The hottest Leadership Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top World Politics Topics

What is a Founding Engineer?

Jake [Building in NYC] • 59 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Leadership
  1. Founding engineers have to work really fast. They need to handle problems quickly and keep feedback flowing between users and the business.
  2. Empathy is key for founding engineers. They should think about how users will respond to their work and make it as easy and enjoyable as possible.
  3. A founding engineer always seeks the truth. They are curious and unafraid to ask questions to understand problems better and find effective solutions.

Meet the new boss

The Rubesletter by Matt Ruby (of Vooza) | Sent every Tuesday • 142 implied HN points • 20 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Leadership
  1. There's a new administration in charge, and some people are nervous about what that will look like. It's important to think about how it might change life as we know it.
  2. Concerns are raised about the possibility of a theocracy or autocracy emerging. These are serious issues that could impact everyone's freedoms.
  3. The author is making predictions about the future political climate. It's a way to get people thinking about the direction society is heading.

Alchemy & Coaching

Notes in the Margins • 19 implied HN points • 25 May 24
🚌 Education Leadership
  1. Alchemy in coaching symbolizes transformation and creating something valuable through personal and professional growth.
  2. Alchemy programs focus on mastering elements like heart-centered leadership and effective product management, encouraging innovation and experimentation.
  3. The goal of Alchemy Programs is to empower participants to deliver products and leadership that provide significant value and make a real impact in the market.

The emotionally informed company

benn.substack • 613 implied HN points • 04 Aug 23
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Correlations are important indicators, not necessarily causal relationships.
  2. Emotions play a significant role in decision-making and should not be dismissed.
  3. Companies should be informed by emotions, not solely driven by them, allowing for daring decisions.
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America's Money Nuke

Diane Francis • 499 implied HN points • 25 Apr 22
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Leadership
  1. Janet Yellen is a key figure in managing the U.S. economy, showing that size doesn't matter when it comes to leadership.
  2. The financial tools created by her department are seen as powerful weapons meant to combat global threats, specifically targeting Russia.
  3. These economic strategies aim to influence international relations and bring about significant changes in global politics.

How do you get started?

Sunday Letters • 39 implied HN points • 17 Mar 24
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Everyone struggles with starting something new, whether they're a recent graduate or looking to advance in their careers. It's important to figure out what you want to do next.
  2. Instead of waiting for permission or a specific opportunity, take the initiative and start working on what interests you. Engaging in projects you care about can lead to new roles and responsibilities.
  3. Being proactive in your career can impress others and create more opportunities. People often appreciate when someone volunteers to help or take on new challenges.

Links - 01/25/2024

Value Investing World • 58 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
💰 Finance Leadership
  1. Value investors focus on determining a fair price for a business based on its potential future earnings.
  2. Listening to the insights of the team members can lead to valuable improvements in processes.
  3. Encouraging people to have fun while carrying out tasks can lead to lasting change and improved outcomes.

Executive Coaching Can Be Your Secret Weapon

The Breaking Point • 219 implied HN points • 09 May 23
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Great executive coaching can help improve leadership abilities with feedback and perspective.
  2. Finding a qualified coach is challenging due to a saturated market, but peer referrals and networks can be helpful.
  3. To maximize coaching benefits, preparation and active engagement in sessions are key.

Movers, Shakers, & Money Makers #5

Human Capitalist • 39 implied HN points • 08 Apr 24
💼 Business Leadership
  1. A lot of job changes are happening every week, with over 215,000 last week alone. This shows there's plenty of movement and opportunities in the job market.
  2. Notable figures like Larmon Luo and Dominik Roblek are making significant career moves to new companies. These transitions can impact the projects and innovations that companies pursue.
  3. Tracking these job changes can be beneficial for investors, recruiters, and anyone interested in the job market. Keeping an eye on talent movements helps understand trends and opportunities in various industries.

Making Big Bets

The Breaking Point • 239 implied HN points • 11 Apr 23
💼 Business Leadership
  1. In business, take risks and make big bets to succeed.
  2. Balance safety and risk in making ambitious, company-changing bets.
  3. Have a budget of big bets each year to drive business growth.

The Future Fits on One Page.

The Future Does Not Fit In The Containers Of The Past • 72 implied HN points • 25 May 25
💼 Business Leadership
  1. The future is shaped by change, and we need to adapt our thinking to keep up. It's important to let go of old ways that may limit our growth.
  2. Learning is an ongoing process, and we should always strive to upgrade our skills and knowledge. This helps us stay relevant in a fast-changing world.
  3. Creating strong and positive relationships is key. Treating others with kindness and generosity can lead to better teamwork and success.

