Debbie Laskey's Blog

Welcome to Debbie Laskey's insights and commentary about BRANDING, MARKETING, LEADERSHIP, SOCIAL MEDIA, EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT, and CUSTOMER EXPERIENCES. Debbie has worked in high-tech, the Consumer Marketing Department at Disneyland Paris in France, nonprofits, and insurance. Expertise includes strategic planning, brand development, marketing plans and audits, competitive positioning, websites, communications, public relations, employee engagement, customer experiences, and social media marketing.

Friday, May 31, 2024

Marketing News of the Month: Apes, Sam Ash, Red Lobster and More

During the month of May, there were many news stories that reflected advertising, brand identity, brand names, product launches, line extensions, product pricing, personal branding, sponsorships, and more.

CARTIER

The expensive jewelry brand made a mistake and listed gold-and-diamond earrings for 237 pesos ($14 USD) instead of the correct price of 237,000 pesos ($14,000 USD). A doctor in Mexico, who was doing his medical residency, ordered two sets. After months of back and forth between the customer and the company, the customer received the earrings for the advertised price. According to Jesus Montano, the spokesperson for Mexico's Consumer Protection Agency known as Profeco, "Companies have to respect the published price. If there's a mistake, it's not the consumer's fault." The customer gave one set of the earrings to his mother.

KINGDOM OF THE PLANET OF THE APES

56 years after actor Charlton Heston appeared in the first Planet of the Apes film, the latest installment arrived with a refreshed story. With "apes" riding horses at the film's premier in Los Angeles on May 2nd, this latest story is full of everything that fans expect from the franchise: angry leaders, friendship, visual effects, and more. According to Wikipedia, "In June 2022, it was reported that Disney and 20th Century planned for Kingdom to be the first of a new trilogy of Planet of the Apes films. Director Wes Ball confirmed this in December 2023, explaining that the film had been conceived as the beginning of a trilogy that fit into the legacy of the previous three films."

SAM ASH MUSIC STORE

The 100-year-old family-owned musical instrument retailer filed for bankruptcy and will close all of its 42 stores in the United States. The Covid pandemic accelerated a long-term shift toward online shopping for musical instruments. According to a message on the store's website, "It is with a heavy heart that we announce that effective May 2nd, all Sam Ash Music Store locations will begin store closing sales. This unfortunate news also presents a fantastic opportunity for great deals across our premium selection of musical instruments and pro sound equipment. We will also be offering specials on samash.com during this time. Thank you for allowing us to serve musicians like you for 100 years."

BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA

In February 2025, the Boy Scouts of America will officially become Scouting America. The new name displays a clear emphasis on inclusion. How will this name change impact the world of scouting for boys and girls? Only time will tell.

MCDONALD'S GRANDMA MCFLURRY

Beginning May 21st, McDonald's released its newest McFlurry flavor for a limited time, the Grandma McFlurry, a sweet treat that mixes syrup, vanilla ice cream, and crunchy candy pieces. According to McDonald's, it's "like grandma's favorite treat that she hid in her purse. Grandmas have always held a special place in our hearts, and today, they're having a major moment influencing culture - inspiring trends in fashion, decor, and now, even food with our newest McFlurry."

BARK AIR

Flying has gone to the dogs, at least on Bark Air. According to NPR, "Flying with your dog in first class may sound like a far-fetched dream for many pet lovers. But a new boutique airline aims to make the "white paw experience" a reality. BARK Air describes itself as the world's first air travel experience designed specifically for dogs first, and their human companions second. BARK Air has taken the white glove experience typical of a human's first-class experience and redirected all that pampering to pooches – from booking to arrival, to in-flight services and disembarkation, dogs will truly be the VIPs and treated to a positively luxurious, curated experience."

DOW JONES

During May, the Dow Jones Industrial Average crossed the 40,000 threshold for the first time. According to CNN, "The Dow Jones Industrial Average is, at best, an imperfect barometer of stock market activity among a narrow band of very large US companies. It's clunky, and too limited in scope for any Wall Street pros to pay serious attention to it. Nevertheless, the Dow persists...There's nothing magical about the Dow. It's just an index that tracks the stock market activity of 30 large US companies from Amazon to McDonald's to the Walt Disney Company. But it is very old, and that's partly why it sticks around."

