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Thursday, November 21, 2013

TabletBiz 2013 

“The Future of Business Interactions”

By Michael Danilov & Malko Ebers



The recent TabletBiz conference in New York was a showcase for cutting edge technology and recent developments in tablet hard and software. Moreover the conference allowed us to get insights into App based business solutions and how mobility, apps and smartphones are changing our lifestyle and the way modern business is conducted. The way how people use IT solutions is already transforming our societies.

Nowadays tablets have become much cheaper than traditional computers or laptops while increasing the mobility and functionality for the user for business and leisure alike. Big companies are finally getting it mining the data of their users, putting software applications into the cloud which can dramatically reduce costs and gives companies more instant feedback which applications and functions the users are actually using.

A company that realizes and takes advantage of these stable trends can operate cheaper faster and easier. We can think of mobile payment options, real time inventory, the easy of reward systems, the advertisements and incentives for a mobile customer and much more. The metaphor of the flat world got realized also through tablets. Prices have come down, processor and internet speed have gone up and fast internet has become a commodity for creative people and start ups to take advantage off. In a way this development has transformed apps into a commodity, a true mass customization where every user picks the functions that he or she demands. This development has democratized the access to IT.

Paperless data entry, payment and visualization that tables and mobile applications allow for will continue to transform our economies, they will make the way we shop, work and educate each other more mobile, faster and more suitable to our modern individualized lifestyle.

The TabletBiz Team showed a lot of different cases where you can use tablet in your everyday business. The closing of the event was the Tabby Awards ceremony with some beautiful app solutions. Have a look for example at dictionary.com.

2013 BUCKMINSTER FULLER CHALLENGE AWARD CEREMONY
MONDAY NOVEMBER 18 2013 | 7:00 - 8:30 PM | THE GREAT HALL
by Madeline Tanamal


Our team attended the Buckminster Fuller Challenge Award Ceremony on November 18, 2013 and thought that it was a groundbreaking event,  so we want to raise awareness of it by showcasing the groundbreaking technologies and efforts of the Buckminster Fuller Institute.
The Buckminster Fuller Institute is an institute that was founded by an engineer and futurist Buckminster ‘Bucky’ Fuller. Bucky’s vision of having a sustainable ecosystem is inherited down to his daughter, Allegra who is now lead the institute. In relation to this vision, the institute is organizing ‘Buckminster Fuller Challenge’, a yearly international design competition that awards $100,000 to the winner so that it can be used to research on and develop eco-friendly systems or products. The challenge is supported by similar-minded companies like Interface Inc. and Halloran Philanthropies.
That way, this is an inspiring event with the underlying story of a small group of people who wants to change the world into a greener, sustainable place. Take for instance the runner-up, Echale a tu Casa which developed a green building code in Mexico. And also the honorable mentions, The Green Chemistry Commitment who integrate green chemistry into the university chemistry department and Public Laboratory for Open Science and Technology who aim to liberate science and technology studies. The receiver of the award is Ecovative, who researches and develops fungi that can be made into bio-degradable Styrofoam and sponges. The founders are hopeful that Ecovative will dominate the world like plastic did so that the earth will not be full of landfills.

The event ended at around 9:30pm with a promising outlook of the future and anticipation of the upcoming design challenge next year. It is truly a competition that encourages people to care for planet earth. At NYBC, we also believe in a sustainable green ecosystem. As such, we truly supports events like this and look forward to consult green businesses.

Thursday, October 24, 2013

The African Renaissance: Challenges and Opportunities on the African Continent


October 24, 2013, United Nations, NYBC 

By Madeline Tanamal, Malko Ebers





An exciting event on the perspectives on transformative governance and the African Agenda 2063 was held at the United Nations today. Our team attended this dialogue of the challenges and opportunities of ‘Africa’s Renaissance and Pan-Africanism’. As a company with partners in Africa we are excited to see these positive trends. Hosted by the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), this regular dialogue is held in conjunction with the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), which collides with the 50th anniversary of the African Union.

The purpose of the dialogue is to discuss the future outlook of Africa in 2063. According to Mr. Maged A. Abdelaziz, under secretary general of the UN and special advisor on Africa, the issues Africa faces now are governance, human rights, corruption, youth unemployment and infrastructure limitations. Mr. Abdelaziz hopes that through African Transformative Agenda, African commerce and prosperity will continue to grow and that the continent will become more self-reliant. Some African countries are still significantly dependent on foreign aid and true transformative change has to come from the African people themselves, from an empowered youth ‘Education has to be the bedrock of youth empowerment’. Besides all these structural constraints Africa has entered an area of true transformation and an African Renaissance. Better governance, growth, peace and security for Africa will continue to improve the livelihoods of its people.

The ambassador from the APRM, Ms. Fatuma Ndangiza Nyirakobwa gave an outline of what APRM has done over the years since its establishment, such as raising the bar of ethical standards to achieve transformative justice, leadership and governance. She highlighted that the key issue APRM faces is the limited public awareness for its agenda.

