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  • June 2023
  • Case
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Grittiness at Convene

By: Boris Groysberg and Sarah L. Abbott
  • Format:Print
  • | Language:English
  • | Pages:22
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Abstract

Based in New York, Convene was founded in 2009 by Ryan Simonetti and Chris Kelly. Convene was founded on the question: “What if you ran an office building like a hotel?” The company offered a premium corporate events and workspace product. Convene initially took a measured approach to growth, but in 2018, company leadership accelerated that growth. 2019 was a record year from a revenue perspective. However, the pandemic forced Convene to close all of its locations and reduce staff and operating expenses. In April 2022, Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) announced that it was taking a majority stake in Convene, marking the beginning of yet another chapter for the company.

Keywords

Entrepreneur; Hospitality Industry; Growth; Culture; Entrepreneurship; Change Management; Growth Management; Strategy; Leadership; Service Industry; United States

Citation

Groysberg, Boris, and Sarah L. Abbott. "Grittiness at Convene." Harvard Business School Case 423-090, June 2023.
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About The Author

Boris Groysberg

Organizational Behavior
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  • Mother’s Home: Eradicating Social Orphancy in Kazakhstan By: Boris Groysberg and Annelena Lobb
  • IQanat: Empowering Rural Youth in Kazakhstan By: Boris Groysberg and Maxim Pike Harrell
  • Skills-First Talent Management: The Importance of Managers By: Boris Groysberg, Nicole Zelazko, Tom Quinn, Robin Abrahams, Izzy Yeoh and Colleen Ammerman
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