The Flywheel Philosophy

This week, strategy+business published an important article on a topic fundamental to higher ambition firms— how companies can build deep trust-based partnerships with their stakeholders to sustainably deliver superior economic and social value. Founding Higher Ambition Leadership Alliance member company Henry Schein Inc., the focus of the article, is a shining example of this kind of long-term value creation. As members heard through a recent Higher Ambition Leadership Alliance Learning Visit, the company has delivered consistent, strong results with its multi-constituency approach.

The authors — Allison Neale, Director of Public Policy at Henry Schein, and Kate Isaacs, an Executive Fellow at the Higher Ambition Leadership Alliance — use Henry Schein’s stakeholder strategy to illustrate how organizations can align a firm’s purpose, strategy, culture, and execution capacities. They provide practical and specific guidance on:

• What distinguishes a partnership model from a transactional model

• The role of employee engagement in creating a strong partnership culture

• How to create meaning and clarity around an organization’s purpose

• The power of setting far-reaching “meta-goals”

• Social initiatives that engage customers and partners in Henry Schein’s business