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News Release Digital Asset Direct

The Future of Indoor Air Quality

YourUpdateTV

While concerns over indoor air quality are nothing new, the COVID-19 pandemic has made people realize just how important clean, indoor air is to our health. As states continue to fully reopen, facilities around the country are turning to new technologies to help keep indoor spaces safe. Recently, Dr. Ken Thorpe, a scientific advisor to Integrated Viral Protection, participated in a nationwide satellite media tour to discuss the impact of these new technologies and what the future holds for indoor air quality. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/wrtkcmLQ5pY As more states begin to fully reopen, Houston-based Integrated Viral Protection (IVP) is helping businesses do so safely with their IVP Biodefense Indoor Air System. The air filter system instantaneously catches and kills airborne COVID-19 and other RNA viruses and has been granted emergency use authorization by the FDA. IVP is playing an integral role in reopening businesses such as hotels and restaurants and keeping children in schools around the country safe and is positioned to be the standard going forward, promoting clean and healthy air in all spaces. IVP is installed in health care settings across the U.S. to include over 100 healthcare facilities, including COVID-19 specialty hospitals, neuro-psych facilities, rehabilitation hospitals and tertiary centers. The game changing technology works by forcing air through a heated filter that captures and kills contaminants, including airborne pathogens, instantaneously, without changing the ambient air temperature significantly. IVP has been endorsed by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers as one of five top technologies in the world to combat COVID-19, and was recently named a top 25 Newsmaker of the Year by the Engineering News Record. Integrated Viral Protection (IVP) has also launched a new portable air purifying unit that instantaneously kills COVID-19 and other airborne pathogens. The compact travel unit, ideal for spaces up to 250 square feet, quietly cleans the air anywhere, including in hotel rooms, meeting rooms, residential spaces and more. The unit is also perfect for hotel and dorm rooms or common areas of a home. This protection against viruses and airborne pathogens is especially valuable when visiting high-risk individuals or hosting indoor gatherings. For more information, visit ivpair.com About Dr. Ken Thorpe, Ph.D.: Kenneth E. Thorpe, Ph.D., is the Robert W. Woodruff Professor and Chair of the Department of Health Policy & Management, in the Rollins School of Public Health of Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia. As a respected health care expert, Dr. Thorpe regularly testifies before committees in the U.S. Congress and in front of governments around the world on aspects of health care reform, and he is a frequent national presenter on issues of health care financing, insurance and health care reform at health care conferences, television and the media. About Integrated Viral Protection Solutions: IVP is playing an integral role in reopening businesses such as hotels and restaurants and keeping children in schools around the country safe and is positioned to be the standard going forward, promoting clean and healthy air in all spaces. IVP is installed in health care settings across the U.S. to include over 100 healthcare facilities, including COVID-19 specialty hospitals, neuro-psych facilities, rehabilitation hospitals and tertiary centers About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

May 21, 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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News Release

Apple Named in Federal Antitrust Lawsuit Filed by Entertainment Company

Primary Productions, LLC

Primary Productions LLC recently charged Apple with antitrust violations of the Sherman Act, alleging restraint of trade for how the technology giant inhibits developer access to Apple’s App Store and userbase. The suit seeks class-action status on behalf of millions of software developers that are blocked from the App Store in favor of apps developed by Apple and its cronies. The complaint states it is first-to-file such a case protecting developers of free apps. In 2018, the group developed an app designed to educate the public about blockchain wallets by distributing hundreds of millions of dollars of free digital blockchain encryption currency, aka cryptocurrency. Apple killed the app before release because it allegedly threatened Apple’s low-price gaming Apple Arcade. Anticompetitive exclusion from a marketplace, such as that of smartphone enhanced internet commerce, is prohibited by civil and criminal code formalized as the Sherman Act of 1890. The lawsuit states that “Apple has so far distanced the independent developer from direct access to his or her audience, that critical commerce is restrained in violation of the Sherman Act.” The lawsuit further states that “in 2021 alone, as of filing, Apple has already rejected one million apps, representing millions of person-hours of lost work, all to appease the Apple giant.” “Apple is a monopsony retail buyer of apps, and hence underpays developers, even those of free apps, when it disallows them or suppresses their ranking on the App Store,” said attorney Keith Mathews. “Broader than existing Apple antitrust litigation, this case finally protects independent developers of free apps.” As for solutions beyond monetary damages, which could exceed $100 billion, the lawsuit demands an injunction requiring Apple to permit due process before denying an app, via an “App Court” to act independently and thereby avoid the problem of favoritism and cronyism. Attorney Mathews’ firm, Associated Attorneys of New England, seeks to join the New Hampshire-based Coronavirus Reporter app lawsuit to create a multi-district national litigation effort. That app, despite being designed by Dr. Robert Roberts, who consulted for NASA, developed the quantitative test that has been used to diagnose heart attacks, and chaired the prestigious Fields Medal committee, was blocked by Apple from being the first COVID-19 app in February 2020. Download a copy of the complaint here and at www.LawsuitPressRelease.com. Contact Details LawsuitPressRelease.com John P. David +1 888-859-6637 john@lawsuitpressrelease.com

