21st Century Leadership – Masterclasses

Our world is getting ever more complex and business needs to adapt to new challenges every day. To keep up in this rapidly changing world, leaders need to stay ahead of the curve! 

This is why Prof. Dr. Fred van Eenennaam is hosting the one-evening 21st Century Leadership Masterclasses that give you access to:

1. The most relevant Harvard Business Cases on real-life challenges
2. Enlightening conversations with fellow experienced business leaders 
3. Insights from the best topic experts

So far 186 business leaders benefited from the discussions of complex strategic challenges, transformation processes, as well as corporate governance dilemmas. 

Take full advantage of these insightful discussions by joining on location or online from anywhere in the world!

The 2023-24 Agenda

Nov 7 | Managing Digital Innovation

Nov 21 | Corporate Governance Special

Jan 30 | ESG and Strategic Sustainability  (Circular Economy Alliance)

March 19 | Driving AI and Digital Strategy

April 16 | Corporate Governance Special

Aug 27  | Strategic Sustainability and ESG

Oct 22 | Driving AI and Digital Strategy

Nov 26 | Corporate Governance Special

Register as an online or on-site participant from 473 Euros by clicking “Select modules and dates”

*Each masterclass is a 5-hour long session from 16:00 to 21:00 (CET). 

** The sessions are hosted at Loetje Oudekerk aan de Amstel and the on-site fee also includes catering

Session Details

ESG, and Strategic Sustainability

Jan 30, 2023

Mounting social and environmental pressures are reshaping the competitive landscape for companies in every industry. Take the next step towards achieving the ESG goals of your business while maintaining economic growth! What are the strategies that yield results?

Session host: Prof. Dr. Fred van Eenennaam

Guest Speaker: Prof. Saman Sarbazvatan, Circular Economy Alliance

Case Discussions:

Circular Economy

A bold new approach to solving interconnected global crises! What if business systems could emulate nature? Purpose-built economies can be optimized to more efficiently mimic this perfect design. Businesses could benefit from embracing and leading the transition to a CE; in particular, pursuing circular opportunities could unlock almost USD 5 trillion by 2030. Decouple economic growth from resource depletion, eliminate waste, and achieve climate neutrality, while maintaining economic growth and competitive advantage. Discuss the example of companies who adapted a circular model and learn from their results and challenges!

Ferrari: Shifting to Carbon Neutrality

Ferrari is attempting to make the ultimate luxury product carbon-neutral and ESG-compliant!

On the Capital Markets day of June 16, 2022, Vigna announced that carbon neutrality, or bringing the company’s carbon footprint to zero, is now going to be at the core of Ferrari’s strategy. Ferrari would reduce the emissions of its suppliers, its production process as well and its car fleet. These announcements came in a context of economic and political uncertainty, and regulatory changes in the automotive industry. Is it a realistic mission in the resource-heavy automotive industry hindered by the European energy crisis due to the 2022 Russian and Ukrainian war and the post-pandemic resource scarcity? Vigna wondered, “Have I been too bold or not bold enough?”

Previously:

Corporate Governance Special

Nov 21, 2023

During this corporate governance special, we dive into two real-life business cases with a group of board members on governance challenges that cause uneasiness today: Cyber-attacks and cryptocurrencies. What is the right course of action during a ransomware attack? Where is the line between speculation and risk-taking?

Guest Speaker: Prof. Charles C.Y. Wang, Harvard Business School

Case Discussions:

Ransomware attack at Colonial Pipeline Company

On the morning of May 7, 2021, Colonial Pipeline Company became aware that the company had been the victim of a malicious ransomware attack that had stolen and locked up company data. The extortionists demanded 75 bitcoins (worth about $4.4 million at the time) in exchange for the decryption tool needed to unlock the data. To contain the system infection, the control room promptly shut down all company pipelines that transported nearly half of all refined oil products consumed in the East Coast of the United States.

Within hours, external experts and governmental authorities were assembled to help but information was still limited on how to manage the cyberattack. As the passing of every minute threatened the oil supply to 13 states and the nation’s capital, CEO of Colonial Pipeline, Joseph Blount had to make one crucial decision: whether to pay the ransom or not. The case discusses Colonial Pipeline’s cybersecurity practices, ransomware trends, detail of the ransomware attack at Colonial, impact of the attack, Colonial’s response to the attack, and post-attack repercussion. Overall, the case prompts readers to contemplate how organizations should prevent and respond to the ever-increasing threat of cyber breaches.

Accounting for Bitcoin at Tesla

On February 8, 2021, Tesla revealed, through its 10-K filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), that it had purchased $1.5 billion of Bitcoin, totaling 7.5% of the company’s cash, and that it planned to accept payments in the cryptocurrency soon. These announcements came at the heel of the sixth straight quarter of positive GAAP profit and the first profitable fiscal year in the company’s history.

The revelation about Tesla’s Bitcoin purchases were met with mixed reactions by stock investors and market participants. This case centers around the accounting treatment of Bitcoin at Tesla: what does the accounting treatment say about Bitcoin as an asset, and what are its implications for Tesla’s profitability under the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles or Elon Musk’s compensation incentives? The case also raises questions about whether investing in Bitcoin is consistent with the company’s strategy or could be deemed a form of speculation, and whether Musk’s public communications about cryptocurrencies (e.g., his cryptocurrency-related “Tweets”) constitute a form of market manipulation.

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