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.
Can Purpose-Led Organisations Scale?
In this episode, Geoff Guy, Managing Director of Riverlution, discusses how his purpose‑driven environmental business balances mission and commercial viability while scaling up. He explains Riverlution’s evolution from a community arm of the River Stewardship Company to a standalone community interest company that now delivers conservation training, qualifications, and water‑environment worker apprenticeships. Guy highlights the role of the UK government’s Help to Grow Management course in providing formal business training, mentorship, and a growth action plan that helped the organisation expand its services, secure new revenue streams, and implement robust social‑impact measurement tools. He also shares practical challenges of growth, such as rising overheads and competition with volunteer‑based groups, and offers advice for other mission‑focused startups.
Teams Say They Are Being Pushed to Do More with Less as AI Increases Their Workload
Culture Amp’s research shows 77% of employees say AI tools increase their workload, even as 96% of C‑suite leaders expect AI to boost output. Engagement metrics are sliding, with U.S. employee engagement falling to 31% by 2024. Companies that combine...
Clarity Is the Key to Supporting Workers, ADP Research Says
ADP Research finds fewer than one‑in‑four employees feel confident their jobs are safe, highlighting a major communication gap. Workers who perceive security are six times more engaged, 3.3 times more productive, and twice as likely to stay. Front‑line managers and...
Separate Design Roles: Creativity Needs Humans, Rules Can Be Automated
I was talking with someone recently about making a design hire, and it led somewhere I didn't expect. There are, I think, two quite different things that get grouped together under the label of "design." There's aesthetic, visual, brand design. The stuff...
People Moves: Marsh Risk Names Zafiriadis to Lead New Service Delivery Practice
Marsh Risk has appointed Katrina Zafiriadis to lead its newly established Service Delivery Practice for the U.S. and Canada. Zafiriadis, who brings two decades of service delivery and operational resilience experience, previously served as chief of staff to Marsh Risk...
How Women Are Reshaping Leadership, Innovation and Culture in Air Cargo
Women are rapidly moving into senior roles across the global air‑cargo sector, shifting the industry from a traditionally male‑dominated hierarchy to a more inclusive leadership model. Their rise coincides with the sector’s digital transformation, AI‑enabled forecasting, and heightened sustainability pressures,...
Modernizing Federal Government IT with Atlassian and Isos Technology
In this episode, Leah Wood and Nick Nader of ISOS Technology discuss modernizing fragmented federal IT Service Management (ITSM) environments using Atlassian’s Jira Service Management (JSM). They explain how legacy ITSM setups—often a patchwork of tools like ServiceNow, spreadsheets, and...
MIWIC26: Dr Catherine Knibbs, Founder and CEO of Children and Tech
Dr. Catherine Knibbs, founder and CEO of Children and Tech, was named one of the 2026 Top 20 women in cyber by the Most Inspiring Women in Cyber Awards. Her work bridges cyber‑trauma, child protection, privacy and data security, creating frameworks...
Coming Up Next: Taking Time for Leadership Self-Care
The 16Personalities team is launching a new "Leadership Reset" series on March 30, delivering 16 personality‑specific articles throughout April that explore self‑care for leaders. The initiative cites the DDI Global Leadership Forecast 2025, which found 71% of leaders experiencing heightened...
You Fell for the Nonsense Change Management Models and Now Your Projects Are Failing
The article debunks the widely repeated claim that 70% of change initiatives fail, tracing it to a misquoted 1993 study. It criticizes popular change‑management frameworks—Kotter, ADKAR, Lewin, McKinsey’s Influence Model, BCG’s Change Delta, and even Nudge Theory—for lacking peer‑reviewed evidence...
Muzinich Strengthens Senior Leadership as It Expands Global Credit Platform
Muzinich & Co. announced senior leadership appointments, adding a chief risk officer and chief investment officer to steer its expanding global credit platform. The firm is broadening its footprint across Europe, Asia and Latin America, aiming to capture heightened demand...
Playing Different Games at the Same Table
The piece reveals that every employee— and the leader—optimizes for a personal goal such as stability, recognition, autonomy, craft, efficiency, income, comfort, or meaning. These divergent optimization targets create invisible tension that often masquerades as personality clashes or poor communication....
