Case Study: Hilton's Response to Their Franchise

There are lessons to be considered in Hilton’s response to one of their franchisees' refusals to serve federal agents earlier this month in Minnesota.

Background: A franchise property (under the Hilton/Hampton brand) gained media attention when it was reported that it canceled reservations for federal government employees tied to the recent anti-immigration efforts. Hilton quickly stripped the hotel of its branding for refusing service to federal agents.

For leaders of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), this is not just a "big brand" problem. It is a cautionary tale about how decentralized operations can create reputational issues that need to be swiftly addressed.

business operations, corporate governance, BoD, culture, risk, sagaciousthinkLouAnn ConnerJanuary 16, 2026#corporategovernance, #risk, reputation risk, operatopms, operationsComment

Series B: Scaling Without Getting Caught Between Bases

Fred Destin said it best: “Series B is (usually) just plain hard.” The early-stage optimism fades, replaced by pressure to deliver metrics that validate scale. This transition can be tough for some founders.

Roughly 1 in 3 startups fail post-Series B - nicely down from Series A, but still uncomfortably high. The stakes are higher, and so are the expectations.

LouAnn ConnerAugust 19, 2025#corporategovernance, operations, funding, VC, startup, series bComment

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scale with structure

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