Must Reads
There is so much to read, so much to know, so many sources to follow. And the volume of news and information just keeps growing exponentially. How to keep up? Even more, how to rediscover the serendipity of learning something new and interesting for its own sake?
Here, for your enjoyment and interest, are the articles Temin and Company considers “must reads.” They are primarily on the topics of reputation and crisis management, the media, leadership and strategy, perception and psychology, self-presentation, science, girls and women, organizational behavior and other articles of interest.
They are listed below with the most recent articles first, and to the side, by category.
We hope you enjoy them and would appreciate your comments. And whenever you have any favorite articles for us to add, please let us know so that we might include them for other readers to enjoy.
There is so much to read, so much to know, so many sources to follow. And the volume of news and information just keeps growing exponentially. How to keep up? Even more, how to rediscover the serendipity of learning something new and interesting for its own sake?
Here, for your enjoyment and interest, are the articles Temin and Company considers “must reads.” They are primarily on the topics of reputation and crisis management, the media, leadership and strategy, perception and psychology, self-presentation, science, girls and women, organizational behavior and other articles of interest.
They are listed below with the most recent articles first, and to the side, by category.
We hope you enjoy them and would appreciate your comments. And whenever you have any favorite articles for us to add, please let us know so that we might include them for other readers to enjoy.
The True Cost of Firing a CEO
Matthew Boyle, Bloomberg, August 19, 2025
When Starbucks Corp. tapped Brian Niccol as chief executive officer in 2024, it cited the “critical need for a transformative leader” in justifying the hire. If performance significantly improves, stock payouts mean the corner-office switch could cost the company $130 million.
Finding the new CEO, negotiating his or her new contract and communicating the change in leadership to investors, the media, employees and other stakeholders are tasks typically delegated to outside experts.
Clients “usually want you 25 hours a day and eight days a week,” said Davia Temin, founder and CEO of crisis-communications firm Temin & Co. A CEO ouster and replacement “will take even more time,” she added. How much more? Temin shrugged: “I can’t even begin to estimate.” […read more]
In Changing Times, Boards Are Looking for These Key CEO Traits
Frederic Lee, Agenda, August 18, 2025
CEOs who can reach across ideological differences are becoming more attractive.
Whether it be shifting trade practices, the onset and widespread adoption of artificial intelligence in the workforce or ideological tensions, the current business environment is leading boards to home in on certain select leadership traits when thinking about CEO succession.
Namely, digital fluency — and being able to capitalize on the emerging digital landscape — has skyrocketed in terms of importance, even within the last few years….
Knowing how to triumph through disruption is the key to success today, Davia Temin, president and CEO of reputation and crisis management consultancy Temin and Company Inc., told Agenda. “Whether it’s tariffs, AI, chat bots, regulatory reversals or even civil unrest, a leader earns his or her stripes by navigating profitably through the chop,” she wrote in an email.
Yet many corporate leaders claim they’re reaching a “line of demarcation,” wrote Temin, explaining that, while these folks are happy to lead through the storm, the current state of affairs is getting “too wild and crazy.” […read more]
Kiss-Cam Incident a Stark Reminder for Boards — and CEOs — That ‘Wink-Wink’ Days Are Over
Lindsay Frost, Agenda, August 11, 2025
Social media erupted last month when footage at a Coldplay concert revealed that tech company Astronomer CEO Andy Byron was having an intimate moment with Chief People Officer Kristin Cabot. But such an incident is not isolated.
Between Jan. 1, 2017, and July 20, 2025, there were 44 CEOs at Russell 3000 companies who left related to misconduct allegations, seven of which were linked to employee relationships, according to an Exechange analysis of CEO departures. Both Byron and Cabot stepped down shortly after the video made waves.
Social media and heightened employee scrutiny have made these incidents more public and thus created a bigger impact on company reputation, sources told Agenda. For boards, it’s increasingly important not only to ensure the CEO is aware of and signs policies related to employee relationships and codes of conduct broadly, but also to have strong communications, succession and other mitigation plans in place to take charge of and restore stakeholder faith in the company if such an event occurs.
“We are in a transition from the ‘wink-wink, nod-nod, just don’t let us catch you’ period to now saying, ‘If we ask our people to abide by these rules, we have to abide by them, too,'” said Davia Temin, president and CEO of management consultancy Temin and Company Inc. And it’s up to the board to lead this effort, she added. […read more]
Is the Great Remote Work Experiment Over?
Frederic Lee, Agenda, July 21, 2025
Starbucks is the latest big company to ramp up in-office requirements for corporate staff, as chief executive Brian Niccol issued a directive to workers last week raising the time required on-site to four days per week, rather than three.
A number of different work philosophies have emerged in recent years, said Davia Temin, president and CEO of management consultancy Temin and Company Inc. Temin said that when she first started working, she had one answer for every request from bosses: Yes.
But now, work-life balance concerns are shifting some workers’ approach. One such example is when workers reject certain job tasks because of personal responsibility, such as having to pick up their children from school.
Meanwhile, the debate over the benefits and drawbacks of remote and hybrid work has roiled the corporate world since companies moved large swaths of their workforces off-site during pandemic-induced social distancing measures in 2020 and 2021. When and how often to bring them back has been a matter of intense debate ever since.
