Latest news with #in
Scotsman
15 hours ago
- Business
- Scotsman
Glasgow Tech Week sets template for future success
Standing room only for the 'Scaling in Sync – C-suite strategies for Unified Growth' event during Glasgow Tech Week Founders need more opportunities to learn from peers and share playbooks, writes Nick Freer Sign up to our Scotsman Money newsletter, covering all you need to know to help manage your money. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Glasgow Tech Week took place this week in the metropolis once known as the Second City of the Empire. At the stunning Barclays campus with incredible views over the Clyde, the river that runs through the story of Glasgow's industrial revolution, today's business leaders gathered to discuss taking Scotland's tech and entrepreneurial scene to the next level. The 'Scaling in Sync – C-suite strategies for Unified Growth' event featured scaleup leaders from Deliveroo, ENOUGH, Firstbase, and Malted AI, and thanks to the Innovation Banking team at Barclays, Cooper Parry, and Burness Paull for inviting me along to chair the panel on the night. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Andy Robinson was the commercial director at software development firm Cultivate when Deliveroo made the company its first ever UK acquisition in 2019, with Robinson joining a tech juggernaut which was hiring up to 100 people every week – which sounded like scaling on steroids. Nick Freer is the founding director of corporate PR agency Freer Consultancy (Picture: Stewart Attwood) As chief financial officer at ENOUGH, Elaine Ferguson has overseen funding rounds totalling over €100 million from global investors as the food tech company innovates towards its mission around sustainable food transition. Headquartered in Glasgow, ENOUGH recently opened the world's largest non-animal protein facility, based in the Netherlands. After leaving the oil and gas industry in Aberdeen, Chris Herd built IT asset management platform Firstbase that was acquired by San Francisco-headquartered AppDirect last year. So the maxim, 'If you build it, they will come', from the Eighties movie Field of Dreams rings true – you don't have to be in Silicon Valley to scale amazing tech startups. Having said that, in spite of a catalogue of individual company success stories like Cultivate, ENOUGH, and Firstbase, as a nation we are still seeing relatively few scaleups going on to achieve truly global success. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In this column only a few weeks ago, prominent tech C-suite Richard Lennox put it like this: 'We haven't yet cracked the code of creating global-scale businesses' in an op-ed headlined, 'How Can We Fix Scotland's Big Scaleup Problem?'. Artificial intelligence is enabling some tech startups to gain traction much quicker than ever before, so for example a small AI-enabled tech team can be ten times more productive. So, it was interesting to hear from Laura Bernal Vergara, chief of staff at Edinburgh-based Malted AI, about the work they are doing around small language models (SLMs). We covered so much at Barclays the other night that it would be hard to faithfully digest that here, but I hope that each of the panelists will take the opportunity to write for this column in the weeks and months ahead. What is clear is that we need more of the kind of interaction that took place at Glasgow Tech Week, and very probably on a more regular basis, so that founders can continually learn from other peers, and share playbooks on how we can succeed together – faster and stronger. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Lastly, a shout out to Alisdair Gunn, the director of the Glasgow City Innovation District and the chief architect of Glasgow Tech Week. Bravo!
