Pro Experts

Finding your Ikigai on the road to Death Valley

Ikigai (生き甲斐, “a reason for being”) is a Japanese concept referring to having a direction or purpose in life, providing a sense of fulfilment, and towards which the person may take actions, giving them satisfaction and a sense of meaning. Understanding your Ikigai is the key to waking up like a kid on Christmas morning, inspired to go to work, feel safe...

Managing your business wellbeing in 2024

As we mark one year on from Cyclone Gabrielle affecting homes and businesses throughout the Hawke’s Bay, it’s an important time to take stock of how we have collectively coped and responded to challenges in 2023 and what we can do to manage business wellbeing in 2024. The November 2023 BDO Business Wellbeing Index is one way to understand how...

Get ready for Windows 11: Better hybrid work with more convenience

Even good things must end and so it is for Windows 10. With end-of-life scheduled for October 2025, now is the time for planning the upgrade to Windows 11: you don’t want the date sneaking up on you, resulting in a rush job and potential disruption. Of course, the good news is that Windows 11 is an evolutionary shift from...

Increase your business value now

You may have sat on the beach this summer and imagined a time when the working week is all beach and no work. To make that happen and to sell your business for the highest possible gain, start now. It takes a change of mindset, a dual focus on day-to-day priorities, while thinking and planning for the long-term. Consider the...

Is 2024 the year of the work life balance?

With an ever-changing market, it’s time for employers to embrace changes in the status quo and actively recruit employees for part- time, fixed term, and casual roles. The options There are opportunities for an employer to promote flexibility for employees who are looking to return to the workforce or move away from the 9 to 5. An employer can consider...

Let’s talk leadership – a journey that doesn’t have a final destination

Author: Andrea Stevenson The working environment has become ever more complex in recent years and now, more than ever, leaders in organisations need to be stepping up to the plate. In a world that has thrown a lot at us over the last few years, now is the time, more than ever, for leaders to step up to the plate...

2024 will be at tricky year to navigate

Let’s hope that this year does not mirror the tumultuous start of 2023, marked by cyclones and market uncertainty as market conditions have a direct bearing on the property’s market value. Economic predictions and their outcomes, and impacts, specifically on the property market, remain an exercise in crystal ball gazing. However, Williams’ Harvey accumulates a library of research from numerous...

What the ‘everything rally’ did to markets in 2023

The investment market in 2023 was strong – unlike the year prior – largely thanks to an impactful December quarter. It’s a great example of the need for patience and a reminder of the importance of a long-term view when investing. The positive returns were driven by what we’re calling the “everything rally” – a perfect storm of equities rallying...

The Parkerian Hexad: Elevating Information Security Beyond the CIA Triad

While you may or may not be aware of the CIA Triad, it is a well-known set of fundamental principles of information security – Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability. It clearly defines the relationship between information and security. Confidentiality: Often considered the most fundamental principle of the CIA Triad, this involves protecting information from unauthorised access. It ensures that sensitive data...

12 months on from Gabrielle – the impact on claims and insurance premiums

It is hard to believe that a year has already passed since Cyclone Gabrielle devastated our region. What has happened a year on regarding insurance claims, and how will it affect your premiums moving forward? As at 13 December 2023, insurers had settled 99,798 of 115,353 claims (about 87%) from the Cyclone Gabrielle and Auckland Anniversary events, according to the...