Understanding Business Benefits

Travel doesn’t just change your location. It rewires how you think. Have you been to all these places? * Leaders with international experience are 32% more likely to drive successful market expansion. * Companies with culturally diverse leadership teams are 36% more profitable. * Professionals exposed to multiple cultures show higher creativity and problem-solving scores. * 70% of executives say cross-border experience directly improved their decision-making under pressure. On the ground, travel forces: * Faster adaptation when plans break * Clearer communication across cultures * Better risk assessment in unfamiliar environments * Stronger empathy — a hidden advantage in leadership and sales The best strategies aren’t built only in boardrooms. They’re shaped in airports, factory floors, late-night meetings, and conversations across borders. If you want to scale your business, scale your perspective. Travel isn’t a perk. It’s leadership training. #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #GlobalMindset #DataDriven #TravelForWork #ExecutiveMindset

Payments have evolved from paper and plastic to APIs and orchestration - giving rise to a new breed of players that simplify the complexity and connect the dots behind the scenes. Here's how we got here. 𝟭. 𝗜𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝟭𝟵𝟵𝟬𝘀 𝗲𝗿𝗮, banks owned the entire payments value chain -acquiring, processing, settlement. Merchant onboarding was complex, and domestic clearing systems ruled. 𝟮. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗲-𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗲 in the late 1990s changed everything. Players like PayPal and Authorize made online payments possible, while banks began exiting the acquiring space or partnering with processors to keep up with demand. 𝟯. 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟬, specialized gateways and regional wallets began to scale, offering merchants greater flexibility and control. The launch of SEPA in Europe marked a push toward payment harmonization, while non-bank players started building infrastructure that bypassed traditional acquiring models altogether. 𝟰. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗣𝗜-𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 transformed payments from siloed systems into modular, developer-friendly tools. Merchant onboarding became faster, integrations simpler, and innovation more scalable. Open Banking regulations enabled direct access to bank data, while new credit models redefined consumer behavior. Payments evolved into a flexible, programmable layer of the digital economy. 𝟱. 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆, we’re in the age of seamless integration. Payments are embedded in everything - from ride-hailing apps to SuperApps. Real-time rails like SEPA Instant, UPI and PIX are live. CBDCs are in pilot. However, as payment ecosystems grow more fragmented - with new methods, regional schemes, compliance layers, and fraud risks -complexity has become a major bottleneck for merchants, fintechs, and even banks. Integrating multiple providers, maintaining uptime across systems, and ensuring regulatory compliance isn't just costly - it's unsustainable without the right foundation. This is where a new breed of infrastructure players like 𝗔𝗸𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗼 fit in - offering the tools to simplify complexity and still retain control. • 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲-𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗲𝗹 𝗽𝗮𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 let banks, PSPs, and fintechs launch their own branded platforms fast - without building from scratch. • 𝗣𝗮𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 enables merchants to route transactions dynamically across multiple acquirers, reducing costs and failed payments while improving UX. • 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 can embed API-driven acquiring services into their offerings without the burden of a full-scale tech overhaul. In a world where growth brings fragmentation, the real challenge isn’t enabling payments - it’s managing them. The advantage will lie with infrastructure that can unify complexity, adapt in real time, and scale across borders without adding friction. Opinions: my own, Graphic source: Akurateco Payment Hub Subscribe to my newsletter: https://lnkd.in/dkqhnxdg

