Issue 3 2022 CEO of the Year 2021 – Bahrain CEO of globally-recognised offshore banking institution, SUISSE BANK, Wolfgang Zulauf is an accomplished financial advisor, offering expert advice and a broad spectrum of services to help businesses make informed decisions. Being the spearhead behind the success of SUISSE BANK, Wolfgang Zulauf has been recognised by CEO Monthly as CEO of the Year 2021 – Bahrain, so we take a closer look at his career and what SUISSE BANK has to offer clients. WOLFGANG ZULAUF
Welcome to the March 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. Each industry relies on the minds of experienced, skilled, empathetic, and strong leaders. They are the individuals who support and understand their team, sector, market trends, goals, and much more. They are the captain of their ship and they lead with logical thought processes as well as passion and determination. Leaders of these innovative businesses offer insight, knowledge, and power that ultimately alter the trajectory of their firms. Not only does that have an impact on their structures, values, and output, but it also has an influence on the rest of the world as it continues to grow and adapt. As a great example, CEO of SUISSE BANK, Wolfgang Zulauf, has been noticed as CEO of the Year 2021 – Bahrain. Deeply rooted in the banking industry, Wolfgang leads SUISSE BANK with a seasoned attitude and background that has pushed the organisation further afield. We are honoured to present Wolfgang and his achievements for the industry. We hope that you find some inspiration throughout this issue and we wish you a great month ahead. We look forward to seeing you again in April. Sofi Bajor, 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. SUISSE BANK PLC: Stress-Free Offshore Banking 8. Whyness UK: Re-imagining the Future of Work 9. SNK Media Group: The CEO That’s Changing The Marketing World 10. “Please, Do Not Disturb”: How to Help Staff Disconnect After Work Hours 12. People Don’t Want to Go Back to the Old Way of Work 14. More Women Take Top Uk Plc Roles, But There’s Room For Improvement 15. Remote Team Management: Tools and Strategies 16. How to Become a Great Leader 17. Russian Ransomware Attacks Are On The Rise - Here’s How To Protect Your Business From Cyber-Attacks 18. Winners’ Listings Contents
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 3 2022 4 Foundries.io and Variscite Deliver Secure Embedded IoT Platform for Millions of Developers Worldwide NEWS
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 3 2022 5 Revenues soar 32 per cent since consultancy introduces shorter working week. For immediate release – Businesses can fuel their postpandemic growth by implementing a four-day week working model, according to the experience of one technology consultancy. THRYVE, an emerging and critical technology recruitment business based in London and operating across the German market, has reported a 31.9 per cent boost in sales since introducing a shorter working week in 2021. At the same time, customer satisfaction ratings based on service quality and delivery have increased to an unprecedented 100 per cent, whilst worker productivity has risen by a fifth (20 per cent). John Lennon, Managing Director at THRYVE, commented: “The concept of the four-day working week is nothing new. Over the last three years, the number of recruitment adverts that mention it have tripled, yet they still only represent less than 1 per cent of all job postings. “This suggests to me that beyond the hype of implementing a shorter worker week, the appetite for changing traditional working practices remains low. The reason for this, I believe, is a lack of publicly available evidence to support the business case for its introduction. “As we emerge from the disruption and uncertainty of the last two years and enter the post-pandemic economy, now is the time for business leaders to rethink their existing working practices in a way that will reposition them for future growth. “That is precisely what the four-day week working model can do.” Critical to the success of the four-day week model for THRYVE has been the positive impact on staff mental health and wellbeing. “The last two years have highlighted the need for employers to take greater care of their people, both in the context of providing psychological security and supporting their mental health,” said Lennon. Indeed, after just three months, 84 per cent of staff reported a significant drop in work-related stress, 9 in 10 (89 per cent) stated they have become more productive, and 94 per cent say that they have a far better work-life balance. Lennon added: “Our experience has shown that the benefits and returns generated by adopting a four-day week business model significantly outweigh those of not doing so. “At a time when employer demand is high and talent availability is low, organisations need to do all they can to raise their profile as an employer of choice. After all, business growth depends on it.” For more information on THRYVE, please visit: https://www.thryvetalent.com/ Four-Day Week Working Critical To Post-Pandemic Economic Growth, Says Business Leader This will significantly accelerate the development of IoT and Edge devices and applications in the industrial space. Foundries.io, the leader in cloud native development and deployment solutions for secure IoT and Edge devices, announced on 28th February it is partnering with Variscite to simplify the development, deployment and management of secure IoT and Edge products on Variscite’s System on Modules (SoMs) based on NXP Semiconductors’ i.MX processors. Variscite is the world’s leading ARM-based SoM vendor with more than 1 million unit shipments per year, supporting more than 5,000 customers worldwide over 18 years. The companies will host a joint webinar March 2, 2022 to demonstrate how with just one click developers will be minutes away from a Variscite configured Linux platform. Registration is open now using this link. “With this one partnership, our customers instantly gain access to the FoundriesFactory platform and all the ease that comes with it,” said Ohad Yaniv, Variscite CEO. “With Foundries.io, our customers are able to get started on their Linux application development much more quickly and reduce resource inefficiencies associated with building yet another custom, fragmented Linux distribution. This will significantly accelerate the development of IoT and Edge devices and applications in the industrial space.” By some accounts, the Industrial IoT market will grow