Exclusive Interview Archives

Jeff Kushner: An Eminent Business Leader, Industry Veteran, and Marketing Expert

His inside story narrates the inspiring and triumphant journey of an accomplished marketing and business leader, Jeff Kushner, the CMO of Allgress, Inc.

Jeff Kushner is a visionary hands-on leader focused on business development, market expansion and go-to-market leadership. Throughout his professional journey, Jeff has nurtured his business and marketing expertise by working for various visionary national and international IT technology focused firms. With every engagement, Jeff quickly rises to the new challenges, upholding the company’s vision, and mission, aligning goals with a market strategy to drive positive business outcomes. His experience extends to IT risk management, compliance, and SaaS development, showcasing a dynamic ability to adapt to diverse markets and drive substantial business outcomes.

In the pivotal role of Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at Allgress, Jeff shapes global marketing strategy, positioning, branding, and market communications. Prior to joining Allgress, Jeff worked for top firms like BindView (now Symantec), BMC Software, and Sun Microsystems (now Oracle), in addition to consulting for numerous companies. Throughout this journey, Jeff drives substantial increases in revenue and market penetration. His accomplishments in the areas of advancement of risk management, compliance, and SaaS development contributed significantly to adoption.

The Tale of Jeff’s Inspiring Journey: At a Glance

Many years ago, Jeff Kushner started his career as a technical practitioner. He moved into Marketing Management and then became a Chief Product Officer. He participated in direct and channel business development for leading high-tech businesses. Ultimately, Jeff’s drive and success led him to the role of Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). This journey evolved through his passion for technology and dedication to positive, value-driven business focused customer outcomes. In every organization, he did this by addressing the most pervasive IT challenges and risk reduction solutions with decision-making shareholders and top-level management in a language they understand from both a business and technical perspective.

Jeff has taken a customer-centric approach throughout his career, interacting directly with the sales organization, account managers, and customers. Jeff focuses on hearing firsthand about their business and technological challenges, operational pain points, and how the organization can drive value and a positive business outcome for the customer. For Jeff, it is critical to hear their journey to spearhead the creation of actionable marketing collateral to support the sales process, deliver key value points and and a total product understanding in order to maintain the interest of the buyer and the approver. A marketing leader must deliver information about product solutions and services for the challenge at hand and the scope of preliminary considerations that may evolve over time.

“To gain the trust of customers or potential clients in sharing their time or contact details, it’s important to establish a fair exchange of contact details for valuable information. This means providing them with useful guidance that quickly helps them grasp complex industry topics, making it easier for them to stay informed,” Says, Jeff Kushner, CMO of Allgress

Allgress: At a Glance

Allgress is a multi-award-winning, internationally recognized supplier of cutting-edge integrated Compliance, IT Security, Risk Management and GRC solutions that help businesses achieve their risk in less time and complexity. With the help of Allgress’s solutions, companies can handle IT risk assessment, monitoring, reporting, and remediation procedures more efficiently to get the answers they need quickly so they know where they stand. With Allgress’s technology, clients consistently achieve a faster time-to-value without the need for a large team of consultants, in contrast to competing with alternatives.

The Key Inspiration Behind Jeff’s Career Path

Jeff Kushner has worked full-time around his passion for technology, the high-tech industry, and, more specifically, IT Operations, Cloud Security and Risk Management. Jeff has played a key role in developing and promoting products into industry-leading solutions as a consultant and member of advisory boards. Through his success in developing and promoting best-in-class products and solutions, he is sought after by CEOs or other senior executives. He has been drawn to and has remained in the IT cloud security and risk management space because of his passion and the need for those solutions.

The Upcoming Trends

Multiple planes of hyper-connectivity driven by cloud computing, process automation, trust architectures, and applied and generative artificial intelligence (AI) all contribute to the technology landscape’s ongoing evolution. Marketing automation incorporating artificial intelligence, natural language processing, chatbots, and deeper integration of social media platforms in how people engage and consume products and solutions, along with crowdsourcing, are creating a new landscape that requires new approaches and ways of addressing what is effective, not overbearing and delivers across a global audience.

Various levels of hyper-connectivity, propelled by cloud computing, process automation, trust architectures and artificial intelligence (AI), are shaping the continuous evolution of the technology landscape. In this changing environment, automation, including artificial intelligence (AI), chatbots, and enhanced integration of platforms, is transforming how people interact with and consume products and solutions. Adding no-code platforms further contributes to this shift, necessitating fresh approaches to ensure effectiveness without confusion.

Jeff shared his thoughts on how to be resilient in a demanding and changing market, saying, “First and foremost, concentrate on being proactive, on being positioned to react quickly as unforeseen events emerge. Secondly, develop the versatility necessary to adjust to modifications in consumer purchasing patterns, global influences, and market fluctuations. Position to execute quickly, pose to jump, and be prepared to embrace what comes at you.”

Fostering Innovation and Creativity at the Workplace

A company’s growth is driven by its employees and corporate culture. The companies team must generate fresh, exciting concepts and approaches that drive the organization to reach for the stars. Additionally, with today’s generation of globally and socially aware and engaged people, the concepts and approaches must incorporate a sense of responsibility and global awareness. With the amazing variety of backgrounds, experiences, social awareness found in today’s workforce, it is a great opportunity to build and grow a trend-breaking and success-driven team.

No matter his role or position, Jeff assures that he will always focus on collaborating with product development, sales, customer service, and other teams to avoid groups working in isolation. In engaging at all levels and across all teams, Jeff continues to develop total team chemistry that drives everyone to achieve great things. Jeff is known for organizing brainstorming meetings with every member of the teams regularly so that everyone can present novel concepts, emerging technology, or trends they’ve seen. Through Jeff’s focus on total team inclusion and active participation and input, his teams maintain a customer-centric focus, confidently pushing boundaries and driving to deliver the best products and solutions.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are top priorities here. They believe everyone should be equally involved in and supported in all workplace areas, regardless of who they are or what they do for the company. I think this is an overused cliché that is better shown and delivered through the action of practicing it every day.

Definition of Success

According to Jeff, “Success is continuing to contribute to help deliver and market innovative leading solutions to the market that help protect companies from risks arising from cyber-security-related incidents.”

The Future Outlooks

Allgress has a roadmap for exploring new methods, processes, and technology to advance automation and AI to deliver IT Risk Management solutions that can be deployed and provide insights quicker than previously. In addition to helping Allgress be a market leader, Jeff will continue exploring being on additional advisory boards, speaking at industry events, and interacting with other marketing leaders to share best practices.

