Caffeine Kicks: Shoes Made From Coffee
A Finnish start-up, Rens, is making shoes from waste coffee. Every pair is made from 300 grams of used coffee grounds— the equivalent of 21 cups of coffee. They are waterproof and vegan and also contain the recycled material of six plastic water bottles. Founded in the heart of Helsinki, the idea started as a […]
How Selling Can be Innovative, Without Being Dishonest
Salespeople have gotten a notorious reputation for being dishonest. Some sellers do bend the truth, and worse, to put their product in the best possible light. In sales, as in all aspects of life, many people fall victim to someone else’s inappropriate behavior. I recall the case of a worker in a bakery who was […]
How to be an Inclusive Leader in 2021
To build on the promising momentum around inclusion last year, organizations should expect more from executives, tackle gender equality in broader ways, and continue to uncover the full humanity of their employees. George Floyd’s murder, the subsequent global protests, and pandemic-related solidarity were explosive. They were powerful developments that could accelerate progress on inclusive workplaces […]
Ask These 5 Critical Questions Before Committing to Lean Thinking
Here’s how to avoid the most common mistakes and stack the deck in your favor. Many companies turn to lean thinking and practices in hopes of achieving breakthroughs in efficiency, profitability, and customer satisfaction. Too many, however, fail in their attempts. What began with a bang ends in a whimper, leaving executives and business owners feeling frustrated […]
Reimagining the Workplace for the Post-COVID Era
The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed where, when, and how people work. Most who have now experienced remote working are questioning the ways we used to work and the purpose of the office. Answers to these questions will have repercussions for the future of our cities. Even before the pandemic, the traditional meanings of the workplace […]
With the Pandemic Savaging Jobs, Could Your Future Lie in Artificial Intelligence?
What can you do when a global pandemic cuts your best-laid career plans short? An August report in Time Magazine indicated that 40 million jobs were lost at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, and 42 percent of them are likely gone forever. If yours counts among the lost, your best bet for finding a replacement might […]
Volvo President: “Self-Driving Vehicles are Beneficial to Society”
As President of Volvo Autonomous Solutions Nils Jaeger has been tasked with making autonomous driving a reality – and reassuring society of its benefits long term. Undaunted, the avid cyclist is no stranger to uphill struggles. Five years ago, the expectation was that by 2020 the sight of ‘robotaxis’ and driverless trucks would be a […]
4 Ways to Meet the Global Demand for Real Change
The coronavirus crisis is a health emergency, but its long-term impact will be far broader. This pandemic is accelerating change and rewiring society in ways that will define the decades to come. Here are four ways that real leaders can step up. The coronavirus pandemic is many things — I’ve spent the past few months […]
‘In the DNA’: How Social Entrepreneurs Are Getting Creative in a Pandemic
As COVID-19 forces businesses worldwide to reinvent themselves, social entrepreneurs are getting creative to help communities hit hard by the pandemic — from a Ugandan medicine-on-wheels service to upcycled face masks made by vulnerable women in Peru. While recessions and falling revenue are affecting ethical businesses too, many such companies are proving particularly adept at […]
Beyond Sustainability: The Regenerative Business
In recent years, US manufacturers have taken major steps to make their supply chains more sustainable in an effort to fight climate change. Earlier this year, GM appointed its first chief sustainability officer Dane Parker to drive the carmaker and the nation towards an all-electric, zero-emissions future (GM plans to produce 20 new all-electric vehicles […]
