Issue 2 2023 Revolutionizing Parking: A Future Everyone Can Love! Founded in 2009 by dynamic father/daughter duo, Don and Shareena Sandbrook, Frogparking came about from watching a parking warden chalking tyres in the rain. Having been successful in other industries using cutting-edge technology, the pair decided to modernise the world of parking. We find out more about the firm as it celebrates Shareena being recognised as CEO of the Year, 2022 - New Zealand.
Welcome to the February 2023 issue of CEO Monthly. As always, CEO Monthly is dedicated to providing the latest news and features across the business world to our readership. By sharing knowledge, insights, expertise and success stories from around the globe, we aim to inspire individuals and promote positivity in a world that is in a constant state of evolution. Now that we have settled into the new year and begun working on our goals for 2023, we are pleased to be presenting our February collection of award-winning businesses. Among these are some of the world’s most leading CEOs and entrepreneurs and we delight in sharing their stories with you. Our cover feature is Frogparking’s passionate and dedicated CEO, Shareena Sandbrook, who, alongside her father, Don, founded the business that is revolutionising the world of parking. With a dynamic leadership style and a family culture, she has taken the company from strength to strength and the FrogOne solution is making the lives of drivers and parking wardens easier. Also amidst our award winners is Porsche Cars GB CEO, Jonathan Mannell who has ardently worked his way up the company to his current leadership position. His passion for the brand and its vision of inspiring customers to follow their dreams is evident through his hard work and daily motivating and uplifting of his tight-knit team. It doesn’t stop there; we have an array of exciting CEOs and businesses to pique your interest, and we hope you find their tales to be intriguing and insightful. We wish you a prosperous month ahead and look forward to welcoming you back again soon. Rebecca Scotland, Editor Website: www.ceo-review.com AI Global Media, Ltd. (AI) takes reasonable measures to ensure the quality of the information on this web site. However, AI will not assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, correctness or completeness of any information that is available through this web site. If errors are brought to our attention, we will try to correct them. The information available through the website and our partner publications is for your general information and use and is not intended to address any particular finance or investment requirements. In particular, the information does not constitute any form of advice or recommendation by us or any of our partner publications and is not intended to be relied upon by users in making or refraining from making any investment or financial decisions. Appropriate independent advice should be obtained before making any such decision. Any arrangement made between you and any third party named in the site is at your sole risk and responsibility.
4. News 6. Frogparking: Revolutionizing Parking: A Future Everyone Can Love! 7. By Sharmla Chetty: Perception Drives Distrust in Woman Leaders 8. TKK Corporation: An Expert in Automation 9. Porsche Cars Great Britain Ltd: Pioneering Spirit 10. New benchmarking report identifies the top four business priorities for creating strong customer experiences in 2023 12. Inmotion, S.A.S.: Reaching for the Clouds 13. Space Resources Laboratory Ltd: Space is for All 14. TOOJAYS Training & HR Consultancy Ltd: The Changing Face of Training 16. Zuhair Fayez Partnership Consultants: Transforming the Future 18. Pubity Group: Social Media Titans 20. New Century Education: Education the Non-Traditional Way 21. Winners’ Listings Contents
NEWS Dah Sing Bank and Sun Life Join Forces in 15-Year Exclusive Bancassurance Partnership in Hong Kong
Sagicor Financial Company Ltd. (TSX: SFC) (“Sagicor” or “the Company”) today announced that Dodridge D. Miller will retire as President and Chief Executive Officer effective as of the end of March2023. Mr. Millerwill stepdown fromhis current executive duties after more than 30 years of service to Sagicor, including serving as President and Chief Executive Officer since 2002. Mr. Miller will continue to serve on Sagicor’s Board of Directors. Sagicor’s Board of Directors has appointed Sagicor’s Group Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer Andre G. Mousseau to succeed Mr. Miller as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective April 1, 2023. Mr. Mousseau will also join the Company’s Board of Directors on that date. Mahmood Khimji, Chairman of Sagicor, said “On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Dodridge for his exceptional contribution to Sagicor for over 30 years. Under his tenure, Sagicor grew from a mutual company with less than $100 million of assets to a publicly listed multi-national corporation with over $10 billion of assets. Sagicor has greatly benefitted from Dodridge’s visionary leadership to become the leading financial services provider in the Caribbean with an exciting growth platform in North America.” Mr. Khimji further stated, “As Dodridge approached his planned retirement age, the Board of Directors undertook a thorough succession process including taking guidance from external advisors. The Board of Directors unanimously supported the succession of Andre to the role of President and CEO. Andre has worked hand in hand with Dodridge in developing and executing Sagicor’s strategy since he joined the Company in 2019. We believe Andre is the right individual to drive forward with the next stage of Sagicor’s growth.” Mr. Miller said “Sagicor is a remarkable forward-looking company, served by dedicated and hardworking employees. Itwasanhonour to leadthisgreat company for 20 years. As I step away from my current role, I am delighted to pass the baton to Andre Mousseau. Andre has worked very closely with me over the last four years and has been instrumental in the execution of many of our strategic initiatives during this time. I am confident that Andre is the right person to lead Sagicor through the next phase of its development.” Mr. Mousseau said “I am honoured to be appointed to lead this great organization. I look forward to continuing to work with Sagicor’s talented team as we execute on our growth initiatives, with a clear focus on delivering valuetoourcustomers, communitiesandshareholders.” Sagicor Financial Company Announces the Retirement of Its CEO, Dodridge Miller, And Appointment of Andre Mousseau as Its New CEO ah Sing Bank, Limited (“Bank”) and