Inlasttwodecadestherehasbeenanevolutionin
thecharacteristicsofbusinessleadersandthe waytheythinkabouttheirorganizations,staffs, sectorsandeventhemselves.Ifonecomparesthe successjourneyofabusinessleadersjust10yearsago withwhatmakesthemsuccessfultoday,onewill easilynoticesomechanges.Belowaresomemajor characteristicswhichcanbeseenineverysuccessful leader’sleadershipandshouldbeacquiredbyevery leader-
AclearVision Todayorganization’ssuccesscomprisesboth customersandemployees.ForaCEO,itisimportant touniteassociatesandinvestorswithaclear perspectivetoenergizethemtoworkforbusiness. Employeeswanttobepartofsomethinggreatand purposefulandwanttoseehowtheiractions contribute.
ACooperativeWorkCulture Investinginworkcultureisakeywaytoattractand retaintherighttalent.Adecadeago,especiallywhen theeconomystammered,thewaymanyadministrators talkedabouttheirorganizations’teamswasalmostas ifpeoplehadnootheroptions.Inpresent,thescenario haschangedandnowemployeesarefreefortheir choices.It’sessentialthaneverfororganizationsto craftaworkculturethatappealstothetypeof employeewhowilldrivebusinessforward.
Aleadershouldembraceothersfeedbacknomatter goodorbadbecauseitdrivestransparency.Itsignals whereorganizationmayneedtofocusitsattention.An openenvironmentwhereeveryonecancelebratethe successesandlearnfromthefailuresisnecessaryfor personalgrowth.
Tolearnsomethingneweverydayonemust surroundhim/herwithpeoplewhopushfor moreclarityandofferingdifferentpointofview. Thissourceofadviceshouldcomefromboth internalteamsandfellowoutsidethecompany.
UnderstandtheBusiness Topexecutivesarenolongerlimitedtotheir boardmeetingsandcompany’ssuccessevents. Thebusinessarenahasbeenchanged,onehasto bepreparedwitheveryinformationanddata aboutthebusiness,boardandleadershipteams aswell.
AsuccessfulCEO’sroleisstilltoofferboldand strategicdecisions.Butleadershaveto understandaboutthesignificanceofguidance andtokeepupwiththedata-drivencompetition. CEOswhobelieveinunilateraldecisionmaking withlittleaccountabilitywillfailintoday’s workplaceandeconomy.OfcourseasaCEO theirprimaryresponsibilityistobethechief strategicdecision-makerbutitshouldinvolve othersopinion,supportandparticipation. Inthisissue,wehavesuccessstoriesofsome exceptionalbusinessleaderswhohave acceleratedbusinessprocessesandshowntheir efficiencyduringuniquetimes.
Also,whileflippingthepages,don’tforgettogo throughthearticlesandCXOswrittenbyourinhouseeditorialteamandindustryexperts respectively.
HappyReading!
rohit.chaturvedi@insightssuccess.com
BrendanKeegan ChiefExecutiveOfficer
MerchantsFleet merchantsfleet.com
CharlesBrindamour
ChiefExecutiveOfficer
ChristopherCarter
Founder&CEO
IntactFinancial Corporation intactfc.com
Approyo www.approyo.com
ThecompanyactsasyourFleetTechpartner,connectingyou withtheclientservice,technologyplatforms,andproductsyour fleetneedsinawaythatdeliversthehighestvaluepossible.
ApproyoprovidesfullSAPservicetechnologywithextensive capabilitiesinhostingandmanagedservices,upgrades,and migrationsforitscustomers,runninganySAPsupportedcore functionality.
DrAnilPillai ChiefExecutiveOfficer
EileenKiernan
EstherPoulsen
FounderandCEO
FerasElHajjarFounder& ChairmanofInfosysta| Founder&CEOof App4Legal
AirolinkGroup airolinkgroup.com
UMWorldwide umww.com
RaareSolutions raaresolutions.com
Infosysta&App4Legal app4legal.com
GaryOlson
Founder&CEO
GeoffGarrett
ChiefExecutiveOfficer
GTDigitalLtd gtdigitalltd.com
Airolinkfocusesonawiderangefrompre-construction servicestocompleteturn-keyconstructionprojects.
UMisastrategicmediaplanningandbuyingagencythat leveragesBetterSciencetocreateBetterArtthatdrivesBetter Outcomesforits clients.
