Tom Huddleston Jr.
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Senior Reporter @CNBCMakeIt. Past: @FortuneMagazine and @AmericanLawyer. That’s me in the doughnut. tom.huddleston@nbcuni.com
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Articles by Tom Huddleston Jr.
Burton co-founder: The 'unf---able truths' that powered the global snowboarding brand 50 years
Multiple times over the last five decades, from building a business in a practically non-existent market to losing funding in the middle of a loan crisis, Donna Carpenter thought Burton Snowboards might not survive another day. Instead, the snowboard and apparel company started by Carpenter's late husband, Jake Burton Carpenter, is poised to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2027.
The business of women's sports is booming—a viral bar that brings in $1M a year wants to take advantage
As the 2026 WNBA Playoffs roar through its semifinal round, one thing is abundantly clear: Women's sports are on fire. Beyond record viewership totals , the business of women's sports has been on a tear. Nike's launch of Indiana Fever star — the Caitlin 1 — nearly sold out in less than two hours .
Whole Foods co-founder shares 3 tips for launching a successful second act: 'I'm relearning some lessons'
Whole Foods founder and former co-CEO, John Mackey sold Whole Foods to Amazon for $13.7 billion in 2017. Then he stepped away in 2022 after five years of leading his business through that transition to new ownership. "A lot of my friends just thought I'd retire," says Mackey, whose net worth at the time of the sale, Forbes estimated, clocked in at more than $75 million. "I have all of this money. I don't have to do anything," says the 73-year-old entrepreneur. And yet he says he has more to give.
You can't always change someone's mind with flattery, communications expert says—what works instead
"Flattery will get you everywhere," the saying goes. It's a common strategy for many people when important stakes are on the line, like a company-saving deal or career-making promotion. But how far should you go to ingratiate yourself with someone else in a high-stakes situation? The answer depends on the nature of your relationships and the flattery in question, says Matt Abrahams , a Stanford University lecturer on strategic communication and host of the " Think Fast, Talk Smart " podcast.
Jared Diamond: Why timing can matter as much as talent in leadership
You can go to school to learn leadership strategies and skills. But that might be a waste of time and money if your intention is to run a successful company one day, according to scientist and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jared Diamond As he posits in his latest book " Profits, Prophets, Coaches, and Kings : (When) Do Leaders Matter?," released earlier this month, good leaders are neither born nor made.
NYC's 'Baklava Guy' started selling Turkish pastries as 'a joke,' now it brings in $20K/month: 'It's my whole life' Original
Jacob Komarow is a 30-year-old entrepreneur, high school dropout and former drug addict. He's also known as the "Baklava Guy" around New York City, and he truly believes he's found his own American Dream in a Turkish pastry. The man behind Good Baklava — a roaming baklava business that sells the pastries on the street, out of the back of a van or temporary stands, as well as online — is currently riding a thrilling wave of sweet success, fueled by viral fame and guerrilla-style sales tactics.
As parents consider kids' AI use, NYC schools' new policy could be a 'home run,' psychologist says
The country's largest school district now has some of the strictest guidelines around younger students using artificial intelligence tools in school — at least, temporarily. Some education experts say it's a step in the right direction toward schools using AI effectively to benefit children. New York City's schools will ban elementary and middle school students from using generative AI tools during the upcoming school year, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced on Wednesday.
As parents consider kids' AI use, NYC schools' new policy could be a 'home run,' psychologist says
College & University 7 hours ago 21 Elite Colleges Where Middle Class Students Go For Free Forbes - Asia Alexander • 7h Isabella Soto still remembers standing on Rice University's campus in Houston during a college tour five years ago, trying to decide between Rice, Texas A&M, and Notre Dame.
Meta's $17 billion settlement mandates new safeguards for kids—many are promising, says safety expert Original
In a major case between Meta and 52 attorneys general across the U.S. alleging the social media giant knowingly designed products that were harmful and addictive to kids, the two sides settled on Wednesday, with the Facebook and Instagram parent company agreeing to pay about $17 billion. It's one of multiple trials related to alleged harms to young users that Meta has faced this year alone.
