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Qualityleadershipskillsaremostessentialtraitto
leadanorganizationeffectively.Tobeaninfluential leader,onehastocomeupwithinnovativeideas andimplementtheminasystematicmanner.Innovative skills,adequateunderstandingoftechnologyandits potential,abilitytotaptheresources,andtoutilizeall talents,skills,andabilitiesaresomeofthekey characteristicsofaninfluentialleaders.Aninfluentialleader trieshislevelbesttotransformtheavailableopportunities intoattainableandsustainablesuccess.Influentialleaders don’tgetcaughtupinwishfulthinking.Theybelievein practicalresults.Theyarerationalandareresultoriented.
Theyplantheirworkandworktheirplan.Theyprioritize themostimportantactivities.Theybecomeinfluential becausetheyutilizetimeandresourcesintheirhands wiselyandcalculatively.Theytakecalculatedrisks.They believeingoingbeyondthecomfortzone.Theyconsider thatbeingtrappedinthesafetyzoneismuchmore dangerousthantheperceptionoftherisk.Theydon’ttake toomuchspace.
Influentialleadersunderstandthemarket,itsneedsandthe potentialopportunitiesverywell.Theyimplementtheir innovativeideastocreatesolutionstosolvetheneedsofthe customersmoreeffectively.Influentialleadersusethelatest technologiestoimplementtheirideaseffectively.Tobean influentialleaderoneneedscommonsense,confidence, coolness,communicationpractice,charmandcheer, honesty,andhumility.Humilityattracts;priderepels. Influentialleaderseventhoughtheyarehugelysuccessful theyprefertobegroundedandkeeplearningconstantly. Theybalanceefficiencyandcompassion.Theysetthe exemplarystandardsforeveryoneelsetofollow.
Influentialleadersareacombinationoforganizedaswellas unorganizedactivities.Organizedactivitieshelpthemtodo justicetotheirroles,routines,relationships,and responsibilities.Andtheychoosesomeunorganizedorquite newactivitiesalsosoastohavesomelittlebrain-storming. Thishelpstonourishtheirintelligenceandenhancetheir creativity.Influentialleaderssomehowmanagetheirlivesin suchawaythatthereisbalancebetweentheirlifeand
Influentialleaders crossoverthechallenges onthewaywithgrace, dignity,utmost composure,andby utilizingtheirtalents,skills, abilities,andresourcesfor gloriouspurposes.
lifestyle.Theyhavegreatlifeaswellasgreatlifestyle.
Influentialleadersareruthlesswhenitcomestobeing efficientandcompetentattheirbusinessesbutatthe sametimetheyarethemostcoolandcompassionate personalitieswhiledealingwithpeoplebeyondtheir businesses.Wholeworldisaplaygroundforinfluential people.Influentialleadersarethemostresourceful people.Theyarethemosttrustworthypeople.They deliverexceptionalresultsforthecauseofincreasing thetrustoftheiremployeesandcustomersandsoasto ultimatelybenefitthem.Theyleadfromthefronttoset thebenchmarkforothers.Theyareresoluteintheir purposetocontributehugelytotheirorganizationand totheirbusinesses.Theycrossoverthechallengeson thewaywithgrace,dignity,utmostcomposure,andby utilizingtheirtalents,skills,abilities,andresourcesfor gloriouspurposes.
RecognizingBestperformingCEOs,InsightsSuccess hasshortlisted“The10MostInfluentialLeadersin Business2019”
FeaturingourCoverStoryinwhichnotableinfluential leaders are AmeyaTalwalkar&ShreyansMehta highlighted.AmeyaTalwalkarandShreyansMehtaare thefoundersofCequenceSecurity.Theyhavebuilta disruptiveapplicationsecurityplatform,which providesdetectionanddefenseofautomatedbot attacksaswellasapplicationvulnerabilityexploits. TheplatformispoweredbypatentedAItechnology andisdeployedatseveralFortune500/Global200 companiesaroundtheworld.TheCequencesolution securesclosetoabillionuseraccounts,preventing millionsofdollarsinfraudlosses,savingmillionsof dollarsininfrastructurecostand,mostimportantly, savingbillionsofdollarsinbrand/reputationlossfrom securitybreaches.
Also,makesuretogothroughthearticles,writtenby ourin-houseeditorialteamaswellasCXOstandpoints ofnotableindustrypersonalitiestohavebriefinsights ofthesector.
Sharad Chitalkar“Hard
is a virtue.”
AmeyaTalwalkarandShreyansMehtaarethe foundersofCequenceSecurity.Theyhave builtadisruptiveapplicationsecurityplatform, whichprovidesdetectionanddefenseof automatedbotattacksaswellasapplicationvulnerability exploits.TheplatformispoweredbypatentedAI technologyandisdeployedatseveralFortune500/Global 200companiesaroundtheworld.TheCequencesolution securesclosetoabillionuseraccounts,preventingmillions ofdollarsinfraudlosses,savingmillionsofdollarsin infrastructurecostand,mostimportantly,savingbillionsof dollarsinbrand/reputationlossfromsecuritybreaches.
PriortostartingCequenceSecurity,Ameyawasthe engineeringleaderforSymantec’sentireanti-malware stack.ThisstackwasintegratedintoeverySymantec securityproductintheconsumerandenterprisespaceand wasresponsibleofpreventingnearly5Billioncyberthreats worldwideonayearlybasis.Inearlydaysoftheircareerat Symantec,ShreyansandAmeyaalsobuiltadisruptive networksecurityenginewhichwasconsidereda“game changer”intheindustryandallowedSymantectoleapfrog aheadofthecompetitionandwinseveralindustryreviews andawards.
Shreyansinhisroleasleadnetworksecurityarchitectat Symantecledmanyinnovativeideasbasedaroundthis groundbreakingtechnology.Forexample,hestartedthe “SafeWeb”initiative,whichinvolvedratingwebsitesfor theirsafetybasedonthebillionsofdatapointsgathered fromSymantec’smillionsofusers.ThisallowedSymantec customerstosearchandsurfthewebsafelywithouthaving toworryaboutbeinginfected.HelateronusedMachine Learninginaveryinnovativewaytoderiveinfectionpoints oflargescalebotnetsthatwerecreatinghavocinconsumer andenterpriseworld.Theseweretheearlydaysof Ransomware.