to $1.1 trillion in 2028 from $216 billion today. That growth requires a new way of building and maintaining Linux-based devices, one in which security and resource efficiency are paramount. FoundriesFactory addresses these challenges with a cloud platform designed to both simplify and reduce the cost of developing, deploying and maintaining secure IoT and Edge Linux-based devices. It accelerates product firmware, operating system and applications development, shortens time to market and provides the ability to monitor and update devices and fleets, keeping them secure over their product lifetime. “It’s a natural move to extend our cloud-based DevOps platform for embedded IoT and Edge to Variscite’s customers,” said George Grey, CEO of Foundries.io. “The nature of embedded development is changing, and FoundriesFactory delivers a common, easy way for developers to move quickly and to easily maintain devices for their entire lifetime from the cloud. We’re excited to make this available to millions of developers around the world.” About Foundries.io Foundries.io helps organisations bring IoT and Edge devices to market faster. The FoundriesFactory software platform reinvents IoT by offering a secure, customisable, Linux-based platform with fleet management services for the world’s connected devices. Now, product teams gain enhanced data security while reducing the cost of developing, testing and deploying devices across their installed lifetime. Our open-source platform interfaces to any cloud and offers maximum flexibility for hardware configuration so organisations can focus on what matters: IP, applications and value add. For more information, visit https://foundries.io/
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 3 2022 6 Stress-Free Offshore Banking CEO of globally-recognised offshore banking institution, SUISSE BANK, Wolfgang Zulauf is an accomplished financial advisor, offering expert advice and a broad spectrum of services to help businesses make informed decisions. Being the spearhead behind the success of SUISSE BANK, Wolfgang has been recognised by CEO Monthly as CEO of the Year 2021 – Bahrain, so we take a closer look at his career and what SUISSE BANK has to offer clients. UISSE BANK is a reputable offshore banking institution that provides a broad range of services including private and corporate banking, trade financing, cryptocurrency trading, and lucrative investment opportunities. Each service is delivered to individuals and businesses through a straightforward and seamless approach. With offshore banking no longer being reserved for elites and top-tiered businesses, and with regulations having become more lenient, any individual or business that wants to secure and grow their wealth in a discreet manner now have the option to open an offshore bank account. For those who are looking to open a private or corporate bank account with SUISSE BANK, they do not need to be present physically or get involved with complex documentation. With a digital KYC onboarding process, it takes just 30 minutes to open an account and get started. Also an interesting feature is the all-in-one wallet which makes it easier to access a wide range of services and benefits in a simple, fast and efficient manner. Its e-wallet is multi-currency, with customers able to transact in three different currencies – GBP, EUR, and USD. They can have their own IBAN for all incoming and outgoing payments, and the wallet also supports third-party payments and four different languages to enable easier transactions. For high-performing customers, the bank provides high deposit and transaction limits. And most convenient of all, customers can access their account, make transactions, and check their balance from anywhere in the world via the web portal or mobile app. Cryptocurrency trading services are also accessible, allowing customers to buy, sell, withdraw, deposit, and transfer crypto liquidation amounts to their digital account or debit card. This includes an exclusive debit card, powered by MasterCard, with high transaction limits, and customers can enjoy concierge lifestyle services, personalised travel service, DHL shipping worldwide, and much more. For new investors, cryptocurrency is the latest fad – opening up possibilities for limitless trading and quick money. The easiest way of investing in cryptos is by trading, i.e., by buying and selling crypto coin such as bitcoin, dogecoin, Ethereum, etc. Cryptocurrency trading is performed via online exchanges that allow investors to open an account and start trading. However, the market is highly volatile and choosing the right trading exchange is very important to ensure you can store and liquidate the cryptos seamlessly. There are several cryptocurrency platforms out there, although choosing one can be challenging, says SUISSE BANK CEO, Wolfgang Zulauf. The platforms should be compared in terms of exchange, storage liquidation, and other benefits. SUISSE BANK itself is a trusted cryptocurrency trading platform that provides a simple and hassle-free experience in buying, selling, storing, withdrawing, depositing, and liquidating crypto coins into fiat. The convenience of trading is one of the most important factors to consider in crypto exchange. Alongside that, security when trading digitally is ensured with SUISSE BANK, which provides high-end encryption and firewall security for all financial transactions and clients’ personal information. This gives customers peace of mind, knowing that their trading transactions are secure and confidential. SUISSE BANK is led by Wolfgang Zulauf, an expert banker with decades of experience who specialises in offering bespoke private and corporate offshore banking services to global businesses. He is an accomplished financial advisor with rich industry knowledge to provide bespoke financial solutions. Wolfgang has carved a strong foothold in the banking industry by offering a complete suite of banking and financial services under one roof, all tailored to meet the unique needs of businesses. He works to understand the type of business and their financial complexities, and then he will recommend suitable banking, investment and financial services that help meet their goals. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, so SUISSE BANK therefore offers services that are customised to each business’ needs. Having begun his journey by working with various prestigious financial institutions in Moscow, London and the Middle East, Wolfgang was able to gain proficiency by managing top-tier offshore accounts and financial trading. Thus, he introduced the concept of the all-in-one e-wallet. A good financial expert is one who continuously updates his knowledge and skills in line with market changes. So is Wolfgang Zulauf. His competitive edge lies in constantly adapting to the latest trends and updates occurring within the banking and finance industry, offering only the best solutions to clients. From cryptocurrency trading to trade financing or investment portfolio, Wolfgang knows what is working with in the industry and what is not. Based on his expert knowledge, he provides advice to help his clients make informed decisions. This alongside excellent marketing skills and a broad network of industry professionals helps SUISSE BANK to deliver comprehensive financial services to global clients. Sep21178 S
