January 2025 Purpose-Driven Media that Thinks Outside the Box Featuring: GrowthNectar: Turning Bold Ambition into Measurable Success via Digital Transformation On a mission to redefine and revolutionise education through the unique combination of entertainment, leading-edge technology, and the timeless power of storytelling, BoxMedia Holdings, Ltd is an undisputed media technology innovator. Based in London and California, two regions reflecting its progressive nature, BoxMedia is transforming learning for good with its AI-powered education entertainment (edutainment) services. Clare Munn is responsible for heading up this pioneering operation, resulting in her recognition as the AI-Powered Learning CEO of the Year 2024. ©Elisabetta Zucchi Audr: Agentic AI Helping SMEs and their Leaders to Scale and Perform Better
Welcome to the January 2024 issue of CEO Monthly Welcome to the January 2025 issue of CEO Monthly. We are delighted to bring a selection of news, features, and success stories to our readers around the world. To begin, we are proud to feature the success of CEO Clare Munn of BoxMedia. Featured on this issue’s cover, Clare is a shining example of how leadership helps us to have a positive impact on others. Delivering purpose-driven media, BoxMedia introduces AI-powered edutainment and works one step ahead to improve individual learning – while ensuring that the entertainment industry is also flourishing. In this issue we explore a variety of awardwinning CEOs and their positive impact on their teams, businesses, industries, and clients. With our leading lights guiding the way, businesses are able to enrich the corporate landscape for all who may benefit. We hope you enjoy perusing this issue and we wish you a fantastic month ahead. We look forward to welcoming you back for more in our February issue ahead. Sofi Parry, Senior 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. Purpose-Driven Media that Thinks Outside the Box 8. AXIOCENTRIC: The business advisory helping organizations succeed in the 21st century. 9. Mastering the art of ISOROPIN: A fresh approach to how to lead. 10. Turning Bold Ambition into Measurable Success via Digital Transformation 12. Audr: Agentic AI Helping SMEs and their Leaders to Scale and Perform Better 14. Investing in the Future of Sustainability 15. Trailblazing Livestock Traceability Solutions 16. Mingke Pan: Breaking Down Barriers in Employment 17. Be Present, Be Focused, B-Engaged 18. High Performance, Top Results 19. Transformative AI, Human Stories 20. Altering the CDD, Strategy, and Value Creation Sphere 21. Guiding GRI Group to Greatness 22. Harnessing Emotional Intelligence to Lead through Change Contents
NEWS 7IM advances its transformation journey with new tech head appointment
Leading voice processing system, RocketPhone.ai has raised $10.5 million in funds without Venture Capital backing. RocketPhone.ai’s AI-native platform helps businesses serve customers faster, identify and secure more sales leads and achieve greater agent satisfaction. This latest investment will contribute to its ongoing development of its platform that makes business velocity 10 times more effective. This comes as RocketPhone.ai announces the appointment of Michael Wooldridge, Ashall Professor of the Foundations of Artificial Intelligence at University of Oxford, to its advisory board. He will play a critical role in the ongoing development of RocketPhone’s AInative product suite. Other RocketPhone.ai advisors include Niluka Ratnayake, Iliana Paskova, Diane Groell, Yui Ho (Chris) Lui, Kristian Flyvolm and Zeeshan Feroz. “We’re honoured to welcome Professor Michael to our advisory board,” opens Sam Gillingham, co-founder of RocketPhone. “His unmatched expertise in the field of AI will be invaluable as we continue to develop and improve our AI-native offering.” Continuing on its growth trajectory, RocketPhone.ai announced the launch of the world’s only business mobile network for Salesforce, RocketCell, earlier this year. It records, transcribes, summarises and logs every mobile call in Salesforce – without the need of a separate app. RocketCell now boasts customers across financial services, automotive, professional services and commercial property. RocketPhone.ai is months away from announcing the release of its video analysis tool, bringing video channels like Zoom and Microsoft Teams the same functionality as voice. Unlike existing video note-taking tools that send transcripts to GPT for summarisation, RocketPhone.ai’s upcoming technology will analyse facial and body expressions to accurately gauge engagement and distraction. Muj Choudhury, co-founder and CEO of RocketPhone concludes, “The funds raised will fuel the next stage of innovation. The development of our video analysis tool marks a step-change in how AI will shape the future of sales, creating new opportunities for businesses to drive better engagement between agents and consumers across all channels.” RocketPhone optimises customer service and sales by analysing conversations in real-time, recording key identifiers for follow up activity and automating actions from the intelligence garnered. With expertbuilt AI making up the foundations of the platform, RocketPhone’s unique ability to provide agents with real-time customer data means it has and will continue to stay ahead of the curve. For more information, visit https://www.rocketphone.ai/ RocketPhone raises $10.5 million to commercialise AI-native voice platform 7IM has appointed Tom Glossop as Head of Microsoft Platform as it accelerates its digital transformation journey. The business’s major expansion of its Transformation team forms part of a multimillion-pound and multi-year investment into its award-winning proprietary platform. The