Arizona continues to realize a strong economy and business growth (even leading the country in many strong sectors). This owes much to a collaborative business environment with agile and innovative leadership among business leaders. Increasingly, in fact, business sectors overlap and intertwine, requiring an ever-broader perspective from those at the helm of their company.
Being open to broad perspectives is a hallmark of good leadership. Leaders who are inclusive of different ideas find quicker and longer-lasting solutions to issues and opportunities. Diversity of thought facilitates adaptability and encourages solutions that work for as many as possible, not just a few.
As Arizona’s population and economy continues to grow, we are faced with new challenges: housing and homelessness, water management, educational outcomes and increasing heat. Key to solving these challenges is adaptability. We don’t know the answer to each problem. We must explore, ask questions, try, fail, try something different, succeed, fail, succeed and so on.
Arizona has taken a giant leap forward in so many ways in the past 10 years. What the long-term impact of that leap remains to be seen and as long as Arizona’s business and community leaders embrace adaptability, the future is bright.
This month, In Business Magazine focuses its cover story on the leaders in various sectors who have had a 2024 of successes and challenges. Their candor about the ups and downs they identified in their industry and the calculations behind their decisions — which offers valuable insights to benefit other business decision-makers — underscores a strong shared interest in supporting our community overall.
Communication is key to effective leadership. Communication is also key to effective marketing. Gaby Cardenas addresses communication from an important diversity angle in her feature “Why Hiring a Translator Is Important” as she discusses how bilingual marketing can combat misinformation and cultural insensitivity.
This is a time of year when sensitivity is especially revered. Which makes this a great season for Kellie Walenciak’s Roundtable feature “Dear Leaders: A Candid Note on Performative Empathy,” in which she discusses the value of authentic commitment and points out that empathy in leadership isn’t just a nice-to-have — it’s profitable.
With artificial intelligence permeating our lives, attorney Melissa Shingles offers an overview of issues in this month’s Legal feature, “How Employers Are Harnessing AI’s Value while Reining in the Risks.”
Other articles take on topics that range from healthcare to new businesses to employer fiduciary responsibility in employee retirement programs. In Business Magazine remains committed to helping strengthen our business community with business-relevant information. I’m pleased to work with the editorial team to bring you this December edition. Happy holidays and best wishes for the New Year.
Sincerely,
Dave Brown
Chief Executive Officer
Valley Leadership
As CEO of Valley Leadership, Dave empowers Arizonans to lead through the organization’s innovative programming that helps participants expand their perspectives and their network. Prior to becoming Valley Leadership’s CEO in 2017, Dave was CEO of Home Matters and Executive Director of the National NeighborWorks Association, both working to raise national awareness of the need for better homes and communities across the country.
Born and raised in Arizona and a proud Wildcat, Dave holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Arizona. He has a Master of Public Administration from the University of Southern California and a certificate from the Executive Program for Nonprofit Leaders at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.
