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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 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

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 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 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

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin The world of social media is competitive, but enormous and with endless possibilities for those who excel. Alessandro Riggio got started in the social media game in 2010 and today manages some of the largest names in the industry. Khaby Lame (who this week became number 1 on TikTok with 145 million followers, ahead of Charli d’Amelio), Serena Williams , Douglas Costa , Brahim Diaz , and Alvaro Morata - to name a few. Few have been around since the early days of social media, let alone to rise to the top. However, Alessandro proved not only his abilities, but also his passion when he rose from a film student to become one of the world’s top social media managers. As an example, Alessandro took on Khaby Lame as a client when he had 1,000 Instagram followers - fast forward to today where Khaby boasts around 80 million. Ale is an Italian entrepreneur who built a name for himself by bringing his clients to the … [Read more...] about Alessandro Riggio On How To Manage And Grow The World’s Biggest Social Media Personalities

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Across all levels and industries, recruiting the best talent remains a challenge in the current market. Tempting new employees while retaining your existing staff and keeping staffing levels high is ever-challenging. At the start of the pandemic, the quick reduction in workforce demand laid bare the fundamentals of the company and employee relationship. The subsequent quick market flip for talent put the power of choice very much at the heart of the employee. With the dynamic of the working environment changing and prospective hires being able to choose when and how they work, companies suddenly had to review every aspect of their business to compete - from mentorship and facetime policies to compensation and benefits - all these softer aspects of work have been turned on their head. Many companies are now trying different tactics to attract new talent with limited success. The most obvious of these are to increase starting … [Read more...] about Recruiting The Best – Transparency Trumps Theatrics

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Topline Economists at S&P Global Ratings on Monday warned the likelihood of a recession over the next year is increasing as the Federal Reserve continues its most aggressive economic tightening cycle in decades—becoming the latest experts warning about the potential implications of rising interest rates, which help ease prices at the expense of economic growth. Key Facts In a research note published Monday, a team of economists led by S&P’s Beth Ann Bovino said aggressive Fed policy spurred by ongoing price spikes will usher in low economic growth this year and potentially risk a recession, defined as two consecutive quarters of negative gross domestic product. S&P forecasts that U.S. GDP will grow at an annual rate of 2.4% this year and 1.6% next year—down from forecasts last month calling for growth of 2.4% and 2%, respectively. Even the labor market, which has posted a remarkably strong … [Read more...] about Unemployment Will Rise And ‘Extreme’ Price Pressures Continue As Fed Hikes Risk Recession, S&P Warns

By JILL LAWLESS and JOSEPH WILSON MADRID (AP) — Turkey agreed Tuesday to lift its opposition to Sweden and Finland joining NATO, a breakthrough in an impasse clouding a leaders’ summit in Madrid amid Europe’s worst security crisis in decades triggered by the war in Ukraine. After urgent top-level talks, alliance Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said “we now have an agreement that paves the way for Finland and Sweden to join NATO.” Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has prompted Sweden and Finland to abandon their long-held nonaligned status and apply to join NATO. But Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had blocked the move, insisting the Nordic pair change their stance on Kurdish rebel groups that Turkey considers terrorists. Finnish President Sauli Niinistö said the three countries’ leaders signed a joint agreement after talks on Tuesday. Turkey said it had “got what it wanted” including “full cooperation … in the fight against” the rebel groups. The agreement comes at … [Read more...] about Turkey lifting objections to Sweden, Finland joining NATO

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?