Throughout my career I have pushed the envelope of innovation. I have now made multiple small innovative ideas into successful products of their own.
‘‘
Accordingtotheiconicduo,leadersshouldhaveawinning vision/missionfortheircompany/organizationandthey shouldbeabletoclearlyarticulatethattotheirteams,their investorsandtheircustomers.Theyshouldbecommitted, accessible,trustworthyshouldleadbyexample.Moreover, theyshouldcultivateacultureoftrust,accountability,hardworkandhavingfunwhiledoingit.AmeyaandShreyans alsobelievethat,beingaleader,oneshouldcontinually assessprogressonthevision/missionandbehumble enoughtomakeadjustmentsasnecessaryalongthejourney, whilemotivatingtheteamtogivetheirbesteverysingle day.
OneofthegreatestlessonsAmeyaandShreyanshave learnedissummarizedinthreewords:“Believein yourself!”Theybelievedthattheycouldbuildanengine thatstopsthreatsatthenetworklevel,waybeforefile-based engineshaveachancetotacklethesethreats.Theybelieved theycouldbuildanenginethatwillworkinvariousform factors–IoTdevices,WindowsPCs,largeappliancesand Cloud-basedsolutions.Despiteskepticismfrompeersand seniors,theydeliveredagamechangingtechnologythat enhancessecurityinallSymantecproducts.
PriortoCequence,allbotmitigationsolutionsreliedon technique–devicefingerprinting.Infactthistechnique, whichhasitsrootinmarketingtechnologygoingbackto early2000s,issoprevalentinthisspacethatevenindustry analystsstartedadvocatingthisasthewaytosolvethe problem.Therealityontheotherhandisverydifferent.In theearlydaysofCequence,ShreyansandAmeyarealized thatthistechniquehastremendousflawsinthem–includingtheamountoftimeandpainittakestointegrate thisintoALLapplicationsthatneedtobeprotectedfrom bots.
Toovercomethis,ShreyansandAmeyabuiltasolutionthat doesnotrequireanyapplicationintegration,protectsall applicationsatonce,andhasdeceptivemitigation capabilities.Today,theCequencesolutionsolvessecurity problemsformanyfortune500/Global2000companiesat scale.Theirapproachhasreceivedmanyaccolades, including2018GartnerCoolVendor.
CequenceSecurity’sproductstrategyderivesfromits founders’experienceinregularlyshippingsoftwareto millionsofcustomersaroundtheworld,expertisein buildingsolutionstothwartthemostsophisticatedthreats (evenfromstateactors),interviewingandlisteningtoa varietyoflargeenterprisecustomers/earlyadopters,staying ontopofindustrytrends,andmostimportantlybuildateam thatcandeliveradifferentiatedproducttothemarket.
AmeyaandShreyanshavefacedthetypicalchallengesthat firsttimeentrepreneursface.Gettingaventureoffthe
groundinanexpensiveplacelikeSiliconValley,especially intheenterprisesecurityspaceisverydifficult.The architecturaldecisionmadeintheearlydaysofCequence enabledthemtobuildadifferentiatedproduct,butithada fewchallenges–itwasamuchmorecomplexproductto build,ittooklongertobuildandrequiredavery experiencedteamtobuildit.
BothAmeyaandShreyansarereallygratefultoCequence Security’scommittedearlyinvestorsandearlyemployees whostillhavethesamepassionanddedicationastheydid ondayone.OneotherchallengeAmeyaandShreyansfaced earlyonis“risingabovethenoise”.ButAmeyaand Shreyansstartedtogettheirmessageacrossbyattending smallerconferences,writingblogs,attendingvariousmeetups,doingtargetedwebinars,andforgingpartnerships.
ShreyansandAmeyaarecommittedtobuildingthenext generationapplicationsecurityplatformthewayitshould be.Theirvisionistobeabletoprotectapplicationsfromall kindsofattacksindependentofwheretheyaredeployedor howtheyaredeployed.Thisisamonumentaltaskinitself anditisdisruptingalargelegacymarketdominatedfor decadesoldtechnologies.Whiledoingthattheywantto buildahighlysuccessful/profitablecompanywhichbuilds shareholdervalue.AsPaloAltoNetworksissynonymous withNetworkSecurity,theywanttomakeCequence SecuritysynonymouswithApplicationSecurity.
Theworldisfinallywakingupto thesingle-useplasticcrisis.
Overthelast10yearswehave createdmoreplasticthanthewholeof thelastcenturycombined.Halfofthe plasticwecreateisusedjustonce,and thenthrownaway,taking500yearsto decompose.By2050,theoceansare predictedtocontainmoreplasticthan fish.Theplasticcrisisisnowtoobig forrecyclingalonetofix.
Globalgovernments,businessesand consumersneedtocollaboratequickly tomakeimpactfulchangebeforeit’s toolate.However,changeisdifficult whenenvironmentallydamaginghabits havebecomesoentrenchedandoften appearmorefinanciallyappealing.
Technologyishelpinginthisfight. Reusablewaterbottlesarenow widespread,andappsthathelpyou locatedrinkingwaterrefillstationsare nowemerging.Atthesametime, reusablecoffeecuptechnologyis addressingthehalfatrilliondisposable coffeecupsdiscardedeveryyear.Such itemsaregainingincreasingsocial currencywithconsumers,whoare keentodisplaythemasmarkersof theirenvironmentalconscience.This revolutionisencouraging,butwhat abouttheproductsthatpeoplearen’tso willingtotalkabout?
100billionmenstrualproductsare thrownawaygloballyeveryyear. Thesearesingle-use,mostlymadeof plasticandcannotberecycled.Youcan choosenottohaveacoffee,youcannot choosenottohaveaperiod.Reusable options(e.g.menstrualcups,cloth pads)havebeenonthemarketfor decades,yettheadoptionratehasbeen slow.Theprimarybarriertoentryis thefearofhabitchange.
Sohowdowebringabouta revolution?Theansweriskeepit simple.Andtaketimetoconsider consumerpsychology.Ashumans,we abhorchange.Wearecreaturesdrawn towardsthecomfortoftheknown.By
keepinghabitchangetoaminimum, consumersaremuchmorelikelyto adoptanewidea.
