Christian Busch
@chrisserendip.bsky.social
Management Prof @USCmarshall & @LSEmarshall. Focus: luck, serendipity, innovation, leadership. Author @PenguinRandomHouse: CONNECT THE DOTS / THE SERENDIPITY MINDSET (https://bit.ly/3Q1tEFO)
Pinned
Call for Papers: Strategic Management Journal Special Issue on “Chance, Luck, and Serendipity”!
The goal of this Special Issue is to explore the role of chance, luck, and serendipity in management and strategy. Submission deadline: November 1, 2025. More information: bit.ly/SMJCallforPapers
The goal of this Special Issue is to explore the role of chance, luck, and serendipity in management and strategy. Submission deadline: November 1, 2025. More information: bit.ly/SMJCallforPapers
Join us for the SMS conference symposium on the strategic role of chance, luck, and serendipity! A panel of inspiring thinkers and doers will explore how organizations can cultivate environments where chance encounters and unexpected connections turn into opportunities.
October 13, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Join us for the SMS conference symposium on the strategic role of chance, luck, and serendipity! A panel of inspiring thinkers and doers will explore how organizations can cultivate environments where chance encounters and unexpected connections turn into opportunities.
Congratulations to Ranjay Gulati on today’s launch of *How to Be Bold*!
As Adam Grant puts it, it's "an engrossing, evidence-based, and actionable guide to acting in the face of fear": lnkd.in/gECPs7hj
As Adam Grant puts it, it's "an engrossing, evidence-based, and actionable guide to acting in the face of fear": lnkd.in/gECPs7hj
October 1, 2025 at 12:59 AM
Congratulations to Ranjay Gulati on today’s launch of *How to Be Bold*!
As Adam Grant puts it, it's "an engrossing, evidence-based, and actionable guide to acting in the face of fear": lnkd.in/gECPs7hj
As Adam Grant puts it, it's "an engrossing, evidence-based, and actionable guide to acting in the face of fear": lnkd.in/gECPs7hj
Is serendipity really serendipitous? Henry Mintzberg just published a wonderfully playful reflection that grew out of our last Academy of Management session on serendipity.
A light, insightful read on how small, unplanned moments can shape organizations and careers: bit.ly/henrymintzbe...
A light, insightful read on how small, unplanned moments can shape organizations and careers: bit.ly/henrymintzbe...
September 24, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Is serendipity really serendipitous? Henry Mintzberg just published a wonderfully playful reflection that grew out of our last Academy of Management session on serendipity.
A light, insightful read on how small, unplanned moments can shape organizations and careers: bit.ly/henrymintzbe...
A light, insightful read on how small, unplanned moments can shape organizations and careers: bit.ly/henrymintzbe...
What's the role of emotion and energy when it comes to serendipity? Great new paper by Nele Terveen in the Journal of Business Venturing Insights, well worth a read!
Well worth a read! www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Well worth a read! www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
September 23, 2025 at 8:42 PM
What's the role of emotion and energy when it comes to serendipity? Great new paper by Nele Terveen in the Journal of Business Venturing Insights, well worth a read!
Well worth a read! www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Well worth a read! www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
How do chance, luck, and serendipity really shape strategy?
We’ll explore this question at the upcoming SMS conference in San Francisco.
We’d love for you to join, and to share with anyone else who might be curious about the topic!
We’ll explore this question at the upcoming SMS conference in San Francisco.
We’d love for you to join, and to share with anyone else who might be curious about the topic!
September 18, 2025 at 4:29 PM
How do chance, luck, and serendipity really shape strategy?
We’ll explore this question at the upcoming SMS conference in San Francisco.
We’d love for you to join, and to share with anyone else who might be curious about the topic!
We’ll explore this question at the upcoming SMS conference in San Francisco.
We’d love for you to join, and to share with anyone else who might be curious about the topic!
Reposted by Christian Busch
Human agency embeds fragility into systems, creating misfortune by design.
Resilience depends on dismantling the patterns that make bad luck inevitable.
@chrisserendip.bsky.social
Resilience depends on dismantling the patterns that make bad luck inevitable.
@chrisserendip.bsky.social
The hidden architecture of failure – understanding “zemblanity” - LSE Business Review
Human agency embeds fragility into systems, creating misfortune by design. Resilience depends on dismantling the patterns that make bad luck inevitable.
blogs.lse.ac.uk
September 8, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Human agency embeds fragility into systems, creating misfortune by design.
