• I was born and raised in Italy and love visiting Civita di Bagnoregio, a village north of Rome.
• The small village has been nicknamed "The Dying City" because of its fragile infrastructure.
• But whether it's the delicious food or the stunning views, I think it's livelier than ever.

As someone who was born and raised in Rome, I know firsthand that there's nothing more enjoyable than the city's vibrant atmosphere and friendly community.

But if you're looking for a lesser-known place where you can reconnect with nature and enjoy a more peaceful environment, you'll need to look beyond the typical tourist areas.

That's why I love visiting Civita di Bagnoregio, a charming village just an hour and a half north of Rome that overlooks the badlands.

To get there, visitors have to cross a 984-foot bridge

Strongly affected by earthquakes and erosion, the hilltop village of Civita di Bagnoregio has been nicknamed "The Dying City" because of its fragile infrastructure. Today, it's home to only a handful of residents, but to me it feels more alive than ever.

Part of its charm is that the only way to get there is via a 984-foot pedestrian bridge from Bagnoregio, a neighboring city that residents rely on for resources.

Fortunately, crossing this peaceful bridge and looking out at the gorgeous views is one of the best parts of the journey. With so few people around, I like to truly romanticize my stroll, looking out at the historic houses and the stunning landscapes of northern Lazio.

And once I arrive in the village, there's so much to explore.

I love stopping at the town's small restaurants

In my opinion, Civita di Bagnoregio is the perfect village to experience a traditional Italian meal.

Once in town, I always have lunch at Osteria al Forno di Agnese. This charming restaurant with a welcoming staff serves up everything from homemade pasta to fresh salads. I especially enjoy the pincinelle with pistachio pesto and the mixed salad with strawberries and mozzarella.

In the afternoon, I stop for an aperitivo at Wine Bar d'Andrea, where I enjoy a charcuterie board, taralli, and a wine tasting.

There are lots of wonderful places to stop in Civita di Bagnoregio

I'm never bored when I visit Civita di Bagnoregio.

In my opinion, the best place to start is at the Church of San Donato, which is home to gorgeous religious artifacts like a wooden crucifix, Etruscan sarcophagi, and relics of saints.

One of my favorite places to visit is Giardino del Poeta, a garden filled with roses, tulips, and ornamental plants. The panoramic view of the surrounding landscape is truly breathtaking.

Within the garden, there's also a cute little spot to buy organic foods like jams, which I always pick up before heading home.

I always make time to browse the local shops

Before leaving Civita di Bagnoregio, I always like grabbing a few souvenirs as a reminder of my time in the village.

I enjoy stopping by Acqua di Civita, a small store set in the main square that sells cosmetics, fragrances, soaps, and candles. I particularly like the donkey milk soap and snail mucin lip balm.

There's also a little shop that sells lovely ceramic plates and vases, each adorned with painted religious scenes or Etruscan symbols.

Overall, visiting Civita di Bagnoregio is the perfect way to escape the crowds in Rome

Though I enjoy walking through Rome's busiest areas, I feel most rejuvenated when hiking through Civita di Bagnoregio.

Even though the village welcomes many visitors during the high season, there's always a profound silence that inevitably comforts me.

From the delicious restaurants and local shops to the stunning views from above, I'd definitely recommend a trip to Civita di Bagnoregio to anyone who's in the area.

• This post originally appeared in the Business Insider Today newsletter.
• You can sign up for Business Insider's daily newsletter here.

Hello. Search and rescue operations continue in central Texas, where severe flooding has killed more than 80 people. Dozens are still missing.

During a Sunday press conference, officials made what has become a familiar request during recent natural disasters: Don't fly your personal drones over the disaster area.

In today's newsletter, lawyers who want to leave the federal government are struggling to find the exit.

What's on deck

Markets: Tesla stock falls after Trump calls Musk a "train wreck" and dismisses the idea of a third political party.

Tech: These startups and investors are bringing AI to Hollywood.

Business: Are you celebrating "Summerween"? Retailers are.

But first, where's the way out?

If this was forwarded to you, sign up here.

The big story

The revolving door is jammed

They want to leave, but they can't find the exit.

When President Donald Trump took office for the second time, he wiped the slate clean. It wasn't just Biden's appointees who needed to go — thousands of federal workers whom the administration saw as roadblocks to its agenda were also at risk.

The impact is still being felt.

In the past, federal lawyers looking to pivot to the private sector had a well-trodden path to follow, often into white-collar criminal defense practices.

But this time round, things are different. The administration has de-emphasized financial regulation and corporate crime prosecution. That means there's a large supply of job seekers for this type of work and comparatively low demand.

Recruiters and lawyers in and outside government told BI that it's increasingly hard to move from public to private sector work.

One federal lawyer who recently resigned told BI that it took him months to find a new job despite working in a prestigious role, forcing him to stay longer than he wanted: "I had a responsibility to my family to bring home a paycheck."

The job market is rough at the moment, but two sectors are red hot.

The June jobs report was considerably larger than expected, with the country adding 147,000 jobs. But don't go waltzing into any old office and expect to be put on the payroll just yet.

Of those 147,000 jobs, around 122,000 of them were in one of several sectors: state and local government education, and private healthcare and social services.

Elsewhere, it's slim pickings. "If you're not a teacher, if you're not a nurse, and you're not a doctor, you're not seeing those opportunities," an economist at the Indeed Hiring Lab said.

All of this is particularly grim for Gen Z, who are graduating into a lackluster hiring market. Sound familiar? Millennials and Gen Xers can relate.

BI interviewed eight Americans who completed an undergraduate or graduate degree between 2007 and 2010, during the heart of the Great Recession. They launched their careers in a job market that was even more daunting than the one recent grads are facing today.

3 things in markets

1. Tesla stock falls after Trump calls Elon Musk a "train wreck." The company's shares slumped almost 7% in premarket trading on Monday. At the weekend, Musk announced the formation of a new political party, the day after Donald Trump signed his "Big Beautiful Bill" into law. Trump responded by saying Musk had gone "off the rails." Read the full story.

2. The AI stock mania is starting to resemble the dot-com bubble. Top investor Richard Bernstein said investors' confidence in AI is leading them to take more risks. He recommends buying "boring" dividend stocks instead.

3. Meanwhile, Wall Street needs the AI trade to work. Earnings growth this year is expected to be driven by tech stocks and the AI trade. If the economy slows or a recession sets in, Wall Street's reliance on AI stocks could prove to be reckless.

3 things in tech

1. Is your iPhone secretly sending audio messages? Thanks to the "Raise to Listen" function in iMessage, your iPhone could be accidentally sending voice recordings to random people you text. BI's Katie Notopoulos found out the hard way — here's how to turn it off.

2. Hollywood's AI pioneers. Entertainment companies hope the tech can help them lower production costs and boost content discovery, and they're finding ways to integrate it into their business. Meanwhile, AI startups like Toonstar and Chronicle Studios are innovating animation.

3. Big Tech's job market split. On one side, workers are staying put, but on the other, AI is rapidly reshaping the talent landscape. To help founders understand this, Atli Thorkelsson, head of network at Redpoint Ventures, created a slide deck on hiring trends, and BI got an exclusive look.

3 things in business

1. Wanted: personality hires. Companies are turning to aptitude and personality tests to weed through the glut of candidates. Employers seem most interested in testing for soft skills like emotional intelligence, the CEO of a hiring assessment company told BI, now that AI has entered the game.

2. Boo! It's "Summerween." For a few years, retailers like Michaels and Home Goods have started selling summery/Halloween decor in July. BI's Katie Notopoulos checked out the current Summerween selection, which included magenta velvet skeletons and framed art of ghosts at the beach.

3. The shopping wars heat up. Retail's sleepy summer months are long gone. From Dollar General to REI, retailers are now offering sales that coincide with Amazon's Prime Day. The e-commerce giant is also extending Prime Day, from July 8 to 11, longer than it has run before.

In other news

• Three ways to get in on hot IPOs early.
• Why this $6 billion investment firm is diving into the hedge fund talent wars.
• How Google found its AI hype guy.
• Investors piled into non-US ETFs at the second-fastest pace ever in June. These are the two types of funds they're buying most.
• A new app helps busy parents book last-minute childcare. Here's the pitch deck that raised $10 million — with another $10 million seed funding round coming up.
• Read the exclusive pitch deck AI infrastructure startup Cerebrium used to nab $8.5 million from Gradient Ventures.
• It's illegal in most states for private equity to buy a law firm. Lawyers have figured out a workaround.
• The head of McKinsey shares how he gets employees to tell him what they really think.
• Eli Lilly's three-step strategy to dominate the $95 billion obesity market.

What's happening today

• Running of the Bulls takes place in Pamplona, Spain.

  ---

  Hallam Bullock, senior editor, in London. Akin Oyedele, deputy editor, in New York. Grace Lett, editor, in New York. Amanda Yen, associate editor, in New York. Lisa Ryan, executive editor, in New York. Ella Hopkins, associate editor, in London. Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York (on parental leave).

• In the years I've worked at Disney World, I've seen plenty of guests make repeat mistakes.
• Waiting for popular restaurants and rides at peak hours is probably a waste of your time. 
• It's not cool to be rude to park employees or buy a bunch of merchandise to resell online. 

Although I hope to one day become a Disney Imagineer, I first started working at Disney World through its college program.

Throughout many years of working in merchandise at Disney resorts and operating attractions in Epcot, I've seen park visitors make the same mistakes.

Here are a few I suggest you avoid.

Walking into any restaurant and expecting to get a table

Some seasons are busier than others at Disney World, but more often than not, there's going to be a lot of people at the parks.

If you're looking to sit down for lunch or dinner, I recommend making reservations ahead of time. Some restaurants will accept walk-ins, but your wait time might be extremely long.

Another tip I've found useful is aiming to eat before or after the typical mealtimes. The restaurants won't be empty, but they'll probably be less busy than they are right at 12 p.m. or 6 p.m.

Buying bottles of water in the parks

Instead of buying water at the parks, I like to bring a reusable bottle that I can easily refill at one of the many water fountains.

If you don't have a bottle, any quick-service food location on the property will also be able to give you a free cup of ice water.

Either way, it's a great way to save money because the single-use water bottles at Disney can be at least $3.50 each.

Underestimating Florida's weather

Working at Disney World, I experienced really cold days in winter and extremely hot weather during the summer.

Check the weather close to your visit so you're not taken by surprise and can pack anything you might need. During the summer, I always carry sandals or flip-flops to change into if (when) it rains, so I don't have to deal with wet tennis shoes.

Packing a poncho is also a great idea — you'll likely get rained on at some point during your day at the parks.