ThiswasourphilosophyatDAME whenwecreatedtheworld’sfirst reusabletamponapplicator.We ensuredthedesignwasfamiliarand intuitive,sowomendidnothaveto compromiseontheirconvenient, establishedrituals.Weknewthat hygienecouldbeasignificantbarrier toentry,soweworkedwithleading micro-biologistsandmedicalengineers andusedthebestmedicalgrade, anti-microbialmaterialsonthemarket. Asaresult,theconsumeronlymust rinsetheapplicatorincoldwaterafter usetokeepitclean.Simplesteps, minimalhabitchange.
However,itischallengingtotacklean issuethathassuchlittleawareness. Menstruationhashistoricallybeen shroudedinshame,fearanddiscretion. Itisnotatopicopenlytalkedabout. Thisisaproblemwithfemininecareas awhole:itisfrequentlydismissedand thewomentryingtoaddressitare criticallyunderfunded.In2017female foundersgot2%ofthe$85billionVC investmentpot.About8%ofpartners atthetopBritishVCfirmsarewomen. AccordingtoHarvardBusiness Review,stereotypesaboutfemale entrepreneurspersist:womenare overlycautious,shyawayfrom growth,haveinsufficientresourcesand consequentlytheirventures underperform.Yetthereisno performancedatatosupportthese stereotypes.
Howareproductsusedbywomen supposedtochangeinlinewithhuman andenvironmentalneeds,whenthey aren’tgivenappropriaterecognitionor havewomeninvolvedinallstagesof theprocess?Womenneedtobegiven moreofavoiceifwearetocreate meaningfulchange.TheworldofAIis alreadyhighlightingtheneedto diverseawayfrommale,white, Westerncodersifwearetoavoid
unconsciousbiasintherobotsof tomorrow.Amazonhadtoabandonan AIrecruitmenttoolthatwas discriminatingagainstwomen,instead favoringprospectswhomirrored Amazon’sexistingmaleengineer workforce.AtDAMEwomenhave beeninvolvedineverystageofthe journey,notasatokengesturebutas anabsolutenecessity.
However,ouroverarchingbusiness strategygoesbeyondissuesof inclusivitytoincorporateawider mission.DAMEwasfoundedonthe beliefthatbusinesscanbeusedasa forceforgood.Weusethiscorevalue toguideeverydecisionwemakeinthe business,bringinggreatclaritytoour routeforward.Bycommunicatingour genuineandauthenticcommitmentto thismission,wehopethatourmessage willquicklybepickedupbythose eagertojoinamovementforchange. Todate,wehaveseenthishappennot onlywithourconsumersandthepress, butwithemployees.Peopleare increasinglydrawntocompaniesdoing good.75%ofmillennialswouldtakea paycuttoworkatasocially responsiblecompany.
Allthisstrengthensourresolveat DAMEtocontinuetotacklecritical problemsthatarenotopenly acknowledged,thataresignificantly underfunded,andthathavehistorically beencontrolledbygiantmonopolies. Todaywearefocusingonmenstrual products,butourvisionisto revolutionizetheentirebathroom. Thesearebigmountains,buthaving strongguidingprinciplesmakesthe navigationmucheasier.”
-WordsbyCeliaPool Co-founderofDAMEFormoreinformationvisit wearedame.co
Evenifanorganizationoffersanoutstanding seriesofcreativeproducts,ithastoensurethat thequalityisuptothemark.Being compassionateaboutqualitymanagementisquite essentialforabusinessventuretobecomeapromising manufacturer.Thus,qualityismorelikelytobea necessityratherthanawant.Itdoplaysasalientrolein supplychainthathasstrengthenedmanufacturer’sbelief ofimplicatinginformationsystemsespeciallyin laboratoriesforqualityinspectionsonfinishedproducts andgoods.
SimilartoEnterpriseResourcePlanning(ERP), LaboratoryInformationManagementSystem(LIMS) hasbroughtadisruptivechangeintraditionalmethodsof supply-chainmanagement.Thistechnologyactsasa reportingtoolwhichallowsresearcherstoinputand storecrucialdataregardingthesample,suchasschedule records,test-sampletracks,andalsosample’s materialisticproperties.Thus,itisquiteobligatoryforan organizationtoimplementanadequateinformation systeminanattempttooverruleallquality-related issues.Also,itoftenutilizesbarcodegenerationfor scanningin-processgoodsaswellasfinishedproductsin anattempttoconsumelesstime.
Utilizingtoitsfull-potential
LIMSoperationscustomarilydependonthe manufactureranditsrequirements.Yet,thereisa standardprotocolonwhichthesystemmostlyrelies.Itis deliberatelydesignedtomonitorandfunctiononthe variousaspectsofproductqualitymanagementi.e. samplemanagement.Ithandlesthedetailedrecordsof eachsample,andmaintainsaccuracyinreducingthe possibilitiesoftheinformationgettingmixedupinlabs. LIMSmaintainstherecordofeachandeveryunit,from asuppliertotheresearcherhandlingthatsample.With suchsystems,theinformationtrackinggetsquiteeasier andcouldbefullyautomated,reducingtheneedfor laboratoryadministration.
ImplementingLIMSforworkflowmanagementaidsa manufacturertostreamlinethedecisionmakingprocess inthelaboratory.Theself-orientedsystemcan automaticallyassignscientistsregardingtheirtasksand evensuggeststhetypeofinstrumentsrequiredasper statedinthestandardexperimentmodule.Oncethe testingiscompleted,thesystemidentifiesandsupplies
thesampleforthefurtherprocess. Besides,manyLIMSautomatically coverupsvariousprocessessuchas maintenance,inventorymanagement andreporting.Itisoftenusefulfor theinstrumentslikecentrifuges whichgenerallyfacecountlesswear andtear,leadingtovariationsinthe readings.Suchvariationsnotonly affectdataanalysisauditingbutalso, disruptthecalibrationofthe instruments.TheuseofLIMSsystem mightvaryfromoneorganizationto another,astherequirementofmost oftheindustriesisquitedifferent.
