GT Events and Program Guide is a look ahead at the latest knowledge and insights available from Grant Thornton LLP. It includes a collection of our research, thought leadership and a schedule of upcoming webcasts and events.

1. GT Events and
Programs Guide
AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018

2. Today’s global business environment is marked by a variety of regulatory
risks, profound technology changes and a complex and competitive
marketplace. We seek to bring high-quality service to our clients and
relevant insights on the issues affecting their businesses.
GT Events and Programs Guide is a look ahead at the latest knowledge
and insights available from Grant Thornton LLP for our clients. It includes a
collection of our research, thought leadership and a schedule of upcoming
webcasts and events.
The distinctive perspectives and featured events within aim to help our
clients navigate today's business opportunities, risks and challenges.
About GT Events and
Programs Guide

3. Issues

4. Culture and talent
Transforming an organization’s culture at strategic moments,
whether during an integration or implementation of a new
long-term strategy or to simply stay competitive, can challenge
even the most progressive organizations. Sustaining a strong
culture requires work from everyone, but especially from senior
leadership. By modeling and reinforcing the best possible
behavior, employees will be better prepared to navigate
uncertainty and support their organization’s mission.
Thought leadership
Businesses Leading the Way to LGBT Inclusion
Corporate America is pushing back in the boardroom and the
courtroom in support of its LGBT workforce, shareholders and
customers. Companies across all industries are eagerly striving to
earn a perfect score on the “Corporate Equality Index” issued each
year by the Human Rights Campaign. From policies to benefits,
companies that are investing in the LGBT workforce are leading the
way in welcoming LGBT individuals into their workforce and making
them feel included and accepted. Read to learn more.
LGBT Inclusion: Leading by Example
LGBT diversity and inclusivity is not a one-time-a-year, Pride Month
recognition check-the-box activity, but rather requires a year-
round commitment. In our video, Grant Thornton subject matter
experts, Equality GT business resource group employees and client
representatives share their insights on the business benefits.
Newsletter subscription
Human Capital Bulletin Newsletter
Subscribe to our monthly e-newsletter addressing recent legislative,
regulatory and statutory compensation and benefits issues and
other human capital matters.
Out in the World: LGBT Global Mobility at Work
Recognizing that equality builds business, multinational firms are
focusing on global LGBT inclusion. However, despite a desire to
consistently apply its commitment to LGBT equality in whatever
country they do business, doing so is not always in their control,
a reality that poses significant concerns for employer and
employee alike. Read to learn more.

5. To receive ongoing insights:
Download GT Events & Programs Guide our bi-monthly guide to help you address today's pressing
business issues and tackle tomorrow's challenges
Subscribe to receive regular and timely insights from Grant Thornton direct to your inbox
Register for upcoming webcasts and events or view on-demand episodes
Browse our library for relevant insights

6. GT Events and Programs Guide, August/September 2018 6
Growth and value creation
Ninety percent of companies grow for one year, but only 8%
can do it five years in a row. Why? Because sustained growth
means new markets, new processes, new regulatory issues, and
new ways of operating, all of which may introduce risk and
delay success. For dynamic organizations to fully achieve their
objectives, financial measures and process efficiencies, new
ways of working and stakeholder relationships must grow.
Thought leadership
Middle Market Research Indicates U.S. Economic
Confidence Still Riding High
This article covers recent findings of a middle market research
report showing that U.S. economic confidence levels have
remained high at the start of 2018 compared with the first
quarter of 2017. The optimism in the global and local economies
reached an all-time high, while confidence in the national
economy stayed strong as these business leaders see their
revenues climb and employment strengthen.
Multifamily Drives Rebound in Housing
Diane Swonk, Grant Thornton's chief economist, reviews a recent
housing starts report illustrating gains in the multifamily market
and declines in single-family homes. Additional challenges in
the building sector such as low inventory, escalating land and
material cost combined with a slowdown in immigration - legal
and illegal - has curbed projections for labor force growth for
years to come.
Survey of Top Execs Validates Need for Holistic MA Approach
Grant Thornton's survey results of CEOs, managing directors,
CFOs and other high-level executives confirms that from strategy
to implementation, there is significant opportunity to capture
more value from MA deals. Thoroughly scrutinizing the details of
transactions, well before the transaction begins and well beyond
tax and earnings due diligence, helps highlight the precise drivers
of value and leads to a much greater chance of success. Read to
learn more.
U.S. Economic Confidence Still Riding High
U.S. economic confidence levels have remained high at the start
of 2018 compared with the first quarter of 2017. The optimism
amongst business decision makers in the global and local
economies reached an all-time high, while confidence in the
national economy stayed strong as these business leaders see
their revenues climb and employment strengthen. Read to learn
more.
Fed More Flexible Over Timing of Interest Rate Moves
Diane Swonk, Grant Thornton's chief economist, explains why the
Federal Reserve will be more flexible in its timing of interest rate
changes.
A Clarion Call for Board Governance Renewal
Now, more than ever, boards must actively work to understand
innovation, technology, and economic trends that will impact the
long-term growth of their companies. This article covers insights
shared at Grant Thornton’s Insight Exchange for board and audit
committee members and highlights six priorities board members
should be focused on to stay current and effective in their
governance roles.
Lessons for Private Companies About ASC 606
After years of preparation and anticipation, most public
companies adopted the new revenue standard at the beginning
of 2018. Now the race is on for private companies and many not-
for-profit organizations to implement the standard in 2019. This
article covers three key lessons that public companies learned
the hard way during implementation.
U.S. Tax Reform QA for Real Estate Leaders
Grant Thornton, in cooperation with Bloomberg, hosted the
webcast Tax Reform’s Impact on the Real Estate Industry. In this
article we recap some of the most frequently asked questions
during the webcast. Learn more about potentially significant
favorable and not-so-favorable impacts, and learn about
opportunities for tax planning.

