The 10 Best Performing Business Leaders of the Year 2020 December 2020.

1. www.thebusinessberg.com VOLUME - 12, ISSUE - 02, 2020 T H E 10 BEST PERFORMING BUSINESS LEADERS OF THE YEAR 2020

4. EDITOR’s Leadership in Business: A Conquest O ver the years, we have observed that leadership have transformed, moulded, and redefined by exceptional personalities. There are people who strive to make a difference by leading others towards the path of success with a zeal to attain greatness in their respective fields. Such people have a sense of responsibility imbibed in their functionality and they show case the highest standard of work ethics wherever they go. co-workers wherever they can, is few of the things that a business leader needs to do. An ideal business leader is one who identifies troubles and issues not in just a workplace but in people who are going through something and proposing valuable insights for them to cope up with the challenge. A business leader is seasoned through experience and there is no one richer in experience who have gone through the ups and downs of a business and made it out of the dynamic box called the business paradigm. In business, leadership is not just defined by a person’s ability to lead but the way a leader takes his/her team towards newer heights. It is a complex concept with sincere outlooks on how a person’s ability to spearhead people and project can lead to numerous advantages and most of all, productive results. The business world has always been volatile. Its ever-changing environment forces people to stay on their toes and adapt to the latest trends to gain the upper hand over the competition. A keen sense of leadership with on-point skills play a necessary part here. Leveraging the right skills ensures that the work gets done effectively and efficiently. Transforming businesses is a job of a leader, specified to his/her core. Leading by example and helping

5. EDITOR’s NOTE A clear approach towards leadership is the need of the hour. No bossing around, no covering up the mistakes, and no delays in delivery; that is the base of true management. Management derives leadership. One who cannot manage well, cannot ever truly be called a leader. Management is at the core of leadership. Maintaining and meeting all the targets along with overseeing the overall development of the subordinates is a part of a leader’s job. An ideal business leader is the one who creates a dynamic environment for his/her subordinates to grow organically and promotes equal opportunity for them. Without having any bias, a true leader recognizes the potential of the subordinates and puts them on the path to achieve greatness, to become leaders for the next generation. Celebrating the spirit of leadership, the latest edition of The BusinessBerg ‘The 10 Best Performing Business Leaders of the Year 2020,’ brings its readers tales of business leadership on a platter. Flip through its pages and enjoy the articles curated by our editorial team. Streamlining the hierarchy and maintaining the correct flow of communication are few of the things a leader should know how to do, because harmony in the workplace is garnered through ritually following these methods to the best extent. A leader is an alpha, who knows how to get things done without any hiccups. Its not about complete subordination, but a wilful following that a leader harbours to get the best out of his/her team. DarsHP Darshan Parmar

6. 10 Dicky Ying 12 16 Joseph Chan Dr Tanya Unni Coupons with Ease through Mezzofy Versatile Experience in the FinTech Space Chemical-free Skin Care 22 Nicole Eckels 26 32 Nicole Martin Rory J. Cutaia of Primal Senses Experiences Effectively Technology to Newer Heights Articles 34 Shamila Ramjawan 18 Leadership Qualities Redefined 28 ?ought Leadership Insights a Difference in the World Habits of Leaders Thought Leader?

7. 10 12 16 22 26 32 34

8. EDITORS ART & DESIGN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Sumita Sarkar SALES VISUALISER David King SENIOR EDITOR Anish Miller SEO & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Sharon Brooks ART & DESIGN HEAD Asha Bange DEVELOPERS TECHNICAL HEAD Jacob Smile MANAGING EDITOR Darshan Parmar ART & DESIGN ASSISTANT Deepanjali Jena ASSISTANT TECHNICAL HEAD Pratiksha Patil MARKETING MANAGER Mary D’souza CO-DESIGNER Paul Belin EXECUTIVE EDITORS Abhishaj, Aditya TECHNICAL CONSULTANTS Amar, David, Robert ART & PICTURE EDITOR Priyanka Rajage DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER Alina Sege BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVES Daniel, Peter ASSISTANT DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER Amol Wadekar SME-SMO EXECUTIVES Gemson, Nikita RESEARCH ANALYST Eric Smith CIRCULATION MANAGER Tanaji CORPORATE OFFICE The Business Berg Insights Success Media Tech LLC 555 Metro Place North, Suite 100, Dublin, OH 43017, United States Phone - (614)-602-1754 Email: info@thebusinessberg.com For Subscription: www.thebusinessberg.com December, 2020 https://twitter.com/thebusinessberg Follow us on : www.facebook.com/thebusinessberg/ We are also available on : Copyright © 2020 Insights Success, All rights reserved. The content and images used in this magazine should not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission from Insights Success. Reprint rights remain solely with Insights Success. Printed and Published by Insights Success Media and Technology Pvt. Ltd.

9. BEST PERFORMING BUSINESS LEADERS OF THE YEAR 2020 T H E Management Company Name Brief Dicky Ying CEO Dicky is on track to revolutionize the way we understand and use digital coupons. Mezzofy Dr. Tanya Unni Co-founder Dr. Tanya is continously innovating in the field of skin care. Amtan Medical Erna is working with the belief that eduaction is the way up and out of poverty. Erna Grasz Co-founder and CEO Asante Africa Foundation Jason leverages his diverse experience across a range of industries and global markets all the while bringing a unique outlook to solving problems strategically. Jason Delamore CEO Fronde Joseph Chan is disrupting the FinTech space with his company AsiaPay by providing comprehensive suite of digital payment solutions to its clients. Joseph Chan Founder and CEO AsiaPay Martin leads a global innovation consulting company, designing digitally-enabled strategies in order to facilitate a future which is smart and propogates simpler interactions. Martin Mendez CEO NEORIS Glasshouse Fragrances Nicole is leveraging the raw power of primal senses to drive her business in a dynamic way. Nicole Eckels Co-founder and CEO Nicole Martin through her company is offering a full range of services through consulting and outsourcing. Nicole Martin CEO HRBoost Rory J Cutaia Founder and CEO Rory aspires to disrupt the CRM industry and emerge as the market leader in the sales enablement sector. Verb Technology Shamila Ramjawan Founder and CEO Famram Foundation Shamila leads a marketing organization that offers outsourced marketing services and support for other businesses.

