CEOHub

  In international finance, banks take as few risks as possible on customers. If Shivani Siroya wanted her microfinance startup to truly disrupt the model, she'd have to embrace risk-taking first. Shivani Siroya had built her Los Angeles-based small-business lending platform Tala methodically. The founder and CEO created a mobile platform for unbanked individuals--i.e., those without formal credit histories--that analyzes their likelihood of repaying their loans, which vary between $10 and $500. In 2013 and 2014, the business successfully expanded throughout Kenya. But customers weren't happy. Siroya had a realization: "I don't think I'm having the impact I want us to be having," she told Inc.'s What I Know podcast. It was her startup's partnership with traditional banks that was slowing down communications with and lending to customers--and the banks weren't always taking Tala's advice to re-lend to existing customers, Siroya says. They were s...

  David Rubenstein is fascinated with leadership. The Carlyle Group co-founder interviews CEOs, entrepreneurs, and game changers in his book How to Lead. The interviews include everyone from Indra Nooyi to Jeff Bezos and offer fascinating insights for anyone who aspires to greatness. I find Rubenstein's introduction the most valuable part of the book, because he breaks down the common habits successful leaders share in any field. Nearly everyone who has achieved something great focuses, fails, persists, and persuades. 1. Focus Focus your energy on truly mastering one skill or subject, says Rubenstein. You can broaden your focus only after establishing your credibility and expertise in that area. For example, when former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi was working her way up at the company, she specialized in simplifying complex ideas and communicating them effectively. So when senior managers needed someone to pour through thousands of pages of competitive analysis and summarize it for the...

  We’re all busy. We say it and hear it every day: “I’ve been so busy; work is busy; the family is keeping me busy.” While it might be worn as a badge of honour, being busy can keep us from actually being productive and making decisions that matter. The good news is that saving time is not only possible; it can be easy. But simple tricks to save time might not be obvious. So, we went straight to time management expert and best-selling author Kate Christie to compile these ten time-saving hacks for business and life. Read on to find out where you can save a few minutes throughout your day, both at work and at home. 1. Make simple decisions once and make them fast Kate says: “Don’t waste time on small decisions. Have designated work clothes, so you don’t have to decide what to wear every day; meal plan once a week, so you know what you're eating every night; and choose a hook for your keys then you’ll know where to store and find them.” 2. Use your commute wisely Kate says: “Make the...

  The SME sector is a critical nerve centre for the Indian economy, owing to it contributing 30% of India's GDP while turning out a million jobs every year. Most small businesses tend to be entrepreneurial ventures where the promoter has either invested their savings or borrowed funds to start their dream venture. Given their relatively small financial and business size, SMEs are especially vulnerable to risks threatening the venture. Surprisingly, the employees of SMEs do not have health covers or other core property risks like business interruption, fire, marine etc. Lack of awareness, coupled with thin margins, makes insurance a low priority, and business owners often neglect insurances the law does not mandate. While insurance can be an expensive investment in the tight budget an SME runs, it could save huge amounts if a disaster ever strikes. Why Is Insurance Essential For SMEs? Many often view insurance as a complicated and confusing subject matter. Purchasing insurance is no...

  In the high-tech fast-changing world, the nature of work also keeps changing. In the last few decades computers, robots and automation have changed the nature and roles of almost every job. Automation and artificial intelligence are spurring a new revolution, transforming jobs in every industry from IT to manufacturing. According to some studies, about one fourth of the jobs are at risk of being automated across the globe. This trend sometimes makes people nervous about job security. “Increased adoption and evolution of Automation & Artificial Intelligence brings along skepticism of a large number of roles and skills displacement. Instead, automation and AI should be used to evolve job roles and help make human workers more effective,” Arjun Jolly, Principal, Athena Executive Search & Consulting said. However, despite several fears, it is estimated that automation won’t necessarily eliminate jobs but will transform them by taking over simple and repetitive tasks. This wil...

  In today's fast-paced environment, maintaining a decent work-life balance is increasingly important for personal and professional success. Work-life balance is becoming a crucial aspect of self-care while juggling the duties of the workday, home life, and interactions with family members and other loved ones. As the global workforce adjusts to the new normal, they must address the mental health and wellness of employees in order to maintain a work-life balance. Work-Life Balance A healthy work-life balance means different things to different people. Though work-life balance is not a new notion, it is becoming more popular over time. It is not a matter of splitting one's time equally between work and leisure; it is about feeling fulfilled in both parts of one's life. Some examples of a good work-life balance are meeting work deadlines while finding time for friends and hobbies, getting enough sleep, and eating well. Additionally, not worrying about work while at home. Thus...

February 2020 Source: freepik.com There’s an old saying… “If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always got.” And it’s true. To make 2020 the best year of your life. To enjoy the freedom, fun, and success you desire… you must start by changing your way of being on a daily basis. By doing different things than you’ve done in the past so you can achieve a different result in the future. And while there are many habits that are worth adopting, there are a few “Keystone Habits” that will have a disproportionate return on your success and happiness. These habits will create positive momentum in every area of your life and serve as the foundation for your future success. If you get these right, your life will change in ways you never expected. 1. Create a “Straight Line Strategy” for Success by Implementing “MVP” Non-Negotiables The trajectory of most people’s lives look like a page ripped out of a preschoolers coloring book. They go ar...