CXO Outlook – Magazine – July 2023 – Most Inspiring Business Leaders – Volume 2

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Inspiring Stories of Vision, Innovation, and Impact

In this edition of our business magazine, we proudly present a collection of extraordinary stories that exemplify the essence of leadership, innovation, and resilience. Our main focus is on the most inspiring business leaders whose journeys have inspired and impacted countless lives, shaping industries and driving positive change.

Each of these leaders has walked a unique path, surmounting challenges and embracing opportunities to make an indelible mark in their respective fields. From entrepreneurs who turned ideas into global ventures to executives who led multinational corporations to new heights, their stories are not only inspiring but also deeply insightful.

The courage and vision exhibited by these business leaders serve as a beacon

of hope, particularly during challenging times when the global business landscape undergoes constant shifts and uncertainties. They demonstrate the importance of adaptability, innovation, and empathy in building sustainable and socially responsible enterprises.

As we celebrate the achievements of these inspiring leaders, we are reminded of the power of perseverance and the impact that can be made by those who dare to dream big and

push the boundaries of what is possible. Their commitment to ethical business practices and their dedication to empowering their teams echo the values that form the foundation of true leadership.

While our cover story features Mr. Sanjay Rughani, Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered Bank Uganda Limited, we also take you on a journey through the lives of other extraordinary individuals whose stories are equally deserving of recognition.

In a world that is constantly evolving, these inspiring leaders are catalysts for progress, and their stories are a source of motivation for entrepreneurs, professionals, and aspiring leaders alike. We hope that their insights and experiences will leave a lasting impression and ignite a spark of inspiration within each of our readers. Enjoy Reading.

Sarath Shyam

Evette Rose, Author, Life Coach & Founder, Metaphysical Anatomy

John Wilkie, Chief Executive Officer, MWM Payments

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SANJAY RUGHANI

EXECUTIVE OFFICER

STANDARD CHARTERED BANK UGANDA LIMITED

BEYOND PROFIT: A CEO’S COMMITMENT TO SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

CHIEF

Sanjay Rughani, CEO of Standard Chartered Bank Uganda, embodies a unique blend of cultural values and professional excellence. As a Tanzanian of Indian Origin, he credits his upbringing with instilling a deep respect for others, a close relationship with God, and an appreciation for the importance of family and friendships. “Growing up in Africa is not a lifestyle that comes with privilege like in many parts of the world, but the privilege we have is the privilege of togetherness; we embrace opportunities and challenges together, and that’s differently exciting,” shares Sanjay.

Sanjay considers himself blessed to have a nurturing family, with a dynamic wife who is a significant leader and two brilliant children who inspire him to be a better person every day. On a professional level, Sanjay has had a distinguished career spanning over 23 years with the worldrenowned Standard Chartered Bank, where he has held 18 different roles across 5 countries before taking up his current post in Uganda. “Uganda is my 6th country. This dynamic background has shaped me to be the resilient and open-minded leader I am today,” says Sanjay.

A True Leader in the Time of Turbulence

Sanjay acknowledges that the world, including Uganda and businesses, are currently navigating through turbulent times. From inflationary pressures and volatile exchange rates to constrained supply chains and subdued private sector investments, businesses are facing an array of challenges. In addition, the Covid pandemic has become a new normal. Sanjay opines, “The Russian-Ukrainian war conflict has further exacerbated the economic situation, with China/ US tensions also simmering. Energy prices have

remained elevated, and we are not immune to all that. We are going through a major storm that continues to impact global growth.”

Despite these challenges, Sanjay believes there are lessons to be learned. He says, “The general business sentiments are that

includes leveraging diverse capabilities and adopting new and innovative technology, such as digital workplaces, automation and business process reengineering, blockchain, and virtual and augmented reality.

Sanjay emphasises the importance of driving sustained impact as leaders by keeping teams focused on the ultimate purpose and relevance of the organisation, enhancing visibility to build confidence, thinking medium to long term, optimising all organisational resources, embracing vulnerability, and listening more. “As the saying goes, tough times never last, tough people do – in testing times, leaders need to confront the reality, keep and drive faith in the future and stay resilient,” pinpoints Sanjay.

Stabilising Uganda’s Financial Market

the world has become much faster, more complex, and the business environment globally is challenging; decision-making has therefore become extremely dynamic.” As a result, collaboration among countries, people, and businesses is essential. This

Over the past few years, Standard Chartered Bank Uganda has faced several challenges, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, inflationary pressures, supply chain disruptions, and changing regulatory landscape, among others. However, amidst these challenges, the Bank has focused on its strategy, providing its clients innovative and differentiated value propositions. “One key challenge we have faced is the rise of financial fraud and cybercrime, a global phenomenon. To address this, we have taken advantage of the Credit Reference Bureau to verify the creditworthiness of borrowers and reduce fraudulent transactions,” shares Sanjay.

As the Bank continues to optimise the opportunities presented by Uganda’s unique position, it has remained committed to the basics of good banking, such as being client-centric, paying attention to margins,

By staying true to its values, Standard Chartered Bank Uganda is poised to continue growing collaboratively with its clients, delivering innovative, differentiated, and enriched value propositions in the face of ongoing challenges

Sanjay’s educational background and professional qualifications have enabled him to represent the Bank in various leadership forums, showcasing his expertise and leadership skills

rigorously analysing credit, and offering differentiated and competitive services. The Bank has also invested in upskilling its workforce to remain relevant in the rapidly changing business environment.

“As time progresses, we also acknowledge that our customers are becoming increasingly sophisticated and more knowledgeable, and their expectations are increasing. We continue to adjust and evolve to offer solutions and products instantly on mobile devices to enable customers to carry out all their financial needs on mobile devices comfortably and conveniently,” explains Sanjay. To meet its customers’ needs, Standard Chartered Bank Uganda has adjusted its business model to offer solutions and products instantly on mobile devices, collaborating with various stakeholders and leveraging FinTechs to blur the lines between banking and fintech companies. Additionally, the Bank has been relying on data analytics to provide customised and personalized products to clients.

As the Bank looks to the future, it continues to invest in technology, with digital servicing overtaking branch servicing. “Such investments inevitably drive improvements in our digital systems, making us futureready. We are also investing in up-skilling our workforce as manual and repetitive tasks are increasingly digitised as we leverage new ways of working and hire more digitally savvy employees,” states Sanjay. By staying true to its values, Standard Chartered Bank Uganda is poised to continue growing collaboratively with its clients, delivering innovative, differentiated, and enriched value propositions in the face of ongoing challenges.

“It has been an exciting and demanding few months since I came into the role. As

a bank, we have entered 2023 backed up by a solid capital base and strong liquidity position, having achieved significant progress in 2022 against a challenging external environment,” says Sanjay. Looking forward, Sanjay is confident that Standard Chartered Bank Uganda’s solid performance in 2022 demonstrates its agility, resilience, empathy, and dedication to meeting clients’ dynamic needs. “At Standard Chartered, we have over the past 111 years demonstrated our commitment to transform the banking sector by leveraging both our local and international expertise to come up with timely, valueadding and innovative solutions which make banking services secure, accessible, inclusive and convenient for individual clients from all walks of life,” adds Sanjay.

Standard Chartered Bank has always been at the forefront of innovation. The Bank’s commitment to innovation has earned the Bank various industry firsts, milestones, rewards, and recognition over the 111 years of its existence. In 2015, Standard Chartered Bank invested USD 1.5 billion in digitisation globally, demonstrating its commitment to a culture of innovation. “We understand that the future is bright and promising for Banks that are digitising as it makes banking easier, faster, cost-effective and safer for everyone,” opines Sanjay.

Clients now expect ease of technological use, security, 24/7 access, and a seamless mobile and online banking experience. Standard Chartered Bank has embraced these expectations and offers its clients consistent mobile and online banking experiences. This includes replicating usernames and passwords, beneficiaries, standing instructions, and bill payees across both channels, simplifying

banking for clients. “As Standard Chartered, we pride ourselves on being ‘Digital with a Human touch.’ We continue to cautiously invest resources in client support systems to ensure that the customer journey is satisfactory,” says Sanjay. The Bank is committed to offering user-friendly and round-the-clock services to remain relevant and profitable and to achieve growth.

From Chartered Accountant to CEO

Sanjay is a well-educated and accomplished individual with an impressive list of qualifications. He holds a Chartered Accountant certification through NBAA Tanzania and is a Fellow Member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). In addition, Sanjay has an MBA in Finance, a post-graduation in HRD, and a Bachelor of

Commerce. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Information Management Africa (Nigeria) and an accredited Executive Coach through the Academy of Executive Coaching (AoEC).

Sanjay’s educational background and professional qualifications have enabled him to represent the Bank in various leadership forums, showcasing his expertise and leadership skills. “Despite studying a myriad

of things, the one thing that shapes me the most is being a Chartered Accountant,” says Sanjay. As a Chartered Accountant, he has learned the language of business and embraced a code of practice that prioritises ethics, trust, and transparency in communication with stakeholders. These values have significantly shaped Sanjay’s leadership style and made him the successful CEO he is today.

Sanjay has enjoyed a successful career marked by significant business transformation and leadership recognition. Throughout his career, he has been credited with enhancing business performance, building human capital, driving responsible business practices and sustainability, championing digital integration and innovation, and contributing to national and global prosperity.

“My journey with Standard Chartered Bank began in 1999 when I joined the Tanzania branch as Manager for Business Finance and Support. I was promoted to Regional Finance Manager Africa two years later and relocated to the UK,” shares Sanjay. He has also held several senior roles in different markets across the Bank, including Finance Director for Standard Chartered Bank Tanzania, Executive Director, Finance in Ghana, and Area CFO for Ghana, Gambia, Sierra Leone, and Cote d’Ivoire.

Before becoming CEO of Standard Chartered Bank Tanzania, Sanjay was the Head of FSSC (interim) for India and Head of Finance Operations & Change Management for Africa. In addition to his CEO role in Tanzania, he served as the Chairman of CEO Roundtable Tanzania, Deputy Chairman of the Tanzania Bankers Association (TBA), Executive member of Tanzania National Business Council (TNBC), Director of the

As Chief Enabling Officer (CEO), Sanjay is leading and enabling his team to achieve their financial and business targets while focusing on building a bestin-class customer experience and strengthening their position as the employer of choice

Association of Tanzanian Employers (ATE), and was a Member of YPO.

Sanjay’s past governance representations include Non-Executive Director for Standard Chartered Bank Uganda, President of Lincoln Community School (International School in Ghana), Chairman of Ghana Business Coalition against HIV & AIDS (GBCA), Director of Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF), and Founder member of FSSC forum in Kenya. Currently, Sanjay is the Chairman of the Professional Accountants in Business Advisory Group (PAIB AG) of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC).

A Typical Day

Sanjay’s day typically starts with catching up on the news headlines before diving into managing the stakeholders of Standard Chartered Bank, including the Board, regulators, staff, and clients, into ensuring optimal business performance. The Bank’s brand promise of “Here for good” is central to his work, which focuses on building and maintaining longstanding relationships with customers, promoting sustainability and ethical conduct, and preserving the Bank’s geography, footprint, and heritage.

Sanjay shares, “Service is very fundamental to my life. So, you will see me serving my clients and staff as my relationships are very key. Lastly, I create synergies between my work and community by being outgoing and outspoken. I contribute ideas and solutions in every space I occupy,” Sanjay is no stranger to pressure, having worked in high-pressure environments for many years, and he is a resilient individual who has been tested time and again.

Hacks and Advice to Be a Successful Leader

Sanjay’s ten entrepreneurial business hacks are: first, belief in yourself, your business, and the environment around you. Second, think differently and prioritise your clients. Third, focus on doing the hard work first. Fourth, have a purpose-driven mindset and prioritise serving others. Fifth, cultivate a growth mindset and embrace lifelong learning. Sixth, create a mission that is worth dedicating your life to. Seventh, don’t fear failure - see it as an opportunity to learn and grow. Eighth, stay informed and continually seek knowledge to empower yourself. Ninth, be proactive in creating opportunities for yourself and create your own luck. Tenth, be bold and take advantage of any privilege or advantage you have to maximise your potential for success. These tips can help you achieve your goals and thrive in the entrepreneurial world.

