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Podcast: CEO Julie Sweet takes us inside Accenture’s AI journey

MOLLY WOOD: Today I’m talking to Julie Sweet, chair and CEO of Accenture, a global professional services company that helps businesses, governments, and other organizations build their digital core, optimize their operations, accelerate revenue growth, enhance citizen services, and much, much more. Julie joined Accenture as general counsel after a long career in law, and in 2019, she became the firm’s first female CEO in its 35-year history. Last year,…

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The 2024 European Elections: Continuity and Changes

The next European elections will see the struggle for power increase, and the way in which European government is conceived will change. It is realistic to foresee a transition phase, in which the certainties of the past and the new visions being established will coexist, Dario Velo writes. The EU will have elections in 2024. The campaigns have already begun, but the new ways in which they are developing make…

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Valdai Club to Hold Its Fourth Annual Central Asian Conference

On May 14–15, 2024, the Valdai Club will hold its fourth annual Central Asian conference, titled “Russia and Central Asia: Development and Security in a Changing World” This time, the conference will be held in Ufa (Sheraton Plaza Hotel, Tsyurupa St., 7).Experts from Russia, India, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are invited to participate in the conference. Radiy Khabirov, Head of the Republic of Bashkortostan, which is hosting the…

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Embracing AI in Patent Law: Navigating the USPTO’s Latest Guidance

The USPTO’s recent guidance on AI usage marks a critical moment for legal practitioners. This document emphasizes the necessity for both technical and human oversight in mitigating the risks associated with AI tools. The agency is committed to leveraging AI’s benefits across society while ensuring that these technologies do not compromise the integrity of legal processes. The guidance clarifies that existing USPTO rules and regulations fully apply to AI-assisted activities.…

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AI Data Drop: What the future workforce really cares about

Since our customers first started using Microsoft Copilot, we’ve been closely studying how people use it at work and what their behaviors can teach us about adopting and rolling out AI broadly—and we want to share what we’re learning with leaders who are looking to drive AI adoption with their own people. Last month, we told you about the 11-by-11 tipping point. Now, another 11-week insight: fresh data shows that…

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Deion Sanders’ Prime Lessons for Leading a Team to Victory

Leaders intent on boosting team performance could learn from the old-school, military-style approach of Deion Sanders, a former star athlete and now the unorthodox coach behind the revival of two college football teams.“When I’m teaching executives, most of them say they want to hold their subordinates accountable, but they have no clue how to do that,” says Harvard Business School Senior Lecturer Hise Gibson in explaining what drew him to…

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How to Navigate Token Launch Risks

Another way for projects to avoid legal uncertainty in the U.S. is to eliminate the possibility of the public investing in their tokens. To accomplish this, projects can issue transfer-restricted tokens (TRTs) or use off-chain “points” instead of tokens. TRTs use the ERC-20 standard to limit who can hold a token and where it can be sent, while points more closely resemble airline miles. Both TRTs and points are typically non-transferable…

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5 Rules for Token Launches

I can’t emphasize this enough: Communications, regardless of how inconsequential or innocuous they may appear, can make or break a project. A single errant statement by a CEO can put an entire project at risk.  Projects should tailor strict communications policies to the nuances of their token launch strategy. So let’s break this down using strategies from the token launch framework: Decentralize This strategy is all about ensuring that purchasers…

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Getting Ready to Launch a Token: What You Need to Know

Organizational structure can significantly influence the success of a token launch, and define how the project operates well into the future. There is no one-size-fits-all structure, so the process of choosing one must start several months ahead of a token launch. Even the most straightforward structure needs to be in place before launch to ensure compliance with any regulatory and tax obligations tied to issuing the initial token.A typical structure…

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The intriguing question of Chinese growth

It was as though the country was hitting back after Fitch Ratings downgraded its sovereign rating from “stable” to “negative” as a result of concerns over its medium-term growth outlook, the impact of the real estate crisis and the sustainability of its public finances. Moody’s came to the same conclusion last December. Standard & Poor’s is the only agency to have confirmed China’s outlook as stable this year. Responding to…

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Sunrise, Sunset: New York State 2025 Budget Brings New Paid Prenatal Personal Leave and Sunset Date for COVID-19 Paid Leave

