Crain is a multiple award-winning management consulting firm focused on strategic and operational planning, growth strategy, project management, and corporate development in the animal health/veterinary, biotech/pharma, energy, technology, and financial services industries. Our consultants have experience in Fortune 500 businesses, some of the fastest growing and most successful startups in the world, and everything in between. From corporate development and strategic partnerships, to AI and business model evolution, we are the trusted resource of companies everywhere. Your passion is to grow your company and succeed. Our passion is to get you there.
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Very well said. Marrying this kind of purpose with clear strategy makes for a very strong competitive advantage. #Purpose #Vision #Strategy
If you’re not guided by a clear sense of purpose, you’re likely to fritter away your effort on short-term signs of achievement — not on what’s most important.
Wow, check out our Senior Partner Scott Maloney! He will be a featured speaker that the 2025 #CXO2Conf in Las Vegas in 2025. This honor continues a year of Crain and Scott specifically winning awards for the impact being delivered to clients across the country. We are honored to support our clients and humbled that our work is being recognized and featured at such prestigious events. See you all in Vegas! #Leadership #Innovation #Consulting #Award #ThoughtLeadership
We are pleased to present Scott Maloney as a speaker at the #CXO2Conf in Las Vegas! With extensive experience leading divisions in Fortune 500 companies and $1B+ startups, Scott has a proven track record in driving growth and successful exits. At Crain & Co., he oversees strategic consulting across biotech/pharma, healthcare, animal health, professional services, and energy sectors. His firm is at the forefront of transforming how companies strategize and execute complex opportunities. Scott’s leadership and global impact have earned him the Titan100 CEO award for two consecutive years. Don’t miss the chance to gain insights from Scott’s expertise and innovative business strategy approach. #CXO2Conf #Conferences #Events #Dubai #UAE #LasVegas #USA #Leaders #Networking #Collaboration
Go-to-market strategies are broken. We’ve seen countless go-to-market strategies celebrated for their precision and innovation. But here's the counterintuitive question: Are these strategies truly customer-centric or just business-centric? We've observed a disturbing trend where companies meticulously plan their market entry without genuinely understanding the evolving needs and behaviors of their target audience. It's almost as if we’ve mastered the art of launching products without first ensuring they solve real, current problems. What if the key to a successful go-to-market strategy isn’t just about the market, but deeply understanding and anticipating your customers' next move? We challenge the industry with a rethinking of the approach. Instead of focusing on the perfect rollout, let’s dive deeper into the imperfect, ever-changing world of our customers. Or said another way…Is your go-to-market strategy genuinely aligned with the pulse of your customers? Or are we just following a polished plan? #GoToMarket #Strategy #CustomerCentric #BusinessConsulting #Innovation #MarketResearch #AnimalHealth #Tech #Innovation Craig S. Wallace Dr. Cherice Roth
Interesting perspective and worth the read. #Teams #Leadership #Organizations
Only 16% of employees are engaged at work. The most extensive and methodologically consistent global study of employee engagement reveals why.
A must read for any startup, but certainly a concept we share with our life sciences companies, from human biotech to animal health. #Investment #Strategy #Growth #VentureCapital
Senior Partner at Crain | Investor | Independent Board Director | Turnaround Executive | Exits | Lucky Husband To One | Proud Father To Two
Had one of the most important conversations I’ve had in years, guiding a startup on understanding the critical difference between de-risking and diversification within their growth strategy. Internalizing the difference is one of the most powerful hallmarks of success vs. failure for young companies in the eyes of investors. The strategies of de-risking and diversification often get mentioned in the same breath, but it's crucial to grasp their distinctly different impacts on a startup's trajectory. De-Risking. This approach is about reducing the potential downside of a specific asset or project. For startups, de-risking could mean validating a product idea through customer feedback, improving technology to meet regulatory standards, or securing patents. It makes a particular asset less risky to invest in and can significantly boost investor confidence, as it focuses on enhancing the success probability of the startup's core offering. Diversification. On the other hand, diversification involves spreading resources across various products or markets. It's a strategy often employed by established companies to hedge against the failure of any single venture. However, for startups, diversification can be a double-edged sword. While it might seem like a safety net, it often leads to diluted focus and resources, potentially weakening the startup's position in its primary market. For early-stage startups, the key is not to stretch too thin too soon. Investors typically look for focused, potent efforts that de-risk the primary product or service, not a scattergun approach that might compromise the depth and quality of the innovation. Plus, for investors looking for outsized returns, diversification actually works against the goals of their investment. Remember, in the startup world, depth often trumps breadth. A well de-risked core offering has the potential to garner significant returns and attract keen investor interest, far outweighing the perceived safety of diversification. #StartupStrategy #RiskManagement #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #VentureCapital
Really meaningful article. Worth the read. #Collaboration #Partnerships #Strategy
Ask your team: What strengths and advantages do we have as a business and team?
