Top Trailblazing Women Making A Footprint in Business, 2023 by Fortunes Time Magazine

1. FORTUNES TIME SEPTEMBER 2023 Top Trailblazing ARTICLE Empowering Women in the Trades with Roofer Chick Making A Footprint in Business, 2023 ARTICLE A Marketing Maven with Years of Experience CEO Zarine Manchanda Enterprises Aspiring to Transform the Global Business Landscape Dr. Zarine Manchanda www.fortunestime.com

4. EDITOR’S NOTE Women's leadership in today's world has evolved so significantly that old leadership styles are no longer visible. Organizations are putting more of an emphasis on diverse leadership that can develop future leaders while fostering a more inventive and varied workplace. Women are making progress in all areas of business, not only in certain fields or occupations. Women are doing exceptionally well in a range of industries, including marketing, technology, finance, and entrepreneurship. They are doing admirably in fields that have historically been controlled by men while tearing down barriers and bursting through glass ceilings. Rising High in Global Business Landscape Women are starting and growing cutting-edge businesses, offering new insights and upending entire sectors. They are utilizing their special skills and experiences to build successful firms and leave a long-lasting impression on the marketplace. Women are developing brand strategies, coming up with intriguing advertising campaigns, and engaging audiences in real and profound ways. They are crucial in promoting brand success and market growth since they have a thorough awareness of customer behaviour. Fortunes Time's latest edition “Top Trailblazing Women Making a Footprint in Business, 2023” has featured success stories of renowned woman executives from across the world whose expertise in leadership is echoing globally. The cover has Dr. Zarine Manchanda, CEO of Zarine Manchanda Enterprises, a prominent parent company that oversees five businesses across various sectors, all of which proudly bear her name. Among these enterprises are the popular Zarine Manchanda Cafe, the innovative Heavenly Flavours Cloud Kitchen, and the exquisite Flavours of the Himachal Pradesh restaurant. Additionally, she manages Zarine Manchanda Premium Security Agency and Zarine Manchanda Productions, a successful film and entertainment production shingle. In addition to her diverse businesses, Dr. Manchanda holds the position of CEO at the Zarine Manchanda Foundation, a noble charity NGO that she founded as her first organization. Also, while you flip through the pages, don't forget to read the articles created by our in-house editorial staff and industry experts. Have a Lovely Read! Have a Lovely Read!

5. FORTUNES T IME CREDIT PAGE Celine Costa Vijay Khulpe Dafny Meyer Tony Anderson Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Executive Editor Assistant Editor Art & Design Director Business Development Manager Business Development Executive Associate Designer Charles Lee Ellen Louise Robert Taylor Sarah Jones Digital Marketing Manager Sales Manager Marketing Manager Technical Specialist Circulation Manager Laura Wright Albert Hill Stacey Flores Jennifer Thomas Carol Green SEPTEMBER 2023 For More Details : Email: info@fortunestime.com Address. 8 The Green Suite R, Dover, DE 19901, USA. Copyright 2023 Fortunes Time, 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 Fortunes Time Reprint rights remain solely with Fortunes Time.

6. Aspiring to Transform the Global Business Landscape 08 COVER STORY Dr. Zarine Manchanda Manchanda

7. CONTENT PAGE CONTENT PAGE 22 26 18 Ami Feller Cindy Watson Dawn Maroney 32 40 36 Dr. Nadine Hachach-Haram Louise Hampton Roberta Perry 50 54 46 Roberta Rudokiene Sharvette Mitchell Simone Clow

8. Dr. Zarine Manchanda Aspiring to Transform the Global Business Landscape Dr. Zarine Manchanda is the CEO of Zarine Manchanda Enterprises, a prominent parent company that oversees five businesses across various sectors, all of which proudly bear her name. Among these enterprises are the popular Zarine Manchanda Cafe, the innova?ve Heavenly Flavours Cloud Kitchen, and the exquisite Flavours of the Himachal Pradesh restaurant. Addi?onally, she manages Zarine Manchanda Premium Security Agency and Zarine Manchanda Produc?ons, a successful film and entertainment produc?on shingle. In addi?on to her diverse businesses, Dr. Manchanda holds the posi?on of CEO at the Zarine Manchanda Founda?on, a noble charity NGO that she founded as her first organiza?on. 08 | SEPTEMBER 2023

