OAKLAND, Calif. (PRWEB)
April 13, 2021

21st Century Investing: Redirecting Financial Strategies to Drive Systems Change, debuted today, providing a practical roadmap for investing in new ways that can contend with the complex challenges we face in the 21st century.

In this paradigm-shifting book, authors William Burckart and Steve Lydenberg show how system-level investors support and enhance the health and stability of the social, financial, and environmental systems on which they depend for long-term returns. Investors can preserve and strengthen these fundamental systems while still generating competitive or otherwise acceptable performance.

The authors explain how investment today has evolved from the basic, conventional approach of the 1950s. Investors have since recognized the importance of sustainable investment and have begun considering environmental and social factors. Yet the complexity of the times forces us to recognize and transition to a third stage of investment practice: system-level investing.

“Burckart and Lydenberg are the Wayne Gretzkys of investing, showing us not where investing is, but where it’s going: To system-level investing,” said Jon Lukomnik, Managing Partner, Sinclair Capital; Senior Fellow, High Meadows Institute, in his endorsement of the book.. “Even more importantly, they show us how to get there.”

The book, published by Berrett-Koehler, an independent publisher with the mission of connecting people and ideas to create a world that works for all, highlights several examples of systems-level investors in the U.S. and abroad:

• 
  The Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF) of Japan, one of the largest pension funds in the world, is a self-identified “universal owner.” By this, GPIF means it is so large that it takes ownership positions in most investable assets around the world. It therefore maintains that taking into account ESG factors will increase its “risk-adjusted return by reducing risks,” and that “the longer the investment horizon is the greater the risk-reduction effect becomes.”
• Investors with long-term time horizons, like Norges Bank Investment Management, recognize that the further out they look the more their interests and those of society coincide. The greater their commitment to a long-term approach, the more they value the health of underlying systems.
• The Church of England Pensions Board asserts that a range of “stewardship responsibilities” including ESG matters is essential to its long-term fiduciary duties and obligations. The practice of stewardship acknowledges investors’ ownership obligations to consider the financial implications of practices with broad societal implications, thereby transcending the conventional “financial only” view implicit in conventional market-based buy-and-sell disciplines.
• Self-identified impact investors such as the KL Felicitas Foundation intentionally seek to generate social and environmental benefit through their investments along with financial returns. In addition, as part of their commitment to essentially “bet the farm” on impact investing, Felicitas has extended its mission to enabling the global financial system to achieve greater social and environmental impact.
• The California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) is an example of how an investment beliefs statement can take a systemic perspective. CalPERS states that it “believes that encouraging our external managers, portfolio companies, and policy makers to engage in responsible environmental practices is important to risk management. This means making wise use of scarce resources, considering impact, and addressing systemic risks, such as climate change.”

“This book is one of the most important we’ve worked on in our 38-year history,” said Berrett-Koehler’s Founder Steve Piersanti. “There is a revolution unfolding in investing and Burckart and Lydenberg provide a front row seat to the important changes taking place. This book is going to make a difference in the world!”

21st Century Investing grew out of deep research and consulting Burckart and Lydenberg have been conducting at TIIP, an applied research and consulting firm launched in 2016. Working with institutional investors, individuals and groups like the Money Management Institute, CFA Institute, UN-backed Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) and others, they found that these investors and industry associations think long-term and recognize that the 21st century faces fundamentally destabilizing, new and different, social and environmental challenges. They are global. They have tipping points that once passed cannot be reversed. And they threaten the long-term investment returns in ways that traditional risk management cannot cope with.

“21st Century Investing has to be top of mind for any long-term capital allocator,” said Kirsty Jenkinson, Investment Director, Sustainable Investment & Stewardship Strategies, California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS), in her endorsement of the book. “Burckart and Lydenberg’s work is essential reading for any investor that is serious about enabling the transition to a more sustainable global economy.”

About the Authors

William Burckart leads TIIP. He is also a fellow of the High Meadows Institute and member of the advisory council of the Investments and Wealth Institute’s WealthBoard 100. Burckart previously founded or cofounded two impact investment advisory firms, Burckart Consulting and Impact Economy North America.

