World’s Visionary Leaders Making an Impact in 2023

1. Vol. 03 | Issue 20 | MARCH 2023 www.worldsleaders.com World’s VISIONARY LEADERS Making an Impact in 2023 CEO Viollis Group Interna?onal Paul Viollis Leading a Global Consultancy Centered on Validating Integrity and Eradicating Challenging Situations

4. World’s Visionary Leaders Making an Impact in 2023 Vol. 03 | Issue 20 | MARCH 2023 www.worldsleaders.com World’s VISIONARY LEADERS Making an Impact in 2023 Ability to Inspire and Motivate Others CEO Leadership that creates a significant impact is distinguished by the leader's ability to inspire and motivate team members towards a shared goal or vision. This requires effective communication skills to convey their vision in a clear and concise manner, while also instilling a sense of purpose and direction within the team or organization. Viollis Group Interna?onal Paul Viollis Leading a Global Consultancy Centered on Validating Integrity and Eradicating Challenging Situations Impactful leaders possess a variety of traits, including a strong sense of vision, empathy for team members, strategic thinking, and the ability to collaborate and adjust their plans in response to challenges or changes in the environment. Above all, impactful leadership involves the ability to inspire and motivate others to work towards achieving a common goal, driving success and growth for the team or organization. Throughout his career in law enforcement and security, Paul gained a wide range of skills and experiences. He worked as a supervisor for the Criminal Court Unit of the New York County District Attorney's Office, a Security Specialist/Supervisor for the United States Space Command, and CO of a Florida State Police Academy. He is also a renowned public speaker and an expert in various areas, including private client security, workplace violence, behavioral analysis, workplace security, and counter- terrorism threat assessment. World's Leaders latest edition “World’s Visionary Leaders Making an Impact in 2023” features leaders who shared insights and strategies that are enabling them to making an impact despite the challenging business environment. In this special edition, let us share similar, inspirational tales and interviews with many such dedicated leaders in order to raise awareness about their contributions to making the world a better place. The cover has Paul Viollis has an impressive professional background, having held various leadership positions prior to becoming Chief Executive of Viollis Group International. He served as CEO of Risk Control Strategies, President & CEO of Corporate Risk Consulting, Senior Managing Director for Citigate Global Intelligence & Security, and Vice President at Kroll, where he was part of their post- September 11th Threat Assessment Team. Have a lovely read!

5. CREDIT PAGE Editor-in-Chief Steve Sanchez Managing Editor Jagdish Chincholikar Executive Editor Nicole Williams Assistant Editor Gayatri Bhujbal Art & Design Director Jack Anderson Business Development Manager Mia Oliver Business Development Executive Natalie, Jerrey Associate Designer Kevin Rust Digital Marketing Manager Victor Clarke Sales Manager Casey Simpson, Irfan Shekh Marketing Manager Tom Swann Technical Specialist Barry Jones Circulation Manager Danny Parker FEBRUARY 2023 3296 Westerville Rd #250, Columbus, OH 43224, USA Copyright 2023 WORLD’S LEADERS Media Tech LLC, 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 WORLD’S LEADERS Reprint rights remain solely with WORLD’S LEADERS. Follow us on :

6. 08 Cover Story Paul Viollis Leading a Global Consultancy Centered on Validating Integrity and Eradicating Challenging Situations

7. Charlyn Asher 18 David Meltzer 24 28 Deke Welling Gavin Quinnies 34 38 Iris Santiago Malik Mcintyre 44 Meha Lahiri 48 54 Ran Rachlin Sarah Barnes-Humphrey 58

8. Cover Story 08 | MARCH 2023

9. Cover Story Paul Viollis Leading a Global Consultancy Centered on Validating Integrity and Eradicating Challenging Situations worldsleaders.com | 09

