Category: Business Spotlight

Headquartered in London, SODA.Auto is transforming the automotive industry by developing a revolutionary range of automotive tools, powered by AI and digital twin technology. The incredible mind behind this budding enterprise is CEO Sergey Malygin, who has recently been named Most Influential CEO 2024 – UK (AI Engineering Tools Development) in the Most Influential CEO Awards 2024. Here, we dive deeper into SODA’s fascinating work and Sergey’s excellent leadership of the company.

Following an impressive career in the automotive and telecommunications industries, Sergey Malygin was inspired to establish SODA in 2023, envisioning a world in which brand-new vehicle models can be brought to life with just a few clicks. During its first year of operation, the company has achieved remarkable success, launching a multitude of products to the market. This includes SODA.Validate, SODA.Sim, SODA AI Hub, SODA.Library, and SODA SDV Kit.

SODA products address a range of challenges currently faced by the automotive industry. For example, with budgets per vehicle rapidly decreasing, the traditional method of delegating tasks to a large number of suppliers and spending millions on each of them is not sustainable. Recently, Chinese companies have developed the ability to deliver a competitive product in a short period of time. In order to compete with this, automakers must speed up vehicle creation and reduce development costs.

This is where SODA SDV Kit comes in. The product is the world’s first ready-to-use kit for making a Software Defined Vehicle (SDV), consisting of AI-powered engineering tools, flexible E/E architecture, and a software library with over 200 features, software, and tests. The kit makes vehicle software engineering twice as fast whilst reducing its cost by three quarters, all without compromising on quality, safety, and security.

Since early on in his career, Sergey has taken on a variety of leadership positions, including Product Manager, Director of Programme Management, and Chief Technology Officer. In this, he has headed up teams consisting of up to 750 employees. As a result, when he branched out on his own to establish SODA, he was well-equipped with the leadership experience needed to drive his new team to success.

At SODA, when Sergey and his team prepared to launch Validate Studio, an automated testing tool for automotive software, Sergey noticed a crucial component was missing: AI. With the launch imminent and little time for restructuring, Sergey tasked SODA’s Chief Architect to find ways to integrate AI. In a very short time they developed and seamlessly integrated AI co-pilot, which assists engineers in writing tests and radically reduces the human time. This significant adjustment was a shock for the team, yet the integration was seamlessly executed. Sergey’s strategic insight into technology trends and his effective resource management allowed the team to enhance the product without delaying the launch, achieving outstanding results.

Sergey enjoys setting up goals that challenge his employees to go beyond their perceived limits. Often, people may doubt their abilities, but once they embrace Sergey’s guidance and take on tasks they thought were beyond their reach, remarkable transformations occur. They achieve great successes and gain a newfound pride in their capabilities, realising they can accomplish far more than they imagined. Although this operating mode is demanding, Sergey has successfully built a team that thrives on overcoming challenges and strives daily to become better versions of themselves.

Sergey has always had a keen sense for technology trends, accurately foreseeing the rise of SDV, AI, and Digital Twin technologies in the automotive industry. This foresight allowed him to incorporate these technologies into the foundation of all SODA products. Understanding the challenges of penetrating the market dominated by big OEMs with substantial legacies, Sergey strategically targeted automotive startups, which were more receptive to implementing innovative solutions. This approach paid off, with companies like Charge Cars and Helixx becoming first SODA customers.

Sergey also anticipated a shift towards new business models in the automotive sector, where companies would adopt integrated technologies, simplifying supplier management and cutting costs and production times. This vision has materialised, attracting future clients among automotive startups who now integrate SODA technologies into their business models, enhancing their appeal to investors.

As a result, it is no surprise that Sergey has been named Most Influential CEO 2024 – UK (AI Engineering Tools Development) in the Most Influential CEO Awards 2024.

Looking towards the future, Sergey’s upcoming plans are centred around the release of a new product, SODA.Create, putting the last brick into SODA Tools Suite called SODA V. This comprehensive solution enables seamless engineering experience for requirements management, architecture, software design, and system and vehicle validation in a single user-friendly tool, enabling clients to avoid the hassle of integrating several separate automotive tools. Furthermore, SODA is actively onboarding new customers, and some exciting partnership announcements are on the horizon.

For further information, please contact Sergey Malygin or visit soda.auto

In the current climate, the challenge of sustainability is one that is affecting all industries and with a lack of transparency between investment and outcome, scalable outcomes are not always achieved. Carbon Planet is on a mission to build a more sustainable world by originating, advising, and developing impact projects at scale. Spearheaded by CEO Cath Thrupp, Carbon Planet is passionate about providing bespoke solutions to scale landscape restoration and support local communities. Recognised in this year’s Most Influential CEO Awards, Cath Thrupp is the visionary behind Carbon Planet’s objective to reimagine capitalism and create a more equitable world.

Since its inception, Carbon Planet has become a leading global provider of advisory services in the natural capital, carbon, and environmental markets. By leveraging carbon, eco-markets, and advanced technology, the company provides innovative environment and land restoration solutions and advisory for large scale global impact projects. Carbon Planet is passionate about helping local communities create new jobs and regenerative industries. Working in collaboration with Global Impact Funds, Carbon Planet designs tailor-made solutions to help countries and companies meet their Net Zero and ESG impact goals. The business strives to deliver measurable value by focusing on how cutting-edge technologies can be used to support global transition.

With over 25 years of industry experience, Cath Thrupp is an environmental leader who has advised, designed, and led large water and natural resource projects in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Through her role, Cath realised the need for solutions that address the key issues preventing sustainability. With Carbon Planet, Cath envisioned a way for farmers, traditional owners, and local communities to benefit from the success of global impact projects and natural capital. Each bespoke solution is designed to increase community ownership of projects, provide unique learning opportunities, and produce greater benefits for local communities.

Cath Thrupp says, “My focus as CEO is to set the long-term vision of the company, build the culture, work with like-minded leaders around the world, and design an agile, innovative organisation for the future. Everything I have learnt, from water management to real estate investment, through to online marketing, future of work, and personal mindset, has shaped my thinking and the company’s development.

“The last few years have been focused on thinking deeply about what our world needs to achieve Net Zero and the SDGs. We consider how business models will need to change to achieve our global targets and create a circular economy. It is also essential to understand both geopolitical situations and the needs of everyday people, and how converging technologies can be leveraged to support the global transition.”

Carbon Planet strives to create positive social and environmental impact by utilising technology to connect global investment to scalable impact projects. Its immersive projects include river restoration, coastal resilience, circular economy villages, supply chain decarbonisation, renewable energy/water, and many more. By implementing state-of-art technology, Carbon Planet can measure and validate outcomes, build sustainable supply chains, and provide education to landholders and investors. Every project has a digital twin to help the company predict outcomes, with investment via smart contracts and blockchain. Carbon Planet offers engaging education with 3D technology and uses IoT sensor networks to measure on-ground outcomes in real-time.

