Leadership
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Four ways to create a lasting cost advantage from AI
Having advised companies across industries on cost transformations for more than two decades, I’ve seen a growing divide emerge as AI and agentic systems reshape the economics of doing business. It’s clear that most companies still struggle to turn AI pilots into profits. Yet a small number of companies are succeeding, in part by linking…
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Shaq’s father once gave his White Castle burgers to a homeless vet—and it inspired the NBA legend’s business and philanthropy empire
One small interaction or passing conversation can stick with entrepreneurs throughout their entire careers. For NBA legend Shaquille “Shaq” O’Neal, that lesson came from his father—and he’s lived by it throughout his journey spanning sports, business, and philanthropy. “My father was a drill sergeant, but he always told me to honor people. Treat people with…
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Delta’s CEO let AI write a speech for Gen Z college grads—but he threw it away and started over with pencil and paper for one key reason
As the class of 2026 walks across the stage this graduation season, there may be no larger elephant in the room than artificial intelligence. The technology promises great innovation, but it is making young people anxious about their own career prospects and whether the four-year college grind was worth it in today’s job market. And…
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AI isn’t paying off in the way companies think. Layoffs driven by automation are failing to generate returns, study finds
The ongoing dialogue regarding the ever-imminent displacement of white-collar workers by AI is predicated on the assumption that the technology will become as skilled as the very workers it threatens to displace, thereby cutting labor costs. But a new study found that’s not quite what’s playing out in many companies that have carried out AI-related layoffs.…
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Poppi cofounder maxed out credit cards and sold her car to fund the company—now, she’s a multimillionaire after a $1.95 billion sale
For many entrepreneurs, building a unicorn means betting their own finances long before any massive payday is within sight. Poppi cofounder Allison Ellsworth became a mega-millionaire after selling her prebiotic soda brand to PepsiCo for $1.95 billion—but just one decade ago, she and her husband were maxing out credit cards to get the business off…
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TIAA CEO Thasunda Brown Duckett’s 3 rules for Gen Z entering the workforce: Adapt, lean in, and build a bigger table
Instead of a typical message of inspiration, Thasunda Brown Duckett, CEO of TIAA, offered Florida A&M University’s class of 2026 tangible ways to approach today’s job market, which is increasingly challenging for Gen Z. While she acknowledged the growing power of AI can feel intimidating, Duckett, one of only four Black women to ever helm…
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Microsoft’s CFO admits she joined the tech giant without even knowing her salary—and then missed her first day of work
As an economics undergraduate at Duke University in the 1990s, Amy Hood had no master plan that would one day land her the top finance job at one of the world’s biggest tech companies. In fact, now Microsoft’s chief financial officer, Hood, said her career has looked more like a roller coaster than a ladder—and…
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This Gen Zer dropped out of college to become an influencer—now he’s a millionaire from selling products like Medicube and Neutrogena on TikTok Shop
Just like generations before, Gen Z is looking to role models for career success. But instead of aspiring to be their white-collar parents, they’re clued into the growing industry of influencers. And as the creator economy continues to grow in reach and profitability, content creators like Logan Walter are fundamentally proving its value. Walter has…
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Why Amex’s CEO scrapped a bonus system that made executives compete for cash
At American Express, the old bonus season had a predictable rhythm. Business-unit chiefs came into the year ready to make their case, defend their turf, and grab as much investment capital as they could. The logic was simple: Grow your own kingdom faster than the others, and your reward got bigger. The system was meant…
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Blackstone CEO admits his first big investment loss nearly brought him to tears—but the lesson put him on a path to now being worth $47 billion
No matter how high someone climbs the corporate ladder or how many millions they earn, every business leader is still human. They’re bound to stumble and make mistakes—even when steering some of the world’s largest companies. Blackstone cofounder and CEO Stephen A. Schwarzman, for instance, once admitted he was nearly brought to tears after flubbing…