Leading Strategic Initiatives

Integration of SDGs and ESG Pillars 🌎 For businesses committed to sustainability, effectively categorizing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) under Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) pillars can streamline strategic planning and operational execution. This approach clarifies how initiatives within these pillars can directly contribute to achieving broader global goals, thus enhancing business impact and compliance. The Environmental Pillar of ESG aligns with SDGs focused on ecological stability, such as Climate Action, Clean Water and Sanitation, and Affordable and Clean Energy. Businesses that enhance their environmental strategies not only adhere to regulatory demands but also drive efficiencies in resource use, which can lead to reduced operational costs and improved market positioning. Under the Social Pillar, SDGs like Quality Education, Gender Equality, and Decent Work and Economic Growth are pivotal. By focusing on these areas, companies can foster a more inclusive and equitable work environment, enhancing employee satisfaction and community relations, which are crucial for long-term business sustainability and customer loyalty. The Governance Pillar supports the achievement of SDGs related to ethical practices and equitable growth, including Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, and Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. Strengthening governance can help businesses manage risk, operate transparently, and maintain compliance with increasing legal standards, securing trust and support from investors and stakeholders. Integrating SDGs with ESG initiatives allows businesses to not only address specific global challenges but also to enhance their strategic planning processes. This structured approach provides a clear pathway for companies to evaluate their impact, set measurable targets, and communicate progress in a manner that resonates with global standards and stakeholder expectations. Furthermore, while the example diagram shows one method of mapping SDGs to ESG pillars, businesses are encouraged to adapt this framework to better suit their specific contexts and strategic objectives. Understanding and applying this integration effectively empowers companies to tackle complex sustainability challenges, paving the way for innovation and leadership in their industries. By leveraging the SDGs as a guide to categorize and prioritize ESG efforts, businesses can ensure that their sustainability initiatives are not only impactful but also aligned with global objectives, enhancing overall business resilience and reputation. #sustainability #sustainable #business #esg #climatechange #climateaction #sdgs #impact #strategy

As Mario Draghi’s report released today demonstrates, the EU is falling behind global rivals because of limited innovation. Since 2019, the EU has created over 100 pieces of digital regulation. Whether you’re a technology startup or a small retailer, regulatory complexity is a minefield. Developing, launching or just using technology is harder in Europe than elsewhere in the world. Of course, “anything goes” is not an option and rules are required - but the EU is holding itself back at a time where it could be thriving. Our research with Public First shows that generative AI alone could add €1.2 trillion to the European economy. Much of Google’s innovation is led from Europe. We work with talented European entrepreneurs, businesses and innovators every day and see first-hand the benefits that the single market could yield for them. But a new approach is needed if Europe is not to miss the moment. Here’s what needs to change: 1️⃣ Shift from regulatory growth to economic growth: Europe doesn’t just create a huge number of regulations related to digital society - the regulations they create are often conflicting, untested and inconsistently implemented. The explosion of rules makes it almost impossible for Europe to create and nurture the next tech unicorns. Draghi is right that the EU now needs to focus on enabling innovation: promoting the use of digital technologies to innovate and drive through breakthrough advances. 2️⃣ Invest in R&D: To compete in AI, the EU needs to prioritise research and development, working with the private sector to incentivise it and make funding more accessible. The EU currently lags behind the US, Israel, South Korea, Japan, the UK and China on R&D investment. Without the right incentives to develop and roll out new technology, Europe is stifling its talent. 3️⃣ Build the right infrastructure: AI breakthroughs are only possible with the right computing technologies and data centres - plus the renewable energy to run them. So the EU needs to allocate more funding towards financing such infrastructure, as well as incentivising and enabling the private sector to do the same. 4️⃣ Prioritise skills & education: People will need support to seize the benefits of AI in their work and life. A revitalised European Skills Agenda should put skills and education at the centre, while AI should be added to school curriculums. Google wants to help Europe seize the benefits of innovation. Over the last decade, we’ve worked hand in hand with Governments to build new technology responsibly; train over 13 million Europeans in digital skills; and support over €179 billion in economic activity across the EU. As a European, I’m proud of this work, but I know there’s much more to do. Read Draghi’s report here: https://lnkd.in/epBxtymw

