Baruch Labunski

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Consider these workplace solutions to enhance your business productivity, security, and innovation. Owning and operating a small business is not for the faint of heart—it's often overwhelming. However, placing the right industry tools at your fingertips will simplify the daily workflow and set the business up for long-term success.   Digital technology can help small business executives automate their tasks, enhance productive collaboration, and prioritize their goals in the grand scheme. Here, 14 leading Fast Company Executive Board experts share their business hacks to streamline their department responsibilities, improve work-life balance, or increase industry growth and knowledge.

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Learn to lead with confidence and teach others to do the same. You don't need to have all the right answers to be an effective leader. It’s about fostering a work environment where your team can thrive and collaborate on discovering better solutions. Executive coaching can help leaders develop a more adaptive and insightful leadership style, enabling them to better support their team’s growth and navigate complex challenges. From refining the corporate decision-making process to improving their interpersonal skills, coaching can have a profound impact on any leader's journey.  Below, 15 thought leaders from Fast Company Executive Board each share their experiences with executive coaching, how it transformed their leadership style, and why they highly recommend it to other managers.

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19 business leaders debate whether traditional email is outdated, or if it still has its place. With the evolution of today's digitized world, having tools like SMS and MMS text messaging, and various social media platforms at our fingertips, provides instant gratification in communication. But there is a time and space for everything—and that's where email comes in as what some leaders still consider a reliable, professional and safe method to connect.  Below, 19 experts from Fast Company Executive Board weigh in on the relevancy of email communication for business, networking, and personal purposes in 2025.

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If you're looking for a different approach to attract and retain customers, apply these tips from leading experts. It's essential for growing businesses to play the long game if they want to compete successfully in today's uncertain economy. Developing a strong and consistent digital media presence, with a pulse on the trends and shifts, will also enable brands to anticipate their current and future customers needs in order to offer a better solution to their challenges. Here, 13 leaders from Fast Company Executive Board each explain their complete digital media process to build and keep their business thriving.

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Respect and communication are key to strengthening business relationships. In a tight economy and competitive marketplace, with consumers holding their pocketbooks closer and rethinking their spending habits, the last thing a brand wants to do is lose their trust due to a data privacy concern that slipped through the cracks. Complying with the state regarding privacy regulations and keeping clients informed about any changes or sudden breaches that may impact the information gathered is essential to earn their continued trust. To help marketing teams stay on the right course, 11 Fast Company Executive Board members each share one important factor every leader should know about customer data privacy for marketing outreach.

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Learn how to leverage your unique strengths and community connections to unlock personal and professional growth. Leaders often succeed by building on their unique strengths and tapping into the power of their communities. Whether through strategic collaborations, mentoring others, or applying specialized skills in new ways, leveraging these resources can accelerate personal growth and professional advancement. However, identifying the best ways to harness your talents and network effectively can feel overwhelming without the right guidance. To help, Fast Company Executive Board members offer practical strategies for using your unique skill sets and community connections to create meaningful growth opportunities.

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Hold off on adding extra bells and whistles to the end product until you understand what customers need. There is plenty of hard work and excitement that goes into the launch of a new product before it hits the shelves. However, if the creative staff doesn't do enough research and focus on early feedback from their potential customers, it will be a disappointment if the end users don't find it functional enough to fit in with their current lifestyle. To help companies find a better approach to balancing innovation with practicality in their product designs, eight leaders from Fast Company Executive Board weigh in on what creative designers must keep in mind.

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Develop a personalized client strategy to elevate your company's long-term potential. Whether you're operating from a traditional brick-and-mortar workspace, or your company recently went fully remote, in today's global economy, brand leaders must develop a comprehensive online marketing plan to maintain a sense of positive brand reputation in the market they represent. No doubt studying real-time data offers better insight into website performance levels, retail foot traffic, customer behavior patterns, and their product journey, but overall, customized client interactions are highly favored over being treated like a number. Here, 16 experts from Fast Company Executive Board each provide one best practice to use a complete digital media strategy to build consumer loyalty.

