🎯Today's Leadership Pulse
Updated 3h agoWhat's happening: Flying Tiger Copenhagen names Jens Aarup Mikkelsen as new group CEO
The Danish retailer announced Jens Aarup Mikkelsen will succeed Martin Jermiin as group CEO, while Jermiin stays on the Zebra A/S board. Mikkelsen, who has led the company’s international franchise expansion since 2021, is expected to accelerate global growth.
Also developing:
- •Harvard launches simulations to train superintendents for political controversy
- •Fortune curates daily leadership insights across global markets
- •Forbes leadership hub aggregates executive advice and trends
By the numbers: Aritzia acquires Fred Segal IP in undisclosed deal
News•Feb 20, 2026
Emina Demiri Talks Surviving Firing Your Biggest Client
Emina Demiri Watson, head of digital at Vixen Digital, revealed that the agency deliberately terminated a client that generated roughly 70% of its revenue after a three‑month toxic relationship deteriorated. The move exposed a severe customer‑concentration risk that the firm had not previously tracked. By prioritising culture over cash, Vixen re‑aligned with its core values, freed mental bandwidth, and began rebuilding its pipeline. Demiri also warned against common PPC audit errors and advocated a pragmatic, research‑first use of AI tools.
By Search Engine Land
News•Feb 20, 2026
“If You Can Work Together on a Boat, You Can Build a Startup”
Yasido, founded by two sailors, has turned a private yacht‑booking tool into a Europe‑focused marketplace likened to "Booking.com for yachts." The platform automates the complex legal, logistical and trust‑building steps of chartering, cutting dozens of emails to a single click....
By The Recursive
News•Feb 20, 2026
Flying Tiger Appoints New CEO to Bolster International Growth
Flying Tiger Copenhagen announced Jens Aarup Mikkelsen as its new group CEO, succeeding Martin Jermiin who will remain on the Zebra A/S board. Mikkelsen steps down from his CEO International role after steering the company’s franchise expansion beyond Europe since...
By Retail Gazette
Social•Feb 20, 2026
Reputation Grows From Action, Not Self‑Promotion
Reputation isn’t built through narration; it’s built through contribution. What you say about yourself expires quickly. What you do for others compounds quietly. In complex systems, trust travels peer-to-peer, not top-down. Service is not charity, it’s strategy. It creates advocates...
By Fayaz King
News•Feb 20, 2026
More Leaders Are Viewing Rest as a Necessity, Not a Luxury
More leaders are recognizing rest as essential, not a luxury. Leadership advisor Tara James observes a shift away from hustle culture, promoting a "switch off to switch on" mindset. New research linking employee wellbeing to performance, combined with a surge...
By HR Daily (Australia)
Deals•Feb 20, 2026
Harbor Compliance Secures Majority Growth Investment From Bregal Sagemount
Harbor Compliance, a provider of entity‑compliance SaaS, received a majority growth investment from Bregal Sagemount, with the amount undisclosed. As part of the deal, three Bregal Sagemount partners join the board and Chad Nuss is appointed CEO. The funds will...
FinSMEs
Social•Feb 19, 2026
Physicians Must Evolve Leadership Beyond Clinical Skills
What got you here won’t get you there: a physician’s guide to leadership http://dlvr.it/TR3W2k Physician #HealthIT
By Kevin Pho, MD (KevinMD)
Video•Feb 19, 2026
Figma's AI Outlook, Blue Owl Stokes Credit Concerns | Bloomberg Businessweek Daily 2/19/2026
Bloomberg Businessweek Daily highlighted two contrasting stories on Thursday, February 19: Figma’s AI‑driven growth trajectory and Blue Owl Capital’s liquidity curtailment in a private‑credit fund. The market backdrop featured modest equity declines, a VIX edging toward 21, and oil prices...
By Bloomberg Television
Video•Feb 19, 2026
Are Focused Restaurant Menus Over? Why This Poke Chain Shook Things Up to Win New Guests
In this episode of Take-Away with Sam Oches, Sam talks with Seth Cohen, cofounder of Sweetfin, a Los Angeles based fast casual that launched a decade ago as one of the first players in the poke category. Sweetfin has grown...
By Nation’s Restaurant News
Video•Feb 19, 2026
SHRM Is Your Guide Through the New Reality of Work
Recent headlines regarding EEOC regulations and discrimination claims signal a new reality for HR professionals and business leaders. While this may feel like a sudden storm to some, SHRM has been watching the horizon. We exist to tell the truth about...
By SHRM
Video•Feb 19, 2026
Complexity to Connection: Humanizing High-Stakes Communication
Communication in high-stakes moments isn’t about saying more — it’s about connecting better. For Jonathan Berek and Phil Polakoff, the most effective communicators don’t rely on jargon or performance. They rely on empathy, listening, and stories that resonate. Both longtime Stanford...
By Think Fast, Talk Smart
Blog•Feb 19, 2026
Why Process Is the Fastest Way to Scale Execution
The episode debunks the myth that process hinders growth, explaining that well‑designed processes eliminate friction and enable faster execution without relying on heroic effort. It highlights how process captures and replicates expert judgment, turning best practices into consistent defaults that...
By COO Alliance Blog
News•Feb 19, 2026
Simulations Aim to Prepare Superintendents to Handle Political Controversies
Superintendents are confronting increasingly political challenges, yet most leadership programs overlook this dimension. Harvard’s Initiative on Superintendent as Civic Leader, unveiled at the AASA conference, introduces case studies and upcoming interactive simulations to fill the gap. The simulations, co‑developed with...