Assuming the souvenir you fell in love with is going to be available in every shop

A lot of Disney merchandise can be found in multiple locations throughout the property, including at Disney Springs — the shopping, dining, and entertainment district.

However, there are certain products that are specific to a location, limited-edition, or simply selling quickly.

Speaking from experience, if you see something you really like, don't hesitate and buy it then and there. You may not be able to find it again as easily.

Buying merchandise just to resell it online

In the past couple of years, there's been an increase in people buying Disney products just to resell them online. This is frowned upon, frustrating, and makes it incredibly difficult to buy popular items. 

In an effort to stop this, there were times while I was working in merchandise that we had to put up signs saying guests could only buy two of the same product at a time.

Just buy what you need and allow other guests to enjoy the merchandise as well.

Spending your entire day in the parks

There are so many things to do at Disney World, and the reality is, you won't be able to do it all.

Instead of exhausting yourself, prioritize the activities that are important to you and your family. And make sure to take breaks so you can recharge and continue to enjoy your trip.

Remember, there are plenty of low-key things to do at Disney Springs and the resorts as well. 

Skipping out on memorable photo opportunities

A lot of guests will skip Disney's professional PhotoPass opportunities to save money. However, it's free to just have the photographers take your picture.

After your trip, you can use the My Disney Experience app to look at them and purchase any that you really like — you don't have to make any decisions during your day at the parks. 

You can also always have a park employee take pictures of you for free on your own phone or camera. 

Waiting hours for popular attractions in the middle of the day

Waking up early during your Disney World trip is crucial to avoiding as many crowds as possible, especially if you're staying at a hotel on the property and get early access.

However, most people who rope-drop the parks are headed for the same popular attractions.

Instead of heading that way in the morning or the middle of the day, wait until the end of the night. You'll avoid standing in the sun during the hottest hours of the day, and there's a good chance most people will be watching nighttime shows or leaving the parks. 

Visiting popular lands like Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge in Hollywood Studios or Pandora in Animal Kingdom at night is also a beautiful experience with the added lighting effects. 

Flipping off the camera on attractions

Don't make obscene gestures for ride photos.

You won't even be able to see the picture on the screens at the end of the ride, let alone purchase it. Plus, you'll also cause the rest of the guests riding with you to lose their pictures.

I like to plan funny poses with my friends instead. 

Being rude to park employees

As someone who's had to work really long days at the parks and been yelled at by guests on many occasions, I can't emphasize this enough: Be nice.

We understand that big crowds, long wait times, and hot weather can lead to very stressful days for everyone. But those are never excuses to be rude to the people working. Please understand that most things are out of their hands.

Disney employees are just trying to do their jobs while dealing with so many people. I was happy to help anyone as best I could as long as they were respectful.

This story was originally published in July 2023 and most recently updated on July 7, 2025.

• As a former flight attendant, I've found ways to make traveling less stressful and more enjoyable.
• Some people drink too much alcohol, which can lead to dehydration and poor behavior.
• Others forget to dress in layers and spend the entire flight feeling too hot or too cold.

As a travel writer who used to work as an international flight attendant, I've crisscrossed the globe many times over.

I've serviced every cabin and sat in just about every seat on the plane, from a first-class sleeper suite to the middle seat in the back of economy. In doing so, I've learned many of the tricks of the trade.

Here's what I've noticed many travelers do, consciously or subconsciously, to sabotage their comfort and overall experience on long-haul international flights.

Many fail to test out their bulky neck pillows before the flight and don't end up using them.

Some people swear by those classic U-shaped neck pillows, and my daughter actually loves hers. 

But more often than not, I've seen passengers schlep them all over the world only to hang them up on the plane after finding them uncomfortable.

Before you burden yourself with such a bulky addition to your carry-on, test the pillow at home to make sure it's a good fit.

Some have a hard time waking back up after taking sleeping pills in the air.

Don't assume you can wash down a sleep aid with a couple of drinks and stay comfortably asleep for precisely the right amount of time. 

Some sleeping pills can lead to grogginess and other side effects, and you need to be able to be awake and alert in the case of a mechanical issue or other emergencies on the plane.

If you have a hard time getting up after trying sleep aids for the first time, having a stronger-than-usual reaction to them, or taking too many, you could wake up to a frustrated flight attendant in front of your face.

Always talk to your doctor before taking prescription medication in the air. And if you're taking over-the-counter sleep aids, make sure you closely follow the instructions.

Passengers who let their kids watch TV series and movies the entire flight might have to deal with jet lag the next day.

As a mom, I don't judge parents for loosening their usual rules to get their kids through long flights. My oldest would happily hop on the world's longest flight just for the opportunity to watch TV and movies the whole time.

The amount of kids' TV shows, movies, and games on most international flights is glorious, but if you don't mix in some analog-entertainment options — like coloring books, sticker books, or mazes — your kids will probably be too wired to wind down and sleep.

And without sleep, they'll probably experience jet lag the next day.

I've seen travelers walk around the cabin without shoes or socks.

There's nothing like settling in for a long flight by kicking off your shoes and pulling on a comfy pair of socks, an amenity that crew members often hand out in first class.

But you're supposed to wear those socks when you're sitting down in your seat, not when you're walking around the cabin.

When I was working as a flight attendant, many airplane carpets didn't get deep cleaned very frequently. Because the cabin can get bumpy when the plane flies through turbulence, the liquid on the lavatory floor might not be water.  

If you want to walk around without shoes on, pack some slippers to avoid direct contact with the floor.

Many plane travelers don't drink enough water and arrive at their destinations dehydrated.

If the captain is constantly switching the seatbelt sign on and off, or you have to climb over other people to get to the lavatory, it can be tempting to ration your water intake on flights. 

But the dry air and high altitude can both contribute to dehydration, which can then exacerbate jet-lag symptoms or lead to other health issues.

Flight attendants should frequently sweep through the cabin offering water, but if that's not the case, don't hesitate to ask for more. 

To have more control over the situation, you can bring your own water bottle on the plane. Most airports have water stations, so consider bringing an empty bottle to fill once you pass through security.

Some people don't layer enough in the plane cabin and are either too hot or too cold.

It's hard to please everyone, and that's especially true when it comes to the temperature inside an airplane that's hurtling across the world thousands of feet above the ground.

There's a high probability that, at some point, the cabin will be too hot or too cold for your liking. You can ask a flight attendant to tweak the temperature, but keep in mind that another passenger may have just requested a change in the opposite direction. 

Play it safe by dressing in layers that are easy to pile up or remove.

Many travelers rely on in-flight entertainment, which doesn't always work.

A long-haul flight is a perfect opportunity to catch a new movie release or a TV series that streams on a channel you're not subscribed to at home. 

But seat-back TVs can be finicky, so there's a chance the one in front of you won't work. If you're not the kind of person who can sleep all night on a plane, bring your own entertainment.

A lot of passengers don't charge their devices before boarding because they mistakenly assume the outlets by their seats will function.

It's smart to load your devices up with movies, shows, and e-books before a long flight. 

Just make sure to keep your devices fully charged before you board because it's not uncommon for the outlets in a seat, a row, or an entire plane to stop working. 

To be extra safe, bring a book or download a few podcasts, which won't drain your battery and will help you stay entertained through the night.

People who drink too much alcohol can act out of turn.

Because of decreased blood-oxygen levels from low cabin pressure and dehydration from low humidity, alcohol's effects can feel like they hit much harder in the air.

I've seen inebriated passengers embarrass themselves, start fights, and vomit after boasting about how much alcohol they can handle.

I'm not saying you can't have a glass of wine with dinner — I rarely pass up the opportunity — but please keep in mind that even if you don't misbehave, too much alcohol and dehydration can lead to a brutal case of jet lag.

Travelers don't always remember to bring small items, like earplugs and moisturizers, that make the journey significantly more comfortable.

If you're in a premium cabin, a flight attendant may hand you a cute amenity kit. But if you're in the back, you'll probably have to bring your own.

The air in plane cabins tends to be low in moisture, so bring lip balm to keep your lips from chapping and lotion to keep your skin from flaking.

If you don't have noise-canceling headphones, bring earplugs to block out the sound of people chewing, chattering, coughing, and pacing up and down the aisles.

An eye mask helps cover your eyes from flashing TV screens, flight attendants' flashlights, and the light streaming in from any open window shades.

And after a long night of eating airplane food, sipping wine, and then waking up to breakfast and coffee, you'll appreciate having travel-sized toothpaste and a toothbrush. Or at the very least, bring a stick of gum to freshen up your breath.

Passengers often reach for gassy foods and drink carbonated beverages.

Some airplane food is very processed, so it makes sense that travelers want to fill up on salads and fresh vegetables at the airport.

That said, do your best to lay off anything that can give you gas, including carbonated beverages. The low air pressure at cruise altitude causes gases to expand.

That's the reason your bag of chips inflates like a balloon, and it explains why you have to loosen your belt to accommodate your in-flight bloat.

All that trapped wind can be agonizing, which is why my airline trained its flight attendants to put passengers in flatulence-friendly positions to ease their pain.

This story was originally published on December 19, 2022, and most recently updated on July 7, 2025.

• My husband and I made the decision to leave life in London behind for the French Riviera.
• I love raising bilingual, French-born kids, and I have no regrets about our choice.
• That said, I didn't anticipate how difficult it would be to move away from our extended family.

One balmy holiday evening in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, my husband and I shared a bottle of rosé by the lighthouse.

Somewhere between the first sip and the last, we made a decision: to swap London's gray skies and my established TV career for the endless blue of the French Riviera and the great unknown.

Ten years after that life-changing night — and eight years after we packed our bags for real — I have two bilingual, French-born children, a more flexible freelance career, and a life I never quite imagined.

Now, I can confirm: Sometimes the best decisions really are made on rosé.

In France, we can ski in the morning and paddleboard in the afternoon.

It's all possible on the Côte d'Azur, where the Alps are less than a two-hour drive from the Mediterranean.

I love the easy access to these stunning landscapes, and as a parent, I deeply appreciate the year-round opportunities my children have to explore and enjoy the great outdoors.

Often run by excellent instructors (many of them former ski pros themselves), ski schools are an affordable and enjoyable way for people of all ages to learn. In France, some let children as young as 3 years old take lessons.

I even gave skiing a try as a complete beginner — though, needless to say, the kids have already surpassed me.

I've been really impressed by France's healthcare system.

I've found healthcare in France to be a major game changer.

The system is subsidized by the government and topped up by affordable health insurance. In particular, I've found the country's attention to pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care to be world-class.

