As the end of the year approaches, many of us find ourselves in an “introspective space”. What did we accomplish this year? What could have gone better? How will we do better next time? While we may look back on our achievements (business or otherwise), it’s also important to...
There’s an old saying: “A decisive leader dictates, a visionary leader motivates and a strategic leader learns.” Business leaders develop their management styles from years of experience in certain environments. And, as executives craft their leadership profiles, they tend to identify with leader-defaults based on areas of their success....
We can all relate to the comparison of navigating a career path and running a marathon. Pursuing a career requires sweat equity. Sticking with it takes grit. Successful executives achieve career maturity through skill development, hard work and an unwavering commitment to organizational goals. Without question, personal drive and...
Lending standards have tightened over the past several years in response to regulatory changes and risks in the markets. In order for organizations to gain access to the funds they need in order to grow or sustain their organizations, they must meet certain financial criteria or metrics to be...
In 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ordered states in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, including Maryland, to reduce storm water runoff into the Bay. Each state in the watershed is allowed to come up with its own funding method for this initiative. The cost for Maryland is estimated at...
The financial services industry is facing its most significant regulatory reforms since the Great Depression. The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, Solvency II, Basel III, and other new regulations present challenges that transcend compliance. These ever-evolving regulations are causing financial services companies to reconsider significant business...
Running a private business is more like driving through the bush than cruising down the highway. If you want to find out what’s really going on in your business, and where you’re headed, you’ve got to ask some tough questions – a lot of them. To keep it simple,...
The duties of the CFOs have changed dramatically in the post-Sarbanes-Oxley/market-meltdown world. CFOs have emerged as key business partners to the CEO. They have an important role to play in reading and understanding evolving business drivers and helping their companies seize opportunities. The best CFOs balance accountability to shareholders...