Companies are betting that asking employees to return to the office will help boost creativity. HR pros say that's only the start. While being physically present may boost collaboration and the flow of ideas, workplace specialists told Business Insider that RTO mandates alone might not be the answer. To get the rest of the way, companies need bosses and a culture that fosters creativity. "You can have a fully in-person organization and still not optimize those things because your culture and your leadership don't bring them out in their people," said Leena Rinne, the vice president of coaching at the corporate training platform Skillsoft. "If you have a really stifling and unsafe culture, but you're trying to get more creativity, bringing people back together is not going to get you there." Read more about why RTO mandates alone may not be enough to boost creativity: https://lnkd.in/eSGZNgQs #creativity #rto #returntooffice #careers

Business Insider asked successful men across industries to name their favorite colognes. Le Labo scents were the most popular, followed by options from Jean Paul Gaultier.

Kendall VanGilder turned thrifting into a full-time reselling business in 2024. She began thrifting with her husband in 2021 and started selling on eBay in 2022.

Lisa Kauffman was over Florida's hurricanes and the faster pace of life in the US. In 2023, Kauffman moved to a remote Panamanian island, where she now lives off-grid.

A Business Insider analysis reveals the household income needed to be middle class in major US cities. Some parts of the Bay Area require over $100,000 to be considered middle class.

Scoop: X has signed a partnership with the adtech company PubMatic as it looks to more outside partners to turnaround its revenue slump. PubMatic has said that it can unlock more advertising budgets beyond just social for X, such as video and open web display. X also recently signed deals with Google and InMobi, a departure from its earlier "walled garden" stance of only doing direct deals with advertisers and agencies. Read more at Business Insider https://lnkd.in/eN5RRE3z #X #Twitter #pubmatic #adtech

The wild spending days of the pandemic are behind us, and after years of price hikes, consumers are increasingly looking for value. For IKEA, the king of cheap furniture, this presents an opportunity to shine. The chain has spent over 2 billion euros ($2.1 billion) on cutting prices on its most popular products to lure cash-strapped shoppers. And while the past year has been challenging, this strategy is paying off, according to Jasper Brodin, CEO of Ikea's parent company, Ingka Group. Speaking to Business Insider at Ikea's new Oxford Street store in London — which is due to open next year and part of Ikea's push to serve customers who don't live near one of its traditional big-box locations — Brodin admitted that this "has not been the most prosperous year." "People have the same needs, but they have much less money in their wallet," he added. Brodin compared consumer sentiment now to the days after the 2008 recession. While inflation cooled, consumption habits have changed since the pandemic, and people are continuing to find ways to cut spending. Read more of what Brodin had to say and how Ikea has benefited from investing in low prices: https://lnkd.in/d--Vswaq (Credit: Courtesy of Ikea) #ikea #recession #retail

New for Business Insider: Behind the delay for Amazon’s AI-powered Alexa, which will be available "through natural language using voice, text, email, shared photos, and more across all their devices like Echo, Fire TV, mobile phones, and web browsers.”

AT&T is expanding its AI initiatives to generative AI and large language models. Presented by Google Cloud.

Home affordability is severely constrained by lofty property prices and mortgage rates. But there are still reasonably priced homes in thriving cities throughout the US.