10 Leading Businesswomen of the Year | Exeleon Magazine | Business Magazine by Exeleon Magazine

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LARISA MILLER LARISA MILLER LARISA MILLER LARISA MILLER LARISA MILLER LARISA MILLER LARISA MILLER LARISA MILLER LARISA MILLER LARISA MILLER LARISA MILLER CEO | PHOENIX GLOBAL

10 LEADING BUSINESS WOMEN IN 2020

Editor’s Column Embracing Excellence 600 N Broad St 5 Middletown, DE 19709, United States +1 (302) – 569 – 9387 Daryl Yeung, Editor-in-Chief

Editor-in-Chief – Daryl Yeung (Story-Tailor) Art Director – Naomi Lam (Design Ninja) Managing Editor - Matt Reis (Wordster) Creative Director – Adam Waring (Graﬁsta) Contributing Editors – Ian O'Shea, Matt Hale, & John Riggs (Three Musketeers) Content Curator – Cathy G. (Explorer)

Sales Project Manager – Josh Wilder (Cultivator) Marketing Manager – Mike Jackson (Marketeer) Senior BDM – Katherine Price (Sustainer) BDM – Richard Dann (Facilitator)

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“There's power in allowing yourself to be known and heard, in owning your unique story, in using your authentic voice.” – Michelle Obama. The above line truly captures the core idea of Exeleon Magazine and we are truly proud in making it a possibility for leaders to share their story and voice their unique journey. Being a student of literature myself, I have always been inclined towards stories. Individual stories of triumph, success, failure, and inspiration fascinated me and enabled me to be a better person in my own journey. Today, being able to pen down stories of some of these individual leaders is something that I am truly grateful for. In this issue, we look into the story of “Exeleon's 10 Leading Businesswomen of 2020.” Among which, features Larisa Miller, CEO of Phoenix Global, as the Cover Story. It is safe to say that Larisa has been an inspiration for many. Her constant drive to make the world a better place is something that Exeleon truly admires. In this feature, we look at how she is spearheading the goal of a sustainable future. Along with Larisa, the stories of each of the featured businesswoman in this issue is nothing short of inspirational. Following the immensely positive response to our Dynamic Entrepreneurs issue last month, we have decided to give away 100 free copies to some of our most loyal subscribers. You'll soon receive an email from our end to claim the giveaway. Also, our new website is almost ready to be launched. Those who sent forth the feedbacks to the BETA version of the site, we cannot thank you enough. For now, thank you for being part of Exeleon; thank you for appreciating excellence!

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CONTENTS

LARISA 18 MILLER

BONNIE 24 COMLEY

CONTENTS

NAFSIKA 48 ANTYPAS

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USA IMPOSED TRADE BAN ON HUAWEI LIFTED Last year in May various companies in the States, tied with Huawei, had to halt their businesses as per the government terms. Among which, Huawei was not the only brand to receive such a ban; many other Chinese brands that depended on American suppliers had to face similar issues.

likely to increase with more than 300 brands having applied for trading licenses. Huawei is one of the largest IT brands that deal with the US tech giants, and securing more deals will improve the situation for both the industries.

The American semiconductor industry plays an important role in A clear eﬀect on the trade war the IT economy, and was largely between China and USA, this aﬀected due to trade bans of such decision had put both Huawei and types. But it looks like the situation American brands in a tough spot. But gains a chance to recover from their has become better in recent times recent reports show that the ban has sudden fall in the mobile devices market. for more brands. OmniVision is been lifted for Huawei, and the another such brand that has gained Some of the big names in the US market Chinese smartphone giant will once that have signed deals with the Chinese back trading rights with American again be receiving microchips and brand in recent times since the trade war suppliers. In the coming months, other parts from American makers. companies like Mediatek, include the likes of Intel and Samsung Qualcomm, Samsung Electronics, Display. The only restriction is on provision and others will be signing supply of 5G enabling chips. But even deals with major Chinese IT In the coming days the number of without the said chips Huawei still American brands dealing with Huawei is producers.

VERIZON OFFERS 5G DATA-PLANS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES STARTING AT $30

Online shopping has grown in recent times. And aside from the pandemic situation forcing people to shift to ecommerce services, the rise in the number of SMEs in the sector has also fuelled the constantly growing online shopping industry. And with Verizon's latest oﬀering in the shape of budgetfriendly 5G connections, these SMEs will be able to perform better in the near future!

As ecommerce brands try to expand their market and ful ill various technical requirements, they indeed require fast internet connection to achieve lexibility. This will now be available to all SMEs across the US thanks to Verizon. The plans have been tailored to meet the needs of SMEs and the pricing has also been decided to help them recover losses faced during the market shut down, stated the president of marketing from Verizon in a recent interview while discussing the new 5G plans. While brands will still have to invest in gaining equipment

that supports 5G connections, such as modems, routers, etc., the availability of cheap and fast internet connections will allow them to reach new heights. The US census bureau recorded more than $210 billion worth of sales in the ecommerce industry in the last quarter, and this number is set to grow as lockdown situations continue. Many SMEs are facing dif iculties keeping up with the rise in orders, and with the help of the 5G speed they will be able to facilitate their business better.

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ZOOM INTRODUCES AUTOMATIC LIVE CAPTIONING FOR ALL ITS CALLS This is truly the age of AI. Otter is a transcription service startup based in Silicon valley that has partnered up with Zoom to provide live captioning services for all their video calls. They will be providing both live subtitles for calls as well as transcription options. The rather newly launched video calling service provider had become a sudden success due to the pandemic led rise in work-from-home environments. And with this addition they will clearly be providing a much required service that will help them bring up the success level even higher. The feature will be made available for Zoom Business, Zoom Pro, or higher grade account holders. This is set to make Zoom a better platform especially for business meetings, as every spoken work will appear as a subtitle during the call, and a transcription of the entire call will also be available on the Otter website. As of now the captioning and transcription services will be available in English only. But the CEO of Otter stated that it will be largely helpful for those who do not understand English.

Furthermore, it will also make the app more inclusive for people with hearing related disabilities. The CEO further said that these features will surely boost the ef iciency of the app's performance and also make it more productive for users. But most importantly, this means that even if you zone out

during a long meeting, every word of the meeting will be ready as a transcript for your viewing! This is truly a handy tool that Zoom will be introducing soon. Since most of us are keeping in touch with our professional world through Zoom calls, the ability to autotranscribe all dialogues will indeed be a helpful option.

MASSIVE INCREASE IN MAC SALES DURING THE PANDEMIC FOR APPLE Last quarter Apple sold $6.9 billion worth of Macbooks, this quarter that number jumped to $9 billion! CEO Tim Cooke says the current pandemic situation has a lot to do with this massive rise in sales. He stated in a recent interview that since large parts of the population, especially IT and other industry professionals have shifted to work-from-home, they have opted for Macbooks and iPads as their go to option.

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This is a tremendous success for the brand. The reported quarterly gross income was $12.67 billion, once again a remarkable number. One should also keep in mind this is coming in when most industries and brands are facing massive losses due to the economic slowdown. The CEO further stated that the ending of the pandemic situation will not be the end of Apple's unforeseen

business drive. He said that the 'new normal' will be something diﬀerent, and many brands will continue to maintain their work-from-home provisions and there should also be a rise in such a work culture.

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SPEARHEADING THE GOAL OF A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE LARISA MILLER, CEO, PHOENIX GLOBAL

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fundamental necessity for life is shelter. Since the dawn of man, our need for shelter and housing has been fundamental to our existence, and this will always remain a necessity for survival. Why then is housing one of our greatest global crises? These questions are raising a storm in the States and forcing us to reconsider our priorities.

The prognosis of the US housing market is a grim. Home prices are rising, accelerating the cost of living, while wages are slow to keep up. This portends a darker future, lurking beneath the falsely optimistic market behavior. The problem becomes evident when the rates at which the cost of housing and wages are analyzed. . In almost 80% of the US market, the housing prices are witnessing a steep rise, creating a gap with wages that will become unbridgeable as we move forward into this ever-disruptive future. The NLIHC estimates that the United States has a shortage of 7 million aﬀordable rental homes for Americans with incomes below the poverty line or 30% of the local median income. With the high percentage of student loans and a lack of access to aﬀordable housing, the younger generations will struggle to become homeowners, making the proverbial American dream almost unattainable. . An unprecedented catalyst, such as COVID-19, can destabilize even the most stable nations. However, it should not take an economic meltdown or a pandemic to shine a spotlight on a need that is integral

to the viability of the middle class. The housing sector is beginning to show the signs of a serious collapse, with over 6 million Americans having iled for forbearance in the last six months of COVID—19. Desperate times require desperate measures, and while may State governments have put measures in place to protect homeowners, these solutions will not contribute to the economic viability of the future of the housing industry. Larisa Miller's in-depth knowledge and prioritization of aﬀordable housing globally has been demonstrated through the priority investment of both Larisa and her partners, in the USA and Africa. WHAT'S THE CRISIS? Apart from the report mentioned earlier, other statistics are showing a picture that is quite disturbing. There is a national shortage of over 7 million aﬀordable rental housing units, and almost 18.5 million households in the US are spending more than half of their income on housing. The number of people facing forbearance is greater than 6 million and this has happened because most Americans are cashpoor, “living paycheck to paycheck.” The socio-economic condition is grim. The widening gap of this analytical sphere reveals that two out of ive Millennials being burdened with student loan, with the total national student loan debt topping $1.4 Trillion. This poses the very serious question of how Millennials will ever realize the dream of becoming a home owner.

