CEO Daily Brief with Dr. Jessica Kriegel
In just five minutes a day, Dr. Jessica Kriegel, Chief Strategy Officer of Workforce and Labor for Culture Partners, unpacks the latest research, trends, and strategies shaping workplace culture—and driving business success. Designed for CEOs and executives, this daily podcast delivers actionable insights to build high-performance cultures that get real results.
Episodes
September 3, 2025 • 6 mins
In today’s episode:
Economists at BCA say there's a 60% chance of a recession in the next 12 months.
With so much uncertainty, a recession might serve as an economic cleanup--but it will come at the expense of the country's poorest.
At the same time, we're dealing with a new variable--tariffs--that are creating inflation and uncertainty without being related to the job market.
Lowering interest rates to stimulate the e...
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September 2, 2025 • 8 mins
In today's episode:
When you ask people what they enjoy most about their work, it's often some version of "the people."
Humancore's Mike Dolen says that's going to make it hard for AI to ever fully replace managers; people value their workplace relationships.
But are workplace relationships authentic, given the hierarchies and internal politics?
Mike's vision is for AI to give people information that can help bridge ...
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August 29, 2025 • 5 mins
In today's episode:
Today's jobless claims are going to be bad news whether they go up or down. Leaders are largely looking ahead, with the impact of tariffs looming on the horizon.
Jobs aren't being added quickly, it's taking longer to get a job, and young people can't find jobs.
Most executives are still scratching their heads about AI--but they're all looking for ways to make AI reduce inefficiencies, which impacts en...
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August 28, 2025 • 8 mins
In today’s episode:
The age of corporate apologies is over; now, it's more common to double down in the face of criticism.
Still, "I'm sorry" are some of a leader's most potent words. They create a powerful experience and open the door to empathy.
Many leaders are too insecure to use the tool. But when we never apologize--to preserve the idea that we're always right--everybody thinks we're always wrong.
CEO Daily B...
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August 27, 2025 • 7 mins
In today's episode:
Internal communications are no longer a secondary concer; they're critical to an organization's success.
In these uncertain times, CEO's can't just stick to the talking points about business results. Employees expect communication on larger political and social issues.
To know if you should comment on something, ask these questions: does it have a business impact? Does it affect our customer base o...
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August 26, 2025 • 6 mins
In today’s episode:
As AI reduces the number of entry-level jobs, young workers are in trouble. Companies need to wonder: what happens in ten years when it comes time to hire people for higher-level positions?
Even if companies aren't firing employees now, AI will cause them to hire fewer employees down the line.
The standout and most-connected candidates are getting more of the jobs that do exist; average candidates will...
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August 25, 2025 • 4 mins
In today's episode:
For the last six months, people who stayed in their job experienced higher wage growth than job switchers--a dynamic we haven't seen since the Great Recession.
The labor market is cooling quietly, no matter what the aggregate data says, and inflation is outgrowing wage growth.
Hiring windows are opening; it may be a good time to hire for mid and high-level roles.
As a CEO, this is the time to opti...
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August 22, 2025 • 5 mins
In today's episode:
If you want customers, pay your workers enough to be them.
Inflation may have cooled on paper, but people are struggling and wages aren't keeping pace.
Retention and demand are linked. When workers can live on their wages, you expand your market.
CEO Daily Brief is a daily, five-minute podcast for CEOs where we dissect the week's biggest news, unpack hot-button workplace trends, and bring you excl...
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August 21, 2025 • 6 mins
In today's episode:
Target's choice of new executive--its longtime COO--is raising some questions about how we think about succession. Investors aren't thrilled about the decision.
When a company is in trouble, should it look to a lifelong employee or turn to an outsider who can shake things up?
Investors tend to prefer fresh blood. It makes some sense--existing leadership has steered Target into choppy territory--but...
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August 20, 2025 • 6 mins
In today's episode:
Clothing is a signal; it's one of the first experiences that leaders can create for their employees.
For men in power, the suit look is pretty straightforward. Deviating from that choice is often framed as bold.