Sun Life Hong Kong Limited (“Sun Life”), a subsidiary of Sun Life Financial Inc. (TSX: SLF) (NYSE: SLF), today announced an exclusive 15-year bancassurance partnership in Hong Kong (“Bancassurance Partnership”). Under this Bancassurance Partnership, Sun Life will be the exclusive provider of life insurance solutions to Dah Sing Bank’s 570,000 retail banking customers to fulfill their savings and protection needs at different life stages. The partnership combines Sun Life’s comprehensive and competitive suite of life and health insurance solutions, with Dah Sing’s trusted brand, strong franchise, and distribution network of over 40 branches in Hong Kong. Following the completion of regulatory processes and approvals, distribution of Sun Life products is only anticipated to start in July 2023. Sun Life is part of a leading international financial services organization with a 130-year history in Hong Kong serving individual and group Clients with an innovative suite of life, health and wealth solutions. Today, Sun Life is a leading provider in the retirement and High Net Worth businesses and was ranked #2 for MPF pension inflows in 2021. 1 Dah Sing Bank has a solid 75-year track record as one of the leading home-grown banks in Hong Kong and is recognized as a trusted financial services brand that delivers quality products and personalized services. It ranks amongst the top 10 in terms of its branch network in Hong Kong and employs close to 2,400 staff in the territory. The Bank’s total assets stood at close to HKD250 billion (C$41 billion)2 at the end of 2021. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dah Sing Banking Group Limited (HKG: 2356), which is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. “As a bank with a 75-year history in Hong Kong, Dah Sing Bank has been focusing on delivering comprehensive high quality banking products and services to satisfy the wealth management needs of customers from all walks of life. We at Dah Sing Bank are excited to enter into the Bancassurance Partnership with Sun Life, which has one of the most trusted life insurance brands in the world. With both parties sharing similar aspirations and values, this strategic alliance will create a mutually rewarding opportunity, giving the Bank’s customers the choice of a diverse range of best-in-class life and protection products, and enabling Sun Life to access our fast-growing wealth management franchise in Hong Kong,” said Harold Wong, Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Bank. “We are delighted to partner with Dah Sing Bank in Hong Kong,” said Ingrid Johnson, President of Sun Life Asia. “We now have more than 20 quality bancassurance partnerships in seven markets across Asia as we expand our reach with world-class solutions and partners who share our commitment to place Clients at the centre of everything we do. We look forward to forging a formidable partnership with Dah Sing Bank as together we help even more Clients achieve lifetime financial security and live healthier lives.” “This partnership is a natural next step for our business and enhances our distribution capabilities,” said Clement Lam, CEO, Sun Life Hong Kong. “Sun Life and Dah Sing Bank share a long history in Hong Kong and a deep knowledge of the needs of our Clients. Together we are committed to designing the best products and digital solutions for Clients and providing them with simple, fast, and enjoyable experiences at every touchpoint. We look forward to partnering with Dah Sing Bank to help Clients of all ages and stages of life achieve their goals.”
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 2 2023 6 Mar22259 Revolutionizing Parking: A Future Everyone Can Love! Founded in 2009 by dynamic father/daughter duo, Don and Shareena Sandbrook, Frogparking came about from watching a parking warden chalking tyres in the rain. Having been successful in other industries using cutting-edge technology, the pair decided to modernise the world of parking. We find out more about the firm as it celebrates Shareena being recognised as CEO of the Year, 2022 - New Zealand. Frogparking is a Deloitte Fast 50 company offering an end-to-end smart parking solution to large premium clients around the world. Remaining nimble in its approach enables Frogparking to be agile and future focused, whilst its parking technologies offer one-of-a-kind profitable solutions to customers, fit for their unique business needs. First in the world to produce solar-powered parking sensors, laser indoor sensors, and wireless parking guidance, the firm has a full, in-house hardware and software design team, and its unique platform also includes custommobile apps, dynamic signage, and cloud-based data reporting software. But whilst it may be a highly innovative tech company, Frogparking still upholds its deep-seated family values. “As our culture is very much a family supportive environment, my leadership style is also inviting and encouraging – I will always have my doors open for communication with staff,” explains CEO, Shareena, who actively encourages a collaborative environment to nurture joint leadership throughout the firm’s internal structure. With a Bachelor of Business Studies in Marketing from Massey University, a Postgraduate Diploma in Management Studies, and an Executive MBA fromWaikato University, Shareena may be armed with the paper qualifications she requires to take the business far, but her skills extend much further. Shareena has an extremely strong customer focus, shaped around building sustainable long-term relationships and effectively communicating to shape the competitive advantage of the company. “With my extensive marketing background, I took it upon myself in the early stages of Frogparking to develop sales and marketing strategies and implemented them myself,” Shareena elaborates. “Although my time is mostly spent as CEO, my love for marketing results in a natural gravitation towards those activities. I see this as an advantage as I’m still very present in the sales and customer-facing environment and can ensure our direction remains customer focused.” Having such a large portfolio of corporate and business owners with high value parking assets, Frogparking must ensure that it stays ahead to keep its competitive advantage. One of its key differentiators is that it can offer a full end-to-end solution, something that no-one else in the world can offer, and which clearly sets the firm aside. What makes Frogparking truly stand out is the ability to customise its hardware to match what its customers need and want, enabling its clients tomake smart business decisions by using accurate data analysis from its reporting