CEO Daily Brief with Dr. Jessica Kriegel

In today's episode: Aflac's Matthew Owenby works with the philosophy of hiring for life; it forces you to be careful about hiring and throughout an employee's time at the company. By treating people with dignity and respect, the result is that people are committed to the mission; it also builds the next generation of leadership within the company. He also suggests that leadership means not matchin...

In today's episode: With so much uncertainty in the economy between tariffs, AI, and the possibility of a recession, leaders aren't hiring. They're waiting and seeing. The Fed is likely to cut rates next week--it might be a little late, but they've had a tough choice with their dual mandate. Adaptability is the name of the game. We're in a constant state of change, so the muscle of adaptability is...

In today’s episode: John and Jessica discuss the public reaction to the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Regardless of his politics, Kirk's public image was about public debate, argumentation, and engagement. The ability to freely discuss and argue is one of America's greatest strengths. When we disengage, we lose the ability to innovate. John discusses his interview with Bret Stephens -- a mastercl...

In today’s episode: Oracle's stock gains are historic--especially for a tech company's that's been around for so long. The company's culture is intensely competitive--and adaptable. They continue to change, year after year. The company also makes small pivots over time, rather than massive company-wide shifts. In making small bets, they ca avoid the risk of being "too big to fail." The gains come...

In today's episode: The data is in: new research from Boston Consulting Group finds that companies that embraced flexibility are growing faster than their RTO-focused peers. That's still the case even when you adjust for company size. 70% of workers said they'd choose full flexibility, and 83% want at least some flexibility. Forced returns are leading to "quiet quitting" behavior. Companies that o...

In today’s episode: We all have favorites at work; people we prefer to work with or not. Every professional has the ability to build or break relationships. Everybody should be treated equally--given the same opportunities to practice their craft and prove their dedication. But the line between accurate beliefs and unfair biases is tricky. Sometimes, we get an accurate picture of a person's reliab...

In today’s episode: Even if the Supreme Court rules President's Trump's tariffs are illegal, the economy's in trouble. Congress will likely pass the tariffs anyway. But how long would that take? And how many ships would come from China in that time, filled with pre-tariff cargo? And who gets their money back? The midterm elections are also coming up. If the Republicans lose Congress, that changes...

In today’s episode: When you get an aircraft that's going slow enough, it stalls--something similar could be happening with the jobs market. When you look at jobs creation, our economy is at stall speed. 20 states are already in a recession; even more are stalled and in danger of falling into a recession. The jobs report now doesn't matter; it has become political, which means we've lost it as a r...

In today’s episode: There seems to be an uptick in CEOs being caught behaving badly, from stealing hats to inappropriate relationships. With great power comes great responsibility; as a CEO, you're a focus point for public attention. In a few high-profile cases, markets have been responding poorly when companies choose long-running executives to replace their CEOs. Sometimes, that decision can see...

In today’s episode: Economists at BCA say there's a 60% chance of a recession in the next 12 months. With so much uncertainty, a recession might serve as an economic cleanup--but it will come at the expense of the country's poorest. At the same time, we're dealing with a new variable--tariffs--that are creating inflation and uncertainty without being related to the job market. Lowering interest ra...

In today's episode: When you ask people what they enjoy most about their work, it's often some version of "the people." Humancore's Mike Dolen says that's going to make it hard for AI to ever fully replace managers; people value their workplace relationships. But are workplace relationships authentic, given the hierarchies and internal politics? Mike's vision is for AI to give people information t...

In today's episode: Today's jobless claims are going to be bad news whether they go up or down. Leaders are largely looking ahead, with the impact of tariffs looming on the horizon. Jobs aren't being added quickly, it's taking longer to get a job, and young people can't find jobs. Most executives are still scratching their heads about AI--but they're all looking for ways to make AI reduce ineffici...

