Motor sports enthusiasts and thrill-seekers would be familiar with the Formula One races held around the world. But beyond fast cars, a legendary test of endurance, innovation and speed has been taking place annually in the town of Le Mans in France, capturing the world’s imagination since 1923. The 24-hour motor race sees drivers, teams and engineering capabilities stretched to their limits to win. The 24 Hours of Le Mans is…
In this edition of Author Talks, McKinsey Global Publishing’s Emily Adeyanju chats with Michael Chad Hoeppner, founder and CEO of GK Training, about his book Don’t Say Um: How to Communicate Effectively to Live a Better Life (Balance/Hachette Book Group, Winter 2025). Hoeppner reveals the common mistakes that hinder effective public speaking and provides the steps you can take to enhance your communication skills. An edited version of the conversation follows,…
The global chemicals industry, which outperformed broader capital markets on returns to shareholders for most of the past two decades, is no longer an outperformer. Fundamental shifts reshaping the landscape have caused a downturn in growth and profitability that could persist in this new era, stemming from lower demand, overcapacities, and global macroeconomic conditions. At this time, the Indian chemicals industry has delivered over 10 to 12 percent total shareholder…
Andrew Baker/Ikon Images Summary: Skills-focused hiring approaches need time to take root, given that any cultural transformation takes consistent effort over years, not months. Four key elements of successful skills-based talent practices are organizationwide buy-in, realigned incentives, ongoing training, and inclusive practices. Building a skills-based culture is a strategic investment that can deliver substantial benefits to both employers and workers. Skills-based hiring has, in some ways, become a victim of…
In celebration of the release of the 6th Edition of the Government Contracts Compliance Handbook, we are sharing six essential tips for successfully navigating the contract claims process under federal procurement regulations. Even with careful performance, disputes over scope, pricing, and contract performance can arise between contractors and the government. Understanding how to properly submit, price, and negotiate claims under the Contract Disputes Act (CDA) and Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)…
Quick Hits Wyoming enacted legislation that will void noncompete agreements with employees with limited exceptions. Noncompete agreements will remain permissible in certain contexts, such as the sale of a business, the protection of trade secrets, the recovery of employers’ costs to relocate or train employees, and to restrict post-employment activity of executive or managerial personnel and their key staff. The law also prohibits noncompete clauses in agreements involving physicians and…
When two or more putative class proceedings are commenced and involve the same or similar subject matter and some or all of the same proposed class members, a representative plaintiff may, if they are unable or unwilling to cooperate with the other representative plaintiffs, move to have the court determine which proceeding would best advance the claims of the class (i.e. a carriage motion). A carriage motion is a procedural…
Transform daily tasks with ideas from the Copilot Scenario Library for education. Education professionals bring creativity, dedication, and expertise to work every day, shaping meaningful experiences for their school community. With Copilot, you can build on these strengths—boosting productivity, amplifying creativity, and securely empowering everyone. Explore these possibilities and more with the Copilot Scenario Library for education—a collection of real-world examples that demonstrate how educators and leaders can easily use…
Consumers who want to submit a complaint to an agency such as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau face a task that, for some, can be daunting: they must fill out a form that requires them to explain the issue, clearly and convincingly, in their own words. Those who are not native English speakers or simply don’t regularly communicate in writing may lack the skills needed to convincingly make their cases.…
Second Nature: Photography in the Age of the Anthropocene at the Cantor Arts Center is the first major exhibition of contemporary photography to examine our current era through the framing of the Anthropocene – a period defined by human impact on the global climate significant enough to signify the dawn of a new geologic and historic age.On view through Aug. 3, this expansive, global exhibition brings together the work of…
Topics Artificial Intelligence and Business Strategy The Artificial Intelligence and Business Strategy initiative explores the growing use of artificial intelligence in the business landscape. The exploration looks specifically at how AI is affecting the development and execution of strategy in organizations. In collaboration with More in this series Linda Yao, chief operating officer and head of strategy for Lenovo’s Strategy, Solutions, and Services Group and vice president of hybrid cloud…
Seyfarth Synopsis: The first two district court opinions deciding whether plaintiffs have Article III standing to challenge pension risk transfers have reached opposite conclusions. One case will proceed to discovery, and the other has been dismissed without leave to amend. Many other motions to dismiss are pending in other courts and it is too early to tell which view will prevail; more rulings are expected soon. For context, in a defined…
Alberta’s Bill 32: Financial Statutes Amendment Act, 2024 (Bill 32), received royal assent (i.e., passed into law) on December 5, 2024. Bill 32 came into force on January 1, 2025 and contained a suite of amendments to various pieces of legislation including the Alberta Personal Income Tax Act, which determines the rate of provincial taxes for residents of Alberta.1 Prior to the creation of the new tax bracket in the…
