Cultura Coaching, LLC

Founder and leadership coach helping service-based business owner/operators grow their business with clarity, structure, and purpose—one business at a time. 

Through my initial 90-day Growth & Profit Accelerator ($3,995), I deliver a proven, strategic framework that aligns teams, improves culture, and drives measurable results. 

Clients consistently see 25%+ revenue growth, 3%+ profit increases, and stronger retention through clear SMART goals, actionable steps, and full accountability.

Profitable Growth Coach

Cascadia Global Security

Led regional security operations across Oregon, managing 60+ client accounts, 90+ employees, and $5.2M+ in annual revenue with a consistent 18%+ profit margin. Achieved a 47% gross margin improvement within 3 months by optimizing workforce scheduling and reducing labor inefficiencies. Successfully lowered direct labor costs by 9.8% and overhead by 58% while maintaining 100% client satisfaction through strategic hiring and responsive service delivery.

Regional Operations Manager (Oregon)

Premier Services Group

Directed administrative operations for a $40M+ company servicing 110 Lowe’s stores across 6 states, overseeing 800+ daily activities for 1,500+ weekly customers. Led a 30+ person scheduling team, HR, and training functions, enabling 300% revenue growth by formalizing recruiting, onboarding, and customer support systems. Improved customer satisfaction scores by 11% and eliminated overdue scheduling commitments through strategic process design, data-driven accountability, and scalable operational structures.

Director Of Operations

Dovetail Coffee

Brought in by a potential investment group as a business operations expert to partner with the CEO in scaling a specialty coffee business. Oversaw 3 café managers, 12 staff, and 1 roaster while developing and executing a growth strategy that led to the opening of two new locations. Built and optimized internal processes for recruiting, hiring, and training, resulting in a 100% increase in trained team capacity prior to COVID-19-related closure.

Vice President of Operations

G.W. PAULSON COMPANY

Managed operational projects for a construction services provider, leading a team of 12 installers and overseeing all estimating, ordering, and scheduling functions. Handled 100+ daily requests from project superintendents while streamlining processes to increase home builds by 85% and set a 30-year department revenue record at $1.5M/month. Maintained 100% client retention through consistent, high-level service and execution.

Account/Project Manager

Renewal by Andersen of Oregon

Led and developed a high-performing sales team of 15 for a premium window installation company, generating 90+ quality leads per month and driving 30%+ revenue growth in just 6 months. Recruited and trained 25+ new team members in one year, built client satisfaction tracking systems to improve NPS, and optimized field rep placement to achieve record-breaking monthly sales. Recognized by leadership for strategic execution and sales excellence.

Marketing Manager

First Response Security

Oversaw organizational strategy, vision, and execution of operations, client services, human resources, accounting, and business development processes, people, and systems.  
Primary driver of B2B firm delivering 5K+ weekly guard and security services with team of 4 direct reports and 130+ customer-facing security officers. 
Generated revenue by performing all sales activities. Conceived of and implemented new recruiting structure. 

> Executed organizational goals through business process improvement resulting in 842% growth over 8 years and 2 highest years of revenue and profit in 25 year history.  
> Led, coached, and motivated 8+ critical client-facing operational staff and managers overseeing 130+ employees, providing 3 different services to 500+ clients at 6,000+ accounts exceeding client expectations, resulting in 95% client retention and 10%+ annual growth. 
> Analyzed operating budget of $5M+ annually focusing on P&L opportunities resulting in 10% revenue growth and 1%+ of increased net profit year over year.  
>  Increased revenue from -16% loss during recession (2007 -2011) to 27%+ growth over 5 years through strategic planning and execution
>  Improved customer satisfaction and mitigated business risks through the project management,  strategic planning, budgeting and implementation of a proprietary customer facing software and technology for 50+ accounts

Vice President of Services

Negotiated and sold B2B contracts growing revenue by 842% from $360k annually to $3.25M. Achieved 84% revenue growth in 2 years after 3 years of negative profit. Recruited, trained, and onboarded a staff 
of 4 direct reports and 95 security officers.

Oversaw all branch operations to include administration, operations, human resources, customer services, sales and scheduling. In addition, played a leadership role in the client services approach for the company.

Sr. Director, Client Services | Branch Manager

Customer Service Representative

You didn’t start your business to stay stuck—scrambling to make payroll, buried in the weeds, guessing at your margins, and wondering why your bank account doesn’t reflect your hard work.

Yet here you are.

When it comes to building a profitable business, there are two common paths:

1.  Keep pushing, hoping next month will be different—ignoring your numbers, chasing more sales, and reacting to cash flow chaos.
2.  Get strategic—plug profit leaks, build a financial system that works, and create a scalable growth plan based on data, not gut instinct.

Most business owners fall into the first camp.  Not because they’re lazy—but because no one ever taught them how to manage the financial side of the business like a CFO.

Even if you're brilliant at what you do, the numbers can feel intimidating.

Margins are shrinking. Cash is tight. Expenses creep up. And you’re not even sure where the money goes.

You know how to work hard.

You just don’t have a route—a clear, proven path to take back control.

Now, imagine this instead…

▪️ You know your numbers—and exactly where your profit is leaking
▪️ Your cash flow is steady, predictable, and growing
▪️ Your pricing, margins, and offers are optimized for sustainability
▪️ You have time to think, plan, and lead—not just put out fires
▪️ You finally feel in control of your business—and your future

That’s what I help growth-focused business owners do.

What I Offer: The 90-Day Profitable Growth Route™

Inside this high-touch 1:1 program, I guide you from 'Basecamp' to 'Peak'—through a proven route to gain clarity, confidence, and control over your business finances.

Here’s what we build together:

▪️ A clear financial map—so you know what to track, fix, and measure
▪️ A 25%+ increase in profit by plugging leaks and optimizing your pricing
▪️ A cash flow system that ensures you're never surprised by your bank balance
▪️ Operational clarity so you stop spinning and start scaling
▪️ A repeatable, scalable 90-day growth framework to stay on track year-round

Backed by Two Guarantees:

1.  Confidence: If after 2 sessions, you don’t feel confident in the value I bring—I refund you in full.
2.  Completion: If by Day 90 you don’t have a complete plan and time to execute it—I work with you up to 2 additional sessions, at no extra cost.

You Deserve a Business That Pays You Well—Not One That Drains You

If you’re ready to fix your financial foundation and start building toward real, sustainable growth—I invite you to shoot me a DM or schedule your 20-minute clarity call.  

Start your profitable growth journey today!

Damien Foglio

I had a tough chat with a new client yesterday. He asked his top employee to perform a task, and the response was: "Nope." 

This pattern only happens because it’s been allowed to happen before. 

I told him, "Your business will only be as good as what you tolerate." 

Tolerate poor behavior, sloppy work, or low standards — and you’ll keep getting the same results. 

No amount of warnings or conversations will change that. 

Change only happens when you decide enough is enough and stop accepting what’s unacceptable. 

Leadership isn’t just about messaging — it’s about setting clear standards and holding your team accountable. 

Because growth begins where tolerance ends. 

What’s your take on how leadership sets the boundaries that drive success?

undefined undefined

Cash Flow Freedom - Dec 1

Workshop

📌 On Monday, January 19th at 7 pm EST I am hosting a 1-hr workshop: Profitable Gameplan helping business owners get a jump start on achieving their 2026 goals. 

https://calendly.com/coach-damien/workshop

It's only $25 to join. 
Includes bonuses and a replay.


Hands-on help for $300k-$3M Service Owner-operators to ditch the COO hat, fix their cash flow, and finally get paid | All Inside the 8-Wk Profitable Growth Accelerator™

Meeting with a prospective client yesterday, one thing became apparent: 
He had great revenue ($1M+), was even making 5%+ profit, but had no cash flow to float payroll. 

