The Business of Platforms

Managers and entrepreneurs in the digital era must learn to live in two worlds – the conventional economy and the platform economy. Platforms that operate for business purposes usually exist at the level of an industry or ecosystem, bringing together individuals and organizations so they can innovate and interact in ways not otherwise possible. Platforms create economic value far beyond what we see in conventional companies. The Business of Platforms is an invaluable, in-depth look at platform strategy and digital innovation. Professor Yoffie will join us virtually and address how a small number of companies have come to exert extraordinary influence over every dimension of our personal, professional, and political lives.

Professor David B. Yoffie is the Max and Doris Starr Professor of International Business Administration at Harvard Business School. A member of the HBS faculty since 1981, Professor Yoffie received his Bachelor’s degree summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Brandeis University and his Master’s and Ph.D. degrees from Stanford University. Over the last two and a half decades, Professor Yoffie chaired the HBS Strategy department (1997-2002), the Advanced Management Program (1999-2002), Harvard’s Young Presidents’ Organization program (2004-2012), Harvard’s YPO Gold program (2012-2022), and Competing in the Age of Digital Platforms (2020-present). From 2006-2012, he served as Senior Associate Dean and Chair of the HBS executive education programs. During his tenure, executive education revenues grew almost 75%, classrooms were opened in Shanghai and Mumbai, a new executive education building complex was launched, and HBS became the highest rated and largest business school in executive education in the world. Professor Yoffie currently teaches a popular elective MBA course, Strategy & Technology.