An outside candidate brings new vision and talent to an organization. Still, if you go into the search without a plan for overcoming the challenges of bringing on an external leader, you’ll be fighting an uphill battle.

In a rapidly-changing world, tough decisions need to be made by leaders every day. I sat down with Jyoti Menon, who shared how she makes those choices - and how she guides her team through the changes that come with them.

“Talent is everything…[and] as we go through growth curves, recruiting and retaining is becoming ever more difficult,” says my client, CFO of a SaaS scale-up. Talent-related challenges are top of mind for many leaders.

How much time do you think you spend navigating workplace conflict? In the U.S., employees spend almost three hours involved in disputes every week.

Many senior leaders are getting closer to retirement. What are you doing to prepare the next generation of executives to lead?

I first met Carlos Zepeda, Senior Vice President of Consumer Connections, Insights and Strategy for Moët Hennessy USA at a gathering for Northwestern alumni. He spoke at the event, and after hearing his thoughts on leadership, I knew I had to interview him for Your Future, Your Work.

Stepping into a new leadership role can feel like a whirlwind, but don’t forget the goals that brought you to this position in the first place. No matter what experiences led to you being here, you have a powerful opportunity to effect positive change on your team and your organization.

Much has been written about the “invisible work” that women are expected to take on, and women's increased risk of burnout and chronic stress backs up these findings.

Do you feel like the members of your team are all speaking a different language with opposing expectations about work? Well, in some ways, you’re right! Workplaces have always been multigenerational, but the changes and pressure of the last few years have made our differences feel more pronounced than ever before.

His best-selling book (and one of my favorites!), The Go-Giver, co-written with John David Mann, has helped leaders around the world find more success and fulfillment in both their personal and professional lives through giving and service.

Bob walks the talk, and is very generous with his time and expertise. I’m thrilled to be able to share some of our recent conversation with you.

We remember information up to 20 times better when it’s delivered in a story. And it makes sense. What do you connect with more: a packet of spreadsheets and graphs, or a compelling narrative?

It’s a new year, a time that inspires us to reflect on the year before and to make plans for what’s to come. Looking back on what you’ve accomplished and the progress you’ve made can be a joyful and empowering exercise, but what if things didn’t go how you’d hoped in 2023?

The end of the year is rapidly approaching, and you’re likely planning for what’s ahead. That said, I encourage you to take a moment to celebrate what you and your team have accomplished in 2023, and set an intention for more frequent acknowledgement in 2024.

While I am the “educator” in this scenario, I had the opportunity to learn a great deal from the well-respected thought leaders from Chief that I invited to speak to the students.

When you’re a leader, all eyes are on you. The higher on the ladder you climb, the more your words and actions are observed, sometimes in ways you did not intend.

Leaders are members of two teams: the company’s senior leadership, and the functional people they manage. Yet which team they prioritize can be the difference between organizational success and individual friction.

Leadership isn’t a static skill. In times of transformation - or when stepping into a new leadership role - it can be challenging to know where to begin. This week, I sat down with Jean Olivieri, who has held senior executive roles from midsize to Fortune 500 companies, to chat with her about how to lead change successfully - no matter what starting point your company may find itself in.

Growing pains; they’re common in childhood, yet they also happen in companies. Growth is exciting, but it can be equally challenging, especially for leaders. 

Picture it: you’ve just given a presentation, and while you felt pretty good about it, your CEO left right after it was over. Now, instead of feeling proud of the work you’ve done, you feel your anxiety creeping in.