We look forward to welcoming you to Boston for an immersive experience, in which you will engage with experts, collaborate with peers, and delve into the creative work of envisioning the future of ADB. This is a unique opportunity to come together, ask hard questions, and think about what really matters. Please take a moment to prepare for your journey by downloading required readings and setting expectations with coworkers about your absence during August 28-September 1.
Recommended Readings:
- Heifetz, R., A. Grashow, and M. Lipsky. (2009). The Practice of Adaptive Leadership. Harvard Business Press.
- Martin Linsky and Ronald Heifetz (2017). Leadership on the Line. HBR Press.
- Ebrahim, Alnoor. (2019). Measuring Social Change: Performance and Accountability in a Complex World. Click here to view a brief summary.
Download Pre-Readings for the Airplane
In this program, you will complete an intensive leadership training, focused on the specific skills required to navigate organizations and societies through major transformation, whether it’s crisis, social reform, or fundamental strategic change. Our leadership and strategy sessions are interactive and fast-paced. We will use the case method and engage in hands-on strategic analysis.
Please note that Reading #3 (Language and Globalization) is a purchased Harvard Business Case and must be obtained using the special link below. Please use the link once to register for your copy of the case.
Before you arrive, please complete three required readings:
For Monday: “No Trust in Miracles”
Case Study on Leading Through a Water Crisis in Cape Town
Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative (Case 0032TC, 2021). 15 pages.
Guiding Questions: (your opinion will be asked!)
- What are the top 3 challenges facing De Lille?
- How has she addressed each challenge?
- What are her main strengths as a leader? What does she do well?
- What do you see as her main weaknesses? Why?
- Can you relate to De Lille? Do you see any of her in yourself?
For Wednesday: “Measuring Social Change”
Measuring Social Change: Performance and Accountability in a Complex World, Alnoor Ebrahim, 2019, Stanford University Press.
Please read the Introduction and Chapter 1, with special attention to “Linking Measurement to Strategy” (pp. 25-31)
For Thursday: “Englishnization at Rakuten”
Harvard Business Case 2013 (per person access)
Language and Globalization: Englishnization at Rakuten
This case was purchased for you from Harvard Business School. Please use the link provided to register to receive access of your copy of the case. You will be asked to provide your name and basic details, and the PDF will be made available for your download and individual use. Please do not share this link with others, as there is a limited number of case copies purchased for this cohort.
Please come prepared to discuss the following questions; we will launch immediately into a discussion:
- Is “Englishnization” a good idea for Rakuten? Why is Mikitani doing this?
- What is Mikitani’s strategy for executing this transformation? Is it a good strategy?
- Analyze the survey results in Exhibit 3. How are staff experiencing the new mandate? How does this compare to the current climate at ADB?
- What do you think will determine whether managers and staff embrace or reject the new mandate and new way of working at Rakuten? At ADB?
- What 1 or 2 actions can you take to help your teams embrace the changes at ADB?
Activate your Email Auto-Response
The Envision Program is an immersive full-day program. You will be asked to participate actively in sessions and workshops, to examine complex problems in real-time, and to bring your expertise to the table as we discuss the current challenges facing Asia and the Pacific. Your acumen and engagement are essential.
We recommend communicating with immediate collaborators and direct reports before you travel to ensure that they understand that you will not be available during Aug 28-Sept 1, and that they feel prepared for the week. If appropriate, you may find it helpful to activate an auto-response in your email.
Additional Resources on Leadership
There is a vast amount of research on leadership best practices, which can help you navigate challenging times in your management of teams and your partnership with DMCs in their high-level strategic work.
Below are some of the resources that we recommend for leaders of large organizations:
Relevant for Monday’s work:
- “The Work of Leadership,” R. Heifetz and D. Laurie (December 2001), Harvard Business Review.
- “Cross-Silo Leadership,” T. Casciaro, A. C. Edmondson, and S. Jang (2019), Harvard Business Review.
- “The Role of Psychological Safety,” A. Edmondson (2019). Leader to Leader.
- “Introduction,” The Culture Code: Secrets of Highly Successful Teams, Daniel Coyle. Random House. 2018.
Relevant for Thursday’s work:
- “Leading Change: Why Transformation Efforts Fail,” J. Kotter (1995), Harvard Business Review
- “Leader-as-Architect: Alignment,” E. Bernstein, R. Raffaelli, J. Margolis (2014), Harvard Business Publishing