Latest news with #BrianRoberts
Fast Company
a day ago
- Business
- Fast Company
Deanna Strable's journey from intern to CEO of Principal Financial Group is inspiring—but may become increasingly rare
Hello and welcome to Modern CEO! I'm Stephanie Mehta, CEO and chief content officer of Mansueto Ventures. Each week this newsletter explores inclusive approaches to leadership drawn from conversations with executives and entrepreneurs, and from the pages of Inc. and Fast Company. If you received this newsletter from a friend, you can sign up to get it yourself every Monday morning. As a new crop of summer interns arrive at your company, it's worth considering: Will one of them rise to CEO? Deanna Strable, who became CEO of Principal Financial Group in January, interned at the company during college. After graduating from Northwestern University, she joined Principal as an actuarial assistant, the start of a 35-year journey that included a stint abroad and senior roles including chief financial officer (CFO) and president and chief operating officer (COO). (Disclosure: Principal is a longtime Inc. advertising and sponsorship partner.) 'People love to ask, 'Why'd you originally come to Principal?' but I think a fundamental question is, 'Why did you stay here for 35 years?'' Strable says of the insurance and benefits company, which last year reported $16.2 billion in revenue, up 18% from 2023. 'It ultimately comes back to the work, the company, and the people.' From entry-level to executive The intern-to-CEO path isn't unheard of, especially at family-led companies. Comcast chairman and CEO Brian Roberts, whose father founded the cable company, first interned at its Storecast marketing unit in 1974. J. Patrick Gallagher Jr., CEO of Arthur J. Gallagher and Co., a global insurance brokerage founded by his grandfather, interned at the business in 1972. Some prominent CEOs are 'lifers,' having spent their whole careers at one company. Tricia Griffith, CEO of the insurer Progressive, started as an entry-level claims representative, and Mary Barra, CEO of GM, started at the carmaker as a co-op student. And while research suggests that CEOs hired from within an organization slightly outperformed external hires during the pandemic, and performed on par with one another before the pandemic, more boards are turning to outsiders to run companies. Spencer Stuart's ' 2024 CEO Transitions ' report found that 44% of all new S&P 1500 CEO appointments last year were external hires, up from 32% in 2023 and the highest rate since 2000, when the executive search firm started tracking the data. 'The CEO role has never been harder or more complex, and I do believe that you really need multiple experiences to be an effective leader in today's world,' says Janice Ellig, CEO of executive search firm Ellig Group. 'I don't want to predict that the intern-to-CEO [trend] is going to decrease, but I'm not sure it's going to increase.' Many roles, one vision Ellig says boards and investors want their chief executives to bring a range of relevant experiences to the role. Insiders who get the top job have typically led different departments and excelled in areas that are important to the company. GM's Barra, for example, led manufacturing engineering, global human resources, and global product development—critical divisions at a major automaker with 90,000 employees in the U.S. alone. Principal's Strable helped build and lead the company's benefits and protection business, which encompasses employee benefits, business owner solutions (life insurance and disability insurance), and nonqualified deferred compensation. As CFO, she worked alongside previous CEO Daniel Houston to develop a growth strategy that included discontinuing the sale of consumer life insurance products and focusing on higher-growth businesses such as retirement and global asset management. As a result, Strable says, she was 'able to hit the ground running,' adding: 'You know the people, you know the products, you know the business, you know the strategy.' The insider's double-edge sword Strable, who retains the president title at Principal, counts the familiarity and support of longtime colleagues as a 'plus' of being an internal candidate. But 'where it can be hard is there are times that people just expect that you're comfortable with things the way they are today,' she says. Strable says she encourages the company to 'lean into' its strengths but also evaluate the areas where Principal has not been effective. She strives to find ways to learn from people outside the company. 'I reinforce that with a lot of our leaders, too,' she says. 'You need to have a network of peers outside of the organization, both within and outside the industry.' At a lunch meeting in New York shortly after she became CEO, Strable reflected on the corporate milestones she's observed throughout her three-decades-plus at Principal. Of note: Some of the first 'graduates' of Principal's on-site daycare center at its Des Moines headquarters, which opened 17 years ago, will soon be eligible for internships at the company. Perhaps one of them might even become CEO someday. Are you an 'insider' CEO? Are you a company lifer who has ascended to the CEO role? What unique insights do you possess that outsiders or newcomers don't have? Please send your experiences to me at stephaniemehta@ And while I have your attention, please spread the word that Fast Company's annual Brands That Matter program is extending its deadline to June 6. If your brand excels in making emotional connections, communicating purpose, and maintaining cultural relevance, consider applying via this link.
