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Fast Company is heading to Austin, Texas March 810 for its 12th annual Fast Company Grill during South by Southwest. Hosted at the Cedar Door Patio Bar & Grill in downtown Austin, attendees can expect three days packed with engaging programming, networking opportunities, activations and raffles, delicious food and drinks, live musical performances, and exclusive parties. As usual, we’re bringing you a dynamic roster of speakers, including: Paul Feig, Founder, FeigCo; and Director and Producer, Another Simple Favor Carey Mulligan, Executive Producer, Actress, The Ballad of Wallis Island Tarana Burke, Author, Activist, Founder of the “Me Too” Movement Carla Vernón, CEO, The Honest Company Joon Choi, President, Weverse Daryl Lee, Global CEO, McCann Matthew Prince, Cofounder and CEO, Cloudflare Julie Haddon, Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer, National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Andy Dunn, Founder and CEO, Pie Ev Williams, Cofounder, Mozi James Kuczynski, Senior Creative Director, Duolingo Fara Howard, CMO, GoDaddy Those speakers will lend their insights to a number of pressing topics including: How Business Leaders Are Navigating the Trump Administration Reconnect with Connection: Building Better Communities IRL The Business of Belonging: Tapping Into the Power of Fandom Inside the Fight for Your Digital Freedom Redefining the Next Generation’s Relationship to Tech The Pivot Playbook: How These CEOs Turned Their Companies Around Built to Boom: Secrets of Fast-Growing Companies Fair Play: Making Womens Sports a Lasting Powerhouse More than a Moment: The Future of the Me Too Movement And it wouldn’t be the Fast Company Grill without live musical performances. Taking the stage this year will be Paravi, who was featured on the Grammy-nominated soundtrack of Elvis; and up-and-coming talent (and part-time rodeo cowboy) Garrett Talamantes. If you’re not yet a Fast Company Premium subscriber, now would be a great time to join! We have special offerings at the Fast Company Grill for our premium subscribers, including an exclusive after-party at Tecovas. The Western apparel brand is hosting a night of live music from country artist David Miner, signature drinks, a special discount on Tecovas items, and customized iron brandingincluding a Fast Company logo! Spots are limited, so be sure to register today. For a full lineup of speakers, sessions, and activities, visit our events page. A special thanks to Fast Company Grill’s presenting sponsor Canva, as well as our other sponsors Audible, Texas A&M University, Lumen, Williams, Purdue University, Huge, National Cryptocurrency Association, Novo Nordisk, PMI, Violife, Whalar Group, and Wise.
Category:
E-Commerce
When it comes to airports, travelers tend to fall into two camps. There are the anxious types who show up four hours early, with plenty of time to leisurely peruse duty-free and enjoy the airport lounge. And then there are those who breeze into the airport with 45 minutes to spare, hoping for the best. But a viral trend on TikTok, dubbed airport theory, would put even that latter group’s nerves to the test. The theory suggests arriving at the airport just 15 minutes before your flight to clear security. The concept has taken off online, racking up 400 million views. Unsurprisingly, its already led to plenty of missed flights. It is currently 9:24, and my flight started boarding four minutes ago, said TikTok user, Lexi Smith, in a video testing the theory at LAX airport. Were in security right now; lets see how fast we can get through this. She claims to get through security in five minutes, despite getting randomly selected for additional screening. After transferring to her gate via bus, she informs viewers that she made it to the gate 15 minutes later, as the flight was just now boarding. So. We made it; airport theory is true, she declared, adding, Yes, I was the first one to walk on the plane. Make that make sense. Another TikTok creator tested the theory at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the busiest in the world based on foot traffic. If airport theory works here, I think it will work anywhere, said Michael DiCostanzo in a clip with more than 3.6 million views. Breezing through security in just over seven minutes, DiCostanzo arrived at his gate in under 15 minutes from start to finish, calling it a huge win for airport theory. However, as one commenter pointed out, So you had precheck, didnt check a bag and were at the nearest terminal? Now lets do it when its not all the optimal situations. Not every traveler has been so lucky. In one clip with 17.4 million views, TikTok user Jenny Kurtz filmed herself sipping on an iced coffee, seemingly not in a rush to get to her gate. For those of you thinking about testing out the airport theory, dont do it, she warns in the caption of her 14-second video, showing the closed gate sign. Missed my flight. Thanks to the airport theory trend, Google searches for I missed my flight have surged by 645% in the past month alone, according to experts at travel site Netflights. Its clear many travelers are confused about just how early they should arrive at the airport. In fact, the question racks up an average of 63,870 online searches every month. For the record, most airlines still recommend arriving at least two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international one.
