Systems thinking can help you gain a better understanding of a larger problem and how your organization can find its way out. Systems thinking is used among writers, artists, scientists, and, yes, CEOs. When you’re running a company, there are always areas that can be improved, especially as your business grows. Read Full Story

The CEO of Kazoo argues that a company’s core values have the power to elevate your organization or tear it down. And now they’re more important than ever. The direct-to-consumer luggage brand Away recently faced harsh criticism after an investigation by The Verge revealed the company’s toxic work culture. The startup, founded by two women, enticed employees with its apparent culture of inclusion and mission for everyone to live a more travel-minded lifestyle. But workers quickly discovered a controlling culture marked by extreme surveillance, overwork, and public bullying—all in the name of Away’s core values. Read Full Story

Nearly 94% of consumers say they’re more likely to stay loyal to a company that offers transparency. These days, trust is more than a fuzzy feeling—it’s a hot commodity that can boost or break your bottom line. Read Full Story

The SBA released a trove of data about the Paycheck Protection Program, including the names of companies that received larger loans. Bowing to pressure from critics over its handling of more than $500 billion in coronavirus relief funds, the Small Business Administration today released a trove of data about the recipients of loans from the federal Paycheck Protection Program, including full business names and addresses for companies that received loans of $150,000 or more. Read Full Story

On early Monday, the company’s stock price dropped more than 10%—indicating that investors are nervous about the company’s future without the Tweeter-in-Chief. Twitter announced Friday night that it was ridding its platform of Donald Trump for good. This, of course, came after the president used his platform of choice to stir his followers to riot at the Capitol building last Wednesday. Read Full Story

“I’m not made for a podium,” Virgil Abloh says in an exclusive interview with ‘Fast Company.’ “But I’ll design a podium that ushers in systemic change.” This week, Virgil Abloh, auctioned off an unreleased pair of sneakers from his streetwear label Off-White on eBay, and yesterday, they sold for more than $185,000. Abloh is donating the money to support an anti-racist organization in the U.K. that introduces Black history to children called The Black Curriculum. Read Full Story

30-second summary: Complexity is an ongoing challenge. Martech’s proliferation of data and tools can be overwhelming, making it difficult to keep technology up-to-date and staff up-to-speed on how best to utilize the stack. Finding the right talent is another big pain point. A technical marketing landscape requires technical skills, but marketing still requires creativity, empathy, and humanity. Avoid the temptation to over automate. Balancing data with creativity is incredibly important, particularly in the post-COVID-19 marketing universe. Consumer behavior and sentiment can change in an instant, so messaging must be authentic, appropriate, and supremely human. Martech stacks tend to be underutilized, meaning companies are wasting money by not fully leveraging their martech. Understanding the pitfalls listed here can help businesses better plan and maintain their stacks and the resources needed to ensure they facilitate business growth. Marketing technology (martech) touches every aspect of modern business, going far beyond the marketing department …

Creating a successful startup is hard; it’s even harder without access to startup funds. However, if you’ve got a great business plan and the ability to create a buzz around your brand, equity crowdfunding could be the perfect option for your business. New legislation is opening up this crowdfunding option and making it a more viable method of raising capital for thousands of businesses. An Overview of Equity Crowdfunding Equity crowdfunding enables members of the public to invest in a privately-owned company. An entrepreneur or a business, generally a startup, will use an equity crowdfunding platform to offer securities in return for an investment from members of the public. Most commonly, that security will be in the form of shares, and as the company grows and prospers, the value of those shares increases, offering the investor a return on their investment. Why is this important for businesses? If you’ve ever …

Extreme heat kills more Americans each year than other disasters, but the public isn’t as wary of it. More publicity could help. As a prolonged heat wave bakes states like Florida and Texas, it’s happening at the same time as coronavirus cases spike, which means people are stuck at home. If they don’t have air-conditioning, it’s likely to lead to early deaths: Extreme heat kills more Americans each year than disasters like hurricanes, tornadoes, or floods, and as climate change progresses, the problem is getting worse. But heat waves rarely get as much attention as something like an approaching tropical storm. Read Full Story

30-second summary: AI can help marketers deliver better overall customer experiences across all digital channels. The key to success is in using it logically, ethically and in key areas where it can assist, save time and resource and help scale campaigns and performance. To gain a better understanding of the benefits to marketing it is best to build your knowledge from a wide range of perspectives to identify the best use cases. We look at 10 influencers worth following to get a good handle on how AI can and should effect the marketing sector. Adoption of Artificial intelligence (AI) is growing worldwide, with a recent IDC report identifying the ability to deliver a better customer experience, greater employee efficiency and accelerated innovation as the leading drivers for adoption. AI now powers marketing processes across the customer journey, from insights, search optimization and content marketing to personalization conversion optimization, predictive analytics, …