Game Changers issue 38

Game Changers ISSUE #38

WORLD SERIES OF TRADING GC speaks exclusively with Lars Gottwik

GAME CHANGERS

DIRECTORY O1

Note from the editor

O2

Samantha Hooi Choy Yin

O3

Gabriel Styllas

View from the top. 03

Exness. 04-08

Five Comply. 9-11

O4

TRADANTS. 12-17

O5

Breinrock. 18-19

O6

Panda Trading Systems. 20-26

Lars Gottwik

Iva Bogicevic

Or Gold

O7

GC:OPINION

O8

Viktoria Soltesz

O9

Kent Riboe

1O

Have you got a b*ll shit job? 27-29

PSP Angels. 30-31

MT Proxy. 32-33

GC:EAT Bawabat Baghdad Restaurant. 35-37

11

GC:FEMME

12

GC:HOMME

13 14

Burberry for Woman. 38-43

Burberry for Men. 44-49

GC:FITNESS Club Health. 50-51

GC:GOING OUT Dubai Expo. 52-57

VIEW FROM THE TOP

With upcoming edition timed quite nicely to cover the several upcoming events being held in Dubai, we were lucky enough to speak to some of the participants of those who are attending. Over the past year Dubai is becoming more relevant in the FX space with many more European based brands now looking to make an official footprint in the region by obtaining physical offices there.

Having firsthand dealt with the officials in the region, they are making it incredibly easy to open and to establish yourself in what used to be one of the best regions to be involved in. Will these lead to inevitable loss of talent for a move to the desert… who knows? One thing I can see is that with such a welcoming environment, other regions will soon have to follow their lead to just stand still.

On the front cover we have Lars Gottwik the founder of Tradants, who took the time to speak with GC about his new project. If you are not aware he is developing the gamification of trading, which will no doubt up a whole new market in the very competitive world of retail FX trading.

With it increasingly harder to get an edge by just offering a Metaquotes solution, I think that’s Lars’s solution could be the edge to get eyes on your brand in the coming years. We look forward to finding out more over the coming editions.

A big thank you to everyone who has taken part in this issue, and if you are in Dubai take a minute to stop by their booths.

All the best!

Paul ORFORD EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Game Changers

Exness SAMANTHA HOOI CHOY YIN Global Event Manager

The post-pandemic presence of brands: the perspective of Exness, a global leader The rise of the internet and ecommerce has seen the deterioration of stores and the need for a physical presence. Across the globe, consumers increasingly replace their visits to physical stores with regular browsing of goods online. And while global powerhouses such as Amazon and Alibaba lead the online shopping scene, store chains and shopping malls see their influence decreasing one “add to cart” at a time.

Yet, the need for a physical brand presence is stronger than ever, especially after the social isolation of the pandemic. Apple, for years now, has been investing heavily in the creation of state-of-the-art stores that not only invite customers in but also create an in-store experience like no other. As Angela Ahrendts, former Apple CRO, stated, the weight from 80% on shopping and 20% on experience is reversing.

And retailers everywhere are playing catch-up in reinventing their business models to compete with the cheaper and more convenient alternative that online shopping offers.

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Establishing connection beyond the internet The physical presence paradigm, of course, goes well beyond the ecommerce industry. The pandemic has left billions of people around the globe isolated and doing virtually everything online, giving cue to a new era in consumer behaviour and brand relations.

Consumers increasingly rely on online services for all of their needs but they still seek experiences and human connection. Hence, brand and marketing managers everywhere seek out every opportunity to establish that connection outside of the dimensions of a screen, be it a phone, a tablet, a laptop or a TV. They try to either be where their customers are or invite them over to treat them with a one-of-a-kind experience.

Apple, again, is a great example of this. They invest billions of dollars in creating spaces that go beyond selling products and services to give their customers more ways to connect with both the brand and its products even though the biggest percentage of their sales comes from online purchases.

Samantha Hooi Choy Yin Global Event Manager

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Exness, a 100% online business that enables its clients to trade within a reliable and frictionless trading environment, always strives to establish real human connections with its existing and potential customers.

A multi-asset broker catering to hundreds of thousands of traders worldwide, our philosophy has always been client-centric; we constantly strive to enhance every single one of our clients’ experience in the financial markets; we also invest heavily in customer support, aiming for as close to 100% client satisfaction.

Taking this a step further, at Exness we aspire to be close to our - existing and potential - clients; to be present and connect with them in a human way. Our job at the Exness Events team is to find the events and the ideal opportunities to have physical interactions with our clients, wherever in the world they may be.

Of course, everything we create and present must reflect not only the technologically-advanced brand that we are but also our leading and globally recognised reputation.

Experience and Exness start with the EX factor From the very beginning, Exness has set out to create something different. To separate itself from

the competition as a company that is honest as well as transparent, human as well as technologically advanced. Fourteen years later, we still operate on the same strong foundation of integrity and science-driven focus.

This is what has led us to become one of the top fintech and multi-asset brokers in the world, with more than $1 trillion in trading volume every month.

This is also what drives our efforts in maintaining a strong presence in the world’s biggest and most influential events of the fintech and financial markets sectors.

As such, our presence in every event is noteworthy and valuable. We aim at causing awe while also being meaningful. We incorporate all the elements that make up our great brand - science, innovation, technology, knowledge, integrity and honesty - as we also strive to find ways to offer unique experiences that are true to our values and brand.

During the pandemic, we managed to remain present in innovative ways, while taking all the necessary precautions required. At the industry events we attended, we “employed” high-tech assistants, AI robots, that were capable of giving out important information

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about Exness as well as Exness memorabilia. The human element was also present though not physically: we installed state-of-the art equipment so our team was virtually there, connecting with visitors and helping them with their enquiries.

Our clients trust and value us not only because we enable them to trade better and at lower costs, but also because of our track record of being by their side.

We are a team that focuses on human values, and this is what makes us an industry leader.

One other dimension is our most valued partners and clients, who always take a leading role in every event we organise or attend. We make sure that every single time, we have a special VIP lounge area to accommodate them and provide them with an even better experience.

To show our appreciation, we always take it one step further. Great examples of this are the leisure activities we organise for our clients and partners, over and above any expos we attend or even stand alone exness-hosted activities. The common denominator here is the creation of memorable experiences - moments that go beyond the business interaction to create strong human connections with them. This year’s activities have included safaris

GAME CHANGERS Issue #38

in the desert, sailing in the open sea with luxurious yachts, helicopter rides, trips to Sharm el-Sheikh and Elgouna, seats to F1 racing and many more.

During iFX Expo Dubai that will take place on 22, 23, and 24 of February, apart from the high-tech booth, the Exness team will design a special separate and secluded space especially for partners and valued clients. In this lounge area, in addition to the exclusive treatment our VIPs will receive, we will organise a series of exclusive seminars.

Relationships are a two-way street Our presence in high-calibre events is a great opportunity to come closer to our clientele and strengthen our established relationships. Yet, relationships are based on both parties’ input. Connecting with our clients means we have a direct line of communication and access to their thoughts, needs and wants. It means that we can listen to their experiences, hurdles, ideas for improvement and so on.

This gives our teams an invaluable insight to who our clients are, what they like and what would make their experience with us even better. This is what all strong relationships are built upon and what creates trust and loyalty.

FiveComply GABRIEL STYLLAS CEO of FiveComply

How can FiveComply assist you in global licensing, compliance and operations?

