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The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- Business
- The Advertiser
The emphasis on tax reform is misplaced. We must do more than reallocate the pie
Keeping track of the recommendations being made to the government for its Economic Reform Roundtable is getting harder. The Business Council wants to focus on the corporate tax rate. Australia's biggest bank wants to focus less on the corporate tax rate. State governments want to broaden the GST. Treasury wants to cut income tax. Rio Tinto wants to reintroduce the carbon tax. The Greens want to tax Rio's excess profits. Others are calling for reforms to everything from negative gearing, the capital gains tax discount, road user charging and trusts, through to taxes on fuel, alcohol and cigarettes, and more investment allowances and tax credits than you can poke a stick at. And herein lies the risk. Nobody can agree on what to do. Tax reform is hard. It's politically contentious. It has clear winners and losers. Tax debates tend to go round and round. For all the heat generated by tax debates, they rarely throw light on emerging challenges. It's hard to see the current round of tax hypothesising as any more illuminating. There is a risk that the Economic Reform Roundtable gets so bogged down in a tax debate that it neglects other areas that are both easier and have a bigger impact. One such area is tech. Increasing tech adoption would not only have a big impact, it's arguably politically easier, too. Small and medium-sized businesses represent a whopping 56 per cent of the economy and employ 66 per cent of all workers. If we could lift their productivity by even a small amount, Australia's productivity challenge would be solved. This isn't pie in the sky. Small and medium businesses are, on average, about one third less productive than large businesses, so there's plenty of scope for improvement. And we're not talking about small businesses moving to the frontier on AI or inventing world-first technologies. What we're talking about here is much simpler: it's about small and medium businesses adopting existing technologies. Our research, for example, shows that small and medium businesses that use online platforms have revenue-per-worker that is 45 per cent higher than those that don't. They are significantly more likely to export and have revenue that is 2.2 times larger. The tech is there. We just need businesses to use it. There's another key reason tech is a better bet than tax. Tax reform primarily boosts productivity through what economists call "allocative efficiency": getting the right people in the right jobs, capital going to the right people. Reforming these bad taxes ensures resources in the economy are allocated efficiently and effectively, boosting productivity in the process. There's just one problem: none of this expands the frontier. It doesn't create new possibilities. It doesn't allow us to do new things. It doesn't create new opportunities or create new capabilities. With living standards far below where they should be, we need to do more than reallocate the pie. We need to grow it. This is where technology comes in. In the short and medium term, we can boost productivity by allocating resources better. But in the long run, it's the creation of new technologies and the adoption of those technologies that fundamentally grows living standards. This isn't to say we should ignore tax reform. Far from it. If we can do it, then let's do it. For one thing, tax reform can play a key role in creating and adopting new technologies through R&D tax credits and investment incentives. So, what should the government do to encourage tech adoption? A lot of it is about who we should, and shouldn't, steal ideas from. Start with who we shouldn't steal ideas from. The EU has experimented with a bunch of new regulations that relate to technology. These include its General Data Protection Regulation (about privacy and data security) and its ex-ante competition regulations under the Digital Markets Act (about outlawing conduct without having to prove it causes harm). Both these reforms have been disasters. There has been a 47 per cent fall in app launches in the EU, a 15 per cent fall in data processing by EU firms compared to US firms, and an 8 per cent fall in profits for start-ups. If the first rule is "do no harm", then the government should leave the EU's ideas in the EU. The country they should be copying is Singapore. Singapore's "SMEs Go Digital Program" is a one-stop shop that lets small businesses search for digital solutions, grants and resources based on their business needs. Businesses get free digital consultations and project management services tailored to their industry. Businesses are advised and taught about different technologies that are available and how they work. The program offers pre-approved tech solutions to boost trust, and in many instances, the government will heavily subsidise the costs of these tech subscriptions, too. Australia's best ideas are often borrowed, and we should borrow this one. The EU's mandatory interoperability requirements on app stores, which the Australian government is considering, have damaged the user experience and compromised safety, privacy and cybersecurity. If we can get agreement on tax reform at the Roundtable, then let's do it. But if we want easier politics with a big impact, the Roundtable needs more tech than track of the recommendations being made to the government for its Economic Reform Roundtable is getting harder. The Business Council wants to focus on the corporate tax rate. Australia's biggest bank wants to focus less on the corporate tax rate. State governments want to broaden the GST. Treasury wants to