Truth is, every small business owner wants steady cash flow, 
but not all of them have it. 

Start with this fact: 
The biggest reason small businesses struggle to keep the lights on is because they don’t have enough profit.

Sounds simple, right? 

But here’s the kicker: 
Even if you’re making a profit, you’re not necessarily staying afloat. 

Why? 

Because most business owners are spending that profit right away:
Debt payments, owner draws, bonuses, or just plain old overspending.

If you want to build predictable cash flow, you need to control what you’re extracting from your business.

Here’s my advice: 
Review your monthly financials like a hawk. 

Understand where every dollar is going.
If you’re not doing that already, you’re flying blind.

Profit isn’t just an end-of-month number. 
It’s the fuel that keeps your cash flow alive.

Stop spending your profit like it’s Monopoly money. 
Reclaim your financial clarity, and your cash flow will follow.

Are you ready to take control? 

Do this, starting today: 
1️⃣ Start by reviewing your numbers weekly.
2️⃣ Review your P&L's by percentage (in accordance to revenue) monthly. 
3️⃣ Make decisive actions to improve the outliers. 

Because no matter how busy you are, 
if your profit isn’t growing, your cash flow isn’t either.

Let’s get real about your numbers. 
Your business depends on it.

No alternative text description for this image

Many service-based business owners are scared to bring me into their business. They fear being judged for a messy business — no clear financials, no clear direction, and no clear goals. 

I’ve talked to many owners who are nervous — almost scared — about what I might discover when I dig into their books and systems.

Here’s the truth: 

That mess? It’s exactly where I thrive.
That chaos is a goldmine.

It’s where the real story lives — the hidden leaks, the missed opportunities, the profit leaks buried in the clutter.

And here’s a secret: Just because the data looks bad doesn’t mean the business is bad.

Problems are honest messengers.

They tell us where we need to fix things, where to tighten margins, where the profit leaks are hiding.

The key isn’t solving everything at once — it’s starting with ONE thing, the biggest challenge, and knocking it out.

Like pushing snow downhill, solving one frustration snowball makes everything easier moving forward.

So, if your business feels like a mess, remember — that’s where growth begins.

Tackle the biggest pain first, and watch how momentum builds.

Ready to turn your chaos into clarity? 
Let’s start cleaning up those profit leaks today.

Last week I sat on a call with a client and his brand-new admin.

He’d just had to move on from the previous one.
Clean break. Fresh start.
And one big problem:

The admin wanted to do a great job.
The client had no idea where to start.

So instead of training task-by-task...
or dumping a massive SOP doc on them...

We focused on just three things.

Not forever.
Just to get momentum.

Here’s what we did:

Defined the start of the day
What does “a good day” look like the moment they log in?
Clear tasks. Clear ownership. No guessing.

Defined the end of the day
Before signing off, what must be done for it to count as a win?
This alone removed 80% of the anxiety.

Prioritized the middle
A simple list of the best use of time in between.
Not everything. Just what matters most.

That’s it.

No micromanaging.
No overtraining.
No “let’s cover every edge case.”

And here’s the result:

The admin was up and running by day 2.

Not perfect.
But confident.
And moving.

This worked because most people try to train for completeness…

When what people actually need is clarity.

Clarity creates confidence.
Confidence creates momentum.
Momentum buys you time to refine later.

If you’re onboarding someone right now:

Start with the bookends.
Then fill in the middle.

What’s the first thing someone should own when they start their day?

—

If this was useful, say 👋 or steal the framework.
I share real behind-the-scenes moments like this often.

One of my favorite follows here on is Blake Harber. 
Building a business from scratch, while sharing his journey along the way. 

But he recently asked a question that I love answering: 
How do you set up your week on Sunday? 

Here's my answer with a little more detail: 

Every Sunday afternoon, I take 1-2 hours and plan out my week: 

1️⃣ Confirm and schedule all personal items with my wife: Work schedules, pickups, drop offs, dates, following weekend plans, etc. 

2️⃣ Schedule all my client coaching appointments in my calendar and notebook. (I love analog). This is my "working" schedule for the week and must make times. 

3️⃣ I then plan all my workouts (4 x /week, 40 min ea) around those items. Day 1 through 4. With what I am going to work out and when. 

4️⃣ With the remaining time I build in my "business building" hours. 

I choose 3 strong objectives (My big 3) each week to accomplish by Friday afternoon. 

I then do 3 small tasks (My Little 3) each day to accomplish them - and schedule that time around all of the items above. 

5️⃣ And finally, I set out my clothes, grind all my coffee, and food prep for week (even though I work from home). 

Doing this every Sunday gets me motivated to get out of bed and start tackling everything every Morning. 

Do you have a Week prep routine? 
If so, let me know what works for you!

I build GTM teams for early stage founders | Fractional CRO

Merry Christmas from the Foglio's! 

I hope everyone got to spend time with the people they wanted to.

I say a lot of things on LinkedIn, but never did I expect something I said to turn in to a "mini-viral" moment.   At least in my small world.  

But apparently my post on Sunday struck and nerve and invited new people into the conversation of leadership.  

In this case, an employee was asked by the owner of the company (his dad) to perform a client request, to which the employee (the son) refused to do. 

The requested service was well within the scope of work and the owner felt it was helping a long term client out.  The employee felt it was a waste of time.

So, who is right in this situation?  

I might argue that as long as the work order and service request is within the scope of work the company provides, the employees are to do what is requested of them.  

That's what this conversation is all about.  

However, part of what I learned from this post is that context matters.  
And I completely agree with that.  

Without context there is a cliff hanger.  A desire to know more. 

But then the question is: 

With more context would it have gotten the response that it did?  
Did the fact that my post lacked context create the curiosity to join the conversation?  

Not really clear, but one more thing I learned: Keeping up with a post like this, providing context and responses to every single comment is a lot.  

Almost overwhelming, but worth it.  

Here is the link to the original post: 
https://lnkd.in/g-x5QhwM

Ever been so unhappy with your business that just the thought of another day doing the same thing made your stomach turn? 

That’s exactly where Will was when he found me. 

He wasn’t clear on what his goals were. 
He didn’t have a plan. 

All he knew was: 
He hated where he was and refused to stay there. 

Sometimes, that’s all it takes to get moving. 
A little dissatisfaction with the status quo. 

So, even without a specific target, we agreed on one thing: 
Things had to change. 

We started by digging into his frustrations. 
The sleepless nights. 
The dread when he drove to the office. 

Turns out, there were two main issues holding him back: 

1. Job and work order intake. 
2. Employee scheduling and assignment. 

Fix those, and everything else becomes easier. 

Once we hammered out those pain points, we moved to the next stage. 

My 3-Step System to optimize and scale businesses in 90 days or less: 

Step 1️⃣: Identify & Eliminate Bottlenecks 
→ What’s slowing you down? 
→ We audit where your time and money are leaking. 

Step 2️⃣: Systemize & Automate 
→ We ditch manual work. 
→ Implement automation and delegation so you can grow without burning out. 

Step 3️⃣: Scale with Strategy 
→ We craft a custom 3-year roadmap. 
→ Double your revenue—without sacrificing your sanity. 

This isn’t some fancy theory. 

It’s the exact system my clients use to boost profit and free up time fast. 

If you’re tired of spinning your wheels, let's talk. 

What’s holding your business back? 
Drop a comment or send me a message. 

Let’s make change happen.

If I was frustrated with how my business ran in 2025, here are the 8 things I would do to get it back on track and hit the ground running in 2026. But most owners are not doing #2. 

