Four Ways to Level up Your YouTube Live Engagement
YouTube is expanding its Live platform with four new engagement tools. Viewers can now send gifts on both horizontal and vertical streams, and the feature is rolling out to creators in Canada, Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand. Purchases of Super Chats, Super Stickers or gifts will automatically trigger an ad‑free window for the supporter, while the system will hold ads during peak chat activity. Finally, creators can stream simultaneously in vertical and horizontal formats with a shared chat, and more customization options are slated for release.
Dropbox Enlarges Big Spaceship's Scope As Social AOR
Dropbox has elevated Big Spaceship from project‑based work to its official social agency of record, expanding the scope to full‑funnel duties and IRL activation content for 2026. The partnership has already driven quarter‑over‑quarter engagement gains among Dropbox’s 700 million users, supported...
Qlik CEO: ‘Trusted Data Foundation’ For AI Is The Theme At This Week’s Connect Event
Qlik CEO Mike Capone told CRN that a trusted data foundation is essential for successful AI, especially agentic AI that automates decisions. He highlighted that 86% of AI projects miss ROI because companies skip end‑to‑end data preparation. Qlik has invested...
'Extreme' Reveal: TDA Boulder Unboxes Orijen Freshprey
TDA Boulder launched Orijen Freshprey with "The World’s Most Extreme Unboxing," filming at 12,000 feet in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains. The campaign partners with outdoor creators Wander with Willow and showcases the product in a rugged, outdoor setting, diverging from...
Existing Home Sales Crumble, Outlook Cut On Higher Rates
Existing home sales in the United States dropped sharply as mortgage rates climbed, prompting analysts to cut the market outlook. The median age of the housing stock is now 44 years, meaning many homes require expensive updates to electrical, plumbing,...
2026 Leaders Interview – Paweł Zakielarz – Shopreturns
Shopreturns, founded by Paweł Zakielarz, provides a streamlined cross‑border return service for UK retailers selling into the EU, addressing the post‑Brexit landscape. The interview outlines how the removal of de‑minimis thresholds and the new €3 (≈$3.30) import fee have reshaped...
UK 'Not Supporting' U.S. Iran Blockade as France's Macron Confirms 'Multinational' Talks on the Strait of Hormuz
The United Kingdom announced it will not support the United States’ planned blockade of Iranian ports, rejecting any involvement in what Prime Minister Keir Starmer called a "war of choice." President Donald Trump has ordered the blockade to begin at...
Founders Must Lead AI, Not Just Hire Specialists
Founders that think they can simply ‘hand off’ AI transformation to an AI specialist have it wrong. It starts from the top. Who is going to drive infrastructure change? Org chart change? Recruiting change? Everything gets flipped over. Things are changing on a daily...
Leading At Race Speed: Lessons From A F1 Team Principal
The article distills leadership principles from a Formula 1 team principal, emphasizing rapid decision‑making, data‑driven tactics, and relentless focus on execution. It highlights how the high‑pressure pit lane environment forces leaders to prioritize clarity, empower specialists, and iterate instantly. The piece...
When Values Aren’t Enough: Leadership In Family Firm Culture
Family firms often tout deep‑rooted values, but Paul Andrews argues that values alone don’t sustain culture. The article explains that leadership alignment—consistent interpretation, embodiment, and communication of those values—turns abstract principles into lived experience. Misalignment, especially during generational transitions or...
BoE Updates Operational Resolution Guides
On 13 April 2026 the Bank of England published an updated operational guide for transfer resolutions and revised its bail‑in resolution guide. The transfer‑resolution guide details how the BoE would move a failed firm’s shares or business to a private‑sector purchaser or...
Week in Review: ‘Payroll Leakage’ Is Prompting Millions in Losses
A joint UKG‑KPMG report warns that poorly governed payroll processes can create "payroll leakage," eroding up to 4% of a company’s total labor spend and costing millions in waste and fraud. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission recorded a record...
