Transnational cybersecurity certification program in partnership with Cyberpeace and BSI Learning, Australia.

Excited to launch our first initiative in the coming months as part of BSI Learning Group's new strategy with the incredible CyberPeace Foundation - The program is the first from an amazing new international partnership lead by our talented Kala Philip (MAICD, GAICD) to deliver international certifications in Cyber - supporting future skills development in this critical discipline. #cybereducation #skillstraining #india #australia #globalpartnerships #g20india 

#CyberPeace☮️ is thrilled to announce our first transnational cybersecurity certification program in partnership with BSI Learning, Australia.

Mark your calendars for September 21, 2023 – the International Day of Peace – as we set the stage for a high-profile summit on #Cybersecurity Governance & Skills in #NewDelhi, featuring top tech industry leaders, alongside the esteemed Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) Trade and Investment Commissioner for South Asia, Leo Bremanis. 

Thank you Kala Philip, CEO, BSI Learning and Scott Wesley for enabling the synergy to globally recognised #cybersecurity education and skill development and Vipul Rastogi, Austrade for facilitating the partnership. 

Simon Dewar Arushi Gaur Ivan Kaye Scott Henderson Dylan Chan Craig Saphin Tony Surtees @Michael Lynch 

Stay tuned as we pave the way for a safer digital world.

#CyberSecurityProgram #CyberEducation #India #Australia #GlobalSynergy #GlobalPartnerships #EducationPrograms #CyberSecurityCourse #G20India #InternationalDayofPeace

Failure Fail and innovate and focus on Customer Experience can be Fatal

It’s crazy to think that 88% of the Fortune 500 firms that existed in 1955 are gone. 

Most of these companies are unrecognizable, forgotten companies today. 

The question is… which companies will recognize (and adapt to) transformative and disruptive moments, and which ones won’t? How relevant is your company today. How relevant is your competition?

WHY

Failure to innovate?

Natural lifecycle?

Retirement if leader?

Lack of customer focus?

Fear to change? 

Here are some famous companies that failed to innovate, resulting in business failure.

BLOCKBUSTER (1985 – 2010)

Home movie and video game rental services giant, Blockbuster Video, was founded in 1985 and arguably one of the most iconic brands in the video rental space.  At its peak in 2004, Blockbuster employed 84,300 people worldwide and had 9,094 stores. Unable to transition towards a digital model, Blockbuster filed for bankruptcy in 2010.

In 2000, Netflix approached Blockbuster with an offer to sell their company to Blockbuster for US$50 million. The Blockbuster CEO, was not interested in the offer because he thought it was a "very small niche business" and it was losing money at the time. As of July 2017, Netflix had 103.95 million subscribers worldwide and a revenue of US$8.8bn.

Why did Netflix succeed and Blockbuster fail?

2 things

• Customer experience

And

• Innovation 

2. POLAROID (1937 – 2001)

In the 50s, 60s, and 70s, Polaroid was the coolest tech company on earth. Led by visionary founder Edwin Land, it grew from a 1937 garage startup into a billion-dollar phenomenon - no wonder Steve Jobs saw him as a personal hero and an inspiration for Apple. 

Polaroid had the tech for digital cameras but shelved it as it was going to impact its historically successful film business .

Polaroid neglected the need to explore new territory and enhance their long-term viability.

The original Polaroid Corporation was declared bankrupt in 2001 and its brand and assets were sold off.

Why did Apple succeed and polaroid fail?

2 things

• Customer experience

And

• Innovation 

3.TOYS R US (1948 – 2017)

Amidst the rising tides of e-commerce, the business world going global and games converting to online, Toys R Us failed to adjust and adapt 

Toys “R” Us filed  for bankruptcy in September 2017 under pressure from its debt of US$1bn and fierce online retail competition.

Amazon is now one of the most valuable companies on the planet 

Why did Amazon  succeed and Toys R Us fail?

2 things

• Customer experience

And

• Innovation 

5. BORDERS (1971 – 2011)

Borders was an international book and music retailer was unable to transition to the new business environment of digital and online books. 

Its missteps included holding too much debt, opening too many stores as well as jumping into the e-reader business to late.

Sadly, Borders closed all of its retail locations and sold off its customer loyalty list, comprising millions of names, to competitor Barnes & Noble for US$13.9 million. Borders' locations have since been purchased and repurposed by other large retailers.

Why did Kindle  succeed and Borders fail?

2 things

• Customer experience

And

• Innovation‍

7. TOWER RECORDS (1960 – 2004) vs IPHONE

A pioneer in its time, Tower Records was the first to create the concept of the retail music mega-store. 

Founded by Russell Solomon in 1960, Tower Records sold CDs, cassette tapes, DVDs, electronic gadgets, video games, accessories and toys.

