BUSINESS AND MONEY
Three-quarters of working professionals believe mentorship matters for their career growth. Yet more than half go without one. This disconnect between perceived value and actual access has created what workforce researchers call the mentorship gap—a structural problem that costs companies talent and costs individuals opportunity.
The numbers tell a striking story. According to a 2025 survey from MentorcliQ, 76% of professionals believe a mentor is important for growth, yet over 54% do not have one. Meanwhile, 98% of Fortune 500 companies now offer formal mentoring programs, and those that do report median profits more than twice as high as those without such programs. Organizations clearly recognize mentorship’s value. But access remains uneven, particularly for first-generation students and young people from under-resourced communities who lack the professional networks that often lead to mentorship in the first place.
JP Conte, managing partner of family office Lupine Crest Capital and a former leader at a San Francisco-based private equity firm, has spent years working to close this gap. His approach combines financial support with something harder to scale: personal involvement. Through his work with SEO Scholars—a free, eight-year academic program that has achieved an 85% college graduation rate among students from low-income backgrounds—Conte has made mentorship a hands-on commitment.
“These are kids who, voluntarily in eighth grade, agree to go into this program and do after-school work, work on Saturdays, work during the summer, and extra tutoring to supplement their public school education,” Conte has said. “Plus, they agreed to mentoring to get them to go to college.”
The Gap Between Intention and Access
For Gen Z workers entering the labor force, the mentorship deficit is particularly acute. Research from…
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In today’s competitive and fast-moving business landscape, flexibility is no longer optional — it is essential. Startups, small businesses, and expanding companies all face a common challenge: how to build a credible, professional presence without committing to high operational costs. Traditional office leases, long-term contracts, utilities, and maintenance expenses can quickly drain valuable resources that could otherwise be used for growth.
This is where virtual office solutions come in.
Virtual offices provide businesses with the infrastructure and credibility of a physical location — without the burden of maintaining one. Companies like VOffice Services in Singapore have positioned themselves as key partners for entrepreneurs and growing enterprises seeking a smart, cost-effective way to establish and maintain a professional business presence.
The Shift Toward Virtual Business Models
Over the past decade, work culture has transformed dramatically. Remote teams, online collaboration tools, digital communication platforms, and cloud-based systems have reshaped how businesses operate. With these shifts, the concept of a traditional office is no longer a necessity for many companies.
Yet even in a digital age, certain elements remain crucial:
- A registered business address
- Mail management
- Professional meeting spaces
- Administrative support
- Regulatory compliance
Virtual office providers bridge the gap between modern flexibility and traditional business credibility.
For growing businesses, this…
The construction and infrastructure sectors have always been critical to the growth and development of any economy. These industries provide the foundational structures and systems that power our communities—from buildings and bridges to transportation networks and utilities. However, what is often overlooked is the skilled workforce behind these monumental achievements. As projects grow in scale and complexity, the demand for skilled tradesmen is higher than ever before. But this increased demand brings challenges—especially when it comes to recruitment.
Skilled trades such as carpentry, welding, plumbing, electrical work, and masonry are the backbone of construction. Yet, with a shrinking pool of qualified workers and an increasing number of projects, the industry faces a significant talent shortage. As the world enters a new era of infrastructure development and urbanization, the role of skilled trades is becoming even more vital. To meet these growing demands, companies are increasingly turning to specialized recruitment agencies to find the right candidates.
In this article, we’ll explore how skilled trades are shaping the future of construction and infrastructure, and how businesses are addressing the challenge of finding and retaining the right talent.
The Growing Demand for Skilled Trades in Construction
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New SensaPay report shows commuting and food costs continue to strain workers’ budgets as return-to-office policies expand
By Sandy Di Angelis / Associate WriterNew York remains one of the most expensive states in the nation for employees returning to in-person work, even though nearly a third of workers rely on public transportation for their daily commute, according to a February 2026 report.
The study, conducted by fintech company SensaPay, ranks New York fourth nationwide among states where return-to-office requirements place the greatest financial burden on workers. The analysis examined key office-related spending categories, including annual commuting costs and food-away-from-home expenses.
Despite 28 percent of New York residents using public transportation, the report found that employees still spend an average of $3,711 annually commuting to and from work. Combined with food-away-from-home costs of $4,928 per year, the typical New York office worker spends approximately $8,639 annually to maintain a traditional 9-to-5 office schedule.
The findings place New York behind only Hawaii, Nevada, and California in total return-to-office expenses.
According to the report, transportation costs were calculated using a mix of commuting methods, including single vehicle use, public transit, active commuting, and remote work rates. These figures were combined with per-capita food-away-from-home spending to determine the overall cost of working from the office in each state.
Hawaii topped the ranking with a combined annual return-to-office cost of $9,650 per worker, followed by Nevada at $9,400 and California at $8,840. Wyoming rounded out the top five, driven by the highest commute costs in the country despite lower food expenses.
In New York, high meal costs are a major driver of office-related expenses. While public transportation helps reduce fuel and parking expenses, frequent restaurant lunches and…
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Borrowing money is a reality for most people at some point in their lives. Whether you’re applying for a mortgage, financing a car, or opening a new credit line, lenders evaluate more than just your income. They look closely at your financial track record to decide how much risk they’re taking on, and that’s where borrowing power comes in.
Borrowing power refers to your ability to qualify for loans and secure favorable terms. The stronger your financial profile, the more likely you are to be approved with lower interest rates. But even responsible borrowers can unknowingly trigger red flags that make lenders hesitant.
Understanding these warning signs ahead of time can help you avoid costly surprises and keep your financial options open.
Why Lenders Pay Close Attention to Risk Signals
When lenders review an application, they’re trying to answer one simple question: Will this person reliably pay back what they borrow?
To determine that, banks and credit issuers assess multiple factors, including your credit history, outstanding debt, and repayment patterns. Even minor missteps can raise concerns, potentially limiting how much you can borrow, or whether you’re approved at all.
Fortunately, many of the most common red flags are also preventable.
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