1. LED and the Future of Lighting
Leadership in a Storm

2. Leadership Stressors
• Generational transition
• Diversity has changed rapidly
• Technology has changed exponentially
• Transition of the industry into ‘tech’ and software
• Channel influences have expanded

3. Legacy vs New kids
• Legacy thinking is characterized by:
– Hardware solutions
– Professional trade influences
– Decades of legacy channel partners
– Well-defined channel rules
– High margins
– Insulated market with high barriers to entry

4. New kids vs Legacy
• New kids thinking is characterized by:
– IP and digital designs with CPG mindset
– Software solutions
– Blue ocean channel strategy
– Wild West rules of engagement
– Tight margins
– Speed and innovation

5. Transition Management
• Lighting is now ‘given’ as a tech-based industry
• Legacy leaders are in transition
• Challenge now becomes to define the traits for the
new Lighting Leadership

6. Lighting Leadership
• Key future attributes:
– Global outlook
– Software
– Alternative revenue (SaaS, Licensing, Service, etc.)
– IP driven
– Niche expertise
– Lighting as an art and skill

7. Leadership Threats
• Increase in IP battles
• Margin declines
• Growth in competitive niche players
• Global tech players entering the market
• Relaxing standards of quality lighting design
• Diversity of competition (tech, security, HVAC, data/com,
controls, etc.)

8. Talent Pool is a Puddle
• <3% of college educated are unemployed
<2% with advanced degrees
• Increase in legal covenants to restrict movement
• Channel diversity requires higher level of strategic
skills

9. Where ya gonna find ‘em?
• Lighting vs Tech
• Niche vs Mass
• Controls vs Hardware
• Global vs Local
• Legacy channel vs New market

10. Epilogue
Progress is man's ability to complicate simplicity.
Thor Heyerdahl
Ted Konnerth, PhD
tk@egretconsulting.com