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I was honored to be a Co-Chair at the Chemical Marketing & Economics STEM Leadership Awards and sponsor of Hubert Sagnières of Essilor Luxottica.  Established in 2012, the CME STEM Leadership Awards are the highest honor given by the Chemical, Marketing, and Economics Inc to outstanding leaders of society for harnessing the transforming power of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) for the benefit of humanity.

Hubert Sagnières is widely recognized as a transformative force in the optical care industries and a leading scholar and contributor to exploration. Serving as the Chair and CEO of Essilor International, and later as the Executive Vice Chair of Essilor Luxottica, He has played a pivotal role in advancing the mission of improving lives through better vision—a mission deeply rooted in societal impact and innovation.

Under his leadership, Essilor Luxottica has become a global leader in eye care solutions. His work has resulted in groundbreaking innovations, strategic mergers, acquisitions, an unwavering commitment to sustainable development, and a vision to eradicate uncorrected poor vision on a global scale. As a result, Hubert has been instrumental in bringing vision care to millions of people in underserved communities around the globe.

He is also a distinguished explorer. In 2023 he followed in the footsteps of great French Explorers documenting their achievements. He then published the updates in, Daring French Explorations 1714-1854, Trailblazing adventures around the world. The book is a series of extracts and illustrations from the travel journals of the French explorers and current observations.

Honorees from left to right:
hashtag#GeorgeRodriguez, hashtag#LeonardLevie, hashtag#RichardWiese, hashtag#HubertSagnières, hashtag#JanetWalsh, hashtag#WilburRoss, hashtag#RichardGarriott, hashtag#SurabhiVarshney, hashtag#ShahKarim, hashtag#KseniaTakhistova, and hashtag#EdwardGrebow

Birchtree Global, LLC and Birchtree Performance HR are pleased to announce Dr. Janet L. Walsh has been elected the 2025 president of the Irish Business Organization in New York (IBO). Founded in 1973, the IBO is a leading organization for business networking. For five decades the IBO has created vibrant networks across the tri-state area supporting, guiding, and enlightening waves of Irish and Irish American business leaders.

Dr. Walsh succeeds Paul Finnegan, who has held the post since 2022. She will be joined by Karen Colligan, First Vice President and Loretta Bricchi Lee, Second Vice President, and a number of outstanding Irish Business Leaders. Janet and her team will be focusing on continuing the work of the IBO, expanding and deepening business to business relationships, its partnership with Irish Government representatives in the United States and bi-lateral chambers, and supportive programs for the J-1 Visa Program for students, the community’s newest business members.

Dr. Walsh is the CEO and President of Birchtree Global, LLC, which specializes in globalizing business and HR strategies, operations, and workforce integration. She has established operations in 86 countries and all 50 U.S. states, leading cross-functional teams of legal, financial, tax, and HR experts. Previously, Janet held senior leadership roles, including Vice President and Director of Global HR for multibillion-dollar multinationals. She holds a BA in Economics from Bucknell University, an MBA from Loyola University, and a Doctorate in Business Administration focused on Foreign Direct Investment in Cuba from University of Phoenix.

A recognized thought leader in global market entry, HR, and financial strategy, Janet’s board service includes Chair of Ethics and Governance for The Explorers Club, the Human Resources Certification Institute, and the D’Oyly Carte Foundation. As an adjunct professor and lecturer at top universities, including Columbia, Fairfield, Stony Brook, and Manhattanville, she works to bridge academia and practice.

Beyond business, Janet is a division-winning equestrian, award-winning watercolorist, and amateur archaeologist.

https://www.ibonewyork.org/

AIAC Chairperson Leonard Levie hosted leading economic and business executives at the Economic Club of New York, on November 21 to hear Ken Griffin discuss his perspective on the economy.  Two key comments Ken made included:

He was gravely concerned that the rise of tariffs puts the US on a slippery slope towards crony capitalism.

He pointed out domestic organizations might benefit from having potential competitors removed, however, this would be a short-term benefit.

He was concerned that removing potential competitors does more harm as companies may lose their productivity and competitiveness which in turn hurts the US economy.

Kenneth Cordele Griffin is the founder, chief executive officer, co-chief investment officer, and 80% owner of Citadel LLC, a multinational hedge fund and Citadel Securities. His 2023 estimated net worth of $35 billion, made him one of the top 40 richest people in the world.  He was part of Forbes’s 2023 list of the United States’ Most Generous Givers, donating some $1.56 billion to various charitable causes, primarily in education, economic mobility and medical research. He has also contributed tens of millions of dollars to political candidates and causes, usually Republican or conservative in ideology. For detailed summary of the discussion check out the following:

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/11/21/citadels-ken-griffin-says-trumps-tariffs-could-lead-to-crony-capitalism.html

https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/citadels-griffin-says-he-would-be-open-selling-minority-stake-his-hedge-fund-2024-11-21/

Photo: Bloomberg Media

Consider how you develop a competitive financial and operational advantage in your human capital. Here is a great article from McKinsey, well documented and food for thought. If you want more ideas for increasing your EBITDA in HR operations, let us know and our global, peer reviewed HR and Finance executives will brainstorm with you about your specific challenges.