Words to Convey by the Visionary…

Never give up, even when the odds are against you. When others say you can’t or won’t succeed, keep pushing progress forward. Build the dream and drive to success!

Proscovia Nabbanja: The Leading Lady Behind UNOC, Empowering the Growth and Sustainable Development of Uganda’s Petroleum Industry

The narrative here is to bring your attention to Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) – a venture that strives to drive sustainable growth in the oil and gas sector by promoting national involvement and forging strategic alliances. At the forefront of this, we have highlighted the tale of Proscovia Nabbanja’s crucial roles in shaping Uganda’s petroleum sector and establishing the nation as a major player in the world energy landscape.

In the key position of CEO at UNOC, Proscovia is responsible for executing the company’s corporate strategy and plans, overseeing the business facets of state participation throughout the petroleum value chain, encompassing upstream, refining, transportation, and storage, and discovering fresh, profitable ventures. She started off working for the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development as a geologist. In academics, she earned a Master of Science in Petroleum Geoscience from the prestigious Imperial College of Science, Technology, and Medicine in London, a Bachelor of Science in Geology and Chemistry from Makerere University, and a Master of Business Administration from the Imperial College Business School in London.

To gain a better understanding of how she contributes to alleviating Uganda’s energy scenario, we conducted a one-on-one virtual interview with Proscovia Nabbanja. Based on the conversation, we crafted this exclusive story, which will shed light on her innovative ideas and her distinctive leadership approaches that take the company to the next level.

What Inspired Proscovia to Join the Uganda National Oil Company?

Proscovia, the magnificent woman, has always had a strong interest in Uganda’s oil and gas resources. She played a significant role in forming Uganda’s petroleum industry for the past 23 years. She began her career in the field as a geologist and worked her way up to become the head of the Technical Division in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development’s Petroleum Exploration and Production Department. In this role, she experienced projects through all stages of development, from inception to maturity, and investment-ready projects with detailed development strategies and plans.

Joining the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) was a natural progression for her. She was inspired by the company’s vision—to be an innovative and profitable oil and gas company that operates across the entire petroleum value chain for the benefit of all Ugandans—to position Uganda as a significant player in the local and global energy landscape.

Being part of a business that has a footprint across the entire petroleum value chain, from the reservoir to the consumer, was an opportunity to deliver value and a positive impact on her country. They have shown their commitment to helping Uganda’s economy change by investing in the infrastructure related to oil and gas along the whole petroleum value chain. Her main motivation for joining UNOC was this objective and the opportunity to positively influence Uganda’s energy sector.

Overcoming the Hurdles Along the Way

Proscovia has observed that business leaders grapple with several challenges, some of which are as follows:

An uncertain business environment due to changes in the global landscape.
Technological advancements demand that corporations keep pace and harness these innovations to ensure growth.
Besides, the constantly changing regulatory environment adds another layer of difficulty. Having dedicated employees to keep an eye on these changes is essential, as is ensuring compliance while managing these transitions. The consequences of non-compliance are getting worse.
Managing the expectations of stakeholders, ranging from shareholders, business partners, civil society, and the local communities where they operate, All these stakeholders have varied expectations, and aligning these expectations requires communication.
Recruiting and keeping talent present difficulties as well, particularly when the industry’s need for talent changes.
Last but not least, as sustainability becomes more and more of a worldwide priority, businesses like UNOC are under more and more pressure to embrace eco-friendly policies and work toward a sustainable future. The imperatives of social-economic transformation must be addressed while managing them.

Some potential solutions to these problems are listed below.

Leaders need to ensure that the strategies are agile and adaptable.
It is important to review the organization’s mission from time to time to ensure it continues to serve the goals of all of its stakeholders.
A culture of ongoing exposure to and learning from the newest industry trends is necessary for the growth and retention of talent.
Investing in research and development allows businesses to stay at the forefront of the latest technologies.
Collaborations with other industry players to provide fresh perspectives and solutions.
Establishing transparent channels of communication with all parties involved will ensure agreement and anticipate issues.

The Key Takeaways: Directly from Proscovia’s Mouth

Incorporating emerging technologies into the operations and client services of UNOC has offered a wealth of insights. One of the primary lessons is the importance of embracing change. Every new technological advancement, while promising, needs to be meticulously evaluated for its relevance to our specific operational needs. every technological decision is weighed against its value proposition. With the digital revolution, the sanctity of data has become paramount, underscoring the criticality of robust cybersecurity measures.

The rapid evolution of the technology landscape requires staying updated with the latest developments, ensuring adaptability to technological changes. An innovative approach approach guides our choices, focused on flexibility and scalability to address current and future needs.

Lastly, fostering a collaborative working environment at UNOC has proven great. Adopting the culture of One UNOC, where no staff is left behind, we have unlocked innovative solutions that drive efficiency and growth, ensuring that our technology, systems, and business processes align seamlessly with our vision.

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Issues

UNOC acknowledges the rising importance of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors in the current corporate environment. Their commitment lies in reducing their carbon footprint and making sure that the production activities are conducted with the utmost care for the environment. Thus, when designing projects, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations are prioritized. This includes investing funds in greener technology, cutting back on waste, and keeping an eye on and minimizing any environmental dangers related to business operations.

UNOC launched an Alliance for Climate Resilience program that brings technical, financial, cultural, religious, local government, and development partners under one umbrella to define and implement nature-based solutions to address the impacts of climate change.

In the same spirit, they led the creation of a forum for women working in the energy and extractive industries, which they introduced in May 2023 in an effort to bring together women who directly experience the effects of these sectors.

The Futuristic Outlook

For UNOC, this journey has been marked by remarkable growth and expansion. Further, Proscovia envisions a dual role for UNOC. As a responsible producer of oil and gas, the company’s first goal is to optimize operations by making sure they are effective, considerate of the environment, and in line with industry best practices. Secondly, they diversify their energy portfolio to look forward to the future while simultaneously maximizing the value of their oil and gas assets.

Pearls of Wisdom by the Inspiring Lady

You need to have the right mindset, attitude, and mentality. It’s important to have faith in your own abilities and insights.
You must be steadfast and dedicated, taking on obstacles head-on and not giving up until you achieve them.
Clarity and direction are always available when you ask seasoned professional coaches and mentors for advice.
Be the mentor; support your team to be a better version of themselves. Use your voice to push boundaries and support other women.

