New Online Tool Provides Guidance to CFP Professionals Seeking Certification Across Borders in Asia-Pacific

DENVER, COLO – 20 June 2023 – Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd. (FPSB) has launched a new online tool to help CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER professionals in the Asia-Pacific region understand the professional requirements they must achieve to obtain CFP certification in another territory.

“As individuals continue to become more mobile and financial opportunities increasingly transcend borders, there is a growing desire from the financial planning community to hold CFP certification, the globally recognized symbol of excellence in financial planning, in multiple territories,” said FPSB CEO Dante De Gori, CFP. “Given the nature of the global economy, FPSB is pleased to facilitate a cross-border tool to help CFP professionals in the Asia-Pacific region learn the requirements to obtain their CFP certification in a new territory to expand their practice and ensure their clients’ needs are met.”

As CFP professionals seek to relocate to other territories within the Asia-Pacific region, the demand for cross-border certification has increased. This demand, along with the request of clients, prompted FPSB, the global financial planning standards-setting body, and its Asia-Pacific affiliated organizations that administer CFP certification to develop the cross-border online tool.

“The creation of this new tool supports the global reach of CFP certification, helping CFP professionals learn the requirements to obtain CFP certification outside of their home jurisdictions, as well as move from one territory to another or work in multiple territories,” added De Gori.

For example, a CFP professional may make a temporary, job-related move from Singapore to China and want to obtain the CFP certification in China while maintaining their certification in Singapore to serve clients in both Singapore and China. FPSB’s online tool helps this CFP professional understand the requirements to obtain CFP certification in this way.

In addition to the requirements outlined in the tool, CFP professionals also need to ensure all territory-specific regulatory practice requirements are met, as well as any further requirements that may impact their ability to practice financial planning in that territory and/or in relation to holding CFP certification in that territory.

MasterClass Expands Learning & Development Enterprise Platform MasterClass at Work; Names First Chief Business Officer

The fully integrated offering brings world-class storytelling to professional development with new, exclusive product offerings

SAN FRANCISCO, June 20, 2023 – MasterClass, the streaming platform where anyone can learn from the world’s best, today announced the expansion of MasterClass at Work, its L&D enterprise offering, which provides companies with the most engaging learning and development materials through content taught by the world’s best in their fields. The expansion includes the L&D platform’s LMS integrations and new enterprise-exclusive content, Skill uilder and Paths, that addresses the needs of today’s leaders through active learning. The company also named its first Chief Business Officer, Nathan Smith, who will report into CEO David Rogier and oversee MasterClass at Work’s operations and the MasterClass L&D offering.

Smith brings over 20 years of experience building international SaaS businesses in the data analytics space by designing and delivering high performing ROI solutions for many of the world’s largest businesses.

MasterClass at Work focuses on developing durable skills in employees of all levels through emotion-based learning, designed to maximize knowledge retention, entertain and inspire. The bite-size content, immersive learning experience and employee engagement tracking allow businesses to match leadership lessons to their business needs. Current clients include Capital One, Deloitte, Microsoft, Block, Paypal and half of the Fortune 100 companies.

“There’s been a regression in soft skills post-pandemic. The world has changed, and the workplace has drastically changed with it. Companies are starting to see gaps in how employees among different generations communicate, lead, and collaborate,” said Nathan Smith, CBO of MasterClass. “The need for learning and development materials that make a real impact on behavior and an ROI to tie back to is now more important than ever, and MasterClass at Work helps companies bridge this gap.”

The platform will feature two new products, Skill Builder and Paths, both enterprise-exclusive learning experiences that focus on helping employees develop the skills they need to thrive in their role. Skill Builder and Paths feature multiple instructors from across the MaterClass catalog, bringing together the interdisciplinary expertise and diverse perspectives of luminaries, business leaders, artists, scientists and coaches to keep employees engaged and drive them towards a clear and measurable outcome.

