Howard Yu

@Xiaomi's first car (SU7) sold out its 2024 production in 1 day. Wild, considering in 2016 it was a “unicorpse” after phone sales collapsed. @leijun swallowed pride, built Mi Home stores, grew an ecosystem, and HyperOS made the car inevitable. Full story: howardyu.substack.com/p/how-xiaomi-c…

My newsletter here: howardyu.substack.com Thank you!

I'm honored to be named to the @thinkers50 ranking for the second time! At the London Guildhall event, I got into what actually separates companies that stay future-ready from the ones that don't. What I keep seeing: It's not about being ten steps ahead; it's about being one *inch* ahead at the right moment, with total clarity on what matters next. - Mastercard spent two CEO generations simplifying their entire organization. - DBS Bank went from "Damn Bloody Slow" to the leading digital bank in Asia. - Swiss pharma companies built capability stacks that made them immune to tariffs. …same pattern across all of them. The real issue isn't strategy - most successful companies have good strategy. The problem is the knowing-doing gap. The C-suite gets it, but three levels down, people are drowning in the same generic priorities everyone else has. The actual work is making sure the person on the front line knows the true north well enough to make the right call when it matters. It takes heated debate, with love, to get to the truth. It takes stacking new capabilities without abandoning what you're actually good at. At Thinkers50, I reconnected with friends and colleagues like Rita McGrath, who has always been a role model in thinking through innovation, and Scott Anthony, whose new book Epic Disruption is, indeed, an epic event. Very grateful to be part of this community :) P.S. If you’re interested in more of my thinking, my newsletter just passed 10k subscribers. Link below:

Full details here: imd.org/strategy/fre/f…

After a year of building this with the team at MIT Sloan, we're officially launching the Future Ready Enterprise! This program is something I'm incredibly proud of. We set out to create something that didn't exist: a true partnership between @IMD_Bschool and @MITSloanExecEd that brings together our research on strategic transformation with their cutting-edge work on AI and digital systems, delivered across two incredible cities. Singapore, where we dig into how companies like DBS Bank actually rewired themselves for speed. Then Cambridge, where we spend a week in Kendall Square working through AI strategy and what leadership looks like when everything's uncertain. The whole idea came from a frustration we kept hearing from leaders: "I know we need to transform, I just don't have a roadmap or the time to build one." So we built that space: Participants bring their own challenge on day one and work on it across both weeks, testing ideas with faculty and a global cohort, and they leave with something real they can implement. First cohort kicks off February 2026 … and I genuinely can't wait to see it in action. Check out the video and details in the first comment 👇

After seeing a study covering 48 years of U.S. presidential daily diaries, I realized this: there’s no link between early mornings and lasting legacies. See full analysis here: howardyu.substack.com/p/two-charts-s…

Satya Nadella just stepped back from running @Microsoft's sales operation. Jensen Huang (@NVIDIA) still codes. Both run trillion-dollar companies in the same industry. One wins by doing less. One wins by doing everything. How? We've been sold a myth that great leaders must pick one mode: either delegate everything and focus, or stay hands-on across the business. But Nadella and Huang prove that's wrong. Last month, Nadella handed Microsoft's entire commercial operation to Judson Althoff. After a decade of sales calls and customer pitches, he's now focusing exclusively on what he calls "our highest ambition technical work" - AI research, data centers, systems architecture. Huang operates the opposite way. He runs product launches, meets heads of state, designs chips, and coaches startups. His goal is to create conditions where "amazing people come to do their life's work." For him, that means weaving engineering, business, and evangelism together himself. Same industry. Same moment. Opposite approaches. Both winning. Because the real question isn't "should I focus or integrate?" It's "what does my wiring demand, and what does this moment require?" Here's how to figure out which mode you need: If you're drained and your company needs specialized depth - focus like Nadella. Delegate everything except the one thing only you can push forward. If you're energized connecting dots across functions and your company needs integrated vision - stay broad like Huang. If you're drained AND nothing's getting attention - you're in the wrong role or need to restructure. If you're energized but your company keeps stalling - your integration might be the bottleneck. Bring in someone who can own a major function. So tomorrow, open your calendar. Look at last week. Which sessions energized you? Which drained you but could be owned by someone else? What critical work are you avoiding that only you can do? Then match that against what your company needs right now. The trap is copying someone else's operating system because it worked for them. What matters is building a rhythm that fits your wiring and your company's moment - then running it without apology. P.S. Want to see the data behind why copying routines doesn't predict success? Check the first comment 👇

If a project proves very hard—even if you want to succeed but have failed so far—there are only two reasons: either your grit is being tested, or a pivot is needed.

