Category Archives: leadership

baseball, leadership, sports, world cup

Cardinals legend Albert Pujols reveals approach to managing Juan Soto-starring Dominican Republic at 2026 WBC

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A four-time All-Star and five-time Silver Slugger award winner, Juan Soto is undoubtedly one of the best hitters in the business. Currently batting .265, with 43 home runs and 105 RBIs, the Dominican standout has once again enjoyed an exceptional season.

Looking ahead, Soto is set to represent the Dominican Republic at the 2026 World Baseball Classic, continuing his role as a key figure on the international stage.

Another Dominican superstar who will be involved in the 2026 tournament is Albert Pujols. However, instead of featuring on the field, Pujols will take on a leadership role as the manager of the Dominican Republic baseball team.

In an exclusive interview on the “New York Post Sports” YouTube channel, Pujols spoke about the “honor” of being chosen to lead his country in the competition and his commitment to preparing for the challenge.

“I’m a player’s manager. I have the opportunity to go back this year to the Dominican Republic and to be able to lead them to a championship. They honored me and gave me the opportunity to lead the World Baseball Classic team. So, I’m doing a lot of hard work with that. Now I’m really focused on it,” Pujols shared.

He also discussed his aspirations beyond the Classic, expressing a hope to manage a Major League Baseball team in the future. “Hopefully [after this] I get an opportunity to be a manager in the big leagues. I’m staying busy with the things that I know and that I’m good at, just trying to continue to set an example for others,” Pujols added.

Alongside Juan Soto, several other big league stars are expected to suit up for the Dominican Republic in 2026. Given the wealth of Dominican talent currently active in Major League Baseball, it’s no surprise the country boasts a stacked National Team roster.

On the pitching side, the team can call upon talented arms like Freddy Peralta, Luis Gil, and Emmanuel Clase. The infield will feature big names such as Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Manny Machado, Elly De La Cruz, and Willy Adames. Meanwhile, the outfield is anchored by stars like Fernando Tatis Jr., Teoscar Hernandez, and Julio Rodriguez.

Behind the plate, catchers Yainer Diaz and Gary Sanchez are among the favorites to represent the Dominican Republic.

With such a star-studded lineup and the leadership of Albert Pujols, the Dominican Republic looks poised to make a strong impact at the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/baseball/news-cardinals-legend-albert-pujols-reveals-approach-managing-juan-soto-starring-dominican-republic-2026-wbc

business, leadership, technology, telecommunications

Meet Srini Gopalan, IIM Ahmedabad alumnus turned T-Mobile’s new CEO

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**Meet Srini Gopalan, IIM Ahmedabad Alumnus Turned T-Mobile’s New CEO**

*By Dwaipayan Roy | Sep 22, 2025, 08:00 PM*

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**T-Mobile Announces Leadership Change**

T-Mobile has named its current Chief Operating Officer (COO), Srini Gopalan, as the company’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective November 1, 2025. Gopalan will succeed Mike Sievert, who has led the company since April 2020 and will transition into a vice chairman role.

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**Gopalan’s Journey at T-Mobile**

Srini Gopalan joined T-Mobile in March 2023 and quickly became a key driver of the company’s strategic initiatives. Prior to serving as COO, he was a member of T-Mobile’s board of directors. His leadership has been pivotal in advancing T-Mobile’s growth and innovation in the competitive telecom sector.

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**A Track Record of Success at Deutsche Telekom**

Before joining T-Mobile, Gopalan led Deutsche Telekom’s Germany business, where he achieved remarkable growth by doubling the company’s expansion. Under his guidance, fiber-optic services were extended to millions of homes, and the company captured a record share of the mobile market.

During his time on Deutsche Telekom’s board overseeing European operations, Gopalan was credited with transforming the business into one of Europe’s fastest-growing telecom players, renowned for industry-leading customer satisfaction.

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**Diverse Experience Across Telecom and Finance**

Gopalan’s extensive career includes senior roles at prominent companies such as Bharti Airtel, Vodafone, and Capital One. Across these roles, he has championed operational excellence, digital transformation, and customer-focused strategies, solidifying his reputation as a visionary leader.

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**Academic Background**

Born in India, Srini Gopalan completed his undergraduate studies in business administration at St. Stephen’s College in New Delhi. He later earned his MBA from the prestigious Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad. Known for his operational expertise and transformative vision, Gopalan brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his new role at T-Mobile.

