Most Inspiring Business Leaders Making a Difference, 2020

1. www.ciolook.com Business Leaders Making a Difference, Most Inspiring RECOGNIZING INDUSTRY LEADERS

4. Through Inspiration, It can happen! W business. From healthcare to music industry to workforce, every industry needs some exceptional talents who can take the weight of the organization and take it to the utmost height. In the current business world, we are in the desperate need of some personalities who can effectively bring up a change that the world is asking for the business to sustain again. e are living in the world where possibilities are merely just some ideas but reality. We have seen many extraordinary individuals, who came from the shadows and made a dent in the big universe of EDITOR’S NOTE Through this edition, ‘Most Inspiring Business Leaders Making a Difference, 2020’, CIO Look tries to portray some of the best business leaders out there in order to create a glimpse of inspiration for others to follow and march on their trail or create a new one. A quote, “I think the things you regret most in life are the things you didn’t do” by Steve Jobs clearly states that it’s better to do the thing instead regret of not doing it. One must always possess the passion to give back to the community as it will act as a driving force for making a difference. Here is the cover of the this special edition, which features an extraordinary company—ARIIX., ARIIX was created by seven founders who saw an opportunity to create an environment where people could win — where the average person has a chance to succeed. Offering industry-first innovations and a Representative-first approach, ARIIX is disrupting everything that's been done before. It's the relationships that are built and nurtured that fuel ARIIX Chief

5. Be inspired. And inspire others. ““ Sales Officer and Founder, Ian Chandler's passion. He understands how vital it is to foster a meaningful recognition culture, where distributors feel valued and rewarded for their daily efforts. It's the company's Representative-first focus that nurtures their partnerships with representatives, and this applied focus is what sets ARIIX apart. Savvy entrepreneurs join direct selling companies for a multitude of reasons — an increase in income, a flexible schedule, the opportunity to be their own boss, personal development and more. But what often makes them stay is the relationship they have built with the company they've partnered with and the recognition they receive for their contributions to the business. Let’s unveil such alike, inspiring stories and interviews of many such passionate leaders in this special edition and spread a word about their contribution in making this world a better place. Also, while flipping the pages, don’t forget to go through the articles and CXOs written by our in-house editorial team and industry experts respectively. Bhushan Ghate

6. 08 STORY COVER RECOGNIZING INDUSTRY LEADERS 24 20 30 Hubert Viriot Person Behind the ‘Exceptional’ in the Hospitality Sector Elena Marinova Inspired by Passion and Desire to make a Differennce Marc Rippen Striving to Save and Improve the Lives of Diabetics 42 38 50 Natasha Makhijani A Dedicated, Compassionate Leader Mirna Sleiman A Leader Destined to Disrupt the Digital Transformation Romil Bahl A Kore Solution Provider for IoT Simplication 34 ARTICLES 54 46 Chalk Talk Entrepreneurship Going Beyond the Comfort of Safety to Make Larger Impact Editor's Desk The Journey to Self-Discovery SafeLogic An Innovative Market Leader in Encryption

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9. K. Roy Editor-in-Chief CONTENT FOLLOW US ON www.facebook.com/ciolook www.twitter.com/ciolook Senior Editor Alan Swann Managing Editor Bhushan Ghate Executive Editors Rohit Chaturvedi WE ARE ALSO AVAILABLE ON Alex Spellman DESIGN CONTACT US ON Visualizer Dave Bates Email info@ciolook.com For Subscription www.ciolook.com Art & Design Director kushagra Gupta Associate Designer Kartik Balapurkar SALES Copyright © 2019 CIOLOOK, 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 CIOLOOK. Reprint rights remain solely with CIOLOOK. Senior Sales Manager Kshitij S. Customer Success Manager Jack Ryan Sales Executives John, Kane, Irfan, Jagdish TECHNICAL Technical Head Aditya K. Technical Consultant Victor Collins k.roy@ciolook.com sales@ciolook.com MAY, 2020

10. RECOGNIZING INDUSTRY LEADERS

11. COVERSTORY O “ ur representatives are our business partners. They help shape strategic decisions in areas like compensation plan updates, policy changes, product offerings, events and more. We truly believe in the collective input of our reps and the inherent value they provide.” Savvy entrepreneurs join direct selling companies for a multitude of reasons — an increase in income, a flexible schedule, the opportunity to be their own boss, personal development and more. But what often makes them stay is the relationship they have built with the company they've partnered with and the recognition they receive for their contributions to the business. Representative-first focus that nurtures their partnerships with representatives, and this applied focus is what sets ARIIX apart. Into the Shoes of 10 Spearheads Where other companies give the spotlight to the representatives who have the longest tenure, ARIIX has created a program called Power Ranking — a proprietary scoring mechanism that statistically highlights the top-performing representatives who not only generate high revenue for the company, but also practice positive business-building behaviors like leadership development and customer and team member retention. This revolutionary approach allows the company to encourage and reward positive business practices and recognize emerging leaders who will undoubtedly help shape the future of ARIIX. A Brief about Direct Selling In direct selling, commonly referred to as network marketing, independent distributors/representatives — entrepreneurial- minded individuals who sell company products and services outside of a retail establishment — are the heart of the company. Presently, there are more than 10,000 direct selling companies worldwide, and with this surge of phenomenal growth, it can be hard to remain competitive. Creating Something Unusual ARIIX was created by seven founders who saw an opportunity to create an environment where people could win — where the average person has a chance to succeed. Offering industry-first innovations and a Representative-first approach, ARIIX is disrupting everything that's been done before. In the following pages, you'll find the ARIIX Top Ten Worldwide Power Rankers and their stories. These highly esteemed individuals have proven themselves to be well-rounded business professionals propelling the next wave of growth and stability at ARIIX. “The main purpose behind Power Ranking is to reward our Representatives for a multitude of business- building behaviors, not just one or two. The Power Ranking program has been wildly successful, and I am fortunate to know these incredible professionals who demonstrate all the qualities of consummate leaders.” — Ian Chandler, ARIIX's CSO and Founder It's the relationships that are built and nurtured that fuel ARIIX Chief Sales Officer and Founder, Ian Chandler's passion. He understands how vital it is to foster a meaningful recognition culture, where distributors feel valued and rewarded for their daily efforts. It's the company's

