How to improve brain power

When you’re hiring new candidates, how much do you prioritize cultural fit? Your answer to this question may depend on whether you’d consider your company’s culture a broth or a gumbo. advertisement advertisement A broth has exactly one consistency and flavor, while a gumbo features distinct ingredients, each one retaining its unique flavor while contributing perfectly to the overall taste. In my years within the DEI space, I’ve observed quite a few companies adopt a “broth” recruiting approach, vetting candidates based on how seamlessly they believe they’ll fit into their existing corporate culture. Ideally, this practice should revolve around assessing how well candidates align with a company’s values and vision. In reality, it may mean something more arbitrary—using the same jargon and lingo, laughing at the same jokes, adopting the “right” business casual look, etc. Some diverse candidates do check these boxes but many others do not—and their … [Read more...] about When the push for ‘cultural fit’ creates a DEI blindspot

THE Covid-19 pandemic “marathon” is not over, even if we wish it to be. Many seem to have a relaxed outlook already, with a drop in mask usage and increased unprotected social gatherings. We have lost all momentum to fix indoor ventilation significantly and vaccination of young children has sadly faltered. Communication by health authorities has been limited to current emerging data and science on our Covid-19 risks. While we work to restart the economy, restore our children’s education loss and support those who have lost jobs or are having food security issues, we must remain mindful of the situation. I would like to briefly summarise current understanding from research and data on Covid-19 and highlight the three pandemics that are occurring. Note: I have not referenced many studies in this letter to facilitate reading. But the comments made are all based on current available data from reliable sources. First pandemic: Covid-19 The Covid-19 pandemic continues to evolve. … [Read more...] about Three pandemics – The worrying long-term effects of Covid-19

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Humans love telling things what to do. Anything we can establish, predict, and control — from computers to factories — we can program to get reliable, useful results. Biotechnology has matured to the point where scientists increasingly regard living cells as programmable, but not everyone agrees with using that term. By tinkering with and editing their genes to create all kinds of useful new products, molecules, chemicals and materials at scale, leaders in this field of synthetic biology promise to fundamentally reinvent the way we make things, driven by new and emerging techniques for editing DNA and the seemingly limitless productive potential of biology. Companies like Zymergen, Amyris AMRS , and Gingko Bioworks are some of those advancing this concept, which has become a basic tenet among many in biotech. "The core idea behind synthetic biology is that biology is fundamentally programmable, because it runs on digital … [Read more...] about Biotech Says It Can Program Life To Make New Stuff. Is That True?

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Most people want at least some say over how they work, whether that means scheduled hours; being remote, hybrid or in-office; or their responsibilities and duties. When employees accept schedules they don’t want or conditions they don’t like, it’s usually because they feel they have no choice, and their reactions may range from begrudging acceptance to full-out resentment. But research shows that when people work the way they’re most comfortable, the way they want to , they’re most likely to do their best, delivering everything from productivity to innovation. And, in fact, employees usually react with aversion if they’re subject to absolute mandates—for example, about everyone working from the office all the time, while employees who perceive that they have more autonomy—for instance, to choose their projects—respond with greater loyalty and better performance outcomes . But leaders don’t always recognize that … [Read more...] about 3 Practical Ways Leaders Can Give Employees More Of The Autonomy They Crave

Gaurav Manchanda, owner of FC Bengaluru United. (Image: Twitter) In an era of data analysis, artificial intelligence (AI) and number crunching, even in an intrinsically instinctive activity like football, technology has a part to play in a team’s development, just as a good coach or infrastructure do. While FC Bengaluru United (FCBU) signed up Khalid Jamil recently, considered one of the country’s leading coaches, an important element of their partnership with Sevilla Fútbol Club is innovation and technology. While a lot of clubs tackle developmental programmes, marketing and branding, FCBU co-owner Gaurav Manchanda says, an interesting element to their partnership is the use of data. “Bengaluru is the IT capital of India, with its engineers, knowhow, etc. These will help us get smart about how to use data for such a young club, but Sevilla also has this treasure trove of information that helps them get better on the field.” Manchanda, speaking over Zoom after an event … [Read more...] about Bengaluru United-Sevilla FC deal is a step to share knowledge, technology and increase fan base