Q Which are FiveComply’s areas of expertise?

FiveComply is a global consultancy firm assisting mainly Investment Firms, Crypto Asset Services Providers, Investment Funds and Payment Institutions in international licensing, establishment and operations. It provides expertise in Global Licensing (Cyprus, Seychelles, Mauritius, Dubai, etc.), Compliance, AML, Internal Audit, Risk Management, Legal/ Corporate support and other related issues.

We can say that FiveComply is an A-to-Z service provider, as our team of experts offers customised solutions and assists clients in identifying and properly managing the ever-evolving regulatory environment.

FiveComply offers among others: •

• • • • •

Licensing Solutions for Investment Firms (including Forex), Crypto Asset Services Providers, Funds, Payment Institutions, Electronic Money Institutions; Compliance Outsourcing & Support; Risk Management & ICAAP; Provision of Internal Audit Services; AML Advisory and Automation; Mergers and Acquisitions Advisory.

Q What are the new regulatory developments and the new trends in licensing? Which type of license do you consider more popular these days?

The growing popularity of cryptocurrencies has prompted increased regulatory scrutiny. Hence, several countries have passed specific legislation to regulate crypto and to grant Crypto Exchange Licenses to successful applicant firms. A company with such a license is able among others to exchange digital currency for FIAT or vice versa, or cryptocurrency for another cryptocurrency, receiving a commission for the services provided.

We currently notice increased demand for different types of crypto licenses in various jurisdictions, with Cyprus and Dubai attracting lately increased interest form blockchain experts but also from established

forex brokers that want to provide additional offerings to their clients.

The licensed crypto providers are able to provide (a) Reception & Transmission of client orders; (b) Execution of orders on behalf of clients; (c) Exchange between crypto-assets and fiat currency; (d) Investment advice; (e) Exchange between crypto-assets; (g) Participation and/or provision of financial services related to the distribution, offering and/or sale of crypto-assets, including the initial offering; (h) Placement of crypto-assets without firm commitment; (i) portfolio management.

Q What do you advise brokers about licensing and operations? Which jurisdiction do you recommend for setting up a broker license?

There is no single right answer to be provided. Each region is different and unique, it has its advantages and limitations. There are many alternative choices and combinations that in order to be presented, they need research, several get-to-know meetings with the clients and expertise. The result shall always be a customised solution that will depend on different parameters, factors and a case-by-case basis examination. Thus, our target is to always help our clients find the best possible match, based on their needs and identify the most appropriate set-up for their own business model.

Each broker (either CFDs or crypto broker) has its own characteristics, different strategy, target markets, risk profile, budget, etc. So, it is very important for the brokers to choose the jurisdiction or the combination of jurisdictions that will better help them to achieve their targets, at the most cost-efficient and compliant way.

In FiveComply, our goal is to assist our clients in taking the most appropriate decision, by taking into consideration a wide list of factors, including their needs, characteristics and strategy.

Q Why many brokers nowadays operate using multiple licenses? What are the benefits?

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“Acquiring a license or several licenses might be a crucial decision for each CFD broker, as it will directly affect his business growth and ability to penetrate the market.

Brokers with quite big budgets choose to apply for multiple licenses usually under a group structure that allows them to promote the same brand through the different licensed entities.

On the one hand, some brokers apply for license(s) from more reputable jurisdictions like CySEC / EU license or FCA UK or ASIC Australia license. These countries have regulators that offer better regulatory protection to retail clients and they are considered more credible jurisdictions. Getting a license from a more prestigious jurisdiction gives to the regulated entities better access to corporate bank accounts and accounts with PSPs, while also allowing these brokers to enjoy better rates and better terms with banks and PSPs. On the other hand, a great amount of brokers also apply for licenses from offshore jurisdictions with low capital requirements that will allow them to target retail clients with no leverage restrictions. The most popular ones are FSA Seychelles and FSC Mauritius.

Having multiple licenses, allows brokers to target more countries given that some regulators have restrictions with regards to target markets e.g., you cannot target EU retail clients from offshore jurisdictions whereas you can use your Cyprus CySEC license, in this case.

Having an offshore or multiple offshore licenses, also allows brokers to target retail clients with no leverage restrictions, using bonuses etc., something that it is prohibited in Europe, for example.”

Gabriel Styllas CEO of FiveComply

To sum up, brokers with multiple licenses utilise the benefits of each licensed entity under the group, whereas, at the same time, they avoid using the licensed entity(ies) in certain occasions where there are certain restrictions / limitations.

Due to the complexity of such structures, the assistance of an experienced consultant is not only suggested, but I would say a necessity. We can see from our experience, that many of our clients would take the wrong path without FiveComply’s assistance on group structuring and operations.

Q What are the new developments at FiveComply?

We are very happy say that, despite the Covid-19 pandemic, FiveComply was able to further expand its team of experts and due to large demand, establish more specialised departments to foster the needs of its clients.

we can’t wait to show you what we are preparing for 2022 as well!

Q How does FiveComply assist brokerages?

Nowadays, the retail CFDs and crypto brokers face numerous challenges; the most significant are related to regulation / licensing and banking.

We do share our experience and expertise and we do advise brokers on the strategy to be followed by taking always into consideration among others their business model, target market and the upcoming regulatory changes. Amongst others, we provide brokers with license / regulatory roadmaps comparing the main jurisdictions around the world and help clients select the best ones, according to their business model and needs.

During 2021, FiveComply did set up a ‘Payments and Banking Relations Department’ that is ready to provide forex and crypto brokers with the most suitable solutions and assist brokers to select the most cost and time efficient options among Banks / EMIs / PSPs.

Due to the ever-changing regulatory environment, our target is to be always proactive and one step ahead in advising our clients about the best and most suitable options with regards to licensing and banking.

We do recommend the most suitable license for them depending on their business model, target clientele / countries and needs.

By utilising our long-term relationships with Banks / EMIs / PSPs, our specialised ‘Payments and Banking Relations Department’ helps each business identify the best and most suitable options at all times.

At the same time, we do specialise in group structure set up in relation to forex and crypto brokers and we do often assist our clients to take the right decisions with regards to their group set up.

Our experts can guide you during these ever-changing times and assist you to select the Banks / EMIs / PSPs that better match your needs, whereas, at the same time, our dedicated department can assist you in completing and submitting the account opening documentation.

Finally, we always help our clients to be compliant at all times by minimising regulatory and reputational risks, and at the same time, we identify cost-efficient compliant solutions to help them grow their business.

FiveComply via its experienced payments and banking team is ready to assist you in comparing different options and open accounts with Banks / EMIs / PSPs offering the best terms, by taking always into consideration the credibility and pricing of each institution.

A second development of 2021, was the establishment of our ‘Crypto Licensing and Support Department’ which was created to provide specialised solutions on all the new available Crypto Licenses that exist in several jurisdictions. Our Crypto Licensing and Support Department, can provide various comparisons between different crypto-licenses for the client to be able to assess the pros and cons of each license, and consequently through a step-by-step procedure, assist clients in taking the most beneficial decision for his business model. Cryptocurrencies is a tricky area and we want to ensure that clients take professional and specialised advice from the best experts in the market.

All in all, we think that 2021 has been a great year and

Q How can people get more information about FiveComply solutions?

