Stephen Nalley

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For new leaders and entrepreneurs, success depends not just on innovation but on adaptability, resilience, and human connection. The modern marketplace is fast-moving, tech-driven, and constantly evolving. The business landscape looks a lot different than when today's top leaders first got their start, and the lessons they've learned along the way can help inform the leadership approaches of future executives and entrepreneurs. Below, 20 Fast Company Executive Board members share their best advice for the next generation of business leaders. From embracing failure to building authentic relationships, these insights can help rising professionals lead with purpose and thrive in an ever-changing world.

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Looking to boost business with a client rewards program? Keep these factors in mind to ensure it's a success. Incentive and rewards programs can encourage repeat business from loyal customers. However, simply offering points or perks won't necessarily drive long-term loyalty. To have a real, lasting impact, your program needs to be thoughtfully designed around what truly motivates customers and delivers mutual value. With this in mind, the members of Fast Company Executive Board share key factors to consider when developing a client rewards program and why it's so critical to get these details right.

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Regardless of your industry, any company can benefit from forging deeper connections with its target audience. In a noisy digital world, engaging with your target audience online is the key to standing out and staying relevant. While different engagement tactics may work best for different industries, you can't go wrong by building strong relationships with the people who support your business. To help you do this, 20 members of Fast Company Executive Board share their most effective go-to engagement strategies and why engagement is so important. From leveraging employee voices to creating personalized experiences, these hands-on tactics have helped them build deeper connections and drive measurable growth.

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As inflation continues to challenge industries across the board, businesses are being forced to make difficult decisions about how to manage rising costs without sacrificing customer trust or long-term growth. An organization's ability to adapt in the face of ongoing inflation — whether through adjusted pricing strategies, increased operational efficiency, or added value for cost — can mean the difference between losing market share and maintaining a loyal customer base. Navigating these challenges takes more than short-term fixes; it calls for thoughtful, industry-specific solutions that meet both business goals and customer needs. To help, Fast Company Executive Board members share how their brands are addressing inflation in their respective industries. Here are the steps they’re taking to reduce the impact of economic challenges, both internally and externally.

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When external pressures force internal change, how you respond can either protect or reshape your brand, operations, and client relationships. Every business encounters moments when industry shifts demand a fast, thoughtful response. Whether it’s a regulatory change, market disruption, or evolving client expectations, adapting effectively is rarely straightforward. If you’ve faced this kind of pressure, you know how complex it can be to make operational changes while maintaining trust and continuity. To that end, Fast Company Executive Board members discuss real-world challenges companies have faced and how they’ve adjusted without compromising their brand or service quality.

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AI is a powerful tool—one requiring strong guardrails to ensure responsible use. CISOs play a key role in making this happen. As artificial intelligence becomes more integrated into daily operations, the need for strong governance grows alongside it. For many companies, that responsibility increasingly falls to the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). But effective AI governance isn’t just about risk mitigation—it’s about building systems that are transparent, secure, and aligned with business and regulatory expectations from the start. Below, the members of Fast Company Executive Board share how CISOs can help shape compliant, ethical AI adoption without stifling business innovation.

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In the face of change, here's how to keep your company thriving from the inside out. To remain relevant in the marketplace over time, an industry evolution is necessary from time to time to stay competitive and avoid being left behind. Whether through the latest technology, product or service updates, companies will continue to grow with their clients and customers if they discover the best way to fix their problems.   But with industry change comes growing pains that need to be addressed in every field to get stakeholders on board with the daily operations and company goals. Here, 18 business leaders from Fast Company Executive Board discuss their industry specialty, trends, and challenges they've had to overcome. Through their insights, other colleagues will learn how to navigate internal and external industry changes and updates that impact their day-to-day workflow.

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For those willing to commit to relentless pursuit, the rewards are immense.