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12. The 10 Best Performing Business Leaders of the Year 2020 Dicky Ying Enabling Digital Coupons with Ease through Mezzofy T echnological revolution has given birth to the digital era, the one that we now live in. From an individual to a business, everyone in their own set of mind and frame is going digital. From adapting smart devices to using tech-enabled resources to streamline the work, everything has changed. What has also changed is the way we buy and sell commodities. We have come a long way from the barter system. The classic way of exchanging goods for the value of requisite materials or resources have become the talk of the past. But the thing that has remained is the tendency of exchanging goods for coupons as a part of the future payment or just a promise of an equivalent exchange. That is what the coupon system symbolizes. Now, as the digital era has been dawning on us, the time for digital coupon has arrived. The one who has introduced the world with the concept of digital coupons is Dicky Ying. responsible for all the overall growth that the company has experienced so far. Dicky successfully leverages twenty years of management experience in different industry verticals. planned to sell the most wanted thing on the market, which was the coupon system. Digital coupons are referred as money to the companies. In Dicky’s opinion, a company must have awareness for the latest technology to enable high security while leveraging its coupon platform. He believes that the future of digital coupons will have a global standard, just like a barcode. Merchants across the world, use barcode as a global standard to keep track of their goods sold and purchased to provide a hassle-free experience to their clients. He has worked as a senior management executive in many globally listed companies mostly in the IT and logistics field. Dicky has a strong sense of competitive spirit and he always remains firm to achieve growth. He gives the credit for Mezzofy’s interim success to persistence. Dicky drives the digital coupon facilitation business with great expertise and in a seamless manner. He confirms that whoever he meets becomes quite interested in the product and that way, Mezzofy does not have to sell too much on the concept. “Mezzofy usually goes to contract details from the second meeting,” says Dicky. Digital Impetus “If there will be a global standard for digital coupons, it will not only benefit the merchants but consumers as well. Both the parties will have confidence in the globally recognized coupons, and exchange of such coupons will encourage worldwide feasibility in transactions,” describes Dicky. If we give it a technological view, this approach is possible, and the rest depends on the market. This has helped the team at Mezzofy to amicably create Mezzofy Merchant App that assists merchants in facilitating unlimited digital coupons having to do no upfront payments or technical support. When Mezzofy came into existence, Dicky and his team As the CEO of Mezzofy, Dicky is on track for revolutionizing the way we understand and use digital coupons. The company has garnered a lot of attention under the astounding leadership of Dicky. He is Dicky believes that a solution provider should always take care of the customers’ needs thereby 10 | DECEMBER 2020 www.thebusinessberg.com

13. “ NEVER GIVE UP, NEVER GO BACK ON WORDS. THAT’S MY AND MEZZOFY’S WAY “ Dicky Ying CEO providing a product that matches all their requirements and invite more customers. “Why should I buy this product? This question of the customer should be answered promptly by the solution provider, then only you will come to know that your business model works,” informs Dicky. Google Play and App store is now being used by the merchants across the globe to issue coupons. their internal coupon systems and databases with Mezzofy. He stresses on the part that Mezzofy is not just a coupon enabling platform, but it is also an IT solution provider. Under the umbrella of IT services, Dicky facilitates solutions like POS and Inventory Management. Dicky runs the company under one simple and effective approach of the business – demand and supply. More than 15000 people have downloaded different Mezzofy applications and users from fifty different countries around the globe has adopted Mezzofy for their digital coupon needs. To name a few, these countries are the US, Hong Kong, China, and Asia mostly. The company under the leadership of Dicky has helped a lot of other companies overseas in integrating Having a palette of unique products and services, Dicky through the various platforms of Mezzofy has already instilled a noteworthy mark in the Asian coupon market. The app that can be downloaded through DECEMBER 2020 | 11 www.thebusinessberg.com

14. Dr Tanya Unni CO-FOUNDER 12 | DECEMBER 2020 www.thebusinessberg.com

15. The 10 Best Performing Business Leaders of the Year 2020 Dr Tanya Unni On a Quest for Delivering Chemical-free Skin Care T push back aesthetic dermatological procedures and treatments. This proved to be a temporary setback for the industry. However, latest studies predict that the industry is all set to bounce back and for the next 4-5 years we will witness exponential growth in the aesthetic medicine and cosmetic surgery sector. he novel Coronavirus has slowed down the business activities of the aesthetic medicine and cosmetic surgery market. People were ready to Midwife care in a one stop centre’, supported by health and local government authorities. A Multi-talented Medical Expert Dr. Tanya is an award-winning businesswoman, considerate doctor, successful brand developer and community influencer. Inspired by her grandfather, who was a pious and gifted doctor, Dr. Tanya took up the medical profession. She completed her medical education from prestigious institutions in India and UK; after which, she acquired a post graduate degree in Dermatology. Dr. Tanya has also done advanced training in skin cancer medicine and surgery. Dr. Tanya Unni, Co-founder of Amtan Medical successfully identified the neglected areas in skin care and developed innovative technology to address them. The brand brings together the ageless wisdom of Ayurveda and the unwavering evidence of modern medicine. This synergy is the USP of Dr. Tanya’s products. In the backdrop of COVID-19, when the world is more conscious about the significance of unadulterated health and natural immunity, the relevance of Dr. Tanya’s cosmetic products is better understood. Dermatology, skin cancer management, cosmetic medicine, women’s health, and mental health are her areas of special interest. Her interest in dermatology began long before she became a doctor. As a young girl, she witnessed her mother and grandmother make their own moisturizers and both have aged gracefully. Being an ambitious and motivated businesswoman, the predominant challenge is to be always one notch ahead in the game. It is a challenge as well as motivation to consistently deliver true value with the existing talents, resources, and innovation capital. The decision to scale up and set up five new businesses within eight months was a huge professional challenge. When the hitherto small family business required expansion at an exponential rate in a short span of time, the challenges were humungous. Once she left home for studies and had to rely on beauty brands, she was appalled at the sheer number of chemical ingredients in them. It was then that the seed of an idea to one day make her own creams was born. After migrating to Australia, Dr. Tanya worked in the hospital sector, before setting up own clinic. Dr. Tanya, along with her husband Dr Ameer, set up the first Amtan Medical Centre in 2010. Today, ten years later Amtan Medical has a portfolio of eight centres across the Gold Coast. Since the pandemic Amtan Medical Centres have continued to grow their service offering to include a permanent Teleservice offered 24/7 as well as the introduction of a bulk billed post-natal service that brings much needed assistance to the homes of Mums across the Gold Coast. An Australian first initiative was launched - ‘Combined GP and In 2018, Dr Tanya created her own chain of cosmetic centres, ‘Skin Lab & Beauty’, which offers extensive range DECEMBER 2020 | 13 www.thebusinessberg.com