The Inspirational Journey of Mike Kavanagh: A Tale of Efforts and Achievements

One of the foremost contractors in Hong Kong, incorporated in 2000, S&Techs is a globally recognized brand reckoned for its dedicated professional service and successful project delivery thanks to the wise guidance of its visionary leaders. Mr. Mike Kavanagh is the COO of the establishment and emphasizes customer-centricity and transparency. Mr. Kavanagh, a licensed quantity surveyor with more than 30 years of experience in the construction sector, is recognized as a visionary luminary who has held several managerial positions with the StructureTone Organization in the Americas, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific Region. prior to senior roles with S & techs.

As a proactive professional, Mike has been shifting the tides and collaborating closely with clients and consultants to ensure the teams have the tools and expertise to provide top-notch service.

With a proven track record of building successful businesses from scratch and positioning them as market leaders, Mike is perceived as a guiding light to modern-day entrepreneurs who look up to him for inspiration and business wisdom. His extensive experience working with multinational clients enables him to understand their unique requirements, making him a trusted partner in the Asia-Pacific region.

Mike Kavanagh’s Success Journey: From Quantity Surveyor to the Company COO

He began his career as a Chartered Quantity Surveyor in the fit-out and refurbishment industry in the early 1980s in New York City after emigrating to the US from Ireland. Working for the sizable construction firm Structure Tone, he eventually moved into management positions, running the business’s office in Washington, DC, for six years after staring in estimating and rising to head of purchasing for the corporation in New York. Mike spent much time working outside of Washington, DC, including in Baltimore, Charlotte, Philadelphia, and, of course, the city itself.

The leadership team encouraged the aspiring executive to move to London to take a position as the commercial director of the London office as the business started to grow in Europe. From that point on, he worked with offices throughout Europe, including Paris, Milan, Madrid, Frankfurt, and Dublin, as the regional development director. His achievement of this key milestone allowed him to gain crucial experience working with people from many cultures and nations.

They began receiving queries about projects in Hong Kong at that time, which ultimately resulted in the opening of the office there 23 years ago. He helped the business flourish in the region by serving as a director on the board of the organization as a result of his involvement in Asia. He moved to Hong Kong in 2010 and has been there ever since.

Since then, Mike Kavanagh and his business partner, CEO Nobuo Shigemitsu have acquired ownership of the company and are concentrating on two distinct business sectors. The first is the industrial manufacturing sector, which entails planning and erecting factories, logistics centres and R&D centres in mainland China lead by Nobuo Shigemitsu. The other is the company’s interior fit-out and renovation division, which covers the entire APAC region. Mike Kavanagh is in charge of this department of the company, which currently has several offices spread out around the area.

“Throughout my journey, I’ve learned many impactful lessons, including the importance of adapting to different cultures, the value of taking risks and making big leaps, and the necessity of being open to new opportunities. I believe these lessons have been critical to my success, and I look forward to continuing to learn and grow as a professional”, the magnificent man shared.

Highlights: Key Driving Force

Client Service: Putting the customer’s needs first has been a recurring theme throughout Mike’s career, and it has assisted him in developing a reputation for competence in the field. Mike has gained his client’s trust and respect by offering great service and producing work of the highest caliber.

Excellence: The inspiring leader is dedicated to producing the best outcomes on each project and has a high regard for excellence. Additionally, he stands out in a competitive business due to his focus on quality and attention to detail.

Partnering: Understanding the value of enduring partnerships with customers, vendors, and other stakeholders. The visionary leader has produced excellent results on even the most challenging projects by collaborating and encouraging open communication.

Relationship Building: Recognize that successful connections are the foundation of the construction industry. You have put much effort into cultivating enduring bonds with your customers, staff, and other stakeholders, which has played a role in your long-term success.

Integrity: Always act professionally and with the utmost integrity. You are known as a respected leader in the sector thanks to your dedication to moral business conduct.

Enthusiasm: Take a positive outlook and an enthusiastic approach to every project. Mr. Kavanagh’s infectious enthusiasm and dedication to his work have motivated the team to remarkable success.

Technology Innovation: Another significant driving force is the constant search for new methods to use technology to enhance processes and provide clients with better results. Mr. Kavanagh has been able to stay up-to-date with the most recent technological developments by embracing innovation and staying ahead of the curve.

Defeating the Obstacles

As always, the challenges are adapting to differing market conditions, which include budget and schedule challenges, as well as continuously being ahead of the curve in terms of delivery and service excellence.

Purpose-Driven: Mission and Vision

Their mission is to deliver great construction services to clients that exceed their expectations. The team is dedicated to providing top-notch work, creative solutions, and prompt project completion. They are guided in all facets of their work by their principles of customer service, excellence, collaboration, connection development, integrity, excitement, and technological innovation.

Their vision is to become the top construction company in the sector by offering clients unmatched quality and service. They strive hard to develop strong bonds with their clients that are founded on mutual respect, trust, and understanding. The degree to which their customers are happy and the volume of repeat business they get each year indicate their success.

Five Years Down the Line

Looking ahead, Mr. Kavanagh’s visionary perspective entails a future where the focus would be on enhancing and building more solid industry expertise as well as expanding the company’s reach to at least three additional APAC locations.

An Inspiring Message to Budding Entrepreneurs from the Desk of the COO

Adopting an attitude of ownership can help you develop a sense of responsibility and a deeper understanding of management. Furthermore, do not hesitate to seek out senior management in the company for mentoring and guidance. Building strong relationships is another key factor in the growth of any business. This can help expand your company’s reach and develop new local and international business opportunities.

Going the extra mile for your clients is another crucial element. It’s also important to gain diverse experience across different parts of the business to understand how the business works and help you develop a diverse set of skills. Finally, continue to learn and educate yourself. Investing in your personal development will help you stay ahead of the curve and advance your career.

Gary Lam: The Aspiring Tech Leader at Livi Bank Limited, Making the Banking Experience Seamless, Secure and Convenient

Businesses always look to develop a bleeding edge, ‘silver bullets’, or reinvent the wheel. Ventures that succeed in their endeavors often have a diversity of success factors, with dynamic leadership being one of them. livi bank has undeniably carved a niche for itself with its spectacular breakthroughs as one of the pioneers in the digital banking space. livi is the first bank to introduce the revolutionary livi PayLater (“Buy Now, Pay Later”) to Hong Kong and is gaining popularity among its customers. It also introduced the Mochi NFT artwork collectible, an innovative way to show appreciation to supportive customers.