Specifically, in France, postpartum women receive at least 10 free sessions of pelvic floor and abdominal rehab with a specialized physiotherapist — an experience that really made a difference as I recovered from two Cesarean births.

In the UK (and also the US, for that matter), these sessions would have cost me money out of pocket.

Raising kids here has felt rewarding.

I have two bilingual bébés, which is a rewarding experience — and sometimes a humbling one, when my 4-year-old corrects my French pronunciation.

At first, I worried about confusing my kids. I was concerned they'd feel like they didn't quite belong in either the place they were born or the place their parents call home.

As it turns out, this shouldn't have been a concern. I've been amazed watching them pick up two languages, and I love our bedtime tradition of reading their favorite books in both French and English.

On the other side of the coin, it's been hard living away from our support system.

While we love raising our petites Francophones, parenting small children far from family is challenging in a way I didn't expect.

There is no safety net, emergency support, or free babysitting. There are no playdates with fun cousins — and FaceTime calls aren't exactly the same as in-person playdates.

Without close relatives nearby, my husband and I have felt "on" as parents all the time. Over the past five years, we've only spent 48 hours alone without the kids.

Although we're lucky in so many ways, we're still waiting for that famous village to show up and give us a hand. (Especially on Wednesdays when, for some reason, most schools in France are closed.)

Still, we have no regrets about moving here.

I first visited France when I was 5 years old, in a car packed to the sunroof with camping paraphernalia — and ever since then, I've been hooked.

I've loved France all my life, and I will always be glad that we asked ourselves the question: "What are the things that make us happy, and where can we do more of them?" The answer was here, and what an adventure it has been so far.

• Business Insider asked etiquette experts about the topics people should never discuss at work.
• Wild party weekends, love life updates, and medical issues are details best kept to yourself.
• Judging others' spending habits and meal choices can be offensive and rude.

The workplace is not the proper venue for airing your dirty laundry or sharing controversial opinions.

Coworkers often engage in small talk, which is usually a well-meaning attempt at forming connections. However, some subjects or remarks can be misunderstood or come across as inappropriate in a professional setting, potentially straining relationships between coworkers.

That's why Business Insider asked four etiquette experts about the topics people should avoid discussing at work. Here's what they said.

How others spend their time and money

The lines between work and personal life can be blurry, but how a coworker spends their paid time off or paychecks is none of your business.

That's why etiquette expert and author, Jamila Musayeva, said it's important to avoid making scrutinizing remarks.

"Saying things like, 'How can you afford a designer item?' or 'Another vacation already?' may seem like casual banter, but these comments carry an undertone of judgment and jealousy," Musayeva told BI.

Coworkers' meal choices and preferences

Meal choices, including workday snacks, are often moments of personal expression and comfort. Musayeva said unwanted commentary about one's food choices can create an environment that's not inclusive.

"Comments such as 'That's all you're eating?' or 'You're eating that?' may be intended as lighthearted, but can come across as shaming or intrusive," Musayeva told BI.

Plans to leave the company or look for a new job

It can be tempting to share career updates with your colleagues, but business etiquette expert Jacqueline Whitmore recommends keeping them to yourself until you formally resign.

"Sharing that you are job hunting or plan to leave can undermine trust, damage relationships, or even put your current position at risk if management hears about it," Whitmore said.

Salary details

Suzy Lins, a certified etiquette trainer known as The Manners Maven, said people should never discuss their pay with others.

"Even though people want pay transparency and equity, you run the risk of making coworkers jealous or alienating them," Lins said.

Frequent mentions of stress and burnout

Although mentioning busyness and stress may seem like a way to connect with colleagues, it can sometimes have the opposite effect.

"Constantly framing yourself as the busiest or most overwhelmed can create unhealthy competition and guilt among coworkers," Musayeva said. "It subtly implies that those who prioritize boundaries or balance are less committed."

Recaps from your scandalous weekend

According to Whitmore, it's best to avoid sharing stories about your weekend, especially if your behavior may be perceived as unprofessional.

"Bragging about your heavy partying, hangovers, or illicit behavior outside work can make you appear irresponsible," Whitmore said. "This may also cause colleagues or supervisors to question your judgment or reliability."

Details about your love life

Jo Hayes, an etiquette expert and founder of EtiquetteExpert.Org, said it's best to avoid discussing your love life with your coworkers, as this can quickly blur personal and professional boundaries.

"Your love life is a personal topic and reveals far too much vulnerable information about your private life," Hayes told BI.

Deep dives into medical and health troubles

In addition to oversharing personal relationship details, Hayes recommends keeping medical and health information private for similar reasons.

"Even when needing to take time off work for medical or health reasons, there is often no need to disclose what that health reason is," Hayes said.

Keeping your update short and sweet is sufficient.

• NBC Sports analyst Matthew Berry created Fantasy Life, a one-stop shop for fantasy sports players.
• It just secured $7 million in funding, led by LeBron James and Maverick Carter's LRMR Ventures.
• Part of Fantasy Life's growth included acquiring Guillotine Leagues, a new way to play fantasy sports.

Fantasy football season is the best season.

You get together with your friends, create a league, draft your favorite players, and face off every week throughout the NFL calendar to hopefully end up the winner and earn bragging rights until the season starts again.

Those are the basics of a fantasy league. But what if you don't know much about the NFL, and are looking for some assistance in picking out the best players for your roster for the games on Sunday? Or perhaps you know a lot about fantasy football and want to find content to interact with or similar people to talk with. Maybe you want to get into fantasy sports betting.

Fantasy Life, a brand started by NBC football analyst Matthew Berry, wants to offer something for every level of fantasy football fan — and it just secured a $7 million raise led by LRMR Ventures.

Fantasy sports is "the great equalizer," Berry told Business Insider. "It brings people together. From the kid in the mail room to the CEO, to rockstars, to kids, to grandmothers. Almost every one of our investors plays fantasy football."

How Fantasy Life grew from a book to a media company

Berry wrote Fantasy Life, a book that became a New York Times bestseller. It's about all the ins and outs of fantasy football, along with the social aspect of it, from punishments for coming in last to trash-talking with your friends. He quickly turned it into a newsletter. Austin Rief, the cofounder of Morning Brew, is a friend and advisor to Fantasy Life, and he told Berry that he had something big in the fantasy sports space.

"You're doing about 6 billion things wrong, and yet, even with one hand tied behind your back, you're still doing better numbers than we did in year three of Morning Brew," Berry recalled Rief telling him. (Morning Brew shares a parent company with BI.)

"That's when we pivoted," Berry said.

After that, the newsletter became a website, and Berry hired Eliot Crist as CEO. The Fantasy Life team has since grown from a newsletter to a full media company, with a website full of written content and radio and video shows about fantasy football.

In addition to fantasy football analysis, Fantasy Life offers betting analysis for all major sports leagues, videos on fantasy football, and ways to play through Guillotine Leagues, a unique fantasy football experience.

"We think we're in a really strong position to do something that's that's never been done before in the space," Crist said.

Berry hopes that Guillotine Leagues will revolutionize fantasy football

Part of Fantasy Life's growth included acquiring Guillotine Leagues, a new way to play fantasy sports with friends.

Traditional leagues have games that are played every week, and if you lose one week, you just drop in the standings. You rotate through players, adding, dropping, and trading depending on what your team needs.

Guillotine Leagues offers a different take. With its gameplay, if you lose, you are out, and all the players on your roster are released back into the pool to be picked up by everyone else who remains.

Berry said there were some key elements that made him want to buy Guillotine Leagues. One was the playtime, with users spending an average of 22 minutes on the platform per session, per the company.

"We think that Guillotine Leagues is the next big thing in fantasy football, and our goal is to have as many people try it as possible, because we think that once you do, you're going to be like, 'this is the only way I want to play fantasy,'" Berry said.

Read the 14-slide investor deck below.

The deck opens with a slide about what Fantasy Life is.

This deck was pitched to investors in April of 2025. The description of Fantasy Life is "a fantasy sports, sports betting, and gaming company led by the biggest name in sports gaming."

Fantasy Life sees the opportunity in the market by combining fantasy sports and sports betting.

The deck says that people who play fantasy sports and who bet on sports create a combined $24 billion market.

Matthew Berry is a key figure in the fantasy sports space.

Berry has been working in the fantasy sports space for years, at various places like ESPN and NBC Sports. He is currently a cast member for NBC's Football Night in America.

Fantasy Life's vision is to own the full 'user journey.'

By showing the audience relevant content and providing free products, Fantasy Life believes it can get people to use premium products and a gaming platform.

Guillotine Leagues is a gaming platform that Fantasy Life thinks will change the way users play.

The slide says the unique play style that Guillotine Leagues offers has paid off, with 22 minutes spent on the platform in an average session.

Fantasy Life has lots of plans for the rest of this year, including expanding 'paid-to-play' games (where users buy in with real money)

The startup also plans a full redesign for web, iOS, and Android, and a Fantasy Life+ integration with tools and extra content for players.

Fantasy Life has a goal in mind — to be the best fantasy product on the internet.

Mike's Hard Lemonade has partnered with Fantasy Life on FantasyHQ, a place for personalized team advice, to help optimize lineups and real-time score updates. The company has also worked with other fantasy football platforms to integrate its content.

Fantasy Life is hoping to continue to grow its content.

Some of the partners for content include DraftKings, Bud Light, and Verizon.

Fantasy Life licenses content to LG, Roku and Fubo, SiriusXM, iHeart Radio, and a360 media.

Through those partners, Fantasy Life says it has reached over 112.8 million households combined.

The company raised $2 million in a friends and family round in 2023.

Some of the investors in that round include Casey Wasserman, Tony Khan, Josh Allen, and Austin Ekeler.

Fantasy Life has grown its company from 11 to 23 full-time employees.

The deck says the company was recognized as one of the "best places to work in sports" by both Front Office Sports and Sports Business Journal in 2024.

Fantasy Life has a board of advisors from many different sectors.

Some of the advisors include Chad Hurley, Austin Rief, and Maverick Carter.

Fantasy Life plans to use the funds from the seed raise for a few different things.

These include paying costs related to the Guillotine Leagues acquisition, developing its own technology, using paid marketing, and developing a premium product.

The deck ends with a 'thank you' slide.

• I flew round-trip in business class with Scandinavian Airlines from Chicago to Copenhagen and back.
• My business-class ticket cost about $3,646, and I spent eight hours in the air each way.
• I loved the complimentary WiFi, food presentation, entertainment options, and comfortable seat.

To be honest, I only flew with Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) because it was my only option for flying direct from Chicago to Copenhagen.