12. Vanessa & Alexandre Blando Working to their strength as a couple—Vanessa and Alexandre Blando, though their beginning was humble, have become an ARIIX network marketing dynamo pair, achieving worldwide ranking status and recognition. saw the key to attaining their financial and business freedom. Together, with immense determination and dedication, they grew their business by telling their story through ARIIX’s top-of-the-line products. As a result, five years later, they have built the life they once only dreamed of. “We are ordinary people who believed in an extraordinary future,” quotes Vanessa & Alexandre. Working traditional jobs in which they barely got by, they started in this business to earn extra income. Swiftly, however, they recognized that the direct selling industry could provide much more, and they “We have learned that when you really want to, you can achieve anything. We are our own limit,” they add. Now, as leaders and role models in the business, they understand that their greatest success lies in helping others also achieve their dreams. Talking to each person they meet, inviting others to join in the wonderful opportunities with ARIIX, their business is an integral part of their daily lives. Working every day to change the lives of those around them, both customers and team members, Vanessa and Alex consider themselves as the “locomotive” of their network, constantly moving forward with motivation, innovation and a positive spirit. “We just stay ourselves,” and in doing so, they show others that opportunity abounds, that anything is possible, and that they can “dare to dream again as when they were children.” “ Network marketing above all is about sharing.

13. Tatiana Destandau “Know thyself,” though the most ancient, yet still incisive philosophy has been a motto for Tatiana Destandau. Although she began in the business of network marketing with ARIIX as shy, afraid and outside of her comfort zone, she saw great opportunities with the company. The day she enrolled with ARIIX was the day she decided that she was “going to succeed no matter what.” That determination and grit helped her to be one of ARIIX's top Power Rankers. “ than you! Listen to your own mind and heart because nobody knows you better Describing herself paradoxically as both “reserved and reckless,” Tatiana has used those characteristics to complement, rather than compete with one another. As a result, both qualities have served her well on her road to success. exemplary leadership by teaching “attitude and actions rather than the theory.” She strives to push her team members out of their comfort zones, just as she once did for herself, to foster self-confidence and growth. Tatiana feels “fulfilled” by what she does and her passion for her work is palpable. By telling her own story, she strives to inspire others that come in her path. Tatiana believes, not just in the power and importance of inspiring those outside of her network, but also in her team. She displays All of these factors in Tatiana's career with ARIIX have made her a “fulfilled woman and mom.” She has freedom and creativity in her work, financial success, and the ability to focus on her husband and children, which are the most important parts of her life.

14. Stefano Orrù to his own success, is helping others learn to find their power. “This is a time of enormous abundance of possibilities and opportunities for anyone,” he says. Through his own experiences in this business, Stefano teaches the importance of listening to yourself, of studying on your own, and believing in your ideas. He says focusing too much on the opinions of others is limiting and narrows personal growth. Stefano's role as a leader has come, in large part, from the way he views mistakes. Rather than detriments, he has turned them to triumphs. “I'm the result of every single mistake I made. I've learned “ This is the real law of attraction…clean your mind, accept the universe's signs and then apply them. from them. I fell, I got up, dusted off and went forward. Never looked back.” When Stefano Orrù decided to leave his job as a pizzeria server to enter the world of direct sales, he shifted his mindset. He stopped thinking like an “employee” and instead moved forward as though he had invested thousands in his personal business. In the first 15 months, he made only $500. But he kept working, staying focused on his goals and one year later, Stefano was enjoying a six-figure income. His mission now is to connect with new people each day and inspire them to seize the same opportunities he has discovered. Through ARIIX, Orrù has become a true industry leader. One of his greatest achievements, in addition

15. Stefania Giaccardi “Very shy. Not social. Afraid to focus attention on herself.” Those words used to describe Stefania Giaccardi. But, when she encountered ARIIX, all of that changed. She “fell in love” with the business model and began believing in herself. The result is an inspiring, incredible transformation that has made her an industry leader. Stefania now speaks about ARIIX with everyone she encounters and describes her passion for her work as “a continuous, wonderful daily journey.” really can have it all! By focusing on, fostering, and celebrating the success of others, she has helped create even greater success, not just for herself, but for those on her team. Using the hashtag #ladynetwork (with a red shoe), Stefania's style is a blend of sophisticated businesswoman, mother, traveler, healthy lifestyle coach, and purveyor of happiness, and that all shines through with passion, authenticity and playfulness. “There is nothing more exciting than celebrating the successful stories of the people who have trusted you,” says Stefania. Stefania enthusiastically shares her life and work with ARIIX as a diary on various social media platforms and, in the process, has created success for herself and those she works with. Her Instagram account alone has nearly 30,000 followers. During her career in direct sales, Stefania has focused on sharing much of her knowledge and experience with other women and in doing so, has created a dream team of extraordinary women. Because she was unable to find the balance of home and professional life in a standard job, she felt it important to show other women what she has discovered through her ARIIX business: that you “ In this business model, I found my world and everything I had wanted for years.

