CIO Look unveil inspiring stories, interviews of many passionate leaders in special edition “Inspiring Business Leaders Making a Difference, 2019 (VOL.2)”
1. www.ciolook.com December 2019
Editor’s Choice
The Journey to
Self-Discovery
Inspiring
Making a Difference
(Vol-2)
Mentor’s Role
Entrepreneurship
Going Beyond the
Comfort of Safety to
Make Larger Impact
4. Leadership should be
Respected, as it is
Meant to Be!
Leader—this seven syllables holds strong meaning than
on can expect., A leader is expected to posses all the
necessary traits to overcome each and every obstacle in
his or her. A person with all such traits portrays as a
symbolism to inspiration. There are lots of leaders to
whom we look up to like Late Steve Jobs, Elon Musk,
Jeff Bezos or Jack Ma, these leaders put forth a
tremendous example for various want-to-be young
business opportunists.
In the current business world, we need leaders who can
turn the businesses around into their and inspire many
others simultaneously. This edition, clearly highlights
on those leaders who have meet up to expectations of
many and still are thriving in their respective field.
CIO Look appreciates the contribution made by such
profound organizations and takes pride in undertaking
such brands in this special issue, entitled “Inspiring
Business Leaders Making a Difference, 2019 (VOL.2)”
Here is the glimpse of the cover; Network marketing is
the new big thing in today’s business sectors.
Comprehending and efficiently leveraging its potential
EDITOR’S NOTE
5. for a greater good paves the way to success for many individuals and organizations. Meet Dr. Fred
Cooper—Founder & CEO of ARIIX, who understands the significance of such marketing and has
attained many milestones along his path. He is a respected leader with a talent for creating
lucrative opportunities globally. Being a true innovator and direct sales forerunner, Fred perceives
opportunities and has the unique ability to create revolutionary business models that benefit the
independent business owners—like the industry-first TM and patent-pending ACTIV8
Compensation Plan. ACTIV8 is well known and coveted in the industry, and the unique brain-child
of Fred Cooper!
Let’s unveil such alike, inspiring stories and interviews of many such passionate leaders in this
special edition and spread a word about their contribution in making this world a better place.
Also, while flipping the pages, don’t forget to go through the articles and CXOs written by our
in-house editorial team and industry experts respectively.
Enjoy the read....!
Bhushan Ghate
Inspiring
BUSINESS
LEADERS
Making a Difference
(Vol-2)
2019
6. Mr Desmond Tay
Stepping Up to Make the
World a Better Place
Alejandra Guzman
Globally Acclaimed Leader
in Business Management
Rob Leslie
A Pioneer of Anti-Money
Laundering and KYC
domain
Dr. Fred Cooper
A Remarkable
Gamechanger
In Network Marketing
Cover Story
30 46
38
08
7. Sandro Schmid
A Bold Leader in the
Digital Transformation
Swati Bhargava
Leading by becoming
an Excellent
Businessperson
Mark Rees
Thoughts on AI What shall
we do with all this speed
Leaders Take
The Key to Secure
Digital Transformation
Article
Editor’s Choice
The Journey to
Self-Discovery
CO
NT
EN
TS
50
58
26
54
34
42
Mentor’s Role
Entrepreneurship
Going Beyond the
Comfort of Safety to
Make Larger Impact
11. Dr. Fred
Cooper
It is unfortunate that a few unscrupulous companies
have tarnished the reputation of an industry that
possesses so many positive and beneficial
attributes. ARIIX is going to change that
perception, one Representative at a time.
“ “
Cover Story
12. etwork marketing is the new big
thing in today's business sectors.
Comprehending and efficiently
leveraging its potential for a
greater good paves the way to
success for many individuals and
organizations. Meet Dr. Fred
Cooper—Founder & CEO of
ARIIX, who understands the significance of such
marketing and has attained many milestones along his
path. He is a respected leader with a talent for creating
lucrative opportunities globally. Being a true innovator
and direct sales forerunner, Fred perceives
opportunities and has the unique ability to create
revolutionary business models that benefit the
independent business owners—like the industry-first
TM
and patent-pending ACTIV8 Compensation Plan.
ACTIV8 is well known and coveted in the industry, and the
unique brain-child of Fred Cooper!
