Denise Yohn's Recent LinkedIn Posts

Microsoft's 2025 Work Trend Index envisions "frontier firms" that blend human judgment with AI—the prospect is exciting but I'm concerned we're missing something critical. The shift from org charts to dynamic "work charts" is brilliant. Assemble teams for specific goals, then reconfigure for what's next. This breaks the destructive cycle of hiring sprees and mass layoffs. Same with evolving Human Resources to "Intelligence Resources"—it's a natural and needed change. But calling AI agents "digital colleagues" who deserve to be "treated like any team member"? That's where I draw the line. Words matter. AI agents don't need respect, dignity, or psychological safety. They don't mentor colleagues or have creative breakthroughs. When we blur these lines, we risk devaluing what makes human contribution irreplaceable. The future belongs to organizations that harness AI's power while amplifying distinctly human capabilities: wisdom, empathy, and the creative spark that transforms data into breakthrough strategy. Check out my full analysis and let me know: What's your experience with AI integration? How are you maintaining human-centricity while embracing technology? #FutureOfWork #AIinTheWorkplace #Leadership #HumanCenteredLeadership #Strategy #BrandCulture

I often come away from speaking engagements inspired by the folks I speak to, but today was particularly special. Thanks to Mark W. Flynn and Diane Johnson Flynn for the opportunity to meet such passionate, purposeful leaders at the Campbell Trophy Summit at Stanford University with National Football Foundation !

84% of leaders say long-term brand building is very important to business success. Only 36% say their organizations are effective at it. As you consider your 2026 priorities, this gap should stay top of mind. New research from Harvard Business Review Analytics reveals why: most organizations still treat brand building as a marketing function rather than what it actually is—an organizational imperative that must be operationalized across every aspect of the business. The organizations that get this right don't just align their culture with their brand strategy. They integrate them completely. Brand strategy and business strategy become inseparable. In my latest Brand + Culture article, I break down: → Why the "brand-as-business management" approach is essential → The two biggest obstacles to effective brand building (leadership priorities and misaligned culture) → What the 36% who succeed do differently → How to start closing the gap in 2026 Give it a read and let me know how you're going to "mind the gap!" #BrandStrategy #OrganizationalCulture #Leadership #FUSION #brand #culture #BrandLeadership #BrandAsBusiness

For years, I’ve advocated for the integration of brand identity and organizational culture. It’s what unleashes brand power, competitive advantage, and significant value in companies. Today I’m sharing about a different kind of *integration*: personal life and professional life. This integration is just as valuable—it’s essential. I know this because I’ve been on a journey of integrating my personal and professional lives for awhile now and I’ve experienced greater purpose, peace, and power as I’ve tried to show up with authenticity and wholeness in everything I do. Instead of working on discrete projects, keeping separate sets of friends, showing up one way in some circumstances and another way in others, I’m trying to weave a single thread through all aspects of my life. It may look different depending on the context, but it's all about helping leaders embrace who they are, fulfill what they're called to do, and live out what matters most. I’m guessing it might be off-putting to some as I no longer keep my faith to myself; but I hope it hasn’t been confusing and I definitely want to be encouraging. So, I invite you to join me. Integrate your personal passions and your professional pursuits. Take some risks and let people know who you *really* are. Embrace a single—singular—purpose and set of core values for your entire life. And if this resonates with you and you would like to connect with me on a more personal level, please check out my new Substack, “Called to be…” (link in Comments). It’s for people of faith who—like me—are learning to love themselves as much as God does. (photo: ComePlum)

Grateful to everyone who participated in the 2025 Faith & Work Summit, hosted by the org Bay Area Center for Faith, Work & Tech that Paul Taylor and I co-founded! What a terrific day of meaningful connections, inspiring stories, wise teachings, and lots of fun! Thanks to our mainstage voices Stacy Brown-Philpot James Kelly Caitlin Rhodes-Karahadian Andy Yang Justin Lester M.A, D.Min Joanna W. Ng Tomas Pfister Jess Munro @hannah chu Ben Chelf Capella Kerst, Ph.D. William Norvell Dr. Patrick Butsapu -- all our breakout session & meet-up leaders including Neil Ahlsten Julie Barrios Cammie Dunaway Cheri Devlin -- expo hall partners & sponsors! (I wish I could name you all!😏) And a big shout-out to our amazing team who made it happen Katrina Macaraeg Leilani Pecher-Reyes Danae Dost , all the Summit Leads, and crew of volunteers! I feel so blessed!! All glory to God! #faithworktechsummit

Didn't think Tom Cruise could top the shirtless volleyball scene in Top Gun. 🫨 His Governors Award speech proved me wrong. For twelve minutes, without notes, he delivered something far more impressive: a masterclass in grace and gratitude. What struck me most wasn't only the emotional authenticity—it was how he used his moment. He spent over half his speech celebrating others: his co-recipients, collaborators, and colleagues who've shaped his journey. Each acknowledgment was personal, specific, and genuine. This wasn't the typical awards speech formula. It was something rarer: a demonstration of true leadership through humility. Three takeaways that stayed with me: 👉 Passion is contagious. His love for filmmaking wasn't just stated—it radiated through every word. 👉 Preparation enables spontaneity. Speaking from the heart for exactly twelve minutes doesn't happen by accident. That kind of polish requires deep intention. 👉 Greatness elevates others. The most accomplished person in the room spent his moment in the spotlight turning it around on everyone else. I'd previously read about Cruise's legendary work ethic—doing his own stunts, showing up for every interview, connecting with everyone from executives to crew members. Now I understand his commitment is not just about working hard. It's about caring deeply. Turns out the most inspiring performances happen off the big screen.

