Latest news with #collaboration
UAE Moments
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- UAE Moments
♈ Aries Daily Horoscope for June 28, 2025
Energy meets ambition, but don't forget to pause for a breath. Today's vibe is all about channeling your fiery drive into productive wins, Aries. The universe is handing you the mic—and people are actually listening. With your ruling planet Mars amping up your confidence, it's a day for bold moves… but only if you remember to check in with yourself along the way. Career: You're laser-focused and ready to lead. Whether it's pitching a new idea or stepping up in a meeting, you're likely to impress. Just avoid bulldozing others—collaboration will take you further than solo hustle today. Love: Single Aries? You might find yourself vibing with someone unexpected—opposites attract for a reason. If you're in a relationship, make time for a meaningful convo. Vulnerability will deepen your bond. Body: You've got energy to burn, but don't overdo it. A quick workout, brisk walk, or dance break can release tension and recharge your fire without draining your tank. Mental Health: Your mind is racing at 100mph. Take 10 minutes to disconnect, journal, or breathe. Giving your brain a mini vacation will sharpen your instincts and prevent burnout.
Forbes
8 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
Why Strong Administrative Support Systems Help Entrepreneurs Thrive
Entrepreneurs and business admins meeting in large conference room Although they try, entrepreneurs can't run everything. It takes support systems, including highly skilled admin staff, to keep a business performing at peak levels. A strong back-end infrastructure ensures that founders don't sweat the small stuff. They can devote their energy to vision, growth and strategy. While administrative support systems may not be as visible as those at the top, it doesn't mean the staff aren't leaders. They often need and desire some of the same training as entrepreneurs. After all, they're the ones by the executives' sides, handling operational details and interacting with external stakeholders. Admin staff are the reason entrepreneurs can thrive, and here's why. Reinforces Collaborative Communication Admin staff interact with employees across the organization, plus clients and vendors. They're the glue in terms of coordinating tasks and managing how information flows. Assistants are privy to the big picture, including whether communication and relationships are mutually productive. This means they're usually in the middle of conflicts and misunderstandings. A founder's assistant can also be at the center of what's happening with the company's overall direction. This can include negotiations and major projects or strategic initiatives. Despite this, administrative professionals don't always believe they have the training to help in every way they can. I had the opportunity to interview Joan Burge of Office Dynamics International about this. Her company delivers training and professional development for admin professionals. One of the areas the training focuses on is communication. Three areas support professionals feel they need the most development in are public speaking, assertiveness and conflict resolution. When they master these areas, assistants can reinforce collaborative communication, becoming strategic partners with entrepreneurs. Founders can rely on admin staff to not only put out fires, but also see them coming before they start. Operations can run more smoothly when there's empowered support to handle potential everyday obstacles to founders' objectives. Enhances Productivity Robert Solow, an American economist, championed the idea that increased productivity fuels the majority of economic growth. Productivity is driven by innovation, something entrepreneurs are responsible for. It's the big ideas and the implementation of them that move economic growth forward. But if entrepreneurs are busy trying to organize their days, they can't be effective visionaries. A strong administrative support system manages the documents, meetings, travel and day-to-day operations. Whether a founder is launching a startup or overseeing a transition to the next growth stage, time management is key. Having tools to automate information workflows is a critical part of a strong support system. Nevertheless, technology can't handle it all. And it's prone to glitches that humans can step in to prevent and fix. With skilled staff, entrepreneurs don't have to troubleshoot breakdowns in essential processes. Instead, they can learn where the problems lie and seek input on potential solutions. Admin staff are the eyes and ears of the organization. They keep everything organized so the business can run productively. They also offer insightful suggestions for improvements because they see how internal processes might be holding the company back. From a founder's email inbox to what happens on the production floor, administrative professionals play an instrumental role in boosting efficiency. Strengthens External Relationships Entrepreneurs might bring clients on board. However, admin assistants are usually the initial point of contact. They interact with external stakeholders throughout the day. Assistants also observe and coordinate communications. This coordination can include introducing clients to other internal employees responsible for overseeing critical project details. Furthermore, admin professionals could be charged with managing vendor relationships. They could be calling potential vendors for bids or to come onsite for introductions and communicating the company's needs. They're responsible for ensuring bids come in on time, according to specifications. Admin support staff are the ones following up, ensuring vendors complete work by the deadline and to satisfaction. Like founders, assistants can have great influence on a company's relationships with external stakeholders. They're responsible for establishing rapport, moving information through the pipeline and working through hiccups. Admin professionals can influence founders' decisions on whether to pursue relationships with vendors and clients. For instance, they can disclose their impressions of those they meet and interact with. In terms of vendors, assistants may be closer to the work results these stakeholders produce. Admin professionals can recommend contract renewals, spot additional needs as the company scales and advise founders about details they've come across. When the quality of external relationships improves, the output of the company's work can also improve. Helping Entrepreneurs Thrive There's more to a strong admin support system than taking meeting minutes and grabbing lattes. Administrative professionals are like the foundation of a home. If it's not solid enough, the entire structure collapses. But when entrepreneurs' support systems are skilled and efficient, the visions that brought the company to life can keep expanding innovation's possibilities.
