Global business environment towards sustainability

Women business leaders ring the bell at the Stock Exchange of Thailand to mark the opening of the Global Summit of Women 2022, held in Thailand for the first time. Nutthawat Wicheanbut To open the market and mark the start of the three-day Global Summit of Women 2022 in Bangkok, female business leaders rang the opening bell at the Stock Exchange of Thailand. The summit examines the importance of women in the private sector and sheds light on gender diversity and equality in Asia. Irene Natividad, the chair of GlobeWomen Research and Education Institute and president of the Global Summit of Women, delivered the opening speech. She said the ceremony signals the significant contributions women have made to the economies of Thailand and beyond. She cited a McKinsey study prior to the pandemic that found women's economic activities contributed to 39% of the global GDP. OPTICS MATTER "This market opening is the 23rd time we have rung an opening bell for the Global Summit of … [Read more...] about Global summit rings the bell for women

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin When I first heard about Chopvalue , a circular economy furniture and design company that used the humble chopstick as sustainable and reusable resource, I couldn’t help but think it was a gimmick. But the more I dived into this fascinating company and its journey, the more convinced I became that it was a singularly innovative and scalable idea that could inspire fresh ways for us to think about the resources we have in our urban environment. I caught up with Founder Felix Bock to find out more about this fascinating idea. Afdhel Aziz: Felix, welcome. Please tell us a little bit about ChopValue and how you first came up with the idea? Felix Bock: I have a background in wood engineering from Germany and was pursuing a PhD in structural bamboo composites in Vancouver, where I quickly developed a sushi addiction. I had an eye-opening moment when I connected the chopsticks I ate dinner with to the vast amount of … [Read more...] about How ChopValue Is Creating A Supercool Sustainable Design Brand Using The Humble Chopstick

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin If there’s anything that I’ve learned over two decades as an investor, it’s that hindsight is 20/20—and history has a way of repeating itself. I first met Bruce Felt in late 2006 when he joined a GGV portfolio company, SuccessFactors , as the chief financial officer. Bruce took the company public about a year later—just in time for the Global Financial Crisis (GFC). SuccessFactors weathered that storm, ultimately selling to SAP for $3.4 billion in early 2012. Given the macro uncertainty of the current environment, I recently asked Bruce to reflect on his experience with plummeting stock prices and layoffs during the GFC: GGV Capital Episode 69 - Bruce Felt, CFO of Domo, on Bridging the Gap Between Strategy and Execution Bruce is now the CFO of Domo , a cloud-based business management platform that went public in 2018 and has performed well with many quarters in a row of over 20% growth. … [Read more...] about How to Manage Your Startup Through Macro Uncertainty: Lessons From the Global Financial Crisis

Datuk Seri Dr Wee Jeck Seng (Bernama filepix) - A + A PORT DICKSON (June 24): The biocomposites industry in Malaysia has been growing rapidly, recording exports worth RM4.3 billion last year, or 19% of the total timber exports value of RM22.74 billion. Deputy Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Jeck Seng said the major exporters of biocomposite products, comprising plywood, veneer and fibreboard, are the United States, Japan, China and Singapore. “There are 176 plywood factories, seven factories each producing chipboards and fibreboards, and three wood plastic composite (WPC) factories in the country for producing biocomposite raw materials, especially for the furniture and construction sectors. "At the global level, the country is ranked fifth as a plywood exporter, 17th for fibreboard and 29th for chipboard," he told reporters after officiating the construction of a food and beverage kiosk made from WPC here on Friday (June 24). … [Read more...] about Biocomposites industry records exports worth RM4.3 bil in 2021

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Companies everywhere are seeking to build a better experience for their people to foster loyalty, minimize turnover and drive better engagement. As part of these efforts, businesses are empowering individuals to be their true selves. With celebration of Pride Month drawing to a close, employers should consider how to better support members of the LGBTQ+ community in their workforce during a time of growing adversity for this group. According to Human Rights Campaign , more than 300 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced in 28 U.S. states this year. The organization describes that these bills as “dangerous and discriminatory” and are aimed at banning trans kids from playing sports or receiving life-saving health care. These bills come at a time of rising hate and violence against LGBTQ+ people, according to GLAAD, a U.S.-based organization advancing the rights and interests of the community. Growing rhetoric in … [Read more...] about Companies Need To Keep Advocating For LGBTQ+ Rights After Pride Month Ends