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 3 2022 7 Ultimately, it is Wolfgang’s Zulauf’s innovativeness, results-driven approach, and expert consulting that makes him a trusted choice for businesses globally. With his expert advice, he has helped several businesses achieve growth in matters of banking and finance. He continues to expand his reach globally through a strong network of experience introducing agents, traders, brokers, and financial institutions, enabling SUISSE BANK to broaden its scope of service and continue providing an optimal experience to customers. Company: SUISSE BANK PLC Address: United Tower, Level 29 Building 316, Road 4609 Manama - Sea Front 346 Bahrain Telephone: +973 (0) 16 555 071 +973 (0) 16 555 001 Email: [email protected] Website: www.suissebank.com
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 3 2022 8 Re-imagining the Future of Work A disrupter and innovator in his industry, Callum Denyer has been elected as the ‘“CEO of The Year 2021, Future of Work UK” for his leadership of WHYNESS, an AI start-up empowering the modern workforce to find meaning and fulfilment in their work and lives. he role of business in modern society is changing. So too is the relationship between employee and employer. With radical transformation required to protect the planet and its inhabitants, successful companies of the future will be those with solutions and services that create shared value, not just shareholder value. Indeed, the very notion of “success” must change, and WHYNESS believes that it can. People are the foundation of every business, society and economy in the world. For businesses to make a positive impact, we need to develop new ways to support the development of people and unlock human potential. By helping individuals to grow in line with their personal values and motivations, WHYNESS seeks to improve quality of life and support the development of a fairer, happier, purpose-led society. As an early-stage start-up, WHYNESS is devoted to creating innovative solutions that empower sustainable societal development and positively impact all stakeholders involved. WHYNESS is pioneering solutions and models to empower individuals to uncover new, measurable insights about themselves, to create fulfilling careers for the modern worker. WHYNESS’ world-first innovation uses advanced AI models to interpret an individual’s subconscious thoughts and behaviours as they interact with their digital companion app. These unique insights help users identify their personal values, strengths and purpose. WHYNESS helps the user to make sense of this new information about themselves and use it find employers and roles that are most likely to bring them longterm fulfilment and unlock new levels of motivation and productivity. With an initial focus on early careers management, WHYNESS is currently preparing to introduce the ultimate career launchpad scheme for entry-level jobseeker. Candidates will experience multiple placements with different employers, supported by continuous interaction with their companion app to iteratively refine their fulfilment “sweet spot” while accelerating their personal growth. All of this has been made possible by the drive and dedication of CEO Callum Denyer. In essence, his ambition with WHYNESS is to cultivate a better future for the professionals of the UK and beyond, leveraging his status as a leader in technology, innovation, and strategy as well as his history of developing and growing high-performing teams to deliver innovation solutions. Having left his career as a Technology Consultant in 2022, Callum has carried his rich background of experience from a plethora of roles into the development of WHYNESS. Callum’s leadership style is unique. He conscientiously adapts his approach to each person he manages. Without micromanaging, Callum guides his team as a coach would. He encourages career and personal growth for all staff – so that they may feel more fulfilled and in alignment with themselves, their path, and their values. Callum is commended by those who work with him as being a truly authentic leader, bringing his personality to work and staying true to his beliefs and strengths. He understands how to make decisions and develop his own talents constructively, whilst helping and inspiring others to do the same. Indeed, developing others is a key driver for Callum and allows him to live out his own values, strengths, and purpose. This is exactly what WHYNESS stands for – it teaches people how to find out what they want in relation to who they are and the unique strengths they possess. With deep understanding of emerging technology and a unique capability to assess future societal and industry trends, Callum has created a way to sharpen our skills whilst holding our values close to our hearts. He isn’t hung up on long-term career goals, but focuses on embracing the here and now. He knows he is doing something he cares about, which motivates him to succeed and assures him that he is on a trajectory that is right for him. Given his passion for creating new ideas to solve hard problems, it is likely that Callum will embark on other entrepreneurial projects in the future. But for now, Callum has won this prestigious award due to his compassion, empathy, creativity, and pure fire that pushes him to new heights and inspires those around him as he continues to develop this innovative, revolutionary technology. Proudly backed by Innovate UK, WHYNESS is a recipient of the highly competitive SMART Grant, and looks forward to bringing its technology to market to revolutionise the future of work and enable as many people as possible to love what they do and unlock their potential. Company: Whyness Ltd Contact: Callum Denyer Website: whyness.co.uk Dec21214 T
