With rising global temperatures and a domestic air-pollution crisis, environmental factors will come to occupy an increasingly important place in corporate decision-making and operations. The intense heat waves seen this year across India only underscore the urgency of the situation, both for businesses and for society at large. Higher-than-average temperatures present a real threat to human life and health, and workplace design and policies must account for this. More generally, air pollution demands longer-term, strategic responses by corporations as well as short-term mitigation.  At a ..read more

Global geopolitics is in a state of turmoil unseen in decades. Europe and the Middle East are at war and there is a risk of these conflicts spreading. National security and energy supplies are therefore of real concern. Adding to the worry is the escalating rivalry between America and China, and the fact that rising nationalism is creating new barriers to flows of people, goods and investment across borders. At recent sessions of the India CEO Forum in Pune and Bangalore, Pramit Pal Chaudhuri, South Asia Practice Head for the Eurasia Group and former Foreign Editor of the Hindustan Times, outl ..read more

As global temperatures rise inexorably, governments and companies are coming around to the concept of net-zero. Simply put, net zero means cutting emissions to a bare minimum and then absorbing and/or durably storing the residual emissions, leaving ‘zero’ in the atmosphere. What, though, does making such a commitment mean in practical terms – from either a national or a corporate perspective? What can businesses do to move in this direction, and how can they benefit from doing so?  At a recent joint session of the India CEO and CFO Forums in Delhi, Jayant Sinha, a two-term Member of Parli ..read more

At a recent India CEO Forum session in Chennai, Dilip Sawhney, Regional Vice President of Rockwell Automation, provided a perspective on how digitisation and automation are impacting the manufacturing sector. This podcast summmarises the discussion.  ..read more

The use of consultants, towards the formation of business strategy, has had mixed results. Some companies claim they were a game changer, whilst others strongly disagree. It’s hard to conclude authoritatively with numerical evidence, either way. But what is clear is that they charge a lot. What is not clear though is whether what they do cannot be done internally.  Companies have begun to internalise the strategy process, through the formation of a dedicated team, as this paper explains. For many, it has worked beautifully ..read more

A retirement age of between 58 and 62 years, leaves a decade for active engagement. Some prefer to use this freedom, from regimented employment, to pursue personal interests and leisure. Still others seek to remain professionally involved by lending their skills and knowledge, acquired over decades, for the benefit of others. It is a win-win, where the individual monetises her experience and an organisation, gains from it in a cost effective manner.  Lending time to boards of other companies is enriching both professionally and financially. CEOs and function heads could actively pursue th ..read more

Gen Z are different to their bosses. Their job is only a small part of their identity and they make that abundantly clear in the work place. They value empathy at work and frequently consider it a precondition. Their bosses, on the other hand, do not place as high a value on this attribute.  They want to feel respected rather than solely measured for productivity, which is what most companies prefer to focus on. Contrary to popular perception, studies have shown that Gen Z do want job stability and financial security. Many are active investors in financial markets as the primary platform ..read more

Forward premiums, play a critical role in foreign exchange markets. They are the difference between the spot rate and the forward exchange rate. They represent either a premium or a discount at which a foreign currency is valued in the forward markets, when compared to its current value. Premiums, consequently, provide insights into the market’s outlook, investor sentiments and the likely direction of exchange rate movements.  Forward premiums are, in addition, influenced by market expectations and risk perceptions. When interest rate differentials between the United States and India narr ..read more

At our recent Q4FY24 India CHRO Forum Dialogue in Mumbai, Jaspreet Bindra delved into the influence of AI and Gen AI on business operations and societal dynamics. Following this insightful discussion, Rajesh Mani elaborated on the crucial role played by CHROs in shaping the organisational culture. This podcast summarises these discussions in greater detail.  ..read more

Driven by regulators, customers and investors, ESG represents a unique opportunity for businesses to transform themselves. Getting the ‘green transformation’ right involves building a comprehensive strategy that integrates sustainability into operations; and carefully evaluating the firm’s environmental impact, community engagement and governance beyond numerical targets.  At a recent India CFO Forum session in Delhi, Abhishek Tripathi, Partner – ESG at Grant Thornton, shared insights on how ESG is becoming an imperative mandate for businesses and the Finance’s role in this transition. Th ..read more