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10. Elevating Experiences In addition to her diverse businesses, Dr. Manchanda holds the position of CEO at the Zarine Manchanda Foundation, a noble charity NGO that she founded as her first organization. Dr. Manchanda believes that all companies under Zarine Manchanda Enterprises share a common goal - to bring luxury and a sense of spiritual charm to every market segment they operate in. For instance, her café holds the distinction of being India's first seven-star café, boasting elegant and luxurious decor, crockery, cutlery, and other elements. Similarly, her new restaurant, showcasing the flavors of her native state, Himachal Pradesh, is also adorned with opulence. With a grand vision in mind, Dr. Manchanda aspires to build an international, multinational business conglomerate. Her strategic plan involves expanding each of her businesses beyond Mumbai to various locations across India and even venturing into foreign countries. Moreover, she intends to explore new opportunities in sectors that align with her skills and passions, including Interior Design, couture clothing and apparel, specialty retail, and eventually, construction, hotels, and other industries. Through her ambition and dedication, she aims to leave a remarkable and lasting impact on the global business landscape. Dr. Manchanda is committed to crafting a unique selling point (USP) that combines sophistication and elegance with a touch of spirituality. She wants her clients and customers to experience the best of both worlds - a refined and sophisticated ambiance alongside an environment infused with blessings and spirituality, creating a distinctive and memorable experience for all who visit. 10 | SEPTEMBER 2023

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15. where she wants management and staff to have "boots on the ground" to serve their important mission of helping the poor to the maximum extent possible. A New Vision for India Dr. Manchanda reveals that politics is in her DNA, having grown up in a prominent minister's family in Himachal Pradesh. She fondly remembers witnessing the charisma, dynamism, and public service of her late beloved father since she was a little girl. With the success of hosting almost 400 charity donation programs through her Foundation and gaining phenomenal media coverage for her social activism, public service, and achievements in entrepreneurship and NGOs over the past few years, she is now ready to take her political aspirations to the next level. She is launching a national political party, called the Zarine Manchanda People's Party, with the plan to contest elections in 2024. Dare to Dream Dr. Manchanda advises young people starting their careers not to follow the crowd but instead follow their dreams and passions. She suggests incubating a strong Unique Selling Proposition (USP) for their businesses and not being afraid of being gutsy or taking risks. According to her, the most successful businesses, the pioneers, are always the most innovative and unique. They penetrate new business sectors with fresh products and services, and she strongly believes that an element of business success lies in being different and always having a distinct USP. Fortunestime.com | 15

16. Global Recogni?ons Dr. Manchanda was appointed Regional Director for Mumbai in the BRICS trade alliance, which is managed by the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in December 2021. BRICS promotes increasing bilateral commerce and mutual economic interests with other BRICS countries such as Brazil, Russia, China, and South Africa. She was appointed Chairperson & Editor-in-Chief of India's Na?onal Council of News & Broadcas?ng for the states of Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, and Goa in June 2023. Dr. Manchanda has been honored with various honors throughout her career. She received two Na?onal Awards and two Governor's Awards for her outstanding charitable NGO work commi?ed to assis?ng India's impoverished. She was also honored with the Nelson Mandela Peace Award, which came with a doctoral degree. Her humanitarian achievements were further recognized in December 2022 with an award from the All India Council on Human Rights & Social Jus?ce in Delhi, India. She has also garnered numerous honors for her excellent business expansion and successful entrepreneurship, garnering recogni?on from nearly all of India's prominent business and leisure periodicals. 16 | SEPTEMBER 2023

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22. CINDY CINDY WATSON Exemplifying Exceptional Representation, Exclusively in Union-Side Labour and Employment Law across Canada Cindy Watson, the founder and managing partner of Watson Labour Law and a graduate of the renowned Osgoode Hall, is an experienced and recognized attorney who has specialized in social justice for the past 30 years. Cindy is a sought-after corporate trainer and speaker who works to bridge the gap between men and women in order to improve productivity, communication, and gender prejudice. Cindy is committed to breaking down barriers, achieving wage fairness, and putting an end to discrimination. She has a demonstrated track record of empowering, fighting for, and pushing individuals to be the greatest versions of themselves. She is a well-known international speaker, author, and consultant who is recognized for her enthusiasm, devotion, and ability to inspire. 22 | SEPTEMBER 2023

