International Women's Day
- World-leading strategy and innovation expert
- Columbia Business School professor
- Author of five acclaimed business books
Rita McGrath is a world-leading strategy and innovation expert who helps organizations navigate strategic inflection points and build sustainable innovation capabilities.
As well as being a professor and Academic Director in Executive Education at Columbia Business School, Rita is the founder of the Rita McGrath Group and innovation platform Valize, translating cutting-edge research into actionable business insights.
Rita ranks consistently among Thinkers 50's top 10 management thinkers globally, earning their #1 award for strategy. Author of five acclaimed books including "Seeing Around Corners," her work on discovery-driven growth was praised by Clayton Christensen as offering "some of the most important tools of management and strategy ever developed."
Organizations facing disruption and uncertainty turn to Rita for practical frameworks that drive results. Her expertise helps leadership teams identify strategic inflection points before they become obvious, transform innovation from theater into capability, and develop the agility needed in today's volatile business environment. Rita's C-suite advisory work spans industries, bringing proven methodologies for sustainable growth.
Audiences leave Rita's presentations with concrete tools for spotting market shifts early, frameworks for building innovation proficiency beyond surface-level efforts, and actionable approaches to strategic growth amid uncertainty. Her engaging, customized delivery combines academic rigor with real-world applications.
Book Rita McGrath to equip your organization with the strategic foresight and innovation capabilities essential for thriving in an increasingly unpredictable business landscape.
Rita's showreel and videos
Topics, sessions and talks
Rita McGrath discusses the gradual emergence of significant business shifts and how leaders can identify early signs of change before they become apparent. By focusing on proactive strategies, she helps organizations prepare for disruption rather than react to it. With her clear and engaging approach, McGrath provides practical tools for navigating uncertainty and making informed decisions. Attendees will learn how to anticipate change and position their organizations for competitive advantage.
The End of Competitive Advantage and the New Strategy Playbook
Rita McGrath challenges the notion of sustainable competitive advantage, offering a new framework for navigating constant change. She critiques traditional strategies that fail in today's dynamic environment and introduces models for achieving transient advantage through continuous renewal. By blending academic insights with practical applications, McGrath equips leaders to rethink their strategic approaches. Attendees will learn how to adapt their strategies to thrive in ever-evolving markets.
Discovery Driven Planning
Rita McGrath presents a systematic approach to planning in uncertain environments, challenging traditional forecasting methods. Drawing from principles that inspired the lean startup movement, she emphasizes structuring initiatives with limited information and prioritizing learning over prediction. This approach helps leaders minimize risk while fostering innovation, making it particularly valuable for organizations in volatile or rapidly changing markets. Attendees will learn how to effectively navigate uncertainty and enhance their strategic planning processes.
Snow Melts from the Edges
Rita McGrath emphasizes the importance of insights often overlooked in large organizations, urging leaders to focus on peripheral activities. She presents eight thought-provoking questions designed to reveal hidden risks and opportunities that may escape top executives. Through her unique combination of storytelling and analysis, Rita guides organizations in developing systems that identify critical signals early. Attendees will learn how to enhance their strategic awareness and make informed decisions that drive success.
Innovation Should Not Be a Mystery
Rita McGrath emphasizes that innovation can become a consistent and reliable process when the appropriate tools are utilized. She highlights the importance of implementing effective strategies to foster creativity and drive results. Attendees will learn how to identify and leverage the right tools to enhance their innovation processes, ensuring they can replicate success and adapt to changing market demands.
Why we recommend booking Rita
Rita McGrath, a top-ranked global strategy expert and Columbia Business School professor, equips organizations with practical frameworks to spot market shifts early and transform innovation from theater into sustainable capability. Book Rita to provide your team with the strategic foresight and actionable approaches needed to thrive in today's unpredictable business landscape.
Your insight generated great engagement and comments from leaders sharing eye-opening observations and building on your examples throughout. You delivered the inspiration and illustration desired and it was exactly the right focus and challenge for this team. The future-focus theme was the perfect close to our leadership summit.