34-year-old CEO bet on AI video 5 years before ChatGPT—convincing Mark Cuban to invest was the easy part
This story is part of CNBC Make It's The Moment series, where highly successful people reveal the inflection point that changed the trajectory of their lives and careers. Victor Riparbelli was almost too early to the artificial intelligence era.
How a 40-year-old father launched a $1.6 billion-a-year meat snacks empire from a bankrupt Wisconsin business
The first time Jack Link cured a batch of beef jerky, he was trying to save his business. It was 1985 and Link was a 40-year-old father of two teens living in Minong, Wisconsin. The slaughterhouse he'd bought from family members in 1978 had just filed for bankruptcy protection. Its failure left him searching for a way to provide for his wife and children, and prove that he could turn a small family-run business into something bigger.
Warren Buffett believes he's one of the world's 10 luckiest people—and it's inspired his $17 billion-a-year philanthropic philosophy
Warren Buffett says luck has been a key factor in the success that's made him one of the wealthiest people in the world, and it's inspired the billionaire investor to give away most of that wealth.
Child psychologist’s 2-step formula for parents to raise confident kids: It gives them ‘the opportunity to thrive’
Parents often see their child's anxiety as the enemy. But it can be a key to building the confidence kids need to grow into resilient, happy and successful adults, says child clinical psychologist Kathryn Hecht. "A fundamental misconception" of her job, Hecht says, is that she can "get rid" of a patient's anxiety. But "anxiety is a primary human emotion and it is present in everyone anytime there's something new or uncertain," she notes.
Child psychologist’s 2-step formula for parents to raise confident kids: It gives them ‘the opportunity to thrive’
Culture 7 hours ago Captain Cook's Famous Shipwreck Finally Found After 25-Year Search in Rhode Island ZME Science - Tibi Puiu • 7h Final report confirms identification of the famed vessel scuttled off Rhode Island in 1778.
Inside the unique challenges of military spouse entrepreneurs: 'Not everybody is going to understand this life' Original
When Cece Meadows started her cosmetics brand Prados Beauty from her daughter's nursery in 2019, she just wanted a job. Meadows and her four kids had been living for two years in West Point, New York, where her husband, an Army Major, taught at the U.S. Military Academy. After taking time off for the birth of her daughter, Meadows — a former Bank of America vice president, makeup artist and model — says she was struck by what she felt was a lack of available jobs for military spouses.
Some U.S. states still don't know if the World Cup will benefit them financially—just look at New Jersey
Millions of soccer fans celebrated the 2026 World Cup kicking off on Thursday, a first step toward the tournament's eventual final match on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. But the state hosting the final is still squaring off with FIFA, soccer's global governing body, over ticket prices and the massive transportation costs associated with the highly-anticipated tournament.
36-year-old's fitness company was 'a week away' from bankruptcy—now it's valued at $10.1 billion
For Will Ahmed, the road to building a $10.1 billion fitness startup began with what he calls "the ultimate betrayal." The perpetrator? His own body. Launched in 2012, the Boston-based fitness wearables company now has more than 2.7 million users across the globe. Those customers use Whoop's screen-free wrist devices to track a wide range of biometric data around the clock, from sleep quality to how their bodies perform during exercise and recovery.
36-year-old's fitness company was 'a week away' from bankruptcy—now it's valued at $10.1 billion
WHOOP 3 hours ago 143 investors said no to his wearable idea, he says—now Whoop is worth $10.1 billion CNBC • 3h Will Ahmed is the founder and CEO of Whoop, the screenless wearable used by some of the world's top athletes, including LeBron James, Cristiano … Ethiopia More Turmoil Beckons as Abiy Ahmed Tightens Grip on Power iol.co.za - Kim Heller • 4d Kim Heller There is little doubt that Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and his Prosperity Party would win this week's elections by a huge...
42-year-old former urban planner chased her dessert-making dreams—her ice cream business brings in $2.8 million a year
From childhood, Pooja Bavishi dreamed of "being in the business of providing joy" by selling desserts, she says. She just got a late start on pursuing that dream. Bavishi, 42, is the founder and CEO of Brooklyn, New York-based ice cream company Malai, which she founded in 2015.