Noindustrycanaffordafailureinthequalitychecks. Thus,manyorganizationsspendloadsofmonetary assetsoverthelaboratorymaintenanceandinstruments calibration.WiththeLIMSsystem,anorganizationcan surpassoverunnecessarydamagesandmonetary-cutsin laboratory.Apartfromthat,LIMSsystemmustinclude maintenancerecordsoftheinstrumentsusedintesting, inanattempttoperformorderlypreventivemaintenance.
Duetotheregularutilization,someinstrumentsstartsto showdistortionthatfurtheraffectthetestsresults.In caseofdepthmicrometer,theinstructionfollowsthatit mayrequirecalibrationeverymonthorafterevery50 uses.AmanufacturercanimproviseLIMSsystem,by includingadditionalcalibrationinstructionsheetwhich canbeutilizedbymaintenancedepartmentthereafter.
BriefonFunctionscommonlyfoundinLIMS
Reporting: Irrespectiveofanycategory,everysector requiresapromptmethodtoprocessoutthereports. Reporthelpsorganizationstoanalyzedataandmake furtherdecisionsbasedonit.Fromthe‘mostused instruments’to‘lab-processingtime’,itincludeallthe requiredinformationflowfromoneunittoother. ThroughimplementingLIMS,organizationstakea followupandprocessaudittrailsofreceived informationfromsuchunits.Yet,thelevelofdifficulty varieswithreports,assomemayrequirehighercustom codingtorunwhileotherexportonAdobePDFandMSWord.
EMR/EHR:ElectronicHealthRecordsisseparate software,butsomeLIMSsincludesEHRfeaturebuilt-in mostlyincludingpatientreceptionqueriesandbilling processes.Organizationsmainlypreferonutilizingan all-encompassingsysteminsteadofsoftwarewith singularcapability.IntegratingLIMSwithsuchfunctions facilitateclinicswithhugebenefitswhilemonitoringand maintainingalaboratory.Itmanageseverybitofaspects suchasdatatrackingovertime,continuityinhealthcare,
reducedcosts,gamutinformation,technologyof prescriptionsandresultorientation.
Workflow Management:Automateworkflowshaveoften becomeatrailinbusinessesduetoitsabilitytomaintain asteadyflowbetweenvariousprocesseswithoutany extrahumanefforts.Insteadoffocusingmoreon reducingwork,itsavestimetakenfortasking complicatedtasks.HiringorInstallingLIMSaidsoneto codifyexistingmethodsandproceduresandcould delegatethedecision-makingtothesoftware.Say,if installed,itcantakeoveronassigningjobstoscientists andcanalsopickoutinstruments,asperrequirement.It onlyrequiresastrongcommandstructurethroughwhich LIMScanoperatemuchdeliberately.
ERP:EnterpriseResourcePlanningsoftwareattains potentialtomanageinventoryandlikeEHR,itisalso self-processingsoftware.Collaborationorsay, integratingERPintoLIMSsismorefavorableduetoits highallowanceinmonitoringalertsoverlow-supplies, auto-calculationofstoragecapacityandlocation management.ThroughimplementingLIMSs,onecan surpassissuesrelatedtodatatranscriptionerrors, turnaroundtime,WIPstatus,andstatisticalanalysisand COAgeneration.
AftermathofLIMS-integrationinlaboratorieshasbeen witnessedtobemoreefficientandbeenclaimedasa reliablesystembyvariousmanufacturers.Thoughthe digitaltransformationhasneverfailedtosurprisethe marketswithitspotentialtobringoutdisruption,its manyfruitfulbenefitsareyettobeexplored.Oneof such—mobile-friendlyLIMS,ispredictedtoshiftthe traditionallaboratoriesbydeliveringmorecompact experiencetothemanufacturerswhichsoonerorlater goingtobetrailamongthelab-ownersand manufacturers.Currently,itisfocusingonimproving environmental,petrochemical,health-care, bio-technologycompaniesandR&Dinstitutes.
In an interview with Insights Success, the CEO & Managing Director, of Quadra Global Capital Corp., Perry M. Anderson, sheds light on his company’s strategies which makes control and non-control investments across a broad range of asset classes including real estate, manufacturing, technology, media, restaurant/retail, construc on, security, cyber-security, energy and mining. Here he also shares the company’s core competencies and his overall journey as an influen al leader in business. Beyond Quadra, Perry believes that we are living in the most opportunis c me in history to be acquiring a business and that business acquisi on is the fastest trajectory out of poverty and towards wealth crea on. Considering these influen al and inspira onal aspects, Insights Success recognizes Perry M. Anderson as one of the most influen al business leaders in 2019.
Below are highlights from the interview conducted between Perry and Insights Success:
Give a brief overview of your background as an influen al leader. My background is in Private Equity (MBA from Oxford), but I view myself more as an entrepreneur and crea ve problem solver. I founded a Private Equity firm called Quadra Global Capital Corp in 2002 and since then
we have gone on to make over 30 investments across a broad range of sectors. I have completed numerous deals/acquisi ons, had mul ple exits, helped to take 3 companies public and raised millions of dollars/pounds in the process. Aside from doing deals, I also run an experien al M&A training workshop that teaches people how to acquire companies for themselves - typically without using any of their own capital.
How do you diversify your organiza on’s offerings to appeal to the target audience?
With regards to my M&A training workshop, rather than focusing on theory and academia, I prefer to provide prac cal and ‘real world’ tac cs that people - regardless if you are a seasoned finance pro or a complete beginnercan immediately ac on and implement.
None of this is being taught in business schools - which can appeal to a wide audience in countries across the globe. At its core, the workshop is designed to teach people - with perhaps limited means - how to merge and acquire companies. One transac on can have a profound impact on one’s life: personally, professionally and financially.
Describe some of the vital a ributes that every leader should possess.
Business is much more weighted towards human psychology than it is to economics. A strong leader needs to quickly and accurately ascertain the ‘WHY?’ and what is mo va ng the person on the other side of the table. You need to understand the other person’s objec ves and get to a Win -Win as quickly as possible.
What were the past experiences, achievements or lessons that have shaped your journey?
The wins in business are certainly fun, however the real lessons in life are really taught through failing - and you typically have to reach into your pocket to cover these as there is a hard cost to learning these lessons.
How do you strategize your game plans to tackle compe on in the market?
There are record levels of businesses currently for sale in the market and with the baby-boomer segment bringing more businesses to market every day.
