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The most enduring leaders arent the ones with flawless résumés. Theyre the ones whove been tested, humbled, and reshaped by failure. From an early age, I trained intensively to become a professional ballet dancer. Ballet wasnt just a passion. It was my identity, my future, my entire world. Until an audition in Vienna changed everything. A sudden injury ended the career I had spent years building. That moment could have marked the end of my story. Instead, it became the beginning of a new one. I pivoted into finance and marketing, building a career at American Express and Amazon. Today, I advise boards and CEOs on succession, governance, and talent strategy at Egon Zehnder, one of the worlds preeminent global leadership advisory firms. One truth has stayed with me throughout this journey. Setbacks arent detours. Theyre gifts. And if you havent failed in a meaningful way, you may not be ready to lead yet. Setbacks clarify what matters When things dont go as planned, its a moment that forces reflection. Perhaps youve been passed over for a promotion, convinced you were the most qualified candidate. Or the product you thought would set a new sales record didnt perform as well as expected, and customers were underwhelmed. Suddenly, you start asking different questions. Are you communicating your impact clearly? Have you built strong sponsorship? Are you recognized as a leader or just as someone who executes well? Can you pivot quickly and creatively based on changing circumstances? Failure shakes our sense of certainty and exposes how fragile our narratives about ourselves can be. It reminds us that success isnt always linear, and performance doesnt speak for itself. These moments are hard, but they also teach us the difference between doing good work and being seen as ready to lead. Resilience isnt built in moments of triumph. Its forged by challenges Mary Barra, now CEO of General Motors, rose through engineering and manufacturing at a time when few women held those roles. Her experience proved essential in 2014, when GM faced a major crisis over ignition-switch failures. Barra didnt deflect blame. She addressed Congress directly, took responsibility, and began reshaping the companys culture. That could have been a defining failure. Instead, it became a defining moment. Barras story is a reminder that leadership isnt about never being questioned. Its about responding to challenges with clarity, consistency, and a willingness to grow. Ultimately, resilience is built in the quiet, difficult moments when no one is cheering you on. Conviction without listening is arrogance Jeff Bezos once said Amazon succeeds by being stubborn on vision, flexible on details. That mindset helps explain how even a product like the Fire Phone, a commercial failure, still served a strategic purpose. Rather than doubling down on a misfire, Amazon listened to customer feedback, learned from the experience, and used those insights to develop Alexa. The distinction matters: Conviction without listening is arrogance. But conviction that adapts based on what customers are telling you? Thats leadership. Passion, unfortunately, doesnt replace market truth. Tenacity can easily turn into tunnel vision. As leaders, our job is not just to have ideas. Its to make sure those ideas matter to someone else. If were not listeningto our teams, to our customers, to the world around usthen were building in a vacuum. Ideas only matter if others believe in them In my work advising CEOs and boards, I meet leaders with really good ideas who struggle to influence others. They know what needs to be done, but they cant bring people along. Thats not a strategic problem. Its a leadership problem. Influence starts with empathy. The ability to see what others value, where they hesitate, and how to connect with them. Often, that empathy is forged through failure. When leaders fall short, theyre forced to see blind spots, hear hard truths, and confront the real impact of their decisions. Consider Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. After early stumbles in Microsofts mobile strategy, he leaned into a more collaborative, learning-oriented culture that valued listening over ego. That shift helped him rebuild trust internally and reposition Microsoft as a more agile, empathetic company. Nadellas story is a powerful reminder that failure isnt just a test of resilience. Its a chance to become the kind of leader others actually want to follow. Failure builds humanity. And humanity builds leadership Many of todays most respected leaders have careers marked by public missteps and personal reinventions. In the process, theyve developed resilience and deeper empathythe foundations of strong leadership. Because setbacks dont just humble you, they humanize you. And leadership without humanity doesnt last. Ballet is still a part of me. I attend performances. Some of my closest friends are dancers and choreographers. In a twist of lifes full circle, I now have a daughter who is already a more talented dancer than I ever was. Watching her on stage reminds me that what I once thought was the end of my story was really the beginning of hers. Thats the unexpected gift of setbacks. They dont just close doors. They open better ones. But only if youre willing to walk through them without the armor of perfection. Your best chapter may begin in your hardest moment As I advise CEOs and boards navigating complexity, I see a clear pattern. The most effective leaders are the ones whove been tested by hardship and hold their conviction while remaining open to challenge. Theyre the ones who understand that every stumble is an opportunity to rethink, reframe, and reemerge more strongly. In a world of relentless disruption, we need leaders who can metabolize failure into progress. We need leaders who understand that credibility isnt built on being right all the time, but on how you respond when youre wrong. So if youre facing a setback, dont rush to move past it. It could very well be the greatest gift you receive on your leadership journey. Embrace it, learn from it, and let it remake you. Because the story you planned might not be the story youre meant to live. And your best chapter may be the one that begins right after your biggest setback.