When you’re secure—innovation happens. But, the fast pace of AI often outpaces traditional security measures, leaving gaps that bad actors can take advantage of. As a security professional, you’re the hero in this battle between protecting vast amounts of data while ensuring AI systems remain transparent and compliant. What you need in this time of new threats and complexity in securing interconnected AI applications is a proactive, innovative approach to…
I asked our panelists which blind spot concerned them most. Veloso zeroed in on workforce transformation, drawing a parallel to the Industrial Revolution: “We're going to be replacing routine cognitive tasks with intelligent systems,” he said. Just as mechanisation reshaped work through Taylorism and assembly lines, AI will fundamentally change “the skill set, the organisation of firms, the fabric of what it means to be a worker”. This isn’t just about…
While the countries of Southeast Asia were among the big winners from the reconfiguration of global trade that took place during Trump’s first term, their trade surpluses have ballooned, raising fears that they could become the target of new measures.Adding to this uncertainty is the DeepSeek effect, which has diverted some investment to Chinese markets, largely shunned for months. Chinese equity markets have already attracted net capital inflows of $13…
Protecting your money when financial firms fail
While there has been a recent, notable shift in sentiment toward investing in climate solutions, it is important to maintain a long-term, through-cycle view, as action to mitigate emissions is needed more than ever. Corporate investments into building new climate technology businesses have been rising consistently from 2019 to 2023, driving growth for those actively investing, but current deployment levels of low-emission technologies are at only 10 percent of the…
The engagement of Central Asian states with the Taliban-led Afghan government has drawn significant regional and global interest. While the Central Asian republics view the Taliban as partners for economic connectivity, regional stability, and counterterrorism cooperation, Pakistan is approaching the situation from a perspective shaped by its historical ties, strategic priorities, and pressing security concerns. Pakistan, much like Central Asian states, has sought to enhance trade, regional connectivity, and security…
Topics AI in Action This column series looks at the biggest data and analytics challenges facing modern companies and dives deep into successful use cases that can help other organizations accelerate their AI progress. More in this series Subscribe Share Carolyn Geason-Beissel/MIT SMR | Getty Images Summary: The first task for Ashok Srivastava, Intuit’s senior vice president and chief data officer, was to build a unified data platform for the…
Canada’s legislative framework governing competition/antitrust, foreign investment, and consumer protection has undergone a seismic shift between 2022 and 2025, with further changes to come, reflecting a broader push to strengthen enforcement, protect national interests, and adapt to modern economic challenges. The impact of these changes is now subject to the additional challenges facing the Canadian economy arising from the unprecedented approach to trade conflict with the U.S. – and the…
Azure AI Foundry's latest innovations empower businesses to optimize AI investments and differentiate in a competitive landscape. New tools like Azure AI Agent Service and Microsoft Fabric data agents enhance operational efficiency, while NVIDIA NIM microservices boost performance and cost optimization. Discover how these advancements can transform your AI strategy. Over the last couple of years, I’ve seen tech teams go from feeling excited yet overwhelmed by the blistering pace…
Dear Stanford Community,As we begin the quarter, we look ahead to the joys of spring on the Stanford campus, with its warmth and energy. We also have a sharp focus on the federal policy issues challenging the university, and we want to share a few principles that are guiding our approach.First, we are committed to the university’s fundamental mission of research and education in our decisions, policies, and financial priorities.…
The BRICS+ model While the EU offers an excellent example of rivals-turned-allies, which have agreed to give up a bit of sovereignty for the sake of collective benefit, BRICS+ is one of the most underrated and perhaps misunderstood platforms of our times. The EU functionalist model could be adopted by apolitical ASEAN, and to some extent there’s room for applicability within the EAEU. BRICS+, however, belongs to a different championship:…
On March 22, 2025, the Government of Canada launched a public consultation on possible trade measures to protect against the threat of diversion of steel and aluminum products from third countries into the Canadian market. The move is in response to what the government considers severe overcapacity in the global steel market (worsened by recent U.S. tariff measures), artificially depressing prices and threatening domestic industry. Background Pursuant to section 232…
Every 8th of March, International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated. This celebration serves as a powerful reminder of the strides we have made toward gender equality and the work still ahead. This year, under the theme #AccelerateAction, we celebrate the women who are driving change, breaking barriers, and fostering inclusivity. At Microsoft Learn Student Ambassadors (MLSA) and the Women and Gender Minorities in Tech (WGMIT) Community, we believe in the…
Business headlines are often dominated by technology, e-commerce and other trending sectors of the day. But away from the limelight, insurance – traditionally seen as stable and predictable – has quietly undergone its own radical transformation, as digitisation erases traditional industry boundaries.Insurers no longer compete solely on products but on their ability to integrate prevention, assistance and hyper-personalised services. The key is creating “ecosystems”— interconnected networks of services that fulfill…