We are providing a tangible roadmap and methodology for people to be able to go out and actually acquire them. Our differen ator is that we are not simply providing theory or giving people books to read, but rather locking arms with aspiring business owners and actually assis ng them throughout the en re deal process un l they close a deal. People also get access to my team of M&A professionals
who have worked for the likes of Goldman Sachs, Rothschild, RBC, PWC, KPMG, etc in assis ng them in all facets of a transac on - both pre and post close.
We help them analyze a deal, structure an offer, raise all the capital required and get the deal over the line. I feel this was the missing link in the current marketplace –people understand the general concepts, but are really wan ng help with the implementa on. That is where we shine!
What were the primal challenges and roadblocks you faced during the ini al phase of your career as a leader? Like most entrepreneurs, a lack of resources when star ng out is always a challenge to navigate. However, as my career and experience has evolved, it has made me take a view that we are truly living in interes ng mes. Never before that there be more access to both opportunity as well as to capital. With record levels of corporate capital si ng in treasury and seeking a home, this presents a massive opportunity to execute one’s goals.
Where do you see yourself in the near future and what are your future goals?
I con nue to be very passionate about deal making. The next itera on of my journey is to be to be able to show others how to go out and acquire a business of their ownagain, typically without using any of their own capital! My personal goal is to help to democra ze wealth and let individuals, who yesterday were employees are today becoming shareholders.
About the Leader Perry M. Anderson is a global investor who encourages market access and the advancement of human progress through capital injec on and investments in a diverse range of projects.
He has led and invested in a number of acquisi ons, capital raising mandates, financings and re-structurings, startups, leverage buyouts, cross-border transac ons and other investment projects of various size and complexity.
Perry was an early stage investor in Avigilon, a Canadian based security surveillance firm that was acquired by Motorola in 2018 for $1.2B.
He is also a published author and wrote the book ‘Red To Black: The Art Of Corporate Turnaround.’
When we have the courage to live the life we were meant to live, we find that we all have an inner hero waiting to guide us on the pathway to success. Mythical heroes endured great challenges before gaining treasure at their journey’s end.
As heroic business leaders, we must embark upon our own painful journeys of discovery to find treasure in our career and company. We are all navigators of life, learning the lost art of finding our way which our ancestors embedded in myths for our modern use.
For 35 years, I have been invited into thousands of troubled corporations. I have seen that not much changes unless the leader survives a jaw dropping tragedy. He or she can then be transformed by loss into a resilient, successful, and lovable business builder.
Not much changes in a company unless such a crisis cracks the shell of the CEO, Division EVP, Department Head, or Team Manager causing him or her to
embark on his own journey into uncharted territory, where a small miracle can happen and where the leader’s True Self can emerge. The boss’s emerging genuineness is the precursor to the team’s empowerment to reveal their own True Selves – which grants them permission to reveal the new True Company
To survive the crises of the marketplace your team must traverse the same stages that mythic heroes encountered. The stages appear different because we are in the modern times, but they are the same stages.
If you’ve studied or read about storytelling, you’ve probably heard of the hero’s journey. If not, no worry. If you’ve seen the Star Wars Trilogy, Lion King, or the Wizard of Oz you get the concept.
You already possess all you will need to find the treasure you seek. This article will help you unlock it!
Carl Jung the Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst taught that myths are essential because they contain common themes, archetypes, and fears found in humans around the globe. Jung discovered that the hero’s journey is the overarching idea taught in myths throughout history.
Myths should not be read literally. Embedded within them were roadmaps to help readers find what they were really seeking. The myth of alchemy – converting lead into gold – was cover for the spiritual happiness sought by metallurgists. The Holy Grail sought by medieval intellectuals wasn’t Jesus’ cup, but a cover story for the real spiritual work they sought to do, but were afraid would run afoul of the Church. The roadmaps in myths lead us to tools we can use in our own lives.
Caution. Many people in our society have been taught to equate the
Chas Klivans is the CEO’s Navigator; a turnaround wizard, company founder, and ex-psychotherapist.
Chas says, “I take you on the Hero’s Journey and help you unfreeze your company, career, and life. I’m comfortable among wolves in the Board Room and Wakhan Corridor.”
Chas’s journey from an Afghanistan prison and the Amazon jungle to the board rooms of billiondollar corporations, has enabled him to be a true business pioneer.
His book The Inner and Outer Game of Business: Playing the Whole Game Will Take You Further Than You Have Ever Been, will be available soon. For consulting and speaking opportunities contact Chas at CKlivans@InnovationTwo.US.
hero’s journey with the phrase follow your bliss. They have been mislead. Myths teach that only adventures to the darkest most painful parts yield the happiness you seek. To undertake the hero’s journey, prepare to do some hard work. Just as body builders increase the load on the body to build muscle, we corporate-warriors increase the stress load on our thinking to increase spiritual muscle and emotional intelligence.
When something very difficult confronts you – a personal or business death or a promotion – you can meet the challenge by learning something painful. When you fail, your outer shell is cracked open; your true self can escape and rise like the Phoenix. There are no limits to how tall you can grow.
The Attraction of the Hero’s Journey
Heroes across eras, cultures, and geographies have undertaken daring adventures. Their ancient journeys provide signposts for our road-map. When we follow that eternal map, we can reset in alignment with the path that is ours alone to walk, serendipities increase, and doors open.
The hero’s journey in myth, in your company, or in your career leads through the same three stages.
Stage 1 – The Call to Adventure begins with the hero living a comfortable life when something – a business challenge, a personal tragedy, or a wonderful opportunity knocks you off your pedestal.
Answering the Call. When you ask yourself for permission to take the hero’s journey, you are opening up to deep vulnerability. Your inner hero is asking to receive guidance, admitting that you need help from the universe to become fully happy.
The strong will of many business leaders has been the basis for their success. We have learned to control whatever we could in order to survive. In a crisis we try to control everything and everybody. Only when we stop and admit that we need to let go of the illusion of power over the market and other people can we move in a more positive, productive, and rewarding direction.
Stage 2 – Crossing the Threshold or Entering the Abyss is a commitment to change, a leaving behind of the old. At a central turninag point, the hero must face the death of the old self. There is an essential epiphany –to integrate our dark side and strip out the big ego. Leaving behind character defects, our inner hero pivots toward a new life based on more productive more lovable character assets.
