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Own The Spotlight is a podcast where authors take center stage to present their work — in their own words and without an interviewer. Each episode features a solo monologue in which the author introduces themselves, shares what inspired their latest book or article, and reflects on the journey behind the writing. You'll hear candid insights about their intended audience, the creative process, surprises along the way, and what they hope readers will take away from their work. Whether you're a curious reader, fellow writer, or publishing enthusiast, Own The Spotlight offers a rare, candid look at authorship — and plants the seeds for your next literary exploration.
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  2. 60. Overcoming the Capitalist's Dilemma, with Andy Jassy, CEO of Amazon Web Services

60. Overcoming the Capitalist's Dilemma, with Andy Jassy, CEO of Amazon Web Services

Sep 1, 2020

In The Capitalist's Dilemma, Clayton Christensen and Derek van Bever highlighted a persistent temptation for companies to increase profitability by driving down costs through "efficiency innovations." For many companies awash in capital, this increased profitability came at the expense of hundreds or thousands of jobs and often ignored the sources of long-term, sustainable growth: what Clay and Derek termed market-creating innovations. The trillion dollar exception to this rule is Amazon.

Today, we are thrilled to bring you a conversation with Andy Jassy, HBS Class of 1997 and CEO of Amazon Web Services, including a wide-ranging discussion of Amazon's solutions to the Capitalist's Dilemma. Hosted by Derek van Bever, Andy tells the origin story of AWS, discusses the process of innovation at Amazon, and presents a graduate-level seminar on how to apply Clay's theories to drive innovation and growth. This is a not-to-be-missed conversation!