Global Corporate Sustainability Report 2025

©iStock/Khanchit Khirisutchalual

Corporate sustainability means integrating  environmental and social considerations into a company’s strategy, operations and disclosure. It fosters sound governance and decision-making, while helping investors better understand a company's long-term risks and opportunities.

The OECD Global Corporate Sustainability Report 2025 provides insights on how companies are implementing the sustainability-related recommendations of the G20/OECD Principles of Corporate Governance. These recommendations cover disclosure, shareholder-company dialogue, board responsibilities, and stakeholder engagement. 

Access report here.

President Trump Has Imposed the Highest Tariffs Since the Great Depression

©iStock/searagen

The tariffs at the heart of this week's Supreme Court case are raising tens of billions of dollars for the federal government. They're also costing consumers, frustrating businesses and hurting the manufacturers they're supposed to help.

About half those import taxes are being challenged this week at the U.S. Supreme Court as unconstitutional.

Does the President have a Plan B?

Dexter GBS CEO Fre Rammeloo Will Discuss Procurement and Global Supply Chain (wegginar® 11/5/25)

©Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®.  All rights reserved.

JOIN us today, November 5th at 11 AM CT for a wegginar® with Fre Rammeloo, CEO, Dexter GBS Inc.  To learn more and to register, visit: https://womenentrepreneursgrowglobal.org/2025/10/01/procurement-and-supply-chain-your-secret-growth-and-profitability-weapon/.

Some points that Fre will cover:

• Procurement: Ensure robust contracts with your suppliers and utilize them to support your business goals, financially and otherwise
• Supply Chain: A data driven, optimized supply chain does not only delight customers, it also prevents from incurring a lot of hidden, significant costs
• Growth: Savings in procurement and supply chain can fuel growth, from investment in pricing through to investment in clever technology including AI

Hope to see you there!   

Bryan Sansivero Photographs America's Abandoned Homes

©iStock/nathanaparise

For a decade, the New York-based photographer Bryan Sansivero has sought out forgotten, dilapidated homes across the United States — each with its own story to tell. Inside deserted clapboard farmsteads, palatial Antebellum-era plantation houses and maximalist Queen Anne-style structures, Sansivero has discovered many residences that were never emptied, offering a portal into another life.

Sansivero says, "I like the mystery of not knowing what you’re going to find."  Next, he's setting his sights overseas, exploring chateaus and castles in Europe whose histories can stretch back much further in time.

Discover Sansivero's work here.

Today in Global Small Business: Heated Electoral Contest in New York City Brought To You By S.N.L.

©iStock/PaulMcKinnon

What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• A satirical debate by S.N.L among the three major candidates for NY mayor, played by Miles Teller and two former “S.N.L.” hosts.  Oh what fun!
• The tactics used in Trump's deportation drive.
• Quote of the week:  "It is ridiculous to set a detective story in New York City. New York City is itself a detective story."  – Agatha Christie
• Strategic approaches for today's global market.
• Unlock international trade by managing global risk.
• How to support international expansion.  It starts by pushing boundaries.

You Know It's [the Day After] Halloween

©2025 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"You know it's [the day after] Halloween.  I guess everyone's entitled to one good scare." – Dr. Loomis in Halloween (1978)

A Model for Expanding Your Business Into Foreign Markets

©iStock/peshkov

Harvard Business Review, 5/17/24:  It used to be thought that globalization would flatten out cultural differences among countries and regions of the world, making it easier than ever for companies to move into foreign markets. 

According to a new study by the author [Joshua Conrad Jackson] and a colleague, however, cultural differences are greater today than they were 40 years ago, which explains why some major corporations have failed in their recent efforts to establish a foothold in new countries.

Companies need to adapt, the author argues, and to that end in this article he presents a general model for global leadership in the face of cultural divergence.

Is Global Trade Rewiring Without the United States?

©iStock/kvkirillov

The fragmentation of the global trade system is leading to the rise of new trade coalitions and corridors, said economists in a joint IMD-Hinrich Foundation webinar. 

The webinar discussed three overriding questions:

• Question 1: What have we gained and what have we lost?
• Question 2: What strategies are being deployed by economies?
• Question 3: What policy dilemmas lie ahead?

Find out the answers here.

Note:  We've hit more than 442,000 monthly readers at the Global Small Business Blog!

