Polina Marinova, founder and author of the newsletter The Profile, arrived in the US at the age of 8 with no knowledge of English and went on to become an accomplished journalist. "The truth is that doing anything in life requires dedication, commitment, and relentless persistence," she says.

Companies must have a strong culture to recognize and avert what Steve McKee calls the "5 D's of decline" that can occur when business is disrupted, causing division and distraction. "People who are paying attention and willing to step into a disruptive moment with courage and humility can prevent or prevail over destructive internal dynamics, regardless of their formal position in the organization," he writes.

Getting back to work while the pandemic is still active will require leaders to restart their business, perhaps pull back if infection rates spike, adapt to the new situation and repeat as needed, write Bain & Co. analysts. "The companies that can protect their people and build the most experience with real agility will create a competitive advantage and accelerate faster out of the downturn," they write.

Become more patient with people and challenging situations by recognizing what triggers you, assessing the reality of the situation and looking for a lighter side, writes INSEAD professor Manfred Kets de Vries. "Accepting situations beyond your control may be one of the most difficult tests of your patience, but it is a key life skill," he writes.

The adoption of artificial intelligence will accelerate because of the pandemic, say experts, but a true recovery demands that businesses and governments address the inequalities the crisis has revealed. "You won't be able to get that unless you have societies with more solidarity, and that kind of solidarity will only be achieved if we get a society with more shared prosperity, more equality," says Nobel-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz.

The pandemic has disproportionately affected women around the world who are now pulling double duty at home while trying to advance their careers, and some experts say their income may never recover. Companies can help, they say, by offering flexible working conditions and lobbying for government protection for female employees.

CEOs can facilitate meetings effectively by having a clear agenda, soliciting feedback directly, staying focused on the topic at hand, summarizing regularly and following up on action items, writes Todd Ordal. CEOs should wait and share their perspective last, Ordal writes, to prevent groupthink.

The Superman cape worn by Christopher Reeve in the 1978 film and a spacesuit featured in "2001: A Space Odyssey" will be up for bidding this month as part of an auction. The auction also includes the Pontiac Firebird Trans Am known as KITT from the TV show "Knight Rider" and the score written by John Williams for "The Empire Strikes Back."

Flexibility, communication, optimism and an eye on the big picture have been key qualities as footwear retailers and brands navigate the pandemic, according to 10 women executives in the field. "Optimism is a state of mind that focuses on the positive rather than getting stuck in the negative and accepting what we can't change," said Giovanna Cipriano, Foot Locker's chief accounting officer.

The coronavirus pandemic has been a test of leadership for women, who have been applauded for their response, and it could be the moment that changes the narrative of what a good leader looks like, write Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic and Avivah Wittenberg-Cox. "Society at large may become less surprised and more accepting of leaders (s)elected on their expertise, intelligence, curiosity, humility, empathy, and integrity," they write.