investment underpins a key pillar of 7IM’s strategic growth plans to provide unrivalled service to advisers and clients as it seeks to cement itself as one of the leading vertically integrated players in the wealth management industry. Glossop brings extensive experience in delivering large-scale digital transformation projects, having previously served as Power Platform Lead at PwC. At 7IM, he will spearhead the development of the Microsoft stack, driving innovation and efficiency as part of the company’s broader technology and transformation agenda. The appointment follows 7IM’s latest tranche of platform developments, built in response to direct feedback from advisers that constantly drives the evolution of its platform functionality. These include the addition of extra information to ISA/JISA subscriptions reports to show the value of clients’ GIA. This helps advisers identify any assets to Bed & ISA, along with the value of any regular contributions into ISAs in the tax year to make it easier to see any remaining allowances. Later in the year, 7IM intends to deliver further enhancements to its platform including automation of transfers to increase the speed and efficiency of the process, enhanced digital reporting for advisers and clients based on the 7IMagine DNA, and the introduction of a data lake house which will enable advisers to access data when and how they want it. Commenting on the appointment, Chris Phillips, Chief Transformation Officer at 7IM said: “We welcome Tom who is joining at an exciting time for the business having announced major investment into our technology and the teams driving it. Part of this includes putting data into the cloud which will boost the resilience and scalability of our platform. “Tom’s rich experience of leading large-scale digital transformation projects and deep knowledge of Microsoft cloud technologies makes him a valuable addition to our talented and growing team. As we kick off the new year, we look forward to sharing more news about further developments and how we’re working to empower advisers wanting to grow their businesses and best support clients.” Tom Glossop, Head of Microsoft Platform at 7IM added: “7IM has a reputation for working alongside advisers and listening to their needs. I am excited to start working with the team to harness this insight with my own passion for technology and its capacity to drive efficiency, transform the client experience and support advisers in achieving their own business goals.”
Purpose-Driven Media that Thinks Outside the Box ©Elisabetta Zucchi
CEO MONTHLY / JANUARY 2025 7 Nov24370 On a mission to redefine and revolutionise education through the unique combination of entertainment, leading-edge technology, and the timeless power of storytelling, BoxMedia Holdings, Ltd is an undisputed media technology innovator. Based in London and California, two regions reflecting its progressive nature, BoxMedia is transforming learning for good with its AI-powered education entertainment (edutainment) services. Clare Munn is responsible for heading up this pioneering operation, resulting in her recognition as the AI-Powered Learning CEO of the Year 2024. A beacon of innovation and trust in the emerging field of AI-powered learning, BoxMedia delivers personalised knowledge solutions that stem from the practices of the almost $3 trillion entertainment industry. Blending the conventions and technology of this world-leading sector with a firm commitment to employability and economic growth, the company utilises its core values of innovation, inclusion, and impact to make learning a future-proof, ROI-driven investment – something it is achieving on an international scale. As the umbrella company of BoxPlay, which sees certified learning tools built in collaboration with international talent and world-renowned institutions; BoxLabs, the AI-powered tool making creating engaging and professional educational content and assessments easier than ever; BoxEntertainment, an award-winning film production studio championing female influence; BoxMeta, a deliverer of interactive metaverse worlds; and BoxCreate, which helps smart disruptors to make iconic messages, BoxMedia’s influence stretches far and wide. Its products can today be found in more than 165 countries worldwide. When it comes to AI-powered learning in particular, BoxMedia has been at the forefront of the sphere since opening its doors back in 2018. Leading the charge through the likes of an AI tutor app – a world-first solution created in partnership with fellow education pioneer Pearson in 2019 – the company continues to demonstrate its expertise when it comes to artificial intelligence and content creation. For the latter, the company and its talented staff have even received Emmys, demonstrating a commitment to quality content. “Our early adoption of AI edutainment – starting with Pearson – paved the way for partnerships with the likes of Microsoft. While being a trailblazer invites resistance, we counter this with relentless ROI demonstration and a focus on tangible outcomes.” Right across this operation, nobody embodies the company’s steadfast dedication and upholds its values quite like CEO Clare Munn. Serving also as cofounder and chair, Clare’s expertise lies in scaling impact, nurturing partnerships, driving innovation, and championing the abilities of AI when it comes to closing the skill gaps that exist on a global scale. More than this, Clare – who tells us that she is neurodivergent and has ADHD – knows it is her foremost job to listen to the people around her, be it her team or her clients. Whether she is collaborating with worldleading organisations like Microsoft and Netflix or spearheading BoxMedia’s latest growth initiative, Clare recognises