Jeff Raikes
As seen in:
Forbes,
Medium,
MSN,
The Wall Street Journal,
Aol,
Yahoo Finance,
Fortune,
Flipboard,
The Seattle Times,
Arab News
and
Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Jeff Raikes
Jeff Raikes: the midterms’ real business risk are not which party wins, but whether the rules hold
I grew up on a farm near Ashland, Nebraska. My family dealt with plenty of things outside our control, from the weather and crop prices to the costs of seed and fertilizer. Farmers learn to plan around uncertainty. But there’s a difference between not knowing what the weather will bring and not knowing what the rules will be. When much of your crop is sold overseas, a sudden change in trade policy can undo a season’s planning before the crop is out of the ground.
Jeff Raikes: the midterms’ real business risk are not which party wins, but whether the rules hold
raikes (Credit: courtesy of Jeff Raikes) I grew up on a farm near Ashland, Nebraska. My family dealt with plenty of things outside our control, from the weather and crop prices to the costs of seed and fertilizer. Farmers learn to plan around uncertainty. But there’s a difference between not knowing what the weather will bring and not knowing what the rules will be.
Jeff Raikes: The talent debt I warned about is now showing up in the data Original
In April, I warned in these pages that companies letting AI absorb entry-level work were quietly accumulating a talent debt they didn’t yet see. Since then, new evidence is putting the problem in plainer sight. Microsoft’s 2026 Work Trend Index surveyed 20,000 workers across ten countries and found that the most valuable human skills in an AI workplace aren’t technical. They’re the ability to think critically and judge AI’s outputs.
For 250 Years, Philanthropy Helped Build America. Now It Must Stand Up for It
Credit: Chris Pruitt, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons Milestone birthdays call for both celebration and honest reflection, and America’s 250th is no exception. As the world’s oldest democracy, we find ourselves at a complicated moment. Many of the institutions we have long depended on are facing growing skepticism and strain. Too many people are struggling to find their footing in an economy that doesn’t work for everyone.
Jeff Raikes: AI is capturing cognition — and most companies are building a talent debt they don’t see yet
19 hours ago Once, in an extreme of despair, I posed to my therapist a version of the haunting thought experiment Mary’s Room: How, I asked her, can a person who has never been modeled healthy, secure, steadfast love even recognize it when it comes along — to what extent is this knowing teachable, learnable? If …
What Philanthropy Can Do to Restore Trust and Civic Life
Two hundred thirty-nine years ago, when asked what kind of government the young United States would enjoy under its new constitution, Benjamin Franklin famously replied, “a Republic, if you can keep it.” As we approach our 250th anniversary, that challenge feels newly urgent. American democracy is under real strain, and though this state of affairs is not the result of any one election, the current administration is capitalizing upon the situation. Trust is fraying.
Local view: How voucher schemes shortchange Nebraska's kids
America's public schools are where the vast majority of our children learn, grow and prepare for the future. Parents rightly want those schools to be strong, with well-prepared teachers, safe classrooms and opportunities for every student to thrive. In Nebraska, Gov. Jim Pillen undermined those goals by opting the state into a new federal voucher program that diverts taxpayer dollars into tuition subsidies for private schools.
No time like now: Jeff Raikes on spending down
“There are too many urgent problems to solve for me to hold onto resources that could be used to help people,” wrote my friend and former colleague Bill Gates when he recently announced a revised timeline for his foundation’s future. Rather than disburse all funds within fifty years of his passing, the richest philanthropic foundation in the United States (where I formerly served as CEO) will now spend all its resources by 2045.
No Shortcuts: How Philanthropy Can Strengthen States in Tumultuous Times
Minnesota State Capitol building. Credit: Eddie J. Rodriquez/Shutterstock For many, it felt like a watershed moment in Minnesota’s history.
Philanthropy Is Having a Crisis of Confidence
For millions of Americans, 2025 is not just politically turbulent — it’s a year in which core rights, public institutions and democratic values are hanging in the balance. Businesses, large and small, must navigate constantly shifting tariff policies. Universities and nonprofits see their funding threatened and independence challenged.
Democracy Is On The Ballot. Business Leaders Must Stand Up For It.
The stakes in this election couldn’t be clearer, and business leaders have a responsibility to speak up. It’s Decision Time 2024… In a few short days, America’s voters will choose between electing Kamala Harris as our first woman president or returning Donald Trump to the Oval Office. In doing so, they will decide the shape of our collective future.
Culture Wars And Unconstitutional Laws: The Threat To America's Future
Ill-advised and unconstitutional ideological crusades by conservative state legislators are infringing on the rights of American businesses and endangering America's future. The Climate Crisis is Here… It's no secret that the accelerating impacts of climate change are being felt worldwide. 2024 is likely to be the warmest year in recorded history, and nine of the hottest years on record have all been in the last decade.