As Mergers and Acquisitions Soar, Agencies Point to a ‘Fragmented’ Market
Mergers and acquisitions are accelerating across the event‑marketing sector as agencies chase live‑event demand, AI capabilities, and private‑equity backing. Publicis Groupe bought 160over90 to cement a sports‑marketing platform, while Nth Degree merged with INVNT to offer end‑to‑end B2B event services....
AI Is Stress-Testing Hiring — and Hurting Trust
AI‑driven hiring tools are being adopted at scale to cope with record application volumes, but they are eroding trust in the recruitment process. Nearly half of job seekers now use generative AI to bulk‑produce resumes, while 30% of hiring stakeholders...
NBA Playoffs Set to Leave Local TV Behind in Streaming-Heavy Shift
The NBA’s postseason will be shown exclusively on national networks and streaming platforms, ending local TV coverage for the first round. The Play‑In Tournament moves to Amazon Prime Video, while first‑round games split among NBC, Peacock, Amazon, ESPN and ABC...
ESMA Releases Reporting Templates and Instructions for the Active Account Requirement
On 13 April 2026 ESMA published reporting templates and detailed instructions for the Active Account Requirement (AAR) under EMIR 3. The templates guide counterparties on how to disclose counterparty information, risk exposures, and the representativeness obligation to national regulators. ESMA’s goal is to...
This CEO Hires Just 4% of Applicants. Here’s His Unique Hiring Test.
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby has instituted a pilot‑veto hiring test that asks a select group of about a dozen well‑liked pilots to shadow interviewees and decide if they’d want to spend a four‑day trip together. Candidates who fail the...
Nokia Set to Cut 121 Jobs in Finland - Report
Finnish telecom giant Nokia announced it will cut 121 jobs in Finland, down from an initial 156 after negotiations with staff. The reductions will affect 63 positions in Espoo, 11 in Tampere and up to 50 in Oulu, where a...
Former Hollywood Powerhouse Michael Ovitz Returns as UMG Chairman
WaxWord: Here’s a name Hollywood thought was long gone: Michael Ovitz. Once the most powerful man in the industry, he left 20 years ago after burning too many relationships. Now at 79 he wants back in… as the chairman of...
Icelandirect Expands CDMO Footprint with SOMA LABS Solid Dosage Acquisition
Icelandirect announced the acquisition of SOMA Labs, a New Jersey‑based solid‑dosage CDMO, expanding its capabilities beyond lipid‑based liquids into powders, tablets, capsules and chewables for both human and pet supplements. The deal doubles Icelandirect’s turnkey offering, allowing customers to source...
What a Construction Technology Team’s Hackathon Reveals About the Organizational Transformation Problem in AEC
Zero's construction technology team halted regular work for a full‑day hackathon, bringing together over twenty engineers, operators, and business leads across multiple locations. The event yielded three AI‑driven tools—a business‑development intelligence system, a project‑signal monitoring platform, and a documentation workflow...
AI Safety's Biggest Talent Gap Isn't Researchers. It's Generalists.
The AI safety ecosystem faces a critical shortage of competent generalists—program managers, fieldbuilders, operators, and senior operational staff—while research fellowships are abundant. Roughly 2,000‑2,500 research fellows are produced annually, but only about 300 non‑research fellows enter the field each year,...
The Token Trap: Data's Newest Vanity Metric
The post warns that token consumption has become a vanity metric for AI adoption, equating usage with impact. It contrasts two approaches: a volume‑driven model that speeds up dashboard production, and a strategic model that uses AI to free time...
Pirojsha Godrej to Take over as Chair of Godrej Industries on 14 August
Pirojsha Godrej will assume the chairmanship of the $20 billion Godrej Industries Group on 14 August, succeeding his uncle Nadir Godrej, who steps down at age 75. On the same day, his cousin Burjis Godrej, 34, will join the group holding company’s...