Ahead of its time for a fleeting moment, Tower.com launched in 1995, making it one of the first retailers to move online. 

Its huge exposure to  debt  led to  its bankruptcy in 2004. 

Tower Records could not keep up with digital disruptions such as music piracy, iTunes and streaming businesses such as Spotify and Pandora. 

KODAK (1889-2012)‘

At one time the world’s biggest film company, Kodak could not keep up with the digital revolution, for fear of cannibalizing its strongest product lines. 

The leader of design, production and marketing of photographic equipment hesitated  to fully embrace the transition to digital led to its demise. 

For example, Kodak invested  billions of dollars into developing technology for taking pictures using mobile phones and other digital devices. However, it held back from developing digital cameras for the mass market for fear of eradicating its all-important film business.

 Kodak filed for bankruptcy in 2012

https://www.collectivecampus.io/blog/10-companies-that-were-too-slow-to-respond-to-change

http://bsivc.blogspot.com/2013/08/if-you-want-to-succeed-dont-be-afraid.html?m=1

How do you make innovation become part of your DNA ?

 Some that come to my mind are:-

• To encourage individuality ,
• being different ,
• empowering thought .
• Embracing failure and risk taking

A cool story about failure!

It’s one of my favourite stories, all the better for being true.

 A young chemist had been working for some time at developing a new bonding agent, a glue. Eventually the work was complete. He tried it out. It didn’t stick. What’s the use of a glue that doesn’t stick? A failure. Time wasted. Effort spent in vain. Back to the laboratory to try again. So, ninety-nine out of a hundred people would have concluded. The young chemist was the one in a hundred who thought differently.

Instead of deciding that his work was a failure, he asked, “What if it’s a success? What if I’ve discovered a solution? The only thing left to do is to find the problem.” He refused to give up. He kept asking himself, What’s the use of a glue that doesn’t stick? Eventually he found it. It became a huge commercial success. I use it all the time. It’s used for notes you can attach and detach at will. 

That’s how the “Post-it” pad was born.

 

I think of that story every time I hear someone write off their own or other people’s efforts as a failure. That is not just negative thinking. It’s destructive – of confidence, morale, self-respect. More importantly, it’s not true, or at least, not the best way of seeing things.

Creation, by its very nature, involves taking risks – the experiment that fails, the attempt that doesn’t quite come off. Each is part of the process that leads to discovery. Each is a learning experience. Analysing why something fails is often one of the most instructive exercises we can undertake. 

Creativity without failure is like being lifted to the top of a mountain without the climb. It’s fun. But it isn’t an achievement.

 “According to the effort,” said the sages, “is the reward.”

A few other failures that were the biggest successes!

Moses Maimonides 

Nor are we, here, now, in a position to judge success. I think of Moses Maimonides, the great Jewish thinker of the Middle Ages. Late in life he wrote a book. It was, he tells us in one of his letters, written for a single disciple who had doubts about his faith. It took a long time. Maimonides was in those days a physician as well the leader of his community, and the hours were hard to find. Eventually he completed it and sent it to the young man. From his reply it’s clear that it didn’t work. Perhaps he didn’t understand it. At any rate it didn’t answer his questions. 

A failure in Maimonides’ lifetime. 

The name of the book? “The Guide for the Perplexed”, the greatest work of Jewish philosophy ever written.

Moses

I think, too, of the first Moses. What would his obituary have been like, written by a contemporary? The evidence is there throughout the books that bear his name. When he intervened on behalf of his people, they complained. He hadn’t made things better; he’d made them worse. In Egypt, their burdens were made heavier. Leaving Egypt, they came up against the Red Sea. Crossing the sea, they found a desert. First there was no water. Then there was no food. Then the people complained there was no meat. Having given the Israelites the Ten Commandments they made a Golden Calf. Sending spies to prepare their entry into the land, they came back and said, it’s impossible. Every effort he made to form a free and holy people collapsed. Nor was he privileged to set foot in the land to which he had spent forty years travelling. Can a life of failures be a success? Sometimes it can be the greatest life there is.

As we journey through Elul and look back over our year, we must remind ourselves of an important lesson: you have to make a blessing over failures too.

– Rabbi Sacks (Ellul 5779 / September 2019)

What are examples of organisations who failed because they didn’t innovate?  

https://australianinnovation.blogspot.com/2023/08/its-crazy-to-think-that-of-fortune-500.html

Cyber Careers and Qualifications - Lifelong Learning

2023 National Skills Week 21- 27 Aug:

VET Impact #6 - BSI Learning and BSI Digital Learning currently conduct research & industry consultations to design, develop & deliver blended VET programs in emerging technologies and industries.