As Hong Kong’s leading lifestyle-driven virtual bank, livi bank aims to provide customers with a unique, fresh, and different banking experience anytime and anywhere that complements their everyday lives. The bank is dedicated to promoting financial inclusion by introducing new financing and insurance products that serve customers’ needs both in their personal and business lives and by providing financial options for Hong Kong’s SMEs.

Gary Lam: a Tech Leader Aspires to Bring Positive Changes

It is remarkable that livi has undergone exceptional developments and provided distinctive values to those on the ground. Mr. Gary Lam, livi bank’s Chief Technology Officer, is one of the leaders behind these projects. Gary’s incredible career spans more than 20 years, and throughout that time, he has worked on several financial technology initiatives and led sizable IT teams across the Asia-Pacific region.

Gary made changes to the bank’s IT infrastructure and digital offerings, with an emphasis on improving the customer experience. His leadership approach involves empowering his team to cultivate a climate of trust and responsibility and supporting their professional growth. He values forging close bonds with his team members, hearing their thoughts, and working together to accomplish common goals. Through encouraging innovation and nurturing growth, Gary has been a successful leader who fosters a happy and productive atmosphere for his team. Gary started his career with Microsoft as an Associate Consultant after graduating with a degree in computer engineering. He gained valuable expertise working on several key projects. Later, he moved into the banking and insurance sectors, where he restructured several major banks using agile approaches. He contributed to offering WeChat banking for corporate clients, developing blockchain-powered trade finance systems and global trade tracking applications.

Before joining livi as Chief Technology Officer, Gary was Morgan Stanley’s Executive Director and Head of Digital and Platform Architecture for the Private Wealth Management business. Prior to that, he worked for major banks like HSBC and JP Morgan as Head of Program Management and led Agile Transformation in the APAC region.

The Open Workplace Culture Driven by Creativity and Innovation

At livi bank, Gary introduced an agile business model called Formula One (Fast, First, and Fearless) and an open culture that values diversity of thought and experimentation to inspire creativity and innovation while upholding a positive work environment.

By establishing a top-down vision and objective and encouraging the team to propose solutions, Gary empowered the team to succeed in their work. Within a year, livi bank’s IT team offered SME business banking, established an insurance gateway, and completed the retail banking journey .

The team has been encouraged to challenge the status quo in order to provide innovative solutions, and thus, they have significantly shortened the time to market, especially for delivering new products and services.

livi has a strong and dedicated team with extensive experience in finance and banking, as well as in the technology, commercial, and consumer sectors. The agile work methodology introduced by Gary leverages cross-functional teams to create a rapid and flexible customer – driven work environment.

Outstanding technology capabilities are fundamental to livi. The bank has built a strong digital platform with the flexibility to scale and is creating enhanced data capabilities that will act as drivers for the business. livi’s digital capabilities enable speed to market, personalized products and services, resource optimization, and a robust risk and governance infrastructure that can support customers.

livi bank has continually developed innovative solutions that systematically address customers’ pain points. One of the issues the financial sector is dealing with is the lack of useable data, which makes it challenging to efficiently provide customers with customized solutions like alternative data financing, precision marketing, and other specialized services.

To address these challenges, financial institutions like livi bank can expand their services and increase their accessibility to a larger variety of customers by utilizing technical solutions to reduce the marginal cost of each transaction. As a result, it may be simpler to monetize investments in financial inclusion through cost reduction and efficiency improvements.

The Business-centric Technologist: Making a Positive Impact in Fintech

Gary aspires to be a pioneering leader in the fintech sector, a business-focused technologist, and someone who drives digital transformation and develops cutting-edge technologies that enhance the consumer experience. He is recognized for his tenacity, business-centric approach to technology, and capacity to unite a diverse team to accomplish shared objectives.

Gary is dedicated to advancing innovation and enhancing the customer experience. He aims to continue advancing innovation at livi bank, expands the bank’s offerings and reach and takes part in the continuous transformation of the fintech sector in the coming years. To contribute to the long-term, sustainable economic growth of Hong Kong, he and the livi team are passionate about introducing GBA services. Gary intends to share cutting-edge ideas with nearby markets to advance the goal of becoming a global developer.

In addition to his professional achievements, he is committed to giving back to the community wherever possible and improving the lives of others. He will continue to lead the team to support Hong Kong’s community, advance the digital banking strategy and give underbanked customers access to high-quality services at competitive prices.

“By capitalizing the strategic location of Hong Kong and the talents of our local workforce, we aim to scale up digital banking opportunities to provide our customers with a seamless, enjoyable, and convenient banking experience.” Gary Lam

Sigurd Fristad: Pioneering Excellence in Digital Transformation

With a remarkable track record spanning more than three decades, Sigurd Fristad has navigated the complex IT landscape, leaving a mark as both as a seasoned line manager and a proficient program & project manager. His journey began with what would later become Accenture, where he ascended to the esteemed position of an international partner.

What sets Sigurd apart from others is his extensive experience and understanding of the challenges in managing complex transformation processes. He is well aware of the struggles associated with manual, reactive approaches reliant on fragmented transformation from various sources and individuals. So, in 2020, Sigurd and Cristoph Reuter co-founded Qlorem, which provides companies with an instant, insightful, collaborative way of scoping, planning, and executing projects, taking proactive actions, and averting problems before they even occur.

“I have felt the pain myself trying to manage the transformation complexity manually and reactively based on hardly available information from different systems and people. Me and my co-founder Christoph Reuter decided to ease the pain, so we founded Qlorem. Qlorem is Latin and stands for Quality and Value creation,”– he explains

About Qlorem

Founded in 2020, Qlorem helps companies globally manage projects more intelligently. Qlorem has launched a nextgeneration Project Intelligence Platform that provides an instant, insightful, collaborative way of scoping, planning, and executing your projects so companies can take proactive actions and avert problems before they occur.

Qlorem’s unique Project Intelligence Platform connects project management processes to the actual change using a Dynamic Digital Twin of an Organization, integrations to the company eco-system, 60+ Key Performance Indicators, Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence.

The Problem Solver

Sigurd Fristad is more than just an experienced professional; he is a relentless problem-solver. In every facet of his work, Sigurd’s unwavering commitment revolves around the belief that there’s always a better way, and he’s determined to find it.

One of his defining characteristics is his analytical and fact based approach to challenges. Sigurd doesn’t rely on intuition alone; he compiles data and evidence to support his proposals for improvements and innovations. This systematic approach ensures the soundness of his ideas and fosters trust and confidence among his colleagues and peers.

