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Meaning Makers

A no-nonsense newsletter for busy leaders who are done with overwork and ready for a smarter way to scale. Join 11,000+ getting straight-up tips on leadership, team-building, and how to actually use AI and hybrid intelligence to make work easier. Earn more. Go home earlier. Lead with purpose—without burning out.

Featured Post

The safest course, paradoxically, is to be bold

Hi Reader Here’s a stat that stopped me in my tracks: 64% of CEOs say they need to take more risks than their competitors just to stay ahead. That’s from the 2025 IBM CEO Study. And no—they’re not talking about thrill-seeking or spontaneous gambles. They mean bold, strategic, “this-could-change-everything” moves: Betting on AI with no guaranteed ROI. Rethinking talent in a world where 31% of the workforce needs reskilling—and over half of AI-related roles didn’t even exist a year ago....

Hi Reader What if I told you that 49% of CEOs expect GenAI to increase profitability within the next 12 months? That’s exactly what I read in PwC’s 28th Annual Global CEO Survey. That’s fast. That’s now. But here’s the rub… The Real Problem Isn’t the Tech – It’s the Talent Gap Adopting AI is more about upgrading your thinking than it is about upgrading your tools. What’s missing in most organizations? People skills. Specifically: AI literacy: Knowing what GenAI can—and can’t—do. Judgment:...

Hey Reader This is your final call— The 7-Day Personal Brand Challenge kicks off tomorrow. If you’ve been feeling the pull to: → Step into a new version of yourself → Be seen for who you really are professionally → Attract the right opportunities, not just any opportunities… Then this is your moment. Here’s what you’ll walk away with: ✔ 3 powerful live sessions + expert guidance ✔ A full AI-powered audit of your current online presence ✔ A refreshed LinkedIn profile that reflects who you are...

Hi Reader According to a CareerBuilder survey, 70% of employers are checking your social media profiles before they even think about picking up the phone. And here’s the kicker—nearly half won’t call you in at all if they can’t find anything about you online. And whether you’re an executive, a high-level expert, or a consultant, silence is no longer just neutral. It might actually be hurting you. It’s not limited to social sites either. 66% are using search engines to fill in the blanks....

Hi Reader 10 years ago, I was in the prime of my career. I had done all the right things: climbed the corporate ladder, built credibility in respected organizations, and earned a seat at the table. I started at Deloitte, eventually overseeing training and development for 800 people across multiple regions. Then I moved into banking, leading learning and development, and later joined a fast-growing telecom startup as VP of Organizational Development. I was speaking at conferences, getting...

Hi Reader A friend of mine was hired last week—because ChatGPT recommended him. No kidding. They didn’t dig through resumes. They didn’t network their way to him. They simply asked ChatGPT deep research to identify top candidates. And my friend’s name came up. That’s the world we live in now. We used to worry about what showed up when someone Googled us. Then it was LinkedIn. And now? It’s AI. Companies are literally asking large language models to assess us. To size up our digital presence....

Hey Reader Earlier this week, I shared a quick update about the book I’m reading, and honestly? I figured it might get a couple of likes, maybe a comment or two. But what I got was completely unexpected. The post blew up—not just with comments, but with real recommendations. People weren’t just dropping titles; they were sharing books that actually matter to them. Stuff that’s making them think differently, work smarter, or just see the world in a new way. Fiction, nonfiction, deep dives into...

Hi Reader This Tuesday, I had a fantastic conversation with Marianna Inozemtseva, LinkedIn strategist and founder of Linkifyo, about a topic that more of us should be thinking about long before we need it: building your personal brand. I remember myself in my corporate days only dusting off my LinkedIn profile when I was job hunting or plotting my next career leap. But, like for many in a similar situation, by then, the game is already in motion—and you’re starting from behind Marianna and I...

Hi Reader Startups are messy. Add government clients, multiple time zones, and a major leadership transition, and you’ve got a recipe for drama. But that’s exactly the situation I walked into when I was asked to help mediate at a B2G startup selling complex software in emerging markets. When the “Perfect Fit” Isn’t Enough On paper, Jim looked like a dream hire. A young, energetic executive with a proven track record in complex sales. The founder, ready to step back, handed over the reins and...

Hi Reader This week was full. But not just busy—it was productive, too. And let’s face it: those two don’t always go hand in hand. We’ve all had those weeks where activity doesn’t equal progress. But this time things just clicked. Here are a few things I’m excited to share with you: 🎧 Self-Managed Organizations: A Model That Works I had a fascinating conversation with Veiko Valkiainen—leadership coach, podcast host, and one of the most thoughtful voices on self-managed organizations. These...