1. Set Goals: I would set my goals for 2026 based around my three primary metrics: Revenue, Profit, and Time. 

Fix these and many other items fall into place. I would review these quarterly to ensure I am on track for my 1 year goal. 

2. Measure Weekly: I would set up a recurring 45-min meeting to review these 3 items weekly. 

What did it cost me to run my business this week (payroll, overhead, cost of goods, etc.)? Make 1 decision each week that is going to improve each of these and by the end of the quarter, your business should start to look quite different. 

3. Monthly review: Each month I would review my P&L and make up to three decisions to improve it. Cutting costs and/or expenses, negotiating discounts, improving pricing, etc. 

4. Manage Cash: I would use 4 bank accounts to manage my cash so I know where it is at all times and how much runway I have each month. 

Have a savings account for taxes and emergency expenses, along with profit. 

5. Fix Pricing: I would improve and increase my pricing for new customers when getting too many “yes’s”. 

By building a pricing model for the business, it often just takes one lever to make an improvement. 

6. Add Services: I would add any new services in which I get regular requests about. 

Tracking these as they ask and add them up each quarter and add that service to my menu of services. 

7. Generate Revenue: now that I have all of these items in place, I would focus any remaining time, with a minimum of 4 hours per week, focused on creating content, placing ads, and reaching out to potential customers. 

8. Define done: Each day and each week I would define what done looks like. 

Each week I would have 3 primary objectives to accomplish by Friday each week. And each day I would define 3 secondary objectives to accomplish prior to leaving for the day. When these are done each day and when the weekly objectives are done each week, I am done. 

In the end, I want a business I am running, not one that is running me. 

By setting the direction and doing everything I can on a daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly basis, there is no way to not achieve my one year goals. 

Anything you would add to this?

Profit isn’t just a dollar amount. It’s a percentage.
Focusing solely on a number can be dangerous...

Why? Because numbers don’t grow or scale with your business.

A big profit figure today might look impressive, but what happens when your sales double?

Will that dollar profit stay the same?
Probably not.

But if your profit margin — that percentage — is solid, it scales with you.
It grows as your revenue grows.

That’s the real key to sustainable, profitable growth.

Managing a percentage gives you a clear view of your business’s health
regardless of size.

If you want to grow without losing margins, focus on the percentage, not just the dollar figure.

Because percentages don’t just scale—they multiply.

What’s your profit margin?
And how are you making sure it grows with your business?

(Yes, our house has been fully decorated for Christmas since the first weekend in November.)

Time to start thinking in percentages.
Your future self will thank you.

For me, spending time with family is not just about eating, drinking, gifts, and games. It is much deeper than that. 

Getting together with family is great, but that is not the point: 
Just being together. 

It's a start, but not the reason. 

The point (for me at least) is to grow together, to learn more about each other, to support each other, and let them know they are very important to us. 

When we get together, I try and be intentional about this, engaging in conversations and asking questions.

This year, while on our annual trip to the mountain with my wife's family, we went around the table and discussed our 2026 BHAG's (Big Harry Audacious Goals). 

Some we work and career related. 
Others, personal goals. 
No wrong answers. 

To me, you learn the most about people when you learn what their goals are. 

It shows me what is important to them. 
It expresses what area(s) they want to grow the most in. 

For those curious...
My BHAG: Double my income without doubling my time. 

What is yours?

If you are anything like me, you have planned your future as if it is guaranteed. We save for the obvious, set fixed goals, but often forget one critical thing...the unknown. 

My wife and I do this every year on our family planning trip. 
We ask ourselves: 

What are we not seeing? 
What surprises might come our way? 
What unexpected opportunities or challenges could pop up? 

It's the biggest reason folks miss out on game-changing moves. 

- Buying that house down the street to rent out 
- Investing in a friend's business just about to take off 
- Handling a health scare without freaking out 
- Weathering a job loss and keeping the lights on 
- Taking time for yourself and your family without guilt 

Your future isn't guaranteed. 

But why do so many plan for a future they can't predict, 
yet leave the unknown unaddressed? 

What if we started prepping for the unexpected? 

Over the past 6 weeks, my wife and I experienced this firsthand, taking over a family home to turn into a part-time vacation rental. 

We weren't planning for anything like this. 

But because we focus on preparing for the unknown, we were ready when opportunity knocked. 

Think about it. 

How are you preparing for what you don't see coming? 
Because the right preparation today can unlock a world of possibilities tomorrow. 

Don't wait for the surprise to hit , start planning for the unknown now. 
Your future depends on it. 

What's one thing you're doing today to prep for what's coming next?

Part of me wants to raise daughters who are great team players and dependable employees: self-aware, responsible, respectful, and willing to go above and beyond.

But another part of me dreams of raising entrepreneurs.

Ones who push boundaries, question things to better understand, and aren't afraid to forge their own path.

Honestly, either path works for me, as long as they are happy.

Every Thursday night, on the way to hip-hop dance class, my 11-year-old Harper and I talk about the business she wants to build.

It's become our weekly ritual, reviewing her "business plan," updating it, and figuring out what's missing.

And since I promised to be her first investor and biggest supporter, it's crucial we build that investor-entrepreneur relationship early.

Right now, we are building "Fit & Fashion" where local ladies can gather, purchase Alo quality items at Rack prices, while joining in fitness classes. 

The real question: are we empowering her to chase her dreams or just teaching her to follow orders?

Either way, I know one thing , what she learns now will shape her future.

And honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way.

What about your kids? Do you want them to follow a well-trodden path or blaze their trail?

Let's talk about it in the comments.

Last week I was looking at a client’s numbers and had to pause.

Not because they were flashy.
But because of how quiet the growth was.

In 2023: $160k revenue | $60k pay/profit

In 2024: $652k revenue | $130k profit

This year? On track for $800k with $200k profit.

Same business. Same market. No hype.

So what actually changed?

We didn’t add more chaos. 
We removed it.

Here’s what we did:

1️⃣ Restructured pricing
2️⃣ We stopped winging it.
3️⃣ Built a firm pricing list.
4️⃣ Then increased it intentionally each year. 

No apologizing.
No custom quotes for everything.

Focused on the most profitable services
Not the busiest ones.
The repipes that actually made money.

If it wasn’t profitable, it stopped being a priority.

Changed how talent was paid
Instead of bloated fixed costs,
we paid a fixed % per job.

Cheaper access to great talent.
Costs stayed predictable.
Margins stopped getting crushed.

That one shift did two things at once:

More jobs completed per week

Cost per job finally stayed under control

This worked because most businesses try to grow revenue first...

When the real unlock is structuring profit before scale.

Revenue is loud.
Profit is quiet.
But profit compounds.

If you doubled revenue tomorrow, would your profit double too — or disappear?

—

If you want help tightening the engine before pushing harder, say the word.
I share what’s actually working behind the scenes.

This week was... loud.

Multiple client calls.
Same issue. Different employees.

People asking for more money —
using every tactic in the book to get it.

Market rates.
Past titles.
What their friend makes.
What they feel they deserve.

So here’s how I look at it:

Compensation = the value the position brings to the company.

That’s it.

Your prior experience?
Relevant to getting hired — not getting a raise.

Your prior pay or title?
Relevant to your resume — not your compensation here.

Other companies paying more for “the same role”?
Then that role might make sense... at that company.

Titles, responsibilities, leadership, expectations —
they vary too much for pay-by-comparison to mean much.

So what’s the real goal?

Stop playing their game.
Play your game.

The one built around:
1️⃣ Profit
2️⃣ Growth
3️⃣ Sustainability

If someone materially contributes to those —
work to keep them.

If they don’t —
don’t take the easy road and pay more for the same value you already had.

