The Boardroom Daily Brief unpacks a tariff ruling that could unwind U.S. trade agreements with key partners, a coordinated pharma manufacturing buildout on U.S. soil, a court decision that spares Alphabet from breakup, and gold’s surge above $3,500 as a live signal of systemic uncertainty. Ash connects the dots and then dives into a practical playbook for building optionality in an age of policy chaos—structuring phased capacity, using portable manufacturing contracts, negotiating flexible incentives, turning trade clauses into living documents, hardening treasury posture, and installing trigger-based governance with policy-fluent leaders. The episode closes with a 48-hour stress-test challenge boards can run now to turn volatility into advantage.

In the September 2, 2025, episode of The Boardroom Daily Brief, host Ash Wendt dives into critical market developments shaking global business. A federal appeals court’s ruling against Trump’s tariffs triggers a market selloff, with the S&P 500 dropping over 1% as supply chains face recalibration. Kraft Heinz announces a major split, undoing its 2015 merger to focus on grocery staples and sauces, addressing stagnant growth amid shifting consumer preferences. Gold surges to a record $3,529, signaling investor hedging against economic uncertainty, while manufacturing shows mixed signals with an ISM PMI of 48.7 but rebounding new orders. Ash’s deep dive explores turning trade volatility into competitive advantage, using lessons from Boeing’s tariff struggles, Apple’s diversification, and GE’s digital twin success. Actionable strategies include supply chain mapping, sourcing diversification, and AI-driven forecasting, with resources at boardroomdailybrief.com.

In this episode of The Boardroom Daily Brief (August 28, 2025), host Ash Wendt, founder of Cowen Partners Executive Search, dives into the critical AI fluency gap threatening corporate profitability and competitiveness. With Microsoft’s $80 billion FY2025 AI push under shareholder scrutiny and Google’s leaner models gaining traction, Ash explores how strategic discipline outperforms unchecked spending. China’s rare earth export curbs spike prices, exposing supply chain vulnerabilities, while jobless claims (229,000) and retail trends signal selective consumer spending. Merck KGaA’s $3.9 billion SpringWorks acquisition underscores M&A risks, with 70-90% of deals failing to deliver ROI. The deep dive unpacks the AI Profit Paradox—why 95% of AI pilots fail to scale (MIT, 2025)—and offers a roadmap for building fluency through leadership training, vendor partnerships (67% success rate), and ROI-focused scorecards. Ash shares insights from placing AI strategists and supply chain leaders who drive 15-20% efficiency and risk reductions, urging executives to prioritize fluency to avoid regulatory fines (EU AI Act, 2026) and stay ahead in 2025.