Growth Insights for CEOs

The AI Training Economy: The Human Expertise Behind the Agent Revolution
The challenge of training AI models on human expertise is not new.What is new is that three college dropouts just built a $10 billion business by productizing that exact problem at scale.
Executive Takeaways
- The AI training economy is already here — and a $10 billion startup is proof.
- You can't have capable AI agents without well-trained models. Human expertise isn't being replaced; it's being harvested.
- Fast followers still have a window, but waiting another 18 months may mean competing on scale alone, not quality.
- Most organizations are underestimating the speed of this workforce transformation. The time to build AI fluency is now.
Recent Posts

How to Allocate Your Marketing Spend for Maximum Effect
Tue, Dec 19, 2023 — Article 6 of the 7-part series: Accelerating Growth In 2024 with Strategic Business Planning By: Scott Wright and Jack Bowen In a marketplace that's more competitive than ever, optimizing your marketing spend isn't just a best practice—it's a necessity for survival and accelerated growth. With shrinking resources and an ever-more diverse array of marketing platforms upon which to reach the customer, shooting arrows in the dark is no longer a viable marketing strategy.

What’s the #1 Job that Marketing Needs to Do for Your Business?
Wed, Dec 13, 2023 — I joined a group of colleagues recently to brainstorm a request from one person’s client: “Develop a catchy, differentiating idea that hooks prospects.”

Why CPG Companies Will Have to Innovate or...
Wed, Nov 29, 2023 — Challenger brands have nearly doubled the innovation success rate vs. leading brands By: Mike Concannon and Evan Eckman Which business author is famous for the quote “innovate or die”? Peter Drucker, Tom Peters, or Dr. Jack Matson? Answer: All of the above. It was a fundamental business principle for the past century. So why has the collective wisdom of these contemporary business authors seemingly been forgotten by the big CPG companies this century?
Stay up-to-date with the latest from Chief Outsiders

Bridging the Gap Between CEOs and Marketing Leaders
Tue, Nov 21, 2023 — Recent research from McKinsey & Company reveals a concerning trend - while 90% of CEOs believe their marketing leaders’ roles are well-defined, only 22% of marketing leaders agree. This staggering discrepancy highlights a growing divide in how marketing leadership roles are perceived and utilized in organizations today. This insight was brought to light in a recent article from the Wall Street Journal, “Divide Between CEOs and CMOs is Widening…”

5 Things You Should Know Before Spending on Marketing Execution
Thu, Nov 9, 2023 — Article 5 of the 7-part series: Accelerating Growth In 2024 with Strategic Business Planning By: Scott Wright and Jack Bowen If you have been under pressure to tighten your marketing budget this year, you’re not alone. According to a survey, B2B companies' marketing spending in 2023 increased by only 2.3%. This growth rate is lower than the 3.7% inflation rate, impacting businesses and individuals.

7 KPIs That Should be in Your 2024 Growth Plan
Fri, Nov 3, 2023 — Article 4 of the 7-part series: Accelerating Growth In 2024 with Strategic Business Planning By: Scott Wright and Jack Bowen For modern-day businesses, establishing measures is not just a good idea – it’s a downright necessity. In fact, a poll of executive leaders found a nearly unanimous agreement that key performance indicators (KPIs) are essential to gauge the pulse of broad business goals.

How to Establish a Strategic 2024 Growth Plan and Justify Your Marketing Budget
Wed, Oct 25, 2023 — Article 3 of the 7-part series: Accelerating Growth In 2024 with Strategic Business Planning By: Scott Wright and Jack Bowen In an era characterized by rapid technological shifts, changing consumer behavior, and a volatile global economic landscape, successful businesses are those that look ahead, anticipate challenges, and seize opportunities. But when it comes to developing your own business growth strategy, are you prepared for all that 2024 will throw at your company? Or are you content on a “lather, rinse, repeat” approach to strategic business development?

The Art of Value-Based Selling: Boosting Your Bottom Line
Tue, Oct 24, 2023 — Attention, bargain shoppers! In the realm of business-to-business (B2B) sales, blue lights, doorbusters, Black Friday sales, or penny pinchers don’t apply. That said, in our ever-evolving battleground, the age-old theory that "everyone buys a bargain" still holds.

Analyze Your Current Customers to Supercharge Your 2024 Annual Business Planning
Thu, Oct 19, 2023 — Article 2 of the 7-part series: Accelerating Growth In 2024 with Strategic Business Planning By: Scott Wright and Jack Bowen When we ask our clients why customers buy from them, much of the time, they either don’t know, or are completely off-base about the reason. In an uber-competitive marketplace and with so much at stake, this inability to define why people should buy your product or service can be a fatal misstep.