A new book signed by three international managers proposes Hypertalenting as a strategy to enhance talent in organizations
At a time when organizations are struggling to keep up with change, three veteran managers have decided to put into writing what they have learned in the field. The result is Talents Do It Betterpresented in Milan on 29 April 2026 and signed by Pasquale Frega, Stephan Bissig And Chris Howarth.
The starting point is simple and current: traditional models of people management, often based on control and standardization, no longer hold up. Innovation, the authors argue, does not arise from abstract processes or strategies. Rather, it arises from people, particularly those capable of thinking and acting differently.
What is Hypertalenting
At the center of the book is Hypertalenting. This is not a simple focus on human capital, but a structured strategy to identify and enhance talents capable of challenging the status quo and generating a measurable impact.
The authors therefore propose a Talent Formula 70/30: 30 percent of “disruptive” figures, capable of triggering innovation, and 70 percent of “enablers”, essential to guarantee stability and execution. To identify that 30 percent, the book introduces the STAR model, which evaluates four dimensions: mental state, field evidence, activation capacity and concrete results.
The 4S model
The 4S model translates Hypertalenting into daily practice: Spot, Steward, Stretch, Sustain.
Spot it means recognizing talent by going beyond the CV: what really matters is the potential and the way to tackle problems. Steward redefines the leader as a facilitator, not as a controller: disruptive talents must be accompanied with trust and protection, in psychologically safe environments. Stretch it’s about accelerating development by giving people ambitious roles even before they are ‘ready on paper’. Sustainfinally, it guarantees that all this does not remain an episodic initiative, but becomes a stable approach, supported by tools such as the Talent Review Process.
The voices of the authors
Pasquale Frega, President and CEO of Philip Morris Italydescribed the book as an opportunity to share “the passion for talent development”, underlining how an approach based on trust and responsibility is already guiding the company’s internal culture.
Stephan Bissig, founder of Leader Growth LLCput his finger on the wound: «Traditional models are no longer effective». Competitive advantage today comes from the ability to make “bold bets on talent” and recognize its potential before it is evident to everyone.
Chris Howarth, Chief HR Officer of Zentivaclosed with a reflection on the meaning of the project: the hope is that the book offers “leaders and their talents the tools to thrive and to release further potential within organizations”.
A volume that talks about business, therefore, but with a long-term perspective. In the belief that, without the right people, no strategy really works.
