10 executives shared their 2026 AI predictions with us

Tech Insider : Business, Economy, Technology
Joe Depa, Aruna Ravichandran and Marc Cuban
EY global chief innovation officer, Joe Depa; Cisco SVP & CMO, AI, Networking & Collaboration, Aruna Ravichandran; and billionaire Mark Cuban (left to right).

EY/Cisco/John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images

I interviewed 80 executives in 2025. Here are 3 takeaways I learned from the people at the top.

Tech Insider : Business
Man looking outside window
Many leaders I spoke with took non-traditional paths to their current jobs.

gradyreese/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Companies are slashing middle management. Jamba Juice's former CEO says it is crucial for success.

Tech Insider : Business, Technology
Illuminated circular Jamba Juice sign inside shopping mall, San Francisco, California, August 19, 2025.
Jamba Juice's former CEO said middle management is important for maintaining company culture.

Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images

Retail's next wave of leaders: 9 incoming CEOs taking over at Walmart, Target, and more in 2026

Tech Insider : Business
Incoming Walmart CEO John Furner with outgoing CEO Doug McMillon.
Walmart CEO Doug McMillon (R) is handing over the top job to John Furner in the new year.

Walmart

I'm a CEO who called my 600-plus employees — and found out what we were getting wrong

Tech Insider : Business, Economy
Nicholas Svensson
Nicholas Svensson, CEO of Smart Technologies

Courtesy of Smart Technologies

I went from consulting to being the CEO of Pittsburgh's airport. Here's what passengers don't see.

Tech Insider : Travel, Business
Christina Cassotis standing near a baggage conveyor.
Christina Cassotis worked in consulting for years before becoming an airport CEO.

Laura Petrilla courtesy of Pittsburgh International Airport

Duolingo gives staff 2 weeks off over the holidays — and the CEO says it pays off

Tech Insider : Business, Travel
Luis von Ahn, cofounder of Duolingo, at the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, on July 10, 2025.
Duolingo shuts down for two weeks every winter, and its CEO says the cost is worth it for real rest.

Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

From paperboy to vacuum salesman, the unglamorous early jobs of 15 CEOs

Tech Insider : Business, Style
Jensen Huang, Jeff Bezos, Mary Barra
Jensen Huang, Jeff Bezos, and Mary Barra all started far from the top.

Getty Images

5 big changes Nike CEO Elliott Hill is making to turn around the struggling sportswear giant

Tech Insider : Business, Sports, Technology
Nike CEO Elliott Hill
Elliott Hill became Nike's CEO in October 2024.

Tom Hauck/Getty Images

I'm the cofounder of a caviar brand created with Aaron Paul. I run on 5 hours of sleep and don't take meetings on Fridays.

Tech Insider : Business, Travel
Diego Sabino of The Only Caviar.
Diego Sabino of The Only Caviar.

The Only Caviar

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