Ross R James: Sensible and Sound Business Management Cloud—Accloud
Digital Version We all have heard the phrase “missed by a whisker.” When one is extremely talented and passionate, but due to some unforeseen reasons, they are unable to reach their goal. These unforeseen reasons could be personal, professional, or intellectual, but most commonly, it is monetary. People having the talent and the brains to be the best business leaders out there can’t reach that level; can’t get their audience or market. A company’s potential shouldn’t be constrained by its size. Yet, a lot of people are restricted by outside forces including societal restrictions, a lack of access to affordable finance, and a distance to marketplaces. Establishing a business is a challenging task. The process is not like one video transition that happens in seconds. Or something that happens overnight. It takes days of hard work and nights of dream-catching to get there. Sometimes, some markets may just not be ready for the service/product. A product as life changing as it won’t settle down without being marketed well. It needs experienced professionals with media knowledge and tricks. It needs the right business management and quite literally a global marketplace. The world and these unfortunate entrepreneurs need a platform. They need resources, solutions, and assistance in their time of need. A platform that will act like their projector. Projecting their logo in the skies of their market. Accloud eliminates these obstacles by utilizing a ground-breaking, low-touch commerce platform to mobilize business administration. Entrepreneurs now have access to funding, trade, accounting, and tax solutions in a single, user-friendly system for the first time. “we’re making the small, mighty.” “As part of our initial push into the market, Accloud plc is presently expanding throughout India. Providing accounting software, tax, light ERP solutions, and micro-financing on a low-touch commerce platform.” With its low entry cost and game-changing system, they aim to aid several business owners. They will do this by exposing them to new and right markets for their product/service. Leading With Example and Experience The world is constantly moving towards digitization. Applications, software, and databases run the world. Ross R James who proudly carries the title of Chief Executive Officer is well-versed in the world of digitization. It was when he was a student of communication engineering that he got introduced to Computer Programming. He describes it as “eyes opening wide to the power and possibilities”. He was extremely intrigued with computers, the tech behind them, and the number of possibilities the world could achieve. He instantly began his journey by importing computers to improve the efficiency of SMEs (Small-Medium Enterprises). He realized if these enterprises are provided with LANs and other software, they will end up with way more than they aimed for. Not too far from then, he set up the first foreign technology company in Taiwan. The company manufactured personal computers that were later shipped to countries like USA, Germany, and Denmark. Ross has spent 30 years at the top of the ITC sector. He has a lot of expertise with internet business applications and tactics both locally and globally. As well as developing export markets throughout the USA, Southeast Asia, and Europe. Ross had a significant impact on the Application Service Provider (ASP) business in the 1990s. Giving him a vast knowledge of client-server computing and the next utility and cloud computing technologies. Inspire, Innovate, Inculcate Ross took inspiration from innovators like Steve Jobs. It is he and his obsession with simplified UIs that we are here today. We have this array of devices with the convergence of several digital tools into one. Ross believes that Steve Jobs’ legacy alone inspired millions of young minds to enter the world of tech. Bringing all his experience into one streamline is how he created Accloud. He noticed a little increase in internet bandwidth and a few changes in computing technology that could help small businesses. Established in 2015, Accloud was made to keep small businesses in mind. A vision to create a community where they are heard. Small businesses as a community needed services like B2B, micro-capital, micro-insurance, and other business management tools. Just because these businesses are not industry giants, doesn’t mean they don’t get the tools and resources. The company has had to adapt as the demand for apps and mobile work has soared. The business started as a provider of cloud-based accounting software but has since grown to be much more, with a strong emphasis on addressing the needs of contemporary entrepreneurs in emerging and high-growth economies. Into the Accloud Offices When there is such demand for this one-of-a-kind business management platform, it needs a passionate and dedicated workforce to support it. The work culture at Accloud is something the CEO himself is quite particular about. Open and honest communication with the staff has always been important. Ross thinks it inculcates positive energy around the business and overall company. Everyone in the office hierarchy must go through a series of constant surveys and questionnaires. They are meant to gauge everyone’s well-being, attitude, and belongingness with the office and colleagues. The outcomes of these surveys are keenly observed and brought into practice. The company deems that in a fast pacing industry like its own, flexibility and adaptation are essential. Accloud as a company is open to all types of constructive criticism- coming from their employees, customers, or competitors. The Cloud of Challenges Unlike the cloud-based platforms Accloud provides, these clouds are a bit tough to crack. The company still recovers from the post-pandemic effects as capital needs have been an ongoing challenge. The company sort of derived a solution for it by focusing more on the growth of company revenue and keeping their expenses marginal. “We want to be a leading driver of change in the developing economies and we want to do that now, but it is also crucial to make sure we are still providing exactly what is desired by a variety of customers.” Accloud for the Customers Pleasing customers is like a double edge sword. If you
Catherine M. Wehlburg: Continuing the Legacy of Affordable and Quality Education
Digital Version Education has developed over time, moving away from more traditional learning methods and toward more cutting-edge contemporary ideas. Technology is the first trend that has been implemented into higher education This refers to technology, including computers, displays, mobile devices, and the internet. Writing, listening, and face-to-face teaching were once the foundations of education. There were simply bags, pens, pencils, and books in the classrooms. The educational system now uses computers and other electronic devices to support learning. Universities today have the responsibility of not only educating these minds but also teaching them to think. Keeping up with the newest technology trends and implementing them in the curriculum and practice is essential. Technology has become an essential part of education today. Athens State University is an upper-division university. The university is unique in its way where it puts greater emphasis on producing graduates that employers look for. The institute has shaped its curriculum in a way that guarantees excellence rather than rote learning. Practicality rather than simple memorization. The university welcomes transfer students, gap-year students, and working students, making it a vibrant and diverse melting pot of education. What makes it unique is that the courses at Athens State University are adaptable to your schedule and routine. The courses and classes are available in person, or online. The university has adapted and is practicing the hybrid means of education and is giving students the opportunities to