AILKEMY

"Think Further. Build Smarter. Lead Human."

After an intensive skunkworks and R&D phase, we launched AILKEMY for select client engagements. AILKEMY is a strategic intelligence consultancy that transforms information chaos into measurable alpha generation for investment professionals and leaders navigating AI transformation.

We help fund managers and executives generate measurable alpha by turning information chaos into decision-ready insights. We deliver private, board-ready intelligence that turns noise into decisive action. Confidential by default. It is either useful or it's not. We guarantee.

My Role as Co-Founder:
Product Management: Collaborated on the "Insight Engine", synthesis features, and verification methods across end-user needs.

Client Delivery: Lead MVP Insight Report pilots and the activation session that turns findings into actionable intelligence for our clients.

Go-to-Market: Built branding, sales, messaging, and narrative for executives, hedge funds, PE, VC, and large private investors.

Growth: Structured performance-aligned economics with zero long-term lock-in. Planned and launched campaigns to scale AILKEMY.

Why Clients Choose AILKEMY:
Hedge funds and multi-strategy platforms. Private equity and venture firms. Corporate strategy leaders and product teams. Large private investors and family offices.

✔️ Synthesis over summary: We reveal connections that change the decision.
✔️ Speed to signal: Time kills good ideas. We deliver while timing still pays.
✔️ Tailored intelligence: Built from first principles for your exact context.
✔️ Trusted foresight: Evidence-based and scenario-aware.
✔️ Founder accountability: You work directly with the founding team.

Signal mapping. Competitive and narrative intelligence. Scenario planning. Orthogonal validation. Regime awareness. Decision framing. Board-ready storytelling. Founder-led discovery and activation. The goal is simple: reduce decision latency and increase the quality of action.

Co-Founder, AILKEMY

Kaperider.com

About Kaperider Publishing, LLC

At Kaperider Publishing, we specialize in creating impactful books that inspire, educate, and empower readers across diverse topics, including technology, artificial intelligence, marketing, mental health, fitness, and more. Our mission is to bridge the gap between ambitious ideas and actionable outcomes, helping authors craft content that resonates with audiences and drives meaningful change.

Founded by Daniel Stouffer, a seasoned leader with over 20 years of experience in strategy, innovation, and digital transformation, Kaperider Publishing offers a unique blend of expertise, creativity, and results-oriented execution. From initial research and topic development to book outlining, authoring, and strategic marketing campaigns, we guide authors through every step of the publishing process to ensure their ideas reach the right audience.

At Kaperider, we believe that great books start with great strategies. That’s why we focus on:

🌟 Comprehensive Support: From concept to launch, we provide the tools, resources, and expertise to help authors succeed.

🌟 Actionable Insights: We simplify complex topics, transforming them into accessible, engaging content for real-world impact.

🌟 Strategic Marketing: Our tailored campaigns connect authors with readers, ensuring their work makes an impact in a competitive market.

What sets us apart is our commitment to excellence and community. Inspired by his role as a professional firefighter in Minneapolis, MN, Daniel Stouffer brings a team-first, mission-driven ethos to Kaperider Publishing. This unique perspective informs our collaborative approach, emphasizing trust, resilience, and the power of clear communication.

Whether you’re an experienced thought leader or a first-time author, Kaperider Publishing is here to help you bring your vision to life. Together, we’ll create books that inform, inspire, and leave a lasting legacy.

Author w/ Book & Newsletter Publishing

Winnebago

I'm in the middle of helping to steer a significant digital transformation initiative at Winnebago Outdoors. We're upgrading the ERP system to a new platform consisting of Microsoft D365, Salesforce, and the Teamcenter systems.

The Release Train Engineer (RTE) role is collaborative, involving deep engagement with the Agile Release Train (ART), a composite of agile teams working in concert to achieve a shared objective. Here's a closer look at what an RTE does day to day:

✔️ Navigating Complexity: An RTE acts as the captain of the ship in turbulent digital waters, guiding the ART through planning, execution, and delivery. This involves facilitating Program Increment (PI) planning sessions, a critical event where the roadmap for the next phase is charted, risks are assessed, and strategies are devised.

✔️ Fostering Synergy: One of the greatest strengths of an RTE lies in its ability to foster collaboration among diverse teams and stakeholders. This role ensures alignment across various functions, encouraging transparency and communication. The RTE serves as a bridge between strategic goals and tactical execution, ensuring everyone moves in unison towards common objectives.

✔️ Driving Value Delivery: At the heart of SAFe is the relentless focus on delivering value to customers. An RTE ensures that every element of the ART contributes to this goal, optimizing flows, removing impediments, and managing risks. This consistent drive towards efficiency and effectiveness culminates in accelerated time-to-market and enhanced product quality.

The presence of an RTE within a transformation initiative brings several advantages. These include improved coordination across teams, enhanced clarity and focus on business objectives, streamlined processes, and a significant uplift in the morale and productivity of agile teams. Essentially, an RTE turns chaos into clarity, complexity into simplicity, and plans into action.

Digital Transformation Manager

Fyndr Group

Get Your New Talent Found Faster with Fyndr.org
--------------------------------------------------------
Fyndr.org's mission is to create a more efficient, scalable, zero-cost process for hiring managers and candidates "to fynd each other", by leveraging AI technology to job search at scale.

At Fyndr.org, we help renewable energy, recycling, energy storage, and Green or Clean Tech companies find the perfect job candidate for their open positions; not just in terms of skills and qualifications, but also in personality, culture, and world outlook.

Our AI driven solutions support hiring managers and job seekers every step of the way — by connecting those hiring directly with those looking for opportunities. Job seekers are recommended by someone that knows them personally. 

Because finding your “next fyndr” isn’t just about credentials, it’s about creating opportunities for everyone involved to thrive with the resources, introductions, and opportunities to grow an awesome team.

Note: Fyndr.org is a concept, product, website, and marketing campaign created by Daniel Stouffer, as a case study to demonstrate his talents AND to help with his job search.

https://fyndr.org/about

Program & Product Manager, Owner

reThink-Solar

In 2007, a spark ignited my love for solar, fueling a drive toward a renewable future, one community at a time. Born from a desire to make solar energy accessible and affordable to all, we embarked on a quest to redefine the solar engagement. 

Starting with solar leasing in 2007, then residential sales, to commercial contracts, and now to Community Solar for all.

It's been an exhilarating ride, flavored with challenges, triumphs, and countless learning moments. Today, reThink Solar stands as a beacon for change, guiding individuals and businesses toward a brighter, more sustainable tomorrow. One that can be totally without costs or expense when you have the key ingredients.

reThink Solar's Mission

At the core of reThink Solar pulses a steadfast mission - to weave the benefits of solar energy into the fabric of everyday life. We dream of a world where everyone, regardless of whether they own or rent their home, can tap into the power of the sun.

Our mission is simple yet bold: connect our customers to local community solar farms, ensuring a minimum of 5% savings on their electric bills annually for up to two decades. Now, with our services extending across numerous states in the USA, that dream is becoming a reality. 

At reThink Solar, we believe that everyone should have access to clean and affordable energy, regardless of whether they own their home or business. That's why our community solar model is designed to connect with renters, homeowners, and small businesses alike.

