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Deanna Allen on Her Successful Entrepreneurial Journey and Empowering Women from All Walks of Life

Dillon Kivo on May 6, 2022

Photo by John Boyette of Gym John Productions

Behind every success story is a journey grounded in perseverance, commitment, and dedication. Successful people across the globe have shown that a celebration of victories is also a culmination of every rejection and defeat one had to face in the past. True enough, reaching goals and fulfilling aspirations both call for hard work and courage. In the case of 24-year-old Deanna Allen, it is proven that only those who are brave enough to go after their dreams can obtain the life they truly deserve. 

Time and again, individuals from all walks of life have demonstrated how powerful one’s grit and determination can be in the process of translating visions into reality. According to Deanna Allen, a self-made entrepreneur, success rarely ever comes by chance. As a matter of fact, her entrepreneurial journey is proof that one has to work hard for what he or she wants to achieve. Without any of her diligent attempts and consistent efforts, she would not be the esteemed visionary she is known as today. 

As someone who has always been passionate about serving others, Deanna Allen decided to use her entrepreneurial flair to facilitate success for dreamers and aspirants worldwide. Growing up, she was recognized for being an exceptional student in school. Initially, she had planned on practicing neurology, but as she got deeper into the field, she realized that something was still missing in her life. This pivotal moment made her take a leap of faith and walk away from all of her academic achievements to pursue her own happiness, which is entrepreneurship. 

Deanna Allen’s entrepreneurial journey started off in networking marketing and opening a boutique where she was surrounded by many other female business owners. She eventually stepped out of her comfort zone and expanded her horizons by diving into the world of real estate and digital assets, which are both male-dominated fields. After having dominated these sectors, she wants to inspire other women and remind them that anything is possible as long as they choose to be relentless with their pursuits. 

“I was lucky enough to spend much of my life traveling around the country. Going to different places played a significant role in shaping me into the person I currently am,” Deanna Allen shared in an interview. “I quickly jumped into my first businesses. It did not take long for me to realize that I wanted to build more and help others do the same. I am now diversified into many different industries.”

With no plans of slowing down anytime soon, Deanna Allen intends to venture into even more purpose-driven projects while continuing to expand and scale what she has already built. More than anything, it is her sincere wish that she is able to inspire and foster entrepreneurship in others. 

Although Deanna Allen’s goal of helping others includes empowering all individuals, she especially wants to cater to highly driven women just like herself.

“Don’t get me wrong, I love mentoring both men and women. However, I hold a special place for helping women venture into these avenues,” she said. “I work daily in hopes of becoming a small part of the group paving the way for other women.”

How I Choose The Best Guests For My Show

Dillon Kivo on May 4, 2022

Written by Herb Jackson Jr 

One of my favorite things about hosting 5 Minutes with Herb is the incredible chances I get to speak to some of the best working actors of the moment.

I’ve been lucky enough to interview some amazing actors from some of my own personal favorite TV shows, getting a deep insight into how they work, who they are, and advice for fellow up-and-coming actors.

Choosing the right guests for my show is a long process. Not only do I want to pick people who I will be able to learn from and have an interesting conversation with, but I also want to think about the kinds of people my audience would be interested in hearing from.

Here’s how I choose the best guests to feature on my show.

Selecting my guests

For me, the past two seasons of my show have been all about talking to as many actors as possible.

As an actor myself, my show has provided me with an excellent opportunity to learn from some of the best in the business.

I choose actors from TV shows or movies that I enjoy and particularly focus on people that I think I can gain experience or insight from.

How I reach out to guests

Reaching out to guests is simple, I have a list of actors that I am interested in speaking to and one by one I start to contact them.

Sometimes they don’t respond – which is fine! – but I’ve also been extremely lucky to talk to many of the actors that I’ve reached out to.

How I plan my conversations

I don’t go into every episode hoping for something particular out of my guests – this would totally disrupt the natural flow of the conversation.

I genuinely enjoy talking to and learning from my guests, so I like to focus on having a personal one-on-one conversation where I get to know a little about them, their acting journey, and more about some of the characters that they’ve created.

Towards the end of the interview, I like to get into a lightning round where I’ll ask a series of rapid-fire questions to finish off our conversation.