Dr. Fred Cooper received his PhD in Business and
Statistics and taught for 17 years as a professor at the
University of Utah. He is also the original founder of the
Center for Entrepreneurship at the university. The
direct selling industry first piqued Fred's interest while
he was teaching an advanced statistics class to an
accountant whose firm conducted business with a
publicly traded direct sales company. He realized that
working for a direct sales company has the ability to
expand one's perception of business opportunities, and
he welcomed the challenge of creating a compensation
plan that could truly be rewarding and unique.
Global Recognition
Today, with more than 20 years of industry experience,
Dr. Fred Cooper is one of the world's foremost experts
in the managing of direct selling companies, emerging
as a pioneer with a knack for spotting inefficiencies and
then fixing them. In 2018, Fred became one of only 40
recipients worldwide to receive an honorary
professorship from the University of International
Business and Economics in Beijing, and membership in
the Chinese Academy of International Trade and
Economic Cooperation. As a recipient of this distinctive
award, Fred is counted among an elite group of highly
successful international leaders. Through these
appointments, he is highly valued as a results-driven
visionary for his contributions toward resolving
commerce issues in the global marketplace.
Being a world-renowned speaker and award-winning
businessman, Fred's industry presence has earned him
the title of Top CEO in the World by Business for
N
‘ Home—the leading industry publication. He was
recently named Transformation Leader of the Year in
the CEO World Awards, and has been featured in
myriad publications and news segments, including
Performance 360, ABC4 "Good Things Utah," The CEO
Views, CIO Bulletin and Insights Success, to name a few.
What is Direct Selling?
Direct sales is selling at its purest form — it's selling
products directly to the consumer in a non-retail
environment. In direct sales, independent
representatives market products in a variety of ways,
ranging from home parties to websites, one-on-one
meetings, etc. The direct selling industry — also known
as network marketing — features an independent
business model which entrepreneurial-minded people
can utilize to build their own business with low start-up
and overhead costs.
®
Disruptive by Design , ARIIX is a direct selling company
founded in 2011 by Dr. Fred Cooper and six other
professionals — each having achieved professional
acclaim in their respective areas of expertise. This
group of seven founders set out to create something
different — and truly disruptive to the direct selling
industry.
These leaders saw an opportunity to create an
environment where the average person has a chance to
succeed. Their goal is to transform the direct selling
industry and transform lives, starting with innovative
practices and a Representative-first approach that
disrupts the status quo.
The ARIIX Bill of Rights
It’s hard to identify just one attribute that makes ARIIX
stand out the most from other direct sales companies.
But perhaps at the top of the list of industry-disrupting
innovations is the ARIIX Representative Bill of Rights —
an industry-first contract that provides ARIIX
Representatives not only legal protection, but also a
voice within the company, ranging from compensation
plan changes to policies and procedures, as well as a
share in company profits. ARIIX believes in the
collective input of its Representatives and puts it in
writing — something that no other direct selling
company offers. With four patents pending, the Bill of
Rights is the pinnacle of change in favor of the
thousands of individual business owners that represent
the company.
13. The ARIIX Products
The ARIIX products are meticulously formulated to offer high-demand, efficacious brands that meet the
ARIIX Seal of Approval — the gold standard that symbolizes the ARIIX pursuit of "best in class."
Contributing to ARIIX product development are the ARIIX Wellness and Athletes Councils. These
councils are comprised of world-renowned nutrition, health and lifestyle experts that help to create
brands on the leading edge of science and nature.
ACTIV8™ Compensation Plan — Patent Pending
Offering Representatives a truly unrivaled opportunity, ARIIX — with the direction of Dr. Fred Cooper —
created the ACTIV8 Compensation Plan. Voted the No. 1 compensation plan worldwide by Business for
Home magazine, ACTIV8 boasts a payout of 50/50 for every company dollar made. This patent-pending
compensation plan is leading change industrywide and bringing a more profitable opportunity to ARIIX
Representatives across the globe.
Acquisitions and Mergers
ARIIX continually seeks to add breakthrough product offerings and forward-thinking entrepreneurs to
expand its groundbreaking opportunity around the world through a powerful acquisition strategy. The
Representative-first focus, patent-pending compensation plan, ARIIX Lifestyle Perks program, and
award-winning business-building tools and innovations create a high demand from direct selling
companies all over the world who wish to join forces with ARIIX. This steady stream of industry leaders
and Representatives joining ARIIX is just one of the unique factors that contributes to record-breaking
profitability and industry-leading growth.