According to Sanjay, inclusive leadership will be crucial for business executives to succeed in the future. He explains, “The need for inclusion as a new leadership capability is going to be about keeping it simple, human, and ensuring employees understand what inclusion is and how those behaviours show up at work. Business executives should always keep on top of their minds the fact that if their employees feel like they truly belong and are supported, they will thrive.”

Sanjay further states that businesses and society increasingly demand more ethical practices, integrity, sustainability, and good governance as part of growth. Leaders must focus on responsible leadership, good conduct, governance, accountability, fairness,

transparency, the right values, human rights, and embracing diversity and inclusion.

“Attention to such matters will give business executives a more preferential license to grow in the future,” Sanjay opines.

The Ongoing Projects

As Chief Enabling Officer (CEO), Sanjay is leading and enabling his team to achieve their financial and business targets while focusing on building a best-in-class customer experience and strengthening their position as the employer of choice. He is also actively promoting economic inclusion and tackling inequality in Uganda through Futuremakers by Standard Chartered programmes, which focus on education, employability, and entrepreneurship.

Sanjay shares, “Under the Education pillar, we aim to empower 500,000 adolescent girls with life skills. The Employability pillar aims to deliver work readiness and vocational training schemes for 100,000 youth aged between 16 to

30, prioritising women and people with visual impairments. The Entrepreneurship pillar aims to provide training, capacity building, and financing to 50,000 Micro & Small businesses.” Sanjay’s focus is also on delivering STANDS, which include Lifting Participation, Accelerating Zero, and Resetting Globalization. “The STANDS aim to improve the lives of women and small businesses, address climate change by reducing carbon emissions, and support Ugandan companies to improve their environmental, social and governance standards,” adds Sanjay.

Sanjay’s career is a testament to the power of hard work, dedication, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. As a leader and change agent, he has been able to drive positive change in his organisation and the wider community. Sanjay’s commitment to promoting economic inclusion, addressing inequality, and creating a sustainable future inspires us all. Through his work, he has shown that it is possible to lead with purpose and make a real difference in the world.

Sanjay’s career is a testament to the power of hard work, dedication, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. As a leader and change agent, he has been able to drive positive change in his organisation and the wider community

Making a Tangible Impact in the Society Through Thought Leadership

J.C. McKissen, Thought Leader, Writer & Editor, LinkedIn

How are you seeing content marketing trends evolve in today’s B2C and B2B marketplace around the globe?

Obviously much of the dialogue in content marketing right now is being consumed by the discussion around AI. That subject is its own huge debate, but it is funny to me that that dialogue focuses on content, and not results. Content in and of itself is just noise. It must

achieve results of some type to be meaningful, and I am highly skeptical that machines can move people toward action in any meaningful way.

It might sound old fashioned, but I believe the content marketers that manage to get people to actually listen will be the ones that embrace and amplify human voices, experiences, and perspectives.

J.C. McKissen is a Writer & Editor for LinkedIn, where he has over 102,000 followers and has twice been named a “Top Voice on Management & Corporate Culture.” He is also a contributor to a wide variety of national media platforms and previously owned a successful communications consultancy. Combined, his writing has received over 40 million views. He graduated with a degree in public policy from Prescott College and a graduate degree in public management from Northern Arizona University, along with a post-graduate certificate in Executive Leadership from Cornell University.

Recently, in an exclusive interview with CXO Outlook Magazine, J.C shared his professional journey, the inspiration behind his career choice, personal leadership style, the secret mantra behind his success, and a lot more. The following excerpts are taken from the interview.

I believe the content marketers that manage to get people to actually listen will be the ones that embrace and amplify human voices, experiences, and perspectives

J.C, please tell us a bit about yourself, background, and areas of interest.

I live in Salt Lake City, Utah, with my wife and three kids. I grew up in Utah, attended college and graduate school in Arizona, then moved around the country before coming back here. Professionally, I use to be the director of nonprofit trade associations before having a blog post go viral on LinkedIn in 2014. I continued to write, and about a year later transitioned to being a fulltime writer and communications consultant.

Fast forward to today, and I have over 105,000 followers and several million views of my articles. I love writing about business, entrepreneurship, the economy – really anything.

Why did you choose the field of content writing? How did you get introduced to this field? What inspires you the most about your career choice?

It happened accidentally. I had success with my blogs on LinkedIn, which eventually led to more opportunities to write for other national media platforms. That exposure led to more and more consulting opportunities, where I advised companies on content and communication strategies.

For me, working in this field is amazing, simply because it allows me to have an opportunity to be creative.

Can you tell us about your role as the lead writer and editor of the LinkedIn Sales Solutions? What is your most favorite and least favorite part of your role?

I love working with LinkedIn. I have had a long relationship with them, beginning with being

I take a lot of pride in not sounding like anyone but me, and my favorite thing to hear from a reader is that something I wrote had a positive, tangible impact on their life

named a “Top Voice” on multiple occasions, and now working for them to write and edit the LinkedIn Sales Solutions blog. It isn’t a solo effort, at all. I work with other writers and a great editor.

My favorite part is seeing the impact good writing and thought leadership can have, even with all the noise out there. And, honestly, I don’t have a least favorite part. LinkedIn and the people there have always been incredibly good to me.

With more than 100,000 followers on LinkedIn, do you feel a sense of responsibility towards your followers?

Absolutely. I put everything I have into my writing, and I hope I am always sharing a new idea – or an old idea shared a different way. I take a lot of pride in not sounding like anyone but me, and my favorite thing to hear from a reader is that something I wrote had a positive, tangible impact on their life. Whenever I hear that I feel like I’m doing exactly what I’m supposed to be doing in life.

Are there any hobbies or interests that helped you develop your writing skills?

