Views from the Crow’s Nest

In this special episode of Views from the Crow's Nest, FischerJordan once again moderates a round-table discussion between four non-profit food bank/pantry/meal kitchen organizations partnered with us in our U.S. FAIR (Food Availability Improvement Resource) initiative.  Following up on a discussion with these partners from April of this year, we chat about: Unique ways they're responding to families in need during the holidays How each organization is dealing with rising food prices Local food sourcing options and alternatives in their particular context.   Organizations represented in this discussion -  Colonial Heights Food Pantry - Colonial Heights, VA The River Food Pantry - Madison, WI A Just Harvest - Chicago, IL Broomfield FISH - Broomfield, CO +++ FischerJordan's FAIR initiative (Food Availability Improvement Resource) is our primary avenue for giving back to the communities where we operate. With FAIR, we've partnered with over a dozen volunteer-run, non-profit food pantries and food banks in the US, India, and Israel, supplying them with crucial food items directly to help provide food for those in need in a way that maximizes the impact of every dollar spent. Learn more at https://fischerjordan.com/communities    Recorded, edited, and published by Nathan Johnson for FischerJordan. 

In this "return to form" episode of Views from the Crow's Nest, senior FischerJordan associate Jivraj Karwa drives a deep-diving discussion on unique pressures in commercial/industrial (C&I) lending in an inflationary environment.  Jivraj brings his expertise and experience as an analyst to the discussion to talk about the overall picture of the C&I market before and after the COVID-driven recession, some of the ramifications of recent legislation including the Inflation Reduction bill and the CHIPS act, and what we might expect to see in C&I in response to the current inflation-driven recession and signs of a long-awaited housing market slowdown.  This podcast is an in-house production of FischerJordan, a specialized consulting firm in New York with emphases in strategy, analytics, and technology. Find out more about our approach to delivering client value, career opportunities, and our work within our communities at fischerjordan.com.    Relevant Links Banks Losing Ground to Nonbanks in Business Lending A Competitive Tipping Point in C&I Lending Will Competition for C and I Loans Lead to Looser Underwriting? The Small Loan Share of C&I loans After the Dodd-Frank Act Passes (Figure) The Rise of Finance Companies and FinTech Lenders in Small Business Lending Non-Bank Lending Market Research Bank and Non-Bank Lending Over the Past 70 Years

In this episode of the Mess Haul, Nathan, Boaz, and Kshitish dip into luxury watches, fintech as an equalizer for inequality, and national security implications of antitrust actions. Some questions we ask (and maybe answer):   Can luxury items like watches, fine art, or wine act as a store of value or inflation hedge like we'd usually expect of gold or real estate? Do the benefits of fintechs equalizing access to the unbanked start to diminish with government involvement? Will monopolies always raise the alarm about national security when the topic of antitrust action is brought up? The Mess Haul features a more free-form conversational approach with multiple participants than our more interview-focused style. This format is designed to generate quick takes on a handful of recent topics, facilitating shorter, more opinionated discussion with a number of different perspectives. Each episode of The Mess Haul is (usually) recorded, edited, and released in the same day. Today's conversationalists: Nathan Johnson, Kshitish Nanda, Boaz Salik Hosted, recorded, and produced for FischerJordan by Nathan Johnson +++ FischerJordan is a New York-based consulting, thought-leadership, and outsourcing firm helping business leaders exchange complexity for clarity. We use rigorous data analytics, specialized staffing, and custom technology solutions to deliver workable strategies for clients in financial services and healthcare.   Background articles for this episode: Bloomberg Opinion on the connection between crypto crash and demand for luxury watches  Qrius Magazine on how fintech can help equalize access to financial services in tough times  Forbes on the (potential) national security risk of breaking up Big Tech's monopoly

