Executive Briefs
A Blueprint for Culture in the Age of Intelligent Work
For much of business history, culture has been treated as a soft asset — a “nice to have”, unmeasurable layer of values statements, engagement initiatives, perks, and leadership behaviors sitting on top of the real operating system of the company: strategy,...
Culture Rewired: How AI Could Reshape — and Revitalize — Workplace Culture
In my first piece, Culture Rewritten: Staying Human in the Age of Intelligent Work, I explored a central tension of our time: as AI becomes infinitely capable, meaning becomes increasingly scarce. AI is now solving problems humans once solved for identity,...
Culture Rewritten: Staying Human in the Age of Intelligent Work
AI is solving our hardest problems, optimizing just about every process, and making knowledge almost infinite. But in doing so, it’s quietly taking something from us — the friction where meaning once lived. For decades, work has given us three deeply human...
Top talent doesn’t simply look for a job. They look for momentum
Your best employees want to be part of a company that is evolving, expanding, and investing. Growth isn’t just a buzzword — it has measurable impacts on retention, engagement, and career satisfaction. Just as importantly, growth drives innovation and business...
First Principles Brief: Why We Suck at Strategic Planning, And What To Do About It
(and why culture really does eat strategy for breakfast) Fall. My favorite season, when we kick off back-to-school routines, fantasy football leagues, pumpkin spice everything — and, of course, fall strategic planning for the year ahead. Unfortunately, the odds...
First Principles Brief: How AI Is Redefining The COO Role
In conversations with business owners, CEOs, and private equity leaders, one theme is clear: Because of AI, the COO of today won’t look much like the COO of 2030. Here’s why: AI is shifting decision-making from intuition to predictive insights Hybrid teams...
Launching in 1996 vs 2025: A Tale of Two Startups
In the ever-evolving world of technology, launching a startup has always been a daring, exhilarating pursuit. But the path to building Sundog in 1996 versus Teiken Gramer & Co. 2025 couldn't be more different. Each era brings its own set of opportunities,...
First Principles Brief: 11 Real-World Steps to Building Better Leaders
In a recent conversation, I was asked what I enjoyed most about leading teams over the past 30 years. My answer was easy: developing world-class leaders. Great leaders aren’t born — they’re built. It takes humility, strategy, accountability — and a genuine,...
I Faced the Buy-or-Sell Question—Here’s What I Learned
For several years, the startup I co-founded rode a wave of double-digit growth. We made the Inc. 5000 list three years in a row, earned national recognition for our culture, and established ourselves as a top Salesforce partner in the manufacturing sector. But...
First Principles Brief: Are You Sure You Just Hired a Culture Fit?
Most businesses drastically undervalue and underinvest in getting the hiring process right. As a leader, business owner or entrepreneur, few decisions matter more than who you hire. Yet too often, companies prioritize speed and skills over something far more...