The power of the sun is for everyone — because reThink Solar believes that change, like sunlight and all renewable energy, should be universal and unbound. There's no simpler path to saving on your electric bill while championing renewable energy.

https://rethink-solar.com

Renewable Energy Advisor, reThink Solar

SunPower Corporation

Coordinated prioritization, roadmap planning, product backlog management, and product team execution for $36M portfolio of related programs. Managed 9 product delivery teams, total of 50 members, engaging internal and external stakeholders and cross-functional teams to create energy storage solutions and renewable energy digital platform capabilities.

* Added 25K more customers to mobile app by developing and launching complex digital features.

* Managed 5 concurrent projects, from defining scope and allocating resources to mitigating risks, consistently delivering project plans, resource allocations, and prioritized backlogs.

* Reduced time-to-market for new SKUs from 6 months to 3 weeks by implementing new and improved new product introduction process (NPI).

What truly sets me apart is my tenacious passion, drive, and motivation. I don't back down when things get tough, even when it seems like everything is on fire. I learned this fearless attitude from my experience in the fire service. When faced with challenges, I don't run away – I run towards them. I bring this mindset to everything I do.

If you're looking for a Technical Program Manager who can navigate the complexities of your projects with confidence, deliver exceptional results, and bring a fiery passion to the table, then look no further. I'm a servant leader when it comes to agile product delivery processes, lean UX, and implementing business agility. I am ready to take on the challenge.

Technical Program Manager (storage solutions)

Elevance Health

Orchestrated product delivery timelines to achieve budget and delivery goals. Managed backlog for 25 user experience designers. Leader behind the scenes organizing and prioritizing projects with stakeholders across 7 different strategic objectives aligned to quarterly product plans. Crafted sprint plans outlining goals, tactics, schedules, risks, and resource allocation for 300+ digital products group.

* Wrote project charter and obtained team resources across 6 business units, built recurring 4-week cycles of “Plan, Do, & Measure” iterative planning cycles, resulting in formation of new business intelligence (BI) analytics team.

* Improved team throughput 11%, providing program support and direction for 5 to 7 scrum teams, clearing obstacles to ensure initiatives were delivered, meeting stakeholder requirements.

* Collaborated with procurement to improve supply chain operations for internal and vendor-maintained products, reducing onboarding of new technology into IT organizations from more than 4 months to less than 6 weeks.

But beyond all the technicalities, I am a firm believer in agile product delivery, lean UX, and embracing business agility at scale. In this fast-paced digital age, it's crucial to be able to adapt quickly to market changes and seize emerging opportunities with innovative, digitally-enabled solutions. 

That's why I leveraged lean and agile product development practices to continuously deliver top-notch products that truly impressed.

Strong advocate of agile product delivery, lean UX, and implementing business agility at scale. Support the ability to compete and thrive in the digital age by quickly responding to market changes and emerging opportunities with innovative, digitally-enabled business solutions. Leveraged lean and agile product development practices to continually deliver innovative, high-quality products (https://www.scaledagile.com).

Digital Program Manager (portfolio strategy)

Ideation, Product Management, and Strategic Thinking -- I have a proven record of managing process driven teams, as well as complex software products and web application development projects, both standard and extremely agile. 

I’ve been a contributor and leader of physical and virtual teams across many projects. I represent the user experience across the organization by breaking down the user needs, strategic vision, and delivery into achievable outcomes that drive user value.

I know exactly what it takes to drive the business, rally the engagement of diverse teams, and effectively manage programs. I’m really a Swiss Army knife relating to program management.

I help manage the user experience resources within the agile product and development processes within Anthem Healthcare. This role requires a cross-discipline approach to understanding process, workflow, and communications. I live "working in the grey" to help development, product, and user experience teams deliver valued product to the Anthem members.

Product Teams Manager (user experience)

Geostella

Executed product strategy, planned and managed road map for Solar SaaS engineering teams. Uncovered customer pain points and industry trends. Led cross-functional teams across 55-person start-up to create solar energy platform. Managed bi-weekly feature releases to drive growth and keeping ahead of the competition.

* Delivered innovative products, expanding market user adoption in first 6 months, by developing and executing revised product roadmap, aligned to company goals and customer needs, increasing leads generated 23% and PV system installations 1.1K.

* Developed and executed product roadmap, aligning with company goals and customer needs, reducing the 500+ backlog items to 75 actionable features

* Implemented agile product development methods, resulting in a 4 capability teams focused on core product lines which created 2 week release windows

* Collaborated with sales & marketing, product engineering, and field operations teams to develop effective roll-out strategies that minimized inventory costs

Geostellar pioneered big-data geomatics to make solar energy accessible, affordable and plentiful. The company is the recipient of numerous awards, including selection as an IHS Energy Innovation Pioneer, the Global Cleantech100, the Global Cleantech Cluster Association's Best of Solar, and the Always On Going Green Global 2000.

Director Product Management (field operations)

Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.

User Experience Design with Mentoring of Agile Teams

Led user and client meetings, collected and analyze product data to determine product feasibility. Created personas, task scenarios, and navigation & solution hierarchies. Helped wireframe and prototype product with various levels of field study and usability testing to ensure ease of use.

* Launched 3 internationalized websites by placing end user in focus during entire design process.

* Co-developed new hybrid approach for agile project delivery across 8 scrum teams, reducing backlogged features 35% and team churn, and delivering more user-friendly solution.

* Decreased slack time between feature start by developers 3 days due to better requirements definition

* Wireframed and prototype the product with various levels of field study or usability testing to ensure ease of use and feasibility.

* Worked with design teams and developers to successfully launch a new partner website.

* Invented user-centered design processes and methodologies that worked within the corporate environment.

User Experience Manager with focus on wireframes, user experience, and mentoring agile teams. Examples of websites where I was the UX Lead include https://www.ameriprise.com/ and https://www.columbiathreadneedleus.com/.

Manager User Experience (product delivery)

Verisae | an Accruent company

Drove platform capabilities guided by roadmap aligned with company goals and customer needs. Conducted market research, identifying gaps in market and helped UX / UI designers better understand how research, feature value, and engineering effort connected.

* Increased market share 20% by conducting thorough market research and competitor analysis to identify opportunities for product innovation.

* Collaborated with key stakeholders, customers, and cross-functional product teams to iterate product and establish tracking metrics, improving user satisfaction ratings 30%.

* Developed and executed public relations plan with industry experts at Gartner, Forrester, and others resulting in several magazine publications and placement of Verisae in the top quadrant of energy and sustainability SaaS platforms.

As an Information Architect then promoted to Digital Product Manager, IOT Energy Management, I help design how to make the right content and features available to the right people at the right time. 

My role involved the development of content systems and product features that help users find and manage asset, energy, and environmental data and access insights through business intelligence more successfully across the Accruent IoT SaaS platform.

Verisae is a provider of technology (...purchased by Accruent) and services for big retailers, manufacturers and other complex organizations. They do one thing better than anyone else. They  help our clients manage energy, maintenance, GHG emissions, and environmental performance through a single set of closely related technologies, connected devices, and IoT innovation.