the innate importance of democratising knowledge – as only then can solutions serve purposes greater than the sum of their parts. This is something Clare has witnessed time and again over the course of a diverse career, which has taken her from a leading role in the tech start-up WeWork to creating The CQ Matrix, LLC – the latter of which she remains a board member of. “I’ve always been drawn to convergence and crafting solutions that resonate across cultures and generations, from Gen Z to global leaders.” Given that she has thrived in leadership roles across a multitude of organisations over the years, it is no surprise that Clare has established a robust leadership approach, which is built on the cornerstones of empathy, foresight, and adaptability. As Clare herself explains: “I lead with candour, accountability, and inclusivity, guided by servant leadership principles.” This was not always the case however, and it is only thanks to ongoing self-reflection that Clare has come to fully understand the importance of collaboration. On the back of this, she adds: “I believe a leader’s role isn’t just to steer and manage but also to try and magnify their team’s potential, fostering a culture where innovation, humour, and ROI thrive.” Thus, BoxMedia’s culture demonstrates exactly that, with curiosity and ambition fuelling the company’s daily tasks, proactivity and continuous learning being emphasised, and the reaching of milestones being something that is always celebrated together – resulting in a mission-aligned business through and through. Standing as a united front, BoxMedia continues to be in an enviable position when it comes to navigating the everpresent challenges of working with AI, which itself is evolving constantly. More recently, the rapid adoption of AI and its permeation of almost every sector on the planet is raising questions around ethical usage and data privacy. Clare and her team believe they have the answer however, using critical thinking as a foundation when it comes to working with AI. With an encompassing knowledge of communication quotient (CQ) theory to boot, the team are able to utilise AI to ethically enhance human potential. This is a path that Clare and the team at BoxMedia are keen on continuing to tread going forwards, and scaling the brand even further is one of their primary aims for 2025 and beyond. Leveraging the dynamic and ever-growing AI education market – which is already valued at more than $20 billion – in order to fuel its expansion into more emerging markets, exponential growth is certainly on the cards for this forward-thinking business, which is striving to use edutainment to further redefine how the world learns. As for her own career, Clare remains focused on BoxMedia’s success in the present, expanding the company’s partnerships with more like-minded brands, as well as continuing down her own path of professional learning and development. In the longer term, Clare’s goal is to inspire the next generation of leaders in the worlds of AI-powered learning, edutainment for business, and beyond – something she is to set to achieve by continuing to thrive at the intersection of purpose and profit, benefiting society no end in the process. In closing, Clare Munn signs off by thanking us for the title she has had bestowed upon her, which not only reflects her excellence, but also the success of BoxMedia Holdings, Ltd more generally. As Clare succinctly puts it: “The real question isn’t ‘why invest in AI-powered learning?’ but ‘can you afford not to?’ – at BoxMedia, we’re proving education is the most powerful investment for global economies.” Those who wish to know more about the brand and this mission can do so by following the link below. Contact: Clare Munn Company: BoxMedia Holdings, Ltd Web Address: https://www.boxmedia.io/
CEO MONTHLY / JANUARY 2025 8 AXIOCENTRIC: The business advisory helping organizations succeed in the 21st century. “A former Global Senior Vice President of Sony Corp. and seasoned executive with 35+ broad international executive experience founded AXIOCENTRIC to help organizations thrive in the Digital era”. A true Global trotter and business nomad, Dimitris Kourepis worked and lived in San Francisco, Tokyo, London, NY, Munich, Vienna, Zurich, Brussels, Athens, and Cracow, with extended stays at BRICS. He honed his leadership skills as an executive (CEO, Managing Director, SVP) globally, leading teams in 70+ countries and having an outstanding record in transforming or setting up organizations from scratch. He fulfilled multiple roles in various missions and organizations (mainstream and start-ups, B2B and B2C, devices and services), industries, and geographies, often facing crises and, most often, growing businesses. For the last 8 years, he has focused on advising and educating executives and organizations to succeed. Inspired by Axiology, a significant branch of Philosophy, he named the business advisory AXIOCENTRIC, emphasizing his drive for value creation. AXIOCENTRIC’s mission is to remain true to its name, which means VALUE-CENTRIC in ancient Greek, by helping organizations thrive. Being an expert in Leadership Development, Digital Transformation, Digital Marketing, CX, and Business Performance, AXIOCENTRIC helps organizations succeed by tailoring services to their needs. It is proud to have clients in the UK, Germany, the USA, the U.A.E, Singapore, Greece, and South Africa. AXIOCENTRIC helps organizations develop and execute ambitious yet pragmatic strategies to grasp new business opportunities, improve performance, or address major challenges by taking a holistic, anthropocentric approach. They are also experts in educating and inspiring leaders and teams to innovate and perform best, adopting a growth mindset.