What's the difference between your *brand* and your *reputation*? The RepTrak Company latest Global RepTrak report nails it: ➡️ "Brand and reputation serve as the twin pillars of a company's public persona. They’re inextricably woven into an organization's identity but have a distinct individual purpose. The essence of a brand lies in its identity that a company projects out to the world. It's an internal manifestation of an organization's vision, values, personality, and communication. In contrast, reputation is the external reflection of how effectively a company lives up to its brand promise in the eyes of stakeholders." This distinction is powerful 🧨 —and it clarifies why I’ve always pushed back on the popular idea that “your brand is what people say about you when you’re not in the room.” That’s not brand. That’s reputation. ‼️ Your brand isn’t passive. It’s not just perception—it’s what you do and how you do it. It’s the expression -- internal AND external -- of your purpose, values, and culture in action. If you want a strong reputation, don’t start by chasing external approval. Start by building a brand-led culture inside your organization—one that consistently delivers on your promises. Get that right, and the outside perception will follow. Do you see the difference? And are you leading with brand—or chasing reputation? #brandleadership #brandstrategy #culturedriven #reputationmanagement #leadership

Will Guidara, the driving force behind top-rated restaurants including Eleven Madison Park and the hit TV series The Bear, shared his secrets to success in an inspiring keynote about offering “unreasonable hospitality” at Medallia Experience ’25. Here are some of my favorite quotes: 1.     Most don't say their biggest goals out loud for fear of letting others and themselves down -- but if we don't say them, it's very unlikely they will come true. 2.     The smallest enhancements in the least likely touchpoints make the greatest impact. 3.     Be present -- choose to care about the one person in front of you. 4.     People have this flawed belief that the transactional can’t be connective. 5.     Being unreasonable calls you to greatness! #Hospitality #CX #Inspiration #Unreasonable #Experience25

We often talk about leadership in terms of strategy, execution, and performance. But the leaders who create real and lasting impact draw from something deeper: their spiritual values. In the following short excerpt from the new online course I developed with Steven Morris, I explain why values like compassion, humility, integrity, and hope aren’t “soft skills”—they’re core leadership capabilities that shape clarity, culture, and results. And I offer a preview of what you can learn in the course. Research backs up the connection between spirituality and leadership effectiveness. Organizations led by spiritually grounded leaders see higher trust, stronger collaboration, greater resilience, and improved performance outcomes. People thrive when their leaders lead from conviction, not convenience—and when values are lived, not laminated. If you’re curious about how to integrate your spiritual values into the way you lead, this course is designed for you. ***Leading with Integrity and Purpose: Unlocking Spiritual Wisdom for Real-World Impact*** is now available exclusively on the Growth Institute platform. Links in comments. #LeadershipDevelopment #SpiritualLeadership #ValuesBasedLeadership #PurposeDrivenLeadership #OrganizationalCulture #FaithAndWork

What if the next frontier of leadership isn’t strategic—but spiritual? For years, I’ve written about aligning brand and culture, and integrating CX + EX—how what we promise externally to customers must be experienced internally by employees. Now I’m convinced: the same principle applies to leadership itself. When our inner world (purpose, values, beliefs) aligns with our outer world (behaviors, communication, systems), we create trust, belonging, and sustainable performance. In my latest article, I explore how spiritual leadership—rooted in compassion, humility, and purpose—translates into measurable organizational results. Leaders who operationalize spiritual values don’t just inspire; they build cultures of belonging and purpose that drive engagement, innovation, and productivity. If this resonates with you, check out Leading with Integrity and Purpose: Unlocking Spiritual Wisdom for Real-World Impact—the new online course I co-developed with Steven Morris exclusively for the Growth Institute platform. (Link in comments.) Because the future of leadership isn’t just strategic—it’s spiritual. #SpiritualLeadership #FaithAtWork #ValuesDrivenLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #OrganizationalCulture #WorkplaceBelonging #IntegrityAndPurpose #OnlineCourse