grow and glow. Multiple Roles—Leadership at the Core Dr. Catherine M. Wehlburg is the President (Interim) at Athens State University. Having around 30 years of experience in higher education in her bag, Dr. Wehlburg has served various roles within the higher education framework. She has her expertise as a tenured full professor, department chair, Dean, Provost, and Vice-President for Academic Affairs. Throughout her journey in higher education, the curriculum being student-centered has been her focus. She wants to create a curriculum that provides continuous improvement, and strategic decision-making to students. As an educational institution, you are shaping future business leaders, politicians, and citizens of tomorrow. It is a huge responsibility, and not to be approached in a laid-back manner. The focus of Dr. Wehlburg’s numerous papers, publications, and book chapters has always been on the importance of higher education in teaching students. She was elected president of the Association for the Assessment of Learning in Higher Education (AALHE). She later won their Exceptional Achievement Award as recognition for her efforts in assessing student learning outcomes. As she works to involve people in the continuing conversations concerning access and success for everyone, her leadership has been praised for being innovative and inclusive. Dr. Wehlburg earned her Ph.D. in educational psychology from the University of Florida. University-Choice Questions When students choose a university, they are on their way to making one of the most important decisions of their lives. There are multiple points and qualities to consider and include. Inevitably, choosing a university can be a bit overwhelming. According to Dr. Wehlburg, asking these three questions to yourself can make the process a bit easier. Consider every aspect and duty of your life with this question. Including work, family, childcare, or other activities. The university could be amazing and attractive with its facilities and campus, but in the end, the faculty are what shapes students. Making sure your faculty are industry experts- people who know what they are talking about is essential. Including the degree structure (tuition fees, books, accommodation, extra fees), and subtracting any scholarships, the remaining number is your net cost. Lower-cost institutions (such as Athens State) may not offer the same amount in scholarships, but the overall cost may be lower because of lower tuition and fee costs. Holding Onto the Legacy Athens State University was first established back in 1822 as “Athens Female Academy.” Recently, the university celebrated its 200th Anniversary celebrating the values they have carried through the years. When established, the initial focus was on providing women in the community with educational opportunities. Even after 200 years, the university continues its focus on engaging the community. Also providing relevant certificate and degree programs that meet the ever-changing needs of students. As the university starts its 3rd century of continuous education, it serves students with a high-quality education. Education Holding Hands with Technology Keeping up with the fast changes in technology needs a lot of reading and exposure to fresh ideas. Headed by Catherine as the Editor-in-Chief, the “New Directions for Teaching and Learning series” provides students with the latest development in technology blended into their classes. Our conversations are enriched by the regular gatherings and conferences that are held on campus. To offer guidance and assistance with pedagogy and course design, Athens State University established ATLIS (Athens Teaching and Learning Innovation Services) as a faculty development center. Having access to information online can help students to more easily find research and information that they need. An important part of high-quality teaching is to ensure that students can be good critical thinkers and to be able to evaluate information that they find online. Working with skilled faculty, students at Athens State are able to learn, gather, and synthesize information so that they become life-long learners engaged in continuous improvement. Academia At Athens Athens State University’s teaching techniques have undergone a paradigm shift as a result of new technologies and pedagogies. Athens State University has long been a leader in the provision of online and hybrid courses. The university concentrated on making sure that active participation is a feature of every class that is provided. This participation includes interaction with the course’s content and materials, interaction with other students, and interaction with the instructor. Faculty have created “ActiveFlex” solutions that incorporate active learning even in online courses. Athens State is equipped with a dedicated “Career Services” office that provides lessons on aspects like resume writing, and interview skills. By doing so, the university nurtures its students as confident professionals once they graduate; ready to be hired by the finest of companies. The
Yokogawa: A Suit of Armor Around Your Systems
Digital Version While we roam around the streets, lanes, and boulevards of the Internet, we sometimes forget how dangerous they can be. Hackers are like video cameras set everywhere looking for the perfect chance to capture your information. Cases of identities, documents, and credentials being leaked are all too common. Even after several steps of verification, security, and confidentiality, security systems still lack complete protection. Because of a broad variety of security concerns and cyberattacks, cybersecurity is crucial in today’s environment. Many businesses create software for data protection. The software shields the data. Cybersecurity is critical since it protects our systems from virus attacks and helps secure information. The world has around 4.9 billion people who use the Internet regularly. For those 4.9 billion users, the need of the hour is reliable and efficient cybersecurity systems—systems that can enable and provide protection from today’s vast array of cyber threats. Yokogawa offers a full range of cybersecurity products for OT and IT networks. They believe every cybersecurity program starts with a risk analysis that can assess all threats and the full exposure profile. The company provides systems that can estimate the level of financial risk a business or facility faces from a cyberattack. Companies that use automation, distributed control, and other OT technologies to create their products have found great success with this kind of corporate planning tool. Leading With a Legacy When Matthew Malone takes step after step toward his and the company’s goals, he walks with the legacy of a company that was founded over one hundred years ago. Currently the Cybersecurity Consultant at Yokogawa, he is a Texas A&M University Graduate. Matt started his career as a commissioned officer in the US Navy. There is a stark contrast between the career path he currently leads and the one he started. He served in the US Navy for eight years as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Officer. He later transitioned to project manager for the automation industry, which is where cybersecurity caught his attention. While studying for his master’s degree, he made a decision for himself by focusing his thesis on cybersecurity adoption in automation. He was a certified Industrial Control System Cybersecurity Professional (GICSP) by the time he graduated. At that point, he was asked to onboard at Yokogawa as a cybersecurity consultant for their clients in North America. Due to the widespread use of the Internet today, cybersecurity is among the critical issues worldwide. The threat of cybersecurity attacks extends from personal security to that of companies to the security of an entire nation. To ensure that computer systems and network security settings remain malware- and virus-free, private citizens and governments must engage in