I love actively listening to music, and by that, I mean focusing on the lyrics. The worst written song is a million times better than the best written piece of “content” out there. Blogs and articles have specific word and other structural requirements that must be met. The same is true for songs. It reminds me of an awesome lyric from Bruce Springsteen: “We learned more from a three-minute record, baby / Than we ever learned in school.”

I learn to be a better writer by reading and listening to the writers that inspire me. And that

Bruce Springsteen lyric is a great example of why AI will never replace human voices. That lyric didn’t inspire me because of the way the words are strung together. It inspired me because the man who wrote it lived that experience, and if it worked for him, it could work for me.

Our readers would love to know how do you tailor your content to your audience? And how do you make a boring subject interesting?

I don’t really tailor my content to my audience, even if I’m addressing a specific audience. I think if you are striving to deliver real value, your content can be applicable to almost any audience. For example, I am currently working on a piece focused on helping salespeople cope with layoffs. However, the more that article speaks to essential truths –like managing the psychological impact of being let go – the more valuable it is to my specific audience, and to a general audience. Regarding a boring subject, I used to write a lot about supply chain management for a blog I ran for a company. Supply chain management can be all about the extremely mundane details, like shipping weights and trucking rates -- or you can think of it as the way our world comes alive. It’s all about having an imagination. If you look near your feet, and all you see is dirt, then you’re a normal person. If you look at the dirt and see a vast, tiny kingdom you wished you knew more about, then you’re a real writer. Lots of normal people “write” about the dirt. Real writers tell you about the kingdom only they can see. And that is never boring.

I think there is only one way to lead: Embody the values you say you have, follow-through, and always put yourself in the other person’s shoes. That’s an ideal leader, to me

How do you motivate and inspire your team to achieve their goals? Tell us about your leadership style.

I think there is only one way to lead: Embody the values you say you have, follow-through, and always put yourself in the other person’s shoes. That’s an ideal leader, to me.

I hope to keep working on myself so that one day I am that leader, all the time. I hit the mark sometimes. Other times I wildly miss, but I will keep trying to get there.

You are a two-time “LinkedIn Top Voice”, published novelist, and an awardwinning short story writer. What is the secret sauce behind your success?

Mix a super-traumatic childhood, thousands of hours of driving around by myself and crying while I listen to Bruce Springsteen, an amazing wife and three incredible children, and the willingness to job-hop like a maniac until you find your true calling, and what you will eventually get is someone so strange they could only find work as a writer.

It's a tale as old as time – or at least as old as writers.

What is the one thing you have accomplished in your career that you’re extremely proud of and do you have any specific goals for 2023?

I should never have been here, at all. In high school I was a poor student, and I come from a family that experienced significant tragedy, much of it self-inflicted. No one would have labeled me “Likely to succeed,” yet here I am. So, I am proud of all of it, even the failures. And my goal for 2023 is to be a lot better person than I was in 2022. Next year we will adjust those up a year.

As content marketing trends evolve, what are some of the top tips you’d leave marketers and business owners with?

AI isn’t a shortcut to establishing a voice, a brand identity, or a meaningful way to communicate with your customers. Real voices still matter, and I believe they will grow to matter even more. Keep honing that authentic voice, and as the digital babble grows, you’ll find yourself ahead of everyone else.

Brandon Sherwood

CO-FOUNDER & CIO, COR-TECH CAPITAL

UNVEILING THE ART OF PERSONALIZED INVESTING

The spark that ignited the creation of CorTech Capital, as explained by Brandon Sherwood, Co-Founder and CIO, was rooted in a desire to revolutionize the investment landscape through a personalized touch. Recognizing a gap in the market for tailored investment strategies, Sherwood and his team aimed to redefine the standards of diligent, effective, and tailor-made financial planning and portfolio management.

"Our ambition was not merely to fill this gap but to redefine the standards of diligent, effective, and tailor-made financial planning and portfolio

management," Sherwood remarks, emphasizing their commitment to individualized financial fiduciary standards.

To achieve their vision, Cor-Tech Capital employed a unique approach by setting up a series limited liability company (LLC), which Sherwood compared to crafting a tree with multiple branches. The foundation of this structure lies in the "master LLC," akin to planting the seed from which distinct series or portfolios sprout.

Sherwood elaborates, "Each of these 'branches' functions almost like its own separate tree, carrying its unique assets and liabilities, which,

Brandon Sherwood CO-FOUNDER & CIO, COR-TECH CAPITAL

in turn, offers a layer of financial protection to its investors." This meticulous arrangement of assets under different series ensures a secure investment environment while catering to specific objectives and strategies for each series.

At Cor-Tech Capital, the team prides itself on being trusted financial advisors to their clients. Their unique blend of fundamental, technical, and quantitative analysis forms the core of their approach, allowing them to mitigate risks and enhance potential returns.

"Our approach involves a blend of fundamental analysis to understand the underlying value of investments, technical analysis to identify market trends and patterns, and quantitative analysis to

uncover hidden insights and optimize portfolio allocation," Sherwood explains.

The primary objective at Cor-Tech Capital is not only to meet clients' financial goals but to surpass them. Sherwood stressed their commitment to keeping clients well-informed, involving them in every decision made along the investment journey.

"Our client's success is our success, and we believe that keeping them informed and involved is vital to achieving their financial aspirations," Sherwood affirms.

The series LLC structure provides Cor-Tech Capital with the flexibility and protection needed to execute its investment strategies effectively. This legal formation allows them to navigate the

dynamic investment landscape while safeguarding their clients' interests.

Sherwood pinpoints, "Our firm, structured as a series limited liability company, allows us to take advantage of the flexibility and protection this legal formation provides. It aligns with our commitment to offering individualized and secure investment opportunities to our clients."

With its personalized approach, commitment to transparency, and innovative series LLC structure, Cor-Tech Capital is poised to redefine the investment landscape and empower investors to achieve their financial dreams.

Navigating the Financial Journey

The Fund at Cor-Tech Capital can be likened to a showroom filled with a diverse range of vehicles, each representing a different financial journey. Sherwood, using vivid analogies, describes the two main portfolios within the Fund.