What You Need to Know: Governor Kathy Hochul approved the Fiscal Year 2025 New York State Budget (the “NYS 2025 Budget”) on April 20, 2024. Several leave-related topics affecting private employers are impacted by the NYS 2025 Budget. Most notably, a new paid prenatal personal leave entitlement was added to Section 196-b of the New York Labor Law, i.e., the New York State Paid Sick Leave Law. Beginning January 1,…

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The New Jersey Mini-WARN Act Amendments—One Year Later

Quick Hits A surge in NJ WARN notices issued in the months prior to the April 10, 2023, effective date of the amendments suggests employers expedited terminations to avoid the new mandatory severance requirements of the amended law. At least three significant NJ WARN lawsuits are pending that may resolve open questions addressing remote work, statewide aggregation, technical terminations in the sale of business context, and other uncertainties. NJ DOL…

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Robotic nerve ‘cuffs’ could help treat a range of neurological conditions

The researchers, from the University of Cambridge, combined flexible electronics and soft robotics techniques to develop the devices, which could be used for the diagnosis and treatment of a range of disorders, including epilepsy and chronic pain, or the control of prosthetic limbs.Current tools for interfacing with the peripheral nerves – the 43 pairs of motor and sensory nerves that connect the brain and the spinal cord – are outdated,…

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Are Boards Forward-Thinking Enough in this Disruption Era?

The old assumption that the past informs the future no longer holds true in an era marked by unparalleled speed and deep-rooted uncertainty. Corporations today face an environment that require boards to recalibrate their governance approach. Indeed, our collaborative board research with BCG, Heidrick & Struggles and INSEAD has identified significant challenges in long-term strategic planning. For example, while directors generally recognise trends and potential shifts in areas like sustainability, only 10…

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Civilisational Development and the Limits of Reason

Reason and individualism are important components of civilisational development, although they are not the only components. The key focus for discussions about the development of civilisation should therefore be the limits of reason. Is the pre-modern heavy luggage slowing down development, or is it the foundational building block of civilisation as the primordial instincts of human nature cannot be transcended? The relationship between the modern and the pre-modern is the…

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Effective Leaders Articulate Values — and Live by Them

Topics Column Our expert columnists offer opinion and analysis on important issues facing modern businesses and managers. More in this series subscribe-icon Subscribe Share Carolyn Geason-Beissel/MIT SMR | Getty Images Values lie at the heart of effective leadership, serving as the foundation for decisions and organizational cultures. Yet in the lecture halls, meeting rooms, and offices where we teach leadership, we regularly see a muddiness around how to think about…

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FTC Approves Rule Banning Non-Competes With Workers

This afternoon, the FTC voted to adopt a proposed final rule banning most non-competes with workers in the United States. The final rule provides that it is an unfair method of competition—and therefore a violation of Section 5 of the FTC Act—for employers to enter into non-competes with workers. The Commission found that non-competes tend to negatively affect competitive conditions in labor markets by inhibiting efficient matching between workers and…

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Supreme Court Questions Whether FAA Allows Courts to Dismiss Lawsuits Sent to Arbitration

Quick Hits The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case over whether federal courts have discretion to dismiss lawsuits once the claims are compelled to arbitration. The decision could resolve a 6-4 circuit split with the majority holding that district courts must stay lawsuits pending arbitration, and a minority holding that district courts may dismiss. The Supreme Court held oral arguments in Smith v. Spizzirri, a case asking the…

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Microsoft Cloud strength fuels third quarter results

Microsoft Cloud Strength Fuels Third Quarter ResultsREDMOND, Wash. — April 25, 2024 — Microsoft Corp. today announced the following results for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, as compared to the corresponding period of last fiscal year:·        Revenue was $61.9 billion and increased 17%·        Operating income was $27.6 billion and increased 23%·        Net income was $21.9 billion and increased 20%·        Diluted earnings per share was $2.94 and increased 20%“Microsoft Copilot and Copilot stack are orchestrating a new…

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Arthur Caplan: Medicine’s Toughest Ethical Questions

Howie and Harlan are joined by Arthur Caplan, Drs. William F. and Virginia Connolly Mitty Professor of Bioethics and founding head of the division of medical ethics at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, to discuss the ethical failings of the pharmaceutical industry and how a community-focused ethos prioritizing justice and protection of the vulnerable would have reshaped the COVID response. Harlan reports on developments in synthetic proteins. Howie recognizes World…

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Is Strategic Stability Possible in a Multipolar World?

