BBF Digital

This edition opens with a thoughtful exploration of the role of youths in nation-building and how leadership can help shape a better future. Complementing this is a detailed look at sustainable finance in Bangladesh’s banking sector, examining the industry’s transition towards greener, more ethical investments. Marketing and sales remain focal points, with an insightful piece on performance branding, stressing the importance of aligning strategy with data to drive results. Another highlight is an engaging debate on whether AI can be considered a true asset for B2B marketers, while consumers' push for sustainability challenges brands to adapt to eco-conscious behaviors. Additionally, an inspiring article looks at lessons executives can learn from Olympians, applying sportsmanship values to business leadership. In the advertising realm, the new era of creativity and empathy in digital audio promises a more human-centric approach. Tech and innovation enthusiasts will be drawn to the features on the AI-powered future of coding and financial products that target Millennials and Gen Z, providing insights into the future of finance and tech. An exciting exploration of Gold Hydrogen taps into the ongoing quest for cleaner energy solutions. Work-life balance isn’t forgotten, with advice on taking breathing breaks at work to enhance productivity. Entrepreneurs are encouraged to think like scientists, embracing experimentation and adaptability. The publication cover was designed by globally acclaimed prolific visual artist Ms. Nazia Andaleeb Preema, Director & Creative Editor, Bangladesh Brand Forum. #BBFDigital

LinkedIn has launched its first AI agent, Hiring Assistant, a tool that integrates directly into LinkedIn's platform, enhancing recruiter productivity and candidate quality by automating key tasks such as AI-based searches, communication, and project management.  The new tool, which integrates directly with LinkedIn’s vast platform, allows recruiters to offload mundane tasks such as candidate sourcing, job description synthesis, and initial screening. Key features include "Experiential Memory," which allows the system to learn and adapt to each recruiter’s unique workflow, and "Project Memory," which stores and organizes information related to specific hiring projects. #BBFBrandNews #LinkedIn #HiringAssistant

Kutubuddin Ahmed, Chairman of Sheltech Group, Envoy Legacy and Envoy textiles Ltd. has been appointed as the Honorary Consul of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste in Bangladesh. In a letter of patent, Bendito dos Santos Freitas, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Timor-Leste, stated: “I hereby appoint Kutubuddin Ahmed as the Honorary Consul of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste in the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, with competence for the defense and protection of the interests of Timor-Leste and its citizens in Dhaka, in accordance with the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and the legislation in force in both Timor-Leste and Bangladesh.” Kutubuddin Ahmed was awarded the Title of Knight Officer of the Spanish Royal Order of Merit by the King of Spain in 2020. The esteemed King of Spain bestows this honor to foreign nationals for their significant contributions in developing the bilateral relations between their country of origin and Spain. Kutubuddin is the Former President of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI). He was secretary general of Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) and a recipient of the National Sports Award 2002. He was also awarded with the Business Person of the Year 2016 by DHL and The Daily Star. He obtained his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from BUET, and his area of expertise and entrepreneurship includes not only textiles and garments manufacturing but also real estate, construction, ceramics, aviation and other industries. #BBFBrandNews #KutubuddinAhmed #TimorLeste

In the summer of 1994, a job posting for software engineers was made on Usenet, an early forerunner of Internet forums. The firm in question intended to "pioneer commerce on the Internet." Eligible applicants must be able to develop complicated systems "in about one-third the time most competent people think possible." Résumés were to be addressed to Jeff Bezos of the Seattle-based firm Cadabra, the precursor to Amazon. Visit the link in the comment to read the full article. #BBFMonthly

The relationship between America and the Arab world has been a tumultuous journey marked by conflicts, strategic alliances, and shifting public opinions. The ongoing support of the United States for Israel, particularly after the events of October 2023, has once again put this relationship under the spotlight. As America navigates its foreign policies in the Middle East, the question arises: Is its reputation in the region irreparably damaged, or is there hope for rebuilding trust and cooperation? Visit the link in the comment to read the full article. #BBFMonthly

Apple unveils new iMac with M4 chip and AI-capabilities , available in fresh colours. Apple's new iMac, powered by the M4 chip, offers 1.7x faster daily productivity and over twice the speed for intensive tasks like photo editing and gaming. Content creators can experience 2.1x faster editing in Adobe apps, and gamers enjoy up to double the frame rates. The iMac also debuts Apple Intelligence, featuring enhanced Siri functionality and Writing Tools for improved editing assistance. The 24-inch 4.5K Retina display includes a nano-texture glass option to reduce glare, and it’s available in seven vibrant colors. Additionally, the iMac offers customizable memory, storage, and includes a magic keyboard and mouse. #BBFBrandNews #AppleIntelligence #iMac

Meta Platforms has entered a landmark partnership with Reuters, allowing its AI chatbot to provide users with real-time news content from the renowned international news platform. This multi-year licensing deal, the financial details of which remain undisclosed, will enable Meta’s AI to deliver summaries and direct links to Reuters articles, marking Meta’s first major news collaboration in recent years. This partnership addresses previous criticisms of Meta’s news handling and misinformation issues, aligning it with industry trends where tech giants like OpenAI and Perplexity are also securing partnerships with news organizations to enhance content credibility. Reuters has also been a fact-checking partner for Meta since 2020. #BBFBrandNews #Meta #Reuters

In the State of Delaware of the United States, it takes only 2-3 business days to incorporate or register a business, whereas in Bangladesh even with speed money it can take months to register a business based on an archaic Companies Act of 1994. Whereas more than 60% of Fortune 500 companies register in Delaware, a lot of Bangladeshi companies have to look outside of the country to set up shops - in countries such as Singapore and Dubai. Despite being poised to become a trillion-dollar economy by 2040 as per Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Bangladesh ranked 168th among 190 countries in the World Bank’s ease of doing business index. Bangladesh has witnessed only 2 unicorns so far - bKash and Nagad, whereas our neighbour India has 111 unicorns as of October 2023. All of these signals that there are missing links in the Bangladeshi startup ecosystem that are restricting the country’s startups from reaching their full potential. This article looks into some of these critical components of a country's startup ecosystem and attempts to offer potential solutions to make the country more startup-friendly. Visit the link in the comment to read the full article. #BBFMonthly

Nestlé Bangladesh PLC has appointed Syed Iqbal Mahmud Hossain, its Sales Director, as a new board member, effective from October 15, 2024. With a distinguished career spanning multiple roles at Nestlé, including an international stint in India, Mr. Hossain brings a wealth of experience to the board. His contributions have been widely recognized, with accolades such as the ‘Sales Director of the Year’ at the Bangladesh C-Suite Awards organized by Bangladesh Brand Forum in 2022. This new role highlights Nestlé's confidence in his expertise to further drive the company's growth in Bangladesh. #BBFBrandNews #NestléBangladesh

Canva has unveiled Dream Lab, a new AI-powered image generator, expanding its creative capabilities on both web and mobile platforms. Powered by Leonardo.ai, Dream Lab allows users to create images based on descriptive prompts with options to customize styles, including Cinematic, 3D Render, and Illustration. This tool is part of Canva’s 'Magic AI' suite, which enhances features like text generation, video effects, and data visualization. Available directly from the Canva homepage, Dream Lab offers 20 lifetime uses for free users and 500 monthly uses for premium accounts. However, it’s limited to four images per prompt and lacks integration into Canva's main editor. #BBFBrandNews #Canva #DreamLab