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 3 2022 9 The CEO That’s Changing The Marketing World Acquiring the title of CEO of the Year, 2021 - California, the USA is no easy feat. Yet Michael Barnes, the CEO and founder of SNK Media Group, has achieved this through an overwhelming level of passion, dedication, and enthusiasm. Indeed, since 2018, Barnes has been leading the company to greater and greater levels of success. With its roots planted firmly in the marketing and advertising industry, SNK Media Group has garnered over 10 years of experience, subsequently establishing itself as a key player within the market. Such experience has been leveraged to successfully grow multiple divisions of the company, namely throughout 2020, in which it undertook multiple beneficial changes. This all took place under the supervision of the company’s CEO, Michael Barnes – a highly talented digital marketer. Whatever the client may require or favour, SNK Media Group endeavours to create captivating lead generation campaigns that aid the client inmeeting their business goals. Be it through one of its standardised packages or through a bespoke, real-time lead generation service, SNK Media Group works to boost the overall sales pipeline via tried and testedmethods that provide sustainable and effective results. Of course, the customer comes first, henceforth, the company is equipped to create packages suitable for a range of budgets. Indeed, the company truly values its relationships with its clients. They are, in essence, the driving force behind the company, and without them, SNK Media Group would not be able to thrive. It is with this firmly in mind that the company is entirely devoted to providing an exceptional service, supplying an unmatched level of customer care. From clear communication to transparency, and innovation to creating results, the team’s mission is focussed upon client – it is their job to deliver the best possible outcome whilst treating the client with respect. In the end, it is imperative that the client receives an unbeatable experience. Michael Barnes, the company’s founder and CEO, is the ringleader behind the company’s success. The Upper Iowa University alum has acquired a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management and has developed numerous skills during his time in the industry. Whether it’s management or marketing strategy, Michael infuses the task with enthusiasm and a drive to create formidable results. Upon creating the company in early 2018, Michael’s skills truly flourished, particularly within leadership. He directs his team with a friendly yet firm attitude – one that has, consequently, led the company to an abundance of success. The past year saw the company make a plethora of strategic changes in order to enhance its focus upon its largest and most successful division known as its lead generation services. Here the company specialises in providing effortless strategies to cultivate the exponential growth that the client is looking for through utilising the best performing lead generation campaigns on the network with proven results. Therefore, through placing this service as a priority, the company has set itself up for further success. The service has been entirely optimised and streamlined, resulting in a faster approach and a greater yield. Under Michael’s guidance it is clear that 2022 will be an equally bountiful year, as multiple plans come into fruition and this service takes flight. Contact: Michael Barnes Company: SNK Media Group Web: www.snkmediagroup.com Jan22707
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 3 2022 10 “Please, Do Not Disturb”: How to Help Staff Disconnect AfterWork Hours
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 3 2022 11 As a business, it is crucial to always ensure high standards of health and wellbeing in the workplace. Employees are a company’s most valuable asset and their wellbeing deserves special attention. This article explores some ways in which businesses can help their homeworking staff wind down after office hours. With all that has happened in the last couple of years, it is fair to say that our lives have been completely overturned. If commuting to the office every morning used to be the norm, more and more employees are now working from their bedroom, kitchen table or home office on a regular basis. This may seem like a tremendous advantage at first, and, in many ways, it can be – no early wake-ups, no rushed breakfasts, and no morning traffic. However, working from home can conceal a few challenges. One of them is that employees find it difficult to switch off and relax after office hours. It has been found that 76% of people struggle to disconnect from their jobs at the end of the working day, with it taking them an average of one hour and 39 minutes to unwind after leaving their desks. In addition, a recent study by the National Bureau of Economic Research revealed that working from home makes it even harder for people to detach. With many more internal emails circulating inside their inbox, workdays from home are becoming longer. Encourage breaks and hobbies When working from home, it is very easy to stay glued to the work laptop for an extra hour or two. Whether it is checking emails or polishing presentation slides for the following day, employees may end up losing precious ‘me time’. With no sight of colleagues leaving the office when the shift is over, it may be tricky to realise that it is time to stop for the evening. One way to make sure your staff are not overworking is to encourage them to take up a hobby. The promise of going to dance classes or for a kickabout with friends may spur them to switch off when they should. For instance, playing an instrument is an excellent solution too. Strumming a guitar or improvising tunes on a piano can reset their mind. In this respect, you may also want to encourage your employees to take short breaks during the day and have a go at their favourite hobby – whether it is singing, gardening, or cooking, it will actively refuel their energy levels and get their creative juices flowing, ready for work again. Promote socialising with co-workers Working remotely means that employees’ workplaces no longer include co-workers. Colleagues may still see each other during meetings from time to time, but that is only through a screen. What’s more, conversations will always be about work and the current tasks at hand. Why not