The 2026 World Economic Forum--aka Davos--is on! It centers on five interconnected challenges, including one particularly close to my heart: **Investing in People**—specifically, human capital development and good jobs that build a resilient society. But here's the uncomfortable truth: we've been having this conversation for years. Will we finally move from dialogue to delivery? This year feels different. Larry Fink, now WEF's interim co-chair, has acknowledged the Forum "feels out of step with the moment: elites in an age of populism." That candor is exactly what we need. I'm cautiously hopeful because in 2018 as Blackrock’s CEO, Fink wrote a letter to CEOs that called for stakeholder capitalism and purpose-driven leadership. He wrote that "without a sense of purpose, no company, either public or private, can achieve its full potential." Now he has the platform to follow through. But to advance from conversation to action, three shifts must happen: First, evolve the conversation beyond technology to include **diversity**. Yes, AI is transforming work. But leadership requires more than tech savviness—it must embrace the lived reality of increasingly diverse teams across generations, cultures, geographies, and identities. Our workplaces reflect a complexity that most leaders weren't trained to navigate. We need leaders who can build belonging, harness different perspectives, and create environments where everyone can contribute their best work. The technology conversation matters, but the human conversation matters more. Second, prioritize developing **purpose and values**, not only skills.  The WEF reports that one in four jobs will change by 2030.  But people don't just need new technical competencies—they need to understand why their work matters. Leaders must help people develop the ability not only to perform new tasks but also to align on values. Purpose and values are the foundation of resilience. Third, measure **people outcomes** in addition to jobs. Creating good jobs is necessary but insufficient. Are these jobs accessible, dignified, financially secure?  Do they promote people’s health and growth? If we celebrate job creation while overlooking precarious employment, we're measuring the wrong things. My challenge to Davos leaders: Show us your implementation plan. Demonstrate real pathways for workers. Measure what matters to people, not just shareholders. And to Larry Fink: You've championed stakeholder capitalism for years. This is your moment to prove Davos can catalyze the inclusive prosperity that changes lives. Are we ready to move beyond dialogue? #Davos #WEF #WorldEconomicForum #Leadership #InvestingInPeople

🤔 What makes customers fall in love with your product? Hint: It’s not always the flashiest feature. A recent WIRED article (link in comments) reminds us that when it comes to cars, it’s not the latest tech that wins people over—it’s the cup holders. Yes, cup holders. These seemingly small design choices are what turn a good experience into a lovable one. They show that a company is paying attention, thinking like the customer, and caring about the details that truly matter in daily life. This is the heart of great customer experience design: ❤️ It connects emotionally—even viscerally—with your customers. ➡️ It sets your brand apart in a crowded market. 🔐 It builds trust by showing that you sweat the small stuff. When you cultivate customer empathy across your organization, you don’t just satisfy customers—you earn their love and loyalty. And that translates into differentiation, pricing power, and long-term growth. Don’t underestimate the power of the “cup holders” in your own business. Great brands sweat the small stuff! #CX #CustomerEmpathy #CustomerLove #SmallDetailsBigImpact #WGBD

✨NEW KEYNOTE on future-proofing your business by investing in what AI can’t replace✨ IBM just laid off 8,000 employees—primarily from their HR department. And they’re not alone. Even Workday, a company that makes HR software, recently let go nearly 10% of its workforce. There’s a clear signal here: some companies are choosing to replace people with platforms, especially in roles tied to people management. But here’s the truth—technology can’t lead culture. AI can’t build trust. Algorithms can’t inspire belonging. That’s why I’ve developed a new keynote: “Future-Proof Your Business: Human-Centered Leadership in the Age of AI” In it, I help leaders: 🔹 Integrate employee and customer experience to drive growth 🔹 Break down silos and co-create culture and people strategies across the enterprise 🔹 Cultivate empathy as a core operational strength—not a soft skill This keynote isn’t about resisting AI—it’s about redefining what only humans can do. In a world increasingly powered by tech, your people strategy is what will set you apart. If you're leading through change, navigating uncertainty, or wondering how to stay relevant in an AI-enabled world—this keynote is for you. Book me today and learn how & why to with intention, not automation. http://deniseleeyohn.com #FutureOfWork #PeopleStrategy #HumanCenteredLeadership #EmployeeExperience #BusinessStrategy #AIandHR #DeniseLeeYohn #KeynoteSpeaker

Thanks to Jaime Jordan , Emily Driskill , and the @Federal Home Loan Bank Dallas team for the warm welcome and terrific experience of speaking to your community about "From the Inside Out: Cultivating Culture Through Values-Based Leadership"!! And thanks to Peyton Schelp and the Executive Speakers Bureau for setting up the engagement!

⁉️What does it mean to lead people well in an AI-enabled world? 📣I just introduced a keynote on this topic because I believe this is becoming one of the most pressing issues for every leader I work with. The question isn’t whether we’ll use AI in HR and people management—we already are. The real challenge is making sure we don’t lose what makes organizations human in the process. Because no matter how advanced the tech, AI can’t build trust. Platforms can’t create culture. Algorithms don’t inspire belonging. In my latest article, I share 3 strategic shifts every forward-thinking leader must make—drawn from Deloitte research, real-world case studies, and what I’ve seen in my own work building cultures that last. 👉 Read the full piece below and let me know your insights on human-centered leadership. #leadership #employeeexperience #futureofwork #AI #culturetransformation #humancenteredleadership

