Dear Culturati Insider,
What’s the true measure of resilience? In a reality where political tensions, economic uncertainty, and workforce upheavals collide daily, it’s clear that the old playbooks no longer suffice. Leaders today need more than agility; they need smart—and supportive—strategies to build long-term resilience without burning resources. More than navigating the next crisis, it's about fostering mental resilience within teams, providing the resources they need to handle the stresses of the workplace and the political climate, including psychological safety.
The nature of leadership is changing, too. With CEO tenures shrinking, McKinsey & Company's new book, Journey of Leadership, provides a roadmap for rethinking leadership styles, reconnecting with purpose, and recalibrating emotional resilience. And as AI becomes integral to decision-making, Inc.'s "Great AI Bake-Off" reminds us that while technology accelerates performance, human oversight remains critical.
Resilience isn’t just about processes or tech either; it’s also about people. More than 61 million Americans with disabilities (CDC), and 41% of workers aged 40+ (AARP), face systemic barriers such as unemployment and discrimination. Employers can help bridge labor gaps by leveraging assistive technologies, reskilling underrepresented groups, and fostering multigenerational teams—diversity measures proven to increase business success.
To thrive today—>and tomorrow—>decision-makers are encouraged to stop relying on reactive strategies and commit to building resilience with intent. The future belongs to those who actively invest in mental, operational, and cultural resilience; leaders who understand that clarity and inclusivity aren’t just ideals, but imperatives.
Resolutely,
Myste Wylde, COO
Business, Politics, and Cultivating Resilience
MIT Sloan Management Review By Abbie Lundberg
Summary: Business leaders are navigating unprecedented challenges, including political instability, economic volatility, environmental crises, and increasing workforce pressures like "election stress." With the potential for a U.S.-China trade war looming and global supply chain risks growing, resilience is critical to success. The real options approach to supply chain planning offers a robust strategy for long-term resilience by allowing companies to make flexible, incremental investments rather than committing all resources upfront. This method prioritizes projects based on their cost and potential value, enabling companies to adapt to changing conditions while avoiding reactive boom-and-bust cycles. At the same time, fostering personal resilience within teams by balancing the demand for mental toughness with mental health support systems, creates a foundation for sustained well-being and high performance. |
The Journey of Leadership: How CEOs Learn to Lead from the Inside Out
McKinsey & Company By Dana Maor, Hans-Werner Kaas, Kurt Strovink, Ramesh Srinivasan
Summary: Today's CEOs operate under intense pressure, with the average S&P 500 CEO tenure at a record low. The Journey of Leadership: How CEOs Learn to Lead from the Inside out (Portfolio, September 10, 2024) offers an inside look at McKinsey & Company’s step-by-step approach to leadership transformation, drawing on insights from their work with 500+ CEOs globally, including those from their renowned Bower Forum. The book provides actionable strategies for leaders to reassess their style, reconnect with their core purpose, and develop the psychological and emotional resilience needed to be successful in today’s complex business climate. Leaders will learn how to reinvigorate themselves and inspire teams to achieve lasting impact. |
Which Generative AI Model Is Right for Your Business? We Tested 4 Top Providers to Find Out
Inc. By Jennifer Conrad and Ben Sherry
Summary: Selecting the right AI model is crucial for entrepreneurs leveraging AI, especially for non-technical users. Inc. tested four popular models (their free versions) in the "Great AI Bake-Off" to determine the competitive capabilities of each. These included OpenAI's GPT-4o mini, Anthropic's Claude 3.5 Sonnet, Meta's Llama 3.1-70b, and Google's Gemini 1.5 Flash. Each "mini bake-off" consisted of a real-world business task including: document summarization, CEO letter rewrites, market analysis, and elevator pitch creation. Overall, Claude excelled, winning in three categories with the most accurate and insightful outputs, particularly for summarization and pitching. However, even the best models require oversight, as they are prone to errors, highlighting the importance of clear prompts and human review. |
Amid Political Talk at Work, Employees Say They Want Resources for Psychological Safety
HR Dive By Carolyn Crist
Summary: Nearly half of employees desire resources to maintain psychological safety and productivity amidst workplace political discussions, Randstad US reports, signaling a need for leaders to prioritize clear communication and mental health support. While 64% of the 1,052 workers surveyed feel comfortable sharing thoughts, and 78% believe their political views don’t threaten job security, 20% experience productivity dips due to these conversations. Political topics, primarily around the economy and healthcare, arise more often among younger workers, and many, especially Gen X and Boomers, are unaware of their company’s political harassment policies, revealing an inconsistency that leaders can address to ensure inclusivity and professionalism in the workplace. |
Economic Equity is Both a Philanthropic and DEI Issue
Fast Company By Michelle Armstrong
Summary: Companies can tackle labor shortages by integrating assistive technologies, investing in reskilling efforts for diverse groups, and encouraging teamwork among employees of all ages. According to the CDC, over 61 million Americans live with a disability, and despite anti-discrimination laws, they face higher rates of unemployment and underemployment. A 2022 AARP survey also found that 41% of workers aged 40+ have experienced age discrimination. DEI efforts can extend beyond race to address inequities for people with disabilities, older adults, and justice-impacted individuals to create a more diverse workforce, which is, according to Gartner, 288% more likely to exceed financial targets. |
Recap of Culturati: LIVE - Beyond Code and Content: Unleashing AI's Potential Across Industries |
Moderated by Shakeel Rashed, chair of the Culturati:AI Taskforce, this session explores the transformative role of AI in reshaping leadership and organizational culture. It focuses on how AI is influencing decision-making processes in organizations, particularly from the perspective of CEOs and CHROs, and examines the challenges and opportunities that come with its integration. Panelists Charlotte Relyea, Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company, and Matthew Duncan, Head of Thought Leadership on the Future of Work at Microsoft, provide key insights. View via Culturati: On Demand where you’ll find over 100+ videos from past Culturati: LIVE and Summit sessions featuring industry experts on leadership, strategy, corporate culture, mental health, DEIB, the future of work, and more. |
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LEADERSHIP AND CULTURE
C-SUITE
EMPLOYEES
A.I. AND TECHNOLOGY
CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY
INCLUSION, DIVERSITY, EQUITY, BELONGING
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