Category: Tycoon Diary

Annabel Biggar-David : Promoting Natural Health Essentials Dynamically

Sustainable farming practices ultimately contribute towards a sustainable ecological environment for future generations. When buying organic, you are assisting in reducing the amount of pesticides used on our planet since these unwanted toxic chemicals have farreaching effects on our bodies, wildlife, and the environment. More than ever before, people have become conscious of their health. There has been a dramatic spike in
demand for plant-based, natural and certified organic products. The majority of certified organic essential oil and aroma health product purchasers are people looking for natural solutions and products for their family. Organic products are in high demand and the natural care movement is strong. Bacteria strains are becoming resistant to antibiotics and there is an awakening of going the natural route.

Preaching this awakening and enabling the right natural solutions for people is one inspiring business leader, Annabel Biggar-David. She is the Founder of OCO Life by Organico. “Destined to be an old woman with no regrets, I am an adventurous, independent, spirited, curious, passionate human living who adores people who make me laugh until I’m physically in pain, yeah they are some of my favorite kind of people,” says Annabel joyously.

To Begin With….

Growing up in Kwa-Zulu Natal, Annabel’s grandmother played a massive role in her life. She had a farm bordering a river in Ixopho where Annabel used to spend weekends and school holidays. “It was then that my love for traditional African medicine was born,” she shares. Annabel’s grandmother was the one who instilled
the entrepreneurial spirit in her. “I started my first business at 9 years old. Growing up I questioned everything I read. I questioned everything I was told,” says Annabel.

Annabel then moved to Mitchells Plain in Cape Town, known as the Cape Flats. The city was infested with gang members but she still continued with her small business and extended the range to toffee apples. As she got older, while holding a full-time job, Annabel would make dream catchers and candles at night and sell to stores and colleagues.

Being of mixed race, growing up in the apartheid system, Annabel always appreciated the saying, “Poverty is like paying for a crime you didn’t commit.” “I have always known no amount of security was worth the suffering of a mediocre life,” describes Annabel. She wanted to contribute to something bigger than herself. She was done working in a job she didn’t enjoy. She was done feeling depressed on a Sunday night knowing that Monday was coming, which she considered Day 1 of the Hostage situation.

Annabel did not want to be imprisoned by a haunting thought of ‘I wish I had’ so she was willing to risk almost
everything. She wants to make a difference in society and create employment. Annabel sold almost everything she owned, applied for loans and when money ran out would barter furniture for services. “With tensions high in our country and communities, our high unemployment rate as well as more than 50% of South Africans living in poverty as an SME, we are here to make a difference economically,” states Annabel.

The OCO Life

As a multiple award-winning brand, born in Africa, OCO Life is pioneering the health industry with a revolutionary
range of air purifiers, organic essential oil blends, ultrasonic aroma diffusers and traditional medicine. Proudly 100% black woman owned, OCO Life comprises of mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and neighbours. “Our social responsibility is not only an integral part of our business model, but it is our natural way of doing what we do,” says the team of OCO Life.

The company’s mission is to enable employment in South Africa and create a lifestyle of harmony, where a balance and collaboration exist between people, as it exists in nature, with ethics, integrity, care and respect for surroundings, people and the environment. OCO Life harvests essential oils in their native regions to get the best quality oils available through sustainable agriculture. This benefits the environment by maintaining soil quality, reducing soil degradation and erosion, and saving water. In addition to these benefits, sustainable agriculture also increases biodiversity of the area by providing a variety of organisms with healthy and natural environments to live in.

“Our sustainable agriculture integrates three main goals: environmental health, economic profitability, and social and economic equity,” says Annabel and her team. A variety of philosophies, policies and practices have contributed to these goals. There is a saying that there is no softer pillow than a clear conscience. Team OCO’s social and environmental conscience ensures that they are contributing to something greater towards the world. Annabel and the OCO family assists in reducing the amount of pesticides and toxins used that have enormous effects on our bodies, wildlife, and the environment.

Growing Organically

The difference that OCO Life makes is on a grass roots level as a company. With over 50% of South African’s living in poverty and the staggeringly high unemployment rate, companies like OCO Life, are a driving force of inclusive economic growth & development in S.A. It has a passionate, purposeful driven team that captures the essence of economic value by up skilling employees while reducing its own ecological footprint. “We have a great company culture and strive to be flawless in our service and impeccable with our word,” describes the team of OCO. Annabel does not take the smallest gestures for granted as they speak the loudest. As a team, OCO exists to serve, and they are eco warriors who believe in changing the world, naturally.

“Simply put, we improve lives and have created solutions to our client’s health needs,” says Annabel. OCO Life’s family is a bunch of people who are customer-centric and will never fail to deliver what they are known for. In terms of future professional growth prospectus, Annabel is interested in mentoring the youth during their entrepreneurial journey as it is something, she is very passionate about. Personally, she is an eternal
student and loves to learn and travel. Spending time with her dogs, the theatre, arts, photography, music, reading, adventure sports, and dancing are some of her most favourite things to do.

Penny Holburn: Implausible Businesswoman, Focused towards Changing lives through her venture, Penny Holburn Coaching

“Live out of your imagination, not your history.” Stephen Covey.

A Quote that describes the mindset of the visionary entrepreneur Penny Holburn behind her brand and its motto i.e., one of the greatest gifts human beings have been given is imagination. We use imagination in the wrong way when we use it to worry and fear. We use it in the right way when we use it to transcend what we may think are limitations and disadvantages that life has dealt us.

With a strong  belief ,that like most things, we can use imagination in the right way or wrong way, Penny leads in various roles as HR Professional turned entrepreneur, a certified Personal Coach, Business Coach, and Internal and External Consultant. She holds a rich experience of 25+ years in the fields of psychology, industrial psychology, neuroscience, personal and business change, leadership development, training, counselling and coaching.