Most CX initiatives fail — not because leaders lack data or tech, but because they overlook the **human** side of change. In this new article, I break down why mastering change management, collaboration, and communication is now essential for CX success. ❓What’s the biggest internal barrier you’ve faced when driving CX change? Please share your experience in the comments!

excited to hear from Lisa Su Eric Topol, MD Jon Chu Daniela Amodei and other pioneers at WIRED Big Interview! mic drop report coming up... #wiredbiginterview

If you’re on LinkedIn today, there can only be three possible reasons: 1.     You’re hiding out from your family after too much holiday together-ness 🫨 2.     You’re trying to get to in-box zero by the end of the year 🫤 3.     You’re seriously committed to your professional development 🤩 Good luck with #1 and #2! 😉 If #3 is your answer, then I applaud you for your dedication and want to support your growth and learning by recommending some resources: ➡️ To set up your organization for success, try my LinkedIn Learning course, Brand Leadership: Integrating Brand and Culture: https://lnkd.in/ekD6tjE6. ➡️ To sharpen your personal and organizational leadership, access nearly 50 bite-sized videos that I’ve shared through SmartBrief on Leadership: https://lnkd.in/g9bkVpEq ➡️ To unleash your whole, true, and unique self as a leader, check out the next Growth Institute course I just launched with Steven Morris, Leading with Integrity and Purpose: Unlocking Spiritual Wisdom for Real-World Impact. Here is a one-pager with the course description and QR codes to sign-up: https://lnkd.in/gKi2SbQ2 Hope these are helpful! Feel free to share other resources in the comments. Here’s to making 2026 the best year ever! #linkedinlearninginstructor #linkedinlearning #alwaysbelearning #FUSION #brand #culture #BrandLeadership #SpiritualLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #purpose #FaithAndWork #spirituality #authenticity

Amazon has announced a 225,000-square-foot mega-store to compete with Walmart and Costco. No doubt, the technology will be world-class. But that's not what worries me. Retail is a people business. And Amazon's culture—brilliant for tech and logistics—has struggled to translate its culture to frontline workers. Meanwhile, #Walmart cut turnover by 10% and made Fortune's Best Companies list for the first time ever, and #Costco retains 90% of employees after year one. Can #Amazon win at physical retail without fixing its culture first? Here’s my latest Brand+Culture issue. #EmployeeExperience #RetailStrategy #OrganizationalCulture #CustomerExperience

😟 Employee engagement has flatlined. 😧 Only 39% of people say that anyone at work seems to care about them as a person. 😠 Employees are pressuring their leaders to take action in response to ICE-related incidents. Corporate America is suffering through the "Great Disconnection"—employees want and expect more from their leaders. But, traditional culture-building approaches—from DEI programs to greenwashing and even EX initiatives—haven't just failed, they've backfired spectacularly. Now more than ever, leaders must take a different approach. An approach grounded in wisdom and empathy.  Leadership that taps into the universal human desire for purpose, authenticity, and connection to something greater. More than strategic thinking or emotional intelligence, leaders need "spiritual intelligence"—the ability to access wisdom, demonstrate moral clarity, and inspire others toward meaningful, unifying, transcendent goals. Research confirms this. Organizations with spiritually grounded leadership show 27% higher employee engagement, 40% lower turnover, and significantly better crisis performance. Why? Because spiritual depth creates psychological safety, authentic belonging, and unshakeable purpose. Learn how to lead with spiritual leadership…and directly impact workplace performance and your bottom line. Check out “Leading with Integrity and Purpose: Unlocking Spiritual Wisdom for Real-World Impact," an online Growth Institute course by my colleague Steven Morris and me (look for the link in the Comments)—or reach out to book a custom workshop with us for you and your team. #SpiritualLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #EmployeeEngagement #EX #FaithAndWork #spirituality #authenticity

The tech layoffs that started earlier this year aren't slowing down—they're intensifying. And now comes the announcement of the U.S. Tech Force: a push to recruit 1,000 engineers to modernize government technology. The timing is striking. This has created a moment. Many people are rethinking their next job—wondering what kind of work they should do. But, in fact, we're being handed an invitation to ask much bigger questions. Like: What am I actually *made* to do? Not what *can* I do. Not just what *pays* the bills. But what sits at the intersection of three questions: What do you *love* to do. What are you *good* at. What does the world *need*. At that intersection is vocation. And if you can find work that fulfills all three criteria, you're doing more than building a career—you're living into your calling. Because if you love something but you're not good at it, it's a hobby. If you're good at something but hate doing it, it's drudgery. And if the world doesn't need what you're offering, the market will tell you pretty quickly. Here's what I know after years of speaking on leadership and helping people navigate faith, work, and calling: being able to pursue opportunities that fulfill all three criteria is a *privilege*. Sometimes you have to sacrifice one—or even two—for a season. You take the job that pays the bills but doesn't light you up. You develop skills in an area the world needs, even if it's not your passion. You wait. The problem isn't in the waiting. The problem is in forgetting to ask the questions at all. Right now, with so many people reassessing their careers—whether by choice or by layoff—the question shouldn’t just be "What's next?" Let’s ask, "What am I being called toward?" And here’s what matters just as much: Your work is important. The problems you solve, the teams you build, the code you write—it all matters. But you are not your job. Your identity and your worth can't be built on something as fragile as a LinkedIn title or a prize assignment or even a dream role (I can tell you a personal story about that one sometime over drinks!) Ground yourself in something more eternal and secure than the next opportunity. Because when the market shifts again (and it will), when the layoffs continue (and they might), when programs get reimagined or disbanded—you need to know who you are beyond what you do. So whether you're considering the Tech Force, navigating a layoff, or just trying to figure out what's next: pause. Ask the three questions. Be honest about your season. And remember that your work is important, but you are not your work.