Many employees at traditional industrial companies and those that produce a physical product don’t have the option of not being present, said Temin. CEOs may want white-collar workers at those companies to also come in out of a sense of fairness.
Meanwhile, CEOs of more white-collar sectors initially seemed inclined toward a flexible work setup for employees that could involve remote work, said Temin. […read more]
8 Ways To Protect Your Reputation When Targeted By Disinformation
Leadership, “Reputation Matters,” Forbes, July 6, 2025
Most Americans lie at least one to four times each day research shows, and about 60% of people 18 and older can’t have a conversation without lying every ten minutes.
And that is just in personal life. In business and politics, we all know that lying, exaggerating, bluffing, and disinformation campaigns are common. Sometimes disinformation campaigns are even seen as good business; they certainly can be effective and compelling. Duke professor Dan Ariely reports that “creative personalities tended to cheat more than less creative individuals.”
Lies are more blatant, more easily believed and far more easily weaponized than ever before.
While much lying is benign, and centered around not wanting to disappoint, in today’s viral social media world, lies are more blatant, more easily believed and far more easily weaponized. Disinformation — the purposeful bending of, or negating, the truth — is used to destroy reputations, shatter trust, change political regimes, win at all costs, and muddy our distinctions between what is real and true, and what is blatantly false and biased.
Disinformation has proven difficult to define, understand, and measure, let alone address.
In fact, the response to disinformation, both personal and corporate, can make or break a reputation and a leader. Here are 8 lessons to consider the next time you or your company are targeted with a disinformation campaign… […read more]
Performance Failures and Misconduct Drive Latest CEO Firings
Lindsay Frost, Agenda, April 21, 2025
A record number of CEOs were likely pushed out of their roles in the past year, according to a new analysis from CEO-exit research firm Exechange. This is largely due to performance issues, policy violations and misconduct, sources said.
These decisions don’t come lightly for boards and often simmer behind the scenes before the decision is made. It’s important for boards to try to avoid these situations by setting clear expectations for the chief exec. Still, if they must show their CEO the door, they should be careful about communication and be prepared for legal and other consequences, sources said. They should also have an emergency succession plan to fall back on.
“There’s nothing worse than feeling that you need to let go of your CEO,” said Davia Temin, president and CEO of management consultancy Temin and Company Inc. “But none of it should be a surprise because expectations from the board should be made clear. We’re not all born knowing how to be a CEO.” […read more]
This was some of the best training that I have ever received. I feel more confident now and welcome more training and feedback if you ever have the chance
This was some of the best training that I have ever received. I feel more confident now and welcome more training and feedback if you ever have the chance.”
—Senior University Official
CEO Bravado Risks ‘Trivializing’ Geopolitical Crisis
Frederic Lee, Agenda, August 9, 2024
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has found a new potential opponent in the ring in Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who challenged Musk to a matchup after the billionaire questioned Maduro’s proclaimed victory in his country’s recent presidential election.
The back-and-forth amounts to theatrical gamesmanship and telegraphed testosterone — similar to last year’s much-hyped showdown between Musk and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg — Davia Temin, president and CEO of management consultancy Temin and Company Inc., told Agenda. Yet Musk has now gone “way beyond that” in his new situation involving the Venezuelan election.
Business leaders need to take great care in terms of the weight of their words, said Temin. In the intense current geopolitical environment, it’s a time for deliberation, moderation and “trying to cool things down — not heat them up.” Boards need to think through their positions before going public with them, she said. […read more]
Crowdstrike CEO George Kurtz Made PR Blunder With Late Apology
Matthew Boyle, Bloomberg, July 19, 2024
CrowdStrike Holdings Inc. Chief Executive Officer George Kurtz co-wrote a book that’s commonly referred to as the bible of computer security. When it comes to crisis management, though, he’s on shakier ground.
In a post on social media platform X early Friday morning about a botched software update that crashed countless computer systems globally, Kurtz made clear the incident was not a cyberattack, his firm had identified the problem, and deployed a “fix.” What he didn’t say — at least at first — was the magic phrase that public-relations experts advise all businesses to shout from the rooftops at times like this: “I’m sorry.”
“A CEO needs a nuanced and emotionally truthful response,” said Davia Temin, founder and CEO of crisis-communications firm Temin & Co. “This is a response scrubbed by a legal team with lawsuits in mind. It holds little to no accountability, which is what makes apologies so powerful. And it positions Kurtz almost as an AI voice — automated, soulless. In fact, ChatGPT does a better job of appearing to care than he does.” […read more]
A Tough Time To Ban Non-Competes
Leadership, “Reputation Matters,” Forbes, April 29, 2024
Trust in leaders is ebbing; job loyalty is tanking; service businesses are getting tougher; so are small businesses; competition is stiffening; interest rates continue to be high; and AI is putting everyone’s job at risk…
So, what is the FTC doing? Doing away with non-compete clauses—one of the few effective ways companies can protect their intellectual property, knowhow, and trade secrets in the Information Age, keeping American companies at the forefront of innovation.
By a vote of 3 to 2, The Federal Trade Commission issued its long-feared ban on non-compete agreements on April 23.
Non-competes may have been overused, but used well, they enable safe and profitable, high-level competition. Most entrepreneurs struggling to make a dent can appreciate this fact…while unfortunately, bureaucrats just may not understand. But they may see the fall-out from what is essentially a near-sighted decision. […read more]