Understanding Business Risk: When to Invest and When to Walk Away

One of the biggest challenges in business is knowing when to invest in expansion and when to hold back. Many entrepreneurs face difficult decisions when evaluating financial projections, risk factors, and market conditions. Understanding the balance between opportunity and risk is crucial for making sound investment choices. Evaluating the Market Before Investing Before making a…

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Building a Strong Business: Leadership, Culture, and Strategy

March 13, 2025 Every successful business is built on strong leadership, a clear vision, and a culture that aligns with company goals. However, challenges arise when businesses grow without solidifying these foundational elements. A deep dive into real-world business discussions highlights key takeaways on leadership, incentives, and long-term sustainability. The Importance of Leadership in Business…

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Navigating Workplace Politics: the Balance between Leadership and Influence

Three men talking

March 4, 2025   In any business, politics inevitably plays a role in shaping decision-making, leadership dynamics, and organizational success. While some view politics as a necessary tool for influence, others see it as an obstacle to efficiency and fairness. Understanding how to navigate workplace politics while maintaining ethical leadership is essential for long-term professional…

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Understanding Business Risk: When to Invest and When to Walk Away

Acton MBA Student during a Socratic Disucssion

March 3, 2025   One of the biggest challenges in business is knowing when to invest in expansion and when to hold back. Many entrepreneurs face difficult decisions when evaluating financial projections, risk factors, and market conditions. Understanding the balance between opportunity and risk is crucial for making sound investment choices. Evaluating the Market Before…

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Cracking the Code of Customer Behavior

Acton MBA second year students in Opportunity & Analysis course

February 28, 2025 In the ever-evolving world of business, understanding customer behavior is key to creating exceptional experiences and driving sales. A recent postgraduate discussion on customer behavior provided valuable insights into how customers interact with businesses, highlighting the importance of observation, psychology, and tailored service strategies. The Power of Observation One of the key…

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Scaling the Right Way: Leadership and Growth Insights for Entrepreneurs

February 13, 2025 A company’s ability to scale depends largely on its leadership. Effective leaders understand that their role evolves as the company grows. What works in a start-up phase may not work in a larger organization. Some common leadership challenges include: Delegation—entrepreneurs often resist handing off responsibilities, leading to bottlenecks. Vision alignment—if leadership is…

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Building a Winning Business Culture: the Key to Long-Term Success

Juan Ignacio de la Rosa, Acton MBA Teacher, giving a class in Madrid, Spain

February 4, 2025 A strong business culture can make or break a company. Many organizations focus on strategy, financial, and operations but overlook the importance of company culture—which directly impacts employee motivation, decision-making, and long-term success. The Role of Leadership in Business Culture A company’s culture starts with leadership. Leaders set the tone for how…

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Acton in Action: Growing Data Garden

Jamie Sidey (’07) about launching Data Garden

We often like to check in on our entrepreneur alumni to learn about the successes and challenges they’ve encountered in their own endeavors after they’ve left the classroom and are applying their experience in the real world. As we like to call it, it’s Acton in Action. In this post, we speak with Jamie Sidey…

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