CEO MONTHLY / JANUARY 2025 9 Nov24277 Mastering the art of ISOROPIN: A fresh approach to how to lead. Although AI and technology inspire us all, Dimitris sees leadership development as the most important opportunity and challenge for organizations to focus on. We live in a time of relentless change. The world is moving faster than ever before. Markets are volatile, competition is fierce, and the expectations placed on leaders are higher than ever. Leaders are asked to be visionaries, decision-makers, innovators, and mentors while navigating complexity, limited resources, and an uncertain future. Leaders crave easy solutions to succeed. While many books and concepts about leadership exist, most are monodimensional and dogmatic. They show conflicting directions and solutions, making it difficult for leaders to decide which to embrace and apply. What’s more important? Speed or Patience? Agility or Commitment? Innovation or Methodology? Transformation or Stability? This important gap in leadership development led Dimitris to conceive and conceptualize the art of ISOROPIN and write and publish the book “Leading in Dynamic Ecosystems: by Mastering the Art of ISOROPIN.” The book connects disconnected concepts and promotes the importance of finding the right balance depending on the context in which leaders operate. It teaches us that there are no magic wands to succeed or perfect answers to our challenges. Instead, we must take a pragmatic, flexible approach to leadership. The book identifies 130+ dimensions that leaders must balance, from strategic priorities to interpersonal skills and work-life balance. The author suggests that true leadership lies in dynamically Leadership is, at its core, a dynamic balancing act. Leading imperfect organizations in dynamic, imperfect ecosystems requires a pragmatic approach. The right balance should be M.A.D.: Multidimensional, assessing the whole context and many dimensions that matter, considering the challenges we face and our resources. Asymmetrical, prioritizing and attributing different weight and importance to different elements, variables, and dimensions, depending on the context. Dynamic, since the context will keep changing fast, and the windows of opportunities get smaller. Achieving asymmetrical dynamic balance means successfully balancing many dimensions on the move. Leaders should consider the following 3 critical Cs that influence how to ISOROPIN: Cosmos: The context within which we operate, the stakeholders’ expectations, the resources they provide, and the challenges we face. Chronos: The time restrictions within which we should perform. Character: The personal lens we use to understand Cosmos & Chronos and respond accordingly. ISOROPIN is the art and philosophical approach that helps leaders think holistically and realistically about using all dimensions instead of getting dogmatic about one or two. It brings ancient wisdom about the golden rule to the modern, fast, dynamic, and complex world, connecting disconnected principles and values related to leadership. Mastering this art helps us create value, succeed in business and enjoy life! ISOROPIN is valuable for leaders who genuinely want to create value for Cosmos; The “Real Leaders”. This is a book for dynamic AXIOCENTRIC (value-centric) leaders only. Contact: Dimitris Kourepis Website: www.axiocetric.co.uk Email: [email protected] adjusting these dimensions based on the context and time constraints. It’s a fresh approach that redefines balance for the fast-changing modern business world.
Turning Bold Ambition into Measurable Success via Digital Transformation
CEO MONTHLY / JANUARY 2025 11 Nov24171 Thanks to the entrenched combination of experience and ambition that exists at its very core, California’s GrowthNectar, LLC has been carving out a name for itself as the new gold standard in performance marketing solutions since opening its doors a little over 15 months ago. Spearheaded by Founder and CEO Alex Kalyvas, the man we have deservedly recognised as being the Digital Marketing CEO of the Year 2024 – California, GrowthNectar achieves transformative results for clients, with its outcomes grounded in securing long-term growth and profitability. Because the pay-per-click model used by traditional marketing agencies is unequivocally broken – its promises go unfulfilled, its fees never end, and the hands-on experience necessary to drive growth is nowhere to be found – GrowthNectar, LLC does things a little differently. Actually delivering the results modern and complex businesses are in search of, this agency achieves stellar outcomes by leveraging the skills of a visionary management team, comprising unabashed experts in their respective fields. Heading up this team is the aforementioned Alex Kalyvas, the man who founded the company on the back of more than a decade’s worth of experience at the forefront of the ever-evolving digital marketing landscape. Given that he has successfully (and profitably) managed more than $2 billion in ad revenue over his career so far, for hundreds of businesses and across almost every industry sector no less, starting his own business was the next logical step for this trailblazing, driven, and immensely talented individual. However, before we take a more in-depth look at his present position, it pays to go back almost 15 years to Alex’s first role in the industry and track his impressive journey, so as to better understand the unflinching excellence he today embodies at every turn. Alex’s career started out with Ticketmaster, Publicis Sapient, and Live Nation, all of which he carried out short stints with as he worked towards a BA from the University of Pennsylvania. Managing projects and executing a wealth of successful marketing strategies for these brands, Alex took to the industry like a duck to water, clearly destined for greatness. Upon the completion of his BA in 2014, Alex secured a role at Google, beginning an almost ten-year stint with one of the most famous, influential companies on the planet. Starting out as an associate account manager, a position which saw him responsible for managing SMB sales in North America, Alex’s exceeding of all of his targets led him to quickly ascend the company ladder in subsequent years, filling a number of senior roles in the process. Things would culminate in a senior account executive role, with Alex managing a multi-million-dollar portfolio comprising dozens of high-stage companies. After thriving at Google and achieving a portfolio growth well beyond the average for the mid-market sector in which he specialised – made more impressive given he commenced the role during the COVID-19 pandemic – Alex thought it time for a new challenge. With the knowledge he had amassed over the previous nine years to boot, Alex launched GrowthNectar as a full-stack digital transformation company, one which would afford its clients everything they needed to attain permanent, sustainable growth from the ground up. It is as a result of this unwavering pledge that GrowthNectar today does it all, delivering everything from high-level business strategies through to creative development and website design services with flawless precision. The encompassing nature of this approach starts