“The Story. The Shift. The Strategy.”
AI may change the landscape, but you still choose how you lead across it.” Some leadership shifts arrive like a crisis. Others begin more quietly, like a question you can’t unhear. The best ones change how you see yourself and what comes next. Over the past few weeks, I’ve asked three such questions, sparked by […]
Kevin McKenzie 
“What If Learning Was the Job?”
“Performance without learning is just repetition, and repetition in today’s world is a slow path to irrelevance. “ A CEO I recently spoke with asked, “What if learning speed was our most important metric?” That question resonated with me because I’ve noticed a subtle shift occurring in high-performing teams. It’s not about increasing output, optimization, […]
“What If You Were Obsolete in Three Years?”
What If You Were Obsolete in Three Years? What If You Were Obsolete in Three Years? What If You Were Obsolete in Three Years? What If You Were Obsolete in Three Years? What If You Were Obsolete in Three Years? “When faced with disruption, we tend to want to hold on tighter to what we have.” What if your job or […]
“What Do You Want Your Story to Be?”
“In the era of AI, the value of repeatable knowledge is dropping, as is the illusion of control, and the ability to hide behind what we know.” What Do You Want Your Story to Be? Now there’s a question I wish someone had asked me earlier in my career. Not about my goals, or how […]
“Let’s Not Regress to the Mean”
“Listening doesn’t slow things down. It keeps us from solving the wrong problem.” What if the most damaging message we send as leaders isn’t what we say, but what we quietly stop doing? You’ve seen the recent headlines. Market demand is softening, and the biggest and most profitable companies are announcing AI-related job reductions. When […]
“Seeing Clearly: The Two Leadership Blind Spots That Changed How I Lead”
“In a world moving this fast, the leaders who thrive won’t be the ones who know the most; they’ll be the ones who see the clearest.” What if the costliest mistake we make as leaders isn’t from bad intentions but from misunderstood perceptions? In my leadership journey, I’ve learned that the hardest lessons weren’t from […]
“Beyond Resilience: How Antifragile Leaders Unlock Better in the Age of AI and Uncertainty”
“What if leadership wasn’t about being unshakable, but about being unafraid to shift, stretch, and grow?” What if the real measure of leadership isn’t how well we manage order, but how we boldly respond to disorder? The world keeps shifting beneath our feet with trade tensions, political volatility, and technology evolving faster than our policies, habits, […]
The New Art of Reinvention: Unlocking Your Next Chapter in the AI Era
“The most important story you hear isn’t the one the world tells about you. It’s the one we choose to tell ourselves.” Welcome to Your Next Chapter Over the past five years, we’ve all come to realize that change is no longer episodic – it’s continuous. In the AI era, standing still is only an […]
“The Triumph of Fascination Over Fear in the AI Era”
“Like generations before us, we’re asking profound questions: Will AI empower or replace us? Is it a threat, an opportunity, or both?” AI is everywhere. Some envision Skynet, others utopia, while most of us hover uncertainly in between. From the Luddites smashing looms during the Industrial Revolution to contemporary anxieties around DNA technology, history shows […]
“Crisis Into Catalyst: 7 Ways to Spark Breakthrough Growth”
“Transparency breeds buy-in, accelerating the pace at which growth ideas become reality. People support what they help create.” In recent Whatif? Wednesday Thought Letters, we explored empathy as a leadership superpower and the crucial role of teams in the turmoil around tariffs. Now, let’s push further and discuss growth as a bold, strategic leap forward. […]
“From Crisis to Cohesion: How Teams Can Rise Above Market Turmoil”
“In a landscape fraught with volatility, the teams that stand out are those that maintain open communication, collaborate empathetically, and consistently look for opportunities hidden in the chaos. “ What a difference a week makes. Last Wednesday, I wrote about “Tariff Day 2025” and how leaders could navigate the storm of new U.S. tariffs with […]
“Tariff Day 2025: Will You Lead with Empathy or Wait and See?”
“Playing it safe isn’t safe. It erodes trust and loyalty, while leading with empathy and courage creates resilient teams and loyal customers.” April 2, 2025 – “Tariff Day.” Today, President Trump’s new tariffs take effect, and businesses and global markets are reacting with uncertainty dominating the headlines. For many business leaders, the instinct is to […]
“Elon Musk Says Empathy is a Weakness. I Say It’s Your Superpower.”
“Empathy is how you keep people with you – not just working for you.” Elon Musk says empathy is a weakness. I say it’s your superpower. That’s not just a difference of opinion. It’s a fork in the road for how we lead. Musk’s approach might appeal to those who believe leadership is about speed, […]
“Leading in 2025: Are You Ready for What’s Next?”
“What if continuous learning became your organization’s most decisive competitive advantage?” As we conclude our five-part series on Leading in 2025, let’s reflect on the interconnected challenges defining the future of leadership. It’s evident that leaders face a rapidly changing world filled with complexity and constant disruption. At Whatif? Advisory, we’ve identified five critical challenges […]
“What If Tariff Uncertainty Helped You Build a ‘Blue Zone’ Workplace?”
“In a turbulent world, we need more than standard wellness perks to attract and retain top talent.” In last week’s Whatif? Wednesday Thought Letter, we discussed turning your organization into a “Blue Zone” by creating a purpose-connected culture that fuels a strong sense of meaning and community. This week, we’re adding the fifth of the five challenges […]