Yet beyond the shaky facts, the underlying assumption of the fable-that Blockbuster's fate rested solely, or even mostly, on a strategic decision made in a conference room in 2000, ten years before it went bankrupt in 2010-is absurd. A business's fate rarely depends on a single decision made at the top, but rather on how stakeholders are aligned around change.
The letter added that moving forward, the company will "focus on scale" and the kinds of "innovation" that makes it a stand-out brand. Regardless of the haters, the brand, which was founded by McGowan and Hemsley in 2017 has grown to become a giant in the dessert industry. Currently, there are around 1,100 Crumbl locations across the U.S. However, the brand fell victim to mass layoffs in 2023, cutting about 10% off its corporate workforce that year.
"Security should make organizations stronger, not more complicated. I believe it needs to be practical, grounded in risk mitigation, and tailored to each client's environment. When done right, security becomes a business enabler, something that supports resilience, builds confidence, and helps organizations navigate an increasingly complex threat landscape."
Wendy's is continuing its push to close hundreds of locations as it seeks to stabilize profits and shed underperforming restaurants, resulting in a smaller U.S. footprint.
"We have built a globally standardized data platform. Starting this fiscal year, based on this data platform, we will accelerate the full-scale implementation of AI-driven management using our own AI. This will enhance both the speed and quality of decision-making and management judgments."
"When you talk to people about breaking them down, they feel like they're going to get flattened. This negative perception of breaking down siloes can impact the organization's ability to solve the siloes in the first place."
In a world where audiences are flooded with content, cutting through the noise requires more than visibility. Organizations increasingly invest in storytelling and narrative strategists to shape everything from brand voice to internal alignment.
Kirby has a long history of audacious ideas, rising at America West to become the top lieutenant to CEO Doug Parker, orchestrating the acquisition of U.S. Airways from Chapter 11.