RaareSolutionsisanaward-winningOperationalCRMAgency specializinginthedesign,executionandsupportofCRMand MarketingPlatforms,CampaignOrchestration,Email ExecutionandAnalytics.
App4Legalisacompletepracticemanagement softwareforalllegalpractitioners.
Cognitveintelligencecorrelatesvideoanddatafromanysource &anyformattoidentifypotentialthreatstolivesandproperty.
Syspro syspro.com
JohanJemdahl
ChiefExecutiveOfficer
Greencarrier greencarrier.com
TheGreencarrierGroupofferssustainablelogisticsandsupply chainmanagementsolutionsworldwide.
KarstenBoehrs Co-investor&CEO
KatherineColombino
ChiefExecutiveOfficer
Simpleshow simpleshow.com/us-en/
Software&Services ConsultingSRL ssc.com.py
WithSimpleshowonecanexplainanycomplextopicina simpleandengagingway.Ittransformsmessageintoa convincingexplainervideooraninteractiveexperience-with thehelpofits SaaSsolution.
LyndaEllis
President,CEO,Owner
MohammadShaheen
Chairman&CEO
MosesBaiden ChiefExecutiveOfficer
CapitolConcierge capitolconcierge.com
EgyptExpress egyptexpress.com.eg
CapitolConciergeisaCertifiedWoman-OwnedBusiness Enterprise.
RobLeslie
CEO&Founder
ShanazRamzi
ChiefExecutiveOfficer
Marginsgroup marginsgroup.com
Sedicii sedicii.com
MarginsGroupisalimitedliabilitycompanyincorporatedin Ghanaonthe13thDayofDecember1990–proudlymajority Ghanaianowned.
Sediciiisdevelopingadvancedcryptographythatprovidesa singleplatformwhichenablesorganisationstobenefitfrom worldclasssolutionstodeliver.
StarLinks starlink.com
ShelleySullivan
ChiefExecutiveOfficer
StefanoRomano CEO
VanessaOgle
President&CEO
ModelCo modelco.com
NextFuel nextfuel.com
Starlinkisontheleadingedgeofon-orbitdebrismitigation, meetingorexceedingallregulatoryandindustrystandards.
Withthegoalofbelievable,achievablebeauty,itlaunchedits first-to-marketheatedeyelashcurlerin2002,followedbyits innovativeworld-firstTanAirbrushinACanwhichcreatedan entirenewglobalbeautycategoryandforeverchangedtheway womenself-tanned.
NextFuelABoffersinnovativeandhighlyscalableindustrial technologyforconvertingfastgrowinggrassesandothertypes ofinexpensiveandabundantbiomassintoacleancopyofcoal.
Enseo enseo.com
Enseo,aprivately-held,woman,Latina-ownedbusiness,isone ofthefastestgrowingtechnologycompaniesintheU.S.
Successstoriescanbetrulymotivationalformany. Somebody’sjourneytowardsexcellence,the hardshipstheyovercame,orhowtheyfinally achievedsuccess,becomeexamplesthatencourageusin achievingourgoals.
InsightsSuccess,initsupcomingedition“The20Most SuccessfulCEO’stofollowin2020,”isbringingthestories ofsomeexceptionalCEOswhoarefocused,dedicatedand persistenttowardstheirobjectives,andarebecominga sourceofendlessinspirationforeveryone.
CurrentlyservingastheChiefExecutiveOfficerat MerchantsFleet,BrendanKeeganisonesuchinspiring leader,whofacilitatesagreatexperienceforemployees, profoundservicefortheclients,andastrongreturnfor shareholders—throughacarefullyarticulatedandexecuted strategicdirectiontotransformthecompany’sbusiness model.
AccordingtoBrendan,hejoinedMerchantsFleetfortwo majorreasons—thepeopleandthepotential.Hewasableto gettoknowtheMerchantsteamasaclientandboard member.Asheknew,itwouldbeagreatexperiencetoget toworkwiththisgroupofpeopleeveryday,andthatis somethingthathasproventobemorethantrue,basedon hisfirsttwoandahalfyearsatthecompany.
ThesecondreasonhejoinedMerchantsFleetasCEOwas becauseofthegrowthpotential.Brendancouldseehowfast thecompanycouldgrow,ifsomekeyinitiativeswere kickedoff,led,supported,andsuperchargedtodrivethe futureofthecompany.Hesignedupforthatjob,andithas beenwildlymoresuccessfulthanhecouldhaveever pictured.