23. Cindy Watson Founder & Managing Partner Watson Labour Law Fortunestime.com | 23

24. company to get ahead in the competition? What value-added services does the company provide? We offer the full range of services to our trade union clients, including (but not limited to): Representation before all labour tribunals and at all levels of court Ÿ Grievance & arbitration advocacy Ÿ Labour Board advocacy Ÿ Workers compensation matters Ÿ Disability benefits Ÿ Equity work Ÿ Human Rights advocacy Ÿ Legislative and political lobbying Ÿ Training & Education programming We stand out from the competition given our passionate commitment to the cause which is reflected in our advocacy and in our ability to secure better outcomes without litigation where appropriate. We tirelessly seek the best possible results for our clients. We do so utilizing what we call the Art of Feminine Negotiation, where we bring rapport-building, empathy, flexibility, intuition and trust-building to the table so our clients get more creative outcomes with better relationships, greater buy-in and longer-lasting agreements. Below are highlights of the interview conducted between Fortunes Time and Cindy Watson: years, but while I loved the practice, I knew I didn't want to do it there. Everyone thought I was having an early midlife crisis when I turned it down and opted to put out my own shingle. I wanted a firm that was mission-driven and ideologically committed to protecting and enhancing rights for workers and unions. Describe who you are as a person, inside and outside of the workplace. I've always been passionate and driven about issues I care about. Growing up in a blue-collar family (in a low-rent apartment complex with a father who worked shift work in a paper mill factory), I felt called to protect the rights of workers. It was always instilled in me from a young age that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect in the workplace and beyond. That is a life-long philosophy I have embraced and brought to my law practice, zealously representing trade unions and the rights of their members. With the naiveté that comes from youth, I had no doubt that it would succeed. In hindsight, I had no equity, no assurance of clients, no business plan, or any of the typical minimum requirements for a business start-up, but my unshakable confidence in the power of my mission allowed me to forge a path to kickstart my own boutique labor law firm, which quickly grew (both in size and reputation). We became known for our passionate advocacy on behalf of our clients, and I'm proud to say that reputation continues. Describe your background and what did you do before you started/joined the company? Coming from a blue-collar background, my parents didn't have the resources to afford a post-secondary education for me. So, I worked almost full-time hours waitressing throughout the school year for my high school, university, and law school experiences to earn the money to fund my education. In the summers, I sought out relevant work experience, doing an internship in the Students Training in Industrial Relations program, working at employment agencies (both private and public), and working with a trade union. What has made you successful? What do you value? I've always prided myself and our firm on our core values of integrity, passion, drive, commitment, and excellence. That winning combination delivers consistent, superior results. We believe in what we do and the important value it brings, not only to our clients but the broader community as we advocate for enhanced rights for workers on a global level. We think outside the box, looking for unexamined options for enhanced solutions. This cooperative versus competitive approach consistently yields better experiences and outcomes for our clients. Having said that, where necessary we are known for our exceptional advocacy, where we leave no stone unturned. Because we are mission-driven, we aren't motivated by the money. We pride ourselves on our ability to effect superior settlements, knowing when and how to avoid litigation to secure creative best outcomes and when to litigate. Tell us about the inception of the company. How did it all start? I went to law school knowing I wanted to practice trade union labor law. I articled at the Labour Relations Board, and after my call to the bar, I took a position at a boutique labour law firm. I was offered a partnership after only 3 We care about our clients and their issues. We don't treat them like numbers. Unlike most law firms, we also think proactively, seeking to anticipate issues and redressing them before they Which are the major services of the company and how do they the 24 | SEPTEMBER 2023

25. become conflicts or problems. Our proactive (vs reactive) approach is unique in the practice of law and saves our clients much time, money, angst and relationships. Give us your opinion on; do organizations rely heavily on individual heroics or team processes? Team is key in life generally, in business organizations, and particularly for trade unions and service providers for unions. Unions are based on a philosophy of solidarity—stronger together. Individual heroics do not serve the greater good. Building an engaged, dedicated, passionate team is key to success. Studies show that diversity in thinking allows for more creative outcomes and better results (not to mention improved productivity and efficiency). What are your responsibilities as the Founder/CEO of the company? What is the happiest part of your daily routine? I'm proud to have built our thriving practice over the last 30 years. We've built a reputation for our passion, integrity, and results. I'm still integrally involved in the building of our team and ensuring that our culture continues to reflect our core values. Hiring our best team is a key part of that process, as is fostering relationships with our long-time clients and building on client development for the future. Teamwork and the brainstorming it affords will increase the output of any organization (both in terms of quantitative productivity, but perhaps more importantly, in terms of more refined, creative, distinctive, move-the-dial end results). I'm lucky to still be passionate about representing trade unions. I love the advocacy, and I particularly love the exceptional training and education we offer. Engaging directly with members, stewards and front-line union reps feeds me – the energy flows both ways as we inspire each other in carrying forward the important work that needs to be done. This holds true generally, and we see it as particularly important for our law firm. Unions secure their strength in numbers. Unions that rely on individual heroics don't survive. The law firms that serve trade unions need to similarly embrace and foster team environments to deliver the best possible service, advice, and results. What advice would you give someone going into a leadership position for the first time? Listen. Really listen. Bring empathy to the table, truly seeking to understand and meet the needs of others (both within and outside your organization). The benefits of this approach cannot be overstated. Never seek to exert power over others, but rather, always strive to achieve power with those you engage with. Fortunestime.com | 25