Performance through people: Transforming human capital into competitive advantage

https://www.mckinsey.com/mgi/our-research/performance-through-people-transforming-human-capital-into-competitive-advantage?cid=eml-web

On April 23, I attended the Economic Club of NY and listened to JPMorgan Chase CEO, #JamieDimon discuss economic issues in the U.S. economy for 2024. He was interviewed by #MarieJoseeKravis, chair emerita of the #EconomicClubofNew York. Here is a short summary of his remarks.

In his comments he was bullish on a “robust” U.S. economy and mentioned the low unemployment and positive consumer financial environment, housing prices for owners, However, he pointed out the problems with increasing U.S. debt and concerns that inflation might endure longer than expected keeping interest rates higher. He mentioned concern over government spending. He pointed out threats to commodities markets and movement of people due to the continued conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine.

Dimon observed, the U.S. government would benefit from more “practitioners.” He said he’d like to see the next president populate the cabinet with members of the other party. He promoted putting people with practical, business experience at the table, hopefully reducing political polarization. “I want the next president, whoever it is, to put the other party (members) in their cabinet. That is what I would like to see. I would like to see practitioners go back to the government.” He said he was “very excited” about the future.

His remarks and conversation were very well received. Personal ancedotes from my table mates who know him were very favorable. He is much admired.

For a more detailed commentary on the economic future read his annual report to JPMorgan shareholders:

https://reports.jpmorganchase.com/investor-relations/2023/ar-ceo-letters.htm

Creating Positive Corporate Culture to Reduce Workplace Bullying

Laura Persky, Ken Pinnock and I are very pleased to announce our research “Creating Positive Corporate Culture to Reduce Workplace Bullying” has been recognized at the 2024 NYIT Faculty Scholars Awards Program.

This research highlights the problem of workplace bullying and provides suggestions for organizational processes that might prevent it from occurring. The study explains why workplace bullying exists and how certain organizational structures, cultures, or leadership styles can contribute to and reinforce negative behavior. This study includes both qualitative primary and secondary research sources. It provides recommendations for creating a positive work environment by applying organizational virtuousness practices that may inhibit or mitigate negative behaviors. The findings offer diagnostic suggestions and proactive structural efforts that can help minimize the opportunity for bullying.

The paper is available in the Global Journal of Business Research, Vol. 17, No. 1, 2023, pp. 43-53.  https://bbd501.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/GJBR-V17N1-2023-4.pdf

For a diagnostic review of bullying in your organization contact walsh@birchtreeglobal.com.

“Managing Global Workforce Risks”

If you are concerned about managing global risk and want to make sure you haven’t overlooked a significant issue, then you won’t want to join this live webinar, “Managing Global Workforce Risks.” Join the @BPHR and @Birchtree Global teams at 12:00 PM EDT on March 6. 

This presentation details the three major categories of risk: Personnel, Security, and Information and describes what business and HR leaders can do to minimize negative risk outcomes.

Register in advance for this webinar:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xEDTjya3RF-Bp-MCYkbrnQ

This webinar is eligible for recertification credits.

I was honored to attend the Economic Club of New York’s lunch with Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida. His comments had important implications for the business community. They included:

A description of the Japanese economic revival with an annual growth rate of 11.4%

Japan is open for business and governmental support and reforms will facilitate investment

Domestic investment at record levels, high stock prices, and reforming the asset management sector

Eliminating barriers to entry, labor market reforms, priority help for child care and women in the workforce

A focus on the development of cutting-edge technology in AI

A focus on the defense of national borders and climate change

For more information see the link to his speech below:

https://lnkd.in/dKsf4HMQ

The nice thing about teaching at Columbia University is getting to listen to dynamic speakers like CHRO Aashna Sinha. Aashna spoke to my class on leading a multicultural workforce with her observations on working with companies like Richemont, Mercer, Deloitte and Coty. Her experiences and observations on linking HR activities to the financial performance of the corporation resulted in 60 minutes of non-stop questions from the class. If you are looking for top and bottom-line focused business and HR professionals let me know and I’ll put you in touch with some of the best students at Columbia University, and some of the best HR leaders like Aashna!

#birchtreeglobal #birchtreeperformancehr #globalhr #humancapitalmanagement #hrci #shrm