Writing & Media

Shayne Fitz-Coy writes and speaks about buying companies, operating businesses and developing people. This collection separates his authored work, expert-panel contributions and coverage by others.

His official biography connects the writing to his ownership and operating record.

Authored articles include essays on ownership, operating decisions and leadership, published on this site and in business publications.

Expert-panel contributions collect his comments in articles featuring multiple expert voices, with links to the complete publications.

Media and mentions collect coverage of his work and companies. Interviews and profiles provide more detailed coverage by others.

10 reasons market presence matters to today’s business leaders

IT STRENGTHENS CLIENT RELATIONSHIPS Executives need a strong market presence because clients buy from people, not companies. Owning a market is difficult, but owning a niche is easy.

11 ways introverted leaders can strengthen remote work relations

REDUCE INHIBITIONS WITH AWKWARD ICEBREAKERS OR ‘WORST PERFORMANCE’ CONTESTS. Learn from improv troops. To build authentic connections in remote teams, create intentionally awkward social situations.

14 ways brands are addressing and managing inflation in their industries

CUTTING INEFFICIENCIES Respond to inflation by eliminating inefficiencies instead of raising prices.

15 steps to achieving seamless cross-departmental communication

USE DISPOSABLE DOCUMENTATION. Workflows and documentation must evolve with team needs. Use disposable instead of permanent documentation that stakeholders challenge and rebuild.

17 best practices that help brands grow alongside their customers

STUDY THE CUSTOMERS WHO LEAVE. Listen carefully to the people who walk away. We studied our defectors, asking, “What made you downgrade?

17 ways global team leaders can balance consistency and regional autonomy

IDENTIFY WHAT MATTERS MOST IN EACH COUNTRY. As they teach in the Stanford MBA program, “Different countries are different.” Identify the five to seven things that matter, and let it rip on the rest.

18 Common Mistakes Companies Make When Managing Digital Transformation

Framing Digital Transformation As A Positive Change Don't frame digital transformation as a positive change.

19 leadership principles to strengthen lasting client relationships

NOT FEARING THE HARD TRUTHS Tell uncomfortable truths. When a client wanted a project 30% faster, my team wanted to say “yes” while knowing we couldn’t do it.

19 methods for leading organizational change with minimal disruption

HONOR THE PAST BEFORE MOVING FORWARD WITH CHANGE. Start with the ending of the last thing, not the beginning of the new thing.

19 Ways To Measure The ROI Of Your AI Initiatives

Track The Gap between Hypothesis And Results Keep it as simple as a fourth-grade science fair. Instead of vague "innovation" metrics, measure AI ROI by tracking the gap between hypothesis and results.