partnerships to educate people about the importance of regularly updating their system and network security settings. Then vs. Now: The Cybersecurity World Yokogawa was first established in 1915 by Dr. Tamisuke Yokogawa. The company was founded on and continues to be motivated by technical excellence and a pioneering attitude. Yokogawa introduced the first Distributed Control System (DCS). At that time, the majority of networking hardware such as modems was analog. Over the ensuing decades, Yokogawa continuously advanced the technology for automated manufacturing. Among the results was the shift in industrial equipment from analog to digital infrastructure. While the transition to digital technologies has provided many benefits to commercial operations, it also made OT networks more vulnerable to cyber threats. One of the first cyberattacks, Shamoon, was targeted particularly to DCSs and resulted in millions of dollars in lost production time. Engineers from Yokogawa were among the first to respond to this attack and took the lead in network recovery efforts. Many clients have advanced past the stage where they feel that anonymity—or obscurity—will isolate them from cyberattacks on their OT networks. Managers have begun to thoughtfully plan and budget to reduce their cybersecurity exposure. Several businesses that had been unable to justify an OT cyber risk assessment are now putting solutions into practice and developing their programs. In today’s technological age, the internet is the primary source of up-to-date information, but it is also utilized for business transactions, the sale of goods, and product advertising. Business can be conducted since it facilitates customer communication and all financial activities. The Internet also offers several benefits, such as the ability to advertise a firm globally for a minimal fee with little human effort over a shorter period. From the Company to Customers Yokogawa Electric has expanded its boundaries while keeping its focus set on generating cybersecurity solutions. Its evaluation and planning enable the implementation of a multi-year cybersecurity program that gradually reduces the financial risk of a cyberattack. “As time goes by, our clients will mature from implementing one-off cybersecurity solutions to the Managed Services Suite (MSS). MSS provides a comprehensive operational and cybersecurity program that unites process control, safety, and cybersecurity into a dashboard for tracking improvements, maintenance, and system health.” From one of Yokogawa’s numerous global Security Operations Centers, MSS furthermore offers cybersecurity monitoring services (SOC). SOC services include 24/7 assistance, threat notifications, and notifications for IT and OT network intrusion detection. All For the Customers Through its constant developments and updates, Yokogawa has managed to maintain healthy and loyal customer relationships that are decades long. With every service they provide, their customers are their top priority. Yokogawa follows one objective: minimize risk and maximize corporate values. This motto helps maintain and reinforce a trustworthy image for their clients as they choose values over risks. Having long-term, stable, and secure operations is their number-one goal and drives every decision. The company places full emphasis on the importance of customer feedback. It allows them to continuously improve their suite of services and technology. Facing Challenges in the Field and the Workspace One of the key challenges for companies such as Yokogawa is an increase in emerging technology start-ups. While a company that has been established for decades should command many advantages, start-ups in the same field can present changes in market dynamics. Often, a
Karen Simon: “Women Help Women. We Continue to Achieve and Transform”
Digital Version We come across the finest leaders and the most efficient companies- through this magazine and other sources. Not many sources highlight the leader’s personal life, personal achievements, and moments that matter to them. These moments play a massive role in making that person or company they are associated with. No matter how much we preach “keep work life and personal life separate” the person balancing both is the same, so they’re bound to affect the other at one point or the other. When we talk about business leaders, we talk about the innovative and unique spirit, a progressive mentality, and being fearless enough to take risks. Their capacity to adjust to shifting conditions and their capacity to shape themselves to remove obstacles identify them. They don’t hesitate to take chances or big leaps since they view them as challenges rather than threats. While sitting down with Karen Simon, President and Managing Partner of Emersons Commercial Real Estate, she was candid enough to share details and events not just about her company, but also about her as a person. The commercial real estate sector has always been one of those traditionally male-dominated fields. Several studies, and Karen herself, have pointed out the fact that just mere 2 decades ago, there was almost no participation by women in the field. Karen did what many deemed impossible- paved her way through that field to not just work but also reach the heights one could dream of. Karen Simon is the first female to head a commercial department in Henry S. Miller, and the first female industrial realtor in the entirety of the Dallas Fort Worth region. female role model? Karen Simon- Several women come to mind. When I began in commercial real estate, there were fewer females for there to be role models in the industry. I found some women who came into real estate the years subsequent to me that were making an impression on others. But I was the first female to head a department in Henry S Miller. The first female to be an industrial realtor in Dallas Foot-Worth in 1983. The role model for me came from other industries. Over time, there were other women who, within the five-year timeframe from me, began to become leaders in other areas of commercial real estate- particularly property management, and retail. Q. As a Business Leader, what do you think was your biggest achievement? Karen Simon- I was extraordinarily proud to be named businesswoman of the year in 2007 by the State Womens Chamber of Commerce. The idea that other women recognized and supported me enough to choose me as the states woman of the year was an honor. One that I will always be thrilled about that was bestowed upon me. I was recognized not just professionally by my peers, but also by women in different industries. Q. It is said that real estate is a “male-dominated” industry. Do you think you were met with different challenges a male probably would not face? Karen Simon- Yes. I think there has always been a tendency to give men more credit based on their gender historically. A woman has always had to work harder, know a little more, be willing to go the extra mile, and make others think she is in their corner. Those are the things I believe a woman has to try with a greater sense of urgency and repetitiveness compared to their male counterparts. It is, I suppose particularly in the south or southwest as compared to the east, where women’s efforts in certain fields have been slower. Women’s presence in some fields has certainly developed- real estate is one of them. The legal field is another. Today more than 50% of law students are women. At a point when I was considering law as a profession, it was less than 25%. Women were encouraged to be nurses and teachers. Women were not encouraged to be doctors. They were not positively encouraged to enter several commercial fields. Q. How do you personally define success? Karen Simon- I do have a personal understanding of success for myself. I think that recognition by others that you have been either an inspiration or a trendsetter in your industry is gratifying. Certainly, success is measured as monetary, but there are other levels to success. Recognition