The $2.8 Billion Email: What CEOs Get Wrong About BEC Fraud
Business Email Compromise (BEC) continues to drain U.S. companies of roughly $2.8 billion a year, according to the latest FBI Internet Crime Report. CEOs frequently attribute the threat to weak IT controls, overlooking the human element that attackers exploit. The article highlights that multi‑factor authentication, real‑time email verification, and targeted employee training can dramatically reduce exposure. It also points out that many executives still lack a clear, organization‑wide response plan, leaving firms vulnerable to costly fraud schemes.
Conduit Issuer Project-Selection Process in Spotlight
The SEC’s municipal securities director warned that non‑governmental conduit borrowers are driving the bulk of defaults in the municipal bond market. Data from Municipal Market Analytics shows that from Jan 2020 through April 2024, conduit‑backed borrowers accounted for 75% of impairments...
1H 2026 SmartRecruiters for SAP SuccessFactors: Connected Solutions and New AI-First Capabilities
SAP announced the first‑half 2026 release of SmartRecruiters for SAP SuccessFactors, adding AI‑first recruiting tools and tighter integration with the SAP HCM suite. The update introduces AI‑driven candidate matching, automated interview scheduling, and a new API marketplace for third‑party extensions....
Petro to Meet with Delcy
Colombian President Gustavo Petro will meet Venezuelan acting president Delcy Rodríguez in Caracas to discuss border security and the prospect of Colombian gas imports from Venezuela. The talks mark the first high‑level contact since the U.S. military ousted former President...
More than 30,000 Samsung Workers Take to the Streets to Demand Greater Share of AI Profits
More than 30,000 Samsung Electronics employees gathered in Pyeongtaek to press for a larger slice of the company’s AI‑driven earnings. The National Samsung Electronics Union is asking for a 15% profit allocation—roughly $27 billion, or over $400,000 per worker—plus the removal...
How Multi-Concept Ownership Benefits Both Franchisors and Franchisees
Multi‑concept franchise ownership is gaining traction as seasoned operators acquire several complementary brands. For franchisors, these owners deliver ready capital, proven operational know‑how, and reduced onboarding risk, enabling faster territorial expansion. Franchisees benefit from diversified revenue streams, shared back‑office infrastructure,...
Tech Media Must Stop Uncritical CEO Quote Reporting
A recent New Yorker article put a spotlight on Sam Altman’s compulsive lying. It’s not a great look for tech media that echoed his statements. On Tech Won’t Save Us, I spoke with @kbode to discuss the problem of “CEO says...
Ecommerce Trends: AI’s Key Conversion Metric Is Improving
Adobe Digital Insights reports that AI‑driven traffic to North American retailers converted 42% more often than non‑AI traffic in March 2026, overturning a year‑earlier deficit. AI‑referenced visits surged 393% year‑over‑year, while visitors stayed 48% longer, viewed 13% more pages and...
UPS Adds Temporary Surge Fee to US Imports, Exports
UPS introduced a temporary "Surge Emergency Fee" on April 19, imposing a $0.23 per‑pound surcharge on most U.S. import and export shipments and a $0.32 per‑pound rate for China and Hong Kong lanes. The fee spans seven core services, from Worldwide...
From Enterprise IT to Entrepreneurship: How Kostiantyn Gitko Is Building Tech Businesses Across Global Markets
Former enterprise CTO Kostiantyn Gitko founded Devox Software after years leading large‑scale IT operations in Ukraine. Leveraging his experience with reliable infrastructure, Devox now employs more than 120 specialists and delivers structured, scalable solutions to clients across the United States...
Scandic Hotels Group Moves Closer to Dalata Deal as Leadership Overhaul Begins
Scandic Hotels Group, which has been managing Dalata’s portfolio since November, announced that Dalata’s CEO Dermot Crowley and his deputy will step down later this year as part of a post‑acquisition restructuring. Dalata was bought for €1.4 billion (approximately $1.5 billion) by...
$2,500 Grant For Early-Stage Founders (Deadline: May 6, 2026)
A $2,500 non‑dilutive grant is now open for early‑stage founders who are actively building, testing, or selling their products. The program targets entrepreneurs who need cash to validate ideas without giving up equity. Applications must be submitted by May 6, 2026, and...
China Shifts Commodity Payments to CNY, Sidelines USD Crisis
It matters greatly, here's why: 1. China can run out of USD, but it can't run out of CNY. 2. China's biggest USD outflow is in commodity imports - est. $1.5-2.0 trillion in commodities, mostly in energy. 3. So every 10% of their...
CEOs in Their 60s Are New Norm With Companies Picking Older Bosses
Research from the National Bureau of Economic Research covering 50,500 U.S. CEOs shows the average CEO age has climbed to 61, a full decade older than in 2000, and the typical appointment age has risen to 55. The shift reflects...
What to Do If Employee Refuses to Sign Handbook Acknowledgment
A California employer discovered an employee has refused to sign the employee handbook acknowledgment for four months, citing the need for attorney review. While state law does not require a signature for the handbook itself, California regulations do mandate a...
