At the World Economic Forum’s Dubai meetings: Five ideas for a fractured world
Summary
Leaders at the WEF’s Annual Meetings of the Global Future Councils and Cybersecurity focused less on rivalry and more on action.
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Purpose, pressure, and performance: The art of creative leadership
Summary
Chef Pam shares how creativity, connection, and simplicity can transform pressure into possibility and legacy into a philosophy of leadership.
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Don’t mention it! Tackling your team’s taboos, Part 1
Summary
Nothing stunts team progress like “undiscussables.” Left unmanaged, they choke the team’s problem-solving abilities and its capacity to learn and change. In this four-part series, we provide a guide for team leaders to tackle thorny issues, beginn...
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Fearless leadership built on Integrity - Kiran Bedi
Summary
Kiran Bedi reveals how fearless leadership built on integrity, discipline, and purpose can turn conviction into trust and service into impact.
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Tackling your team’s taboos - Part 1
Summary
Learn how to start Tackling your team’s taboos by addressing the “undiscussables” that block problem-solving, learning, and meaningful team progress.
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DNB Bank: Embracing startups as a growth strategy
Summary
The case examines how DNB Bank, Norway's largest financial services company, reshaped its growth strategy by focusing on startups and SMEs, a segment traditionally considered unprofitable. In 2013, DNB launched a bold SME strategy, deliberately choosing a gross approach to win new startups early in their life cycle rather than a net approach focused on the profitability of existing accounts. This strategy, enabled by a significant investment in digitalization and a cultural shift toward customer lifecycle engagement, generated exceptional results and by 2025, the SME segment delivered the highest return on allocated capital. The journey, however, was not linear. A European regulatory crackdown in 2019, following the Danske Bank money laundering scandal, forced DNB to shift its focus from growth to compliance. The bank reallocated 1,000 employees to KYC units, dismantling its startup-friendly onboarding process and causing customer acquisition to stall. As competitors advanced, DNB had to orchestrate a strategic Restart effort to rebuild its SME leadership. This involved launching superior digital tools, providing automated lending decisions within a minute, and renewing its customer-centric focus. By 2025, the recovery was well underway, with one in three Norwegian SMEs banking with DNB. The case challenges students to evaluate DNB's past choices, the critical balance between growth and compliance, and the future of SME banking as AI and digital agents transform customer interactions.
Reference
IMD-2706
Copyright
©2025
Copyright owner
IMD Copyright
Organization
DNB Bank
Industry
Finance and Insurance, Banking
Available Languages
English
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New to leadership? Don’t become a people pleaser
Summary
A common trap new leaders fall into is the desire to please others. But don’t be fooled: people-pleasing is exhausting and can quickly lead to burnout. Go through the questions below to see if you’re at risk and check out the tips on breaking the ...
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Purpose-driven leadership - OWP Singapore - Poman Lo
Summary
Poman Lo argues that purpose-driven leadership, not profit, must guide Asia’s transformation toward sustainability amid the growing climate crisis.
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Don’t Become a People Pleaser - Leadership
Summary
New leaders, beware: the urge to please everyone can lead to exhaustion and burnout. Learn how to spot the signs and Don’t become a people pleaser.
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Economía circular: las nuevas reglas del crecimiento
Summary
Las estrategias de economía circular y regeneración están transformando el crecimiento empresarial frente al cambio climático, la escasez de recursos y la tensión geopolítica, dentro de los límites del planeta.
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