Throughout my 25-year experience in the industry, I understand that clients appreciate transparency and honesty, so our target in FiveComply is to make everything clear and understandable to clients since the beginning. We always organise calls / meetings with potential clients in order to understand their needs and provide the most suitable solution. There is no commitment whatsoever and clients appreciate this free consultation.

FiveComply team of experts shall be at Booth 126 of the Dubai iFXEXPO from the 22nd to the 24th of February 2022, and we are more than happy to provide information on international licensing, establishment and operations. Feel free to book a slot with us and find out more about licensing options and the major regulatory trends.

We are more than happy to answer to any enquiries.

You can use the link below to contact us if you have any questions https://fivecomply.com/contact

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World Series Of Trading LARS GOTTWIK Founder & CEO of TRADANTS

In an industry full of gimmicks, it was great to meet with Lars Gottwik to discuss his company’s new project, the World Series of Trading - an online platform that merges financial trading with esports and skill-gaming to create a global epic game. It allows everyone to earn real money without risking their own by participating in paper trading tournaments.

Although the industry has been riddled with demo trading competitions as a way to harvest data, in many ways, the WSOT is drastically different...GC finds out why.

Q How did the idea for WSOT come about?

Since my early days as an entrepreneur, I have always been looking for the next big thing in the industry I had been working for or in other words - for that disruptive innovation that will change how things are done for good and the better. It was the case back then with JFD when we pioneered full post-trade transparency setting new standards in the retail trading services. So, it came up naturally that about a year ago, I started thinking about a new way to impact the capital markets sector positively. I had heard a lot about investment firms claiming to democratise the financial industry simply by reducing their commissions for retail investors, thus, allowing them to trade stocks or other assets for free or at a significantly lower cost. Although that sounds good and promising, the truth is that what these companies are doing by removing their commissions still affects the same number of people who have the initial (and sometimes quite significant) capital allowing them to trade successfully in the markets. Thus, there is no impact on the broader society and no democratisation, as those who do not have enough funds remain outside the financial world. That’s how the idea about WSOT came up. I thought it would be great to build a platform where everyone on the planet by having just a stable Internet connection can learn and trade in financial markets virtually, i.e. without risking any money, competing against others for the chance to win real cash prizes given out of an announced prize pool.

Moreover, it is not only about earning money but also building a community of like-minded people around the topic of financial trading. Like in sports, where

GAME CHANGERS Issue #38

there is a strong network of clubs and scouts looking for the next big star, I want WSOT to become a playground for firms to find the top trading talent. So it’s not only for the best professional or part-time traders out there to get into the spotlight and become famous for their skills but also for those who live remotely, outside the largest financial hubs to get recognition and why not build a career in the financial sector. In other words, for many people, WSOT can make the slumdog millionaire story a reality.

I think I found the next significant disruptive innovation that will create a new industry combining financial trading and gaming, in other words, by gamifying trading. Now everyone has a chance to earn their living from risk-free paper trading. Everyone can access the capital markets and become entrepreneurs on their terms and pace to reach financial independence, get public recognition and last but not least, have lots of fun doing so. How cool is that?

Q Gamification has become a buzzword recently.

So how does WSOT look to provide the gamification experience?

We run complete gamification of trading within our holistic Compete-Learn-Watch approach to the extent that no one has done it before. We cover the main principles of gamification such as epic meaning, accomplishment, empowerment, ownership, social influence, scarcity and avoidance. It’s important to understand that we don’t simply operate contests but a platform covering education, a social experience, and a public arena where trading is redefined. Overall we see WSOT.com developing into an industry called “playtrading”, which creates a form of esport.

Keeping in mind this ultimate goal, we are still in the early stage. You can now only see the tip of the iceberg. We are already running numerous active tournaments covering a wide variety of asset classes.

A global ranking system classifies the so-called playtraders based on their earned money from the prize pool and shows multiple performance criteria.

At the end of each year, we will announce the Global ranking winner, but also the winners of individual tournaments are qualified for an annual Main event to compete in a final battle for a share of a big prize pool.

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But that’s not all in our product development pipeline.

We plan to release much more features and functionalities merged into a single native app: • • • •

Multiplayer (clan) and 1-on-1 (headhunt) tournaments, A proprietary NFT platform, including a minting engine, A TikTok snipping tool (patent is underway) Our in-house-built trading platform.

At some point, individuals and clans (groups of traders that compete against other groups in a separate championship) can even organise private tournaments themselves on the platform, like friendly matches between football clubs.

But playtrading is not the only activity that takes place on WSOT.com. We will also have plenty of cool

GAME CHANGERS Issue #38 The team of TRADANTS in Bulgaria

features for our spectators, i.e. the playtrading fans who do not feel confident enough to join the competition but are eager to follow and watch the results in real-time. With commentary studios, game analysis by experts, interviews with top players, pro insight videos etc., we would pretty much resemble any major sports league or cup tournament.

Q Is there a specific type of trader you are looking to enter into WSOT? Have you found that it is region-specific with the people who take part?

The most obvious early adopters would be those with at least basic knowledge of how to trade, but that does not mean that newbies cannot join. We have plenty of educational videos to help everyone play the game. In addition, we have a practice arena where those still learning how to trade can get enough confidence before entering a tournament. Ideally, we see a

balance between novice and experienced traders competing, watching and learning on WSOT.com.

Other than that, there is no specific trader profile that we are looking to attract as our competitions cater to multiple styles and involve numerous asset classes.

Although first users came mainly from Africa and South-East Asia, with Europe and the USA quickly catching up, currently, we have playtraders from more than 60 countries. We are open to everyone willing to participate, and there is no geographic restriction at all. Our platform is not subject to specific national or regional financial regulations, so we can accommodate users globally. We treat user rights and personal data privacy in an equally strict manner, though. Hence, it’s no wonder that our user base is growing at the pace of 400 new registrations a day, and we have already more than 16,000 registered users in total since inception at the beginning of December 2021.

Q Is there a specific platform being used, or is it agnostic?

Currently, we have MetaTrader 5 as our trading platform and support both the WebTrader and the Desktop version and the Mobile App available on AppStore and Google Play. For the traders who are not used to MT5, we have educational videos about the platform in our Learn section. In the mid-term future, though, we plan to develop our proprietary trading app tailored for our gamified trading solution. As mentioned earlier, we plan to build our platform and have MT5 only left as a platform of choice.

Q How do people sign up? Can traders connect their brokerage account to WSOT? People sign up in less than a minute on WSOT.com either by email and password or by their Google or

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Facebook profile. Once someone signs up, we automatically create the first playtrading account on our edition of MT5. Our platform is broker-agnostic, with price feeds from renowned providers such as Cboe Global Markets and dxFeed.

Q One of the most significant ways to attract eyes to a contest is the money won. How much is the total prize pot so far?

We have announced a total annual prize pool of 1,045,400 USD that will be allocated among all tournaments in 2022, including the Main final event that alone has a prize pool of 200,000 USD. We project an exponential increase in the annual prize pool over the next few years.

Q As a product where you are not the brokerage, and there is no actual market execution but only virtual trading while people can get real money out of it, what are the monetisation channels for your business model?

We apply a hybrid model combining subscriptionbased Software as a Service on one side, where we have paid service plans for the users that want to unlock extra features on the platform, and on the other side classic online media publishing, where we monetise existing ad inventory through programmatic and direct buy channels as well as offering custom brand exposure opportunities through sponsorship packages.

Q Is it similar to sponsoring an offline event like an expo, for example, where sponsors are looking to get eyes on their brand name?