May 20, 2021 03:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

The Return to Cruising is On the Horizon

YourUpdateTV

This past year, many travelers have spent a lot of time destination daydreaming, but now is the time to start making those dreams into reality. Recently, Travel Expert Michaela Guzy teamed with Norwegian Cruise Line and YourUpdateTV on a satellite media tour to discuss the future of cruise vacations, planning ahead, and details about Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest innovative ship, Norwegian Prima. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/K_H4dVkPjrM “This summer, cruising is back!,” said Michaela Guzy, travel expert and founder of Oh the People You Meet. “It is one of the best ways to make up for missed travels, as one of the beauties of cruising is visiting multiple destinations on one trip. With a wide variety of experiences readily available on board, you can easily design your ideal vacation with little or no additional planning. From relaxing poolside or at the spa, eating your way deck-by-deck, enjoying Broadway-caliber entertainment, or experiencing the numerous activities on board – there is something for everyone.” Norwegian Cruise Line sails to more than 300 destinations worldwide offering a wide variety of itineraries to buck-list destinations. Beginning July 25, 2021, the Company will sail the Greek Isles with seven-day voyages from Athens (Piraeus), Greece. Travelers can spend their summer exploring the ancient ruins and learning more about Greek Mediterranean culture through its local food and people. New week-long itineraries to the Caribbean from Montego Bay, Jamaica begin Aug. 7, 2021 and from Punta Cana (La Romana), Dominican Republic starting on Aug. 15, 2021. The Cruise Line also announced that its newest ship – Norwegian Prima – will debut the summer of 2022. As the first of the Company’s newest class of ships in nearly 10 years, Norwegian Prima will offer guests exciting itineraries to Northern Europe, Bermuda and the Caribbean, as well as the highest staffing levels and space ratio of any new cruise ship in the contemporary and premium cruise categories. She will also deliver Brand-first experiences that bring guests closer to the water with Ocean Boulevard, Indulge Food Hall, The Concourse, Infinity Beach and Oceanwalk. Norwegian Prima will not only offer the largest variety of suite categories available at sea but will also boast a redefined The Haven by Norwegian, NCL’s ultra-premium keycard only access ship-within-a-ship concept. The Haven will feature an expansive sundeck, a stunning infinity pool overlooking the ship's wake and an outdoor spa with a glass-walled sauna and cold room. For additional details and a list of itineraries, rendered images and video content of the all-new Norwegian Prima, please click here. For more information about Norwegian Cruise Line ships and their itineraries, or to book a long awaited cruise vacation, please contact a travel professional, call 888-NCL-CRUISE (625-2784) or visit www.ncl.com. About Michaela Guzy: Michaela Guzy is the founder of OhThePeopleYouMeet, a content company that focuses on people, places + purposes. In her award winning series, “Michaela's Map”, she curates the local hosts you are supposed to meet when traveling -- from local chefs and street artists, to her film featuring Dr. Jane Goodall and the person working to save baby sea turtles and teach your kids about them. In response to COVID-19 she launched a NEW trending IGTV show called InspirationStation: with 115 episodes + over 5.5 million+ views! Each episode navigates credible sources of information, resources to make the new and next normal brighter + more balanced and always connecting viewers with an inspiring person they ought to meet. She speaks at conferences across the globe, teaches travel storytelling at NYU and has appeared on multiple morning shows across the country sharing her sustainable and immersive travel tips, such as on: CBS New York, Fox2Now St. Louis, PIX 11 New York, WJLA Good Morning Washington DC, WTNH Good Morning Connecticut, and KTNV The Morning Blend Las Vegas. About Norwegian Cruise Line: Norwegian Cruise Line has been the premier innovator in the cruise line industry for over 54 years. We were the first to eliminate set dining times and provide guests with the freedom to cruise on their schedule to over 450 incredible destinations around the world. Our award-winning fleet provides an unparalleled onboard experience and will continue to expand with the introduction of Norwegian Encore in 2019 and the arrival of our Leonardo Class ships starting in 2022. Guests are welcomed aboard with a wide variety of complimentary and specialty dining options, entertainment that ranges from live music and comedy to shows straight from Broadway and our wide range of accommodations that are perfect for any type of traveler. In the coming years, Norwegian’s commitment to innovation will continue to raise the bar for the cruise industry. About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

