Year: 2023

The Rise of Fintech: How Technology is Transforming Business Finance

Published by Lisa Wallace

Over the past decade, the financial industry has undergone a significant transformation, driven by the rise of financial technology (fintech) and the concept of open finance. Fintech refers to the use of technology to improve and innovate financial services. Accessing services like mobile banking, payment, lending, budgeting and investing via mobile devices has exploded over the last few years, notably in Africa. Couple this with quickly evolving capabilities within open finance, which refers to the idea of using open data that enables the secure sharing of financial information between different institutions to benefit consumers, and we’re creating an open and inclusive financial system accessible to all. Together, these trends have had a major impact on the way that financial services are delivered and consumed and have opened up new opportunities for consumers and businesses alike.

A Guide to Blockchain Technology for Business

Published by Lisa Wallace

When Bitcoin, a “purely peer-to-peer version of electronic cash”, was released in 2008, blockchain (the technology that runs Bitcoin) made its public debut.1 The brainchild of a person or group known by the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto, its expansive technological capabilities were then somewhat unknown. Fast forward 12 years to 2020, there’s now a growing recognition that blockchain can serve as a pragmatic solution to various business problems across industries. Identified as a general-purpose technology (GPT), blockchain is similar in scope to the disruptive power of the internet, the steam engine, and electricity. Even business leaders wary of tech-based solutions and global ‘hype’ have come to realise the larger, transformational importance of this digital technology.2 In order to revolutionise business and redefine companies and economies utilising blockchain technology, it’s necessary to have a foundational understanding of its capabilities and applications.

Future of Work: Why Critical Thinking and Interpersonal Skills Are Power Skills

Published by Lisa Wallace

The rise of big data, automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and robotics raises questions about what our future working and business lives will look like. As we move towards an even more digital age, companies and employees are both asking: To what extent will technology replace human intelligence and make jobs obsolete? Previous assumptions about automation and non-employee labor are giving way to a deeper understanding of its challenges in the workplace.

Discover the Beauty of Reclaimed Teak and Coco

Published by Lisa Wallace

 The Weylandt family has been travelling to Indonesia for three generations, discovering its abundant materials, craftsmanship, vibrancy and culture. Java, our latest collection, is a distillation of years of collaboration there; we’ve combined the best of what we’ve created with excellent artisans and refined it into an iconic, heirloom collection steeped in heritage.

The Art of Slowing Down

Published by Lisa Wallace

The Weylandts‘ home on the coast of the Atlantic is a chance to reset and revel in the beauty of one’s surroundings. Chris Weylandt and his partner Kim Smith have realised a place where interiors, nature and gathering with friends and family fuse together. The affinity for seamless design and laid-back living make it a sanctuary to recharge, the essence of the Weylandts brand.

A Beginner’s Guide to Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

Published by Lisa Wallace

Regarding mental health, the last year has not been easy. Hell, for me, the last two decades have not been easy. My brain has been a broken place, a world of contrast, elation and mess. And yet, its richness lies in its brokenness. As a bipolar one patient/sufferer/victim/convalescent/survivor, it’s been a harrowing and very polarising burden. True to the vignette of life, these seasons have ebbed and flowed (and by seasons, I mean epic fluctuations in mood and sanity). This year, however, I was designated a lifeline in the form of ECT.