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Growing up is never easy. 2026 is no exception. Companies that succeeded this year prepared on two fronts: agile and organic growth strategies. Agile companies that can execute tactics quickly are more likely to grow in 2026. Companies that have not built agility in recent years are doomed to repeat the lessons inflation taught us in 2022. Because it incurs higher costs and reduces margins if you don't act. Here are three scenarios for turning challenges into new opportunities for growth. Lack of energy? Extra charge now Let's start with changes in energy costs. Have you introduced special fuel surcharges…

Like many CEOs, Luis Valls, co-CEO of Turtle, is accustomed to grappling with uncertainty. Over his 22-year tenure, the electrical and industrial distribution company based in Clark, New Jersey, persevered through its share of supply chain disruptions, regulatory hurdles and assorted other disruptions. What’s different for Turtle today is the speed, scale and breadth of changes hitting from all directions, injecting new risk into everything from supply chains and capital allocation to talent development. “Volatility isn’t temporary anymore—it’s structural,” says Valls, citing the impact of tariffs and geopolitical tension on his company’s supplier markets as an example. “Lead times for…

Every CFO I talk to asks some version of the same question. Will AI replace finance teams? Will AI eventually replace me? The right questions to really take seriously are: Is my financial data enough for AI to work and drive positive change for my company and team? The AI ​​market has expanded explosively. According to Lovable, an AI app building platform, 100,000 new products are built every day on its platform alone. However, relatively few of these tools provide consistent and measurable value. Vendors often ignore difficult conversations about what should be done with data in front AI can…

You spent a lot of time preparing proxy statements, refining compensation disclosures, and presenting the clearest rationale for shareholder support, but in the end, ISS or Glass Lewis issued a “no” recommendation. This isn't what companies want, but it also doesn't mean they'll lose votes. On average, negative recommendations from ISS negatively impact support by about 20%, but most still pass. Companies that receive an adverse recommendation should develop a practical response plan to assess the issues raised, confirm their accuracy, correct misconceptions where necessary, and communicate clearly with shareholders to reduce the risk of an adverse vote outcome. Below…

Most compensation committees operate at a predictable pace. That means approving performance goals at the beginning of the year, evaluating performance at the end of the year, and finalizing disclosures ahead of proxy season. Work is often completed under time pressure, with little opportunity to revisit the architecture behind decisions or test whether they work as intended. However, adding a strategic retreat can shift the focus from results to design. The premise is simple. This means designing before making decisions. Rather than discussing pay or reacting to agent feedback, compensation committees spend their time dedicated to investigating the structural factors…

Krispy Kreme is in the midst of a quiet reinvention. With a presence in more than 40 countries, the nearly 90-year-old brand has modernized its business model and embraced new technology, all while striving to maintain the warm, nostalgic glow that has always characterized its donut boxes. Sitting at the center of that transformation is Marissa Andrada, an independent director on Krispy Kreme's board of directors and chair of the compensation and nomination committee. Andrada, Chipotle's first chief human resources officer and a veteran human resources and culture executive who held senior human resources roles at Starbucks, Universal Studios, Kate…

There is nothing more exciting than earning a profit while making a positive difference in the world. Hetu Patel is the CFO of a mission-driven company that does exactly that: Thrive Market. He joins Jack McCullough to share how the membership-based online platform for healthy food balances purpose and profitability to commit to their long-term goal of making sustainable living more accessible and affordable for everyone. Patel also shares what his 12-year tenure at Amazon taught him about fostering fungible talents, making bold bets and continuously improving decision-making. Listen by clicking below. The Q&A, lightly trimmed and edited for clarity,…

After a volatile start to the year with double-digit declines in CFO confidence in the first quarter, CFO confidence stabilized in the second quarter and is trending cautiously upward. CFO Leadership's Q2 CFO Confidence Index is based on a survey of 126 finance executives conducted April 22-26 and shows that sentiment about current business conditions is roughly flat (-2%) sequentially, while expectations for the year are up by a similar amount (+2%). CFOs rate the current business situation at 5.5 out of 10 (on a scale of 1 being 'poor' and 10 being 'excellent') and expect the situation to improve…

Kieran Read is more than just a former All Black player. he is one of the greats. Over a decade, he won 127 Test caps, captained New Zealand's All Blacks team 52 times, won the Rugby World Cup twice (2011 and 2015), and was named World Rugby Player of the Year in 2013. But what struck me most about our conversation wasn't his resume, but the way he talked about leadership. I felt calm. Grounded. There is no theater. What I consistently heard was the idea that elite performance is built long before the spotlight shines on you. As Kieran…

The Lululemon Solution: Vision and Innovation vs. Product Expansion and Marketing – Corporate Director Skip to content Can mission, vision, and innovation create more value for a company than replicating marketing, cost-cutting, and financial strategies that have proven effective in the past? The current public dispute between Lululemon founder and majority shareholder Chip Wilson and the Lululemon Board of Directors raises an interesting question that board members in all industries may want to consider: Can mission, vision, and innovation create more value for a company than replicating marketing, cost-cutting, and financial strategies that have proven effective in the…