Artificial intelligence no doubt offers great opportunities for human creativity. The UK is well placed to be at the forefront for relevant AI-development, but AI is also a highly disruptive technology which could pose risks to the livelihoods of human creators if not appropriately regulated.The rise of generative AI in recent years has heightened anxiety amongst creators and the public more widely: people are concerned for the future of human…
Carolyn Geason-Beissel/MIT SMR | Getty Images Summary: You can’t approach AI ethics with only formal procedures, say leaders at global retailer H&M Group. So to help build its collective moral compass, the company has built a culture of AI ethics based on experimentation. Its AI ethics training emphasizes concrete business examples and principles that teach people what to ask. H&M Group’s example shows that organizations can practice AI ethics and…
The Alberta Court of Appeal’s (ABCA) recent decision in Xemex Contracting Inc. v. Aspen Properties (Northland Place) Ltd., 2025 ABCA 49, serves as a reminder that not all work performed for a tenant will provide a “direct benefit” to the landlord, nor will it necessarily render the landlord’s fee simple interest in the land “vulnerable” to liens. Contractors performing work on leased properties, who wish to preserve their right to…
Last year, we introduced Copilot+ PCs — the fastest, most intelligent and secure Windows PCs ever created. Since then, our Copilot+ PC portfolio has continued to evolve with the introduction of new silicon, devices and AI experiences. . By merging cutting-edge hardware with accessible, intelligent software, these updates are not just adapting to customers’ needs but empowering them to achieve more. Expanding accessibility features At the core of Windows is…
La frase "boom urbano" prácticamente fue creada para la industria minera, con sucesivas épocas de euforia durante fiebres del oro, seguidas de caídas igualmente intensas. Este patrón se ha repetido durante la década pasada, con las compañías mineras sacudidas por una pandemia global, tensiones comerciales y conflictos geopolíticos (Gráfico 1). Muy pocas han podido capitalizar los períodos de auge para suavizar las recesiones. En cambio, como observamos en 2022, la…
The Ontario Superior Court of Justice recently released its decision on a vexatious litigation application in Lenczner Slaght LLP v. Glycobiosciences Inc et al, 2025 ONSC 829. The law firm, Lenczner Slaght (Lenczner), brought an application pursuant to section 140 of the Courts of Justice Act to declare both the corporation and its director vexatious litigants. Background The respondents on this vexatious litigant application were Glycobiosciences Inc. (Glyco), an Ontario…
Xavier couldn’t remember the last time he had fun. His marriage was strained, his children distant and work had become a drag. He had spent so much of his time and energy being serious that he’d forgotten what it was like to feel joy.But a conversation with an old friend jolted him into action. As he listened to his friend recount moments spent with his grandchildren, friends and enjoying various…
Psychological safety and mental health in the workplace In the last article in our series covering The U.S. Tariff Effect, we reviewed health and safety considerations of a reduced workforce. This is a continuation of that article, focused on psychological safety and the mental health of the workplace. Provinces across Canada are recognizing the impact of psychological safety to protect against mental health issues and illness in the workplace that…
Data centres are a crucial part of modern digital infrastructure, facilitating cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and global data storage. As demand for data processing increases, the construction of large-scale data centres is accelerating. Canada, with its cool climate, vast and accessible land mass, and stable energy supply, has become a key location for these projects. However, the development and operation of data centres present unique challenges. These large, complex projects…
Following a decade of turbulent macroeconomic conditions in which top-line growth has faded away and global consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies’ shareholder returns have plunged from the top to the bottom quartile, the CPG industry has entered a period of reckoning. As inflation slows, the industry must take up an ambitious dual agenda to reimagine portfolios for growth and reinvigorate performance to enhance operational efficiency. As McKinsey has written previously in…
Pacific nation of Kiribati explores deep sea mining deal with Chinavia Islands Business on March 19, 2025 China's restaurants race to the bottom in deflation-hit economyby Laurie Chenvia Reuters on March 21, 2025 Switching off plants: Chinese copper smelters grapple with margin collapseby Lewis Jacksonvia Reuters on March 20, 2025 BYD aims to double overseas sales to 800,000 in 2025, chairman tells analystsvia Reuters on March 26, 2025 China’s rare…
Seyfarth Synopsis: On March 27, 2025, a federal district court in Chicago issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) blocking the Department of Labor from implementing key provisions from two of President Trump’s Executive Orders issued in January. Although the plaintiff sought a broad nationwide injunction against the entire federal government, the Chicago district court’s TRO only enjoins DOL. The Chicago district court's March 27 TRO comes just two weeks after…
Quick Hits The D.C. Circuit Court ruled that President Trump likely has the authority to remove NLRB member Gwynne Wilcox and MSPB member Cathy Harris without cause, staying previous reinstatement orders from lower courts. The ruling leaves the NLRB and MSPB without enough members to hear cases. The decision addresses significant constitutional questions regarding the president’s power to remove members of independent agencies, boards, and commissions and Congress’s authority to…