Today's Leadership Pulse

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang pledges $150B annual investment in Taiwan to cement AI leadership
Jensen Huang announced Nvidia will invest about $150 billion each year in Taiwan and launch a $5 trillion headquarters project by 2030, creating roughly 4,000 high‑skill jobs and deepening ties with TSMC. The plan positions the island as the epicentre of the AI revolution.
Also developing:
- KFF founder‑CEO Drew Altman to retire after three decades, succeeded by senior executives
- Brex co‑founder Henrique Dubugras demands 8 am‑10 pm, seven‑day workweeks for AI‑native team, sparking labor tension
- Wix CEO Avishai Abrahami warns of potential layoffs affecting 1,000 staff as company restructures

Porsche Turns To New CEO To Steer Through Missteps
Porsche appointed Michael Leiters as CEO on Jan. 1, ending Oliver Blume’s dual role with Volkswagen. The sports‑carmaker reported a 10% drop in 2025 deliveries, moving only 279,449 units – its steepest decline since 2009 – with China sales plunging 26%. A costly €1.8 bn ($2.2 bn) retreat from an aggressive EV rollout and looming US tariffs of about €700 m ($760 m) have squeezed margins, prompting removal from the DAX index. Leiters returns after stints at Ferrari and McLaren, tasked with reversing the slump.

AIG’s Next Chapter: New CEO Faces Test Of Post-Revival Growth
Insurance giant AIG announced Eric Andersen as its interim president, set to assume the CEO role in June while current CEO Peter Zaffino transitions to executive chairman. Andersen, a former Aon strategic adviser with extensive brokerage experience, replaces John Neal...

Jennifer Welch Demands Leaders Step Aside for Real Fighters
Jennifer Welch didn’t hedge—and she didn’t soften it. When asked what she wants from leadership, she had a clear answer: step aside and let real fighters take the lead. It’s a bold call for accountability at a moment she believes...
Transform 2026 Concludes with 4,000+ Leaders Defining the Human + AI Equation
Transform 2026 wrapped up at Wynn Las Vegas, drawing more than 4,000 leaders from over 35 countries and featuring 350+ speakers. The conference centered on "The Human + AI Equation," exploring how executives can blend rapid AI adoption with people‑first leadership. Highlights...

Florida Educator Tapped to Lead Fort Worth Schools Under Texas Takeover
Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath has named former Florida superintendent Peter B. Licata as the new leader of Fort Worth Independent School District, which is currently under state control. Licata, who briefly headed Broward County Public Schools, will oversee a...

Navigating Identity After Leaving a Big Title
Giving up a large title, role and team can cause an identity crisis, especially as a man. Here’s how to manage it.

Seize Rapid Change: Offense Beats Defensive Stagnation
Today is my birthday. Year 39 reminds me that we are in an era of compounding change (3x3 = 9). Given that I share the birthday of Eren Yeager, the Attack/Founding Titan, I'm reminded that we have to play Offense. As...

(Comic) Promotions and Stretch Assignments
A recent comic illustrates a manager praising an employee’s performance but offering a stretch assignment instead of a promotion. The employee realizes the new duties come without a pay raise, while the manager uses the extra work to bolster their...
Zevin’s Bestseller Sparks Book Club Boycott Over Zionist Accusations
A Chicago independent bookstore barred Gabrielle Zevin’s "Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow" from its book club after staff labeled the author a Zionist. The move has ignited a heated debate among writers, publishers, and activists about censorship, cultural boycotts, and...

Meet The FCC’s New CIO
The Federal Communications Commission has appointed Farhan Khan as its new Chief Information Officer. Khan, previously the FDA’s chief digital officer, will steer the FCC’s IT strategy, focusing on modernization and information security. His portfolio spans oversight of systems that...
Interact Rolls Out Agentic AI Employee Listening Platform in Autumn Launch
Interact announced its Autumn 2025 release of an agentic AI‑powered employee listening platform, integrating Microsoft Copilot, SAP SuccessFactors and ServiceNow to unify tools and surface sentiment. CEO Simon Dance said the AI “turns raw data into human insight,” aiming to...
Reflections on a Career in International Education, Shaped by Experience
The outgoing chief executive of UKCISA reflects on a career that moved from language services to government, consultancy and finally national advocacy for international students. He credits personal study abroad experiences for shaping his belief in mobility as a catalyst...