Steve Lydenberg is the founder of TIIP and also serves as partner, strategic vision, of Domini Impact Investments. Lydenberg was a cofounder of KLD Research and Analytics Inc. and served as its research director from 1990 to 2001. From 1987 to 1989, he was an associate with Franklin Research and Development Corporation (now known as Trillium Asset Management).

About TIIP- The Investment Integration Project

TIIP is an applied research and consulting services firm which helps investors understand the feedback loops between their investments and the planet’s overarching systems – be they environmental, societal or financial – that make profitable investment opportunities possible. In deeply collaborative engagements, TIIP provides investors with the insights and tools to manage the impacts of their investment policies and practices on these systems. More information is available at http://tiiproject.com/.

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OAKLAND, Calif. (PRWEB)
April 01, 2021

Do-It-Yourself (DIY) video creation apps – apps used by non-video professionals – are a powerful driver behind the current surge in sharing and viewing of user-generated videos, according to a new study by Suite 48 Analytics. Under the hood, AI-based innovations are enabling this new generation of apps to overcome the traditional dilemma of creative power versus ease of use.

The DIY Video Creation Apps study, released today, takes a deep dive into the trends at the core of today’s successful DIY video creation apps, including smartphone, web and desktop-based apps. An analysis of 82 popular innovative apps found that, while video editing is a true-and-proven use case, the traditional approach – offering timelines and layers to trim and composite video clips – has had little success attracting users beyond the core market of professionals and technically proficient hobbyists.

According to the study, more successful approaches to getting mainstream adoption are being developed based on adjacent use cases and user behaviors. These include apps that originally offered animated slideshow creation features but evolved over time into more sophisticated video trailer creation apps. Another example are apps that have successfully tapped into the popularity of easy-to-create phodeos (hybrid photo/videos, such as animated GIFs, Apple Live Photos, Boomerangs) by enabling the creation of short music video clips, with the potential of expanding into longer form video creation in the future.

“The baby steps that take these products beyond the familiar are what has the greatest impact,” according to Hans Hartman, principal author of the study. “Too often we underestimate how fundamentally new it is for most people to work with videos. Everyone now has a device in their pocket that makes it as easy to capture videos as it is to shoot photos. But how do you make the footage shorter, more engaging, and good enough to share on social media or use for marketing purposes? That requires dealing with the complexities of an additional dimension – time – and an extra media format – audio.”

While the first generation of DIY video apps for consumers, SMBs and enterprise workers delivered the necessary tools to deal with these added elements, they were generally too complex and demanding to enable mainstream adoption, according to the study. Conversely, apps that have embraced the alternative approach – prioritizing ease of use over creative control by offering templates and stock photos, videos and music libraries – have become popular, but have not met the needs of more demanding users, who require tools that enable their creations to stand out from the crowd.

A promising third approach, according to the study, is being taken by innovative – often AI-based – apps that manage to hit the sweet spot between ease of use and creative control, offering innovative and powerful features ranging from one-click background removal throughout the video, to typing text that changes the words spoken by people featured in the video, thereby eliminating the need to re-shoot.

The 94-page DIY Video Creation Apps report analyzes 82 innovative DIY video creation apps in the following categories:

• “Beyond photos” video creation apps
• Web-based video creation apps
• Smartphone-based video creation apps
• Desktop-based video creation apps
• Camera manufacturer video creation apps
• Video APIs and SDKs

For more info: https://www.suite48a.com/diyvideo

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ATLANTA (PRWEB)
March 23, 2021

Velera Wilson is a global speaker that helps professional women overcome imposter syndrome, increase workplace confidence, and thrive as leaders. As the author of You’re Absolutely Worth It: Release Self-Doubt, Embrace Confidence, and Own Your Yes, she addresses these topics head-on through transformative talks, educational content, and workshops.

For Women’s History Month, she noticed an increase in companies interested in partnering with her to inspire their female talent.    

Velera believes this is not only because of the significance of the month, but because of the number of women disproportionately impacted by COVID. “Women are trying to balance working from home and family, to wondering if they can ask for a promotion right now, to losing their job. The need to be reminded of their worth, and how to navigate their career with confidence, is more important than ever.”