Lead Digital Product Manager (energy IoT & SaaS)

The Ground Beneath Leadership Is Shifting

If you’ve ever felt the pressure to lead through uncertainty without a map, welcome. This is where we draw the new ones. AI isn’t knocking politely at the door. It’s rewiring how teams operate, how decisions get made, and how value is created.

Old playbooks don’t bend. They break. And the burden of clarity? It’s falling squarely on you.

If you’re the one responsible for making sense of chaos for integrating new tech, managing team emotions, aligning systems, and staying strategic without burning out, then AILKEMY was built with you in mind.

You’re not a passive observer of change. You’re the one others look to when everything changes. 

AILKEMY exists to help you build that kind of organization. We don’t hype tools. We train humans to lead through disruption.

Why Read AILKEMY? 

AI won’t replace you. But teams who master human–AI collaboration will. This isn’t about man versus machine. It’s about hybrid orchestration, the art of blending automation with empathy, speed with systems thinking, and clarity with courage.

Who Reads AILKEMY? 

AILKEMY is written for the most accountable people in the room—those who don’t have the luxury of waiting for certainty. Whether you lead others, build products, run a team, or want to stay relevant, it helps you lead with clarity, not chaos.

Why I Publish AILKEMY?

I’m Daniel Stouffer. I’m an author of dozens of nonfiction books, a systems thinker, a firefighter, and a futurist. I’ve helped leaders navigate disruption for two decades, not from a theory lab, but from the front lines of change: in startups, classrooms, fire stations, and boardrooms.

I write AILKEMY because I’ve lived the pressure of needing answers when the playbook no longer works. I know what it feels like to be the one people look to in moments of uncertainty. 

This newsletter, and the “Insights-as-a-Service (AIS) we’re launching, is my way of offering a lifeline of clarity, one issue at a time.

https://news.ailkemy.com

Daniel Stouffer

The Real Story Behind Amazon’s Massive Job Cuts

Amazon’s CEO Andy Jassy didn’t hide the reason. He told employees that “AI adoption and improved productivity” would lead to job reductions. Translation: AI agents are doing work humans used to do — faster, cheaper, and without vacation days.

This isn’t new…

AILKEMY Co-Founder, Author, and GenAI Marketer. ╰(*°▽°*)╯ “Think Further. Build Smarter. Lead Human.”

Open article: How Amazon’s 30,000 Layoffs Signal the End of Traditional Corporate Work by medium.com

How Amazon’s 30,000 Layoffs Signal the End of Traditional Corporate Work

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗜𝗴𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝗜? 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗻𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗨𝗽 𝗧𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁

AI isn’t a “𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗱” anymore. 

It’s already shaping how teams make 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘀, 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀, and 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲. 

The leaders who understand this aren’t waiting for perfect timing; they’re adapting now.

And here’s the quiet tension most leaders feel but rarely say out loud:

What if the biggest threat to your organization isn’t AI… but staying locked into the same leadership style you used before it arrived?

That’s where 𝗔𝗜 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 steps in. Not as another loud, overhyped tech book, but as a simple, clear guide to help you lead with confidence in a world that’s moving faster every day. 

It’s built for leaders who want to stay 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁, 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀, and 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀 through change without fear or confusion.

𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗶𝘁𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳, 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲.

https://lnkd.in/gFWwfjUn?

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 “𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹” 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿?

We rarely talk about this on LinkedIn… but many top performers are driven not by passion, but by old survival instincts. 

You learn to excel because slowing down once felt unsafe. 

You smile because showing struggle wasn’t an option. 

You lead because being strong was the only role you ever knew.

And on the outside? You look unstoppable. On the inside? You’re exhausted from carrying a past your mind has outgrown… but your nervous system hasn’t.

This is where 𝗘𝗠𝗗𝗥 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝘆 becomes life-changing. It doesn’t force you to relive trauma, it helps your brain finally process it. The panic quiets. The perfectionism softens. Rest stops feel dangerous.

If you’ve ever wondered, “𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗼 𝗜 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀?”, the answer might not be mindset. It might be memory.

Real growth isn’t performing strength. It’s finally feeling safe enough to stop pretending.

https://surl.li/senksy

#EMDRTherapy #Traumahealing

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗜𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗬𝗼𝘂, 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗡𝗼𝘄

You’ve walked through fire.

You’ve sat in therapy with a trembling voice.

You’ve journaled the memories you once tried to outrun.

You’ve meditated long enough to meet both the storm and the silence inside you.

So why does doubt still whisper, “𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗜 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲?”

𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲. 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝘆.

Your life isn’t defined by what happened to you,  it’s defined by the choices you make now.

What you think, commit to, and step into next determines whether you keep surviving… or finally start living.

https://lnkd.in/gCKdXbiD

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘂𝗺𝗮 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗼𝗿𝘀: 

We look unbreakable in the daylight… yet it’s the quiet moments, hotel rooms, late evenings, and long drives where everything starts to slip.

𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗯𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝗹𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝗼.

That slow unraveling that doesn’t look dramatic from the outside but feels like your mind is picking a lock from within.

𝗡𝗼 𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗺𝘀. 𝗡𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀. 

Just a familiar pull toward the old escape route.

But what if the problem isn’t that you’re weak…what if your toolkit was simply never designed for the life you’re living now?

That question sits at the heart of 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆, the newest playbook in the Beyond Survival series, built not for the broken, but for the brilliantly functioning humans who are still carrying survival wiring.

𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗲. 𝗜𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆.

https://lnkd.in/gGG3pCdh

The question lingers in the air like static…

If AI can give all the answers, why do they still need us?

AI doesn’t steal your value. It revealed it.

Open article: Why AI Taking Your Old Job Makes You More Valuable Than Ever by kaperider.com

Why AI Taking Your Old Job Makes You More Valuable Than Ever

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺? 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗼 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝘁?

Every expert knows this feeling.

Your wisdom is deep. Your story is powerful. Your impact is real.

But the book inside you?

It sits quietly in the background while you run the show, clients, operations, fires to put out, deadlines to meet. “𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗮𝘆” becomes a graveyard for brilliant ideas.

You don’t need more time.
You don’t need to become a writer.

You just need the right system that turns your knowledge into a scalable author business without you writing a single word.

That’s exactly what we built at 𝗚𝗵𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀.

If you’re ready to turn your expertise into authority, revenue, and a platform that works even when you’re not,  your book doesn’t have to wait anymore👇

Open article: How Ghostpartners Turns Your Wisdom Into A Scalable Business Without You Writing by articles.kaperider.com

How Ghostpartners Turns Your Wisdom Into A Scalable Business Without You Writing

𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗮 𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗲𝗹𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲… 𝘆𝗲𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄?

It hits all the right points, clear, concise, and persuasive.

But something’s off. Something human is missing. That spark that says this is real, this is lived, this is uniquely mine… It’s gone.

𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗜 promises speed, efficiency, and scale.
It can produce entire articles, emails, or marketing copy in seconds.

But at what cost?

Too often, it smooths over the quirks, the emotional inflections, the rhythm of your language, the imperfections that secretly make your writing magnetic.

And in a world where anyone can generate content in seconds,
𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰.