Daily Mail
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Brandy and Monica reveal who inspired their hit song The Boy Is Mine
Brandy and Monica revealed the inspiration behind their hit duet, The Boy Is Mine, 25 years after releasing the song. The pair reflected on their collaborative track, which won a Grammy following its release nearly three decades ago, after announcing their upcoming, co-headlining tour of the same name. While making a joint appearance on Wednesday's episode of The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, the duo discussed the making of the 1998 track. The late night talk show host asked Brandy, 46, if it was true that she got the idea for the concept from watching The Jerry Springer Show. She confirmed it and explained: 'Yes, I was a huge Jerry Springer fan, and one of the topics was, "The boy is mine." I'm like, "Oh my god, song idea. Let's do this."' After getting the inspiration, Brandy said she knew she wanted to get Monica, 44, to work with her on the song — which was also a source of inspiration for the same-name song on Ariana Grande 's latest album Eternal Sunshine. 'I was always a fan of hers and I wanted to work with her, so I called her up and asked her to be a part of the song, and she said yes,' she recalled. 'And here we are.' When they started working together, Monica said she told Brandy that she thought people would believe they were fighting over a man because of the nature of the song. 'That was the point,' Brandy then added. The Jerry Springer Show was also included in a snippet of the original music video accompanying Brandy and Monica's beloved duet. At the beginning of the video, Brandy is seen watching the daytime talk show that ran from 1991 to 2018. Then, Monica is seen changing the channel. When Brandy changes it back, the two squabble over the TV right before the song starts. The song was an instant hit and spent 13 weeks at the top of the Billboard charts as well as winning the dynamic duo a Grammy. After getting the inspiration, Brandy said she knew she wanted to get Monica, 44, to work with her on the song — which was also a source of inspiration for the same-name song on Ariana Grande 's latest album Eternal Sunshine Many years later, the pair released another duet titled It All Belongs to Me in 2012. After releasing their second duet, the pair were rumoed to be in a longstanding feud. When Ariana Grande asked them to join in on her remix, they agreed and credited the pop star for reuniting them again and bridging the gap. Last year, Brandy and Monica earned their 13th and fifth Grammy nominations, respectively, due to their features on Grande's The Boy Is Mine remix. Last summer, Monica said that 'the process of the new collaboration did a lot of closing the gaps.' She told ET: 'When you properly communicate something, you can find not only the resolutions and solutions to problems, but sometimes you find that there weren't ever problems, just consistent miscommunications. It made it a lot easier just to talk.' Earlier this week, the R&B icons announced their first-ever joint tour, more than 25 years after releasing The Boy Is Mine. The pair will be going on a 24-city arena tour alongside opening acts Kelly Rowland, Muni Long and Jamal Roberts of American Idol. Their tour will kick off on October 16 in Cincinnati, Ohio. And the pair will perform in cities across the United States before closing out the American tour in Houston, Texas on December 7.
