Sunak’s switch from tech bro to cynical political player wins Tory support but leaves business worried Leon Emirali Sunak's choice to abandon a "think big" Sillicon Valley mentality may have curried favour with the electorate, but it concerns business leaders, writes Leon Emirali
As social media gives way to biotech, an era of ultra young billionaires might be over Leon Emirali From Larry Page to Jeff Bezos, the billionaires of yesteryear were masters of timing. For the new generation it's harder to make that kind of money, but easier to make an impact, writes Leon Emirali
Netflix’s £2bn gamble on South Korea and a new Squid Game is an unlikely nuclear deterrent Leon Emirali Netflix's £2bn investment in South Korea isn't only about entertainment; it also shows South Korea's soft power works in uniting the West against a possible attack from North Korea, writes Leon Emirali
Britain and Japan are both islands holding on to legacy, not building for the future April 4, 2023 Both island countries, both struggling with an ageing population, and both holding onto former glory without planning for the future. Japan and the UK have a lot to learn from each other, writes Leon Emirali
As long as we talk in emotive terms like reparations, we make the climate political November 10, 2022 No matter if a delegate was wearing an Arabian thawb, an African dhuku or a Western business suit; all attendees I encountered at Cop27 in Sharm El-Sheik, Egypt were unanimous in recognising that action must be taken to stem the impact of climate change – and fast. It was clear from the very beginning of [...]
The tonic for Boris Johnson’s ailing leadership may well be boring politics, not Churchillian June 3, 2022 Boris Johnson’s Churchillian love affair is well documented. But facing increasing pressure over his future, the Prime Minister must resist his idol’s playbook for how to govern. When penning a biography of Britain’s wartime hero in 2014, the canny PM knew this would draw instant comparisons between him and the man voted the “greatest Briton”. [...]
Opinion-in-brief: The perils and profits of rockstar chief executives October 25, 2021 Something strange is happening in boardrooms. Chief executives are stepping into the limelight. Gone is the stereotype of an austere workaholic, replaced by a trendy go-getter who’s just as comfortable pouring over an Excel spreadsheet as they are curating their Instagram feed. There are two prime examples of the archetypal rockstar CEO. Elon Musk went [...]
DEBATE: Did Chinese regulators have a legitimate reason for halting the IPO of Jack Ma’s Ant Group? November 6, 2020 Did Chinese regulators have a legitimate reason for halting the IPO of Jack Ma’s Ant Group? Tim Focas, head of capital markets at Aspectus Group, says YES. For any public listing, but in particular one of this magnitude, smart and sound regulation is of paramount importance. It can’t be one rule for one firm looking [...]
DEBATE: Is the government right to be encouraging artists and dancers to retrain in tech? October 13, 2020 Is the government right to be encouraging artists and dancers to retrain in tech? Leon Emirali, an entrepreneur and adviser, says YES. At some point soon, we will be left with no choice but to face up to the uncomfortable truths of this pandemic. Covid-19 is re-writing the economic rules we’ve played by for so [...]
DEBATE: Could AI ever win an Oscar? February 11, 2020 Could AI ever win an Oscar? John Gikopoulos, global head of AI and automation at Infosys Consulting, says YES. It’s entirely possible, and plausible, that artificial intelligence (AI) could soon win an Oscar. With the South Korean film Parasite winning Best Picture this year — the first ever foreign language film to do so — [...]