16. “ of beauty treatments combined with medical expertise. Dr. Tanya has developed her own brand of cosmetic products and devices. Dr. Tanya’s NuSonic Skin Exfoliator and Wrinkle Reducer, NuDerm Moisturising Mist, NuBrush Hair Massager and Scalp Rejuvenator and Holy Basil Hair serum have become hugely popular. As a doctor, I strongly uphold my conviction to recommend to my clients only the products that I trust “ With impressive experience in cosmetic medicine, she is a member of Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery. Dr. Tanya is also a member of the Royal College of General Practitioners, UK and a fellow in Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Australia. “My motivation as a cosmetic brand innovator is to enable women to be the best version of themselves. The idea is not to raise false expectations but to help women be confident in their skin,” says Dr. Tanya. team members and empowering them with more training to grow. About Amtan Medical Amtan Medical serves the Gold Coast community through eight centers located in Hope Island, Ormeau, Oxenford, Pacific Pines, Pimpama and Reedy Creek. Amtan Medical has the distinction of being the largest privately owned medical chain in Gold Coast. Amtan Medical has a diverse workforce with a remarkable mix of men and women, the older seasoned workforce along with fresh hands and people from different nationalities ranging from India to Africa. Such a cosmopolitan setting improves cultural insights and promotes give and take among employees. Creating an inclusive work environment has been the key to Dr. Tanya’s professional life. Creating a blame-free culture where everyone can work without fear of making mistakes is attributed as the secret behind Amtan’s success. The facility provides comprehensive and quality bulk-billed health care solution to the local communities in Gold Coast. Amtan Medical Centres envisage providing a holistic approach to family care combining a suite of general practitioners and specialists with Allied Health Professionals, all under one roof making it more convenient for local communities to access. The clinics give special focus on Midwifery services, Workplace Doctors, skin cancer checks etc. Amtan has a dedicated tele-health service. “If young people cultivate the ability to listen to their team’s views and be inclusive of the diversity, they would be able to appreciate the power and vitality of multiculturalism in contributing to the team success,” shares Dr. Tanya addressing young generation of entrepreneurs. A leader is defined by the capability to adapt to the ever-changing scenario and guide colleagues to an uncertain future as duly reflected by the COVID-19 pandemic. As any business grows, the team should be given opportunities and resources to allow them to grow with the company. Amtan refers its core values as the pillars of the brand. The Core Values reflect the group’s philosophy of ‘Ethics, Respect and Empower’. Being in the health business Amtan follows strong ethics throughout. From patients’ experience to treatment to follow up and in other areas like customer service, association with other companies, manufacturing of products and brand development, the work ethics upheld is reflected on the brand trust and credibility. Dr. Tanya along with Amtan Medical Centers envisage a future expansion which is not restricted to just business advancement, but more in terms of touching the lives of a great number of people. With mental health in focus and community activities as a medium, Amtan would like to enlarge its horizon across Gold Coast. And being futuristic, Amtan has formulated plans in the digital space as well. ‘Dr Tanya’ cosmetic brand is going through a tremendously exciting phase and is geared to explore the international market along with Australia. Amtan’s work culture emphasizes on respecting customers irrespective of age, gender, race, and culture, respecting each other in the team and valuing each team member’s role and contribution. The medical facility also strives to empower the local community with constant and constructive health care communication and upskilling the 14 | DECEMBER 2020 www.thebusinessberg.com

18. The 10 Best Performing Business Leaders of the Year 2020 “When the going gets tough, the tough gets going” Joseph Chan T enables an ability to distinguish between problems even before their emergence along with the capacity to respond to it actively and productively. he above-mentioned thought is what moves a leader to bring out his/her true potential and consolidated his expertise and experience in strategic planning, product and project management. He was also involved in implementation of various cutting-edge financial, electronic banking, internet and mobile product services and systems in Asia to well serve the needs of the customers. • Launch Smart Retail Payment Solution PayDollar -AppPay • Value-added Payment Solutions like buy-now-pay-later • More wallet acceptance like GrabPay, SamsungPay, ApplePay for digital purchases • Mobile Payment: Mobile in-app SDK • Comprehensive data analytical tools for digital merchants – Payment Dashboard Value and authority start at the top. Individuals are not born pioneers/leaders, they acquire or build up the characteristics that cause others to be influenced by them. A genuine leader has the capacity to see the opportunities and perceive ability in individuals where others do not. They will in general have a decent radar; realizing how to pass judgment on individuals, occasions, and circumstances. Perseverance and Dynamics In Covid-19, people are using digital payments actively. AsiaPay is utilizing this opportunity to facilitate: • Expand and focus more on other ‘distribution channels’ • Retailers with more aggressive online sales, home delivery/consumables • More heavier sales and promotional activities on social media and webinars “Keeping one eye on the road ahead could allow us to exit the crisis with a more customer-focused, efficient, and resilient payments industry,” Joseph describes while enabling the above services. CEOs are the face of any organization. People often follow the organization because of the personality that the CEO of that organization has. The leadership characteristics or traits are not limited when a CEO is representing his respective business. According to Joseph, one is a true business leader who: • Demonstrates perseverance in the face of adversity and overcoming obstacles. • Demonstrates strong leadership skills and an unflinching desire and determination to be successful • Balances the concept of effectiveness and efficiency in business plans. • Leverage on the ever-changing technological trends to keep innovating new products and services Before achieving anything, everyone faces the possibility of failure, however when failures happen, leaders dissect it appropriately and gain insights from them to carry on with their endeavors. It provides self-confidence and the whole experience becomes an integral factor in a business leader’s journey. DIGITAL COMMERCE AND PAYMENT WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE TREND One such business leader that we are showcasing in this latest edition of Insights Success is none other than Joseph Chan, Founder and CEO of AsiaPay. Prior to founding AsiaPay, he took various management positions at Barings, Citibank N.A., Bank of America and Dah Sing Bank. Through successive positions in banking and finance industries, Joseph 16 | DECEMBER 2020 www.thebusinessberg.com

