Innovation and Technology

Why Forming Diverse Teams Is Harder in Uncertain Times

Published

2 months ago

April 5, 2025

Why Forming Diverse Teams Is Harder in Uncertain Times

Recent large-scale events like the Covid-19 pandemic, geopolitical conflicts, civil unrest, and economic instability have not only reshaped the global landscape but also left a lasting imprint on the workplace. One of the most profound effects has been a loss of personal agency among employees—a deep feeling of uncertainty and lack of control over their professional lives. And in this context, building and sustaining diverse teams becomes an even greater challenge.

The Impact of Uncertainty on Workplace Behavior

A Shift Toward Self-Preservation

When the world feels unpredictable, employees naturally begin to prioritize stability and safety. This can lead to more risk-averse behavior, hesitation in speaking up, and a tendency to gravitate toward familiarity in team structures and decision-making.

A Strained Sense of Belonging

Belonging thrives in environments of psychological safety. But in uncertain times, even the most well-intentioned organizations can struggle to maintain a culture of inclusion. Employees dealing with economic pressure, social tension, or political unrest may feel isolated, misunderstood, or overlooked.

The Erosion of Personal Agency

Personal agency refers to the ability to make choices, act intentionally, and influence outcomes. In volatile times, many workers feel like they’re simply reacting to external pressures rather than shaping their own work environments or career paths. This perceived powerlessness can lower engagement, reduce collaboration, and stall diversity efforts.

Why Diverse Team Formation Suffers in Uncertain Times

1. Leaders Retreat to “Safe” Decisions

In high-stakes environments, hiring managers and leaders often default to what feels familiar—hiring within known networks, favoring candidates who “fit” the existing culture, or avoiding bold choices that may invite scrutiny. This undermines diversity by reinforcing homogeneity and overlooking the value of diverse perspectives.

2. Inclusion Takes a Backseat to Efficiency

Under pressure to meet deadlines or pivot quickly, teams may unintentionally deprioritize inclusive practices such as equitable hiring, listening circles, and mentorship programs. Diversity initiatives become sidelined in favor of speed, leading to long-term cultural erosion.

3. Marginalized Employees Face Heightened Stress

Employees from underrepresented groups often carry additional emotional and psychological burdens during times of crisis. They may feel less safe speaking up, more likely to be impacted by societal injustices, or more vulnerable to microaggressions and bias in the workplace.

How to Rebuild Agency and Foster Diversity in Uncertain Times

Normalize Open Dialogue

Create structured spaces where employees can express fears, frustrations, and ideas. When people feel heard, their sense of control begins to return—and with it, a willingness to participate in team growth and transformation.

Practice Inclusive Leadership

Train managers to recognize their biases, check in regularly with diverse team members, and focus on equity in delegation, recognition, and support. Inclusive leadership is about intentional effort, especially when the environment is unstable.

Anchor Decisions in Core Values

When uncertainty shakes up operations, values become the foundation for decision-making. Use organizational values like equity, compassion, and innovation as a filter for hiring, collaboration, and communication.

Share Power

Reinforce employee agency by giving teams more ownership over projects, schedules, and processes. Shared decision-making helps people feel invested, which supports stronger, more diverse teams.

Rethink Resilience as a Collective Practice

Rather than placing the burden of “resilience” on individuals—especially those already marginalized—create systems and structures that promote collective well-being. This includes mental health resources, inclusive policies, and safe feedback channels.

Conclusion

In uncertain times, the instinct to narrow our focus and minimize risk is understandable—but it also threatens progress on diversity, inclusion, and equity. To form diverse teams, organizations must not only commit to representation but also build a culture where all employees feel empowered to lead, contribute, and thrive. Rebuilding agency in the workplace isn’t just good for morale—it’s essential for resilience and innovation in the face of the unknown.

FAQs

How does uncertainty affect team diversity?

Uncertainty can cause decision-makers to default to safe, familiar choices, making it harder to prioritize diverse hiring and inclusive practices.

What is personal agency, and why does it matter at work?

Personal agency is the belief that you can make meaningful choices and impact your environment. When employees feel they lack agency, it often leads to disengagement and low morale.

How can leaders support diversity during crises?

Leaders can support diversity by maintaining inclusive hiring practices, listening to underrepresented voices, anchoring decisions in core values, and sharing power within teams.

