That is the question few of us ponder, but business leaders sometimes face in an increasing complex talent retention environment. We sometimes hear about it in entertainment and sports, but is it right for your team?

The OpenIDEO BridgeBuilder Challenge was recently announced, offering a share of $1 million in funding for "solutions addressing urgent global challenges at the intersection of peace, prosperity, and planet in radically new ways." Startup competitions, hackathons, and competitions such as BridgeBuilder spur action and provide critical feedback as you refine your ideas. Successful ideas rarely get things right the first time… questions and input from diverse stakeholders helps stress-test your ideas and make them better. Plus, based on networking and relationship-building with attendees, you might even attract funding outside of the official prizes! 

We often get asked by clients what factors most impact getting into business school. It’s an important question, particularly when you consider how you can improve your MBA applicant profile. Examples of leadership, particularly in the community where candidates could have a broad impact, can have a significant impact on whether you get into top-choice schools.  

US News and World Report recently released a summary of the business school programs receiving the highest number of applicants in 2015. All of the names are well-known schools, and great programs. The numbers cited by their reporting are particularly helpful as you think about your own applications for next year. The thousands of applicants are already self-selecting themselves into an applicant pool with above-average academic, work, and extracurricular credentials. What will make you different?

As we approach a new era in American (and likely global) politics, we have heard from dozens of clients over the past few months. Some are excited, such as those working to reinvigorate American manufacturing. Others are fearful, such as tech workers on H1B visas facing the prospect of moving to new countries in order to retain their career tracks, or executives with children who have pre-existing medical conditions. Yet the common thread between conversations is acknowledging the uncertainty ahead. While it is easy to become defensive in the face of such uncertainty, change invites opportunity. Will you be ready?