A record number of top executives are clearing out their corner offices. We use the story to master five business English expressions you'll actually need.
The corner office has always been a symbol of power and stability. But according to a Wall Street Journal analysis of 1,500 major public companies, that stability is cracking. In 2025, roughly one in nine CEOs was replaced — the highest rate of leadership turnover since the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis.
And 2026 is already picking up where last year left off. Companies with a combined market value of $2.2 trillion have already swapped out their top leaders just weeks into the new year, including household names like Walmart, Disney, Lululemon, and PayPal.
So why now? Companies have cited what Morning Brew called "a potpourri of reasons" — artificial intelligence disrupting entire industries, trade tariffs reshuffling global supply chains, and a general climate of economic and geopolitical uncertainty. The solution many boards have landed on: bring in someone younger, fresher, and willing to take risks the old guard wouldn't.
"They're turning to younger and greener execs to fix their problems — more than 80% of last year's new CEOs were first-timers."
It's a bold bet. Handing the wheel of a trillion-dollar company to someone who has never run one before is either visionary or reckless, depending on who you ask. Either way, the trend is reshaping what leadership looks like at the top of the business world.
In this episode, we eavesdrop on Maya and Alex — two colleagues processing the news over their morning coffee — and pull out the vocabulary that makes the conversation sound natural and real.
These five expressions appear naturally in business news, office conversations, and job interviews. Learn them here — use them everywhere.
The rate at which people leave a group or organization and are replaced by others. High turnover = many people leaving. Low turnover = people staying long-term. Used in business, HR, and even casual conversation.
Business "The hospitality sector has historically struggled with high employee turnover."
Casual "Our friend group has crazy turnover — someone new shows up every month."
The collective term for a company's most senior executives — those whose titles begin with "Chief": CEO (Executive), CFO (Financial), COO (Operating), CMO (Marketing), and so on. The "suite" suggests they occupy the same executive floor.
Business "The company announced a major c-suite restructuring ahead of its IPO."
Casual "She went from intern to c-suite in ten years — total boss move."
Less experienced. When someone is described as "green," it means they are new to something and still learning — like a young plant that hasn't fully grown yet. "Greener" is the comparative form: even less experienced than someone else.
Business "We cannot afford greener hires at this stage — the role requires at least eight years of experience."
Casual "He was so green on his first day, he accidentally emailed the entire company."
A random, varied mixture of things. Originally a French word referring to a decorative bowl of dried flowers and herbs used to scent a room. In English, it evolved into an idiom for any eclectic mix. Morning Brew even named it their Word of the Day the same edition we featured it!
Business "The board cited a potpourri of concerns, from regulatory pressure to falling consumer confidence."
Casual "Dinner tonight was a potpourri of whatever was left in the fridge."
To formally resign from a job by giving two weeks' notice before your final day. In the US, it is standard practice to give an employer this advance warning so they can begin finding a replacement. "Putting in your two weeks" is the polite, professional way to quit.
Business "After twelve years at the firm, she put in her two weeks and accepted a senior role abroad."
Casual "I heard Jake finally put in his two weeks. Said his manager was impossible."
The CFO oversees all financial operations — budgeting, reporting, forecasting. If the company is bleeding money, the CFO is the one sweating the hardest.
The reason we chose this story isn't just because it's current — it's because the language around it is everywhere. Whether you're reading a business article, sitting in a team meeting, listening to a podcast, or interviewing for a job, you will encounter these words. Turnover appears in almost every HR discussion. C-suite shows up in financial news daily. Putting in your two weeks is something any English speaker working in an international environment needs to understand.
The goal of English Brew is never to teach you textbook English. It's to close the gap between the English you studied and the English people actually use — in offices, in coffee shops, in headlines, and in conversations that matter.
"No corner office is safe." — Alex, in this episode. And maybe a useful reminder for all of us to keep learning.
Ready to hear it all come together? Listen to the full episode.
Listen Now →
Intermediate Level 🗣️ Dialogue Transcript Maya: Did you see the news? The government practically pulled the plug on the entire offshore wind industry yesterday. Alex: Yeah, it looks like a total code red situation. They suspended leases citing national security concerns. Maya: The companies involved must be reeling from the shock, especially after investing billions […]