Digital First Magazine – June 2023 – 10 Must-Watch Innovators to Follow in 2023

Must-Watch Innovators to Follow in 2023

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Sarath Shyam

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The Indispensable Role of Innovative Leaders in the Technology and Business Sector

These visionary individuals have proven themselves as trailblazers in their respective fields, consistently pushing the boundaries of what is possible and driving innovation to new heights. Their revolutionary ideas, relentless pursuit of excellence, and unwavering commitment to making a positive impact have garnered them widespread acclaim and admiration.

Innovation is the lifeblood of progress, and nowhere is it more vital than in the technology and business sectors. At the heart of every successful venture lies an innovative leader who can navigate the rapidly evolving landscape, adapt to change, and drive their organization towards groundbreaking achievements. These visionary individuals play a pivotal role in shaping the future, revolutionizing industries, and inspiring others to embrace bold ideas. In this issue, we will explore the significance of innovative leaders and their transformative impact on the technology and business sectors by identifying 10 Must-Watch Innovators to Follow in 2023.

In this curated list, we have carefully selected individuals who exemplify the spirit of innovation and embody the essence of what it means to be a visionary leader in today’s fastpaced world. Each innovator brings a unique perspective, expertise, and a genuine passion for making a difference.

As we embark on this journey together, let us open our minds, embrace the spirit of exploration, and be inspired by these 10 Must-Watch Innovators to Follow in 2023. Their remarkable stories and groundbreaking achievements will undoubtedly leave an indelible mark on our understanding of what is possible and fuel our aspirations for a brighter future.

On the cover, we feature Jair Ribeiro, a dynamic Artificial Intelligence leader with over 15 years of experience in Enterprise IT and a strong background in Analytics and Artificial Intelligence. As the Analytics and Insights Leader at the Volvo Group, he is committed to driving business growth through innovative technologies while promoting ethical AI practices. Enjoy Reading.

Sarath Shyam

COVER STORY

Jair Ribeiro

NAVIGATING THE ETHICAL AI LANDSCAPE

Analytics and Insights Leader, Volvo Group

Jair Ribeiro

Analytics and Insights Leader, Volvo Group

NAVIGATING THE ETHICAL AI LANDSCAPE

A CALL-TO-ACTION FOR LEADERS TO CHAMPION RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION

Jair Ribeiro is a dynamic Artificial Intelligence leader with over 15 years of experience in Enterprise IT and a strong background in Analytics and Artificial Intelligence. As the Analytics and Insights Leader at the Volvo Group, he is committed to driving business growth through innovative technologies while promoting ethical AI practices. Jair is a visionary who combines technical expertise with business strategy, data science, ethics, and design. He is a proven leader with a track record of successfully leading cross-functional teams and delivering complex projects that positively impact businesses and people. Jair’s passion for AI and its potential to improve the world is inspiring.

In a time when artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing our world, we find ourselves at a moral juncture, confronted with the vast potential for remarkable advancements and unforeseen repercussions.

As entrepreneurial trailblazers and visionaries, we must chart a course through these uncharted territories, guaranteeing that the AI uprising bolsters industries, enhances our everyday experiences, and preserves the ethical values safeguarding our human essence. The journey will be challenging, with opportunities to learn, innovate, and

collaborate. Our mission as leaders is to forge a path that embraces the transformative power of AI while ensuring it serves as a force for good, championing fairness, transparency, and responsibility. Doing so can create a brighter, more connected future for all.

One way to ensure responsible AI development and implementation is by establishing interdisciplinary AI ethics committees within organizations. These committees, consisting of diverse members from various backgrounds, can effectively identify potential ethical concerns, evaluate

AI systems’ impact, and provide guidance on best practices.

As we journey towards a more connected future with AI, we must address several critical ethical considerations to ensure that technology benefits society.

First, we must tackle the issue of bias and discrimination in AI systems. AI learns from the data it is trained on, and biased or unrepresentative data can unintentionally perpetuate existing inequalities. To combat these biases, data scientists and AI developers must work diligently to ensure their models are built on diverse, unbiased data.

Second, we must navigate the challenges of privacy and data security. Protecting sensitive information and preventing misuse requires diligent efforts from both AI developers and users.

As the technological landscape evolves rapidly, adopting robust data encryption, anonymization techniques, and strict adherence to data protection regulations is vital for safeguarding privacy, and in this context, transparency and accountability are paramount as AI systems become more intricate and sophisticated.

Developing explainable AI techniques that demystify complex processes for decisionmakers is essential in establishing trust and maintaining accountability, allowing organizations to leverage AI technologies for strategic growth and innovation confidently.

DEVELOPING EXPLAINABLE AI TECHNIQUES THAT DEMYSTIFY COMPLEX PROCESSES FOR DECISION-MAKERS IS ESSENTIAL IN ESTABLISHING TRUST AND MAINTAINING ACCOUNTABILITY, ALLOWING ORGANIZATIONS TO LEVERAGE AI TECHNOLOGIES FOR STRATEGIC GROWTH AND INNOVATION CONFIDENTLY.

AS STRUCTURED LABOR MARKET JOBS DECLINE, THE GIG ECONOMY IS EXPECTED TO GROW, WITH MORE COUNTRIES OFFERING FREELANCE OR DIGITAL NOMAD VISAS

An ethical approach to the potential job displacement. Furthermore, it is crucial to acknowledge and address the potential job displacement and social impact resulting from AI advancements.

In the World Economic Forum’s report on the Future of Jobs 2023, hope and concern emerge from the predicted trends. While the report anticipates the loss of 14 million jobs globally over the next five years—primarily in clerical or secretarial positions—it also projects the creation of 69 million jobs driven by technology, digitalization, and sustainability.

As AI advancements continue to reshape our industries, the emphasis on reskilling is vital for growth. In addition, the report highlights the necessity of technical skills and the importance of attitudes such as selfefficacy, collaboration and soft skills like empathy, active listening, and curiosity.

Furthermore, the report identifies skills gaps as a significant barrier to transformation, with 23% of jobs expected to change by 2027.

These findings emphasize the crucial role of human input in managing quality, safety, and reliability in AI. It is essential not to separate Leadership and Social Influence from Empathy, as this can significantly impact AI’s ethical development and deployment.

As structured labor market jobs decline, the gig economy is expected to grow, with more countries offering freelance or digital nomad visas. This shift further highlights the need for a proactive approach to addressing job displacement and its social impact.

Governments, educational institutions, and businesses are key in helping workers acquire new skills and transition into emerging roles by collaborating on reskilling and upskilling initiatives. Equipping individuals with the necessary skills and knowledge to thrive in an AI-driven world is essential for minimizing the adverse effects of AI advancements on the workforce and fostering a more inclusive and resilient future for all, collaborating on several fronts.

Investing in comprehensive initiatives to reskill and upskill workers affected by AIdriven job displacement can help them acquire new skills and transition into emerging roles. These kinds of programs can be tailored to the specific needs of each industry, focusing on providing practical, hands-on training to bridge the skills gap effectively.

Encouraging a culture of lifelong learning is essential for the workforce to adapt to the rapidly changing AI landscape. Therefore, governments and educational institutions should provide accessible and affordable opportunities for continuous learning, equipping individuals with the necessary skills and knowledge to thrive in an AI-driven world.

Identifying and nurturing job creation opportunities in emerging AI-driven industries is critical to ensuring inclusive growth. This requires businesses and governments to work together, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship while developing policies

and support systems that enable workers to transition into new roles.

Providing comprehensive social safety nets and support systems for workers affected by AI advancements is crucial for mitigating the negative social impact of job displacement. This includes unemployment benefits, healthcare, housing support, career counseling, and psychological services to help workers navigate the challenges of transitioning into new roles.

By taking a proactive and collaborative approach to address the potential job displacement and social impact of AI advancements, we can ensure that the benefits of this transformative technology are shared equitably, fostering a more inclusive and resilient future for all.

Navigating Responsible AI Practices: A Collaborative Approach

Establishing guidelines and standards addressing key ethical considerations, such as bias, privacy,

AS LEADERS NAVIGATING THE AI REVOLUTION, WE HAVE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A FUTURE WHERE TECHNOLOGY PROPELS HUMAN PROGRESS AND WELL-BEING

transparency, and accountability, must be balanced in responsible AI development.

Forging strong connections among AI experts, industry leaders, and policymakers is crucial to promoting responsible AI practices. Events such as conferences, workshops, and research collaborations are invaluable platforms for fostering dialogue and cooperation on AI ethics.

A notable example of such collaboration is the Partnership on AI, a multi-stakeholder organization comprising leading AI companies, researchers, and civil society groups. This alliance is dedicated to formulating best practices and principles to guide AI technologies’ ethical development and deployment.

Investing in education and training is also essential as AI continues transforming industries. To empower people to adapt to the rapidly changing landscape, governments, educational institutions, and businesses must join forces in creating accessible learning opportunities. For instance, IBM’s P-TECH program offers an innovative education model that combines high school, college, and industry experiences, equipping students with the skills needed for careers in technology.

Public-private partnerships (PPPs) also play a pivotal role in ensuring responsible AI development and deployment. By pooling resources, sharing expertise, and developing policies that guide AI’s ethical use, governments and businesses can ensure that AI is leveraged to benefit society. One example is the collaboration between Microsoft and the UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, which aims to create an AI ethics curriculum for higher education institutions worldwide.

These collaborative efforts highlight the significance of working together across sectors

to address the ethical challenges posed by AI and develop solutions that benefit everyone.

With unique and relevant initiatives and a commitment to ethical AI practices, we can shape a better future that harnesses AI’s transformative power while safeguarding the values that define our humanity.

Final Thoughts

As we venture further into the age of AI, our commitment to this technology’s ethical and transparent use is of paramount importance. By fostering collaboration, investing in education, and adhering to ethical guidelines, we can harness AI’s power for the greater good, enriching lives and empowering communities.

As leaders navigating the AI revolution, we have a unique opportunity to create a future where technology propels human progress and well-being.

It means that embracing responsible AI practices allows us to cultivate a better future for

all, leveraging AI’s transformative potential while preserving the values that define our humanity.

On this journey towards a more ethical AI development, our collective efforts should focus on crafting a world where technology enhances lives and serves society. We can envision a future where technology elevates human potential, steered by fairness, transparency, and responsibility principles through collaboration, dedication, and a shared commitment to ethical AI.

We are moving forward, united, and focused on building a more connected, responsible, and ethically driven world, but while pursuing this path, we must ensure that the AI-powered future we create aligns with our collective aspirations, fostering an environment where everyone can flourish.

Together, let us ignite meaningful conversations and champion responsible AI practices, ensuring that the development and deployment of AI technologies contribute to a brighter, more equitable future for all.

Fake Interviews and Recruiting Scams: How Technology is Exploiting the Job Market

Jim Stroud, HR Influencer

We live in an era where technology has revolutionized the way we work and hire, making it easier for job seekers to connect with potential employers. However, as with any innovation, there is also a dark side. Today, scammers are taking advantage of HR departments to gain access to sensitive customer data, while in India, a booming fake job interview industry is helping people get work

they are unqualified for. I had no idea this was going on but once I did, I fell down a rabbit hole of intrigue. In this article I am going to open your eyes to how your company may have been unknowingly victimized. Moreover, I’ll show you how to spot the signs to prevent it from happening again.

Let me begin with the booming industry of fake job interviewers. This has different names, “bait and switch interviews,” “proxy interviews,” and/or just plain “fake interviews.” Whatever the

Deepfakes are synthetic media in which a person in an existing image or video is replaced with someone else’s likeness using deep learning artificial intelligence

Withoveradecadeofexperiencein recruitment and sourcing, Jim Stroud has consulted for such companies as Microsoft, Google, Siemens, and a host of startup companies. During his tenure with Randstad Sourceright, he alleviated the sourcing and recruiting headaches of Randstad clients worldwide as its Global Head of Sourcing and Recruiting Strategy. Quite recently, he served as VP, Marketing for Proactive Talent - the most recognized and respected name in talent attraction, hiring and retention. Presently, he produces “The Recruiting Life,” a comic strip about the world of work. Details at sendfox. com/jimstroud.

nomenclature, the practice of misrepresenting yourself in an interview is fraud and it’s become more of an issue with the trend of remote and virtual interviews. The reasons why candidates do this varies. In some cases, they are underqualified, scheduling conflicts arise, language barriers persist, or simply a severe lack of self-

confidence. In India, fake interviewers can charge as much as $150.00 an hour for their services. Consider this quote from Business Insider India.

● In a recent Insider investigation into the “bait-and-switch” job interview that’s becoming increasingly trendy, one “professional” job interview proxy, who uses

a website to book clients and keeps a Google Driver folder of past video interviews, said he charges clients $150 an hour.

● The proxy was approached by Aamil Karimi, who works at cybersecurity firm Optiv as a principal intelligence analyst. Karimi, who posed as a job seeker to talk to the proxy, told Insider’s Rob Price that the “bait-and-switch” trend has been on the rise because of more workfrom-home jobs and overseas hiring.

● The “bait-and-switch” interview works like this: a job candidate hires someone else to pretend to be them in a job interview in hopes they will secure the job. When the job starts, the person who hired the proxy is the one to show up for work.

An investigation has found that the trend of fake hires is predominantly occurring in non-managerial and non-creative fields. In the IT sector, where many proxies are securing positions for unqualified candidates, the risk is even greater. These fraudulent hires may gain access to sensitive information that could cause irreparable harm to a company’s reputation and its clients. Its not hard to imagine the damage an unscrupulous call center agent at a credit card company could do. Fraudsters have leveled up their game to take advantage of this trend by applying to remote work opportunities. This has certainly been the case in the USA. So much so, the FBI issued an advisory to warn companies of the illicit practice. Specific

Companies should be vigilant when interviewing for roles that include access to a customer’s personal identifiable information, financial data, corporate IT databases and/or proprietary information

If a candidate’s mouth and words do not match in a video interview, you might be a victim of fraud

incidents leveraged emerging technologies you would expect to see in a spy movie.

Click here to see a more detailed explanation. Perhaps a better way to think of this is you are video interviewing someone who is using an Instagram filter but instead of looking like a cartoon character, they look like the person you should be interviewing. Wild, I know.

● Eye Tracking – Imagine asking a candidate a tricky question to catch them off-guard enough to give you their most honest reaction. Based on that reflex, you have some idea of how confident they are in their abilities. But what if they were reading a second screen where someone was feeding them additional information? If you said that you would notice that by observing them on camera, you would be incorrect. NVIDIA has a new eye tracking feature on their broadcasting tool that uses AI to fixate eye movements enabling a person to look at other locations. Yes, while seemingly focused on you, they are actually reading another screen.

● Proxy Calls – This is a bit old school, but still a go-to method for all concerned. Recruiters commonly rely on phone calls as a primary means of reaching out to potential candidates and conducting initial interviews. However, can the recruiter really know for sure they are talking to their candidate? In some cases, no.

If this appears daunting to you, be advised that there are some ways to spot these scammers. At least, for now. To quote the FBI…

● Deep Fakes - Deepfakes are synthetic media in which a person in an existing image or video is replaced with someone else’s likeness using deep learning artificial intelligence.

“…the actions and lip movement of the person seen interviewed on-camera do not completely coordinate with the audio of the person speaking. At times, actions such as

coughing, sneezing, or other auditory actions are not aligned with what is presented visually.” In other words, if a candidate’s mouth and words do not match in a video interview, you might be a victim of fraud. Other things I suggest you look for are looking for are inconsistencies in the information provided. When interviewing them, the data on their resume, LinkedIn profile and cover letter should be in sync. If it is not, be suspicious. At best, they are not scamming you and simply have a bad eye for detail; which should also be concerning. Drilling down on details about their past experiences, asking about specific accomplishments and references is a good way to trip up a scammer as well. Likewise making passive comments based on items spotted on their social media profile is another soft method of verification. Finally, one go-to method that never fails is to randomly ask for a screenshare. Fake candidates would have to immediately close any chats or documents they have open in order to maintain their cover. If the quality of their answers dramatically declines when sharing their screen, chances are you are conversing with an unqualified imposter, and should stop wasting your time.