Really great article. Training is training, regardless of the arena. And support for wellbeing is a necessary component. #Wellness #Growth #Leadership #Organization
Companies can’t ask their employees to perform at high levels without accounting for their well-being. Athleticism shows us that this isn’t possible.
Outstanding article. Dynamicaly created or intentionally stealthy—hidden teams can be the powerhouse of strategic initiatives, cultures of learning, and productive breakthroughs. #Teams #Stealth #OrganizationalDesign #Consulting
To create the most engaged teams: 1. Build trust between leaders and team members. 2. Communicate priorities and where people need help. 3. Learn new skills as a group. 4. Let people work remotely more often. 5. Let people do the work they love.
Creating a new model for translating university research into commercially viable technology requires a multi-faceted approach. A fundamentally new model: -Integrated Commercialization Labs: Establish dedicated facilities within universities where research is conducted with commercialization in mind, with in-house business/commercialization analysts, patent experts who work alongside researchers from project inception. -Cross-Disciplinary Innovation Hubs: Create hubs that bring together researchers from different disciplines to work on projects with commercial potential. -University-Industry Partnership Programs: Develop formal partnerships with industry leaders early in the research process to provide a direct line for industry feedback and potential funding. -Commercial Viability Seed Funding: Allocate university funds specifically for research with strong commercial potential, helping researchers over the initial financial hurdles of commercial validation. -Entrepreneurial Education: Integrate entrepreneurial training into the curriculum for PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, equipping them with the skills needed to commercialize their research. -Technology Transfer Acceleration Grants: Provide grants for researchers to develop prototypes and conduct market analyses, reducing the risk for investors and making the technology more attractive for commercial development. -Startup Incubators and Accelerators: Establish on-campus incubators and accelerators that provide resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities. -Flexible Intellectual Property Policies: Revise university IP policies to be more conducive to commercialization, such as by allowing researchers to retain a larger share of royalties. -Commercialization Postdoc Programs: Create positions for postdoctoral fellows that focus on moving research from the lab to the marketplace, bridging academic research and business development. -Innovation Competitions: Host competitions where researchers pitch their technologies to investors and industry experts. -Research-to-Market Training Camps: Run intensive, short-term programs that train researchers in commercialization processes, including market analysis, business planning, and pitching. -Corporate-Residency for Researchers: Establish residency programs where researchers spend time within companies, gaining insights into business operations and commercial product development. -Impact Investment Funds: Set up investment funds focused on technologies with significant social impact to appealing to impact investors. -Legislative Advocacy: Advocate for state and federal legislation that provides tax incentives for investing in research and commercialization infrastructure. Implementing this new model involves creating an ecosystem where commercialization is a parallel goal alongside academic research, ensuring that innovations have a clear path to market from the earliest stages of development. #TechTransfer #University
Some important thoughts here for one of the least understood career transitions in business. #boardofdirectors #leadership #career
There are five types of intelligence that aspiring board members need to cultivate: 1. Financial fundamentals 2. Strategic thinking 3. Relationship building 4. Understanding your role 5. Cultural awareness