Kenneth Flakes

Hybrid Work Is Not the Problem — Poor Leadership Is Workplace transformation isn’t about where people work — it’s about how they work together to drive outcomes.

Found this article insightful: Hybrid work isn’t the issue — poor leadership is. MIT Sloan research shows that results-driven teams thrive when leaders focus on outcomes, not badge swipes. #Leadership #work #FutureOfWork

Aaron Judge Bet on Himself and Gained $150M. You Too Can Win Big Like Judge with These 4 Tips. Aaron Judge bet big on himself this season, and his huge gamble paid off greatly. In Judge’s “walk year,” the year immediately before becoming a free agent in baseball, he declined a seven-year, $213....

Aaron Judge didn’t just bet on himself. He made history in 2025.

🔹 3rd player ever with 50+ HR and a batting title
🔹 Tallest batting champ at 6'7"

His 2022 story is a masterclass in discipline and belief. Read how Judge turned excellence into $150M and how you can, too.

#MLBSky #baseball

As a regular viewer, I caught the full hour. I apprecited the perspectives and commentary.

Are We Witnessing the Fall of the American Empire? Mike Duncan has covered the rise and fall of empires on his podcasts The History of Rome and Revolutions, and he knows what it looks like when things fall apart

This is a 14-minute read, but a great read. #HistorySky

What is mind-boggling to me is that people want to hold regular Americans to a higher standard than the President of the United States.

Can someone please make it make sense❓️

We need to eliminate the stereotypes about being labeled a "STEM person." Especially in the Black community, we need more examples of Blacks in STEM regularly on television shows. #BlackSky #STEM #BlackInSTEM

Oil Tycoons Bet Big on Trump. It’s Paying Off. The Trump administration has opened land to drilling and is moving to roll back environmental restrictions and hobble renewable energy. But crude prices have dropped.

This Wall Street Journal story stood out to me today: Big Oil has leaned heavily into Trump-era policy wins, but the market hasn’t exactly followed suit.

Is this energy dominance, or a strategic gamble with uncertain returns❓

#EnergySky #BusinessSky #OilandGas

In today's "what if": What if President Barack Obama spoke to Caitlin Collins the way that President Trump spoke to Yamiche Alcindor today?

Kickoff to Success: Leadership Lessons from the NFL The NFL season is here, bringing with it not just thrilling games but also powerful lessons in leadership and personal growth. From the gridiron to the boardroom, the qualities that define great athle...

First Sunday of the NFL season — A perfect moment to reflect on leadership beyond the gootball field.

From C.J. Stroud’s quiet grit to Russell Wilson’s empathy, the game teaches resilience, bold choices, and legacy.

I unpack six lessons in this Professional Plus edition. #NFL #NFLSky #SkyNFL

Halliburton reduces workforce as oil activity slumps, sources say U.S. oilfield services provider Halliburton has been cutting staff in recent weeks, according to two sources familiar with the matter, marking the latest workforce reduction in the U.S. oil industry as it faces rising costs and a period of lower prices and volatility.

Amid continued volatility in the oil and gas sector, Halliburton has executed a series of layoffs over several weeks per sources directly involved but not authorized to speak publicly.

The sources reported that at least 3 business units experienced workforce reductions ranging from 20% to 40%.

Houston-based ConocoPhillips to lay off up to 25% of its workforce, impacting thousands of jobs JUST IN: Houston-based oil giant ConocoPhillips is planning to lay off up to a quarter of its workforce.

Disappointing news here in Houston: ConocoPhillips has confirmed plans to lay off up to 25% of its workforce, potentially affecting over 3K roles.

ConocoPhillips cites operational efficiency as a driver, with automation and AI increasingly replacing traditional roles.

www.khou.com/article/news...

Is this $1B rebrand truly worth the cost? For a leader who campaigned on ending wars, renaming it the Department of War feels not just ironic but deeply contradictory.

Black Americans Are Losing Jobs in a Warning for the Economy Unemployment among Black people reaches highest level since 2021. “I am in the fight of my life.”

In 2023, Black unemployment hit a historic low (4.8%), and the gap with white unemployment was the smallest on record.

The reversal to 7.2% — the highest since 2021 — threatens to erase progress in wage growth, representation, and economic mobility.

#jobs #BlackSky #economy

I take no enjoyment in saying this, but does anyone see a Blue Alliance creation along with a Red Alliance creation? The divide is deepening.

This insightful WSJ piece explores how China’s vision for AI diverges from Western models: prioritizing state-led integration and long-term planning, as compared to the more decentralized, market-driven approaches often seen in the West #AI #artificialintelligence #STEM #SkySTEM #SkyScience #science

Your Boss Doesn’t Have Time to Talk to You Amazon wants bigger teams. Bank of America is flattening. Corporate America is shedding managers, and the workplace is changing radically.

