Lazy Parasites Rule
A digital vampire threw American Express a Curve, here’s what they did & how you should handle parasitic middlemen.
Innovation
Can Something Be Both Inevitable & Abominable?
With this Tweet, Microsoft and MasterCard (“Mastersoft”?) announced their partnership to create “universal digital identities“: Voting, driving, applying for a job, renting a home, getting married and boarding a plane: what do these all have in common? You need to prove your identity. In partnership with @Microsoft, we are working to … Can Something Be Both …
Do The Poor Need Bank Accounts…Or Something Else?
According to The World Economic Forum, 1.7 billion adults don’t have access to bank accounts. Since starting at MasterCard in 2001 and throughout my time at Citi and American Express, I’ve seen “the unbanked” on almost as many slides as “data”. Both, were supposedly huge, untapped opportunities. (And at ruthlessly pragmatic … Do The Poor Need …
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Universal Healthcare: Wrong Question [Part 1 of 6]
The McFuture is back!! I’m extremely excited to bring you a new 6-part series called The Capitalist Solution to Universal Healthcare. In this episode I explain the real reason nothing’s being fixed: we’re asking the wrong question. Remember to subscribe – you won’t want to miss next week’s episode:Â The 13 … Universal Healthcare: Wrong Question …
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Samsung’s Trojan Mule Strategy…And 7 Ways To Fix It
Samsung just launched its Note 9 smartphone. Like all its predecessors and siblings, it’s a mule. Over the years, I’ve consulted to Samsung, assessed its mobile strategy, and owned/rooted its Galaxy S2, S5 and S9+ phones. In 2011, I noticed a light sprinkling of Samsung apps on my Galaxy S2. … Samsung’s Trojan Mule Strategy…And …
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9 Musings on the Future of Book Publishing for Authors and Disruptors
I published my first book with a major publisher, have friends who’ve worked with all of them, and now self-flagellating my way through a second tome. I might not be the most qualified to advise authors, but I can’t unsee the harsh realities – and future – of this … 9 Musings on the …
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Why Monopoly Is The Future…And We Love It
[This post is part of The McFuture series. An abridged version appeared on Forbes] There’s soooo much talk about innovation and disruption. You’d think we’d wake up every morning to find the sidewalk is now a river, your cat is a robot, and Kitt from Knight Rider is your car…and your spouse. … Why Monopoly Is The …
Why Congress Selling Our Privacy is GREAT
Thanks to Congress,  ISPs Are Watching You. It sounds like a bad Hall & Oates song. (Are there good Hall & Oates songs??) A crony Congress has “officially” allowed internet and mobile providers to sell consumer data. Something no human has ever asked for. The truth is – this law is just … Why Congress Selling Our …
Steve Faktor Confronts Corporate Innovation, Startups & Future of Work
In this unfiltered interview with FOX Business commentator Ari Zoldan, I separate truth from B.S. on the murky worlds of corporate innovation, startups, AI, and the future of work. I also get into: Why corporate innovation often fails: math The dirty secret behind the mythology of startups Why Google is good … Steve Faktor Confronts Corporate …
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