It’s surprising, but there’s a spike in people and companies landing themselves in hot water around the holidays.
In prior years, it was mostly due to the added family-related pressure and drama that often accompanies the holidays. This year, it’s compounded with COVID fatigue, being separated from our loved ones and deep political divide. The added stress tests our systems, making us more prone to making poor judgment calls.
It doesn’t matter what business you run or the industry you’re in. At the end of the day, we’re all people, and people make mistakes. If you are the business owner or a key member of leadership, the buck stops with you.
Contributed by Madhavan Sivashankar, chief executive officer and founder, Gulf International Finance Limited. Sivashankar has been a member of EO UAE since October 2020.
“Life’s not about how hard of a hit you can give. It’s about how many you can take, and still keep moving forward.” ― Sylvester Stallone, Rocky Balboa
When my business plans took a significant turn in March 2020, owing to lockdowns implemented to prevent the spread of Covid 19, my initial feeling was remorse. Time, they say, heals and for entrepreneurs like us, it make us think and then act!
When I looked up the word “resilience,” I found that I had the definition wrong. Its meaning is the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties. I always felt that it meant insulating oneself from problems. A fallacy.
I own and run a regulated financial services firm based in the UAE’s Dubai International Financial Centre, a high-cost jurisdiction even by global standards. Every day without revenue is a strain. I often regard financial services as the infantry of an army. We get the glory in good times but face the brunt in volatile times. Covid has been no different.
Erich Joachimsthaler, founder and CEO of VIVALDI envisions a new business model—one that creates shared value for all. Companies that embrace this new model, called interaction field companies, generate, facilitate and benefit from interactions and data exchanges among multiple people and groups—from customers and stakeholders, but also from those you wouldn’t expect to be in the mix, like suppliers, software developers, regulators and even competitors.
Read on to learn why Joachimsthaler believes this framework encourages innovation more than any other business model.
With many brick-and-mortar stores closed this Black Friday, businesses are gearing up for a digital shopping weekend unlike any in previous years.
Black Friday holds additional pressure—and opportunity—this year after the challenges many small businesses have experienced due to the pandemic. Traffic to the top 100 shopping sites increased by 137 percent on 2019 Black Friday and companies will be looking to capitalise on this surge in traffic and convert customers to make a sale.
You’ve heard the terms “will” and “trust” from an estate planning perspective, but do you understand the difference between each? And, do you know which plan will best protect your family and assets?
Let’s break down what you need to know about wills and trusts in estate planning.
Will vs. Trust
While wills and trusts have overlap, there are also critical differences between the two. Ultimately, both methods specify who will receive your assets. They just do it in different ways, each with advantages and disadvantages.
At EO, we celebrate entrepreneurs every day. But with Women’s Entrepreneurship Day taking place this week, we’re directing our applause to all the entrepreneurs who are women! What better way to recognize these hard-working innovators than by showcasing female founders who have been featured on EO’s Wonder podcast?
Host and EO member Kalika Yap launched the podcast as a way to share stories that empower women entrepreneurs to change the world. At the very core of Kalika’s work is the belief that empowered women empower women.
Her guests include the women driving innovation, evolution and revolution in every industry imaginable—including IT, fitness, marketing, nutrition, finance and fashion.
Check out our top five Wonder women, and get ready to be empowered!
1. Lauren Messiah: This Los Angeles–based EO member has built a robust business at the intersection of personal development and personal style. Lauren believes the way you dress is more than the clothes you’re wearing. Discover—and own—your style and you’ll realize an unparalleled level of self-confidence and empowerment. In her interview on Wonder, she talks about racism in all of its forms, her experience as a black female founder and how she’s using her position to make a difference. Listen here.
2. Heidi Zak: Meet the woman who turned the bra industry upside down. Heidi Zak launched ThirdLove with Ra’el Cohen in 2013 with the (revolutionary) core belief: Every woman deserves to be comfortable and confident. Little did she know that inventing half cup sizes would lead to a whole, empowering movement. Heidi talks brand, innovation, fundraising, financing and the myth of balance. Listen here.
3. Debbie Goodman-Bhyat: How do you find yourself studying law while pursuing a career in dance at one moment and then becoming a serial entrepreneur focused on talent acquisition and executive coaching the next? You say yes, says Debbie Goodman-Bhyat. This EO member shares her unique journey and emphasizes the power of taking risks in her conversation with Kalika. Listen here.
4. Kathy David: From waitress to bank manager to CEO of her own IT security company—Kathy’s journey is a lesson in perseverance. In her conversation with Kalika, she describes making the leap from working at a bank to co-founding an IT solutions business. Listen here.
5. Heidi Golledge: As a child, Heid Golledge was determined to make money to help her family. She decided that learning computer coding and practicing her sales abilities were two steps toward that. Those skills serve her well to this day in her role as founder and CEO at Jobot—a career platform that connects AI and experienced recruiters to fill jobs. What can you learn about hiring, raising capita and employee engagement from this award-winning entrepreneur? Listen here.
For more insights and inspiration from today’s leading entrepreneurs, check out EO on Inc. and more articles from the EO blog.
Contributed by Sam Hill, head of people and culture at BizSpace.
With British employees back to working from home during the second lockdown in 2020, businesses once again face the challenge of employees being split across locations.
Although technology has permitted teams to stay connected over the past few months, this lockdown presents a second obstacle, as employees battle with the anxiety and worry which this lockdown brings. Teams typically speak less frequently when working remotely, so small businesses must ensure that their employees do not feel isolated and that they stay connected whilst working remotely in this period.
Even for small businesses with just a few members of staff, employees need to feel valued and connected to other members of their team. How do you help your staff avoid isolation while split working?
By Julia Langkraehr, a member of EO London and founder of Bold Clarity. This post first appeared on Bold Clarity’s blog and has been reposted here with permission.
Do you remember the story of the Emperor’s New Clothes, by Hans Christian Andersen? When all his courtiers are too afraid to tell him that he’s naked for fear of being labelled stupid?
As a business leader, do you ever feel that sometimes your team might be trying to tell you something but can’t?
This is the result of a culture where a team is afraid to be open and honest. It’s a culture that makes them fearful of telling their colleagues and leaders (like you) the truth. Even if the truth is hurting your business.
Years ago, my close friend Steve Case, cofounder of AOL, and I flew down to Asheville, North Carolina, for a private visit with Billy Graham. Graham’s health had been failing, and Steve wanted to spend as much time with this remarkable figure and friend as possible. Graham’s influence in the world was beyond measure. He had spoken to more people than anyone in history!
When we arrive, we found Graham fragile, relying on a walker. Although he was obviously quite frail, I was impressed by his endurance and lucidity. We spoke for hours. He graciously allowed me to ask question after question, ranging from Graham’s relationship with JFK and the Mormon hotel magnate Willard Marriott to his view of Muslims and their spiritual destiny.
Nearly 100,000 businesses have permanently closed due to COVID-19. And with no end in sight for returning to business as usual, that number can be intimidating to anyone who’s considering opening their own business or entrepreneurs hoping to survive the next year.
If there’s one thing that the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us, it’s that you can’t predict the future but a little preparation can go a long way.
With many brick-and-mortar stores closed this Black Friday, businesses are gearing up for a digital shopping weekend unlike any in previous years. 
At EO, we celebrate entrepreneurs every day. But with 
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Contributed by Alexis Maness, contributing editor at