From 600+ conversations with the world’s leading thinkers.
One of the defining experiences I had with CNET, a digital media company where I was the fourth employee back in the dawn of the internet, was recognizing the power of asking for help.
My aspiration has always been to fully embrace life's offerings. Success isn't about the endpoint; it's about the journey – the growth from where I began and the rich stories gathered along the way.
You don't want to go into a negotiation thinking you will do A, B & C to get to D… you want to think about your goal – negotiation is not about reaching agreement, it's about meeting your objective as best as possible.
In my role, I assess new investments and innovations not just through financial lenses but also considering their societal and environmental impacts. This broader perspective is a key difference from the shareholder-centric approach.
What happens if your true self is not a good leader? Or obnoxious to your colleagues? Or a narcissist? What if your true self is an axe murderer? We should be talking about bringing our best values to work.
You cannot run a business without great people, who are incentivised to be great; and so, you must protect them, and pay them appropriately.
The only real competitive advantage that's durable is cost and innovation – as long as innovation happens along the trajectory that takes into account stakeholders, not just shareholders.
Throughout my career, my vision for the company has not changed – creating an institution. I find this the most challenging task, not just getting in the sales and growing year on year but creating an institution that is considered part of the family by those within it.
If someone's brain isn't at its healthiest, their decisions won't be as stellar as they could be, potentially costing them thousands, even millions, of dollars. For leaders, it's crucial to nurture the 'chief executive' part of the brain, the frontal lobes.
It's not enough to sit in our ivory towers or offices and think we have to go out and talk to people who are affected by a problem to understand what's going on, on the ground.
I know when this is coming because people at the club stop talking about the future. That is a big sign. When I see that the Arc is on the decline I start looking for a new Club!
When you have good people, the culture naturally thrives on its own. Everyone in our team is remarkable, with strong moral values, which ensures everything runs smoothly.