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www.acq-intl.com â&#x20AC;˘ Influential Businesswoman Awards 2019

Most Inspirational Woman in Behaviour Coaching 2019 & Female Solopreneur of the Year 2019 - UK

Most Dedicated HR & Payroll Services Businesswoman - South West USA & Best Woman-Run HR Consultancy - Nevada, Page - 8

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Welcome to the 2019 Influential Businesswoman Awards The Influential Businesswoman Awards returns for its fourth year to add their voice to the masses who believe gender equality is the only solution for a sustainable global economy. Promoting and encouraging women to take part in entrepreneurial endeavours and providing opportunities in market-based enterprises can be pivotal to lifting communities across the world. Bearing this in mind, we recognise that female entrepreneurs still face many challenges. These include limited access to financing, training and business networks, in addition to the uncertain job markets and fluctuating economies shared with their male counterparts.

The information available through the website and our partner publications is for your general information and use and is not intended to address any particular finance or investment requirements. In particular, the information does not constitute any form of advice or recommendation by us or any of our partner publications and is not intended to be relied upon by users in making or refraining from making any investment or financial decisions. Appropriate independent advice should be obtained before making any such decision. Any arrangement made between you and any third party named in the site is at your sole risk and responsibility.

Hannah Stevenson - Awards Editorial Manager

Contents

4 Mindset Mentor: Most Inspirational Woman in Behaviour Coaching 2019 & Female Solopreneur of the Year 2019 - UK 8 TPC Payroll/HR Consultants: Most Dedicated HR & Payroll Services Businesswoman - South West USA & Best Woman-Run HR Consultancy - Nevada

24 New Business Venture Fund: Most Influential Woman in Venture Capital Investments - Nordic Region & Best Evergreen Investment Fund 2019 25 Most Influential Woman in Global Digital Capabilities 2019: Transmute

9 Catering Elite: Catering Recruitment Agency of the Year 2019

26 Alantra: Best Corporate Finance Marketing Leader 2019 - UK

10 HR Answerbox: Most Influential Woman in HR Training - USA

27 PK Network Communications, Inc.: Most Influential Businesswoman in Media Marketing & Communications - USA

11 Ellen Castro, Inc.: Best Female Executive Coach 2019 12 Fearless Media: Most Innovative Marketing Business Leader - North East USA & Leading Ad Agency in Market Channel Integration - New York 13 Squire Patton Boggs LLP: Most Influential Woman in Law Firm Business Development - USA 14 Most Influential Woman in Commercial Law 2019 - UK: Costigan King 15 Difrent: Most Innovative Digital Transformations Business Leader 2019 16 Best Medical Spa Business Leader 2019 - Canada: North Medical Spa

28 HKP Media: Most Influential Female Entrepreneur in Web Design – UK 30 Analytik Jena AG: Best Liquid Handling & Automation Business Leader 2019 31 FlyingBinary Ltd: Most Influential Woman in Web Science Research 2019 32 Gant Innovations Limited: Most Innovative Woman in Multi-Sector Technology 2019 33 Purple Moon Creative: Most Influential Woman in Brand Development – Canada

18 Carter Consulting Corp.: Most Influential Woman in Business Development & Support - Southern USA

34 Angels Of Flight Canada Inc.: Best Female Healthcare Business Leader – Canada & Most Outstanding in Medical Flight Case Management 2019

20 The Publicity Loft: Most Influential Woman in Lifestyle PR - Republic of Ireland

36 CARETHATYCS: Most Influential Childcare Consultant 2019 - New England

22 Hunter Global Business Solutions Ltd: HR Compliance MD of the Year 2019 - UK

37 Study Shows Female Entrepreneurs Will Face More Obstacles Than Their Male Counterparts When Starting A Business

23 PEEK Architecture + Design: Most Outstanding Architecture Firm Director 2019 – UK

38 Women Go Tech Aims to Lessen Gender Gap in Nordic Tech Sector

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Mindset Mentor: Most Inspirational Woman in Behaviour Coaching 2019 & Female Solopreneur of the Year 2019 - UK

North Medical Spa: Best Medical Spa Business Leader 2019 - Canada

Ellen Castro, Inc.: Best Female Executive Coach 2019

New Business Venture Fund: Most Influential Woman in Venture Capital Investments - Nordic Region & Best Evergreen Investment Fund 2019

CARETHATYCS: Most Influential Childcare Consultant 2019 - New England

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The Publicity Loft: Most Influential Woman in Lifestyle PR - Republic of Ireland

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Mindset Mentor: Most Inspirational Woman in Behaviour Coaching 2019 & Female Solopreneur of the Year 2019 - UK Drawing on her extensive expertise in the corporate market, Angela Cox is now a Mindset Mentor, Behavioural Change Coach, Speaker and Amazon Best-Selling Self-help Author. As part of our showcase of some of this year’s Influential Businesswoman Awards Winners we invited Angela to tell us more about her work and how she aims to help business leaders and individuals unlock their true potential.

ngela Cox is a wife, mother and experienced businesswoman who, following personal challenges, has worked hard to establish Mindset Mentor to share the benefits of her expertise with her clients. She provides us with an overview of how she came to create the firm.

“In 2016 I was working in a role I had strived to achieve for ten years. I was Associate Director in a Consulting firm and earning a six-figure salary. I was also celebrating the loss of 8 stones in weight, having spent a lifetime fat, unfit and dealing with binge eating disorder which started age nine following childhood trauma. “I was working hard and feeling fit and healthy, and then in October 17 I was diagnosed with PTSD, the demons of the past present and correct. I spent several months in therapy and during this time decided that a total life-change was required. I self-published my book in June 18 and left my job in Sept 18, set up as Mindset Mentor and in the space of 6 months trained to the highest level in 8 different modalities. This was a challenge, but worth it. I taught myself how to market online and using my social media following started a social media campaign.” Since starting her own firm Angela has achieved phenomenal feats, including writing for various publications and publishing her own book and worked hard to drive success for her business.

“My business is mainly a coaching one, which serves people through the delivery of my unique client journey. I don't believe there is anybody delivering this whole end to end journey...”

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Coaching from her home in Bedford, Angela has attracted more than 180 clients to Mindset Mentor since establishing the company. She has also planned and delivered a motivational event attended by 120 paying guests, raising £1500 for MIND charity and attracting top speakers such as Olympic medallist, Greg Searle and Paul McGee. Angela explores her service offering in more detail and outlines how this benefits her clients.

“My business is mainly a coaching one, which serves people through the delivery of my unique client journey. I don't believe there is anybody delivering this whole end to end journey, using the combination of techniques I use so I am thrilled to be now combining my previous experience with my newly acquired skills. “Thanks to my experience, I have the ability to re-programme the negative beliefs a client has using the neuro-science techniques including Havening and Matrix Re-Imprinting. Many coaches do not do this ahead of trying to help a client improve and therefore the client sabotages themselves again and again. This critical first step allows the client to be free from the limitations. I use NLP and Hypnotherapy to install new helpful beliefs and then I use my unique mindset method which takes business improvement methodology and applies it the individual and sees them create the life they desire and the plan to move towards it.” Having showcased the vast benefits of this method over the past 10 months, Angela has now achieved incredible feats for Mindset Mentor, including opening a London establishment, as she is proud to showcase.

“When I started in September 2018, I was an experienced leadership coach but hadn't done any of the life coaching, so I started off charging £120 per 75-minute session and provided 20% off discounts to generate sales. Within the space of 10 months, I now charge £250 for 75 minutes coaching and this month launched Flourish, which is my £4k offering. I sold all five places within 2 weeks which is such an incredible achievement.

Mindset Mentor

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“My London Therapy room in Holborn opened in May and I offer coaching there on Tuesdays.I am fully booked until September already and am proud of how far I have come.”

As Angela discusses the future, Angela is excited to explore her plans to grow Mindset Mentor and welcome even more clients over the coming years.

Alongside her paid work, Angela is also passionate about giving back to those who cannot afford her services, as she is eager to highlight.

“Looking to the future, I plan to franchise my MeTreat retreat which is an amazing product and could help coaches to help others on a much greater scale that it is now and also the Mindset Method element of my client journey which will also benefit life-coaches who are using such old-fashioned tools such as SMART. I am also writing a second book which I plan to put out to publishers and create a higher demand from keynote speaking.

“Personally, I enjoy giving back, and as I know there will be people out there who can't afford my programmes. I work with some veterans suffering with PTSD and teenagers struggling with confidence and do this pro-bono. I have also created products and services which are more affordable such as my online membership. This is called 'The Mindset Gym', and it provides me with passive income for minimal amounts of work and products such as the Ninja Notes Journal which will help a person improve their mindset. “Additionally, I created the Happy Path Journal which is aimed at 6-10-year olds and it's innovative because my kids were involved. They created two characters, Monster Meddler (the inner critic) and Slove (Self-love). Slove helps Monster Meddler find the happy path. The book is half story, half journal and the feedback on this so far is phenomenal. I also put out free value-based content online to attract new clients.”

“Overall, these developments will drive Mindset Mentor to greater renown and help cement me as a key player in today’s behavioural counselling market.” Company: Mindset Mentor Contact: Angela Cox Website: https://angela-cox.co.uk/

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“Overall, these developments will drive Mindset Mentor to greater renown and help cement me as a key player in today’s behavioural counselling market.”

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Most Dedicated HR & Payroll Services Businesswoman - South West USA & Best Woman-Run HR Consultancy - Nevada TPC Payroll/HR Consultants is an innovative payroll and human resources consultancy firm dedicated to providing outsourced solutions to meet the needs of a variety of clients. We profile its Founder and President Kimberly Miles to find out more about how she leads the firm to success and supports its clients with human-focused painless business solutions.

imberly Miles is founder and president of TPC Payroll/HR Consultants, Nevada’s largest privately-held national payroll and human resources management firm. She brings nearly two decades of experience in human resources, taxation and business management solutions to businesses nationwide. In 2000, Kimberly launched the Payroll Company, which rebranded in 2010 to TPC Payroll/HR Consultants, to counter the lost human connection and empathy that large payroll and HR companies often have for small to mid-sized businesses. TPC brings back the human aspect of business solutions services and truly takes the HR and payroll pain out of running a business. Over the years Kimberly has worked tirelessly to drive TPC Payroll/ HR Consultants from zero to million-dollar revenue streams paying more than 28,000 employees in more than 38 states with a multitude of clients and growing. A versatile business owner, Kimberly engages in commercial real estate ventures. She is president of two commercial property communities and manages the businesses’ multi-million-dollar revenue streams. She also is a speaker, radio personality, master connector, trainer, multiple-industry entrepreneur, philanthropist, survivor and mentor who is passionate about empowering others. As a community activist, Kimberly consistently supports causes from animal rights to the advancement of women. As a survivor, in 2015, Kimberly focused her charitable work on her true life’s passion for eradicating modern-day slavery by founding the B.E. A S.H.E.R.O. Foundation. SHERO provides critical resources to support, sustain, and empower young girls and women, under the age of 25, who are victims of human trafficking, domestic violence, abuse and neglect.