Category:
E-Commerce
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you carefully laid out all the context for your manager, only to have them cut you off? Or maybe youve found youre eager to dive into the tactical details of a project while they keep steering the conversation back to vision. These moments can leave you frustrated and confused. You’re doing what seems logical, yet somehow its not landing. The good news is that these disconnects usually arent about your competency or the quality of your ideas theyre about different styles. Studies have found that two primary dimensions shape how people communicate and approach their interactions at work. The first is dominance, which refers to the degree a person attempts to control situations or the thoughts and actions of others, and the second is sociability, which measures how readily someone expresses emotions and prioritizes relationships and emotional connection with others. The intersection of these two dimensions leads to four different styles, which I call the 4Cs. The Commander Commanders can be so quick to take action that they may steamroll you or others. They care more about what needs to be done than how everyone feels about it. This doesnt necessarily mean theyre uncaring (although they sometimes neglect their teams need for emotional support), but they show their commitment to others by setting clear, ambitious targets rather than through praise or acknowledgment. Dont take it personally if a Commander: Nitpicks your work. When Commanders challenge your ideas, its more about stress-testing them to avoid mistakes and make them stronger rather than dissatisfaction with you or your performance. Acknowledge their input without getting defensive and refute with solid data: I see what you mean about the message lacking urgency. We approached it that way because our feedback survey showed . . . Skips pleasantries and small talk. Commanders see time as a valuable resource not to be wasted, so respect their desire for efficiency with phrases like, I know youre busy, so lets get right to it or, Ill dive straight inhere are the key points Id like to cover. And dont be offended when they send you two-word email replies without asking how your weekend was. Overlooks your opinion. Commanders appreciate assertiveness, so have a point of view and present it clearly. Start your pitch with something like, I believe . . . , My recommendation is . . . , From my perspective, it seems that . . . , or Here are my initial thoughts. The Cheerleader Cheerleaders are expressive and tend to be energetic, optimistic, and enthusiastic. Like Commanders, Cheerleaders value moving fast and aiming high, but they love building relationships and playing connector. Their focus on team spirit makes for an environment thats positive and fun, but some might find their high-energy, group-oriented style overwhelming and you might not always get the nitty-gritty feedback or specific direction you want. Dont take it personally if a Cheerleader: Cancels meetings at the last minute. Take the lead to reschedule, or youll be forgotten as they chase the next shiny object. Try this: I understand your schedule is tight, but were running out of time to plan for X. So Ill grab 20 minutes on your calendar to connect about that tomorrow unless you let me know otherwise. Changes priorities frequently. Their flightiness can be frustrating, but when the Cheerleader thinks of yet another new idea or veers off topic, gently steer them back: Thats fascinating. Ill make a note so we dont lose sight of this and can revisit it at a better time. Be clear about whats achievable, tying it back to team capacity and timelines: To meet our deadlines and keep the quality of work youre used to, we should stay focused on X. Gives you vague feedback and direction. Cheerleaders prefer to inspire and motivate rather than provide step-by-step instructions. When given vague feedback, drill deeper: Can you share what success looks like for this project? Provide options since Cheerleaders sometimes struggle to come up with specifics on their own: Here are a few ideas Ive come up with. Which one do you feel fits best? The Caretaker Caretakers are patient peacekeepers who listen carefully and make sure everyone feels seen and heard. While theyre high on sociability like the Cheerleader, Caretakers are more subdued and nurturing. They want you to feel safe voicing your thoughts and struggles. But at the same time, their indecisiveness can be a drag, particularly in fast-paced or high-stakes environments where quick action and risk-taking are crucial. Dont take it personally if a Caretaker: Constantly checks in. Caretakers sometimes helicopter manage or, worse, make you feel like you have to reassure them instead of the other way around. Gently make it clear you can handle tasks on your own without them hovering: Ive got this under control, but Ill definitely let you know if I need any help. Hoards work and stretch projects. Your boss may believe taking on the burden of extra work safeguards you from stressor theyre convinced that theyre best suited to handle tasks. To overcome their control issues, propose a gradual transition (Lets start with me handling part of [project], and we can go from there) or suggest working together initially (How about we tag-team on [project] at first? That way, you can see my approach and make sure its on track). Drops news on you at the eleventh hour. In a misdirected effort to keep things calm and stable, your boss may hold back important information, so regularly ask for insight on potential shifts: Are there any developments we should be aware of? It would help us plan and adjust accordingly or Knowing about changes ahead of time helps me prepare, so any heads-up would be helpful. The Controller Controllers excel through their meticulous attention to detail, reliance on data, and a preference for working behind the scenes to ensure everything runs like clockwork. They tend to be serious and reserved leaders who worry less about social connections and more about optimizing existing standards, rules, and processes. This can be a dream for those who love clear instructions, but Controllers can also come off as rigid and restrictive, especially when quick pivots or innovative leaps are needed to stay ahead. Dont take it personally if a Controller: Rejects your ideas without consideration. Controllers are wary of new ideas because they see them as risks that could lead to mistakes. So frame ideas as enhancements to existing processes, not as net new changes: [Idea] builds on our current system . . . or We can take what were already doing and make it even better by . . . Requires multiple approvals or reviews. Its not that they dont trust you; rather, they believe that having multiple sets of eyes means standards will be met. efore starting work ask, What are the key criteria youre looking for in this project? I want to make sure I meet your expectations from the outset. Suggest a quick pre-mortem session to catch any issues early: Can we check in before I finalize this? I want to address any concerns you might have. Expects you to be an expert in everything. If your boss overloads you with dense information or complex documentation, turn it back around and ask for guidance on whats most critical: I appreciate all the details. What would you say are the key points I should prioritize to make sure were compliant? You might not always like or agree with your bosss approachthats normalbut if there comes a point where their actions become disruptive to you or others, its not enough to say, Oh, thats just how they are! Ultimately, personal style doesnt give anyone a pass to be a jerk. The key is to stay flexible and observant, adjusting your strategies as you learn more about your bosss preferences and behaviors. Because even if your relationships are strong, they can always be better. Adapted from the book Managing Up: How to Get What You Need from the People in Charge by Melody Wilding. Copyright 2025 by Melody Wilding. Published in the United States and Canada by Crown Currency, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. All rights reserved.
Category:
E-Commerce
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