Walpole Summit

The Future of British Luxury by Nader Tavassoli, Professor of Marketing, London Business School

Join us at the Walpole Future of Luxury Summit next month, where we will hear from 30 expert speakers and panelists, including Nader Tavassoli, Professor of Marketing at the world-famous London Business School. Ahead of his presentation on 'Coherent Disruption', Nader shares his thoughts on what he sees as the Future of Luxury, and why events such as the Summit are so important to individuals, brands and the sector as a whole.
13th Aug 2021
Walpole Summit The Future of British Luxury by Nader Tavassoli, Professor of Marketing, London Business School

For more than 25 years, Nader has advised and taught organisations ranging from internet and high-tech start-ups to over 30 Global Fortune 500 companies. He has helped define brands' purpose, DNA and portfolio strategy; served as an expert witness in brand disputes, representing celebrities, multi-nationals, and countries; provided brand due diligence in M&A; designed and directed brand and digital transformation academies for several global companies; is an award-winning case writer and launched Coursera’s first massive open online course (MOOC) on brand management. 

The Walpole Future of British Luxury Summit takes place on Monday 6th September at The Londoner, in association with Facebook and TONG. 

 

Click here to secure your tickets.

 

Why are you taking part in the Walpole Summit?

The Walpole Summit is a great opportunity to look beyond my current interests and challenges, and to consider fresh ideas more broadly. I have a thick notebook from past events, that has served me well in my roles as educator, consultant and coach.

Can you give us a couple of the key insights you will share during the event?

I have spent the past decade advising luxury brands—from leading heritage brands to Walpole Brands of Tomorrow—on how to define and redefine their brand DNA in order to meet commercial objectives. There is an inherent tension of being coherent with ones identity while disrupting category norms to stand out and take a leadership role. My presentation will provide practical examples of how brands have managed to resolve this tension by using their DNA to challenge category norms.

What do you see as the most important opportunities ahead for both your brand and the luxury sector?

My brand is London Business School which is, in many ways, a luxury brand. I have long considered the client experience as a core differentiator for any brand (see my free MOOC attended by over 200,000 participants https://www.coursera.org/learn/brand) and previously launched the eBusiness programme at the MIT Sloan School of Business. Combining those two themes, I believe that inventing and consistently delivering omnichannel digital plus physical experiences is required for luxury brands to flourish. COVID-19 has been a wake-up call for all, including my own teaching.

What do you see as the greatest challenges ahead for both your brand and the luxury sector?

For my brand, which may be similar to the Indie brand revolution in luxury, the biggest challenge is how to stay true to ones DNA and purpose, in order to thrive in the face of an army of EduTech start-ups while facing financial difficulties.

Why are these events so important to you, your business and the sector as a whole?

On the one hand, events like these allow me to take time out of my busy schedule to learn in an unguided way and to make new connections.

Related Articles

At your service
Editorial
11th Feb 2025
At your service
What luxury globetrotters most appreciate about British hospitality is its authenticity, expertise and love of storytelling, writes travel expert Melinda Stevens
Why apprenticeships matter to British luxury
Public Policy
10th Feb 2025
Why apprenticeships matter to British luxury
As we highlighted in our recent Luxury in the Making report, preserving and nurturing craft skills are of crucial importance to the luxury industry here in the UK. To mark National Apprenticeship Week 2025, we speak to a series of high-end brands about the importance of apprenticeships to their businesses – and highlight a selection of apprenticeships offered by members
Moriarty's Sophie Cracknell shares her out of office essentials
Out of Office
7th Feb 2025
Moriarty's Sophie Cracknell shares her out of office essentials
In our Out of Office interview series, we speak to Walpole member and partner executives at the top of their game about how they live their lives away from their desks – the habits that help them decompress, the activities that re-centre their minds, and the little luxuries that they can't live without. This week, we talk Pilates, The Pig and preparing for the week over a glass of red with Sophie Cracknell, Managing Director of global creative events studio Moriarty