Tesla's Contentious Conference Call

Called "the most unusual call...in 20 years," "bizarre"—and "the best call I've heard in a long time," Tesla's earnings call is a popular news item. On balance, as one analyst said, “Needless to say, the call didn’t go well," and the evidence is in the stock price, which dropped 7.9% (5% within 20 minutes).

Here are a two highlights of CEO Elon Musk's responses to questions:

Sanford Bernstein's Toni Sacconaghi: "And so where specifically will you be in terms of capital requirements?"

Musk: "Excuse me. Next. Boring, bonehead questions are not cool. Next?"

RBC's Joseph Spak: "The first question is related to the Model 3 reservations, and I was just wondering if you gave us a gauge as maybe some of the impact that the news has had. Like, of the reservations that actually opened and made available to configure, can you let us know, like, what percentage have actually taken the step to configure?

Musk: "We're going to go to YouTube. Sorry. These questions are so dry. They're killing me."

At one point, Musk, frustrated by a question, said, "Please sell our stock and don't buy it." Candor is one thing, but I'm not sure a CEO wants to alienate investors.

CNBC host Jim Cramer is one of the opposing voices, who complimented Musk on his directness and telling the truth. He said that many CEOs are thinking what Musk said out loud. At the same time, Cramer acknowledged that this might be Musk's last call.

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Discussion:

• What's your view of Musk's responses during the call? What factors into your assessment?
• Watch Cramer's analysis. To what extent do you agree with his assessment?
• What are the risks of Musk's approach (in addition to the short-term stock price drop), and what are the potential rewards?
• Some might say Musk is being authentic. How do you see it?

MSNBC Correspondent Responds to Criticism

MSNBC Correspondent Joy Reid is trying to explain homophobic posts on her blog, which has been inactive for years:

"I genuinely do not believe I wrote those hateful things ... But I can definitely understand, based on things I have tweeted and have written in the past, why some people don't believe me."

Reid hired a security analyst to prove that her site had been hacked, saying that the breach was "part of an effort to taint my character with false information by distorting a blog that ended a decade ago.” But the investigation didn't uncover evidence. The hacking defense typically doesn't turn out well. Remember Amy's Baking Company in 2013?

On her show, "AM Joy,"  Reid apologized for past comments:

“I have not been exempt from being dumb or cruel or hurtful to the very people I want to advocate for. I own that. I did it. And for that I am truly, truly sorry.”

A Mediaite story details Reid's previous posts:

“I look back today at some of the ways I’ve talked casually about people and gender identity and sexual orientation and I wonder who that even was. But the reality is that like a lot of people in this country, that person was me.”

A Vox article acknowledges that people's views, particularly of same-sex marriage, have changed. In the end, Reid spoke about her personal development:

“The person I am now is not the person I was then. I like to think I’ve gotten better as a person over time — that I’m still growing, that I’m not the same person I was 10 or five or even one year ago. And I know that my goal is to try to be a better person and a better ally.”

Discussion:

• How could Reid have addressed the issue without the hacking defense?
• Watch Reid's video apology. How well does she handle the situation?
• People do change. Do you find Reid's comments sincere and believable? Why or why not?

Chipotle CEO Generates Excitement

After a dismal three years of food-safety issues, Chipotle saw a strong first quarter, and CEO Brian Niccol is confident about the company's future. Since the outbreaks, part of Chipotle's turnaround plan was to introduce new menu items, but they did not prove successful.

In an interview, Niccol described new plans, which may include drive-thrus, longer hours, mobile ordering, or menu items that are more thoroughly tested. But Niccol resists offering deals and breakfast, despite what Bill Ackman, Chipotle's largest shareholder, advises:

“I’ve been very clear with him: Not now, Bill and I have had a couple of really good conversations. He may have some ideas that I don’t think are the right ones now.”

Here's the earnings call webcast. In the press release, Niccol further explained the company's plans:

"While the company made notable progress during the quarter, I firmly believe we can accelerate that progress in the future.  We are in the process of forming a path to greater performance in sales, transactions, margins and new restaurants.  This path to performance will be grounded in a strategy of executing the fundamentals while introducing consumer-meaningful innovation across the business.  It will also require a structure and organization built for creativity, action and accountability.  Finally, Chipotle will have a culture that is centered on running great restaurants, putting the customer first, innovating for today and tomorrow, supporting each other, and delivering on commitments.  The future will be meaningful at Chipotle."