When I evaluate compensation, I come back to two questions:
1. What would it cost to replace them in their current role?
2. Knowing what I know now, would I hire them today at the pay they’re asking for?

Those two answers solve a lot of future problems.

One more thing most people don’t like hearing: When someone worked for me, compensation was discussed once per year.

That’s it.

Not open-ended.
Not ongoing.
Not emotional.

Because compensation should:

1️⃣ Align with responsibilities
(As clearly defined in the job description.
If responsibilities change → comp gets reviewed.)

2️⃣ Scale with growth
Every role should have a clear formula for what growth with the company looks like.
When compensation is tied to revenue and/or profit percentages,
most “raise conversations” disappear.

Clarity beats negotiation.
Structure beats pressure.

Curious — how do you think about compensation when emotions enter the room?

Investment diversification can look a lot different for a lot of people. 
But the truth is, there is no one size fits all approach. 

Some people invest in the stock market. 
Many invest in real estate. 
Others into bullion (Have you seen gold prices lately?!) 

One of the approaches I coach is that your business is your income generator. Your money making machine. Both in income (through payroll) and through owner draws (from profit). 

It makes you money, which then allows you to build personal wealth and invest it. 

And, when it comes to personal investing, I stick to one rule: 
𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁. 

Not what the influencers say you should invest in. 
Not what ads you are seeing on social media. 
Not what your broke friends or family say you should. 

But in what you know in and out.

So, what do I know best? Vintage Baseball Cards. 

A collector as a kid, reinvigorated over the last 8 years to really learn more. 

Just like many investments, there is risk:
Risk of decrease in value. (Vintage has less risk than current players)
Risk of something being stolen or damaged. (I keep them in a safe)

But there is also reward: 
This year the vintage sports cards market is up 6.18%
One investment of mine has 10x since 2017. 
A good conversation. 

What ever your investment approach is, I encourage you to be intentional about it. 

Know your risk tolerance. 
Focus on growing your business to grow your wealth. 
Be relentless about making the most of your money. 

What are some of your alternative or diversified investments?

Where are you on the side of New Year's resolutions? 
Personally, I love them, but I know they are not for everyone.  

An old friend of mine was anti-resolutions. 
They said that people should not wait to new years to set new goals.  

I can agree with that, but they also didn't set any sort of goals.  

For me personally, here is what I do: 
1.  Review last year's goals.  
2.  Build upon those.  

Did I hit my goals?  If not, what's the next level? 
If not, are they are still important?  
Do I need to pivot?  

Professionally, every goal is an annual revenue, profit, and time goal: 
1.   Revenue: How much money I make in my business? 
2.  Profit: How much of my revenue to pay myself?
3.  Time: How much time am I willing to put into to achieve those two?

Any thoughts or feedback on this format?  
What is your approach?

Are you the type to make New Year's Resolutions, or do you skip them altogether?

Honestly, I believe everyone needs at least one goal, because real growth only happens when there's change.

We don't need more information. We need transformation. 

But here's the catch: Change doesn't just happen.
It starts with a clear, measurable goal, a timeline, and a plan.

Whether your goal is to lose 20 pounds or grow your business by 20%, breaking it into 90-day chunks makes it manageable.

Want to drop 20? Focus on 5 pounds every 90 days.
Looking to scale? Aim for a 5% growth each quarter.

It's not about WHEN you start, 
it's about HAVING a goal and a plan to reach it.

Goals for 10 years, 3 years, and 1 year are important.

But the real magic? 
Breaking them down into actionable steps for the next 90 days.

Know where you are now, define where you want to go, and map out your 90-day milestones.

Set your goals today , whether it's New Year's or a random Tuesday.
Grow in every aspect, and make this year different than the last.

One goal at a time.
One 90-day sprint.

Struggling to define your next 90-day goals?
Reach out, I'd love to help you turn big dreams into achievable plans.

Let's make this year your best yet.

PS: My goal is to help 100+ small service-business owners build better businesses in 2026. Improving pay, satisfaction, and profit - all without adding more hours.

My wife and I have started the process of looking for a new family vehicle. 

We simply cannot fit our family of 4 and our luggage (We all have a tendency to overpack a bit.) in either of our two current cars. 

But while talking to sales people and dealerships one thing stood out. 
This dealership 20 min south, does not negotiate. 

They go by a one-price motto. 

I was a bit used to this when purchasing Audi's in my previous life, but for a Toyota? 

But that's it. 

The price they give you in store is the price they sell it. 
Everyone gets the same price. 

Then I started thinking about all of the positives of this...

Eliminates possible discrimination. 
Levels the ground for different levels of negotiations. 
Allows each person to get the same deal, no matter their purchasing power. 

I hated it as a buyer, as I wanted to negotiate. 
I want to feel like I am winning something more. 

But as a business, I love it. 

Too many times, service-based business owners build their price, but are open to negotiation. 

They lower their price to make a customer happy. 
Or provide a discount to help get the sale. 

But this can work in the opposite direction. 
It cheapens the service. 

1️⃣ Build your perfect profitable price for each service. 
2️⃣ Stick to it. Don't negotiate. 

Some of my clients are hesitant to tell clients their pricing. 
When that is the case, we...
1️⃣ Post it to a website or landing page. 
2️⃣ Point every client to that page. 
3️⃣ Have them book a call at the bottom. 

Easy peasy.

(PS: This was last night's sunset from the dealership. God's creation is beautiful!)

One of my college friends dropped a simple truth that stuck with me: 
Our two most valuable resources are time and money.

But here's the catch, they're often on opposite ends of the spectrum.
We rarely get both at once.

In the beginning, we use our time to generate money.
It's a grind, but it's how we build the foundation.

Then, once we start making money, suddenly we're tapped for time.
That's when buying back your time becomes essential.

Problem is, do it too soon, and you risk becoming top-heavy, overloaded with employees or systems that aren't yet sustainable.

Wait too long, and your service quality takes a hit because you're involved in every little detail.

The truth? Your business is only as strong as you are.

Knowing when to step back and when to lean in is the secret to sustainable growth.

Are you buying back your time at the right moment?
Or are you stuck trying to do everything yourself?

Helen Yu

CEO @Tigon Advisory Corp. | Host of CXO Spice | Board Director |Top 50 Women in Tech | AI, Cybersecurity, FinTech, Insurance, Industry40, Growth Acceleration

As the founder and CEO of Tigon Advisory, I help tech companies of all sizes multiply their growth opportunities by leveraging AI, cybersecurity, IoT, supply chain, and customer experience. With over a decade of technology industry experience, I offer CXO-as-a-service and guidance to organizations through digital transformation, strategic planning, enterprise risk management, go-to-market optimization, and influencer marketing.

I have worked with enterprise clients such as SAP, IBM, Salesforce and Microsoft, as well as B2B SaaS, Fintech, Insuretech, and Martech startups. I also serve as an independent board director and a venture capital advisor, where I bring a unique perspective on technology thought leadership, cybersecurity risk management, go-to-market strategy, and customer experience. I am a certified cybersecurity expert from MIT Sloan School of Management, an MBA from Loyola University of Chicago, and a respected industry thought leader, a Wall Street Journal best selling author, a keynote speaker, and a host of CXO Spice podcast. I am passionate about empowering and mentoring the next generation of technology leaders, especially women and minorities.

Director Board of Directors

CEC is a security service integrator with focus markets in manufacturing, healthcare, SLED and Corporate Campus.  Customers with complicated organizations and physical plants rely on CEC as extensions of their teams in making strategic investment and management decisions related to their technology and infrastructure. I serve as Culture and Compensation Committee Chair. 

What if the next leap in robotics isn’t AI but mechanics?

This video highlights how 3D gear design is reshaping robotic motion, thanks to the ingenuity of three Japanese engineers.

