CEO Weekly Outlook

Good afternoon, all. Today we’re reading about the necessity of measuring progress in response to feedback. Even when constructive criticism is thoughtfully given and well-received, the lack of a clear plan leaves employees with uncertainty. According to the Harvard Business Review, the ability to “self-quantify” is the key to measuring responsiveness to feedback.
Meanwhile, Forbes discusses what startup founders wish they’d done before the M&A deal. The biggest mistakes were in preparation, which often led to messy deals. Founders most often failed to document and equity organize all NDA/IP transfers.

Business Insights

• 12 technologies that can improve or disrupt your business
• A 6-part structure for giving clear and actionable feedback
• 3 manufacturing sectors that are seeing a resurgence and 3 that are in decline
• Automation won’t replace people as your competitive advantage
• Disruptive technologies are keeping CEOs on their toes
• How to break up with an innovation project
• The female CEO: reputation premium?
• Why sales teams should reexamine territory design
• 4 techniques for building a more creative leadership team
• Stop using employee friendships to measure engagement
• 5 famous business leaders on the power of mentorship
• How to manage people who are smarter than you
• 10 examples of companies with fantastic cultures
• What companies can learn from military teams
• Feedback without measurement won’t do any good
• The two essential entrepreneurial types
• Leading job growth in the digital economy

Transaction Toolbox

• Making mergers, acquisitions, and other business combinations work
• Partnerships, strong corporate cultures will be key to the next manufacturing boom
• 3 trends to watch that are guaranteed to affect and change your business this year
• Why every CEO should have at least one trusted advisor
• What startup founders wish they’d done before the M&A deal
• A blueprint for successfully launching a new production facility in the U.S
• In with the in crowd? The entrepreneur’s guide to crowdfunding (or not)
• What angel investors value most when choosing what to fund
• Starting a company that lasts
• Merging two global company cultures
• How to start or grow a company in a crowded market
• What salespeople need to know about the new B2B landscape

Middle Market Move of the Week

Acquisition financing develops in Africa. Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the US government’s development finance institution, partnered with Atlas Mara Limited to invest $300 million acquisition financing in Africa.

The announcement follows President Obama’s recent trip to Africa, and the project will help develop BancABC — Atlas Mara’s Southern African banking platform. With the goal of improving the business banking conditions in the area, both OPIC and Atlas Mara look forward to bringing new innovation to a growing market. Read the full press release here.