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Apply these 9 strategies to stay agile in the face of trade and regulatory shifts. In today’s increasingly interconnected world, business leaders constantly navigate a complex landscape shaped by global tensions, trade disruptions, and shifting regulatory requirements. With geopolitical uncertainties and fluctuating policies creating added obstacles, staying ahead of the curve is difficult but crucial.  To operate successfully through turbulent times, adaptability and strategic foresight are the key ingredients for business health. Here, nine experts from Fast Company Executive Board offer their insights on how to thrive amid these everchanging international dynamics and ensure long-term success despite the challenges.

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Industry leaders discuss the latest initiatives to drive a company's success in today's competitive marketplace. Advertising campaigns in business can be hit or miss because it's sometimes hard to gauge the pulse of potential customers in a digital world laced with short attention spans. Between the evolution of technology, platforms, and social media strategies constantly emerging, it's difficult to pinpoint exactly which trends are worth investing in. Every so often, a new solution stands out to demonstrate its potential to deliver a smarter approach. Below, eight members from Fast Company Executive Board discuss one advertising trend they are excited about trying or a tried-and-true method they have found success with and why.

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If you want your organization to thrive, start by ensuring that everyone knows the mission, understands the goals, and is empowered to contribute to success.

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Despite DEI rollbacks, some company leaders remain rooted in their initial choice to prioritize inclusivity for their customers and staff. Amid recent pushback on DEI policies across the federal government, private company executives are also rolling back on their organizations’ earlier commitments to invest in DEI program initiatives for employees and the communities they serve.  However, other brand leaders are determined to remain connected with a broader, stronger, and more diverse audience base to fuel company growth. And whether it relates to team functionality or delivering high-value products and services, these 10 experts from Fast Company Executive Board know just how important it is to build personalized, user-friendly products and processes that benefit all. Below,  featured members each share one way for companies to embed DEI into business design for more inclusive products and work environments.

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11 strategies to fund your brand's latest breakthrough without breaking the bank Establishing a thorough research and development process is the key to any product or service achieving local, national, or global marketplace success. But sometimes, coming up with an allocated "R&D budget" is easier said than done, especially when a company is already facing major budgetary cuts or working with limited resources. If the lack of finances is what stands in your team's way from moving forward on a great investment, 11 experts from Fast Company Executive Board suggest the following best practices to get your R&D stage off the ground without jeopardizing the organization's financial stability. 

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Mentorship is more than just a professional relationship. It’s a bridge between where you are and where you aspire to be.

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Apply these steps to keep your business thriving in a volatile economy. Amid astronomical inflation rates that continue to soar, some company heads may have to rethink their operational strategies for making good on the product quality and delivery services their clients and customers have grown to expect. If you’re a brand that's feeling the pressure of being able to meet the current supply demands, here are eight leading experts from Fast Company Executive Board to offer their best practices on how to manage inflation-driven cost increases in materials, labor, and energy while keeping the lights on and employees on board.

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Here's how digital tools are helping leading business experts collab smarter. As technological innovations continue to evolve in today's digital landscape, the ability that companies now have to compete in the marketplace is more democratic. A brand's product design and image can make or break a consumer's decision.  There are a variety of tools currently available that are built to streamline the workflows of creative marketing teams and bridge communication gaps to make collaborative projects seamless. Below, six experts from Fast Company Executive Board weigh in on the role technology plays in enhancing a creative team's productivity.

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Let me walk you through the keys to successfully securing SBA funding based on my experience and insights.

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Starting any business comes with legal hurdles. Here's how to navigate regulations and permits to set your venture up for success. Launching a new business is an exciting milestone, but navigating the maze of regulations, permits, and legal requirements can be frustrating (and confusing). These challenges, which often vary by industry and location, can create significant roadblocks for new business owners. To help, Fast Company Executive Board members have actionable strategies you can use to overcome these early-stage hurdles with confidence. By following the tips and best practices outlined below, you can streamline the launch process and set a strong foundation for success.

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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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As a small business owner, the challenges of 2025 are daunting, but they’re not insurmountable.  

