Tag: credibility

Having recently moved from Johannesburg to Toronto I have fielded a flurry of questions from colleagues and if I’m being honest, around the weight of our qualification. Can we have both global mobility and success? Are we future-proofed? Do we need to reinvent ourselves to remain agile?

COVID-19 came with its own challenges for businesses, requiring companies to pivot and adapt to new ways of working and changed the working environment completely. Small auditing firms were not spared from this, they needed to quickly adapt and fully equip their employees with resources to ensure that they continue to operate and serve their client’s needs.

The volatility of the South African Rand (ZAR) against the US Dollar (USD) and other major currencies is a trend that is keeping many South Africans up at night. How well the USD performs and how it impacts the value of the ZAR, is greatly impacted by factors such as the US employment figures, inflation rates and gross domestic product (GDP) data, pronouncements by the US Federal Reserve (Fed), and locally, South Africa’s trade balance, GDP, inflation levels, unemployment figures, and guidance from the South African Reserve Bank about monetary policy.

For too long, private banking has been stuck in an outdated transactional mindset, focused solely on expediting daily banking needs for wealthy clients. True private banking needs go far beyond mere transactional prioritisation and convenience; it requires an understanding of the powerful emotions tied to an individual's finances and life goals and a fundamental shift towards a model that provides comprehensive value-adding advisory solutions.

As far back as 2018, Harvard Business Review (HBR) raised the question: how is artificial intelligence (AI) changing contracts? Five years may not fit the criteria of “long-term”, but with the pace at which technology is evolving, it might as well be decades. As remains the case today, HBR cited efficiency as a key driver for the growth of AI in contracting.

Know Your Customer. This phrase is a focal point of modern financial regulations, particularly concerning anti-fraud and anti-money laundering requirements. But KYC is even more valuable for managing risks with bad customers, speeding up transactions, and getting more business on the books.

In today's rapidly evolving digital business landscape, customers are raising the bar for their partners and vendors. Customers no longer settle for basic support; instead, they demand effective assistance to expedite their digital transformation and overcome industry-specific challenges. As these projects become more intricate, it's clear that no single provider can cover all bases.

South Africa’s retail sector is optimally positioned to drive emission reductions through net zero commitments. This can be achieved by its significant influence through conducting direct engagement with its suppliers for extensive emissions reductions impact throughout its value chain.

Tenders are complex and competitive with multiple, highly-skilled organisations vying for the same projects and opportunities. This makes it key that companies stand out, showcasing their expertise and offerings in ways that underscore the invaluable tenets of cost-efficiency, quality, proven capability and productivity.

For years we’ve been advised to fake it until we make in business when what we actually should be focusing is simply being our most authentic selves which, in the long run, is far more sustainable than false confidence and it will always reap rewards at the end of the day.