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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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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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.

NI Holdings’ New CEO: Turning Board Confidence into Execution

NI Holdings, a provider of specialty insurance and business services, has appointed Cindy Launer as President and CEO effective October 10, 2025. She succeeds Seth Daggett, who stepped down to pursue other opportunities. Launer is no stranger to the organization. She has served on the company’s board of directors and previously stepped in as interim CEO, giving her an established reputation within both leadership and operational circles.

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Leadership Links # 18

This week’s edition focuses on execution under pressure and the structures leaders use to turn strategy into results. Virgin Atlantic selects a proven operator to steer reliability and premium experience. ANZ lays out a tougher, clearer plan that ties costs to outcomes. FedEx finalizes a freight spin-off team to unlock cycle-specific focus. Volkswagen Group confirms a CEO to scale SEAT and CUPRA through electrification. HBR closes with a practical playbook for when old success conditions vanish.

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The Power of Everyday Forgiveness: Letting Go Without Letting Down

Forgiveness is often seen as a deeply personal virtue, something reserved for close relationships or moments of profound hurt. In the workplace, however, forgiveness plays an essential but often overlooked role in leadership. When conflict, mistakes, or unmet expectations arise, the ability to forgive allows a leader to reset the tone and restore trust. This doesn’t mean ignoring problems or letting people off the hook. Instead, forgiveness gives us a way to move forward without letting the past permanently stain the relationship.

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Jonathan Steinberg Announced as Keynote Speaker for Educational Research & Measurement Day at the 2026 SAM International Business Conference

The Society for Advancement of Management (SAM) is proud to announce Jonathan Steinberg, Director of Research and Analytics at EurekaFacts, as a Keynote Speaker 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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