:root{
    --ink:#070C16;
    --surface:#0E1726;
    --surface-2:#152034;
    --line:#233047;
    --text:#F3F4F0;
    --text-dim:#8D97A8;
    --text-faint:#5C6577;
    --accent:#F2652D;
    --accent-dim:rgba(242,101,45,.14);
    --hr:#2FB6A0;
    --hr-dim:rgba(47,182,160,.14);
    --it:#5C8DEF;
    --it-dim:rgba(92,141,239,.14);
    --growth:#D97B4F;
    --growth-dim:rgba(217,123,79,.14);
    --board:#C9A567;
    --board-dim:rgba(201,165,103,.16);
    --radius:3px;
  }
  *{box-sizing:border-box;}
  html{scroll-behavior:smooth;}
  body{
    margin:0;
    background:var(--ink);
    color:var(--text);
    font-family:'IBM Plex Sans', sans-serif;
    font-size:16px;
    line-height:1.55;
    -webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;
  }
  h1,h2,h3{
    font-family:'Space Grotesk', sans-serif;
    font-weight:700;
    margin:0;
    letter-spacing:-0.01em;
    color:var(--text);
  }
  .mono{
    font-family:'IBM Plex Mono', monospace;
    letter-spacing:0.08em;
    text-transform:uppercase;
  }
  a{color:inherit;}
  img,svg{display:block;max-width:100%;}
  .wrap{max-width:1120px;margin:0 auto;padding:0 28px;}

  /* ---------- NAV ---------- */
  header{
    position:sticky;top:0;z-index:60;
    background:rgba(7,12,22,0.86);
    backdrop-filter:blur(10px);
    border-bottom:1px solid var(--line);
  }
  nav.wrap{
    display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;
    height:72px;
  }
  .logo{
    font-family:'Space Grotesk',sans-serif;
    font-weight:700;font-size:20px;letter-spacing:-0.01em;
    display:flex;align-items:baseline;gap:2px;
    color:var(--text);
  }
  .logo .dot{color:var(--accent);}
  .navlinks{display:flex;gap:32px;align-items:center;}
  .navlinks a{
    font-size:14px;text-decoration:none;color:var(--text-dim);
    font-weight:500;
    padding:6px 0;
    border-bottom:1px solid transparent;
    transition:border-color .2s, color .2s;
  }
  .navlinks a:hover{color:var(--text);border-color:var(--accent);}
  .nav-cta{
    font-size:13px;font-weight:600;
    padding:9px 16px;
    background:var(--accent);color:#0B0F16;
    text-decoration:none;
    border-radius:var(--radius);
    white-space:nowrap;
  }

  /* ---------- HERO CAROUSEL ---------- */
  .hero-carousel{
    position:relative;
    height:min(640px,86vh);
    min-height:460px;
    overflow:hidden;
    background:var(--ink);
  }
  .slides{position:absolute;inset:0;}
  .slide{
    position:absolute;inset:0;
    opacity:0;
    transition:opacity 1.1s ease;
  }
  .slide.active{opacity:1;}
  .slide svg{width:100%;height:100%;display:block;}
  .hero-scrim{
    position:absolute;inset:0;
    background:
      linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(7,12,22,.30) 0%, rgba(7,12,22,.30) 30%, rgba(7,12,22,.80) 72%, rgba(7,12,22,.99) 100%),
      linear-gradient(90deg, rgba(7,12,22,.80) 0%, rgba(7,12,22,.30) 62%, rgba(7,12,22,.10) 100%);
    pointer-events:none;
  }
  .hero-copy{
    position:absolute;left:0;right:0;bottom:86px;z-index:2;
  }
  .eyebrow{
    font-size:11px;color:var(--text-dim);
    display:flex;align-items:center;gap:10px;margin-bottom:16px;
  }
  .eyebrow::before{content:"";width:22px;height:1px;background:var(--text-faint);}
  h1.headline{
    font-size:clamp(32px,4.4vw,52px);
    line-height:1.05;
    max-width:15ch;
    text-shadow:0 2px 24px rgba(7,12,22,.6);
  }
  h1.headline em{font-style:normal;color:var(--accent);}
  .hero-copy p.lead{
    margin:18px 0 28px;
    max-width:48ch;
    font-size:16.5px;
    color:#C3CAD6;
    text-shadow:0 1px 16px rgba(7,12,22,.7);
  }
  .hero-ctas{display:flex;gap:14px;flex-wrap:wrap;}
  .btn{
    font-family:'IBM Plex Sans',sans-serif;
    font-size:14px;font-weight:600;
    padding:13px 22px;
    border-radius:var(--radius);
    text-decoration:none;
    display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:8px;
    border:1px solid var(--line);
    cursor:pointer;
    transition:transform .15s ease, background .15s ease, color .15s ease, border-color .15s ease;
  }
  .btn-solid{background:var(--accent);color:#0B0F16;border-color:var(--accent);}
  .btn-solid:hover{transform:translateY(-1px);filter:brightness(1.06);}
  .btn-ghost{background:rgba(255,255,255,.02);color:var(--text);border-color:rgba(255,255,255,.22);}
  .btn-ghost:hover{border-color:var(--accent);color:var(--accent);}
  .btn-sm{padding:9px 16px;font-size:13px;}