Is it normal for employees to feel disconnected in uncertain times?

Yes. External stressors can create a sense of instability that affects workplace engagement, collaboration, and mental health. Recognizing and addressing these feelings is key.

What role does psychological safety play in diverse teams?

Psychological safety allows team members to speak up, share ideas, and challenge norms without fear. It is the foundation of trust and inclusion—especially important in volatile times.

Related Topics:Diverse Dont e.g Extra Forming Harder Information introductory Rephrase return single Teams text Times title Uncertain

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Innovation and Technology

Tech Partnership Reduces Active Suspension Size, Weight, Cost

Published

3 hours ago

May 23, 2025

WORxK Global News Team

Tech Partnership Reduces Active Suspension Size, Weight, Cost

Introduction to Active Suspension Systems

A new partnership aims to make a comfort feature generally available only in luxury vehicles, smaller and less expensive enough to be offered in more affordable models. That feature is called active suspension. As opposed to what’s known as passive suspension using shock absorbers and springs, active suspension does a better job absorbing road bumps and other inconsistencies and providing a quieter ride using electronic components and sensors.

The Challenges of Active Suspension

The problem is, active suspension systems are heavier and more expensive. They also require 10-15 kilowatts of power, requiring large and heavy DC-to-DC power converters. But a partnership between Andover, Massachusetts-based Vicor and Chinese tech firm Xiamen Hongfa Electroacoustic Co., Ltd., better known as Hongfa, is combining their expertise to solve those issues, the companies announced Wednesday.

The Solution: Compact and Efficient Active Suspension

Hongfa has designed the smallest and lightest active suspension system on the market by combining a 48V architecture and high-density power modules. Four Vicor fixed-ratio BCM6135, 800V-to-48V DC-DC bus converters are used to convert high voltage to 48V and route power to each wheel. Hongfa, a leading manufacturer of power relays, developed a compact, lightweight active suspension system using much less power by incorporating high-density, small, lightweight power modules produced by Vicor.

Key Features of the New Active Suspension System

The Hongfa active suspension system is liquid cooled and is the most compact on the market, weighing 2.6kg and measuring 197 x 201 x 71mm, according to the company. The concept leverages the 48 volt networks replacing 12 volt systems in today’s electrified vehicles aimed at improving efficiency and reducing vehicle size and weight. It’s a power level considered safe for anyone servicing a vehicle, and also allows a major reduction in the size of active suspension system actuators.

How the System Works

The vehicle’s 800 volt battery provides current when the vehicle travels over smooth road surfaces, and the suspension actuation motor is the 48 volt load. When the vehicle travels over a bumpy road, the linear motors in the suspension system momentarily become generators, which increase the voltage on the low side of the converter. This difference in voltage reverses the direction of current flow. The 800V battery then momentarily becomes the load and recovers energy by charging through its battery management control system.

Benefits of the New Active Suspension System

The results could mean a benefit for EV drivers looking to squeeze more driving range from their vehicles’ batteries. “You get a small range increase because of the weight decrease, but also because of the power regeneration, recapturing the power,” said Greg Green, director, automotive marketing at Vicor. Essentially any suspension event, you’re only consuming three to 4% of the total power that was put in, and then 96% or so gets put back into the battery.

Conclusion

The new active suspension system developed by Vicor and Hongfa has the potential to revolutionize the automotive industry by providing a more efficient, compact, and cost-effective solution for luxury and mid-luxury vehicles. With its ability to regenerate power and reduce energy consumption, this system could become ubiquitous across a wider vehicle price range within the next 15 years.

FAQs

Q: What is active suspension and how does it differ from passive suspension?
A: Active suspension uses electronic components and sensors to absorb road bumps and provide a quieter ride, whereas passive suspension uses shock absorbers and springs.
Q: What are the benefits of the new active suspension system developed by Vicor and Hongfa?
A: The new system is more compact, efficient, and cost-effective, and has the ability to regenerate power and reduce energy consumption.
Q: When can we expect to see the new active suspension system in production vehicles?
A: The first use of the active suspension system incorporating Vicor and Hongfa technology is expected to reach consumers around the end of 2026 or 2027, mainly in luxury and mid-luxury vehicles.
Q: Will the new active suspension system be affected by import tariffs?
A: The impact of import tariffs is expected to be minimal, as Vicor ships its U.S.-made power modules to Hongfa, which builds the finished product.

