CXO Outlook – November 2022 – 10 Most Influential Business Leaders - 2022

Switzerland

Most Influential Business Leaders - 2022

Head of Advisory Board

Dr. Manoj Varghese, Ph.D

Managing Editor

Sarath Shyam

Consultant Editors

Dr. John Andrews

Anuja Mulmule Emma James Andrew Scott Suchita Gonsalves

Free Subscription www.cxooutlook.com

International Representation

Americas

Editorial Enquiry: admin@cxooutlook.com

Creative Consultants

Charlie Jameson Manjunath R Louis Bernard

Naomi Wilson Stanly Lui Roshni Rajagopal Sruthi P S Keith Alexander Ajay Das Rohith Poojary Shirley David

Branding & Marketing Partnerships

Jennifer Anderson Monica Davis Suchita Seth Siva Kumar Jessica Edword

Rachel Roy Priyanka Pandewar Anna Elza Stephen Donnell Cathy Chen

Partnerships Enquiry: admin@cxooutlook.com

Connecta Global LLC 16192 Coastal Highway, Lewes, DE 19958, USA Europe Connecta Global Ltd. 27, Old Gloucester Street, London, WC1N 3AX, UK

Middle East & Africa

Focus Innovation Technologies FZE P.O. Box 48299, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai, UAE

Asia-Pacific Connecta Innovation Pvt. Ltd. Ramanashree Arcade, 18 MG Road, Bangalore – 560001, India

CXO Outlook is a digital magazine published by Connecta Innovation Private Limited. All rights reserved. The opinions expressed in the content and pictures provided are those of the authors. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Connecta Innovation Private Limited or any of its members and we do not assume any responsibility. The publisher does not assume any responsibility for the advertisements, its content, pictures, and all representation of warranties made in such advertisements are those of the advertisers and not of the publisher. CXO Outlook is a Free Subscription digital magazine strictly not for sale and has to be strictly for internal private use only. Publisher does not assume any responsibility arising out of anyone printing copy of this digital magazine in any format and in any country and all matters related to that.

GET THE MOBILE ISSUE

The Traits of a Great Leader

Here is an interesting number about leadership that we have not usually heard: a lack of leadership capability costs U.S. corporations up to USD 550 billion annually, estimated by Gallup.

In 2016, a Gallup poll showed that only 18% of managers demonstrate a high talent for managing others - meaning a shocking 82% of managers aren’t very good at leading people. Another figure published by Hogan Assessments says that 75% of employees considered their boss “the worst part of their job.”

Conversely, Deloitte estimates that USD 46 billion is spent on leadership development programs worldwide. However, data from the Corporate Leadership Council says that these dollars spent on improving the leadership skills of managers and CEOs have improved productivity by a measly 2%. So, bad leadership is a trillion-dollar problem in a world that is trying to recover from the global pandemic.

Now, what is bad leadership? Though we cannot define bad leadership, we can assume that it happens when the leader, instead of motivating and driving the workgroup, harms the employees morally, sets goals that benefit only him, demotivates the team, and affects the company performance when it comes to achieving a strategic plan. Successful leaders, on the other hand, would always look to avoid making mistakes. They are known for raising the company's

aspirations as they look for intersections where the business and the market meet. In a nutshell, a great leader is an excellent futurist and thus can define the right vision.

In this issue, we celebrate the success of great leaders around the world by identifying the 10 Most Influential Business Leaders - 2022, who are excellent decision-makers with outstanding capabilities to engage stakeholders and team members. On the cover, we feature Lisa Gable, who, in her close to four-decade-long career, has played many key roles: Keynote Speaker, WSJ Best Selling Author, Presidential, Secretarial, and Gubernatorial Advisor, U.S. Ambassador, UN Delegate, Corporate Executive, with Leadership at the Highest Levels of Business, Government, and Military Sectors, Board Member, Public Speaker, Commentator, and Public Private Partnership Expert. Enjoy Reading.

Sarath Shyam

A Woman Destined for Greatness

Queen Harriet P. Harrison, Founder & CEO, Call to Victory Queens of Greatness

David Capece, Founder & CEO

Steering KogoPAY Group to Greater Heights of Success

Dr. Narisa Chauvidul-Aw, CEO & Founder, KogoPAY Group

CONTENTS

BUSINESS LEADERS 2022

50

Dr. Chandrashekhar Thodupunuri, Founder & CEO, Providence Microbiome Research Center

Spearheading Efforts Towards Improving the Lives of Autistic Individuals

62

Dr. Dawkins Brown, Executive Chairman, Dawgen Global

Taking over the Reins of Influential Leadership

70

Dax Grant, CEO, Global Transform Bringing Forward the Value of Societal C-Suite Leaders to the World Stage

82

John Lee, CPO, D&L Education Solutions Creating Immersive Training Development Programs

90

Kim Butler, Founder, Prosperity Thinkers

Trailblazing a Prosperous Life with Whole Life Insurance

Matthew Telesca, Founder & Executive Officer, MGN Logistics

Crafting Tech-Driven Logistics Solutions for Clients

58

What Aspects Should You Consider to Start a Business Today?

Alessandro Bertoldi, Director, Park Rent & Fly D.o.o.

EXPERT OPINION

78

The Veteran Renaissance

Dave Morrow, President, Dave Morrow PT

LEADER’S INSIGHTS

110

Sustainable Blockchain: The Future of Sustainable Ecosystem

Pratik Gauri, Founder & CEO, 5ire

98

The Importance of an Active Lifestyle in the Corporate Jungle

Atanas Piskachev, Health & Life Coach, AtanasFit

IN MY VIEW

A WOMAN DESTINED FOR GREATNESS

Queen Harriet P. Harrison, Founder & CEO, Call to Victory Queens of Greatness

Who is this woman destined for greatness? What sets her apart from the crowd? First thing, you must understand “Greatness” cannot be earned, it is a personal choice to live out your own personal greatness within. Everyone is born with a gift of greatness, but it is a choice to seek to discover what your greatness is and how to share it with the world around you.

For you to identify your own greatness it will take

deep soul searching along with personal struggles, setbacks, disappointments, betrayals and losing close relationships. This journey is not for the faint at heart. It takes a mental toughness to live out your greatness on center stage for the world to see. I guess, you have figured it out by now, I am talking about my life as a Woman Destined for Greatness.

In my short time on this earth, I have withstood life’s seemingly peril journey overcoming a sexual assault

It takes a mental toughness to live out your greatness on center stage for the world to see. I guess, you have figured it out by now, I am talking about my life as a Woman Destined for Greatness

Queen Harriet P. Harrison has helped over 500+ women with diversified lifestyles to experience a “Life Transformation” from the inside out. She has a heartfelt passion for her life’s purpose and mission because she understands the internal suffering a woman can endure mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. Life can deplete you and make you feel you are left with nothing of value. She founded her life’s mission and purpose through seeking God. Her focus was to identify who she was and discover her own personal greatness within through God’s truth. Today, Queen has been made whole and liberated in TRUTH. She is a self-published author of her book: Call to Victory Living in the Anointing. In 2015 she extended her training as an independent Coach, Trainer, Teacher, and Speaker with the John C. Maxwell Team.

as a teenager, high school dropout, struggling single parent, caregiver to a parent with Alzheimer disease, crumbling marriage, financial bankruptcy, 10 years of depression and anxiety and in 2021 I faced with the worst one of them all with Covid-19 virus that almost shorten my life. The reason, I am sharing my story is because life can deal you a hand that takes you in uncharted waters. But I have learned something valuable from them all. Every person on this earth is on a personal journey called life. No one escapes life adversity. We will all encounter oppositions that will defy our very exist of life, but as a Woman Destined for Greatness you will

have to decide at that moment, if your pain and suffering overtakes the greatness within. I see myself as the “Comeback Queen”, a woman who beat the odds of life more than once. My trials and tribulations have given me a new perspective. Facing death head on with Covid-19 was something I never thought would happen to me, but it did and through it I have resurrected from Death to Life. Today, I am Living Above It All because I am an Overcomer, it is no doubt I walk daily in a Call to Victory. I have survived with the grace of God to share my life’s story with the world. Every day I wake up with the sun shining on my face I know I have been giving a fresh start

at life to be the best version of myself and to share my God given talent with the world.

My present is My Superpower!

What I have endured revealed my courage and strength to stand ground with any giant that comes my way in Faith. Life has confronted me with many challenges alone the way, but they have turned out to be my greatest blessings because it taught me how to lean on my faith in God and trust Him to bring me through it. No one promised me Life would be easy, life has hardships with our names on it and we all must bear our own crosses. I must remind myself daily, who I am and that I am a winner and no matter what curve ball life throws at me, I will get the victory in the end. I see myself today, as a woman who is accelerating to the next level of my own greatness.

The reason I am sharing my story is because no one needs to feel alone on this journey called life. We are all here on this earth to serve, share, give and love each other unconditionally. No

one said life would be a piece a cake. No, it is not a cake walk, it is journey that requires sacrifice, embracing and living through hardships, disappointments, disagreements, setbacks, betrayals, and the list goes on. As we the people, how do we make up in our minds to live a victorious life? The answer is everyone must make their own decision because it is a personal CHOICE. When 2020 arrival with Covid-19 the world went crazy. No one knew what to do, where to go to get answers and how do we conquer this pandemic. As the world stood still with uncertainty, we learned how to depend on each other resources, to not judge a man for his color, finances nor his educational background. We came together as a people and believe in our Faith to get us through these tough times, and we did it. See there is a Woman or Man Destined for Greatness inside each of us. Sometimes it takes the worst things to help us stop to evaluate our lives to begin a new journey from the inside out. This is what the pandemic did for me. When I came out of

Decide today to take back your personal Power, Authority, and Dominion on this earth. Do not be afraid to become the best version of who your Creator made you to be

I must remind myself daily, who I am and that I am a winner and no matter what curve ball life throws at me, I will get the victory in the end

Covid-19 suffering for 30 days I knew a new woman had risen from the ashes. The old was gone and the new woman was alive and ready for a New Life, New Journey, and a New World. This Queen is on Fire, she has the courage of a lion, eyes of an Eagle and her soul has been revived and reconnected to the Spirit of God. I know Who I Am. The pandemic helped me redefine my life’s purpose and to know there is a greater work on this earth for me to complete. So, I hope that my life story will help every person around the world to understand that your life is not over, no matter how bad it looks now, do not give up on YOU. Remember, the pandemic didn’t destroy, your financial crisis brought you closer to your faith and that illness didn’t kill you, why, because you are fearless, an Overcomer, a Winner, and you can walk in your Call to Victory.

Decide today to take back your personal Power, Authority, and Dominion on this earth. Do not be afraid to become the best version of who your Creator made you to be. Stop waiting on the world to give you permission to live your best life. Learn how to genuinely love yourself and others without judgement. We are all spirits beings, living in a human body experience doing the best we can. Start your new life journey right now and begin designing the world you choose to live in. You only live once on this planet earth, so live it like Prince the song writer said like its 1999.

I am a bless soul to be here, to live, love and to serve each person that crosses my path on this life journey. I know who I am it is no doubt.

I am a Woman Destined for Greatness. I am Queen Harriet P. Harrison.

COVER STORY

FORGING STRONG DIPLOMATIC AND ECONOMIC TIES

LISA GABLE

SPEAKER, CEO, FORMER US AMBASSADOR, AND WSJ & USA TODAY BEST-SELLING AUTHOR

In her close to four-decade-long career, Lisa Gable has played many key roles: Keynote Speaker, WSJ Best Selling Author, Presidential, Secretarial, and Gubernatorial Advisor, U.S. Ambassador, UN Delegate, Corporate Executive, with Leadership at the Highest Levels of Business, Government, and Military Sectors, Board Member, Public Speaker, Commentator, and Public Private Partnership Expert.

She has served four U.S. presidents and two governors; counseled Fortune 500 CEOs, authored her well-renowned book - Turnaround: How to Change Course When Things Are Going South, and represented global public-private partnerships and nonprofits with an end goal of moving organizations to higher levels of performance.

In a conversation with CXO Outlook, Gable talks about her educational and professional journey, reveals the challenges and her advice to becoming the wildlyacclaimed author, provides insight and values necessary to become a leader, and unveils the milestones achieved throughout her career.

Take us through your early educational journey and the prior industry experience that you bring to the table. How has this professional journey improved your ability to deal with complex issues directly and diplomatically?

Education Journey:

I received a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations at the University of Virginia, in 1985 and a Master of Arts in National Security Studies at Georgetown, in 1987. The graduate program was designed to support military and

intelligence officers who were at their mid-career point. With classes conducted at the Pentagon, 85% of the class was constituted of males while

I was a 21-year-old female. My master’s thesis involved the analysis of the People’s Republic of China’s integration of dual-use technologies in the commercial and military sectors. This led to studying Mandarin Chinese in Taiwan for six months. All this research that was conducted is applicable in today’s geopolitical crisis.

Professional Journey:

Throughout my graduate studies, I worked fulltime in the Reagan Defense Department and

Through my experiences, I learned that to best communicate with key executives, I had to identify objectives and produce measurable results. When things start to blow up, discipline is critical to digging your way out

White House and enjoyed a front-row seat to the collapse of the Soviet Union.

I then moved to Intel Corporation, when the company was regaining semiconductor market share from the Japanese, to serve as a technical assistant and troubleshooter for Dr. Craig Barrett, who would become CEO and Chairman of the Board.