16. Séverine Cassiede When Séverine Cassiede decided to start her own business with ARIIX, she faced a big challenge in hurdling the fears and criticisms of others. But she was inspired by the products ARIIX offered and was drawn to the compensation and travel opportunities it afforded. What she saw was a "magnificent opportunity." Marketing her business on social networks only, Séverine has become one of ARIIX's Top Ten Worldwide Power Rankers. through training, working hard, and remaining dedicated to her goals, she not only achieved success, but also became an industry leader. Séverine credits her experience in network marketing through ARIIX with the wealth of self- confidence she now carries. “Today I can do anything if I want to. I realize my dreams one after the other —things that I could never have done before embarking on this activity," states Severine. When Séverine started in this business in 2012, she had nothing. By applying what she learned Her professional success is also a personal success and the skills she has obtained and the relationships she has established continue to keep her motivated to grow and help others achieve their goals. Her enthusiasm is intoxicating, and it inspires others to invest in themselves and work with her as a team. “ I try to show others there is another, better way.

17. Serena Accai “There was never enough.” Growing up, this was a theme throughout Serena Accai's life. Her family struggled financially. When she got older, she worked as a secretary, but she did not earn enough to provide for all her needs. She worried about the future and had a burning desire to change her life, but she didn't know how because she had few skills and no money to invest in her own business. Enter ARIIX, the company that's Disruptive by Design™! Today, Serena is one of the company's most successful representatives. For Serena, her business “ a problem. This business allowed me to realize my goals without the limitations of an employee job. Today the future for me and my family is no longer is a lifestyle. Her financial success is equally entwined with the physical well-being she experienced using the high-quality products ARIIX offers. Through social media, Serena markets her own transformation in learning to care for her body with greater attention. The result is a truly inspirational message framed with honesty, bravery and relatability. was in the past, and now I am at that stage where I feel that I can help others achieve their dreams.” Her belief that each of us has unexpressed potential is the backbone of the support she provides others. She drives home the message that it is not special talent that is necessary for success, but rather a great desire for transformation. “I believe in them!” adds Serena. Since finding success, Serena has shown extraordinary leadership in committing herself to helping others find theirs. “My mission is to help people make their dreams come true. I know how I

18. Paolo Meucci him a wealth of experience. But experience doesn't guarantee success. Rather, what has kept Paolo on top is his ability to adapt and improvise with the changing times. Six years ago, he let go of his “old school” mentality of network marketing and revolutionized his trade. Today, his business is based almost entirely on social media. Paolo's personality, which takes center stage in his social media platform, is infectious. Garnering excitement and interest in this manner, he is continually working to establish relationships and connections with new people. “ I understand that business is conversation and in conversation, magic happens! Paolo feels his most important goal as an established leader in this industry is to foster and help create leadership in others. Giving people the tools and training to begin, he emphasizes that to win in this profession, “you have to dream the unstoppable, put your plans into action, and decide every day that you are capable and deserve it.” For Paolo Meucci, his greatest achievement has been in becoming the person he is. And he thanks network marketing and ARIIX for that process and what he considers “the best school of life.” A trailblazer with 27 years of network marketing experience, what Paolo has become is an “unstoppable, visionary guy” who is “in love with his business!” Paolo is a powerhouse and a free-spirited energy. Working in direct sales for almost 30 years has given

19. Wataru & Yoshimi Kanno 'Indomitable. Limitless. Dynamic. Compelling.'—these are just a few words that describe ARIIX Japan's premiere powerhouse couple, Wataru and Yoshimi Kanno. Their list of achievements is awe-inspiring and includes Founders Club Membership and Top Ten Power Ranker status. Their leadership qualities, business savvy, and inspirational methodologies have helped create a team of highly accomplished individuals. innovative and always open to new ideas, they have become the ultimate example of success in the network-marketing world and in ARIIX. Their leadership and mentorship have created a domino- like effect, spreading forth great success in others along their path. “The core strategy of our business is to grow steady leaders. We have many leaders on our team, and everyone has their own way to succeed. It is OK to have different ways to reach the same goals. We learn from those differences,” Yoshimi says. Influenced by his father who has his own business, Wataru was eager to find his own business. While working in a bar, he was introduced to network marketing. It was a brilliant fit! Bright, energetic, and hard-working, the Kannos have achieved incredible success. “I love when I can show people their potential and help them believe in themselves. Believing in yourself takes more than just being motivated and taking a few actions. It takes time to be skilled and become confident,” Wataru says. The Kannos are an incredible resource of inspiration and knowledge in network marketing. They understand that the first step to success in this industry is finding the right role model. Keen, “