Yes, sort of, but at a larger scale and covering multiple exposure channels and communication means. We look at it from the perspective of product positioning as we want our sponsors to be part of the game, integrated in one way or another into the content so that there is a smooth and subtle transition between advertisement and added value contribution by the brands among our community.

Q Is there a specific type of brand you are looking to sponsor WSOT? Such as one who understands your long term vision?

Having a sense of a shared mission with our sponsors is undoubtedly important for the success of our long-term relationship. We look for proactive and innovative brands across multiple sectors, not only the brokerage industry, that are open to embracing the change and the upcoming transformations willing to associate with our tech-savvy GenZ and Millennial users. We serve people that consume different goods and services in their daily lives. Hence, any consumer-oriented brand can benefit from showing up on

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WSOT.com. As we are still in the early stage of our development in terms of scale and reach, we attract sponsors that can look long-term into the future when evaluating a potential marketing opportunity.

Q There is a lot of competition to draw the attention of a CMO for their marketing budget. Do you think they are open-minded enough to consider such a type of online platform?

Esport sponsoring has been snowballing in recent years and is forecasted to do so further. One of the reasons is that it attracts plenty of GenZ users, the future largest and wealthiest segment in our society. Thus, my answer is yes. We strongly believe that any forward-thinking CMO sees how paramount for a retail brand is to be able to reach and engage at scale with relevant members of the GenZ generation. Nowadays, to achieve exceptional results, CMOs across a wide range of industry verticals should have the capacity to evaluate breakthrough opportunities and embark on new campaigns expanding their well-known mix of marketing channels. Otherwise, they are exposed to the risk of developing business myopia.

Q With big international football teams entering e-sports, do you think this is the next step for FX brands?

Yes, having a clan on WSOT.com would be a key priority for any forward-thinking FX brand in the mid-to-long term. It will allow the brokers to compete on a completely different level, promoting their competencies among potential clients. Our prize pool projections would also mean a solid extra revenue generator for the winners in the clan competitions.

That could also lead to change in how institutional relationships are formed and maintained.

Q There is vast scope on a content marketing basis for brokerages to have their own sponsored teams in the future. Would you accept them in the WSOT? Can they sponsor individual traders?

Yes, we certainly would accept sponsored teams and individual traders’ sponsorship. That will be the point where WSOT will transform into a global marketplace connecting playtraders, clans and sponsors. That’s the worldwide scouting and networking infrastructure we aim to build and the next level we aim to reach in our long-term vision. We need to complete stages to get there, though, so first things first, but once it becomes a reality, you will learn about it for sure.

Q Does the sponsorship have to be limited to only FX brokerages? Can others in the ecosystem be part of this?

We do not impose any limitations on who can sponsor

WSOT. As long as we can provide good value for the sponsors through our services, we can accommodate any company within or outside the FX brokerage world.

Q Some brands are totally focused on lead generation for their online marketing. Is this a good fit for them to sponsor WSOT? Sure, lead generation can have multiple forms. For example, those that focus their campaigns on getting in front of a highly-engaged trading and gaming audience offering exceptional products on their websites can benefit from sponsoring WSOT. However, we won’t be a good fit for companies that expect to get the contact details of our registered users as their direct leads because we do not share personal data with third parties, nor do affiliate marketing deals.

Instead, we give access to our user base via multiple channels to those who have something meaningful to share with our community.

Q As with any such sponsorship, there are different tiers. What do the sponsors receive?

Yes, we have three sponsorship tiers - gold, silver and bronze, priced adequately to the level of brand exposure included in their packages. In a nutshell, the sponsors receive a share of our premium website ad space, the possibility to communicate with our users directly (via newsletters and SEO-friendly content published on our website) and indirectly by integrating their logo and messaging in our materials.

Moreover, we offer different engagement opportunities through videos and live streams.

We have a separate media kit and a standard rate card for companies that prefer a-la-carte individual advertisement options. We are happy to provide full details to everyone interested in sponsoring WSOT.

P - 17 Lars Gottwik Founder & CEO of TRADANTS.

Ask Iva! IVA BOGICEVIC Breinrock

Dear Iva, I have found that working with an EMI can offer me and my brand a huge amount of flexibility in sending and receiving transactions. However, my biggest challenge with them is that they are very impersonal, often just being a website and no real contact person apart from an email and perhaps a skype call.

I would like to know your thoughts on this, as no doubt EMI’s can play a solid role in any institution’s payments structure.

All the best Kevin Fondue.

Issue #37 Iva Bogicevic Breinrock

Dear Kevin, This is a really interesting point that you bring up. I was discussing this with a new client that we onboarded last week. Although he was keen to see that we were well regulated and the twelve tier one banks in our network, interestingly one of his key criterias in taking on a new EMI was the personal touch.

Like this gentleman I have always found the ‘who are you?’ factor huge when I make major purchase or new service decisions.This can be from choosing a new restaurant to eat lunch in, or identifying the new partners that we like to work with.

The main challenge that he had faced was the anonymity of the previous service providers they had used which although may have been adequate as a provider, they always had that 1% of doubt as they are relatively generic and have an anonymous website with just a very basic support email address.

At Breinrock we do like to do things radically different to our peers with regards to this. We actively like to meet our clients in person at our various offices or the many events that we attend.

Not only do they get to meet the people behind the service, it is a great way to get to understand their specific needs and to teach them how to use our technology, so they can maximize our service. Moreover, they can understand Breinrock as an organization and to also see how we work so we can have a truly symbiotic relationship.

Further to this, once you get to know the support staff personally you do not feel bad if you ask a question, which is always welcome as we understand that you are dealing with a new technology and service provider so it helps us have well informed clients.

If you cast your mind back ten to fifteen years ago, you used to be able to walk into your local bank and probably know the name of your bank manager, and more importantly they got to know you also.

Why can we not do this with an EMI service where it is logistically possible?

In the internet era we have lost the personal touch, with a huge amount of high street branches closing, humans really do need contact to make a relationship flourish. Although Breinrock is definitely not a bank and should not be confused with one, we are looking to bring back the traditional values that they had with customer relationships that have long since disappeared in the internet era.

Come up to our office and let’s see how Breinrock can help you.

Thanks.

Iva. To find out more about how Breinrock can help you, mail us on welcome@breinrock.com

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OR GOLD

Head Of Commercial Operations

Q Tell us a bit about yourself and how you came to work for Panda Trading Systems I used to work on the brokerage side of the industry.

I spent about eight years working in the financial services sector in both Israel and Cyprus. It’s funny, I actually used to be a Panda client and that’s where the initial seeds were sown. I always had an interest in learning more about the technology of trading and how it all fits together on a big picture level. I was also interested in gaining experience in the B2B side of things. So, when the opportunity arose I jumped at it and here we are. That’s how the initial transition in my career path took place.

Q Tell us more about your current role at Panda and how you found your way to it.

I started out on the success team, which in retrospect was very important because that’s the department on the front line, so to speak. Working there you quickly learn everything about what brokerages require, their pain points, as well as how they operate and how best to do business with them. That experience has helped me in my present role as head of commercial operations, which involves negotiating the fit between our new products and the market’s changing needs. You can say I’m half way between the techs and the creatives. So, I also work closely with sales and marketing, to help them craft the way they approach their own campaigns. Having said that, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the forthcoming expo in Dubai,

GAME CHANGERS Issue #38

on February 22nd. Panda will be there in full force as a gold sponsor, so be sure to pass by and say hi!

