How the US-Israel War on Iran Is Affecting African Economies
The US‑Israel blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has choked a key oil and fertilizer corridor, driving fuel prices up 30‑70% across Africa and as high as 150% in Somalia. East African and some North African nations that depend on Gulf imports are experiencing acute shortages, while oil‑exporting countries such as Nigeria feel inflationary pressure from higher global prices. Experts warn that a prolonged conflict could force costly subsidies and strain fiscal balances, prompting a shift toward domestic energy security and regional refining capacity. Nonetheless, immediate food‑security risks remain limited thanks to stored fertilizer and cautious projections.
Feeling Uncertain? That’s Proof You’re Taking Risks
If you feel like you’re behind in your career. If you feel like you’re losing. If you’re not sure if it’s going to work. There’s nothing wrong with you. Entrepreneurship is not clarity. It’s uncertainty repeated daily. Most people quit...
Security Leaders Overconfident About Ransomware Recovery
Veeam’s 2026 Data Trust and Resilience Report reveals a stark gap between confidence and reality in ransomware recovery. While nine‑in‑ten security leaders believe they can bounce back quickly, only 28% actually restore all compromised data, with an average recovery rate...
EXEC: BRP, Inc. Suspends Fiscal 2027 Guidance Based on U.S. Tariff Impact
BRP Inc., the maker of Ski‑Doo, Sea‑Doo and Lynx, has halted its fiscal 2027 outlook after the U.S. Section 232 amendment imposed a 25% tariff on the total value of imported snowmobiles and most off‑road vehicles. The company estimates the change...
Morning Reads
Amazon confirmed a $11.5 billion deal to acquire Globalstar, aiming to embed direct‑to‑device satellite services into its upcoming Amazon Leo network. Dutch chip‑equipment leader ASML reported Q1 net sales of €8.8 billion (about $9.6 billion) and raised its 2026 revenue target to €36‑40 billion ($39‑44 billion)...
Why Leaders Need “Power Skills”
Leaders are facing a widening gap as technical expertise alone no longer drives performance. The article argues that "power skills"—empathy, active listening, trust‑building—are essential to reverse declining engagement, talent loss, and stifled innovation. Practices such as empathy shadowing, listening tours,...
Make Your Pitch Simple, Not Complicated
Your pitch isn't too long. It's too complicated. Dumbed down removes the intelligence. Simple removes everything that isn't essential. Can you explain what you do, who it's for, and why it matters in 30 seconds? If not — that's an unfinished thinking problem....
Regulatory Chaos Is Coming. AI Agents Are Already Ahead of It
The article highlights a rapidly fragmenting AI regulatory landscape, with 45 U.S. states introducing over 1,500 AI‑related bills and cities adding their own hiring rules. It explains how compliance‑focused AI agents can flag potential violations while leaving final decisions to...
Saudi Logistics Lifeline ‘Won’t Go Back in the Box’ Post-War
The Iran‑War accelerated the creation of a Gulf land‑bridge, a 47‑day effort linking Saudi ports, rail and road corridors to bypass Red Sea disruptions. Saudi‑based Flow Progressive Logistics highlighted the Saudi International Corridor and a new rail line connecting King...
Early Edition: April 15, 2026
President Trump announced that a second round of direct talks with Iran could occur in Pakistan within two days, while expressing opposition to a 20‑year nuclear suspension proposal. The U.S. blockade of vessels heading to Iranian ports showed limited effect,...
US Mortgage Payments Ease Slightly but Affordability Strain Persists
The average new mortgage payment in the United States slipped 2.4% year‑over‑year to $1,942 in 2025, offering modest relief to borrowers. Yet 24.3% of new homeowners still allocate at least 30% of their income to mortgage costs, a level deemed...
Equinor to Exit RE Producer Scatec
Equinor sold an 8.07% stake in renewable‑power producer Scatec for NOK 1.6 billion (about $169 million), cutting its holding to 8.05% and entering a 90‑day lock‑up on the remaining shares. The transaction makes Norway’s sovereign‑pension manager Folketrygdfondet the largest Scatec shareholder with 9.6%...