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22. ELENA MARINOVA trained,” she emphasizes on the traits required to prevail. Her unique ideologies and methodologies helped her to achieve many milestones in her pathway. She sees her company as a cause, yet not a destination but a journey. She claims that the influence the company is creating on its people, clients and society has no limits. She started Musala Soft together with her partner, Delyan Lilov, 20 years ago. He had previous experience in IT, while Elena was still enjoying part time jobs simultaneously completing her Masters in Strategic Management at Sofia University. Musala Soft professional team provides expertise and creativity in all elements of the software life cycle - IT consulting, analysis, design, development, testing, implementation, integration and maintenance. Its offices in Sofia, Ruse, Burgas, Bulgaria and Skopje, Macedonia follow the latest design and agile teamwork trends to ensure work environment and processes where achievements flourish in all elements of its service portfolio. learning and self-perfection, invest in training, professional certification as well as career development programs. It has a flexible approach to evaluating employees and reviewing their remuneration based on the achievements and performances. ELENA MARINOVA Inspired by and Passion Desire to make a Di?erence M order to thrive in the markets of ever-evolving IT sector. Through quoting—“Vision, empathy, passion, courage. The rest is management skills that can be eet Elena Marinova, President and Founder of Musala Soft, an impeccable businesswoman who strived exceptionally in “Fact is, we easily predict the future, because we create it with our clients,” says Elena. These clients are leading innovative multinational organizations which have the potential to change the world. Together with them and their R&D departments Musala Soft delivers technological solutions which are changing industries and lives on a global level. They make an impact combining technologies, innovation and people, transforming revolutionary ideas into everyday life. The company do this by upgrading and developing all of the elements in developing a software solution – IT consulting, analysis, design, development, testing, delivering, integration and maintenance. It combines creativity, years of expertise and knowledge how to deliver a service with high added value in geographically distributed teams. A System for Knowledge-sharing Musala Soft's portfolio is built on attractive, innovative and scalable projects for impactful organizations. Elena and her team make sure that there is healthy competition within the company and facilitate a creative approach together with comfort in the working place, mentoring, understanding and mutual respect. The company maintains a culture of constant Innovative Solutions at one's Door Step She states that the company's manifesto describes its solutions well: 'We build future generation IT solutions for impactful organizations. We engage creativity and innovation to deliver quality and value for its clients. We believe in mutual respect, inspired teamwork and continuous development.' “We have a system for knowledge-sharing,” quotes Elena. In 2019, the company has held 150+ training initiatives with 2500+ participants and provided access to the 20 | MAY2020 |

23. ELENA MARINOVA Elena Marinova President & Founder Musala Soft Picture by Iconomist Magazine Bulgaria 21 | MAY 2020 |

24. “ stress; working hard for something you love is called passion.” “Working hard for something you don't care about is called 22 | MAY 2020 |

25. Future through Elena's eyes In a world of artificial intelligence, augmented reality, humanoid robots, smart cars and homes, IT specialists are in a process of constant race with themselves. Elena states that solutions that the engineers create now, will take over their place tomorrow. Soon, everything that can be done without human interaction, will be done so. Further she states that Human activities will be replaced with “machine” ones and “thinking-analyzing- predicting” software. If a few months ago the natural resistance to change was slowing down these processes with legal, moral, ethical, cost or other considerations, during COVID-19 crisis, while the world seemed to slow down, technology actually speeded up. Life is merging with the AI and AR and everyday life is now a hyper automated multi-experience. “We have been looking for better digital security & safety and that was one of the big obstacles to moving online until a tiny virus forced businesses, education, governments to go all digital practically overnight. That overexposed our digital identities. What happened is both a breakthrough and a huge challenge to be addressed in the coming years,” says Elena. leading platforms for online education for all its employees. This turned out to be a great asset for Musala Soft. “During the state of emergency brought about by the Coronavirus pandemic, we all moved to work from home, communication was absolutely key and training opportunities have been even better – we expanded our training activities adapting and replacing classical ones with online forms,” adds the President of Musala Soft. Elena's Life Achievements Elena holds a number of rewards and recognitions but emphasizes on her achievements, by stating different aspects of her personal and professional life: Her 13 year old son, who is growing into a smart and good man. Ÿ Her network of great people that she can rely on in every situation. Ÿ The business's success but also the social impact that Musala Soft has on the most talented IT kids around the world and IT professionals in the locations where it operates through its many educational activities. To name a few: the 20year old algorithmic programming contest CodeIT.bg, eJOI (European Junior Olympiad in Informatics) where Elena is one of the initiators, Meet the Masters professional seminars and many more. Ÿ An Advice to Rely on Elena advices that one must work for a cause, while watching the numbers. “Numbers can bring short term satisfaction but not happiness. What will make you ultimately happy (or unhappy) is the people you work with and the impact you have,” she adds. 23 | MAY 2020 |

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32. Marc Rippen,President and Founder MARC RIPPEN Striving to Save and Improve the Lives of Diabetics 30 | MAY 2020 |

33. L improvements in patient care or organizational outcomes applied in the healthcare industry. A healthcare leader must adopt a suitable approach for handling conflict at all stages to create a positive outcome for all. It emphasizes in establishing the leadership role that facilitates effective and efficient healthcare provision. Alertgy provides the world’s first real-time wearable non- invasive continuous glucose monitor and alert system. Marc Rippen is Alertgys President and Founder. He is a visionary leader, highly skilled engineer, scientists, technical sales and marketing professional with a proven track record in product development, program management and sales related to the application of high technology to solve what people thought were impossible problems. eadership role involves influencing group activities and coping with change. Healthcare leadership is often associated with Give a persona fish, andhe will eatwell for a day, show apersonhow to fish, and he willeat for the rest of his life. With over 30 years of experience, Marc has worked for multiple fortune 500 companies, Department of Defense (DOD), NASA, SOCOM, and DARPA commercializing dozens of ground-breaking and revolutionary technologies. He holds various degrees across multiple interrelated disciplines including Microbiological Sciences and Immunology, Biophysics, Analytical Chemistry, Masters of Aeronautical Science, Management of Engineering and Technology. These skills have allowed him to support the transition of technology from the lab into startup businesses, and then to publicly traded corporations. Transformational Leader Marc began to learn leadership skills as a teenager, first as an explorer scout, then as a volunteer in a program called Amigo’s De Las America’s where he was trained to administer vaccinations to small children and then actually did that for thousands of children when he applied his hiking skills in reaching them in remote plantations in the Highlands of Guatemala in the summer of 1974. From there he joined ROTC in college and was trained to be an officer in the United States Army. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1978. He trained and served initially as an Armor Officer and 31 | MAY 2020 |