Innovation and Technology

Cyber Sovereignty Crossroads

Published

14 hours ago

May 22, 2025

WORxK Global News Team

Introduction to the Shifting Cybersecurity Landscape

The cybersecurity landscape is shifting fast, with the surge in AI adoption, rising demand for data sovereignty, and political turbulence rattling global trust in U.S.-based tech. Security leaders are being pulled in multiple directions, navigating a storm of change rather than steady waters. The question now is not how to stop disruption, but how to prepare for what comes next.

From Roadblocks to Runways: The AI U-Turn

Not long ago, the knee-jerk response to generative AI in the workplace was to ban it outright. CISOs blocked tools like ChatGPT, fearing data leaks, compliance violations, or worse. However, within months, organizations began walking back the bans and started asking how to use AI responsibly. Kevin Simzer, chief operating officer at Trend Micro, shared a firsthand experience where, at a CISO roundtable just nine months ago, every single participant was trying to block AI tools, but now 97% of them are leveraging AI. This shift underscores how fast attitudes are changing.

The conversation today is about sanctioned AI tools, corporate guardrails, and strategies for safe deployment. Companies realized the competitive cost of saying “no” to AI, as it can boost productivity, speed up decision-making, and automate grunt work. However, this also raises concerns about the talent pipeline, as AI threatens to hollow out the early-career ranks.

Automation’s Hidden Price: What Happens to the Talent Pipeline?

While AI promises efficiency, it also threatens to replace entry-level developers with code-generating bots, potentially hollowing out the early-career ranks. If AI filters out basic SOC alerts, where do future Tier 2 analysts come from? Simzer echoed this concern, citing Google’s transformation, where 25% of all code submitted into production in Q4 was AI-generated, and by the end of Q1 it was 30%. This raises questions about what happens when foundational learning experiences disappear.

The Rise of Data Sovereignty

A parallel shift is gaining momentum across the globe: data sovereignty. Countries and companies want more control over where their data lives and who can access it. This is not just about compliance but about national security and strategic independence. Organizations are rethinking whether they want sensitive data flowing through U.S. hyperscalers or stored in data centers subject to American jurisdiction. The demand for flexible deployment models, including on-prem solutions that can operate completely outside U.S. influence, is climbing sharply.

When Trust Wavers: The Global Fallout of U.S. Policy Chaos

The growing mistrust in U.S. government policy, including export bans and trade disputes, adds to the complexity. The MITRE CVE funding scare sent shockwaves through the security community, raising questions about who can be trusted to maintain digital infrastructure. Stories about the U.S. government having a “kill switch” capability for F-35 fighter jets sold to allies are prompting countries to reassess their tech dependencies.

Guardrails, Not Walls

Cybersecurity leaders are left in a moment of strategic reckoning. They cannot afford to say no to innovation but also cannot ignore the risks. The answer is balance, building systems that allow for AI adoption with transparency and oversight, and infrastructure that can flex between cloud and on-prem to meet sovereignty and compliance needs.

The Road Ahead: Resilience by Design

If 2023 was about waking up to disruption, then 2025 is about adapting to it. Resilience is no longer a buzzword but a survival trait. This means being agile enough to pivot when policies shift, architecting flexibility into the tech stack, and keeping a firm grip on who controls data, workflows, and destiny. Cybersecurity has always been about anticipating threats, but now it also has to be about anticipating change and being ready for whatever comes next.

Conclusion

The cybersecurity landscape is at an intersection of cloud infrastructure, AI code, and geopolitical maps, symbolizing the complex crossroads of innovation, sovereignty, and global risk. To navigate this landscape, organizations must be prepared to adapt, balance innovation with risk, and prioritize resilience by design.

