Croixstone Consulting

At Inc.com, Dr. James Dyson, Founder and Chief Engineer of Dyson, shares his perspective why engineers are the best people to run a business. Not only does he share how many vacuum prototypes he made to get it right (2,000+), but also the value of experimentation and, in some cases, how the lack of experience can help. https://lnkd.in/eX__yWQ6 #ceo #leadership #engineers #entrepreneurs

On ChiefExecutive.net, journalist Laura Hamill writes, “Culture guides the behavior of every individual within an organization, influencing the smallest to the largest of employee decisions and choices. And a strong, well-aligned culture can be a significant competitive advantage as it drives innovation, employee engagement and customer satisfaction.” This article, “Three Tangible Ways Culture Work Pays Off,” discusses what culture is, why it is important (both attracting and retaining) and how the companies that do it well – leading with culture – enjoy many benefits that result. https://lnkd.in/eHD-p8uV #culture #hiring #retention

Congrats to our friends at Grooming Greatness Foundation & best wishes as you celebrate your 10th anniversary in serving youth across the greater Charlotte, NC region! The Croixstone Consulting team is honored to open up our office space this evening in partnership with Industrious #UptownCharlotte to host your black tie anniversary gala! The Grooming Greatness Foundation is committed to educating, enriching & empowering youth in underserved communities through exposure to the visual and performing arts. Learn more about this great organization (and please consider making a year-end gift) here: https://lnkd.in/gqHvuJdQ #groominggreatness #groomingouryouth #gala #celebrating10years #arts #literacy #culture #charlottenc #croixstone #industrious #nonprofits #changemakers

In an article in The Wall Street Journal, “Visa Has Deployed Hundreds of AI Use Cases. It’s Not Stopping.”, writer Isabelle Bousquette shares, “Visa’s flood-the-zone approach with AI apps comes as the appetite across the board for blind spending on AI has diminished. CEOs and boards are putting more pressure on seeing actual returns – which often are turning out not to be there.” It will be worth watching to see where Visa ends up, what they learn and the AI will have. Stay tuned. https://lnkd.in/e6H6JZbZ

In “The Outsider Trying to Restore Citi to Investment-Banking Glory,” The Wall Street Journal covers Citi’s foray to become (again) a bigger player in the investment banking space and within the private equity industry. Recently hired banker Vis Raghavan seeks to get Citi competitive. With the election behind us, what will the economy bring to dealmaking? It will be a story that unfolds as PE firms seek to buy and sell again. We will be watching. https://lnkd.in/esqz6HKz #investmentbanking #privateequity #pe #citigroup #citi

In her TED@BCG Talk, “Better cybersecurity starts with honesty and accountability,” Nadya Bartol talks about the shame that comes with cybersecurity mistakes. She said, “Cybersecurity is just like that (invisible and working): when it's working, we don't know, and we don't care. But when it's not working, it can be really, really bad.” She continues to illustrate creative ways to celebrate and reward good cybersecurity workplace habits. https://lnkd.in/dUAyA5m #TEDatBCG

Recently, we posted about International Fraud Awareness Week, the annual awareness event hosted by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners that took place the week of November 17-23. • Did you know that the National Center for the Middle Market (NCMM) has identified middle market companies as a fast-growing target for cybersecurity breaches? • And, also from National Center for the Middle Market, check out this free self-assessment for companies to see where they stand: https://lnkd.in/e-fSArYn

In an article posted by Private Company Director entitled, “An AI-Powered 'Day in the Life' of a Private Company Director,” the authors share how directors might employ various AI platforms to plan, strategize, decide, execute and communicate. This day in the life approach makes the article a good read and digestible. https://lnkd.in/eEFnAujg

It seems that the coffee city of Seattle has three major company turnarounds at the same time – Boeing, Nike and Starbucks. In a recent Wall Street Journal article, “CEOs of Boeing, Starbucks Employ Similar Playbooks to Solve Crises,” it seems the CEOs are using similar, although general language to communicate during these transformations. The reporter shares, ‘“There used to be this thing where you got 100 days before you were expected to say anything meaningful about where you wanted to take the company,” said Darren Brandt, co-CEO of the communications consulting firm Sloane & Co. “I don’t think that exists anymore.” Now, investors and anxious employees, in particular, want to hear from leaders earlier to determine whether the company is headed in a meaningful new direction and whether they want to stay, Brandt said.’ We will watch these three transformations and see where they head.

It seems that some companies are shifting their diversity grants and aid programs due to increased legal action(s). From the Wall Street Journal’s “Business Diversity Grants Stall As Companies Fear Lawsuits,” the journalists (Ruth Simon and Theo Francis) share, “Of more than 60 small-business grant programs that in 2023 included race or ethnicity in their criteria, more than 40% no longer exist or appear to be moribund… An additional 27% no longer use race or ethnicity in making awards.” https://lnkd.in/e4fmt5DS (subscription required)