Penny has always known what she wanted to do. At the age of 14, she saw herself doing what she does today. She studied in the area she felt was right for her, and has been in a series of jobs that, with hindsight, she can see prepared herself for everything that she does today. If anything influenced her decisions in her career it was her intuition and gut feel. Somehow, she has just always known what the next step needed to be.

About the Brand and the Primary Challenges

Established in 2010, Penny Holburn Coaching provides coaching, counselling, and consulting services to private clients and organizations of any size. The three main areas she focuses on are general life issues around mental wellbeing and personal growth, careers, and business. In addition to one-on-one assistance, which is most of what she does, she also offers courses, toolkits, workshops, and talks.

The primary challenge has always been a constantly changing external environment in which Penny does business. Every year something about the economy, ways of doing business, consumer spending, technology, and legislation changes. So, each year has to be approached differently and each year, and possibly every six months, a new strategy is required. There is no such thing as “this plan worked well last year, it should work well again next year.”

Team & Clientele  

Penny Holburn lives by values. She does not have permanent full-time employees; she works with contractors, other companies, freelancers, and other business owners on an as-need basis. However, in the people she chooses to work with, values are incredibly important. Her three most important business values are – Respect – Excellence – Growth, and the people and businesses she works with need to demonstrate these values. She believes you can get on with people who are different from you. It doesn’t work if you have different values though.

“My clients are the most wonderful human beings. I see almost anyone who wants to work on themselves, their career, and/or their business. Most of my clients are private clients who are committed to growing and developing themselves to be the best they can be. I connect with that. I ensure I help them achieve their objectives,” Penny stated.

Daily Routine and Hobbies

“I am not a morning person, so I gradually get into the morning. The first thing on waking is to work on my mindset and beliefs. I have a book full of affirmations, scripts (including hypnotic scripts), and writings to set my mind for the day. This takes about 30 minutes. Then from about 8.30 am to 6 pm I work. Sometimes I see a client in the evening so I finish later. There is no standard day and no routine. Generally, the workday covers the following: client appointments (most of the time), admin, writing courses, writing blogs and articles, updating social media and doing marketing”, Penny shared.

“After work, I have a 30 minute time to wash away the stresses of the day. I do this relaxation in the garden when possible. I read for about an hour before going to sleep. Hobbies include gardening, listening to music, reading, attending theatre and concerts”, she further added.

Favourite Book

Dr Joseph Murphy’s, “The power of your subconscious mind.” Your subconscious runs your life. If you want your life to work, then you need your subconscious mind to work for you.

Future Goals

While talking about future goals, Penny said, “The mission of my business is to facilitate mental well-being, personal development, and peak performance so that everyone is enabled and empowered to reach their full potential. I can still see that being relevant in the next year, together with the services and products I offer. The mix of products and services will depend on the needs of the market and clients. I have always offered online services, and possibly this may be a growth area next year. Fortunately, as a very small company, I can change direction very quickly if required to. This year, with Covid-19, so many people have had their lives, careers, and businesses thrown into disarray, and so there has been plenty of need.”

Jewels in the Crown

Here is the list of awards won by Penny in the last five years:

  • 2016: Executive Coaches of the Year, awarded by AI Global Media
  • 2016: Winner best for personal and business coaching Johannesburg, awarded by Corporate Vision Magazine.
  • 2017: Best personal development coaching company in Gauteng, awarded by AI Global Media
  • 2017: Excellence award for anxiety coaching, awarded by AI Global Media
  • 2018: Shortlist Business Coaching Advisor of the year in South Africa, by Finance Monthly Global.

Advice for New Leaders

Be brave, but don’t be reckless. If you believe in your business idea then keep at it and always stay in touch with your customer and their needs. Be flexible – the world is constantly changing – and it will continue to do so. You may have to change your strategies and tactics very quickly. Be able to do that. Your business will never be better than you are, so keep working on yourself as a person and as a leader.

Amanda Blankfield-Koseff: An Inspiring Woman Focused on Empowering People With the YCAP youth programme

With a strong determination to empower people, Amanda Blankfield-Koseff has been running The Youth Citizens Action Programme since 2009, and Empowervate Trust which is where YCAP is run from April 2013 as a CEO. The superwomen and visionary leader, Amanda always wanted to help people by motivating them to reach their potential. Before being the part of this programme, Amanda worked at Afrika Tikkun for five and a half years doing marketing, events and communications in the community and youth development space. Her career began in the sales and communications industry at DS-Max, Camper Shoes, Ventureweb and Dennis Jankelow and Associates after completing. In academics, Amanda completed her Communication Science Bachelor Degree at Bond University and Honours in Communication at the University of South Africa.

Apart from her entrepreneurial success, Amanda is a black belt in Kung Fu, and also a guitarist and singer who has just released two albums. She went to Belgium last year on a climate exchange programme. She is a curious person, who loves learning.

About the Programme

The Youth Citizens Action Programme provides youth with a project management manual that explains how to create social projects in their schools and communities – and then there is a provincial competition and national competition where the winners of the best projects with the most impact receive prize money for their schools to use in expanding their projects or creating new ones. This programme has been running across all 9 provinces and the Department of Basic Education are implementation partners.

From 2020 the YCAP programme was pivoted to an online version with some changes because of the Covid19 pandemic, and it is called The Young Active Citizen Awards. The programme does the same as YCAP as it empowers and motivates students at the primary and secondary school level to be active citizens with a social entrepreneurial mindset. The focus is on practical social entrepreneurship skills development, values and personal development.

What Inspired To Be An Entrepreneur?

Amanda shared, “Both of my parents are entrepreneurs so I grew up knowing that I did not have to work for a boss. I started my own small businesses as a child and started teaching guitar lessons part-time from the age of 18. I studied Business Communication and did my honours in Communication Science and then worked at a direct sales company for a year and a half where we cold-called at businesses. Then I worked at a company that managed large corporate websites. I was yearning to do something that made a difference in people’s lives, so when I got a job as a marketing assistant at a child and youth development non-profit I was excited to do something meaningful. It was when I was promoted to the marketing manager and had to run a youth dialogue that I realised my passion lay with youth development. “The YCAP programme was incubated there and just under 4 years later, I moved it into its own non-profit organisation: Empowervate Trust.”

