🎯Today's Leadership Pulse
Updated 1h agoWhat's happening: Flying Tiger Copenhagen names Jens Aarup Mikkelsen as new group CEO
Flying Tiger Copenhagen announced Jens Aarup Mikkelsen as its new group CEO, taking over from Martin Jermiin who will remain on the Zebra A/S board. Mikkelsen steps down from his CEO International role, where he led the retailer’s franchise expansion beyond Europe since 2021. The internal succession is positioned to preserve continuity while accelerating the company’s global growth.
Also developing:
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By the numbers: Aritzia acquires Fred Segal IP to revive Melrose Avenue flagship
News•Feb 16, 2026
WPP Media Appoints Kevin Kivi as Managing Director for South Australia
WPP Media has named Kevin Kivi as managing director of its South Australian operations, bringing 25 years of global advertising and media experience. Kivi previously led Horizon Media Canada, driving a 92% revenue increase and earning Best Place to Work accolades. He will oversee Wavemaker’s diverse client roster, including Mitsubishi Motors, Adelaide University and the South Australian government. The hire signals WPP’s commitment to expanding its strategic capabilities in a fast‑evolving regional market.
By Mumbrella Australia
News•Feb 16, 2026
Honeycomb Strategy Promotes Jason Morris as Head of Client Service
Honeycomb Strategy, the Melbourne‑based behavioural science and market research firm, has promoted Jason Morris to the newly created Head of Client Service role, consolidating its quantitative and qualitative teams under one leader. The appointment follows a milestone year that saw...
By Campaign Brief
Social•Feb 16, 2026
Give Second Chances: Key to Employee Engagement
One of the best tools for employee engagement: second chances. Part of the reason some employees check out is that they’ve been tossed aside after making a mistake. No one has ever let them live it down, and that mistake...
By Julia Rock
Social•Feb 15, 2026
Scaling a Startup Is Harder Than Starting One
Why it’s never been easier to start a company, and never been harder to scale one with Brian Halligan Brian is Sequoia in-house CEO coach, long-time CEO and co-founder of HubSpot , and more than anyone I’ve ever met, a student...
By Lenny Rachitsky
News•Feb 13, 2026
Resistance to Management Style Didn’t Create Hostile Work Environment, Court Finds
A federal district court in Pennsylvania ruled that a White internal audit head’s resistance to a Black compliance executive’s supervision was based on management style, not race or gender. The court found Drexel University had not adequately communicated expectations, but...
By HR Dive
Social•Feb 15, 2026
Structure Unlocks Clarity, Stops Rambling
Most people don’t ramble because they lack ideas. They ramble because they lack structure. Before you build slides, write paragraphs or even rehearse. Ask yourself: What pattern of organization best serves my message? Structure is not restrictive, It is liberating. When you choose...
By Dr. HUME (Hume Johnson)
Social•Feb 15, 2026
Automation Shifts Jobs to Higher‑Level Human Oversight
The future of work will look something like what Boris is describing. Anthropic is hiring engineers because people who know what they’re doing still have to tell the agents what to do, review their work, and integrate that work into...
By Aaron Levie
News•Feb 13, 2026
How to Decide Whether Internal Growth or Outside Talent Fits Your Scaling Strategy
University of South Florida researchers examined eight years of training and hiring data from 174 large U.S. law firms, revealing that resource‑rich, older firms tend to build talent internally while younger, smaller firms favor external hiring. The study highlights the...
By Inc. — Leadership
Social•Feb 15, 2026
Revamp Agile Now to Harness AI’s 2026 Edge
Agile was built for a different era. Here are 7 urgent reasons leaders must revisit agile practices if they want real advantages from AI in 2026. #Agile #AI #DigitalTrailblazers https://t.co/RZY9U0X8ws
By Isaac Sacolick
Social•Feb 15, 2026
ROI Works for Pebbles, Not Sand or Rocks
ROI is a good way to prioritize tactical tasks, or 'Pebbles.' ROI is not a good way to prioritize tiny tasks (‘Sand’) nor the most important large things (‘Rocks’). Here’s why: https://t.co/gy7ac3Aqmy
By Jason Cohen
News•Feb 13, 2026
How to Avoid Making the Same Fatal Mistake That Led to the Demise of Sears
Jeff DeGraff warns that leaders repeatedly repeat Sears' fatal mistake of forcing new initiatives into legacy structures. Sears, once a diversified proto‑digital empire, tried to blend emerging platforms with its old retail model, suffocating innovation. The article argues that integrating...
