Leadership Strategies in Book Publishing

Program Dates: July 21-26, 2013

Application deadline extended to June 21, 2013

Click here to see the 2013 program.

The Yale Publishing Course is designed for mid- to senior-level professionals from all over the world. Our mission is to provide participants with the knowledge and skills that will enable them to be more effective leaders and advance their careers.

YPC tackles the most important issues facing publishers in this time of ever-accelerating change. The curriculum concentrates on:

• best practices in business and management
• understanding and utilizing the latest advances in technology
• implementing innovative strategies for discoverability, audience development, and brand extension
• ways to increase revenue in a global economy in which print and digital publishing co-exist profitably
• managing organizational change and finding new sources of revenue

The program provides a mixture of overviews of the current and future state of the industry and in-depth explorations of specific topics in editorial content, design, marketing, circulation, advertising, finance, and management. The carefully-selected industry experts and distinguished faculty from the Yale School of Management present real-world business models and case studies from both large and small publishers. Speakers will also be available for smaller group discussions and one-on-one counseling sessions.

APPLY NOW for the 2013 Yale Publishing Course!

“As the disruption in the publishing industry continues at an ever-accelerating rate, we have been refreshing the YPC curriculum to reflect the latest advances in technology and evolving innovative business models. We are dedicated to making your time at Yale as informative, collegial, and productive as possible. Past participants have attested that they left New Haven inspired, energized, and better-equipped to lead their companies into the digital future. Join us and be a part of the worldwide network of YPC alumni.” – Tina C. Weiner, Director, YPC 

Michael Jacobs President and CEO, Abrams Books Both Sides Now (And at Once) Change and opportunity in a disruptive publishing ecosystem That book publishing across the board is in a state of flux is no longer the question. In these times of ever-accelerating disruption in existing business models, market approaches, customer segmentation, and shrinking traditional distribution channels, it is apparent that there are still increasing opportunities for growth and change. Setting the stage for the week’s exciting give and take, one of the industry’s most creative and innovative CEOs shares his views of the possibilities for organizational transformation and re-vitalization in the best/worst of times.

Dominique Raccah CEO and Publisher, Sourcebooks The Book in Transformation What we know now and what’s next The book world is changing rapidly: the rise of eBooks, the advent of self-publishing, consolidation in the publishing industry, and the technological turmoil associated with the digital revolution. We are very much in the middle of the digital transformation of the book. So what does the future hold for ebooks and ereaders? And what are the implications for authors, booksellers, publishers, and readers?

Richard Foster Lecturer, Yale School of Management; Executive-in-Residence, Yale Entrepreneurial Institute; Venture Partner, Lux Capital Creative Destruction in Book Publishing Balancing continuity and change The publishing industry, both in general and with specific respect to books, is in the throes of a classic industry disruption. Industry leadership is changing. Old distinguished competitors are slipping away. New start-ups with no track record of accomplishment are moving forward at times with seemingly more capital than insight. Where will it lead? What does this mean for you? This talk describes the common patterns of the past and applies those patterns to the current magazine publishing industry. In its conclusion, the session will offer recommendations to guide the development of successful action plans for capitalizing on the current turmoil.

Carolyn Pittis Managing Director, Welman Digital LLC; former SVP, Publishing Transformation, HarperCollins Publishers Transformation Strategies New methods of driving change for media companies Many publishers do not have the required capabilities and skills in house to understand the full range of risks and opportunities in today’s marketplace, Carolyn Pittis addresses what specific publishing frameworks, tactical and management methods, and insights and models from other industries will help publishing companies succeed at managing the continuous changes facing them. The session will include a classroom activity designed to elicit insights and direct experience with some of these tactics and will help you develop the leadership skills to help your organization succeed and grow.

Kirsty Melville President, Book Division, Andrews McMeel Publishing Standing For Something A niche publisher’s perspective For an independent, niche publisher in the digital age, re-imagining the business is a daily and ongoing endeavor. How do we as publishers stand out and measure our worth? How do we retain and grow talent? How do we structure and position ourselves for the long haul? Kirsty Melville, the imaginative head of a leading publisher of illustrated content, examines the thorny issues niche publishers face as they continually redefine themselves in the digital age.

Bruce Harris Publishing Consultant, Bruce Harris Books Publishing à la Carte Alternative strategies to traditional publishing methods A veteran publisher of bestsellers offers some non-traditional strategies for book publishing, urging both individual and corporate reinvention as methods to manage change.

Nigel Holmes Principal, Explanation Graphics Visual Thinking Do you think in words or pictures? Why not try both? In this presentation you’ll experience words, pictures, and music mixed together in interesting ways. Among other diversions, listen to Mozart’s dreadful mistake with the latest technology of his time, and try it for yourself; take part in an interactive and slightly athletic demonstration of huge numbers; consider using your hands for something other than pounding a keyboard all day; find out whether you are a right-brain or a left-brain person. It’s going to be serious fun. And please bring a wineglass with you to the talk (with wine or something else in it—whatever you like to drink).

