Blog

With interests in magazines, property, music and glass, Ash Hunter, CEO of Hunter 5, leads more than the one business and is the driver behind a case study in diversity and niche market strategy. By Jason Day

Rather than wait for the 'king hit' during the downturn, SMEs with the right financial tools and processes will position themselves closer to where they want to be when markets recover. By Mark Story

At face value, many small to medium enterprises (SMEs) prospered prior to the subprime induced credit crunch, despite their inefficiencies. But like it or not, the chickens have since come home to roost for many firms that used external debt to mask these inefficiencies, especially now that access to debt within the economic downturn is much tighter.

Many of us go weak-kneed at the thought of public speaking. But it is a vital executive skill if you want to lead, change behaviour and communicate. By Karalyn Brown.

President Barack Obama has everyone talking. Not just about how an African American has won the presidency, but how he won it with the pure power of speech.

Rhicke Jennings has worked in some 17 countries. With his position in such an international business as FedEx, he may be the perfect model for the global manager. By Jason Day

FedEx Express, that quintessentially American company, boasts impressive statistics.

For example, it has the world's largest airfleet and operates some 672 aircraft. It has a ground fleet of some 44,000 vehicles. It uses 143,000 employees worldwide to move some 7.5 million shipments daily to a service area of 220 countries and territories.

Time to rethink staff motivation? Get it right and you're well on your way to surviving these turbulent times. Get it wrong and the entire ship could go under. By Chris Sheedy

Focusing on business problems is not always the best way to resolve them; Appreciative Inquiry (AI) offers a more positive approach. By Dr Ronald Forbes and John Loty

When the going gets tough, the tough get cultured; corporate cultured, that is. Sue Bushell reports.

"Corporate culture drives everything," says Phillip Ralph, Managing Director of leadership and cultural change consultancy, The Leadership Sphere.

"It drives where money is spent, where decisions are made, how people treat each other, how people treat customers, and whether people are successful in implementing the business strategy."

In May last year, Nicholas Moore stepped up to lead one of Australia's most spectacular business successes, Macquarie Group. Moore is now setting in place strategies as Macquarie navigates a path through the global financial meltdown. By Jennifer Alexander

As the global financial crisis continues to unfold, it presents Macquarie Group, a provider of banking, financial, advisory and investment services to an international client base, with particular challenges, as well as new opportunities.

Benjamin Disraeli once said a bore was one who has the power of speech but not the capacity for conversation.

As the impact from the global financial crisis continues to ripple through the Australian economy, 2009 is set to be the year of cash flow management for many firms. By Melissa Wilkinson

The next 18 months are predicted to test even the most seasoned business management veterans.

Managing your cash flow or working capital is about making sure that profitable trading actually turns into cash. As consumers tighten belts, there are some cash flow strategies you can start immediately.