Infact,BainCapitalCreditalsoboughtintothestrategic direction,peopleandgrowthpotentialandbecame Merchantsgrowthfinancingpartner. OverBrendan’sterm asCEOthecompanyhaswonnumerousawardstoinclude beingnamedtotheInc5000fastest-growingcompanies list, Gold&BronzelevelStevie®Awardsin2020 AmericanBusinessAwards®for“FastestGrowing CompanyoftheYear”and“MostInnovativeCompanyof theYear”,respectively,forcompaniesupto2,500 employees;IMPACTInnovationAward,GreatPlaceto WorkCertified;BestPlacestoWorkHallofFame;Best& BrightestCompaniestoWorkForinBoston&Chicago; andmore.
TolearnmoreaboutBrendan’sandtheMerchantsFleet’s journey,letustakeapeekintothebelowinterviewbetween InsightsSuccessandBrendanKeegan.
Howdoyoudiversifyyourorganization’sofferingsto catertothetargetaudience?
MerchantsFleetisfocusedonprovidingthemostflexible, innovative,andcomprehensivesolutionsontheplanet.We havebeeninbusinesssince1962andhavestayedtrueto thecompany’scorevalues.Threeofthosevalues—service, flexibility,andinnovation—areatthecoreofwhatmakes ourofferingsuniqueinourindustry.
Wereallyseeourselvesasdisruptorsintheindustrythrough ourFleetTechprogram,ourabilitytobeflexible,and uniquecapabilities.Becauseofthis,wehavehadthe opportunitytoservicesomeofthelargestfleetsofvehicles intheworld.
Whatpeople,whatbooks,whatlifefactorshave influencedandimpactedyou?
Thefourpeoplewhohaveinfluencedmethemostaremy sisterBeth,myDad,myMom,andmywifeDana.Beth wasbornwithDown’ssyndrome;shewasthemost optimisticpersonwhoeverwalkedthefaceoftheworld.
Shetaughtmepositivity,selflessness,kindness,and gratitude.NextwasmyDad,whotaughtmeintegrity,work ethicandsystemsthinking.MyMomwasavolunteerand giverwhotaughtmegenerosity.Mywife,Dana,hastaught mepartnership,loveandbeinglimitless.Shehastaughtme howtobeabetterman,abetterhusbandandwehave taughteachotherhowtobethebestparentspossible.
Inmyprofessionalcareer,IoweanysuccessIhavebeen abletoachievetofiveindividualsandmentors–Val,Bill, John,GaryF.andGaryB.Theypushedmetothelimit, investedinmeasaperson,taughtmebusinesslessons beyondmyyearsandputmycareerinthefastlane,attimes whenIdidnotevenknowit.
Educationisfreedom,andIamthankfultoallmyteachers, facultyandadministratorsatSt.ChrisElementarySchool, BishopGuertinHighSchool,RensselaerPolytechnic Institute,andtheGeorgeWashingtonUniversity.
Whatisyourvisionforthecompanyforthenextfive years?
The 20 Most Successful CEO's to follow in 2020
Ourvisionasacompanyistoenablethemovementof people,goods,andservicesfreely—providingthemost comprehensive,flexible,andinnovativeserviceonthe planet.Withthisasourloftyvision,wearefocusedon helpingourclientsbemoreefficient,savemoney,anddrive creativesolutionsfortheirfleetsofvehicles,aswellas creatinganexceptionalexperience.
Inthenextfiveyears,withthisfocus,wewillbethesixth largestinourindustry,drivingvalueformoreandmore companieseveryday.Overthenextfiveyearsweare focusedonservingourmarkets,seizingnewopportunities, andachievingourfourstrategicimperatives.
Asabusinessleader,whataresomeofthevital attributesthateveryleadershouldpossess?
Ihavehadtheopportunitytobothexperiencewhatitislike tolead,andthentoalsotrainandcoachothersonhowto lead.Ibelievethatitstartswithaleadersigninguptofulfill theultimatedefinitionofleadership:“Leadershipisthe willingnesstoacceptresponsibility,toorganizeagroupof peopletoachieveacommongoal.”