Q What was your experience of crossing that line between B2C and B2B? It was daunting at first because you’re immediately dealing with a completely different set of concerns. Different procedures, different rules of engagement.

But I was supported at every step of the way. I should say that I think Panda is quite atypical in its corporate culture, and I’m quite aware that my experience probably would have been very different had I landed somewhere else. The openness between departments at Panda made it easy for me to quickly learn how the company operates as a whole. This helped me in two ways; it made it easier for me to learn about and adapt to the new role, but it also helped me understand the direction I wanted to pursue and how my own skills could be of most value.

Q What would you say is specifically different in the culture of Panda as a company?

It sounds cliche to say, but Panda really is like a big family. The most fundamental difference in culture is that the team is never treated as a resource. It’s difficult to say the same thing about many companies

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nowadays, particularly in finance. Also, when the dynamic is different like that, then you notice that the employee culture is also different as a result. For example, you won’t find people jealously guarding their domains, or interdepartmental frictions.

Everyone’s had the experience of working somewhere where the rules of the game are such that it’s everyone for themselves and to do anything else is to willingly put yourself at a disadvantage. When from the top down you have a culture of nurture and support, I think you develop an organic openness and enthusiasm for collaboration as I’ve experienced here. I think it’s why Panda has been around for so long.

Good culture, good people, and a can-do attitude that’s fostered at all levels.

Q Are these traits you believe could help other businesses develop a more productive corporate culture?

GAME CHANGERS Issue #38

Without a doubt. But then it depends on your priorities and your time horizons. Different organisations are going for different things. We see this in our industry all the time. You can be super profitable with strategies and business practises that value short term gain over long term growth. If that’s your model, then of course these concepts aren’t going to be of use to you because the payoff is too far out for it to be worthwhile.

As an example, some of our best developers started out in support without previous coding experience. That kind of movement between departments just isn’t possible in a company with a high employee turnover. At Panda, this kind of thinking filters through to everything, such as our focus on building solid partnerships and long-term relationships with our clients in an industry where people, and indeed companies, come and go.

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Q What would you say are the main themes you are seeing emerging in the online FX/ CFD segment from your perspective as a technology provider?

It’s interesting, there are undoubtedly new themes emerging, but there are also old themes that have yet to fully play out. For instance, we still see brokerages attempting to run mini fintech teams in-house. This is despite it almost never making sense in terms of time, money and human resources.

In 2022 it’s nearly always preferable to bring in an experienced fintech provider. You still see it attempted, though, usually by newcomers wishing to cut costs. In the long-run it’s a no-brainer to hire specialists, especially at this level of the game.

As far as emerging themes are concerned, we’re seeing AI techniques finally finding their way into brokerages. We’ve been part of this movement with a few notable product updates that add AI functionality to different tasks such as document verification and pre-emptivecustomer support. This is definitely a space to watch, and I think the brokers who start thinking carefully about what this formerly exclusive tech can do for them, will necessarily have a competitive advantage going forward.

Then there’s big data techniques in order to optimise sales, retention and marketing efforts. You’ll notice that the broader trend is optimisation and moving away from reliance

Or GoldGAME CHANGERS Issue #38 Head Of Commercial Operations at Panda Trading

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on human members of staff for processes that are far better left to code. You get this kind of focus on efficiency when a market matures, and when it scales to a point where managing it via human beings alone becomes untenable. I think our industry is at a stage now where to scale up to the next level requires a completely different focus on systems and technology. This is as trading is finally becoming a mainstream activity, which means more potential clients than most brokers can currently handle, in an environment with so much competition in the form of rival brokers, crypto exchanges, and zero-commission brokerage apps.

Q How do you think that scaling-up looks for today’s generation of FX brokers?

I think it means consolidation across different verticals. We’re seeing challenger banks and wallet providers turn into brokers, and brokers starting to offer basic banking and wallet-like services. The future is a moving target, so I don’t think anyone really knows the precise shape it’s going to take. The trend, though, is towards a greater variety of services offered. We saw this in the move from FX to multi-asset, and we’re seeing it now with the types of partnerships and mergers and acquisitions taking place in the financial services space. Let’s put it this way, there are problems to be solved and a high prize to the businesses that can be insightful and agile enough to identify and solve them in a costeffective and timely manner. I believe Panda will play a big part in this story as it unfolds.

GAME CHANGERS Issue #38

Q You mentioned crypto before, we should probably ask you at least one topical question.

What do you think about the current NFT and Metaverse crazes? Are we in another bubble?

Do these things have a future?

Are they in a bubble? Yes. Do they have a future? Also yes. It may sound like I’m sitting on the fence but let me explain. Mathematically enforced digital scarcity has a future, of course.

The difference between 2022 and 2017 is that the message has now gotten through to people in all fields and walks of life. Bitcoin is here to stay as the Internet’s de facto store of value. Fine. But at the moment that’s all that’s really been established.

All the other more complex uses of crypto tech, like smart contracts, defi, proof-of-stake, non-fungible tokens, digital metaverses, and so on. All that Web 3.0 stuff that relies on a consensus engine far more complex than Bitcoin’s; those things haven’t been decided yet, by the market or anyone else. And the reason for this is that no platform has emerged as the leader that can fulfil all the promises from 2017 and earlier. Ethereum obviously looks like the most viable contender, but it’s still held back by the same scaling and fee issues that plagued it in the previous cycle. And since NFTs and metaverses derive their value from the platforms they run on, I’d want to see at least a little more clarity on that front before I get super enthusiastic about this or that specific digital collectible or parcel of digital land.

GC:OPINION Have you got a b*ll shit job?

Writing this at the start of January, I am sitting here watching all our good intentions both professionally and personally slowly wash away, before the cold realization that this year will probably be the same as last.

being loosely translated as a workers council, having a tendency to drive for full employment. It was quite common for factory managers to hire people for such roles as counting endless inventories of nuts and bolts within the factory to promote full employment.

If you are unhappy in your job and quite possibly find it a pointless existence, then don’t worry you are not alone, in fact you are probably correct as your job is most probably a pointless waste of time according to leading academics.

In modern parlance, the BS jobs I witnessed first hand using Graebers definition I recalled a visit to Shanghai a couple of years back. I was amazed at the amount of people who were involved in making me a cup of tea when I visited the usual generic western super brand coffee shop.

In the spirit of self actualisation and getting you to take action, GC discovered the work of the late anthropologist and anarchist David Graeber, who came up with the concept of ‘Bullshit Jobs’. Graeber argued that the modern work environment is riven with BS jobs, in something which was only supposed to be a phenomena of the former Soviet Union and bloated government bureaucracies,it is also a common feature within modern capitalist organizations.

In the last century service sector jobs have become the dominant sector of employment within the west.

Graeber uses this classification in a very broad definition that stretches from call center employees to CEO’s. It is no longer just classified thinly as people who serve you in a bar or restaurant.

I was curious to know how it takes two people in Cyprus to carry out this operation (order taker and maker / person to spell my one syllable name wrong) to what seemed like people queuing up to carry out this elaborate dance to combine hot water, a tea bag and milk.

My first thoughts were that the over employment was probably to keep the populace happy and limiting the chance of overturning the system, however it could have just been in Graebers terms an organization riven with BS jobs and that’s just the way it is.

In Graebers publication he outlined the BS jobs into five broad categories.

