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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

I am thrilled to present to you the upcoming issue of Exeleon Magazine, a remarkable edition that highlights the extraordinary impact being made by leaders around the world through their philanthropic endeavors. In this special Impact Issue, we delve into the stories that are shaping our world and inspiring change on a global scale.

One of the most profound tales we feature in this issue is that of a courageous young girl named Audrey Quiros, whose journey resonates with hope, belief, and the true essence of impact. Audrey's story, titled "Between Hope, Believe, and Impact," chronicles her battle with cancer and the indomitable spirit with which she faces her challenges.

Audrey's resilience and unwavering determination are a testament to the strength of the human spirit. Through her story, we are reminded that even in the face of adversity, miracles can happen, and one person can ignite a spark of hope that reverberates far beyond their immediate surroundings. Our team at Exeleon Magazine is honored to have the opportunity to share Audrey's story with you. We believe that by shining a light on her remarkable journey, we can inspire others to embrace compassion, kindness, and the power of collective action. Audrey's story encapsulates the very essence of our magazine's mission: to celebrate those who are making a tangible difference in the lives of others.

In addition to Audrey's story, this issue features a host of inspiring individuals who are leaving an indelible mark on our world. From groundbreaking initiatives to transformative programs, the philanthropic efforts of these leaders embody the true spirit of impact.

As you turn the pages of this issue, I hope you are as moved and inspired as we are by the extraordinary stories of these changemakers. Let their narratives serve as a catalyst for positive action in your own lives and communities.

Thank you for joining us on this incredible journey of discovery, empowerment, and impact. Together, let us continue to foster a world where compassion, generosity, and a commitment to making a difference define our collective narrative.

Warmest regards,

Daryl Yeung Editor-in-Chief, Exeleon Magazine

CONTENTS AUDREY QUIROS 12

CONTENTS

CONTENTS

Between Hope, Believe, and Impact

AN EXCLUSIVE FEATURE STORY ABOUT AUDREY QUIROS AND HER BATTLE WITH CANCER.

Since birth, we humans have been wired to look after one another. We are biologically designed to be in the company of others and rely on our loved ones when we are in need. But what truly makes us 'humans' is when we extend this care beyond our family and friends and elevate the lives of those who require it the most, all the while inspiring the world to do better each and every day.

At the heart of our evolution lies this very idea that we can rise up together and be an example of what it means to provide shelter

and a helping hand to those in need. It is evident through countless aiding organizations, fundraisers, philanthropists, homeless shelters, etc., that when humanity does come together, there's an incredibly positive impact that continues to improve the lives of others.

This exclusive cover of this special issue brings forth such a brilliant story of a brave girl who holds an inspiring tale of believing in humanity, God, and most importantly us. Let's uncover the story of Audrey Quiros.

An Unfortunate Turn of Events

Born on 29th May 2012, Audrey was adopted by Mirla and Roberto Quiros at only 4 months of age. Her father Roberto is a professional school teacher, while her mother Mirlay is an LVN who works at the Children's Hospital in Los Angeles.

Exhibiting a sweet, mature, pleasant, and outgoing personality, Audrey had a great childhood in Valencia, California, and did very well in school. Speaking both Spanish & English, she also showcased her high intellect by having rich vocabulary and pure intelligence. Her imagination, ideas, and beliefs made her unique, and loved by everyone.

Unfortunately, last year things took an odd turn for Audrey and her family. She was diagnosed with Burkitts Lymphoma Cancer, which is currently in remission. She also had a graft rejection from her irst Bone Marrow transplant. Since her body's irst rejection, she has been waiting for the new doner and has been going through extreme chemo in preparation for the new transplant.

Since the diagnosis, both Mirla and Roberto have given themselves to the care of Audrey. Both parents take turns with her, making sure she is never alone despite their full-time jobs as well as parenting two other children. They are a irm believer in God and have instilled the same faith in Audrey that has empowered her to be strong throughout this journey.

Joshua Aaron:

An International Messianic Singer

An Autographed Ukulele

A blessed and beautiful couple, Joel & Lylliam, have been involved in helping the homeless as well as kids for many years. A Navy Vietnam War Veteran, Joel is a semi-retired businessman involved in the inance industry and his beautiful wife is a retired primary school teacher who has a career span of over 30 years. They had a strong foundation built over many years while living in San Diego and helped countless poverty-stricken people south of the border of Mexico and Nicaragua.

Over the years, both Joel and Lylliam have helped many orphanages in need with everything from food supplies, toys, clothes, medical supplies, appliances, Bibles, witnessed about God and Salvation, and more. They have also helped the homeless in California and still continue to help those who are less fortunate and the ones who are without any shelter or food.

Joel and Lylliam are both irm believers in doing the right by everyone without seeking recognition. "When you give to others, it should be without the left hand knowing what the right hand is doing because we want God to get all the glory and praise, not us.".

They add, "When people say “thank you,” they say it to thank God, that they are simply tools for His praise and glory."