Larisa and her partners around the world have studied crisis and are crafting solutions based on sustainability and advancing technologies. Larisa is committed to the empowerment of the younger generations, working to enable them to enable them to buy homes, accelerating the demand for costeﬀective housing. The COVID-19 crisis has triggered a dramatic change in the dynamics of the corporate working environment. The pandemic has forced companies to implement work-from-home strategies accessibility, connectivity, and cybersecurity as a means for security, ef iciency and operational viability. As an outcome of this new dynamic, businesses realized how much they were saving on overhead, improving productivity and allowing employees to feel valued and secure in their companies. For corporations, this is important to their long-term growth and survival, but it could destabilize the fabric of our cities, which may lead to a new crisis…that of the urban graveyards. A possible solution for our urban centers is to prioritize workforce housing. Workforce housing is housing dedicated to the middleincome employees who often work in the cities – teachers, healthcare professionals, irst responders, etc. The planning for workforce housing requires strategies that would provide compelling and aﬀordable housing solutions for these individuals, allowing them to remain in the cities where they

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work, in a live/work/play environment. Access to aﬀordable housing, public services, retail, and food and beverage services are integral to a viable workforce housing community. Workforce housing can be the factor that allows cities to accelerate and maintain viability. Larisa feels, “workforce housing will increasingly become a priority, and the cities and municipalities who will lead the way into the future will be those who recognize the need to re-strategize, innovate and disrupt the conventional expectation of a 'city'. Her housing plans are already showing positive signs of growth as they are backed by state-of-the-art

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technologies, strategies of sustainability and aﬀordability. Larisa and her team are leading the way in the container housing industry, incurring a lesser cost for production and can deliver homes at a lower rate, with an accelerated building time. These container housing communities are ideal for young professionals, allowing the dream of homeownership to be attainable in an increasingly economically unattainable world. PRIORITIZATION OF AGRICULTURE Larisa's entrepreneurial ventures are not one dimensional. In addition to aﬀordable housing, she prioritizes technology, transportation and agriculture. The

diversity she incorporates into her projects has its roots in her not-sourban background. Larisa was raised on a farm in Central Pennsylvania, which had a huge impact on her perspective and she started her career with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Her formative years on that farm played a crucial role in shaping her views of the world. The main driving force behind her decision to invest in the agricultural sector is a derivative of that and was fueled by a belief, “there isn't another investment in any sector which will matter if we can't feed ourselves.” With global food security being our number one global crisis, and with exponential rise in the planetary

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I was born on a grain farm outside of Hershey, Pennsylvania in the heart of Pennsylvania’s Amish country. Growing up in a very small town, where everyone knew everyone, I always felt a bit out of place, having an insatiable curiosity to see the world – a curiosity that continues to this day. I am blessed (or plagued) with a great imagination, and the places I’ve lived, people I’ve met and cultures I’ve experienced, shaped me into a true global thinker. I’ve been to places that have been lourishing, and I’ve also been in some of the most challenged regions of the world – refugee camps in the Middle East and rural Africa. The one big lesson I’ve learned – and learned well, is that people are people, despite race, gender, ethnicity, religion or nationality. There are good and bad people, good and bad behaviors in all cultures and countries. How we relate to one another, the lessons we learn from one another, and the collaborations and partnerships we form, help shape and distinguish us as global enterprises – and global citizens.

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population posing serious threat to our ability to feed ourselves, food security and the businesses working to mitigate this problem must be a collective priority. However, the recognition of the need for a resurgence in our agriculture industry is spurring exciting innovations in agricultural technology – agtech. Realizing that, Larisa prioritizes mechanisms that ensure precision agriculture strategies, incorporation of drones for a better crop and herd management, and machine learning with real-time feed to empower farmers with an enriched understanding of the farm that will transform productivity and yield. We all need to eat, and, as stakeholders of the future, we are all mandated to embrace responsible consumption. WHAT MAKES HER DIFFERENT? A plan becomes truly sustainable when it has futuristic visions, impacting society, economy and the environment at its core. Larisa believes that we must frame the future using out-of-the-box strategies and she prioritizes the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as a framework for sustainable business, from operations to supply chain, moving forward. “We are all stakeholders of the future, as business owners, leaders, employees and customers”, and Larisa has committed herself to contributing in a quanti iable manner to the sustainability of the future.

HER VIEW ON THE IMPORTANCE OF CSR AND SUSTAINABILITY The successful business of the future must prioritize stationarity and have a conscience. Business success can no longer be de ined simply by the bottom line. As Larisa notes, “each and every business – and I stress this to everyone entrepreneur, MUST give back to the community that supports them.” A business which is poised to be a change-maker in this transformational environment recognizes that their impact and footprint are integral to providing a compelling reason for stakeholders, clients and customers to choose them over competitors. It is proven that companies who prioritize sustainable impact and development signi icantly outperformed their competitors.

anticipates the needs of the future, rather than struggling to maintain a legacy business model will be the one who will determine the way forward for that industry or sector in this disruptive era. Larisa will remain dedicated to the prioritization of youth empowerment, as youth are the most valuable resource for ensuring a strong and viable global future. Preparing youth to be well-rounded individuals, possessing a strong sense of iscal responsibility, social responsibility, and a re inement of the attributes necessary in a startup mindset, Larisa is committed to mentoring and developing youth to be the vanguards of the future.

The world is moving more towards a collaborative mindset, as we recognize that we are a truly global community. It is time for us to work together to be a part of the solution. HER VIEW FOR HER FUTURE Larisa will continue to prioritize technology, as a principal partner of technology parks being developed in strategic markets around the world, projects in alte4rnative energy, transportation and agritech. Placing a priority focus on her global consulting, she will continue to work with businesses at all levels of scale and development, helping them to innovate, pivot, and realize the full measure of their potential, allowing them to navigate this transformational future from a position of strength. A business that

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Bo nnie Comley

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IN FOCUS

TAKING BROADWAY TO HOMES BONNIE COMLEY, FOUNDER & CEO, BROADWAYHD

From the early days of cave dwellers to modern times, one thing has remained constant in human kinds' evolution - Storytelling. Theater, one of the earliest forms of performance, has this aspect ingrained at its core. What has changed is the structure of it—the accouterments. Halls are no longer like the Globe or the Rose of Elizabethan England. Lighting has changed and so have the microphones. Moreover, computers now play a huge role in set designs, making their appearance even more alluring. Beyond all these changes, there has been one more monumental change the audience. With the internet pervading different spheres of our life, the theater now has a better chance of reaching out to more people and expanding its fan base. Bonnie Comley, the Founder and CEO of BroadwayHD, realized this early and is putting in all her efforts to explore these unique opportunities. Her efforts have ushered in substantial changes, wherein more and more young people are now seen subscribing to Broadway performances.

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“Digital capture of theater is a natural next step in the business of theater. Streaming musicals and plays into your home are solving the last mile issue.” Someone had to take the initiative to keep the ire going for theater, Bonnie along with Stewart F. Lane, Co-founder of BroadwayHD, just did that eﬀectively and ef iciently. THE IDEA BEHIND THE INCEPTION The spark that inspired Bonnie to take such a unique route came from her love for Broadway and live theater. It propelled her to share the feeling with people who live thousands of miles away. From her experience, she knew that it's not easy for all to get a ticket and watch a live theatre performance. Sometimes it is the price of a ticket and, at other times, it is the physical distance that prevents people from buying tickets. But her experience also provided her with insights like the problem with the time schedule. In fast-pacing cities, inding time for such an event is often a remote possibility. That is why to keep the interest for theaters, someone had to come up with a

solution that could cover all these base points and still manage to reach out to a larger yet niche audience. Bonnie has the perfect answer to all these factors. Her track has the support of the evolving streaming technology that allows people to watch theater anytime and anywhere. She developed a simple motto for people who were struggling to maintain a balance between the experience of a live performance and the busy, mundane schedules of their of ices, “if you can't get to Broadway, get to BroadwayHD.” With this in mind, she and her team are now more committed to making Broadway accessible to interested people. STAIRWAY TO SUCCESS With three Tony Awards, an Olivier Award, and Drama Desk Awards to adorn her room, Bonnie knows that she is on the right track. In fact, her colleges recognize her as a Distinguished Alumna, which can vouch for what she has achieved today. But the journey to where she is now was never that simple.