The most expensive mistake in business is assuming your customers will never change. Last year, something shifted in Indian retail. Gen Z (377 million) overtook millennials (356 million) to become our largest consumer group, influencing $40-45 billion worth of apparel and footwear purchases. But they're not shopping at the stores we built for them. [Et Retail] Brands watched their growth collapse in just 12 months. → ZARA fell from 40% to 8% growth, [Et Retail] → Levi Strauss & Co. crashed from 54% to 4% growth [Et Retail] → H&M dropped from 40% to 11% growth [Et Retail] Here's why the growth has slowed down: 📌 Gen Z discovered new brands like Freakins and Bonkers Corner, offering trendy clothes at ₹500-800 📌 They chose self-expression over brand loyalty 📌 70% of their shopping moved online, heavily influenced by Instagram 📌 They demanded inclusive sizing (XS to XXL) and unisex options that legacy brands ignored Take FREAKINS, which clocked ₹25 crore in FY2023, or Bonkers.corner, clocked ₹100 crore. [The Economic Times] [Et Retail] These brands understood what Gen Z wanted: crop tops, baggy clothes, Korean pants, and oversized tees at prices that let them experiment with three different outfits daily. Body positivity isn't a marketing campaign for this generation. It's how they think. When they couldn't find the sizes or styles they wanted at premium stores priced at ₹1,200-1,500, they simply went elsewhere. Myntra saw the shift and launched FWD with ₹500 price points. The result was explosive: 100% year-on-year growth and 16 million Gen Z users, who now represent one in three e-lifestyle shoppers. [Et Retail] Legacy brands bet that Gen Z would "grow up" and pay premium prices. Instead, 377 million young Indians chose values over logos. The most expensive mistake in business? Assuming your customers will never change. What changes in your customer base have surprised you recently?

Turning Europe into a quantum industrial powerhouse Europe has been the cradle of quantum mechanics, the revolutionary science born from the genius of Max Planck, Albert Einstein, Niels Bohr, Erwin Schrödinger, and other visionaries who rewrote the rules of physical reality. On 2 July 2025, in the year marking a centenary since the initial development of quantum mechanics, the Commission has adopted an ambitious European Quantum Strategy, integrating Europe's unique scientific heritage with its vibrant quantum ecosystem of startups, SMEs, large industries, research and technology organisations, academia and research institutes. The mission is clear: turn Europe into a quantum industrial powerhouse that transforms breakthrough science into market-ready applications, while maintaining its scientific leadership. We are imagining a Union where medical scans can detect illnesses at the earliest stages, accelerating from weeks of uncertainty to mere seconds of precise diagnosis; where sensors are able to warn about volcanic activity or water shortages before they happen; and where unprecedented computational power will be available to solve complex problems in logistics, finance and climate modelling. A safer Europe, where our personal data, critical infrastructure, and businesses will always remain private and well-protected; where transport systems are optimised to reduce congestion and prevent accidents; and air travel is guided by quantum-enhanced precision navigation, pinpointing objects' locations down to the centimetre. A greener Europe, where sustainable energy grids can flawlessly manage millions of electric vehicles charging simultaneously overnight. These tangible, transformative technologies are within reach through support from the EU Quantum Strategy. The quantum community has clearly outlined what's needed to achieve this future: · Combine Europe's scientific excellence to bring quantum breakthroughs rapidly to market · Develop advanced quantum supercomputers like the ones we are supporting under the Quantum Flagship and are acquiring under the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking to operate as accelerators next to our leading network of supercomputers · Deploy secure communication networks such as those under EuroQCI, our secure quantum communication infrastructure that will be spanning the whole EU, composed of a terrestrial segment relying on fibre communications networks linking strategic sites at national and cross-border level, and a space segment based on satellites · Support quantum startups and SMEs, enhancing supply chain resilience, and foster supranational innovation clusters · Integrate quantum advancements into strategic capabilities for security and defence, protecting citizens and infrastructure · Educate Europe's workforce through specialised initiatives like the European Quantum Skills Academy Quantum is not one more technology to add to the list; is a high tide that will deeply transform our society and economy.