MasterClass CEO: I've interviewed hundreds of successful people—they taught me to stop believing a common myth about hard work
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MasterClass CEO: I've interviewed hundreds of successful people—they taught me to stop believing a common myth about hard work
MasterClass CEO David Rogier has sat down with hundreds of successful people, from tennis star Serena Williams to former Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger, to learn what sets them apart from everyone else. Rogier's top takeaway: Some common myths about success need dispelling. "I think we have this myth that, if you just work hard, things will be OK [and] you'll be successful," says Rogier.
Child psychologist: This common issue can hurt kids' future success, happiness—they won't just 'grow out of it'
For students, the anxiety of over-stressing about an upcoming test or project can hurt their academic performance, research shows. When parents help their kids learn to manage that stress, sometimes referred to as "test anxiety," their results can improve — and their healthier mindset gives them a better shot at growing into successful, well-balanced adults, says clinical psychologist Tram Huynh.
How to help kids form healthy relationships with money: They 'end up in much better financial shape' as adults, psychologist says Original
As parents contend with rising costs and an overall tighter economic climate, more of them are using those challenges as an opportunity to have frank talks with their kids about money, according to a recent survey.
41-year-old high school teacher's side hustle brings in $3.8 million a year—he shares 'every high and every low' with students
Kevin Corey spends his weekdays teaching high school students about real-world examples of the ups and downs of running a business, including his own side hustle. Corey, 41, teaches business courses at Uniondale High School in Uniondale, New York.
41-year-old high school teacher's side hustle brings in $3.8 million a year—he shares 'every high and every low' with students
4 hours ago Merino Energy, a new startup led by a former Apple engineer, created a lower-cost heat pump that launched today. Five years ago, while working at Apple as an engineer, Mary Ann Rau decided to electrify her house and move away from fossil fuels. She installed solar, a battery, an induction range, and …
Gen Z brothers bought a $4,000 pickup truck to start their business—now it brings in $3 million a year
It started with a bike ride to the local dump, where then-teenaged Kirk McKinney stumbled on a pair of "really nice speakers" that still worked. The speakers became prized possessions and the inspiration for Junk Teens, a Norwood, Massachusetts-based junk removal and reselling business that McKinney launched with younger brother Jacob McKinney in February 2021.
CEO of $5B startup took 'shortcuts' to grow business—until 'alarm bells' went off: Without change, we wouldn't 'have a company' Original
This story is part of CNBC Make It's The Moment series, where highly successful people reveal the critical moment that changed the trajectory of their lives and careers, discussing what drove them to make the leap into the unknown. Most CEOs might be pessimistic if their company lost more than half of its valuation. For Faire co-founder and CEO Max Rhodes, the feeling is more akin to relief and optimism that his business' best days could still lie ahead.
These 3 red flags show that your child could use a confidence boost, says mental performance coach
If you want your child to grow into a successful, happy and well-balanced adult, you should pay attention to their levels of confidence and self-esteem, says mental performance coach Cindra Kamphoff. "Confidence is one of the strongest predictors of our performance, our happiness and our success," says Kamphoff, the founder of the Mentally Strong Institute, a mental coaching firm for business leaders and athletes.
2 confidence-building tools for parents to set kids up for 'a lifetime of success,' from a mental performance coach
If you don't make boosting your child's self-esteem "one of your top priorities" as a parent, you could jeopardize their future success and happiness, says mental performance coach Cindra Kamphoff. "Parents need to be more aware of the confidence crisis in America today, and they need to be really deliberate about increasing the confidence of their kids," says Kamphoff, the founder of the Mentally Strong Institute, a mental coaching firm for business leaders and athletes.
How to raise compassionate, resilient kids during stressful times, from a psychologist: You 'have a real job to do'
Many Americans have ample reason to feel stressed right now, from the tight job market to divisive politics and the general nature of the daily news. If you're a parent, you may need to work a little harder than everyone else to manage that stress healthily, so you can avoid letting it accidentally affect your children, says developmental psychologist Aliza Pressman.
Warby Parker co-CEO: How implicit trust and constant communication helped build my $2.6 billion company
Together, Neil Blumenthal and Dave Gilboa have taken Warby Parker from a business school project to "the Netflix of eyewear," a company valued at $2.61 billion as of Friday morning.
