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☆ A major US recession is avoidable and this is not a 'gloom and doom scenario,' US Commerce Secretary says
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A major US recession isn't inevitable, US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo told Bloomberg TV. Markets are still being rattled with volatility, but this is not a "gloom and doom scenario," she said. "Obviously there is a possibility that we would have a recession… But as I see it, a recession is not inevitable. Certainly, any kind of significant recession is absolutely not inevitable," Raimondo said in an interview with Bloomberg TV on Thursday. "I think we have to be cautious, but this should not be a gloom and doom scenario," Raimondo said.

☆ These 12 behind-the-scenes execs are innovating TikTok's surging ad business, which will soon be worth more than Snap's and Twitter's combined
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( Lindsay Rittenhouse | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

TikTok's ad revenue is expected to triple to $11.64 billion this year, and it's building out products aggressively to hit its goal. In fact, if TikTok's ad revenues triple to $11.64 billion this year from 2021, as Insider Intelligence predicts, it will surpass the combined ad revenues of Twitter and Snapchat combined. Gabriela Comazzetto, head of LATAM global business solutionsComazzetto, another Facebook poach, has been overseeing TikTok's ad business in one of its fastest growing regions for just over a year. Shant Oknayan, general manager of METAP global business solutionsOknayan manages the TikTok for Business platform for the METAP region. Sameer Singh, general manager of APAC global business solutionsSingh oversees the TikTok for Business platform across APAC.

☆ Amazon's head of sports video is riding the success of 'Thursday Night Football' and setting her sights on deals with the NBA, college sports, and more
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( Colin Salao | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Amazon's VP of global sports video spoke Wednesday on "The Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast." The exec described how "Thursday Night Football" is attracting a younger demographic to the NFL. She also said Amazon is targeting deals with more "marquee sports partners," like the NBA. Amazon VP of global sports video Marie Donoghue. She mentioned interest in college sports and the NBA, whose current rights deals with Disney and TNT expire after the 2024-25 season.

☆ Seeking nominations for leading livestreaming startups in 2022
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( Tanya Chen | Geoff Weiss | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Livestreaming is changing the way people connect with each other and engage with live events. Insider is looking for nominations of startups that are innovating the technology, and how it's used. The global streaming market is predicted to reach $247 billion by 2027, according to Vimeo. Some companies simply offer the technology to bring events to people's smartphones and TV, while others ideate and help market livestreaming events. We're seeking nominations for any startups that are adding interesting folds to the livestreaming industry and experience.

☆ America's 'once unthinkable' chip export restrictions will hobble China's semiconductor ambitions
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

America argues that such advanced semiconductors can be used by China for advanced military capabilities. U.S. companies will be heavily restricted in exporting machinery to Chinese companies that are manufacturing chips of a certain sophistication. "The latest chip rules are a sign that Washington is not trying to rebuild relations with Beijing. For example, it's unlikely that advanced chips manufactured by TSMC won't have used American tools somewhere along the way. Under those rules, Huawei was cut off from the most advanced chips that TSMC was manufacturing and that were designed for its smartphones.

☆ Delta just gave the clearest indication yet of how electric flying taxis will change the experience of flying with airlines
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Delta Air Lines has made a $60 million investment in an eVTOL aircraft. The five-seater air taxi is being produced by Joby Aviation and is planned to enter service by 2024. Delta says it will help some customers avoid traffic by quickly transferring between city centers and airports. The aircraft, which is expected to enter service as soon as 2024, is engineered to fly up to 200 miles per hour with a range of 150 miles. In addition to Delta, Joby has partnered with Tokyo-based All Nippon Airways to bring air taxi transfers to Japan.

Buying other companies is one option to help maintain its historical 20%-plus annual revenue growth, a person familiar with Amazon's deal process said. While Amazon doesn't necessarily prey on companies in trouble, the company is extremely price disciplined, the person familiar with Amazon's deal process told Insider. Bertucci has been a part of some of Amazon's largest transactions, including leading the MGM and One Medical deals. According to the person familiar with Amazon's deal process, Amazon only brings in investment banks when acquisitions reach roughly the $1 billion mark. Indeed, the One Medical deal alone could have netted Goldman and Morgan Stanley, which repped One Medical, in the tens of millions in fees.

☆ Tech stocks are plummeting but the CEO of a software development company reveals his winning strategy for leading through a crisis
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-07 | by ( Ebony Flake | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Alan Trefler, Pegasystems founder and CEO, shared his formula for resilience in hard times. Many looked to vendors, like software company Pegasystems, to automate and digitize business processes like supply-chain interactions and customer service. "In 2022 and beyond, our goal is to capitalize on this demand," Trefler told Insider. In addition to demand, Pegasystems' formula for resilience includes putting people first, doubling down on innovation, and taking a realistic reset. "We're very energized that this vision we've had will be great, not just for us, but for our clients and their customers," Trefler said.