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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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By addressing certain key factors and planning for anticipated challenges, organizations can successfully tap into global talent. Hiring internationally brings both exciting opportunities and unique challenges. As companies consider a truly global talent pool, they must also consider the legal and regulatory requirements to ensure compliance in each country. Additionally, cultural differences, language barriers and time zone variances can impact effective team collaboration and communication. To leverage the benefits and mitigate the challenges of hiring international talent, the members of Fast Company Executive Board share key considerations to keep in mind.

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Through consistency, authenticity, and valuable content, executives can effectively differentiate themselves and strengthen their influence in the digital space. Showcasing a strong personal brand online can set you apart from other executives and foster valuable connections across industries. But how can you best convey your unique perspective and expertise in a way that resonates with your audience? To help you do this, the members of Fast Company Executive Board share their tried-and-true strategies for building a strong, relatable, and memorable personal brand. From sharing your authentic experiences to engaging in thoughtful conversations, here's how you can stand out from the crowd and strengthen your online influence.

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Adding contingencies to annual budgets is not just a safety net; it’s a strategic tool that can help your business remain agile and resilient in the face of uncertainty.

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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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Effective cash control is crucial for businesses of all sizes, as it helps prevent theft, fraud, and errors while maintaining financial health.

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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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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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Whether you're retiring, pivoting to new opportunities, or capitalizing on market conditions, understanding the sale process is essential.

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6 cybersecurity business solutions to protect every stakeholder's sensitive information. With the uptick in cyberattacks, business leaders must remain proactive to ensure that the data of every stakeholder engaged with their brand is tightly secured at all times. In the new normal, breaches are inevitable, so company leaders must plan accordingly for the worst. Essential software communication platforms like Office 365 or Google Workspace are typically where global hackers strike first.  Any lapse in judgment or naivety about how best to protect a company's bread and butter puts the organization at risk. It may also destroy the confidence level, trust, and brand loyalty that clients once had. To protect a company's most valuable asset, six Fast Company Executive Board members each offer one practical tip to secure their employee messaging environment.

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Ignore your inner voice of self-doubt—you got this. Here's how successful thought leaders can start writing today, and keep going. For thought leaders who have solidified their reputation in a particular industry (or are looking to do so), one next step to build up credibility among colleagues and followers is to broaden their credibility by publishing a book. Doing so can help elevate trust and loyalty among your current audience. It may also bring in a new base to keep the momentum thriving in the future. If you've got plenty of ideas but don't think you have the time or patience needed to realistically get the job done, think again—11 experts from Fast Company Executive Board are here to help. They each share some tried and true best practices for a thought leader or influencer who wants to share their knowledge through book publishing for the first time. Here's how new writers can get their thoughts down on paper and expand their reach.

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Consider these factors to engage your clients and grow your business. In a digital business economy, serving today's current and prospective customers who have short attention spans is becoming increasingly important but also a bit of a challenge. Whether a brand decides to post more meaningful content value on its YourTube channel or TikTok platform, the time is now for video engagement.  Otherwise, the company may be missing out significantly on elevating in a consistent and effective manner. Here, nine experts from Fast Company Executive Board share how business owners are leveraging video marketing to promote their brands' products and services, and how this strategy has been beneficial to their establishment's success. 

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Starting a new business is an exciting yet challenging endeavor that requires careful planning and execution.

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From podcast novice to professional, here's how to gain followers and create engaging content with the popular entertainment outlet. Now, more than ever, podcasts are at the forefront of entertainment. As a thought leader with a podcast, you may have wondered how to gain traction in the popular entertainment sphere without compromising your original purpose for the podcast. To assist in this journey, Fast Company Executive Board members provide tips for growing your podcast following and creating engaging, relevant content to make an impact. With these expert recommendations, you can captivate and grow your audience effectively without losing sight of your original goals.

