Understanding leaders means understanding the world changing around them.
We examine how technology, industry shifts, globalization and organizational change are redefining leadership.
Board & governance
The Great Reversal: How America's Board Diversity Push Collapsed in 90 Days
ISS dropped diversity voting guidelines. Nasdaq's rules were struck down. Goldman abandoned its IPO requirements. In early 2025, a decade of board diversity momentum reversed almost overnight. What happened—and what comes next?
8 min read
Board & governance
Inside ISS's Diversity Reversal: The Legal, Political, and Market Forces That Drove the Decision
When ISS dropped diversity from its voting guidelines, it sent shockwaves through corporate governance. But the decision wasn't sudden—it was the culmination of legal pressure, client demands, and a fundamentally changed political landscape.
10 min read
Going global
The Transatlantic Governance Divide: How US and European Board Diversity Rules Are Heading in Opposite Directions
As America retreats from board diversity requirements, Europe accelerates them. For multinational companies, the divergence creates impossible compliance puzzles—and reveals fundamentally different philosophies of corporate governance.
9 min read
Board & governance
The Great Governance Divide: Why 60% of Companies Still Combine CEO and Chairman Roles
Global regulators increasingly demand separation. Activist investors push for it. Yet most American companies resist. The debate reveals fundamental tensions about how companies should be governed.
9 min read
Board & governance
When CEOs Become Chairmen: The Power Dynamics That Make or Break Successions
The outgoing CEO staying on as Chairman seems like a smooth transition plan. In practice, it's one of the most difficult relationship dynamics in corporate governance—and frequently fails.
9 min read
Board & governance
The Lead Independent Director: Governance Safeguard or Fig Leaf?
When companies won't separate CEO and Chairman roles, they often point to their Lead Independent Director as providing adequate oversight. But does the LID model actually work—or is it governance theater?
10 min read
AI & search
When Founders Should Step Back: Five Signals That It's Time to Pass the CEO Torch
Founder-CEO transitions fail at 2-3x the rate of normal successions. Often the problem isn't finding a successor—it's founders holding on too long. Here are the signals that it's time.
9 min read
CEO & succession
After the Exit: What Successful Founders Do After Stepping Down as CEO
40% of unicorn founders are serial entrepreneurs with 10+ years of experience. When they step back from CEO, they don't disappear—they evolve. Here's how the best founders navigate their post-CEO chapter.
9 min read
CEO & succession
The Art of Coexistence: Why Gradual Founder Transitions Outperform Clean Breaks
Research shows founder succession works best when founders stay involved—but the relationship between exiting founder and new CEO is notoriously difficult. Here's how to make coexistence work.
9 min read