The Guardian
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
PP Arnold on her star-studded life in music: ‘Peter Gabriel and I used to hang upside down in gravity boots'
You've played with a lot of incredible artists – Tina Turner, the Small Faces, Nick Drake, Dr John, George Harrison, Peter Gabriel, Roger Waters, the KLF, Ocean Colour Scene and so many more. If you could collaborate with absolutely anyone, who would it be? Harrison1986 I love to collaborate – basically, I like collaborating with people who want to collaborate with me. I've just worked with Paul Weller and Cast, but a lot of people I'd love to have worked with are no longer with us. Top of my list on a production level would be Quincy Jones. Vocally, how about something with Prince?! And I love Mavis Staples, who's still with us; I've met her. It would be great to do something with Mavis. Of all the artists you've collaborated with, who stands head and shoulders above the rest? Aubrey26 Tina Turner. Simply the best – and what a joy to have her start a career I never planned on. I was in a very abusive teenage marriage. I said a prayer to ask God to take me out of that situation and a couple of hours later I was in Tina's living room, singing Dancing in the Street. I'd gone there to help some other ladies – Gloria Scott and Maxine Smith – get the gig, but another girl didn't show up for the audition. Maxine remembered I used to sing in church and the rest is history. My whole career is all about the unexpected. It think it has a lot to do with manifesting dreams, although being called a 'legend' doesn't pay the bills. Are you going to Glastonbury with a band? GingerTom Yes, I'm on the Acoustic stage with my fabulous band. I've had to edit my set down to 40 minutes, but it's gonna be a great show. When I played in 2022, Diana Ross was on at the same time, but I still had a lot of people come and see me, or tell me they wish they had. This year, Rod Stewart is playing at the same time I'm on, but he's complaining cos he's only getting an hour and a half! As a young singer, you were one of the Ikettes. We all know about Tina Turner's harrowing experience with Ike Turner. I hope it wasn't too bad for you. MovingGelatinePlates The most pleasant part was being on stage every night with that amazing band. We were on the road for two years and probably working 85 out of every 90 days. On the road in a bus, you see everything – a lot of bad behaviour – and I was very young and very shy, so I had to learn how to protect myself, by staying in my place. I wasn't one of Ike's women, so he couldn't control me. Your autobiography, Soul Survivor, is intensely sad. How have you managed to let go of some of the bitterness about the way you were treated, particularly as a late teenager? saultbreakcherry I don't hold grudges. The most horrible thing that's happened to me in my life was losing my daughter. [Debra Arnold was killed in a car crash in 1977.] I had to let her go, but she's with me every day. Unfortunately, in this industry, I also have to deal with a lot of politics, but I have to let it go and stay in the moment. I have to stay rooted in myself and that's how I survive. Your performance with the Small Faces on Tin Soldier is unforgettable. What were they like to work with? revelstoke Oh, just a joy. [Singer] Steve Marriott was like my soul brother. We were very young and enthusiastic: same age, same height. We hit it off immediately musically and dated for a short time. I've just recorded Afterglow, which the Small Faces wrote for me, but liked so much they took it back! If Steve were here now, he'd be the modfather. I miss him dearly and he visits me from time to time in dreams. I had a visitation from him not long ago. What were the sessions for Peter Gabriel's Sledgehammer like? steve_bayley I'd had a tough time in America, so coming back to the UK and doing [the musical] Starlight Express and working with Peter was brilliant. I also sing on Don't Give Up, which I've only just found out. We did a version before Peter did it with Kate Bush and I'm on her version singing: 'Don't give up …' towards the end. The sessions with Peter were great fun, especially once I discovered he was also into gravity boots. They're a fitness thing I found out about when I lived in Miami. I used to hang upside down in my garden, doing sit-ups. Peter had them in the fitness room at his house, so we were both into hanging upside down, doing sit-ups. What are your memories of working with Keith Emerson? What's the story about how you gave the Nice their name? William Working with Keith was an absolute pleasure. He was such a lovely guy and so very talented. I knew from the beginning that he had his own ambitions, but I was very happy that he was able to help me launch that period of my career. The band that became the Nice were my backing band [in 1967]. Steve Marriott had introduced me to a Lord Buckley album that had a song on it called The Nazz. With my accent, it sounded like The Nice, and 'nice one' was a really hip expression in the 60s. So it was my idea to call my band the Nice. I saw Keith not long before he passed away and we talked about perhaps doing something else together. I went to the funeral. He loved what he did and when he wasn't physically able to do it any more it would have been very hard for him. I understand some of the money the KLF [as the K Foundation] burned on Jura was rightly yours. Can you tell us about that? pconl Me and Katie Kissoon were the Mu Mu Choir. I sang the hook on 3am Eternal. I was paid a session fee, but the deal was that if they used my solo performance I'd get 5%, which I never got because they claimed it wasn't the song's hook. I've got to let it go now, but it's on their conscience. [The KLF did not respond to a request for comment.] Do you have anecdotes about Andrew Loog Oldham and Immediate Records? Zaropans If it wasn't for Andrew, there wouldn't be a PP Arnold. He was the best manager and he had a vision for me; the only time in my career I've had creative management. Andrew was really into the west-coast girl group thing, so [Rolling Stones keyboardist] Ian Stewart suggested he check me out, and because Mick [Jagger] and I were tight he also drove the conversation. I became part of