IN FOCUS

Her accomplishments often mask the “thirty years of professional development, studying, mistakes, loss, and sleepless nights” she has spent to become what she is now. To put this forward, she explains her time with a perfect analogy of an alpine skier in the Olympics who enthrall all to win Gold. People see her holding her head up high on the podium but they miss the crashes she has had to endure to reach there. Risks subdue endeavors, eﬀorts go in vain, leading to the collapse of a company. This is true for around eighty percent of the businesses and this happens within the irst ive years. BroadwayHD has successfully passed that litmus test of the ive-year anniversary mark and it is still going strong. The reason behind such growth is the repertoire they have built with high-quality digital theater videos that put them miles ahead of other streaming platforms. That reason came from a realization, from knowing who their customers are and how to reach them. This little bit of information nurtured strong tailwinds. When the world was struck by the pandemic, when theaters were forced to down their curtains, this piece of data helped BroadwayHD bring shows into people's homes. WHAT IS THE CHANGE? Absence matters. People who love the experience of the live theater felt this more than ever when governments forced companies to stall their productions in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a potential alternative, “digital capture” emerged. It is a way of capturing live stage production with

the vast array of emotions displayed by the audience. Watching it is not the exact replication of the experience a person has in a live show, but it surely engages people. Bonnie feels, “when Broadway reopens, digital captures and other forms of digital engagement with audiences will be a more integral part of the industry.” Live stage producers and theater organizations will take this method in their stride as BroadwayHD is having a signi icant impact on buying tickets to live shows. The average age has dropped and the fan base has turned more diverse, thereby showcasing a promise of turning Broadway ventures more pro itable. WHAT MOTIVATES HER? Being “an advocate for diversity, inclusion and equity in the Broadway industry,” Bonnie introduces plans that re lect this ethos. Her act of taking Broadway to diverse strata of the society through an online platform is one such tactical move. However, Bonnie is also aware of the discrimination women face in the Broadway industry. Women buy almost 68% of the tickets to Broadway shows and yet they are underrepresented in creative roles. When it comes to directing, there are hardly any women directors — hardly any characters voice what women want on the stage. These igures and studies inspired Bonnie to introduce a Trailblazers rail, “which highlights, celebrates and extends the reach of women and other underrepresented voices in theater.”

Bonnie's advice is simple yet effective. “Don't spend too much time trying to be likable” is what she would say; rather, she suggests to spend time on becoming competent and skilled. WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A LEADER? “Get your act together” is a muchrepeated expression in theater. This is like bringing order amidst chaos where a person is required to “show up prepared, organized and ready to go.” As Bonnie claims, an effective leader is a person who has this complete grip over their surroundings and themselves; only then can he lead others. At the same time, aspiring leaders should practice communication skills - an essential skill to build up a rapport and an effective nexus to take the business ahead. Leaders should be receptive as feedback can help in building future prospects. Some take it as a criticism and create a defense mechanism to ward off the impact. But, in the long run, feedback is essential for sustainable results. As an entrepreneur, Bonnie knows this pretty well that streaming services will evolve and become more pervasive. But people will choose speci ic sites as per their test. The uniquely positioned BroadwayHD has the potential to explore this consumer behavioral pattern for future bene its. Fans rooting for theaters are in millions. Regions and growth pockets are also substantial in number. The ground is set for a sustainable future and with effective strategic planning, Bonnie has an opportunity to explore it to the fullest.

When it comes to grooming women for future leadership positions,

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CHRISTINA Snyder

IN FOCUS

LEADING WITH IMPACT AND KNOWLEDGE

CHRISTINA SNYDER, ASSOCIATE PARTNER & WEALTH ADVISOR, JACOB WILLIAM ADVISORY

The inancial state at present is quite dubious. After the meltdown in the irst decade of the 21st century, the global inancial conditions were recovering. Countries were investing in massive amounts to ensure a stable economic state and back the progress of nations. Private investors were also infusing money into the market to increase their pro it margin. And then emerged COVID-19 a decade later, wreaking havoc across industries worldwide. All these ups and downs in economies of both developed and developing nations impact everyday lives in unprecedented ways. In lation skyrockets. People lose jobs. Companies shut down. But these are just few of the by-products of economic disruption. There are other crises like health scares that can suddenly change the lifestyle dynamics. The only way out is a planned inancial investment, which would provide some sort of security, and it can be done without initiating drastic measures. Many would argue that such a balancing act is a dif icult target to achieve. But Christina Snyder, the Associate Partner and Wealth Advisor of Jacob William Advisory (JWA), inds this easily manageable. She encourages her

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clients to create a 'lifestyle plan' that requires minimum compromise but is eﬀective enough to safeguard dreams. HER YEARS OF EVOLUTION A lot of grooming is required to be aware of the present and future inancial worries. Sometimes people experience this through a course structured by educational institutes, sometimes they inherit this, and in some instances, miserable conditions teach people about the value of investing and saving. But the number of people who squander their money and then struggle to survive is also huge. This happens due to a lack of grooming from an early age. However, this was not the case with Christina as she got to taste both aspects of the inancial state, the good and the bad, at an early age. Her mother was a bit conservative in nature and preferred to save. This shaped her early years in Greece but when, as an adolescent, she came to the United States to live with her father, she realized how unplanned moves could trigger a collapse. The turbulent times forced her to change

three diﬀerent high schools and they moved six times during that period. The stress was too much to bear. Christina took both these lessons in her stride and strived for inancial independence when she turned 18. She moved out of her father's place to achieve inancial stability and found herself in the inancial services industry when she was 20. Such an early start has its advantage as it provided her with an opportunity to “implement the money management strategies and budgeting practices” to her own inances. Her formative years were riddled with struggles. Instead of inishing her high-school education in Greece, she had to come to the U.S. at the age of 14. She had to endure a lot because of the language barrier she faced in the country. English was her second language, which created obstacles for her during school days. On a professional level, Christina would have preferred support from mentors at a much earlier stage. But when she found mentors, they inspired her and injected her with con idence, which helped her in dodging blockades and

IN FOCUS

accomplishing goals. Their in luence put her on a compelling growth trajectory. WHAT MOTIVATES HER A sense of clarity in her purpose, the desired alignment with her true self, and her will to infuse her “family, community, and client's lives with positive energy” drives her ahead. As a person and as a leader, she prefers to maintain a crystal-clear approach, which is why she has set weekly indicators to evaluate how well she is doing. No matter what, cutting corners and moving away from the path of excellence are not options for her. But at the same time, she values the roles of a mentor and like-minded individuals and spending time with the best of peers. HER FINANCIAL CAREER Christina's experience in the inancial sector for the past two and a half decades taught her that there is no perfect investment or inancial plan. Planning has to be in sync with the realization of the personal “big picture.” Better acquaintance with that would ease the process of choosing the right plan. This inspired her to help clients create “lifestyle plans,” wherein strategies get developed as per the client's understanding of their individual needs. The approach is enticing for her clients as it helps in aligning “ inancial decisions with what matters most in their lives.” The process involves going back to basics and proper knowledge of what people want to do with their money. Ef icient coordination can eﬀectively put things into perspective and

ensure a proper balance. Christina considers her time in the inancial industry as rewarding. All the ups and downs she had experienced led her to her present role as Associate Partner and Wealth Advisor at Jacob William Advisory (JWA). Prior to that, she was fortunate enough to work for a inancial institution for over twenty years and with an insurance broker dealer, which loaded her with diverse types of experience. Her diverse roles in those companies helped her expand her portfolio, which now covers areas like retirement and estate planning, portfolio, and risk management. She has also worked with attorneys and CPAs, thereby endowing her with knowledge of specialized plans. Now when she ponders upon those, she realizes that her experiences acted as stepping stones for what she has gone on to become. WHAT MAKES JACOB WILLIAM ADVISORY COVETED? The inancial sector is full of jargons and most of these terms common people don't easily understand. Even after consulting inancial advisors, people fail to have a complete grasp of their money. But at Jacob William Advisory, things are not so complicated as the dealings here are driven by a belief of ensuring clarity in the process by informing their clients about what's happening in each step. The company has built its reputation around a simple structure that involves a tripartite structure creating eﬀective game plans, speaking in a common language and being straightforward about fees. Its team is full of people with in-depth

