CXO Outlook – January 2023 – The 10 Most Inspiring Business Leaders – 2023

BUILDING A BETTER WORLD OF WORK

NURASYL SERIK

January 2023 Vol - 4 Issue - 1

Most Inspiring Business Leaders - 2023

Head of Advisory Board

Dr. Manoj Varghese, Ph.D

Managing Editor

Sarath Shyam

Consultant Editors

Dr. John Andrews

Anuja Mulmule

Emma James

Andrew Scott

Amrin Ahmed

Naomi Wilson

Stanly Lui

Roshni Rajagopal

Sabrina Samson

Keith Alexander

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Branding & Marketing Partnerships

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Tackling the Modern Challenges

In today’s circumstances, leaders must remain in their beta version forever, which means, a leader must embrace perpetual transformation. In January 2020, when we celebrated a new year full of hopes and plans, we hardly anticipated a home quarantine that would last indefinitely. It was tough; many businesses could not withstand the adversities. However, leaders with extraordinary vision took it as an opportunity and made good fortune.

If we study leaders who became successful during the pandemic, we can learn that they lead thinking about the future, not from their past experiences. There were many challenges, including sticky inflation, supply chain shocks, recessions, and the war. If a leader made decisions considering past experiences, he or she would have been prompted to take a step back and wait for the wind to settle before making the next move. But, not following the norms is what makes leaders like Nurasyl Serik, Co-Founder & CEO of Remofirst, successful in the 21st

century. Founded in 2021, Nurasyl’s latest startup, Remofirst, is an all-in-one platform for companies to manage their international HR and hire remote employees.

This issue of CXO Outlook features the incredible story of Nurasyl Serik, a serial entrepreneur passionate about building companies and making a difference in the lives of many across the globe. We have also identified “10 Most Inspiring Business Leaders - 2023” who are not stuck between the certainties of the past and the unknowns of the future. They are the brains behind creating future-friendly companies and eventually making the world a better place. Enjoy Reading.

Sarath Shyam

IN MY VIEW

CXO IN FOCUS EXPERT OPINION

Claudia von Boeselager, Peak Performance Coach & Founder of Longevity

Nicola Frampton, Operations Director, Domino’s Pizza UK & Ireland Ltd and Non-Executive Director, Frasers Group

Delighting Consumers with the World's Exquisite Retail Experience

Kenneth Richard Geipel, Co-Founder & CEO, Robotto Co

Listen to Your Customers They Will Tell You How to Network!

Dr. Tandra A. Price, International Keynoter, Communications Expert & Networking Strategist

Knowing your target market is critical if you want to sell your product or service. To whom do you intend to appeal?

That is the eternal query. Who will gain, or what issue are you attempting to fix? It doesn't

matter how great your goods or services are if no one sees them. This means it won't be moved at any point in the future.

Customers will reveal their goals, requirements, and preferences to us if we listen carefully. They'll also show us how to reach

Dr. Tandra A. Price is an award-winning international keynoter, social communications expert, and global networking strategist. Leveraging over 30 years of entrepreneurship experience. Affectionally known as the “The Networking Ninja,” Tandra has become the leading authority on igniting innovation and creating environments that foster success. Embodying her motto of “Each One Promote One,” she facilitates multi-city networking groups and events around the country and on social media. Tandra’s extensive communications expertise had earned her invitations to speak on major corporate stages across the country. She is also the Editorin-Chief and Founder of Tap-In Magazine, a world-renowned, international publication, and networking community dedicated to promoting and celebrating established and aspiring businesses, entrepreneurs, and business owners worldwide.

The development of a product or service is often the result of the designer's own encounters with the market or of trial and error

Social media has taught us more about our clientele than countless informal coffee chats ever could teach us more about our clientele than countless informal coffee chats ever could

them most effectively by revealing the channels (email, SMS) and content formats (videos, live streams) that resonate most with them. As business owners, it's our responsibility to pay attention to these signals and respond appropriately.

The development of a product or service is often the result of the designer's own encounters with the market or of trial and error. When we try out a strategy ourselves or see someone else use it successfully, it convinces us that our own strategy is right.

However, what exactly does "networking" entail?

It's important to be aware that any time two people communicate with one another, they are engaging in networking. The term "networking" itself is so overused that it hardly merits mention. When asked to imagine an embarrassing social circumstance, most people picture having to talk to a bunch of strangers or participate in a large gathering where they don't know anyone. In an effort to convince them to buy their wares.

In fact, networking occurs any moment you make eye contact with another person or initiate a conversation. It's a chance to put your best foot forward and promote what you have to offer. The most important thing is to listen carefully and not steal the spotlight from the other person.

Let your potential new client do most of the talking and ask questions only when necessary to learn as much as possible about them. Nod your head from time to time to show that you are paying attention to the conversation and want it to continue. Keeps the conversation going by asking about their hobbies and work; this will put them at ease and encourage them to open up to you.

That interviewer's hat is on you. The interview process is like a tango in that it requires both partners to move with fluidity and confidence. You're meeting to see if this person or company is a good referral source or complementary to your business. The more you listen to the other person, the better you'll understand their needs and how to meet them.

In networking, a reference is the highest compliment you can pay someone else. Customers and clients appreciate it when they feel like they have a partner in success. You should always keep in mind that the person you are networking with is more important than your own needs. Keep in mind that any interaction could lead to a sale, and any buyer could lead to a recommendation.

Most people give up on networking after their first unsuccessful attempt. Because networking entails connecting with other customers or clients who share your interests, it shouldn't feel forced (like making money). Simply realizing and appreciating the positive impacts of networking on your business and its ability to attract and retain customers is all that is required.

Do you ever get calls from people who say they were referred to you by a mutual contact? The way our clients and customers want us to connect with them online is something we pay special attention to. The success of our company hinges on our clients, but we ourselves hold the key to expansion.

The point isn't to close a deal immediately, but to lay the groundwork for future deals. Referrals play a crucial role in this process. One of the most effective strategies to expand your customer base and increase your business is

through word-of-mouth advertising in the form of referrals from satisfied customers. There's some validity to the adage that the money is in the follow-up. We've heard it countless times. Referrals are a source of

passive income and financial security. Giving a referral to a potential client or customer when you know you can't serve them is priceless. By emphasizing this, you show your prospective client that you care more about their success than your own.

You should always keep in mind that the person you are networking with is more important than your own needs

All of us here at the office like to think of ourselves as quite astute and wise businesspeople. Of course, we can all do better, and one of the best ways to do so is to take into account the opinions of those we serve.

Sometimes, in the midst of running a company, it's easy to lose sight of the fact that your customers and clients are the most important assets you possess.

Perhaps you're thinking, "But I know my customers already!" But what if I told you that there is more than one way to find out the truth about someone? What if I told you that

improving your understanding of them would lead to exponential growth for your company?

Companies that value their consumers' opinions above all else will succeed.

One must not only hear what others are saying but also focus on the content and delivery of their words in order to be considered a good listener. We're not merely talking about hearing people out; rather, we're referring to actively taking in and processing the feedback of your target market.

Putting your ear to the door and waiting for people to come to you isn't effective anymore (or in your inbox). "If they build it, they will come" no longer applies to the modern world. Now more than ever, businesses need to take advantage of the wealth of data they can collect on their clients in order to thrive.

Your attentiveness and level of listening are crucial.

The way we meet new people has been completely transformed by social networking. Social media has taught us more about our clientele than countless informal coffee chats ever could teach us more about our clientele than countless informal coffee chats ever could. By hearing what they have to say about the best way for us to engage with them, we can provide aid much more quickly. Don't pass up a chance because you weren't paying attention.

“The blessings are in the show-up.” – Dr.

A. Price

Tandra

COVER STORY

BUILDING A BETTER WORLD OF WORK

Nurasyl Serik is a serial entrepreneur, passionate about building companies and making a difference in the lives of many across the globe. Originally from Kazakhstan, Nurasyl has spent most of his life in the UK. He is one of those inspiring business leaders who continue to identify market gaps and purposefully build solutions that create great customer value. In his current role as the Co-Founder and CEO of Remofirst, Nurasyl is leading his team on the idea that freedom of work is the future of work.