The irony that Graeber notes of BS jobs is that it is the reverse of what we are told capitalism should be. If we use its definition in a classical sense, any organization in the capitalist system has weeded inefficiencies and operates a streamlined no waste operation. The actual truth is most organizations have many inefficiencies in them ranging from decision making and the actual day to day activities within.

The Flunkies

Graeber states that the Soviet Union was built on the idea of ‘noble’ labor. With the word Soviet

People who work to maintain the status quo of a problem that could easily be fixed permanently. They may not have the ability or will to remedy the situation. This is highlighted in such roles as an inventory manager in a warehouse, which in theory could be done automatically.

Typically doorman receptionists and chauffeurs.

They exist to make other people feel better about themselves. This role could easily be replaced by some form of technology.

The Duct tapers.

The Box Tickers Army of endless drones that operate to make a company look legitimate. Such as making an inhouse magazine which makes stories about key executives (yikes) or a cultural coordinator. This is done using

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Graebers understanding to make a small company look larger, so it is worth doing business with.

The Goons Affectionate name for the section of people who he believes have a negative impact on society, but make them seem necessary by simply existing. This is illustrated by inhouse corporate lawyers, who don’t really produce anything and are more costly to outsource. It may cost you more as you are constantly fighting off lawsuits from other brands who have inhouse lawyers justifying their job.

Graeber argues this can be seen by patent trolls, where a company buys up a number of generic patents and tries to sue rivals in the hope that they will just settle out of court. Evidence of this is Apple suing Samsung on the design of the phone being similar in that it had rounded corners.

The task masters.

A group of management who look over a section of the workforce who do not need to be managed. Graeber argues that Sales managers can do this as they are generally acting in a cheerleading capacity - something I disagree with.

They will be distracted in calling needless meetings and creating worthless mission statements that achieve nothing and pull people away from a job where people do have a chance to make a difference

GAME CHANGERS Issue #38

Many taskmaster are in a role as it creates a corporate hierarchy that make the CEO’s feel good creating a system of task masters.

Where I disagree with Graeber is that salespeople just push the same amount of money between companies.

In this I think he is wrong in that using his logic there is a set amount of money in circulation, and that sales people also create new jobs and generate revenue that keep the system moving. Although some owners would love to take sales people out of the equation Alexander Solzhenitsyn wrote in Gulag Archipelago, that to break a human’s spirit simply make them roll a rock from one end of the prison to the other and give them no reason or end date for this.Perhaps we are rolling the metaphorical rock in our day to day experience.

Are there really any massive differences between 21st century capitalism and 1950’s communism in the granular workplace where the counting endless inventories of nuts and bolts in the old Soviet system has been replaced in the modern technology age.

I think the best way to remedy this is to move away from the 40 hour week and go more task oriented.

The most efficient business model I worked in was in my summer break at university when I would work on construction sites.

We would work on what is known as price work where we finished when the job finished. With this there was no 40 hour week, this could be long days or short days and the pay was the same and this got us to finish asap.

Any organization that seems to go from start up to employing over 5 people is naturally going to develop a BS job tendency. Moreover, I think that Graeber does not take into account that some people can develop this into their role in what he describes out of fear of not appearing to have not enough work to do and getting fired.

Moreover, I am sure we have worked with those who are not the dynamic types and revel in their BS job…. goodness knows I have worked with a few that have generated new forms of internal rules and bureaucracies.

help you focus your mind outside.

Perhaps we have too much time on our hands to think that there is something better out there, and previous generations would just get drunk after work and drop dead of a heart attack at 65. We now exist in a world where we are comparing ourselves to others via our phones and social media, seeing people ‘living my best life’...maybe if Graeber was still alive he would see this as the ultimate BS job.

You can read more from David Graeber’s work called Bullshit Jobs: A theory which is published by Simon & Schuster and is available at the usual websites.

If you find yourself in this position and are looking to get out, is there an answer? Apart from overthrowing capitalism and forming a new global economic model which can be quite hard to do on a Monday morning, I would suggest avoiding the happy clappy motivational types like Gary V etc as most people don’t have the resources to just leave a job and follow their dreams.

Furthermore, not everyone is or wants to be an entrepreneur, most people just want to do something that is of interest to them or presents a mental or physical challenge on a daily basis.

I would suggest that you make a plan that gives you some form of hope and validation, in that there is some point to me doing this for eight hours a day for five days a week. One you embrace it and accept that this is modern life you can excel in your BS job by taking the money and seeing the humor in it. You are being paid to metaphorically pour water from one glass to another for 8 hours a day.

Other suggestions to alleviate yourself from this mental purgatory is to find solace in a hobby outside of your soul grinding daily role. Take up something where you do see an end result of your actions. Being a very small cog in a machine with no idea how or what your role achieves in the bigger picture, this can

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PSP Angels VIKTORIA SOLTESZ Founder of PSP Angels

Alternative Payment Methods: What are your Options?

One of the most important decision for online businesses is how to collect payments from their clients. To understand the risks, costs and benefits, the companies first need to evaluate the available payment method options which they have. Its especially important when a company is a startup or when established businesses expand to new markets.

Emergence of APMs Over time, all the traditional payment methods have been deemed to be problematic in their own ways: traditional banking is time consuming and inefficient, especially in international transfers, cash is less favored by governments due to the risk of money laundering and tax avoidance.

Fast forward to today, though traditional banking, card and cash are still utilized, we are also seeing the emergence of different payment methods with an aim to make the payment experience more seamless for both consumers and for merchants. This is when automatic payment processing, such as card schemes, comes into the picture.

The use of card schemes, such as Visa and MasterCard, have rapidly grown and is one of the most popular payment methods out there. This is because card schemes facilitate transactions by acting as the middlemen between consumers and the banks. Not only do they help with payment processing, but since they play a big role in the payments sphere, they impose many rules and regulations to make sure all parties are in compliance with regulations and to ensure there are no fraudulent transactions. They also safeguard the transactions, to make sure that money is handled in the safest way.

This resulted to the mass adoption of cards payments which are still one of the most popular payment methods.

But card payments are very expensive and still not very popular in emerging markets such as LATAM, Asia and Africa.

GAME CHANGERS Issue #38

So we all know the traditional payment methods: cash, cards and bank wires. But what are the Alternative Payment Methods (APMs) and how one can choose the right ones.

What Other APMs Out There Although card schemes are prevalent, the road does not end at that. When selecting APMs, businesses should consider other factors such as their business models and the cultures of their target jurisdictions, where a wider selection of APMs must be taken into account such as: Wallets. This is a type of APM where clients can top up the wallet as a way of storing money and can initiate transaction from. This APM is ideal for businesses like brokerages as they can pay their clients by simply adding the money to their wallets. This makes the transactions much faster, with both accepting payments and initiating refunds.

Open Banking. Open banking technology allows users to make payments by giving instructions for a bank to make a transaction to another bank, without using a card. This way of making payments is much easier and safer as it removes the need to type long card or IBAN numbers.

Local Payment Methods. This is an option which varies across countries, and we always advise our clients to carefully assess the payment methods each target country uses as that is what the local people are used to and would expect to pay merchants with. For example, in Brazil, Boleto, a cash-based payment method is used by most locals. In Thailand, on the other hand, QR codes are very popular. In many African countries, mobile payments are more common as card payments are not used that much.