EU Nat Cat Insurance Pool Could Be Enhanced by Cat Bonds and ILS: EIOPA / ESM Paper
The European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) and the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) have proposed a premium‑financed, EU‑wide natural catastrophe insurance pool backed by a loan‑based backstop of up to €65 bn (about $70 bn). The pool would diversify risk across...
Gulf Blockade Piles Pressure on Textile Chemicals
The ongoing Gulf blockade is tightening the supply chain for textile chemicals, as the Strait of Hormuz—responsible for about 20% of global oil—faces operational disruptions. Senior executives from major suppliers, including Transfar and Tanatex, say the crisis has moved from...
Daily Memo: Developments in the Middle East
President Donald Trump announced that the United States will commence a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz on April 13. The operation will prohibit all vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports while allowing traffic to non‑Iranian ports to pass unimpeded....
![[COPY] China and the UAE: A Reading List](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ElWS!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6166292c-b943-4437-8bd4-2efca7a3183f_304x304.png)
[COPY] China and the UAE: A Reading List
The author reposts a curated reading list on China‑UAE relations, compiled in December 2024 and refreshed amid Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s inaugural Beijing visit. The list spans monographs, peer‑reviewed journal articles, and think‑tank analyses that trace...
Aluminum Hits 4-Year High on Trump’s Blockade of Hormuz
Aluminum prices surged to a four‑year peak on the London Metal Exchange, reaching $3,570 a ton after President Donald Trump announced a blockade of Iranian ports. The spot‑cash spread widened to $95.50 a ton, the strongest backwardation since 2007, reflecting...
Archer Teams with ‘Mandalorian and Grogu’ for First Entertainment Deal
Archer Meat Snacks announced its first entertainment partnership, teaming with the upcoming theatrical release *Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu*. The multi‑channel campaign includes three co‑branded snack packs, a 30‑second ad spot on Disney+ and sports playoffs, and a QR‑code reward that gives...
Clique, Guild, Cult
The article categorizes informal groups into three archetypes—cliques, guilds, and cults—explaining how each resolves conflict and scales. Cliques are intimate, low‑investment circles that either negotiate disagreements or dissolve when tensions arise. Guilds are medium‑sized entities with weak‑tie networks and formal...
Turn AI Into Structured, Actionable Homepage Copy
Most AI homepage copy is just expensive filler. Looks good, says nothing. Tomorrow (Tue Apr 14 @ 10am PT) I’ll show how I use AI the opposite way, to turn positioning into a homepage that has flow, makes sense fast, and...
IRS Returns, Tip Deductions, and Plant Tax Insights
Tax News & Views Appreciates Plants and Audit Risk Roundup "The IRS isn't going to catch me." IRS agents return from immigration assignments. Tip deduction rules. Tax policy perceptions. Plants. Link in replies.
Make Taxes Progressive and Collectable
Dean Baker’s CEPR paper argues that the U.S. tax code disproportionately benefits the wealthiest, and calls for a suite of reforms to make the system more progressive and enforceable. It proposes raising top marginal income rates, increasing the corporate tax...
Stop Using Vague Buzzwords—Add Real Detail
Your email copy is too vague. Every time you write "quality," "premium," "trusted," or "fast," you're writing a placeholder for a detail you haven't added yet. Here's what those swaps look like: https://t.co/AXPqwmDMZf
Top Hollywood Talent Opposes Warner‑Paramount Mega‑Deal
New this morning: A-listers that are in business with Warners and Paramount have signed an open letter opposing their mega-deal. --The signers include Dune 3 director Denis Villeneuve, DTF St. Louis star Jason Bateman, director JJ Abrams, who has a deal...
Investors ‘Back to the Drawing Board’ as Iran Deal Stalls. This Is What Advisors Should Know
Investors are re‑evaluating stock valuations as U.S.–Iran negotiations stall, sending Brent crude above $100 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate past $101. The market reacted with the Dow down 0.5% and the S&P 500 flat, underscoring heightened geopolitical risk. Meanwhile, Goldman...
