archiveAlternate Director Insider

After reading Vipin Gupta’s article, titled “How I Built a Personal Board of Directors with GenAI” (MIT Sloan Management Review, 7/21/2025), I am fascinated by the idea of reaching out to anyone I want (living or deceased), anytime I need to, and inviting them to help me tackle my biggest...

Respect isn’t just a cultural buzzword, it’s a leadership imperative. In my years as a CEO, board chair, and advisor across public, private, and nonprofit sectors, I’ve seen firsthand that the presence or absence of respect sets the tone for everything else: retention, innovation, accountability, and long-term success. Respect isn't...

In an era defined by rapid transformation, strategic partnerships are no longer just vehicles for market access - they are instruments of global reinvention. These alliances transcend geographical, culture and economic barriers, creating a symbiotic environment where startups can leverage diverse strengths and insights. The convergence of different markets and...

In my recent TEDx talk, I share insights from my leadership journey across multiple countries and cultures on how we can turn passive listeners into active contributors.  Have you ever asked someone to do something — and they just… didn’t?  At work: “Let’s call every customer and ask about their...

From Baseball Fields to Blacktop: The Early Drive of a Builder Timothy Lubniewski grew up on Staten Island with a love for baseball and a head for business. By age 23, while most of his peers were still finding their footing, he was launching his first construction company. What started...

The Story Behind Rakhi Butani’s Passions in Beauty, Astrology, and Cooking Some people discover their passions early. Others find them through life’s twists and turns. For Rakhi Butani, it’s been a bit of both. Born in Flushing, New York, and raised in Old Bridge, New Jersey, Rakhi grew up surrounded...

At Uber, the adoption of generative AI is not just a matter of strategy or innovation—it’s a reflection of culture. For Andrea Monllau, Senior Manager of Americas Strategy for Uber, the shift to embracing Gen AI has been as much about people as it has been about platforms. Speaking from...

In light of the rising global tensions and conflicts, it's interesting to see how the military budget of the United States stands out at a whopping $997 billion. That's nearly four times larger than China's budget, which is around $314 billion. Just to put that into perspective, the U.S. military...

In the age of endless digital noise, attention has become one of the world’s most valuable resources—and live experiences are quickly becoming the most effective way to earn it. Whether you're a sports franchise, a concert promoter, or a global brand, the competitive edge is no longer just in your...

As an entrepreneur or business leader, you're often told to avoid failure, to chase success as if missteps are signs of weakness. But the truth is just the opposite. Failure isn’t just part of the journey—it is the journey. It’s consistent, inevitable, and deeply necessary for growth. You can’t build...