Expert on innovation in times of crisis, global perspective on technology-enabled innovation, online social networking, the knowledge economy, technology and competitiveness

Soumitra Dutta is an authority on all aspects of innovation in the knowledge economy, with a refreshing global perspective. Throughout his distinguished career, he has focused on how to drive business innovation and growth through the right combination of innovative people and technology.

This is particularly relevant in the current crisis when innovation is the best answer for both thriving today and emerging stronger in a post-crisis world.

Soumitra Dutta is the Roland Berger Professor of Business and Technology and Dean of External Relations at INSEAD, named the #1 international business school in the world by BusinessWeek.

He is the former Dean of Executive Education at INSEAD and had the responsibility of leading the largest executive education program portfolio in the world.

Prior to joining the faculty of INSEAD in 1989, he was employed with Schlumberger in Japan and General Electric in the USA. Professor Dutta obtained his Ph.D. in computer science and his M.Sc. in business administration from the University of California at Berkeley. He has been a visiting Professor at several international universities including the Haas School of Business (Berkeley) and the Solvay Business School (Brussels).

His current research is on technology strategy and innovation at both corporate and national policy levels.

His latest books are:

“Throwing Sheep in the Boardroom” (Wiley, 2008) reveals how online social networking is transforming our personal lives, our organizations, and our behavior as consumers and citizens
“Innovating at the Top” (Palgrave, 2008) he distills proven ways that senior executives can improve innovation performance from interviews with the CEOs of nine highly-innovative international corporations - Bosch, Genentech, Infosys, Nokia, Research in Motion, SAP, 3M, Toyota, and Unilever - to gain their views how to encourage and support innovation

“The Global Information Technology Report 2007-2008” (Palgrave 2008).

He has authored ten other books including "The Bright Stuff" (Financial Times/Prentice Hall, 2002), "Embracing the Net" (Financial Times, 2001) and "Process Reengineering, Organizational Change and Performance Improvement" (Mc-Graw Hill, 1999).

He has won several awards for research and pedagogy including awards for the European Case of the Year from the European Case Clearing House in 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2002.

He is actively involved in policy development at national and European levels. He is currently a member of the Advisory Committee for ICT for the Government of Qatar and has advised other national governments on ICT policy issues such as Brazil and Dubai.

He is the Chairman of the European Commission's Europe Innova panel on Innovation in the ICT sector and a member of the Steering Committee of eBSN, the European Commission's eBusiness Network initiative for SMEs.

He has taught in and consulted with international corporations across the world. He has directed top management programs for several companies and is a regular contributor to in-house management programs.

Soumitra is a dynamic, charming and confident speaker with strong executive education experience.

Topic Areas

Online social networking
Soumitra is the co-author of Throwing Sheep in the Boardroom, which examines how online social networking is changing the way we interact with each other informally (in terms of identity), the inner dynamics of organizations (in terms of status), and our behavior as citizens and consumers (in terms of power). Throwing Sheep in the Boardroom has received rave reviews and has been picked up enthusiastically by the online community. 



Innovation
Soumitra is also the co-author of Innovating at the Top, which offers proven ways to improve innovation performance distilled from interviews with CEOs at nine highly innovative international corporations—Bosch, Genentech, Infosys, Nokia, Research in Motion, SAP, 3M, Toyota, and Unilever. Based on the insights of senior executives who have successfully encouraged and supported innovation in their organizations, Soumitra offers audiences the take-aways from his book: 10 Key Drivers of Innovation. 



Overcome the current economic crisis
Soumitra has co-edited eight annual reports for the World Economic Forum that are the most authoritative and comprehensive international assessments of the impact of ICT on the development process and the competitiveness of nations. The 2009 Report underlines that good education fundamentals and high levels of technological readiness and innovation are essential engines of growth needed to overcome the current economic crisis. Under the theme "Mobility in a Networked World", the Report places a particular focus on the importance of mobility and broadband technologies.

Credentials

•    The Roland Berger Professor in Business and Technology
•    Founder and Academic Director, eLab@INSEAD
•    Visiting professor, UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business; Solvay Business School (Brussels); Athens Laboratory for Business Administration
•    Fellow, World Economic Forum
•    Member of Advisory Board, Center for CIO Leadership, New York
•    Adviser, Government of Qatar

Book Soumitra Dutta

To book Soumitra Dutta for your event, or to discuss your requirements further with one of our consultants, contact us via the web, or call +44 (0) 1628 636 600