FAQs

Q: What is the current state of AI adoption in the cybersecurity landscape?
A: The current state is one of rapid shift, with organizations moving from banning AI tools to embracing them with sanctioned use and corporate guardrails.
Q: How does AI adoption impact the talent pipeline in cybersecurity?
A: AI adoption threatens to hollow out early-career ranks by automating entry-level tasks, potentially eroding foundational skills.
Q: What is driving the demand for data sovereignty?
A: The demand is driven by concerns over national security, strategic independence, and compliance, prompting organizations to seek more control over their data.
Q: How can cybersecurity leaders navigate the geopolitical complexities and mistrust in U.S. policy?
A: By prioritizing flexibility, transparency, and oversight in their tech stack and deployment models, and staying informed about global policy shifts.
Q: What does resilience by design mean in the context of cybersecurity?
A: It means architecting systems and processes to be agile, adaptable, and responsive to change, ensuring the ability to pivot when policies shift or new threats emerge.

Innovation and Technology

The Impact of AI on Business: A Guide to the Future

Published

15 hours ago

May 22, 2025

WORxK Global News Team

The Impact of AI on Business: A Guide to the Future

AI and automation for impact are revolutionizing the business world, transforming the way companies operate, make decisions, and interact with customers. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the current state of AI in business, its benefits and challenges, and what the future holds for this technology. From enhanced efficiency to improved customer experiences, AI is poised to drive significant growth and innovation in the years to come.

Understanding AI and Its Applications in Business

AI refers to the development of computer systems that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as learning, problem-solving, and decision-making. In business, AI is being used in a variety of ways, including chatbots, predictive analytics, and process automation. These applications are enabling companies to streamline operations, reduce costs, and improve customer engagement.

Types of AI Used in Business

There are several types of AI being used in business, including narrow or weak AI, general or strong AI, and superintelligence. Narrow AI is designed to perform a specific task, such as image recognition or language translation, while general AI is more advanced and can perform a wide range of tasks. Superintelligence refers to AI that is significantly more intelligent than humans and has the potential to revolutionize numerous industries.

Benefits of AI in Business

The benefits of AI in business are numerous and well-documented. AI can help companies improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance customer experiences. It can also provide valuable insights and enable data-driven decision-making. Additionally, AI can help businesses stay competitive and adapt to changing market conditions.

The Current State of AI in Business

AI is being used in a variety of industries, including healthcare, finance, and retail. In healthcare, AI is being used to analyze medical images, diagnose diseases, and develop personalized treatment plans. In finance, AI is being used to detect fraud, predict market trends, and optimize investment portfolios. In retail, AI is being used to personalize customer experiences, optimize supply chains, and predict demand.

Challenges and Limitations of AI in Business

While AI has the potential to revolutionize numerous industries, there are also challenges and limitations to its adoption. One of the biggest challenges is the need for high-quality data, which can be difficult to obtain and integrate. Additionally, AI systems can be biased and require significant expertise to develop and implement. Furthermore, there are concerns about job displacement and the potential for AI to exacerbate existing social inequalities.

Real-World Examples of AI in Business

There are numerous real-world examples of AI in business, including Amazon’s use of AI-powered chatbots to provide customer support, Walmart’s use of AI to optimize its supply chain, and Google’s use of AI to improve its search engine results. These examples demonstrate the potential of AI to drive significant growth and innovation in business.

The Future of AI in Business

The future of AI in business is exciting and rapidly evolving. As AI technology continues to advance, we can expect to see even more innovative applications and use cases. One area that holds significant promise is the use of AI in conjunction with other emerging technologies, such as blockchain and the Internet of Things (IoT). This convergence of technologies has the potential to create new business models, products, and services that we cannot yet imagine.

Emerging Trends and Technologies

There are several emerging trends and technologies that are likely to shape the future of AI in business. These include the use of edge AI, which enables AI processing to occur at the edge of the network, reducing latency and improving real-time decision-making. Another trend is the use of transfer learning, which enables AI models to be trained on one task and applied to another, reducing the need for large amounts of training data.

Preparing for the Future of AI in Business

To prepare for the future of AI in business, companies need to develop a strategic plan that takes into account the potential benefits and challenges of AI. This plan should include investments in AI research and development, as well as employee training and education. Additionally, companies need to ensure that they have the necessary infrastructure and data management systems in place to support AI adoption.

Conclusion

In conclusion, AI and automation for impact are transforming the business world, enabling companies to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance customer experiences. While there are challenges and limitations to AI adoption, the benefits are numerous and well-documented. As AI technology continues to advance, we can expect to see even more innovative applications and use cases. By understanding the current state of AI in business, its benefits and challenges, and what the future holds, companies can prepare for the significant growth and innovation that AI is poised to drive.