Digital World: Actions & Choices

Hernan Saenz, Johnson faculty member and Bain & Company partner discusses how a company’s strategy must not only reflect a set of choices but must also lead to a set of actions taken in the marketplace. As an example, he shares how Southwest Airlines made a series of clear strategic choices in flying point-to-point, and from secondary airports and cities, all with one type of aircraft, to redefine the economic boundaries of the airline industry. He draws on his over twenty years of experience in management consulting to discuss how digital impacts business strategy, the challenges business leaders face in implementation, why cost productivity is so important, and best practices for talent and change management. Hernan holds a Master’s in Business Administration and a Master’s in Industrial Labor Relations from Cornell University, as well as an MS in Economics from Stanford University, and a BA in Economics from Harvard University.Episode Article: Hernan Saenz reflects on his 20-plus years in consulting and looks aheadFaculty Page: Hernan J.F. Saenz, III - Johnson, CornellBain Profile: Hernan Saenz, Bain PartnerBain Insights: The Great Repeatable Business ModelNYTimes: Walmart to Buy Bonobos for $310 MillionBain Insights: Setting a Digital StrategyBain Davos Video: Davos 2019: The Fourth Industrial RevolutionWorld Economic Forum: The Fourth Industrial RevolutionBain Insights: Bending the Cost Curve