InnovationTalk
Adam Hartung

CEO / Managing Partner - Spark Partners

Adam Hartung

I currently serve as the CEO of three companies: Content Laboratory (a content services company,) Spark Partners (a growth strategy firm offering assessments, strategy consulting and on-line self-administered revenue growth tools,) and Soparfilm Energy (an oil & gas exploration & production investment company.) Over the last thirty years, I have served on multiple boards, including Audit Chair for a NASDAQ traded company, and advised boards of directors on managing for disruptions and promoting innovation into corporate management.

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My passion is public speaking on the importance of growth, innovation and strategy to succeed. As a keynote speaker I have been invited to over 1,000 leadership events, both multi-company and single company. My portfolio includes speeches, presentations, workshops and executive coaching on how to achieve faster growth from higher levels of innovation driven by trends.

1,099 articles · Page 16 of 46

Strategy Matters
Leadership3 min read

Strategy Matters

The much larger competitor had not ignored their smaller competitor, but they were not prepared for the use of an unexpected strategy.

Adam Hartung · 29 April 2025

Stick With the Innovator
Innovation4 min read

Stick With the Innovator

Despite Motorola’s stock drop, consider buying more. The company’s diverse ventures beyond handsets—like IPTV and network tech—show growth potential.

Adam Hartung · 29 April 2025

Staying in the Rapids
Leadership4 min read

Staying in the Rapids

The market explosion means these companies keep selling more and more primarily due to robust demand.

Adam Hartung · 29 April 2025

Staying in the Rapids
Leadership2 min read

Staying in the Rapids

The good news was revenue climbed 13% and income from continuing operations rose 22%. This ability to stay in the Rapids is pretty amazing, given that a 10% growth at IBM means adding more than $10B per year.

Adam Hartung · 29 April 2025

Starbuck’s Big Experiment
Innovation2 min read

Starbuck’s Big Experiment

How are they able to do this when other companies struggle with even small innovations? I think there are three key elements.

Adam Hartung · 29 April 2025

Starbucks Closing Teavana Is a Long-Term Troubling Sign for Investors
Strategy4 min read

Starbucks Closing Teavana Is a Long-Term Troubling Sign for Investors

Starbucks founding CEO Howard Schultz returned to the top job in January, 2008, promising to get out of distractions such as music production, movie production, internet sales, grocery products, liquor products and even in-store food sales in order to return the company to its "core" coffee business

Adam Hartung · 29 April 2025

Sports Clips, a Great Business Idea
Leadership1 min read

Sports Clips, a Great Business Idea

“Targeting men and boys, Sport Clips operators provide high quality haircuts in a fun environment, complete with TVs at every stylist’s station tuned to sports.

Adam Hartung · 29 April 2025

Sporting Disruptions
Innovation2 min read

Sporting Disruptions

ESPN has profitably grown by staying in the Rapids, rather than resting on it’s original Success Formula to provide sports news over cable TV.

Adam Hartung · 29 April 2025

Spicy Growth
Innovation1 min read

Spicy Growth

McDonald’s is horribly Locked-in. Leadership doesn’t understand how to Disrupt that Lock-in in order to move the company from the Swamp back into the Rapids.

Adam Hartung · 29 April 2025

Southwest Airlines in Trouble?
Strategy1 min read

Southwest Airlines in Trouble?

SWA is a great example of a company that started with a radically different Success Formula that won big in the marketplace, and they’ve certainly made it better over the years.

Adam Hartung · 29 April 2025

Sounds Good, but Really….
Innovation4 min read

Sounds Good, but Really….

Tribune hiring a Chief Innovation Officer sounds promising, but without Disruption and White Space, it's unlikely to succeed.

Adam Hartung · 29 April 2025

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