Sigurd also brings an unmatched energy and passion to everything he undertakes. For him, it’s not only about solving problems; it’s about doing so with outstanding commitment and dedication.

“My passion is to create new products or services, and it gives both energy to introducing new technology which can help drive transformational changes for clients. My mission all my professional life has been to help clients become more successful,”- Sigurd says.

It’s All About Diversity

Sigurd embraces the diversity of the human race. He believes that companies can not thrive if they can’t embrace the human race’s diversity. Under his leadership, Qlorem actively promotes an inclusive environment where all are treated with respect and equality.

Furthermore, Sigurd also tackles gender pay inequality head-on. He firmly believes that actual progress can only be achieved when employees are compensated based on their work, not on their gender. Qlorem’s reward system is designed to reflect this belief, and each team member’s contributions determine their compensation regardless of gender.

Digital Transformation is Not Easy

Sigurd recognizes that the digital transformation landscape is full of challenges, and 65% of all digital transformation projects fail. Every year, companies invest more than $1 Trillion in digital transformation projects, among which $650 Billion goes to waste.

There are several reasons for this, one of which is the huge resistance in organizations towards change. Another critical factor contributing to the high failure rate is the decision-making within organizations and companies. Many companies still rely on old, archaic, fragmented, static project and product information scattered across stand-alone systems, spreadsheets, and sticky notes. While many things have changed, the way of work has hardly changed over the last decades.

“I would like to see more people being more positive to change and adopting new technology. There is too much: “This is the way we always have done it” and there are too few early adopters. Of course, we need to balance the usage of AI, but the evolution will not stop, it needs to be managed,”– explains Sigurd.

Future Roadmap

Sigurd aspires to witness a world where projects, on a global scale, are managed with greater intelligence and efficiency, ideally by using Qlorem’s Project Intelligence platform.

“I would really like to see global projects managed more intelligently, preferably by using Qlorem’s Project Intelligence platform. Then I can spend more time with my wife and grandchildren, which can be expected from my four grown-up children,”– he concludes.

Cem Congar’s Ambitious Voyage In Maritime And International Law

Cem CONGAR, the esteemed founder of Congar Law Ltd, earned his law degree from Istanbul University in 2006. As a distinguished member of the Istanbul Bar Association, he has consistently demonstrated commitment and integrity in his legal practice. His professional journey commenced with the founding of Congar Law Firm in Istanbul and later expanded with the establishment of Congar Law Ltd and Doris Consultancy LLP in London. Notably, he interned under a respected professor, a distinguished lecturer, and the former Dean of Commercial Law at the Istanbul University Faculty of Law.

Throughout his career, Mr. CONGAR has provided expert services as inhouse lawyer to esteemed institutions, including the Antalya Coast Guard Command, Ceynak Logistics & Samsunport Harbour, and the notable AXA Sigorta General Directorate.

His expertise encompasses maritime, air, and land transportation law, insurance law, energy law, international arbitration, and litigation. As a respected thought leader, Mr. CONGAR frequently contributes to industry publications and has authored thirteen books. His insights are regularly sought after, leading him to speak at numerous venues including universities, professional associations, chambers of commerce, and international symposiums.

Beyond the courtroom, Mr. CONGAR is deeply engaged in the legal community. He played a foundational role in establishing several professional associations and is the proud founding president of the Young Maritime Lawyers Association of Turkey. Additionally, he is an esteemed member of the European Lawyers Association.

This year, Mr. CONGAR will augment his legal pursuits by undertaking doctoral studies in maritime law in London, aiming to deepen his specialization and foster his academic progression in the discipline.

Establishing Congar Law Firm

In 2017, Cem parted ways with AXA Insurance and established his boutique, Congar Law Firm. Over the past three years, Cem and his team have proudly operated as Congar Law Firm in Istanbul and Congar Law Company in London. The boutique law firm’s dedicated team of 35 professionals delivers legal and industry-specific consulting services.

“Our firms are boutique in nature, with specializations in maritime law, insurance law, international arbitration, transportation law, corporate law, and commercial contracts. In addition, while these areas remain our core strengths, we also serve clients in niche domains like international employment law and domestic relations.”– he explains.

A notable aspect of Congar Law Firm is its multilingual proficiency; virtually all of its lawyers are adept in multiple languages, which has proven invaluable globally. Congar’s affiliations with numerous international professional associations further bolster the firm’s reach, enabling swift resolutions to its clients’ legal disputes across various countries through collaborative efforts.

“What sets us apart is our innate ability to ‘speak’ our clients’ language. Our primary clientele, which consists of transportation firms, seafarers, and insurers, benefits from our deep understanding of their industry’s nuances and terminology. This deep-rooted knowledge equips us to identify solutions with greater efficiency and precision,”– states Cem.

“Without this specialized understanding, lawyers might find themselves navigating a labyrinth of legal research or, worse, providing advice that isn’t congruent with practical industry operations. It’s this expertise that instills confidence in our clients, making their interactions with us smooth and trustful.”

A Steadfast Leader

Cem pioneered the concept of a voluntary training organization in Turkey. Typically, lawyers expect some remuneration for training. However, recognizing the initial stage of the Turkish Maritime Law, Cem embarked on a mission to elevate its status. Since then, he has provided hundreds of free trainings at institutions, bar associations, chambers of commerce, and sectoral associations.

That’s not all; Cem’s commitment to sharing knowledge is further exemplified by his monthly columns in a well-known sectoral magazine. He also founded the Young Maritime Lawyers Association of Turkey to mentor the next generation of lawyers. In 2012, Cem helped establish the Transport and Logistics Commission at the Istanbul Bar Association and became its Founding Vice President. Cem’s engagement with European legal circles soon saw him participating in various European Union legal studies and later contributing articles to the European Union’s annual law journal following his involvement with the European Lawyers Association meeting this year.

“2023 has been a whirlwind, marked by my travels to 18 countries. These journeys facilitated meaningful exchanges with law and bar associations and ambassadors. My insights into Turkish and International Law were well-received, leading to publications in Greece, Germany, Azerbaijan, and England. Collaborative efforts saw us interviewing lawyers across 25 countries, enriching the perspective of young Turkish legal professionals,”- he explains.

Promoting the Culture of Unity and Acceptance

Cem has consistently strived to embody and promote inclusivity. His affiliation with the International Rotary and Lions Clubs since 2007 enriched him with a culture of acceptance and unity.

