Business executives are using digital twins, AI versions of themselves, to manage workloads more efficiently. Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn, uses Reid AI, which has delivered over seventy-five presentations since 2024. The technology saves him significant time but faces acceptance challenges. E-hiking exoskeletons are becoming more accessible for everyday use, with Nicole Nguyen testing Hypershell’s X Ultra S. Ground drones are aiding in conflict zones like Ukraine. Google introduces Docs Live, allowing document creation through speech. AI detectors help protect gray whales in San Francisco. Reader feedback discusses the future of travel, including seamless systems and virtual reality. The newsletter also covers AI investments and Colossal Biosciences' project on 3D-printed eggshells.

Rebecca (Oettinger) Feder | Website | LinkedIn

Rebecca (Oettinger) Feder | Website | LinkedIn

📚 Sources:

• https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/execs-are-deploying-digital-twins-to-do-their-work-9547b375

Robert Hogan and Adrian Furnham discuss decision making in leadership, emphasizing that successful leaders make consistently better decisions rather than being more intelligent. They highlight the influence of personality traits on decision making, debunking the myth of the purely rational business leader. Research by psychologists like Amos Tversky and Daniel Kahneman shows decision making is often biased and irrational, aligning with Sigmund Freud's views. Leadership is examined at team, middle management, and top management levels, each with unique decision-making demands.

Four themes in decision making are identified: planning versus improvisation, reward seeking versus loss avoidance, valuing expertise versus intuition, and reactions to bad decisions. Historical figures like Napoleon Bonaparte and Dwight Eisenhower illustrate planning versus spontaneity. Game theory and historical examples like Pericles during the Peloponnesian War show the balance between seeking rewards and avoiding losses. Quotes from Otto von Bismarck, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and David Hume highlight the tension between expertise and intuition. Reactions to failure are categorized as intropunitive, extrapunitive, and impunitive.

Personality plays a significant role in decision making, with different traits influencing reactions to mistakes. The Hogan Development Survey identifies several personality types with distinct decision-making styles. Understanding the dark side of personality is crucial for assessing leadership potential, and personality assessments should be used when appointing or promoting individuals to senior positions. This understanding helps develop leaders capable of making smarter decisions, contributing to organizational success.

Rebecca (Oettinger) Feder | Website | LinkedIn

📚 Sources:

• https://www.europeanbusinessreview.com/the-psychology-of-decision-making/

Chief Human Resources Officers face the challenge of creating workforce plans that are resilient and antifragile amid constant disruptions. Traditional plans quickly become outdated, so organizations are turning to scenario planning. This involves defining focal talent issues, identifying disruptive forces using frameworks like TPESTRE, and crafting scenarios to guide workforce actions. Organizations like Merck review plans quarterly and conduct audits to stay aligned with business needs. This dynamic approach strengthens HR's role as a strategic partner and ensures organizations thrive in changing environments.

Rebecca (Oettinger) Feder | Website | LinkedIn

📚 Sources:

• https://emt.gartnerweb.com/ngw/globalassets/en/human-resources/documents/insights/hr-strategic-workforce-planning-article-2026.pdf?_gl=1*ys7mwm*_gcl_au*MjAyMjMwNDIxNS4xNzc1NjU5MTI5LjE3MjU0OTIwNTEuMTc3NjE5MzEyMS4xNzc2MTkzMTIx*_ga*OTMwNTcwMTIxLjE3NzU2NTkxMjg.*_ga_R1W5CE5FEV*czE3NzYxOTMxMTQkbzQkZzEkdDE3NzYxOTMxMjUkajQ5JGwwJGgw