Sherwood explains, "For the thrill-seekers, our Series 1 portfolio is akin to a Ferrari - designed

for enhanced returns and higher risk, providing the excitement of potentially high growth." This portfolio offers the possibility of greater returns, but it requires a willingness to navigate the twists and turns of the market.

On the other hand, the Series 2 portfolio is compared to a battleship, symbolizing solidity and steadiness. Sherwood explains that it is slowermoving but designed for consistent performance, consistently outperforming the market with roughly half the risk. This portfolio is ideal for investors who prioritize a smoother ride and value safety and stability.

The range of portfolios offered by Cor-Tech Capital reflects their commitment to tailoring investment opportunities to meet diverse objectives and strategies, providing a personalized experience for each investor.

Selecting investments for each segregated portfolio at Cor-Tech Capital is described as a detective-like process. Sherwood and his team conduct a thorough analysis, employing a blend

The series LLC structure provides Cor-Tech Capital with the flexibility and protection needed to execute its investment strategies effectively

of fundamental, technical, and quantitative approaches. They dig deep, back-test strategies using historical data, and rigorously assess investments to ensure they align with their stringent criteria.

Just as a chef carefully selects the finest ingredients for a meal, Cor-Tech Capital meticulously handpicks investments, considering factors such as market trends, company fundamentals, industry analysis, and risk levels. This attention to detail is part of their commitment to creating well-balanced, tailor-made portfolios for their investors.

Reflecting on their journey, Sherwood highlighted a significant milestone in 2022. Cor-Tech Capital managed to outperform many markets, demonstrating impressive returns while assuming only half the risk typically associated with such gains. This accomplishment showcases their dedication to smart risk management and the power of their investment philosophy.

Sherwood paints a vivid picture and says, "It is as though we climbed a mountain, reaching higher than most, but found a route that reduced our risk of stumbling. This achievement is a testament to our commitment to smart risk management and the power of our investment philosophy. It is moments like these that underline why we do what we do, and they propel us to keep striving for even greater heights in the future."

To effectively manage risk, Cor-Tech Capital employs a robust process that includes diversifying investments across different asset classes, industries, and geographies. They continuously monitor their portfolios, and the series LLC structure adds an extra layer of protection by segregating the assets and liabilities of each series, ensuring investor security.

Captaining Cor-Tech Capital's Investment Journey

As Co-Founder and CIO of Cor-Tech Capital, Sherwood fulfills a multifaceted role within the company. Drawing upon the analogy of a captain and navigator, Sherwood's responsibilities encompass various aspects of the firm's operations.

As the captain of Cor-Tech Capital, Sherwood steers the direction of the company, ensuring that their investment strategies are not only robust on paper but effectively implemented in practice. He takes an active role in shaping the overall vision and goals of the organization.

In Sherwood's own words, "I wear the dual hats of Co-Founder and CIO at Cor-Tech Capital, and my role is truly multifaceted. It's a bit like being both the captain and the navigator of a ship. As the captain, I steer the direction of our company, ensuring that our investment strategies are not just robust on paper but effectively implemented in practice."

In his role as a navigator, Sherwood remains attentive to the ever-shifting currents of market trends. He analyzes these changes to assess their potential impact on their investment journey and makes necessary adjustments to maintain the desired course.

Sherwood explains, "As a navigator, I keep a keen eye on the shifting currents of market trends. I analyze how these changes could impact our journey and make necessary adjustments to keep us on course."

Apart from guiding the company, Sherwood places great importance on building and maintaining strong relationships with clients. He recognizes that client satisfaction and support are vital throughout their investment journey with Cor-Tech Capital.

"Maintaining strong client relationships is paramount to us," Sherwood emphasizes. "We want our clients to feel supported and informed at every step of their investment journey with us."

Monitoring the performance of the portfolios managed by Cor-Tech Capital is another critical aspect of Sherwood's role. He ensures that the portfolios meet the high standards set by the company and consistently seeks potential improvements to enhance results and client satisfaction.

Sherwood adds, "Monitoring the performance of our portfolios is another crucial aspect of my role. I am committed to ensuring they meet the high standards we have set at Cor-Tech Capital. This includes looking for potential improvements that could enhance our results and our client's satisfaction."

To effectively manage risk, Cor-Tech Capital employs a robust process that includes diversifying investments across different asset classes, industries, and geographies

The investment strategy employed by Cor-Tech Capital is a blend of fundamental, technical, and quantitative analysis

To stay updated with market trends and identify new investment opportunities, Sherwood and his team utilize advanced market analysis tools, maintain close connections with industry experts, and prioritize continuous learning and development.

"We utilize advanced market analysis tools, maintain close ties with industry experts, and prioritize continuous learning and development," Sherwood states. "Staying updated with market trends and identifying new investment opportunities are essential aspects of our approach at Cor-Tech Capital."

Setting a Unique Standard in Investment Excellence

"In the world of investing, Cor-Tech Capital stands as a unique player," says Brandon Sherwood, CoFounder and CIO of the firm. "What differentiates us is our perpetual commitment to our clients, our stringent yet flexible investment strategies, and our proven record of performance."

At the core of Cor-Tech Capital's approach is a client-centric focus. Sherwood emphasizes, "Our investors are not just clients; they are part of the Cor-Tech family. We are always available to them, ready to answer questions, provide updates, or simply have a chat about the latest market trends."

The investment strategy employed by CorTech Capital is a blend of fundamental, technical, and quantitative analysis. Sherwood explains, "This balanced approach helps us see the full picture, evaluate investments from all angles, and make well-informed decisions."

These elements combine to give Cor-Tech Capital a competitive edge and set them apart in the crowded field of investment firms. Sherwood highlights their commitment to continuously improving their investment strategies and exploring new avenues for growth.

"When it comes to measuring our success," Sherwood states, "we look at various metrics such as portfolio performance, risk-adjusted returns, and client satisfaction. Our goal is to consistently meet or exceed our client's expectations and financial objectives."

Looking towards the future, Cor-Tech Capital aims to further enhance its investment strategies while considering expanding its offerings to include more specific thematic investments based on market trends.