Following Intel’s loss of its x86 trademark, I was tasked with creating the global brand identity management structure as the company prepared to roll out the Intel Inside program worldwide. I left Intel to launch my own company to assist Silicon Valley tech companies like Intel, Oracle, Apple, and Quantum, who were also transitioning from B2B to B2C marketing.

For nearly 30 years, I have used the manufacturing processes I learned at Intel and integrated them with the art of diplomacy to turn around failing projects in business, government, and philanthropy. Presidents, CEOs, and philanthropists bring me on board to solve seemingly intractable problems. Examples include serving as the Vice Chair of the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services, visiting 52 military installations worldwide in the aftermath of the Navy Tailhook scandal; serving as the first female US Ambassador and Commissioner General to lead US engagement at the 2005 Aichi World EXPO—the first 100% privately sector funded engagement; designing and executing the largest self-regulatory effort on behalf of 16 food and beverage CEOs through a commitment to reduce calories sold in the US via a partnership with First Lady Michelle Obama and the Robert Wood Johnson

Foundation, and serving as CEO of FARE, the largest nongovernmental organization investing in food allergy research-restructuring the organization by 83%, securing 100M in financial commitments and increasing industry engagement.

Through my experiences, I learned that to best communicate with key executives, I had to identify objectives and produce measurable results. When things start to blow up, discipline is critical to digging your way out.

The number of women in the tech and legal sectors remains abysmally low. What is your take on this? How can we bring more women into those sectors going forward?

Mentoring and providing tangible support throughout life’s inflection points is critical to retaining women. Good mentors give women opportunities to engage when they face time constraints due to unforeseen personal or family medical matters.

In 1999/2000, my husband was diagnosed with a reoccurring malignancy and two autoimmune diseases soon after we adopted our infant daughter. I was fortunate to have strong mentors when I had to step back from my career as he had 7 operations in 3 years. My mentors helped me find opportunities for visibility and leadership through participation in boards and commissions, which met quarterly and via phone (both corporate and governmental).

Life-long mentoring relationships were critical for my advancement during tough times. By grooming and mentoring talent in your group, not only are you teaching them

how to see future opportunities for growth, but you are also ensuring that they remain committed to the dream you co-created.

As a high-ranking diplomat, how did your political experience enrich quality leadership that contributes to a better society?

I have been honored to represent global publicprivate partnerships with the end goal of moving organizations to higher levels of performance.

Relationships to me are built by trust. I deploy a process of high touch, shuttle diplomacy when solving complex problems. I hold oneon-ones with those impacted by any changes we are making. I focus on hearing their concerns, understanding the past challenges they have encountered, and then ask them to identify the top outcomes they want to see as the result of our work together.

Solving the problem through the eyes of my opponents and partners not only enables me to

help create solutions that meet their needs but also results in market buy-in, sustainable partnerships, and profitable business models.

The first lesson I learned is to listen to people who understand the business book market and know what content readers will seek at the time the book is published—not when the book is written.

Walk us through the journey of becoming a WSJ & USA Best Selling Author.

I wrote my book in 2020 during the pandemic; however, it launched in the Fall of 2021 as people were returning to the office. The information had to be evergreen, not just a retrospective on the woes of managing during a pandemic.

Second, having a relationship with a team who understood what was important to me was key. My career spans political and professional appointments at high levels. I needed someone who would not push me to exploit relationships that I valued.

As a first-time author, you want an editor who is a coach. Rohit Bhargava, author, entrepreneur, and CEO of IdeaPress Publishing, the publishing company I went ahead with, suggested I use an editor who shared my temperament and work style. He could not have made a better suggestion. Genoveva Llosa taught me how to interweave storytelling into a “how to” business process book to not only entice the reader but also to enable them to see the application of my process to achieve realworld solutions.

Finally, writing a book is a commitment, but marketing it may be a harder task as you maintain a steady drumbeat following the excitement of

the initial launch. This requires unwavering focus and diligence and a willingness to invest time and money in the success of your book.

Tell us about the book “Turnaround: How to Change Course When Things Are Going South" in a nutshell. What inspired you to write it?

In Turnaround – How to Change Course When Things Are Going South, I share my simple but powerful method for breathing new life into the most troubled ventures.

· Visualize the future—don’t fix what’s there; start from scratch.

· Break down the present—ditch what isn’t working; keep what does.

· Create a path to your future—map out critical decisions and actions needed.

· Execute with confidence and diplomacy— speed up by partnering well with others.

In 2020, my PR agent, Dani Mackey and Rohit Bhargava, encouraged me to write a book based on turnarounds I had executed in business, government, and philanthropy. They knew companies and organizations would seek practical advice during what we are now calling “the great realignment.”

Solving the problem through the eyes of my opponents and partners not only enables me to help create solutions that meet their needs but also results in market buy-in, sustainable partnerships, and profitable business models

I provide people with the tools they need and relevant stories about managing complexity. I also highlight the impact of change on people and the importance of mentorship and empathetic leadership.

What was the most challenging part while writing a book? What kind of research did you do, and how long did you spend researching before beginning Turnaround? The book was written in six months during Covid. I was managing a nonprofit turnaround and trying to close a 100M fundraising goal during a very complex time, so I wrote on weekends and evenings. My husband swears he never saw me!

The book did not require research as I focused on my own lived experiences and lessons that I learned throughout my nearly 40-year career in business, government, and philanthropy.

For anyone who is considering writing a book, I would advise them to maintain extreme discipline, concentrate in a quiet location without interruption, and find a good editor.

From the standpoint of an experienced professional, how do you foresee engineering and technology trends impacting the US business landscape going forward?

We are on the cusp of tackling some of the biggest challenges of our day through biopharma research and technology advances, but I am deeply concerned that our regulatory processes are not on par with the speed of innovation.

To regain our edge in innovation and manufacturing, we need to make things better, faster, and more cost-effective than our global competitors. Time-to-market is important, which

Writing a book is a commitment, but marketing it may be a harder task as you maintain a steady drumbeat following the excitement of the initial launch. This requires unwavering focus and diligence and a willingness to invest time and money in the success of your book

means removing barriers at every step of the process, such as the cost of labor, regulation, and administrative reporting at the state and federal levels.

This year, I was honored to join the Advisory Council of the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy, whose mission is to advance freedom through trusted technology. The Institute advocates for designing and manufacturing critical technologies in our country for both military and commercial use. Addressing semiconductor manufacturing shortages and the security of our digital infrastructure is job one. In addition, energy independence is pivotal for business growth and a functioning democracy.

Finally, as we analyze the best approach to identifying climate change solutions, it is critical to ensure engineers are key players during ESG and regulatory discussions so that we can work

hand-in-hand with the government to design a regulatory pathway that aligns with innovation and leverages existing technologies like nuclear for the highest impact.

What are some of the most challenging aspects you face in your current roles, and how do you mitigate them?

My mission today is to support the next generation of leaders and organizations that are solving the world’s biggest problems. I speak and write about the partnership, mentorship, diversity, and relationship building.

Here are a few pieces of advice that I give:

- To evangelize your vision, you need to ensure people are buying what you are selling. Spending quality time getting as many people

as possible to see how your vision will benefit all of you is well worth the effort.

- Learn how to make “what matters to you, matter to others” by building relevance for any idea you are promoting, surrounding yourself with smart people, and using research and data as your secret weapon to open opportunities for revenue, visibility, and partnerships.

- Be transparent and open with investors, donors, peers, and colleagues when you communicate the changes you envision for your organization or project. Socialize these ideas with your core allies or ask for their input on how to communicate the new vision and ensuing changes.

It won’t be easy but by linking arms and using my processes, we can change the world together.

Give us an insight into how you approach a new project or campaign. How do you ensure the final output helps clients achieve their business goals?

A key point I made in my book is don’t undercut your allies for short-term gain but rather accommodate them so all can achieve the bigger objective. Keep your eye out for any unintended consequences, like negatively impacting an ally by hurting their business or their influence, or

by cutting into an area that they see as valuable to their future.

More importantly, don’t burn bridges. If the economics of the business no longer supports the partnership, you need to be honest, clear, and diplomatic before announcing a change that will impact a partner’s business. You can create a soft landing through an introduction or devise a step-down process to support a gentle exit. You never know when you may need to seek their assistance again or find yourselves working together through a future merger and acquisition.

What are some of the techniques one can incorporate to build a strong community in the marketplace to better interact with consumers?

Communities are built on trust, common goals, and a structure where everybody has a win.

When I ran the largest self-regulatory effort in the food and beverage industry, we built

relationships of trust with public health and government by acknowledging their concerns and recognizing they had many valid points.

There are 3 key lessons that I learned through this effort:

Acknowledge the good things done by opponents and supporters. Recognize that most issues are too complicated for a “one-size-fits-all” solution.

Focus on creating a solution that works for everyone, everywhere, identify the desired outcome, and loosen up the controls on the “how to.”

How has your leadership journey been so far? What facets of your personality and leadership style have helped cement your market position?

I have had amazing opportunities, from working in the White House in my early 20s to running some of the most impactful global organizations.

I have had the incredible fortune to learn from and work with remarkable women who blazed a trail before me. From Indra Nooyi, I learned to demand unity of purpose. From former Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett, I learned to replace myself with another woman when exiting a high-level position.

Today, I am determining how I can best deploy the plethora of experiences with which I have been blessed to enable and support the next generation of leaders and those who are investing in solutions to solve big problems.

What have been some of your most noteworthy achievements throughout the years? What has been the driving force behind your current heights of competence?

I embraced my inner unicorn at a young age and never suffered from imposter syndrome. Early and often, I was the odd girl out. I had to fend for myself many times in rooms full of career admirals and generals, or Silicon Valley’s high-tech pioneers.

At 19, I served as the youngest political appointee in the Reagan Administration, speaking about the benefits of privatizing student loans. At 21, I received a full academic scholarship to a graduate program at Georgetown that was 85% of men who were mid-career national security experts. At 30, I had the military rank of a three-star general, serving as Vice Chair of the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services, reporting to the Secretary of Defense.

My success rode on making what mattered to me matter to others.

I learned to build relevance for any idea I was promoting, surround myself with smart people, and use research and data as my secret weapon to open opportunities for revenue, visibility, and partnerships. I linked arms as I climbed mountains. This skill enabled me to run the first privatized US engagement at a World’s Fair— and to be the first woman to serve in that role in 150 years. This mindset helped me design and execute the largest self-regulatory effort in the history of the food and beverage industry.

used advanced preparation to bring critical facts into the conversation--as the elephant needs to be addressed before the underlying problem can be solved.

How do you manage to balance your professional and personal lives, given the demands of your job? What are some activities or hobbies that you like to give time to?

Partnerships are critical to my success in life. I am fortunate that I have had the opportunity to work with family members or seek advice from them, as all have had amazing careers.

Because I am “always on” in a professional environment, I relax by doing things that help me relax and think. I write, read, bike, and swim. I am also excited to return to travel which includes a polar bear adventure trip to Canada and hiking in Patagonia.

As a successful business leader, what would your advice be to young women aspiring to become business leaders in the future?

Understand that leadership and character are more important than perceived excellence.

I did my homework before walking into a room--identifying the #1 point I wanted to make. I waited for the lull after a loud discussion to ask the question that needed to be asked. I owned the purple elephant in the room and

Let go of that unattainable burden that you place on yourself and those around you. Adopt a philosopher’s mindset, one which acknowledges that life is and always has been uncertain. More importantly, learn that how you react to challenges has a positive or negative domino effect on those around you.

When the future is ambiguous, you have a choice to make. Become frustrated and angry, or control your response to uncertainty by framing your attitude with hope.

Today, I am determining how I can best deploy the plethora of experiences with which I have been blessed to enable and support the next generation of leaders and those who are investing in solutions to solve big problems

CROOW

Accelerating Business Growth with Video Production and Creative Collaboration

Marketers now know that videos are more important than ever. Why not? Even a short video, as small as 30 seconds, can influence consumers' choices. Headquartered in Florida, US, Sparxoo has already established itself as a digital marketing leader in the art of creating videos. The CEO of leading Inc. 5000 award winner Sparxoo and its sister company, a fully integrated video production firm, David Capece felt something was lacking

in the project management and collaboration software market. In a sea of sameness, none were built for the challenges of agencies and creative teams. He shares, “There were existing software solutions in the market, but they all seemed to be missing collaboration built for the creative and video production industries.”

The thought of streamlining creative and video production collaboratively led to the creation of CROOW - a Software as a Service (SaaS) platform designed to offer on-demand

video production services with a streamlined process from scriptwriting, studio time, to final delivery. “CROOW was started in a whiteboard session of Sparxoo and creative production challenges that presented a series of unmet needs in the market. While still running the agency, we decided to self-fund an initial USD $30,000 to get to an MVP and market perspective. Then another USD $30,000 to get to an alpha,” recounts David. In just nine months from its conceptualization, David

and his team decided to spin out CROOW and continue self-funding to get to beta. He adds, “At 15 months and USD $150,000 of investment, we brought the beta to six prospective investors for their feedback.”

