In business and in life, the power of mentorship has long been understood, but how important is it that your mentor look like you? This question was at the center of a new study which specifically found that mentor gender has a powerful impact on female entrepreneurs. More to the point, in a randomized controlled experiment, researchers found that when a female entrepreneur … [More]
It’s Lonely at the Top: Empowering CEOs to Be Their Best
It’s not only lonely at the top, it’s precarious — as good leaders live up to President Harry Truman’s famous statement acknowledging the responsibility that comes with authority: “The buck stops here.” Even experienced CEOs running major corporations may not be managing themselves well; focused on managing the company, they’re neglecting some basic aspects of self-care, best … [More]
Tim O’Neal, Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona
Leadership That Matters
“Continuous improvement” is the mantra for business success. While the phrase usually refers to business operations, it’s also applicable to those organizations’ leadership as well. As CEO for one of the fastest-growing nonprofit organizations in the country, we have been impacted by the same market trends, supply chain challenges, labor shortages and lack of affordable … [More]
Is Your Company Headed for the Commodity Death Spiral?
Turn it around with a strategy of market-facing innovation
Once upon a time in a company’s evolution, its founder would be laser-focused on delivering superior, differentiated value to customers. Those customers would have specific needs, and the company sets out to fulfill them better than anyone else. But as the years pass and the business grows, that intense focus, well … drifts. Leaders get caught up in other priorities — say, … [More]
Feedback: March 2024
Q: In terms of succession planning for leadership positions (top-level and/or mid-level) in your company, how are you developing a leadership pipeline within your company? Elizabeth Hale Chief Executive Officer eeCPA Sector: Financial It’s no secret that the accounting market is highly competitive when it comes to attracting and retaining quality senior talent. As the … [More]
Valley Leadership Selects 13 Arizonans for Explore Class 3
Explore participants will travel over 1,700 miles together to visit and learn about six cities across Arizona. Valley Leadership has selected 13 Arizonans to be part of the third class of its Explore program. The program takes participants out of their home communities to get to know the great diversity of Arizona and how our most pressing issues show up in rural, urban, … [More]
Why ‘Influence’ Is the 2023 Word of the Year for the Business Sector
Influence is what allows us to find the opportunity hidden in the uncertainty
As 2023 drew to a close, everyone was releasing their word of the year. The Associated Press chose “AI.” Oxford chose “rizz” (short for “charisma”). Merriam-Webster chose “authentic.” Now, I’ve put my own twist on the annual tradition: I’ve zeroed in on a word that captures the zeitgeist of today’s business world — and not just for 2023, but for the foreseeable … [More]
The New and Necessary Competencies for Executive Leadership
Navigating complexity and competition
Given trends in C-suite retirement, burnout and attrition (and presented with changing markets in talent, technology and supply chain), executive succession planning is the most relevant it has ever been. The pace of disruption across industries is unrelenting and continuous adaptation is paramount. Our environment demands executive leaders who can deftly navigate complexity … [More]
Collaborative Leadership: The CMO, HR and Chief DE&I Officer Triad
Values alignment has a statistically high impact on an organization
In the quest for meaningful progress in corporate diversity, equity and inclusion, it becomes increasingly clear that isolated efforts fall short. Companies need collaborative leadership to make their DE&I strategy successful, especially from three key players: the CMO, HR and the Chief DE&I Officer. Together, these roles form a triad capable of weaving DE&I into … [More]
Cultivating a Sense of Purpose in Your Business for Sustainable Success
Key components for integrating it into the workplace culture
“Hopeful people set meaningful goals they believe they can accomplish and identify ways to achieve them.” —Xiye Bastida, youth climate activist In today’s dynamic and competitive business landscape, companies are increasingly recognizing the importance of fostering a sense of purpose within their organizational culture. A strong sense of purpose not only enhances employee … [More]
Feedback: February 2024
Q: Trust has emerged as a cornerstone of business success, but social media can make maintaining it a challenge. What is an example of trust making a difference for your company, either internally or publicly? Andrea Aker CEO Aker Ink PR & Marketing Sector: Public Relations & Marketing Trust is imperative to client acquisition and retention in any professional … [More]
Possible: How We Survive (and Thrive) in an Age of Conflict
Conflict is increasing everywhere, threatening everything we hold dear. With this groundbreaking book, bestselling author and international negotiator William Ury shares a new “path to possible” — time-tested practices that will help readers unlock their power to constructively engage and transform conflict. Part memoir, part manual, part manifesto, Possible offers stories and … [More]
Failing Fast?: The Ten Secrets to Succeed Faster
While the world demands more meaningful innovation from business leaders, the current paradigm for delivering that innovation is not working anymore! The prevailing workplace culture has inadvertently slowed the pace of much-needed transformations. What do you expect to happen when the popular culture in business embraces the principle of “fail fast, fail often”? More success? … [More]