CEO Daily Brief with Dr. Jessica Kriegel

In today's episode: The news is in: after 80+ years, Gallup will no longer be reporting on presidential approval ratings. They weren't clear on whether this was the result of governmental pressure. We're in a hyper-politicized environment where any number will trigger accusations of partisanship, and a time when it's harder than ever to get reliable data. The bottom line: data is only as strong as...

In today's episode: CEOs can learn a lot from spiritual leader Ram Dass, and the connection between emotions, images, and preconceptions. In life, we encode certain beliefs about the world. As a leader, you don't realize how many of these preconceived notions are shaping your decisions. Ask yourself the question: what am I taking for granted in how I see the world? CEO Daily Brief with Dr. Jessica...

In today's episode: Conservative activist Robby Starbuck explains his opposition to DEI. Starbuck says he's not an anomaly--he roots his success comes from determination and a belief in excellence. He criticizes an attitude of self-victimhood and negative self-talk that holds people back in every aspect of life. CEO Daily Brief is a daily, five-minute podcast for CEOs where we dissect the week's b...

In today’s episode: The more "advanced" we get, the more we lose track of the fundamentals. The secret to success at work remains kindness and trust. Authenticity is key. You have to want to do good for others. The more we complicate and intellectualize the importance of relationships and customer experience, the less connection we actually experience. CEO Daily Brief is a daily, five-minute podca...

In today’s episode: There's an unspoken social contract between employers and employees. Leaders believe they're hiring people to achieve results; employees believe they're being hired to perform activities. But companies can successfully complete all the job descriptions as written and still fail to achieve the results they want. The underlying belief systems are mismatched. CEO Daily Brief is a...

In today’s episode: The Washington Post just laid off a huge chunk of their journalists. Owner Jeff Bezos says it's a decision driven by the data. John argues this is a consumer sentiment story at its heart--people just aren't buying the news. There's an opportunity here for independent media, which looks a lot like podcasting. But the quality of that journalism is still pretty shaky. CEO Daily Br...

In today’s episode: We've been so focused on AI's job-cutting effects--but there are strategies for using AI for actively providing value for customers. AI is different from other technological revolution. It improves efficiency rather than productivity. When you get the sales piece right with AI, it doesn't expand the market; it shuts down other companies. CEO Daily Brief is a daily, five-minute...

In today’s episode: Jessica and John break down Bad Bunny's incredible Super Bowl halftime performance. Despite the controversy, it was a joyful, moving story. It's an opportunity for thoughtful dialogue. On the business side, at least 43 million Americans speak Spanish, and Bad Bunny is the most-streamed artist in the world. It was a great show, and it was a polarizing cultural moment that genera...

In today’s episode: The core idea of "Surrender to Lead" sounds touchy-feely, but it has immediate practical applications. Culture Partners CEO Joe Terry tells the story of a time he approached a potentially-antagonistic client conversation with love and understanding. Instantly, the pressure in the room dropped, and the conversation completely turned around. The first step is to stop fighting rea...

In today's episode: A positive story -- GM CEO Mary Barra still personally responds to every letter she receives by hand. It's an important culture experience in an era where heavy layers of bureaucracy often stand between the C-suite and on-the-ground reality. Barra's practice creates an experience of authentic connection for the people around her, which has real effects on company culture down t...

In today’s episode: A new WSJ op-ed from President Trump claims "My Tariffs Have Brought America Back" Claiming we're the "hottest" country doesn't make it true. Other countries don't know what we're going to do next. It's difficult to invest intelligently in the U.S. right now, and other countries are creating contingency plans that take up time and energy We're not seeing the promised results--b...

In today's episode: Amplify Publishing Group's Naren Aryal joins Jessica to discuss the counterintuitive nature of "Surrender to Lead" -- a book which Jessica co-authored that's being published by APG. Jessica and her co-author, Joe Terry, brought vastly different experiences to the book, finding commonality in the fundamental importance of surrender. Leaders are used to willing their way to resul...