CROOW spent the first 2.5 years simply getting to market, generating initial revenue, and demonstrating initial traction. David says, “In month 31, we held a few prospective investor meetings, and the feedback was that we were ready and should go out to

David Capece, Founder and CEO, CROOW

market for our seed round.” By the end of the 31st month, since CROOW was conceived as an idea, the team had a market launch of Alpha, Beta, and eight paying customers who provided positive feedback. David created a full-time team of four, a fractional team of two experts, and an advisor team of three. They were also accelerated through leading startup hub Embarc Collective as they ultimately selffunded the initial USD $600,000. In month 32, the team went to the market to raise a seed round, which was oversubscribed, bringing CROOW's total capital infusion to over USD $1 million. CROOW has expanded its product across multiple markets as it penetrates the video market.

What is CROOW?

CROOW is a creative project management software built to enable clients, agencies, and inhouse marketing teams to streamline processes, get approvals moving, centralize access to files and assets, and improve communication. It is an innovative platform that allows creating studio-quality video for digital marketing at a fraction of the cost. The brand is envisioned as the next generation of software that can help businesses overcome challenges and accelerate growth. “The platform is designed in a way that helps businesses unite teams, automate processes, and deliver profitable work. It is much more than a project management tool. It is a performance management platform with everything needed to run a creative or servicebased business,” explains David.

CROOW's platform is designed to increase the efficiency of creative and video production. It is primarily categorized into three concepts.

The first concept is that creative and video teams have distinct project collaboration and management styles (the market solution is CROOWpm). Second, as video consumption increases, there is large demand for low-cost, streamlined video production at high quality (the market solution is CROOW Studio). Third, exceptional agencies and production talent want to maximize their creative and technical abilities while minimizing the friction of timewasting low-value tasks (the market solution is CROOW Studio).

The uniqueness of CROOW lies in the fact that they have tailored their software to meet the needs of the creative and production industries. CROOW has been involved in several pivotal projects along the way. It was

the first project that led to CROOW's approval. For a creative request, Sparxoo and one of its clients went through 11 rounds of revision. “The industry standard is the original exploration plus two rounds of revision, and usually you are highfiving if you keep it to one round of revision, and you are tolerant of 3 rounds of revision,” says David.

Nevertheless, 11 revision rounds are demoralizing and a significant time and financial waste. David adds, “When we debriefed after the 11 rounds of revision, we discussed issues including the client changing their mind many times, our team missing some of the specific feedback, and confusion on the feedback.” They also lost track of the history of feedback in endless email chains at some point during the 11 rounds of revision. That inspired CROOW's first collaboration tool for creative review and approvals to streamline the process within a project management enviroment.

The Delighted Clients

CROOW Studio is used by marketers, executives, and leaders for high-quality productions made painlessly simple. For instance, Savills North America, one of the world's largest commercial real estate brokerage firms, used CROOW Studio for digital short videos to drive a spike in engagement on LinkedIn. Topics ranged from perspectives on the industry to the unique product differentiators. They achieved more LinkedIn engagement in 24 hours than in the previous 90 days. Jess Johnson, Executive Vice President, Knowledge Cubed, Savills North America, later said, “I've been waiting for the best time to post one of the CROOW videos, which was this morning. In less than an hour, I’ve had multiple

CROOW is a creative project management software built to enable clients, agencies, and inhouse marketing teams to streamline processes, get approvals moving, centralize access to files and assets, and improve communication.

prospects (and competitors!) connect with me on LinkedIn. Clearly the right message, clearly the right packaging. Great engagement from the community - you’re onto something!”

The case study of SpotOn Digital, a CROOW+ agency partner, is even more enjoyable. David explains, “As an innovative and progressive digital agency, SpotOn understands the value of engaging content. With so much content in the archive, the team sought to resurrect and expand the use of popular thought leadership blogs. To demonstrate their process, values, and value to the audience, the company used videos to outline and revive shelved content while speaking to prospective clients.” Due to the one-on-one nature of a digital short, Robyn Spoto, owner of SpotON, could establish trust with the viewer. Indeed, trust is essential for a boutique agency like SpotOn. Robyn commented, “Great engaging content shouldn’t sit on the shelf. It was invigorating to dust off highly read blogs to curate on video and redistribute everywhererecycling useful content at its finest. And it was so much fun to be in the studio!”

Building a Culture of Innovation

CROOW has established the following five early values as a relatively new company. David says, “We believe this is the start of building a great culture for our organization.” Those 5 values are:

Grow Forward - Take the initiative to lead with a growth mindset, forging ahead to reach beyond one's comfort zone and persevering forward.

Empower Collaboration - Create client suc cess by integrating technology, relationships, and processes.

Brighten Humankind - Build meaningful relationships by embracing diversity with a positive attitude.

Own Results - Take responsibility for the outcomes by facing obstacles, executing on the details, and achieving exceptional results.

Bring Energy - Work together as a team, bring passion and energy every day, and have fun.

David lives up to their "Unite & Conquer" tagline, as they unite before moving forward with accountability to their own results. David mentions, “As a startup, we have innovation and entrepreneurship in the DNA of our team. We encourage ideas and positivity. That being said, we also realize that executing and making progress is important. One thing I learned from a former colleague is about “eating your frogs.” There is a productivity mindset, “If it's your job to eat a frog, it's best to do it first thing in the morning. And if it's your job to eat two frogs, it's best to eat the biggest one first,” which is passed down through Mark Twain.”

CROOW was created to become a global market leader. In keeping with their roots in Tampa Bay, they rolled out their initial CROOW Studio pilot there. After six months of success and learning, they expanded to Philadelphia and Atlanta. The company is expanding across markets in the United States, with additional geographies on the horizon. “We are revolutionizing the creative and video production industry with a mission to enable better collaboration and remove wasted effort. Our flagship product, CROOW Studio, is trusted by the next generation of industry leaders to deliver highquality video cost-effectively and timely,” David concludes.

IN FOCUS

STEERING KOGOPAY GROUP TO GREATER HEIGHTS OF SUCCESS

Dr. Narisa Chauvidul-Aw, CEO & Founder, KogoPAY Group

Dr. Narisa Chauvidul-Aw is CEO and founder of KogoPAY Group, a socially conscious UK fintech company that has offices in London, Bangkok, Vilnius and Dubai. Narisa received her Ph.D. in 2003 from London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), Previously she received a Master's degree from Case Western Reserve University, USA and a Bachelor degree in Accounting and Auditing from Chulalongkorn University. Narisa has many years’ experience working both in academia and business. She is a qualified auditor (ex PwC) and spent more than 20 years as a senior lecturer and Finance Director. Narisa won the Women in Tech Start up award in 2019 and in 2021 won the WinTrade Global Award for Women in Banking and Finance. She is a mother of 2 teenagers. In her spare time Narisa volunteers, helping orphanage homes on a mountain near the border between Thailand and Myanmar and the homeless in Tokyo.

In a recent chat with the team of CXO Outlook Magazine, Dr. Narisa Chauvidul-Aw (CEO and founder, KogoPAY Group) discusses the inception story of KogoPAY, challenges faced in the leadership role, her success mantra, and a lot more. Following are the excerpts from the Interview.

Please tell us about the evolution of the fintech ecosystem and how much it has changed in the last 2-3 years. I’m attempting to tap into the evolution of fintech through KogoPAY, which essentially began

with a question: how do we use blockchain and other innovative technologies to make a difference to those less fortunate? I believe the space is trending towards this in a big way as businesses react to the changing times whereby

In the past six years blockchain technology, mobile payment and digital banks have been a rapidly growing trend that has surged in popularity

people want to materially impact the world for the better. Of course blockchain remains a hot topic; here at KogoPAY we have seized the opportunity to integrate the technology with a crypto wallet, various Web3 applications including the conceptual Metaverse. In the last 2-3 years specifically, blockchain has certainly made great strides towards maturation and dare I say, mainstream adoption. The metaverse has now taken a firm hold in the imagination of many of those building in the blockchain space although it’s not always clear what it means. I take the view that a metaverse offers a totally Web3 digital platform for an individual or business to conduct all of their affairs and gain access to a variety of tools, products and services. The technology underpinning a metaverse may not yet be fully ready to disrupt digital spaces, but both conceptually and technologically it’s advancing rapidly. We should expect great strides on this front in the coming years.

According to you, what are the top three fintech trends driving change in digital payments?

Of course blockchain is all the rage these days, and more generally the Web3 infrastructure being built around the technology. The first trend, I would say digital currencies will be gradually adopted and culminate in the proliferation of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs).

Another aspect increasing in relevance in the world of fintech is something we hope to fulfil: that of the social impact of new technology. There is an unrivalled opportunity to bolster financial inclusion across the entire world and create something more meaningful than highly profitable fintechs or unicorns securing a dramatically high valuation.

Two of KogoPAY’s products further use innovative technologies including blockchain, and we later plan to implement an AI assistant and data analytics, to better enable seamless peer to peer (P2P) and business to business (B2B) transactions with built-in QR code payment function on the mobile app. These sorts of payments are not yet commonplace in Europe although it’s picking up traction in Asia. Users can choose between fiat and digital currencies to make such payments on our app, in the future. People are free to look at our road map to see where we’re going. This could be

huge, especially considering we plan to start rolling out bank accounts: first entirely webbased, but the mobile app will provide a multitooled e-wallet.

Tell us about your journey in fintech and how you started KogoPAY? With what mission and objectives was the company set up?

In a few words, our vision is to create an ethical and inclusive cashless ecosystem that facilitates payment and simple money management for everyone, everywhere.

We wish to deliver financial inclusion thereby empowering the unbanked and underserved with a mobile wallet and digital bank account, and enabling them to access traditional financial services and digital currencies simply and safely within our mobile app and banking platform.

I’ve always been interested in new technology and keeping up with new trends. In 1999 during the dotcom boom, while I was a student in the UK, I created my first website about Thailand. The website enabled you to search each area in Thailand and where to go, where to eat and so on: remember, 21 years ago this was a very new thing. The Tourism Authority of Thailand used my website as their official website for a few years and I then sold my website to them.

I have a PhD in compliance and information systems from the London School of Economics (LSE) and started in auditing at Coopers & Lybrand (now PwC). My work took me to both academia and business: I was a Lecturer at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, LSE and King’s College in London before assuming a full-time role as Finance Director and later, advisor in Internal Audit and compliance for global companies. I am a serial entrepreneur

We aim to rapidly scale up and expand to every continent through either our presence (establishing offices beyond London, Bangkok and Vilnius) or working with local licensed partners

with involvement in different industries including media, retail and payments.

How is KogoPAY driving cutting-edge innovation in digital payments?

In the past six years blockchain technology, mobile payment and digital banks have been a rapidly growing trend that has surged in popularity. Wallet and QR code payments are quite common in Asia but not in Europe – this is a key reason why I want to be the first Fintech company to promote it here, especially the use of QR code payment. Hopefully one day we can use the KogoPAY wallet and QR payment everywhere around the globe.

Our vision is that anyone should find sending money across the world as easy as sending an email. With KogoPAY, we have created an instant payment system for individuals and small businesses to make international transfers between Europe and Asia. I would like to see people use KogoPAY QR code payments to make donations to charities or pay for food and drink for someone else through our Pay it Forward initiatives. We will indeed encourage this as much as possible.

As the CEO & Founder of KogoPAY Group, what type of challenges do you face and how do you overcome them?

Covid 19 certainly was a challenge! Just before the pandemic started, we had a series of meetings planned to engage with potential investors but these were largely thwarted. As a result, I had to use all my savings and take loans from banks, friends and family. It was incredibly hard, but I persisted and prayed and we successfully raised funds in our pre series A last year. We paid off all debts and since then we have been using the funds to build our new backend system while

I believe in finding a higher purpose in whichever way you can; for me, that means praying regularly as well as maintaining a solid vision and mission

redesigning a new front end with the exciting mobile app version 2.0 to be launched soon.

KogoPAY is set to host its second TechKogo Forum in Dubai under “Reinventing Business with Blockchain''. This conference will also set the stage for Kogo Global Technology’s launch, your new company. Brief us about the company, its service offerings, and what makes it unique?

The new company called Kogo Global Technology (KGT) expands upon the vision of parent company KogoPAY and remains focused upon bringing cutting-edge financial and banking services to people from all backgrounds, all around the world. Kogo Global Technology is based in the UAE which in itself is a massive success story illustrating how a community can turn around its fortunes and prosper.

KGT will take on many important roles: we will leverage our expertise and talented team to help build products and platforms for other companies as an IT partner as well as build out a blockchain wallet and banking platform, also crypto ATMs, vending machines, IT infrastructure and cybersecurity as well as medical booths. We have the freedom to turn Kogo Global Technology into a localised ecosystem in its own right and gain unrivalled access to the Gulf Cooperation Council countries who are well positioned to help us deliver on our goals.

You were recently invited as the keynote speaker at the Vienna Thai Women’s Day celebratory event. Apart from fintech and digital currencies, you shed light on some of the biggest challenges faced by women in male

dominated businesses. Our readers, especially aspiring women leaders would love to know your take on the issue and what strategies should be implemented by women to succeed in such spaces.

A look at history and what is going on in the world illustrates the collective power of women at work. Here in the UK it was women who won the fight for the right to vote, while women all over the world have survived racial and genderbased oppression, addressed inequalities and achieved success in the workplace. Whilst our work is not done, the collective power of women is a force for good. In business it allows us to combine our talents, share our ideas, solve challenges and push for positive change and the attainment of our goals.