cut income tax. Rio Tinto wants to reintroduce the carbon tax. The Greens want to tax Rio's excess profits. Others are calling for reforms to everything from negative gearing, the capital gains tax discount, road user charging and trusts, through to taxes on fuel, alcohol and cigarettes, and more investment allowances and tax credits than you can poke a stick at. And herein lies the risk. Nobody can agree on what to do. Tax reform is hard. It's politically contentious. It has clear winners and losers. Tax debates tend to go round and round. For all the heat generated by tax debates, they rarely throw light on emerging challenges. It's hard to see the current round of tax hypothesising as any more illuminating. There is a risk that the Economic Reform Roundtable gets so bogged down in a tax debate that it neglects other areas that are both easier and have a bigger impact. One such area is tech. Increasing tech adoption would not only have a big impact, it's arguably politically easier, too. Small and medium-sized businesses represent a whopping 56 per cent of the economy and employ 66 per cent of all workers. If we could lift their productivity by even a small amount, Australia's productivity challenge would be solved. This isn't pie in the sky. Small and medium businesses are, on average, about one third less productive than large businesses, so there's plenty of scope for improvement. And we're not talking about small businesses moving to the frontier on AI or inventing world-first technologies. What we're talking about here is much simpler: it's about small and medium businesses adopting existing technologies. Our research, for example, shows that small and medium businesses that use online platforms have revenue-per-worker that is 45 per cent higher than those that don't. They are significantly more likely to export and have revenue that is 2.2 times larger. The tech is there. We just need businesses to use it. There's another key reason tech is a better bet than tax. Tax reform primarily boosts productivity through what economists call "allocative efficiency": getting the right people in the right jobs, capital going to the right people. Reforming these bad taxes ensures resources in the economy are allocated efficiently and effectively, boosting productivity in the process. There's just one problem: none of this expands the frontier. It doesn't create new possibilities. It doesn't allow us to do new things. It doesn't create new opportunities or create new capabilities. With living standards far below where they should be, we need to do more than reallocate the pie. We need to grow it. This is where technology comes in. In the short and medium term, we can boost productivity by allocating resources better. But in the long run, it's the creation of new technologies and the adoption of those technologies that fundamentally grows living standards. This isn't to say we should ignore tax reform. Far from it. If we can do it, then let's do it. For one thing, tax reform can play a key role in creating and adopting new technologies through R&D tax credits and investment incentives. So, what should the government do to encourage tech adoption? A lot of it is about who we should, and shouldn't, steal ideas from. Start with who we shouldn't steal ideas from. The EU has experimented with a bunch of new regulations that relate to technology. These include its General Data Protection Regulation (about privacy and data security) and its ex-ante competition regulations under the Digital Markets Act (about outlawing conduct without having to prove it causes harm). Both these reforms have been disasters. There has been a 47 per cent fall in app launches in the EU, a 15 per cent fall in data processing by EU firms compared to US firms, and an 8 per cent fall in profits for start-ups. If the first rule is "do no harm", then the government should leave the EU's ideas in the EU. The country they should be copying is Singapore. Singapore's "SMEs Go Digital Program" is a one-stop shop that lets small businesses search for digital solutions, grants and resources based on their business needs. Businesses get free digital consultations and project management services tailored to their industry. Businesses are advised and taught about different technologies that are available and how they work. The program offers pre-approved tech solutions to boost trust, and in many instances, the government will heavily subsidise the costs of these tech subscriptions, too. Australia's best ideas are often borrowed, and we should borrow this one. The EU's mandatory interoperability requirements on app stores, which the Australian government is considering, have damaged the user experience and compromised safety, privacy and cybersecurity. If we can get agreement on tax reform at the Roundtable, then let's do it. But if we want easier politics with a big impact, the Roundtable needs more tech than track of the recommendations being made to the government for its Economic Reform Roundtable is getting harder. The Business Council wants to focus on the corporate tax rate. Australia's biggest bank wants to focus less on the corporate tax rate. State governments want to broaden the GST. Treasury wants to cut income tax. Rio Tinto wants to reintroduce the carbon tax. The Greens want to tax Rio's excess profits. Others are calling for reforms to everything from negative gearing, the capital gains tax discount, road user charging and trusts, through to taxes on fuel, alcohol and cigarettes, and more investment allowances and tax credits than you can poke a stick at. And herein lies the risk. Nobody can agree on what to do. Tax reform is hard. It's politically contentious. It has clear winners and losers. Tax debates tend to go round