dashboards, and caring about what its customers can provide to their own customers in turn. “We call our solution FrogOne,” says Shareena. “It’s the only solution that saves clients money in the long run and drives higher ROI. In brief, it’s one supplier, one dashboard, one system, and one aggregator. When we say we offer end-to-end, our product really does it all. Although it can integrate with third-party solutions, our customers don’t need to bring in other providers for a complete parking solution.” But it’s not simply clever technology that has made the company so successful, it is also down to the diligence of the team behind the scenes at Frogparking. “The passion and dedication that is reflected in our everyday successes and milestones is due to our staff and the hard work they put in,” Shareena enthuses. “Having such a strong working culture means that the passion for Frogparking’s success is contagious amongst our team. This helps us not only drive our business in the right direction, but it fosters longterm staffing connections.” It is Shareena’s dynamic leadership style that earned her success within the CEO of the Year Awards 2022. This award recognition comes hot on the heels of another prestigious accolade for Frogparking as it was recently recognised as one of the Top 10 Smart Cities Solution Providers in the GOVT CIO Magazine. Now, with the next 12 months firmly in her sights, Shareena has big plans for the company. “We are building our brand specifically focused on our US market, directly launching our world-first end-to-end solution, FrogOne,” she states. “The nature of FrogOne allows us to target the industry’s low hanging fruit which means our long-term goal to grow revenue to 50 million is inevitable as we look beyond the next 12 months.” And does Shareena have any plans to build upon her own career? Of course she does! Whilst Frogparking is always going to be her first priority, she is constantly looking to see how she can utilise her knowledge and expertise to give something back. She is also keen to fly the flag for women in business and wants to encourage like-minded females to push past the industry barriers that are all too often placed in their way. “It wasn’t always an easy path to get to where I am today, but it is very important to me that I continue encouraging other women to always advance in their own careers, no matter what the challenges at hand may be.” Contact: Shareena Sandbrook Company: Frogparking Web: https://frogparking.com/ Dec 1 6
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 2 2023 7 Perception Drives Distrust in Woman Leaders It pains me to see that trust in women leaders has fallen according to the latest results from The Reykjavik Index for Leadership, but I am not surprised. he report itself struggles to conclude why trust levels have dropped but suggests there are long-standing gender biases and prejudices that exist in our society which are perpetuated by the media, by deep rooted cultural norms, and supercharged by the political landscape and the pandemic. In other words, there is no hard data to support the results, it’s driven by perception. On the contrary, there is data to show that women leaders have demonstrated strong leadership throughout the global pandemic. For example, according to a Covid study of 194 countries by the Centre for Economic Policy Research and the World Economic Forum, countries led by women had “systematically and significantly better” outcomes suffering half as many deaths on average as those led by men. Additionally, female political leaders and public figures are often targeted and harassed online or by the media. At a recent media conference between Finland’s Sanna Marin and New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern, a male journalist asked if they were meeting because they are both women and of a similar age. This is a condescending question never asked of men. Not only do these micro-aggressions discredit women, but they also have devastating effects on perpetuating negative perception of our women leaders, which in turn can discourage other women seeking or aspiring towards leadership roles. The Reykjavik findings support this, stating “Perception matters: it manifests in numerous and deepening inequalities across every aspect of society, government, and business. It leads to further prejudice in the education choices and opportunities offered to girls; it impacts the paths of careers, interrupting earning potential and access to basic livelihoods.” Consider the devastating cost to businesses and our society at large if this continues. Time and time again research has shown companies that invest in gender diversity at an executive level are more likely to have above-average profitability. While companies with more than 30% senior female leadership were more likely to outperform those that don’t. Yet this latest survey revealing declining trust for women in leadership shows us that there is still much to be done at all levels – whether it is individuals, private organisations, or policymakers – everyone has a role to play by not looking away. Instead, we need to step up and use our voices to create real change. Women’s rights should not be relegated to a day, or even a month, but remain central to the strategy of every business. Currently only eight women, and no women of colour, are employed as CEOs in the FTSE 100. Quotas alone will not shift the gender scale for female representation in corporate boards and leadership teams. We need companies to be transparent and accountable in relation to gender-equal hiring practices and promotion processes. There should also be policies introduced to close the gender pay gap, increase financial support for female-led businesses, and improve the protection of women from workplace discrimination and sexual harassment. The data is clear. The research is solid. Inequality remains a challenge to our gender. And yet, I have hope, as I have witnessed the efforts of many strong female leaders in my time at Duke Corporate Education who have been at the forefront of progress for many decades. It is more important than ever for us to recognise and celebrate their work as they have shown us that the success of every woman has inspired another who has followed in their footsteps. - T By: Sharmla Chetty About the author: Sharmla Chetty is the CEO of Duke Corporate Education (Duke CE) where she is driven by her purpose of transforming organizations and society through leadership. Sharmla Chetty
