Business Strategies for Growth: Fewer, Bigger, Bolder

Business and revenue growth are imperative for today's business leaders, but unlocking growth can be complicated. Without a clear, practical plan, growth can elude even the most experienced leaders. As McKinsey & Company’s “Mindset to Action: Imperatives for Growth” cautions, many organizations don’t grow at all, often because leaders limit their exploration of growth opportunities and neglect to make multiple bets.

In his book Fewer, Bigger, Bolder: From Mindless Expansion to Focused Growth, Fortune 500 veteran Sanjay Khosla reveals the Focus7 Framework. While learning the framework, you will be given nine different proven models, exercises, and tools that you can take back with you to start building your own strategic growth right away.

Emphasizing action, this program teaches a market-tested framework that has delivered sustained double-digit growth in revenues and margins for major global brands. You will learn not only how to identify and drive growth opportunities but also how to implement strategies through the correct application of critical talent within inspired teams.


Incentives available for groups and teams of four or more attending open enrollment programs. Learn more


Online Programs
High-Performance Marketing Communications

Who Should Attend

This program provides professionals in any industry with the framework and tools to develop a forward-looking growth strategy and craft a compelling growth story to motivate teams for cohesive success. The program will be particularly valuable for: 

  • Growth-minded senior executives, leaders, and entrepreneurs who want to drive impact, achieve revenue goals, and align their teams to translate growth objectives into actionable plans
  • Change-champion managers who are looking to identify areas of growth to exceed performance standards and create value by harnessing the knowledge of larger business objectives
  • Growth consultants seeking a tool kit to confidently advise clients on measurable growth strategies

Key Benefits

  • Determine where your organization is today and what opportunities will help you achieve your goals by applying the Focus7 Framework
  • Search for the right growth opportunities using Discovery Workshops
  • Grow the right areas for your organization by applying the Momentum, Margin, and Materiality (ThreeM) model
  • Identify and empower your high-potential talent and teams using the Trustworthy, Teams, and Transformational (ThreeT) model
  • Capture best practices and implement them to scale your organization by applying the Mine, Bottle, Scale (MBS) model
  • Articulate your personal, team, and organizational purposes by applying the framework and models taught in the program

Program Content

Module 1: Growth Strategy Overview

  • Discuss what growth means to you and the challenges to personal and professional growth
  • Apply the five-finger rule to solve a business problem
  • Identify the significance of the steps in the Focus7 Framework
  • Recognize the importance of the wisdom of less in a given scenario

Module 2: Discovery Workshop — Search for Growth

  • Identify the features of a Discovery Workshop and develop one for a given business scenario
  • Identify the steps to conduct the divergence and convergence phases of a Discovery Workshop
  • Recognize the significance of applying practical tips to conduct a successful Discovery Workshop and following up after it
  • Develop an Elevator5 plan for a given business scenario

Module 3: Mapping a Strategy and Building Support

  • Conduct a ThreeM analysis to choose where to focus
  • Decide which growth opportunities to pursue
  • Use the Strategic House tool to create a plan to achieve your goals
  • Create a rallying cry—a hook that articulates the strategy and aligns people behind it

Module 4: People — Unleashing Potential

  • Identify the right people to empower and help them grow personally and professionally
  • Use the five steps of the Blank Checks strategy to drive growth in an organization
  • Identify the key lessons learned from professional failures and how they can be applied to future successes
  • Apply the ThreeT model to determine the best candidates to hire and how to build your team
  • Understand how to support personal growth using the Performance, Pleasure, and Purpose (ThreeP) model

Module 5: Delegation, Execution, and Metrics for Growth and Success

  • Use data and consumer insights as metrics to measure your organization’s growth
  • Develop the right metrics to measure the growth of your organization
  • Utilize the Mine, Bottle, Scale (MBS) model to determine best practices that you can apply to your organization

Module 6: Bringing It All Together

  • Identify your team’s or organization’s purpose
  • Identify your "Cozy" and the steps you need to take in order to "Fly"
  • Develop a growth strategy to meet your organization’s goals

Faculty

Sanjay Khosla - Senior Fellow and Adjunct Professor of Marketing

FAQ

What is the program about?

In the Business Strategies for Growth: Fewer, Bigger, Bolder program, you will unlock the intricacies of growth strategies by delving into and using a framework created by an accomplished expert who literally wrote the book on growth and has successfully implemented it in many iconic global brands


What is the learning experience?