and round. For all the heat generated by tax debates, they rarely throw light on emerging challenges. It's hard to see the current round of tax hypothesising as any more illuminating. There is a risk that the Economic Reform Roundtable gets so bogged down in a tax debate that it neglects other areas that are both easier and have a bigger impact. One such area is tech. Increasing tech adoption would not only have a big impact, it's arguably politically easier, too. Small and medium-sized businesses represent a whopping 56 per cent of the economy and employ 66 per cent of all workers. If we could lift their productivity by even a small amount, Australia's productivity challenge would be solved. This isn't pie in the sky. Small and medium businesses are, on average, about one third less productive than large businesses, so there's plenty of scope for improvement. And we're not talking about small businesses moving to the frontier on AI or inventing world-first technologies. What we're talking about here is much simpler: it's about small and medium businesses adopting existing technologies. Our research, for example, shows that small and medium businesses that use online platforms have revenue-per-worker that is 45 per cent higher than those that don't. They are significantly more likely to export and have revenue that is 2.2 times larger. The tech is there. We just need businesses to use it. There's another key reason tech is a better bet than tax. Tax reform primarily boosts productivity through what economists call "allocative efficiency": getting the right people in the right jobs, capital going to the right people. Reforming these bad taxes ensures resources in the economy are allocated efficiently and effectively, boosting productivity in the process. There's just one problem: none of this expands the frontier. It doesn't create new possibilities. It doesn't allow us to do new things. It doesn't create new opportunities or create new capabilities. With living standards far below where they should be, we need to do more than reallocate the pie. We need to grow it. This is where technology comes in. In the short and medium term, we can boost productivity by allocating resources better. But in the long run, it's the creation of new technologies and the adoption of those technologies that fundamentally grows living standards. This isn't to say we should ignore tax reform. Far from it. If we can do it, then let's do it. For one thing, tax reform can play a key role in creating and adopting new technologies through R&D tax credits and investment incentives. So, what should the government do to encourage tech adoption? A lot of it is about who we should, and shouldn't, steal ideas from. Start with who we shouldn't steal ideas from. The EU has experimented with a bunch of new regulations that relate to technology. These include its General Data Protection Regulation (about privacy and data security) and its ex-ante competition regulations under the Digital Markets Act (about outlawing conduct without having to prove it causes harm). Both these reforms have been disasters. There has been a 47 per cent fall in app launches in the EU, a 15 per cent fall in data processing by EU firms compared to US firms, and an 8 per cent fall in profits for start-ups. If the first rule is "do no harm", then the government should leave the EU's ideas in the EU. The country they should be copying is Singapore. Singapore's "SMEs Go Digital Program" is a one-stop shop that lets small businesses search for digital solutions, grants and resources based on their business needs. Businesses get free digital consultations and project management services tailored to their industry. Businesses are advised and taught about different technologies that are available and how they work. The program offers pre-approved tech solutions to boost trust, and in many instances, the government will heavily subsidise the costs of these tech subscriptions, too. Australia's best ideas are often borrowed, and we should borrow this one. The EU's mandatory interoperability requirements on app stores, which the Australian government is considering, have damaged the user experience and compromised safety, privacy and cybersecurity. If we can get agreement on tax reform at the Roundtable, then let's do it. But if we want easier politics with a big impact, the Roundtable needs more tech than track of the recommendations being made to the government for its Economic Reform Roundtable is getting harder. The Business Council wants to focus on the corporate tax rate. Australia's biggest bank wants to focus less on the corporate tax rate. State governments want to broaden the GST. Treasury wants to cut income tax. Rio Tinto wants to reintroduce the carbon tax. The Greens want to tax Rio's excess profits. Others are calling for reforms to everything from negative gearing, the capital gains tax discount, road user charging and trusts, through to taxes on fuel, alcohol and cigarettes, and more investment allowances and tax credits than you can poke a stick at. And herein lies the risk. Nobody can agree on what to do. Tax reform is hard. It's politically contentious. It has clear winners and losers. Tax debates tend to go round and round. For all the heat generated by tax debates, they rarely throw light on emerging challenges. It's hard to see the current round of tax hypothesising as any more illuminating. There is a risk that the Economic Reform Roundtable gets so bogged down in a tax debate that it neglects other areas that are both easier and have a bigger impact. One such area is tech. Increasing tech adoption would not only have a big impact, it's arguably politically easier, too. Small and medium-sized businesses represent a whopping 56 per