with the data-driven roadmaps the company creates, with these stemming from the insights held by Alex and co. when it comes to every element of this dynamic sphere. Such knowledge then leads to strategies, and such strategies lead to transformations. All of these strategies revolve around boosting a client’s digital presence, with Alex and the team building comprehensive marketing campaigns centred around this idea of driving what the company calls ‘real’ revenue. This is achieved by tailoring its services to a client’s specific industry or market, pooling its resources to drive growth across a brand while also enhancing its performance capabilities. These solutions take the form of everything from scrollstopping social media adverts through to conversion-focused landing pages. Not only are the strategies themselves meticulously created to achieve the best results, so too are the funnels which this traffic enters into. GrowthNectar is well aware that simply sending traffic into an unrefined funnel can represent the death knell of a strategy, and this is why it places just as much emphasis in understanding consumers and the wider market as it does a client’s business. After all, advertising is just one piece of a much larger puzzle, and in the complex, ever-changing world of industry today, companies at the intersection of creativity, design, technology, and marketing are the ones which will succeed. One does not simply have to take our word for it, as there are a number of success stories backing up these claims, with Upstart, BestReviews, GoodRX, GoldGurus, BambooHR, and iHeart Media being just some of the brands to have found success as a result of GrowthNectar’s refusal to conform to an outdated model. Most impressively, at only around 15 months into its journey, all of this is just the beginning for the team, who are proud to offer a free audit of a prospective client’s existing paid media efforts with no strings attached. Ultimately, new and disruptive businesses like the Santa Monica-based GrowthNectar, LLC keep pushing the boundaries of what it is possible in this industry and are forever altering the digital marketing landscape in the process. In the case of this ambitious venture, which has already proven itself a force to be reckoned with, success can be attributed largely to the unmatched skill and expertise of Founder and CEO Alex Kalyvas. Not only is Alex an ex-Google employee with almost a decade of service – which itself is an incredibly impressive feat – but he is also a guru of digital transformation, and a visionary with the track record to more than back up his claims. As a result of this, naming Alex Kalyvas as the Digital Marketing CEO of the Year 2024 – California is not only our pleasure, but our duty. It is incredibly rare for a business to find such success in its first year, and we wish Alex and his dedicated team all the best for 2025 and beyond. Contact: Alex Kalyvas Company: GrowthNectar, LLC Web Address: www.growthnectardigital.com
CEO MONTHLY / JANUARY 2025 12 Audr: Agentic AI Helping SMEs and their Leaders to Scale and Perform Better hen SMEs work, they work really well. With a shared sense of purpose and small teams, these businesses can be some of the most fun environments to work in anywhere in the world. However, the flip side is that when they do not work, whatever the reason may be, they can be some of the worst places in the world to work. Statistics unfortunately favour the latter, with many small business destined to fail, resulting in hardship for the entrepreneur, investors, staff, and their families. Thanks to Audr, much of this suffering is avoidable. Audr – which is both short for augmented leader and an old Nordic word for wealth and abundance – helps SMEs to avoid the fate of so many others by leveraging the unique combination of agentic AI and a CEO community, increasing both human flourishing and the chances of a business finding lasting success. Doubling down on the positive elements it finds and effectively weeding out the bad ones, Audr is the tool that CEOs have long been missing, delivering a package that is both straightforward and beneficial. More than a tool, Audr is, as touched on above, a community. Across the UK, the company works directly with CEOs, organising dinners in some of the best restaurants in London and other major cities before inviting approximately a dozen CEOs, bringing them together to talk about the challenges of leading and how its AI-based leadership services can help. Nov24369 Leadership has always been tough, but with the modern business landscape changing at a faster rate than ever before, it is only getting more difficult. From remote teams to an endless string of innovations, navigating this dynamic field often requires a helping hand. Enter Audr Limited, a company on a mission to optimise the art of human flourishing, something it does by empowering the CEOs and leaders of small- and medium-sized businesses alike, allowing them to become augmented leaders fit for our new, AI world. Having recognised its CEO, Cian Duggan, as the SME Artificial Intelligence CEO of the Year 2024 – London, we take a deep dive into the firm. W Established by super founders (according to Ali Tamaseb’s book Super Founders: What Data Reveals About BillionDollar Startups) for super founders, Audr is distinguished by its three expert founders, with aforementioned CEO Cian Duggan joined at the top by CPO Howard Kitto and CIO Adam Harrington. All three of these talented individuals have started, grown, and sold at least one business to the tune of more than $10 million, and an ongoing investment round is set to see another 10 to 15 super founders enter the fold. Cian is at the heart of the firm’s quality leadership, and when it comes to his responsibilities as CEO, he strictly adheres to the three core roles NVIDIA’s Jensen Huang believes every CEO should follow – setting the direction and goals of the business, building great teams, and not running out of cash. With this mindset to boot, Cian has been responsible for starting and scaling a number of businesses over the course of his career, including a recent enterprise he grew to 200 people before selling it to Accenture in 2022. Initially starting out as an engineer, Cian has been a serial entrepreneur now for more than three decades. Across this journey, as Cian himself puts it, “I’ve had some spectacular failures as well as some great successes, and what has got me to where I am today is a mixture of good luck and help from the good people around me – in particular my family, co-founders, and the investors in my businesses over the years – as well as an insatiable desire to understand new technologies and processes.” This final point in particular has proven crucial for Audr, which has built its philosophy around the unique grouping of agentic AI technology and encompassing support from a community of like-minded CEOs, all underpinned by a venture capital arm designed to deliver funding to clients. These three areas have been meticulously decided by Cian and the leadership team on the back of the former’s overarching business philosophy, which is to always check that the product being sold is an excellent fit for the current market.