Stage 3 – Coming Home is when we realize the whole point of the journey is not moving away from the world, but a richer more joyful participation in it.
When you come home with your shell shattered, you can lead intentionally with new character assets. To do this, the hero must embrace a new life vow. For many, this is a vow of love and service; to esteem others. This new mode of living is to show up fiercely positive and kind.
Let’s look at the battle of a corporate warrior who learned to surrender into full acceptance of his crisis. He used his vulnerability to enlist superior business experts who had previously solved his problem. These industry survival guides taught his management team to have the right adventures at the right senior level to read the right environmental clues to harvest new sources of profit and happiness.
Selling to a $1.5 Billion Customer, Vulnerability Gets the Deal Done
The new Vice President of a $7 billion group purchasing cooperative managing $250 million in revenue was told that to meet his first year quota, he had to increase sales to an important customer by $75 million (or 20%).
This customer was purchasing 62% of its supply chain spend offcontract. The VP talked to his predecessor, who had no clue why.
The VP met with each of the customer’s CEOs at their respective plant locations. He heard that his predecessor had sold them tens of millions of dollars in computers that they didn’t request or need, and sold directly to corporate headquarters, which humiliated these local chiefs, and killed pay raises and bonuses usually due for them. The VP sat side-by-side with these plant executives while they vented their pent-up resentment.
By being empathetic without showing a lick of hubris, he uncovered an unknown customer
wound inflicted on those plant leaders, which prevented them from buying more from his company.
During discussions with plant management teams, the VP used the universal shame-healing recipe of letting these plant chiefs lead him where they needed to go. His vulnerability was the antidote to their shame wound. He could feel it in a room when the envelope of trust was rebuilt, because these plant executives opened up about how the VP’s company could help them reduce operating costs and improve the technical performance of products.
This customer increased its purchasing by 20%; the VP’s team met quota with an additional $75 million in sales.
The VP Attains the Holy Grail and Becomes His Company’s Hero
The Chairman of the customer’s Board bestowed on the VP the honor of a seat at his monthly planning table. The VP had earned the right to move from salesman and technical advisor, to trusted partner. No longer was he “selling-in” products; he had obtained the right to “design-in” his products. This is the Holy Grail sought by every sales professional.
Successful leaders discover, as the new VP did, that the senior leader’s individuation – his pivot to leading with his lovable, trustworthy character assets – is the signpost for the team’s individuation, which directly paves the way for the company’s individuation
Your team cannot think its way to a better company. As I learned traveling in the Amazon jungle, you must relinquish control and allow seasoned jungle guides to lead you until you have learned enough to lead jointly.
The mythic prototype is the same as a good company prototype. Flush hubris from the thinking that put you in this crisis, then read environmental clues that lead you to success. Learn to travel like Marco Polo before there were maps, reading and adapting to the lay of the land; because in your company, career and personal life, there are no maps.
The treasure you will find on your hero’s journey is the truth you’ve avoided, your beauty!
The journey to success starts with embracing crises as blessings. Remember before saving the world, every hero lost everything. Business transformation begins with you.
Without new starts in nature, in companies, and in careers – no shells are cracked and no growth happens. Myths teach that you can’t think your way into a better life; you have to live your way through new adventures to better thinking to get a better company.
New starts only happen if you answer the call to adventure. Start the adventure!
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It is only through industry specific innovations and market differentiation that you can help your customers achieve the kind of optimal performance that can have dramatic top and bottom-line results.
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Raymond J. PasqualeIttakesstrongleadershipskillsto leadanorganizationandtodisrupt andreinventanentiremarket.A leadertrieshardtotransformpotential opportunitiesintoattainableand sustainablesuccess.Onesuchleaderis theFounder&ChiefExecutive OfficerofUnifiedOffice,RaymondJ. Pasquale.Hisuniqueideologyand methodshavehelpedhimtobring disruptiontothebusiness communicationsmarketplace, achievingmanymilestonesforhis companyintheprocess.Hehasheld leadershippositionsindynamic, emergingtechnologycompaniesfor over20years,now,startingwith DEC—thenCascade,Sonusandnow UnifiedOffice.
“Theabilitytocustomize our offerings at scale for different target markets is one of the key competitive advantages at Unified Office,”Pasqualesays. UnifiedOfficemaintainsavertical marketfocussoitcandrive innovationstohelpitscustomersadapt toaconstantlychangingmarket.
Currently,UnifiedOfficeisfocusedon thefollowingverticals:Restaurants, Hospitality,Healthcare,Dental Practices,RealEstate,Automotive, AgricultureandTechnology.
HealsomentionsthatUnifiedOffice’s servicesmustnotonlydemonstrate highqualityandreliabilitybutalsobe abletoadaptsimply,quickly,and easilytorespondtotheuniqueneeds
ofeachverticalmarketandcustomer.Thisenables businessestoreacttochangesastheyoccurratherthan forcingthemtoadheretoarigid,inflexibleworkflow environment.
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UnifiedOffice’sindustryleading Total Connect Now communicationsplatform,withitshighlyreliablenetwork andhigh-qualitybusinesscommunicationsservices,was developedforcompanieswhocan’taffordtomisscallsand wanttomaximizetheirrevenues.Withtheflexibilityofits HQRP™networkplatform,thecompanycanquicklyand easilycustomizefeaturesforitscustomersthatmeettheir specificverticalmarketneeds.Inthehealthcaremarket,for example,itintegrateswiththeleadingpracticemanagement solutionssothecompany’scustomerscanquicklyand easilyaccesstheircustomer/patientinformationallinone place.
Anotherexampleofthecompany’sverticalmarket innovationsareofferingsthatUnifiedOfficehasdeveloped andcontinuestodevelopfortherestaurantindustry. Initiallydevelopedfortherestaurantmarket,Unified Office’spatented Visual Performance Suite™ (VPS™) offeringprovidesareal-timeviewofchangesinoperational performancelevelsalongwithactionableintelligencefor businessmanagersandowners.Thisenablesthemtotake immediateactionsandapplycontinuousoperational improvementstherebyincreasingcustomersatisfactionand inturnrevenuesandprofits.