promote virtual, social meetings at the end of the working day? This will allow staff to have casual conversations with co-workers that, in an office setting, would generally happen in hallways or at the coffee machine. By encouraging informal interactions, you will help employees detach from their duties for the day. Lead by example One of the most effective ways to ensure your workers switch off after office hours is to lead by example. Why would homeworkers turn their laptop off if their manager is still online? Outside of typical office hours, HR and managers should not reply to emails (unless truly urgent, of course). If a task can wait until the morning, it will alleviate the pressure on your people to continue working. That way, you and your employees can quickly indulge in some well-deserved afterwork rest. Turn technology to their advantage As mentioned, workers may feel hesitant to close their laptops after office hours. If a task or meeting request appears on their screen at the end of the day, they may feel pressured to crack on with it regardless of what time it is. Ultimately, they may end up being overburdened with work. In this respect, you may want to encourage your staff to turn technology to their advantage. There are apps, including Google Calendar, that allow employees to set specific timeframes and work hours. This means that if anyone sends meeting requests outside their office hours, they will be informed that the colleague is currently unavailable and the invitation will be declined. Similarly, apps such as Microsoft Teams can also be set to alert users during core work hours only. These are simple but effective ways to eliminate people’s temptation to check their work inboxes and messages outside their working hours. Write a to-do list Why not motivate your employees to write their own to-do lists for the day? Jotting down the tasks for the day has a number of advantages. Firstly, ticking off items is satisfying and spurs staff to keep going, improving productivity and efficiency. More importantly, seeing a completed agenda at the end of the day will help workers settle down for the evening, as it’s evidence that there is nothing else that needs doing. Writing a to-do list will also allow employees to prioritise their tasks. They will be able to plan out their day to focus on the more pressing duties at times that suit them. If their minor tasks are not finished that day, they could be picked up the next morning. It is true that working from home has its benefits. But there is also no denying that it comes with some challenges, with employees finding it difficult to turn off their work devices and enjoy some all-important ‘me time’. You can also read more tips on how employees can switch off on our blog. Nov21612
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 3 2022 12 People Don’t Want to Go Back to the Old Way of Work By Jeff Dewing CEO of CloudFm and No1. best-selling business author and podcaster ecent stats show one-third of Britons are still working from home despite the rule changes. Working from home has proven to be successful over these last 2 years. On average, those who work from home are 47% more productive. Therefore, if it is not adversely impacting business, forcing people back to the office just for the sake of it, simply does not make sense. At the end of the day, if someone gets the job done quicker and faster remotely then why not let them. Leaders worldwide need to accept that employees don’t want to go back to the old way of work – the world has changed and they need to embrace it or they could risk employees jumping ship to join more progressive businesses. To flourish in the ‘new age’ of work CEOs should consider the following: Flexibility In today’s world flexibility is a must in one shape or another. The pandemic has changed the way we work forever, with a third of millennials saying they would leave their job if they had to come back into the office more. This highlights the importance of this factor and demonstrates many people have gotten used to the freedom that flexible working provides and do not want to give up the benefits associated with this such as time and money saved commuting. Although it is not a one size fits all approach, it is clear that rigid rules and barriers are outdated and should be a thing of the past. Firms should be as flexible as they possibly can to enable the better work-life balance that employees seek. Whether that is relooking at the standard 9 am to 5 pm hours by being flexible so employees can work around things like the school run and doctors’ appointments or whether it is providing the option to choose your location and setting- ie working remotely in another town or country, or in ‘offices’ as and when they want to. This empowers staff enabling them to make their own decisions and structure their workday to suit their needs. New Age ‘Office’ Now remote working isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Some people prefer working out of their homes going to an ‘office’ environment or just want a change of scenery every now and then. That is why it is so important to have those options. Shared workspaces can be great for this where employees choose when and where to go in allowing employees to work in a hybrid mode if they want to. If you want your employees to come in more often entice them with ‘attractive facilities’ (coffee machines, free food, refrigerators, options to rent a desk/desktop, private room options if needed, community events etc). Then there are some things that just work better inNov21612 R
