Basma Ashry: Navigating Entrepreneurs Through Business Dynamics with Business Incorporation Zone
Digital Version Business is worldwide and limitless. Once you step onto the dynamics of business, it is quite literally like a maze with no exit. When we talk about the business hubs of the world, we simply can’t ignore the United Arab Emirates. The country provides several boosts to entrepreneurs, making it a trustworthy hub for budding businesses. Numerous aspiring business leaders and entrepreneurs have chosen the United Arab Emirates as their center of operations. It is accessible to major emerging economies, linking shipping routes, and facilitating the transportation of goods between the various regions in the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and Africa because of its strategic location, tax-free economic benefits, or simply the government’s commitment to nurture and support businesses. The UAE has drawn businesspeople from all over the world because of its advantageous location, first-rate infrastructure, and friendly business climate. However, starting a business in the UAE might be challenging. To make things simpler, Business Incorporation Zone steps in. Basma Ashry is the CEO of Business Incorporation Zone. Under her leadership, Business Incorporation Zone helps business owners with company formation, license acquisition, bank account creation, accounting, bookkeeping, and visa support. The personalized approach used by the organization makes it stand out from the competition and ensures that each customer feels well-guided and supported as they develop their enterprises in the UAE. “We help in every step when it comes to opening a business in the UAE. Rules and regulations. We make sure to guide our entrepreneurs to the right path. How the expectations will be and knowing the reality on the ground of UAE as a business hub Not only limited to licenses, we also help VAT administration and visas, and many more value-added services.” First Stop of the Journey Education is always the first step toward any great accomplishment. As for Basma Ashry, she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Arts from Ain Shams University in Egypt. Education acts as a backbone for both personal and professional life; her critical thinking, and problem-solving skills are something she honed through her education. As you rise on the ladder of your career, so do the demands and responsibilities coming along with it. For Basma, at Business Incorporation Zone she oversees daily operations and financial objectives. For any company like Business Incorporation Zone, it is crucial to form strong and long-lasting relations with clients, stakeholders, and employees. Business Incorporation Zone has experience with some of the most well-known free zones in the area, including the Meydan Free Zone, SPC Free Zone, and Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC). We assist customers in gaining the advantages of operating in a tax-efficient environment with access to a wide network of possible partners by working with these distinguished zones. Nurturing work culture is also on the list of priorities for Basma. She proudly represents her company as a CEO in forums, seminars, and meetings. While engaging with key stakeholders, she maintains a positive image and promotes growth. Basma has experience working in multiple sectors. She started her career in telecommunications, which then led up to banking, and later to the business sector. A quite vast and detailed experience where she has picked up multiple skills and tricks on the way. She forms a synergy with her teammates as well as stakeholders to promote growth, and healthy The Ever-So-Dynamic Business Sector In today’s more dynamic and complicated business environment, it is crucial to choose whether to utilize and trust planning tools or one should give them up because they are designed for more stable situations. The word “strategy” has recently gained popularity in the corporate sector. Significant advancements have been achieved in the fields of environmental analysis and strategy formulation during the last several decades. However, it is crucial to assess organizational skills to properly implement a plan. “The business incorporation industry currently faces challenges such as adapting to regulatory changes, global economic fluctuations, and increasing competition. These have prompted me to adapt and devise new strategies for our company’s success and growth. I’ve focused on leveraging technology, exploring new markets, enhancing customer satisfaction, and investing in our branding to address these challenges.” Women Trailblazing To the Top When we discuss women climbing the corporate ladder and being confident and well-settled business leaders, leaders like Basma Ashry are on that list. As a woman herself, Basma believes women possess immense potential to excel economically and improve the world. What a woman brings to the table is valuable skills, insights, and perspectives, resulting in more inclusive, empathetic, and sustainable decisions. Over the years, there were multiple barriers made for, and later broken down by women. Women create opportunities and make them accessible to other women. For Basma, this is the positive impact women have on society. The economy as a whole is a vast concept to talk about. Because just as a business, the economy is equally, if not more, dynamic and changing. Across all political landscapes, transforming businesses is a crucial notion. Basma believes women possess a unique blend of strength and compassion that leads to more inclusive and innovative outcomes. These outcomes can range from any field of work, position, purpose, or background. By promoting women to leadership positions and supporting their professional growth, we can cultivate a balanced and diverse business environment. The moment Basma initiated her career, she knew she wanted to help other women and support them. There are many women out there who seek and need support but not knowing role models for inspiration. The Healthy Work Environment As the CEO, Basma Ashry is always looking for solutions for her employees to feel comfortable. A business, in the end, runs the way its employees feel. A happy, encouraging, and healthy work environment is essential for any business. Basma is always seeking ways to evolve professionally and contribute to the advancement of the business incorporation industry. She believes that promoting women to leadership positions and supporting their professional growth can cultivate a balanced and diverse business environment. In general, Business Incorporation Zone believes
