The Complexity of Leadership

The 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center devastated this investment bank. We discuss our work in helping Sandler O’Neill & Partners’ remaining managing director, employees and families, recover from the trauma of losing 39% of their friends and colleagues. We present the challenges and successes of bringing together survivors, families, volunteers and new employees […]

Through a case study of a senior executive at a foreign bank, we look at the complex dynamics between leadership, teamwork and organizational culture, and how to help leaders navigate the challenges of a rapidly changing business landscape. We address the importance of understanding the psychological factors that drive individual and organizational behavior and decision-making; […]

Leaders must be able to identify and manage workplace stresses and anxieties, what we call “troubling, frightening bits” or TFBs, that originate from employees, work, organizational dysfunction, and external events. If unaddressed, TFBs can negatively impact an organization. “Psychological containment” is the ability to keep TFBs within limits, enabling teams to stay focused and aligned […]

In this executive leadership episode of EdTech Elevated, Lisa March, President and Founder of Partner in Publishing, interviews Leigh Newsome, Partner at Hoola Hoop and New York University adjunct professor. This episode focuses on scaling EdTech companies through navigating the complexities of technology leadership. Drawing from his experience as both a Silicon Valley engineering leader […]

As executive coaches to CEOs, C-suites and boards, we see a lot of approaches to the role of the CEO. Some are successful and many are not. So what does a CEO do? CEO Priorities and Key Responsibilities Let’s start with the most important things CEOs need to be thinking about: Emotional Intelligence (EI) A […]

Chief Technology Officers (CTOs) and Chief Product Officers (CPOs) navigate the complex intersection of technology, product strategy, people leadership and business objectives. At Hoola Hoop, we offer specialized executive coaching tailored to the unique challenges faced by these tech leaders. Let’s start by dispelling some common myths about CTO and CPO coaching. Common Myths About […]

Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) must navigate the complex relationships with their Board of Directors with acumen and dexterity. At Hoola Hoop, we provide executive coaching from former CEOs, C-suite executives and experienced Board members to help you successfully develop and manage your board. Let’s start by dispelling some common myths about board management. Common Myths […]

At Hoola Hoop, CEO coaching is considered part of the executive team’s development. CEOs do not operate alone, they engage and, in many ways, are dependent on the broader team. Team development focuses on the following: The bottom line, a stronger executive team cultivates strong leadership that inspires and motivates, improving employee engagement and guidance, […]

In mergers, acquisitions, and investment decisions, comprehensive product and tech due diligence is crucial for informed decision-making and risk mitigation. This strategic evaluation process examines critical areas including technical debt assessment, architectural decisions, R&D investment analysis, and team capabilities evaluation. Beyond surface-level code review, it provides deep insights into a company’s technological sustainability, product validation, […]

Running an effective board meeting is one of the CEO’s key responsibilities. When well-conducted, these meetings are informative, insightful, and impactful, benefiting the organization by harnessing the diverse experiences and perspectives of the board team. In reality, many CEOs find board meetings burdensome to prepare for—a duty to fulfill, an obstacle to overcome. This often […]

As a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) in today’s dynamic tech landscape, mastering the core responsibilities of technology leadership is crucial for organizational success. Through years of CTO coaching and technology leadership experience at Hoola Hoop, we’ve identified four fundamental pillars that determine a technology executive’s effectiveness and impact. Whether you’re a new CTO or a […]

Purpose, motivation, and resilience are essential for an organization to sustain success. These client case studies focus on what happens when an organization faces significant challenges due to trauma, M&A, market conditions, etc. All show a lack of clear purpose and confused organizational responses to change. We emphasize the importance of leadership in fostering a […]

Discover comprehensive insights into succession planning best practices through our analysis of 14 leading companies across multiple industries. This in-depth study examines the choices companies face when creating or improving their succession planning and management systems. It identifies several themes, including the role of human resources, the criteria for identifying high potential candidates, the relationship […]

Today’s performance management systems need a more effective approach that aligns with modern workforce requirements, emphasizing the importance of specific, in-the-moment feedback. One of today’s most valuable workplace assets is actionable, in-the-moment feedback, which is too often buried, lost or just not delivered in today’s ineffective performance management systems. Traditional performance management systems are out-of-sync […]

Role is a complex key component of all organizations. We offer a framework for defining the way one works-in-role: their specific assigned duties, part in the overall mission, unconscious function, and the way they understand and work within an organization’s systems of tasks and sentience.

The 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center devastated this investment bank. We discuss our work in helping Sandler O’Neill & Partners’ remaining managing director, employees and families, recover from the trauma of losing 39% of their friends and colleagues. We present the challenges and successes of bringing together survivors, families, volunteers and new employees […]

Through a case study of a senior executive at a foreign bank, we look at the complex dynamics between leadership, teamwork and organizational culture, and how to help leaders navigate the challenges of a rapidly changing business landscape. We address the importance of understanding the psychological factors that drive individual and organizational behavior and decision-making; […]

Leaders must be able to identify and manage workplace stresses and anxieties, what we call “troubling, frightening bits” or TFBs, that originate from employees, work, organizational dysfunction, and external events. If unaddressed, TFBs can negatively impact an organization. “Psychological containment” is the ability to keep TFBs within limits, enabling teams to stay focused and aligned […]