(Disclosure: I own a modest amount of Chipotle stock.) Image source.

Discussion:

• Assess the earnings call or press release. What business jargon do you identify? Is it too much, or is it appropriate for the situation and audience?
• Niccol is challenging Ackman's ideas, which is risky for a new CEO. How do you interpret his statement? Again, is what he says appropriate for the situation, or should he present his views differently?
• Would you say that Niccol is demonstrating courage in his statement about Ackman? Why or why not?

More About the Starbucks Bias Situation

After the arrest of two black men in a Philadelphia store, Starbucks announced that 8,000 stores will close on May 29 for racial-bias training. But are some skeptical about the impact that one day of training will have, and the company seems to be imitating Chipotle's decision to close stores for food safety training. On the other hand, the company could have blamed the employee who called the police, a crisis communication strategy we have seem in many other situations. 

An article in the New York Times describes racial bias research in hospitality customer service and may tell us more about the incident in Philadelphia. In one study, researchers sent emails to hotels using different names that reflected gender and race, asking for restaurant recommendations. Responses indicated racial bias, as the authors describe: "Hotel employees were significantly more likely to respond to inquiries from people who had typically white names than from those who had typically black and Asian names."

In addition, researchers analyzed "politeness," for example, whether employees wrote "best" or "sincerely" before signing their name. They were more likely to use such words when responding to guests with names that sounded white, and the authors describe another finding for this group: 

They were three times as likely to provide extra information — even when the initial inquiry was just about restaurants — to white than to black or Asian people.

In addition to training, the authors suggest periodic customer service audits and consistent scripts and policies.

In a turn, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross has apologized to the two men who were arrested. In his original video, Ross defended the officers actions and said, based on a sergeant's experience at Starbucks, "they are at least consistent in their policy." But in the news conference, Ross says, "shame on me" and "I have to do better." 

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Discussion: 

• What's your view of the research about customer service at hotels? What does the research potentially say about the situation at Starbucks?
• Have you experienced bias in a customer service setting? What was the situation, and how did you handle it? 
• How well does Ross handle the apology in the news conference? How does his identity factor into his response? How does he demonstrate authenticity, vulnerability, and other leadership character dimensions?

Passenger Dies on Southwest Flight

An engine exploded on a Southwest flight, which blew out a window and killed a passenger. The company has communicated about the tragedy consistently and in several forms.

On its website, Southwest posted several updates regarding the situation, starting with the initial event and ending with more information.

The second statement has the most detailed information and confirms the passenger's death:

Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) confirms an accident involving Southwest Airlines Flight 1380. The flight made an emergency diversion to Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) earlier today after the Crew reported issues with the number one engine which resulted in damage to the fuselage.

We are deeply saddened to confirm that there is one fatality resulting from this accident. The entire Southwest Airlines Family is devastated and extends its deepest, heartfelt sympathy to the Customers, employees, family members and loved ones affected by this tragic event. We have activated our emergency response team and are deploying every resource to support those affected by this tragedy. For a message from Gary Kelly, Southwest Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, please click here.

The aircraft involved today was a Boeing 737-700 (N772SW) and was enroute from New York LaGuardia (LGA) to Dallas Love Field (DAL). In total, the flight had 144 Customers and five Southwest Crewmembers onboard.  We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the Southwest Pilots and Flight Attendants who acted professionally and swiftly to take care of our Customers during the emergency diversion and landing.

Finally, Southwest Airlines officials are in direct contact with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to support an immediate, coordinated response to this accident. Southwest is in the process of gathering additional information regarding flight 1380 and will fully cooperate in an investigative process.

Please join the Southwest Family in keeping all of those affected by today's tragedy in your thoughts.

CEO Gary Kelly conveyed his sympathy in a video posted on the Twitter and during a news conference. Both are obviously scripted, but perhaps this is appropriate given the timing and severity of the situation.

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Discussion:

• Assess Southwest's communications overall. What is they company doing well, and what could be improved?
• Now assess the news conference video, which is similar to the video message posted on Twitter. What delivery skills does the CEO demonstrate? What could be improved? Should he use a more natural style and "speak from the heart"? What are the potential downsides of this approach?
• How well does the company demonstrate compassion?

Uber CEO Compares Self-Driving Cars to Student Drivers

In defense of autonomous cars, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said, "Ultimately, self-driving cars will be safer than humans. But right now self-driving cars are learning. They’re student drivers.” On NBC's Today Show, Khosrowshahi confirmed that the company will continue its self-driving program despite a fatal crash last month in Arizona. 

