CEO Daily Brief with Dr. Jessica Kriegel

In today's episode: Many CEOs are pausing; not too much hiring or firing as they're waiting to see what happens with inflation, AI, and tariffs. Maintaining adaptaibility is key to success in ever-changing circumstances. We're also seeing a huge need for alignment at the executive level. 212,000 women have left the workforce this year--that's a reflection of reduced flexibility and return-to-offic...

In today’s episode: 58% of workers complain they're being underutilized at work. Most salaried employees would complain about also feeling overworked, especially if made to work the full forty-hour of the workweek. We're in a society where people see what's broken--which leads to the sense that we can do more to fix it. CEO Daily Brief is a daily, five-minute podcast for CEOs where we dissect the...

In today’s episode: The firing of the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics is going to have a damaging effect on the economy. The jobs report has been looking good over the last few months--but only if you read the headlines. The BLS has been transparent about the limitations of the data. The trick is to ignore the jobs report from this month; pay attention to the report from six months ago, onc...

In today's episode: Conscious capitalism is an apolitical movement that's trying to make capitalism work for all. It has four tenets: First, a higher purpose. Without meaning, you're just trying to grab dollars. Second, stakeholder orientation: create value for all the stakeholders, including employees, shareholders, and customers. Third, conscious leadership. It's about how leaders show up and ho...

In today's episode: In order to be AI-first and people first, we need to consider how our communication, work methods, and employee talent development are changing. We all need to be constant learners--at every level of the corporate ladder. In order to succeed, leaders need to learn how to acquire employee buy-in for their visions. The key is to make employees feel like they're a part of the visi...

In today's episode: The newly-revised jobs numbers don't look good. Growth is slowing, and business investments are down. Most Americans have felt the economy is getting worse--and now we have the numbers to show for it. President Trump's pressure on the Fed is working against him; its need to appear impartial means it might take longer to lower interest rates. It's hard to get an exact idea of wh...

In today's episode: A special guest--Jessica's 8-year-old daughter--gains a working understanding of the results pyramid. In order to achieve a results (Mom buying her a hamster), Eleanor has been caught in an action trap. Really, she needs to change some of Jessica's underlying beliefs about buying a hamster. Experiences shape beliefs; beliefs drive actions, and actions produce results. CEO Daily...

In today’s episode: There's been a shift this year in the language around layoffs. Companies aren't just unapologetic about cuts, but pointing to them as accomplishments in the AI era. Transparency is a good thing. These decisions have always been happening--now that they're being made openly, employees can better prepare. Leaders need to make tough decisions for the sake of the whole organization...

In today’s episode: The position of "interim CEO" is becoming increasingly common. In a world where layoffs are always seen as a bad decision, it becomes tempting to use a "disaster CEO" to make the painful decisions. But this can hurt a sense of transparency. An interim role is that it can tell the wrong story to employees. If executive leadership is constantly changing, culture suffers. CEO Dail...

In today's episode: To understand the future of AI, Jessica has been reading AI: Unexplainable, Unpredictable, Uncontrollable by Roman Yampolskiy. Since it's not human, AI is in some ways unpredictable. That could be a bad thing, but it may also free it from predictable human impulses. We tend to operate from a place of fear and resource-hoarding, even when it can be counterproductive in modern or...

In today's episode: This month, shareholders in some of the country's largest companies voted against anti-DEI proposals. The market knows that DEI is good for business. Companies like Costco saw increased foot traffic after defending DEI policies, while companies that have abandoned DEI programs are taking hits to sales. DEI might be politically unpopular, but leaders should know that staying the...

In today’s episode: In a world of rapidly changing technology, why are some companies signing up for ten-year contracts with a single tech company? It might be a lack of accountability; the person making the decision for short-term gain won't be around to see the negative consequences for the company. The leaders who drive the strongest results are the ones who can sacrifice short-term pleasure fo...

