Stranova

Stranova Strategic Edge, Vol. 7, Published April 3, 2006. "The 20 Year Syndrome: Why Some Initially-Successful Companies Don't Survive Past their 20th Anniversary". Back in the 1970s, a major study of modern business concluded that most corporations can’t survive past twenty years of existence. It also concluded further that – even if the corporate name were to live on – the only way a corporation could survive is by drastically changing the nature of its business, so much so that you’d never recognize it if you were part of the original founding group. In this episode of Stranova Strategic Edge, we explore some of the factors that may contribute to the early demise of corporations, even when they initially achieve significant success. Listen to learn what some critical pitfalls are, with examples of three of the most prominent companies today in the computer industry, and what you can do to make it past your 20 year anniversary.

Stranova Vol. 17, published March 27, 2006. "The Global Earth Observation System of Systems", with NOAA Administrator Retired Vice-Admiral Conrad Lautenbacher, Jr. In this episode, we talk about the “Global Earth Observation System of Systems”, a massive project linking together over 60 countries and 40 international agencies to link together both ground-based and airborne environmental monitoring systems to keep track of the world’s vital signs on a real-time basis. It is potentially the single most ambitious strategic innovation ever, linking sensors, computers and people together in an attempt to help guide global environmental policy, enhance worldwide environmental predictive capabilities, and prevent the major loss of life catastrophies such as the massive Indian Ocean tsunami unleashed on the world in December of 2004.

Stranova Strategic Edge, Vol. 6, Published March 20, 2006. Computers have for many years been designed with a “brute force” approach to handling more and more complex problems, leveraging the ready availability of faster and more complex microprocessors without making any fundamental change in the way they go about their computing tasks. In this episode, we explore how new theories in how the mind functions may change the future face of computing in a fundamental new way, and may even change forever the way you think...about the way you think.

Stranova Vol. 16, published March 13, 2006. “Stikipad & the New Wave of Internet Businesses", with Stikipad founders Jonathan George and Matthew DeWaal. The “Dot Com” bubble may have exploded in the face of some investors, but the Internet business boom is only just getting started. This week our guests talk about their new web business, Stikipad, based around the concept of the wiki, an online tool that allows groups to collaborate in ways they never thought of before. Listen in and learn how the new generation of internet businesses are being formed, from two of its newest and creative leaders.

Stranova Strategic Edge, Vol. 5, Published March 6, 2006. The deadly Avian Flu strain H5N1 has spread rapidly since its first major appearance back in 2003. Some estimates suggest that over 200 million birds worldwide may have the virus, and the disease is beginning to make small leaps to infect people as well. In this episode of Stranova Strategic Edge, we provide insight as to where and how the virus is spreading, plus its implications on the worldwide poultry industry, the pharmaceutical industry, and us as a human species as well.

Stranova Vol. 15, published February 27, 2006. “Cross-Company Mentoring for Women Executives”, with Menttium CEO Lynn Sontag. Having a strong mentor consistently comes up as one of the most important factors in any business individual achieving long-term success. Menttium’s programs help rising women executives connect with outstanding mentors from across company lines, while helping develop both mentors and “mentee” in the process. Listen and learn how this unusual program works, and why you might want to get involved – in your business, as a mentor, or as a “mentee”.

Stranova Strategic Edge, Vol. 4, Published February 20, 2006. The estimated $50 billion computer animation industry is changing rapidly from being a predominantly U.S.-dominated business to one growing successfully all over the world. In this episode, we examine the forces that have made this possible, through a consideration of history and an examination of the strategic dependencies which have enabled overseas computer graphics businesses to grow and take significant market share in this now truly international business.

Stranova Vol. 14, February 13, 2006. Our guest this episode is Mr. Joel Hodroff, CEO and Founder of DualCurrency Systems, an innovative venture that allows people to "trade” items like frequent flyer miles and health care benefits in a new kind of business network. Through the concept of Universal Reward Systems, with Mr. Hodroff’s concepts in place, consumers will soon be easily able to trade “non-cash” currencies like unused tuition credits offered to university employees, credit card “rewards” points, and “frequent stay” points at hotels, in a unique program that links together the consumers and vendors in a unique cooperative network. Listen to this week’s podcast and learn why Mr. Hodroff was selected as a 2005 “Innovator of the Year” by Finance and Commerce magazine.

Stranova Strategic Edge, Vol. 3, Published February 6, 2006. Now that the first complete documentation of the Human Genome structure is in place, the pharmaceutical and medical industries are rushing to leverage this incredible database to cure previously incurable diseases and enhance our overall way of life. This episode explores some of the roots of and forward-looking implications of this work, both for the medical industry and for the benefit of all of mankind as well. As part of our "global dialog" on business strategy, we also invite you to comment on this episode on our blog at blog.stranova.com.