and respect from your peers, that is I think is really important when you define your success. There are of course the monetary, satisfactory, or even competitive basis to define the level of success, but these two in particular, steal the show. Q. What is your best tip to deal with and maintain a work-life balance? Karen Simon- One of the things I have to do occasionally is bring my dog to work. Spencer came to work today. This is my at-home child. My other children are grown, and this is my baby. I try to maintain the fact that I am willing to work late and extra hours if needed. Even weekends if required. We have to have a balance that allows us to take care of our family and the needs of our clients. Spencer plays a role in balancing my life and work. Q. What advice would you give to your 25-year-old self? Karen Simon- For my 25-year-old self. Never be afraid to admit you don’t know the answer. Always indicate the desire you want to know the answers. Treat others the way you want to be treated in return. I think candidly, to earn the respect of your peers and to make others believe that doing business with you was something they would like to do again, is a measure of success. Q. What humanitarian or philanthropic activities are you involved in? Karen Simon- I currently serve on the Women’s health council for the Baylor Scott and White hospital systems. I am also the chairman of the Women Ladies Event of the Jewel Charity. We raise money for the Cooks Children Hospital system which
ZEMFIRA KHISAEVA: The Inspirational Journey from Engineering Satellites to Web 3 Industry
Digital Version Given the variety of career paths that Zemfira Khisaeva has pursued and mastered, her biography reads like a karmic timeline of a dozen separate lives. At the same time, this Russian-born renaissance woman hasn’t merely zipped in and out of careers like a hummingbird. In a short, yet action packed amount of time, she has gathered an impressive collection of skills: from the worlds of academia, to engineering and banking, to strategy and tech. All which have led her to her current role, front and center, ushering in the revolution of Web3 technology at yWhales. She’s spent her short yet action packed life collecting information and skills from the worlds of academia, engineering, banking, strategy and tech—all of which have been leading up to her current role ushering in the revolution of Web3 technology at yWhales. yWhales story began with a handful of business leaders meeting on Zoom during the COVID shutdown to discuss how decentralized technology like cryptocurrency, blockchain, and NFTs could lead to a new landscape of future commerce. Since its conception to launch, yWhales has grown into a large, multifaceted company with a dream team of experts in tech, business, finance and marketing. While preserving the business community of networking and sharing ideas that started yWhales, since Ms. Khisaeva joined the team as a co-founder and president, the operation has grown to include a Labs division (an R&D operation bringing the dreams of Web3 into reality), a solutions division (shoring up the current blind spots of Web3 adoption) and a Ventures division (investing in the most promising iconoclasts of this coming revolution). With the promise of Web3 reaching out into nearly every avenue of culture and commerce, Ms. Khisaeva has gleefully embraced the chance to use all the skills she’s gleaned over her eclectic life trotting the globe and diving deep into a variety of industries and disciplines. Her itchy curiosity seems to know no bounds, and spending the afternoon with her discussing the adventures and challenges she’s embraced, her passion for life is delightfully infectious. With such a storied career, I’m fascinated to learn what kind of childhood could’ve spawned such intense curiosity in you. I’m from Central Russia, about 1,400 kilometers east of Moscow. It is a place of a very conservative culture, a place where a woman is there to take care of the family. It’s very hard to succeed unless you have connections to the elites. It’s not the most progressive place in Russia. So, as a woman, you weren’t encouraged to be ambitious? How did you wind up on such an ambitious path then? I’ve always felt like I had a special future. I was raised in a family that had nothing, but they cherished education. My grandma basically raised me, and always had a dream that I would go to university, and she instilled in me a love for learning and relying on yourself to make things happen. After the collapse of the USSR, my parents lost their jobs and all their money. We were left with nothing. It was not a good place to be. I wanted to find a way out and be successful. I loved physics, math and anything related to logical decision making. I was good in school. I spent my summers volunteering for a university research lab co-authoring my first paper at the age of 18. The turning point was a trip to the US for a work and travel program for the summer. I ventured into this opportunity even though I didn’t speak English. This experience taught me about different types of values and, most importantly, the possibility for success outside of my home country. I saw education as a way to get out of Russia and chose Canada as the destination of choice. So how did you get from academia to engineering Russian satellites? I came to Canada to join a doctorate program at McGill University. When I arrived, I planned to be a professor. I finished my PhD in less than three years, at the intersection of computational mechanics and math. But to be a professor, you must enjoy spending the rest of your life drilling down deep on one small problem, and I didn’t. So, since I’d studied engineering my whole life—and working in aerospace technology was the sexiest realm of engineering—I wound up at MDA Space Missions, an aerospace company with a satellite division. The client for my first project was the Russian Space Communication Company. I was on the Canadian team, but could speak Russian, so I was a good fit. And then you have yet another major transition from engineering satellites to working in banking. Were you getting restless with engineering? Well, first I went from engineering to being a research engineer, working for Bombardier, the third largest aircraft manufacturing company in North America. I became a project engineer, working for the head of one of the aircraft divisions, a chief of staff-type of role. The best thing about this job was it got me working in fields outside of engineering, like project management, strategy, team management. The strategy part was particularly fascinating and once my boss said “no” to an opening of manager of strategy role at Bombardier, I knew something had to change. And so, I left Bombardier and joined McKinsey & Company—the world’s leading strategy management consultancy in the world. It was one of the most grueling experiences of my life. You’re on call 24/7 with up to 16-hour days. But it was one of the most fascinating organizations I’ve been a part of. I wanted to start from scratch, forget anything I have ever learnt in engineering and academia, and rediscover myself following what’s called a “random walk” process being open to work in any industry on any problem as long as I learnt something new about the world, the people in it and myself. After I felt like I learned everything I could at McKinsey, I started to ask myself: Do
Annesa Dsouza: Finance Director – Pundit in Startup and New Businesses