How a Super Bowl QB's parents taught him to be mentally resilient: 'It never mattered what kind of day they had'
Playing for his fifth NFL team in eight years, 28-year-old quarterback Sam Darnold is preparing to lead the Seattle Seahawks to a potential championship title in Super Bowl 60 on Sunday — a moment that's required a high degree of mental resilience to reach, he told The Athletic on Friday. Darnold's career started with high expectations as the No. 3 draft pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
How a Super Bowl QB's parents taught him to be mentally resilient: 'It never mattered what kind of day they had'
Brian Schottenheimer just got a wake-up call from a Cowboys legend Schotty, it's your time now. It's been 30 years since the Dallas Cowboys last won a Super Bowl. That was Super Bowl 30 when they took down the …
A 'staggering' number of people bought new iPhones last quarter—analysts explain why, and whether it'll happen again soon Original
Apple CEO Tim Cook called his company's recent iPhone sales surge "simply staggering" on Thursday. What was behind the iPhone 17 family's successful debut? Analysts have a few theories. The company topped Wall Street's expectations in the most recent quarter, posting $143.76 billion in total revenue for the period that included a 23% year-over-year bump in sales of its signature smartphone.
BlackRock CEO says AI could increase wealth inequality—an economist explains how to make the tech 'a powerful ally'
The artificial intelligence revolution could create even greater wealth inequality, according to BlackRock CEO Larry Fink. That's why Fink recommends global business and political leaders be proactive in figuring out how to ensure workers aren't left out of the financial growth AI is likely to create. "If AI does to white-collar work what globalization did to blue-collar [work], we need to confront that directly.
31-year-old's porta-potty company brings in $4.3 million a year: We've built 'a low-tech, AI-proof business' Original
Success doesn't always smell sweet. For Daniel Tom, the 31-year-old owner and operator of Bay Area Sanitation, success means nearly 2,000 portable toilets deployed at events and work sites across the San Francisco Bay Area. Tom's company is responsible for renting out and maintaining those toilets, including weekly cleanings, restocking supplies and emptying up to 60 gallons of waste from each unit with one of Bay Area Sanitation's 12 vacuum pumper trucks.
31-year-old's porta-potty company brings in $4.3 million a year: We've built 'a low-tech, AI-proof business'
3 hours ago Your poop reveals key clues about your health — here are a few red flags to keep an eye on. The next time you go number two, you should take a peek in the toilet. (You should actually be doing this after every bowel movement, doctors say.) While certain things such as blood in your poop and frequent …
Delroy Lindo just got his first Oscar nomination at age 73—he overcame ‘strategic missteps’ to build a 50-year career
Delroy Lindo, finally an Academy Award-nominated actor, only had to wait five decades to earn the honor — overcoming "" that once threatened to derail his career along the way, he's said. Lindo, 73, is a longtime character actor whose appearances on film, television and stage have earned him critical acclaim, even as his industry's highest honors eluded him.
When to use AI for parenting advice, says researcher—and when it can have 'dangerous consequences'
Some parents these days turn to artificial intelligence chatbots with child-rearing questions like "Is my child's fever high enough to go to the doctor?" or "How should I deal with my toddler's tantrums?" Make sure you stringently double check the chatbot's responses for the really important questions, particularly health care-related ones, says researcher Calissa Leslie-Miller. "It's not that you can't go to AI.
Mark Cuban's money helped build Indiana University's football team—he shares 'how championship teams and organizations are built' Original
If Indiana University wins the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday, fans will owe some thanks to one of the football program's biggest financial donors: billionaire Mark Cuban. Cuban, whose net worth is estimated at $9.6 billion by Bloomberg, graduated from IU with a degree in management in 1981. He's a longtime donor to his alma mater, including $5 million for a sports media center in 2015 and $6 million for IU's rugby team in 2024.
'The Pitt' helped two of its actors finally quit their day jobs--one 'spent 12 years hustling and pounding the pavement' before his big break
HBO's medical drama "The Pitt" is one of the most lauded shows on television, winning two Golden Globe awards on Sunday after picking up five Emmy Awards in September. For two of its stars, the show's breakout success even allowed them to quit their day jobs. When actors Patrick Ball and Supriya Ganesh landed their roles on the show, which premiered in January 2025, they were both struggling actors waiting for their big breaks.