"There is a correlation between companies that are great places to work and companies that are great to do business with." -- •Shep Hyken Yes!! And wow -- what a way to start the week! Thanks so much, Shep, for relaying the key points my keynote at Medallia Experience in your Forbes article, When Culture Elevates Customer Experience: The Power Of Fusion. https://lnkd.in/eP6QRFd8 I appreciate the endorsement from someone who has inspired and taught me so much! #Experience2025 #CX #EX #Culture #FUSION

➡️ My super-smart computational biologist husband Christopher Yohn, Ph.D. made these cool match books for his fractional strategy & management firm CompBio Bridge! quite creative for a geeky scientist, right?! (He said I could call him that 😉 !)

HBO Max --> Max --> HBO Max = huge waste of money 🫨 !! Why do so many companies think that simply changing their name will produce anything more than confusion, disconnection, and possibly even backlash?! And why do shareholders tolerate such waste of precious marketing dollars?! ➡️ Check out the links in the comments to access some of my thinking on when you should rebrand, how to do it, and effective & ineffective rebrands.

Two-thirds of businesspeople say they trust AI more than they trust their leaders!!! If that doesn’t prove that business leaders have a trust crisis, I don’t know what does. What’s more, two out of three employees have low confidence in the quality of leadership overall, and only 42% view their own leaders as trusted. It’s not surprising, though. Given the disruptive nature of AI, volatility of geopolitics, and depth of socioeconomic divisions, it’s no wonder leaders struggle to show up well. But if your people don’t trust you, they won’t contribute their best. In a world of continuous disruption and diminished trust, here are three actions you can take to inspire people’s confidence and best performance: 1. Lead from the inside out—start with honest self-reflection. Great leadership is an inside-out craft. Before you dive into strategy or work on operations, ask yourself if you are showing up with humility? Do you acknowledge your own personal weaknesses as well as significant organizational challenges? Are you demonstrating trust first? When people see a real person wrestling with tough realities and still choosing transparency and courage, they tend to trust and lean in. As FranklinCovey CEO Paul Walker puts it, as CEO you have “the biggest bullhorn”—and you are either amplifying or eroding trust every day. 2. Actively see change through your team's eyes. Most employees don't experience change as exciting—at best, it’s considered inconvenient; at worst, it’s devastating and destructive. You may not be able to remove the fear and risks, but seek to remove the feeling that change is happening to people instead of with them. That means sitting down with your teams and asking: What keeps you up at night? What will you need from me to make the most of this?  And enroll them to work as influential culture-builders and creative problem-solvers. 3. Combine high demand with high care. A FranklinCovey study of 4,000 professionals found that the highest-rated leaders for team engagement were those who demanded both a lot from their teams *and* cared about them to a high degree—delivering a 3× lift in top-tier engagement. Nearly all leaders who demonstrated this combination were rated as able to inspire willing cooperation or creative excitement. So, you don’t need to lower your expectations, but you do need to support your people while inspiring them to rise to the occasion. Trust isn't built in a single gesture. It's built and rebuilt daily—through honesty, empathy, and the courage to act on what you hear. (Sources: FranklinCovey Institute’s 2025 AI General Attitudes Survey & "7 Questions I Ask Myself In Times Of Disruption" by Paul Walker.)

The new Reese’s+Oreo collaboration is truly impressive! 🤩 A brilliant example of *co-opetition* in action. Instead of battling it out, two iconic brands have opted to join forces, delivering not one, but two ‼️ innovative twists that reinvigorate the snack category—especially amid heightened pressure on the industry! In light of Mondelēz International’s unsuccessful bid to acquire The Hershey Company late last year, this collaboration proves that even when a big deal falls through, creativity, strategy, and bold thinking can foster something truly exciting. And yes—the snack lover in me is already counting down the days until I get a taste! 😋

Thought I'd share a personal word of encouragement today: In a world of constant comparison, it's easy to feel behind. But everyone’s journey is shaped by unseen histories, quiet struggles, and unique opportunities. Instead of measuring your progress and potential against someone else's highlight reel, stay focused on your path. Growth takes time. Keep going. #Leadership #PersonalGrowth #Perspective #FaithfulWork #PurposeDriven