19. • Keeps an open mind to learn from others and gain experience. • Show capacity to be an independent thinker and to take on and manage risks in the face of uncertainty. • Always has a mindset that adjusts to the constant changing demands of this modern generation, along digital innovation and transformation. according to their approach and pre-assumed thoughts about a particular task. Here are some of the suggested attributes by Joseph which a leader must possess to accomplish their milestone and touch the skyline in their businesses: • Entrepreneur attributes (Investor) • Belief • Decisive • Risk tolerance (resilience) • Life-time learning • Dream goal • Integrity • Salesmanship These insights will play a vital role in changing the new-age leaders’ thought process in a dynamic way. Providing meaningful advice to the young generation of entrepreneurs he says, “All dreamers encounter constant challenges and dilemmas, be it betting money, capital investment, human resources and even your destiny to flight. At this highly uncertain business environment during pandemic and ever-changing technological world, perhaps, entrepreneurs could stay calm and be at P.E.A.C.E. always. (‘P’assionate; ‘E’mbrace changes; ‘A’gile; ‘C’ollaborative; and ‘E’volutionary).” With a motivational notion, Joseph is going to pursue his vision and dream to be one of the prominent and leading digital payment service and technology solutions provider in Asia. Joseph Chan Founder & CEO • Values the people behind its workforce by allowing them to give their inputs and exercise their roles in the company. Current Status and Future Endeavors AsiaPay operates in over 13 countries, with 15 functional offices in Asia and over 165 talents. Currently, the company: • Provides a positive and comfortable working atmosphere. • Works smart -Leveraging time to create more value by technology • Cultivate an environment that encourages and recognizes innovation and creativity • Develops training, promotional practices and implementing employee ownership on a sustainable basis. • Maintains its work environment healthy by having a work-life balance for its employees. • Holds workshop gatherings that let it meet the AsiaPay employees from different countries and share knowledge to build teamwork. Troubles and Struggles Primarily, the challenges in the FinTech space is to effectively validate the viability of the business and its assessment of all related technological and security risks. Secondly, how to effectively build the right team/acquire the right talents with the right know how and passion is a huge problem. Lastly, being a fintech player, some of the major challenges is gaining trust and support from banks and partners in new markets, and how to fend off risks due to compliance and regulatory changes. This is where true leadership is required. Joesph along with the team of AsiaPay is looking to embrace change and digital innovation. The company under the guidance of Joseph will continue to expand its footprint in the market and enhance its product new payment solution and service coverage. He is also looking forward to adding value and empowering other businesses and financial institutions to keep up with the technological advancements taking place in the industry. Joseph is focused on helping companies that are going through market disruption by offering comprehensive suite of digital payment solutions cross channels, devices, and technologies in the future. There are a plethora of books and write-ups about characteristics of an ideal leader, but there is nothing in existence like the perfect leader or pioneer. People often gain or lose DECEMBER 2020 | 17 www.thebusinessberg.com

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21. Leadership Qualities Redefined I success and wisdom. Conversely, un-educated decisions, miscommunication, and the inability to properly inspire the team to take the right steps are often listed as the top causes as to why leaders fail. The 7 Surprising Habits of Leaders n the business world, the appropriate use of experience and inspiration can often lead to Everyone must make choices on a daily basis, everyone has to decide which direction they should propel their life towards, and everyone has to face the consequences of their actions or inaction. All of it culminates into the personality that they live out and keep updating daily. But what does it take to be a leader amongst people? How differently do leaders make their choices, and more importantly, how do they act? Let us dissect seven of the surprising habits of leaders, shall we: • Leaders are Non-conformists Some people enjoy living within the boundaries of their comfort zone. Others are extremely unhappy when all they do resides in the comfort zone. This second kind gets easily disengaged when things get too monotonous, become frustrated and anxious when things move too slowly. Leaders generally fall into the second category of individuals. “I didn’t expect Tesla to succeed, but it was too important not to try.” - Elon Musk Conforming to the ‘status quo’, fitting into complacency, and accepting things as they are is a waste of time and energy. It’s just not their style. DECEMBER 2020 | 19 www.thebusinessberg.com

22. Leaders are non-conformists who are always raising the bar. Being disillusioned with the status quo, they are always looking for ways to better themselves and those around them. The phrase ‘be yourself’ does not really satisfy them. opinions and needs on the team and make the right decisions based on that information. generate a lot of different ideas. • Leaders Are Not Afraid of Getting in the Weeds Google, the tech leader, came way later to the web engine party after AltaVista and Yahoo. Facebook, the social media super success waited to come after Myspace. Great leaders shy away from inheriting too many stereotypical boss-like attributes, knowing full well that these can only be a detriment. Leaders must take active participation in the tasks assigned to their subordinates and lead by example. Leaders should expect a two-way flow of ideas, allowing their subordinates to contribute meaningfully, encouraging their ideas and, hence encouraging their best selves. • Leaders Act Confident • Leaders Feel Doubt and Fear Great leaders are confident in their ability to deliver results. They do whatever is takes, even walking right to the edge of their comfort zone. Confident leaders have no trouble sharing credits with others, knowing they can deliver in turn, and that success needs the support of the team. This should come as a surprise to us mere mortals. Great leaders look confident, but behind the scenes feel the same fear and doubt just like the rest of us. They just manage it differently. The creative process for most of us works as follows: This is awesome; This is tricky; This is crap; I am crap; This might be okay; This is awesome. Additionally, leaders must have a keen understanding of their team’s requirements and shortcomings. Leaders cannot just remain quiet when disagreements arise between team members. But confidence should not be confused with arrogance though; arrogance destroys trust by ignoring the value and contributions of others. For leaders, they simply substitute the “I’m crap” phase with “I’m just not there yet”. They keep trying on different things and remain steadfast in principle. • Leaders Embrace Change • Original Leaders are Late to the Party In turbulent times such as the ones presented to us by the ongoing pandemic, where many of the well- established businesses were forced to shut down, leaders must keep a calm mind. Leaders must reassess assumptions, re-evaluate scenarios, and trust their ability to sense and respond. “I have the most creative ideas when I’m procrastinating” Procrastination gives you time to think about divergent ideas, to consider alternate possibilities. A lot of great original thinkers throughout history were original thinkers. Take Martin Luther King Jr. for example. On that eventful day, while waiting in line to the podium awaiting his turn to speak, he was still scribbling notes, crossing out lines, and finally went to the stage and gave that speech that moved the world: “I have a dream today”. • Leaders Fail Faster A leader, especially a business leader, knows that a misinformed or straight-out wrong decision is better than no decision at all. ‘Failing faster’ is the art of trying out a lot of different ideas, failing at most of them, and keep trying nonetheless till you get to the point where you are happy with the result. Leaders know the importance of being original. They need to keep track of the latest trends and technologies of their sector and maintain a keen sense of adopting new modules into their palate, so as to better serve the interests, needs and interests of their team. In short, leaders must have their finger on the pulse of the zeitgeist. - Aditya Umale Original thinkers fail the most. Anyone want to guess why? It’s because they try the most. If you wish to be original, you must Often times, leaders are quick to start but late to finish. They take the time to consider everyone’s 20 | DECEMBER 2020 www.thebusinessberg.com