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Alongside TPC Payroll/HR Consultants, Kimberly also manages a number of other organizations ensuring that she has a versatile business knowledge. With her husband, Eric Miles, she started Miles 2 Go Vegas LLC, a community-based, socially conscious action group that promotes social change from within each individual and their community and upholds dignity in all life. Kimberly also launched Boss Lady Vegas, a dream team of dynamic advisors that use a multimedia platform to enlighten, and mentor entrepreneurs and business owners. Led by The Boss Lady herself, Kimberly Miles, the successful and socially conscious businesswomen group use educational resources and a global network, to inspire clients to succeed, engage in, and perpetuate economic development in their personal and business lives and their surroundings. Boss Lady Vegas has helped women across the globe to realize the life and relationship of their dreams. Working to give back to the business community, Kimberly has undertaken a number of exciting roles in organizations dedicated to supporting women and businesses across the United States. For example, she was an inaugural board member of Dress for Success Southern Nevada and served as the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Southern Nevada 2011 Chapter President. All of this work has earned Kimberly many renowned industry awards, including not one but two of this year’s coveted Influential Businesswoman Awards. Seeking to grow her portfolio and expand her success, Kimberly has exciting plans for the future of TPC Payroll/HR Consultants and her other business ventures. These projects will drive her to greater recognition within the business market and cement her reputation as a dedicated and innovative leader.

Company: TPC Payroll/HR Consultants Contact: Kimberly Miles Website: www.tpcpayrollhr.com Office: 702.598.4800

Catering Elite: Catering Recruitment Agency of the Year 2019 Multi-award-winning Catering Elite is an independent recruitment agency providing exceptional support to candidates and clients across the hospitality market. We invited Founder Sophie Preston-Hall to showcase how far the firm has come since she first created it more than 17 years ago.

nitially established by Sophie in 2002 with the help of the Princes Trust, Catering Elite opened a second branch in 2009, and has since flourished.

Having flourished in this competitive market, Sophie understands the challenges that face many candidates, and as such she and her team aim to give everyone a chance, as she is keen to highlight.

Today the firm works with clients from various backgrounds, from 5* Hotels, Michelin / Rosette starred restaurants, to local pubs, schools and care homes. The company can also supply staff members to big events such as horse race meetings and concerts, supporting football clubs and other large contractors.

“At Catering Elite, we work with many candidates who struggle to get their start in hospitality, for example young people from the age of 16. They are often ignored by employers due to lack of experience, however we aim to change this by giving everyone a chance. We also pay a higher hourly rate to people who are 16-18, because there is no reason not to, some of them work harder than people who are in their 20s or 30s.”

Sophie works tirelessly to ensure that every project Catering Elite works on is completed to the highest possible standard. In her opening comments she explores how she draws on her immense industry experience to ensure the firm continues to provide the best possible standard of support to candidates and companies alike.

As she looks to the future, Sophie is excited for the developments Catering Elite will undergo as it works to grow even further and support a wider range of clients throughout 2019 and beyond.

“Personally, I have worked in the catering industry since I have started my employment endeavours, thus the wealth of experience helped me immensely when I have incorporated Catering Elite in every way really. Prior to Catering Elite's incorporation, I worked in the catering sector. My career focussed on front of house, but I quickly rose to management level. “Then I then took my career global, working in Greece, Spain and the UK. I have also worked in the recruitment sector for some time. I opened my company knowing the ups and downs of the industry, and I was extremely familiar with the work environment. This experience has allowed me to employ the right people for the right positions, making the business flourish.” Over the years Sophie has seen a variety of developments in the hospitality market, however it remains a male-dominated space. She offers her advice to those women who wish to emulate her impressive success in this competitive market.

“To those women who want to succeed in hospitality, I say that you need to believe in yourself, to be patient and to push forward, push harder. “Eventually, through hard work and determination, you can get to where you want to be. You just have to be prepared to work insanely hard and to be patient. You have to be persistent, assertive, confident, you have to believe that you are the best, and then act and think like you are."

Company: Catering Elite Name: Sophie Preston-Hall Address: Weston Business Centre, Hawkins Road, Colchester, CO2 8JX, Essex Telephone Number: 07739761291 Web Address: https://cateringelite.co.uk

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HR Answerbox Most Influential Woman in HR Training - USA HR Answerbox provides HR training and consultancy to small businesses that do not have the in-house capabilities to deal with today’s human resources challenges. We invited Founder, Managing Director and Lead Consultant Amanda Haddaway to share how she is working to use her expertise in the HR and corporate markets to achieve success for her clients.

ounded by Amanda in 2016, HR Answerbox draws on her extensive industry experience to provide clients with HR consulting and corporate training services.

Working with small business owners and managers, the firm seeks to create compliant human resources functions, solve day-to-day employee relations problems, provide interactive training solutions and give them peace of mind with their employee and management challenges. Having been a full-time HR Director and freelance HR Consultant prior to founding HR Answerbox, Amanda already has the industry experience to drive the firm to success. She takes great pride in having been in the industry for more than 20 years, as she highlights in her opening comments.

“For more than two decades I have worked in the HR market, supporting a variety of clients. I have worked in several different areas of HR including recruiting, employee communications, learning and development, and HR management, and I draw on this experience in my role leading HR Answerbox.” Today, Amanda sees her role as supporting her clients and providing them with the support they need to run their business effectively, as she explains.

“Fundamentally, when companies treat their employees well, they are more engaged and productive. Unfortunately, a lot of managers are promoted into management roles because they were good at their specific role, but they do not necessarily have the knowledge, skills and abilities to be good managers. “This is where HR Answerbox comes in. On the training side, I help organizations with teaching their managers these KSAs. On the consulting side, my goal is to be the "go-to" for all HR-related questions and concerns. Some of our clients do not have anyone doing HR internally, so they rely on me for all of their HR support.”

Company: HR Answerbox Name: Amanda Haddaway Address: Woodsboro, MD 21798, USA Telephone Number: +1 (240) 394-9439 Web Address: hranswerbox.com

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Seeking to not only support her clients, but also drive more women to the top of the HR market, Amanda undertakes a number of projects to share her industry knowledge and expertise, which she is proud to showcase.

“As part of my commitment to driving the best talent to the top of the HR market, in the past I have participated in the Woman to Woman Mentoring Program as a mentor. I was paired with a younger HR professional who was looking to grow her career and find a different opportunity in the field. We worked together for about nine months. During that time, she was able to find a new position with an employer who valued HR more than her previous employer. She is now doing very well in her new position and I'm so proud of her success. “Currently, I serve as the state council director for Maryland SHRM. We oversee the 10 professional chapters across the state of Maryland. SHRM is the largest professional association for HR professionals across the world. I also just completed a term as the director of our local Workforce Development Board. In that role, I served as an advisor to our local workforce services office. They support job seekers through job search services, including resume reviews, job searching techniques, workshops, mock interviews and a host of other programs. “All of these projects help me to share my 20 years of HR expertise with my industry peers, and I am proud to be able to help them to work towards success and drive them to do the best for their clients.” Moving forward, Amanda is keen to build on HR Answerbox’s current success and grow the business further, as she excitedly concludes.

“Over the coming years my goal is to grow HR Answerbox and support even more clients. Currently, one of our projects is working with a local software development company as a subject-matter expert on an enterprise resource planning (ERP) tool that they are bringing to market in the next few months. It is a really well thought out and comprehensive solution for small to mid-size employers and I am excited for the launch and the opportunities to gain recognition that this will offer my firm. “With regards to my career, my main aim is to further enhance my HR knowledge to ensure I remain well ahead of emerging market developments. As part of this focus I am currently pursuing an Employee Engagement Specialist Certification to better serve my clients, and I look forward to offering them the benefits of my enhanced skills when working on future projects.”

Ellen Castro, Inc.: Best Female Executive Coach 2019 Ellen Castro, Inc. is an innovative executive coaching and consulting company dedicated to providing solutions and results to clients across the business landscape. We profile the firm and its Founder Ellen Castro to find out more.

or more than 25 years Ellen Castro has been a successful entrepreneur and business owner. She draws on this expertise, business acumen and earned wisdom to offer her global client’s solutions and results for these unprecedented, changing times through her business Ellen Castro, Inc. Since starting her business, Ellen’s proven framework has resulted in 100% of her business being generated through referrals and repeat clients. Through her unique combination of warmth, spirit, experiences, insights, pragmatic solutions and service with a smile, she continues to be a trailblazer and makes a dramatic difference to a wide range of clients. As an Influential Businesswoman and leading Executive Coach, Ellen drives accountability, inspires a change in hearts and mindsets that empowers leaders, managers and professionals to achieve their personal best. Ellen's coaching shows clients how to create trusting relationships, attain stellar reputations, and optimize career opportunities – all while enjoying more fulfilling and enriching lives. Ellen is also a Global Business and Leadership Consultant. Through this role Ellen travels worldwide for clients in nearly two dozen industries, ranging from technology to entertainment to education, government and non-profits. Her Fortune 500 clients include Ericsson, Boeing, Frito-Lay, Deloitte Consulting, Procter & Gamble, Marriott, Texas Instruments, Adobe, BCBS, McAfee, Pizza Hut, Univision and Fidelity Investments.

Ellen’s audiences include Verizon, Meeting Planners International, Women in Executive Leadership, Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association, KPMG, The American Heart Association as well as Southern Methodist University Cox School of Business. Showcasing her industry knowledge, Ellen is a best-selling, award winning author. Her books unleash the potential and possibilities of the human spirit. Her second book, Happy in Spite of People, a parable on the power of embracing the differences in people and learning people smarts, received rave reviews and a 2016 International Latino Book Award. Her third edition of Spirited Leadership: 52 Ways to Build Trust – a classic in the field – received the International Latino Best Self-Help Book Award. Now in its fourth edition, it equips readers to harness their personal power to achieve credibility, excellence, and success. Regardless of size or industry, Ellen helps individuals and businesses break through barriers to achieve high engagement and innovation by providing real solutions and immediate results. Ellen smiles as she reflects that being a Latina amidst the good ‘ole boys in the 1970s at Exxon was simply preparation. The humiliation and defeat of shattering her head on the glass ceiling led her to get a second Masters from Harvard University at age 38 and a most fulfilling career and life. Her mess became her message: Better choices, better results. This message remains her ongoing focus as she looks towards a bright future filled with new opportunities.

Her offering also involves Public Speaking. Ellen’s energizing, practical, life-changing and entertaining keynotes and programs have inspired thousands to live authentically. From salespeople to healthcare professionals to engineers to executives to accountants to association members to students, everyone leaves excited and refreshed, with practical skills immediately applicable to living vibrantly and boldly.

Company: Ellen Castro, Inc. Contact: Ellen Castro Website: http://ellencastro.com/

“Since starting her business, Ellen’s proven framework has resulted in 100% of her business being generated through referrals and repeat clients...” Acquisition International - 2019 Influential Businesswomen Awards 11

Most Innovative Marketing Business Leader - North East USA & Leading Ad Agency in Market Channel Integration - New York: Fearless Media Fearless Media is a digital ad agency based in NYC that understands that agencies have to demonstrate results, not just talk about them. We profile the company and Founder Cara Scharf to find out more.

earless Media is a solution focused advertising agency specializing in integrating cross-channel marketing that eliminates redundancies, increases efficiency and provides the answer to the most important question – “what advertising is working to sell our product?”