Salary.com’s 2026 Pay Practices Report Finds HR Pros Believe Pay Is Fair But Are Not Confident Employees Agree
Salary.com’s 2026 State of Pay and Compensation Practices Report, based on 525 HR and compensation professionals, reveals a 31‑point confidence gap: 74.8% of HR leaders believe pay is fair, yet only 44% think employees share that view. The study attributes...
South Africa: New ALT Capital Fund to Back Rural and Township Convenience Retail Centres
Johannesburg-based ALT Capital Partners has launched the Reimagine Social Impact Retail Fund 2, following the success of its first fund that now operates 11 assets across seven South African provinces. The new fund will raise roughly R2.5 billion (about $152.8 million) to...
TBM 416: Investment Stewardship (As Habit)
The article argues that measuring engineering ROI is less about precise formulas and more about cultivating a continuous stewardship habit. Companies often rely on vanity metrics like revenue per engineer, but true insight comes from leading indicators, disciplined hiring, and...
Walmart Is Refreshing Its Look As It Tries to Attract More Walmart+ Subscribers
Walmart has launched the most extensive redesign of its Great Value private‑label brand, updating the packaging of roughly 10,000 food and consumable items while keeping product formulas and low prices intact. The rollout begins with salty‑snack products and will extend...
New Confidence in Ukraine
The war in Iran has shifted global attention away from Ukraine, giving Russia an unexpected economic boost as higher oil prices and eased U.S. sanctions lift its energy revenues. At the same time, Ukraine is gaining confidence through successful drone...
Conagra Brands Incoming CEO on Knife Edge
Conagra Brands named former JM Smucker COO John Brase as its president and CEO, effective June 1, after Sean Connolly’s departure. The announcement triggered a 4.4% drop in the stock, adding to an 18% decline year‑to‑date and a 62% slide over five...
Macy’s Is Closing More Stores in 2026: See an Updated List of Locations that Will Shutter Soon
Macy’s Inc. announced the imminent closure of 14 additional stores, bringing its total planned shutdowns to about 164 by the end of 2026. The locations, spread across 12 states from California to Texas, include both already closed sites and those...
Power Insider: The Markets Are Obsessed with the Strait of Hormuz. Why It Matters Less than You Think
Traders are fixated on the Strait of Hormuz, believing ship traffic can forecast oil prices, but new Saudi and UAE pipeline capacity has halved the waterway’s relevance. The U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports adds volatility, yet the market’s real...
The Solar-Powered Medical Kiosks Bringing Doctors to Remote Chadians
Telemedan, founded in 2021 by Abakar Mahamat and Ahmed Kotoko, deploys solar‑powered medical kiosks that link rural Chadians to qualified doctors via video and on‑site diagnostic tools. Each $10,000 unit is sold to governments or public health programs, offering consultations...
Should You Develop Your Leadership Strengths—Or Fix Your Weaknesses?
The article tackles the long‑standing debate of whether leaders should double‑down on their strengths or remediate their weaknesses. It proposes a four‑question diagnostic to map role requirements, manager expectations, personal capabilities, and development options. Based on that analysis, leaders should...
Startup Essentials: A Starter Guide to Employee Share Plans: Common Founder Concerns
Employee share plans are a potent tool for startup talent attraction, yet founders often fear loss of control, dilution, and tax inefficiencies. The article outlines practical solutions such as exit‑only options, growth shares, and government‑approved EMI or CSOP schemes that...
"Let's Just Build the Farm Inside the Container"
Jason Brown pivoted from a stalled container housing project to launch FarmBox Foods in 2017, converting pre‑insulated shipping containers into fully automated vertical farms. By designing custom hydroponic systems and low‑energy electrical layouts, each unit runs on roughly 190 kWh per...
