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AI “is going to be very pervasive,” author Faisal Hoque says when discussing the fundamentals of the technology, adding: “Responsible innovation and responsible utilization is first and foremost.” — Yahoo Finance
Not just a tool—but a turning point. AI is so much more than just automation -- it's an awareness. It’s forcing organizations—and all of us—to ask deeper questions: Who are we becoming? What are we optimizing for? What does it mean to lead in an age of intelligent systems? This is not a tech story. It’s a human one.
In a conversation on CBS, Faisal shared why “reverse improvement” is already here: as AI gets more powerful, we're unintentionally eroding essential human skills—like creativity, empathy, and critical thinking. The biggest mistake leaders make? Falling in love with shiny objects and forgetting the people behind the process.
We structured "TRANSCEND" around four key parts, one of which is deeply rooted in philosophy. Because without grounding in purpose and values, innovation can easily lose its way. That’s why we introduced the OPEN & CARE frameworks:
"Be one with the floor -- those were the words of first supervisor. I was 17, newly arrived in the U.S., working midnight to 3 AM to pay my way through engineering school. I didn’t realize it then, but that was my first lesson about focus, presence, and letting go -- essentially mindfulness."
Given the rate of change we’re currently experiencing in the world around, it’s a challenge for any organization to stay on top of everything. In this month’s I by IMD Book Club, Faisal Hoque, author of Wall Street Journal bestseller REINVENT, shows how to navigate business transformation and flourish in the hyperdigital era.
With his groundbreaking book titled “REINVENT: Navigating Business Transformation in a Hyperdigital Era,’ Hoque triggers a seismic shift in conventional thinking and operational paradigms. The accolades heaped upon ‘REINVENT’ are a testament to its impact – recently crowned the Best Business Book of the Year for 20-23 at the prestigious American Business Awards and claiming the coveted top spot on the Wall Street Journal Best-Seller List.
It often seems that there's never enough time in the day to get things done. And most of us rely on our smartphones because we think it's making us more efficient. Founder of SHADOKA and author Faisal Hoque says that smart phones actually can make you less productive. He joined us with ways to get your duties done.
Your Job Is Literally ‘Killing’ You - A new study by researchers at Harvard and Stanford has quantified just how much a stressful workplace may be shaving off of Americans' life spans. It suggests that the amount of life lost to stress varies significantly for people of different races, educational levels and genders, and ranges up to nearly three years of life lost for some groups. Faisal Hoque, founder of Shadoka and author of “Survive to Thrive,” shares his tips on how to stay calm in the face of daily stress.
Comparison: Faisal Hoque’s approach to long-term value creation offers a unique perspective by incorporating sustainability, ethical practices, and strategic foresight, setting it apart from conventional business strategies focused mainly on short-term gains. While Michael Porter emphasizes creating competitive advantage through efficiency and maximizing customer value, Hoque extends this with a focus on sustainability and ethical implications, advocating for a balance between immediate business goals and long-term societal impacts. Similarly, while Jim Collins discusses enduring greatness through discipline, Hoque integrates ethical leadership and mindfulness, suggesting that greatness also involves a company’s positive impact on society and the environment.
Impact: Globally, Hoque’s ideas on long-term value creation influence companies to align with sustainability goals and develop resilience against market volatility and environmental uncertainties. His emphasis on ethical considerations and sustainability helps businesses meet global challenges such as those outlined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), enhancing corporate responsibility and stakeholder relationships. This approach not only fosters adaptability and resilience in changing markets but also positions companies to thrive in a socially conscious business environment, ensuring their growth is both profitable and beneficial to broader societal and environmental objectives.
Comparison: Faisal Hoque’s approach to systems thinking differentiates itself on the global stage by weaving in leadership, innovation, and ethical considerations, expanding upon traditional systems thinking frameworks such as those promoted by Peter Senge and Donella Meadows. While Senge focuses on the learning aspects within organizations, Hoque extends this to include ethical leadership and societal impact, broadening the scope to address a wider range of global challenges. Meanwhile, though Meadows concentrated on environmental systems and leveraging points of change, Hoque applies these concepts across all organizational activities, promoting a holistic approach to innovation and decision-making.
Impact: Hoque’s application of systems thinking significantly influences how organizations engage with complex challenges like sustainability and ethical governance. His methodology encourages companies to make decisions that account for long-term impacts, promoting sustainability and ethical practices that are vital in today’s interconnected world. By fostering a deeper understanding of systemic interdependencies, his approach not only enhances organizational agility and resilience but also positions businesses as key players in addressing global issues, making a marked impact on how they contribute to broader societal and environmental objectives.