34. Solution-Oriented Vision later in Special Forces, Combat Engineers and finally as a Technical Project Officer. In his civilian profession as a materials engineer at United Technologies Corporation, he quickly advanced into program management. Over several decades he directed advanced applied research and development programs for the NASA, the Airforce, Army, DARPA, Navy, and SOCOM. In his last position, he was the Director of Engineering for SRI’s Marine and Space Technology Group. Marc thinks every leader must be driven by a vision to provide a solution that benefits their customers better than any other existing solution. He constantly invests his time in attending industrial and technological trade shows/conferences, reading technical literature, and learning new things every day. He also is an adjunct professor of Aeronautical Science at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and finds that in teaching one has to learn the most to be properly prepared for class and in answering the many great questions that students give you. Difficulties and its Effective Strategies The biggest challenge is that in the United States, everything is driven by short term goals. This makes it difficult for public corporations to compete globally as they can not use long term strategies effectively. They are judged by analysts who are focused on short term analytics, and that can devalue a company’s worth overnight based upon their opinion. Marc thinks that companies are more able to compete if they are privately held by investors that can think in terms of long term strategic goals. He also thinks that many U.S. companies do not have enough technologists/engineers in high enough levels, this combined with their aversion to risk hurts the ability of companies to take advantage of applying emerging technologies before they become obvious to the competition. Improving Health through Innovation Alertgy saves the lives of diabetic patients, by dramatically improving their quality of life, increasing their lifespan and by easing the burden to their loved ones and caretakers mostly by providing the world’s first real-time wearable non-invasive continuous glucose monitor and alert system. The company was founded by a small team of innovators who have collaborated on challenging technical programs over the years. Marc founded the company as a result of saving his wife from entering a diabetic coma in 2016. It was then he realized the existing unmet need for this technology to measure blood sugar levels with an external wearable sensor device. He put together an “A-Team” of professionals whom he has worked with over the last decades in taking technical laboratory concepts to proof of principal demonstrations and scaling to global commercialization in several industries. Ironically Marc saved his own life using his first prototype which when he tested it indicated that he was a hyperglycemic type 2 diabetic, with a blood sugar reading of 650 mg/dl (>150 is bad). His a1c was 12.8 (>7 is bad). Over 9 million people in America are unaware that they are diabetic and only find out when they are hospitalized as the disease progresses. Ethical and Diversified offerings Alertgy uses social media, focus groups, pilot studies, and other outreach techniques to diversify its offering to create an appeal in-front of its target audiences. Marc would like to sponsor applied research programs to further applications for the company’s technology at Universities. He sees himself running a technology skunkworks and mentoring young engineers & scientists to apply their knowledge and research and development skills to address all the technical challenges that exist in the medical, energy, food and environment that can benefit mankind as a whole while building strong technology-based industries in the United States. 32 | MAY 2020 |

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37. Chalk Talk Entrepreneurship Going Beyond the Comfort of Safety to Make Larger Impact E solving some specific problems. Entrepreneurship is the capacity and willingness to develop, organize and manage a business venture along with any of its risks in order to make a profit. Entrepreneurship combined with land, labor, natural resources and capital can make a profit. Those who create these businesses are called entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurial spirit is characterized by innovation and risk taking and is an essential part of a nation’s ability to succeed in constantly changing and increasingly competitive global market place. ntrepreneurship is the process of starting a new business that adds some value to the world by acquires and deploys the necessary tools and resources required for its utilization. Entrepreneurship is all about being ready to go beyond the comfort zone. It is about defining success on one’s own terms and achieving it by one’s own process and methodology. It is also about thinking outside the box or thinking like there is no box. True entrepreneurial spirit is about seeing challenges as opportunities. Entrepreneurs should be able to shake off depression, laziness and should jump into the flowing stream of hard work in order to achieve their dream. True Entrepreneurs understand that they can’t be great at everything they do, but they know that they can be great at something. They focus on that particular something in which they are good at with laser like focus and they are passionate to deliver the best solutions in their chosen work. Entrepreneurship in its truest form is all about identifying a gap in the market and creating a product which can fill that hole. Entrepreneurship is not solely about making money- it is also about changing and enriching the lives for better. It is about improving people’s lives through creation of products or launching services that makes the lives of people easy. If one’s business does not add value to the lives of people then it is unlikely to survive. The business that makes nothing but money can easily be considered as a poor business. Entrepreneurs create something new, something different that solves some problems or adds value to the world. An entrepreneur is a person who is willing and able to convert a new idea or invention into a successful innovation. Entrepreneurial journey is not always so easy. As Elon Musk Quotes “Being an entrepreneur is like eating glass and staring into the abyss of death.” Many people experience entrepreneurial journey as a rollercoaster ride filed with challenges and opportunities; ups and downs. Entrepreneurship is about Entrepreneurship is the act of being an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurs act as managers and oversee the launch and growth of an enterprise. It is a process by which either an individual or a team identifies a business opportunity and 35 | MAY 2020 |