The Journey of Building Companies, Solving Issues, & Making an Impact

While based in the UK, Nurasyl started building companies with his Co-founder, who lived in Ukraine. As the bootstrapped start-up entrepreneurs, their answer to save costs was working remotely, which they continued to do so. Unfortunately, many of their initial ventures

failed. Nurasyl and his Co-founder tasted their first success with Felix Math, an AI math product that showed a detailed explanation and step-by-step solution to any Math problem via just one snap.

During that time, one of their biggest challenges as a remote-first company was hiring and managing employees around the world in a compliant way. They tried some of the existing legacy solutions but weren’t tech-savvy or fast enough for their needs. “We didn’t know why global payroll was so painful and expensive in this day and age, and that served as a big motivation to tackle this industry and build something we could use ourselves,” reveals Nurasyl.

After they sold the company, Nurasyl took on the role of a Product Manager at Job Today, where he led the division that built out payroll in the UK. “That was my first experience building a payroll system, and after that, I felt inspired to build the next generation of global payroll systems for the future of work,” shares Nurasyl.

Founded in 2021, Remofirst is an all-in-one platform for companies to manage their international HR and hire remote employees

Remofirst: The Most Affordable & Accessible Employer of Record (EOR) Provider

Founded in 2021, Remofirst is an all-inone platform for companies to manage their international HR and hire remote employees. From Mumbai to Mountain View to Malta and everywhere in between, Remofirst empowers employers to be free from geographical boundaries when accessing the talent and allows employees to pursue opportunities wherever they may exist. Currently, the platform is available in over 150 countries with same-day onboarding.

“Our mission is to simplify the way companies build remote teams,” states Nurasyl. “We believe in people, excellence, and delivery.”

Key Partner Benefits

For Nurasyl, understanding the customer's needs is his fundamental belief. He further explains, “When you take the time to put yourself in their shoes, it allows you to build products that matter.”

As opposed to the earlier days when hiring talent from another country was expensive and tedious, Remofirst clients now get to hire talent from any part of the world with one click at the most affordable pricing rates in the industry. They also get access to personal account managers and support services such as sponsoring Visas and more. Moreover, every optimization and new product feature is geared towards improving Remofirst’s service for its customers.

Accelerated Growth

While commenting on Remofirst’s growth after raising $14M in the largest Seed round in the EOR industry, Nurasyl says, “We raised our Seed round after reaching more than seven figures in revenue with only 5 team members. Since then, we have grown quickly and expanded the team to 40 people in about 10 countries.” In addition, the Co-Founders have also invested heavily in customer support since they want their customers to have the best possible experience with all the resources they need.

Time Management is the Greatest Challenge

As the 21st century CEO, Nurasyl considers time management the biggest hurdle. He is usually engrossed in working on multiple tasks at any given time, from working on the product to communicating with investors to delegating with the leadership team.

To stay ahead of the curve, Nurasyl prioritizes his tasks in four quadrants of the time management matrix by asking himself how important and urgent each task is. If the task is urgent and important, Nurasyl tackles it

himself. He delegates it to a team member if it’s urgent but not important. If the task is important but not urgent, he plans a time to take it further shortly. And lastly, he eliminates all the tasks which are neither urgent nor important.

Taking Lessons from the Childhood

The biggest lesson Nurasyl has learned from life as a student is to keep going forward no matter what. Whatever odds are against you and whatever other people tell you, if you believe in yourself and have a plan of action, everything is possible.

Asynchronous Workplace Culture & Rightly Balancing ROI

At Remofirst, Nurasyl and his Co-founder have instilled a remote, asynchronous culture that allows them to accelerate innovation as the company gets enriched with different world views from its diverse workforce.

When balancing technology costs with ROI, Nurasyl makes sure not to cut costs in the most important business areas but also leaves room to experiment.

A Day in the Life of a CEO

Beginning his day early, Nurasyl enjoys having breakfast with his wife and taking his dog out for a walk. Since Remofirst has a diversified team distributed around the world, Nurasyl likes to start work as early as possible and greet everyone. First, he checks his emails for any pressing matters that need his urgent attention. He also wants his investors to know that he is

At Remofirst, Nurasyl and his Co-founder have instilled a remote, asynchronous culture that allows them to accelerate innovation as the company gets enriched with different world views from its diverse workforce

readily available for any of their requests, so he makes sure to get back to everyone within 24 hours. He then goes through his lengthy to-do list of tasks and passionately begins to tackle them.

Since several team members start work towards the end of Nurasyl’s working day, instead of logging off altogether while they are working, Nurasyl takes short breaks in the afternoon and returns for a couple of hours in the evening so that he can better collaborate with those team members. At the end of each day, he goes through his tasks and lists them by priority. “This helps me know exactly what to do when I start the next day since I’ve already laid out my course of action the night before,” reveals Nurasyl.

Taking Regular Breaks, the Key to Staying Productive & Focused

Nurasyl’s secret to staying productive throughout the day is taking short breaks in between, as he believes it is nearly impossible to stay focused and productive for 8+ hours. Therefore, he makes sure to take breaks, even

if it’s just to take his dog on a quick walk, and so, these little pauses from work help him to come back to tasks at hand refreshed and recharged.

Pearls of Wisdom for the Aspiring Leaders

According to Nurasyl, leaders need to offer flexible work options to their employees, as doing so allows employees to have a better work-life balance. It also means encouraging them to become happier and more fulfilled in their personal lives and having them hold their work in much higher regard. An increase in employee happiness, engagement, and morale equals more productive employees and fewer turnover rates.

Moving Forward

With some exciting new product features coming soon to Remofirst, Nurasyl and his team are continuing to optimize their products to make global hiring more affordable and accessible to companies of all sizes across the globe.

Delighting Consumers with the World's Exquisite Retail Experience

Nicola Frampton, Operations Director, Domino’s Pizza UK & Ireland Ltd and Non-Executive Director, Frasers Group

Nicola Frampton joined William Hill in 2010 as Director of Corporate Risk then Group Direct Customer Operations before becoming Managing Director of the UK Retail division in June 2014 during which time she led and implemented a number of major innovation and transformation projects.

Nicola has extensive experience in risk management, assurance, and corporate governance across a wide range of industries, having specialised in these areas of corporate activity at both William Hill and prior to that whilst at Deloitte. She is currently Operations Director at Domino's Pizza UK and a Non-Executive Director at Frasers Group which benefits from her extensive retail experience.

In a recent chat with CXO Outlook Magazine, Nicola Frampton shares her thoughts on the consumer behavioral changes over the last two years, the emerging trends to watch out for in 2023, the future of brickand-mortar retail stores, and a lot more. Following are the excerpts from the interview.

How much has consumer behavior changed in the past 2 years?

What strategies should marketers implement to keep pace with the everaltering preferences of the modern consumers?

The last two years have seen unprecedented disruption to consumer behavior which have

really fast-tracked things that were probably in motion anyway. It’s the speed of change and the shifting sands of social media platforms and economic confidence looking ahead that will be the key challenge for marketers.

Take media - it used to be all about being on Facebook and Twitter, then Instagram and Tik Tok and hardly anyone watches scheduled

TV anymore, it’s all on demand and widely distributed. The businesses that are set up to keep up to speed with where your consumers and how they want to hear could be the difference between sustainable growth or structural decline. Marketers will need advanced digital capability and bench-strength to ensure they can continue to be relevant and connect with their consumers on the platforms that they are using.

I think the other important thing looking ahead will be understanding the impact of inflation on consumer confidence and leaning into their economic challenges in a way that’s meaningful for them.

There’s a strong correlation between confidence and discretionary spending almost regardless of what’s in the bank account. Some sectors will be more impacted than others clearly but the businesses that are tone deaf to how consumers are feeling will inevitably see their customer base decline. Passing on cost increases to protect bottom lines will give short term gain but lead to long term pain. Consumers who need to see, hear, and feel that you’re with them are more likely to be loyal and stay with you for the long term. They’ll spend less but stay longer.

According to you, what are the 3 biggest trends in the FMCG industry to watch out for in 2023?

Firstly, for me, it is the shift of a much wider range of consumers to online shopping. Typically, the domain of the young, people of all generations have had to become digitally savvy in order to connect with each other, with work and even to enjoy leisure or keep fit experiences. Perhaps the biggest digital shift has been

Secondly is the monumental shift towards becoming a cashless society. Where cash was often a means of physical budgeting, now consumers manage their finances differently. Trusted monthly spending patterns have become more blurred and the emerging payment apps that enable consumers to make purchases without payment (e.g pay in four instalments) will continue this trend. And as recession bites I think we’ll see increasingly polarized spending power that businesses will need to quickly decide how to respond and adapt.

