Logo for “SAM Management Pulse” featuring a stylized electrocardiogram line integrated with the SAM logo. The background is a dark blue digital grid, and the heartbeat line glows in bright neon blue, emphasizing the concept of monitoring the pulse of contemporary management trends.

Gucci’s Leadership Reset under Kering: Francesca Bellettini’s Mandate and the Urgency of Heritage Forward Strategy

Gucci, one of the most recognized names in the luxury sector, is entering a defining chapter in its history. Sales have fallen by roughly twenty five percent and profits have been cut nearly in half, creating a sharp contrast to the brand’s legacy of strength and influence. These numbers reflect more than short-term turbulence. They signal a deeper vulnerability at a time when competition in the luxury market is more intense than ever.

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Leadership Links #15

IndusInd Bank of India has appointed Viral Damania as CFO effective September 22, 2025. This follows a $230 million loss tied to accounting irregularities of internal derivative trades. The accounting lapse also prompted earlier resignations by former CEO Sumant Kathpalia and deputy Arun Khurana. Damania, with 27 years of banking experience including senior finance roles at Bank of America India and Citibank North America, is expected to help stabilize financial reporting, reinforce internal controls, and rebuild credibility.

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From Stuck to Streamlined: How Process Thinking Transforms Daily Work

In many organizations, the pace of work is relentless. Meetings fill the calendar, emails stack up, and people rush from task to task with little time to think. On the surface, this level of activity may look like productivity. Teams appear busy, deadlines are met, and metrics are updated. But beneath the surface, important questions often go unasked. Are we solving the right problems? Is this work creating value? Could we be doing it in a better way?

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Society for Advancement of Management board committee recruitment graphic with magnifying glass highlighting three person icons on a light blue background, featuring the SAM logo and text 'Volunteer Recruitment Initiative'

Celebrate Excellence and Inspire Achievement: Join the Awards Committee

The Society for Advancement of Management has a proud tradition of recognizing individuals and organizations that exemplify excellence in leadership, innovation, and community impact. The Awards Committee is at the center of this tradition, playing a vital role in shaping how we honor those whose contributions make a difference in the field of management.

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Logo for “SAM Management Pulse” featuring a stylized electrocardiogram line integrated with the SAM logo. The background is a dark blue digital grid, and the heartbeat line glows in bright neon blue, emphasizing the concept of monitoring the pulse of contemporary management trends.

Microsoft’s Return‑to‑Office Policy: What Leaders Should Know About the Shift to Three Days In Office

Many large employers are tightening hybrid norms to regain speed, alignment, and apprenticeship. Microsoft’s plan to require most employees to work in office at least three days per week is the clearest signal so far. The policy reframes presence as a tool for work that benefits from proximity, not a blanket statement about trust. It also raises hard design questions for leaders. Which activities truly need in person time. How should schedules, spaces, and coaching evolve so that office days raise quality rather than just count attendance.

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Leadership Links #14

This week’s edition spotlights leadership choices made under pressure from cyber risk, succession planning, shifting client demand, and profit headwinds. You will see how M&S responds to a costly cyberattack

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Purpose Over Profit: Rethinking What Makes a Business Truly Productive

For years, productivity has been measured by traditional financial outcomes. Revenue growth, profit margins, and return on investment are the benchmarks that dominate boardroom conversations. These metrics are useful and necessary, but they do not tell the whole story. When organizations focus only on profitability, they often miss what makes their success sustainable. Efficiency and earnings can rise in the short term even as employee morale, customer trust, and long-term resilience begin to decline.

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Society for Advancement of Management board committee recruitment graphic with magnifying glass highlighting three person icons on a light blue background, featuring the SAM logo and text 'Volunteer Recruitment Initiative'

Inspire the Next Generation of Leaders: Join the Collegiate Competitions Committee

At the heart of SAM’s mission is the commitment to developing future leaders in the field of management. One of the most dynamic ways we do this is through our collegiate competitions, where students test their skills, creativity, and problem-solving abilities in a real-world setting. The Collegiate Competitions Committee is responsible for making these experiences possible, and your involvement can directly influence the success of the next generation of professionals.

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Leadership Links #13

This week’s edition examines how leaders navigate political risk, culture scrutiny, unconventional talent bets, and the fast rise of AI inside decision making. France’s confidence vote is rattling boardrooms that

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Logo for “SAM Management Pulse” featuring a stylized electrocardiogram line integrated with the SAM logo. The background is a dark blue digital grid, and the heartbeat line glows in bright neon blue, emphasizing the concept of monitoring the pulse of contemporary management trends.

GSK CEO Transition: Balancing Legacy, Expectation and Renewal

Leadership transitions in the pharmaceutical industry carry stakes that extend far beyond shareholder headlines. The recent announcement that Emma Walmsley, CEO of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), will step down at the end of 2025 represents one of those inflection points. Walmsley, who has guided the company since 2017, will remain through September 2026 to support continuity while Chief Commercial Officer Luke Miels takes over as CEO on January 1, 2026.

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Leadership Links #16

CEO shifts and org redesigns headline this week’s Leadership Links, from GSK’s planned handoff to Oracle’s co-CEOs and Mercedes’s tech and production refresh. Plus, healthtech M&A accelerates and MakeMyTrip adds new operating and finance leaders. Get board-ready takeaways on succession, structure, and execution.

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Reclaiming Joy at Work: The Case for Collaborative, Caring Workplaces

In many workplaces, joy has become an afterthought. The pressure to meet deadlines, hit performance targets, and keep up with nonstop change leaves little room for fulfillment or connection. Over time, this constant pressure erodes enthusiasm. What was once meaningful work begins to feel mechanical. Employees focus on surviving the week rather than thriving in their roles. While organizations may not intend to drain energy from their teams, a culture of stress can become normalized if no one steps back to challenge it.

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Society for Advancement of Management board committee recruitment graphic with magnifying glass highlighting three person icons on a light blue background, featuring the SAM logo and text 'Volunteer Recruitment Initiative'

Last Call to Make Your Voice Heard: Join a SAM Committee Today

Time is running out to be part of one of the most impactful ways you can shape the future of the Society for Advancement of Management. Our call for committee nominations is closing soon, and this is your final chance to step forward or nominate a colleague who can help lead SAM into its next chapter.

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Logo for “SAM Management Pulse” featuring a stylized electrocardiogram line integrated with the SAM logo. The background is a dark blue digital grid, and the heartbeat line glows in bright neon blue, emphasizing the concept of monitoring the pulse of contemporary management trends.

Gucci’s Leadership Reset under Kering: Francesca Bellettini’s Mandate and the Urgency of Heritage Forward Strategy

Gucci, one of the most recognized names in the luxury sector, is entering a defining chapter in its history. Sales have fallen by roughly twenty five percent and profits have been cut nearly in half, creating a sharp contrast to the brand’s legacy of strength and influence. These numbers reflect more than short-term turbulence. They signal a deeper vulnerability at a time when competition in the luxury market is more intense than ever.

Read More »

Leadership Links #15

IndusInd Bank of India has appointed Viral Damania as CFO effective September 22, 2025. This follows a $230 million loss tied to accounting irregularities of internal derivative trades. The accounting lapse also prompted earlier resignations by former CEO Sumant Kathpalia and deputy Arun Khurana. Damania, with 27 years of banking experience including senior finance roles at Bank of America India and Citibank North America, is expected to help stabilize financial reporting, reinforce internal controls, and rebuild credibility.

Read More »