We can learn from the many challenges that we all endure, and my advice is to be persistent. Find support from appropriate networks. I’ve joined the Women in Tech Global Movement and Thai Women in Europe just to name a couple. It is only by coming together that we

can create better, long lasting solutions to navigating difficult environments.

I have been invited to speak in various different forums which has been a huge honour. I hope through these I can inspire more women to strive for greatness and to persevere when faced with challenges. I have been through and overcome many challenges over the years which gives me the confidence and know how to face a competitive world. It is only by overcoming challenges that we grow and are then able to help and inspire others to do the same.

Brief us about KogoPAY’s socially conscious efforts and vision.

Democratising access to financial and banking services is a crucial part of the KogoPAY vision. The World Bank reports there are 1.7 billion unbanked adults in the world, what we aim to do is remove the barriers to entry and make it possible for them to access digital payments through an app. Because today many, if not most people, have a smartphone.

We’re excited for the potential of lateral thinking within our ranks. Our unique Pay it Forward system will allow people from all around the world to commit to small acts of charity with considerable upside for the recipients. However, my particular passion is for the homeless. I have worked in orphanages in Thailand and most recently KogoPAY held a fundraiser to support Herts Young Homeless.

What’s your advice to every fintech

woman CEO?

We pressingly need to motivate and engage more girls and women in technology. And to this end it’s vital that we act as female role

models in tech to encourage them. We need more female focus groups too so that we can support each other.

Fintech is a tough space but if I can do it, so can others. Be prepared for many challenges you’ll face: regulations, compliance, partners, funding, and many more. Be strong and courageous. Never give up. We have to find the purpose of our business - our goal and mission should be something that is worth fighting for. This allows us to overcome the big obstacles when they arrive.

I know my mission and it helps me to persevere. I feel that after the global financial crisis of 2008/2009 our financial ecosystem has moved from one characterised by trust to one characterised by mistrust and suspicion. Risk has increased. Trust levels have declined. I have seen a huge and unnecessary increase in the burden of regulations resulting from the breakdown of trust. We should work towards the goal to regain our trust from regulators, banks, partners, etc. Last but not least: we should enjoy our work too.

What is your vision for the company in the next five years?

We aim to rapidly scale up and expand to every continent through either our presence (establishing offices beyond London, Bangkok and Vilnius) or working with local licensed partners.

In five years' time, we hope to have a substantial customer base who are happy to use KogoPAY for every payment they make. The more active users we have, the more potential there is for people to pay it forward to help others. It’s really very simple: if you buy a coffee or meal, there will be an inbuilt function

to pay it forward and purchase something for the next person.

Another group we’re excited about helping is those in the charity sector. We want them to raise funds quickly and distribute at pace while being more efficient and transparent. This is possible on KogoPAY.

You have had an amazing career trajectory so far in the fintech industry with numerous awards and accolades added to your name. What is the secret sauce to your success?

We have the freedom to turn Kogo Global Technology into a localised ecosystem in its own right and gain unrivalled access to the Gulf Cooperation Council countries who are well positioned to help us deliver on our goals

I believe in finding a higher purpose in whichever way you can; for me, that means praying regularly as well as maintaining a solid vision and mission. This is why I’m building KogoPAY, because it’s something I truly believe is worth fighting for. I came close to giving up many times, but because this is a vision so close to my heart I have persevered through all adversity.

You can’t win all the time. I have learned from all my failures and mistakes and moved on.

We’re also lucky to have a great team behind KogoPAY who work well together.

Once people see KogoPAY is a company involved in socially conscious fintech and has become a success, we hope it will inspire others to do the same. But above all we hope to significantly help people conduct their daily lives.

By 2030, I hope to have stewarded KogoPAY to a position of profitability and sustainability so I can leave others to take the mantle and continue doing great work. My aim is to do long-term missionary and volunteer work helping the homeless and children living in orphanages. I want to do more, so in the future I may eventually take a less intensive role such as chairwoman.

Timing and priorities are important, too. Your work-life balance needs to be sustainable. In my case, when my children were 0-10 years old, I spent more time with them and only took on part-time work as an advisor so I could oversee their schooling and life skills; we even started to share in my passion for volunteering and we have been spending time over the years at an orphanage home very close to my heart in Thailand, near the Myanmar border.

I’m pleased this is how I chose to construct my career trajectory. I saw their formative years and now both boys are doing well at an esteemed boarding school with university in their near futures. I don’t have to worry about them at all, and I was ever-present during their younger years when they really needed me around. That’s incredibly important I believe. A happy family definitely makes for a happier you, and by transference a happier work life.

Website: https://gsrt.co.in/

Headquarters: Hyderabad, India

About the Company: Incepted in September 2020, Providence Microbiome Research Center Pvt Ltd (PMRC) is a startup recognised under Startup India Scheme. The research at PMRC is solely focused on autism prevention and amelioration.

BUSINESS LEADERS 2022

Website: https://croow.com/

Headquarters: Florida, USA

About the Company: CROOW is an innovative platform that streamlines creative collaboration for faster, better, smarter projects.

Founder & CEO, Providence Microbiome Research Center

Dr. Chandrashekhar Thodupunuri

David Capece

Website: https://dawgen.global/

Headquarters: Kingston, Jamaica

About the Company: Dawgen Global is an integrated multidisciplinary professional service firm providing several professional services, including audit, accounting, tax, IT, Risk, HR, Performance, M&A, corporate recovery, and many more.

Website: https://daxgrant.com/

Headquarters: United Kingdom

About the Company: Global Transform has been established for more than 15 years, building a select c-suite advisory service operating a discreet advisory service to a variety of Fortune, FTSE, and Venture firms.

Website: https://dleducationsolutions.com/

Headquarters: Tennessee, USA

About the Company: D&L Education Solutions is a national technical workforce development company with a passion for helping companies train and retain exceptional technicians and frontline workers through innovative instructional training programs.

Website: https://prosperitythinkers.com/

Headquarters: Texas, USA

About the Company: Prosperity Thinkers aims to educate entrepreneurs, investors, and other wealth-minded people to think and act more Prosperously and helps its client to create good money methods and take back ownership and control of their finances.

Co- CEO, D&L Education Solutions

Executive Chairman, Dawgen Global

Founder, Prosperity Thinkers

CEO, Global Transform

John Lee

Dr. Dawkins Brown

Kim Butler

Dax Grant

Website: https://www.coveo.com/en

Headquarters: Quebec, Canada

About the Company: Coveo combines unified search, analytics and machine learning to deliver relevant information and recommendations across every business interaction, making websites, eCommerce, contact centres and intranets. effortless and efficient.

Website: https://www.mgnlogistics.com/

Headquarters: Massachusetts, USA

About the Company: With over 20 years of hands-on carrier and client-side experience, MGN Logistics provides our customers with transportation and distribution options to help them excel in an ever-changing marketplace.

Website: https://pinpointpredictive.com/

Headquarters: California, USA

About the Company: Pinpoint's turnkey platform allows insurers to compliantly leverage unmatched risk selection at the very beginning of the customer journey.

Website: https://www.confinity-solutions.com/

Headquarters: Eschborn, Germany

About the Company: Established in 2016, Confinity Solutions is a fintech startup with mature products and has an established customer base worldwide.

CEO, Pinpoint Predictive

CEO & Chairman, Coveo

CEO & Founder, Confinity Solutions

Founder & Executive Officer, MGN Logistics

Scott Ham

Louis Tetu

Stefan Ott

Matthew Telesca

DR CHANDRASHEKHAR THODUPUNURI

FOUNDER & CEO, PROVIDENCE MICROBIOME RESEARCH CENTER

Spearheading Efforts Towards Improving the Lives of Autistic Individuals

Autism, also called Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is a neurological and developmental disorder that occurs during embryonic life. It is defined based on social and communication problems and repetitive and restrictive behaviours that can vary in individuals along a continuum of severity. A diagnosis of autism can be made as early as 18–24 months of age, from where characteristic symptoms can be distinguished from typical development

and from other delays or other developmental conditions. Unfortunately, Autism is growing exponentially on a global scale. In 2020, the incidence rate of autism in India was 1 in 100 and was predicted to grow to 1 in 10 by 2050. Despite these alarming figures, no established cause and treatment are available.

Bringing a ray of hope through his breakthrough research, Dr Chandrashekhar Thodupunuri, the Founder & CEO of Providence Microbiome Research Center, is

Our core leadership team comprises scientists with expertise in next-generation sequencing, academic researchers well-versed in animal studies, and medical doctors of various specialities like neurology, paediatrics, psychologists, psychiatrists etc., which is the perfect combination for our vision and mission

Dr Chandrashekhar Thodupunuri Founder & CEO, Providence Microbiome Research Center

on a mission to improve the quality of life of autistic individuals.

The Career Beginning

Dr Chandrashekhar completed his MBBS degree from the Prathima Institute of Medical Sciences. He then pursued Post Graduate Diploma in Clinical Cardiology from Apollo Hospitals. In 2014, Dr Chandrashekhar began practising cardiology. Intermittently, he also completed his MAPS fellowship in the USA, the only comprehensive program for treating medical

associated with special needs, autism spectrum, and neuro-developmental disorders.

During his medical practice, Dr Chandrashekhar acquired profound knowledge about drug research, clinical trials, and regulatory systems. “This knowledge helped me conduct systematic research into autism and find ways to alleviate it when my daughter was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD),” says Dr Chandrashekhar.

issues

Currently, PMRC is conducting a clinical trial, Fecal Microbiota Transfer Therapy for Autism, with approvals from St Theresa's Hospital Ethical Committee and ICMR

Key Research Potential Led to a Career Transition

from Cardiology to Autism

Research

In autistic individuals, disordered development happens during the fetal stage. Taking this as a lead, Dr Chandrashekhar and his team started looking for possibilities that could be responsible for causing it during pregnancy.

“We found two contributing factors: one is umbilical cord blood toxins, and the other is the fetal gut microbiome,” reveals Dr Chandrashekhar. Few studies have reported that environmental toxins can cross the placental barrier, enter the fetus, and could be responsible for neurodevelopmental disorders. Moreover, microbiota transfer therapy clinical trials

showed promising results in autistic children. “These facts inspired me to hypothesise that environmental toxins might disrupt manmicrobe symbiosis during pregnancy and result in various developmental errors,” declares Dr Chandrashekhar. “Hence, we thought of reducing the toxin load in pregnant mothers to protect the fetal gut microbiome, thereby preventing epigenetic errors responsible for autism.”

N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a glutathione precursor in the antenatal program, could safely remove toxins in pregnancy and play a significant role in preventing autism. FMT in the first three years of life may reverse epigenetic errors by replenishing the gut microbiome and even reverse autism. “This great possibility made me leave my thriving cardiology career and work towards autism prevention,” shares Dr Chandrashekhar, the physician turned scientist.

PMRC has collaborated with St Theresa's Hospital, KSBIO Clinserve, Inductive Quotient Analytics, Center for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics-National Genomics Core, Mibiome therapeutics, Agenes Info omics Pvt Ltd, and Bharatiyar University to conduct a series of clinical trials

well-versed in animal studies, and medical doctors of various specialities like neurology, paediatrics, psychologists, psychiatrists etc., which is the perfect combination for our vision and mission,” mentions Dr Chandrashekhar. Unfortunately, the research at PMRC could not be initiated due to the COVID-19 pandemic as the study involves body fluids. “However, we could register our first trial in February 2022,” enthusiastically shares Dr Chandrashekhar. “We also designed a roadmap for three human and three animal studies oriented toward autism prevention during the pandemic.”

Ongoing Research Studies

Providence Microbiome Research Center: A Specially Dedicated Centre for Autism Research

Incepted in September 2020, Providence Microbiome Research Center Pvt Ltd (PMRC) is a start-up recognised under Startup India Scheme. The research at PMRC is solely focused on autism prevention and amelioration. “Our core leadership team comprises scientists with expertise in nextgeneration sequencing, academic researchers

Currently, PMRC is conducting a clinical trial, Fecal Microbiota Transfer Therapy for Autism, with approvals from St Theresa's Hospital Ethical Committee and ICMR. This trial explores the relationship between the gut microbiome and human epigenetics and its relevance in the development of autism. PMRC is also conducting some other studies like umbilical cord blood toxicology, meconium microbial population study, and a few animal studies to explore the aetiology and pathogenesis of autism. In addition, PMRC has collaborated with St Theresa's Hospital, KSBIO Clinserve, Inductive Quotient Analytics, Center for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics-National Genomics Core, Mibiome therapeutics, Agenes Info omics Pvt Ltd, and Bharatiyar University to conduct a series of clinical trials.

Apart from research on the gut microbiome and autism, PMRC is looking at developing a first-in-India microbiota bank (stool bank) with a network of FMT clinics that will

serve ulcerative colitis and Clostridium difficile patients for now. These clinics will help individuals with autism, myalgic encephalomyelitis, psychiatric illnesses, and many other neurological disorders after the role of FMT is established in those conditions.

Faecal Microbiota Transfer Therapy & its Potential

According to the research conducted by Dr Chandrashekhar and his team, some microorganisms are vertically transferred from the mother's uterus (considered sterile until recently) to the baby's intestine during the fetal stage. Therefore, they hypothesise that this microbial and fetal genome work in unison and direct the complex orchestra of events during fetal development. They call these essential microbes ‘symbionts,’ and the rest of the microbes acquired in life ‘commensals.’ This concept arose from the fact that all biological processes in healthy neonates are in homeostasis. Therefore, any gut microbe that has any role in human health must be present in the neonate's gut. Furthermore, Dr Chandrasekhar and his team assume that the absence of these symbionts during the fetal stage affects fetal epigenetics and results in disordered neurodevelopment.