• Skill Builder focuses on a specific skill or capability such as public speaking, leading a team and personal growth. Each Skill Builder is delivered as a 20-minute video, and includes a narrator as the connective thread between instructors.
• Paths start with a big challenge relevant to a role within the organization, and then outline the steps a person needs to take and the skills and mindset they need to develop to solve that challenge. Each Path includes active learning components like Playbooks, which support practice and application of learning, and Community
  Discussion, that are designed to foster critical thinking and feedback. Upcoming Paths cover challenges relevant to managers and people leaders including how to lead innovation, how to be a better decision-maker, how to think and act more strategically and how to build an inclusive team with world-renowned leaders like Bob Iger, Indra Nooyi, Richard Branson and Mellody Hobson.

“For most organizations today, employee success requires a holistic approach to learning – one that nurtures both emotional well-being and skill-focused development,” said Dr. John Scott, Head of Learning Design and Strategy for MasterClass. “By combining amazing storytelling with evidence-based learning design frameworks, we’re keeping employees engaged and helping them develop the skills they need to be more successful at life and in work.”

MasterClass at Work has also integrated with platforms learning management systems and learning experienced platforms including Degreed, which is MasterClass’ first integration with a Learning Experience Platform. The platforms unlock learning in the flow of work for employees and cultivate community through increased interactivity. Users can now discover and build learning experiences and programs with MasterClass content, including curated learning paths.

Users will be directed to MasterClass to experience the content first hand, with progress and tracking supported.
Recently released and upcoming class launches include:

• Mellody Hobson: Leveraging her experience in the C-suite and as a board member for Fortune 500 companies, including Starbucks Corp., JPMorgan Chase, the Estée Lauder Companies, DreamWorks Animation SKG and more, Ariel Investments Co-CEO, board director and philanthropist shares her tactics on strategic decision-making and how to apply a strategic framework to problem-solving to grow the leader within.
• Kim Scott: Bestselling author, co-founder of Radical Candor® and renowned CEO  coach breaks down her Radical Candor framework for soliciting, giving, gauging and encouraging feedback, cultivating an inclusive culture and empowering others to succeed.
• James Clear: The author of Atomic Habits joins MasterClass later this summer, as the world heads back to work and school, to teach the power of building small habits, work/life balance and a growth mindset.
• Amy Poehler: Launching in September, viewers will get to see Poehler like never before as she steps out of the chair and onto the stage, teaching a live audience how the principles of improv can be incorporated into business and everyday life to navigate work, life and relationships. Workshopping real-life scenarios with the live audience, viewers will learn how to tackle the world through flexibility, openness and humor. “In my class, I’ll share what I’ve learned throughout my career to help anyone who is looking to be open, curious, and ready for an unprepared life,” said Poehler.
• Jocko Willink: Former commander of Seal Team 3 takes members through stories from his special forces days and showcases how to apply them in the real world. Joined in a situation room with managers, executives and entrepreneurs, he demonstrates how these life-or-death moments can be applied to driving team engagement.

Surfshark hosted the Influencer Awards

Michael Henry, Mrwhosetheboss, and TomSka & Friends are among the winners

Cybersecurity company Surfshark hosted the first ever Influencers Awards to find out the best creators’ collaboration with the brand. A panel of 8 experts voted for the most notable partnerships in 8 different categories, from the funniest product integration to the best acting. TomSka & Friends were nominated in three categories and won awards in two of them.

“The popularity of influencers is determined by the viewers. Meanwhile, we wanted to recognize another, but equally important, aspect of their work – the partnership with business and the efforts made to build it and show it to the audiences. Working with the best influencers of the world, we’ve gained a lot of great partnership examples that we wanted to acknowledge”, says Giedrius Petraitis, Head of Influencer Marketing & Brand Partnerships at Surfshark.

