This spring, I attended a talk with Wharton professor of psychology and New York Times writer Adam Grant about his new book: Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World. In an hour-long dialogue with fellow author Daniel Pink, Grant shared dozens of the examples of originality that he sculpted into his best-seller. Listening required deep concentration and my […]
Read MoreWhat it’s like to work for THRUUE: Insights from the Summer Interns This summer, we welcomed two analyst interns to the THRUUE Crew: Hasia White and Joshua Blatt, both recent graduates of the University of Richmond. Hasia graduated with a BA in international studies and geography. Joshua graduated with a BA in Leadership Studies and […]
Read MoreWhile articles have been written and reliable frameworks created, there is no true blueprint for creating a company, building a brand, or attracting great people to join in a mission. Randomness has as much impact on an organization as does its stated goals or a clearly defined vision. This month marks the 4th anniversary of THRUUE. […]
Read MoreTHRUUE believes that culture is a competitive differentiator, and we are not alone. High-performing organizations thoroughly know their cultures and give them sustained, detailed attention from the bottom up and the top down. But while 91% of CEOs believe that culture is important, only 15% believe their own organization’s culture is where it should be—all […]
Read MoreOver the past three years, THRUUE has offered executive briefings to busy C-suite leaders in both for- and not-for-profit sectors. This month, we are pleased to share the publication of our first official THRUUE MEMORANDUM. Similar to a white paper, this memo distills what we have learned from successful (and not-so-successful) CEO transitions. While the […]
Read MoreWe are big fans of HBR and are delighted that the cover story this month features the headline “You can’t fix culture.” Examining several mergers as examples, the article argues that culture comes along after leaders get their big ideas right and strategies come to life. The article’s introduction explains, “in every case, when the […]
Read MoreThe interrelationship between strategy (“the choices leaders make to win”) and culture (“the way things are done around here”) can either create value or undermine success for an organization. This interrelationship demands sustained leadership and board level attention, which it too rarely receives before a problem surfaces. Take Volkswagen— the most recent example of a […]
Read MoreI was sitting at my desk in Cambridge, Massachusetts, working on a proposal with my colleague, John Devanney, when the first news arrived. A young coworker called from lower Manhattan moments after the first plane hit the first tower. She would be late to the office, she told John, as “debris was falling all over the […]
Read MoreWhat the Wright Brothers (and Sister) Teach Us About Innovation and Character Five years ago inside the Library of Congress, I was handed a tiny, black leather-bound diary open to Orville Wright’s thoughts from September 1903. Both he and Wilbur were meticulous documenters as they worked to realize their dream of flight. Holding Orville’s diary prompted […]
Read MoreTHRUUE has long believed that culture is the great differentiator in today’s marketplace. Every product and service is quickly proven to be a commodity, while culture can’t be copied or imported from one group to the next. You can study Zappos, Southwest Airlines, Apple, or others all you want. You can read an endless flow […]
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