Exploring Leadership Characteristics in Family CEOs

New research examines how a family firm CEO's observable and psychological characteristics influence strategic choices and firm performance.

05/14/2024 | By Nabiha Khetani; Oleg Petrenko

The Straightforward Wisdom Behind Functional Teams

Lencioni's modern classic shows how teams can build trust, work through conflict, show commitment, maintain accountability, and focus on team results.

04/30/2024 | By Stephen Caldwell

Putting Principles First: Revisiting Covey’s 7 Habits

Covey's 7 Habits still reminds us of the foundational importance of "character ethic" principles: integrity, humillity, industry, justice, and patience.

04/04/2024 | By Stephen Caldwell

Navigating the Mirage: Ethical, Transparency, and Regulatory Challenges in the Age of Deepfakes

Deepfakes are still relatively new, which makes now the perfect time to inject ethical guidelines, transparency measures, and proactive governance.

03/20/2024 | By Cindy Moehring

The Enduring Value of Winning Friends and Influencing People

Almost 90 years later, the simple and obvious advice of Dale Carnegie still resonate; building relationships that help you succeed never becomes passé.

03/14/2024 | By Stephen Caldwell

Should Business Leaders Take an Intellectual Adventure With Malcolm Gladwell?

Savvy leaders are curious readers. Business leaders don't just need business books, as shown by the unique insights and impact from Gladwell's books.

02/22/2024 | By Stephen Caldwell

Navigating Turbulence: Boeing’s 737 MAX Continuing Saga and the Path to Redemption

Boeing faces a long road to regaining lost trust; per Cindy Moehring, returning to its roots & aligning its purpose with strategy will keep it on track.

02/15/2024 | By Cindy Moehring

The Role of CEO Personal Attributes on the IPO Pricing Process

Humility is a virtue, except when it comes to the IPO process. New research reveals how CEO personality affects how firms are perceived by investment bankers.

02/13/2024 | By Alyssa Riley; Oleg V. Petrenko

Start with Why. Just Don’t End There

Simon Sinek's simple, intuitive premise still resonates with readers after 15 years. But readers should remember that "why" is the start, not the endpoint.

02/01/2024 | By Stephen Caldwell

Culture, Controls, and Corporate Governance: Lessons from the FTX Fiasco

FTX collapse shows danger of fast growth without controls or integrity; lessons for us all on the importance of oversight, governance to sustain companies.

12/19/2023 | By Cindy Moehring

Were These Books Built to Last?

Does the advice in Good to Great and Built to Last stand the test of time? A breakdown of how these two classics hold up in today's business climate.

12/14/2023 | By Stephen Caldwell

Going Beyond the 10 Rules: Revisiting Sam Walton’s Legacy

Sam Walton's leadership legacy goes beyond his 10 rules. His life story, willingness to break his rules, & the core principles behind them can teach us.

11/16/2023 | By Stephen Caldwell

Employers’ Social Engagement Motivates Workers

Companies that focus on social responsibility appeal to the values of consumers and create trust. Read about how CSR also affects employee engagement.

11/14/2023 | By Jack Travis, Oleg Petrenko

How Culture and Values Shape the Path to Global Success

Successful global growth strategies requires universally shared ethical values communicated in locally relevant ways that resonate with local stakeholders.

11/10/2023 | By Cindy Moehring

Happiness Begets Engagement

Conversations about employee engagement often focus on many factors, but what roles does happiness play? Happipness can - and often does - beget happiness.

11/09/2023 | By Stacey Mason

The World Still Needs Contrarian Leaders

Adhering to conventional wisdom, while a safe choice, will not help you develop your full leadership potential, as Sample's seminal leadership book shows.

10/26/2023 | By Stephen Caldwell

It’s Time To Take a Fresh Look at Some Classics

Walking down well-worn paths can often give rise to new insights. That idea animates our new series, which revisits "classic" business & leadership books.

10/05/2023 | By Stephen Caldwell

The Hidden Pillar of Success: Nurturing a Culture of Integrity in Your Startup

When founders and leaders forget to feed a culture of integrity, it can create myriad hidden costs that they or their successors will have to reckon with.

10/02/2023 | By Cindy Moehring

Why Strong, Ethical Business Practices are Good for Your Bottom Line

The ROI for firms that operate with integrity is high - they perform better financially, see more trust from stakeholders, and are more sustainable.

08/30/2023 | By Cindy Moehring

EQ is the Game Changer

If you only study one more thing in your life, please spend your energy developing greater EQ. EQ is a true game changer for those who foster it.

