Remembering Clayton Christensen (with Harvard Business School Dean Nitin Nohria)

Clayton Christensen’s theory of disruptive innovation explains why industry-leading companies often fail when faced with new market shifts. Success becomes a vulnerability because established organizations prioritize resource allocation toward existing, profitable products, causing them to overlook emerging technologies or alternative business models. This phenomenon, famously illustrated by the evolution of disk drives, demonstrates that even the most competent firms struggle to pivot when their core competencies become rigid. Beyond his academic contributions, Christensen’s legacy is defined by his pedagogical approach, which emphasized teaching students to develop robust theories to navigate complex problems. His career at Harvard Business School was marked by a commitment to intellectual humility and a profound dedication to his students, even while battling severe health challenges. Ultimately, his life serves as a testament to the idea that the true measure of success lies in the positive impact one has on others.