Open article: When AI Writes, Who Speaks? How Generative AI Threatens Your Voice (And How to Reclaim It) by articles.kaperider.com

When AI Writes, Who Speaks? How Generative AI Threatens Your Voice (And How to Reclaim It)

𝗕𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁… 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁?

If you’re a small business owner, you know the drill:

You’re the 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻, the 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿, the 𝗛𝗥 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, the operations team…and somehow still the one making dinner at 8 PM.

It’s not entrepreneurship. It’s exhaustion dressed as productivity.

And then people say, “𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗔𝗜!” As if that magically solves the overwhelm.

𝗔𝗜 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗮𝗽 𝗶𝘀.

Small businesses don’t need another shiny trend.

They need clarity.
They need simplicity.
They need tools that remove pressure, not add more to your plate.

𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸𝘆 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀, 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘀𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲-𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀? 𝗢𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗮 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱?

https://lnkd.in/gPeDVJfu?

If the world moves this fast, why are we still following yesterday’s maps?

𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗶𝘁. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗶𝘁.

And deep down, you know the truth:  𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗶𝘅𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲.

We need to teach young people how to 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸, 𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁, and 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺𝘀, not memorize solutions that might already be outdated.

What’s one way you’re helping your students, or your team, navigate a world that keeps changing?

Open article: Teach Self-Directed Orchestrators, Not Dependents by articles.kaperider.com

Teach Self-Directed Orchestrators, Not Dependents

We were told we could have it all: a 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫, a 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲, 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬, and a home that looked like a 𝐏𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝.

And for a while, we did.

Until the quiet moments started to feel unbearable.

You know the feeling, that anxious buzz beneath your skin, even when everything looks fine. You meet deadlines, remember the snacks, send the emails, show up with a smile… and still collapse at night, wondering why peace feels like something you’ll “earn” later.

It’s not you.

It’s the hustle.

Open article: Success Feels Like Survival: Why Moms Are Ditching the Hustle Habit for Inner Calm by rb.gy

Success Feels Like Survival: Why Moms Are Ditching the Hustle Habit for Inner Calm

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐫 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞.

You didn’t fight your way to sobriety to survive it, did you?

You came this far to feel alive again, to wake up without the 𝐧𝐨𝐢𝐬𝐞, the 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐞, and the ache of pretending you’re “𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞.” 

But if you’ve ever caught yourself white-knuckling through stress, biting back cravings, or wondering why peace still feels out of reach… maybe it’s time to ask a more complicated question:

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧’𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠?

Open article: You’re Not Broken, You’re Wired: The Neuroscience of True Sobriety by articles.kaperider.com

You’re Not Broken, You’re Wired: The Neuroscience of True Sobriety

𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗥𝗠 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴?

Your CRM isn’t a graveyard. 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝗴𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲. But only if you know how to listen.

Most leaders secretly assume the worst: 

Unqualified leads. 
Deals that never moved. 
Prospects who ghosted. 
Follow-ups that die somewhere between “𝗰𝗶𝗿𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸” and “𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻.”

We label these things as failures. 
We move on. 
We rebuild the pipeline from scratch. 
And we burn more money in the process. 

But what if those “𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀” aren’t dead at all? 

What if they’re patterns?
Signals.
Unclaimed revenue you already earned… but never collected?

This is where 𝗔𝗜-𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 (𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗢𝗽𝘀) flips the script.

Your business isn’t underperforming, your visibility is.

It’s time to illuminate what’s been sitting in your CRM all along.

https://lnkd.in/gFPgUn-4

𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗦𝗶𝘅-𝗙𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀! 

If you’re a 𝗻𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿, you’ve probably spent years polishing expertise, gathering stories, and collecting insights you know could help people. 

Yet your book still isn’t finished… or it’s published but not producing the clients, revenue, or impact you hoped for.

Here’s the truth most authors never hear:
𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺.

This book isn’t about chasing algorithms, pleasing gatekeepers, or throwing your manuscript into the void, hoping something magical happens.

𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲.

Open article: The Secret Every Six-Figure Author Knows (But You’ve Been Trained to Ignore) by articles.kaperider.com

The Secret Every Six-Figure Author Knows (But You’ve Been Trained to Ignore)

The latest essay in my 42 Essays Project is live: “When I Die?” 

It begins in a quiet room and ends with a posture you can live by. Evidence beyond the story. Practice beside philosophy. 

If you want a steady way to face endings and love better now, grab the complimentary copy and let’s talk about it.

https://lnkd.in/gEYTnUX7

A Field Guide for the Last Breath and Every Day Before It We measure a life in small sounds: the click of a defibrillator cart cooling in the hall, th

Open article: When I Die? by Daniel Stouffer • 3 min read

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗺𝘀 “𝗯𝘂𝘀𝘆,” 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹𝘀… 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗰𝗸?

Ever wondered why remote work feels 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 and 𝘀𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 at the same time?

Why is your team technically “𝗼𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲” yet somehow always behind?

Why does your workday stretch across time zones like a rubber band ready to snap?

"𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸. 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸."

It revealed meetings masquerading as clarity. 
Urgency pretending to be progress. 
Teams running on fragments of attention instead of real flow.

If that hits a little too close to home… it should.

Welcome to 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀, the playbook for leaders who want momentum without burnout. Because work shouldn’t feel like you’re sprinting in sand ⬇️

https://lnkd.in/gaTZQNAh

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐣𝐨𝐛𝐬 𝐠𝐨 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐀𝐈 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦?

Remember your first job?
The shaky start. The kind manager. The lessons that shaped your career.

Now imagine that moment… no longer exists.

Because today, the first rung of the career ladder is gone.
AI agents now do what interns, assistants, and entry-level hires once did.

𝐍𝐨 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝. 𝐍𝐨 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐬. 𝐍𝐨 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰.

If AI takes the first job, how do humans still begin?

We built hiring systems on “experience required.” But what happens when no one gets a chance to earn experience in the first place?

Read more in 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐫 at Amazon.

👉 https://lnkd.in/gQ5hWBft?

#BrokenLadder #FutureOfWork #ArtificialIntelligence

Remember your first job? 

That shaky start. The manager who showed you the ropes. The small mistakes that taught you big lessons.

Now imagine if that moment, that first chance, no longer existed.

Because in today’s world, it’s disappearing.

Open article: Broken Ladder: Rebuilding Human Beginnings in the Age of AI by danielstouffer.medium.com

Broken Ladder: Rebuilding Human Beginnings in the Age of AI

Another 3 a.m. zinger - Am I alone?

Let me name the first terror clearly. No one can live inside the full movement of your mind. Your thoughts, memories, and sensations are yours. Even the people who love you most cannot climb inside and steer. That privacy is real.

It's all good news once we learn how to hold it without fear.

Aloneness is not a defect. 

It is the space that lets just ‘being’ be truly meaningful...

https://lnkd.in/gK7nEZPv

A Field Guide to First-Person Terror At three in the morning, the ceiling turns into a sky without stars. The room feels bigger than your chest. You l

Open article: Am I Alone? by Daniel Stouffer • 2 min read

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩. 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐞’𝐯𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐧.

Generative AI has collapsed the 𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞, 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭, and 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲. Campaigns that once required endless approvals now go live in just days. Teams that once required an entire floor of desks now operate with precision, one strategist and one AI system at a time.

