Now What?

A year-and-a-half since the global pandemic turned our lives upside down, we continue to navigate the choppy waters that it has wrought. Some have observed that COVID-19 has been a great equalizer, affecting us across the board whether we work in the C-suite or on the frontline.
But at the same time, it has put the spotlight on widespread inequality and power imbalances in our society that demand our collective attention.

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From the Editor

For leaders eager to seize this unique moment in history to jumpstart their organizations, the question is, Now what? In this issue of Rotman Management, we will explore some of the mindsets, approaches and operating principles that will be required to thrive in the post-pandemic world.

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Read + Learn

360º Governance: Leadership Guidelines for a World in Crisis

By Sarah Kaplan and Peter Dey

Today’s world is making demands on corporations that the standards of 25 years ago are not equipped to address. It’s time for some new guidelines.

Leadership Forum: How to Build Back Better

Compiled by Rebecca Cheung, Alain Latour and Karen Christensen

While many people are eager to ‘return to normal’, it has become clear that our pre-pandemic state of normalcy was not great for many people. Going forward — as these Rotman School alumni and faculty indicate — we need to find ways to build back better.

Risk: A Behavioural Perspective

By Lisa Brenneman and Laura Goodyear

Research from TD Wealth and Behavioural Economics in Action at Rotman (BEAR) shows the importance of understanding the risk tolerance of investors.

Creativity in the Age of Virtual Collaboration

By Leigh Thompson

The shift to remote work can actually help groups generate better ideas — and more of them.

Cryptocurrency 101: Navigating the Digital Gold Rush

By Karen Christensen

Rotman Finance Professor Andreas Park discusses the pros and cons of cryptos and where opportunities lie within the realm of digital currency.

Preparing for COVID-29

By Joshua Gans

With COVID-19, multiple failures in obtaining and applying the right information to key decisions led to economic and social calamity. For potential COVID-29s, we need to do better.

Pay-Per-View Articles

Since 2009, Harvard Business Review has been selling some of the feature articles from each issue of Rotman Management at www.hbr.org. These sales bring in revenue to support the Rotman School's innovative programs, student services and scholarships.

Thought Leader Interview: Dambisa Moyo

By Karen Christensen

A board member for 3M and Chevron shares insights about the state of globalization and economic growth — and explains why China is the antidote to deglobalization.

How to Think Like a Futurist

By Amy Webb

Navigating the chaos that characterizes periods of rapid change demands tools that prepare your organization for an uncertain future.

Power for All: Why It’s Everyone’s Business

By Karen Christensen

Rotman Professor Tiziana Casciaro shares insights from her new book, Power, For All: How It Really Works and Why It’s Everyone’s Business.

The Rise of the Conscious Business

By Navi Radjou

In the post COVID-19 world, purpose-driven and empathy-centred enterprises are destined to be industry leaders.

Post-Pandemic Career Paths and Reskilling

By R. Strack, O. Kovács-Ondrejkovic, J. Baier, P. Antebi, K. Kavanagh and A. López Gobernado

Going forward, top talent will be most attracted to companies that help employees continually remake themselves for the jobs of the future.

Innovation 2.0: Experimenting to Improve, Not to Prove

By Jean-Louis Barsoux, Cyril Bouquet and Michael Wade

The purpose of experimentation should always be twofold: to test an assumption and to learn from the testing in order to improve on the idea.

Humanizing Financial Services: The Role of Behavioural Insights

By J. Howe, A.Henderson, J. Nachshen and S. Reid

Behavioural Science tools support the achievement of both organizational goals and customer goals. More businesses should embrace them.

Idea Exchange

How ‘CovH anxiety’ Has Affected Employees

FACULTY FOCUS: John Trougakos + Julie McCarthy, Professors of Organizational Behaviour, Rotman School

It is too early to robustly understand the impact of COVID-19 on long-term psychological outcomes; healthcare professionals have already noted a marked increase in anxiety due to the uncertainty brought about by COVID-19.

QUESTIONS FOR: Paula Davis, CEO, Stress and Resilience Institute

Interview by Karen Christensen

A former high-powered lawyer who switched her focus to stress management describes the warning signs for burnout.

Questions for: Tendayi Viki
Corporate Innovation Expert and Author, Pirates in the Navy
Interview by: Karen Christensen

An innovation expert has advised American Express, The World Bank and Unilever describes how to tackle the innovation paradox.

Questions for: Frances Donald
Global Chief Economist, Manulife Investment Management
Interview by Karen Christensen

One of Canada's leading economists describes some of the societal and economic changes wrought by the scourge of COVID-19.

Point of view: Carmina Ravanera
Research Associate, Institute for Gender and the Economy @Rotman

Creating an Economy (and Society) of Care - This past year has shown us that we have a window of possibility to not simply recover from this pandemic, but transform our society and economy to prioritize care and community. The writer and feminist Audre Lorde said in 1982 that, “There is no such thing as a single-issue struggle, because we don’t lead single-issue lives.” As we look to build our economy and society back better, this mindset must be central to our efforts.

Questions for: Raja Rajamannar
Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Mastercard Interview by Carolyn Drebin

A Fortune 500 CMO describes the crisis being faced by Marketing, and what lies ahead for practitioners.

Point of view: Andrew Atkins
Practice Leader, BTS and Workplace Trust Expert

The Upside of Positive Disharmony - It has been said that an organizational team is like an orchestra, with each member playing a role in creating the melody. This metaphor is not new — but nor is it true. Working in perfect harmony is not what makes a team great. It is actually productive disharmony that leaders should seek.

Questions for: Sinan Aral
Director, MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy and author, The Hype Machine
Interview by Karen Christensen

A scientist, entrepreneur and investor describes how social media is disrupting our democracy, our economy and our health—and how we must adapt.

Questions for: Colin Bryar
Amazonian and Co-author, Working Backwards
Interview by Karen Christensen

An 'Amazonian for life" distills the key principles that have made Amazon so astronomically successful.

Faculty focus: Camille Hebert
Assistant Professor of Finance, Rotman School of Management How to Beat the Odds Against Entrepreneurial Success
Interview by Karen Christensen

The majority of entrepreneurial start-ups don’t survive. The failure rate is substantial: More than 30 per cent close after five years and about 50 per cent after 10 years.

Questions for: Nadya Zhexembayeva
Reinvention Expert, Author and Educator
Interview by Karen Christensen

The woman dubbed a Reinvention Guru by Venture magazine explains how to avoid Titanic Syndrome and thrive amid chaos.