I will try to mix in questions about their fictional characters and reality, focusing on certain topics and questions that I think will get interesting or insightful reactions out of them.

Tags: podcast, podcast tips, podcast advice, actors, acting

Image link for download: https://unsplash.com/photos/c1ZN57GfDB0

 

Plans for ‘Global City’ in Vietnam Unveiled

Dillon Kivo on May 4, 2022

Photo: Foster + Partners

Foster + Partners, one of the UK’s largest architecture firms, has announced their plans for a “city within a city” in Vietnam.

Foster + Partners said that the district, named “The Global City,” will be 290 acres (about half a square mile). It will be built around a long “spine” of trees and greenery in Ho Chi Minh, the country’s biggest metropolis.

The project includes high- and low-rise residential buildings, public housing and villas, schools, a shopping mall, and medical facilities. It is flanked by two waterways and will feature five different neighborhoods connected by a central park, boulevard, and pedestrian bridges.

According to Toby Blunt, a senior partner at Foster + Partners, the firm inherited the overall masterplan but was tasked with enhancing “its integration to nature, while increasing pedestrian connectivity between the different neighborhoods,” he wrote via email.

Masterise Homes says that the project is projected to complete in four years. Masterise Homes is a property firm also working on The Global City.

In a press release, Foster + Partners’ studio head Gerard Evenden emphasized the number of green spaces in the plans. “The design seeks to strike a balance between biodiversity and human well-being,” he said, calling it “a holistic, sustainable masterplan for the future.”

The press release added that the district’s design references the architectural traditions of Ho Chi Minh City through the use of brick and timber. Ho Chi Minh is known for its broad mix of styles, from French colonial landmarks like the Saigon Opera House to concrete modernist apartment blocks and contemporary additions to the skyline, like the lotus flower-inspired Bitexco Tower.

Foster + Partners is known for projects like the Hearst Tower in New York and 30 St Mary Axe, known as “The Gherkin,” in London.

“The Global City” is one of several futuristic masterplans that the firm has developed in recent years, revitalizing urban areas or creating new sustainable communities in densely populated cities. For example, Foster + Partners’ overhaul of Stockholm’s central Slussen district is set to be complete by 2025, while the sprawling South Sabah Al-Ahmad, a new city, will house an estimated 280,000 residents in Kuwait is scheduled to open in 2040.

The architects are also working on another project in Vietnam: the two-tower VietinBank Business Center just outside of Hanoi, in the country’s north.

How to Promote Your Meet and Greet Event

Dillon Kivo on May 4, 2022

Hosting a meet and greet is the perfect way to get up close and personal with your clients. If you want to drum up publicity for your company, drive awareness, and get to know your customers, a meet and greet is the perfect opportunity to accomplish all three.

Don’t know where to start? Here are some tips that can make your meet and greet a successful and well-attended occasion.

8 Tried and Tested Tips for Promoting Your Meet and Greet

Create a Hashtag

Create a unique hashtag — one that won’t get lost in the sea of hashtags on social media. Use it to promote your event extensively across platforms.

Hashtags can be tricky. Piling them on in one post doesn’t qualify you for automatic success. In fact, it can have the opposite effect.

A study conducted by Buddy Media showed that when you use more than two hashtags, your engagement actually drops by an average of 17 percent. Make sure you’re being mindful of the number of hashtags you use to promote your event.

Create Content

Content rules. Use content marketing to generate publicity for your marketing event. You can solicit the help of guest bloggers and independent writers or write guest posts on popular websites to generate traffic to your website.

Posting content on LinkedIn, informative posts on Facebook, creative pictures and captions on Instagram, and starting a Reddit thread can also help market your event.

Communicate, Communicate, Communicate

Most businesses fail in their meet and greet campaigns by sticking to popular platforms for promotional activities. Avoid making the same mistake by basing your publicity strategy on websites and apps that your audience frequently visits.

Ask yourself: Why would people want to attend the meet and greet? What are they hoping to get out of it? Try to discern the answer from your interactions. You can then use your insights to develop an effective promotional strategy. While communicating with your audience, be subtle and not overly enthusiastic.

Start Publicizing Your Event Early

You should start promoting your event at least 2 to 4 weeks from the date of the event. This will help build hype, pique the interest of your targeted attendees, and give people enough time to slot the event in their schedules.

