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Whether you agree to it or not, President Donald Trump's massive new tariff regime could promise to restructure the entire world trade, and in the process, plunging the economy into a recession. Stock markets around the world fell over the details of his plans on Wednesday, and CEOs of all industries tried to assess how changes will affect them.For many, the news was shocking, even if the president had telegraphed his intentions for years. Since Trump took office earlier this year, when I spoke to CEOs and board members, I found a common thread of expectations. “He's a deal maker.…
Sure it’s cliché to say that boards and CEOs are living through an unprecedented era of challenge and change— economic, technological, political, social. But that doesn’t make it any less true. Or difficult. Ask anyone serving on a board these days.From generative AI and cybersecurity threats to rising CEO turnover and activist investing (and an activist White House) and on and on and on, there’s literally no end to the critical issues competing for board time and attention.So what should directors do? Bill George has ideas. The legendary former chair and CEO of Medtronic (where he grew the market cap…
Is it time for corporate board members to consider placing restrictions on external business and political activities for CEOs? This may be a topic that the meeting room will discuss, given the negative impact Tesla CEO Elon Musk's political activities have had on the company's stock price.Musk was appointed as a special government employee in the Trump administration, and he drew anger from millions of Americans because of his activities related to government efficiency (DOGE). People around the world have identified Musk as the head of how the Trump administration eliminated jobs, eliminated aid programs, protests against Musk at Tesla…
APQC surveyed over 600 financial leaders in the industry and region to see how organizations use AI and support recruitment in the financial process. Our research conducted later last year revealed that AI and generator AI are transforming financial functions. The degree of recruitment varies, with some companies fully optimizing AI, while others remain in the exploratory stage. The challenges regarding lack of labor skills and integration with systems and processes are obstacles that organizations must overcome before fully realising the possibilities of AI. Important areas of AI APQC research shows that AI has made significant advances in these key…
Leading finance at a publicly held company is more than just numbers—it is about vision, leadership and building strong teams. Jack McCullough welcomes Lauren StClair, former CFO of NerdWallet, to the Secrets of Rockstar CFOs podcast to discuss how she led the personal finance technology company through its IPO while maintaining its core values of transparency and innovation. Lauren will be one of the keynote speakers at our Spring CFO Leadership Conference in Boston on June 2-4.On this podcast, recorded before Lauren left NerdWallet for another career opportunity, Lauren shares her unique journey from Stanford athlete to finance leader, highlighting…
While the West and Southwest remain prime locations for manufacturing and tech companies, the semiconductor industry is growing rapidly in several states. Chip manufacturers are investing billions in Arizona, Texas and Oregon. Meanwhile, Samsung’s growing project in Austin now ranks as one of the largest economic development deals in U.S. history.1. Texas* Samsung Doubles Down in Austin Everything is big in Texas, and Samsung is going all-in on Austin to develop one of the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturing campuses. In April 2024, the Korean company announced it is making a $45 billion investment in the region for a second fabrication plant,…
Will Trump derail the economy? perhaps. Will Trump create a golden age for American manufacturing? perhaps. Will we fall into a recession? perhaps. Will your business flourish despite the headwinds? Again, maybe.If it all sounds like Buddhism, apologise. But “maybe” might be the real thing we can say about the current wild moment. Without a doubt, there is a lot of the volatility and uncertainty that is currently brought about by Magazine Washington, which has left many people nervous.It's a good moment to remember what you know (and perhaps more than once): In all times of radical change, some companies…
Many international companies have withdrawn their cross-border list of US stock exchanges over the past few years, but few have been based in Italy. 75-year-old industrial companies like Stevanato Group were 75-year-old industrial companies like Pharma, Biotech, Life Sciences Industries' manufacturers of glass vials, syringes and other products. Stevanato was published on the New York Stock Exchange in July 2021 and raised $672 million. The CFO says the PADUA-based company built the infrastructure, assembled talent and documentation, and refined the process six months before the IPO. As many private companies wait to list on the wings (although recent market slump…
Match your vision. Mark Fields, former CEO of Ford Motor and current senior advisor at TPG Capital, said it “contains a specific lever for value creation with investors very clearly and in advance about value creation plans.” “It's really important to have a clear understanding of 'What is my mission?' ”Field also recommended a boning-down of the types of questions investors are asking and how to ask them. “You're probably considering reporting about your business or making innovative investments through new adjacencies, so think about sprinkling it on.” These kinds of positive responses tell investors that “this CEO knows not…
As boards navigate an increasingly complex business landscape, ensuring the right mix of skills and perspectives in the boardroom has never been more critical. However, a persistent challenge remains: while boards recognize the need for fresh expertise and strategic oversight, turnover remains low and outdated skills persist. What’s preventing boards from evolving at the pace of business, and how can they foster a culture of continuous renewal?To explore these pressing issues, we turned to Julie Daum, North American Board and CEO Practice Co-Leader, and George Anderson, North American Board Effectiveness Leader. In the following conversation, they unpack the key findings…