Discover articles, blog posts, white papers, and insights from the team at Pepper Foster. Our team of experts, thought leaders, and industry professionals share their insights and opinions on everything from the latest trends in technology and business to personal growth and development.
Blog Post
The S&P 500 has seen a surge in average annual returns, rising from around 6% in the 1960’s and 1970’s to over 20% recently. Yet, the average lifespan of companies listed on the S&P 500 has plummeted, from 67 years to just 15 years or less. This paradox raises a critical question: Is being in the S&P 500 bad for business?
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As organizations increasingly turn to Artificial Intelligence (AI) to revolutionize their operations, the journey from conceptualization to implementation presents challenges reminiscent of past technological adoptions, such as ERP systems and cloud deployments. The parallels are striking, offering valuable lessons for businesses navigating the AI landscape.
Read more ⟶White Paper
The days of treating change management as unnecessary or a luxury are thankfully in the past. Most organizations now accept effective change management as essential to maintain business relevancy, achieve enterprise-wide transformation, and realize value. However, many organizations are still stifling their change management teams and making the value realization of transformations more elusive.
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The late 1990s were marked by a frenzied surge of investments in dot-com companies, driven by the promise of the internet revolutionizing business and personal life. And then came the crash. Today, AI is experiencing a surge of interest and investment reminiscent of the dot-com boom. So, will its growth parallel the dot-com boom and bust or the cloud's more steady ascent? And when should companies invest in developing their AI future?
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The US healthcare system is facing a dual crisis: a growing shortage of healthcare professionals and increasing financial pressures from Medicare reimbursements. These issues are intertwined, creating significant challenges but also opportunities for those who can navigate them effectively.
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The term "white-collar recession" has started to surface in 2024 as several high-profile companies announce significant white-collar layoffs. But what does this mean? How does it contrast with the employment trends seen among blue-collar workers? What are the root causes? And, should we be worried?
Read more ⟶White Paper
The world of Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) has experienced a flexuous journey in recent years. The COVID recovery, changing financial climate, and now Artificial Intelligence (AI) have all shaped the future of deal-making. In this white paper, we explore the nuanced reality of AI for M&A in 2024, dissecting both the hype and substance surrounding its integration into the M&A process. Drawing on historical evidence and industry insights, we strive to provide a holistic analysis of the current state of AI in M&A and articulate the conditions under which it can evolve to provide real value.
Read more ⟶Press
A great article in the Minneapolis Star Tribune about the return of companies to downtown Minneapolis that includes coverage of Pepper Foster's recent move to a bigger office in downtown and includes some great quotes and photos of our people and space including Todd Dale, Nathan Caskey, & Jamie Kissell.
Read more ⟶White Paper
In late March 2024, Pepper Foster Consulting surveyed 115 US-based C-level and senior executives at companies with over 5,000 employees. All of those surveyed had visibility to and knowledge of their organization’s plans for M&A. The survey covered growth pressure, current M&A activity, key drivers, M&A focus, and deal size.
Read more ⟶-Client NPS Survey
Success Story
How we used our StratX™ Framework, a rich and comprehensive proven set of methods, practices, templates, and tools that ensure a clear, executable strategic vision is developed and realized, to develop a global operations strategy that helped capitalize on growth opportunities for the next 10-15 years. The plan specifically focused on how best to bring to market new product introductions as quickly as possible and how to transition from genetic development to large-scale regional commercial production.
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How Pepper Foster helped our client's innovation team align enterprise privacy, security, and governance so they could use newly emerging machine learning and AI technologies to discover new insights and opportunities from the data it has been collecting for over 40 years.
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How Pepper Foster helped a client with a dominant position in a market undergoing rapid expansion, yet also displaying clear signs of maturation, develop a diversification strategy. A strategy that enabled them to align the executive leadership team and execute a more focused and targeted diversification strategy that allocated resources more effectively, prioritizing areas with the highest potential for success and ensuring optimal resource utilization.
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An experienced DEI Strategist and Inclusion Coach approached Pepper Foster Consulting seeking support for scaling her firm’s impact. Her expertise is helping impact-oriented, heart-centered, and high-integrity executives who understand the importance of systemizing belonging and inclusion but don't know how to go about achieving it. She recognized the need for expertise in optimizing operations and accelerating growth.
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For 35 years, cycling events, rural economic development, and grants were the mainstay for Cycle Oregon. After establishing a Foundation to build stronger, safer, healthier, and more vibrant communities enabled by cycling, Cycle Oregon reached out to Pepper Foster to help it develop its first strategic plan, define success metrics, and narrow their focus to minimize resource impacts on the broader organization.
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In a dynamic collaboration with the management of a major and minor league sports franchise, Pepper Foster embarked on a transformative project that not only fortified the client's foundation but also paved the way for other opportunities of growth. Our mission: to establish their minor league team in the local community and amplify the major league team’s international presence and influence.
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