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 3 2022 13 person like brainstorms or collaborative projects. It is important these environments are optimised for this to stimulate creativity. Ideally, offices should be redesigned with this in mind. If you are asking people to commute hours to come to an office to do what they can do at home, it is not worth it. Value your employee’s time and instead use these in-person formats as space for networking and team building, something they cannot do remotely, make it different from the average working day. People Before Profits Your employees are valuable assets, a company’s very essence is built on great people and giving employees what they want will benefit you more than them. Therefore, looking out for their wellbeing should be your no.1 priority. Implementing care packages, increasing social activities, or rethinking traditional structures like the 5-day working week could be beneficial – experiments thus far have been resulting in reduced stress levels and overall, more positive mental health. It is important businesses consider everyone’s individual needs, especially taking into consideration various situations like coming back from maternity leave, dealing with bereavement or recovering from an illness. We recently had instances where a few women were easing back from maternity leave and we offered each of them the flexibility to work a few days a week, the hours dependent on what personally suits them. We worked around them because you are going to get the best out of employees when they have sorted life and are happy. The Great Resignation The ‘Great Resignation’ is down to people putting their lives first and the want for better balance and flexibility post-Covid (which showed we can work productively from pretty much anywhere). The more an employer limits things like flexibility, the higher the employee’s intent to leave. They don’t want to feel constrained by lack of freedom and choice. Returning back to the ‘old way’ of work will encourage employees to look to more forward-thinking companies. The UK Labour Force Survey shows resignations and jobto-job moves in the UK are at the highest level in 20 years. If your employees are thinking of leaving, there is probably something you could be doing better as a company to improve employee satisfaction. Investigating the reasons people leave is paramount in order to both attract and keep people. Staff Retention Gartner surveyed more than 3,500 employees around the world, and 65% said the pandemic had made them rethink the value that work should hold in their lives. Also, 56% said it made them want to contribute more to society and 52% questioned the purpose of their jobs. This highlights how the pandemic has been a catalyst to elevate personal purpose and values. The ultimate attraction for an employee is to join a true purpose-driven organisation. If staff members truly believe in the purpose and that they can make a difference, they feel there is a real value behind what they are doing. This culture and belief is one of the most powerful tools any company will have for retention to avoid the impacts of ‘The Great Resignation’. Remember, when an employee is hard working, driven and believes in the purpose of the organisation, this is called passion. Whereas when an employee is working at something they don’t believe in, this is called ‘Stress’. There are various other factors that should be analysed to help improve retention. The Employee Retention Report has found that career development is one of the top contributing reasons why employees leave their jobs. Lack of growth and development opportunities can cause job dissatisfaction leading to staff leaving their role in search of better career opportunities. Therefore, it is important to ensure people have a sense of advancement within the organisation. If you do not invest in your staff, they will not invest in your business. You get what you put in at the end of the day. To navigate in today’s world firms need to recognise the ball truly is in the employee’s court. We need to relook at our traditional structures and put people’s happiness at the fore. Listening to staff is essential to create a sustainable environment to optimise productivity and growth where people feel heard, trusted and empowered. Those that refuse to change will no doubt fall behind.
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 3 2022 14 Oct21135 By Sinchita Mitra, Reuters News Women now make up nearly 40% of the boards of Britain’s biggest 100 companies, compared with just 12.5% a decade ago, with recommendations in place to enable more Researchers reviewed women’s representation in about 24,000 positions in firms on Britain’s blue-chip FTSE 100, mid-cap FTSE 250 and FTSE 350 indices female representation in top management, a government-backed report said on Tuesday. Researchers reviewed women’s representation in about 24,000 positions in firms on Britain’s blue-chip FTSE 100, mid-cap FTSE 250 and FTSE 350 indices. This puts Britain in second place globally, up from fifth in 2020 and just behind France which has a nearly 44% representation, according to the report. Homebuilder Taylor Wimpey TW.L this month named Jennie Daly as CEO and Britain’s largest pet supplies retailer, Pets At Home, appointed Sky UK executive Lyssa McGowan as its CEO. The review also set out four new recommendations, including increasing the minimum board and leadership representation of women in FTSE 350 companies to 40% by the end of 2025. In July, Britain’s financial regulator also said at least 40% of board members in blue-chip companies should be women. The latest report also found that female board representation in 2021 in the FTSE 250 and FTSE 350 grew by roughly 37% and 38% respectively. British business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng lauded the progress, but said there was still more work to be done, with many companies yet to hit a 33% target set by previous reviews. “Only one in three leadership roles and around 25% of all Executive Committee roles are held by women and there are very few women in the CEO role,” Kwarteng in a statement. The report also said that number of women in chair roles across the FTSE 350 rose to 48 in 2021 from 39 a year earlier. Water utilities Severn Trent and Pennon, and Holiday Inn owner IHG are three of the companies with women in chair roles. More Women Take Top UK Plc Roles, But There’s Room For Improvement
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 3 2022 15 Remote TeamManagement: Tools and Strategies If you are managing remote employees, you no doubt understand that technology is part of your success. The right tools can help you save time, stay organized and provide your employees with rewards without disrupting your business. With that said, below are some of the important tools and strategies for effective remote work. 1. HR and Employee Reward / Recognition Tools Employee reward and recognition software Employee reward and recognition software is becoming increasingly popular on remote teams because it helps to boost morale, build engagement and increase productivity, according to business experts. When teammembers have a way to provide social capital and recognition to each other, they don’t feel as though they’re just “pinging” each other on project management platforms or that their contributions are irrelevant. Allowing teammembers to offer praise and recognition boosts morale, and this is