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
Kate Taylor’s TaylorCare: On Mission to Disrupt the Recruitment Industry in Australia
Digital Version Most of us look at an organization’s numbers & financials when analyzing its success. However, we frequently ignore the fact that the success of any organization is reflected on the people in our workforce and significance of being partnered with the be Recruitment Agency to build your business success. The success of your organization depends on your attitude and outlook on hiring. Employees work hard to fulfill your organizational goals, align to your values and mission. For companies who want to expand quickly but steadily they realize that doing so depends on having the proper mix of staff, which is why having a recruitment & retention strategy is so important. The main objective of any employer is to have high-calibre staff. This responsibility lands onto the HR Executives and Managers. Choosing the right candidate can be tough. In this one decision could be the make or break of your organization’s success. To reach and achieve this objective, companies need a recruiting team that will understand and ensure both the employer’s and the candidate’s needs. One that places people in roles that will best meet their career/business objectives. We have met with a multi award-winning recruiting team- TaylorCare Recruitment in Australia led by Founder and Managing Director Kate Taylor on her advice to help organizations achieve there recruitment goals. Growing With a Goal Kate Taylor kick started her career in Education Recruitment back in 2007. She hustled through various companies under Education Recruitment before moving back to Australia in 2010. Kate moved to work for a healthcare agency. Being in the recruitment industry for more than a decade now, Kate has specialties including social workers, counselors, and psychologists. While working for the health care agency, her career launched to success in Australia. She was one of the highest billers in the office for two years. She billed over $1 million for the company at the time. Seeing that high of a number being achieved through her hard work motivated her. It shed more light on the path she wants to navigate in her career ahead on. Kate also is outspoken and supportive of issues related to mental health in general. She believes with her experience with complex mental health as a teenager, she can relate to the youth. She wants parents to listen to her story and not ignore that of their wards. Kate has shared her story on stages of organizations like Sony, ING Bank, and Eftpos Australia, to name a few. It was in 2013 that she launched TaylorCare- a team created to address the need for professional high-quality recruitment services for government, non-government, charities, and private healthcare sectors of Australia. Growing With TaylorCare Since the launch of TaylorCare Recruitment in 2013, Kate has successfully launched Community Services & Allied Health divisions under her business. Kate is constantly expanding the business especially post and during COVID when there was an intense need for healthcare professionals everywhere. The company which started small has expanded itself to a larger office in North Sydney – Australia to accommodate its growing dream team. The company to date has successfully recruited hundreds of candidates with 83 clients across Australia and counting. Manifesting Dreams With a comprehensive service focused on well-being and CARE and true passion and drive to high standards of providing a professional service, TaylorCare stands out from their competition. To place people in positions that would best support their professional and career ambition, the company also ensures that both employer and applicant demands are recognized. TaylorCare Recruitment team collaborates closely with clients and candidates to identify the position that is the best fit for everyone. For their constant hard work and unique approach, TaylorCare has received various awards and nominations including the 2018 RCSA Rising Star Award, and the RCSA Corporate Social Responsibility Award. Also was one of the finalists of the Australian Women’s Small Business Champion Awards for Influential Woman Award 2022. Just to name a few. Was among the “Top 10 most influential people in staffing and recruiting 2022” and the winner of the Specialist Recruitment Agency of the Year Award 2020 Growing as a Leader “I believe I have approached each challenge with the posture of positive problem solving and relying on the concept that knowledge and experience together form wisdom.