Shamel Azmeh
Source: That Startup Show.
COVID-19 has accelerated the growth in the digital economy through a dramatic increase in working from home, online shopping, digital entertainment, online services, among other areas. Ideas such as telemigration in which people from different parts of the world work in virtual offices might once have sounded outrageous. Today, many are already working from home through video streaming.
A completely virtual future is perhaps unlikely, but such shifts are a fundamental challenge to how we organise societies. Laws and regulations governing trade, taxation, labour, and social security, among other areas, are largely based on geographically-defined states that contain and regulate our economic and social activities.
Source: That Startup Show.
Has the COVID-19 pandemic affected business? Without a doubt, yes. The pandemic has caused many businesses to suffer, even to shut down entirely.
But has it stopped business from being done? No.
Rather, it has changed the way we operate and connect. It has caused businesses to evolve and expand their definition of their bottom line in the context of consumers expecting more from their brands, both in terms of service and delivery, but also in terms of ethics and societal impact.
Finding purpose or purpose-washing?
As companies look to rise above the noise and build a competitive advantage, there is a clear fundamental shift towards ‘purpose’.
Source: That Startup Show.
I spend a tonne of phone time with people in our still-immobilised industry and the number one question by far is: “Do you think government subsidies will extend after March for industries that are still shut down?”
I don’t think they will.
Sorry to be Mr Pessimism, but you have to be realistic.
I don’t often look to legendary musicians or record producers for business strategy.
But I keep thinking of Brian Eno (Roxy Music, Bowie, U2, Talking Heads) talking about the declining fortunes of the music industry.
It’s all whale blubber to him: