creative lab descriptions
EFFECTIVE RESEARCH PRIMER
Learn how to search Navigator to effectively find materials, search for previous project work, review training material, and understand what's available on PA sites. Also learn how to interpret and manipulate your search results, connect with others within BCG, and share your project findings within BCG.
WRITING EMAIL (ID: 510329550)
Discover the secrets to writing powerful emails your colleagues will read and answer by crafting your message and delivery. In this short course, author and business writing professor Judy Steiner-Williams shows you how to write emails for maximum readability and impact. Discover how to craft a compelling opening, how to message the right people at the right time, and how to leverage etiquette to use email as one of many communications tools.
EFFECTIVE LISTENING (ID: 366349383)
Listening is a critical competency, whether you are interviewing for your first job or leading a Fortune 500 company. Surprisingly, relatively few working professionals have ever had any formal training in how to listen effectively. In this course, communications experts Tatiana Kolovou and Brenda Bailey-Hughes show how to assess your current listening skills, understand the challenges to effective listening (such as distractions!), and develop behaviors that will allow you to become a better listener—and a better colleague, mentor, and friend.
DESIGN: SOLUTIONING (ID: PNVTO52)
Have you ever wondered how designers turn ideas into solutions? How did they prototype to communicate, co-create, and convince before the actual buildout? This session will introduce five common production methods employed by designers to construct future possibilities:
1.Information Modeling
2.Wireframing
3.System Diagramming
4.Storyboarding
5.Prototyping"
MANAGING UPWARDS (ID: TEPM105-04)
This lesson lays out best practices for working with Partners, including communicating with them, getting their time, and constructively pushing back.
LEADING WITHOUT FORMAL AUTHORITY (ID: 335917576)
Leadership isn't just a skill for managers. Demonstrating leadership is important for employees at every level of an organization. There are opportunities to lead every day, whether you hold a formal leadership position or not. In this course, leadership and personal development experts Lisa Earle McLeod and Elizabeth McLeod outline how individual contributors or SMEs can exhibit leadership by influencing, inspiring, mentoring, and motivating others. They also help you overcome unique challenges such as how to communicate when you think your boss or team is headed in the wrong direction.
ROBIN ROBERTS - EFFECTIVE AND AUTHENTIC COMMUNICATION (MASTER CLASS)
Millions of people spend their mornings with Robin Roberts, one of today’s most beloved broadcasters. Now the Emmy-winning “Good Morning America” co-anchor is sharing how she creates unforgettable moments through human connection. Learn how to communicate effectively, whether it’s in front of an audience, at work, or with those you love. Start embracing vulnerability, building resilience, and living life with optimism.
GIVING AND RECEIVING FEEDBACK
All professionals are trying to get better at what they do. No matter where you work, or what your role, the only way to improve is with feedback. Giving—and receiving—feedback is a skill that's relevant to every member of an organization. Watch this course to learn how to give and receive high-quality feedback. Whether it's with peers, managers, colleagues, team members, friends, or family, the same principles apply across the board. Instructor Gemma Leigh Roberts shows how to give effective feedback, ask for feedback, and use the responses you receive as a tool to improve personal performance. These tips will help lead you into a cycle of continuous development, and a growth mindset that can help propel your career and your relationships forward.
ACCEPTING UNCERTAINTY (ID: GIVT062)
Understand how and why uncertainty drives difficult emotions and equip yourself to build tolerance for uncertainty. Under the guidance of Samaiya Mushtaq and Mark Kelly, develop your emotional granularity to process your emotions with less anxiety and to engage in problem-solving quickly.
MANAGING MEETINGS (ID: 578671736)
Depending on how it is run, a meeting can stall productivity or foster the creation of imaginative solutions. In this course, learn how to make your meetings count. Follow Chris Croft as he provides a practical, step-by-step guide to setting up and facilitating meetings, diving into a variety of topics ranging from choosing your meeting format—online or in-person—to using visual aids. He also explains how to grapple with common meeting problems, such as dealing with latecomers and managing conflicts, and helps you create ground rules to prevent problems from occurring. Chris wraps up the course by addressing the specifics of virtual meetings. As remote work continues to become more common, learn how to get the most out of the technology at your disposal and encourage full participation when all of your attendees aren't in the same room.
DANIEL PINK - SALES AND PERSUASION (MASTER CLASS)
Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz rose from a childhood in public housing to leading a company that revolutionized the way the world drinks coffee. With no formal business education, he relied on his values while growing a 13-store chain into a global brand with more than 250,000 employees. In his 90-minute video series, Howard shares what he’s learned about business leadership and being an entrepreneur.
BODY LANGUAGE FOR LEADERS (ID: 115423272)
Research shows that when your verbal and nonverbal signals are out of alignment, people are forced to choose between what they hear and what they see. And subconsciously, they'll believe your body language. In this course, workplace body-language expert Carol Kinsey Goman, PhD, reveals how body language is perceived and often misread, and shares tips for making a positive first impression within the first few seconds of any interaction. She also discusses the role of body language in cross-cultural communication, delves into the importance of body language for leaders, and shows how you can establish leadership presence. Finally, she provides simple and effective tips on communicating with gestures and stance.
MANAGE DIFFICULT CLIENT SITUATIONS (ID: CRTC107-01)
Time with clients is often limited; we need to make the best out of the time we get. One way to do this is by listening empathetically, which enables you to understand the situation from the client's point of view as well as uncover hidden issues that wouldn't come up in a normal conversation. It also help build trust and establish an efficient and collaborative work environment. In this session, Aaron will share some best practices on empathetic listening along with some practical exercises you can leverage for future client conversations.
STEVE MARTIN - COMEDY (MASTERCLASS)
One of Steve’s first gigs was at the drive-in movies. When the audience liked a joke, they honked. In this comedy class, Steve shares insights from performing for cars and humans over a 50-year career spanning sold-out arenas and blockbuster films. Learn how to find your voice, gather material, develop an act, and take your comedy writing to the next level.
OWN YOUR CAREER LABcast
A Professional Coach’s Approach to Career Ownership. Did you know there are certain beliefs and behaviors that get in the way of performance? Listen, as our guest, David Dodd, Facilitator, Trainer and Coach, shares advice on new methods you can use to shift your internal motivation and get the most out of your career.
UNDERSTANDING BUSINESS
Learn the foundational concepts underlying all businesses, small to large. Arizona State University professor Eddie Davila covers all the basics, explaining concepts such as how revenues and costs influence a company's profit and which teams play a key role in any organization's success. He then provides a basic explanation of how finance teams operate in a business, so that you can better understand what drives financial decisions in an organization. He also reviews how companies communicate with customers via marketing and branding; how supply chains function in an organization; and how accounting, HR, and IT teams work to manage an organization's money, employees, and information.
BEST PRACTICES IN WRITING EFFECTIVE EMAIL (ID: CLVT004)
Have you ever sent an e-mail and not received the response you were hoping for or, even worse, not received a response at all? Emails can be frustrating and time consuming, for both the sender and receiver. There is an art to writing them and a proven approach to increasing their effectiveness. During this virtual training session Amy will share some of her best practices for writing effective and concise e-mails that can help you get the information you need in a timely fashion.
DESIGN THINKING: UNDERSTANDING THE PROCESS (ID: 915512256)
Curious about design thinking? It's the design methodology on everyone's mind. While it's not magic, design thinking can help you save time and find more creative solutions to your customers' needs. Having a good understanding of the process will help you explain the benefits to management and clients and implement design thinking at your organization. In this course, Chris Nodder explains where design thinking fits into product development and what it can help you achieve. He describes each step in the process, from identifying the problem you want to solve and brainstorming solutions, to prototyping, development, and release. Learn about the pros and cons of this approach and how to overcome challenges such as organization inertia and silos. Done right, design thinking can start your organization moving toward broader user-centered design techniques such as information architecture, content testing, usability testing, and marketing research.
HOW TO ACT ON CHALLENGING FEEDBACK (ID: WYVT001)
We are constantly striving to better ourselves within BCG and one of the most effective tools to do so is through feedback, either from your manager, other case team members, or career advisor. In this session, Arianna Trainito and Hakan Unsal will share their experiences in receiving, reacting and acting on feedback with you. They will tell you about both positive comments and those which marked areas for improvements, and what it takes to act on it.
ANNA WINTOUR - CREATIVE LEADERSHIP (MASTER CLASS)
A fashion and media icon, Anna Wintour has been driving our cultural conversation for more than 30 years. The Vogue Editor-in-Chief and Artistic Director of Condé Nast takes off her signature sunglasses and gives you unprecedented access to her world. See how Anna nurtures talent, makes bold decisions, and evolves a brand. Learn how to lead with impact from a visionary creative leader.
THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL IMPACT OF SHORT VIDEO (ID: TCVT106)
Short video refers to the creation and sharing of less-than-60 second video content on mobile phones. In the past few years, short videos have gained a massive following globally, especially among the younger generation. Short video brings significant economic value to various industries, it changes the way businesses operate, and has uncovered new professions. In addition, short video brings joy, inspires creativity, and contributes to build inclusive and cohesive communities.
PRESENTATION SKILLS
What I Wish I'd Known: Best Practices in Presentation Skills
BEST PRACTICES IN EMPATHETIC LISTENING (CLIENT FOCUS) (ID: CLVT002)
Time with clients is often limited; we need to make the best out of the time we get. One way to do this is by listening empathetically, which enables you to understand the situation from the client's point of view as well as uncover hidden issues that wouldn't come up in a normal conversation. It also help build trust and establish an efficient and collaborative work environment. In this session, Aaron will share some best practices on empathetic listening along with some practical exercises you can leverage for future client conversations.
BOB IGER - BUSINESS STRATEGY AND LEADERSHIP (MASTER CLASS)
In an era of disruption, former Disney CEO Bob Iger led one of the world’s most beloved brands to unprecedented success with the acquisitions of Pixar, Marvel, and Lucasfilm. Now, through case studies and lessons from 45 years in media, Bob teaches you how to evolve your business and career. Learn strategies for expanding a brand, leading with integrity, and making big moves—from risk management to the art of negotiation.
DESIGNING INTERACTIVE TRAININGS AND WORKSHOPS (ID: COVE103-01)
The opportunity presented by a more interactive and collaborative approach to virtual trainings and workshops is to reclaim the many learning methods used in face-to-face workshops and adapt them for a virtual environment. The promise of interactive workshops is for increased learning, shorter meetings with greater participation, less multi-tasking and on-going collaboration. Facilitate.com has put together a list of eight design principles to create more effective collaborative learning events, brainstorming sessions and team collaboration exercises with distributed participants. Recommendations address session design, participant engagement and the appropriate use of technology.
AMY CUDDY ON ACHIEVING PRESENCE
Explore the four domains of emotional intelligence—self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management—as defined by psychologist and author Daniel Goleman. The domains build on one another, starting with a greater awareness of self and others, and ending with the management of relationships that are critical to your personal and professional life. Learn how to become more mindful of your strengths, limitations, and the values that define them; explore ways to create space between yourself, your thoughts, and your emotions; develop awareness of how people see the world differently based on individual preferences, as well as social and environmental factors; and use awareness of self and others to work toward collaboration, innovation, and mutually beneficial relationships. This course includes videos from: Daniel Goleman, psychologist, lecturer, and science journalist Amy Cuddy, social psychologist and associate professor at Harvard Business School Susan David, psychologist at Harvard Medical School and cofounder of the Institute of Coaching Alan Alda, Emmy-winning actor, writer, and director Angie McArthur, CEO of Professional Thinking Partners.
DEEPEN RELATIONSHIPS (COMMERCIAL SUPPORT) (ID: PRCE101-01)
The microsite content offers tips and tricks on how to build and deepen client relationships virtually during Covid-19. Read stories from our teams about how they have been deepening existing client relationships while cultivating new ones.
TAN FRANCE - STYLE FOR EVERYONE (MASTERCLASS)
One of Steve’s first gigs was at the drive-in movies. When the audience liked a joke, they honked. In this comedy class, SBeloved style icon and Queer Eye cohost Tan France has styled thousands of people on and off camera over the past 20 years. Now he’s sharing his comprehensive and transformational approach to developing your own personal style. Learn how to build a capsule wardrobe; select colors, shapes, and patterns that work for your body and your unique personality; and discover the confidence to look and feel your best, every day.
EMBRACING ANTI-RACISM
This is an hour-long program, specifically created to give you an overview of the topic of racism – what it is, and how you can become anti-racist. At the end of this program, you’ll find a link to BCG’s Diversity & Inclusion microsite where you can access a collection of books, films, TEDTalks, podcasts, articles ,and many other resources that will equip you with greater knowledge about anti-racism.
POWERPOINT: DESIGNING BETTER SLIDES
Designed for non-designers, this course introduces average business professionals to key design components and requirements for purposeful PowerPoint slide design. PowerPoint MVP Heather Ackmann avoids convenient—but unproven—blanket rules for presentations, reaching instead for an understanding and holistic view of design. Heather's approach supports the three basic pillars for effective PowerPoint slides: audience, environment, and message. She guides you through before-and-after examples showing how to properly use white space in slide design, if and when to use bullet points to communicate, how to contrast elements and main ideas effectively, and finally, how to best use color.
BEST PRACTICES ON WRITING A CLIENT INTERVIEW GUIDE (ID: CLVT005)
Interviewing is critical skill to drive your analysis. To get the most out of your interview you need to be prepared: Allot the right amount of questions for the interview time, prepare yourself for answers you weren't expecting, and be able to adapt to different types of interviewees and interview situations. In this session, Renee will share her experiences and best practices for client interviews, and give you tips for testing your interview guide with team members to prepare yourself for multiple interview situations.
