Remembering Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh | Can Your Organization Go Email-Free? | Joby Aviation's Mission To Make Flying Cars A Reality

Plus: From Bottles Of Champagne To Private Concerts: How PayPal And Other Companies Are Taking The Holiday Party Virtual

On Friday, Tony Hsieh, the former CEO of ecommerce pioneer Zappos.com, died at age 46. His life and tragic death were a reminder of the impact a single individual can have on people, on business and on the world.

Hsieh prioritized the intangibles—and even the things that can’t be traditionally measured, such as company culture and happy employees—to build the empire that became Zappos.com, first an online shoe retailer and later a broader clothing and accessories seller. Through his leadership, he redefined customer service and customer experience. “Just because you can’t measure the ROI of something doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it,” he is quoted as saying. “What’s the ROI of hugging your mom?”

Forbes Contributor Luciana Paulise had outlined Hsieh’s five key leadership lessons at the time of his retirement last August. It’s a poignant memento of the perspectives he left behind for all executives to learn from. And this weekend, Forbes spoke with several tech leaders who knew him well to hear their memories of Hsieh’s life and legacy.

“Tony made a dent in the world,” Banister said. “Not a lot of people have an impact on people the way he did. I hope that when Covid is over we can have a big parade in his honor and spread joy and love wherever it is needed, because that’s what he would have wanted.”

This digest of Forbes content is your weekly touchpoint as you negotiate internal, external and cultural factors. We hope you find it useful, and let us know what else you’d like to see here.

Have a great week.

Comings & Goings

Suzy Deering, formerly the CMO of eBay, will join Ford as its new head of marketing. Deering is the third executive to be appointed to the automaker’s C-suite since Jim Farley took over as CEO last month.

In February, billionaire Edward Stack will step down as CEO of Dick’s Sporting Goods, ending his 37-year tenure at the helm of the business he inherited from his father.

Policy & Trade

Ongoing tensions within the European Union may soon reach a breaking point. Conflicts between austerity-minded Northern countries—primarily Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden—and less financially-stable, chiefly Mediterranean Southern nations are escalating over the financing of Covid-19 relief, and a long-term fix seems far off.

The Trump administration’s last-minute efforts to clamp down on legal immigration may  face major obstacles. In a hearing on Monday, Homeland Security officials had to defend whether the administration had “good cause” to bypass normal policymaking in its new restrictions. Here are the arguments.

A major arms deal with the United Arab Emirates could also be in jeopardy. The deal, which would supply $23 billion in aircrafts, drones and missiles, has generated bipartisan resistance over the UAE’s role in Yemen and Libya. Blocking the move could signify a shift from the Trump administration’s close ties with the Gulf states.

By The Numbers

67%

The percentage of voters who want the Biden administration to provide a second stimulus bill.

Now that the Biden administration has begun the formal transition process, voters are calling for a second round of stimulus within the first 100 days of his term.

Innovation & Transformation

Like most professional sports organizations, the WWE’s live professional wrestling business has been completely upended by the coronavirus pandemic. Unlike most, the WWE has adapted so successfully that its revenue is up 19% year-over-year. CTO Rajan Mehta spoke with Forbes CIO Network Editor Martin Giles about the wrestling company’s lightning-fast digital transformation.

Tom Brown, founder of The Innovation Lab, has followed one rule throughout his company’s 10-year history: No emails for internal communications. Could more open, collaborative communication work at your company?

The internet of things is expected to make major gains in 2021. From 5G innovations to industrial applications, here are  five trends to watch.

The CxO Profile

Across Forbes