The Uncommonly
Pragmatic Blog
Digital Strategy
Excelling during extraordinary times: 12 tips for catalysts and change makers
2023 is already shaping up to be another year of the unexpected, and pressure to anticipate and adapt. Economic uncertainty, a redefined talent marketplace, political and social instability, extreme weather events and other circumstances are among the changes creating the possibility that leaders will ride roller coasters on top of earthquakes – or at least…
How Corporate Managers Smother New Tech Adoption
One of the most fun and inspiring endeavors I’ve undertaken in my post-corporate life has been to advise select early-stage companies, portfolio managers and accelerators. Startups need lots of marketing advice, especially early on when there may not be a CMO on board. As a result, my work often involves defining audience targeting strategy and…
Is Your Next Innovation Underfunded?
One afternoon on the eve of the Great Recession, I was a panelist at an innovation and design event in New York City. The timing was ironic, to say the least. I can still remember the climate of doom that day and throughout Fall 2007. There was lots of whispering in the hallways of Corporate…
Anticipate, Adapt, Listen
The week’s big NYC headline was Amazon’s decision to establish a Queens headquarters. What a difference a decade makes. During my days as a Long Island City-based Citibanker, friends saw being based there as a form of exile, even though the views were (and still are) are far superior to those of anyone working in…
Tips on Influence for Change Makers
I recently taped this Facebook Live interview on the Human Intelligence channel to talk about influence, and how the ability to win people over or just get them to consider a viewpoint you feel matters makes a difference. For change makers, who are trying to influence a diverse peer group to invest personal or hard-dollar…
Tips for Product Managers Enabling Innovation
In this just-released interview with podcast host Mike Fishbein we talk about how the lessons that came out of my research for The Change Maker’s Playbook applies to Product Managers — we talk about how to spot the right talent, kick bad habits, be more resourceful — and many other topics that have been road-tested…
The Incredible Experience of Failure: One Founder’s Story
With its founding in 2015, Civil Co. set out to curb online harassment and abuse with a novel combination of technology and behavioral science. By integrating human moderation into how content was submitted, Civil Co. created large-scale online communities that were essentially abuse-free. The company delivered this innovation through the experience of a real-time peer…
Reframing Metrics to Enable Innovation
According to the Gartner 2018 CEO and Senior Business Executive Survey, respondents who believe their company is an “innovation pioneer” reached a high last year of 41 percent, up from 27 percent in 2013. Responders are taking some measure of credit for moving their organizations ahead of competitors in the race for growth and relevance….
How to avoid being swallowed by the mar-tech solutions vortex
Thanks to Scott Brinker at chiefmartech.com for sharing the 2017 Marketing Technology Supergraphic. I appreciate every year seeing the updated technology landscapes along with the insights and commentary provided by Luma Partners. If you are having trouble making out any of the details, it’s not your eyesight. Over 5000 companies are included on the landscape,…
What Happens to Insurance When We Can All Foresee Our Own Risks?
In a recent New York Times story, New Gene Test Poses Threat to Insurers, reporter Gina Kolata describes how data transparency and availability are disrupting underwriting for long term care insurance. Kolata discusses how this product, challenged for years by inaccurate claims forecasting and sky-high pricing, faces further threat of adverse selection — as a…
Amy is a leader who is demanding and relentless in the pursuit of the great.
In The Change Maker’s Playbook she shares her philosophy and methods to transform ‘out-there’ ideas into new real world business models that can change businesses’ growth trajectories and how brands engage with their customers.
Kahina Van Dyke
Global Head, Digital Channels & Client Data Analytics; Standard Chartered Bank Board Member, Progressive Insurance