CEOs often avoid outright apologies for mass layoffs, but what they can do is stop justifying these tough decisions with excuses. This shift in accountability could transform how leadership handles workforce changes.

Multinational companies invest heavily in cultural training for expats, but recent research shows that knowing local customs plays a minor role in their successful adjustment. A comprehensive meta-analysis involving over half a million individuals revealed that the biggest challenges for expats stem from stressors like discrimination and navigating unfamiliar systems, rather than cultural differences themselves. Social support is critical, especially the backing of a direct supervisor. Supervisors provide key benefits: fostering a sense of belonging, clarifying roles, reducing bureaucracy struggles, and promoting inclusion to combat discrimination. For organizations looking to improve global talent outcomes, focusing on manager support is essential—training leaders to actively engage and support expats early on can make all the difference.

Chuck Robbins has led Cisco for over 11 years, guiding its transformation from a hardware-focused company into a leader in software and subscription services. Under his guidance, Cisco reached a valuation of $475 billion, merging networking with cybersecurity capabilities. Robbins openly discusses past missteps, like missing the initial cloud wave and challenges with a costly acquisition. His leadership philosophy emphasizes acting decisively, valuing 'a bad decision that is reversed over a delayed decision.' He fosters a culture of open disagreement without passive-aggressive behavior and prioritizes addressing people issues swiftly, including hiring diverse expertise. Robbins encourages authentic communication and transparency, highlighting the importance of adaptability in fast-changing environments, especially with AI innovations reshaping the business landscape. Cisco has even invested in AI-focused training and made strategic workforce adjustments to stay competitive. Through it all, Robbins practices listening intently to his team and knowing when to step in or step back in decision-making processes.

DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis criticizes AI-related layoffs as lacking creativity and foresight. Scientific studies support his view, highlighting the nuanced impact of AI on the workforce rather than simple job elimination.

Artificial intelligence firms are quietly leveraging the most critical asset of your business. Here’s how some business leaders are responding to this challenge.

Tech and talent leaders are seeing their compensation rise as boards recognize the critical role of AI-driven digital capabilities and workforce strategies in managing business risks.

Lasting business insights stem from the challenges you face and overcome, rather than mere theoretical knowledge.

Discover the seven key leadership principles that guided our startup's rise to becoming a recognized market leader.

I drove my startup’s growth fueled by fear, pushing myself relentlessly. Eventually, burnout caught up, revealing itself as the biggest threat to the value of any enterprise.

Aleksandar Savic

Morningstar has grown significantly over two decades, evolving from a mutual fund rating company into a global financial services leader with a tenfold increase in revenue and profits by 2025. CEO Kunal Kapoor attributes this success to a strong corporate culture centered on relentless execution. Through an analysis of employee feedback on Glassdoor, Morningstar stands out for its positive culture and commitment to core values. Kapoor emphasizes three key principles behind this execution:

1. Decentralizing decision-making to foster ownership by pushing accountability to business units, reinforcing this with performance-based compensation and organizational design.

2. Using transparent Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) to create open communication about challenges and progress, enabling early course corrections and candid feedback.

3. Instilling urgency and ambitious goal-setting to prevent complacency, encouraging teams to move quickly and stretch toward challenging yet achievable long-term plans without fear of penalization for missed stretch targets.

Kapoor’s leadership style highlights disciplined follow-through and a culture that values ownership, transparency, and rapid execution to sustain Morningstar’s growth and innovation.