➡️ Would you like to inject some inspiration and outside perspective into your next all-staff meeting? ➡️Do you want to whet your people's appetite for building a truly customer-centric culture? ➡️How about igniting their imagination for achieving brand leadership? ➡️Are your leaders looking for quick insights to lift the performance of their teams? ➡️Are you interested in an "ask-me-anything" session about my books, What Great Brands Do OR FUSION: How Integrating Brand & Culture Powers the World's Greatest Companies? Book me for a 15-minute video session -- live or on demand -- through ThinkersOne!! (Link in comments)

Summer is one of my favorite times to hit pause, reflect, and sharpen the saw. It’s the perfect season for reading 📚 —not just for fun (though that’s important, too!), but for the kind of deep thinking that too often gets pushed aside during busier seasons. Whether you're leading an organization, exploring personal growth, or simply looking to expand your worldview, here are some of my favorite books that I’ve read in the last year, organized by theme. 📈 Business ➡️ Status and Culture by W. David Marx – A fascinating exploration of how our desire for social rank shapes culture. If you care about your personal, company, or brand influence, this is a must-read. ➡️ The Brand IDEA by Nathalie Laidler-Kylander and Julia Shepard Stenzel – A framework for non-profit leaders on building brands rooted in integrity and purpose. 🌱 Personal Development ➡️ Being Wrong by Kathryn Schulz – A much-needed call for humility. It challenges us to embrace the productive tension of uncertainty. ➡️ How to Know a Person by David Brooks – A guide to seeing others more fully and fostering deeper connection. Essential reading in a distracted, transactional world. 📚 Fiction ➡️ Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman – A quirky and heartwarming reminder that becoming who we are is often the hardest and greatest journey. ➡️ The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See – A moving story of identity, longing, and love that spoke to me, particularly as an Asian American who has struggled to find my place in the world. 🙏 Christian Faith ➡️ Faith & Work by Missy Wallace and Lauren Gill – A practical guide for church and non-profit leaders aiming to equip their people to live integrated, meaningful lives at the intersection of calling and career. ➡️ Timothy Keller: His Spiritual and Intellectual Formation by Collin Hansen – A thoughtful reflection on the life and theology of a man who has profoundly shaped how I think about faith, vocation, and the gospel. What books do you recommend as summer reads? Drop your recommendations in the comments. #SummerReading #Leadership #PersonalDevelopment #BestBooks

Did you know there's a shadow committee evaluating every B2B deal you're trying to close—and you've never even spoken to them?! Research (https://lnkd.in/g_nsV2cH) from the B2B Institute, NewtonX, and Bain & Company reveals a fascinating blind spot: "Hidden Buyers" wield nearly equal decision-making power as your primary sales contacts (49% vs. 51%)—but they operate with completely different priorities. These key influencers may be from procurement, finance, or legal. Here's the cognitive disconnect that may be costing you deals: ➡️ Your primary buyer thinks like an engineer: Does this solve our problem? Can we implement it? What's the ROI? ➡️ Hidden Buyers think like guardians: Can we trust this company? What's their reputation? Are they legitimate players in our industry? This creates what I call the "feature-trust gap." While you're perfecting your product demo, procurement is Googling your company's credibility. While you're calculating ROI, legal is assessing your long-term viability. That means, if you're relying on product features and innovation alone to make the sale, you might lose out.  In B2B, emotional decision-making might be more critical than in B2C, not less. Consider the psychology: ✔️ Higher financial stakes amplify the need for confidence ✔️ Professional reputations are on the line—no one wants to champion a vendor that fails ✔️ Complex buying processes create more friction points where trust can erode This validates a principle I've long advocated: **great brands avoid selling products.** They don’t promote features and tout technologies without linking them to emotional values. They cultivate deep trust that travels through organizational hierarchies, reaching stakeholders you'll never meet but who hold veto power over your success. The strategic implication isn't to abandon product excellence—it's to recognize that brand strength and technical superiority must work in concert. Your Hidden Buyers aren't evaluating your latest feature release; they're evaluating whether betting their career on your company is a smart move. Question for reflection: When did you last audit your brand through the lens of someone who's never met you but whose opinion could sink your deal? P.S. For those interested in learning how to build this kind of emotionally-grounded brand power, I dive deep into these principles in "What Great Brands Do" (https://lnkd.in/bp22ccV)— still relevant after all these years.

A couple of weeks ago Steven Morris and I spent a day in the The Producer's Loft Studio - San Francisco recording a new online course, ***Leading with Integrity and Purpose: Unlocking Spiritual Wisdom for Real-World Impact.** We had a great time putting to film our invitation to leaders to integrate their spiritual values—whether grounded in a faith tradition like Christianity or Buddhism, or drawn from a broader sense of inner wisdom—into the way they lead, build culture, and drive results. It's been a joy working with Steve, a wise, courageous, generous leader himself. We can't wait to share more about the course as we move toward its release later this fall. For now, check out Steve's insights (link in the comments below) to learn how to do, as he says, brand, culture, business, leadership, and life better...maybe even more beautifully; and my LinkedIn Learning course, Brand Leadership: Integrating Brand and Culture: https://lnkd.in/ekD6tjE6 #spiritualleadership #linkedinlearning #wisdom #FUSION #brand #culture #BrandLeadership

