FIFA World Cup host cities have nothing on Minneapolis. In keeping with our Minnesota-nice culture, we’ve proven our knack for creating big moments over and over again: two Super Bowls, Men's NCAA Final Four, Women's Final Four, Stifel Loppet Cup, U.S. Gymnastics Olympic Trials, Women's PGA Championship, Ryder Cup, and more. While these milestones were
My birthday fell on a Saturday this year. When Dan (my husband) asked me what I wanted to do, in practical Hillary style, I listed all the projects I had planned to power through before celebrating with our kids and grandkids that evening. If you know me, getting things done always makes me feel great,
Ideas that Demystify AI with a Mindset SHIFT
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Route 66 Rejuvenation Tour: 5 Unexpected Lessons in Leadership
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Is Your Business Ready for the AI Questions You Can’t Afford to Ignore?
(A preview of the April 21 Business Leaders Breakfast Forum.)
Here’s the honest truth: nobody has all the answers on AI. Not the technology vendors. Not the consultants. Not even the companies leading the adoption. But the leaders who are pulling ahead aren’t waiting until everything is figured out. They’re asking smarter questions, and they’re asking them now. There’s no debating it: Generative AI is
5 Recognition Trends that Strengthen Engagement 2026
5 Recognition Trends that Strengthen Engagement 2026 Relevance is an integral component of meaningful recognition, making it important to keep up with changing trends. Fresh from the 2026 Promotional Products Association International’s (PPAI) Expo, we bring you guidance about how to use the latest trends to enhance your engagement and recognition initiatives. After wandering through
Beyond ‘Looking Good’: The Strategic Case for Outsourcing Recognition
Beyond 'Looking Good': The Strategic Case for Outsourcing Recognition December was a doozy! It always is for the team at Hillary’s as we sprint to the end of the year’s most significant gift-giving time of year. But this year, we had several desperate callers who phoned a week before Christmas, seeking emergency assistance to deliver
A Bracelet for the Ages—The Beauty of a Meaningful Gift
A Bracelet for the Ages—The Beauty of a Meaningful Gift Have you ever been lucky enough to receive a gift that you truly treasure? The kind of gift that evokes intense, enduring emotion associated with a special event or a special relationship? That’s precisely the kind of recipient experience the best gifts deliver. Indulge me
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Ask “How Are You Doing? Like You Mean It (Key for Managing Change and Crises) “Checking in” is one of several strategies that presenter Mary Kelly advocated for managing uncertainty and mitigating the negative impact of volatility on workforce engagement, morale, and productivity, according to Mary Kelly’s October presentation at the Business Leaders Breakfast Forum.
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Donuts to Dollars—Food for Thought about Building a Successful Brand During my two hours in a line that taxed my feet as well as my patience, I marveled at how Peachy’s Baking Company created a brand that has state fair goers craving, salivating over, and enduring excruciating wait times for donuts. Last year we turned