Working with a rapidly changing climate and its subsequent impact on local communities and the environment poses significant challenges. Like many other businesses, Carbon Planet is navigating the climate change challenges. To achieve this, the company has invested in futuristic mentors and established strategic partnerships with other progressive global leaders. Carbon Planet has also leveraged new technology to adopt a data-driven approach. An example of this is AI global climate models, which the organisation uses to understand geographical climate risk for its projects.

Cath Thrupp shares, “Since the Covid pandemic, one of the greatest opportunities has been to connect more with like-minded leaders around the world. There is much more collaboration and there are many more global learning opportunities. This has made my role much more about global citizenship and much less about the constraints of boundaries. I also see converging technologies as a major opportunity to scale impact towards Net Zero and the SDGs. As a company, we are actively bringing new technology stacks together to help solve environmental and social challenges at scale.”

Carbon Planet is focused on maximising agility to build long-term resilience. Its team is completely remote and works across many countries and cultures. The company is committed to sharing its profits and ensuring its employees have a healthy work-life balance. Cath’s role in fostering a collaborative culture encompasses everything from recruiting the right people to measuring the company’s social and environmental progress. By maintaining a clear long-term vision and company mission, Cath can ensure that every team member understands how their role contributes to the overarching goal.

Over the years, Cath’s leadership style has evolved  but has always focused on team empowerment and bringing together people, technology, and solutions in groundbreaking ways. Throughout her career, Cath has discovered that her ultimate strength lies in understanding complex problems and supporting every individual to grow as a leader themselves. Her visionary leadership style involves maintaining a clear vision, employing the right people, and supporting the team’s professional and personal development.

Moving forward, Carbon Planet will continue to focus on building new business models to scale impact and utilising its suite of technologies to increase transparency and accountability. Over the coming year, the company is excited to unveil more impactful and large-scale global projects.

On her own career, Cath says, “Success for me is measured by the scale of positive impact that our projects have on the world. In addition to standard metrics, I will be measuring my career and company success by real-world outcomes, such as how many people have been lifted out of poverty, how many more people can feed their families and have access to clean drinking water, what area of land has been restored and how much carbon has been sequestered.”

As a thought leader, Cath Thrupp is passionate about delivering systems solutions that recreate approaches for integrated landscape restoration, food production and energy supplies, to ensure long-term jobs, and the future resilience of towns and cities. Through the company’s collaborative partnerships and global market connections, Carbon Planet strives to create scalable solutions that benefit investors and communities alike. Steered by Cath’s ambitious direction, the company has adopted a sustainability first approach, leveraging advanced technologies to envisage a world where natural capital has value, investments are transparent, and communities can create regenerative industries. For her pioneering leadership, we have bestowed on Cath Thrupp this year’s award for Most Influential CEO – QLD (Environmental Services).

For business enquiries contact Cath Thrupp from CarbonPlanet on their website – https://carbonplanet.io/

Khavkin brings 15+ years of experience in the SaaS industry to lead company’s financial strategy as object storage becomes the dominant storage in the world of AI 

MinIO, the leader in high-performance object storage for AI, announced the hiring of Mark Khavkin as its Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Khavkin brings more than 15 years of experience, most recently serving as the CFO of Pantheon Systems, where he helped lead the company through transformative growth. In his role as CFO at MinIO, Khavkin will be focused on creating the operational and financial foundation for MinIO’s growth and innovation goals.

“Object storage is foundational for AI infrastructure in the public and private clouds and MinIO is widely considered the standard on-prem or in the colocation for these workloads,” said Mark Khavkin, CFO, MinIO. “With product market fit firmly established, it is about scaling the company financially and operationally to meet the requirements of our enterprise customer base. I look forward to leading the company’s financial strategy as we grow and take advantage of the market opportunities presented by the revolution in large scale AI data infrastructure.”

During his time with Pantheon Systems, Khavkin helped lead the company’s growth from $10M to more than $100M in ARR, with an associated increase in valuation to over $1B. His work on corporate strategy included identifying target market segments and associated Go-To-Market investment allocation as well as overhauling the platform’s pricing and packaging to introduce differentiated monetization levers. Additionally, Khavkin led two rounds of fundraising and spearheaded key acquisitions, such as that of StagingPilot, which became a key pillar in Pantheon’s roadmap for category creation.

“Mark brings deep financial and operational understanding as well as a proven track record of  helping lead companies through transformative growth periods,” said Garima Kapoor, Co-founder & CO-CEO, MinIO. “His breadth of knowledge and experience developing and implementing growth strategies for technology companies will be critical as MinIO enters its next phase of growth. Mark’s track record of building strategic relationships, with both customers, partners and investors will ensure MinIO capitalizes on our leadership position.”

Founded in 2014, MinIO revolutionized the storage industry in 2016 by creating the first multi-cloud object store. MinIO’s S3 API-compatible software runs everywhere, from the public cloud (AWS, GCP, Azure, IBM), private cloud (VMWare, SUSE Rancher, OpenShift, Ezmeral), bare metal and the edge. Truly software-defined and cloud-native MinIO can run on any hardware and alongside any other cloud-native application. With the industry leading performance and proven exascale, MinIO is in use by many of the leading AI solutions from vector databases to products such as Kubeflow.

To learn more about MinIO’s work in the AI space, visit min.io/solutions/object-storage-for-ai.

• 36% more Forbes women have reached directorship level than their male counterparts, and 6% more are founders and CEOs of their own companies.
• Twice as many Forbes women are board members as Forbes men.
• Forbes women are making a greater contribution to the UK’s employment pool – 31% of Forbes women employ between 10 to 50 people, compared to just 18% of Forbes men.

Joining the ranks of Forbes’ acclaimed 30 Under 30 list is no mean feat. In fact, the media group receives over 20,000 nominations for the award every year. Now new research by comparison website University Compare has revealed some of the biggest career and educational trends of UK winners.

Researchers used data extraction techniques to scrape the LinkedIn profiles of almost 500 UK winners, before anonymising and analysing the data to identify key insights for aspiring young professionals.

The research has found that British women are closing the gap on their male counterparts, moving the needle on important professional and academic trends, including the number of Forbes women in leadership roles.

More women in the UK’s Forbes 30 Under 30 are directors than men

University Compare’s research shows that more female winners of the Forbes 30 under 30 are reaching directorship level than their male counterparts. Today, 36% more Forbes women are directors and 6% more are founders and CEOs.

The research also found that Forbes women are twice as likely to be board members than Forbes men. Forbes women often employ larger workforces, too, with 31% of Forbes women employing between 10 to 50 people in comparison to just 18% of Forbes men.

Most of the UK’s Forbes 30 Under 30 studied business at university

Forbes men and women studied the same top five degrees at university. The most common were business (13.9%), engineering (13.7%) and computer science (13.4%), followed by finance (11.9%) and management (9.3%). Among the least common degrees were dance, equine studies and aviation.

