Built for Change - Straight Talk from Leading Global Executives

Promoting diversity is not simply a task on the corporate agenda. Anders Dahlvig explains how IKEA broke the glass ceiling and made enormous strides toward gender diversity.

To gain a real competitive edge, leaders must sometimes buck international trends and take big risks. Anders Dahlvig explains how navigating the road not taken can bring great success to a business and set it apart from the competition.

A strong commitment to social and environmental issues can set a business apart from the rest of the pack. Anders Dahlvig emphasizes that while promoting this agenda is always good for the reputation, it can also be beneficial for the bottom line.

Making the transition from an entrepreneurial venture to global corporation is a difficult process, but as Anders Dahlvig shares, all you really to move toward a centralized organization are a definitive goal and a timeline.

When implementing a long-term strategy, connecting the overall vision with day-to-day operations is essential. Anders Dahlvig explains how setting such a strategy can provide for a comprehensive plan while creating a sense of stability.

Consumers today are concerned not only with the physical attributes of the product in front of them, but also with the manner in which that product was produced. Dr. Victor Fung shares how consumer demands inform every aspect of business.

In the case of Li & Fung, extending the supply chain means incorporating design services into the manufacturing process. Dr. Victor Fung explains the competitive edge gained by expanding services.

To minimize costs Dr. Victor Fung looks at lowering costs within the supply chain rather than in production.

Globalizing operations is a growth opportunity that many leaders will undertake. But William Fung reminds leaders that the challenges of this endeavor should never be tackled alone.

If necessity is the mother of invention, then changes in the market are the precursors to corporate reinvention. William Fung expounds on this concept of reinvention and reminds leaders that a systematic approach allows business to regiment the manner in which they foresee these changes and strategically tackle them.

Innovative disruption can give a company the shot in the arm it needs to gain market leadership. K. Vaman Kamath illustrates this principle as it applies to consumer credit and finance.

Time is money, and K. Vaman Kamath shares how to make a culture of speed in innovation pay off.

No single type of technology is right for every company, as K. Vaman Kamath shows. In a leap of faith, his organization embraced a highly successful alternative solution.

In the experience of K. Vaman Kamath, if you can provide better customer service at a low cost, consumers will seek you out.

For K. Vaman Kamath, technology is the key element in accessing new markets, as he illustrates in this example on globalization.

Manoj Kohli explains how outsourcing played a key role in inventing a business model that would allow his company to focus on its strengths and rise to great heights despite extreme funding challenges.

One of the best ways to grow a company is through collaboration with customers and partners. Manoj Kohli describes how his company has successfully done this and reflects on the critical areas of a successful collaboration.

Just because a company is young or small doesn't mean it can't achieve great success. Manoj Kohli explains the varied strategies his company has used to achieve significant success in just 13 years.

The culture of a company, its DNA, goes a long way toward dictating how successful the company can become. Manoj Kohli describes the entrepreneurial spirit and the culture that leads to success.

Disruptions and challenges are commonplace in business. How you respond—and how you turn those disruptions into opportunities—makes all the difference between being an also-ran and being tops. Manoj Kohli steers you through the murky waters of disruption to the clear shores of opportunity.

Yuehong Fu shares a creativity strategy for opening a new shopping in mall in a developing economy and explains how shared risk enabled the mall to ultimately thrive during challenging times.

To rise above the rest, leaders must meet the challenge of how to stand out in their industry. Yuehong Fu reminds leaders that harnessing the ability to set a business apart from the pack can bring amazing results not only for a business but also its valued client base.

Capitalizing on technology can allow a business to better manage its day-to-day operations, as well as plot out its future development. Yuehong Fu reminds leaders of the the varied values that technological innovation can bring to the table.

In a market with limitations, diversification helps to make the most of opportunities. Ravi Kant illustrates how Tata Motors diversified to stay competitive.

Using a new perspective to design a product makes innovative disruption possible. Ravi Kant demonstrates this concept by explaining the birth of the Nano.

Mergers and acquisitions are an inorganic way to grow a business in a global economy, as Ravi Kant explains.

Phenomenal growth in India is creating more opportunities every day. Ravi Kant shares how to create and take advantage of a positive attitude toward change.

Companies do not exist in isolation, as Ravi Kant highlights. What is gained from a society must be put back into the society.