CEO Advisory

Recently, I was teaching for the Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs Thought-Leadership Writing Incubator, and I selected a participant for a live story-framing exercise. This exercise typically demonstrates that The Story Framing System works across topics, but this time, it was particularly challenging. The participant had an ambitious goal: He wanted to...

Everyone’s talking about AI, and some folks are wringing their hands, wondering if it’ll spell the end of human creativity. Here’s a spoiler: It won’t. AI isn’t about elbowing out human imagination — it’s here to give it room to breathe. By taking on those time-sucking, mind-numbing tasks, AI frees...

What all leaders know: Your talent is key to your company success. But did you know that up to 1 in 4 of all adults have a disability at any given time? Some are permanent, some temporary. Some are life-long, some acquired later in life. Some are physical, some cognitive,...

Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is one of the most cherished and widely celebrated festivals in Hindu culture, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil, the arrival of prosperity, and the dawning of enlightenment. Rooted in the revered Hindu epic, “the Ramayana”, originally written by one of the greatest Hindu...

The entrepreneurial journey often appears as a linear progression, mapped out with precise strategies and projections. However, for Allen and Erin Baler, co-founders of 4Patriots, the path to building their preparedness company has been anything but conventional. Instead, their story is one of adaptability, customer-centric focus, and a deep commitment...

Unresolved childhood trauma can significantly impact leadership styles, decision-making processes, and business performance. This article explores how these influences manifest and offers strategies for executives to recognize and address them for more effective and compassionate leadership. The influence of childhood experiences extends well beyond early life, shaping how we respond...

Jeff Webb, President of the International Cheer Union and founder of Varsity Spirit, has made a strong mark on the world of cheerleading. But his impact goes far beyond the sport itself. Webb’s journey is a masterclass in how to transform a niche product into a global phenomenon, generating a...

Building a business is a long process. Many good ideas die simply because people aren’t willing to hustle—or to hustle long enough. It’s on you and your co-founder to hit the pavement, listen to your customers, and close the deals you need to achieve the market credibility required to move...

"We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the game." — Randy Pausch, Last Lecture Each of us has a unique existence. Our beginnings, experiences, and environments shape who we are. Some of us are born to wealthy parents, others to low-income families. Some get educated...

My journey from a 15-year-old out on her own with only a ninth-grade education to a successful business owner that puts millions of dollars a year into our economy each year is a story of street smarts and how to access information, support, and a survivor’s spirit. An unplanned pregnancy...