Digital Version Companies may come and go with the times, just like civilizations can. Great leadership is the key to those, nevertheless, that endure for centuries. The skills of great leaders include inspiring people to see and share a vision as well as driving innovation inside the organization. Investors, customers, and employees all desire a strong leader at the helm. Identical to this perspective, Annesa Dsouza has an independent personality and a positive, vivacious, goal-oriented, trustworthy, thorough, and transparent living demeanor. Her objectives are to serve stakeholders, employers, and business partners in their endeavors to the best of her ability. Annesa’s backdrop, educational and professional journey Laying roots in middle-class families, when our only focus, is whether we can do the daily tasks in time and get a good night’s sleep, nothing else really counts! We are grateful when our modest dreams come true, and that is all we strive for! Annesa Dsouza is a convent student with a dual professional degree, qualified Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA), and a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), and her parents are proud with her growth in life and career. Up until this point, she has successfully constructed and regulated the finance departments of age-old organizations, six start-ups at once, including some overseas, and the Swiss company she currently serves for. In the manufacturing and service industries, she has over 25 years of experience in the full operation of accounting, capital raising, treasury, budgeting, MIS reporting, asset and financial controls, ERP implementation, audit, taxation, compliances, and risk management. Kick-starting into the manufacturing industry and building up the financial management team Money is the foundation of finance, and numbers are fascinating because they tell a tale. This is true for Annesa because when she sees numbers, she can understand what they are saying quickly and put it in phrases. After having ten years of experience in the service industry, she was chosen to lead the Treasury operations of a new manufacturing startup. This was the beginning of her journey into the manufacturing industry. Manufacturing is the process of converting inexpensive raw materials into large quantities of more valuable goods. The secondary sector’s manufacturing industries are those that turn raw materials into finished commodities. It is very astonishing how transformation is accomplished with large machinery and meticulous engineering. This is what encourages and motivates her. The path was taken to reach the desires Contrary to popular belief that finance and accounting become boring with time. Annesa believes that F&A has evolved over the last few decades, from simply writing books of accounts to ERPs for accounting, financial management of funds, internal controls, risk analysis, treasury management, smart accounting, vendor and customer integration, sharing and applying best practices across businesses, and many other things. And it is because of this that she has remained committed to the field of finance and accounting. She stated correctly, “Every day a new challenge awaits you, and you apply your skill and experience to bring the best to the table.” Leading and managed by Annesa Leadership is a critical management function that assists an organization in directing its resources for goal achievement and increased efficiency. Annesa is an influential leader who understands how to motivate those around her. She tries to follow an inclusive leadership style, which aids in better delegation and a place for all. Teams are also motivated to contribute to their field of expertise. She believes that leaders should focus on KPI, or Keep People Inspired, as against the traditional Key Performance Indicators. Adjusting to the dynamics and how Annesa is using them in the curriculum Change is both imminent and unavoidable. It is believed that the most adaptable to change are the one’s who will survive the times. Emerging technology will have an impact on all types of businesses. Interactive technologies that you have yet to imagine could completely reshape your business. You are giving your competitors an advantage in the digital world if you do not keep up with technological trends. Building a successful business relies on cutting-edge technology and your ability to reach out to more people in novel and creative ways. Simply put, Technology and communication are constantly evolving and, thankfully, improving. Knowing about the latest technological advancements allows you to stay on top of the industry and contribute to its growth. Annesa, as an influential and up-to-date personality, understands the importance of keeping updated with technological trends. Technological advancements have aided her in the elimination of errors and manual interventions, saving her a significant amount of time and energy. Raising voice to help others grow Annesa shows faith and states that knowledge may be powerful, but it is far more potent when shared! When only one person knows how to do something, others are unable to develop and your organization’s progress is hampered. There is great comfort in being able to open up and share your knowledge and experience with someone who has been there and understands. Hearing advice from someone who has been in your shoes and lived to tell the tale is also extremely valuable. That is why people must open up and share their stories. The act of sharing knowledge is great for building rapport and relationships because it gives people a warm fuzzy feeling when they share their wisdom or pick up on the wisdom of others. But it gets better: Cultivating a knowledge-sharing culture gives you access to subject matter experts! People across the organization will have developed skills and best practices that are specific to your product and customer; when they share their experiences, others can skip the trial and error phase and get right to productivity. Annesa also believes that knowledge grows only by sharing. Years of experience and problem-solving will die if it is not utilized and shared with others. Differentiating between Work and family life Annesa always ties the knot to priority. What is in front of someone, they should perform it first. Moreover, don’t combine the two. Give both your attention since they
Brian Liu: Revolutionizing Semiconductors Today To Power The Devices Of Tomorrow
Digital Version The Educational And Professional Life Brian Liu majored in Management in Financial Institutions in college. He discovered finance to be a broad spectrum of principles useful in handling various types of businesses across various industries. Before joining the tech industry, he worked as a portfolio manager at a boutique financial firm, where he provided clients with analysis and asset management services. From there, he went on to work as a pizza maker at Domino’s Pizza, gaining hands-on experience and learning more about the operations of a food and beverage type of business. He then moved on to design and development of residential properties in the city of New Manila, where he built and sold various residential townhouses, to explore more on the artistic side. While all of these experiences enriched his journey, he felt most inspired in the technology sector. He then started working on the semiconductor production line to gain knowledge and hands-on experience with the process of building semiconductor devices. Only through such hands-on experience did he realize the complexity and sophistication required in creating these cutting-edge devices, as well as how important they were in the pillar of innovation. He went on to prove that a jack of all trades could be an undisputed master. As he worked more with customers on the design and development front, he also handled the qualification stage, as well as the transition into mass production, and thus the entire process from start to finish. Only through these experiences can one fully comprehend the value of semiconductors and how important they are in technological evolution and innovation, which drives his journey forward. Brian is currently the CEO at Cirtek and he is proud to have helped Cirtek evolve from a company purely focused on semiconductors to one with a broader aim. “We are now a full-system assembly company,” he says. “We have diversified and levelled up, incorporating our own software and our own designs.” The Dynamics In The Current Scenario Of Business