Clientele and The Team

Here, clients are two-fold: the sponsors and partners from the corporate world, foundations, government departments, individual supporters and the beneficiaries who are the learners and teachers at the schools nationally where we work.

There is a very lean model. They do not believe in spending donor money on fancy offices and loads of salaries. Instead, they partner with the Department of Basic Education who have the systems and staff in place to reach all the schools nationally and then we design the programme and manage it while fundraising for the programme and organisation. They work well as a team because they realise that they have a common goal: the empowerment of the next generation of active citizens and social entrepreneurs. Amanda and her team bring their own strengths to the partnership.

Major Hiccups

Our pivot due to Covid19 was to start the Young Active Citizens Award, which is an online version of YCAP and it has more freedom and options than YCAP The challenge with Covid19 is the fact that our district, provincial and national workshops and showcase events could not take place. Also, in South Africa, our schools were closed for months during the lockdown, and the programme we run needs to be run at the schools. So when the schools reopened in August we launched this new programme and it was a major success Amanda stated.

The Driving Force

The first element in the success Amanda has today is how she was raised – always knowing that she could be an entrepreneur. Then, her husband believed in her and encouraging her to do it even though Empowervate was started in the same year they got married so it was pretty stressful. Then she thanks her mentors, partners and those who believed in the vision and supported her.

Suggestion For A Balanced And Equal Industry

The days of only focusing on increasing shareholder profit are gone. Every company needs to shift to a model where the community and planet are top priorities, and if that means a slightly lower profit to ensure sustainability, then it will be worth it.

Daily Routine And Hobbies

While talking about her routine, Amanda shared, “I like to meditate, then exercise in the morning – either running or using apps (since Covid19 when gyms were closed) to do pilates, strength or cardio training. After breakfast, I get urgent and important work done. Then I meditate again, practice singing and then do more work after lunch. In the late evenings I teach guitar online (since Covid19). I do more work after that, then have dinner and watch Netflix with my husband and our two giant cats. Sometimes I have to travel for work, but during Covid19 most has been online.”

Favourite Book

Deepak Choprah’s “SynchroDestiny”, Michael E. Gerber’s “The E-Myth” as well as anything written by Richard Branson.

Road Ahead

I am excited about the future of Empowervate because we are looking to expand outside of South Africa. We see the value in the programme over the last 11 years and want to share our model with other continents. We also want to connect young people around the world so they can share the solutions they came up with in solving social, environmental, educational and economic challenges in their countries.

Awards And Milestones

Empowervate received the CPSI Special Ministerial Award in 2019, we received the Premier’s Youth Excellence and Service Award in 2018 for Education Excellence. We have the Community Support Organisation Award from ROCCI. Amanda, our CEO is one of 200 inaugural Obama Leaders: Africa, and she was one of the top 200 Mail & Guardian Young South Africans (2015). She has also been a finalist in the Europcar Women in Leadership Awards for three years running.

A Piece Of Advice For Female Entrepreneurs

Having some support is vital– no matter whether it’s personal or professional or both, this entrepreneurship journey can be a lonely one so it’s important to know you can ask questions and get advice when you need it from people you trust. Women must also promote themselves better – men are much better at self-promotion and appearing more confident than they are. Women are too apologetic and self-conscious at times. Own the space!

Favourite Quote

“It’s always darkest before the dawn” – Thomas Fuller

Dr. Cynthia Warrick – Pharmacist, health services researcher, faculty, administrator, business woman

Pharmacist, health services researcher, faculty, administrator, business woman, and now Dr. Cynthia Warrick is the 7th President and the first female to lead Stillman College, a historically black liberal arts college in Tuscaloosa Alabama.  With over 20 years of higher education faculty and administrative positions, Dr. Warrick received a Ph.D. in Environmental Science & Policy from George Mason University after completing a M.S. Public Policy at Georgia Tech and a B.S. Pharmacy degree from Howard University. She began her academic career with the pharmacy school faculty at Howard University, followed by appointments at the University of Texas Houston Health Science Center, Texas Southern University, Florida A&M University, and Elizabeth City State University.  Prior to her selection as President of Stillman, she served as Interim President at Grambling State University and at South Carolina State University.  Dr. Warrick is a life member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and serves on the boards of the United Way of West Alabama, the West Alabama Chamber, the Tuscaloosa County Industrial Development Authority, the Tuscaloosa County Preservation Society, and the Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama.

Stillman College, authorized by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States in 1875, held its first classes in 1876 and was chartered as a legal corporation by the State of Alabama in 1895. At that time, the name was changed from Tuscaloosa Institute to Stillman Institute. The Institute was a concept initiated by the Reverend Dr. Charles Allen Stillman, pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Tuscaloosa. The mission of the Institution expanded over the first fifty years as it acquired its present campus tract of over 100 acres as it became co-educational and opened a nursing school and hospital to provide medical care to African Americans in West Alabama. Stillman College is committed to fostering academic excellence, to providing opportunities for diverse populations, and to maintaining a strong tradition of preparing students for leadership and service by fostering experiential learning and community engagement designed to equip and empower Stillman’s students and its constituents.

Since arriving at Stillman College in January 2017 as the Interim President Warrick set out to transform Stillman College into the premier HBCU. Her initiatives at the College establish a model for HBCUs and other small liberal arts colleges to transform themselves by developing sustainable partnerships and programs that increase opportunity and access for their students. This model establishes other revenue streams that reduce the College’s dependence on tuition and fees and increase financial stability. When fully implemented, this model will prevent the need to increase tuition, ensuring a college degree is accessible and affordable, and will increase the competitiveness of Stillman College students as they apply for entry into major graduate programs and professional schools. Stillman College has established the only apprenticeship program at a 4-year institution in the state of Alabama in order to have a positive and major impact on graduates’ lives, families and communities.  Incorporating community engagement as part of the educational programs at the College will ensure that Stillman is one of the first institutions local agencies think of when looking for partners to enhance community service.

