Luck is the number one factor for career success, said legendary executive search pioneer Egon Zehnder to a young Claudio Fernández-Aráoz early in his career. After four decades of placing leaders at the highest levels of global business, Claudio has come to agree. But luck, he argues, is only part of the story. The factor leaders can control, and the one that separates good organizations from great ones, is the quality of their people decisions.

Claudio is a top global expert on leadership and talent, family businesses, and personal growth, having personally conducted more than 20,000 leadership interviews. In this Tugboat Institute® talk, he draws on decades of experience and vivid real-world examples to explain why our brains are hardwired to make poor hiring choices, how to assess both competence and potential, and why making great people decisions is the most powerful driver of lasting organizational success, one that aligns naturally with the Evergreen® commitment to building companies that endure.

Listen and be inspired to raise the standard for how you find and develop the people who will carry your company forward.

Tugboat Institute® Member Kent Johnson is the CEO of Highlights for Children, a family-led legacy brand dedicated to building a more optimistic and empathetic world for children. After an early career in physics and medical diagnostics, Kent has spent the last 20 years leading a media business centered on human development.

In this Tugboat Institute talk, Kent explores how their commitment to Purpose acts as both an anchor during tragedy and an engine for innovation. He shares the history of Highlights—from its founding as a "dream child" to navigating a 1960 aeronautical disaster that claimed the lives of key leaders —and explains how the company evolved from a single magazine into a global, diversified organization. By refreshing their core mission to empower agile decision-making , Kent illustrates how a Purpose-driven culture enables a heritage brand to thrive in a subscription economy and forge impactful partnerships with tech giants.

Listen and be inspired to look beyond your product to your true Purpose and to build a culture of commitment that can withstand generational trauma and the constant evolution of our ever-changing digital world.

Jim Gilmore is the co-founder of Strategic Horizons LLP and the co-author of The Experience Economy and Look: A Toolkit for Making Better Decisions. As a pioneer in the study of consumer experiences and observational methods, Jim has spent decades helping organizations see the world—and their opportunities—more clearly.

In this Tugboat Institute® talk, Jim challenges the modern habit of screen-induced tunnel vision, arguing that true innovation begins with active, intentional observation of our immediate surroundings. He introduces his "Six Looking Glasses" framework—metaphorical tools ranging from binoculars to blindfolds—designed to help leaders sharpen their looking skills and overcome confirmation bias. He demonstrates how spotting a simple detail in the everyday environment can lead to transformative breakthroughs.

Listen and be inspired to reclaim the power of observation and master the art of looking as the essential first step toward strategic thinking and long-term Evergreen® success.