🤔Understanding 𝗣𝗮𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗢𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 Let me break it down for you: In the 𝟭𝟵𝟵𝟬𝘀, with the rise of Ecommerce, the first payment gateways came into existence. However, they lacked today's advanced collection and reconciliation tools. The 𝟮𝟬𝟬𝟬𝘀 saw integrations between developers and gateways due to limitations in serving all customers through one gateway. By the 𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟬𝘀, PSPs transformed, introducing alternative payment methods, fraud prevention, and global payments in local currencies. The 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟬𝘀 witnessed a shift, with over 60% of retailers using multiple payment providers and payment orchestration becoming essential for businesses. What is 𝗣𝗮𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗢𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻? Drawing from the world of music, payment orchestration functions similarly to a maestro harmonizing an orchestra🎼 This system blends multiple payment processes, offering an efficient and streamlined transaction route. It centralizes various gateways, ensuring a smooth consumer checkout. Integrated reporting provides a unified data view, and "smart routing" auto-directs transactions through the best route. Europe's e-commerce data shows that roughly a quarter of Mastercard's payment authentications in early 2021 failed. Smart routing in payment orchestration aims to combat such issues. Business Research Insights predicts that by 2027, the payment orchestration market will be valued at nearly $5 billion. Key advantages of payment orchestration include: 1️⃣ Cost and Time Efficiency: Merchants can choose lower transaction fees from a range of providers. 2️⃣ Increased Conversion: Improved customer experience boosts conversion rates. Factors like smart routing, diverse payment methods, and local currency support play significant roles. 3️⃣ Transaction Success: With the rise in digital payments, ensuring transaction success becomes vital. Payment orchestration can notably reduce decline rates. 4️⃣ Customer Loyalty: Offering preferred payment methods enhances the buying experience, fostering customer loyalty. 5️⃣ Global Expansion: For businesses aiming globally, understanding regional payment preferences is crucial. 6️⃣ Rapid Scaling: Merchants can swiftly integrate solutions supporting business growth. 7️⃣ Fraud Reduction: A consolidated platform with multiple payment methods aids in fraud prevention. 8️⃣ Automatic Reconciliation: This feature minimizes errors, saving internal resources and enhancing efficiency. 9️⃣ Real-time Ledgers (RTLs): RTLs provide almost instant financial data visibility, ensuring transactional integrity. Source: Axerve Find this helpful? [ 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁 ] Anything to add about this subject? [ 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 ] Nice story, Marcel. Next! [ 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 ]

As a founder travel is often a necessity, not a luxury. Whether it’s meeting investors, expanding into new markets or sourcing the best suppliers, being on the go is part of building a global brand. But here’s the challenge—how do you stay effective when your schedule, environment, and even time zones keep changing? Over the years, I’ve learned that working while traveling isn’t just about staying productive—it’s about staying strategic! Here’s how to make sure travel accelerates your success rather than disrupting it: 1️⃣ Prioritize High-Value Work Over Busyness When you’re traveling, your time is even more limited so you have to focus on what truly moves the needle. Instead of getting caught up in endless emails or daily operations, use travel as a chance to step back and work on the business. 2️⃣ Make Travel a Networking & Expansion Opportunity Every trip is a chance to grow your network. Instead of just attending scheduled events, I always reach out to local entrepreneurs, potential partners and industry leaders in the region I’m visiting. Some of my biggest business opportunities have come from spontaneous chats in a new city! 3️⃣ Protect Your Energy & Mental Clarity The most valuable asset is clarity. Constant travel can drain your decision-making capacity if you’re not careful. I’ve learned to be ruthless about protecting my energy whether that means scheduling in downtime, staying in locations that support my focus or ensuring my travel aligns with my personal rhythm. Success isn’t just about doing more, it’s about doing the right things, in the right state of mind. The ability to run a company while traveling isn’t just about productivity, it’s about using travel to sharpen your vision, make better connections and move your business forward. If you’re a founder who travels often, how do you make sure it works for you rather than against you? Would love to hear your thoughts! 💫 #Entrepreneurship