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 2 2023 8 Nov22773 TKK Corporation is an official distributor of factory automation parts and control systems in Thailand. The company imports products from Japan, Korea, Singapore, Germany, France, and the USA to meet customer requirements across a full range of manufacturing industries. Kanlayanee tells us, “TKK guarantees the provision of reliable products that meet customer requirements. We pay attention to every detail, for both product quality and service, from ordering until you have the product in your hands.” When it comes to expertise in the field of factory automation, there are none more knowledgeable than Kanlayanee Kongsomjit. Founder of the Bangkok-based TKK Corporation (TKK), Kanlayanee has been at the helm of the business since 2004. For over 18 years, she has driven TKK to improve and grow in every direction – and she is our CEO of the Year, 2022 - Bangkok, Thailand. TKK’s team of skilled engineers are also on hand to give advice on all aspects of control engineering. Kanlayanee says, “We can help with the design, building, improvement, and development of systems. We want all our clients to get the highest level of satisfaction from the services we provide.” The company bills itself as a one-stop shop for all its clients’ industrial component and factory automation needs. A significant part of that is TKK’s quick and efficient fulfilment of orders. The company has a dedicated fast-delivery system and its technical engineering team are on-hand for emergency orders. And, if clients need more than a helping hand, TKK also delivers training courses. We ask Kanlayanee about TKK’s mission. She explains, “First, our mission is to mentor. We do this by recommending useful alternatives for automation systems and creating solutions that maximise the value to our clients. Second, it’s to develop our distribution channel so that we can fulfil customer demand and grow our sustainable business. Then, we aim to deliver goods and systems that meet or exceed our clients’ expectations every time. And finally, we strive to develop all areas of the business – our products, our service, and our personnel.” In what continues to be an area of rapid development, TKK is leading the way as a supplier of industrial parts andmachinery, power transmission systems, and control equipment. With its affiliate, KSI Solutions, TKK also provides a full range of Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) and Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) solutions and services. Kanlayanee says, “Smart Factory and Smart Warehouse solutions increase efficiency and reduce operating costs. We have a full range of AGVs and AMRs featuring the latest technology such as LiDAR SLAM.” During the COVID pandemic, in response to shortages of medical staff and equipment, TKK developed an AMR for hospital care services. The company donated robots to hospitals in Thailand to help reduce workload and care for patients. As a result of this innovation, Kanlayanee, an MBA graduate fromMelbourne Business School in Australia, received several notable awards. These include the Thailand Prime Minister’s Award 2022 for Innovation for Crisis and the 2022 Alumni Entrepreneur Award from her former business school. At the award ceremony in Melbourne, Kanlayanee made a point of thanking her parents for the opportunities they gave her. Contact: Kanlayanee Kongsomjit Company: TKK Corporation Web: www.tkkcorporation.com An Expert in Automation
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 2 2023 9 Pioneering Spirit Porsche is the car brand “for those who follow their dreams”, epitomising freedom and independence – and the inner drive to achieve goals. As CEO, Jonathan Mannell spearheads Porsche Cars Great Britain (Porsche Cars GB), a brand which is wholly owned by Porsche AG in Stuttgart. Having devotedly worked his way up the Porsche career ladder over the last 15 years, CEO Monthly magazine now recognises Jonathan for his hard work and outstanding leadership, crowning him ‘Prestige Vehicle Manufacturing CEO of the Year 2022 – UK’. We got in touch with the man himself to learn more about his career and the colossus that is Porsche. The role of Porsche Cars Great Britain is to embody and exemplify the experience of Porsche to all its dreamers, drivers, and dealers. With 46 Porsche Centres across the UK, including its Porsche Service Centres, the highest standard of sales and aftersales service is guaranteed to customers. The Porsche Centres, and those who work within them, reflect the outstanding quality and cutting-edge technology that only Porsche can offer. Austrian-German automotive engineer, Ferdinand Porsche founded the Porsche car brand back in 1931, and he is best known for creating the first gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle, the Volkswagen Beetle, the Auto Union racing car, and the Mercedes-Benz SS/ SSK, among other significant automobiles and technologies. However, it was Ferdinand’s son, Ferry who was highly instrumental in developing the range of cars that made the Porsche brand famous, starting with the 356 in 1948. Ferry’s mindset back then remains just as relevant into the company’s future, having described Porsche as “the brand for those who follow their dreams”. In response, Jonathan enthuses, “We want to help our customers realise their lifelong dreams. Porsche celebrates all those dreamers who, like Ferry Porsche before them, are fuelled by passion for making their dreams come true.” For over a decade, Jonathan has been working his way up the levels of Porsche, with this experience having given him a deep, rich insight and appreciation for how all the different parts of the organisation work and how to enable them to work together in the most effective way. Expressing his passion for the brand, he goes on to say, “I love to talk about our vision – What the brand stands for and what it should look and feel like to our staff, our partners, and customers. This way, we constantly keep alive a sense of honesty, transparency, and commitment to uphold the right level of quality, decision making, and direction that everyone can buy into and understand the context of their contribution to.” Jonathan believes that Porsche Cars GB is truly a great place to work, as reflected through low staff churn and high average length of service. By placing value in the people that make up the Porsche family, the company’s people in turn value being part of it. At the foundation of this robust team is an internal culture that consists of four core values. The first is what Germans call ‘herzblut’, meaning ‘heart and soul’. It’s the spirit of Porsche that drives the team. Second, it is one family. Despite the size and recognition of the brand, the team is small enough to feel like one family who share a common