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Plan better in 2025 with these gift-giving suggestions that your staff can appreciate beyond any seasonal occasion. Whether your company is thriving in its industry or going through tough times, it makes a big difference to the success of your establishment when the right team is on board. Putting your trust in reliable talent who will always have your back is essential to helping a business grow and remain relevant. However, even the most loyal talent may doubt their commitment to the organization if they are not getting a return on their investment. Although the holiday season is the perfect time of year to celebrate your staff's dedication and achievements, it's more meaningful to communicate with your staff members authentically and regularly about the huge impact they have on your company's ability to operate. It's the thoughtfulness behind gift-giving that truly stands out. As the new year begins, 16 experts from Fast Company Executive Board each share one idea that will help elevate team morale and purpose beyond the holidays.

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Here is how to keep your organization and its employees safe from hackers. As the digital landscape continues to expand in the marketplace, having a company strategy to prevent costly cybersecurity threats is now a necessity—not a "nice to have." Getting your employees on board and up to speed starts by setting the best example from the top down to encourage your entire team to take the cybersecurity risk management procedures much more seriously. Here, 14 Fast Company Executive Board members provide their top solutions for setting their teams up for success and remaining updated about the latest phishing attacks and how to steer clear. With consistent training and the right mindset, your team will thank you in the long run for helping them stay well-prepared for what's to come.

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Feeling overwhelmed by all of your options for professional development? Here's how to select the most impactful business events, conferences, and training programs. Staying ahead in any industry requires continuous networking and education, but with countless options available, making the right choices can be challenging. It's important for you to focus on the events and programs that will provide the most value for your time and investment.  To help you navigate this decision-making process effectively, Fast Company Executive Board members share insights into determining the best bang for your buck when it comes to staying ahead. These tips can help you evaluate and select the best business events, conferences, and training programs to ensure you’re investing wisely in your professional development.

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No matter the type of year your business has had, there's always something to be grateful for. When running a business, each year comes with its fair share of successes and challenges. While looking back on difficult times can be a helpful learning tool, dwelling on hardships can foster a negative mindset. To counter this, it's important to take a step back, celebrate the wins, and appreciate the positive aspects of your business. In the spirit of the season, 18 Fast Company Executive Board members share what they're most grateful for in 2024.

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If your loyal customer base isn't enough to keep your doors open in a challenging market, here are a few strategies to change your luck. Running a business is no easy feat, especially when faced with factors outside of an owner's control—such as high rents, supply chain challenges, and stiff competition. Despite your loyal customer base and quality service, you may still struggle to keep your business afloat. For business owners facing these tough realities, Fast Company Executive Board members share practical advice and creative strategies that can offer new paths forward. Read on to find helpful tips to weather obstacles and find new ways to sustain your vision in the community.

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Here's how to show your customers appreciation without breaking the bank. Showing genuine appreciation can go a long way in building lasting relationships with customers and clients. Small but thoughtful gestures can make a big impact for companies on a limited budget and keep customers feeling valued year-round. Here, Fast Company Executive Board members share what you can offer to show how much you value their loyalty while being mindful of your budget. From personalized messages to exclusive access and special perks, there are many ways businesses can express gratitude and strengthen connections without a large expense.

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Building your own sophisticated, modern business website is both possible and affordable with these top-recommended DIY tools. Every business needs a well-designed, functional website to engage prospective customers and showcase their products or services. Hiring a professional web designer isn't always in the budget for small business owners, so they need to rely on "do-it-yourself" tools to create their own sites. When it comes to choosing a DIY website builder, it's important to strike the right balance between features and affordability. Here, the members of Fast Company Executive Board share their top recommendations for business owners who want all the bells and whistles to create their dream website without breaking the bank.

