Author: Peggy Smedley
If you have been following along here for many, many years, then you know there are a few topics that are near and dear to my heart including the labor shortage, sustainability, and the responsible and ethical use of technology like AI (artificial intelligence) to spur business ingenuity into a new era of work, just to name a few. Something else I am very passionate about is connecting disparate systems. Interoperability has long been a challenge in the construction industry. In fact, once again I am going to have you journey back two decades to 2004 for a minute. Many…
Peggy digs into a new report that looks at ransomware, business email compromise, and data incidents. She says for all businesses this represents an operational risk, a financial risk, a brand risk, and a leadership risk. She also discusses: · Which industry was the most heavily targeted for ransomware. · Five key predictions for 2026. · Three next steps businesses should take to protect their businesses. https://peggysmedleyshow.com
Peggy Smedley and Sabari Raja, managing partner, JFFVentures, and Molly Blankenship, associate vice president, Jobs for the Future, talk about new research from the Jobs for the Future, which reveals only 40% of U.S. workers hold jobs that meet basic standards for financial stability, mobility, agency, and safe, respective working conditions. They also discuss: · How much it costs employers when workers are disengaged. · How learning has happened in the past—and how AI will change upskilling and reskilling. · How to make sure jobs are providing what they need to for workers and the economy. https://www.jff.org/
Peggy Smedley and Kelly Ireland, CEO, CBT, talk about the mindset leaders carry into every decision—and the beliefs that shape culture, narrowing in on industry stagnation at the leadership level. She says it is a mixed bag and some of it is about what they have seen as being unsuccessful in the past. They also discuss: · POC purgatory and what stalled. · Adoption amid a mixed workforce. · The biggest blind spot leadership has. https://www.cbtechinc.com/
If you have been following along here this month, then you know we have been taking a much closer look at quantum zeroing on quantum computing, quantum sensors, and quantum communications. For today’s blog, we are narrowing in on quantum connection. Let me explain. If you also paying close attention to the themes here on my Connected World blog then you might recognize that I have spent some considerable time looking at the basics of quantum. This month, I have taken a deeper dive into quantum in manufacturing and in medical and additionally into finance and telco. Over on our…
Our energy infrastructure is close to failing—in fact, the ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers) puts our energy grade at a D+. Narrowing in, the U.S. power grid includes an estimated 180–200 million distribution poles, which often have a lifespan anywhere between 50 and 70 years. Here’s the challenge. As with most infrastructure here in the United States, many of them are aging, and many are located in regions increasingly exposed to extreme weather. “Utilities need to make a difficult decision,” says Dominique Meyer, CEO of Looq AI. He says they ultimately need to decide whether these poles need to…
Peggy talks about new quantum research at universities and some case studies. She says quantum could add trillions of dollars to the world’s economy and thousands of jobs—but we need to ensure we have a strategy around security and implementation. She also discusses: · Quantum photonics—and how it is key to the future of mass-produced quantum communications systems. · A map of where quantum courses can be found at higher education institutions. · Energy-efficient superconductors that will speed quantum technologies. https://peggysmedleyshow.com
Peggy Smedley and Scott Aaronson, chair of computer science, University of Texas, Austin, and director of Quantum Information Science Center, separate the science from the mythology of quantum. He says there has been a hope for decades that quantum computers would be useful beyond the two more common quantum tasks. They also discuss: · What limit the field still underestimates. · How an organization should proceed—and if there is a roadmap to consider. · How to educate students—and ultimately look forward. https://www.scottaaronson.com/
Peggy Smedley and Deborah Farone, CEO, Farone Advisors, and author of Breaking Ground, talk about the shift with data. She says technology will make it easier to go out and develop business, but the hard thing is markets are constantly in motion. They also discuss: · What data we should collect and what data we need. · Data kept can tell stories if it is put in the right place. · What she learned by talking to women about how to prepare for the future—and three key traits of these women. https://deborahfarone.com/
If you have been following along here this month, then you know I have been in the middle of this fun blog series, digging into quantum. This has truly been an interesting deep dive into what’s on the horizon vertically. If you read my Connected World blog to kick off the month, then you know I unpacked the basics of quantum. Last week, I dove deeper into quantum in manufacturing and in medical. Today let’s turn our attention to two new verticals: finance and telco. Quantum in Finance McKinsey & Co., suggests quantum technology will impact many industries, but there…