Goodbye 2025. Here’s what we’re taking into the new year. What a year. For many of us leading small businesses, 2025 felt like navigating a persistent storm. We juggled rising costs, policy changes, economic uncertainty, and the constant pressure to adapt. It was tough, and if you felt that strain, you were not alone. But amidst the challenges, something powerful happened. We saw incredible opportunities emerge for businesses willing to listen and learn. AI stopped being a buzzword and became a practical toolkit. We saw organisations use it not for complex automation, but for genuine connection: better understanding customer behaviour, streamlining operations, and freeing up our teams to do what they do best. We also saw a massive shift in customer values. Smaller businesses that embedded genuine, responsible practices into their story began to win the hearts and loyalty of their customers. The biggest lesson from the past year? Resilience is no longer just about weathering the storm. It’s about building a smarter, more adaptable boat. So, what does this mean for 2026? For me, it’s not about chasing every new technology. It’s about focusing on what truly matters. 1. Our People: Economic uncertainty makes skilled, adaptable teams our greatest asset. Investing in their growth and wellbeing is the smartest move we can make. 2. Our Customers: They are our compass. Listening to their needs for value and authenticity will guide our strategy and help us build brands they are proud to support. 3. Our Agility: The world will keep throwing curveballs with supply chains and trade. Our ability to adapt quickly is what will set us apart. It was a challenging year, no doubt, and the road ahead is still uncertain. But it forced us to get leaner, smarter, and more creative. Let’s take that spirit forward. Happy New Year, everyone. Let's make 2026 a great one. #HappyNewYear #SmallBusinessGrowth #UKSMEs #UKManufacturing #StrategicThinking

Unpopular opinion: You don’t need a “New You” in 2026. Your 2025 version was probably just fine. You don’t need a complete overhaul; just some performance optimisation. Rest, reboot, and deploy when ready. As we enter 2026, I have a few gentle reminders for our industry, not resolutions. To those who became unkind this year: If 2025 made you bitter, don’t carry that negativity into production. Being “savage” might be trendy, but kindness builds a legacy. And yes, being decent still costs nothing. To professionals (all of us): Upskill, but not just with better AI prompts. Learn to think clearly, empathise, and ask better questions. Your human competence is the one thing that can’t be automated. To entrepreneurs and founders: I know the pressure is real; sleepless nights, financial risk, and the weight of responsibility. But remember, you hold the privilege of creating livelihoods and putting food on someone else’s table. Don’t casually trade that privilege for an AI agent to save a few dollars. Treat people as assets, not expenses. Humanity isn’t a cost centre. To the LinkedIn feed: My quiet hope for 2026 is fewer “I was laid off today” posts and more “I just started a new chapter” updates. Finally, a simple thank you to everyone who read, reacted to, shared, or quietly related to these posts this year. Let’s make 2026 the year of human recovery. Happy New Year 🥂 #NewYear2026 #HumanFirst #Leadership #FutureOfWork #Upskilling #ProductManagement #RealTalk

𝗠𝘆 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 😁— 𝗮 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝘀 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘀 As 2025 comes to a close, a few things stood out for me: • We did grow this year — but the bigger learning was that 𝗌𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲, it’s about partnerships that hold through uncertainty. • And uncertainty was real: 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗱 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱, geopolitics reshaped trade flows, and 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝘃𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 made cross-border decisions harder than ever. • In that environment, the market sent a clear signal: 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲. The cheapest option rarely stays cheap when conditions change. • Our industry lives with this reality — 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘀 quickly erase short-term savings when partnerships focus only on rates. • True efficiency comes from 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴-𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄, especially during volatile times. • One encouraging shift this year: 𝗚𝗲𝗻 𝗔𝗜 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹. Teams using tools like Copilot worked faster, smarter, and with greater impact — same people, better outcomes. What gives me confidence heading into 2026 is this combination: 𝗔𝗜-𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆, 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁. I’m grateful — not just to clients and colleagues, but also to 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 here on LinkedIn. The conversations, perspectives, learnings and relationships genuinely matter. Wishing you and your loved ones a 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝘆, 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗳𝘂𝗹, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲! 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿. #allieddigital

Stop trying to out-hustle the algorithm. Start out-humanizing it. 🌍 We’re moving into 2026, and I’ve noticed a massive shift in how we connect globally on this platform. The "Professional Polished Version" of us? It’s boring. The "AI-Generated-Only" content? We can smell it a mile away. What’s actually working right now: 1️⃣ Utility over Vanity: Share the exact prompt that saved you 2 hours today, not just a "proud to announce" post. 2️⃣ The "Messy" Middle: People don't want to see the trophy; they want to see the 2:00 AM pivot that made the trophy possible. 3️⃣ Micro-Communities: Global reach is great, but deep connection in the comments is where the business happens. I’m curious—whether you’re in London, Tokyo, Lagos, or NYC: What is ONE thing you’ve learned this year that wasn’t in a textbook? 👇 #FutureOfWork #PersonalBranding #GlobalNetworking #Leadership2026 #Authenticity

My Wild Predictions for 2026: Headwinds and Opportunities I get it, we’re all busy. You don't have time to sit around pondering the future. So here are my wild predictions for 2026, and why they matter. Geopolitics: Trump 2.0 rolls on, predictably unpredictable. The big powers are jockeying for control over trade, tech, and influence. For those of us working in Risk, trade restrictions have slipped from being an important policy lever to a mere bargaining chip as a new world order is negotiated.  This isn’t temporary. I expect it to continue, creating constant uncertainty rather than clear rules. The AI Uprising: AI isn’t taking your job... yet. But it is getting very good at pretending to be your boss. Usually right before a long weekend. Usually asking for an urgent payment to a “new” account. Almost always fraud. At the same time, AI is genuinely improving everyday life. In our house, date night now involves uploading a wine-list-pic to my favourite AI Bot, prompting a recommendation in return, (usually a well balanced, good value, local Grenache). You can treat AI as a threat or a tool. In reality, it’s both. And it’s not going away. If you don’t use it to improve how you work, you’ll fall behind. Or worse, you’ll keep overpaying for mediocre wine.  The Great Labour Shortage: Ask a Boomer and you’ll hear, “No one wants to work anymore.” Ask Gen Z and the answer is much simpler: “We want to afford rent.” This isn’t laziness. It’s a structural shift in how people think about work, value, and purpose. AI will accelerate this shift, creating real pain for some industries and real opportunity for others. The future workforce wants flexibility, fairness, and meaning. Companies that don’t adapt how they hire and lead will lose talent faster than they can replace it. How I’m tackling 2026 I don’t have all the answers. But here’s what I’ll be doing to tackle 2026: Master your morning routine: A good coffee (or tea) can be a grounding, human moment in a chaotic world. Don’t underestimate the power of a pause. Small rituals build resilience.  Stretch more: We spend our days gripping desks like rollercoaster handles. Move. Breathe. Schedule time for it. Your body is your first productivity tool, maintain it like one.   Invest in quality news: Find smart voices, who explain complex things, simply. The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and Irish Times are some of my favs. Information quality shapes your decisions. Pay for insight, not noise. What’s your strategy for getting through 2026? Drop your thoughts below.

Unpacking the future: Richard Butler, Head of APAC Proposition, Dow Jones Risk & Compliance at Dow Jones, analyzes the three core forces that will define 2026: #Geopolitics, #AI, and the great labour shortage. Read his predictions and personal strategies for tackling the year ahead. 👇

🚀 Thoughts on IT trends going into 2026 Lately, We’ve been thinking a lot about what will actually matter for IT companies in 2026 — not in theory, but in real day-to-day business. A few things feel pretty clear to us: • AI is no longer a “nice experiment.” The companies that actually build it into delivery, sales, and internal processes will move faster with the same teams. • Growing the team won’t automatically mean growing the business. Efficiency and clear processes are starting to matter more than headcount. • Clients care less about hours and more about outcomes. Being able to clearly explain what problem you solve is becoming a real advantage. • A predictable sales process beats random outreach every time. Stability comes from systems, not luck. • Trust, security, and transparency aren’t “enterprise things” anymore — they’re becoming basic expectations. • Founder time is limited. The more owners stay stuck in daily operations, the harder it is to think long-term. Feels like 2026 will be less about chasing trends and more about building solid, resilient businesses. Curious — what are you focusing on going into next year? #ITTrends #Tech2026 #FutureOfIT #DigitalTransformation #ITBusiness