Don’t overcomplicate AI for your legal team. Here are 12 initiatives to get started: (Based on conversations about AI with over 300 in-house lawyers): PEOPLE 1. Organise CPD sessions on key legal-specific topics. Examples: 'Gen AI for Legal Practice', 'Under the Hood of an LLM' and 'Prompt Engineering 101.' 2. Create dedicated AI experimentation time each month. Let your team know it's okay to experiment (safely). Set up guardrails and opportunities to share knowledge. 3. Identify Innovation & Technology champions. Peer-to-peer sharing is key. Your champions will drive digital literacy and engagement. GOVERNANCE* 1. Understand privacy and confidentiality requirements across different legal workstreams. Consider segmenting by data-type (e.g., client, company sensitive, company non-sensitive). 2. Consider privacy and confidentiality of different AI approaches. For example, state-of-the-art proprietary services vs. smaller, hosted models. 3. Set up set of rules for using AI to align with privacy and confidentiality requirements. TECHNOLOGY 1. Identify 3 legal work streams that present high potential for automation. 2. Assess the benefits and risks associated with each. 3. Survey the market for legal technology solutions that align with identified opportunities. Consider collaborations with law firms and industry experts to build customised solutions. OPERATIONS 1. Review legal team processes and identify 3 priority areas for optimisation and automation. These might include team meetings, client management, knowledge management, etc. 2. Develop an AI knowledge hub for the legal team. Include a prompt library, use cases, user guides, and lessons learned. 3. Collaborate with other areas of the business. Ensure the legal team is part of organisation-wide AI projects - from both a risk and legal ops perspective. *This assumes a foundational layer of governance and risk management, e.g. AI Guiding Principles, Risk Management Frameworks, etc. -- Here’s the thing: Legal teams won't be first up for new AI initiatives. They could be behind or lost in the shuffle. That's a real shame - because the opportunity for AI in law is huge. AI will help in-house lawyers move up the value chain. Do less boring work. Do more stuff that matters. I really want to see that happen. And these initiatives can help your team get there. Let me know your thoughts below - is your team exploring any of these initiatives? What do you think of this approach? #lawyers #ai #inhousecounsel

The Greatest Untapped Financing for Africa's Future Isn't Abroad. It's Here. For decades, the narrative of Africa's development has been funded from the outside: Foreign Direct Investment, external debt, and international aid. While important, this outward gaze has overlooked the most powerful source of capital; one that is currently flowing in the wrong direction. Staggering analysis from the African Development Bank reveals a paradigm-shifting truth: Africa loses an estimated $587 billion annually to capital flight. To put that in perspective, this outflow is more than triple the amount of incoming capital. Within that staggering figure lies the potential for self-financed transformation. Imagine redirecting even a fraction of the $275 billion in shifted profits, $148 in corruption and the $90 billion in illicit financial flows. That capital represents: ▶️ The construction of thousands of schools and hospitals. ▶️ The power to light up our cities with resilient infrastructure. ▶️ The seed funding for a generation of startups that will define the 21st century. We already have proof of concept in the power of African commitment: Remittances, which consistently exceed $100 billion annually, are a resilient, counter-cyclical lifeline that already fuels our households and local economies. This demonstrates the profound willingness to invest in home. The question is, how do we channel that same collective commitment from reactive support into proactive, systemic wealth creation? The blueprint requires focused action on three fronts: Aggressively Combat Illicit Financial Flows: Strengthening transparency, governance, and cross-border collaboration to stem the hemorrhage of illegal capital. Ensure Multinationals Pay Their Fair Share: Reforming tax policies and closing loopholes that allow for profit shifting, ensuring that value created in Africa is reinvested in Africa. Build Systems that Keep Wealth Local: Developing our capital markets, fostering regional integration under AfCFTA, and creating attractive vehicles for domestic and diaspora investment. The capital we seek is not a distant promise. It is here, and it is ours to reclaim. This is the core of #Agenda2063: building #TheAfricaWeWant with our own resources and our own resolve. Let's shift the conversation from seeking funding to building financial sovereignty. The future of #AfricanDevelopment will be funded from within. What concrete steps do you believe are most critical to plug these leaks and unlock this capital? #InvestInAfrica #FutureofAfrica #Diaspora #EconomicDevelopment #FinancingAfrica Author: Capital Violence - The Economic war on African dignity.. 📖 Available worldwide on Amazon https://a.co/d/cVVv3f8. and at Nuria Bookshop, Kenya.https://https://lnkd.in/dz-Smrct Let us be the ancestors our descendants will be proud of… 🌍 By clarity, we rise.