DESIGN: IDEATION (ID PNVT053)
This session is for those who are new to the topic of ideation in the context of Human Centered Design (HCD)
PROJECT MANAGEMENT FOUNDATIONS (ID: 804033339)
Project management is a set of techniques that anyone can apply to achieve goals and make projects more successful. Project management can be used to guide small, simple projects as well as complex enterprise-wide initiatives. Bonnie Biafore has always been fascinated by how things work and how to make things work better. In this course, she explains the fundamentals of project management, from establishing project goals and objectives and building a project plan to managing resources and work, meeting deadlines, and closing the project. Along the way, she provides tips for communicating, holding meetings, keeping a project on track, and gaining customer acceptance. This course provides exercises for most videos based on a healthcare/IT case study project.
CHRIS VOSS - NEGOTIATION (MASTER CLASS)
As an FBI hostage negotiator, Chris Voss persuaded terrorists, bank robbers, and kidnappers to see things his way. Now he’s teaching you his field-tested strategies to help you in everyday negotiations, whether you’re aiming to improve your salary, the service you receive, or your relationships. Get stronger communication skills, game-changing insights into human nature, and more of what you want out of life.
MANAGING YOUR TEAM (ID: TEPM105-03)
This lesson provides tips for maximizing team performance, including getting to know the team, tailoring your management style, setting clear expectations, and maintaining motivation.
WORKSHOP FACILITATION (ID: 094184609)
A successful workshop can have a profound impact on participants, introducing them to concepts and ways of thinking that can spark professional development and personal growth. In order to facilitate such an event, you need the right structure, process, and content. In this course, Britt Andreatta, PhD, discusses the role of the facilitator, and walks through how to effectively design, prepare for, and facilitate a workshop. Britt kicks off the course by covering the different types of workshop facilitation, and sharing tips for catering to the unique needs of adult learners. Next, she shows how to set yourself up for success by building a solid learning plan and agenda, designing the right activities, and tackling the logistics of the event. Britt then explains how to handle the workshop itself, including how to keep things on track and deal with challenging dynamics. Plus, she discusses how to extend the learner's journey after the event.
DESIGN THINKING: IN GLOBAL SPECIALTY BUSINESS (ID: GIVT028)
Design Thinking is a process of creative problem solving with a human centered core. Join us as we share a thorough look into the principles of design thinking in an easy-to-understand format. Using practical BCG examples and stories, this LAB Talk will provide you with a solid foundational understanding of design thinking and ideas for ways you can apply it within your own work
HOWARD SCHULTZ - BUSINESS LEADERSHIP (MASTER CLASS)
Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz rose from a childhood in public housing to leading a company that revolutionized the way the world drinks coffee. With no formal business education, he relied on his values while growing a 13-store chain into a global brand with more than 250,000 employees. In his 90-minute video series, Howard shares what he’s learned about business leadership and being an entrepreneur.
COACHING AND DEVELOPING EMPLOYEES (ID: 003112479)
Harness the power of coaching in the workplace. Learn how to shift from a command-and-control style of management to a manager-as-coach style of leadership to transform employee engagement and bottom-line results. Join leadership and negotiation coach Lisa Gates, as she explains how to establish a coaching relationship with your reports. Lisa shows how skills like open-ended question asking, listening, challenging for growth, and accountability can increase your employees' autonomy and problem-solving capacities. The course includes assessments, exercises, and tools to help your team capture goals, map a career trajectory, and accelerate growth, along with sample coaching conversations help you see these tips in practice and understand their potential impact on your people, productivity, and results.
HUMAN CENTERED DESIGN METHODS (ID: PNVT005)
Human-Centered Design (HCD) is an approach to systems development to make systems useful, usable and desirable. This is accomplished by focusing on the users, their needs and requirements, and by applying human factors/ergonomics, usability knowledge and techniques. This talk will cover some of the most important methods used in HCD and will also discuss the value and ROI of HCD.
GOODBY AND SILVERSTEIN - TEACH ADVERTISING AND CREATIVITY (MASTERCLASS)
As the minds behind the “got milk?” campaign, the Budweiser lizards, and countless other ads that have permeated pop culture, Jeff Goodby and Rich Silverstein never stop reimagining the possibilities of advertising. Now they’re sharing how they make the beautiful and edgy work that’s seen by millions. Learn how to come up with great ideas, tell funny and compelling stories, and dazzle at your next pitch or presentation.
DEVELOPING CROSS-CULTURAL INTELLIGENCE (ID: 643906553)
Being able to work across cultures is an increasingly necessary skill for all employees. Communications expert Tatiana Kolovou helps you develop the cross-cultural intelligence to navigate cultural differences. She outlines the six primary areas of cultural difference, highlighting the differences between high- and low-context cultures. Once you can recognize the differences, she helps you use visual and nonvisual cues in the environment to inform your actions and respond effectively. The course closes with two scenarios that demonstrate how to apply the principles of cross-cultural intelligence.