Today's Management Pulse
Founder risk drives steep valuation discounts in owner‑led services firms
Dr. Dave Heath explains that founder‑dependency in owner‑led services firms mirrors the manager‑risk LPs assess in private‑equity funds. Buyers, banks and investors price this key‑person risk with 30‑50% valuation discounts or higher loan spreads. The risk stems from undefined decision authority, undocumented founder judgment, and missing exception handling.
Why Most Organizational Structure Redesigns Miss The Mark—8 Things To Do
Organizational leaders often begin structure redesigns by debating the right model instead of confirming strategic alignment. The article argues that alignment of size, strategy, systems, culture and talent should precede any structural choice. It outlines eight practical considerations—from communication breakdowns to talent placement—that help executives ensure redesigns support real work flows and competitive advantage. By following this disciplined approach, companies can turn structure into an enabler rather than a costly distraction.
Switch Task View, Skyrocket Productivity and Reduce Overwhelm
The fact that the simplest switch of how you view your tasks list, in your project management platform, being able to completely skyrocket your productivity is wild. Whether you have ADHD or a different learning type, the way your view...
Business Case Drives Ongoing ERP Governance and Benefits
A business case does more than just justify an ERP project. It's crucial for ongoing governance, guiding key decisions and ensuring benefits are measured and optimized post-deployment. #BusinessCase #ERP #ProjectManagement https://t.co/8UBmNruRtR
Best Workflow Management Tools to Try in 2026
Workflow management tools have become essential for modern, distributed enterprises, offering automation, AI assistance, and seamless integrations. In 2026, leading platforms such as Slackbot, Monday.com, ClickUp and Airtable combine low‑code builders with AI agents to reduce manual bottlenecks. The guide...
The Multifamily Operations Daily Huddle: The Discipline of the First Conversation
The article argues that the first conversation with a new hire is the cornerstone of effective onboarding in multifamily operations. Rather than treating orientation as paperwork, leaders should use that initial interaction to transmit culture, clarify performance expectations, and show...
Disney Introduces Gamified AI Adoption Program with Streaks, Badges, and Manager Check‑Ins
Disney has launched an internal AI adoption platform that awards streaks, badges and prompts manager check‑ins to encourage daily use of tools like Claude and Cursor. The program turns the AI dashboard into a leaderboard, aiming to translate the company's...
AstraZeneca Certifies 17,000 Staff in AI to Chase $80 Billion Revenue Goal
AstraZeneca has certified more than 17,000 employees in AI competencies, a cornerstone of its plan to hit an $80 billion revenue target by 2030. CFO Aradhana Sarin says the program is already feeding a pipeline of 1,000 AI pilots that could...
Microsoft Signals Workforce Cuts as Revenue Jumps 18% to $82.9B
Microsoft CFO Amy Hood told analysts the company will likely shrink its workforce after reporting an 18% revenue increase to $82.9 billion in Q3 FY26. The shift to smaller, accountable teams comes as AI revenue soars to a $37 billion run rate,...
PwC Expands Partnership with Appian to Launch AI‑augmented Enterprise Solutions
PwC and low‑code platform Appian announced an expanded alliance at Appian World 2026, rolling out AI‑augmented solutions for regulated labeling, legacy codebases and critical spreadsheets. The partnership aims to unlock up to $100 million in annual operational risk savings for large...
OXIO Appoints Former Verizon Exec Jeremy Bolton as CCO to Spearhead Global Expansion
OXIO announced today that Jeremy Bolton, a former senior executive at Verizon, will join the company as Chief Commercial Officer. Bolton will lead OXIO’s commercial strategy as it pushes into new international markets, marking the firm’s most senior CRO‑adjacent hire...
Inbenta Names Mark Leibowitz CRO to Accelerate Enterprise AI Growth
Inbenta announced the appointment of Mark Leibowitz as Chief Revenue Officer, tasking him with scaling enterprise sales as the company rolls out its next‑generation Encore AI platform. The hire signals Inbenta’s push into regulated sectors such as banking, healthcare and...