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When used correctly, consider AI technology as a minor contributor to your daily workflow, not a major threat to your current role. Marketing is all about the creative process of the human mind, but after so many years of coming up with brand campaigns, it's not surprising that new ideas can sometimes grow stale. That's where the evolution of AI tools comes in.  Whether companies are using artificial intelligence to gauge a potential customer base or to spark an attention-grabbing subject line in the latest email newsletter, most teams realize the benefits of utilizing AI responsibly to personalize their brand communications and increase their daily productivity with the help of automation. To demonstrate how AI tools have improved their quality of work life and technological mindset, 14 members from Fast Company Executive Board each offer one specific way marketers can treat AI as a "tool in the shed" to support their creative outlet process, not take it away.

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It's your delivery that truly counts. Implement these tips if you want prospective customers to take action regarding your brand. Whether you are marketing a product to build on the momentum of your latest campaign, or delivering a well-thought-out pitch to a venture capitalist for additional funding, storytelling is an essential part of the process that will elevate your company's growth potential and credibility in the marketplace. Below, 19 Fast Company Executive Board members each offer their best tip for developing a storyline that will make a strong impact and get people excited about your business enough to take a significant call to action that will reflect on quarterly growth.

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Apply these suggestions to strengthen your social media following while remaining authentic and credible. In a digital marketing world, where content is king, one of the biggest challenges YouTubers and podcasters may face is how to keep their channels fresh and interesting. With the potential short attention spans of today's viewers, social media posting is not only about picking the right time and day to share updates with target audience members and current followers—it's also about finding a way to connect with people, authentically, every time you show up.   Showing people the real version of you, unfiltered, may captivate them a few minutes longer and encourage them to focus on the message you are trying to convey. You never know whose life you can positively impact by crafting a well-thought-out piece of content that keeps them coming back for more.  Suppose you are a content creator trying to grow your audience. In that case, eight leading experts from Fast Company Executive Board have additional ideas to share with you to help boost your brand's authenticity, demonstrate personal influence, and gain even more credibility among your followers.

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Here's how to elevate your personal brand of social influence in today's digital economy. When American YouTuber and actor Lucas Cruikshank was the first person to reach $1 million subscribers on his Fred channel in the early-to-mid 2000s, it gave potential social entrepreneurs—before anyone truly knew what that title meant—a glimpse of how far engaging content creation could take them. Fast forward to today's competitive marketplace, where everyone is always feeling the pressure to be "on" social media platforms and pair that with an uncertain economy—it takes much more than one's ability to hype up their target base about a product or service. Being comfortable networking with like-minded individuals or brands who are willing to ally will help each stakeholder grow further and faster.  In an ever-changing digital space, the best path for social entrepreneurs to make the most impact in their industries—promoting their cause through aligned partnerships—may not be written in stone, however, nine experts from Fast Company Executive Board each share strategies on what is currently working for some of the leading influencers in today's social economy.

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Many business leaders want to know the secrets to success. I believe all it takes is looking at the top modern CEOs to find common traits.

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Apply these best practices to expand the lifetime value of what customers have come to expect. Technology continues to be the solution to helping brands and their customers elevate their business and personal experiences. One key indicator to assessing a client's satisfaction with a particular device is to gain access to their existing daily habits and how the product impacts their life. Once that information is determined and measured through a combination of data analytics and real-time user feedback, the brand can work on modernizing its product to make it better. The most important predictor of satisfaction and long-term stickiness for devices such as wearables is how well they fit into existing lifestyles and habits. Careful assessment of the users' existing habits is essential. A device must not rely on the formation of new habits for success. Rather, it should make existing habits easier or automate as many steps as possible.  Below, 12 experts from Fast Company Executive Board each offer one suggestion to help other brand leaders and creative UX designers adapt their product designs for new and evolving wearables, smart home devices, and other Internet of Things devices.