If you want to retain the interest of your targeted audience, try using aesthetically appealing posters. You don’t have to spend a lot either. You can make posters through an online poster maker to reflect your branding without hiring professional graphic designers.

Market the Meet and Greet Through Fan Favorites

Have influencers, celebrities, and other famous personalities spread the word. This may come at a cost, but if you have a good barter system in place, including them in your promotional strategies won’t stretch your budget by much. You just have to do your research.

If you can’t afford to bring in the big guns, give the event an exclusive look to encourage participation. Create a scarcity mindset by offering limited slots to encourage people to take action immediately. It’s a surefire way of turning a maybe into a convincing yes.

Make Sign-In Easy

If you’re selling tickets for the meet and greet, do so through your official website or a third-party website to streamline the process. If you have people sign in for your meet and greet, make sure to ask them for details like email addresses and phone numbers.

Doing so can give you a rough estimate of potential attendees so you can book an appropriate venue to accommodate them. It will also give you the information you need to follow up with people. Think of all the marketing possibilities it may hold for you.

Get Your Head in the Game With Email Marketing

Email marketing has its fair share of naysayers. Don’t let it discourage you from reaping its benefits. As soon as people sign in, you can give them updates about your event by email. This way, you’ll be able to hold people’s interest and maintain a direct line of communication with your attendees. 

Once your event is over, continue the relationship by sending a follow-up email. Personalization is key to generating a positive follow-up response. Think it’s time-consuming? This stat will change your mind: 88% of email recipients are more likely to respond favorably to emails that have been tailored to their needs.

Use different content for different audiences. If you don’t have the manpower to send targeted messages, use services like Emma and MailChimp.

Host Giveaways and Competitions

One way to promote your meet and greet without shelling out big bucks is to host competitions and giveaways. For example, you can ask people to like a post about your giveaway, mention three or more friends, and share the post on their status with your hashtag to be eligible for entry.

If you’re looking for templates to get you started, PosterMyWall has an impressive range of  personal branding templates you can use for free. Go ahead and customize your posts to reach new audiences and get people talking about your business.

Wrapping Up

Knowing how to promote your meet and greet can help you achieve great response rates and a good turnout. Incorporating these tips into your planning can help you grow your business and generate leads.

If you’re a business that doesn’t have a budget set aside for marketing, take a look at tools like PosterMyWall. The site provides hundreds of thousands of templates that you can easily choose from and customize for your event. Social media downloads are free, while its paid services are priced reasonably from $9.95 to $29.95.

With resources like these, managing and marketing your next meet and greet should be a breeze while being light on the pocket.

Jetall Companies Inc. Dominates the Real Estate Investment and Management Business in Houston and Dallas

Dillon Kivo on May 2, 2022

The real estate investment and management industry is a highly competitive business that necessitates a lot of thoughtful planning, networking, and marketing initiatives if a company intends to excel in this area. Jetall Companies Inc. met this challenge head-on and labored to dominate the real estate investment and management business in the Houston and Dallas areas, guided by its values, vision, and mission to provide its clients with stunning offices in two key locations in Texas. 

Jetall Companies is a family-owned business, which through its principals (“Jetall”), commenced operations in 1961 in London, England. During the RTC and S&L era in the early 1990s, the company made bold and promising acquisitions in the United States and migrated its headquarters to Houston, Texas. Today, the company owns more than two million square feet of commercial real estate, with holdings that are primarily focused in Houston and Dallas. Undeniably, it is the largest owner of commercial office sales in Houston’s Galleria submarket, with nearly one million square feet. 

Over the years, it has successfully developed more than 30 commercial retail centers. Furthermore, Jetall Companies has built more than 250 high-end homes, primarily within the 610 loop in Houston. It is vertically integrated, giving Jetall control over all phases of the project, including construction, leasing, and property management. 

At present, Jetall’s team is made up of more than 40 employees and subcontractors. Mr. Ali Choudhri sits as President and CEO and has spent the last 16 years of his career with the company specializing in key areas such as acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, financing, development, and lending. He learned how to run the business at a very young age from his father. Known to excel in commercial real estate, it did not stop him from venturing into other key opportunities, such as building and developing residential communities in Houston. His residential projects include the tallest single-family home in Texas. 