Oncealeaderunderstandsthatdefinitionofleadership,they canmovetowardsexemplifyingthe7keyattributesof leaders:vision,brand,productivity,communication, relationships,emotionalintelligenceandinfluence.These7 keyattributescanbelearnedanddevelopedover time—onceoneiswillingtotakeontheresponsibilityof beingaleader.
Howdoyoumaintainbalancebetweenyourprofessional &personallife?
Balanceformeisnotabouthoursworked,itisabout qualityoflife.Sure,asanactive,engagedCEOofahypergrowthcompanyIworkabunchofhours.Butasanequally engagedandactiveDad,husband,volunteer,and communitymemberIdonotmissout!Andthereinliesmy sincerehighqualityoflife,whichIdefineasthebenchmark andgoldstandardforbalance.Byhavinggreattime management,Ieffectivelyleadourcompanywhilealso strivingeverydaytobehighlyengagedwitheveryonein mylife.
Asadirectorandbusinessleader,describeachallenge youovercame. AchallengeIhavehadtheopportunitytoovercomehas beenremovingfearfromemployees,clientsand shareholdersamidstacrisis.Duringmyfirstmajorcrisis asaCEO,IcreatedtheTOUGHTIMESPLAYBOOK.
Mostrecently,IpulledouttheplaybookduringtheCOVID19pandemic.Oncewesawthatbusinesseswerestartingto shutdown,weexecutedtheplaysandsuccessfully maintainedcompanyculture,businesscontinuity&growth duringacrisis.BelowaretheplaysfromtheToughTimes Playbook. Ÿ Play1–Don’tHide,BeTransparent Ÿ Play2–DevelopaClearActionPlan Ÿ Play3–FocusonEmployeesFirst
Play4–ContinuetoDeliverGreatClientService
Play5–OpenAllChannelsofCommunication
Play6–MarketsShift,BeFlexible
Play7–ThinkLongTerm
Howdoyousustainyourcreativeleadershipspiritin thischangingtechnologicalera? Whilemanypeoplefearchange,changeinspiresmeand drivesmycreativityevenmorethanstagnation.Becauseof thisvisionandwhatweseeforthefutureoftechnology,the premisethatthingsarechangingissimplyenoughtokeep mycreativeenergyflowing.Fromayoungage,Ihavehada passionfortechnology.IwenttoRensselaerPolytechnic Instituteandstudiedengineering.Ienjoyedfiguringout howthingsworkandhowtheyarepiecedtogether.
Additionally,IstartedacompanyoutinSiliconValleyjust whenthedot-comboomwasheatingupandwesolditjust attheperfecttime.MyCEOpositionpriortoMerchants waswithatechnologyservicescompanyandIstartedmy careeratEDS,ElectronicDataSystems—thetechnology giantofitstime—thatwasacquiredultimatelybyHewlettPackard.
So,Iwouldsaythatbesidesapassionforsports,something thatisexceedinglyhighonmylististechnology.Currently atMerchants,wehavebuiltaproprietarysoftwareplatform thatgivesourfleetclientsatotalviewintotheir fleet—henceitsnameTotalView.
Whatwouldbeyourfutureendeavorsandwheredoyou seeyourselfinthenearfuture?
Ihavealwaysstatedwhenmytwokids,KaylieandPatrick, graduatecollegeIwouldliketograduatelife.Kayliewill beahighschoolseniorthisyearandPatrickahighschool freshman,sothatputsmeontheclockfor8moreyearsof workingprofessionally.Iamcurrentlyonanextremely focusedandexcitingjourney,andthatisleadingMerchants FleetastheirCEO.
Iendvirtuallyeverycompanymeetingwith“Enjoythe JOURNEY”.Ourtransformationisunderway,andwehave becomethefastest-growingcompanyinourindustry.As mysonwouldgraduatecollegeinJune2028,Iplantostep downasanactiveCEOandmovetowardretirement,while continuingtomakeanimpactonyoungleaders.
Ihaveagoalofbuildingonemillionleaders,soeven thoughIwillnotbeanactiveCEO,Idoplantoassertively teach,coachandmentorleadershiptoanyonethatiswilling tolisten.Ialsoplantocontinuedevelopingtheseriesof booksIhavechartedoutoverthenextyears.OnceIslow down,Iwillhavethegreateropportunitytositonboards andhelpentrepreneurs,ownersandleadersachievetheir businessobjectivesthroughsharingsomeofmyexperience.