Both of these incredible personalities have a good friend whom they have known for many years - Joshua Aaron. Joshua is an

International Messianic singer who sings all over the world and is loved by Christians and Jews alike.

Since the release of his irst live CD, Joshua's music has grown to an international level, with as many as 3 million YouTube views of his music videos. His 2012 release “You Are Holy“ won him two Independent Music Awards for his original songs, “Hoshiana” and “You Are Holy” while his latest CD release “Hu Yavo” (July, 2014) soars to new heights, continuing to powerfully connect both the church and Israel through music.

In God's mysterious ways, Joshua had planned to come to California to sing at this year's February Messianic Jews Convention. He further announced on his digital channels that he would also be coming to the congregation in Valencia, California, with plans of staying there for a few days before going to perform at other venues.

Audrey has been an ardent fan of Joshua and his style of Messianic music for years. Upon realizing that her favorite star from Israel will be visiting California, Audrey and her mother sent an email letter as well as a video requesting Joshua to come visit her at the Children's Hospital in Los Angeles.

Joshua was touched by the letter and the video sent by Audrey's mother. In a heartbeat, the singer decided to make it a point to visit the little girl and give her a moment that she would cherish forever. Joshua asked Joel to pick him up

from the convention to visit the hospital. With Joel's assistance, he further made sure to carry a signed Ukulele and a special doll from Israel for Audrey.

Coincidentally, the day Joshua, Joeland Lylliam visited the hospital to meet Audrey and her parents, it was the day she was getting ready for her chemotherapy, awaiting a marrow transplant. Joshua made sure to pray alongside Audrey and anointed her with oil, thereby giving her hope and strength. Joshua soon announced to his followers about Aurdrey, her condition, and her willpower all over the world, including multiple churches. Joel also followed the footsteps and spread the word to congregations and prayer warriors everywhere.

Keeping faith in God, Audrey had the transplant recently and now is on her way to a slow recovery. However, even after the transplant, there is still a looming danger that her body might be unable to produce blood cells on her own.

Today, Audrey continues her ight; continues to be an example of hope for us all. Joshua, Joel, and Lylliam have made sure to visit her from time to time to pray alongside her and instill their belief of God onto her. Joel and Lylliam also brought their Messianic Rabbi to visit, witness and pray over her. Joel and Lylliam are in constant daily contact with Audrey's mother and father and update everybody else involved about her condition.

The Ideology of Giving Back

For Joel & Lylliam, the philanthropic ideology is simple and God-driven. According to them, it is God who constantly blesses us.

For them, it is important to give back as it is scripturally correct to help others who are less fortunate. They have also been not well and know what it feels like to face and go through struggle.

In their own words, “In Scripture, it instructs us that the irst 10% of what a person receives is God's, but it does not say that 10% is the maximum, it is the minimum, so we choose to give more because it is the right thing to do in our hearts and minds.”

The two impactful leaders' advice givers to follow in God's grace and become a part of His plan as this life is His to begin with. There is no need to be afraid as God promises that everything you give out to the world is returned in abundance. At the same time, having faith in Him is a blessing that should also be given to others. And most importantly, those who give sacriicially are more than those who only give from their abundance.

Audrey and her parents have become such close friends with Joel, Lylliam, Rabbi Gary, Joshua Aaron and his family that he affectionately calls them her Uncles and Aunts like they are her extended family.

Audrey Quiros is an exemplary personality who teaches us to never lose faith in the face of any kind of adversity. With her caring parents, supportive family & friends, leaders like Joel & Lylliam, inluencing personalities such as Joshua Aaron, and thousands of followers all over the world, she is not only an incredible inspiration but also a beacon of positive light to everyone going through life's dificulties.

Keith Kirkwood

Diplomat, Ambassador, & Chairman

Gift Global Initiative

Photo Credit: Julian Garcia

A Philanthropist Leading Business with Social Responsibility

The UAE is seen as a prime launch-pad for countries wishing to access markets around the world. It has rapidly transformed from an economy once reliant on ishing and pearls, to become a inancial powerhouse accessible within an eight-hour light by two thirds of the world's population.

Add to this, a diverse economy, stable political system, strong capital low, favorable taxation environment and liberal trade regimes makes it one of the prime global locations. Moreover. the UAE is now an attractive investment hub with a vision of becoming the economic, touristic, and commercial capital for over two billion people.

As The Global Representative of the UAE's Royal Family, Keith Kirkwood, assists everyone interested in setting up their company in the country with minimum cost and hassle-free solutions. The Private Ofice OF H.H

Sheikh Ahmed Bin Faisal Al Qassimi is a business conglomerate in the UAE owned by His Royal Highness

Sheikh Ahmed Bin Faisal Al Qassimi member of the Ruling Family of Sharjah, UAE.