Mr. Choudhri is fully invested in his family’s company. Over the years, he leveraged his personal funds and massive professional network to acquire more than $250 million worth of real estate assets. Throughout the course of his illustrious career, he has acquired, developed, and managed various assets in Dubai, Europe, Mexico, and the United States. 

Working alongside Mr. Choudhri to bring Jetall Companies to the next level is Mr. Brad Parker, Chief Financial Officer. Before he came on board as CFO, Mr. Parker had more than ten years of investment banking experience and spent a huge part of his career at Lehman Brothers and Evercore Partners. His track record in the industry includes merger, acquisition, disposition, and public capital assignments involving more than $40 billion in value. 

Jetall Companies is no ordinary real estate investment and management company. It maintains a very high set of standards, which include offering amazing skyline views, clean lines, and a towering open lobby. It is continuously looking for high-quality and prominent development opportunities in challenging markets. At present, the company is developing yet another project that real estate executives ought to look out for. There are presently several mid-rise condos being developed in Houston, and it will once again highlight Jetall Companies’ high standards and exceptional services. 

 

PR’s With No Ego’s Press Release:

Dillon Kivo on April 28, 2022

PR’s With No Ego’s Actor’s Spotlight:

Tyerise Foreman is a 43-year-old actor who has been acting for close to 15 years. He was inspired to act by Sidney Poitier’s character in the movie “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner” where the legend gave a captivating performance that intrigued a young Tyerise. Currently under the tutelage of Nakia Dillard of Aikan Acts, Tyerise says Nakia is the epitome of greatness. His introduction to the world of acting was back in 2004 where he felt strange and excited but in a good way. With always questioning how films and commercials were done he definitely got those questions answered his first day on the job. Mr. Foreman’s favorite actor and actress happens to be Denzel Washington and Viola Davis, respectively. He eventually wants to be featured with both actors in a film so he can learn from the best on how to prepare for a role. 

@Prswithnoegos asked him, if he had his own TV sitcom,  what would he call it and who would play his mom and dad? He said it would be called “The Foreman Family” and the champ George Foreman would play his dad and Phylicia Rashad would play his mother. 

Fast forward ten years into the future, he sees himself being one of the best actors in his field with a consistent flow of putting in the hard work that’s necessary to be considered great. When studying for a role, he buries himself into the character by reading the script over & over again. His advice for others getting into the field of acting is to put the work in and pay very close attention to detail. Also he stressed to never stop learning the craft because there’s always someone ready to take your spot. 

When asked about what mark he wants to leave in the film and TV industry, Tyerise says, “I want to be remembered like the legends such as Sidney, Denzel, and Samuel. I also want to be known as a great person to work with also transitioning from an actor to a director.” 

Remember the name Tyerise Foreman because he will be a legend in his own right! To follow Tyerise on his journey go to his Instagram & Twitter pages.

PR’s With No Ego’s Casting Alert:

Newly graduated actor Deondre Castello is making major moves to help his career take flight. After his graduation from Aikan Acts, he started working with @prswithnoegos casting dept. in conjunction with Aikanacts and landed his first lead role in @nequasia’s music video “Broken” under the guidance of @nextsoundstudio, directed by @sirbryon718, edited by Jason Valentin and produced by iamlegendbeats. A song based on a true story, Nequasia takes you through a journey of pain due to a cheating boyfriend from a past relationship. Deondre’s character is the cheating boyfriend. On set, he steps into character without any hitches or hiccups. It’s looking good for Deondre and his new career, and we can only imagine what’s coming up next. He’s extremely grateful for this first booking but can’t wait for his next casting. @aikanacts and @prswithnoegos plan to keep Mr. Castello very busy. 

For all interested in booking Deondre Castello, please email his representative Shakez at prswithnoegos1@gmail.com Follow his journey go to his Instagram page @richiee_pablo.

PR’s With No Ego’s Book Review    

The “Cash Money Brothers”. Gerald “G Money” talks with PR’s With No Ego’s / @Shakezdaghetto 

Gerald “G Money” decided to tell the true story of CMB around the early 2000s but it has been legend since the 1980s. The transition from being the masters of ceremonies at the Apollo to street legend G Money was definitely a double life he wanted to win on both sides of the spectrum. Most importantly, he wanted to stay under the radar of those who did not need to know. 

