The future of the aviation industry has a whole new concept to it and not only will the economy benefit, but the ecosystem will also see some major value from it. Electric planes and taxis have been an idea for decades but it is now showing to make some major leeway into actually happening. Both U.S and European companies are racing to launch their electric airplanes to see who can turn a profit first. European airline, Easy-Jet is anticipated to introduce a nine-passenger prototype that will fly next year. While Uber has the hopes to start promoting their flying taxis by 2023. However, will these companies be able to meet these ambitious launch dates? Read More>>
Monthly Archives: March 2019
What Makes a Successful Startup Team
Many entrepreneurial experts claim that the key for running a successful startup lies in the previous experience from its team members. However, despite this 60% of startups still, fail due to problems within the team. Eva de Mol author for the Harvard Business Review wanted to dig into some further research to help find out what it takes for new ventures to succeed. From her research, she was able to find that prior startup experience, product knowledge, and industry skills do not actually help predict the success of a new venture. Instead, it is a shared passion and vision for the startups carried out by its team members. Read More>>
As Your Team Gets Bigger, Your Leadership Style Has to Adapt
In the workplace, the strategy used when managing small teams versus managing larger teams can vary vastly. Julie Zhuo, Vice President of design at Facebook slowly started to realize this during meetings when slowly but surely, there were not enough seats for everyone nor was there enough time for everyone individually to present their ideas anymore. As Zhuo’s schedule started to become more hectic and her design team continued to grow she knew she must implement some changes into her management strategies. Zhou had to place much more trust into her employees, accept that perfectionism was not an option anymore and keep communication clear, concise and uplifting to her staff. Although it can be difficult and tedious changing your management strategies will ultimately help the organization massively improve as well, as make yourself a stronger more effective leader. Read More>>
How Much Does Innovation Drive Economic Growth?
Productivity as defined in the article, How Much Does Innovation Drive Economic Growth? is the amount of value a company creates per dollar of investment or hour of worker labor. This has been seen to grow rapidly since the late 1800’s and has been positively reflected through the U.S economic growth. Workweeks and hours for employees are decreasing, while their wages are increasing. However, there is no clear reasoning as to why this productivity in the workforce has developed. Kellogg professor of finance Dimitris Papanikolaou was eager to find out. Innovation is usually measured through the study of patents but, Papanikolaou wanted to take this research a step further and look at the actual context as it compares to the quality of the patent. Through this research, Papanikolaou believes that it will not only help measure innovation but also help to answer a heavily debated question of whether or not this prolonged increase of productivity the U.S has maintained is now starting to slow down. Read More>>
Five Lessons from a Venture Capitalist with a Long-Term Focus
As more and more businesses and individuals look to invest in the next big idea that can be translated into a unicorn company with huge scale-ability and profit potential, the startup market has become saturated with investors. Often these investors follow red herring companies to limited success and limited returns. Gopi Rangan, adjunct professor of Entrepreneurship for INSEAD Business School, breaks down the logic that has led his friend and mentor, Oren Zeev, to success as a venture capitalist. These are the five tried and true rules for any venture capitalist to live by. Read more>>
NASA Prepares for First Ever Female Spacewalk
In the latest of a series of firsts for women in STEM, March 29th of this year will see the first all-female extravehicular spacewalk. Timed perfectly to coincide with Women’s History Month, the seven-hour walk will be carried out by NASA’s Anne McClain and Christina Koch on the International Space Station. Coordinating the walk from the ground will be a crew of all female scientists. The walk gains special significance in the fact that McClain and Koch are both part of the NASA astronaut class of 2013, which was the first ever to have an equal number of men and women. This is another landmark in the history of women in space, a legacy that began in 1984 with cosmonaut Svetlana Savitskaya becoming the first woman ever to do a spacewalk. This is an exciting step in the continuation of the reduction gender imbalance in space exploration and bodes well for the future of extraterrestrial expeditions. Read more>>
The Downside of Transparent Decision Making
When making decisions within a company, upper management wants its employees to be transparent about what they think about a situation. Being up front and honest has always been a huge factor in creating a strong organizational culture. However, according to a pair of Kellogg School researcher’s transparency does not always allow for company’s employees to be completely honest and open about their thoughts. Instead, sometimes having private conversation and “backroom discussions” can often be more beneficial for getting employees to share information. Read More>>
Defining Growth Design: The Guide to the Role Most Startups are Missing
In Defining Growth Design: The Guide to the Role Most Startups Are Missing, Angel Steger Dropbox’s current director of growth and design highlights the apparent need for companies to have a growth and development department. Although it is very important to have such a department during the beginning stages of a company, it is also extremely vital throughout the maturity of a company. Creating innovative products and services in the beginning is what creates success and, sustaining this innovation is what keeps a company successful. Read More>>
AirAsia Targets Startups With New Venture Capital Fund
The latest in a number of airlines that are seeking to diversify their portfolios, AirAsia has started a fund called RedBeat Capital to provide seed money to burgeoning businesses. Sean O’Neal of Skift.com describes how the company is following the examples of JetBlue Technology Ventures and the unsuccessful Qantas AVRO Accelerator Program in its bifurcation of its focus into new and promising businesses. Whether the motivation for this venture capital fund comes from a desire to boost revenue, boost innovation within their cultures, or to insulate themselves from the uncertainties of the market through diversification, it is an undisputedly interesting and savvy move on the part of the Asian budget airline. Read more>>
The Ten Stages of Successful Strategic Alliances
Businesses may enter into alliances for the purpose of realizing any one of the dozens of benefits that these partnerships offer. Offer, that is, when executed successfully. Paul Sanders of INSEAD.edu details the different considerations that are pertinent to the selection of a successful alliance partner — many of which are not far off from the considerations taken into account when selecting a spouse. Successful relationships and successful alliances are not scenarios where you settle for your second choice of partner. They require maintenance and commitment to success by both involved parties. They require demonstrations of devotion and deep ties between alliance members. The parallels continue. How can businesses find and lock down “the one” to attain all of the full benefits of partnership? Read more>>
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