Founder and President Cara Scharf has helped steer the company towards the position as a thought-leader and industry disruptor that it enjoys today. When she started Fearless Media, she had more than 25 years’ experience in the corporate market, and she drew on this expertise to create a dynamic and driven company.

Specializing in the entertainment, gaming, new product launches and consumer electronics verticals, over the years the company came to create a dynamic approach to marketing that developed out of a focus on data and analytics, with digital at the core of every campaign. Fearless works with clients to develop their marketing strategy, execute campaigns, and drive revenue for their business.

Over the coming years, Cara intends to continue to work to steer Fearless Media towards even greater recognition as a company that is known for full transparency, creating impact and driving sales.

Today, Fearless Media is a key player in the advertising market and offers cutting-edge digital. They see AI playing an even bigger role for our clients and our agency as we look to personalize and automate more digital media in the future. The Fearless team is driven by analyzing each consumer’s path-toconversion across all marketing channels and nimbly responds to changes in the marketplace on a daily basis. They turn dollars into channels, finding new customers and driving sales.

In addition, she would like to be a role model for any woman starting out in a male dominated industry, proving that women can succeed in any market through determination and hard work.

“Today, Fearless Media is a key player in the advertising market and offers cutting edge digital. They see AI playing an even bigger role for our clients and our agency as we are always moving forward to personalize and automate more digital media in the future.”

Company: Fearless Media Contact: Cara Scharf

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Most Influential Woman in Law Firm Business Development - USA: Squire Patton Boggs LLP With 47 offices in 20 countries, Squire Patton Boggs LLP is a full-service global law firm with a vast international reach and a dedication to excellence. We invited Mary Powers, the firm’s Business Development Director for Public Policy and Client Service Initiatives, to tell us more about her role in the firm’s vital work and how she is enhancing its international reputation for excellence.

rom humble beginnings in 1886 Squire Patton Boggs has flourished, and today the firm is a top 20 global law and lobbying firm with an extensive clientele based around the world.

Having worked for the firm for a little over 19 years, Mary understands better than anyone the international power it wields. She discusses how she came to work for this dynamic company and rise through the ranks to her current position.

“Prior to working at Squire Patton and Boggs I started my professional career while I was still in college. I started working as a staff assistant for Senator Bill Bradley of New Jersey during my freshman year, then for the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee where I worked closely with professional staff members in successfully securing congressional support for the passage of the US Chemical Weapons Convention. In addition to other government service, I have previously worked for a defence and security non-profit organization, the World Bank, and a US presidential campaign. My background in government/international affairs and strong interpersonal and communication skills all contributed to where I am today. Little did I know back then that it would all culminate in a career in business development at a global law firm that specializes in matters where politics and business intersect. “When I joined in 2000 after US government service, I worked alongside the partner who was appointed to lead that newly created department. While that partner has been long gone from the firm, I have been involved in nearly all major business development initiatives of the firm since then and have substantial institutional knowledge which I now leverage with our global platform. Today, I serve as a trusted business development advisor to firm leadership, as well as lawyers and professionals of our Public Policy Practice as well as other professionals who collaborate with the practice in and outside of the US." Currently, in her role as Business Development Director she is constantly working to enhance the firm’s success, as she proudly highlights.

“Personally, my role here at Squire Patton Boggs involves advising and assisting lawyers and professionals with written and verbal pitches to prospective clients as well as existing clients from a variety of industries. In addition to proactively targeting and pursuing new business opportunities, I oversee a team of business development managers and coordinators who provide competitive research

analysis and practice group support. Given our global presence and multitude of practices, I am heavily involved in multi-practice, multijurisdictional pitches to new and existing clients. Our clients include corporations, organizations and sovereign governments and entities, and I work very hard to ensure that they all receive the support and service they need.” Having been in the legal industry for such a long time Mary has seen the rights of women grow and prosper, but she believes there is still more to be done, as she explores. “Over the past 19 years, I have seen more women in leadership roles across the firm and more women recruited by the industry in general, which I believe is in response to clients' increasing demand for diverse client service teams. I do believe it has become easier for qualified female lawyers and professionals to enter the law firm industry and elevate to leadership roles.

“Recently, one key development that has helped women in this market is the #MeToo movement, which has helped the law firm industry because it reinforces the need to respect and listen to women. I would like to see more justice for women who have experienced inappropriate behaviour from male counterparts or superiors. Law firms and other industries should continue to strengthen their internal support programs to properly and fairly address harassment situations.” Overall, Mary is proud to be working for this innovative and dynamic law firm, and foresees even greater success for it in the years ahead, as she concludes.

“In today’s market Squire Patton Boggs is in the perfect position to support a wide range of clients. Many companies are downsizing their legal spend to one or a few law firms, so I am pleased to be working for a full-service global law and lobbying firm that can serve as a one-stop shop for clients and prospects throughout these tumultuous times.”

Company: Squire Patton Boggs LLP Contact: Mary Powers Website: www.squirepattonboggs.com

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Company: Costigan King | Name: Arianne King Web Address: www.costiganking.com

Most Influential Woman in Commercial Law 2019 - UK: Costigan King With offices in New York and London, Costigan King is a full-service law firm with an international reach and a reputation for excellence. CEO and Founding Partner, Arianne King, provides us with a fascinating insight into how she helped create the practice and works to this very day to steer it towards success.

was more junior. I think those people that have those views will, to some extent, always have them.

“To this day, one of the key problems facing women in the profession remains progression. There is an expressed concern with women of a certain age needing maternity leave and women often being primarily responsible for childcare, which, as a business owner, I can understand. The difficulty is in getting appropriate cover for a temporary period, particularly with more senior staff. It can also be difficult to accommodate restricted hours to cater for childcare needs. This is an extremely challenging situation to manage, as both sides of the argument are equally valid. In that sense, I think the sacrifices men make with regards to missing out time with their children are ignored and people should be rewarded based on their contribution.

stablished in London in 2016 as Al Bawardi Critchlow, the firm re-branded in 2018, through a strategic partnership with USbased Costigan Law, to form Costigan King. Costigan King now advises multi-national clients across global markets, offering a tailored service across a wide range of practice areas. Having been with the firm since its formation, starting as an associate and progressing to become Partner, Managing Partner and then CEO, Arianne has the ambition and ability to drive the firm forward. She begins by explaining how she draws on her expertise and insight gained at previous firms, combined with the support of her team, family and other business leaders, to ensure her firm is always providing the exceptional standard of service that clients deserve.

“My experience as a lawyer, at other firms, has formed a solid foundation for my role as CEO at Costigan King. I am driven to provide my clients with the very best advice both legally and commercially. As a business owner, I am very well placed to understand the inner workings of my client’s businesses and when their commercial interests should rank above a strict, legal interpretation of their position. This is a skill I find many lawyers lack. As a young business leader, I have had to learn many of the skills needed as I have developed the practice. I have learnt a lot of lessons along the way and I draw on those lessons to ensure the practice grows from strength to strength.” “Whilst I have been given a lot of support by my team, I am also very lucky in that I come from a family of business owners, with many family members having embarked on establishing a variety of businesses ranging from construction, removals, PR, graphic design, childcare and clothing. I have used this network for support and advice along the way and have been fortunate to be able to steer Costigan King to continued success over the years.” With extensive industry experience, Arianne understands the challenges faced by women looking to succeed in the legal profession. She outlines the difficulties the industry offers and explores how it can improve and become more inclusive in the future.

“Since I entered the legal profession, there has been visible improvements in the culture and how women are treated within the profession, as well as better responses when behaviours are not as they should be. I have experienced and witnessed some terrible behaviour towards women throughout my career, particularly when I

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However, they may not get away with expressing those views as openly as they once could and, if they do, there are far more likely to be repercussions. In our firm, there is significant female leadership, with two of the three directors and shareholders being female. This sends a clear message and will help towards driving change in our market.

“I think the answer is the evolution of technology alongside an acceptance of flexible working. These steps are hugely positive and will help families manage childcare without making as many career related sacrifices. The legal industry has been slower than most in adopting tech-friendly and flexible working environments. At Costigan King, we fully support a modern working environment, to help people progress based on their contribution (irrespective of gender) and regardless of their personal circumstances. “As to any mistreatment of women in the workplace, one point that is so regularly ignored is that it isn’t a female versus male divide and most men do not share the views that few do and, as such, often tarnish men as a whole or brand a firm as an ‘old boys’ club’. This is wrong. I have had a tremendous amount of support from some incredible men throughout my career. What needs to happen is a change in attitude for all involved. Women need to be able to speak up and feel safe using their voices and men need to support them in order to achieve genuine change that is better for everyone.” As she discusses the future, Arianne is keen to explain her ongoing dedication to driving Costigan King to even greater success in the highly competitive global legal market. “I am driven to establish Costigan King as a globally recognised brand and expand the firm further internationally, so that we can support many more clients over the coming years. Given the state of the current economic climate, organic growth is the future for my firm. We are keen to grow a firm that incorporates modern working practices to enable as much flexibility as possible for the team, as well as empower women to reach the peak of their career in my organisation and in the wider legal market. All of these combined goals will keep me busy and help me to drive beneficial change for everyone.”

Most Innovative Digital Transformations Business Leader 2019 Difrent is a professional services company building digital services for public organisations such as the National Health Service as well as organisations from across the government, charity and third sectors. We profile the firm and explore how CEO Rachel Murphy is driving it to even greater success thanks to her innovative leadership and dedication to excellence.

s its name suggests, Difrent aims to offer clients solutions and support that they cannot find elsewhere.

Supported by a range of digital transformation specialists, the firm aims to provide its clients from across the public sector with the solutions and service they need to remain ahead of emerging developments in the digital marketplace. CEO Rachel Murphy began her journey with Difrent just under two years ago. Initially joining the firm as Managing Director, she made a strong impression and was promoted to CEO five months ago.

“CEO Rachel Murphy began her journey with Difrent just under two years ago. Initially joining the firm as Managing Director, she made a strong impression and was promoted to CEO five months ago.” Prior to her current role Rachel worked running all patient facing digital transformation for the NHS at NHS Digital, and as such she has experience working for clients and is able to drive Difrent to provide them with the solutions they truly need. Before this role, for

Company: Difrent Name: Rachel Murphy Address: 10 Barley Mow Passage, Chiswick, London, W4 4PH Web Address: https://difrent.co.uk

“Supported by a range of digital transformation specialists, the firm aims to provide its clients from across the public sector with the solutions and service they need to remain ahead of emerging developments in the digital marketplace.” 20 years she has worked as an interim manager, being called into organisations across public and private sector who need to transform how they work using IT and Digital solutions. Throughout her career in the IT sector, which spans more than two decades, Rachel has seen many exciting changes, and has noticed more women being afforded the opportunity to take on leadership roles. Despite the challenges this male-dominated sector has to offer, Rachel has never allowed anything to hold her back, and has always worked hard to showcase her expertise and offer the best possible support to her clients and service users. As part of her commitment to giving back to the wider IT and digital solutions markets, over the years Rachel has mentored a wide range of people and helped them to thrive as she has in this competitive market. Currently, she is mentoring two different women who are eager to develop in their chosen industries of IT and Digital respectively. Rachel herself has always had business mentors and as such would always encourage people to ask for support and is proud to work as a mentor herself and drive others to emulate her own success. Ultimately, Rachel’s vision for Difrent is to create a digital business that functions fully remotely, providing clients with the same exceptional services remotely. For her personal goal, she is keen to support others and using her skills to support charities and drive them to success. These ambitious goals will help Rachel to enhance her already impressive skillset and drive her company to even greater renown throughout the UK’s public sector.

