CEO Leadership Insights - July 2026
- Scott Thurber
- Jul 23
- 3 min read
“I never allow myself to have an opinion on anything that I don’t know the other side’s argument better than they do."
Charlie Munger
AI's Next Use Case
The CEOs generating real value aren’t just sponsoring AI projects; they’re using AI themselves to expand their time, sharpen their judgment, and challenge their assumptions.
A short article from the Boston Consulting Group highlights a shift from generic tools to customized agentic systems built around a leader’s decision patterns and strategic context.
But BCG also warns that AI can mislead even the best leaders through false fluency, overconfidence, groupthink, and cognitive overload. Their five‑question checklist is a practical way for CEOs to ensure AI is amplifying their leadership rather than narrowing it.
AI won’t replace CEOs — but CEOs who learn to use AI as a thinking partner will out‑decide those who don’t. AI for CEOs: Amplifying Time and Judgment at the Top | BCG
Claude and Human Thinking
One of the more intriguing things people say is how no one really knows how AI works. This past week, leading AI company Anthropic posted a video and article that summarize research that AI Is Learning to Think in a More Human Way… and how it does so.
Anthropic’s latest research shows that advanced AI models like Claude have developed a small internal “workspace”, called the J-Space; a kind of mental whiteboard where ideas form before the model speaks. This wasn’t programmed; it emerged naturally during training.
Why it matters: this workspace lets researchers see what the model is thinking but not saying — whether it’s noticing an error, planning a multi‑step solution, or even recognizing when it’s being tested. That transparency is a breakthrough for safety, trust, and accountability in AI systems.
For non‑technical readers, the takeaway is simple: AI is beginning to organize its thoughts in structured, human‑like ways. It doesn’t mean that Claude is sentient, but it’s internal organization, or workspace, was created spontaneously and not intentionally by human.
Claude developed a structured internal workspace on its own — and that gives humans a new way to understand, inspect, and guide AI reasoning. THIS IS IMPORTANT. To learn more, go to the article on the Anthropic site “A global workspace in language models”. At the beginning of the post, check out the 5 min 37 second summary video “The Different Levels of How Claude Thinks” for a non-technical overview. Highly recommended.
Special Thanks to Vistage Speaker of the Year Dave Nelsen for sharing this article.
M&A Market Trends
Many owners small to mid-size companies have one eye on today and the other on tomorrow: especially in terms of an exit.
Vistage Strategy Speaker Marc Emmer says “It is the best of times and worst of times for mergers and acquisitions…..According to Pitchbook, Q1 of 2026 Private Equity sponsors closed roughly 5,100 deals worth nearly $482 billion, the strongest start to a year since 2021. However, the size premium has ballooned, with larger private companies commanding the lion’s share of deal value and higher valuations.”
Mr. Emmer’s post M&A Trends for 2026 and Beyond should be read by sellers and buyers.
Econ Recon:
It’s often said that success in real estate comes down to “location, location, location.” Location matters for other decisions other than just real estate.
ITR Economics’ Taylor St. Germain and other ITR Economics staffers offer a series of short videos that may help you decide where to expand your business….and perhaps where (and when) to pull up stakes for greener pastures.
Mr. St. Germain and team also look ahead to ITR’s long standing prediction of another Great Depression in a few years and the implications for the “location, location, location” of your company.
Check out these five short videos before you decide where to go next.
A Note from Scott: |
Friends, As you navigate these uncertain times, who are you turning to for advice? Why not ask successful, growth-minded CEOs and senior executives what they've tried? What has worked, and what hasn't worked for them? My CEO peer advisory group provides a confidential forum where 18 high-performing, non-competing business owners share their experience, identify blind spots, and hold each other accountable. As a result, members grow faster, are more profitable, and have less stress. Contact me if you are interested in exploring membership in our group. Typical members are growth-minded CEOs/business owners in southeastern New England with revenues between $10 million and $200 million. Don't go it alone. Don't suffer from being 'lonely at the top'. Contact me to see if you'd like to explore if you're a fit with this group. Warm regards, Scott |