As the first person in her family to graduate from college, Velera understands the struggle many women have with being assertive in their career. According to her, “It took me awhile to understand the value I brought and embrace my voice as a leader. Many times I didn’t think I was as smart as the next person in the room – it wasn’t until I started owning my capabilities that I began to grow.”

Working for Fortune 100 and 500 brands, Velera recognized the need to help other professional women advance their careers by offering proven strategies, tips, and resources. She wrote her book to give women practical advice and steps to push through self-doubt to own their greatness and relentlessly pursue dreams and goals.

In February, she also launched Own Your Yes, a live series that features successful female executives and entrepreneurs. The thirty-minute interviews go behind the scenes of their success to the challenges they encountered along the way, and mindsets they had to address to advance.

So far, the series has highlighted women who have dealt with the loss of a child, multiple layoffs, and settling for being underpaid. The reviews have been extremely positive, with viewers commenting at how much they appreciate the transparency of the speakers.

For Velera, the mission is clear, “I wrote You’re Absolutely Worth It, and started the Own Your Yes series to help ambitious women realize that, despite the doubt, fears, or struggles, they can absolutely own their worth and move with confidence in their lives. I believe this message is relevant to women more than ever.”

You’re Absolutely Worth It: Release Self-Doubt, Embrace Confidence, and Own Your Yes is available on Amazon and Barnes and Nobles, and Own Your Yes airs live every Thursday at 12 pm EST on Velera’s LinkedIn and YouTube page, as well as Anchor podcast.

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ST ALBANS, UK (PRWEB)
March 05, 2021

Mindy Gibbins-Klein takes her best-selling book and award winning coaching platform to the air waves.

The Thoughtful Leader podcast brings leadership to the masses. To reach the maximum number of people with your powerful message, you need a good strategy and an exciting, truly disruptive message. This is what you’ll find on Mindy’s weekly show where she interviews other leaders.

Widely recognized as a top coach and mentor, Mindy is no stranger to recognition. Some of that includes: Coach/Mentor of the year at the Women Inspiring Women Awards; ‘Specialist Coach of the Year’ from the Association of Professional Coaches, Trainers and Consultants; Winner, Innovation and Excellence Award in Publishing.

Each episode she’ll focus on business owners and subject matter experts who need to build their credibility. On the podcast, Mindy brings together her guests to share with you how they discover and expose REAL thought leaders while showing them how to position themselves as true authorities in their field and how you can, too

New episodes air each Thursday on the Thoughtful Leader podcast. Her podcast is available on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, GooglePlay and C-Suite Radio

Visit The Thoughtful Leader at http://www.mindygk.com

“Mindy was a great guest on my international radio show http://www.bemoreachievemore.com and talked very practically about how to become a thought leader. The show was so good that I chose to study it with my mentoring group. When it comes to ‘Thought Leadership’, books and being a great professional to deal with then I would strongly recommend Mindy.”

Chris Cooper, Senior Business Mentor, Coach, Facilitator, Broadcaster, Professional Speaker

“Mindy brings a new perspective to CEOs and Entrepreneurs. She is an expert in navigating clients to success with their brand creation, value discovery and how this integrates with book ideas. I’ve received tremendous value from our 1:1 sessions in Dubai, UAE and subsequently hired her to speak at a local association event with a room of influential Speakers, Consultants, Trainers and Entrepreneurs. She scored 95% when it came to take home value and delivery style. If you are thinking of booking her as a consultant, supplier or professional speaker – don’t hesitate as everyone will be thanking YOU for the booking her.”

RegAthwal, RAW Group LLC & TAO-Inc

“Mindy is a talented, engaging, thoroughly professional speaker and coach and I feel privileged to have been guided by her on the path to my first book. Whether on the stage or in a webinar, she managed to inspire, coach, cajole and support us all.”

Theodora Bredie, Montessori Teacher & Quality Accreditation Assessor

Contact

mindy@bookmidwife.com

U.S. 1-855-883-1202

UK +44 (0) 1582 540506

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WEST CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. (PRWEB)
February 25, 2021

Opyrus, a self-betterment platform helping people tap their power to write and transform their lives, announced today its strategic alliance with Digi-Rights®, a global provider of rights management services and technologies, to enable writers and self-publishers to better protect and enforce their copyrighted works.