RED LOBSTER

Red Lobster has filed for bankruptcy. According to CNN, "Endless crab and endless shrimp deals alone didn't doom Red Lobster — they were just two missteps in a long spiral for a chain that was once an industry pioneer." In a message to the restaurant's guests, "You may be aware that Red Lobster filed for Chapter 11 protection. For more than five decades, Red Lobster has been a part of your family's life...And that's why we filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection...it does not mean that we are going out of business. If fact, it means just the opposite. It is a legal process that allows us to make changes to our business and our cost structure so that Red Lobster can continue as a stronger company going forward...Together, we have a lot worth rooting for. We've made delicious, high-quality seafood accessible for generations. Many of you tried lobster for the first time at our restaurant. We've brought you Lobsterfest and Crabfest over the years. And, of course, no meal is complete without Cheddar Bay Biscuits. We are here and ready to continue making memories with you. Join us. Dine with us. Root for us. Together, we can write a new chapter."

WILLIAMS-SONOMA

Williams-Sonoma has been ordered to pay almost $3.2 million (USD) for violating the Federal Trade Commission's "Made in USA" order. According to the FTC, "Home products and kitchen wares company Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has agreed to stop making false, misleading, or unsubstantiated claims that all of its Goldtouch Bakeware products, its Rejuvenation-branded products, and Pottery Barn Teen and Pottery Barn Kids-branded upholstered furniture products are all or virtually all made in the United States." According to Andrew Smith, Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, "Many of us want to buy products that are made in the USA, and we trust companies like Williams-Sonoma to tell us the truth. When a company falls short, we will hold it accountable."

MELINDA GATES

Melinda Gates announced her resignation from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, officially ending one of the world's leading philanthropic partnerships, which she co-founded in 2000 with her ex-husband, Bill Gates. Melinda Gates said that she plans to continue her philanthropic work independently and will focus on issues affecting women and girls in the United States and around the world.

CAITLIN CLARK AND NIKE

ESPN reported this news: "The most prolific scorer in NCAA Division I history and the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft will continue her association with Nike by signing a $28 million contract that spans eight years and includes a signature shoe. Clark's initial name, image and likeness deal, signed in 2022, expired at the end of the 2023-24 college season. The new deal is the richest sponsorship contract for a women's basketball player."

MEXICO'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

On June 1st, the citizens of Mexico will go to the polls to elect a new president. According to The Hill, "The race's front-runner is former Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum. She faces a pair of rivals: Xóchitl Gálvez from the conservative National Action Party and Jorge Máynez from the minor Citizens’ Movement. Either Sheinbaum or Gálvez would be the country’s first female president, and Sheinbaum its first Jewish head of state...In addition, all 628 seats in Mexico's Senate and Chamber of Deputies will be up for election, adding weight to the election's importance. About 100 million people are expected to go to the polls nationwide."

EUROPEAN AIR TRAVEL SPIKE

Taylor Swift fans have caused a spike in summer air travel to Europe. With costs of her concerts cheaper in European cities, many American fans have decided that the costs for airfare, hotels, and food are less expensive than the ticket costs for her American concerts.

UBER

Uber announced that it will now let customers book a shuttle to the airport, which is much different than a local trip around town.

NETFLIX

Netflix is rebuilding the cable bundle but without news, since it is too polarizing. And in addition, Netflix announced that it will air NFL games on Christmas Day in a major expansion into live sports.

And in case you missed this news from late-April:

CITY OF VENICE, ITALY CHARGES FOR DAY-TRIPPERS

On April 25th, the city became the first city in the world to charge an entry fee for day-trippers. Anyone visiting Venice as a tourist for the day - except those who live in the local region - must pay the five Euro fee ($5.40 USD) if they arrive between 8am and 4pm. Tourists who stay overnight will not have to pay since an overnight tax is already added to their hotel bills. According to Ruggero Tallon, a protestor, "We have 49,000 inhabitants, and there are more beds for tourists than residents." And according to Elena Gastaldell, president of Aric (the Italian recreational and cultural association), "The ticket will not impose limits on tourist access to Venice as no maximum number of visitors has been established, but it will further transform the city into an amusement park."

On a related note, the Swiss city of Lauterbrunnen is home to less than 800 residents and, as a result of being overwhelmed by tourists, is considering charging visitors for entry.