In the interview, when asked about Facebook and other technology companies facing privacy and safety issues, Khosrowshahi said he considers, "the challenges of technology getting into everyday life and the responsibilities that come with it." He repeated "responsibility" twice more within about the first minute of the interview. Like Mark Zuckerberg during the recent hearings on Capitol Hill, he said, "I welcome regulation," and "we're partnering with regulators."

Also as Zuckerberg clarified with lawmakers, Khosrowshahi said they don't sell data; however, he also said they don't "monetize data," which Facebook cannot say with its business model to sell ads. 

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Discussion:

• What principles of persuasion does Khosrowshahi demonstrate in this interview? Consider logical argument, emotional appeal, and credibility.  
• What principles of leadership character does he demonstrate? 
• What do you consider the strengths of this interview? What could Khosrowshahi improve? 

Zuckerberg Testifies Before Congress

In many hours of testimony, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg did his best to address lawmakers' questions about data privacy and, surprisingly, how Facebook works. Senators and Members of Congress asked questions about texting, about how the company makes money without a subscription model (Zuckerberg: "We sell ads."), whether Facebook owns users' data, whether Facebook sells data, how many "data categories" Facebook collects, and so on. This video compilation does not reflect well on our lawmakers.

Zuckerberg himself seemed surprised by some of the questions and wasn't fully prepared to answer them. A reporter captures a photo of Zuckerberg's notes, which are what we would expect, but it's fun (in a voyeuristic way) to see them.

On the second day of testimony, questions improved, and many focused on Facebook's treatment of conservative political views. These were fair questions, and Zuckerberg admitted they had made mistakes in screening some content as inappropriate. But several representatives seemed to ask similar questions about this and about the consent agreement with the FCC, as if the question hadn't been asked just moments earlier.

In a New York Times Daily Podcast, reporters discussed Zuckerberg's continued references to starting Facebook in his dorm room. They believed the strategy was a good one for demonstrating his humanity (emotional appeal) but was potentially damaging for his credibility because it reminded lawmakers that he is only 33 years old. A seat chair, which internet trolls called a "booster seat," didn't help.

Wall Street responded well to Zuckerberg's testimony, with the stock price rising both days.

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Discussion:

• What's your view of Zuckerberg's testimony? Watch as much as you can tolerate.
• Should lawmakers have a better understanding of Facebook? What is their level of responsibility?
• Identify a few specific questions and Zuckerberg's answers. What leadership character dimensions does he demonstrate, and how could he have improved?
• Watching the testimony, how would you assess his authenticity? Do you know more about him as a person? Should we?

An Interview with Sheryl Sandberg

During an interview with Judy Woodruff on PBS NewsHour, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg admitted mistakes and discussed plans for improving users' privacy. Sandberg didn't shy away from tough questions about Facebook's role in protecting users' information and admitted that the site had an important role during the 2016 presidential election, at least to get people to register to vote.

On whether Cambridge Analytica still has data, Sandberg admitted, "We were given assurances by them years ago that they deleted the data. We should’ve followed up. That’s on us. We are trying to do a forensic audit to find out what they have." She also said the company had "under-invested" in ways to protect users' information.

Viewers may notice that Sandberg repeatedly says versions of "That's a very good question." This could be a tactic to delay responding, or it could be that Woodruff asks good questions! Sandberg would be the first to acknowledge that many of the questions are ones the company leaders are asking themselves at this point. As pioneers, Facebook executives are reconsidering how people use the site and for what purpose.

Discussion:

• Assess Sandberg's presentation skills. How well does she deliver her ideas and address questions?
• What principles of persuasion does Sandberg demonstrate in the interview?
• What else, if anything, could Sandberg have said during this interview to rebuild trust in the company?

Turnaround for Martin Shkreli

We see a different Martin Shkreli from the one criticized for smirking during a congressional hearing on Capitol Hill in 2016. Shkreli ran Turing Pharmaceuticals when the company was accused of raising drug prices 5,000% in 2015. At the time, he was only 28 years old and was called "the most hated man in America."

Last week, Shkreli was sentenced to seven years in prison for fraud committed while he was a hedge fund manager and while running another drug company, Retrophin.

