The New Leadership Structures that Unblock Innovation

HBR IdeaCast

Mar 03

Overview Shownote Highlights Transcript Chapters Pins

Shownote

The ability of an organization to innovate over and over again, for the long term, depends on leadership structure, culture, and systems. That's according to Harvard Business School professor Linda Hill, who has spent years researching the true drivers of ...

Highlights

This episode explores how enduring innovation isn’t about occasional breakthroughs—it’s about building organizations that continuously invent, adapt, and scale new ideas across time and context.

11:33

At Pixar, no single group should dominate decision-making

17:38

Bridgers are critically scarce because most organizations are siloed between tech and business functions

20:55

Leaders are wayfinders, not pathfinders—a concept inspired by explorers and developed in the book’s epilogue

29:38

Leadership in innovation involves being a social architect, leading without formal authority, and using a 'pull' rather than 'push' approach

Chapters

How do leaders shift from commanding to co-creating innovation?

00:00

What roles must leaders play to transform a legacy company into a tech-driven force?

14:16

Why is wayfinding—and not just vision-setting—essential for innovation today?

20:55

How can leaders start innovating by redesigning themselves first?

29:38

Transcript

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