Hostile M&A Overpaying Signals Commodity Supercycle
Fun sign of the commodity-supercycle times: Hostile M&A with "we know we're overpaying and this is as good as you'll ever get" messaging https://t.co/5mgQy0oBYN
Risk Assets Hold Steady After Iran Ceasefire, Not Collapse
Risk assets are not as put out by the collapse of US-Iran peace talks as they were heartened by the announced ceasefire. Wonder how long this lasts... Markets: SPX, EEM, HYG, Gold and Bitcoin https://t.co/FwSi3lcMY7
The OG of Private Credit: You Are What You Eat
The article argues that in private credit, the quality of deal sourcing determines portfolio outcomes. It traces the asset class back to the core middle market, where lenders focused on SME loans backed by private‑equity sponsors with conservative terms. As...
Resale Turnover Stays Tight Amid Slowing Sales
U.S. existing home sales by month Resale turnover remains constrained This is the raw adjusted data Table via @ResidentialClub https://t.co/5kA7jnxkLh
Navigating Complex Regulations to Grow Training Business
How do you grow a #training #business in a regulated industry? (Hint: It's not easy.) Learn how one CEO navigates complexity + change in the #foodservice world, as I talk with Andrew Tyndall of @ResponsiblTrain, on the Talented Learning Show▶️https://t.co/W1XrgoamHc #elearning https://t.co/e2I8Ca10Ii
Cordoba's Sheikh: The Market's 'Dislocated Areas' Are Its Best Opportunities Now
In this episode, chief investment officer Abe Shaikh of Cordoba Advisory Partners discusses how the current oil market’s “dislocated areas” – such as supply constraints from the Red Sea and potential Hormuz closures – create lucrative opportunities as prices are...
Chart of the Week: Ex Uno, Plures
The Lead Left’s chart illustrates how private credit in the United States has transformed from a monolithic middle‑market sponsor‑lending niche into a sprawling ecosystem of financing solutions. Over the past decade, assets under management have ballooned from roughly $200 billion to...
Pressure Tests Systems, Not People: Build Resilient Culture
Pressure doesn’t test your people. It tests your system. Check out the latest article in my newsletter: Issue #14: Root Resilience – What Happens to Employee Experience Under Pressure https://t.co/o3z7BtjoLP #employeeexperience #culture https://t.co/BQjmSCalzf
The EBA Publishes Report on Banks’ Dry Run Testing of Their Recovery Plans
The European Banking Authority released a report evaluating how banks conduct dry‑run tests of their recovery plans. The analysis confirms that well‑executed dry runs boost operational readiness and enable faster, credible responses to stress events. While most banks recognize their...
AI Founders Reveal Secrets Behind $140M Revenue
$140m revenue going live with 9 founders today they're sharing how they did it all AI focused lmk if you want invite https://t.co/08AhiYBUQR
Oil Price Tops $100 a Barrel as US Prepares Strait of Hormuz Blockade; Goldman Sachs Posts Rise in Profits –...
Oil prices surged past $100 a barrel, with Brent trading at $102.31 as the United States prepared a naval blockade in the Gulf of Oman amid the Iran‑Israel conflict. Goldman Sachs reported a 48% jump in investment‑banking fees, posting Q1...
Investing Metrics Often Mislead: FCF & EV Errors
Second this... there's also periodic misinformation in these investing tools, especially with FCF and enterprise value calculations... leases, IFRS interest cash flows, capex/intangibles, other stuff
EU Fossil Fuel Costs Soar €22 Billion Amid Conflict
Since the start of the Middle East conflict, the EU’s bill for fossil fuel imports has increased by over **€22 billion**, said Ursula von der Leyen 💰💰💰 https://t.co/driqaI4fOe