Alex Kantrowitz: Inside the Tech Titans

How do tech titans at the top stay on top? According to technology reporter Alex Kantrowitz, it’s by acting like they’re at the bottom. At Amazon, "Day One" is code for inventing like a startup, with little regard for legacy. Day Two is, in Jeff Bezos's words, "stasis, followed by irrelevance . . . then death."

Kantrowitz says most companies today are set up for Day Two. They build advantages and defend them fiercely, rather than invent the future. But as he chronicles in his new book, Always Day One: How the Tech Titans Plan to Stay on Top Forever, the tech titans of today remain successful because they are always operating in Day One. Companies like Amazon, Facebook, Apple and Microsoft have endured because they prioritize reinvention over tradition and collaboration over ownership. While these values may seem radical to some, they have proven to be immeasurably successful for major tech giants.

But what about those actually at the bottom looking to make a name for themselves? Kantrowitz believes that everyone has to start somewhere, and that with the right strategy, hopeful startups can take on the major players and compete at their level.

Join us for a conversation with Alex Kantrowitz as he outlines the blueprint for sustainable success in a business world where no advantage is safe.

NOTES

Please visit Barnes & Noble to purchase his book. 

This program is generously supported by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and a collaborative of local funders and donors. We are grateful for their support and hope others will follow their example to support the Club during these uncertain times.