knowledge of the ield; a feature that has been lauded by Forbes, Barron's, Financial Times and WealthManagement.com, who rank the company as one of the premier organizations. The company is also a “registered Investment Advisory with iduciary responsibility toward its clients.” The future plans involve making clients inancially independent so that they can live the life they always dreamt of. On a personal level, Christina wants to increase her part in diverse media like podcasts, radio, and live events. LEADERSHIP IDEAS Christina believes that a true leader always thinks about empowering and encouraging people around him or her and then converts it into action. They support and challenge their teams to ensure an upward trajectory and while doing so, they also foster their success and promote trust, along with integrity. She wants to make these traits a part of her life as she knows that these will help her transform lives for the better. For an entrepreneur, it is essential to learn the value of integrity as that can help in evolving as a leader. Their works should re lect that integrity as it builds a sound follower base and forms a solid foundation for a sustainable future. Investment advisory services oﬀered through CWM, LLC an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Carson Partners, a division of CWM, LLC is a nationwide partnership of advisors. Jacob William Advisory | 9515 Deereco Rd., Ste. 201, Timonium, MD 21093 | 410.821.6724

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CONNECTING COMPANIES WHILE CREATING OPPORTUNITIES GRETCHEN PHILYAW, FOUNDER, USA LOVES MANUFACTURING

When a country is in the driver's seat of the global economy, there are some advantages and disadvantages. Its pro itable areas are bound to see a huge rise in the number of companies participating in exploring opportunities in diverse sectors. But there is also a chance of a slump in inancial outcomes as these companies can turn into a victim of mismanagement. However, all can change with a little push in the right direction. This thrust is crucial as this is strategic in nature and could make or break a company's reputation. That is where Gretchen Philyaw comes in. She has already proved her mettle in the sector and is using her reputation as a strong foundation for her company, USA Loves Manufacturing. The intent is to connect companies and build a substantial nexus to allow seamless operation whilst also creating more job opportunities in the States. With her experience, she has been countering adversities for decades now and her passion is making it possible. In an Exclusive Interview with Exeleon Magazine, Gretchen shares her journey and her core beliefs as a leader. WHAT ACCORDING TO YOU MAKES FOR A LEADER? HOW DO YOU INTEGRATE THE SAME THOUGHT INTO YOUR LEADERSHIP? A willingness to go on point and lead the way. Be a

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trailblazer while bringing new ideas and new technologies to clients. Leadership is easy when you know all the answers. Sometimes you have to take risks and explore what could happen to achieve breakthrough solutions. Carefully evaluate the situation and take the best course of action. In sales you have to be fearless to achieve your goals especially as a woman. You have to be on top of your game every day to earn respect. You have to know your products and services better than your customers and you have to understand what they do also. With over a decade of experience, leadership is about carefully evaluating situations and not always shooting from the hip. You have to know what works. Customers must trust that you know what you are doing. WHAT PROMPTED THE INCEPTION OF USA LOVES MANUFACTURING? WHAT WAS THE DECIDING FACTOR BEHIND THE NAME OF THE COMPANY? Two key factors prompted the inception of USA Loves Manufacturing. First, I saw the need to connect businesses together through my daily activities. I saw many companies slugging it out trying to move forward. I saw that building a coalition where ideas could be shared freely would be powerful and good for America. Second, I saw an opportunity to use my platform to shine a spotlight on some great companies with the hope of driving new businesses their way and

creating synergies when other partners connected to USA Loves Manufacturing. The need for both is clearly there and I thought I could make a difference. I wanted a name that conveyed my passion around manufacturing. I believe in on-shoring jobs back to the USA and I believe that we have thousands of amazing businesses that keep America strong. I think the name says it all. WHAT HAS THE JOURNEY BEEN LIKE FOR YOU OVER THE YEARS? I would say my career has been a series of building blocks where each stage led me to a new or bigger challenge. Professionally you move forward or backwards but you also can grow horizontally. I feel lucky to have been in a couple industries that were growing quickly (Telecom & Industrial Automation & Robotics). Technically I have learned a great deal inside two very different industries. But, I have also bene itted from working with a number of leaders (Good & Bad) that taught me about leadership. Today, I am a work in progress shaped by experiences learned on the job, which to me is the best way to learn. LOOKING BACK, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE DIFFERENT WHEN STARTING OUT? Many say that they wouldn't change anything but I might have focused more in my late 20's versus coasting for a few years. WHAT HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST DRIVING FACTOR FOR YOU AS A LEADER AND ENTREPRENEUR? Great Question. For me, I believe success is selfdetermined. To win in life you have to get up every day with a plan and a purpose to move forward. Waiting for life to happen as you wish isn't a great strategy. Action shapes what happens to anyone. I choose to affect my destiny by what I do, not by what happens. HOW DO YOU BALANCE YOUR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LIFE? The real secret is sleeping less and sleeping faster. You

have to prioritize and re-prioritize many times each day. When home, you need to be home and in the moment. When on the road you have to focus and try to get as much as you can packed into every day. HOW HAS THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR IN THE STATES CHANGED OVER THE YEAR? COVID has changed many things. Many plants have been locked down to essential workers so the normal pace of business has changed. Innovating during lockdown is a challenge but that has not stopped the innovators from planning next moves or getting some exciting plans in order. WHAT ROLE IS MAGENTA TECHNOLOGIES PLAYING IN ACCELERATING AND/OR TACKLING THESE CHANGES? My role is to serve as a facilitator or integration source for clients. I try to connect the dots for clients serving as a trusted advisor on a myriad of projects. With my experience I can shorten the typical RFP process by providing a shorter list of recommendations which aligns with some of the new rules in place due to COVID. WHAT HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST ROADBLOCK DURING YOUR JOURNEY? WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST LEARNING? My biggest roadblock has been acceptance. Being a trailblazer is not always easy. Many do not take you seriously. Believing in what you are doing and knowing that you are making a diﬀerence are the keys to getting you out the door every day to meet a customer and visit a plant. Knowing you can make a diﬀerence comes with showing up every day and being in the moment. My biggest learning is winning over tough challenges makes the success of winning business or solving a customer problem even sweeter. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE PRE-CONCEIVED NOTIONS OR STEREOTYPES THAT YOU HAVE FACED BEING A WOMEN LEADER/ENTREPRENEUR? We all know the stereotypes. When a tall blond in heels walks into a plant you have to know you don't always it in but that shouldn't stop you from going. You have to prove yourself every time you walk through the door

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but when you walk in with con idence and project that you belong there the dialogue quickly changes. WHAT IS THE FUTURE LIKE FOR USA LOVES MFG? ON A PERSONAL FRONT, WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF STANDING IN THE COMING YEARS? My goal is to continue to build the awareness of the organization. USA Loves Manufacturing is doing well, but my plan is to push further and expand what's been happening. Within the next 12 months my vision is to have a Roadshow Program where I visit organizations and do Podcasts or even a TV show about the company. The output would be a 30 minute video showcasing the organizations and products Made in the USA with the hope of driving awareness. On a personal level, I would like to spend more time on the road telling the USA Loves Manufacturing story and growing the partnerships with my company Magenta Technologies. I also will of course spend quality time with my family. I would like to be the go to partner for any factory automation and robotic projects. WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE MOST IMPORTANT TRAIT FOR A LEADER AND WHY? Consistency. Show up every day and stand for the same values. People need to know where you stand and expect you to be there each and every day. Doing so earns the respect of those around you.

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KRYSTLE GOMEZ 36

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GUIDING CLIENTS TOWARDS GROWTH AND SUCCESS KRYSTLE N. GOMEZ, FOUNDER & CEO | CIMI VENTURES. P.C.

Often a single incident changes the course of our life. People transform and evolve from there for either the better or worse. It changes the perspective, the way people look at things and then decide to act. Accordingly, they chart a route and proceed. Those who want to create a lasting impact take measured steps, each designed to deliver something towards a set goal or take them to the next level. This is the story of Krystle Gomez, the Founder & CEO of CIMI Ventures P.C. When she was young, she experienced her little brother's death, which inspired her to become who she is now - a compassionate and dedicated woman who loves to live each moment to its fullest and incorporates that vivacity in whatever she does. In fact, the work culture she nurtures in her company re lects this aspect. WHAT INSPIRED HER MOVES? The career she chose as the stepping stone was inspired by a decision she took while studying law at University of Pennsylvania

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Law School. She found the idea of becoming an international corporate lawyer quite alluring, as this comes with a scope of expanding the international reach. To achieve that, after completing her law degree, she opted for a global MBA program, which allowed her to travel to distant parts of the world. She lived in Europe and Asia throughout the program and got an opportunity to hone her craft with both classroom studies and ield lessons.

school were invaluable as that helped her move onto the next stage - forming her own company.