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E-Commerce
It should be shocking to nobody that were dealing with an absolute surplus of AI consumables. Breakthroughs. Policy changes. New tools that promise to “10x your productivity.” Most of it is either too technical, too abstract, or just plain filler. You don’t need another wall of text, you need the signal. Luckily, there are a handful of AI newsletters that consistently deliver real value without taking up half your morning. (My editor wanted to make sure you knew about Fast Companys own such newsletter, by senior reporter Mark Sullivan: AI Decoded. You can sign up for it here.) The Rundown AI: The Daily Scan If you have exactly five minutes between pouring your coffee and jumping on your first call, The Rundown AI is for you. All business, no fluff, it gives you the full, daily landscape in a highly digestible format. If something major drops from OpenAI, Google, or Meta, you’ll know about it. This is best for the busy professional or anyone who just wants the highlights without having to chase links all day. Superhuman AI: The Productivity Power-Up The Superhuman AI newsletter runs the gamut from grand philosophical debates of AI to the tools that make your job easier. At its best, its practical, actionable, and focused on handing you the tools, tips, and tutorials to integrate AI into your daily tasks. Think prompt engineering tips and how to use the latest AI to automate something you hate doing. This one is ideal for individuals looking to boost their personal productivity and executives focused on operational efficiency. The Neuron: Connecting the Dots If The Rundown is the summary, The Neuron is the analysisthe one that tells you what the news means. Expect a thoughtful analysis with a touch of dry humor. The Neuron is excellent at connecting the technical developments to the real-world impact. This is excellent for strategy leaders and those who need to understand the implications of AI for their industry. Ben’s Bites: For the Builders Bens Bites is less about the press releases and more about what the AI community is actually building right now. Curated by Ben Tossell, its a daily digest packed with new tools, product launches, and startup funding news. If youre a founder, developer, or just love being the first to try a new app, this is your resource. The Batch: The Educational Authority When you need to go beyond the chatter and understand the foundational elements of AI, The Batch is authoritative, educational, and reliable. This weekly digest strikes a nice balance, covering the major research breakthroughs alongside the applied use cases. It keeps you current without oversimplifying the complex subject matter. This is best for anyone transitioning into a technical AI role or the leader who needs to speak confidently about AI.
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E-Commerce
Last week, Congress released more than 23,000 pages of documents from the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epsteins estate to the public. Since then, the bombshell release has garnered commentary from the Trump administration, thousands of internet users, Saturday Night Live, and, now, merch sellers on Etsy. In recent years, a certain contingent of ultra-niche online merch sellers (and, most likely, dropshippers) have decided that any notable event is fodder for potential T-shirts, mugs, and bumper stickers. In recent months alone, sellers have profited off of merch designed to covertly signal anti-Trump messaging; merch promoting “Alligator Alcatraz,” the Trump administrations migrant detention facility in the Florida Everglades; and merch based on a series of New Jersey drone sightings that spawned conspiracy theories across the internet. Just days after the new Epstein documents were released, merch sellers on sites including Etsy and Amazon have already turned the disclosures into NSFW statements. Etsy and Amazon flooded with merch inspired by the Epstein emails Of all the information included in the documents revealed by Congress (including one message in which Epstein claimed that Trump knew about the girls), most merch sellers are focusing on a specific email exchange in March 2018 thats become a major subject of internet scrutiny. In the exchange, Epsteins brother, Mark Epstein, asks Epstein how hes doing. When Epstein responds that hes with Steve BannonTrumps former White House chief of staffMark Epstein follows up, Ask him if Putin has the photos of Trump blowing Bubba? Given that Bubba is a well-known nickname for former president Bill Clinton, netizens have begun speculating that the comment might refer to a sex act between Trump and Clinton. The comment even got some national airtime on Saturday as part of SNLs cold open on November 15. (Both Trump and Clinton have denied any knowledge of Epstein’s abuse or sex-trafficking operations and neither appears to have been explicitly implicated of wrongdoing in the emails.) Mark Epstein has since gone on record to multiple publications claiming that he was just jokingbut thats not stopping merch sellers from capitalizing on the theory. A look into the NSFW merch designs Out of the dozens of new Etsy and Amazon listings that have popped up since the files were released, one of the most common themes is a riff on the phrase Big beautiful bill, which Trump used to describe a major tax and spending law that he signed in July. In these merch items, however, the bill in question is Clinton. The items, many of which are not safe for work and potentially offensive, feature President Trump and former president Clinton along with a variety of suggestive phrases. (See here, here, here, and here for examples, but click at your own risk.) While most of the merch is fairly predictable, a few sellers have opted for more creative designsincluding one image of Trump and Clinton inspired by the iconic film Brokeback Mountain. Etsy and Amazon did not immediately respond to Fast Companys request for comment on whether its aware of an uptick of merch in this vein, and whether the merch fits within their terms for seller designs.