Conducting thorough research is critical when it comes to choosing the right APM for your business. This is what will allow your clients to have a smooth payment experience with you and save you a lot of money in the long run. If you need further assistance in this matter we are more than happy to assist you at PSP Angels. For a free consultation, you can reach out to us at info@pspangels.com.

Viktoria Soltesz and Noor Farid PSP Angels

Viktoria Soltesz P - 31 Founder of PSP Angels

MT Proxy KENT RIBOE Managing Partner at MT Proxy

Q Tell us about MT Proxy.

We provide custom-built proxy server networks.

Our solutions are designed to help brokers reduce client-side latency and boost client connectivity worldwide. They are also designed to help brokers protect their businesses against external threats, such as DDoS attacks and latency arbitrage. As such, we help brokers offer a faster, more reliable online trading service.

Q Why did you start the company?

We felt brokers needed an easy way to set up this type of trading infrastructure. In theory, a broker could set up their own proxy server network. But in reality, many of them simply wouldn’t have the internal resources to do it. They would need to hire someone with the right expertise - someone who could help them find the best server providers and the best internet hubs around the world.

They would also need to hire a small team of staff to manage the network - a team that could help them to manage the network and respond to any network threats. MT Proxy gives them an easy alternative. We can set up and run their proxy server networks, and we do it for a fraction of the cost.

Q How has the company evolved since then?

We’ve always been there in the background. In recent years, we’ve been focusing on our clients and on our services. We’ve automated more processes and added more solutions. We’ve expanded our reach in key markets, such as Africa and Asia. We’ve also improved our offering, added new package deals, and introduced a two-week free trial for new clients. Over the last 12 months, we’ve been focusing on our partner network.

We’ve launched partnerships with major industry suppliers such as Tools For Brokers and Centroid Solutions. We’ve also got additional partnerships lined up for 2022. We’re pleased with our progress over the last decade and we look forward to helping more brokers in the years to come.

GAME CHANGERS Issue #38

Q What does MT Proxy stand for?

Quality, Stability and NoDrama. Our focus is offering an “install and forget” solution for brokers. We want to make everything as easy as possible for our clients.

That’s why we offer a robust service that includes everything from setup and configuration, to optimisation and network performance. Our focus is also on ensuring network stability. That’s why we help brokers improve their network security and why we ensure they get 24/7 network support.

Q What’s important to you as Managing Director?

Efficiency. We automate everything. That’s what enables us to offer the best solutions and to keep things running smoothly for clients.

Q What makes you different from your competitors?

Proactiveness. A lot of technology companies are reactive. We’re doing everything we can to take a

proactive approach to running the company. We’re proactive in our approach to clients - offering great deals, easy onboarding, and 24/7 support. We’re also proactive in our approach to product development anticipating client needs, automating processes, and rolling out improved solutions. We believe that this approach enables us to add value and to offer an even better service. It makes a huge difference.

Q Do you believe other brands will follow your lead?

We believe that low latency trading is more important than ever to traders. As such, we expect to see more low latency solutions on the market in the coming years. Our focus is on client-side latency. We were the first company to offer proxy server solutions, and we’re still the go-to industry provider for MT4 datacenters and MT5 access servers.

Q What’s the best way to reach you for more info about your services?

You can email us at hello@mtproxy.io or you can contact me directly at +357 9650 0852.

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Game Changers Magazine

Lifestyle

GC:EAT Bawabat Baghdad Restaurant Jumeirah Street, Umm Suqeim 2, Dubai United Arab Emirates +971 54 998 8959

I will be honest with you, Iraqi food has never been on my radar as something to eat especially when I am in Dubai where you have the choice of literally the whole world’s foods vying for your attention. We had an incredibly busy schedule when we were last there, and you know how it is when you are incredibly tired and you are more than happy to go along with someone who is a local’s choice.

Normally we would go for your standard five star hotel experience which is always very pleasant and the people are great, however this really feels like it is globalized food where you could order dishes from all regions which are fantastically made, however I like to eat in places that specialize in one region from their kitchen.

So when we were picked up and told we were going to an Iraqi restaurant, I did think we were going to get something that was like a Cyprus meze plus! (maybe I have been here too long to measure everything against it) On arriving at the location was that it was not in what could be seen as the tourist area of Dubai and what appeared to me to be a more local oriented area.

That’s not to say that this is in any way of lower value, when you walk up to the building it has an impressive exterior, where the doors swing open and you enter a wonderfully designed space that makes you feel at ease.

We had a nice selection of fruit juices to quench the palette, and as ever with places like this I always find it best to let others order a selection of dishes and go with what they know. The food was incredibly fresh, and I was half right with the meze connection. What seems to be a common feature with dishes stretching from Cyprus and the Middle East region is the focus on making dishes and dips, served with the various flavored breads.

We finished off with some very nice Iraqi tea as we moved to the outside area, which after a huge selection of dishes was great to sit and digest in the pleasant evening heat.

It is well worth a visit, as it is something that I would probably not have chosen if it was not for being taken there. However, I will see if I can fit in a return visit when we return in February I will be more than happy.

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GC: FEMME BURBERRY

With the end of winter and the start of spring, GC looks at what will keep us both stylish and warm on the final days of what seems like a never ending winter.

We feature British fashion goliath Burberry, who are synonymous with their check trench coat and tartan design, with their spring 2022 designs.

BRAND: BURBERRY NAME: Reversible Check and Monogram Cashmere Scarf COST: 520 GBP GAME CHANGERS Issue #38

BRAND: BURBERRY NAME: Pocket Detail Cotton Gabardine Trench Coat COST: 1.790 GBP

BRAND: BURBERRY NAME: Detachable Hood Cotton Gabardine Coat.

COST: 1.490 GBP

BRAND: BURBERRY NAME: Detachable Hood Cotton Gabardine Coat COST: 1.490 GBP

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BRAND: BURBERRY NAME: Location Motif Vintage Check Cashmere Scarf COST: 790 GBP

BRAND: BURBERRY NAME: Monogram Cashmere Jacquard Scarf COST: 520 GBP

BRAND: BURBERRY NAME: Butterfly Frame Sunglasses in Tortoiseshell COST: 180 GBP

BRAND: BURBERRY NAME: Regeberated Cashmere Trench Coat COST: 2.290 GBP

BRAND: BURBERRY NAME: Monogram Stripe E-canvas Robin Bag COST: 890 GBP

BRAND: BURBERRY NAME: Monogram Motif Cashmere Cotton Hooded Top COST: 790 GBP

BRAND: BURBERRY NAME: Embroidered Logo Canvas and Leather Slides COST: 390 GBP

BRAND: BURBERRY NAME: Wool Cashmere Bl COST: 1.290 GBP

BRAND: BURBERRY NAME: Monogram Motif Cashmere Blended Jogging Pants COST: 690 GBP

BRAND: BURBERRY NAME: Silk Twill Puffer Cape COST: 850 GBP

lend Fleece Jacket

BRAND: BURBERRY NAME: Logo Tape Silk Roll-neck Sweater COST: 390 GBP

GC: HOMME BURBERRY

With the end of winter and the start of spring, GC looks at what will keep us both stylish and warm on the final days of what seems like a never ending winter.

We feature British fashion goliath Burberry, who are synonymous with their check trench coat and tartan design, with their spring 2022 designs.

