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Feel good Sunday: The art of mastery in chocolate and beyond

Amaury Guichon doesn’t just make desserts — he sculpts stories out of chocolate. His intricate, lifelike creations remind us that #mastery is born from patience, precision, and a deep love of the craft.

Whether in pastry, design, or leadership — creativity thrives where curiosity meets discipline.

Sometimes, inspiration isn’t about doing something new — it’s about doing something beautifully well.

Source: https://www.ted.com/talks/amaury_guichon_a_pastry_chef_works_his_chocolatier_magic_live

Curious Saturday: The power of perception

Mind reader and mentalist Oz Pearlman doesn’t claim to have supernatural powers — instead, he reveals just how much our thoughts, expressions, and body language give away without us realizing it.

His live demonstrations show that “reading minds” is really about reading people — attention to detail, emotional intelligence, and the subtle cues we all send.

It’s a reminder that real insight doesn’t come from magic — it comes from listening deeply and observing closely.

Source: https://www.ted.com/talks/oz_pearlman_the_art_of_reading_minds

When less ice means more fire

As glaciers melt under the pressure of global warming, Iceland’s scientists are uncovering another startling consequence — a rise in volcanic activity. With ice retreating, the Earth’s crust rebounds, magma production increases, and the potential for more frequent or intense eruptions grows.

This phenomenon isn’t confined to Iceland — similar risks lurk in Antarctica, Alaska, and the Andes, where millions could face impacts ranging from water-supply disruption to aviation chaos.

It’s a reminder that climate change doesn’t just heat the planet — it can also awaken the fire beneath it.

Source: https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2025/10/15/global-warming-may-have-volcanic-consequences

Leading through change

True leadership isn’t about avoiding uncertainty — it’s about moving forward through it. Progress in business often starts with a willingness to challenge what’s comfortable, learn fast, and stay the course when others hesitate.

Every small decision to improve, adapt, and innovate adds up.

Big banks cheer Q3 — but keep a cautious eye on 2026

America’s largest banks just posted a strong Q3, with the top six earning nearly $41B—up 19% year over year — on the back of robust dealmaking, corporate spend, and resilient consumer activity. Leaders point to stable deposits and low delinquencies, while wealth inflows and trading volumes continue to rise. Still, execs flagged cross-currents to watch: a cooling labor market, pockets of credit stress, and policy/geopolitical uncertainty. The takeaway is that the momentum is real, but risk management and disciplined growth remain the name of the game.

Source: https://www.wsj.com/finance/banking/the-nations-biggest-banks-are-saying-the-economy-is-still-strong-689a0d63?mod=hp_lead_pos1

Stop choosing between efficiency and future-growth — it’s time to do both

For decades, business leaders have accepted a familiar trade-off: innovate tomorrow while sacrificing today’s cost-effectiveness, speed, or certainty. But the business environment has changed. Slowing growth, rising capital costs, intense competitor pressure — and now AI and digital tools making imitation easier — mean the old trade-off isn’t sustainable.

BCG argues it’s time to do both. By linking a company’s “exploit” (core operations) and “explore” (innovation) efforts to the customer journey, CEOs can accelerate progress without sacrificing performance.

Source: https://www.bcg.com/publications/2025/how-ceos-can-conquer-traditional-innovation-tradeoffs

Investors keep dancing — Even as the “bubble” warnings get louder

Warnings about overinflated markets are getting harder to ignore. From the IMF to the Bank of England, policymakers are cautioning that asset prices may be “well above fundamentals,” and that sharp corrections could be ahead.

Yet optimism prevails. Investors continue to buy the dip, confident that central banks will step in if things get rough — a mindset born from years of monetary rescue operations since 2008.

It’s a fascinating paradox: the louder the bubble talk gets, the stronger the belief in a safety net.

Will this confidence prove justified, or are markets just dancing until the music stops?

