Own the Future

The world faces social, political, and economic turmoil on an unprecedented scale. As we experience the most radical restructuring of the global economy since the Industrial Revolution, we confront unsettling levels of turbulence and volatility. Leadership now does not guarantee leadership tomorrow: today’s leaders must strive to Own the Future: Winning in an Era of Rapid Change. They must embrace large-scale transformation—and turn obstacles into opportunities.

In Own the Future, BCG offers a roadmap. Drawing on the firm’s experience advising organizations on how to achieve and sustain competitive advantage, this book offers 50 powerful ideas to help you chart your organization’s path to future leadership. The articles are organized around ten attributes critical to success in the current environment: adaptive, global, connected, sustainable, customer first, fit to win, value-driven, trusted, bold, and inspiring. The future may be unknowable, but BCG here offers insights from its 50 years of practice on how you can position your organization to change the game, win, and own the future.

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About the Editors

Michael Deimler is a senior partner and managing director in BCG’s Atlanta office and was the global leader of BCG’s Strategy practice from 2005 to 2012. He coedited The Boston Consulting Group on Strategy (Wiley). He holds an MBA from The Wharton School.

Richard Lesser is the president and chief executive officer of BCG. Before that, he was the firm’s regional chairman of North and South America. He is based in New York and also has an office in Beijing. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.

David Rhodes is the chairman of BCG’s global practices. He is a senior partner and managing director in BCG’s London office and coauthor of Accelerating out of the Great Recession: How to Win in a Slow-Growth Economy. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Janmejaya Sinha is the chairman of BCG’s Asia-Pacific region. He is based in Mumbai and holds a PhD from Princeton’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs.

What People Are Saying

“Built on many years of mutual trust, Pfizer and I have enjoyed a long-standing relationship with The Boston Consulting Group. I have found BCG to be totally focused on the value that they can create with their clients, ample evidence of which will be found within the covers of Own the Future. Readers of this book will find useful, sound strategies for winning the marketplace. Own the Future will be essential reading for Pfizer’s development curriculum.”

—Ian Read, CEO, Pfizer

“In a dynamic global business environment, leaders must draw on a diverse set of skills and experiences to ensure their organization is resilient and thrives under any circumstances. Own the Future is a strategic guide for leaders looking for practical ways to drive performance and enhance their competitive edge.”

—Carlos Ghosn, Chairman and CEO, Renault and Nissan

“Long-term success requires excellence along many dimensions. Own the Future is a timely reminder for executives of ten essential attributes of outstanding organizations. The challenge for all leaders is how best to put it all into practice.”

—Neil Berkett, CEO, Virgin Media

“BCG has put together a real treasure chest for executives that’s sure to inspire more effective leadership and innovation. In times of uncertainty and rapid change, Own the Future offers valuable advice for long-term success.”

—Georg Kell, Executive Director, UN Global Compact

“At a time when maintaining market leadership has never been more difficult, these 50 ideas from The Boston Consulting Group are an invaluable resource for executives. Own the Future is an essential read—sure to foster the kind of constructive debate and fresh thinking that will enable executives to take their organizations to the next level.”

—Deepak Parekh, Chairman, HDFC

“A valuable collection of insights drawn from BCG’s unique perspective helping businesses reinvent themselves to be relevant in the decades to come; an engaging read.”

—Jasmine Whitbread, CEO, Save the Children International

“The massive amount of business experience represented in this book provides insights of a diversity and depth hard to beat. The insights are represented in an easily accessible way, which makes the book all the more powerful. A guide for sustainable winning.”

—Jakob Thomasen, CEO, Maersk Oil