By Inc. — Leadership
Social•Feb 15, 2026
Empower Employees, Not Just Automate, to Meet Expectations
Automation alone is not the answer. Institutions that replace people instead of empowering them will struggle to meet rising customer expectations. https://t.co/3KhyMMpnPe
By Jim Marous
Social•Feb 14, 2026
Great Leaders Give Needed Support, Not Deserved Criticism
There’s a powerful leadership lesson in watching Trae Turner. When you’re in a tough season, people can either give you what you deserve — criticism, frustration, distance — or they can give you what you need — encouragement, belief, support. The best...
By Tim Elmore
News•Feb 13, 2026
Gen Z Men Are Flocking to This 87‑Year‑Old Self‑Help Book for Success Hacks
Napoleon Hill’s 1937 classic *Think and Grow Rich* is experiencing a resurgence among Gen Z men, especially those early in startup careers. The book’s core messages are circulating on TikTok and being amplified by influencers like Ben Mercer and Joe Rogan. Young...
By Inc. — Leadership
Social•Feb 14, 2026
Limited Context Forces New Work Practices for AI Agents
Eventually, as a result of the context limitations of AI agents, we’ll start to change and improve our work practices to aid in their success. One of the most interesting issues with AI agents is because of their inherently limited...
By Aaron Levie
Social•Feb 14, 2026
Redefining CIO: Embrace AI Leadership Structures
Thinking about a CAIO? Or evolving the CIO role instead? I explore what uplifting AI leadership should look like - and what structures actually work. #CIO #CEO #AI https://t.co/3nnLLxqhZt
By Isaac Sacolick
News•Feb 13, 2026
Steven Fulop’s ‘Centrist’ Vision for the Partnership in the Age of Mamdani
Steven Fulop, former Jersey City mayor, became president and CEO of the Partnership for New York City in January, pledging to transform the group into the city’s premier centrist advocacy organization. The shift follows criticism that the Partnership failed to...
By Crain’s New York Business
Social•Feb 14, 2026
Visible Goalposts Boost Team Effort Near Finish
Runners will sprint the last 100 feet of a race because they see the finish line. Justin Su'a calls this the goal gradient effect where you increase your effort as you get closer to completion. Use this to your advantage by setting...
By Nathan Barry
Social•Feb 14, 2026
CIOs Must Rethink IT for Real AI Impact
World-class IT in the AI era looks very different. I share provocative lessons for CIOs who feel under fire to transform IT and show real impact. #CIO #ITLeadership #AI https://t.co/VjbvwFzWSu
By Isaac Sacolick
News•Feb 13, 2026
Elon Musk’s X Is Accused of Selling Blue Checkmarks to Sanctioned Iranian Government Accounts
Elon Musk’s X platform has granted blue‑checkmark Premium subscriptions to more than two dozen Iranian government officials and state‑run media outlets that are subject to U.S. sanctions, according to a Tech Transparency Project report cited by Wired. The blue checkmark,...
By Inc. — Leadership
Social•Feb 14, 2026
AI Widens Gap: Leaders Must Keep Learning
AI is accelerating the divide between leaders who learn continuously and those who fall behind. Standing still is not a https://t.co/fRpFGuoNlH the full episode: https://t.co/niO7fXOQML https://t.co/vMRrQNi6cA
By Jim Marous
Social•Feb 13, 2026
AI Users Outpace Non‑Users; Human Judgment Remains Priceless
AI won’t replace people, but people who use AI will replace those who don’t. 👥 At the #CiscoAISummit, leaders discussed how 70% of code is now AI-generated, but human judgment remains "priceless." The CIO's job is now as much about culture...
By Tim Crawford
News•Feb 13, 2026
Wonder Bread Maker Taking ‘Comprehensive Review’ of Business Amid Slump
Flowers Foods, the maker of Wonder Bread, announced a multiyear comprehensive review of its operations as traditional loaf sales lag behind the broader category. The company projects 2026 net sales of $5.2‑$5.3 billion, essentially flat or down up to 1.8% year‑over‑year....
By Food Dive (Industry Dive)
Social•Feb 13, 2026
Boards Must Prioritize Cyber‑Risk Oversight, Says Expert
My comments on the role of corporate boards in overseeing the management of cyber-risk. In today's New York Post. Link on my website... Type JS.TC into any web browser.
By Joseph Steinberg
Social•Feb 13, 2026
Spot the #1 Sign Management Lacks Business Command
What’s the #1 tell that a management team doesn’t actually have command of their business? I spoke with Paul Stansik , an operating partner at ParkerGale Capital , about the relationship between boards and their portfolio companies. Paul works on scaling profitable,...
By CJ Gustafson
News•Feb 13, 2026
Want to Maximize Your AI ROI? Try Sharing the Wealth of Productivity Boosts With Your Staff
AI hype has spurred billions in enterprise spending, yet most firms see little return. An MIT study found 95% of organizations achieve zero ROI on generative AI, and Workday reports only 14% of employees experience net productivity gains after accounting...
