WSJ Leadership Institute

Introducing The Wall Street Journal Technology Council For over a decade, The Wall Street Journal CIO Network has brought together the most influential technology leaders to discuss the challenges and opportunities shaping the future. Today, we’re excited to share our next chapter: the evolution of our community into the WSJ Technology Council—a reflection of the expanding, interdisciplinary nature of technology leadership. Chief information officers are key players in technology strategy, as are chief technology officers, chief AI officers, chief information security officers and many other executives. Our expanded council reflects that technology strategy is a team sport. As part of The WSJ Leadership Institute, the WSJ Technology Council will continue to offer exclusive peer-to-peer discussions, high-level events, and expert insights curated by The Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones. To apply to join the membership or to refer a colleague for consideration, visit our website here: https://lnkd.in/eUv_N4Z8 #WSJTechnologyCouncil #WSJLI

Earlier this month, the WSJ Leadership Institute brought together the most influential voices in finance for the WSJ CFO Summit—from Apollo President Jim Zelter to NYSE Group President Lynn Martin. The conversation centered on?today's most pressing issues - from the real ROI of generative AI, to the health of the economy. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gXNVFGrV

Is there a connection between being a great athlete and a great leader? We'd love to hear your perspective-let us know your thoughts in the comments.

In this week’s CEO brief… Ben Ashwell, Council Chair and Editor of the CFO and CIO Councils, sat down with Colin Ahern, New York State’s first ever chief cyber officer. One of his tips for executives is to “change the default passwords on every device connected to your home network.” WSJ Leadership Institute President Alan Murray reported on comments made by Nvidia’s CEO Jensen Huang: “The amount of computation needed [for AI] is 100 times more than we thought we needed last year." Steve Rosenbush, Bureau Chief for enterprise technology at WSJ Pro offered a clear directive to CEO’s on evaluating new technologies: “Focus on the rate of change.” Alan Murray also weighed in on the Trump administration’s plans to reshape the global trading system: “The post-World War II economic order is crumbling, as is the United States’ willingness to bear the costs of that system.” Stay informed by subscribing to the CEO Brief here: https://lnkd.in/eRcJMdwr

With cybersecurity threats evolving rapidly, how can organizations strengthen their defenses and protect both their businesses and the individuals they serve? At WSJ Tech Live Cybersecurity, the WSJ Leadership Institute brought together top CEOs and CIOs for an exclusive, off-the-record discussion on the evolving cyber landscape. Colin Ahern (Colin A.), New York’s Chief Cyber Officer, shared how he’s fortifying the state’s defenses against cyberattacks and implementing its first-ever cybersecurity strategy. Watch highlights from WSJ Tech Live Cybersecurity here:?https://lnkd.in/e9bXbSZ2

This week in the CEO Brief… WSJ Leadership Institute President Alan Murray sat down with Bill McDermott, CEO of ServiceNow, who advised leaders to "get more efficient, more effective, more productive.” Walden Siew Editor and Bureau Chief of The CFO Journal, spoke with Richard Edelman, President & CEO of Edelman, who emphasized the importance of CEO engagement: "Go out and listen a lot." WSJ’s Emily Glazer shared insights from some of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs, including Serena Williams, who advises: "You take small bites and control that." Meanwhile, CEO turnover remains steady. 29 new CEOs have taken the helm at top S&P 500 companies in 2024—consistent with the decade-long average. Stay informed by subscribing to the CEO Brief here: https://lnkd.in/eRcJMdwr

We want to hear from you: Should?companies have diversity and inclusion goals??Tell us your thoughts?here : https://lnkd.in/ef6-zGei

At last week's WSJ CFO Network Summit, Alan Murray interviewed conservative activist Robby Starbuck, who's been?influential in launching campaigns against companies’ DEI policies. Yet 68% of CFOs in the audience still believe their companies should have DEI goals. What do you think? Should?companies have diversity and inclusion goals??Tell us your thoughts?here: https://lnkd.in/ef6-zGei

At last week’s WSJ CFO Summit, we explored the most pressing issues facing today’s CFOs—from tariffs and economic policy to AI and M&A. It’s a pivotal moment for finance leaders, and we heard firsthand how they are navigating this era of uncertainty with agility and strategic foresight. A few standout moments: We kicked off the Summit with our inaugural Women in Finance Reception, co-chaired by Peggy Smyth (Margaret Mary Smyth), Board Director, Etsy, Frontier Communications and Remitly Global and Sachi Vora, Global Managing Partner, Financial Officers Practice at Heidrick & Struggles. Jim Zelter, President of Apollo, shared his perspective on market volatility and how alternative asset managers are stepping in as a key source of financing for blue-chip companies. SEC Acting Chairman Mark Uyeda outlined how the regulatory agenda will shift under the new administration, impacting everything from climate disclosures to crypto enforcement. CFOs from Johnson & Johnson, Nuveen and Navan tackled the challenge of navigating short-term policy uncertainty while positioning their companies for long-term success. Robby Starbuck’s discussion with Alan Murray on the backlash against DEI initiatives underscored a broader corporate debate, one that is now influencing decisions at some of the world’s biggest companies. Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller shared his thoughts on rate cuts and the health of the economy under the Trump administration. And NYSE Group President Lynn Martin closed out the summit with a forward-looking discussion on the market outlook for 2025. Watch the content highlights here: https://lnkd.in/eG9qB_YG

Great dialogue at today’s The Wall Street Journal CFO Network Summit, where my co-panelist Sonali Patel of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP and I talked with moderator Nick Elliott of Dow Jones about opportunities and risks in the M&A landscape. While optimism abounded post election, the recent spate of headlines has unnerved executives’ confidence who are awaiting greater certainty to the macro, geopolitical and regulatory backdrop. Other conversations included: CFO generative AI playbook with R. Scott Herren of Cisco, the economic outlook with Fed governor Christopher Waller, the markets with Lynn Martin of NYSE and more. Great networking with CFO leaders who are clients and friends. Looking forward to next year. #mergersandacquisitions #thisismizuho WSJ Leadership Institute Alan Murray Ben Ashwell