Every May, Mental Health Awareness Month brings an important conversation back into focus. Businesses post statistics, share supportive messaging and encourage people to prioritize wellbeing. The bigger question is what happens next: what does meaningful action actually look like? The expectation is shifting from acknowledging community challenges to participating in solving … [More]
Situational Leadership®: The Model for Leading Others, Navigating Change, and Unlocking Performance
Every leader has been there. They give clear direction, and people still hesitate. They try to empower, but performance drops. They ask questions and try to collaborate, yet confidence and engagement don’t grow. What works in one moment somehow falls completely flat in another. These frustrations point to a costly assumption many leaders make: that their natural leadership … [More]
What High‑Profile Cases Reveal about Institutional Risk
How institutions miss predictable warning signs that allow misconduct to continue unchecked
High-profile misconduct cases tend to prompt the same organizational refrain: “How did no one see this coming?” The uncomfortable truth is that warning signs are often present. They are simply normalized, excused or filtered through a culture that rewards output, charisma and status. According to the NSVRC, approximately 70% of employees who experience harassment never even … [More]
What Small Businesses Get Right about Relationships
Small businesses understand relationships differently. When you are building something from the ground up, relationships are not just part of the business, they are often the reason the business grows in the first place. You remember the people who took a chance on you, the client who referred someone and the person who opened a door for you early on. Those experiences and … [More]
How Leaders Can Conduct a Legacy Audit
Most leaders think about legacy too late. They think about it when they are leaving a role, reflecting on a milestone or trying to determine whether their work really mattered. But legacy is not something that begins at the end of leadership. It is being formed in real time, every day, through decisions, habits, priorities and the way people experience us. That is why … [More]
Output-Driven Success: Accelerating to Burnout
What if we’re getting growth wrong?
Traditionally, leaders have relied on pure exertion to drive results, but this machine-like focus on constant output leads to chronic burnout. In an age of AI-driven acceleration, the smarter path to growth is to leverage our unique human edge and master identity shifts. By becoming more "SELF-full" and aligning personal identity with professional goals, leaders can unlock a … [More]
Emily Ganem Empowers Company Growth and Employee Development
Discipline, empathy and openness to learning define her leadership
Emily Ganem, president of Ganem Companies, approaches leadership with a belief that growth is only as strong as the systems and people behind it. At the Phoenix-based construction firm, she has focused on strengthening operations while preserving the values that have long defined the company, ensuring that expansion never comes at the expense of quality, accountability or … [More]
The Changemaker’s Toolkit: How to Power Social Change in a World That Needs Hope
Burnout. Decreased funding. Structural barriers. A lack of hope. Social changemakers and nonprofit leaders who want to make meaningful, measurable impact in their communities are struggling to see a brighter future for themselves, their teams and the people they serve. Yet real change happens by believing in a better world and consistently taking the next step toward making it … [More]
The Business Case for Slowing Down: How Intentional Pauses Strengthen Strategy and Growth
From capital allocation to AI adoption, thoughtful leaders are finding that measured decisions outperform reactive ones. In business, speed signals confidence. Leaders respond to emails within minutes, approve deals in real time and implement new technology before competitors schedule a demo. Fast action projects authority. But in 2026, as Arizona companies navigate AI … [More]
Restarting the Leadership Journey
Leadership is a journey of continuous growth
“Each day is an opportunity to lead with more purpose, more positivity, and more impact than the day before.” —Jon Gordon in The Power of Positive Leadership Leadership is often described as a climb — an upward trajectory marked by promotions, influence and expanding responsibility. Yet for many leaders, there comes a moment when progress stalls, enthusiasm fades or the weight … [More]
The Changing Face of Funding
Governmental cuts, policy change influence philanthropic support
Ever-tightening government funds and rollbacks to longstanding social programs continue to impact millions of Americans — with job losses and, in many cases, diminished access to vital programs and services. Nonprofits are on the frontlines, filling in many of these service gaps, but they’re doing so with fewer governmental grants, less capital and a revolving door of policy … [More]
Joseph Crivello and Jet OUT Redefine Private Aviation
Founder and CEO, Crivello built his model around familiarity, continuity and accountability
Before Joseph Crivello built a private aviation company, he built the case for one. Managing flight operations for a rapidly growing commercial real estate firm gave him a front-row seat to what private aviation could deliver, and where it fell short. In 2011, Crivello joined Phoenix Investors, which at the time held a small portfolio of retail commercial real estate. Working … [More]
MOMentum, Organizational Health, Talent Retention and the Bottom Line
Never once did I believe the glass ceiling applied to me — until I became a mother
As an overachiever, I was consistently rewarded for my hard work and dedication to my 8–5 job. I worked for the ASU Foundation as a fundraiser, and I deeply believed (and still do!) in my work. I was changing lives daily through the power of philanthropy and education. Give me a goal and I’d double it. I worked hard, earned leadership opportunities, and never once felt held … [More]
The Power of Fun at Work
WHY IT’S MORE THAN JUST A GOOD TIME
When most people think about work, “fun” probably isn’t the first word that comes to mind. Deadlines, meetings and spreadsheets? Sure. But laughter, camaraderie and a little silliness? That often feels like a luxury, not a priority. Here’s the truth: Fun at work isn’t just about blowing off steam or throwing office parties. It’s a powerful tool that drives engagement, … [More]
Look Before You Leap: Questions Every Leader Should Ask Before Joining A Nonprofit Board
If you’re a business leader, you’re probably involved in your community. Serving on a nonprofit board is a great way to share your time and talent. Perhaps someone asked you to join a board. Don’t feel obligated to say “yes” on the spot. Take a beat and gather information to make sure it’s a good fit for both sides. Ask to schedule a meeting rather than accepting … [More]
Why We Chose an ESOP for Our Growth, Succession and Legacy Options
Restaurant transitions a unique benefit for its employees
In October 2025, our family-owned restaurant announced we were doing something unique: After more than five decades, Spinato’s Pizzeria & Family Kitchen transitioned 49% of company ownership to eligible employees in an Employee Stock Ownership Plan. Now as an ESOP, one out of three Spinato’s employees is an owner. An ESOP is an employee benefit plan that provides … [More]
Human Capital Investment Strategy: Six Steps to Cultivate Potential and Yield Competitive Advantage
For decades, CEOs have treated financial capital with rigor, discipline and foresight. But when it comes to human capital — the engine of innovation, execution and growth — most organizations still rely on legacy mindsets and guesswork. This blind spot is costing organizations their competitive edge. Written by Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer, executive strategist on human … [More]
People. Culture. Structure. The Architecture of Execution
Strategy isn't the hard part. Execution is. Most companies don't fail because they lack vision. They fail because they never build the architecture to turn vision into reality. Execution isn't magic. It's not hustle. It's a system. That system has three parts: People — right humans, right roles, real ownership. Culture — behavior over slogans; truth flows; conflict … [More]
