Today's Leadership Pulse
Google CEO Sundar Pichai says CEO role is simple, AI will handle decisions
Sundar Pichai told The Verge that being a CEO is "not that complicated" and that AI agents will soon make many routine decisions, freeing leaders to focus on strategy. He noted that Google engineers are shifting from manual coding to directing AI‑driven product teams, reflecting a broader change in how leadership operates.
What We Don't Know with Matt Brittin & Hayaatun Sillem
In this debut episode of "What We Don't Know," hosts Matt Brittin and Hayaatun Sillem introduce their new series on leadership in a chaotic, uncertain world. They share personal reflections on stepping down from high‑profile roles and outline the show’s premise: exploring what leaders truly don’t know and learning from extraordinary guests. The hosts tease upcoming stories—like a cringeworthy crisis moment involving fruit being thrown and a $2 million donation to a Truth and Reconciliation Commission—highlighting themes of humility, teamwork, and preparation for high‑stakes negotiations.
'Bordering on Insubordinate': How George Mason's Conservative Board Chair Went After Its President
George Mason University’s board chair, Charles Stimson – a Heritage Foundation fellow – used private text messages to pressure President Gregory Washington to dismantle the school’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The board’s aggressive stance intensified after the Trump...
AI‑Powered World Model Makes Traditional Org Charts Obsolete
Jack Dorsey just published something that should be required reading for every founder. The premise: the org chart needs to be replaced entirely. And the argument starts 2,000 years ago. For thousands of years, every organization on earth has run on the...
Talk Less, Own More: Highlight What You Actually Built
A lot of people are more qualified than they sound. That is the problem. They keep talking about what they helped with instead of what they owned, what they influenced, what they improved, and what they carried.
Friday Forward - No Offense (#530)
Bob Glazer reflects on a recent presentation that sparked a single harsh critic, prompting him to examine why he felt sympathy rather than defensiveness. He argues that today’s culture, amplified by social media, encourages people to seek offense, especially through...
On the Silberwasser Front
Luis Silberwasser, the chief executive of TNT Sports, discussed the network’s current focus on the NCAA tournament while acknowledging the recent loss of NBA broadcast rights. He highlighted ongoing negotiations with the NHL, whose deal expires after the 2027‑28 season,...
Why Fast Promotions Slow Company Growth
Fast promotions often look like progress, but they can cripple growth when leaders are elevated before mastering managerial skills. Companies reward high performers, yet the new titles outpace the development of judgment, delegation, and systems thinking required for effective leadership....
2026 Nonprofit + Corporate Citizenship Symposium & Awards: NONPROFIT ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR HONOREE
Mike Daly, Executive Director at Disney Music Group, was honored as the 2026 Nonprofit Advocate of the Year for his leadership of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles (BBBSLA). In 2025 he logged over 163 volunteer hours, secured...
2026 Nonprofit + Corporate Citizenship Symposium & Awards: BUSINESS ANGEL OF THE YEAR HONOREE
Barbara Jagels, UCLA Health’s executive director of cancer services, was honored as the 2026 Business Angel of the Year. She has raised over $1 million for the American Cancer Society and secured an $805,000 multi‑year partnership—the largest health‑system contribution to ACS...
2026 Nonprofit + Corporate Citizenship Symposium & Awards: NONPROFIT EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR (MID-SIZED) HONOREE
Dr. Lois Lee was named Nonprofit Executive of the Year (Mid‑Sized) at the 2026 Nonprofit + Corporate Citizenship Symposium. As founder and CEO of Children of the Night, she has overseen the rescue of more than 17,000 children from prostitution...
A Board Asked Its President to Resign. He Won’t.
University of Wisconsin System President Jay O. Rothman wrote to the Board of Regents refusing to resign despite a no‑confidence vote. He said the board gave no specific reasons and threatened to fire him if he did not step down....
Former Sierra Space CEO Tom Vice to Lead Astrion
Tom Vice, former Sierra Space chief executive, has been appointed CEO and executive chair of Huntsville‑based defense contractor Astrion. The company also named former Lockheed Martin Space vice president Eric Brown as president of space operations and ex‑RTX executive Conn...
Drinks With The Deal: Cooley’s Proffitt on Leading Through Change
Rachel Proffitt, Cooley’s partner and CEO, sat down on the Drinks With The Deal podcast to outline her leadership philosophy for navigating rapid change. She highlighted the importance of flexible organizational structures, proactive talent management, and the strategic use of...
News 4/3/26
The article forecasts that the Chief Health AI Transformation Officer (CHAITO) role will be downgraded to a director position before being eliminated entirely, with its duties folded into the chief information officer’s portfolio. This shift reflects growing skepticism about proliferating...
(PR) Intel Appoints Aparna Bawa as Executive Vice President and Chief Legal & People Officer
Intel announced the appointment of Aparna Bawa as Executive Vice President and Chief Legal & People Officer, reporting directly to CEO Lip‑Bu Tan. Bawa will oversee the company’s global legal, ethics, compliance, people, and culture organizations as Intel accelerates its...