Shkreli pleaded for leniency. According to a CNBC report, he "broke down in tears." Another  article summarizes his statements in court:  

"The one person to blame for me being here today is me," a choked-up Shkreli told a judge before she imposed the prison term in Brooklyn, New York, federal court.

"Not the government. There is no conspiracy to take down Martin Shkreli."

"I took down Martin Shkreli with my disgraceful and shameful actions."

"This is my fault. I am no victim here," Shkreli said, before breaking down into tears as he promised not to let his lawyer Benjamin Brafman down in his efforts to contribute to society.

"Do not feel bad for me," Shkreli told a packed courtroom that included supporters and family members, many of whom had written letters asking Judge Kiyo Matsumoto to spare him from a harsh sentence.

And he had a message for the investors he duped: "I am terribly sorry I lost your trust. ... You deserve far better."

"I was never motivated by money," Shkreli said. "I wanted to grow my stature and my reputation."

"I am here because of my gross, stupid and negligent mistakes I made."

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Discussion:

• Let's assume Shkreli's statements are sincere. How could you explain Shkreli's smirking in 2015 at such as serious hearing and his behavior more recently?
• Do you believe Shkreli's statements are sincere? Why or why not?

News Conference About Florida Shooting

Officials have made statements about the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, that left 17 people dead and another 16 injured. Themes focus on healing—giving families and others affected time to mourn, charging the perpetrator, and preventing similar incidents from happening in the future.

As we typically see in these news conferences, multiple people give their perspective, and we may see the influence of their role and their personal views.

Political conversations about the FBI's role and gun control have already started. President Trump also made a statement after the tragedy.

Discussion:

• Analyze each person's contribution to the news conference. How do you see their role and their personal views affecting what they say and how they say it?
• What's your view about the political conversation: should we avoid talking about gun control now, or it this the best time? How do your own political views factor into your perspective?

Calls for Michigan State President to Resign

Some believe it's a matter of integrity and accountability; others believe this will start the healing process. In addition to public demands, one Michigan State trustee says it's time for the university president to resign over Dr. Lawrence G. Nassar's sexual abuse of dozens of female athletes.

The rest of the university trustees have shown public support for the president, Lou Anna Simon. In a statement, they said, "President Simon is the right leader for the university, and she has our support." But the sole trustee, Mitch Lyons, disagrees:

“I don’t feel that President Simon can survive the public outcry that has been generated by this tragedy. I feel that our best recourse is for President Simon to resign immediately in order to allow the healing process to begin."

According to a Detriot News story, several university officials, including the president, heard complaints about Nassar. Simons admits, “I was informed that a sports medicine doctor was under investigation. I told people to play it straight up, and I did not receive a copy of the report. That’s the truth.” People question her judgment in not seeing the final report, particularly given the recent explosive case at Penn State University. We will see what happens next.

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Discussion:

• Should Simon resign? Why or why not?
• What does it take for Lyons to break rank with the rest of the trustees? How would you describe the possible dynamics on the board?
• How does such abuse go on for so long? About 140 women complained about Nassar when he was working with Olympic athletes, and at least eight students came forward at the Michigan State.
• At the end of the trustees' statement, a reporter asks, "Why no questions?" But the board leaves the room without saying anything. Should they have taken questions? Why or why not?

Shark Tank Episode Illustrates Lack of Listening and Humility

The owners of Birddogs didn't do very well on Shark Tank. In Season 9, Episode 14, investors grilled the makers of gym shorts with built-in underwear and were skeptical about their responses.

At some point, Kevin O'Leary stopped the discussion to ask how they thought things were going. They didn't say much at that point, but viewers knew the answer: they probably wouldn't get a deal. At the end, Daymond John, the clothing expert and most likely partner, said, "You were also telling us about how you're better than everybody else. . . . I think it's a very elitist attitude, and I just wouldn't be able to work with you."

The entrepreneurs spoke in generalities about how their marketing was better than that of anyone else. They also claimed a 40% email marketing open rate, while their competitors had only 4%, which the sharks didn't believe.

When Lori Greiner was asking questions, one of the owners kept trying to jump in. He didn't demonstrate good listening skills.

Perhaps the worst of it was at the end. In closing, one of the men was incredulous about why they didn't get a deal.

Discussion:

• Watch the episode (available on Hulu). How well do you think the team handled the pitch? Do you share the sharks' view that they were arrogant and that their numbers "didn't add up"?
• How do you assess their presentation skills? What would have improved their delivery?
• How could they have listened and demonstrated humility? Try to give specific examples.

