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Welcome back. This week, we’re getting under the bonnet of what real leadership looks like, why brand still beats brute force and how not to lose your audience (or your soul) in a world that’s changing faster than your browser tabs can keep up. Buckle up – let’s dive in.

Enjoy!

Authenticity: the only leadership hack that works

First published in 2007, Discovering Your Authentic Leadership feels even more urgent today. In a world saturated with personal branding advice and leadership "hacks," the piece cuts through the noise with a simple but powerful idea: the best leaders don’t manufacture personas – they mine their life stories for the values, motivations and experiences that shape how they lead. Based on interviews with 125 leaders across sectors, it shows that authenticity isn’t about raw transparency or being all things to all people – it’s about knowing what you stand for and leading from that centre with consistency and courage. Still one of the best reads if you’re serious about building influence that lasts longer than the next trend cycle.

The CFO vs CMO showdown: why brand building beats short-termism

In a brilliant (and painfully relatable) LinkedIn post, Preston Rutherford, co-founder of clothing brand Chubbies, imagines the classic marketing-versus-finance clash – and arms the CMO with a strong stack of stats. Drawing on landmark studies from the Ehrenberg-Bass Institute, Les Binet, Peter Field, Byron Sharp and more, it’s a takedown of the idea that brand building is just "burning money." The TL;DR? Fighting for today's 5% of in-market buyers is expensive, exhausting and low-margin. The real aim is winning the brand recall and trust of the 95% who aren't ready yet – so when they are, they come straight to you. If you ever need to defend your brand budget, here’s the conversation primer you’ve been waiting for.

When did "new tech" start meaning "worse, but shinier"?

In 1987, farmer-philosopher Wendell Berry wrote nine simple rules for judging new technologies – such as "does it make life better for people, not just corporations?" Fast-forward to 2025, and, as Ted Gioia points out in his latest newsletter, we’re basically failing to meet Berry’s very reasonable requirements for new tech. Modern innovations tend to cost more, break faster and serve billionaires better than communities. Gioia’s reflection is a fun and slightly infuriating read for anyone wondering when "tech innovation" stopped meaning "helpful" and started meaning "subscription-only, batteries not included."

Pitch big or pitch smart?

When it comes to winning new business, how much showbiz is too much? The Drum’s latest debate on “pitch theatre” dives into whether you should roll out the razzle-dazzle or stick to simple, strong ideas. Some argue that big-budget theatrics – think stunts, props and 90-slide decks – risk drowning out the actual work. Others say a little magic helps show ambition and creativity under pressure. However, I know of one agency that lost a big airline client during the pitch process as their theatrics were just too distracting. It’s about knowing your audience, reading the room and making sure your pitch tells the right story, not just a loud one. Find out more here.

Adam Neumann’s $2.5bn second act

Turns out, a colourful pitch still counts for a lot. Adam Neumann – yes, the same Adam Neumann who co-founded (and flamed out of) WeWork – is back in a big way. His new venture, Flow, has reportedly raised another $100mn, doubling its valuation to $2.5bn. Critics are quick to point out that the company’s still light on real-world traction – but heavy on buzz. It's a reminder that in business (and pitching), charisma, storytelling and a strong personal brand can sometimes open doors that cold, hard performance can't. TechCrunch has the story.

AI is eating search – and social too

Gartner’s latest predictions paint a clear – and slightly chaotic – picture: generative AI isn’t just tweaking how we find and share information; it’s changing the history of, well, your search history. They forecast a 25% drop in traditional search engine volume by 2026, as people turn to AI chatbots for answers instead of googling everything. At the same time, they predict that 50% of Gen Z will abandon traditional social media by 2025 in favour of AI-curated private communities. In short: the old ways of reaching customers are crumbling faster than many businesses realise – and those clinging to SEO hacks and social content calendars from 2020 are in for a rude awakening.

From SEO to LLMO: getting found in an AI-first world

So, if AI models are the new gatekeepers of information, how do you make sure your content gets seen? Search Engine Journal has a great guide to what works best with large language models (LLMs). Forget keyword stuffing – LLMs favour well-structured, factual, clearly written content that answers real questions. Content that's original, up-to-date and genuinely useful is far more likely to be surfaced in AI responses than generic blogspam. Think less “SEO-optimised landing page” and more “authoritative answer to a smart question.” Here’s what you need to know.​

AI prompt of the week: competitor analysis

Here’s a great prompt to discover what your competition looks like and how to beat it.

“Act like a competitive intelligence strategist with 20+ years of experience in market research, digital strategy and brand positioning. Your task is to perform an in-depth competitive analysis for a business in the (insert your industry/sector here)

The goal is to uncover your top five competitors, analyse their strengths, weaknesses, offers, content strategies, audience engagement, pricing and unique value propositions. Then provide actionable recommendations to outperform them in key areas like SEO, social media, offers and messaging.”

Big questions about who pays (and who wins)

April’s tax season always stirs debate about fairness, but Scott Galloway’s latest essay (Earners vs Owners) is a smarter take than the usual grumbles. He argues that the real divide isn’t rich versus poor – it’s labour versus capital. In a world where taxes fall mainly on those who work and lightly on those who own, Galloway calls for a rethink of what prosperity should look like. It’s a provocative read that’s less about filing your return – and more about examining the system it’s built on. Take a look here.

Setting prices when the rules keep changing

Meanwhile, if Galloway makes you want to question the system, Harvard Business Review offers a more practical response: get smarter about how you price. With fresh tariffs, new political risks and supply chains in flux, businesses can’t afford static pricing strategies. This smart guide shows how to rethink your pricing for an era where costs, regulations and customer sentiment can all shift fast — and where agility, not just margin, becomes a competitive edge. Well worth a read if you're navigating uncertain waters.

The hidden cost of micromanagement

There are few leaders among us who haven’t been guilty of micromanagement at some time. But if you're serious about building a resilient, empowered team, this visual is a timely reminder that trust isn't optional – it's foundational.

Drop me a line

That’s it until next Sunday. Hopefully there was plenty to think about, plot and possibly steal. Remember: the best leaders aren’t the loudest or the busiest; they’re the ones asking better questions when everyone else is in back-to-back meetings. See you in a week for more unconventional thinking.

Cheers!
Adam

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