Respect Rules, Not Unlimited Arguments, in Idea Meritocracies
In an idea meritocracy, there is bound to be more disagreement than in a typical organization, but when it's taken to an extreme, arguing and nitpicking can undermine the idea meritocracy's effectiveness. At Bridgewater, I have encountered some people, especially...
René Redzepi Steps Down From Noma After Abuse Allegations Surface
René Redzepi announced his resignation as co‑founder and head chef of Copenhagen’s three‑star restaurant Noma following a New York Times exposé that cited 35 former staff describing physical abuse. The move has ignited a broader conversation about power, safety, and...
Lack of Oversight Threatens AI Pilots as Spending Falls Under Scrutiny
A Solvd survey of 500 U.S. CIOs and CTOs finds 80% blame lack of visibility and oversight for AI pilot failures. More than half expect to shut down underperforming pilots this year as boards intensify scrutiny of AI spend. Despite...
Rave Restaurant Group Cuts Uber Eats Ties Over 30% Fee Hike
Rave Restaurant Group, the parent of Pizza Inn and Pie Five, terminated its partnership with Uber Eats after the platform raised marketplace fees, pushing the effective charge on delivery orders to as high as 30%. The move underscores mounting pressure on restaurant...
This Navy SEAL Commander Says Leaders Aren’t Born or Made — They’re Chosen Based on One Thing
Former Navy SEAL commander Rich Diviney argues that leaders are chosen based on observable behavior, not innate traits or titles. He emphasizes that creating a trust‑filled environment, practicing honest self‑introspection, and aligning intent with actions are essential for effective leadership....
Layoffs Reveal Greed, Not Innovation, in Tech
Can we go back to the time when laying off employees was a sign of poor management? When it meant the company shouldn't be trusted? I know we've completely lost the plot on pretty much everything, but this one thing...
Mastering The Five Phases Of Transformation
Change initiatives routinely fail, wasting trillions and eroding organizational capacity. Kristy R. Ellmer and co‑authors outline a five‑phase framework—starting, planning, launching, persisting, and ending—to dramatically improve transformation odds. The model stresses active board oversight at each stage, from validating strategy...
Lisa Varner Rises to GM at Saga’s Ocala Cluster
Saga Communications has promoted Lisa Varner to vice‑president and general manager of its North Central Florida Media radio cluster, succeeding retiring GM Howard Tuuri. Varner previously served four years as director of sales for the three‑station Ocala group, which includes...
Companies Are Giving One Executive Multiple C-Suite Roles Instead of Hiring More Leaders
Companies are consolidating C‑suite positions, assigning multiple titles to single executives to cut costs and accelerate decision‑making. The share of leaders holding more than two titles has risen 121% over the past decade, with a 10% jump in the last...
Jamie Dimon Warns the U.S. Faces Its Riskiest Moment Since World War II. Here’s Why
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon warned that the United States is confronting its most complex convergence of threats since World War II, driven by rapid AI advancement, escalating geopolitical tensions, and mounting fiscal strain. He argued that AI could displace large...
The Unspoken Office Hierarchy Everyone Understands but Nobody Admits
The article reveals that every workplace runs on two parallel structures: the formal org chart and an informal hierarchy driven by trust, relationships, and early‑stage conversations. Influence is signaled by who gets invited to pre‑meeting chats, whose emails receive instant...
Chicago Women In Real Estate Say Career Growth Starts With Betting On Yourself
Chicago’s leading women in real estate gathered at Bisnow’s ceremony, where TJ Edwards shared her 12‑year climb from federal architect to executive director after earning an MBA from Northwestern. Panelists including Puja Doshi and Catherine Sierakowski urged women to trust...
Veteran PRPA, Fairview Terminal Executive to Lead Prince Rupert Port
Kurt Slocombe has been promoted to president and chief executive officer of the Prince Rupert Port Authority. He joined PRPA in 2019 as vice‑president of operations, planning and infrastructure, after earlier managing the Fairview Container Terminal since 2007. As head...
Greatness Code: The Formula Behind Unstoppable Success
Greatness Code, authored by Alan Guarino, presents a leadership framework built around the 5Qs—stamina, courage, resilience, persistence, and passion. The book targets finance professionals, especially those in trade credit and treasury, by translating these qualities into disciplined habits and relationship‑focused...
From Cost Center to Growth Engine: Mindset Shift Required
#CIOChat Q1: For decades IT was framed solely as a cost center focused on efficiency and uptime. Now AI, data, and digital products can + must drive revenue directly. What psychological (or other) shift has to happen in your org before...
PPG Taps Pateman As Senior VP North America
Plaza Premium Group (PPG) has appointed Eric Pateman as senior vice president for North America. Pateman previously served as chief experience officer at Vancouver International Airport and has advised governments, cities, and Fortune 500 companies while running several businesses. His blend...
Effective Leaders Communicate Purpose, Direction, and Progress
Good leaders must communicate the following: Purpose – why are we doing what we’re doing? Direction – where are we going? Progress – how are we doing? I call this trio PDP. The clearer the PDP is to the team,...
