In this issue

The cover theme of the November-December issue is ‘Marketing in the age of social media’. Experts from different fields—Brian Sheehan, Syracuse University; Sunil Alagh, SKA Advisors; and Paul Blanchard, Right Angles—share their views on various aspects of this subject.
We have featured an interview with Debra Benton and Kylie Wright-Ford, authors of The Leadership Mind Switch, who talk about the changes leaders should adapt in the new business world to be successful. Another interview with Antonio Garrido, author of Asking Questions The Sandler Way, highlights an innovative approach for salespeople by bridging the gap between a salesperson and a prospect. Archana Jerath from SHRM points out the unconscious biases at workplaces that influence the decisions of HRs.
Several experts from the industry such as Vishal Gupta, IIM Ahmedabad; Hitesh Jain, WITS Interactive; and Suresh Lulla, Qimpro Consultants Private Limited lay emphasis on various factors related to their respective industries.
In our regular sections, we have an exclusive interview with Managing Director of Woodland Worldwide, Harkirat Singh who throws light on building a deeper understanding of customers’ needs and wants through innovative methods. Ian Lamont, author of Lean Media, gives us suggestions on ways to create a new framework to help professionals captivate the audience while Morgen Witzel, The University Of Exeter Business School, talks about how social media has created a major impact on consumer segments and marketing strategy.

Change Your Game

“When the environment changes dramatically, which it has and will continue to do as the fourth revolution unfolds, actions and thoughts need to adjust similarly. The leadership mind switch portrays a radical change to the way you think about your leadership behaviors and qualities. It is more than a shift to your mindset. It is a jolt to the way you think and act.” Debra Benton and Kylie Wright-Ford chalk out a game plan for becoming an effective future-proof leader.

5 mins

Conquering Prejudice

According to Horace McCormick, Program Director of UNC Executive Development at the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School, unconscious biases are a fact of life. Everyone harbors them—and takes them into the workplace. Unconscious biases in the workplace can stymie diversity, recruiting and retention efforts, and unknowingly shape an organization’s culture. Unconscious bias can skew talent and performance reviews. It affects who gets hired, promoted, and developed— and this unwittingly undermines an organization’s culture.1

6 mins

Not A Solo Affair

In the book Brand Together, the authors elaborate on the need for companies to involve employees, clients, and customers in the process of co-creation and innovation, to enable a brand to succeed. Companies, the world over, have started understanding the importance of ‘co-creation’ as an act of engaging with all stakeholders and shaping collective thinking into business ideas. The advent of social media and its sweeping impact across consumer segments have lent a new meaning to this concept.

8 mins

Real Impact

As per the recent study, Reshaping Business with Artificial Intelligence, within the technology, media, and telecommunications industry, 72% of respondents expect large effects from AI in five years. It also reveals large gaps between today’s leaders — companies that already understand and have adopted AI — and laggards.* Adoption of AI is no longer an option for businesses.

3 mins

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The Smart Manager Magazine Description:

The Smart Manager, India's first world-class management magazine, was founded in 2002 by eminent business historian Dr Gita Piramal with Harvard Business School Dean, Prof. Nitin Nohria with the mission of updating managers and business practitioners in India with the latest thought-provoking strategic ideas from experienced, world-class managers, academics and consultants from across the globe. Over the years, the magazine has carried articles authored by illustrious management gurus such as the late CK Prahalad and Sumantra Ghoshal, Jack Trout, Ram Charan, Gary Hamel, Gay Haskins, Jagdish Seth and Lynda Gratton. We believe that "managers are the best teachers of managers" and most of our articles are written in the first person by top-tier CEOs such as Kumaramangalam Birla, Sunil Mittal, Aditya Birla, KV Kamath, Santrupt Mitra, Rajeev Dubey and S Ramadorai. We also have relationships with a number of B-schools around the world, apart from most top-level schools in India.

The Smart Manager hosts the Tata Consultancy Services Smart Manager Case Contest, the most prestigious competition of its kind in the Indian print media. The contest, with a cash prize of INR50,000 per issue, sees wide participation from national and international business managers and students. 
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