A New Era of Longevity: Living Longer and Working Longer As global life expectancy rises, so will the average retirement age. In many advanced countries, longer lifespans and economic pressures are extending working lives well into the late 60s and beyond. This shift has created a new reality: a growing segment of the workforce is older and highly experienced. Yet these workers are often overlooked, underestimated or made redundant. In a previous article, we explored how stereotypes about Millennials and Gen Z being "entitled" can prevent leaders from fully engaging the potential of younger talent. In calling out such generational stereotypes, we must also acknowledge how older employees are equally subject to bias. Older employees, especially those over 60, face…
There is always something elusive about the Boardroom. It is a place where strategies are devised, risks weighed, and the future of companies charted. Yet, amid its polished oak walls and hushed deliberations, there's an aspect that has begun to echo louder than ever before - diversity. But it's not just about ticking boxes; it's about steering towards an inclusive future. Still questioning the value of a diverse boardroom? It's time you rethink your strategy. A study by researchers at Harvard Business School found that ethnically diverse organizations were 35% more likely to outperform their industry median. Notably, ethnically diverse boards are 43% more likely to deliver higher profits. Now that's a win you surely want on your side of the…
Mr. Masahiro Nishii, Managing Director of Nihon M&A Center Singapore Many small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) in Singapore start off as family-run businesses that are built with blood, sweat, and tears. After about 20 years of steady growth, owners are either looking for succession or to sell the company for retirement. But how does one even start to navigate the complicated M&A landscape, and more importantly, how can one ensure that the legacy lives on even after the company is sold? This is where Mr Masahiro Nishii comes in. As the Managing Director of Nihon M&A Center Singapore, he and his team connect SME owners in Singapore with Japanese investors looking for opportunities in the region. Nihon M&A Center is…
Why Trying to Do It All Could Be Holding You Back Many businesses opt to manage their operations in-house, motivated by the belief that it offers greater control and cost transparency. However, handling everything internally can drain valuable time, energy, and resources. Retaining every function does not always lead to the best performance, especially in roles with low engagement or high staff turnover. Trying to manage everything internally can waste talent and limit your company’s ability to focus on what truly drives innovation. At its core, outsourcing is a decision about resource allocation: whether to develop and manage a function internally or partner with an external provider who can deliver it more effectively. Though this dilemma is not new for…
A Brief Overview of Accounting’s Evolution Accounting has always been central to business management, traditionally focused on recording and reporting financial transactions, providing essential compliance and monitoring capabilities. For much of its history, it was seen as a back-office function, holding valuable data without directly influencing collaboration or decision-making across the organisation. The first major transformation came with the rise of information technology (IT). Technological advancements and automation kicked off accounting's evolution, steering it from reliance on paper records toward becoming a robust data-driven discipline. These advancements improved accuracy, streamlined information, and reduced repetitive tasks, allowing finance professionals to shift their focus from routine processing to deeper analysis. This technological shift marked the beginning of accounting’s evolution from a passive…