08/24/2023 | By Stacey Mason

How to Integrate Ethics: Building the Business Integrity Leadership Initiative at Walton College

Founder & Executive Chair Cindy Moehring outlines how the Business Integrity Leadership Initiative has accomplished so much in just a few years.

07/31/2023 | By Cindy Moehring

How ‘Relating’ Drives Success in Leadership

Business professionals talk conversation, networking, and motivation. Learn how to relating to people can help drive success and progress in your organization.

07/06/2023 | By Stephen Caldwell

Harnessing the Power of Generative AI: Opportunities, Risks, and Responsibilities

Generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Bard, and DALL-E are disrupting the business world. How can leaders optimize this technology while keeping ethical guidelines?

06/30/2023 | By Cindy Moehring

How Trust Pays Off for Business Leaders

Why should leaders care about trust in their organizations? Learn about the practical and personal benefits of building trust with relevant stakeholders.

06/27/2023 | By Stephen Caldwell

What Makes an Organizational Culture Effective?

Amongst other things, good organizational culture is supported by leadership, drives innovation, reflects shared values, and creates a competitive advantage.

06/08/2023 | By Stephen Caldwell

Recognizing What Creates Shifts in Your Culture

According to these CEOs, hiring new people, changes in leadership, and shifting challenges are just a few factors that influence your organizational culture.

06/06/2023 | By Stephen Caldwell

5 Essential Tips for Whistleblowers: What You Need to Know

Its successful whistleblower program plays an important role in the SEC's mission to protect investors, maintain fair markets, and facilitate capital formation.

05/30/2023 | By Cindy Moehring

What CEOs Want Grads To Know

Matthew Waller shares advice for students from top executives and CEOs: follow your heart, develop your skills, keep curious, build relationships, and more.

05/11/2023 | By Stephen Caldwell

How Businesses Can Fight the Growing Trend of Child Labor Abuse

What can businesses do to fight child labor abuse? Cindy Moehring provides five proactive steps businesses can take to address this core ethical issue.

04/27/2023 | By Cindy Moehring

Building Trust in Business: Strategies for Maintaining Credibility

Public trust in business is high compared to how the public perceives government, media, and NGOs. What can businesses do to maintain and further this trust?

03/30/2023 | By Cindy Moehring

How the Market Responds to Legislator Stock Purchases

Is it insider trading when legislators buy stocks? Read on whether or not legislators regularly beat the market, abnormal returns, and legislators as investors.

03/28/2023 | By Mitchell Simpson, Jason Ridge, Roary Snider

Six Cross-Industry Lessons from the Rise and Fall of FTX

As the FTX bankruptcy shows, running a business without ruining the business comes down to governance, risk assessment and management, due diligence, and trust.

01/27/2023 | By Cindy Moehring

And MORE Improv Advice in Translation

Business and improv may seem wildly different, but improv has a lot to say about leadership, listening, collaboration, teamwork, and delivering for clients.

12/21/2022 | By Stacey Mason

How Personality and Occupation Interact

Is conscientiousness key to job performance? Read about the relationship between psychology's Big Five personality traits and your career path.

11/29/2022 | By Mitchell Simpson, Michael Wilmot

The Executive as Outlier: How Firms Adapt to Political Opposition

What role do politics play in firm management? Find how executives influence their firm's lobbying and investment strategies based on the political environment.

10/18/2022 | By Jack Travis, Jason Ridge

When Quitting Makes Perfect Sense

Don't quit your job because you're miserable. Quit because you see better opportunities elsewhere. Optimal quitting is a strategy to help you build your career.

09/29/2022 | By Stephen Caldwell

How Speaking Up Can Be Your Business Superpower

Set a tone, and create a culture that can address challenges.

09/09/2022 | By Cindy Moehring

There's No Monopoly on Wisdom

Business books are bound to offer some profound insights, but what about more unlikely sources? Discover what children's books can teach us about leadership.

07/21/2022 | By Stacey Mason

Helping Older Workers Thrive: Managing the Effects of Technological Interruptions

Technostress affects all workers, but older workers feel it more profoundly; how can employers develop strategies to mediate these effects for older workers?

07/12/2022 | By Mitchell Simpson, Varun Grover

Coaching for Perspective

What does coaching look like in a business setting? Find out how coaching can shape your perspective and why it should be a cornerstone of your office culture.

06/16/2022 | By Stacey Mason

Phraseology

Words have meaning and we should choose them carefully. These phrases will help you develop richer connectivity, truer exploration, and a shifting mindset.