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North Medical Spa: Best Medical Spa Business Leader 2019 - Canada North Medical Spa, in downtown Toronto, offers an advanced approach to medical aesthetics while putting client care first. We invited owner Amanda Mizen to provide us with a fascinating overview of her clinic and how she has driven it to success.

orth Medical Spa sets itself apart by tapping into the years of entrepreneurial and corporate experience offered by owner Amanda Mizen. Amanda discusses her experience in more detail and outlines how she uses it to drive her spa to success.

“North Medical Spa offers treatments that cater to a diverse clientele of both men and women of all different skin types and backgrounds. We have created a space that welcomes everyone, and we are proud of this.”

“I have been an entrepreneur for more than half of my life and am now proud to run North Medical Spa. After university, I continued in sales and spa training and left to start another business that is still running successfully today. I came back to medical aesthetics because I saw an opportunity, within a booming industry, to offer better client care. We are a quality clinic that takes time with each guest ensuring amazing results instilling confidence in what we do”.

Looking to the future, Amanda has many exciting plans to enhance her portfolio of companies and continue to drive North Medical Spa to support even more clients throughout 2019 and beyond.

“It is uncommon for entrepreneurs without a background or license in injectables to own a medical spa, especially downtown in a big city. I have many years of experience in the industry and have honed these skills to make something great”. Mizen also owns a commercial bakery that supplies independent coffee shops all over the GTA. “The fundamentals of business are similar regardless of industry or field. I have created a culture at North, similar to my other businesses, where my team is empowered to make decisions in the best interest of the client and business.”

“North Medical Spa offers treatments that cater to a diverse clientele of men and women of all different skin types and backgrounds. We have created a space that welcomes everyone, and we are proud of this.” Company: North Medical Spa Name: Amanda Mizen Address: 569 King street East, Toronto ON, M5A1M5 Telephone Number: 4169016672 Web Address: northmedicalspa.com

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North Medical Spa

ÂŠ North Medical Spa, Amanda Mizen - Owner

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Most Influential Woman in Business Development & Support - Southern USA: Carter Consulting Corp. For over 20 years Carter Consulting Corp. has offered professional grant writing services to a wide range of organisations. We profile the firm and explore how its CEO and Founder Nicole Carter is helping to steer it towards even greater excellence through her diligence and dedication to professionalism.

ince it began in 1999 Carter Consulting has supported non-profit and faith-based organizations by providing technical assistance, capacity building, grant writing, resource development, program evaluations, and professional development training. As a Women Owned Minority Business with SBA 8(a) and HUBZone certification, Carter Consulting is committed to excellence and creating innovative and flexible solutions for its clients. The firm specialises in program/project management services, with the company capable of managing entire processes from the planning phase through implementation and close out. Thanks to its integrated knowledge, Carter Consulting is able to offer a range of services designed to make projects more efficient, controlling costs, schedules, and work scope without compromising quality. The firm’s capabilities combine its expertise and experience in compliance, human resources, recruiting, staff training, administrative support and contract negotiations. In addition to this work writing grants, the firm’s lead executives have been contracted by numerous Departments of Government for technical assistance, education, consultation and grant evaluation services. As such, the have the far-reaching expertise and industry knowledge to constantly be ahead of emerging market developments and able to offer clients throughout the market the very highest possible standard of service. Working tirelessly to support their clients, Carter Consulting's expert team has more than 65 cumulative years of experience in the nonprofit industry and has served hundreds of grantees from all over the country and abroad, resulting in the securing of more than $50 Million dollars. The firm’s executive staff is comprised of high-level executives from numerous industry arenas including: construction, non-profit, government, commercial, technology, accounting and primary federal contractors. This dedicated team is led by the firm’s CEO and Namesake Nicole Carter, who since the firm’s inception has worked tirelessly to ensure success for everyone she has the pleasure to work alongside. She is a business mentor and is driven by her passion for helping people to succeed and thrive in today’s corporate market. She feels that it is an honour to assist so many individuals with employment opportunities

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“Recently, Carter Consulting acquired a $500,000 apartment complex with $375,000 cash. This was a community effort which took critical thinking, strategic planning and relationships. By collaborating with community organisations, the firm is able to meet the needs of its various stakeholders and provide support that cannot be found elsewhere.” to sustain their families and livelihoods. This is her passion and her success is a result of Nicole’s love for her role and those she supports. For the majority of her career Nicole has been a grant writer or grant monitor, allowing her to draw on her exceptional experience in this niche field to support the clients she works with through her role leading Carter Consulting. She is passionate about creating grants that will make a true difference to community and the lives of those living in them. Recently, Carter Consulting acquired a $500,000 apartment complex with $375,000 cash. This was a community effort which took critical thinking, strategic planning and relationships. By collaborating with community organisations, the firm is able to meet the needs of its various stakeholders and provide support that cannot be found elsewhere. Seeking to grow even further and build upon its success, looking to the future Carter Consulting intends to develop more housing units as well as secure federal and state contracts in administration and construction services. This will help Nicole and her talented team to truly cement their position as key innovations and thought-leaders in this competitive market. Contact: Nicole Carter | Website: www.carterconsultingcorp.com

Carter Consulting Corp.

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The Publicity Loft: Most Influential Woman in Lifestyle PR - Republic of Ireland Working to offer a unique approach to public relations, the Publicity Loft is a creative team specialising in lifestyle PR. Founder and Managing Director Amy Buckeridge provides us with a fascinating insight into the firm and how far it has come over the years it has been in business.

Thanks to the expertise of its Senior Team, the Publicity Loft has flourished since its inception over a decade ago, and has transitioned into an intimate but highly effective PR company dedicated to quality. In her opening comments Amy discusses how she came to create the agency and her pride in how far it has come.

“Having set up the agency ten years ago I am incredibly proud of how far it has come over the past decade. Prior to Publicity Loft, I had another PR and event management agency that was successfully acquired. With a lot of hard work and lessons learned along the way, my leap of faith eventually paid off in choosing to work for myself. “Thanks to the incredible work of myself and my team, the success of Publicity Loft is one of my proudest achievements. I really do see the team as my work family and I have a huge amount of respect for the work they do and the unique skills they bring to the agency. I manage an intimate team of exceptionally talented people whom I trust completely to get the work done to the highest standards, with enthusiasm and bright ideas at every turn. This means I can focus on the bigger picture of the business and the overall strategy for brands, as well as our goals as an agency, rather than the day-to-day minutiae.” The agency has achieved incredible success since Amy first founded it, and she is proud to share an overview of how far it has come.

“Over the years, at the Publicity Loft we have cultivated a very strong reputation within the beauty and lifestyle industry. Today we work with a selection of brands including Codex Beauty, IMAGE Skincare, The Skin Nerd, and P20, whose products we are deeply passionate about. We need to believe in the brands we’re getting behind and so each partnership is carefully considered. Our aim is to deliver the smartest PR strategies that result in measurable commercial success for each of our clients. “As an agency we are constantly evolving because we know the importance of being ahead of the game in the media industry; you have to evolve, not just to survive, but to thrive. In an industry that changes like the weather, we have to stand out and be game changers, and what really sets us apart is our personal approach and our relationships: working with us at Publicity Loft, you are welcomed into the family. We strive to make sure that each of our clients gets the one-on-one attention needed.”

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Such an approach ensures that every client receives the support and service they need to really engage with their target market. Amy showcases how her firm is committed to providing every client with above and beyond the standard of excellence they expect.

“Over-delivering is something we love to do, and we pride ourselves on our full-service communications approach. We have an in-house design and videography team that works alongside our content creators, along with digital marketing and PR executives to provide a well-rounded approach from concept, through to execution and delivery of results. From PR to brand development, event management to content creation, there is no stone left unturned.” Such success would be impossible without a strong leadership team, and Amy is at the head of this, working tirelessly to ensure excellence for all of her valued clients. She is keen to emphasise how she works with her team to ensure that they are able to offer her clients the high standard of service they expect at all times.

“As a leader, I am ultimately responsible for the success of every brand with whom we work and so for every project, I would be involved at the conception and strategy stage, ensuring the brand’s overall needs are being met. I am always personally available to each client, but I as have made sure to surround myself with a team that is so highly effective, there is no need to micromanage. This, to me, is what good leadership is all about: giving your team the skills and support they need to flourish alongside you.”

“One of the biggest changes I’ve seen since starting my career is the rise of influencer marketing and influencer content. Ireland has seen the influencer sector grow massively in the past few years in a way that other countries haven't necessarily experienced yet. Ireland had become one of the largest users of Snapchat per capita, but that has since slowed down, and Instagram has become the new normal. It was a largely grey area for a while with little regulation, but these days influencers are having to treat it as a profession in terms of accountability too. “Within this huge development, I have seen a lot of positive change when it comes to women. From brands to celebrities and influencers, it is all about authenticity and representation and embracing all women today. It is no longer about the supermodel that no real woman can really relate to, but that’s not to say there’s no room for the supermodel either. Every brand with whom we work wants to make women feel good about who they are and what they do rather than make them feel that they need to be better, and that inclusivity is something that I am proud to see developing. There is now a lot more room now to be comfortable in your own skin and to be human and this is something we’re championing at the Publicity Loft.

“Fundamentally, I think the PR industry is one of the few industries that has always been dominated by women, especially the lifestyle sector. I don’t think it’s any easier or harder to enter the PR industry because of gender; whether you’re a woman or a man, you have to be a critical, flexible and lateral thinker with lots of ideas and a willingness to adapt and to work hard.” Overall, with the future stretched out in front of it, the sky is the limit for the Publicity Loft, as Amy is proud to conclude.

“Over the coming years my aim for the Publicity Loft is to be the best agency and the best at what we do. Growth is not my core focus: I think there is a lot of value in the more intimate approach and our brands are responding very well to our dynamic. I do want to continue developing the digital side of the business and meet the digital needs of each brand as that’s something that’s constantly evolving and it’s only going to get bigger. I also want to ensure that PL fulfils its role as a lifestyle agency; we have become so known for our work with beauty in particular, which is fantastic, but I want to consciously widen the net, by bringing more lifestyle brands to the table, such as interiors and fashion which are areas that we used to specialise in. “Ultimately, these developments will drive the Publicity Loft to even greater success and help us to support more clients in the future, and I and my team are looking forward to working with clients from across the corporate market.”

Company: The Publicity Loft Contact: Amy Buckeridge, Managing Director Phone: +35316424199 Website: www.publicityloft.com

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HR Compliance MD of the Year 2019 - UK Hunter Global Business Solutions Ltd provides award-winning compliance support and a range of consultancy services for clients across the corporate landscape. We invited CEO and Founder Joanne Ferguson to talk us through the firm and how she has created an innovative company that is changing the compliance consultancy market for the better.

unter Global Business Solutions Ltd was formed at the end of 2018 by Joanne Ferguson, CMCIPD, and offers the reassurance that its clients are compliant in all areas of business legislation. The team began by tailoring bespoke packages to each business to ensure that it covered all of their needs. Thanks to the expertise of Joanne and her team, the firm is able to offer support in HR, Health and Safety, Training and Development and Auditing to international standards. Providing a total business solution. She provides us with a fascinating overview of the firm and how it came into being.

