Latest news with #NavigatingtheNewEra
San Francisco Chronicle
2 days ago
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
‘College sports are in a weird place': Can Cal and Stanford football save women's and Olympic sports?
Andrew Luck and Ron Rivera are the two most important people in Bay Area college sports. Tasked with rebuilding the football programs at Stanford and Cal, as general managers of their respective programs, their efforts may ultimately determine the long-term health and success of not only the football teams but the entire athletic programs at both schools. So it was interesting to see the power duo appearing together Wednesday at an event in San Mateo, entitled 'Navigating the New Era.' The evening was a benefit for Women's Coaching Alliance, a local nonprofit that operates and advocates in the women's sports sphere. Of course, one of the great concerns of this 'new era' is that both women's sports and Olympic sports are at risk of being sacrificed on the altar of football. 'They have both been supporters of what we do,' WCA founder Pam Baker said of her panel guests. 'We thought this would be an interesting discussion because there are so many unknowns.' That's an understatement. Luck and Rivera didn't pretend to have all the answers. 'College sports are in a weird place,' Luck said. 'I think we're all craving clarity to a certain degree. 'I think it's a scary world for a lot of sports.' There were a lot of heavy hitters in the audience, including NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (whose wife Jane is on the WCA board), John Lynch, Jed York, Steve Young, Amy Trask and Carmen Policy. The audience included boosters of both Cal and Stanford and the biggest applause of the night came for Rivera's plea to eventually bring back some version of the Pac-10 or 12 conference. While the panel discussion, moderated by ESPN's Mina Kimes, touched on women's and Olympic sports, I had a chance to ask both Luck and Rivera more specifically about how they view the future of non-revenue producing collegiate sports. 'My day-to-day is focused on football,' Luck said. 'But my macro view is that football is a part of our amazing athletic department. I know that an enduring future for Stanford sports has to include successful football and the same breadth and competitive excellence that we've always been known for. 'I've got to help our football program be in the best position possible. And I want to believe in the 'rising tide lifts all ships' philosophy.' 'If football is healthy, it helps with the other sports,' he said. 'That's been shown. We're fundraising and if someone isn't interested in funding football we will direct them to our other sports. … We don't want to cut any of our sports.' The same day the event was held, the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics released a poll, conducted in conjunction with Elon University, that examined public opinion on this new era of college sports. While the poll disclosed a lot of confusion on the issues — welcome to the club — one clear finding was strong support for women's and Olympic sports. Forty percent of respondents believe schools have not gone far enough to provide equitable opportunities to women, compared with just 7% who think they have gone 'too far.' Seventy percent said that non-revenue sports are important for universities, and about half of respondents supported both federal funding to help finance Olympic college sports programs and a tax on sports gambling to create a fund for Olympic development. At last summer's Paris Olympics, Stanford and Cal athletes took home a collective 62 medals, with Stanford breaking a school record with 39. 'I was so proud to be in Paris,' said Luck, whose wife Nicole Pechanec is a producer on the NBC Olympic gymnastics broadcasts. 'I don't know if I have a sense of my role in that but I'm clear on my role in football. And I believe success in football helps everything. 'I believe that football is the largest, most visible connection to the community. The front porch to the entire athletic department.' Like Luck, Rivera's mindset has been shaped by being married to a former collegiate athlete. Stephanie Rivera played basketball at Cal and coached after college, including a stint in the early years of the WNBA. Rivera remembers having to smuggle food out of the Cal football players' training table to take back to Stephanie in the dorm, because women's basketball had no training table. 'I saw the disparity,' he said. 'And then my daughter played softball. And I saw the things that weren't correct.' On Wednesday there was plenty of rivalry talk and teasing — 'Ron and I put on a brave face when we're next to each other but we hate each other,' Luck joked — but the synergy between the men and what they are being asked to do is clear. They both work at institutions with high academic standards, large and complex athletic departments, strong women's and Olympic sports programs and football teams that have been down on their luck and are now, oddly, both in the Atlantic Coast Conference (which Rivera joked should be the All Coast Conference). 'Cal and Stanford are married at the hips,' Rivera said. ' Let's be honest about that. We just are.' Luck and Rivera will have a hand in raising the $20.5 million each school can pay out, by terms of the recent House vs. NCAA settlement. Just weeks after that took effect, President Trump signed an executive order to 'save college sports.' Everyone on the panel expressed some confusion about that decree, unsure what kind of federal oversight could be coming. 'But what was noteworthy was the mention of Olympic sports and women's sports at schools, and at least a public notion that protecting them and securing a similar future is important,' Luck said. 'We're all waiting on pins and needles to see what happens.' That's a universal feeling. 'I'm not sure any of us think that the system today is what's going to be the system for perpetuity,' Luck said. 'An enduring, sustainable system. 'I'm curious where this goes.' And no one is more curious — and concerned — than those participating in women's and Olympic sports.
Zawya
30-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
AI Transforming Financial Reporting and Auditing in Qatar and beyond
Doha, Qatar – Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping the landscape of financial reporting and auditing, with 72% of companies globally already piloting or using AI tools — a figure expected to reach 99% in the next three years, according to KPMG's latest report 'AI in Financial Reporting and Audit: Navigating the New Era.' This global shift mirrors developments in Qatar, where the Qatar Digital Agenda 2030 aims to accelerate digital transformation and drive innovation across all sectors, including financial services. With national investments in AI and advanced technologies, the integration of AI in audit and reporting is poised to enhance transparency, accuracy, and real-time insights. 'The AI age is here — and it's reshaping financial reporting as we know it.' said Gopal Balasubramaniam, Partner and Head of Audit at KPMG in Qatar. 'As auditors, our mission is clear: lead responsibly, innovate boldly, and help our clients unlock the full value of this transformation.' Companies are increasingly looking to auditors to lead this transformation. Over 80% of global respondents say their auditors are already ahead or on par with them in adopting AI for financial analysis. In Qatar, KPMG is embedding AI into audit methodologies and helping businesses move towards more proactive, predictive, and continuous audits. Key priorities companies want from their auditors include, Improved audit accuracy and efficiency, Real-time insights and faster reporting, and Predictive analysis and data-driven decision-making While traditional AI is already delivering productivity gains, Generative AI is emerging as a top priority for financial reporting leaders. Nearly half of the global 'Leader' organizations will prioritize GenAI in the coming year — a trend likely to influence firms across the Middle East. As adoption accelerates, so do concerns around data security, ethical use, and regulatory compliance. KPMG's Trusted AI Approach ensures AI tools are implemented responsibly, prioritizing transparency, fairness, and accountability — values that resonate strongly in regulated markets like Qatar.
