Q &A

Jack Welch once said of businesses, “If the rate of change on the outside exceeds the rate of change on the inside, the end is near.” Describe the significance of this statement for today’s leaders.

Ellen Auster: It’s certainly true that change is everywhere. In today’s hyper-competitive and fast-paced business environment filled with disruptive technology, fierce global competition and shifting customer expectations, change is the new normal. There are periods when we’d all like to slow it down, but the fact is, most businesses need to be continually changing to stay ahead of the curve. Those like Blockbuster who don’t adapt fast enough risk getting blindsided by game changers like Netflix.

You believe today’s leaders require a