Some of my clients lost 25% of their holdings in the last 6 months Not from their India portfolio but from their American RSUs (Restricted Stock Units).  If you work for a listed company, this could happen to you too.  Why? RSUs are shares given by your company as part of your salary or bonus. They’re free for you, but their value depends on the company’s stock price. If you’ve been at your company for years, you might have a lot of these shares—sometimes up to 75% of your investments! For example, Swiggy recently got listed, and employees now have most of their money tied up in Swiggy shares. This can be great if you work for companies like NVIDIA or Apple, whose shares have skyrocketed. But it’s risky if your company’s stock isn’t doing well, like Intel, Freshworks, or UiPath. How to Protect Yourself 1. Sell some RSUs to pay taxes: Use the proceeds to pay off perquisite and capital gains taxes.   2. Diversify: While you may love your company, it’s smart to invest in competitors too. Example: If you work at Zomato, buy some Swiggy shares.   3. Add stability with debt investments: A debt portfolio can reduce the overall volatility of your investments.   4. Sell some shares regularly: If you hold 100 shares and receive 100 more over 4 years, sell 25 shares immediately to keep your holdings constant.   5. Stay vigilant: Watch your company’s performance and competitors. If you notice red flags, be ready to sell most of your holdings. Bonus Idea!   Sell 50% and hold 50%. This 50:50 strategy lets you enjoy potential growth while reducing regret if things don’t go as planned. If you found this helpful, share it with your friends and colleagues!

When I hire auditors, I don’t hire specialists. Why? Because in audit, you rarely stay in your comfort zone. One week you’re looking at treasury operations, the next it’s supply chain, then suddenly you’re deep into IT or HR processes. No one walks in knowing all of it. The real value is in how quickly you can learn, how curious you are, and whether you can ask the right questions when the business is three steps ahead of you. A specialist may know one area deeply. But what I need is an athlete mindset means you can stretch, adapt, and switch lanes without losing pace. That’s why I look for people who • are naturally inquisitive • don’t freeze when thrown into the unknown • can build trust quickly with different stakeholders • and most important right attitude and treat every assignment as a chance to learn something new. Technical expertise is important. But agility is what makes a great auditor. Should we be hiring more athletes than specialists in audit today? #Audit #Specialists

𝗡𝗼 𝗽𝗶𝗹𝗼𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝘀, “𝗜’𝗺 𝘁𝗼𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁.” 𝗦𝗼 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗼 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀? If I'd received $1 for each time, I've heard this statement I'd be a seriously rich man by now ... 😉 𝐼 𝑑𝑜𝑛’𝑡 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘. 𝐼 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝐼’𝑚 𝑑𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑔. 𝐼'𝑚 𝑎𝑛 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑡 Every time someone says it, I think about the flightdeck. During my PhD research into aviation accidents, I learned something uncomfortable: Expertise doesn’t eliminate error. It makes error quieter. More subtle and dangerous. Pilots know this. And that’s exactly why pilots train more rigorously than most executives will train in their entire careers. Pilots still use standard work and checklists on every flight. Not because they lack experience - but because they don’t trust experience alone. They know a simple truth: Confidence is not a control. Discipline is. Yet in corporate life? Only here do people believe slides are a substitute for discipline. Only here do people think “I’ve done this before” is a process. If you want to operate like a real professional, start here: 1. Before any recurring task, write the five steps that actually matter. Use them for a week. 2. Ask your team: 𝑊ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑑𝑜 𝑤𝑒 𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑚𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑦 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑤𝑒 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑔𝑛? 3. Treat standard work as the safety net for experts - not a crutch for beginners. If pilots trust checklists at 35,000 feet, you can trust one at your desk. Standard work doesn’t slow executives down - it keeps them from drifting into overconfidence. 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝘁.