Karen Simon: Understanding the Highs and Lows of Real Estate
Digital Version The real estate sector is putting aside what it views as cyclical obstacles, such as increasing interest rates, a shrinking GDP, and diminishing transaction flow, and is instead adopting a long-term perspective on real estate assets. Their strategy was to weather the present downturn while repositioning their businesses for another time of steady growth and high profits. For an industry ever-changing and dynamic, a leader needs to be one with the same dynamic spark and innovative spirit. Since 1983, Karen Simon has worked in the commercial real estate industry as the President and Managing Partner of Emersons Commercial Real Estate-Tarrant County Division. Throughout her professional career, Karen has been motivated by the desire to see women recognized as having a place in commercial and industrial real estate. Today, Karen is respected throughout the real estate industry for her outstanding leadership abilities to support the professional development and commercial success of her customers, staff, and agents. A Glance at Real Estate Growing environmental consciousness in recent years has increased attention on real estate assets that may support urban population demands while permitting green lung areas for leisure and well-being/health objectives. Zen is a way of life that emphasizes finding oneself in nature and practicing mindfulness. These goals may be met by designing places surrounded by nature and animals and fostering harmony with their environment. Conversing with Karen Simon, these very trends, changes, and concerns were discussed. The thoughts, opinions, and stories put forward by Karen prove how she has the real estate industry at the back of her hand. A business leader confident enough to change her work ethic and techniques to grow her own business. To be the First Female Industrial Realtor in Dallas and Tarrant County and consistently growing- personally and professionally is a huge achievement and Karen Simon proudly wears that crown. Q. As a realtor, what do you think are things one should always keep in mind? Karen Simon- I think you need to keep in mind that you are working in the service industry. It runs and functions on whether you can provide what you promise. A client’s needs need to come first always. You need to recognize that you are always answerable to the client; and when in case you don’t know the answer, you are to research and deliver those answers. It is very definitely a service industry right to its core. If a client needs to visit a property that is beyond regular business hours, you are to figure out a way to acknowledge that and get it handled. Q. Would you describe your role at Emersons Commercial Real Estate in detail? Karen Simon- I work as the Managing Partner for Emersons Commercial Real Estate in Tarrant County. My corporate office is situated in Dallas. I manage this office and also maintain my ties with the corporate one in Dallas. It is my job to help generate business and manage personnel. It is also one of my responsibilities to ensure that agents complete their transactions. I both lead and mentor people. As my career progresses, I take my roles and responsibility more seriously, it is something that comes with having met so many people, mentors, and employees. Part of my challenge is to keep them engaged with activities and to keep up with growth opportunities. Q. What is your favorite part of working in real estate? Karen Simon- I have been in this industry for more than three decades now. And it is something that both excites me and challenges me; the industry is interesting and dynamic. Every day you step foot in the office, it is different. It is challenging because of that- it changes, adapts, and evolves. Q. As the world is becoming more and more digitized, do you take the help of any technology in your working techniques? Karen Simon- We do. We try to keep track of deals and transactions that take place through a system. We also feed the system with details of prospects and visiting clients. Technology acts as a good assistance and database when it comes to it. But really, hard work and diligence are more significant than entering a system. What I mean to say is that no technology or database doesn’t replace the hard work and efforts of a dedicated workforce. Q. If we go back in time, was working in the real estate industry always on your mind? Or did the idea grow onto you with time? Karen Simon- Oh, I would say it grew onto me. When I look back, I can say I was kind of on the outskirts of the idea of being in the real estate industry. I was in the Department of Housing and Urban Development as the Head of Public Relations and Inter-Government Relations. I worked there for five years, and again, was one of the few women in leadership roles. One day out of nowhere, I came across this message that said people who are qualified enough can be real estate brokers in the state of Texas. It claimed that if I sit for a broker’s exam, I can get a broker’s license even if it is without any prior experience. If you have the required hours under your belt, you can sit for the exam. While this was beneficial at the time, it was also a conflict of interest for me, as a hard employee to possess a real estate license. As such, I sent my transcript, I was determined to have the required 3 semester hours. I found out that I could gain those hours if I did 9 classroom hours and sat for an exam which I managed to pass and, in a few days, I had my license. In a few days, I had a broker’s license in hand that no one else had to hold for me. Fast forward to 6 months, I met someone who was the head of the Industrial and Land Department throughout Texas for the Henry S Miller Company.