  .slide-caption{
    position:absolute;right:28px;bottom:86px;z-index:2;
    font-family:'IBM Plex Mono',monospace;font-size:11px;letter-spacing:.1em;
    color:var(--text-dim);text-transform:uppercase;
    display:none;
  }
  @media (min-width:860px){ .slide-caption{display:block;} }

  .carousel-nav{
    position:absolute;left:0;right:0;bottom:28px;z-index:3;
    display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:18px;
  }
  .car-dots{display:flex;gap:8px;}
  .car-dot{
    width:22px;height:2px;background:rgba(255,255,255,.25);border:none;padding:0;cursor:pointer;
    transition:background .2s ease;
  }
  .car-dot.active{background:var(--accent);}
  .car-arrow{
    width:32px;height:32px;border-radius:50%;
    border:1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.22);background:rgba(7,12,22,.4);
    color:var(--text);font-size:16px;line-height:1;cursor:pointer;
    display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;
    transition:border-color .2s ease, color .2s ease;
  }
  .car-arrow:hover{border-color:var(--accent);color:var(--accent);}

  /* video slides */
  .slide-video, .slide-poster{
    position:absolute;inset:0;
    width:100%;height:100%;
    object-fit:cover;
  }
  .slide-poster{filter:saturate(.80) contrast(1.05) brightness(.78);}
  .slide-video{
    filter:saturate(.80) contrast(1.05) brightness(.78);
    opacity:0;transition:opacity .9s ease;
  }
  .slide-video.ready{opacity:1;}
  .slide-tint{
    position:absolute;inset:0;
    background:linear-gradient(120deg, rgba(7,12,22,.70) 0%, rgba(7,12,22,.28) 55%, rgba(14,23,38,.52) 100%);
    mix-blend-mode:multiply;
  }

  /* ---------- ABOUT STRIP ---------- */
  .about{
    border-bottom:1px solid var(--line);
    background:var(--surface);
  }
  .about-grid{
    display:grid;grid-template-columns:1.2fr repeat(3,1fr);
    gap:32px;padding:44px 0;
  }
  .about-grid p{margin:0;color:var(--text-dim);font-size:15px;max-width:40ch;}
  .stat b{
    display:block;font-family:'Space Grotesk',sans-serif;font-size:26px;font-weight:700;
    color:var(--accent);
  }
  .stat span{font-size:12.5px;color:var(--text-dim);}

  /* ---------- SECTION SHELL ---------- */
  section.practice{padding:96px 0;}
  .practice-head{
    display:flex;justify-content:space-between;align-items:flex-end;
    gap:24px;margin-bottom:52px;flex-wrap:wrap;
  }
  .practice-head h2{font-size:clamp(26px,3vw,36px);max-width:14ch;}
  .practice-head p{color:var(--text-dim);font-size:14.5px;max-width:34ch;margin:10px 0 0;}
  .tag{
    font-family:'IBM Plex Mono',monospace;
    font-size:11px;letter-spacing:.08em;text-transform:uppercase;
    padding:5px 10px;border-radius:20px;
    display:inline-block;
  }
  .tag-hr{background:var(--hr-dim);color:var(--hr);}
  .tag-it{background:var(--it-dim);color:var(--it);}
  .tag-growth{background:var(--growth-dim);color:var(--growth);}
  .tag-board{background:var(--board-dim);color:var(--board);}

