Business

Leading in an open environment

February 12, 2015

“I like a battle of ideas because I think the best will win,” says David Brain, president and chief executive of EPR Properties, and a leader more interested in the truth than being right.

Jim Collins: Master of his universe

February 5, 2015
Leadership expert Jim Collins loves to research why companies succeed and fail. He takes an intense and methodical approach to everything; how many people do you know who log—and clock—their daily activities?

Culture is the key to success

January 27, 2015
After decades working as an architect and senior executive at large firms, Stan Hathaway formed strong opinions about the right and wrong way to manage people. Now he has a chance to apply what he’s learned.

Learn to reach across cultural divide

January 23, 2015

In 2008, Jason Bosch launched a business called Origin Fruit Direct. A native of South Africa, Bosch wanted to import fruit into China. Today, his company is thriving and has expanded its China operations. That’s partly because Bosch has adjusted his leadership and negotiating style to fit the Chinese culture.

eBay’s software whiz lets others lead

January 15, 2015
Pierre Omidyar, eBay’s founder, always maintained high standards as a software engineer. But early in his career, he learned that he couldn’t impose his perfectionism on others. What was his personal 80% rule?

How CEO of Zoetis learned to lead

January 13, 2015
With his mentor’s help, Juan Ramon Alaix analyzed his decision-making and grew as a leader. He received valuable input from a trusted outsider that he couldn’t get from his colleagues.

Annie’s profits from organic goodness

January 7, 2015
For John Foraker, image is everything. He has helped Annie’s Homegrown cultivate an appealing, healthy brand with consumers—and they’ve responded by buying his products with increasing fervor.

Microsoft CEO’s hard-earned wisdom

December 30, 2014
During Steve Ballmer’s 13 years as Micro­­soft’s CEO, the company’s revenues tripled and its profits doubled. But the man who replaced Bill Gates also took some criticism.

When just playing defense isn’t enough

December 17, 2014
In October 2008, Fred Tomczyk spent his first month as TD Ameritrade’s CEO under fire. He found himself running the financial services firm amid a punishing global economic crisis. But rather than retreat into survival mode, he decided to overhaul the firm’s business model.

CEO sends a message by flying coach

December 11, 2014

Dave Yost, retired CEO of AmerisourceBergen, says he could’ve arrived at the office at 8 a.m. and performed his job just fine. But he showed up at 6:30 a.m. to signal to others that he valued a full day of work. He could’ve traveled first class or used a corporate jet. But he flew coach like his employees to convey the importance of frugality—a key part of the wholesale drug distributor’s culture.