Abstract:
The case study examines Dan Doctoroff, an innovative leader in the public and private sectors, and his efforts to turbo-charge philanthropy and find a cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Doctoroff served as deputy mayor for development in New York City's Bloomberg administration, president and CEO of Bloomberg LP, and founding CEO of Google's Sidewalk Labs. In those roles, he created many iconic urban projects, including the High Line park in New York City. Doctoroff, who had witnessed his father, uncle, and a close friend die from ALS, was frustrated by the slow pace of research into the disease.
Then, in 2021, Doctoroff himself was diagnosed with ALS. Drawing on his success in government and business, he developed a formula for success that emphasized a bold vision, strategic planning, and effective collaboration. Doctoroff's collaborative, deadline-driven approach fostered first-ever partnerships between academia and industry. His foundation, Target ALS, quickly raised over $250 million, accelerated research, enhanced collaboration, and led to breakthroughs in treatment and potential cures for ALS. The study examines Doctoroff's leadership style and its impact on the organization's success.
Learning Objectives:
Ideal for students of leadership and strategic planning, this case describes an approach to confronting systemic barriers to progress that might at first appear immutable. Students will:
- Explore the story of a leader who took on a daunting problem, outside his own area of expertise.
- Consider how a leader may engage in careful research and analysis to better understand systemic obstacles to progress and design a program to address them head-on.
- Assess Target ALS's unconventional approach to breaking down silos and incentivizing collaboration.