The research also found that while similar proportions of Forbes men and women complete a Master’s degree, Forbes women spend longer in further education, with 23% more completing a doctorate.

The top 10 universities attended by the UK’s Forbes 30 Under 30 are:

https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/16957495/

Most of the UK’s Forbes 30 Under 30 work in computer software

The most popular industry for Forbes winners (both male and female) is computer software (12.2%). For men, the next most common industry is financial services (7.2%), and for women it’s marketing and advertising (7.5%). The least common industries are venture capital (0.8%), health and fitness (0.8%) and education (0.6%). Interestingly, only 59% of those on the Forbes UK list studied a subject at university that directly informed their subsequent careers.

Forbes women have more LinkedIn followers on average

In terms of recognition from fellow working professionals, Forbes winners have roughly 5,600 LinkedIn connections on average, 10 times more than most users on the platform. Forbes women also build more connections with their peers, garnering over 1,600 more followers on average than Forbes men.

Owen O’Neill, founder of University Compare, said:

“With more women taking leadership roles within traditionally male-dominated spaces, we feel this is not only testement to the individuals’ hard work but also the increased accessibility within the workplace and further education for women.

At Uni Compare, we believe higher education offers aspiring young professionals a platform to grow in confidence and develop the tenacious spirit needed for a successful career.”

Splitting his time between the US and European markets, Bachmann is responsible for driving the company’s continued growth in both regions

DAI Magister, a boutique investment bank, has announced the appointment of Steve Bachmann as Head of US and Co-Head of Europe. Bachmann brings over 30 years of experience in software-driven M&A advisory services to the role, leading more than 100 M&A or investment transactions in the process.

Prior to joining DAI Magister, Bachmann was a Managing Director at Atlas Technology Group, where he worked for almost a decade, providing M&A and capital-raising services to software companies. 

Bachmann also launched and managed Broadview’s London office, which he grew to a third of the company’s total revenue. Subsequently, he returned to the US and founded Broadview Capital Partners, a $250m late-stage venture fund, where he was a General Partner. 

Bachmann said: “I’m thrilled to have joined a company that is intent on driving innovation across a range of pivotal sectors, from climate tech to deep tech to fintech. By enabling access to capital for start-ups and growth stage companies through both M&A and capital-raising advisory services, I hope to support DAI Magister’s mission to expand the reach and impact of organisations that are accelerating the speed of global technological growth.

“The US and Europe are mature markets, but there’s still significant volumes of untapped potential in each region. I’m confident that we can expand DAI Magister’s presence in both areas by building relationships between founders, investors and future strategic acquirors, ensuring that pioneering tech solutions receive the attention they deserve in the process.

“The knowledge I have accrued over three decades in the M&A advisory space will equip me with the skills needed to facilitate DAI Magister’s continued growth. With the volume of M&A deals rebounding in the first quarter of the year, this is the perfect time to begin this role and start exploring the possibility of strategic exits for new and existing clients.”

Victor Basta, CEO of DAI Magister, expressed his excitement about Steve joining the team, stating: “I know Steve well from our time working together at Broadview, and I’m delighted to be bringing on board a seasoned professional with a wealth of industry understanding. Steve will be a vital part of our efforts to grow our footprint in the US and Europe, while simultaneously supporting our clients’ efforts to navigate the financial elements of growth, expansion and strategic investments.”

Established in 2004, Aim Ltd. is a UK-based management consultancy with a strong emphasis on Artificial Intelligence (AI) led application software development. Aim provides organisations with innovative services and cost-effective solutions to meet the holistic challenges of today’s digital world. Spearheaded by CEO Steve Ackland, the team embraces innovation in order to deliver lasting business change and meet clients’ unique technical challenges. Recognised as this year’s Most Influential CEO – UK (International Business Services), Steve Ackland strives to cultivate a learning culture for his team to benefit their careers, valued customers and Aim Ltd.

Since its inception, Aim has remained steadfast in its Customer First mission, a testament to the company’s dedication to providing solutions that improve management and data governance. With its client-centric approach, the company strives to deliver simple solutions to complex problems to help businesses manage organisations and improve resilience. Through its comprehensive suite of services, Aim provides clients with technological solutions to overcome any challenge. As a globally renowned software technology provider, Aim develops innovative products to help with every aspect of change management. Highly rated by independent global analysts Forrester, Quadrant, and Bloor Research, Aim’s single-platform technology and software services are designed to future proof organisations and help them thrive in the digital age.

With its integrated solutions, Aim helps businesses to embrace digitalisation and reengineer their processes to deliver products and services in a more efficient and cost-effective way. Aim’s team of digital business change engineers, utilise cutting-edge methodologies and systems to analyse clients’ operations and upgrade their organisations. Through its technology-driven approach, Aim performs an extensive analysis of an organisation’s processes, IT systems, staff, customers, and supply chain. This in-depth assessment enable clients to optimise efficiency, increase productivity, and deliver an improved customer experience.

Aim’s dataEstate® suite of digital regulatory technology (regtech) solutions is designed to address organisations’ data challenges, providing them with an innovative way to understand their data. This understanding, combined with governance, smart case management, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data automation, enables clients to gain valuable insights into their operations and posture. The dataEstate® software platform includes the tools dataBelt® for Data Governance Forensic Analysis and Management; dataTrove® for Enterprise Level Electronic Document Management; dataChain® for Collaborative Enterprise Service and Work Management; and dataServe® providing a smart portal, Virtual Agent and Generative AI for outstanding user engagement and automated information pipelines.  Aim’s dataEstate® regtech solutions are just about the most sophisticated and agile tools on the market, created to help organisations integrate technology and achieve an enhanced digital experience.

Prior to Aim, CEO Steve Ackland served at several Big Four consultancies and Aim follows a similar business model.  This involves Steve and his fellow directors actively engaging with customers and projects. This active leadership approach allows Steve to foster strong client relationships and remain abreast of the latest industry developments. His responsibilities as CEO include major corporate decisions, delivering strategy, supervising executives, governance and compliance, and overseeing growth plans. Steve describes his philosophy as servant leadership, in which the goal is to prioritise the wellbeing and empowerment of his employees. He strives to foster a learning culture at Aim, encouraging employees to grow, expand their skills, and work towards a collective vision.

Steve says, “For me, servant leadership means leading by example, being a motivator, being approachable, and connecting with staff. I aim to empower staff by providing transparency, clarity, and trustworthiness and showing commitment to staff development. Influences on me have been around treating people how you want to be treated yourself and seeing in the past how others have led teams badly and making sure I do the opposite.  I’d like to think that my leadership style has not changed significantly over the years, because as far as I am concerned that is the style that gets the best results from a team.”