cent of the economy and employ 66 per cent of all workers. If we could lift their productivity by even a small amount, Australia's productivity challenge would be solved. This isn't pie in the sky. Small and medium businesses are, on average, about one third less productive than large businesses, so there's plenty of scope for improvement. And we're not talking about small businesses moving to the frontier on AI or inventing world-first technologies. What we're talking about here is much simpler: it's about small and medium businesses adopting existing technologies. Our research, for example, shows that small and medium businesses that use online platforms have revenue-per-worker that is 45 per cent higher than those that don't. They are significantly more likely to export and have revenue that is 2.2 times larger. The tech is there. We just need businesses to use it. There's another key reason tech is a better bet than tax. Tax reform primarily boosts productivity through what economists call "allocative efficiency": getting the right people in the right jobs, capital going to the right people. Reforming these bad taxes ensures resources in the economy are allocated efficiently and effectively, boosting productivity in the process. There's just one problem: none of this expands the frontier. It doesn't create new possibilities. It doesn't allow us to do new things. It doesn't create new opportunities or create new capabilities. With living standards far below where they should be, we need to do more than reallocate the pie. We need to grow it. This is where technology comes in. In the short and medium term, we can boost productivity by allocating resources better. But in the long run, it's the creation of new technologies and the adoption of those technologies that fundamentally grows living standards. This isn't to say we should ignore tax reform. Far from it. If we can do it, then let's do it. For one thing, tax reform can play a key role in creating and adopting new technologies through R&D tax credits and investment incentives. So, what should the government do to encourage tech adoption? A lot of it is about who we should, and shouldn't, steal ideas from. Start with who we shouldn't steal ideas from. The EU has experimented with a bunch of new regulations that relate to technology. These include its General Data Protection Regulation (about privacy and data security) and its ex-ante competition regulations under the Digital Markets Act (about outlawing conduct without having to prove it causes harm). Both these reforms have been disasters. There has been a 47 per cent fall in app launches in the EU, a 15 per cent fall in data processing by EU firms compared to US firms, and an 8 per cent fall in profits for start-ups. If the first rule is "do no harm", then the government should leave the EU's ideas in the EU. The country they should be copying is Singapore. Singapore's "SMEs Go Digital Program" is a one-stop shop that lets small businesses search for digital solutions, grants and resources based on their business needs. Businesses get free digital consultations and project management services tailored to their industry. Businesses are advised and taught about different technologies that are available and how they work. The program offers pre-approved tech solutions to boost trust, and in many instances, the government will heavily subsidise the costs of these tech subscriptions, too. Australia's best ideas are often borrowed, and we should borrow this one. The EU's mandatory interoperability requirements on app stores, which the Australian government is considering, have damaged the user experience and compromised safety, privacy and cybersecurity. If we can get agreement on tax reform at the Roundtable, then let's do it. But if we want easier politics with a big impact, the Roundtable needs more tech than tax.
Forbes
6 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
20 Ways Leaders Can Get Their Team To Focus On Long-Term Results
group of coworkers sitting at desk looking at laptop Achieving quick wins and meeting short-term business goals is often seen as a positive sign of progress. However, too much focus on instant gratification and results and not enough prioritization of the larger vision and values can quickly derail a business's mission. Choosing to slow decision-making processes and make deliberate moves can seem radical in a competitive business market, but this investment over time can result in significant changes with lasting effects. Below, 20 Forbes Business Council members discuss how they keep themselves and their team more focused on long-term results. Read on to learn more about the benefits of taking a sustained business perspective. 1. Prioritize The Brand Promise Always keep your brand promise front and center. What's "in" matters in fashion, but you can't build a brand by chasing trends. Customers need to trust that what you make reflects what you stand for and consistently deliver. Even quick calls to move the business forward should still reflect the values and long-term vision behind the brand. - Suzanne Lerner, Michael Stars 2. Concentrate On Doing The Next Right Thing To avoid getting caught up in short-term wins, I remind myself and my team to always focus on doing the next right thing. This means actions that align with our values and long-term goals. By focusing on the bigger picture, we anticipate challenges, invest in innovation, build trust with our stakeholders and nurture a workplace culture where everyone feels connected to the larger mission. - Bill Flederbach, ClimeCo 3. Set Quarterly Goals We set quarterly goals tied to a bigger vision. It keeps us focused on meaningful progress, not just quick wins. Thinking long term builds stability