Welcome to 2026: Navigating the Year of Intelligent Integration. 2025 was a challenging year for me, both personally and professionally. I’m stepping into 2026 with a mix of optimism, realism, and responsibility. If there’s one thing the last few years taught us, it’s this: change is no longer a phase — it’s the default. In tech, 2026 won’t be about who uses AI anymore, but who uses it well. Automation, AI copilots, and intelligent systems will quietly sit inside almost every role. The real advantage won’t be technical skills alone, but human ones — critical thinking, judgment, creativity, and ethical decision-making. Those who learn how to work with technology instead of competing against it will stay relevant. In finance, stability will favour the informed. Smarter investing, diversified income streams, and disciplined financial habits will matter more than chasing hype. We’ll see stronger conversations around long-term value, financial literacy, and risk awareness — across generations. Money will reward patience, not panic. In the corporate world, titles will matter less than impact. Organizations will expect adaptability, continuous learning, and accountability. Careers won’t be linear — they’ll be flexible, skill-driven, and purpose-aligned. Leaders will be defined not by authority, but by clarity, empathy, and trust.   But here’s the part we often ignore.   In 2026, staying competitive won’t matter if we’re not staying healthy. This year is a reminder that wealth without health is fragile. Sustainable success will come from balancing ambition with well-being — moving more, sleeping better, managing stress, set boundaries with technology and protecting mental health just as intentionally as we protect our careers and finances.   What should we all do in 2026?   Learn one new skill that compounds over time Build habits that support both physical and financial health Stay curious instead of fearful Invest in relationships, not just resumes Think long-term — in work, money, and life No matter your age, role, or industry, this year belongs to those who stay adaptable, grounded, and intentional. I’m curious — what are you personally focusing on in 2026: growth, stability, health, wealth… or all of the above?   #HappyNewYear2026 #FutureOfWork #TechnologyTrends #FinanceMindset #CareerGrowth #HealthAndWealth #PersonalGrowth 

A Look Back: Bridging the Tech Divide “A Look Back” in our latest Impact405 column, Bridging the Tech Divide. Over the past year, one question has guided so much of our work at Shelter Share : How do we make access easier for people who need help the most? The answer hasn’t been simple — and it hasn’t been purely technical. It’s required listening closely to case managers, service providers, and community members navigating systems that were never designed with them in mind. It’s meant building tools that remove friction instead of adding more, and centering access with dignity at every step. We’ve seen meaningful wins — partnerships formed, barriers reduced, and people connected to housing, employment, and support through technology that finally met them where they are. We’ve also faced hard truths: access is still uneven, the need is vast, and the work is both hopeful and heavy. As I look ahead, two things remain essential: • Staying close to the people doing the work on the ground • Ensuring technology honors humanity, time, and worth — not just efficiency Grateful to IMPACT405 for the space to reflect, and to everyone who continues to build, listen, and bridge gaps alongside us. 📖 Read the full column and explore the latest issue of Impact405 to learn more. https://lnkd.in/g4UZc_Gy We’ll keep doing this work — one story, one service, one person at a time. #ShelterShare #Impact405 #BridgingTheTechDivide #AccessWithDignity #SocialImpact #CommunityInnovation

Ever wondered what the world will look like just one year from now? Every December, LinkedIn drops something quietly powerful, 25 Big Ideas that hint at what the world might look like next. And the 2026 list feels… different. Not louder. Not trendier. But deeper. This isn’t about one sector flipping upside down. It’s about interconnected shifts that touch how we work, learn, live, build and connect. Here are a few themes that stood out to me, not as predictions, but as wake-up calls: AI is no longer a backend tool, it’s becoming the centre of strategy The future won’t be about better models. It’ll be about how quickly teams can reorganise workflows to use intelligence instead of just admiring it. Healthcare, especially women’s health, is finally being recognised as foundational Not niche or optional, essential. When we invest in women’s health, we unlock progress for entire communities. The creator economy is evolving into something bigger, the era of the individual empire Creators won’t just influence culture. They’ll own brands, products, and economies. Human connection will become as valuable as technology itself As digital grows, real-world connection, community-building, face-to-face interaction, offline experiences, will become a competitive advantage for brands and leaders alike. Education and skills are being rethought through an AI lens Degrees may shift, but AI fluency, the ability to think with and through AI will define new leadership and employability. Beyond these, the list spans: • reimagined trade and globalization • resilience in supply chains • regulation of AI in mental health • and even loneliness becoming a societal priority. What I love about this is not just the scale of change, but the human questions underneath: 👉 How will technology shape our work life, not just our workflows? 👉 How will brands stay human in an AI world? 👉 How will we balance digital connection with real-world interaction? 👉 And how will people, not just platforms, define the future? 2026 won’t be about one big disruption. It’ll be about many small shifts we barely notice, until we look back and realize everything changed. What prediction or trend do you expect to have the biggest impact in your field in 2026 and why? #bigideas2026