2.18.24

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A MESSAGE FROM ASSOCIATE EDITOR MIKE MILLER

Good morning, and welcome to the BizSTL Leadership newsletter’s inaugural edition. For decades, St. Louis Magazine has connected St. Louisans with the people and places who make the metro area great. Now, we’re shining a light on the business community and those working to grow the region. We’ll provide exclusive insights from local leaders and entrepreneurs, from startups to St. Louis’ most storied institutions. And in the coming weeks, we’ll take our conversations beyond your inbox with the launch of The BizSTL Podcast. (More on that soon. In the meantime, be sure to check out our other podcasts.) This week, Stifel CEO Ron Kruszewski shares his thoughts about the importance of EQ, trends in the financial sector, and the future of downtown St. Louis. FOCUS St. Louis president and CEO Yemi Akande-Bartsch also offers insights into what makes an effective leader. And we take an in-depth look at the innovation ecosystem in St. Louis, including how key sectors and startup hubs are working together to build a brighter future.

Have feedback about this newsletter or story ideas for future editions? Please don’t hesitate to drop me a line. Until next time, have a great week!

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SPOTLIGHT

A look at the St. Louis innovation ecosystem

“Each innovation center, in and of itself, is incredibly impactful,” says Kory Mathews, CEO/executive director of the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Center, “but what excites me the most is the collaboration or partnerships among the innovation centers, creating an entire ecosystem that will continue to transform our region.”
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DEEP DIVE

A conversation with Stifel CEO Ron Kruszewski

In nearly 27 years at the helm of Stifel, Kruszewski has turned a company of approximately 700 associates generating $100 million in revenue into a massive firm of roughly 10,000 associates producing nearly $5 billion in revenue. “To grow a company,” Kruszewski says, “you need to lead by letting people be the best they can be.”

Read More »

A MESSAGE FROM THE ST. LOUIS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Lift Every Voice: A Black History Month celebration

LEADING INSIGHTS

FOCUS St. Louis’ Yemi Akande-Bartsch on how to become an effective leader

Akande-Bartsch starts each day with a simple note to self: Everything is solvable. Sometimes, she may not even know the specific issue that she’ll be tasked with solving that particular day. But that brief, level-setting reminder sets the tone for the kinds of days that she wishes to have. “It has not failed me yet,” says Akande-Bartsch, president and CEO of FOCUS St. Louis.

Read More »

BRANDED CONTENT

Royal Banks of Missouri continues to nurture St. Louis neighborhoods

“As a community bank, our mission is to foster opportunities in our home markets,” says Royal Banks of Missouri president/CEO Mitch Baden. Learn how the bank is actively investing in the community through partnerships with local nonprofits.

Mark Your Calendar

FEBRUARY 21

Headshot Happy Hour at Rockwell Beer

Sure, you can do a lot with a phone camera these days. But the difference between a professional headshot and one taken by a friend is striking. Headshot Happy Hour with photographer Laura Stansberry is one way to obtain a professional photo in an approachable setting. Stansberry is offering five-minute headshot sessions for $50 at Rockwell Beer Company (1320 S. Vandeventer) on Wednesday evening. The price of the ticket includes a complimentary beverage. Additional dates at Rockwell are set for March 20, April 10, and May 8. Stansberry will also offer photo sessions at Wellspent Brewing (2917 Olive) on March 13 and at Six Mile Bridge Brewery in Maryland Heights (11841 Dorsett) on March 28.

FEBRUARY 21

Women’s entrepreneurship discussion at Heydays HQ

This week, a group of women entrepreneurs will discuss how they’ve leveraged intellectual property to launch their innovations during a panel event at Heydays HQ (3139 Olive). Following the program, which runs from 5–7 p.m., hang around for a networking event with experts from the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Guests can attend in person or virtually. Register here.

FEBRUARY 28

WashU's Olin Business School to host panel on private business ownership transition strategies

This discussion will focus on the challenges of ownership transition and the options that are available to owners of private businesses. Keynote speakers include author Bo Burlingham, David G. Eichhorn, chief executive officer and head of investment strategies for NISA Investment Advisors LLC, and Kyle Chapman, president of Barry-Wehmiller Group. The event, from 8–11 a.m. at the Emerson Auditorium inside Knight Hall, is free to attend. Register here.

AWARDS

The A-List 2024 nomination round begins February 20

Get ready to nominate your favorite local businesses across nearly 200 categories in St. Louis Magazine’s annual A-List Readers' Choice poll! Learn more.

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