What other recent marketing buzz caught your attention? There's always something happening that impacts marketing, so tune in to #DebbieLaskeysBlog for the scoop!

Image Credits: Twentieth Century Studios, Sam Ash, Bark Air, and Red Lobster.

Monday, May 27, 2024

SPRING LEADERSHIP SERIES – Featuring Nathalie Gregg

SHARE: Playing with Barbie gave me the courage to dream! This was one of the first glimpses into the role that women empowerment would play in my leadership journey. ~@NathalieGregg #SpringLeadershipSeries #DebbieLaskeysBlog

QUESTION: Which work of fiction showcases leadership in a memorable way?
NATHALIE GREGG: "Let the wild rumpus start!" ~Maurice Sendak

"Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak is still one of my favorite childhood masterpieces! I continue to use it frequently in my leadership training! I begin by saying to the audience, "Welcome to Where the Wild Things Are! Let's be courageous and open-minded about the creative vision that we want to bring to pass! Let’s pretend that we are Max and use our imagination, courage, and leadership to empower our community for excellence!"

QUESTION: Which product, or product line, stands out as a symbol of leadership?
NATHALIE GREGG: "You are more beautiful than you think." ~Dove Real Beauty

Unilever nails it with Dove! The Dove Real Beauty message was a symbol of vision, leadership, and women empowerment. The impact and influence of this campaign sparked courageous conversations around diversity, inclusion, and equity! Dove is a powerful example of how a product can challenge social norms to expand our thinking and facilitate change!

QUESTION: Lastly, since I'm a marketing professional, I would be remiss not to ask this question: Which brand do you consider the best embodiment of an industry leader, and why?
NATHALIE GREGG: "Starbucks Coffee is the #1 purveyor of coffee in the world. We are here to educate and enhance the best possible customer experience." ~Howard Schultz

The Third Place Campaign for Starbucks is a masterpiece! The goal is for Starbucks to become the THIRD PLACE in our daily lives with home and work being numbers one and two! The president of my university calls Starbucks my "Corporate Headquarters," because Starbucks is where I pitch my ideas to my mentors, network with others in line, snap #coffeechat selfies, stare out the window, and, of course, sip the #LeadLoudly branded caramel drip latte with whip!

Did these questions open your eyes to thinking about leadership in nontraditional ways? That was the hope. My gratitude to Nathalie for appearing on my blog, and for sharing her leadership insights.

Image Credits: Debbie Laskey, iStockphoto, Amazon, and Classroom Clipart.

Connect with Nathalie at these links:
Website: https://nathaliegregg.com
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/NathalieGregg
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathaliegregg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathaliegregg
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@nathaliegregg

Check out Nathalie's previous appearance here on my blog:

Lead, Inspire, and Continue to Evolve (July 2022)
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2022/07/lead-inspire-and-continue-to-evolve.html

Monday, May 20, 2024

SPRING LEADERSHIP SERIES – Featuring Katherine Spinney

ERIN BROCKOVICH from the movie of the same name demonstrated leadership in so many ways. Not only did she advocate for those who were being harmed and even killed, she did so while advocating for herself. She was aware that people dismissed her as they did her clients based on perceptions and stereotypes due to their lower socio-economic status. Along with her clients, Brockovich was constantly in a position of having to prove herself worthy while proving her clients worthy of the most basic protections and amenities like clean drinking water and health care. Her approach was not always well-received, but she did not allow that to stop her from fighting for what she knew to be right and doing so against corporations who had significantly more money and power. Time and time again, she spoke up and stood up to prove herself and to fight for her clients against incredibly powerful adversaries. Her courage and leadership were admirable and effective against considerable odds.

And since you did not specify positive, I am also going to choose OFFICE SPACE. The cult classic has stood the test of time, for better or worse, about the annoyances and challenges of office life. So many of the situations continue to resonate with today’s audiences because they keep happening.

From the boss who is completely disconnected from his employees to the restaurant manager who wants his staff to go above and beyond without having to ask them to go above and beyond (FLAIR!), too many of us have similar stories of working for people whose sole job seems to be making our work environment as miserable as possible.