☆ A Microsoft exec just joined Bank of America for a new role at the bank focused analyzing and innovating with customer data
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-23 | by ( Carter Johnson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Bartholf will report to David Tyrie, the bank's chief digital officer and head of global marketing. Like other Wall Street firms, BofA faces an abundance of data as customer interactions go digital. Bank of America just nabbed a top exec from Microsoft as the nation's second-largest bank looks to build out a new data and analytics team. Bartholf will head up a new, centralized group at the bank focused on data, the memo said. Based in Charlotte, Bartholf joins Bank of America after spending more than two decades at Microsoft.

☆ For Some Figma Fans, Adobe Deal Triggers Fears Over Innovation, Pricing
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Isabelle Bousquette | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +5 min

In many instances, users switched over to it from Adobe products for those reasons. The fear is “not necessarily that it’s going to get worse, it’s that it’s just not going to get better anymore,” Mr. McCarthy said. Since last week, the social media site has become a popular forum for Figma users to voice their worries. If Figma price points approached some of the existing price points for Adobe products, “our costs would go through the roof,” said Mr. McCarthy. Both Adobe and Figma said that the strong community element is part of what made Figma so valuable and attractive to Adobe and they hope it can remain.

☆ Elon Musk says SpaceX avoids using patents to build rockets because they're for the 'weak' and block innovation
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Kate Duffy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Elon Musk told CNBC that patents are "for the weak" and SpaceX doesn't really have them. He told CNBC during a factory tour that rocket engines were built by the company in California. In an interview with CNBC, which aired on Wednesday evening, Musk said that using patents in manufacturing is a sign of weakness. Musk said in the CNBC interview that SpaceX used strong stainless steel to make the rocket. Musk said in the interview that patents were normally used as a "blocking technique" and prevented other companies from progressing.

☆ Elon Musk says 'patents are for the weak' as he talks Starship rocket, tours SpaceX Starbase with Jay Leno
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Nicolas Vega | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The list of things that interest Elon Musk ranges from space travel to easing Los Angeles' infamous traffic. The 50-year-old entrepreneur recently appeared on the CNBC's "Jay Leno's Garage" to give the former "Tonight Show" host a tour around the SpaceX Starbase facility in Texas. During the tour, Leno asked if SpaceX had a patent on the material used to build its ships. Musk replied that his spacecraft manufacturer "[doesn't] really patent things." "I don't care about patents," Musk told Leno.

☆ Stash just revamped its tech and announced new partnerships with Mastercard and Marqeta as the fintech looks to stand out in a crowded field
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Carter Johnson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Stash announced Wednesday the launch of a new core banking system and a refreshed debit card. CEO Brandon Krieg told Insider 'Stash Core' will make it easier to develop new products. The startup inked new partnerships with Mastercard, Stride Bank, Marqeta, and other fintech names. For Stash, a fintech built on both deposit banking and investing rails, that has led to an overhaul of the fintech's financial infrastructure and a host of new partnerships. On Wednesday, Stash announced the launch of Stash Core, a new banking system that Brandon Krieg, Stash's cofounder and CEO, said amounts to a rebuild of the startup's back-end tech stack.

Insider asked VC investors which creator economy startups they find the most promising. Despite recent layoffs at companies including Spring, Linktree, PopShop Live, and Jellysmack this year, creator economy startup funding is on the rise, reaching $637 million this year as of July, according to Crunchbase. The money is often flowing to startups in smaller sums and in a more targeted fashion, VCs told Insider in August. Insider reached out to a select group of creator-focused VCs for their thoughts on the most promising creator startups. Here are 14 exciting startups poised to make an impact on the creator economy in 2022 and beyond:

☆ Howard Schultz tells Cramer: China will overtake U.S. as Starbucks' biggest market by 2025
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-13 | by ( Kevin Stankiewicz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

"The future of Starbucks," the outgoing interim CEO Schultz told Jim Cramer, "has never been brighter. All in all, what Starbucks had to say Tuesday validated our decision to invest in the company in late August. China is going to come back, and the equity of the brand has never been stronger at Starbucks Coffee Company," Schultz said. We will be more convenient, but we want to create the experience you've known Starbucks to be," Schultz said. Schultz acknowledged to CNBC that Starbucks has failed to meet the expectations lately of some cafe employees, which the company calls "partners."

