Publications

April 2021
Case

Glass-Shattering Leaders: Jack Rivkin

By: Boris Groysberg and Colleen Ammerman

Jack Rivkin’s innovative approach to hiring, developing, and retaining employees created opportunities for female analysts to thrive at the equity research department he led, and also made the entire department more effective. Rivkin fostered a culture of gender... View Details

Keywords: Gender Inclusivity; Leadership; Organizational Culture; Gender; Talent and Talent Management

April 2021
Case

Glass-Shattering Leaders: Barbara Hackman Franklin

By: Boris Groysberg and Colleen Ammerman

Barbara Hackman Franklin was one of the first women to earn an MBA from Harvard Business School. She went on to break barriers in the private and public sectors, rising to leadership positions in business and government. In the 1970s, she led a successful White House... View Details

Keywords: Glass Ceiling; Leadership; Gender; Power and Influence

April 2021
Case

Glass-Shattering Leaders: Ana Paula Pessoa

By: Boris Groysberg and Colleen Ammerman

Ana Paula Pessoa built a career at the largest media conglomerate in Latin America, combining a passion for digital transformation with a commitment to doing work that had a positive impact on society. Having grown up during a dictatorial military regime in Brazil, the... View Details

Keywords: Glass Ceiling; Leadership; Gender; Power and Influence

May 17, 2019
Article

Amazon's Priorities Over the Years, Based on Jeff Bezos's Letters to Shareholders

By: Tricia Gregg and Boris Groysberg

Read Now

June 2019
Teaching Note

California Closets: Organizing the Customer Experience

By: Boris Groysberg and Aldo Sesia

Teaching Note for HBS No. 419-004. View Details

March 2019
Supplement

Kids & Company in 2018

By: Boris Groysberg and Matthew Preble

This case reveals to readers what has transpired at Kids & Company in the year following the decision point presented in Kids & Company: Entering the U.S.” View Details

Keywords: Childcare; Daycare; Early Childhood Education; Growth and Development Strategy; Expansion; United States; Canada

February 2019
Teaching Note

Beth Stewart: Navigating the Boardroom

By: Boris Groysberg and Robin Abrahams

Teaching Note for HBS No. 413-094. View Details

January 2018 (Revised June 2018)
Teaching Note

Womenomics in Japan

By: Boris Groysberg and David Lane

Teaching Note for HBS No. 417-002. View Details

September 2016 (Revised May 2018)
Case

Zurich Insurance: Fostering People Management Practices

By: Boris Groysberg and Katherine Connolly

Zurich Insurance was undergoing organizational change after implementing five new people practices focused on manager development, diversity and inclusion, job model and data analytics, recruitment, and talent pipeline. The case provides background for the company, as... View Details

Keywords: Managing Change; Organizational Behavior; Diversity Management; Organizational Architecture; Recruiting; Succession Planning; Management; Organizational Culture; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Leading Change; Human Capital; Human Resources; Insurance; Leadership; Diversity; Organizational Structure; Recruitment; Management Succession; Insurance Industry

February 2016 (Revised October 2016)
Case

Linda Rabbitt at rand* construction

By: Boris Groysberg and Katherine Connolly

Linda Rabbitt, founder and CEO of rand* construction, walked into her office at the company's headquarters in Alexandria, VA, and closed the door behind her. It was 10:00 a.m. on Monday, September 22, 2014, and she had just addressed her staff after the sudden and... View Details

Keywords: Women And Leadership; Women Executives; Succession Planning; Leadership; Entrepreneurship; Management Succession; Construction Industry; District of Columbia

December 2015
Case

Difficult Conversations and Dealing with Challenging Situations at Work: The Partner Who Didn't Take Part

By: Boris Groysberg and Ann Leamon

Keywords: Organization Behavior; Interaction; Communication; Interpersonal Communication; Organizations; Interactive Communication

December 2015
Case

Difficult Conversations and Dealing with Challenging Situations at Work: Adjusting as a CEO

By: Boris Groysberg and Ann Leamon

Keywords: Organization Behavior; Organizations

July 2014
Teaching Note

Rebecca S. Halstead: Steadfast Leadership

By: Boris Groysberg and Deborah Bell

The case reviews Rebecca Halstead's career history, detailing how, through her personal attributes, skills, experiences, challenges, and organizational practices she developed into a successful leader and commander in the U.S. Army. The teaching note discusses... View Details

Keywords: Strategy And Leadership; Leadership And Managing People; Working Conditions; Groups and Teams; Competitive Strategy; Personal Development and Career; Organizational Culture; Personal Characteristics; Leadership Style; Gender; Power and Influence

February 2014 (Revised May 2016)
Case

The Rawlinsons: Facing Life and Career Decisions as a Couple

By: Boris Groysberg and Kerry Herman

The Rawlinsons, a young, ambitious, career-minded couple, are considering their life and career goals. They are both successful, have aspirations to serve in public office, and are negotiating important career choices as a couple. View Details

Keywords: Talent Management; Career Management; Career Planning; Organizational Behavior; Work/life Balance; Work/family Balance; Careers; Talent and Talent Management; Human Capital; Work-Life Balance; Personal Development and Career; United States

June 2013
Article

Dysfunction in the Boardroom: Understanding the Persistent Gender Gap at the Highest Levels

By: Boris Groysberg and Deborah Bell

The article examines the gender gap that is present in boardrooms in U.S. corporations and internationally in 2013 as more women attempt to reach executive-level positions. Countries in the European Union are attempting to institute laws regarding the minimum... View Details

Keywords: Equality and Inequality; Governing and Advisory Boards; Gender; United States; European Union