Comparison: Faisal Hoque’s approach to personal and organizational resiliency uniquely integrates individual well-being with ethical organizational practices, expanding upon the concepts introduced by thinkers like Angela Duckworth and Nassim Nicholas Taleb. While Duckworth focuses on personal grit and perseverance, and Taleb on systemic antifragility that benefits from disruptions, Hoque bridges these perspectives by emphasizing how personal resilience can enhance and be enhanced by mindful and ethical organizational cultures. This holistic view fosters a symbiotic relationship between individual and organizational health, promoting a resilience that is both deeply personal and widely institutional.
Impact: Hoque’s ideas influence organizations to adopt resilience as a proactive strategy embedded within their operational and ethical frameworks, aligning with global trends towards sustainable and responsible business practices. This approach not only helps organizations adapt to economic, technological, and environmental challenges but also promotes well-being and ethical practices at all levels of the organization. The global impact of these ideas is significant, contributing to the development of healthier workplaces and more sustainable business models, thus ensuring organizations are not just surviving but thriving in today’s dynamic business environment.
Comparison: Faisal Hoque’s approach to agility and adaptability in business stands out for its integration of technological, human, and ethical dimensions, distinguishing his ideas from those of thinkers like Eric Ries and Nassim Nicholas Taleb. While Ries focuses on rapid prototyping and market responsiveness through Lean Startup principles, and Taleb emphasizes systemic resilience under stress (antifragility), Hoque extends these concepts to broader organizational contexts. He advocates for a form of adaptability that not only responds quickly to changes but also maintains ethical integrity and considers the long-term impact on stakeholders.
Impact: Hoque’s ideas significantly impact how businesses build resilience and navigate the complexities of modern markets. His emphasis on ethical agility ensures that companies can innovate and adapt while upholding corporate integrity and prioritizing the well-being of employees and communities. This human-centric and ethically grounded approach to adaptability makes Hoque’s framework particularly relevant in a world where rapid change and social responsibility are increasingly intertwined, helping businesses sustain growth while contributing positively to society.
Comparison: Faisal Hoque’s ideas on the future of work distinguish themselves by blending technological advancements with strong ethical and employee-centric principles, setting his approach apart from the more technology-focused views of leaders such as Andrew Ng and Geoffrey Hinton, who emphasize AI’s impact on efficiency and job automation. While Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant address workplace equality and culture, Hoque extends these discussions to encompass broader issues such as ethical leadership and sustainable business practices, advocating for a comprehensive strategy that supports both technological adaptation and an inclusive workplace environment.
Impact: Hoque’s emphasis on ethical and sustainable practices guides organizations through technological transformations, ensuring that advancements in AI and automation enhance rather than replace human capabilities. This approach not only prepares companies for future technological shifts but also promotes a work culture that values inclusivity and employee well-being. By integrating these principles into the future of work, Hoque influences global business trends towards more responsible and socially conscious corporate strategies, helping organizations to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving market while contributing positively to societal and environmental outcomes.
Comparison: Faisal Hoque’s ideas on entrepreneurship distinguish themselves by integrating ethical practices and sustainability into the core of business strategies, setting him apart from traditional thinkers like Steve Blank and Eric Ries, who focus primarily on market fit and efficiency. While Blank and Ries emphasize rapid iteration and customer feedback, Hoque expands this by ensuring that entrepreneurial ventures also consider societal and environmental impacts. This approach also contrasts with Peter Drucker’s focus on management practices and Muhammad Yunus’s social entrepreneurship, by broadening the scope to include both small and large-scale initiatives that drive positive societal change.
Impact: Hoque’s emphasis on sustainable and ethical entrepreneurship has a profound impact by encouraging businesses to adopt practices that address environmental and social issues, aligning with growing global demands for corporate responsibility. His ideas foster a new generation of business leaders who prioritize transparency and inclusivity, contributing to more responsible and innovative business practices. This alignment with global sustainability goals not only enhances the credibility of entrepreneurship but also drives broader societal benefits, positioning Hoque’s approach as a significant force for positive change in the global business landscape.
Comparison: Faisal Hoque’s integration of mindfulness, empathy, and spirituality into business leadership offers a distinctive approach that sets him apart from other thinkers like Jon Kabat-Zinn and Thich Nhat Hanh, who focus primarily on personal development and peace. Hoque extends these concepts into the realm of business and organizational culture, advocating for their role in enhancing decision-making, leadership effectiveness, and corporate responsibility. This bridges a gap between personal spiritual practices and practical business applications, offering a unique blend that enriches leadership beyond the traditional emotional intelligence frameworks provided by leaders such as Daniel Goleman and Richard Boyatzis.
Impact: Globally, Hoque’s ideas significantly influence corporate culture by promoting leadership styles that are reflective, responsive, and deeply responsible. This approach has led to tangible benefits such as higher employee engagement, lower turnover rates, and a positive organizational image, which are crucial in today’s socially conscious market. Consequently, his concepts contribute to shaping a more humane and ethically conscious business environment worldwide, aligning corporate actions with broader societal values.