Stillman College is located in a designated Opportunity Zone, which provides tax incentives for development investors. Dr. Warrick seized this opportunity to enlist the support of potential private equity partners and consultants to develop investment projects for the school’s vacant and unused property. Opportunity Zones offer a way to mitigate risk for impact investors who are interested in both profit and social good. Stillman is one of an estimated thirty to forty HBCUs with such investment opportunities on their campuses. Many of them are real estate investments or other business partnerships. Intentional development focused on the community needs can provide services that will benefit the students and the community and this type of partnership is the hallmark of Cynthia Warrick’s sustainability plan for Stillman College. The vicinity of the College is a food desert lacking restaurants or other retail outlets that could benefit the community. Development could provide housing for working adults and student veterans and other amenities that would elevate the area and increase its contribution to the standard of living in West Tuscaloosa.; the closest non-student housing is much too expensive for moderate income renters. Additionally, development could provide jobs for students, because most Stillman students do not have cars; transportation is a major barrier to part-time employment.

Dr. Warrick’s leadership at Stillman College has also focused on maintaining its academic achievements. In 2020, the College was reaffirmed as fully accredited by its accrediting body, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, and it was named among the Colleges of Distinction for 2020-2021. These accomplishments demonstrate that Stillman College is not only fully affirmed by its peers as academically, procedurally, and financially sound, but it is also recognized by a national body that measures distinction among colleges. As a College of Distinction, Stillman College earned recognition for engaging students, great teaching, vibrant community activity and engagement, and successful outcomes of its programs.

Community partnerships have grown exponentially through the efforts of Dr. Warrick across all areas of the college. Stillman has been working closely with Chamber of Commerce and businesses in Tuscaloosa, like Mercedes Benz US International, B.F. Goodrich, Nucor Steel, and Hunt Refinery.  Along with other Fortune 500 companies and the federal government, creating opportunities for internships, co-ops, and apprenticeships.  Stillman was one of the first institutions to participate in the Governor’s HBCU Co-Op program.

Stillman College is taking the proactive steps under the leadership of Dr. Cynthia Warrick to build a model for HBCUs and small liberal arts college to transform with sustainability. Warrick sees the tenuous positions of small private colleges in general and HBCUs in particular as a moment of opportunity to rethink their positioning and their relationships. By focusing on external partnerships with local businesses and agencies, as well as with other educational institutions to provide broader opportunities for Stillman College’s students, Warrick is charting a new path for one small college that could become a map for others to follow toward greater opportunities for their students and more secure futures for their institutions.

Women Leadership – Musings of a Co-Founder of a fashion start-up

My background is in advertising at Saatchi & Saatchi; Eileen, my Co-Founder, has a background in fashion working for Nichole Fahri. We have been friends for a long time, having met at the school gate when our children were little. We felt that our complementary backgrounds, skills sets and characters were the perfect combination to start a business together.

We have just celebrated our third anniversary, having launched in September 2017. It has been a roller coaster rider of fantastic highs, some nerve wracking lows, but mostly hard work and lots of fun. We have met some amazing people along the way and it has shown us that there is a kind way to do business – it doesn’t have to be to the detriment of those around you or indeed the planet.

Sometimes, with so much to do on a daily basis, we can forget to pat ourselves on the back and realise how far we have come in those three years, We hope that Cucumber will grow from strength to strength, but either way, we have launched a label that is a recognised brand worldwide with customers all over the globe. No mean feat for a tiny start-up on a shoestring budget with no outside marketing or PR help.

I think to launch any business takes three main characteristics; determination – if you want to go from something you have to give it your all and see it through; organisation – there is always so much to do and not all of it can be done at once; which leads me onto prioritising – and this means in a personal capacity too. You have to learn to prioritise yourself sometimes so that the business can be supported by two mentally and physically fit happy co-founders. If we are flailing, then the business will suffer so it’s in everyone’s interests to stay fit and focused.

The lightbulb moment for our business happened when we realised that we were spending so much of our day in our workout gear. Getting dressed for a gym or pilates session and then not changing as the materials used are so comfortable to wear, stay crease free and are easy to care for. We wanted to replicate all the qualities of anti-crush, cooling, stay fresh and comfortable clothing, but in more stylish everyday pieces from materials that looked as good as they feel. Every piece of Cucumber feels amazing next to the skin.

After researching fabrics for almost two years, we launched with a very small capsule collection of just six nightwear pieces to test the market. We were truly overwhelmed by the response we got which gave us the confidence to expand into more everyday pieces. There was and is clearly a market for ultra- modern performance fabrics that work with your body. Modern clothing should do more than just dress a body. All our fabrics and styles provide women with wardrobe solutions for their busy lives – timeless pieces that fit into their wardrobe, require minimal care and can be worn day or night, at home, at work or globetrotting the world.

Sometimes, being a tiny start-up can have real advantages – it forces you to make everything work that bit harder. We have always had to find innovative ways to achieve our goals. Unconventionality is what we stand for, both in terms of what we are doing and how we get things done. We see ourselves as, amongst other things, educators in this space. Technical fabrics can feel fabulous, they keep the wearer cool and fresh and they can be sustainable. So many women feel that human made fibres by their very nature cannot be sustainable and cannot be luxurious We are here to bust that myth! We are not the scratchy nylons of the 70’s; we are beautiful, luxuriously soft fabrics with all the added benefits of modern technology.

From the very start, we wanted to be mindful of the world around us. We realise that producing anything leaves a carbon footprint, but we want ours to be as light as possible. We are not perfect, but with every new collection we are getting a little better – no small feat for a tiny fashion label. Once our fabric arrives in the UK (nothing like this is produced here), we design, sample, grade and manufacturer all within a 5-mile radius. We also source all our labels and trims within England and have eliminated all plastics from our supply chain. We send out all online orders using Royal Mail, so as not to add to the number of deliveries on the road.