May 20, 2021 01:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Spruce Up Your Home this Spring (and Earn Money While You Do It)

YourUpdateTV

With Americans spending most of their time at home now, home décor and comfort have become incredibly important. In fact, online marketplace OfferUp recently found that 58% of Americans redecorated their homes last year with items to make their living spaces more comfortable and functional, TV Host, Lifestyle Expert and Interior Designer, Evette Rios, teamed with OfferUp and YourUpdateTV to discuss new design trends and the perks of using resale marketplaces. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/Nj1YZ68I2P0 Because people are spending so much extra time at home, Americans have become increasingly focused on how to make their living spaces work best for them - and shopping for home goods and furniture on resale marketplaces like OfferUp is one of the easiest ways to do that. According to OfferUp’s Annual Recommerce Report, 35% of Americans purchased home products on resale apps last year, and the average American saved $400 by doing so. People are turning to resale marketplaces to find the perfect furnishings for incredible deals, as well as vintage and homemade items... OfferUp is also a great place to shop for hard-to-find items that may not be available elsewhere, like desks and chairs. If you can’t find something at a store or online, chances are someone in your community might be selling it on OfferUp. Selling your unused things in an online marketplace is a great way to declutter your home quickly this spring and earn extra income, either to make ends meet or to support a side hustle. With OfferUp, all you need is a phone, so it’s as easy as snapping a picture of what you want to sell and adding a price. When listing an item, post great photos and descriptions, price items fairly, and take advantage of what people are currently interested in. To start buying and selling today, download the OfferUp app in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store or visit www.offerup.com. About Evette Rios: Hailed as “The Latina Martha Stewart”, Evette Rios is a bilingual TV host, Interior Designer, Cook, Writer, and Native New Yorker of Puerto Rican heritage. Host of Emmy nominated Recipe Rehab on CBS and Rachael Ray’s designer and Design Buddy. Responsible for home design/renovation content on Rachael’s daytime show, website and magazine. Regular appearances on national morning shows including Today on NBC, Telemundo and Univision programs About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

May 20, 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Cyvatar Wins Two Coveted Global InfoSec Awards at RSA 2021