As Sherwood summarizes, "Cor-Tech Capital is dedicated to delivering exceptional service, rigorous investment strategies, and strong performance. We are committed to the success of our clients and will continue striving for excellence in the ever-evolving world of investments."

Crafting the Destination Organization: How Leaders Can Harness 3 Strategies to Win the Race for Talent

Barry Winkless, CSO Cpl Group & Head, Future of Work Institute Cpl

Things look vastly different in the world of work. The very essence of what 'work' is, what constitutes a 'job' or what represents an 'organisation' is evolving at a rapid rate. Digital technologies are rewriting the rules of delivery & engagement. Aling with growing economic and environmental uncertainties there are exponential challenges for organisations trying to attract and retain the best talent globally (being popularised as the Great Resignation or Great Evaluation). In fact, never has talent been so high on the agenda of senior executives. From FOWI research over 85% of leaders are highlighting talent attraction, retention, and the employee experience as key priorities. A recent CIPD survey released in Autumn 2022 found that 46% of employers in the UK have hard-tofill vacancies and 56% expected those vacancies to increase (within the next month).

In this ultra-competitive and evolving talent market leaders must deploy 3 strategies to succeed:

● One - craft a meaningful employer story that is as exciting and as inclusive as possible (and get it to the right audience)

● Two - purposefully design and deploy a people value proposition that creates a competitive advantage

● Three - harness workforce innovation & professionalisation that broadens talent scope and uses best in class delivery models

Storytelling is often spoken about, yet rarely utilised to its full potential- particularly when it comes to telling the story of an organisation in a meaningful way to prospective employees (and indeed current employees). From our research only 15% of businesses have a fully formed employer brand and employer story, and even fewer are fully utilising the myriad of mediums and platforms to get their stories to the right audience. And yet this is in the context of an increasingly consumer-ised approach to job

Barry is Chief Strategy Officer of Cpl Group & head of the future of work institute. He is a thought leader on the future of work, strategic design, and business creativity. Over the past 25 years he has worked globally with some of the world’s most respected organisations and is a frequent author and speaker at numerous client and external events. As head of the future of work institute Barry leads a multidisciplinary team working globally to question, explore and design future work solutions with organisations. So, he isn’t just a speaker but is actively pushing the frontiers of the future of work every day in the real world.

Part of the role of a modern leader is to be a talent beacon for their business and embody its essence and uniqueness to current and future employees

Leaders have an opportunity to purposefully design their organisations to be true destinations for talent. But they need to focus their efforts to achieve it

hunting- where a potential candidate will refer to at least 6-10 sources whilst researching an organisation for a new role.

‘Part of the role of a modern leader is to be a talent beacon for their business and embody its essence and uniqueness to current and future employees’ Lorna Conn, CEO, Cpl Group.

A good starting point on this story journey is the creation of a company ‘show bible’an idea we at the Future of Work Institute borrowed from the concept of a TV series show bible used to pitch new shows to executives. This company show bible should capture the essence, the stories, the tone, the visuals, the context, the values, the culture and beyond to

fully encapsulate the truth of an organisation for those working in it. Storytelling in this context needs to fully harness the various tools and ‘tricks’ of the story trade. For example, most great stories have some antagonist (s) or enemies. What are you fighting against? What are you trying to defeat in your culture? Asking these questions brings us to a more emotional and meaningful place.

Two

From experience we have learned that most companies don’t have a formalised approach to their people value proposition (PVP)- i.e., what value do current and prospective employees receive from working with that organisation. The same way we have formalised approaches to our customer propositions we need to apply the same level of thinking and continuous design to our people value proposition. And the canvas to play with is bigger than you might think.

‘Leaders have an opportunity to purposefully design their organisations to be true destinations for talent. But they need to focus their efforts to achieve it’. Barry Winkless, Future of Work Institute.

We have identified 20 areas that can be purposefully designed to attract and retain talent. These areas cover everything from the obvious- Remuneration, Benefits & Perks to the not so obvious like Work-Life Balance. Social Capital, Innovation & Technology and Leadership Behaviours. Flexibility is a good example of a Work-Life area gaining a lot of attention that can be used as a mechanism to attract and retain talent. From our research across more than 1000 candidates, the vast majority felt that a 3/2 or 2/3 home/office

split for flexible working was becoming a key differentiator for organisations. Even in small businesses there are areas that can be identified as an important value driver for current and future employees and further improved to be a key differentiator. A good first step is to map what are your current strengths are in relation to your people value proposition- what do people say is great about your company both internally and externally- and to initiate a formal process to create a roadmap of design to evolve the proposition overtime.

Diagram 1 below highlights an example of a PVP assessment conducted across the 20 key areas mentioned by the FOWI in a technology organisation (generified) as a basis to create an overall PVP program and associated initiatives. This plot highlights the level of maturity & excellence across each key PVP areas.

What was initially striking in this project was the lack of consensus and alignment by the leadership team on what made their organisation unique and what areas of strength they had across the 20 areas. This was resulting in several internal engagement challenges and problems with the external amplification of the employer brand. And this organisation is not unique- it is a common finding in many of our PVP projects.

Leaders must take control of their PVP and create a consensus view of the current and future model that will support the ongoing relevance of their organisation to key cohorts of people. It is not a stretch to say that the level of focus that is given to an organisations customer value propositions must at least be matched by the level of focus they give to their people value propositions.

Three Workforce & Talent Solution innovation offers a genuine competitive advantage to organisations who purposefully harness it. In the same way companies focus on service, product and digital innovation, leaders can look to talent as a new frontier for innovation. Aine Fanning, Cpl TEG

To broaden talent pools and improve attraction & recruitment practices organisations must harness the latest thinking and solutions to be successful. This thinking needs to cover everything from moving away from traditional role models to skills-based models, focusing on internal development of

Figure 1: A PVP plot across 20 areas

Workforce & Talent Solution innovation offers a genuine competitive advantage to organisations who purposefully harness it

existing employees, to deploying significant DE&I initiatives, to harnessing best in class talent solutions partners, and using new workforce models like gig, contracting and contingency. It also means a shift in the leadership mindset to recognise that talent attraction, regardless of where an organisation is based, is now truly global in scope, is very much data driven and must be experience centric. Multiple platforms and technologies are available across the talent value chain that can give greater insights, enhance the talent journey, and create seamless connectivity across attraction, recruitment, onboarding, development, and retention. From our

experience we often find that organisations would benefit from taking a more strategic perspective on their talent attraction and recruitment practices and to fully explore partnership and outsourcing opportunities to better harness talent innovation.