We have more exciting developments planned for the future, but for the moment, we are happy to have come this far and bring our wonderful loyal customer base with us for the ride.

QUESTIONNAIRE- League of Successful Business Women 2020.

Fatima E. Al Shirawi: Leading entrepreneur in GCC

1. At the outset, please give us a glimpse of yourself.

My name is Fatima Al Shirawi, and I am a colour consultant in GCC. I founded The Gracious F in 2008 in Dubai,after pursing my studies in Washington DC, London School of fashion and Polimoda. With a Passion for Travel, education and giving back to the community, my core values are : Empowering women to be educated and their best self individually and professionally Sharing her knowledge and expertise to serve the community and support local and youth talent Learning every day and developing helping her team to grow and exceed in their individual and professional lives.

2. Briefly describe your company and the products or services you are offering.

Successfully combining colour psychology in all spectrums of individual re-branding and self-development, to businesses that are looking to enhance their awareness and strategy through colour solutions in branding & marketing, Luxury Retail training, PR, Workshops or residential and corporate interior design.

3. Going back to your early career decisions, tell us what factors influenced your decision to be an entrepreneur?

My fathers’ side of the family are all mainly entrepreneurs with businesses in diverse industries, and my mother’s side all mainly doctors. At a very young age I was already very creative and perceptive with human psychology, therefore I pursed Sociology and Marketing as a bachelor’s degree, and later specialized in colour psychology from the colour affects Institute in the UK, combining both of my skills. I always wanted to help Individuals & Businesses overcome their barriers & reach their goals with support of colour science, and this was the primary for which I founded The Gracious F.

4. Who are your clients? How do you ensure the unbreakable faith of your clients?

Our services are applicable to many industries, from Interior Design, Retail, Government organizations to Coaching & Training centres. Most of our clients fall within luxury products & services segment.

5. Shed light on your team. What ethos is maintained for the employees in your company?

I believe that its important that your team is motivated personally as much a professionally. I hand them all the tools to help them develop their skills and grow within their careers. A good example is a Individual Colour Session – that allows them to understand their weaknesses & strengths through their personality report, the colour kit that they also receive, allows them to use colour to their power, personally or professionally with the knowledge of which hues fit them best and which occasions to use them.

6. As your company grew, or re-grew from your pivot, what were the primary challenges?

The first challenge was building awareness and understanding of this crucial science, when we speak of colours, individuals automatically assume this has to do with only with fashion, style, or trends. Even though colour psychology has been studied more intensely in early 1980’s, the impact of colour on our products, design, consumer behaviour is unimaginable. Simple way to explain is, 80% of our feelings and reaction over colour is Sub conscious.

7. How did you get where you are today, and who/what helped you along the way?

My family has been my pioneer of my support, and along the way every client, or organization that has benefitted through colour science has been my biggest motivation, to do more, help more individuals and organizations understand the importance of colour science and how to use it to your benefit. Most of my projects and new clients come through referrals.

8. What suggestion you would give for companies on how they can contribute to a more balanced and equal industry?

I suggest companies to Invest in understand their teams better, offer them tools and training which can also enhance their personal lives. Focus on the needs of your team as they are the pioneer of your success, and of course, learn and apply colour science to your branding tools, marketing tools, interior, team building – Your growth in revenues and efficiency will be a incredible 😊

9. Please take us to the routine of your day, from the time you wake up to the time you go off to sleep. Also, share your hobbies.

Once I wake up, I have my breakfast, message a good morning to my team and start planning my day. As the only colour expert in my team, my team and myself must make sure my calendar and schedule are set weeks in advance. My hobbies are reading, drawing, spending time with my family and my Yoga and & Gym keep me balanced and sane after a busy day at work.

10. Tell us about a favourite book that inspires you.

I have many favourite books, currently Its: Stillness Speaks by Eckhart Toll. This book shows us how to become your true self by accepting stillness and silence. The ideology is that when we are no longer limited or bounded  by our thinking mind, any suffering or pain disappears and we are able to move forward towards a new awareness of our relationships, environment and of the profound wisdom that is to be found in stillness. Truly inspiring and especially useful during the worldwide crises we are all currently facing where our overall emotions are very vulnerable.

11. What does the future hold for your company? Kindly share your future goals. What are you most excited about?

Our services have recently been launched online, our clients are now able to have their sessions online, and tool kit and reports are sent to the client upon completion. In 2018 I built a in house training COLOUR MATRIX – specifically for large retail organizations. This 360-program including, customer profiling, buying, visual merchandising and sales training is a cheat sheet to extraordinary performance and revenues. This program is now available online too.

12. Mention any awards and milestones that your company has received.

Business Leader Award

Winner of the Middle East, North Africa & Asia Best Business Leader Awards 2015 – 10th December 2015 – Burj Al Arab, Dubai

UNASCO Award

Honorary Awards for outstanding leading businesswomen across the MENA

APEA Award

Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards winner in 2015

SME Award

SME Beyond Borders. Global Model for Success Award

  1. As a source of inspiration for many, what would your advice be for female entrepreneurs, who are planning to enter in the business world?

I believe female entrepreneurs have a gift, the gift of multi-tasking. I would advise all female entrepreneurs to follow their dreams, nothing comes easy or without hard work, but if you focus and plan your goals, there will be nothing stopping you from success.

  1. What is your favourite quote?

‘Stop acting so small. You are the universe in ecstatic Motion’ by RUMI

Lindsey Myers: Fuelling Business Growth

1. At the outset, please give us a glimpse of yourself.

Lindsey Myers founded Concrete Blonde Consulting in November 2016 to pursue her passion for building reputations and revenues through business development marketing strategies.  The company has since been named one of the “Top 15 PR Agencies in New York” by The Manifest and one of the “Top 10 Best PR Agencies” by Web Surf Media.