Resilience depends on dismantling the patterns that make bad luck inevitable.
@chrisserendip.bsky.social
Resilience depends on dismantling the patterns that make bad luck inevitable.
@chrisserendip.bsky.social
How do we turn the unexpected into something valuable? Over the past few years, I’ve been part of a growing community exploring this question. I’m thrilled that one outcome—a paper developing a theory of serendipity—has just received the 2024 Best Paper Award from the Journal of Management Studies!
August 12, 2025 at 4:57 AM
How do we turn the unexpected into something valuable? Over the past few years, I’ve been part of a growing community exploring this question. I’m thrilled that one outcome—a paper developing a theory of serendipity—has just received the 2024 Best Paper Award from the Journal of Management Studies!
One of the reasons I love academia: working with curious, hardworking students to prepare them for a meaningful (& lucky!) life by “cultivating serendipity.” This year’s MBA students in our USC Career Launchpad (Consulting Track) brought incredible energy, sharp thinking, and great questions.
August 8, 2025 at 3:41 PM
One of the reasons I love academia: working with curious, hardworking students to prepare them for a meaningful (& lucky!) life by “cultivating serendipity.” This year’s MBA students in our USC Career Launchpad (Consulting Track) brought incredible energy, sharp thinking, and great questions.
Reposted by Christian Busch
"You might think of serendipity as passive luck that just happens to you, when actually it’s an active process of spotting and connecting the dots."
psyche.co/guides/how-t...
psyche.co/guides/how-t...
April 19, 2025 at 12:12 AM
"You might think of serendipity as passive luck that just happens to you, when actually it’s an active process of spotting and connecting the dots."
psyche.co/guides/how-t...
psyche.co/guides/how-t...
Do you have a paper idea on chance, luck, or serendipity? We’re excited to invite submissions for our session at the Academy of Management 2025 Annual Meeting; deadline is tomorrow (July 15)!
Saturday, July 26, 14:00–16:00, Bella Center: Auditorium 10
Submit here: shorturl.at/P78Vj
Saturday, July 26, 14:00–16:00, Bella Center: Auditorium 10
Submit here: shorturl.at/P78Vj
July 14, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Do you have a paper idea on chance, luck, or serendipity? We’re excited to invite submissions for our session at the Academy of Management 2025 Annual Meeting; deadline is tomorrow (July 15)!
Saturday, July 26, 14:00–16:00, Bella Center: Auditorium 10
Submit here: shorturl.at/P78Vj
Saturday, July 26, 14:00–16:00, Bella Center: Auditorium 10
Submit here: shorturl.at/P78Vj
What if the most transformative learning moments aren't planned?
A great new editorial by professor Sigrid Harendza in the GMS Journal for Medical Education explores the role of serendipity in medical education, and offers a powerful reminder for any field: journals.publisso.de/index.php/en...
A great new editorial by professor Sigrid Harendza in the GMS Journal for Medical Education explores the role of serendipity in medical education, and offers a powerful reminder for any field: journals.publisso.de/index.php/en...
June 27, 2025 at 1:21 PM
What if the most transformative learning moments aren't planned?
A great new editorial by professor Sigrid Harendza in the GMS Journal for Medical Education explores the role of serendipity in medical education, and offers a powerful reminder for any field: journals.publisso.de/index.php/en...
A great new editorial by professor Sigrid Harendza in the GMS Journal for Medical Education explores the role of serendipity in medical education, and offers a powerful reminder for any field: journals.publisso.de/index.php/en...
“If this was the last day of my life, would I rather have dinner with the important customer or with her"? Steve Jobs' beautiful serendipity story (and our related research) featured in INC.: bit.ly/JobsSerendip....
More on our related research: bit.ly/nextbigideaclub
More on our related research: bit.ly/nextbigideaclub
June 19, 2025 at 6:47 PM
“If this was the last day of my life, would I rather have dinner with the important customer or with her"? Steve Jobs' beautiful serendipity story (and our related research) featured in INC.: bit.ly/JobsSerendip....
More on our related research: bit.ly/nextbigideaclub
More on our related research: bit.ly/nextbigideaclub
Delighted that Dan Wadhwani will be the next Director of USC's Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies! Dan is such a great person to carry the center forward.
If you’re interested in entrepreneurship research and practice in LA and beyond, this is your place! www.marshall.usc.edu/departments/...
If you’re interested in entrepreneurship research and practice in LA and beyond, this is your place! www.marshall.usc.edu/departments/...