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
6 memorable moments from Elon Musk's time leading DOGE
Tesla (TSLA) CEO Elon Musk announced this week that his time as a special government employee leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has come to an end. 'I would like to thank President @realDonaldTrump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending,' Musk said on X late Wednesday. 'The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government. Musk's departure was long expected. Under federal law, 'special government employees,' as Musk is designated, are limited to working 130 days during any 365-day period. Here are some of his most memorable DOGE moments. Musk highlighted the early days of his mission to slash government spending by showing up at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in February in Maryland. He famously wielded a chainsaw on stage. 'We're, you know, we're trying to get good things done, but also, like, you know, have a good time doing it and, uh, you know, and have, like, a sense of humor,' Musk said.' The email from the Office of Personnel Management, sent at Musk's direction, was called 'Fork in the Road' and there is still an official OPM page with that name. The ultimatum message to resign or get with the program followed a similar template Musk has used at his businesses. The email read: If you choose to remain in your current position, we thank you for your renewed focus on serving the American people to the best of your abilities and look forward to working together as part of an improved federal workforce. At this time, we cannot give you full assurance regarding the certainty of your position or agency but should your position be eliminated you will be treated with dignity and will be afforded the protections in place for such positions. If you choose not to continue in your current role in the federal workforce, we thank you for your service to your country and you will be provided with a dignified, fair departure from the federal government utilizing a deferred resignation program You can read the full email here. Musk took to X in February warning ominously about an email that would be going out shortly across the government. 'All federal employees will shortly receive an email requesting to understand what they got done last week,' he said. 'Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation.' The full email was a short one and ultimately didn't mention resignation: [Subject Line] What did you do last week? Please reply to this email with approx. 5 bullets of what you accomplished last week and cc your manager. Please do not send any classified information, links, or attachments. Deadline is this Monday at 11:59pmEST. By the end of Musk's tenure, the practice was widely panned. The Institute of Peace was created by an act of Congress in 1984 to promote peace around the world. Peace was anything but promoted during a DOGE standoff in March. DOGE officials, with police escorting them, took over the building and purged most institute employees. Acting head of the Institute of Peace George Moose said that, 'DOGE has broken into our building. But a federal judge declared the DOGE takeover 'null and void' because it is not part of the executive branch. Musk, joined by his son X, delivered remarks alongside President Donald Trump in the Oval Office in February. The Independent said X 'stole the show,' mimicking his billionaire father and picking his nose. The Independent reported that as Musk answered questions from the press, his son X 'proved to be a distraction by pulling faces, clinging onto his dad's shoulders and interrupting him.' After critics took their frustration with Jusk out on Tesla showrooms and cars, Trump briefly turned the White House lawn into a showroom. Tesla delivered five of its vehicles to the White House and parked them on a driveway for Trump to personally inspect, hours after he said on Truth Social that he planned to buy a Tesla to demonstrate his support for Musk For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Business Wire
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
As Tariff Turbulence Rattles Global Markets, Gap International Launches 'Lightning in a Bottle' to Help Executives Deliver Absurdly Ambitious Results Amidst Uncertain Markets
PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--With tariffs disrupting global supply chains and inflation squeezing margins, business leaders face mounting pressure to do more with less. In response, Gap International—a global performance consulting firm known for transforming how executives think and operate—has launched its boldest campaign to date: 'Lightning in a Bottle.' As Tariff Turbulence Rattles Global Markets, Gap International Launches 'Lightning in a Bottle' to Help Executives Deliver Absurdly Ambitious Results Amidst Uncertain Markets Designed for C-suite leaders navigating economic uncertainty, the campaign is a high-voltage call to break from conventional strategies and pursue what Gap International calls Absurdly Ambitious Results —outcomes that defy the odds and redefine what's possible. 'We've seen firsthand what's possible when leaders align their teams around bold visions and build organizations wired for breakthrough performance. 'Lightning in a Bottle' is our call to those leaders ready to think differently and deliver unprecedented outcomes,' said Pontish Yeramyan, CEO of Gap International. As tariffs, geopolitical instability, and labor shortages challenge global growth, Gap International's consulting approach is helping companies rewire their thinking and unlock performance breakthroughs—no matter the market conditions. According to Forrester, most companies face a 70% failure rate in major initiatives. Gap International attributes this high failure rate to a lack of attention regarding the people and mindsets involved in the change process. Their methodology focuses on unlocking untapped human potential as a key driver of sustained performance. Real world results include: Increasing manufacturing output by 40%—with no added production lines Boosting on-time delivery from 45% to 80% Growing operating profit from 4% to 25% over six years Generating 28% revenue growth in a single year The firm's proprietary methodology addresses urgent executive challenges like: Overcoming Resistance to Change: Equipping leaders to shift thinking and drive alignment Breaking Communication Silos: Establishing a shared language that drives clarity and action Conquering Innovation: Making transformation sustainable—not situational Executives are invited to learn more at About Gap International Gap International is a global performance consulting firm that has helped organizations deliver extraordinary results for over 40 years and has operated in 68 countries with a 90% client repeat rate. Gap International empowers companies to shift mindsets, align leadership, and spark enterprise-wide transformation to achieve results once thought impossible.
