While you're browsing the web, reading news articles, scrolling through Facebook, checking your bank account or logging into your company's system, there's always a looming threat that could compromise your personal information.

The fact is, unfortunately, threats are a way of life in today's increasingly digital age. In fact, cybercrimes have accounted for trillions of dollars in losses, according to Juniper research, an amount that the online and digital market research firm says is $2 trillion so far in 2019.

Fortunately, this danger is not without a way to combat it.

Polaris - better known as the North Star - is famous for being a still, unmoving beacon in the Earth's sky while the entire northern sky moves all around it.

It's located nearly at the north celestial pole and it always marks the way due north. Once you discover it, you'll know the direction north. Even when the moon is full and it obscures other stars that dot the sky, the North Star is still easy to see. You'll know where you're going.

Much like the north star, a person's values can guide and direct them to where they want to go in life. They are the things that you believe are important in the way you live and work. Much like the north star, values can help you find your way to a better place. That's why BBVA celebrates Values Day - and celebrated its second-annual Values Day on October 2. Over the course of the day, bank employees participated in workshops and activities that reinforced the central pillars underpinning the bank’s mission, “to bring the age of opportunity to everyone.”

Getting people to buy into the company mission is an amazing feat an organization must accomplish. It is not only possible - but essential.

Sustainability has dominated the headlines around the world for decades, and is only picking up speed. From achieving a sustainable future by local initiatives to campaigns by larger entities here in the U.S. and across the globe.

A whopping 7,500 companies issue annual sustainability reports in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative. The Global Reporting Initiative, or GRI, helps businesses and governments understand and communicate their impact on critical sustainability issues such as the following: climate change, human rights, governance and social well-being. Their overall goal? To empower decisions that create social, environmental and economic benefits for everyone.

That's only the beginning the story.

While the last day of summer isn't for a while, summer vacation is indeed over for most of the country's students. Gone are the days of sunshine and beaches, and here are the days of learning and ambition.

Time to hit the books. Or rather, the screens.

There was a time when computer labs reigned supreme as a school's center for technology. Now, it seems an entire school can serve as a computer lab, with tablets and iPads distributed to the student body, and online homework assignments being doled out constantly. In this month's The Mind Bank Podcast, we take a look at how digital learning has evolved over the course of recent memory, what challenges it can pose, and how implementing digital has enhanced the overall educational experience.

When it comes to seeing what is coming down the line in financial services, the sector’s wide range of industry conferences is a great place to start.

These events, such as Money 2020 in Amsterdam last month, see thousands of people attend, speaking about what is new in banking, showing off their latest innovations and debating the trends likely to shape the sector’s future.

For BBVA it is a chance to start collaborations with the kind of fast growth disruptive fintech businesses that we believe will better help our customers and clients achieve their ambitions and make the best use of both their data and financial assets.

It's also a fantastic opportunity to share some of the bank’s thinking around how we are transforming from being a bank to a trusted advisor and the critical importance of openness in the sector. Perhaps more importantly, to hear from leaders in their field about where they think the industry is heading.

In this Podcast we are going to do exactly that - and to explore two key areas that are shaping the future of the banking industry and that will ultimately affect how we bank in the future: Firstly, the technological data-driven trends emerging in the sector, for example how the shift from closed to open can give life to new industry verticals like banking as a service.

And secondly, how the relationship model between big banks like BBVA and fast growth start-up companies is changing and what this might mean for customers.

BBVA announced its official transition to a unified brand and launched a new logo across its footprint, as it advances in its efforts to offer its customers the best products and services, in an increasingly digital environment. In the U.S., customers will no longer see Compass. Venezolanos will no longer see Continental. Frances will cease in Argentina, and Bancomer will be dropped in Mexico. Across the globe, bank buildings will adorn the freshly minted BBVA logo, with an ascending "A" that will point towards the sky. Onward and upward - but more on that later.

The list of social media platforms could go on and on. There is a vast amount of social media sites and seemingly an infinite number of active social media users.

Multiple tech startups are disrupting the old guard and traditional way of doing things. Some people don't even step foot inside of a grocery store anymore, choosing to stock their fridge with an online app or website from their couch.

Tech startups are popping up like weeds, seemingly changing the business landscape across the country. But what does it take to build one of these ideas from the ground up? How does one know which industry is ripe for the picking in terms of digital disruption? How do you cut through the noise and make your tech startup a formidable rival to others?

Finally, when you think of these companies, you think of San Francisco or New York. Or even Austin, Texas. Those locations have been deemed hotbeds for tech startup development.

That begs the question - does location matter?

Digital transformation. Technological advances. Innovate to compete. These are phrases commonly used in the business world - in interviews, external messaging, and yes, even podcasts like this one.

The 21st century has seen an evolution of technology that has both left small businesses in its wake and allowed small businesses and startups to thrive. It can be a crutch in some instances, and a curse, it seems. There seems to be an array of opinions when it comes to small businesses and entrepreneurship - and how digital capabilities can be woven into every day operations to elevate operations. Despite the growing digital world - some small businesses may be reluctant to jump into the deep pool of digital opportunities. There are some that say they might need to reconsider.

The Mind Bank is a way to create opportunities for listeners to dive head-first into intellectual, thought-provoking, and high-level perspectives. In the first podcast we discuss multiple aspects of diversity and inclusion with Susan Brecher. She is on the faculty as director of employee relations, employment law, and diversity and inclusion at the Scheinman Institute, Cornell University. Susan gave us a fresh perspective that could challenge people to think about diversity and inclusion in a different way.