Four years ago I linked to an article titled, GURU NATION. The article shed light on the Business Guru Scene from the egos to the economics of it all. Interesting read.
The Wall Street Journal has revisited the Guru Scene for 2008. This updated look reflects a change where more non-traditional business experts are in greater demand. Journalists like Thomas Friedman (#2) and Malcolm Gladwell (#4) rank high as does education professor, Howard Gardner (#5). According to the article, the most popular topics for these business gurus include: globalization, motivation ,and innovation. Here's the list...
This list was compiled by two Babson College professors and is based upon the number of online mentions, academic citations, and LexisNexis media mentions. It’s not a truly scientific list, but it is an interesting list.
Adding to the interest is the absence of women in the top 20 rankings. Wendy Bounds, from the Wall Street Journal, asked readers for their take on why women are absent from the list … the conversation is worth reading.
Um, Seth Godin? Hello? Where's Seth?
Maybe it's just because of the influence he's had on me personally, but it's surprising that the most widely read marketing guy on the planet isn't on the list.
Ooh; maybe 'marketing' isn't included in 'business thinking' . . .
Posted by: Joel D Canfield | May 06, 2008 at 11:53 AM
Thanks for this link/post...got me thinking! There are so many "lists" out there, it's interesting to consider just WHO things WHO is influential!
Keep up the great work...
Posted by: Jason W. Womack, MEd, MA | May 07, 2008 at 12:47 AM
"Where's Seth" was my first thought also. Looking deeper, it's pretty clear that this is a list by and for Fortune 500 companies living in old media. With a few exceptions, these aren't helpful to most of us in the marketing/entrepreneurial world.
I'll be sure to call Jack Welch next time I need advice on dealing with offloading an $80 billion subsidiary... but in the meantime I'll turn to the heros that are more practical for "real" businesses.
Posted by: Andy Sernovitz | May 07, 2008 at 07:03 AM
John,
Thanks for sharing the list. I recognize everyone except #25. Don't have a clue who he might be.
As for Jack Welch, I agree with Andy. Every smart consultant knows that growing a business through mergers and acquisitions achieves but one thing--a short-term increase in valuation, making the wealthiest shareholders wealthier and the CEO and CFO wealthy beyond belief. Now Immelt is stuck fixing the mess that Welch created.
Posted by: Lewis Green | May 08, 2008 at 01:19 PM
I am shocked - SHOCKED, I say - that folks like Seth, Jackie, Joseph Jaffe and yes, even you, don't show up somewhere on this list.
"I'll be sure to call Jack Welch next time I need advice on dealing with offloading an $80 billion subsidiary..." <-- Made me laugh outloud.
I've never heard of Peter Senge, Bob Reich or Ikujiro Nonaka. Maybe I'm too young to consider them relevant? Maybe I should read more?
And with all due respect, Stephen Covey is still in the Top 20? Really? Is this a current list?
Posted by: olivier blanchard | July 16, 2008 at 01:33 PM