“ — Kate Taylor Kate has always had a passionate & visionary approach to business and is on a mission to make a Income in Business while making an Impact in the world giving back to her 4 chosen charities. Kate is always hustling with heart towards her work before for other companies, or when it is with her own company. She is updated and helpful on every hands-on day-to-day activity and processes around her office. She oversees the company’s business development strategy. branding and marketing, workforce planning and managing her team and is always and the introducing of new services and initiatives. She works alongside her team and is not above her team and showcases true leadership style where she leads by example. Being in the business for the last 10 years, TaylorCare has successfully expanded through new and newer horizons leaving its impact on the industry. They started from humble beginnings in a one person home office start-up business to a small office in the Sydney CBD, and now to a larger office in North Sydney Australia. “My goal is to continue paving the way for women in business to shine in leadership roles. I want to be a role model to my daughter so that she can work hard and go for her dreams while being an amazing mum too.” The distinctive Kate has implemented from the beginning of the business is to not only incorporate an RUOK wellbeing workplace culture, but to also actively engage with my staff in Corporate Social Responsibility. The goal of building a successful business includes incorporating my passion for helping charities and giving back in the industries we recruit for. This provides a noticeable distinction in
Sepp Rajaie: Making Data Security Better and Safer
Digital Version Sepp Rajaie, Founder and CEO of TechR2, came to the United States from Iran at the age of 18 in pursuit of higher education. Shortly after his arrival, the political revolution in Iran changed the course of his life. With violence erupting in his home country, Sepp applied and was granted asylum and then was able to gain his citizenship in the United States, “With no means of financial support from my family in Iran, | quickly learned that | had to work hard to put myself through school while juggling numerous full-time jobs. This valuable experience paved the way for my future endeavors,” he states. FOUNDATION OF TECHR2 AND THE ROADBLOCKS FACED DURING THE INCEPTION OF THE COMPANY After graduation, Sepp’s education combined with experience in sales and marketing for a technology company led him to start his own business in 1989. As data distribution and processing continued to grow, Sepp predicted that the concept of data security would become a very important component of technological advancement. “My vision was always clear that data security would be essential and that there was a gaping hole in the industry that continued to get bigger and bigger. This was the foundation of how TechR2 was born knew there was a crucial necessity – so we began building” he explains. It is this foresight that has led to TechR2’s pioneering approach to data security. TechR2 does not follow, nor does it endorse the old mentality of “if it is not broken, don’t fix it” Fortunately, one of TechR2s key service offerings is risk assessments, through which TechR2 can pinpoint customers security weaknesses and improve their practices. This provides TechR2 the perfect opportunity to advise, consult, and protect client vulnerabilities. They provide a customized Cybersecurity Framework tailored to client needs by industry, activity, and size; this demands a culture built upon innovation and proactive mindset. “Our engineering department is on pace for 10 patents this year alone. Along with other stringent ISO accreditations, we are proud to be International Standards Organization (ISO) 31000 certified, allowing us to conduct professional assessments for data security across the U.S. and the world. As reported by the U.S. Inspector General (2019 and 2020), organizations continue to utilize non-compliant practices and uncertified vendors because organizations are still learning how to protect client healthcare, financial and personal data,” says Mr. Rajaie. The company’s patented TechR2 Tear-A-Byte solution closes data security holes in old, non-compliant processes. Every day, data security breaches, failed data destruction processes, and e waste failures are reported throughout the U.S. TechR2 has been preparing for this storm and has been on a continuous journey of progression in response to the demands of the industry. From a small operation as a local technology recycler, they’ve grown into a global leader in IT Asset Destruction. They continue to push that envelope even further by re-inventing the ITAD industry in the form of Data Destruction as a Service (DDaaS). STEPPING INTO THE VAST FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY Sepp states that he has always been passionate about technology and innovation. Among the many reasons why he fought hard to immigrate to the United States was the fact that the US has always been the world leader in technology and advancement. “m so fortunate to have had the opportunity to come to the United States!” he exclaims. His degree in Electrical Engineering combined with his innate ability to develop relationships has helped build TechR2 into an innovative, disruptive technology company with a focus on the lifeblood of all technology – data security. Being a leader and innovator in the field requires TechR2 to extremely well versed in modern technology. More than ever, modern technology (computers, the internet, the cloud, etc) has become the lifeblood of all types of businesses. It seems like only yesterday that giant storerooms of paper files would dominate regulated industries whereas today, the entire Library of Congress can now be stored on a single thumb drive. Data that businesses deal with is incredibly valuable. The convenience, flexibility, and power of having all that data available at a moment’s notice are remarkable and fuel advancement. However, with those incredible benefits comes added risk. As data is more available, It also presents more opportunities for that data to fall into the wrong hands. Sepp says that his career has been