In today’s episode: There's a global story when it comes to healthcare talent: developed nations, finding that they don't have enough resources to care for their populations, are pulling talent from developing countries instead. The successful healthcare companies are the ones finding ways to remove artificial barriers between health care providers and their mission. Operating at the "belief" leve...

In today's episode: The total number of people using AI at work remains flat, while half of American workers say they're not using AI at all. There's AI stratification. Remote-capable workers, certain sectors of the economy, and leaders are using AI a lot more than others. And that gap is widening. The number one barrier to AI adoption isn't fear, but a lack of perceived usefulness. Stop measuring...

In today’s episode: President Trump's tariffs are under scrutiny at the Supreme Court, and it's not looking good for the government. But if the Court decides the tariffs are unconstitutional, what happens to the revenue? It would likely go back to the vendors who paid them--not to Americans who footed the bill for higher prices. CEO Daily Brief is a daily, five-minute podcast for CEOs where we dis...

In today’s episode: A group of Minnesota-based CEOs put out a joint statement effectively saying it's time to return to to the status quo; the massive disruption in the state is harming business. In a time of such aggressive ICE action and public protest, is this kind of apolitical message a smart move? Jessica argues a careful, business-centered statement is a good example of CEOs staying in thei...

In today’s episode: How should companies and employees handle extreme opinions and social activism that might be disruptive? CEOs are not mortal arbiters--but their job is to drive results and revenue. Companies can't speak for their employees, but employees also don't speak for the company. If an employee's behavior is disruptive to their organization's revenue, they risk losing their position in...

In today's episode: How does a leadership and culture company handle their own offsite? Like many companies, it starts with a year-in-review and scene-setting for the coming year. Where it differs: a big chunk of the first day is spent on identifying shared beliefs--the currently-held ones that are getting in the way, and the unrealized ones that are necessary for success. Every action that we tak...

In today’s episode: The global order has changed--America's allies can no longer assume that we'll stand with them, so they're thinking about alternate strategies. Even thinking about a Plan B creates chaos and instability. And when looking for new allies, countries are going to find options with lower-cost goods and lots of labor. Markets are unhappy with this situation. 2026 is likely to be a te...

In today's episode: HBO's Industry is a masterclass in representing the dangers that can arise in many high-performing workplaces: anxiety, hypercompetition, and moral erosion disguised as performance-driven behavior. People don't do what leadership says matters; they act in accordance with their beliefs, which they learn from the experiences of what gets rewarded and punished. Most people don't b...

In today’s episode: The New Hampshire House has passed a law to bring back hard labor in manufacturing as a potential punishment for certain crimes. Aside from this approaching a form of indentured servitude--Manufacturing already has an image problem. The bill exacerbates the issue. CEO Daily Brief is a daily, five-minute podcast for CEOs where we dissect the week's biggest news, unpack hot-butto...

In today's episode: Suntory's Sarah Langley explains how she views company culture as why decisions are made, not just what the company does. It's about the values that the company cares about--and how those values complements the overall strategic goals. 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 today’s episode: There's a bias toward extroversino in business, with introverts often viewed as weak. To an extent, we're all playing the part of extroverts, but it costs people different amounts of energy and authenticity. 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 you exclusive interviews wi...

In today's episode: Slack says they're rebuilding Slackbot as an AI agent that will pull data from across company systems--potentially changing the operating system of work. If AI systems can collapse the "coordination tax," then managers' jobs will start to shift from information organizers to meaning-makers. Another big change: your company's big constraint will be clarity. When information is p...

In today's episode: Jessica and Culture Partners CEO Joe Terry discuss the origins of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Surrender to Lead⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, the book they co-authored that's coming out next year. People struggle to determine what they can and cannot control--whether that's other people or even our own thoughts, feelings, and actions. You can't control anything outside yourself. They only way you can drive change...