Concerns over privacy, workplace culture, and social responsibility have required the chiefs of Silicon Valley's biggest firms to defend themselves in unfamiliar forums, said Ben LaBolt, a partner at Bully Pulpit, an image consulting firm.
As tech companies face greater public scrutiny, and Congress considers regulation, LaBolt said executives must show they're sympathetic as well as diligent.
"A lot of it is as much style as it is substance," said LaBolt, a former campaign press secretary for President Obama. " It's showing respect for the members of Congress, talking to the broader public, not just the people in the room."
LaBolt said Monday in an interview with Cheddar that the Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg's appearance before Congress earlier this month was an example of the new requirements for Silicon Valley executives. Public hearings can test an executive's judgment in different ways than he or she is used to.
"I think starting with 'I'm sorry' is always a good place to start, but it's usually not enough," said LaBolt. "People need to see accountability."
He cited the case of Uber's former chief executive, Travis Kalanick, who was forced out after reports of combative behavior and a toxic work environment. Uber is a Bully Pulpit client, and since Dara Khosrowshahi took over the company, LaBolt said he has heard more from his client about efforts to change company's culture than he has negative stories about Uber being a difficult place to work.
For the full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/image-and-branding-in-the-digital-era).
Learning about money is a skill that should be learned at an early age. OneMain Financial is now offering a financial course called 'Credit Worthy' across several high schools across the country, along with some scholarships. Doug Shulman, CEO of OneMain Financial, joined Cheddar News to discuss the importance of learning and understanding credit. "Over half of high school students graduate without knowing the basics about credit," Schulman said. "It really helps establish a great foundation to being an independent adult, to have a healthy and happy life, and some financial security is part of that."
Mariah Carey is facing a second lawsuit claiming copyright infringement over her song, "All I Want For Christmas is You."
Apple posted better-than-expected results for the third quarter but continued to report soft revenue. Cheddar News breaks it all down.
Thousands of hospitality workers across 18 casinos in Las Vegas have announced they are set to strike if a new contract agreement is not reached by Friday, November 10.
Mariah Carey, the 'Queen of Christmas,' is teaming up with Victoria's Secret for a new holiday collection.
Stocks jumped Friday after a jobs report showed a higher slowdown in hiring, giving hope to an end in rate hikes.
A new study found greater productivity in companies with a higher gender balance.
Apple posted better-than-expected profit and revenue in the latest quarter but said sales dropped for the fourth straight quarter, including a drop in revenue for iPads and iMacs.
The Federal Trade Commission is accusing Amazon of using an algorithm to raise prices for some of its products, thereby causing other shopping sites to do the same.
The Labor Department reported the U.S. economy added 150,000 jobs in October, down from an adjusted 297,000 jobs added in September.
