Most aspiring entrepreneurs are convinced that the strength of their initial idea somehow defines them as a leader, as well as the success potential of their derivative business. In my experience, it’s a lot more complicated than that. It takes leadership ability, as well as a good idea, to make a successful entrepreneur, and great leaders evolve from key leadership decisions along the way.

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Last week, Brookings Metro and the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation (ITIF) released a new report examining the nation’s epidemic of regional divergence and arguing for a concentrated investment surge to bring tech innovation to “heartland” cities and regions. In covering the report, m

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Return on investment for research and development costs in the pharmaceutical industry is at its lowest level since 2010, according to Deloitte's 10th annual ROI of R&D report, released Dec. 18. 

By looking at data from the top 12 global pharmaceutical companies, collected by Deloitte's Centre for Health Solutions, the study found that projected return on investment for research and development was 1.8 percent in 2019, the lowest level since the company began tracking the numbers in 2010, when ROI was at 10.1 percent. It's a slight fall from last year, when the number was 1.9 percent. 

Think that artificial intelligence (AI) is hard? Turns out, you’re right, and for many business leaders, 2020 is the year of the “reality check,” when they lay the groundwork for a realistic AI-powered future. PwC’s third annual AI Predictions report shows that only 4% of executives surveyed plan to deploy AI enterprise-wide in 2020. A year ago, nearly 20% hoped to do the same.

December 16, 2019For most organizations, the clear boundaries of who is “in” and who is not are becoming blurred, and what seemed like bright line differences are now becoming like concentric circles, where the types of people and organizations working together to create value vary widely, and system participants exist along a spectrum. Consider some vendors in a value chain ecosystem who - in every other way but being on a company’s payroll - act like employees. Are they part of the ...

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So often consultants, growth experts, career coaches, and peer groups will tell you that to be a great CEO, you need to work on your business, not in your business.

The CEO is the vision, the opportunities, hovering above the weeds on where the company should be. You have chief operating officers, presidents, and vice presidents who are living in the now and getting sh*% done to achieve the vision set by the CEO.

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In a world of push notifications, email, instant messaging, and shrinking office space, we’re becoming increasingly distracted at work. The average employee is getting interrupted 50 to 60 times per day, and about 80% of these interruptions are unimportant. As a result, people are spending little time in what psychologists call “the flow state,” a space where people are up to five times more productive, according to research from McKinsey.

Capitalism’s global success has lifted billions of people out of grinding poverty while spurring incredible technological advancements. However, this progress has not been without cost. Abundant energy from fossil fuels, global supply chains and middle-class lifestyles fueled by advancements such as on-demand electronic commerce have created complex and widespread challenges including climate change and a lack of economic inclusion.

Technology startups can get motivated by offering solutions to the sharing economy companies and utilising the services offered by them.

The sharing economy is redefining the way in which millions of people around the world do their jobs. Professionals can now work from the comfort of their homes and earn a higher income. They also have the opportunity to set up their own firms by recruiting freelancers from around the world. Additionally, the sharing economy motivates technology startups by opening new avenues for growth. A number of these companies have already built their business models by providing platforms for professionals to offer their services online and accept payments for them.

Narrator: Each year, America gets around four times as many twisters as the rest of the world COMBINED. Taken altogether, countries outside the US see around 200-300 twisters annually. Compared to more than 1,200 that strike American soil. So, what makes the US so special?

To make a tornado, you need just the right mix of ingredients: Warm, humid air near the ground. Cold air higher up in the atmosphere. And wind that overlaps while moving at different speeds or directions. Believe it or not, few places on Earth check all of these boxes. And none compares to the Great Plains of the United States — AKA, tornado alley.

From artificial intelligence (AI) and inequality to globalization and the future of work, research from the McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) in 2019 shed light on major trends reshaping the world’s economy, and uncovered how these global shifts are manifesting locally in Africa, Asia, America, and more.

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Is 2020 going to be the year when European startups start to poach talent from the US? Is it going to be the year when American money pours into Europe?

Or will this be the year when remote working finally takes off, bullshit startup mission statements die and impact startups dominate?

On paper, state and local governments are well-aligned when offering incentives. Many local programs are enabled by state statute. State incentive programs often require local participation, commonly a city or county contribution to the incentive package. State and local governments both have an interest in supporting good quality investments that benefit their citizens.  

A safe New England campus? Check.

A global student body, and educators who know how to make international students feel at home? Check, Check.

A school with an internationally known reputation? Yes, Babson has that, too.

Deciding where to go to college is a big deal for any student, especially when the choice involves moving across the world and studying internationally. And yet, for international students at Babson, it’s a familiar scenario. 28% of Babson undergraduates and 73% of full-time graduate students come to campus from other countries, navigating the world of visas, work sponsorships, and some culture shock as they dive into life at Babson.

Few investors have been as successful over their lifetimes as Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK-A)(NYSE:BRK-B) CEO Warren Buffett. Over a span of roughly 65 years, Buffett has transformed roughly $10,000 in seed capital into a net worth of more than $87 billion, as of Thursday, Dec. 12. Not to mention, Berkshire Hathaway's share price appreciation has created more than $400 billion in wealth for shareholders over the years.

Image: BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY CEO WARREN BUFFETT AT HIS COMPANY'S ANNUAL SHAREHOLDER MEETING. IMAGE SOURCE: THE MOTLEY FOOL.  

Today, cell phones are a big part of how many small businesses operate. In fact, it’s gotten to the point where some feel entrepreneurs are a little too reliant on their mobile devices. However you feel about specific pieces of cell phone etiquette, there’s no denying that these devices add a ton of value to business owners and professionals. But they haven’t always offered the same functionality that people enjoy today. In fact, the history of cell phones spans several decades. And some of the earliest models are fairly unrecognizable today.

On the night of Nov. 8, 2016, there was a surprise announcement on Indian television. In a live telecast to the nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that the country’s two highest-denomination currency notes (Rs 1,000 and Rs 500) would be withdrawn immediately from the market. The plan, termed demonetization by the press, was planned in secrecy and announced dramatically, as Modi’s masterstroke against black money.

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Best known as the founder of VC behemoth New Enterprise Associates, Dick Kramlich has already recorded six IPO exits in his new firm's five-year history.

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Trust is a frequently used word. Just in the last month, consider how many times you’ve used it in thinking about your team?

This time of year, Christmas music is everywhere. Some people get ....