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
EastEnders fans stunned as they find out iconic character's ‘real age'
EASTENDERS fans were left stunned when they found out an iconic character's 'real age'. The actor joined the BBC soap in 2000 and has been off an on our screens ever since. 5 Eastenders fans were left stunned when they found out an iconic character's 'real age'. Credit: Brian Roberts - The Sun 5 Over the years she has become one of Walford's biggest icons Credit: BBC Over the years she's become one of Walford's biggest icons and has been involved in lots of storylines during her time on the Square. 5 Mo Harris is best known as a conwoman and the matriarch of the Slater family Credit: BBC But much of her happenings revolved around being a con woman. Yes, we are speaking about She is the grandmother of , Belinda Peacock , and Soap News Over the past two decades Mo's returned for numerous stints before she departed the show in 2021 for a cruise with her fiancé Fat Elvis. The crazed teacher had been Now, fans have found out the Mo's real age in the soap and they are completely amazed. Most read in Soaps Posting on Redditt one said: "There's absolutely no way she's 89?? EIGHTY NINE????" Another added: "They should have made her Charlie's sister rather than his mother in law . EastEnders' Big Mo reveals she once had a fling with a woman at Eve and Suki's hen do "It's never been fully believable even in the early days of the Slaters." "Laila Morse is 79 which I still find hard to believe- she's still got plenty of go in her!" exclaimed another. A fourth explained: "They aged her up to match pat's age for the backstory, maybe it was believable back in the early 2000s but it sure as hell isn't now." " EastEnders stars who QUIT MICHELLE Collins has seen her second EastEnders stint boost her bank balance. Yet what stars have quit this year? The Sun exclusively reported how Michelle, 62, was down to £20,000 in her company accounts when she agreed to a Her character, Cindy Beale, was presumed dead off-camera in 1998. Yet what about the 2024 exits? Earlier this summer, loyal soap fans appeared to note how It came after Alan Ford enjoyed just six-months on-screen. Fans also Additionally, a host of stars have One of the most successful stars to come from the BBC One soap is Rob Kazinsky. He played Stacey Slater's brother Sean Slater from 2006 to 2009, he has starred in Hollywood blockbusters Pacific Rim and Ben Hardy, who quit EastEnders as Bobby Beale almost a decade ago, went on to break Hollywood the following year, when he starred as Archangel in X-Men: Apocalypse. Since then, he has played Roger Taylor in Queen biopic Michelle Ryan played Zoe Slater until 2005. She starred as the lead in short-lived American series Bionic Woman from 2007 to 2008. While another soap fan said: "Mo doesn't look 90 whatsover, or acts it either." They even collaborated on a film together once, as Laila starred in 1997 film Nil By Mouth, Gary's debut as a film writer and director. When some soap fans got hold of the news that the EastEnders star was the Fans began to tweet their funny reactions to the news that Walford's Big Mo and Oscar winner Gary were in fact brother and sister. One EastEnders fan said: "If there is a better fact out there than Big Mo being Gary Oldman's sister I want to hear it" Another tweeted: "Wtf since when were Big Mo from Eastenders & Gary Oldman brother & sister?????" While this one commented: "I'll never come to terms with the fact Gary Oldman's sister is Big Mo from Eastenders #Oscars" 5 Laila is the sister of the Oscar winning star Gary Oldman Credit: Rex Features 5 Twitter lit up when fans discovered Gary Oldman was Laila's little brother Credit: AP
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Business Standard
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Trump slams journalist for question on Qatari jet, calls him 'terrible'
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (local time) slammed a journalist after he questioned the former about the Pentagon modifying a Qatar Boeing 747 jet. During a press briefing following his meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, a journalist from NBC asked Donald Trump about the Pentagon modifying a Qatari Boeing 747 into a future Air Force One. The US President responded by calling the journalist 'terrible' and asked him to leave the room. The question from the NBC journalist comes after US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the US has accepted a luxury Boeing 747 from Qatar. Accusing the reporter of diverting from more pressing issues, including racist laws against white farmers in South Africa and violence, the US President suggested that NBC and Brian Roberts, parent company's CEO and chairperson, should be investigated for their operations. He further went on to term the network a 'disgrace'. 'What are you talking about? ...What are you talking about? You know... You need to get out of here... What does this have to do with Qatari Jet...? They are giving the United States Air Force a jet, and it's a great thing... We're talking about a lot of other things, and NBC is trying to get off the subject of what you just saw. You are a terrible reporter. Number one, you don't have what it takes to be a reporter. You are not smart enough.' He further said, 'You ought to go back to your studio at NBC, because Brian Roberts and the people that run that place, they ought to be investigated. They are so terrible in the way you run that network. And you are a disgrace. No more questions from you.' CNN previously reported that the acceptance of the aircraft complied with the US laws and regulation, further adding that the defence department will ensure the aircraft is equipped properly for Trump to use in his presidential role. Taking to Truth Social, his private social media platform, Trump wrote, 'The Boeing 747 is being given to the United States Air Force/ Department of Defence, NOT TO ME! It is a gift from a nation, Qatar that we have successfully defended for many years. It will be used by our Government as a temporary Air Force One, until such time as our new Boeing, which are very late on delivery, arrive.'
