I cannot have a conversation today, without using the words, 'AI' - good, or bad the future is driving us to finding ways of cost efficiencies, greater value, and enhanced communication. I sense control requirements on the horizon. Thoughts.

Without data, you only have an opinion; wise words that ring true in every sense. However, having data and access to it is only the start as it will need to be transformed into a format that is usable, easily understood, and can be communicated in as efficient a manner as possible. Thoughts.

Having ambition is good, creating innovation is great, and using technology to advance humankind is fantastic, but we need to find the right balance between social empathy and commercial reality. Removing incentives from the equation is pointless; having realistic, achievable, and possible goals is a start to something greater, and it is not solely invested in AI. Thoughts.

I would go even further than just having a proactive approach to cybersecurity; a successful M&A transaction needs an integrated IT strategy that incorporates cyber as a core element of the overall strategy to complete a deal. Other considerations are numerous. Thoughts.

This is a great article emphasising the importance of scope 3 reporting, albeit on a voluntary basis in many jurisdictions, whereas I don't like the concept of 'voluntary' for issues that are as critical as sustainability; markets and people have to be comfortable with what is trying to be achieved. Data in the right format, quantity, and quality is essential to achieving effective and sustainable supply chain management. Thoughts.

A sense of purpose, pride, and enthusiasm for developing, producing, and sustaining a business are essential for its success. In our more socially ordered environment, there is a growing requirement for the community to rely on subjective ideas. Ensuring that this subjectivity is anchored in facts is critical to driving the purpose of people who want to build a strong and sustainable organisation. Thoughts.

Survival is not only a good thing; it is an essential thing! Moving sustainability from the backroom to the boardroom is an immense task, particularly in environments with other, more pressing issues and challenges. I always say that being proactive early makes reactions easier, less costly, and socially more embracing. Thoughts.

'ESG is a noble undertaking that requires a genuine commitment to change." I could not have said it better myself! As I said in my previous posts, change is always going to be challenging on all fronts, creating tension and a sense of the unknown. Moving to the green side takes passion, authenticity, and huge amounts of motivation.

Any change process is stressful as it creates uncertainty. Leaders tend to spend time on ensuring the messages of change look good with self-protectionism. Effective communication is transparent, relevant, and timely; the audience will need 'nurturing', and the promotion of feedback (two-way communication) is critical for success. Thoughts.

Interesting comments and insights in this article, but the key message should, in my opinion, be that technology and its use are enablers to solutions that the banking industry needs, not the solution itself. We tend to focus on relying on technology to solve problems, when actually it is the use of that technology that makes problem solving that much easier. Thoughts?

Culture is king and everything! Good points made in this article, the key takeaway is to start getting people on board from day 1, not day 101. Success becomes easier when all resources are aligned to the objectives, and mitigating the 'change risk' is crucial to making that journey more effective and efficient.

This is the question! One size does not fit all when making the decision to persist or persevere - the strategy is yours, or fellow partners. A critical objective is to be realistic in your plan. Many business owners have an inflated view of the value of their businesses and assets, an emotional attachment that is understandable to a large degree. I would welcome your thoughts. 

I always remember the words of a previous mentor, 'without data you only have an opinion'. I add - without 'trust', the opinion does not matter. Trust and transparency are critical to business success. Thoughts.

The concept and thinking are not new—creating a single, cohesive M&A team that consists of the right balance of resources and energy, with clear, transparent communication and a robust plan of action.

People working in harmony as a collective force are, in most instances, more successful than individually applied effort. Thoughts.

This article brings out some interesting comments from companies reviewing their 'sustainability mindset'. Not enough, I say! It is accepted that we are living in times of significant cost challenges on all fronts, and short-term thinking invariably has long-term consequences. Thoughts.

I like the saying, 'if you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together'. Markets are starting to pick up, and I cannot emphasise that mutually beneficial collaboration is key to success during uncertain times. Thoughts.

Adapting to the ever-changing tide of challenges and bringing your people along on the journey are words that resonate when ensuring business continuity and economic viability. I have always used the term 'social empathy meets economic reality', but today these factors are inextricably intertwined. Thoughts.

Intellectual Property (IP) is king; no, it is everything. Well, yes, sort of. As data is becoming a greater 'asset', having robust, commercially viable IP is becoming a greater asset as well. Remember the days of goodwill? I do, but as an accountant, it was in the early days of getting your balance sheet to balance. Thoughts.

Storytelling in any business operation is critical to engaging audiences and potential clients alike—never truer words said, although I am slightly biassed because I said them! Embracing those that make you successful as a leader and defining clear, concise goals are all part of 'once upon a time'. Leadership is also about finding the right balance in communication to peers and colleagues, with transparency at the heart. Thoughts.

There are some good insights in this article, which draws out the confusion that is endemic within regulation and is written for lawyers and bureaucrats! I firmly support regulation as a necessity for a host of reasons, but it should be implemented in a way that is effective in markets that, by their very nature, can be too subjective in interpretation from the outset. Thoughts. 

I am a firm believer in looking for simple solutions to sometimes complex problems. Breaking a problem down into manageable parts is critical to finding positive results. With the ever-increasing amounts of data being produced, finding innovative ways of storing it is equally key to managing dynamic environments. Thoughts.

It is all about options and creating the right balance—yes, it is! Leadership is more than that: creating environments for innovation, a culture that drives inclusion, and frameworks that are transparent, realistic, and economically viable. Thoughts?

Another great article from my friends at Forbes - one ingredient that I think needs mention for success - clear, concise and transparent communication. I get the 'but no one told us response' quite a lot. Your thoughts?

Having reliable, accurate, and 'clean' data in any discipline is critical - this, some would say, 'utopia' rarely exists. In the growing ESG ecosystems that are developing around us, scientific, fact-based data is key to driving progress, greater transparency, and mutually beneficial outcomes for all. Any thoughts you may have would be welcomed.

Process and strategic alignment are critical for business success, not only as part of a transformation programme, but in 'business as usual' environments as well. Group buy in and engagement of people will determine successful outcomes or not. Thoughts?