Owing to their hypothesis, they are now trying to repopulate these symbionts by doing FMT, which would restore a counterpart of the baby's genome and normal epigenetics and initiate repair mechanisms, thereby reducing symptoms of autism and aiding in further healthy development.

“Our FMT trials started in February 2022; hence it is too early to comment on efficacy,

but we could see an excellent safety profile if donor screening is done scientifically,” states Dr Chandrashekhar. “Though there is good feedback from parents and professionals after FMT, a significant improvement in CARS scoring and reversal of errors in epigenetic testing are needed to make some conclusive statements.”

Current Trends in the Medical Industry

According to Dr Chandrashekhar, the medical profession is advancing rapidly. Research involving the triad of genetics, epigenetics and gut microbiome is expected to show a new avenue or approach to medical practice. He further adds that research involving this triad will bring individualised precision medicine, which has the potential to bring a revolutionary change in modern medicine.

Active Autism Research is the Urgent Need of the Hour

Today, the incidence of autism is increasing exponentially with neither an established cause nor a proven treatment. On top of that, the future predictions about autism incidence look very scary. The trends in autism incidence are direct evidence that the human womb is becoming unfavourable for normal childbirth; hence it is a global responsibility to do active research on autism.

“Currently, we are conducting a series of clinical trials which will hopefully establish the role of environmental toxins & foetal gut microbiome in the development of autism,” shares Dr Chandrashekhar. “In the future, we hope our research will pave the way for autism prevention.”

Powerful protection designed for PC gamers

EXPERT OPINION

What Aspects Should You Consider to Start a Business Today?

Alessandro Bertoldi, Director, Park Rent & Fly D.o.o.

Alessandro Bertoldi was born in Cuneo, North Western Italy, in 1968. At the age of 21, he began his career as a salesman, then as financial advisor and finally as sales manager, co-leading various sales networks operating at national level and often owned by multinational establishments. At the age of 33, he changed his career and became a strategic business consultant, an activity that sometimes he still exercises for fun. Over the course of 18 years, he had the opportunity to acquire over 400 Entrepreneurs, as customers, that grew from small businesses to mediumsized companies, continuing to collaborate with them, even 20 years later thanks to his ability to establish deep relationships that go beyond the single performance and stabilize on a real shared interest.

If, for Entrepreneurs, the last 20 years have been revolutionary, I think the last 2 years have been unpredictable. Many theories have been overturned by the facts, some resulted winners but most were defeated by challenges. Generations, Nations, Sectors, Professions, Habits have been defeated.

I have been a strategic consultant for small and medium-sized enterprises for 20 years, now I am happy, since 2016, to be a small serial entrepreneur, operating in different countries (Italy, Malta, Serbia) and living in Spain. For someone like me who is a young entrepreneur – my first business was born in 2016 – it was pretty tough. Personally, I had completely to redesign my business, since, compared to 2019, in 2020 with this company, Elite Academy Srl.

We lost 65% of our revenues in Italy, and, to tell the truth, we managed not to fail thanks to a good dose of luck.

The company I started in Serbia, Park Rent & Fly Doo produced substantial losses for all Stakeholders, suffered leakage of a Founding Partner and encountered a market devastated by the closure of the Nikola Tesla airport in Belgrade.

Despite everything I am here, the activities are proceeding, I have new Partners both in Italy and in Serbia and, to be honest, 2022 will close very positively for both activities which, despite having nothing in common, are managed with the same principles.

What have I learned that I want to share with you?

1. Diversification of revenues is tiring but widely pays back the efforts, specially when the market is in general a “Crisis” regardless of whether it is a “Pandemic”, a “War” or the nefarious choices of Governments.

2. Diversifying the customers, the suppliers, the operating environment, the country in which you operate can save your company in times of crisis

3. Keeping fixed costs low is vital, in case of market contraction if you are young you hardly have reserves that will allow to amortize collapses in revenues

4. How does your business really differ (for the better) from competition? Not what you think about this, but what your customers think really matters!

5. The choice of People is vital, do you have an adequate selection system? Once you have selected people, what do you offer them? How do you incentivize them? How do you manage them? Can you make them determine a Vision for which

they are motivated by their own goals, which can be achieved through your business? And then the last, 1 million dollar question: “In case of difficulty, will your Manager higher up in the chain of command be faithful to you or will he turn his back on you?”

By carrying out your business, what benefit does the world have? How many Allies are happy to support you? How much do your customers, suppliers, collaborators benefit from what you produce? How do you impact outside your Business, for some Person who, perhaps unlike us, had a few less chance than us?

If your answers are affirmative, in addition to having a good “Body”, a good “Head”, a good “Heart”, it means that you also have a good “Spirit” and then, your business, even in a difficult world, even in a phase of crisis, even though everything may seem impossible, can take off.

These indications are not the result of indepth studies, but of two years of devastating personal experience.

So, what are you waiting for?

Diversification of revenues is tiring but widely pays back the efforts, specially when the market is in general a “Crisis” regardless of whether it is a “Pandemic”, a “War” or the nefarious choices of Governments

DR. DAWKINS BROWN

EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN, DAWGEN GLOBAL

Taking over the Reins of Influential Leadership

Adynamic business leader recognizes the importance of accelerating growth by aligning with evolution and innovation to create interdependent yet autonomous businesses. Today, corporate clients are increasingly moving toward implementing comprehensive solutions that integrate accounting into a broader category of ‘business solutions.’ Building such businesses that offer a bouquet of services can be difficult, and several research reports indicate less than 1 in 5 scales successfully.

Dr. Dawkins Brown has created, from the ground up, an integrated multidisciplinary professional service firm, Dawgen Global, situated in Jamaica, offering a wide range of services, including Audit, Advisory, Tax, Legal, and Risk. A formidable competitor, Dawgen Global has organized itself into Business Units to serve its clients better. These include Dawgen Auditors, Dawgen Advisors, Dawgen Finance, Dawgen Media, Dawgen Tech, Dawgen HR Solution, and Dawgen Tax & Legal Compliance. “Dawgen Global is unique within the industry

Dawgen Global Executive team understands the seven dimensions of innovation in professional services, and hence we can identify which dimensions represent the best opportunities for our clients and us

Dr. Dawkins Brown Executive Chairman, Dawgen Global

because it is multidisciplinary and fully integrated as one firm under common ownership,” opines Dr. Dawkins.

He further elucidates how the current professional services industry, such as law, accounting, management consulting, recruitment, and so on, is highly competitive. Even worse, many of the services offered by these firms are now commoditized. There is little to distinguish one firm from another or one practitioner from another. However, the team at DG strategically focuses on Innovation to ensure complete customer delight. Innovation takes two forms in the organization; internal innovation to enhance the way business is conducted and external innovation that improves client benefits.

Innovation - A Growth Driver

Delving deeper into understanding this approach, Dr. Dawkins explains how Internal Dimensions focuses on:

Strategic Innovation refers to how DG competes, leverages its resources, and creates a competitive advantage. Increased competition, new market entrants, and the changing workforce are drivers of this dimension.

Behavioral Innovation is the key to incremental and continuous improvement. Behavioral innovation is achieved at DG by creating an open-minded culture that embraces new ideas and encourages employees to seek out new and improved ways of performing even the most menial of tasks.

Market Innovation is directed toward penetrating and exploiting new markets.

Process Innovation aids Dawgen’s organizational efficiency by adopting non-technology-based new and best practice processes, procedures, and techniques. It is driven by quality, compliance, and regulatory demands and is a reaction to declining margins.

Alternatively, the External Dimensions are also critical, and it examines: Technological Innovation within Dawgen Global is seen as a means of improving service delivery. Service Innovation involves introducing new (or at least new to the firm’s market) services. Client demands, coupled with increased competition, are driving more firms to introduce new services rapidly and invest time and capital in exploratory ventures, both independently and jointly. Client-Centric Innovation is created in collaboration with a client. This type of innovation is novel, though it can later be reproduced, repackaged, and re-sold.

Dr. Dawkins adds, “Dawgen Global Executive team understands the seven dimensions of innovation in professional services, and hence we can identify which dimensions represent the best opportunities for our clients and us.”

Armed

with Robust Products

Dargen Global has worked with a myriad of clientele and gained quite a strong foothold in the market. Having already established its market presence in the US, Dr. Dawkins reveals that the organization intends to expand its reach across all the Caribbean Islands over the next 24 months. Having conducted extensive market research, there are significant demands for technology-driven products and advisory services. Keeping this in mind, the organization has designed a few technology solutions that are being introduced in the market; Dawgen Cloud Services – VDAT, Dawgen Tele-Medical Solution, MY HR Office, and Cyber Security Practice.

The Virtual Data Access Point (V-DAP) represents DG’s Data Storage Services. This service aims to target SMEs who want to embrace Remote Work with the appropriate security and reliability.

Having already established its market presence in the US, Dr. Dawkins reveals that the organization intends to expand its reach across all the Caribbean Islands over the next 24 months

The Solution will be configured to allow users to access Virtual Data Access Point (V-DAP) via the web browser. This Cloud service will be packaged using a flexible pricing regime with different storage capacities and processing power. The packages will be available in three variants, Gold, Silver, and Bronze.

Additionally, the Dawgen Tele-Medicine Solution is an All-In-One Practice Management Software equipped with everything required to manage a medical practice. The endto-end software solution comprises a website, mobile apps, patient portals, online appointment bookings, patient records, practice management, and telemedicine. “With regards to our Cybersecurity practice, we realize that a proactive multidisciplinary approach against cyberattacks is effective via the combination of multidisciplinary and multi-professional knowledge. Increased public awareness with total quality multi-domain knowledge and social computing skills will likely decrease

cyberattacks’ victims and improve cyber systems quality in general. This is where Dawgen Cyber Threat Defence (DCTD) comes to the fore. We offer a comprehensive suite of Cybersecurity solutions in conjunction with our Global Partners that will Detect, Respond, and Recover,” adds Dr. Dawkins.

In tandem with this, DG has also introduced solutions such as Remote and Continuous audits, Business Coach Services, Audit Management services, Legal audits, Registered Office Services, Employer on records services, and Sponsorship Management Services.

The Inception Story

A business mogul today, Dr. Dawkins has traveled a long way. “My life is a journey of experiences through which learning occurs. One experience led to another, thus creating a learning curve that guides my growth and development. My experiential learning began in 1989 after I graduated from Kingston

Dr. Dawkins is a member of several professional bodies, including the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA), American Planning Association (APA), and Association of Certified E-Discovery Specialists (ACEDS)

College and was offered a summer job at the Jamaica Library Service in Kingston,” says Dr. Dawkins. While at the Jamaica Library Service, Dr. Dawkins developed a liking for accounting and aspired to become an accountant. This aspiration was influenced by residing next to an accounting firm in Kingston Gardens. With accounting vacancies on the rise, he decided to study part-time and register for a 2-year certificate course in Business Studies at the University of the West Indies and to pursue the ACCA Qualifications via the Mature Entry Route (MER). “The ACCA Mature Entry Route allows you to attempt two papers before gaining full acceptance into the program. The ACCA

was and is still a very 'feared' examination, so to be successful, I knew I would need to adopt a simple work-study routine for a few years,” explains Dr. Dawkins.

After completing ACCA Level 1 and the Certificate in Business Studies from UWI, he longed to gain experience in the accounting field despite a decrease in his salary. In 1993, Dr. Dawkins accepted a position at Lee Clark Chang (EY Associate Firm in Jamaica) as a Trainee Auditor. Dr. Dawkins tells us, “My acceptance resulted in a 30% salary cut. However, Mr. Oswald Lee, MD of the organization, promised to increase my salary each time I was successful in an ACCA paper. I had 14 more papers to

attempt to complete the qualification. The burning desire and aspiration of becoming a Chartered Accountant kept me focused on absorbing all the accounting experience and preparing for the ACCA exams.”

Despite losing his father in October 1997 and tending to his grieving mother, he progressed quickly through the ACCA exams. “I could apply my accounting and auditing skills with perfection, and I was transferred to EY Jamaica (now BDO) Consulting Department as a Management Consultant by 1996. In 1998 when the ACCA December 1997 results were published, my name was published on the finalist list. I was a chartered accountant at age 26,” declares Dr. Dawkins.

His strong passion for the accounting profession developed a desire within him to own and operate a firm. However, he wanted to attain a wider industry experience before taking the plunge. So, in September 1998, he accepted a position as a financial controller at a petroleum distribution and marketing company.

Having worked closely with the Managing Director and the owner of the petroleum marketing company, his entrepreneurial desire started to take shape. In 2001, Dr. Dawkins and his brother established an accounting school (Corporate Business Institute), and on September 2, 2002, he established an accounting firm named Dawgen.

Today, Dr. Dawkins Brown is the Executive Chairman and founder of Dawgen Global. He is responsible for the strategic guidance and strategy execution of several entities within the Dawgen Global Group. He earned his Ph.D. in Accounting, Finance, and Management from Rushmore University. Dr. Dawkins is also a member of several professional bodies,

including the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA), American Planning Association (APA), and Association of Certified E-Discovery Specialists (ACEDS).

