What happens when the CEO and CMO don’t operate from a shared strategy? As business leaders, most of us can tell in an instant if a team is fully aligned—and when it is not. When a team lacks strategic alignment, it’s obvious: Priorities are fuzzy. Communication breaks down. There are more questions than answers. Momentum […]Read More
One of the most visible signs of the COVID-19 recession has been the massive harm to restaurants and bars. We see it as we drive around town: Restaurants are closed, doing curbside service only, or have radically altered their layout to make their spaces safer. We can also see the harm to restaurants in the […]Read More
4 Best Practices for Developing a Crisis Communications Strategy
If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s to expect the unexpected. But even when the unexpected occurs, there are actions business leaders can take to help mitigate the impact and successfully navigate through a crisis. Whether you have a crisis plan in place or need to develop one, there are several best practices and resources […]Read More
“This is a wonderful time to be talking about the future,” said international strategist Dr. George Friedman, “because the present ain’t that great.” This statement kicked off Dr. Friedman’s online forecasting session with Texas CEO Magazine, sponsored by Texas Mutual Insurance Company, on September 29, 2020. Over the following hour, he discussed the tumultuous times […]Read More
If you’re an executive, you’ve probably got a Patrick Lencioni book on your shelf (or in your e-reader). Lencioni’s works, which include The Five Dysfunctions of a Team and Death by Meeting, have sold over six million copies worldwide — and it’s easy to see why. Each is a marvel of simplicity, embedding sharp, practical […]Read More
Harry Truman famously said he wanted a one-handed economist—one who wouldn’t constantly alternate between “on one hand . . .” and “on the other hand . . .”. It is certainly true that we economists are a group that is very insistent on weighing both costs and benefits of any particular decision. In our field, […]Read More
Tom Nolan, President at Kendra Scott, Interviewed by YTexas CEO Ed Curtis When the pandemic first hit, it was clear to me that some businesses—the ones that were succeeding—had either prepared for this scenario or quickly found a way to adapt to it. As business owners, we are always curious as to how and why […]Read More
For the first time in recent history, Texas CEOs face a daunting task: leading, communicating, motivating, and engaging five different generations of employees, trendsetters, and customers. This has never happened before, and it is creating all kinds of challenges. Solving these challenges was important before the pandemic. Doing so now has become absolutely critical in […]Read More
We’re all familiar with Winston Churchill the wartime bulldog, cigar in mouth and bon mot on tongue. But few have rendered the man and his leadership with the intimacy and gripping drama of Erik Larson’s latest book, The Splendid and the Vile. In it, the six-time New York Times bestselling author pulls back the curtain […]Read More
The Fundraising Toolkit – Startup Success: A Startup Fundraising Series
The previous Startup Success column focused on planning out a fundraising campaign in such a way as to optimize for both efficiency and effectiveness. Armed with the plan, you are almost ready to launch the campaign. Some key tools will be needed for that. A fundraiser’s most important tools are their elevator pitch, pitch deck, […]Read More