FischerJordan moderates another round-table discussion for our FAIR (Food Availability Improvement Resource) initiative, this time with representatives from our NGO partners in India.  Similar to the conversation with our U.S. partners, we talk about how they're addressing the increasing demand for healthier food options, client relationships and needs brought on by the COVID pandemic, and the impact of rising global food costs for their organizations and region.   Represented in this discussion -  Sona Sarovar Trust - Mumbai, Maharashtra Project Potential - Kishanganj, Bihar Meals of Happiness - Delhi Balajee Sewa Sansthan - Dehradun, Uttarakhand Gram Vikas Trust - Bharuch, Gujarat Uttishtha Foundation - Uttar Pradesh +++ FischerJordan's FAIR initiative (Food Availability Improvement Resource) is our primary avenue for giving back to the communities where we operate. With FAIR, we've partnered with over a dozen volunteer-run, non-profit food pantries and food banks in the US, India, and Israel, supplying them with crucial food items directly to help provide food for those in need in a way that maximizes the impact of every dollar spent. Learn more at https://fischerjordan.com/communities  Recorded, edited, and published by Nathan Johnson for FischerJordan. 

In this episode of the *Midweek Mess Haul, Nathan, Deeba, and Boaz unpack what went wrong with GrubHub's "free lunch" fiasco back in May, take an analytical look at Berkshire-Hathaway's asset-buying activities as a hedge against inflation, and discuss a vision for a well-rounded digital health future.  The Mess Haul features a more free-form conversational approach with multiple participants than our more interview-focused style. This format is designed to generate quick takes on a handful of recent topics, facilitating shorter, more opinionated discussion with a number of different perspectives. Each episode of The Mess Haul is (usually) recorded, edited, and released in the same day.  Today's conversationalists: Nathan Johnson, Deeba Goyal, Boaz Salik  Hosted, recorded, and produced for FischerJordan by Nathan Johnson   +++ FischerJordan is a New York-based consulting, thought-leadership, and outsourcing firm helping business leaders exchange complexity for clarity. We use rigorous data analytics, specialized staffing, and custom technology solutions to deliver workable strategies for clients in financial services and healthcare.   Background articles for this episode: Buzzfeed News on the GrubHub "free lunch" fiasco Forbes on Warren Buffet's Q1 2022 asset "buying spree" Fast Company on the future of digital health

In this episode of the *Midweek Mess Haul, Nathan, Neet, and Boaz share thoughts on GMOs mosquitos, their outlook on crypto after the hard plummet of 5/12, and the strategic ramifications of permanent social media bans.  The Quick Take: does introducing GMO mosquitos into an ecosystem have too many unintended consequences waiting in the wings?  The Big Dig: is the end-state of the current "Wild West" of crypto something where only the strongest survived?  The Final Cut: why should (or shouldn't) social media companies consider using permanent bans as a way to enforce terms of use? The Mess Haul features a more free-form conversational approach with multiple participants than our more interview-focused style. This format is designed to generate quick takes on a handful of recent topics, facilitating shorter, more opinionated discussion with a number of different perspectives. Each episode of The Mess Haul is (usually) recorded, edited, and released in the same day.  Today's conversationalists: Nathan Johnson, Neet Shah, Boaz Salik  Hosted, recorded, and produced for FischerJordan by Nathan Johnson   +++ FischerJordan is a New York-based consulting, thought-leadership, and outsourcing firm helping business leaders exchange complexity for clarity. We use rigorous data analytics, specialized staffing, and custom technology solutions to deliver workable strategies for clients in financial services and healthcare.   Background articles for this episode: Quartz on Oxitech and GMO mosquitos Bloomberg, Forbes on crypto news WIRED on Elon Musk's plans to reverse Twitter's bans on high profile users

In this special episode of Views from the Crow's Nest, FischerJordan moderates a round-table discussion between five non-profit food bank/pantry/meal kitchen organizations partnered with us in our FAIR (Food Availability Improvement Resource) initiative.  We talk about how they're addressing the increasing demand for healthier food options, client relationships and needs brought on by the COVID pandemic, and collaborations to lower cost and increase product offerings.   Organizations represented in this discussion -  Colonial Heights Food Pantry - Colonial Heights, VA The River Food Pantry - Madison, WI A Just Harvest - Chicago, IL North County Community Food Bank - Battle Ground, WA Broomfield FISH - Broomfield, CO +++ FischerJordan's FAIR initiative (Food Availability Improvement Resource) is our primary avenue for giving back to the communities where we operate. With FAIR, we've partnered with over a dozen volunteer-run, non-profit food pantries and food banks in the US, India, and Israel, supplying them with crucial food items directly to help provide food for those in need in a way that maximizes the impact of every dollar spent. Learn more at https://fischerjordan.com/communities  Recorded, edited, and published by Nathan Johnson for FischerJordan. 