Stifel CEO 'Not Comfortable' With AI Replacing Advisor Judgement
Stifel CEO Ron Kruszewski told investors that artificial intelligence can streamline routine tasks and surface tax‑saving ideas, but he remains uneasy about relying on AI for the judgment‑heavy decisions that advisors make. He highlighted that AI excels at mathematical analysis...
Front Office Sports Studios To Launch Daily Syndicated ‘Front Office Sports Tonight’
Front Office Sports Studios will debut a daily, nationally syndicated television program called Front Office Sports Tonight on September 14. The 30‑minute show blends reporting, analysis and commentary on the business, culture and entertainment aspects of sports and will be...
Prioritizing Cyber Risks Beats Mere Awareness
One of the hardest parts of cybersecurity right now is not awareness. It is prioritization. Everyone knows there is risk. Few teams are aligned on what matters most. How do you know if you're tackling the most important risks for your organization?
Tiffany Faigus & Ariane Wu Join Amazon As Nonfiction Chief Jenn Levy Sets Team
Amazon has reorganized its nonfiction programming under Head of Nonfiction Series Jenn Levy, appointing two senior executives to lead unscripted and documentary content. Former Disney executive Tiffany Faigus joins as Senior Creative Executive for Unscripted Series, reporting to Levy starting...
D.C. Nets a Stable Rating Outlook
Moody’s Investors Service changed Washington, D.C.’s credit outlook from negative to stable on April 23, 2026, while reaffirming its Aa1 issuer rating. The shift follows a 2025 downgrade from Aaa to Aa1 and reflects the city’s strong fiscal management amid remote‑work...
Automated AI Tool Turns Website Into Instant Sales Pipeline
RIP marketers. Someone built a money printer… you paste a website and it just starts bringing in customers in your sleep. It’s called Money Printer. It reads your site, figures out who should be buying, finds those companies, and reaches out to them...
10 Benefits of Hiring a Tax Accountant for Your Small Business in Phoenix This Year
Small businesses in Phoenix face complex tax obligations that can distract from growth. Hiring a local tax accountant provides expertise in both Arizona and federal regulations, ensuring compliance and minimizing audit risk. Professionals also identify overlooked deductions, streamline financial records,...
Gatorade Restages Around ‘Science-Backed Hydration’ for Everybody
PepsiCo is relaunching Gatorade with a new "Gatorlyte Longer Lasting" variant that emphasizes science‑backed, sustained hydration for a broader audience. The product builds on a 2009 strategy overhaul that aimed to win back casual consumers who had drifted to water...
Same Brief, Three Distinct Tiered Email Designs
GPT Image 2’s range is wild. Had it make 3 ecommerce emails for 3 different brand tiers from the same brief. Luxury. Premium DTC. Mass market. Here’s the prompt: Create a clean presentation-style image on a soft warm neutral background showing 3 different ecommerce email designs...
Flight Attendants Union Head Sara Nelson Is Now “Praying” For President Trump To Save Spirit Airlines
Flight attendants union leader Sara Nelson is pleading with former President Donald Trump for a bailout to rescue Spirit Airlines after the Biden‑administered Justice Department blocked the JetBlue‑Spirit merger. Nelson had previously championed the merger as a labor win, arguing...
Mission and Culture: The Core of Successful Startups
Early in my founding journey, I used to think that mission and culture were just a bunch of buzzwords, not substantiated in anything. But now I think that companies are all about mission and culture. It's the only way for...
ECB's Nagel Says Trump's Fed Attacks Caused Flight to Safety
ECB Governing Council member Joachim Nagel warned that President Donald Trump’s repeated attacks on the Federal Reserve are prompting a flight to safety. Bundesbank research shows the rhetoric has lowered Treasury yields, depressed equity prices, boosted gold and weakened the dollar....
Hegseth's Success Stems From Smart, Aligned Staff
STAFF STAFF STAFF STAFF What makes Hegseth so effective is that he has a staff that is smart and fully aligned. He cleared the office on Day 1. He was not afraid to cut people with questionable agendas. Caldwell’s firing turned out to be based on...
TransUnion Launches Digital Business Profile
TransUnion announced the launch of Digital Business Profile, a portal that lets small‑business owners manage core listing information in one place. The service updates details such as name, address, hours, payment options, images and social links across more than 80...
Effective Discovery Creates Urgency, Not Just Asks Challenges
Hot take: Discovery isn't about asking great questions. It's about making buyers feel the weight of their own problem. Any rep can ask "what are your challenges?" The best reps ask "what happens to your number if that doesn't get fixed this quarter?" One...
Braze Launches BrazeAI Operator,?BrazeAI Agent Console, and Braze Creative Studio
Braze unveiled three new AI-driven products—BrazeAI Operator, BrazeAI Agent Console, and Braze Creative Studio—designed to embed decisioning, content generation, and asset management directly into marketers’ workflows. The tools enable real‑time data activation, AI‑generated copy, and seamless movement of designs from...
Most Founders Think Debt Is Risky and Equity Is Safe. Here’s Why That Belief Is Costing Them.