Finally, I think that younger consumers in particular have an awareness and conscience about their environment that is leading to a focus on recycled clothing, vintage clothing and also on rental clothing. This will be propelled

Consumers who need to see, hear, and feel that you’re with them are more likely to be loyal and stay with you for the long term. They’ll spend less but stay longer

by the squeeze on incomes, but the reality is that businesses will need to figure out how to operate in a genuinely sustainable way.

What is the future of brick-and-mortar retail stores in the next five years?

Businesses that lack agility, vision, and a real passion for retail at their heart are undoubtedly going to struggle in the perfect storm of digital and hyperinflation.

That being said, as you’d expect from Frasers we are and always will be huge advocates of brick-and-mortar retail. It’s definitely more difficult these days to persuade people to get out and about to go shopping rather than sofa surfing digital stores, but that’s the challenge

that really excites the group and is a key focus within the group’s elevation strategy. The future of retail lies in offering an experience that can’t be replicated at home. An environment where the clever curation of shopping, socializing, and entertainment offer an unrivalled day out with the besties or the family.

Anyone wanting to see the future of retail should visit the latest Flannels store in Liverpool. It has a restaurant serving delicious lunches, a gym and smoothie bar for those needing to get their steps up, a dermatology studio and beauty treatments for those in search of a spa style day. A Belong GAME zone for the kids so mum and dad can shop in peace. The next few years will undoubtedly see a lot of casualties.

Nicola, please tell us about your professional and personal background.

I grew up in Bradford in a working-class family and found myself having to leave education at 16 to help with the family finances. I quickly realized that I wanted more from life than an admin role but with little academic qualifications I embarked on a programme of becoming QBE (qualified by experience). What I lacked in certificates I made up for in ambition and self-belief (that bit was hard work) and to be fair I was also extremely lucky.

My career journey isn’t an obvious one on the face of it but looking back I can pinpoint the individual elements in my career journey that lead me to the paths that I took. I gained professional qualifications on the way and gained my biggest step up the ladder through a number of years working in professional services, starting with Coopers & Lybrand in 1999 and leaving Deloitte in 2010 as a Director in Enterprise Risk Management. Professional services experience definitely opened doors and ultimately took me to both of my current roles which I love.

How did your journey at Domino’s Pizza UK & Ireland Ltd begin? What type of challenges do you face in your current role and how do you overcome them?

Prior to joining Domino’s, I was the MD of the retail arm of William Hill. Part of the fall-out of lockdown 2020 was the closure of the division for the best part of 3 months. During that time, I had time to think and work on the strategy for coming back which included the merger of retail with its younger sister division, UK Online. I took the decision to leave the business and having been 3 years into my NED role at Frasers by this point I had decided to progress my NED career. However, then the Domino’s role came up and it seemed like a great opportunity to

join a business with a different set of challenges but where I could really see my previous experiences being able to add a lot of value. I joined them in April 2021. Having been the MD of my entire retail division, finding myself ‘running’ a franchised business where I have 65 bosses not one and where everyone had decades of experience and expertise versus my none has been quite a challenge. But when you’re QBE, you have an awful lot of practical experience to draw upon and so I put together a structured approach to enable me to adapt. I started on the most simple of things, building trust and being authentic. I’m low ego anyway and I didn’t try to pretend I knew anything, but I listened and I learned. I prioritized the things which really mattered to my team and to my franchisees and

focused on getting them done first. I earned the right to have difficult conversations and I earned the respect of the people around me as a result. I am proud to work with a talented group of entrepreneurs that grew their own businesses from nothing and who put their homes and livelihoods on the line for something they believed in. I have so much respect for what they’ve individually and collectively achieved, and I have learned more than I could ever have anticipated at the beginning.

You are a Non-Executive Director at Frasers Group. Can you brief us about the group and your role.

I joined the business when it was known as Sports Direct back in 2018 as a non-executive director, and have been lucky to work as a director on the board that has overseen its transformation from Sports Direct to Frasers Group as well as its transition from Mike Ashley to Michael Murray (the visionary CEO at the heart of the group’s transformation that you can’t help but have seen on our high streets and in our shopping centres).

I joined the party quite late in the grand scheme of things. I talked about entrepreneurs earlier and Mike Ashley is the ultimate

entrepreneur. Frasers Group started as a small store in Maidenhead in 1982. By the late 1990s, he had opened 100 stores across the UK, rebranding his chain as Sports Soccer and acquiring some major brands including Donnay. By 2008 we were trading under the name Sports Direct and by that time we had become a high street stalwart.

As we grew, we became more than just a sports retailer, rebranding as Frasers Group in 2019. We established our three core pillars: Sports, Lifestyle and Luxury. These pillars underpin our elevation strategy to rethink retail by focusing on store experience, digital and product. Our pioneering approach to retail elevation is showing no sign of slowing, and as we continue to grow our stores, we turn our attention to continually transforming our own brands.

What was it like working as a Police Officer at West Yorkshire Police. Tell us about your experience and the lessons you learned along the way.

I joined West Yorkshire Police at the start of my QBE journey, quickly learning how to handle conflict and difficult situations. It makes you

Businesses that lack agility, vision, and a real passion for retail at their heart are undoubtedly going to struggle in the perfect storm of digital and hyperinflation

mature quickly and teaches the importance of tolerance, empathy, and backbone. Hand on heart I never experienced sexism, but I learned a lot about banter, how to give as good as I got (which I did) and how to find resilience. It’s a tough career and I admire all of our emergency services because of what they do for us day in day out. But it wasn’t for me and so I set off down the next path of my career after just two years.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

It was from one of the senior partners at Deloitte. He’d been my mentor at the firm for many years and had coached and cajoled me through my professional services career which included

having my family, returning, and continuing to grow. You’re only ever as good as the team that you have so don’t pick people who will agree with you, pick people who will challenge you and who collectively will have a diversity that no one person can have. But as you rise to the top of the slippery career ladder as a result of your shared achievements, don’t forget to turn around and pull up the people behind you that helped you get there.

Tell us about Nicola outside of work, your motivations, and what you would like to achieve in the future.

My garden is my happy place. I love spending time there away from the brain work and doing physical work in the fresh air. It’s such a contrast

from my day job. I’m a mum and building a strong future for my son has been a massive motivation. I didn’t have choices when I was his age, I had to start work. I don’t have career aspirations for him other than ensuring he has choices. He’s at university right now and I couldn’t be more proud and I will be happy to support him in whatever he decides to do next.

Which one of your accomplishments makes you the proudest till date?

It has to be working with Frasers Group. The executive and non-executive team on the board are all highly talented, experienced, and inclusive humans. Being a small part of this team has been a pleasure and a privilege

and seeing the business list on the FTSE100 recently was a moment of huge pride.

You have had a remarkable career trajectory over the years. What is the secret mantra behind your success?

You can be what you want to be. Qualifications are important but not having them doesn’t mean you aren’t capable, able, or talented, it just means you’ve chosen or had to take a different route. Once I lost the chip on my shoulder about not having a degree and learned to recognize the value of my experiences and authenticity I haven’t looked back. That and being lucky to work with some amazingly supportive leaders across my many roles. That’s what I aspire to be for my teams.

Corporate Change Starts with People

Radina Ralcheva, EMEA Communications Manager, Corning Optical Communications

When we talk about modernizing of the existing or, even more courageously, about applying new policies within the business organizations, the conversation often does not begin from the right place, and sometimes it does not even take place.

However, it is crucial to have this conversation and more so in the form of a dialogue in which there is a shared understanding.

The ability to change is one of the key elements for the vitality of companies and a prerequisite for their ability to persist, lead, and

Change starts with a single person who wakes up one morning with an idea or with a sense that something is wrong, and he/she must act to fix it

Radina Ralcheva is a top tier management & communications professional, consultant, lecturer, media analyst, activist, and professional volunteer. She has 24+ years' experience both in domestic and international environment, 20 years of which on C management level. Her background includes number of industries, all scale businesses including Fortune 500 companies, international and state institutions, NGOs, political bodies, and other organizations. She has managed local integrated and/ or cross border projects and large-scale integrated communications campaigns across Europe and other regions with budgets ranging from E200 000 to E5.5 mln. Currently, she is Corning’s EMEA Communications Manager, responsible for ensuring high-end performance of corporate communications in EMEA in alignment with the overall corporate strategy. Apart from this, Radina is also a member of IPRA and BPRS and a holder of a special distinction of the Annual Awards for Contribution to Human Rights and Public Welfare “Human of the year” 2014. She holds two master and one bachelor’s degrees (Philology, Sociology and Cultural Studies) from St. Kliment Ohridski Sofia University.

innovate in a fast-paced world, build corporate identity, as well as to foresee the future.

Do you know what Mahatma Gandhi and Emily Dickinson have in common? Clearly, both have nothing to do with the corporate world, yet both are the sources of wisdom and inspiration for people around the globe. Furthermore, both, with their own means of expression, left us messages of close meaning.

“We but mirror the world. All the tendencies present in the outer world to be found in the world of our body. If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. This is the divine mystery supreme. A wonderful thing it is and the source of our happiness. We need

not wait to see what others do,” was quoted by Mahatma Gandhi while Emily Dickinson said,

“To make a prairie it takes a clover and one bee,

One clover, and a bee.

And revery.

The revery alone will do,

If bees are few.”

You see, the shared message is that change is not an abstract philosophical concept, but a power that every person wields. Change starts with a single person who wakes up one morning with an idea or with a sense that something is wrong, and he/she must act to fix it.

Change, big or small, begins in our own head, and often the smallest of things can lead to significant changes. A simple story from my

work experience, related to a paper collection box, has grown to become the fuel for the creation of the pilot Green Corporate Policy of a company with over 1,200 employees. Yes, it didn’t happen overnight, because change is not an easy process. It takes time. Initially, people did not understand what the meaning behind it was, but gradually attitudes changed for the better.

Therefore, if you are the person with the idea, the person who wants to generate change, especially if your idea is good, do not give up. And if you happen to be in a mid to senior level in a corporate structure, you should not give up. In your capacity of being a manager, part of your job description should include unwritten "requirements", including being a generator of change, having the courage to be a leader, having the will to sacrifice your own ego for the sake of matters of greater importance, taking responsibility for processes beyond your direct

scope of work, and being capable of sourcing the necessary support for achieving your goals.

And since I am a communications professional, I will highlight the role of communications in driving change. I know that bringing about change in a business environment could sometimes be a desperately ungrateful process. It can mean knocking on closed doors, misunderstandings, and unwillingness to understand, overt or subtle opposition and even resistance. And this is normal. People in general are not friendly to change, even small change, although they often believe the opposite. This is also true about change in the working environment and company culture.

And this is the place to say that properly structured and planned communication can eliminate many of the potential resistance factors when introducing change in the organization. In general, there are two main approaches to introducing this change. In the first case, the

Communication is the soldering element without which your mission would be much more difficult. While communications seem a deceptively easy discipline, you might be very surprised when you find yourself in a situation practicing it

company management takes a decision and cascades it down the hierarchical structures of the company, and in the second case, some employee’s idea for change, regardless of where it is born in the company, gains support and gradually gets formalized into a new corporate policy. The former is about information delivery, and the latter – about persuasive communication. Needless to say, the second option is significantly more effective, hitting all possible key criteria that matter for the integrity and healthy performance of companies. In the second case, we are talking about a fullfledged communication practice, which fills with meaning and content communication as such. Let's not forget that by providing shared meanings and proactively seeking mutual understanding, communication serves as the basis of social structures in general.

I will therefore try to bring up a conditional matrix of things you can do to generate the change you seek in your company, according

to the second approach described above. And if you are the person with an idea for change, here are a few steps I am hoping will help you bring it to life:

Identify the objective meaning that from the outset. You need to be very clear about what exactly is it you want to achieve.

Describe and formulate the change well. Evaluate whether it is doable, what resources it would take, is it beneficial for the organization and how. Once you are clear about its full scope, make it understandable, so as to be able to explain it to others. Make sure you prepare your arguments. Well-argued change is a semiimplemented change.

Plan your path to the goal in stages and grade your efforts. Change happens less painfully and with least turmoil when done gradually and in small steps.

Involve others. It will take a lot of efforts, discussions, etc., and sometimes onboarding like-minded people will happen individually.

Don't be afraid to answer questions and be prepared to justify your points. That’s an important part of the path to your goal. The proof points you’ve prepared will come in very handy here

Don't be afraid to answer questions and be prepared to justify your points. That’s an important part of the path to your goal. The proof points you’ve prepared will come in very handy here.

Expand the range. Start your quest with the people you know inside your organization and the ones you know you share ideas with. Consistently recruit other colleagues, peers, opinion leaders, etc. who will help you reach the goal.

Make sure your line manager understands and backs your plan. It’s not a good idea to go on your own.

Build understanding and try challenging some certain attitudes. The clearer you explain what you want to achieve, the more confidently and tirelessly you will do it (leading by example), the more support you will receive, and gradually people will accept your cause as their own.

When you reach a critical point of accumulation, formalize the process by effectively involving management in it. This is a key moment for the implementation of the change you want because this is the moment when you turn the idea into a structured and delineated corporate proposal. You must convince the broader management that you have considered its various aspects and potential influence on the company. Bringing senior members on board at this point is the only way to get advocacy when you need it most – the decision-making point.

Create a crisp and clear strategic proposal. This is your proposal to the CEO/ respective decision maker/s. It should include the experience gained from your work with

colleagues on the project, the rationale behind discussions with the management, and the added value the company will gain by implementing the change.

Present your proposal and win consent. This is the second key point – convincing the person(s) who will make the final decision.

Introduce change and develop it over time. This is the third key moment when you are embarking on the path you yourself have taken.

Reward yourself for a job well done. This is mandatory and non-negotiable.

Of course, these steps are provisional and do not offer a magic formula for success, but they could help you put your thoughts and actions in order. The key to effecting change lies in a combination of factors – personal and contextual. Communication is the soldering element without which your mission would be much more difficult. While communications seem a deceptively easy discipline, you might be very surprised when you find yourself in a situation practicing it. In times of need of communications support, I ask you not to rely on your general knowledge of the subject, but rather lean on the advice and help of professionals with good reputation.

And finally, going back to the beginning –change starts with one person. And the potential to be a change bearer lies within each one of us. So don't be afraid of failing. Simply try. One thing is for sure - if you try, your chance of success is already 50% higher than if you do not try. And when you succeed for the first time, please write down what Churchill said somewhere prominently: “Success is never final and failure never fatal. It’s courage that counts.”

MOST INSPIRING BUSINESS LEADERS 2023

Chris Carson Gyuho Yeom

Founder and CEO, Hayden Ai CEO, SB Bioscience

Website: https://www.hayden.ai/

Headquarters: California, USA

About the Company: Hayden AI is pioneering smart traffic enforcement with its mobile platform to increase safety, efficiency, and sustainability.

Website: https://www.sbbioscience.com/

Headquarters: Daejeon, South Korea

About the Company: SB Bioscience was established to develop better therapeutic drugs and diagnostic devices using its aptamer platform.

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.

Website: https://www.saltypeakrealestate.com/

Headquarters: Utah, USA

About the Company: The company focuses on serving builders in residential new construction, selling existing homes and helping buyers bring their new home vision into reality.

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.

Owner, Salty Peak Real Estate

Co- CEO, D&L Education Solutions

Founder & Executive Officer, MGN Logistics

Founder, Prosperity Thinkers

Lacy J. Hardman

John Lee

Matthew Telesca

Kim Butler

Website: https://www.remofirst.com/

Headquarters: California, USA

About the Company: Founded in 2021, Remofirst is an all-in-one platform for companies to manage their international HR and hire remote employees.

Website: https://www.botimageai.com/

Headquarters: Nebraska, USA

About the Company: BotImage’s software interprets multi-parametric and bi-parametric MRI using random forest with instance weight and MR segmentation by deep learning with holistically-nested networks.

Website: https://www.virtualrealityfranchise.com/

Headquarters: Ontario, Canada

About the Company: Ctrl V was North America’s first virtual reality arcade and is currently the largest virtual reality arcade chain in the world.

Website: https://www.creatingambassadorsofpeace.com/

Headquarters: Maryland, USA

About the Company: Dr. Theresa A. Moseley is a United States Army Veteran, United Nations Peace Ambassador, Retired Educator, Motivational Speaker, 10x-Best Selling Author, 3x International Best-Selling Author, a 3x-Award Winning Educator, and a United Nations Peace Ambassador.

CEO & Co-Founder, Ctrl V VR Franchising

Co-Founder & CEO, Remofirst

Owner and CEO, TAM Creating Ambassadors of Peace

CEO and Founder, Bot Image

Robert Bruski

Nurasyl Serik

Dr. Theresa A. Moseley

Dr. Randall Jones

Want to Sell or find Investor for your Business?

Gyuho Yeom

CEO, SB Bioscience

A VISIONARY LEADER AT THE HELM OF SB BIOSCIENCE

Gyuho Yeom is a leader who has been shaped by his life experiences. Growing up, he had always been ambitious, with a childhood dream of becoming a scientist and a CEO. To achieve this goal, he worked hard, created new paths for himself, went to graduate school, and earned a doctorate.

He thought he would be a CEO after gaining a lot of experience in the research field. However, fate had other plans for him. Mr. Gyuho entered a start-up competition for graduate students and emerged as a winner.

Following that, he established his company, SB Bioscience, through several investment firms impressed with their technologies. Today, as the CEO of SB Bioscience, he has brought the company to new heights and continues to grow and develop the business in innovative ways.

One of the biggest challenges for Mr. Gyuho was commercializing R&D items. He needed to gain the necessary business knowledge and networks because he had no experience with commercialization or company management. To address these issues, Mr. Gyuho decided to attend several

GYUHO YEOM CEO, SB BIOSCIENCE

conferences or fairs where he could introduce their technologies and apply them to accelerate programs that provide a business network in the bio-field. He continues to receive a great deal of assistance from those around him.

L eading the Company to Success

SB Bioscience was established to develop better therapeutic drugs and diagnostic devices using its aptamer platform. The company was founded by Mr. Gyuho and his wife, Juyoung Kang, who serves as the CTO. The two were researching different

areas of the biotech field, with Mr. Gyuho researching DNA binding protein and Mrs. Juyoung researching Aptamer. Through collaborative research, they were able to develop sensitivity-improved diagnostic kits. "We hope to develop better therapeutic drugs and diagnostic devices," Mr. Gyuho says.

What makes SB Bioscience unique among pharma firms is their approach to aptamers. Aptamers are artificially created short sequences of DNA, RNA, XNA, or peptide that can bind to a specific target molecule or group of target molecules. Unlike typical

Jinwoo Kim, Senior Researcher, SB Bioscience

Juyoung Kang, CTO, SB Bioscience

aptamer companies, SB Bioscience creates aptamers that can be used in combination with antibodies. Antibody drugs that are currently available are clinically highly effective. The company does not want to compete with these antibody drugs but instead uses aptamers to solve problems that antibodies cannot.

The performance of SB Bioscience has been impressive in recent years. The company has performed five R&D and commercialization tasks since its inception and has made advances in antigen diagnostic kits and new drug technologies using aptamers. They are currently negotiating business agreements with several companies that want to commercialize their cuttingedge technologies.

Innovation in the Forefront

Mr. Gyuho believes that a key to fostering innovation within the organization is to never infringe on personal freedom. He encourages individual break time or leisure time, as it can help team members develop new ideas or innovative thoughts. Furthermore, despite the company's small size, they work as a team on each project. This allows for easy sharing of opinions and achieving good results, as it bolsters each other's knowledge. As a biotech company, there is no immediate return on investment, but all costs are invested in R&D to reap enormous profits in the future. To motivate his team members, Mr. Gyuho believes that performance pay is the most effective motivator. However, due to the company's small size and lack of funds, it is difficult to

Unlike typical aptamer companies, SB Bioscience creates aptamers that can be used in combination with antibodies

pay large performance bonuses. To overcome this, they distribute company stock similar to stock options and strive to improve as a company. This way, employees are motivated to work for a long time as they see the company's growth.

Mr. Gyuho is a leader driven by his ambition and business acumen and a visionary dedicated to using cutting-edge technology to improve people's lives. He is constantly looking for ways to overcome the challenges he faces, and takes a hands-on approach to manage SB Bioscience. His leadership style encourages innovation and personal freedom, which is evident in the company's success. He is not only a leader focused on the bottom line but also committed to the growth and development of his employees.

As the CEO of SB Bioscience, Mr. Gyuho Yeom is a true pioneer in the biotech industry. He leads the company toward a bright future and is poised to significantly contribute to medicine and healthcare. With his vision, determination, and leadership, SB Bioscience will become a significant player

in biotechnology. In addition to his leadership and business acumen, Gyuho Yeom is also an expert in the field of biotechnology. His in-depth knowledge and understanding of the latest research and developments in the field allow him to make informed decisions and guide the company's R&D efforts in the right direction. This expertise is evident in the high-quality products that SB Bioscience produces and the numerous partnerships they have formed with other companies in the industry. Under his leadership, SB Bioscience constantly pushes the boundaries of what is possible in biotechnology. The company's focus on developing innovative solutions for diagnosing and treating diseases is making a real impact on people's lives. It has the potential to revolutionize the healthcare industry.

Championing Business in Science

Mr. Gyuho Yeom is not only a leader in the biotech industry but also a leader in the community. He is committed to giving back and uses the company's resources and

As the CEO of SB Bioscience, Mr. Gyuho Yeom is a true pioneer in the biotech industry. He leads the company toward a bright future and is poised to significantly contribute to medicine and healthcare

expertise to support various charitable causes. He believes it's important for the company to be a responsible corporate citizen and positively impact society.

The dedication to making a positive impact on society is a reflection of Gyuho Yeom's leadership style and personal values. Mr. Gyuho Yeom is a firm believer in the power of collaboration and understands that to achieve significant breakthroughs, it's important to work with other companies, research institutions, and organizations. He has fostered many partnerships and collaborations with other companies and organizations,

which has allowed SB Bioscience to access new technologies and expertise and expand its reach.

Towards the Future

In a nutshell, Mr. Gyuho Yeom is a leader who is not only driven by his ambition and business shrewdness but also by his passion for making a positive impact on society and his commitment to collaboration. His visionary leadership, expertise in the field, and dedication to making a difference drive SB Bioscience to new heights and position it as a leader in the biotech industry.

Why You Can Start Getting Excited About Growing Younger

Claudia von Boeselager, Peak Performance Coach & Founder of Longevity & Lifestyle

For some, the New Year means another year of getting older, another year where perhaps not all your goals have been achieved, another year where you might be worried “have I missed the boat?”

To top it all off, health and age-related issues may be creeping in, and it might even feel like they are just an inevitable part of aging.

If you’re worried about aging, I’m here to tell you that you don't need to be.

In fact, I’ve discovered what some might call the “Fountain of Youth”. And I now have a biological age 15 years younger than my chronological one.

But it was not always like that.

At one point, when I was only 35 years old, my doctor told me “I’m 2 weeks away from hospitalizing you…!”

How could this be? I’d always been this highenergy, no-mountain-too-high type of person.

Then I realized, I was on empty. When I got up from my desk, I felt like I was climbing Mount Everest - one slow step in front of the other…

I remember looking down at my watch and I could not believe it wasn't even lunchtime. I was beyond exhausted, and the day had hardly begun.

How was I going to run my businesses, take care of my kids and even have time for myself?

…And what will the next 30 years look like?

This was definitely NOT the life I wanted to lead!

In that moment I made a decision that changed the course of my life.

It set me on an incredible journey of 10+

Claudia von Boeselager is a Peak Performance Coach, Serial Entrepreneur, and former Investment Banker, passionate about helping people reach their next level - from life and business optimization to increasing health span for longer. Claudia is the founder of Longevity & Lifestyle and on a mission to help 1 billion people optimize their lives and reach their fullest potential. Through 10+ years of research, countless interviews with the world’s leading scientists, doctors, performance experts, and biohackers, Claudia has uncovered the key strategies and tools to live in peak state and grow younger - she now has a biological age 15 years younger than her chronological one! She is passionate about helping others achieve peak state too and reach their dreams.

