Dominick Passanante

expert panel

While inspiration and influence are both powerful tools, they don’t always mean the same thing or lead to the same results. At their core, both inspiration and influence aim to move people—but how they do so, and what follows, can vary dramatically. For leaders, choosing between (or balancing) the two can shape not only how others respond, but also how trust, motivation and lasting impact are built. Some see inspiration as the deeper force, igniting internal purpose, while others view influence as the practical key to decision-making and action. Below, 20 members of Fast Company Executive Board share how they view the distinction between inspiration and influence, and which they believe carries more weight in effective leadership.

expert panel

Make each annual conference more than a calendar commitment and turn it into a springboard for growth, insight and connection. Annual business conferences can easily become routine—another event on the calendar, another round of sessions and handshakes. But with the right approach, these gatherings can deliver far more than surface-level inspiration. Whether you’re attending to learn, leading a session, or using the event to align and energize your team, the real value lies in how you prepare, participate, and follow through. Below, 20 members of Fast Company Executive Board share their expert tips for getting the most out of your annual conference, year after year.

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By pairing the processing power of AI with the intuition and expertise of human professionals, frontline teams can deliver faster ambulance dispatches, quicker power restoration during outages, and more coordinated responses.

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Some executives are energized while others are cautious, but all agree that adapting to rapid innovation is essential to thriving in today's marketplace. The world is moving faster than ever, and technological innovation is at the center of it all. From generative AI to data-driven automation, change is happening at lightning speed—and business leaders are faced with a choice: embrace it, resist it, or try to strike a balance. Below, 18 Fast Company Executive Board members share how they really feel about the current pace of tech change, and what it means for their industries, their teams, and their leadership mindset.

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Long purchase cycles and challenges with the latest technologies make it more important than ever to earn a seat at the table as a trusted partner, not just a vendor.

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Apply these strategies to balance risks and stability and fortify your team's resilience. Leaders are often tested to their limits in today's rapidly evolving work environment and uncertain economic conditions. However, when challenges do arise, those are the moments when resilient leadership is the most important to inspire teams and ensure organizational survival and confidence. This will positively impact the company's long-term success. Below, 18 leading experts from Fast Company Executive Board weigh in on how to best cultivate resilience in leaders and the teams they manage, no matter what the marketplace looks like today or tomorrow.