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SG Voices
Access expert insights and industry trends through articles from our trusted thought leaders. Stay informed with practical guidance, ideas, and strategies relevant to your business needs.
Tariffs Ruled Unlawful but Still in Force: 5 Things You Should Do Now
The recent decision by the U.S. Court of International Trade declaring certain Trump-era tariffs unlawful has wide-reaching implications—not only for legal departments, but for finance and operations leaders across various industries. For businesses that rely...
How fuel retailers can win the uncommitted customer
Make sense of evolving behavior at your stations to form habits that last, turning infrequent customers into your customers. Fuel retailers work hard to attract new customers — but what happens after those first few...
How to Hire a Great Credit Manager: Key Personality Traits and Retention Tips
The petroleum company credit department is a critically important area that can be tough to staff correctly. This department is a high customer touch area and affects desired company growth while also performing risk management....
Beyond Spreadsheets: From Copy-Paste to Connected
Spreadsheets are amazing. They’re flexible, familiar, and can handle almost any kind of data you throw at them. They’ve been the backbone of business operations for decades, and for good reason—they work. However, if you’re...
C-Store Self-Checkout: Your Guide to a Smarter Checkout
In the world of convenience, speed is king. Your customers are in a hurry, and the last thing they want is to get stuck in a checkout line. This isn’t just an annoyance anymore; it’s...
Your Store Is Talking. Are You Listening?
Why Now Is the Time to Prepare Your Business for the AI Wave A Quiet Wake-Up Call Last month, a customer walked into a mid-sized convenience store in Idaho. The line was short, the cashier...
SG Insights
SG Insights are monthly articles written by Study Groups’ thought leaders on industry trends, ideas, and strategies.
Rethinking Remote: A Smarter Path Forward for Executive Leadership
The pandemic forced many businesses into remote work overnight. For some, the results were mixed: productivity dipped, collaboration felt strained, and the model was quickly dismissed as unsustainable. But what if the problem wasn’t remote...
Making the Shift from Doing to Leading
A timely reminder that great leadership often starts with letting go of the urgent to focus on the essential. Most leaders don’t begin as leaders. They begin as doers—problem-solvers, builders, operators. The kind of people...
The Two Types of Leadership Energy
Leadership is often seen as bold, loud, and forward-facing. The commanding voice in the boardroom. The driving force behind the vision. The cheerleader at the front of the room rallying the team toward the next...
Empowering Your Workforce: The Key to Employee Engagement
As leaders of people-powered companies, empowering employees to reach their full potential is essential. The focus on employee engagement has grown significantly in recent years, with studies showing that investment in employees leads to increased...
Study Groups Celebrates Its 40th Anniversary
By David M. Nelson Flashback: It’s June 19, 1985. I’m in a bit of a panic. The reports aren’t right. Tomorrow will be the very first Study Groups meeting. As we’re leaving Bellingham to drive...
Choosing the Right Business Group: Local Business Leader Peer Group vs. National Industry-Specific Financial Benchmarking Group
When seeking professional development and networking opportunities, business leaders often consider joining various business groups. Two popular options are local business leader peer groups and national industry-specific financial benchmarking groups. While both offer valuable resources,...
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