On April 24, 2024, the Valdai Club held an expert discussion about the problems and challenges which affect strategic stability. Moderator Oleg Barabanov called this topic extremely relevant, pointing out that, in addition to the global aspect associated with Russian-American relations, it has begun to acquire a regional dimension. He also emphasised that now, strategic stability both in the media and in expert circles is being interpreted more and more…

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All Gas No Brakes – The FTC, DOJ, and HHS Unveil Online Reporting Portal as Latest Effort to Combat Unfair and Anticompetitive Health Care Practices

On April 18, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”), Justice Department (“DOJ”), and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) launched an online reporting portal, HealthyCompetition.gov, for the public to report potentially unfair and anticompetitive health care practices. The online reporting portal provides examples of unfair and anticompetitive health care practices under existing antitrust laws including: “consolidation, joint ventures, and ‘roll-ups’ ”; “[a]greements among competitors to limit or…

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Washington State’s New Warehouse Employee Protections Begin on July 1, 2024

Quick Hits Washington State enacted a law that regulates employers’ use of production quotas or standards for workers at warehouse distribution centers. The law applies to employers that employ or otherwise engage, whether directly or indirectly, more than (1) 100 or more nonexempt employees in a single warehouse distribution center, or (2) 1,000 or more nonexempt employees in one or more warehouse distribution centers in Washington. The law takes effect…

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Expanding our Content Integrity tools to support global elections

This year, more people than at any point in human history will have an opportunity to cast a vote, and this momentous election year is already well underway. The European Union will hold parliamentary elections this summer and roughly half of European countries will hold national or regional elections this year. All of this is happening at the same time as people around the world are trying to understand the…

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How to fund your child’s university education

University is still an important rite of passage for many young people, and a pre-requisite for many career paths. But the cost of tuition fees and living expenses means that funding your child’s university education can result in a substantial financial outlay, with added complexity if your family are expats. Matthew Curtis, our Director in Hong Kong, explores what you might need to consider when supporting your children financially through…

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Can Your Corporate Culture Influence Workplace Violence?

Workplace violence is a serious concern for organizations worldwide. While there are many reasons why it happens, one thing that doesn’t get enough attention is the company culture itself. How people act and treat each other at work can make violence more or less likely to happen. In 2022, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that there was a worker fatality approximately every 96 minutes due to work-related injuries.…

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Steady progress in approaching the quantum advantage

A year of strong funding coupled with sturdy underlying fundamentals and significant technological advances reflected strong momentum in quantum technology (QT). Updated McKinsey analysis for the third annual Quantum Technology Monitor reveals that four sectors—chemicals, life sciences, finance, and mobility—are likely to see the earliest impact from quantum computing and could gain up to $2 trillion by 2035 (see sidebar “What is quantum technology?”). Private and corporate funding for quantum technology…

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Personal Approach: How the US Uses Sanctions to Influence Israel

In recent years, sanctions have become an extremely common tool of Washington’s foreign policy, which has more or less left Israel untouched, as it remains the main Middle Eastern ally of the United States. Since the beginning of this year, there has been a change in both this trend and the nature of American restrictions, whose ultimate goals have been revealed in a new way. Historians argue that states have…

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Consumers’ Green Conscience Fosters Clean Innovation

Before the Yellow Vest protests roiled France in 2018, many believed a carbon tax was the best solution to climate change. Tax proponents argued that, through their wallets, people would be forced to reckon the cost of their actions on the planet and future generations. Yet, the protests, sparked by a rise in fuel taxes, showed that such policies might not be practical.The far-reaching socioeconomic impact of the protests made…

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From margins to mainstream: Asians and Pacific Islanders in Hollywood

The US film and television industry has an unmatched influence on popular culture and broader attitudes. The stories it tells and the trends it sparks reverberate in every corner of the country. By many outward measures, the influence of the Asian and Pacific Islander (API) community on the film and television industry has never been greater. On-screen, for example, Everything Everywhere All at Once took top honors during the 2023…

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Study highlights increased risk of second cancers among breast cancer survivors

