DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ The metaverse: How it became real estate's new frontier
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-23 | by ( Thomas Page | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

The metaverse – a growing number of immersive virtual online worlds where users live and play – has become a hotbed of real estate speculation. Look beyond the numbers, however, and you’ll find whole professions being shaken up, from architects and designers to developers and real estate agents. But could real estate in the metaverse ever become as reliable an investment as bricks and mortar? “It’s hard to know if the real estate inside (metaverses) is going to be stable … Least of all us, and we’re deeply in it,” said Yorio. “It’s very possible that real estate in the metaverse is a stable investment in the future,” said Robson, of analytics company WetMeta, in an email.

☆ Steel makers fear deepening crisis from energy crunch as output halted
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-23 | by ( Philip Blenkinsop | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Stainless metal coils are seen at the Belgian site of stainless steel maker Aperam, which has been forced to slow production due to spiralling energy prices, in Genk, Belgium September 22, 2022. Even with four wind turbines and over 50,000 solar panels at its site in eastern Belgium, stainless steel maker Aperam has been forced to halt production as surging energy prices bite. Hallemans says the potential payout producers such as Aperam would receive is unclear and could be months away, with energy prices sky-high just as Aperam seeks to bind customers to annual contracts. ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe has trimmed production there, with customers hesitant in the face of an emerging recession and energy prices that challenge its international competitiveness. Eurofer says the situation has worsened markedly since its August forecast of a modest 1.7% decline of European steel consumption this year, but a solid 5.6% rebound in 2023.

☆ New York’s Landmark AI Bias Law Prompts Uncertainty
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Richard Vanderford | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +7 min

“If you are an organization that’s using some type of these tools…it can be pretty confusing.”The city law will potentially impact a large number of employers. New York City in 2021 had just under 200,000 businesses, according to the New York State Department of Labor. AI technology can help businesses hire and onboard candidates more quickly amid a “war for talent,” said Emily Dickens, SHRM’s head of government affairs. Which is scary,” Ms. Zuloaga said, adding that she supports the scrutiny AI systems have started to receive. Some critics have argued the New York law doesn’t go far enough.

☆ Farm and food investors face $150 bln loss on climate change - report
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-20 | by ( Ross Kerber | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Cattle gather in a field near a wind turbine in the Landes de Couesme wind farm near La Gacilly, western France, April 26, 2014. The study, seen by Reuters News, found the companies' value would decline by an average of around 7% by 2030, equivalent to some $150 billion in investor losses, if they did not adopt new practices. The report does not name specific companies so it is not taken as investment advice, a campaign representative said. It is being published by Race to Zero, a U.N.-backed campaign to address climate change. The report will be presented at Climate Week in New York, a series of events tied to the gathering of world leaders in the city.

☆ The future of fashion is in everyone's hands
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-20 | by ( Sponsor Post | Created Insider Studios With Electrolux | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

And while many global economies and industries are still in recovery, it could be said that fashion — and sustainable fashion — is not only recovering but in the midst of a revolution. Power to the consumer: Environmental solutions within reachElectroluxWhat if the future of sustainable fashion is already within reach – literally? Butani said that small changes to our behaviours and "breaking the pattern" of legacy habits holds the key to making more sustainable fashion choices. Which is why Electrolux's partnership with Rave Review, an upcycling fashion house, is so relevant. If you would like to discover more about sustainable fashion practices and how Electrolux is shaping the future of garment care, please visit our website

☆ Citi exceeded its 2022 goals to make leadership more diverse. A top exec explains what the firm is focused on next.
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-20 | by ( Marguerite Ward | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

In June 2021, Citi hired Erika Irish Brown to lead diversity and inclusion at the firm. Since then, Citi exceeded its goals to increase Black and female leadership. "As proud as we are of our representation goals, it's just one tool in the toolkit," Brown told Insider. "We have very specific development and retention programs for mid-level Black employees as well as women," Brown said. For Brown, diversity and inclusion isn't a one-department job; it's a company-wide priority.