Fortunately, my sole choice didn't actually make me feel like I was settling. The Scandinavian flagship carrier is known for efficient and friendly service — and I'd say it lived up to its reputation.

I spent about $3,646 on a round-trip business-class flight and about eight hours in the air each way.

Here's what the experience was like, with a focus on my flight to Copenhagen.

The business-class section felt spacious and neat.

The A330 plane interior looked modern and well-maintained, with a 1-2-1 configuration in the business-class cabin and Thompson Vantage XL seats that lie completely flat.

Each of these particular seats is at least 23 inches wide and has a massage function. The massager undulated along my back, although it made a whirring noise and only lasted for a few minutes before stopping.

My seat was comfy with plenty of storage and workspace for my laptop.

Overall, the seat was fairly comfortable and seemed well-designed.

I appreciated having storage space accessible on the floor next to my seat, even when it was in lie-flat mode, and ample desk space to work on my laptop.

The amenity kit was pretty simple.

The amenity kit is not as robust as some other airlines offer, but I respect the commitment to sustainability in some of the products selected, like the bamboo toothbrush by The Humble Co.

The travel pouch was by Duxiana, which also supplied the pillows and blankets on board. I also received Verso Skincare lip balm and moisturizer, and soft socks from Swedish Stockings.

My flight included decent entertainment and complimentary WiFi.

The in-flight entertainment system felt modern and easy to navigate.

I was more than satisfied with the selection of hundreds of movies and TV shows, which includes a mix of classics and new releases.

As a business-class passenger, I had access to complimentary WiFi for the entire flight. Not all airlines offer this, and I thought it was a great perk.

I was impressed by my delicious in-flight drink selection.

The drink menu didn't have as many wine offerings as I'd have liked, but SAS made up for it with a wide selection of Scandinavian spirits and beer.

Passengers could sample Swedish or Norwegian gin featuring unique regional botanicals or even Danish rye whiskey, which felt like a thoughtful nod to our final destination.

I ordered a Forest Spring signature cocktail with whisky, apple juice, and ginger ale. It was refreshing and not too strong.

Copenhagen is known as a craft-beer capital, so I also tried a non-alcoholic beer from Mikkeller, the Limbo Dragon Fruit. It had a great tart tropical flavor with a slight tannic quality like a saignée rosé wine.

Meals were served from trolleys, which was very helpful.

Something that makes SAS stand out from other airlines I've flown with is that its starters and main courses are served from a trolley. This way, travelers can see all of the options before ordering.

Most airlines ask you to order based on a written menu, but I prefer this service style because it eliminates the FOMO I often feel when ordering something that sounded more appetizing on paper than it ended up being on the plate.

The food wasn't exactly Scandinavian, but I didn't mind.

The food offerings were not Scandinavian, but rather part of a globally-inspired menu including Asian and European influences.

Options ranged from cheese tortelloni to slow-cooked beef brisket with mac and cheese and beets.

While serving food, flight attendants also seasoned dishes with salt and pepper to order. They even sprinkled sesame seeds on the ponzu chicken as a thoughtful final touch.

For one of my meals, I had a chicken thigh with a sweet and sour sauce that was mildly flavored but tender. It was pretty good for plane food.

There was also a solid bread selection.

The only noticeably Danish touch on the culinary side was Danish rye bread, or rugbrød, which is studded with sunflower seeds, flax seeds, and whole rye berries.

It's fermented with a tangy sourdough flavor and packed with protein and fiber.

The incredible Danish rye bread paired nicely with bubbly.

I had seconds of the bread during my flight, this time with Arla Unika salted butter and parsley oil.

It paired well with the Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve I got, too.

Overall, my flight felt like a great value.

I was pretty pleased with my business-class flight, from the food selection to the comfortable seat.

There weren't as many bells and whistles as you find on some other airlines in business class. For example, I would've appreciated a more robust snack selection or a snazzier amenity kit — maybe one with extra products or pajamas.

Still, I had a positive experience and I'd fly SAS again — especially if I were going to Scandinavia. I've found it offers the best routes there from the United States and the most direct flights between the US and Copenhagen.

• Risa Morimoto has been a lecturer for 18 years. In that time, she's always seen students cheat.
• But Morimoto said AI tools have made it harder to detect cheating, increasing her workload.
• Next year, Morimoto plans to introduce new assessment methods to address her AI concerns.

This as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with Risa Morimoto, a senior lecturer in economics at SOAS University of London, in England. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

Students always cheat.

I've been a lecturer for 18 years, and I've dealt with cheating throughout that time, but with AI tools becoming widely available in recent years, I've experienced a significant change.

There are definitely positive aspects to AI. It's much easier to get access to information and students can use these tools to improve their writing, spelling, and grammar, so there are fewer badly written essays.

However, I believe some of my students have been using AI to generate essay content that pulls information from the internet, instead of using material from my classes to complete their assignments.

AI is supposed to help us work efficiently, but my workload has skyrocketed because of it. I have to spend lots of time figuring out whether the work students are handing in was really written by them.

I've decided to take dramatic action, changing the way I assess students to encourage them to be more creative and rely less on AI. The world is changing, so universities can't stand still.

Cheating has become harder to detect because of AI

I've worked at SOAS University of London since 2012. My teaching focus is ecological economics.

Initially, my teaching style was exam-based, but I found that students were anxious about one-off exams, and their results wouldn't always correspond to their performance.

I eventually pivoted to a focus on essays. Students chose their topic and consolidated theories into an essay. It worked well — until AI came along.

Cheating used to be easier to spot. I'd maybe catch one or two students cheating by copying huge chunks of text from internet sources, leading to a plagiarism case. Even two or three years ago, detecting inappropriate AI use was easier due to signs like robotic writing styles.

Now, with more sophisticated AI technologies, it's harder to detect, and I believe the scale of cheating has increased.

I'll read 100 essays and some of them will be very similar using identical case examples, that I've never taught.

These examples are typically referenced on the internet, which makes me think the students are using an AI tool that is incorporating them. Some of the essays will cite 20 pieces of literature, but not a single one will be something from the reading list I set.

While students can use examples from internet sources in their work, I'm concerned that some students have just used AI to generate the essay content without reading or engaging with the original source.

I started using AI detection tools to assess work, but I'm aware this technology has limitations.

AI tools are easy to access for students who feel pressured by the amount of work they have to do. University fees are increasing, and a lot of students work part-time jobs, so it makes sense to me that they want to use these tools to complete work more quickly.

There's no obvious way to judge misconduct

During the first lecture of my module, I'll tell students they can use AI to check grammar or summarize the literature to better understand it, but they can't use it to generate responses to their assignments.

SOAS has guidance for AI use among students, which sets similar principles about not using AI to generate essays.

Over the past year, I've sat on an academic misconduct panel at the university, dealing with students who've been flagged for inappropriate AI use across departments.

I've seen students refer to these guidelines and say that they only used AI to support their learning and not to write their responses.

It can be hard to make decisions because you can't be 100% sure from reading the essay whether it's AI-generated or not. It's also hard to draw a line between cheating and using AI to support learning.

Next year, I'm going to dramatically change my assignment format

My colleagues and I speak about the negative and positive aspects of AI, and we're aware that we still have a lot to learn about the technology ourselves.

The university is encouraging lecturers to change their teaching and assessment practices. At the department level, we often discuss how to improve things.

I send my two young children to a school with an alternative, progressive education system, rather than a mainstream British state school. Seeing how my kids are educated has inspired me to try two alternative assessment methods this coming academic year. I had to go through a formal process with the university to get them approved.

I'll ask my students to choose a topic and produce a summary of what they learned in the class about it. Second, they'll create a blog, so they can translate what they've understood of the highly technical terms into a more communicable format.

My aim is to make sure the assignments are directly tied to what we've learned in class and make assessments more personal and creative.

The old assessment model, which involves memorizing facts and regurgitating them in exams, isn't useful anymore. ChatGPT can easily give you a beautiful summary of information like this. Instead, educators need to help students with soft skills, communication, and out-of-the-box thinking.

In a statement to BI, a SOAS spokesperson said students are guided to use AI in ways that "uphold academic integrity." They said the university encouraged students to pursue work that is harder for AI to replicate and have "robust mechanisms" in place for investigating AI misuse. "The use of AI is constantly evolving, and we are regularly reviewing and updating our policies to respond to these changes," the spokesperson added.

Do you have a story to share about AI in education? Contact this reporter at [email protected].

• Investment firm Azoria has delayed the launch of a Tesla ETF after Elon Musk unveiled his "America Party."
• Azoria CEO and ex-DOGE advisor James Fishback slammed Musk's move, saying he was undermining Tesla.
• Tesla investors are uneasy after Musk returned to politics despite saying he would focus on the EV giant.

Elon Musk's decision to set up a new political party is already proving a headache for Tesla.

James Fishback, CEO of investment firm Azoria, said on Sunday that the firm — which has stated its opposition to DEI targets and "woke" companies — will postpone its planned public listing of a Tesla ETF, which would invest in the EV giant's shares and options.

The firm planned to launch the ETF in the coming days. It would have allowed investors to bet on Tesla while using leverage to potentially gain bigger returns than investing in the company's stock directly. While ETFs are generally used to spread risk by allowing investors to invest across a broad range of stocks, often a whole index, single stock ETFs aim to spread risk by trading options to mitigate the risks

In a post on X, Fishback, who previously worked as an outside advisor to DOGE, said that the billionaire had "gone too far" with his latest plan to set up the "America Party" and take on both Republicans and Democrats.

Fishback, who included a letter to Tesla Chair Robyn Denholm in his X post, added that the new party "creates a conflict" with Musk's responsibilities as CEO of Tesla and "actively undermines" the company's mission.

"I encourage the Board to meet immediately and ask Elon to clarify his political ambitions and evaluate whether they are compatible with his full-time obligations to Tesla as CEO," said Fishback.

Tesla's share price was down as much as 7% premarket on Monday, as investors expressed unease over Musk's decision to dive back into politics.

Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives wrote in a Sunday note that investors were feeling a "sense of exhaustion" over Musk's new political party.

The longtime Tesla bear said that Musk, who told investors in April that he would step back from his role in the Trump administration to focus on the beleaguered EV maker, was going in "exactly the opposition direction" to what Tesla shareholders wanted.

Ives also warned that the billionaire's extremely public falling out with Trump could create additional hurdles for Tesla in the future.

Other investors expressed similar frustrations. "Waymo has solved autonomous driving. Meanwhile, Elon is starting a new political party," wrote Tesla investor and regular Musk critic Ross Gerber on X.