and stronger relationships while enabling smarter decisions. Chasing only short-term results can burn out your team and blur your purpose. Vision keeps everyone aligned and motivated. - Saheer Nelliparamban, Paywint 4. Connect KPIs To Annual Strategic Goals Ensuring you are always connecting KPIs to the annual strategic goals is critical to keeping the team's eye on the prize while they keep their energy on the day-to-day activities. Actionable awareness is a method we embed in our culture. It involves knowing what the most important actions are and how to make them happen while connecting to the "why," vision, mission and values. - Susan Leger Ferraro, Peace, Love, Happiness Real Estate 5. Make Large Objectives A Daily Action We avoid focusing too much on instant gratification or immediate results by consciously integrating long-term objectives into our daily decisions and team conversations. Regularly revisiting our broader vision helps us stay aligned with meaningful goals, nurturing deeper client relationships and sustainable growth that far outlasts short-term rewards or temporary successes. - Dr. Ritu Goel, MindClaire 6. Align Focus Across Organizational Levels Effective leaders don't choose between short- and long-term focus. Instead, they strategically align focus across organizational levels. C-suite executives should own the five- to 10-year vision while middle managers execute plans over up to six months. When senior leaders get trapped in daily operations, it signals a breakdown in planning processes and lost trust in middle management's execution capabilities. - Tom Strohl, Oliver Wight Americas 7. Offer Incentives To Motivate Employees In our team, the doors are open to all employees to move up within the company, which some have already done. This incentive, as well as having these employees as role models, spurs many employees on to be motivated at work in the long term and to think outside the box from time to time. - Stephy Beck, 8. Consider Transitioning To An Employee-Owned Model Early on, I made the decision to transition to an employee-owned model. This choice has been instrumental in keeping our team focused on long-term goals rather than just short-term gains. While immediate wins are important, it's our collective commitment to the bigger picture and shared accountability across the organization that has fueled stability, sustainable growth and innovation. - Dan Galorath, Galorath Incorporated 9. Focus On Solving Problems I emphasize problem-solving over quick feature releases. When you're committed to solving customer pain points rather than chasing immediate results, you naturally think strategically. We regularly zoom out to assess our progress against core problems we're solving. Doing this avoids reactive decision making and ensures we're building sustainable solutions that create lasting value. - Sharat Potharaju, Uniqode 10. Hold Team Strategy Sessions We intentionally have regular strategy sessions as a team to align on longer-term outcomes. By focusing on the long term, we can prevent short-term impulsivity and design an operational strategy that is built for sustainability. At LambdaTest, we know that the decisions we make today will shape the future and ultimately the growth and success of the company in the future. - Maneesh Sharma, LambdaTest 11. Take A Six-Month Outlook To Everything We're a startup, so we move fast. However, we still ask, 'Will this break in six months?' This kind of long-term thinking matters because cleaning up rushed decisions always costs more than doing it right the first time. - Rytis Lauris, Omnisend 12. Build For Scalability We avoid short-term bias by building for scalability, starting with how we structured Grape Law. From the outset, we invested in in-house tech development, cross-functional hiring and proprietary tools like Grape Assistant. Thinking long term enables us to create systems that evolve with client needs, support global growth and stay resilient in an unpredictable legal and policy environment. - Muhammed Uzum, Grape Law Firm PLLC 13. Invest In Innovation and A Lasting Strategy Recognize that today's solutions will eventually become obsolete. Customer needs evolve, and what works now can quickly be replaced by newer, more advanced options. To stay competitive, the product team must invest in innovation and long-term strategy. This will ensure the company maintains its leadership position. If not, the company will lose market share unless it's protected by unique advantages. - Dmitry Malin, Novakid 14. Avoid Thinking Success Is Instant I started my company with a long-term vision, knowing that most cases are retained on contingency and results take time. Staying focused and believing in the mission helps us avoid the trap of short-term thinking. Long-term success comes from being consistent, building trust and always putting clients first, even when results aren't immediate. - JC Serrano, 15. Do Regular Retrospectives And Check-Ins Internally, we reinforce a long-term mindset through regular case retrospectives and strategic check-ins. Thinking long term means being proactive, not reactive. It is easier said than done but we work hard to make it a regular practice. It builds trust, reduces risk and ensures that our work not only delivers results now but also continues to serve the client's goals as they grow and scale. - Sophie Alcorn, Alcorn Immigration Law 16. Align Initiatives Around Enduring Growth For Customers At Alkami, we balance urgency with vision by aligning every initiative to long-term growth for our customers. Short-term wins matter, but sustainable growth comes from building integrated technology that serves the end users rather than just features. Thinking long term ensures we're not simply