August 2020
Teaching Note
HBS Case Collection

Sesame Workshop (B): Celebrating 50 Years of Helping Kids Grow Smarter, Stronger, and Kinder

By: Rosabeth Moss Kanter and Joyce J. Kim

Format:Print
| Language:English
| Pages:13

Abstract

Teaching Note for Case No. 321-015. In 2019, Sesame Workshop celebrated its 50th anniversary while on a winning streak of social impact, innovation, and peak media and financial results. Over the past four years, CEO Jeff Dunn and his turnaround team exhibited values-driven leadership, instituted cultural changes, and pursued opportunities to further Sesame’s mission, including the inaugural MacArthur 100&Change award to tackle the worldwide refugee crisis in partnership with the International Rescue Committee. The $100 million winning project, Ahlan Simsim, was the largest early childhood program created in a humanitarian setting. By early 2020, Sesame had a mission-aligned culture that laid the groundwork to make kids smarter, kinder, and stronger.

Keywords

Social Impact; Innovation; Television; Children; Media; Television Entertainment; Education; Innovation and Invention; Change Management; Leadership; Mission and Purpose; Organizational Culture; Education Industry; Media and Broadcasting Industry

Citation

Kanter, Rosabeth Moss, and Joyce J. Kim. "Sesame Workshop (B): Celebrating 50 Years of Helping Kids Grow Smarter, Stronger, and Kinder." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 321-041, August 2020.