4 Signs Your Manager Has Stopped Investing in You
The article outlines four clear signals that a manager has stopped investing in an employee: reduced feedback, being stuck on low‑impact work, disappearing one‑on‑ones, and vague career‑growth discussions. It explains how each symptom can be mistaken for autonomy or normal...
The Decline of Mexico’s Central Bank, Explained
Mexico’s central bank, Banxico, has been trimming its benchmark rate from a peak of 11.5% toward a long‑term target near 3% to stimulate borrowing. In July 2024 it lowered the policy rate modestly from 7.00% to 6.75% amid an oil‑price...
Beatrice Monguidi Appointed CEO of Rimowa
Beatrice Monguidi, former EMEA president of Louis Vuitton, has been appointed CEO of Rimowa, effective June 1, 2026. Her career has been entirely within LVMH, with senior roles at Fendi, Valentino and Christian Dior Couture. She succeeds Hugues Bonnet‑Masimbert, who moved to a commercial director role at...
Gritty Maverick Built DLJ Into Wall Street Powerhouse
“I have to be busy, and I just love building things that make a difference.” In a 1986 Wall Street Journal article, Tony James was described as an up-and-coming M&A whiz kid. He transformed DLJ from a mid-sized brokerage into one of...
SERP Lens Launches Major SEO Feature Upgrades
Epic new updates were just released to our new SEO browser, SERP Lens. Including updates to theme settings, placeholder animations, a new rules engine (with 17 instant checks), a robots.txt parser & more. Here's a preview of what each looks like for...
Snap to Axe 1,000 Staff: Snapchat Parent Faces Pressure From Activist Investor, Shares Climb over 5% in Premarket
Snap announced it will lay off about 1,000 employees, roughly 16% of its staff, and eliminate over 300 vacant roles to cut more than $500 million in annualized costs. The restructuring, driven by activist investor Irenic Capital Management, will generate $95‑$130 million...
MrBeast Seeks First Global CMO, a Dream Role with Challenges
SCOOP: MrBeast is on the hunt for his first global CMO - a 'dream job' but one with unique challenges https://t.co/W8fVDSxEoO
Commissioners Prefer Luxury Boxes Over Voter Interests
I hope county commissioners like luxury box suites more than their elected seats. Voters absolutely do not like being duped, especially when it comes to stadiums. If you want to use Truist Park as a model, look what happened...
Spain Expands Access to China with Agreements to Export Pistachios and Dried Figs
Spain and China have signed six new agreements, including five collaboration protocols and a memorandum of understanding on denominations of origin, to open the Chinese market to Spanish pistachios and dried figs. The deals build on a 2023 almond export...
Greenland Resources Valued at $2.5‑3B
At the current Molybdenum prices, Greenland Resources' $MOLY NPV sits around here (~$2.5-3.0bn) 👇 Market cap of $170m. https://t.co/q78aNaCpRO
Greece Exceeds Budget Targets, Announces Further Gains
Greece is set to reveal yet more outperformance on budget goals https://t.co/K6mvz8wQdH via @NikasSotiris https://t.co/vU1OuuIO0i
The Unseen Muscle: Why Mental Fitness Is Your Most Critical Talent Tool
The article reframes mental fitness as the most essential talent tool, arguing that the brain, like a muscle, needs deliberate training, recovery, and proper nutrition. It highlights how constant interruptions, multitasking, and neglect of sleep erode cognitive capacity, undermining strategic...
EU Grapples with Whether to Embrace Chinese Investment
Excellent piece by @barneyjopson @leahyjoseph @ian_c_johnston about a very real dilemma faced by many EU governments: should Europe welcome Chinese investment? https://t.co/IWJghsXaVY via @ft
Expensive Oil Not a SPX Death Sentence, But Bad Enough
Oil prices briefly breached $100 per barrel after a failed U.S.-Iran peace deal and a Hormuz blockade, reviving concerns about a repeat of past market headwinds. Quantitative analysis shows the S&P 500 historically posts a -6.9% average six‑month return when oil...
