Insight+: Speaking Events

Web 2.0 Expo NYC - Murder as a Way to Win

2009-11-16T17:00:00Z

Constraints can drive creativity and innovation in the "do more with less" kind of way. But, the truth is, constraints are never fun. Constraints means dealing with tought conversations and tradeoffs between entirely viable options and wanting to optimize results. This sessions provides a framework for making tough choices and safely kill off options, or murder 'em, so you can do stuff that matters.

Web 2.0 Expo New York

Reinvention as an Economic Necessity

2009-09-13T20:00:00Z

A quick look around makes it obvious that "business as usual" isn't working.

When inventing their future, companies too often focus on the what: what is the right thing to do, what is the right idea, what is the answer to this problem? The reality is that good ideas alone are no safeguard against the disruptive and fast changing global markets we face, so strategy creation can no longer be defined in terms of mere ideas. Strategy creation must also include the way those ideas are created. And it must do so quickly, enabling organizations to think, make tough choices, and act fast.

Just as Clayton Christensen highlights The Innovator's Dilemma, we must identify and name The Collaborator's Dilemma to describe the way we create--or fail to create--strategies that work.

Organizations face three classic dilemmas when creating strategies: the "air sandwich" between executives and others, the chief of answers who creates an information bottleneck, and the fear of driving collective decision-making when aiming for collaboration. This session explains how each of these is fixable if one is willing to reinvent their firm to win.

When Creativity Doesn't Work, Try Murder

2009-06-17T17:00:00Z

Bruce LaFetra http://www.rubiconconsulting.com/insight/winmarkets/bruce-lafetra/

The Collaborator's Dilemma

2009-06-14T16:00:00Z

It's obvious that "business as usual" isn't working.

Companies focus on the what: what to do, what's the right idea, what's the answer to this problem? Good ideas are no safeguard against disruptive and fast changing global markets so we can no longer define strategy creation in terms of mere ideas. Strategy must include the way ideas are created. And it must do so quickly, enabling organizations to think, make tough choices, and act fast.

Just as Clayton Christensen highlights The Innovator's Dilemma, we must identify and name The Collaborator's Dilemma to describe the way we create strategies that work.

Organizations face three classic dilemmas: the "air sandwich" between executives and others, the chief of answers information bottleneck, and the fear of driving collective decision-making when aiming for collaboration. This session explains how to address these if one is willing to reinvent their firm to win.

About New Era, New Culture, Change How Work is Done - "The War Inside Your Organization"

2009-05-06T15:00:00Z

Nilofer is a sought after global high-tech industry thought leader and trusted strategic advisor for companies such as Adobe, Symantec and VMWare. As Rubicon's CEO, she has built a distinguished team of fellow strategists, who collaborate with a wide range of Silicon Valley executives at client firms such as Autodesk, Cogito, Hewlett-Packard, Pinnacle, Riverside, SAP, VA Software and others. Rubicon's proprietary methodology continuously delivers significant material results to clients, driving revenue growth, market share-price and profits.

More information

Practice Your Customer Pitch

2009-04-01T17:50:00Z

During Web 2.0 Expo, five startups give their customer pitches (not their VC pitches) and get feedback. They come prepared to pitch their product as if they're meeting a potential customer at a cocktail party. They get two minutes and no slides. The panel and the attendees then give each company feedback. It's fun, but not competitive, so there's no judging or ranking.

Reinvention as an Economic Necessity

2009-02-27T02:00:00Z

On Thursday, February 26th, Nilofer Merchant will speak at The Synergos Series in Palo Alto. The Synergos Series is a monthly thought-leadership sponsored by The Hayden Group, a marketing and creative services firm specializing in product launches and marketing facelifts. The Synergos Series features Bay Area business leaders and authors in an intimate, salon setting. The Synergos Series is free to invited guests.

Niolofer will talk about Reinvention as an Economic Necessity. With businesses failing all around us, we can see that "business as usual" isn't working. We not only need new strategies to win, we need new approaches to strategy. Strategy CANNOT simply be some abstract mind-centric process that a few elite people do. Instead, it's a highly inclusive and practical activity for finding and optimizing the best ideas for reinventing oneself, one's team and one's company successfully. If you are interested in attending Nilofer's February 26th talk, email victoria@thehaydengroup.com to RSVP and get directions.

YOU! the Brand

2009-01-18T22:21:21Z

As you navigate today’s interesting economic times, and continue to ponder how to raise your profile to continue to expand in your career or find a Board seat, it's never been more important to increase your credibility and professional power. Investing in creating a Personal Brand will give you an advantage by allowing you to maximize your visibility and reputation, be a more effective leader, and feel more fulfilled in your work. The first step in creating an authentic Personal Brand is not creating a blog or setting up a page on Facebook, but understanding your own unique core strengths and values and how you can use them.

See Rubicon at SoftLetter's Marketing and Selling SaaS Seminar

2008-10-23T17:00:00Z

Bruce LaFetra http://www.rubiconconsulting.com/insight/winmarkets/bruce-lafetra/

Guest Lecturer - "Managing the High Technology Firm"

2008-05-15T00:30:00Z

Marsha Keeffer http://www.rubiconconsulting.com

Keynote: "Strategizing Your Way to The Top"

2008-04-30T20:30:00Z

Join Nilofer Merchant, CEO, Rubicon Consulting, as she debunks the myths that surround innovative thinking and shares ways everyone can think like a CEO. Nilofer will reveal why strategy happens at many levels in an organization, how to take on various roles to increase your reach throughout your career (conductor, composer, player), and why, no matter what your position in the organization, you must be the CEO of your work. She’ll talk about great strategic leaders and innovators and reveal how attendees can optimize their ability to innovate.

Keynote: "A Passion for Leadership"

2008-04-19T16:30:00Z

Passion is invariably associated with great people and great companies.

In the tech industry, Steve Jobs of Apple and Eric Schmidt of Google are examples of passionate CEOs still obsessed with the business after decades.

Do people associate you with passion? It's an infatuation, a zeal, a delight in all aspects of business and life. If you're not on fire, Nilofer Merchant, CEO, Rubicon Consulting, will share ways you can drop what stops you from being passionate. She'll discuss how to pinpoint and shed roadblocks that prevent you from moving forward, how to get out of your own way, why the facts are friendly (not fearsome), the benefits of generative listening, and assessing/improving relationships. The biggest roadblocks are the ones we hold on to. This is a highly interactive session that will benefit attendees at all leadership levels.

"We are enough. The key is knowing what to eliminate. When we learn to work from the root of who we are, we're stronger leaders, more decisive managers, and incredibly effective, knowledgeable colleagues."
Nilofer Merchant, CEO, Rubicon Consulting

Pre-conference Workshop: Becoming a Leader - Strategy Matters

2008-04-11T15:30:00Z

Marsha Keeffer http://www.rubiconconsulting.com

Keynote: "Think Like a CEO"

2008-04-04T00:30:00Z

Marsha Keeffer http://www.rubiconconsulting.com

Panel Moderator: OSs, UIs and Browsers: Where is the Technology Going?

2008-04-02T21:30:00Z

Marsha Keeffer http://www.rubiconconsulting.com