David Lidsky's Blog, page 19

Comcast promotes Michael Cavanagh to co-CEO amid restructuring

The company’s president and former finance chief will start in January, serving alongside Brian Roberts.

Comcast said on Monday it will appoint president Michael Cavanagh as co-CEO, adopting a dual chief executive model as the company prepares to spin off several NBCUniversal cable networks as part of a restructuring.

Cannabis-based drug reduces back pain in a large study

It’s the latest evidence of the therapeutic properties of cannabis, which remains illegal under U.S. federal law.

An experimental medication made from marijuana successfully reduced back pain in a new study, offering further support for the drug’s potential in treating one of the most common forms of chronic pain.

CSX ousts CEO after investor pressure and poor performance

The freight railroad company has been under pressure from Ancora and other investors since Union Pacific announced its $85 billion deal to acquire Norfolk Southern.

CSX railroad announced Monday that it had replaced its CEO less than two months after an investment fund urged it to either find another railroad to merge with to better compete with the proposed transcontinental Union Pacific railroad or fire outgoing CEO Joe Hinrichs.

Lufthansa layoffs: Airline is the latest to cite an AI push as it cuts 4,000 jobs

The announcement follows blowback against companies like Klarna and Duolingo for their AI-forward strategies.

Lufthansa announced on Monday that it plans to cut thousands of workers as it aims to increase profitability and efficiency, in part by relying more heavily on artificial intelligence.

Electronic Arts signs $55-billion deal with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and others to go private. Analysts say it’s worth more

‘While the $210 per share take-out price represents a substantial premium to EA’s unaffected trading levels, we continue to believe the transaction undervalues EA’s long-term earnings power,’ an equity research analyst says.

Electronic Arts has announced plans to go private in what will be the largest leveraged buyout in history. The $55 billion purchase of the entertainment giant behind franchises such as Madden NFL and Battlefield is set to close in the first quarter of fiscal year 2027.

A founder’s guide to hiring in the AI talent wars

Not every startup needs $10M PhDs. What you have to offer that Big Tech may not, and how to use it to maximum advantage.

As AI talent salaries soar into the stratosphere—with new graduates commanding $200K+ and Meta dishing out $100M+ compensation packages—many early-stage founders are wondering: How can you build a frontier technology company when single individuals are getting paid well more than the average Series A total financing?

How to command the stage

A financial services executive and two-time author walks through his tips for being an effective public speaker.

The room is silent. All eyes are on you. Your heart races, but as you take a deep breath, confidence replaces the nerves. You begin to speak, not just to inform, but to captivate. Public speaking isn’t an innate talent; it’s a skill that can be mastered. With the right techniques, anyone can transform into a compelling speaker. Research shows that 77% of people experience anxiety around public speaking, yet confidence and clarity can be learned.

OpenAI’s first major brand campaign wants to win your heart and mind

AI companies are in an arms race for users. OpenAI CMO Kate Rouch tells ‘Fast Company’ how she plans to win them over.

A young couple is casually hanging out in an apartment. The girl takes a fork full of food off a plate, as the young man asks, “Good?” She nods, furrowing her brow in a way that signals slight surprise that she’s impressed. “Really good.”

How upstart brands like Hoka and On can tackle giants like Nike

A playbook for small and scrappy success.

When Iga Światek breezed to victory in this year’s Wimbledon women’s final, little mention was made of the head-to-toe On kit she was wearing. The reaction was testament to the “softly, softly” approach used by On these last few years—but the victory and subsequent exposure cemented its place among the fastest-growing challengers in a category long dominated by household names like Nike, Adidas, and Puma.

What to know about leucovorin, the drug the Trump administration says can treat autism

The administration’s guidance is lacking in scientific evidence.

The US government has announced controversial guidance on the prevention and treatment of autism in children.