The machine learning boom is here, and it's only going to get bigger. When the pandemic decimated workforces and limited in-person interaction, artificial intelligence tools helped companies increase productivity. Industries such as hospitality , healthcare , and energy have all benefited from recent A.I. innovations, but there's more disruption on the horizon. I nstances of businesses using automated experiences are increasing, and automation is expected to grow in both the metaverse and in how companies pursue environmental, social, & governance (ESG) initiatives, according to Pranay Agrawal, co-founder and CEO of A.I. services and analytics provider Fractal. Here are three predictions from Agrawal on some of the next big steps for A.I. Customers will expect more from automation services. When the pandemic hit and businesses scrambled to adapt to a digital world, automation became much more commonplace in everyday life. People became used to seamlessly … [Read more...] about 3 Predictions for How A.I. Will Change Business Practices in the Near Future

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Jesse Redniss is CEO & Co-Founder of Qonsent , the first data privacy enablement and engagement platform built for consumers and brands. The race to comply with data privacy laws is top of mind for advertisers and marketers these days with things like clean rooms becoming a hot topic seemingly overnight. This is fallout from “the demise of third-party cookies and identifiers” and the data void they’re leaving behind. This means the third-party data they already have needs to be scrubbed clean to not only ensure that consumer data is private ( and protected ) but that it’s also the right data they should be tracking and leveraging for related campaigns. In other words, there’s no reason why a brand needs to have your Social Security number or other personal identifiable information ( PII ) on file, especially if you didn’t give direct, first-party consent for them to do so. And herein lies the … [Read more...] about Are Clean Rooms The Answer To Data Privacy And A Killer Customer Experience?

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Typically, any discussion of actively removing carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) from the earth’s atmosphere to help reduce the greenhouse effect of manmade emissions has so far centered on carbon storage and capture. That usually means removing CO 2 from the waste stream at a high-emission generation point (for example, a power plant) and then putting it into long-term storage, such as by pumping it far underground. The problem with that approach is that it layers costs upon costs, with only very diffuse benefits. That makes it really difficult to get off the ground in any scalable way. What if instead, our elevated levels of atmospheric CO 2 were viewed as a business opportunity? That’s the approach that the folks at AirCapture LLC, based in Berkeley, California, are taking. Their mission is to use their Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology to pull CO 2 straight from the atmosphere, anywhere it’s needed for other industrial … [Read more...] about AirCapture And 3D Systems Partner To Make Decarbonizing Our Atmosphere Profitable

JANG JOO-YOUNG The author is a national team reporter of the JoongAng Ilbo. The world renowned art museum Tate Modern is located in Bankside, on the southern bank of the river Thames in London. The museum opened in May 2000 in a renovated power plant building. It was a poor and underdeveloped neighborhood, but after the museum opened, it became a major attraction. Works by famous artists such as Andy Warhol and Paik Nam-june are on display, attracting many visitors. It is considered a successful case of urban renewal, preserving the historic significance while also vitalizing the area. The success of the Tate Modern cannot be explained by the preservation of the old building alone. What made it special was combining new facilities with the structure. A footbridge and the Millennium Bridge over the Thames in front of the museum enhanced access to the site. Visitors to London can cross the bridge and tour both St. Paul’s Cathedral on the northern side and the Tate Modern. An … [Read more...] about Between redevelopment and renewal (KOR)

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Virtually every leader has been in this situation. One of your team members gives a presentation or presents a deliverable that is somewhere between lackluster and utterly disappointing. Afterwards, you know that you need to follow up with them to provide much needed constructive criticism to not just avoid a repeat of the dismal performance but also to help support their overall professional development. Unfortunately, too many leaders will make the classic mistake of focusing the conversation almost exclusively on their opinion and coaching but miss the opportunity to lead with inquiring about the team member’s opinion. Indeed, one of the most powerful and effective ways a leader can start that constructive feedback conversation is by simply asking, “How do you think it went? or “How did you feel about today’s presentation?” Starting with this simple question is so effective because it gives you a sense of their level of … [Read more...] about Leaders, Don’t Make This Classic Mistake When Giving Constructive Feedback