“Turkey, in its essence, is a tapestry of diverse ethnicities, nationalities, and beliefs. At our office, we resonate with this ethos, welcoming everyone with open arms and fostering an environment of mutual respect and cooperation,”– he explains.

During his tenure as the president of the Rotary Club, Cem started the tradition of celebrating religious festivals from all faiths and named that initiative “Let’s Recognize Our Differences.” This noble endeavor not only bridged gaps between communities but also helped Cem earn the “Young People Making a Difference Award” from the USA, a testament to his unwavering commitment to building bridges and fostering a more inclusive society.

Making the Industry a Better Place

Cem feels with all the technological leaps; legal professionals need continuous learning and education. He firmly believes that continuous education is essential to keep pace with the ever-evolving landscape of the law. As technology reshapes industries, legal practitioners must adapt and expand their knowledge base to provide the best counsel to their clients. Like many others, the legal profession is not immune to the transformative power of technology, and staying informed and educated is paramount to staying on top of it.

On the other hand, he feels the planet’s escalating environmental crisis underscores the urgency for more robust environmental legislation and enforcement. This global issue demands local solutions, with nations collectively tightening environmental statutes.

Also, with a more interconnected world, increased collaboration is needed to confront international crimes and facilitate commercial dispute resolutions. Furthermore, Cem strongly believes that the arc of law must bend towards safeguarding individual and community rights. He feels it’s not enough for the law to be static; instead, it must evolve to address society’s changing needs and concerns. This means strongly emphasizing pillars like gender equality, minority rights, and other pivotal societal matters. The law should remain a dynamic instrument of justice and equity, constantly adapting to uphold the principles of fairness and inclusivity in an ever-changing world.

The Future Roadmap

Over the next half-decade, Cem is dedicated to carving a distinct niche in the fields of Maritime Law and International Law within Turkey. While of paramount importance, these sectors have traditionally been overshadowed by other branches of law, and Cem sees this as an opportunity to bring these areas to the forefront and elevate their significance in the legal landscape of his country.

“It’s my fervent belief that despite the challenges, we possess the tenacity and expertise to hold our own against attorneys from countries with more entrenched legal frameworks in these areas,”- he explains.

Above all, Cem’s ultimate ambition is to make a mark as a Turkish lawyer in a nation like England—a country that has, for centuries, not only been a cornerstone in maritime affairs but also a formidable force in shaping maritime law.

Me. Yves Constant Amani: Pioneering Excellence in Legal and Financial Landscape

Established in 1986, Cabinet BAO & Fils proudly stands as the oldest law firm in the Republic of Guinea. As a pioneer in the field of business law in Guinea, Cabinet BAO & Fils has played an instrumental role in shaping the country’s legal frameworks across various sectors.

Advising in French and English, BAO & Fils has more than three decades of experience nationally and internationally as a legal advisor on matters of Guinean law. The law firm closely works with the world’s largest international business law firms and from all major global financial centers.

At the helm of BAO & Fils Me. Yves Constant Amani serves as Legal Counsel and Head of the Advisory and Structuring Department. In this role, Me. Yves provides valuable strategic guidance throughout the entire transaction process, from initial structuring to the meticulous drafting of contracts. His proficiency in English enables him to communicate with clients from different cultures and geographies easily.

Me. Yves holds a Master’s degree from the Catholic University of West Africa in Abidjan. Subsequently, he also worked to enhance his communication skills and cross-cultural awareness at the Centre for Languages and Professional Studies in Accra. He also completed a one-year corporate finance course from the EDC Business School in Paris to deepen his grasp of corporate finance concepts.

Me. Yves is working on his dissertation for an LLM in International Business Law at the University of Cumbria in London to better understand corporate governance, international trade, and investment law.

“I’m deeply invested in completing my LLM dissertation at the University of Cumbria in International Business Law. This involves rigorous research, time management, and collaboration with academic mentors. Integrating my academic insights into my work at BAO&Fils enhances my ability to provide strategic advice in international transactions and complex legal matters. It’s a balanced approach that contributes to my personal growth and the firm’s success,”- he states.

Joining the Industry

Personal interests, academic achievements, and a vital need within Africa drove Me. Yves’s entry into the legal and financial industry. Recognizing a critical shortage of experts in these fields, particularly in regions with a history of French colonization, he felt a compelling urge to make a meaningful contribution to the emergence of a new generation of legal and financial advisors capable of delivering world-class counsel. He recognized the region’s unique challenges and aimed to bridge the knowledge gap by sharpening his expertise in international transactions and corporate finance. He understood that mastering these areas would eventually empower him to meet Africa’s specific needs and shape a brighter future for African economies.

Mission and Vision

Me. Yves’s mission is to substantially impact the legal and financial landscape, specifically focusing on Africa. His commitment lies in offering expert guidance and strategic counsel that empowers businesses and individuals to successfully navigate the intricate web of complex transactions and challenges within the region.

He aims to continue expanding his skills and knowledge, staying at the forefront of legal and financial developments. He strives to foster a new generation of professionals who can provide first-class advice tailored to the unique needs of Africa. Ultimately, with his grand aspirations, Me. Yves plans to leave a lasting impact on the regions he serves. He envisions contributing to economic growth, fostering improved legal systems, and enhancing business practices within the region.

A Smooth Sea Never Made a Good Sailor

Me. Yves believes challenges like evolving regulations, cross-border complexity, and competition plague the industry. However, he tackles these by staying updated through research and seminars for regulatory changes.

“Key challenges in the industry include regulatory changes, global transaction complexity, and competition. I address these challenges by staying updated through continuous learning, leveraging language skills for cross-border nuances, and fostering innovation through firm collaboration and professional networks. This approach equips me to provide effective solutions in a dynamic landscape.”– he explains.

Giving it Back

Me. Yves’s commitment to his mission goes much beyond his professional endeavors. He mentors aspiring professionals by extending his wealth of knowledge and experience. Through his mentorship, Me. Yves provides valuable insights and crucial guidance, nurturing the growth and development of emerging talents in this field.

Additionally, as a staunch advocate for diversity and inclusion, Me. Yves recognizes the importance of ensuring that opportunities are equitable and accessible to all, regardless of background or circumstance. By championing diversity and inclusion, he fosters an environment where talent and potential are recognized and celebrated without bias.