@dbsbank seeks a new CEO with a blend of #banking expertise and visionary #leadership. As I shared with The @BusinessTimes, this leader must balance tech savvy with banking fundamentals to drive transformation. Explore DBS's #3 rank globally: imd.org/future-readine… #FutureReady

Europe's tariffs on Chinese EVs aim to boost local competitiveness but could hike prices and shift markets. With @BYDCompany localizing production, big changes are ahead. How will this impact European consumers and carmakers? Read more: thenationalnews.com/business/econo… #IMDImpact

Jensen Huang's quiet determination led @nvidia to surpass @Microsoft & @Apple, reaching a $3.34T valuation! His impact at @computex_taipei highlights his role in the AI semiconductor boom. Read my full commentary on @ChannelNewsAsia channelnewsasia.com/commentary/nvi… #IMDImpact #FutureReady

China's play at Euro 2024: Brand recognition or a misstep? Chinese brands like #Vivo & @AliExpress_EN are making bold moves, targeting Western markets, crafting narratives, & betting big on a global image makeover. Read more: howardyu.org/chinese-brands… #FutureReady #IMDImpact

Chinese brands like @BYDCompany, @Alipay, @AliExpress_EN, & @HisenseGlobal are key #Euro2024 sponsors, driving global growth. They use the tournament to reach billions & build lasting recognition. youtube.com/watch?v=PwPHq9… Thanks, @CGTNEurope, for the opportunity to discuss this!

Not having ample checks and balances is bad governance, but overcorrect and a company loses momentum. @Toyota is at a crucial juncture, and their transition will shape their future. Thank you, @nytimes, for featuring my thoughts along with other experts. nytimes.com/2024/06/17/bus…

🚀 When the world is unpredictable, how do the best companies stay ahead? They engineer their own luck. In our latest article for @mitsmr, Mark Greeven and I reveal the secrets of future-ready giants like @LOrealGroupe, @nvidia, and @Xiaomi. sloanreview.mit.edu/article/engine… #IMDImpact

Why are Chinese companies sponsoring UEFA EURO 2024? Chinese giants like @AliExpress_EN, @BYDCompany, and @AlipayPlus are seizing the opportunity to expand their global presence by sponsoring the UEFA EURO 2024. Learn more: imd.org/ibyimd/strateg… #IMDImpact #FutureReady

In my recent @Bloomberg discussion, we explored how @LOrealGroupe uses tech to revolutionize beauty. 💄 AR apps let consumers try products virtually, tripling conversions. Check our Future Readiness Indicator for #CPG leaders: imd.org/future-readine… #FutureReady #IMDImpact

Leaders like @Mastercard, @Visa, @jpmorgan, and @dbsbank excel in balancing competition and cooperation, leveraging open banking to stay ahead. 📊 Discover more in our latest Future Readiness Indicator for the banking sector: imd.org/future-readine… #IMDImpact #FutureReady

Had a great discussion w/ @TomMackenzieTV on Bloomberg @business about shifts in the automotive industry. This year, @Tesla faces serious competition from companies like @BYDCompany, making significant strides. 📊 Discover the latest rankings: imd.org/future-readine… #FutureReady

Thank you @bbc5live, for having me on "Wake Up to Money" this morning. We discussed the evolving EV landscape, from @Tesla dominance to @BYDCompany rise in Manchester's public transport. The future could see Chinese EVs in Europe & US factories! youtube.com/watch?utm_camp… #IMDImpact