To find out the winners, a panel of 8 international business, marketing, and digital media experts from Croatia, Estonia, Taiwan, Portugal, the UK, and the US voted for the best influencers’ collaboration with Surfshark. From a wide range of creators, the jury came up with a shortlist of 4 influencers in each of 8 categories and then voted for the best ones.

The following influencers have been declared winners:

1. Best Explanation of the Product – Mrwhosetheboss;
2. Best Storyline – TomSka & Friends;
3. Best Animated Integration – Greasy Tales;
4. Most Hilarious Integration – Michael Henry;
5. Best Use of a Prop – colinfurze;
6. Best Visual Effects – 超粒方;
7. Best Acting Performance – TomSka & Friends;
8. Best Original Song – WinnerMax.

All of the winners have gotten the specially created Surfshark award statue, the stylized surfing board. This is the first time in Surfshark’s history that the awards have been held, but the organisers hope to make it an annual event.

All of the nominations, winners, and the integrations can be found in the awards ceremony video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTvNo5N3RNM 

Operational Budget Challenges Bring Uplift to OT Risk Management, says Radiflow

Partnering with cross-industry players, Radiflow pools data sets that illuminate the full OT network and its vulnerabilities. “Relieving CISOs of tedious visibility gathering tasks grants them an extensive view to quickly deploy large-scale OT security operations,” said Ilan Barda, Co-Founder & CEO of Radiflow.

Tel Aviv, Israel, June 19, 2023– Radiflow, creators of the leading OT network cybersecurity platform CIARA, continue to see budgetary pressure as a main driver in prioritizing OT Cybersecurity projects. This has created opportunities for more partnerships across the OT Cybersecurity sector, resulting in greater flexibility and coverage in the analysis of OT networks.

CISOs of OT operational facilities, such as production plants, utility operations, critical infrastructure, and logistics centers, are facing a hostile environment where outdated machines are susceptible to attack for financial gain or political statements. In response, Radiflow recently released CIARA 4.0, focusing on illuminating the vulnerabilities of all network devices and mapping of the recommended security controls using a breach attack simulation (BAS) engine.

Radiflow has partnered with industry leaders to feed greater data into its analytics platform and provide quick risk assessment insights to help CISOs optimize and justify OT security budgets despite the overall pressure for budget cuts. One such major integration is with Awen Collective to conduct in-depth asset discovery for critical infrastructure networks. Awen Collective provides Dot, an OT Asset discovery tool with a lightweight nature that can be deployed in a scalable way on portable devices in distributed OT networks. The in-depth assets map generated by Dot can now be uploaded into Radiflow’s CIARA to perform a data-driven risk assessment and quickly provide accurate risk scoring for large industrial enterprises.

“The OT cyber security industry is maturing and better serving the needs of our critical infrastructure, manufacturing, and defense organizations by working collaboratively to deliver better solutions,” said Jules Farrow-Lesnianski, Co-Founder & CEO of Awen Collective. “Providing in-depth visibility of traditionally hard-to-reach OT networks using Dot to Radiflow’s CIARA significantly increases our client’s ability to quickly and accurately quantify and mitigate OT cyber risk.”

Another partnership is with Atrinet Networks, a provider of a Network Management System (NMS). The NetACE tool of Atrinet can query a multitude of network infrastructure devices and generate a map of the assets in the network for the Radiflow CIARA tool without requiring the configuration of a span port in the OT network switches, thus simplifying the initial risk assessment exercise.

“Partnering across the industry allows us to pool together previously unidentifiable data, enabling greater automation across the full OT network,” said Ilan Barda, Co-Founder & CEO of Radiflow. “Relieving CISOs of tedious visibility gathering tasks grants them an extensive view to quickly deploy large-scale OT Cybersecurity operations.” These capabilities bring them in line with automation and continuous threat analysis which are being increasingly required in the dynamic market landscape.

To support the sector’s growth, Radiflow has opened offices in Spain, Germany, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, and Italy, overall tripling its EMEA sales team in the last 9 months.

