January 20, 2025 by Mike Manazir – (4-5 minutes) The Brick ChroniclesProtecting Innovation Sarah Thompson, CEO of Baxter’s Bricks, walked into the conference room, greeted by the serious faces of her leadership team. Carla Ortiz, the company’s legal counsel, wasted no time. “We’ve got a potential issue,” Carla began, sliding a report across the table. … Read more

January 12, 2025 by Mike Manazir – (4-5 minutes) The Brick ChroniclesWhen Supply chains Break, Creativity Builds Rick Nelson, COO of Baxter’s Bricks, barged into Sarah Thompson’s office, waving a clipboard like a white flag. “We’ve got a problem. Demand for the hybrids is through the roof—great news, right? Except now we’re running low on … Read more

January 5, 2025 by Mike Manazir – (4-5 minutes) The Brick ChroniclesBreaking Down Resistance, Brick by Brick Rick Nelson, COO of Baxter’s Bricks, stormed into Sarah Thompson’s office and tossed a customer survey on her desk. “Well, this is just great. Turns out 3D-printed homes aren’t just a threat. Builders love them. One of our … Read more

December 29, 2024 by Mike Manazir – (4-5 minutes) The Brick ChroniclesLeading with Agility–When the Ground Shifts Rick Nelson, COO of Baxter’s Bricks, walked into Sarah Thompson’s office holding a newspaper. “Have you seen this?” he asked. Sarah glanced at the headline: Local Builder Turns to 3D-Printed Homes: Faster, Cheaper, Smarter. She frowned. “3D-printed homes? … Read more

December 23, 2024 by Mike Manazir – (4-5 minutes) The Brick ChroniclesBuilding a Workforce That Feels Like Family Rick Nelson, COO of Baxter’s Bricks, walked the operations floor. The usual buzz of forklifts and conveyor belts filled the air, but something felt off. People were working hard, but the energy was flat. He stopped by … Read more

December 16, 2024 by Mike Manazir – (4-5 minutes) The Brick ChroniclesBuilding Bricks and Bridges Sarah Thompson, CEO of Baxter’s Bricks, sat at a leadership conference, half-listening to a speaker on strategic alliances. Starbucks and PepsiCo, Nike and Apple—it all sounded great for billion-dollar brands. Jason, her longtime mentor, said, “You’re thinking this doesn’t apply … Read more

December 08, 2024 by Mike Manazir – (4-5 minutes) The Brick ChroniclesLearning, Listening and Building Better Solutions Sarah Thompson, CEO of Baxter’s Bricks, reviewed the latest reports. Sales were plummeting, service complaints were climbing, and customer loyalty, once the company’s pride, was eroding. Rick Nelson, COO, walked in. I received a call from one of … Read more

December 01, 2024 by Mike Manazir – (4-5 minutes) The Brick Chronicles: Cracks in the Wall Sarah Thompson, CEO of Baxter’s Bricks, stared at her phone as it vibrated nonstop. The notifications weren’t good: complaints about their latest eco-friendly brick product was flooding social media, and a local news article was not helping. Baxter’s Bricks … Read more

November 24, 2024 by Mike Manazir – (4-5 minutes) The Brick Chronicles: A Conflict of Interest Shakes the Foundation Sarah Thompson, CEO of Baxter’s Bricks received an urgent email from Rick Nelson, her COO. Subject: Immediate Issue – Conflict of Interest Rick didn’t mince words when he walked into her office moments later, his face … Read more

November 17, 2024 by Mike Manazir – (4-5 minutes) The Brick Chronicles: A Knowledge Gap Blows Up a Big Deal Sarah Thompson, CEO of Baxter’s Bricks, reviewed the quarterly report. She saw an urgent email from Tom Jenkins, the Environmental Impact Manager. Subject: Major Project Setback—Need Help Tom walked in with a frown. “Sarah, we’ve … Read more