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UnifiedOfficealsodeveloped TCNOPS(Total Connect TM Now Operations Performance Suite), anInternetof Things(IoT)basedoperationalperformancesuitetohelp QuickServeRestaurants(QSRs)dramaticallyimprovetheir operationalperformance,effectivenessandfoodsafety TM complianceinitiatives.TCNOPS extendsbeyondsimple real-timebasicmonitoringtoproactiveandpredictive analysis,whichcanhelpeliminatecomponentfailurebefore itbecomesaproblem.
AsecondexampleofUnifiedOffice’sinnovativevertical marketapproachisits Total Connect Now Dental SM Management Suite ,anadvancedbusinesscommunications platformforthedentalmarketprovidingautomated appointmentreminders,confirmationsandtextingservices.
UnifiedOfficealsodevelopedits Virtual Communications SM TM Console andits Visual Call Flow Builder fordental SM offices. Virtual Communications Console isaflexible virtualoperatorconsolethatenablesreceptionistsandother stafftoworkfromanyofficeoroff-sitelocation. Visual Call Flow Builder™ enablescustomersandresellerstobuild, designandmanagetheirowncallflowsenablingapractice, forexample,tocentralizereceptionistsupportinoneoffice ordistributeitthroughoutalloftheiroffices.Allofthese
verticalmarketinnovationsareeasilyadaptabletoother marketsaswell. “No other company offers the range of customized features and vertical market applications at scale that can be rapidly deployed for our customers,” Raysaid.
Whenitcomestocompetition,UnifiedOfficedoesnottake timetolookintherear-viewmirror.Pasqualebelievesthat onemuststaytruetotheirvision,stayclosetotheir customersanddothethingsthatmaketheircustomers’lives better,inordertoattainsuccess.
Currently,UnifiedOfficeistheonlycompanythatcanoffer highquality,reliableVoIPcommunicationsserviceswithout theneedforexpensivelegacyT1orMPLSnetwork infrastructure.
IntotheFutureofUnifiedOffice UnifiedOffice’scoremissionistohelpbusinessesofall typesmonetizetheircommunicationsservicesandsolve problemsthatareuniquetothem.UnifiedOfficedoesthis firstbybeingrelentlessinnovatorsandprovidingits customerswithreliable,highqualityvoicecommunications services.Thecompanythenlayersontopofthatservice platformsimple,elegant,andeasy-to-use,value-added servicesandapplicationsthathelpthemimprovethe effectivenessoftheirbusinessoperationsandrespondtothe needsoftheircustomersatthespeedofthemarket.
Pasqualeseeshimselfcontinuingtobuildwhathebelieves tobeoneofthemostdisruptiveandtransformative companiesinthemarkettoday. “There is no end in sight for what we can accomplish. The time has never been better for a company like Unified Office, ” saysFounder&CEO, RayPasquale.
APieceof AdvicetoRelyOn Raybelievesthatinnovationisabsolutelyessentialto successfullyleading.acompanytoday.Theworldis undergoingchangesofastitisdizzying;thesuccessful CEOandbyextensiontheircompanymustnotonlyadapt tomarketchangesbutalsosensethemarket,getoutinfront ofitandleadit. “Your customers count on you to do this for them,” he said. “All one has to do to appreciate the rate and velocity of change today is to look at Amazon and the Internet and how they have fundamentally changed our lives ”
AccordingtoRay,everyCEOmustdemonstrateconstancy ofpurpose,bewillingtopivotwhennecessary,relentlessly focusonexecution,createvalueandbewillingtolistento one’scustomersandemployees.Itisimportanttoseek advice,takeownershipandaboveall,bealeader.
Leadershipisaboutusingthe powerofapositionto empoweragroupofpeople inordertoattainacommongoal.A leader’staskistoimplementthe plansthatusuallylookgoodon paper,throughadelegatedteam,ina specifictimewithanongoing motion.She/hemayusethe traditionalmethodormaythinkout ofthebox.Itdependsontheleader ashowtodoit;theultimatemotive istogetthejobdone.Although,each andeveryindividualhasadifferent approachonleadership,somemight sayitisaboutsettingexamples, somemightsayitisaboutsharing theauthority;whatmattersis,taking therightdecisionwhenitismost needed.
Leadershipvariesfromone organizationtoanother.An organizationisadynamicbodyand
createsnewprobabilitieseverynow andthen.Andwithnew probabilities,comenewchallenges. Although,itisimpossibleto overcomeeverychallenge,the businessenvironmenthasadopted certain leadership styles forthe efficiencyofbusiness:
ParticipativeLeadershipisthe processofsharingauthoritywiththe workforceinordertogetoptimum efficiency.Theteam,aftergetting accesstocertainpowers,works responsiblytoaccomplishthegoals setbyitsleader.Theshared leadershipalsohelpsincaseofany requirementofchange,asthe employeesadaptquicklyinsuch environment.Incidentally,thisstyle ofleadershipfitsbestinascenario whenthereisalimitationoftime.
Atransformationalleaderinspires theteamthrougheffective communicationandanintellectual environment.However,these individualsrequiremoredetail orientedmanagerstosuccessfully implementtheirstrategies.
TransformationalLeadershipis consideredamongthemosteffective employeesoftheorganization.One oftheexamplesofthistypeof leadershipiswhenaleaderis assignedonahigherlevelfor effectiveenvironment.
Thetransactionalleadership,asthe namesuggests,enablestheleaderto incentivizetheteamcorresponding totheirperformance.Theteamgets rewardedwhenitattainsthegoals andtheLeaderhasthepowerto reviewtheresultsandact
accordinglywhentheteamfailsto dothesame.Thegoalsandthe strategytoattainthemaredecided bytheleaderandtheteamitself.
Situationalleadershipisatheorythat thebestleaderwilladapttothe requiredleadershipstyleaccording toneedofthehour.ASituational leadermayadoptdemocraticstyle whilediscussionbusinesswith seniorexecutive,butmayswitchto transactionalatthetimeofteam review.Howevereveryindividual hasanaturalstyleofleadershipand itmaybedifficulttoswitchrolesata certainpointoftime.
Thereisanoldproverbthatsays, “Give a Man a Fish, and You Feed Him for a Day. Teach a Man to Fish, and You Feed Him for a Lifetime.” Soisthecasewithleadership.One ofthebasicqualitiesofaLeaderis topassontheleadershipskills.