“In 2015 I became an independent consultant creating the Hunter Global Business Solutions Division of Hunter Global Recruitment Ltd. We then decided to separate the two divisions into two separate companies in 2018. I have worked in various industries for over 30 year building up my reputation in compliance. “Over the years I have worked hard to gain my reputation in my field of expertise. Through running my own business over the last four years, I have gained some incredible clients who I have helped to develop and grow their staff and businesses. Developing Quality Management Systems that cover all aspects of their business and to be compliant with the relevant accreditation body. We become part of their management team rather than an ‘external consultant’. The main function in my previous roles has been HR but while I was in the sugar manufacturing industry I trained as an ISO auditor and also NEBOSH / IOSH. I now use these skills with my clients ensuring that they stay compliant. I also train Auditing Skills for Verner Wheelock Associates in a variety of food manufacturing industries.”

standards and you will not compromise your business for the sake of paperwork. I am proud to say that I helped a manufacturing business set up their systems from the beginning. “Firstly, putting in HR then H&S documents, then helping them to become accredited to an ISO standard. All of this was achieved in less than three years with a growing workforce from 5 to 25 staff. This is a great source of pride for me and proves that my approach works. I provide all my clients with the benefit of my experience and understanding of the compliance market when they work with Hunter Global Business Solutions.” Moving forward, Joanne is keen to share her passion for compliance with new members of her team and drive Hunter Global Business Solutions Ltd to even greater success, as she proudly concludes.

“Over the coming years I would like to grow my business, so I can take an apprentice on in a year and then hopefully each year thereafter. My plan is to have someone who can take over my business when I am looking to step back, knowing that they have helped me to develop and grow my dream in the hope that it will become theirs too. This is my ongoing focus as I look ahead towards a bright and exciting future.”

Today, Hunter Global Business Solutions Ltd offer businesses additional support in many areas, either for one-off projects or monthly ongoing support to suit the business needs. Trained to a high standard in many areas enabling the firm to give businesses continued support to keep them compliant, without the need to employ individual professionals on a full-time basis at a greater cost. Being so deeply passionate about compliance, Joanne and her team are able to provide straightforward solutions that meet the needs of a variety of clients. She explains why companies should embrace compliance rather than shirking from it.

“Compliance is an area that most people do not enjoy, and feel is a cumbersome issue to work with. If you have good systems in place from the onset of your business, then compliance truly is your friend. It proves to anyone wanting to work with you that you have high

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Company: Hunter Global Business Solutions Ltd Name: Joanne Ferguson Address: 111 High Street, Lincoln LN5 7PY Telephone Number: 07966374126 Web Address: www.hunterglobalbusinesssolutions.com

PEEK Architecture + Design: Most Outstanding Architecture Firm Director 2019 - UK Multi-award-winning PEEK Architecture + Design is a vibrant, design focused, architecture and interior design practice. To celebrate her win in this year’s Influential Businesswoman Awards Founder and Director Georgina Turvey provides us with a fascinating insight into how far her company has come since she established it.

stablished by Georgina in 2006, PEEK has since developed a reputation for excellence and gained a loyal base of clients who have enjoyed working with this dedicated team of architecture experts. In her opening comments Georgina outlines how far she and her company have come over the past 13 years.

“At the beginning of my career I graduated from the Bartlett School of Architecture at UCL, and my transformative time there under the guidance of my tutors, Paul Monaghan and Simon Allford from the renowned firm AHMM, can probably be compared to a kind of amazing, architectural bootcamp. During my years in education, I continued to work part time throughout. The extra contacts and experience I gained in this time were invaluable for setting out on my own very early on, and after completing my chartership, I started my own firm soon after. “Since then I have been the proud leader of PEEK, and in the last 10 years have had the privilege of working with a loyal client base who have entrusted me with some great projects. Our practise does

“Currently, at PEEK we are developing some bespoke furniture pieces, light fittings and designs for ironmongery. When carrying out extensive research we frequently find that certain products simply do not exist, and as such it would be great to create a line of products which reflect our practise’s developing style and meet the everevolving needs of our clients.” Company: PEEK Architecture + Design Name: Georgina Turvey Address: Peek Architecture & Design Ltd, Noland House, 12-13 Poland Street Telephone Number: 07919385927 Web Address: www.peekarchitecture.co.uk

everything from planning and feasibility, detailed construction design, interior design and bespoke furniture, mostly in prime London locations. Over recent years we have been following our clients as they make the big move out of the city, so are working on some fantastic country residences in addition to our city-based projects. This is testimony to the level of excellence myself and my team pride ourselves on and the success of our client-focused approach.” From its base in Central London, the firm now maintains a varied client base, from families and homeowners to developers. Projects the firm has undertaken include homes, developments and commercial properties, ranging from large city houses and apartments, to extensions, basements, roof conversions, refurbishments and interiors. Clear procedures and effective communication are fundamental to achieving optimum design potential, taking a project through from initial sketches and permissions, to costing, construction detailing, and interior fit out, and are all aspects that Georgina takes very seriously as she seeks to make her mark in this male dominated market. She explains how she has worked hard to overcome the challenges she has faced over the years to ensure she and PEEK continue to flourish.

“Even today construction is a male dominated industry, and on rare occasions at initial meetings I get a slight resistance from other consultants and contractors, especially when you are positioned as the lead consultant on a job. Construction is a collaborative process, so I overcome any prejudices by being open and positive, and overall, good at my job. “Overcoming this challenge is something I take great pride in, and I believe that this is success is due to my hard-working nature and willingness to learn. I've learnt most of my useful knowledge from the staff working on the sites themselves, and have gained practical knowledge from them that has enhanced my career immensely.” Seeking to enhance her company’s success over the coming years, Georgina has exciting plans to drive it to even greater renown and expand its service offering, as she proudly concludes.

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Most Influential Woman in Venture Capital Investments - Nordic Region & Best Evergreen Investment Fund 2019 Based in Reykjavik, New Business Venture Fund is a state-owned evergreen investment fund intended to strengthen and develop the Icelandic venture capital market along with promoting start-ups and business in Iceland thus encouraging economic growth CEO Huld Magnusdottir talks us through her role in driving the fund to success.

ew Business Venture Fund invests at seed and early stage in promising growth companies with great business ideas and strong management and development teams.

The fund maintains a portfolio comprising of twenty-five companies and investments in several other funds. Additionally, this financial instrument offers more than funding: the fund usually takes board seats in companies it invests in, and actively participates in business decisions, whether they are about product development or business strategy. Before taking over as CEO in early 2017, Huld Magnúsdóttir was the director general of Iceland's National Institute for the Blind and acting director general of the Social Insurance Administration, and held several executive positions in the private sector both in Iceland and the United States with global orthopaedics company Ossur.

Today, for New Business Venture Fund, she works to strengthen and develop the Icelandic venture capital market by guiding young companies through the various stages of their evolution and growth. As a leader in the start-up ecosystem, Huld is experienced and driven. She discusses how she has seen the business environment change over the years and how much easier it now is for women to make a name for themselves as she has.

“For over 25 years, I have worked in both the private and public sector. My previous experiences have prepared me for my current role in venture capital because I have worked for a start-up company that grew to a large global publicly listed company. The journey was a tremendous opportunity to grow and learn. I am fortunate to be able to present those learnings to others in the start-up eco system. “Over the past quarter of a century, I have seen more women enter the business environment as professionals in many fields. The difference I see between the private sector and public sector is that more women are executives in the public field, but female executives are few and far between in the private sector. Despite this, there remain challenges for women in this market, but I am proud to have overcome them and work with women to help them to succeed. The Nordic regions currently lead the way in terms of equality, and I am proud to be a part of this legacy.” Looking to the future, New Business Venture Fund is keen to build upon the current success of its fund. Huld believes that it will thrive with new investments and new opportunities in years to come and is excited for its future and her own, as she proudly concludes.

“Overall, in my career I have come to a point where what I do, has to have meaning and purpose, and I have to enjoy it. Being able to utilize my skills to the fullest of my abilities and continue to grow and learn is something I take great pride in and will remain my ongoing focus as I and the New Business Venture Fund look forward to bright futures.” Company: New Business Venture Fund Name: Huld Magnusdottir Address: Kringlan 7, 103 Reykjavik, Iceland Telephone Number: +3548609494 Web Address: www.nyskopun.is

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Most Influential Woman in Global Digital Capabilities 2019: Transmute Transmute Worldwide Ltd is a strategic digital consultancy helping large businesses, UK government and overseas governments to embed better digital capability. We caught up with Founder Tiffany St James to gain an insight into how she created a company that is changing the digital consultancy market for the better.

or more than five years Transmute has been helping large businesses deliver digital change programmes that will drive their organisations to excellence in today’s technology-focused market. Tiffany discusses the firm’s service offering in more detail and explores how these benefit a host of clients.

“Throughout my career I have worked in the technology industry, and specifically in UK Government from before email to open data. Whilst I have not found working within the industry itself difficult, gender diversity in the UK tech industry is one of the widest: just 19% of people in tech are women at large companies.

“Here at Transmute, we work to transform our clients’ organisations and drive it to even greater efficiency using digital solutions. As part of this process, we map the current digital work or digital skills of the firm’s entire workforce with the use of smart AI and machine learning tools to give our clients the people and process evidence map for digital transformation.

“In BIMAs Tech Inclusion Report this year, the largest in the industry to date: 35% of women feel their gender has negatively affected their career progression in the tech industry and 36% of parents do not return to work after parental leave whilst 83% of University placements in Computer Science are held by men so there is much to do in attracting and keeping women in technology. I would like to see organisations following the Global Innovation Coalition for Change gender innovation principles developed by the UN and EY; supporting gender diversity in innovation in the future.”

“Then, Transmute will work with clients to design their workforce and leadership digital skills framework identifying key skillsets underused or missing and design or redesign their optimal team structure including both hire or training strategy for digital delivery. We can then design and build their corporate on and offline academy based on evidence. The end result is a company that is ready for the digital future. These services have been provided to a wide range of clients, including household names such as Channel 4, Google, Market Research Society, National Trust, Norton Rose Fulbright, Prudential, the UAE Government, the UK Parliament, UKTV, Viacom International Media Networks and Westminster City Council.” Prior to creating Transmute Tiffany ran another consultancy, and before this she spent just over a decade running digital transformation projects for the UK Government. As a result, she understands the technology market and the need for more diversity and better support for women. she explores the driving factors behind the lack of women in the market and how the space can be improved to encourage more women to move into it.

Company: Transmute Name: Tiffany St James Address: 23 Canalot Studios, 222 Kensal Rd, London, W10 5BN, United Kingdom Telephone Number: +44 (0) 203 126 4922 Web Address: www.wetransmute.com

With regards to the need to drive more women to enter and thrive in the technology market, Tiffany explains the advice she would offer to women looking to emulate her success.