10. Viollis Group International Government service at the city, state and federal government level poured the VGI slab allowing for its blueprint to mirror the capabilities of the most sophisticated government law enforcement agency imaginable nestled within the private sector. Specifically, Viollis Group International is a global consultancy centered on validating integrity and eradicating challenging situations, expeditiously. With unfettered access to information in 245 countries and dependent territories, VGI can identify and mitigate human, cyber, integrity, operational, financial, environmental, social, and governance risks. VGI's intelligence contains information on countries and regions, individuals, companies and banks, state-owned entities, criminal and terrorist groups, ports and airports, aircraft, vessels, international organizations, as well as other entities enabling it to protect the human, physical and financial assets of clients, worldwide. Paul Viollis has an impressive professional background, having held various leadership positions prior to becoming Chief Executive of Viollis Group International. He served as CEO of Risk Control Strategies, President & CEO of Corporate Risk Consulting, Senior Managing Director for Citigate Global Intelligence & Security, and Vice President at Kroll, where he was part of their post-September 11th Threat Assessment Team. Throughout his career in law enforcement and security, Paul gained a wide range of skills and experiences. He worked as a supervisor for the Criminal Court Unit of the New York County District Attorney's Ofce, a Security Specialist/Supervisor for the United States Space Command, and CO of a Florida State Police Academy. He is also a renowned public speaker and an expert in various areas, including private client security, workplace violence, behavioral analysis, workplace security, and counter-terrorism threat assessment. Additionally, he is certied as a Master Anti-Terrorism Specialist by the Anti-Terrorism Accreditation Board. Career Transition and Growth Paul attributes his career success to the JJC internship program and the invaluable opportunity provided by Robert Morgatheau. Beginning his journey at the Manhattan District Attorney's Office at the age of 20, Paul quickly rose to the position of supervisor in the Criminal Court Unit. This position allowed Paul to gain a comprehensive understanding of every aspect of the criminal justice system, as well as national and international security concerns. This foundational knowledge proved instrumental in his subsequent appointment to a national security role under the Department of Defense during the Desert Shield/Desert Storm era. After concluding his service to the country as the CO of a state Police Academy in Florida, the events of 9/11 changed the course of Paul's career. Drawing on the skills and experience gained in government service, including at Ground Zero, he transitioned to private practice. A Multi-faceted Professional Paul is a highly accomplished author and editor, having written and edited several books for Jane's Publishing, including "Workplace Security," "School Safety Handbook," "Teachers Safety Guide," "Crisis Communications Handbook," and co-authoring "Silent Safety: Best Practices for Protecting the Affluent." He is also a sought-after public speaker and presents on a wide range of topics related to national security, private client security, and cyber-terrorism at various events each year. In addition to his work as an author and speaker, Paul has also worked as a law enforcement and security analyst for CBS News and has been a regular contributor to FOX 10 | MARCH 2023

11. Business and FOX News. He has appeared in various media outlets, including CNN, INSIDE EDITION, MSNBC, Reuters, ABC, CNBC, CBS, ESPN, Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Entrepreneur Magazine, Wall Street Journal Radio, National Public Radio, CSO, Forbes, Robb Report, Worth, Business Insurance, and CFO magazine. Paul's most recent book, "Safeguarding America: - Blueprint to Protecting the American Family," was released in March 2021. He is affiliated with several professional organizations, including the Anti-Terrorism Accreditation Board, Overseas Security Advisory Council, Florida Police Chiefs Association, lnfraGard, and Business Executives for National Security. Additionally, he holds the distinction of Honorary Assistant Attorney General for the State of Louisiana and has earned a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, a Master of Public Administration, and a Ph.D. in Philosophy. Making Client Satisfaction the Primary Goal For Paul, leadership is not about conforming to industry standards, but about setting new benchmarks. He believes that in any vertical market, the key to success is understanding the unique needs of clients based on current global events and personal circumstances. This is particularly important when serving the affluent community, as they face a multitude of complex issues that require a high level of insight and attention. Armed with this understanding, Paul takes on the responsibility of ensuring his company is fully equipped to deliver effective solutions, utilizing both human and technological resources as required. Proficiency in Resolving Challenges Intelligence gathering is essential for worldsleaders.com | 11