But here’s the question leaders can’t ignore:

𝐈𝐟 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭…
𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐮𝐩?
𝐎𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤?

𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐀𝐈 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 isn’t just a guide. It’s a wake-up call. And for leaders bold enough to listen, it’s also a blueprint.

Open article: The Future of Marketing Is Faster Than You. Here’s How to Catch Up. by surl.li

The Future of Marketing Is Faster Than You. Here’s How to Catch Up.

Level 3 Freedom

Bank CEOs face unique challenges in maintaining the balance between long-term sustainability and short-term flexibility.

What if today's strategy and tactics block future strategy and tactics, or vice-versa?

This balancing act requires not just foresight but a nuanced understanding of both the immediate and future strategic needs.

I help bank CEOs implement a three-phased approach so they benefit from a precise, actionable plan tailored to enhance their bank's strategic position.

This dual focus on today's performance and tomorrow's opportunities ensures that your bank is not only thriving but also strategically prepared for future flexibility.

Our approach includes an initial assessment of your bank, followed by a review pinpointing and prioritizing the areas that can enhance your bank's value drivers, growth opportunities and potential challenges.

Then we'll work with you to create a strategic plan of action based on your circumstances, available resources, and strategic objectives.

This isn't theoretical - it's practical.

You don't need to stop what you're doing to implement the plan.

The entire process can be completed in 90 - 180 days, depending on your availability and determination.

Founder and CEO

Strategic Options

I share observations and information to help bank CEO's and boards understand the process of preparing for the sale of the bank, whether they're selling or not, from a banker's perspective. The more time in advance of contemplating a liquidity event, the better. Planning, whether selling or not - now or in the future, allows for the best results if things do move that direction.

Having an understanding of the process puts the CEO and the board in a position to ensure they are meeting their fiduciary duties to the shareholders and are able to preserve and maintain their strategic options as well as strengthening their capital plan.

I am not an accountant, lawyer or investment banker, and am not advising in that regard. Nor, do I have a stake in the decision or the outcome.

Clements Worldwide

Clements International is the leading provider of insurance solutions for expatriates and international organizations. Founded in 1947, Clements offers worldwide auto, property, life, health and commercial insurance with superior customer service and claims response to customers in more than 170 countries.

Board Member

Kansas Chamber of Commerce

The mission of the Kansas Chamber of Commerce is to continually strive to improve the economic climate for the benefit of every business and citizen and to safeguard our system of free, competitive enterprise. 

The Chamber is member-driven and its strength comes from hundreds of Kansas employers of every size. The Chamber listens to its members, forms policy and a Legislative Agenda and then takes the issues and concerns of Kansas businesses directly to the policy-makers.

Freedom Bank - Overland Park, Kansas

Organized the founding of the bank. Raised $8.8 million from sophisticated investors, the majority of which are in the local community, to capitalize the bank. Also raised an additional $700,000 to purchase the real estate and for the construction of our bank headquarters. Our team developed the real estate and constructed our headquarters building. 

As Founder and CEO I am the keeper of our culture. Accountable for all aspects of the institution. Leader of an industrious and enthusiastic team of people who are responsible for all aspects of the bank. We are a meritocracy. Our management team averages 45 years of age compared to the industry average of 70+. 

We have loaned out over a half of a billion dollars to local businesses in our first 16 years of operation. We achieved profitability in our third full year of operation, during a tumultuous (if not the most tumultuous) time in the banking industry. 

We developed a retail delivery model from whole cloth, designing out the elements distasteful to customers. We make banking fun. We actively focus on and participate in our local community, and assist privately-held established businesses throughout the greater Kansas City metropolitan area. 

If we don't understand your business, we're not taking care of ours!

Founder, Chairman and CEO

American Bankers Association

The Government Relations Council (GRC) is the leadership committee with the exclusive responsibility for recommending annual policy priorities to ABA’s Board of Directors. The Council provides ongoing policy guidance to ABA leadership as policy issues arise during the year.

Government Relations Council

Kansas Bankers Assn

Elected by peers as the Chairman of the banking trade association. The Kansas Bankers Association, organized on Feb. 22, 1887, in Topeka, was one of the first five state bankers associations in the country. Kansas continues to rank in the top five nationally with 228 banks chartered in the state. The Kansas Bankers Association is the leading advocate for the banking industry in Kansas.

Chairman

Elected by peers as the Chairman-Elect of the banking trade association. The Kansas Bankers Association, organized on Feb. 22, 1887, in Topeka, was one of the first five state bankers associations in the country. Kansas continues to rank in the top five nationally with 228 banks chartered in the state. The Kansas Bankers Association is the leading advocate for the banking industry in Kansas.

Chairman-Elect

The Kansas Bankers Association Federal Affairs Committee provides a forum for the identification and discussion of federal legislative policy issues of interest to Kansas Bankers Association members. The Committee makes recommendations regarding those polices to the Kansas Bankers Association Board.

Federal Affairs Committee

The Kansas Bankers Association State Affairs Committee provides a forum for the identification and discussion of state legislative policy issues of interest to Kansas Bankers Association members. The Committee makes recommendations regarding those polices to the Kansas Bankers Association Board.

Chairman, State Affairs Committee

Elected by peers as a regional representative on the banking trade association. The Kansas Bankers Association, organized on Feb. 22, 1887, in Topeka, was one of the first five state bankers associations in the country. Kansas continues to rank in the top five nationally with 228 banks chartered in the state. The Kansas Bankers Association is the leading advocate for the banking industry in Kansas.

Office of the State Bank Commissioner

Appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the State Senate, to the board in 2011, re-appointed by the Governor in 2013 and 2017. Served as Chairman from 2013 through 2017. The Banking Board serves in an advisory capacity to the Office of the State Bank Commissioner (OSBC). Among the Banking Board's main responsibilities is the approval of new charters and branches in Kansas. 

The OSBC is responsible for ensuring the safety and soundness of state-chartered financial institutions, thereby safeguarding depositors' funds and maintaining public confidence.  The OSBC regulates all state-chartered banks and trust companies, savings and loan companies, mortgage businesses, supervised lenders, and money transmitters.

Kansas Banking Board

Appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the State Senate, to the board in 2011, re-appointed by the Governor in 2013. Elected by Banking Board members as Chairman in 2013. The Banking Board serves in an advisory capacity to the Office of the State Bank Commissioner (OSBC). Among the Banking Board's main responsibilities is the approval of new charters and branches in Kansas. 

The OSBC is responsible for ensuring the safety and soundness of state-chartered financial institutions, thereby safeguarding depositors' funds and maintaining public confidence.  The OSBC regulates all state-chartered banks and trust companies, savings and loan companies, mortgage businesses, supervised lenders, and money transmitters.

Chairman - Kansas Banking Board

Enterprise Bank & Trust

Responsible for all aspects of the operation of the Plaza Bank, a member of the legal bank board of directors, and a member of the credit committee of the legal bank board.  Achieved asset growth of $40MM during first eighteen months of employment, and a $600M increase in net operating income of the Plaza Bank.  Duties include the recruitment and training of personnel, business development activities in both commercial banking services, focused on the middle-market, wealth management services and the protection of the asset quality of the bank.  Additional responsibilities include the recruitment and development of an advisory board of directors for the Plaza Bank.  Recruited to this position.

