The Explosion of Fintech Startups in Latin America

©iStock/blackdovfx

The explosion of Latin American fintech startups is largely due to an increase in scalable and easily accessible technologies (allowing founders to test their ideas more quickly and affordably), there is an increase of mobile technology consumers, a cross-border market, and healthy competition so far.

Fintech companies are revolutionizing the way of understanding, creating and providing financial services in modern times, providing new ideas and renewing the traditional formula of the sector through the use of information technologies, mobile applications and big data.

Discover how in the race to create innovative financial products, Latin America has not been left behind and has shown itself as fertile ground.

Cherry Trees in Full Blossom in Japan 2021

Today in Global Small Business: Global Digital Trade for Women

©iStock/Prostock-Studio

What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• Empowering women in developing countries on global digital trade for women.
• Are you ready to export? (by Laurel J. Delaney)
• Quote of the week:  “90% of CEOs believe the digital economy will impact their industry, but less than 15% are executing on a digital strategy.” – MIT Sloan and Capgemini
• The 1,300-foot, 200,000-ton Ever Given got wedged in the Suez Canal shipping channel and we will soon learn what caused this.  Meanwhile, there has been a race to free the giant ship.
• How the stuck Ever Given might roil the global economy.
• A moment of introspection on the coronavirus by Dr. Deborah Birx.

Be the Most Calm

©2019 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"When adversity strikes, that's when you have to be the most calm. Take a step back, stay strong, stay grounded and press on." – LL Cool J

Surviving the Global Pandemic: Luck or Hard Work?

©iStock/JLco – Julia Amaral

Global small business owners have embraced the chaos and found ways to adapt. They also know plenty of other owners who would have loved to continue on, but simply ran out of money, time, or good health.

Krystle Lockman, co-owner of Axe and Arrow Brewing said:  “This has showed us a lot about who we were as a company. I really just think from a business perspective, you can only plan for so much before you just have to stay nimble and adapt. Even the best planning can have a complete wrench thrown in it. We hit our projections, just in a very different mix of revenues. For us, it was a little luck and a lot of being adaptable.”

Read more on how these four small-business owners – who all made it – reflect on the pandemic a year later.

Back at the Office? Not So Fast!

©iStock/Halfpoint

As we reach, hopefully, herd immunity with vaccines to treat COVID-19, many countries are preparing something of a return to normality.  What that looks like is hard to say.  

For example, companies that have been forced into remote-work arrangements for the past year now face a complicated decision. Should bosses let workers stay at home, bring everyone back to the office or find a solution in between – called a hybrid approach?

Read on to learn more but bottom line:  Don’t assume that remote work is going to stay – or go. But there are unlikely to be hard-and-fast rules.

Global Pandemic Related Trends in Job Compensation and Job Satisfaction

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Employee compensation across the globe has been disrupted due to the global pandemic, with many employees reporting that salary has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels. 

Elements Global Services surveyed 2,200 people from the US, Canada and the UK to explore pandemic-related trends in job compensation, feelings on executive pay and what percent pay raise would compel employees to leave their current job.  Here are their Top 3 findings. 

1. 65% of Americans surveyed say their income either stayed the same or fell in 2020.
2. Top four reasons income decreased in 2020: a. Took a pay cut.  b. Lost my job.  c. My income is variable.  d. New job with lower pay. 
3. 55% of Americans who had their income cut due to the pandemic say it has not yet returned.

There's more.  Take a look at the full report here.

The "Forever Chemicals" Water World According to Erin Brockovich

©iStock/BrianAJackson

Actor Julia Robert's film portrayal of Erin Brockovich, the single mom's key role in winning the largest settlement ever awarded at the time for a direct-action lawsuit against Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), made her a household name.

Three decades later, Erin now talks about her new case on "forever chemicals" in our water, and their potential wide-spread health impact.

"It's frustrating. I [Erin Brockovich] began my work when I was 30 years old. I'm now 60 and the same conversation is happening. Except it's just worse," explains Brockovich.

Read on to learn more about the family of toxic 'forever chemicals', known as PFAS, which hardly degrade under typical environmental conditions.

Today in Global Small Business: The New World of Remote Work

©iStock/Nattakorn Maneerat

What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• Watch out ... here comes Fisker.  They want to change the way you move.
• The 1-hour work (well almost):  15 team management platforms – by Laurel J. Delaney.
• Quote of the week:  “Email is familiar. It’s comfortable. It’s easy to use. But it might just be the biggest killer of time and productivity in the office today.” – Ryan Holmes
• The new world of remote work (interesting read).
• Modern Health – an online virtual mental health benefits startup.
• Cleo – an online service that supports new parents, and has a whole suite of tools to help out with elderly care and childcare. 
• Kudoboard – the perfect group card for special occasions.

For Every Storm, a Rainbow

©iStock/liseykina

An Irish blessing ... 

 “May God give you 

For every storm, a rainbow, 

For every tear, a smile, 

For every care, a promise, 

And a blessing in each trial. 