Billed as a comedy, it is simultaneously a tragedy for how true and accurate this movie continues to be. Hopefully, it can serve as a cautionary tale of the very leader we do NOT want to be. There are several examples of bosses and leaders in the movie, which is part of the point, and none really serves as a positive example of leadership. But each one can remind us not to repeat the same mistakes that too many others so easily seem to make.

QUESTION: Which product, or product line, stands out as a symbol of leadership?
KATHERINE SPINNEY: Shared anything. Whether it is shared Outlook calendars or shared Google Docs, these types of shared electronic spaces make collaborating so much easier and make leadership so much more accessible.

Throughout the years, I have worked with supervisors who have made it frustrating, challenging, and in some cases, impossible to get their time or feedback. With the use of shared calendars, it is so much easier to meet with them, and it is so much easier to give and receive information, making many of those in-person meetings unnecessary. Rather than the time-consuming back and forth of email scheduling or having to go through an assistant, having the ability to connect easily and efficiently is really refreshing and demonstrates a commitment on leadership’s part to be accessible and transparent.

I also love using these shared tools as a running record of accomplishments throughout the year. Too often, when end-of-the-year evaluation time rolls around, there is glaring recency bias. This allows everyone to stay on top of all the wonderful things happening all year long.

(According to Scribbr: "Recency bias is the tendency to overemphasize the importance of recent experiences. Recent events seem more important due to their immediacy, but the most recent experiences are not always the most relevant or reliable benchmarks for our decisions. Under the recency bias, we don’t realize this and may make hasty or emotional decisions.")

QUESTION: Lastly, since I’m a marketing professional, I would be remiss not to ask this question. Which brand do you consider the best embodiment of an industry leader, and why?
KATHERINE SPINNEY: So many industries and so many companies come to mind. From Apple to Amazon to Nike, there is nowhere to go to escape from brands and their influence.

To answer your question about choosing one best embodiment of an industry leader, I am going to choose the NFL. Not because they embody the qualities and values of strong leadership - quite the opposite actually - but because they have such an absolute stranglehold not just on other football leagues and not even just on other sports, but on entertainment in general. In this past year alone, the NFL accounted for 93 out of the 100 most watched US broadcasts of the year. Not just sports, but broadcasts! That is astounding. Despite a myriad of controversies, and perhaps, in some cases because of them, people in the U.S. cannot seem to get enough of the NFL. They are truly the leader in terms of popularity and entertainment, and it isn't even close.

Monday, May 13, 2024

SPRING LEADERSHIP SERIES – Featuring Kathi Kruse

Last fall, I featured an inspiring series here on my blog called, "Fall Back to Reading Series." Nearly 30 leadership, marketing, and customer experience experts participated and shared their favorite books and their thoughts about the importance of reading.

Joseph Lalonde, one participant, wrote a book entitled, REEL LEADERSHIP, which focuses on nontraditional ways to think about leadership. After I read the book, the seeds for this "Spring Leadership Series" were planted. Today, I’d like to introduce Kathi Kruse, and following a brief introduction, Kathi shares some nontraditional ways to think about leadership!

Kathi Kruse is a retail car gal, dealership profitability expert, social media strategist, coach, trainer, author of Kruse Control Newsletter, co-host of The First Pencil podcast, and founder of Kruse Control, Inc. and AutoCFO To Go. She is a board member of Hanaeleh Horse Rescue, and ten percent of Kruse Control profits go toward animal welfare.

QUESTION: Which TV show or TV series showcases leadership in a memorable way? This could be due to a specific character and their actions, a series of events, the plot of one or several episodes, or a specific time reflected in history.
KATHI KRUSE: THE SOPRANOS, a truly iconic TV series (that I loved from the first episode) and specifically Tony Soprano, the mob boss. Here are the show's leadership lessons:

(1) Strategic Thinking: Tony often displays a keen understanding of the bigger picture and the ability to plan several steps ahead.

(2) Decisiveness: Tony is known for making tough decisions quickly, a crucial trait for a leader in his position.

(3) Loyalty: Tony values loyalty highly, both in himself and in his associates. He often rewards loyalty and takes betrayal very personally.

(4) Adaptability: Throughout the series, Tony shows an ability to adapt to changing circumstances, whether it's dealing with internal family dynamics (both his own family and the mob family) or external threats.