38. perseverance through all such ups and downs. The journey may be filled with crest and troughs but the journey is worth taking. people as possible with full efficiency. Entrepreneurs plan their work and work their plan. Successful entrepreneurship requires entrepreneurs who take conscious, systematic, logical and thoughtful decisions. It is about thinking deliberately and acting on the conclusion of logical thought process. Great entrepreneurs have the ability to think decisively even in indecisive environment also. Their conscience and intuition helps them to come up with some solutions that add glory to their business. Successful entrepreneurs are also very cautious of making use of the latest technology for creating more profitable solutions. They know how to leverage everything to create glorious business that adds value to the larger portion of the world. about paying the price of dedication, commitment, sacrifices, hard work and putting heart and soul into the business to create something different that makes lives of people easier. The words and actions of great entrepreneurs show that they know where they are going and the world has the habit of making room for such people. Entrepreneurs understand that seduction of safety is much more dangerous than the perception of the risk. Therefore they take calculated risks based on market trends and market estimation. Where common people see the problems entrepreneurs see the opportunities. Entrepreneurs are driven to create solutions to those problems. Entrepreneurs are not the part of problems but entrepreneurs are people who want to be part of the solution to those problems. Entrepreneurs are innately programme to create solutions to the existing problems. Entrepreneurship is about knowing the way, going the way and showing the way. Entrepreneurs lead by example. They use all the resources they have to make larger contribution to the world. They think of changing the world through their skills, abilities, talents and making optimum utilization of all the resources they have. Entrepreneurs build a strong network of people in their organization. The great entrepreneurs understand that one’s network determines one’s net worth. Therefore they choose smart and pragmatic people around them that are having the ability to come up with solutions to some of the toughest problems. They are very cautious of people they associate with. Entrepreneurship is about building bridges of success instead of creating barriers to opportunity. It is about having talented people on-board to come up with great idea and to implement that idea to make a tangible difference in the lives of people. Entrepreneurs roll up their sleeves every day and work hard to create solutions to the existing problems in the world in order to make profit as well as to enrich the lives of people. They are in the game to make a difference and impact in the lives of people through offering solutions to some of the biggest problems. Money is secondary to them but making valuable contribution and adding value to the world is what they focus on. They understand that money is just a byproduct of serving as many Entrepreneurs are here to make a valuable contribution to the world through their words and worthy actions; they just don’t want to occupy the space in the universe. Entrepreneurs believe in making world a better place by creating something that customizes the lives of people for better. Great entrepreneurs walk their talk and talk their walk. Their lips and lives both make difference in the lives of people. They know that world rewards those who press on. Entrepreneurship is 36 | MAY 2020 |

40. Mirna Sleiman Founder & CEO Fintech Galaxy 38 | MAY 2020 |

41. Fintech Galaxy Mirna Sleiman W have keenly contributed their share in evolving business aspects. A Leader Destined to Disrupt the Digital Transformation ith the 'Making a difference' edition, CIO Look attempts on spreading opinions of some exceptionally talented women leaders who guilty, and to dream big. Women are braver than they believe, stronger than they seem and smarter than they think. Success is never achieved alone and wisdom is sweeter when shared. The world needs more women who believe in their own power and are bold enough to speak about their ambitions. Meet one such result-driven leader, Mirna Sleiman, the Founder and CEO of Fintech Galaxy, who single- handedly brought a disruption in the traditional order of marketing for businesses. Her commendable business sense and distinctive social skills drove her into obtaining some remarkable achievements in the world of business. Her authentic way of assisting various organizations in attaining digital transformation, is more often an inspiration for aspirants, entering into the digitization business. We at Fintech Galaxy connect the fintech ecosystem and cater to the needs of financial institutions, startups and investors. And for each type of customer we offer a solution to their most pressing needs. Banks want to innovate and we help them connect with bright minds in a very efficient and cost effective way. Startups want to scale and need funding; we help them with business development and fund raising. Investors are hungry for a healthy deal flow, and we provide that. Following is the story of Mirna, a proficient forerunner with a vision to transform business digitally, in her own words: I have spent most of my career rubbing shoulders with leaders. As a journalist, I've interviewed central bank governors, ministers and heads of states. I've lived through the boom and bust of financial markets and learned a great deal from CEOs, high net-worth individuals and successful entrepreneurs. Learning never ends, and Fintech is a fast evolving industry. Banks are being disrupted by all types of technologies. It's important to read, take certificates and stay connected with brains at conferences and social media. I compete with myself. I keep an eye on market competition but I only benchmark with my vision. It's simple—I imagine my company 10 years from now and I charge forward. I mentor entrepreneurs and support them wherever I can. I'm a mother of three, entrepreneur and just finished my EMBA. There's no tradeoff and there's no balance. One feeds the other success at work means happiness at home. The best I do is to present myself as a role model to my kids and to other women out there. I don't really fight for equality, but I definitely encourage diversity in all its forms and shapes. Talking about leadership, I firmly believe that a leader must possess the qualities of curiosity, humility and empathy. The rest you learn in a business school. I'm still taking baby steps. I have a big dream and I will never stop until I see the region we live in, enjoys the empowerment of youth, women and financial inclusion. About the Leader Mirna Sleiman is an experienced executive with 15+ years of proficiency in government relations, business strategy, digital communications and journalism, mostly within the MENA region. Driven by passion for Women have themselves as the biggest enemy; their own limitations, their own fears. Women have everything it takes to lead and create impact because they're driven by compassion and emotional intelligence. My advice to women is to have self-belief, to stop feeling 39 | MAY 2020 |