All this being said, you may be wondering if the practice of fake interviewing is illegal. It is, but only under certain circumstances. Ben Michael, an attorney at Michael & Associates, has commented on the legal challenges of taking on fake interviewers.

“Legally speaking, it can be hard to pin down interview fraudsters with anything specific –unless money has changed hands or they’ve signed or submitted documents claiming to be someone they’re not,” Michael says. “In the vast majority of cases, these kinds of people are caught as soon as someone else shows up to the first day of work, in which case the best course for the company is to simply fire them and blacklist them.”

If a fake interview wastes only your time, be grateful. It could be far worse. Companies should be vigilant when interviewing for roles that include access to a customer’s personal identifiable information, financial data, corporate IT databases and/or proprietary information. Last but not the least, do not easily dismiss red flags during background checks. Scammers often apply for jobs with stolen identities. Better safe than sorry is more than an idiom, it is good business prudence as well.

Want to Sell or find Investor for your Business?

AMINA JAFERY

HELPING CLIENTS NAVIGATE CHALLENGES & LEVERAGE OPPORTUNITIES IN THE IT INDUSTRY

Amina Jafery is a seasoned business leader, passionate about building strategies and initiatives focused on solving people, process, and technology challenges. She possesses nearly two decades of experience in US IT staffing, operations, business development, client acquisition, client relationships, recruitment, account management, and sales.

Purpose and people-driven, Amina has demonstrated success in driving a culture of continuous improvement, developing, and implementing projects to increase recruiting efficiency and effectiveness for the recruiting team and business partners, as well as identifying problems

and remedying them in a sustained, system-wide fashion. As a DEI advocate, she aims to deliver leading people and cultural practices that create a preferred, diverse, and inclusive workplace. Most recently, she led Systel to get certified as a ‘Great Place To Work’ among other notable industry awards and accolades.

Educational Background and Career Highlights

Coming from an army background, Amina studied at Kendriya Vidyalaya and is proud of her KVIAN heritage. Values such as discipline, time management, teamwork, perseverance, and leadership were deeply ingrained in her since childhood. Later,

CEO, Systel

Amina Jafery, CEO, Systel

AS THE CEO AT SYSTEL, AMINA IS FOCUSED ON SETTING AND ENABLING THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS AND CLIENT SERVICE, ALL WITH THE AIM OF DELIVERING OUTSTANDING RESULTS FOR CLIENTS

she completed her master’s degree from Osmania University and pursued a Programme for Development of Strategic Skills (PDSS), a strategic management course from the Indian Institute of Management, Kolkata.

In 2005, Amina began her career as an HR Business Partner and continued to climb the ladder of success in the IT industry. Currently, as the CEO at Systel, Amina is focused on setting and enabling the highest levels of

professional standards and client service, all with the aim of delivering outstanding results for clients.

Celebrating 26 Years of Systel

Founded in 1997, Systel is the brainchild of a young visionary, Mr. Madhusudhan Raju Chintalapati, who recognized the potential of the dotcom revolution and the huge upcoming demand for skilled professionals. Systel’s journey, which started with just one person working from his home office, soon garnered the required momentum. Madhu quickly understood that the company’s strength lay in the team and decided to invest his efforts in hand-picking a team that matched an ideology, ethics, and aggression

like his. In its first year, this team focused on understanding and preparing a list of the target customers with the capabilities and insights to adapt to information technology and created individual roadmaps for every potential client.

In the next few years, Systel on-boarded some of the major brands like Ford and IBM and delivered a remarkable CAGR of 45+%. With over 490+ Systellars contributing to its client’s success globally, the leading IT services and consulting company is now proposing to extend its key expertise across Asia and Africa.

What Sets Systel Apart from Other Competitors?

Systel’s USP lies in its comprehensive technological expertise, disruptive business models supported by technology-driven platforms, and relentless focus on building strong client relationships. Through Centres of Excellence (COE), the company continuously strives to deliver the best quality products and resources in the shortest turnaround time. Its main priority remains designing scalable yet robust solutions. Apart from these, Systel has implemented a 3-Tier Onsite-OnshoreOffshore delivery model, ensuring seamless coordination with both business and technical teams to deliver high-quality solutions in adherence to business objectives.

Extensive IT Solutions & Service Offerings

As one of the major IT solutions and service companies, Systel provides services in IT staff augmentation, IT product development and maintenance, and business process outsourcing

to some of the largest System Integrators and Fortune 1000 companies. Under consulting services, Systel provides IT staff augmentation services with a proven record of delivering IT & Engineering resources to organizations quickly and efficiently.

Under technology services, Systel’s Application development services offer companies the advantage of upgrading from legacy systems to contemporary platforms like .Net and J2EE, enhancing performance, usability, and security. The company’s strong technology expertise, architecture solutions capability, and program management skills create robust yet scalable applications. Likewise, Systel has developed BPM tools

that effectively fill handover gaps and enable the leadership to make effective decisions to accelerate growth.

Under outsourcing services, Systel offers remote infrastructure management services where bulk in-house operations like IT support can be carried out at far-lower costs, saving time and resources. In addition, Systel offers highly competent HR outsourcing solutions to its clients, helping them to employ and retain top performers while reducing time and total costs. For this purpose, the company partners with companies globally, leveraging the streamlined processes and enabling them to take maximum advantage of the outsourced HR capabilities.

OVER

THE YEARS, SYSTEL HAS WORKED RELENTLESSLY TO PROVIDE ITS CLIENTS WITH THE BEST QUALITY SERVICES, THUS EXPANDING THE DEMAND THE COMPANY CATERS TO AND GROWING AMONG THE EXISTING CLIENTS

Going Above & Beyond

Over the years, Systel has worked relentlessly to provide its clients with the best quality services, thus expanding the demand the company caters to and growing among the existing clients. Moreover, Systel has defined a systematic process of incubating new accounts, with a dedicated leader assigned only for incubation. This is so because the company’s leadership team believes in handholding each account until it has acquired momentum, helping them better understand the traction and fine-tune their practices. The dedicated incubation team brings in a lot of experience and ensures that they lose focus on the existing accounts at no point. Genpact and Wipro are the perfect examples of their success, as Systel has grown these accounts to a level where they contribute 10% and 12% to its top-line revenue, respectively.

Key Partner Benefits

Systel has implemented a 3 Tier Onsite-OnshoreOffshore delivery model to ensure higher customer satisfaction. Under this model, the company has employed onshore account managers who work with each account lead to understand their requirements and coordinate delivery. At the second tier, Systel has on-site coordinators who work closely with the account representative, ensuring timely delivery and constantly gathering feedback on its performance. At the third tier, the company has its offshore delivery team serving as the frontline executives. Ultimately, this 3 Tier Onsite-Onshore-Offshore delivery model ensures high-quality services and customer satisfaction and is extremely cost effective.

Employees are the Brands Ambassadors

“Our employees are our brand’s ambassadors, and they are the reason behind our continued

AMINA IS PLANNING TO WORK TOWARDS CRAFTING A NEW WORKFLOW AND EARNING DISTINGUISHED INDUSTRY CERTIFICATIONS FOR SYSTEL, SUCH AS CERTIFIED STAFFING PROFESSIONAL (CSP), CERTIFIED TEMPORARY STAFFING SPECIALIST (CTSS), CERTIFIED EMPLOYMENT SERVICES PROFESSIONAL (CESP), STAFFING INDUSTRY ANALYST (SIA) CERTIFICATION, ETC

growth,” states Amina. Systel focuses on employee satisfaction globally and invests greatly in employee relations management. Some initiatives in this direction include growth and learning programs, financial incentives, quarterly appraisals, and employee indulgence activities.

As part of the growth and learning programs, Systel had announced a career path program for each of its employees where a clear path of future growth linked to the KRA/ KPI of the employee was drawn by the HR along with the individual’s reporting manager.

The exercise also involved identifying the improvement areas and arranging training/ learning programs. This created a clear vision of the future and their growth for the employees and an enhanced aspiration to remain with the company.

Within the financial incentives initiative, a revised incentive structure was rolled out through which every effort by the employee and their performance on the KRA/KPI was linked to monetary benefits. Systel also introduced a portal where each employee could measure

his/her performance and set monetary goals for themselves and calculate the bonus they were about to receive. The transparency and benevolence paid off, thereby increasing the retention of employees.

Under quarterly appraisals, every employee was made aware of his performance and areas of improvement to meet his goals. This early warning system proved helpful to the employees in optimizing their performance. Also, it improved employee satisfaction levels as they were made aware of their ratings and had a chance to improve them instead of an end-of-year surprise. Furthermore, Systel organized various employee indulgences activities like weekend parties, surprise office games, and celebrations to create a fun-filled, positive working environment in the office, which enhanced employee motivation and teamwork.

A Day in the Life of a Leader

At work, Amina’s first half of the day is spent in back-to-back meetings, engaging in video conferences, and attending important calls. Her second half of the day is then devoted to meeting with potential clients and other C-Suite executives within the organization, followed by encouraging and involving them in a team huddle with the leadership team.

When it comes to staying calm under stressful situations, Amina’s mantra is to practice healthy lifestyle habits, organize her priorities, focus on the present, think about the end results, and take breaks when needed. Similarly, focusing on self-care is important to her as it helps to positively maintain physical and mental health.

Tips to Become a Successful Leader

Amina believes in the quote by Alexander the Great which said, “I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion.” She finds this quote insightful as it reveals why leadership is so crucial to entrepreneurship. She shares some of her top tips that have helped her in becoming a successful leader. These include being decisive, embracing change, staying focused and determined, irrespective of challenges, being empathetic, remaining calm under pressure, being persuasive, seeking advice from mentors, never stop learning, being authentic and unique, and to understand that not everything is about you.

Drawing insights from her personal experience, Amina shares, “In my journey to becoming a leader, I have witnessed good and bad leaders. Both have played their roles. However, in my current role, I encourage the young talent, mentor upcoming leaders, and lead my team to the path of success by setting good examples for them.”

Ongoing Projects

Presently, Amina is planning to work towards crafting a new workflow and earning distinguished industry certifications for Systel, such as certified staffing professional (CSP), certified temporary staffing specialist (CTSS), certified employment services professional (CESP), staffing industry analyst (SIA) certification, etc. She is also working closely with her professional network to secure substantial deals with reputed and direct clients like Vdart, Dimiour, NESS, Proven Process LLC & Zed Ventures, Akkodis, King County, and the State of Georgia, to name a few.

FINTECH COMPANY

MUST-WATCH OF THE YEAR 2023

iBusiness Funding REVOLUTIONIZING THE SBA LENDING SPACE WITH TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

The SBA 7(a) Lending Market is poised to reach a staggering $29 Billion by the end of 2023. At the forefront of this growth is iBusiness Funding, a leading technology and services provider supporting lenders with their SBA programs. They are redefining the lending landscape through their innovative use of technology and commitment to timetested loan underwriting methods.

“Our goal has always been to help businesses of all sizes get access to capital efficiently and transparently,” says Justin Levy, CEO of iBusiness Funding. “Big changes must be made to broaden access to capital for small businesses. There is still a

big disconnect between a business’ credit profile and the rate and type of financing product they are offered. In the consumer lending space, borrowers will receive nearly identical offers for credit from any institution they choose to use for something like a mortgage. This just isn’t the case for small businesses looking for funding, and the market has a long way to go to get there. This isn’t the fault of the banks or lenders; it is entirely due to the complexity of the problem. With a mortgage, there is a single or joint guarantor, with a single piece of collateral. With a business loan, there can be dozens of guarantors, business entities, and/ or affiliates, along with hundreds of pieces

Justin Levy, CEO of iBusiness Funding

“IF MORTGAGE AND CONSUMER LENDING IS ARITHMETIC, BUSINESS LENDING IS ADVANCED MULTIVARIABLE CALCULUS.”

- JUSTIN LEVY, CEO OF IBUSINESS FUNDING

of collateral having many different uses for the funds, and several different income streams to analyze. If mortgage and consumer lending is arithmetic, business lending is advanced multivariable calculus. ”

Unlike most FinTech companies, whose sole goal is to boil a business’ financial health down into a single score, iBusiness Funding takes a comprehensive approach to loan underwriting on

behalf of their lender clients. The company paints a holistic picture of a business’s financial health, in many cases reviewing dozens of documents like tax returns, debt schedules, financial statements, and projections. By using time-tested traditional underwriting methods, made faster and easier through its proprietary technology, it enables them to make informed lending decisions for their partners, and build multivariate models rooted in proven risk-predictive practices though many economic cycles that can be applied to its technology in the future.

“We evaluate a business as a sum of all its parts, rather than relying solely on a single score to predict the risk for the entire business,” explains Levy. “This approach not only benefits the lenders we serve, but more importantly, it helps us provide capital to the businesses who need it in an efficient, transparent, and cost-effective manner.”

To achieve this, iBusiness Funding has invested heavily in technology and processes. Following its acquisition by Ready Capital Corporation in 2019, the company began revolutionizing the SBA lending space by partnering with SBA direct lenders. iBusiness Funding’s initial focus was on serving the most underserved market – small SBA 7(a) loans of ≤$350,000.

“Many lenders considered these small loans unprofitable due to the extensive due diligence, reviews, and paperwork involved,” shares Levy. “But we saw an opportunity to develop a system and processes that would support lenders, while enabling them to scale without compromising diligence, compliance, or prudent lending practices.”

Through their meticulous approach, iBusiness Funding emerged as one of the largest processors of small SBA 7(a) loans. Their success in this

OVER THE YEARS, IBUSINESS FUNDING HAS BUILT AN ENVIABLE TRACK RECORD, ORIGINATING, FUNDING, AND SERVICING MORE THAN $7 BILLION ACROSS A DIVERSE ARRAY OF LOAN PRODUCTS

segment paved the way for them to originate and fund larger SBA 7(a) loans through direct SBA participants, up to the statutory maximum of $5 Million in 2022.

The company’s commitment to leveraging technology while utilizing traditional loan underwriting methods has significantly impacted the lending space. By blending AI and other technologies with a deep understanding of the products their partners provide, iBusiness Funding has not only improved the efficiency and transparency of the lending process, but also widened the opportunities for businesses to access the capital they need. With this unique approach to loan underwriting, technology, and commitment to empowering businesses, iBusiness Funding is shaping the future of the SBA and conventional lending markets.

Partnership with Ready Capital Corporation and Success during the Pandemic

Founded in 2015 as the technology and processing arm of Knight Capital, iBusiness Funding has emerged as a leader in providing efficient and transparent capital solutions to small businesses. With a strong focus on leveraging technology and streamlined processes, iBusiness Funding has revolutionized the alternative finance industry, earning its place as a top player in the field.

In 2019, iBusiness Funding and Knight Capital caught the attention of Ready Capital Corporation (NYSE: RC), a multi-strategy lending company. Recognizing the immense potential of iBusiness Funding’s suite of software and services, Ready Capital sought to leverage its expertise to enhance its SBA lending division. The acquisition marked a significant milestone for iBusiness Funding, propelling them into a new phase of growth and diversification.

“Being part of Ready Capital Corporation has allowed us to expand our reach further and bring technology-driven enhancements to the SBA and other conventional lending sectors,” affirms Levy. “Together, we are focused on optimizing origination, processing, funding, and servicing, ensuring businesses have efficient access to the capital they need.”