In this episode of the *Midweek Mess Haul, Nathan, Jivraj, and Boaz get into hostile takeovers, public transit crime rates, and AI disease prediction.  The Quick Take: will the recent violence on the New York subway be the first of more such incidents? Are there places where violent crime on public transit feels less likely...and why?  The Big Dig: why is there so much resistance to Elon Musk's bid to buy Twitter, and why would Musk buy an existing asset if he could theoretically make his own for the same price? The Final Cut: what are some additional use cases for AI-enhanced analytics in healthcare diagnostics? The Mess Haul features a more free-form conversational approach with multiple participants than our more interview-focused style. This format is designed to generate quick takes on a handful of recent topics, facilitating shorter, more opinionated discussion with a number of different perspectives. Each episode of The Mess Haul is (usually) recorded, edited, and released in the same day.  Today's conversationalists: Nathan Johnson, Jivraj Karwa, Boaz Salik  Hosted, recorded, and produced for FischerJordan by Nathan Johnson   +++ FischerJordan is a New York-based consulting, thought-leadership, and outsourcing firm helping business leaders exchange complexity for clarity. We use rigorous data analytics, specialized staffing, and custom technology solutions to deliver workable strategies for clients in financial services and healthcare.   Background articles for this episode: The Atlantic - "The Subway Crime Death Spiral" WIRED - "Elon Musk Has Triggered a Battle for the Future of Twitter FastCompany - "This AI Can Predict Your Death 10 Years From Now. So How Does THAT Work?"

In this episode of the Monday Mess Haul, Nathan, Kshitish, and Boaz get technical.  The Quick Take: what are the ethical implications of an experimental AI using a publicly-available dataset to identify 40,000 theoretical chemical weapons?  The Big Dig: how much can you actually claim as your own personal information? That's what's up for debate with a recent opinion concerning the language of the California Consumer Protection Act.  The Final Cut: how effective are empirical methods for training task variations in robotics?   The Mess Haul features a more free-form conversational approach with multiple participants than our more interview-focused style. This format is designed to generate quick takes on a handful of recent topics, facilitating shorter, more opinionated discussion with a number of different perspectives. Each episode of The Mess Haul is (usually) recorded, edited, and released in the same day.  Today's conversationalists: Nathan Johnson, Kshitish Nanda, Boaz Salik  Hosted, recorded, and produced for FischerJordan by Nathan Johnson   +++ FischerJordan is a New York-based consulting, thought-leadership, and outsourcing firm helping business leaders exchange complexity for clarity. We use rigorous data analytics, specialized staffing, and custom technology solutions to deliver workable strategies for clients in financial services and healthcare.   Background articles for this episode: The U.S. Sun - "Killer AI Invented 40,000 'Lethal Chemical Weapons' In Just Six Hours" Marketing Brew - "California AG Says 'Inferences' Are Personal Information. Here's Why That Matters." TechCrunch - "Better Learning Through 'Complex Dough Manipulation'"

In this episode of the Monday Mess Haul, Nathan, Deeba, and Boaz break some old forms and start some new ones.  The Quick Take: how would a permanent Daylight Savings Time under the Sunshine Protection Act impact the way the working world...well, works? Should we all just commit to GMT and get it over with?  The Big Dig: social media lip service doesn't cut it anymore. How could the Russia/Ukraine conflict push the private sector to make their public engagement factor a core strategic differentiator?  The Final Cut: three emergent trends in data analytics that could help companies be more socially and environmentally conscious.  The Mess Haul features a more free-form conversational approach with multiple participants than our more interview-focused style. This format is designed to generate quick takes on a handful of recent topics, facilitating shorter, more opinionated discussion with a number of different perspectives. Each episode of The Mess Haul is (usually) recorded, edited, and released in the same day.  Today's conversationalists: Nathan Johnson, Deeba Goyal, Boaz Salik  Hosted, recorded, and produced for FischerJordan by Nathan Johnson   +++ FischerJordan is a New York-based consulting, thought-leadership, and outsourcing firm helping business leaders exchange complexity for clarity. We use rigorous data analytics, specialized staffing, and custom technology solutions to deliver workable strategies for clients in financial services and healthcare.   Background articles for this episode:  Reuters: "US Senate Approves Bill That Would Make Daylight Savings Time Permanent" Forbes: "'There Isn't A Both Sides Anymore': With Russia, Customers And Employees Demand Action From Corporations" Edelman Trust Barometer: Brand Trust in 2021 Reseller News: "3 Data and Analytics Trends That Will Dominate in 2022"

