FromDayOne, Inc's logo
STORIES
Live Conference Recap BY Ade Akin | November 18, 2025

Epic Disruptions? They’ve Happened Before. Here’s What We Can Learn From Them

What can a 19th-century nurse teach us about AI? Everything, says innovation expert Scott Anthony. Florence Nightingale is remembered as a compassionate caregiver, but Anthony, a clinical professor at Dartmouth University, recast her as a master of systemic disruption at From Day One’s Boston conference during a fireside chat with Adi Ignatius, editor at large, at Harvard Business Review.“She drove deep systemic change in healthcare,” Anthony said. “She did it through data. She did it through visualization. She shows us what it takes to drive system change.” Anthony, the author of Epic Disruptions: 11 Innovations That Shaped Our Modern World, says that the principles behind history’s most significant innovations are the tools needed to build a more human-centric future as AI disrupts life as we know it. Florence Nightingale and the Art of System ChangeHistory offers “fiercely urgent teachings” for modern executives, providing a map to follow when the path forward is obscured, says Anthony.Anthony signed copies of his book, Epic Disruptions: 11 Innovations That Shaped Our Modern World, for session attendees “We’re in a world right now that can be characterized as being shrouded in dense fog,” he said. “You have technologies advancing exponentially. Lines between industries, blurring expectations of your customers, your colleagues, your children, shifting very rapidly, and shock after shock coming after you.” The natural human tendency is to slow down in these conditions, yet the modern imperative is to move faster than ever. He cites Florence Nightingale to illustrate how to drive meaningful change, noting she was a powerful systems innovator, not just the “lady with the lamp.”Nightingale’s work highlights that leaders can’t just do one thing to change systems; change always requires a multifaceted approach. “HR executives need to drive system change in your organizations,” Anthony said. “Florence Nightingale shows the components for how to do it.”Disruption as a Path to OptimismThe conversation naturally turned to the most significant source of disruption in the modern era: artificial intelligence. “AI is one of these ones where you’ll say there was a before [and] there was an after,” he said, placing artificial intelligence in the same category as the compass, gunpowder, and the printing press.Anthony acknowledges the messy middle that such transformations often entail, drawing a parallel to the 1920s, when automobiles flooded cities designed for pedestrians, horses, and carriages. Such disruption required new technology (traffic lights), new norms (sidewalks), and new regulations. “We will need these things for AI as well,” he said, warning that a hands-off approach during periods of immense transformation is a “horrible thing.”Leaders must also contend with the deep fears many people have regarding artificial intelligence. Anthony teaches a class on generative AI at Dartmouth, and even in a risk-free, pass-fail environment, “at least half of the class is terrified because there’s something about AI that we feel like hits our humanity, and if we adopt it too much, we lose something, ”he said. Acknowledging and addressing this fear is an executive responsibility.The Innovator’s Mindset“Disruption rewards patience and perseverance,” Anthony said. “There are no overnight successes. It just doesn't happen.” Like in the case of American chef and author Julia Child, who finally published her first cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, after spending a decade working on it, going through multiple publishers, and a near-death experience. The key for leaders is to be “patient for growth and profits,” but “impatient for proof points.”Anthony highlights the ability to embrace paradox as the single most important trait of leaders who successfully navigate disruption. He illustrated this mindset through a former Procter & Gamble executive who drove disruptive growth for products like Swiffer® and Febreze®, creating entirely new categories in household products.“Ghosts,” as Anthony calls it, or the invisible forces of past traumas, present patterns, and future fears, hold organizations back. Ghosts can manifest as a fixation on past IT failures, inertial routines that stifle experimentation, or the existential fear that adopting AI will change an organization’s identity. To combat these ghosts, Anthony points to a ritual used at Airbnb called “elephants, dead fish, and vomit.” “Elephants, what are the big things that nobody's talking about? Dead fish, what are the things that are in the corner of the room that are stinking up the room? Vomit, what's the stuff that you just need to say?” This practice, he says, helps bring unspoken friction to the surface so it can be addressed.Anthony ended the conversation with a final piece of advice, an anecdote from 1548, when King Edward VI issued a proclamation “against those that doeth innovate.” While such unproductive regulations are less likely to be issued today, Anthony says the fears that drove them are still prevalent. “My ask for you is to find ways to replace that fear with fun. When we’re playing, when we’re experimenting, when we’re trying new things, everything changes.”Ade Akin covers workplace wellness, AI, HR trends, and digital health solutions.(Photos by Josh Larson for From Day One)

Story cover image
News BY Emily Nonko | November 14, 2025

Target’s Buff Santa Is Back. Can He Deliver Target From Its Troubles?

