This CEO pulled off the craziest comeback in history:
In 2020, IBM lost $3.5 BILLION in a single year.
So their new CEO told everyone "Live every day ready to be fired."
Everyone thought he'd gone crazy.
Here's how his shocking policy created a $230 BILLION empire: x.com
In 2020, IBM lost $3.5 BILLION in a single year.
So their new CEO told everyone "Live every day ready to be fired."
Everyone thought he'd gone crazy.
Here's how his shocking policy created a $230 BILLION empire: x.com
IBM used to be unstoppable.
The company that brought us the PC, the ATM, and the barcode scanner.
A tech giant that shaped the modern world.
But in 2020, something went terribly wrong... x.com
The company that brought us the PC, the ATM, and the barcode scanner.
A tech giant that shaped the modern world.
But in 2020, something went terribly wrong... x.com
Their revenue dropped by $3.5 billion in a single year.
Stock prices hit their lowest point since 2009, falling to $106 per share.
While competitors like AWS and Azure saw 30% and 48% growth, IBM was declining.
The tech world watched in shock as the giant stumbled... x.com
Stock prices hit their lowest point since 2009, falling to $106 per share.
While competitors like AWS and Azure saw 30% and 48% growth, IBM was declining.
The tech world watched in shock as the giant stumbled... x.com
The board knew they needed a radical change.
Enter Arvind Krishna - a brilliant researcher who'd spent 30 years at IBM, starting at the Watson Research Center.
He was different from past CEOs. No fancy suits. No corporate speak.
Just raw technical brilliance and a wild philosophy:
Enter Arvind Krishna - a brilliant researcher who'd spent 30 years at IBM, starting at the Watson Research Center.
He was different from past CEOs. No fancy suits. No corporate speak.
Just raw technical brilliance and a wild philosophy:
On his first day as CEO, Krishna shocked everyone with a statement:
"You should live every day in the pleasure of getting fired... That is so freeing, and so deep."
The business world thought he'd lost his mind.
But Krishna saw something others didn't... x.com
"You should live every day in the pleasure of getting fired... That is so freeing, and so deep."
The business world thought he'd lost his mind.
But Krishna saw something others didn't... x.com
IBM had become too safe. Too comfortable.
Employees were afraid to take risks. To innovate. To challenge the status quo.
They were playing not to lose, instead of playing to win.
Krishna's controversial policy was about to change everything...
Employees were afraid to take risks. To innovate. To challenge the status quo.
They were playing not to lose, instead of playing to win.
Krishna's controversial policy was about to change everything...
He didn't just talk about embracing risk - he rewired the entire company around it:
• Reduced management layers from 12 to 6
• Gave front-line managers power to approve $500k projects
• Created a "no-fault" policy for failed projects
But the real magic happened next: x.com
• Reduced management layers from 12 to 6
• Gave front-line managers power to approve $500k projects
• Created a "no-fault" policy for failed projects
But the real magic happened next: x.com
Innovation exploded:
Patent applications jumped 27%.
Employees completed over 33 million hours of learning in 2022.
The company that had been afraid to fail was now failing forward - and learning faster than ever. x.com
Patent applications jumped 27%.
Employees completed over 33 million hours of learning in 2022.
The company that had been afraid to fail was now failing forward - and learning faster than ever. x.com
Krishna's "ready to be fired" philosophy created psychological safety.
When you're ready to be fired, you're free to:
• Take bold risks
• Challenge old ideas
• Propose radical solutions
The fear of failure disappeared. And something remarkable emerged:
When you're ready to be fired, you're free to:
• Take bold risks
• Challenge old ideas
• Propose radical solutions
The fear of failure disappeared. And something remarkable emerged:
IBM's culture transformed from conservative to cutting-edge.
Their internal "Think Lab" platform generated 5,000 new ideas in its first year.
10% received immediate funding.
But Krishna wasn't done revolutionizing IBM... x.com
Their internal "Think Lab" platform generated 5,000 new ideas in its first year.
10% received immediate funding.
But Krishna wasn't done revolutionizing IBM... x.com
IBM's profit margins soared from 49.3% to 53.4%.
Their cloud revenue grew to $26.3 billion - 37% of total revenue.
The stock price, which had been stagnant for years, rose 40%.
But the most impressive transformation wasn't financial: x.com
Their cloud revenue grew to $26.3 billion - 37% of total revenue.
The stock price, which had been stagnant for years, rose 40%.
But the most impressive transformation wasn't financial: x.com
Today, IBM is a tech powerhouse once again.
But more importantly, it's back to leading innovation:
• Quantum computing breakthroughs
• AI systems that can debate humans
• Cloud solutions transforming industries
The real lesson from IBM's transformation? x.com
But more importantly, it's back to leading innovation:
• Quantum computing breakthroughs
• AI systems that can debate humans
• Cloud solutions transforming industries
The real lesson from IBM's transformation? x.com
As tech evolves at lightning speed, leaders face a critical challenge:
How do you stay ahead when everything keeps changing?
The answer lies in building adaptable systems - just like Krishna did at IBM.
But there's an even bigger opportunity emerging: x.com
How do you stay ahead when everything keeps changing?
The answer lies in building adaptable systems - just like Krishna did at IBM.
But there's an even bigger opportunity emerging: x.com
The next wave of innovation isn't just about internal systems.
It's about connecting them to the outside world through APIs and automation.
This is creating what I call the "programmable economy" - where every business function becomes a digital service... x.com
It's about connecting them to the outside world through APIs and automation.
This is creating what I call the "programmable economy" - where every business function becomes a digital service... x.com
Companies that master this transformation are seeing:
• 10x faster innovation cycles
• Dramatic cost reductions
• New revenue streams from existing assets
But most leaders are missing the bigger picture...
• 10x faster innovation cycles
• Dramatic cost reductions
• New revenue streams from existing assets
But most leaders are missing the bigger picture...
Want to learn how APIs and automation are reshaping the future of business?
Join 300,000+ tech leaders at APIdays - where we break down complex tech trends into actionable strategies. x.com
Join 300,000+ tech leaders at APIdays - where we break down complex tech trends into actionable strategies. x.com
Want more on becoming the future of tech? ⏩
• Join our 300K+ community apidays.typeform.com
• Follow for more on APIs, tech, and the future of AI.
• Repost for your network if you found it helpful! 🔁
The future's connected. 🌐
Become part of it. x.com
• Join our 300K+ community apidays.typeform.com
• Follow for more on APIs, tech, and the future of AI.
• Repost for your network if you found it helpful! 🔁
The future's connected. 🌐
Become part of it. x.com
I am Baptiste Parravicini:
• Tech entrepreneur & API visionary
• Co-founder of apidays, world's leading API conference
• Passionate about AI integration & tech for the greater good
Follow for insights on how APIs are connecting our future
Repost for your network 🔄:
• Tech entrepreneur & API visionary
• Co-founder of apidays, world's leading API conference
• Passionate about AI integration & tech for the greater good
Follow for insights on how APIs are connecting our future
Repost for your network 🔄:
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