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.
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    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.
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    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.
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    27 mins
  • Ensuring Boston Ballet Stays Relevant

    Ensuring Boston Ballet Stays Relevant
    Jun 24 2025
    Ming Min Hui, executive director of Boston Ballet, is unique in her field. As a young, Asian American woman with a HBS MBA and a background in finance, she focuses on ensuring the ballet company stays true to its art form and still relevant to its times. Hui had worked for eight years at Boston Ballet as chief of staff and chief financial officer before taking the helm. Now leading one of the foremost ballet companies in the U.S., she confronted evolving demographics, shifting audience habits, and an increasingly challenging financial environment. Harvard Business School Assistant Professor Edward Chang and Hui join host Brian Kenny to discuss the case Ming Min Hui at Boston Ballet. They explore how she balances the past, present, and future—and how these lessons translate from this nonprofit arts organization to any company, anywhere.
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    31 mins
  • How Bill Wilson Cofounded Alcoholics Anonymous and Created a Lasting Social Movement

    How Bill Wilson Cofounded Alcoholics Anonymous and Created a Lasting Social Movement
    Jun 10 2025
    Bill Wilson was an incredibly entrepreneurial young man with tremendous potential. He was also a drunk, until an epiphany made him sober. With his personal drive and fellowship with former drinking buddies, Wilson built a social movement and worldwide organization. Founded in 1935, Alcoholics Anonymous has helped millions of “friends of Bill” recover from alcohol addiction. In this episode of Cold Call, HBS Professor Robert Simons joins host Brian Kenny to discuss the case, “Bill Wilson: Changing the World.” They explore how Wilson navigated life’s choices, transformed his life and those of others, and left a lasting impact on the world.
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    24 mins
  • How Keurig Brewed a Return to Growth

    How Keurig Brewed a Return to Growth
    May 27 2025
    Keurig Green Mountain (KGM) invented a category and became a household name in at-home coffee brewing in North America. But by the early 2010s, the public company suffered a series of product missteps, negative media scrutiny, and challenging partner relationships. In late 2015, the company was acquired by JAB Holding Company. The new CEO Bob Gamgort first strengthened partnerships, raised productivity, and reduced costs. In 2017, the company then focused on new growth. Gamgort considered four major options: take the company public again through an IPO; set out for greater global expansion; combine with another coffee business to become a larger player in North American coffee; or diversify beyond coffee through a “pure play beverage” strategy. In this conversation, HBS Senior Lecturer David Fubini and Research Associate Patrick Sanguineti discuss the four strategic options from their case study, “Keurig: A Return to Growth.”
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    23 mins
  • Mattel’s Barbie Playbook: Replicating Success Across the Company’s Portfolio

    Mattel’s Barbie Playbook: Replicating Success Across the Company’s Portfolio
    May 13 2025
    The 2023 movie Barbie and its accompanying marketing blitz reinstated a celebrated icon at the forefront of cultural conversation. This sudden goodwill stood in contrast to decades of criticism of the Barbie brand. Although proponents had celebrated Barbie for her promise to “inspire the limitless potential in every girl,” detractors felt that the doll promoted a narrow beauty standard and perpetuated gender stereotypes. In this episode of Cold Call, HBS Professor Elie Ofek and coauthor Ryann Noe join host Brian Kenny to discuss the case “Barbie: Reviving a Cultural Icon at Mattel.” They explore how Mattel planned to sustain the Barbie brand’s positive momentum and replicate its success across other toy brands.
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    31 mins
  • How Duolingo Aims to Diversify Beyond Language Learning

    How Duolingo Aims to Diversify Beyond Language Learning
    Apr 29 2025
    Launched in 2011, Duolingo grew into the most downloaded education app in the world. Its gamified approach to language learning and use of adaptive AI technology helped it reach 100 million monthly active users and a market capitalization approaching $15 billion by late 2024. The company also saw the potential of Gen AI to power innovative products beyond languages. CTO Severin Hacker envisioned a future in which AI would transform the app into an educational ecosystem, tapping into the $56 billion edtech market. HBS Senior Lecturer Jeffrey Rayport and coauthor Nicole Keller join host Brian Kenny to discuss the case “Duolingo: On a Streak” and the long-term benefits and risks of this diversification strategy.
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    35 mins