Beauty & Wellness Sector Skill Council Kicked Off a Countdown to Celebrate International Yoga Day

B&WSSC CONVEYED THE MESSAGE TO SAY YES TO YOG &i NO TO ROG

In light of the fact that it takes 21 days to fully form a new habit, B&WSSC kicked off the 21-day countdown to International Day of Yoga. Taking this momentum to the next level and to celebrate the onset of International Yoga Day, B&WSSC organized a morning Yoga session on 16th June’2023 in association with FICSI to spread the importance & awareness of Yoga in our ecosystem.

The 21-day countdown to International Day of Yoga was designed to create a habit of practice for individuals. This was to ensure that the knowledge and importance of Yoga is not only shared but also practiced.

The session was conducted by renowned yoga expert, Shri Amit Kumar Ji and his team members. They guided the participants through various yoga asanas. The event was attended by people from different walks of life who learnt the importance of yoga and the multiple health benefits it can offer.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Monica Bahl, CEO, Beauty & Wellness Sector Skill Coundil informed, “B&WSSC celebrated this day to carry forward the legacy of yoga, as well as the concept of EK VISHWA, EK SWASTHY – VASUDHAIV KUTUMBKAM. Besides teaching and practicing Yoga the session also aimed to instill a sense of unity and holistic well-being among all, in line with the famous Sanskrit mantra, “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” which translates to “The World is One Family.” By teaching this ancient practice, the organization seeks to bring the idea of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ to life, celebrating humanity and our shared sense of belonging and wellbeing. The event conveys the message ‘Say Yes to Yog, No to Rog’.

This is to be noted that by hosting such events, the Beauty and Wellness Sector Skill Council aims to create an environment that encourages individuals to stay proactive in taking control of their physical and mental health. The council is dedicated to cultivating an inclusive and holistic understanding of health and wellbeing. Monica Bahl ji further added, “Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji’s is dedicated to promoting yoga around the world. In addition to promoting yoga’s physical and mental health benefits, he is also committed to sharing the spiritual and cultural significance of the practice. His vision is to make yoga more accessible to people of all backgrounds. And in the end, the small steps we took today led us closer to his future goals.The beauty and wellness sector skill council believes that healthy practices and wellbeing can only be achieved through collective action and dedication. Therefore, the council is constantly taking initiatives to bring together a community of individuals who are passionate about leading a healthier life. Events like today’s are an important way for the council to foster that community and to raise awareness about the importance of healthy practices.

The Yoga event took place in Shriram Bhartiya Kala Kendra Building, Ground Copernicus Marg, New Delhi. The event was a complete success and left everyone feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. Everyone was delighted to learn the ancient art of yoga and how to incorporate it into their daily routine. The event was truly remarkable and left everyone feeling energized and revitalized.

Garuda Aerospace unveiled cutting edge Drone Technology and Global expansion plans at Paris Viva Tech Event 2023

19th June 2023, India,

Garuda Aerospace, India’s leading drone technology company, participated in the prestigious Viva Technology Event 2023- Europe’s largest tech and startup summit in Paris, France from 14th-17th June. Recognized as one of the best startups in India, Garuda Aerospace was exclusively invited by the Government of India to represent the nation and join the esteemed Indian Delegation at the event.

Viva Technology, renowned as the world’s premier tech and innovation event, drew a staggering attendance of 91,000 participants from 146 countries. Amongst the exclusive selection of only 10 drone startups worldwide, Garuda Aerospace stood out as a beacon of innovation, amongst 20 startups representing India across various sectors.

At Viva Technology, Garuda Aerospace showcased its groundbreaking VAYU drone, specifically designed for mapping and surveying purposes. Boasting an impressive payload capacity of 1.5 kg and a maximum take-off weight of 13.5 kg. The drone’s high-resolution 20 MP camera offers unparalleled clarity and precision for capturing detailed images and data during mapping and surveying missions. With a remarkable range of 150 km and a flying speed of 27 m/s, the VAYU drone stands as a game-changer in the field of unmanned aerial technology.

Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder and CEO, Garuda Aerospace, expressed his enthusiasm about the event, stating, “Participating in Viva Technology as part of the Indian Delegation is a tremendous honour for Garuda Aerospace. As the drone ecosystem develops expeditiously, we are attracting global companies to rely on Indian Drone Solutions. As Make in India Drones have become preferable for Global companies they are using Garuda Kisan Drones to get the best results in agricultural production.

“The Global Partnerships will help advance capabilities and improve overall productivity for the drone services. This will also help achieve world-class technologies and innovations and provide solutions to the customers. We plan to expand to 100 countries over the next 12 months and export 10,000 drones that are 100 each drone to 100 countries by the end of the year and participate to represent India and contribute to the country’s reputation as a hub for technological advancements.” concluded Agnishwar Jayaprakash.

Speaking about the event, Raghavendra Ravichandran, Chief of Staff, Garuda Aerospace, “Being selected as one of the 20 startups from India, amidst tough competition, highlights our technology’s exceptional quality and ingenuity. Viva Technology has provided us with a great platform to network, collaborate, and forge strategic partnerships, propelling Garuda Aerospace into new realms of success.”

The invitation to Viva Technology 2023 was extended exclusively to startups with truly innovative technology, recommended by their respective countries. Garuda Aerospace’s participation stands as a testament to the company’s pioneering work in the drone industry, elevating its position as a global player.

Leading GCC Sun Life Asia Services Centres repositions itself as Sun Life Global Solutions

Bengaluru, June 19, 2023: Sun Life Asia Service Centres (ASC), a microcosm of the global insurance and asset management leader Sun Life, repositions itself as Sun Life Global Solutions (SLGS). The strategic move aims to advance the organization’s value proposition and further its journey in close collaboration with Sun Life’s business groups. In line with its ambitious growth trajectory, SLGS aims to recruit 1000 approx. new talent in the next two years. This significant expansion presents a distinct opportunity for skilled workforce in India and Philippines to collaborate with Sun Life, effectively showcasing their exceptional capabilities and immense potential.

The new name Sun Life Global Solutions (SLGS) underscores its global impact delivered through developing solutions, experiences and furthering innovation. With this strategic evolution, SLGS will also reaffirm its position as a key talent hub for Technology, Operations and Client care center. In addition, it will also lay focus on its expertise in key knowledge skills like actuarial, finance services, legal services, risk and compliance monitoring.

Sun Life plays an essential role for its Clients in the areas that matter most to them, and takes great pride in helping them build brighter, optimistic futures for themselves and their families. The goal is to build deeper digital relationships and more personalized experiences so we can better anticipate and serve our Clients’ unique needs. SLGS brings deep technology and digital capabilities by attracting top talent and a constantly upskilling workforce comprised of dynamic and motivated professionals.

Expressing his views on the repositioning, Mr. Tarun Sareen, Managing Director, Sun Life Global Solutions, said, “It is truly a privilege to be the enablers driving the organisational Purpose of Sun Life in India and Philippines. The word Global reflects our outreach and the collaborative journey with Business Groups across the globe. And the word Solutions emphasizes our focus on designing and delivering solutions to our clients and advisors – be it through a digital asset, a transaction we process, a Client call we cater to or a solution. Solutions to us signify optimism and taking the forefront to solve challenges, create pathways and manifest opportunities – and keep on architecting and solving for the future. This is what makes us – Sun Life Global Solutions “

He further said, “Our culture is our superpower. SLGS takes pride in being a Great Place to Work. We are committed to nurturing a purpose led and values driven culture where we all do best work of our lives thriving in a diverse, equitable and inclusive work environment. We believe in truly empowering our teams through a caring and thriving workplace encouraging them to bring their whole and authentic selves to work. Further with a shared vision and purpose, inclusive leadership, people centric practices we are building a highly engaged workforce which imbibes a sense of belonging.”

