Audley Intelligence
On global business, politics and culture
Category
What’s next for digital media?
Post-Brexit and post-Trump, where does the media go next? In 2016, the EU referendum and presidential elections took place in quick succession, suggesting that on both sides of the Atlantic we were more polarised than ever before.
Welcome to the GET World
European CEOs and board members need to prepare for three new drivers of change that will determine their agenda in the 2020s: geopolitical and geoeconomic risk; the drive for sustainable business models according to environmental, social and governance criteria; and the ongoing technological revolution. In short: get ready for the GET world.
Let alone Jackie Weaver, no one has authority in a virtual world
In light of the viral Handforth Parish Council video, Audley’s Imogen Beecroft reflects on communications in the virtual world
Nigella Lawson's Cook. Eat. Repeat. is the Christmas tonic we've been waiting for
Audley’s Imogen Beecroft writes about the phenomenon that is Nigella’s pre-Christmas cookery series.
Episode 3 - Peter Singer
In episode three, Audley's Lucy Thompson is in conversation with New America strategist and author Peter Singer. They discuss the power of his concept of Useful Fiction and its application in a corporate setting.
Great power competition or leading from the middle?
Lucy Thompson reflects on the outcomes of the Atlantic Future Forum 2020 and the future of the global order
Why, whatever happens next week, Trump won’t ‘lose’
Chris Wilkins reflects on his experience of the Trump presidency from the inside and the threat he presents to the Democrats
Caring CEOs: do they really and does it matter?
Fiona Johnston argues that we need business leaders who aren’t afraid to show their own vulnerabilities.
What jury service taught me about communications
Managing Partner, Imogen Beecroft writes about her experience of jury service and what it taught her about communications.
Episode 2 - Kathryn Jacob OBE & Mark Edwards
In this episode, Audley's Fiona Johnston speaks to CEO at Pearl & Dean, Kathryn Jacob OBE and Sunday Times journalist, Mark Edwards, two of the authors of Belonging…
The Purpose of Business
In March, Boris Johnson’s cabinet announced the biggest government bailout scheme the UK has ever seen. The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, declared that there would be no cap on what the government would spend to support UK businesses. A justifiable use of taxpayers’ money in order to save the UK’s economy but how will the favour be repaid? The Social Market Foundation’s James Kirkup explains the think-tank’s new proposal to create a fresh social contract for UK businesses.
The Future of Schools
Schools have always had to navigate new technological advancements, adjusting and adapting to keep themselves relevant and of worth. However, the rapid developments in artificial intelligence topped off with a global pandemic enforcing school closures all over the world have been a rather unexpected set of circumstances.
COVID-Zero: The Exit Strategy
The impact of COVID-19 has been unlike anything any of us have experienced before, but the secondary impacts and the lockdowns in place to contain it are equally catastrophic and, in some cases, deadly. In April, the Wellcome Trust launched their plan for an exit strategy – COVID-Zero – alongside a fund that will invest in treatments, vaccines, and testing for coronavirus.
Our Mental Health…
COVID-19 has taken a huge toll on mental health worldwide. In the UK, mental health charities are reporting significant increases in demand for their services and the trend is expected to continue. Chief Executive of the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Jason Knauf, says the response to this needs to be three-fold: preventive action, collective action and funding…
Children at Risk
In April, the NSPCC described the shortage of moderators who combat sexual abuse online combined with children spending more time on the Internet at home as a ‘perfect storm’ for abusers who want to take advantage of the pandemic. Sandra Marchenko from the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children details the factors involved and provides insight into potential actions to keep children safe.
Plague of Disinformation
In April, TV presenter Eamonn Holmes landed himself in hot water when he appeared to endorse an internet conspiracy theory connecting 5G masts to the spread of COVID-19. His apparently innocent remark, made on prime-time television, was seized upon by malign and misguided actors who helped the clip go viral. It was just one example of a much bigger problem – the challenge of responding to mis- and disinformation – which governments, businesses, and other organisations face particularly at sensitive times such as these.
Leadership in Crisis
In times of crisis, political and business leaders are scrutinised more than ever. And this pandemic is no different. Comparisons will be made and lasting conclusions drawn as the public looks to its leaders to guide, inspire, and support them through very dangerous waters. Here, Audley’s Imogen Beecroft delves into the intricacies of leading at such a complicated time, when survival as well as humanity and economics are all of the utmost importance.
Open to cyber attack
COVID-19 reveals one inalienable truth: the world is connected like never before. As infection rates ballooned, arriving at the doorstep of each country, like dominoes inevitably cascading onto one another, the opportunity and threat of our ever-increasing speed of connection has never been clearer.
The End of the Beginning
Life in lockdown has become a temporary norm in countries all over the world but it can’t last forever. At some stage, the pendulum will shift and, when restrictions are lifted, there will be a whole new set of challenges to face: namely a global recession and the possibility of further outbreaks.