As a Manager, when Should I Delegate Work versus Doing It Myself?
A new university communications manager is unsure whether to delegate tasks or handle them personally, especially when requests from her own manager are phrased as “can you…?”. The team’s uneven capacity—one member on sick leave, a part‑timer, a junior, and...
Know When to Exit: Cool Factor Vanishes Fast
Prominent media investor told me something a while back that stuck with me (paraphrasing): "two types of founders - ones who know when to sell and ones who hold on for too long. If your company trades on cool, better...
OpenAI Abandons Traditional Playbook Amid Tech Revolution
“As I’ve been thinking about the future of how we communicate at OpenAI, one thing that’s become clear is that the standard communications playbook just doesn’t apply to us...We’re not a typical company. We’re driving a really big technological shift.”...
Shepherd Manamike Elected the Mine Rescue Association of Zimbabwe (MRAZ) President
Shepherd Manamike has been elected President of the Mine Rescue Association of Zimbabwe (MRAZ) for the 2026‑2028 term, succeeding Professor Alfred Chinyere. He will head a newly appointed working committee that includes coordinators from Mimosa, Zimplats, HCCL and other leading mines....
Polished Vendor Buzz Masks Unprepared Teams
The technology might be sound, but people weren't set up to succeed. Vendors often present polished narratives to the board, using buzzwords without doing the actual work. This makes it sound professional, but the underlying reality is neglected. #TechFailure #ProjectManagement...
Amazon's Drone Initiative Launched Secretly, Surprised Bezos
Amazon's drone program started in a garage. Without permission. An engineer pitched Jeff Wilke. He didn't ask Bezos. Didn't ask the CFO. Just funded it. Months later Bezos brought up drones and learned a team was already flying. Full...
NABLF Welcomes Staab, Hartman To Board
The National Association of Broadcasting Leadership Foundation (NABLF) appointed Valari Dobson Staab, chairman of NBCUniversal Local, and Todd Hartman, executive vice president of Kalil & Co., to its Board of Directors. Staab oversees NBCUniversal Local’s portfolio of 50 media properties,...
Reid Embodies Calm, Adaptable, Trust‑Winning Leadership
Key leadership traits: calm under pressure, adaptability, good judgment, and earning the trust of a dog. Reid checks every box. https://t.co/Nb8V8NRxYx
Shift to Experience‑First Culture to Rebuild Trust and Profit
Employee engagement 101: Rethinking EX in the age of declining trust https://t.co/xdbYxFC31N @CX_Network #EmployeeEngagement & #trust have stagnated, even declined. This 3-pillar framework helps reorg operations, shift from profit-first #culture to experience-first & drive profit https://t.co/JicAwNRYKS
Jeff Shell's Paramount Exit Negotiated Amid Rapid Investigation
News: Lawyers for Jeff Shell have begun discussions about his exit as President of Paramount. Contours of any future role (like "consultant" or outright ouster) will be determined by the internal investigation, which is expected to be done in a...
HR’s Reporting Line Reveals Hidden Organizational Culture
Who HR Reports To Says More Than You Think - CX Journey™ https://t.co/JbJN3Cxw1H #HR #orgstructure #leadership #culture https://t.co/FFR8vgzWvD
Senior Leaders Struggle Most With AI Adoption
Where Senior Leaders Are Struggling with #AI Adoption, According to Research. (Harvard Business Review) #JVGpost https://t.co/3a8mBOXddQ https://t.co/5NA9hzk7jK
Never Discount without Securing Value in Return
Founders: Don't give discounts without getting something back: - Longer contract term - Case study rights - Expansion commitments - Reference availability Every concession should have compensation.
Direct Feedback Fuels Team Growth; Withhold It, Hinder Progress
If you’re not willing to give direct feedback, you’re robbing your team of their ability to improve.
OKRs Align Factory Teams and Drive Outcomes
📘 My favorite leadership read this week. What’s on your list? 📚 Add this to your list: 𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 (𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟖) by 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐃𝐨𝐞𝐫𝐫 💡 OKRs for factories? Yes—align teams, focus effort, ship outcomes. Helpful resource: 🔗 https://t.co/uilX0d7TBd https://t.co/ehv86DTFh9
CIO Chat Tackles Leadership Burnout – Join Thursday
#CIOChat Good chat today. Join us at 2pm ET next Thursday. Topic: Leadership Burnout Hope you enjoy our movie tie-ins to intro next week’s topic. Please suggest topics and invite your IT colleagues. Every Thursday at 2pm ET. https://t.co/kNW8VcHSy6
Arrogance and Entitlement Stall Continuous Growth, Warns Nvidia CEO
Nvidia CEO: “you cannot show me a task that is beneath me.” The enemy of continuous growth is arrogance, zero sum mindset and a sense of entitlement. https://t.co/DpugJBDmtO
Leaders Fire to Protect Ego, Not Performance
FWIW When leaders fire subordinates it often has less to do with the failures of the subordinate (which typically have been long known) than the mounting vulnerability felt by the CEO. Short of embezzlement, you never see CFOs, CTOs and COOs...