Canada’s Top Judge: Rosalie Abella Is The Judicial Role Model We Need.
In a new documentary, Canada’s beloved, history-making Justice provides a compelling path forward for repairing our broken Court. Roberts, Meet Rosalie If you’ve been following my columns, you know I’ve expressed concerns about the direction of our Supreme Court and the impact of its recent decisions on core principles of justice and democracy.
Free-For-All Era: Companies Face Turbulence After Chevron Overturned
The Supreme Court's decision to overturn the 1984 Chevron precedent threatens to plunge America's regulatory system into chaos. An Activist Court Over the last two years, the Supreme Court has made radical and damaging decisions threatening our country's future. From overturning Roe v.
Project 2025 Is A Blueprint For Business Disaster
Whatever your politics, the extreme, ideologically driven policies being suggested for Trump's second term will undermine democracy, supercharge government corruption, and devastate the American economy. A Race Few Wanted Though it's only June, we're already back in presidential election season. This week saw the earliest-ever general election debate in our history, as President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump squared off before their respective party had officially nominated either.
Want To Ensure DEI Works For Your Company? Have Some Standards.
The private sector can lead the way in encouraging diversity, equity, and inclusion in America’s workplaces. A new set of standards can help businesses maximize their DEI efforts. Moving from Why to How If you’ve been reading my columns here at Forbes over the years, you already know that I, like most Americans, believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs are good for business, good for workers of all races and genders, and good for the country.
Ignore The Provocateurs: DEI Is Good For Business And Good For America
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs are being irrationally blamed for everything that goes wrong in America today. But the simple truth is they make companies more successful. If you’ve taken a flight recently, you’ve probably heard about some of the many scary incidents involving Boeing planes this year. In January alone, an Alaska Airlines plane saw a door blow off in mid-flight, Atlas Air experienced a midair engine failure, and a Delta flight lost a wheel before takeoff.
Murphy’s Law: How “Cultures Of Genius” Hinder Competitiveness
A fascinating new book by social psychologist Mary Murphy explains how businesses set themselves up for success or failure through their workplace culture. Have you ever encountered an argument explaining so much about the world that you could almost physically hear things around you snap into place? That was my recent experience encountering Cultures of Growth, a remarkable new book out this month by Indiana University social psychologist Mary Murphy.
The Full Truth: Why Teaching Black History Remains Essential
As we celebrate Black History Month this year, there are hopeful signs that the recent reactionary backlash against teaching Black History is finally starting to ebb. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s attempt to ride the “War on Woke” to the White House failed to gain traction in the GOP primaries. And Moms for Liberty, the conservative organization driving book bans in many school districts, was decisively repudiated in last year’s midterms and now appears to be in rapid decline.
From Many, One: Life Lessons From “The Boys In The Boat”
Last month brought a gift I wasn't expecting: a movie of one of my favorite books. Based on the bestseller by Daniel James Brown, George Clooney's The Boys in the Boat tells the true story of the remarkable nine-man rowing team who came together at the University of Washington during the Great Depression, overcame various hardships, adversities, and other (much wealthier) college crews to represent the United States in the 1936 Olympics.
Agents Of Change: Business Leaders Can Shape An Inclusive 2024
For those of us born in the mid-1900s, we used to think of the far-flung future as the year 2000. So, I'm still somewhat amazed that we are now almost a quarter of the way through the 21st century. As we say goodbye to 2023, I want to take this opportunity to review some of the recent discussions we've had on these pages and to talk about the vital work we all have on our plate next year when America chooses a president and a path forward for our country.
“Killers Of The Flower Moon” Is A Brilliant Study On The Power Of Narrative
I don't usually review movies, but Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon is a perfect film for audiences to take in this National American Indian Heritage Month. Adapted from the 2017 book by David Grann, this superb picture may well result in the first-ever Best Actress win for a woman of Native descent, the extraordinary Lily Gladstone.
How To Keep Supporting DEI At Your Company
Four months after the Supreme Court chose to gut affirmative action at colleges and universities, despite two-thirds of Americans disagreeing, the fallout from that rash and mistaken verdict continues to reverberate through our country’s institutions. As universities try to figure out a way forward, many companies are concerned that their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts will also be under attack.
New Tech, Old Problems: The Obstacles AI Must Overcome
While much of the conversation about AI is focused on its enormous potential to disrupt our way of life in the future, there are lessons in the impact it is having today that should be addressed before it is too late. Today, sophisticated large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT can write complex essays on any topic within moments. They will likely become the "calculator for writing," as Stanford professor Erik Brynjolfsson put it.