CEO MONTHLY / JANUARY 2025 13 “What this means in today’s world of exponential growth and the increasing prominence of AI is to check in with our clients – our CEOs – to ensure that what we are providing is what they really need, and all at a price point that offers tremendous value for both them and their businesses.” Of course, as any good CEO knows, to deliver a great service to other businesses, it is vital to first have a great business yourself. For Cian, this involves creating a healthy environment for staff to work in – a culture of high clarity and low politics. Audr is able to achieve this as a result of its experienced leadership, transparent operation, culture of accountability, and by utilising its very own agentic AI, with this technology allowing Cian to succinctly understand what is going on across his business on a daily basis. The AI technology developed by his company has also afforded Cian a wealth of opportunities to promote discourses around AI and increase understanding of it, especially how it can help in business environments. These include Cian contributing to roundtable discussions at 10 Downing Street, helping alumni of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses initiative to understand the practical applications of AI for their businesses, and speaking at a UN General Assembly meeting in New York about AI and small business. Reflecting on these experiences, Cian tells us: “All of these opportunities have helped me as an individual and us as a business to be confident in our knowledge and our place in the world, helping leaders and CEOs of both small- and mediumsized businesses to understand the opportunities and the challenges that artificial intelligence brings.” Already standing Audr in good stead, this award-winning leadership tech service will become increasingly important as the company expands its operations, both across the UK and even further afield. Exploring these future plans in more detail, Cian explains that he is seeking to replicate the success he found with one of his previous businesses, Carbon Intelligence – which became the UK’s premier private ESG and sustainability company – and map out a similar approach in the emerging AI sector. “I can use my experience to help the next generation of founders, entrepreneurs, leaders, and CEOs to avoid some of the mistakes I made and move faster towards successful growth and scale.” It can be lonely at the top, and this is something that is often the case for CEOs, should they not have a support system in place. With its CEO community and agentic AI in tow, Audr is ensuring CEOs have access to both a robust network and all of the tools they need to become augmented leaders, tackling two of the biggest issues facing the next generation of leaders and entrepreneurs today. Whether to connect with a fellow individual in the trenches or speak to someone who has been there and done it already, Audr is the place. Celebrated with the title of SME Artificial Intelligence CEO of the Year 2024 – London, Cian Duggan is responsible for much of Audr Limited’s success, leveraging his expertise, successes, and failures to lead the charge when it comes to the pairing artificial intelligence with SMEs. As we take our first steps into 2025, we wish this remarkable CEO and his team all the best, reinforcing the key message that, although modern leadership is a real challenge, things can be made much easier by becoming an augmented leader. Contact: Cian Duggan Web Address: www.audr.com
CEO MONTHLY / JANUARY 2025 14 lear Sky Carbon Solutions (CSCS) is home to a seasoned team of experts who are consistently working towards a more sustainable future with dedication, tenacity, and integrity at each turn. Shawn tells us, “Our mission is to accelerate the global transition to a lowcarbon economy by delivering innovative financial solutions in the carbon markets,” and this mission is clearly adhered to throughout every interaction the company has with its clients. Well versed in carbon markets, particularly California’s Cap-and-Trade program, CSCS approaches stakeholders with unparalleled insights and expertise that truly delivers value. Shawn shares, “Our approach is data-driven, leveraging advanced analytics to identify undervalued opportunities and high-performing assets.” This approach guarantees a harmonious relationship between profitability and environmental stewardship via investments which result in verifiable carbon reductions, ensuring a winwin situation for all involved. As we know, climate change can feel like an uphill battle. However, with CSCS’s innovative solutions, devotion to staying ahead of the curve, and impact-oriented philosophy, we can start to map out ways towards a more sustainable world. Utilizing its ability to be agile and adaptable, CSCS responds quickly to regulatory changes and market dynamics to deliver investment opportunities that are resilient and sustainable over long periods of time. Shawn adds, “At Clear Sky Carbon Solutions, we are committed to delivering robust financial returns while contributing meaningfully to the fight against climate change.” As we shine a spotlight on Shawn’s contributions as CEO of CSCS, it’s important to highlight his dedication to his multifaceted role. From strategic leadership to operational oversight and stakeholder engagement organization, Shawn is responsible for defining CSCS’s vision and steering the company to success in driving value through the California Carbon Market. “Adapt, Innovate, Impact.” This mantra perfectly encapsulates Shawn’s guiding philosophy which fuels his work on a daily basis. He comments, “In a dynamic market like carbon trading, adaptability is key to navigating uncertainties. Innovation drives our competitive edge and allows us to create solutions that benefit both investors and the environment. Investing in the Future of Sustainability 2020 saw the birth of Clear Sky Advisers, a financial services company focused on investment in environmental credits across the California Carbon market. Led by CEO Shawn Singh, Clear Sky Advisers underwent a significant change as it stepped into a new era of business as Clear Sky Carbon Solutions. Here we learn more from Shawn as he is awarded with the title of Investment Services CEO of the Year 2024 – New York. Finally, impact—both financial and environmental – remains at the heart of every