Source: https://www.ft.com/content/ce8bc257-5f06-4005-bd36-b094a9b91938

Feel good Sunday: When ordinary people do extraordinary things

Sometimes, courage begins with a simple belief — that the law can be a force for good.

When a group of citizens in Guyana discovered an oil giant’s plans to drill off their coast, they refused to accept that profit should outweigh people or planet. Led by lawyer Melinda Janki, they turned to the country’s constitution — one that guarantees every citizen the right to a healthy environment.

Against all odds, they won. Their story is a reminder that even in the face of enormous power, persistence and principle can prevail. Change often starts with one voice daring to say “no.”

Source: https://www.ted.com/talks/melinda_janki_how_we_took_on_an_oil_giant_and_won/transcript

Curious Saturday: The hidden cost beneath the shine

Gold has long symbolized security, beauty, and value. But behind its gleam lies a global story of environmental strain, human risk, and economic imbalance.

In her TED Talk, Claudia Vega uncovers how the demand for gold comes with invisible costs — deforestation, mercury pollution, and unsafe working conditions that ripple across entire communities.

Her message is a powerful reminder that value isn’t just measured in what we hold, but in how responsibly we obtain it. True wealth comes when ethics and sustainability weigh as much as profit.

Source: https://www.ted.com/talks/claudia_vega_the_hidden_cost_of_buying_gold

A warming world and the uneven cost of adaptation

As global temperatures rise, farmers are adapting by changing crops and improving irrigation. However, climate change is still projected to reduce crop yields worldwide.

A recent study in Nature indicates that every additional degree of warming could lead to a daily loss of 120 calories per person. This impact will not be uniform; while all farmers face challenges, those with limited resources will experience hunger more severely.

Maintaining open and connected food systems is crucial for mitigating these effects — highlighting that cross-border collaboration is both an economic necessity and a moral imperative.

Source: https://www.economist.com/podcasts/2025/10/10/health-scare-the-row-at-the-heart-of-the-shutdown

Every step forward counts

We often wait for the perfect moment — the right resources, the ideal timing — before taking action. But real progress begins with what’s already in front of us.

No matter where you are in your journey, excellence starts with a single, intentional step forward.

Fresh look, timeless mission — the revamped Loquat website is now live

We’re excited to unveil Loquat’s new website — designed to better reflect who we are and how we help financial institutions deepen relationships with both business and consumer customers.

From expanded product offerings to LoqWhat AI and our CALM Portal, we continue to simplify banking while empowering financial institutions to modernize with confidence.

We’re also proud to share that Loquat’s Business Account Opening and CALM Portal are now available through the Q2 Marketplace — making it easier than ever for financial institutions to integrate Loquat’s tools directly within their digital ecosystem.

And please join us in welcoming John Gernhauser, our new Regional Head of Business Development and Client Success, as we continue to grow our impact across the industry.

Step into the new era of banking – visit our new website 👉 https://loquatinc.io/

Strategic alignment defines the modern bank

Recent insights from International Banker point to five strategic choices that determine whether transformation accelerates growth or adds complexity:

1. Delivery that’s agile, not monolithic
2. Planning that starts with measurable value
3. Funding that scales with outcomes
4. Execution that unites business and technology
5. Migration that reduces risk through precision

Each decision reflects alignment — between ambition and delivery, vision and discipline. Banks that achieve this alignment are not just modernizing; they’re building resilience for what comes next.

Source: https://internationalbanker.com/banking/choose-to-win-the-five-decisions-that-make-or-break-banking-modernisation/

Cracks in the credit: Are we seeing early signs of financial stress?

US consumers are still spending — but underneath the surface, pressure is building. Auto loan delinquencies are nearing 2010 levels, sub-prime defaults are accelerating, and financial markets are starting to take notice.

When the most vulnerable borrowers struggle, it often signals deeper issues ahead for household finance. Rising delinquencies and tightening credit could ripple far beyond the sub-prime segment — testing the resilience of lenders and households alike.

Source: https://www.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/topics/economy/global-economic-outlook/weekly-update.html