well planned and a calculated risk at the same time. “Getting into the industry was planned. Making the bold moves in thought leadership and shaping the industry into what it is has been a risk, but as any other entrepreneur would probably tell you, calculated risks are what drive innovation, advancement, and success” he adds. CHANGING THE LANDSCAPE OF DATA SOLUTIONS OVER TIME The rise of corporate crime, brazen hacking, and ransom attacks is alarming and increasing every day. 17 years ago, the internet was still gaining more traction, and the idea that it was a fad had finally faded away. People knew it was here to stay. Unfortunately, this meant that hackers could get at just about any data they wanted from the privacy of their own homes as security and any set processes were still quite lax. When security became tighter online, social attacks became more dominant (phishing schemes to get a password, etc) In today’s landscape, multi-factor authentication has become nearly ubiquitous and as a result, hackers are running out of easy options. “The simplicity of a trash can is a very easy target. If a data-bearing device is thrown out, the owner of the device is more liable than the person who plucked it out from the trash! This is the next major target of vulnerability in IT Data Security,” states Sepp. So much attention is paid to devices when they are in use, but they are quickly forgotten when the power is unplugged. This massive gap and vulnerability are what spurred TechR2 to develop the Tear-A-Byte Process. National and Global regulatory bodies are focusing on this dangerous vulnerability by strengthening existing laws/standards or
Yasaf Burshan: Inspiring and Empowering Creators to Make an Impact
Israel is a very small country – two hours from Tel Aviv you are on the edge of the country. But due to its position as a global innovation powerhouse, investors from major countries are attracted to it. Identified as a hotspot for collaboration, Yasaf, an innovative Israeli entrepreneur helps businesses thrive through effectively integrating technologies in their education businesses. Yasaf Burshan, Founder and CEO of Team Genius, shares his journey of outgrowing and expanding abroad, connecting people with technology. We at Fortunes Crown got into an interview questionnaire to know more about the company and its impact on ed-tech businesses. Please tell us about your educational/professional background. Who inspired you to become a business leader? Would you like to mention some of the highlights from your journey? When it comes to formal education, I’m happy to say that I’ve obtained education in two major fields that I’m very passionate about, Technology and People. I have a BA in business management with a major in Information Technology and I’m a certified project management professional (PMP). Also, I am a certified Clinical NLP master and a graduate of the Tony Robbins platinum partnership program. This combination allowed me to have a very successful career in the traditional IT industry for over 20 years, in which I held multiple senior roles including the head of IT for IKEA in Israel. Please brief us in detail about the current scenario of the business. How have the customer preferences changed over the years? Team Genius’s mission is to inspire and empower creators to make an impact. We work with content and course creators all over the world (majorly in the US, Canada, and Australia) and we help them to unleash their creativity by effectively integrating technology into all areas of their business. Simply put, we keep them in their Zone of Genius, doing what they do best, as we help them create profitable online businesses. As a content creator myself, for my program “Anywhere Boss”, I know first-hand the challenges they are facing, and I’m also inspired by them to become better and better. While I’m still very much in the “tech zone” my ideal customer has changed from the finance/retail/consumer subject matters to the knowledge commerce business. What are the unique challenges your company is currently facing? How have they affected your company? I think that like most other companies these days working remotely and efficiently is a challenge. At the same time, one advantage we have on our side is that Team Genius was founded as a global organization with team members across multiple locations, so this is built right into our DNA. It drives us to be more open in our communications, efficient in the way we do business, and of course, rely on technology, we do for ourselves what we do for our customers. When was Team Genius established? What are the prominent services/solutions offered by the company? Team Genius was established in 2019. We are a certified Thinkific agency partner, certified Zapier experts and a certified Evernote partner. In addition, we have partnerships with other major brands like Microsoft and Monday that gives us a unique ability to look at our customers’ tech needs from a holistic point of view. We help our customers create profitable online courses, products and membership sites and convert sales funnels, but we don’t stop there. We apply automation and make them more efficient and productive in their business. And on a personal level, I also mentor and coach my customers on how to take things to the next level and build a lifestyle that excites them by becoming “Anywhere Bosses”. What measures do you incorporate to ensure motivation