Founders increasingly favor equity financing, viewing it as safe while labeling debt as risky. The article argues that this perception is costly, because debt forces companies to prove strong margins, cash flow and customer retention, exposing weaknesses early. Equity can...
Microsoft Plans First-Ever Voluntary Employee Buyout
Microsoft announced its first voluntary employee buyout program, covering roughly 7% of its U.S. workforce at the senior director level and below. Eligibility hinges on a combined age and tenure score of 70 or higher, with full details slated for...
Corporate Profits Rise, but Wages Melt Under Inflation
Stocks and corporate profits are up despite the war. But the wages of average Americans are being eroded by skyrocketing inflation. My analysis this morning on @morningjoe.
HR Overlooks AI’s Real Impact on Workforce
HR´s blind spot in assessing the impact of AI https://t.co/nntpfcj1lN #HCM #HRM #HumanResources #HRTech #CHRO #FutureofHR
Why You Need “White Space” (And 5 Prompts to Find It)
The post argues that entrepreneurs must carve out "white space"—unused time for strategic thinking—rather than packing every calendar slot. It illustrates the concept with Victoria, a solo aviation charter broker who, amid a fuel crisis, used an AI‑driven audit to...
Sanctions Spur Dramatic Diversification of Iran’s Trade
Under the sanctions regime, Iran’s trade has diversified dramatically. More featured on today's Chartbook Top Links in the comment below https://t.co/YVEjDdiUTn
Dollar Climbs, Risk Appetite Sours, Markets Tumble
Dollar has rallied; VIX spiked; equities, gold, emerging markets and Bitcoin have dropped. News of Ghalibaf bowing out of US-Iran negotiations not being taken favorably from a 'risk appetite' perspective
Why Financial Stress Is the Hidden Barrier to Hiring Top Talent
Financial stress is an often‑overlooked factor that deters top candidates from accepting offers. Candidates burdened by debt or cash‑flow gaps may decline higher‑paying roles, avoid relocation, or undersell themselves. Recruiters who acknowledge this hidden barrier can adjust communication, offer transparent...
Microsoft Revives Xbox Org, Drops Microsoft Gaming Division
scoop: Microsoft is bringing Xbox back and scrapping Microsoft Gaming. During an internal all-hands today, Microsoft's new Xbox CEO announced the return of the Xbox org and lots more. Full details 👇 https://t.co/3YouKgHh7i
Seeking Tiny Mic Cover Ideas for Brand Partnerships
What should my tiny mic™️ cover be? Could be fun pop for product placement if a brand wants to partner with me 👀 https://t.co/dxCi3sxBgx
Mortgage Rates Slide for Third Consecutive Week
U.S. mortgage rates slipped for the third week, with the 30‑year fixed rate averaging 6.23% and the 15‑year at 5.58% for the week ending April 23. The decline follows a modest rise in mortgage applications, driven by a surge in...
U.S. Gloom Rises
🆓 Thursday links: rising American sadness, aging CEOs, and bad vibes around the World Cup. https://t.co/Z1edqT3L0H chart: https://t.co/OGPyVPgvqR https://t.co/XyByAktOKY
NFL Media Rights Deal Redefines College Sports Landscape
This is a small but good example of the sweeping impact the NFL media rights negotiations will have on college sports - there is no bigger issue facing the industry (not athlete employment, not the portal, not postseason expansion, etc)
FanDuel and DraftKings Each Pour $1.16M Into Nebraska Ballot
Sportsbooks that have contributed to the Nebraska online sports betting ballot measure signature campaign: FanDuel: $1.16 million DraftKings: $1.16 million BetMGM: $250,000 Fanatics: $75,000
China's Potential Oil Buying Strike Mirrors Missing Supply
Has anyone thought about the possibility that China is on a full buyers strike in oil markets? That would remove (at least in oil barrels) almost the same barrels that we are currently missing
Instantly Optimize Ad Spend with Top Budgets Widget
Stop guessing where your ad spend goes. The new Top Budgets widget in @Optmyzr ranks performance and flags instant optimization opportunities. Shift budgets to your best campaigns without context switching. Keep the boss happy and your ROI high. 🚀 #PPC #GoogleAds #Marketing...
Companies Praise Internal Hires After Exhausting External Candidates
companies celebrating hiring an internal candidate after putting external applicants though 7 rounds of interviews, projects, and presentations https://t.co/hsgpR52Suu
Prize Choice Shapes Audience; Be Specific for Qualified Leads
I've run 100+ giveaways. Here's the pattern: 'Win a free iPad' giveaways got thousands of junk emails. 'Win our [product] and a 1-on-1 setup call' got a small list of hyper-qualified buyers. Your prize determines your audience. Be specific.
Israel's Inflation On Target, Money Supply Grows Within Golden Rate
Israel’s inflation is 1.9%/yr in March. That's within Israel’s 1%-3%/yr target. Israel’s broad money supply is growing at 8.08%/yr, WITHIN Hanke's Golden Growth Rate of 7.7%-9.7%/yr, a rate consistent w/ Israel’s 1%-3%/yr target. THE INFLATION STORY = A MONEY SUPPLY STORY. https://t.co/vCdAIfLoB0