The Wall Street Journal just published a piece on the quiet disappearance of middle management and it resonated with me because it confirms what many of us have been sensing in real time.

If Peter Drucker were alive today, he'd be greatly disappointed in management theory today.

#jobs #management

Houston-based ConocoPhillips to lay off up to 25% of its workforce, impacting thousands of jobs Estimated cuts would impact between 2,600 and 3,250 workers.

Disappointing news here in Houston: ConocoPhillips has confirmed plans to lay off up to 25% of its global workforce, potentially affecting over 3,000 roles. This move follows its merger with Marathon Oil and signals deeper shifts across the energy sector. #energy #oilandgas #jobs #business

Initially, I thought this was a joke, but then I did a quick Google search....

Why It Happens:

The process is driven by a focus on corporate greed and a lack of competition or regulation, which allow platforms to worsen the user experience and increase profits without fear of losing customers.

A quick search confirms: WWII ended with the unconditional surrender of Germany and Japan. The troubling part? Misinformation and disinformation spread faster than truth, and correcting it is often harder than spotting it.

Solar executives warn that Trump attack on renewables will lead to power crunch that spikes electricity prices Renewable power executives say difficulty getting permits, rising costs due to tariffs and the end of key tax credits are making it tough to plan.

Elections have consequences. Some more costly than others. If the current administration continues to stall solar and wind development, I hope they have a serious plan to address the rising cost of electricity. #solar #wind #renewables #energy #electricity

Grateful to stand alongside two rising stars from the University of Houston's Black Male Engineering Mentoring Network (BMEN) and their dedicated advisor.

BMEN was founded to confront a powerful truth: fewer than 3% of engineering graduates are Black men.

#BlackInSTEM #STEMsky

The Quiet Part Out Loud: Target Ditching DEI Cost The CEO His Job And Investors $12 Billion It’s time to say the quiet part out loud. Eliminating DEI was very bad for Target's business - costing investors billions and the CEO his job. Here is how it happened.

Great read. Target scrapped what made people stick around, and it backfired, cost the CEO, and hit their stock price hard.

Stepping back into the world of Bridgerton at the 2025 NSBE Annual Fundraising Gala this past July.

What an incredible night at the Crystal Ballroom at The Rice, surrounded by amazing people — and what an honor to be recognized among such amazing company!

#NSBE #ProfessionalPlus #STEM #Excellence

Yeah, I'm sure Lebron is devastated 💔 lol

Kenneth Flakes stands with folded arms, attentively listening to a fellow UH Engineering alum during the Annual Meeting & Networking Social. Both are engaged in conversation, surrounded by the warm atmosphere of the event.

Grateful for thoughtful exchanges and familiar faces at the UH Engineering Alumni Association Annual Meeting. @uhengineering.bsky.social #GoCoogs #STEM #leadership #networking #EngineeredForWhatsNext

Is Work-Life Balance a Myth? What 5 High Achievers Say Discover how President Obama, Mark Cuban and other high achievers define work-life balance—and the trade-offs that fuel success and fulfillment.

Is work-life balance a myth❓

From President Obama’s family dinners to Mark Cuban’s “no balance” stance, five high achievers share how they navigate ambition vs. fulfillment.

Read our latest newsletter📰

#worklife #success #career #leadership #ProfessionalPlus

Opinion | Don’t believe the MAGA doomers on trade America has flourished under free trade. Don’t upend the world based on exaggerations and lies.

3. Median incomes show the rise in Americans' prosperity.

4. Economic disruptions happen. Americans are still doing better.

5. Americans move less often now in search of economic opportunity.

What do you think about his opinion❓️

(2/2)

Opinion | Don’t believe the MAGA doomers on trade America has flourished under free trade. Don’t upend the world based on exaggerations and lies.

I just watched Fareed Zakaria’s opening monologue on CNN about his recent Washington Post article.

He laid it out clearly:

1. The world doesn't get why Americans feel like victims of free trade.

2. Trump and MAGA's narrative of American decline is false.

(1/2)

Kenneth stands center holding his Advisor of the Year award at the NSBE Houston Professionals Gala. To his left is the chapter president, and to his right is the vice president. All three are dressed in formal attire, smiling proudly.

I am proud to share that I was honored as Advisor of the Year at the NSBE Houston Professionals Gala, joined by our phenomenal chapter president and vice president.

Grateful and humbled doesn’t even begin to express how honored I truly feel.

#ProfessionalPlus #NSBE #Leadership #Community #Purpose

Scott Jennings is the new Skip Bayless