As its outcome, she developed an immense love for diverse cultures. It provided her with insights regarding how business gets done in diﬀerent parts of the world - the lessons enveloped aspects like business customs, negotiation strategies, and problem-solving.

For Krystle, working in a big irm was never the ultimate goal as she always wanted to engage with businesspeople who are passionate about the products and services that they oﬀer. This formed the core of CIMI Ventures, where Krystle believes in strengthening the foundation of client companies. To substantiate her beliefs, she says, “Over the years, I've worked with companies at all revenue levels, but the key to the success of my company is the relationship I build with each and every client.” This entire method guarantees client satisfaction as working closely with them allows her to get insights and deliver expected results.

After getting her degree, she moved to New York to work with an international law irm. But the job made her realize that working as a corporate attorney on international deals is starkly diﬀerent in practice than what it appears on paper. The lessons she learned there and in

When she digs deep into her work, she gives it everything it deserves to build a cadence. For that matter, Krystle never shies away from working at odd hours or on unexpected days. This dedication is a trait she inherited from her parents who instilled in her a strong

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sense of work ethic, where sitting idle is not an option. In similar ways, she devotes herself to activities out of her work zone. She believes in experiencing each moment and appreciating their worth. When it comes to travel, she is always ready with a bag packed and gets pumped by activities that inspire some adrenaline rush. Some of her activities may sound crazy at irst, but they de ine who she is from running with bulls in Pamplona to skydiving, bungee jumping, skyscraper rappelling, and wing-walking, she has done it all. As a leader, there are certain things that keep her on track all the time. These features she learned from her parents from a very young age. They taught her to be compassionate and have a lasting impact on community and relationships, which inspired her to become very involved in giving back to her own community. Krystle is a Board member of the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation, a non-pro it that “raises critical funds to support the Seattle Animal Shelter.” She believes so strongly in the need to help animals that she is training to get her pilot's license to ensure that she can be more hands on in “helping to rescue animals who need transport to no-kill shelters and other safe havens.” She is also a mentor to junior colleagues and delivers lectures at conferences to promote women in STEM. VIEWS ON HER PAST AND AS AN INSPIRING LEADER Krystle always prefers to look ahead. She does not wish to change

anything from her past or spend time reliving mistakes. However, she admits that there were mistakes and she learned valuable lessons from each of them, which allowed her to grow personally and in business. Given a chance, in an alternate space, she might have become a veterinarian as she loves to help animals, but she is now pursuing that passion in a different way. When she was young, her parents used to talk about business at their dining room table, which actually set the tone for her future. She developed a genuine knack for it and then pursued it with an unwavering attitude to evolve into who she is now. Amidst all her activities and involvement in the business, she gets very little downtime. She used to ind it dif icult to say no but now has learned to say yes where she inds investing her time most worthwhile and satisfying. When Krystle was younger, her views on leadership were completely different from what she believes now, “I thought a leader was what I saw in movies – powerful people in boardrooms, making strong decisions.” Over time her views have transformed. She has experienced the crucial difference between the two - power and leadership – and knows they are not necessarily the same.

delivered in a way it can be best received, in order to motivate others to take the desired action.” A leader, as she opines, “must have the con idence to take action, the knowledge to support their plan, and the ability to execute upon it; and they must instill in others a motivation to join.” And these all ile a single line when there is trust among players. Still, she recognizes that leaders also make mistakes. If that happens, they should accept it and oﬀer a heartfelt apology, and take steps to rectify it. This part is necessary as it helps in earning respect. THE FUTURE SHE HAS ENVISIONED Krystle, while planning for her future, has envisioned a steady course that prioritizes 'business relationships and relationships with the community.' Her de inition of success for herself and the company is precise and that is founded on eﬀorts directed towards building 'a reputation for excelling as a partner to clients.' She also wants to devote time and energy to causes that are aligned with her beliefs and goals. Her role as an entrepreneur is built upon pillars of compassion and conviction. This has helped her win new clients and maintain a healthy relationship with others she works with. Such features always create scope for expansion and lead to better prospects.

Krystle's take on leadership is holistic in approach. It covers grounds right from the ideation stage to execution, “True leadership is the ability to oﬀer thoughtful insights or a plan for action,

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EASING FINANCIAL WORRIES AND FULFILLING DREAMS ®

LINDA REEVES, FINANCIAL SERVICES LEADER | CFP , CLU, CHFC, CLU

Often, while leading an everyday life amid all the joyous moments and mild diﬀerences, people tend to ignore proper inancial planning. Because barring economic meltdowns and a steep rise in in lation, inancial crises are hardly tangible. Sometimes these take years to manifest with a discernible form. For others like climatic disruption, job loss, etc. people hardly bother and invest little time. They satisfy themselves by channeling their incomes into some short-term plans or casual savings. But good times are volatile. They never follow any linear pattern. That is why when a crisis hits, inancial worries start scaring people. It creates a spectacle out of nowhere, driving people into despair. In moments like these, hearing stories about the personal journeys of those in the ield help expand perspective. Linda Reeves, shares her life's journey. Moreover, she adds a humane touch, which makes her all the more approachable. She

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feels empathetic support can always make people more open about their problems leveraging the expertise of a inancial adviser. CHARTING THE COURSE It was not a planned move for Linda to start her career in Finance. She was a Journalism major in college. Linda had a lair for writing which helped further her professionally. But time was not in her favor and unfortunately, when Linda graduated, the job market was going through a rough patch. She came across a job in HR Bene its and Retirement Administration and that is where she felt at home with Finance. This stumbling upon Finance also made her realize that she could do something important and meaningful to help people. Early on, it was also bolstered by an experience where she had to help a man going through a lot of inancial and health-related troubles. It dawned on her that Finance was about illing a need “whether saving

for diﬀerent goals or a rainy day.” In inancial services, Linda has already spent around 23 years. When she started her career, she had no license and was not really adept at solving problems, but slowly she started growing from there and became a Managing Director and Department Head. Most recently, she changed roles and joined a leading Wealth Management company. Linda's journey also taught her that there is no alternative to “faith, hard work, a good attitude, curiosity, and teamwork.” In fact, these are the traits that one should maintain all the time. To be someone, to reach the next level, one should never despise work of lesser importance. Even the grunt activities are crucial as they provide experience and this has inspired Linda to set a really high benchmark when it comes to standards of excellence. Linda had a fantastic time during her growing period as a inance person with great mentors. But

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these opportunities always added something extra as her mentors had no ixed ethnic origin. They came from diﬀerent ethnicities, both men and women, some younger and some older. Such a diverse background had a lasting impact on her and was enriching. In her childhood days, she got to experience life in a close-knit working-class Liberian West African family. Her mother was in healthcare and worked hard for a living. “She worked three jobs” to put her through school. But it was she who sowed the seeds of this desire to help others in Linda. She always used to take in family members and friends to shelter them and she taught Linda and her brother “that a person should never be treated like a stranger when you take them into your home.” This sense of deep bonding, this lesson to treat others as equal, have inspired Linda to grow as an empathetic person. At the same time, she saw her father recover from COVID 19 and eventually passed away from Dementia. He was a well-educated man with two Postgraduate degrees in Economics and Statistics, and inspired Linda to learn as much as possible. Linda's insatiable thirst for knowledge and a desire to provide people with maximum opportunity led her to be a part of Annie T. Doe Memorial Foundation, Classroom Central, and the American Heart Association.

With ATDoe, she and her fellow board members focused on providing education, women programs, and basic health care services. Her life in inner-city New York in luenced her to work for students who don't get a chance to enjoy standard tools. As a member of the board of Classroom Central, she, along with other supporters, distribute “free school supplies to largely diverse underserved teachers and students across 200 schools and 6 school districts in Charlotte NC.” She also contributes in notable ways to the American Heart Association to bolster studies related to various heart diseases, research projects, and inclusion of advanced tools to ease treatment. THE DETERRENTS There were several -- some personal and some in luenced by her surroundings. But one stood out; it was her fear. In her starting days, she was concerned about image. A more experienced colleague pointed it out and asked her not to put up a persona and use her individual qualities as a diﬀerentiating factor. This advice helped strengthen her as she grew in tenure and experience. FINANCIAL LITERACY During her irst job, when Linda was new in her of ice, a colleague named Tina taught her the importance of saving. She told her

to be disciplined and save for retirement in each paycheck. Over the years, she has increased the amount of that savings, and to do that, Linda personally follows three basic principles- live beneath her means, invest to ensure a reasonable chance of enjoying growth, and control expenses. Generally, it is never too late to start saving. There are ways in which one can seek to achieve goals and professionals can help. HER VIEWS ON LEADERSHIP When it comes to leadership, Linda believes that every person has leadership qualities. Each person has a role in society and is able to inspire. It takes vision, service, leading by example and living with purpose. Their work should also re lect a blend of honesty and a constant drive to challenge oneself with ongoing personal growth, curiosity, and humility. This is foundational. Greatness means putting the team and mission ahead of personal agendas. If you, do what is best for clients, then the organization wins every time. As a successful Financial Services Leader, Linda's belief system is simple; “serve others, work hard, live courageously in faith and integrity.”