During the pandemic, Aim was one of many businesses to suffer from the effects of the lockdowns. It was necessary to place many projects on hold until clients knew when and if their operations could return to normal. Aim took strategic action to ensure that there were no team redundancies so that when the lockdown lifted, the company would easily recover. Another challenge that Aim has encountered is the rapid evolution of AI technology. Through the integration of AI and machine learning, the Aim team has developed several impressive software products in the regulatory technology fields. Nevertheless, the team must stay vigilant to remain informed on emerging technologies and staying ahead of the technology curve.

Technological advancement and the increased focus on data and information management has provided Aim with abundant opportunities to develop pioneering software that assists with data governance and management. Aim recognises the borderless nature of data and key differences are how organisations engage with it and democratise its access.  This concept has allowed Aim to unite all data disciplines – such as governance/retention, forensic analysis, counter-fraud, cleansing, compliance, cyber security, data protection, risk – onto a ground-breaking single technology platform.  By leveraging the latest technologies, Aim has provided transformational changes to a variety of organisations including the police, financial services, real estate sectors, legal sectors, and supply chains. Understanding and accurately interpreting data are essential to an organisation’s success with data-driven businesses proven to be the most successful. Since making the strategic decision to add software development to Aim’s portfolio, the company has created value for countless organisations, helping them to futureproof and stay ahead in their respective industries.

Moving forward, Aim is committed to investing in local schools and colleges, by providing work experience training, internships and apprenticeships on world-class technologies and services, to help cultivate skills and interests and  create the next generation of   technologists. Over the past year, the team has delivered several ground-breaking projects that have greatly impacted clients and their communities. For its innovative ideas and single platform approach, Aim has been recognised as a global technology leader in data software and identified by International Analysts  as an industry disruptor in reports on the data governance landscape.

Steve shares, “This award from CEO Monthly is a great start to 2024 and a fantastic recognition not just for me but the whole Aim team. Aim is very much a team driven environment where everyone supports everyone else. That is been one of our biggest achievements and strengths in Aim.  The directors and I ensure we get involved and promote this culture, giving praise and celebrating success wherever we find it.”

Looking to the future, Steve will focus on business growth and delivering outstanding value to customers through Aim’s pioneering offerings. With its AI-driven approach, Aim strives to transform operational business, offering clients increased productivity, cost savings, and an improved customer experience – improvements measured at 85%+. By embracing digitalisation and integrating the latest technologies, organisations can overcome technical challenges and deliver products and services faster and cheaper than ever before. Under Steve’s democratic leadership, the team will continue to provide clients with unparalleled value and help them achieve success in the digital age. For his dynamic direction, we have bestowed on Mr. Steve Ackland this year’s award for Most Influential CEO – UK (International Business Services).

For business enquiries, contact Steve Ackland from Aim Limited on their website – www.aimltd.uk

Most Influential CEO 2024 – UK (Satellite Communications)

For Kyle Whitehill, customer focus is number-one. He believes that, as CEO of satellite services and solutions provider, Avanti, it is important to be the voice of the customer, whether they live in Africa, Europe, or the Middle East. At the time of speaking to Kyle, he has a number of trips lined up to see his customers around the world: from Turkey to Luxembourg to Kenya to South Africa. With three decades’ experience working across established and emerging markets across these regions, he is undeniably good with people, and “driven by diverse ideas, dialogue, and a collective love of competition”. In our conversation with Kyle, it becomes quickly clear just how worthy he is to be named Most Influential CEO 2024 – UK (Satellite Communications).

Guiding Kyle Whitehill in his day-to-day work is the following mantra: “At the end of the working day, do you feel you earned your salary?”

He elaborates, “When you get on the train or in your car, do you genuinely believe ‘I earned my salary today?’ And it doesn’t just mean doing ten or eight hours, it means more like, ‘Did I do something that made me think, ‘I definitely covered my salary by making that decision or by being there?’’ That can be anything from helping a salesperson to close a deal, to helping HR make a good decision in hiring, or just something you feel good about.”

For Kyle, it is all about making an impact. From the work he does internally with his team to reaching out across borders to change customers’ lives for the better. Kyle tells us how when he took on the role of CEO at Avanti six years ago, the company was very good at technology, but it wasn’t so good at customer service. Kyle brought to the table the principle that the customer is paramount – therefore, it was time the Avanti team were upping their game and unfalteringly supporting each customer in being their very best.

Kyle tells us, “20 years ago, satellite would have been the only way rural communities in emerging countries, particularly Africa, could gain connectivity. The core purpose of the company [Avanti] is to say, ‘It doesn’t matter who you are, where you are, or what you’re doing, we’re going to bring the internet to you and help you’. We install a cell site, we use a satellite to deliver connectivity and bring voice and text and data to that rural community for the first time. And it is heart-warming. You see videos of people singing and dancing because they can now actually communicate effectively.”

“Primarily, the purpose of Avanti is to help people to be more amazing.”

Founded in 2002, Avanti is a pioneering company dedicated to connecting people, communities, and businesses through its HYLAS satellite fleet. By leveraging satellite technology, Avanti can create bespoke connectivity solutions that protect communities and unlock opportunities for its customers all over the world. In 2010, it was the first British commercial company to launch a ka-band satellite, and, by 2023, it had become a global multi-orbit provider of fully integrated connectivity services and solutions. Today, the company owns and operates a fleet of high-throughput satellites with cutting-edge steerable capacity and a secure and resilient ground network.

Avanti has come a long way since it was first established just over two decades ago, and now 70% of its satellite covering is over Africa, with 75% of its total investment being in the region. This means it can deliver cost-effective, high-performance 2G, 3G, and 4G connectivity to millions of people in remote and ultra-remote areas that would otherwise be impossible to reach using traditional terrestrial infrastructure. With this comes access to vital resources and opportunities, including healthcare, financial services, ecommerce, and education, improving quality of life and economic prospects so communities can truly flourish.

Already, it is clear to see how passionate Kyle and the Avanti team are about helping people. This extends further to the company’s digital education programme, iMlango, which has been running for nine years. It commenced as a matched-funding ‘Girls Education Challenge’ project, in co-operation with the British Government to help marginalised children in Kenya to access education. Since 2021 when the Government funding ended, Avanti have continued to spearhead the programme with plans to roll out in other countries across Africa. The programme involves software which has proven to accelerate a child’s learning by three-times. This means six months of learning can increase a child’s maths age by 18 months.

“When you spend a lot of time in Africa, you realise how tough it is for people. Therefore, our commitment to the world around us is to try and help educate people, because an educated person can contribute very strongly to the world.”

Kyle has spent his four-decade career devotedly honing his people skills while working for a variety of major international brands including Guinness, L’Oreal, PepsiCo, Vodafone, and more – all companies that are very much about exceeding the customer’s expectations. It was at Vodafone that Kyle held his first CEO role, the first three years of which he spent working in Ghana, and then three more in Qatar. Before that, he worked for the company in the UK. Kyle reminisces over the first time he was asked to work abroad, in India as COO and Chairman. “When Vodafone said to me, ‘Can you go to India for six months?’, I burst out laughing. I’d never been there and said, “What? Really? That’s mad.” – but, of course, you fly there.”

