Opinion

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On Leadership: Connecting in the hybrid age – Best practices for leader communication

Earlier in my career, before the pandemic, I worked for a national financial services company with geographically dispersed colleagues. I rarely saw many of my co-workers in person, a fact that initially concerned me. However, …

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The Elbert Files: Riverfront Plans?

Author’s note: This is my final column for the Des Moines Business Record, which has carried my musings since 2012. Beginning next month, the Elbert Files will have a new home at a sister publication,  …

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The Elbert Files: Famous Iowa writers and fictional characters

Recent columns about famous Iowans generated several additional names, including John Wayne, born in Winterset; Gary Cooper, who attended Grinnell College; and the Everly Brothers, who launched their singing careers from Shenandoah.

Other suggestions led …

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On Leadership: Thriving in the age of disruption

Back in my MBA days, the concept of “disruption” wasn’t exactly a household term. Our professor Clayton Christensen’s groundbreaking work, “The Innovator’s Dilemma,” which addressed disruption, was still a few years away. Technology, while exciting, …

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The Elbert Files: Left-brain success stories

Editor’s note: This is the second in a two-part series about famous Iowans. Read part one on businessrecord.com. 

I wrote last week that most “famous Iowans” had to leave the state to get noticed. This …

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The Elbert Files: Famous former Iowans

Editor’s note: This is the first in a two-part series about famous Iowans. Read part two in the Jan. 24 edition of the of the Business Record.

More Iowans have found fame by leaving than …

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The Elbert Files: Assisted dying

This may not be the best time to bring up the subject of assisted dying, given the recent success of the anti-abortion movement in Iowa and other parts of the country. But the concept is …

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On Leadership: The future is human: Why soft skills will rule the workplace in 2025

Last year, like many of you, I found myself captivated by the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence. Let’s be honest: The technology is undeniably impressive, churning out data, drafting emails, and even composing passable poetry …

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The Elbert Files: Iowa’s new No. 2


Deborah Butterfield’s sculptures “Ancient Forest” in the foreground and “Juno” in the background. Photo by Dave Elbert

My friend K.C. was admiring Deborah Butterfield’s two spectral horses in the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park.…

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The Elbert Files: Santa and the Iowa Poll

Santa Claus will miss the Iowa Poll.

While it may be premature to write off the 81-year-old Iowa Poll, its future is clearly in doubt.

Poll director Ann Selzer announced she is stepping back from …