Keith's mission is to make any interested company's entrance into the Gulf Region seamless and with a large impactful presence. He is an

expert in business consultancy and provides excellent end-to-end solutions for your new business by setting up offshore/free zone

company incorporation requirements anywhere in the UAE and Gulf Region.

Since Keith's company falls under the Royal Patronage, it provides vital publicity perks for the core product offering of these organizations. It allows their enormous achievements and contributions to the society to be recognized. Royal patronages add status to an organization, and visits or involvement from a Royal Patron can often bring much needed publicity.

A HUMANITARIAN LEADER

As The Global Representative to the Royal Family, Keith's focus is on the business and investment side. Any companies who are interested in entering the Gulf Region and or the ones that may be seeking capital can do so with his support. If a company/brand wants access into the hottest global market such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi, then he is the one that can make that happen.

Growing up Keith always wanted to bring about changes in his community. He ran and was elected to the public ofice. He quickly realized that just getting elected doesn't allow him to make the desired changes as there are many people who have a say in that matter. Keith wanted to act more like an entrepreneur and be the master of his own destiny. Wondering how he could get this done faster, he decided to create a diplomacy organization with his partner and solely focus on the foundation.

As Keith started to expand into international issues, he realized that the enormous amount of money invested by the United States Government for humanitarian aid programs didn't seem to match the amount of work accomplished. That is

Look Good to Feel Good

“It's really just being yourself and wanting to be a champion at life and just dominate everything that you do,” advises Keith. Personally, he goes every day to the gym, hits the free-weights and plays tennis. He strongly believes in the look good, feel-good mentality.

As he spends a good amount of time abroad on their international initiatives, whenever he is in Los Angeles, he likes to get out on the ocean and enjoy the California sun. Keith inds it to be a great reset. He enjoys being active more than resting. He prefers a more highoctane life and suggests the same for upcoming leaders.

when he decided to help in a different way. He started this by creating initiatives that will empower people and not keep them dependent on government aid. To provide a more impactful solution, he decided to deliver the actual supplies personally rather than just giving a check to the government.

HUMANITARIAN AID INITIATIVES

Keith is involved in major humanitarian initiatives. The recent incident of the explosion in Beirut,

To help with this crisis Keith has been meeting with many diplomats to discuss joint partnerships on bringing aid directly to the people rather than to the government. This is important as it is the fastest way and the way to root out any corruption. In situations like this, every little bit helps and each of us can add a little something to make the world a better place.

Keith through his foundation 'Gift Global Initiative' is putting together aid packages with a focus on baby

initiatives even while working as a representative of the Royal Family Private Ofice. For example, if the private ofice is looking to land a contract of buying rights to a seaport in a foreign country, an offer with appropriate market value along with a commitment to invest in social impact initiatives in that country through their Foundation is given priority.

Keith with Gift Global Initiative handles the logistics and manages that process. This could be

Lebanon shook the world. What many people don't know is just how bad the aftermath has hit its economy; the blackouts, fuel shortage, increase in food prices, lack of feminine hygiene products, and shortage of baby formula were few among the many other pertinent issues. The government is in transition and still unstable, but the people of Lebanon should not suffer, they want peace and unity with a society that is more liberal than most in the Middle Easter Region.

formula and feminine hygiene products. They have structured their website with a separate breakdown with each of the initiatives to give donors a choice to select programs that they feel the most passionate about.

CREATING A HEARTBEAT FOR YOUR BUSINESS

Through Keith's diplomacy work internationally, he has built relationships with many government oficials and foreign leaders. He ties in the social impact

upgrading the schools, 5G Internet, iPad for students, infrastructure city rebuild and many more similar things.

The charismatic leader believes that businesses focus on business, but they help them focus on leading their businesses with social responsibility. In other words, 'They Create a Heartbeat for Your Business'.

GIFT GLOBAL INITIATIVE

Keith was working with a little girl

who was diagnosed with brain cancer in Mexico. He had posted on social media about the same and Manna, his now partner and CEO of GIFT, had contacted him mentioning that she has connections with the American Cancer Society and that she could help.

Manna and Keith met in LA the night before they were set to head to Mexico to visit the family and the little girl who was ighting for her life. They spent the weekend with them focusing on collecting her medical records and starting the process to get her the proper medicine and treatment she needed. They covered all the medical expenses from their own pockets.

Thereafter, they started getting contacted by other families who

were in a similar situation and needed help. They knew this was going to be a large personal undertaking, so they set up an organization, the GIFT Global Initiative, where they could take donations, grants etc., and give tax deductible for those who want to help and make a difference.

Today, that little girl is cancer-free after many treatments and years of uncertainty. GIFT Global Initiative has expanded greatly, but they still require enough medical funds to

help all the kids get the treatment they need.

LOOKING FORWARD

Keith wants to continue building social impact initiatives around the globe and expand their 'Sports for

Solar Diplomacy' program as the lagship program for countries under their Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Keith has reshaped how a foundation/nonproit can beneit a brand/company by acting as an extension of their PR/Marketing divisions by shooting social responsibility commercials of their brand being used in the ield through their initiatives. They are able to get brands free earned media by having them work through Keith's foundation. “People want to support companies that put people equal to proits that not only have a corporate responsibility but ones that LEAD with that as a brand identity,” concludes Keith.

