The Board Report
Join Us Live: “Chief Influencer Live with President Granberg” on November 18, 2025
Join us for a special Chief Influencer Live podcast recording with Ellen M. Granberg, President of The George Washington University.
The event will be held on the GW campus in Foggy Bottom.
Tuesday, November 18, 2025 | 5:00–7:00 PM | Washington, DC
Limited complimentary seats available with code: TCBGUEST (already applied in registration link below)
Industry Highlights
CEO scandals hurt reputation more than fraud
New research finds that personal misconduct scandals cause deeper long-term brand damage for CEOs and their firms than financial fraud does. The reason: stakeholders view personal failings as a breach of trust rather than a business misstep.
In Practice: When managing executive crises, prioritize ethical framing and transparency since personal behavior narratives spread faster and stick longer.
AI-written CEO messages risk losing trust
AI tools promise efficiency, but research warns that using them for CEO communication can undermine authenticity and emotional intelligence. This is especially true in moments of crisis.
In Practice: Use generative AI to assist, not replace, your voice. Leaders should edit or personalize all messages before sending.
Direct mail is making a comeback
Amid digital fatigue, direct mail is outperforming email for engagement and brand recall. Research shows it performs especially well in integrated campaigns.
In Practice: Combine tactile and digital touchpoints for measurable lift in B2B and B2C marketing.
How CEOs become social media stars
Research maps how CEOs build influence online through authentic tone, consistent posting, and audience engagement rather than follower count.
In Practice: Executive visibility strategies should focus on storytelling and responsiveness (not just presence).
AI “workslop” is crushing productivity
A new study labels poorly supervised AI-generated content as “workslop”—a rising threat to productivity and brand quality.
In Practice: Integrate AI governance frameworks. Define human review checkpoints before publication.
Thank you for reading this month’s The Board Report. Forward to a colleague, share feedback, and stay tuned for December’s research roundup.
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