05/24/2022 | By Stacey Mason

Above Board: How Independent Directors Facilitate Strategic Change

Independent board members provide much-needed fresh perspective in the wake of a CEO transition, especially when the outgoing CEO stays on as a board member.

04/21/2022 | By Mitchell Simpson, Michael Cummings

How a Product Management Guild is Serving NWA

A local product management guild provides invaluable training and mentoring to product managers, promoting vendor-neutral approaches and industry best practices

04/14/2022 | By Stephen Caldwell

It’s Not You, It’s Me: How To Deliver Bad News in the Professional World

No one wants to be the bearer of bad news, but when it falls to us, it's crucial to do it right. Find out what to do and how to do it with tact and grace.

04/05/2022 | By Liza Vammen

Doing the Smart Thing: The Effect of Female Decision Makers in the Supply Chains

New research discusses the benefits of women’s inclusion in the supply chain team dynamic and shows that women supply chain professionals are more collaborative.

03/30/2022 | By Ryan Sheets, Evan Wordlaw, John Aloysius

Finding Innovation and Transformation in Northwest Arkansas

A thread of innovation and transformation runs through Steve Nelson’s career, and that bodes well for Northwest Arkansas.

03/02/2022 | By Stephen Caldwell

Ten Rules for Leadership Success

Good leadership is about more than authority. Explore these tips to help make yourself someone your team can count on to lead fairly and effectively.

02/21/2022 | By Ryan Sheets

Being Nice Pays Off: Why Nice Leaders Are More Effective

Some think that being a good leader means being harsh, strict, and unfriendly. Find out why niceness is actually what makes leaders more effective.

02/14/2022 | By Emilija Sarma, Andrew Blake, Oleg Petrenko

Repacking Your Bags

If life is the proverbial road trip, then it might serve us well to stop every now and then to check what we have packed in our bags.

01/31/2022 | By Stacey Mason

Where Can You Take the World by 2030?

Leaders who take care of themselves and who see a connection between their passions and their work will naturally perform at higher levels and inspire others to do the same.

01/19/2022 | By Stephen Caldwell

How a Walk in the Woods Led to a Career in Sustainability

Can you make a career out of introspection? Probably not. Can you make introspection an essential part of your career? Absolutely. Ammen Jordan discusses why.

01/12/2022 | By Stephen Caldwell

Flavor Your Company Culture With Innovation

A good company culture is key to success in business, life, and leadership. Find out what steps you can take to ensure that you and your employees thrive.

01/05/2022 | By Stephen Caldwell

Put Your Whole Self In

When did we stop becoming fearless? Or stop believing in our own creativity? Or afraid to take center stage? Let's figure out how we can come back to ourselves!

12/13/2021 | By Stacey Mason

How to Exercise Authority When You Aren’t the Expert

Leaders have to lead, even when they don't have the skill or the information they need. Here are some tips for doing a lot with a little.

12/01/2021 | By Stephen Caldwell

Maps and Globes

Seth Godin's analogy of maps & globes reminds us to think broadly, with context rather than deeply/narrowly, to consider general relevance plus specialization.

11/22/2021 | By Stacey Mason

Thinking About an M&A Deal? Follow This Advice

Mergers and acquisitions fail more often than they succeed. Fortunately, we know why. Follow these tips to give your M&A the greatest chance for success.

11/10/2021 | By Stephen Caldwell

These Two Words Can Reshape Your Approach to Career Success

Sometimes the path to success is anything but straightforward. This advice will give you the confidence to navigate its twists and turns.

11/08/2021 | By Stephen Caldwell

A Conversation on Perspective

One of my favorite improv exercises is Fortunately/Unfortunately, which helps us focus on our own unique perspective, belief systems, and examine our intentions.

10/27/2021 | By Stacey Mason

Five Ways To Navigate Today’s Changing Business Landscape

Lessons for navigating change come from unexpected sources. The nontraditional route Reginald Miller, McDonald's VP & global chief DEI officer, exemplify this

10/18/2021 | By Stephen Caldwell

Understanding How You're Wired

09/20/2021 | By Stacey Mason

Future-Proof Skill Building

Want to become future-proof? Take Stacey's advice to stay curious, encounter new ideas often, and develop a higher level of intellectual adaptability.

08/18/2021 | By Stacey Mason

More Improv Advice in Translation

I have found that most advice is worthy of thorough examination. Often advice pertaining to one discipline – with just a bit of translation – has meaning in other disciplines.

06/03/2021 | By Stacey Mason

Here’s Why Industry and Business Colleges Need Each Other to Survive

Universities, and business schools in particular, face more tension than ever between long-held commitments to reward deep, theoretical research and the need to educate agile, nimble students who can thrive in the workforce.

