CarMax’s announcement that CEO Bill Nash will step down marks more than a change in leadership. It represents a deliberate opportunity for renewal. By appointing board member David McCreight as interim CEO, the company signaled a commitment to stability, transparency, and strategic reset. For managers, this transition illustrates how leadership changes can serve as moments to refocus strategy, refresh culture, and strengthen stakeholder confidence.

This week’s Leadership Links tracks five moves that turn strategy into results. Diageo names Dave Lewis to sharpen brand focus, Newmont details integration after its Newcrest deal, MongoDB signals product speed with a planned handoff, Honeywell’s aerospace spinout picks an insider to set Day One pace, and Britannia maps a steady path through a leadership change.

The latest results from Waste Management, Inc. reveal a challenge that many organizations face today: strong revenue growth paired with shrinking margins. The company reported revenue of approximately 6.44 billion

This week’s edition looks at leadership choices that balance growth ambition with execution discipline. A semiconductor firm times a CEO transition at a profitability inflection. A health sciences chairman calls for renewed, values led engagement. A fast growing restaurant brand brings outside firepower to its board. A global risk advisor elevates a regional chief to match opportunity with local fluency. A specialty pharma company appoints a biotech veteran to scale innovation and partnerships.

In an increasingly interconnected and polarized world, corporate culture does not exist in isolation. It sits at the intersection of leadership, stakeholder perception, and broader political realities. A recent study from the University of New Mexico has added empirical weight to what many executives already sense intuitively: when national leadership or political orientation changes, organizations often shift how they describe and project their internal culture. These shifts are visible in earnings calls, public statements, and marketing language, reflecting how organizations attempt to navigate changes in the broader political and social environment.