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Marife Na

ario-Yordan

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IMPACTING THE FIELD OF LAW AND BEYOND MARIFE NAZARIO-YORDAN, FOUNDER, NAZARIOYORDAN LAW, PLLC

Immigration hassles are quite common in developed countries. It happens mostly due to the convoluted laws and language barriers, and the changes made from time to time do not make things any easier. As an explicit outcome of this, many people ind themselves enmeshed in bureaucratic red tapes and legal documentations. With each passing year, this number rises even further. Hazards regarding these immigration policies often stem from some basic misunderstandings and lack of cognizance. But it leads to a process that often traverses through mires set by legal jargons; and as an obvious outcome, things get prolonged. However, a much easier solution is possible only if someone steps forward with complete knowhow of the legal moves and humane touch to help these people out. This blend of both makes the presence of Marife Nazario-Yordan reassuring to those tangled in legal webs of the EB-5 and immigration ield. With her expertise in diﬀerent ields like corporate and commercial

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law, and corporate, commercial and real estate transactions and a holistic understanding of the immigration laws, she has inspired trust among her clients. The rapport she builds with them helps her in delivering positive results consistently. In Marife's words, she has set this outstanding record for herself with an unwavering “focus on quality and attention to detail rather than quantity.” HER JOURNEY Sometimes the journey is far more important than the goal itself, as the foundation of a sustainable future depends on it. The same is true for Marife Nazario-Yordan, Founder and Managing Attorney of Nazario Yordan Law. Her journey was not smooth; rather, it resembled a sine curve with lots of ups and downs. In her earlier days, her profession depended a lot on her ex-husband's career who had to relocate pretty often, thus forcing her to seek new opportunities.

It disrupted the low of her career, which, otherwise, would have blossomed in due time. With each change in her address, she had to start from scratch to prove herself. After a certain point, she realized how all these moving around was arresting her growth. The time was ripe for inding her own pace. During that phase, she got the opportunity to work with diﬀerent law irms, which taught her well and provided her with vast experience in several legal sectors. This inspired her to break the con ines and emerge as an independent, authoritative igure. As a subsequent outcome, she started working on her own with clients. The obstacles she endured made her realize about the gaps in her route map. She got opportunities to look at them in detail and cashed in that by turning them into growth-inducing factors. It was no easy task to prove her mettle in a male-dominated sector. But she never backed down; rather, she worked for long, grueling hours to carve a name for herself.

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The process of zeroing in onto the EB-5 and immigration ield as her area of specialization took some time. But once she realized that her passion is in sync with it, she showed her unwavering perseverance to grasp each and every detail of the sector. However, this never deterred her from pursuing other ields like corporate and commercial laws. She is equally an expert in the mentioned sector and is infusing the ield with her valuable insights. When she looks back now, she feels, “all the twists and turns of the journey had a rewarding purpose, as like pieces of a puzzle,” which gave her “the breadth of knowledge and experience that ended up complementing each other perfectly” also ensured she excels in the practice. This perseverance, coupled with a constant low of internal motivation, drives Marife ahead. These are must for a long-term goal. The long process also requires absorbing reliable knowledge to chalk out insights, which can help in staying abreast of developments. At times, this method also encourages to keep the focus set on learning about a particular ield in great detail without getting lummoxed by mediocrity. Marife believes that it is essential to form a nexus with the right people and maintain valuable social contacts as these can play a crucial role in ensuring growth. However, she still feels that she would have done much better if she stayed on her course without compromising her prospects. This realization sprouts from a belief that

“stability and the ability to prove yourself over the years within the same irm is critical for a steady pace of advancement in the legal ield.” THE DIFFERENTIATING FACTOR It is dif icult to create a distinct identity when one is standing in the crowd but to prove one's mettle, it is necessary. Marife is well aware of this and she tries to build a diﬀerentiating factor by being a subject matter expert of her preferred EB-5 law and immigration ield. She feels that she was fortunate enough to get an opportunity to train with the best and gain knowledge of the “EB-5 ield representing Regional Centers and project developers, as opposed to only foreign investors.” Now she is leveraging the same. While dealing with diverse aspects of the sector, she found herself in an advantageous position. Her “background and prior experience as a corporate, corporate securities and real estate attorney, along with immigration,” armed her with a unique set of tools to understand a complex ield like EB-5 law holistically. This helped her uncover details for more signi icant insightssomething she uses all the time to maintain a track record of delivering positive results where only quality matters and not the quantity. Dif iculties always come with a sliver of hope for those who know where to seek it. The path Marife trod was riddled with roadblocks but it also provided her with opportunities to explore diverse areas of law. In a way, that strengthened her footing. This unique way of looking at matters from an unexpected angle bolsters her rise.

THOUGHTS ON LEADERSHIP Marife has been spearheading her irm for quite some time now and this has helped her evolve in several ways - one is obviously as a leader. Her struggles and then her direct encounter with clients taught her well about being a leader. The serious gravity of this realization gets mirrored when she says, “I believe a leader should be an authoritative and trustworthy igure in the person's ield and for that you need credibility and the ability to inspire trust in others.” It only requires two simple traits to emerge as a leader like that - subject matter expertise and a reputation for being honest. But a good leader should also be a good listener. It helps a lot in understanding the audience's exact needs as it acts as the stepping stone towards inding the right strategy that would yield the maximum result. A leader should also be a positive person as clients derive a lot of strength from that optimism. Legal battles are often stressful and long, and maintaining that bit of bright outlook could help stay on the right track. In fact, Marife's thoughts on leadership are twined with the vision she has set for her future and NazarioYordan Law. As an entrepreneur, she wants to establish a humane way of practicing legal moves sans self-interests and egos, and the level of dedication she wants to infuse in her system would be equal for all.

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Nafsika Antypas 48

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IMPACTING ECOSYSTEM BY INTRODUCING VEGANISM NAFSIKA ANTYPAS, FOUNDER, NAFSIKA'S GARDEN

Changing a set lifestyle overnight requires a lot of determination. It is only possible when a strong purpose guides one - a vision that would rattle the person to the core and instill him or her with a new sense of meaning. Nafsika Antypas, the Founder of Nafsika's Garden, had such a moment of epiphany almost a decade back while watching a documentary on Net lix - about veganism and animals. The show destabilized her thoughts and disrupted her way of life. Being a compassionate person, she felt strongly about things that are happening encircling animal husbandry. She turned vegan that day and since then, she has never looked back. But it didn't stop there. The show's impact and the views it shared were so overpowering that she decided to take relevant steps to start a movement. One individual turning vegan can never usher in a reform but inspiring millions can. That is when she decided to take a step forward and launched her TV show

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that shared experts' views on how changing the food habit could pave ways for more signi icant bene its. TRANSFORMING ECOSYSTEM Since the early days of evolution, human beings have shown a real dependency on animal products in some countries, particularly in the cold winter months. But the days of hunters and gatherers are now in the past. People have evolved into experts in genetic mutations and breeding. The consumption has skyrocketed and it has brought people face-to-face with some radical challenges about which earlier generations never bothered. It has driven the world towards some unwanted challenges where the chances are high of a complete breakdown of the ecosystem. However, food has a huge role to play in preventing this complete collapse. Nafsika understood this and decided to put her feet on the gas paddle. She knew it well that she has to bring more into her fold to

spread veganism and for that, she has to reach a broader audience using a medium with the ability to sway minds. She found TV as a perfect medium and started airing her own show with experts to promote the idea of building a more peaceful world. In 2015, after spending two successful years as a vegan, she developed an outline of a talk show. It was a deliberate move provoked by her inability to ind a single show on TV that re lected her views. Six months later, she started airing her own show, Plant-Based By Nafsika, on the A&E network. It has a speci ic outlook and it is the irst-ofits-kind vegan lifestyle/talk show series that owns a space in mainstream television. Times have considerably changed. A substantial rise has been noticed in favor of veganism in recent years. People have started realizing the illeﬀects of sacri icing animals for human consumption. Nafsika feels that loving and taking care of others are two innate qualities that can

