Episode notes
Ming Min Hui, executive director of Boston Ballet, is unique in her field. As a young, Asian American woman with a HBS MBA and a background in finance, she focuses on ensuring the ballet company stays true to its art form and still relevant to its times. Hui had worked for eight years at Boston Ballet as chief of staff and chief financial officer before taking the helm. Now leading one of the foremost ballet companies in the U.S., she confronted evolving demographics, shifting audience habits, and an increasingly challenging financial environment. Harvard Business School Assistant Professor…
Podcast
Cold Call
HBR Presents / Brian Kenny · Business · English
Cold Call distills Harvard Business School's legendary case studies into podcast form. Hosted by Brian Kenny, the podcast airs every two weeks and features Harvard Business School faculty discussing cases they've written and the lessons they impart.
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E263 · 19 Aug 2025 · 34 min
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E262 · 5 Aug 2025 · 34 min
Disrupting the Freezer Aisle: Dr. Bombay Ice Cream
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E261 · 22 Jul 2025 · 29 min
Shake Shack’s Digital Playbook: More Tech, Same Hospitality?
Shake Shack began in 2001 as a single hot dog cart in New York City and grew into a global fast-casual chain known for quality ingredients and a strong hospitality ethos. In 2024, following a rapid digital transformation that introduced kiosks, mobile ordering, and app-based personalization, Chief Growth Officer Stephanie So wondered whether the model they had built was truly ready to scale—or still needed refinement. With a new CEO focused on ambitious growth, the company faced key questions about how technology might support or undermine the Shake Shack experience for both guests and…
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E260 · 8 Jul 2025 · 27 min
At Booking.com, Innovation Means Constant Failure (Summer Repeat)
During a busy travel season, digital travel platform Booking.com tried a risky experiment that meant changing the site’s landing page. Then CEO Gillian Tans made the decision to lean into the company’s “test everything” culture—even if it meant failure. In this episode from 2019, HBS Professor Stefan Thomke and host Brian Kenny discuss the case Booking.com. They explore how past experience and intuition can be misleading when attempting to launch something novel. Instead, innovative firms embrace a culture where testing, experimentation, and even failure are at the heart of what they do.
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E258 · 10 Jun 2025 · 24 min
How Bill Wilson Cofounded Alcoholics Anonymous and Created a Lasting Social Movement
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E257 · 27 May 2025 · 23 min
How Keurig Brewed a Return to Growth
Keurig Green Mountain (KGM) invented a category and became a household name in at-home coffee brewing in North America. But by the early 2010s, the public company suffered a series of product missteps, negative media scrutiny, and challenging partner relationships. In late 2015, the company was acquired by JAB Holding Company. The new CEO Bob Gamgort first strengthened partnerships, raised productivity, and reduced costs. In 2017, the company then focused on new growth. Gamgort considered four major options: take the company public again through an IPO; set out for greater global expansion;…
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E256 · 13 May 2025 · 31 min
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The 2023 movie Barbie and its accompanying marketing blitz reinstated a celebrated icon at the forefront of cultural conversation. This sudden goodwill stood in contrast to decades of criticism of the Barbie brand. Although proponents had celebrated Barbie for her promise to “inspire the limitless potential in every girl,” detractors felt that the doll promoted a narrow beauty standard and perpetuated gender stereotypes. In this episode of Cold Call, HBS Professor Elie Ofek and coauthor Ryann Noe join host Brian Kenny to discuss the case “Barbie: Reviving a Cultural Icon at Mattel.” They…
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E255 · 29 Apr 2025 · 35 min
How Duolingo Aims to Diversify Beyond Language Learning
Launched in 2011, Duolingo grew into the most downloaded education app in the world. Its gamified approach to language learning and use of adaptive AI technology helped it reach 100 million monthly active users and a market capitalization approaching $15 billion by late 2024. The company also saw the potential of Gen AI to power innovative products beyond languages. CTO Severin Hacker envisioned a future in which AI would transform the app into an educational ecosystem, tapping into the $56 billion edtech market. HBS Senior Lecturer Jeffrey Rayport and coauthor Nicole Keller join host Brian…
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E254 · 15 Apr 2025 · 30 min
The Nuqul Group Works to Preserve Its Founder’s Legacy
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