55. Financing Your Education (and yours and yours and yours): A Conversation with LeverEdge Co-Founders Nikhil Agarwal and Chris Abkarians
Release Date: 06/16/2020
120. Butterfly's Digital Revolution In Ultrasound: A Conversation with Darius Shahida
The Disruptive Voice
Five years ago, , a member of the HBS Class of 2019, to discuss how , a disruptive startup where he was employed as Chief Growth Officer, was working to revolutionize the ultrasound industry. Now, as the company's Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Business Development Officer, he joins his former BSSE professor, , to reflect on Butterfly Network's entrepreneurial journey over the last half decade. Since Darius was last on the podcast, the company has gone public; has successfully commercialized the world's first semiconductor-based, whole-body, single-probe digital ultrasound device; has...
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119. Right Kind Of Wrong: A Conversation with Amy Edmondson
The Disruptive Voice
In this episode, , sharing insights from her new book, , reminds listeners, "The most successful among us have not failed less often than the rest of us. They’ve failed more often – right kind of wrong failures." Hosted by , the two engage in a fascinating conversation covering a myriad of topics, including the origin of the idea of psychological safety; the different types of failures, and why they matter; parallels between innovation and riding a bike; and the "Sliding Doors" moments in our lives. Amy also reflects on the distinction between environments where one is there to learn...
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118. Leading Into The Age Of AI Through Fusion Strategy: A Panel Discussion
The Disruptive Voice
The promise of artificial intelligence is immense and companies that view AI as an enabler of corporate transformation can reap potentially enormous benefits in terms of both value creation and growth. In this panel discussion, hosts his colleague and co-leader in the company’s global AI practice, , along with renowned thought leaders in management and information systems, and co-authors of the forthcoming book, , and , for a wide-reaching discussion on artificial intelligence and its implications for companies. Their conversation spans the genesis and current state of AI in...
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117. Creating Pathways To Opportunity at Western Governors University: A Conversation with Scott Pulsipher
The Disruptive Voice
Higher education has long been on an unsustainable trajectory, with rising costs - and subsequent debt passed on to students - hindering the ability of many to get ahead. In this episode of The Disruptive Voice, education author and researcher, , hosts fellow Harvard Business School alumnus , President of (WGU). Among many topics, the two discuss how the accredited, non-profit university is disrupting traditional models of higher education through its online, competency-based model. A long-time friend of Clayton Christensen's, Scott shares how Clay’s frameworks have been instrumental...
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116. Four Companies Creating a Market for Solar Energy in Nigeria: A Conversation with Efosa Ojomo and Sandy Sanchez
The Disruptive Voice
Last June, and were on the podcast to discuss the process of market creation - discovery, distribution, and democratization - and specifically, as it applied to . In this new episode, they return to the recording studio to share with us specific examples of four companies that are getting it right. , co-founded by HBS alumnus , highlights successful employment of an emergent rather than deliberate strategy; illustrates benefits drawn from a clear understanding of customers' Jobs To Be Done; exemplifies the strength of pull (as opposed to push) strategies in emerging markets;...
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115. Build The Life You Want: A Conversation with Arthur Brooks and Karen Dillon
The Disruptive Voice
teaches a popular course at Harvard Business School called “Leadership and Happiness.” One important underpinning of the course is that science can help us to better understand what will actually make us happier – and Arthur has worked hard to incorporate these concepts into his own life. Recently, he teamed up with to write "." In those pages, they consider a number of thought-provoking questions, including “How can we mobilize our lives toward greater happiness? How do we translate ideas about happiness into action? And how do we take control of our present and our future?”...
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114. The Role of Senior Executives in Leading New Growth Initiatives: A Conversation with Robyn Bolton
The Disruptive Voice
The Business Model Framework draws an important distinction between a company's Priorities (that is, its Value Proposition and Profit Formula) and its Capabilities. Regarding the latter, which are more effective drivers of corporate innovation – Processes or Resources? The answer to this question, of course, depends on an organization's circumstances and strategic goals. Specifically, in circumstances where companies are pursuing growth via sustaining opportunities, a company's Processes are key. However, in circumstances where companies are pursuing potentially disruptive opportunities,...
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113. The Capitalist's Dilemma: A Conversation with Derek van Bever
The Disruptive Voice
"In our view, the crux of the problem is that investments in different types of innovation affect economies (and companies) in very different ways – but are evaluated using the same (flawed) metrics. Specifically, financial markets – and companies themselves – use assessment metrics that make innovations that eliminate jobs more attractive than those that create jobs.” This quote comes from the 2014 HBR article that Clayton Christensen and co-authored, entitled . As you’ll hear in this conversation, the article is as relevant today as it was when it was first published nearly a...
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112. The Microstress Effect: A Conversation with Rob Cross and Karen Dillon
The Disruptive Voice
Clayton Christensen, in a , while drawing on insights from , said, "The way we invest our time and energy and talents (sometimes) causes us to implement a strategy that we wouldn't at all plan to pursue." Now, his co-author on that book, , has partnered with to write , which she views as a sort of companion book to How Will You Measure Your Life. Specifically, while her work with Clay sets forth important frameworks for thinking about the decisions that we make in our lives, including the longer term consequences of our choices, The Microstress Effect helps readers to...
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111. Creating a Market for Solar Energy in Nigeria: A Conversation with Efosa Ojomo
The Disruptive Voice
Nigeria is home to the largest energy deficit in the world. What can be done to address the striking level of energy poverty in the country? Clayton Christensen used to say that good theory helps us to explain the world but that great theory helps us to transform it. With this in mind, co-author with Clay of , , joins host to consider the application of the frameworks to the energy sector in Nigeria, using them as lenses through which to assess the adoption – or lack thereof – of solar energy in the country. Solutions to many of the current energy sector challenges in Nigeria lie in...
info_outlineWhen Nikhil Agarwal and Chris Abkarians were admitted to the Harvard Business School MBA Class of 2020, neither of them could have guessed that their efforts to negotiate on the price of their student loans would be transformed into a viable new venture. However, before they had even set foot on campus, they had saved themselves and around 700 of their peers an average of $15,000 each on their student loans. Realizing the potential of their efforts, Nikhil and Chris co-founded LeverEdge to further develop their model, using group buying power to negotiate better student loan rates with lenders. In this episode of The Disruptive Voice, Anibha Singh hosts Nikhil and Chris for a discussion on the structure of the student loan industry, how LeverEdge fits into that space, the flow of information throughout the lending and borrowing process, and the costs and benefits of using government or private loans to finance an education. We encourage our listeners to reach out to Chris and Nikhil if you'd like to be involved with LeverEdge or are looking for an exciting career opportunity!