Kyle soon discovered a love for travelling and he became quickly renowned for his dedication to visiting his clients around the globe. He delights in having seen so much of the world and its different people and cultures – but that’s not to say it doesn’t come without a physical toll. “The toughest one is San Diego,” he shares. “San Diego is a ten-hour flight with an eight-hour time difference. So, when you go to bed in San Diego, it’s 8AM in the UK. You basically lie there awake.” However, as exhausting as all that travelling may be with the long journeys and jetlag, Kyle will never not feel blessed for all the brilliant opportunities that continue to come his way. He embraces getting to see first-hand the benefits that connected life can bring and he thrives on contributing to making positive change in the world.

Kyle describes himself as a “people champion”, being the voice of the customer internally as well as reaching out to them externally, but also focusing on the individuals who make up his team and leading them with great honesty and integrity. He is very transparent while making sure every team member knows their objectives and feels empowered to accomplish them, ultimately working together to ensure results. “I am very honest with people about how we’re doing and what I expect from them,” he says.

“I think the role of the CEO is the tip of the spear. You’ve got to the point where you run the company. When you look at your CEO, you want to feel inspired by that person and you want to look up to them and think, ‘I’m really happy he or she is in charge because I feel safe and secure, and I feel like that person is doing the right thing for the company’.”

There’s no denying how Kyle Whitehill is doing so very right by this company and its customers, with him truly spearheading the leading of its people-centric and innovative offering. And his sights are set on enhancing this further into the future, taking the customer experience to the next level by making it as straightforward and easy as can be. He believes there isn’t any need to get technical when dealing with customers. As a whole, the organisation is transitioning towards delivery that is kept as simple as possible. The customer doesn’t need to know the type of satellite available; what they need to know is how the technology can change their lives for the better – and with the extraordinary leadership of Kyle at the helm, the company will only continue on this road towards even greater heights and success.

For business enquiries, contact Kyle Whitehill from Avanti via email – [email protected] or on their website – www.avanti.space

Based in Ireland, XpertDPO is one of the leading providers of Data Security, Governance, and Risk and Compliance in the UK and beyond. Established by Stuart Anderson in 2018, the business offers tailor-made solutions to public and private sector organisations. With its value-based approach, XpertDPO provides pragmatic Information Security and Governance advisory and consultancy services to help clients overcome their regulatory challenges and concentrate on their business goals. Through Mr. Anderson’s people-centric leadership, the organisation has established a culture of trust which has fostered sustainable growth and long-term success. Stuart Anderson works hard to inspire excellence in his team and for his expert direction, we have bestowed on him this year’s award for Most Influential CEO – ROI (Data Protection).

At XpertDPO, the team is dedicated to helping organisations around the world create and preserve their value by transforming regulatory constraints into opportunities to make a positive impact on clients’ operations. Its proven methodology is grounded in research, experience, and a practical ethos which consistently delivers value to clients. With XpertDPO’s GDPR compliance services and outsourced data protection officer services, the business strives to change clients’ relationships with the data they process.

Prior to the introduction of GDPR, organisations were assumed compliant until evidence of noncompliance was identified. Since the EU legislation passed in 2018, it has become essential for businesses to appoint an individual responsible for evaluating and monitoring compliance. Many organisations outsource the responsibilities of a Data Protection Officer (DPO) to compliance experts. XpertDPO provides a range of services to support the DPO role as well as keeping clients informed and updated on all data protection matters. By outsourcing the position, clients align themselves with specialised consultants who can quickly resolve GDPR issues, data breaches, subject access requests, and other compliance challenges.

XpertDPO provides ISO 27001 certification consultancy, offering clients an efficient means of managing their data security. The ISO 27001 standard provides a set of standardised requirements for an Information Security Management System (ISMS) and offers a process-based approach to clients for implementing, managing, and improving their ISMS. This framework helps organisations to safeguard valuable data, effectively manage risks to information security, achieve compliance, and protect the organisation’s reputation. XpertDPO understands that data protection is essential to successfully manage and streamline business operations. By achieving ISO 27001 certification, organisations can ensure confidential data remains secure in order to protect clients, assets, and shareholders.

The innovative company also specialises in providing Nominated European Representative Services to non-EU and non-UK based organisations. Although GDPR is a European regulation, organisations outside of the EU may be required to appoint a European Representative under certain circumstances. To help clients navigate GDPR, XpertDPO assigns a certified Data Protection Expert to ensure that businesses remain compliant. It is XpertDPO’s belief that data security function should be informed by an organisation’s business objectives. Its diligent team helps clients to turn regulatory challenges into opportunities for success, creating a positive impact on their economic and organisational models.

Founder Stuart Anderson is a GDPR consultant and Data Security expert who leverages his industry experience and technical proficiency to advise in the areas of Data Protection, Data Quality, Information Security, Governance Risk and Compliance, and implementing Regulatory Compliance processes. He is certified by ISACA and possesses the Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC) and Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) certifications. Most recently, Mr. Anderson has published articles in the International Journal for Data Protection Officers, Privacy Officers, and Privacy Counsel with his latest work examining the impact of Brexit on Data Protection.

Reflecting on his career, Mr. Anderson says, “I worked in numerous technology and software companies culminating in me having a shareholding in a software start up. I founded XpertDPO as I had a passion for information security and, as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) became enforceable in 2018, I saw an opportunity to start my own business that specialised in offering these services to clients here in Europe and further afield. My approach has always been the same, and that is the relentless pursuit of excellence. This has led to XpertDPO becoming the largest supplier of information security services in the Irish Public Sector. In addition, we have opened offices in London and, most recently, Bahrain in the Middle East. XpertDPO has over 500 clients across the globe and is the trusted advisor to many enterprise clients.”

Within the organisation, Mr. Anderson focuses on the business growth objectives of XpertDPO. His client-centric philosophy revolves around building long-lasting relationships with clients based on trust in order to effectively advise on Information Security and Governance. The key to XpertDPO’s success is hiring exceptional staff who are passionate about achieving client satisfaction. Mr. Anderson has fostered a culture of learning and growth that encourages staff to perform at their best. XpertDPO values collaboration and its team works together to create a cooperative environment that supports one another.

Mr. Anderson shares, “Owning and running a business is stressful and involves sacrifice. You have to commit to it and have a mindset that at times needs to be ruthless, whether that be with your time, resources, or when making decisions. You will need to be relentless in how you approach the growth of your business. It is important to hire great people and let them perform; it’s your job to foster this culture within your organisation.”

