Leading Through Scarcity: Purpose Over Panic

CEO lessons for navigating constant change: When resources are tight and uncertainty is high, what keeps organizations moving forward? New Jersey Performing Art Center CEO John Schreiber and BCG’s Rishi Varma share how purpose-led strategy, prioritization, and the right partnerships drive growth. Clear, actionable plans grounded in mission give leaders a north star, helping them stay focused and make hard calls with confidence. Learn More John Schreiber, President and CEO, New Jersey Performing Arts Center Rishi Varma, Managing Director & Senior Partner, BCG When Strategy Follows Purpose: The Art of Revival, BCG's CEO Agenda, Chapters 00:00 Intro 00:57 The role of NJPAC 02:33 Why did the organization need to reshape? 05:47 How BCG partnered with NJPAC 07:52 Leading change in a legacy organization 11:16 CEO lessons for navigating constant change 13:28 Building resilience without abundant resources 14:25 How do leaders lead with less? 15:42 When does expanding mission become overreach? 17:36 What should leaders consider before expanding beyond the core? 18:44 How do you build coalitions that unlock real value? 19:54 What impact are you most proud of beyond Newark? 21:23 How do you think about legacy and long-term impact? 23:06 What stands out from disruption and change? 24:45 Outro

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Leading Through Scarcity: Purpose Over Panic is an episode from The So What from BCG by Boston Consulting Group BCG.

This episode is 25:02 long.

This episode was published on Apr 8, 2026.

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