For every problem life sends, a faithful friend to share, 

For every sign, a sweet song, 

And an answer for each prayer.”

__________

 “Go dtuga Dia daoibh:

Tuar ceatha le gach stoirm

Meangadh gáire le gach deor

Gealltanas le gach buairt

Agus beannachtaí go leor.

Cairde dílse le fadhbanna an tsaoil

A roinnt leat go fial,

Amhrán binn le gach osnaíl

Agus freagra ar gach urnaí.”

Applying the Blue Ocean Strategy to Going Global

©iStock/Viktoriia Fokina

Pawdel CEO Arrian Lim – who is a certified digital marketer [not sure what that is] – discusses how he jumped out of the box of traditional pet marketing, applied the Blue Ocean strategy theory, and created his own growing niche.

He says:

That’s where I think we created a whole new category, our Blue Ocean so to speak. We reframed our proposition for our target market from pet owners to pet parents. Our products aren’t just about fashion or utility. Pawdel is a lifestyle to nurture that humanized relationship with a wearable piece of love.

Read on to learn how Pawdel became a globally competitive pet lifestyle brand.  

"Trust me, you will never lack confidence if you study your business and do your homework. That path will open and will no longer be unknown," says Lim.

Nonprofit Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global® Launches 'How She Went Global' Podcast Series

©2021 Julie Smolyansky, CEO, Lifeway Foods.  All rights reserved.

“How She Went Global” podcast launched March 17, 2021 by Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®, is an interview-based platform that tells the stories of women-owned and women-led small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that have grown sales and revenues by exporting their products and services. It is designed to appeal to those who want to gain an education on going global, stay informed about new ways to take on the world, get motivated, be inspired and have fun—on a monthly basis.

The first episode featured Julie Smolyansky, who became the youngest female CEO of a publicly held firm at the age of 27 when she took over leadership of Lifeway Foods in 2002—where she still serves as president and CEO.

“You don’t have to be a big corporation to have success in the global marketplace,” Smolyansky (pictured at the top) said. “Even small companies can go global today. I want to inspire the women listening to “How She Went Global” to trust their gut and go for it.”

All episodes of “How She Went Global” – sponsored for a year by Bluedog, a Chicago-based woman-owned Certified B global innovation, strategy and design firm – will be available on Apple iTunes, and will also be shared on social media through Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok.

I am So Proud to Be Irish: Let's Dance Into St. Patrick's Day

©iStock/Peter Liewellyn

Dancing Into St. Patrick's Day at Blacksod Lighthouse in County Mayo, Ireland where my family (Delaney) is from.  Have a wonderful day!

Data Literacy is the New Global Currency

©iStock/anyaberkut

Data literacy is a hot topic, but just one of many as the fields of data and analytics continue to rapidly remake almost every industry. 

Here are data and analytics quotes and statistics from scientists and practitioners that resonate with people worldwide.  For example, "In a world of more data, the companies with more data-literate people are the ones that are going to win.” — Miro Kazakoff, senior lecturer, MIT Sloan.

Boost your data and analytics savvy because data literacy is the new global currency.

Today in Global Small Business: The Neuroscience Edition

©iStock/metamorworks

What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• Train your brain to reduce stress.
• Sleep, finally.
• Quote of the week:  "There's an old rule in neuroscience that does not alter with age:  use it or lose it.  It is a very hopeful principle when applied to critical thought in the reading brain because it implies choice." – Maryanne Wolf
• Track fertility – wearable bracelet.
• Neurostimulation for everyone.
• Upgrade your brain.

Find Your Own Fit

©2021 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"Celebrate the idea that you don't fit in. Find your own fit. Stay unique." – Betsey Johnson

Working From Anywhere

©iStock/fizkes

With 24/7 internet access and working from anywhere becoming more common, it’s not surprising that businesses are approaching customers in their “personal space” — i.e., at home.  And the trick is that you want to find customers who actually need your product or solution, who can afford it and who have the potential to remain loyal patrons for years to come.

Here are three ways small businesses can improve their success in finding new customers.

10 Asia-Pacific Companies Offer Game-changing Solutions to Difficult Problems

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The United States is a leader in every respect – take Walmart, Amazon, Exxon Mobil and Apple.  Yet, South Korea’s Seegene, for example, helped the world diagnose the novel coronavirus quickly and effectively. 

India’s MilkMantra allowed the country’s small-scale dairy farmers to bring their products to market, while ensuring quality control. And Australia’s ProAgni has cleaned up the food chain by developing antibiotic-free supplement for cattle and sheep. 

Read on for more of this year’s best in Asia-Pacific published by Fast Company.

The Big Awakening Caused By Two Words: Transformation and Resilience

©iStock/Dilok Klaisataporn

Financial Times editor and founder of FT Forums, John Thornhill, spoke with Microsoft chief executive and the FT's Person fo the Year for 2019, Satya Nadella.  Below is the edited transcript of their discussion but here is a quick snippet of one of Satya's many comments:

These two words “transformation” and “resilience” through digital tech have [been] the big awakening . . . whether it’s a retailer or even a small retailer, who is able to now do curbside pick-up as a way to continue their business operations or a manufacturer or even a midsize manufacturer being able to do lights-out [fully automated] manufacturing.

