CEO Daily Brief with Dr. Jessica Kriegel

In today's episode: OpenAI's CTO, Mira Murati, has left the company at the same time OpenAI is becoming for-profit. That's a dangerous incentive for the world's biggest AI company. For-profit companies are legally beholden to shareholder profit before public good, and we've already seen how profit motives have pushed tech companies toward the addictive and invasive. Where do we go from here? It's...

In today's episode: Employee surveys can be incredibly valuable, but they're often just used as validation tools for executives. Results should be shared with employees--after all, it's their information. Surveying too frequently can lead to fatigue and an overabundance of noise. Once you receive the results of a survey, the next step is to take action to fix problems, not conduct more surveys. Cu...

In today's episode: The gender pay gap widened last year, for the first time in decades. Gender diversity in leadership is directly correlated with growth and results, but a lot of people still don't want to believe it. Most products are being consumed equally by men and women; it pays to have a better gender balance on back-end. More women than men tend to leave the workforce to raise children. T...

In today's episode: The era of employee-centric practices is over--now companies are cutting costs and laying people off. Large companies firing 10-20% of their workforces to meet short-term profit goals is now considered standard. Company culture is still crucial, but the conversation has to start with results and profits for companies to be interested. Culture Leaders Daily is a daily, five-minu...

In today's episode: Often, the best career planning happens in the rearview mirror. Specific plans are almost guaranteed to be derailed. But the act of planning (considering what you want and how to achieve it) is crucial for getting anywhere. Getting locked into a specific plan can be a big mistake for leaders. There's always new information to consider. Culture Leaders Daily is a daily, five-min...

In today's episode: American salaries are forecasted to go up by an average of 3.5% next year. Executives face a balancing act: paying enough to retain employees while not eating too far into the margins. Most are happy to pay for performance, but only if they see that performance. That's why they prefer to pay bonuses. The most engaging employers offer good compensation, but also think holistical...

In today's episode: Any change to an organization will face resistance for rational reasons: lack of trust, switching costs, competing commitments, and change fatigue--as well as a reflexive identity-based resistance to change. When making a change, start with a majority--even if that's just three people in a room of five. Identify grievances and address resistance head-on. If you can, turn resist...

In today's episode: PwC is using location data to track whether employees are adhering to return-to-office policies. This strategy treats employees like children, assumes they're working without integrity, and loses top talent. These tactics can often act as soft layoffs--annoying employees into quitting so that management can avoid making the tough decision to fire people. Culture Leaders Daily i...

Dan Streetman joins Dr. Jessica Kriegel to dive deep into leadership, service, and resilience. From his military background to leading one of the top cybersecurity firms, Dan shares his approach to leadership, emphasizing integrity, teamwork, and the importance of a service mindset. He reveals how personal challenges, like guiding visually impaired athletes through marathons and Ironman races, hav...

In today's episode: "Lead from the front" is good West Point advice, but need some nuance--after all, a leader doesn't always have all the answers. "Lead from the middle" means gaining insight from your team and giving them the confidence to take charge. Great leadership is often boring leadership. Humility and support aren't flashy, but they get results. Culture Leaders Daily is a daily, five-min...

In today's episode: Boeing executives have a difficult task as they negotiate with workers striking for better contracts on top of PR and safety concerns this year. Boeing's profit-focused culture over the last twenty years has come at the expense of safety, quality, and employees--which has cut into its profits. Kelly Ortberg, the new Boeing CEO, is in a good position to make things better, and i...

In today's episode: Jessica interviews Joshua Rhett Miller, Chief Investigative Reporter at Newsweek, about his cover story: Resilient Economy 'Feels Very Untrue' to Many Americans - Newsweek Despite good economic indicators, people are struggling with finances across America. The jobs numbers aren't as good as we thought, and many are burdened with debt. It's not limited to the poor and middle cl...

In today's episode: Despite the pandemic, visible leadership and honest communication allowed a travel-based company see its highest-ever engagement. Even more than constant confidence, a willingness for leaders to say "I don't know, but we'll figure it out" can build genuine trust. The cohesiveness and resilience built in a crisis leave a lasting legacy on a company. Culture Leaders Daily is a da...