Behind the CEO’s Desk

Trent Richards

What according to you makes one a transformational CEO? How do you integrate the same thought into your leadership?

Put simply, I believe in a core set of morals, ethics and common goals which align with the best possible client outcome. If you focus on the client getting the best possible deal / outcome and look at proits second, you always tend to get a lot more clients and a lot more proits in the long run. It's so simple to do and it's the right thing to do. This way everyone will win the game.

I train my team to ensure that the approach used when talking to any client is that we want to achieve the best possible outcome for the client. If this means that we should not make a sale as it would hinder the progress of the client, then so

be it. We have said no to many clients who wanted to invest with us as the timing for them in their personal situation isn't right. This, in many cases, has seen these clients come back to us when the time is right, and they have been able to take full advantage of what we can offer. These same clients have also referred many friends and family members to see what we can do for them.

Talk to us about your vision with Black Diamond Private Wealth LTD. (BDPW).

BDPW offers clients a way to maximize their investment returns without the risk of not knowing how well the investment will work out. We offer clients an agreed percentage return upfront, prior to investing any money at all. This truly is peace of mind investing to

know how much they will make on the investment and the date they will realize the proits in their bank account.

We run a Proprietary Indexed Fund within the crypto sector and the main advantage of clients investing / lending to our fund are two-fold:

1.We guarantee the capital that is invested 100% to be returned to the clients upon the maturity of their loan agreement. This is done through our Hedge Fund that forms part of our Indexed Fund. The Hedge Fund capital is BDPW's own capital that is used to offset any losses within the Indexed Fund until any new positions are well into proit. This way clients can never lose capital. All the risk

CEO, Metrix Coin

1.is on BDPW's own capital at all times.

2.We offer an agreed percentage return upfront over a two-year period or three loan year period. The ROI we offer our clients is higher than anything else on the market and we are comfortably able to make this offer due to the volatility within the crypto market. We know the markets well and the timelines within the market. We have strategies for when the market is going up, going down or going sideways. We can take advantage of all these conditions within the market to proit.

What makes BDPW lexible and scalable? How do you plan on scaling the business?

This business model was built from the onset with lexibility and scalability as the largest part of the corporate blueprint. BDPW offers clients an investment in their Proprietary Indexed Fund and gives the choice of either a 2-year 24-month investment timeline or a 3-year 36-month timeline. The longer pays better strategy is then applied to pay those who choose to lock up their capital longer, a larger ROI on their funds invested.

As a CEO of a company, what are some of the most essential things that one needs to be aware of?

I personally view the CEO role as the one who is to bring out the best within all staff members. Depending on the size and scale of

the business, this would normally start with empowering your upper management, then taking the same approach to middle and lower management. Most importantly though, it's making every single employee / contractor feel wanted, needed and a solid part of the team. By empowering the working force behind the company, the results are magical from many different stand points.

Talk to us about the current market situation for Digital Currencies. Where do you see the market heading in the coming years?

Digital currencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDT, and the like and getting more attention as the years role on. My personal belief is that the entire banking sector will look very different in 10 years' time. Banks will be using digital currencies as their main form of transactions and the cash system will be replaced by digital entries on a ledger – no doubt a blockchain. The entire lending space will be turned upside down where instead of making an application to the bank for a loan, you simply use a lending portal through a DeFi protocol and your loan is instantly approved and ready to use, as long as you meet the criteria of the protocol. This is already in place and the DeFi space is gaining compound growth each year due to the demand for this product.

What does a day in the life of Trent Richards look like? How do you ensure work-life balance?

Great question. I personally retired 4.5 years ago from the day-to-day grind. I moved out of my home country Australia and now live the Island life in Indonesia. I start each day on the beach for 2-3 hours with my dogs and then come home for a few hours of work, then catch up with friends before heading back to the beach with my dogs. My work/life balance has tipped out from work all day and all night to now lifestyle most of the day and night with a little bit of work!

What are you most excited about in the future, both personally and professionally?

The future is extremely solid in my life. I have worked with the island life plan for over a decade and now made it a reality. I want to continue doing a little bit of work to keep my faculties in tune, but also very happy to spend most of my days on the beach or doing some sports or hobbies and enjoying the relation time. BDPW has been built with an amazing business plan and the daily operation is all automated. There is a very small actual manual workload that is required, and this was always part of the bigger picture to allow the business to thrive without an 80-hour a week personal commitment needed.

Exploring AFRICA

Founded by Kirsty Gordon, Anywhere in Africa Safaris is an independent, owner-run tour operator based in one of the most breath-taking cies in the world, Cape Town. The company plans bespoke, luxury travel packages to Southern Africa, East Africa, North Africa, and Indian Ocean Islands.