Progress doesn’t always mean adding complexity. Sometimes, it means redesigning what we thought was already solved.

#Robotics #Engineering #DesignThinking #Manufacturing #Innovation

To stay current with the latest trends in #Technology and #Innovation,
Subscribe to 👉 #CXOSpiceNewsletter here https://lnkd.in/gy2RJ9xg
or 👉 #CXOSpiceYouTube here https://lnkd.in/gnMc-Vpj

What if the technology we build every day could unlock potential for over a billion people?

That question came alive for me when I sat down with Jenny Lay-Flurrie, Microsoft's Chief Accessibility Officer, at Microsoft Chicago AI Tour.

Jenny's journey of living with hearing loss for over 40 years alongside her sister is a testament to how lived experience shapes technology that empowers people with disabilities worldwide.

What struck me most? Jenny's reminder that "when you know one person with a disability, you know ONE person." True accessibility requires constant listening and learning.

The exciting part: AI is transforming what's possible. From real-time meeting notes to enabling individuals with autism to work on assembly lines, technology is breaking down barriers that once seemed insurmountable.

My biggest takeaway? Start with just 20 minutes. Microsoft offers
free accessibility training that covers disability awareness, etiquette, and practical ways to build inclusively. Twenty minutes to gain perspective that could change how you approach technology and human connection.

Technology is about empowerment. And accessibility isn't a feature; it's a foundation.

If you're in the New York area, don't miss the chance to meet Jenny at the Microsoft AI Tour on January 21st. Her insights will challenge and inspire how you think about innovation. https://lnkd.in/gRUBMC-4

Thank you, Jenny Lay-Flurrie, for reminding us that innovation is most powerful when it's inclusive.

Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful holiday season filled with connection, warmth, and moments that matter. May the new year bring opportunities to learn, grow, and build a more inclusive world together.

#Accessibility #AI #InclusiveTechnology #MicrosoftAITour #Leadership #Innovation

To stay current with the latest trends in #Technology and #Innovation, Subscribe to 👉 #CXOSpiceNewsletter here https://lnkd.in/gy2RJ9xg or 👉 
#CXOSpiceYouTube here https://lnkd.in/gnMc-Vpj

How are leading enterprises turning AI and product lifecycle intelligence into real business impact?

That’s exactly what I explored at #CES during my visit to the PTC booth.

I took a few guided tours showcasing how PTC is enabling innovation across industries, including:
✅ How Lambergminne leverages PTC to drive smarter design and connected product lifecycle decisions
✅ Innovating Electronic & High Tech Development with IPL
✅ Innovating Next-Gen Mobility

Each experience highlighted how intelligent platforms are helping organizations move faster, design smarter, and scale innovation with confidence.

The visit wrapped up with a great introduction to Neil Barua, PTC’s CEO, reinforcing how strong technology vision and leadership go hand in hand.
✅ If you’re at CES, be sure to visit PTC, Booth 6027.

✅ And don’t miss what’s coming next on CXO Spice:
   Steve Dertien on “Intelligent Product Lifecycle”
   Jon Stevenson on “Smarter AI for Enterprises”
Two conversations focused on how AI and PLM are shaping the future of enterprise innovation.

#CES #PTCPartner #AI #ProductLifecycle #Electronics #HighTech #Mobility 

To stay current with the latest trends in  #Technology and #Innovation,
Subscribe to 👉 #CXOSpiceNewsletter here https://lnkd.in/gy2RJ9xg
or 👉 #CXOSpiceYouTube here https://lnkd.in/gnMc-Vpj

Do you understand what AI, automation, and digital connectivity are doing to your competitive position, supply chains, and workforce right now?

The Cambridge Centre for Risk Studies released Digital Technology Risk Taxonomy, and here are the highlights from Cambridge Judge Business School:

✅ Labour markets transforming – AI isn’t just replacing low-skill jobs. It's automating middle and high-skill work, creating "job polarization" that could hollow out your talent pipeline.
✅ Supply chain chokepoints – The semiconductor shortage cost the auto industry $500B. Your critical inputs may be one geopolitical tension away from disruption.
✅ Cyber vulnerability at scale – As everything connects, your attack surface isn't growing linearly. It's exploding. One breach in your digital infrastructure could cascade across your entire operation.
✅ Industrial policy as competitive weapon – Governments are picking winners and losers through massive interventions. Are you positioned to benefit or be left behind?

The Fourth Industrial Revolution is here. And it's bringing 139 distinct risk types across 6 major categories that boards need to understand and govern.

What digital technology risks keep you up at night?

#BoardGovernance #DigitalRisk #AI #CyberSecurity #SupplyChain #RiskManagement

To stay current with the latest trends in #Technology and #Innovation,
Subscribe to 👉 #CXOSpiceNewsletter here https://lnkd.in/gy2RJ9xg
or 👉 #CXOSpiceYouTube here https://lnkd.in/gnMc-Vpj

Cambridge Taxonomy of Digital Technology Risk

What steps is your organization taking to align AI growth with energy sustainability?

By 2035, data centers could consume 1,200 TWh; nearly triple today's levels. AI's energy appetite is outpacing the grid.

But here's the flip side: AI deployed right can cut data center cooling by 40%, slash building energy use by 15-40%, and optimize everything from grids to logistics.

The World Economic Forum just dropped a blueprint to make this happen.

Three actions. Three enablers. One goal: Net-positive AI energy.
✅ Design for Efficiency – Build sustainability into models and infrastructure from day one
✅ Deploy for Impact – Drive measurable energy savings across operations
✅ Shape Demand Wisely – Incentivize smart, selective AI use

Backed by:
✅ Education and upskilling
✅ Cross-sector collaboration
✅ Transparent measurement

The proof is already here:
✅ Google: 33x reduction in energy per prompt
✅ Industrial parks: 100,000 MWh saved
✅ Smart grids: Losses cut, reliability up

Energy is now a bottleneck for AI growth. Without action, capacity concentrates in energy-rich regions. Digital divides widen. Infrastructure buckles.

Companies embedding efficiency into AI see gains in performance, resilience, and bottom line. Net-positive AI is competitive advantage.

AI will scale. The question is whether it scales responsibly.

Read the full WEF report below.

#AI #Sustainability #EnergyTransition #ResponsibleAI #NetZero #ClimateAction

To stay current with the latest trends in #Technology and #Innovation,
Subscribe to 👉 #CXOSpiceNewsletter here https://lnkd.in/gy2RJ9xg
or 👉 #CXOSpiceYouTube here https://lnkd.in/gnMc-Vpj

A Net-Positive AI Energy Framework Insight Report

The ChatGPT Moment for #Robotics Is Here.

Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA delivered one of the most significant keynotes at CES, and the message is clear: physical AI breakthroughs are unlocking entirely new applications.

Just as ChatGPT transformed how we interact with AI through language, we're now witnessing a parallel revolution in the physical world. 

Huang predicts this could become the largest technology industry the world has ever seen, driven by three key pillars: agentic AI, self-driving cars, and humanoid robots.

Here are Key Announcements:
✅ NVIDIA Cosmos - A world foundation model platform trained on 20 million hours of real-world robotics and driving videos, enabling developers to create realistic simulations for testing autonomous systems
✅ Drive AV Stack - Mercedez Benz CLA achieved the highest Euro NCAP safety score in 2025, with urban driving capabilities rolling out via OTA updates in just over a year
✅ Isaac Robotics Platform - Open frameworks including Groot 1.6 with Cosmos Reason integration, enabling generalist-specialist robots that combine broad knowledge with deep expertise
✅Jetson Thor T4-1000 - Delivering 1,200 teraflops of AI compute at just 40-70 watts, making advanced robotics accessible at scale

The shift is already happening. Hundreds of billions in VC funding and trillions in R&D budgets are transitioning from classical computing methods to AI. Companies from Boston Dynamics to LEM Surgical AG are building on this platform to transform everything from manufacturing to healthcare.