In today's episode: Millennials have been dismayed about the economy for the last few decades, but they stand to gain $90 trillion by the mid-2040s as their parents age and pass away. But not everyone stands to gain from generational wealth transfer. How much does this matter for the average American? There are some systems like reverse-mortgages that trade immediate cash for future property right...

In today's episode: When employees don't feel safe to share criticisms and problems, meetings become useless. If the real conversations are happening after the meeting, then something has gone wrong. It has to be safe to say "I was wrong" in official conversations. Culture Leaders Daily is a daily, five-minute podcast for CEOs where we dissect the week's biggest news, unpack hot-button workplace t...

In today's episode: To make the most of analytics, HR must know what questions to ask. The supply of analytics should follow demand for understanding, not the other way around. A good place to start is with employee concerns. Understand what people are complaining about, then search for some factors that cause it. Once possible causes are identified, use A/B testing to pilot solutions, then use an...

In today's episode: REI is in trouble. They're well-known for the perks they offer employees, but that's not the same thing as a successful company culture. What a company offers isn't always what employees need. Putting people before profits will lead to healthier employees and ultimately better results. Today's podcast is a short clip from Jessica's interview with Dame Haight, who was an REI Dep...

In today's episode: The employee experience doesn't improve automatically; it requires leadership to take an active hand in listening and responding. Decisions aren't binary. Some solutions can partially meet employee needs and get better through iteration. Hootsuite's approach focuses on strategies, not just policies, which allows for adaptability in how the leadership team responds. Culture Lead...

In today's episode: Job applicants are using AI to optimize their resumes and get to the top of the pile. But with companies using AI at every turn--is turnabout fair play? But applicants need to find the line between honest optimization and flat-out cheating. If AI tolls are here to stay, then those who master them can get ahead. Culture Leaders Daily is a daily, five-minute podcast for CEOs wher...

Dr. Jessica Kriegel has an insightful conversation with Paulo Pisano, Chief Human Resources Officer of Booking Holdings. The discuss his journey as a leader and his perspective on people-centric leadership. Paulo shares his thoughts on the importance of cultural diversity, the balance between people and profit, and the evolving role of HR in modern business. Paulo’s life experiences have shaped hi...

Today's podcast is from Jessica's appearance on Fox News yesterday, discussing the Labor Day hotel workers strike. 10,000 hotel workers across America staged a walkout, and their complaints aren't just about pay--they're about working conditions, workload, job security and more. Only 33% of frontline workers feel like they're being heard. That's one big part of the problem. Employee ownership (the...

In today's episode: Job titles don't bring meaning -- they recognize those who bring meaning. Titles are meant to be clarifying, not confusing. People should understand the value you bring to work. Jessica's job title is changing! She is now Culture Partner's Chief Strategy Officer of Workforce and Labor. Culture Leaders Daily is a daily, five-minute podcast for CEOs where we dissect the week's bi...

In today's episode: There's unprecedented wage deflation across America; job-seekers are taking jobs for tens of thousands less than just a few months ago. Hiring managers are taking advantage of a tight job market to post jobs for lower wages. After COVID, companies overspent on labor; now, employees are getting fired as a cost-cutting measure. The market now likes seeing layoffs; they're conside...

In today's episode: Despite claims of a resilient economy and soft landing, Americans across the income spectrum are struggling. What's going on? A good economy doesn't mean a good jobs economy. Staples like jobs and houses are becoming unattainable for many young people, which drives a lack of hope. Culture Leaders Daily is a daily, five-minute podcast for CEOs where we dissect the week's biggest...

In today's episode: Nearly half of all workers say they're likely to be looking for a new job in the next year. How are some of them getting ahead? Networking, with genuine human connections is still the best bet. Some applicants are using AI to optimize their resumes, identifying keywords for specific positions. With more AI getting used in the hiring process, job-seekers who know how to leverage...