26. A Visionary Leader in Transforming Elder Care and Health Plans 26 | SEPTEMBER 2023

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28. V Validation & Aspiration Dawn observes that competitors within the industry are adopting Alignment Health Plan's approach, which she finds exciting as it validates the company's direction. The overarching aim is to progressively revolutionize healthcare, impacting one patient at a time. Dawn's personal goal is to play a role in driving this transformation, making improvements in senior care throughout the United States. 28 | SEPTEMBER 2023

29. As the average life expectancy increases, as do the number and proportion of older people in most developed and developing countries, a central question is whether this population aging will be accompanied by sustained or improved health, an improving quality of life, and adequate social and economic resources. system, its financing sources, and American families will face significant strain as our population ages. A lack of personal savings for long-term care, combined with a fragmented and institutionally dependent delivery system, will endanger the health and quality of life of aging Americans. To handle the various chronic illnesses prevalent in this vulnerable population, our healthcare personnel will need to be retooled. Dawn Maroney is the President of Markets at Alignment Health, a tech- driven firm that promotes a new approach to elder care through its Medicare Advantage services. She is also the CEO of Alignment Health Plan. Dawn is now in charge of Alignment Health Plan, where she oversees many areas of the health plan. These responsibilities include enhancing the experience for members, ensuring their continued engagement, fostering growth and expansion, devising sales strategies, creating new products, ensuring compliance with regulations, handling pharmacy matters, managing networks, and Adults over the age of 65 will account for 20% of the US population by 2050. The fiscal and policy ramifications of this demographic transformation are two of the most significant difficulties that federal and state governments confront today. Our healthcare Dawn Maroney is considered not just as an industry specialist, but also as a pioneer in preparing health care firms for success in the hard Medicare, Medicaid, and disadvantaged sectors. Fortunestime.com | 29

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33. Dr. Nadine Dr. Nadine Hachach-Haram Hachach-Haram Dr. Nadine Hachach-Haram, FRCS (Plast), BEM, is a Consultant Plastic Surgeon at Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and the Head of Clinical Innovation.The NHS clinical entrepreneur founded Proximie in 2015 with the goal of saving lives by disseminating the world's finest clinical practice. She relied on her surgical expertise as well as her love for innovation and teaching. As part of the 2018 Queen's Birthday Honours, Dr. Nadine was awarded the British Empire Medal for her pioneering achievements in the disciplines of surgery and medicine. She also undertakes a number of roles to help advance surgery, including council member of the Royal College of Surgeons' Future of Surgery Commission, council member of the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS), Innovation UK, and council member of the Royal Society of Medicine plastic surgery section. Fortunestime.com | 33

34. Below are highlights of the interview conducted between Fortunes Time and Dr Nadine Hachach-Haram: has really come to define me as a person. I spent 10 years working on global health initiatives around the world as a trainee surgeon. During that period, I definitely found myself feeling like I simply wasn't doing enough. When I looked at the Lancet Commission that revealed five billion people in the world lack access to safe surgery, I realized that we were only scratching the surface. I realized that it was really about building scalable, sustainable models of support and delivery, so I started to look at technology, and the idea for Proximie was born. Describe your background and what did you do before you started the company? I grew up in post-war Lebanon in the early 1990s, which was undoubtedly a formative period in my life. It shaped my career, not just as a surgeon but also as the founder of Proximie. Seeing the human impact conflict exacted on my homeland had a profound influence at a very young age. At that point, I started to get interested in the ability to help patients and to look for opportunities. Describe who you are as a person, inside and outside of the workplace. I think I am a very driven person who is passionate about innovation in healthcare. Proximie was born out of a need, and my ambition as a surgeon was to find a solution and scale it using technology. In my experience, disruption in healthcare has many challenges, but I can say with experience that if it is really solving a problem, then adoption can be swift and decisive. I think having that drive to create a sustainable solution for creating better access to safe surgery 34 | SEPTEMBER 2023