Sun Life Global Solutions plays a key role in driving the organisation’s enterprise strategy. They provide services and solutions to all pillars – Canada, Asia, US and Asset Management and Corporate functions. Over the course of its journey, SLGS has evolved as a key capability hub, creating many assets for the organization like Client Care Centre, Operations, Technology, Financial shared services, Actuarial, Legal and HR Shared services amongst others. Sun life Global Solutions will play an even larger role in the coming years by nurturing a stronger talent pool and leading digital and transformation initiatives.

Sun Life Global Solutions is a listening, caring and vibrant organization, its consistent high engagement scores speak of this culture. SLGS has received the Great Place to Work honorifics, ranked among the “Top 100 Best Companies for Women in India”, SLGS has been featured among India’s Best Workplaces in IT & IT-BPM 2022 – Top 50 by Great Places to Work. These recognitions reflect our Culture, practices, and focus on being a purpose-led organization well-equipped to serve business priorities and deliver exceptional value for its clients.

Start-up valuations are dropping globally

Bengaluru India June 19, 2023 – Recent market analysis reveals a substantial decline in start-up valuations across the globe. This downward trend has raised concerns among investors, entrepreneurs, and industry experts. The decreasing valuations indicate a shift in the start-up ecosystem and highlight the need for careful assessment and adaptation in this evolving landscape opines Venu Kondur CEO Lobb Logistics.

Factors contributing to the drop in start-up valuations are multi-faceted and influenced by a combination of market dynamics, investor sentiment, and regulatory changes. Some key factors include:

Market Correction: After a prolonged period of rapid growth and high valuations, the market is undergoing a natural correction. Investor expectations have shifted towards more realistic and sustainable valuations, leading to a recalibration in start-up pricing.

Increased Scrutiny: Investors are becoming more discerning and cautious in their investments, conducting thorough due diligence and demanding stronger business fundamentals. Start-ups with unproven business models or unsustainable growth trajectories are experiencing downward pressure on their valuations.

Regulatory Environment: Regulatory changes, particularly in areas such as data privacy, digital currencies, and technology governance, have introduced uncertainties and increased compliance costs. These factors can negatively impact start-up valuations, as investors factor in potential risks and legal challenges.

Evolving Investor Landscape: The investment landscape for start-ups is evolving, with a shift in focus towards sectors such as health-tech, climate tech, and sustainable solutions. Start-ups operating in other sectors may face greater challenges in attracting funding and achieving favourable valuations.

While the decline in start-up valuations presents challenges, it also brings opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors. This changing landscape encourages a renewed focus on business fundamentals, sustainable growth strategies, and demonstrating clear value propositions to investors.

Industry experts emphasize the importance of adopting a long-term perspective and adjusting strategies accordingly. Start-ups should prioritize building robust business models, cultivating strong customer relationships, and differentiating themselves in the market to withstand market fluctuations and attract investment.

Investors, on the other hand, are advised to conduct thorough due diligence, carefully assessing a start-up’s market potential, team expertise, competitive advantages, and scalability before making investment decisions. Collaborative partnerships and strategic investments in promising start-ups can yield significant returns in the long run.

“While the decline in start-up valuations may present challenges, it also brings an opportunity for entrepreneurs and investors to recalibrate their strategies and build sustainable businesses,” said Venu Kondur, CEO Lobb Logistics. “By focusing on solid fundamentals and addressing market needs, start-ups can position themselves for long-term success despite the changing investment landscape.”

The declining start-up valuations are indicative of a maturing market that requires adaptability, resilience, and strategic planning. Entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers are urged to monitor market trends closely and collaborate to foster an ecosystem that encourages innovation, growth, and long-term value creation.