7. Sponsorships and events
The 24th Annual ABS East
September 23-25, 2018
Miami Beach, FL
With an expected delegation of over 4,000 structured finance
professionals, including more than 2,000 issuers and investors in
the asset-backed security (ABS) market, ABS East is where you go
to get deals done. Grant Thornton is excited to sponsor this event
and join colleagues from across the industry for quality content
and expert insights.
The MEDTECH Conference: Innovation Transforming
Health Care
September 24-26, 2018
Philadelphia, PA
Grant Thornton is proud to support The MEDTECH Conference.
As a sponsor, exhibitor and presenter, we are pleased to join over
3,000 medical device executives at this annual conference. The
conference features world-class plenary speakers, a wide array
of educational programming, valuable networking and business
development opportunities.

8. To receive ongoing insights:
Download GT Events Programs Guide our bi-monthly guide to help you address today's pressing
business issues and tackle tomorrow's challenges
Subscribe to receive regular and timely insights from Grant Thornton direct to your inbox
Register for upcoming webcasts and events or view on-demand episodes
Browse our library for relevant insights

9. GT Events and Programs Guide, August/September 2018 9
Leveraging technology
Today’s organizations are working differently — they are
facing global competition, changing customer and employee
expectations, evolving regulation and more. The strategic
application and use of technology can often help companies
drive innovation and competitive advantage. Today’s
technologies, including cloud, social media and the internet
of things, can accelerate business performance and help
companies gain visibility into their operations and derive
actionable insights to efficiently achieve their objectives.
Thought leadership
CFOs See Promise and Profits in Process Automation
Grant Thornton's 2018 CFO Insights on New Technologies study
found that CFOs are ready and interested to adopt automation
at a manageable pace that supports their organization’s growth.
Yet, when implementing automation the first thing to consider is
deploying it in a mindful way to compensate for existing gaps
and shortfalls, which is the best way to reap the desired ROI for
such investments. Read to learn more.
Digital Transformation Thrives with Hybrid CFOs
Grant Thornton's survey, 2018 CFO Insights on New Technologies,
revealed that the modern enterprise of the future will require
a hybrid CFO. CFOs will need to understand both regulatory
and financial complexities, as well as technology, including
cloud-enabled ERP and data analytics. Read to learn how CFOs
acquire this hybrid expertise.
Optimizing AML Through New Technologies
In the face of increasing regulatory demands and associated
costs, CCOs and CFOs must adopt a new strategy beyond
tweaking traditional transaction monitoring systems (TMS)
platforms. Artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural
language processing present the opportunity to uncover cost
efficiencies and reduce false negatives and false positives. Read
our recommendations for overcoming implementation challenges
and reaping the benefits of embracing a technology-driven
approach to anti-money laundering (AML).
Operate to Innovate: Focusing on Digital Change
Grant Thornton explores how digital transformation and
emerging technologies are changing the way in which today’s
organizations operate. Learn key insights about the CFO’s
perspective on digital transformation when it comes to new
approaches to funding innovation, the importance of agility in
digital transformation and the drivers of digital transformation.
Modernize Manufacturing ERP. Think Inside The Box!
As companies begin to migrate to cloud-based applications, they
must adopt a more modern mindset. This includes focusing less
on customizing the solutions they purchase and focusing more on
adopting the leading practices of today’s cloud ERP applications.
Read to learn more.
Blockchain Technology Revs Personal and Enterprise Finance
Due to bitcoin’s spectacular performance on the financial
markets at the end of 2017, blockchain has become a synonym
for bitcoin and a symbol for soaring cryptocurrency and financial
speculations. Read to learn more.
A Clarion Call for Board Governance Renewal
Now, more than ever, boards must actively work to understand
innovation, technology, and economic trends that will impact the
long-term growth of their companies. This article covers insights
shared at Grant Thornton’s Insight Exchange for board and audit
committee members and highlights six priorities board members
should be focused on to stay current and effective in their
governance roles.
Artificial Intelligence Is Changing the Game for Directors
Watch the video to learn insights on key industry risks and how
data and technology are changing the corporate landscape from
Dave Wedding, chairman, Grant Thornton Partnership Board,
and Dr. JT Kostman, one of the world’s leading data scientists.