Cyvatar

Cyvatar today announced two more prestigious industry award wins, this time as 2021 Global InfoSec award winners for the Cutting-Edge in Cybersecurity-as-a-Service (CSaaS) and the Most Innovative SecOps-as-a-Service, by Cyber Defense Magazine--the industry’s leading electronic information security magazine. This year marks Cyber Defense Magazine’s ninth year of honoring global InfoSec innovators. Its submission requirements are for any startup, early-stage, later stage, or public companies in the information security space who have a unique and compelling value proposition for their product or service. “We’re thrilled to receive one of the most prestigious and coveted cybersecurity awards in the world from Cyber Defense Magazine,” said Cyvatar Co-Founder and Chief Executive Corey White. “We knew the competition would be tough, and with top judges who are leading infosec experts from around the globe, we couldn’t be more pleased.”. Award judges are CISSP, FMDHS, CEH, certified security professionals who voted based on their independent review of the company submitted materials on the website of each submission including but not limited to data sheets, white papers, product literature, and other market variables. “We scoured the globe looking for cybersecurity innovators that could make a huge difference and potentially help turn the tide against the exponential growth in cybercrime, said Gary S. Miliefsky, Publisher of Cyber Defense Magazine. “Cyvatar is absolutely worthy of these coveted awards and consideration for deployment in your environment.” CDM has a flexible philosophy to find more innovative players with new and unique technologies, than the one with the most customers or money in the bank. CDM is always asking “What’s Next?” so we are looking for Next Generation InfoSec Solutions. Whether you’re a small business starting from scratch or need to amplify your existing security investments, Cyvatar is here for you. Get started for free or reach out to Cyvatar at CYVATAR.AI. About Cyber Defense Magazine With over 5 Million monthly readers and growing, and thousands of pages of searchable online infosec content, Cyber Defense Magazine is the premier source of IT Security information for B2B and B2G with our sister magazine Cyber Security Magazine for B2C. We are managed and published by and for ethical, honest, passionate information security professionals. Our mission is to share cutting-edge knowledge, real-world stories and awards on the best ideas, products and services in the information technology industry. We deliver electronic magazines every month online for free, and special editions exclusively for the RSA Conferences. CDM is a proud member of the Cyber Defense Media Group. Learn more about us at https://www.cyberdefensemagazine.com and visit https://www.cyberdefensetv.com and https://www.cyberdefenseradio.com to see and hear some of the most informative interviews of many of these winning company executives. Join a webinar at https://www.cyberdefensewebinars.com and realize that infosec knowledge is power. About Cyvatar Cyvatar is committed to cybersecurity for everyone. As the industry’s first subscription-based, cybersecurity-as-a-service (CSaaS) company, it’s our mission to transform the way the security industry builds, sells, and supports cyber solutions. We empower our members to achieve successful outcomes by providing expert advisors, proven technologies, and a strategic process roadmap to guarantee results that map to their business drivers. Our approach is rooted in proprietary ICARM (installation, configuration, assessment, remediation, maintenance) methodology that delivers smarter, measurable security solutions for superior compliance and cyber-attack protection faster and more efficiently, all at a fixed monthly price. And because we’re a subscription, members can cancel anytime. Cyvatar is headquartered in Irvine, California with locations around the world. Begin your journey to security confidence at CYVATAR.AI and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. Contact Details Cyvatar KC Higgins +1 303-434-8163 kc@cyvatar.ai Company Website https://cyvatar.ai/

May 19, 2021 12:15 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Premier Rugby Sevens to Bring Innovation and Equal Pay to North America’s Newest Sports League

Premier Rugby Sevens

North America has a groundbreaking new sports league. Scheduled to debut in the fall of 2021, Premier Rugby Sevens (PR7s) will showcase North America’s top male and female players, including world-class Olympic athletes. The league will provide equal pay and high-performance access under one league umbrella, adopting a touring format in cities across the United States and Canada. The sport of sevens, as it is known in its short form, is an incredibly entertaining game that showcases a fast-paced style of rugby with nonstop action through a series of 15-minute games in a single day. Starting with a pilot season in the fall of 2021, PR7s will feature many U.S. players who played in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio and are expected to play in the Tokyo Olympics this summer. The league will feature six men’s teams and four women’s teams that play multiple games in one location. The host cities and schedule, along with tryout information, player announcements, and team names, will be revealed in the coming months. Fans are encouraged to sign up for news alerts and schedule updates at PRSevens.com. The league’s first player signings feature several stars from both the U.S. Men’s and U.S. Women’s National Sevens Teams, including Perry Baker, Danny Barrett, Abby Gustaitis, Carlin Isles, Ilona Maher, Folau Niua, Naya Tapper, and Stephen Tomasin. Baker, Barrett, Gustaitis, and Tapper participated in a launch video, which can be viewed HERE. PR7s was founded by Owen Scannell, a former collegiate rugby player from Dartmouth College. Scannell left a career in investment banking in 2017 to earn his MBA from the Tuck School of Business, with a focus on launching a startup in sports and entertainment. He spent two years running the commercial, business, and logistical operations for an American rugby franchise before departing to lay the groundwork for PR7s. “Rugby sevens is the most exhilarating sport in the world and perfect for the next generation of young fans,” said Scannell. “Sevens is extremely accessible and enjoyable for new North American fans and players. Our goal is to entertain fans through high-quality digital content, and unforgettable festival experiences in attractive North American destinations and markets. PR7s will provide our partners with unique and unparalleled activations across all our platforms.” Scannell’s first hire was Mike Tolkin as the league’s general manager to oversee all rugby operations. Tolkin brings an impressive resume to PR7s, including the role of head coach of the U.S. Men’s National Rugby (15s) team starting in 2012, where he led the U.S. to qualify for the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Most recently, Tolkin was head coach of Rugby United New York in their inaugural season in 2019. “Sevens is a fast-paced and dynamic game requiring skill, speed, power, and precision,” said Tolkin. “It's an incredibly entertaining game to watch, and PR7s wants to showcase the immense talent and athleticism of our athletes throughout North America. The U.S. teams have enjoyed great success on the world stage against international competition, and PR7s is a great opportunity to continue to grow that talent pool. Starting with many stars that are slated to play in the Olympics, our rosters will have incredible athletes who will provide a thrilling experience for our fans.” Premier Rugby Sevens (PR7s) is a groundbreaking professional sports league in North America. Scheduled to debut in the Fall of 2021, PR7s is the first league of its kind with both women’s teams and men’s teams under one umbrella with equal pay. With a focus on accessibility and entertaining content for fans, the league will showcase the electrifying sport of rugby sevens through a single-day touring format in cities across the United States and Canada. To learn more about Premier Rugby Sevens, go to PRSevens.com and follow the league on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Contact Details Eric Nemeth eric.nemeth@prsevens.com

