20 Teachings from 20 Years

March 29, 2024Posted inNewsletters, Uncategorized
The top 20 things learned from Amitabh Bhargava when writing the Bank Brief over the past 20 years have resulted in some our most favorite sayings. 1. Management teams really matter. I contend one could have gone to our 2007 Global Financial Services Conference, ahead of the financial crisis, and seen the top 20 U.S. banks present. If I had gone long the 10 best presentations (based on company positioning, strategy, poise) and short the worst 10, I…

What Is Jeff Bezos “Day 1” Philosophy?

March 14, 2024Posted inNewsletters
"The outside world can push you into Day 2 if you won't or can't embrace powerful trends quickly. If you fight them, you're probably fighting the future. Embrace them and you have a tailwind" — Jeff Bezos 'Day 1' A recent Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing, Amazon Exhibit 99.1 statement, is really quite interesting. Also known as the 2016 Letter to Shareholders, in it Jeff Bezos sketched out a philosophy that he calls "Day…

Leadership During Crisis – Insights From Mark Turner

February 29, 2024Posted inGeneral Management
Mark Turner and I have known each other for many years.  I have always admired his leadership style, and the great results his company achieved under his guidance speak for themselves.  Mark was also named “Banker of The Year” by American Banker a couple of years ago, a well-deserved recognition. I was honored when Mark joined a recent CEO call to share his insights about crisis leadership.  So I asked him to write an article…