I teach my clients how to age backward, reverse health issues, and have the vibrant energy they want - and need - to achieve those BIG goals, be it in their business or personal life

years of research, countless interviews with the world’s leading scientists, doctors, performance experts, and biohackers, not to mention hundreds of thousands spent, to uncover the key strategies and tools to not only repair my health but also thrive in all areas of my life - including growing younger to have a biological age 15 years younger.

So yes, it really is possible.

Now I’m so passionate about helping others live in Peak Performance too!

I teach my clients how to age backward, reverse health issues, and have the vibrant energy they want - and need - to achieve those BIG goals, be it in their business or personal life.

One of the things I discovered and now teach is that there is a synergistic combination of the right strategies that give you exponential results, without burning you out. In fact, it often means you do less, freeing up time for the things you love.

As younger generations flood into your industry, now is as important a time as any to start maximizing your competitive advantage and have the vibrant energy to do so.

If you feel like you might be losing your edge, know that a decline in your mental sharpness, fitness levels, memory, and competitive advantage is not inevitable.

You see, without vibrant energy, it’s so much harder to get things done, even with the best of intentions.

Vibrant energy is the missing link to extraordinary success; it’s why the world’s most successful people can maintain high energy while getting massive amounts done.

It is possible to literally grow younger and

have more energy in your 50s than in your 20s, giving you the vibrant energy to achieve your biggest goals and dreams in the coming year and beyond.

With the New Year and new beginnings upon us, what better time to choose to make this the

year of limitless energy on your path to reaching your dreams?

“Step out of the history that is holding you back. Step into the new story you are willing to create.”

- Oprah Winfrey

Vibrant energy is the missing link to extraordinary success; it’s why the world’s most successful people can maintain high energy while getting massive amounts done

We Need to Stop our Robotic Skepticism

Kenneth Richard Geipel, Co-Founder & CEO, Robotto Co

The most important issue that we humans are facing, isn’t climate change- it’s our evolution as a species. I am talking of course about our trust in autonomous robots.

For decades, robots have captured the imagination of us humans. We’re intrigued by

the idea of autonomation being an integrated part of society, making independent decisions, and altering the way we do things. We cheer for the R2D2’s and C3PO’s of Star Wars, we’re moved by our love for Wall-E, or wish for acceptance of David from the 2001 Spielberg

The latest UNEP report outlined the drastic effects of climate change has brought with it, including more frequent and increasingly violent wildfires, floods, and droughts

Kenneth is passionate about building teams and organizations where everyone can work at their natural best. With trust and freedom with responsibility. Kenneth started his career in the Danish Armed Forces, where he received the Armed Forces Appreciation for Extraordinary Service during his first deployment and became the youngest Corporal in the Danish Army. Kenneth was deployed two additional times and was politically appointed Sergeant and next in command of a force consisting of 40 internationally diverse personnel in a conflict zone. After 3 deployments, Kenneth went on to pursue his excitement for new technologies and studied Robotics at Aalborg University. The bachelor thesis led to the publication of two peer-reviewed scientific articles and to co-founding Robotto, a multiaward-winning startup, with a deep-rooted belief of inspiring the world through robotics.

movie A.I. We’re certainly inspired by the idea of robots like these, but what I find frustrating, as someone who’s dedicated their life to solving global problems with intelligent robotics, is that we have the means to develop robots such as these- and now that we need them more than ever, we have not accelerated that evolution.

The human race has never faced as many global crises as we do today. Our common goal of limiting global warming at 1.5° C now seems farfetched and the time has come to find solutions that allow us to minimize the harm this new climate brings with it. The latest UNEP report outlined the drastic effects of climate change has brought with it, including more frequent

and increasingly violent wildfires, floods, and droughts. A new World Fund for Wildlife (WWF) report outlined how climate change is causing a massive loss of biodiversity across the globe. These effects are just the beginning, but as we transition from solely focusing on stopping climate change to also dealing with the fallout, I strongly believe that intelligent robotics have a key role to play if we’re to help our home and the billions of animals living together with us.

Human View on Statistics

What does the phrase “autonomous robotics” mean to you? Often, we hear this phrase and assume it has something to do with industrial

robotics. Packages and pallets autonomously make their way from A to B, smart water pumps that are connected to the internet etcetera. We embrace these autonomations yet, studies have shown that skepticism towards autonomous robots continues to grow, especially when it comes to automation in our everyday lives.

A recent study called “Are robots becoming unpopular? Changes in attitudes towards autonomous robotic systems in Europe” by Timo Gnambs and Markus Apple outlined a growing trend of general skepticism towards robotics between 2012 – 2017. This trend, the authors warn, puts the future of robotics

We know that future development of autonomous driving can potentially eliminate traffic, thus requiring fewer roadways, and allowing for more green space, impacting our CO2 emission

at risk, and in my opinion, the future of the planet at risk.

Tesla is at the forefront in not only bringing forward the electric vehicle (EV), but also pushing beyond its competitors with their stateof-the-art research within autonomous driving. Forbes recently published an article that looked into the U.S. Department of Transportation’s efforts to increase roadway safety by publishing data on car crashes using Advanced DriverAssist Systems. Tesla’s cars had 273 incidents out of 392 incidents in total. But what does this data mean when compared to how we drive cars?

How many accidents have you been in? Did the accident teach you something? Did you store this information so that you can improve your driving going forward? When working with robotics, all data is saved and stored for future iterations, enhancing either identification, the decision tree, or other updates to the system. When it comes to self-driving

cars, Tesla’s system does just this. According to their data from Q4 2021 Tesla’s autopilot has been involved in an accident approximately every 4.31 million miles driven.

While, we humans, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, are involved in an incident every 484.000. That’s 9 times as often that we’re involved in an accident, then if we let a computer do the driving for us. In addition to this, we know that future development of autonomous driving can potentially eliminate traffic, thus requiring fewer roadways, and allowing for more green space, impacting our CO2 emission.

Augmentation, Not Competition

The average person is apprehensive about the integration of robots due to fears about their own lively hood, but what we fail to communicate as an industry is, that robots aren’t here to compete for or eliminate jobs, they are here to augment how you do your job- they are here to help you

do your job better. Robots are here to expand upon our capabilities as humans, and not to replace us.

Understanding this, the question becomes not if we should integrate robotics, but rather where? What takes precedent?

old, it's difficult to know if you’re going to be able to make a difference.

While fire may be the hottest disaster, floods have begun to devastate millions. This year we saw the world’s largest flooding disaster in Pakistan where millions are in critical need of life support and at risk of drowning and starvation. Some governments and organizations such as UNICEF are often reliant on donations to both map the disaster area, perform Search and Rescue operations, and restore critical infrastructure, getting water, food, and housing to those impacted.

Wildfires are one of the deadliest, most pollutive, and most destructive natural disasters that we’re seeing. Every fire season we watch as firefighters struggle to contain the flames due to the increasing frequency and ferocity of these fires. Fire departments across the globe report an overall lack of resources, both human and informational. Our brave heroes put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe, but often they are working at a disadvantage. I recently spoke with the CEO of Frontline Aero, and the Fire Captain of San Bernadino County’s Fire Department, Josh Wilkins. He noted that firefighters are doing their best with what they have, and they are doing a good job, but when the standard fire map is approximately 12 hours

Disasters such as these impact us all, including local wildlife. In Australia, the Koala population has been drastically impacted by bushfires, putting them at risk of extinction as early as 2050. The effects of these more intense and frequent disasters show a desperate need to work smarter when it comes to dealing with the fallout. There isn’t enough manpower in the world to stop all the fires, save everyone from floods, and protect our biodiversity to avoid extinction. Do we prioritize? Do we pick and choose who and what gets saved? Or do we dare to dream bigger?

Even if we stopped all CO2 emissions tomorrow globally, we know that the temperatures will continue to rise still for some time, and with it comes these natural disasters. Let’s use this opportunity as a springboard. Use the technology that we already have available and develop it in the field together with firefighters, first responders, and biologists, and give them a fighting chance against the imbalance of our nature. Human ingenuity can develop robots for good, but we need to trust ourselves before we can trust robots.

We know that future development of autonomous driving can potentially eliminate traffic, thus requiring fewer roadways, and allowing for more green space, impacting our CO2 emission

How to Lead in the Modern World

Lady Kendal Jaggar, Presenter, Author, & International Keynote Speaker

We see more often than not in today's modern world the phrase “Are you a leader or a boss” How many films have been made regarding bad bosses? You may recall the country and western singer Dolly Parton starring in “9-

5” or horrible bosses 1 & 2 all depicting the same message “Bad Bosses do not belong in the workplace”.