BRAND: BURBERRY NAME: Westminster Heritage Trench Coat COST: 1.690 GBP

BRAND: BURBERRY NAME: Contrast Check Cashmere Scarf COST: 450 GBP

BRAND: BURBERRY NAME: Logo Detail ECONYL Sonny Bum Bag COST: 550 GBP

BRAND: BURBERRY NAME: Stripe Detail Wool Duffle Coat COST: 2.690 GBP

BRAND: BURBERRY NAME: The Classic Cashmere Scarf COST: 370 GBP

BRAND: BURBERRY NAME: Down Filled Cotton Gabardine Parka COST: 3.190 GBP

BRAND: BURBERRY NAME: Monogram otif Cotton Sweatshirt COST: 470 GBP

BRAND: BURBERRY NAME: Monogram Motif Cotton Oversize T-Shirt.

COST: 320 GBP

BRAND: BURBERRY NAME: Logo Jacquard Wool Silk Scarf COST: 250 GBP

BRAND: BURBERRY NAME: Monogram Motif Cotton Jersey Baseball Cap COST: 260 GBP

GAME CHANGERS Issue #38

BRAND: BURBERRY NAME: The Camden Car Coat COST: 1.390 GBP

BRAND: BURBERRY NAME: Check Cotton Poplin Shirt COST: 350 GBP

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GC:FITNESS LUIS RIBEIRO Founder of Club Health www.clubhealth.uk

Winter Is Here: Boost Your Immune System The Club Health Way

The phrase ‘prevention is better than cure’ is most commonly attributed to the Dutch philosopher Desiderius Erasmus who lived around the year 1500. While medicine has come a long way in the 521 years since, the saying is still true now as it were back then.

With the winter months creeping up on us, the best way to avoid the flu, the sniffles, or any other condition (yeah, we’re looking at you Covid-19), that might keep you in bed, is taking proactive steps to build a bulletproof immune system.

Here are 5 steps all of us can take to protect our health like Jon Snow protected the Kingdom of the North.

Manage stress levels We understand this is easier said than done. The vast majority of our clientele is ambitious, driven people who milk every second of every day going after their dreams. That attitude often blurs the line between giving everything you have and giving more than you can. Burnout and stress are some of the most common ailments we encounter at ClubHealth.

It’s important to understand that your body and mind needs rest, breaks and selfcare. Think of the most expensive, high-performing car on the market. You still need to switch it off, you still need to refuel it, you still need to change gears. You’re no different.

Manage your workload to allow breaks during the day, leave your weekend free, and never overpromise.

Correct supplementation There are more health supplements on the market than there are stars in the sky and it sometimes gets overwhelming trying to sift through them. To help you

GAME CHANGERS Issue #38

simplify the selection process, we advise you to look at a couple of factors separating the good, from the bad and the ugly-tasting.

Make sure the supplements come from a reliable source. Our Boost supplement for example, was made in small batches and we had complete control and oversight of the production process. Is that the same with commercially, mass-produced supplements? No. Secondly, you need to take the time and investigate the ingredients. Reading the label of a nutrition supplement might not mean much at a first glance but you owe it to yourself to do some research before you put things in your body. Our Boost immune formula uses the purest ingredients, is free of allergens, GMO substances, and gluten. Two of the main ingredients in the formula are Red Reishi mushroom and Turkey tail mushroom.

Balance your diet The amount of digital ink that has been spilt over diet plans, healthy food and nutritious snacks is hard to calculate. While it all might sound blah to you, it is one of the most important factors in protecting your body from winter viruses.

Foods like green vegetables, egg yolks, mushrooms, salmon, canned tuna, and beef liver are superfoods that can build the anti-flu fortress you want. Nobody said you should ban the occasional chocolate bar or the all so delicious cupcake. What you need to do is eat some of the aforementioned foods as well and create a balance you do not despise.

Don’t cheat your sleep regiment What does sleeping have to do with the flu and your

immune system? In a recent study, scientists found that quality sleep can bolster the T cells in your body that fight off infection. Sleep does not only rejuvenate and recharges your batteries in the short-term, but it also builds a wall of healthy cells ready to battle unwelcome intruders.

Exercise Before you roll your eyes and start thinking of sweaty weight rooms and environments that make you feel uncomfortable, we have something to tell you. Exercise comes in many ways, shapes and forms and at ClubHealth, we have found ways to make exercising personal, effective and functional.

Our Clinical Pilates and one-on-one rehab training sessions are massively popular amongst our patients for a good reason. We give people who walk through our doors the necessary attention and guidance to make their visit That’s it, five simple steps to take care of your body, mind and as a result, your immune system.

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GC:GOING OUT Expo 2020 - Dubai

If you find yourself in Dubai and stuck for something to do, you would be crazy to miss out on Expo 2020. In case you are not aware, the global expo event hch is held every several years which highlights individual countries arts, culture, business and food.

Instead of walking around another shopping mall, take some time out of your schedule to have a look at this world class event.

According to arabianbusiness.com here are their fifteen must-sees from the 192 pavilions on show.

Taste food from around the world at more than 200 restaurants and outlets spread across the 192 pavilions.

Interact with robots from leading robotics specialist Terminus Group which will perform a variety of tasks from greeting visitors to helping with food and beverages delivery.

Ride around the world on a classic Venetian carousel with beautifully hand-painted images of past World Expos.

Visit Latifa’s Playground, a fun-filled interactive space where visitors can bounce over nets in the ‘zero-gravity’ chamber, leap into orbit around swings and hop aboard a replica of the UAE’s Hope Probe.

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Watch and participate in sporting activities from all around the world. Expo 2020 Dubai and Dubai Sports Council have teamed up to offer a diverse sporting programme packed with free activities, exhibition matches, big name sporting stars and an entire hub dedicated to fitness and wellness.

Design the perfect aircraft at the Emirates Pavilion where visitors can experiment with robotic arms and explore the innovative metallic and composite materials of the future.

Enjoy Expo’s night-time light festival where, every evening, the buildings and spaces come alive with projections and light installations.

Visit the solar-powered home of tomorrow at the DEWA Pavilion designed to maximise efficiency and offering plenty of futuristic touches, such as a drone-delivery hatch and a weight-measuring bathroom floor.

Visit the World Souq which features a range of crafts products ethically sourced from around the world.

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Head to the USA Pavilion to admire the SpaceX Falcon rocket along with exhibits and artifacts, such as pieces of rock from the moon and the US Mars Rover.

Check out the six-metre hyperloop carriage model at the Spain Pavilion and get a glimpse of the high-speed technology that might power future travel.

Attend a monthly gathering of world-renowned and emerging poets from Saudi Arabia, the Gulf and the wider Arabic-speaking world, performing together in a two-hour poetry session mixed with music from the KSA House Band.

See water being created out of thin air at the Netherlands Pavilion’s closed-loop farm’s wonders which also includes mushrooms grown on the walls.

Step inside the 14-metre-high walls of the spectacular Expo 2020 Water Feature and be mesmerized by the 360-degree immersive water, light and fire show, set to music curated by Game of Thrones composer Ramin Djawadi.

Make your way to the Garden in the Sky where you can stand on its tree-lined upper deck 55 metres from the ground level and get perfect panoramic shots.

The expo is set on a huge scale so you will have to plan your trip well in advance, also take a look at the official website .expo2020dubai.com for ticketing information, travel, etc

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GAME CHANGERS Issue #38

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ISSUE #38

THE JOURNAL FOR INDUSTRY LEADERS

www.gchangersmag.com info@gchangersmag.com