Image by Jirsak via Shutterstock In today's fast-paced, interconnected business world, a crisis can present itself without warning, catching even the most prepared organizations off-guard. A twist in market dynamics, an unforeseen operational failure, or a global phenomenon such as the COVID-19 pandemic - there's an array of situations that may impose severe challenges for any business. According to statistics from FEMA, nearly 40% of small businesses never reopen after a disaster, demonstrating the significant impact a crisis can have on an organization's survival. “Crisis management is the art of avoiding trouble when you can, and managing it well when you can’t.” The importance of crisis management cannot be overstated. A robust, action-oriented strategy not only mitigates the immediate impact but also shields long-term reputation and shareholder…
The Business Pre‑Nup vs. The Business Divorce In our previous article, we discussed the importance of a shareholders’ agreement as the “business pre-nup” i.e., setting ground rules for managing a business together as co-owners. But what happens when someone decides to leave the partnership? Every business partnership has two chapters: coming together and parting ways. The Sale & Purchase Agreement (SPA) governs the second. If the shareholders' agreement is the "pre-nup", then the SPA is the divorce agreement drafted before the wedding. One party exits and the SPA decides who keeps what, how the price is paid, and who bears responsibility if any surprises come up later. For example, Party A and Party B have been business partners for years.…
How a Banker Turned Fund Manager Built a Billion-Dollar Portfolio In the Global Financial Crisis? In the world of investing, some of the most successful ventures are born in the most uncertain times. For Christopher (Chris) Cheah, Founder and Executive Chairman of TrustCapital, the decision to strike out on his own in the midst of the 2009 Global Financial Crisis (GFC) was not one of recklessness, but of calculated conviction. Today, his firm stands as a respected name in private equity real estate, with a track record that includes the acquisition of eight prime office buildings in Australia and assets under management peaking at more than AUD 1.6 billion. This is the story of how Chris, a banker turned fund…
Is Your Organization Facing an Innovation Crisis? Low Innovation Scores Predict Bankruptcy in Just 2 to 3 Years What if the key to a company’s survival and success could be measured as precisely as its financial performance? For Professor Grant Burgess, a bacteriologist turned innovation expert, this question became the driving force behind a groundbreaking discovery. Through decades of experience in pure research and biotechnology, trying to understand how best to commercialise his ideas, he uncovered a startling reality: innovation isn’t just a buzzword it’s a measurable, quantifiable force that can determine whether a business thrives or fails. His journey, which began with studying the intricate workings of bacteria, led him to develop a revolutionary method to measure innovation. The…
Rooted Beginnings: It Started With a Feeling The truth about starting your own business is there is no "perfect time" nor a "secret formula" to unlock. Most meaningful businesses often begin with something more intuitive: an intrinsic feeling, a deep-seated knowing, or a sense of misalignment that signals a need for change. For many, it is simply having the courage to lean into that instinct and build from where they are. This article delves into the journey of one such individual who listened to her intuition, illustrating that the most powerful moment in any entrepreneurial journey is daring to take the first step. Trading a conventional career path for an entrepreneurial venture, Ash Mendelsohn established a business embedded with creativity,…