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E-Commerce
It’s not just executives or knowledge workers in offices who are using artificial intelligence. It’s being adopted in fields like healthcare, retail, hospitality, and food services, too. But frontline workers often aren’t prepared for AI adoption. In fact, many are completely unaware that it’s being implemented in their workplaces at all. Workplace management platform Deputy surveyed 1,500 frontline workers across the U.S., U.K., and Australia for its “2025 Better Together Survey: How AI and Human Connection Will Transform Frontline Work.” The survey found that nearly half of workplaces (48%) use AI. However, only 1 in 4 workers say they regularly interact with it. But, surprisingly, 10% don’t know if their workplace is even using the technology to begin with. That could be due to the fact that employers aren’t being totally transparent about whether their companies have adopted AI. Just 17% of shift workers say their employer was open about the company’s AI use. Likewise, only 15% say they were consulted about new AI tools in the workplaceeven though they want to bewith 63% of frontline workers saying that communication about AI is essential. “Employees are sending a clear message: They want to be part of the conversation about how AI is used and introduced in their organizations,” Dan Schawbel, managing partner at research and advisory firm Workplace Intelligence, said in a press release. “When workers feel informed and included, trust growsand thats what unlocks the full potential of AI. Empathy, transparency, and inclusion arent just soft skills; theyre the foundation of successful AI adoption,” he said. While AI’s role in the workplace isn’t always clear, what is clear is that the workers using it are having positive experiences with the technology. In fact, 96% of shift workers say they are happy with the technology’s role, which shows up in tasks like scheduling, in AI-powered kiosks for ordering, as well as streamlining administrative tasks, and more, in their workplace. Likewise, 94% say it makes their job easier. That’s likely why nearly 1 in 4 employees who were surveyed said they’d rather have more AI support than an extra week of PTO (23%) or even a promotion (24%). And that’s likely why workers want to be in the know when it comes to how their organization is using the technology: 27% say they desire more transparency and communication about the technology and how it’s being used. “New tech arrives. We’re supposed to just figure it out,” one food worker who took part in the survey said. In retail, the statistic is even higher, with 31% saying more communication is needed, likely because the technology is so visible to customers. “They put in self-checkout without even telling us why,” one retail worker explained. “Customers ask us questions we can’t answer.” Interestingly, while workers report positive experiences with AI, only 37% feel optimistic about the technology’s future at their workplace, which could point to how the technology is implementedoften with little communication. As another worker put it: Employees can’t integrate AI properly if it’s never been introduced to them, which leaves employees feeling the need to push back rather than use the tools to their advantage. “If you explain it, we’ll accept it,” that same worker said. “If you don’t, we’ll resist.”
