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.

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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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Steven Holtzman Announced as Featured Presenter for Educational Research & Measurement Day at the 2026 SAM International Business Conference

The Society for Advancement of Management (SAM) is proud to announce Steven Holtzman, Senior Scientist at the Human Resources Research Organization (HumRRO), as a Featured Presenter for Educational Research & Measurement Day during the 2026 SAM International Business Conference, taking place March 16–21, 2026, at the New England Institute of Technology in Rhode Island.

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Dr. Felice D. Billups Announced as Special Presenter for Educational Research & Measurement Day at the 2026 SAM International Business Conference

The Society for Advancement of Management (SAM) is proud to announce Dr. Felice D. Billups, Ed.D., Professor of Educational Leadership at Johnson & Wales University, as a Special Presenter for Educational Research & Measurement Day during the 2026 SAM International Business Conference, taking place March 16–21, 2026, at the New England Institute of Technology in Rhode Island.

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Leadership Links #17

This week’s edition spotlights how companies are tuning leadership roles to match strategy in a fast moving market. Microsoft is creating a dedicated commercial CEO to tighten execution while Satya Nadella concentrates on AI and core architecture. Apple’s succession chatter centers on hardware leadership. H-E-B advances an experienced operator to a historic first. S&P Dow Jones Indices chooses a derivatives and data veteran to lead its next chapter, and Unilever strengthens people leadership across customer development, supply chain, and digital work.

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Accountability Without Authority: Holding Everyone to a Higher Standard

Accountability often brings to mind images of confrontation, discipline, or even public reprimand. In many workplaces, the word has been misused so frequently that it now carries a negative tone. Yet accountability, when practiced with intention and care, is one of the most valuable tools for personal and organizational growth. Rather than a mechanism for blame, it should serve as a structure for clarity, consistency, and shared purpose.

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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.

Read More »

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.

Read More »