“By focusing on culture, empowerment, benefits, communication, recognition, development, diversity, social responsibility, and fun, Warby Parker ensures its employees are engaged, motivated, and aligned with the company’s mission.” —Neil Blumenthal and Dave Gilboa, co-CEOs at Warby Parker In today's fast-paced and ever-evolving business environment, workplace engagement and a … [More]
Engagement and Belonging: Creating a Workplace Conducive to Success
Fundamental to driving sustained growth and innovation
Legal-Ease: Your Lawyer as Your Business Consultant
Navigating challenges and identifying opportunity
Attorneys can offer far more benefit to businesses than retroactively putting out fires from businesses’ missteps and other problems. With their expertise in specific practice areas, they can not only help businesses avoid problems but even identify potential opportunity that business executives focused on day-to-day operations may not otherwise have considered. With Burch … [More]
June 2024 Guest Editor: Susie Ingold, Burch & Cracchiolo
With the Law on Your Side
In many cases, reaching out to an attorney is a common response when businesses run into problems in various aspects of their operations. But seeking out their expertise may not only help the business avert problems but even strengthen and grow. I believe a proactive approach to consulting with my clients often avoids problems and creates opportunities for growth and … [More]
Acquisition as Strategy for Growth
Evaluating potential buyers as well as add-on opportunities
There are many strategies business owners may choose to grow their company. Growth via acquisition is one such strategy that can result in accelerated growth if executed properly. Whether a business is considering this strategy for itself or has been approached by a larger company looking to acquire the company as an add-on (also known as a bolt-on acquisition), the process may … [More]
Tax Incentives for Small Businesses: Engine for Economic Growth
Spurring high-impact research and development
As an accounting professional and small business consultant working with locally owned businesses for more than 20 years, I always hear stories from small business owners about their achievements, frustrations and how they enjoy doing the work they love. I see how self-employment is a strong option for all individuals nowadays, and I truly believe that small businesses are … [More]
Mesquite Fresh: Nourishing the Community with Compassion
Social responsibility is ingrained in its corporate culture
Nestled in the heart of Arizona, Mesquite Fresh Street Mex isn't just a restaurant — it's a vibrant hub of community support and social responsibility. From its humble beginnings, Mesquite Fresh has embraced a mission to give back, forming meaningful partnerships with local organizations to uplift those in need and cultivate a culture of compassion. Central to Mesquite … [More]
Retail Quandary: Returns
And how to make this problem easier to solve
Retail growth has been on a roaring upswing since the dawn of e-commerce. The effect of which, as retail inventory experts know, is that each year e-commerce grows, the returns problem grows as well. We saw the best example of this throughout the pandemic, as people were locked down at home; e-commerce marketplaces saw a boom in business as people turned away from … [More]
Honoring Differing Donor Mindsets amid Social Upheaval
You can’t make everyone happy … can you?
With today’s myriad social issues — political polarization, protests, diversity concerns — nonprofits are bound to face conflicting viewpoints from their constituents. Longstanding donors may bail while new donors may hop onboard. That kind of turbidity can present grave consequences to a nonprofit’s bottom line. It’s a scenario San Diego’s Museum of Us knows well. In 2012, … [More]
As the Next Seismic Social Media Shift Looms …
Here’s how to have a thriving digital presence
I remember the day millions of users — myself included — packed our former “Digital Town Square” bags and moved onto Threads. This exodus was largely spurred by X (formerly Twitter) changing hands to its present owner, Elon Musk, whose leadership meant much different, and at times volatile, content on the platform. (“Fewer People Using Elon Musk’s X as It Struggles to Keep … [More]
Dillan Knudson: Amplifying Arizona’s Economy through Commercial Banking
Helping businesses with his team of experienced bankers and subject matter experts at Western Alliance Bank
It’s no secret the fast-paced world of banking is fraught with challenges. Whether it’s unwieldy interest rates today or a global health crisis tomorrow, each day brings a new obstacle to overcome — often with high stakes. But for Dillan Knudson, Western Alliance Bank’s new head of commercial banking in Arizona, these obstacles are opportunities. He sees each challenge as a … [More]
Feedback: June 2024
Q: What design or amenities of your physical workplace have you found to be most important in creating a positive company culture? Angela Gillespie Chief Executive Officer Gawley Companies Sector: Healthcare As a global chief operating officer of a multi-national company pre-COVID, my entire focus in physical workspace revolved around squeezing as many people into a … [More]
AI Gains and Gaps in the Workplace
Study finds AI saves workers an average of six hours per week
Since the advent of ChatGPT, millions of Americans have experimented with, used, and implemented generative artificial intelligence (AI) into their workstreams. Generative and large-language model (LLM) AI is revolutionizing many work sectors, but how do workers feel about it? Workers are embracing AI in record numbers: Ninety-two percent of survey respondents say they trust … [More]
IDTechEx Explores Augmented and Virtual Reality
Augmented and virtual reality are being developed in new ways to enhance reality, from streamlined smart glasses to headsets with farfetched fantasy experiences. Extended reality (XR) headsets are proving useful not only for leisure purposes but also for industry use, training, and even rehabilitation. People with vision conditions or who may be hard of hearing could see … [More]
The Secret to Captivating Your Audience? Nail That Short-Form Video
Let's face it, in today's digital whirlwind of endless content, a mediocre video won't just fade into obscurity — it'll get ruthlessly mocked by nearby TikTok-ers. But with a few pro tips up their sleeve, business owners can craft bite-sized video gold that instantly hooks viewers and leaves them craving more from their brand. It's time to turn those viewing statistics into … [More]
Local Med Tech Startup Receives Patent
ReSuture, Inc., an Arizona-based startup developing anatomical models to expedite adoption of life-saving therapies, has recently received a patent for its synthetic vascular tissue. ReSuture’s innovative technology delivers the most accurate procedural experience outside the operating room — allowing surgeons to perfect necessary skills currently learned on-the-job. This newly … [More]
Digital Health Startups Need to Build a Research Flywheel
Those who are at a digital health startup face a challenge other types of software companies rarely face — they have to prove their software actually works. Other software may launch with a minimally viable product that sort of works, but those who want to sell into healthcare need to convince experts the app delivers expected benefits. For instance, a sleep app would be … [More]
Unlocking the Potential: Arizona’s Journey to Semiconductor Innovation Hub
Pioneering the Silicon Desert
In the heart of the scorching Sonoran Desert, a new frontier of innovation is emerging — one that promises to redefine Arizona's economic landscape and propel it into the global spotlight as a semiconductor powerhouse. SEMI, an organization that advances the global semiconductor supply chain, held a SEMI Breakfast Forum in May with the theme "Is Silicon Desert the New … [More]
Balancing Chips and Cacti
As Phoenix embraces its role as a surging hub for semiconductor manufacturing, the city faces the dual challenge of supporting this high-tech industrial boom while preserving its unique desert landscape. This dynamic poses a significant question: How can Phoenix accommodate rapid industrial expansion without sacrificing its environmental heritage? In the heart of the Sonoran … [More]
