Dare to disrupt Preparing for change in a time of exponential growth

Disruption will affect us all. So, how do you make sure youre the disruptor and not the disrupted? To gain control of disruption, we need to understand why disruption happens in the first place. To do that, we need to talk about human behavior and, well, math.   I’ll try to keep it brief and interesting, and as we get into it, I think you’ll agree this is fascinating stuff. Linear intuition vs technologys exponential growth Making predictions about pending events is a critical part of running a business. As humans, we depend on our intuitive ability to make predictions about likelihood and possibility. This intuitive pattern-recognition skill evolved long ago as a tactic for survival. And it has served humanity pretty well—so long as the landscape is generally consistent, and change appears relatively constant, for the most part it works. But change in technology is not intuitively linear—it’s exponential. Virtually every technology sector we can point to today is advancing exponentially—driven in large part by the exponential advancement of computer processing power, which itself is powering the development of all other technologies in various ways. As a result, there is a critical disconnect between what we all intuitively assume about the rate of change in technology and the actual pending events we are likely to see. Unfortunately, we tend to incorrectly predict advancement as being both faster than it is now, and slower than it will be soon. It happens like this: We hear about some new technical domain, we are excited by the promise of it, and we visualize it improving in a common-sense intuitive-linear progression. If graphed, this would appear to be a generally straight, upward angled line. But as we await the appearance of progress, we are rapidly let down. It does not seem that the promise of the technology is manifesting at all.  Indeed, as more time passes we come to discount the technology as a prospect in the foreseeable future. This is because technology, growing exponentially and dutifully doubling at each increment, in the beginning stays so very close to zero for such a long time that we don’t really notice the change. So on a graph where we are measuring technological advancement between 0 and 10—where 0 is the mere promise of the technology and 10 is a fully functioning ideal state—it takes an excruciatingly long time to get to the whole number 1. The line on the graph moves forward in equal increments, but stubbornly sits on what appears to our eye to be zero for a very long time: Many, many increments later, we finally arrive at the whole number 1, the smallest whole number on the graph. And from there, with the magic of exponential growth, we are quite suddenly only 4 more equally spaced increments from skyrocketing off the chart! Where all of this gets interesting is when we then lay our linear expectations over the technology’s true exponential growth: Dont be fooled by the deceptive zone of doubt As you can see, for quite a while our expectations go unmet. Where are the robots? Where are the self-driving cars? Where is the Holodeck? The promise of these technologies begins to seem unfounded, or at least a very long way off. Progress sits well below our linear expectations, so we grow tired of waiting for it. We find ourselves lulled into complacency. â€Å"Maybe it won’t disrupt my business or my job after all—or at least not while I’m alive,† we may think. This is the deceptive zone of doubt. And it’s during this time that we can lose interest in planning and innovating. Indeed, we may feel reassured that our business model is in less danger than we first thought. But we’ve only been lulled into that belief. Do you see that intersection point on the right side (the red dot) where the technical growth line shoots past our linear expectations? This is where companies, executives, and those of us in the workforce get caught completely by surprise. This, my friends, is the door to disruption. And I’m not talking about a little bump in the road—I mean past that intersection point is where Tower Records and Blockbuster Video died. It’s where Blackberry stumbled. And it’s something advertisers, publishers, and television broadcasters are facing today. It’s the competition that the hotel industry is facing from Airbnb, and that longstanding taxi and limo companies are facing from companies like Uber and Lyft. In fact, as exponentially fueled innovations come ever more rapidly, even Uber, a disruptive company itself, is already realizing that its own business model is under certain threat of obsolescence as that inevitable fleet of self-driving cars is gearing up for production. And conditions like this will just keep happening, even faster, in virtually every business sector. So, what can you do about it? Being aware of the exponential disconnect is just half the battle. Build your own Black Ops team Salim Ismail, author of Exponential Organizations, suggests that businesses need to develop corporate Black Ops teams whose goal is specifically to disrupt their own business. To break it. On purpose. To find and innovate the solution that will put the company out of business, and then of course to make that their business. Look for crossover in unexpected places. Look for intersections between technologies. What happens when you apply AI to your business? How could you change the way you or your company operates? What happens when nanotech meets medicine? When robotics meets conservation and sustainability? The possibilities are endless. Amazon is surely trying hard, and with some success, to do this. Developing drone delivery programs, the Kindle, Fire TV, and Amazon Echo, Amazon is taking control of technical innovations that shorten home-delivery to the point of satisfying instant gratification, utilizing robotics, and developing proprietary in-home technology platforms that will allow the company to maintain its lead as a seller of products into the digital future. Amazon is plainly working to disrupt its own business. Facebook has taken a slightly less imaginative and possibly more costly approach. Rather than spending the few hundred thousand dollars (several times over) to innovate and test competitive new models, Facebook lies in wait until someone else develops a solution that threatens its position. And then Facebook simply acquires it, paying rather chokingly significant sums in the process. Instagram and WhatsApp, it seems, may have been wise purchases. It remains to be seen whether Oculus Rift was wise as well. Although there can be no question that virtual reality is in our future, it is not yet clear whether hardware, or software, is going to be the VR platform to profitably dominate. Research the technical landscape and develop your creative-thinking skills As a business student mastering your business skills or perhaps entering the workforce for the first time, you are in an ideal situation to take in the technical changes happening around you. Indeed, I’d argue, you must. So take some time to explore the technical landscape and the surprising number of disruptive opportunities that are growing around us. Research the top technology conferences in your preferred industry and attend at least one annually. And in the meantime, stay current through research, your courses at Hult, and self-study. Favor classes, books, and activities designed to expand and strengthen your creative thinking. Remember, in the same way that exponential technologies can disrupt businesses, they will inevitably disrupt individual specialties and careers too. The full scope of problems in our future can’t be known, so there is no specific technology you can learn that will guarantee your skills or career will stay relevant. The best way to be certain that you will rise above this ongoing threat of obsolescence is to develop strong creative, problem-solving skills so you are able to identify and wield future, unpredictable innovations and trends as they appear. Stay curious, creative, and nimble, and constantly evaluate the changing state of the technology. If you do, you can be the disruptor. The best way to be certain that you will rise above this ongoing threat of obsolescence is to develop strong creative, problem-solving skills so you are able to identify and wield future, unpredictable innovations and trends as they appear. Stay curious, creative, and nimble. Interested in finding out more about Hult’s future-focused programs and how disruptive tech is built into your course?  Download a brochure. Like game changers? Break the mould in the business world with a Masters in Disruptive Innovation from Hult. To learn more, take a look at our blog Hult alumni in disruptive technology: Is this Blockchain’s year? or explore overall business challenges with a Masters in International Business instead. Download a brochure or get in touch today to find out how Hult can help you to find out everything about the business world, the future, and yourself. Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021 Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021"> During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . Happy New Year, Hultians! . Happy New Year, Hultians! .