An outspoken supporter of President Donald Trump, Fishback told Business Insider in January he had served as an outside advisor to DOGE, and proposed the idea of a "DOGE dividend" earlier this year.

The investment banker, who has said that he owns Tesla stock and that the EV giant is Azoria's largest position, also accused Musk of being fixated on "sabotaging President Trump" and said the Tesla CEO was an "absolute failure" at DOGE in a series of posts on X.

Tesla did not respond to a request for comment sent outside normal working hours.

• Lawyers have left the federal government as Donald Trump has targeted the nation's workforce.
• Some typical off-ramps have closed as Trump takes a light touch with corporate crime.
• Nine current and former government lawyers and recruiters told BI about the harsh legal job market.

Whenever a new president takes office, the revolving door between the federal government and the private sector starts to spin a little faster. Agency heads, their deputies, and their deputies' deputies typically exit to make room for the new president's picks, and take up jobs in C-suites and think tanks.

At elite law firms, the practice became so routine that it was the subject of a running joke. "Out with WilmerHale, in with Jones Day," law professor Orin Kerr tweeted when Donald Trump won in 2016, a nod to each firm's ideological reputation. In 2020, when Joe Biden won, he flipped the names.

In 2024, Trump and his allies made clear that they were going to do things differently.

It wasn't just Biden's appointees who needed to go; it was thousands of federal workers who the administration saw as roadblocks to its agenda. The goal, Trump aide Russell Vought said, was to "put them in trauma" and make them want to quit. The administration has also prioritized immigration, while de-emphasizing financial regulation and corporate crime prosecution — closing some of the usual off-ramps.

Now, the revolving door is jammed.

Recruiters and lawyers in and outside government told Business Insider that it's increasingly hard to move from public to private sector work: there's a large supply of job seekers, and comparatively low demand for their expertise and experience.

One federal lawyer who recently resigned said it took him months to find a new job despite working in a prestigious role, forcing him to stay at his job longer than he wanted. "I had a responsibility to my family to bring home a paycheck," he told Business Insider.

White collar slowdown

Typically, the roughly 40,000 lawyers who work for the US government can parlay their experience drafting, interpreting, and enforcing a dense thicket of laws and regulations into well-paid jobs for law firms and large businesses.

Over the last few months, law firms across Washington and in New York have been inundated with résumés, and they're being choosy, especially when hiring white-collar criminal defense lawyers — many of whom are former federal prosecutors.

"White-collar demand is down across the board," whether it comes to recruiting from the government or poaching a partner with an established clientele from another law firm, said Karen Vladeck, the founder of Risepoint Search Partners, a legal recruiting firm.

"For your standard white-collar partner right now, they want to see twice as much business as they want to see from another practice." In other words, law firms are skeptical that hotshot criminal defense lawyers can reel in the kind of revenue that they used to.

Another headhunter told BI that only "very senior" lawyers coming out of US Attorney's Offices were getting interviews — and even those candidates were taking haircuts on compensation. The same job seeker who might have been able to get an offer for $1 million or $1.2 million in the past as a defense-and-investigations specialist might get $750,000 today, the headhunter said.

Another issue, said Jack Zaremski, who runs Hanover Search Partners, is that Big Law firms already have a deep bench of white-collar litigators — and a partner at a large law firm said there isn't much work to go around for colleagues who focus on that kind of work.

White-collar criminal enforcement has been declining since the Obama administration, according to Syracuse University's Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, which compiles federal law-enforcement data. The number of white-collar criminal cases filed yearly fell from a high of more than 10,000 in the mid-1990s to about 4,300 today.

Though prosecutions were down, there was still work for Big Law's ex-prosecutors keeping their clients out of court. After the 2009 financial crash, banks needed outside help dealing with crisis-related investigations, the large law firm partner said. The 2012 Libor scandal and similar rate-rigging allegations led to even more work. That has pretty much dried up, the partner said, and banks' in-house lawyers can do some of the work that they used to have to outsource.

Trump, who was convicted of falsifying business records, has shown skepticism for white-collar criminal enforcement. His Justice Department has slashed its corruption unit and made moves to close its tax division and fold its responsibilities into other parts of the agency. One of his early executive orders paused cases under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which bans paying bribes to foreign officials to get business. (Several have since resumed.) He has also pardoned people and companies that collectively owed $1.3 billion for offenses like securities fraud and tax evasion, erasing their debts to the government and their victims.

Matthew Burke, a former federal prosecutor on the team led by Jack Smith that charged Donald Trump with keeping classified documents after his presidency and trying to subvert the 2020 election, said that while his experience deterred some potential employers, it attracted others. Scale LLP, a firm of about 80 lawyers that focuses on the tech sector, said in May that Burke would lead its investigations practice.

"There undoubtedly were doors that were closed to me because of what I've done, but there will also be doors that will be opened," he said. It's been "informative to know what doors have been closed and which have been opened," he added.

It's not just criminal cases where the administration's approach is being felt. Some financial regulatory lawyers are also stuck in a tightening job market, as the administration attempts to pare down the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. A former bureau lawyer said that among some people who have managed to stay employed, the common attitude is "They're gonna have to drag me out of here."

The Trump administration's efforts to reduce headcount at the Bureau have been put on hold by the courts. The CFPB employees' union said in an email that some of its members have taken other jobs, but "many more remain ready to get back to the work we were hired to do."

Job market challenges aren't universal

Some CFPB managers have been able to parlay their experience into jobs at financial technology firms, law firms, and banks or credit unions, the former bureau lawyer said. And some people leaving the Justice Department are still in high demand. Deep familiarity with international trade restrictions and export-control laws makes some lawyers valuable to tech companies worried about running afoul of US sanctions and trade restrictions. Antitrust experience is also a plus, Vladeck and others said.

Charles Cain, the head of the Securities and Exchange Commission's FCPA Unit, went to work at EY, according to a LinkedIn post. He was one of at least five lawyers who announced their departures from the unit at a meeting in late March, according to Mark Yost, a former member of the unit who was present.

Some former feds are having a much tougher time on the job market. Waves of civil rights lawyers have been fired or left the Justice Department and other agencies, like the Department of Education.

"There are only so many civil rights-related jobs out there, and a lot of people are competing for them," said Stacey Young, a former Justice Department attorney who leads the networking group Justice Connection.

Despite competition for open roles, relatively few lawyers, regardless of where they work, are quitting or being terminated without something lined up. While the D.C. area unemployment rate has ticked upward, the national rate for legal occupations — a group of about 1.8 million people of whom 1.1 million are lawyers — was 2.1% in May, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, below the 4% average across the US workforce. For lawyers, a smaller group of workers for which estimates are less reliable, the first-quarter unemployment rate was about 1%.

Still, a glut of supply on the job market means lawyers will need to broaden their search. Vladeck tells job seekers to think of landing their next job outside government as a Trivial Pursuit pie, with each slice representing a more niche avenue for employment: boutique firms, in-house counsel roles, nonprofits, or legal-adjacent roles.

"In order to get a job in this market, you have to pay attention to each of those slices," Vladeck said. "You can't rely on the DOJ to Big Law path."

Have a tip? Know more? Reach Jack Newsham via email ([email protected]) or via Signal (+1-314-971-1627). Do not use a work device.

• Peter Deng, a former VP at OpenAI, said he looks at teams as if they were products.
• The most successful groups he's worked with had varied skillsets, he said on "Lenny's Podcast."
• Deng said he prioritized staffing his teams with a series of specialists, like the Avengers, rather than generalists.

When investor Peter Deng worked at OpenAI, he treated building a team like a puzzle. All the right pieces had to be in the right places.

"As a leader, you have to set up your team the right way," Deng, who previously was OpenAI's VP of consumer product, said on an episode of Lenny's Podcast. "You have to really think about your team as a product and what are the various pieces you need to really stretch the gamut of what you're thinking about."

Deng, now a general partner at Felicis Ventures, has previously contributed to a series of well-known features, including ChatGPT Enterprise, Facebook's Messenger app, and Uber Reserve.

The VC said the best teams he's worked with throughout his career were those composed of people with diverse skill sets.

"The teams that I've helped build are — the most successful ones are a team of Avengers that are just very different, have very different superpowers," he said. "But together, you as the leader are the one who's helping adjudicate any differences or any disagreements, but you know you're getting the best outcome when everyone's pulling and obsessing over a different thing."

Deng looks to staff his teams with a series of problem-solvers, he said. He thinks about needs that aren't being met, and then works to hire specialists who can close the gap.

"It's almost like you're playing an RPG where everyone has different sliders and you have to create this super team where everyone actually spikes in different ways," he said.

When Deng would search for new additions, he said he largely looked for two traits in applicants: the potential for autonomy and an appetite for continued improvement. Deng did not respond to a request for comment by Business Insider.

"I think the growth mindset thing is so important to me — that we build an org where people are self-reflective, and want to get better, and take that feedback, and give that feedback," he said. "And it just is this meta unlock that I found to be true."

• After a major heartbreak, I pack up and move to a new city — including once to a new continent.
• It makes it easier for me to heal from the heartbreak.
• I've done this three times, and I'm not about to stop now.

Some people cope with a breakup by starting a new hobby, throwing themselves immediately back into dating, or finally giving in to those BetterHelp ads. Me? I pack up my life and book a one-way flight to a new city, including, most recently, to a different continent.

It started in 2014 after a brutal three-month run: a breakup, a messy rebound, and getting fired from a brand-new job. I was sitting at home in Johannesburg, doomscrolling on Facebook, when an email came through from an airline offering a deal on flights across South Africa to Cape Town. My interest? Piqued. My credit card? Ready to swipe. My impulse control? At an all-time low.

I booked a flight for the following week and immediately began boxing up my room at my mom's into three small boxes and sending out invites for farewell drinks at my favorite bar. Little did I know, this major life decision I had made in less than 60 seconds would go on to start a pattern of shaking up my surroundings to an extreme after heartbreak. I did it again in 2021, when I left Cape Town for Namibia, and last year I said bon voyage to South Africa and moved to France.

Moving after a breakup means I get to break old habits

Is making a major move after a breakup a little dramatic? Absolutely, but there is a method to my madness. Every move forces me to confront the post-breakup identity crisis and answer the million-dollar question: Who am I without anyone else?

Starting over in a new place strips away all the relationship compromises, shared daily routines, and habits. The only thing left is me: my habits, my desires, and my identity beyond another person.

It gives me the space to figure out where I may have been performing in the relationship and identify where I lost myself. The crisis I had where I wondered whether I was changing my mind about having kids? It turns out I was never unsure about having children — I always knew deep down that it wasn't my path. I was just too scared to choose myself and lose my partner in the process.

