughout the world, who describe her thinking as sometimes provocative, but unfailing stimulating. She fosters a fresh approach to strategy amongst those with whom she works.

Biography:

Rita McGrath, a Professor at Columbia  Business School, is regarded as one of the world’s  top experts on strategy and innovation with  particular emphasis on developing sound strategy  in uncertain and volatile environments. Her idea s are widely used by leading organizations throughout the world, who describe her thinking as sometimes provocative, but unfailingly  stimulating. She fosters a fresh approach to strategy amongst those with whom she works. Thinkers50 presented Rita with the #1 award for  Strategy, the Distinguished Achievement Award, in 2013. Rita is in their top ten global list of management thinkers overall. She has also been inducted into the Strategic Management Society “Fellows” in recognition of her impact on the field.

Rita maintains an active social media presence, and has been rated one of the 25 smartest women to follow on Twitter by Fast Company Magazine. She consistently appears in rankings of the top business school professors to follow on that medium. Rita was voted HR Magazine’s Most Influential International Thinker, authors a regular column, “The Entrepreneurial Strategist” for Inc Magazine and blogs regularly at HBR.org. Rita is also one of the Wall Street Journal’s Experts and a regular contributor to Fortune Magazine's online edition.

Rita’s new, best-selling book, is titled The End of Competitive Advantage: How to Keep Your Strategy Moving as Fast as Your Business, which was recognized by Strategy+Business as the #1 business book of the year. Rita has co-authored three previous books: Discovery Driven Growth: A Breakthrough Process to Reduce Risk and Seize Opportunity (2009); MarketBusters: 40 Strategic Moves that Drive Exceptional Business Growth (2005); and The Entrepreneurial Mindset (2000), all published by Harvard Business Review Press. MarketBusters has been translated into ten languages and was named one of the best business books of 2005 by Strategy+Business.

Rita is one of the most widely published authors in the Harvard Business Review, including the best-selling “Discovery Driven Planning” (1995), which was recognized as an early articulation of today’s “lean” startup philosophy and has been praised by Clayton Christensen as one of the most important ideas in management - ever. She is a highly respected academic researcher whose work has won awards from the most prestigious management journals.

Rita joined the faculty of Columbia Business School in 1993. Prior to life in academia, she was an IT director, worked in the political arena, and founded two startups. She received her Ph.D. from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and has degrees with honors from Barnard College and the Columbia School of International and Public Affairs.

Rita McGrath has designed and delivered speeches and workshops ranging from 45-minute keynotes to several days-long strategy retreats. She is known for her flexibility and ability to customize her programs to the precise needs of her audiences.

Example Speech Titles

• The End of Competitive Advantage and the New Strategy Playbook

• Discovery Driven Planning

• Creating an Entrepreneurial Mindset: Leadership Roles Essential for Innovation and Growth

• Failing by Design: Making the Most of Intelligent Failures

• How to win in Business Model Competition: A New Dynamic for Strategy

• Leading Change and Dealing with Resistance

We hold further details of Rita’s talks and other ideas at our offices. Please get in contact for more information.

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Testimonials:

You know a presentation was good when you can’t wait to get back to work and make some changes.

Don Dea, Co-founder, Fusion Productons, DigitalNow Conference

The fact that we ran over and had to forcibly eject our guests is reflective of how engaging the conversation was at the event. I can’t thank you enough.

Jonathon Knee, Columbia Media Lab

Rita’s keen insights into strategy building – and avoiding creative destruction – were a perfect fit with our conference focus.

Esat Sezer, Senion VP and CIO, Coca-Cola Enterprises

An exceptional instructor, Rita has the ability to take complex topics and make them understandable and applicable. Her sessions prompt such lively discussions that time flies, literally!

Krys Moskal Ambuder, Pearson, VP Pearson People Development