Picture of the Future

Me. Yves Constant Amani’s plans are marked by a continued dedication to personal and professional growth. One of his primary goals is to complete his LLM (Master of Laws), further deepening his expertise and knowledge in the legal field.

“My future plans involve completing my LLM, mentoring new professionals, and assuming leadership roles at BAO&Fils. I’m committed to advancing the industry, advocating for innovation, and leaving a positive mark on clients and the community,”- he concludes.

Innovating Beyond Biometric Authentication Challenges Under the Dynamic Leadership of Frank Sandeloev

Acknowledged globally as an “Authentication as a Service” provider with a solution combining a biometric card with fingerprint verification with a full backend solution, CardLab Innovation has marked its mettle as the strongest cybersecurity solution in the market.

Dedicated to enabling card manufacturers, card issuers, and their customers to take optimal advantage of technological developments, CardLab has its own standard product and is also a one-stop shop for developing biometric card solutions for customers and taking care of the production with the electronic contractors and final card lamination, embedding, and personalization at their own factory in Thailand.

CardLab Innovation is proud of its significant contributions to the cybersecurity sector. They have constantly raised the bar, covering verticals like logical and physical access control, single sign-on, identity solutions like passports, government, health solutions, blockchain authentication, self-custodian crypto wallets, payments, etc.

As Frank Sandeloev, CEO of CardLab, revealed, “One of the founders had his credit card information stolen, which caused the decision to make payments initially biometrically safeguarded. This has eventually developed into a complete biometric authentication solution applicable for all business areas, and this is how CardLab came into existence.”

Difficulties in Navigating and Changing Industry Norms

As AI develops and identity spoofing becomes easier and easier in real-time, secure user authentication will become a major concern. Malware, ransomware, and other forms of cybercrime have all been major issues with double-digit growth rates up to this point, and AI will only make matters worse. Nothing totally digital can be secured against hacking, viruses, and ransomware assaults, which are the main problems of today.

The primary concern now and in the future is that consumers frequently need better comprehension of the magnitude of the cybersecurity threat instead of concentrating on unsafe, totally digital authentication solutions.

Further, the visionary leaders asserted, “I do think that one of our greatest difficulties right now is that development goes so quickly that no one truly knows what they are implementing out of fear of falling behind on digitization. This led to the current era, which is characterized by arguably the highest danger of data and identity loss ever. With its hardware and software biometric authentication solution, CardLab is addressing this issue.”

Nurturing a Skilled and Diverse Team

A strong team is essential to creating a successful business, and Frank’s strategy emphasizes the importance of the individual as a person and teamplayer. Additionally, there is a program that offers incentives for creative problem-solving and “out of the box” thinking. Equal qualifications necessitate equal remuneration, and CardLab adheres to this principle.

Synchronizing with the Latest Tech Advancements

CardLab continuously strives to move the solutions to a better place with greater performance by utilizing the most recent components and technology to maintain an open eye on all platforms and competing solutions on the market. In addition, they have several strategic partnerships with some of the key players in this domain.

CardLab’s Insight on Diversity and Inclusion

All genders, races, nationalities, religions, and sexual orientations, as well as potential physical disabilities, are welcome to work at CardLab as long as they don’t negatively affect the quality of the work. The team’s priority is to hire the most competent candidate for the position, and we already value diversity in the form of various sexes, ethnicities, and physical impairments.

Envisioning the Future

On a personal level, Frank aims to have CardLab listed within the next 5 years. Further, CardLab aims to educate the market to understand the real threats of digitalization; teach companies and government bodies good digital habits, and employ a combined hardware and software authentication solution to fight cybercrime, safeguard data, and ensure a continuous unbreakable connection between physical and digital identities.

The Man of the Hour

The driving force behind this revolutionary endeavor is none other than Frank Sandeloev himself. A 25-year veteran airline pilot and captain who has served as a qualified army officer and military pilot for 11 years. During this time, he has also represented SAS in the “Single European Sky” workgroup, which is tasked with developing concepts for operations, passenger identification, and throughput. Frank Sandeloev’s journey to entrepreneurship has been one of perseverance and hard work following his successful career in defense. He has been the CEO of CardLab for the past ten years and has helped the company transition from a technology development company to a production and sales company with some of the most powerful solutions to combat cybercrime. During this time, he has also represented CardLab as an IATA strategic partner and a biometric expert, assisting in the fight against cybercrime.

Mahrukh Umrigar: A Visionary Leader Shaping the Legal Landscape

Meet Mahrukh Umrigar, a dynamic legal professional and the co-founding partner of Consortia Legal, an independent boutique law firm specializing solely in Indian law. Prior to founding Consortia Legal, Mahrukh worked with a renowned Indian law firm, where she led its global mobility practice. Mahrukh is recognized for providing concise and practical solutions to her clients and business contacts in a timely and cost-effective manner.

One of Mahrukh’s most impressive areas of expertise lies in Indian immigration. She regularly services global multinationals, international relocation companies, accounting practices, law firms, and other service providers in their Indian immigration and mobility requirements. She offers a range of services from strategy advice to assistance in availing appropriate visas to post-arrival compliances in India.

Beyond her legal prowess, Mahrukh is a sought-after speaker at seminars and conferences, where she shares valuable insights on various Indian legal and regulatory matters. She also conducts global workshops for her clients and business contacts on numerous aspects of Indian immigration rules and regulations, employment and labor laws, and HR best practices.

Nurturing Future Leaders

For Mahrukh, leadership is not only about commanding from the top; instead, it’s about nurturing one’s talents and capabilities and guiding people at their own pace. She considers herself incredibly fortunate to have a mentor who has not only become her business partner but an integral part of her family. With unwavering patience, her mentor took the time to guide her meticulously, step by step, day by day, over many years.

For Mahrukh, the essence of effective leadership extends beyond the confines of the workplace. She firmly believes being supportive is the most important aspect of leadership, transcending personal and professional life boundaries. Whether in times of celebration or during challenging moments, Mahrukh emphasizes the importance of always being there for others, lending a sympathetic ear, and, most importantly, being genuine in all interactions.

“A key component of being a good leader is the constant need to learn, evolve, and be approachable. This includes both learning from peers as well as younger members of the team, as everyone has something to offer. The biggest leadership mistake is thinking you know it all,”– she explains.

Building a Healthy Work Environment

Mahrukh feels maintaining a healthy and inclusive work environment and a work-life balance is a key feature in retaining quality team members. Although some people will always be motivated by money, patience is necessary to enable a person to flourish properly.