Myers provides profit and growth solutions and thrives as a consultant. A communications expert and entrepreneur, she has over twelve-years of experience serving various industries including consumer products and services, tech, lifestyle, hospitality and nonprofit companies in NYC and the Hamptons luxury market. And in 2018, Insights Success magazine named her one of the “30 Most Innovative CEOs” of the year.

She graduated from Boston University with a BS in Communications and concentration in PR.   She began her career at WordHampton Public Relations, a firm headquartered in East Hampton, NY and ranked by Jack O’Dwyer’s as one of the country’s “Top 100 Independent PR firms”.  In 2013, she made partner and was chosen to launch the company’s NYC division.

Recognized as a strategic leader, she has earned a track record for counseling clients, including Fortune 500 companies such as NAPCO Security, Inc., to increase profits, manage brand reputations and gain market share. She’s continually driven by her enterprising spirit and innate understanding of consumer influence.  She takes ownership of the business she supports and partners with clients.

Professional, confident and well-respected by her peers, she has also been a guest lecturer at several universities including Hofstra University and Saint Joseph’s University, possessing a presence people often find unforgettable.

2. Briefly describe your company and the products or services you are offering.

Concrete Blonde Consulting is a full-service consulting and marketing firm in NYC.  We specialize in providing custom marketing solutions for profit and growth.  By examining your business development pipeline, we are able to identify new areas for growth, while also creating strategies to amplify current opportunities.  In addition, we provide a competitive media analysis, streamline marketing campaigns and build additional sources of revenue.  We service various industries including consumer products and services, tech, lifestyle, hospitality and nonprofit companies

​Communications is a rapidly changing field and our firm is continually transforming to harnesses the powers of both influence and interaction.  We offer clients a variety of tools from third-party PR endorsements to social influencer campaigns to reach consumers and drive business.

We believe every client is unique.  We partner with them to unearth their core business goals. Then we create bespoke strategic marketing plans with benchmarks to chart our progress and target our methods.  We feel a sense of responsibility to our clients and we are responsive not only to their needs, but also to the ever changing world in which they operate.

3. Going back to your early career decisions, tell us what factors influenced your decision to be an entrepreneur?

I always wanted to be an entrepreneur vs. going the corporate route.  I enjoying working on growing a business from the ground up and being able to see the fruits of your labor.

4. Who are your clients? How do you ensure the unbreakable faith of your clients?

Most of our clients are tech companies — both B2B and B2C.  We earn their faith by taking the time to get to know them and their business goals at the beginning.  We start by unearthing their core values and vision and then creating a bespoke marketing plan to help them reach their destination.  We have regular open and honest communication and monitor and measure specific KPIs to ensure everyone is on the same page about deliverables.  Trust in a relationship isn’t something that is given, but rather built and earned.

5. Shed light on your team. What ethos is maintained for the employees in your company?

Everyone is responsible for their own contributions while listening to and supporting each other.  We don’t micromanage each other.  We just show up.  We are there for one another and our clients.  Everyone brings their own unique viewpoints and experiences, talents and strengths to the table.  We find a way for everyone to shine.

6. As your company grew, or re-grew from your pivot, what were the primary challenges?

I think the biggest challenges for me have always been ones that involved personal growth.  I wasn’t great at setting boundaries, negotiating contracts and confrontation.  It’s taken me a long time to hone those skills and also to learn when to say “no” to a potential client if they aren’t a good fit.  Overall, I believe the biggest challenge for me has always been patience.  If you want to be successful — you need to learn to be just as patient as you are ambitious.

7. How did you get where you are today, and who/what helped you along the way?

Hard word, patience, a little bit of luck and a LOT of support!  There are too many people to name from friends and family, to amazing mentors and collaborations with other talented entrepreneurs.

8. What suggestion you would give for companies on how they can contribute to a more balanced and equal industry?

Remember that a rising tide raises all ships.  It’s not a competition … it’s all about co-creation.  Business isn’t a zero-sum game.

9. Please take us to the routine of your day, from the time you wake up to the time you go off to sleep. Also, share your hobbies.

I get up and the first thing I do is turn on the news and make myself a cup of Nespresso with vanilla creamer.  Then, I hit my email and read my daily news round up (The New York Times, Axios, The Skimm and Thrive Global).  I’ve got a never-ending Facebook messenger chat with a very dear friend where we share our favorite headlines of the day and it’s one of my favorite things.  So, by this point in my day you can guarantee that we’ve had a few back and forths already.  Then, I usually delete the spam and check to see if any emails need immediate attention and respond to those ASAP.  Next, I’ll put together my to do list for the day.  By this point, I’m usually pretty anxious and I Facetime another dear friend who I speak to pretty every morning for my daily dose of calm.  After that I take a shower, make the bed, get dressed and start tackling the to do list.  I try to push as many calls and zooms to the late afternoon as possible.  Then, I hit up my Facebook networking groups, LinkedIn, etc. at the end of the day.

10. Tell us about a favourite book that inspires you.

Atlas Shrugged.  It’s all about great thinkers, entrepreneurship and politics.  I love it!!

11. What does the future hold for your company? Kindly share your future goals. What are you most excited about?

Other entrepreneurs is what inspires me most about my business.  I love my clients and the people I’m able to work with and support is what really drives the heart of my passion.

12. Mention any awards and milestones that your company has received.

  1. As a source of inspiration for many, what would your advice be for female entrepreneurs, who are planning to enter in the business world?

Get a mentor and make sure you have a great support system.  It’s going to be harder than you think and it’s important to have an amazing team by your side.

  1. What is your favourite quote?

I love quotes so there are many!!  A current favorite though … “Underestimate me!  That’ll be fun…”

We appreciate you for filling this questionnaire. Thanks for your time & patience.

If you want to add anything, add here.

The Future Role of Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace

Overview

The Digital Age is sweeping past and captivating millions and millions along its path. It has impacted the whole generation owing to its many miracles, and it continues to do so with its many gifts. One such offering is the Artificial Intelligence which is incredibly advanced and is touted to be the future of the Digital Age.