24. The 10 Best Performing Business Leaders of the Year 2020 Nicole Eckels Leading the Business of Primal Senses W thinking, and most of all our actions. When you sense something good is going to happen, you experience a joyful event that fills your heart with happiness. When you sense something is wrong, and mostly your intuition is right, you see something bad happening to you or around you. Senses control our lives in a way that cannot be explained rationally. It all depends on one’s belief. Being able to control your senses or just enhance it, is a task. But many people do it intrinsically. Similarly, harnessing the raw power of primal senses to drive her business towards glory is Nicole Eckels, CEO and Co-founder of Glasshouse Fragrances. The company is a part of Sapphire Group which is also spearheaded by Nicole. hat drives human heart and mind? Philosophically speaking, senses tend to have a hold on our behaviour, our approach, our Nicole. After a lot of research, strategic planning and the first batch being made in Nicole’s kitchen, Glasshouse Fragrances came to life. Enlightening the World with Fragrances Nicole and her team oversee everything in-house, from the creation of the products, the marketing of the products and of course manufacturing itself. Normally, many brands would like to work with the approach where the idea was spawned first and then the product to be launched was handed to a third-party manufacturer for production of the final goods. Nicole although, had a different way in mind. After she launched the idea for the product, Nicole started a privatized factory for Glasshouse Fragrances because she was not happy with the quality that was being produced in Australia. “When I started the business, rather than selling “ Nicole has always loved and been emersed in the creativity of the beauty and fragrance industry. Having started as a make-up artist in her hometown of New York City, she loved the transformative power of make-up and fragrances. “As my career evolved, I had an opportunity to move into B2B sales which saw me relocate to San Francisco,” she describes. I WANT TO PUSH THE BOUNDARIES, TO GO FURTHER THAN FRAGRANCE, MY SOURCE OF INSPIRATION IS THE ART OF FRAGRANCE ITSELF While she learnt a lot in this role, Nicole was yearning for a more empowering and creative outlet. At the same time, she was relocating herself along with her son to the beautiful sunny shores of Sydney, Australia. As fate would have it, the moving paved the way for the establishment of Glasshouse Fragrances. “I was in a Sydney department store looking to replace a much-loved candle. I was quick to see the luxury candles I knew from home, and the low-end low-fragrance brands but what I couldn’t see was a product that offered me a high-quality fragrance, in a beautiful vessel at an accessible price point,” shares “ 22 | DECEMBER 2020 www.thebusinessberg.com

25. Nicole Eckels CEO & Co-founder in the range to as many retailers as possible, I gave them the range on consignment, letting them know that they didn’t have to pay for the product unless they sold it,” says Nicole. Luckily for her and the team of Glasshouse Fragrances, the products sold right away and then those temporary retailers became permanent retail partners. “I wasn’t simply launching a new product; I was creating an entirely new category,” informs Nicole. There were a lot of people who did not believe in her idea initially, particularly the part where people would be willing to pay for customized scented candles. “I also had no idea how to make a decent candle and now they are world class. We have come a long way indeed,” states Nicole. The Smell of Success The company has become a true fragrance brand in the last six months with the launch of its personal fragrance category. This is exactly what the team of Glasshouse Fragrances needed before looking further at the global expansion, building on the current 1200 retailers across Australia, Japan, Singapore, South Africa, and New Zealand. DECEMBER 2020 | 23 www.thebusinessberg.com

26. Glasshouse Fragrances have had a solid business in place prior to the pandemic. Like any other business, the company had to pivot and remain agile to experience excellent growth over the last six months. There are several reasons for this: a) The cocooning effects. With everyone working from home they are looking to make their home experience more beautiful, and they turn to candles to help do this. b)The company had a strong ecommerce channel in place, so it did not have to rush and create. All the credit for this goes to the team of Glasshouse Fragrances, they were ready. c)The factory was able to continue with business as usual, all within the Covid- safe requirements. The client orders were fulfilled at optimum capacity with the headcount of the company remaining full. Glasshouse Fragrances are in a category that is quite simple. The sense of smell is primal, so Nicole focuses on making the best possible product, great packaging that differs, and groundbreaking scents that whisk the customers away. “This style of innovation is what matters most to our customers who like us, are addicted to scent,” adds Nicole. Advising fresh entrepreneurs. Nicole conveys, “You have to make it easy to do business with you, you have to take ownership and follow up – and remember there is always a way in, a way over, a way around or a way through.” Nicole has always been an entrepreneur; it is in her blood. She is a naturally excited person who always keeps dreaming and thinking of new possibilities. 24 | DECEMBER 2020 www.thebusinessberg.com

28. The 10 Best Performing Business Leaders of the Year 2020 Nicole Martin Enhancing Employment Experiences Effectively I t is imperative to get hands on experience doing what you seek to learn. Make sure it brings you joy before investing time, energy, and dedicating your life to it. Enjoy the journey and be prepared to learn, unlearn, and relearn. Surround yourself with people who inspire and support you, but also do not patronize you. Understanding what you are up against, or what might not be working, is as important to building a successful business as knowing what is working. Remember, even if it gets harder, or takes longer, stay diligent. Anything you love will be worth it. skilled talent will choose where it works. Open-sourced talent is the opportunity and culture, and the new organizational structure. environments to name a few. Its clients are typically high growth businesses with 50 to 250 employees though the company has served smaller and larger businesses with up to 500 employees on a project basis. Boosting the Workforce “We have experienced tremendous growth and proudly, nearly every client has been sourced via word of mouth. Results matter and we measure to our own standard of excellence which keeps HR making a tangible impact on the businesses we serve,” says Nicole. ® HRBoost offers a full range of services on both a consulting and outsourced basis. Its solutions are based on strategic HR leadership and the latest thinking in the field of human resource management. “We specialize in building HR departments from scratch and we are proudly recognized as a 2017 Annual Awardees for Business Excellence (AABE) by the Daily Herald Business Ledger,” informs Nicole. HRBoost ’s team have provided much of its offering in a digital way. There is content, training and culture resources and the team makes it all accessible right from the website. Furthermore, the company has partnered with another service provider to take its HR experts servicing phone client program to the handheld device in anyone’s hand. ® This is the philosophy by which Nicole Martin lives and operates her giant conglomerate, HRBoost . As the CEO, she has led a virtual team for 10 years. “We have always been virtual to some degree. However, we have always served our clients in person,” says Nicole. In March 2020, the company’s revenue was hit like everyone else’s. Immediately, business paused across industry and size. By May 2020 something unique happened. Businesses that did not care for HR or failed to recognize HR strategy was essential to their success are now realizing they in fact need it. ® Whether one is simply looking for guidance on a particular human resources matter or to implement a complete human resources support solution, HRBoost can add value to their business. The team focuses its practice between the two fundamental constructs - efficiency and effectiveness. It aims to be proactive not just responsive. Internally, its core values are what its team lives in practice. Through peer-based recognition, the company’s values become tangible and are understood in a common language. ® One of the more exciting developments of the company is resourcing the small business with a (HCM) Human Capital Management system when no one offers that in the middle market. It has been a dream to at least make HCM available when small businesses are used to HRIS (Human Resource Information Systems), not HCM. “As we say, they deserve ‘it’ too!” Nicole addresses. “We have always stated, Strategic HR day one, employee one,” states the ® team of HRBoost . Nicole has always been grateful for not just surviving the pandemic but thriving amidst it. She and her team are thrilled to help small businesses compete for talent at a time when ® HRBoost has served businesses spanning various industry sectors. Its clients have included professional services, non-profit, high-tech, manufacturing, staffing firms, hospitality, and healthcare The HR Booster Nicole joined the workforce immediately after graduating high school. She always worked full time 26 | DECEMBER 2020 www.thebusinessberg.com