Immediate's 'industry of human happiness'. We were all very young and Andrew got caught up in the drug thing that went down with a lot of guys in those days and that was the downfall of Immediate. I wish I had someone like that in my life now, but I'm still in contact with Andrew. With you on Immediate and the equally amazing Doris Troy on Apple, the biggest stars of the day were lining up to play backing musician for you both. Any tales you'd care to share? Mr_202 Madeline Bell, Doris and I all had the authentic gospel sound that everybody wanted on their records at the time. Doris and I did that Nick Drake song [Poor Boy, on Bryter Layter] together. Other than Keith Emerson … Steve Howe from Yes was in my band when I supported Eric Clapton on the Delaney & Bonnie tour. There's a thing online somewhere about all the people in my bands who went on to be huge stars. I forget them all, but it was always easier for the boys. There are more women now, but the industry is difficult if you're not a boyband or you're not taking off your clothes to sing. I don't get that. When we came to England, Tina started wearing short dresses and miniskirts, but she was always classy. In Liverpool last year, you covered Shoot the Dove by Paul Weller, a brilliant but little known song of his. How do you decide which songs you cover in live shows? bluelambretta I have to identify with the lyric, the story. Shoot the Dove is about arguments and fights in relationships: 'You kill the love when you shoot the dove.' I can relate to that. I've just done God Only Knows as a tribute to Brian Wilson, but I felt it wasn't right to do it without also doing a tribute to Sly [Stone], so at rehearsal yesterday I decided to do Que Sera, Sera as part of a medley for Glastonbury. 'Whatever will be will be.' I can relate to that as well. A question from my daughter, Astrid: PP, I am six years old. I listen to your songs on my CD player. My favourite is Everything's Gonna Be Alright. My question is: why are you such a good singer? jonathan_liew Astrid, I think it's because I just love to sing. I sang my first solo – a song called We Are Soldiers in the Army – when I was four years old. When I finished, everyone in the church started shouting because they were happy. So that's why I sing: I like to touch that happy spot in everybody. I don't know if you watch CBeebies, but I'm the voice of Cleo Nibbles, the soul mouse in the new Yukee series. A little mouse with a big voice. PP Arnold plays Glastonbury's Acoustic stage on Sunday at 4pm. The previously unreleased The Immediate Sessions is out now on Charly Records. The single Soul Mouse is on Spotify
Zawya
19 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
Sakan Developments announces a strategic partnership with AEMP
A strategic collaboration between Sakan Developments and AEMP to produce documentary and promotional content reflects the excellence of its latest project in Shorouk Sakan Developments selects AEMP to highlight "PARK U" in Shorouk City through distinctive visual content with investments EGP 4.8 billion Sakan Developments announced a strategic partnership with AEMP - AE MEDIA PRODUCTION in its latest project "PARK U" in Shorouk City, which the company is implementing with total investments EGP 4.8 billion, as AEMP will undertake the promotional, advertising, and documentary works for the project. For his part, Dr. Abdel Rahman Essam, AEMP CEO, assured that this new collaboration is part of a series of partnerships that bring together AEMP with a number of major real estate development companies in the Egyptian market, as the company managed in record time, to gain many real estate companies' confidence that are committed to quality in all the details of their projects. He added that due to this cooperation, his company will provide high-quality visual content that highlights the project's key features, including location, design, and infrastructure, in order to document the project's development journey in a professional way that fits the scale and ambition of Sakan Developments Company, showing that "Park U" project is regarded as one of the various projects that will be implemented in Shorouk City, targeting a specific segment of clients. He stated "We are pleased to collaborate with Sakan Developments in this ambitious project, as we always aim to transform the real estate project from being just papers and designs into a story to tell to clients and the community, which is done by researching and assembling the details in a way that worth the scale of the development and the dreams of the real estate developer we are collaborating with, thus the project becomes an integrated visual experience that conveys the developer's vision". Dr. Abdel Rahman Essam, revealed that AE MEDIA PRODUCTION's changed its visual identity to AEMP, as part of the company's development and expansion strategy for the next period. For his part, Eng. Walid Khattab, Sakan Developments Chairman, emphasized that the collaboration with AEMP is one of the company's fundamental pillars to convey its vision and designs for the project into a live work that clients can view and share with Sakan Developments, and implementing documentary and promotional works for the project requires a company that truly understands the importance of this step and its role in communicating the project's core message to the targeted client. He emphasized his confidence that this collaboration will be an important step toward strengthening the project's standing in the clients minds, and achieving more engagement with them, especially within the project's competitive advantages, which must be highlighted to clients, as the project is located in a prime location in Shorouk City, on an area of 15,000 square meters, it is a commercial and administrative project includes four separate buildings connected by "Sky Bridge". He noted that the project will create a global shift in Shorouk City through the brands that will be present in the project, with the possibility of including a hotel component within the project, thus it was necessary to contract with a brand and a prominent name as AEMP to highlight all the project's exceptional advantages and transform them into visual works within the highest quality standards.
