Conversations & Insights
Ready to reshape the landscape of corporate growth with a human touch?
Methodology
To foster a more interpersonal exchange rather than traditional interviews, we opted for a partnership approach, allowing us to engage in conversations with our interviewees in a more collaborative manner, utilizing our facilitation skills. These are the main 3 questions/areas we explored in each conversation.
1. Fostering Successful DEI in External Partnerships
How do you ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in partnership-building with external companies, and what elements contribute to its success?
2. Strategic Partner Selection
What parameters guide partner selection, focusing on diversity, size, values, and benefits for involved stakeholders, and how do you measure partner interest, especially among smaller, impactful organizations?
3. Measuring Impact, Mission Alignment & Sustainable Growth
How do companies measure impact and maintain alignment with their mission while expanding reach, and what principles shape sustainable business models and client relationships, including considerations for growth within companies?
Critical Insights
Activation of our values within our agency
Spectrum of growth
Value perception linked to personal investment
Strive for inclusive accountability in corporate vertices
Reciprocity- As humans, we connect through values
Validation of assumptions about prioritizing profit in terms of growth in current consultancy landscapes
Dialogues
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TNS Instructor, Program Advisor & Coordinator of External Engagement Studio
Our conversation delves into the exchange of intangible values across emotional, societal, functional, social, and psychological dimensions, exploring their connection to individual needs. It emphasizes strategic designers' grasp and application of their internal values within and beyond their professional scope, activating and manifesting these values. Moreover, it investigates how those trained in Strategic Design and Management (SDM) integrate and refine their values within larger, traditional organizations, aiming to infuse their learned values effectively into these environments.
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TNS Assistant Professor
In the interview, the discussion focused on the reciprocal influence of values and the role of individuals in shaping these values. It explored the driving forces behind mindsets and emphasized understanding how values are activated, influencing behavior, and the methods of externalizing them, including the challenge of measuring their impact. Additionally, the conversation highlighted the importance of listening with openness, encouraging a reciprocal environment where everyone is invited to listen openly and contribute.
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Associate Dean + Assistant Professor
"Skin in the game" implies that people value what they invest in. In business, employee commitment and perception of value often align with the salaries they receive for their work on projects. Essentially, the level of investment or compensation significantly influences their dedication and perceived value in a business setting.
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Senior Direction Innovation Center
Larger companies, despite their abundant resources, often succumb to uniformity in their approaches. In these organizations, the sheer volume of projects can impact the level of personal investment, potentially hindering productivity and meaningful connections as profit and efficiency take precedence. The concept of being identifiable within such a structure can be both advantageous and disadvantageous, depending on how it aligns with one's goals and objectives.
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Director, DEED Research Lab
Understanding the core vertices of a corporation involves delving into its essence and striving for an ideal center. Achieving this involves multifaceted considerations. Holding the company accountable to its mission entails introspection and concrete actions that align with stated objectives. Finding ways to measure impact positively becomes crucial, as does ensuring accountability without falling into performative actions.
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Director, Accenture Innovation Hub
Growth, a multifaceted concept, encompasses various meanings and measurement metrics. For Accenture, profitability takes precedence in its growth strategy as a public company, with revenue closely following suit, showcasing consistent sales momentum. The cost-effectiveness of securing new projects from existing clients outweighs onboarding entirely new clients. This approach underscores the importance of clients being considered 'worth the effort,' emphasizing the significance of nurturing existing client relationships for sustained business expansion.
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Parsons MS SDM Student
Partnership tensions often stem from fake promises, poor communication, and distant relationships. Successful collaborations thrive on reciprocal appreciation, clear expectations, and understanding vulnerabilities. During onboarding, clarity in communication and acknowledging each other's strengths is crucial. Strategies like workshops or games, such as using 'magic wand' exercises, effectively shape mindsets. Understanding diverse interpretations of terms like 'inclusivity' emphasizes the need to explore personal meanings. Community building and team cohesion remain pivotal in fostering strong partnerships.