Success On Her Terms: "Finding Your True North" With Shelly Sun Berkowitz, CEO of Founder 2 Founder

©2025 Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®.  All rights reserved.

Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global unveils its newest and most exciting program yet!  "Success On Her Terms," a dynamic four-part series presented by Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global® in collaboration with Merrill’s Baldwin Marcovici Group and moderated by Alex Didac.

It is designed to spotlight high-potential, growth-stage women entrepreneurs who share their personal journeys and offer actionable insights on how to align purpose, people, and profit while building and scaling a business.

Join wegg® for the *first session* – Finding Your True North – in our four-part series on Tuesday, November 4th at 11 AM CT with Shelly Sun Berkowitz, founder and Executive Chair of BrightStar Care, a national home care franchise system she built over 20 years, scaled to over 400 locations, and led through a majority sale in 2025. 

Shelly now serves as CEO of her advisory firm, Founder 2 Founder, where she is helping other founders scale, sell, and secure their business legacies. Through her family office, Next Phase Capital (NPC), Shelly offers patient, values-aligned capital to franchise businesses. 

Shelly will be talking about clarity, resilience, and redefining success in a way that protects both your ambition and your well-being.

To learn more and to register (free of charge) for the first session that Shelly is kicking off, visit: https://womenentrepreneursgrowglobal.org/programs/success-on-her-terms/

I [Laurel Delaney] hope to see you there!  

Bracing for the World's Strongest Storm on the Planet in 2025: Hurricane Melissa

©iStock/Trifonov_Evgeniy

Three people have died already in Jamaica as it braces for the world's strongest storm this year - and possibly the strongest on record for the island - with US meteorologists warning of "catastrophic and life-threatening" conditions.

With wind speeds of up to 175mph (282km/h), Hurricane Melissa is a category five storm - the maximum strength. It is intensifying and expected to make landfall on the Caribbean island early on Tuesday, October 27, 2025.

Hurricane Melissa is now the strongest storm on the planet in 2025.

Today in Global Small Business: The Global Small Business Forum Turns 10 — and It’s More Powerful Than Ever!

What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• Photo collage from the super successful 10th Annual Global Small Business Forum held in Chicago on Thursday, October 24, 2025 – sponsored by Associated Bank and hosted by Foley & Lardner.
• How CEOs can play the long game in a shortsighted world.
• Quote of the week:  "When someone says, 'let's impose tariffs on foreign imports', it looks like they're doing the patriotic thing by protecting American products and jobs. And sometimes, for a short while it works, but only for a short time." Ronald Reagan (not exact order of how Reagan delivered this but they are his exact word)
• The 100 best books of the 21st Century.
• Many older Americans are financially comfortable but pessimistic about the economy because of their children’s struggles with jobs and affordability. Is the American economy doing that great?
• Punishing a country again ... President Donald Trump said on Saturday (10/25/25) that he plans to hike tariffs on imports of Canadian goods by an extra 10% because of an anti-tariff television ad aired by the province of Ontario.  Here's President Reagan's radio address from 1987 on Free and Fair Trade.

Eli's Cheesecake Company Celebrates the 10th Annual Small Business Forum in Chicago (10/24/25)

©2025 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

The best:  Eli's Cheesecake Company in celebration of the 10th Annual Global Small Business Forum (10/24/25).  Event supported by:  Associated Bank and Foley & Lardner.

Taylor Swift: Life of the Showgirl Explained (2025)

Together, Let's Go, Go, Go Global! Final Call for Tickets!

Join us in person tomorrow, Friday, October 24th in Chicago at the 10th Annual Global Small Business Forum, "Playing to Win in the Global Marketplace," hosted at Foley & Lardner and sponsored by Associated Bank – from 8:00-11:30 AM CT.

Why just look at this lineup of amazing speakers!