Whatadvicewouldyouliketogivetotheemerging businessleaders?
Manypeoplebelievethatleadersarebornandhavethe innatetraitsofbeingaleaderfromtheirbirthand upbringing.However,Idisagreewiththispoint.Ithinktoa
certainextent,ourDNAorourinnatecharactergetsus started.Butitisuptouswhatwedowithitfromthere.We canalllearntobecomeMADEleaders.
Ihaveseenthistimeandtimeagaininmyowncareer. LeadersIhadthechancetoworkwithwhomaynothave believedthattheycouldbeleadersatthestart,butonce theyreceivedsomecoachingandhadtheopportunityto learnfromandemulateothergreatleaders,theystartedto developthetraitsofleadersthemselves.
Leadershipisadailydecision.Itisagift,forsure,butitisa dailydecisiontoshowup,toworkatit,toleadpeople,to growandtodrivetowardsagrandervision.
Thedaysarelonggonewherethesecuritythreat
surroundedourcomputeronly.Modernproblems haveexpandedtoourpersonaldevices.Thebroad classificationofthesethreatswouldfallintofour categories:
1.Application-basedthreats; 2.Web-basedthreats; 3.Physicalthreats; 4.Network-basedthreats
Application-basedthreats: Privacy,informationsecurity, anddatasecurityareinseparable,dependentoneachother, aswellas,complimentary.
Web-applicationthreatsoccurwhentheapplication resemblesanauthenticapplication,butitisadisguiseand hastheabilitytoskimyourpreciousinformation.
Theprimeexamplesincludemalwareandspywarewhere yourpersonalinformationisatstake.
Web-basedthreats:Assubtleinnature,theseweb-based threatsremainunnoticedbecausevisitorsvisitmalicious websitesthatarebetterfromtheirfront-endbutinreality, theyareskimmingyourinformationbydownloading maliciouscontentonyourdevice.
Physicalthreats:Thisoccurswhenyouloseyourmobile phoneorifithasbeenstolen.Thisisastrongcasefor hackerstoloopintoyourpersonalinformationviayour device(astheyhavedirectaccesstothehardwarewhereall yourpersonalinformationisresting).
Network-basedthreats:Thisiswherecybercriminalsare activelylookingtoencryptyourdatawiththeuseofpublic Wi-Finetworks.
Theadvancedmobilethreatscomprisesof: a.Phishingattacks; b.Dataleakage; c.UnsecureWi-Fi(particularlypublicWi-Fi)connection; d.SimSwap
Phishingattacks:Aphishingattackisanonlinetheftattack thatgainsyourpersonalinformationsuchasusername, password,andevenyourfinancialinformation.Phishing educationismandatorytomitigatetheriskofthisthreatto anacceptablelevel.Itisincumbenttolearnthatphishingis differentfromconventionalscams.Thethwartingways woulddifferdependingontheleveloffraudcommittedand whoisthevictim(corporationorindividuals).
Forcorporationsitwouldbe:
1.Designpoliciesinplaceandthecommunicationshould bestrong,
2.Thereshouldbeacontroldesignedtoensurethe legitimacyofanemailanditshouldbecommunicatedto loyalcustomers(aswellasothers),
3.Scantheinternetforlikelyphishingsites,
4.Implementaqualityanti-virus,anti-spam,andcontent filteringatthegateway.
Forindividualsitissimple:
1.Blockmaliciousorfraudulentemailpromptly,
2.Detectanddeletemalicioussoftwareimmediately,
3.Blockthesensitiveinformationdeliverytothirdparties automatically,
4.Applyskepticismwherevernecessary.
DataLeakage:Dataleakageoccurswherethereisa compromiseinthe(information)confidentialitybreach. Thisreferstoanunauthorizedleakageorpossibledata transmissionwithinanorganizationtoathirdparty.Thelost dataiseitherprivate,sensitive,orconfidentialinnature. Thedatacouldbelostduetoasystemcrashorevena deliberatedeletion.
Ÿ Safeguards-
1.Quarantineyouroutgoinginformation(whichisprivate, sensitive,oreitherconfidentialinnature)fromyour organizationnetwork.
2.Archivesuspiciousfiles.
3.QuarantinesensitivefilestobecopiedintoUSBor smartphones.
4.Blockprintjobsthatcontainprivateinformation.
5.Discoverconfidentialinformationthatisstoredon databases,organizationallaptops,andworkstations.