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Follow these tips to increase your company's ROI on conference sponsorships and collaborations. Whether you're a sponsor or a collaborative planning partner, being involved in industry conferences is a huge opportunity to expand your company's reach. Both virtual and on-site events provide a chance for you to grow your customer base, gain exposure among professionals in your field and even shape industry trends. To that end, 15 Fast Company Executive Board members share their insights on maximizing the impact of these annual events on your organization. From collaborating with complementary businesses to creating engaging experiences, these strategies can help you make the most of your conference participation.

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Revitalize your cold outreach strategy for more successful sales outcomes. In any industry, reaching out to a cold contact can be intimidating. The unfamiliarity can create anxiety and stress; however, with the right approach, it can lead to valuable opportunities. Below, Fast Company Executive Board members share their effective strategies for initiating contact with potential partners or clients. Follow their recommended methods to make a compelling first impression that can lead to a successful business relationship.

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Implementing these eight methods can lead to significant improvements in workplace productivity.

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Here's how to identify, recruit, and nurture the right people to share your company's impact. As it becomes even more competitive for brands to showcase their unique ability to provide consumer value over similar products and services, storytelling continues to grow as a key component in how companies deliver their narratives to current and prospective clients.  What better way to leverage an organization's background, mission, goals, and achievements than through a dedicated affiliate program featuring brand ambassadors who are just as passionate about all the things the brand represents and how it has made a difference in their lives? If you're ready to launch an affiliate or brand ambassador program to elevate your business offerings in the marketplace here are 10 ideas to consider, courtesy of Fast Company Executive Board members.

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Apply these best practices to pique your employees' curiosity and increase their participation. When employees begin to demonstrate stagnant behaviors or disinterest at work, it may be a sign that it's time to offer them a new challenge to keep them engaged in their current roles and potential growth at the company they represent. One way company leaders can boost their team's low morale is to build a creative lab within the confines of the organization to create "intrapreneurship" opportunities, as well as a timely reminder of the business mission and goals and why they're here. Below, 16 experts from Fast Company Executive Board offer their best strategies for designing safe spaces that give staff members a voice to collaborate on innovative ideas and solve problems that will help the company grow.

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Smarter, greener solutions to expand your business and save money. Leading a business that is still thriving and relevant to its consumers in today's tight economy is no easy feat. Having the bandwidth to launch a second brick-and-mortar location to serve a different target audience in another location is even more remarkable, but there are certain details that, if implemented correctly, can help companies save on the lifecycle of projected building costs over the long term. Below, nine Fast Company Executive Board members each offer a sustainable design idea for the architectural renovation plans for the space. They also discuss some of the structural pitfalls to watch out for.

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Try these tips to attract and satisfy customers who will also spread the word. In the digital economy, now more than ever, promoting travel destination deals to potential customers is extremely competitive. Everyone travels for specific reasons, so it's important to identify who your target audience is and how best to customize your offerings.  For additional strategies to elevate your service and stand out in a crowded market, eight experts from Fast Company Executive Board each share one tip to help marketing leaders and their teams get one step closer to attracting and retaining new clients.

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Putting these solutions into practice can increase employee productivity, collaboration, and communication. One of the best benefits of hybrid-remote work opportunities is the flexibility given to change your workspace environment as needed. But whether employees are required to be at the office headquarters three days a week or are working remotely every day, the management team needs to keep team morale up and communication flowing to help the company succeed.  Below, 17 experts from Fast Company Executive Board each provide one creative way company leaders can redesign their physical or virtual workspace to increase team productivity and motivation.

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13 ways to boost team morale and motivation to get the job done. When employees begin to feel burnout at work, it's not always immediately evident to others. However, employers and their leadership teams must learn how to recognize and address these symptoms sooner rather than later to prevent losing high-potential staff members.  But even if the signs were written on the wall for quite some time, it's never too late to work on increasing your employees' morale and get them enthusiastic about the company's mission and their real purpose for offering their time and service each day. Here, Fast Company Executive Board members each share one idea to motivate the cross-generational teams your company depends on every single day.

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In a world marked by rapid change, fierce competition, and evolving technologies, cultivating effective leaders isn't just a luxury—it's a necessity.