The challenge for us as CEOs is that, in essence, we are the creators of our companies. 

We're responsible for guiding them and for shaping them into their next era of evolution. For me, the biggest challenge of being a CEO is not usually the creation part. I live for that part of the work. I love making new things that didn't exist before. I love bringing them to light and life in the world. 

The challenge for me sometimes is carrying out that vision, holding true and fast to it, even as the company evolves, as things grow, and as people join the organization or leave it. That vision needs to stay true, regardless. But I know that it is my responsibility as CEO to be the keeper of that vision and to make sure that my team understands it, owns it, and can be accountable for bringing it to life in everything that we do.

Every June brings about mixed emotions for members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community as a flurry of pride themed posts and pieces of merchandise make their way into the market. As valuable and vital as it is to acknowledge and celebrate the community, it’s equally important we talk candidly and critically about the ways some brands get it wrong when it comes to marketing or showcasing their support for queer and trans folks.

In honor of pride month, and in celebration of our newest addition to the Fearless Team, we are passing the mic this week to Jamie Engelhardt, our new Creative Services Manager to share more about her journey of understanding the necessity of feeling safe and learning what it means to truly belong.

If we claim to be companies focused on equity, we need not only for queer humans to feel accepted, we need them to belong. We need them to have no question, whatsoever, they are in the right space.

Albeit hard to describe, it’s similar to the difference between the CEO of your company saying it’s a safe space and the employees saying it’s a safe space.

SCHO Private Wealth is a team of next-era financial professionals operating within Merrill Lynch's private wealth group. They specialize in challenging the status quo by providing financial advisory services to ultra-high-net-worth individuals, with a focus on impact-oriented wealth management strategies.

SCHO was established in 2021 by Kanwar Singh, who leveraged his 17 years of expertise in the industry to reimagine how money moves through the world. Although Kanwar was clear about the work his team is meant to do in the world, on the surface they were hard to distinguish from other high net worth advisors. As a result, SCHO was not bringing in the kinds of clients they feel most called to serve—-clients who want to create conscious momentum with their money and tip the scale toward a more equitable society.

A two-time Forbes-SHOOK Best-in-State Wealth Advisor, Kanwar knew the disconnect between SCHO’s existing and ideal client base wasn’t coming from a lack of expertise or competence. It was coming from something so simple: an outdated narrative about the work SCHO can do for ultra-high-net-worth clients.

Can AI be leveraged to create human-centric marketing? Businesses are constantly looking for innovative ways to connect with their target audience and create meaningful customer experiences—AI might be able to help create impactful marketing campaigns in unique ways.

Here are 10 of our favorite companies that have emerged in response to the pressing need to address the environmental, social, and economic challenges facing the planet.

Successful brands don’t just happen! Your favorite brands have a really solid brand strategy and brand identity in place to help drive their profits and positive customer experiences. Many people use the terms "brand strategy" and "brand identity" interchangeably, but they’re two completely separate end-products that are crucial to how well a brand’s messaging and visuals perform.

As we face increasing environmental challenges, regenerative business models offer a promising solution for a more sustainable future.

It’s 2023 and there’s still a significant gap in venture capital funding between male-owned businesses and women-owned businesses. What gives? Why do women have to fight so hard to earn the funds they need and deserve, in order to have a running shot at owning a business? Let’s unpack it.

Women-owned businesses help break down gender stereotypes, contribute significantly to the economy by creating jobs and generating income, and promote gender equality by providing women with opportunities to succeed in the business world.

Despite their estimated $141.1 billion in annual receipts and $42.2 billion in annual payroll, Black-owned businesses still face challenges and obstacles, such as limited access to capital, lower levels of business ownership, and a smaller customer base. Increasing the amount of support for Black-owned businesses is a way to improve economic equality and address the systemic inequalities that have historically hindered the growth and success of Black-owned companies.

Minority owned businesses tend to receive less funding, visibility, and opportunities compared to their competitors. By creating a sense of belonging and community, minority-owned businesses can foster customer loyalty, increase customer satisfaction and retention, and drive growth.

These 14 events and resources for Black business owners help provide access to capital, networking opportunities, and more.

Target’s marketing campaigns hold lessons we think every brand should implement when it comes to elevating diverse voices during Black History Month and beyond.

Email marketing is currently one of the fastest growing forms of marketing, and should be taken seriously by all types of companies in 2023. Here are 3 reasons why having a solid email strategy is crucial to your business.

The new Google helpful content update may be impacting your business. Use these 5 tips to create helpful content moving forward!

Cozy blankets, decorated trees, warm beverages, and the spirit of giving have us excited for the holiday season. Even though this time of the year is merry and bright, we recognize that it can be stress inducing. Whether you’re a solopreneur, have a team of employees, or work for a company, these 5 tips can help you find balance during the holidays.

A clean email list helps ensure you’re targeting the right audience for your brand and may increase your return on investment over time. Let’s take a more in-depth look at how to keep your email list tidy!