29. “ I lead a high-performance team of HR leaders to partner with businesses and meet them wherever they are on their journey to being a best place to work “ Nicole Martin, CEO and attended university in the evening. Nicole was promoted into HR at a time when she did not even know what it was. Her first job was a receptionist for a global company in the financial services industry. Pre Y2K, there were many H1-B engineers and analysts brought into the US to program the software systems through the next century. It was before she knew about politics and bureaucracy. essentially became a Consultant. Nicole was on a mission, to find the next CEO that desired to create a Best and Brightest company to work for. heart knows the Lord and that is enough,’” Nicole conveys. ® She practices faith daily, sometimes moment to moment and with presence, Nicole chooses to serve the greater good. Through all the challenges she has experienced, Nicole derives the gratitude to serve through her work and thus, her motivation is workplace ministry. According to her, everyone deserves work they love. It should never be drudgery. “In 2013, I stood before a room of professionals that worked for me and I asked them all, Why? Why do you work ® for HRBoost ? It was amazing and humbling to realize that my playground, in fact, became theirs,” states Nicole. And to no surprise, the company has a highly qualified team with bench strength that like Nicole, demanded work to accommodate their lives versus the other way around. HRBoost work environment is virtual, now more than ever and some of its talent works inside the company’s client’s businesses. “We are a highly collaborative team,” describes the ® team of HRBoost . Nicole got an A in a training class she was taking in college and she confidently presented a program that she created to her reporting personnel. When she was finished with her presentation, he said, “You are my receptionist! You belong to HR,” to which Nicole replied, “What is that?” There started Nicole’s journey in the world of HR. She learned about the HR space in a big corporate HR environment. She transitioned into management and the middle market at the age of 21. “The biggest challenge I had come when I had to make a choice to either grow my business beyond me or say, ‘No’ to a client. I never said ‘No’ when I knew I could help and as a result, I have continually been personally and professionally challenged to grow as a business owner,” describes Nicole. ® Nicole has reinvested in the business and continue to innovate with her team. She feels that her team has always done what they are best at and now the company strives to make it better as a cohesive unit. “Now, we have talent in our industry calling upon us and that has made our growth even more interesting. I have learned, we do not just preach talent pipelining, we live it,” concludes Nicole. Nicole Outside the HR World Nicole points much of her gratitude to God. In recent years, it became evident that she began to share beliefs and tools she learned long ago. She met a friend when he was in seminary who later went on to become a priest. “I carry with me something he once said to me – ‘Su corazón conoce al Señor y eso es suficiente’ which translates to, ‘her ® “Fifteen years later,HRBoost was created from the tenacity to do my work but on my terms,” Nicole opines. In 2009, Nicole worked in management and her last ‘in house’ role was for her then employer. She was employed through downsizing during the last recession. Nicole converted her boss at the time into her first client in 2010. She DECEMBER 2020 | 27 www.thebusinessberg.com

30. How to Become a Thought Leader? “A warrior’s path is a solitary one!” 28 | DECEMBER 2020 www.thebusinessberg.com

31. Thought Leadership Insights T feeling a leader gets when accomplishments are realized, the whole experience is otherworldly. If the case of Thought Leaders is considered, the tasks and rewards are exemplary. The first thing that comes to mind when trying to define a ‘Thought Leader’ is the stage of the famous TED conference with the person, the Thought Leader holding forth with complete dedication, passion and verve on a stage that is built, lit, and positioned just the right way for audience that expectedly has more than a passing interest in the subject. essential in-depth knowledge of each field, pain-points therein and how things could be changed for the better with existing resources but a different approach. he above quote justifies what a leader must go through to achieve the set goals and often, the journey is lonesome. Yet, it can be fulfilling and the That could be termed the perfect setting for the birth and establishment of a Thought Leader in the more outward, social media driven setting. But the one definition that hits the nail right on its head, and hits it hard at that, comes from Marketing coach Jill Celeste who says, “Thought Leaders express thoughts that shake up the status quo.” 2) Convert Ideas into Successful Ventures It is one thing to develop robust ideas and quite another to make them workable (example the Iridium series of low earth orbiting satellites that failed miserably due mainly to tech shortcomings). A Thought Leader of the Musk kind is known to create robust and practical ideas that can be scaled up effectively and efficiently. Examples abound including Tesla’s famous Model S, 3, X and Y which are workable in real-world situations and are today industry leaders which people, entrepreneurs and even competitors look up to. In the case of Tesla, his body of work qualifies him for the Thought Leader tag given that all of it has been in-house without anything being derived from any endeavour in the past as is the case with others in the industry who produce vehicle with the usual IC engines. Yes, you got it right! It is the ability to create that right ‘Thoughts’ as also ‘shake and disrupt existing thoughts’ that heralds the arrival of the ‘Thought Leader’. If one were to put a face to the idea of a Thought Leader, Elon Musk’s would be the most apt. And in becoming the consummate ‘Thought Leader’,he sure has done the following, among the myriad other things he may have done, that makes him who he is, a THOUGHT LEADER PAR EXCELLENCE! 1) Develop Robust Ideas Even before he completed his graduation in economics, he was neck-deep into ‘three important areas’ with humongous implications for humankind, namely the Internet, space, and clean energy. His ideas in each of them would not simply change the existing but disrupt it wholesale by a wide, wide margin so much so that the existing would hardly be of any consequence. And like a true Thought Leader, he gained the 3) Derive Real-time Problem Solving Fossil-fuel burning vehicles and engines pollute the environment by exhausting fumes and gases. Extracting fuel from the earth to keep them moving too takes enormous energy and are equally polluting. Thought Leader DECEMBER 2020 | 29 www.thebusinessberg.com