May 19, 2021 08:57 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Mirriad and Tecate Beer Partner to Enhance In-Content Advertising

Mirriad

Mirriad, a leading in-content advertising company who place brands into video using Academy Award Winning technology, released a new study outlining success from a January 2021 partnership with Mexican beer brand, Tecate. Research found that overall, 76% of consumers said the campaign made Tecate more appealing to them. The beverage brand turned to a new model to embed their brand into content and expand their marketing into music videos, relying on Mirriad’s newly launched Music Alliance —a specialist division dedicated to growing creative and financial opportunities for artists by placing brands into visual music content. As marketers look to engage audiences in an era of ad avoidance, the Alliance allows them to weave their brand imagery into artists’ music videos and connect with fans in an authentic way. Mirriad’s pioneering, patented AI technology scans content for its emotional register moment by moment thus allowing brands to appear in exactly the right place at the right time - and critically with the right audience. This bespoke technology allows for advanced targeting that authentically connects brands with customers at scale – a huge leap forward for the advertising industry. Using Mirriad’s technology, Tecate seamlessly embedded brand signage and product throughout Regional Mexican artist Giovanny Ayala’s hugely anticipated release, ‘Pa' Que No Te Anden Contando’ distributed by music label Gerencia 360. Research conducted by Kantar demonstrates the strength of the product and signage embeds in driving key brand KPI’s, including: Top of mind Awareness of Tecate was lifted by +27ppt as was any unaided awareness Awareness of Tecate advertising rose +43ppt The campaign increased affinity to Tecate by +8ppt and drove a +7ppt increase in Purchase intent Even further, consumers had very positive views of this advertising approach: 89% of regular Tecate consumers liked the format 85% said it was a natural fit to the content 80% said that it was not distracting Tecate wanted to highlight both their product and signage to promote their tagline, “Mexico is in us,” within Regional Mexican music, a genre popular amongst their Mexican American customers. Mirriad’s close partnerships across major labels and independently owned Hispanic labels meant that Tecate were presented with over a dozen Regional Mexican videos set to release within their campaign window. Once the video was chosen, Mirriad was able to execute this initiative within hours of the scheduled release, which is completely unprecedented. “We’re thrilled to have collaborated with Mirriad, tapping this cutting-edge technology to create relevant engagement between Tecate and Mexican music and culture,” says Oscar Martinez, Tecate USA Sr. Brand Director. “Our largely Mexican American consumer base embodies a maverick spirit, and the integration of this content into Giovany’s music video was a win-win for everyone.” “Coming out of the social movements of 2020, and only going stronger in 2021, it’s refreshing to see more companies leaning into multicultural consumers by allocating large advertising budgets to diverse content that resonate with these communities. Mirriad not only gives brands access into multicultural content, but also works to ensure brands are woven into the right contextual moments, in a way that feels authentic to the viewer,” says VP of Brand Partnerships at Mirriad, Maria Teresa Hernandez. “We’re really excited to see this latest research that supports what we’ve known for a long time around Mexican American consumers and their purchasing power. We look forward to continued work with other brand partners and Mirriad using this creative and innovative technology to reach audiences,” says Luis Del Villar, CEO of Gerencia360. “Giovanna Ayala is a Tecate fan and honored to have the brand support his artistry.” “Tecate empowering Regional Mexican artists is a great example of an authentic partnership of brand and genre that will only strengthen the relationship with their loyal audiences,” adds Hernandez. About Mirriad Mirriad's award-winning solution unleashes new revenue for content producers and distributors by creating new advertising inventory in content. Our patented, AI and computer vision technology dynamically inserts products and innovative signage formats after content is produced. Mirriad's market-first solution seamlessly integrates with existing subscription and advertising models, and dramatically improves the viewer experience by limiting commercial interruptions. Mirriad currently operates in the US, Europe and China. Contact Details Kite Hill Rachel Wyncoop +1 845-901-1349 mirriad@kitehillpr.com