Stay tuned for my conversation wtih Spencer Huang to get the latest update on Cosmos and GR00T. 

We're moving from AI that perceives and generates to AI that perceives, reasons, plans, and acts in the physical world. The future isn't just thinking machines; it's machines that can navigate our reality safely and intelligently.

What applications of physical AI are you most excited about? 

#CES2025 #PhysicalAI #Robotics #AutonomousVehicles #AI #Innovation #NVIDIAPartner

To stay current with the latest trends in #Technology and #Innovation,
Subscribe to 👉 #CXOSpiceNewsletter here https://lnkd.in/gy2RJ9xg
or 👉 #CXOSpiceYouTube here https://lnkd.in/gnMc-Vpj

What better way to kick off the new year than “Everybody” at Sphere with robots? 🤖🎶

The Backstreet Boys’ performance at Sphere was a reminder that when music, immersive tech, and robotics collide, the future feels very present. High energy, iconic sound, and yes… robots stealing the show.

That momentum carries straight into #CES this week, where I’ll be diving deeper into what’s next through interviews on:
✅ Robotics (Cosmos and GR00T Year One)
✅ Smarter AI for Enterprises
✅ Intelligent Product Lifecycle

From the stage to the show floor, innovation is setting the rhythm for 2026.
Stay tuned as the future of AI, robotics, and intelligent systems takes center stage.

#CES2026 #Robotics #AI #Enterprises #Engineering #HNY

To stay current with the latest trends in #Technology and #Innovation,
Subscribe to 👉 #CXOSpiceNewsletter here https://lnkd.in/gy2RJ9xg
or 👉 #CXOSpiceYouTube here https://lnkd.in/gnMc-Vpj

What happens when Physical AI moves from demos to real-world deployment at scale, in motion, and in the operating room?

The NVIDIA Physical AI Showcase at CES had answers everywhere.
This short video captures some of the most memorable moments.

My favorite highlights:
✅ Miroki by Enchanted Tools
A familiar face from NVIDIA GTC last year - this social, general-purpose robot is designed to support patients through care, restorative, and cognitive assistance, making human-centered robotics tangible.
✅ Reachy Mini by Reachy.ai + NVIDIA DGX Spark
I got hands-on creating a stylized image with Reachy Mini, powered by NVIDIA DGX Spark. A fun, experimental process even though the result looked more like Shrek than me 😄.
✅ TRINITY – will.i.am’s one-seat EV concept
Focused on situational awareness, TRINITY lets drivers talk to AI about traffic and surroundings in real time, processing vision locally to understand the physical world beyond a map.
✅ LEM Surgical: From Innovation to Standard of Care
Already FDA 510(k) cleared and in routine clinical use, the Dynamis system shows how NVIDIA Physical AI is advancing robotic surgery toward greater autonomy and perception.
✅ AGIBOT at Scale
AGIBOT has shipped its 5,000th humanoid robot, now deployed across hospitality, manufacturing, logistics, security, and education; proof that humanoids are moving beyond prototypes.
✅ Reconnecting with Spencer Huang (NVIDIA Robotics)
A great conversation on what Physical AI enables next and how it’s moving from research to real-world impact. Stay tuned for the upcoming CXO Spice newsletter where I will be sharing more about our conversation.

Physical AI is no longer a glimpse of the future; it’s unfolding now across healthcare, mobility, and humanoid robotics.

To stay current with the latest trends in #Technology and #Innovation,
Subscribe to 👉 #CXOSpiceNewsletter here https://lnkd.in/gy2RJ9xg
or 👉 #CXOSpiceYouTube here https://lnkd.in/gnMc-Vpj

Is your data infrastructure ready for the robotics era?

At #CES, I reconnected with Spencer Huang, Product Lead for Robotics at NVIDIA to get an update on Cosmos and GR00T.

His statement resonated with me: the companies winning in robotics have stopped waiting for perfect models. They're capturing data NOW.

Three insights that changed how I think about this space:
✅ The data problem is here 2026 will see a massive influx of real-world robotic data. But Spencer warns: "It's very easy to generate lots of data that's not useful." Winners will build pipelines to curate and synthesize quality data.
✅ Hybrid tasks = biggest opportunity The sweet spot are tasks too complex for traditional robots but not complex enough to need general AI. This is where companies can deploy TODAY.
✅ Dual simulation unlocks scale Cosmos provides diversity through natural language. Omniverse delivers physical precision. Together, they solve what seemed impossible: infinite scenarios with accurate physics.

Spencer's key insight: "If you want to leverage the technologies coming out in a year or two, capturing that data today is extremely crucial."

The inflection point for Robotics is here. What's your move?
Full insights: https://lnkd.in/gUMawp8m

#Robotics #AI #PhysicalAI #Manufacturing #Innovation

To stay current with the latest trends in #Technology and #Innovation, Subscribe to 👉 #CXOSpiceNewsletter here https://lnkd.in/gy2RJ9xg 
or 👉 #CXOSpiceYouTube here https://lnkd.in/gnMc-Vpj

"It's completely infeasible in the robotics space to assume one company can solve this, because we have to represent the entire world. It's not just t

Open article: The Future of Physical AI: Key Insights from NVIDIA's Robotics Product Lead at CES by Helen Yu • 5 min read

The Future of Physical AI: Key Insights from NVIDIA's Robotics Product Lead at CES

Who are the voices moving the needle in 2026? 🎤

The Thinkers360 Annual Awards are back to find the world’s top experts and most innovative brands.

We are looking for: 
✅ Rising Stars – Emerging leaders making an early impact. 
✅ Authors & Podcasters – Creators of the year’s best insights. 
✅ Tech Innovators – Companies leading the charge in AI. 
✅ CEOs & Founders – Visionaries driving organizational growth.

As an Ambassador, I’ll be part of the final judging panel. I can’t wait to see the caliber of work submitted this year.

⏰ Early Bird pricing is live until January 15th. 🔗 Make your nomination today: https://lnkd.in/gsk8dhjX

Tag someone below who SHOULD be on this list! 👇

#Awards #B2B #InfluencerMarketing #PersonalBranding #Thinkers360Awards

To stay current with the latest trends in #Technology and #Innovation, Subscribe to 👉 #CXOSpiceNewsletter here https://lnkd.in/gy2RJ9xg 
or 👉 #CXOSpiceYouTube here https://lnkd.in/gnMc-Vpj

What defined AI in 2025—the capability or the choice?

The gap between proof-of-concept and production readiness became the defining challenge of the year.

In my year-end newsletter, I'm reflecting on:
✅ Why agentic AI finally crossed into production (and what made the difference)
✅ How responsible AI shifted from compliance checkbox to competitive moat
✅ The 3 hard-won lessons I'm taking into 2026
✅ How this community grew to 113K+ people navigating AI transformation together

My most important takeaway?
Automation isn't the enemy. Automation without strategy is.

The organizations winning in 2026 won't be the ones with the most AI; they'll be the ones with the clearest intention behind it.

What's one responsible automation decision your organization made this year or is wrestling with right now?