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With Srini Gopalan at the helm, T-Mobile is poised to continue its dynamic growth and innovation in the telecom industry.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/business/srini-gopalan-appointed-as-t-mobile-s-new-ceo/story

business, financial, leadership, retail

Shake-up at the top for billionaire-backed budget retailer

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The chief executive of Best & Less has left after just nine months in the role, marking the second early departure of a CEO at the budget retailer within a short period.

Aaron Faraguna, who previously served as chief executive at JD Sports and chief operating officer at David Jones, was appointed to lead Best & Less in January. However, the company has now confirmed that Faraguna has tendered his resignation.

In a statement, Best & Less announced that Ray Itaoui, executive chairman of Best & Less Group, has assumed day-to-day responsibilities to maintain business continuity. Faraguna will continue to be available to ensure a smooth handover, the spokesperson added.

Faraguna had publicly announced his appointment as CEO of Best & Less on LinkedIn earlier this year, expressing gratitude to Itaoui for believing in him and offering the opportunity to lead “such a talented and passionate team.”

Founded in 1965, Best & Less operates more than 200 stores across Australia. The clothing and homewares retailer is co-owned by Ray Itaoui — who became CEO of Sanity in 2007 and purchased it two years later — alongside billionaire businessman Brett Blundy.

Itaoui had personally recruited Faraguna from sneaker chain JD Sports, reconnecting after Faraguna began his retail career at Sanity in 1999. Describing the appointment earlier this year, Itaoui told The Australian Financial Review that Faraguna was “exactly what we are looking for” and possessed “the energy we need.”

Before Faraguna’s appointment, Best & Less had announced in April 2023 that former The Iconic CEO Erica Berchtold would be joining as its incoming chief executive. However, in May, Itaoui and Blundy made a takeover bid for the discount fashion retailer.

By late June — months before Berchtold was due to start in September — the company and Berchtold agreed not to proceed with her appointment. Itaoui then assumed the CEO responsibilities himself.

In July 2023, Itaoui and Blundy delisted Best & Less from the Australian Securities Exchange, privatising the company two years after its initial public offering.

Reflecting on the role, Berchtold told Australian businessman Mark Bouris on his podcast, The Mentor, in August 2023: “I resigned, I quit my job, I signed up. I wasn’t allowed to start straight away, and that was fine because I wanted to do the right thing by The Iconic and see out my notice period. During that notice period, the company got bought out, privatised, and the role I wanted — the role I signed up for — was no longer the role that was there. That role just wasn’t there anymore.”

Today, Itaoui co-owns Best & Less alongside Brett Blundy, who is also the founder of Lovisa and holds a 40% stake in Dissh.

A spokesperson for Best & Less declined to answer further questions, and Itaoui was unavailable for interview.

In the 12 months to June 30, 2024, Best & Less reported a 2.2% decline in sales to $625.1 million. Despite the fall in revenue, net profits nearly doubled to $17.5 million from $9.1 million in 2023, according to the company’s most recent financial report filed with the corporate regulator.

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*The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage, and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.*
https://www.theage.com.au/business/companies/shake-up-at-the-top-for-billionaire-backed-budget-retailer-20250919-p5mwhn.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_business

america, elections, government, leadership, politics

EXCLUSIVE: Arnold Schwarzenegger ‘Desperate’ to Run for President to ‘Restore America’ as Trump ‘Bulldozes Democracy’

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**Arnold Schwarzenegger Privately Exploring 2028 Presidential Run Despite Constitutional Barriers**

*Published September 19, 2025, 6:45 p.m. ET*

Arnold Schwarzenegger is privately exploring ways to run for the U.S. presidency, despite constitutional barriers, in what allies describe as a desperate attempt to stop Donald Trump and “restore democracy,” RadarOnline.com can reveal.

The 78-year-old Terminator star and former Republican governor of California has become increasingly vocal about his fears for America’s future following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, 31, in Utah.

**President Schwarzenegger?**

Friends of Schwarzenegger say the murder has sharpened his determination to confront political violence and address the deep divisions tearing the country apart — divisions he blames on both parties, the media, and Trump himself.