'The Pitt' helped two of its actors finally quit their day jobs--one 'spent 12 years hustling and pounding the pavement' before his big break
Inside the 2026 BAFTA Tea Party with Leonardo DiCaprio, Aimee Lou Wood, and Teyana Taylor You know it's a good party when your guests are leaving with their shoes in their hands – as displayed by The White Lotus' Aimee Lou Wood who left the …
Bill Gates is still optimistic about the world's future—depending on these 3 questions Original
Bill Gates is as optimistic about the world's future as ever, despite the fact that we're living through "an era with so many challenges and so much polarization," the billionaire philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder wrote in a blog post on Friday. The world faces plenty of causes for concern over issues like climate change, global health and poverty, and disruptions caused by artificial intelligence, Gates wrote.
Nvidia's Jensen Huang would have to pay about $8 billion in proposed billionaire tax—he says that's 'perfectly fine' with him Original
Jensen Huang seems unfazed by the prospect of a potential $7.75 billion tax bill. That's how much the Nvidia CEO could end up owing the state of California if a proposed ballot measure succeeds in implementing a one-time 5% wealth tax on the state's billionaires. Huang, whose $155 billion net worth makes him the world's ninth-wealthiest person — according to a Jan. 6 Bloomberg estimate — would be "perfectly fine" with that outcome, he told Bloomberg Television on Tuesday.
Ivy League-trained psychologist: The No. 1 moment kids ‘learn the most’ from their parents—it’s the ‘ultimate relationship strategy’
No parent is perfect — and that's for the best, according to child psychologist Becky Kennedy. When parents make mistakes, and then make an effort to repair those missteps, they teach their kids important lessons about maturity and bonding, Kennedy told comedian Trevor Noah's "What Now?" podcast in a Dec. 4 episode. Those lessons can help kids maintain happy and healthy relationships going forward, she said.
33-year-olds shuttered their $2M-a-year startup, risked running out of money—now their AI business is valued at $100M
This story is part of CNBC Make It's The Moment series, where highly successful people reveal the critical moment that changed the trajectory of their lives and careers, discussing what drove them to make the leap into the unknown. Dhruv Amin and Marcus Lowe left Google and built a startup that was "profitable from Day 1," operating at a $2.2 million run rate by September 2023, Amin says. They predicted continued success, forecasting monthly revenue to multiply at least five-fold by late-2024.
33-year-olds shuttered their $2M-a-year startup, risked running out of money—now their AI business is valued at $100M | Flipboard
1 hour ago The new year is almost here, and Apple has a packed product lineup for 2026. Rumors indicate up to 25 new products will launch, here’s an overview of everything new on Apple’s roadmap. Winter and Spring 2026: Low-cost MacBook, iPhone 17e, Home products, more Apple has a much larger than usual lineup …
Parenting expert shares her No. 1 priority for raising emotionally intelligent kids: 'Stop focusing on their behavior' Original
Most parents know the frustration of dealing with a child's unexpected public tantrum. But parents are often too quick to call out their child's negative behavior — chastising them for that unnecessary meltdown or even telling them to "cheer up" when they seem sad — while ignoring the underlying emotions behind those actions, according to parenting expert Reem Raouda.
Parenting expert shares her No. 1 priority for raising emotionally intelligent kids: 'Stop focusing on their behavior'
What Happens to Your Brain When You Stop Checking Your Phone First Thing in the Morning The surprising mental perks of a phone-free morning. What’s the first thing you do when you wake up? If you’re like most people, you probably grab …
34-year-old entrepreneur earns $200 an hour from side gig training AI models: 'Intellectual curiosity drew me in'
Utkarsh Amitabh says he definitely wasn't in the market for a new job in January 2025, when data labeling startup micro1 approached him about joining its network of human experts who help companies train artificial intelligence models. The U.K.-based, 34-year-old entrepreneur already had a busy schedule as an author, university lecturer, founder and CEO of global mentorship and careers platform Network Capital, and student working toward a Ph.D. at the University of Oxford's Saïd Business School.
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