Our new policy paper on European digital sovereignty, for a hard reset. Digital authoritarianism is on the rise. Meanwhile, Europe has become, with some notable exceptions, a digital colony. Technical dependence, in hardware and software, is a dangerous trend for both the European economy and democracy. To counter this, in our view, Europe must assert its digital sovereignty – not in isolation, but on its own terms. Hence “The European Way – A Blueprint for Reclaiming our Digital Future,” written by a strong and heterogeneous group of thinkers and practitioners, led by Kai Zenner and including, e.g., EuroStackers Cristina Caffarra, Sebastiano Toffaletti, AI insiders Dr. Miriam Meckel, Dr. Léa Steinacker, Dr. Till Klein, Dr. Frauke Goll, Björn Ommer, Rasmus Rothe, Joerg Bienert, Sebastian Hallensleben, and many more. Full text: https://lnkd.in/ewQKWmNK To operationalize this vision, we propose 6 interlocking reform packages: 1. Digital Infrastructure & Defence  Launch a European Digital Industrial Strategy that supports cloud, semiconductors, and quantum.  Develop a “EuroStack”—a modular, sovereign European tech stack.  Treat a digital and AI pivot in defence and cybersecurity, with a Digital Defence Fund, as core components of resilience and political autonomy.  Establish a European DARPA, support dual-use technologies, and think digital-first in defence procurement. 2. Digital Single Market & Industrial Policy  Complete the Capital Markets Union to fund digital innovation at scale.  Use public procurement to support European tech companies, via a "Buy European" framework.  Further update competition law to address data asymmetries and promote fair access to platforms.  Strengthen data spaces as a backbone for industrial collaboration. 3. Geopolitical Strategy  Build trusted digital trade partnerships with like-minded allies.  Develop an EU voice in global standard-setting bodies.  Promote tech diplomacy and increase Europe's global regulatory influence. 4. Governance & Institutions  Move toward coherent and principles-based digital regulation that supports innovation and flexibility.  Create a European Digital Enforcement Agency with unified powers for all digital acts, and clear political independence. 5. Energy Supply for the Digital Age  Forge a balanced Energy Mix Deal that supports both green energy and strategic autonomy.  Integrate the European electricity market to ensure stable supply for data centers and critical infrastructure.  Incentivize energy-efficient data infrastructure through regulation and support. 6. Digital Skills, Talent & Education  Launch an EU Tech Talent Initiative to expand training and retraining programs.  Introduce fast-track visas and intra-EU mobility tools to attract digital professionals - with adequate compensation via special funds. IMO, Europe can still lead—but it must act with urgency and vision.

I spent 18 months tracking something that should terrify every African policymaker. In July 2024, the African Union adopted the most ambitious AI strategy on the planet, promising $1.5 trillion in economic value for 1.3 billion people. Today? We're building governance for a house without a foundation. The brutal paradox: While the AU mandates AI ethics boards and algorithmic transparency, 590 million Africans don't have electricity. We debate algorithmic bias while 86% of African women lack basic AI proficiency. We craft data sovereignty, while only 2.8% of facial recognition data includes African faces. The math is devastating: $100 million raised. $500 billion needed. That's 0.02%. 83% of AI funding goes to just 4 countries. Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Egypt. The other 51? Not in the game. My research shows countries that rushed to build sophisticated AI governance before basic infrastructure. Ethics boards are never operationalized. Transparency requirements hit 90-96% non-compliance. Sandboxes approved 3 of 40 applications because reviewers couldn't understand the tech. Meanwhile, countries that prioritized foundations, electricity, connectivity, and training 250,000+ people are deploying AI serving millions of farmers, improving TB diagnosis, and personalizing education. The uncomfortable truth: Every dollar on premature regulation is a dollar NOT connecting rural communities to the internet. NOT training African AI developers. NOT building data centers, keeping our data on our continent. Rwanda gets it. Kenya's learning. Too many copy European playbooks designed for $17 trillion economies with centuries of institutional development. We don't have centuries. We don't even have decades. While we debate governance, Chinese firms sign 15-year infrastructure deals. While we craft principles, American tech giants extract our data. While we establish councils that never meet, our brightest researchers board Silicon Valley flights. 70,000 skilled Africans leave annually. We train them. Others profit. I propose "adaptive implementation pathways", three phases: Foundation first (electricity, connectivity). Capability second (universities, startups). Sophisticated governance, third (when you can actually implement it). Not sexy. Won't photograph well at summits. Might actually work. The stakes? Either Africa becomes an active contributor to AI technologies that reflect our values and solve our problems, or we become the world's largest data mine. Extracting value. Receiving dependency. We're choosing the wrong path. Full research paper in comments with 18 months of data across 55 countries. The question isn't whether Africa can build sophisticated AI governance. It's whether we can build foundations that make governance meaningful. Right now? No. But it doesn't have to stay that way. Link to publication: http://bit.ly/4pUtC1N #AfricanAI #TechnologyPolicy #DataSovereignty