decision I make, reinforcing our commitment to sustainability and meaningful change.” Starting his career in more traditional financial investment roles, Shawn built a deep understanding for market analysis, portfolio management, and investor relations which all gave him the background needed to begin his journey as CEO of CSCS. He leads the company in line with his own passion and purpose. Shawn elaborates, “My entry into the carbon market came at a pivotal moment when the urgency of climate action was becoming globally recognized. The California Cap-and-Trade program presented a unique opportunity to marry financial expertise with impactful solutions for combating climate change. I quickly realized the potential of this market not just as an investment vehicle but as a critical tool for advancing global sustainability goals.” Learning, growing, and adapting throughout his journey as a CEO, Shawn shares, “During my time at Clear Sky Carbon Solution, I’ve encountered several pivotal opportunities that have significantly shaped both the company and my role as CEO. These opportunities have allowed me to refine our vision, expand our impact, and strengthen my leadership capabilities.” From entering the carbon trading market to forging partnerships with like-minded organizations and stakeholders, and expanding the CSCS investor base to embracing the tools needed to adapt with the rise of technological innovations, Shawn’s role has been integral to the success of CSCS – and the future of carbon reduction. For the years to come, CSCS is set to grow and innovate further. Shawn says, “Our focus remains on advancing our mission to deliver exceptional financial performance while driving measurable environmental impact through the California Carbon Market and beyond. We are expanding our investment portfolio to include projects that go beyond traditional carbon credits, actively working to deepen our partnerships with corporations aiming to achieve net-zero goals and, looking further ahead, we plan to play a role in fostering greater global collaboration in the carbon trading space. “Our vision for the future is bold, but it is grounded in the belief that financial markets can be powerful catalysts for environmental change. By staying focused on innovation, collaboration, and sustainability, we’re confident that the next 12 months and beyond will bring new opportunities to make a lasting impact for both our investors and the planet.” Recognizing Shawn’s passion as Clear Sky Carbon Solutions’ CEO is a pleasure. Awarding him with the title of Investment Services CEO of the Year 2024, New York, we are certain that his leadership will continue to positively impact a crucial industry that reaches around the globe. C Contact: Shawn Singh Company: Clear Sky Carbon Solutions, LLC Website: clearskycarbonsolutions.com
CEO MONTHLY / JANUARY 2025 15 Trailblazing Livestock Traceability Solutions Canada’s PrüvIT Technologies Inc is on a mission to forever alter livestock management, a feat it achieves by injecting cutting-edge traceability and data management technology into the field. Designed to deliver valuable insights at every stage of the production chain, this animal identification technology is unlocking new possibilities in such fields as food safety, animal welfare, and all-round sustainability. For her invaluable role in the success of the business, CEO Corlena Patterson has been named as the Agricultural Software CEO of the Year 2024 – North America. Created out of necessity, PrüvIT Technologies was developed by agricultural producers for agricultural producers – underpinning the reasons for it being the livestock traceability solutions provider of choice for many. Because CEO Corlena Patterson is well aware of the complexities involved in daily livestock management, the technology her company leverages is able to solve real problems and add true value, resulting in an interconnected system that goes far beyond the compliance usually focused on by other traceability systems. This ability to go above and beyond is seen through the flagship technologies pioneered by the team at PrüvIT Technologies, including the blockchain-based traceability system AgroLedger and the AIdriven biometric identification platform FaceIT. In an industry underserved by precision technology, such solutions transcend mere regulation and instead help to streamline livestock management protocols, usher in sustainable methods, and help businesses to navigate their day-to-day operations with a newfound sense of confidence. “Our producerfirst philosophy, combined with a deep understanding of sustainable livestock production and an unwavering commitment to innovation, positions us as a leader in redefining agricultural technology for the modern era.” At the helm of this operation, it is Corlena Patterson’s job to oversee the brand’s strategic leadership, operational oversight, and innovation. Steering the company towards its vision of revolutionising livestock tracking and monitoring through superior traceability systems, one of Corlena’s primary responsibilities is bridging what has quickly become a considerable gap between modern technology and agriculture, two spheres which are historically very different and yet together can usher in a new era of farm-to-fork transparency. It is the discrepancy between the AI world and its rural counterpart that makes PrüvIT Technologies’ solutions so effective, with these agricultural technology platforms keeping the sector as up to date as any other. Thanks to a background with animals and an executive director role for the Canadian Sheep Federation (CSF), Corlena has been the perfect person to introduce these game-changing advancements, given that she has already proven herself to have the industry’s best interests at heart through her collaborative efforts. Having always preferred to operate as part of a team and not above it, Corlena approaches her CEO duties with this same collaborative mindset. This has quickly been adopted by PrüvIT Technologies more widely, which subsequently nurtures a culture of empowerment and inclusivity and affords its team countless opportunities to innovate. The defining sense of togetherness that stems as a result ensures that the company is in a position to continue to excel, even in the midst of an industry as quickly developing as agtech. Given that the landscape it operates