Cold Call cover art

Cold Call

Cold Call

By: HBR Presents / Brian Kenny
Listen for free

About this listen

 Cold Call distills Harvard Business School's legendary case studies into podcast form. Hosted by Brian Kenny, the podcast airs every two weeks and features Harvard Business School faculty discussing cases they've written and the lessons they impart.Copyright 2025 President and Fellows of Harvard College Economics Leadership Management Management & Leadership Marketing Marketing & Sales
Episodes
  • Disrupting the Freezer Aisle: Dr. Bombay Ice Cream

    Disrupting the Freezer Aisle: Dr. Bombay Ice Cream
    Aug 5 2025
    When Happi Co. CEO Sam Rockwell partnered with Snoop Dogg and his son, Cordell Broadus, to launch Dr. Bombay Ice Cream, the team set out to disrupt a stagnant market with bold flavors and culturally resonant branding. With national retail placement and projected first-year sales of $20 million, the brand quickly made its mark. Now, as Rockwell plans the next phase—marketing, fundraising, and expanding into new markets—he must also navigate the dynamics of a creator-led brand, balancing roles and staying nimble and authentic. Sam Rockwell and Harvard Business School professor Bill Kerr join host Brian Kenny to discuss Kerr’s case, “Dr. Bombay Ice Cream,” which explores the launch and growth of a lifestyle brand built on cultural storytelling and entrepreneurial ambition.
    Show More Show Less
    34 mins
  • Shake Shack’s Digital Playbook: More Tech, Same Hospitality?

    Shake Shack’s Digital Playbook: More Tech, Same Hospitality?
    Jul 22 2025
    Shake Shack began in 2001 as a single hot dog cart in New York City and grew into a global fast-casual chain known for quality ingredients and a strong hospitality ethos. In 2024, following a rapid digital transformation that introduced kiosks, mobile ordering, and app-based personalization, Chief Growth Officer Stephanie So wondered whether the model they had built was truly ready to scale—or still needed refinement. With a new CEO focused on ambitious growth, the company faced key questions about how technology might support or undermine the Shake Shack experience for both guests and employees. HBS Professor Christopher Stanton joins So and host Brian Kenny to discuss the case “Shake Shack’s Playbook for the Digital Era,” and what it takes to grow a hospitality-driven brand in an increasingly automated industry.
    Show More Show Less
    29 mins
  • At Booking.com, Innovation Means Constant Failure (Summer Repeat)

    At Booking.com, Innovation Means Constant Failure (Summer Repeat)
    Jul 8 2025
    During a busy travel season, digital travel platform Booking.com tried a risky experiment that meant changing the site’s landing page. Then CEO Gillian Tans made the decision to lean into the company’s “test everything” culture—even if it meant failure. In this episode from 2019, HBS Professor Stefan Thomke and host Brian Kenny discuss the case Booking.com. They explore how past experience and intuition can be misleading when attempting to launch something novel. Instead, innovative firms embrace a culture where testing, experimentation, and even failure are at the heart of what they do.
    Show More Show Less
    27 mins
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.