Leadership
Management insights, talent strategy, and executive perspectives.
From CFO to CEO: Why the Finance-to-CEO Pipeline Is Expanding in Industrial Companies
Finance leaders are increasingly being tapped for the top job at industrial companies, with 18% of new CEO appointments in 2025 coming from CFO backgrounds.
Women in Industrial Leadership: 2026 Progress Report Shows Gains at the Top, Gaps in the Pipeline
Women now hold 14% of CEO roles and 28% of C-suite positions at major industrial companies, but the pipeline of women in operational and technical roles remains worryingly thin.
Fixing Quiet Quitting in Industrial Companies: What Actually Works
Gallup data shows that 62% of industrial workers are "not engaged" at work, but a handful of companies have cracked the code by investing in purpose, growth, and frontline manager quality.
The Succession Planning Crisis: Why 60% of Manufacturers Don't Have a CEO Ready Now
A new study reveals alarming gaps in CEO succession readiness at manufacturing companies, with most boards lacking a tested internal candidate who could step in immediately.
Executive Compensation Trends: How Industrial Companies Are Tying Pay to ESG and Innovation
A growing share of executive incentive pay is tied to environmental, social, and innovation metrics, but skeptics question whether the targets are rigorous enough to drive real change.
Board Diversity in Industrial Companies: Progress, Plateaus, and the Path Forward
Women now hold 32% of board seats in S&P 500 industrial companies, but ethnic diversity and the representation of technology expertise on boards continue to lag.
The COO as Chief Technology Officer: Why Operations Leaders Are Owning the Tech Agenda
In manufacturing companies, the COO is increasingly the executive most responsible for technology strategy, as operational technology eclipses enterprise IT in strategic importance.
The CEO Agenda for 2026: What Industrial Leaders Are Prioritizing This Year
A survey of 200 industrial CEOs reveals that AI integration, talent development, and supply chain resilience have displaced growth and M&A as top strategic priorities.