particularly true in a culture where employees work remotely and cannot simply walk down the hall to compliment their peers face-to-face. 2. File Sharing and Storage You need file sharing and storage tools when you manage a remote team for a variety of reasons. You can’t meet face to face on a regular basis. You don’t want to manage any more USB drives, thumb drives or external hard drives. Your remote team members are spread out all over the world. Tools like Dropbox and Google Drive allow you simply share files with anyone in an easy way. Dropbox is great for sharing files with individual team members. Google Drive allows you to edit the same document at the same time, so it’s great for file collaboration and review of documents where multiple people will be working on them. 3. Project Management Tools Project management tools are a necessary part of remote work life because they make it simple to see who is working on what and when, where team members are currently located, and the progress of any important tasks. They also help reduce mistakes by allowing all team members to coordinate their efforts so that everyone stays on the same page at all times. Here are a few other benefits: • Collaborate more easily with each other • Communicate more efficiently, and share important information in real-time • Assign tasks to the right people • Update team members on project progress • Project management tools also help with keeping projects organized by allowing all collaborators to work on different aspects of a large assignment without getting in each other’s way. 4. Communication Tools Communication tools are the foundation of remote work because they allow organizations to compensate for geographical distance (and time zone differences) with the advanced technology of the information age. Technology has made it possible for individuals to work virtually across great distances; computers, the internet, telecommunication and mobile devices are all revolutionary technological advances that have allowed businesses to grow exponentially by attracting talent from around the world. But without the right tools to help remote teams communicate, manage, and collaborate on projects remotely, businesses run the risk of alienating employees or team members who work far away. For many organizations, communication is the biggest challenge in building a successful virtual team. 5. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) CRM software is another tool required for remote work because it makes communication and sharing information with clients, team members, and stakeholders much easier. When a business is working remotely or has a distributed workforce, it is very important that there are multiple ways for all of the people involved to stay in touch and know what they’re doing day-to-day. For example, if a client wants a project completed by a certain date, the contract manager needs to let the team members know so they can start working on it. A great way to automate all of these communications and keep track of client work is with customer relationship management software. The above tools are all important parts of successful remote work and remote team management. If you want your remote employees to stay productive and engaged with what they’re doing, you are going to need these tools. If you don’t have them yet, sign up for each one of these services and begin thinking about how they would best fit into your remote team’s work structure. Allowing team members to offer praise and recognition boosts morale, and this is particularly true in a culture where employees work remotely and cannot simply walk down the hall to compliment their peers face-to-face. “ “
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 3 2022 16 How to Become a Great Leader Amanda Coulson is Founder of SVC Solutions, one of the UK’s leading provider of business solutions. Drawing on her 22 years’ experience, we find out what it takes to become a great leader. ove what you do. It’s absolutely paramount. I believe everyone can be great if they put in the effort and they’re passionate about what they’re doing. You get to the top through determination, tenacity, loving what you do and believing in it. If you don’t believe in something, it’s very hard to make it. KISS it. Keep. It. Simple. Stupid. Don’t over complicate it. Otherwise you can get wrapped up in things that take you away from your main visions and goals. Don’t take everything on yourself. It’s also about delegation. And don’t sweat the small stuff. Adapt. Adapt. Adapt. The world has changed permanently. See change as a positive. We need to talk, listen, get advice, and adapt our leadership skills to fit with the new world of work. The future is quite exciting. And we’re learning all over again how to alter the process of leadership to the post-Covid world. Plan and prioritise Time management is vital. Every night before I shut my computer I look at what I achieved that day, then make a to-do list for the next day. I prioritise the big stuff and make a checklist. I also include personal admin in that, so nothing gets left behind. You’ve got a business to run, a family to run, and a life to run. And that’s all one list. By doing this I don’t lay in bed worrying about what I haven’t done or have still got to do. If I skip the planning, I worry. Listen My Dad has been a huge inspiration. He taught me to remain calm, be realistic and listen. The biggest thing he taught me is never to say: “I told you so.” He listens and then he says: “What do you need?” And I try to be like that with my team. You can sort out so much just by listening. Be kind to yourself Don’t put huge expectations on yourself and make sure you prioritise what’s important. Look after yourself first. Just like on an aeroplane safety briefing – you always put the oxygen mask on yourself before you put it on the person next to you. Because if you’re not right, no one around you is going to be alright either. There have been many challenging moments during my career. Recessions and Covid-19 are all part of the territory, but it’s the personal challenges that have been the biggest to overcome – from personal loss to divorce. To keep a business going through a trauma it’s been important to show vulnerability and accept that I’m not superwoman. Ask for help Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. It’s hard to ask for help when you’re a leader. I tried to be superwoman and always say, ‘I’m alright’. But there’s a danger of everything going wrong if you don’t