Clayton Christensen

Clayton Christensen is one of the most respected and influential modern business leaders and authors. He is a professor at Harvard Business School and is best known for introducing the concept of “disruptive innovation,” which has had profound implications for how firms operate and compete in the 21st century. He has authored and co-authored various books on management, strategy, innovation, and leadership that have been translated into over 30 languages; some of the more notable titles include The Innovator’s Dilemma, Seeing What’s Next, and The Innovator’s Solution.

Clayton Christensen was born in Salt Lake City in 1952 and grew up in a large, close-knit family in the Rocky Mountain region. He earned his undergraduate degree in economics from Brigham Young University, and went on to attend the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where he earned an MBA in 1979. During the summer of 1979, he served as a missionary in South Korea.

Upon graduating from Stanford, Christensen became a consultant at the Boston Consulting Group, where he spent five years. He then joined Harvard Business School as a professor in 1992, where he currently teaches courses on the dynamics of competitive and organizational strategy.

Christensen’s most famous and impactful contribution to the business world has been his insights on “disruptive innovation.” This theory was first described in his book The Innovator's Dilemma, co-authored with Michael E. Raynor, which has been highly influential in the business world. This theory explains how unexpected forces can disrupt existing markets, allowing lower-cost, innovative companies to gain a competitive edge as they work to break existing paradigms. This concept has been applied to many industries, including the software and consumer electronics industries.

In addition to The Innovator’s Dilemma, Christensen has authored and co-authored several other books, including Seeing What’s Next, The Innovator’s Solution, and Competing Against Luck. These books offer insight into how business leaders can use innovation to drive growth in their organizations. These books emphasize the need to be comfortable with uncertainty and risk in order to truly take advantage of the opportunities presented by disruptive innovation.

Clayton Christensen’s influence on the business world has been significant, and has extended outside the realm of academia into the business world. He has consulted for some of the top brands in the world, including Microsoft, Intel, and Apple. He has also served as an advisor and board member for various startups and corporations, including the private equity firm Warburg Pincus and the charity organization The Heinz Family Foundation.

Throughout his career, Christensen has been awarded various honors, including the prestigious McKinsey Award, the TW Institut Honorary Award, and the Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award. In addition, he has been named one of the “Top 25 Management Gurus” by the Financial Times.

Clayton Christensen’s insights and theories on disruptive innovation are essential for business leaders to understand. Whether you are an avid reader of his work, or are simply looking for an introduction to this important concept, his books and teachings can help you form the foundations for a successful business strategy.