I hope everyone had a great weekend and are all set for a good week.

In Chicago, it’s all about balance. Unfortunately, the cubbies got eliminated in the first round of the playoffs from San Diego Padres.   However, the Chicago White Sox won their first round and are looking pretty positive.

Another piece of good news, is Northwestern University’s Ryan Field opened up this weekend and the Wildcats beat Penn State 34-13!!!  I had the opportunity with other Northwestern University Board of trustees members to tour the new stadium a few nights before the game and it truly is absolutely phenomenal. Here is a few pictures.

In one of my recent Forbes articles I focused on several of the key challenges facing current MBA students and what they can do about it

-managing the continuum of change
-moving beyond “being concerned “
-bridging polarization to find common ground
-tuning out social media and tuning in to Self Reflection
-raising the stakes on communication to control chaos
-embracing values to build trust

Here is the link to the article and the entire article is pasted below

https://www.forbes.com/sites/harrykraemer/2026/09/15/six-challenges-todays-mba-students-face—and-what-to-do-about-them/

Six Challenges Today’s MBA Students Face — And What To Do About Them

This month marks the start of my 21st year of teaching at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management where I’ve engaged with thousands of very bright, ambitious and entrepreneurial-minded students. For two decades, particularly in my classes on value-based leadership, I’ve engaged with next-generation leaders who want to excel in their careers, with a growing number of them also aspiring to make a difference in the world. The one significant change today is just how challenging the world has become, further elevating the stakes for values-based leaders.

As a clinical professor in the full-time, evening and executive MBA programs on Kellogg campuses in Chicago, Miami and Hong Kong, I’m amazed by how much our discussions have changed. Six areas in particular capture today’s escalating challenges and how leaders must respond with their values.

1. Managing the Continuum of Change.

Over the past two decades, the speed of change has increased dramatically. A compelling example is AI, which is evolving at an unprecedented pace, prompting warnings from within the technology industry, including Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei. For all leaders, especially those who will inherit today’s challenges and their future impact, this is a time for discernment.

The starting point for leaders is to find their place along what I call the continuum of change. At one end is fear of change. For some, that means only reacting to change, while others try to avoid it altogether. At the other end of the continuum is the ability to embrace change and even create it. For leaders today and in the future, managing change requires the courage to take action while remaining grounded and guided by their values.

2. Moving Beyond “Being Concerned.”

Every generation has faced its share of change, challenge and crisis, including world wars, economic depressions and social injustice. Today’s issues are numerous and severe, with potentially life-altering consequences. Consider the impact of climate change on everything from food shortages to natural disasters. Add to that escalating geopolitical conflicts, global uncertainty, health challenges and a widening wealth divide that is being exacerbated by forces from technology to economic policies.

Leaders who have knowledge and resources at their disposal need to be part of the solution, by identifying where they can focus and channeling their ability to influence. There is no shortage of areas that need leadership and expertise. As I advise my MBA students, rather than merely “watching the movie,” it’s about “being in the movie.” Concern isn’t enough; leaders need to proactively address the global the issues and problems they see.

3. Bridging Polarization to Find Common Ground.

As recently as 10 or 15 years ago, it seemed easier for two people with differing opinions and opposing views to discuss them with civility. Debate allowed discourse and encouraged understanding, even if people continued to disagree. Today, however, many people dwell in the echo chambers of their own views, a phenomenon that is reinforced by the algorithms behind social media. For some people, there is comfort in the echo chamber because they find it too triggering to be challenged by viewpoints that are radically opposed to what they believe.

That’s why it takes courage and intention, especially for leaders, to go beyond the boundaries of their own opinions and broaden their understanding of where others are coming from. As I tell my students, as well as executives, the key is developing a balanced perspective. After all, most issues get resolved not by proving others wrong, but by finding some sort of compromise on common ground.

4. Tuning Out Social Media and Tuning in to Self-Reflection.

It’s a hard and fast number for each of us: 168 hours available every week (that’s what 24 x 7 means). Therefore, we have to become more conscious of how we spend our time working, with family and friends, on health and recreation, on mindfulness and spirituality, and other priorities. The challenge, however, is the amount of distraction today, especially the dominance of social media.

The average American spends two and a half hours a day on social media, and for younger people it’s often twice that amount. I’m not suggesting avoiding all social media but rather limiting the time devoted to these platforms. We all need to turn off devices and spend time self-reflecting. It’s contemplating what is most important, why you believe in that importance and how you are living your life. The busier you are and the more pressures you face, the more crucial self-reflection becomes. Values will center your leadership, especially during times of worry, fear, anxiety, pressure and stress, which are becoming more frequent these days.

5. Raising the Stakes on Communication to Control Chaos.

As I tell my MBA students, change plus effective communication leads to success. Without effective communication, change plus uncertainty results in chaos. That’s what raises the stakes for communicating clearly and frequently.

In fact, whenever I am asked to speak, whether to Kellogg students or groups of leaders, the most requested topic is communication. Today, it’s so easy to get caught up in the fast pace of change, the mounting uncertainties and the feeling of urgency. Leaders can convince themselves that with the right people in place, they don’t have to communicate that much; people will simply “get it.” That’s when we need to remind ourselves: values-based leadership is positively influencing others. This realization puts a premium on ensuring that people at all levels of an organization hear the message and understand what’s being conveyed.

6. Embracing Values to Build Trust.

The world has become a less trusting place, far more today compared to two decades ago. Research tells us that people have less trust in others, in government and institutions, and in technology such as AI. Adding to those feelings of mistrust are actions and behaviors that violate a sense of fairness, such as lying, bullying, name-calling and behaviors inconsistent with values such as sexual misconduct, including among some politicians and political candidates. The greed of the few, at the expense of the many, continues to erode people’s confidence in whether values even matter anymore. Despite some appearances to the contrary, values are paramount. They form the foundation on which we stand, which we’ll never compromise.

As I begin my 21st year of teaching MBA students, the world is a far different place than when I began. What hasn’t changed, however, is the importance of knowing and embracing our values. This is the enduring lesson that matters most.