Mark Scott: Why it matters what your employees think of you
Rick Fezell gets it. Why else would he jump into the icy waters of Lake Michigan in the middle of January? As the new managing partner for EY’s Midwest Region, Fezell wanted to show everyone that there was another side to his personality than just being the boss. He was willing to step out of […]
Why Steve Streit keeps pushing new solutions for Green Dot customers
There is a big difference between the Green Dot Corp. Steve Streit leads today and the one he thought he would be leading when the company launched in 1999. “We thought this was a card that kids would use to buy things online because their moms and dads would never let them use their own […]
How Stefan Richter ably manages fame and his growing chain of restaurants
Stefan Richter is not one to hold back when it comes to offering an opinion on just about anything. Take his view on the fame he has gained from being a contestant on the Bravo reality TV series, “Top Chef.” “It’s the same story every day,” Richter says. “It doesn’t change. They come in and […]
How Kathy Ireland expanded her portfolio to include a $2 billion design and marketing empire
John Ireland read the notice advertising for a newspaper carrier and just had to show it to his 11-year-old daughter, Kathy. He knew exactly what her reaction would be. “He kind of gently shoved this newspaper ad under my nose,” says Kathy, flashing back to one of the defining moments of her childhood. “The ad […]
Mark Silverman made a full-court press to embrace his critics and build a better Big Ten Network
Mark Silverman has fond memories of Sept. 1, 2007, the day Big Ten Network went live to TV viewers for the first time. “We had been working nonstop to get the network ready,” Silverman says. “I started in December (2006), and most people didn’t come on board until April and May 2007. Flipping the switch, […]
How the JOBS Act has created funding opportunities for small businesses
The JOBS Act, passed in 2012, changed rules to make it easier for small businesses to secure funding from investors. “The Securities and Exchange Commission actually has three initiatives related to the JOBS Act. Crowdfunding has received most of the attention, but the SEC also amended Regulation D to allow small businesses to use general […]
Rob Dongoski: Why companies are stronger when they get their CFOs engaged
With margin pressures, cost reductions and ongoing economic uncertainty on most corporate agendas, a company’s supply chain has become a key driver of growth. The relationship between the supply chain and senior finance leaders is more important than ever as C-suite executives work to build a cost-effective operating model. Yet, in “Partnering for Performance: CFO […]
Are you and your employees ready for retirement?
Employers are trying to encourage their employees to save more for retirement, but the numbers aren’t in plan sponsors’ favor. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2010 census, 73 percent of our population will struggle financially during retirement. Why are employers so interested in employee plan participation? Discrimination testing plan sponsors must go through has […]
Jay Colker: How building a more cohesive team can exceed the sum of its parts
Not long ago, I co-facilitated a World Café discussion at which a group of 50 leaders, consultants and students in organizational development brainstormed answers to two critical questions about a multigenerational workforce: ■ How do you motivate a workforce composed of several generations? ■ How do you develop and prepare the workforce for the challenges […]
Nikolaus Kimla: Three points to consider when shaping your sales strategy
This is an important question when it comes to any opportunity in sales strategies: Is the deal worth winning? In the early days of a business, it may seem that any opportunity is worth pursuing. In the long run, that may have been true. While profit is the senior goal, so is credibility and having […]