reacting to change but leading it. - Stephen Bohanon, Alkami 17. Balance Metrics With Progress We stay focused on the long game by balancing short-term metrics with long-term progress. We track KPIs daily, weekly and monthly while keeping an eye on quarterly and annual goals. Weekly one-on-one meetings help team members align projects with our vision using an impact, behavior and proof framework. This creates clarity and accountability while tying daily work to long-term success. - Jason Bahnak, Abstrakt 18. View Minor Wins As Signals Turning urgency into momentum keeps us grounded. We treat short-term wins as signals, not outcomes. Our focus is on building the long-term infrastructure for how real estate decisions are made. That shift in mindset keeps the team aligned with impact that compounds and where trust, insight and relevance grow far beyond the next quarter. - Arunabh Dastidar, Leni 19. Continuously Revisit The Goals And Purpose We revisit the organization's vision regularly to ensure short-term goals align with long-term purpose and that the vision still fits. It's easy to chase quick wins, but alignment ensures lasting impact and prevents drift. - Jon Osterburg, Jitasa 20. Focus On Building Toward Something Meaningful Short-term wins are tempting, but if you're not building toward something bigger and more meaningful, you're just busy. I learned this after the acquisition of a portfolio company that smashed its goals every month for two years straight but our best people still left. The company achieved without purpose. As a team, we now stop to ask what we are becoming, not just what we are hitting. - Shayne Fitz-Coy, Sabot Family Companies Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
Forbes
6 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
20 Effective Ways To Secure Speaking Gigs As A Business Leader
Man presenting in front of audience A business's success rarely depends solely on the products or services it offers. As consumers look to connect more with the people working within a business, online and offline speaking engagements not only offer entrepreneurs the chance to boost their reputation as a business expert but also significantly increase sales. Regardless of an entrepreneur's longevity in the business market, finding the right-fit speaking events that align with their skills and knowledge can be difficult. To help, 20 Forbes Business Council members share effective ways business leaders can secure speaking gigs and highlight their expertise. 1. Proactively Leverage Your Existing Network My advice is don't wait for an invitation. Instead, be proactive and leverage your existing network. Many conference organizers prioritize social proof as they evaluate potential speakers. If you're a vendor, consider joining forces with one of your client partners to pitch a case study presentation highlighting your partnership and proven ROI. - Scott Paddock, Wondr Health 2. Go Where Your Audience Is Start by showing up where your audience already is. Contribute to panels, podcasts or industry groups, even if they're small. Build a track record of insight, not self-promotion. One tip is to make your experience relatable. Event organizers want voices that can actually teach and not just talk. - Henry Pershin, 3. Create A Professional Speaker Kit One effective way to secure speaking opportunities is to create a professionally designed speaker kit. A well-crafted kit showcases your expertise, audience impact, testimonials, awards and press coverage, offering event organizers a clear snapshot of your value as a speaker. It not only builds credibility but also creates a strong first impression that sets you apart in a competitive landscape. - Jason Fernandes, AdLunam Inc. 4. Personalize Your Pitch Tailor your pitch to what the organizer and their audience care about: real-world examples and outcomes. At Legence, we don't just talk, we deliver results. For example, we bring customers and executives out on stage to share how we're cutting emissions or improving building performance through case studies. It's a chance to highlight impact, build trust, showcase our work and spark the next opportunity. - Jeff Sprau, Legence 5. Lead With Substance Over Hype One effective way to secure speaking gigs is to lead with substance over hype, especially in industries like blockchain where trust and credibility matter. Publish clear, insightful perspectives on complex topics that impact the real world and that the general public can relate to. Event organizers are looking for thought leaders who offer real-world clarity with authenticity, not just buzzwords. - Boris Bohrer-Bilowitzki, Concordium 6. Create High-Quality Content One effective way to secure speaking gigs is to create and share high-quality, insightful content. These can be articles, videos or podcasts that showcase your expertise and unique perspective. This builds credibility and attracts event organizers seeking authentic voices. One tip is to proactively pitch tailored topics to niche events, demonstrating how your insights solve their audience's specific challenges. - Sahit Muja, Albanian Minerals 7. Share Insights On LinkedIn One way I've consistently landed speaking gigs is by sharing insights regularly on LinkedIn. When you post with clarity and consistency, event organizers notice. One pro tip is to build relationships with conference hosts early. Comment on their posts, share their work and be clear about how your expertise aligns with their audience. - Anna Anisin, Data Science Salon 8. Interact With Online Communities And Networks Engage with online communities and network at events to build your presence. A key tip is to reach out to event organizers with tailored proposals, demonstrating how your insights