However, just as the synergies with Ready Capital Corporation took shape, the unforeseen COVID-19 pandemic swept across the United States. This global crisis presented a formidable test for iBusiness Funding’s agility and adaptability. Swiftly, they rose to the occasion, recalibrating their software and processes to handle the Payroll Protection Program (PPP) effectively.

“Our team demonstrated remarkable resilience and adaptability during the pandemic,” explains Levy. “We quickly modified our systems and processes to support the PPP, enabling us to process a significant number of loans through ReadyCap Lending during the first and second rounds. We were determined to provide crucial capital to small businesses when they needed it most.”

A Proven Track Record of Success and Ongoing Adaptation

Over the years, iBusiness Funding has built an enviable track record, originating, funding, and servicing more than $7 Billion across a diverse array of loan products. Their commitment to delivering the right loan product and the optimal amount of capital remains unwavering. By continually adapting their processes and systems, they strive to support additional products and services, widening the opportunities available to small businesses.

“Our ongoing focus is to adapt to the evolving needs of small businesses and provide efficient and transparent capital access,” states Levy. “We combine innovative technology with a deep understanding of the challenges entrepreneurs face to ensure they have the financial support required to thrive.”

With iBusiness Funding at the helm, small businesses can rest assured that their goals and aspirations are supported by a company driven by integrity, innovation, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. As they continue to revolutionize the lending space, iBusiness Funding remains a trusted partner, empowering entrepreneurs to seize opportunities, fuel growth, and build a brighter future for their businesses.

PARTNERS OF IBUSINESS FUNDING GAIN ACCESS TO A WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES AND SUPPORT SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO HELP THEM GROW THEIR SBA LENDING BUSINESS

Continued Innovation in Lending Solutions

iBusiness Funding offers a range of solutions in two categories: self-service and full-service, helping clients broaden capital access for small businesses. On the self-service side, their end-toend SBA lending software, LenderAI, streamlines operations from origination to servicing, providing a streamlined and cost-effective solution.

Key highlights of LenderAI include:

Enhanced UI and reduced borrower friction: Digitized complex lending and SBA forms, seamless document collection, and integrated signing functions.

Enhanced data collection: Efficient data collection supports AI capabilities and multi-factor decision models.

Enhanced Lender UI reduces processing friction: Integrated data flows, auto-spreading, and pre-screening tools streamline the process.

Integrated ecosystem: Advanced integration with external systems like the SBA’s E-Tran, Experian, Thomson Reuters and other third-party integrations.

For lenders seeking a full-service solution, iBusiness Funding’s Lending as a Service (LaaS) handles the entire lending process, ensuring

WITH ITS FOCUS ON DRIVING CLIENT SUCCESS, IBUSINESS FUNDING CONTINUES TO SOLIDIFY ITS POSITION AS A TRUSTED PARTNER IN THE SBA LENDING SPACE, EMPOWERING LENDERS TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS, STREAMLINE PROCESSES, AND DELIVER EXCEPTIONAL RESULTS FOR THEIR BORROWERS

compliance with underwriting standards and the SBA’s SOP. LaaS utilizes LenderAI and experienced professionals, providing transparency and expedited lending at a cost-effective rate.

“With our LaaS product, we provide lenders and borrowers full transparency into the lending process while ensuring compliance and efficiency,” says Justin Levy, CEO of iBusiness Funding.

Empowering Partners for SBA

Lending Success

Partners of iBusiness Funding gain access to a wide range of services and support specifically designed to help them grow their SBA lending business. These partnerships have several key benefits that drive efficiency, productivity, customer experience, risk management, and dedicated support.

Risk Management: iBusiness Funding provides underwriting and verification services enabling partners to assess borrower risk accurately and efficiently. This helps reduce loan losses and improves the overall performance of partners’ loan portfolios.

Dedicated

Support:

iBusiness Funding is committed to providing partners with dedicated support throughout their journey. From onboarding and training to ongoing technical support, their team of experts is readily available to answer questions, offer guidance, and ensure partners extract the maximum value from their software and services.

Increased

Efficiency:

Utilizing iBusiness Funding’s innovative software and services, partners can outsource time-consuming tasks and reduce paperwork. This streamlines the lending process, making it more efficient and reducing unnecessary delays in processing times.

Improved Productivity: iBusiness Funding’s software is built to enhance productivity by eliminating manual processes, reducing errors, and accelerating the loan decision process. This allows partners to handle a higher volume of loans without compromising quality.

Enhanced

Customer Experience: With

iBusiness Funding’s customer-facing portal, borrowers enjoy a transparent and efficient lending experience. This improves customer satisfaction and retention, benefiting partners in the long run.

By partnering with iBusiness Funding, lenders can leverage their expertise and experience in various lending products, including SBA 7(a) loans. This collaboration empowers lenders to enhance their operations, expand their business, and achieve their desired goals.

“At iBusiness Funding, we are dedicated to supporting our partners’ growth and success in SBA lending,” says Levy. “We provide a comprehensive suite of services and support to help lenders thrive in today’s competitive landscape. We want to enable lenders to profitably originate and fund any size business loan, including serving the smallest of small businesses. With our services, we ensure that happens”

Through this partnership, lenders can leverage iBusiness Funding’s industry knowledge, underwriting services, and technological advancements. This allows lenders to gain a competitive edge, at a locked in cost, while delivering efficient and transparent lending solutions to their clients.

Achieving Remarkable Success with a Client-Centric Approach

iBusiness Funding has quickly established itself as a leader in the SBA lending industry, achieving remarkable success in a short period. Within three years of implementing their LaaS (Lending as a Service) product, the volume for their SBA lending client bases has grown by an average of 900%. This growth has propelled ReadyCap Lending, the Small Business Lending Company (SBLC) of Ready Capital Corporation, to become one of the top 5 SBA lenders.

The loan volume that iBusiness Funding originates through its lending partners ranks among the top 25 producers in the entire market, all while maintaining industry-low default rates and serving underrepresented businesses. In fact, over 65% of loans originated are for Women, Minority, and Veteran-owned businesses. Its LenderAI software platform has also experienced rapid growth with hundreds of users benefiting from its innovative features.

iBusiness Funding’s commitment to client satisfaction is unwavering. They prioritize exceptional customer service and support, focusing on delivering measurable outcomes aligned with their clients’ goals. With a dedicated support team available for onboarding, training, and ongoing technical assistance, iBusiness Funding ensures its clients get the most out of their software and services. They emphasize transparent communication, keeping clients informed throughout the process, and providing real-time access to loan/product information.

Justin Levy, CEO of iBusiness Funding, emphasizes the company’s client-centric approach: “Our client’s goals and objectives are always our top priority. We strive to deliver exceptional service, transparent communication,

and the desired outcomes. Our success is directly tied to the success of our clients, and we remain fully committed to their growth and satisfaction.”

With its focus on driving client success, iBusiness Funding continues to solidify its position as a trusted partner in the SBA lending space, empowering lenders to achieve their goals, streamline processes, and deliver exceptional results for their borrowers.

Expanding Small Business Lending: iBusiness Funding’s Vision

According to Justin Levy, CEO of iBusiness Funding, their goal is to expand by bringing efficiencies to the otherwise highly inefficient small business lending market in the U.S. With operations in all 50 states, iBusiness Funding leverages its dynamic workforce to provide cutting-edge solutions to bring efficiency to lenders who in turn deliver the right capital to the right businesses.

“iBusiness Funding has digitized and enhanced the document gathering, underwriting, closing and servicing process, which can bring the cost to banks and lenders down substantially - enabling them to originate smaller and different types of loans profitably” Levy states, “Our goal is to increase lenders capacity for lending through our products and services, enabling borrowers to access much-needed capital.” By onboarding more lenders, iBusiness Funding strives to empower small businesses and increase the ability for traditional lending to compete with FinTech companies.

Levy highlights the challenges faced by small businesses in the current lending market, saying, “Many small businesses are forced to turn to FinTech lenders because they are not able to get financing from traditional lenders,

mainly because those lenders cannot profitably offer them financing options. When they do fund with a FinTech, they often pay higher rates for the funding than they would through a traditional lender, because the FinTech’s “single score” underwriting methods ultimately result in higher fees for their borrowers. Traditional underwriting has stood the test of time and has shown resilience through many market cycles and downturns. During the pandemic, hundreds if not thousands of FinTech lenders failed. If it wasn’t for the PPP stimulus package, almost all of them

would have gone out of buisness. Cutting corners on underwriting and regulatory oversight isn’t the answer, making conventional underwriting methods faster and easier through technology is.” iBusiness Funding aims to level the playing field and push for transparency and efficiency similar to what has happened in the personal loan market.

As iBusiness Funding expands its reach, Levy affirms their commitment to transforming the small business lending landscape. “We are dedicated to creating a thriving environment for entrepreneurial success, which is the backbone

BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO CAPITAL, ENHANCING TRANSPARENCY, AND EMPOWERING BORROWERS, IBUSINESS FUNDING SEEKS TO REVOLUTIONIZE SMALL BUSINESS FINANCING

and main competitive advantage of the U.S. economy”, he states. By providing access to capital, enhancing transparency, and empowering borrowers and lenders, iBusiness Funding seeks to revolutionize small business financing.

iBusiness Funding’s Marketing Strategies: Reaching Out to Potential Clients

iBusiness Funding company employs various effective marketing strategies to connect with potential clients. Levy explains, “We believe in a multi-faceted approach to reach our target audience and showcase our solutions.”

One of the critical strategies iBusiness Funding employs is attending industry events and conferences. Levy emphasizes the importance of networking, stating, “Tradeshows and conferences provide us with valuable opportunities to meet potential clients, showcase our solutions, and stay informed about industry trends.”

Content marketing plays a vital role in iBusiness Funding’s strategy. Levy explains, “We create informative and valuable content such as webinars, case studies, and whitepapers that address the pain points and challenges of our target audience.” By establishing themselves as

IBUSINESS FUNDING ACTIVELY SEEKS PARTNERSHIPS WITH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE SBA, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, FINTECH COMPANIES, LENDERS, AND NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT SHARE THE MISSION OF SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESSES

thought leaders and providing valuable insights, iBusiness Funding aims to build trust and credibility with potential clients.

Leveraging social media platforms, particularly LinkedIn, is another essential aspect of iBusiness Funding’s marketing approach. “We utilize social media to share our content, engage with our audience, and increase brand awareness,” Levy states. Through strategic social media marketing, iBusiness Funding generates leads and fosters connections with potential clients.

For tech startups looking to establish a strong marketing presence, Levy offers valuable advice. “There is no short cut in marketing and building a business, you have to put the work in. The more you do the more opportunities come your way. ,” he recommends. Attending industry events and conferences can be particularly beneficial for startups to network and generate leads. Additionally, Levy suggests identifying and nurturing partnerships and collaborations with other companies in the industry to expand their reach and generate new business opportunities.

Expanding Features and Partnerships

iBusiness Funding has an ambitious product and service roadmap ahead. Justin Levy, the CEO, highlights some exciting developments in the works, including expanding LenderAI features and enhancing the Lending as a Service offering. Here are a few highlights:

Business Loan Marketplace: iBusiness

Funding aims to create an efficient and connected market by bringing together buyers and sellers of business loans in a mass-scale marketplace. This initiative aims to streamline the lending process and foster a more connected ecosystem.

Real-time Communication Platform: A fully connected communication and phone platform is in alpha testing, enabling real-time call, text, and email data tied to individual loan applications. This feature will enhance transparency and enable users to track the loan journey at every stage.

Expanded Partner Offering: Recognizing the importance of partnerships for lenders, iBusiness

Funding plans to introduce parallel partner portals. These portals will facilitate increased connectivity between lenders and their partners, reducing friction and expediting loan processing.

Broader Loan Product Offering: iBusiness

Funding is expanding its loan product offering in both LenderAI and the Lending as Service divisions. This expansion aims to provide small business clients with access to a wider range of loan products and complimentary services.

iBusiness Funding actively seeks partnerships with organizations like the SBA, government agencies, fintech companies, lenders, and non-profit organizations that share the mission of supporting small businesses. Collaboration with multiple parties who are aligned towards the common goal of efficiently and transparently providing capital to businesses is a top priority for iBusiness Funding.

Through its ability to make the complicated underwriting process for business lending faster and easier with technology, iBusiness Funding is poised to continue to change the SBA and conventional lending markets for the better. By making it easy for traditional banks and lenders to compete with FinTechs, their technology and services will help more businesses get the funding they need in an efficient, transparent, and costeffective manner.

FASTEST GROWING TO WATCH IN 2023

Connect.ED COMPANY

REVOLUTIONIZING THE STUDY ABROAD EXPERIENCE FOR STUDENTS WORLDWIDE

In a rapidly globalizing world, the demand for international education has surged, with more students seeking opportunities to broaden their horizons and gain a competitive edge. However, choosing and applying to international educational institutions has often been daunting and inefficient, plagued by limited choices, high costs, and a lack of accessible information. Enter Connect.ED – a groundbreaking service that revolutionizes the study abroad experience, while saving students significant time and money.

Connect.ED was born out of the vision of its CEO, Bomi Park, who experienced the challenges firsthand during her semester abroad in the United States. “During my time in the US, I met someone who operated a company serving international students. Inspired by this connection, I started operating an agency in

Korea for the company,” explains Park. Through this hands-on involvement, she witnessed students’ frustrations with the existing study abroad programs, which motivated her to find a solution.

One of the primary pain points that Connect. ED addresses is the limited choices students face when working with agencies and inflexible program offerings. Many traditional study abroad programs partner with specific agencies, restricting students’ options and hindering their ability to find the perfect fit. Connect.ED, on the other hand, breaks down these barriers by providing a vast network of international educational institutions from across the globe. This empowers students to explore a wide range of choices and select the program that best aligns with their academic goals, personal interests, and budget.

Bomi Park, CEO

BY STREAMLINING THE APPLICATION PROCESS AND ELIMINATING UNNECESSARY INTERMEDIARIES, CONNECT. ED HELPS STUDENTS SAVE MONEY THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE SPENT ON HEFTY AGENCY FEES

High costs and overhead have long been deterrents for students considering study abroad opportunities. The financial burden associated with tuition fees, accommodation, travel expenses, and agency fees can quickly add up, making many dreams of studying

abroad seem out of reach. Connect.ED recognizes the importance of affordability and has strategically designed its platform to offer significant cost savings. By streamlining the application process and eliminating unnecessary intermediaries, Connect.ED helps

students save money that would otherwise be spent on hefty agency fees.

Another area where Connect.ED shines is in providing students with the information they need to make informed decisions about their study abroad journey. Park acknowledges the disproportionate access to information that prospective students face. “We believe that every student deserves equal access to educational opportunities and resources,” says Park. Connect.ED levels the playing field by offering comprehensive and unbiased information about various international educational institutions, program offerings, admission requirements, and cultural experiences. This empowers students to make well-informed choices based on their unique preferences and aspirations.

With its innovative approach and commitment to student-centricity, Connect.ED has quickly gained recognition as one of the fastest-growing companies in the study abroad industry. By leveraging technology and partnerships with renowned educational institutions worldwide, Connect.ED has created a user-friendly platform that simplifies the application process while providing an extensive array of options for students.

that revolutionizes the entire educational journey for students. From collecting information and choosing the right institutions to handle applications, visa processing, and the start of their education, Connect.ED is there every step of the way. This unique approach stems from a growing need in the market, particularly in South Korea, where customers are seeking alternatives to the traditional agency infrastructure. They want the freedom to research and compare curriculums independently, apply directly to institutions, and avoid the costly overhead associated with working through traditional agencies. Connect. ED precisely targets these customers, empowering them to take charge of their own educational journey while providing the expert services they need throughout the process.

“Our goal is to be a service for those who want to shape their educational future and guide them towards their end goal,” says Bomi Park. By offering a comprehensive range of services, Connect.ED ensures that students have all the resources they need to plan their educational journey effectively. Whether it’s finding the right institution, navigating the application process, or handling visa requirements, Connect.ED streamlines the entire experience, saving students both time and money.

Empowering

Students to Take Control of Their Educational Future

Connect.ED is not just another study abroad service – it is a comprehensive, one-stop solution

A key aspect of Connect.ED’s success lies in its partnerships with educational institutions. Park explains, “We establish connections with educational institutions by introducing ourselves,

sharing our mission, and explaining how our platform benefits all parties involved.” Connect. ED actively seeks out reputable educational institutions accredited through recognized accreditation associations. By forging these partnerships, Connect.ED ensures that students have access to a diverse range of institutions that meet their academic goals and standards. Moreover, educational institutions can register on Connect.ED platform, promote themselves for free and get local marketing & communication services. Connect.ED believes in inclusivity and does not limit any activities or discriminate against institutions that do not offer commissions or other incentives. This approach fosters an environment where institutions are evaluated based on their merit and offerings, ensuring students have a comprehensive range of options to choose from.

Benefiting Students through Partnerships and Overcoming Study Abroad Challenges

When students choose to study abroad through Connect.ED, they reap several benefits thanks to the platform’s strategic partnerships with educational institutions. Bomi Park highlights the advantages for students, saying, “Connect. ED does not charge the high fees associated with traditional agencies. Additionally, users can experience significant time savings and the ability to map out their educational roadmap through the wealth of data we have collected on institutions based on different program types.”

One of the common challenges that students face when planning to study abroad is a lack of information or limited access to comprehensive information about educational institutions. Connect.ED addresses this challenge by providing

a vast amount of data on approximately 15,000 educational institutions across countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. This data is pre-processed and available for students to filter through in multiple languages. By offering this extensive database, Connect.ED ensures that students have access to a wealth of information, empowering them to make well-informed decisions about their study abroad options.

Another challenge students encounter is the need to customize their curriculum to suit their academic goals and personal interests. Connect.ED understands the importance of tailored education and strives to address this challenge through its platform. Through a recommendation system and data exploration tools, Connect.ED allows students to search, match, and find programs or institutions that align with their unique preferences and

aspirations. Additionally, Connect.ED provides a curated list of programs customized specifically for each student, further simplifying the process of finding the right educational fit.

By leveraging partnerships with educational institutions and offering a wealth of data and personalized recommendations, Connect.ED helps students overcome these common challenges associated with studying abroad. The platform not only saves students from the high fees charged by traditional agencies but also empowers them with the necessary information and tools to plan their educational journey efficiently.

Navigating Unexpected Challenges and Prioritizing Student Safety

In the journey of building Connect.ED, Bomi Park, and her team encountered a unique and unforeseen challenge just a month after launching their service—the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. This sudden global crisis presented Connect.ED with numerous business challenges. However, the team swiftly pivoted their approach by focusing on institutions that offered remote education. This shift not only allowed Connect.ED to serve a new market but also introduced existing students to a new type of program.

“We had to adapt quickly to the changing circumstances brought on by the pandemic,” explains Bomi Park. “By identifying institutions that provided remote education options, we were able to ensure that students could continue their academic journey despite the challenging circumstances.”

The safety and well-being of students studying abroad have always been a top priority for Connect.ED. To guarantee a secure environment, the company works extensively

BY OFFERING A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF SERVICES, CONNECT. ED ENSURES THAT STUDENTS HAVE ALL THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO PLAN THEIR EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY EFFECTIVELY

CONNECT.ED’S USER-FRIENDLY PLATFORM AND PERSONALIZED SUPPORT HAVE TRANSFORMED THE STUDY ABROAD JOURNEY, ENABLING STUDENTS TO DISCOVER THEIR DREAM SCHOOLS, NAVIGATE THE APPLICATION PROCESS SEAMLESSLY, AND RECEIVE ONGOING GUIDANCE FOR A SUCCESSFUL ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE

with schools and institutions. Most educational institutions have dedicated resources for international students, which Connect.ED leverages as points of contact. These resources serve as a vital bridge between Connect.ED, the students, and the host families.

In addition to the school’s resources, Connect.ED maintains its own dedicated support team to facilitate clear and consistent communication. This allows for immediate responses to emergencies and ensures ongoing support throughout the student’s study abroad experience. By maintaining open channels of communication, Connect.ED can address any concerns promptly, enabling students to focus on their academic endeavors while feeling safe and supported.

Connecting Students with Success: Testimonials from Connect.ED Users

The impact of Connect.ED on students’ study abroad experiences have been nothing short of remarkable. Numerous testimonies highlight the significant benefits that students have gained, including cost savings and expanded opportunities to explore a wide range of educational institutions. Here are a few testimonials from students who have found success through Connect.ED:

“I was on the verge of giving up on my dream of studying in the United States. Despite knowing what I wanted, local agencies didn’t have the necessary connections, however, with Connect.ED, I discovered the perfect school, received assistance with the application and enrollment processes, and saved a considerable amount of money by eliminating agency fees. Finding the right school became effortless, as Connect.ED provided all the factors I needed

to consider. In contrast, my local agency had limited connections to schools in the same state.”

- Connect.ED User

Discovering the ideal school is just the beginning of the Connect.ED experience. The platform goes above and beyond to guide students through the entire application process. One student shared their experience, saying, “After finding the school of my dreams through Connect.ED’s online tool provided step-by-step assistance with the application process. They connected me with the right resources to enhance my language skills and ensured I was wellprepared for acceptance. Even after being accepted, Connect.ED continued to support me, offering advice on course selection and helping bridge any language barriers. Thanks to their guidance, my educational journey has been a resounding success.”Connect.ED User

Connect.ED empowers students to explore various educational environments that align with their preferences and aspirations. Another student shared their story, stating, “The local agency I approached only had connections to schools in major cities, but I desired the experience of suburban or rural American life, where sports played a significant role in my school experience, through Connect.ED’s platform, I could narrow down my choices by filtering based on location, school size, state, and even athletic program offerings. This allowed me to find the perfect school that matched my unique preferences and aspirations.” - Connect.ED User

These testimonies showcase the tangible benefits that students have experienced

through Connect.ED. Not only have they achieved significant cost savings by eliminating agency fees, but they have also enjoyed the freedom to explore a broader range of educational institutions. Connect.ED’s user-friendly platform and personalized support have transformed the study abroad journey, enabling students to discover their dream schools, navigate the application process seamlessly, and receive ongoing guidance for a successful academic experience.

Expanding Opportunities and Embracing the Future

With an unwavering commitment to meeting the evolving needs of learners worldwide, Connect.ED has exciting plans for the future. Bomi Park reveals the company’s upcoming endeavors, stating, “We are planning to open services for adult education next year, in addition to continuing our efforts to expand our services to India and other Asian markets. We keep our ears open for new opportunities and actively work on enhancements and new features based on customer feedback.”

Connect.ED envisions a future where continued learning is a requisite, extending beyond traditional school settings. Recognizing the importance of lifelong learning, the company aims to create accessible and flexible educational opportunities for adults. They are determined to be at the forefront of this shift, offering customized learning experiences without border restrictions. With the expansion into adult education and a focus on emerging markets, such as India and other Asian countries, Connect.ED is poised to empower learners globally and bridge educational gaps.

CEO

MOST INNOVATIVE OF THE YEAR 2023

Hamlet Tunyan

CEO and Founder, RECOM TECHNOLOGIES

FINDING RESPONSIBLE SOLUTIONS USING RENEWABLE SOURCES

Solar energy is becoming increasingly popular as the world looks for sustainable and renewable sources of power. At the forefront of this shift is RECOM TECHNOLOGIES, which specialises in manufacturing solar modules, a crucial component of solar energy systems. With its innovative technologies and commitment to environmental sustainability, RECOM has established itself as a leader in the

industry. “Sixteen years ago, upon establishing RECOM, the energy cost was relatively low, and the global efforts to combat climate change were not in full force. However, the idea of using the sun’s energy to enable households, businesses, enterprises, communities, and entire countries to achieve energy independence was a concept that deeply resonated with me. This notion continues to serve as a powerful source of inspiration and motivation, fueling my

Hamlet Tunyan, CEO and Founder, RECOM TECHNOLOGIES

ongoing commitment to advancing this vision through my work,” says Hamlet

Tunyan, CEO and Founder of RECOM TECHNOLOGIES.

The solar industry faces a primary technological challenge: to continuously improve and enhance the efficiency of solar cells and modules. Remarkably, the industry has experienced tremendous success in this regard. Mr. Tunyan opines, “Merely two decades ago, module efficiency sat at a mere 3%. Today, that figure has skyrocketed to over 23,6%, with the potential for continued growth. Over the past twenty years, we have

witnessed significant advancements in solar cell technology, progressing from simple thin film technology to PERC, Heterojunction (HJT), and TOP-Con.” Since its inception in 2007, RECOM has experienced growth in its workforce and operational scope. The company strongly emphasises doing things right, with a dedicated commitment to providing highquality products and services that satisfy the needs and preferences of its customers.

RECOM aims to offer the best possible value for money and consistently delivers exceptional customer service. In its pursuit

of achieving a balance between superior quality and fair pricing, the company remains steadfast in upholding the highest standards of integrity in all its business decisions and actions. “Internally, we take pride in being an ethnically diverse, gender-equal organisation that operates as a single, accountable, and respectful team. Externally, we are guided by principles of respect for human rights, labour laws, fair competition, and environmental considerations in our outsourcing, procurement, and end-user decisions,” pinpoints Mr. Tunyan.

Making a Difference

RECOM’s initial focus was on manufacturing solar modules in Asia and distributing them worldwide. In 2015, the company expanded its operations by acquiring a cell manufacturing facility in Padua, Italy, followed by a module manufacturing factory in Lannion, France, in 2017, which was previously owned by German

RECOM is now one of Europe’s largest solar module manufacturers and the only one to be ranked as a Bloomberg Tier 1 company

Bosch. This strategic move, combined with RECOM’s continued Asian production, has increased its total annual production capacity to over 2.1 GW. “Our products have been sold in more than 100 countries, resulting in sales of over 3GW,” states Mr. Tunyan.

RECOM is now one of Europe’s largest solar module manufacturers and the only one to be ranked as a Bloomberg Tier 1 company. “Our commitment to excellence has been recognised

by the EUPD research institute, which awarded us the TOP PV Brand distinction in France, the USA, MENA, Vietnam, Hungary and Greece. We also produce inverters and batteries and have recently expanded our product portfolio by adding EV chargers to our assortment,” shares Mr. Tunyan. RECOM’s products have helped develop a renewable energy ecosystem, promoting the use of sustainable energy sources in place of fossil fuels.

RECOM is not only a solar module manufacturer but also an independent power producer (IPP) that develops solar projects. “Our experienced project development team offers comprehensive solutions that cover the entire project cycle, from conception to securing power purchase agreements (PPA), financing, and asset management,” explains Mr. Tunyan. Over the past decade, RECOM has developed, supplied modules, and constructed many solar projects globally. The company currently owns and operates solar projects in the United States and Europe, and it has several new projects in the works, including a 1.1GW project in Greece. “Our objective is to develop 20GW of solar projects worldwide within the next five years,” adds Mr. Tunyan.

The Standout Features

RECOM’s dual expertise in manufacturing and project development, along with its Bloomberg Tier 1 bankability distinction, gives the company a distinct advantage in the global renewable market, making it well-positioned to secure funding and attract individual and institutional investors. RECOM’s longevity and success result from its agility, adaptability, and ability to innovate. The company remains committed to providing high-quality services and products to its customers while remaining attentive and responsive to the general public’s social, economic, and environmental needs.

In addition to their manufacturing facility in France and local R&D team, RECOM invests in and collaborates with leading global research institutions and manufacturers to stay at the forefront of technological advances in solar module manufacturing. “Our primary R&D

partner is the French institute CEA/INES. We are always ahead of the curve, and we bring to consumers the latest in technology,” shares Mr. Tunyan. RECOM prides itself on bringing the latest technology to consumers and offers six unique technologies, including the Panther series with half-cut cell technology, the Jaguar Tri-Cut, the Puma Shingled technology, the Lion series heterojunction, the Lynx series with N-Type Top-Con. Soon, RECOM will launch the sixth series Black Tiger with N-Type cell technology in conjunction with a rear connection method known as BackContact. RECOM’s philosophy is simple: if the technology exists, it’s available at RECOM.

Achieving Greater Heights

“Solar power plays a crucial role in transitioning to renewable energy sources. Europe’s commitment to phasing out coal and now gas is accelerating the deployment of renewables and driving the clean energy transition forward,” opines Mr. Tunyan. RECOM is also taking steps to strengthen its manufacturing capabilities. The company is in the process of completing its second technology upgrade at its Lannion facility in France. It has plans to establish a 1GW cells and module manufacturing facility in the US. Additionally, RECOM is looking to expand further in Europe with another facility.

Mr. Tunyan shares, “The demand for solar energy is high and is expected to continue growing as governments around the world work towards meeting their carbon-cutting goals. As a result, the solar energy market represents a significant opportunity for growth.” Despite the challenging pandemic period, RECOM has performed exceptionally well over the past

years and has achieved its highest turnover demonstrating continuous growth.

A Leader with a Vision

Mr. Tunyan possesses diverse experiences, having been born in one location, grown up in another, and spent his adult life in a third. This unique background has given him a broad perspective on life and fostered a sense of self-reliance. After completing his university education, Mr. Tunyan has demonstrated a strong inclination towards individual entrepreneurship, particularly in emerging and promising fields where he believes he can have a meaningful impact. “I believe I recharge myself as a leader! This process enables me to have the energy to work and remain focused. I see the power of renewable sources and find responsible solutions for RECOM,” states Mr. Tunyan.

RECOM prides itself on bringing the latest technology to consumers and offers six unique technologies, including the Panther series with half-cut cell technology, the Jaguar Tri-Cut, the Puma Shingled technology, the Lion series heterojunction, the Lynx series with N-Type TopCon and the new Black Tiger with BackContact technology

It is important to create a culture of collaboration and appreciation within the workplace, according to Mr. Tunyan. Under his leadership, RECOM aims to nurture business strategies that encourage collaboration and ensure everyone’s opinion is solicited and listened to. In addition, RECOM strives to create a healthy workplace and provides employees with learning and development opportunities to support their professional growth. The company also ensures that employees are appropriately compensated, which is essential in maintaining a positive working environment.

Talking about leadership, Mr. Tunyan says, “In leadership, effective communication is crucial. Leaders must deliver clear and concise messages while actively listening to others. Building strong relationships with team members, stakeholders, and customers is also crucial. Leaders should invest time and effort into nurturing these relationships and always approach them with respect and empathy.”

Mr. Tunyan understands the importance of adaptability and flexibility for leaders in today’s rapidly changing business landscape. He advises leaders to embrace continuous learning, encourage team members to do the same, be open to change, and be willing to pivot when necessary. Mr. Tunyan also emphasises the importance of setting high standards, taking on new challenges, and evaluating risks and benefits before making decisions. “Leaders should also promote innovation to gain a competitive advantage. Additionally, they must prioritise ethics, honesty, transparency, and integrity in their actions and communication with stakeholders and team members. This will foster trust and respect from those around them,” concludes Mr. Tunyan.

