Stan Moss isn’t your typical CEO, which may explain why Polen Capital isn’t your typical global investment management firm. Let’s start with the results the firm has seen over the past decade, or the fact that Polen has been named among the best places to work by Pensions & Investments each of the last seven years. Then, there’s […]

Teams are the lifeblood of organizations, but most teams aren’t scratching the surface of what’s possible for them. It’s surprising because most teams are made up of good people, committed to doing what’s right, and who often like and care about each other. In spite of that, for so many, being on a team isn’t […]

Teams are the lifeblood of organizations, but most teams aren’t scratching the surface of what’s possible for them. It’s surprising because most teams are made up of good people, committed to doing what’s right, and who often like and care about each other. In spite of that, for so many, being on a team isn’t […]

The Chief Procurement Officer for a large technology company was in a bind: He’d been in his role for several years and operating at an exceptional level, by all accounts. A well-liked, respected leader, he was more than overdue for a promotion and was on the short list for several positions. Here’s the problem: “I […]

There’s been a flurry of backlash about the remarks from one CEO during a recent virtual town hall in response to employees’ questions about canceled bonuses. I’ll spare you the play-by-play (you can see the video recording here), but fair to say the CEO’s response could have been better. Predictably, and understandably, the reaction online from […]

There’s been a flurry of backlash about the remarks from one CEO during a recent virtual town hall in response to employees’ questions about canceled bonuses. I’ll spare you the play-by-play (you can see the video recording here), but fair to say the CEO’s response could have been better. Predictably, and understandably, the reaction online from […]

What happens after you’ve had a long and successful corporate career? Here’s a predictable response: Join a board, relocate to a warm climate, play some golf. Not a bad way to live, and the combination may be perfect for some. But for others, after years in senior leadership, it can be tough to picture what’s […]

You’re almost at the end of what might have been one of the most important years in your entire career. After all, it isn’t often that you’re presented with nearly daily opportunities to grow, adapt, and change, and for many senior leaders, 2022 offered all that in unprecedented ways as they navigated a pending recession, […]

You’re almost at the end of what might have been one of the most important years in your entire career. After all, it isn’t often that you’re presented with nearly daily opportunities to grow, adapt, and change, and for many senior leaders, 2022 offered all that in unprecedented ways as they navigated a pending recession, […]

Something predictable happens in my work coaching and advising senior leaders. It’s the moment when they say, “I can’t believe nobody told me this,” or, “I wish I had known this earlier.” You have to wonder why these comments get raised so often by highly experienced executives. After all, these are often the leaders who are […]

All it takes is hearing the word ‘recession’ to create feelings of worry or anxiety inside many organizations. The reasons for this seem obvious on the surface. Those who were part of your company during the last recession will remember what happened before, whether that included layoffs, deep cuts, or other tough measures. Others may […]

All it takes is hearing the word ‘recession’ to create feelings of worry or anxiety inside many organizations. The reasons for this seem obvious on the surface. Those who were part of your company during the last recession will remember what happened before, whether that included layoffs, deep cuts, or other tough measures. Others may […]

Do you frequently interact with the C-suite? If so, you’ve probably heard some version of the following: C-level leaders are impatient, time-starved, and need you to get to the point quickly. They want you to appreciate the bigger picture and address the relevant enterprise challenges that they’re facing. They are sophisticated and have heard it […]

I work with senior leaders who spend a good portion of their time in meetings with other senior leaders. You’d think that because these leaders are facing similar challenges, at similar levels, communicating and influencing would be somewhat effortless between them. After all, who understands the challenges of senior leaders better than another senior leader? […]

I work with senior leaders who spend a good portion of their time in meetings with other senior leaders. You’d think that because these leaders are facing similar challenges, at similar levels, communicating and influencing would be somewhat effortless between them. After all, who understands the challenges of senior leaders better than another senior leader? […]