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Dragons' Den star Duncan Bannatyne supports life-changing children's charity in Morocco
Dragons' Den star Duncan Bannatyne supports life-changing children's charity in Morocco The couple are there to witness the charity's Women in Medicine programme and to meet the tiny patients and their families who are undergoing transformative operations Sara Davies counts fellow Dragon's Den star Duncan Bannatyne as one of her mentors - except the two never appeared together and they have never met (Image: Alasdair MacLeod/Daily Record ) Dragons' Den star Duncan Bannatyne is visiting Morocco with his wife Nigora in support of Operation Smile, a charity which provides free cleft lip and palate surgery for children. The couple are there to witness the charity's Women in Medicine programme and to meet the tiny patients and their families who are undergoing transformative operations. The programme is carried out entirely by female medics and the health clubs entrepreneur met eight-month-old Zyad, who was about to undergo surgery on a cleft palate. Bannatyne has been an ambassador for Operation Smile since 2013 and has previously visited its missions in the Philippines, Mexico, Vietnam and Ghana. His chain of gyms has raised £45,000 for the charity over a week of events. Article continues below He said: "I am incredibly proud to support Operation Smile and witness the life-changing impact of these surgeries. "The dedication and expertise of the medical teams provide hope and brighter futures for so many children. "It was wonderful to meet Zyad before his operation and witness the transforming effect that Operation Smile has on children's lives."
The Age
4 days ago
- The Age
Sixty years after they died together, two soldiers awarded for gallantry
But the military downplayed other acts of astonishing courage by both Wheatley and by Swanton. Warrant Officer Swanton, when he was shot on November 13, 1965, was attempting to save the life of a wounded South Vietnamese soldier by carrying him across the paddy field, knowing he was exposing himself to enemy gunfire. It was a selfless act that led to his own death after Wheatley dragged him to cover. Yet a military officer dismissed Swanton's eligibility for a medal, declaring that 'whilst his actions could be described as 'courageous', these actions are what all service personnel are expected to perform in an attempt to preserve the life of a wounded comrade'. The appeals tribunal overturned that decision. Swanton's niece Chantal Swanton-Gallant flew from Queensland to accept the posthumous award. She and her son, Nicholas Swanton-Gallant, asked for privacy after the emotional and belated ceremony. They were joined by members of Wheatley's family after the awards investiture. Wheatley's Award for Gallantry was for two separate acts of great courage. The first was on May 28, 1965 – 60 years to the day before his Medal for Gallantry was finally awarded and presented to his son, who was just 11 when he died. Pinned down by gunfire in a shallow ditch in Quang Tri Province, Wheatley saw a terrified Vietnamese girl, aged about three, break away from her mother and run screaming down the road. Warrant Officer Second Class Wheatley, aged 28 and with four children of his own back in Australia, leapt from cover and, fully exposed to heavy gunfire, ran to the little girl, scooped her up in his arms and raced her to safety, shielding her with his own body. A recommendation for a 'Mention in Dispatches' was ignored. On August 18, 1965, Wheatley charged a Viet Cong battalion alone, running up a heavy slope under fire. His action spurred a South Vietnamese unit into action, and the Viet Cong were routed. In the same action, he saved the life of US Marine Jim Lowe, earning him one of the US military's top awards for bravery, the Silver Star. Loading Wheatley's wife, Edna, travelled with son George and other family members to Sydney for Wednesday's awards investiture. It was, perhaps, some compensation for the pain and disadvantage she suffered after her husband was killed. She was sacked from her job at a western Sydney RSL Club for 'making a fuss' and demanding that her husband's body be returned for burial in Australia. She won that battle: Wheatley's body was eventually brought home, and Australian military policy was altered to ensure Australia's war dead were thereafter returned home.