In the Information Security and Governance industry, Mr. Anderson has noticed a distinct lack of experienced individuals with the necessary skills to excel. XpertDPO is currently working to establish strategic partnerships with several educational institutions in order to build an apprenticeship program. Apprentices will work alongside XpertDPO staff to enhance their existing skills and gain valuable experience. The company will also help learners to gain recognised industry certifications and qualifications. Once their education is completed, apprentices will begin work in one of XpertDPO’s global offices.

In the future, XpertDPO will have a two-fold focus, to expand its operations in the Middle East region and to implement new service offerings that will ensure that clients remain informed on all governance issues. These new services will integrate technology to keep up with the latest AI regulations that are beginning to be implemented worldwide.

Moving forward, Mr. Anderson will continue to focus on business growth and building meaningful relationships with clients. It is his primary goal for XpertDPO to become a trusted global leader of consultancy for Enterprise Information Security and Governance. Under his inspirational leadership, XpertDPO will continue to provide a suite of practical solutions to address clients’ data protection and GDPR concerns, allowing them to focus on their core activities. By channelling Mr. Anderson’s client-centric philosophy and value-based approach, the team provide vital support for clients to help them overcome their regulatory challenges. For Mr. Anderson’s strategic direction, he has received our award for this year’s Most Influential CEO – ROI (Data Protection).

For business enquiries contact Stuart Anderson from XpertDPO Ltd on their website – https://xpertdpo.com/

When Justin Fischer made the call for his business, Brüllen Pty Ltd, to start producing frozen dessert machines in 2016, he did so having recognised a key gap in the market, one that could be filled with a series of reliable, high-performance, and high-quality soft serve ice cream machines. Today, Brüllen has solidified itself as an industry leader, selling, installing, and servicing soft serve ice cream makers, as well as frozen yoghurt and acai dessert machines, on a global scale. The journey Justin has undergone to get to this point has been inspiring, emotional, and reassuring all at once, and as a result of his unwavering commitment to the cause, we are proud to bestow Justin Fischer with the rightful title of Most Influential CEO 2024 – Australia (Frozen Dessert Machines).

“Write your dreams down and never stop chasing them.” This is the sentiment of Brüllen Pty Ltd CEO and Founder Justin Fischer, who has spent more than a quarter of a century traversing the often-tumultuous path to turning his wildest dreams into reality, overcoming any hurdles that have stood in his way. These efforts have more than paid off, and today, Justin serves as a pioneering and dominant figure in the world of frozen desserts. Headquartered in the beautiful Australian city of Sydney, his business is swiftly becoming one of the leading frozen dessert machine manufacturers on the planet, a distinction it has earned in part as a result of superior craftsmanship and worldwide appeal.

This international affluence spans more than just its consumer base, with the parts used in the creation of these machines being meticulously sourced from renowned and reputable manufacturers in European countries such as Germany, Italy, Denmark, and France, ensuring they wholly adhere to the company’s overarching commitment of providing nothing less than the best that the industry has to offer. Germany is also home to the company’s engineering epicentre, and in German, Brüllen translates to “raw”, with this name representing the relentless dedication and no-frills approach that has been put into the business to ensure its success.

Moreover, although these machines are assembled in China, they embody the innate mastery of German engineering, and the company is incredibly proud of its Australian heritage, boasting the claim of being 100% Australian owned and operated. Once these machines are assembled, they come complete with a genuine, worldwide 12-month warranty, a standard part of Brüllen’s encompassing after sales service. Bolstering this further is Justin’s drive to hire only exceptional people to work for his company, with this amazing team standing as a united front and working tirelessly to make sure that the company’s reputation for excellence is upheld at all times and in all of the worldwide territories in which it operates.

Despite today being an incredibly successful CEO, and even appearing on the popular television series Married at First Sight, the road for Justin has not been easy, and like many business owners, he has experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. His story begins when he got his first job at McDonald’s as a teenager, and upon noticing how frequently the company’s ice cream machines would falter, he spent countless hours teaching himself how to service and repair them, a skill that would prove incredibly beneficial in the long run. A few years later, Justin would quit the company and take a leap of faith, starting a business where he would independently service these soft serve machines himself.

Initially, everyone told Justin that he was crazy for giving up his job on such a whim – after all, who would pay him to clean and service ice cream machines when companies such as McDonald’s have its own staff to do this? Justin was in the midst of a successful career when this decision was made, as at just 17 years old, he was a franchise owner of a successful McDonald’s branch, the youngest manager in the country, and the recipient of almost every award the company had to offer. Undeterred by the negativity of those around him, Justin set about contacting other franchise owners for jobs, battling through the rejection and even highlighting his unparalleled work ethic by carrying out his services free of charge.

After those he had worked for began to notice that months had gone by and their machines were still faultlessly running, word of Justin’s stellar services soon spread across Queensland, and the business began to grow exponentially, with more than 30 people on the payroll at the height of the business’ success. Unfortunately, Justin’s personal life took a major hit after his relationship ended, and he was forced to sell the business as part of a settlement deal. One of the terms of the contract he signed meant that Justin was unable to trade in Queensland for five years, so he up and left to start a new life, in Sydney.

After drifting for a short time, including taking a car sales job at which he lasted just one day before quitting, Justin’s future was severely lacking in direction, and he felt it was again about time to take a second crack at getting a soft serve machine service company off the ground, this time in a new area with a fresh client base. However, a chance encounter with his brother, Scott, ultimately resulted in the pair deciding that a much better investment would be utilising their expertise to create frozen dessert machines of their own, products that would exude manufacturing prowess, consistency, and reliability in equal measure. Thus, Brüllen Pty Ltd was born to fulfil these very obligations.

Aside from their reliability, the company’s machines too boast the claim of being incredibly easy to use, and a series of training videos can be viewed online that cover the areas of assembly, cleaning, set-up, and configuration, or training with a technician is available either online or at a customer’s place of business, whichever is more convenient. As a result of these combined elements, Brüllen’s soft serve ice cream machines are highly distinguished in this space, boosted by the fantastic control and flexibility afforded to each of the items in the range, resulting in a final product, whether this be soft serve, frozen yoghurt, or acai desserts, that are consistent and embody the premium quality synonymous with the brand.

The exemplary nature of Brüllen’s machines and services have caught the attention of some of the biggest names in the worldwide hospitality space, and Justin has personally overseen the supply, service, and installation of a wide range of equipment for such iconic brands as Burger King, Wendy’s, IKEA, Subway, Pizza Hut, and countless others. In somewhat of an ironic twist that represents the cyclical nature of Justin’s journey, his company’s machines are now also used in many branches of McDonald’s across the business’ native Australia and further beyond.

On the back of such triumphs, Brüllen has come to be globally accepted as a leader in the frozen dessert sphere, currently ranking as one of the top three soft serve equipment manufacturers in the world, a remarkable feat that has only been possible thanks to the knowledge, experience, and dedication of Justin, Scott and every subsequent member of this expert team. From day one, improving and growing the company into the worldwide force that it is today has been a top priority, and still very much at the helm, Justin and Scott now possess a combined 40 years of experience in this area, know-how they are constantly applying to fortify Brüllen’s frontrunner status.

