Blog Elektroniker
By Tim Leberecht - August 9, 2009
Our promised series on “Meaning-Driven Business” is taking shape. After introducing the concept of “Chief Meaning Officer” in the “Power” issue of design mind, we are going to formally launch this new forum in our upcoming special TEDGlobal issue (to be released on September 21) as well as on a special micro-site to be launched in a couple of weeks.
For the first round of essays, we are delighted to have received contributions from three industry and thought leaders: Beth Comstock, chief marketing officer of GE and one of the world's most influential Fortune 50 marketing executives, will take the economic crisis as an opportunity to make the case for marketing-driven innovation. Werner Bauer, Nestle's chief technology officer and head of innovation, will describe his company’s concept of “Shared Value” and how it enables a more socially responsible business. And Dev Patnaik, founder and chief executive of innovation consultancy Jump Associates and author of the book Wired to Care, will illustrate how “high-empathy organizations” of all kinds prosper when they tap into a power each of us already has: the ability to reach outside of ourselves and connect with other people. Stay tuned!
The conversation is continuing in other outlets, too, and some pundits want “meaning” to not only be an abstract concept, but a movement. Economist Umair Haque is one of them. His "Generation M (as in “meaning”) Manifesto" stirred some controversial reactions (just read the comments on his blog) – from unconditional endorsement to accusations of arrogance and naiveté. It is one out of many manifestos that have recently been published on the new “new economy” – this, too, is a sign of the times. Manifestos indicate an increased need for ideological alternatives – and meaning.
Blog Elektroniker
By Tim Leberecht - June 28, 2009
Several blog posts this week, combined, pinpoint what are arguably the two most influential trajectories for the impact of communication technologies on business these days: from real-time web to real-time business, and from social media to social business design.
Blog Elektroniker
By Tim Leberecht - May 13, 2009
I'm still processing the many great insights from the next09 conference in Hamburg, one of Europe's leading digital/creative/marketing forums. This year's theme was "Share Economy," and the 1,300 attendees consisted of European VCs and angel investors, web 2.0 entrepreneurs, media, creative agencies, and execs from German corporations (from BMW to Deutsche Bank to Deutsche Telekom).
Blog Elektroniker
By Tim Leberecht - February 1, 2009
[Photo by David Reece]
A few months after Barack Obama’s historic election, and a couple of weeks after the release of Barry Libert’s and Rick Faulk’s book Obama Inc. (and, of course, Obama's inauguration), the first start-ups are popping up that directly apply some of the widely heralded business lessons emerging from the innovative campaign.
Blog Elektroniker
By Tim Leberecht - December 11, 2008
I wrote this post a year ago for a different outlet but I thought it might be worth revisiting (and slightly updating) in light of the upcoming "derby of derbies" -- El Clásico -- between FC Barcelona (Barca) and Real Madrid this Saturday (yes, I'm talking about a soccer game). The duel of these two archrivals is historically loaded with enormous psychological, cultural, and political significance. This edition is a special of specials: Barcelona is leading the table with nine points ahead of Real Madrid, and the upcoming clash can potentially give the Catalan outfit a comfortable cushion during the winter break.
Blog Elektroniker
By Tim Leberecht - November 15, 2008
Demos, the UK-based “every democracy” think tank, is putting on an interesting event in London this week (November 18): How to make news and influence people: Media and journalism in the network age will discuss "the new politics of images" and "what kinds of news and photo-journalism are emerging to connect people with politics."
Blog Elektroniker
By Tim Leberecht - July 28, 2008
I saw the Royal Ballet of Flanders perform William Forsythe's "Impressing the Czar" last week at the Rose Theatre in New York. It was a mesmerizing experience: a demonstration of the possibilities of the human body and its bold orchestration as part of a stampeding, Dionysian collective.