(5) Charisma: Despite his flaws, Tony possesses a certain charisma that draws people to him and commands respect.

(6) Toughness: Tony demonstrates mental and physical toughness, a necessary quality for survival in his world.

(7) Intelligence: Tony is often portrayed as being highly intelligent, able to outmaneuver his opponents and navigate complex situations.

(8) Emotional Complexity: While this may not be a traditional leadership quality, Tony's depth of character and emotional struggles add a layer to his leadership style, showing a human side that contrasts with his often ruthless actions.

(9) Resourcefulness: Tony frequently finds creative solutions to problems that seem insurmountable.

(10) Influence: Tony has a significant influence over his crew and associates, often guiding their actions and decisions.

QUESTION: Which film showcases leadership in a memorable way?
KATHI KRUSE: SCHINDLER'S LIST (1993): A powerful depiction of Oskar Schindler, a German industrialist and member of the Nazi Party, who is credited with saving the lives of over 1,100 Jews during the Holocaust. The film is set during World War II and primarily takes place in Kraków, Poland, which was occupied by the Nazis.

Key aspects of the film's depiction of Schindler's leadership:

(1) Schindler's Transformation: The film depicts Schindler's transformation from a profit-driven businessman to a humanitarian. Initially, he sees the war as an opportunity to profit by employing Jewish labor in his enamelware factory. However, as he witnesses the brutal treatment and systematic extermination of Jews, he becomes determined to save as many lives as possible.

(2) Tactical Maneuvering: Schindler's leadership is showcased by his ability to navigate the treacherous political landscape of Nazi-occupied Poland. He cultivates relationships with high-ranking Nazi officials, using bribery and charm to protect his Jewish workers.

(3) Moral Courage: The film highlights Schindler's growing moral courage. Despite the immense risks, he uses his factory as a refuge for Jews. His list becomes a lifeline for those included, sparing them from transportation to concentration camps.

(4) Emotional Depth: The emotional depth of the film is notable, and I believe emotional IQ is crucial to leadership. Schindler is portrayed as a complex character, flawed yet capable of extraordinary acts of kindness and bravery. His emotional journey is central to the narrative, which makes it a great example of memorable leadership.

QUESTION: Which product, or product line, stands out as a symbol of leadership?
KATHI KRUSE: PATAGONIA's products are amazing. When you buy one, the experience illustrates the brand's core values: quality, integrity, environmentailism, justice, and not being bound by convention.

QUESTION: Lastly, since I’m a marketing professional, I would be remiss not to ask this question. Which brand do you consider the best embodiment of an industry leader, and why?
KATHI KRUSE: COSTCO is a retail leader and provides a stellar example of how to treat employees and customers. In the retail sector (where I'm from), leadership is best represented by how you deliver an extraordinary experience. Costco's return policy is one example: "We guarantee your satisfaction on every product we sell with a full refund." It's memorable, customers tell others about it, and when you need to return something, it's easy and effortless.

Tuesday, May 7, 2024

All Women Need a Leadership Compass!

While women have different experiences than men in the workplace, there is no dispute that women need a leadership compass. Gender equality expert Michelle Redfern has written the book that every woman must read! Her new book, available today, THE LEADERSHIP COMPASS, is truly what her subtitle calls, "The Ultimate Guide for Women Leaders to Reach Their Full Potential."

Michelle has appeared here on my blog three times, and I thank Susan Colantuono for making the introduction. Before I share highlights from the book, here's a brief introduction for this amazing woman and author!

Michelle Redfern is a globally recognized gender equality, diversity, and inclusion strategist based in Australia. She advises organizations in the business and sporting sectors on DEI strategy development and implementation and works directly with women leaders to advance their careers. She has been recognized as one of Australia’s Top 100 Women of Influence and has won awards for her contributions to women’s advancement. She is passionate about what sets her soul on fire, closing the global leadership gender gap, and enabling women to have a career that soars!

That bio may describe Michelle, but in her own words, here are the three things she does:

I fix workplace systems that prevent women and organizations from reaching their full potential.
I help women navigate the systems in their workplace to reach their full potential. I am like a human compass to guide women towards success."
I advocate for the rights of women and girls, particularly in the sporting sector."