Justin’s career and more than 25 years of involvement have proven exceptionally valuable in not only the design and engineering of these machines, but also in the wider managing of the business, something Justin prides himself on undertaking to the highest possible standard across his CEO duties. When it comes to managing a business, Justin prides his three-fold ethos – which necessitates passion, pride, and profit – in that order. Aided by this demonstrably impactful mindset, Justin has not only succeeded in a business setting, but he has used this platform to give something back to numerous global charities that cover both humanitarian and wildlife causes, highlighting his selfless nature and drive to help others.

Over the past several years, the business has gone from strength, and as a result of the robust nature of its machines and an unwavering commitment to expanding its presence in the market, the company is stronger now than it has ever been before, having escalated to cover such bases as cruise ships and mobile food vans in addition to its storied partnerships with a series of famed restaurants and cafes. Such sustained success has been made apparent most recently by the business’ heavy presence at the 2024 Australian Open, where the company’s i95 PRO machines made it possible for partner company Peach Melbourne to serve its signature blend of ice cream to spectators across the tournament.

Brüllen’s i95 Pro serves as just one of its signature offerings, with this floor standing machine offering two flavours plus a twist setting and can produce an impressive 440-880 80g servings an hour depending on the product. One of the most popular machines in this range, the i95 Pro is available in four bold colours, black, white, pink, and teal. Eight additional machines complete the line, and across this selection, machines comprise either countertop or floor standing variants, with each boasting a different capacity and varying features based on size and model. New machines are regularly being introduced by the team, with one such new variant being the Baby Brüllen, a pint-sized offering perfect for small events/businesses.

Of course, there is more to owning a machine than just the item itself, but Brüllen has this covered too, and its online store stocks everything that a customer could possibly need to maintain their machine effectively, from a plethora of tune up kits that are available for every model, through to standard staples such as cleaning solution, universal cleaning brushes, sanitising tablets/powder, and lubricant. Remember, this is all in addition to the aforementioned warranty, which is guaranteed to straighten out any issues within 12 months of purchase, in the unlikely event they arise that is.

Whether a customer is just starting out in the field of frozen yoghurt, soft serve ice cream, or acai desserts, or is simply seeking reliable hardware to expand their current set-up, Brüllen is confident in its ability provide the right solution for them, with its machines possessing the ability to aid a customer in the crafting of their own unique and exciting flavours that are sure to impress their intended audience. Aside from the multitude of colours that are available on machines across the range, Brüllen’s customers are also afforded the ability to choose their own custom colour, one that reflects the image of their brand or corresponds nicely with the décor in the setting where these treats will be served.

For those who are just starting out in the field, Brüllen’s handy profit calculator on the company website enables a prospective customer to assess the profits that they can potentially make from soft serve, the fastest growing segment of the dessert industry on an international scale. Thus, not only is soft serve delicious, but it is in the process of becoming an increasingly viable business opportunity that could see in excess of a 400% gross profit given the right setting and business model.

Regardless of what the future of this industry holds, Justin Fischer’s story is incredible, and serves as a testament to what can be achieved when one follows their dreams and never gives up. A textbook example of what a good CEO should be, across the decades-long journey he has undertaken to get to this point, Justin’s primary aims have been unflinching and remain a constant, with him striving to deliver exceptional customer service, spur on innovation in the field, and constantly expand his enterprise worldwide. With Brüllen Pty Ltd, Justin has more than achieved this, and is continuing to do so, and as such, he is rightfully deserving of being crowned as Most Influential CEO 2024 – Australia (Frozen Dessert Machines).

For business enquiries, contact Justin Fischer from Brüllen Pty Ltd on their website – https://brullen.com.au/

Dan Hostetler of the Above and Beyond Family Recovery Center, has been honoured with the title of Most Influential CEO 2023 – Chicago (Non-Profit Organization Management). We wanted to find out a little more about the history of this outpatient addiction treatment facility, and the man at its helm.

Above and Beyond Family Recovery Center is a licensed (Level I and Level II) outpatient addiction treatment facility with a focus on serving the communities, both at large and those who are disenfranchised, in West Chicago. It is a not-for-profit organisation, funded privately which ensures no one is ever turned away because of an inability to pay for treatment. The treatment centre was built by an artist/builder using repurposed materials to create a uniquely modern, eclectic industrial space. The building is inhabited by original furniture pieces and art. The clinic believes that many of these discarded pieces retain value, and can be transformed into something useful and beautiful. This is very fitting as it’s the same sentiment the facility applies to the lives of its clients, believing they too can be transformed. Its goal is to offer a place that evokes order and pride in the people it serves. 

The clinical services it provides are conducted in group sessions, as well as on an individual basis. Its certified and licensed counsellors and clinicians are a handpicked team, all solidly grounded in the traditional techniques of addiction therapy. Its CEO Daniel Hostetler has more than 30 years of experience in corporate consultancy and non-profit management under his belt. This includes serving as president and chairman of the Board of Directors of the Southern European Division of an International Consultancy for 10 years, where he managed more than 300 consultants. In the light of his award announcement as Most Influential CEO 2023 – Chicago (Non-Profit Organization Management), we have taken the opportunity to catch up with Dan, and dig a little deeper into his past.

“To be honoured with this recognition is quite strange to me. I accept it with deep gratitude and humble disbelief, both, because the role I fulfil as CEO looks very different than what I believe most onlookers would expect.”

Dan explained what a long journey it’s been for him, beginning when he was a young boy at the Cub Scouts. When the Den Mother asked who would like to volunteer as the leader, the Den Chief, Dan raised his hand. He looks back on that moment now as the beginning of his life in, mostly, inglorious servitude to his masters. He can imagine now how his business school professors might scoff or even openly mock this vision of his young self. But ever since that first tentative step forward, Dan has continued through the epochs of many leadership opportunities.

Even as a ‘leader’, Dan has always answered to someone else, a higher human power as it were, whether this be the board, a president, a donor, benefactor, or constituencies. It is very rare that he has ever had time to indulge in other interests, as the rigours and constant vigilance that come from being a conduit for someone else’s mission has never allowed for such an indulgence. In the 40 years or so that Dan has spent tackling challenges and fulfilling a wide variety of leadership roles across the United States and the world, he’s learnt a few things. He’s been able to clarify his primary role as being that of a balancing pole between defining reality and providing hope; sharing credit and taking responsibility; providing a living wage and being able to keep the doors open; simultaneously serving the stockholders and the constituencies; being a boss while remaining a human being.