WIRED’s The Big Interview has become one of my can’t-miss annual events—and this year did not disappoint. Big ideas. Fresh takes. Leaders willing to say pull back the curtain a bit. Highlights included: • Lisa Su (AMD) offering a refreshingly direct take on the so-called tech bubble • Jon M. Chu talking about the real personal risks behind Crazy Rich Asians and the courage required to keep betting on your convictions • Michele Lawrence Jawando (Omidyar Network) inviting us—very intentionally—into a rebellion (yes, Star Wars energy included) • Alex Komoroske and Mike Masnick unpacking why they wrote The Resonant Computing Manifesto (https://lnkd.in/gAqVEnWz) That last conversation stuck with me. The manifesto names the moment we’re in with unusual clarity and candor: technology will be hyper-personalized no matter what. The real question is why and for whom. Do we use it to keep people passively scrolling—"wading around in the shallows, stripped of agency”—or to help us focus on what actually matters? A few of the manifesto’s principles for building “the resonant technological future we want for ourselves” are particularly noteworthy: ✨ Dedicated — no hidden agendas, no conflicting interests. Trust is non-negotiable. ✨ Plural — power should be distributed, choice should be a given. ✨ Prosocial — tech should help us be better neighbors, collaborators, and stewards—not just better consumers. When voices including Tim O'Reilly, Kevin Kelly, Eric Ries, and John Seely Brown rally around a shared call like this, it’s worth paying attention. This feels like one of those rare moments of honest self-assessment from the tech community. My hope? That it doesn’t stop at insight—but moves toward action. Toward technology that truly enables individual growth and collective flourishing.

💡 Big news coming soon! Over the years, thousands of leaders and learners have taken my online course, Brand Leadership: Integrating Brand and Culture (https://lnkd.in/ekD6tjE6) — and I’ve been so encouraged by your stories of how it’s helped you align purpose, people, and performance. That work sparked something bigger. Many of you asked, “What’s next?” — how do we go beyond brand and culture to lead from a deeper source of integrity and purpose? I’m thrilled to share that a new course is on the way — one that builds on everything we’ve learned together and takes it to an even more transformational level. ✨ If you’ve appreciated my past work or are hungry to grow as a purpose-driven leader, I’d love for you to be among the first to hear when it launches. 👉 Subscribe to my newsletter here to get the announcement and early access -- link in the comments. #SpiritualLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #PurposeDrivenLeadership #FaithAndWork #AuthenticLeadership #WorkplaceCulture

73% of customers expect companies to understand their unique needs and expectations—yet only 34% say companies actually do. 😲 (Source: Salesforce) How can you close that gap? Promote customer empathy throughout your organization! Here -- in an excerpt from my keynote at Medallia #Experience25 conference -- are a few tips for doing so. What does your organization do to understanding customer needs? Please share in the comments and let's learn from each other!

“My way of recruiting anyone who’s coming to #Microsoft is saying, ‘hey, look, if you want to be cool, go join somebody else. If you want to make others cool, join Microsoft.'" -- Satya Nadella Like all great leaders, Nadella knows that the best organizations are clear about who they're for and not for. To attract talent like a magnet and work with employees who produce superior productivity, creativity & quality, build a distinctive culture and be willing to pass on people who don't fit. Great brands don't chase customers; great companies don't chase employees. #Leadership #Culture #EmployeeEngagement photo credit: Tim Mossholder via Unsplash

Jensen Huang doesn’t just lead NVIDIA—he imprints it. The intensity, the speed, the refusal to settle, the belief that hard is the point. Nvidia is an amazing company and Jensen is an amazing leader—and it seems, in many ways, he *is* Nvidia, and Nvidia *is* him. As Jensen took the stage at #CES today, I revisited the fascinating book "The Nvidia Way: Jensen Huang and the Making of a Tech Giant" by Tae Kim –and pulled together a short slideshow of quotes that help explain the man and the company behind the keynote. From the whiteboard as a cultural artifact, to “strategy is action,” to working at the “speed of light,” these lines reveal why Nvidia doesn’t just participate in markets—it creates them. If you want a clearer window into how Nvidia became Nvidia, these quotes are a great place to start. And, for more on Jensen at CES, check out: - Linked'In News coverage of his keynote -- https://lnkd.in/gr-ijGfS - Interview by Jon Fortt -- https://lnkd.in/gDucT9Bn

Will we see you there?!