UnsecuredPublicWi-Fi:PublicWi-Finetworksoffer potentialprivacyrisksandinvitesecurityissues.Peopleare temptedtopursuepublicWiFiwhichiscontrolledbya hacker.ItinvigoratestheMITMattack.
Ÿ
Safeguards–
1.Thenetworkshouldbeverified.Hackersaresmartbut usersaresmarter,itisbettertoplaysmart.
2.UsingaVPN(VirtualPrivateNetwork)whichisthemost securesurfingoptiononpublicnetworks.
3.UseAntivirusandkeeptheFirewallEnabled.
SimSwap:Afraudsterbeautifullyimpersonatesyouand managestogetvictimsSimdeactivated.Thereisa replacementactivationwithouttheknowledgeofthevictim (Marimuthu,V.,2019).
Thisisasurplusforhackerswheretheycanresetvictims' onlineaccounts.EFANIwasdesignedtomitigatesuch happeningswitha100%money-backguaranteefor60days.
Ÿ
1.Bewareofphishing-asitpenetratessimswapping incidents.Thesesketchyemailsandbogusloginscanget thehackertherequiredinformationandthesekeydatacan spawnasimswapoccurrence.
2.Peopleshouldrelylessononlinespace,theyshould reducethepersonalinformationtobestoredonline.Social engineeringisaninitialsimswappingstage,wherethe hackercollectsasmuchinformationastheywant. Keep compromisinginformationlow-keysuchasyourdigits, dateofbirth,mailingaddressoffyouraccount.
3.ProtectyouraccountsorcryptospaceusingYubikey, frequentlychangingthePIN,multi-factorauthentication. PleasedonottrustSMS-based2FA.
Rewardsandrecognitionattheworkplacekeepthe
employeesgoing.Theyneedtoknowthattheyare valuedandappreciatedfortheirwork.The employerswillbethehighlybenefitedpartybydoingso.It isimportantforcompaniestokeeppacewiththecurrent trendsinHumanResourcetokeeptheemployeessatisfied. Keepingtheemployeesengagedisataskthatevery companyshouldconsider.
Itiscrucialforbusinessgrowththattheemployeesremain engaged.AccordingtoareportbytheHarvardBusiness Review,recognitionforhighperformerswasthekeydriver foremployeeengagement.Apartfromtherewardstothe business,theindividualsalsofeelrespectedwhentheyare recognized.Theyfeeltheyareimportanttothecompany, andtokeepthatimpressiontheyperformevenbetterthan before.Thereareseveralbenefitsthatasolidrecognition programcanbringtoabusiness.
Companiesthathavearecognitionprograminplacetendto keeptheiremployeesengaged.Employeerecognition overwhelminglyshowspositiveeffectsontheoverall employeeexperience.Thiskeepstheemployeesmotivated andtheurgetodomoreisactive.Theoldtraditionalways ofrecognitionlikegivingoutwatches,coffeemugs,etc.is stillinpicturebutinasmallerquantity.Themodernways ofrecognitionareseenasappreciationmailsorletters, tokenofappreciation,bonus,etc.
Theemployeesfeelvaluedwhentheirworkisrecognized. Thisleadstoincreaseinproductivity.Whentheyare unhappyabouttheirworkplaceorworkingconditions,they tendtowastetimeandnotworkwhole-heartedly. Workplacerecognitionalsocurbsthewastageofresources andincreasestheproductivityofthebusiness.Thefeeling ofbeingnoticedandsupportedisadrivingfactorfor everyone.
Happyemployeesmakeahappyworkplace,andahappy workplacebringsouthappierresults.Appreciatingthesmall thingsthatemployeesdobringsasmileontheirfaceand
canmaketheirday.Thebigthingsaswell,bringthema greatsenseofpride,notonlyforthemselvesbutfor workingwiththecompany.Asignificantrewardfora particularemployeecanbringmorehappinessthanonecan imagine.
Therearetimeswhenemployeesworkharddayandnight tocompletetheirtasksortargets.Theirtasksmightnotbe bigormightnotleadtotheendtoaproject,buttheirefforts needtobeappreciated.Withouthardworkandeffortsfrom eachmemberoftheteam,aprojectcannotbecompleted.At times,evenaftersomanyeffortsbyeveryone,theproject canendupindrains.Successshouldnotbetheonly eligibilitycriteriaforrewardsandrecognition.By rewardingtheeffortsofemployeesitmightevenimprove thecompanyculture.