In today’s episode: The age of corporate apologies is over; now, it's more common to double down in the face of criticism. Still, "I'm sorry" are some of a leader's most potent words. They create a powerful experience and open the door to empathy. Many leaders are too insecure to use the tool. But when we never apologize--to preserve the idea that we're always right--everybody thinks we're always...

In today's episode: Internal communications are no longer a secondary concer; they're critical to an organization's success. In these uncertain times, CEO's can't just stick to the talking points about business results. Employees expect communication on larger political and social issues. To know if you should comment on something, ask these questions: does it have a business impact? Does it affec...

In today’s episode: As AI reduces the number of entry-level jobs, young workers are in trouble. Companies need to wonder: what happens in ten years when it comes time to hire people for higher-level positions? Even if companies aren't firing employees now, AI will cause them to hire fewer employees down the line. The standout and most-connected candidates are getting more of the jobs that do exist...

In today's episode: For the last six months, people who stayed in their job experienced higher wage growth than job switchers--a dynamic we haven't seen since the Great Recession. The labor market is cooling quietly, no matter what the aggregate data says, and inflation is outgrowing wage growth. Hiring windows are opening; it may be a good time to hire for mid and high-level roles. As a CEO, this...

In today's episode: If you want customers, pay your workers enough to be them. Inflation may have cooled on paper, but people are struggling and wages aren't keeping pace. Retention and demand are linked. When workers can live on their wages, you expand your market. CEO Daily Brief is a daily, five-minute podcast for CEOs where we dissect the week's biggest news, unpack hot-button workplace trends...

In today's episode: Target's choice of new executive--its longtime COO--is raising some questions about how we think about succession. Investors aren't thrilled about the decision. When a company is in trouble, should it look to a lifelong employee or turn to an outsider who can shake things up? Investors tend to prefer fresh blood. It makes some sense--existing leadership has steered Target into...

In today's episode: Clothing is a signal; it's one of the first experiences that leaders can create for their employees. For men in power, the suit look is pretty straightforward. Deviating from that choice is often framed as bold. Women's clothing choices are scrutinized under a harsher lens; it's seen as less of a strategy than a statement. As a CEO, be intentional. Don't just dress the part--in...

In today's episode: Fear is the source of most dysfunctions in corporations. Open, honest communication solves most problems. Companies get in trouble when they start making decisions from false premises. Skillibrium's Bart Fanelli focuses on building patterns of communication and accountability. When people in an organization share information, skills, and processes, it creates an "intersection o...

In today's episode: Results come from actions. Actions are driven by belief. Beliefs are built by experiences. Current results--for better or worse--are a result of existing actions, beliefs, and experiences within the company. To change results, leaders should avoid getting caught in the "action trap." Think about the experiences you want employees to have that will drive their beliefs and action...

In today’s episode: As AI makes it harder for college grads to find entry-level jobs, there's one key way people can still differentiate themselves: lean into being human. Conversations, connections, networking, and referrals are key to differentating ourselves from the competition. When in doubt: act like a 1950s businessman (without the bigotry). CEO Daily Brief is a daily, five-minute podcast f...

In today’s episode: 212,000 women have left the workforce since the beginning of the year. That's a result of the return-to-office movement and the disproportionate burden of caregiving that falls to women. The wave of RTO mandates was poorly thought-out and fundamentally misunderstands culture and productivity. Leaders should be able to lead without micromanaging employees at their desks. Flexibl...

In today's episode: Companies have been using AI to screen applicants for years; the difference is that now applicants are using it, too. Anyone who claims to know the full impact of AI on the workforce has an agenda; the truth is, it's still an open question. College grads are having a hard time finding jobs because entry-level positions have been the easiest to automate. Applicants can only find...

In today’s episode: The news has been abuzz with coverage of AT&T CEO John Stankey's letter to employees. Jessica argues he's just saying the quiet part out loud: company loyalty is dead in both directions. John says the role of a CEO is to inspire--and the letter's preachy tone has incited anger, not results. CEO Daily Brief is a daily, five-minute podcast for CEOs where we dissect the week's big...