Over the last two years, the technology industry has largely excelled. The communications market has enjoyed healthy growth due to an increased need for remote working, while the demand for technological products to facilitate this has played right into the company’s hands. The technology sector is quite broad, and the current scenario is constantly shifting. To maintain its hands at diversity, the company has involvement in RF, Communications, Power Management, Aerospace, Industrial, Medical, and Consumer, to name a few. We are also interested in communication infrastructure equipment. As a result, they are able to mitigate various headwinds as business environments shift, allowing them to remain resilient. Customer preferences have continued to evolve, resulting in new generation devices that seek to pack more functionality into a smaller package. Cirtek’s ability to engage in bespoke semiconductor devices allows them to maintain the necessary agility to cater to unique customer specifications, further solidifying the foundation for developing new generation devices alongside the clients over time. Overall, Brian Liu strives to keep his business portfolio diverse in terms of exposure in order to ensure proper risk mitigation. The Inspiration Behind Establishing Cirtek Cirtek Electronics Corporation has an impact on the lives of millions of people. It was initiated in 2011. Brian Liu has always believed that as humanity continues to innovate, technology will become even more ingrained in our daily lives. As is well known, technology that allows us to discover more and reach further influences evolution, and one of the main pillars of this foundation is none other than semiconductors. This realization sparked his motivation to found Cirtek Holdings. The thought of being able to participate and contribute in hatever way he can to humanity’s evolution. Mr. Brian’s thoughts truly inspire us to embark on and appreciate his journey. The Differentiating Factor In Cirtek And Its Competitors’ Offerings One of Cirtek’s key strengths is in custom-made and application-specific devices, which gives them a competitive advantage and allows them to stay relevant in the industry. Cirtek’s production lines have been designed for agility, allowing them to pivot into high-demand areas while pivoting out of slower-moving segments. Rather than focusing solely on a single segment of the semiconductor industry, Cirtek maintains a highly diversified product portfolio that allows them to remain resilient even during difficult times. It is also through our sophisticated portfolio of manufacturing technologies, materials, and capabilities that their devices are bespoke and unique, making them nearly impossible to replicate, thereby strengthening our foundation even further. Unique Challenges Faced By Cirtek And Its Effect On Business A slew of new challenges has recently put companies and industries to the test. To name a few, the coronavirus pandemic, trade and logistics bottlenecks, the Russia- Ukraine war, commodities price surge, and even a potential recession are all on the horizon. Cirtek experienced supply chain bottlenecks as one of the ripple effects. “It caused significant delays in the arrival of newly ordered equipment and machine tooling. This caused schedules to be pushed back, resulting in delays and other setbacks, which we remedied by planning further ahead, alleviating delays, and allowing us to catch up. Of course, this had a knock-on effect because trade bottlenecks caused a supply shortage, causing commodity prices to rise and squeeze profit margins,” Brian states. Measures Incorporated By Cirtek To Ensure Motivation And Productivity Within The Workspace Motivation is defined as a person’s general desire or willingness to do something. Workplace motivation is no different. It is your employee’s desire or willingness to do outstanding work. And, in that sense, it is the holy grail that all managers strive for. Brian ensures workplace motivation by assembling a compassionate yet rational Human Resource Division. It is absolutely necessary for the workplace. Maintaining an effective and happy workforce requires a combination of patience, prudence, and understanding. “I always urged to maintain a level playing field so that even the most introverted team member could contribute and demonstrate what he or she has to offer,” Brian says. Individuals can only be motivated
Elena Palieri: Blending Creativity With Strategy With PROMIX SRL, Strategically Enhancing Industrial Communication
Digital Version One of the first things that humans figured out was communication. Through smoke bombs, claps, special sounds, and so on. We found communication crucial for survival. Step by step we developed and so did our communication techniques bringing us to where we are now. Modern communication takes traditional communication practices to a different level. We don’t just rely on newspapers or loudspeakers. But we bank on more digitally inclined techniques. Communication has expanded its horizons from just two parties to being between masses, organizations, and industries. PROMIX SRL designs strategies aimed at enhancing industrial communication. The agency deals with services related to functional communication and manufacturing “people-oriented” strategies focusing on the B2B market. Taking advantage of their decades of expertise, they come up with the most innovative digital PR, lead generation, social media, and SEO tools that are proven to work in the industrial market. Discussions and Talks While in talks with Elena Palieri, the CEO and Strategic Director of PROMIX SRL, several views about digital strategies and industrial communication, in general, were put forward. Elena Palieri has a degree in Visual Arts with a specialization in Communication and Business Strategy giving her an artistic background and approach. Her experiences ranged from the press as a junior accountant and marketing director and also working as a blogger and content creator. Elena tested the waters by stepping into various industries and markets swimming her way through the fashion, automotive, IT, and manufacturing industries. While on this journey, she leaned more and more toward the world of industrial communication. Humble Beginnings And Inspirations Promix SRL is one of those Pandemic-Initiatives. It was Elena’s first step on an entrepreneur’s path to bring new opportunities and visibility to the industry. The Promix SRL team blend strategies and creativity into precise communication models that put a functional value on communication management for the industrial market. They deal very specifically with industry and industrial communication. As a business serving businesses, they put forward categorically tailor-made and highly customized strategies. They try to establish a relationship of mutual trust through the creation of a strong and well-connected elite market. Unlike traditional communication techniques, the messages and strategies combine brand familiarity with the strength of important technical content and enable non-intrusive market entry, opening up new possibilities for discussion and growth. Services Available With their decade’s worth of experience in the digital world, the team strives to provide their clients with several services that work towards building the success of companies in the market. The company through its services makes sure of the presence of core elements in whatever they design, suggest, or work for. The elements are- Brand Awareness, Product Positioning, and Human Value. This approach is responsible for the team’s valuable, fast and goal-oriented results. Strategic consulting facilities like lead generation, event designing, online reputation, and webinars are organized to maintain and manage all marketing and communication activities. The agency also takes care of Media Relations through digital PR, editorials, and press releases to continue constant and consistent communication. Packaging, brand identities, and advertising