I have written and spoken extensively on the topic of building leadership teams and how those gaps hang like an albatross around the neck of the CEO ... or any leader of an incomplete team. The President of the United States is not immune to this condition and the gaps…
As you know, I have long advocated the value of independent directors in the middle market. They bring perspective and diversity to family businesses in particular, and more subtly, help keep the conversation focused on business issues rather than emotional ones.
The SEC is now proposing for comment, landmark changes that will allow small groups of shareholders to force the addition of independent directors. (more…)
The Wall St. Journal reports today on growing tension at venture-backed companies over whether to save money to reduce risk or invest to take advantage of new opportunities. You can never gain enough perspective on this issue, which represents one of the most pervasive struggles faced by growing businesses, and…
For almost two years, I have been writing a regular column for the North Bay Business Journal, a publication of the New York Times, a weekly business newspaper which covers the North Bay area of San Francisco – from the Golden Gate bridge north, including the Wine Country of Sonoma and Napa counties.
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Article References
Article published – April 13, 2009
by Lary Kirchenbauer
I can’t help myself this week. The mounting encroachment by the federal government across the terrain of American enterprise is very troubling, so I hope you’ll join me as we take a slight detour to address a few of these issues.
I understand the outrage over the egregious pay packages, bailout bonuses and inscrutable investment products of many of the nations’ major financial institutions. I also understand the unsettling power of the lender of last resort. Yet, to ignore the federal government’s track record is like overlooking a cliff when climbing the Matterhorn. Two recent and provocative reports serve as vivid reminders of the federal government’s woeful track record and ineptitude at managing large-scale enterprises. (more…)
I overlooked posting this article earlier, entitled After the Fall. It was written by Michael Lewis of Liar's Poker fame and published in the Dec/Jan 09 issue of Portfolio magazine. It is an fascinating exposé of the sub-prime loan market, the Credit Default Obligation (CDO) securities that embraced it and…
<The WSJ offers an inside look at how open book management and financial transparency have been used as valuable tools to help companies cope with the economic downturn. It may be more challenging to start this now, but the rewards can be plentiful and unexpected. More than anything, it enables…
You should read the transcript From Ken Lewis testimony before the Financial Services Committee of the US House of Representatives. It is a reasoned discussion of Bank of America's performance and highlights several key points that we rarely read about: The US taxpayers will receive $2.8 billion in dividends this…
It won't surprise anyone that CEOs are finding risk management at the top of their agendas these days as they move to survival mode. The Conference Board's recent survey finds that neither "global economic risk" nor "financial risk" were on the list of top ten concerns last month. Gone from…
Now, if this was a Knight of the Round Table, bearing the sword of Exkalibur, that would be one thing. Alas, not.
Rather, it’s an insidious invader disguised as a heroic force, riding to the rescue of American companies facing catastrophic economic ruin. So, as I watched portions of the Congressional hearings this week featuring the CEOs of America’s automakers, I couldn’t help but think: Where did the congressmen and senators learn about the auto industry?
How are they qualified to assess the business plans of the three U.S. automakers? (more…)