☆ Inside Salesforce's ambitious new plan to propel the carbon-credit market to critical mass and make a dent in the climate crisis
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-20 | by ( Aaron Mok | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Big companies are rushing to buy carbon credits to meet net-zero emission goals. Companies like Delta Air Lines, Alphabet, and Disney have been buying carbon credits to meet net-zero emission goals. Unlike the carbon-credit market regulated by the government, the voluntary market allows companies to opt in, purchasing credits to fund sustainability projects in exchange for the right to emit more carbon. But companies are often skeptical about the efficacy of carbon credits because it's not always clear where the funds go. It also worked with carbon-credit providers such as Climate Impact Partners, Cloverly, and Pachama to vet carbon-reduction projects for quality.

☆ Inside Salesforce's ambitious new plan to propel the carbon credit market to critical mass and make a dent in the climate crisis
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-20 | by ( Aaron Mok | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Big companies are rushing to buy carbon credits to meet net-zero emission goals. Companies like Delta Air Lines, tech conglomerate Alphabet, and entertainment firm Disney are rushing to buy carbon credits to meet net-zero emission goals. Unlike the carbon credit market regulated by the government, organizations that opt into the voluntary market can choose to emit more carbon by purchasing credits toward sustainability projects. But companies are often skeptical about the efficacy of carbon credits because it's not always clear where the funds go. It also worked with carbon credit providers such as Climate Impact Partners, Cloverly, and Pachama to vet carbon reduction projects for quality.

☆ How to invest in the education tech trend as schools spend billions to close the Covid learning gap
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-17 | by ( Christina Cheddar Berk | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

In a race to catch up, school districts are putting an increased emphasis on assessments to ferret out students' weak spots. Chronic absenteeism is already a rampant problem that is continuing to worsen, particularly in school districts with low-income students. She also said products need to be engaging for students, while also providing evidence that the methods used are effective. "Districts need products that work," she said. "They don't need products that look sexy or that have, you know, exciting front ends, they need products that are actually going to work and support students to improve learning."

☆ How a 34-year-old investor moved from Wall Street to psychedelics and raised $10.5 million for a new depression treatment
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-16 | by ( Yeji Jesse Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Freedom Biosciences is a new startup focused on a ketamine treatment for depression. In 2021, Burkitbayeva founded a psychedelics company, Freedom Biosciences, with Dr. John Krystal, the chair of the Department of Psychiatry at Yale University. Freedom Biosciences, which focuses on ketamine and psychedelics as treatments for depression and other mental illnesses, announced on Tuesday that it had raised a $10.5 million seed round from investors. Burkitbayeva spoke with Insider about how she moved from Wall Street to psychedelics and went from angel investor to company CEO. Burkitbayeva used her background as an investor to help Freedom Biosciences raise its seed roundWith her background as both an investor and a founder, Burkitbayeva spearheaded the fundraising efforts for Freedom Biosciences.

☆ Is your boss 'quiet firing' you?
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-15 | by ( Bonnie Dilber | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

So what is quiet firing? Quiet firing is when an employer does the bare minimum to keep their employees: no support, no development, no growth, no rewards. Women, and especially women of color, are particularly susceptible to quiet firing. Lots of workers have been 'quiet fired'When faced with quiet firing, some employees get fed up and exit on their own. A few weeks ago, I wrote a LinkedIn post on quiet firing that quickly went viral.

☆ Asian American women fall off by 80% at corporate leadership levels, a new report says
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-14 | by ( Kimmy Yam | Kimmy Yam Is A Reporter For Nbc Asian America. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +7 min

“It’s not the responsibility of Asian women to fix all of the issues that affect Asian women,” said Michael Chui, a partner at McKinsey who co-authored the study. Asian American women meet uniquely strong resistance to advancement by being “penalized” for being both people of color and women. According to the research, the share of promotions for Asian women is 1 for every 2 Asian men at the senior manager level, dropping to 1 for every 6 Asian men at the C-suite executive level. Some Asian American women she has spoken to have reported that the “tiger mom” stereotype, which assumes Asian women are strict, demanding and unfeeling caregivers, can harm their advancement in the workplace. … It just works against Asian American women.”Another major issue that affects Asian American women, and the racial group more generally, is the failure to be properly networked in organizations, Chin said.

