Something exciting is going on with fintech in Pakistan. But what exactly is happening and what does it mean for that country's future?

It's time to face yet another inconvenient truth. As we rush madly to embrace all that is good and promising about alternative forms of energy, alternatives that is to fossil fuel, we need to think long and hard about the life cycle from production to landfill because, as this HBR article points out, the "Solar Trash Wave" is upon us. The authors note and rightly so, that a "strategy for entering the circular economy is absolutely essential — and the sooner, the better."

Every so often I take a look into my electronic library, though I admit it is not nearly as exciting as perusing for hours the book stands "i.e., les Bouquinistes" that are habitually found along the right bank of Seine in Paris. But today, after dusting off the cobwebs, I found an interesting and dated but for me a timely article entitled "What can small businesses learn from emerging markets." A juicy topic to be sure. Allow me to give you just a flavor.

The American Bank for Africa (ABA) an idea whose time has come?Much talk about gearing up US investment in Africa however, it seems that the continent may never reach its full business potential until and unless the US unleashes into it the full weight of its private business sector and investment. 

Resilience. It's one of those increasingly overused words that is bandied about, almost too casually. Now, granted the world has more than it's share of "uncertainty" but more so than previous generations? Maybe that's debatable. I don't want to be Pollyannaish about this, but sure geopolitical, cyber, financial, and natural disasters all fall under increasing risks in our time, so it behooves companies to do more than think about how to manage risk in uncertain times and doing so without hysterically screaming that the world is coming to an end. My takeaway on this article is "true resilience requires balanced focus on six dimensions: financials, operations, technology, organization, reputation, and business model." These are all worthy of discussion including reputation resilience or "knife at your throat" as I loosely refer to it.

May 18, 2021 – Baltimore. The Maryland/D.C. District Export Council (Maryland/D.C. DEC) is pleased to announce Governor Hogan, Lt. Governor Rutherford, and the State of Maryland have issued a Governor’s proclamation for May 25th as “Maryland Export Day”. The Maryland/D.C. DEC pursued this proclamation as it saw the importance of recognizing Maryland exports and exporters during World Trade Month. In 2020, Maryland goods exports were valued at an estimated $13 billion and supported more than 52,000 jobs.

This article, by Timberland’s former COO, outlines his views on the problems with sustainability reporting and sustainable investing and unreliable ESG ratings. During the days of wine and roses, that "20-year period of increased reporting and sustainable investing, carbon emissions have continued to rise, and environmental damage has accelerated." 

Avoid These 3 Pitfalls When Leading Organizational Change

The issue of climate and risk has risen prominently in discussions on many fronts and for good reasons, in my humble opinion. Having dipped my toe to in this policy issue so many years ago that I will refrain from given readers an actual carbon date. Suffice to say that back in the good old days, climate or climate change or global warming was heating up in policy circles throughout Washington, DC much the way it is now, once again. My view at the time was that moderation, political and economic realism, sensibility and a clear head should prevail above all. I still very much subscribe to that view, though in some  quarters, I suspect, holding that view is nothing short of tyranny. Recently, I was heartened to read a brief interview (McKinsey) with BlackRock CEO Larry Fink. For those who may not know, BlackRock is the world's largest asset manager, with $8.67 trillion in assets under management as of January 2021.

Chinese tech giants control substantial market shares, now what happens when "disorderly expansion of capital" meets government intervention?Are there lessons to be learned? Free market, as an instrument of policy, is a fine thing indeed, until it's not.

Very well framed piece by the CSIS authors. If I may comment, at least relative to the DRC which holds a special spot in my heart having grown-up in Kin' for six years. DRC's president Félix Tshisekedi will play (and expects) to play a visible role as the African Union chair in 2021. There is a clear quid-pro-quo that is visible at least on one level. Financial support from the US and its global climate partners to the DRC to undertake climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Intuitively, the argument that's put forth supporting a streamlined innovation strategy would seem to make sense. Does it? With fewer strategic initiatives but with greater impact, companies can make their strategies more powerful.