By Education Week (Technology section)
News•Feb 19, 2026
Firing the CEO Is the Wrong Answer, Ask Sean McDermott
The article likens the NFL’s habit of firing coaches to the surge in CEO dismissals, noting that 2025 saw one in nine CEOs replaced across 1,500 large firms. It argues that removing a top executive rarely resolves deeper systemic flaws...
By Fast Company — Leadership
News•Feb 19, 2026
What CEOs Can Learn From The Deepest Man On Earth
Herbert Nitsch, the world’s deepest free‑diver, has set 33 records, including a 253‑metre breath‑hold dive, while maintaining a full‑time airline pilot career. His approach hinges on ultra‑efficient training, razor‑sharp focus, and pre‑planned risk protocols that allow him to operate under...
By Chief Executive
Social•Feb 19, 2026
Air Astana Names Former Wizz Air Exec as FlyArystan President
Air Astana has appointed Johan Eidhagen as President of FlyArystan, effective March 1, 2026. Eidhagen joins from Wizz Air, where he most recently served as Managing Director of Wizz Air Abu Dhabi and previously held senior roles including Chief People &...
By Bilqis Bahari
Social•Feb 19, 2026
Founders Mistake Product Flaws for Growth Issues
lesson from 20+ years working in startups: most founders don’t have a growth problem. they have a product problem disguised as a growth problem
By Andrew Chen
Deals•Feb 19, 2026
Aritzia Buys Fred Segal IP and Plans to Revive Melrose Avenue Flagship
Aritzia announced on Thursday that it has acquired the intellectual property of Los Angeles boutique Fred Segal, including a lease of the 8,100‑sq‑ft flagship on Melrose Avenue. The deal will see Aritzia transform the iconic store into an experiential destination, blending its...
The Business of Fashion (BoF)
Video•Feb 18, 2026
The Physics of Progress: Why Your Failed Strategy Is a Win
The video introduces the "physics of progress," a framework that recasts the scientific method for business and government decision‑making. By explicitly stating the desired outcome—such as reshoring manufacturing or raising real wages—and then designing experiments to achieve it, leaders can...
By Impact Theory (Tom Bilyeu)
News•Feb 18, 2026
REMAX Names New President; Tech Exec Joins Offerpad Board
REMAX promoted Chris Lim, who joined a year ago as chief growth officer, to president while keeping his growth responsibilities. Lim, formerly president of Christie’s International Real Estate, will now oversee the global network, emphasizing international expansion and affiliate services....
By Real Estate News (REN)
Social•Feb 18, 2026
Stand Out by Thinking Differently, Not Just Being Expert
People don't become known for their expertise They become known for how they *think differently* about their area of expertise Recognition follows a distinct, ownable idea (not volume, not credentials, not even quality of work) If your thinking sounds like everyone else's in...
By Katelyn Bourgoin
Social•Feb 18, 2026
Authenticity Wins: People Prefer Doing Business With Those They Like
Many (most?) people pick up on insincerity. Many (most?) people like to do business with people they like. So…
By Jason Cohen
Video•Feb 17, 2026
Flourish: Hospitality Isn’t About Luxury, It’s About Humanity with Page Petry
The Flourish episode features Paige Petri, a hospitality veteran, discussing how the core tenets of genuine care, anticipation, and experience design can transform health‑care delivery. Host Sarah Richardson frames the conversation around the idea that thriving people build thriving systems,...
By This Week Health
Video•Feb 16, 2026
Thinking Out Loud: Is It Possible To Manage Change Well?
The video asks whether change can be managed well, and argues that success hinges on leadership and communication. It highlights that a visionary leader who articulates a compelling future can rally early adopters, while acknowledging that politics—both macro and micro—must be...
By The King’s Fund
Video•Feb 16, 2026
The Right Way To Win People Over
The video argues that traditional authority no longer persuades audiences; credibility now hinges on transparent evidence. Speakers must shift from preaching to presenting clear, data‑driven narratives that avoid demonizing opponents. Three core tactics are outlined: first, frame arguments without ad hominem...
By Think Fast, Talk Smart
Video•Feb 16, 2026
How To Be More Confident and Calm in Your Communication: Managing the "ABC's" Of Communication An...
In this episode of Stanford GSB’s “Think Fast, Talk Smart,” host Matt Abrahams outlines a practical framework for turning communication anxiety into confidence. He introduces the ABC model—Affective, Behavioral, Cognitive—as a diagnostic lens for any high‑stakes speaking situation, whether written,...
By Think Fast, Talk Smart
Video•Feb 13, 2026
Advance Your HR Career in 2026 | $300 Off SHRBP & Advanced SHRBP
The video promotes the Advanced Strategic HR Business Partner (SHRBP) certification from the Human Capital Institute, positioning it as the next step for seasoned HR professionals who want to become indispensable strategic partners within their organizations. The two‑day, highly interactive program...
By Human Capital Institute (HCI)
Deals•Feb 13, 2026
Sports Facilities Companies Acquires RCI Sports Management
Sports Facilities Companies (SFC) announced the acquisition of RCI Sports Management, a Texas‑based facility‑management firm that operates sports complexes across Texas, Kansas and the central U.S. The deal expands SFC’s national platform and deepens its operational capabilities in mid‑market and...
Sportico