Speaking at the University of Southern California, Schwarzenegger warned:
*”We have to be very careful that we don’t get closer to the cliff. Because when you fall down that cliff, down there, there is no democracy. We have to be very, very careful. I think it’s very important that we turn this around and that we show people power. Because the people can turn this around, the people have the ultimate power.”*

One longtime Republican strategist revealed:
*”Arnold has been telling people close to him that he can’t just sit back and watch Trump bulldoze democracy. He knows the Constitution bars him from running for the presidency, but he’s desperate to find a path — whether that’s lobbying for reform or using his star power to rally voters against Trump.”*

**Reflecting on Charlie Kirk’s Death**

Schwarzenegger described Kirk’s death as “unbelievable” and a chilling sign of how far the nation has fallen.
*”I was very, very upset that someone’s life was taken because they have a different opinion,”* he said.
*”This was a great communicator, a great advocate for the right, for Republican causes. He had such a great way of communicating with the students who agreed or disagreed with him. And he was a great father, a great husband. I was thinking about his children. They will only be reading about him now, instead of him reading to them bedtime stories.”*

The gunman suspect, Tyler Robinson, 22, has been charged with aggravated murder. Schwarzenegger linked the killing to toxic divisions fueled online and in politics.

**Blaming Social Media, Media, and Politics**

*”We have to acknowledge that the cause of all this is the social media companies that are dividing us, the mainstream media companies that are dividing us. The political parties: the Democrats that are dividing us, the Republicans that are dividing us,”* Schwarzenegger added.
*”We’re getting hit from so many different angles, and we have to be very careful that we don’t get closer to that cliff.”*

**Trump’s Response to Rising Tensions**

Donald Trump, 79, dismissed concerns about rising tensions in the wake of Kirk’s killing during an appearance on *Fox & Friends*, stating:
*”I tell you something that is going to get me in trouble, but I couldn’t care less. The radicals on the right are radical because they don’t want to see crime. The radicals on the left are the problem – and they are vicious and horrible and politically savvy. They want men in women’s sports, they want transgender for everyone, they want open borders – the worst thing that happened to this country.”*

**Would Schwarzenegger Win?**

Austrian-born Schwarzenegger, who previously told CNN’s Chris Wallace in 2023 he could “so clearly” win the presidency if allowed to run, remains ineligible due to the Constitution’s natural-born citizen clause. But advisers insist this has not stopped him from floating the idea.

A former aide shared:
*”He feels uniquely qualified to bring Americans together at a time when it’s all about who you vote against rather than who you vote for. He’s been telling people, ‘If I can’t run, then maybe I can at least inspire someone else who can beat Trump.'”*

Though Schwarzenegger insists he is “not worried” about Trump ultimately prevailing, he has been clear about the stakes. Speaking to Wallace, he said:
*”Look, it’s a no-brainer. I see so clearly how I could win that election.”*
https://radaronline.com/p/arnold-schwarzenegger-desperate-to-run-for-president-democracy-trump/

economy, government, leadership, policy, politics

Takaichi Announces Candidacy for LDP Leadership

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I, Sanae Takaichi, as someone who loves Japan and the Japanese people with all my heart, and who firmly believes in their strength, will once again run in the Liberal Democratic Party leadership election, Takaichi said at a press conference on September 19th.

Calling for Japan to once more stand at the top of the world, she pledged to pursue economic growth without compromise. Her proposals include the creation of a control center for foreign resident issues and stronger measures against illegal overstayers, aiming to shore up conservative support.

At the same time, her willingness to adopt opposition-backed policies has raised doubts among some conservatives about her capacity to build alliances across party lines. Takaichi said she would push for a tax credit system that increases net income relative to wages, known as a refundable tax credit—an idea championed by the Constitutional Democratic Party.

She also pledged to develop backup crisis-management functions for the capital, echoing Nippon Ishin’s second capital concept, and to reform income thresholds, as advocated by the Democratic Party for the People.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, who placed third behind Takaichi in last year’s race, launched his campaign team the same day. “We must not forget last year’s result, and fight through with a sense of urgency until the end,” Koizumi said, adding that he will announce his policy platform on September 21st.

Koizumi also gained a significant endorsement. Former Digital Minister Taro Kono said, “When we think about who can truly rebuild the party from its foundation, Koizumi is the most suitable.”

With the official announcement just three days away, leadership contenders are stepping up their campaigns.
https://newsonjapan.com/article/146947.php