Everyprojectorworkneedsmorethanonepersontobe complete.Theemployeesworkinteamsandgetthings done.Thesepeoplearetheoneswhoworktogetherona dailybasisandarethebestjudges.Thepeersshouldbe givenanopportunitytonominateeachotherforrewards. Thiswaythereisalwaysahealthycompetitiongoingon, andthiskeepsthemontheirfeetallthetime.Peer recognitionsmeanalotmorethandirectemployer recognitionsasthereareemotionsattachedhere. Fromallofthiswecanonlyconcludethatallcompanies, small,mediumandbig,shouldhaverewardsand recognitionprogram.Suchthingsnotonlymotivatethemto performwellandgivetheirbest,italsogivestheman objectivetoreach.Thecultureandenvironmentofthe workplaceprovestobehealthywithsuchschemesinplace.
greatestlifeachievement–hermarriageoffortyyearsto herchildhoodsweetheart;hertwobeautifulchildren;her book,FoodPrintspublishedbyOUP,thefirstofitskind inPakistan;orhertwointernationalawardsreceived soonafterestablishinghercompanyforStart-upofthe Year,andBestCEOoftheWorld.Shestates,perhaps,in retrospect,inapostCovid-19worlditissimplystaying healthyandbeingintouchwithherchildhoodfriendsall acrosstheglobedigitally.
Havingsaidthat,shewouldliketoaddherethatthere aretwoprojectsthatsheconsidershergreatestwork achievementtodate,whichshewouldliketospecifically mention.Thefirstisthelaunchofthebiggestmallin SouthAsia,LuckyOneMall,whichsheandherteam wereentrustedwithintheveryfirstyearofher company’sexistence.Itwashumblingenoughthatthe companylandedthemammothprojectinthefaceofstiff, andfarmoreexperiencedcompetition,butwhatwas evenmoreover-whelmingwasthatitlandedup extendingitslaunchactivitiesfromthreedaystothirteen fulldays,withherteamstayingatthemalldayand night,inordertoensurefootfall,formostimportant shopshadnotopenedupontime.
Shealsostatesthatthesecondprojectwasathree-day internationalconferenceforINTBAUPakistan— InternationalNetworkforTraditionalBuilding, ArchitectureandUrbanism–thatsheandherteam carriedoutlastNovember.With30foreigndelegates,
fiveforeignstudents,andover250localparticipants takingpartintheconference,whichprovidedboarding andlodgingtoalltheforeigners,aswellastoover60 localdelegatesintheinteriorofSindh–incustom-made, eco-friendlyresorts–aswellasinKarachi,themost challengingpartoftheeventwasnotthelogisticsorthe conferenceitself,butthefactthatthepresidentof Pakistanandhisentourageattendedtheopeningday.The nightmareofmeetingtheprotocolrequirementsand securitymeasuresmadeeverythingelsepaleinto insignificance,butthefactthatthecompanymanagedto pullitofftoravereviewsbyoneandall,wasafeatthey areallveryproudof.
AnadviceforTriumphinTech-orientedWorld Shanazfindsherworkextremelychallengingandthe timesweliveinconstantlyevolving,andfeelsonemust begratefultothisever-changingtechnologicalera.She statesthatsheislearningsomethingnewfromheryoung colleaguesdaily,andwhilethereistheoccasionaltime whenshemissesthewayitusedtobe,byandlargeshe isgratefulforthechangesforitdoesmakeconnectivity, gatheringinformation,keepingrecordsandsomuch more,aloteasierandquicker.Onehastolearntomove withthetimes,andratherthanbeingdauntedbythe head-spinningtechnology,shefinditexhilaratingand exciting.
Shealsostatesthefactthattherearemanyemerging entrepreneursintheirindustryasithasbeengrowing rapidlythispastdecade,butmanyofthemareonepersonshowswithnooverheads,nolegalstanding,and arenotregisteredastaxpayers.Heradvicetoallthese youngstersisthattherearenoshortcutsinlife–ifthey wanttotrulysucceedandmaketheirmark,theyneedto goaboutittherightaway,evenifitmeansmakinga substantialinvestmentintotheirbusiness.
“My parting words -- Never fear competition; help others to succeed, forge partnerships, and success will be yours.”