Comparison: Faisal Hoque’s human-centric approach to business distinguishes itself by integrating empathy, mindfulness, and ethical leadership into organizational strategies. Compared to Simon Sinek’s focus on motivational leadership through vision and purpose, and Daniel Pink’s emphasis on autonomy, mastery, and purpose for employee motivation, Hoque’s framework goes further by embedding these principles within a broader context of ethical practices and overall well-being. This holistic view offers a more comprehensive approach to addressing human elements in business operations, enhancing both leadership effectiveness and employee satisfaction.
Impact: Globally, Hoque’s ideas have a significant impact by promoting workplaces that prioritize ethical considerations and employee well-being, aligning with the increasing demand for corporate social responsibility and sustainable business practices. His approach helps organizations build more humane and engaging workplaces, which can attract and retain talent while addressing global expectations for transparency and ethical behavior. This shift towards a human-centric model not only improves organizational culture but also supports broader societal goals, contributing to more responsible and sustainable global business practices.
Comparison: Faisal Hoque’s approach to AI and technology emphasizes a balanced, ethical, and human-centric integration, distinguishing his views from those of tech giants like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, who often focus on pushing technological boundaries in sectors such as transportation and retail. Unlike their technology-first strategies, Hoque stresses the importance of ethical implications and social impacts, advocating for a cautious approach to AI development and deployment. His perspectives align more closely with thinkers like Yuval Noah Harari, who also highlights concerns about AI’s societal effects, but Hoque extends these ideas into actionable strategies for businesses, promoting the responsible use of AI to enhance human capabilities and address key societal challenges.
Impact: Globally, Hoque’s emphasis on ethical AI development and human-centric technology implementation resonates as businesses and governments grapple with rapid technological advances and their implications for work and privacy. His frameworks and methodologies not only helps shape policies and strategies that prioritize long-term societal well-being but also positions organizations to tackle global issues including health-care, climate change and resource management more effectively, guiding a path toward ethical and thoughtful technological advancement.
Comparison: Faisal Hoque’s approach to innovation distinctively integrates ethical considerations, mindfulness, and a holistic business strategy, setting it apart from more narrowly focused innovators. Unlike rapid iteration like Eric Ries, Elon Musk’s emphasis on disruptive technological innovations and Clayton Christensen’s focus on market dynamics through disruptive innovation, Hoque champions an approach that balances technological advancement with sustainability and organizational values with long-term outlook. This broader perspective not only promotes technological and business model innovation but also incorporates social innovation, extending beyond the economic scope to include social responsibilities and impacts.
Impact: Globally, his approach has a profound impact as it resonates with contemporary demands for corporate social responsibility and ethical business practices. His holistic innovation strategies for both micro and macro encourage organizations to pursue growth that is not only economically beneficial but also positive for society and the environment. Hoque’s ideas help organizations to cultivate more inclusive, adaptive, and resilient internal environments, aligning business innovations with global trends towards sustainability and ethical governance.
Comparison: Faisal Hoque’s approach to business transformation uniquely integrates technological advancement with human-centric leadership and ethical considerations, setting his ideas apart from other business thinkers. While thinkers like Clayton Christensen focus on adapting to disruptive technologies, and Marc Benioff emphasizes digital workflows, Hoque advocates for a balanced approach where technology enhances rather than replaces human capabilities. His strategy includes not only competitive adaptations but also a strong emphasis on sustainability and ethics, contrasting with Michael Porter’s primarily profit-driven competitive strategies. This comprehensive integration ensures that transformation strategies are both innovative and grounded in broader societal values.
Impact: Globally, Hoque’s ideas have a significant impact, encouraging organizations to adopt holistic and sustainable transformation strategies. By promoting resilience and adaptability as core components of business strategy, his approach helps companies remain competitive in a volatile global market while also aligning with increasing demands for ethical practices and sustainability. His methodologies is thus pivotal for businesses aiming to navigate the complexities of modern markets and maintain a commitment to ethical and sustainable practices.
Comparison: Faisal Hoque’s approaches to transformational and collaborative leadership enhance traditional models by incorporating mindfulness and ethical considerations, setting them apart from the charismatic and motivational focus of foundational theorists like James MacGregor Burns and Bernard Bass. Unlike John Kotter’s systematic, top-down approach, Hoque advocates for a more inclusive and collaborative leadership style, emphasizing the integration of diverse team insights and a culture of shared purpose. His enhancement of these leadership models with principles from Daniel Goleman’s emotional intelligence approach further supports a nuanced approach that is both empathetic and strategic, essential for navigating complex organizational changes.
Impact: Hoque’s emphasis on collaborative and transformational leadership fosters organizational agility and resilience, crucial in today’s dynamic business environment. By promoting inclusive workplaces that value collaborative problem-solving and innovation, his ideas not only enhance employee engagement but also drive organizational success, aligning modern leadership practices with the demands of the 21st-century global marketplace.