At Consortia Legal, Mahrukh likes to encourage her team to come forward with ideas or suggestions, be it for work-related matters or administrative and logistical issues. She firmly believes in offering autonomy, space, and support for team members to discover their potential and grow with the firm.

Fostering Diversity, Equity, and Innovation

Under Mahrukh and her partners’, Jehaan and Satyendra’s visionary leadership, Consortia Legal is steadfastly committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion. Despite being a corporate boutique in its infancy, Consortia’s team represents diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity.

In an era where diversity and inclusion have become paramount in the professional world, Consortia Legal stands out as a firm that recognizes the inherent value of different perspectives and backgrounds. It believes embracing diversity fuels creativity and innovation, which is essential in today’s dynamic business landscape.

Managing Work-Life Balance

For Mahrukh, maintaining a proper work-life balance has been exceptionally challenging as she had to navigate the complex process of establishing her firm alongside her trusted partners while simultaneously embracing the role of a first-time mom.

“2021 was my year of two births. It has been hard but not impossible. It might sound cliché, but where there is a will, there is a way. Organization and forward planning (as much as possible with a newborn, who is now a toddler) have been key in managing the work-life balance these past two years. Not to forget, having a supportive family structure and the best business partners and team (who are like family) have immensely helped me along the way,“- she explains.

Growing Consortia Legal

As India continues to shine in the global economy, its legal landscape is poised for a transformation. So, Mahrukh and her partners aim to nurture Consortia Legal into a truly unique Indian law firm and expand its operations across multiple Indian cities.

“Whilst we hope to expand our operations across various cities in India, our focus to actively promote inclusivity and fairness while building on our principles of partnership, association, collaboration, and trust remain at the forefront of our endeavors,”– she says.

Future Roadmap

Mahrukh’s focus for the next five years is to grow as a person and professional. From a professional perspective, she aims to expand her practice, grow her team, and be a better version of herself daily. She doesn’t expect miracles overnight but small, steady steps along the way. Personally, Mahrukh hopes to achieve more self-awareness, better time management, and, most importantly, to ensure that her team, family, and she are happy.

Suggestions for Women Leaders in Business

Mahrukh suggests that women business leaders should never give up and be disheartened by the voices. There will be times when it might feel like a lost case; there will be days when they might feel it is not worth it and it is too hard. However, irrespective of all these challenges, they should take small steps, take deep breaths, and tackle one day at a time.

“Do not be afraid to venture into the unknown or out of your comfort zone. Being an entrepreneur and starting our firm with my trusted partners has been the best decision of my professional life by far. There will be a million naysayers, but remember, they are the ones who do not want you to prosper because it isn’t in their best interest. Trust your instincts and never be afraid to be authentic,“- she concludes.

The Champion of the Legal World, John Giannakakis, Is Nestling the Dexterity of Legal Compliance, Data Protection, Risk Assessment, and Cyber Resilience.

Counted amongst the top legal luminaries on a global level, John Giannakakis comes up with 30+ years of experience supporting businesses and organizations as both a corporate counsel and a freelance consultant in regulated multitasking environments. He has held positions of increasing responsibility, including general counsel, head of legal and compliance, and data protection officer.

With his exceptional ability to strategize, a 360-degree perspective of issues, and in-depth legal knowledge, John Giannakakis has carved out a niche for himself in the fields of legal compliance and data protection leadership, DPOaaS, risk assessment, privacy by design specialists, cyber resilience and recovery advisors, accredited data protection instructors, and certified GDPR practitioners. With his remarkable competence and exemplary legal judgment, Mr. John—the most honored Greek data protection officer in the world—has successfully created an impact on the legal community.

John has a law degree from the University of Athens and a law master’s degree from Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich, Germany. John worked as a general counsel in a variety of sectors and European countries after earning his certification in Greece 32 years ago. As a seasoned general counsel, he began to concentrate on data protection and cybersecurity, and after ten years of work in this area, the magnificent man was named the most internationally recognized Greek data protection officer in the world. In 2019, he also made the PrivSec 200 List of One Trust with the best European privacy and security professionals.

In addition to his new position as Off Counsel to NK Law (the top data protection practice group in Greece), John Giannakakis is at present working on his new book on the Internet of Things and privacy, The Hack on Hellenic Post (2022). As ever, with a consistent and targeted growth strategy, creating new client-centric services, and amazing teamwork, Johan is continuously riding on his career ladder.

Sharing more insights on his professional journey, the visionary leader asserted, “I had an incredible professional journey with many changes, with wins and failures that taught me that change is a definite part of life and we should embrace it, not avoid it. Looking back, I’m happy with my contributions to the Greek legal community, especially in the area of educating my younger colleagues to become privacy professionals and data protection officers. But most importantly, I’m proud that my teams have always referred to me as “the coolest boss” at every workplace where I have worked.

For the future, John Giannakakis wishes to be remembered by his peers and in the industry as an empathetic and affiliative leader who is constantly embracing change, not being afraid to try and fail, and always learning in the process.

The Primary Industry Hurdles

At present, the legal industry is suffering due to the latest tech trends like AI and machine learning. These technical developments are contributing to the swift decline of small and medium-sized law firms. The inability of older lawyers to adapt to modern technologies and the shrinking legal funds in large organizations are two other significant issues in legal field.

The Key Ingredients Behind John’s Violent Journey

John has consistently been driven to step outside of his comfort zone in order to grow throughout his journey by his constant desire to learn new things and pursue new professional opportunities. He is dedicated to ensuring the happiness of his clients, and his “closer” approach to even the most complex and challenging situations has kept him ahead of his contemporaries. Additionally, Johan is not treated as a distant “boss” due to his affiliative management approach toward the teams and partners.

Road Ahaed

On being asked about his future plans, the inspiring leader mentioned, “My next future plans are to finish my fourth novel, “Confessions of an Ethical Hacker,” a cyberthriller I’m currently working on, and to find a way to go back to my favorite European city, Valencia in Spain.”

He further aims to become a leading data privacy counsel in Europe and share his knowledge with younger colleagues. ‘To be a person of value and not a person of success. (Albert Einstein).

A Piece of Advice from the Visionary Leader

Don’t be afraid to experiment and leave your comfort zone. Stay hungry and inquisitive. Don’t rejoice in your accomplishments, and avoid becoming haughty and selfish. What we give to others and the affection we give and receive in our lives are the two main indicators of our level of happiness. Don’t let easy money tempt you; stay true to your principles.