Managing Too Many People Is a Trap

The Engineering Leader • 59 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Expanding your team should focus on impact, not just headcount.
  2. Managing too many people can lead to pitfalls like lack of attention, micromanagement, and burnout.
  3. Career progression in management involves influencing other teams, taking on more scope, and focusing on impactful leadership rather than just managing more people.

Well, there goes the neighborhood

Alex's Personal Blog • 131 implied HN points • 03 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Leadership
  1. The U.S. government is becoming more isolated due to recent political decisions and actions, which could have serious economic consequences.
  2. There is a clash between how startups operate and how the government is supposed to function, with concerns about too much control in the hands of a few leaders.
  3. Tariffs and other actions by the government are causing uncertainty in the stock market and making it harder for businesses, especially startups, to succeed.

The Key Traits of High-Performing (Conscious) Entrepreneurs

The Leadership Lab • 78 implied HN points • 03 Dec 23
💼 Business Leadership
  1. High-performing entrepreneurs have a patient, long-term view alongside short-term impatience, balancing dedication over years with quick action now.
  2. Successful entrepreneurs are relentless learners, using every moment to gather information and grow, focusing on intentional learning to serve their broader purpose.
  3. Top entrepreneurs take 100% responsibility, avoiding blame and focusing on self-improvement by continuously coming back to the mindset of a creator.

How to Receive Feedback

Build To Scale • 59 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Candid feedback is valuable, seek it out even when it's not all positive.
  2. Receiving feedback graciously and learning from it is crucial for personal and professional growth.
  3. Actively seek honest feedback from trusted sources, listen without immediately reacting, and work on areas for improvement over time.

On not tolerating intolerance

The Ruffian • 497 implied HN points • 28 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Leadership
  1. Companies, institutions, and leaders should care about free speech
  2. Believing in free speech is easy, practicing it is harder
  3. Leaders should support diversity of views and create a safe space for robust opinion exchange

Resisting the Enshittification of Work

Make Work Better • 157 implied HN points • 04 Dec 24
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Enshittification is when a service becomes worse over time due to profit-focused changes, just like users notice on platforms like Google and Amazon.
  2. Many workers are feeling burnt out and overwhelmed by constant notifications and meetings, leading to a lack of satisfaction at work.
  3. Leaders need to actively improve workplace culture to combat this decline and make work a source of meaning instead of stress.

Mastermind: Gary Kasparov on the Global Leadership Vacuum

The Octavian Report • 8 implied HN points • 23 Dec 25
🌍 World Politics Leadership
  1. There is a global leadership vacuum and short-term politics are weakening democracies and international institutions, which lets extremists and rivals gain influence.
  2. Authoritarian leaders operate like poker players, using secrecy, chaos, corruption, and tactical provocations to undermine NATO, the EU, and democratic norms instead of playing a transparent long-term game.
  3. The remedy is strong, early deterrence and renewed American-led moral and strategic leadership with long-term planning, because if leaders don’t act the vacuum will be filled by hostile actors.

How Octopus Energy used culture to reach the top

Make Work Better • 43 implied HN points • 30 Jul 25
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Octopus Energy has a unique culture that focuses on trust, autonomy, and a shared mission, rather than strict values or rules.
  2. Removing back-to-back meetings from schedules can lead to more productivity and creativity, allowing employees to connect and work on important tasks.
  3. Many leaders might think frequent one-on-one meetings help their teams, but sometimes it's better to communicate feedback in a more timely and structured way.

Not Earth's Best Employer

The Radar • 59 implied HN points • 11 Jan 24
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Amazon's shift towards a strict return-to-office policy after the pandemic has caused employees to face unexpected challenges and disruptions in their work-life balance.
  2. The company's focus on cost control and downsizing has led to a shift away from its previous values, resulting in the departure of talented employees and a potential brain drain.
  3. The tactics employed by Amazon, such as enforcing compliance through threats and disregarding prior assurances, raise concerns about the company's treatment of its employees and its adherence to its own stated values.

How to be more Effective.