For the first time, the research has shown that this risk is higher in people living in areas of greater socioeconomic deprivation.Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the UK. Around 56,000 people in the UK are diagnosed each year, the vast majority (over 99%) of whom are women. Improvements in earlier diagnosis and in treatments mean that five year survival rates have been increasing over time, reaching…

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Why You Should Let Your Favorite Employee Move to Another Team

Neil Webb/Ikon Images The Research The authors analyzed 96,712 internal applications submitted to 9,896 open jobs posted by 3,431 hiring managers in the U.S. operations of a Fortune 50 company over a four-year period. This data allowed them to calculate the rate at which a manager’s subordinates were promoted, which in turn enabled them to examine whether managers whose subordinates frequently moved to higher-level jobs elsewhere in the organization were…

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Seyfarth Bolsters Corporate Department with Addition of Michael Delaney in Atlanta

ATLANTA (April 24, 2024) – Seyfarth Shaw LLP announced today the arrival of partner Michael Delaney to the firm’s Corporate department. Delaney joins Seyfarth from Bryan Cave, where he was counsel in the corporate and finance transactions group. Delaney’s multifaceted public and private company experience, along with his successful track record in private practice and as chief legal officer of three multinational companies across multiple industries, deepens the firm’s offerings…

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The Critical Intersection of Physical and Digital Marketing

Phygital marketing represents the fusion of physical and digital marketing tactics, seamlessly integrating in-person and online interactions into a unified marketing approach. In this piece, we’re exploring phygital marketing strategies and how brands can find success at this critical intersection of physical and digital marketing. What is Phygital Marketing? While the advent of social media, eCommerce, and internet advertising underscores the importance of digital strategies, a CSA survey reveals that…

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Why the fear of losses could be standing in the way of you achieving your long-term goals

After millennia of struggling to survive against the brutal reality of nature, the human brain is hardwired to avoid risk. But though the fears of being eaten by a predator or getting lost in the wilderness are no longer a worry for most of us, humans are generally still risk-averse by nature. This can have ramifications for many aspects of your life, including your finances. Consider this scenario. A friend…

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Speaker Mike Johnson’s ‘Profiles in Courage’ Moment

This commentary originally appeared in Newsweek. This weekend’s political leadership case study felt like a Frank Capra film script of a chapter from John F. Kennedy’s Profiles in Courage, as House Speaker Mike Johnson reversed course and stared down threats from extremists in his party, such as Marjorie Taylor Greene, Matt Gaetz, and Paul Gosar, in passing $95 billion in military support for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. It’s not often…

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A simple ‘twist’ improves the engine of clean fuel generation

The researchers, led by the University of Cambridge, are developing low-cost light-harvesting semiconductors that power devices for converting water into clean hydrogen fuel, using just the power of the sun. These semiconducting materials, known as copper oxides, are cheap, abundant and non-toxic, but their performance does not come close to silicon, which dominates the semiconductor market.However, the researchers found that by growing the copper oxide crystals in a specific orientation…

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Egypt and BRICS: Priorities for Engagement

On January 1, 2024, Egypt and four other countries from the Global South became members of BRICS. Egypt had previously joined the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB) in December 2021 with a contribution of $1.2 billion. This represents an important turning point in Egyptian policy. Since the 1970s, Egypt has submitted to the Western economy, which is dominated by the United States. Egypt’s membership in BRICS confirms the popularity and…

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Why Companies Need to Lobby for Climate Policy

Frontiers Organizations that want to make real progress on sustainability need to build a business case for climate lobbying. Richard Roberts April 22, 2024 Reading Time: 10 min  Topics Frontiers An MIT SMR initiative exploring how technology is reshaping the practice of management. More in this series MIT SMR/Joshua Sukoff/Unsplash In recent years, thousands of companies worldwide have made net-zero commitments to meet the urgent challenge of climate change. Many…

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U.S. DOL Releases Final Overtime Rule—Effective July 2024

Seyfarth synopsis: Today, the U.S. DOL unveiled its final overtime rule. The rule significantly increases the minimum salary for so-called “white collar” employees to be exempt from the federal FLSA’s overtime pay requirements. This development requires attention from virtually all employers. The DOL’s final overtime rule, Defining and Delimiting the Exemptions for Executive, Administrative, Professional, Outside Sales, and Computer Employees, revises the Fair Labor Standard Act’s overtime exemptions for executive,…

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