  /* stage sequence */
  .stages{
    display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(4,1fr);gap:1px;
    background:var(--line);
    border:1px solid var(--line);
  }
  .stage{
    background:var(--surface);
    padding:28px 22px 26px;
    position:relative;
    transition:background .2s ease;
  }
  .stage-num{
    font-family:'IBM Plex Mono',monospace;font-size:12px;color:var(--text-dim);
    display:block;margin-bottom:18px;
  }
  .stage h3{font-size:18px;margin-bottom:10px;line-height:1.2;}
  .stage p.teaser{font-size:14px;color:var(--text-dim);margin:0 0 14px;min-height:76px;}
  .stage-toggle{
    background:none;border:none;padding:0;
    font-family:'IBM Plex Sans',sans-serif;
    font-size:13px;font-weight:600;
    display:flex;align-items:center;gap:6px;cursor:pointer;color:var(--text);
  }
  .stage-toggle .plus{
    width:16px;height:16px;border:1px solid var(--text-dim);border-radius:50%;
    position:relative;flex:none;transition:transform .25s ease, border-color .2s ease;
  }
  .stage-toggle .plus::before,.stage-toggle .plus::after{
    content:"";position:absolute;background:var(--text);
  }
  .stage-toggle .plus::before{left:3px;right:3px;top:7px;height:1px;}
  .stage-toggle .plus::after{top:3px;bottom:3px;left:7px;width:1px;}
  .stage[data-open="true"] .stage-toggle .plus{transform:rotate(45deg);border-color:var(--accent);}
  .stage-detail{
    overflow:hidden;max-height:0;transition:max-height .35s ease;
  }
  .stage[data-open="true"] .stage-detail{max-height:260px;}
  .stage[data-open="true"]{background:var(--surface-2);}
  .stage-detail ul{margin:16px 0 0;padding-left:16px;font-size:13.5px;color:var(--text-dim);}
  .stage-detail li{margin-bottom:7px;}
  .stage.hr-stage .stage-num{color:var(--hr);}
  .stage.it-stage .stage-num{color:var(--it);}
  .stage.growth-stage .stage-num{color:var(--growth);}
  .stage.board-stage{background:var(--board-dim);}
  .stage.board-stage[data-open="true"]{background:var(--board-dim);}
  .stage.board-stage .stage-num{color:var(--board);}

  /* domain chips (IT) */
  .domains{margin-top:56px;}
  .domains-label{
    font-size:12px;color:var(--text-dim);margin-bottom:16px;
    display:flex;align-items:center;gap:10px;
  }
  .domains-label::before{content:"";width:22px;height:1px;background:var(--text-faint);}
  .chipgrid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(3,1fr);gap:12px;}
  .chip{
    border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:var(--radius);
    padding:16px 18px;cursor:pointer;background:var(--surface);
    transition:border-color .2s;
  }
  .chip:hover{border-color:var(--it);}
  .chip-top{display:flex;justify-content:space-between;align-items:center;}
  .chip-top h4{
    font-family:'Space Grotesk',sans-serif;font-size:15px;font-weight:700;margin:0;
  }
  .chip-arrow{
    font-size:16px;color:var(--it);transition:transform .25s ease;
  }
  .chip[data-open="true"] .chip-arrow{transform:rotate(45deg);}
  .chip-body{overflow:hidden;max-height:0;transition:max-height .3s ease;}
  .chip[data-open="true"] .chip-body{max-height:120px;}
  .chip-body p{font-size:13.5px;color:var(--text-dim);margin:12px 0 0;}

  /* board advisory unifying section */
  .board-section{
    background:var(--surface);
    padding:88px 0;
    border-top:1px solid var(--board);
    border-bottom:1px solid var(--line);
    position:relative;
  }
  .board-section::before{
    content:"";position:absolute;top:0;left:0;right:0;height:280px;
    background:radial-gradient(ellipse at 50% 0%, rgba(201,165,103,.10) 0%, rgba(201,165,103,0) 70%);
    pointer-events:none;
  }
  .board-section .wrap{position:relative;z-index:1;}
  .board-grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr;gap:56px;margin-top:36px;}
  .board-section h2{font-size:clamp(26px,3vw,34px);max-width:16ch;margin-top:14px;}
  .board-col h3{font-size:15px;font-weight:600;font-family:'IBM Plex Sans',sans-serif;color:var(--board);margin-bottom:10px;}
  .board-col p{font-size:14.5px;color:var(--text-dim);margin:0;}