One such field is Cybersecurity and Cybergovernance - skilling up Australia is part of the roadmap for us to be the most secure nation by 2030. 

The Australian Qualifications Framework is recognised in 21 countries at various levels of participation, including Norway, Sweden, France, UK and Japan.

 “Being part of the Global Convention will boost international recognition of Australia’s world-class, vocational education and training graduates who are equipped with skills ready for the jobs of the 21st Century.” 

Says Simon Dewar BSI Digital Learning CEO 

"This benefits students, including international students, wanting to work and further their education in other countries." 

CyberPeace Foundation Savin Sam Vineet Kumar (he/him)

#VETforCyber

#NationalSkillsWeek

#ChangingLivesthroughLearning 

#cyberresilience 

#cyberpeace 

Australia as a top global study destination. 🌎

The QS Best Student City Ranking 2024 is out! 

 

This year, five Australian cities are ranked among the top 30 student cities globally: Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Canberra. 

High university rankings, a diverse student mix, high desirability, a vibrant jobs market, affordability and a positive student voice have all combined to continue to position Australia as a top global study destination. 🌎 

Read more: https://lnkd.in/es_bRqW8 

KPMG to invest $2B with Microsoft to develop AI for firm

KPMG announces a multi-billion-dollar investment in Microsoft’s generative AI and cloud services that will accelerate the use and development of generative AI for KPMG’s audit, tax and advisory clients and its 265,000 people globally. KPMG CEO Paul Knopp joins Caroline Hyde to discuss on "Bloomberg Technology." (Source: Bloomberg)

Ark CEO Cathie Wood speaks to KPMG CEO Paul Knopf - who shares that the firm  is to invest $2B in generative AI and Cyber and cloud solutions in partnership with Microsoft for its audit, tax and advisory clients - and expect it to return in excess of $12B for the firm!

There has been many disruptions in the accounting profession over the years- from ledgers to PCs to accounting software such as MYOB and XERO. These disruptions did not replace jobs but generated economic activity allowing business  to grow.

Paul believed that we are in an era  of the greatest technology disruption that he has seen in many decades - and believes the workforce will grow over the years - with generative AI - employing more  Cyber Professionals, Data Scientists,

Analysts and Auditors - letting AI do more mundane tasks and enabling people to be upskilled to do more interesting things !

 The firm looks forward to partnering with Microsoft to embrace this technology!

Workers will need to be lifelong learners - says Simon Dewar of BSI E’learning and is looking forward to be partnering with Kala Philip, CEO of BSI Learning Institute and Cassandra Parton, CEO of Microsoft training Partner, NEXTTECH Learning, with a view  to help upskill and reskill these humans in areas such as Generative AI, IT and Cybersecurity.

Security , governance and architecture is key for organisations to build and run their businesses. Ongoing training and a mindset of lifelong learning is key to the future of work - says NEXTTECH Director , Craig Saphin

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2023-07-12/microsoft-s-2-billion-ai-partnership-with-kpmg-video

The Opportunity to upskill and reskill people in India

India is busy constructing roads, tech campuses, airports and factories and growing by 6% a year  - but its education system leaves  a lot to be desired / says the Economist 

500m of its people are under 20— there is India’s brainy elite getting quals and the best education but for most Indians they are jobless and do not have the basic language literacy and numeracy skills! 

This could bring India’s economic development to a premature stop.

Why? 

What are some of the root causes of this lack of education ?

It’s the teachers - says the Economist

Teachers are poorly trained and badly supervised: 

• a survey of rural schools found a quarter of staff were absent. 
• Officials sometimes hand teachers unrelated duties, from administering elections to policing social-distancing rules during the pandemic.

Why is Vietnam’s kids doing so well ? It’s the teachers -  they are better prepared, more experienced and more likely to be held accountable if their pupils flunk.

The good news is that there has been a splurge on infrastructure. A decade ago only a third of government schools had handwashing facilities and only about half had electricity; now around 90% have both. 

Since 2014 India has opened nearly 400 universities. Enrolment in higher education has risen by a fifth.

BSI is proud to help solve this wicked problem by being a part of a collaboration between Australian and Indian educational institutions! 

BYJU is in Pain 

In the meantime , India’s biggest ed-tech firm has been slashed from 22b -6 b as a result of non compliance and a $1.2b debt around its neck ! 

Byju’s, who is trying to fix this problem of educating Year K-12s - and says it educates over 150m people worldwide . Deloitte has resigned  for non compliance -  resulting in many of its backers directors to resign Prosus, Peak XV Partners and ! 

Investors in BYJU include Tiger Global, Sequoia Capital, General Atlantic, Prosus and Tencent.