Opyrus is an online platform with more than 250,000 registrants that delivers personalized writing solutions to harness the power of writing for self-betterment, socialization and connection with the goal of inspiring the “why” and enabling the “how” of positively impacting its users’ personal and business lives, mental fitness, and overall wellbeing.

“We are on a mission to motivate, enable, and support the writer in everyone by creating products and services that reduce the friction associated with writing,” said Arthur Gutch, CEO of Opyrus. “As such, we are thrilled to partner with Digi-Rights® in order to offer and develop new products and services that provide a better way for our users to protect their writing.”

Digi-Rights® is a major software developer of rights management services and patented technology solutions to the publishing industry, including Digi-EXPress®, a system for rights assessments, rights clearance, permissions acquisition and rights licensing, as well as CopyrightsNow® and CopyrightsLock® apps, which provide authors, creators, editors and publishers with fast and easy U.S. Copyright registration and content theft protection.

“Our solutions have processed hundreds of thousands of rights transactions by leading publishers,” said Dick Stahl, Managing Director of Digi-Rights® Direct LLC. “We are excited to partner with Opyrus to bring our copyright protection tools to its users alongside other rights management solutions for their expanding platform of writers.”

To learn more about Opyrus, visit our website: https://opyrus.com/

About Opyrus

Opyrus is on a mission to help millions of people around the world by delivering unique writing tools, interactive content, and personalization that strengthens mental fitness, deepens relationships, enhances careers, energizes businesses and improves overall wellbeing.

About Digi-Rights®

Digi-Rights® Direct, LLC is a global provider of consulting, systems development, and rights management services and patented technologies to the publishing industry. The company’s solutions have been used to process hundreds of thousands of rights transactions by leading publishers, including its leading CopyrightsNow® and CopyrightsLock® software – providing fast and easy U.S. Copyright registration and theft protection.

Digi-Rights®, Digi-EXPress®, CopyrightsNow® and CopyrightsLock® are registered trademarks of Digi-Rights Direct LLC.

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OAKLAND, Calif. (PRWEB)
February 23, 2021

Berrett-Koehler Publishers is proud to announce this new book.

New Book by Denise Collazo – “Thriving in the Fight: A Survival Manual for Latinas on the Front Lines of Change” – Publishes February 23, 2021

Denise Padín Collazo, longtime activist, nonprofit thought leader, and senior adviser for Faith in Action, will release her first book, “Thriving in the Fight: A Survival Manual for Latinas on the Front Lines of Change.”

At a time when so many in this country are struggling to contend with a new era of racial and gender oppression, we need the power, the wisdom, and the experience of women of color now more than ever, said Rev. Alvin Herring, Faith in Action executive director. Denise’s book is a clarion call to Latinas in the movement—and to the rest of us—that they are ready and poised to lead with hope, love, and light.

Drawing on her own experiences of triumph and failure, along with stories from fellow leading Latina activists, Collazo discusses three keys to thriving in the movement for social change: leading into your vision, living into the fullest version of yourself, and loving past negatives that hold you back. She also lays out three signs that you may be surrendering: wishing for a future reality to emerge, wondering where your limits are, and waiting for permission and answers to come from others. As well, she explains how you can integrate family and work, step out of the background and claim your leadership potential, confront anti-Blackness in your own culture, keep focused on your ultimate purpose, and raise the necessary resources to keep fighting for justice.

Collazo is the first Latina, the first woman of color, and the first woman period to raise a family and stay in the work of community organizing at Faith in Action, an international progressive network of 3,000 congregations and 2 million members. A social justice leader and gifted speaker, Collazo’s work has been featured in the Miami Herald, Nonprofit Quarterly and Forbes.com, and she serves on the Forbes Nonprofit Council. She is a graduate of Harvard University, and resides in Puerto Rico. http://www.DeniseCollazo.com

To set up an interview, access an advanced copy of the book, or for more information, contact Katie Sheehan, Sr. Communications Manager – ksheehan@bkpub.com

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