
Why Skills-First Leadership Is Replacing the Ivy League Playbook in the C-Suite
The old prestige pyramid—where Ivy League degrees and blue-chip consulting backgrounds paved the way to the CEO seat—is cracking.
June 13, 2022: -Chinese electric-vehicle maker Nio lost $281.2 million in the first quarter, more comprehensive than the $68.8 million it lost a year ago, as it ran to keep speed with intense demand between China’s current Covid-related shutdowns.
Nio’s shares decreased about 9% in early trading Thursday as investors digested the decline in gross margin. They rebounded somewhat to end the day at $18.80, down nearly 7.5%.
CEO William Bin Li said that growing commodity costs have continued to squeeze margins during the company’s earnings call. But he hopes Nio’s gross margin to start to recover in the third quarter as offsetting cost cuts take hold.
Nio said its new factory, the company’s second, has started pre-production builds of the upcoming ET5 sedan in September. The company also approved plans to launch a unique upscale, five-passenger SUV, the ES7, with deliveries starting in August.
Nio delivered 25,768 vehicles in the first quarter, up from 20,060 a year ago. According to the company, the second-quarter deliveries are on pace to reach between 23,000 and 25,000 cars, suggesting a powerful June. Covid-19 shutdowns and supply-chain issues limited Nio’s total deliveries in April and May to just more than 12,000.
Demand has remained strong through China’s most recent pandemic disruptions, yet. Li said Nio “achieved an all-time high order flow” in May.
The old prestige pyramid—where Ivy League degrees and blue-chip consulting backgrounds paved the way to the CEO seat—is cracking.
Loud leaders once ruled the boardroom. Charisma was currency. Big talk drove big valuations.
But the CEOs who make history in downturns aren’t the ones with the deepest cuts
Companies invest millions in leadership development, yet many of their best executives leave within a few years. Why?
The most successful business leaders don’t just identify gaps in the market; they anticipate future needs before anyone else.
With technological advancements, shifting consumer expectations, and global interconnectedness, the role of business leaders
May 28, 2025: SpaceX’s latest Starship test flight, conducted on May 27, 2025, ended in failure when the spacecraft’s upper stage broke apart during its descent over the Indian Ocean.
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May 27, 2025: Volvo to Cut 3,000 Jobs in Europe as Part of $1.9B Restructuring Amid EV Slowdown and Tariff Pressures.
The old prestige pyramid—where Ivy League degrees and blue-chip consulting backgrounds paved the way to the CEO seat—is cracking.
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