Despite the challenges Africa faces, Mr Chernor Bah, the co-cordinator for youth engagement in A World At School said that Africa’s youth population has a lot of potential. Africa has the highest number of youth worldwide, 70% of the population is below 30 years old. Thus young people deserve and have to demand better education, health care and empowerment. Mr. Bah also demanded better leadership and more action by African governments on these matters.

Mr. Assefa Shifa identified African diaspora as another potential since their contribution to Africa transformation is great. This is consistent with the idea of Pan-Africanism, at which African migrants are encouraged to contribute to African’s growth. It can’t be that educated engineers are driving taxis in other countries while their talent and contribution is needed in Africa.

The panelists concluded that the key for a sustainable solution of Africa’s problems and to achieve prosperity is the inclusion of young people, women and minorities in the change process. On top of that, branding Africa, showing the beauty and potential of its people, culture, entrepreneurs and other opportunities will give many growth and business opportunities as it attracts partners and investors.


We advise the reader to spread the word about the African Renaissance, about what is happening on the continent, to visit Africa and to consider partnerships for growth. If we can help build a bridge to Africa then our team and partners in NY and Africa are glad to be of assistance.

Friday, October 4, 2013

Six degrees of separation and and the small world we live in 

and do business with

by Malko Ebers, CEO New York Business Consultants LLC



Have you heard of Stanley Milgram? He is my very favorite researcher and I would like to share his insight on the six degrees of separation and the small world hypothesis. I studied at Yale SOM, at the ETH Zurich, at University of Constance and wherever I went I came across this name Stanley Milgram. Stanley's hypothesis is that we are all connected and he means all, all of us mankind through six social connections.
This hypothesis has been studied, tested, proven and repeated many times...pick someone on the planet, let's say a rice growing peasant in China and pick someone else...anywhere, in any city, any country, any occupation, done. Then the task is to connect the two through a chain of social contacts friends of friends of friends of...you are getting the point.

How does the magic work? Not all of the social chains can be completed but some do and the stories are quite amazing. First location, then occupation meaning 'yes, I also know someone in that country, in that city', then that person might know also a doctor who then might know a doctor with the same specialization who quite likely has attended an event with that person. The amazing psychologist Stanley Milgram found this out at Yale university and he opened our eyes for what we now call 'network society' (Manuell Castells), the small world phenomenon, information society or just globalization. We are connected in so many ways to an ever increasing number of countries, economies, people, information flows. Take a moment to just realize how many different people were necessary from how many countries to produce the products you consume in a given month.

The world has become a smaller place not since LinkedIn and Facebook or modern travel and container shipments, nor through the internet but since the beginning of Vergesellschaftung 'societization' (Max Weber), trade and tribes developing into cities (Uruk and others) and then modern trading societies.

For business this means to look beyond the horizon, to realize and take advantage of a more diverse, more global workforce than ever before as well as global market opportunities. Look for contacts, friends, B2B partners in other countries, develop a global mindset and be aware that we are really living in a global village. More information and a critical discussion of the small world phenomenon at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_degrees_of_separation



The Art of Networking - how to make connections

New York City as a center for business and commerce offers something for anybody any time. So if you are a business owner and entrepreneur or a student looking to start a career, how do you spend your time wisely, which event should you attend, which conference to go to and which workshop to join? Let us help you to network more effectively! You can't start early enough to establish and develop your network and we want to share how we do it.

Networking is a group effort.
Join a LinkedIn group and one of the many NY meetup groups that fit your business and personal interests is always a good idea. Come to one of our monthly NYBC Academy events and develop a business skill such as leadership, branding or marketing and get to know other business owners and interesting people. 

Organizations that matter, stay focused.
The ivy league clubs and universities such as Columbia and NYU Stern School of Business serve as an example for great investor pitch, marketing and other business events and conferences - join their newsletters! Also the various chambers of commerce and several UN organizations post incredible events regularly on their websites and usually offer free newsletters to stay informed. 

Share with your friends.
Clients and contacts ask us how we got to know so many people and what our secret of effective networking is. The answer is simple. Network with your colleagues, invite friends, follow up timely and make it a habit to go to business seminars, conferences and other relevant events. You need to give in order to receive - think who in your network, who on your Facebook or LinkedIn is for example interested in marketing, real estate, social media or another Industry. So the next time you see a relevant event, invite your friends and contacts - you can create specific email lists for example on mailchimp or constant contact. Also let others know in which topics you are interested in, just ask and they will share and keep you in mind.

At the event of your choice, walk the room, share business cards and ask what people care about, what is important to them not just what they do - that will be remembered. Write that on the back of the business cards when you are on your way home and follow up specifically, provide a specific benefit, share an event, an article or a story that relates to what that person cares about, to what you have heard when you first met.