12. 12 | MARCH 2023

13. any successful security consulting firm, as it helps validate information and mitigate potential risks. With the most current technology and data access, firms can gather critical intelligence on global threats and potential risks to their clients. This information can then be used to develop proactive strategies to address and mitigate potential threats before they occur. Without reliable and up-to-date intelligence, firms are unable to make informed decisions and are at risk of missing critical information that could impact the safety and security of their clients. Therefore, intelligence gathering is indeed a cornerstone of any successful global security consulting firm. Viollis Group's commitment to investing in both human and technological assets is unwavering, ensuring that every problem is approached with the resources necessary to achieve success. Additionally, Paul's role as a national security and law enforcement TV/radio personality allows him to provide the public with accurate, fact-based analysis while establishing Viollis Group's professionalism to the viewing/listening audience, thereby setting the standard for the industry. The company's unique skill set, combined with cutting-edge technology and intelligence platforms, enables them to provide a wide range of services, including Technical Surveillance Countermeasures, Cyber Crime forensics, covert surveillance, clandestine intelligence gathering, and various human protection deliverables. With such extensive resources and capabilities, the team can confidently assert that they are fully equipped to handle any challenge that comes their way. Keeping Integrity Align with Leadership For Paul, being a leader means setting the tone and maintaining his faith in God as the cornerstone of all decision- making processes. He understands that leadership is demonstrated through action, and his actions must align with his beliefs. At times, this may require making difficult decisions, such as walking away from financial gain if it means compromising his values. When mistakes occur, as they inevitably will, Paul believes in taking ownership of them and handling them with integrity, as this is what ultimately builds character. the global community through objective analysis of breaking news via their media presence. The company will stay ahead of the curve through innovation and pre-emptive threat mitigation, ensuring that their services reflect the current global threat trajectory. Additionally, Viollis Group will work to identify and designate the next generation of leaders in their respective fields, recognizing the importance of passing on knowledge and experience to those who will shape the future. As true leaders, it is essential to leave the future in better hands than those we inherited it from. Viollis Group will lead by example, demonstrating that unpreparedness is not an option when it comes to global security. Paul believes in executing a direct involvement with delegation protocol, overseeing everything from intake to execution, while also allowing his Working to Educate, Innovate, and Designate Looking ahead to the future, Paul's vision for Viollis Group is to educate worldsleaders.com | 13

14. establish a culture of integrity that sets them apart from other firms in the industry. Paul's favorite part of the day is bringing peace of mind to clients, knowing that he has made a difference in their lives. This is the ultimate goal of Viollis Group, and Paul takes great pride in being able to achieve this objective for his clients. Leadership Insights According to Paul, true leadership is earned through actions, and success can be measured by whether the client is better off for having engaged with you, not just financial benchmarks. He feels inspired to take ownership of the process, as he trusts himself to get the job done with the help of his world- class team. Paul pays close attention to global trends, listens to his team leaders, and trusts the intelligence provided by their global assets. He believes in always speaking the truth, even if it's politically incorrect. Paul places a high value on integrity and credibility in his team members. He also values experience and skill sets that are directly relevant to the work being done at Viollis Group. professionals to do their jobs without unnecessary micromanagement. He recognizes that his team possesses a wealth of knowledge and expertise in their respective fields, and thus trusts them to handle their responsibilities effectively. Ÿ Providing viable solution options to the client, rather than attempting to sell them on a specific product or service. If a client needs convincing to protect themselves, they are better off speaking to another firm. Additionally, prompt communication is a key factor in his decision-making process when considering potential team members. Paul sees a lack of certain qualities among emerging leaders today, such as being more concerned with keeping their job than doing it, lacking decisiveness, and prioritizing saying what they think others want to hear over the truth. Viollis Group's core values are centered around providing undivided attention to the client from intake to execution, ensuring that their needs and wants are fulfilled. The company firmly believes in the "Under Promise and Over Deliver" mantra at the start of each engagement, communicating accurately and frequently throughout the process, and working diligently until a successful conclusion is reached. By focusing on these core values, Viollis Group strives to To construct a culture of integrity, Paul focuses on three main tasks: Ÿ Assigning the right people to each specific project, who are intimately familiar with the "in country" expectations and adhere to valid and reliable Rules of Engagement. Ÿ Embracing the mantra that "Cheap IS Expensive" in everything they do, they thus cement the philosophy of doing it right or not at all. 14 | MARCH 2023