10. AI Perks for Financial Services
Financial institutions currently find themselves at the forefront of
adopting new cognitive artificial intelligence (AI) technologies that
are redefining and elevating the customer experience. Read our
point of view for insights on the impact of AI on customer experience
from the perspectives of both the fintech firms providing and honing
these digital platforms and the financial institutions employing
them.
Detect '18
September 19 – 21, 2018
National Harbor, Maryland
Detect ‘18 is the premier threat intelligence event of the year
and a must attend event for all security professionals.
Grant Thornton will accompany fellow THREATbusters as we
sponsor and lead a conversation during our breakout session.
Sponsorships and events

11. To receive ongoing insights:
Download GT Events Programs Guide our bi-monthly guide to help you address today's pressing
business issues and tackle tomorrow's challenges
Subscribe to receive regular and timely insights from Grant Thornton direct to your inbox
Register for upcoming webcasts and events or view on-demand episodes
Browse our library for relevant insights

12. GT Events and Programs Guide, August/September 2018 12
Risk management
In today’s ever-changing business environment of market
complexity, globalization and increasing investor expectations,
managing risk while protecting value is more important than
ever. Companies understand the need to be more proactive
in managing their risk to mitigate losses, reduce the risk of
reputational damage and more. Leading organizations will find
ways to harness risk to help grow their business and achieve
exceptional performance.
Thought leadership
Resilience—the Best Strategy for Cyber Threats
Organizations are increasingly cognizant that when it comes to
a data breach, the reality is that it’s a question of when, not if.
In Grant Thornton’s Corporate General Counsel Survey, 72%
of respondents cite cyber threats as their most significant risk
issue. Focusing on resilience, not just defense, is the best way to
prepare for an environment where a breach of some nature is
almost inevitable. Learn how a holistic, resilient approach best
positions companies to address today’s evolving cyber threats.
Optimizing AML Through New Technologies
In the face of increasing regulatory demands and associated
costs, CCOs and CFOs must adopt a new strategy beyond
tweaking traditional transaction monitoring systems (TMS)
platforms. Artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural
language processing present the opportunity to uncover cost
efficiencies and reduce false negatives and false positives.
Read our recommendations for overcoming implementation
challenges and reaping the benefits of embracing a technology-
driven approach to anti-money laundering (AML).
Artificial Intelligence Is Changing the Game for Directors
Watch the video to learn insights on key industry risks and how
data and technology are changing the corporate landscape from
Dave Wedding, chairman, Grant Thornton Partnership Board, and
Dr. JT Kostman, one of the world’s leading data scientists.
The Institute of Internal Auditors' (IIA) 2018 Governance,
Risk and Control (CRC) Conference
August 13-15, 2018
Nashville, TN
Grant Thornton is once again excited to sponsor, exhibit and
present at the conference which attracts over 600 governance,
risk, and control professionals from 40+ countries. Grant
Thornton is joining the best and brightest minds to discuss
challenges, forge solutions, and define the future of GRC
globally.
Sponsorships and events

13. To receive ongoing insights:
Download GT Events Programs Guide our bi-monthly guide to help you address today's pressing
business issues and tackle tomorrow's challenges
Subscribe to receive regular and timely insights from Grant Thornton direct to your inbox
Register for upcoming webcasts and events or view on-demand episodes
Browse our library for relevant insights

14. Washington impact
Only time will tell what the Trump administration really means
for business. Many companies are patiently waiting to see how
his policies will affect their industry — from trade to tax reform,
health care and more. Although there’s uncertainty surrounding
the administration’s policy agenda, business leaders are
anticipating his policies with both curiosity and
cautious optimism.
Thought leadership
What the Dodd-Frank Rollback Means for You
On May 24, 2018, President Trump signed legislation rolling back
key provisions of the 2010 Wall Street Reform and Consumer
Protection Act (Dodd-Frank). Learn more detail on the Dodd-
Frank rollback and how your bank can build on this opportunity.
Future Ready Business:
Washington Impact subscription
Grant Thornton and Bloomberg BNA provide a yearlong program
series to help businesses understand and prepare for sweeping tax-
and regulatory-policy changes.

15. To receive ongoing insights:
Download GT Events Programs Guide our bi-monthly guide to help you address today's pressing
business issues and tackle tomorrow's challenges
Subscribe to receive regular and timely insights from Grant Thornton direct to your inbox
Register for upcoming webcasts and events or view on-demand episodes
Browse our library for relevant insights

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