Deloitte Perspectives

Talent and reinvesting for growth

2012-05-24T09:13:06-05:00

With the 2012 Olympics just around the corner, I cannot imagine a better venue to host a discussion on competitiveness than in London. The city provided an ideal backdrop for a recent Deloitte industry event which underscored the talent issues faced by many global manufacturers and the importance for companies...

An eye on Africa

2012-05-01T18:38:51-05:00

Two weeks ago, I traveled to Johannesburg for my first ever trip to South Africa. It really expanded my perspectives to the many opportunities and challenges that lie ahead in both South Africa and the broader continent of Africa. It is easy to see why many companies have an eye...

Mind the gap: Countries should take action on uncollected revenues

2012-04-25T07:00:00-05:00

We’ve all seen the headlines: Canadian government reports unprecedented deficit; U.S. elected officials clash over debt ceiling; Greece teeters on the edge of default. They all point to the monumental fiscal struggle most countries are engaging in these days. But, what if there was a way to put billions of...

An 8,500 mile journey to the other side of the world

2012-03-26T17:01:25-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, I took an interesting trip to Chennai, India. In advance of my trip, one of my clients pointed out that if you drew a straight line through the center of the earth departing from my home city of Milwaukee in the United States, to the other end of the earth – some 8,500 miles away – it would take you to Chennai. So it goes to say that it was certainly a long airplane ride.

30 percent by 2057 – Can we get there quicker?

2012-03-21T07:00:00-05:00

The efforts to achieve more women on company boards are, in general, realizing slower than anticipated improvements. The data speaks for itself. It will take another 45 years for there to be 30 percent women representation on boards, according to discussions at the recent BIAC OECD AMCHAM France workshop on the business case for women's economic empowerment. This article shares some workshop insights from those who are championing ways to cut back on this potential half century journey which is impacting women, business, society and economic growth.

Big ideas, little price tag

2012-03-08T20:46:07-06:00

Sometimes it’s the little things that make life better. Like the DVD envelop buried beneath my pile of mail—a reminder that for a low monthly cost I can enjoy unlimited movies with no late fees. Or the way my MP3 player untethered my favorite tunes from a growing avalanche of...

Reflecting on 'the business case for women’s economic empowerment' workshop

2012-02-21T11:55:15-06:00

The recent joint workshop on the business case for women’s economic empowerment which I chaired at the OECD in Paris was, I hope, another small step to integrating women’s experiences, perspectives, and voices into the fabric of our organizations, systems, and societies. Over 120 experts from around the world had gathered, including the US Ambassador to the OECD and the OECD Deputy Secretary General, and representatives of business, government and investor communities.

Once more with feeling

2012-02-14T00:01:00-06:00

In his second blog of 2012, Simon Holland, Global Head of Strategic Change and Organizational Transformation, explains why making emotional connections with people is one of the hallmarks of great leadership Emotions have always been a business taboo. It’s time to redress the balance. Feelings not facts move people to...

Public sector, disrupted

2012-02-10T13:49:56-06:00

The global public sector is under massive financial pressure. But that’s only one of its challenges. Citizens—the public sector’s customers—are also demanding better value for their taxes. And that includes dealing with government in new ways. With every sector of the modern economy and society changing in response to new technologies and social practices, citizens can’t help but wonder why so many government offerings remain shackled by the practices of yesterday. These conditions indicate that the time is right to bring the principles and practices of disruptive innovation to the public sector.

Ladies first

2012-02-06T10:36:05-06:00

Ladies first: An old adage, but one that was top of mind on 2 February 2012 at the BIAC, AmCham France and OECD joint workshop on the economic empowerment of women. And so it should be. Women are a critical resource in facing the challenges of our global economy, both as an emerging market and as a significant pool of human talent. Further, gender diversity creates the potential for better, more informed decision-making in our societies, an educated and diverse source of talent for private and public institutions, and role models who can be an inspiration to billions of women and men worldwide.