June 17, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Delighted that Dan Wadhwani will be the next Director of USC's Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies! Dan is such a great person to carry the center forward.
If you’re interested in entrepreneurship research and practice in LA and beyond, this is your place! www.marshall.usc.edu/departments/...
If you’re interested in entrepreneurship research and practice in LA and beyond, this is your place! www.marshall.usc.edu/departments/...
Wonderful to see how much momentum the serendipity conversation is gaining at this year’s Academy of Management meeting:𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐲-𝐟𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬 won 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 & there are 20ish serendipity-related items on the agenda! If anyone still needs an excuse to explore this space, here it is:)
June 13, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Wonderful to see how much momentum the serendipity conversation is gaining at this year’s Academy of Management meeting:𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐲-𝐟𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬 won 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 & there are 20ish serendipity-related items on the agenda! If anyone still needs an excuse to explore this space, here it is:)
Life’s twists aren’t always in our control; but how we respond is.
It was a real pleasure to speak at the recent Learn-A-Thon hosted by PayPal, where we explored how "career luck" can be cultivated.
The idea isn’t to chase some forced notion of “always stay positive.” It’s about rational optimism.
It was a real pleasure to speak at the recent Learn-A-Thon hosted by PayPal, where we explored how "career luck" can be cultivated.
The idea isn’t to chase some forced notion of “always stay positive.” It’s about rational optimism.
June 11, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Life’s twists aren’t always in our control; but how we respond is.
It was a real pleasure to speak at the recent Learn-A-Thon hosted by PayPal, where we explored how "career luck" can be cultivated.
The idea isn’t to chase some forced notion of “always stay positive.” It’s about rational optimism.
It was a real pleasure to speak at the recent Learn-A-Thon hosted by PayPal, where we explored how "career luck" can be cultivated.
The idea isn’t to chase some forced notion of “always stay positive.” It’s about rational optimism.
A big thank you to the organizers of the Babson Entrepreneurship Conference for an inspiring few days! Beyond learning from so many great conversations, I was grateful for the chance to talk about the 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥 special issue on chance, luck & serendipity: bit.ly/smjserendipity
June 8, 2025 at 2:55 PM
A big thank you to the organizers of the Babson Entrepreneurship Conference for an inspiring few days! Beyond learning from so many great conversations, I was grateful for the chance to talk about the 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥 special issue on chance, luck & serendipity: bit.ly/smjserendipity
How we talk about luck—and serendipity—shapes how we experience it.
In this conversation with Shushan Karapetian, we explore how language, culture, and mindset influence our ability to spot and act on the unexpected.
👉 Watch here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzPU...
#SerendipityMindset #Leadership
In this conversation with Shushan Karapetian, we explore how language, culture, and mindset influence our ability to spot and act on the unexpected.
👉 Watch here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzPU...
#SerendipityMindset #Leadership
The Language of Luck: Cultivating Serendipity with Christian Busch
YouTube video by USC Institute of Armenian Studies
www.youtube.com
June 4, 2025 at 4:24 PM
How we talk about luck—and serendipity—shapes how we experience it.
In this conversation with Shushan Karapetian, we explore how language, culture, and mindset influence our ability to spot and act on the unexpected.
👉 Watch here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzPU...
#SerendipityMindset #Leadership
In this conversation with Shushan Karapetian, we explore how language, culture, and mindset influence our ability to spot and act on the unexpected.
👉 Watch here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzPU...
#SerendipityMindset #Leadership
How can we create "active luck" for impact and innovation? Looking forward to this upcoming NGO Academy talk on The Serendipity Mindset (virtual/open to all). Join us?
🗓️ 21 May 2025 | 🕕 6:00–7:30pm CEST | 💻 Online
🔗 bit.ly/ngoserendipity
🗓️ 21 May 2025 | 🕕 6:00–7:30pm CEST | 💻 Online
🔗 bit.ly/ngoserendipity
May 8, 2025 at 6:00 PM
How can we create "active luck" for impact and innovation? Looking forward to this upcoming NGO Academy talk on The Serendipity Mindset (virtual/open to all). Join us?