Marcus E. Leaver President, The Quarto Group, Inc. All The World’s A Stage Surviving and thriving in today's and tomorrow's global publishing landscape In a fast-paced presentation, based on real-world examples, whether they be global, national, regional, local, hyperlocal, print or digital, a noted international publisher discusses how to do business in the shifting landscape of global publishing. Marcus Leaver talks about putting books in customers’ hands from Auckland, New Zealand to Los Angeles, California, and all points in between.

Rick Joyce Chief Marketing Officer, Perseus Book Group The Great Race: Innovation & Publishing All publishers in the rapidly-changing book ecosystem are in a position of having to reinvent our bicycles while we are riding them. But where do we start and should we lead or follow? Rick Joyce leads a discussion of how to prioritize the multitude of possibilities before us. Using real-world examples from the Perseus Books Group, a major independent publisher and provider of services, such as Constellation and Argo Navis, to over 400 publishers, he considers the decisions, approaches, and challenges of mid-ride reinvention.

Maria Campbell President, Maria B. Campbell Associates, Inc. Gail Hochman President, Brandt & Hochman Literary Agents, Inc. Selling Rights in the Digital Age A perspective from an international scout and a literary agent Communication has never been easier--Skype, email, Twitter, Facebook, etc. make it easier but also create a cacophony of information about books. How does an agent get attention for an author? How does a scout elicit interest in the global market? These are some of the themes this duo of experts will tackle in their round-the-world tour of the rights marketplace.

Edward Nowatka Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Publishing Perspectives Publishing in the Age of Globalization The wonderful, the worrisome, and the what's next Publishers large and small are translating their own titles into multiple languages and selling directly to readers all over the world.  Digital publishing entrepreneurs no longer feel hemmed in by borders and view the entire world as their market. In a rapid-fire overview of the current global publishing landscape, Ed Nawotka, using real-world examples and years of experience reporting on the publishing industry, considers the macro-trends at work and some of the micro-trends at play in different regions and offers ideas and inspiration for what you might see next in this ever-changing publishing ecosystem.

E.C. Schroeder Director, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, and Associate University Librarian, Yale University The Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library: Its History and Future The Director of the Beinecke will give a brief history of the Beinecke Library, one of the leading rare book libraries in the world as well as an overview of its collections that document publishing during the past 1000+ years.  Also a look at the future of rare book libraries and the challenges and opportunities that they face in the 21st century.

Jim Baron William S. Beinecke Professor of Management, Yale School of Management Managing Organizations in Times of Disruption How do you manage and navigate organizations in the midst of change? This session explores organizational change from the macro forces that create it to the patterns that organizational changes take and analyzes how periods of transition impact both managers and their staff.

Jonathan Hart Partner, Dow Lohnes, PLLC Publishing in a Multi-Platform World Legal theory and practice This session will address fundamental legal principles that all publishers need to understand as they distribute content over multiple platforms and across borders. Jonathan Hart provides a foundation in publishing law (with an emphasis on copyright, privacy, and contract negotiation), mixing practical legal tips with a discussion of how the doctrine of “fair use” attempts to reconcile society’s competing interests in rewarding those who create original content and simultaneously ensuring the free flow of information. Hart provides practical advice on how to manage legal exposure (including exposure arising out of user-generated content) in a world with nearly 200 legal systems and just one Internet. Come armed with questions.

Nihar Malaviya Vice President, Business Strategy and Operations, Random House Publishing Today and Tomorrow What does the digital revolution portend for publishers Reflecting on what has changed -and what has remained constant - in the publishing industry, the architect of Random House’s digital strategy explores the impact of the digital revolution on all aspects of publishing – from product development and pricing to marketing and editorial. Nihar Malaviya lays out a plan of action for publishers, large and small, to follow in order to be successful in the rapidly-changing global marketplace.

Martin Levin Former CEO, Times Mirror Book Company and Counsel, Cowan, Latman & Liebowitz My Biggest Mistakes Tips on how to be a better manager Winner of the Association of American Publishers Curtis Benjamin Award for Lifetime Achievement, Martin Levin selects ten examples of mistakes he made during his distinguished career and reveals the lessons to be learned from them.

Neil De Young Executive Director, Digital Media, Hachette Digital, Inc. Digital List Planning How to make digital unique publishing decisions in an epub3 and mobile app world Two years ago many pundits believed trade publishing revenue would be 50% digital by 2014.  There is still rapid growth, but at a slower pace. Gone are the days of triple digit growth. Digital revenue has plateaued at 25% of overall sales, however it still growing at 40%.  This lecture will focus on how to strategically focus on content innovation and how to champion for it during declining hyper growth.