☆ 9 green cloud startups that investors are betting on to cash in on a $2 trillion climate opportunity
▼ + stars: | 2022-08-31 | by ( Aaron Mok | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Here are nine tech startups that analysts and investors are betting on to help reduce emissions. As the planet warms, tech companies are finding ways to reduce environmental impacts. Sustainability efforts will only grow as customers, investors, and employees put pressure on tech companies to disclose their environmental impact. Some offered insights on green cloud computing that informed the list, which includes companies making decarbonization software, carbon-offset measurement tools, and data-center cooling technologies. Here are the climate-tech startups analysts and investors say are worth betting on, from least to most capital raised.

☆ How the global head of HR at BlackRock has managed the world's largest investment firm through the pandemic
▼ + stars: | 2022-03-30 | by ( Rachel Durose | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Manish Mehta is the global head of human resources at the largest investment firm in the world. Mehta leads the human resources team at BlackRock, the largest investment management firm in the world, with over 16,000 employees and $9.5 trillion in assets under management. "Our people are our most important asset at BlackRock," Mehta said. Additionally, 80% of BlackRock employees participate in at least one of 15 global employee, professional, and social impact networks. "Navigating the challenges of the pandemic with our HR team, I have seen the difference HR can make in people's lives."

☆ An HR leader shares how he's used transparency throughout the pandemic to combat anxiety and uncertainty
▼ + stars: | 2022-03-28 | by ( Britney Nguyen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Dave Carhart, vice president of people at Lattice, said the pandemic created new levels of burnout. This article is part of Most Innovative HR Leaders, a series about talent heads who are innovating company culture, DEI, and employee experience. Carhart has worked in human resources for over 10 years and joined Lattice during the pandemic in June 2020. "Work was stressful in 'normal' pre-COVID times, but the pandemic has created new levels of burnout and exhaustion," Carhart said. In 2021, Carhart oversaw the launch of three partnerships that have helped Lattice build its pipeline of diverse technical talent.

☆ An HR leader with 22 years of experience says empathy is the top skill she's used to be successful
▼ + stars: | 2022-03-24 | by ( Britney Nguyen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Kerris Hougardy, the vice president of people at Ada, said the pandemic has elevated the role of HR at companies. Ada has a wellness fund for each employee to have access to mental and physical health support. This article is part of Most Innovative HR Leaders, a series about talent heads who are innovating company culture, DEI, and employee experience. The number-one skill she's used to be successful in HR is empathy, she said. Empathy has even helped with the 'harder' side of HR with things like project management, data analysis, and budgeting."

☆ How the leader of a 20-person change management firm gave all their employees a 30-day paid sabbatical
▼ + stars: | 2022-03-22 | by ( Catherine Henderson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

This year, they introduced a month-long sabbatical for all employees to rest and reflect. Mack is a Black, nonbinary, queer, trilingual organizer based in Chicago, and they founded MMG, a research and change management firm that currently has 20 employees, most of whom are Black. This year, they launched a 30-day paid sabbatical for all 20 employees at MMG and permanently made the company's full-time workweek 30 hours. After the success of the sabbatical, MMG has committed to continuing the program again in 2022. In previous interviews with Insider, Mack spoke to their cutting-edge work during the pandemic.

☆ Upcoming live events at Insider
▼ + stars: | 2022-01-19 | by ( Business Insider | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Below is a list of our upcoming in-person and virtual events, including exclusive fireside chats, compelling panels, and reporter Q&As. Featured Events for Sustainability & Climate ActionInsider Introducing the Optimist's Destination for Climate ActionApril 10, 2023 | 3 PM ETDetails to come! InsiderFor a Better Future: Bridging Culture, Business, and ClimatePresented by DeloitteApril 25, 2023 | 12 PM ETDetails to come! Panelists from Tinuiti, Jungle Scout, Bobsled Marketing, and Cure Hydration will discuss what this trend means — watch hereHow advertisers can navigate the death of the third-party cookie. To submit a potential speaker for an upcoming event, please complete this form.

☆ Whoop CFO Tricia Gugler shares how the booming health-tech company uses capital to innovate
▼ + stars: | 2021-12-09 | by ( Lily Katzman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

CFO Tricia Gugler told Insider about how it's staying disciplined when deploying capital. Whoop said the influx of capital elevated it to one of the most successful stand-alone human-performance companies in the world. The company recently announced the creation of a Women's Performance Collective which supports product development and research around women's performance. Preparing for a future capital structureWhile Whoop isn't publicly traded, Gugler said Whoop would be ready if it chose to go public. "We are very happy being a private company, but do believe WHOOP can be a successful company in the public markets," Gugler said.

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