During my most recent relationship, I stopped doing all the things I love: DJing, hiking, and attending festivals. It wasn't until it ended and I moved yet again that I realized how much I'd been missing out on when I found myself in Paris at a rave, cheezing so hard my cheeks hurt, asking myself, "How did I forget how much I loved this?"

It's taught me the art of being alone, not lonely

I believe my heartbreak wanderlust has helped me avoid the trap of using other people as emotional Band-Aids after a breakup. My self-imposed exile gives me the space to sit with my emotions without any familiar distractions (after all, you can't call up your roster or ex when you're 7,000 miles away in France). It's a launchpad to a life of independence and self-confidence, where I'm showing myself every day how capable I am without someone else, each time I figure out something new.

That said, should everyone move to a new city after a breakup? If you have a remote career like mine and no responsibilities tying you to a specific location, I'd say go for it. Being in a different city soothes the sting of rumination because nothing is familiar.

The first time I moved after a breakup was on impulse. When I realized it was helping me process what had happened and improve my relationship with myself, I got curious and wanted to know why. I learned that when I create new memories and daily habits, I'm training my brain to form new associations that aren't tied to my ex. So when I move, I'm rewiring neural pathways, and I'm spending less energy stuck in a loop replaying the same old story.

But if you can't move cities, plan a solo trip for two weeks. You'll still get to reap the benefits of taking yourself out of the familiar and give your heart and brain the chance to reset and interrupt the emotional ties.

It's an incredible heartbreak cure, and it's probably the greatest gift I've given myself.

• Joan Nguyen co-founded Bumo to help parents book last-minute childcare.
• The app features vetted childcare providers and works similarly to Airbnb.
• The pitch deck raised $10 million in a seed round exclusively shared with Business Insider.

Modern life makes it easy to order late-night cars home, book spontaneous vacation rentals, and get lightning-fast takeout. But getting childcare on short notice? For many, that's still a pipe dream.

Joan Nguyen founded Bumo, an app that allows parents to book empty slots at local childcare centers, after starting two childcare ventures during the pandemic.

From working with parents, Nguyen said she realized that they often needed what she calls "fractional childcare," such as when their nanny called in sick or something pressing came up at work.

"As a parent, I also felt the pain of not being able to get childcare when you absolutely needed it," Nguyen told Business Insider. "Why is it easier for me to find a dog walker than it is to find a sitter or a nanny?"

Launched in 2024 after raising $10 million, the Bumo app was co-founded by Nguyen and Chriselle Lim. It's a continuation of a joint co-working and childcare center they launched in late 2019, followed by BumoBrain, an online learning platform they created at the height of the pandemic to help working parents.

The app, which has about 10,000 users and offers services in 200 locations within 13 states, works similarly to Airbnb. Parents can filter and sift through childcare options from drop-in daycares to summer camps, some of them offering same-day availability.

Nguyen said Bumo also fits in with the consumer demand "to want things instantly," now accustomed to quick bookings and deliveries. Meanwhile, "you see childcare as this kind of monolithic thing that hasn't really changed a lot," she said.

Filling a gap in childcare demands

Bumo aims to offer more convenience and fill a gap in the US childcare system.

Parents are more isolated than they have been in generations, not always being able to rely on family members to help them. Many also can't afford full-time daycare, but still need some part-time childcare options.

To ensure safety, Nguyen said every service listed on Bumo is licensed by their respective state and has a "digital footprint" including past reviews. Bumo staff also interviews with each facility at least once a year (sometimes virtually depending on the provider's location) to make sure that they're up-to-date on background checks and that all staff have proper certifications.

Nguyen said that Bumo only uses original photography and videos for each facility instead of stock photos. Parents can also write reviews.

Bumo's next step is to keep expanding in other cities; right now, Los Angeles has the highest number of childcare offerings on the app. The goal is to increase Bumo's density in San Francisco and to introduce its service in New York City.

Read the 16-page pitch deck Bumo used to secure $10 million.

Bumo opens with a positive press quote.

It sums up the key benefit of Bumo: expediency.

Introducing the founding team and each member's accomplishments.

The slide features the team members' experience levels, follower counts, and press mentions.

It defines the app and what makes it stand out.

The slide includes a graphic of the app in action.

It addresses the core childcare problems working parents face.

A simple graphic illustrates the obstacles parents face in securing childcare.

It then shows how childcare providers benefit from the app.

It highlights the practicality of the app: childcare providers have empty slots they want to fill, incentivizing them to use Bumo.

The next slide demonstrates how simple the app is to use.

It uses a similar calendar booking system to Airbnb or Rover.

The deck emphasizes lower costs.

Parents don't have to commit to full programs they can't afford.

Another slide sums up the key benefits for everyone.

It emphasizes the mutual relationship between parents and childcare providers.

The deck then transitions into Bumo's accomplishments.

It addresses how many families currently use Bumo, the number of providers, and the social media reach. It also shows investors the opportunities for growth.

Another slide highlights Bumo's commitment to digital outreach.

It shows a concerted strategy to promote the app in smaller parenting communities on Facebook and Instagram.

The presentation winds down by zooming out on the market.

It illustrates how big the childcare market is.

It draws comparisons to other successful apps.

It also asserts that, unlike the other apps, Bumo has no competition so far.

The second-to-last slide shows Bumo's projected growth.

It includes other methods of revenue and its target numbers for childcare service expansion.

The deck ends with a strong tagline.

It brands Bumo as a company that also cares about parents' well-being and understands their struggles.

July 7, 2025: An earlier version of this story stated that Bumo had raised $10 million, with a second $10 million seed funding round coming up. Bumo raised $10 million total in one seed funding round. An earlier version of the story also mentioned that parents can upload photos. They can only write reviews.

• $6 billion New Holland Capital has started a new unit to recruit internal investment staff.
• The firm had previously invested in external funds in a structure similar to a fund-of-funds.
• Former North Rock Capital COO Omar Qaiser was hired to lead the new platform named Plum Island.

The competition for top investing talent is higher than ever.

Megafunds like Izzy Englander's Millennium, Ken Griffin's Citadel, and Steve Cohen's Point72 offer moneymakers tens of millions in potential payouts and top-tier perks. Up-and-coming funds and new launches such as Verition, Walleye, and Jain Global are constantly scouring the landscape for investors. Explosive growth in private market assets means PE funds and new private credit firms need head count.

In short, it's a labor market that favors the employee, not the employer. Englander himself called it a "talent bubble" in 2023.

Despite this dynamic, $6 billion New York-based New Holland Capital is expanding from its traditional, fund-of-funds structure with a new unit focused on bringing investment talent in-house. Plum Island Partners, named after a small spit of land off Long Island discovered by Dutch explorers in the 17th century, will be run by Omar Qaiser, according to a note sent to clients seen by Business Insider. Qaiser is the former COO of investment platform North Rock Capital.

"While the majority of our platform will continue to be composed of external teams, we've now established Plum Island Partners to serve as New Holland's internal trading and operations arm," the note reads.

"While our focus on niche, capacity-constrained strategies will not change, this evolution allows us to expand the universe of potential PMs to include those who have no interest in running a business," the note adds.

When it comes to potential payouts, small platforms cannot compete with firms like Millennium and Citadel. But there are investment strategies that can only manage a certain amount of money — say $100 million — that are not of interest to the biggest players because the potential returns are too marginal to make a difference, several smaller platforms have said.

Some tenured investors are also looking for more customized risk parameters, which the largest funds struggle to offer given their organizations' size.

It's why places like New Holland, among other smaller funds, have decided to bring more talent in-house even as bigger firms like Millennium increasingly allocate to external managers.

"We're trying to be indifferent — we want to find good talent and have a home for them," said New Holland CEO Scott Radke, who noted that he still expects most of the firm's investors to be external.

He said the manager has more than 40 external managers right now, while Plum Island has one internal PM, an equity capital markets investor. The new unit expects to add several more this year, but has no set goal.

New Holland began as an investment advisor for Dutch pension plans and has since become independent. Last month, it hired former Brevan Howard executive Stephan Brohme as its chief risk officer.

• Eli Lilly has outpaced Ozempic-maker Novo Nordisk in the race to develop new incretin drugs.
• The company is set to capture 50% of the $95 billion obesity market by 2050.
• We got a glimpse into Eli Lilly's upcoming menu of metabolic drugs to treat obesity, preserve muscle, and more.

In sports, the best athletes compete against themselves. In the world of weight loss drugs, Eli Lilly is quickly becoming that all-star player that bests the competition every time.

"Lilly is the king. They're the king of the mountain," Deutsche Bank's James Shin, director of biopharma equity research, told Business Insider.

Investors are increasingly buzzing about the world's most valuable healthcare company, the one that they say has left its rivals in the dust.

Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk, the company that developed Ozempic, initially seemed unbeatable in the new market for injectable diabetes and weight loss medications. But ever since 2022, when Eli Lilly's tirzepatide was first approved for use in the US, Lilly's been steadily gaining ground.

Now, the company is developing a menu of other obesity drugs that could cater to anyone. There's a pill for weight loss instead of an injection. There are drugs that tap into new appetite-regulating hormones; an antibody injection to protect muscles while burning up excess fat.

"Investors are starting to talk about Lilly on their own cue, rather than in the context of Novo," Asad Haider, Goldman Sachs's lead analyst for US pharmaceuticals, told BI. "They are at the forefront of almost every existing as well as emerging mechanism across anti-obesity, and it's going to be really hard, in our view, to leapfrog them."

So, we caught up with Eli Lilly Executive Vice President Ken Custer, the man overseeing it all. Custer is the new president of Lilly's cardiometabolic health division, and in a recent one-on-one with BI, he shared the strategy behind the company's success so far and how they plan to maintain their big lead in the long run.

Eli Lilly is set to dominate the market by 2030

Eli Lilly's tirzepatide, the drug currently leading the charge, is the strongest weight loss drug available so far. While Novo's Wegovy supercharges one of our hunger hormones (GLP-1), Lilly's Mounjaro has two (GLP-1 and GIP), making it a more powerful weekly shot to control appetite and blood sugar.

One recent head-to-head study showed patients who spent a year on tirzepatide lost, on average, about 15% of their body weight, while those on semaglutide (the drug in Ozempic) lost just 8%.

By 2030, Goldman is forecasting, conservatively, that Lilly will capture nearly 50% of the $95 billion anti-obesity medicine market. That forecast includes the injectable drugs we have now, like Mounjaro and Ozempic (for diabetes) plus Wegovy and Zepbound (for obesity) but may also extend to new drugs in the pipeline, both at Eli Lilly and coming from other drugmakers with smaller portfolios. But right now, Lilly seems to be ahead of the competition in just about every category.

