There might be a silver lining when it comes to the Equifax breach: “In the era of massive data breaches, these widely distributed numbers can no longer be regarded as in any way private or secret – meaning systems that store and rely on Social Security numbers as a method of authentication are inherently insecure. (…) Equifax may be an improbable messenger for reform, having built a multi-billion dollar business out of trafficking in sensitive information tied to Social Security numbers. And past reports of the death of the Social Security number have been greatly exaggerated. But if the fallout from the Equifax incident leads to real changes, at least one good news story will emerge from an incident that has otherwise brought only bad headlines for both the company and U.S. consumers. Our entire credit bureau system is broken. “But Thursday’s breach should wake us up to how fundamentally broken this system is, and how urgently we need to replace it. Breaches aren’t simply security failures; they’re the inevitable result of a broken identity system. It’s time to rip it up and start again.” Insight: Peak Institutional Distrust will lead to forced innovation. Macroeconomic Trends threaten the balance of power in banking. “Taking a ‘wait and see’ approach to planning is not a viable option. Instead, banking management teams need to commit to investments that limit risk and allow an organization to take advantage of market opportunities. Bain suggests that the best strategies blend 1) No-regret moves that add value with minimal risk, 2) Options and hedges that protect against major negative shifts and allow for participation in significant positive movements, and 3) Big bets that will define the long-term viability of an organization.” Insight: The graphic is a great visualization of the current/future banking landscape. How Mastercard is preparing for contextual commerce. “"As mobile becomes a sensor I can get purchase intent to when it actually happens, so in real-time I have a sensor at the edge of my network that I could never get in the physical plastic to terminal," McLaughlin says. It's the idea that everything on the edge of the network becomes a point of security but also a sensor for monitoring the quality of whether what's most important is really happening. That becomes incredibly compelling." Insight: It’s still early but experimentation is the key to success. 5 ways to help employees keep up with Digital Transformation. “Digital transformation is not just about technology. The way a company communicates with its employees, organizes them, and reskills them will play a fundamental role in its ability to take advantage of the new paradigm of the consumer products landscape.” Insight: Successful companies of the future will invest in continuous learning initiatives. Bruce Springsteen, artful leadership, and what Rock Star Bosses do. “The man who taught us that we were born to run had never said much about “that place where we really want to go.” The hope of “getting there,” he showed, endures even while not knowing if there is such place. But riding his motorcycle, on the road, he is almost there at last. It took him 40 years and another Born to Run to say where it is: home. That is what leading does, in the long run, when it works. It makes a new home for our stories. A home we can’t escape, only return to, because it sets us free.“ Insight: The Boss shows us that purpose is everything when it comes to work and life. Our egos are a problem at work. But not in the way you think. “It’s very uncomfortable to look at ourselves in the mirror and see the green stuff in our teeth. It’s easier to make someone or something else the reason for our challenges. But, as Wakeman is fond of saying, “Your circumstances are not the reason you can’t succeed. Your circumstances the reality in which you must succeed. So I’ve been working harder each day to ensure that when I hear the rev of my BMW’s engine, I take a moment to consider: how much of this drama am I helping to create?” Insight: Shocking that employees spend an average of 2.5 hours on drama and emotional waste.