Welcome to Open Tabs: Beyoncé, CEO exits, and the pursuit of depth
The convos, links, and questions still open on my laptop and lingering in my brain.
Welcome to Open Tabs! A brand new biweekly series from me. It’s a roundup of what’s been sitting with me: a few of the links I’ve saved, the conversations I keep coming back to, and questions I’m still wrestling with. I hope they spark something for you too. A new thought. A better way to lead. Or just a shift in how you move through the week.
It’s designed to be a quick, 5-minute read.
Before we continue, happy Cowboy Carter Thursday to those who celebrate!! I’ll be at MetLife tonight. Will report back from the (rainy) hoedown.
Now, let’s open some tabs. This edition features insights from WSJ, NY Mag, Anu Atluru, and Yoni Rechtman.
My Open Tabs
→ SMART TALK: THE ARTICLES I CAN’T STOP REFERENCING THIS WEEK
Open Tab #1: Why More CEOs Are Leaving Their Jobs (WSJ Your Money Briefing - 7 min pod)
For obvious reasons, I’m interested in the state of work and how things are shifting in major ways. This WSJ podcast breaks down the record number of exits happening in the C-suite. What stood out to me is that talented “deputies”, the ones next in line for those C-suite roles are also opting out. Personally, I’m interested in what’s beneath this new wave of shifts at the top. What does it mean to outgrow a season of leadership? And also, what’s the long term impact on the workplace of some nextgen execs choosing to go out on their own vs. playing the long game in corporate?Open Tab #2: Everyone’s Cheating with ChatGPT (NY Mag)
I’ve spent hours talking to my partner about this over the past two weeks lol. For me, this isn’t just about academic integrity — it’s about the dilution of originality, the learning process, and critical thinking. When answers are free and fast, how do we vet actual depth? Grit? What becomes the signal of credibility when everyone can sound “smart”? In hiring and in leadership, how do we actually assess critical thinking and potential, beyond what sounds good?
And of course, I have questions…
Are we entering an era where how we think matters more than what we know?
What’s actually driving the shift in how people are showing up at work (from new grads to CEOs)?
My Newsletter & Podcast
→ IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: LAST WEEK’S NEWSLETTER
I wrote about how to reframe rejection, re-centering yourself and your needs, and how oftentimes clarity shows up after the no. I’ve personally done a lot of work on navigating “no”s, if this feels like a challenge for you my post might help.
→ IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: OUR MOST RECENT POD EPISODE
Our Interview with Allison Stadd 🥁, SVP of Brand, Culture, & Media at Shipt
I loved Allison’s story of climbing the corporate ladder with intention, overcoming imposter syndrome, and how she leads high-performing teams with a “lead from behind” approach. We also got into her roots in jazz drumming and writing, and the identity capital she built across Sweetgreen, BarkBox, Shake Shack, and more.
🎙️ → Listen now
My Substack Saves
→ TWO SUBSTACK POSTS I HAVEN’T STOPPED THINKING ABOUT
Sometimes I come across a piece of writing that doesn’t just inform me, it names something I’ve been feeling but haven’t been able to articulate yet.
Substack Saves #1: Make Something Heavy
This one’s been ringing in my ears all week, I’ve shared it more than once and now I’m sharing it here. Anu writes about how most of the internet runs on lightness — speed, spikes, likes — but real creative satisfaction often comes from building something with weight. Not viral. Not flashy. Just honest, anchored, and built to last.
Substack Saves #2: The Future of Real-World Entrepreneurship
He breaks down why high-performers are leaving Big Tech and betting on independence (think: real estate, personal holding companies, even microbusinesses) not just for upside, but for freedom. If you’re in tech and you’ve been sensing that "build your own thing" energy nagging at you, this puts language around it.
Both are very different. But together, they cracked open a question I’m sitting with: What kind of work actually satisfies you and are you willing to make it, even if it’s risky?
Discuss.
From my browser to yours.
That’s it for the first edition of Open Tabs. Have a great rest of your week!
Ashley
Want more?
I love this digest!
I hope Beyonce is the best! Just saw her in Chicago and still thinking about it.