In today’s episode: According to the Wall Street Journal, the U.S. economy is "regaining its swagger" --but, at the same time, "economic clouds" are gathering. That kind of confusion is the environment in which leaders are making decisions these days. The economy appears both good and deeply troubling. At least in part, keeping people guessing is a part of President Trump's economic strategy. CEO...

In today’s episode: We're at an inflection point for inflation; if things don't get under control soon, Americans are going to feel it. There are two different roots of inflation: one, companies need to reduce controllable costs like labor. The other is tariffs. If nothing changes, the storm is likely to hit by August as families start spending on back-to-school season. CEO Daily Brief is a daily,...

In today's episode: The AI age is here to stay; the way to succeed is to embrace it. In this fast-paced world, learning will always be a part of work. Leaders need to be honest with employees; AI will transform the workplace. According to Udemy's Greg Brown, leaders should also integrate AI in a way that helps their employees and enhances their learning, helping them keep up with the pace of chang...

In today’s episode: Older Americans are being laid off in their fifties and sixties, before they're financially or emotionally ready to ready. That's forcing many into an awkward late-stage pivot. Decades of institutional knowledge are no longer as valuable in the face of young people with access to the internet and AI. As always, agility is the new stability. CEO Daily Brief is a daily, five-minu...

In today’s episode: The problem with not taxing overtime wages: it cuts jobs. High performers collect the overtime, while low performers lose their positions. In the short-term, this is good for businesses. In the long-term, it's taking people out of the workforce, consumers out of the economy, and creating a larger population on welfare. There's danger in moving quickly without thinking through t...

In today’s episode: A lack of control over scheduling makes employees more likely to quit. Employers already know this. Millions of employees have very little leverage in the workplace right now. In certain parts of Europe, this is less true--work is less of a priority. In America, there's no clear cultural norm around work. CEO Daily Brief is a daily, five-minute podcast for CEOs where we dissect...

In today's episode: The percentage of employees who say management cares about them tends to go down after the first few months in a job. There's a mismatch between the expectations and the experince. Employers are finally being more transparent about what they're expecting from new hires--often, high productivity. There's a privilege difference in the work experience between hourly and salaried w...

In today’s episode: Manufacturers don't believe tariffs will affect their prices in the near future--but there will definitely be shortages. Companies are getting creative with finding new sources for materials, but they're looking on a years-long timescale. Tariffs are here to stay at a rational level--not 50% or higher, but the low-level tariffs that will reshape global supply chains. CEO Daily...

In today's episode: President Trump's latest tariffs on the EU and Mexico have a mix of purposes. It's important for leaders to understand those reasons, rather than panic. There are low-level reciprocal tariffs, country-specific tariffs used as leverage for negotiations, Sector-specific tariffs are meant to boost specific industries. Agility is the new stability. Companies must get used to a worl...

In this episode: A candid conversation on political hypocrisy, calling out leaders who preach small government but vote for massive spending. A personal reflection on Medicaid cuts and the real-world impact on vulnerable communities. A plug for a deeper, nonpartisan discussion on tariffs with former U.S. trade advisor Kate Kalukowitz. CEO Daily Brief is a daily, five-minute podcast for CEOs where...

In today’s episode: Collaborator vs. negotiator mindsets and how they shape conflict resolution. How trust and transparency impact negotiations and leadership decisions. The unintended effects of messaging, using anti-drug campaigns as a humorous example. CEO Daily Brief is a daily, five-minute podcast for CEOs where we dissect the week's biggest news, unpack hot-button workplace trends, and bring...

In this episode: Companies are dropping the pretense of work-life balance How transparency about demanding cultures—when paired with proper compensation—can attract the right candidates. The double standard in hourly jobs, urging employers to be honest about expectations, and paying fairly for demanding roles. CEO Daily Brief is a daily, five-minute podcast for CEOs where we dissect the week's big...

In today's episode: To achieve transformation of any kind, you need to get people on board. Precisely's Tendü Yogurtçu drives technological change by keeping technical teams aware of business challenges and vice versa, as well as always keeping the customer's perspective in mind. Cross-functional collaboration and consistent recognition help keep people inspired and connected. CEO Daily Brief is a...