FEI Weekly

March 15, 2019

Tesla picks new CFO and CAO, small business breach danger, and the warning signs of a dysfunctional work culture.

Tesla Picks New CFO and CAO

http://fortune.com/2019/03/14/tesla-appoints-a-new-cfo-and-chief-accounting-officer/

Tesla announced Thursday that it has appointed Zachary Kirkhorn as its new CFO, while Vaibhav Taneja was announced as the company’s new CAO. Taneja was previously the company’s Corporate Controller.

Don't Be Blindsided By AI, Warns Mark Cuban

Recode

Mark Cuban believes AI and machine learning are so important to the future that they will “dwarf” the internet. Ina recent podcast, he shared, 'There’ll be a time when people take AI and its impact for granted, but if you don’t know how to use it and you don’t understand it and you can’t at least at have a basic understanding of the different approaches and how the algorithms work, you can be blindsided in ways you couldn’t even possibly imagine.'

Warning Signs of a Dysfunctional Work Culture

Tech Republic

Here are some clear warning signs of a dysfunctional work culture: No clear organizational vision or set of values, all information to the board runs through the CEO, fighting among leadership, debate and challenge are not encouraged, and limited transparency into organizational decision-making. Others include complacency and resistance to discuss culture, bad news is not shared and employees do not feel comfortable reporting incidents, strong focus on individual results or a "get it done at all costs" attitude, high employee turnover rates by business unit, race, age, gender, function, etc., and limited transparency on factors for promotion or success.

How Small Businesses Can Prevent Data Breaches

WTKR

Data breaches at big companies like Equifax and Marriott`s Starwood hotels make headlines, but what happens when hackers target a local mom-and-pop shop? You`ve got to be stingy with your personal information. The less data you put out there, the less there is to steal. If you have accounts that you don`t use often or that are pretty old, or ones you don`t use anymore, you might want to monitor them on a routine basis and close the inactive ones.

Is Networking a Waste of Time?

Quartz

Meeting the right people is essential, no matter the business you’re in. But forming long-term connections based on common values—not just collecting contacts based on quick, transactional encounters—is an art that not everyone understands. Try focusing on growing your circle from the inside out. When it comes to business, don’t talk so much about business. Above all, building a real network isn’t like collecting followers on social media. Networks are built on shared interests and values, and it often takes time to tease these out.