By Inc. — Leadership
News•Feb 13, 2026
HCA Texas Hospital Names Chief Medical Officer
DeVry Anderson, MD, has been appointed chief medical officer of St. David’s North Austin Medical Center, a 465‑bed HCA Healthcare facility in Texas. In his new role, Anderson will oversee clinical operations at both the North Austin Medical Center and the...
By Becker’s Hospital Review
News•Feb 13, 2026
10 Systems Seeking Supply Chain Leaders
Hospitals are redefining supply chain leadership to encompass enterprise strategy, digital transformation, and resilience. This shift is prompting health systems nationwide to recruit senior supply chain executives with broader, analytics‑driven responsibilities. In the past week, ten systems—including Baptist Memorial, Boston...
By Becker’s Hospital Review
News•Feb 13, 2026
Constellation Brands Taps Former Suntory Exec as CEO
Constellation Brands announced that board member Nicholas Fink will assume the role of president and chief executive officer on April 13, 2026, succeeding Bill Newlands. Fink brings a decade of experience at Fortune Brands Innovation and nine years at Suntory,...
By Food Dive (Industry Dive)
News•Feb 13, 2026
Employees Need a Real Say in How Things Work to Flourish, Study Finds
A February 2026 survey of 2,000 U.S. workers found that 68% of employees flourish when they belong to high‑autonomy, high‑support "empowered squads," while only 10% thrive in low‑autonomy, low‑support settings. The study, conducted by the University of Illinois’ Gies College...
By HR Dive
News•Feb 13, 2026
Ubisoft Says Creative House Leadership Will Include 'Respected' External Hires
Ubisoft announced the creation of five internal Creative Houses to centralise its flagship franchises, with Vantage Studios already backed by Tencent for €1.16 billion. The company will appoint external industry veterans to lead these houses starting in March, aiming to accelerate...
By Game Developer (formerly Gamasutra)
News•Feb 13, 2026
Why World Models Will Become a Platform Capability, Not a Corporate Superpower
The article argues that large language models have become commoditized, offering generic linguistic intelligence but lacking real‑world understanding. It proposes that world models—systems that learn environment dynamics, causality, and feedback—will evolve into a shared platform capability rather than a proprietary...
By Fast Company
Social•Feb 13, 2026
Crypto Advocates Seek Win‑Win with White House, Banks
I'm confident we can achieve a market structure win-win that advances the President's crypto agenda while addressing the concerns of the banks. Our focus throughout will be to advocate for what's best for crypto users. We’re all in - we were...
By Brian Armstrong
Social•Feb 13, 2026
Not Now Masks Indecision: Useful Pause or Avoidance?
When you say “not now” instead of “no”… …you are avoiding making a decision. That’s good, if waiting means you can make a better decision (e.g. more data, more options to pick from). That’s bad, if you’re just non-committal. Cross things off the list.
By Jason Cohen
News•Feb 3, 2026
Christy Tanner Named C.E.O. of New York Public Radio
Christy Tanner has been appointed chief executive of New York Public Radio, taking the helm on February 4, 2026. Tanner arrives from a distinguished career at CBS News, the Associated Press, and as former head of TV Guide Digital, where...
By New York Times — Media & Advertising
Social•Feb 13, 2026
Surround Yourself with Allies Who Push, Not Praise
Build relationships that make risk-taking more likely. Choose people who kick you in the pants over those who affirm your excuses. Trust allies who believe in your potential, fuel your courage, and challenge you to get off your butt.
By Dan Rockwell
Social•Feb 13, 2026
Pivot: Replace Invalidated Strategy Parts, Keep Validated Ones
A “pivot,” as opposed to “throwing shit at the wall,” means that you identified what parts of the strategy have been reinforced with new evidence (the foot that remains planted) and which have been invalidated, and replaced by what precisely...
By Jason Cohen
Social•Feb 12, 2026
Trust Fuels Coinbase’s Flywheel Toward All‑asset Exchange
Here is the flywheel that helps Coinbase lead. - We're the most trusted brand in crypto - This causes people to store more assets with us - We connect more products into those assets (12 products doing more than $100m revenue on an...
By Brian Armstrong
Social•Feb 12, 2026
Coinbase Doubles Market Share, Fuels Crypto‑Driven Finance
It’s earnings day. 2025 was a strong year for Coinbase, and we built a solid foundation for continued growth in 2026. Our thesis is actually very simple: crypto is updating all financial services, and we're the best positioned company to capitalize...
By Brian Armstrong
Social•Feb 11, 2026
Decades in HR, Still Discovering Leadership & Work
After 20+ years working in HR, I’m still learning: about leadership, people, and what actually helps work… work. I share those reflections in my monthly newsletter on HR, leadership, and the future of work. 📩 Scan the QR code to subscribe or...
By Ranya Nehmeh