The Future Does Not Fit In The Containers Of The Past • 39 implied HN points • 10 Aug 25
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Time is the most valuable asset we have, and how we use it shapes our lives. Successful people focus on using their time wisely to achieve their goals.
  2. In any interaction, it's important to give rather than take. Approaching meetings with generosity and empathy helps create meaningful connections.
  3. Feedback is essential for improvement. To get better, we should give constructive feedback and also seek it actively from others.

The Missing Multiplier

Perspective Agents • 3 implied HN points • 22 Jan 26
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Top leaders now treat AI as the most consequential global issue, and leading AI builders warn of rapid advances that could replace many entry‑level white‑collar jobs within years.
  2. Companies have the models and tools but are getting little financial benefit because they lack a Human OS — the people, workflows, incentives, and governance that turn AI capability into real value.
  3. This gap is both an organizational and career crisis: without rebuilding how people learn and work, roles from juniors to middle managers are at risk while AI‑native workers and new ladders will rise, so act now to build human readiness.

Some Podcast Episodes on Operational Excellence

Mike Talks AI • 98 implied HN points • 21 Sep 23
🎙 Podcasts Leadership
  1. Podcasts cover diverse topics related to operations and supply chain, not just operations directly.
  2. Guests featured in the podcasts have real-world expertise and experiences in operations.
  3. Podcasts delve into various aspects of operational excellence, from manufacturing to technology and leadership.

Brand is Inevitable

42 Slash • 98 implied HN points • 18 Jun 23
💼 Business Leadership
  1. A brand is more than just a logo or image, it encompasses values and purpose.
  2. Investing in brand development is crucial from the start, not something to be done later.
  3. Brands are about storytelling that goes beyond data and resonates culturally.

Scaling Decision Making

Suzan's Fieldnotes • 98 implied HN points • 18 Jul 23
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Scaling companies need to pay attention to decision-making processes as they grow
  2. Organizations should delegate decision-making power throughout the company
  3. Centralizing decisions and leaving key voices out can hinder scaling and lead to organizational dysfunction

The Best Day

The Weasel Speaks • 98 implied HN points • 01 Apr 23
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Employee engagement is crucial for better business results.
  2. The key drivers for employee engagement are direction, coaching, and career support.
  3. Developing relationships, trust, and communication skills are essential for effective leadership and employee engagement.

我最新专栏的中文翻译：《王向偉真話中國》新政府新使命：需堅決遏制‘極左’思潮。

Wang Xiangwei's Thought of the Day on China • 98 implied HN points • 08 Mar 23
🌍 World Politics Leadership
  1. The Chinese government needs to firmly control extreme left-wing ideologies to ensure economic development.
  2. Historical leadership transitions in China focused on economic development and pragmatism rather than ideological debates.
  3. Current challenges in China include economic recovery post-COVID and balancing international relations while curbing extreme nationalist ideologies.

People > Principles > Process > Product

Fish Food for Thought • 47 implied HN points • 23 Jul 25
💼 Business Leadership
  1. You should focus on people first, then principles, processes, and finally the product. People are the foundation of any successful team.
  2. Establish clear principles to guide your team's decisions. This helps everyone stay aligned and work effectively toward common goals.
  3. Once the team and principles are in place, develop processes that create structure and support. This prepares you to finally focus on improving the product itself.

What Are You Blathering About?

The Radar • 39 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Leadership
  1. The importance of resources in solving problems, not just words and policies.
  2. Issues with lack of quality investigative reporting on military services by major media.
  3. The need for leadership to create self-limiting mechanisms in organizations for effective leadership.

Managing people you don't like

Leading Developers • 111 implied HN points • 18 Feb 25
💼 Business Leadership
  1. It's important to recognize that your personal biases can affect how you view coworkers. Sometimes, just because you don't like someone personally doesn't mean they aren't valuable to the team.
  2. Diverse teams are often more productive and successful. Focusing only on people you personally get along with can lead to missing out on talented individuals who bring different skills and perspectives.
  3. To manage effectively, you should examine your biases, focus on each person's strengths, and adapt your communication style. This will help create a better work environment for everyone.

Lessons from My Year of Yes

Perspectives • 4 implied HN points • 15 Jan 26
💼 Business Leadership
  1. Saying yes opens unexpected opportunities and brings more connection, projects, and meaning into your life.
  2. You don’t have to be perfect or fully ready — showing up and pushing beyond your comfort zone is often enough to help you grow.
  3. Make time to process and reflect, and accept that some necessary yeses are hard; creating space helps you choose what matters next.