AB InBev Is Seeking a Successor for Its Outgoing Chairman
AB InBev’s chairman Martin J. Barrington will step down after nine years, ending a tenure that began in 2019. Barrington, a former Altria CEO, joined the board in 2015 and was granted two term extensions despite the company’s age‑limit rule....
‘Be Kind to Yourself and Patient with Your Journey’
Irene Mihai, Policy Director of the Romanian Photovoltaic Industry Association, highlighted the critical role of mentorship, collaboration, and inclusive workplace practices in attracting and retaining talent in the solar sector. She noted that women now represent roughly 40% of the...
Michelle Quintero Named Executive Vice President with Alliant Private Client at Alliant Insurance Services
Insurance carriers are confronting a surge in acute mental‑health cases that demand intensive crisis care, driving higher underwriting and claims exposure. Societal stressors, pandemic fallout, and workforce shortages have shifted demand from routine outpatient therapy to emergency stabilization. Emerging psychedelic...
Kekst CNC Appoints Estin Co-CEO
Kekst CNC, the strategic communications subsidiary of Publicis Groupe, named longtime executive Lyndsey Estin as co‑CEO of its U.S. operations on March 30, 2026, succeeding Jeremy Fielding. She will share global leadership with London‑based co‑CEO Richard Campbell, who continues to run non‑U.S. business....
Leaving HuffPost to Build Thrive: Leap of Microsteps
How do you know when it's time to take a leap? I did exactly that when I left The Huffington Post (@HuffPost) in 2016 to found @Thrive Global, helping people adopt healthy habits that drive better health outcomes, engagement, and productivity — one...
AI Will Only Replace White-Collar Jobs If We Forget What Makes Us Human
The article argues that AI will only displace white‑collar roles when organizations overlook the uniquely human traits that drive value. While machine learning can automate data‑intensive tasks, skills such as empathy, creativity, and nuanced judgment remain irreplaceable. Companies that integrate...
Creative Network Residence Reshapes Leadership With Dual Appointments
Residence, the global network of creative agencies, announced two senior leadership changes. Ben Langsfeld was named Chief Creative Officer, taking charge of client‑facing strategy and day‑to‑day creative execution. Co‑founder Orion Tait moved into the newly created Creative Chair role, concentrating...
Telefonica Germany Prepares Management Board Reshuffle - Report
Telefonica Germany is planning a management board reshuffle as early as April, according to Handelsblatt. The review will concentrate on the business‑customer division led by Andreas Laukenmann, who took charge of the O2 brand after joining in September 2023 from Vodafone. The...
Fine‑Dining Scandal Spurs Minnesota Chefs to Redesign Kitchen Culture
CNN’s expose of abuse at René Redzepi’s Noma triggered a wave of self‑examination in fine dining. In response, chefs across Minnesota introduced a formal handbook, daily debriefs and mentorship programs to build healthier kitchens, marking a tangible push against entrenched toxicity.
South Florida Hires Chris Mack as Head Basketball Coach After Bryan Hodgson Departs
South Florida announced the hiring of Chris Mack as its new men’s basketball head coach after Bryan Hodgson left for a new opportunity. The move brings a veteran coach with ACC experience to a program seeking to improve its competitive...
Synchronoss Names Pat Doran CEO Post‑Lumine Acquisition, Targets Integration
Synchronoss Technologies appointed Pat Doran as chief executive after Lumine Group completed its acquisition. The leadership change comes as Lumine shares fell to C$22 (≈$16.30) on the TSXV, underscoring the need for swift operational integration and growth.
Microsoft Overhauls HR Leadership, Prioritizes AI, Skills and Diversity
Microsoft announced a sweeping HR reorganization that installs Leslie Lawson Sims as VP of People & Culture, sees Chief Diversity Officer Lindsay‑Rae McIntyre exit, and creates a workforce‑acceleration unit. The changes aim to embed AI, rapid skill development and inclusive...