With numerous such things befalling under the purview of Artificial Intelligence, it will revolutionize how we perceive the world. The one industry which is positively impacting would be the workplaces. It is estimated that the workforce might be entirely replaced with robots being the next obvious choice for running the company. As convenient as it may sound, it could bring us eternal convenience or eternal disaster.

Boon or Bane              

2019-2020 has seen a very visible spurt of Artificial Intelligence in many quarters. Companies realize the emerging potential and capital that might come with the inclusion of Artificial Intelligence in their core. It is being used to amplify human intelligence and get access to real-time data values.

Since the benefits concerning the usage of intelligent systems are at the peak, the eyes of the world are upon Artificial Intelligence and its many advantages. One of the big four organizations, Ernst and Young has researched the A.I. at the workplace, which states that many of the companies and organizations around the world are accepting A.I. in workplaces which have led to elevated levels of operational productivity. Decisions are swifter; technological innovations are rapid, giving mounds of yields that are unlike anything that has been witnessed.

The organizations which take in A.I. have seen advantages in terms of tackling their competition, minimizing any company costs that might prove to be a hindrance, and streamline the recruitment process. This might prove to be an unconventional practise since many people from the boardroom would think that this is unfair. Employee unions are consisting of so many millions who will be rendered jobless if the A.I. culture is brought forth into existence.

Every job sector would face massive cutbacks, and this would not be limited to lower levels, but also the higher-ups. Another Big 4 organization, PricewaterhouseCoopers predicts that there would be as high as 30% cutbacks by the year 2030 owing to the entry of Artificial Intelligence in the market.

So, in essence, Artificial Intelligence has its fair share of advantages and disadvantages in the employment sphere.

GRAHAM BRIGHT, AN ACCOMPLISHED BUSINESS LEADER, BRINGING A TIDE OF CHANGE IN GLOBAL TRADE

Euro Exim Bank Ltd. is one of the renowned and top-notch financial institutions, established in 2015. It serves clients and businesses involved in cross-border transactions with a range of financial instruments and specialised services.

Euro Exim Bank is a prominent institution with a ‘Class A’ international banking license from Financial Services Regulatory Authority of St. Lucia and a member of the Caribbean Association of Banks. The firm aims to be a trusted partner, connecting businesses to new opportunities and empowering them to thrive in today’s competitive world under the dynamic leadership of Graham Bright. Mr Graham is a dignified and excellent administrator and initiator of various innovative ideas. He has gained global recognition in the illustrious Business Worldwide Magazine (BWM) Awards program, for his client-focused disruptive approach to global trade finance.

THE BACK STORY 

Graham Bright studied Business and Law at University and then worked in a US partner company of Unilever specializing in computer time sharing applications.   Three years at Control Data in credit analysis applications, banking and treasury systems was followed by 20 years at SWIFT in sales and partner solutions, culminating with working with application vendors and market infrastructures such as The Bank of England on RTGS projects.

Subsequently, he was MD at the technology subsidiary of a French Bank for 5 years, EMEA SME on Investment Management and international banking at EMC, and after a period of consulting, joined Euro Exim Bank in 2015.

At EEB, Graham’s primary role is to keep the bank safe by negating and mitigating risk in the bank’s processes, software and client activity. The role involves meeting with clients, regulators, applying local, national and international rules, mandates and recommendations.   He also engages with the Board and IT in reviewing KYC, AML, due diligence, KYE software.

It does not pay to be too specialist these days and EEB are not just a trade finance bank.  EEB is also a wholesale banking organisation (i.e. without high street retail outlets), specifically working with clients in key trade locations through web and mobile transactions.

SERVICE PORTFOLIO 

Values like trust, leadership, experience, personal relationships, country expertise, speed of response, cost-effective instruments and above all continued contact and information sharing make Euro Exim Bank stand out in the market. Here is the list of services offered by the bank:

  • Financial instruments facilitate trade for Importers – such as Letters of Credit and Standby Letters of Credit providing rapid processing of digitalised documentation with minimum time on paperwork.
  • Bank Guarantees – for those who need a guarantee to bid and win big-budget tenders, EEB is authorized to issue Bid Bonds, Tender Guarantees and Retention Guarantees.
  • Advance Payment Guarantee and Performance Bank Guarantees – For exporters who need specific instruments to guarantee trades.
  • Online Bank Accounts – With 24×7 availability, providing safe banking facilities.
  • Merchant Bank Accounts – For buyers and sellers who operate across the globe, the facility accepts online payments, using any type of card, with low rates, safe and secure transactions.

HURDLES ON THE WAY 

Today, there are more challenges today than ever. With ever-changing Government advice on health matters, industry decimated by lockdown and lack of on-site staff, hopes of rebuilding an economy ravaged by potential unemployment, businesses have never before had to be so constructive, intelligent and agile in order to survive. And this is not just a UK or European issue, as all countries are affected, with many familiar business names already a fleeting memory.

LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES 

First, listening and asking people about their views. Nobody knows everything even though many people think they do!  The art of leadership is very much about gathering thoughts and ideas, testing theories, getting consensus, and creating a logical strategic plan with goals, milestones and tangible reachable yet ambitious targets.

Secondly, leadership is about ensuring staff members are not only happy in their roles but that they contribute to the success of the business. They work with a company, not for a company, are proud to be in the team, and are given challenging objectives. The management team also helps them achieve them, with a solid foundation of training, assistance in their daily roles, providing expertise in unusual situations, and all the materials necessary to do their jobs and enable success.

Thirdly, espousing honesty and trust.  The trade industry with its complex ecosystem of diverse players is a prime target for fraudulent instruments, theft of cargoes, diverted vessels and blatant cybercrime where scams, fake goods, sanctioned items and untrustworthy people are commonplace.  They take extreme measures to vet and protect their staff and their customers, working ethically and morally to ensure people get what they pay for according to tight contractual conditions.

WHAT IS SUCCESS? 

