Publications

Research Summary

Changing the World: Life Choices of Influential Leaders

By: Robert Simons

This project studies the life choices made by a variety of people who have left a lasting legacy. Using biographical data, we are examining the choices that high-impact individuals faced in their lives and the paths they chose to follow. The leaders we study come... View Details

Keywords: Leadership Style; Personal Characteristics; Work-life Balance; Entrepreneurship; Business Startups; Success

19 May 2021
Op-Ed

Why America Needs a Better Bridge Between School and Career

change among training organizations, our research team at Harvard’s interdisciplinary Project on Workforce analyzed 316 applications to the Postsecondary Innovation for Equity initiative. The grant competition, launched by venture... View Details

Keywords: by Joseph B. Fuller and Rachel Lipson

Web

Global Climate Change - Course Catalog

to it, will ultimately affect and even transform every aspect of modern capitalism. Thus, while the course should be of interest to students contemplating careers in climate-adjacent sectors and firms, it is intended as a broader... View Details

07 Sep 2022
News

How to Build a Career in a New Industry

06 Oct 2023
Blog Post

Short Intensive Programs 2024 Preview: From Climate Change to Formula 1

Intensive Programs, or SIPs, allow MBA students to dive deep into a single subject matter for four days. These no-fee, no credit courses allow students to explore topics outside of their discipline or focus on a potential career choice.... View Details

01 Dec 2019
News

Regional Alumni Events Address Climate Change

and energy sector lead for The Rise Fund at TPG Global, saw interest from both younger alumni working in the field and senior alumni who have had successful careers and are looking for new opportunities to make a difference. “Climate... View Details

Keywords: Jen Myers

Web

Supporting Careers | Social Enterprise | Harvard Business School

understanding of the complexities of leading in the social sector. Who Gets that Opportunity Right Out of Business School Clive Chang Making an Impact Multiple Students Summer Fellows The Summer Fellows Program enables students to apply... View Details

March 2021 (Revised October 2023)
Case

Mary Kay Ash: Changing the World

By: Robert Simons and Shirley Sun

This case describes the rise of Mary Kay, the founder of the worldwide cosmetics company. As a young single mother, Mary Kay had to overcome many obstacles to start her business and guide it to success. Today, there are more than 3.5 million Mary Kay beauty consultants... View Details

Keywords: Business Start-ups; Entrepreneurship; Values and Beliefs; Business Startups; Work-Life Balance; Success; Religion; Family Business; Personal Development and Career; Beauty and Cosmetics Industry

05 Aug 2016
News

Accelerating Change on Medicine’s Final Frontier

Photography by Susan Young “If you’re a brain geek, this is the best time in history to be alive,” says Jordan Amadio (MD/MBA 2010), founder and managing partner of NeuroLaunch, the world’s first neuroscience startup accelerator. “We’re on the brink of a golden age in... View Details

Keywords: Robert S. Benchley

January 2021 (Revised July 2022)
Case

Dwight D. Eisenhower: Changing the World

By: Robert Simons and Shirley Sun

This case describes the rise of Dwight (Ike) Eisenhower from a small town in Kansas to the pinnacle of power on the world stage. During his life, Eisenhower was leader of the Allied Forces in World War II, president of Columbia University, head of NATO, and president... View Details

Keywords: Leadership Development; Leadership; Values and Beliefs; Personal Characteristics; Leadership Style; Success; Work-Life Balance; Power and Influence

25 Mar 2022
News

How to Make Progress on Your Long-Term Career Goals

March 2018
Case

Sandra Brown Goes Digital (A): The Promise and Perils of Social Movements in a Healthcare Company

By: Rosabeth Moss Kanter and Jonathan Cohen

As a middle manager at a biotechnology company, Sandra Brown harnessed digital tools and social media to engage others and build campaigns for change in the company. This case follows her career at the company and describes the challenges she faced as a change agent,... View Details

Keywords: Digital; Engagement; Stakeholder Engagement; Grassroots Movement; Organization Change And Adaptation; Quality; Health Care; Health Care Industry; Career Path; Leading Change; Management; Innovation and Management; Personal Development and Career; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Biotechnology Industry; Health Industry

January 2025 (Revised March 2025)
Case

Thomas Müller: Mr. Bayern Munich

By: Boris Groysberg, Sascha L. Schmidt, Alexander Liebhart and Sarah Abbott

In 2024, FC Bayern Munich superstar Thomas Müller announced his retirement from German national football. His contract with Bayern Munich runs through the end of the 2024-25 season. In 2025, Müller reflects on his long career in football, on the skills that have driven... View Details

Keywords: Soccer; Football; Data Science And Analytics Management; Bundesliga; Sports Data; ＂Sports Organizations,; Career Changes And Transitions; Career Management; Retirement Transition; Skills Development; Analysis; Competency and Skills; Decision Making; Performance; Personal Development and Career; Retirement; Transition; Sports Industry; Germany

January 2022 (Revised July 2022)
Case

Leonard Bernstein: Changing the World

By: Robert Simons and Shirley Sun

This case traces the rise of Leonard Bernstein from a middle-class family in Boston to the conductor of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. The case describes how he studied music intensely as a young man and developed mentors to open doors for him. As his fame grew,... View Details

Keywords: Impact; Personal Development and Career; Music Industry; Entertainment and Recreation Industry

19 Jun 2023
News

How Do I Move Forward from a Career Setback?

30 Apr 2019
News

Leading Schools That Change Lives

from 6 percent to 15 percent in the last seven years and continues to grow. “We’re not yet where we want to be,” he stresses, “but we’re making meaningful progress on a challenge that’s been historically difficult for schools.” Helping Kids Beat the Odds Kennealey’s... View Details

Keywords: Deborah Blagg; Educational Support Services; Educational Services

March 2021 (Revised January 2024)
Case

Ayn Rand: Changing the World

By: Robert Simons and Max Saffer

This case traces the life of Ayn Rand from Russia to Hollywood to New York City. The case describes how Rand fled communist Russia and, in reaction to the deprivations she experienced under communism, developed a philosophy idealizing free will and personal... View Details

Keywords: Writing; Values and Beliefs; Economic Systems; Society; Mission and Purpose; Success; Work-Life Balance; Ethics; Personal Development and Career; Publishing Industry

February 2021 (Revised July 2022)
Case

Sarah Breedlove: Changing the World

By: Robert Simons and Max Saffer

This case describes the rise of Sarah Breedlove, who later called herself Madam C.J. Walker, from the cotton fields of Louisiana to the head of a successful, nationwide beauty company providing opportunity and hair care products to Black women. The case describes how... View Details

Keywords: Brands; African-american Entrepreneurs; Entrepreneurship; Values and Beliefs; Personal Characteristics; Success; Work-Life Balance; Business Startups; Brands and Branding; Marketing; Personal Development and Career; Beauty and Cosmetics Industry; United States