Harvard University Division of Continuing Education: Professional Development

Strategic Management of Growth Companies

August 15–16, 2012

9 am to 5 pm at Harvard University
Early bird tuition: $1,800. Regular tuition: $2,100. See the early bird tuition deadlines.
Class size is limited.

Two-day seminar on overcoming the barriers to growth

Growth companies are the engines of product innovation, market expansion, and value creation. But sustaining the growth of these dynamic private companies, typically with revenues of $10 to $100 million, requires a unique set of skills, different from those required in either startups or large public companies. Using a mix of case studies, interactive discussions, and group exercises this seminar provides you with a general management perspective of growth companies: strategy, execution, team, and capital.

You first learn different strategies for growth, including market disruption and business model innovation. You then connect strategy with execution through market selection and positioning, “lean” development of new products and services, and pipeline management. Because execution depends on team effectiveness, the seminar explores team alignment through meeting rhythms, and the role of leadership in creating a growth culture. Finally, you learn about raising capital to finance growth, and planning for a successful exit.

What you will learn

• How to uncover the barriers to growth in a private company
• How to apply versatile frameworks and tools to overcome these barriers
• A 360-degree view of the dynamics of a growth company

Topics covered

• Disruptive growth strategies
• Business model design
• “Lean” development of new products and services
• Pipeline creation and management
• Team alignment and meeting rhythms
• Leadership models
• Strategies for financing growth
• Exit strategy

Who should enroll

Anyone who wishes to understand the dynamics of successful growth companies, including current and future leaders, partners, and service providers. There are no prerequisites, but a basic understanding of management, marketing, and finance concepts is desirable.

Faculty

Dave Power

Dave Power is president of Power Strategy Inc., where he helps executive teams with growth strategy, alignment, and execution. Power has guided growth companies as an operating executive, board member, and advisor for more than 25 years. He is also a professor with the Harvard Extension School.

As an operating executive, Power was CEO of Novera Software, a private Internet software company; senior vice president of marketing and corporate development at RSA Security; and a vice president and general manager at Sun Microsystems.

As a partner at Fidelity Ventures, Power was an investor and board member in a number of successful growth companies including Black Duck Software, Castlight Health, EnterpriseDB, Polyserve, Ping Identity, and Vibes Media. Power was also a venture partner at Charles River Ventures.

In his early career, Power was a partner at Mercer Management Consulting where he co-founded the firm’s technology industry practice, advising Apple Computer, Lotus Development, and other technology leaders. He also designed and delivered executive development programs.

Power received an MBA from Stanford Business School, where he was an Arjay Miller Scholar, and BSCE and MS degrees in Environmental Engineering from Tufts University.                        

Questions?

Contact harvardprofdev@dcemail.harvard.edu.