In this episode of the Monday Mess Haul, we brought in both FischerJordan partners for a speculative discussion on some current hot-button issues, including:  Is the idea of financial services as an enforcement arm of political willpower a new/growing trend or just an emergency use case?  Given the potentially devastating impact of sanctions on a nation's economy, should sanctions themselves be considered an act of war and not just a "war-time measure?" Are five-day work weeks out and...seven-day work weeks in? What are the implications of healthcare successfully implementing blockchain technology at scale?  The Mess Haul features a more free-form conversational approach with multiple participants than our more interview-focused style. This format is designed to generate quick takes on a handful of recent topics, facilitating shorter, more opinionated discussion with a number of different perspectives. Each episode of The Mess Haul is recorded, edited, and released in the same day.  Today's guests: Neet Shah, Boaz Salik  +++ FischerJordan is a New York-based consulting, thought-leadership, and outsourcing firm helping business leaders exchange complexity for clarity. We use rigorous data analytics, specialized staffing, and custom technology solutions to deliver workable strategies for clients in financial services and healthcare.   Background articles for this episode:  New York Announces New Financial Services Enforcement of Sanctions Against Russia NY Gov. Hochul says COVID likely killed off traditional work schedule Healthcare blockchain leader talks challenges and trends in DLT

In this episode of the Monday Mess Haul (MMH), FischerJordan team members get into sports and cars (just not sports cars). Some of our questions for each other:  Does NBCUniversal's promotional partnership with TikTok for the Winter Olympics indicate a broader trend for sports viewership, or was this a more concentrated attempt to boost lagging viewership for the Olympics?  Why might the Olympics have struggled recently to acquire and retain viewers? Is there a large enough market for "electrifying" luxury cars that companies like Lunaz might see more competition?  Is pushback for crypto from entities like the Financial Stability Board just par for the course with anything that threatens the status quo? The Mess Haul features a more free-form conversational approach with multiple participants than our more interview-focused style. This format is designed to generate quick takes on a handful of recent topics, facilitating shorter, more opinionated discussion with a number of different perspectives. Each episode of The Mess Haul is recorded, edited, and released in the same day.  Today's guests: Kshitish Nanda, Boaz Salik  +++ FischerJordan is a New York-based consulting, thought-leadership, and outsourcing firm helping business leaders exchange complexity for clarity. We use rigorous data analytics, specialized staffing, and custom technology solutions to deliver workable strategies for clients in financial services and healthcare.   Background articles for this episode:  Morning Brew - "Can TikTok Save the Olympics?" Forbes - "Electrifying Classic Cars is a Surging Business - with a Two Year Wait List" CNN - "How cryptocurrencies could trigger a financial crisis"

In this episode of The Monday Mess Haul, we want to know what's going on. Specifically, we want to know:  Does zero-party data provide any new insights that can't be derived from existing data categories like first-, second-, or third-party data? Should we consider it a subdivision of first-party data, or will it eventually become synonymous with first-party? How could zero-party data factor into scenarios like credit decisioning?  Is the hype about the Metaverse coming from any real-world demand, or is it an act of self-justification by tech monopolies? If the COVID-19 pandemic made us live more online, do we think people only choose "life online" as an escape from bleak real-world conditions? The Mess Haul features a more free-form conversational approach with multiple participants than our more interview-focused style. This format is designed to generate quick takes on a handful of recent topics, facilitating shorter, more opinionated discussion with a number of different perspectives. Each episode of The Mess Haul is recorded, edited, and released in the same day.  Today's guests: Jivraj Karwa, Boaz Salik  Background articles for this episode:  Morning Brew - "Is Zero-Party Data a Real Thing?" WIRED - "Big Tech Needs to Stop Trying to Make Their Metaverse Happen" FischerJordan (via ABF Journal) - "Weighing the Pros and Cons of Web Presence Data in Credit Decisioning"