Times of Oman
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Times of Oman
"You need to get out of here": Trump slams reporter for asking about Qatari jet
Washington DC: Dismissing questions about the Pentagon's recent announcement to modify a Qatari Boeing 747 as a future Air Force One, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday slammed the NBC reporter who made the question, calling him "terrible" and "not smart enough" to do his job. Trump, during a tense meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the White House, accused the reporter of diverting attention from more pressing issues, such as the violence and racist laws against white farmers in South Africa. The US President suggested that NBC and Brian Roberts, its parent company's CEO and chairperson, should be investigated for their operations, branding the network a "disgrace". "What are you talking about? ...What are you talking about? You know... You need to get out of here... What does this have to do with Qatari Jet...? They are giving the United States Air Force a jet, and it's a great thing... We're talking about a lot of other things, and this NBC is trying to get off the subject of what you just saw. You are a terrible reporter. Number one, you don't have what it takes to be a reporter. You are not smart enough," Trump erupted following the reporter's question on the jet. "You ought to go back to your studio at NBC, because Brian Roberts and the people that run that place, they ought to be investigated. They are so terrible in the way you run that network. And you are a disgrace. No more questions from you," he further stated. He defended the Qatari gift, adding, "But for you to go on to a subject about a jet that was given to the United States Air Force, which is a very nice thing. They also gave USD 5.1 trillion worth of investments in addition to the jet." As per CNN, citing a Defence Department spokesperson, US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth had accepted a Boeing 747 from Qatar that, after undergoing extensive modifications for security and mission readiness, is expected to be used by President Trump. Earlier, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed the acceptance of the aircraft, stating that the transfer complies with all US laws and regulations and noted that the Defence Department will ensure the aircraft is properly equipped to serve in a presidential transport role, CNN reported. Sharing a post on the social media platform Truth Social, Trump earlier stated that the jet was "NOT TO ME!" but "a gift from a nation." "The Boeing 747 is being given to the United States Air Force/Department of Defence, NOT TO ME! It is a gift from a nation, Qatar, that we have successfully defended for many years. It will be used by our Government as a temporary Air Force One, until such time as our new Boeings, which are very late on delivery, arrive," Trump stated. According to The Hill, the value of the plane is estimated at USD 400 million, which Qatar's royal family had offered as a gift to the United States.
New York Post
22-05-2025
- Business
- New York Post
NBC makes offer to take over ESPN's MLB television slate
NBC is taking a swing at getting back into the baseball broadcasting game. NBCUniversal made an offer to the MLB to scoop up the broadcast package of regular season and playoff games that ESPN is giving up, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday. According to the report, the offer is less than what the Worldwide Leader in Sports currently pays Major League Baseball to carry games, which includes 'Sunday Night Baseball.' Advertisement 3 NBC Sports is making a play for ESPN's slate of MLB games next season. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images The offer by NBC was made earlier in May after the league and network had conversations in the weeks prior. Comcast exec Brian Roberts and MLB commissioner Rob Manfred had also talked about a potential deal. Advertisement NBC is offering less than what ESPN currently pays because the network isn't looking for any international rights or radio rights, which ESPN licenses from the league, the Wall Street Journal reported. The Comcast-owned network reportedly is also interested in the rights to the first round of the playoffs and the Home Run Derby, which ESPN currently carries. 3 Yankees left fielder Cody Bellinger (35) hits a grand slam home run in the eighth inning against the New York Mets at Yankee Stadium on ESPN 'Sunday Night Baseball.' Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images The offer would also include games airing on NBC's streaming service, Peacock, which has shown exclusive NFL and Premier League games. Advertisement ESPN triggered its opt-out clause in February for the final three years of its $550 million-a-year deal with MLB, ending a longstanding broadcast partnership between the two sides after this season. NBCUniversal cable channels, including USA Network, have been spun off into a separate company, Versant, which has expressed interest in picking up a baseball package. Versant hasn't been part of NBC's talks with MLB. 3 ESPN is giving up its MLB package after this season. REUTERS Advertisement NBC already holds the rights to the NFL and will carry NBA games starting next season. According to the report, when there are scheduling conflicts with other sports, MLB games would be streamed on Peacock.
