While in Milan, the global capital of fashion and design, HLB Italy chairman, Marco Gragnoli, discusses the Made in Italy industry and how Italian companies are successfully conducting cross border business.

Professor Adrian Furnam and HLB’s Bettina Cassegrain discuss how having the ability to influence, persuade and negotiate with others, both inside and outside an organisation, is crucial for leadership success and business growth.

How is blockchain changing society and the way we do business? Together with HLB’s Patrizio Prospero, HLB CEO Marco Donzelli discusses the societal impact of blockchain technology and regulation around crypto-currency transactions with Giancarlo Russo, Founder of Neutrino and Alessandro Perillo, Innovation Manager at Young Platform.

Julie Carman, Head of Global Strategic Alliances and Digital Transformation for Accountants at Sage and HLB’s Jim Bourke discuss the tech and culture driven evolution of the accounting profession across the globe and how it is creating value for clients.

David East, Director of Product Strategy at Moody’s Analytics working for Bureau van Dijk and HLB’s Marco Donzelli discuss global FDI trends and how escalating trade tensions and policy uncertainty is impacting investor confidence.

Bettina Cassegrain, HLB’s Global Assurance Leader and Jennifer Chowhan, Leadership Team Member for HLB’s International Assurance Committee, discuss the importance of the ISA 540 revision and how a new emphasis on professional scepticism will impact and improve accounting estimates.

In the heart of Silicon Valley, HLB’s Industry X.0 Marco Donzelli, Chris DeMayo and David Sacarelos together with guest speaker Lei Wang, Chairman and CEO of Huahai Technology discuss the next generation of start-ups and the challenges and opportunities to grow across borders in today’s global business environment.

Zhenge Zhao, General Representative of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade in the USA and HLB’s Coco Liu, Chief Regional Officer Asia Pacific discuss the trade war between China and the US, the impact on FDI activity between the two economies and the opportunities the current situation presents.

Trade conflict and Brexit are cause for turbulent times for international businesses. Stephen Cheung, President of the World Trade Center Los Angeles and HLB’s Yan Jiang, Senior Tax Manager specialised in US-Asia cross-border activity discuss current challenges and opportunities for foreign companies operating in the US.