Amazon describes Michelle's book as:

"An inspirational and evidence-based guide for women leaders. The Leadership Compass is not about fixing women. Rather, it is a compass to guide women to reach their leadership potential and navigate a system that is still fundamentally stacked against them. It is also a tool to help those already in leadership positions to close the leadership gender gap in their organizations. According to author and award-winning diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) strategist Michelle Redfern, women need to know, and be known for, critical business skills to reach their full leadership potential. Drawn from the experiences of a leader who has been there and done that, The Leadership Compass is essential reading for women at all stages of their careers."

And now, some highlights from the book:

Michelle provides an important reason for her book. She explained that in a 2020 report by Fortune magazine, of the top 200 best-selling business books, only 17 were written by women: "Why am I sharing this? Because old white guys do not have a monopoly on good ideas and the writing of good business books." More WOMEN LEADERS need to write business books!

A great leadership scenario was presented when Michelle asked readers to "Imagine you are the captain of a cruise liner. You have passengers (customers) who depend on you for a great time on their holiday. The cruise ship organization depends on you to ensure customers have a great experience so they become repeat customers. Your crew depend on you to ensure the working environment is safe and respectful, and that they have all the tools and resources to get their job done. As the captain, you're working from the bridge, and in front of you is the large dashboard that tells you where the ship is headed and how it is performing. You have executive team members who report to you to tell you how the customer experience is going and how the crew are performing. Now, imagine if you spent the entire cruise down in the engine room focusing on the mechanical aspects of the ship...[You'd be] missing out on the perspective you'd get on the bridge, watching out for the overall performance of the cruise liner and all the people on it." An effective leader cannot live (translation, work or hide) in their organization's version of the cruise ship's engine room!

A useful tool Michelle presented was understanding what great leaders and organizations cause. She asked if readers knew what happens when they walk into a room, walk out of a room, have a one-on-one conversation, chair a meeting, send an email, walk around the workplace, and more. Her list of possible outcomes included: support, trust, vision, wisdom, caring, clarity, guidance, innovation, inspiration, knowledge, motivation, movement, outcomes, progress, and results. If these positive outcomes are not your outcomes, then there's much work to be done!

Do you know the difference between the six different types of leadership styles? Michelle explains the differences, key phrases, and impacts on people and culture when discussing the styles:

coercive (directive)
visionary (authoritative)
harmonizing (affiliative)
participative (democratic)
exacting (pacesetting)
empowering (coaching)

And probably the most important lesson in the book is what I have always told my female (and male) colleagues throughout my career, create a personal brand that accurately reflects your expertise and purpose. As Michelle wrote, "You already have a brand, whether consciously crafted or passively shaped by external factors, so be intentional and proactive about the narrative you want to portray...Always remember that you are the best advocate for your brand, so brand intentionally, consistently, and brilliantly." And, a tip, make sure to create a detailed LinkedIn page that aligns with your personal brand.

As Michelle wrote, "Society tells women in many ways that speaking up is not OK. Many of us have been shushed, spoken over or interrupted, or simply cannot get a word in edgewise when some bloke is blathering on and taking up all the oxygen in the room...[So] as a leader, it is your responsibility to speak up on behalf of the following people and groups: yourself, your team members, those who cannot, and your organization." Tell your inner voice, speak up!

Michelle posed the scenario where the word "mentor" was struck from our vocabulary for two reasons:

(1) Because "Mentoring alone will not create forward movement in a woman's career."

and

(2) Because "women are over-mentored and under-promoted."

According to a Harvard Business Review article, "Women need what men get all the time, someone prepared to go out on a limb for them. A champion is someone who, behind closed doors, slams their fist on the boardroom table and says, 'If there's only room for one bonus in the budget, it's going to Jane, not John.'"

Monday, May 6, 2024

SPRING LEADERSHIP SERIES – Featuring Rebecca Herold

Last fall, I featured an inspiring series here on my blog called, "Fall Back to Reading Series." Nearly 30 leadership, marketing, and customer experience experts participated and shared their favorite books and their thoughts about the importance of reading.

Joseph Lalonde, one participant, wrote a book entitled, REEL LEADERSHIP, which focuses on nontraditional ways to think about leadership. After I read the book, the seeds for this "Spring Leadership Series" were planted. Today, I’d like to introduce Rebecca Herold, and following a brief introduction, Rebecca shares some nontraditional ways to think about leadership!