Using the practical step-by-step framework taught over this 6-week online program through lectures, live sessions, and CEO guest speakers, you will leave with an actionable plan to create and execute growth initiatives on organizational, team, and personal levels. The program culminates with a capstone project, bringing together all the key concepts from the program.


What is the program format?

The program consists of 6 modules delivered over 7 weeks online. Learners can expect to dedicate 4-6 hours per week to watch videos, complete assignments and participate in discussions. Modules are opened at the beginning of each week and have quizzes/assessments at the module’s conclusion. Learners may choose to engage with the program module all in one sitting or in smaller segments of time throughout the week. While the modules do not close, access to assignments is closed each week.


Could a learner choose to opt out of some topics?

No. This is an online program in which a topic module is introduced each week and the learner is expected to watch the video lectures, participate in the live webinars, complete the exercises/activities and take the mastery quiz at the end of each week to progress to the subsequent week’s topic.


Are any of the sessions delivered in real time (live)?

There will be live webinars, led by faculty and/or subject matter experts, delivered during the course of the program via a video conferencing platform. These sessions provide learners an opportunity to listen and ask questions, and while they are valuable in enhancing the overall experience, attendance is not mandatory. All live sessions are recorded for later viewing. 


What methods will be used for grading and evaluations?

Kellogg program leaders will review assignments, discussions and exercises to determine participants’ understanding of the material. 


How much time is allocated to complete assignments?

The due date for submitting assignments is typically within 7 days of the module opening, but can be as long as 14 days, depending on the scope of the assignment. However, learners may request deadline extensions to accommodate for business and personal conflicts that may arise during the program timeframe. Reach out to the program leader to discuss any challenges you may have in completing assignments.

Can participation in this program be counted as credit toward a degree, either at Kellogg, Northwestern University or another academic institution?

No. Executive Education offers only non-degree programs and each participant receives a certificate of completion at the end of the program. This certificate does not count as credit toward a degree. In addition, at this time, our online programs do not count as credit toward a Kellogg Executive Scholar Certificate.


Does the program offer community engagement for learners?

Yes, participants can create a profile, connect and collaborate with peers, and interact with academic/industry experts such as program leaders and teaching assistants. Office hours will be held during the program and all participants are welcome to join in with questions or to discuss assignments.


What are the requirements for accessing the program?

Participants will need the following to access the Advertising and Marketing Communication Strategy program:

  • Valid email address
  • Computing device connected to the internet (Mac/PC/laptop, tablet or smartphone)
  • The latest version of your preferred browser to access our learning platform (Chrome and Firefox are preferred for accessing Canvas)
  • Microsoft Office and PDF viewer to access content such as documents, spreadsheets, presentations, PDF files, and transcripts
  • Additional software and resources may be required for certain programs — this will be communicated upon registration and/or at the beginning of the program
  • PLEASE NOTE: Google, Vimeo and YouTube may be utilized in the program delivery

Do the programs offer a certificate?

Yes. Participants will receive a digital certificate of completion from Kellogg following a successful conclusion to the program. Since this program is graded as a pass or fail, participants must receive an 80% to pass and obtain the certificate. This digital certificate can be shared with colleagues and posted on LinkedIn. (PLEASE NOTE: We do not provide reports of assessments, or “transcripts,” since this is a non-degree program.)


Who is Emeritus and what is their relationship with Kellogg Executive Education?

Kellogg Executive Education is partnering with Emeritus Institute of Management, an online education provider, to develop and deliver this program. By working with Emeritus, we are able to provide broader access to Executive Education, beyond our on-campus offerings, in a collaborative and engaging format that is consistent with Kellogg’s standard of quality.


Additional questions?

Please contact us by calling 847-467-6018 or email us at execedonline@kellogg.northwestern.edu.


2024 Session

November 7, 2024 - January 2, 2025

Start: November 14 at 12:00 AM

End: January 2 at 12:00 AM


Accepting registrations through November 13

$2,600

March 6, 2025 - April 24, 2025

Start: March 13 at 12:00 AM

End: April 24 at 12:00 AM


Accepting registrations through March 12

$2,600

Kellogg School of Management

James L. Allen Center
2169 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208
Directions
847.467.6018