  /* CTA */
  /* ---------- INSIGHTS ---------- */
  .insights{padding:100px 0;border-top:1px solid var(--line);}
  .insights-head{
    display:flex;align-items:flex-end;justify-content:space-between;
    gap:24px;flex-wrap:wrap;margin-bottom:34px;
  }
  .insights-head h2{font-size:clamp(26px,3vw,34px);max-width:18ch;margin-top:14px;}
  .insights-head > p{color:var(--text-dim);font-size:15px;max-width:42ch;}
  .article-card{
    display:grid;grid-template-columns:minmax(0,1fr) 232px;
    align-items:center;gap:32px;
    border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:var(--radius);
    background:var(--surface);
    padding:34px 36px;
    text-decoration:none;color:inherit;
    transition:border-color .2s ease, background .2s ease;
  }
  .article-card:hover{border-color:var(--accent);background:var(--surface-2);}
  .article-card:focus-visible{outline:2px solid var(--accent);outline-offset:3px;}
  .card-copy{display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:12px;min-width:0;}
  .card-meta{
    font-family:'IBM Plex Mono',monospace;font-size:11px;letter-spacing:.08em;
    text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--text-faint);
    display:flex;gap:14px;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;
  }
  .card-meta .cat{color:var(--accent);}
  .article-card h3{
    font-family:'Space Grotesk',sans-serif;font-weight:700;
    font-size:clamp(20px,2.3vw,26px);line-height:1.2;letter-spacing:-0.01em;margin:0;
  }
  .article-card p.dek{color:var(--text-dim);font-size:15px;line-height:1.6;margin:0;max-width:56ch;}
  .card-more{
    font-size:13px;font-weight:600;color:var(--accent);
    font-family:'IBM Plex Sans',sans-serif;margin-top:4px;
  }
  .card-mark{width:100%;height:auto;display:block;}
  @media (max-width:760px){
    .article-card{grid-template-columns:1fr;padding:28px 24px;gap:24px;}
    .card-mark{max-width:200px;margin:0 auto;}
  }

  .cta{padding:100px 0;text-align:center;position:relative;overflow:hidden;}
  .cta::before{
    content:"";position:absolute;top:20%;left:50%;transform:translateX(-50%);width:700px;height:400px;
    background:radial-gradient(circle, rgba(242,101,45,.14) 0%, rgba(242,101,45,0) 70%);
    pointer-events:none;
  }
  .cta .wrap{position:relative;z-index:1;}
  .cta h2{font-size:clamp(28px,3.6vw,42px);max-width:16ch;margin:0 auto;}
  .cta p{color:var(--text-dim);max-width:44ch;margin:16px auto 34px;font-size:15px;}
  .cta-btns{display:flex;gap:16px;justify-content:center;flex-wrap:wrap;}
  .cta-btns .btn{padding:15px 26px;}

  /* footer */
  footer{border-top:1px solid var(--line);padding:44px 0;background:var(--surface);}
  .foot-grid{display:flex;justify-content:space-between;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:24px;font-size:13px;color:var(--text-dim);}
  .foot-grid address{font-style:normal;line-height:1.6;}
  .foot-grid .logo{margin-bottom:8px;}

  @media (max-width:860px){
    .navlinks{display:none;}
    .hero-copy p.lead{max-width:36ch;}
    .about-grid{grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr;}
    .about-grid p{grid-column:1/-1;max-width:none;}
    .stages{grid-template-columns:1fr;}
    .chipgrid{grid-template-columns:1fr;}
    .board-grid{grid-template-columns:1fr;gap:32px;}
  }

  /* ---------- PRACTICE SPLIT (parent page) ---------- */
  .split{padding:86px 0;border-bottom:1px solid var(--line);}
  .split-head{margin-bottom:34px;}
  .split-head h2{font-size:clamp(24px,2.8vw,32px);max-width:20ch;margin-top:14px;}
  .split-head p{color:var(--text-dim);font-size:15px;max-width:52ch;margin:14px 0 0;}
  .split-grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr;gap:20px;}
  .split-card{
    display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:14px;
    border:1px solid var(--line);border-top:2px solid var(--line);
    border-radius:var(--radius);background:var(--surface);
    padding:34px 32px 30px;text-decoration:none;color:inherit;
    transition:border-color .2s ease,background .2s ease,transform .15s ease;
  }
  .split-card:hover{background:var(--surface-2);transform:translateY(-2px);}
  .split-card:focus-visible{outline:2px solid var(--accent);outline-offset:3px;}
  .split-card.for-hr{border-top-color:var(--hr);}
  .split-card.for-hr:hover{border-color:var(--hr);border-top-color:var(--hr);}
  .split-card.for-it{border-top-color:var(--it);}
  .split-card.for-it:hover{border-color:var(--it);border-top-color:var(--it);}
  .split-card h3{
    font-family:'Space Grotesk',sans-serif;font-weight:700;
    font-size:clamp(21px,2.4vw,27px);line-height:1.15;letter-spacing:-0.01em;margin:0;
  }
  .split-card .who{
    font-family:'IBM Plex Mono',monospace;font-size:11px;letter-spacing:.09em;
    text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--text-faint);
  }
  .split-card > p{color:var(--text-dim);font-size:15px;line-height:1.6;margin:0;}
  .split-card ul{
    list-style:none;margin:4px 0 0;padding:0;
    display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:8px;
    font-size:14px;color:var(--text-dim);
  }
  .split-card li{display:grid;grid-template-columns:14px 1fr;gap:10px;align-items:baseline;}
  .split-card li::before{content:"";width:5px;height:5px;border-radius:50%;margin-top:8px;}
  .split-card.for-hr li::before{background:var(--hr);}
  .split-card.for-it li::before{background:var(--it);}
  .split-card .go{
    margin-top:auto;padding-top:8px;font-size:13.5px;font-weight:600;
    font-family:'IBM Plex Sans',sans-serif;
  }
  .split-card.for-hr .go{color:var(--hr);}
  .split-card.for-it .go{color:var(--it);}