We have all been made to understand the reality of mental health and how it inflicts trauma to our mindset. How many of you have

The latest UNEP report outlined the drastic effects of climate change has brought with it, including more frequent and increasingly violent wildfires, floods, and droughts

Lady Kendal Jaggar – known in the industry as LKJ is an advocate for Mental Health Awareness and Well Being. LKJ strives for excellence as a Freelance Current Affairs News Reporter, Travel Journalist, Travel Writer, Published Author, and World Critic. She in her strive regarding her news reporting and other journalism areas decided to explore her mind and undertook further studies with Continual Professional Development taking further examinations in Criminal Procedures, Criminology, Advance Criminology, Forensic Science & Profiling, Forensic Psychology, Criminal Law, Contract Law, Tort Law, Wills & Probate Law, Family Law, Employment Law plus many more as she continues to feed her brain with knowledge to understand the ever changing and challenging world we live in. She believes that we have to look at the problems completely unbiased also without pre-judgment, use the voice we have to speak words of support and hopefully advise once we have used the ear to listen.

called in sick due to the emotional pressure inflicted upon you. How many of you have been subjected to mental health in the workplace?

“It’s time to say NO, and your No must have value as your Yes has to have reason” a motto used by my great friend Dr Rhonda Wood, who is a mental health advocate and top USA lawyer.

As a mental health advocate certified also in law, I look at these issues on a daily basis as a radio presenter dedicated to mental health and that of a journalist.

We have to stand in this modern world and have a workplace that is safe and secure, both physically and also for our mental health wellness.

Nick Inge, a close a dear friend, has taken on board these issues by creating the Itrust App. “We have developed a ground-breaking speak up app which we supply to organisations

to allow their staff to anonymously report wrongdoing. We also provide specialist speak up consultancy, training and technical expertise.”

In our modern world we need a great boss, someone who inspires their employees to be their best selves. As a boss they should always be able to ‘identify their employees’ best qualities’ using their wisdom along with their knowledge to bring them out. Additionally, they should pinpoint growth opportunities, share them in a constructive manner and help develop a plan for improvement.

Our workplace is a challenging place, as a leader you look out for your team, by engagement, communication skills, using participation and offering your help to explain any questions they may want to ask without fear of repercussions. We have to constantly feed our brains with knowledge, using training as a functional and a proactive way to keep hold of your staff. Shawn Fair has shown how his methods work in training and is highly recognised in the business world. Shawn Fair has trained over 300,000 leadership speakers, encouraging a new way forward in the workplace as has Marcus Wright showing us how we must use emotional intelligence in the workplace. We have to use the correct mindset; we have to work with a positive mindset to complete our tasks.

The Metaverse is Coming - Web 3

When web 2 (the internet) hit the workplace and the world by storm, it dramatically lowered the interaction costs of two-way communication over the World Wide Web, however, my belief is that the Metaverse is what web 2 didn’t fully complete.

The future in business is changing at a rapid rate, one in which all companies will be joining the Meta Verse. What we must do as a leader in this new revolutionary world, is ensure safety and mental health when we are creating our placement in the Metaverse.

Our voices have to be heard, we cannot be voiceless, we have to protect our mindset, we have to call out against any form of discrimination, we need to ensure that Diversity, Equality, Inclusion & disabilities are the main fundamental key we use to unlock that door to the Metaverse.

on the bonfire showcasing why they believed they made one telling stories that is no legacy to be remembered by. Edenbridge in Kent, is known for this spectacular effigy burning; Liz Truss being the latest to burn on November 5th 2022, with a lettuce on her shoulder.

Liz trust had worked hard through her career and was over within weeks in her promotion as the Prime Minister for the UNITED KINGDOM, the 11-metre-high effigy was clutching a cardboard box containing a leaver’s card and a copy of the Guinness Book of Records in reference to her record as the shortest serving PM.

We need to look to the modern leader, one that includes more women into the world of technology. We need more workplaces showcasing their mindsets in employment that shows everyone has a right to work, which is a protected characteristic in the UK. however more needs to be done in the world.

Use your mindset with wisdom, look towards saving the planet we live in by using Green Energy, Sustainability. As a leader in the modern world, show who you are! Showcase your persona and character and why you deserve to lead, leave a legacy that counts.

Empower your workforce, engage with your workforce, yes, the old cliche will remain even in the Metaverse, “LEAD AS YOU WISH TO BE FOLLOWED”.

Do not be a boss your workforce wants to burn at the stake like an effigy like Guy Fawkes on bonfire night, or perhaps many that have burnt

Be remembered that you truly led with courage to stand to show everyone was enough, you saw the vision and purpose in your colleague, friend for the right reasons; neither did you exploit their mental health. You led with appreciation, you led with using the correct letters of the alphabet to empower, causing effective language.

You were a modern leader, that moved your workforce in your participation as their leader, being simply your authentic self.

As a leader in the modern world, show who you are!

Showcase your persona and character and why you deserve to lead, leave a legacy that counts

2022 - The Year the Metaverse Got a Reality Check

Dr. Christina Yan Zhang, CEO, The Metaverse Institute

On 17th December, I chaired a discussion on Twitter Spaces with four distinguished experts in the metaverse, blockchain and digital technology. Our topic was: Is there still a point in entering the metaverse? Nearly 2,000 attendees tuned in; so, I guess that many people are asking this question.

Since Facebook changed its name to Meta in October 2021 and announced it would invest $100bn in the space, there has been enthusiasm worldwide about the metaverse. McKinsey & Company predicts that the metaverse-related economy could be worth $5 trillion by 2030.

Some would argue 2022 was a year when the metaverse saw continuing growth in interest, while others would point out the bursting of some significant bubbles. NFT sales have dropped by 97%. Crypto is facing tough regulatory

questions after the collapse of FTX. The share price of Meta has slumped 70% since its peak; a business worth $1 trillion in September 2021 is now valued at $310bn, and the company laid off 11,000 employees this year, 13% of the total.

Matthew Ball, tech investor and author of The Metaverse: How It Will Revolutionise Everything, says: “A year ago, it was mostly ‘What is the metaverse?’ Questions now are a lot more practical: ‘What will be here? When? For whom? How, and why?’”

Looking back at the year, what lessons can we learn to help us build a sustainable, inclusive and equitable metaverse ecosystem in the future?

The Definition of the Metaverse

The term ‘metaverse’ is nothing new. Author Neal Stephenson coined the word in his 1992

Dr Christina Yan Zhang, CEO of The Metaverse Institute. She is a pioneer in the metaverse. She started her master dissertation on the topic in 2006 using metaverse to develop international strategies for universities worldwide and completed a PhD with full scholarship in using digital twin services in the metaverse to augment the AEC industry in 2012. Christina is an award-winning business leader who has 16 years’ experience turning forward-thinking ideas into ultra-high growth business with global impact. She has extensive experience working with government ministers, universities presidents, and business CEOs on industry, innovation, and skills strategies. Christina was the first Chinese elected to the national executive of the UK National Union of Students (NUS) since 1922 and represented the interests of one million international students studying at 600 UK higher and further education institutions who contribute £30bn a year to the UK economy. She has sat on more than 20 advisory committees for UNESCO, the World Bank, the Commonwealth, the EU, and UK Governments among many others. She has led many successful lobbying efforts with government leaders, including former UK Prime Minister Theresa May on immigration changes. Christina also contributed to the establishment of the Commonwealth Students Association, representing 2 billion youth across 54 countries. Between 2012 and 2013, she worked in the UK Parliament developing policy for the Shadow Business Secretary’s team.

To achieve the full potential of a metaverse where millions of users can interact concurrently, quantum computing could be a solution

science-fiction novel ‘Snow Crash’, which envisions a virtual reality-based successor to the internet. In the novel, people use digital avatars of themselves to explore the online world.

The First Wave of the Metaverse

The 2003 virtual world Second Life is often described as the first metaverse. Second Life allowed people to create an avatar for themselves and have a parallel life in an online virtual world. Developed and owned by the San Francisco-based firm Linden Lab and launched on June 23, 2003, it saw rapid growth for some years and in 2013 it had approximately one million regular users. It is still going strong as of 2022, with around 900,000 active users.