May 19, 2021 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

COVID-19 crisis will lead to a new period of rapid, transformative growth and prosperity: Studio 44 reveal 10 key insights for business leaders

Stockwood Strategy

As we recover from the COVID pandemic, environmental, social and technological trends are converging, leading to rapid, disruptive and transformative change, the likes of which we have not experienced for more than a generation, argues Simon Sear, CEO and founder of Studio 44. Leaders need to ensure that they and their organisation are ready to innovate and transform. Sear said: “The COVID crisis will lead to a new period of rapid, transformative growth and prosperity just like the First World War led to the roaring twenties, the Second World War to the golden age of capitalism and the recession of the late 1970s to the expansive growth of the 1980s. Spring always follows winter.” Combining with this natural economic cycle are major tailwinds, such as society’s demand for more progress on racial and gender equality, social mobility and mental wellbeing, Studio 44 argues. Governments and wider society have reached a tipping point on progress with environmental sustainability, while technologies including artificial intelligence (AI), hyper-automation and the Internet of Things (IoT) are supercharging change. These converging trends will result in rapid, disruptive and transformative change, the likes of which we have not experienced for more than a generation. Sear added: “Economists are predicting record growth and leaders need to ensure that their organisations are bold, more agile and quicker to change than at any time in history in order to deliver competitive performance in terms of cost efficiency, revenues and return on capital” Studio 44 has identified ten key insights by working with leaders during the challenging times of COVID, ranging from experimentation to mindset, technology to organisational culture. Sear concluded: “The crisis has highlighted many insights into how leaders can prepare for this next phase of growth and the journey ahead. They are at a once in a generation inflection point, opportunity is coming, and they need to ensure that they and their organisation are ready to innovate and transform.” Here is a summary of Studio 44’s top ten insights: Create a common mission: Often, in non-crisis times, organisations pay lip service to their mission. It’s written down, but no one really buys it. If the crisis did one thing very well, it was to provide a focus. The need for speed: The pace of change had been increasing, but the crisis supercharged this. Leaders need to focus their organisation on being able to respond quicker and with more agility than ever before. Change the corporate mindset: Many companies have long-held beliefs that limited their ability to respond and transform assumptions that need to be put in the bin. Make bold investments: The successful businesses of the last 12 months were the ones that had historically invested in new ways of working and bold new propositions. Experiment: In a decade that will be defined by rapid change and transformation, inexpensive, fast experimentation needs to be in the DNA of an organisation. Allocate your best people to your best opportunities: The pace of change is becoming ever faster and the war for talent continues to heat up. Leaders need to balance the need for transparency and fairness with quickly getting the right people in the right roles to optimise the chances of an organisation’s success. Teach more than new digital skills: In building on the successes of working from home and a period of change and disruption, it's crucial to teach employees new cognitive strategies and behaviours to enable them to adapt. Break the silos: During the COVID crisis innovative leaders gathered a multi-skilled team, incentivised them all for success in the same way and gave them the space to make it happen. Many leaders are now thinking about how they can maintain this kind of operating model and not return to older ways of working and the inefficiencies they create. Keep communicating: The pace of disruption and uncertainty in the next decade means that people will often feel unsettled and will seek reassurance. These are the same needs team members faced during the COVID crisis. Practice stakeholder capitalism: Leaders need to take a cooperative model into the next period of transformation. They need to take a long-term view, to have a strategy that not only ensures financial performance in the short term, but invests, and is seen to invest, in longer-term positive outcomes for all stakeholders. About Studio 44 Studio 44 is creating the future. It is a next generation consultancy that helps senior business leaders create step-out growth, disrupt markets and transform their culture and ways of working. It brings together smart people from tech, the arts, business and science with a common mission to create growth for clients with a focus on people and the planet. By bringing diverse thinking and the spirit and energy of a start-up to corporate clients Studio 44 radically shifts the operating model of a traditional consultancy. Contact Details Studio 44 Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://studio44.io/

