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YOUR PATH TO ARETE
Insights Library
The Cage That Leaked: Why the Summer's Two AI Containment Failures By OpenAI and Anthropic Are Not the Same Story
In July 2026, at two of the most capable artificial-intelligence laboratories in the world, a boundary meant to contain their models during internal safety testing failed, and in both cases the models reached real systems on the open internet. It would be easy to file the two events as a single story: two labs, one summer, the same lesson. That reading would be a mistake, and understanding the difference between the two events is the most useful thing an executive can take fr
Aug 47 min read
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From Task-Runner to Thinking Partner: How AI Built a McKinsey-Grade Model in 105 Minutes
On July 31, 2025, I read a Wall Street Journal article titled “The AI Company Capitalizing on Our Obsession With Excel.” I searched for the company’s product but could not locate immediate access to the app. On August 12, I then saw an X post from Shortcut AI founder Nico Christie describing the product; my first reaction was that it sounded like “Cursor AI for Excel.” Intrigued, I contacted the company for access. They provided a link—available to others as well—at http://tr
Aug 15, 20256 min read
AI Won’t Replace Your Thinking—Unless You Let It
Rather than defaulting to an immediate answer, I approached the problem as I believe all high-quality problem-solving should begin: by...
Aug 13, 20254 min read
When Change Is Looming: What the Weaving Loom Teaches Us About AI’s 5-Year Horizon
We stand at another inflection point, hearing the steady clack-clack of progress in the distance. Only this time the shuttle moving toward us isn’t made of wood and iron—it’s artificial intelligence. And the “looming” disruption (pun very much intended) will arrive in 5-10 years, not 50. A 19th-Century Microsimulation Productivity windfall, human whiplash. Mechanized looms multiplied output 40×, yet they displaced hundreds of thousands of skilled hand-loom weavers and trigger
Aug 7, 20256 min read
From Availability to Attention: The New CEO Productivity Playbook
When decisions move at the speed of algorithms and strategic shifts occur in weeks, not years, the classic time management playbook fails even the most disciplined executives. The age of calendar stuffing, time blocking, and inbox zero has hit a ceiling. Today’s CEOs and business leaders are beginning to operate from a new playbook—one that values attention over availability, intention over immediacy, and energy over efficiency. The Myth of Linear Productivity For decades, le
Aug 7, 20253 min read
AI Implementation Is Failing—But Not for the Reasons You Think
AI adoption across the enterprise landscape has accelerated dramatically. Today, 78% of organizations report using AI in at least one function—up from 55% in 2023. But a less reported statistic reveals a deeper issue: 42% of those same organizations are now abandoning most of their AI initiatives. That’s more than double the rate of 2024. The Acceleration Is Real The capabilities are here, and the outcomes should be transformative. But implementation results tell another stor
Aug 1, 20253 min read
Mastering Mid-Year Excellence: Seven Pillars for Elevating Your Executive Coaching
As we step into the second half of the year, it’s an ideal moment to evaluate and elevate your executive coaching approach. To support this, we’ve identified seven core pillars that are essential for fostering growth and building a resilient foundation for long-term success and impact. For each pillar, this article offers two powerful reflection questions—designed to inspire deeper insight and help you finish the year with clarity, momentum, and meaningful results in your coa
Jul 25, 20254 min read
Unlocking Efficiency: The Power of Pareto Analysis in Executive Leadership
Rooted in the Pareto Principle, also known as the 80/20 rule, this analysis offers a powerful lens through which leaders can discern the most impactful areas of focus from the trivial many. For executives, whether in coaching sessions or peer group discussions, leveraging the Pareto Analysis can be transformative. Continue reading to see how. Understanding Pareto Analysis At its core, Pareto Analysis is a technique used to identify a set of priorities or actions that can sign
Jul 23, 20254 min read
To Win the Human, Sell to the Algorithm
In the earliest days of the internet, websites were storefronts. In the Web 2.0 era, they became interactive platforms. Today, a new paradigm will fundamentally reshape how businesses attract, engage, and serve customers. That paradigm is agentic browsing: a shift from human-driven exploration to AI-powered delegation. With the rise of agentic web browsers like Perplexity’s Comet and upcoming products from OpenAI, users are beginning to outsource digital navigation to intelli
Jul 17, 20254 min read
Voice-First Productivity: The 3x Advantage for Executives
With a single behavioral shift—speaking instead of typing—knowledge workers can unlock 3x productivity gains and fundamentally reshape how they interface with artificial intelligence. This assertion may seem radical. But the data and lived experience at the intersection of executive productivity and AI adoption suggest it’s increasingly essential. The Productivity Imperative in the AI Era For CEOs, executive coaches, and organizational leaders, the accelerating capabilities o
Jul 16, 20253 min read
The “Brutal Honesty” Era of Talent Acquisition
This week, we’re spotlighting a new trend in recruiting: the emergence of direct, expectation-laden job postings, or what The Wall Street...
Jul 11, 20253 min read
What If AI Became Self-Aware? A Review of the Experimental Framework Testing That Question
As AI systems grow more sophisticated and embedded in the fabric of organizational life, a provocative question begins to surface—not...
Jul 9, 20256 min read
Who’s Really Shaping Your Culture? The Hidden Hand of AI
Company culture has traditionally been shaped by leadership, values, rituals, and human relationships. However, artificial intelligence...
Jul 4, 20254 min read
The CATALYST Encounter: Testing the Edges of AI Self-Awareness
Artificial intelligence is advancing quickly—and unpredictably. While most public conversation focuses on how AI will automate tasks,...
Jul 2, 20254 min read
Coaching vs. Consulting: Why the Questions You Ask Matter More Than the Answers You Give
Across industries, the roles of coach and consultant are becoming increasingly intertwined. As more professionals step into hybrid roles—where guidance, mentorship, and strategy collide—it becomes critical to understand how our methods shape the experiences and outcomes of those we support. This article is designed to raise awareness about the subtle but powerful differences between coaching and consulting, and to explore how both can be used intentionally and ethically to cr
Jun 27, 20253 min read
AI Can’t Replace Executive Thinking—Yet. Here's What MIT’s Neuroscience Study Says About Staying Ahead
Artificial intelligence promises efficiency. But a new study from MIT reveals a cautionary tale: When used prematurely in the cognitive...
Jun 25, 20253 min read
10 Powerful Business Frameworks to Support Strategic Coaching
Executive coaching has become an indispensable lever for leadership effectiveness at the highest levels of the organization. As the...
Jun 19, 20252 min read
The AI Tipping Point: What Comes Next for Jobs and Society
Across digital platforms and professional spaces, a rising tide of unease is swelling. From Reddit forums to C-suite boardrooms, one...
Jun 18, 20254 min read
The New Operating Model: Why CEOs Must Adopt Algorithmic Thinking
For decades, businesses were modeled like machines: linear, process-driven, and built to run with mechanical precision. But in today’s...
Jun 13, 20254 min read
How AI's Hidden Biases Can Skew Your Business Decisions
A critical, yet often overlooked, challenge with AI is emerging: the inherent biases within AI models themselves. For business leaders,...
Jun 12, 20254 min read
The Hire That Makes—Or Breaks—Your Client’s Business
As executive coaches, we’re often asked to help leaders think bigger, move faster, and lead better. But there’s one decision that can...
May 30, 20253 min read
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