Author: admin
In a world fascinated by the rapid advances in artificial intelligence, it is easy to assume that difficult and technical skills, such as coding, data analysis, and robotics, dominate the future of the job. However, the paradox is: As technology advances, soft skills (what has historically been considered secondary or “good”) are becoming the real differentiator of success. Future soft skills crisisToday, 80% of executives agree that soft skills are important, if not more important than technical skills for corporate success. However, there is a huge gap between consciousness and action. Organizations are putting billions of dollars into high-tech skills,…
Advanced Computing Chips are the engines of our digital world, and in this episode, we go behind the scenes with a true industry leader.Host Jack McCullough welcomes Shelagh Glaser, CFO of Synopsys, a company at the forefront of this technological revolution. This conversation dives into the human side of innovation: How do you empower the brilliant minds designing these complex chips? What’s the vision driving the future of computing? Shelagh offers a glimpse into the mission-critical work that shapes our world, one chip at a time.To book a demo with Planful, click here.—Listen to the podcast hereYou can follow us…
I recognize that stories about birds and bees attract more clicks than stories that tell about collective sighs, buyers. However, there are lessons that can be learned about the innate behaviour of buyers and honeybees that will help us rethink how to manage supply chain strategies in this era of unprecedented volatility and systemic risk.As a former supply chain management executive, I am the first responsibility that is often listed in the buyer's job description. Low cost of land! The second bullet is usually a variant of “see first bullet”. This quest to reduce costs pursued over decades has created…
Strong leadership shapes the future of finance, and Lauren Dillard, CFO of LiveRamp, knows exactly what it takes.In this conversation with Jack McCullough, she shares how her diverse career—working in various corporate functions, from investor relations to marketing—has influenced her approach to financial strategy and team building. Besides discussing how the CFO’s role goes beyond the numbers, Lauren reveals the key to fostering accountability, adapting to change and making bold career moves.To book a demo with Planful, click here.—Listen to the podcast hereWe have an awesome guest. Those who read regularly know that I don’t say that every single time.…
Today's organizations face a list of geopolitical headwinds, with the latest and perhaps the most powerful tariffs. Once the global trade framework is reworked, key economic relations are being redefined in a fluid and unpredictable way. Whether high tariffs with key trading partners are long-term supplies or temporary pressure points, one thing is clear. They influence business cost structure, consumer behavior and competitive positioning.CEOs are already dealing with supply chain and balance sheet disruptions, and face substantial uncertainty. There is also great concern about the long-term implications of the evolving trade framework. In these unsettling times, the board must intervene…
Board members and the general counsel have long enjoyed a close working relationship. The company’s highest-ranking legal officer provides expert legal counsel to directors to navigate complex risks. When these risks evolve into a tangled web of convoluted information, the board leans more on the GC, straining their close relationship.To flatten their learning curve on the strategic and operational risks caused by generative AI, cybersecurity and technology innovation, many boards have formed dedicated committees, task forces and ad hoc committees. As they conduct deep dives into these topics, directors are requesting voluminous business records and other documents from the GC.…
Earlier this year, the fierce battle proxy contest at Air Products ended with activist investor Mantle Ridge organizing the company's legendary CEO, Seifi Ghasemi. The results were impressive. It wasn't just for the change in leadership, but also for the way it unfolded. The 82-year-old Gasemi himself became CEO 10 years ago after Mantle Ridge founder Paul Hilal supported him in a previous proxy contest. This year, a campaign of thoughtful critique focused on addressing successive concerns resonating with shareholder bases, offering alternative strategic visions, different capital allocation priorities.The three takeaways for the board and management team are as follows:1.…
Does the current board configuration include members with the right level of artificial intelligence expertise? Does your board have members who can accurately assess the increased impact of AI on society, its risks and opportunities for operational efficiency and revenue growth? Heather Redman, director of PPL Corporation and venture capitalist specializing in trading, including AI startups, recently sat down Corporate Board Members Columnist Matthew Scott discusses why companies need to add AI expertise to their boards and how to do that. Below is an edited transcript of their conversation.Why is artificial intelligence becoming such a critical expertise that the Corporate…
After eight years of promotion within the Siemens Smart Infrastructure finance team, Saanchika Weerasinghe has a new challenge. It is the main finances of Brightly Software, a Siemens subsidiary. Bright is an acquisition, but it's not new. It was closed in 2022. However, integration into the infrastructure of corporate giants like Siemens is unfinished. Because Brightly is a smaller, more dynamic organization, the best practices and KPIs used in the Siemens smart infrastructure cannot be overlaid on top. Weerasinghe's work incorporates what he absorbed as Vice President of Financial and Financial Integration Lead in Smart Infrastructure, and applies it to…
I have known Brian Cornell for many years. He has taken big companies to the executive suites of Safeway, Michael's stores, PepsiCo and Sam's Club since we met. Today he is Target's CEO. He knows firsthand the benefits of being dedicated to excellence. Part of his process is learning to be comfortable as a teacher and student.Brian shared this story with me. “Mature leaders realize they are not perfect. I was criticized for wanting to be perfect early in my career. I wanted to make sure I was completely buttoned. One day my old boss sat me down and said,…