IHK St. Gallen‐Appenzell: Mr. Leisibach, how much time did AI save you while preparing for this conversation? Patrick Leisibach: I read some recent articles, did some background work, and got my thoughts in order. With AI, that goes much faster. It helps with research, summarizing, and sharpening arguments. I’d never be able to do the same in the same amount of time on my own. I’d say AI doubles my…
According to a Pew Research Center study, 79% of Americans interact with artificial intelligence (AI) almost constantly or several times a day. Gartner predicts that by 2026, 80% of enterprises will be using generative AI in some form. That means we’re not just working alongside AI. We’re living with it. Someone tagged me in a LinkedIn post recently, where she admitted to sometimes being rude to AI. I thought, “What…
The description of this panel starts from the premise that military power has regained its function as one of the main instruments of global influence. But of course, for the United States, military power has always played a central role in the country’s approach to the world. Even in the era before World War II when the United States was supposedly an isolationist power, it was using military force readily…
The economies at the heart of the Eurozone, particularly Germany, are showing sluggish growth at best, while the Iberian economies are being buoyed by strong private consumption and investment, the latter supported by funds from the European Recovery and Resilience Plan. In the United Kingdom, growth was the strongest among the G7 countries in the first half of the year, but with modest growth in private consumption and a decline…
Benchmarking your organisational culture could be the smartest move you make this year Culture doesn’t appear on a balance sheet, but it’s one of the strongest predictors of performance. Q5’s latest Culture Benchmarking Report reveals how organisations can measure, compare, and strengthen culture to unlock engagement, fairness, and trust, and why many leaders overestimate how healthy their culture really is. Download the full report at the bottom of this page.…
Quick Hits Discrimination claims often hinge on the motive behind employment decisions, leading to extensive scrutiny of the decision-maker’s comments, knowledge, and timing, with plaintiffs’ lawyers seeking to expand the field of scrutiny and defense lawyers aiming to limit it to a single, unbiased decision-maker. Involving multiple people in employment decisions can increase the risk of unhelpful evidence and bias claims, as seen in scenarios where delayed communication and additional…
The findings not only reflect poor labour market conditions in the UK but also underscore the need for stronger unemployment support, and at a more ambitious level than those set out in the Government’s initial plan for Unemployment Insurance scheme announced in March 2025. While job loss is an everyday reality, our research shows the financial fallout differs greatly between countries. After a job loss, unemployment insurance is crucial in cushioning…
At its core, civility is the foundation of a thriving culture. It shapes how people communicate, lead, resolve tension, and show up, especially when challenges arise. Civility doesn’t look the same everywhere, however. What feels respectful in one culture might come across as distant in another. Some teams value directness, while others lean toward diplomacy. Leaders bring their own styles. Norms vary from region to region. And still, no matter…
Second, at the level of practical policy, the Trump administration is carrying out many activities that rhyme with the classic imperialist policy of more than a century ago. These practices include: 1) A return to spheres of influence, both at the level of rhetoric and, somewhat more covertly, at the level of practice. The Trump administration has already made several statements about its intention to establish some degree of control…
You already know what it feels like to be on the receiving end of workplace “drama.” Complaints about rudeness, tension between team members, and employees quietly disengaging are all part of the daily grind. You know it’s expensive. You know it’s draining for you to deal with it. What you may not know is just how much it’s happening. According to SHRM’s Civility Index, millions of acts of incivility occur…
China’s economy expands at slowest pace in a yearby Thomas Halevia Financial Times on October 19, 2025 EU urges China to agree ‘prompt resolution’ of export curbsby Andy Boundsvia Financial Times on October 21, 2025 Global investors edge back into China just as trade risks resurfaceby Laura Wangvia Nikkei Asia on October 20, 2025 When a Trade War Becomes a Food Fightvia CSIS on October 20, 2025 China’s New Shipbuilding…
Seyfarth Synopsis: On October 13, 2025, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 464 into law, introducing substantial changes to California’s annual pay data reporting obligations under Government Code Section 12999, requiring the use of more detailed job classifications, mandating civil penalties, and clarifying data storage requirements. ***** On October 13, 2025, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 464 into law, introducing substantial changes to California’s annual pay data reporting obligations under Government…
On September 19, 2025, the President issued a Presidential Proclamation introducing a significant change to the H-1B visa program. Effective September 21, 2025, USCIS now requires a $100,000 fee to accompany certain H-1B petitions as a condition of eligibility. Key Dates and Updates: Effective Date: Certain H-1B petitions filed on or after 12:01 a.m. EDT, September 21, 2025, are subject to the new fee. Additional USCIS Guidance Issued: October 20,…
Cultural missteps happen to everyone, even the most seasoned leaders and global brands. Recently, American Eagle launched a campaign featuring actress Sydney Sweeney with the tagline “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Genes.” The pun on “jeans” was meant to be playful, but it quickly sparked backlash. Critics pointed out that pairing the phrase with Sweeney’s blonde, blue-eyed image promoted eugenics and took us back some steps on the more body-positive movements…
Quick Hits Requests for personal information are increasing across Canada, and timelines are tight. HR teams that plan ahead can avoid last-minute scrambles and compliance headaches. Whether federal, provincial, public, or private, every regime expects careful handling of personal data and specific timelines and exemptions to consider. A clear playbook, trained staff, and mapped data make access requests manageable. The organizations that invest in readiness protect privacy, reduce risk, and…
On October 24, a discussion on “Sanctions Against Russia: A Noticeable Escalation?” took place at the Valdai Club in Moscow. Moderator Fyodor Lukyanov emphasized that the new measures taken by the US administration against Russian oil companies are the first official sanctions that the second Trump administration has decided to impose on Russia. “The détente lasted a week: it began and ended. But that does not mean that this is…
On the Japanese side, Prime Minister Ishiba has his own incentives. With rising domestic calls for him to step down and a complex phase in relations with Washington, Ishiba benefits from calm ties with Seoul and a carefully managed language on history. That favours measured texts and predictable choreography over ambitious, volatile deliverables. Atmospherics may be warm; commitments remain focused. The schedule hinted at the strategy. The Tokyo stop fell…
The purpose of Bank Overground is to share our internal analysis. Each bite-sized post summarises a piece of analysis that supported a policy or operational decision.