What according to you makes one a transformational leader?

I believe that as a transformational leader you need to give your employees the independence to share and make decisions to support new problem-solving solutions and ways to grow the company or help to make our clients feel super special.

How do you integrate the same thought into your leadership?

First and foremost, as a transformational leader in the travel industry you need to set a good example of trust and transparency, not only to your staff, but to your supplier, partners, and clients. You do this by being passionate, enthusiastic, and energetic while focusing on helping every member in the team to succeed and think out of the 'travel box'.

An example: I have two incredible ladies who work for me in my social media and marketing team. They are young, energetic and have some

fabulous ideas on how to grow my social media reach and improve our marketing. We have meetings to thrash out ideas, come up with ''out of the box'' travel marketing suggestions, solutions for social media that are not working –but i always listen, encourage, trust in their expertise so that we can grow this part of the business in a positive and specialized manner.

Talk to us about your growing up years. What is your earliest memory as a leader / entrepreneur?

I was very lucky to grow up on the garden route in South Africa in a small town called George. My mum bought me a pony when I was about 7 years old, and this totally changed my life! I grew up riding horses, exploring the forests, mountains, and beaches on horseback with my friends.

My mum would drop me at the riding club at 8am in the morning on a Saturday and didn't see me again till she picked me up at 6pm after I had helped feed the horses their evening meal. My

KIRSTY GORDON

CEO & Founder, Anywhere in Africa Safaris

life was carefree, with great friends, incredible family, and amazing outdoor locations. However, my mum struggled inancially as a single parent as my dad had passed away when I was about 4 years old. Often it was inancially dificult for my mum to pay for horse-riding show fees or send me to shows outside of George, which required transport, accommodation, and entry.

When I was about 14 years old, I remember overhearing my mum telling my grandmother that she would love to send me to a show in Port Elizabeth but just couldn't afford it that month. So, this is when I decided to take control of the situation and I put up an advert at the riding club to say that i was making numnahs (which is a saddle blanket).

My mum had a sewing machine at home which I had learnt to use as I had to do needle work / home economics as school. Suddenly I had a few orders and then I decided to make ''chaps'' which are made of suede/ soft leather to protect the riders' legs. I made a full pair for myself and then orders started coming in. This is how I was then able to help my mum pay for some of my horse-riding costs. It was such a thrill to feel that I could contribute! Then I got into riding people's dificult horses which they paid me for and then when I was 18 years old, I did my SANEF (South African Equestrian Federation) teaching level in order to teach professionally. Horse riding was a huge part of my life for many years and helped sustain me when I was between jobs or needed extra income.

What prompted your love affair with Africa and the wilderness of the world?

A friend of mine Carolyn Hartley st was having her 21 birthday in Botswana at a camp owned by her parents (Hartley's Safaris). I was invited to join her, and this was my irst taste of a safari and what an incredible place to experience your irst safari in the Okavango delta of Botswana. That was the start of my love for the African bush!

What is the approach followed by your company – Anywhere in Africa - to ensure the most authentic travel experiences for your clients?

I am very speciic with which venues or ground handlers that I partner with and make sure that most of the venues I recommend for my clients, I have visited personally.

It is very important to me and Anywhere in Africa Safaris that we use and recommend venues that have the same ethos as we do. You, our guests are giving back to Africa by visiting, traveling, interacting with the staff, getting to know them as people not just as a place to stay and experience.

One of my philosophies is that we cannot change Africa, but we can change the circle that we create around us. So, by making sure that Anywhere in Africa Safaris works with the right venues, lodges, tour companies, ground handlers in all the areas of Africa, we help to create the right impact within our circle. We then need you, our clients, to visit Africa and help us make the circle bigger as you

become an ambassador for the continent, to help, understand and share the changes and positive impacts that are being made to support community and conservation.

Talk to us about your idea of giving back. Why is it an important subject for you?

A talkative bird will not build a nest' sums up our approach to charity work and 'giving back'. It speaks to our ethos of 'deeds, not words', which many of our traveler's share. We're often asked by our clients how they can directly beneit the communities or animals they've encountered on their journey. Besides making sure we use properties that give back to the community, conservation, and general well-being of their staff. We give a portion of each booking made by clients back to Elephant Havens which is an NGO in Maun that we support.

We also encourage clients to speak to us irst if they want to give back to Africa as we have many smaller non-proit organizations that need help and are not supported by the bigger companies. Clients then know their money is going to support the right community, organization, school, conservation program or charity.

What does a day in the life of Kirsty Gordon look like?

I normally get to the ofice around 7:30 in the morning to have time to check emails and do some planning before we start at 8:30. I am then involved with what payments have to be made to suppliers, especially the USA payments as we have a

time frame to get these actioned by 10am so that the suppliers will be paid the following day. Then invariably I have 1 zoom meeting per day or now that people are comfortable to interact, suppliers come to the ofice for product updates or to introduce me to new products.