In June, at the American Diabetes Association's big annual research conference (ADA), Lilly's updates from ongoing trials were "incrementally better" than investors had expected, Haider said.

"Then on the other side of that, a lot of their late-stage competition — specifically Novo Nordisk, but also Amgen — the updates that you got from them at ADA had a little bit more hair on them, and were frankly met with more disappointment."

1. Speed: 'This ratchet mindset' drives Lilly to develop drugs faster and faster

Eli Lilly CEO Dave Ricks shared some of the secrets behind the big speed up that's shifted the company from an 11-year average time to market (when he first became CEO in 2017) to a six-year average now.

"We really track things very carefully on speed," Ricks said in an interview last October on the "All-In" podcast. "The big idea is like this ratchet mindset that every time we beat a timeline, that becomes the new norm. We just re-benchmark internally."

Case in point: It took about two decades to get Trulicity, Eli Lilly's first GLP-1 drug, on the market. Tirzepatide? About eight years — "blistering speed," Custer said.

2. Convenience: a cheap(er) pill to rival Ozempic

Eli Lilly is in the late stages of developing the first Ozempic-like pill, designed to be just as strong as Novo's injectable drug. The drug, orforglipron, could be available as early as 2026.

There are only about 8 million people currently on Mounjaro, Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound in the US, which speaks to both the high cost of the injectable drugs and the supply bottlenecks.

"The injectable GLP-1s are wonderful medicines, but manufacturing those medicines is hard," Custer said. "The factories that you have to use to do the sterile filling of the vials, the syringes, the devices, the cartridges are extraordinarily hard to build and operate."

Custer believes a daily pill could completely change the game — opening up this new class of hormone-mimicking weight loss and diabetes drugs called incretins to hundreds of millions more people across the globe.

"I think we're at a defining moment in our company's history," Custer said. He added that he sees this as "a generational opportunity that is probably close to what was seen with the early days of vaccines and antibiotics."

Eli Lilly is already manufacturing hundreds of thousands of orforglipron pills, just to make sure it will be able to meet the demand if the drug is approved for use in the US next year. That's a somewhat risky move, considering that the company's final Phase 3 clinical trials that the US Food and Drug administration requires to evaluate the drug aren't even done yet. If approved, orforglipron should also (thankfully) have a more pronounceable brand name.

Expect the cost of the pill to rival a "fancy gym membership," Shin said, meaning maybe around $300 for one month — a quarter of the cost of some injectable weight-loss drugs.

Other companies' attempts to develop a new weight loss pill have been lackluster. Pfizer ditched its obesity pill candidate earlier this year, while Novo Nordisk's pill version of semaglutide, called Rybelsus, is not nearly as effective as Ozempic: Most patients on the pill lose less than 5% of their body weight, while people using the weekly shot can often achieve 10-15% weight loss, or more.

3. Creating a laundry list of new options to get ahead

The north star of Eli Lilly's strategy now is variety — developing a broader range of options for consumers than any of their competitors.

"If you have a billion people around the world or more living with overweight or obesity, they're not all going to be helped by one medicine," Custer said. "We see this segmenting it into several logical categories."

The shift is already underway to find new weight loss options that will harness different hunger hormones (like amylin), use new routes of administration (pills or IVs instead of just injection pens), and have different dosing schedules (daily, weekly, or monthly).

"They're trying to address every type of patient," Shin said.

Here's the menu, beyond orforglipron:

• Bimagrumab: Looking to protect muscle while you lose fat? This is an Eli Lilly drug which may become available after orforglipron, if the mid-stage trials go well in the next couple of years.

  In the most recent trial results, the company shared on bimagrumab at ADA, patients on the drug achieved 100% fat loss, essentially preserving all their muscles. This idea of making sure patients lose the right kind of weight — not compromising their strength just to slim down — is the holy grail in incretin drug development right now, generating tons of buzz and investment.

• Retatrutide: If it's more powerful drugs you're after, then there's the "king kong" triple agonist that the company has been working on. It won't likely be ready to approve until late 2026, at the very earliest, but in clinical trials, it has shown weight loss on par with bariatric surgery, and some patients have lost more than a third of their total body weight, requiring entirely new wardrobes.
• Eloralintide: Finally, there's Lilly's investigational drug that mimics amylin, another metabolism-regulating hormone. It's still early days for eloralintide and for amylin medications in general. So it's possible that competitors like Novo Nordisk or Amgen could develop a compelling amylin drug before Eli Lilly does.

"What's exciting is we feel like we're leading in most, if not all of those categories, but we'll come up with new categories," Custer said. "It is really about tailoring. I think bimagrumab and eloralintide and retatrutide and orforglipron are really the first part of that story, but of course, we have other ideas we're working on as well."

Investors want in on that action. Both Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank sent BI disclosure statements for this story, because they each have a financial relationship with Eli Lilly (I challenge you, dear reader, to find a major investment bank that does not).

In the long run, Eli Lilly is thinking ahead to a day when this class of medications could even treat conditions beyond metabolism and heart health, including dementia, inflammation, substance abuse, and pain. (Scientists are starting to study whether incretin drugs might treat migraines, for example).

"It may be even in the future, when you're checking out at Kroger, in addition to the 'get your annual flu vaccine,' you see a sign that says 'get your annual metabolic shot,'" Custer said.

• A consulting firm found that tech companies are "strategically overpaying" recruits with AI experience.
• They found firms pay premiums of up to $200,000 for data scientists with machine learning skills.
• The report also tracked a rise in bonuses for lower-level software engineers and analysts.

The AI talent bidding war is heating up, and the data scientists and software engineers behind the tech are benefiting from being caught in the middle.

Many tech companies are "strategically overpaying" recruits with AI experience, shelling out premiums of up to $200,000 for some roles with machine learning skills, J. Thelander Consulting, a compensation data and consulting firm for the private capital market, found in a recent report.

The report, compiled from a compensation analysis of roles across 153 companies, showed that data scientists and analysts with machine learning skills tend to receive a higher premium than software engineers with the same skills. However, the consulting firm also tracked a rise in bonuses for lower-level software engineers and analysts.

The payouts are a big bet, especially among startups. About half of the surveyed companies paying premiums for employees with AI skills had no revenue in the past year, and a majority (71%) had no profit.

Smaller firms need to stand out and be competitive among Big Tech giants — a likely driver behind the pricey recruitment tactic, a spokesperson for the consulting firm told Business Insider.

But while the J. Thelander Consulting report focused on smaller firms, some Big Tech companies have also recently made headlines for their sky-high recruitment incentives.

Meta was in the spotlight last month after Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, said the social media giant had tried to poach his best employees with $100 million signing bonuses. 

While Business Insider previously reported that Altman later quipped that none of his "best people" had been enticed by the deal, Meta's chief technology officer, Andrew Bosworth, said in an interview with CNBC that Altman "neglected to mention that he's countering those offers."

• Elon Musk started a new political party after conducting a poll on his social media platform X.
• But this is not the first time Musk has outsourced his decision-making to social media.
• Musk had run polls on whether he should sell his Tesla stock or step down as X's CEO.

Elon Musk announced the formation of his new political party a day after conducting a poll on his social media platform, X.

But this isn't the first time Musk has outsourced his decision-making to social media.

The Tesla and SpaceX CEO has conducted several polls on X over the years. Musk has asked users whether he should sell his Tesla stock or if he should reinstate President Donald Trump to the platform.

Here's a list of some of the polls Musk has done, and what happened after.

Selling 10% of his Tesla stock

On November 6, 2021, Musk posted a poll on X asking his followers if he should sell 10% of his Tesla stock.

"I will abide by the results of this poll, whichever way it goes," Musk added.

Musk's poll received over 3.5 million votes, with over 57% of them supporting the sale of his stock. Then, on November 10, 2021, Tesla said in an SEC filing that Musk sold about $1.1 billion in Tesla stock.

In its filing, Tesla said the sale of Musk's shares was "automatically effected" as part of a trading plan that was adopted on September 14, 2021. It added that the trading plan was in relation to Musk exercising stock options that were set to expire in 2022.

Musk had talked about the planned sale during an interview he gave at the Code Conference in September 2021.

"I have a bunch of options that are expiring early next year, so a huge block of options will sell in Q4. Because I have to or they'll expire," he said.

Buying Twitter

Months before buying Twitter in late 2022, Musk conducted several polls on the platform, asking his followers about their views on it. These polls took place while Musk had been quietly purchasing the company's stock since the start of the year.

On March 25, 2022, Musk asked his followers if Twitter "rigorously adheres" to the principle of free speech.

"The consequences of this poll will be important. Please vote carefully," Musk added.

Musk's poll received over 2 million votes. Over 70% of them said the platform did not adhere to the principle.

"Given that Twitter serves as the de facto public town square, failing to adhere to free speech principles fundamentally undermines democracy. What should be done?" Musk wrote in a follow-up post on March 26, 2022.

"Is a new platform needed?" Musk added.

Earlier, Musk had conducted a separate poll asking his followers if Twitter's algorithm should be open source. That poll received over 1.1 million votes, and nearly 83% of them voted "Yes."

Then, on April 4, 2022, Musk asked his followers if they wanted an "edit button" on Twitter. The poll obtained over 4.4 million votes and nearly 74% of them voted "Yes."

Musk eventually acquired Twitter for $44 billion in October 2022 and renamed it X in July 2023.

Reinstating Trump's Twitter account

Shortly after buying Twitter, Musk polled his followers on whether Trump should be reinstated to the platform. Trump had been an avid user of the platform but was banned in January 2021 after the Capitol riot.

Musk's poll drew over 15 million votes, with nearly 52% supporting Trump's reinstatement.

"The people have spoken. Trump will be reinstated," Musk wrote on November 19, 2022, a day after he had conducted the poll.

"Vox Populi, Vox Dei," Musk continued, using a Latin phrase that translates to "the voice of the people is the voice of God."

Musk had talked about reinstating Trump even before his acquisition of Twitter was complete. In May 2022, Musk said in an interview with the Financial Times that he would "reverse the permaban" on Trump, calling it a "morally bad decision" that was "foolish in the extreme."

Stepping down as Twitter's CEO

A month later, Musk conducted another poll, this time he asked his followers if he should step down as Twitter's CEO.

"I will abide by the results of this poll," Musk wrote on December 18, 2022.

Shortly after acquiring the platform, Musk laid off more than half of the company's employees. Musk's takeover also saw several celebrities such as Elton John opting to quit the platform over misinformation concerns.

Musk's poll received over 17.5 million votes, and nearly 58% voted "Yes."