🗓️ 21 May 2025 | 🕕 6:00–7:30pm CEST | 💻 Online
🔗 bit.ly/ngoserendipity
🗓️ 21 May 2025 | 🕕 6:00–7:30pm CEST | 💻 Online
🔗 bit.ly/ngoserendipity
The updated Serendipity Mindset homepage now includes links to all international editions and translations of 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙥𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙈𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙨𝙚𝙩: theserendipitymindset.com/books/
April 29, 2025 at 3:04 PM
The updated Serendipity Mindset homepage now includes links to all international editions and translations of 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙥𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙈𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙨𝙚𝙩: theserendipitymindset.com/books/
“Compound serendipity works like compound interest.” As Gita Wirjawan-Indonesia’s former Minister of Trade and a remarkable lateral thinker- reflected, serendipity often isn’t just about isolated chance moments. It’s about creating systems where opportunity keeps building on itself.
April 29, 2025 at 1:19 PM
“Compound serendipity works like compound interest.” As Gita Wirjawan-Indonesia’s former Minister of Trade and a remarkable lateral thinker- reflected, serendipity often isn’t just about isolated chance moments. It’s about creating systems where opportunity keeps building on itself.
𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘀: 𝗔𝗼𝗠 𝗣𝗗𝗪 𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗟𝘂𝗰𝗸 & 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗽𝗶𝘁𝘆
Does your research explore themes of luck, serendipity, or chance? We invite you to join our Academy of Management PDW at the 2025 Annual Meeting–and receive constructive feedback on your work! 📩 Submit here: bit.ly/aom2025pdw
Does your research explore themes of luck, serendipity, or chance? We invite you to join our Academy of Management PDW at the 2025 Annual Meeting–and receive constructive feedback on your work! 📩 Submit here: bit.ly/aom2025pdw
April 24, 2025 at 3:14 PM
𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘀: 𝗔𝗼𝗠 𝗣𝗗𝗪 𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗟𝘂𝗰𝗸 & 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗽𝗶𝘁𝘆
Does your research explore themes of luck, serendipity, or chance? We invite you to join our Academy of Management PDW at the 2025 Annual Meeting–and receive constructive feedback on your work! 📩 Submit here: bit.ly/aom2025pdw
Does your research explore themes of luck, serendipity, or chance? We invite you to join our Academy of Management PDW at the 2025 Annual Meeting–and receive constructive feedback on your work! 📩 Submit here: bit.ly/aom2025pdw
Shoutout to Nele Terveen—first author on our new paper on the “serendipity paradox” (with Cheryl Wakslak and myself), which won a Best Paper Award at this year’s Academy of Management annual meeting!
April 23, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Shoutout to Nele Terveen—first author on our new paper on the “serendipity paradox” (with Cheryl Wakslak and myself), which won a Best Paper Award at this year’s Academy of Management annual meeting!
Does your research explore themes of luck, serendipity, or chance? We invite you to join our Academy of Management PDW on 'Luck, Chance, and Serendipity' at the 2025 Annual Meeting – and receive constructive feedback on your work!
📩 Submit here: bit.ly/aom2025pdw
📩 Submit here: bit.ly/aom2025pdw
April 1, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Does your research explore themes of luck, serendipity, or chance? We invite you to join our Academy of Management PDW on 'Luck, Chance, and Serendipity' at the 2025 Annual Meeting – and receive constructive feedback on your work!
📩 Submit here: bit.ly/aom2025pdw
📩 Submit here: bit.ly/aom2025pdw
If you're curious about our upcoming 𝙎𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙘 𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙅𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙡 (𝙎𝙈𝙅) special issue on chance, luck, and serendipity, here’s the recording of our recent info session: bit.ly/smjspecialis...
March 26, 2025 at 4:29 PM
If you're curious about our upcoming 𝙎𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙘 𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙅𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙡 (𝙎𝙈𝙅) special issue on chance, luck, and serendipity, here’s the recording of our recent info session: bit.ly/smjspecialis...
Are you interested in exploring the role of chance, luck, and serendipity in strategy and management? Join us for the 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒈𝒊𝒄 𝑴𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑱𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒂𝒍 special issue virtual information session next week! bit.ly/SMJchanceluc...
📝 Call for papers: bit.ly/SMJCallforPa...
📝 Call for papers: bit.ly/SMJCallforPa...
Registration for Virtual Information Session: SMJ Special Issue on 'Chance, Luck, and Serendipity in Management and Strategy'
The Call for Papers can be found here: bit.ly/smjserendipity
bit.ly
March 5, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Are you interested in exploring the role of chance, luck, and serendipity in strategy and management? Join us for the 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒈𝒊𝒄 𝑴𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑱𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒂𝒍 special issue virtual information session next week! bit.ly/SMJchanceluc...
📝 Call for papers: bit.ly/SMJCallforPa...
📝 Call for papers: bit.ly/SMJCallforPa...