We're back with our first full-length episode of 2022 in this forward-looking conversation with entrepreneur Trevor Barran. Trevor is a FischerJordan co-founder and is currently one of four partners at CloudTree Ventures, which is focused on technologies driving interactive entertainment and the metaverse. We get into both some broad trends and specific applications of the immersive entertainment space – which includes things like augmented and virtual reality, but you'll quickly learn that there are things happening in this domain that go far beyond just entertainment or gaming. Some of the topics we cover:  What we mean by "immersive/interactive entertainment” and why it's relevant today Why Facebook's pivot to Meta actually isn't that surprising Companies that are already making interesting moves with AR/VR technologies What kind of infrastructure will need to be built to fully realize this technology's potential  Whether an immersive future will still be controlled by the tech giants we know today or if a new set of competitors/leaders might emerge The surprisingly simple constraint that stands in the way of a "Ready Player One"-style future Find out more about CloudTree Ventures at https://cloudtree.vc/ This podcast is an in-house production of FischerJordan, a specialized consulting firm in New York with emphases in strategy, analytics, and technology. Find out more about our approach to delivering client value, career opportunities, and our work within our communities at fischerjordan.com.    NOTES - Key Terms and Further Reading Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC): “A special purpose acquisition company, also known as a "blank check company", is a shell corporation listed on a stock exchange with the purpose of acquiring a private company, thus making it public without going through the traditional initial public offering process. Wikipedia” OMO – Online Merged with Offline Matthew Ball xR = Extended Reality. From WorldStage: “Extended Reality (xR) is a next-generation process for film, broadcast and live event production. ... Mixed Reality (MR) combines camera tracking and real-time rendering to create an immersive virtual environment, visible live on set and shot directly in camera.” What are haptics?

In this episode of The Mess Haul, we unpack three current topics from other publications, grappling with questions like:  What do the FED's efforts to tamp down consumer price inflation mean for 2022? What happens when a crypto crowdfund called a DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization) goes head-to-head with "legacy" investors in an auction for a first-edition printing of the U.S. Constitution? As more than just white-collar jobs come to depend on internet access, what are some ways to address the problem of connectivity inequity? The Mess Haul features a more free-form conversational approach with multiple participants than our more interview-focused style. This format is designed to generate quick takes on a handful of recent topics, facilitating shorter, more opinionated discussion with a number of different perspectives. Each episode of The Mess Haul is recorded, edited, and released in the same day.  Today's guests: Anoushka Khanna, Boaz Salik  Articles referenced in this episode:  Yahoo News - "What DAOs are And What They Might Buy Next" WIRED - "Smartphones Are a New Tax on the Poor" FischerJordan - "Making Sense (and Some Predictions) of Inflation"  FischerJordan - "Don't Panic About Blockchain (But Do Pay Attention)" 

In this episode of The Mess Haul, we get into a discussion about three recent news stories:  What implications does Jack Dorsey's departure from Twitter hold for the platform's future? Despite being a first-of-its-kind move, is the Competition and Markets Authority's (CMA) recent pushback on Meta's ownership of GIPHY a mostly symbolic attempt at "regulation?"  What does the FTC's blocking of Nvidia's acquisition of chip-designer Arm mean for Arm and companies like it? The Mess Haul features a more free-form conversational approach with multiple participants than our more interview-focused style. This format is designed to generate quick takes on a handful of recent topics, facilitating shorter, more opinionated discussion with a number of different perspectives.