Discover new topics, events and people - we hope we could inspire you.

See you soon at the next event

The NYBC team





NYBC Academy

New York Business Consultants (NYBC) Academy is our monthly speaker series in Manhattan. As management consultants we need to continuously develop our skills and we want to learn and train together with our clients and anybody interested in personal development. Our group training is offered by 2-4 trainers plus the team of NYBC.

Together with the business audience we share and learn about topics such as branding & marketing, leadership, social media or entrepreneurship. Especially for entrepreneurs and business owners it is important to be aware about recent trends and developments, to train specific skills and to develop personally as well as their teams and companies.


We would like to get to know you

The New York Business Consultants team

Monday, August 12, 2013

New York Business Consultants LLC – now @ the Chrysler Building!
Press Release, August 12th 2013
We are delighted to inform our clients, friends and contacts about our new office address at the Chrysler Building. Stop by for coffee at 405 Lexington Avenue or schedule a free consultation.
You can contact us Monday through Friday from 8:30am-5pm at (001) 646-825-3037. Our business fax number is: (001) 917-368-8005 or for news and further info simply go to www.newyorkbusinessconsultants.com.

One of the reasons why we chose to move our office to the Chrysler Building is its fascinating history. The Chrysler is conveniently located and a major symbol for NY business and commerce. The Chrysler Building is one of the finest buildings in New York City, beloved by tourists and its Art Deco design well known in the world. It was built at a fast pace to compete in Manhattan’s run for the tallest building and was the world’s tallest building for a short term.

The Chrysler Building is located in the heart of Manhattan at 42nd street, close to the United Nations and right by Grand Central terminal. We could not have thought of a better location for overseeing and developing our operations. New York City is known as one of the world’s most important places for trading and commerce; the city has been a magnet for creative talents and minds from all around the world and the Chrysler has been one of the symbols for growth, human ingenuity, innovative design and business. The cultural diversity makes the city unique, dynamic and challenging, which is the perfect framework and social fabric for our global consulting company. 

The Chrysler Building is a symbol for the global business world and its changing environment: as consultants we advocate change and are constantly working on new ideas. We work together with clients from New York to New Delhi and are excited about this milestone in our company’s history.

We would like to welcome all of our clients and contacts to get in touch with us. If you need help with your business, contact us for a free consultation and have a coffee at the Chrysler. We want to help you grow and take advantage global opportunities.

Best Regards

New York Business Consultants LLC
Chrysler Building
405 Lexington Ave
New York, NY 10174
Fax number: (001) 917-368-8005
Phone number Mo-Fr 8:30am-5pm: (001) 646-825-3037

Email: info@newyorkbusinessconsultants.com

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Keeping in touch with clients


Keeping in touch with clients, social media or coffee chat?

Keeping in touch with clients these days can be both difficult and easy with our new technological resources which are readily available depending on how we use it.  Whether we are out networking, building a client base, trying to land new business or collecting names, email addresses and numbers for the sake of collecting, the key is to use our social currency so that we can be remembered  and remember our clients making it easier to keep in touch.  How many times have we encountered clients only to recall vague details about them that are associated with their contact information?  Besides using word association to remember clients like “blue eyed Bill” or “sassy Susan” do we ever tie them to their contact details before adding them to our digital black books?  Was your influence such that when you get in touch with them they would remember you, your brand or your message?   Following up with clients and touching base every now and then is not enough these days as our online and portable devices hold hundreds of contacts that become lost in translation with our various databases.  LinkedIn, a Facebook Business page, a blog, a Twitter account – all this helps but it is often not enough.

                The key is to build a personal relationship with each client, follow up, relate to them both professionally and personally in order to expand your influence to such where the client will WANT to be in touch with you.  One must show that you listen to your clients, that you understand their business needs and that you are capable of and willing to solve their problems. In a business age where personal contact is becoming rarer because of technological factors such as skyping, teleconferencing etc, the value of an individual with strong social currency and social capital is increasing rapidly.    In order to win your clients hearts one has to exceed their expectations, to do this each contact made with your client should be a mini masterpiece.  Keep in mind the effort made depends on the level of importance the client has to you or your organization. How should you go about doing it?  Via email or newsletters: good, Video conferencing- skyping: better, In person: best. Taking a client out for coffee or lunch is by far the best way to have this in-person contact.  For groups, you can offer discussion groups or a workshop on a specific topic to keep in touch with them. Proper client intimacy can be achieved only through direct personal contact. Keeping this in mind will separate you from herds of competitors when it comes to keeping in touch with your clients.

New York Business Consultants LLC is represented in the US, Europe and China. NYBC provides consulting, research and business development services for startups and small to medium sized businesses. The NYBC consulting team helps business owners increase sales, establish their brand and better understand and access new markets. More info at: www.newyorkbusinessconsultants.com