Image by rawpixel.com on Freepik Imagine - It's the dawn of the 21st century. The economy is booming, dot-coms are soaring high, and among them, a particular star shines the brightest - Enron. An energy company that at its peak carried a worth of about $70 billion. But within a span of few years, this magnificent empire crumbled into nothing, drowning in a sea of fraud and deceit. "The Enron scandal drew attention to accounting and corporate fraud, as its shareholders lost $74 billion in the four years leading up to its bankruptcy, and its employees lost billions in pension benefits." What truly unfolded in this financially catastrophic event known as the Enron Scandal? You're about to uncover this riveting and…
In today’s fast-paced business environment, organizations face numerous challenges, particularly when it comes to attracting and developing top sales talent. In this two-article series, we uncover overlooked strategies to boost sales performance, examining the impact of technology, strategy, leadership, performance management, and other critical factors that drive business success. In a recent interview, Professor Frank Cespedes shared his expert insights on effectively managing the sales function to enhance business outcomes. This interview is divided into two articles. This is Article 1, where we begin by exploring Strategic Approaches to Sales and Sales Talent. We’ll delve into foundational strategies and best practices for building a high-performing sales team. Article 2 will follow in two weeks, focusing on the Leadership Role in…
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…
With the enormous growth of wealth in Greater China, many wealth managers are focusing on capturing the High Net Worth (HNW) market in the region. Eric Phua is one of the Market Heads at Pictet Wealth Management who looks at this sector. With more than two decades of career experience in the wealth management space, spanning prestigious financial institutions such as Citibank and UOB, he and his team of bankers specialise in partnering HNW clients in Greater China to manage, preserve and help with the transfer of their wealth across generations. In this interview, Eric shares some insights on his career, the needs of HNW clients, methods of wealth transfer and management, as well as trends in Greater China. Mr…
What’s Next for Accounting? Key Shifts Defining the Next Decade Accounting has long been seen as a stable profession, but that image no longer holds. Similar to other industries, it is being reshaped by automation, artificial intelligence (AI), evolving regulatory frameworks, and shifting client expectations. The accounting field is being reshaped by four major trends, impacting how accountants work and the value they provide. Firstly, accountants are increasingly stepping into the role of strategic business advisors. The automation of repetitive and low-skill tasks enables accountants to take on more analytical and strategic responsibilities. As leaders face increasingly complex decisions, accountants are becoming partners in guiding long-term strategy. At the same time, emphasis on sustainability and integrated reporting is pushing companies…
