Universal Music Group is the world leader in music-based entertainment. But it wasn’t a straight line to the top. After a near-death experience, UMG navigated massive market and technological changes. Through a series of bold, future focused initiatives, they succeeded in finding a path to growth, and in reinventing the role of a music label in the twenty-first century.

People in organizations with a widespread sense of empathy possess an intuitive vibe for what’s going on in the world that helps them to see new opportunities faster than their competitors.

Consider this article your first history lesson in ideation. To help you get started, we’ve tracked down some of the best thinkers and most creative companies of all time.

Business growth today requires new ways of looking at the world, say Sarah Rottenberg and Isabel O’Meara, of design firm Jump Associates in New York. In Rotman Magazine, they offer seven ways to enhance your ability to see new possibilities that do not yet exist.

Increasingly, Chief Marketing Officers are being called upon to help their organizations manage change and drive new growth for their companies. That can present a whole new set of challenges for any CMO looking to succeed. Here’s some advice on where to get started.