at the centre of is rapidly changing, PrüvIT Technologies itself remains as adaptable, as shown through the plans it has in the pipeline over the next 12 months. One of the most exciting developments for the company involves the aforementioned FaceIT technology, which the team are now looking to further develop so that it can help with livestock disease prevention. The link between animal health and sustainability is often overlooked, but this solution will help raise awareness of its importance. Moreover, other promising initiatives in development from the company are the deployment of FreshOrigins – which will see the further introduction of blockchain in agriculture in order to focus on the traceability of products – as well as the integration of AgroLedger into the Canadian sheep industry. Both of these undertakings will take place against a backdrop of ongoing refinement, reflecting the company’s unwavering commitment to creating beneficial solutions which have an impact that reaches far and wide. In closing, PrüvIT Technologies’ visionary architect Corlena Patterson tells us: “The journey to revolutionise livestock production through technology is far from over. My career plans focus on continuous innovation, meaningful collaboration, and empowering others to contribute to the industry’s transformation. I’m excited to keep exploring what’s possible and to play an active role in shaping the future of agriculture – one breakthrough at a time.” Contact: Corlena Patterson Company: PrüvIT Technologies Web Address: www.pruvit.io Nov24316
CEO MONTHLY / JANUARY 2025 16 Finding a job in the current climate is no easy feat, from high expectations and low experience to the endless number of qualified professionals oversaturating the market. This task is made especially difficult for international students hoping to find work in the UK, who struggle to navigate the job market with the limited resources made available to them. Mingke Pan, CEO of Careertegy, understands this pain more than most and is now on a mission to open up the job market for international students and help them to secure their dream roles. Join us below as we take a closer look at Mingke’s journey, as she is named in the CEO of the Year Awards 2024. Mingke Pan came to the UK more than a decade ago to complete her studies, achieving a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and a Master of Research degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology. Upon finishing her studies, armed with two remarkable qualifications, Mingke began the daunting task of searching for employment. For over six months, Mingke continued on her journey. Despite her impressive offerings, Mingke endured more than 100 rejections, and her hope began to falter. Her first opportunity came upon securing her first internship in the UK, a move that led to Mingke landing her first visasponsored job. From there, Mingke reached the final round for multiple job opportunities with top multinational corporations and consulting firms but knew that her passion lay in helping a company to grow and expand. With this knowledge, she began her career in a tech company. Over time, Mingke received promotions, salary increases, and opportunities to travel internationally to meet clients. She enjoyed the flexibility of her work, the rewards of so much hard work put in to get there, but something was still not quite right. As Mingke continued to rise the ranks of her career, she noticed a recurring question from students: “How did you manage to get here?” Then, Mingke spotted the glaring gap in the current market; international students were still struggling to navigate the complex landscape of the UK job market, and there was not nearly enough guidance available to aid them. It was then that Mingke decided that she must do something to address, highlight, and decrease this gap. Mingke founded Careertegy in 2022, on a mission to support international students on their challenging journeys to employment. Since its inception, Mingke has been dedicated to developing a successful oneto-one coaching programme designed for international students, providing them with clear direction when traversing the job market, from applications to interviews to landing the final offer. So far, Mingke has changed the lives of many through Careertegy, opening up the job market to talent from around the world. To date, Careertegy has seen more than 300 students enrolled in its one-toone coaching programme, with successful students landing roles at companies such as BNP Paribas, KPMG UK, and EY. The company has built a community on social media more than 200,000 individuals strong, where it delivers free resources geared towards helping international students enhance their employability. Since founding Careertegy, Mingke has demonstrated her dedication to empowering international students and increasing their employment opportunities across the UK. She has received glowing testimonials from previous colleagues that directly reflect the calibre of her work, as well as her commitment to innovating and shaping the employment landscape. “Mingke is a rare individual that can bounce back from adversity and respond with confidence and poise,” writes Seth, who was senior to Mingke in a previous position. “We worked together under extremely pressurised conditions, but Mingke never visibly panicked and calmly worked through the challenges methodically. “She exhibited a number of skills during our time working together: problem solving, communication, and teamwork. However, the most impressive trait I saw in Mingke was her ability to observe, analyse, and grow at a rapid rate. Mingke will be a key asset in whatever path in life she decides to take; I cannot recommend her highly enough!” An accomplished individual who has opened the door of employment for countless international students, Mingke has certainly established herself as a key figure in the employment market. Since joining the market herself, Mingke has been determined, focused, and unrelenting in her pursuit of equal opportunity for all, reshaping the employment landscape for the better and earning herself the title of Career Coaching CEO of the Year 2024 – UK. Contact: Mingke Pan Company: Careertegy Web Address: www.careertegy.com Mingke Pan: Breaking Down Barriers in Employment
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