June sure was busting out all over!

Thought Sparks Wrap Up — June 2024

If that reference sounds obscure, it’s from an old Rogers & Hammerstein musical that I was taken to as a child and every June, I simply cannot get it out of my head. It’s a pretty good metaphor for June of 2024 for me as well.

If it’s the 25th, I must be … where?

Novartis is sponsoring a state-of-the-art project on culture — I’m delighted to be part of it. It’s called the C-Lab, for Culture Leadership Advisory Board. The group is fascinating — a combination of internal Novartis leaders and subject matter experts such as Amy Edmondson, Lisa Bodell, Darren Shand (recently of the New Zealand All-Blacks), Linda Hill, Vyla Rollins, Sanyin Siang and Jean-Francoise Manzoni. We’re looking at ways in which Novartis’ four key cultural values — of being inspired, curious and unbossed with a rock-solid basis in integrity — can move the company forward. We got together in real life in Basel in June. First week of bursting! Aren’t we a good-looking research community?

The second week of June brought another session of Leading Strategic Growth and Change, my Executive Education course at Columbia Business School. 26 industry leaders convened to work through their organizations’ strategic roadblocks. We had a slate of fascinating guest speakers, including my…