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E-Commerce
When you open Microsoft Excel to review quarterly results or check Waze to optimize your route to the office, youre tapping into technologies born not in corporate boardrooms, but in university labs. Thinking of innovation, our minds often jump to the titans of tech: Jobs, Musk, Altman, Gates, Bezos. But behind everyday tech innovations and healthcare breakthroughs are academic researchers whose work catalyzed billion-dollar industries. The unsung heroes of the lab and lecture hall have laid the groundwork for some of the most transformative technologies of our time. A few make celebrity status as Nobel prize winners, but the glory of most academics is poorly understood for its formative early impact on products now essential to our livescivic, commercial, and medical. As we gather for the World Changing Ideas Summit on November 19 in Washington, DC, cohosted by Fast Company and Johns Hopkins University, we shine a spotlight on those whose curiosity-driven research has sparked breakthroughs that quietly shaped the world around us. ACADEMICS AND THE INNOVATION ECONOMY Here are four ways academic researchers have quietly shaped America’s innovation economy and impacted daily life. 1. GPS: The backbone of modern logistics You have probably tried to optimize your driving time and cherished every minute saved from your commute. Google Maps has over 2.2 billion monthly active users, and 71% of U.S. smartphone users rely on it weekly. At the root of this technology is the global positioning system (GPS), whose origins trace back to 1957. When Sputnik launched, two young physicists at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL)William Guier and George Weiffenbachdriven by the national urgency of the Cold War and scientific curiosity, used the Doppler shift of Sputniks radio signals to determine its orbit. They and others at APL soon realized the inverse was also true. Their breakthrough inspired the worlds first global satellite navigation system, sponsored by DARPA and the U.S. Navy. This innovation, aimed at solving national security challenges for the U.S. government, became the foundation for modern GPS, revolutionizing navigation and telecommunications for military, government, and civilian applicationsfrom global defense operations to everyday delivery routes. 2. Spreadsheets: A new language for business According to a survey, 84% of office workers use Microsoft Excel daily. Thank you, Bill Gates, right? Not so fast. The spreadsheet was not actually born in the Seattle tech scene; that credit goes to Dan Bricklin and Bob Frankston, students at Harvard and MIT. VisiCalc, the first spreadsheet software, was thought of as a magic blackboard, revolutionizing business modeling. The two werent aiming for market disruption, but simply trying to make homework easier. Bricklin was frustrated by tediously recalculating financial models by hand; Frankston, an experienced coder, helped bring it to life. VisiCalc launched in 1979 from a shared belief that computers should empower people. Their work was nurtured in university settings, supported by federal research grants and computing infrastructure. What began as an academic collaboration became the backbone of how we financially model todayfrom managing family budgets to forecasting industry trends. One could argue that this technology catalyzed our data-driven economy. 3. Self-driving cars: Autonomy realized Science fiction has arrived! Thats what I was thinking as I stepped into my first self-driven Jaguar in San Francisco, courtesy of Waymo. Waymo alone operates over 1,500 robotaxis across major U.S. cities, with plans to expand to 3,500 vehicles by 2026. The roots of this revolution trace back to Sebastian Thrun, a German-born scientist, whose childhood love of robotics and desire to reduce traffic fatalities led him to Stanford. There, he directed the Artificial Intelligence Lab and spearheaded a team that won the DARPA Grand Challenge, a competition funded by the U.S. Department of Defense. That success caught Googles attention and ultimately led to the creation of Waymo and a multi-billion-dollar industry. 4. Cancer detection: Learning what to look for Cologuard has been used over 16 million times. detecting more than 623,000 cancers and precancers, with 80% caught in the early stages. This technology started with the journey of Bert Vogelstein, a Johns Hopkins oncology researcher fixated on a simple scientific question: Why do some cells become cancerous? At Johns Hopkins, supported by sustained federal funding from agencies like the National Institutes of Health, Vogelstein, Ken Kinzler, and colleagues spent decades unraveling the genetic mutations behind tumor development. Their work led to the discovery of p53, a key tumor suppressor gene, and laid the foundation for our modern understanding of cancer as a genetic disease. Researchers insights into cancer cell origins enabled industry to develop methods for detecting disease. Today, we rely on genetic tests for early cancer detection, prenatal screenings, and personalized medicine. IT TAKES THREE PARTS So how do ideas from a university lab end up in your pocket or your car? Its a well-tested recipe. American innovation thrives on a three-part formula: federal investment, university research capabilities, and private sector development. Federal funding fuels foundational science, long before theres a market. Universities cultivate talent and ideas, allowing researchers to follow where the science leads rather than what a corporate budget dictates. Once science shows promise, the private sector tailors the science toward specific applications and scales those ideas into products and companies. Since 1980, federally funded academic research has resulted in over 17,000 startups and $1.9 trillion in economic output. But as global competition intensifies, the U.S. must double down on its research ecosystem. This tripartite innovation ecosystem is not just a source of economic strength. Its a reflection of our American values: open inquiry, public good, and the belief that big ideas can come from anywhere. This three-pronged approach unleashed a century of American technological leadership. At a time when federal research funding is being severely cut, we are wise to remember its central role in our economyand its promise for American leadership throughout this century. Christy Wyskiel is senior advisor to the president for innovation and entrepreneurhip, and executive director of Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures.
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E-Commerce
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