Companies Should Champion Diversity Because It’s Good For Business
The Supreme Court’s blinkered decision to end race-conscious admissions programs at America’s colleges and universities will have long-lasting, deleterious effects. Once again, this Court’s conservative majority has rejected the will of the American people, the majority of whom support affirmative action in higher education and the workplace.
Is The “War On Woke” A War On Our Country’s Future?
Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin JERSEY CITY, NJ - SEPTEMBER 7: The sun sets behind a group of American flags in Liberty State Park ... [+] on September 7, 2021 in Jersey City, New Jersey. (Photo by Gary Hershorn/Getty Images) Getty Images What do you think is the biggest issue facing America? According to recent polling, Americans in both parties are apprehensive about inflation, political division, and the future of our nation.
Frightened Samaritans: How Religion Is Being Used To Divide Americans
Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO - JUNE 21, 2020: The sun rises behind a stone cross atop the historic ... [+] Cathedral Basilica of St. Frances of Assisi in Santa Fe, New Mexico. (Photo by Robert Alexander/Getty Images) Getty Images Tucked away in the business news last month was a story that unwittingly revealed much about how and why we Americans are divided these days.
To Honor Their Contributions, Let’s Stand Up For Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, And Pacific Islanders.
Asian Americans have been part of our national story since before the American Revolution, when Filipino sailors established a home in Louisiana in 1763. But as we celebrate our country’s rich Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) heritage this month, recent surveys show how far we still need to go to support our AANHPI friends and neighbors.
AI Can Be Racist: Let's Make Sure It Works For Everyone.
May need paid subscription Forbes AI Can Be Racist: Let's Make Sure It Works For Everyone. By Jeff Raikes, 59 minutes ago By Jeff Raikes, 59 minutes ago Comments / 0 Add a Comment
AI Can Be Racist: Let’s Make Sure It Works For Everyone
There is a huge and troubling AI defect that should give everyone pause: Many are still subtly perpetuating – or worse, enhancing – the biases of their (mostly white male) creators. Rather than transcend our human limitations to create a more equitable future for everyone, AI tools often inadvertently repeat the same mistakes and lapses in judgment, allowing racism and discrimination to fester throughout our society today. There are many sobering examples of the harm that AI can cause.
It’s Time For Equal Pay For Equal Work
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - MARCH 14: Elana Goodman joins with other protesters to ask that woman be ... [+] given the chance to have equal pay as their male co-workers on March 14, 2017 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The protest was held as the legislation in the state of Florida looks at passing the Helen Gordon Davis fair pay protection act that would strengthen state laws in terms of equal pay.
Why We Should Honor Black History And Embrace Our Diverse Future
Elmont, N.Y.: Black history month display of books at the Elmont Memorial Library in Elmont, New ... [+] York, on January 29, 2021. (Photo by Alejandra Villa Loarca/Newsday RM via Getty Images) Newsday via Getty Images Black History Month has been officially celebrated in America for decades, yet the study of Black history is still under threat. Across the country, books are being banned and teachers are fired for bringing up racial justice issues to their students.
In Tumult, Opportunity: Our Hopes (and Fears) for the Future of Giving (SSIR)
We suspect no one will ever look back on the 2020s as boring. This decade started with a tectonic reckoning sparked by a global pandemic that revealed the deep inequities in the United States. This was followed by the police murder of George Floyd, a tipping point that revitalized the racial justice movement.
Ending Affirmative Action Would Be A Terrible Mistake.
Last year, the conservative majority on the US Supreme Court shocked the nation – and set the stage for the 2022 midterms – by overturning Roe v. Wade and undermining the bodily autonomy of millions of American women. Undeterred, they now seem poised to eliminate affirmative action, a reliable tool used for decades in efforts to advance racial equity in America.
The 2022 Midterms were Good for Democracy
With the re-election of Sen. Raphael Warnock in Georgia this week, the 2022 midterm cycle is finally at an end, and it contained some welcome surprises for everyone. The 2022 midterm results reminded us that our democracy is much healthier and more resilient than many had feared.
Business Leaders Need To Stand Up - Now More Than Ever
Our country is in extremely choppy waters as we head into the mid-term elections next week, and CEOs have an understandable desire to avoid what might be considered “divisive” issues. A telling example for me – only eight out of the Fortune 500 companies committed to ending donations to politicians who opposed the certification of the valid results of the 2020 presidential election. Another is how Disney navigated their position regarding Gov.