10 MUST-WATCH INNOVATORS TO FOLLOW IN

2023

MUST-WATCH INNOVATORS TO FOLLOW IN 2023

Co-Founder and CEO of seeCOLe, Health IT Award Winner and Entrepreneur

EVP & Chief Operating Officer, Liquid Web

Website: https://www.seecole.app/

Headquarters: Florida, USA

About the Company: seeCOLe (see Clinical data On Lens) is an award-winning augmented reality health app that enables clinicians to navigate & document in the electronic health record hands-free using voice commands.

Website: https://www.liquidweb.com/

Headquarters: Michigan, United States

About the Company: Liquid Web delivers reliable, highly-available, secure, and hasslefree hosting fueled by its Heroic Support®. The company provides managed hosting products and services to over 45,000+ customers, spanning 150 countries.

Carl Anthony Osborne Carrie Wheeler

David Capece

Website: https://croow.com/

Location: Florida, USA

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

Davielle Jackson

Founder and President, Femi Secrets

Website: https://www.femisecrets.com/

Location: Georgia, USA

About the Company: Femi Secrets is the first Award-Winning period hygiene brand that specializes in making a women’s life easier and healthier.

Website: https://www.krohnmarketing.com/

Headquarters: Arizona, USA

About the Company: Krohn Marketing is an award-winning, education-focused marketing and sales consulting company that works with VC-backed startups and SMBs in North America to help them create and implement an effective, data-driven strategy that gets results.

Website: https://www.asigra.com/

Headquarters: Toronto, Canada

About the Company: Asigra provides organizations around the world the ability to securely backup and restore their data through a network of partners who deliver cloud backup and recovery services as public, private, and/or hybrid deployments.

Founder and CEO, Krohn Marketing Inc

Founder and CEO, CROOW

CEO & President, Asigra

Elizabeth A Krohn

Eric Simmons

Jean-Philippe

CEO, AxonJay

Website: https://www.axonjay.ai/

Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium

About the Company: AxonJay harnesses Darwin's evolutionary theory of natural selection within its cutting-edge Self-Machine-Learning Platform™ (Self-ML). By learning and reinforcing relevant information while allowing less relevant data to fade, the platform draws inspiration from Earth's 4.5-billion-year-old evolutionary algorithm.

Kate Harry Shipham

Principal, KHS People LLC

Website: http://www.khspeople.com/

Location: Illinois, USA

About the Company: KHS People LLC is an executive search firm exclusively focused on connecting business development and marketing professionals with professional services firms.

Co-Founder, CX Accelerator

Website: https://www.cxaccelerator.com/

Location: Tennessee, USA

About the Company: CX Accelerator is a non-profit community that exists to equip, encourage, and connect Customer Experience professionals at every stage in their journey.

Founder & Chief Executive, Next-Up

Website: https://www.next-up.com/

Headquarters: North Yorkshire, UK

About the Company: Making the most of ‘unretirement’ Next-Up supports employers with a range of services for directors, partners and employees to help them understand the impact of retirement on mental health and create a plan to use their skills and experience in new ways to ensure wellbeing.

Nate Brown

Victoria Tomlinson

Carl Anthony Osborne

Revolutionizing Healthcare with Innovation and Excellence

Carl Anthony Osborne, a visionary leader in the realm of health information technology (IT), has spent over a decade and a half revolutionizing electronic health records (EHRs) and spearheading the development of cutting-edge mobile applications and clinical user dashboards. With a remarkable track record and an unwavering commitment to improving the healthcare landscape, Mr. Osborne has emerged as a revered expert in healthcare application development and HL7 FHIR APIs. His contributions have earned him numerous accolades, including four prestigious clinical application developer awards.

As the co-founder and CEO of seeCOLe, Mr. Osborne has harnessed the power of augmented reality to create a groundbreaking health app, empowering clinicians to interact with EHRs using voice commands while seamlessly accessing patient data. Alongside his role as a health IT consultant, he has collaborated with diverse healthcare systems, working on an impressive portfolio of 23 applications for over 25 organizations. With a profound passion for reshaping the healthcare industry, Mr. Osborne’s visionary work and wealth of experience continue to propel the field into a new era.

Co-Founder and CEO of seeCOLe, Health IT Award Winner and Entrepreneur

and CEO of seeCOLe, Health IT Award Winner and Entrepreneur

CarlOsborne,Anthony

Co-Founder

As the co-founder and CEO of seeCOLe, Mr. Osborne has harnessed the power of augmented reality to create a groundbreaking health app, empowering clinicians to interact with EHRs using voice commands while seamlessly accessing patient data

Driving Innovation in the Healthcare IT Innovation is the driving force behind progress, and for entrepreneurs like Mr. Osborne, it holds a special significance in the health IT arena. By finding novel and creative ways to solve problems, Mr. Osborne has dedicated himself to improving the world and the lives of countless individuals. “The most rewarding part of my role as an innovative business leader has been seeing the positive impact that my ideas and products have had on people’s lives. Whether it’s helping patients communicate more effectively with their healthcare providers through Patient Orator or

helping people learn a new language with the My Native Tongue game, seeing how my work can make a real difference in people’s lives is incredibly fulfilling,” says Mr. Osborne.

Moreover, as an entrepreneur, Mr. Osborne has had the privilege of assembling a team of like-minded individuals who share his passion for innovation and creating positive change. He adds, “Building a team and working together to bring new ideas to life is an incredibly rewarding experience, and I feel lucky to have been able to do so with such talented and dedicated individuals.” By embracing innovation, Mr. Osborne has been

able to make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals, revolutionizing the way healthcare is delivered and experienced. Through his work and collaborations, Mr. Osborne stands as a testament to the transformative power of innovation in shaping a brighter future for us all.

The Making of an Innovator

Growing up in a culturally diverse environment, Mr. Osborne developed a strong sense of empathy and a desire to make a positive impact. His career in health IT began at a Brooklyn hospital, where he observed the challenges clinicians faced with electronic health records (EHRs). Mr. Osborne recounts, “I learned and observed how clinicians interact with electronic health records and quickly started to assess pain points and how technology might help physician burnout and improvement in healthcare outcomes.”

After winning a hackathon, Osborne launched seeCOLe, an augmented reality app that integrated FHIR APIs to streamline clinical workflows. The seeCOLe app won first prize at the Oracle Health Cerner code app challenge and demonstrated how FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) APIs could be integrated with devices to streamline clinical workflows. His expertise with FHIR APIs led to collaborations on applications like WellnessWits and Patient Orator, addressing social determinants of health (SDOH) and improving patient-provider interactions. Osborne’s life experiences have shaped his innovative approach to health IT, making a lasting impact on the industry.

In addition to his work in health IT, Mr. Osborne expanded his innovative ventures into other domains. Inspired by his machine learning course at Duke University, he launched TAMARA (Text Analysis and Message Aide

Building a team and working together to bring new ideas to life is an incredibly rewarding experience, and I feel lucky to have been able to do so with such talented and dedicated individuals

Review Assistant), an artificial intelligence app that aids in effective communication via emails, social media, and text messages. Recognizing the need for a tool that ensures clear and professional messaging, TAMARA was developed to review and refine messages, providing users with confidence in their communication.

Mr. Osborne’s innovation also extended to the realm of gaming with the creation of “My Native Tongue.” This project emerged from a collaboration with 1804 Media and Jonathan Calonge of Calonge Enterprises. The objective was to develop a mobile game of charades that exclusively utilized terms, phrases, and languages from players’ native tongues. “It was my first time designing and developing a game. It was fun and challenging, and I am looking forward to the success of this group,” says Mr. Osborne.

Throughout his career, Mr. Osborne has collaborated with top companies in the health IT industry, including Oracle Health Cerner, Epic Systems, and InterSystems, as a consultant. These experiences have equipped him with a deep understanding of the challenges faced by the healthcare sector, enabling him to develop innovative solutions that address these issues effectively. Mr. Osborne shares, “As a leader, I believe that my life experience has taught me the importance of collaboration, empathy, and persistence. I know that the best ideas often come from working together with a diverse group of individuals, and I always strive to create an inclusive and supportive environment that encourages collaboration and creativity.”

Mr. Osborne’s career in mobile application development and health IT has been immensely rewarding. He remains committed to leveraging his skills and experience to continue making a positive impact on the world.

Entering Wearable Technology Sector

The wearable technology sector has experienced remarkable growth, and seeCOLe is poised to capitalize on this trend. Mr. Osborne observes, “With a projected global market value of USD 87 billion by 2027, wearables have become increasingly popular for health and fitness tracking, remote patient monitoring, and smartwatch functionalities.” seeCOLe, an augmented reality solution, offers a unique proposition by seamlessly integrating with wearables. This integration empowers clinicians to access and interact with patient data through an augmented reality interface, eliminating the need for traditional computer interfaces.

“seeCOLe can save time, improve clinical workflows, and reduce the risk of physician

burnout. Additionally, seeCOLe can integrate with various wearables, including smart glasses and other devices, enabling clinicians to access patient data in real-time while keeping their hands free,” claims Mr. Osborne. As the demand for healthcare solutions utilizing wearables and emerging technologies continues to surge, seeCOLe’s integration with wearable technology positions it as an innovative and adaptable solution. The company is well-positioned to leverage this growing market and make a lasting impact in the healthcare industry.

seeCOLe was born from Mr. Osborne’s experiences as a healthcare IT consultant, observing the challenges clinicians face with electronic health records (EHRs). He assembled a team to develop an augmented reality solution

that integrates with EHRs, improving clinician workflows and patient care. “Our goal was to create a solution that could integrate with existing EHRs and allow clinicians to view patient data through an AR interface. The solution had to be easy to use, intuitive, and customizable to meet the specific needs of different healthcare providers,” shares Mr. Osborne. seeCOLe’s launch received positive feedback, reflecting its ability to address pain points and leverage emerging technologies in the healthcare industry.

Disrupting the Healthcare IT Sector

seeCOLe is dedicated to enhancing clinical workflows and patient care through its augmented reality (AR) technology solutions. Its flagship product integrates seamlessly with electronic health record (EHR) systems, providing clinicians with real-time access to patient data in an intuitive and efficient manner. By minimizing the time spent on EHR interaction, seeCOLe enables physicians to prioritize patient care, reducing the likelihood of burnout. The solution enhances patient outcomes

by offering critical information at the point of care, facilitating quicker decision-making and personalized treatment plans.

“In addition to our AR solution, seeCOLe also offers consulting services to healthcare providers looking to implement innovative technology solutions in their clinical workflows. Our team of experts works closely with clients to assess their needs and identify opportunities for improvement, offering customized solutions tailored to their specific requirements,” says Mr. Osborne. seeCOLe differentiates itself by offering user-friendly and customizable solutions that seamlessly integrate into existing clinical workflows. Mr. Osborne and his team remain at the forefront of emerging technologies and healthcare trends to ensure their solutions are cutting-edge and impactful. “By prioritizing customer satisfaction and focusing on continuous improvement, we aim to establish seeCOLe as a trusted and innovative leader in the healthcare technology space,” he adds.

seeCOLe partners benefit from a range of key advantages. Firstly, its augmented reality

Mr. Osborne’s career in mobile application development and health IT has been immensely rewarding. He remains committed to leveraging his skills and experience to continue making a positive impact on the world

(AR) solution optimizes clinical workflows by streamlining EHR interaction, reducing physicians’ time spent on administrative tasks, and allowing them to focus more on patient care. This improved efficiency leads to enhanced productivity and a more seamless clinical experience. seeCOLe empowers clinicians with real-time access to critical patient data, enabling informed decision-making and personalized treatment plans that ultimately improve patient outcomes. Additionally, seeCOLe helps reduce the risk of physician burnout by alleviating the burden of EHR documentation, allowing clinicians to maintain job satisfaction and overall well-being.

“Our approach emphasizes customization, as we closely collaborate with partners to understand their specific needs and deliver tailored solutions that seamlessly integrate into their workflows and processes. Partners also benefit from the guidance and support of our team of healthcare and technology experts throughout the implementation process, ensuring a smooth and successful deployment,” states Mr. Osborne. Overall, seeCOLe’s partnership promises improved efficiency, productivity, and patient care through innovative solutions, expert guidance, and a commitment to excellence.

As the demand for healthcare solutions utilizing wearables and emerging technologies continues to surge, seeCOLe’s integration with wearable technology positions it as an innovative and adaptable solution

Today, seeCOLe recognizes significant growth opportunities in the global market, particularly in the adoption of wearable technology. With the increasing use of wearable devices for health monitoring, there is a rising demand for solutions that can effectively analyze and utilize the generated data, making seeCOLe wellpositioned to meet this need. “Ultimately, our goal is to become a leading provider of healthcare technology solutions worldwide, and we are committed to investing in the people, technology, and infrastructure necessary to make this happen. We believe that our innovative approach to healthcare technology, combined with our deep

expertise in the field, will enable us to achieve our goals and make a lasting impact on the industry,” pinpoints Mr. Osborne.

Expanding strategically, seeCOLe is actively forming partnerships and targeting key markets, including the European market, through its involvement with the Caelestinus Central European FHIR Health Tech Incubator. Additionally, seeCOLe is continuously developing new products and services to stay ahead of competitors and address the changing requirements of its clients.

An Inspiring Innovator

As the founder and CEO of seeCOLe, Mr. Osborne is seen as a leader due to his unwavering passion for the company’s mission. His strong belief in the transformative power of technology in healthcare inspires others within the organization. “I also believe that my ability to lead by example is something that inspires others. I am always willing to roll up my sleeves and work alongside my team to tackle whatever challenges we face,” says Mr. Osborne.

Moreover, Mr. Osborne’s commitment to innovation and creativity sets him apart as a leader. He constantly seeks new and improved ways to address healthcare challenges, encouraging his team to think beyond conventional boundaries. By fostering a culture of innovation and embracing creativity, Mr. Osborne aims to drive positive change not only within the healthcare industry but also in other spheres. He adds, “By fostering a culture of innovation and creativity, I believe that we can continue to drive positive change in the healthcare industry and beyond.”

As a leader, Mr. Osborne prioritizes the creation of a supportive and inclusive environment where every team member feels valued and empowered to contribute their unique ideas and skills. He

explains, “I also believe in leading by example and being a positive role model for my team. This means being transparent and honest in communication, showing empathy and understanding, and actively working to build trust and respect among team members.” At seeCOLe, Mr. Osborne creates a safe space for brainstorming, values diverse perspectives, and provides the necessary resources and support for innovation to thrive.

Mr. Osborne has a busy and varied working day. He starts early, checking emails and addressing urgent tasks. His time is primarily dedicated to consulting projects with healthcare systems, app maintenance, and participation in industry events. To manage the workload, Mr. Osborne prioritizes tasks, stays organized with tools like calendars and to-do lists, and takes breaks for family, reading, and running to recharge. “In addition to my consulting work and app maintenance, I also participate in the Caelestinus, Central European FHIR Health Tech Incubator accelerator and hackathons to stay up-to-date on emerging technologies and industry trends. For example, I am currently working on an augmented reality and scanning eCommerce solution for the Square Developer Hackathon this summer.”

Mr. Osborne advises leaders to prioritize communication, collaboration, and empathy. He states, “Good leaders must be able to effectively communicate their vision and ideas to their team members while also being open to feedback and new perspectives. Collaboration is key to fostering innovation and driving success, and it is important to create an inclusive and supportive environment where everyone feels valued and heard. According to Mr. Osborne, continuous learning and staying updated with industry trends are vital. Upholding values and making decisions in the best interest

of the team, clients, and community is essential. “Finally, always remember to stay true to your values and principles. As a leader, you have the power to make a positive impact on the world, and it is important to use that power for good,” adds Mr. Osborne.