President - Plaza Bank

First National Bank of Olathe

Responsible for all facets of the commercial, SBA and consumer lending departments of the bank, credit administration, cash management and loan operations.  Duties included strategic planning, establishing a middle-market commercial business development effort, and all aspects of human resource development (managing, training, motivating and attracting new staff as needed).  During time of my employment, the Bank had over $500 million in assets with 9 facilities throughout Johnson County, Kansas, with a loan portfolio exceeding $310 million.  Managed 15 direct reports, and 15 indirect reports.  Recruited to this position.

Executive Vice President & Chief Lending Officer

Master the art of selling your bank

Kurt Knutson was a banker for forty years. He started a de novo bank, built, and successfully sold it.

He understands the challenges that bank CEOs and board members face when considering the sale of the bank.

Concerns about confidentiality and the fear of making costly mistakes or missing out on opportunities can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be that way.

Kurt is now dedicated to developing educational resources and providing tools to help bank CEOs and board members gain clarity on the process of selling the bank in order to achieve the best results.

His first offering is his recently published book, "The Art of Selling Your Bank: A Bank CEOs Step-By-Step Guide".

Selling your bank can make you feel like you are standing naked in public. You must always have your bank in the best shape possible, in other words, “swimsuit-ready”.

When you understand how the process works, you will know if you are ready or what you need to do to get ready. This will reduce the “noise” of the process, calming your mind and allowing you to move forward freely and confidently for the best results.

You will be able to find answers to questions like:

●    What is our bank’s value, and what are the drivers of our value?

●    Who is interested in buying us, and what is the best method?

●    When is the best opportunity to pursue a sale?

The process of gathering this information is high-risk due to the fear of word leaking out, losing customers, and damaging value. Asking advisors for advice may feel like asking a barber if you need a haircut.

His hope is that this book will help bank CEOs gain the confidence and peace of mind so they can use their skills when it matters most.

Kurt Knutson

Just a little over 30 days until the launch.

The Community Bank Value™ Playbook - Season 1, 11 foundational 
episodes. All free.

Audio + Video
Podcast + YouTube

I founded a community bank as CEO and chairman. I've navigated 
the strategic decisions you face every day: 
- Raising capital. 
- Building a strong shareholder base. 
- Developing an engaged team. 
- Growing successfully with customers who proudly called us their 
bank. 

I have been in your seat through every phase of a bank's 
lifecycle. 

That's the perspective you'll hear every episode.

We'll cover strategic positioning, buyer perspectives, deal 
structure, team protection, and how to maintain leverage when 
opportunities arrive—whether you're pursuing them or they're 
pursuing you.

Season 1 available Tuesday, December 30th.

======
Today, in my free newsletter, “The Savvy Banker,” I break down topics like this for leaders who want to take charge of their bank’s future.

This week's topic:

"Community Bank CEOs: The 198 Laps Between Deal Announcement and Closing"


(Link to subscribe in comments below)


Kurt Knutson

I’m not a lawyer, accountant, or investment banker. I’m just a banker who’s been through it.

I post here daily at 7:10am and 4:10pm, weekends too.

And if you want the full roadmap, my book “The Art of Selling Your Bank” has you covered.

Available on Amazon, Audible, and Spotify.

li_at

JSESSIONID

Talks about #bank, #bankceo, #bankers, #bankingindustry, and ##communitybanks

I help bank CEOs master their bank’s future today, by design.

31 days.

Tuesday morning, December 30th, at 7am CT, the Community Bank Value™ Playbook goes live.

Podcast and YouTube channel.

Season 1 - 11 foundational episodes. All free. 

What I learned about strategic positioning, valuation, protecting your team, and maintaining leverage -- whether you're building for growth or navigating a transition.

If you're a community bank CEO, CFO, or director — this is for you.

Whether you're building for growth, planning succession, exploring opportunities, or staying the course -- knowing your strategic position gives you control over your bank's future.


======

Kurt Knutson

I’m not a lawyer, accountant, or investment banker. I’m just a banker who’s been through it.

I post here daily at 7:10am and 4:10pm, weekends too.

And if you want the full roadmap, my book “The Art of Selling Your Bank” has you covered.

Available on Amazon, Audible, and Spotify.

I said 11 episodes. It's now 15.

24 days until launch.

Quick update on the Community Bank Value™ Playbook:

I said 11 episodes.

It's now 15.

The content kept growing because the questions kept coming.

Valuation. Timing. Deal structure. Talent protection. Legacy. The conversations you can't have with anyone else.

I couldn't stop at 11. There was too much ground to cover.

Season 1: 15 foundational episodes. All dropping at once.

Tuesday, December 30th. 7am CT.

Podcast + YouTube. Free on all platforms.

======
Kurt Knutson

I'm not a lawyer, accountant, or investment banker. I'm just a banker who's been through it.

I post here daily at 7:10am and 4:10pm, weekends too.

And if you want the full roadmap, my book "The Art of Selling Your Bank" has you covered.

Available on Amazon, Audible, and Spotify.

No alternative text description for this image

Managing during M&A then vs. now:

THEN: Signed LOI and assumed deal done, made decisions without considering constraints, shared information broadly

NOW: Recognize LOI as beginning of most dangerous phase, filter every decision through terms, maintain absolute confidentiality

The shift: From "LOI means we're done" to "LOI means real work begins."

You must run business as if deal might fail AND protect deal as if it's done.

Period between LOI and announcement breaks more deals than any other phase.

#ExecutiveLeadership #BankingLeadership #MergersAndAcquisitions


Yesterday, in my free newsletter, “The Savvy Banker,” I break down topics like this for leaders who want to take charge of their bank’s future.

This week's topic:

"Community Bank CEOs: The 3-Step Plan That Keeps Customers Calm During Mergers"

(Link to subscribe in comments below)


- Kurt Knutson

I’m not a lawyer, accountant, or investment banker. I’m just a banker who’s been through it.

I post here daily at 7:10am and 4:10pm, weekends too.

And if you want the full roadmap, my book “The Art of Selling Your Bank” has you covered.

Available on Amazon, Audible, and Spotify.

Back in the day, bank valuations were based on gut feelings and simple formulas.

Today, it’s all about data, market trends, and understanding what buyers are really willing to pay.

The biggest shift: It’s no longer what you think your bank is worth—it’s what the market decides.

Relying on facts, not feelings, is key to a successful sale.

How do you balance inside knowledge with market reality?

#ExecutiveLeadership #BankingLeadership #BusinessValuation


Yesterday, in my free newsletter, “The Savvy Banker,” I break down topics like this for leaders who want to take charge of their bank’s future.

This week's topic:

"Community Bank CEOs: How to Announce Your Bank Sale Without Losing Control"

(Link to subscribe in comments below)


Kurt Knutson

I’m not a lawyer, accountant, or investment banker. I’m just a banker who’s been through it.

I post here daily at 7:10am and 4:10pm, weekends too.

And if you want the full roadmap, my book “The Art of Selling Your Bank” has you covered.