Oprah's Rousing Speech

At the Golden Globes, Oprah did what Oprah does: get a crowd going. Her acceptance speech for the Cecil B. DeMille award echoed themes from the night, celebrating Rosa Parks and the #MeToo movement.

Seth Meyer's show opening included a bit about Oprah running for president, and her speech did sound a bit "presidential": "I want all the girls watching here and now to know that a new day is on the horizon!" If we judge by the standing ovation and social media reactions, she already has a following.

A Washington Post article goes beyond last night's reactions and quotes her partner saying, "It's up to the people. She would absolutely do it."

Discussion:

• What were the main points of Oprah's speech, and how did she organize it?
• Assess her delivery skills. What makes this a powerful speech?
• How did Oprah demonstrate compassion in the speech? How effectively did she get her message across?

Al Franken Resigns

In a statement CNN calls "totally unapologetic," Minnesota Senator Al Franken has resigned. Although he was awaiting an ethics committee investigation, more women have come forward in the meantime reporting similar incidents of groping and forced kissing.

A group of more than 30 senators led by New York Senator Kristen Gillibrand called for his resignation. In a Facebook post titled "Senator Franken Should Step Aside," Gillibrand wrote that she is "shocked and disappointed" by his behavior, and she referred to this time as "a watershed moment."

Franken read a statement on the Senate floor, including this section:

"Over the last few weeks, a number of women have come forward to talk about how they felt my actions had affected them. I was shocked. I was upset. But in responding to their claim, I also wanted to be respectful of that broader conversation. Because all women deserve to be heard and their experiences taken seriously. I think that was the right thing to do. I also think it gave some people the false impression that I was admitting to doing things that in fact I haven't done. Some of the allegations against me are simply not true. Others I remember very differently."

He also pointed to others accused:

"I am leaving while a man who has bragged on tape about his history of sexual assault sits in the Oval Office and a man who repeatedly preyed on young girls campaigns for the Senate with the full support of his party. But this decision is not about me. It's about the people of Minnesota."

A CNN editor summarizes Franken's statement: 

"The message of all this is clear as day: I didn't do anything really wrong. The people who say I did are wrong or don't remember it right. And it's ridiculous that people like Trump and Moore are in the White House and might be in the Senate, respectively, while I am being forced out."

Discussion:

• Do you agree with the CNN writer's assessment that Franken doesn't really apologize? Why or why not?
• Watch Franken's full statement and assess his delivery skills. How well does he use tone, gestures, and so on to support his message?

Wells Fargo's Stiff CEO Video

Wells Fargo is still trying to rebuild trust after several scandals, including creating millions of fake accounts for customers. The company sent emails to customers and included a link to a new video featuring CEO and president Tim Sloan.

The email starts with a sort-of apology, indicating that they haven't communicated enough.

Dear Wells Fargo Customer, Customers like you have told us they want to hear more about what we've been doing to address our challenges over the past year. Please click here for a two-minute message from our CEO and President, Tim Sloan. We've been making things right for our customers and team members, compensating customers who were harmed, and rehiring thousands of team members. We've been holding senior leaders responsible, up to and including termination, and the forfeiture of hundreds of millions of dollars in executive compensation. And we've been fixing what went wrong, including the elimination of product sales goals for retail bankers in our bank branches and call centers, reinforcing our commitment to ethics and integrity, and refocusing everything we do on our customers. For more details and the latest on our ongoing efforts to build a better company for our customers, please go to www.wellsfargo.com/commitment.

Sloan's messages are consistent: they take responsibility, and they are trying to "make things right." But Sloan is as stiff as he was in another video, created in April.

Discussion:

• Do you agree or disagree with my criticism of the email and video? Why or why not?
• How else would you evaluate the email and video?
• Sloan also isn't giving many specifics. What else, if anything, should he say?

Air Force Admits Failure

The U.S. Air Force admits it didn't properly report Devin P. Kelley's history to federal law enforcement. The error is critical because Kelley's violent past may have prevented him from buying guns he used to kill 26 people in a Texas church. Kelley spent 12 months in prison and left the Air Force with a "bad conduct" discharge after harming his wife and child.

Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said, "Initial information indicates that Kelley's domestic violence offense was not entered into the National Criminal Information Center database." This omission led to Kelley's passing the background check before he could purchase guns at a firearms retailer.