The key for Dan has always been to stay centred and true to himself, but he has borne witness to many colleagues become unglued and lose their footing over shifting principles and wavering loyalties. For him, the gauges of progress and success have always come from the attitudes of his constituencies, something that has always been easy for him to read. His guiderails have always communicated their satisfaction or dismay loudly and clearly. The only thing that’s not been so easy to pin down is how their satisfaction was won. In the end, age and experience has revealed the answer comes down to his employees and designees. He’s realised if they’re happy and satisfied in their job roles and environment, that positive energy will be transmitted vicariously to the constituencies. This creates a win-win sort of contagion, spreading joy on contact.

This means that for Dan, his primary and overarching purpose as CEO is the long-term, measurable, and sustainable well-being and outcomes of his patient populations. The secondary priority is the overall well-being of his staff, something that is obviously well-served by successful achievement of the primary priority. In fact, this is very much a chicken/egg situation, so closely linked are the outcomes dependency on each other. Dan sees it as a paradox on most modern perceptions of leadership.

The other factor to consider for any company is of course the need for survival in good fiscal and governance health. Without satisfying the stockholders, the auditors, and the ogres of compliance, all other endeavours are rendered meaningless. This is another set of skills requiring constant monitoring and balancing, ensuring the pressures and anxieties of the business side of operations don’t invade or infect the provision of the services. One side usually doesn’t understand the other, so they both stand at bay to one another, leaving Dan as the middle-man connector and balancing pole once more.

This strategy has become Dan’s go-to policy, with the majority of his attention being focused on the superior functionality of a well satisfied staff. This is the key to producing unequivocal business outcomes throughout all constituencies, almost without exception. He has also found it works equally as well in both for-profit and non-profit settings. In his moment of reflection on past leadership positions, Dan has been filled with gratitude for all the many thousands of lives he’s had the opportunity to improve. His positions have included President and Board Chair of an International Business Consulting Firm, Operations and Finance Director for a national refugee resettlement non-profit, and Executive Director and Spiritual Leader of a 100+ year old international spirituality organisation. And now, of course, there’s his current position as CEO of one of the most innovative addiction treatment centres in the United States and maybe the world.

Throughout it all, the most consistent key to untangling the collective messes he’s been faced with has been to put his ego aside and work in deft, intuitive servitude to those around him. He has a need to help those that depend on him to navigate the dense fog of uncertainty and doubt, and deliver them to a better destiny without any personal gain or self-aggrandisement. For Dan Hostetler, the gains and rewards he’s received have exceeded his expectations, and reassured him that whatever gifts he possesses they have been put to good and proper use.      

For business enquiries, contact Dan Hostetler from Above and Beyond Family Recovery Center on their website – http://anb.today/

Established in January 2023, Atta Gurl Consulting is a sales agency that offers both full-time and contract-only representation to companies within the oil and gas industry. As well as providing its clients with the support they need to thrive and succeed, the agency aims to advance the representation of women in a largely male-dominated field. At the helm of Atta Gurl Consulting is Founder and CEO Shar Woehl, who has recently been named Oil & Gas Consulting CEO of the Year, Texas, in the CEO of the Year Awards 2023.

Historically, the oil and gas industry has been dominated by men at all levels, from leadership positions in major corporations to manual labour-based jobs in mines and oil rigs. The sector has been slower than many others in embracing gender diversity, which may be attributed to the long-standing stereotype that physically demanding jobs should be reserved for men. Due to the persistence of this outdated view, women have long been hindered in the oil and gas industry, preventing them from advancing in or even entering the field.

Shar Woehl, Founder and CEO of Atta Gurl Consulting, experienced this struggle firsthand. Having gained experience in a variety of client-facing roles, she decided to leverage her outstanding customer service skills to pursue a career in sales. Being based in Texas, known as the heart of the USA’s gas and oil production, Shar eventually entered the oil and gas industry, taking on sales positions at numerous companies in the sector. Whilst she was confident in her abilities as a salesperson, Shar always felt that she was underappreciated in these roles. She soon found herself unable to advance, held back by her gender.

Inspired by her past experiences and determined to be a catalyst of positive change, Shar set out to establish Atta Gurl Consulting in 2023. Her goal was to create a sales agency for the oil and gas industry that would focus on hiring talented women to create a workforce that consists almost entirely of women in sales roles. She hoped that the business would not only increase female visibility in the oil, gas, and mining industry, but also provide women with a unique working environment in which they are supported and empowered to succeed.

Being based in Midland, Texas, Atta Gurl Consulting primarily serves clients in the Permian and Delaware Basins. The company caters to almost every niche in the industry, including drilling, completions, production, construction, maintenance, pipeline, facilities, and plants. Over the last 12 months, Shar has worked hard to establish close relationships with many vendors in these fields, spanning across Texas and beyond. Through this, she ensures that Atta Gurl Consulting is equipped to serve as a one-stop-shop for everything related to oil and gas, offering the best prices to customers and driving business growth for vendors.

Shar created this distinct strategy, known as The Vortex, while she was working in the real estate industry. It features three elements: the vendor, the customer, and the sales representative. The strategy outlines that, if all parties pull their weight, are honest, and are not greedy, everybody will achieve the outcome they want. This means that the vendor will gain increased sales, the customer will get the best price, and the salesperson will receive a healthy commission for their work. By utilising this strategy, the agency aims to make the journey for all vendors and customers less expensive, more efficient, and as profitable as possible. Shar came up with the name “The Vortex” when she noticed that all three elements strengthen each other, contributing towards their collective long-term success.

In everything it does, Atta Gurl Consulting strives to maintain the highest level of integrity whilst delivering the best standard of customer service. To achieve this, Shar invests significantly in the personal and professional development of her excellent team of “Atta Gurls”. With a rich background in sales, she understands the importance of rigorous training and is passionate about ensuring that her sales representatives are equipped to reach their full potential. As part of the agency’s intense training programme, they are not fed to the wolves but rather armed for battle, mentored, and inspired to do their best.

As well as personally overseeing the training of all Atta Gurl Consulting’s representatives and consultants, Shar utilises her diverse experience and abilities to equip her senior representatives with the skills they need to train future juniors. This fosters a culture of knowledge-sharing and mentorship throughout the organisation, enabling all Atta Gurls to thrive and help each other succeed.

For her innovative spirit and her exceptional leadership of Atta Gurl Consulting, Shar Woehl has been named Oil & Gas Consulting CEO of the Year, Texas, in the CEO of the Year Awards 2023. In the years to come, she plans to streamline the agency and its work by splitting its team into specialised divisions with expertise in a particular niche. Each of these teams will be headed by a long-time expert in the field, enabling the agency to better serve its clients and fulfil their needs.

We are thrilled to congratulate Shar Woehl on her success in the CEO of the Year Awards 2023 and look forward to seeing what the future holds for her and her team at Atta Gurl Consulting.

For business enquiries, contact Shar Woehl from Atta Gurl Consulting on their website – attagurl.com