can benefit their audience. By being proactive and authentic, you'll position yourself as a thought leader ready to inspire. - Paula Ferrada, Inova Healthcare System 9. Offer To Speak For Free Start by offering to speak at anything, anywhere for free to build your experience, your expertise (it is a craft) and your reputation. This will inevitably lead to more work, including paid work at better events. - Craig West, Capitaliz 10. Take An Account-Based Marketing Approach Treat this like account-based marketing. This means researching each event and personalizing outreach by tailoring the offering to what the organizers are looking for. Look into what type of talks are typically selected. Then, set up personalized drips and keep following up. Deep research with AI can be a superb hack for this. - Noa Eshed, Bold Digital Architects 11. Make A Website Create a website specifically focused on you as a speaker. Include videos of you speaking so companies can see how you are on stage. Start by targeting associations in your area of expertise, as they are always looking for speakers. - Erin Stafford, Stafford Company 12. Showcase Your Mission At NRS, we found our voice by championing independent merchants and small retailers against the dominance of large chains. Highlight your unique mission, including how your expertise empowers the "little guy" to compete and thrive in a world designed for giants. This specific, relatable advocacy offers a compelling story that stands out to event organizers seeking fresh, actionable insights. - Elie Y. Katz, National Retail Solutions (NRS) 13. Find Podcast Guest Spots Don't underestimate the power of podcast guesting's long-tail effect. Although it may not directly lead to landing speaking gigs, being a guest on podcasts puts you on the radar as a thought leader and often boosts your credibility among event organizers. This can ultimately result in you landing speaking opportunities at their events. It can then naturally progress and convert into future speaking opportunities on other stages! - Alex Sanfilippo, PodMatch 14. Become An Author Authorship is a meaningful way to share one's insights and learned experiences, enabling you to help others while providing a personal understanding of yourself in the process. Though it's time-consuming in the long run, in addition to maintaining a social media presence and engaging online, others have a way to manage requests to speak at events. Being able to speak more on what was penned can be a wise path. - Paul L. Gunn, Jr., KUOG Corporation 15. Share Your Unfiltered Experiences Sharing the real, unfiltered side of building a business consistently through video and on social media has been a game-changer for me. It builds trust, positions you as someone worth listening to and keeps you top of mind. Show up at industry events, ask good questions and build real relationships. And once momentum kicks in, keep showing up and amplifying your presence without hesitation. - Aaron Harper, Rolling Suds 16. Develop A Pitch Playbook Treat your ideas like products with a clear promise, structure and outcomes. When I created a playbook from our cold email insights, people didn't just read it; they invited me to speak on it. If you make your expertise portable and practical, your content becomes a calling card that speaks louder than any pitch. - Samuel Darwin, Sparkle 17. Focus On Your Niche Stick to what you know best. I run an agile digital marketing agency that offers a range of services, but when I'm invited to speak, I focus on enterprise SEO, paid search strategies and lately, how AI is reshaping search marketing. I rarely talk about topics like social media advertising, not because I don't understand them, but because I don't personally manage those campaigns. My team does. - Al Sefati, Clarity Digital, LLC 18. Prioritize Value Lead with value, not your resume. When pitching for speaking gigs, tailor your topic to solve a real, timely problem for their audience. Include a compelling title, two to three key takeaways and why it matters now. Event organizers book solutions, not self-promotion. Show them you're there to serve, not just speak. - Miriam Groom, Mindful Career 19. Remain Authentic Next to preparing for your audience by understanding their key pain points and expectations, I think it's crucial to stay authentic. Despite all the expertise you might have, I've seen people fail by trying to play the role of someone they aren't. Personally, I admire business experts who share what they struggle with and what they don't know. This makes them approachable and trustworthy. - Michael Wegmüller, Artifact SA 20. Network Networking is a powerful tool for securing speaking opportunities. Attend industry events, engage with key players on social media and build relationships with event organizers. By demonstrating your expertise in conversations and offering to contribute to upcoming events, you can position yourself as a go-to speaker. - Michael Freitag, CRITCH
Khaleej Times
15-07-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
ADSM, UAE–India Business Council forge alliance to ignite youth entrepreneurship
