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Lou Gerstner

IBM: services pivot, "elephants can dance"

Former CEO of IBM (1993–2002) who reversed the company's decline and authored Who Says Elephants Can't Dance? on corporate turnaround strategy.

#4Competitive Strategy Operators
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Top 100 Competitive Strategy Operators
Rank #4·IBM: services pivot, "elephants can dance"
Appears alongside

Top neighbors of Lou Gerstner

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A.G. Lafley
P&G: connect-and-develop, brand pruning to 80 core brands
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Adi Godrej
Godrej Group: family-board governance + emerging-market FMCG strategy
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Akio Morita
Sony: Walkman category creation, branding-led globalization
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Akio Toyoda
Toyota: hybrid-led powertrain hedge against pure EV
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Alan Lafley reprise / Hein Schumacher
kept primaries only
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Alan Mulally
Ford: One Ford plan, divestitures, BPR meeting cadence
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Albert Bourla
Pfizer: COVID vaccine sprint, Seagen oncology bet
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08
Amancio Ortega
Inditex/Zara: fast-fashion vertical model
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Last updated
10 May 2026
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