and productivity within the workspace? How do you respond to criticism and disagreements? I encourage open and honest communication. It is my responsibility as the leader to make sure that everybody gets heard and to recognize what they have to say. Values and culture are the keys here and it starts with me leading by example, and by choosing Team Members that share the same values. Not the same opinions, the same values. Disagreements are inventible, nor they should be ignored. Every member of the team has the freedom to speak freely. Criticism is fine, as long as it is served as feedback that we can build on and improve. My response is always “bring it on, let’s talk about it so we can get better. What measures do you undertake to ensure optimum customer satisfaction? How much impact does the customer feedback have on the company’s strategies? Communication is the key. Customer satisfaction is very important for us and it plays a major role in our growth and success strategies. Customer dissatisfaction is most likely to come when there is a gap between the customer expectation and the result or deliverable. So we communicate clearly from the first step what is to be expected, what is included in the scope of work, the timeline and the expected cost. Then we monitor expectations and communication throughout the lifecycle of the project and adjust as needed. We are not afraid to say that we don’t have the answer to something, and if such cases arise we see them as an opportunity to learn something new with a promise to come back with an answer in X amount of time. Please tell us about the services/products your company is offering? How are they different from your competitors’ offerings? We are certified Thinkific agency partners, and as such, we offer course creation, site-building and automation services. We also support all Thinkific superpowerups, from general consultation to setup and configuration. As Zapier experts, we effectively integrate technology in all areas of our customer’s business. Keeping them in their “Zone of Genius”, doing what they do best; teaching, empowering, creating, leading, and making sure they have efficient processes that are working for them so they can quickly and effortlessly scale. The successful partnerships we maintain with industry-leading vendors allows
Winston Weber: Pioneering Organization Restructuring With Expert Consultants
Management refers to the administration of business practices to create the highest level of efficiency possible within an organization. It is concerned with converting materials and labor into goods and services as efficiently as possible to maximize the profit of an organization. So does Winston and his team attempt to balance costs with revenue to achieve the highest net operating profit possible. Winston Weber, Founder and CEO of Winston Weber & Associates (WWA), a leader in management consultancy, creates a framework for managing the effect of new business processes, changes in organizational structure, or cultural changes within an enterprise. We at Fortunes Crown got into conversation with Mr. Weber to know more about the company and how it is helping the businesses and individuals as a whole. Would you like to mention some of the highlights from your journey? I am viewed by many in business as an icon with high expectations and leading-edge thinking. I introduced retailer/supplier partnering, now referred to as collaboration, to the industry in the late 1980s and Category Management to the U.S. in 1990. I introduced the new beyond Category Management business model Shopper-Centric Retailing in 2019 and the new Change Enablement Training in 2022. I love helping companies improve their competitive position in the marketplace, influencing the future of the grocery industry with new, highly productive concepts and upgrading company work environments that encourage open discussion and leading-edge thinking. Our clients view me as one who “says it as he sees it”. While many may think I may lead a life totally involved in business life, I should mention that in 2022 I am celebrating my 56year marriage to my wife Linda. My family is equally important to me. Please tell us about your educational/professional background. How was your life before WWA? After I graduated from Syracuse University in 1962, I spent my first 23 years working with leading consumer products companies including Colgate Palmolive, General Foods, Beechnut Baby Food, Sunshine Biscuits, The Drackett Products Company, Schering Plough and Atari. The first ten years were spent with two major companies, moving up quickly from Retail Salesman to Sales Supervisor, District Manager and Regional Manager Positions. These were excellent corporate experiences that taught me a lot, but I wanted more. I felt too limited and wanted corporate cultures that would enable me to drive change designed to improve the work environment and overall company performance. Leaving General Foods, I obtained my first Vice President Sales position in year eleven and for the next thirteen years, my titles included Vice President, Senior Vice President, Executive Vice President and President of Sales. During this period, I accomplished my objective of having the latitude to make changes designed to improve performance. In the first company I tested and expanded nationally a plan that eliminated expensive Baby Food Company shelf-stocking across the industry. At my