Goals for the Future

Mr. Osborne is currently focused on several key projects and goals. One of his main priorities is expanding the company’s reach into new markets and growing the customer base. This involves developing strategic partnerships, attending industry events, and staying updated with the latest trends in the health IT space. “I am focused on further developing and enhancing our existing products and services, including our FHIR-based API platform and our AI-powered communication tools. This involves working closely with our development team and collaborating with healthcare providers to ensure that our solutions meet their needs,” shares Mr. Osborne.

Preparing for the upcoming submission to the Square Developer Hackathon, Mr. Osborne coordinates efforts with the development team to create an innovative and competitive submission aligned with the company’s vision and goals. They are optimizing the artificial intelligence text solution TAMARA to incorporate exciting features and integrations. Mr. Osborne also continues to work with healthcare clients, optimizing systems, enhancing patient safety, and reducing clinician burnout while effectively capturing the patient story. “Overall, I am excited about the projects and goals that we are currently working on, and I am confident that we will continue to make a positive impact on the healthcare industry through our innovative solutions and a strong commitment to customer satisfaction,” concludes Mr. Osborne.

Building Climate Resilience: How Digital Technologies are Driving Adaptation

Chiara Rinaldi, Co-Founder & COO, Sustainaccount AG

Climate change has become one of the most significant global challenges. Burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and agriculture have accelerated the emission of greenhouse gases resulting in a rise of more than 1°C in the Earth’s average temperature since pre-industrial times. This has led to more frequent and intense extreme weather events such as heatwaves, storms, and droughts. In addition, rising sea levels, melting glaciers, and loss of biodiversity also pose a significant threat to human health, the environment, and our economy.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has warned that the impacts of climate change will continue to worsen in the coming years. Reducing emissions is critical, but it will not be enough to prevent the effects of climate change, which are already being felt across the globe. Therefore, it is crucial that we also take action to prepare and reduce the impacts of the changing climate.

To address this challenge, the international community has been working on both mitigation and adaptation measures. Mitigation measures focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions to slow down the pace at which the

The use of digital technologies has become increasingly important in fostering climate change adaptation, helping businesses and communities understand and prepare for the risks of a changing climate

Chiara Rinaldi is co-founder of Sustainaccount, a climate intelligence startup empowering real estate project developers, investors and companies with actionable climate risk data and specific adaptation measures to foster the resilience of buildings and real assets. She has a broad management experience in operations, finance, business development and strategy consultingwithafocusonsustainability.

Chiara supported organizations in developing sustainability strategies, defining policies and frameworks, and improving sustainability performance. She holds an MBA from SDA Bocconi in Milan and an MSc from Trieste University in Italy.

planet is warming. This involves switching to renewable energy sources, implementing energy efficiency measures, and other strategies that reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. Adaptation measures, on the other hand, are aimed at preparing for the impacts of a changing climate that are already unavoidable.

The use of digital technologies has become increasingly important in fostering climate change adaptation, helping businesses and communities understand and prepare for the risks of a changing climate.

Climate risk assessments are one of the key areas of application of digital technologies in this space. Climate risk assessments allow evaluate the potential impacts of climate change on specific industries, regions, or assets and are critical for helping organizations develop strategies to increase their resilience to these impacts. Digital

tools are used to assess the potential impacts of climate change on various sectors, such as agriculture, real estate and infrastructure, and to develop strategies for increasing their resilience to these impacts. For example, digital technologies are used to simulate the consequences of sea level rise on coastal infrastructure and to assess the potential risks posed by the increased frequency of wind storms or other extreme weather events. This information can be leveraged to inform decision-making, prioritize investments in the development of more resilient infrastructures and implement measures to protect buildings and communities from the impacts of climate change.

Climate modelling and simulation are one of the significant digital trends driving progress in this area. By using advanced computer algorithms, scientists can simulate the Earth’s climate and predict how it will

By using digital technologies to manage the flow of people, goods, and services in cities, it is possible to increase the efficiency and sustainability of these systems, while also reducing the risks posed by climate change

change in the future, providing decisionmakers with important information about the potential impacts of climate change. Climate data analysis is also playing a crucial role, as it involves collecting and analyzing large amounts of environmental data to monitor the effects of climate change. This data includes temperature, precipitation, and other meteorological records, as well as data from remote sensing and ground-based observations. Artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms can be used to analyze this data and detect patterns and trends, helping to identify areas that are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

Building Information Modelling is also a relevant tool for climate change adaptation. It makes it possible to design buildings and infrastructure that are resilient to more frequent extreme events related to climate change, such as flooding and heat waves. The use of innovative materials, the development of green areas and specific construction techniques are strategies that can be taken to prevent the consequences of extreme weather events. Digital replicas of physical assets can also support the evaluation of the effects of simultaneous events and define the best solutions to increase resilience.

Smart city systems are playing an important role in promoting climate change adaptation and building resilience in urban areas. By using digital technologies to manage the flow of people, goods, and services in cities, it is possible to increase the efficiency and sustainability of these systems, while also reducing the risks posed by climate change. For example, smart city systems can be used

to monitor and respond to changes in water levels and adapt the operating conditions of the relevant infrastructure to respond to a potential threat. IoT applications can also monitor early signs of triggering events by detecting variations in temperatures, wind and other atmospheric conditions and issuing early warnings or activating response mechanisms to improve the management of energy, transportation, and other critical infrastructure systems in response to these events.

Digital technologies can also be leveraged to increase access to climate information, allowing underserved communities to prepare for the impacts of climate change. Mobile applications can be used to provide information on weather patterns and forecasts, and notifications can be sent to alert communities of potential threats. Community-based monitoring systems can be developed to collect environmental data in real time, allowing communities to prepare for potential climate related threats.

In conclusion, digital technologies are playing a crucial role in building a climateresilient future. Climate risk assessments, climate modelling and simulation, Building Information Modelling, and smart city systems are just a few examples of digital tools and innovative solutions that are being used to increase the resilience of buildings and infrastructure and address the challenges posed by climate change. By leveraging the power of digital tools and granting widespread access to climate information, it is possible to improve our understanding of the risks posed by climate change, develop effective adaptation strategies, and create a more sustainable and resilient future for all.

Eric Simmons

CEO & President, Asigra

Safeguarding Businesses from Today’s New Breed of Cyber Attacks

Innovative entrepreneurs are fearless in taking risks and are often disruptive in their approach, challenging traditional ways of doing things. They are known for their creativity, entrepreneurial spirit, and ability to identify opportunities in a rapidly changing business environment. However, for global business leaders, innovation has many definitions. “Many people find innovation to be an overwhelming word. For me, it can be as simple as a new idea. Still, at its heart, it is solving problems in a unique and differentiated manner,” says Eric Simmons, CEO and President of Asigra, an award-winning, agentless enterprise backup and recovery platform that proactively hunts ransomware.

For Mr. Simmons, the most rewarding part of being an innovative business leader is bringing something new to the market that is unique and valued by many customers. He says, “Helping others to see great new benefits is a great reward. As well as the inspiration it gives to our internal teams.” Mr. Simmons has a proven record of taking customercentric, technology-focused companies to the next level. Before joining Asigra, Mr. Simmons was Chief Strategy Officer at IMC, CEO of Altum Health, a division of the University Health Network, Head of Innovation for automotive at Canadian Tire, and General Manager of the Rogers Communications IoT business. Mr. Simmons has also held several leadership positions at Dell Technologies.

Eric Simmons, CEO & President, Asigra

Mr. Simmons has a broad career spanning many different roles and industries. His experience covers sales, marketing, consulting, partnerships, product, innovation, and running three businesses ranging from ten to hundreds of millions of dollars

An Inspiring Leader

Mr. Simmons has a broad career spanning many different roles and industries. His experience covers sales, marketing, consulting, partnerships, product, innovation, and running three businesses ranging from ten to hundreds of millions of dollars. “Starting in sales was a critical element that has played into every other role I have had. When I moved from sales to marketing, I focused on marketing ROI based on closed

deals, while others were focused on bums in seats,” shares Mr. Simmons.

From his experience handling different roles, Mr. Simmons has learned that buying and growing a business to be the #1 in its area through solving customer pain points and then selling it brings a new perspective. He explains, “You own the business and can implement whatever changes you want in the timeframe that you like. It is very powerful, particularly if you ask the right questions

and listen to your customers.” Over the years, he has transitioned from a motivational leader to an inspirational leader. “Inspiration is the strongest bond to create trust and transparency and drive results,” adds Mr. Simmons.

The Saga of Asigra

Aigra was founded by David Farajun, a pioneer in cloud backup who has been innovating in the managed backup space for three decades. Like many great companies, Asigra also has an exciting founding story. Mr. Simmons shares, “Our founder David Farajun was coding and lost his code. He turned to the IT department to get it back but was told they could not recover his data. He then looked for a product to allow him to back up, and when none were available, he started Asigra 37 years ago.” Over the years, Asigra has continued to innovate, and as ransomware began to attack backups, it started implementing unique cybersecurity elements. Today, Asigra delivers a secure comprehensive cloud-based data protection software solution deployed by Fortune 500 companies worldwide.

“Our unique architecture and being agentless have allowed us to innovate in ways our competition could not,” says Mr. Simmons. Looking ahead at the risks to businesses, many attacks are now occurring on SaaS applications, and companies need to protect their data using a 3rd party, as SaaS apps, by nature, are not designed to be backup and recovery organizations. “They back up their full infrastructure, including customer data, but the ability to recover a single customer’s data is often costly, slow, incomplete, and sometimes impossible. This represents one of the largest opportunities in the industry,” explains Mr. Simmons. Asigra’s flagship product Tigris protects its clients’ backups from today’s

new breed of attacks, improving the odds of data recovery while being easier to manage than traditional backup software.

Mr. Simmons and his team at Asigra are in the process of launching a new platform called SaaSBACKUP that allows companies to back up a multitude of SaaS applications, creating an SDK to allow other companies to build connectors to more SaaS applications and then leverage Asigra’s marketplace to monetize their work across the entire customer base using our platform. “We are a thought leader and early entrant into this space, which had a tremendous upside for our partners and great value to their customers. Protecting companies’ business-critical data that is not protected today is a very exciting innovation for the ever-growing backup space,” pinpoints Mr. Simmons.

Asigra is now operating in an industry that is expected to see a higher growth trajectory and technology disruptions. “The industry continues to see robust growth, and many areas are just being developed. It is a fascinating part of the market to be in,” states Mr. Simmons. Asigra is uniquely positioned in its deep integration of proactive ransomware hunting and security with backup. “We have many unique capabilities in our Deep 6 Security layer that no one else has. We are launching a new product in Q3, a platform to back up a multitude of SaaS Applications. Many companies don’t realize that SaaS vendors are not responsible for your data and that companies need a third-party backup product to have true protection,” adds Mr. Simmons.

Generating a Positive Spirit

Mr. Simmons firmly believes in leading through inspiration. When he joined Asigra, the first thing

he did was hire Lance Secretan, who is the 4th leading executive coach in the world and teaches inspirational leadership. Mr. Simmons recounts, “His work created an organizational unity far beyond anything I have experienced in the past. It has helped the team to be highly energized and focused and to care about each other and our partners. It gives people a voice to participate without fear of being judged, which is essential for innovation.” The teachings through Mr. Simmons’ initiative went far beyond the office and were lifealtering. He adds, “In everything we do, we ask whether we are being inspired and if not, how can I be inspiring. It is very powerful. We encourage everyone to contribute.”

Mr. Simmons considers himself a leader at Asigra. However, he knows that leadership can come from anyone in the business. So, he has fostered a model where titles are not a barrier to communication and ideation. “There is a great difference between motivation and inspiration. One uses the traditional carrot and stick, while the other asks what inspires you in your life and whether we can tie that to the work that everyone is doing. Inspirational leadership brings a personalized sense of value and comradery across the business. You cannot get the same results through motivation,” explains Mr. Simmons.

The biggest milestone Mr. Simmons cherishes in his career is owning his own business and being responsible for all business aspects. It is then followed by becoming a CEO. He shares, “When you are the CEO, you are the ultimate decision maker and hold the livelihood and ultimate success of the business on your shoulders. When rowing, you need the whole crew to move as a single entity, and then the boat glides and almost floats across the water. The same is true within the business, and the results come through.”

A Few Things Beyond Work

A life-long learner, Mr. Simmons loved his school life. He was a student-athlete playing on the school rowing, tennis, and hockey teams. As Mr. Simmons matured into high school, he became very confident in who he was without

by constantly moving outside my comfort zone and managing through it,” shares Mr. Simmons. This self-confidence helped Mr. Simmons move from technology to owning a courier business to retail, healthcare, AI, and natural language machine learning and into the backup world.

Since he joined Asigra, Mr. Simmons has been working all day, many evenings a week, and at least one day on the weekend. This leaves less downtime than he usually has. “We have some concrete and time-sensitive goals we are trying to achieve. I do not expect the same time commitment from others in the business,” says Mr. Simmons. He stays calm by listening to problems or challenges and finding working with the team to find ways to solve them. He adds, “I focus on the outcome we are looking for vs. the current problem and work towards that.”

To unplug from work, Mr. Simmons takes his dogs, a two-and-a-half-year-old 130 black lab and a golden retriever puppy, for walks. Mr. Simmons also has three incredible children who inspire him every day. “I spend time with my wife, friends, and family. My wife and I are celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary and heading out to the Caribbean for some quality time together,” shares Mr. Simmons.

the broader social impact. Additionally, he excelled in studies and graduated high school and university on the Dean’s list. “I grew into becoming a leader naturally and without it being a specific conscious effort. By believing I could achieve anything I set my mind, I grew the most

To aspiring leaders around the globe, Mr. Simmons’ advice is simple. He shares, “Being a leader is not about you but how you enable all the people around you to come together to achieve. To move to the CEO level, you need a broad set of skills and work cross-functionally in organizations to develop enough knowledge to run a company. Never stop learning and, most importantly, really learn to listen.”

Mr. Simmons and his team at Asigra are in the process of launching a new platform called SaaSBACKUP that allows companies to back up a multitude of SaaS applications, creating an SDK to allow other companies to build connectors to more SaaS applications and then leverage Asigra’s marketplace to monetize their work across the entire customer base using our platform

Are We There Yet: Insight to Action in 2023

Cindi Howson, Chief Data Strategy Officer, ThoughtSpot

The economy continues to falter and yet the one consistent message from CEOs in spite of this is continued investments in analytics and AI. In a digital economy, leveraging data is the difference between those who have transformed and those who have simply automated processes. But leveraging data for analytics is only a first step. To derive the full value of data - whether to

improve working capital or reduce stock outs or personalize customer interactions - we need to close the loop from data collection to generating insights to acting on those insights.

Some call this insight to action “decision intelligence,” but I am wary of some vendors who have been “decision intelligence washing” their products without having a closed loop solution. Decision intelligence as a concept was once the realm of rules-based models: Approve a

With more data and modern cloud ecosystems, decision intelligence can now be smarter, fueled by the best combination of human insight and technical advances

Cindi Howson is the Chief Data Strategy Officer at ThoughtSpot and host of The Data Chief podcast. Cindi is an analytics and BI thought leader and expert with a flair for bridging business needs with technology. As Chief Data Strategy Officer at ThoughtSpot, she advises top clients on data strategy and best practices to become data-driven, speaks internationally on top trends such as AI ethics, and influences ThoughtSpot’s product strategy. Cindi was previously a Gartner research Vice President, as the lead author for the data and analytics maturity model and analytics and BI Magic Quadrant, and a popular keynote speaker. She introduced new research in data and AI for good, NLP/BI Search, and augmented analytics and brought both the BI bake offs and innovation panels to Gartner globally. Prior to joining Gartner, she was founder of BI Scorecard, a resource for in-depth product reviews based on exclusive hands-on testing, contributor to Information Week, and the author of several books including: Successful Business Intelligence: Unlock the Value of BI & Big Data, Analytics Interpreted, and SAP BusinessObjects BI 4.0: The Complete Reference.

loan if the credit score is above 700, decline it if the score is below 700. Interview the candidate if they went to an Ivy League school, reject if there is a career gap.

