Higher education is under pressure. Over the past few years, public confidence in the value of a four-year degree has declined significantly, with fewer Americans expressing a strong belief that traditional higher education delivers a worthwhile return on investment. At the same time, employers consistently report that graduates lack job-ready skills—particularly the “durable skills”…
Higher education is under pressure. Over the past few years, public confidence in the value of a four-year degree has declined significantly, with fewer Americans expressing a strong belief that traditional higher education delivers a worthwhile return on investment. At the same time, employers consistently report that graduates lack job-ready skills—particularly the “durable skills”…
Standards, Identity, and Legacy: Leadership Lessons from the All Blacks and Other Elite Teams with James Kerr
Dynasties are rare. Most teams rise, win for a season, and fade. A superstar retires. A coach leaves. The chemistry shifts. What once felt inevitable suddenly looks fragile. Sustained excellence is far harder than a single championship run — it requires standards that survive ego, systems that outlast individuals, and a culture strong enough to…
Exploring the Intersection of Board Governance, Community Engagement and Creativity with Ann Margolin
Behind every city vote, hospital budget or zoning decision is a leader navigating tough, often conflicting priorities. Right now, public leaders are operating in an environment of rising healthcare costs, workforce shortages and heightened community expectations—especially within safety-net systems that collectively provide billions in uncompensated care each year. The stakes are real—they affect patients…
Workforce Alignment, and the New Blueprint for Career-Connected Learning Ecosystems
Workforce shortages, shifting federal and state policy, and rising skepticism about the return on investment of a traditional four-year degree have pushed career-connected learning to the forefront of education reform. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, overall employment is expected to increase by nearly 4.7 million jobs between 2022 and 2032, with…
Resilience, Reinvention, and the Relentless Pursuit of Growth: Larry North’s Journey from Fitness Icon to Private Equity Leader
Entrepreneurship is being glamorized in real time. Social media highlights overnight wins, AI tools promise instant scale, and private equity is reshaping industries at a rapid clip. Yet behind every “success story” is something far less flashy: failure, adaptability, and the discipline to keep going when life hits hard. According to the U.S. Bureau…
Experts Talk
Experts Talk
Personal Branding Now Drives B2B Success, Customer Trust, and Competitive Advantage
Personal branding has rapidly shifted from a “nice-to-have” to a strategic imperative in B2B marketing, reshaping how companies communicate, differentiate, and build trust. As industries evolve and professionals take on more dynamic, multi-stream careers, visibility and authenticity have become critical assets. Key findings from the Edelman + LinkedIn Thought Leadership Impact Report show that…
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Podcast Episodes
Continuous Improvement in Education: If You Want Different Outcomes, Change the System
School systems across the country are under mounting pressure to improve student outcomes while navigating shifting standards, staffing shortages, and rising expectations around accountability. Yet many reform efforts fall short because they are fragmented and short-term. According to Learning Forward’s Standards for Professional Learning, sustained and job-embedded professional learning is linked to improved educator…
Get Vertical! Growing with Sales for Success
Buying behavior has shifted dramatically. Today’s B2B customers do most of their research before ever speaking with a salesperson. In fact, 61% of B2B buyers say they prefer a rep-free buying experience, according to a 2025 Gartner survey. At the same time, U.S. retail e-commerce sales exceeded $1.192 trillion in 2024. Growth still depends…
Consulting Reframed: Perspective, Leadership, and Impact Beyond the Client
As organizations navigate accelerating digital transformation, tighter margins, and increasing organizational complexity, the role of consultants is being re-examined. Today’s most effective consulting leaders are no longer valued simply for delivering projects, but for bringing outside perspective, cross-industry insight, and the ability to lead through ambiguity. Most large organizations today are not short on…
Get Vertical! Going from Idea to the Top 1% in Less Than 3 Years
Independent retail is operating in one of the most competitive environments in decades. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, roughly 20% of new businesses fail within their first year, and a whopping 50% don’t make it to year five. At the same time, consumers are increasingly choosing brands that offer community, authenticity,…
Medical school taught Dr. Robert Lufkin the conventional wisdom of the healthcare system, but his experiences and research exposed deeper issues at play. In this episode of Healthcare Rethink, hosted by Brian Urban, the spotlight shines on Dr. Robert Lufkin, MD, the author of Lies I Taught in Medical School. The conversation centers around…