World politics
fromFast Company
12 hours agoWe've entered a new era of risk for the modern CEO
Most CEOs are unprepared for crises like Taiwan Strait tensions due to a narrow focus on geoeconomic risks.
The agency has confirmed what it called a "very difficult" decision to close its last remaining office on Brompton Road, bringing an end to operations that once stretched from the Home Counties to Monte Carlo.
The shift was apparent. People had a stake in the outcome, and they acted like it. Ideas flowed more freely, teams spotted and solved problems earlier, and employees took pride in identifying and implementing improvements.
By 2019, it was operating in eight Indian metros, and by August 2021, it had expanded into quick commerce, launching Dunzo Daily to deliver essentials in 19 minutes or less. Customers liked the convenience that Dunzo provided, investors loved its growth, and the phrase 'Dunzo it' became a common idiom in India akin to 'Google it' in the U.S.
I did an internal crowdsource to invite everyone to submit their ideas about how they would like to celebrate 170 years. We've played around with a lot of cinematic narratives, but this time, I felt we should probably do something a little bit more institutional to reflect the anniversary year. The trench offered a way to celebrate a cornerstone of Burberry's past, while showing its relevance across generations and geographies.
He goes, go get the umbrellas. Andrés stayed at the pan, cooking through the downpour while the crowd slowly circled back. Champagne came out, people laughed in the rain and a messy situation turned into a shared memory. That scene showed the group what the company does best.
What most executives understand intellectually-but often underestimate in practice-is that a brand doesn't live in positioning statements or buzzy marketing campaigns. A brand lives in its people. Great brands have a strong, clear, and consistent core identity and they have leaders at every level who know how to carry that identity with confidence and courage.
People recognize polish, but they respond to purpose. What the industry is starting to learn is that value is in the principles those tools represent. Technology is initially and temporarily impressive, whereas values are unforgettable.
There is a persistent anxiety in brand storytelling that runs beneath the surface of nearly every conversation about reaching international audiences: that the closer a story is to its origin, the less likely it is to find purchase somewhere else. This assumption is responsible for many an organization filing down its content's edges in pursuit of a universal appeal that, paradoxically, renders it all the less memorable.
On one side stood Dell, fighting to take his eponymous company private and rebuild it away from the merciless glare of quarterly earnings calls. On the other stood famed activist raider Carl Icahn, who aggressively peddled a proposal amounting to purely destructive financial engineering at the cost of the company - a scheme involving stock buybacks, warrants for future shares, and ruthless plans to carve up Dell's creation for quick, extractive cash.
CEOs are struggling to find their footing these days. Their role seemed clearer during Covid, when many executives rose to the challenge of becoming inspirational figures. They led their businesses while guiding their employees through a challenging shared experience. That was the case as well for many U.S. CEOs in 2020 when George Floyd's murder shocked the nation, and employees looked to their leaders for guidance and assurance.
In a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal, Jamie Dimon explained why JPMorgan Chase is spending billions more on AI. He was making a long-term bet. The same kind of leaders make when they build headquarters, factories or infrastructure that won't "pay off" this quarter but will define competitiveness for decades. It's exactly how marketers should think about and position differentiation in the eyes of the C-Suite.
Johnson said this is occurring, in part, because companies are needing to spend more money on information technology compliance and security. It comes down to larger companies being able to withstand the economic burdens of doing business. Ultimately he believes members benefit from mergers once they get accustomed to the changes in exchange for the tradeoffs such as more services, more hours that bank personnel are available and better technology.
New analysis published today (6 February 2026) reveals a structural issue that is eroding valuations, limiting exits, and trapping founders in their businesses, with around 80% of UK private companies failing to sell. The White Paper, The Owner Dependence Problem in UK SME Businesses, published by Exit Factor, highlights how excessive reliance on founders is undermining business value across the UK SME sector. The White Paper analyses businesses with annual revenues between £3m and £30m and demonstrates how owner dependence materially restricts strategic options for owners.
Small details often shape how people view a business, and one unexpected fall inside a store or office can quickly shift that perception. Many companies overlook the idea that a single misstep can lead to serious injuries, financial stress and long term reputational issues. While organisations spend resources on branding, client retention and digital visibility, they sometimes ignore basic safety features that protect customers and employees.
Traditional thought leadership is losing impact. Long reports and gated content no longer capture attention in today's zero-click world. As a result, thought leadership is entering a new phase - experiential thought leadership. Engaging formats like interactive webinars, immersive events and podcasts make ideas felt and memorable rather than just consumed. Success depends on cross-team collaboration, testing and building experiences around real audience understanding.
Because leadership today is no longer something you get. It is something you do, repeatedly, consciously, and it is often uncomfortable. Too many people still confuse leadership with promotion. A bigger role. A larger team. A seat at the table. Yet the most consistent leadership failures I observe have little to do with competence, and everything to do with behaviour.
EPS: $0.89 vs. $0.86 estimate (3.5% beat) Revenue: $4.23 billion vs. $4.34 billion estimate (in line), up 6% year-over-year Adjusted Operating Margin: 14.4%, up 290 basis points from prior year Guidance Raised: FY2026 adjusted EPS now $2.05-$2.25 (36-49% growth) Stock Reaction: Shares dropped 18.7% over the past week despite raised guidance Estée Lauder delivered a mixed quarter, beating earnings expectations while revenue met estimates.
Traditionally, leaders and managers often treat technology as a tool or capability that can help get work done more efficiently, but doesn't drastically change the nature of that work. Email, for instance, allows for faster communication. The supply chain management (SCM) system reduces supply chain costs, shortens delivery cycles, and ensures that products are delivered to customers quickly and accurately. Increasingly, however, this view is out of date. In recent years, the role of technology in shaping organizations has undergone revolutionary changes.