Bala V. Sathyanarayanan Fastidious Mission to Deliver Customer Satisfaction With “Greif”
Digital Version There is plenty of competition in the global economy, particularly in the sector. Organizational performance is significantly influenced by customer satisfaction. When colleagues are dissatisfied, there can be no satisfied customers in the industry. Employee commitment improves customer satisfaction and reduces attrition rates within the company. Colleagues are more likely to be committed to the company and have higher levels of job satisfaction as a result of certain leadership styles. Since about ten or fifteen years ago, the term “human resource management” has been used in workspaces. Even so, the term “personnel management” is frequently used. The current extended adaptation of “traditional personnel management” is the result of social values being altered by technology in the workplace. In recent years, leadership has been the subject of extensive research because it is one of the crucial aspects of human behavior. The various types of resources on leadership offer a variety of definitions. Leaders motivate people to accomplish objectives and boost organizational performance. It does not imply that the leader has authority over their followers to accomplish the objectives that the leader desires. The leader’s followers take the same approach to achieve their objectives. It is expected of the leader to direct the process of planning and carrying out activities to achieve organizational objectives. Bala V. Sathyanarayanan is one such leader who through his leadership skills, and wisdom rewrote practices and rules of Human Resource Management in his way. Working as the Executive Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer at Greif, he has been in the HRM industry for a while. Greif is the main provider of modern bundling items and administrations with vital locations all through more than 40 nations. Greif’s mission is to safely package and protect the goods and materials of its customers to meet the essential needs of communities all over the world. The company has been in business for 145 years. Greif continues to remain steadfast in its commitment to being the best customer service organization for its global and regional customers worldwide. In Search of Inspiration Bala V. Sathyanarayanan is a person who inspired others with his years and years of expertise, but also someone who looks for inspiration on every step he takes. Holding a Master’s degree in Human Resources Management (MHRM) from Rutgers University, New Jersey, Jersey, an MBA in General Management, and BS in Electronics & Communications Engineering from the University of Madras in India. In addition, he graduated from the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. Sathyanarayanan as an individual holds an immense amount of knowledge within his mind. He used this knowledge and skills before Greif heading Business Transformation and Human Resources for Xerox’s Technology and Business and Corporate functions. At that time, he held accountability for the company’s international workforce of 40,000 across 145 countries. Sathyanarayanan traces his inspiration and the sources right to his mother. He has seen his mother raise the family he comes from. Being married off at 14, and moving to a bigger city in India, his mother wasn’t well-versed in the lifestyle or culture. Through educating and providing for him and his siblings, the mother educated and groomed herself; to walk with confidence and interact with her husband’s colleagues. “From her, I learned adaptability – how to adapt to any situation, agility – absorb new information quickly, and resilience– how to not only grow but thrive in adversity. I am consistently inspired by my parents every day.” “The Greif Way” Through Challenges As the Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Greif, Sathyanarayanan is responsible to build a global workforce that can expand the created and envisioned strategies. He makes sure he delivers value to customers. The foundation on which the business has been built remains the same across the four continents that Greif operates. “The Greif Way” (to treat others as you wish to be treated) is all core to who the company is today and how it will continue to deliver for its customers. COVID-19 had been challenging for every company out there, and Greif was one of them. Topics that had been gaining momentum over the last several years were thrust into the spotlight during the COVID-19 pandemic. Three that will be scrutinized in 2023 include Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Pay Equity, and Sustainability. Greif has a clear-cut way of setting its goals along these topics in its Sustainability Report. The company realized that every organization big or small, local or international, will be confronted with these filters. COVID-19 made the company go through challenges related to supply, personnel, and operations. The team found it difficult to meet customers’ needs and improve its competitiveness. These challenges require sufficient innovative thinking, leadership focuses and the necessary resources and execution mindset to excel going forward. Work-Culture With Greif As a leader, Sathyanarayanan considers himself a “Realtor”- One who will find great satisfaction by collaboratively working with his colleagues across countries. He takes efforts in building a strong foundation for the organization’s success. He does so by motivating a fostering and engaging culture among his workforce. This approach in particular encourages consistent recognition, and increased business performance. Sathyanarayanan firmly believes that when employers take care of their colleagues, the customers will automatically be taken care of. He does so by small acts of kindness- offering a smile, lending a hand, helping someone stuck. These gestures create a sense of balance and belongingness in the workplace and promote collective growth. “As a servant leader, I believe it is essential to prioritize the needs of our team members, particularly during times of crisis. I strive to inspire and support my team through consistent communication, empathetic leadership, and by empowering them to make decisions that will best serve our company and customers.” The Million Perspectives When it comes to Human Resources Management as an industry, there are a million ways to look at it. Some believe the industry is unnecessary for businesses and organizations. Not realizing that the industry does so
Rex Adams: Providing Best-In-Class Eyecare Services Throughout the U.S.
