In preparing for the summer '25 cohort of our Corporate Rebels Masterclass, I had conversations with two founders of wildly successful self-managing organizations. Both run companies without traditional hierarchies. Because both believe in autonomy, trust, and ditching command-and-control. But when I asked them how decisions are made, I got two completely different answers. One said: "We like to reach consensus. We only move forward when everyone agrees. It's part of our culture to find the...
16 days ago • 3 min read
We arrived by boat. Forty impact entrepreneurs. Brought together by Forming Impact, from all corners of the world. The sky was burning blue, the water impossibly clear. And there it was: Necker Island. On the dock stood a man in shorts and flip-flops, waving as we pulled up to the shore. Richard Branson, grinning like a kid on holiday, there to welcome us in person. It was surreal. But also, strangely normal. No security guards. No PR team. Just a curious, kind, slightly sunburned man, ready...
23 days ago • 3 min read
A month ago, white smoke curled from a chimney in Rome. Crowds gathered. News anchors speculated. The world held its breath. A new pope was about to be revealed. But while most waited for the name to be spoken, a small group of researchers from Bocconi University already knew it. Not because of divine prophecy. Because of data. By analyzing the relational structure of the Vatican’s inner circle (who consulted whom, who trusted whom, who spent time with whom) they predicted the outcome before...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Last week, in a warehouse just outside Barcelona, a plain cardboard box sat on a wooden chair. It wasn’t there for shipping. It was a ballot box. Around it, just under fifty workers gathered. Some in overalls, some in steel-toe boots, many with grease still on their hands. One by one, they stepped forward, slipped in their vote, and returned to their seat. What were they voting on? Whether or not to sell their company to us. Let me explain. Not your average acquisition Our other company,...
2 months ago • 2 min read
This morning I read a piece in Harvard Business Review — the apex of thoughtful, measured, data-rich corporate discourse — titled “What’s the Future of Middle Management?” Spoiler: It's not extinction. The authors make a reasonable case: middle managers are still vital because of their unique position in the organizational food chain. But — and it's a big but — to stay relevant, they need to shrink in numbers and evolve in function. Less compliance cop, more talent developer. Less...
3 months ago • 4 min read
It was hot, loud, and late in São Paulo. We had just arrived, jet-lagged and buzzing with questions, about to meet one of the most iconic figures in the world of radical work design. The restaurant was sharp—white tablecloths, waiters with straight backs, and Ricardo Semler at the center of it all. He spoke with fire. Ideas about trust, freedom, decentralization, democracy at work. His vision was bold, clean, and intoxicating. But it wasn’t until later—hours later, in a quiet living room...
3 months ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, One of my highlights every year? The 6-week masterclasses we run a few times annually. In each masterclass, we guide a cohort of about 30 practitioners through how to move their organizations beyond hierarchy. It’s a deep dive into progressive organizational design—topped off with hands-on work transforming their own organizations. No more layers of bureaucracy, no more sluggish decision-making, no more command-and-control nonsense. Just real tools for building better ways of...
4 months ago • 4 min read
Ever since we ditched our corporate jobs and kicked off Corporate Rebels, we’ve been on a mission: end the frustration and inefficiencies of traditional management. We knew (or let’s be honest, hoped) to turn Corporate Rebels into a global movement. And “movement” is the word we used from day one. But truth is, we weren’t a movement. Not yet. We were a team of workplace geeks with a big audience. Powerful? Sure. But not nearly as powerful as a true movement can be. So, 14 months ago, with...
4 months ago • 4 min read
Hi Reader, One of the most common questions I hear in self-managing organizations is: "How do you grow your career when there’s no hierarchy?" For many, career progression means climbing the corporate ladder—getting a promotion, earning a new title, managing a bigger team. But what happens when there’s no boss to promote you? This month in our Corporate Rebels Community, we’re exploring career growth in self-managing organizations. It’s a hot topic in our Masterclass on Running and Scaling...
4 months ago • 5 min read