Conclusion

It’s time for leaders to step up and deploy a more structured and strategic response to talent attraction and retention. It needs to be focused on 3 core areas- employer story, people value proposition and workforce innovation- to win in an increasingly competitive and challenging talent market.

The Future of Payment Orchestration

John Wilkie, Chief Executive Officer, MWM Payments

Payment orchestration has come a long way since its inception in the 2010s, and it is poised to continue evolving in the years to come. As consumers become more tech-savvy and demand more seamless payment experiences, payment orchestration companies will need to keep up with the times. Here are some of the trends we can expect to see in the future of payment orchestration:

1. Increased focus on security: As more and more sensitive financial information is transmitted over the internet; security will continue to be a top concern for businesses and consumers alike. Payment orchestration platforms will need to prioritize security measures like encryption, tokenization, and fraud detection to ensure that transactions remain safe and secure.

2. Greater flexibility: One of the key benefits of payment orchestration is its ability to manage multiple payment methods, currencies, and countries from a single interface. In the future, we can expect to see even greater

flexibility as payment orchestration platforms integrate with more payment gateways and offer more customization options.

3. Enhanced analytics: Payment orchestration platforms generate a wealth of data that can be used to optimize payment processes and improve the customer experience. In the future, we can expect to see payment orchestration platforms offer even more advanced analytics tools to help businesses make data-driven decisions.

4. Integration with emerging technologies: As new technologies like blockchain and artificial intelligence continue to emerge, payment orchestration platforms will need to adapt to keep up. We can expect to see payment orchestration platforms integrate with these emerging technologies to offer even more advanced payment solutions.

5. Increased automation: Payment orchestration is already a highly automated process, but we can expect to see even

John Wilkie is a 21-year-old entrepreneur with an extensive background in finance, engineering & fintech with a desire to impact the world through positive change. His routes stem all the way from the Scottish Highlands where from the age of 15 he wanted to change the world through financial technology and impacting others while being a professional athlete at the same time. John started his first company in the back of Covid-19 when travel was restricted and founded a virtual tour company with success, he then later founded several enterprises solving problems ranging from a fashion brand, consultancy, PSP platform, & payment orchestration company while still being in university and are still running today.

One of the key benefits of payment orchestration is its ability to manage multiple payment methods, currencies, and countries from a single interface

more automation in the future. This will help businesses to reduce costs, improve efficiency, and enhance the customer experience.

Overall, the future of payment orchestration looks bright. As businesses and consumers become more comfortable with digital payments, payment orchestration platforms will continue to play a critical role in facilitating these transactions. By staying on top of emerging trends and technologies, payment orchestration platforms will be wellpositioned to meet the evolving needs of businesses and consumers alike.

How Payment Orchestration Started

Payment orchestration has its roots in the growing complexity of the payments landscape. As more payment methods and gateways emerged, businesses found it increasingly difficult to manage them all efficiently. This led to the development of payment orchestration platforms, which provide a centralized way to manage multiple payment methods and gateways.

The first payment orchestration platforms were developed in the early 2010s, with the goal of simplifying payment management for businesses. These platforms typically provided a single API that businesses could use to integrate with multiple payment gateways and other systems.

Over time, payment orchestration platforms have become more sophisticated, offering features like fraud detection, currency conversion, and real-time reporting. Today, payment orchestration is a critical part of many businesses' payment strategies, helping them to streamline payment processing, improve the customer experience, and reduce costs.

Use cases of Payment Orchestration

Payment orchestration is used to manage and streamline the payment process for businesses. This can include managing multiple payment methods, currencies, and payment gateways. Some common use cases for payment orchestration include:

1. E-commerce: Payment orchestration can be used to manage payments for online stores,

Payment orchestration can be used to manage payments for online stores, making it easy for customers to pay using a variety of payment methods

making it easy for customers to pay using a variety of payment methods.

2. Subscription services: Payment orchestration can help manage recurring payments for subscription services, ensuring that payments are processed on time and that customers are not overcharged.

3. Marketplaces: Payment orchestration can be used to manage payments between buyers and sellers on online marketplaces, ensuring that payments are processed quickly and securely.

4. Mobile payments: Payment orchestration can be used to manage mobile payments, making it easy for customers to pay using their mobile devices.

5. International payments: Payment orchestration can help manage payments in different currencies, making it easy for businesses to accept payments from customers around the world.

Overall, payment orchestration can help businesses streamline their payment processes, reduce costs, and improve the customer experience.

Struggles of Implementing Payment Orchestration

1. Integration: Payment orchestration can involve integrating with multiple payment gateways and other systems, which can be complex and time-consuming.

2. Complexity: Payment orchestration can be complex, especially when dealing with multiple payment methods and currencies.

3. Security: Payment orchestration involves handling sensitive financial information, so security is a major concern. Businesses need to ensure that they are using secure payment gateways and that they are complying with relevant regulations.

4. Maintenance: Payment orchestration requires ongoing maintenance and updates, which can be time-consuming and costly.

5. Cost: Payment orchestration can be expensive, especially when dealing with multiple payment gateways and currencies. Despite these challenges, payment orchestration can provide significant benefits for businesses, including increased efficiency, improved customer experience, and reduced costs. With the right approach and tools, businesses can overcome these challenges and reap the benefits of payment orchestration.

Benefits of Payment Orchestration

Payment orchestration is a powerful tool for companies that want to streamline their payment processes. By using a payment orchestration platform, businesses can easily manage multiple payment methods, currencies, and countries from a single interface. This can help to reduce costs, improve efficiency, and enhance the customer experience. Overall, payment orchestration is a great way for companies to stay competitive in today's fast-paced digital economy.