Quick Hits Legal and operational expectations require employers to protect workers from recognized hazards, respond promptly and proportionately, respect medical privacy, and communicate accurately without stigma in response to mpox cases in the workplace. Mpox spreads primarily through close, personal contact with lesions, scabs, or body fluids, and via contaminated materials, necessitating prompt isolation, targeted cleaning, and practical source control in the workplace. OSHA expects employers to follow established safety…
Companies across industries are changing how they talk about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Not too long ago, DEI was splashed across annual reports, websites, and conference stages. Now? The phrase itself has become a political lightning rod, and many organizations are now rebranding under new labels. Instead of DEI, you’ll see “Inclusive Workplaces,” “Employee Experience,” “Wellbeing,” or “Belonging.” Why the shift? Because DEI has become a political football. Politicians,…
Historical Layers of Predation 1. Western Expansionism – From Napoleon’s invasion to NATO’s eastward enlargement, Russia has consistently faced military and institutional encirclement (Mearsheimer, 2014). 2. Asian Pressures – The Mongol-Tatar yoke historically, and more recently China’s rise, remind Russia of its vulnerability on the Eurasian steppe (Lo, 2015). 3. Internal Predators – Domestic oligarchs, separatist movements, and governance challenges can consume Russia from within (Tsygankov, 2016). Just as Kolobok…
Quick Hits Cal/OSHA’s High Hazard Unit inspects employers with the highest incidences of occupational injuries and illnesses, using an annual list based on “Days Away, Restricted or Transferred” (DART) rates to target high-risk industries. The 2025-26 High Hazard Industry List, effective October 1, includes new industry groups and shows generally lower DART rates, with the High Hazard Unit conducting 268 targeted inspections last fiscal year. The annual High Hazard Industry…
On October 23, the Valdai Club in Moscow hosted a discussion titled “ASEAN Summit Amid Escalating Tensions Between China and the United States”. Moderator Timofei Bordachev noted that ASEAN serves as an example for Russia and the world of how states with different domestic political systems and foreign policy strategies can establish equitable cooperation without encountering fundamental political constraints or harming their neighbours. This stands in contrast, for instance, with…
This article was originally published on Ted and Logan’s Briefings on High-Tech Industries in August 2025 and updated in October. The views expressed are the authors’ own.The Magnificent Seven—Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Meta, Nvidia, and Tesla—used to compete in distinct lanes. AI has changed that. These 7 are now in a new pool without lanes and with more competitors: OpenAI, Oracle, AMD, IBM, Palantir, IBM, Anthropic, Salesforce.Over the history of…
A practical guide to designing a TOM that works in the real world. A Target Operating Model defines how an organisation should function day-to-day, not just on paper. This article explains how to design, test, and implement a TOM grounded in real-world data, ensuring it drives meaningful change across people, processes, and technology while achieving tangible business outcomes. Reading time: 4 minutes What is a Target Operating Model? A Target…
BillSummaryCurrent StatusAB 250Window to reactivate sexual assault claims. This law establishes a two-year window, from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2027, to revive civil claims for damages suffered as a result of sexual assault, even if the statute of limitations has expired.Signed into law on October 13, 2025AB 288Labor organization and unfair practices. This law empowers the California Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) to oversee and certify union elections…
What was once applauded as both smart business and the right thing to do has suddenly become controversial. Yep, I’m talking about DEI. It’s disheartening to see that what was once celebrated is now being treated as expendable. But when inclusion takes a back seat, so do innovation, engagement, and retention. Because whether you call it DEI or not, your workforce needs well-being and psychological safety. People need to know…
The University of Oxford has welcomed the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s approval to reopen the Cowley Branch Line, alongside £120 million in Government funding for the project. A further £35 million will be provided by the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT) and other local stakeholders.The line will deliver two new stations — Oxford Littlemore (serving Littlemore and The Oxford Science Park) and Oxford Cowley (serving Blackbird Leys and ARC Oxford)…
On October 22, the Valdai Club hosted an expert discussion titled “Geopolitical Risks to Eurasian Transport Corridors”. Moderator Anton Bespalov cited the September events as the trigger for the discussion, when Poland, citing the Russian-Belarusian Zapad-2025 military exercises, closed its eastern border. This immediately impacted the entire supply chain across Eurasia, affecting shippers in China, companies in Central Asia, Russia, and Belarus, and residents of the border area. “It must be…