Shaping the Leaders of Tomorrow

On enquiring what makes him the strong leader he is today, he shares his belief with us, “A leader who produces followers limits his success to what his direct, personal influence touches. His success ends when he no longer leads. However, a leader who produces other leaders multiplies his influence, and he and his people have a future. His organization continues to build and grow even if he is personally unable to carry on his leadership role.” Over the years, he has created leaders at every level within his organizations. He signs off, “I believe that is the only legacy I need. I want to be remembered as a leader who creates leaders.”

DAX GRANT

CEO, GLOBAL TRANSFORM

Bringing Forward the Value of Societal C-Suite Leaders to the World Stage

From growing up in a humble background in Bosnia to becoming the only other student to attend Cambridge University from her local state school to serving as a member of Forbes Technology Council to leading Global Transform, Dax Grant’s journey is nothing but extraordinary.

Dax is an award-winning CEO, COO, CIO, entrepreneur, portfolio non-executive director, keynote speaker, author, and philanthropist.

She helps global and international businesses attain top quartile performance, societal impact, and staff advocacy, impacting the world positively for shareholders, regulators, and society through purpose beyond profit values.

Humble Beginnings

As the daughter of a Bosnian coal miner and a shepherdess, Dax grew up in a humble background. Her parents had lived a tough life, but their love and support for Dax

I am delighted that our client base is aligned to our organisational values and delighted to have the opportunity and flexibility to tackle the key areas boards require to attain top quartile performance by adopting a purpose-centred approach

Dax Grant CEO, Global Transform

were unconditional. “What I inherited from my parents was strong work ethics and a relentless thirst for learning, and for some reason, an inner voice kept telling me that I was going to accomplish something amazing with my life,” shares Dax.

Dax was a bright student. Her GCSE grades are proof of her intelligence. But as they say, geniuses don’t know they are geniuses. She, too, had no idea about the depth of her capabilities, nor did she know what life had in store for her. But she was confident that she would have a meaningful global job.

Later on, during her A-level studies, Dax found a very influential person enter her life. Her economic teacher was an ex-RAF pilot who had attended Cambridge. She was intrigued by business and economics, loving all the different elements that create the world, be it learning about businesses leaders or influential economists such as John Maynard Keynes, Milton Friedman and Adam Smith creator of the Invisible Hand. It fascinated her to know how all these things were connected. Blessed with a good mentor, her economics teacher was the one who explored the idea of applying to Cambridge University with Dax. She, however, had little knowledge of Cambridge. But following some research, Dax began prepping for her Cambridge entrance interview. At that moment, Dax felt extremely privileged to have the opportunity to apply to Cambridge that she didn’t even consider the possibility of getting accepted at such a prestigious place. “However, I passed the interview and became one of only two students from my local state school that to that date had attended an Oxbridge University – from then on, my journey had begun,” shares Dax.

Global Transform specialises in enabling CEOs and executives in leadership to catalyse business results through exceptional enterprise leadership, entrepreneurialism, and harnessing the technology advantage

People Who Played Influential Roles in Shaping Career Path

Like her prolific educational journey, Dax has had an equally exceptional career. Along the way, there have been a few people who came into Dax’s life and remained as excellent mentors. Be it Tom Blomfield (former CEO of Monzo) or Dan Schulman (CEO at PayPal), or Sir Terry Leahy (former CEO of Tesco), all these amazing and influential people enabled fascinating conversations with Dax that created pivotal moments in her life and enlightened her personal journey.

Dax also remembers striking instances such as getting a direct sponsorship for her MBA dissertation from Antony Jenkins (former CEO of Barclays), whose business trusted her to take on a new leadership position whilst supporting her as a new mother. Another instance was when her son asked her about how they could help homeless people in the community. At that time, Dax was offered a choice of jobs in three organisations within three different sectors, but she accepted the role of Director of Operations at Macmillan Cancer Support.

Today, Dax brings this acquired wisdom from her mentors and early life experiences to her role as the CEO of Global Transform. She believes that organisations are currently looking for a new leadership style – seeking people, not just recognised for their awards and accolades, but those who can influence, empower, and champion their teams and functions. “My mission is to bring forward the value of the societal c-suite executive and CEO to the world stage,” shares Dax.

What Sets Global Transform Apart?

Global Transform specialises in enabling CEOs and executives in leadership to catalyse

business results through exceptional enterprise leadership, entrepreneurialism, and harnessing the technology advantage. Operating for more than 12 years now, the company has access to a suite of industry experts that bring business acumen and entrepreneurship together with a greater social purpose.

There have been numerous times when Dax and her team are asked to step into discreet matters working with selective boards, leadership teams, and well-recognized organisations. For them, the most remembered compliment from their clients is respecting Global Transform’s strategic approach cutting

through organisation and industry issues and opportunities that alternative organisations have grappled with for years. “I am delighted that our client base is aligned to our organisational values and delighted to have the opportunity and flexibility to tackle the key areas boards require to attain top quartile performance by adopting a purpose-centred approach,” adds Dax.

Getting Involved with the Team is Important

“I am a great believer in authenticity and genuine conversations,” states Dax. “We have all heard the phrase ‘Lean In’, but I

say, ‘Get Involved’—once you do that as an organisational leader, the rest is history.” This leadership approach of Dax has proved successful with the teams she has led in global multinationals and national not-for-profit organisations. People are often left surprised with how this happens, but there will always be some non-believers or sceptics that require the world to build trust. In such situations, Dax suggests offering help when they are ready.

Embracing Challenges as Opportunities & Paying Gratitude

Dax is someone who looks at challenges as opportunities to grow. She enjoys collaborating across the industry and is known for creating cut-through insights in today’s VUCA world. Most people find it scary, but for Dax, it is her home turf.

“I know I hold the responsibility of legacy for all those who support me daily around the world,” asserts Dax. “These are the people I pay daily gratitude to and revisit the understanding of how I serve their voices with the global influence that I am fortunate enough to have.” With this mindset, Dax continues to work irrespective of the situation. Likewise, she also remains appreciative of her position and devotes time to reflect on her purpose daily. Dax also loves balancing c-suite excellence with the joys of being a mum to her two amazing children, who in turn provide reflection and give her sage advice.

A Day in the Life of a Multi-faceted Leader

As a courageous entrepreneur, CEO, wife, and mother, Dax’s day is anything but typical. Even on hectic days, Dax ensures to

hit the gym, followed by a deep meditation session and a healthy breakfast. At work, she compartmentalises her time between clients and direct teams. She also smartly and meticulously plans and navigates through her other roles and responsibilities as a board advisor, executive leader, and member of the Forbes Technology Council.

When she is not travelling or visiting her teams in the UK or abroad, Dax works from her home office. These are her cherished days as a mum when she spends time with her children by playing and chatting. Dax is finding her days to be less chaotic post-pandemic. However, during lockdowns, she remembers the homeschooling days whilst running a global function. “There was one day that I remember moving from back-to-back meets (staggered to last 50 minutes), while in the background I was supporting my son to collect leaves in the

garden to make a collage and then preparing ingredients for him to cook on a virtual lesson at home,” shares Dax with a smile.

Dax also loves learning about client businesses, enjoys working with her strategic partners, listening to customers and clients, and connecting with peers. Besides these, Dax finds working within different firms, not-for-profit and foundations enjoyable and shows the highest commitment to a variety of causes that are close to her heart. Being a sports enthusiast, Dax enjoys watching all types of sports, from tennis and golf to rugby. Whether taking a leisurely stroll, exploring a new place, or enjoying time with her children, Dax loves outdoor activities. Alongside her three degrees, Dax has a tremendously artistic, linguistic, and has literary side to her persona. In autumn 2022, Dax is releasing a book that captures the next stage of her personal journey as a c-suite executive and influencer in society.

Dax is someone who looks at challenges as opportunities to grow. She enjoys collaborating across the industry and is known for creating cut-through insights in today’s VUCA world

LEADER’S INSIGHTS

THE VETERAN RENAISSANCE

Dave Morrow, President, Dave Morrow PT

Dave is a retired infantry officer and Afghanistan war veteran. His goal is to help 100k veterans lose 2 million pounds. He’s the creator of the BE.A.S.T. Body Blueprint program that was built on the principles that got him from not being able to get out of bed to competing in the Crossfit Open, Spartan Races and the Ironman. You can find more mobility-based exercises in his new book, “The Nimble Warrior”, now available on Apple Books and Amazon or tune into his new Hard To Kill Podcast.

Imagine you had a young, highly skilled, disciplined individual who thrives under pressure in your business. You’d be pretty happy you hired them, right?

Now imagine that individual decides to create a business. Knowing their capacity for hard work, honesty and teamwork, would you be more or less likely to shop and or invest in their endeavour?

With nearly 21M veterans in Canada and the U.S. combined and a large new batch of very

young, highly motivated veterans that have resulted from the 20-year, War on Terror this is an untapped pool of incredible people.

My Journey

I served for fifteen years in the Canadian Armed Forces and deployed to Afghanistan in 2010. I was injured over there and it resulted in me having to leave the Army and fall back on my education as a high school teacher. My injuries became worse once I left the military

With nearly 21M veterans in Canada and the U.S. combined and a large new batch of very young, highly motivated veterans that have resulted from the 20-year, War on Terror this is an untapped pool of incredible people

and it forced me to find solutions. I decided to learn why I was in so much pain and fix the underlying issues that lead to my back and knee issues. From this experience, I was able to overcome but not only that; I was able to share my successes with my friends and former colleagues. Before I knew it, other veterans were interested in my method and my business. This is how Dave Morrow Personal Training was born.

But why wasn’t teaching a good fit for me?

Veteran Underemployment

Essentially, I was used to having an entire area of operations to manage with reconstruction projects, school re-openings and “shuras” amongst all the local Afghan leadership. I was teaching twenty students how to multiply fractions which left me bored and exhausted. This is classic underemployed which is a significant issue for veterans.

33% of veterans are underemployed in the U.S., meaning they are doing work that doesn’t fully use their skills. This is a strong driver towards entrepreneurship; it definitely was for me.

One in 10 businesses in the U.S. is veteran owned which translates into about 2.5M businesses total. U.S. veterans are 45% more likely to start their own businesses however entrepreneurship rates have been plummeting with the newest crop of veterans, post 9/11.

You may have noticed that I’m Canadian but my data heavily refers to the U.S. That’s because Canada has next to no data on veteran entrepreneurs. Some organizations are trying to change that but progress is slow.

The Veteran “Renaissance”

My intent is to rapidly bring awareness to what I call, “The Veteran Renaissance”. This is a term I coined a few years back on my podcast, The Hard To Kill Podcast with Dave Morrow when describing the large influx of Canadian “vetrepreneurs” in my network. Not only are Canadians waking up to the idea of an entire, new subsection of entrepreneurship that is veteran operated but the “Renaissance” is borderless. Ideas and creative opportunities are free-flowing, from coast to coast and it’s encouraging more veterans to take the leap into entrepreneurship.

Since the last twenty years of warfighting were multi-national, so is our business approach. I currently run two online companies and rely heavily on my American network of military veterans to help promote and create new business opportunities. My podcast and Facebook groups have now crossed over the 51% threshold of American v Canadian participation. This isn’t by accident. We shared similar experiences and hardships and now we’re home looking to take on our next “mission”. Who better to do that with than a fellow brother-in-arms?

I see this next chapter in my life as a continuation of service to my country. I am able to provide value to other people’s lives by helping them change their health and fitness habits and live healthier lives, free of pain and disease. This is massively fulfilling for me and I feel like most veteran entrepreneurs would echo the same sentiment, whether they’re selling high-quality merchandise or coffee. We want to share our passion for what we do so that our sacrifices and those of our fallen comrades aren’t in vain.

JOHN LEE

CPO, D&L EDUCATION SOLUTIONS

Creating Immersive Training Development Programs

Today, every employer’s top-priority goal is efficiently developing and sustaining a skilled technical workforce. “Education is a unique industry that is continually evolving, and the way we teach has to be just as unique and ever-changing. The biggest challenge to educating is the conventional 'desk and row' method of delivering the knowledge to the students. Our biggest challenge is getting companies to 'flip the classroom' and change

their method of delivering the content,” explains John John Lee, CPO of D&L Education Solutions, in response to being quizzed on the current market trends.

John and his team of professionals work with clients to create customized training plans for their equipment. To accomplish this, a team is allocated to the onsite location where a complete understanding of the requirements and possibilities are attained. In addition to delivering personalized and tailor-made services, this move

John Lee CPO, D&L Education Solutions

D & L has some of the most skilled instructors and developers because we invest in their future

also lowers the cost of training for the client as the equipment does not need to be shipped to D&L Education Solutions for development. Often, the team spends weeks onsite, developing material on the equipment or coming up with a solution to any problem encountered. “We have Program Managers who are assigned to each project. My daily routine mostly consists of ensuring they have what they need to complete their project on time,” says John.

Located on the main campus of Tennessee College of Applied Technology Elizabethton, D&L Education Solutions has made quite the headway in the technical workforce development domain, catapulting to newer heights every day. “Our company has continued to grow and increase our partnerships over the past three years. We have witnessed growth in every area of our business, from providing trainers for training events, and curriculum development,

John was awarded 1,357 NC3 certifications in 2015, the most in the United States

to training department development,” reveals John, with great pride and contentment.