Then working on clients traveling to make sure all is running smoothly, answering emails to clients to help plan their trips. Often in the afternoon having zoom meeting with any new American clients to discuss their wish lists, budgets, ideas they have for their possible trip (this is generally in the afternoon from about 2pm to 6pm due to time zone differences. Clients who have paid their inal payments which are 2 months prior to their trip – we then need to

prioritize payment suppliers, inalizing their itinerary set by step. Then between 5pm and 6pm, I head home either for a walk or run with my partner or then make dinner.

What are you most excited about in the future, both personally and professionally?

I am so excited to see that travel is getting back to normalcy and people are traveling to Africa! We have lovely bookings this year for –South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, Mauritius, Seychelles, Zanzibar, Mozambique, and Ethiopia!

This is how you become an ambassador of Africa – by traveling to this amazing continent – this

forms such a positive spin on effect that helps people, communities, conservation which then assists in preventing poaching, helps builds economies, brings global opportunities, and much more!

I am excited for the future of Anywhere in Africa Safaris. Personally, I love people, I love Africa, and I love travel, so I am excited to see how Africa is calling!

e CaueKndnes Story

– Written By Mandy Cordia

Ihave a photo on my desk of a

bright-eyed, eight-year-old me. That little girl was so full of hope and determination to make a difference. She wanted to change the world. Somewhere along the way, someone made her believe she was too small and insigniicant to make a difference, so she set that dream aside.

My irst love in life was fashion. The glitz and glamour I saw in fashion magazines were very different from my hand-me-down, small-town, Missouri life. I always wondered what it would be like to walk into a store, buy whatever I wanted, and never worry about how much it cost. That very idea seemed outside the realm of any possibility I knew. I was taught very young that you have to work for everything you want in life. I got a job in retail at age 15 and never looked back. I managed to turn my love of shopping into a full-time career. I had the pleasure of helping others ind love and joy through the clothes they wear every day as a corporate retail fashion buyer for companies like

Zappos.com, Dillard's, and The Home Shopping Network.

My career as a corporate retail buyer allowed me to live out my childhood dreams of attending fashion shows, traveling the world, and working with brands that had previously only been within my reach in the pages of fashion magazines. I was living out my dreams, but those dreams came crashing down quickly with the onset of the pandemic.

The pandemic was my wake-up call. I realized I wasn't that same little girl anymore. Over the course of my career, I got married and had two beautiful children. My job required me to travel frequently, which meant I missed out on irst birthdays, picture days, and far too many other important events to count. If you were to ask my children, “Where does mommy work?” They would almost always reply, “New York,” even though we live in Las Vegas, Nevada. Prior to the pandemic, I did my best to separate home and work. I made it a point to be

present with my family, and my kids rarely saw me working. The pandemic changed that; they saw mommy working all day, pulling all-nighters, and working on the weekends to keep from drowning in the workload. I was one of the “lucky” ones who got to keep my job in retail when many were laid off or furloughed. My job was already demanding, but now I was taking on the work of 3 other people. Whenever I received a phone call from an Account Executive to tell me they had been laid off, I secretly wished I could trade them places. The workload was becoming more than I could handle, and it wasn't long before I crash-landed in burnout.

My breaking point was a day I will never forget. I was at home frantically working to meet a last-minute deadline. I heard my 3-year-old son playing in his room, and something he said caught my attention. I got up and peeked around the corner to watch. My son had set up his stuffed animals around his table. He made a computer out of paper and pretended to work just as he saw me do every day. After a few moments, he turned to his stuffed animals and yelled at them to be quiet. He said, “I'm on an important call and need to inish my work.” I cried. My heart was broken. This was not the example I wanted to set for my children, and I knew something had to change.

I didn't know what that change looked like, so I started with therapy. Little did I know then that those therapy secessions

would change everything. One of the most signiicant discoveries was that I had been neglecting my passion for giving back. Before having children, I volunteered my time to several charitable organizations. Life had become so busy that I no longer had time to volunteer. We were still in the middle of the pandemic, so volunteering in person wasn't an option. Plus, I couldn't bring myself to take a lunch break away from my computer, let alone enjoy helping others, all while knowing the work is piling up (don't worry, this was also addressed in therapy).

As a mom, I felt like every time I turned around, I needed to buy another gift for a birthday, housewarming, or wedding. I started to buy gifts for my friends and family that supported charitable organizations as my way of giving back. The gifts became conversation starters about important issues and a way to learn about different nonproits. However, it often took a lot of work to uncover and learn about the nonproit beneiting from my purchase, and the giveback was often vague. As a product person, I didn't always love the selection offered. There had to be a better way. I decided that my many years of retail experience, coupled with my love of helping others, put me in a unique position to tackle the problem head-on.

