Disruption - Photo by TechCrunch - CC BY 2.0

The Original Disruptor: Clayton Christensen talks about why he believes in disruption at the 2014 SF Disrupt Conference

Raleigh Addington
Raleigh Addington
editor at Chartwell Speakers

Clayton Christensen - Photo by Evgenia Eliseeva - CC BY 2.0Clayton Christensen, the world’s foremost leader in disruptive innovation and best-selling author of “The Inventor’s Dilemma” (1997), took to the stage with investment banker Bill Hambrecht at the recent TechCrunch Disrupt SF conference to defend the concepts of disruption, and to address the ways the Valley predicted the future of financial services and technology.

“‘Disruption’ is, at its core, a really powerful idea,” Clay said. “Everyone hijacks the idea to do whatever they want now. It’s the same way people hijacked the word ‘paradigm’ to justify lame things they’re trying to sell to mankind. There wasn’t a way for Holiday Inn to go against the Four Seasons. They could emulate the Four Seasons by going upmarket,” he said. He believes, however, that companies like Airbnb have been able to disrupt that market by changing the way rooms are rented.

For a slideshow of images of the event, click here.

Check out the video below of Clay giving a keynote at Saïd Business School. He explains his theory of disruption, drawing on examples of innovations occurring in the steel industry and from leading companies such as Toyota, Sony, Walmart and Indian refrigerator manufacturer, Godrej.

For more information on how to book Clayton Christensen as a keynote speaker for your conference or event, please contact Ellis Trevor at [email protected] or call +1 972 385 1021.

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