The conversation around women in leadership is no longer about whether progress is happening, but about how uneven and fragile that progress remains. According to LinkedIn’s Global Economic Graph, women currently hold 30.6% of leadership roles across 74 countries, a modest number compared to their 43.4% representation in the workforce overall (LinkedIn, 2024). McKinsey’s Women in the Workplace 2024 report highlights a similar pattern: women account for nearly half of entry-level roles but hold just 29% of C-suite positions (McKinsey, 2024). Fortune 500 companies tell an even starker story, with only 10.4% of CEOs being women as of last year (Catalyst, 2024). Globally, women hold just 6% of CEO roles, 8.4% of board chair positions, and 23.3% of board seats, according to the International Finance Corporation (IFC, 2023). Even in the S&P 500, where representation has improved over time, women still account for less than 10% of CEOs in 2025 (Women’s Power Gap, 2025).
Women are starting businesses at record rates, but the playing field remains uneven. A recent study from the National Bureau of Economic Research, cited in Investopedia, reveals that when ventures fail, female founders are 30% less likely than men to secure funding for a new business. Even after success, women raise 53% less capital on average and face a 27% lower chance of being funded again, often missing out on tens of millions. The data points to entrenched bias, not performance, as the cause of this disparity.
TAGS:
Women Entrepreneurs,
Women In Business,
women CEOs,
funding,
Lending,
economic,
investments,
entrepreneurs,
Capital,
startups,
small business,
The digital landscape is rapidly evolving, and with it, the sophistication of cyber threats targeting businesses is increasing. An alarming trend for CEOs and business owners is the rise of deepfake technology, which can create remarkably realistic audio and video of individuals, often resulting in devastating financial consequences. Business email compromise (BEC) attacks, although not all using deepfakes yet, accounted for over $2.9 billion in losses globally in 2023, according to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) report.
TAGS:
DeepfakeThreat,
Cybersecurity,
AICybersecurity,
CEORisks,
BusinessSecurity,
CyberAttack,
Ransomware,
BECScam,
DigitalTrust,
ExecutiveProtection,
Infosec,
AIinBusiness,
RiskManagement,
CorporateSecurity,
FutureofSecurity,
CyberResilience,
small business,
The collaboration between innovation and strategic leadership is transforming how organizations compete and grow. 2025 is poised to be a pivotal moment, with CEOs expected to take on crucial roles in adopting advanced technologies that not only enhance operational efficiency but also drive long-term value. A recent Gartner report indicates that 87% of senior business leaders say digitalization is a company priority.
TAGS:
AI,
Technology,
Cyber Security,
artificial intelligence,
CEO,
small business,
Leadership,
Tools,
strategies,
Tech Stack,
The role of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) has transformed significantly. CFOs are no longer limited to traditional financial stewardship; instead, they have become central figures in driving strategic growth and innovation within organizations.
Historically, CFOs were primarily responsible for financial reporting and risk management. Today, they play a critical role in strategic decision-making. According to Gartner, CFOs are increasingly expected to align their organization's cost structure with unique capabilities and to act as executive champions in enterprise-wide data and analytics governance.
This shift is further illustrated by the rising number of CFOs transitioning into CEO roles. A 2023 survey by Heidrick & Struggles revealed that nearly one-third of FTSE 100 CEOs were former CFOs, an increase from 21% in 2019.
TAGS:
CFO,
Chief financial Officer,
finance,
decision-making,
innovation,
small business,
Technology,
organizations,
corporate,
economic,
financial,
investments
Neglecting mental health in the workplace can have considerable financial consequences. According to the National Institutes of Health in the United States, untreated mental illness costs businesses up to $193.2 billion annually due to absenteeism, reduced productivity, and increased healthcare expenses. Likewise, according to Deloitte in the United Kingdom, poor mental health among employees costs employers approximately £51 billion each year, with presenteeism—when employees work while unwell—accounting for around £24 billion of this total.
For businesses, strong leadership is one of the defining factors in achieving success. While leadership can be cultivated through various experiences, military training can provide effective and time-tested principles that, in some cases, can beseamlessly transition into the corporate environment. According to the United States Census Bureau, Veterans own about 5.4% of the nation’s employer businesses, generating approximately $922 billion in revenue, which underscores the significant impact of military-honed leadership skills in business.
Military leaders engage in rigorous strategic planning before executing any mission. Similarly, business leaders must anticipate market trends, assess risks, and devise long-term strategies to remain competitive. According to a study by Harvard Business Review, 70% of organizations that execute strategic planning report higher revenue growth compared to those that don’t. By adopting military-style scenario planning, businesses can prepare for uncertainties and pivot effectively when challenges arise.
As Artificial intelligence advances, and one of its most concerning applications is deepfake technology. According to Cyber Defense Magazine, the number of deepfake videos online has surged at an alarming annual rate of 900%. Originally a novelty for entertainment, deepfake voices are now being weaponized for fraud. Criminals are using AI to replicate voices with stunning accuracy, allowing them to impersonate real people and deceive unsuspecting victims.
TAGS:
Deepfake,
Cyber Security,
cybercriminals,
Small Business,
Fraud,
artificial intelligence,
cyber attacks,
Scams,
AI,
Cyber Defense,
Deepfake Scams,
Exiting a business is one of the most significant milestones in an entrepreneur’s journey, yet many owners reach this point unprepared, often paying a steep emotional and financial price. Research from the Exit Planning Institute reveals that 76% of business owners who sell their companies experience profound regret within 12 months of their exit. Even more concerning, between 70 to 80% of businesses listed for sale will never sell, according to Buy Then Build. This underscores the importance of planning not only for the sale itself but also for the legacy, personal identity, and lifestyle changes that follow.