Amazon's Project Kobe Aims to Build Walmart‑Style Supercenters with Robots
Amazon announced its internal Project Kobe, a blueprint for 225,000‑sq‑ft supercenters that blend grocery, general merchandise and a warehouse‑scale fulfillment hub. The pilot stores in Illinois and New Jersey will rely on AI‑driven assortment planning and warehouse robots, a move...
Coca‑Cola CEO James Quincey Resigns, Cites AI‑Driven Next Wave
Coca‑Cola’s longtime chief James Quincey announced his resignation effective March 31, saying the rapid rise of artificial intelligence demands a new kind of leadership. He will hand the reins to COO Henrique Braun, while Quincey moves to executive chairman.
Changes in the Channel: People Moves and Shakeups March 23 - March 27
During the week of March 23‑27, several channel vendors announced senior leadership changes aimed at strengthening AI‑driven security, scaling SaaS revenue, and expanding federal cloud compliance. 7AI named Israel Barak as chief information security officer to accelerate AI‑enabled SOC operations. JumpCloud,...
Edward Hardy Promoted to Head of Editorial at Air Cargo Week
Edward Hardy has been promoted to Head of Editorial at Air Cargo Week, after joining as editor in May 2022. During his tenure, the publication expanded its editorial team, launched the GATEWAY magazine, and adopted a digital‑first strategy. Hardy will...
The Executive Curiosity Tour: How to Get Meaningful, Honest Insights From Employees
The article introduces the "curiosity tour" – a leadership practice where executives leave their desks, observe daily work, and ask open‑ended questions instead of judging or fixing. It highlights five common reasons employees stay silent, such as lack of confidence...
Swiss Re Appoints Teodora Aldenhoff as Chief Pricing Actuary L&H Continental Europe
Swiss Re has appointed Teodora Aldenhoff as Chief Pricing Actuary for Life & Health Continental Europe. Aldenhoff, a UK‑qualified actuary with a master’s in financial mathematics, joins the leadership team after 15 years at the firm, most recently overseeing L&H...
He Fled Apartheid South Africa at 26—Then Built a $13 Billion Fortune 500 Company. Here Are His Rules
Stanley Bergman, a South African refugee, led Henry Schein from a $225 million regional dental supplier to a $13.2 billion Fortune 500 distributor over 36 years. He emphasized hiring for character, fostering diverse opinions, and aligning the business with social values. Under his...
In a More Automated World, How Do CFOs Think About Succession Planning? CFO Peer Audit
CFOs are rethinking succession planning as automation erodes traditional entry‑level finance roles. They cite rotation programs, cross‑training, mentorship, and formal talent reviews to keep junior staff engaged and develop future leaders. Process documentation and AI‑enhanced decision‑making are used to preserve...
Emami Names Dhruv Aggarwal as Chief Growth Officer
Emami Limited appointed former Bain partner Dhruv Aggarwal as chief growth officer, effective 25 March 2026, to sharpen its FMCG growth strategy. Aggarwal brings two decades of consulting, turnaround and global experience across India, the US, UK and Germany. In parallel, Sunfeast...
How to Build a Thriving Company Culture that Inspires and Engages
The article explains how intentional company culture fuels productivity, talent attraction, and brand reputation. It cites research showing happy employees can be up to 13% more productive and outlines practical steps—like open communication, recognition, team‑building, inspiring workspaces, and work‑life balance—to...
Judge Decisions Within the Broader Vision, Not Isolated Details
It's important to view individual decisions in the broadest possible context. For example, if the Responsible Party being challenged has a vision, and the decision being disputed involves a small detail of that overall vision, the decision needs to be...
Row K Faces Cash Crisis, Top Execs Depart
New: Meltdown at the new indie distributor Row K, @elmayimbe has the details. President Megan Colligan and marketing chief Ben Carlson are set to exit after just 7 months. Cash problems; strategic re-set seems underway for Chris Woodward and Raj...
How to Make Unlimited Paid Time Off Work for Your Startup
Unlimited paid time off (PTO) is gaining traction among Asian startups as a talent‑attraction tool, shifting focus from hours logged to results delivered. While the perk promises higher loyalty and productivity, startups often face unclear usage expectations, perceived inequities, and...