With more data and modern cloud ecosystems, decision intelligence can now be smarter, fueled by the best combination of human insight and technical advances.

The combination is critical. Blackbox AI that lacks transparency risks bias at scale. There are too many decisions where an exception to the rule may yield a better result. These decisions require a human in the loop. Should Apple Pay really have given a wife a higher credit rating than her husband? Would better insights have addressed this biased AI and prevented a PR blunder?

As organizations rush to leverage generative AI in all its forms - ChatGPT being just one - lack of trust is already causing some organizations to ban its use outright. ChatGPT gives authoritative sounding answers that are utterly incorrect

As we think of the evolution of technology to enable insight to action, the cloud ecosystem from business applications to data storage to insight engines are facilitating this end-to-end workflow

to the point that some AI experts dub these “hallucinations.” The other challenge facing ChatGPT is that OpenAI has yet to reveal on which public data sources the large language model (LLM) has been trained, further eroding trust. Trust in the data and the insights generated is critical for anyone being able to act on the information. In the absence of this trust, people will revert to what they know and what they trust more: intuition and inflexible rules.

As we think of the evolution of technology to enable insight to action, the cloud ecosystem from business applications to data storage to insight engines are facilitating this end-to-end workflow.

For example, bringing analytics to bear on decision intelligence, one might run a query to ask, “How do credit scores between male and female applicants compare when salaries are the same?” A following query could be, “Give me a list of those applicants whose direct deposits and on-time payments have been consistent for the last 3 years.” With the results of this query, the list of customers to flag in the system for deeper review could be automated by reverse ETL.

With reverse ETL, insight-related data is taken out of the cloud data platform and exported to a spreadsheet or written back to the operational business application. Alternatively, the analytics platform relies on an open API to communicate from the analytics platform to the operational application. The shift of work to cloud-based business applications with open APIs enable a more closed-loop insight to action process.

Even with the most modern technology and valuable insights, if you do not have the right culture of trust and transparency, data will not be acted upon. Further, when data is used to punish people as a first response, versus to learn and improve, then analytics will be manipulated into vanity metrics. This is where organizations must look at the formal and informal incentives of democratizing insights. Picture the sales leader whose team is underperforming due to things beyond their control (supply chain issues, failed marketing campaigns, etc.): do they get ridiculed or immediately fired? If so, data will be suppressed. A positive, data-driven culture will use the negative KPIs to inform

improvements and corrective actions. A Gartner survey found 67% say people “cherry pick” data to tell an alternate version of a story. Countries, as well as organizations manipulate data when the incentives are strong enough whether its dictators to exaggerate economic growth, Russia to undercount war casualties, or China to undercount Covid cases. ESG and DEI reporting are notorious examples of company reported vanity metrics to the point that ESG manipulation has its own term - greenwashing.

As you strive to move your analytics from backward looking descriptive analytics to full prescriptive, insight to action, follow these best practices:

● Evaluate analytics workflows that include subsequent manual processes for automation opportunities. Look specifically for manual exports to spreadsheets that then involve re-entering data in cloud-based business applications.

● Identify high volume decisions that could be augmented with AI. Include diverse stakeholders earlier in the design processes to minimize the risk of unintentional biases.

● Recognize the degree that culture, poor data fluency, and incentives interfere with the desired action being taken.

For more top trends and best practices see Top 9 trends in data and analytics for 2023.

Even with the most modern technology and valuable insights, if you do not have the right culture of trust and transparency, data will not be acted upon

Kate Harry Shipham

Principal, KHS People LLC

Connecting the Right Talent to the Right Role

Kate Harry Shipham is the Principal at KHS People LLC, an executive search firm specializing in finding the right business development and marketing professionals for professional services firms. With a background as a practicing attorney, she made a career transition to the executive search industry in 2011. Since then, she has been working as a skilled search and executive recruitment professional. In her current role, Kate leverages her expertise as both an attorney and an astute “people observer” in the search business to fully understand the needs of her clients and candidates.

Today, Kate’s remarkable success serves as an inspiration for those who aspire to empower

individuals to achieve their full potential and make a positive impact on society. Her story embodies determination, courage, and resilience.

The Transition Journey: From a Practicing Lawyer to Establishing an Executive Search Firm

Kate was born and raised in Australia. While pursuing her Bachelor of Arts from Monash University, her interest gradually shifted toward Criminal Justice studies. This led her to apply to law school, and upon obtaining her degree, she immediately entered the legal profession, as is common for many lawyers. She frequently found herself in State and Federal courts, representing high-net-worth clients and

Kate Harry Shipham, Principal, KHS People LLC

companies who had experienced various forms of injustice. Through these experiences, she honed her ability to handle herself effectively in front of opposing counsel.

Towards the end of 2012, Kate relocated to the United States with her husband, who had accepted a new role. Reflecting on those earlier times,

Kate shares, “I never imagined that my law degree would serve a dual purpose in my yetunknown second career as a business owner in another country.”

Within a year, Kate began working in the executive search industry, in the United States, and her clients were law firms, continuing her passion

within the industry she had grown up in. She soon noticed that while there were numerous executive search firms specializing in placing attorneys, there was a lack of high-end firms catering to marketing and business development professionals. These non-legal roles within law firms were gaining traction, with some of the largest firms already employing teams of over 100 people. Recognizing this as an exciting opportunity, Kate was determined to capitalize on it.

In 2017, Kate established KHS People LLC as an executive search firm exclusively focused on connecting business development and marketing professionals with professional services firms. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the firm aims to provide its clients with highly skilled professionals who possess expertise in business development, marketing, and sales. KHS People takes pride in being a people-first business that upholds professionalism, integrity, positivity, and approachability as its core values.

Tackling the Entrepreneurial Challenges

Kate’s first major challenge was obtaining a different visa that would allow her to establish her

business in the United States. Being a meticulous planner who always keeps an eye on the future, she had prepared herself for this crucial step and ultimately succeeded. Her second hurdle was staying calm with the immense responsibility of building her company from the ground up. During those challenging moments, she recalls staying focused and using that drive to generate momentum. Additionally, she sought advice from experienced business professionals who helped her navigate the bigger picture and reminded her to cherish the sheer joy of creating her own business according to her vision.

Kate’s third ongoing challenge is establishing boundaries and knowing when to switch off. She explains, “As an entrepreneur and innovator, you don’t really switch off, and that’s part of what makes it successful; the wheels of entrepreneurship keep turning even after you leave your desk at the end of the day.” However, she recognizes the importance of achieving a work-life balance. Apart from dedicating time to her clients, she also carves time for her family and friends. While some weeks can be particularly demanding, whenever she feels her boundaries slipping, she laces up her running

KHS People takes pride in being a people-first business that upholds professionalism, integrity, positivity, and approachability as its core values

shoes, puts her daughter in the jogger stroller, and turns up her playlist. This routine helps her refocus and find ways to restore balance once again.

The Must-Have Qualities in Candidates

When it comes to candidates, Kate values specific qualities that she believes are essential. She actively seeks candidates who possess a deep understanding of the nuances of law firms and know how to navigate and accomplish tasks within a partnership environment. These candidates also embrace their role as ambassadors for the law firm. Moreover, they are adept at balancing both intellectual intelligence (IQ) and emotional intelligence (EQ) to adapt to various situations effectively. Finally, Kate looks for candidates who are proactive idea creators and know when to advocate for their innovative ideas.

When selecting the right candidate for a job, Kate emphasizes the importance of getting to know her clients thoroughly. She believes that each search goes beyond simply filling a role; it involves understanding the broader team dynamics, personalities, partner compensation structure, and market position of the firm. Only with this comprehensive knowledge can she seek candidates who align culturally and share professional values with her clients. Additionally, Kate conducts a two-part interview process that evaluates all these aspects.

Kate emphasizes her consultative, transparent, and educational approach in her work. She takes an active role in facilitating the interview process between her clients and candidates. Kate remains actively engaged throughout the process, unlike many recruiters who may adopt a more passive stance. She understands that executive

Kate actively seeks candidates who possess a deep understanding of the nuances of law firms and know how to navigate and accomplish tasks within a partnership environment

searches involve high stakes, considering the relationships she has cultivated with both her firm and candidate clients.

Completing a Difficult Search through Experience & Expertise

Recently, Kate was entrusted with a senior search for a boutique firm. The key responsibility of this role was to introduce and subsequently oversee strategic coaching for a group of partners who possessed strong business development skills and were also the highest revenue generators for the firm. Although the level of responsibility and compensation were commensurate with the seniority of the position, the title needed to accurately reflect its importance. Kate’s challenge was to identify individuals within her network who were not overly concerned with titles. These individuals were typically more experienced and understood that titles can be transient. Often, they were in the later stages of their careers, where personal accomplishments outweighed the significance of titles.

Another challenge Kate faced was crafting and messaging a marketing strategy for this senior role that didn’t overly emphasize the title. Initially, she approached professionals in her network who were senior and held a more carefree attitude towards titles. She engaged in conversations with them, highlighting the qualities of the firm’s partners, how the opportunity came about, and the vision and scope of the role. This select group was small but influential. By leveraging her deep understanding of her network and their personal and professional priorities, Kate focused on individuals who would not be deterred by the lack of a prestigious title but would recognize the high-stakes nature of the role.

With her industry expertise and insights, she successfully connected the right professional to this position

Significant Career Milestones

Kate’s first significant achievement lies in the quality and credibility of her brand, which she has tirelessly worked to establish as consistent and professional. She understands the importance of purposeful and targeted messaging, as well as engaging with each client intentionally. This approach has been instrumental in cultivating a responsive network. Her candidate clients recognize the transparent and dedicated advocacy they receive when working with her. Similarly, her firm clients value the efficiency and thoroughness of her searches, complemented by data and intelligence that enhance their work.

A recent significant achievement for Kate is her role as a year-round advisor to her clients. She leverages insights from her own data and network to identify market trends, make projections, gather accurate salary data, and provide market intelligence. Proactively sharing this information with her clients showcases her long-term perspective and commitment to their success. By prioritizing personalized service and a people-focused approach, Kate ensures that KHS People remains a trusted and valued executive search firm.

Pearls of Wisdom

Kate emphasizes the importance of understanding and developing strong client relationships as the foremost aspect for aspiring professionals. In the case of candidate clients, Kate has nurtured longterm connections with them. When she reaches out to them, it is a targeted and personalized approach

By prioritizing personalized service and a people-focused approach, Kate ensures that KHS People remains a trusted and valued executive search firm

that aligns with the career goals they have shared with her over time. For her law firm clients, she invests time in comprehending their business, market position, and the dynamics between the marketing and business development team and the firm’s overall success. This entails actively listening to Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs) and marketing partners rather than simply engaging in superficial conversations. Kate believes that

intentional and attentive listening can yield valuable insights and knowledge, which is crucial in the field of executive search.

Another vital piece of advice that Kate offers aspiring professionals is to have a genuine passion for their work. Given the high-stakes nature of this business, it can be challenging. Therefore, patience, determination, and tenacity are essential to overcome the various obstacles encountered along the way and ultimately achieve success.

The ‘Life Blood’ of the Digital Economy

Ashley Davis, Executive Board Member, Green.AG

The Data centre is really a fourdimensional asset class; 1st It forms a real estate asset, 2nd it is mechanical in terms of essential cooling systems, 3rd it comprises a complex electrical subsystem, whilst 4th, it comprises a highly complex technology installation scaling technology infrastructure and application architecture. The latter forms the ‘lifeblood of our digital economy’ and during Covid now recognised globally as a Critical Industry by most governments. The data centre is the lifeblood of everything we do in our digital economy – from browsing, ecommerce, social

media, and sophisticated compute algorithms. Reality, the Data centre now consumes 100X the energy of the offices/ businesses they support!

Data centre design requires specialist coordination, and represents a sophisticated array of platforms that requires specialist skills to design, build and most importantly operate, with confidence. Investment trends vary and recent industry benchmark data suggests the build cost per MW near $12-14M/ MW. The key issues facing our global industry are multiple and continuously developing; primarily energy efficiency driven with a laser focus on sustainability and skills development.

Compute and technology infrastructure workload are the key drivers of energy consumption within the Data centre, and this has been an industry dilemma driving a balanced approach to be achieved across resilience and environmental management

Davis’ career within Financial Services Technology spans 35 years, giving him a unique perspective on the exacting requirements and meaning of mission-critical environments. Having previously been a Managing Director at UBS, JPMC, Deustche Bank & Morgan Stanley, where he was responsible for Data Centre Strategy, cloud strategy, and leading HQ workplace developments in London, NY and Asia; most recently completing UBS HQ in Singapore and an 11MW Hyperscale DC in Zurich for Green.AG. Davis has been involved in over 2msqft of data centre developments spanning the UK, Europe, US, and Asia. He has an MSc in Intelligent Building Design & Operations and is a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Institute of Engineering and Technology.

Cloud computing is a model of enabling access to a shared pool of computing resources (e.g., networks, storage, servers, and storage) that can be quickly provisioned and released with minimal service provider interaction

Compute and technology infrastructure workload are the key drivers of energy consumption within the Data centre, and this has been an industry dilemma driving a balanced approach to be achieved across resilience and environmental management. Within enterprise organisations Data centre facilities were traditionally designed with building resilience forming a crutch to the weaknesses of the infrastructure and application architecture – This in turn led to the development of high availability principles being a primary underlying design criterion for the Data centre – the rest forms history.

Global enterprises developed their Data centre strategies aligned to regions, within each region dependent upon Primary/ Recovery sites ensuring fail-over; often misguided as many applications had global influence in those business transactions. Financial services have traditionally been the largest consumers of the Data centres and led the way in the early 2000’s by building their own portfolio – yet this was also misguided, and their real estate portfolios always challenged by the lifecycle mismatch between Mechanical/Electrical and technology platforms; this frequently formed a clash between CFO and CIO communities.

Since this initial ‘gold rush’ of data centre builds for enterprise clients, the co-location/ retail market took up some of the new demand –but this was a sluggish start; the past three years however have been transformational in terms of new capacity witnessed across the US and Europe (circa 2.8GW stated as Q4/22 Tier I&II European market capacity availability). Taking the technology dimension and adoption of Cloud principles forming a strategic influence in this growth the underlying architecture

dilutes the strategic value of Real Estate assets on companies’ balance sheets in my opinion.

In today’s economy, Enterprise applications and services depend entirely upon the data centre, everything an Enterprise produces; every transaction, every client record, the whole client experience is under pinned by the data centre.

As the adoption of hybrid cloud across industries accelerates, the industry has been responding positively to market demand; we see 1st hand how Hybrid Cloud and Cloud based services contribute and compliment enterprise technology landscapes. This shift change in adoption has direct impact on how we manage our assets, and with specific focus on meeting the growing demands of ESG and the impact on our Operating plans.

Cloud computing is a model of enabling access to a shared pool of computing resources (e.g., networks, storage, servers, and storage) that can be quickly provisioned and released with minimal service provider interaction.

With four deployment methods – Private Cloud, Community Cloud, Hybrid Cloud and Public Cloud, and three service models –Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Software as a Service (SaaS), Cloud comes with multiple benefits to the enterprise consumer – most important and disruptive are the business enabling ones, enabling businesses to rapidly transform and create new services and penetrate existing and new markets.

