Catching up: Books, Interviews, Events, and more
Catching up: Books, Interviews, Events, and more
Digital transformation news from the frontlines
I hope you’re keeping cool amidst the heat waves and enjoying some summer relaxation with friends and family!
I wanted to take an issue of David Rogers on Digital to share some exciting news from Q2 of this year.
This spring was a whirlwind!
It started with a family road trip to view the total eclipse in rural Vermont… and it ended with a return trip to Tokyo for the launch of my newest book in a very special Japanese edition.
Spring Travels
April brought me to Madison, Wisconsin, where I was invited to keynote this year’s Digital Business Symposium. Thank you to Doug Barton and Raj Veeramani for the invitation to this terrific gathering of regional business leaders.
While in the Badger State, I reconnected with Melissa Winter, President of Acuity Insurance—an exceptionally innovative firm that I had the pleasure to advise previously on their DX journey, and which is featured in the pages of my newest book, “The Digital Transformation Roadmap.”
I also had the chance to meet with CEO Andrew McLean, CIO Martin Christopher, and the leadership team at Lands’ End. It was a fascinating chance to engage with an incredible brand as it thinks about the digital culture it wants to grow, in order to propel the company to its next stage of innovation and growth.
May brought me to Dubai, to meet with leaders from across the federal and state governments of the United Arab Emirates, as part of their ongoing focus on DX. I came at the invitation of Her Excellency Ohood Khalfan Al Roumi (Minister of State for Government Development and the Future).
This year, a particular focus has been set on “Zero Bureaucracy”—an audacious goal of seeking to simplify, rather than amplify, the work of government through new digital services and delivery models. I also got to reconnect with 3 former students: Alberto de Andrés Ibáñez, who is steering DX efforts in the Department of Education, along with Newton Rebello and Younis Batook, each at high-growth tech firms in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, respectively.
Back in New York, I was able to reconnect with the procurement and supply chain community, as the global DPW conference came to North America for the first time. In addition to speaking on the topic of “Fueling AI Adoption with a Transformation Mindset,” I got to experience—for the first time—seeing myself on a billboard at Times Square. These folks know how to put on a conference!
Finally, the end of June brought me back to Tokyo for the second trip this year.
I joined my partners at NTT Data, for an official launch event for the Japanese edition of my new book, which they helped to produce (info on that below). My great thanks to Shigeki Yamaguchi, Akihiro Ishizuka, and their team, for organizing the trip.
NTT Data also hosted the DX Institute, where I met with leaders from 10 leading traditional firms, including Toyota, Japan Airlines, MUFG bank, and more. We had in-depth discussions on the challenges and opportunities for digital transformation in their firms, with a particular focus on defining a shared vision, and crafting problem/opportunity statements for strategy.
While in Tokyo, I also had the chance to speak to students at Rikkyu University, thanks to an invitation from my former student, Eiichi Kasahara.
Book Publication News
It’s hard to believe, but the first wave of translations is already starting to appear for “The Digital Transformation Roadmap”!
I’m extremely grateful to these publishers who signed contracts and started translating their foreign editions of the book—before the original English edition even went to print last fall!
First out of the gate was the Vietnamese edition of “The Digital Transformation Roadmap” published by PACE, alongside a new printing (with updated cover design) of the prequel, “The Digital Transformation Playbook.” (Links to order https://bit.ly/3UO1dwY and https://bit.ly/3y7QSTK)
In Brazil, Grupo Autêntica has just released the “Roadmap” book in Portuguese, under the title of “Transformacao Digital 2.” (Order here)
I am particularly excited for the Japanese edition of my new book, just published by Toyo Kezai. In addition to an excellent translation, the book includes a preface in which I discuss DX in the Japanese context, local case studies from leading Japanese businesses, and a conversational “dialog” with Yamaguchi-san at the back of the book, addressing common questions on DX for Japanese readers. (LINK to BUY)
New Articles in Magazines
Spring brought two new articles of mine published in leading business periodicals.
Harvard Business Review online published my article “The Missing Link Between Strategy and Innovation”
The University of Toronto’s Rotman Magazine published my article “Measuring Digital Innovation: A Four-Stage Framework”
Podcasts & Interviews
Spring also brought several opportunities to engage in conversations with business writers, podcasters, and journalists on the issues that I study and advise companies on.
I had a fascinating conversation on leadership and digital business models for the healthcare industry, with Tarja Huuskonen on “The Leader’s Agenda.”
On the Financial Management podcast, I spoke with Neil Amato about budgeting, metrics, KPIs… and what planting a tree can teach you about digital transformation. (LISTEN)
With Good Authority’s, Jonathan Raymond, I discussed why DX requires a holistic approach that aligns all functions around a shared vision and gives every team a stake in driving change forward.
The magazine Supply Chain Movement interviewed me to discuss the critical role of the supply chain function in digital business transformation.
I was also interviewed by Reuters and the Financial Times on the tumultuous changes in the streaming TV business—from Netflix edging into live events to Paramount putting itself up for sale.
You’re Invited! Upcoming Events & Classes
Looking ahead, I invite you to join me for one of my upcoming programs at Columbia Business School this fall!
For those who have been asking, “Will you be offering a class based on the frameworks of the new book?”…
The answer is yes! Enrollment is open for my 4-day on campus program “Leading Digital Transformation: From Strategy to Organizational Change.”
This highly interactive program gives participants the chance to master and apply the DX Roadmap framework, and a set of strategic planning tools—working in small groups with peers from firms around the world. Practical application begins in the classroom, not on the flight home!
This spring we had amazing companies represented in my campus executive programs, including Apple, American Express, Electronic Arts (EA), Honeywell, PEMEX, The US Marine Corps, the government of Saudi Arabia, and more.
Our incredible guest speakers included Bolong Li, VP of Global Growth for Audible at Amazon, and Santosh Mhatre, Corporate VP and Head of Digital R&D Lab at New York Life Insurance Company.
For those looking for online programs, please take a look at:
“Digital Strategies for Business Transformation (Online)”
This 8-week online program is based on the strategy frameworks of “The Digital Transformation Playbook” (the blue book).
This 8-week online program for marketers now features 5 amazing digital advertising simulations, courtesy of our partnership with Novela.
This fall I will be traveling to Saskatchewan (my first trip!) to speak to the Innovation Credit Union.
And September will bring me to Chicago, keynoting the Service Council’s 2024 Smarter Services Executive Symposium. Check out this impressive roster of speakers and participants, and register to attend: https://servicecouncil.com/executive-symposium/
I will post more upcoming conferences on my LinkedIn page, if you follow me there: http://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrogersdigital
How Can We Help Your Business?
As we look to the fall, I will continue to advise select clients through the David Rogers Group.
Our services focus on:
Workshops for executives or the board
Strategic project: combining diagnostic, strategy workshop, and follow-on team coaching
Keynotes at conferences
Training programs on digital transformation
To find out more, write to services@davidrogers.digital