32. Elon Musk’s solution? Go electric and generate electricity that is clean and green. It is by bringing paradigm shifts in thoughts backed by workable models that a Thought Leader establishes his or her credentials. him the status of a great thought leader. Being there for the world on mediums that the world accesses is the need of the hour for every Thought Leader. 6) Portray Interesting Possibilities SpaceX for space travel Ÿ Paypal for digital payments worldwide Ÿ 4) Articulate and Express Ideas Freely Electric cars and cars with self-driving features Ÿ A Thought Leader is as visible as his/ her thoughts which itself are a measure of the former’s interpersonal skills. The better you communicate, the more likely you are in forming, developing, and expanding a loyal and receptive audience. Inventors with fantastic ideas but less-than-great interpersonal skills are known to have never risen beyond a very basic level. Elon Musk is the best example here too given his great oratory and self-expressing skills (of course backed by his great ideas and even better execution) that see the world eat out of his hands. Hyperloop, the future of travel, a cross between aircrafts and trains Ÿ Electric aircraft that take off and land vertically Ÿ A neural network that can interface with human brains Ÿ OpenAI, an NGO that envision limiting the negatives that AI might bring in the future Ÿ There is one thing the above activities have in common. The obvious Elon Musk presence. Yes, he goes out of his way to think differently in different areas that are sure to bring huge benefits to mankind, and by extension to all his enterprise which support his dreams and ideas. A Thought Leader too should ideally be known for his/ her thought which should be widespread in amplitude and extent. In doing so, they go beyond a narrow band and influence a large swarth of humanity which itself brings recognition of the right kind. 5) Enable Captivating Prescence Elon Musk, one of 21 Century’s greatest Thought Leaders is reportedly a great social media user, and an influencer (the latter obviously inadvertent) whose Twitter account has an astounding 36.6 million followers. He is a Thought Leader with a great following. And his great following give st 30 | DECEMBER 2020 www.thebusinessberg.com

34. The 10 Best Performing Business Leaders of the Year 2020 Rory J. Cutaia Taking Verb Technology to Newer Heights G Adapting to Evolved Technologies Verb’s business model is derived from the early recognition that as technology evolved, personal and social behaviour also evolved. The advent of social media, mobile devices with always on access to all the information in the world literally in the palm of your hand – as well as enhanced mobile video capabilities - helped foster a new generation of creators and influencers leveraging the power of video. Verb believed that video would soon become a dominant form of personal communication and began positioning its software development efforts to capitalize on that. As the data emerged, it was clear that fewer and fewer people wanted to consume information by reading and that more and more people preferred to consume and share information through videos. Verb concluded early on that sales platforms that relied solely on written communications would be marginalized in favour of those that utilized video in their sales and marketing messaging. reat leaders communicate in a way that best resonates with the listener. The most effective leaders are those that surround themselves with people who are far more capable than they are within their respective areas of expertise. At times, the ability to listen to the members of one’s team, to truly hear, is far more important than the ability to speak to them, and knowing that difference is an important leadership quality. Maturity means good balance of courage and consideration. The hallmark of the most effective leader is to have the balance of courage and consideration and the ability to confront issues diligently. investors and explain the merits of doing a pivot, which he decided to communicate through a video as opposed to a conference call. What he did not expect was the overwhelmingly positive response from the investors who not only praised his transparency, but also stepped up to invest more capital alongside him to support the pivot to a new business which ultimately became Verb. Team of Superstars Rory believes that he is truly fortunate to be surrounded by a team of superstars who show up every day ready to overcome all obstacles and drive the business to new heights for its shareholders as well as for everyone in the organization. He has ensured that all employees are also shareholders which creates a solid alignment of interests with company’s investors. Often times, an entrepreneur will develop a product or service and then look for the problem or need that it solves. The most successful entrepreneurs are those that identify a problem or need first and then develop a solution in the form of a product or service. One such effective, capable, and successful leader is Rory J. Cutaia Founder and CEO of Verb Technology, he aspires to disrupt the CRM industry and emerge as the market leader in the sales enablement sector through sales and marketing applications based on company’s proprietary interactive video technology. The culture that Rory cultivates at Verb is one in which people feel there are no artificially imposed ceilings on what they can be or what they can accomplish– not only for the company – but for themselves as well. He often states that he believes his team is the company’s greatest asset. The market – indeed, the world, is changing more rapidly now than ever before. As the company defines the road ahead, Verb doesn’t focus on where the market is today, but where he believes it is going – where it will be, and he intends that Verb to be there first. That culture, that strategy, and that philosophy, is how Rory attracts “A” players to his team. . As a Consistent with the company’s strategy to focus on where the market would go next, Verb developed interactive video, allowing the growing audience of video viewers to click right in the video to respond to the video creator’s call to action, as and when their interest level peaked and thereby eliminated friction from the sales process. Transparent Leadership A pivot, when a CEO recognizes the need to change directions, is an inevitable part of almost every start- up. Initially Rory expected it to be very difficult to communicate with Expanding Target Markets Combining interactive video 32 | DECEMBER 2020 www.thebusinessberg.com