“Success for me is creating and working with experienced self-sufficient teams where they are ready and prepared to use the information techniques and lessons I have imparted, allowing them to excel in their sales roles,” stated Graham Bright.

“It is also being recognized as an inspirational leader in trade, ‘most innovative executive’, working for one of the world’s most recognized names in the trade, with new technology and forward-thinking products, and participating in high-level industry conferences on all aspects of the ecosystem,” he added.

LEADERSHIP STYLE & SKILL

Graham Bright shared, “People say I am calm, considerate, a listener and someone who wants all the facts before taking action. At EEB we have a very flat organization, and a ‘can-do ‘attitude towards the business requirements of our clients. Our compliance teams start from a premise of ‘yes’, rather than the time-honoured position of major banks being known for stalling or immediately dismissing transactions with a firm immovable ‘NO’.”

“Small firms today are under immense pressure to find organisations willing to support their bona fide trades without tying up their entire cashflow for months on end. Here, our leadership style is important in that we listen, get the facts, consult with experts, manage expectations, look objectively, assess the risk, adjust the collateral requirements accordingly so that trade can go ahead, even if the rates are higher and the title does not get transferred until full payment is made by clients at the end of the transaction life-cycle,” he further added

 “VISION” IN LIFE & THE DRIVING FORCE 

Graham’s vision is quite simplistic. Doing the right thing with respect from peers and doing things right. One cannot regret things you have never done, and for him, he tries as much as possible now being over 60 (apparently the new 40) to experience new things.

These have included lessons in order to be proficient, at least in an elementary way in flying a plane, scuba diving, rock wall climbing, skiing, and in his youth singing for two seasons on stage at the English National Opera in London, and the Met in New York (badly). He is also a Justice of the Peace, fulfilling his sense of public duty  to ‘support, give back to and safeguard the community.’

INSIGHT INTO FUTURE

Whilst all countries are going through challenging times, Graham Bright and his team have seen a sustained increase in global trade. As a direct response, they have taken the ambitious and long-sighted approach of building their team of national and international agents and partners, where they are now looking at serving over 24 countries and increasing their India sales team towards 200 people by the end of the year.

With their additional services in corporate banking, trade platform, Ripple payments and online services, they are constantly developing their capabilities to serve disadvantaged buyers in challenging jurisdictions, hit by reluctance of banks to finance trades, foreign exchange issues, cost of liquidity and growing trade barriers.

A PIECE OF ADVICE 

Building a business takes years, and relies on solid foundations. In the current uncertain economic climate, firms must be realistic in profit and investment outlook, exercise pragmatic management, hire professionals, release the unproductive, listen and learn constantly from peers and competition. Management should understand value and contribution, not just expenditure, and ultimately work out what customers want and keep delivering it.

Rocky 2019 Warned by Middle Real Estate Tycoon

A mogul of Middle East real estate development, Emaar Properties Chairman Mohamed Alabbar, said that the region has plenty of development opportunities despite geopolitical tensions and difficulties doing business. “If I was to look at the region as a whole I’m still positive,” he told CNBC at the Milken Institute MENA Summit in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. However, he cautioned investors to remain prudent in the longer term. “I’m just careful about what is 2019. I’m just worried that we’ve been having a good time for too long. So I just hope that 2019 goes well … So make sure your balance sheet and debt level is at reasonable levels, so if there’s a shake-up you can handle it,” he said.

Emaar Properties is a real estate development company based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) which is responsible for developments throughout the country and the wider Middle East, and beyond.Founded in 1997, Emaar Properties has been responsible for much of the development of Dubai, including the iconic Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building. It has also developed shopping malls and residential property, hotels and entertainment venues. The real estate firm also has developments further afield such as in India and Pakistan. Speaking to CNBC, Alabbar summarized the outlook for the company.

“My view is that Morocco is doing well for us, I would say Egypt is doing extremely well; Saudi Arabia with all the restructuring going on, it’s going to be a fabulous opportunity. In the UAE, we still expect to grow 20 percent on an annual basis,” he said, noting that the company’s growth in India was recovering and Pakistan was doing “reasonably well” for the firm.

Alabbar said the company had achieved around $5 billion of sales in 2017 and close to $1.8 billion of net profit with the company growing around 20 to 25 percent on an annual basis.

“Trust me, the margins, the opportunities and the growth I’ve been having in the Middle East over the last 20 years — even if you make a mistake, it’s so worth it,” he said, although he noted doing business in the wider Middle East had its challenges.

“Of course if I’m doing business in the UAE, it’s comfortable, it’s safe. But if I have to go to Cairo (in Egypt) I have to know the government, I have to know the mayor of Cairo, the mayor of Alexandria. But that’s what we do, that’s what we’re paid for, that’s what we have to do to grow our business,” he said.
The Middle East is certainly not a region for the faint-hearted. There is ongoing geopolitical turbulence caused by the continuing conflict in Yemen, uncertainty in Syria and Iraq about the possible resurgence of terrorist group Islamic State and internal disputes within the Gulf Cooperation Council (with Qatar being sidelined by

Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE and Egypt), not to mention perceived proxy wars between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
Couple these issues with economic instability, prompted by the lower oil price, and there’s a combustive mix for most businesses. Alabbar said it was nothing new, however, and that the region was ripe for real estate development and infrastructure investment.

“I think that what the Middle East is going through is, unfortunately, not new … But the truth is that the opportunities exist — there are millions of people who have to go to school, they have to shop, they have to find jobs and open new factories, there’s tourism, so therefore that will contribute to economic growth in the whole region.”
Asked about Emaar Properties’ balance sheet, Alabbar said there had been difficult times.
“2007, 2008 and 2009 was very painful and I try not to forget the lesson. And I deal with bankers with a lot of respect but when they come and tell me ‘your balance sheet is not very efficient’ I know that I’m doing a good job. So I like to keep my debt at a very reasonable level. Then again, we have to do business, we have to be aggressive but at the same time we have to keep our eye on the cycle.”

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