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create a more peaceful society. She senses that once people establish this bond with animals, they would ind themselves in a new world. In her opinion, this is what turns vegans into activists as they feel an urge within themselves to help others. But for many, letting an age-old habit go is not an easy task. The transition needs some kind of polishing and alternatives that would lessen the impact of this sudden change. Nafsika realized this and decided to initiate a method that would simplify the process. As a result, Nafsika's Garden came into being. The intent was to serve delicious food without compromising the taste or the texture of an animal product. One such product is the cheese produced by the company. It is a plant-based product that tastes just like the dairy cheese and melts when heated in such a way that even a hardcore cheese lover would fail to spot a diﬀerence. In her words, “unless you're missing the cholesterol, you won't have an issue switching to my dairy-free products.” ROADBLOCKS ON HER WAY Like most of the entrepreneurial ventures, she had a few hiccups in the beginning. Initial rough patches hit her hard but never got her oﬀ the track she set for herself when she ventured out. The primary obstacle for her was to produce her own TV show as funding was a huge problem. For such a show, a constant in lux of cash is required

and it is often challenging to manage a single source for that. But that is in the past now. She is now experiencing a phase where her prospects are very bright. She is currently expanding her business on an international scale and planning to launch a new TV series. Additionally, she has been writing her own books. One among them is “Make the Plant-Based Switch,” which complements the online course she provides on vegan topics. The book is slated to come out in the Fall. She is also planning to launch herself as a iction writer. In fact, she is quite happy about the progress she has made thus far and doesn't want to change a single thing. Nafsika is aware of the butter ly eﬀect-- she understands that a single change in the past may alter the present for her and throw her oﬀ the trajectory she has envisioned for herself. The learning curve hasn't ended for her yet, and she is still evolving by noting her mistakes to get insights from them. Moreover, her paths are often guided by a simple belief- “If someone is trying to persuade you not to do something you believe in or really want, it's probably because they believe you can do it.” She trusts in her intuitions and inds them as real, which is why she never doubts herself while committing to something wholeheartedly.

her show, Plant-Based by Nafsika that have aired. She knows that this has helped her reach out to a larger audience who are now opening up more and more to this way of life. This also creates an opportunity for her to expand her business and she is quite elated to ind herself on steps towards global growth. HER STANCE ON LEADERSHIP As a leader, Nafsika has realized that nothing comes close to perseverance when it is about leading a pack of enthusiastic employees towards a goal. Giving up in such conditions is not an option. As a leader, it is crucial to have clarity in vision that can help see things on the other side of obstacles. This simpli ies planning for the upcoming days, which acts as a tailwind and opens up scopes that can be explored for a better expansion plan. Challenges motivate her and make her determined to explore ways through which she can achieve the desired end. Her endeavors as an entrepreneur transformed her ways of thinking and she believes, “you've got to visualize your future and believe it. Then, nothing can stop you, because, in your mind, it's already happening.” What she has accomplished is a re lection of this and inspiring in many ways for a lot of people.

FUTURE PLANS Nafsika has set a premise for herself by discussing various myths and stereotypes in the three seasons of

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TUULA Jalasjaa

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SIMPLIFYING FINANCE TO EMPOWER WOMEN TUULA JALASJAA, FOUNDER, THE WOMEN’S COLLECTION INC.

The global economy is witnessing a fast-track growth even after facing crippling glitches in recent years. This year, COVID-19 wreaked havoc and the impact of it is going to be long-lasting. However, governments have started implementing deft measures to bring back the balance and minimize the loss. But even all these countermeasures cannot solve the riddle of the gross disparity that diverse economies witness in several countries. The gaps are of diﬀerent types -- some display a diﬀerence between social strata, some reveal racial angles, while some showcase technological barriers. The types are endless, yet most of them can be weaved together based on one common thread - gender discrimination. Women are always forced to take the backseat irrespective of their class, country, ethnic origin, and expertise in diverse ields. It's not just a problem of a particular space-time; rather, it has been going on for ages, in fact, millennia. As its obvious outcome, the number of

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women who can call themselves inancially literate is negligible. Only something radical can break these chains and ensure that women get their dues. Tuula Jalasjaa has devoted her life to this quest for a method that can set women free inancially. Her entrepreneurial venture, The Women's Collection, re lects that intent. With the company, she is trying to impart how money works into as many women as possible to help them live their lives on their own terms and build a sustainable future. TREADING THE PATH No one incident prompted Tuula to think of this venture as her future. Rather, it was a collection of events, things deeply disturbing in nature, that coaxed her into thinking of an alternative path that led to The Women's Collection's inception. Her experience in the inancial sector brought her face-to-face with events where she had to see irst-hand how women suﬀer due to their lack of

inancial knowledge. And, she couldn't sit back and relax to witness their plights. As a part of the industry, she knew well about all the complexities that shroud the sector. This was baf ling for women in particular as their inancial literacy was inadequate to grasp the nuances that run the ield. It inspired her to set up The Women's Collection as a one-stop solution for women where they get all the needed “knowledge, resources and tools supporting inancial literacy, inancial wellness and inancial security for women.” Bringing all these aspects under one umbrella is an endeavor on Tuula's part to make inance 'Simpler, Accessible, and Engaging.' In the simplest form, “ inancial literacy is the ability to understand how money works.” It encompasses an in-depth understanding of “how someone makes, manages, spends, and invests money” and puts various methods into practice like “personal inancial management, budgeting, and investing.” Having

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this knowledge is becoming all the more pertinent as it can help stay abreast of the astounding hike in worldwide wealth. Otherwise, the chasm would grow deeper to create unsurmountable troubles. It is also essential for women whose wealth and incomes are following an upward trajectory. The inancial course they often have to chart is far more complicated than that of men's. It's because women have a higher life expectancy and it can trigger “sudden additional and assumed inancial responsibilities relatively later in life.” In fact, the very nature of these unexpected eﬀects is never predictable. They may come out as positive or negative depending upon the situation. To plan well for such occasions, women should get acquainted with the sector's nooks and corners. This requirement for a thorough understanding spurs demand for knowledge regarding inancial literacy. However, like most journeys into uncharted territories, proper guidance was a rarity, she had to endure hardships and face both good days and bad days. Something, she still does. But these twists and turns make the journey all the more exciting. Tuula has taken all the downs as a learning lesson and turned them into tailwinds for her growth. And when it comes to celebrating milestones, she never backs out as the downs she faces increases the values of her achievements. Venturing out and inding a foothold in a chaotic world of entrepreneurs

often comes with hassles that are different in nature from the corporate world. A little preparation before taking the plunge sometimes is effective in understanding the process and foresee events that can impact the pro it margin in a positive way. All these steps and successes, as Tuula feels, are driven by a steadfast desire to live the dream she has nurtured in her heart and a passion for creating a lasting legacy, which would make her daughters proud. In fact, she inds this passion as a potent weapon with which women leaders can arm themselves to get rid of roadblocks. There were also things that Tuula learned the hard way. In her early days in the business, she tried to cover everything on her own and capitalize on the opportunities she got. But the process was time-taxing and she never had enough hours to manage it all. To steer off this complexity, she started setting frameworks that provided her with time to assess opportunities. This showered her with positive results and, since then, the framework has become a thumb-rule for her. WHAT’S DIFFERENT IN HER APPROACH? To stay in sync with the time, Tuula has incorporated many levels of engagement into her system, and one of them is Smart Money for Her. This is a irst-of-its-kind online investing platform that uses roboadvisor designed exclusively for women in Canada. The system runs with a goal-based approach as its

main driving force and it starts the process by asking women, “what are you saving for?” Smart Money for Her is a kind of practical lesson that has theories as to its preamble in learning modules oﬀered on The Women's Collection platform. Since its implementation, it has emerged as a key component of the inancial literacy initiative as it provides a live resource to apply what they have learned during their course. Such innovations are also grabbing the attention of people from other countries. This creates a possibility of turning global in the coming years. It also infuses a desire in Tuula to democratize “wealth creation for women around the world.” HOW TO LEAD PEOPLE? It is not always easy to cling on to the venture one has and witnessing it withstand severe adversities. That is why people often leave the road in the middle and start considering other options. In such times, only passion and deep love for the project can keep a person moving forward. These virtues set the pace of the journey. To emerge as a leader, an entrepreneur can take up diﬀerent routes. But Tuula believes, “a true leader helps others reach their goals and leads by example.” It is a manifestation of her profound understanding of the method she followed for her own company, where she wanted to set an example by developing a “platform to educate women on inancial wellness to achieve their inancial goals.”