#AI #ResponsibleAI #Leadership #Innovation

To stay current with the latest trends in #Technology and #Innovation, Subscribe to 👉 #CXOSpiceNewsletter here https://lnkd.in/gy2RJ9xg 
or 👉 #CXOSpiceYouTube here https://lnkd.in/gnMc-Vpj

A Year-End Reflection on Responsible Innovation What if the real AI story of 2025 wasn't the technology but the hard choices around deploying it respo

Open article: The Hard Choices That Defined AI in 2025 by Helen Yu • 5 min read

When a cyberattack hits, will your board lead or scramble?
✅ The average data breach now costs $4.88M globally and $9.3M in the U.S.
✅ 99% of ransomware attacks target backups, with recovery taking 24 days on average.
✅ 75% of security leaders say AI-powered attacks are already having a major impact.

This threat landscape is active and accelerating today.

AI and quantum computing are reshaping the threat landscape faster than most organizations can adapt. Building higher walls won’t save you when attackers scale faster, smarter, and cheaper.

Cybersecurity is no longer just a CISO issue; it’s a boardroom mandate.

Leading organizations are changing the playbook:
✅ From preventing everything → to managing acceptable risk
✅ From defense-first → to rapid response and recovery
✅ From cost center → to strategic business enabler

Read more from my blog: Is your board of directors truly leading on cyber readiness?
👉 https://lnkd.in/gMYj4TvD

Tune in Tuesday for the release of the 2026 Outlook for Identity Management Report to learn how boards and security leaders can stay ahead of the threat curve.

The convergence is underway and board preparedness will separate leaders from laggards.

#Cybersecurity #RiskManagement #BoardDirectors #CEOs 

To stay current with the latest trends in #Technology and #Innovation,
Subscribe to 👉 #CXOSpiceNewsletter here https://lnkd.in/gy2RJ9xg
or 👉 #CXOSpiceYouTube here https://lnkd.in/gnMc-Vpj

Why do 70% of AI projects never make it past the prototype stage?

The bottleneck isn't the fanciest model or the biggest GPU cluster.

It's inference economics.

I sat down with Roman Chernin, Co-Founder of Nebius, and he explained why scaling AI breaks in production and it's not what you think.

"Inference is when we serve customers and when the product works. This is the stage when you want to meet unit economics."

When AI systems move from prototype to production, teams hit hard tradeoffs between latency, throughput, cost, and reliability. What works in a controlled environment often breaks under production load.

One customer achieved 26x cost reduction by optimizing their inference architecture---not through magic, but through systematic optimization across hardware, software, and model selection.

Here's the reality: We're only at 30% adoption, and most organizations are using AI in just 1% of their workloads.
The AI revolution hasn't even started yet.

Watch our full conversation: https://lnkd.in/gsGkjvEP

#AI #Innovation #Inference #CloudInfrastructure #TechLeadership

To stay current with the latest trends in #Technology and #Innovation, Subscribe to 👉 #CXOSpiceNewsletter here https://lnkd.in/gy2RJ9xg 
or 👉 #CXOSpiceYouTube here https://lnkd.in/gnMc-Vpj

"Inference is when we serve customers and when the product works. So this is the stage when you want to meet unit economics in the most cases." --- Ro

Open article: Inside Nebius Token Factory: The architecture behind scalable, cost-efficient AI inference by Helen Yu • 7 min read

Inside Nebius Token Factory: The architecture behind scalable, cost-efficient AI inference

What if the real AI story of 2025 wasn't the technology-but the hard choices around deploying it responsibly?

That question followed me from NVIDIA GTC in March to Amazon Web Services (AWS) re:Invent in December. On conference stages, in CXO Spice interviews, and in boardrooms-the conversation kept shifting from "Can we build this?" to "Should we ship this?"

Three threads defined my 2025:

✅ Agentic AI went from concept to production. I explored AI factories and agentic workflows at #PegaWorld, #GTC, #Dreamforce, #IBMThink, #SAPSapphire, #AITour, #reInvent with leaders from Pegasystems, NVIDIA, Salesforce, IBM, VMware, VMware, Schneider Electric, SAP, Microsoft and Amazon Web Services (AWS). Enterprises are moving beyond experimentation. Architecture, governance, and data readiness now determine who scales and who stalls.

✅ Responsible AI became an operational imperative. I completed the EU AI Act short course and launched a Responsible AI Expert Series with AI & Partners. Trust, data sovereignty, and governance aren't compliance checkboxes-they're competitive differentiators.

✅ Cybersecurity met AI head-on. My keynote at CyberRisk Alliance Leadership Exchange in June reinforced what I'd been saying: new AI capabilities create new risk vectors. Cyber readiness can't be an afterthought.
This conviction deepened through collaborations with Commvault at Recovery Range, ManageEngine's 2026 Identity Management Outlook Report, and Ivanti's "Transforming Security with Exposure Management.

My most-engaged LinkedIn post this year captured something worth repeating:

✅"Automation isn't the enemy. Automation without strategy is."
That post on responsible automation sparked over 6,400 engagements and 713 comments:https://lnkd.in/gW78v8dH

Two other posts resonated deeply:
✅ Human+AI creativity amplified (5,000+ engagements): https://lnkd.in/gx-amWkp
✅ Simple innovations changing lives (2,100+ engagements): https://lnkd.in/gkqEEmEa

Beyond content, I expanded my board and advisory work - joining the Board of Advisors at Quinlan School of Business, Loyola University Chicago and being recognized by BoardProspects as one of 100 Exceptional Private Company Board Directors.

Three takeaways heading into 2026:
✅ Treat AI adoption as architecture + governance + people vs. just a product build.
✅ Plan automation with phased workforce transition and community impact in mind.
✅ Board oversight must now include AI risk alongside traditional governance.

What responsible automation step is your organization taking right now?

To stay current with the latest trends in #Technology and #Innovation, Subscribe to 👉 #CXOSpiceNewsletter here https://lnkd.in/gy2RJ9xg or 👉 #CXOSpiceYouTube here https://lnkd.in/gnMc-Vpj

Deep appreciation for this incredible community. Happy Holidays to all!

#AI #AgenticAI #ResponsibleAI #Cybersecurity #DigitalTransformation #LinkedInRewind #Coauthor #2025wrapped

Get your 2025 LinkedIn Rewind! Go to rewind.coauthor.studio

What happens when AI learns to understand the physical world?

A year ago, NVIDIA launched Cosmos and Project GR00T—two ambitious platforms promising to revolutionize how robots learn, simulate, and operate in our world.

Cosmos gives AI “eyes” to understand physics, while GR00T teaches humanoid robots to move and think like us.

Since then, we’ve seen:

 ✅ Johnson & Johnson using Cosmos to train surgical robots with synthetic data.
 ✅ 23 open-source models topping AI leaderboards across robotics and physical AI.
 ✅ Humanoid robots learning complex tasks through simulation before touching the real world.

But here’s what I want to know: Beyond the demos and press releases, where are these platforms actually being deployed? Which industries are adopting fastest? What technical breakthroughs happened that NVIDIA hasn’t publicized yet?

I’ll be at #CES 2025 for NVIDIA Live with Jensen Huang on January 5. There’s something about getting a dose of his vision for innovation that’s always inspiring; he sees around corners in ways few others do. I will also be sitting down with a Spencer Huang, Product Line Manager of Robotics at NVIDIA to dive deep into Cosmos and GR00T’s real-world impact.

Stay tuned - I'll be sharing what I learn about where physical AI is heading.

#CES2025 #PhysicalAI #Robotics #NVIDIAPartner #AI

To stay current with the latest trends in #Technology and #Innovation, Subscribe to 👉 #CXOSpiceNewsletter here https://lnkd.in/gy2RJ9xg 
or 👉 #CXOSpiceYouTube here https://lnkd.in/gnMc-Vpj

What if robots could give nurses back their most valuable time?

At AWS re:Invent, I spoke with Adam Allevato, from Diligent Robotics about Moxie, a robot designed to help, not replace, healthcare workers.
“If we can handle the tasks that take up 14% of nurses’ time, they can focus on what really matters: patient care.”