The European Commission is laying down an important stepping stone in our path to climate neutrality by 2050. After careful thought and consideration, we are recommending that by 2040, the EU reduces its emissions by 90%, compared to 1990 levels. With our recommendation, we are staying the course of the green transition as agreed by EU leaders, as it will be increasingly important for our global competitiveness. And it comes at a crucial moment. The essence of the debate across many countries is how to decarbonise our economy to achieve climate neutrality, while keeping our businesses globally competitive and creating stable, future-proof, highly-paid jobs in Europe. The risk of deindustrialisation and social tension is very real. For us, Europe's industrial leadership and socially just, inclusive green transition are not only two sides of the same coin, but are imperatives. Therefore, our recommendation for a 90% target is both, in line with the scientific advice, and based on a thorough impact assessment. Importantly, it also reflects that we do not operate in a vacuum. Global competition around low emission technologies is – and will remain – intense, underpinned by assertive, sometimes unfair policies. This requires close collaboration with industry. So, we want what we call an “industry decarbonisation deal” to help create a large domestic market and a strong industrial basis for clean tech. Defining a 2040 climate target should provide certainty and predictability for investment decisions. Because we want to see Europe as a prime destination for investment and a prime source of jobs at all skill levels. We have identified enabling conditions to deliver just that. It starts with the full implementation of the 2030 climate and energy framework. But it also includes more efficient use of public financing to help create a business case for all emerging clean tech, the development of raw materials supply chains, ensuring affordable energy prices, and the development and deployment of the necessary infrastructure. At the same time, we must shore up public trust in the green transition. We do recognise the legitimate concerns of citizens and industry over the costs of the transition, and we will continue supporting them through our policy and regulatory measures as well as funding instruments. We are holding a series of clean transition dialogues with key industrial sectors, a strategic dialogue with farmers, and are seeking to expand and intensify outreach to citizens. Following the two dialogues with hydrogen and energy intensive industries, we will soon hold additional ones on critical raw materials, clean tech, mobility, infrastructure, and forestry. This outreach – and received input – will help the next Commission prepare legislative proposals for the policy framework beyond 2030 and deliver on the 2040 target, once agreed by the Member States and the new European Parliament in a fair and cost-efficient manner. #EUGreenDeal

Yesterday President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled her new team of Commissioners to help Europe navigate through the next five years of global challenges. It is now clear that the new Commission setup reflects a strong emphasis on prioritizing the EU's industrial competitiveness in the upcoming mandate. A shared responsibility on the #CleanIndustrialDeal among some of the new Commissioners is also an indicator of the need to strengthen our co-ordination for common European objectives and drive green growth to the next level. The mission letter addressed to the proposed Commissioner for #Energy and Housing, Dan Jorgensen, is firmly centered around #grids and #electrification to power Europe’s industrial transition. And alongside this, I think in climate action Wopke Hoekstra could successfully keep bringing his pragmatic approach to the decarbonisation issues. I’m also pleased that there will be a new responsibility dedicated to implementation and to the reduction of administrative and reporting burden with the aim of “making Europe simpler and faster.” I hope this is the right time! Finally, the portfolio for Financial Services and Savings and Investments Union will be key to unlocking the financing needed for the green and digital transitions and build up a real Capital Markets Union. This is a time to #deliver. Instead of kick-starting lengthy discussions and reopening legislative files, the EU should concentrate its efforts on a few issues that are crucial for its own future. Let's seize the opportunity to leverage Europe’s spirit of innovation, as part of a comprehensive growth strategy for our economy. Let’s get on with it!