Harlem is different from any other place for hustlers. Harlem hustlers were deep rooted from all parts of the world able to interact with a certain code of respect. There was more of a class and style here opposed to other black communities. The difference between now and then is there was more loyalty and less snitching. We were gentlemen. 

My advice to give to those who idolize the ‘G Money’ from the movie is, this isn’t the road you will arrive at safely. I thank God for redemption, and through GOD’s Grace, I am still alive to tell my story. I had no idea that my lifestyle would have such an impact on the culture, not to mention the struggle and the exportation of the crack epidemic. The harm I inflicted on the masses that were influenced by my lack of knowledge is one of two things I wish I could change. The other is wishing I pursued a comedy career instead. It would have been amazing to see the CMB brothers and sisters in different career paths. 

I wrote the book because I felt it was time to tell the truth about my story, not the fictitious tale about 2 NYC drug lords who took over the streets of Harlem. On the contrary, I had influential people in my life like James Brown, who was my idol as a child, George Kirby, Rich Little, but most of all my father, who was the first black Deputy Chief of NYC Fire Department. I had no interest in the movie when it came out or how it would impact the film industry. I learned from my own experiences that crime doesn’t pay, and nothing has changed; it’s just new players traveling down the wrong road. Thank God I found a better way, and today I serve a merciful GOD. 

Two things dear to me is to create real change for the enhancement of a greater societal effect and positive influences on our current and future generations to come. The second is to erase the image that Hollywood promotes, which is drugs and crime that plague our film industry. My current projects pertaining to CMB are “The Children of Harlem 2541” in which several CMB characters that are alive will also be featured in the story as well as the series in TV and cartoon formats. My film company will portray us as Fortune 500 CEOs who can run the world of business, not just the streets. 

I’m deeply devoted to the ministry and spreading the gospel, which gives my life joy as it should others. I’m open to speaking engagements, motivational speaking events, and any event where there’s a chance to speak with our youth of today. 

To purchase a autographed copy directly from me Cashapp: $Marjerlkeith or visit my website: http://www.newjackempirellc.com

This Article Is dedicated to Irma McDougal & DJ Kay Slay, Rest In Peace To You Both! This Entire Play Was Put Together By: @prswithnoegos 

Amazon Unveils Much-Anticipated Home Robot, Astro

Dillon Kivo on December 23, 2021

Source: Amazon

Amazon has recently announced a slew of brand-new products during its fall product event. One of the event’s highlighted announcements came in the form of the company’s very first home robot, Astro. Equipped with a rotating screen that’s mounted onto a base with wheels, Astro is a home robot designed to appear animated and friendly, with eyes and expressive body movements that respond to user interaction.

Astro is about the size of a small dog. It roams around the house on three wheels, including two big ones that prevent it from getting stuck and a smaller one for rotating. The robot is like a combination of Amazon’s other gadgets on wheels.  

Astro can move on its own, traversing from room to room by navigating around objects on the floor or braking to avoid collision with obstacles. It also halts and navigates around pets that move into its path. The home robot is equipped with a periscope camera that is attached to the base of the device, which can be raised or lowered to view objects that are higher up.

The robot can also be remotely controlled from a phone app, which is useful for keeping a close eye on loved ones. Amazon will also sell a third-party insert created by Omron that fits into the back storage compartment of Astro, allowing it to hold a blood pressure cuff. This opens up so many possibilities for aged care from a distance, allowing users to set up reminders such as blood pressure checks and the like.

Astro also comes equipped with Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant. It can set and deliver reminders, serve up entertainment such as TV shows or podcasts, control smart home devices, and many more. Astro also responds if its owner asks it to beatbox, making the robot make musical noises to the best of its abilities.

The innovative home robot also has security and safety features that would keep any home safe from any harm through integration with Amazon’s smart home security subsidiary Ring. Astro can autonomously patrol a user’s home while they are away, keeping watch for any suspicious activities. It can flag potential intruders and listen for things such as broken glass or smoke alarms through its Alexa Guard feature.