next company, where we were losing money, I restructured the sales and distribution organizations from direct store to warehouse delivery. This immediately moved the company from a several million-dollar loss to several million-dollar profits. This move also helped us gain market share. At my next company, I was briefly Vice President Sales before being promoted to President of Sales. I made a number of organizational changes including moving women and black Americans into management positions for the first time. Considering this was 40+ years ago, this was well ahead of when most companies made similar moves. While this was an excellent experience, and I would have stayed longer, I was approached by another company, Atari, with an employment package I could not resist. As Senior Vice President Sales, I was hired to bring in consumer products retail channel experience and to make major changes to the Sales Organization structure and business processes. This was accomplished. My final corporate experience was as President of the Schering Plough Sales Corporation, where similar changes were made. Briefly describe your company and the products or services you are offering. I decided it was now time to leave a single corporation where I could contribute to the growth of many companies and also contribute to driving change throughout the consumer products industry. This led to my decision to start Winston Weber & Associates, Inc. in 1985. My goal was to form a small “boutique” consulting firm with a global perspective that would provide leadership thinking with practical, implementable solutions to grocery retailers and consumer package goods companies. I wanted to employ a controlled growth strategy with an emphasis on providing more value and client return on investment than very large consulting firms staffed mostly by junior consultants, many with minimal business experience. This has been accomplished and maintained during our 36 years. Our senior consultants must have at least 30 years of business experience in general management, retail management, sales management, brand management, or supply chain management in the consumer products industry before joining WWA. I expect them to bring a unique blend of skills, expertise and a “real world” business perspective to each client assignment and are ideally suited to deal with companies trying to leverage leadership positions in the marketplace as well as turnaround situations. Importantly, whatever the situation, we have an in-depth appreciation for the need to focus on running the business while changing the business. This ensures the achievement of near-term performance targets while changing the business. More value and client return on investment mean an uncompromising emphasis on quality and trust, a “say it as we see it” approach and the ability to consistently exceed client expectations. These qualities and our dedication to providing leading-edge thinking with implementable solutions have helped us to achieve our goal…this is our reputation today. Going back to your early career decisions, tell us what factors influenced your decision to be an executive in the grocery industry. During my senior year in college, I spent a considerable amount of time interviewing every company that came on campus. Considering my degree is in the social sciences, I was very interested in going with a company
Sister Merceditas O. Ang: Embracing Future-Proof Education
“As we create and traverse new educational pathways in the 21st century learning to reach greater heights, SPUP will Lead, Innovate, Grow, and Serve.” St. Paul University Philippines (SPUP) has an awe-inspiring and long-lasting impact on students and teachers. For more than 25 years, the university provides a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate programs that promote intellectual inquiry and independent thought. Sister Merceditas O. Ang, SPC, the university President, is a visionary and transformational leader with compelling ideas beyond frontiers. Consistently honored with local and international awards, SPUP is unleashing its promising landscape of advanced education. Teaching and Learning Support Trailblazing a future-ready and sustainable holistic education to make a difference globally was a lofty goal and giant leap for St. Paul University Philippines (SPUP) in 2015. Globalization and diversity called for re-thinking and reforms in the education sector vis-à-vis the ASEAN Regional Integration and the K to 12 transition in Philippine basic education. Rising up to the challenges of contemporary times, SPUP launched its internationalization programs and initiatives as a vital component of high-quality education and global competencies of Paulinian students and graduates. A strategic roadmap was crafted on six key areas: 1) quality teaching-learning and student services 2) research and innovation 3) resource mobilization and human development 4) internationalization 5) creative evangelization 6) community services and sustainability Accordingly, the traditional programs and structures were revamped and enhanced. Relevant and innovative new programs were offered with an interdisciplinary approach across borders. Research and STEM education gained momentum. Local and international partnerships and collaborative endeavors with the academe, industry, government agencies, and other stakeholders remarkably increased in a number of partners and levels of