Nike’s considered sustainability programme
Nike has some aggressive sustainability targets. Nike CEO Mark Parke believes that corporate responsibility is no longer a staff function at Nike. It’s a design function, a sourcing function, a consumer experience function, part of how we operate. Lorrie Vogel is the...
Nike's considered sustainability programme
Nike has some aggressive sustainability targets. Nike CEO Mark Parke believes that corporate responsibility is no longer a staff function at Nike. It’s a design function, a sourcing function, a consumer experience function, part of how we operate. Lorrie Vogel is the...
To degree or not to degree, that is the question!
We've been noticing a distinct shift in the perceived value that a university degree brings. It's largely accepted that a degree from an university, especially an ivy league one such as MIT, Harvard or INSEAD can improve expected earnings significantly. This has...
Is the bubble set to burst again in 2010?
A few weeks ago I commented on whether or not the recession would be a U or a W (see blog Is the economy in for a V, a U or a W? HSBC Chief thinks it’s a W) Our research definitely suggests that we have entered a new season and that the next few years are going to be...
The future for banks and a better way to pay bankers
POSTED 10 November 2009; UPDATED 11 November 2009 One story is going to run for the next 3-5 years at least: how to fix the banking system. The big media headline grabbing story is how to regulate bankers' pay. It appears as if bankers don't know how much their image...
1989 – a year that changed everything (everywhere)
Today is the twentieth anniversary of the Berlin Wall coming down. In just a few weeks, we'll also celebrate twenty years since the Velvet Revolution (Prague, 17 November), the execution of Nicolae Ceausescu (Bucharest, 25 December), the release of Nelson Mandela...
The Twitter interview
I was recently interviewed by a journalist on the issue of Twitter and social media, and how it might impact traditional media. It was a fairly focused interview - not broad ranging - but you might be interested in some of the thoughts that emerged. Q1. How has...
A Sandpit to Entice
Just been part of a conversation that happens all too infrequently. You know, one of those conversations that leave you buzzing, unable to sleep or concentrate on the ‘next thing to be done’. A conversation that ‘gets the juices going’ – a conversation in which you...
The World of Tomorrow (If The Internet Disappeared Today)
This is a great read (look) at what the world would look like if the internet disappeared today. A photo contest by the readers of Cracked.com. Some really fun stuff to think about how much the world has changed : ) While there's a lot that's funny, there is a reality...
Vacation 2023 – I don’t want to go
I just read a fairly depressing forecast (from FastCompany) for the future of vacations. Specifically the year 2023. It's based on the fuller article from 'Forum for the Future' where they've developed four scenarios for 2023 in the tourism world (specifically the...
Vacation 2023 – I don't want to go
I just read a fairly depressing forecast (from FastCompany) for the future of vacations. Specifically the year 2023. It's based on the fuller article from 'Forum for the Future' where they've developed four scenarios for 2023 in the tourism world (specifically the...
The Recession Generation
Each generation is defined by the economic experience of its youth. The generation now finishing university and entering a dire job market will be shaped by this experience forever. This generation is what we call the cusp between Generation X and Generation Y. This...
This is not your father's Mail strike
I am sitting in a hotel in Birmingham, watching the live press conference where the CWU is announcing that the planned UK postal strike will go ahead from tomorrow (Thursday, 22 October 2009). There is the typical bluster of Unions to Employers rhetoric, and I have...
This is not your father’s Mail strike
I am sitting in a hotel in Birmingham, watching the live press conference where the CWU is announcing that the planned UK postal strike will go ahead from tomorrow (Thursday, 22 October 2009). There is the typical bluster of Unions to Employers rhetoric, and I have...
Space Tourism is 18 months away
Last Thursday, Sir Richard Branson updated shareholders in Virgin Group on "Virgin Galactic", the company that has taken $200,000 deposits from over 200 people for seats on the first commercial near-orbit flight. However, his announcement indicated that the first...
Entrepreneurial Edge – CNBC Africa
If you're watching CNBC Africa this evening (15 October) at around 20:30, you can catch Entrepreneurial Edge (hosted by Chris Bishop), with at least one of it's guests being me : ) The focus of the programme is future trends impacting entrepreneurs, and we chatted...
Power of Mobile Money
In the early 1990's I started work for one of South Africa's largest banks. The most innovative project I worked on was the use of smart card/chip technology to enable people to purchase items using the smart chip inside their mobile phones. I thought it was the best...
Big news in Outer space and Cyber Space
Over the past two months there have been a number of huge developments in both outer space and cyberspace. Developments which could change the world we live in forever. Outer space first... On the 24th September it was officially announced that water was found on the...
Stop Tweeting about these…
Had to smile as this post from The Oatmeal this morning. It it Monday morning, and if anything it's bound to give you a little smile. 10 Things you need to stop Tweeting about. It's a large and often question I'm hearing these days: what is Twitter all about? I've got...
Is the economy in for a V, a U or a W? HSBC Chief thinks it's a W
There is a lot of talk about recovery from the recession, greenshoots and even a new bull market. So I've been talking to a few heads of business about how business is going. There are a few outstanding results. A Pharma company that we work with is ahead of target...