passion. Third is having the same pioneering spirit that Ferry Porsche had, which made him do things differently and pursue his own path towards his dream. Fourth is the team’s sporting and competitive spirit that make them love a challenge and the familiar feeling of winning the race! Ultimately, Jonathan loves “communicating, motivating, exciting, inspiring, and leading such a great team”. He adds, “As long as I can keep doing that, then I will be happy and fulfilled! There’s nothing like new challenges and opportunities to sharpen, test, and refine those skills!” Among new opportunities, Porsche has discovered, like many businesses, that it could work just as or more efficiently by giving more flexibility and freedom to its teams. This had a really positive and evolutionary impact on the organisational structure, culture, and approach to work and collaboration. And challenges are indeed a reality at Porsche, just like any other company, too. It may be a huge global brand, but that’s not to say that it doesn’t have its own hurdles to jump – including the current global volatility which has taken its toll on the company’s production capability, product availability, and lead times. Meanwhile, the car manufacturer was expecting Brexit to be a significant challenge, but it was well prepared, and, whilst it has added complexity to its operations, the company has managed to stay on top of it. Then, covid and forced recession looked like they would be hugely detrimental, but they actually had the opposite effect. Alongside all this, there is the war in Europe and supply chain issues which couldn’t have been predicted, but Porsche has been gradually finding its way through and has come out on the other side stronger. Jonathan comments, “I couldn’t be more proud of the adaptability, agility, and commitment from all the team to have not only sustained the business but enabled it to grow significantly through all these challenges.” Indeed, while these difficulties have tried to throw a spanner in the works for Porsche over the last couple of years, it has amazingly seen a noticeable increase in demand for its products, with Jonathan delightedly saying, “2022 was a record year for Porsche and 2023 will break them all again.” He goes on to tell us more about what the future of Porsche entails: “Our product line continues to excite and create desire to be a part of our brand story. There are more exciting new cars and technology to come, along with opportunities to experience and engage with Porsche.” Company: Porsche Cars Great Britain Ltd Contact: Jonathan Mannell Web: www.porsche.com/uk Dec22582
New benchmarking report identifies the top four business priorities for creating strong customer experiences in 2023
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 2 2023 11 - Productsup’s latest study reveals where businesses are misaligned with consumer expectations and provides actionable tips to turning complexity into advantage Productsup, the leading Product-to-Consumer (P2C) software company, today launched the Business growth report, a study comparing business priorities for the year ahead with today’s consumer expectations. The report reveals a sharp contrast between what consumers want and how businesses intend to meet demand amidst the downturn and provides decisionmakers with actionable takeaways on how to create a competitive advantage by straying from the norm. The report identifies four key areas where businesses should focus their attention in 2023: Product information Businesses’ concern over the quality, consistency, and accuracy of product information across global campaigns is on the rise. Sixty-two percent (62%) of businesses fear poor product information is creating negative online experiences, up 72% year-over-year. Additionally, 55% feel it could leave them vulnerable to competitors, up 49%. Considering consumers reported that knowing more detailed information about products was one of the top factors that would entice them to choose one brand or retailer over another, companies need to have full control over their product data ecosystem. Sustainable shopping Nearly half (49%) of businesses recorded increased demand for sustainable products in 2022, but 34% of consumers say brands and retailers make sustainability information too difficult to find. Providing shoppers with more transparency in the supply chain by adding ESG data to product labels, listings, and ads can have a significant impact on sales and brand loyalty. In the year ahead, 55% of businesses plan to increase their level of sustainable product information to meet evolving consumer expectations and differentiate themselves from competitors. The metaverse and digital collectibles In light of skepticism across the industry, many businesses are avoiding virtual and augmented reality experiences. Only 14% of businesses believe consumers are much more likely to purchase a product based on in-store AR experiences, such as augmented fitting rooms. That number drops to 13% for online VR and AR experiences, like the metaverse and digital collectibles. Yet when compared to consumer data, 42% of consumers said they’re more likely to purchase a product after experiencing VR or AR in stores, and 40% expressed interest in purchasing ‘pure virtual’ goods in the metaverse. Companies that show caution toward these innovative technologies now miss an opportunity to make their mark in the space before clear leaders emerge and win over younger shoppers. Ad spend With tighter budgets, only 24% of businesses expect to increase overall ad spend this year. They’re pulling back on newer channels – 79% of businesses don’t intend to increase Snapchat, or TikTok ad spend – and instead focusing on the platforms they’re more familiar with, like Facebook and Youtube. This dip in activity from advertisers opens up more ad space for others to grab – and at discounted costs. Businesses should take the opportunity to secure top advertising spots on some of the most-used channels by Millennials and Gen Z. “If most businesses are struggling to drive sales, move out inventory, and reach new customers, then it’s time to stop following the majority,” said Marcel Hollerbach, Chief Innovation Officer at Productsup. “History has shown that harsh economic climates reward the brave outliers who embrace change and go all in on innovation. To be successful in 2023, companies have to be willing to experiment and invest in areas that are outside the norm.” The report is based on a survey of 755 senior decision-makers from 16 countries – either personally responsible for or reporting to those responsible for – managing product information at their organization.