Of course, the incident raises bigger questions about how often relevant background information is not reported about former service members. U.S. Air Force Sec. Heather Wilson appeared on MSNBC's Squawk Box to admit the failings during a televised interview. When asked whether she was concerned about possible liability from victims' families, she said, "No, I'm more interested in responsibility. And we've taken responsibility, and we're going to find out what happened and fix it.”

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Discussion:

• The Air Force has readily admitted a critical failing, which could have led to 26 deaths. Why would the organization choose this disclosure?

• Describe how Wilson is demonstrating vulnerability. What are the potential downsides?

Goodell Skirts Anthem Issue

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell seems to be conflicted about how to handle the issue of players kneeling during the national anthem. A PR Daily writer summarizes the results of a recent news conference.

His aim was to stem backlash over players kneeling during the national anthem. However, Goodell's response didn't do much to alleviate the NFL's troubles.

This video caption reads, "Roger Goodell: 'We believe everyone should stand for the National Anthem' | NFL." But other messages aren't quite as clear. In a memo to owners, Goodell wrote, "we also care deeply about our players and respect their opinions and concerns about critical social issues. The controversy over the Anthem is a barrier to having honest conversations and making real progress on the underlying issues."

In a tweet and elsewhere, President Trump has made his perspective clear.

Image source.

Discussion:

• Assess Goodell's news conference. Consider his audience and communication objectives.
• Contrast the NFL's with the NBA's. What differences and similarities do you notice? Which league is handling the controversy better?

How Bad Was Theresa May's Speech?

The Telegraph calls it a "car crash" and "one of the most disastrous conference speeches in history." British Prime Minister Theresa May faced three problems in front of the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester.

First, a protestor interrupted the speech to hand her a "P45," which is a document used to fire workers in the U.K. (Sounds like a "pink slip" in the U.S.) The prankster was escorted out, and May recovered by making a joke: "I was about to talk about someone I'd like to give a P45 to, and that's Jeremy Corbyn," who is the leader of the Labour Party. 

Then, she had a coughing fit and had to drink a glass of water, some of which seemed to spill into her hand. (Here, I'm reminded of Marco Rubio's odd sip of water.)

Finally, captions dropped a letter, leaving "for" as "or." The Telegraph and other media outlets reported this mishap as "the stage falls apart," but I would say that's quite an exaggeration.

Discussion:

• I think the media outlets were too harsh. Do you agree? Why or why not?
• This is a humbling experience for May. How well did she recover?
• What lessons can you take for your own presentations?

Wells Fargo on the Hot Seat Again

Again, Wells Fargo executives faced angry lawmakers, and again, Senator Elizabeth Warren encouraged the CEO to leave. This time, she told CEO Timothy Sloan, "You should be fired." Last year, around this time, she told former CEO John Stump, "You should resign." She also referred to Stumpf's actions as "gutless leadership."

Senator John Neely Kennedy had tough words for the CEO too:

What in God's name were you thinking? I am not against big, but with all due respect, I am against dumb. I am against a business practice that has puts Wells Fargo first and customers second.

Sloan defended the board and his leadership by saying that a "throughout, independent investigation" has been made public. He said that he's "been making change at this company for 30 years," his actions have resulted in "fundamental change at the company," and that he has "the support of 270,000 people."

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Discussion:

• How convincing do you find Sloan's testimony? Should he continue at Wells Fargo or leave the company?
• Analyze Elizabeth Warren's arguments. Do you find her criticism too harsh, on point, or something else?
• From this longer video segment, do you believe Sloan is holding himself accountable? What tells you he takes responsibility, or what else would he need to do to convince you?

News Conference About Hurricane Maria

Ricardo Rossello the governor of Puerto Rico, gave a news conference to encourage people to move to shelters before Hurricane Maria hit. He warns people that the storm will be "catastrophic" and unlike what residents have experienced in the past.

The video caption reads, "Governor URGES Puerto Rico residents to shelter as Hurricane Maria arrives," but he could sound more urgent.

Sadly, the governor was right in his predictions. Hurricane Maria left the entire island without power and destroyed many properties.

That's a lot of people supporting him behind the podium. We don't know whether they each spoke or were there for some other reason.

Discussion:

• Who are the governor's primary and secondary audiences for the news conference?
• What are his communication objectives for each audience?
• How well does he achieve his objectives?
• How urgent does he sound to you? What could he do to sound more urgent?