Stranova Vol. 13, January 30, 2006. This week our guest is Peter Goldsbury, coordinator of the Tipu Ake team, from New Zealand. In this episode, we explore the concept of Tipu Ake ki te Ora: "growing from within ever upwards towards wellbeing", the basis for an "organic" leadership model for innovative organizations that itself derives from the Maori concept of "wellbeing": "a high state of balance with the earth and all its richness". Listen and learn how this more wholistic "organic" approach to innovation works, and what it could mean for you.

Stranova Strategic Edge, Vol. 2, Published January 23, 2006. As broadband and wireless internet services become more widely available, the related "WiFi" wireless antennae covering much larger distances, cities across the world setting up large-scale "free" wireless computer networks, and bandwidths of these connections dramatically increasing, the telecommunications industry is feeling the impacts as well. Through what is known as "Voice Over Internet Protocol", consumers now have many new and significantly less expensive alternatives to more traditional voice communications services such as cellular and "landline" telephone systems. That this is a "hot topic" is no question. From January 24th to January 27th, 2006, in fact, possibly as many as 18,000 people may be attending this year's Internet Telephony Conference & Expo East, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. And radical shifts in the industry from one direction or another, whether from new technologies to support the industry or new distributors of t

Stranova Vol. 12, January 16, 2006. This episode of Stranova features guest Jenny Ward, CEO of Playward, on how her company brings “play” … and creativity… back into our Corporate Lives. There's two ways to explore this episode of Stranova: as an insight into how one unique entrepreneur has found a way to bring “play” back into what we normally think of as “work”, and as a key to how something we all do -- and is “right in front of our face” -- just might be the path to your next new business.

Stranova Strategic Edge, Vol. 1, Published January 8, 2006. It’s been tried with limited degrees of success before, but 2006 looks to be the year when a very “tight” integration of home entertainment media and the internet will indeed come to pass. Our Mini Podcast explores the strategic innovations that prepared the foundations for what is beginning to emerge, and points to where this may lead in the future.

Stranova Vol. 11, Published January 2, 2006, features Jeff Spahn, developer of the "Leaders Leading Leaders" consulting practice, on changing the way we as leaders work with each other - in a new and innovative way. For the those of us who learned leadership as a relationship where “we lead” and “they follow”, this episode points to a much needed and challenging approach to leadership. Our most important role as leaders is in harnessing the collective will of our leadership “teams” to guide co-creation of the future of whatever organization we're a part of. Jeff Spahn's “Leaders Leading Leaders” concepts can help show you how to start your own business revolution.

Stranova Vol. 10, Published December 18, 2005, features Santa and Mrs. Claus, in an exclusive interview direct from the North Pole. For this episode of Stranova, you'll have the rare opportunity to hear the original "entrepreneurs" behind "The Christmas Business" share how it all began and their challenges in the modern marketplace. With a fascinating perspective, from their original invention of North Pole, Inc.'s first "Christmas Gift" to today's intense competition from mega-stores and the internet, their interview is a "Must Hear" event!

Stranova Vol. 9, Published December 4, 2005, features guest Jeffrey Hollender, the CEO, President, and Founder of Seventh Generation, Inc., provider of some of the world's most trusted environmentally responsible and safe products for the home, including laundry detergent, paper towels, dish liquids, and household cleaners. In this episode, you'll learn how Seventh Generation proves it's possible to be a strong leader in Corporate Social Responsibility while growing rapidly and even increasing margins year after year.

Stranova Vol. 8, published November 21st, 2005, features guests Ann Swanberg and Chris Miller, co-founders of LifePlays, a business created to help transform groups and individuals through the power of Improvisation. For those who have experienced "Improv" mostly through the "comedy' side, we urge you to "tune in" to this episode -- to experience how the same Improv principles used in "stand-up" can help you work together more effectively as a business team and more authentically connect with your "gut" to be an even stronger leader.

Stranova Vol. 7, published November 7, 2005, features guest Dr. Raymond Yeh discussing his “big dream” for an “Enterprise Clinic” aimed at helping startup companies all over the world — and especially in emerging economies — not only launch strongly but to grow even stronger as they mature. Dr. Yeh is a unique business visionary with an extensive career in the fields of computer science, business creation, business reinvention, and education. He has published over 120 papers in business and technology as well as 10 books, and is the acclaimed author of Zero Time and the 2005 business bestseller, The Art of Business.

Stranova 6, October 24, 2005. "The New Voice of Business". Our guest is Elliot Hoffman, the founder of the popular "Just Desserts" chain of restaurants/stores in the San Francisco Bay Area, is now after an even bigger challenge: organizing business people and their organizations to transform the world -- in the areas of energy, economic policy, and other broader roles for business as a social force in the 21st century.

Stranova 5, October 11, 2005. This time we're discussing "Opportunistic Entrepreneurship" with guest Susyn Reeve, who has made a career out of listening for the opportunities in the "ordinary" and turning them into a continuing string of successful ventures. Does the process of launching a business and turning it into a success always have to be a herculean effort? Not always, it seems. Our guest this episode has done it with a continuously reinvented consulting practice, a deceptively simple Internet business (www.CelebrateAHero.com) that shows how you don't always need "big money" to make a big splash, and even a career as a successful author and lecturer.