WHAT MAKES
A GREAT LEADER?

We've had the privilege of studying exceptional leaders of innovation, up close and personal. Our book describes the mindset and skills required for leading in our dynamic and complex world.

“Genius at Scale is a must read for any leader keen to unleash innovation at scale. Linda A. Hill, Emily Tedards, and Jason Wild bring to life their idea of leaders as architects, bridgers, and catalysts.”

HUBERT JOLY

FORMER CEO BEST BUY

“Genius at Scale issues an urgent call to reimagine how co-creation, deep connection, and productive challenge unlock real innovation and impact.”

Brené Brown

NYT Bestselling author
of Strong Ground

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

We’re a multi-disciplinary, multi-generational team passionate about unleashing collective genius at scale.

LINDA A. HILL

Wallace Brett Donham Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School.

EMILY TEDARDS

Graduate researcher in organizational behavior at Harvard Business School.

JASON WILD

Executive, author, and adviser on strategy, innovation, and growth.

the ABC’s of Leading Innovation

Innovation doesn't just happen. You need to lead it. Discover the three critical roles leaders must play in driving—and scaling—innovation.

Architect

These leaders largely work within their team or organization, building innovative communities by fostering the culture and capabilities that enable co-creation.

Bridger

These leaders work at the boundaries of their enterprises, building partnerships with those outside their walls to access essential talent and tools for innovation.

Catalyst

These leaders go even further, launching movements that activate and spread innovation across broader ecosystems.

Bold Leaders, Large-Scale Impact

Insights from CEOs, founders, and change-makers on the power of leading innovation at scale.

Valero Marín

Executive Managing Director and Executive Committee Member at Repsol and Chairman of IndesIA

“This book demonstrates, through experience, that leading innovation is possible and necessary in today´s world. It offers a practical vision of how exceptional leaders drive...

...large-scale innovation through their focus on purpose, generosity and shared vision. In this adventure, there is no place for individual geniuses but rather for genius at scale capable of activating co – creation both within and beyond their organizations. A must read.”

Jacob Bendfeldt

Global Head of Strategy, Microsoft Research Partnerships/AI Architect & Futures

“Genius at Scale gives leaders a clear framework to drive innovation and impact through culture, clarity, and co-creation. Not just vision—execution.”

TAN Su Shan

CEO DBS Group

“'Genius at Scale' offers profound insights into the approaches and skills crucial for driving innovation within organisations, revealing how collaboration, experimentation and continuous learning can catalyse transformation. These resonate with my own lived experiences in the workplace in fostering a culture that inspires purpose, empowers leadership and encourages a growth mindset.”

Atsushi Taira

Co-founder, The Edgeof; General Partner, Alpha Intelligence Fund

“In an era when AI scales faster than organizations, Genius at Scale reminds us that the real leverage is human—connecting people, purpose, and incentives. It shows how to design relationships that convert purpose into performance and make innovation repeatable, not accidental.”

Audrey Choi

Chair, Generation Foundation; Former Chief Sustainability Officer and Chief Marketing Officer, Morgan Stanley

“Genius At Scale is a remarkable exploration of the often overlooked leadership qualities needed to bring about landscape-altering innovation. Across different industries, sectors and geographies...

...the authors insightfully unpack the unique power that comes when leaders lead with curiosity, humility, and collaboration – enabling them to unleash unprecedented innovations and immense commercial growth. Hill, Tedards and Wild elucidate how the most powerful engines of growth come from building a generative ecosystem for consumers, communities, suppliers and even competitors alike. The transformational leaders profiled in this book realize they must ‘share the driver’s seat’ to achieve a long-term vision. Through collaboration and community, they are able to deliver immense commercial successes, and along the way may even change an entire industry’s or country’s ultimate trajectory. Genius At Scale is inspiring – not only for the C-suite, but for all, as it reveals how leadership and innovation can come from unexpected places, regardless of rank, function or title. Whether formulating a rapid response to an unprecedented crisis, or trying to bring about a long-term sea-change, the leaders profiled in this book demonstrate the immense value of a collaborative, innovation-minded culture.”

Luca de Meo

CEO Kering

“This book is a practical guide for leaders who want to innovate at scale—not just within their organizations, but across entire ecosystems. By spotlighting courageous and generous individuals from around the world, it shows how the ABC roles of Architect, Bridger, and Catalyst can unlock collective genius and transform complexity into opportunity.”

BrenÉ Brown

Ph.D, NYT Bestselling author of Strong Ground

“Genius at Scale is the exact right book for right now! It issues an urgent call to reimagine how co-creation, deep connection, and productive challenge unlock real innovation and impact.”

Michael Brandmeyer

Head and CIO of the External Investing Group, Goldman Sachs Asset Management

“Genius at Scale gives leaders a license to be ambitious with how far they can drive an organization through powerful forms of collaboration. Managing an organization of highly talented people can be a challenge. The ABCs provide a framework for maximizing that talent in service of ambitious goals.”

THE ABC’s

To drive genius at scale, these leaders relied on a repertoire of interrelated roles:

LEADER AS ARCHITECT

Shaping culture and capabilities for co-creation

LEADER AS BRIDGER

Building partnerships across teams and organizations

LEADER AS CATALYST

Activating and cultivating movements across ecosystems

#4

Recognized by Thinkers50 as one of the top global management thinkers, highlighting her influential contributions to leadership and innovation at scale.

Finalist for the 2025 Thinkers50 Innovation Award

Based on advance manuscript, Genius at Scale is the only unpublished work shortlisted for the 2025 Thinkers50 Innovation Award - extraordinary validation of the book's groundbreaking insights on scaling innovation.

WHAT MAKES A GREAT LEADER?