Nike's new ad, "Why Do It?" is a beautiful piece of film, as inspiring as my two favorite Nike ads of all time: - "The Morning After"--a post-Y2K tribute to those of us who run, no matter what; and - "Before"--a wordless montage that captures the experience of an athlete (*if you have a body, you are an athlete). And, the new campaign affirms what I always say: Greatness is a choice! But is it a good brand move? Does it make sense for Nike to "meet young athletes where they are...handing 'Just Do It' to today’s generation and emboldening them to write the next chapter"? What say you? #Nike #JustDoIt #WhyDoIt #Rebranding #BrandEvolution

👉 94% of executives say customer experience drives business success. 👉 93% admit their digital experience is fundamentally broken. That’s not just a gap — it’s a chasm. 🫨 When leaders are asked why transformation fails, they don’t blame external forces like technology or market shifts. They point inward: ·        Leadership misalignment (49%) ·        Creative talent shortages (44%) ·        Organizational silos (43%) It’s a striking reminder this #CXDay that CX breakdowns are rarely technology problems — they’re *culture* problems. When teams don’t align on vision, feel supported, or collaborate across silos, even the best CX strategy will stall. In the comments, I’ve shared three perspectives that help close this gap — from leading change, to aligning employee experience with customer experience, to promoting empathy throughout the organization. Because fixing CX doesn’t start with a new tool or platform. It starts with fixing what’s happening inside the walls – culture. 👍 #cxday2025 #customerexperience #cx #customerexperiencemanagement #ex (Data source: Code And Theory)

🤔 What does the #OpenAI acquisition of Jony Ive's io Products company *really* mean?? "We are living in a moment of incredible innovation and reinvention because of AI...a new platform means an opportunity to reinvent everything: services, hardware, and behaviors...Ive and Altman seem to have the talent, the team, and endless capital to deliver a new idea" -- Om Malik When I need someone to help me understand what's really going on in tech and what the future holds, I can always count on Om! https://lnkd.in/gwwQru-V

What a privilege to be included in the terrific line-up on the ThinkersOne platform!

SF Bay Area friends -- please don't miss this opportunity to join the 2025 Bay Area Faith & Work Summit! Speakers include Stacy Brown-Philpot on faith & leadership, James Kelly on prayer as a bulwark of faith, my co-founder Paul Taylor on navigating this unique moment in tech & AI, and many more...including yours truly on stepping out with bold ambition. Hope to see you soon!

Thanks Rachel D. of Harvard Business Review for including my insights in Building a Customer-Centric Organization, an HBR Executive Playbook on building an organization where customer success is the foundation of long-term growth. https://lnkd.in/gHKmzr5N #CustomerCentricity #CustomerCulture #CustomerStrategy

Always a delight to hear from folks who discover the power that is unleashed from aligning and integrating their external brand identity and internal organizational culture! Thanks Leesa Shah for sharing your experience with my LinkedIn Learning course, Brand Leadership: Integrating Brand and Culture: https://lnkd.in/ekD6tjE6 -- and to Nthabiseng Maphalla Md. Kafiun Noor, CTMP Therese Maviele Robert Dourado Nomer Javier Luis Miguel Quesada Jiménez rose mwangi Oğuzhan Kotukoğlu Ki-Jeoung Nam, SHRM-SCP, CPCC nery mcdiel cobos Daniella Carimbocas Indy Sekera Alphonse Mwendwa Mark Elvis Mbugua Zeeshan Siddiqui and so many others who have taken it! #linkedinlearninginstructor #linkedinlearning #alwaysbelearning #FUSION #brand #culture #BrandLeadership

Hey SF Bay Area women! Please join Bay Area Center for Faith, Work & Tech next Wednesday to get inspired and equipped to lead a life of centeredness and wholeness. Last call for sign-ups to join our next Professional Women's Network lunch! ➡️ What: Beyond Work-Life Balance: Centering in God Through Different Seasons of Life. Hear stories and lessons learned about faith & work integration from a diverse panel of women -- and share yours in a safe, generous, and fun community of professional Christian women. ➡️ When: Wednesday October 15th 11am-1pm ➡️ Where: Microsoft Mountain View campus ➡️ Register: $45 includes lunch https://lnkd.in/gAdXy_-z #FaithAndWork #ProfessionalWomensNetwork #WorkLifeBalance #PWN

"Never Give them Access to the Top Person in the Organization" tops my list of ways I've seen leaders use consultants in the wrong ways. Even though Phil Cooke wrote the following post for non-profit, church, and ministry leaders, it offers excellent insight into how best to work with consultants to enable them to do their best work and to ensure you get the most value from them.

Thank you Seth Dechtman - Expert Keynote Curator for the opportunity to share about the critical connection between internal organizational culture & external brand identity! Great brands start inside! #FUSION #WGBD

Thanks Julia Carcamo for a terrific conversation about: ➡️ why having a "good" culture is not enough ➡️ how to ensure your core values aren't just words on a page ➡️ what should your first step be when you want to rebrand ...and many more points about integrating and aligning your internal organizational #culture with your external #brand identity so that you deliver on your promises, differentiate your #customerexperience from competitors', and win the war for #talent!

Amazon is expected to cut more jobs within its human resources team by 15% -- wow! 🫨 This news prompted me to repost this new keynote of mine, "Future-Proof Your Business: Human-Centered Leadership in the Age of AI." Amidst lays off, business leaders must continue to invest in employee experience, company culture, and empathy. I show you how. If you want a people strategy that produces long-term competitive advantage and growth, let's talk. DM me!

Thanks Sarah Robb for including #FUSION and What Great Brands Do (#WGBD) in your summer reading list!! I so appreciate your support, resonate with your thoughts, and like learning about other great books I should check out, including yours!