Why Leaders Need to Embrace Five Intelligences
Des Dearlove highlights the 5Qs Framework, a leadership model that blends five distinct intelligences—cognitive, emotional, political, resilience, and moral—to address today’s volatile business environment. Developed by Dr. Ali Qassim Jawad and the late Professor Andrew Kakabadse, the framework draws on...

Why the ‘Gets It, Wants It, Capacity’ Won’t Build a Competitive Company
The Gets‑it‑Wants‑it‑Capacity (GWC) framework, popularized by Gino Wickman’s *Traction*, offers a quick filter for matching people to predefined roles, but it stops at present‑state competence. While GWC clarifies hiring and accountability, it treats seats as static and ignores strategic conviction,...

People Moves: WTW Makes Structural, Leadership Changes to EMEA Regional Operations; Carpenter Taps FloodFlash’s Bartholomew as Head of Parametric Advisory
WTW announced a major restructuring of its EMEA Insurance Consulting and Technology business, creating dedicated P&C and Life units and appointing Tim Rourke and Michael Klüttgens as regional leaders. Tammy Richardson will now oversee the firm’s AI transformation across the...

MedCity Pivot Podcast: How Fujifilm Tackled An Existential Crisis
Fujifilm faced a 60% revenue collapse in 2006 as digital cameras displaced film, prompting a strategic pivot toward healthcare. The company launched a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) in 2011, acquiring Biogen’s large‑scale site and expanding its biotech capabilities....

Bjorn Gulden Revives Adidas with Historic Turnaround
During the 2023 start, Adidas was collapsing. - First net loss since 1992 - Dead Yeezy inventory of €1.5B - Decreasing brand relevance globally Then, came Bjorn Gulden as CEO. 9 months in, he pulled off the greatest corporate turnaround in history. Here's what happened:
U.S. Bank Names Next COO
Toby Clements will assume the role of chief operations officer at U.S. Bank effective April 13, succeeding Souheil Badran, who is retiring after a three‑year tenure. Clements, a 2017 hire, has overseen operations in Europe, cards, merchant payments and client services,...
What Makes an Exceptional Leader?
New research by The Grossman Group and The Harris Poll finds only 30% of U.S. employees consider senior leaders "exceptional," while 16% label them "outdated" and blame them for burnout. Exceptional leaders outperform "good" leaders by more than two‑fold in...
Week in Review: How the Performance Review Has Changed
Performance reviews have shifted dramatically over the past 15 years, moving from annual check‑ins to frequent, often quarterly, continuous feedback loops. This change reflects heightened expectations for real‑time manager‑employee dialogue and is driven by digital tools that enable ongoing performance...
The Enduring and Evolving ‘Craft’ of Customer Support – Interview with Nick Francis
Help Scout co‑founder Nick Francis stepped down as CEO in late 2025, becoming Chairman after 15 years leading the remote‑first support platform serving over 12,000 businesses. In a Punk CX podcast interview, he discussed the "craft" of customer support, the...

Ezekiel Lewis Named Chairman and CEO of Epic Records
Sony Music announced Ezekiel Lewis as the new Chairman and CEO of Epic Records, elevating him from his recent role as President. Lewis, a Grammy‑winning songwriter and former EVP of A&R, has been with Epic since 2018 and previously held...
Launch Rough OKRs Now, Learn Through Action
Ever spent so long overthinking your goals, the quarter started without them? I see it every single day. Diligent people get stuck because we’re afraid of getting it wrong. But only in retrospect do we have a chance of knowing whether our...