  /* ---------- SUB-PAGE HERO ---------- */
  .page-hero{
    position:relative;overflow:hidden;
    padding:96px 0 80px;border-bottom:1px solid var(--line);
    background:var(--surface);
  }
  .page-hero::before{
    content:"";position:absolute;inset:0;
    background:radial-gradient(900px 420px at 12% -10%, var(--tint,rgba(242,101,45,.16)), transparent 70%);
    pointer-events:none;
  }
  .page-hero .wrap{position:relative;z-index:1;}
  .page-hero h1{
    font-family:'Space Grotesk',sans-serif;font-weight:700;
    font-size:clamp(32px,4.6vw,50px);line-height:1.06;letter-spacing:-0.02em;
    max-width:17ch;margin:16px 0 0;
  }
  .page-hero p.lead{
    margin:20px 0 30px;max-width:54ch;font-size:16.5px;color:#C3CAD6;line-height:1.6;
  }
  .page-hero .hero-ctas{display:flex;gap:14px;flex-wrap:wrap;}
  .crumb{
    font-family:'IBM Plex Mono',monospace;font-size:11px;letter-spacing:.1em;
    text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--text-faint);
    display:block;margin-bottom:20px;text-decoration:none;
  }
  .crumb:hover{color:var(--accent);}

  /* ---------- BOARD CALL-OUT (sub-pages) ---------- */
  .board-note{
    border:1px solid var(--line);border-left:2px solid var(--board);
    border-radius:var(--radius);background:var(--surface);
    padding:28px 30px;margin-top:56px;
    display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:12px;
  }
  .board-note h3{
    font-family:'Space Grotesk',sans-serif;font-size:18px;font-weight:700;margin:0;color:var(--board);
  }
  .board-note p{color:var(--text-dim);font-size:15px;line-height:1.6;margin:0;}
  .board-note a{color:var(--board);font-size:13.5px;font-weight:600;text-decoration:none;}
  .board-note a:hover{text-decoration:underline;}

  @media (max-width:860px){
    .split-grid{grid-template-columns:1fr;}
  }

  .navlinks a.here{color:var(--text);border-color:var(--accent);}

  /* flex children must not stretch the pill and link spans full width */
  .split-card > .tag,
  .split-card > .who,
  .split-card > .go{align-self:flex-start;}

  /* ---------- SCOPED (SUB-PAGE) CHROME ---------- */
  .logo-crumb{display:flex;align-items:baseline;gap:9px;min-width:0;}
  .logo-crumb .sep{color:var(--text-faint);font-size:16px;line-height:1;}
  .logo-crumb .scope{
    font-family:'IBM Plex Sans',sans-serif;
    font-size:14px;font-weight:600;letter-spacing:0;
    text-decoration:none;white-space:nowrap;
  }
  .logo-crumb .scope.hr{color:var(--hr);}
  .logo-crumb .scope.it{color:var(--it);}
  .logo-crumb .scope:hover{text-decoration:underline;}
  .logo-crumb .logo{font-size:18px;}

  /* ---------- INSIGHTS INDEX PAGE ---------- */
  .insights-page{padding:70px 0 90px;}
  .article-list{display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:18px;}
  .article-list .article-card{margin:0;}
  .list-group{margin-top:56px;}
  .list-group:first-of-type{margin-top:0;}
  .list-group > h2{
    font-size:19px;margin-bottom:6px;
    font-family:'Space Grotesk',sans-serif;font-weight:700;
  }
  .list-group > p.note{
    color:var(--text-dim);font-size:14.5px;margin:0 0 20px;max-width:56ch;
  }
  .empty-note{
    border:1px dashed var(--line);border-radius:var(--radius);
    padding:26px 28px;color:var(--text-faint);font-size:14.5px;line-height:1.6;
  }
  .card-meta .cat.cat-strategy{color:var(--growth);}
  .card-meta .cat.cat-hr{color:var(--hr);}
  .card-meta .cat.cat-it{color:var(--it);}