Followingaresomeofthequalities ofagoodleader:
Ÿ CommunicationSkills Communicationisthebasic requirementforefficiencyina business.Asthelevelofhierarchy elevates,therequirementof communicationgrows.Especially, whenitcomestoleadership,thereis noscopeforlackofcommunication.
ALeaderwhofailstodevelopthis skillislookedupasincompetent, becauseitishisjobtosendthe messageloudandclear.Although,it isalsoimportanttolistenasitisan integralpartofcommunication.
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C.S.Lewissaid, “Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.” Beitgivingcredittoone oftheteammembersorbeit admittingamistake,aleaderwears integrityasabadgeofhonor.They dowhatisright,nomatterwhat.
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Asmentionedearlier,Leadershipis aboutusingthepowerofone’s positiontoempoweragroupof peopleinordertoattainacommon goal.Agoodleadershareshis authoritywiththeteaminorderto getthejobdone.Bydoingthis,he showsconfidenceintheteamand obligedbythegesture,theteam workswithfullenthusiasmto accomplishthegoal.
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Thereisriskindecisiontomaking. Greatleaderstakegreatdecisions whenthestakeishighanditisthe successofthosedecisionsthatmake themgreat.Toaddup,agoodleader takesrightdecisionattherighttime. Inconclusion,agoodleadercanbe definedbythedynamicsofhisstyle inleadership,thevaluesthathe bringstotheorganization,the methodsheusestomakethebestof theresources,andthekindof decisionhemakesinthegiven situations.Attheenditisaboutthe attitudeofanindividualtobringthe changeforgood.
Christopher James Camut is the Director, President and CEO of Field Squared. Christopher has a successful track record of building high-performing sales teams, improving operational efficiency, driving customer experience, and exceeding revenue goals.
James Camut Director, President & CEOPrior to Field Squared, Christopher was President of Integra Telecom, Inc. (acquired by Zayo), where he managed 300 employees and over $250 million in annual revenue. Before Integra, Christopher was CEO of Ajubeo, a Boulder-based infrastructure-as-aservice (IaaS) provider. Previously, he was CEO of Vixxi Solutions, a SaaS e911 service provider (acquired by Bandwidth.com) and was EVP and General Manager of network consultancy Telwares among other leadership roles. Christopher holds degrees from the University of Toledo in sociology and psychology.
Weareataninflection
point,atrueparadigm shiftacrossbusinessesof everysize,industryandmarket.No businessisimmunetotherapid technologicalchangebroughtabout bythedigitalera.Butthereinbelies thedisruptionofdigital transformation:therewardvs perceivedtimecommitmentand investment.Thequestionon everyone’smindis,isdigital transformationallhypeorreality?
Therealityisdigitaltransformation isabusinessimperative.Anynew businessstartedtodaymustbebuilt withadigitalbackboneand infrastructurefromthegroundup. Therearethreecrucialcomponents thatcanmakeorbreakanew businesstoday:
Almosteveryorganizationmaintains severalroutinetocomplexbusiness processesandworkflows.Sometimes theprocessfallswithinacertain department,whileothertimesitmay spanmultipledepartmentsandeven third-partyvendorsorcustomers. Andnottooverlycomplicatethings forthisexample,butthereoften timesasingleprocesstiesinto anotherprocessortwo,orthree.
Atleastinthefieldservice managementspace,forinstance, digitaltransformationisslowly makingitswayintothefabricof organizationsthathaveafieldservice ormobileworkforce.Themaingoals aretoincreaseoperationalefficiency, improvethecustomerexperienceand understandkeyfieldservicemetrics
impactacrosstheworkforceandthe organizationasawhole.Business processautomationmakesitpossible toreapthebenefitsofdigital transformationbystartingwithsmall, incrementalworkflowsandgraduate tomorecomplexprocessesasthe businessgrows.
You’veprobablyhearditsaidthatwe areintheAgeoftheCustomer, whereeverygoodorbadexperience hasthechancetoappearonsocialin aminuteandgoviral.Fearof negativerepercussionsisnotthe reasontofocusonthecustomer; rather,it’slearningopportunityto gainfirst-handinsightonhowto improvethebusinessorexceed expectationsthenexttimearound. Further,real-timecommunication tools(i.e.,chat,text,email,phone call,etc.)ensurebusinessescankeep intouchwithcustomersfromthe momenttheyvisitawebsiteormake apurchase,dayornight,locationand timezoneneednotapply.
Asisthecasewithservice-based businesses—fieldservice organizations,forinstance—the abilitytosendreal-timealertsvia textareanimportantpartofmany differenttypesofworkorders. Digitalsolutionsprovidethemeans tonotleaveacustomeroutofthe communicationloopwhenyoucan automatesendingatexttonotifythe customerofalatearrivalorachange intechnician.Focusingongettingthe customerexperiencerightisreason enoughalonethatmakesdigital transformationanimperativefor businessestoday.
OpentoInnovation Innovationisoneofthemore controversialconsiderationsof businessesontheirdigital transformationjourney.Innovation comesinmanyforms,canbethought ofasaharbingerofgood(orevil) andoftentimesfollowsachangein executivemanagement.
Thecommonthreadamong businessesthatareopento innovation,isthedesiretomovethe businessforward—beseenasa leader.Famedinventorandfuturist DeanKamensaiditbest,“Every onceinawhile,anewtechnology,an oldproblemandabigideaturninto aninnovation.”Mostbusiness leaderscanrelatetosimplyputting upwithaproblemuntilsomething breaks.
Today,businessleadersmustbe savvywhenitcomestobeingaware ofinnovativesolutionsavailableto solveoldproblems.Keepingonthe themeoffieldserviceorganizations, thefirstproblemmosttrytosolvefor isschedulingand/orroutingtheir technicians.Asimpleconcept,buta powerfulfirststepnonetheless.If, however,thebigpicturecomesinto view,it’spossibletogowaybeyond scheduling—tocomefullcircle—andinsteadautomate businessprocesses.
Intheend,digitaltransformation doesn’thappenovernight,whichisa goodthingbecauseitmakesthe conceptaccessible.Whateverroute businessestaketoimprovetheir operations,today’sbusiness imperativeisdigitaltransformation, beforeit’stoolate.