"I will resign as CEO as soon as I find someone foolish enough to take the job! After that, I will just run the software & servers teams," Musk wrote in a follow-up post on December 20, 2022.

In May 2023, Musk announced that he had hired Linda Yaccarino, an executive at NBCUniversal as X's new CEO. Musk said Yaccarino would "focus primarily on business operations" while he dealt with "product design and new technology."

Starting a new political party

Musk's most recent poll took place on July 4, when he asked his followers if they wanted him to start a new political party. Musk had floated the idea of starting the America Party after criticizing Trump and the GOP for the "One Big Beautiful Bill."

The poll received over 1.2 million votes, and over 65% of them voted "Yes."

"By a factor of 2 to 1, you want a new political party and you shall have it!" Musk wrote on X a day later.

"When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste & graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy. Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom," he added.

Musk did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

• Shannon Liu Shair and her husband started saving for college for their children when they were born.
• She puts money into 529 plans and custodial Roth IRAs for both of them.
• The 529 plans have around $100,000 each, and she plans to grow them to $200,000 by college time.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Shannon Liu Shair, a 38-year-old estate planning attorney in the San Francisco Bay Area, California. It has been edited for length and clarity.

As an estate planning attorney at Liu Shair Law, I work with families to plan for the future and establish their legacy. Many of my clients have children, and their primary goal is to ensure their children are provided for through college and beyond.

In addition to understanding each client's goals, I ask how they've already invested and saved for their family. This is something that's deeply personal for me, too, as my husband and I have faced the same questions.

These conversations in my work and my own life have given me a unique perspective on how to get started and stay committed. It helps my clients to have someone they can trust with their sensitive information who also "gets it."

Saving and investing for our kids was not instant or overnight; it's taken years of learning and contributing. First, we had to make sure our own retirement and savings were healthily funded.

Here's how I set up my kids for financial success.

I started 529s for each of my two kids when they were born

529s are special accounts that allow you to save tax-free for education expenses. My parents did the same for me before I was college-age. Not needing to worry about finances, loans, and tuition made it much easier for me to focus on my studies.

We set up these accounts because we want our kids to have flexibility. I want them to be able to comfortably search for their ideal job fit since they already have a savings cushion.

My husband and I have saved over $100,000 in each of their 529s. I fund their accounts so that they'll be similarly situated based on the year they attend college.

Every state has its own 529 providers. I decided to use California's plan, Scholar Share, because it was easy to set up. I want to save 100% of what is expected for a public university in California. The target goal for each of the 529s is $200,000.

We don't have a specific backup plan for the money if one of the kids doesn't attend college, but up to $35,000 can be diverted to a Roth IRA. Additionally, the funds can still be withdrawn (with a penalty on earnings), which is not an issue for us.

We could also change the beneficiary to a different family member (e.g., hypothetical grandchild). I'd rather be over-prepared financially than under-prepared and have to scramble to figure things out.

I also set up custodial Roth IRAs for them

Custodial Roth IRAs are retirement accounts in which a child can deposit earnings from a job while they're minors, allowing them to start their retirement savings early. I've saved five figures in each of their custodial Roth IRAs.

For business owners, there are ways to employ your kids to set up a Roth IRA legally. Now that my kids are 10 and 8, they've been able to help me with shredding paperwork and other small tasks. They know that they're earning money for the work that they contribute to my business.

Anyone can set up a 529 for their loved ones, but custodial Roth IRAs are only available if a child has earned income. If someone is not a business owner and their child is old enough, the child can work and still have a custodial Roth IRA. The work can be with an established business, or even helping others in the community with babysitting and other chores.

They also have their own bank accounts

Their UTMA bank accounts are kept leaner, in the hundreds of dollars. UTMA bank accounts hold money that your child owns, and an adult is the custodian until the child becomes an adult. A portion of birthday money or gifts goes into the UTMA account.

Birthday and Christmas gifts in cash are typically from grandparents or other family members. Because these gifts are not earned income, the "save" goes to UTMA accounts and not to their Roth IRAs.

I don't have a set savings strategy. I add funds when I have more money in my account.

There are 2 things I could've done differently

I could do better at automating a monthly amount to ensure consistency and streamline the process.

Another thing I could've done differently is deeper research into 529 providers. I'm OK with our California provider, but researching more couldn't hurt. 529s can have differences, such as the types of investments available, the funds set up, the minimum amount required to get started, or the maintenance fees.

I tell my clients it's a good idea to teach financial acumen at a young age so their children don't spend their savings inappropriately. Our kids know how much is in their retirement accounts because I want them to learn cause and effect.

They used to get annoyed about helping me with the administrative tasks, but since I've educated them, they understand these funds will help alleviate stress when they enter the job market.

My advice to parents is to see this as a long game

There will be dips, and people need to understand the time value of money and compounding. If they move things around or make big shifts every time there's a decline in the market, it could be counterproductive and go against their goals.

For 529s, I've taken a more passive approach and use age-based funds (enrollment-year portfolios) rather than risk-based portfolios or guaranteed investment options. I have not changed the fund allocations during market shifts.

If you're just getting started or aren't in a position to make big contributions, saving even a few dollars a week or a month is better than nothing. It makes a difference. It's especially helpful if your children are young and time is on your side.

• Hollywood companies continue to integrate AI, even as they challenge its applications in court.
• AI startups like Toonstar and Chronicle Studios are innovating in animation.
• Studios are using the tech to promote content discovery and reduce production costs.

Hollywood giants are pushing back on AI's encroachment. Disney and Universal recently sued Midjourney, accusing it of using tech to rip off their famous characters.

But inside entertainment companies, it's a whole different story. The biggest studios and filmmakers are using AI technology in various ways — and people in Hollywood are taking note. The AI on the Lot conference in May has doubled its attendance to 1,200 over three years, while AI editing company Runway attracted some 1,000 people to its third film festival.

The tantalizing promise of AI is that it could solve big problems in the entertainment business, like content discovery and high production costs.

"No matter how you feel about AI tools in the media and entertainment business, they're here to stay," said Peter Csathy, who advises media companies.

Investors are climbing on board companies like Ecco, an AI startup that helps people find titles across multiple streamers using queries like "find me all the shows about F1." It has raised $7 million from Ben Silverman, Shaquille O'Neal, and others.

One such investor is Ishan Sinha, a consumer partner at Point72 Ventures. He said the hype around AI-generated video hasn't translated into consumer interest. He sees the most potential in companies that use AI to promote distribution through personalization, translation, and IP ownership.

"We believe the winning consumer businesses aggregate eyeballs — they have some type of a hook, whether it's content aggregation, playlists, proprietary IP, etc., that acquires and retains users," he said.

Point72 Ventures' investments include GlobalComix, which uses AI to bring recommendations and language translation to comic book and manga readers that they couldn't otherwise find, and Cheehoo, which is working with studios to simplify animation.

The firm also invested in Chronicle Studios, which aims to help animators grow their audiences and monetize their projects beyond YouTube.

Here are some AI companies transforming different areas of Hollywood, and the pitch decks some of them used to raise funding.

Faster, cheaper animation

AI may still be a long way from making full-length movies, but it's quickly making inroads in animation. Toonstar, a startup behind "StEvEn & Parker," uses AI for tasks ranging from developing storylines to creating images and says it can make episodes at a fraction of the cost of conventional methods.

Chronicle Studios is a startup cofounded by Chris deFaria, a former animation president at Warner Bros. and Comcast's DreamWorks, that's using AI to help creators level up, with a focus on animators. Others chasing the animation or independent creator opportunity are Further Adventures, a new studio that's investing in digital creators and independent filmmakers; Invisible Universe, an animation studio backed by Seven Seven Six; and Promise, an AI studio backed by Peter Chernin's North Road, Andreessen Horowitz, and Google.

"AI can't really make stories that are enduring," deFaria told BI. "The biggest pain point is getting an audience."

Read more:

• A former DreamWorks president just raised $11.6 million to build franchises using AI
• Read the pitch deck for a Toonstar NFT animated series backed by Mila Kunis

AI is transforming special effects

Other companies, such as Runway, which has raised $545 million from General Atlantic and others, and Connect Ventures-backed Deep Voodoo, are using AI to provide tools for de-aging and other special effects work.

Some have entered the rollup stage. Metaphysic, which was known for de-aging Tom Hanks and Robin Wright for the Robert Zemeckis film "Here," was acquired in February by DNEG Group's AI company Brahma. Papercup's voice-cloning IP was acquired in June by RWS, a content solutions company, while its team was acquired by Scale AI.

AI is also being applied to speed the dubbing process, recreate the voices of bygone actors, and restore old films and TV series. With streamers going global, there's a big demand to translate titles for new markets, and new approaches to AI promise to eliminate awkward dubbing of the past.

Runway made news this past year for deals with Lionsgate to train an AI model on its library and with AMC Networks, which will use its tools to generate promotional material for its shows.

One player, Deepdub, which uses AI to dub movies and shows, just extended its tech to real-time dubbing of live sports commentary, esports shoutcasting, and breaking news coverage.

"For the first time, broadcasters can deliver real-time, multilingual dubbing that captures not just words, but the energy, urgency, and authenticity of live content," said Ofir Krakowski, the company's CEO.

Read more:

• Read the pitch deck from Metaphysic, an AI startup behind a viral Tom Cruise deepfake
• How AI Startup Runway aims to simplify video editing and filmmaking
• Here's the pitch deck AI startup Papercup used to raise $20 million to help media go global

Startups are tackling different phases of production

A third area where AI startups have been active in Hollywood is in the content creation process more broadly.

This can involve everything from AI in the script reading phase to scouring video libraries to generate new ideas for titles based on what's performed well in the past.

One, Paris-based Moments Lab, recently raised a $24 million round from backers including Oxx and Orange Ventures to expand its AI tools that are used by Warner Bros. Discovery, Hearst, and others.

Moments can make clips for social media seven times faster than the conventional approach, cofounder Phil Petitpont recently told BI, citing internal research. He said media companies would be able to use AI to help make full-length documentaries based on their video libraries in several months, while predictive modeling tools that can suggest audience-boosting changes are a year away.

"We're not very far from that because audience data is very easily available on YouTube," he said.

Read more:

• This startup raised $24 million to help Hollywood use AI to save time and money. Read its pitch deck.
• A new AI product being tested by top YouTubers like MrBeast scans a creator's catalog to give them fresh video ideas
• The pitch deck Strada, an AI startup to streamline content creation, used to raise $2 million
• Here's the pitch deck Filmustage, an AI startup focused on streamlining pre-production, used to raise $1.5 million