Febuary 11, 2025 by Mike Manazir – (4-5 minutes) The Brick ChroniclesBuilding a Culture of Creativity Sarah Thompson, CEO of Baxter’s Bricks, stood at the front of the conference room with a mischievous grin. She had just announced the launch of a company-wide initiative to foster creativity and idea generation. The room was silent, except … Read more
Febuary 2, 2025 by Mike Manazir – (4-5 minutes) The Brick ChroniclesTurning Legal Threats Into Strengths Sarah Thompson, CEO of Baxter’s Bricks, leaned back in her chair after an intense year end SWOT analysis with her leadership team. The good news? Baxter’s Bricks had a record-breaking year. The bad news? The rising tide of legal … Read more
January 26, 2025 by Mike Manazir – (4-5 minutes) The Brick ChroniclesHow Baxter’s Bricks Wins the Talent Game Sarah Thompson, CEO of Baxter’s Bricks watched the numbers on her screen. Talent acquisition had been her focus for months, and the stakes were higher than ever. The market for top candidates was tight and delays in … Read more
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