OneAdvanced Unveils IQ Platform to Embed Governed AI Across Regulated Workflows
OneAdvanced announced the launch of IQ, an Intelligent System of Work that embeds ISO 42001‑based AI governance directly into business workflows. The platform aims to solve AI adoption hurdles in highly regulated sectors by unifying processes, data, policies and AI on...
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Names Lisa McLaughlin Managing Partner of Digital Legal Delivery
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer announced Lisa McLaughlin will lead its Digital Legal Delivery practice from 1 May 2026. The Belfast‑based partner will oversee the firm’s GenAI‑focused services, succeeding Libby Jackson MBE. The move signals the firm’s intensified investment in technology‑driven legal operations.
Saba Capital Secures Board Control of Edinburgh Worldwide Investment Trust, Ending Weinstein Feud
Activist hedge fund Saba Capital, headed by Boaz Weinstein, won a decisive board‑seat battle at Edinburgh Worldwide Investment Trust (EWIT), replacing the entire Baillie Gifford‑run board. The victory follows a months‑long feud over the fund’s SpaceX exposure and a shift...
Cellebrite Hires Ex-Okta Auth0 Chief Shiven Ramji as President of Products and Technology
Cellebrite announced that Shiven Ramji, former President of Auth0 at Okta, will become President of Products and Technology on May 4, 2026. Ramji will succeed retiring executive Ronnen Armon and will steer the AI‑first digital investigative platform that powers roughly...
Ventilation, Valuation, and the Thin Air of Execution: Lessons From South32’s Hermosa Reset
South32’s Hermosa mining expansion has seen costs surge more than 50% and the schedule slip due to chronic delays in its ventilation shaft, a critical‑path element. The company initially blamed contractor underperformance, but deeper analysis shows engineering, procurement and geotechnical...
Nexans to Pay €680 M for Republic Wire, Building U.S. Low‑Voltage Cable Platform
Nexans announced a €680 million (≈$735 million) deal to acquire Republic Wire, giving the French electrification group its first major U.S. manufacturing and distribution platform in the low‑voltage cable sector. The transaction, which includes a potential €43 million earn‑out, is expected to be...
Atlassian Report Says AI Tool Sprawl Costs Fortune 500 Firms $161 Billion in Coordination Tax
Atlassian’s 2026 State of Teams report warns that the rapid addition of AI tools is eroding team productivity, estimating a $161 billion annual coordination tax for Fortune 500 companies. The study cites chaotic workflows, fragmented processes and a lack of executive focus...
Underdog Studio Launches Boutique Transformation Firm Targeting Private‑Equity Growth Clients
Thomas Tearle and Brent Clarke have founded Underdog Studio, a new transformation consultancy that bills on outcomes rather than hours. The boutique targets private‑equity‑backed companies with ambitious growth goals, positioning itself between agencies and global consultancies.
Umicore Overhauls Executive Team, Adds Chief Transformation Officer to Boost Operational Excellence
Umicore announced a reshuffle of its senior leadership, naming Lily Liu as its new CFO effective Aug. 1, 2026, and creating a Chief Transformation Officer position to drive process, supply‑chain and execution excellence. The moves aim to sharpen the Belgian materials...
Hensel Phelps Teams with Syntax to Deploy SAP Cloud ERP Using Agentic AI
Hensel Phelps has selected Syntax as its implementation partner to move to SAP Cloud ERP Private, deploying the Syntax AI CodeGenie Suite to automate custom development. The collaboration aims to speed delivery, ensure clean‑core compliance, and position the contractor for...
Bath & Body Works Appoints First Chief Brand & Product Officer
Bath & Body Works has added Veronique Gabai-Pinsky to its executive team as the retailer’s inaugural chief brand and product officer. The move supports the company’s “Consumer First Formula” aimed at reviving growth after a Q4 sales dip.
Chipotle Reports 21% Profit Drop in Q1 2026 Amid Rising Costs
Chipotle Mexican Grill released its Q1 2026 earnings transcript, showing a profit of $302.8 million—down 21% year‑over‑year—and earnings per share of $0.23 versus $0.28 last year. Revenue grew 7.4% to $3.09 billion, but higher commodity and labor costs squeezed margins and prompted...