An Organization is Only as Remarkable as its People

John Lee is one of the key pillars of D&L Education Solutions, leading it to the success it commands in the market today. D&L Education Solutions is recognized as a national technical workforce development company dedicated to

helping companies train and retain exceptional technicians and frontline workers through their novel and robust instructional training programs. Ensuring customer delight is one of the top priorities. The company combines immersive learning techniques, world-class training, and focused expertise to help the client engage learners and improve performance through various delivery formats, emerging technologies, and innovative approaches.

“Every member of our team is an educator with at least 10 years of experience in training at both a college and industry level. We also have a nationwide pool of instructors and developers to assign to a task. This ensures our customers get a customized training package,” informs John. He adds, “Our founding members are educators at heart. We believe in doing whatever it takes to provide a situation for growth.”

He believes that a growing company is the very essence of a driven and skilled team that strives to fulfill the organization's vision. Working alongside your teammates boosts productivity and helps develop new skills and thought processes. Meeting business goals and overall company success is just the outcome of a strong workforce. He elucidates, “My team works beside me, not behind me. The company

is only as good as the team members. D & L has some of the most skilled instructors and developers because we invest in their future. This is not my company as one of the founders, it is all of my team’s company, and we are all invested in it.”

Taking a Deeper Dive

John paints a more defined picture of his contributions to the industry and provides an insight into the work involved. While he enjoys the CPO position at D&L Education Solutions, he has also played a key role at Tennessee College of Applied Technology as a renowned Industry Training Coordinator and NC3 Coordinator since 2009. John is responsible for training, testing, and awarding certificates to students on campus and employees in business and industry.

John envisions continuing to stay true to the company’s mission to provide valuable technical education and impactful, cost-effective training solutions to support, build and grow a highly-skilled workforce for today and the future

He was awarded 1,357 NC3 certifications in 2015, the most in the United States. In recognition of this accomplishment, NC3 presented the Tennessee College of Applied Technology Elizabethton with the Dennis Ludice Memorial Award. Yet again, in 2017, John was recognized at the NC3 Annual Meeting 2018 for awarding a whopping 1,650 NC3 certifications.

In addition to this, John oversees one of the five regional training centers in the United States. He is a member of the inaugural class of 'TN Trained,' a program designed for workforce development professionals at the College System of Tennessee. This partnership between the State Economic and Community Development and the Tennessee Board of Regents College system is designed to provide a system-wide state approach for retaining, growing, and attracting businesses. He was awarded the Tennessee Board of Regents SOAR Technical College Staff Member of the year in 2020.

John currently serves as the chair of the SkillsUSA Tennessee Transportation Cluster and is the chair for the SkillsUSA National Transportation Cluster. He received the 2018 SkillsUSA Tennessee Advisor of the Year award.

Gaining Recognition

In his career, John has had a successful journey leading to well-deserved recognition and prestigious awards. His penchant for making an impact in this industry and his humility makes him the

most sought-after entrepreneur in this sector. He graduated from Nashville Auto/Diesel College, has an Associate Degree in Applied Science in Automotive and Manufacturing from Northeast State Community College, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Science in Technical Education from Pittsburgh State University. “My childhood was unique and challenging, but it brought me to this point in my life. We learn from our past to better our future. I am a high school dropout working on my doctorate in Career Technical Education Leadership. We are never too old to learn. We are never too old to try something new,” says John. Among his many accomplishments, he states that he believes his most significant achievement is being married to his wife Samantha for twenty-four years and his two wonderful children, John and Katie.

What the Future Holds

He envisions continuing to stay true to the company’s mission to provide valuable technical education and impactful, cost-effective training solutions to support, build and grow a highlyskilled workforce for today and the future. John signs off by letting us have a quick peek into what the future holds for him and his organization, “We have national companies we are developing for. Companies such as Snap-On Corporation, Kubota Tractor Company, Subaru University, and so on. We are developing new training material for them, reorganizing their current training materials, teaching courses, and administrating assessments. We also guide colleges across the country that want to develop a technical education department for automotive and diesel.”

KIM BUTLER

FOUNDER, PROSPERITY THINKERS

Trailblazing a Prosperous Life with Whole Life Insurance

It is rightly said that "Feminism isn’t about making women stronger. Women are already strong. It’s about changing the way the world perceives that strength." The role of women in the finance industry has evolved from financial puppets to financial planners, homemakers to home financiers, and financial advisors. Having the goal of becoming financially independent as young as possible, Kim Butler began to save money

by selling milk when she was just a child. She stood steadfast to her mission as she believed in progress, founded Prosperity Thinkers, and drove it to the next level through her powerful vision.

Cornerstones of Entrepreneurial Vision

Kim Butler's 30-year career has been marked by a humble beginning to her financial journey. Everything began on her farm, where she and her sister cared for their dairy cows.

Kim Butler Founder, Prosperity Thinkers

We focus on Simplifying your Savings, automating your Assets, and installing Faith in your Finances

Kim recalls, "Since I was in 4th grade, I have worked with money. When my parents bought me a milk cow, my sister Tammi Brannan and I sold the milk to neighbors and church friends." As a result of this responsibility, Kim developed a desire to take control of her life, a love of saving, and an entrepreneurial vision. She used her milk money to attend a private college debt-free and launch a career in finance. Kim shares, "Then after college, while working at a bank, I simply realized that I loved helping people with their money, so I expanded my offerings. After 30+ years, I’ve

Kim, who has worked in many aspects of the financial industry, now helps clients develop long-term, sustainable wealth through the use of whole life insurance

figured out what works and what doesn’t work with people and money. So our newest brand, Prosperity Thinkers, is there to help people with Inspiration, Education, and Activation of the foundational aspect of all things financial."

Establishment of Prosperity Thinkers & Its Uniqueness in the Financial Industry

Kim recalls, "We used to be known by another Prosperity name for the first 30 years of my

work, and so last year we decided to re-brand for the next 30 years (since I don’t believe in retirement)." Kim purchased over 100 URLs during a week-long "naming spree" and ultimately chose ProsperityThinkers.com because she has always appreciated the fact that prosperity can mean so much more than money. Her thoughts have such a powerful impact on her reality. She says, "I really like helping people turn their brains on, combined the Prosperity

word with Thinkers to imply that we are helping people think differently about their money and wealth that is more than money."

Since the internet's onset, the Prosperity Thinkers team has worked across the country. They provide motivation, education, and activation. Kim says, "We focus on Simplifying your Savings, Automating your Assets, and installing Faith in your Finances."

A Stalwart Financial Advisor

Kim's vision and mission revolve around empowering her clients to provide lifelong

service. What does this imply? It entails inspiring them to live lives of purpose for the rest of their lives, rather than retiring or stepping down. (This is how retirement is defined) Kim shares, "I’ve always liked to hoe my row, in other words, to be the boss, set the standards, lead the way, yet with humble confidence, no egotism."

Kim, who has worked in many aspects of the financial industry, now helps clients develop long-term, sustainable wealth through the use of whole life insurance. The general public underutilizes life insurance while it serves as the "secret" foundation of America's wealthiest. "I’ve helped people with money for

what seems

Kim grew up in a house with two teachers and has always enjoyed reading, so it's no surprise their material is famous

THE SEVEN PRINCIPLES OF PROSPERITY

like my whole life. I started at a bank right after college and before the internet began, helping with checking accounts and mortgages. Then three years later, started getting my securities and life insurance licenses. All the while, trying to walk the talk I was sharing with my clients, which amounted to “automate your savings,”" added Kim.

Performance & Progress Leads to Customer Satisfaction

Kim shares, "I love the idea of progress. We strive to make some every day, individually, within our team, and for and with our clients. We enjoy helping over 100 people a year adopt a win-winwin approach to their finances. We also continually publish books, games, videos, blog posts, and podcasts to reach the various ways people learn. Our next book, Busting the College Planning Lies, is due in the fall of 2022."

Another intriguing aspect of Prosperity Thinkers is the customer feedback. Kim highlights, "Our Google reviews mention how pleased readers are with our educational material." Kim grew up in a house with two teachers and has always enjoyed reading, so it's no surprise their material is famous. Kim brings up one of their client's testimonials, "One of my favorite examples is from Sylvia: I discovered Prosperity Thinkers and the Prosperity Economics Movement through reading the Busting Financial Planning Lies series. The day I finished the first book of the series, I knew I was transported out of the mainstream herd of financial advice and onto the path of next-level financial aptitude. There's no turning back now -- I know too much, thanks to Kim Butler and the other PEM authors."

The Prosperity Economics Movement

Kim says, "My husband, Todd Langford of TruthConcepts.com, and I felt there were 2 groups of people who needed continued help in financial literacy. Advisors and Clients." With that commitment in mind, Kim co-founded the Prosperity Economics Movement, a nonprofit providing financial education materials to individuals, whole-life-friendly agents, and brokers.

She added, "So the movement (which is a public 501(c)(3)) was formed to help both groups. It seems silly that financial advisors need help understanding how money works, yet they do. We see many videos where the advisor doesn’t understand the math behind the money." Kim clarifies the situation by saying, "One example is borrowing at 4% and investing at 5%. That is a 25% improvement, not a 1% improvement. Another example is advisors will add up a series of payments cumulatively on one side of a ledger, then apply the time value of money (or opportunity cost) to the other side of a ledger (like when comparing two strategies), which is horribly inaccurate."

Innovation-Driven Company Culture to Motivate Team Members

"I’m an innovator myself (according to my Kolbe profile), so this comes naturally to me, and consequently our team," said Kim. She is drawn to technology because of its efficiency. Since her life's purpose is to activate lifelong service to save millions of lives, using technology and innovation to increase her ability to serve is appealing. She further said,

95

"I’ll admit it is not easy to be a front-runner with tech, and have certainly made mistakes (like just recently, we switched databases twice in one year, it about killed us), yet failure is just learning, and our whole team embraces that idea. As with all investments, whether it is time, money, or people, I’m a big believer in "go slow, start small," and this lets our team inch in when innovation is at play."

Kim treats team members like gold, so 1+1 can equal 11. Kim pinpoints, "Meaning you get two people together with opposite skill sets and you get a multiplier effect of not just 1+1=2 or

even 3 as many people say, but 11, putting the one with the other one and getting the value of the collaboration all along the way." They are working with their strengths and doing what they enjoy, which energizes their process.

Challenges & Milestones

Kim says, "Uncertainty is always a challenge". She overcame those obstacles by focusing on mindset and faith as a solid foundation and treating her team like gold. She added, "Since we are all in it together to get through the uncertain times."

YOUR PATH TO CREATING LIQUIDITY

Kim highlights the milestones: "I went entrepreneurial in 1993, became independent in 1999, started working over the internet the year it became the World Wide Web and created a WFH (work from home) company at the request of the team." Her first book was self-published in 2008, she began podcasting in 2014, and they have just created a card game available at www.FamilyLegacyGame. com along with a workbook to go with their 8th self-published book.

A Sneak Peek at a Typical Workday and Current Projects

Kim maintains strict calendar control and adheres to "office boundaries," allowing visioneering in all areas of life. She says, "I do about 25 client meetings a week, on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, saving Mondays for team huddles and Fridays for creative endeavors like books and blog posts." She manages pressures by visioneering, which makes it easy to stay motivated because everyone is working toward

a goal they are passionate about. She said, "And when you love what you do and strive towards a self-managing company under the Strategic Coach system, everybody wins." Kim has been a Dan Sullivan disciple since 1994. Dan Sullivan's Entrepreneurial Time System (c) by Strategic Coach teaches to prioritize free days so the unplugged mind can return energized, rested, and inspired.

Regarding current projects, Kim is about to launch another course called The Prosperity Pledge. It will assist people in activating and optimizing their money and directly linking it to their values. It is also a Mindset Matters course, aiming to turn those brains on and put good thinking into action.

Thriving for Change & Uplifting Future Behemoths with Valuable Advice

Kim enjoys the exponential nature of multigenerational work since it is truly transformative. She says, "Automation is the key to good habits, and health and wealth are so closely tied that if we can help an individual, they can help their family (generationally), which will then help their community."

Kim concludes by giving a piece of advice, "Everyone on the team should strive to be a leader, first of themselves, their own thinking and actions, second of those around them. This is the goal of the Self-Managing Company as directed by the Strategic Coach company. Thinking is where good leadership starts, and "leading with love" as well as a "trust and inspire" (both quotes from recent books) style generate such good amongst our team, which then spills out into our clients and our communities. Again, I love the exponential nature of this way of being."

Kim is about to launch another course called The Prosperity Pledge, which will assist people in activating and optimizing their money and directly linking it to their values

THE IMPORTANCE OF AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE IN THE CORPORATE JUNGLE

Atanas Piskachev, Health & Life Coach, AtanasFit

Atanas is a holistic health coach specializing in mindset performance, helping entrepreneurs and executives incorporate a healthy lifestyle into their hectic schedules. He has over 10 years of experience in the field, working with various people and organizations globally to explore many different cultures and human behaviors. By virtue of his brand AtanasFit, Atanas is committed to helping people raise the bar for their health and fitness through direct coaching, writing articles, and creating YouTube videos.

Do you have a strong urge to achieve success and wealth through your career? Perhaps you have been neglecting your health throughout this process?

If this sounds like you, I may know exactly what has been keeping you from achieving your goals.

Exercise can protect you from diseases, slim your waistline and extend your lifespan and

even help you to excel in your career! Exercise and staying fit are known to help you to make better decisions and be more productive and creative.