I was lucky to be one of the early adopters of the metaverse, in 2006. I saw it as the next generation of the internet, and both my Master’s degree and PhD were focused on using the metaverse to help education institutions develop their international strategy, and on how architects, engineers and the construction industry can use VR and AR simulations.

The Second Wave of the Metaverse

The metaverse we talk about today is actually the second attempt at mass adoption. It started with a successful IPO of Roblox in March 2021, which achieved a market value of $38bn. The excitement about the metaverse really ramped up after Facebook changed its name to Meta in October that year.

Now, the metaverse has become a convergence of a whole range of cutting-edge technologies, which together will form the next generation of the internet. These include better and faster IT infrastructure, such as 5G and 6G mobile networks; new user interfaces such as XR, wearables, haptics, and voice/gesture recognition; and new computing technologies such as spatial, edge and quantum computing. There are also new information-organising tools such as AI and machine learning; digitalfinance technologies such as blockchain, NFTs, and cryptocurrency; and new forms of social interaction online, such as e-sports, virtual events and gaming. Many of these developments are interrelated or even interdependent, but it is still

Led by big tech such as Meta, Google, Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia etc, billions of people who already use the enterprise service for daily work would find the transition to the metaverse faster and smoother

uncertain what shape the emerging ecosystem will take. Nevertheless, it seems inevitable that many of these elements will combine to make the internet more immersive, interactive and intuitive.

Entrepreneur Jon Radoff has proposed seven fundamental layers of the metaverse. This is a good starting point to understand the ecosystem.

Challenges and possible solutions

1. IT infrastructure and computing power

Currently, the technology does not exist for hundreds or millions of users to participate in a shared concurrent experience in the metaverse. Although some metaverses with high concurrencies have existed for decades, such as Second Life, they essentially spoofed the experience by “sharding” and splitting users into different “worlds” and servers. As a result, a player only really sees or interacts with a small handful of other players at any one time.

Intel’s Raja Koduri has said that computer chips would need 1,000 times their current power to support a true metaverse.

To achieve the full potential of a metaverse where millions of users can interact concurrently, quantum computing could be a solution. This year’s Nobel Prize was awarded for groundbreaking research on quantum entanglement, which could potentially make it possible to create the IT infrastructure to realise the full potential of the metaverse.

Quantum computers could potentially be much, much faster than our fastest computers today. And the top IT firms involved in developing quantum computing, such as

IBM, Nvidia, Microsoft and Google, are also involved in building the metaverse. It would be interesting to see the more powerful computing power in place soon to provide the necessary IT infrastructure to allow the metaverse to flourish.

2. Virtual ‘Ghost towns’ - active user decline in consumer-focused metaverses

According to Decentraland, their “goal is to be a fun and entertaining platform with a thriving community that educates and onboards people to the philosophies and tech of Web3.” This is a good business model during time when the consumer wants to spend more time having fun and entertain themselves. However, during a time when the world is likely heading for recession, 75% of consumers are trading down across categories, according to McKinsey, 38% respondents are cutting Entertainment spending. Entertainment focused metaverse would also be affected by the recession.

“Consumer facing metaverses need to create solid social reasons for people to consistently visit the platform. The ‘ghost town’ issue is nothing new. When I was doing my PhD research on the world’s first metaverse Second Life in 2006, similar issue always exists. Unless there are major events, many parts of the digital world are less populated”. “For the metaverse to flourish, it needs to bring real world commercial value and social impact. That is what we, at The Metaverse Institute are doing, help organisations to use the metaverse tech to improve the real world.”

There are no easy solutions here. Existing, well-established retail and entertainment venues in the real world, such as cinemas and shopping

malls, can expect declines in their business during downturns - so it will be especially challenging to launch new online venues in these fields when customers are feeling the pinch. Consumer-focused metaverses may simply have to wait until the broader economy recovers.

3. An alternative starting point: Enterprise-focused metaverses

Given the economic climate, it is more likely that this new internet will grow out from the corporate sector, which has the resources to

invest through the downturn. That means a focus on enterprise solutions. The second wave of the metaverse will look less like ‘Second Life’, and more like ‘Second Work’ - at least in the short term.

Led by big tech such as Meta, Google, Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia etc, billions of people who already use the enterprise service for daily work would find the transition to the metaverse faster and smoother.

For example, Meta and Microsoft have announced a metaverse partnership focused on the future of work. “Both companies view

the metaverse as the next stage of workplace collaboration. Meta can capitalise on Microsoft Office’s loyal 1.2 billion users, while Microsoft benefits from Meta (nearly 3 billion monthly active users) to boost its own enterprise metaverse and VR gaming ambitions.” Microsoft’s Work Trend Index data shows that 50% of Gen Z and millennials envision doing some of their work in the metaverse in the next two years.

Another major leader in the enterprise metaverse is Nvidia. Backed by more than 3.5 million developers creating some 3,000 accelerated apps, Nvidia has also launched Omniverse Cloud Services, a metaverse-asa-service cloud that is used for Building and Operating Industrial Metaverse Application. They already work with more than 200 big enterprises worldwide from telecom, to energy, advanced manufacturing, to defence and aerospace. Amazon, AT&T, BMW, Ericsson, Foxconn, GM, Kroger, Siemens, Sony, Universal Robots, and Lockheed Martin are among some of the big enterprises using Omniverse to model reality (as digital twins) in the metaverse to improve operations and designs.

4. Digital Identity for both human and AI avatars

Digital identify is another key issue needs to be addressed before mass adoption. In addition to the digital identify of human being, there is also increasingly an issue of the digital identify of AI avatar. Since most people cannot live 24/7 in the metaverse, increasingly, a large number of avatars would be created using AI to populate the metaverse provide guidance, service and support to human avatars to make the best of their experience in the virtual world.

This year, Google and Meta demonstrated new text-to-video AI systems, focusing on quality and length with interesting results. My business partner Alan Boyd has announced in September 2022 at a metaverse conference I organised and chaired in London on the world’s first Digital Autonomous Lifeforms (DAULs), AI virtual assistants that are “Born on the Blockchain, Live in the Metaverse” who could provide 24/7 support to human to navigate the metaverse.

Consider the popularity of generative AI, for example, ChatGPT, once this technology is used to create large number of avatars in the metaverse, combined with voice recognition and gesture recognition, how could we clearly define the digital identity of human and AI avatars in the metaverse. If anything goes wrong with the AI avatars that cause harm to human avatars, who would be legally liable?

Currently this issue has not really been much discussed in the public domain. Digital identity of human avatar is an unresolved issue that regulators worldwide have been working hard to solve. The rise of digital identity of AI avatar would pose more complexity to the debate.

Some countries already start to legislate on generative AI. In December 2022, Chinese authorities have passed a regulation on “deep synthesis” technology, which includes technology that uses deep learning, virtual reality, and other synthesis algorithms to generate text, images, audio, video, and virtual scenes.” The new laws will go into effect from January 10th, 2023, and effectively require any AI-generated images to have a watermark that defines them as such. The rules ban people from using deep synthesis tech to generate and disseminate fake news. Platforms also

Led by big tech such as Meta, Google, Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia etc, billions of people who already use the enterprise service for daily work would find the transition to the metaverse faster and smoother

must remind users to get permission before they alter others’ faces and voices using deep synthesis technology.

Conclusion

If 2021 was the start of the second wave of the metaverse, then 2022 was the year it got a reality check. Consumer-focused environments are likely to struggle as long as economic hardship persists, while IT and computing power needs to develop significantly to build a truly immersive experience. Meanwhile, following the highprofile cryptocurrency collapses, the question of how to monetize metaverse experienceswhether that happens through blockchain-based digital assets, digital fiat, or bespoke in-world currencies - remains very much open.

But the next generation of the internet is still in development. A fully immersive VR world of the kind envisaged in science fiction, which is used daily by billions, will not arrive any time soon. But workable enterprise applications, such as digital twin technology, are already being used at scale. These will help drive investments in network infrastructure, which in turn will help spur the next generation of consumer-focused metaverses, perhaps when the economic outlook is better.

Looking back over 2022, I remain positive about the metaverse’s future development. At the Metaverse Institute we are here to assist you in your journey exploring the next generation of the internet and using it to spur commercial success and social impact in the real world.