Read the full interview here.

All Bets Are On for Going Global

Today in Global Small Business: The Cybersecurity Issue

©iStock/Andy

What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• Small businesses are the #1 target for cyber criminals, with 60% of them closing within six months after an attack. 
• President Biden makes cybersecurity top priority.
• Quote of the week:  "Passwords are like underwear: you don’t let people see it, you should change it very often, and you shouldn’t share it with strangers.” – Chris Pirillo
• Ten basic cybersecurity practices every small business owner should know.
• Question someone's identity?  Read on...
• How to stay safer online – a free cybersecurity tool.

Shaking It Up on St. Patrick's Day

©2021 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

I [Laurel Delaney] will be keeping it simple on St. Patrick's Day slurping my Shamrock Shake.  But for those who want to shake it up and live in San Diego, here are a few interesting places to enjoy a bit of Irish fun, food and beverage.  Oh, and for the Chicago folks, Eli's Cheesecake has some good stuff going on with their Green River Cheesecake, yum. 

Whatever you do, please continue to mask up, be safe, stay healthy and wear a bit of green while having all your fun!  

U.S. Suspends Tariffs on Most U.K. Goods To Ease Trade Tensions

©iStock/Shalith

The U.S. and U.K. will suspend tariffs for four months “to ease the burden on industry and take a bold, joint step towards resolving the longest running disputes at the World Trade Organization,” the two countries said in a joint statement.

The suspension of U.S. tariffs on U.K. goods, including whisky, will come into force on Mar. 8. The U.S. decision matches the U.K.’s unilateral move to cease applying retaliatory tariffs in January, which was a bid to de-escalate the conflict.

Note:  U.S. tariffs on a basket of European goods, including French wine and cognac, remain in force.

Read more on how the U.S. suspends tariffs on U.K. goods to ease trade tensions, especially between Airbus-Boeing.

Making the World Your Business Just Got Even Easier

©iStock/lluzishan

The World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) — an international trade organization connecting more than 320 World Trade Centers (WTCs) in 92 countries — has introduced its member World Trade Centers — as well as their business members, tenants and clients — to the Global Trade Helpdesk (GTH).

A new online tool makes market research more efficient.  It allows users to compare demand for products across markets, explore tariffs and other market access conditions, access details about buyers and navigate domestic export processes. 

Start exploring.

Step Up and Live Your Values When Expanding Internationally

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As more and more U.S. companies commit to supporting diversity, inclusion, and belonging (DI&B) in the workplace, one component that often gets left behind is the extension of those initiatives across an organization’s global offices.

What does it take for multinational companies to stay true to their DI&B values around the world while acknowledging differences in local cultural contexts?

This is a question Nataly Kelly, VP of Localization for HubSpot has thought a lot about. And while there are no perfect solutions, she has identified three key opportunities for companies to step up and live their values when expanding internationally.

Here are the 3 key opportunities for implementing inclusive policies across a global organization.

SpectraSpray Founder Janet Ryan Presents Don't Go Global Alone

©2021 Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®.  All rights reserved.

In this free of charge wegginar® March 3rd at 11AM CT with founder and president Janet Ryan, SpectraSpray Global, you will:

• Understand foreign regulations for your product
• Communicate with partners in other countries and better understand their market
• Establish a relationship for successful international distribution and events
• Learn services available to you through the U.S. Commercial Service
• Discover legal jurisdiction internationally

About SpectraSpray Global

SpectraSpray Global provides cutting edge, high absorption oral sprays that are easy to use and well received by the public as well as knowledgeable health professionals. Janet's travel friendly line has gained interest from buyers both domestically and internationally.

To learn more and to register, visit:

https://womenentrepreneursgrowglobal.org/2021/01/22/dont-go-global-alone-with-janet-ryan-founder-of-spectra-spray-global/

wegg's educational wegginar is available at no cost thanks Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®'s generous sponsors.

Today in Global Small Business: Stimulus Measures Offered By Country Due to Coronavirus

©iStock/drogatnev

What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• Amazon Web Services (AWS) is expanding its Think Big for Small Business (TBSB) program globally, to help small and minority-owned AWS Partners gain access to business, technical and marketing enablement support that can help scale their business, according to a statement from the company.
• Here is a list of what each country or region is doing relative to stimulus measures caused by the coronavirus to provide relief to those suffering from the pandemic.
• Quote of the week:  "The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new." – Socrates
• A roundup at how global small businesses are making a huge difference by supporting education.
• The problems plaguing small business owners seeking loans from the government’s revived small-business relief program have ranged from simple to shocking.
• Shadow I.T. includes the procurement and use of I.T. assets by a business unit or individual (e.g., user-developed applications) without the I.T. organization's knowledge or control.  Is it a technical problem?