“Personally, the advice I give to women in technology who want to stand out and become leaders is: understand the future of your industry and where it's headed, ensure that how you contribute to your organisation and industry is differentiated and enables you to stand out for your contribution. Network and connect with like-minded individuals and people who can challenge your thinking. Be exceedingly generous with your time, resources and network. Find a cause you a passionate about but realise that passions can change so do not be hampered by finding one true calling; it is likely you'll have more than one at different times in your life.” As she seeks to enhance her own success and that of her company, Tiffany has many big plans for the future of Transmute, as she proudly concludes.

“Looking ahead, at Transmute we recognise and are serving the growth in bite-sized learning and blended on and offline experiential learning for specific roles or workforces. As such, we are building corporate on and offline academies to help serve businesses with their continuous learning needs. We have already identified how to build Leadership Digital knowledge and are working on programmes with Leadership Digital Literacy to drive change and support even more clients over the coming years.”

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Best Corporate Finance Marketing Leader 2019 - UK With offices across Europe, the US, Asia and Latin America, Alantra is a global investment banking and asset management firm offering a truly international reach and an unrivalled breadth of experience. We invited UK Head of Marketing Emma Dowson to offer us an insight into the firm and the work she does to drive it forward.

rawing on its immense market experience, Alantra advises business owners, management teams and investors on all aspects of corporate finance such as acquiring or selling a business, raising private and public equity capital and debt capital. Emma explores her role in the firm and how this has evolved since she first joined the company.

“As head of marketing in the UK, I am responsible for all aspects of promoting Alantra to our current and potential clients. This includes our communications and content strategy, digital marketing, PR and brand management. We create a high volume of commentary in various formats which demonstrates our expertise and what we have achieved for our clients. Ultimately, I’m trying to help win new clients for Alantra. “In October 2017, Catalyst Corporate Finance merged with Alantra and formally rebranded as Alantra in April 2018. When I joined Catalyst Corporate Finance in 2012, I was responsible for writing our M&A commentaries and sector research reports and my role gradually broadened to a full marketing one. Prior to that, I spent 15 years working in investment management.” Emma’s success to date is the result of her extensive market experience and drive towards innovation. She shares her career highlights and how these paved the way for the success she currently enjoys.

“Since the start of my career I have always worked in financial services. I spent over ten years working in investment management, also in marketing. That period covered both the bursting of the tech bubble and the global financial crisis; both events taught you to have perspective, to stay calm and to focus on delivering for clients. “That investment management firm is what I now know to be a typical Alantra client, and as such this experience given me an insight into what it takes for our clients to build a successful company – clarity of purpose, having the right people in place at all levels of the business, understanding clients and exceeding their expectations. I joined just ahead of a new CEO who had a vision to transform the business. Despite considerable challenges, we achieved that vision, and then some, ultimately securing private equity investment to reward shareholders and to fund the next stage of growth.” The corporate finance market is a predominantly male space, much like the finance market as a whole. Such a male dominated market is

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a challenge for a woman to break into and succeed in, and as such Emma is understandably proud of her achievements. She explores how far the market has come since she entered it and how this has benefits both her own career and women in general.

“Over the years the financial market has become easier for women. Men continue to dominate investment banking and to dominate hiring decisions. What is different now from when I started my career is the attention being devoted to the lack of women in the industry, it has become a daily conversation with women, and men, challenging the status quo. It’s not just about gender balance, it’s also about attracting and retaining talented individuals from a diverse range of backgrounds. It is easier for women to enter investment banking; however, one of the major challenges is retaining women as they progress and gain seniority. “To this very day, I think many women experience stereotyping at some point or have been in situations such as being the only woman in meeting where every man is explicitly asked for their opinion but the chairman skips past you to the guy on your right. It is often not easy, but women need to develop the ability to speak up regardless. They should try to work with people, men and women, who inspire, motivate and excite you and who can help you to develop and progress. They might be within their company but can also be their external providers and network. For example, our PR agency and video production company are businesses founded and run by women, and that is tremendously inspiring to both myself and my team.” Such successes are proving that women can flourish in the PR and corporate finance spaces. Seeking to showcase her own personal dedication to excellence and drive towards success, Emma has big plans to grow her own career and drive Alantra to even greater achievements in the future, as she is proud to conclude.

“Looking ahead, the next few years are going to be very exciting, both for my career and for Alantra. We think there will be only four or five global mid-market investment banks in the coming years and we want to be one of them. The UK is a key market for us and delivering an innovative marketing strategy to help achieve our ambitions is going to be important and a great challenge for me.” Company: Alantra | Name: Emma Dowson Web Address: www.alantra.com

Most Influential Businesswoman in Media Marketing & Communications - USA: PK Network Communications, Inc. PK Network is one of the oldest and most successful integrated marketing and communications agencies serving the cable, broadband, technology and new media segments. We invited its Founder Pat Kehoe to tell us more about the incredible legacy of excellence she has created.

ince its inception in 1989, PK Network has established itself as a specialist in branding, new product launches, consumer and business to business, and its clients have included many of the leading Fortune 500 as well as new and emerging companies. PK Network began by creating marketing strategy, advertising, promotion, digital and public relations campaigns for three of the world’s then top 10 largest media companies: ABC, Bertelsmann Music Group and PolyGram. The agency’s roster grew with launch and branding campaigns for major networks like Food Network, Outdoor Channel, ESPN and Playboy TV as well as providers like Charter, Helicon, Bresnan and Cablevision. Beyond cable, the agency includes the legendary soccer team New York Cosmos and the U.S. promotion of ACF Fiorentina’s International Champions Cup, among its sports clients. Pat explores how she came to create the agency and drive it to success using her exceptional market experience.

“In the beginning I founded the agency after a diversified career in the media business which started in an entry level position in Guest Relations at NBC. I quickly moved up the marketing ladder making strategic choices to join A&E, Showtime and Lifetime - all within 10 years. It was by taking a chance to leave the established broadcast arena at NBC and enter a new industry at that time, cable television, that I was able gain more responsibilities, hone - in on my marketing acumen and start the climb up the management ladder. These multiple and early career moves taught me that one needed to take calculated risks to achieve goals; that it was important to always think of the next move, and that opportunity doesn't knock, you need to make it happen.”

“...driving the firm to even greater success...” marketing and creative services, and as such I have always been at the helm, steering it to success. Our company was founded on the principal that all clients no matter their size, deserve exceptional marketing and creative support. To provide this, our company boasts a group of topnotch experts who supplement our services when needed. In this way, our clients always are served by a team of experienced professionals that can hit the ground running, and PK Network can operate as an efficient and profitable agency. Over the years since our inception, our goal to produce award-winning, marketing-driven creative has resulted in not only success for our clients but has garnered numerous industry awards and citations, which reflect the exceptional standard of service we offer.” Looking ahead, Pat foresees the team at PK Network driving the firm to even greater success, as she proudly concludes.

“Ultimately, PK Network has a talented and loyal account, marketing and creative staff who take great pride in their work. As a result, we will strive to expand into new areas like partnership marketing, video streaming and more sports. Looking ahead, our challenges will be to maintain the intimacy and drive of our staff and manage growth accordingly. It’s an exciting time, and we are all excited to face the new opportunities of the future.

With the explosion of technology impacting the entertainment field, PK Network quickly expanded, promoting broadband and tech clients PPC, ConTec and Mediacom Communications, which is still a primary client after 25 years. Pat discusses the services her agency offers in more detail and how it has flourished over the past three decades.

“During our 30 years, I have managed and supervised the growth, culture and operations of the company. PK Network is not a TV network or franchise: it is a boutique agency staffed with experts in all phases of

Name: Patricia (Pat) Kehoe Address: 11 East 47th Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10017 Web Address: www.pknetwork.com

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Most Influential Female Entrepreneur in Web Design - UK: HKP Media Working with a wide range of clients, HKP Media provides award-winning website and digital design services. We profile the firm and share how Founder Hanna Kirkpatrick is working to drive it to success.

ed by Founder Hanna Kirkpatrick, HKP Media offers a variety of services ranging from logo design through to website creation and Instagram makeovers designed to enhance client’s social media presence.

Hanna draws on extensive industry experience, having previously worked for a decade in the TV industry as a presenter and voiceover artist before deciding to take her creative talents directly to clients by launching her own company. Initially, HKP Media began when Hanna was asked to create websites and designs for friends and family, but it quickly evolved into an innovative creative venture supporting a range of clients across the corporate landscape. Alongside creating websites, Hanna is also able to craft stunning graphic media such as logos, leaflets, business cards and posters. Adapting to recent trends, she also recently launched her Instagram makeover service, which has proved incredibly popular. Clients know that when they work with Hanna they will receive the very highest standard of service and unique support. Hanna works closely with her clients from the moment they book with her right through to the completion of their project to ensure that they feel supported throughout and the result is a design that they can be truly proud of.

“All of her designs reflect her clients’ businesses and individual styles so that they know that they will have something truly innovative and creative when they work with HKP Media.”

Company: HKP Media | Contact: Hanna Kirkpatrick Website: https://www.hkpmedia.com/ 28 Acquisition International - 2019 Influential Businesswomen Awards

All of her designs reflect her clients’ businesses and individual styles so that they know that they will have something truly innovative and creative when they work with HKP Media. Thanks to her dedication to creating unique websites and materials, Hanna now boasts an extensive portfolio of completed projects and satisfied clients. Everyone she works with receives the full benefit of her knowledge and expertise and can rest assured that the resulting solution will meet their needs and showcase their business in the best possible light. Looking to the future, Hanna hopes to hire another designer to help with a very busy diary and with the help of her new assistant, intends to drive HKP Media to even greater success, providing even more clients with the benefit of her experience and creative flair.”

www.emilykateaesthetics.co.uk

www.thestripwaxing.com

www.kimjoux.com

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Analytik Jena AG: Best Liquid Handling & Automation Business Leader 2019 With a very strong focus on customer service and a wealth of market experience, Analytik Jena AG is delivering liquid handling automation to clients across the world. Dealing primarily with pharmaceutical laboratories, synthetic biology laboratories and university research centres, influential businesswoman Manuela Beil-Peter is at the forefront of this company’s successes in 2019.

irst starting at CyBio AG in February 2001, Manuela has worked in a variety of roles from customer support to regional management for Asia and Europe, right the way up to leading the business sector for liquid handling automation from January 2018, Manuela is spearheading a team that brings together all customer service-related functions to ensure quick response times for clients. Working closely with research and development, production, marketing, and global sales teams across the whole of Analytik Jena, Manuela has emerged as a truly influential businesswoman for her team and other females in the life sciences industry. Regularly meeting with a small group of other leading businesswomen within the company, Manuela is free to talk about challenges and experiences, offering support to other woman throughout the industry. Analytik Jena empowers woman in taking leading positions.