ELAI Launches U.S. Operations and Hires Former Prudential CDO as North America CEO
ELAI announced its entry into the United States and the appointment of Kjersten Moody, former Global Chief Data Officer at Prudential, as CEO of North America. The move targets a market that accounts for more than 70% of the company’s...
GE Aerospace, Delta TechOps Target 34% Faster CF6 Engine Maintenance
GE Aerospace and Delta TechOps announced a joint effort to slash CF6 engine maintenance turnaround time by 34% by the end of 2026. The partnership has already delivered a 25% reduction and promises significant cost and safety benefits for Delta’s...
From the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central Blogs: Correct Dimension Values; Project Management; Dimension Reporting; Job Queue Failures
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central’s recent blog roundup highlights four practical topics for finance and operations teams. It explains how the built‑in dimension‑correction feature lets users amend posted general‑ledger entries without breaking the audit trail. The series also debates whether...
The $1 to $10 Rule that Breaks Every AI Business Case
The article warns that most AI projects are budgeted like ordinary SaaS, focusing on software licences while ignoring the massive transformation costs that drive real value. Stanford, Accenture and McKinsey research shows companies typically spend up to ten dollars on...
Mary Portas to Open BRC Leadership Programme
Mary Portas, the veteran UK retail expert and broadcaster, will open the British Retail Consortium’s 2026 Summer School leadership programme. The BRC Learning flagship aims to equip mid‑level retail leaders with skills to navigate a market shifting from price‑driven competition...
Textron Prepares for Separation of $3B+ Industrial Group
Textron Inc. is weighing a spin‑off or outright sale of its industrial segment, which is on track for $3.2 billion in sales and a 5% margin, to become a pure‑play aerospace and defense company that generates about $12 billion in revenue with...
5 Work Conflicts, 5 Strategies for Bosses to Address Them
Kellogg School faculty outline five common workplace conflicts—cross‑cultural misunderstandings, perceived slights, hidden inequities, bonus‑related tension, and competition with former teammates—and provide evidence‑backed tactics for leaders. They stress labeling cultural disputes, fostering collaborative de‑escalation, prompting bias awareness to boost equity funding,...
VCs Fully Embrace AI for Operations
Venture capital firms are rapidly integrating AI agents into core operational workflows, from deal sourcing and due diligence to portfolio monitoring and internal reporting. A recent industry survey shows that over 70% of VC firms now use at least one...
Good American CEO Emma Grede Says Working From Home Is “Career Suicide”
Emma Grede, CEO of Good American and founding partner of Skims, called working from home "career suicide" on a Bloomberg podcast, arguing that remote work erodes professional growth and social bonds. She linked the rise of home‑office setups to broader...
C.H. Robinson Posts 15% EPS Rise, Leverages AI to Offset Spot‑Market Costs
C.H. Robinson reported a 15% year‑over‑year increase in adjusted earnings per share for Q1 2026 while keeping North American Surface Transportation (NAST) gross margin at 14.6%. The logistics firm credited a Lean AI strategy and disciplined volume mix for offsetting...
Stellantis Posts $440 M Q1 Profit After Pricing Overhaul and Dealer Strategy Shift
Stellantis reported a $440 million net profit for the first quarter of 2026, reversing a $26 billion loss in 2025. The turnaround stems from a disciplined pricing strategy, dealer‑network incentives, and $467 million in tariff refunds, lifting sales 6% in North America and...
Kyla Robinson Joins Bed Bath & Beyond as Chief Technology & Transformation Officer
Kyla Robinson, who spent 5.5 years leading technology at Spanx, announced her move to Bed Bath & Beyond as Chief Technology and Transformation Officer. The hire comes as CEO Marcus Lemonis signals a major AI‑driven restructuring that could cut headcount...
USDA Employees in Food Assistance Programs Folded Into Relocation Plans
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that most Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) employees will be moved from its Alexandria, Virginia headquarters to five regional hubs across the country. The relocation will place SNAP staff in Indianapolis, child‑nutrition teams in...