Conclusion

As businesses continue to grow and expand internationally, payment orchestration will be a norm in the future tomorrow enabling businesses to pay lower fees per transaction, settle in whichever currency they desire, and make use of the aggregated data that payment orchestration platforms are rich for. It will soon become a necessity and we’re already seeing many payment orchestration platforms become a need in today’s world to enhance the customer experience.

The Impact of Stress on Psychosomatic Problems: Understanding the Mind-Body Connection

Evette Rose, Author, Life Coach & Founder, Metaphysical Anatomy

In today's fast-paced and demanding world, stress has become a common companion for many individuals. While it is natural to experience stress in certain situations, prolonged or chronic stress can take a toll on both our mental and physical wellbeing. One fascinating aspect of stress is its ability to manifest as psychosomatic medical problems, where psychological distress can cause or exacerbate physical symptoms without an underlying organic cause. This article explores the intricate relationship between stress and psychosomatic medical problems, shedding light on how our emotions and thoughts can influence our physical health.

What is fundamentally important here is that psychosomatic problems have been recognized by doctors for decades! Psychosomatic disorders, also known as somatoform disorders, are characterized by physical symptoms that cannot be adequately explained by any underlying

medical condition. These symptoms often arise as a result of emotional or psychological distress. While the exact mechanisms behind psychosomatic medical problems are not fully understood, it is widely believed that stress plays a significant role.

What does psychosomatic mean?

Psychosomatic is a term that refers to the interaction and interplay between the mind (psyche) and the body (soma). It describes a condition or a phenomenon where psychological factors, such as emotions, thoughts, and mental states, can influence and manifest as physical symptoms or medical conditions without a discernible organic cause.

In psychosomatic disorders, the physical symptoms experienced by an individual are believed to be closely linked to their psychological or emotional state. These symptoms can include pain, fatigue, gastrointestinal issues, headaches, breathing difficulties, and various other physical manifestations. It's important

As an Author, Life Coach, Trauma Release Practitioner, and Personal Development Teacher, Evette Rose strives to support people in their healing journeys. She is the founder of the Metaphysical Anatomy Healing Technique. She is best known for her work in helping people to resolve trauma from their past and freeing them to live successful and fulfilling lives. Evette's work is drawn from personal experience moving from a difficult past into a wellbalanced life and career. She has traveled around the world twice and taught personal development seminars in more than 43 countries, and helped thousands of people worldwide. She is highly gifted and well-equipped to help and support her students and clients throughout their healing journeys in ways that bring permanent and satisfying results.

Psychosomatic disorders, also known as somatoform disorders, are characterized by physical symptoms that cannot be adequately explained by any underlying medical condition

to note that psychosomatic symptoms are not intentionally or consciously produced by the individual; rather, they arise as a result of complex interactions between psychological and physiological processes.

The term "psychosomatic" does not imply that the symptoms are imaginary or that the individual is "making them up." On the contrary, psychosomatic symptoms are very real and can significantly impact a person's quality of life. While the symptoms may not have a clear organic basis, they are believed to be influenced by psychological factors such as stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, and other emotional or mental health issues.

We are more than just a body and brain, they are connected in more ways than just sending signals for us to eat, breath and survive. We have what is called the ‘The Mind-Body Connection’. The mind-body connection refers to the intricate relationship between our mental and physical well-being. Research has demonstrated that psychological stress can trigger physiological responses in the body, leading to a range of symptoms. When we experience stress, our body releases stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, which prepare us for a fight-orflight response. However, chronic stress can

Research has demonstrated that psychological stress can trigger physiological responses in the body, leading to a range of symptoms

disrupt the delicate balance of our body systems and contribute to the development of psychosomatic medical problems.

One of the biggest culprits behind our poor health is stress and a challenged immune system. One crucial aspect of the mind-body connection is the impact of stress on the immune system. Prolonged stress weakens immune function, making individuals more susceptible to infections and other health issues. Additionally, stress-related immune system dysregulation has been linked to the development or exacerbation of conditions such as asthma, allergies, and autoimmune disorders. These conditions involve physical symptoms that are influenced or triggered by psychological stressors.

A common area for stress to show up in our body can be a headache and intestinal problems. Have you heard the saying: “I feel sick to my stomach from stress?” Well, seems that there a lot more to it than it just being a common expression. Stress can contribute to psychosomatic medical problems is in gastrointestinal disorders. Stress can disrupt the normal functioning of the digestive system, leading to conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), gastritis, and peptic ulcers. The gut-brain axis, a bidirectional communication system between the brain and the gastrointestinal tract, plays a crucial role in this relationship. Emotional stressors can trigger gastrointestinal symptoms, and in turn, gastrointestinal symptoms can intensify emotional distress, creating a vicious cycle.

This cycle can lead into psychosomatic symptoms and mental health. Psychosomatic symptoms are often seen in individuals with

mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and somatic symptom disorder. In these cases, emotional or psychological distress can manifest as physical symptoms. For example, someone with anxiety may experience chest pain and shortness of breath, even though there is no underlying heart condition. Understanding and addressing the mental health aspect is crucial in effectively managing psychosomatic medical problems.

So how do we manage something that we are still learning to understand?

By starting to recognize the impact of stress on psychosomatic medical problems is the first step towards effective management. It is essential to develop healthy coping mechanisms to mitigate stress levels. Techniques such as mindfulness, relaxation exercises, regular physical activity, and seeking support from loved ones or mental health professionals can significantly alleviate stress and reduce psychosomatic symptoms. Additionally, addressing underlying mental health concerns through therapy or medication, if necessary, can be beneficial.

The mind-body connection is a fascinating aspect of human physiology and psychology. Stress, when left unmanaged, can contribute to the development or exacerbation of psychosomatic medical problems. Recognizing the influence of emotional and psychological well-being on physical health is crucial for holistic healthcare. By understanding this intricate relationship, we can focus on stress management strategies, mental health support, and overall wellbeing, leading to a healthier and more balanced life.