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36. Owner Attend2Health 36 | SEPTEMBER 2023

37. Louise Hampton Chiropractic graduate from the University of South Wales, Louise Hampton is the owner of Attend2Health. She looked at many health care careers before deciding she wanted to be a chiropractor. She was intrigued with the outcomes of chiropractic care and, in certain cases, the quickness with which patients would begin to feel better. Prior to relocating her practice to Buntingford she first started seeing patients in Birmingham and opening a chiropractic office there. She states, "Attend2Health is my second clinic, closer to home and with my husband Dominic." She has been awarded a Fellowship of the British Chiropractic Association (BCA) for the work she has done on the BCA council and is a trustee of the Chiropractic Research Council. Fortunestime.com | 37

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39. Buntingford High Street. It was October 2007, just before the 2008 recession. Times were hard, but the business got through it. My main goal has always been to do the best I can for my patients. Over the years, the clinic has grown and taken on more staff. We now have a practice manager and five receptionists, as well as all the practitioners. Louise is proud to be a fellow of the British Chiropractic Association (BCA) after sitting on the BCA council for a number of years. Louise has also just become a trustee of the Chiropractic Research Council. As well as treating patients, Louise is keen to help the local community by sponsoring local sports teams such as the Buntingford Cricket Club and the Buntingford Bowls Club. She also likes to raise money for charity and this year she raised money for the Buntingford Food Bank. Attend2health has also won a number of awards over the years, including WhatClinic Service Awards for the past 3 years. Best Business Woman in Health and Wellbeing in 2019 and Best Below are highlights of the interview conducted between Fortunes Time and Louise Hampton: Describe who you are as a person, inside and outside of the workplace. Louise Hampton is a chiropractor and owner of Attend2Health. I am th celebrating our 15 anniversary this month, which I am incredibly proud of. In that time, the clinic has grown so much. 15 years ago, I started by renting a shop at the top of Fortunestime.com | 39

40. Roberta Perry Committed to Creating a Customer Experience Business with Great Natural Products 40 | SEPTEMBER 2023

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42. Roberta Perry started ScrubzBody Skin Care when her own skin was suffering, and she figured out a way to make it feel and look better. She recalls, "After sharing it with my late sister, Michelle, she suggested I sell it to others. It was a way to share my sugar scrub creation and the concept of pampering oneself with others, and also get the chance to work with my late sister. It really began when I was so chapped on my elbow that when I scratched it, it bled. All over the papers I was working with at a meeting. I was so embarrassed. I left the meeting and headed to a skin care store, where the manager introduced me to a scrub. I liked it but didn't love it, so I searched out another. And then another. And then another still. After a while, Roberta decided to make some herself, using only the things that made the great scrubs great and eliminating all the things that made an OK scrub just OK. That was in 2006, and she has grown the business and enjoyed the ride ever since. 42 | SEPTEMBER 2023

43. Below are highlights of the interview conducted between World's Leaders and Roberta Perry: Describe who you are as a person, inside and outside of the workplace. I like to think of myself as a positive, happy with her fate in life, forward-thinking person. It doesn't mean I haven't had my share of sh*t, most especially losing my sister, business partner, and best friend, Michelle, but I am grateful for everything I have and really embrace what life has to offer. I love exploring new places and eating new foods. I have always been OK with trying and failing and trying again. I am also a wife, a mom of 3 grown adults, a mother-in-law, a grandmom of 3 incredible boys, a daughter, a sister a friend, and a mentor. Describe your background and what did you do before you started/joined the company? My background after college was graphic design, so I did that for five years in NYC before having my first son and starting my freelance design company. Along the way, I started selling telecommunications when the industry was exploding and honing my sales and customer service techniques. I was the marketing director of a failed start-up in Texas, but the 2 years involved in that gave me the chance to learn about web design and trademarks, dealing with the public, and free publicity. I really believe that every job and position I have had prior has been a stepping stone to my business. What has made you successful? What do you value? I have said this before and I will say it again: money is necessary to keep my business alive, well, and thriving. However, my greatest success is the relationships I have been lucky enough to develop with my business associates and my customers. I have the greatest people surrounding me, and that is my biggest joy and business accomplishment. I got to start this business with my late sister, and I get to work with my childhood bestie. I get to sell other products in my shop that were made by great friends whom I found through my larger business group. These are the things I value most. Fortunestime.com | 43