42. innovation and creating a positive impact, Mirna has a track record in leading digital transformation projects, marketing communications strategies and global partnerships with public and private entities, focusing on knowledge economy development, regulatory infrastructure and financial markets. About the Company Fintech Galaxy is a digital crowdsourcing platform that empowers fintech entrepreneurs and connects them to financial institutions, consultants, tech companies, mentors and investors. It works as an open innovation marketplace for organizations based in the MENA region to post challenges for its global network of startups to take a crack at solving them in order to gain business contracts or cash rewards. The company advises startups on fund raising, operational growth and business development. The platform also brings to the MENA market, a network of global fintech experts in disciplines like blockchain, AI, payments, robotics and data science. Moreover, she has managed public sector business for Thomson Reuters across MENA and partnered with international organizations to promote innovation and social change. Currently, she resides on the advisory board of the Union of Arab Banks and MENA Research Partners. She has spent more than 10 years as a financial journalist with Reuters, Dow Jones, The Wall Street Journal and Zawya. She has been adorned with three EMEA Dow Jones awards and a Global William Clabby Award in investigative reporting, Thomson Reuters Over And Above award for strategic relations and the IPRA trophy for the impact on the region's corporate world. Also she has been certified from MIT University in fintech and e-commerce, Columbia University in Digital Marketing and Communications, and an Executive MBA from City University of London. With a wealth of content and a virtual gallery of the best success case studies in the financial technology space, Fintech Galaxy supports the world's most promising entrepreneurs throughout their journey from inspiration to global growth. 40 | MAY 2020 |

44. Natasha Makhijani CEO & Founder Oliver Sanderson Group PLC 42 | MAY 2020 |

45. Natasha Makhijani A Dedicated, Compassionate Leader R can select the right candidates for the right job from such pool. Moreover, the main objective of the recruitment process is to expedite the selection process. ecruitment of candidates is the function preceding the selection, which helps create a pool of prospective employees for the organization so that the management Meet Natasha Makhijani, CEO and Founder of Oliver Sanderson Group PLC, who always seeks something more to provide you with the best solution possible for your recruitment needs. Natasha's desire for something more led her to launch her own business. What started as one lady and a laptop has now become a worldwide company, Oliver Sanderson Group PLC. The Firm Start Degree Qualified from City University and a Master in HR from the USA. Natasha began her professional career with Hays Logistics on their graduate scheme. She set up the Victoria office with her manager, and within two years, the Victoria office and the staff of eight were the top-performing office in the country. She was offered the opportunity to work with Michael Page and Robert Walters. She started with Michael Page Human Resources, and she became their top biller within HR during her first year. She helped set up their St Albans office and then moved to London to set up permanent recruitment for the Public Sector. 43 | MAY 2020 |

46. to develop the growth strategy of the business by giving them a voice and making them shareholders in the company if they are successful and prove they are part of the team and the journey. Natasha and her team create these strategies by listening to their consultants, our board, and the marketplace. Natasha wants them to feel included, feel like business owners, and be thoroughly in the journey of the company, and she thinks it gives you a sense of ownership and pride. Later, Natasha was promoted to Managing Consultant and contributed to the growth of the Public sector office. She considers herself lucky to have had a revelation to an entrepreneurial community from an early age, and she believes this helped her to shape into somebody who is vibrant and enthusiastic and with a keen interest and passion for business. Achievements on the Rise For Natasha, setting up Oliver Sanderson was one for most significant achievements. She spent most of her first career in a corporate company and took great pleasure in crafting a recruitment company and working on how she thought it should be created and ran. She is proud that her company has achieved worldwide success and continues an upward trajectory. She is also one of the founders of Snapp CV Group PLC, which is a free job board and video interviewing platform. Together, they are about to launch for Series A VC funding, and with new products launching very soon in the AI space of Phase 2, the sky is the limit. To confirm, Snapp CV Group PLC will quickly be offering a database of 14 million candidates globally and access to 168,000 jobs. They are at the cutting edge of technology in recruitment, and Natasha can't wait to lead the recruitment market into the next era. Watch this space. Solutions on The Go Oliver Sanderson is a dynamic brand in Executive Search & Selection who look after Perm and Interim assignments to FTSE 100 & 250 clients. They offer retained, exclusive and contingent end to end recruitment in a variety of disciplines and serving major UK & Global sectors. They also provide cutting edge service solutions to customers, ensuring the needs are met in tune with the changing marketplace. As the market changes, so do the needs of candidates and clients, and the expert team at Oliver Sanderson ensures there are strategies created around new topics matters, IR35 and BAME, to name a few, to satisfy client and candidate needs. Future Endeavours Natasha states the industry that she works in is an ever-changing one, and you must continually evolve to adapt to the also ever-changing economic, political, and social climates. The market is changing, considering the Global Pandemic of the Coronaviruses, IR35 regulations being imposed on the Private Sector in April 2021 and, of course, the UK exiting the EU. Recruitment itself is also changing and particularly when it comes to technology. Gone are the days of completing a paper application, and we need to embrace this. People and companies who do not evolve will become stuck and lost. Technology is a major driving force in recruitment nowadays and who's to say that in a few years something as fundamental as a CV is no longer as it is. It could become a one-page bio and a video attachment. Natasha has led the way on with Snapp CV Group PLC. Despite the influx of new technology, one must not forget that in executive search, the human touch is always required. Oliver Sanderson offers access to new products such as their mobile job app from candidate attraction, to Drag & Drop to 1st stage video interviewing platform through their sister company Snapp CV Group PLC. Devising an alternative method of recruitment through their technology strategy has helped to move forward in the recruitment space, and they are excited about developing the digital side to recruitment through the use of Artificial Intelligence with new products due to be launched Q2 2020. Strategic Manoeuvre Natasha states that employers need to ensure there are adequate training and development practices in place for employees, and they need to give them the tools to go out and become independent and deliver to customers. To do this, Natasha has carefully crafted an 18-week learning program, enhanced as to work closely with APSCo to train their recruiters. She encourages the team to get involved in business planning and help 44 | MAY 2020 |