What changes in the cloud? Cloud is the catalyst for new business models, due its dynamic nature, global reach, and openness to partners, it is the place where disruptive innovation is happening. Cloud adoption enables

rapid response, easier access to new markets and transforms the customer experience and mobility options. Cloud services are designed with the user experience front and centre, and cost of adoption becomes directly with explicit transparency and the ability to influence/ steer underpinned by optimization of unit pricing based upon scale of the cloud providers.

Cloud has disrupted the traditional hosting model, a profound impact on agility, innovation, global reach, security, and economics. Historically Enterprises focused on their fixed cost of technology with forecasted workload, this impeded their agility and hampered their operating expenses. Adoption of cloud has the advantage of starting ‘greenfield’ with a focus on standardization, automation, and scale. Traditional Enterprise technology consumption cannot provision due historical disparate platforms. Reflecting on the past 5-7 years of enterprise compute solutions, most engaged upon their home-grown journey with a purposeful ‘virtualization’ campaign – shifting from dedicated business servers/ applications to a shared virtual estate. This was pursued with an in-house infrastructure automation IaaS offering and solving for application centric PaaS offerings; this was the initial validation of cloud-based services as some of these offerings were ‘On and Off’ premises offerings.

As the adoption of Hybrid and Public cloud services accelerated, Clouds of all forms –Private, hybrid and public are disrupting the traditional business and IT models with a profound impact on agility, innovation, reach and economics, and above all, reliability, security, and cost certainty and cost transparency.

Reflecting, Cloud is a fundamental change in the DNA of Enterprise technology behaviours.

With lifecycle being a key consideration and previous challenge to owner/operator communities, the Data centre operators have embraced best-in-class construction methodologies and importantly embrace many of the worlds leading construction techniques

Enterprise companies recognised that incremental optimization of inhouse technology platforms does not yield the benefits required. Their existing legacy platforms are cost intensive to maintain, have limited scale and speed of change, and do not offer the flexibility and agility the digital economy demands. Cloud providers have addressed those shortcomings with a high level of standardization, ruthless automation, and modern technology. Cloud adoption has now become mainstream across numerous industry sectors and offerings continue to mature as digitization continues to evolve and disrupt business flows. Concluding – Everything as a Service is now mainstream, and as a Data Centre operator we are working extensively with our Hyperscale customers to enable their country specific penetration, and in parallel reviewing our own efficiency operations to adapt to this new paradigm and business model.

What is the impact to the industry? how have we adapted, what are the incremental issues that we must resolve and how and where does this fit within the ESG strategy? Aside from industry efficiency focus across four key metrics –Carbon intensity, renewables mix, Trending PUE and overall efficiencies that meet our key environmental targets?

As digitization trends continue cloud adoption is accelerating. Among Industry CIOs cloud computing would have the most measurable impact on business followed by AI, VR and IoT. Forecasters predict spend will increase sixfold compared with traditional IT Infrastructure spend, and if these predications turn out to be true, around 60% of enterprise workload will be cloud-based by 2024.

Cloud economics have come home to roost. Modularisation, automation, high performance,

5x9s reliability, reduced cost, eco system connectivity, security and less proprietary solutions all provide efficiency opportunities for the consumer.

For any organization embarking upon their journey to cloud, there are multiple steps to be considered, starting with full transparency of the existing enterprise compute environment –and this must include Real Estate as this is one of the key pillars of the Data centre stack. This has been and will continue to be a key hurdle for enterprises to understand, as the conflict originates from the mismatch of the asset type! Real estate forms a balance sheet asset with 25 years lifecycle, whilst technology now is consumed and disposed of real-time based on workload type; the advent of ‘pay as you go’ doesn’t fit with real estate.

With a renewed focus driven in part by the Paris agreement upon sustainability and the impact of Data centres upon the environment, many organisations have reacted, truthfully, tactically, to meet with the initial wave of reporting to meet their shareholder and investor concerns. Forming a baseline and now commonly understood, Operators have developed the required reporting to demonstrate efficiencies, and this represented an additional challenge to the industry – instrumentation. Following upon the adage ’you cannot improve unless you measure’ the semblance of key data requires the appropriate telemetry be deployed and trend analysis applied. Early DCIM installations aided monitoring of room performance and enabled efficiency gains be tailored, but still fell short of the required levels of reporting to achieve the macro-economic statistical data required. Key metrics forming the industry benchmark include – average PUE, average WUE, % Renewable

energy, water usage disclosure, carbon emission disclosure and finally energy usage disclosure. But here is the rub, as an Operator it is our duty to ensure our facilities are operating at best-in-class environmental levels, and where available procure renewable energy for the operation of the core facility plant; however, Operators are not able to influence the use of the compute utilisation of the infrastructure

consuming that demand – this is strictly in the remit of the Consumer (Enterprise, Co-Lo or Hyperscaler customer). Our role becomes that of a custodian, sharing the appropriate levels of facility utilisation with the intent of ensuring best-in-class utilisation of the entire facility. As the industry adapts to these emerging reporting requirements, data quality, internal resource constraints and the need for expertise continue

to be obstacles to thorough ESG analysis. Many Operators across all geographies are still in the process of determining their frameworks around ESG reporting. This includes which external ratings to utilize, how much relative emphasis to give and which metrics to focus on when reporting corporate disclosures and engaging directly with their own management teams. As previously stated, enterprise

customers have reached a point where pure internal incremental optimization is not delivering the results (performance, cost, and efficiency) needed. Data Centre operators are addressing these shortcomings with a high level of standardization, ruthless automation, and modern technology – this extends to and includes ESG strategies as a key benefit.

With lifecycle being a key consideration and previous challenge to owner/operator communities, the Data centre operators have embraced best-in-class construction methodologies and importantly embrace many of the worlds leading construction techniques. Most referenced and applicable to the built environment, regardless of intended use is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), this is a US certification system, and forms a non-profit accreditation. As with lifecycle, LEED covers the design, construction, maintenance, and operation of the building. Within Europe, alternatives exist and largely BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is used for new, refurbished and extensions to existing buildings. It is encouraging that more of the developer community are embracing at the outset of their investment these standards which in turn ensure the finished product and for its operating lifespan meet with the requirements of ESG strategies; however, much more needs to be done here!

In Q4/22, through their regular reporting of capacities across the primary European markets, CBRE reported that to date (Tier I & 2 Markets), 2.8GW formed the total supply within Europe. This is an astonishing fact, and with key considerations to ESG compliance which remind us is primarily

driven through energy consumption across the core infrastructure within the Data centre, this stands out as a real industry challenge! – as again many of these KPIs are mis-represented and likely under reported as ESG now becomes a mainstream reporting obligation.

This explosive growth and surge in data storage and the wider economic demand for Data centres continues to stress/ challenge some of the key cities that have historically been early adopters of Data centre operators. Throughout 2022 we witnessed on a global level country (Singapore, Dublin, Frankfurt, and the Netherlands) impose restrictions on future new capacity. Key issues raised included power availability, environmental impact and economic value through the industry having a low resourcing model and therefore not representing big employment opportunities. Key and likely to form an essential planning consideration will be the implicit design and ensuring these sites meet with and exceed their sustainability targets.

With a focus on Switzerland, significant growth has been equally witnessed with new market entries from the international community embarking upon new facilities. Zurich and the greater surrounding area have been and continues

to be of wide appeal - abundant renewable energy, however, building in Switzerland has restrictions. The challenges include construction techniques as have historically led toward concrete being the primary method of construction and requirement for excavation (why? land is NOT in abundance so maximising the available plot drives these considerations and therefore has impact on cost of build). With a large financial services industry coupled with Pharma and Insurance, and the security of data sovereignty, makes Switzerland a standout location in contrast with the other Tier I and II markets across Europe. New capacity coming on stream in 2023 exceeds 100MW.

Concluding, we have witnessed forecast uptake in 2023 for Hyperscale deployments/ adoption, driven primarily by the uniqueness of proximity, security, use of renewable energy and the ability to meet with many sustainable design options (re-use of waste heat within municipalities) exceed peer markets. Switzerland is ideally suited to meet with the growing demand for local, and international customers alike. Our commitment to ESG implicit within our Operating regime and the uniqueness of Swiss culture for being best-in-class ingrained within our DNA.

With a renewed focus driven in part by the Paris agreement upon sustainability and the impact of Data centres upon the environment, many organisations have reacted, truthfully, tactically, to meet with the initial wave of reporting to meet their shareholder and investor concerns

A Pertinent Investment Opportunity in Present-day PropTech Ecosystem

Hugo Cheuk, Co-Founder & COO, viAct, Hong Kong

The pandemic had created a favorable atmosphere for the PropTech investments. The real estate market witnessed a historic drop in interest rates for mortgages which led home buyers go Gala over such once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Taking advantage of the situation, the demand for building new homes and infrastructures suddenly witnessed a surge. When till date real estate development was playground for selected builders, brokers and agents; the pandemic gave a push to those startups that augmented real estate with technologies empowering

remote operations, faster development and safer construction jobsites. This was meant to ensure the growing demand for productivity in the sector with simultaneous enhancement in safety standards in the sector both during construction and post construction phase of an infrastructure.

The pandemic led to the compulsory incorporation of technology to the real estate world which was till then a luxury rather than necessity. Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Internet of Things were the key elements that digitalized the real estate sector. Startups providing digitalization solutions

The PropTech entrepreneurs and investors are now critically analyzing the industry for further technology intrusion in a more beneficial way

Hugo Cheuk is the COO and CoFounder of viAct. He is a building engineer with a Master’s Degree in Business Administration. He has 10+ years of experience in marketing strategy and brand development as a serial entrepreneur and community builder. Before starting his AI journey at viAct, he had been the head of business development at Shiseido, HK where he was in charge of channel strategies and corporatepartnership.EarlierHugohave also owned a profitable engineering company. Hugo currently has extraordinary contribution in positioning viAct as one of the most renowned AI companies in Asia & beyond.

for the real estate industry therefore caught attention in the investment world. Adoption of such technologies made it easy for the giants in construction, real estate and property management to streamline data management and simplifying massive day-to-day operations through remote surveillance, systematized workflow and coordinated maintenance.

The Contemporary Status of PropTech Investments

This digital disruption which did set crossroad between traditional real estate and technology however has been hurt in the recent times. However, the PropTech investments were hurt in 2022 due to the broader market reset. The PropTech entrepreneurs and investors are now critically analyzing the industry for further technology intrusion in a more beneficial way. One of the major reasons behind this include rise in housing prices, interest rates and inflation with slowing down of demands dramatically. The then high flying PropTech startups are now reported with not enough transactions to make money. Thus, venture financing recorded a low value in the recent times. It is quite evident that investors are being critical to pour in money.

The roller coaster ride for the venture capital market which was witnessed in 2022 predicts a period of irrational exuberance with markets shifting to a state of scarcity and stagnation especially in the PropTech industry. This time is therefore the “survival of the fittest” era for the PropTech startups. In an interview, Dave Eisenberg, founding partner of Zigg Capital, said that “2023 will be about PropTech companies surviving, thriving or diving in the downturn,” which pretty much covers all the possibilities. He continues saying “a handful of very savvy transactions that will pierce through the liquidity desert and prove to be transformative a few years from now.”

Evidently, the PropTech startups are therefore in a bottleneck where only consolidation of individual point solutions would get more priority than platforms automating the entire value chain. Many startups are predicted to run

Despite the turbulence in the capital market, startups with exceptional product market fit are still gaining attention from the VCs

out of money by 2023 but those state-of-theart solutions which are extensively consumeroriented would surely pick up steam. In the similar notion, the managing director and global head of innovation at PGIM, Sara Shank, asks the PropTech start-ups to “focus on their strengths, focus on what sets them apart from their competitors and make that clear in their pitch, focus on what data they can provide (data will be a real focus for 2023 for landlords), focus on ease of implementation (don’t forget to hire strong customer success people who communicate well with your landlords), and as always, focus on creating what real estate wants not what you think real estate needs”. viAct (a PropTech company in Asia) CEO, Gary Ng says “The current times are not favorable in terms of investment but demands for property technology would never decline. Real-estate consumers are more focused towards technology that holistically solves their issues pinpointing on various scenarios taking into consideration both accuracy and privacy; which is what we do in viAct”. Therefore, despite the unfavourability in the investment ecosystem, PropTech companies are thriving well with demands for technology in infrastructure development at its rise globally.

Investments For the Fittest: Case Study of Recent PropTech Investments

Despite the turbulence in the capital market, startups with exceptional product market fit are still gaining attention from the VCs. Such is seen with the phenomenal investment of $200.4M in funding over 9 rounds in OpenSpace with their latest funding raised in 2022, from a

Series D round. The US based company which develops AI-driven photo documentation tool that automatically creates navigable photo representations of job sites gained its popularity during the pandemic when the labor crunch hit the real estate industry. The macroeconomic headwinds which are constantly causing a decline in investments in this area since 2022 has made it necessary for PropTech companies to create a market differentiation in order to gain a position. Till date in 2023, Camber Creek, a leading real estate tech venture capital firm closed its Opportunity Fund I at more than $100 million which basically was followed by firm’s $325 million Fund IV close in 2022. Such opportunity investment in PropTech is a boom at this moment because in every fund there is an initial investment and then followups which basically is from reserves from VCs. However, as the PropTech companies are excelling especially, most VCs find it difficult to follow up as the reserves run out. In such cases such rounds help VCs like Camber Creek to have a pool to easily bring down such conundrum. Jeffrey Berman, partner at Camber Creek says “I would certainly say that this is as exciting a time as any. We keep on getting more excited about the space. I think the amount of money that goes in, and who is writing those checks, might shift somewhat. It will be really interesting to see at the end of 2023 how that shakes out.”

Decoding viAct’s Investment Capabilities in the Contemporary PropTech Ecosystem

On a similar note, another startup that is growing exceptionally in this sector is viAct

headquartered at Hong Kong. The company has grown exceptionally with 100+ deployments in Asia, Europe & Middle East with 90% user satisfaction due to its 97% industrial grade accuracy. Gary Ng, CEO & Co-Founder of viAct states “Even though there is a downtime prevailing in the investment world currently but with an exceptional, consumer-oriented strategy, PropTech companies can still keep their boats floating.” Ng adds “A strong international expansion of viAct in last 2 years with large overseas corporates from Singapore & MENA region approaching at large (including many Fortune 500 players) indicates ever-increasing demand of technology in real estate sector.” With viAct at a verge of raising its Series A by the Q2, 2023; it has been recognized for its disruptive AI-based solution as 2022 KPMG China Leading PropTech 50 & Forbes Asia 100 To Watch 2022. The contribution of the company in bringing safety, productivity and environmental compliances for construction, real estate, smart cities and property maintenance that helps property

as well as construction companies to grow sustainably has been well-recognized. viAct was earlier backed by Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund, Artesian Ventures and ParticleX with 2 million USD in 2019 which was just before the pandemic began. From then till date, the PropTech company has utilized the resources to grow in terms of revenue, number of employees, and impact generated to the industry. Holistically, viAct has created a new landmark in the field of property technology with its 50+ AI powered proprietary modules which caters a wide range of problems for the entire life cycle of an infrastructure.

Conclusively, the investment scenario in PropTech at this moment seeks for a strong brand differentiation value for companies keeping technology like big data, artificial intelligence, IoT, robotics, video analytics at its core for automation in planning, designing, developing, construction, management of infrastructure operations across the commercial and residential real estate markets.

The macroeconomic headwinds which are constantly causing a decline in investments in this area since 2022 has made it necessary for PropTech companies to create a market differentiation in order to gain a position