☆ Most career-change advice is superficial. Here's what you need to know about the challenges you'll face overhauling your work life.
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-10 | by ( Rebecca Knight | Shana Lebowitz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

If you're pondering a switch, you're likely hungry for advice. When your work life feels impossibly tedious, the prospect of a career change — learning a new industry, honing new skills, meeting new colleagues, and maybe even making more money — is tantalizing. If you're one of those people pondering a career switch, you're likely hungry for advice that can help you understand what the change entails. Yet Beilock cautions against talking yourself out of a career change based on fear. You can cultivate inner resilience and learn to view a career change with excitement rather than dread."

Reese Brown on a travel nurse assignment in New Jersey in May 2020. The short-lived travel nurse boom was a temporary fix for a long-term decline in the profession that predates the pandemic. In the 1980s and the 1990s, travel nurses were often covering for staff nurses who were on maternity leave, meaning that 13-week contracts become common. By 2021, travel nurses were earning an average of $124.96 an hour, according to the research firm — three times the hourly rate of staff nurses, according to federal statistics. Courtesy Pamela Esmond“The reality is they don’t pay staff nurses enough, and if they would pay staff nurses enough, we wouldn’t have this problem,” she said.

☆ I went from doctor to venture capitalist in less than 3 years — here's how I broke into the industry without studying finance
▼ + stars: | 2022-08-22 | by ( Ellen Nguyen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Here's her advice for making a career change into venture capital, as told to Ellen Nguyen. I started my career as a doctor at the NHS, then moved into consulting at McKinsey, and now I'm an early-stage investor at Octopus Ventures. I know many people think you have to have a financial background to get into venture capital, but it's not true. Here's my best advice for anyone wanting to break into venture capital. She also shares open opportunities in venture capital, and she's very transparent, which I find very helpful.

☆ 10 companies that will let you work from anywhere and are hiring now
▼ + stars: | 2022-08-22 | by ( Morgan Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Still, true work-from-anywhere jobs are hard to find. FlexJobs found that about 95% of remote jobs have geographic requirements, whether it's a specific region, country, state or city. All of the companies on the list offer full-time or part-time remote jobs that didn't have a location restriction and required no time in the office. "But as companies adopt more flexible arrangements, including location independence and remote work options, we anticipate people will have more opportunities than ever before to work remotely — and from anywhere in the world." Some of the most in-demand work-from-anywhere jobs included social media manager, executive assistant and front-end developer.

☆ From Boeing Starliner to Goodyear Tesla tire, 3-D printing is becoming manufacturing reality
▼ + stars: | 2022-07-31 | by ( Rebecca Fannin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Currently, about 2% of its production is through additive manufacturing and more integration into the mix is in sight. 3-D printing is not for every job. Prices for industrial 3-D printing machines can vary from $25,000 to $500,000 and up to $1 million for huge systems. But stock market reception of 3-D printing as a pure-play investment theme has not been good in recent years. Pivoting to 3-D printing was the company's "Kodak moment," said owner and president Mark Lamoncha.

☆ How a nonprofit business school helps companies overcome challenges to building a robust governance strategy
▼ + stars: | 2022-07-08 | by ( Erica Sweeney | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

That's where the INSEAD Corporate Governance Centre steps in. "We address the latest trends, topics, and challenges in corporate governance not only from the academic perspective but also practitioner, a practice-based perspective from real-life experience," she added. Here's an overview of how an effective corporate governance strategy benefits companies, the challenges organizations face in building a strategy alone, and how ICGC steps in to help. There's growing pressure and scrutiny on boards and companies' corporate governance strategies from internal and external stakeholders, Tatar added. ICGC partners with the European Confederation of Directors Associations, the Ukrainian Corporate Governance Academy, the Hellenic Corporate Governance Council, and the Corporate Governance Hub.

☆ Driverless taxis approved in California for the first time – but the rollout will be gradual
▼ + stars: | 2022-06-03 | by ( Tasmin Lockwood | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Autonomous car company Cruise is rolling out driverless taxis in San Francisco. Autonomous car company Cruise is on track to operate driverless taxis in San Francisco after winning California's first driverless deployment permit on Thursday. There has long been a buzz around driverless cars. More than $100 billion has been invested in autonomous vehicle technology since 2010, according to McKinsey. This could be the year that the potential of driverless cars is realised as Cruise joins an exclusive list of companies operating commercially.