While competitors sold mattresses at ₹10,000, we launched at ₹29,900. Amazon and Flipkart said it wouldn't work, because our price was 3X what sells on their platforms. Today, The Sleep Company is the fastest-growing mattress brand in India. People ask how we convinced customers to pay a premium for a mattress. The answer isn't about pricing. It's about understanding value. Indian customers are willing to pay ₹1 lakh for an iPhone, and ₹2 lakh for a Royal Enfield. It’s not because they're "affordable”, but because the value is clear. So, the real question isn't "Can they afford it?" It's "Do they believe it's worth it?" Most brands price like this:  Cost + Margin = Price But, we flipped it to Value-Based Pricing:  What's the transformation worth to the customer? = Price Our product wasn't just 3x the price, it also delivered 5x the outcome. And every touchpoint communicated that. But most of the brands end up making these mistakes: 📍Underpricing to "get traction"  📍Overpricing without differentiation  📍Changing prices too often Here’s what worked for us instead: 📌 The sweet spot wasn't the lowest. 📌 Focused on value perception - packaging, unboxing, communication reinforced "premium." 📌 Invested in experience - website, stores, after-sales. Premium pricing demands premium delivery. As a result: 📍₹60,000 became our best-selling price point 📍Customers didn't ask "Why is it so expensive?" They asked, "When's the next collection?" Premium isn't about charging more. It's about being worth more. And if you deliver on that, the market will pay.

The UK is losing tens of thousands of female entrepreneurs. Government data shows that only 14% of SMEs are female-led - down from 19% in 2021. That drop equates to tens of thousands fewer women running businesses across Britain. Why is this happening? - Rising taxes: now cited as the #1 barrier to growth, above energy or competition. - Wage pressures: hitting hospitality, retail, education and health, sectors where female founders are most present. - Capital barriers: with less than 2% of UK venture funding going to all-female teams, investors just aren’t backing women enough. If women started and scaled businesses at the same rate as men, the UK economy would gain £250 billion. We need to stop treating women-led firms as a DE&I “nice to have.” They deliver stronger returns, drive jobs, and fuel growth in overlooked sectors. If we want a thriving economy, we must change the system - tax policy, childcare, capital access, to make it possible for more women to build and grow. Because every lost female entrepreneur is a lost opportunity for Britain. 📷 With Hannah Bernard OBE, my co-chair at the Invest in Women Taskforce

What is Root Cause Analysis (RCA)? Root Cause Analysis (RCA) is a systematic approach used to identify the fundamental cause of a problem, defect, or failure. Instead of treating surface-level symptoms, RCA digs deeper to find the actual source of the issue. Why RCA is Important in the Medical Device Industry 1. Patient Safety: Devices must function reliably; failures can cause serious harm. 2. Regulatory Compliance: Agencies like the FDA require thorough investigations of issues (e.g., CAPA). 3. Product Quality: RCA ensures long-term fixes, improving product safety and performance. 4. Audit & Inspection Readiness: Proper RCA supports traceability and documentation. 5. Cost Reduction: Prevents recurring issues that lead to recalls, rework, or litigation. How to Implement RCA in the Medical Device Industry 1. Define the Problem • Clearly describe the issue (what, when, where, how often). • Use complaint data, audit findings, or nonconformance reports. 2. Gather Data • Collect relevant records, device history, environmental data, and user feedback. • Involve cross-functional teams, especially frontline staff. 3. Choose the Right RCA Method • 5 Whys: Simple, good for straightforward issues. • Fishbone Diagram (Ishikawa): Helps categorize possible causes (Man, Method, Machine, etc.). • Fault Tree Analysis: Ideal for complex systems with multiple failure paths. • Pareto Analysis: Focus on the most frequent/high-impact issues (80/20 rule). 4. Identify the Root Cause • Use the chosen method to analyze the problem. • Validate findings with evidence. 5. Develop Corrective & Preventive Actions (CAPA) • Correct the current issue and prevent recurrence. • Ensure actions are specific, measurable, and assigned. 6. Implement and Monitor • Apply actions and monitor effectiveness over time. • Update documentation and train personnel as needed. 7. Document Everything • Maintain detailed records for traceability, audits, and regulatory reviews. What Good RCA Looks Like • System-focused and evidence-backed. • Involves cross-functional and frontline input. • Clearly documented. • Results in specific preventive actions. Mistakes to Avoids • Treating symptoms, not causes. • Skipping input from frontline workers. • Using the wrong method for the issue. • Not acting on RCA findings. #Root Cause Analysis Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA) Quality Management Systems ISO 13485 and ISO 9001 Certificates BSI Medical Devices