Quick Hits A federal court largely dismissed challenges to the NCAA’s former transgender-participation policies but allowed a narrow Title IX claim against the NCAA to proceed to targeted discovery focused on whether the NCAA is a federal funding recipient. The court rejected constitutional claims against the NCAA, reaffirming that the NCAA is not a state actor, and found many claims against Georgia public institutions moot in light of Georgia’s new…
A large audience gathered at the Sheldonian Theatre on Tuesday 21 October to hear invited panellists share enthusiastic discourse on a diverse range of views about 'Cancel Culture' for the latest event in the Sheldonian Series, which is open to all and aims to promote freedom of speech and inclusive inquiry. I felt this Sheldonian Series event at the University of Oxford, by seeking to model what it means to secure…
Quick Hits Litigation remains steady and costly. Hundreds of lawsuits and arbitration demands continue to allege that website-tracking technologies—such as pixels, analytics tools, and chat features—violate the California Invasion of Privacy Act and related privacy laws. Despite mixed judicial outcomes, the volume of filings has not slowed. Courts are deeply divided. Some judges have dismissed cases on standing or “contents” grounds, while others allow claims to proceed where third-party vendors…
We’ve all been there — sitting in a meeting where someone takes five minutes to explain what could’ve taken thirty seconds. Or maybe you’ve caught yourself doing it, adding just one more clarification, one more justification, one more “Does that make sense?” Over-explaining at work isn’t just a “female thing,” nor is condescending explanation (often called mansplaining) solely a “male thing.” Both behaviors are symptoms of something deeper. Patterns of…
Quick Hits Data subject rights requests run on short clocks, so having a response strategy is critical for timely and complete compliance. Mistakes commonly occur when businesses contract with vendors, receive and triage data subject rights requests, and engage in recordkeeping exercises during and after responding to the data subject. An increase in regulatory power and inquiry is increasing the risks associated with improper handling of data subject rights requests.…
Quick Hits The November 2025 Visa Bulletin showsno change from last month’s bulletin for employment-based categories for both final action dates and dates for filing. USCIS will continue to accept adjustment of status filings based on the Dates for Filing Chart. The cutoff dates remain consistent with the dates listed in the October 2025 Visa Bulletin. Final Action Dates for Employment-Based Visa Applications Employment- BasedAll ChargeabilityAreas ExceptThose ListedCHINA-mainlandbornINDIAMEXICOPHILIPPINES1stC22DEC2215FEB22CC2nd01DEC2301APR2101APR1301DEC2301DEC233rd01APR2301MAR2122AUG1301APR2301APR23Other Workers15JUL2101DEC1722AUG1315JUL2115JUL214th01JUL2001JUL2001JUL2001JUL2001JUL20Certain Religious…
Harvard Business Review recently published an article called Every Team Needs a Super-Facilitator. It’s a good read for anyone interested in building strong, inclusive, high-performing teams. I’d never heard this phrase before… have you? Nonetheless, the article highlights that the best teams aren’t led by superstars or lone geniuses—they’re led by people who know how to bring out the best in others. They’re called super-facilitators, and your team needs at…
Quick Hits Chief Financial Officers Act agencies and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission must now submit Action Plans on Race and Ethnicity Data to OMB by March 28, 2026, extending the September 28, 2025, deadline that had been imposed when OMB released the SPD 15 revisions in March of 2024. OMB also extended the deadline to update federal information collections of race and ethnicity data to be consistent with…
Q: You have been recognized in the industry for an approach you call “collaborativity.” Would you explain collaborativity?Collaborativity is a concept I created a handful of years ago that I now use regularly with the team. Collaborativity is a way of codifying the creative process in a way that leans into the notion that creativity is quite iterative and collaborative in nature. Yet when you look at the creative industry,…
Professor Jan Rosenow. Credit: John Cairns Positioning Europe for leadership in the next industrial era, Professor Rosenow argued that strategic industrial electrification - twin-tracked with ambitious energy efficiency - offers the single most powerful lever for Europe to cut costs, cut emissions, and compete on the world stage. He contrasted Europe’s current exposure to volatile fossil fuel imports, laid bare during the 2022 gas crisis, with China’s rapid advance as the…
Modern democracy, as it has emerged within the liberal international order, still bears traces of its colonial legacy: it relies institutionally and conceptually on Western norms of recognition, political participation, and global leadership, writes Beatrice Petrova Bineva, Master in Political Science at the Higher School of Economics. The author is a participant of the Valdai – New Generation project. In the current context of multipolarity and the crisis of the…