May 19, 2021 05:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Digital transformation evades businesses that mismanage data

Stockwood Strategy

Data is poorly understood, inadequately valued and badly managed by global businesses costing them and their investors billions of dollars every year, according to a report published today by Anmut, the data valuation specialists. This is a big problem because it means most businesses are running on data that isn’t fit for purpose. The Anmut Data Leadership Report compiled data and anecdotal evidence from almost 100 Chief Data Officers from organisations headquartered on five continents whose collective annual revenues total over $1 trillion. The report finds that 91% of business leaders believe data is critical to the success of their businesses. However, only one in three (34%) of their companies manage their businesses’ data assets with the same disciplines as other business assets. These companies spend their allocated data management budget on creating value from their data that in turn helps them scale their businesses and develop their strategies. The remaining two thirds (66%) are using half of their data budgets to fix problems and errors identified within the data itself. According to the report, the average global business spends between 4% and 7% of annual operating expenses on managing its data. For a global financial services brand, that amounts to as much as $1.5-3 billion annually. “Time and again we’re seeing international businesses and household name brands coming under fire for reasons that seem preventable with hindsight,” says Herman Heyns, CEO of Anmut. "Those that succeed do so because they really understand the value of their data, and therefore prioritise and manage it well." Three quarters of respondents (76%) say their businesses are investing in large-scale data and digital transformation strategies. And, 63% say data is more critical than technology to achieve business transformation. Yet, Anmut's report also finds that technology investment regularly overshadows data investment. Technology gets three times the attention (73%) and five and a half times (88%) the budget as data. This is in spite of the fact that technology is dependent on reliable data to run well. Heyns adds: “The preference to invest in technology over data throws up a fascinating question about what digital transformation really means for businesses all over the world. Digital transformation is a term that’s used everywhere, in every annual report and corporate strategy document. Digital transformation is what companies do to become data-driven. The advances many companies make might be digital in name, but to create the transformation they're aiming for, they cannot lose sight of the data.” Chief Data Officers (CDOs) interviewed for the report regularly cite the challenge to make data something that everyone in their businesses understands, values and knows how to manage. The report finds that one third of company boards (33%) don’t consider data a ‘material asset’. 9 in 10 CDOs (87%) say putting a monetary value on data would enable people within the business to manage that data better. Heyns adds: “A critical issue for businesses’ data leaders is winning senior buy-in. When the board doesn’t appreciate the value of data to a company’s future performance, it’ll lack investment further down the business. That’s where data valuation comes into play. When the value of data assets are set out in pounds and pence, data can be thought of as a business asset. Then it climbs up the food chain, gets taken more seriously, impacts C-suite decision-making more readily, and receives greater investment. When data is treated like any other asset by assigning a monetary value to it, businesses can make better strategic decisions.” Anmut, whose clients include Smith & Nephew and Highways England, advises international companies across all sectors on how to manage, measure and value the data within their businesses. Intangible assets make up 90% of the total market value of the world’s largest companies. Anmut’s most conservative estimates put data at 20% to 30% of that. With only a third of companies managing that value well, it’s not a surprise that companies who do manage data well - the FANGS - have become the most valuable companies in history in the shortest time. In March, the UK’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) published its report: Increasing Data Access across the UK Economy in which they commit to creating a framework within which the government may have the ability to make interventions into private and third sector organisations to unlock the full value of their data. DCMS follows governments in several leading economies including the US and Germany that are taking the lead to enforce better data management in business. About Anmut Consulting Anmut is the only data asset management company that makes the value of data unignorable, comparable and manageable for businesses investing in digital transformation. Anmut believes in the power of data-driven decisions to make people’s lives better, be they customers, employees, suppliers, shareholders, local communities or future generations. Contact Details Anmut Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://www.anmut.co.uk/

May 19, 2021 04:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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