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In Part 1 of this series, we discussed how discussions of executive compensation can “defer the issue,” expose gaps in assumptions, and drive important, deeper discussions that clarify strategy. In this article, we explore how compensation can expose talent gaps and cultural risks. For example, a discussion about changes to the compensation plan may surface. Skills gaps needed to execute strategy A gap in differentiated recognition of top talent Cultural issues By examining three case studies, we explore how compensation conversations can uncover potential talent gaps, spark necessary workforce planning activities, and lead to a shift in talent strategy for…

With Q4 fast approaching, CEOs continue to navigate through a thick fog of challenges: global economic instability, recession fears, election year uncertainty, to name just a few, amid the constant pressure to innovate while maintaining stakeholder trust. The role is more demanding than ever, requiring a blend of visionary leadership and pragmatic decision-making, often in situations where the playbook is being rewritten on the fly. In this constantly shifting landscape, how can leaders stay agile, make informed decisions, and lead with confidence? Rupal Patel, a former CIA analyst turned CEO, has a few ideas. In the following interview, she applies…

Bolanle Williams-Olley came to the U.S. at age 17 from Nigeria, with the plan of getting her degree in computer science. Instead, trusting her gut and following her passion for math, she pivoted to eventually take on an accounting role in architecture. Now, she serves as the CFO of the prestigious New York firm, Mancini Duffy, which has been shaking up the architecture world with a patented VR design process. Jack McCullough sits down with Williams-Olley to discuss her career journey and insights—from her upbringing in Lagos, to her framework for bold leadership, to how she gives back to her…

Longtime board member Mike White, whose public company board service includes multi-year stints at Kimberly-Clark, Whirlpool and Bank of America, at present, is concerned about the cyclonic impact of workplace transformation on organizational effectiveness. “The world is changing in multiple and very unpredictable ways, from technology to culture, geopolitics, disruptive competition and media,” says the former CEO of PepsiCo and DirectTV, who shepherded that company’s $67.1 billion acquisition by AT&T in 2015. These alterations in established patterns are colliding with how people want to work and how organizations structure that work. The ramifications are evident in the ongoing war for…

CFOs acknowledged the numerous challenges they continue to face, from pricing pressures and rising capital costs to regulatory instability, political uncertainty and declining consumer spending, which led them to lower their ratings of current market conditions to 6/10 in Q3 from 6.2/10 in Q2. However, many CFOs said they are confident upcoming Fed rate cuts will remove some of these obstacles and create better conditions for businesses and consumers by next year. “Despite economic uncertainty, consumer resilience will improve with interest rate cuts,” said one CFO surveyed who expects improvement in 2025. “Lower interest rates will stimulate demand,” another person…

At a minimum, finance transformation initiatives will 1) fundamentally change how the finance function operates and 2) significantly improve performance. Yet some organizations struggle to achieve even these modest goals. CFOs who don't seek to streamline, simplify, and optimize finance to have a meaningful impact on the business will quickly find themselves out of work. To better understand what it takes to make a finance transformation successful, Katie Kuehner-Hebert spoke with Peter “Reyn” Holden, CFO of Qu, a commerce platform for quick-service and fast-casual restaurants. In the interview, the veteran finance executive discusses the benefits and pitfalls of transformation and…

From the outside, the 2017 upheaval that led to Mario and John Molina being ousted from the company their father founded seemed to happen in a matter of days, but it was actually years in the making. The company was at a critical crossroads. Founded 40 years ago, Long Beach, California-based Molina Healthcare was plagued by underperformance and stagnant growth. Questionable acquisitions and an antiquated “friends and family” approach to talent decisions were preventing progress on a key issue: adapting to the newly enacted Affordable Care Act. Dale Wolf, whose experience in the healthcare industry included four years as CEO…

Editor's note: John Maxwell will deliver the keynote address at the September 11th edition of our popular CEO Masterclass series, kicking off an exciting new year of sessions and speakers. Get involved > As global tensions rise and the post-pandemic world continues to grapple with unprecedented challenges, cultural divisions, and one of the toughest and most unpredictable presidential election cycles of our lifetimes, CEOs' role as stewards of society has never been more important. In this environment, best-selling author and leadership expert John Maxwell argues that walking the high path in leadership is not just an option, it's a necessity.…

“It's budgeting season and we have to figure out how to achieve our priorities with 30 percent less resources.” This is a story I recently heard from a C-level executive. She leads a globally significant business function at a complex $1.5 billion company. Upon further investigation, she discovered that the cost-cutting mandate was not due to poor performance; in fact, performance was strong. And her department's work is viewed as critical to the organization's success in managing expected growth. Unfortunately, this executive's situation is not uncommon. As the traditional “budget season” begins, CEOs and CFOs may want to consider the…

With Labor Day fast approaching and the holidays coming to an end, CFOs have a month to hit their third-quarter numbers while they adjust fourth-quarter forecasts and lay the groundwork for 2025 budgets (the latter involving adjustments to assumptions about the macroeconomy, political turmoil and capital markets). The reality is that finance professionals are under constant pressure. Even in the heat of summer, they are constantly aware of their enormous responsibilities. But as the saying goes, it's lonely at the top. A CFO's work and projects are not only impactful, but also usually highly confidential. As a result, today's CFOs…