15. worldsleaders.com | 15

18. Epitome of Perseverance, Dedication, and Commitment Describe your background and what did you do before you started/joined the company? Before starting Antione Fulfillment, I had a diverse professional background that began at the age of 18 as a child care provider. My journey then led me to work in warehouses, starting as a helper on a production line and working my way up to becoming an order picker and packer. In my early twenties, I decided to transition from working in warehouses to working in offices. My first office role was as a logistics clerk, and then I held positions as a customer service representative, Warehouse supervisor, and logistics, warehouse, and purchasing manager for an international company. Through these experiences, I developed a range of skills and self- discipline. Each position was a stepping stone towards my ultimate goal of becoming the president of two companies. Charlyn Asher is the president and CEO of Colt Paper and Antoine Fulfillment, divisions of Asher Industries Inc. Her impressive achievements throughout her 23-year career are a testament to her perseverance, dedication, and unwavering commitment. Charlyn's success is especially noteworthy as she is the first and only Black female president in Canada's corrugated and shipping supplies industry, which is male-dominated. experience, lacking immigration papers, only holding a high school diploma, and having a distinct dialect, Charlyn remained steadfast in her pursuit of becoming a successful entrepreneur. Her ability to overcome adversity and break down barriers has enabled her to reach unparalleled heights in her career. Charlyn is a true inspiration to many, and her accomplishments serve as a testament to the power of determination and hard work. Charlyn was born in Windsor Forest, a peaceful village in Grenada, and had humble beginnings. She moved to Canada at 18 years old, determined to transform her life into something remarkable. Despite facing various challenges, such as having no Canadian work Below are highlights of the interview conducted between World's Leaders and Charlyn Asher: Tell us about the inception of the company. How did it all start? In 2017, I purchased Colt Paper, an 87-year-old custom box and packaging supplies company in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Having a background in warehousing, supply chain, and logistics, it was a logical decision to venture into that world. This was not a job to me; it was a passion; I loved it, and I'm knowledgeable about all aspects of the supply chain. It made sense to use this transferable knowledge to offer a hybrid version to potential customers and set ourselves apart from the competition. The overflow warehouse space gave birth to Antoine Fulfillment in 2017. 18 | MARCH 2023

19. Charlyn Asher President & CEO Colt Paper & Antoine Ful?llment worldsleaders.com | 19

20. credibility and a positive reputation in the industry. Which are the major services of the company and how do they help the company to get ahead in the competition? What value-added services does the company provide? Antoine Fulfillment was established in 2017 to bridge the gap between the international supply chain, giving its customers a space for brand recognition in the Canadian market. Today, Antoine Fulfillment is one of the leading full-service supply chain management companies in Toronto, Canada, focusing on warehousing, logistics, fulfillment, and distribution. By facilitating business transactions between companies, their customers, and end users. We can help our clients keep the promises they make to their customers. serving both domestic and international markets. We pick, pack, and prepare orders using our clients' exact specifications. Our services and processing times surpass those of our competitors, leaving our customers speechless. Our business model strives to be detail-oriented and efficient and keeps our customers' needs at the forefront. What has made you successful? What do you value? Success can be measured from one human being to another; one of the two things that have made me successful is adapting and evolving to the many changing complexities of our business world. Over the past five years, I have discovered ways to pivot and secure steady growth for both Colt Paper and Antoine Fulfillment. The second is wowing our customers with exceptional customer service. We can fulfill each customer's needs through flexibility, availability, and a commitment to growth at every service level. To me, Integrity is the most important value in business. In a world where money influences behavior, it can be challenging to make ethical decisions and remain true to oneself. Establishing a foundation of integrity and honesty with employees, customers, and colleagues helps to establish What are the most important aspects of a company's culture? What principles do you believe in and how do you build this culture? Ÿ Recognition: At Antoine Fulfillment, we like to create a culture of recognition to retain our employees and encourage high employee performance while keeping them engaged. Our employees' well-being and ensuring they are fairly 20 | MARCH 2023

