Given recent news headlines, one could be forgiven for thinking that corporate America’s honeymoon with Donald Trump was over. Of course, not all CEOs are clashing with the president; one has just showered him with praise, despite public controversy still swirling over his immigration ban.
Like many CEOs, Under Armour’s Kevin Plank supports Trump’s plans to reduce taxes and regulation, which he says make the president “a real asset for the country”. Plank, however, also was prepared to comment on some of the president’s more controversial policy ideas, such as erecting a wall between the U.S. and Mexico.
“He wants to build things, he wants to make bold decisions and be really decisive,” he told CNBC in an interview. “I’m a big fan of people that operate in the world of ‘publish and iterate’ versus think, think, think, think, think.”
The nature and timing of Plank’s comments are significant because they come as hundreds of CEOs this week condemned Trump’s decision—made with very little warning—to prevent people from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S.
“I just wished and hoped that we could do it all a little more thoughtfully,” United Continental CEO Oscar Munoz said of the travel ban. Munoz, who is Mexican-American, also criticized the border wall, on both moral and practical grounds. “I don’t know how you are actually going to build any kind of barrier that makes sense across such an incredible length. I don’t know how it’s going to help,” he said.
Tech-sector CEOs in particular have supported legal action against the ban; though, like Munoz, leaders from many other industries have criticized it, too. The executive order, currently held up by the courts, prompted Uber CEO Travis Kalanick to quit Trump’s economy advisory council after the ride-sharing app was targeted ferociously on social media.
Plank’s praise for Trump suggests he definitely won’t be giving up his seat on the president’s manufacturing council, despite Under Armour also encountering some customer blow back. “Bought my last pair of @UnderArmour running pants. Shame, they were good quality,” one customer wrote on Twitter after news of Plank’s interview responses spread.
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1:00 - 5:00 pm
Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns. They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning. Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process. This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented. If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form. The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.
