The burden of a criminal record makes securing employment and achieving economic security seemingly impossible due to stigma, criminal background checks, and occupational licensing restrictions. The Prison Policy Initiative reported the unemployment rate for formerly incarcerated individuals stands at approximately 27% in the U.S, surpassing even the total unemployment rate … [More]
No-Cost Professional Development Courses for Business Leaders and Their Teams Launches for Fall
Enterprise Bank & Trust has launched the fall semester of its business training series, Enterprise University. The courses help professionals think strategically, better their business and build community. Business professionals anywhere in the country can register for live, virtual classes at no cost to them. Participants can register for one course, or as many as they … [More]
Here’s How to Protect Your Reputation When You’ve Done Something Wrong
In our hyper-connected world, the shadows of our past actions can loom large. Whether you had a much-regretted moment of infidelity or were arrested for (or worse, charged with) a crime many years ago, trust us: the internet knows. Heck, even that speeding ticket you got as a teenager can be pulled up from the digital depths within seconds. And if you’re a company, your past … [More]
Christo Demetriades Manifests Power of Entrepreneurial Perseverance
South African immigrant tilled fertile soil in Scottsdale
Some people are born entrepreneurs. And if there ever was one who fits that description, it is Christo Demetriades. He has spent most of his life and certainly his career in business for himself. It’s been a life of risks and rewards, highs and lows, challenge and achievement. As Demetriades says, that’s par for the course. But Demetriades’s entrepreneurial life is anything … [More]
The Importance of Preparing the Next Generation for Leadership Roles
Why businesses need to look ahead
“The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. It is the one that gets people to do the greatest things.” —President Ronald Reagan In an era of rapid change and evolving business landscapes, it is imperative for organizations to invest in preparing the next generation for leadership roles. Failing to do so not only jeopardizes the long-term … [More]
Empowered Success: The Female Influence in Courtesy Auto’s Finance Department
An open letter from the all-female Courtesy Automotive Group finance director ‘Dream Team’
Automotive dealerships are dominated by nearly 80% men, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics from 2022, and yet the finance “Dream Team” at Phoenix-based Courtesy Automotive Group is a diverse team of five disparate females. We direct finance department operations across dealerships for a $1 billion dealership group. We believe our success has as much to do with being … [More]
Workday Microstressors Wearing You Down? Here’s How to Defuse Them
Do you typically come home from work feeling exhausted, depleted and demoralized? Have you ever wondered why? After all, it’s unlikely that anything went terribly wrong. When you look back over the day, you might recall a few minor headaches, some rapid-fire problem-solving and a handful of decisions made on the fly — in other words, just the wear and tear of daily business. So … [More]
Chaos Isn’t a Bad Thing (and Eight Other Truths Leaders Need to Know)
Twenty-first-century leaders are no strangers to chaos — and the last few years have underscored that truth. We ride nonstop waves of disruption and uncertainty in various forms: supply-chain upheavals, staff shortages, changing attitudes about work, wildly shifting workplace demographics and ever-evolving technology. And that’s not even counting the chaos that comes with the … [More]
Why Unconditional Love Is a Leader’s Number-One Job—and How to Start Practicing It Now
Leaders, you may have heard: Your job description has changed. It’s no longer enough to set goals, give assignments, provide feedback, and measure performance. Now, you also have to care…especially if you lead millennial and Gen Z employees. But how important is that, really? Very important, insists Gary Harpst—and this summer is the perfect time to start. “What caring … [More]
What Are Some Benefits of Executive Coaching?
When it comes to starting a business or leading an existing one those at the top are under a lot of stress to perform. Many business leaders turn to executive coaches to help them undertake the daily tasks of leading and growing a company. Executives are looking for help with leadership, dealing with change, stress and many other issues. This is where hiring an executive coach … [More]
How a Quick Assessment Can Propel Your Company’s Growth and Success
In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, staying ahead of the curve is beyond important and crucial for long-term success. As a business owner or entrepreneur, you understand the importance of consistent improvement and growth. By performing a business analysis, you organize your strategy and strengthen your ability to achieve your overarching goals. There are many … [More]
How to Build Resilience Instead of Chasing Zero Errors
Wildland firefighters. Air traffic controllers. Flight deck crews of Navy aircraft carriers. Operators of nuclear power plants and the national bulk electric grid. These are among the safest and most reliable work teams in the world. And they don’t try to eliminate all errors and surprises. Decades of experience have shown that the crusade to eliminate every error is both … [More]
‘I Want to Help … but Should I?’
Five ways leaders can practice responsible generosity
Most leaders have been there: We see someone who needs help, and we quickly provide it, only to end up feeling taken advantage of. Maybe you helped an employee out of a financial jam, only to see them keep making bad decisions. Or you spent hours coaching a younger colleague and then watched him ignore your advice. Or you stepped in to “rescue” a teammate who wasn’t prepared … [More]
Humble Bistro’s Chef and Co-Owner Stays Humble
Jorge Gomez focuses on the guest experience
Jorge Gomez’s love for food started in Sonora, Mexico. His mother, grandmother and extended family found joy in the kitchen preparing food, whether it was preparing tamales or making chocolate from scratch. Love existed in the kitchen and, when he was seven years old, he knew this was his calling. At 17, he started his culinary adventure by attending the Culinary Institute of … [More]
Leading through Disruption
In Leading Through Disruption, Andrew Liveris provides a new leadership paradigm for resilience and agility in a rapidly changing world. This book is a must-read guide for leaders in various sectors who are keen on not only ensuring current success but protecting the planet’s future for everyone. Liveris, who was recently chosen to lead the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Organizing … [More]
$1M Investment in Valley Leadership to Continue Support for Reimagined Programming
Five years after the launch of Valley Leadership’s “Pivot Towards Impact”, leading philanthropic partners have renewed their investments totaling more than $1 million in the organization’s evolutionary shift on how it develops a culture of leadership steeped in values, action and engagement of more leaders. Valley Leadership has evolved from a traditional, nine-month … [More]
Selling Your Business? These CEO Qualities Drive Strong Private Equity Partnerships
For many founders looking to sell the business they’ve spent years building, partnering with a private equity firm is the best path forward. For founders considering this course of action, it’s essential to know what private equity firms look for in a CEO or management team they are considering backing. While elements like investment criteria will vary by firm, some are more … [More]
Turning Setbacks into Opportunities: How to Embrace Challenges as a Chance for Growth
Setbacks are a natural part of life. Even the most successful people in the world have failed before advancing in life. One of the most talented basketball players in the world, Michael Jordan, has famously admitted to missing more than 9,000 shots in his career and losing almost 300 games. Walt Disney, another example, was fired from his job at a newspaper early in his career … [More]