But doing it regularly is easier said than done, I know. Work, stress, relationships and a lack of time can all stand in the way, which is why the vast majority of people don’t exercise regularly.

We all know that we can only function if we are healthy enough. This means that if you’re fit enough, you can perform much better

What will create an active lifestyle?

Regardless of what job you currently have, you can still create a healthy lifestyle at work. Here is what you can do to incorporate an active lifestyle irrespective of how hectic your schedule is.

If you have yet to begin, start off small with a basic workout routine and work your way up,

remember baby steps are better than no steps. Over time, you will notice that even the most vigorous exercises will become incredibly easy.

How will it contribute to your success?

We all know that we can only function if we are healthy enough. This means that if you’re fit enough, you can perform much better.

Staying fit can easily help you get the success in your career that you have been craving. Now that you know exactly what to do, there should be nothing stopping you

When you exercise and stay fit, your brain receives more oxygen which helps it function well. Moreover, regular exercise releases something called neurotransmitters in your brain.

These chemicals allow you to feel happy, concentrate well, and improve your performance at work.

When your worth ethic improves, you will perform better and work harder without feeling tired. Furthermore, you will display more creativity and productivity, which will allow you to make better decisions in your career too.

As a result, you will earn more money, get that promotion, finish that project, and of course, get a step closer to optimal success in your career and life every single day.

Zero equipment exercises to perform today

If you’re a little confused, there’s nothing to worry about. I will walk you through some common and easy-to-execute exercises that will help you stay fit. Here are some great ideas:

Push-ups:

Get down on the ground with your weight focused on your arms. Keep the rest of your body straight behind you while only your toes and palms touch the ground.

Slowly lower yourself down until your nose almost touches the ground while bending only your arms. Then, lift yourself back up until your arms are straight again.

Repeat this process as many times as you like.

Jumping jacks:

Jumping jacks are popular because of the multiple parts of the body that are targeted because of them.

First, stand completely straight with your arms by your side and your toes together. Then, jump and spread your arms out and your legs wide. Jump again and return to the original position.

Repeat this multiple times.

Planks:

This exercise is well-known for being incredibly difficult but also highly fruitful.

Lay on your stomach with all of your weight on your lower arms. Put your fists in a ball and lift yourself to your toes. Stay in this position for your desired time, but don’t forget to breathe!

You can start with 30-second planks and every next week keep adding 5 more seconds until you reach a satisfactory level. In my opinion 3-minute plank is a great goal to have.

What’s great about these exercises is that they can be performed in the comfort of your office too.

Just clear out some furniture and get to it!

Staying fit can easily help you get the success in your career that you have been craving. Now that you know exactly what to do, there should be nothing stopping you.

Figure out a routine, start exercising, and watch your life change before your eyes.

Obtaining career success has never been easier!

GOOD LUCK & STAY FIT!

MATTHEW TELESCA

FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE OFFICER, MGN LOGISTICS

Crafting Tech-Driven Logistics Solutions for Clients

Matthew Telesca is the Founder & Executive Officer of MGN Logistics, Inc. He is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and tech enthusiast. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Matthew’s expertise in finance, logistics management, and software development positioned him perfectly to lead an industry that was only in its infancy with technological developments. As a result, he became an early pioneer of web-based

transportation management solutions, who sold his first logistics start-up while he was in his late twenties. After early success, Matthew went on to build MGN Logistics, the supply chain industry’s premier technology company.

Today, Matthew is well-recognized in the supply chain and logistics industry for his innovative ideas, futuristic vision, and thought leadership. He has also graced the Cover of several leading business magazines around the globe.

Founder & Executive Officer, MGN Logistic

Founder & Executive Officer of MGN Logistics, Matthew Telesca is wellrecognized in the supply chain and logistics industry for his innovative ideas, futuristic vision, and thought leadership

Matthew Telesca

Journey of MGN Logistics: From a Tiny Office to an International Tech Solutions Company

Before the dot-com bubble began, Matthew could envision a web-based future for the logistics industry. Matthew founded MGN Logistics in 2000 in Easton, Pennsylvania, turning his ideas into reality. In the same year, he also launched one of the first fully automated freight portals online called logisticsquote. com. This website enabled users to quote, ship, and track shipments online without any hassles. Due to its simplified nature, the website grew exponentially and was later bought by a private equity group in 2004.

Without losing any time, Matthew began scripting a new Transportation Management System (TMS) which was powerful yet simple for any size organization. In 2007, Matthew acquired a Boston-based freight management company with traditional processes and a solid clientele base. From then on, acquisitions became his primary strategy for future growth. Now focusing on new cutting-edge technology, the company continued to develop unique transportation modules, including predictive pricing and intelligent transportation routing that outpaced all major players in the space. By 2009, the company opened offices in Philadelphia, Boston, and Orlando to assist with the demand. This was followed by establishing an office in the Dominican Republic to handle the growing international needs in 2013.

Being a true serial entrepreneur by nature, Matthew consecutively acquired four additional companies between 2014-2018. Last year in 2021, he made another strategic acquisition of a California niche logistics firm. Today,

MGN Logistics operates remotely with offices in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Florida, California, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico.

Unique & Remarkable Solution Offerings

Over the years, MGN Logistics has maintained a unique and remarkable position to deliver a robust and integrated logistics solution that can address all the complexities faced today. The company’s cloud-based platform supports all modes of transportation, including Truckload, LTL, Ocean, Air, Rail, Intermodal, and Parcel, providing customers with a powerful yet easy-to-use, single solution for their entire supply chain. Moreover, MGN Logistics’ state-of-the-art, NextGen platform offers seamless integration

Over the years, MGN Logistics has maintained a unique and remarkable position to deliver a robust and integrated logistics solution that can address all the complexities faced today

into existing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) or can be implemented as a standalone solution. Likewise, MGN provides the highest level of consulting intelligence coupled with technology to implement best practices,

compliance, and auditing to maximize all available opportunities for improvement.

But what truly sets MGN Logistics apart from others market competitors is that the company not only focuses on building innovative tech solutions but also on providing

cost-effective services that do not put financial strains on its customers. It goes a step further in assisting clients in cutting-down costs at each stage of dispatching to delivery.

Onwards & Upwards

With decades of experience, Matthew and his team at MGN Logistics have successfully built long-term relationships with their clients. As

a result, MGN Logistics has been honored not once or twice but seven times by INC. magazine’s prestigious recognition as one of the fasting growing private companies in the United States.

Moving forward, MGN Logistics, under Matthew’s leadership, will continue its upward growth trajectory through new acquisition opportunities and organic growth.

How MGN Logistics Helped in Setting up Centralized Transportation Management for an Industry Leading Packaging Manufacturer at 30 Locations?

When a custom packaging distribution products and services company with over $500 million in revenue and nearly 30 locations found their lack of centralized transportation management was costing them substantially more than just a lack of visibility, they turned to MGN Logistics for help.

After MGN partnered with this client, an extensive study of historic shipping characteristics, product details, and unique business challenges were evaluated for each location, including shipping documentation, tariffs, and even photographs of products for classification purposes. With MGN’s proprietary software, this extensive yet rapid process painlessly led to a comprehensive freight and parcel profile to conduct detailed carrier engagements. Soon, MGN’s cloud-based TMS was efficiently implemented for maximum efficiency and return. A short few weeks after starting the process, the client had successfully achieved over a 20% annual run-rate of savings, along with a fully managed and centralized transportation system. Today, after nearly 8 years of partnership and numerous more acquisitions, this client continues to see impressive savings, control, and visibility.

Working Seamlessly Throughout Pandemic

MGN Logistics had set up a cloud-based operation system even before the arrival of the pandemic. Hence, the transition to remote working was relatively easy and straightforward during the pandemic. “Our customer’s transition was seamless, with few

even recognizing we had switched to a remote work environment,” shares Matthew.

Even though MGN Logistics maintained its physical offices in Pennsylvania, , Massachusetts, Florida, California, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico throughout the pandemic, nearly all its employees continue to work remotely. This is because MGN Logistics remains committed to the safety of its employees.

Impact of Pandemic on Global Supply Chain Management

From an entrepreneur’s perspective, Matthew shares that the pandemic has only accelerated an ongoing long-term trend for greater online consumerism. Today, many customers prefer to shop online over in-person shopping. To top this off, they have become accustomed to same-day or next-day deliveries, especially when purchasing from e-retailers like Amazon. This has put an enormous burden on supply chain management and performance and resulted in a sharp rise in consumer goods prices. Matthew further suspects this pattern will continue for the foreseeable future, creating even greater opportunities for sophisticated supply chain technology solution providers. It will also continue to build more and more momentum as consumers globally shift their buying patterns, translating to even greater supply chain friction and challenges.

Supply chain market leaders such as MGN Logistics are designed to create solutions to help customers deal with these conditions. Its intelligent routing software can assist real-time routing decisions and best-in-class carrier and mode selection. In short, MGN’s powerful TMS platform provides tomorrow’s technology today!

SlimYoo slimyoo.com

EXPERT

OPINION

Sustainable Blockchain: The Future of Sustainable Ecosystem

Pratik Gauri, Founder & CEO, 5ire

Pratik Gauri is a serial Indian social entrepreneur, investor, public speaker and writer widely known as the Creator of the 5th Industrial Revolution. He has been championing the UN Sustainable Development Goals and helping transition the world from a for-profit economy to a for-benefit economy for more than a decade. As the Founder & CEO of 5ire.org (pronounced FIRE), Pratik is responsible for the day to day operations of the firm and its strategic efforts. As a young visionary leader, Pratik believes that the service of humanity and social good can work handin-hand with business and is on a mission to prove the thesis of 5IR (5th Industrial Revolution) - “You can make more money if you do good to the world.” Pratik has founded 8 companies prior to founding 5ire, which is a blockchain ecosystem that brings forward Sustainability, Technology & Innovation to build the 5th industrial revolution.

According to Statista Research Department, global spending on blockchain solutions accelerated from 4.5 billion to 6.6 billion in 2021. By 2024, Blockchain spending is expected to increase to around $19 billion, with more businesses leveraging the technology across data validation, data access, and identity protection strategies.

When Satoshi Nakamoto shared Bitcoin's whitepaper, no one would have thought in their dreams that the novel concept of paperless money would unlock a new wave of growth and innovation. The use of blockchain technology worked as a powerful catalyst supporting the entire decentralized ecosystem.

Blockchain is a decentralized, immutable database that makes it easier to track assets and record transactions among a network of businesses. It offers immediate, shareable, and entirely transparent data that is kept on an immutable ledger and accessible only by members of the permission network, making it the perfect method for distributing that information.

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) responsibility has emerged as a crucial business need in recent years, and it is now apparent that it is here to stay. As was evident at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos this year, where sustainability was at the forefront of the agenda with topics like "How to save the world" and "Better business," it is now being discussed at the highest levels.

Although many of us associate blockchain with cryptocurrencies, it has many more varied applications than that. It has evolved as an odd but promising ESG solution in the form of a networked, digital, decentralized public ledger. According to a report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), blockchain's distributed ledger technology can significantly advance by enabling investors, renewable energy project developers,

and buyers to cooperate on a common platform with established international standards for compliance due diligence.

However, a study from the University of Cambridge in February revealed that bitcoin consumes more electricity than Argentina. "Mining" for cryptocurrency is power-hungry, involving heavy computer calculations to verify transactions. Cambridge researchers say it consumes around 121.36 terawatt-hours (TWh) a year - and is unlikely to fall unless the value of the currency slumps. Just to power, a single BTC transaction takes over 2,264 Kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity – enough to boil 1,500 kettles. But it's not just bitcoin that has this problem. Other cryptocurrencies utilizing the same proof of work (PoW) consensus mechanism face the same issue.

Increasing awareness of crypto's energy consumption, pressure from highly influential people like Elon Musk (who halted bitcoin payments at Tesla due to the crypto's environmental impact), and crackdowns in major countries like China are pushing the crypto industry to adapt.

In reaction to these occurrences, new and established blockchain projects are looking into anything from switching to less power-intensive validation systems to investigating mining using renewable energy sources. One of the most notable projects that are switching from a proofof-work (PoW) system to a proof-of-stake (PoS) system is Ethereum, which aims to use 99.95% less energy overall.

Subsequently, Sustainable Proof-of-stake can also become the answer to the dilemma. SPoS is a new consensus algorithm incorporating a new weighing mechanism that adds to the overall proof of stake (PoS) weight. By decentralizing

and digitizing the adjudication of what is trustworthy, blockchain also can empower broader communities of stakeholders and improve the slow, costly intermediation associated with our current models of environmental governance.

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) responsibility has emerged as a crucial business need in recent years, and it is now apparent that it is here to stay

Further, sustainable proof of stake blockchains use-case solutions that are particularly relevant across environmental applications tend to cluster around the following cross-cutting themes: enabling the transition to cleaner and more efficient decentralized systems; peer-to-peer trading of resources or permits; supply-chain transparency and management; new financing models for environmental outcomes; and the realization of non-financial value and natural capital. By integrating sustainability and social impact at the consensus mechanism level, this technology gives economic rewards to organizations that support sustainable practices and empowers these organizations.

With exponential growth in digital finance, the future holds great potential for sustainable decentralized distributed ledgers that can integrate digital finance with sustainable mechanisms to cultivate sustainable business models.