05/20/2021 | By Stephen Caldwell

15 Things I’ve Learned Since I Graduated From College

Nothing is as powerful as the discoveries we make along the way. I thought I would share 15 things I’ve learned since I was a 20-something college student.

05/06/2021 | By Stacey Mason

Quotes That Matter

Quotes are like true north on a compass - they matter.

04/14/2021 | By Stacey Mason

TED Talks to Make You Think

These talks are courageous and ingenious, harrowing and humorous.

03/11/2021 | By Stacey Mason

Giving Up Control

It’s about leaning in to the unknown and trusting in an outcome you can’t see or predict.

02/11/2021 | By Stacey Mason

15 People You Need on Speed Dial

I thought I would share the 15 people that I keep on speed dial. Not so much individuals but rather perspectives that I rely on as I navigate the journey that is called life.

11/18/2020 | By Stacey Mason

Employee Engagement Is the Wrong Question

Happiness is an individual decision; a choice I make. And happiness begets engagement. Let’s get to the root of the discussion. What we need is for the human race to discover happiness.

10/15/2020 | By Stacey Mason

Flying in Formation: Citizenship, Prosocial Behaviors, and Goals for Teamwork in Business

Managers should look at these operational citizenship behaviors and utilize those social resources to see where they can grow that citizenship within the team and increase appeal to the individual members.

10/08/2020 | By Jeff L. Wright, Adam C. Stoverink

The Art of Effective Communication

In a world that contains this many word choices, coupled with nuances in delivery method and tone (how I say what I say), perhaps it is no wonder that effective communication can be tricky. But to triumph over the tricky simply requires a few techniques.

09/10/2020 | By Stacey Mason

How To Better Prepare Young Professionals for Careers

Big data and analytics, artificial intelligence, machine learning and blockchain influence how industries do business. With technology changing rapidly, students, faculty and industry professionals must collaborate to embrace the future.

09/04/2020 | By Ryan Decker

Improv Advice in Translation

I have found that most advice is worthy of thorough examination. Often advice pertaining to one discipline – with just a bit of translation – has meaning in other disciplines.

08/27/2020 | By Stacey Mason

The Path to Customer Centric Leadership

Procter & Gamble’s decision to open an office in Fayetteville, Arkansas, in 1987 was a seminal moment in the history of corporate retail, but it also became a catalyst for changes that, among many other things, have helped shape and transform the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas.

08/20/2020 | By Stephen Caldwell

Replace Judgment with Curiosity

Replace judgment with curiosity. I don’t know if these words found me or if I found them, but they have transformed my life, my work, and my understanding of human-ness.

08/06/2020 | By Stacey Mason

Boundary Spanning in Search of Something Useful

It turns out that I spend a fair amount of time each day doing something that I’d never heard of just a few years ago: boundary spanning. At least I think that’s what I’m doing. I was pretty sure until I looked this phrase up and came away unexpectedly confused.

07/23/2020 | By Stephen Caldwell

5 Practical Tips for the Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence

The ever-increasing and pervasive existence of technology in our lives makes the ethical use of it more important than ever.

07/16/2020 | By Cindy Moehring

Child Labor and Corruption in the Congo. 2 Tips to Ensure Your Supply Chain Has Integrity

A full two-thirds of the world’s supply of cobalt is found in the Congo, and tech companies need it to make the lithium-ion batteries in phones, computers and almost every other rechargeable gadget.

07/08/2020 | By Cindy Moehring

Why Living Up to Your Obligations Matters and Three Tips for Doing it Effectively

A company’s commitment to honor its contract terms – explicit and implicit – is one of the six principles for practicing business ethics effectively.

07/02/2020 | By Cindy Moehring

Why You Should Listen to Your Inner Voice, And to Others, in the Age of #metoo

The #metoo movement is a practical way of thinking about one of the six principles for the practice of business ethics – respect everyone’s autonomy.

06/25/2020 | By Cindy Moehring

Want to Advance in Your Career? Follow These 3 Simple Tips

The hardest integrity lessons to learn are often the ones that seem so simple. It pays to be reminded of them because managers slip up on the seemingly easy things and ruin their careers, over and over again.

06/18/2020 | By Cindy Moehring

Will Your Employees Speak Up or Stay Silent? Four Ways Leaders Can Support a Speak up Culture.

Let’s look at those four scenarios and how you, as a leader, can better ensure your organization’s culture is positioned to either prevent unethical behavior or quickly nip it in the bud.