George Gibson Publishing Director, Bloomsbury Publishing Thinking Like a Publisher We are all in this together In today's ever-more-competitive, digitally-challenging, increasingly-global environment, it's crucial that everyone in a publishing company--from assistants to executives--think like a publisher.  This requires understanding of and contribution to the entire publishing process, from acquisition through backlist, by everyone--editorial, sales, marketing, publicity, art & design, production, subsidiary rights, business & finance, IT, etc. This session will present examples of 360-degree global thinking to stimulate group discussion and sharing of ideas from the various perspectives in the room.

Liisa McCloy Kelley Vice President and Director of Digital Production Operations, Random House, Inc. Leveraging eBook Technologies in an e ≠ p World How to transform print content into great onscreen experiences Liisa McCloy-Kelley, an industry innovator in digital production, demonstrates the challenges and opportunities of developing content for a variety of digital reading systems and offers insights into how to think about technology in ways that improve storytelling.  She will explain the promise of EPUB3 and the reality of the current format landscape.  She looks at different organizational models showing what to develop in-house vs. outsourcing and shows how to avoid the pitfalls of the “gratuitous uses of technology” that often occur in times of transition.  The session includes an interactive exercise to help you experience the decision-making process in making a great ebook.

Leslie Hulse Senior Vice President, Digital Business Development, HarperCollins Publishers New Business Skills for Publishers Leslie Hulse, one of book publishing’s most knowledgeable experts on digital media, explores the issue of how to evaluate new business opportunities and threats to traditional publishing, and shows how to create a successful business plan for multi-platform publishing.

Robert Baensch President, Baensch International Group, Ltd.; Fellow and Director, Publishing Programs, SUNY Global Center Financial Management in Book Publishing Financial management has become more complex in the transition from print to digital – or combination of the printed book and different formats of e-books. There are more variables with new developmental and operating costs to generate a wide range of sources for income. Therefore, financial management has become the responsibility for every function in book and online publishing.  The session will present the basic P&L for book publishing and the new factors that shape the P&L for e-book content development, online marketing, digital distribution and different income sources. Examples for established companies and new start-up business units will provide practical tools for the financial management of your business to achieve profitable results.

Roxanne Coady Owner, R.J. Julia Booksellers; Founder, Just the Right Book The Future of Bookselling One of America’s leading independent booksellers discusses strategies to keep bookstores profitable in the age of e-commerce and comments on the future of literacy and the role bookstores will play.

Kate Brown Chief Operating Officer, Yale University Press Publishers Through the Lens of Other Media How perspectives from across media might help book publishers adapt to change With market expectations reset for most business and digital transition well in place, Kate Brown uses her wide-ranging media experience to explore how what has happened in other media industries might inform book publishers. Recognizing that scholarly publishing has unique advantages and disadvantages, she discusses where we are today, where we are experimenting, and how we are managing until and whether or not we discover the “next new thing.”

Tom Turvey Director of Strategic Partnerships, Google The Future of Google ebooks An up-to-date report on Google eBooks and the plans Google has for the future. Tom Turvey discusses what Google has learned as an ebook retailer and wholesaler and predicts where the market is headed next.

Patricia Arancibia Head of Europe - iBookstore, Apple Digital Publishing is Global Publishing The former Editorial Director for International Content at Barnes & Noble and the current Head of iBookstore in Europe explores the latest developments and growth of digital publishing throughout the world.  She shows how digital publishing is breaking down territorial and language barriers and making it possible for publishers to become multilingual global organizations.

Gregory Miller Managing Director, Greenhill & Co. A Wall Street Perspective on the Publishing Industry Investment banker Gregory Miller will discuss the trends that are defining the global publishing landscape of today. He will share his understanding of the strategic and financial implications of these trends and will offer some views of what the future holds for companies of all sizes, including both well-established and newer participants in the industry. Miller will comment on the current strategies of Amazon, Apple, Google, and Microsoft as well as on how their potential moves could impact publishers.

Craig Mod Advisor, Publishing Startup, Medium; Writer, former Designer, Flipboard The Evolving World of Publishing Startups What can be learned from small, often unorthodox, disrupters Futurist Craig Mod looks at a few of the most interesting recent publishing startups. He deconstructs what they are doing differently, how they are evolving, what culturing differences are emerging, how what they are doing fits into or pushes against publishing as we know it, and what implications this has for the future of books.

Susan Gibbons University Librarian, Yale University Libraries & Publishers Relationships in transition As library budgets fall and the price of books rise, the once symbiotic relationship between libraries and publishers is becoming increasingly adversarial. This talk will focus on the current points of tension and hypothesize possible futures for publishing.

David Godine Publisher, David R. Godine Publishers Modus Vivendi – On Shifting Tectonic Plates A small, general trade publisher proposed paths to survival  With varying degrees of success, David R. Godine, a small trade publisher known for its quality of editorial selection, design, and production has managed to survive for over forty years. David Godine, founder of this distinguished, award-winning publishing company, shares some survival lessons he has learned from a series of sobering mistakes and miscues and offers his thoughts on how to continue to thrive in the future.

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Click here for the online application