Agentic AI Cuts, ERP Evolution, Project Failure Insights
Podcast Ep268: 40% of Agentic AI Canceled, ERP Industry Changing & Evolving, Why ERP Projects Fail https://t.co/4PJ9WIeUR2
Policy Paper: Decision No 1/2026 of the Specialised Committee on Participation in Union Programmes Under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement,...
On 15 April 2026 HM Treasury issued Decision No 1/2026, a policy paper that amends Protocol I of the EU‑UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA). The amendment refines the framework governing the United Kingdom’s participation in Union programmes, including research, innovation and climate initiatives....
Why Are Workers so Worried About AI? Listen to How Business Leaders Talk About It
Workers are increasingly anxious that AI will displace them, a sentiment amplified by recent high‑profile layoffs at companies like Block and Oracle. Business leaders, however, can curb this fear by reframing AI as a tool for capacity‑building rather than cost‑cutting...
Megan Fox Puts Men Through Deodorant School for Dr. Squatch
Unilever‑owned personal‑care brand Dr. Squatch has launched a six‑part “Foundation for Odor eXcellence” campaign starring Megan Fox as Professor Fox, a leather‑clad instructor teaching men about natural deodorant. The series blends humor, innuendo and a riding crop to highlight the brand’s all‑natural formula...
Don’t Manage Every Task Manually — Here’s How You Can Use AI to Outdo Your Competitors in Half the Time
Founders start by handling every task themselves, but as startups grow that hands‑on approach becomes unsustainable. Integrating AI tools such as workflow platforms and language models gives leaders real‑time visibility into projects, contractor load, and launch timelines. The resulting clarity...
Salesforce Launches Headless 360 to Support Agent‑first Enterprise Workflows
Salesforce unveiled Headless 360, a platform that consolidates its Agentforce Vibes coding environment, data, and governance tools into an API‑first layer for building agent‑first enterprise workflows. The offering exposes Salesforce’s core datasets, business logic, and MCP utilities through APIs, CLI...
What Is Business Process Management?
Business Process Management (BPM) is a discipline that designs, governs, and continuously improves how work flows across an enterprise, linking every activity to strategic goals. While many equate BPM with documentation or software, the real value lies in end‑to‑end thinking...
The New PPC Playbook: From Media Buyer to Profit Engineer
The article argues that paid‑search professionals must evolve from tactical media buyers to "profit engineers" as Google and Microsoft automate bidding, creative testing, and audience discovery. It outlines four steps: mapping campaigns directly to the profit‑and‑loss statement, engineering AI signals...
Superior, Wisconsin, Weighs Bond-Financed Bid for Water Utility
Superior, Wisconsin is weighing a bond‑financed purchase of its privately owned water system, the state’s last investor‑owned water utility. An appraisal puts the water assets at $58 million, while a broader acquisition that includes electric and gas could cost $274‑$306 million by...
Equinix Pushes AI Into Network Layer With Fabric Intelligence
Equinix unveiled Fabric Intelligence, an AI‑driven control layer that automates design, deployment, and management of network connectivity across multi‑cloud, data‑center, and edge environments. The platform uses AI agents, a natural‑language “Super Agent,” and the Model Context Protocol to compress weeks‑long...
Inside PepsiCo’s Supply Chain Command Center with Brad Rogers, Supply Chain Planning Director at PepsiCo
In this episode of Unpacked, Brad Rogers, Supply Chain Planning Director at PepsiCo, walks listeners through the design and operation of PepsiCo’s Northeast beverage command center. He emphasizes the human‑centric, cross‑functional approach that keeps the center proactive rather than reactive,...
Golden Chick Secures Exclusive Branding Rights on Crew Gear in Texas Rangers Extension
Golden Chick is expanding its partnership with the Texas Rangers by securing exclusive rights to display the 2026 City Connect primary logo on its employee uniforms. The agreement, part of a five‑year extension, makes Golden Chick the only sponsor featuring...