Privacy should not be a concern with Astro around. Amazon has reiterated that Astro’s camera, microphone, and motion sensors can be switched off by pressing a button. Users may also designate rooms and boundaries where Astro is off-limits.

In spite of its amazing features, Astro has its limitations as well. It doesn’t have arms or limbs, so it can’t pick things up. It also can’t go up or downstairs, so it’s really only good for one floor of a house.

Starting today, Astro costs $999.99 and is available via invitation only. Currently, there is no commercial release date for Astro, but the company said that it would begin granting invitations later this year. Amazon continues to innovate the world one product at a time, and Astro is yet again another milestone in the company’s astronomical success in the field of technological innovation.

Proposed Billionaire Tax Runs into Opposition—Lawmakers Prefer Original Plan

Dillon Kivo on November 3, 2021

Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash

The proposed plan to impose a tax on some of the country’s billionaires has run into some pushback as some lawmakers have expressed disagreement with the new tab on the wealthy. Instead, those who have opposed the proposal from the Democratic party wish to simply raise top tax rates on all corporations whether they have ten digits in valuations or not. 

As part of a plan to fund President Joe Biden’s social spending plan, the liberals have pushed to impose a tax on seven hundred individuals who either earn $100 million a year or have had $1 billion in assets for three straight years. Democrats seem to be at a standstill after failing to wrap up negotiations on Biden’s plan, but leaders of the party believe that the pursuit of the tax added to the top percentile could still push through. The house has expressed that they intend to push for approval before the president departs for a string of overseas summits. 

As per House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Congress could be on the verge of “something major, transformative, historic and bigger than anything else” that one of the world’s most significant governments has attempted. The comment was made during a Caucus meeting and came to the hands of reporters through an anonymous individual who was present when the House Speaker made the quote.

The idea for a billionaire’s tax looks to fund several social service projects by the newly elected president, including several social service reforms and a significant climate change project. The lawmakers behind this bill have been scrambling to finalize the legislation to reach a deal on a framework that will include paying for a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill. Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore, opened the floor for the proposal to put an obligation on the country’s billionaires who often avoid paying annual income tariffs. “There are two tax codes in America,” Wyden expressed a while back. “The first is mandatory for workers who pay taxes out of every paycheck. The second is voluntary for billionaires who defer paying taxes for years, if not indefinitely.”

The proposal quickly came in contact with criticism as most noted it was “too cumbersome.” As a result, it has become a headline figure among controversial tax stories over a significant period. Other members of the house have also questioned the plans of how legislators would administer the proposed dues. House Ways and Means Committee Chair Richard Neal, D-Mass., is one of the Congress members who has expressed concerns about the plan. 

The billionaire tax will require people who fit the bill to give the IRS a detailed account of their assets gained or lost per annum. The government’s taxing body would then proceed to put obligations on these assets, including stocks, real estate, and others. Based on the proposal’s details, the rate could reach up to 20% and impose the levy even when assets don’t get cashed in. The plan also includes provisions that prevent people liable to the tariff from avoiding obligations by moving money across private entities and trusts or making donations.

As per projections, the proposed tax on billionaires could potentially raise $200 billion for Biden’s package over the next decade.

House Lawmakers Accuse Amazon of Misleading of Lying to Congress About Business Practices

Dillon Kivo on October 20, 2021

Source: Getty Images

In a letter released Monday, The House Antitrust Subcommittee demanded Amazon to correct previous testimony that lawmakers believe was misleading or else face a criminal investigation. This development followed Reuters’ evidence-backed report that showed how the industry powerhouse’s India branch had systematically manufactured knockoffs of popular goods and rigged search results to boost its own products over the original items. 

Addressed to Amazon chief executive Andy Jassy, the letter highlighted the business practices that the e-commerce giant previously denied engaging in. The brainchild of Jeff Bezos, Amazon hosts a third-party marketplace where independent sellers list millions of products. A significant chunk of the goods sold on the website come from its about two million sellers—third-party merchants that the multinational tech company profits off from by charging them fees. 

Back in 2019, The Wall Street Journal exposed Amazon’s strategic utilization of sensitive, confidential information for its benefit, using data about its sellers, their products, and transactions to launch competing products. However, an executive claimed that the allegations have no ground in statements at a hearing in July 2019, saying that the company adheres to a policy against such practice. 