Available on Amazon, Audible, and Spotify.

linkedin.com/in/scott-tennyson-2bb9492a

Here's what's coming on Tuesday, December 30th:

🎙️ Podcast (Apple, Spotify, everywhere)
📺 YouTube (full video versions)
📥 New Listener Guide (free download)

The Community Bank Value™ Playbook - Season 1: All 11 
foundational episodes drop at once.

I spent 40 years in community banking -- founding, leading, and 
eventually selling the bank to one of eleven qualified buyers.

These episodes draw on what I learned navigating capital raises, 
board dynamics, team building, M&A, and all the strategic decisions 
that come with the CEO chair.

My focus is helping you understand all of your options so you can 
make strategic decisions from a position of strength, not urgency.

Whether you're building for growth, planning succession, exploring 
opportunities, or staying the course -- knowing your strategic 
position gives you control over your bank's future.

The best decisions come from knowing all your options.
======
Today, in my free newsletter, “The Savvy Banker,” I break down topics like this for leaders who want to take charge of their bank’s future.

This week's topic:

"Community Bank CEOs: The 198 Laps Between Deal Announcement and Closing"


(Link to subscribe in comments below)


Kurt Knutson

I’m not a lawyer, accountant, or investment banker. I’m just a banker who’s been through it.

I post here daily at 7:10am and 4:10pm, weekends too.

And if you want the full roadmap, my book “The Art of Selling Your Bank” has you covered.

Available on Amazon, Audible, and Spotify.

You've carried this weight for seven months. Now it's time to share it.

Your racing mind is normal. You're ending something you built. Relationships, roles, and identity will change.

But you're not just ending - you're honoring what you've built.

Employees will benefit. Customers gain resources. Shareholders realize value. Community gets greater capacity.

You've done your duty, followed process, made informed decisions.

The secret becomes reality. Trust the work done. Trust the decision made.

This milestone deserves acknowledgment.


#ExecutiveLeadership #BankingLeadership #Leadership


Tomorrow, in my free newsletter, “The Savvy Banker,” I break down topics like this for leaders who want to take charge of their bank’s future.

This week's topic:

" "

(Link to subscribe in comments below)


- Kurt Knutson

I’m not a lawyer, accountant, or investment banker. I’m just a banker who’s been through it.

I post here daily at 7:10am and 4:10pm, weekends too.

And if you want the full roadmap, my book “The Art of Selling Your Bank” has you covered.

Available on Amazon, Audible, and Spotify.

Okay, I'm going to tell you what I've been working on:

Audio + Video.

Podcast + YouTube.

The first 11 episodes. All launching at once.

New episodes every Tuesday.

If you're a community bank CEO or director, this is for you.

Mark your calendar for Tuesday, December 30th, 7am CT.

More details to follow in the coming weeks...

=====
Today, in my free newsletter, “The Savvy Banker,” I break down topics like this for leaders who want to take charge of their bank’s future.

This week's topic:

"Community Bank CEOs: How to Announce Your Bank Sale Without Losing Control"

(Link to subscribe in comments below)

=====
Kurt Knutson

I’m not a lawyer, accountant, or investment banker. I’m just a banker who’s been through it.

I post here daily at 7:10am and 4:10pm, weekends too.

And if you want the full roadmap, my book “The Art of Selling Your Bank” has you covered.

Available on Amazon, Audible, and Spotify.

You're building something bigger than yourself.

Your greatest achievement isn't being irreplaceable - it's building something that doesn't need you.

When leaders run meetings without you, you've succeeded. 

When systems work without you, you've built value.

When teams solve problems independently, you've done your job.

This proves leadership greatness, not diminishes it.

Buyers pay premiums for independent teams, clear systems, documented processes, lasting cultures.

Your legacy isn't what you did personally. It's what continues because you built it right.


#ExecutiveLeadership #BankingLeadership #Leadership


Tomorrow, in my free newsletter, “The Savvy Banker,” I break down topics like this for leaders who want to take charge of their bank’s future.

This week's topic:

"Community Bank CEOs: The 3-Step Plan That Keeps Customers Calm During Mergers"

(Link to subscribe in comments below)


- Kurt Knutson

I’m not a lawyer, accountant, or investment banker. I’m just a banker who’s been through it.

I post here daily at 7:10am and 4:10pm, weekends too.

And if you want the full roadmap, my book “The Art of Selling Your Bank” has you covered.

Available on Amazon, Audible, and Spotify.

The CEO Who Thought the Hard Part Was Over

The deal was announced Monday. One bank CEO felt relief. The hard part was over.

Tuesday, his attorney sent the closing checklist. Seventy-eight items. Each required documents and coordination.

Three months of checklists while running the bank. If performance slipped, the buyer could walk away.

He learned: the announcement was lap 1 of a 200-lap race.

The real work comes after. Stay organized. Stay patient. Keep your eye on the finish line.

#ExecutiveLeadership #BankingLeadership #MergersAndAcquisitions


- Kurt Knutson

I’m not a lawyer, accountant, or investment banker. I’m just a banker who’s been through it.

I post here daily at 7:10am and 4:10pm, weekends too.

And if you want the full roadmap, my book “The Art of Selling Your Bank” has you covered.

Available on Amazon, Audible, and Spotify.

Nobody Talks About the Grind Between Announcement and Closing

Everyone celebrates the announcement. Then silence for 4-6 months.

Behind the scenes? Chaos.

Massive closing checklist. Regulatory applications. Monthly reports. Environmental inspections. Vendor consents.

The CEO runs two jobs: operating the company and managing the closing.

The announcement is lap 1. The real grind is laps 2-199.

That's where discipline wins. Where deals actually get done.

#ExecutiveLeadership #MergersAndAcquisitions #BankingLeadership


- Kurt Knutson

I’m not a lawyer, accountant, or investment banker. I’m just a banker who’s been through it.

I post here daily at 7:10am and 4:10pm, weekends too.

And if you want the full roadmap, my book “The Art of Selling Your Bank” has you covered.

Available on Amazon, Audible, and Spotify.

Unpopular Opinion: CEOs Should Disengage After a Sale

That's wrong.

Until the deal closes, the CEO still has full legal duties to shareholders. They can't coast.

But they also can't act like nothing changed.

The truth? 

This in-between period isn't about stepping back. It's about balance.

Stay engaged with current duties. Stay professional with the transition. Stay ready to lead if things change.

Being a CEO after a sale announcement is harder than before it.

#ExecutiveLeadership #MergersAndAcquisitions #BankingLeadership


- Kurt Knutson

I’m not a lawyer, accountant, or investment banker. I’m just a banker who’s been through it.

I post here daily at 7:10am and 4:10pm, weekends too.

And if you want the full roadmap, my book “The Art of Selling Your Bank” has you covered.

Available on Amazon, Audible, and Spotify.

I'm going to let you in on a secret...

5 critical facts about protecting key talent:

1. Timing - Put agreements in place BEFORE sale discussions

2. Buyers Want This - Solves retention concern before they ask

3. Be Selective - Focus on people with critical knowledge

4. Two-Part Structure - Change-in-control payment + stay-put guarantee creates alignment

5. Real Cost - Agreements cost 1-3x salary; one departure reduces value 10-15%

Your competitors are making lists of your best people right now.