I launched my business, The Kindness Cause, in March of 2022 with three main goals: (1) make giving back easy when life is busy by incorporating giving into the things we do every day, like buying gifts for our friends and family; (2) provide transparency around funds donated with purchase and

transparency around the charitable organization beneiting from the sale; and (3) create a platform to educate, bring awareness, and raise funds to support the incredible work of smaller, regional nonproit organizations. Getting to merge my love of fashion, advocacy, and philanthropy is an added bonus.

The causes and issues that I am passionate about is an extensive list. However, my initial nonproit partnerships for The Kindness Cause focus on human rights, women empowerment, the LGBTQIA+ community, children, cancer, and environmental issues. It was vital for me to launch with the right partners. I utilize Charity Navigator, GuideStar, and tax

returns to vet and hand-select the organizations for partnership.

Once I partner with a nonproit organization, I create and curate merchandise around their mission for a “Cause Collection.” These collections are speciic to one nonproit organization, and the merchandise is only available for purchase for a period of 60-days. In every product description on the website, I state how much we donate to charity with purchase, along with the nonproit organization beneiting from the purchase.

The Kindness Cause also features a great assortment of merchandise themed around kindness and

positive afirmations that are sold throughout the year in our “Kindness Collection.” Like the Cause Collections, every purchase donates to a charitable nonproit organization, and we transparently share how much we donate and the organization beneiting from the sale. So far, I've had the distinct honor to partner with, bring awareness, and raise funds for some incredible charitable nonproit organizations, including but not limited to:

Ÿ Birmingham, Alabama, nonproit GASP, whose mission is to advance healthy air & environmental justice in the greater-Birmingham area through education, advocacy, and collaboration.

Ÿ St. Louis, Missouri nonproit, Zugunruhe Experience believes that to understand the world, you must see the world and that education through travel has the power to be the most inluential factor in inspiring a life illed with meaning. They provide opportunities to travel for underserved youth to discover their limitless potential.

Ÿ Las Vegas, Nevada nonproit, The Remissonaries, positively impacts women ighting breast cancer by providing comfort during and after chemotherapy treatment with their comfort crates.

Ÿ Westlake Village, California nonproit, My Stuff Bags Foundation provides new belongings, comfort, and hope

to thousands of children each year rescued from abuse, neglect, abandonment, and homelessness across the United States. The new belongings address the immediate physical and emotional needs of rescued children and help support the agencies caring for them.

I've discovered that life only gets busier. When we have the inancial means to give, we often do not have the time. When we have time to give, we often do not have the inancial means to give. How we give back evolves over time. It doesn't matter how we give; it just matters that we do. One of my favorite quotes is by Mother Teresa.

She said, “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.”

Every day when I sit down at my desk to start my day, I see that photo of 8-year-old me and smile. I no longer feel small and insigniicant. That photo is my daily reminder of the beautifully broken journey I've taken to ind my voice, my worth, and to be here doing what I love today. The work I do makes a meaningful difference daily, and the best part is I'm just getting started. I know that 8-yearold me would be so proud.

Disseminating Knowledge on How Transformation, Empowerment, and Mindset Can Transform our World

Leadership is about service, not position. From Moses to Martin Luther King Jr., history is full of examples of people who led not because they had power but because they had a cause and an idea worth ighting for. They knew that the best way to lead is to serve. When you do this, the most complex of problems become easy, the most demanding challenges become minor, and obstacles drive away. People follow your lead voluntarily because they want to be part of what you're doing, not because you tell them.

Tiffani Brooke, an Actress, Global Activist, Advocate, and Humanitarian is one such leader who is ighting for the cause. She believes that growth and happiness can only be achieved when shared with others. In the following interview, she eloquently combines business and spirituality and shares with us the ultimate way of transforming our shortcomings into advantages.

What according to you makes for a transformational leader? How do you integrate the same thought into your own leadership?

Well, that's a tough question for multiple

reasons. I have a hard time with the word leader in general, as the implication is someone with power over others. I think true leadership is born out of a commitment to serve others. When it's born out of a desire to gain power or control over others then leadership can be quite manipulative and even destructive.

What has the journey been like for Tiffani Brooke over the years?

I would say my journey has mostly been a spiritual one. As an actress and an artist, my job has always been to connect to our shared humanity, to hold up a mirror up to society, expose our deepest vulnerabilities, and on a deeper level, be a catalyst for social change.

About 10 years ago I also discovered Nichiren Buddhism, a philosophy for creating happiness for self and others. A core belief is happiness cannot exist independently. True and lasting happiness can only be shared with others. The more I chanted, the more I wanted to become a more global citizen, and to advocate for social justice, uniting with others around the world.

Looking back, what would you have done different when starting out?

I don't believe in lamenting the past because every cause you have made, even those you deem mistakes, have brought you to where you are today. “From this day forward” is a better way to live your life. Every effect you will see in the future is made up of the causes you make today. So just keep advancing as you are now! The only thing I would change if I could, would be to have had the courage to start my global activism sooner. But my life had its own divine timing, and I am thankful for it!