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NURTURING AND PROMOTING IDEAS IN BIOTECHNOLOGY CYNTHIA EKBERG TSAI, CEO | HEALTHQUEST

Recent changes in the healthcare sector have marked substantial deference from the erstwhile established methods, especially in the last two decades. This is because of the revolution stirred by smart technologies in the medical sector and biotechnologies from which diagnosis and treatment of diseases are bene iting substantially. At the same time, these developments are also inspiring new ideas and expanding the ield for startups to play and develop strategies to have greater impact.

Cynthia Ekberg Tsai, the CEO of Healthquest, a company known as a prominent global biotechnology and medical technologies advisory irm, is adept in providing insights to such rising entrepreneurs. According to her, only a great setting can support the best business ideas, eﬀective strategies, and relationships with the potential to ensure lasting bonds. She delves deep into her clients' challenges and inds opportunities.

With new ventures trying to set footprints, the market is getting congested and competitive. The chances are high that a few of these will drop out after failing to fund their projects. Sometimes, companies with good business ideas become victims in this race, which thereby means either shelving a powerful idea or delaying its initiation. However, if these companies ind guidance at the right time, their probability of getting better traction goes up in the seed funding or Series A level.

Her experience in diverse ields taught her well about the importance of a growth-inducing environment. But how to achieve that for an entrepreneur was a question that used to prick her often. Then she realized that the way out is simple. It can be achieved through collaborations. If she can connect them with the right dots, then their moving forward will become easier.

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WHAT INSPIRED HER MOVES?

To do that, in 2018, she continued her venture in Wolf Creek, Montana.

Starting there was a tactical move as she understood that a place has a major role in setting a company's work and leadership low. She earned the opportunity to work with some of the brilliant minds from MIT. Some of those companies are still in the market, after almost two and a half decades. Cynthia's collaborations now cover diﬀerent technologies including AI, biotechnology, therapeutic, and medtech spaces. Such a diverse range proves her capability to penetrate sectors well and understand their requirements. HOW DID SHE BEGIN? In the early 1980s, she started her career in the inance industry on Wall Street. There she proved her mettle and won several accolades among which was the 'Leading Woman Entrepreneur of the World'. Wall Street taught her well about a woman's journey in this profession. She challenged traditional misconceptions about women and seized the opportunity to address

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such notions and move forward. Cynthia also learned about how stress becomes a part of a leader's life. In fact, she realized it is imperative to respect the goals a CEO has to meet. These goals are important for an entrepreneur as well - clarity in the vision about what he or she wants to achieve by venturing out can provide proper direction. This is something Cynthia asks her clients at the very beginning of their dealings to chalk out routes and plan strategies accordingly. In fact, she has developed a strategy for herself to create more impact. She links her actions with what she envisions for better results. She feels, “This marriage results in an authentic, deep-seeded commitment that taps energy, creativity and experience – even in challenging times.” Unlike many, Cynthia wants to change nothing about her past. The drive to bring solutions with actual impact to people in need, people who would understand its worth, is something that has been steering her ahead since the very beginning. For a person who inds roadblocks as self-imposed, this sort of motivation can work wonders and it is evident from Cynthia's understanding of the market. WHAT IS THE FUTURE FOR HER? The company she has been nurturing for the last 25 years is all set to continue working with substantial prospects in the coming years. This is all the more evident after the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak that has exposed a brittle

healthcare network. The industry is looking for innovations and new procedures as a lot of companies are now going to invest in healthcare and biotechnology. Entrepreneurs with state-of-the-art tools and brilliant plans have started entering these sectors and Cynthia's operational scope has broadened. She wants to explore these to their fullest potential so that they can have a sustainable impact on the market. HOW SHE DEFINES LEADERSHIP?

most crucial aspects that a leader should possess. To achieve this, Cynthia puts special emphasis on her way of articulation. She prepares her communications thoughtfully. In addition, she values “a diversity of relationships that expands my ability to resource, motivate and succeed.” Cynthia's every step, as an entrepreneur, carries deliberation and determination. That is why when she executes her plans, they are more accurate and bene icialsomething that keeps her going in a much-contested market.

Her views on leadership are quite pragmatic. She has derived them from her experience in diﬀerent ields. The ability to execute plans fearlessly with discipline are the two

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NURTURING PASSION AND CONTRIBUTING FOR A SOCIAL CAUSE MARY AHRENS, OWNER | HAIR4GOOD

People often save little from their business revenues for philanthropic causes. But it is truly rare to ind someone who actually commits herself to rear up a business so that she can contribute more to social causes. That is where Mary Ahrens is diﬀerent from the rest. She donates a substantial amount from her company's pro it, Hair4Good, to causes that focus on making the world a better place for children. The company will share half of its pro its with various charities like St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Autism Speaks, Make a Wish, and Lifting Up Westchester. But she is also careful in maintaining a stand and taking a green route while developing her business. She uses recycled papers for the packaging of all her products. WHAT INSPIRES HER? There are very few people in the

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world who would share Mary's perspectives on her life and lives in general. She has a inanciallysecured background and she feels blessed for that. Most people, with the same sort of conditions, stop here. But Mary went a bit further. She wanted to share this blessing with those who are lesser privileged and ind themselves in deprived conditions. At the same time, she was looking for a sustainable solution. Something that would not just increase the amount she can contribute but can ensure a steady in lux. That is when she came up with a plan to set up a business. The revenue earned from it could become a steady source of funding for charities. She chose to start her own site, where she would sell hair accessories and styling tools. Why this market? The answer is simple. Mary shares a deep bond with the sector as she is passionate about

the hair industry. So far, her business is doing great. But there are times when an entrepreneur ponders upon facts that he or she could have altered for a better outcome. Mary's handling of such moments shows how matured she has become. She takes each day as a learning experience and derives inputs that she can use in her strategic moves to grow. In fact, she doesn't even want to alter anything from her past. Mary is proud of her background and feels lucky to be blessed with such fortunes. Mary feels, “The events in my career and personal life have been a combination of many positive decisions, taking advantage of opportunities and good Karma.” Such an af irmative approach to life often leads to better outcomes. THE FUTURE PATH As an entrepreneur, she does not want to limit herself in any way. She

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wants to expand not just to make her presence felt but also to ensure a hike in her contribution as a charity. That is why she wants to expand “to brick and mortar retail domestically and internationally.” This would turn her donations from thousands of dollars to millions. This would also help her in bringing more organizations under the purview of her donations. HER IDEA OF A LEADER As a leader herself, Mary has some de inite ideas about how a leader should operate. This clarity in vision helps her in running her business. She feels that a leader should never ask others to do something that he or she would not do. He or she should lead by setting examples and achieving goals. As an entrepreneur, the person helming projects would often face situations far from his or her expectations. In such cases, it is better to stay open-minded, honest, and enthusiastic. Being a good listener is a must for a leader. In addition, they should also express eagerness to learn things in which they are not pro icient. By doing so, they can inspire their subordinates to follow their footsteps and emerge as a better human being and an employee. The broader outlook creates space for a better understanding of diverse ideas, which one can then use to predict possible future outcomes. This will also help in developing strategic means to counter challenges. Mary believes that aspiring women entrepreneurs should behave like a sponge where they will absorb anything and everything on their path only to ilter them later and choose the right materials to move forward. It will help them in broadening their horizon and develop better strategies. Women entrepreneurs should also communicate using phone, video calls, or in

person to build a lasting bond with their clients. Mary feels that this is imperative as emails and texts do not share the same level of impact. But the most important thing is perseverance. This is something an entrepreneur should possess as they have to dodge a lot of bullets to reach their goal.

charitable causes and her eﬀorts are getting more and more lauded. Moreover, people are now showing interest in collaborating. The signs are promising and soon, her venture can become a trendsetter for many.

As an entrepreneur, Mary's stand is unique for her

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10 BUSINESS LEADING

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LARISA MILLER PHOENIX GLOBAL

BONNIE COMLEY BROADWAYHD

KRYSTLE N. GOMEZ CIMI VENTURES. P.C.

GRETCHEN PHILYAW USA LOVES MANUFACTURING

CHRISTINA SNYDER JACOB WILLIAM ADVISORY

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LINDA REEVES CFP®, CLU, CHFC, CLU

MARIFE NAZARIO-YORDAN NAZARIOYORDAN LAW, PLLC

MARY AHRENS HAIR4GOOD

NAFSIKA ANTYPAS NAFSIKA'S GARDEN

CYNTHIA EKBERG TSAI HEALTHQUEST

TUULA JALASJAA THE WOMEN’S COLLECTION INC.

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