In this episode we catch up with FischerJordan senior analyst Austin LaRoche about his research into the current state of food insecurity in the U.S. - post-COVID especially - and what FischerJordan is doing about it. Some of the things we cover in this special episode: Ins-and-outs of various operations in the U.S. to combat food insecurity How to ensure the largest amount of your donations are going directly to people in need when giving to non-profit organizations Resources for ensuring transparency in non-profit donations We wrap up with an inside look at a new initiative at FischerJordan to try to address the problem of food insecurity in the communities where we operate - and how food banks and pantries can help out. Some key resources referenced during this episode:  GuideStar Charity Navigator Charity Watch GiveWell FischerJordan FAIR (Food Availability Improvement Resource)

Naren Nayak is a 20-year veteran of Capital Markets and Securitization and current treasurer at Credibly, a leading small business fintech lender. In this episode of Views from the Crow's Nest, we sat down with him and senior FischerJordan manager Sachin Goel for a dialogue about the evolution of the alternative lending space in the time preceding, during, and eventually following the COVID-19 pandemic.  Some of what we covered:  The difference between alternative and traditional lenders What makes an alternative lender more attractive to small businesses for securing financing  How the COVID pandemic impacted the alternative commercial lending space and how things might look going forward  How investor attitudes toward alt-lenders may have shifted post-COVID Potential impacts of cryptocurrency on the alt lending space in the future  Welcome to the crow's nest! 

In this second installment of The Mess Haul (or Mess Hall), FischerJordan team members Archita Bhandari and Jivraj Karwa and partner Boaz Salik chat about whether we're headed for another anti-trust cycle, this time for Big Tech. We then shift to some speculation about programmed bias in AI/ML and whether there has ever been a successful social or governmental attempt to limit a technology's advancement.    The Mess Haul is a departure from our usual interview-style format, instead featuring a more free-form conversational approach with multiple participants. This format is designed to generate quick takes on a handful of recent topics, facilitating shorter, more opinionated discussion with a number of different perspectives.  

This episode introduces The Mess Haul (or Mess Hall), a slight departure from our usual interview-style format instead featuring a more free-form conversational approach with multiple participants. This format is designed to generate quick takes on a handful of recent topics, an opportunity for shorter, more opinionated discussion with a number of different perspectives. Today's guests are FischerJordan team members Shreya Jain and Austin LaRoche and partner Boaz Salik in a fireside chat riffing on the implications of the GME stock rally and Wall Street Bets saga in early 2021, followed by some speculations on the next stage of Bitcoin mass adoption. 

Views from the Crow's Nest returns with a special double interview with Neet Shah and Dr. Elena Koshkina, two tenured professionals in healthcare analytics and data science. In our conversation we delve into some interesting developments at the intersection of data science advancements and the field of population health management. Some of the topics we covered include: What population health management is (and why it's important) How the differing structures of US/UK healthcare systems impact population health initiatives  Key leaders in population health management and which innovations are driving better outcomes Technology's impact on the wellness space HIPAA concerns around patient data collection How to drive patient engagement in a world where everyone can look up their symptoms online

We had the chance to spend time with Elena Koshkina and Neet Shah for a deep diving conversation on data science in population health management. This short five-minute sample will give you a preview of the full discussion episode, coming out later in November 2020!

By now the world is well familiar with the adverse effects of the pandemic for a number of industries and how COVID has impacted the U.S. GDP. Some have also heard about the Fed and various states' intervention programs to mitigate some of those effects, as referenced in our previous episode of VFTCN. At the center of the current maelstrom of the Fed regulations, pandemic effects, increased demand, loans and defaults, investors and depositors, are the banks. In this episode, we get to talk with Shreya Jain, a senior analyst at FischerJordan, and take a look at the bank's side of this story, where unfortunately the "grass isn't always greener." 

The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been much-discussed and debated, especially regarding its impact on small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs). For some small business owners making steady payments on small business loans before the pandemic, the grim prospect of defaulting may now feel dangerously imminent. This fragile backdrop is now the proving ground for new ways to think about the relationship between borrower and lender.  In our first full-length episode of Views from the Crow's Nest, we sit down with Boaz Salik, PhD, founder and CEO of FischerJordan, to examine the second order economic effects of the COVID pandemic for lenders in the next six months to a year or more.

Welcome to Views from the Crow's Nest by FischerJordan. This introductory episode will answer two questions: who/what is FischerJordan, and what you can expect to see from the crow's nest.   Find out more about FischerJordan's strategic management consulting framework and client expertise at fischerjordan.com