Moxie in action:
✅ Delivers medications, lab samples, and supplies
✅ Supports seniors in living facilities with meals and personal items
✅ Navigates elevators and crowded corridors autonomously

Thanks to NVIDIA Inception, Moxie leverages Jetson AI hardware and expert mentorship to bring advanced AI to real-world environments reliably.

Startups: Accelerate your AI innovation. 
Join NVIDIA Inception: Https://nvda.ws/48xgtEh 
Watch our conversation: https://lnkd.in/gNs8sDqm

#AI #Robotics #Healthcare #EdgeAI #NVIDIAInception #Startups

To stay current with the latest trends in #Technology and #Innovation, Subscribe to 👉 #CXOSpiceNewsletter here https://lnkd.in/gy2RJ9xg 
or 👉 #CXOSpiceYouTube here https://lnkd.in/gnMc-Vpj

At AWS re:Invent, I had the opportunity to speak with Adam Allevato, Staff Robotics Engineer at Diligent Robotics, at the NVIDIA Inception booth, abou

Open article: Empowering Care with Robotics and Edge AI by Helen Yu • 2 min read

Empowering Care with Robotics and Edge AI

What are you building in 2025 that requires the courage to start without the full blueprint?

This year was a reminder that great transformations don't come from perfected roadmaps, but from courage, iteration, and persistence. Watching the journey of Dang Thi Mui, who ventured deep into the forest and built a bamboo house on her own, has been one of the most inspiring stories of 2025.

What struck me most wasn't the final shelter, but the process: gathering materials, handcrafting each piece of bamboo, embracing solitude, and finding joy in small but meaningful progress.

This is digital transformation:

Beyond the polished case studies and vendor promises lies the real work: the legacy systems that must be carefully dismantled and rebuilt, the cultural resistance that requires patient listening, the pilot projects that teach us more through failure than success, and the incremental wins that eventually become enterprise-wide capabilities.

This year I've learned:
✅ Transformation is built day by day, not in a single "go-live."
Just like building a house from bamboo, digital change requires countless small decisions (often invisible to leadership) that eventually become something resilient and valuable.
✅ Embrace the messiness of modernization.
There will be integration failures, adoption challenges, and days when the old way seems easier. Yet every obstacle is part of creating systems that serve your people and customers.
✅ Even solo builders need an ecosystem.
She built alone, yet relied on the forest's resources, the tools others created, and a community that would see her work. Digital transformation needs brave sponsors, cross-functional collaboration, executive air cover, and frontline champions. Real change comes from connected courage, not isolated heroes or vendor dependencies.
✅ Technology should move at the speed of organizational readiness.
Watching someone build with the rhythms of nature reminded me: the best digital strategies aren't the fastest. They're the ones that respect culture, build capability, and create sustainable change.

As we close 2025, I'm taking with me the quiet courage of someone who built a life from raw materials, not by waiting for the perfect platform, but by starting with what was available and improving relentlessly.

🌿💪 Here's to a 2026 of building, learning, and transforming with hands-on leadership, heart, and the humility to grow through the process.

#DigitalTransformation #Innovators 

To stay current with the latest trends in #Technology and #Innovation, Subscribe to 👉 #CXOSpiceNewsletter here https://lnkd.in/gy2RJ9xg 
or 👉 #CXOSpiceYouTube here https://lnkd.in/gnMc-Vpj

What's the cost of moving too slowly in Electronics & High Tech?

I explored this question with Steven Humphrey during my visit to PTC headquarters in Boston earlier this month and had a blast doing it. Between ping pong matches, the best lobster rolls, and a tour of their executive briefing center, we dug into how companies are leaving $269 billion on the table annually by not building the right organizational resilience.

The 20-second video I captured doesn't do the experience justice. 
And here's what stuck with me: in E&HT, product lifecycles are measured in months, not years. The companies winning today are those who've figured out how to protect their core while creating the future simultaneously.

Looking forward to reconnecting with the PTC team at #CES the week of January 5th. I'll be sitting down with Jon Stevenson, PTC's Chief Product Officer, and Steve Dertien, EVP of Customer & Technology Partnerships, to explore where AI is delivering real value in engineering and manufacturing beyond the hype and Intelligent Product Lifecycle.

More insights coming from CES. Stay tuned.

#CES2026 #ProductInnovation #AI #Manufacturing #Electronics #PLM

To stay current with the latest trends in #Technology and #Innovation, Subscribe to 👉 #CXOSpiceNewsletter here https://lnkd.in/gy2RJ9xg or 👉 
#CXOSpiceYouTube here https://lnkd.in/gnMc-Vpj

What happens when modifying an AI model makes you its legal provider?

AI & Partners releases "Providers of General-Purpose AI Models: A Breakdown"—a practical guide to navigating one of the EU AI Act's most consequential provisions.

As the AI Act moves into enforcement, General-Purpose AI (GPAI) models sit at the center of Europe's new governance framework. This report clarifies who qualifies as a GPAI provider, when systemic risk is triggered, and what obligations follow—from foundation models to open-source releases and downstream fine-tuning.

What's Inside: 
✅ Clear definitions of GPAI models and provider status 
✅ Systemic risk thresholds and compute-based classification 
✅ Open-source exemptions and their limits — Practical guidance on documentation, incident reporting, and cybersecurity
✅ Enforcement mechanisms and transitional rules

Key Takeaways 
✅ GPAI obligations apply whether models are free, via API, or open weights  
✅ Compute thresholds are proxies, not safe harbors
✅ Capability matters — Downstream modification can shift legal responsibility to developers and deployers 
✅ Early governance is now strategic, not optional

This report equips developers, open-source communities, cloud providers, and policymakers to navigate compliance while strengthening innovation and market confidence.

How should GPAI providers be regulated? Leave a comment below.

To stay current with the latest trends in #Technology and #Innovation, Subscribe to 👉 #CXOSpiceNewsletter here https://lnkd.in/gy2RJ9xg or 👉 #CXOSpiceYouTube here https://lnkd.in/gnMc-Vpj

EU AI Act Providers of General Purpose AI Models

Our differences are the layers that make us whole.
What if the things that make us different are exactly what hold us together?

Spent the past two days wandering through Lisbon and Sintra, where every corner tells a story of cultures converging, histories intertwining, and beauty emerging from diversity.

From the whimsical Pena Palace with its Moorish influences and vibrant yellow walls, to ancient Gothic doorways that have welcomed countless souls, to mystical grottos carved by time and imagination; this region is a living testament to how different eras, styles, and traditions can coexist in harmony.

The illuminated holiday castle in Lisbon's square. The spiral descent into Sintra's Initiation Well, where visitors from every corner of the world walk the same ancient path. The pink street where strangers gather under colorful umbrellas. The stained glass depicting different saints, each with their own story, all part of one window.

This holiday season, I'm reminded that our differences in culture, perspective, background, and experience aren't obstacles to unity. They're the very foundation of it. Like these architectural treasures, we're strongest when every unique element is celebrated and preserved.

What holiday tradition from your culture or family brings you together with others? Let’s celebrate our differences in the comments.

#HolidayReflections #Portugal #Innovation #Tech

To stay current with the latest trends in #Technology and #Innovation, Subscribe to 👉 #CXOSpiceNewsletter here https://lnkd.in/gy2RJ9xg or 👉 
#CXOSpiceYouTube here https://lnkd.in/gnMc-Vpj

taplio

The Battle

Damien Foglio

Helen Yu

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreDamien Foglio's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreHelen Yu's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Damien Foglio

Helen Yu

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Damien Foglio's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreHelen Yu's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreDamien Foglio's LinkedIn Performance