Rebecca Herold has over 30 years of IT, security, and privacy experience and is the founder of The Privacy Professor Consultancy (2004) and of Privacy & Security Brainiacs SaaS services (2021). Rebecca has authored 22 published books so far, and co-authored NIST catalogs NISTIR 7628, NISTIR 8259, SP 800-213, NISTIR 8425 and TN 2066. She has served as an expert witness for cases covering HIPAA, criminals using IoT devices, social engineering, stolen personal data of retirement housing residents, and tracking app users with Meta Pixels. Rebecca hosts Data Security & Privacy with the Privacy Professor. Since early 2018, Rebecca has hosted the Voice America podcast/radio show, Data Security & Privacy with the Privacy Professor, and is based in Des Moines, Iowa.

QUESTION: Which TV show or TV series showcases leadership in a memorable way? This could be due to a specific character and their actions, a series of events, the plot of one or several episodes, or a specific time reflected in history.
REBECCA HEROLD: The classic series COLUMBO contained so many fabulous lessons and leadership examples for how to analyze evidence, that are directly applicable today for technologies that did not even exist back when the show first aired.

One excellent example directly applicable today to Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and most directly to medical devices, is the "How to Dial a Murder" episode from the show’s first season (Directed by James Frawley in 1978). In this episode, Columbo used ECG evidence to solve a murder. His dialog explained it perfectly in ways that the general public can understand without getting all techie: "You claim that you were at the physician's office getting your heart examined...which was true," Columbo states as he unravels a roll of the ECG readings. Yes, a physical, paper log back then, that correlates directly to the digital trails left today from all IoT devices that are responsibly engineered to log such data for those with authorization to identify health problems for their patients.

Columbo, while inspecting the electrocardiogram data states to the suspect while looking at the data on the paper roll of the ECG, "Sir, just before three o’clock, your physician left you alone for a resting trace. At that moment, you were lying down in a restful position, and your heart showed a calm, slow, easy beat." Then Columbo points to the ECG for the suspect to see and says, "Look at this part, right here. Lots of sudden stress, lots of excitement, right here at three o’clock, your heart beating like a hammer just before the dogs attacked. Oh, you killed him with a phone call, Sir. I'll bet my life on it. Very simple case. Not that I'm particularly bright. Sir, I must say, I found you disappointing. I mean, your incompetence. You left enough clues to sink a ship. Motive. Opportunity. And for a man of your intelligence, Sir, you got caught on a lot of stupid lies.”

Columbo did his due diligence, applied the data collected, and solved a crime using that data. Actually, many different episodes of Columbo have great data and IT security and privacy leadership lessons within them. Along with many other series, such as, Monk, Murder She Wrote, Fargo the series (the Molly Solverson character was so far above all her co-workers in critical thinking skills that all types of leaders need) and many more.

QUESTION: Which film showcases leadership in a memorable way?
REBECCA HEROLD: Another throwback to a classic: 1983’s WAR GAMES. Leadership by the military? Not directly. But indirectly by finally listening to a couple of teens who loved computers and were being leaders themselves by admitting they inadvertently found a huge security vulnerability in what could have been the most deadly military computer system that existed.

The main characters, David (Matthew Broderick) and Jennifer (Ally Sheedy), using modems to find what they initially thought was a computer game, Global Thermonuclear War. After they start playing this "game," they, and the military overseeing that program, realize they are just a computer button away from bombing the Soviet Union.

This showed leadership, that was flawed and delayed, to show how important computer security is, and the need to diligently secure all types of computer systems. Otherwise, dire harms could impact millions. This is quite simplistically stated. But, this has provided a great class topic for my security and privacy courses over the years, where we dig deep into all the associated vulnerabilities and threats, while also enjoying an entertaining movie. And, it is important to point out, that in 1983, most of the public did not even know what computer hacking was or understand the need for computer security.

Sadly, the majority still does NOT understand the need for comprehensive computer and data security and privacy. This includes the majority of business leaders, who often view security and privacy programs as "necessary evils" to meet "unnecessary regulatory requirements." Those views need to change. Those types of leaders are negligent through perpetuating their willful ignorance of the risks that exist and their responsibilities to mitigate those risks, under any situation not just when compelled by legal requirements.