Digital Version An Eyesight Crisis Throughout the U.S. As the United States’ population grows older and as screen time increases, eyesight throughout the country continues to steadily regress. There are already 34 million Americans that are nearsighted and by 2030, that number is expected to climb to 39 million. By that time, there will also be nearly 20 million farsighted Americans (approximately 14 million are farsighted today). Thirty years ago, it was rare to see small children, teenagers, or young adults with glasses or contacts. Now, there are more and more children and young adults prescribed with contact lenses or glasses to correct poor vision and other eyesight issues. The excessive use of electronics, especially throughout the COVID era, in combination with the rapid increase of eye diseases related to obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure, have created the perfect storm for a nationwide eyesight crisis. Cataracts, one of the leading causes of blindness throughout the world, has also been on the rise for the increasing number of Americans who are entering their late 60s and 70s. According to a study by the National Institute of Health, 24 million Americans already have cataracts and there will be close to 38 million cases of cataracts by 2030. It’s even more troubling to consider the vast number of people who develop cataracts and often cannot access the essential care to prevent them from resulting in blindness. Efficiently, accurately and effectively treating eye care illnesses and diseases means saving the eyesight of millions of Americans nationwide who would otherwise be blind. Now more than ever, the demand for high quality eye care services is crucial. Rex Adams Leads EyeSouth Partners To Success EyeSouth Partners is the leading, nationwide network of comprehensive eye care services. It provides cutting-edge technologies, exceptional customer experience, and investment in ongoing education and training for all 35 of its affiliate practices and more than 290 of its affiliate doctors. Although its headquarters are in Atlanta, Georgia, EyeSouth Partners’ network is comprised of more than 160 locations throughout the country as well as 19 surgery centers across Texas, Georgia, Louisiana, Florida, Tennessee, Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Alabama, Illinois, and North Carolina. Rex Adams, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), has been an integral part of EyeSouth’s growth since joining the team in December 2017. The number of doctors in the EyeSouth network has grown from 12 to close to 300, its locations from 4 to 160, and from 1 local metropolitan market to 11 different states, which is nearly a 3,000% growth under his leadership. Prior to Rex’s career in healthcare, he earned a bachelor’s degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point and a master’s degree in business administration from Harvard Business School. He also served 5 years in the United States Army having graduated from the U.S. Army’s Air Assault, Airborne, and Ranger schools. His career began as a strategy consultant through a consulting firm founded by Michael Porter, a Harvard Business School professor. Rex also served in leadership positions at three Fortune 500 companies – the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at WellCare Health Plans, President and CEO of AT&T East, President of BellSouth Long Distance, and President of BellSouth Wholesale Services. He served as the CEO of Payspan, COO at CareCentrix and the COO of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. His knowledge and expertise have been recognized through his personal achievements, such as the 2017 CEO Award by CEO Today Magazine and 2017 CEO Award by Finance Monthly. He was also named one of the Ten Best CEOs of 2021 by Industry Era Magazine and named one of the Fifty Best Entrepreneurs to Watch in 2022 by CIO Bulletin. Supported By World Renowned Eye Doctors and Surgeons EyeSouth’s success is due in part to its continued effort to equip its doctors with the latest in ophthalmic technology and education. Many of its affiliate doctors take roles in ophthalmic research and studies, furthering the field of ophthalmology for eye doctors throughout the entire country. EyeSouth affiliate practices are among the first to adopt, utilize and benefit from newly approved FDA procedures and other cutting-edge technologies that help their patients receive the latest and greatest in eyecare. Rex Adams states: “We’ve earned our success by partnering with top-quality ophthalmology practices and renowned doctors and ophthalmic surgeons. We are now the largest comprehensive ophthalmology platform in North America, with over one million patient visits per year and an industry-leading doctor retention rate.” Since the beginning, EyeSouth’s business has been driven by the same doctors who work in its affiliated practices. Many of EyeSouth’s longer tenured affiliate doctors serve on the company’s Physician Advisory Board, which provides leadership and guidance to promote the highest standard of eye care for patients throughout the network. The newest doctors to the EyeSouth network also gain the opportunity to learn from the most experienced ophthalmologists throughout the country (and world). Helping Doctors Grow Their Practices According to Rex Adams, the company has adopted a simple, yet successful strategy – partnering with like-minded, quality doctors who aspire for continued success. Once affiliated into the EyeSouth network, doctors and staff are provided with the resources to not only maintain their practices, but amplify their long-term growth. “After partnering with EyeSouth, each medical affiliate retains its respective brand, while doctors and staff receive enhanced training and support services, which ultimately elevate their practice operations to the next level and continued growth,” shares Rex Adams. Together, EyeSouth’s executive management team shares more than 200 combined years of experience working in healthcare. Their collective expertise on the workings of high quality healthcare practices puts their affiliate practices on the road to greater success. The company’s administrative and operations management model is designed to help its doctors see more patients through improved staffing models, real estate expansions, staff training, equipment investments, sophisticated strategic growth plans, customized marketing programs, and state of the art technologies that more efficiently help their doctors, staff, and patients. Rex Shares His Insights For the past 20+
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