Women's clothing choices are scrutinized under a harsher lens; it's seen as less of a strategy than a statement.
As a CEO, be intentional. Don't just dress the part--intentionally choose the...
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August 19, 2025 • 6 mins
In today's episode:
Fear is the source of most dysfunctions in corporations.
Open, honest communication solves most problems. Companies get in trouble when they start making decisions from false premises.
Skillibrium's Bart Fanelli focuses on building patterns of communication and accountability. When people in an organization share information, skills, and processes, it creates an "intersection of value."
These int...
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August 18, 2025 • 6 mins
In today's episode:
Results come from actions. Actions are driven by belief. Beliefs are built by experiences.
Current results--for better or worse--are a result of existing actions, beliefs, and experiences within the company.
To change results, leaders should avoid getting caught in the "action trap." Think about the experiences you want employees to have that will drive their beliefs and actions.
This episode is an...
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August 15, 2025 • 8 mins
In today’s episode:
As AI makes it harder for college grads to find entry-level jobs, there's one key way people can still differentiate themselves: lean into being human.
Conversations, connections, networking, and referrals are key to differentating ourselves from the competition.
When in doubt: act like a 1950s businessman (without the bigotry).
CEO Daily Brief is a daily, five-minute podcast for CEOs where we disse...
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August 14, 2025 • 6 mins
In today’s episode:
212,000 women have left the workforce since the beginning of the year. That's a result of the return-to-office movement and the disproportionate burden of caregiving that falls to women.
The wave of RTO mandates was poorly thought-out and fundamentally misunderstands culture and productivity. Leaders should be able to lead without micromanaging employees at their desks.
Flexible workplaces allowed us t...
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August 13, 2025 • 4 mins
In today's episode:
Companies have been using AI to screen applicants for years; the difference is that now applicants are using it, too.
Anyone who claims to know the full impact of AI on the workforce has an agenda; the truth is, it's still an open question.
College grads are having a hard time finding jobs because entry-level positions have been the easiest to automate. Applicants can only find a leg up with some kind ...
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August 12, 2025 • 7 mins
In today’s episode:
The news has been abuzz with coverage of AT&T CEO John Stankey's letter to employees.
Jessica argues he's just saying the quiet part out loud: company loyalty is dead in both directions.
John says the role of a CEO is to inspire--and the letter's preachy tone has incited anger, not results.
CEO Daily Brief is a daily, five-minute podcast for CEOs where we dissect the week's biggest news, unpack hot-...
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August 11, 2025 • 7 mins
In today's episode:
Many CEOs are pausing; not too much hiring or firing as they're waiting to see what happens with inflation, AI, and tariffs.
Maintaining adaptaibility is key to success in ever-changing circumstances. We're also seeing a huge need for alignment at the executive level.
212,000 women have left the workforce this year--that's a reflection of reduced flexibility and return-to-office mandates.
Wages hav...
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August 8, 2025 • 6 mins
In today’s episode:
58% of workers complain they're being underutilized at work.
Most salaried employees would complain about also feeling overworked, especially if made to work the full forty-hour of the workweek.
We're in a society where people see what's broken--which leads to the sense that we can do more to fix it.
CEO Daily Brief is a daily, five-minute podcast for CEOs where we dissect the week's biggest news, un...
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August 7, 2025 • 5 mins
In today’s episode:
The firing of the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics is going to have a damaging effect on the economy.
The jobs report has been looking good over the last few months--but only if you read the headlines. The BLS has been transparent about the limitations of the data.
The trick is to ignore the jobs report from this month; pay attention to the report from six months ago, once the data has settled.
...
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August 6, 2025 • 6 mins
In today's episode:
Conscious capitalism is an apolitical movement that's trying to make capitalism work for all. It has four tenets:
First, a higher purpose. Without meaning, you're just trying to grab dollars.
Second, stakeholder orientation: create value for all the stakeholders, including employees, shareholders, and customers.
Third, conscious leadership. It's about how leaders show up and hold themselves account...
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