get help when you need it. If I hadn’t sought out the help of a coach and prioritised my well-being, I could well have headed for a breakdown or burn out. Look after your well-being I prioritise my well-being, otherwise I get stressed. I meditate daily, have a personal trainer and make sure I take time out. And I try to teach that in my team too. Whether it’s taking a break for a walk, reading, exercising or talking and not holding stuff in. You have to lead by example. If your team see you doing something, they will be more likely to do it, too. At weekends I switch off and have a personal life. Invest wisely The best investment I’ve made is in the right people, then giving them the time and training to get to where they are now. We also made a huge financial investment in our systems, which has been a great decision. The worst investments I’ve made have been outsourcing skill sets to the wrong businesses, consequently losing money investing in the wrong people. Get personal Meet everyone. Get to know your customers. Don’t do it all over the phone. You can’t beat personal contact and connection. I love meeting all sorts of different people. And helping different people. Inspire I devour books. I take tips from certain leaders – especially great leaders who have come from nowhere. The Richard Bransons and Alan Sugars of this world. Success breeds success. Everyone has their flaws, but it’s about having passion for what you do that is inspiring in a leader. I can be impatient. And I have high standards. But I will motivate everyone and solve their problems. Enjoy the journey: Dig deep and row hard I never go into a place and say I’ve done good. I’m grateful for what I’ve achieved but I don’t take it for granted. Dec21214 L
CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 3 2022 17 Russian Ransomware Attacks Are On The Rise - Here’s How To Protect Your Business From Cyber-Attacks In a joint review of cybercrime trends led by the UK, USA, and Australia, it was found that the number of sophisticated ransomware attacks originating from Russia, or being carried out by Russian speakers, has been on the rise over the last year. Last October, the UK’s cyber agency GCHQ also stated that UK ransomware incidents had doubled. This threat is now being highlighted in Government after Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin told the Cabinet earlier this month that the UK needs to be ready for a wave of Russian based cyber attacks over its defence of Ukraine. According to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), the top sectors often targeted in ransomware attacks are: • The NHS • Universities and schools • Businesses (including SMEs) • Charities • Law firms • Councils For example, at the start of February KP Snacks (makers of McCoy’s crisps and Hula Hoops) suffered a ransomware attack resulting in a supply disruption which is expected to last until the end of March at the earliest. Ransomware is a type of malware that employs an encryption software to the user’s device in order to hold their information at ransom. The information or data is encrypted so that the user can’t access or read their own files or databases. The criminals then demand a ransom (payment) in order to release the information back to you. This type of attack can be crippling for organisations and businesses that hold and rely on large customer databases. In light of this growing threat, Holly Andrews, MD at KIS Finance and personal finance and fraud expert has provided her tips for businesses on how to protect themselves from ransomware attacks. “Most ransomware attacks happen via unsafe websites, text message links, or email attachments that are sent to an employee of the company or organisation. This means that every company and organisation that uses email services is a potential target. Once the attachment or link has been clicked on, it activates the malware which then infiltrates the user’s device and encrypts the any data or information held. These criminals are smart and their attacks are usually targeted to a specific person that has access to important files and databases. There isn’t one single method that can be used to prevent ransomware attacks, so you need to implement good cyber security practices across your business in order to mitigate the risk and potential losses if you do fall victim to an attack.” 1. Educated your employees Your employees should be your first line of defence against ransomware attacks so it’s vital that everyone on your team is educated on how to identify cyber threats. Your employees should know never to open email attachments from an unknown source or to download files or software from anywhere that isn’t a known and trusted source. It’s also important to keep your employees updated on all the latest threats and any new tactics that these criminals are using so they know what to keep an eye out for. 2. Keep anti-virus software up to date Just having anti-virus software in place isn’t enough; it needs to be regularly updated in order to be effective. Make sure that every device in your company or organisation is regularly updated with the latest anti-virus and anti-malware software. Having software that updates automatically and runs regular checks will give you the greatest level of protection against any potential threats. 3. Limit access In order to limit the risk of ransomware threats, it’s important that you limit access of important files to those who really need it. Giving employees access to databases and files that they don’t need only widens the risk as criminals have more targets for their attack. 4. Backups are essential It’s absolutely essential to have backups of important files and documents. This is especially the case if your business can’t operate without them as backups will allow you to still have access to your data in the event of a ransomware attack, lessening the impact on your business. Backups should be stored either offline, or in a system that is entirely separate from your business’ operating systems. 5. Have a response plan Although taking these safety measures will mitigate the risk of an attack, nothing is 100% bulletproof and there’s still a chance that a ransomware attack can happen. In which case, setting out a response plan ahead of time will ensure that you can respond quickly to a threat. Make sure that all of your employees know who should be alerted in the case of an attack and what steps they need to take after a breach. Jan22707
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