21. compensated and recognized for their hard work are of the utmost importance. Leadership: At the helm of any great company is its leader. Our leadership is dependably strong, creates a positive work environment, and has empathy. Ÿ I believe in recognition, as our employees are the heart and soul of our company, and rewarding them for going above and beyond to satisfy our customers' needs is no brainer. What is the significance of innovative ideas in the company? One of the main challenges that warehousing faces today is having the capacity and flexibility to adapt to customers' ever-changing needs. We have seen a sharp increase in e- commerce and online shopping, igniting the demand for fulfillment and warehousing. It's more cost- effective to keep up with this demand. Several innovative processes were implemented, including a new, more modern cloud- based warehouse management system with shipping integrations to all the major courier providers in Canada. With the implementation of faster picking, packing, and delivery times, we can efficiently pick up orders within one hour of receipt for same-day or next-day delivery. building.No single person or persons can keep a company from reaching its full potential. It takes a team of committed individuals to achieve an organization's success. What advice would you give someone going into a leadership position for the first time? As a leader, it's essential to understand the individuality of each team member to manage them effectively. A great leader focuses on teamwork rather than micromanaging and is fearless when working alongside their team. Actively listen to your employees, address their concerns, and show them that their input is valued in the organization. A good leader should possess knowledge about their job, be humble, have confidence, lead by example, and strive to make their team successful. What are your responsibilities as the CEO of the company? What is the happiest part of your daily routine? As a hands-on CEO, I am involved in various aspects of our business, including loading and unloading trucks, picking and packing, managing inventory, assembling packaging, reworking loads during transit, dispatching, and using warehouse equipment such as electric pump trucks. I believe in being a well-versed leader and providing direction to my team. I am capable of excelling at multitasking, and I do not let my gender limit what I can accomplish in a male- dominated industry. The most fulfilling part of my daily routine is successfully managing all aspects of the supply chain with the satisfaction of our customers in mind. Give us your opinion on; do organizations rely heavily on individual heroics or team processes? There is no place in an organization for heroic individuals. A company must emphasize the value of teamwork processes and team worldsleaders.com | 21

24. 24 | MARCH 2023

25. worldsleaders.com | 25

26. 26 | MARCH 2023

27. worldsleaders.com | 27

28. DEKE WELLING A Renewable Energy Industry Expert Co-founder & CEO CLS Sustainable 28 | MARCH 2023

29. D I then made a transition into the renewable energy space in 2014, working with a local solar company in Fort Worth, and started my first solar company in 2016. That company was primarily focused on the residential marketplace, and I sold that company in 2021 to focus on CLS Sustainable. directly with the end-user. It was through this process that we identified reasons why a facility's consumption levels were high, or higher than what they should be. So, we started taking a more holistic approach to a company's energy usage and implemented strategies that would compliment renewable generation by also finding energy-efficient solutions to also help reduce their consumption. We also started to implement energy storage solutions and cogeneration technologies that would also reduce their demand costs from their utility, which also alleviated stress on the power grid. The challenges that I had to face in the renewable energy industry were not as vast as those experienced in oil and gas. However, the biggest challenge we faced as a company, and also as a nation, was the COVID pandemic. For residential solar, people did not want others to visit them in person for fear of the unknown. The country was shut down and we were not allowed to visit families in their houses. We overcame this by immediately pivoting our sales team to perform online and over the phone presentations to show homeowners exactly what solar could do for them. The families we worked with appreciated this process, and we actually outperformed our sales during this shutdown compared to what we did the previous year. Deke Welling, Co-founder and CEO of CLS Sustainable, is a seasoned leader in the energy business with 16 years of experience. He saw the need to shift existing practices. He looked into the renewable energy field for sustainable solutions and to turn fresh modern concepts into reality. Enlighten us on how you have made an impact in this industry through your expertise in the industry. Below are the highlights of the interview conducted between World's Ledaers and Deke Welling: I think it is through our holistic approach. My partner, Kevin, and I both look at a facility or property as a whole. Our approach is to first identify areas where we can make a significant improvement that positively affects a company's bottom line. both from an environmental perspective and from a financial perspective. Our primary goal is to facilitate the goals and needs of our clients and also help educate them on what these improvements do, how they're cost effective, and how it will decrease operating expenditures. 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 started at the age of 26 (18 years ago). I started an oil and gas exploration and production company at the height of the natural gas boom in shale gas fields, where fracking was a huge part of extracting natural gas from tight formations. I did this as a transition from an oil and gas company I was working for, where I served as a Vice President. Describe CLS offerings that address the needs of your customers. CLS started out as primarily an EPC for commercial solar projects. We worked directly with project developers to construct their projects. We then became developers ourselves, where we would architect the solar projects Most of our competition is only focused on solar as a service, but rarely looks at the complete picture to best benefit the client. worldsleaders.com | 29