☆ Meet 11 people leading the aviation industry's push to slash emissions and ditch fossil fuels
▼ + stars: | 2022-05-31 | by ( Maia Anderson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

Experts have estimated that aviation is responsible for nearly 2% of global greenhouse-gas emissions and 2.5% of carbon-dioxide emissions. Some aviation giants, like United, are signing purchase agreements to buy electric aircraft. Today he serves as CEO and chairman of the company, which aims to be a pioneer in electric aircraft. In 2000 he founded Aviation Technology Group, which developed the ATG Javelin very light jet before ceasing operations in 2007. He is also a founding member of the Nordic Network for Electric Aviation.

☆ Execs at Bank of America, Cognizant, and Walmart share how they think about, measure, and finance sustainability goals on the path to net zero
▼ + stars: | 2022-04-15 | by ( Elle Hardy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The UN's Sustainable Development Goals are not being met because the ESG bond market is way behind. Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest on the culture & business of sustainability — delivered weekly to your inbox. But funding is still way behind when it comes to the environmental aspect, said Karen Fang, the managing director and global head of sustainable finance at Bank of America. Kathleen McLaughlin, the executive vice president and chief sustainability officer at Walmart, said that ESG issues are connected to the long-term prospects of any company. McLaughlin said that Walmart has high ESG ambitions as a company and eventually wants to become regenerative.

Imagining possibilities is a big part of planning; I want LGBTQ women to be able to imagine success. LGBTQ women rarely see themselves reflected in the wealthiest groupsData on both LGBTQ people and women of all orientations evidences economic precarity for many people within these lived experiences. Transgender women have an even higher likelihood of experiencing life on a low income. McKinsey reported last year that cisgender people took home 32% higher wages for the same work transgender people did. LGBTQ women and others tend to resource stability and community outside social norms.

☆ Elon Musk and Peter Thiel were both Silicon Valley outsiders until they joined forces to form PayPal. A new book reveals details of their tumultuous rise to the top.
▼ + stars: | 2022-02-23 | by ( Jonathan A. Knee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

It is these stark differences in approach to business, management, and culture that make the story so engrossing. Thanks to a 2007 Fortune magazine cover story complete with a Godfather-esque photo, the "PayPal Mafia" have taken on unjustified mythic status in Silicon Valley. The Founders provides the tools needed to develop a more balanced view of Silicon Valley and its larger-than-life personalities. It also suggests which aspects of that era of Silicon Valley culture are worth preserving — or maybe even rediscovering. His most recent book is "The Platform Delusion: Who Wins and Who Loses in the Age of Tech Titans."

☆ The public cloud is changing how Wall Street works. Here's how the tech is upending everything from trading to dealmaking.
▼ + stars: | 2022-02-23 | by ( Bianca Chan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Cloud technology has now percolated through nearly every nook and cranny of Wall Street, affecting everything from investment banking to risk management and marketing. What's motivated the recent trend stems from two things that typically elicit change at financial firms: saving money and moving faster. But at least 30 Wall Street firms and well-known fintechs have publicly sided with one provider as a primary partner. "If you look at Wall Street, they have tens of thousands of people in back offices. Take Citibank, which accidentally wired $900 million to Revlon lenders in what is considered one of the largest blunders ever on Wall Street.

☆ American employees are stressed, anxious, and disengaged. Here are 3 simple strategies managers can use to boost their workers' well-being.
▼ + stars: | 2022-02-18 | by ( Rebecca Knight | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Managers can use a number of research-backed interventions to foster employee happiness. Note to managers: Happiness drives business results. A study published earlier this year found that employees with high measures of self-reported happiness upon starting their jobs performed better than those with lower measures of happiness. Cultivate happinessWhen it comes to boosting an employee's emotional well-being, there is only so much a boss can do. Lester and his co-researchers have recommended managers lead team exercises geared toward improving employee well-being.

Search resuls for: "McKinsey"

25 mentions found