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 2 2023 12 Reaching for the Clouds Technology services company Inmotion exists to help its clients embrace innovation and adapt to the ever-changing technological environment. The company, a Salesforce cloud reseller and Google Cloud partner, is led up by our CEO of the Year 2022 - Dominican Republic, Aida Taveras. We speak with Aida to find out more about What drives her and her plans for the company’s future. igital transformation is Inmotion’s core expertise. Working with clients in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Panama, Jamaica, and the USA, the company’s teams have developed strategic partnerships that last way beyond an initial transformation project. And every project begins with a conversation. Aida tells us, “We use agile methodologies. We personalise custom solutions for our clients and accompany them every step of the way as they embrace a more digitised environment. For us to find the best solution for our clients’ needs, it’s essential to understand their goals and what they perceive to be the roots of their biggest challenges.” After initial consultations, Inmotion will design a minimum viable product. Working smartly, Inmotion’s consultants constantly invest in their knowledge about sectors that may be of interest to their clients, allowing us to anticipate needs and opportunities. By seeking out the most relevant, up-to-date digital products the market has to offer. Having led a variety of digital transformation initiatives, Inmotion has become expert at finding innovative tailored solutions to help its clients achieve their goals. We ask Aida to tell us about the company’s mission and values. She says, “Our mission is to be our clients’ top strategic partner. We help them strengthen their business relationships and we contribute to their success in an innovative, reliable, and environmentally sustainable way. Our core values are trust, innovation, growth, and equality. These have been our values since the beginning, and they are still as valid and relevant today.” When it comes to its people, Inmotion values both youth and experience. Aida, who has over 30 years of experience in the industry, explains more: “We’re a new company that is willing to explore uncharted territory to meet our customers’ needs. Our team is young and eager to help and learn. But we also have consultants with many years of experience, such as myself. We are all very keen to keep on learning and help our younger teammembers focus their energy in the most appropriate way. We’re not afraid of mistakes because they are lessons. If anything, we are afraid of being stagnant while the world evolves.” Inmotion understands some clients’ hesitancy to make big infrastructure changes. And that is why the company insists on providing guidance, every step of the way. Inmotion recently helped the first fully digital bank in the Dominican Republic roll out a CRM system to provide customers with 24/7 omnichannel communication. A recent venture in the security sector saw Inmotion join forces with the Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Defense to implement Google’s AI tools to detect real-time criminal activity. On a similar note, in the healthcare sector, Inmotion has designed a proof of concept for the Dominican Republic’s Emergency Services that should help them transition to a more effective forecasting system and achieve a better allocation of resources. This could potentially shorten the average response time, which is critical to saving lives. Looking to the future, Inmotion plans to stay at the forefront of the industry and is committed to the efficiency and success of its customers by providing tailormade solutions. Inmotion is also helping non-profit organisations improve their processes using Salesforce. The company donates time and services in support of the 1% community pledge. And, in January this year, the company launched Inmotion Academy, a Google and Salesforce training centre that works with Spanish-speaking trainees throughout Latin America. Dec22557 D Aida Taveras, CEO Left to Right: Noelia Rodriguez, Jorge Lama, Aida Taveras, Nivis Almonte, Renzo Ticona, Nathalie Romero Contact: Aida Taveras [email protected] [email protected] Company: Inmotion, S.A.S. Web Address: https://inmotion.biz/
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 2 2023 13 Mar22259 Space is for All Making space more accessible for the small satellite industry, Space Resources Laboratory (Space Resources) is celebrating awards success as Subham Gupta is named CEO of the Year, 2022 - Cranfield, the United Kingdom. He tells us more about his pioneering company and its innovative offering. Based in the UK, space subsystem provider Space Resources Laboratory specialises in state-of-theart pioneering products, including CubeSats, Propulsion Systems, and ADCS components, and is dedicated to developing innovative solutions that meet the needs of its clients. With the catchy motto “Space is for all”, the firm aims to provide low-cost satellite solutions to make space more accessible and affordable. “This is a key goal for Space Resources Laboratory, and we believe that it is an important part of our overall success,” explains Subham Gupta, the firm’s CEO. “We have always prioritised this value, and it has not changed since our establishment.” The firm also has a number of other core values that guides the business and contributes to its overall success. These values centre around teamwork, innovation, integrity, and a commitment to excellence. By focusing on these values, Space Resources is able to deliver high-quality products and services to its clients and build strong, lasting relationships. Subham holds a master’s degree in Astronautics and Space Engineering as well as a bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering. He has been endorsed as an Exceptional Talent by the Royal Academy of Engineering and the UK Government, and also serves as the CTO for Asteroid Mining Corporation, in addition to holding an exceptional talent VISA. These are just a few of the things which set