Litera Appoints Grant Hewlett to Spearhead AI‑driven Firm Intelligence Portfolio
Litera announced the hiring of Grant Hewlett, a 15‑year legal‑tech veteran, to head its AI Firm Intelligence portfolio. The move underscores Litera’s strategy to embed artificial intelligence into the tools lawyers already use, aiming to boost efficiency and growth for...
Klaar Unveils AI‑Native Compensation Planning Module Powered by Comprehensive
Klaar announced the launch of a new compensation planning module built on Comprehensive’s platform, bringing AI‑powered performance signals into pay decisions. The integration promises faster, more defensible and equitable compensation cycles for enterprises that already use Klaar’s performance management suite.
‘Burdensome’ FMLA Process May Be Interference, Court Says in SC Johnson Lawsuit
A federal district court denied SC Johnson's motion to dismiss a lawsuit alleging the company interfered with an employee's Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) rights. The employee claimed that SC Johnson's outsourcing of leave administration to Prudential created a...
Marketers Must Restructure Social Teams for Expanding Channels
Marketers face an urgent need to restructure social teams to keep up with channel scope https://buff.ly/el2Bhjr
Agency Missed April Deadline, No Updates for 7 Weeks
i know the @CanRevAgency is hard at work, but the April 7th deadline and two weeks expectation, sadly, was missed for your truly... running 7 weeks... and not even an update... https://t.co/31f1wEi6UC
CoStar Posts 23% Q1 Revenue Surge, Extends Double‑Digit Growth to 60 Quarters
CoStar Group announced a 23% jump in first‑quarter revenue, its 60th consecutive quarter of double‑digit growth. The surge, driven by a 20% lift in new bookings and AI‑enhanced Homes.com activity, prompted the company to raise its full‑year adjusted EBITDA guidance...
Use AI to Create a Sustainable Digital Filing System
🗂️ End of the school year? 📁 AI can help you build a system for organizing digital resources that actually works. ⏰ Try 15 minutes every Thursday with a naming convention AI helped you create. https://t.co/GDB21nrz89
Middle Managers: From Stuck to Shaping the Middle
How Middle Managers Can Avoid Becoming the Forgotten Middle (or Turn It Around) https://t.co/bqfJIjROXU Strong middle mngrs don’t sit in the gap btwn strategy & execution. They shift from being “caught in the middle” to “shaping the middle” or becoming...
PayPal Hires Antonio Lucio as CMO Amid Three‑unit Reorganization
PayPal announced Antonio Lucio as its new chief marketing and corporate affairs officer while reorganizing into three distinct units—Checkout Solutions, Consumer Financial Services, and Payment Services. The move is the first major action by CEO Enrique Lores to streamline the...
AI Productivity Gains Modest Now, Will Surge with New Models
AI productivity gains: More modest than expected https://t.co/xW6Scx6ATH < checks out, so far. But once the agentic operating model really takes hold, team structures change, and better platforms improve the build-to-prod stages, these numbers will jump.
Jeanie Buss Uses 'Hammer' To Halt Brother Jimmy's Lakers Tanking Plan
Lakers governor Jeanie Buss confronted brother Jimmy Buss over a six‑year playoff drought, invoking the “hammer” her father gave her to reverse a tanking strategy. The clash highlights governance tensions in the family‑run franchise.
Sanofi Names Belén Garijo CEO, Effective May 1, 2026
Sanofi confirmed that Belén Garijo will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer on May 1, 2026, following the April 29 annual general meeting. The appointment comes as the company declares a €4.12 (≈$4.49) per‑share dividend and refreshes its board...
Become a ‘B.O.S.S.’: Use This Practical Framework for Business Growth
The B.O.S.S. Model is a four‑quadrant framework—Business Development, Talent, Operations, and Financial Management—designed to help CEOs assess growth opportunities and prioritize resources. It emphasizes aligning personal leadership development with enterprise scaling, leveraging tools like AI to streamline processes. The model...
Execution Gap, Not Bad Strategy, Causes Failure
Most strategies don’t fail because they’re bad. They fail because they’re not executed. Tim Ohai and I break down why strategy gets lost between leadership and the sales floor—and how to fix it. https://t.co/UuRVbmWwER