Exploring Government that Works
In this episode of the Business of Government Hour, host Michael Keegan talks with John M. Bernard, author of *Government That Works* and founder of America's Pulse, about the pervasive "reaction‑driven" mode of state government. Bernard explains how a constant...

My Boss Asked Me to Mentor My Coworker, but It’s Really My Boss Who Needs Mentoring
A new manager, Fergus, struggles with project management, communication, and HR tasks, leading him to delegate mentorship of a peer, Chip, to an experienced employee. The employee discovers that many of Chip’s issues stem from unclear department procedures rather than...
“Client-Centricity Is Our New Mantra”: New Dentsu CEO Delivers First Address to Staff
Takeshi Sano has taken the helm as Dentsu’s new chief executive, delivering his first address to staff. He declared "client‑centricity" the company’s new mantra and outlined an execution‑led transformation agenda. The plan includes a sweeping international overhaul aimed at streamlining...
Listening Underpins Changemaker's Chapter Growth Strategy
HIMSS senior director Sepi Browning announced a new growth strategy for its Changemaker chapters that centers on listening to local leaders. The plan will develop best‑practice guides to help chapter volunteers manage and motivate members more effectively. By amplifying the...
Turn Everyday Interactions Into Powerful Brand Narratives
I’ve known Daniel Coyle for over a decade, and his work has always been a north star for how I think about the intersection of leadership and storytelling. I was thrilled to finally sit down and discuss his amazing new...

DAS Health Appoints Lee Horner as Chief Executive Officer
DAS Health announced the appointment of Lee Horner as its new chief executive officer, marking a strategic leadership shift aimed at accelerating growth. Horner brings more than two decades of executive experience in healthcare software and services, having led high‑growth...
Richard Saldanha: 'Coming Back to Aviva Was Very Much Like Returning Home'
Richard Saldanha re‑joined Aviva Investors in early 2025 after a brief tenure at Royal London Asset Management that began in December 2024. His return surprised industry observers, given the short duration of his RLAM stint and his prior long‑standing role...

Devon Energy’s Gaspar Sees Good Things Ahead, Stemming From His First Year and the Imminent Merger with Coterra Energy
Devon Energy CEO Clay Gaspar reflected on his first year, highlighting a three‑pillar strategy that sharpened culture, organic growth, and portfolio optimization. He explained that the recently announced merger with Coterra Energy is a strategic fit that delivers scale and operational...

The Hartford Strengthens International Business with Leadership Updates
The Hartford announced a series of senior appointments to reinforce its international underwriting platform. Julian Samuel was named Head of First Party Lines, overseeing Marine, Energy and Political Violence & Terrorism (PVT) while expanding into Industrial Risks and Construction Physical...

The Skills Retail CEOs Need To Win In The AI Era
Retail CEOs are confronting an unprecedented wave of turnover, with 1,500 exits recorded in 2025 – the highest since tracking began. Boards are responding by prioritizing leaders who blend merchant insight with deep technology and AI fluency. AI is slated...
Weekly Feedback Loops Outpace Annual Reviews
Most people ask for feedback once a year. Top performers build feedback loops weekly. After every major task, ask: • What’s one thing I should do differently next time? • What would make this 10% better? Small corrections compound faster than big ambitions. Don’t wait for...
Featured Among Top 50 Manufacturing Leadership Speakers 2026
Just published: 50 Best Leadership Speakers for Manufacturing (2026) by Jonno White at Clarity Group Global. Honored to be included alongside world-class voices in lean, culture, AI, and ops excellence. Full list: https://t.co/J7pVqaolJO #Manufacturing #Leadership #Outthinker #Kaihan
Building Peer Relationships - Part 1
In this first part of a two‑episode series, Sarah and Mark explain why strong relationships with peer managers—those who report to the same boss—are essential for both individual and team success. They introduce practical tactics such as assessing relationship health,...
Bezos Says Key Decisions Rely on Intuition, Gut, Experience
Jeff Bezos: most important decisions are based on the heart, intuition, guts, experience and taste https://t.co/nKfJe9FEb9