Can a hunky Santa deliver relief from Target’s enduring struggles? For a second year in a row, the $106 billion national retailer is hoping the character can at least be a warm and welcoming messengar though the holiday season.This fall, Target announced its Step Into the Holidays campaign with a big emphasis: “Kris K. is back.” The company launched the campaign last year showcasing a youngish, dashing Santa. As a woman in last year’s ad put it: “It was Santa Claus. And he’s, like, weirdly hot.” The ad got attention everywhere from Tik Tok to the New York Times, so he was due for an encore. This time, ads show a fuller view of Kris’ personality, as he highlights his top gifts, watches football, sings karaoke and goes on dates.“Kris K. from Target captured hearts last holiday season,” Michelle Mesenburg, Target’s SVP for creative and content, said in a statement. “He embodies the playful joy, ease and inspiration that define the Target experience — helping you find the perfect gifts, celebrate every moment and make the season shine a little brighter.”Target has been in the midst of a new strategic plan on “creating today's Tarzhay, offering everyday discovery and delight for millions of families and ensuring Target is a consumer favorite for years to come,” then-CEO Brian Cornell said earlier this year. That has included a huge investment in marketing efforts, including this multi-pronged holiday campaign. Sarah Nesheim, a brand expert and co-founder of the social-media driven branding firm Crafted, isn’t convinced that marketing alone can fully correct course on the company’s recent struggles. She traces Target’s branding issue to 2023, when the company removed some displays celebrating Pride Month from store shelves after social media posts about its “woke” merchandise and threats against the safety of its workers, then faced further backlash from LGBTQ+ and human rights groups who said Target wasn’t standing by the community.This January, Target joined a number of other U.S. companies in dropping its diversity, equity and inclusion goals. Black shoppers responded with a well-publicized, 40-day boycott over its decision to cave to right-wing pressure on diverse hiring goals. While CEO Brian Cornell tried to re-emphasize Target’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, Target announced his resignation in August.Flip-flopping rarely works to cement a retailer’s brand identity and build customer loyalty. “It dilutes the brand identity and confuses customers,” Nesheim told From Day One. Consistent messaging of a brand like Costco — which sticks to customer value, even promising not to raise the price of its famous $1.50 hotdog — is a more effective strategy, she adds. Costco also stuck with its DEI programs, along with companies like Levi Strauss & Co.Target’s identity crisis strained already-existing retail challenges. “It’s made them less resilient to pressures like tariffs and Americans spending less,” Nesheim added.So while shopper boycotts rarely hurt major companies’ bottom line, the one in January did. Sales at Target, which has almost 2,000 stores across the U.S., fell more than expected in the first quarter of 2025. This summer, executives candidly included the DEI boycott in the list of reasons why the sales were down: “This was remarkable because a concession like that does not happen often,” NPR business correspondent Aline Selyukh said at the time.Sales from both physical stores and online channels had also been flat or declining in nine out of the past 11 quarters, PBS reported in August. In October, the Wall Street Journal reported that the company planned to lay off around 1,000 global corporate employees and eliminate 800 open positions. So will a hot Santa usher in some actual magic? “It’s a cute campaign,” Nesheim acknowledges, “but it still doesn’t tell me anything about what Target stands for.” Still, there’s effort by the retailer to make bigger changes. The new chief executive, 20-year Target veteran Michael Fiddelke, starts in February. He has outlined three immediate priorities: rebuilding Target’s merchandising strategy, improving the in-store experience, and investing in technology. The holiday campaign is meant to emphasize the brand’s store experience and value. Target also just made news for its new directive asking store employees to smile, make eye contact, and greet or wave when a shopper comes within 10 feet of them. “Heading into the holiday, we’re making adjustments and implementing new ways to increase connection during the most important time of the year,” Chief Stores Officer Adrienne Costanzo said in a statement.The company found that key consumer metrics rose when shoppers were greeted or acknowledged. The company will also work to improve in-stock levels, spruce up its stores, and host in-store demos and events throughout the holidays.And in the social-media world, Target hopes Kris K. can help kindle a new vibe. A video on Target’s official Instagram page, reports USAToday, shows a buff, “charismatic store team member” dressed as Santa, lifting weights (two red baskets filled with store items), which prompted one social-media user to muse, “Will there be one in every store?”  In her two-decade career, Emily Nonko has written about social justice, urbanism, real estate and housing as a freelance journalist based in Brooklyn, New York. In 2020, she co-founded Empowerment Avenue, a nonprofit supporting creative work from incarcerated people, and oversaw its writing cohort, where the group supported hundreds of stories publishing in mainstream media outlets from incarcerated writers around the country.(Featured image courtesy of Target)