Emotional Fulfillment Beats Pay in Talent Retention
"Emotional needs, such as feeling valued and supported, mattered more than functional needs like pay, benefits, and hours in retaining and supporting talent." https://t.co/xLzSKDM6Fz < we all crave joy and appreciation in our work
Power's Pull: Why Leaving the Spotlight Tempts Us
The challenge of remaining away from the spotlight - and the corrresponding temptation to reenter the arena - is discussed with characteristic insight and candor by @JeffreyPfeffer in at least one of his books about power - all are essential...
Wishpond Appoints Jordan Gutierrez as Chief Executive Officer to Lead Next Phase of Execution
Wishpond Technologies Ltd., an AI‑enabled marketing solutions provider, announced that COO Jordan Gutierrez will become chief executive officer on March 26, 2026, succeeding founder Ali Tajskandar. Tajskandar will transition to CEO of SalesCloser, a newly spun‑out public company, while staying on Wishpond’s board. The...
Is This Your Best Work?
The article promotes asking “Is this your best work?” as a leadership prompt to spark self‑reflection and elevate quality standards. By framing feedback as a question rather than criticism, managers turn routine reviews into coaching conversations. The technique reveals gaps...
KnitWell Group Names Sarah Evans as CHRO
KnitWell Group appointed Sarah Evans as chief human resources officer, overseeing people strategy for its eight retail brands that serve over 21 million U.S. customers. Evans will manage talent acquisition, total rewards, HR systems, as well as corporate communications, belonging and...
Sembcorp Chairman Tow Heng Tan to Retire; Andreas Sohmen-Pao to Succeed Him From Jun 1
Sembcorp Industries announced that chairman Tow Heng Tan will retire on June 1 after a 50‑year corporate career, having served three years as chairman and five on the board. Andreas Sohmen‑Pao, the long‑time head of BW Group, has been named chairman‑designate and...
How to Prepare for the Unexpected
Stanford GSB researchers led by Nir Halevy applied construal level theory to explain why strategic surprises catch organizations off guard. They argue that both overly abstract and overly concrete thinking create blind spots that distort information interpretation. The study suggests...
Is Employee Retention Too High? The Risks of Low Turnover
A surprisingly low employee turnover rate can mask hidden challenges for organizations, including skill atrophy and stalled internal mobility. The Work Institute suggests a healthy turnover range of 10‑15%, while the 2025 US Mercer Turnover Survey cites a 13% voluntary...
3 Ways to Ignite Commitment
The article argues that true employee commitment, unlike forced compliance, is generated through genuine relationships and mutual investment. It outlines three practical levers—demonstrating care, committing to people through development, and aligning personal benefits with organizational goals—to transform intent into action....
10 Lessons on AI Transformation—And Leadership—From Top HR Leaders
Charter’s Transform conference in Las Vegas gathered 4,000 HR and tech leaders to dissect AI’s rapid infiltration of the workplace. Speakers highlighted that AI adoption is a team sport, requiring shared experimentation and clear focus on high‑impact domains. They urged...
US Rice-Products Firm Lundberg Family Farms Names New CEO
Lundberg Family Farms announced the promotion of Suzanne Sengelmann from chief growth officer to chief executive officer, making her the first woman to lead the 85‑year‑old rice‑products company. She succeeds Craig Stevenson, the firm’s first non‑family CEO, and is credited...
Hims & Hers Shifts to Branded GLP‑1s and Telehealth After Novo Nordisk Deal
Hims & Hers announced it will stop actively marketing compounded GLP‑1 drugs and focus on a broader portfolio of FDA‑approved, branded GLP‑1s through a new partnership with Novo Nordisk. The pivot follows a 70% stock plunge and aims to sustain...
Meta Slashes 700 Jobs, Grants Six Execs up to $921 M in AI‑linked Stock Options
Meta announced a 700‑person workforce reduction and a new stock‑option package worth up to $921 million for six senior executives. The moves are part of a broader restructuring aimed at accelerating the company’s AI‑first product strategy.