30. 30 | MARCH 2023

31. What are the challenges you and your team at CLS Sustainable come across in your day-to-day operations? I took this advice and got into sales, which I believe has helped prepare me to be a business owner. As in sales, you get rewarded (paid) for your time, effort, and ability to help others. Sales and sales management have given us invaluable tools and assets that translate well into entrepreneurship. resources that God has given us. Our goal as a company is not to necessarily be the biggest, but to be the most impactful and effective at what we do. This means we look to expand upon our current foundation to include project ownership and acquisitions in the very near future. Some challenges we incur on a day-to-day basis are more centred around having the manpower to enable our growth. We have been very fortunate with the partners we have that hire us to assist in development, installations, or to take over a project with our resources and expertise, and we pride ourselves on giving each one of these partners our undivided attention. These relationships have been key to our growth, and we value them tremendously. With that, we get referred to new work that, at times, we have to turn away due to current commitments. We have, and are currently hiring to help fill these roles with individuals who are right for our team and have an aligned mindset and goals that fit our culture. Describe in detail the values and the work culture that drive CLS Sustainable. What would be your advice to budding business leaders? My advice for up-and-coming business leaders would be to lean into everything you do with a purpose. As a business leader, do not waste your time, effort, or resources on tasks, projects, or people who do not help you accomplish your primary business goals. However, invest your time, effort, and resources into things that will have a significant positive impact on your business and on the audience that your business serves, and do this with purpose. Our values are simple. We have two primary values under which everything else falls under. Our first value is integrity. To us, integrity means what we do when no one is looking.Are we always looking out for our clients' best interests first, before anything else. Our second value is accountability. Our clients expect us, as they should, to be responsible and justify any recommendations we make to assist them in their sustainability efforts and goals. What people, what books, what life factors have influenced and impacted you? The person who has had the greatest influence on me was my dad. When I was younger, I thought I knew more than what I did, and I made some of the wisest decisions. One of them was to drop out of high school. When I told my dad about my decision, he was, of course, disappointed, but gave me life advice and encouraged me to get into sales if I truly felt school was not for me. Where do you envision yourself being in the long run and what are your future goals for CLS Sustainable? My vision is to continue to serve businesses and organizations that have a desire to do their part in making this a better place; now and in the future. This means being outspoken and educating others to take responsibility and do our part to conserve the worldsleaders.com | 31

34. GAVIN QUINNIES An Expert in Healthcare Risk Management Early Learning of Hard Work and Dedication Gavin shared that his parents were the single largest influencers in his life and career. He states that they not only taught him but showed him how to work hard and smart and if one does the right thing, right things will be done in return. Gavin also refers to his college professors that taught him constraint theory through the book “The Goal” and pushed to make it through aerospace and packaging engineering coursework. “They took chances on me in running an entrepreneurial lab, one of the very first manufacturing university to industry technology transfer projects in the US,” says Gavin. 34 | MARCH 2023