- A + A NEW YORK (June 25): With US stocks on track to mark their worst first half of the year in more than 50 years, investors are studying a range of metrics to determine whether the coming months could bring relief or more of the same. By any stretch, the first half of 2022 (1H22) has been a challenging one for investors. The S&P 500 is down around 18% year-to-date, on track for its worst first half of any year since 1970, according to S&P Dow Jones Indices, as the US Federal Reserve (Fed) tightens monetary policy in its fight against the highest inflation in decades. Bonds, which investors typically count on to counterbalance stock declines in their portfolios, have fared little better: The US bond market, as measured by the Vanguard Total Bond Market Index fund, is down 10.8% for the year to date, putting it on pace for its worst performance in modern history. With investor expectations fluctuating between continued high inflation and an economic … [Read more...] about Bruised US stock investors brace for more pain in 2H22

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin In Part One of this interview , I caught up with Clif Bar cofounder Gary Erickson to learn more about the decision to step down and the seeds of the purpose-driven culture he and his wife, co-founder Kit Crawford, were able to plant at the company. Aziz: So, did that decision drive a renewed sense of energy and purpose around what you and your wife decided to do next with Clif Bar? Why did you decide to start from the inside out - by looking at the core product? Erickson: Not selling gave us the freedom to do business differently. We look to the Five Aspirations business model to guide every decision we make. Through that lens, we made the choice to take CLIF BAR organic in 2003. It was clear that transitioning to organic ingredients was right for people, farm communities and the planet even if it would hit the traditional bottom line. We were the first energy bar to make that investment, and we’ve purchased 1 … [Read more...] about The Power Of Purpose: Gary Erickson, Founder Of Clif Bar, Reflects On A Life Of Purpose (Part Two)

By Seth Matlins Managing Director, Forbes CMO Network N o matter how you measure marketing influence, no matter the tweaks made to methodology over time, no matter the sea-change across the marketing landscape itself, the chief marketers being “inducted” into this first class of The Forbes CMO Hall of Fame, have been mainstays of The Forbes World’s Most Influential CMOs List since its launch in 2012. We consider this proof positive of their enduring influence on the brands and businesses they help lead, on industry, the marketing community and the attitudes and behaviors of people the world over. Individually and collectively, they have shown us what true (marketing) leadership and impact—in the face of unimaginable and unforeseen change—looks like. Given their influence, given the scope and scale of their achievements over time we thought their perspective on the changes these Chief Marketers have seen (and driven) over the past decade, and the ones they expect to … [Read more...] about Forbes CMO Hall Of Fame Inductees On The Evolution Of Marketing And Marketing Influence

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Dropp’s is a quirky and idiosyncratic brand I’ve long been fascinated by, for its pioneering work around sustainability and packaging. I caught up with their Founder and CEO, Jonathan Propper to learn more about their journey, and their most recent innovation, eliminating the labels from their packaging . Afdhel Aziz: Jonathan, welcome! Please tell us a little about Dropps and your journey so far? Jonathan Propper:​ ​I trace my environmentalist roots back 50 years, when I celebrated the world’s first Earth Day at Belmont Plateau in Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park. I knew even then that it was the beginning of something big. Cleaning - and laundry specifically - is quite literally in my DNA. My mother and I founded a cotton mill outside Philadelphia, and made chunky knit cotton sweaters. She soon realized that traditional harsh detergents were damaging the sweaters, making them yellowed and stretched out. So we … [Read more...] about How Dropps Is Remaking Cleaning For Good By ‘Eliminating The Stupid’—And Saving The Planet From Plastic

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Amongst all the innovation in social impact happening across business, luxury is not one category that intuitively seems ripe for potential. But one intrepid company in Amsterdam, Crafted Society , is trying to change all that, with its unique model blending centuries-old craftsmanship in their products with a new-wave passion for creating positive social impact in a movement they call 'Luxury for Good'. I caught up with Founder and 'Co-Pilot' Martin Johnston to find out more. Crafted Society slip-on Crafted Society Afdhel Aziz: Martin, please tell us about the genesis of Crafted Society and what the purpose of the brand is? Martin Johnston: For as long as I know, I had always harbored a desire to launch my own brand. In agreement with my wife Lise, who also harbored the desire to build our own dream, we agreed to go for it. From the very first brainstorm at our kitchen table, we knew exactly what we … [Read more...] about The Power Of Purpose: How Crafted Society Is Creating ‘Luxury For Good’