Halfway Through 2025: KPIs, Roller Coasters, and the Power of Cycles

I have been attending different conferences, meetings, and interactions in the first six months of this year, mostly focusing on learning more about the history of women, the current situation of women, helping women get on more corporate boards, and working on a corporate board myself. And yes, working, paying bills, trying to take care of everything like everyone else while the world outside remains very uncertain.

Looking Forward: The Q3 and Q4 Reality Check

As I look forward to the next half of 2025, I am thinking about what Q3 and Q4 will bring. These are always exciting times for corporations because you're looking at year-end and asking the tough questions: Are you going to hit your milestones and KPIs? If not, how are you going to adjust? What kinds of shifts can you make to get there?

The critical question becomes: What's necessary? Is it external and out of your control, or is it internal and something that can be controlled? Do you have the people to do that? The finances? The technology? These are the common reviews for most corporations during this time.

A Case Study Worth Studying

I read an interesting article that was sent to me about 23andMe and what happened with their board of directors. It's quite the case study of a company, I highly recommend you take a peek at it --- Bankruptcy Was Good for 23andMe - Bloomberg. These real-world examples of board dynamics are invaluable learning opportunities, whether you're currently serving on a board or preparing to join one.

The Roller Coaster Principle

One thing I know for certain is you can always count on change and that there are cycles. Sometimes you're in the up cycle and things are going really well. Sometimes you're in the down cycle and things don't look so great. But here's the key: you can make changes and adjust. Be flexible. Be smart. Find the right people, the right talent to help bring whatever is down back up again.

And it does come back up.

I think that's the most encouraging thing, it's a roller coaster ride. When you pull up at the end of that ride and you're sitting in that seat, the smile on your face is usually, "Whoo! We got through that one." It was really fun, or it was really grinding, but we made it. We can get out and ride again. Go get another ticket and get back in line.

Balancing Summer and Strategy

I hope you are all having a great summer, enjoying every piece of it with your families and friends, and getting out in nature as much as possible. 

The beauty of this time of year is that we can simultaneously embrace the slower pace of summer while keeping our eye on the strategic goals that will define our year's success. Whether you are in the boardroom or at the beach, the principles remain the same: assess where you are, adjust where needed, and remember that every cycle, up or down, is temporary.

What cycles are you navigating in your professional life right now? How are you balancing summer rest with strategic planning?