Date of Birth: April 6, 1952
Zodiac Sign: Aries
Date of Death: January 23, 2020
Biography
Clayton M. Christensen was a highly influential American academic, business consultant, and author, best known for his theory of “disruptive innovation.” Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, Christensen was a Harvard Business School professor and a thought leader who changed the way companies think about innovation and growth. His most famous book, “The Innovator’s Dilemma,” has been widely acclaimed and remains a seminal text in business literature. Throughout his career, Christensen authored several other influential books, contributed to numerous academic papers, and consulted for leading companies globally. Christensen’s academic journey began at Brigham Young University, where he graduated with a degree in Economics. He then attended Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, earning an MPhil in Applied Econometrics, followed by an MBA and a DBA from Harvard University. His teachings and writings have had a profound impact on business strategy, particularly in the technology sector.
5 Interesting Facts about Clayton M. Christensen
1. Clayton Christensen was a Rhodes Scholar and attended Oxford University.
2. “The Innovator’s Dilemma” was named one of the six most important business books ever written by The Economist.
3. Christensen was diagnosed with follicular lymphoma in 2010, a type of cancer, but he continued his work and research despite his illness.
4. He founded the Clayton Christensen Institute for Disruptive Innovation, a non-profit think tank.
5. Christensen served as a White House Fellow in the Office of the Secretary of Transportation during the Reagan administration.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Clayton M. Christensen
1. “Disruption is a process, not an event, and innovations can only be disruptive relative to something else.”
2. “The best way to predict the future is to create it.”
3. “Management is the most noble of professions if it’s practiced well. No other occupation offers as many ways to help others learn and grow.”
4. “Questions are places in your mind where answers fit. If you haven’t asked the question, the answer has nowhere to go.”
5. “It’s easier to hold your principles 100 percent of the time than it is to hold them 98 percent of the time.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
At the peak of his career, Clayton M. Christensen’s net worth was estimated to be around $10 million.
Children
Clayton Christensen and his wife, Christine, had five children: Matthew, Michael, Spencer, Ann, and Catherine.
Relevant Links
1. [Clayton Christensen on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clayton_Christensen
3. [Clayton Christensen Institute for Disruptive Innovation](https://www.christenseninstitute.org/
4. [Harvard Business School profile](https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/profile.aspx?facId=64342