is taken care of through the Graphic Design and Packaging department which brainstorms its way into getting an image or a campaign exactly what you probably had in mind. Thanks to its web development and SEO techniques and experience, Promix helps you find a trusted partner for the creation of your website or e-commerce, from design to planning up to SEO positioning, to appear on search engines. Your digital presence is maintained efficiently by the Social Media Management team which focuses on and alters the type of content on your page, its frequency, and page architecture. Through Videography and Photography, they can pass forward the message by creating engaging, and exciting videos/photos Something New To The Table Promix SRL uses functional strategies that encompass certain tools that utilize technical languages and strategic content formats that are beneficial for promoting businesses, particularly those that compete in the industrial sector. The company supports a practical, non-promotional strategy that highlights the true value at the center of every business—people—while respecting and enhancing their need to be involved, informed, and interested. The agency was founded specifically to emphasize, maintain, and establish communication, helping guide clients toward a decrease of the strictly advertising approach through a more human presence closer to the user, consisting of the ideal blend of knowledge, technical expertise, and personal zeal. The team has a holistic approach that ensures complete coverage of all services related to functional communication, focused on the industrial and B2B markets. “The strength of Promix lies in recognizing that companies are composed first and foremost by human beings, with all the facets of real people. Our priority is to bring corporate communication back to a model that enhances the commitment and passion underlying every business.” Challenges In The Way Elena likes to call the industrial industry the “creation market”. And in this very Creation Market, there will always be and always have been several ups and downs- be it about the changing trends and practices or perceptions in general. Being a “pandemic venture”, the last two years have brought with it a constantly changing operating model; adapting to which is a constant task. The industry is passionate and supportive in every way possible and through its new trends, has started to give more priority to what its audience has to say through its new trends. Running a business will always come with its fair, at times unfair, share of problems and challenges. Overcoming those in the early days could seem like the end of the world, but soon an entrepreneur realizes that this is a part of being an entrepreneur. Customer Satisfaction and Feedback The basic goal of functional-industrial communication is to provide the public with useful information and resources that will help potential customers see the company as a trustworthy and authoritative partner with whom to build a long-term relationship. Promix SRL pays a lot of attention to the very details of their client’s businesses.No
The Transformational Leader: Kaile Zagger Explains Importance of Transforming And Growth In Business
Digital Version The birth of a child is beautiful—the beginning of a brand new life on the canvas of the earth. The first few days in the life of an infant are crucial. The newborn must be cared for and given loads of love and affection. Feeding the infant with breast milk from the mother is extremely important. Breast milk contains every nutrient necessary for the nutrition of the infant, including EVC001- a bacteria strain. Modern-day lifestyle has somehow dissolved EVC001. Some even refuse to feed their infants with said breast milk and go for artificial replacements. This exposes the newborn to challenging diseases, low immunity, and food allergies that can last for a lifetime. Infinant Health is a privately held infant health company fiercely dedicated to discovering and implementing microbiome-based solutions to not just newborns but life-long health conditions. Infinant Health has pioneered an innovative strategy to transform infant health. Its groundbreaking discoveries have the potential to significantly impact human lives throughout the lifespan by initiating an easily deliverable intervention within the very first hours of life. Kaile Zagger, CEO of Infinant Health, began her career in General Electric’s Global Leadership Develop Program. She trained herself in core business practices and principles to later work in financial management. She studied Six Sigma and process improvement and then gained exposure to first-hand the complex challenges of global businesses and nuances of transformation. She describes herself as someone who thrives in high-pressure, high-performance, and result-oriented environments. Throughout Kaile Zagger’s life, she faced recurring discouraging obstacles and severe challenges. Her mother left the world at the very young age of 46 after she was diagnosed with advanced cancer. There are still cases when people lose their lives due to diseases for which we have a cure, but are unable to get resources and help. Kaile wants to work with organizations that strive to make the world a better place and bring in newer and more efficient medical innovations on a bigger level. “I live to lead impact organizations that have groundbreaking science and stand the chance to change human health for the mass population so that I can work to leave the healthcare system a better and stronger care provider than that of my experience at a young age.” The Foundation Infinant Health works to build substantial science and technology assets underlying gut function that may be the root cause of acute and chronic health conditions. Their expertise deems breast milk as nature’s most perfect food. The benefit of said breast milk on human development is what guides Infinant Health’s solution-based products. The products focus on strong immune system development from birth. By doing so, the solution saves infants from lifelong costly non-communicable diseases. They strategize to help the beneficial bacteria of EVC001 to reach every modern world infant, breastfed or not. With their deep machine learning and adaptive intelligence, they accelerate their efforts to bring in a robust set of solutions to infant health that will mitigate health challenges in the modern world. Infinant Health aims to make the resources available to every infant for healthy immunity and growth. The company partners with Johnson & Johnson, the Helmsley Foundation, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and many others with similar aims toward the betterment of the world. Infinant wants to change the trajectory of health by driving delivery of the changing strain of EVC001 to every family welcoming a new life. Transformations And Path-Changes Kaile is often globally recognized as the Transformational Leader. She has set multiple examples and benchmarks throughout her career being a pioneer transformative leader in healthcare. She believes that to successfully transform one’s company into a high-performance, one must develop the ability to constantly adapt, adjust, accelerate, and innovate. It takes a combination of intuition, effort, teamwork, determination, and perseverance. By establishing objectives, cutting back on feedback loops, and rating performance on results rather than outputs, the most successful transformational businesses concentrate on meeting consumer expectations. About 52% of transformations fail, and many businesses opt to stay on the safe side and avoid the challenges of a fundamental transformation. Some organizations should be promoted and acknowledged for offering the industry’s gold standard of care, but they may never get there unless they’re ready to change. Kaile is passionate about growing a business that can bring a positive change and magnify society and ultimately the people to be treated. When brought to the