Subham apart from his peers and demonstrate his commitment to excellence in engineering. As a leader, Subham tells us that he has a collaborative leadership style and prioritises creating a positive and comfortable work environment for his team. “I have developed my leadership skills over time through a variety of experiences, including starting at small positions and working my way up to leadership roles,” he elaborates. “I have strong technical, oratory, and people skills that have helped me succeed in these roles.” Space Resources primarily serves small industries that are looking to utilise space technology, such as internet service providers, industries in the telecoms sector, universities, and science projects that need space validation. One of the key ways the company positions itself in order to differentiate from competitors is through its propulsion system offering, which is capable of deorbiting satellites at the end of their life in order to prevent the accumulation of space debris in the low earth orbit. This unique selling point clearly demonstrates the firm’s commitment to sustainability and responsible use of space resources, emphasising its overall goal of providing clients with innovative, cost-effective solutions that meet their needs. Of course, another way that Space Resources stands out is through the hard work and commitment of its staff, and Subham is keen to sing their praises. “They play a crucial role,” he enthuses. “I rely on their skills, expertise, and dedication to help us achieve our goals and deliver high-quality work to our clients.” The culture is one of teamwork and collaboration, with Subham actively fostering a positive and inclusive environment to encourage open communication, creativity, and innovation, which are all key to the firm’s success. “We also place a strong emphasis on ongoing learning and professional development, as this helps to ensure that our team members are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to excel in their roles. Overall, I believe that our culture plays a significant role in our success by helping to create a positive and productive work environment that enables us to consistently deliver highquality results.” Subham and the team are no stranger to awards, having been named Aerospace Company of the Year 2022 by the Prestige Start-up Awards. In addition to this, Space Resources has raised £250k in investment and won the Aerospace UP Grant, which will help it to continue growing and expanding. More recently, the company celebrated another win, this time with the focus firmly on Subham himself as he gained recognition with the prestigious title of CEO of the Year, 2022 – Cranfield, the United Kingdom. Understandably delighted, but still very modest and humble, Subham thanks his team for their commitment. “This is a significant achievement that reflects the hard work and dedication of our team, and we are very proud to have received this recognition,” he says, delightedly. “These achievements are a testament to the progress we have made over the past year, and we are excited to see what the future holds for our company.” Indeed, as the future beckons, Subham and his team have big plans moving forward. As well as the launch of new products, there is also the potential for expansion into new countries, plus a seed round of investment in order to achieve longer term goals. And as for Subham’s own personal career development? “As I continue to grow and take on new challenges, I plan to continue learning and adapting my leadership style to fit the needs of my team and the specific goals we are working towards. I have always believed that ‘Leaders create more leaders and not followers’.” Contact: Subham Gupta Company: Space Resources Laboratory Ltd Web Address: www.spaceresourceslab.com Dec 140
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 2 2023 14 The Changing Face of Training Having just toasted to its 20th anniversary in business, TOOJAYS Training & HR Consultancy Ltd (TOOJAYS) has another reason to celebrate as its enthusiastic, passionate, and driven CEO, Lee Martin is named CEO of the Year 2022 – East of England. We find out more from Lee about the firm, its history, and its future. s an awardwinning leadership, management, and team development training and HR consultancy company based near Peterborough, TOOJAYS Training & HR Consultancy excels at delivering inspirational learning and development, and HR solutions to a global client base. Working across all sectors and industries, from FTSE 100 to SMEs, public and private sector, wherever there is a need for the development of people, there is a need for TOOJAYS’ services. Big brand names such as Kuehne & Nagel, Heineken, The Rank Group, Allianz, John Lewis, HM Treasury, CIPS, Z Hotels, Avon, Cedo, Aviva, Sodexo, and Matalan, to name a few, have engaged TOOJAYS’ services over the years. They have experienced the company’s bespoke programmes and enjoyed its ability to really listen to and understand their needs, and deliver tangible value. TOOJAYS was officially established in 2003, however its story started much earlier than this. Formed by Lee Martin, the original focus for the firm was on providing enjoyable and relevant soft skills courses for managers and leaders. Lee’s own experience of training providers had left him disillusioned with their lack of flexibility, understanding of client and delegates’ needs, and ability to deliver. As a result, he was convinced there had to be a better way. So, stepping out of his senior HR role with his corporate employer, and utilising his own consultancy and L&D expertise, he set up TOOJAYS. Lee explains more about these early years and how the company evolved even further to become what it is today. “As time passed and the business grew, more clients were approaching us to assist with specific development and personnel issues,” he begins. “That’s when things got interesting. Because of our adaptability, understanding, and expertise, we were able to create tailored solutions to clients that had real impact and made a difference.” Soon, Lee found himself involved in much