The Abu Dhabi School of Management (ADSM) and the UAE-India Business Council-UAE Chapter (UIBC-UC) have entered a strategic partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding that will drive forward youth entrepreneurship, leadership development, and innovation across Abu Dhabi and beyond. The agreement formalises a shared commitment to creating inclusive opportunities for learning, collaboration, and economic advancement. It will remain in effect through July 2028, with a strategic review at the end of the term to evaluate progress and explore long-term alignment. The MoU outlines a comprehensive roadmap of joint initiatives spanning the next three years. Central to the partnership is a robust calendar of high-impact programming, including conferences, workshops, and seminars designed to cultivate entrepreneurial mindsets and leadership competencies among young professionals in the region. These knowledge-sharing events will feature thought leaders from the UAE, India, and global innovation hubs, providing students and early-career entrepreneurs with access to world-class insights and best practices. In addition, the partnership will support the design and rollout of professional development courses that address key areas such as innovation management, digital transformation, sustainable business practices, and ethical leadership. These programmes aim to equip learners with practical, future-ready skills while reinforcing ADSM's position as a hub of excellence for business education in the Gulf. A cornerstone of the collaboration will be the launch of a structured mentorship platform connecting ADSM students and alumni with seasoned executives, entrepreneurs, and UIBC-UC-affiliated professionals. Complementing these capacity-building efforts will be a series of joint research endeavours focused on emerging trends in youth entrepreneurship, the evolving role of SMEs in regional economies, and cross-border innovation ecosystems. Both institutions plan to co-author research papers and white papers, offering valuable insights for policymakers and investors alike. ADSM will also serve as a key knowledge partner for UIBC-UC's broader programmes, contributing academic rigour and faculty expertise to business roundtables, regional summits, and policy discussions. The UIBC-UC has also committed to facilitating introductions to India-based universities, research labs, and incubators for ADSM to further strengthen the vibrant UAE-India education corridor. Dr. Tayeb Kamali, Chairman of the ADSM Board, stated, 'Through this partnership, ADSM reaffirms its commitment to empowering talent and driving meaningful change in our region and beyond.' Faizal Kottikollon, Chairman of UIBC-UC, stated, 'Together with ADSM, we are laying the groundwork for a generation of leaders who will shape the future of innovation, enterprise, and collaboration between our two nations. This MoU signals a timely convergence of academia and industry around a shared vision of regional prosperity, making it a pivotal moment for UAE–India cooperation in education, innovation, and economic development.'
Zawya
15-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
ADSM, UAE-India Business Council forge alliance to ignite youth entrepreneurship
ABU DHABI - The Abu Dhabi School of Management (ADSM) and the UAE-India Business Council-UAE Chapter (UIBC-UC) have entered a strategic partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding that will drive forward youth entrepreneurship, leadership development, and innovation across Abu Dhabi and beyond. The agreement formalises a shared commitment to creating inclusive opportunities for learning, collaboration, and economic advancement. It will remain in effect through July 2028, with a strategic review at the end of the term to evaluate progress and explore long-term alignment. The MoU outlines a comprehensive roadmap of joint initiatives spanning the next three years. Central to the partnership is a robust calendar of high-impact programming, including conferences, workshops, and seminars designed to cultivate entrepreneurial mindsets and leadership competencies among young professionals in the region. These knowledge-sharing events will feature thought leaders from the UAE, India, and global innovation hubs, providing students and early-career entrepreneurs with access to world-class insights and best practices. In addition, the partnership will support the design and rollout of professional development courses that address key areas such as innovation management, digital transformation, sustainable business practices, and ethical leadership. These programmes aim to equip learners with practical, future-ready skills while reinforcing ADSM's position as a hub of excellence for business education in the Gulf. A cornerstone of the collaboration will be the launch of a structured mentorship platform connecting ADSM students and alumni with seasoned executives, entrepreneurs, and UIBC-UC-affiliated professionals. Complementing these capacity-building efforts will be a series of joint research endeavours focused on emerging trends in youth entrepreneurship, the evolving role of SMEs in regional economies, and cross-border innovation ecosystems. Both institutions plan to co-author research papers and white papers, offering valuable insights for policymakers and investors alike. ADSM will also serve as a key knowledge partner for UIBC-UC's broader programmes, contributing academic rigour and faculty expertise to business roundtables, regional summits, and policy discussions. The UIBC-UC has also committed to facilitating introductions to India-based universities, research labs, and incubators for ADSM to further strengthen the vibrant UAE-India education corridor. Dr. Tayeb Kamali, Chairman of the ADSM Board, stated, 'Through this partnership, ADSM reaffirms its commitment to empowering talent and driving meaningful change in our region and beyond.' Faizal Kottikollon, Chairman of UIBC-UC, stated, 'Together with ADSM, we are laying the groundwork for a generation of leaders who will shape the future of innovation, enterprise, and collaboration between our two nations. This MoU signals a timely convergence of academia and industry around a shared vision of regional prosperity, making it a pivotal moment for UAE–India cooperation in education, innovation, and economic development.'