Bad For Business: How ‘Critical Race Theory’ Bans Are Limiting American Progress
A photo of a school hallway in black and white Unsplash Earlier this month, 400 books were pulled off the shelves across a Texas school district in response to a new law limiting how educators can teach and engage with students on the subjects of sexism and racism. At least 28 states and counting have passed or are considering passage of laws just like this one.
The Census Is Speaking To Us: Will We Listen?
Man in pool NY Magazine The 2020 Census tells us what we already knew: the country is diverse and continuing to diversify at a rapid rate – in urban, suburban, and rural areas. The data clearly point to a country that is both more diverse and more multiracial than it has ever been.
It’s On Us To Stop The Assault On Our Democracy And Carry On The Remarkable Legacy Of John Lewis
John Lewis, Clarksdale, Mississippi, 1963 Steve Schapiro On the Edmund Pettis Bridge in 1965, a young John Lewis nearly lost his life for the right of every American to use their voice and vote. Yet, on the one-year anniversary of the civil rights giant’s death, we find the foundation of the democracy he fought for eroding under our feet.
When Will Black History Become American History?
I want the perfunctory way white people currently observe Black History Month to become a thing of the past. Sure, we may read a blog post about Harriet Tubman, but let’s be honest. That’s about it.
What Martin Luther King Jr.’s Prophetic Words Tell Us About This Moment
On the first Wednesday of 2021, Americans woke up to two diverging developments in our democracy. That morning, record turnout in runoff elections in Georgia shifted the balance of power in Washington. By midday, a violent insurrection attempt was underway on the U.S. Capitol. The first event reflects the seeds of hope planted more than 60 years ago by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The second is a born-again manifestation of his warnings just months before his death.
Reminder: Black Lives Still Matter
I felt nervous the first few days after the election. While I was reasonably confident that Joe Biden was going to be the president-elect, the fact that voters hadn’t rebuked Trump’s racist rhetoric as thoroughly as I had hoped left me deeply concerned about the divisions in the country. What would happen to the powerful movement for racial justice that was finally taking hold in the country, especially among white people?
Dear White CEOs: It’s Time To Lead On Racial Justice
I’ve spoken with a lot of business leaders over the past several years about race and equity issues, most of them white. For the most part, people have been eager to learn and want to do more. But I generally got the impression that centering racial equity in their business was a “nice to do” but not a “must do.” The murder of George Floyd and the extraordinary uprising that followed seems to have changed that equation, but most business leaders don’t know where to start.
When People Chant “Defund The Police” Do We Really Hear Them?
When I first heard the phrase “defund the police”, I was skeptical. I heartily support the extraordinary movement for racial justice that is happening across the country, but I was worried about how the phrase would land with, well, people like me. White people. Especially those with power – even those who seem to be cautiously open to the idea of bold changes in the wake of the protests. I didn’t want this movement to stall because of what I thought might be a hastily chosen phrase.
Philanthropy Isn’t A Substitute For Democracy, But It Must Help Save It
At a time of chaotic, divisive and ineffective leadership from the White House, it’s understandable that the American people would look to others for guidance during this frightening and uncertain time. Many governors around the country are filling the void. Here in my home state of Washington, Gov. Jay Inslee acted early and decisively, and the curve is flattening, allowing him to share unused resources with other states.
What White People Need To Know About Black History
Imagine waking up the day after the election to the news that the voters of South Carolina had elected so many African Americans to its house of representatives that they now constituted a governing majority. Or that the state of Mississippi sent a Black man to the United States Senate. Not in our lifetime? True (at least as of today). But this did happen – about 150 years ago.
A Better Way To Evaluate Candidates For Office
Evaluating the candidates running for president, or really any office, can be frustrating. Debate moderators often get hung up on a small difference to try to provoke a fight, and the coverage tends to focus on amorphous (and often sexist) analyses of ‘electability’ instead of substance. But we don’t have the luxury of indulging in this kind of triviality in 2020.
Our ‘Bootstraps’ Narrative Is Tying Us Down
I think a lot about the ‘bootstraps’ narrative. You know the one – someone who assumes personal responsibility, works hard, and has strong core values can accomplish anything. We’ve had some version of that story ripple through the American experience since our founding. And I believe two profound shifts happening in important sectors of our society right now are, at their core, a recognition that you can’t have a ‘bootstraps’ narrative on a tilted playing field.
We Can Challenge Systemic Racism One School District At A Time
If our nation’s leaders are truly committed to delivering public education where every child has the resources they need to succeed, they should propose budgets that reflect their campaign promises. The best way to tell if an elected official or a business leader is telling you the truth about their priorities is to look at their budget. Why? Because your budget is your strategy.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Jeff
Contact Jeff, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack