Hello!

Welcome to OUT OF SCOPE, the C-Suite cheat sheet for the week ahead.

Folks, we’re right in the middle of peak March Madness as we look ahead to the Sweet Sixteen this week. We don’t have to ask you how your bracket is doing; we know it’s a little bit busted, with already zero perfect brackets remaining out there.

Wishing you all the best in your office bracket competitions— the winner of ours gets complete editorial control over this newsletter and our external brand, so don’t be surprised if we switch our colors to Duke blue sometime soon.

**THE CHEAT SHEET

Three things to bring up in your meetings this week:

1. DoorDash now, pay later. For folks looking to buy themself a little gift, from a new pair of sneakers to an upgraded laptop, “Buy Now, Pay Later” platforms are becoming increasingly popular. But now it’s becoming easier to buy things you need not just want, as DoorDash just announced a new partnership with Klarna last week so that consumer can pay for their food using deferred payments. It’s a massive step for BNPL and fintech at large and opens up a slightly dystopian but extremely delicious new credit market that is raising eyebrows on social media.

2. AI is on the menu. Fast food has always been about speed and convenience— that’s their bread and butter (or McNugget and ketchup). Now, Taco Bell (Yum! Brands) is taking the next step, partnering with AI infrastructure leader Nvidia to automate operations. Their AI-driven rollout across 500 restaurants in Q2 aims to enhance drive-thru ordering, optimize efficiency with “computer vision,” and leverage AI analytics to optimize maximum Crunch Wrap output. While you won’t see cartwheeling robots at the drive-thru yet, AI is quickly reshaping things out of the office and in our day-to-day.

3. Hire me hard and soft. Two paradoxical plotlines are playing out in corporate America. On one hand, a $20 billion ‘soft skills’ industry is booming as employers fret about communication, collaboration, and empathy in the post-COVID workplace. Meanwhile, there are simultaneous calls for the return of the uncompromising, abrasive alpha male ethos in the C-suite, confusing workers who aren’t sure if they should soften up or toughen up to get ahead these days.

**OUT OF OFFICE

one weekend news story in-depth: WEEKEND WITH BERNIE

Bernie Sanders is now drawing larger crowds than he did during his Presidential campaign. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont joined forces with New York Representative Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez on a “Fight Oligarchy” tour through Arizona, Nevada, and Colorado last week. The joint rally in Denver attracted an estimated 34,000 attendees and was the largest of either of their political careers.

His message hasn’t changed. Sanders has warned America for years about the dangers of oligarchy, and many left-leaners see the vision of a government controlled by a group of billionaires– like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg– as a current reality. Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez continue to lead discussions about protecting the working class in the face of the corporate players in power.

But at age 83, Sanders is looking to pass the progressive baton. Sanders is a longstanding voice for progressive democrats with a large and devoted following. But after two presidential race losses, it’s unlikely he will run again. When ABC News asked him if he plans to run in 2028, he said “I am 83 years of age, and I’m tired.”

Who might fill Sanders’ shoes? The Trump administration continues to target Democrats' legal and fundraising institutions and the party reached an all-time low in popularity in NBC’s March 2025 Poll. The left is wondering who will fill Bernie’s shoes in the upcoming election, and while Ocasio-Cortez has not indicated her next move, her name comes to mind as a potential Sanders successor, and these rallies signal a wide-open range of possibilities for the young politician.

**POWER LUNCH

five quick consumption recs for the time between meetings:

1. At least ten thousand. If you haven’t seen the morning routine video yet, it’s very important that you do.

2. In stocks we trust. If you found yourself praying for a NASDAQ rebound, you’re not alone— religion is finding its place in the markets.

3. Conan-sistency is key. The Atlantic traced the comedian’s path through writers’ rooms, late-night spots, and podcast studios—traversing a fast-evolving media landscape anchored in a steadfast conviction in his brand of absurdism.

4. Conservative chic. There’s a Republican renaissance happening on social media as the young, female right taps into the newsfluencer moment.

5. Abundance. Everyone is mad about Ezra Klein’s new book.

We’ll see you online and on LinkedIn. Thanks for reading!

HL