35. G Gavin Quinnies is the CEO and co-founder at US HealthCenter, Inc. Mr. Quinnies has collaborated with organizations to discover health and productivity- related possibilities for over 25 years. He first established health risk management systems at his manufacturing firm in the early '90s, producing a return of 4:1, and subsequently brought his knowledge to other organizations such as IBM Life Sciences. Since its inception in 2003, the US HealthCenter Inc's team has focused on process and people to support the mission of industry- leading science, technology and advocacy to prevent and manage disease. Gavinsays, “As such the quality and consistency of our TEAMates is of my utmost concern. We have had 100% employee retention since our founding, which has made the TEAM highly productive and our processes mature and ever- improving.” He further adds that this is uncommon in the post- 2000 tech bubble for a self- funded health care startup. Because of this, the company has accomplished some feats such as CEO and co-founder | US HealthCenter, Inc. three distinct third-party validations; for its predictive modelling, care navigation and population health management. The management expects another validation of the company's cost predictive model later this year. An Advanced Health Monitoring System The PredictiMed™ health management system is comprised of a Personal Health Dashboard™ (PHD), Health Coach Tracker, Corporate Health Profile, Health Counts™ engagement and rewards engine, Sweeper™ medical and pharmacy claims analytics tool, HealtheMall™ marketplace and content management system. The PHD is a dynamic worldsleaders.com | 35

36. 36 | MARCH 2023

37. worldsleaders.com | 37

38. 38 | MARCH 2023

39. worldsleaders.com |39

40. 40 | MARCH 2023

41. worldsleaders.com | 41

44. Designing to Create Something New and Enticing alik Mcintyre began his career as a designer in M proved to be a difficult task, and he soon realized that he couldn't finance his passion. To overcome this challenge, he joined the military in 2015 with the aim of earning enough money to relaunch his design business. Despite the demanding schedule, he persevered and continued to design while serving as a full-time sailor, which was quite challenging due to his unpredictable work schedule. After a seven-month deployment, he found that his brand had lost much of its momentum. Recognizing the need to rekindle interest, Malik designed his most popular piece, the chaos puffer, which went viral in 2019. military right after graduation and saved enough to release my first collection at 19 years old. 2014 under the moniker Kass Kouture. However, juggling the business and his studies Tell us about the inception of Mcintyre. How did it all start? I actually just rebranded to McIntyre last year; prior to that, the brand was called Kash Kouture. I started KK when I was 18, and it appealed to the audience that I grew up around (Chicago). After leaving the city and spending time to truly find myself and my style, I realized that I was tailoring my designs to fit an image that I didn't embody. I wanted my brand to reflect me and my art, so I created McIntyre. The designs are out of the box, colorful, and fun, but not for everybody. After years of creating for everybody else, I decided it was time to start just creating for myself. Below are highlights of the interview conducted between World's Leaders and Malik Mcintyre: Describe who you are as a person, inside and outside of the workplace. I'm the same person everywhere! The military has definitely instilled discipline and leadership in me, but I've always maintained a fun and charismatic energy. I can be very serious when it's crunch time, but I'm still very easygoing and approachable. I feel like true artists don't create for other people; their art comes from them, and they simply wait for like-minded people who love and respect their craft to tune in. A perfect example of a true artist is Lady Gaga. When she made her debut, many people were confused. Who is she? What is this sound? I never want to make people feel like they're working FOR me, but WITH me. It's very important for me that all of my assistants, models, photographers, etc. feel like they're a part of my team. Nobody had ever seen anything like it; she brought drama and art back into music. To me, that's a true artist. Artists don't just make songs with a catchy hook that they know people will like; they put their soul into their work. Describe your background and what did you do before you started Mcintyre? I've had a job ever since I was legally allowed to work. I started off bagging groceries at Jewel-Osco when I was 16, and then I picked up a second job tutoring kids after school. I discovered my love for design when I was 17 and quickly discovered how expensive the craft can be. I joined the What has made you successful? What do you value? Persistence. I will never quit; I'll exhaust every option before I give up on my craft. Which are the major services of the company and how does Mcintyre get ahead in the competition? What value-added services do you provide? 44 | MARCH 2023