06/11/2020 | By Cindy Moehring

Here’s How to Increase Trust with Stakeholders

This year’s Edelman trust barometer reveals that despite a strong global economy and near full employment, none of the four main societal institutions scored high enough to be considered trusted. None of them.

06/04/2020 | By Cindy Moehring

Two-Word Lessons to My 20-Something Self

I never put myself in a state of anguish wondering what might have been … could have been … should have been. Rather, I think about the lessons I’ve learned that have shaped me and placed me exactly where I’m supposed to be.

05/28/2020 | By Stacey Mason

Building the Right Culture

Building culture; that’s the tougher part of the equation because it feels like a paradox – contradicting pieces and parts merging to create an environment that ebbs and flows over the life of the organization. It’s a beautiful thing to watch when it’s done well.

05/28/2020 | By Stacey Mason

The Integrity Crisis and 7 Things Business Schools Can Do About It

Business schools have a role to play here in making sure current and future business leaders learn from these situations and avoid making the same mistakes.

05/20/2020 | By Cindy Moehring

12 Tips to Make the Most of Your Linkedin Articles

Posting insightful articles on LinkedIn is a strategic focus for progressive business leaders and academics, so we figured it would be helpful to share the tips more broadly. They fall into two categories: writing tips and marketing tips.

05/07/2020 | By Lindsey Wagaman and Stephen Caldwell

They Don’t Teach This in Business School … Or Do They? The Myths Examined

You might not learn new painting techniques in business school or how to escape from a tar pit. But you will learn – if you do your part – the theories and best practices about business that will set you up for success.

04/30/2020 | By Stephen Caldwell

Where the Magic Happens

I am a big fan of the sciences. I’m an even bigger fan of the arts. And I’m fanatic about the intersection of the two because that’s where the magic happens.

04/23/2020 | By Stacey Mason

5 Things to Keep in Mind for Business Succession Planning

These tips to help ease family tensions and increase the odds that the business will thrive are based on experience (I grew up in a family business), observation and research.

04/02/2020 | By Stephen Caldwell

15 Skills to Build Regardless of the Future

We know that planning for the future is not a precise science. But you can put yourself in the place of most potential by developing timeless skills.

03/31/2020 | By Stacey Mason

Leadership and the Power of the Positive

For most, I believe “the power of the positive” is relatively intuitive – it’s not just a mantra to lead by, it’s a mantra to live by.

03/12/2020 | By Steve Schumacher

The Integrity Crisis and One Simple Thing You Can Do About It

The lines between right and wrong have been blurred, leaders’ actions are not matching their words, and accountability is lacking.

03/10/2020 | By Cindy Moehring

What JB Hunt Looks for In Supply Chain Management Recruits

Great people have made J.B. Hunt a great company. Those people represent many different disciplines, but as a leader in the supply chain industry, we obviously depend heavily on leaders with expertise in supply chain management.

01/21/2020 | By Kirk Thompson

7 Ways Using LinkedIn Enhances Leadership

LinkedIn has established itself as the social media platform of choice for executives, but choosing the platform and using the platform effectively are two very different things.

01/09/2020 | By Matt Waller

Confessions of an Entrepreneur: Leadership Lessons Learned

Leadership — the quality of it — is the special sauce that makes everything in the organization come together.

11/20/2019 | By Mark Zweig

Six Ways Hosting a Podcast Strengthens Your Leadership

I have plenty of demands on my time, and I am careful not to intentionally add anything to my plate that doesn’t clearly add value to the people I serve, so launching the Be EPIC podcast about a year ago was a strategic decision. I’m happy to report that the results have exceeded my expectations – not just because of the benefits to the Walton College but also because of how it has helped my growth as a leader.

10/24/2019 | By Matt Waller

Wildly Successful College Dropouts: Is a Degree Really Necessary?

I’ve been challenged more than a few times over the years by leaders who suggest entrepreneurs don’t need a college degree, much less a degree in business.

10/03/2019 | By Matthew Waller

Leaders: Know Your Values – Live Them

The elements of an organization’s mandate must be heavily rooted in the mind and heart of the leader.

08/19/2019 | By Matthew Waller

21 Reasons a Leader Should Write Blogs

Blogging is an essential part of my strategy for leading the Sam M. Walton College of Business, and I believe it is a useful tool any leader can use.

07/22/2019 | By Matthew Waller

7 Facts about a Walton College Alumnus who is an EPIC Success

He is an Arkansan who is a successful leader and a man of integrity. Here are seven facts you should know about his business career.

11/30/2018 | By Matthew Waller