1. Ellen Wheeler, Partner and Litigation Attorney, Foley & Lardner LLP
2. Sebastien Villon, Managing Partner, BBInc
3. Jamie Shah, President, Chem-Impex International
4. Marc Schulman, President, The Eli's Cheesecake Company
5. Angie Kappel, VP, FX, Associated Bank
6. Ken Wasylik, Managing Director, E.M. Wasylik Associates
7. Mikę Sankowski, VP, FX, Associated Bank (Moderator)
8. Dave Shogren, President and Co-Owner, US International Foods, LLC
9. Ashley S.H. Moy, President, Cast21
10. Chris R. Straw, Founder and President, Team Quality Services
11. Richard Paullin, Executive Director, International Trade Association of Greater Chicago
12. Nancy McHenry, COO, Wigeteer 

They are going to rock the house with their knowledge and grit on what it takes to go global.  To learn more and to purchase tickets, visit: https://globalsmallbusinessforum.com/

I'll [Laurel Delaney] will be there.  Hope to see you, too!

Let's Make Sure Watchdogs Do Their Jobs

©iStock/cynoclub

Timing is everything.

Parisa Salehi, Export-Import Bank's Inspector General, was the kind of internal watchdog who had earned a strong reputation for digging up fraud, waste and abuse during her 15 years in government service. She had risen through the ranks at inspectors general offices at the State Department and U.S.A.I.D., eventually taking over internal investigations at the Export-Import Bank of the United States, where her office reported saving tens of millions of dollars.

But last week, she got a notice that President Trump had fired her, effective immediately. The reason she was given? A vague line about the administration’s changing priorities, according to two people familiar with the matter.

There's more.

Repeat: 50 Ways to Go Global

©iStock/Bjoern Wylezich

LOVE 💟 this old post from 2007:  50 Ways to Go Global!  You can see who is still around and who isn't.  Fascinating.  Lots of 404 errors but that is to be expected.  Check it out.  And we keep going! 

Today in Global Small Business: India's Biggest Holiday of the Year, Diwali Day

©iStock/StarLineArts

What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• Happy Diwali Day – Diwali, or Dipawali, is India's biggest and most important holiday of the year. May your days be as bright as the Diwali lights.
• No Kings movement – I [Laurel Delaney] participated in the Chicago gathering 10/18/25.
• The world can see the 'No Kings' nonviolent protests.
• The 'No Kings' movement proves how vulnerable Trump is.  Not by the event itself but by the attacks on it by Republicans (including Trump).
• Celebration of the week:  "Wishing you a very Happy Diwali! May this festival of lights bring you prosperity, health, love and good fortune." 
• Three weekend habits that are ruining your brain.

Showcasing the Most Beautiful City in the World: Chicago

 

Diverse • Innovative • World Class 

"In Chicago, we value unity over division.  Our city's beauty comes from its people, and we support policies that honor that." – Laurel Delaney

  

Photos courtesy of:  ©2025 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

Come Celebrate With Us – wegg® Turns 10!

©2025 Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®.  All rights reserved.

Secure your tickets today for the Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global® 10-year anniversary gala hosted at the swanky Tortoise Supper Club in Chicago on Thursday, November 6, 2025 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. CT

Enjoy exceptional food, signature cocktails, lively conversation, and a soundtrack curated entirely by women artists – plus gift bags filled with products made by women. And to top it all off, the evening will be emceed by the sensational Whitney Reynolds of the Whitney Reynolds Show.

This women-focused event is to celebrate women entrepreneurs and women business owners and is made possible by the generous support of sponsors APCO and JPMorgan Chase.

Hurry – more than half the house is already sold!

Purchase your tickets: https://womenentrepreneursgrowglobal.org/about/10yr-anniversary/

And if you are unable to attend, I hope you will consider making a gift. Your generosity helps wegg maintain the sustainable, responsive resources that empower women business owners like you.  Join us in giving the gift of growth!

• Unable to attend, visit:  https://womenentrepreneursgrowglobal.org/about/10yr-anniversary/ – to make a donation.
• Become a wegg® Angel:  https://womenentrepreneursgrowglobal.org/donate/

Thank you so much.  Full disclosure:  I [Laurel Delaney] am the founder and president of wegg®.

What's the Biggest Threat to Global Business In 2025?

©iStock/Ilya Lukichev

In a BBC World Business Report podcast episode, journalist and host Sam Fenwick takes a look at the soaring cost of cybercrime, as attacks sweep across industries and threaten global business stability, spotlighting Japan’s Asahi Breweries, one of the latest victims. 

Cybersecurity Ventures predicted cybercrime could cost as much as $10.5 trillion annually by 2025. Some forecasts put that figure even higher.

Learn more here.