College professors know that one of the best ways to deepen your understanding of a certain topic is to teach it to others. As a senior executive, you can put that insight to good use by training, coaching and mentoring your team in leadership skills. Not only will you be giving them an opportunity to grow and progress in their careers—and support your own succession plan—you’ll also get an opportunity […]
Companies of all sizes seek to maximize their returns to their owners and shareholders while minimizing their exposure to risks. Since these principles also apply to the investment sector, an organization’s senior leadership team (SLT) can borrow some techniques from money managers and other financial strategists. One of the basic principles of sound long-term investing is diversification: constructing a portfolio of different assets, such as stocks, bonds, real estate or […]
When interviewing job candidates, most recruiters focus on the past, asking questions like “What were your biggest accomplishments?” or “What did you learn from that experience?” But there’s another strategy that can help HR professionals determine whether a candidate will be a good fit for the organization, especially at the executive level. The technique is called behavioral interviewing and it focuses on how a candidate reacts when faced with a […]
Today, smartphones, tablets and laptops are essential communication tools for almost everyone from globetrotting CEOs to students. But the wide diversity of devices, applications and users has created a policy headache for large enterprises, small businesses, governments and educational institutions. There are myriad practical, legal, technical and financial questions to consider in a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policy. What is BYOD and how do you set up a BYOD policy? Just some […]
Lisa Thompson, Managing Director, Professional Services Executive coaching is an important part of the corporate culture in many organizations. When done effectively, coaching can boost productivity and help build new career skills. Yet, many organizations don’t extend their coaching programs into the C-suite. Coaching the CEO can be one of the best investments an organization can make, since the impact goes far beyond the C-suite—and it’s especially vital during […]
September 10, 2013 Pearson’s Esteemed Panelists Q3 2013 Julie England, Board Member, Checkpoint Systems; Board Member, Intelleflex; Board Member, Georgia O’Keeffe Museum Renee Hornbaker, CFO, Stream Energy; Director, Eastman Chemical; North Texas Chapter President, National Association of Corporate Directors Yon Jorden, Board Member and Chair of Governance Committee, Maxwell Technologies; Board Member, Methodist Health System; Former Board Member and Chair of Audit Committee, Magnetek; Former Board Member and Chair […]
Years ago, a chief financial officer was the executive responsible for a company’s financial and shareholder reporting responsibilities. Today, this financial aspect is but one small part of a much broader scope of responsibilities. CFOs have become strategy setters and enforcers who are balancing complex regulations, global competition, technology, internal talent and much more. They are expected to understand not just accounting and finance, but their company’s products, services, […]
During the recent “Great Recession,” many companies adopted a conservative operational strategy. Facing declining demand and slowing revenues, they looked inward: reducing operational costs, delaying capital investments and focusing on balance sheet management. In that challenging global environment, strong chief operating officers (COOs) and chief financial officers (CFOs) played leading roles in keeping their companies afloat. Now that economic growth has resumed, particularly in emerging markets, many companies are embarking […]
Lisa Thompson, Managing Director, Professional Services Recently, Facebook launched one of the most publicized initial public offerings in history only to fall flat on its face, perhaps due to unrealistic expectations, bad market timing or the way the offering was handled. It’s certainly a cautionary tale for any company considering going public. Last year, several expert panelists at one of Pearson Partners’ quarterly “Spotlight Breakfast” events took a close […]
For companies seeking confident, skilled leaders, women can have a tremendous impact on the bottom line. Although almost half of the workforce is composed of women, comparatively few occupy the elite jobs at the top of the corporate hierarchy. However, the percentage of women leaders in the workforce is growing, thanks in part to companies that have learned the value of women’s influence, knowledge and contributions. Pearson Partners’ Q2 […]
