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- All HBS Web
(1,743)
- People (1)
- News (408)
- Research (1,178)
- Multimedia (14)
- Faculty Publications (627)
- November 2022 (Revised October 2024)
- Case
'A Marshall Plan for Africa': James Mwangi and Equity Group Holdings
By: Caroline M. Elkins, Debora L. Spar, Zeke Gillman and Julia M. Comeau
Financial Inclusion. Dignity. Trust. These were the core principles driving James Mwangi’s transformation of Equity Building Society, insolvent in 1991, into what is, today, Equity Group Holdings, East and Central Africa’s largest retail banking institution. Raised in... View Details
Keywords: Income Inequality; Micro Finance; Microcredit; Microfinance; Banks and Banking; Equality and Inequality; Mission and Purpose; Business Model; Social Entrepreneurship; Banking Industry; Financial Services Industry; Africa; Kenya
Elkins, Caroline M., Debora L. Spar, Zeke Gillman, and Julia M. Comeau. "'A Marshall Plan for Africa': James Mwangi and Equity Group Holdings." Harvard Business School Case 323-048, November 2022. (Revised October 2024.)
- 04 Feb 2010
- What Do You Think?
What’s the Best Way to Make Careful Decisions?
Summing Up What is the right mix between intuition and analysis? Several clear themes characterized responses to this month's column. Dominant among these was that the best way to reach a decision depends on a number of factors, including the nature of the decision,... View Details
Keywords: by James Heskett
- 01 Nov 2017
- What Do You Think?
What Are the Real Lessons of the Wells Fargo Case?
control, questionable organizational (particularly human resource management) practices, and human behavior traits in general. As “Former Employee” put it, “much of the language in the Visions and Values about caring for team members and customers is just words and not... View Details
- 01 Aug 2023
- What Do You Think?
As Leaders, Why Do We Continue to Reward A, While Hoping for B?
footing the bills for the educational system. At other times, we are mindful of how incentives can go wrong, but we are unwilling to do anything about it. For example, we speak of the desirability of good long-term business performance, but almost all... View Details
Keywords: by James Heskett
- 08 May 2020
- Research & Ideas
We’ve Now Been Asking “What Do You Think?” for 20 Years
This month marks the twentieth anniversary of the beginning of my “What do you think?” column. The Working Knowledge website was the brainchild of a faculty and staff committee organized in 2000 by then Dean Kim Clark to communicate the... View Details
Keywords: by James Heskett
- 01 Dec 2020
- What Do You Think?
How Can We Get Companies to Invest More in Low-Wage Workers?
the lower ranks. One of the causes may well be inequities in the ability of executives and frontline labor to negotiate compensation for their skills. In particular, the declining power of unions and the stickiness of minimum wage laws are often cited as factors. A... View Details
Keywords: by James Heskett
- 03 Oct 2023
- What Do You Think?
Do Leaders Learn More From Success or Failure?
on a wealth of field experience, is an argument for failure—intelligent failure. She defines intelligent failure as having four key attributes: “ it takes place in new territory; the context presents a credible opportunity (in relation to risk) to advance toward a... View Details
Keywords: by James Heskett
- 05 Jul 2017
- What Do You Think?
Can Innovation Save Us From Ourselves?
Summing Up Do We Need to Give More Attention to the Dark Side of Innovation? Innovation may be able to help us deal with problems such as famine, pollution, and even global warming. But unless it can prove to be just as effective in combating destructive human traits... View Details
- 01 Mar 2018
- What Do You Think?
Two Decades Later, is the 'New Economy' Finally Here?
in September, 2000. It described the enthusiasm at that time for a "New Economy," one driven by information technology and characterized by “greater growth and lower unemployment than ever before... View Details
Keywords: by James Heskett
- 07 Oct 2015
- What Do You Think?
What is the Best Immigration Model for the US?
with many workers crossing from Mexico, every day. Given the relatively low rate of unemployment in the US and the paucity of jobs in Mexico at the time, it seemed certain that the issue of immigration would be pursued by the leaders of... View Details
Keywords: by James Heskett
- 05 Feb 2024
- What Do You Think?
How Do You Hire for Attitude?
cross-training—as opposed to the fiefdoms and management by fear typical of other fine dining establishments—on the job. Nearly all that I spoke with mentioned what they were learning—and in some cases, teaching. That reminded me once... View Details
Keywords: by James Heskett
- 02 May 2022
- News
Can the Case Method Survive Another Hundred Years?
- 06 Sep 2017
- What Do You Think?
Summing Up: What Are the Limits of CEO Activism?
with outspoken banking executives, argued that, “Silence may be both a more eloquent statement and a more intelligent one ” CEOs and other high-profile people “do a service by restraining their knee-jerks and shutting their mouths.” RCD... View Details
Keywords: by James Heskett
- 03 May 2021
- What Do You Think?
Where Does CEO Activism Go From Here?
(Image credit: iStockphoto/adamkaz) CEO activism entered a new chapter with the decision by more than 200 leaders of large corporations last month to publicly declare their support for voting rights for Americans and, View Details
Keywords: by James Heskett
- 01 Aug 2019
- What Do You Think?
Has the Twitter Age Left the Case Method Behind?
ease of use by instructors, and even useability in an age of “fake facts.” The most negative views came from those experiencing problems arising largely from the way cases were being taught or used. Those utilizing the method in their... View Details
- 30 Nov 2018
- What Do You Think?
What’s the Best Administrative Approach to Climate Change?
Summing Up: Should a 'Montreal Protocol' for Administering Global Warming Be Pursued? Climate change and how to manage it is a daunting subject. Nevertheless, several readers of this month’s column were willing to venture a model or two for administering a system... View Details
- 01 Jun 2020
- What Do You Think?
Will Challenged Amazon Tweak Its Retail Model Post-Pandemic?
asked, “Is this a good time to begin thinking about prudential limits so that the brick-and-mortar stores will continue to be around when the next lockdown happens?” Perhaps the most basic question was one raised by NickC when he said,... View Details
- 01 Nov 2021
- What Do You Think?
How Long Does It Take to Improve an Organization’s Culture?
(iStockphoto/skynesher) Most CEOs recognize the power of organizational culture and the impact that it can have on the bottom line. They acknowledge the importance of shared values and behaviors that influence the way an organization conducts its business. One... View Details
Keywords: by James Heskett
- 02 Aug 2021
- What Do You Think?
Can Companies with Remote Management Succeed?
experiences is done, the position of CXO will be eliminated. The first point was made by Yale Schwartz, who commented that, “It all starts with the organization’s desire to improve the overall customer experience and become the brand that... View Details
Keywords: by James Heskett
- 02 Mar 2020
- What Do You Think?
Are Candor, Humility, and Trust Making a Comeback?
report to you succeed, I think it’s pretty hard to lead with anything other than humility and vulnerability.” Dfallah said, “I believe candor, humility and trust are core values for visionary companies ” Michael H. added, “For several years, I’ve been advocating a... View Details
Keywords: by James Heskett