Which fact surprises you most?


#ExecutiveLeadership #BankingLeadership #TalentRetention


- Kurt Knutson

I’m not a lawyer, accountant, or investment banker. I’m just a banker who’s been through it.

I post here daily at 7:10am and 4:10pm, weekends too.

And if you want the full roadmap, my book “The Art of Selling Your Bank” has you covered.

Available on Amazon, Audible, and Spotify.

Management meetings with the potential buyer of your bank - then vs. now:

THEN: Casual information sessions, brought whoever was available, winged it, focused on current operations

NOW: Critical evaluations, strategic team selection, extensive preparation, emphasize future opportunities

The shift: From "answer their questions" to "help them envision our partnership."

Today's buyers invest in teams that execute strategic vision.

Best deals happen when meetings feel like partnership beginnings, not evaluation endings.

What are you planning? Information session or partnership preview?


#ExecutiveLeadership #BankingLeadership #TeamPreparation


Yesterday, in my free newsletter, “The Savvy Banker,” I break down topics like this for leaders who want to take charge of their bank’s future.

This week's topic:

"Community Bank CEOs: How to Lead When You're No Longer in Charge"

(Link to subscribe in comments below)


Kurt Knutson

I’m not a lawyer, accountant, or investment banker. I’m just a banker who’s been through it.

I post here daily at 7:10am and 4:10pm, weekends too.

And if you want the full roadmap, my book “The Art of Selling Your Bank” has you covered.

Available on Amazon, Audible, and Spotify.

7 critical elements of final board approval:

1. Legal Duty Reminder - Good faith, care, loyalty framework

2. Fairness Opinion - Financial analysis showing informed decision

3. Agreement Review - Key terms and restrictions until closing

4. Timeline Explanation - Steps from approval through closing

5. Confidentiality Reinforcement - Deal stays secret until confirmed

6. Milestone Acknowledgment - Recognize significance and emotions

7. Mental Preparation - Racing thoughts are normal, prepare for public transition

This represents months of work and years of building. It deserves recognition.


#ExecutiveLeadership #BankingLeadership #BoardGovernance


- Kurt Knutson

I’m not a lawyer, accountant, or investment banker. I’m just a banker who’s been through it.

I post here daily at 7:10am and 4:10pm, weekends too.

And if you want the full roadmap, my book “The Art of Selling Your Bank” has you covered.

Available on Amazon, Audible, and Spotify.

One CEO Lost $22 Million by Choosing Wrong

Two bank CEOs decided to sell.

CEO #1 hired a friend. Six months later: one low offer at 1.1x book. Bank sold for $45 million.

CEO #2 did homework. Found a specialist. Multiple competing buyers. Price 1.5x book. Bank sold for $67 million.

Difference: $22 million.

The advisor you choose determines the outcome you get.

Don't choose based on relationships or convenience. Choose based on track record and expertise.

Your shareholders deserve the best.

#ExecutiveLeadership #MergersAndAcquisitions #BankingLeadership


- Kurt Knutson

I’m not a lawyer, accountant, or investment banker. I’m just a banker who’s been through it.

I post here daily at 7:10am and 4:10pm, weekends too.

And if you want the full roadmap, my book “The Art of Selling Your Bank” has you covered.

Available on Amazon, Audible, and Spotify.

The Best-Run Companies Are Always Ready to Sell

Not because they're selling. Because being sale-ready makes them better.

Clean financials. Strong operations. Current technology. Independent team. Clear strategy.

Is that a company preparing to sell? Or just a really well-run company?

Both.

An exit strategy isn't about leaving. It's about leading so well that all doors stay open.

"Sale-ready" is just another way of saying "excellence-ready."

#ExecutiveLeadership #CorporateStrategy #BankingLeadership


- Kurt Knutson

I’m not a lawyer, accountant, or investment banker. I’m just a banker who’s been through it.

I post here daily at 7:10am and 4:10pm, weekends too.

And if you want the full roadmap, my book “The Art of Selling Your Bank” has you covered.

Available on Amazon, Audible, and Spotify.

Acquisition strategy then vs. now:

THEN: Sought strong standalone performance, valued growth and profitability above all, paid premiums for companies that looked best

NOW: Seek complementary capabilities, value strategic fit over performance, pay premiums for synergistic value

The shift: From "acquire the best" to "acquire what makes us better."

Your "weak" rural market might provide funding solutions. Your "limited" technology creates implementation opportunities.

Question isn't "Are we the best?" It's "Whose strategic gap do we fill?"


#ExecutiveLeadership #BankingLeadership #StrategicFit


Yesterday, in my free newsletter, “The Savvy Banker,” I break down topics like this for leaders who want to take charge of their bank’s future.

This week's topic:

"Community Bank CEOs: The 3-Step Plan That Keeps Customers Calm During Mergers"

(Link to subscribe in comments below)


- Kurt Knutson

I’m not a lawyer, accountant, or investment banker. I’m just a banker who’s been through it.

I post here daily at 7:10am and 4:10pm, weekends too.

And if you want the full roadmap, my book “The Art of Selling Your Bank” has you covered.

Available on Amazon, Audible, and Spotify.

Forget the old mindset.

It’s no longer just about the highest price.

It’s about the total value—risk, potential, strategic fit.

Smart deals mean focusing on the best long-term outcome, not just the bid.

Are you still chasing the price?

Or are you playing the long game?

Your strategy today determines your success tomorrow.


#ExecutiveLeadership #BankingLeadership #BusinessStrategy


Yesterday, in my free newsletter, “The Savvy Banker,” I break down topics like this for leaders who want to take charge of their bank’s future.

This week's topic:

"Community Bank CEOs: How to Announce Your Bank Sale Without Losing Control"

(Link to subscribe in comments below)


Kurt Knutson

I’m not a lawyer, accountant, or investment banker. I’m just a banker who’s been through it.

I post here daily at 7:10am and 4:10pm, weekends too.

And if you want the full roadmap, my book “The Art of Selling Your Bank” has you covered.

Available on Amazon, Audible, and Spotify.

Most Boards Think They're Protecting Shareholders. Many Are Wrong.

Many directors believe showing up and voting is enough.

It's not.

Example: Two buyers make offers. One pays $50 and keeps the CEO. One pays $55 but replaces management.

Many boards pick the lower offer. They're protecting management, not shareholders.

Directors have three duties: Good Faith, Duty of Care, Loyalty.

Get expert opinions. Compare all options. Document everything. Stay independent from management.

Shareholders deserve better.

#BoardGovernance #ExecutiveLeadership #BankingLeadership


- Kurt Knutson

I’m not a lawyer, accountant, or investment banker. I’m just a banker who’s been through it.

I post here daily at 7:10am and 4:10pm, weekends too.

And if you want the full roadmap, my book “The Art of Selling Your Bank” has you covered.

Available on Amazon, Audible, and Spotify.

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Kurt Knutson

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taplio

The Battle

Daniel Stouffer

Kurt Knutson

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);}Daniel Stouffer's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreKurt Knutson's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreDaniel Stouffer's LinkedIn Performance