47. “ enough, you can! Believe in yourself and don't let anyone tell you 'you can't.' If you are determined What Comes More? The one thing that Natasha would like to accomplish is growth to an exceptional level in the interim side of our business. She would also like to open offices internationally, and she has already started exploring New York, India, and The Netherlands. She thinks it is essential for her to diversify the working practices and reach out; there is still so much for us to learn and expand. We also recognise that we must be mindful of a changing workplace due to the Global Pandemic and companies changing working practices and how they hire. The next six to twelve months will affect how business strategy is taken forward depending on the Global economy. There is rise for change and its about embracing new ways of working for everyone. Change brings opportunity it's about navigating your way through the choppy waters to ensure a successful outcome. needs of the sector, the job market, and the requirements of one's company and people. A leader has to be open-minded and find solutions through difficult times. Leaders must be challenged, actively listen, constantly know that they are always learning, and be open to others guiding you. As a business grows, a leader should be apt at identifying and cultivating talent; proper succession planning can lead to great leaders. Hand-in-Hand with Technology Natasha believes in moving with time. It is essential to know that change is always imminent, and that technology isn't just being an integral part of recruitment; it is a crucial part of the world. It is ensuring that she is at the forefront of technology, and embracing the change is how Natasha and her team keep their spirits high. Change doesn't have to be scary; we've adopted the change and are moving forward with it; the sister company Snapp CV Group PLC was launched with technology at its heart. They are also launching Oliver Sanderson Executive app, which will be coming out over the next few months. Natasha believes it is essential to know what your goal is, devise a strategy and a business plan, and continuously refer to it. It would help if you never lost focus on what your goal is and where you want to go. In the whole of the journey, is it essential to focus on the beginning but always be open and adaptive to how things can change? There will be stumbles and knockdowns, but you can't let them define you. Failure not what sets you. “It is how you get back up and get back on track,” quotes Natasha. Wise Words for Budding Leaders Natasha firmly believes that a leader should have passion, drive, energy, honestly, integrity, and humor, to name a few! She thinks it is vital to be aware of the 45 | MAY 2020 |

48. The Journey Self-Discovery to E course of their journey. However, financial challenge is the most painful ones they have to face. Making a list of all the financial challenges can aid a business and a new starting player in attaining sustainability and economic stability. working capital, which can help them in engaging new customers and create a productive business pipeline. Players can also avoid inadequate working capital by cutting-costs up to twenty percent and set the cut out as the working capital. For the startups that are yet to make profits, should make sure that they are adequately financed before taking any harsh decision, which can affect their survival in the industry. ntrepreneurs set up their new ventures with a new and unique vision, goal, and its future. These entrepreneurs face many challenges over the Non-consistent Cash Flow Issue Most of the project-based business relies on their cash flow, which further relies on the flow of the project and the services rendered. It is therefore important for the company to have a good business team ready to connect new and reliable clients and projects. For the company that does not rely on the cash flow, must construct a flow of consistent cash flow at the proper time. If the client is unavailable to pay on-time, the businesses should think newer methods of client engagement. They should be patient and make decisions that would help them while dealing with the clients in the future. The Small Business Association estimates that around forty-four percent of startups and small business survive at least for four years only. Others cite that poor capital management, overspending, and the lack of reserve funds are some of the common reasons behind a business closure. All these three terms come under the finances of a company. One way to address the financial problems is to use the 4R formula i.e. Review, Revamp, Research, and Rewrite the company’s business plans. By using this formula, they can take action against the things that are not working out. Working Capital Issue Startups have to wait for their big clients to pay up so that they can manage their expenses. Entrepreneurs must save at least the expenses of six months as its Another way of improving the cash flow is to get a down payment for the product and the services provided. This down payment will aid the companies in 46 | MAY 2020 |

49. Editor’s Desk 47 | MAY 2020 |

50. Hiring Issue Hiring a good staff is not an easy task. A decision like over-hiring can create additional costs for the company in contracts and long-term employee liabilities. The employer is responsible for its employees and they have to provide them with the employee benefits that increase the costs. The key solution lies in hiring the term-based employees, freelancers, and independent contractors as they will provide services only for the time worked and employer do not have to add payroll costs in paying them. These independent contractors are paid only for their time spent on the work. Depending upon the job, firms can easily find out that whether these are perfect for the job or not. In return, these can absorb the work-related wages and can add the benefit of costs. covering the expenses associated with the project sales and profit margins. Firms can also set a day in the week to go through the accounts, payables, and checks. Book-keeping Issue Corporations can hire organized bookkeepers, which can save a lot of time. If they cannot find one, they can give this responsibility to one of its team member. The firm can improve by distinguishing the discretion and non-discretion spending. These include rent, office overhead, inventory purchases, and wages. The companies can even save further by polishing their overall marketing plans. Identifying and creating a larger clientele that can develop marketing strategies can help in promoting the service and products. Firms must set goals and expectations for marketing initiatives and develop the tools to improve the revenue outcomes. In eliminating the conundrums, the mind-power and descision-making of the entrepreneurs is important. They can seek loans and grants which are specifically tailored towards boosting the company's finances. Even some of the vendors allow the company to offer their assistance and can refine the business debts. The players should not haste in making a decision. They should be thoughtful and intellectual for deciding the expenses. It is important for them to think strategically. They should be aware of their decisions and should seek guidance in decision-making and in expenses. Wrong Predictions and Revenue Issue Businesses on a day-to-day basis have to predict the company’s revenues. This is even truer for the businesses that are dynamic in nature. Most of the predictions can be measured on a month-to-month basis. Although a lot of factors that are dependent upon the revenue prediction, but mostly it rely on the relevancy of the business. By foreseeing accurately, the firms can generate good revenue that is crucial for the cash flow statements. By paying attention to the seasoned fluctuations and affected timelines, they can predict the revenues accurately. 48 | MAY 2020 |