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Customers will thank you kindly for putting their design needs first, leaving non-essential product bells and whistles at the door. It's an exciting time when a company is preparing to launch a new app or feature on one of its existing products. However, before introducing an updated design or functionality on the current model, it's important to gather as much feedback as possible from the end users and other stakeholders to give them what they want, so you can add meaningful value to their journey with the brand.  Creating an overcomplicated design will waste time and budget, so remember that less is more. Below, 10 leaders from Fast Company Executive Board weigh in on how to help creative UX teams develop visually appealing and functional designs. Implementing these best practices will ensure that aesthetic choices do not compromise product usability, and customers are satisfied with their experience.

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Here's how to stop the lies from spreading and keep loyal consumers updated on what's correct. When it comes to maintaining a positive image and authentic brand reputation, company leaders need to control their narrative before someone on the outside tries to spin their own tales about the brand in a non-appealing way. Here, 15 brand leaders from Fast Company Executive Board each share their most effective strategies to combat misinformation and ensure the integrity of information in an era of digital manipulation.

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With the right structure, sharing business knowledge in the classroom can benefit seasoned working professionals and their students. Here's how to stay organized and energized while mentoring the next generation. If you are a business leader who is extremely passionate about your 9 to 5 duties, you may want to consider using your positive influence to encourage future professionals through an adjunct professorship role.  One of the biggest challenges—whether teaching in person or online—is how to avoid burnout from working all day and teaching after hours. But when it comes to managing work responsibilities and personal lifestyle, the experts from Fast Company Executive Board have got you covered and know how to strike the right balance. Here are 16 tips to make the experience less stressful and more rewarding.  

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The right talent acquisition strategies can help ensure your company’s long-term success. Every successful company needs a strong talent acquisition strategy. Whether you're focused on building a robust pipeline, streamlining your onboarding process, or leveraging analytics to predict future needs, the right approach can drive sustainable growth and keep your organization competitive.  Below, Fast Company Executive Board members share how their talent acquisition strategies are shaping the future of their organizations. Here's what they've found to work well and how you can apply these insights to your own talent acquisition efforts.

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Here's why sharing your expertise as an adjunct professor with the next generation of leaders can be rewarding but challenging. Taking on an adjunct professor role offers leaders a special opportunity to share hard-earned insights with the next generation. This role can be incredibly rewarding, as it allows you to shape future leaders while leaving a lasting professional legacy. However, translating industry experience into an academic setting comes with its own set of challenges, particularly in adapting to different learning styles and expectations.  Below, Fast Company Executive Board members share their thoughts on the benefits and hurdles of stepping into this educational role.

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Here's what business owners should know about incorporating AR into their marketing strategies.

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Business owners must carefully evaluate key factors to ensure their brick-and-mortar locations are set up for long-term success. For any business owner, securing the right real estate for a brick-and-mortar location is a critical decision that requires careful consideration of several market factors. Decisions made during this process can have a long-lasting impact on a business’s success.  Below, Fast Company Executive Board members offer valuable tips to help you make informed decisions when selecting a physical location for your business. From understanding current market trends to evaluating the long-term potential of a location, here's how these key elements can make or break the success of the business. 

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Online platforms like LinkedIn provide opportunities for career professionals to gain a foothold while transitioning to new industries. Many professional skills translate well from one industry to another. For job seekers who are looking to change industries, it's important to be specific about how their professional experiences will help them be successful in their new chosen field. One way to do this is to leverage online platforms to showcase your expertise and transferrable skills. To help, 20 members of Fast Company Executive Board share strategies for translating existing skills into new career paths to stand out to potential employers. Follow their advice to build your professional network, showcase past projects, and provide thoughtful commentary on relevant topics to establish yourself in a new industry.

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Employee buy-in is key to delivering the right message to current and potential customers. In the growing world of misinformation and declining B2C trust, companies must remain vigilant to ensure the messaging their brand is communicating internally and externally is exceeding the core standards they truly represent and continue to live up to.  Keeping employees educated about their role and stake in demonstrating their company's mission and goals through their daily work practices is essential to ensure alignment and engagement across the entire establishment. If your digital and traditional messaging strategies are not consistent with what the company stands for, 17 leaders from Fast Company Executive Board each offer one step to preserve the authenticity of marketing practices and company core values.