The Ungrowth Show

In this episode, we explore the Wells Fargo scandal where aggressive sales targets and unethical CRM strategies led to a massive loss of customer trust. We delve into how prioritizing revenue over reputation can submarine company culture and result in long-lasting damage.

In 2016, Wells Fargo employees were found to have opened millions of unauthorized accounts to meet aggressive sales quotas. - The bank's “Eight is Great” mantra p...

In this episode of The Ungrowth Show, we take an unexpected detour into the construction world to draw surprising parallels between one of the largest urban infrastructure projects in U.S. history—Boston’s Big Dig—and your next technology implementation. Whether you're planning a major system overhaul, migrating to new platforms, or modernizing your IT infrastructure, the lessons learned from this $22 billion megaproject could save...

In today’s episode of The Ungrowth Show, we dive into a real-world scenario that every business needs to think about: what happens when your operations experience a massive outage or disruption? Could your business continue to function? How would you even know how to prepare for such a scenario?

In July 2024, CrowdStrike, a leading cybersecurity company, experienced a catastrophic global outage due to a faulty configuration update ...

In this episode of "The Ungrowth Show," we explore the right and wrong ways to approach innovation, focusing on Ford's ambitious attempt to lead the digital transformation in the automotive industry with its Ford Smart Mobility initiative. While Ford has a long history of innovation, this venture, launched in 2014, aimed to develop digitally enabled vehicles and mobility solutions. However, the project faced significant challenges ...

In today's episode of "The Ungrowth Show," we explore the fascinating rise and dramatic fall of Kodak, once a titan in the film industry. Remember the days when capturing family memories meant lining up in front of a camera with only a few shots to get it right? Kodak was at the heart of those moments, but despite pioneering the first digital camera in 1975, the company chose to suppress the innovation that could have secured its f...

In this episode of "The Ungrowth Show," we unravel the story of how Hershey, one of the world’s most beloved chocolate brands, turned a sweet software implementation into a sour experience. In 1999, Hershey embarked on an ambitious project to overhaul its ERP and CRM systems, aiming to modernize operations just in time for the critical Halloween and Christmas seasons. However, what was meant to be a streamlined solution quickly spi...

In this episode of "The Ungrowth Show," we explore the infamous AOL and Time Warner merger, a $182 billion deal that aimed to revolutionize the media and internet landscape. The merger, announced in 2000, sought to combine AOL's digital prowess with Time Warner's extensive media empire.

However, the integration faced numerous challenges, from technical incompatibilities to cultural clashes, ultimately leading to one of the most sig...

In this episode of The Ungrowth Show we delve into the real-life tale of Amazon's ambitious but flawed attempt to use artificial intelligence in their recruitment process. Discover how this innovative project turned into a significant setback, highlighting the challenges and pitfalls of relying on AI for hiring decisions.

Company Overview: We'll explore Amazon's journey during the mid-2010s when the tech industry was increasingly a...

In this episode of "The Ungrowth Show," we go into the journey of streaming giant Netflix, focusing on the challenges it encountered during its cloud migration and the significant service outages it faced. Founded in 1997 by Marc Randolph and Reed Hastings, Netflix transitioned from a DVD rental service to a global streaming leader. However, even industry giants like Netflix aren't immune to setbacks.

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