35. growth.““ I believe we have positioned Verb exceedingly well for long term sustained Rory J. Cutaia, Founder and CEO technology with easy to use, yet effective CRM capability is the company’s verbCRM application – making it simple and even fun for a sales representative to add interactive buttons. Onscreen icons and buttons such as “buy it now” can be added to user’s sales and product videos, which can be shared easily from their mobile devices through email, text messaging or even by posting directly to social media. Verb’s latest, and potentially biggest value creator for its shareholders is its new verbLIVE application which allows anyone to add those same interactive, clickable buttons to livestream, and live broadcast videos. Verb is also adding that capability and functionality into the apps of some of the larger incumbent players in the space – such as Salesforce – which it just recently completed, and Microsoft Outlook, which it expects to release in early 2021. Because Verb believes, as do many of its clients, that its applications are the most effective sales enablement and lead generation tools available in the market today, Verb’s own sales and marketing teams use their own technology to attract new clients and retain existing ones. The team calls it ‘eating our own chili.’ among its team members. Using video in all its interactions certainly helps. But Verb has taken it a step further. Each week all 200 of them join a live video conference for a unique, fun, socially interactive – family friendly experience. The first one they did back in April of this year when they all began to feel the effects of COVID-19 isolation, was with a magician that entertained the entire company in a shared fun experience. Since then, Verb has hosted an online company talent show, cooking classes, among many other fun experiences, all of which serve to maintain the connection to one another which is at the heart of company’s strength as a team. Driving Greater Growth During Pandemic As the Covid-19 world has shifted to social distancing and remote work, the demand for video-based sales and marketing tools has grown dramatically and as a result Verb has enjoyed greater market awareness and corresponding growth, fuelling what is now six consecutive quarters of SaaS revenue growth. Verb requires all 200 of its employees in both Utah and California to work from home while the country responds to the pandemic. Meaningful Returns Rory believes the team has positioned Verb exceedingly well for long term, sustained growth. He believes the implications for the company’s interactive video technology in today’s world, as well as the world yet to come that will represent a convergence of entertainment and e-commerce will produce and continue to produce meaningful returns for themselves and the company’s shareholders. With verbLIVE, anyone can become their own network, broadcasting themselves promoting their products and services while encouraging their viewers to click right in their video to buy their products in ways that didn’t exist until now. Retailers forced to close their stores due to Covid-19 restrictions can use verbLIVE to find new ways, perhaps even more effective ways, to reach their customers and even expand their target markets for greater revenue opportunities. Despite the work from home environment, Verb strives to maintain a connection between and Improving Capability and Functionality DECEMBER 2020 | 33 www.thebusinessberg.com

36. Shamila Shamila Ramjawan Ramjawan A temporarily changed, and most companies started to deploy mandatory work from home policies. People are experiencing an increase in unemployment. Many schools were also shut down. Almost all these changes are stressful, but the best thing that can be done is to look forward and to calm the nerves of consumers while having a clear, concise, and accurate messaging. “It’s vital that we stay positive through this stressful time,” informs Shamila Ramjawan, University of South Africa Business Management Lecturer, Founder and CEO of Famram Solutions and Famram Foundation. lot that has happened as a direct or indirect result of COVID-19 has affected a lot of businesses. The work culture has Shamila Ramjawan is Mrs. Johannesburg 2019. Mrs. Johannesburg Pageantry is owned by the Role Models Foundation. “They are very active in socio-economic development so I entered because I knew this would be a great platform for me to elevate my personal brand as well as elevate and create awareness on their initiatives,” says Shamila. She was born and raised in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa where she matriculated at Woodlands Secondary School in Pietermaritzburg. Shamila was employed in the Marketing and Communications industry for over two decades and acquired vast experience and knowledge in her field of expertise. She occupied senior management roles in various organizations and represented these organizations at Board level. She gained vast experience in operational and strategic management, change management, brand management, events management, media relations, digital and online, ATL and BTL advertising, and corporate social responsibility. Shamila Ramjawan Founder & CEO 34 | DECEMBER 2020 www.thebusinessberg.com

37. The 10 Best Performing Business Leaders of the Year 2020 From humble beginnings, she knows what it feels like ‘not to have,’ when it comes to gaining things in life. With not having money to go to university, she is the holder of several business diplomas and degrees, including an Honarary Doctrate in Humanitarianism from the Global International Alliance in the USA, and currently has her sights set on her Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) in 2021. Acquiring knowledge through these various qualifications and life experiences has equipped her to not only become a powerhouse entrepreneur but also has enhanced her personal life. “ Your messages to the world must be words of encouragement, motivation and inspiration. If you live it, share it “ challenging but exciting experiences of my life,” she adds further. The journey so far, has been rocky yet extremely humbling at the same time. Shamila has developed respect for any person who decides to invest in their own venture. The specific experiences that she had during her journey cannot be justified briefly but if highlighted, it would not be wrong to say that she is making a positive difference in the world while chasing her dreams at the same time. Shamila believes that her purpose is to give back to the impoverished. Her philanthropic interests lie in changing lives and making a sustainable difference and an impact, regardless of how small the gesture is. It is all about putting smiles on faces. Through her extensive work she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate this year by the Global International Alliance (GIA) in the USA, accredited by The International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET). Shamila is a tenacious, ambitious, driven, focused, self- motivated, motivating, charismatic, intelligent, caring, and innovative woman. The only thing that surpasses her ambition is her empathy. She has always been passionate about philanthropy and this is evident in the direction that she has taken her company. Shamila’s most prized asset is the knowledge she has gained over the years. She is a firm believer in the saying ‘knowledge is power.’ A Courageous Spirit “My companies, Famram Solutions and Famram Foundation, were conceptualized from the realization that the development of a better way of life for the less fortunate in Africa is a step in the right direction for the betterment of our beautiful continent,” states Shamila. Famram Solutions (Pty) Ltd. is a marketing organisation that provides outsourced marketing solutions and support for businesses. As customers are the real growth for successful businesses, Famram Solutions combines in-depth customer insights with practical expertise in various marketing disciplines to help clients obtain a distinguished, strong, and trusted brand image. “I motivate other people to be innovative against all odds. Women are strong and can overcome anything. Never give up,” explains Shamila. She believes that one must always tell their story because it motivates others. Shamila’s inspiration are her two children. Whatever she has achieved today is through them. They have provided her with the support that she needed as a single parent to achieve great results with passion and purpose. “I also founded and host the Red Corner Chat – a platform where I get distinguished guests from across the globe to share their stories so that they can inspire others,” informs Shamila. Shamila took the risk and started the business using her own capital with absolutely no investors. She firmly believes in balance and thinks that there must be balance to everything in life to function optimally. It is in this light that she has been able to successfully juggle being a single mother (husband who was a Detective in the South African Police Services passed away due to a sudden heart attack in 1998) as well as driving her career and business (self- funded). “I would be lying if I said that it was easy, but it has made me a stronger person. I am also lucky that my children look up to me as their role model and take after me in terms of independence,” describes Shamila. Shamila is on a mission to make an impact globally so that girls and women are equipped with a sustainable product, PrincessD Menstrual Cup, during menstruation. “My vision is to help girls and women globally to enjoy life, restore dignity and offer an affordable solution to health care, especially menstruation matters and women’s health,” she concludes. “Becoming an entrepreneur has been one of the most DECEMBER 2020 | 35 www.thebusinessberg.com