“Working closely with research and development, production, marketing, and global sales teams across the whole of Analytik Jena, Manuela has emerged as a truly influential businesswoman for her team and other females in the life sciences industry. Regularly meeting with a small group of other leading businesswomen within the company, Manuela is free to talk about challenges and experiences, offering support to other woman throughout the industry.” 30 Acquisition International - 2019 Influential Businesswomen Awards

Implementing her own advice, Manuela constantly stays authentic and true to who she is. Focusing on the quality of her own work, presenting her results and always being sure to help others get on the ladder to success, this businesswoman gives drive and purpose to the team. Setting goals for the team around her, she is always rewarding those who succeed and constantly giving useful feedback. Despite the challenges she faces of having to work outside her comfort zone, Manuela ensures she prepares for any task. Fighting to be heard and respected, preparation is key before heading into any meetings where she knows that her work will be scrutinised. By making sure the work she does is meticulous and to a high standard, Manuela gains confidence in her role, pushing her to succeed even more. As well as all Manuela’s hard work to progress in the industry and reach where she has, she acknowledges the support of her colleagues and superiors. With a boss and team who support and trust her, she is given feedback from those above her, helping her to progress within the industry and deliver more high-quality work. In all, Manuela’s success is down to her incredible work ethic, always striving to deliver the best she possibly can within the industry. With a dedicated team around her, a trusting boss above her, and an empowering team of businesswomen around her, this influential businesswoman is delivering high-quality work in her sector.

Contact: Manuela Beil-Peter Website: https://www.analytik-jena.com/

Most Influential Woman in Web Science Research 2019: FlyingBinary Ltd Multi-award-winning FlyingBinary Ltd is a pioneer in fundamental web science research. We profile the firm and CEO Dr Jacqui Taylor to find out more.

profile mentor in the world’s number one digital hub, Tech City. Jacqui mentors entrepreneurs, specifically to accelerate their technology and funding options for growth.

The firm’s founders are dedicated and passionate web scientists who are leading the way to the adoption of secured and accredited Internet of Things (IoT) technology for both Enterprise and SMEs to meet the inclusion agenda and drive return on investment from IoT.

She is supported by co-founder and CTO Ian, who is himself a renowned international web scientist. The creation of the evidence base for the next steps of the Open Data agenda for the Cabinet Office of HM Government also recognised Ian as a web scientist of influence in the era of Big Data and the IoT. This innovation work resulted in an IoT techtrailblazer award.

Drawing on the expertise of the co-founders, CEO Dr Jacqui Taylor and CTO Ian Taylor, the firm is able to offer its clients extensive support and unique solutions.

FlyingBinary’s latest innovations are underpinning Secured European Cloud Services for AI, Big Data, Smart Cities and IoT, architected to have no reliance on the EU/US Privacy Shield.

An appointment for the third year as an Independent Ministerial Advisor in the Cabinet Office of HM Government recognised Jacqui as a web scientist of influence in the era of Big Data and the IoT. Jacqui was recognised in 2016 as one of the 100 most powerful UK entrepreneurs and in 2017 was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Science in recognition of the contribution her her web science research has made to society.

Together with their expert team the Founders operate in partnership with a variety of other businesses to provide clients with secured and accredited Cloud services, available globally. This partnership approach uses core web science and has created a secured and accredited Artificial Emotional Intelligence service to deliver on the inclusion agenda for IoT. The Return on Investment (ROI) FlyingBinary have demonstrated from an organisation’s investment in IoT has ranged from a 2 x through 60 x multiplier. This ROI clearly will give your business a competitive advantage in a global marketplace.

ounded in 2009, FlyingBinary has since flourished thanks to its commitment to innovation and drive towards offering its clients unique services which operate across the web, services not available from any other company.

Ian and Jacqui collaborated with datajournalism thought leaders to produce their third publication, a PhD primer for journalists showcasing FlyingBinary’s fundamental web science research which connects 34 million citizens across the web. Published in November 2015, this articulated the global future of the datajournalism industry. Jacqui has published five books which articulate the futurist agenda based on her fundamental web science research and the datajournalism industry she co-founded. As a prominent digital European leader she has built a new Trust and Privacy model to underpin the future of IoT in Europe. Jacqui is one of four leaders in Europe appointed to articulate the next steps for the European Commission to enable Smart Cities deliver better outcomes for citizens. She is an advisor to both the UK and Chinese governments on Smart Cities and expert lead for the British Standards Institute (BSI) team on Data Usage, AI and Smart Cities with international colleagues on the top-level technical standardisation committees. As the technical author for a BSI UK Smart City standard she has articulated the future role of UK data and IT services and their value in the domain. She is also a high-

Jacqui is recognised as one of the Top Ten global IoT innovators and an independent IoT analyst advising 27,000 CxOs on leveraging the opportunity from IoT. Looking ahead, FlyingBinary’s commitment to web science innovation is assured with new services already in development for clients. All web science services have previously been built to support the needs of Generation Z (aged 26 – 16) it is expected that GenZ will influence 40% of the global economic spend in 2020. All future web science services are being built for Generation Alpha (aged 15 – 5 years) who have significantly different needs from IoT and are the future global workforce. These innovations will be made commercially available as the Founders continue to be committed to providing award-winning solutions and services to their valued clients.

Company: FlyingBinary Ltd Contact: hello@flyingbinary.com Website: https://flyingbinary.com

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Most Innovative Woman in Multi-Sector Technology 2019: Gant Innovations Limited From humble beginnings as the provider of stick-on napkins, Gant Innovations Limited has developed its innovative solution Gantik™, which adheres to a variety of surfaces without the need for costly, non-recyclable silicon strips. We spoke to Creator and Managing Director Gail Shaw to learn more.

ince establishing Gant Innovations in 2009 Gail has been driving the company towards creating even more unique solutions that will help overcome challenges that the technology market currently does not have any solutions to. Having worked with her husband on his construction business prior to creating her own company, Gail had limited experience in the technology and innovations sectors, but she used her vast business acumen and creativity to build a unique and successful company.

“Prior to embarking on my journey with Gant Innovations, I worked with my husband in his construction company for 10 years as the Sales Director developing new clients, which lead to more contracts being awarded to the business. Prior to this, I had opened the first Private Children’s Nursery in County Durham, having conducted extensive research and seen an obvious requirement and need. I ran the nursery very successfully for eight years and sold it on as a going concern. Even further back, I worked for 17 years as a Staff Manager, in HR, responsible for 300 staff in Head Office at Marks & Spencer. “Then, in 2009 I began my research for the concept that would become Gantik™, as I believed there was a requirement for an adhesive product that did not depend on the removal of costly silicone strips prior to use. My research continued for two years, and having found no existing product that would rival the solution I had created, I patented the concept, initially in Europe, then worldwide. The next step was to source the adhesive that would be effective using the unique Gantik™, process. This stage took

“My future and that of my company looks bright and I am looking forward to growing Gant Innovations using the brand name Gantik™, to become a key player in today’s product development market.”

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a couple of years, and we now work with one of the largest adhesive manufacturers in the world who have formulated an adhesive solely for the use of. Gantik™, technology from which all our licensees purchase. Having worked in a business environment for over 40 years overcome hurdles and obstacles, my tenacity and my belief in what I was embarking on with Gantik™, has taken the business to where we are today, selling worldwide licenses.” As she looks to the future Gail is optimistic that she can drive Gant Innovations to even more success, as she is happy to conclude.

“Initially the concept was developed with Napkins in mind, however we have now identified a variety of applications in key global markets, which can be viewed on our website, www.gantik.com. Moving forward, myself, together with the Gant Innovations team are extremely excited about the future of our business Gantik™, technology as this represents an improved alternative to what has been available until now in current markets. The concept of our products, saves time, money, offers ease of use, the products are fully disposable and in may health, dental and medical fields, helps to significantly reduce the risk of cross contamination. “The products are also bio degradable and environmentally friendly. It is our goal to encourage manufacturers to change from the past methods of paper converting manufacture and adopt Gantik™, technology. Gantik™, are currently offering licenses for Gantik™, across the globe in all sectors such as dental, care homes, hospitals, child care, beauty, HoReCa to name but a few, in both Business to Business and Consumer markets. “With all of these revolutionary opportunities on the horizon I am excited to continue working with the amazing team that I am lucky enough to have on board, until all manufactures are using our concept. The only way to achieve this is continued hard work and determination, networking, contacts and trade shows. My future and that of my company looks bright and I am looking forward to growing Gant Innovations using the brand name Gantik™, to become a key player in today’s product development market.”

Company: Gant Innovations Limited Brand Name: Gantik™ Name: Gail Shaw Telephone Number: Office 00 44 753891065 Mobile 7512751740 Web Address: www.gantik.com

Purple Moon Creative: Most Influential Woman in Brand Development - Canada Purple Moon Creative, Brand and Marketing Boutique provides brand strategy, development, and brand training as well as marketing for small service-based businesses. We invited CEO Kim Speed to tell us more about how she has driven her company to success and works to support her clients in achieving their goals.

stablished in 2009, Purple Moon Creative draws on Kim’s experience working in advertising and her realisation that many businesses did not have the in-house expertise and knowledge to drive their brand forward. She explores how she progressed her career and eventually founded her own unique company.

As a creative industry, advertising is fortunate to have a diverse range of specialists operating within it, including many women. However, as in any industry, working mothers such as Kim face many challenges. Kim explores how she overcame these and the advice she would offer anyone seeking to emulate her impress success.

“Initially, I began my career as a graphic designer then art director and eventually, creative director which enabled me to have a skillset and the expertise to start a business that helps smaller businesses. Using my skills in the advertising world, I worked as a creative director and supported clients such as Coca-Cola, Labatt, Molson Coors, Ford, TD Bank and Toyota."

“Being a woman and a mother was a challenge working in the advertising environment because it was expected that you make yourself available at any time for as long as required to get the job done. If you wanted to be selected for the best projects, then this was particularly important. That was a huge motivation for starting my own business, it provided me the ability to work with who I wanted, set my own hours, incorporate my family back into my life without feeling as if I was giving up anything."

“At my last corporate role, we lost a big account and I found myself without a job. I had not planned to become an entrepreneur but after spending time at home while planning my next job search I was able to spend more time with my children. It was then that I realized how much of their lives I was missing, and I wanted to find a way to be able to continue to spend time with them rather than only seeing them for a short time in the morning and evening. That's when I decided to start my own business where I controlled when I worked and where I worked." “Whilst exploring the possibilities, I found that there was a growing trend of small businesses starting up, but they had no access to the large marketing agencies due to financial constraints or the sheer fact that they were just too small. Through Purple Moon Creative I was able to create a boutique agency that provided these small businesses with the expertise I gained working in a large agency to help them grow and prosper.”

“To those women who want to succeed in this market, I would say that you need to learn and soak up as much as you can when you start. Say yes to helping on any project and you will expand your knowledge much faster and be seen as the go-to person. This will open up opportunities for you and help you build your name. Also, never be afraid to move to different companies every couple of years or when a great position is offered. This is a great way to gain experience, confidence and get known in the industry and eventually get offered those leadership roles.” As she looks to the future, Kim is confident that her firm can flourish in this competitive market, as she is proud to conclude.

“Moving forward, the future for me will be continuing to build Purple Moon Creative, Brand and Marketing Boutique with the addition of new employees who will become leaders in the company. This will drive both my career and the company to even greater renown and help establish us as the perfect partner for all companies seeking a branding specialist they can rely on.”