45. worldsleaders.com | 45

46. time that I couldn't do any of this without her hard work, I say her name in all of my interviews, and I take her with me to every red carpet event. A win for McIntyre is a win for everyone involved. What is the significance of innovative ideas in Mcintyre? McIntyre wouldn't be where it is now without my creativity. There are so many brands in the "fast fashion" era that we're in, you really have to provide something that people can't get anywhere else. When you're an upcoming designer, you can't rely on your name to make the sale. So I make sure that everything I release is something unique to the brand that people can't get anywhere else. Give us your opinion on; do organizations rely heavily on individual heroics or team processes? Being in the military, commands rely on individual heroics. Working in the navy is not like most jobs because when you underperform, they can't fire you. You would think the right solution to that would be to hold them accountable and force them to change, but sadly, this isn't true most of the time. Commands will assign the most responsibility to those they believe are capable, while underperformers will be given little to no responsibility. Is it fair? Absolutely not, but normally it doesn't change until your achiever finally cracks due to all the pressure. What are your responsibilities as the Founder / Director of the brand? What is the happiest part of your daily routine? My job is to provide creative direction for the designing portion of the brand and oversight for the business aspect. Creative direction is my favorite because it doesn't feel like work at all; it's just me providing ideas and pulling designs from my chaotic mind. Customer service is something I take the most pride in. I make sure everything that comes with the brand is on par with high-end labels, from the packaging to the customer service to the quality of the clothes. When customers order something from me for the first time, they're always surprised at how high the quality is. What advice would you give someone going into a leadership position for the first time? Be kind but also firm. You want the people who work under you to feel like they can approach you but also respect you at the same time. What are the most important aspects of a company's culture? What principles do you believe in and how do you build this culture? Creating a work environment that everyone can thrive in I still have a very small team. I have one intern and one assistant, but I make sure that they get a lot out of working for me, not just money. I truly feel like if you want people to be excited to work for you, you have to make them feel as important as they are. Don't ask someone to do something that you couldn't or wouldn't do yourself. And lastly, treat people like people. People make mistakes, people need time off, people have feelings. Always take that into consideration when you make authoritative decisions. Everyone should be treated with the same amount of respect, from the top to the bottom. I tell my intern all the 46 | MARCH 2023

47. worldsleaders.com | 47

48. W narratives across various sectors, Meha Lahiri is instrumental in leading Recity on the ground, and is building a culture of inclusion, equality, and respect at the heart of the organization. Before this, Meha was in charge of marketing at Jasubhai Media, where she oversaw large brands such as AEC World Expo, 361 Degree Conference, Notions of Nation, and India 2047. Meha began her career at Bennett, Coleman & Co. (Times Group), India's largest media organization, after earning her MBA from the University of Pune. ith over two decades of experience building brands and driving powerful Below are highlights of the interview conducted between World's Leaders and Meha Lahiri: Describe who you are as a person, inside and outside of the workplace. I am a very creative, curious and practical person who wants to discover new opportunities each day. Even when I started my career and introduced my own branding agency, I wanted to contribute to the environment. In 2017, I translated my dream by co-founding Recity. I am usually the same person even outside of the workplace. My day starts with problem-solving on various fronts, and it mostly ends at 7 in the evening, but my mind is endlessly churning with purpose-driven ideas to make a meaningful impact! What are the company's primary services and solutions? Recity focuses on maximizing the value of plastics with purposeful brands and entrepreneurs to fix the global waste systems. We do this by digitizing the journey of plastics and fueling purposeful cross-value chain collaborations and profitable supply chain partnerships in the ecosystem, globally. Our solutions include - Ÿ Circular Cities - where we focus on catalyzing city-wide collaborations to streamline waste management and enable quality sourcing of plastics, Ÿ Circular Packaging - where we are accelerating a brand's journey to a circular economy with our ethically sourced, traceable, high-quality plastic recyclates, the face of any city or town and the picture wasn't too pleasant. I always thought and read about building sustainable cities, but it wasn't until 2017 when I met Suraj, the co-founder of Recity, that I could visualize the possibility of translating our thoughts into reality. And then began the journey of Recity, after which there was no looking back. Describe your background and what did you do before you started/joined the Company? I started my career in brand communications after completing my MBA in finance and later embarked on my entrepreneurial journey to build creative communication. But if I go further down the memory lane, I remember that growing up, I have witnessed how urbanization changes Today, 6 years later, Recity is one of the few organizations recognized by various government bodies like NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Environment (MOEFCC) as well as international organizations such as DBS and Viva Technology for creating a tech-enabled circular economy of plastics across more than 22 cities in India. 48 | MARCH 2023

49. Building Brands and Driving Powerful Narratives Across Various Sectors worldsleaders.com | 49

50. 50 | MARCH 2023