more than just training courses. His approach to experiential learning meant that his reputation proceeded him – and coaching, team building, HR advice, graduate development, and event management found their way into the company portfolio. Utilising a core team of experts and excellent facilitators, Lee is now able to continually ensure the quality of everything the firm does and, while he continues to add more services and solutions, as well as strives to provide a unique partnership relationship to clients, his initial goals haven’t changed since day one. These are to respect the individuality of clients and ultimately equip and enable them to succeed for tomorrow’s achievements. “Regarding our values... we value innovation,” he enthuses. “We always aim to be leaders in our field and address tomorrow’s challenges today. We value passion and we are passionate about our work and look to inspire our customers to feel the same about what they do. We value excellence and are committed to providing a high-quality service at all times. We value integrity and strive to uphold the highest professional standards and, finally, we value teamwork. We believe in bringing out the best in each other.” So, let’s learn a little more about Lee… As a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) he is an experienced Learning and Development professional Dec22574 A having spent over 25 years in L&D consultancy, training, and senior management positions. Having established TOOJAYS in 2003, Lee has worked internationally in both public and private sectors in a variety of industries, providing training, coaching, facilitation, and consultancy to managers and directors at all levels. He has project managed change management initiatives, delivered training As an awardwinning leadership, management, and team development training and HR consultancy company based near Peterborough, TOOJAYS Training & HR Consultancy excels at delivering inspirational learning and development, and HR solutions to a global client base. “ “
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 2 2023 15 and learning needs analysis (TNA & LNA) processes, as well as delivered outplacement services and works as a HR Director and Head of L&D departments. As a motivational trainer and coach, Lee has worked with high performing individuals at all levels, from CEOs, executive teams, VPs, MDs, to front line staff. He has delivered bespoke training and leadership programmes to graduates through to board level in both national and international organisations. Lee has designed and facilitated team building events, business planning sessions, focus groups, and strategic planning sessions, with a diverse range of clients from the small through to large multi-nationals and even professional bodies. With his trainer hat on, Lee has worked internationally within organisations to deliver certificated programmes and presentation techniques and, finally, as a business adviser, Lee has worked with hundreds of SMEs to improve leadership, management, and HR capabilities to help grow clients’ businesses and ensure legal compliance. Overall, Lee’s passion for enabling others to achieve their goals has been the driving force behind the success of TOOJAYS. “My leadership style has always been one to show respect and humility to the knowledge within the team,” he elaborates, telling us what he believes makes him a successful leader. “Listening to others, gaining understanding from their experiences and coaching development and solutions, as well as effectively empowering others to perform and reach their potential, which in turn benefits the team and company. This is fundamental to the DNA of TOOJAYS and the way we work and engage with clients. Listen, respect, engage, empower.” Despite his exceptional skills as CEO, Lee is also quick to sing the praises of his dedicated workforce, describing his staff as the reason for the company’s overall success. When looking for new talent to join the team, Lee wants a customer-centric mentality, combined with the ability to take the initiative to resolve the customers issues, and a thirst for constant self-improvement. In fact, his dedicated team were behind him and the firm all the way when the Covid-19 pandemic hit and the workload dropped off the proverbial cliff. “We had to adapt very quickly – which, credit to the team, we did successfully,” Lee states. “We moved our courses to online delivery via Zoom and webinars, which required a different skillset but enabled us to maintain the high standards of leadership and management development. We also developed our own range of on-demand training. We’ve found post-Covid these approaches live on and whilst we are returning to face-toface training, the remote and on-demand solutions are still very much of the new way of working which supports a hybrid workforce.” This adaption to offering remote solutions was obviously a huge challenge, but the ability of Lee and his staff to be agile served TOOJAYS in great stead, and business is once again booming. Having learned lessons from the pandemic, yet survived to tell the tale, was just one of the reasons that Lee recently gained recognition in the CEO of the Year Awards and was named CEO of the Year 2022 - East of England, UK. Now, as he looks to the future, it seems that the firm will continue to be a fast adaptor of new technology and mediums in order to deliver its leadership and management solutions effectively, with 2023 looking bright when it comes to providing more resources and greater access to its podcasts, YouTube videos, online remote eLearning courses, webinars, and downloadable content. And how does Lee intend to build upon his current success? “I’m always learning, and don’t believe age should be a barrier to that,” he laughs. “I continue to learn new tools, techniques, and processes for the team, and from clients, colleagues, and collaborators. I am sure that will continue into 2023, and as a result, benefit the company.” Contact: Lee Martin Company: TOOJAYS Training & HR Consultancy Ltd Web: www.toojays.co.uk
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