Owlet and the appeal of wearable tech for babies August 12, 2019 Wellbeing is a big business. Technology can now closely track our personal health, with apps and devices to monitor how many steps we take, what calories we’ve eaten, our blood pressure, and even how well we sleep. Fitbits and other wearable gadgets have also exploded in popularity with health-conscious consumers. Is there a limit to [...]
It’s fine to fail: Why we need to teach people the good, the bad, and the ugly of building a business August 12, 2019 Every entrepreneur has a story of past failure that they’re not afraid to share. I’m no exception. Back in 2010, when Octopus began investing in film production companies, we turned down the opportunity to invest in a small British film called The King’s Speech, which went on to gross £250m worldwide and win four Oscars. [...]
Chill out, take a breath, and don’t worry about wasting time August 12, 2019 Shrimp salad and a gin and tonic for lunch, then back to bed for a snooze. The relaxed recipe for creative genius, as told by Liccy Dahl at a literary event last week, on the work routine of her late husband, Roald. It got me thinking. In a world focused on the need for speed, [...]
No, a four-day week won’t miraculously cure the workplace of stress August 9, 2019 Despite mooting plans to trial a four-day working week, research foundation the Wellcome Trust then did a complete U-turn on its proposal, following a review which found that the initiative could put extra pressure on some of its workforce. The news caught my eye because it confirmed what I already knew: while I wholeheartedly support [...]
Dominic Cummings is behind Number 10’s new startup-mindset August 8, 2019 “What we want to hear is their conquer the world strategy,” said Scott Kupor, managing partner of American venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz. Kupor was talking about wannabe entrepreneurs knocking on the company’s Sand Hill Road door in California and looking to become the next Twitter, Lyft, or Airbnb. If Boris Johnson’s right-hand man Dominic [...]
University is not the be all and end all for success August 7, 2019 Exam results are looming, and with fears of failure and disappointment plaguing young people up and down the country, it’s about time we make students in the UK more aware of the realities of our changing professional landscape. The fact of the matter is that a piece of paper should never and will never define [...]
Unconscious bias and lack of diversity is holding business back August 6, 2019 The lack of diversity in technology is not a new issue. A study by Statista showed that female employees make up between 26 percent and 43 percent of the workforce at major tech companies. However, even this does not tell the whole story, as the number of women in engineering or product-focussed jobs is even [...]
What Love Island can teach us about toxic office relationships August 6, 2019 Love Island has once again graced our screens this summer. Six million of us watched for eight weeks as bronzed, toned millennials took to reality TV in search of true love – not to forget a £50,000 cash prize, lucrative brand deals, and an army of followers. While it may appear indulgent to get so [...]
Business culture has a problem with booze, beers and drinking August 5, 2019 Many of the key moments of our working lives are punctuated or fuelled by alcohol. From leaving drinks to boozy client lunches where important business conversations are had and relationships forged, drink has become an integral part of the culture of most organisations and industries – perhaps none more so than the ad industry, where [...]
Phrasee reveals how artificial intelligence will change marketing August 5, 2019 We’re all aware that artificial intelligence (AI) is predicted to transform every sector of the economy, and marketing is no exception. Already, the industry is using this new technology to analyse data or give product recommendations to customers. Of course, as adoption of the technology increases, so too is anxiety over the future of jobs. [...]