What has been your biggest driver as a leader? How do you plan on empowering the lives of people?

I wouldn't call myself a leader actually. I coined a term for myself 5 years ago, on my irst ever global volunteer trip to Nepal, deeming myself a “Global Human Activist”. This inspires me and motivates me to keep going. It's active, like a verb. It implies a far-reaching goal, and expansion on a global level. And that's what I want to do, continue to expand my capacity to give in the world. The last 5 years those efforts have been concentrated in India, where I began supporting women and children in poverty. When I was introduced to the NGO New Light, I felt as though I had come home to myself. The organization, run by the incomparable Urmi Basu, elevates the lives of women and children living in the

largest read light districts in India, effectively minimizing the cycle of 2nd generation prostitution. As a feminist and a survivor of sexual abuse myself, I felt a unique call to support their incredible work. Urmi Basu has become not just a mentor, but a dear friend, and a sister. My dream is to continue to advocate on behalf of women and girls around the world.

What would be your advice for aspiring and emerging women leaders?

I think the greatest thing my Buddhist practice has taught me, is that your dharma (or life's purpose), is directly correlated to the source of your greatest suffering. Read that again. When you can turn the ultimate “poison” in your life into “medicine” for the good of oneself and others, or as we say in Buddhism, “turn karma into mission,” then you are fulilling your life's dharma and all the universe conspires to help you achieve that end. For me, the source of my greatest suffering was the physical & sexual abuse I endured as a child, which crippled my self-esteem, my ability to love, and my ability to thrive in the world. With the help of my spiritual practice, I have been able to turn that exact suffering into a mission to help other women experiencing the same. And nothing has given me more joy in my life than advocating for an end to sexual violence against women & girls.

So my advice to all women would be this: go inward, ind that thing you've most likely been trying to escape. Commune with the source of your greatest suffering and turn that into your superpower to transform the world. It's profound but trust me when I say, this is where your gift lies.

Talk to us about your humanitarian efforts and what it means to you to give back.

I think I may have just did that in the last question! As much as being an actress and an artist ills me with joy and purpose, nothing has been more fulilling than connecting that same passion to a greater mission to transform the lives of women around the world.

What are some of the pre-conceived notions or stereotypes that you have faced being a women leader?

I think the hardest part about being a woman, leader or

not, is the patriarchy upon which our world is built. Women still make less money than men for the same work, often ighting intense prejudice to even be hired for the job in the irst place, and women still face huge amounts of oppression and violence at the hands of men around the globe. During covid lockdowns for example, both the Human Rights Watch and UN Women, issued warnings about the sharp increase in VAW (violence against women) globally. Turkey in particular made headlines for the increase in femicides, and yet their president effectively pulled out of the Istanbul Convention, the world's irst binding treaty to prevent violence against women. One in three women have been or will be a victim of sexual violence in their lifetime, and I am a testament to that. So there is still so much work to be done.

Talk to us about the contributions of New Light Kolkata and its vision.

As I mentioned before, my life truly changed when I was introduced to the non proit New Light. Urmi Basu, the founder, has been a true champion for women and girls, and in 2019 was awarded the highest civilian award in India for her work in the red light districts. I urge everyone to go to their website, donate to their cause, follow their work on IG, and consider volunteering one day. (Once travel to India is safe again). They are constantly in need of volunteers to collaborate with the kids, teach them a skill or trade, provide arts education, or simply be there to provide love and mentorship. The experience will undoubtedly change your life.

What has been the biggest roadblock during your journey? What has been your biggest learning?

I think the biggest roadblock for me has been time and limited resources. I'm not an activist full time, and I am juggling my life and career and inancial obligations back home in the states, in order to get back to India and contribute in any substantial way. Sometimes I have to remind myself that just bringing awareness to a cause IS a contribution. Some of my most miraculous moments have come out of simply sharing the cause with others. People unite around you and contribute to your goal if you share your intent openly and authentically. Don't be afraid to ask others for help. Let your community support you. You might be surprised where that leads you.

What does the future look like for you in the coming years? What is your long-term vision?

Right now my main goal is to be able to return to India safely. Covid has been wreaking havoc on this country and the people that I love, and right now all we can do is offer our support from the sidelines. Consider donating to New Light so they can keep their doors open to the women and children in Kolkata they continue to serve. Share their work & their social media with others. And of course, continue to give to India's covid relief efforts where you can.

Finally, what do you think is the most important trait for a leader and why?

Like I said in the beginning, the important thing is not to seek leadership. True leaders never seek to lead, they seek to serve. And in a way that aligns with their unique dharma in the world. From their earnest offerings, unseen hands emerge, supporters who champion their vision, and who walk beside them every step of the way. Urmi Basu started New Light 20 years ago with only $200 and a dream. Twenty years later they operate 5 schools and shelters and provide education to children from infancy through university. I started my global activism just 5 years ago, with one solo trip to Nepal. All you have to do is take that irst step. Jump, and the net will appear.