engagement. Community outreach and services were provided to the poor and marginalized, and the state-of-the-art physical and digital infrastructures of the university were built along with the human capital investment. Response to the Crisis Within a span of five years, SPUP has undergone massive transformation and advancement, which abruptly took a turn in 2020 with the COVID-19 outbreak. The SPUP administration, under the dynamic leadership of Sister Merceditas, prioritized care for people and ensured the health, safety, and well-being of the students and employees. Learning modalities catered to the needs and context of the students. Advance technologies facilitated the delivery of holistic quality teaching and learning with high student engagement. No retrenchment was made and all employees received full monthly salaries and benefits despite the financial constraints. Amazing results happened with the value-based, people-centered, positive mindset, technology-driven, agile and resilient approach to survive during the pandemic. In generously and humanely translating challenges into opportunities, SPUP registered a big increase of more than a thousand new students in 2021 and its international students and partners doubled in number. Moreover, local and international recognition and awards were garnered by the university in the fields of social services and human development. Indeed, manifold blessings keep SPUP thriving despite the pandemic complemented with faith and hope for a better tomorrow. The Ideal Place for Knowledge St. Paul University Philippines was founded on May 10, 1907, in Tuguegarao City by the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres (SPC). It was established with humble beginnings as a small school for basic education spurred by the missionary zeal and sacrifices of the pioneer SPC sisters and lay collaborators. In 1941, the school buildings were used as a military garrison during the war and ravaged during the liberation. The reconstruction and growth of the school had met another catastrophe in 1965 when its buildings were razed to the ground by fire. Like gold tested in a crucible, SPUP had overcome setbacks to flourish and expand into tertiary education and graduate school. In 1982, it was hailed as the first university in Cagayan Valley, in the northern part of the Philippines. For more than a century of existence, SPUP has proven its tradition of excellence and untarnished reputation of providing high-quality education. The Philippine Commission on Higher Education recognized SPUP as an autonomous university, Center of Excellence in Nursing and Education, Center for Development in Information Technology, and Center for Teacher Training. The University was also cited as Most Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Campus in the Region, Outstanding Student Services in the Philippines, Outstanding Library in the Philippines, Top 3 in the Philippine Higher Education Internationalization Award, and included in the World Universities with Real Impact (WURI). Its global engagements exemplify inclusive and intercultural education, embracing unity in diversity with its more than nine thousand local and international student population. This year, SPUP celebrates its 115th founding anniversary true to its vision-mission as an internationally recognized institution dedicated to the formation of competent leaders and responsible citizens of their communities, country, and the world. In setting strategic directions, Sr. Merceditas inspires with wisdom and forward-looking perspectives. Establishment and Achievement Sister Merceditas O. Ang, SPC believes that “the bottom line of success is not gauged by external rewards but felt as an inner fulfillment, and eventually in the scheme of things it is a life of integrity and service that will have a lasting legacy on humanity.” She joined the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres in 1994 as a lawyer by profession. Also, she has a degree in Psychology and work experiences in human resource training, counseling, banking, taxation, and corporate law. As a religious sister, she immersed in the spirituality of consecrated life and served in the education ministry. In 2003, Sister Merceditas obtained a Master’s degree in Educational Management and a Ph.D. degree in Educational Leadership and Management in 2005. She wrote and published a paper on Servant Leadership which was presented during the Greenleaf International Conference on Servant Leadership in Indianapolis, USA. She was appointed as President of St. Paul University Surigao in 2006, and as Provincial Assistant for Education in 2009-2014. The mission of forming the young as responsible future leaders appealed to her inner calling. She believes that education is a potent factor in national and global development, sustainability, and social transformation. In 2015, as the incumbent President
Sinhue Noronha: An Emerging Name Against All Odds