46. Roberta Rudokien? Leading the National Startup Ecosystem Facilitator "Don't be afraid to fail, be ready to pivot and change. Don't think that you know the best. Make each step after evaluating the needs of your potential customers," says Roberta Rudokienė. She works as the Manager of Startup Lithuania, a national startup ecosystem facilitator that connects fast- growing businesses, venture capital funds, accelerators, startup-friendly enterprises, and the government. 46 | SEPTEMBER 2023

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48. Below are the highlights of the interview conducted between the Fortunes Time and Roberta Rudokienė. Brief our audience about your journey as a business leader. What challenges did you have to face to get where you are today? My journey as a business leader was really interesting and challenging: I worked in managing positions in different sectors: I managed the Baltic Retail department in a big furniture manufacturing company, was responsible for sales and marketing in the first universal arena in Lithuania, then moved to the public sector, and for almost four years now, I've been managing Startup Lithuania, a national startup ecosystem facilitator, which aims to create the most favourable conditions for Lithuanian startups' creation, development, and growth. Changing sectors and working in different spheres is always challenging at the beginning, but also very interesting. And that's driving me. startups in our database rose from 380 in 2017 to 1000 in 2020. We also started to conduct representative surveys of Lithuanian startups each year in order to know them better and what challenges they face. As a facilitator of the ecosystem, we aim to know all the startups in Lithuania, how they are doing, how many investments are attracted, what help they need from the government, or what changes in the laws should be made to make Lithuania a perfect place for startups. Describe Startup Lithuania's offerings that address the needs of your customers. Startup Lithuania aims to be a one stop shop for current and future startups in Lithuania, we organise different events and workshops, administer an online pre-acceleration program, "Startup Guide", which is designed for early-stage startups and potential developers of innovatiprogrammenesses, and give free consultations to current and future startup founders. We also administrate the Startup Visa Lithuania program and help foreign startup founders from non-EU countries to relocate to Lithuania and develop their innovative businesses here. 48 | SEPTEMBER 2023 We also decided that the Lithuanian startup ecosystem needs a separate international event specifically designated for startups and started to organise the Startup Fair event, which attracts a lot of attention from startups and investors every year. (Until 2017, this event was a part of another tech conference). Enlighten us on how you have made an impact in this industry through your expertise in the industry? When I started to work at Startup Lithuania, my main goal was to collect information about all Lithuanian startups and to know their needs better. Not by guessing and making predictions, but from startups themselves. Therefore, together with my team, we made big efforts to „catch" and register all Lithuanian startups. The result: the number of When we saw that our audience, potential, and early-stage startup founders, were asking the same questions again and again, we initiated a free online pre- acceleration course, "Startup Guide" – which I'm very proud of. The

49. What people, what books, what life factors have influenced and impacted you? I can't distinguish specific people or books that influenced and impacted me. I believe that all the jobs I did and all the people I've met in my career have had some influence. I'm always striving to do my job as well as I can. And the work at Startup Lithuania does seem very meaningful to me, since I feel that I can make a difference. Our team members are independent and proactive, and being in a small team makes it easier for us to get involved in each other's activities, create and suggest better services to our startups. Where do you envision yourself to be in the long run and what are your future goals for Startup Lithuania? I don't like to make big plans for the future, but to grab the opportunities that I meet on the way. So it's hard to say where I see myself in the long run. As for Startup Lithuania, I have big visions for it. I hope that Startup Lithuania will expand in terms of the team and services and will be able to offer Lithuanian startups financial support and more designated services. I also want to grow our partnerships and to have a wider network of partners all over the world in order to be able to help Lithuanian startups to enter different markets and conquer the world. Describe in detail the values and the work culture that drive Startup Lithuania. We are a small but very enthusiastic team that wants to make an impact. We are driven by the possibility of helping startup founders start, develop and grow their innovative businesses. The main values in our organisation are professionalism, cooperation, and the success of Lithuania. Lithuanian startup ecosystem is really booming and thriving at the moment, and I hope that all the steps that Startup Lithuania took contributed at least to a small part of this success. What are the challenges you and your team at Startup Lithuania come across in your day-to-day operations? Sometimes things can't get done so easily and smoothly as we would like. Especially that we're a governmental agency with some strict procedures. But this doesn't stop my team from striving to reach the best possible results and implement everything that we wish. We are constantly trying to get to know Lithuanian startups and help them when the opportunity arises. Fortunestime.com | 49

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