Fake news has permeated nearly every part of modern culture: law and politics, entertainment and celebrities, science, and technology. Even language has adapted, giving rise to terms like “post-truth era” and “alternative facts” that reflect how widespread fake news has become. As a result, relationships between audiences and publishers—including businesses engaged in media production and...
There have been major developments driving rapid regulatory changes across the world with regards to financial crime monitoring. In this blog, we explore seven ways companies should respond to these emerging regulatory risks. Implementing these best practices for compliance and due diligence will not only help companies to meet regulators’ expectations, but it should protect their business from the growing complexity...
Films help us bring the past to life. We can step into a theater and see a perfectly recreated 1950s New York City street, or watch a historically accurate representation of an 1800s courtroom brawl, and be absorbed into those eras. But behind the scenes, the seamless transitions from past to present take a lot of work. Historical research is pivotal in film for the same reason it was important to hide Starbucks cups...
Financial crime regulations have changed rapidly in recent years–from Switzerland to Singapore, from Brazil to Bahrain. In this blog, we identify and summarize four major developments which are driving regulatory changes across the world to help companies to prepare for future regulatory interventions. 1. Financial crime regulations are not standing still Laws and regulations often change very gradually over...
Sometimes, they are stories that win Pulitzer Prizes. Sometimes, they are stories that become blockbuster movies. And occasionally, the fruits of investigative journalism are both. Take Woodward and Bernstein’s Watergate reporting for The Washington Post , for example. It earned the paper the 1973 Pulitzer Prize in Public Service and inspired “ All the President’s Men .” Likewise, investigative...
Over the last five years, the dominant regulatory trend in global compliance has been the spread of legislation which mandates companies to carry out Human Rights and ESG Due Diligence (HRDD) on third parties and suppliers. This has significant implications for any company operating in a jurisdiction with HRDD regulations–or whose third parties and suppliers operate there. In this blog, we explain why responding...
Storytelling is a powerful tool: even just going to see a movie or turning on the television can provide a sense of escapism, boost our empathy for fellow humans and change the way we see the world. Apply that to fundraising and you’ve got a winning strategy in which donors are even more compelled to give to your organization. Sharing anecdotes and wins during Giving Season is a helpful way to meet fundraising...
Financial crimes, such as bribery and corruption, are becoming more common and more complex. One of the most common reasons for a company to become implicated in alleged financial crime is its exposure to the activities of its third parties and suppliers. In this blog, we look at the trends in financial crime that your firm should be aware of. We then suggest how companies can improve their third-party risk management...
Global companies have been fined hundreds of millions of dollars for alleged compliance breaches in the last year. Whether the allegations against them related to bribery and corruption or breaches of new human rights due diligence legislation, a recurring theme in many cases was the involvement of third parties. In this blog, we dive deeper into four of those cases and offer clear lessons that companies can learn to...
Due diligence is a crucial step of any company’s business plan, especially when working with third parties like donors, board members or vendors. And within this often-overlooked sector is an even more undermined component: beneficial ownership. Here, we outline everything companies should know about beneficial ownership, including upcoming changes in the laws around it and how to incorporate the idea into a larger...
In those weeks leading up to Thanksgiving 2012, no one could have predicted how the first #GivingTuesday would fundamentally change the fundraising landscape, offering an opportunity for people all over the world to come together for the greater good. Focused on collaboration and community, the day was an instant success, and continues to provide valuable lessons on how to engage donors and prospective donors year-round...
According to our research, 88% of publicly traded companies had Environmental Social Governance (ESG) programs in 2022. Initiatives related to sustainability are becoming undeniably important—but what happens when key stakeholders aren’t on board? Some executives are wary of implementing ESG programs or setting lofty goals, for reasons such as fearing negative backlash or being seen as “political”...
Bolder questions and answers. Better cross-functional collaboration. Broader audiences. These demands on the Market and Competitive Intelligence (M&CI) professional’s time have created pressure to evolve—and in some cases fundamentally change—the processes, content sets, tools and technology they use to deliver insights to their team. However, if you don't know where to start or what...
Regulators increasingly require corporate and financial services firms to incorporate Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) risks into their due diligence and reputational risk management processes. The year of 2023 alone has seen massive increases in corporate responsibility in this area; for example, the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) requires companies with 250...
One of the major themes in compliance in recent years has been the rise of Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) legislation in Europe and the US. Now, this trend appears to be expanding into the Asia-Pacific region after a recent initiative by the Japanese government. In this blog, we look at the latest developments in HRDD and ESG assessments and explain how companies can expand their due diligence program to capture these...
Market and competitive intelligence (M&CI) can feel like a corporate superpower when done correctly. That’s because, with proper research and analytics, companies can essentially predict the future. What is going to happen in your industry over the next one, five, ten years? What businesses are headed for bankruptcy, and which are gearing up to take their spots? It’s all in the data. If you haven’t...
Trust may not appear in a company’s financial accounts, but trust has been called “the most powerful currency in business.” Customers, investors, employees and suppliers all want to work with companies that they consider to be trustworthy. As a result, the future is bleak for those companies who fail to take steps to build trust and transparency. Trends suggest that trust has become more important...
The 2022 rules from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) allowed student athletes to benefit financially from their name, image, and likeness—known as “NIL” —for the first time. US collegiate sport was already a “$14 billion industry”, according to a recent Financial Times headline. This change made it so students who excel at football, baseball, basketball, tennis...
Many companies have deficiencies in their sanctions risk management and customer due diligence processes, according to a survey by the UK’s financial regulator. The EU has also published new expectations about companies’ third party due diligence for risks related to sanctions, particularly for companies operating in Russia and Belarus. In this blog, we look at these latest developments in global sanctions...
The EU’s proposed new Directive would mandate large companies in the EU or doing business there to implement strict new due diligence obligations. The regulation is now close to being finalized, which would start the clock ticking for individual countries to change their laws. We analyze what companies should expect from the Directive, as well as the wider trend towards global human rights due diligence regulations...
Many people get started in nonprofits because they are very passionate about the cause. This means that the work is incredibly meaningful and can be very fulfilling. However, with funding and staffing limitations, the nonstop list of tasks, and passion for the cause, the sector sees a high rate of employee burn out. And of course, that issue becomes even larger during stressful periods like “Giving Season.”...
While environmental social governance (ESG) initiatives are increasingly becoming standard corporate practice, some organizations are still hesitant to invest the time and capital required to pursue a comprehensive program. In fact, sometimes securing internal buy-in can be the most challenging part of the process. Convincing key decision makers of the value of ESG can seem daunting. To help you overcome these internal...
Numbers are a great asset to any piece of communication because they lend validity to your claims. By their nature, numbers and data are straightforward. One is always one; two is always two. One plus two is always three. Right? Well… that depends. As with the written or spoken word, data can be interpreted differently by different people. Without context, insight, proper analysis and/or deconstruction into what...
Market and Competitive Intelligence (M&CI) are pivotal to business strategy. Knowing what other companies are up to—whether that means investigating their wins or avoiding their losses—is the best way to remain at the top of any industry. With a constantly evolving world, it’s more important than ever to use M&CI. While businesses have implemented M&CI data into their strategies for ages...
Social media statistics are one of the most underrated areas of insight when it comes to marketing and public relations. Because this medium is one of the easiest ways to interact with fan bases, it holds countless pieces of information that can be used across a business to help understand audiences. When it comes to public relations for sports teams, social media is extra helpful. Tracking fan sentiment, user-generated...