AI Agents Redefine Human Roles Into Four Key Positions
It's wild how quickly company org structures are changing. Per @joannezchen, as AI/agents take on more of the work, humans will bucket into these four roles: 1. Chief accountability officers 2. Systems architects 3. Relationship experts 4. Validators https://t.co/4sAfyKadZS

Ruder Finn Atteline Launches Internal Comms, Capability Practise rf.engage
Ruder Finn Atteline has launched rf.engage, a strategic internal communications service line that delivers bespoke leadership training, change management, and employee‑engagement programs across the MENA region. The offering blends real‑world simulation, personalised coaching, and proprietary narrative frameworks to boost leaders'...

Insight Bridges Data, Decision Gap Hinders Leadership
Insight Is Evidence, Not an Answer - CX Journey™ https://t.co/kxDgTWbDdF The real gap isn’t between #data and #insight. It’s between insight and decision. #leadership #decisionmaking https://t.co/7xcbM3Uqwe

Middle Managers: Weak Link or Secret Weapon?
#TimTalk - Are Middle Managers the Weak Link or the Secret Weapon? with Gary Cookson https://t.co/EHLT2Lyxs5 via @DLAIgnite #SocialSelling #DigitalSelling #Sales #SalesLeader #Leadership #Culture #Marketing #Success #Mindset #Entrepreneur #Management #HumanResources #HR https://t.co/wSFVrgp5vH
AI Is Making Leadership Almost Too Easy: The Exact Playbook Top Managers Use to 10X Performance, Coaching, and Results
The author argues that generative AI has turned senior management into a high‑efficiency function, enabling faster preparation for 1‑on‑1s, data‑driven coaching, and agenda creation. By feeding Power BI exports into AI prompts, hidden risks and blind spots surface in seconds, allowing...

Fix Work Processes, Not Programs, to Boost Employee Experience
Check out Farm to Executive Table Issue #12: Strengthening the Root System – What Actually Improves Employee Experience https://t.co/AyheV6X7Ww Employee experience doesn’t improve when you add programs. It improves when you fix how work actually works. #employeeexperience https://t.co/KqbOwkby2v
Duke Health Names Familiar Face as New CEO
David Zaas will re‑join Duke Health as chief executive on May 1, 2026, after a decade leading Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, where he oversaw eight hospitals and 27,000 employees. Zaas previously spent nearly two decades at Duke Health in various senior...
Finding CDC Director Who Pleases Kennedy and Senate Proves Tough
Finding someone to run #CDC who can both earn Sec. Kennedy's support AND get confirmed by the Senate seems to be proving to be a challenge. If/when that happens, the new director will have plenty of challenges of her/his own,...
Human Judgment, Not Tech, Drives AI's Next Wave
Interesting signal from this week's AI coverage. Critical thinking and leadership are among the fastest-rising topics. Not new model capabilities. Not infrastructure plays. The human layer. The judgment that decides what to do with AI.

A Simple Way to Advocate for Yourself and Your Team: The STAR 🔶 Technique
The article introduces the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) technique as a practical framework for managers to advocate for their teams and themselves. It highlights a real promotion case where vague praise failed to secure a deserved promotion, underscoring the...

From Engagement to Strategy: The CEO AI Leadership Blind Spot
Generative AI adoption is soaring, with 76% of CEOs reporting regular use, yet most treat it as a smarter search tool rather than a strategic engine. The Vistage study shows a 10% rise in usage over nine months, but CEOs...

Purpose, Perspective, Potential of Global Leadership
The article defines purpose, perspective, and potential as the three pillars of effective global leadership. Purpose serves as a north‑star, aligning diverse teams and legitimizing trade‑offs beyond short‑term metrics. Perspective is the leader’s mental model, built on local expertise, scenario...
Time Calls on Employers to Fix Systemic Barriers for Working Fathers
Time magazine published an analysis urging employers to address systemic challenges faced by working parents, especially fathers, after data showed the gender pay gap among parents widened. The piece outlines policy gaps and actionable steps for companies to create more...