Story cover image

What Our Attendees are Saying

Jordan Baker(Attendee) profile picture

“The panels were phenomenal. The breakout sessions were incredibly insightful. I got the opportunity to speak with countless HR leaders who are dedicated to improving people’s lives. I walked away feeling excited about my own future in the business world, knowing that many of today’s people leaders are striving for a more diverse, engaged, and inclusive workforce.”

– Jordan Baker, Emplify
Desiree Booker(Attendee) profile picture

“Thank you, From Day One, for such an important conversation on diversity and inclusion, employee engagement and social impact.”

– Desiree Booker, ColorVizion Lab
Kim Vu(Attendee) profile picture

“Timely and much needed convo about the importance of removing the stigma and providing accessible mental health resources for all employees.”

– Kim Vu, Remitly
Florangela Davila(Attendee) profile picture

“Great discussion about leadership, accountability, transparency and equity. Thanks for having me, From Day One.”

– Florangela Davila, KNKX 88.5 FM
Cory Hewett(Attendee) profile picture

“De-stigmatizing mental health illnesses, engaging stakeholders, arriving at mutually defined definitions for equity, and preventing burnout—these are important topics that I’m delighted are being discussed at the From Day One conference.”

– Cory Hewett, Gimme Vending Inc.
Trisha Stezzi(Attendee) profile picture

“Thank you for bringing speakers and influencers into one space so we can all continue our work scaling up the impact we make in our organizations and in the world!”

– Trisha Stezzi, Significance LLC
Vivian Greentree(Attendee) profile picture

“From Day One provided a full day of phenomenal learning opportunities and best practices in creating & nurturing corporate values while building purposeful relationships with employees, clients, & communities.”

– Vivian Greentree, Fiserv
Chip Maxwell(Attendee) profile picture

“We always enjoy and are impressed by your events, and this was no exception.”

– Chip Maxwell, Emplify
Katy Romero(Attendee) profile picture

“We really enjoyed the event yesterday— such an engaged group of attendees and the content was excellent. I'm feeling great about our decision to partner with FD1 this year.”

– Katy Romero, One Medical
Kayleen Perkins(Attendee) profile picture

“The From Day One Conference in Seattle was filled with people who want to make a positive impact in their company, and build an inclusive culture around diversity and inclusion. Thank you to all the panelists and speakers for sharing their expertise and insights. I'm looking forward to next year's event!”

– Kayleen Perkins, Seattle Children's
Michaela Ayers(Attendee) profile picture

“I had the pleasure of attending From Day One. My favorite session, Getting Bias Out of Our Systems, was such a powerful conversation between local thought leaders.”

– Michaela Ayers, Nourish Events
Sarah J. Rodehorst(Attendee) profile picture

“Inspiring speakers and powerful conversations. Loved meeting so many talented people driving change in their organizations. Thank you From Day One! I look forward to next year’s event!”

– Sarah J. Rodehorst, ePerkz
Angela Prater(Attendee) profile picture

“I had the distinct pleasure of attending From Day One Seattle. The Getting Bias Out of Our Systems discussion was inspirational and eye-opening.”

– Angela Prater, Confluence Health
Joel Stupka(Attendee) profile picture

“From Day One did an amazing job of providing an exceptional experience for both the attendees and vendors. I mean, we had whale sharks and giant manta rays gracefully swimming by on the other side of the hall from our booth!”

– Joel Stupka, SkillCycle
Alexis Hauk(Attendee) profile picture

“Last week I had the honor of moderating a panel on healthy work environments at the From Day One conference in Atlanta. I was so inspired by what these experts had to say about the timely and important topics of mental health in the workplace and the value of nurturing a culture of psychological safety.”

– Alexis Hauk, Emory University