Forbes - Leaders Plan For A Post-Pandemic 2022

Plus: The Next Billion-Dollar Startups 2021

Welcome to another edition of CxO. It’s a sad day with the news that former Secretary of State Colin Powell has died of Covid-19 complications at the age of 84. Although Powell was fully vaccinated, he also had a blood cancer called multiple myeloma that made him especially vulnerable to the impact of a breakthrough infection. Along with well-deserved accolades for his service, leadership and impact, Powell will be remembered as a man who embraced diversity and successfully worked with people on both sides of the aisle.

Unfortunately, Powell’s death is also being used as fodder by those who oppose vaccine mandates. To be clear, vaccine mandates work and courts are generally siding with companies that now require proof of vaccination as a condition of employment. The tragic consequences of a high-profile breakthrough infection don’t negate a recent Kaiser Family Foundation study that estimates 90,000 Covid-related deaths between June and September could have been avoided if victims had the shot.

Great leaders are ultimately remembered for how they lived, not how they died. As another reminder of that, check out Marty Swant’s touching tribute to advertising icon David Kennedy, who recently died at the age of 82.

While Covid infections continue to be a concern as the U.S. heads into the winter months, there is more discussion of the post-pandemic environment. As leaders plan priorities for 2022, conversations are increasingly shifting to hybrid work arrangements and figuring out what new behaviors are likely to last.

What’s clear is that the pace of change will continue to pick up. For C-suite leaders, that means adopting what futurist April Rinne likes to call a “flux” mindset  to handle a range of scenarios.

It also means educating yourself on what’s around the corner. One way is to check out our recent lists of emerging tech hubs or the next billion-dollar startups. On the latter, I’m intrigued not only by what these founders are doing but also by how they approach leadership. At the recent Forbes Under 30 Summit, for example, Alchemy CEO Nikil Viswanathan told Chief Content Officer Randall Lane that he has no titles at his company—and intends to keep it that way. Former Cisco CEO John Chambers, who has helped several companies reach unicorn status through his JC2 Ventures,  talked about competing against market transitions at the same event. We’ll continue to bring you more insights from leaders on the front lines.

Finally, those of you who enjoy the HBO hit series Succession might enjoy this fun feature on how Forbes would value Logan Roy’s holdings if the assets (and the person) described in the series were real. Check out this piece. Here’s some other news from my colleague Christian Kreznar.

Have a great week.

Best,
Diane

Comings & Goings

Oura Ring has hired Karina Kogan, the former global head of product marketing at Peloton, as its first CMO. The company’s wearable products, which track biometric information, are popular among celebrities and Silicon Valley executives.

Adam Kroll, an investment banker with JPMorgan, has been brought on to head finance at Lordstown Motors. The electronic vehicle maker has been in hot water since it was targeted by the short-seller Hindenburg after its $1.6 billion SPAC in August.

Leadership & Strategy

Forget “America First”—the debt crisis in China could have serious repercussions for the American economy. Evergrande, the massive Chinese developer collapsing under $300 billion in debt, isn’t alone, and if the Chinese government doesn’t act the ripple effects could be global.

Last Thursday, Boeing announced faults in some of the titanium parts used in the construction of the 787 Dreamliner. While the company insists the planes are still safe for use, Boeing’s numerous crises over the past three years, chiefly related to the 737 MAX, have done serious damage to the company’s reputation.

By The Numbers

100,000

Workers striking or preparing to strike in the U.S.

As wages and pandemic benefits wane, workers in manufacturing and front line industries are striking in record numbers. Already, workers at John Deere, Kellogg’s and the Denver airport have gone on strike in “Striketober.”

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