Company: Purple Moon Creative Name: Kim Speed Address: Toronto ON, M9A 2A4 Telephone Number: 647 558 1962 Web Address: purplemooncreative.com

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Best Female Healthcare Business Leader – Canada & Most Outstanding in Medical Flight Case Management 2019: Angels Of Flight Canada Inc. Under the stewardship of Registered Nurse Gail Courneyea, Angels of Flight Canada Inc. has risen over the years to become a Global Medical Solutions healthcare based company specialized in the movement of ill and injured persons both in Canada and around the world. As she celebrates her win of not one but two awards in this year’s Influential Businesswoman Awards Gail talks to us about her work and how far her business has come since it first began.

aving been established in 1988 Angels Of Flight Canada has been offering its award-winning in-flight medical care services for more than three decades. Gail explores how far the company has come since she first created it in response to the air ambulance and airline need for professional, specialized air medical services.

“In 1988, I founded Angels Of Flight Canada in response to a need in the medical flight environment for Registered Nurses specifically trained in aeromedical care. The flight environment has many challenges not only for an ill person but for the medical staff on board who has limited space and equipment. Prior to founding the company, I worked in a hospital Intensive Care Unit that moved many critical patients to tertiary centres. “As a staff Registered Nurse, when a medical flight was necessary, we had to provide care in both the fixed wing and helicopter air ambulances. This inspired me to seek my own education and training in this field from 1986 - 1988 - completed a college aeromedical care program and achieved a private pilot’s license as a start to my commitment to improving patient care and outcomes in this challenging field of healthcare. “At the time there was no employment in this field, and as such the only solution available to utilize my specialized training and hospital experience now was to start a company. I have remained President and CEO since the company was founded. Drawing on the many years I spent doing flights as a nurse, developing and providing flight nursing, aviation safety for medical crews, we are able to offer these services to a wide range of patients and their families from around the world.” Discussing how far the medical flight space has come since she first started Angels Of Flight Canada, Gail highlights how the industry has diversified and welcomed even more women into its ranks, although she is keen to also showcase how much further it still has to go.

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“Much has been learned over the past 30 years about how personalized professional care is an absolute must for someone whose health has been compromised in order to avoid unwanted complications during flight, and this has helped my company to flourish. Our firm’s cliental are private individuals, hospitals, businesses, aviation industry, physicians and government agencies and consulates around the world. “Whilst Angels Of Flight Canada has thrived with prominently female employees, women are still outnumbered in the profession, but they are improving in statistics. The aviation and air ambulance industry are male dominated with aircraft ownership and flight crews, but we do see more female pilots now. Moving forward I would like to see the industry diversify further and offer more opportunities to a wider variety of qualified applicants. It would be great to see easier access to expansion and development finances for women business leaders across the market, as this would help them to enter the space more easily.”

“At the time there was no employment in this field, and as such the only solution available to utilize my specialized training and hospital experience now was to start a company. I have remained President and CEO since the company was founded...”

Angels Of Flight Canada Inc.

Seeking to enhance her firm’s already impressive success, recently Gail and her team introduced the HALO MEDcard program allowing travellers to traverse the globe safe in the knowledge that should they have a medical emergency, the Angels Of Flight Canada will be onhand to providing guidance and assistance in a medical crisis away from home.

“...Drawing on the many years I spent doing flights as a nurse, developing and providing flight nursing, aviation safety for medical crews, we are able to offer these services to a wide range of patients and their families from around the world.”

Combining digital technology with the HALO MEDcard enhances timely access to stored medical information and vital data when most needed. The firm’s Global 911 International app combines GPS tracking identifying an address and GPS coordinates. A manual message mode is available for users to write a detailed custom message and with the press of a button, it is sent directly to one of the firm’s specialized nurses. Expanding this programme is the firm’s core focus moving forward, as Gail proudly concludes.

“Overall, the future looks bright for Angels of Flight Canada, with the business growing thanks to word of mouth, a great team consisting of nurses, physicians, paramedics and office staff, a network of professionals and recommendations from our satisfied clients. This latest innovation will help the company to grow and cement its reputation as a thoughtleader in the medical flight market over the coming years.”

Company: Angels Of Flight Canada Inc. Name: Gail Courneyea RN Address: 10- 799 O'Brien Drive, Peterborough, Ontario Canada,K9J 6X7 Telephone Number: 705 743 5433 Web Address: www.angelsofflightcanada.com

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Most Influential Childcare Consultant 2019 - New England: CARETHATYCS Supporting a wide range of clients and their children, CARETHATYCS draws on Founder Tatiane Oliveira’s experience working with children and providing them with the support they need to start their lives right. We invited her to tell us more about her firm.

aunched two years ago to build on Tatiane’s extensive market experience, CARETHATYCS has since flourished thanks to her expertise and drive towards supporting her service users. She explains the firm’s core focuses in more detail.

“Here at CARETHATYCS we prepare parents, agencies and caregivers in their journey to provide extraordinaire care to their children. We work with three distinct groups of clients. To families, we provide full support through overnight new born care respite, to new parent class as well as sleeping conditioning and behaviour management consultations. “To caregivers, we provide ongoing, high quality training that prepares them not only to understand and support children under their care and make sure they reach their fullest potential, but we also tackle the professionalism part of the job, empowering nannies and caregivers about the importance of the work they do and how vital they are to the economy. We coach our "Ninja Nannies" to know their worth, be confident in their skills, commit to life-long learning without being afraid to ask for help when they need to. “As for staffing agencies, we provide customized training as well as invaluable industry insights through organizational coaching and consulting. My academic background both in education and in business combined with over 16 years working with families, caregivers, children and business owners in the industry, has allowed me to become a key leader and proven to make significant contribution to the growth and profitability of small and large agencies over the short and long term.” Having always wanted to be a teacher since her childhood, prior to creating her own consultancy Tatiane worked across the care and education sector, which gave her a strong foundation for her current work, as she explores.

Company: CARETHATYCS Name: Tatiane Oliveira Address: 115 Clifton Street #1, Cambridge, MA, 02140, United States of America Telephone Number: 857 209 8223 Web Address: www.carethatycs.com

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“Before officially establishing CARETHATYCS two years ago, I was already doing this work for well over seven years. I have taught preschool and adults, but I always considered nannying my calling and main profession. I worked as a professional nanny while attending grad school, but was often invited to speak and teach workshops to nannies." “Parents would also reach out for help with questions and general inquiries about how to care for their new born. As a result, I decided to go back to school to get my master’s degree in business so that I could offer this help and make it my full-time role. I wanted to make sure I was offering the best possible consultancy services and making the most of my experience and knowledge.” As CARETHATYCS is still a relatively young company, Tatiane has many exciting developments in store for it, as she is proud to conclude.

“Going forward, my aim is to grow CARETHATYCS so that I can offer my services to even more clients and, most importantly, their children. I will be moving into offering online courses, and I also want to expand geographically with a presence in Brazil. My services will soon be available in both English and Portuguese, which is an exciting development! I will also be writing some books in the future, and all of these developments will help my firm become the go-to provider of childcare consultancy services in the future.”

Study Shows Female Entrepreneurs Will Face More Obstacles Than Their Male Counterparts When Starting A Business Women face more obstacles when starting a business, meaning they need more support in order to succeed, reveals new research from ESCP Europe.

emales and males experience the support provided by the ecosystem for their start-up activities very differently. Women in contrast to men tend to majorly rely more on social support, which interestingly applies to start-ups in both highly supportive as well as non-supportive environments. Professor of Management Christian Linder and his co-author Sonja Sperber from the ISM International School of Management in Frankfurt (Germany) explain

“We found that when starting up a new business, women face problems with confidence and obtaining finance, and are more critical about their own capabilities and skills. In order to still be successful, this lack of confidence is compensated by mobilising their network for support. However, in contrast, males are more confident of their capabilities to overcome support constraints on their own.” In addition, it was found that women face a work-family conflict, and struggle more to counterbalance their different roles when committing to new business ventures.

This research was published in ‘Small Business Economics: An Entrepreneurship Journal’.

Professor Linder adds,

“Starting a business is always linked to emotional or psychological stress. When facing a lack of resources, social support can serve as a source of information as well as provide assistance.” As a result, the start-up strategies chosen are a reflection of the individually perceived support from the ecosystem, the current life situation as well as the intended goals (as for example, high level of autonomy, financial success, status). This research shows the highly complex situation of female entrepreneurs, and concludes that there certainly is a need for stronger, sustainable foundations so that females can catch up with their male counterparts.

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Women Go Tech Aims to Lessen Gender Gap in Nordic Tech Sector The revolutionary Vilnius-based mentorship program bringing more talented women to the technology industry is set to enter the Nordic market. “In Lithuania, we have many examples of women that were willing to change their careers or found start-ups, and we are sure that the program will experience similar success in the Nordics,” said Žydrūnė Vitaitė, one of the initiative’s founders. “Our home base, Vilnius, has the ambition to become the next European tech hub, and that helped our project greatly, but we believe that even women from less tech-oriented locations should have equal chances to pursue their dream careers in tech-related sectors.”

omen Go Tech, a unique initiative based in Vilnius, Lithuania that is designed to aid women in establishing themselves within the fields of technology and IT, has finished its 3rd season this summer. Now, the Women Go Tech organization is eyeing to enter the Nordic tech scene to see if its mentorship programs could help bridge the tech industry’s gender gap in the Nordic countries such as Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland. The tech industry, in spite of its rapid development, seems to be still lagging in terms of the gender gap. According to the European Institute for Gender Equality, out of about 8 million specialists operating within this sector in the EU, only 17% are women. When it comes to the number of female employees in the ICT sector in individual countries, Lithuania is among the EU leaders. According to Eurostat data, 25.7% of ICT professionals in Lithuania are women - a percentage topped only by one other EU country, Bulgaria (26.5%). In the Nordics, Finland ranks first with 21.8%, with Sweden (20.9%), Denmark (20%), Norway (19.5%), and Iceland (16.4%) following suit. Apparently, the Nordic countries, traditionally a leading force in regards to equal rights, have goals to accomplish before bridging the ICT gender gap, and this is where Woman Go Tech might come into play. Around 70% of women who have completed the program – aimed to help jumpstart careers in tech – are known to be maintaining a steady presence within the industry after the end of their time with the initiative. The initiative operates based on mentorship. Participants of the program who meet the selection criteria are assigned mentors who are highachieving professionals in their fields. The mentors provide individual aid and work with the candidates for 5–7 months.

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Initial research shows that no other program of the same size or duration operating within the Nordic region. Given the fact that the Nordics are typically known to introduce their innovative practices in Lithuania, the tables seem to have turned in the case of Women Go Tech. A feasibility study of Women Go Tech's potential in the Nordics already received funding by the Nordic countries themselves and is expected to present its conclusions by the end of 2020.

Women Go Tech already has a proven track record of attracting an increasing number of applicants and selecting more participants for their mentorship programs. Throughout its three seasons, the number of accepted candidates rose from 45 to 135. A total of 94 mentors were appointed to work with the selected participants during the last season. Many of the largest technological enterprises located in Vilnius have already become partners of Women Go Tech.

Women Go Tech is set to provide a breakthrough for women striving to make a place for themselves in the technology industry and reduce the gender gap that is so prevalent in this sector. The Nordics are now expected to be at the forefront of this change.

“Our home base, Vilnius, has the ambition to become the next European tech hub, and that helped our project greatly, but we believe that even women from less techoriented locations should have equal chances to pursue their dream careers in tech-related sectors.”

Women Go Tech Aims to Lessen Gender Gap in Nordic Tech Sector

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