Digital Version With more than 30 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Sinhue drives value for communities. His journey from marketing for others to manufacturing his own products is an exceptional milestone and an inspiration for new-age entrepreneurs. At the age of 58, he built his company into a multi-million dollar business that gives him the confidence to see age is just a number. Sinhue Bosco Noronha, Founder and CEO of Africure Pharmaceuticals Limited, got into a conversation to share his extraordinary journey and zest for life which is admirable. Academically, I have a Bachelor of Science degree and an MBA degree in Marketing. I initially started at a grass root level, detailing products to doctors in India and then grew within the ranks, from a Medical Representative to a Product Executive to a Product Manager to a Group Product Manager to a Marketing Manager and finally Marketing Controller. I was a marketing Controller at the age of 28 and driving businesses that were mostly start-ups and where we had almost approximately 150 field personnel. So that has been my basic journey at the start of my career and this had everything to do with domestic companies in India. I worked with three startups and got them going from ideation to commercialization. To get into business, I owe it to a good friend of mine Mr. Arun Kumar who is the Managing Director of Strides Life Sciences based in Bangalore which is a global player in the field of pharmaceutical formulations, where they do manufacturing in regulated markets and semi-regulated markets. I learned all about exports from Mr. Kumar and that is when I decided that I could probably be an entrepreneur and started my entrepreneurship journey. In 1991 with a company called Simrone Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, where for the first three years we worked on contract manufacturing and sold the products to buyers in Europe, specifically Germany and UK who in turn sold the products to various markets in Africa. In 1994, I was able to raise capital in India from some leading venture capital companies in India and I was able to set up a facility of my own at a place that was approximately a hundred kilometers from Mumbai city. This facility was called Simrone Pharmaceutical Industries Limited and had a team of about 70 or 80 people to start with and we were purely into the manufacturing of products for exports as this was a designated hundred percent export-oriented unit. Subsequently along the way when the government changed the policy and allowed hundred percent EOU’s to market products locally we were associated with companies like Zydus-Cadila, Lyka, Elder and a couple of other companies where we would manufacture products and they would market them in the Indian market. That’s where it all started and this helped me understand the nuances of the African market & have always been passionate about African health. Africa is a very potential market for pharmaceutical businesses because it has a very low per capita income, a low per capita consumption of just twelve dollars per person with a population of about 750 million people. The opportunity is good simply because the economies of most of the countries are improving and the wages and pay scales etc are improving and the buying power of the people is better. The need for Africa is basically to be self-sufficient and that starts with having manufacturing facilities and capabilities. As a company, we focus on both creating the capabilities and the assets. We get into markets that have virtually zero or maybe a couple of manufacturing plants. So what we’re doing here is we are trying to create an impact in markets where people were denied medication and knew nothing about the manufacturing processes. We train the locals and we work with almost 95% of the local population. So we are a company that is very focused on manufacturing and we have a portfolio of approximately 350 registrations in various countries, which boils down to approximately 80 or 90 molecules. In Africa, it’s still very unfortunate that because of the cost factor, people continue to use old age medication and the new molecules that have been discovered globally don’t seem to be doing exceedingly well, it’s simply because of a matter of buying power and people can get relief with the old medication and they can absorb the side effects. So if you take the top fifty products in each market you will find that these are products which are more than twenty years old. That’s the scenario as far as the business goes. So the Business is not really changing too much, although there is a slight shift. Africa has been more of a continent where the medication was self-consumed. People would go and buy over the counter based on their judgment or based on the recommendation of the pharmacist as they were very few doctors available. Now that is changed to some extent as Pharma companies have been going to doctors and promoting their products getting them to write prescriptions for newer molecules. So about 70% of the market in Africa today is, especially in sub-Saharan Africa cause that’s where our strengths lie, is the generic part or the OTC part although antibiotics are sold over the counter and 30% of the market would be the doctor promoted market. Africure Pharmaceuticals was established in April 2017 with the objective of creating and manufacturing assets in Africa. I also did a management buyout of some of the major manufacturing assets in Africa from the company Strides, where I worked as a CEO for four continents. We started with a basket of seven or eight plants and four distribution centers. I raised capital from HNI’s and people who were in Africa and understood the pharmaceutical business. On one single day on April 1st, we had 200 people moving from Strides to Africure with zero attrition, and everyone was willing to work with Africure, because