This new correspondence by the panel, which was signed by Pramila Jayapal, David Cicilline, Ken Buck, Jerrold Nadler, and Matt Gaetz, is not the first of its kind then. The Subcommittee members stated, “At best, this reporting confirms that Amazon’s representatives misled the Committee. At worst, it demonstrates that they may have lied to Congress in possible violation of federal criminal law. In light of the serious nature of this matter, we are providing you with a final opportunity to provide exculpatory evidence to corroborate the prior testimony and statements on behalf of Amazon to the Committee. We strongly encourage you to make use of this opportunity to correct the record and provide the Committee with sworn, truthful, and accurate responses to this request as we consider whether a referral of this matter to the Department of Justice for criminal investigation is appropriate.”

In response, the internet-based enterprise asserted that it had been nothing but truthful. “Amazon and its executives did not mislead the committee, and we have denied and sought to correct the record on the inaccurate media articles in question,” a representative shared. “As we have previously stated, we have an internal policy, which goes beyond that of any other retailer’s policy that we’re aware of, that prohibits the use of individual seller data to develop Amazon private-label products.”

Amazon’s CEO has until the first of November to deliver a sworn response to clarify its use of private information to develop and market its own line of products. In the meantime, the digital retailer is expected to continue receiving heat, especially from lawmakers and the public alike. Senator Elizabeth Warren, one of its most high-profile critics, has called for breaking up the company. Targeting Amazon’s India branch, a group representing millions of retailers has clamored for the government to take serious action against the e-commerce titan.

Big Companies are Hoarding Cash for Fear of How the Delta Variant Will Affect the Global Economy

Dillon Kivo on September 2, 2021

Source: Unsplash.com

With the COVID-19 Delta Variant looming over the world today, big high-performing companies such as Google and Apple are careful to dispense of their cash deposits as times continue to be uncertain. As the Delta Variant continues to affect many countries, there is no way of foretelling for sure how the global economy will perform in the next few months. Just when the business industry looked forward to a spending spree from consumers in light of the supposedly weakening pandemic, there is the likelihood that people will choose to hold on to their cash in preparation for precarious months ahead. 

Reports reveal that cash and short-term investments on corporate balance sheets all over the world today are experiencing an all-time high as it is estimated to be at $6.84 trillion based on S&P Global Ratings. This translates to at least a 45% increase than the average in the last five years or so. This also means a 2.6% increase from the previous quarter. 

S&P Global Ratings global head of corporate research Gareth Williams believes that the cash levels can potentially go as high as $7.1 trillion by the end of 2021. 

Apart from Google and Apple, several other tech giants are hoarding cash, including Microsoft. All these three industry giants combined amount to $640 billion in cash on their respective balance sheets. Amazon, on the other hand, has almost $90 billion, while Facebook has over $64 billion. 

It is also worthy to note that it is not only the tech giants that are preparing for another worse-case scenario. Investment giant Berkshire Hathaway owned by Warren Buffet, is also holding in a massive amount of cash that is estimated to be at $144.1 billion at the end of June. It is significantly higher than its $138.3 billion on the balance sheet last December. 

Clearly, companies are taking warning signs and red flags quite seriously the past few months as finance chiefs are working doubly hard to strengthen their cash buffers. Many companies have also been making the most of low-interest rates being offered nowadays and are borrowing money to build up their cash. Unfortunately, this also increased debt levels significantly. 

The accumulation of this enormous amount of cash begs the question of whether or not companies should start investing what they have on worthy products and possibilities. 

Moody’s Senior Vice President Richard Lane remains positive that companies will start to let go of their cash instead of keeping it dormant while waiting for the final blow of the Delta Variant on the world economy. “What happened during the pandemic is that large investment-grade companies were aggressive in refinancing debt or raising new money,” Lane explained. “As we go through this year, I would expect that cash levels will come down a little bit.”

Aggressive investors just might go for pursuing new investments in the next few months and leverage their available cash, but it is also safe to assume that companies that have recently bounced back from the effects of the pandemic might still be a little wary about making investments.

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Trademark & Copyright Notice: Your use of this website, including all its parts and components, indicates your acceptance of the Terms of Use and Updated Privacy Policy. 

© 2024 Kivo Daily. All Rights Reserved