finish line, transformative companies have somehow magical inertia. They develop extraordinary high-performance, dynamic, and elastic properties. Which produces a powerful cadence, distinctive, novel solutions, and real capacity to carry out ground-breaking actions. The transformative process requires a hyper-focus on meeting customer needs through understanding the “Gemba,” shortening feedback loops and measuring performance based on outcomes, rather than outputs. Infinite Benefits with Infinant Health With the company’s efforts to tackle basic digestive function, which may be the primary contributor to both acute and chronic health issues, Infinant Health stands out in the field of science and technology development. A cutting-edge approach for improving infant health has been developed by Infinant Health. With an easily accessible intervention in the very first hours of life, its ground-breaking results have the potential to have a major impact on human lives throughout the lifespan. They envision a future where careful attention is given to the development of the infant gut microbiome in the initial stages of life. Which will lead to the elimination of non-communicable diseases such as type 1 diabetes, atopic dermatitis, and food allergies, among other problems. Clinical trials show that EVC001 can both accelerate and lock an infant’s immune system into full function. They work to guarantee that all infants have this crucial start to life since it is genuinely life-changing. Behind The Scenes An organization’s heart and soul are its people. The magic is created by high-performing teams that collaborate and join together to carry out a purpose. Because if teams are successful, then their efforts will be fruitful, and the company gives the highest
Walter Rogers, CEO MontyCloud, Inc., Chairman Baker Communications, Inc
Digital Version One of the first things we asked Walter Rogers was why he would take on dual C roles at both MontyCloud and Baker Communications, including all the responsibility that goes along with those roles. We think you’ll enjoy his answer to this question. “Some friends of mine asked me the same question when they read the MontyCloud press release in April of this year. My reasons were actually pretty simple,” Mr. Rogers commented. “First of all, none of this would be possible without the exceptional management team at Baker Communications which provides me the freedom to grow two companies concurrently. The first is that I love figuring out ways to accelerate growth. And that usually starts with sales performance. That means taking all of the fantastic things my team and I have learned at Baker Communications, Inc. (BCI) helping companies like AWS, Stripe and other grow and then putting them into action at a new and exciting start-up in the Cloud space, MontyCloud.” He went on to say. “But the reverse is also true for BCI. When we started to see all the decisions that could be made more accurately with data, the BCI team took that as their call to action. We then came up with our data-driven sales readiness approach that caught the eye of Forrester back in 2020. It quickly positioned BCI as a leader in using data to start attacking some acute problems that we all face in the world of sales – a 34.7% turnover rate and only 47% of our salespeople making quota. That put us on a quest to see if we could use data to do a better job.” Next, we asked Walter if it all worked. His reply was enthusiastic but low-keyed. “We felt really good about the outcomes,” offered Rogers. “We grew CloudChomp, Inc. from 0 customers to over 1100 in 5 years working closely with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and its partner ecosystem. And ultimately VMware acquired the technology and talent.” How Will Your Experience Impact MontyCloud? He started with a quick history on MontyCloud before offering his comment. He said that MontyCloud Inc. was founded in 2018 with the fundamental principle of enabling IT teams to become cloud powerhouses. Many large enterprises, retail, healthcare, educational, and research institutions use MontyCloud DAY2™ to efficiently manage and operate their cloud environments. MontyCloud Inc. was founded with the fundamental principle of enabling IT teams to become cloud powerhouses. Many large enterprises, retail, healthcare, educational, and research institutions use MontyCloud DAY2™ to efficiently manage and operate their cloud environments. MontyCloud’s No-Code approach to Autonomous Cloud Operations helps customers rapidly deliver intelligent Applications, instead of focusing their efforts on infrastructure and Operations. MontyCloud DAY2™ is a cloud-native, Events-driven platform that delivers both simplicity and extensibility to Cloud customers. In one of their latest releases, Mr. Rogers aid that they’ve added new features that reduce cloud spending and accelerate their client’s innovation in the cloud. “With this new release, MontyCloud further delivers on our vision of empowering IT teams to become cloud powerhouses,” commented Mr. Rogers. He went on to say that the new release expanded on collaboration opportunities by allowing R&D users to put in a request for services that they require and get approval from the Cloud Admin, in just a few clicks. That’s key to speeding the innovation process for the client he went on to say. But it wasn’t just the R&D side that Walter Rogers turned his focus. He’s also keenly aware of the upcoming recession challenges and how to get his sales teams ready to thrive during this period. Although it’s still early to see how all that sales performance knowledge will impact MontyCloud, Mr. Rogers is hard at work with his team designing a better go-to-market plan that would grow their revenues quickly while being even smarter about investments in the face of pending pressures in the economy.. “It was the same formula that I used twice before with two other software startups, and they were also acquired by publicly traded companies,” Mr. Rogers finally added. “When you’re focused on customer outcomes and listening to their needs, you can’t help but be successful.” His focus on “customer outcomes” will not only drive their sales approach, but it will also better define the products and services that the customers need. The only “fly in the ointment” is what the economy will look like in 2023 after record inflation and the leftover problems from the pandemic. “The best companies are born or thrive during times of crisis and this is our moment to help customers navigate troubled waters and differentiate from all the noise in the markets” said Rogers. “While others may want to retreat and wait this out, this is a time to mobilize and attack.” Fortunes Crown would place our bet on Walter Rogers’ ability to pick which businesses will thrive in these times and aim MontyCloud’s Sales and Engineering teams in the right direction. The evidence behind that conclusion is in the performance of Baker Communications and CloudChomp through the pandemic. He’s very proud that he didn’t have to lose a single employee at BCI during the pandemic. And it wasn’t altruism. His leadership steered his company towards the right solutions, and as a result, the company performance remained flat while competition lost as much as 30% of their revenues. And of course, CloudChomp was still in elevated growth mode when it was acquired by VMware. That’s two impressive accomplishments during adverse times, and a strong bellwether in our opinion on his ability to move MontyCloud in the right direction. The Impact on Baker Communications Baker Communications was founded in 1979 and had been using traditional methods of training up until the turn of the century. That’s when they started to add other training methodologies beyond the classroom and discovered the impact that technology, consulting, and multiple delivery modalities could have on their customers. When Mr. Rogers decided to create CloudChomp, the use of data was becoming more important in his mind. As he saw the