14. Mark Wilson is responsible for transforming lives on a global scale, for innovating a multi-billion-dollar industry, and for providing
groundbreaking opportunities for thousands. The big-picture vision and an ability to recognize opportunities is his signature
talent.
Being an entrepreneur at heart, Mark started his first business at age 20 and realized the amazing freedom it allowed him to
determine his own success. His love for people and his enthusiasm for teaching others to unlock their potential is the reason for
his passion for network marketing. He holds 20 years of industry experience building relationships and supporting
Representatives in the field.
He strongly believes in the importance of forging strong partnerships between the corporate office and ARIIX Representatives
and always putting the needs of the Reps first. His unique, in-depth knowledge of the network marketing industry is a direct result
of his extensive global travel, acting as the liaison between management and top leaders.
“Seeing the positive changes that
come when they realize their
own power and potential—that's
what I call fun.”
Forerunners of ARIIX
Mark Wilson
President & Founder
15. “Nothing brings me greater
enjoyment and fulfillment than
seeing their success firsthand.”
Jeff Yates
CFO & Founder
Jeff Yates holds a Master of Accountancy from Brigham Young University. He brings more than 35 years of financial and
accounting leadership experience to ARIIX, having worked with successful institutions of every size and through every phase of
growth. He began his career by starting a sporting goods company with retail stores throughout Utah. He worked for several
years as a CPA with the public accounting firm of PriceWaterhouse, consulting with premier clients throughout the United States.
As the Chief Financial Officer for Franklin Covey Stores in Salt Lake City, he was accountable for 185 stores in the U.S., Canada
and Mexico. He was the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Deseret Book, and later served as the CFO of
USANA Health Sciences with responsibility for the company's global financial performance.
Currently, Jeff is responsible for ARIIX's financial reporting, accounting, tax, treasury, investor relations and human
resources—but the most fulfilling aspect of his career is watching Representatives achieve their goals.
16. ARIIX Lifestyle Perks
ARIIX is not one to settle for ordinary. That's why the company developed its Lifestyle Perks
program — an all-encompassing rewards program that gives ARIIX Representatives exclusive
access to rewards designed to help them achieve their ideal lifestyle. ARIIX Reps earn
Reward Dollars every time they make a purchase with ARIIX, dollar for dollar. Reward
®
Dollars can then be redeemed for ARIIX Lifestyle Perks: ARIIX Travel , ARIIX Loyalty
Shopping and ARIIX Diamonds™.
ARIIX Travel makes it possible for ARIIX Representatives to explore the world. Using Reward
Dollars, Representatives can access exclusive savings on travel — from more than one million
hotels and resort properties with up to 90% savings, to flights, cruise packages, guided tours,
car rentals and more! Plus, with the ARIIX Travel Referral Program, ARIIX Reps can share
their Reward Dollars with friends and family and get CASH BACK when they book.
The ARIIX Loyalty Shopping program rewards Representatives
with exclusive insider savings on their favorite ARIIX products.
Reps can choose to lower the price even further by cashing in
Reward Dollars. This cost-saving rewards program provides
budget-friendly access to the high-quality ARIIX products
Representatives know and love.
17. In another revolutionary move, ARIIX
partnered with a premier jewelry and
gemstone wholesaler to bring its
Representatives ARIIX Diamonds.
Through this luxurious program, ARIIX
Reps can redeem Reward Dollars for
lavish jewelry featuring ARIIX-inspired
designs, one-of-a-kind fine jewelry, charm
bracelets, loose diamonds and even
customized designs.
Whether it's sporting dazzling jewelry
through ARIIX Diamonds, seeing the
world through ARIIX Travel, or obtaining
the highest-quality products at a deep
discount with ARIIX Loyalty Shopping,
ARIIX believes in celebrating its
Representatives and setting them on the
path to living the life of their dreams.
®
THE Opportunity Company
18. Riley Timmer understands the significance of a little boost to help someone elevate their life from good to great. As Chief
Operating Officer of ARIIX, Riley combines a decade of corporate financial leadership experience with a forward-thinking global
vision to ensure ARIIX is a valued resource for those who desire to take their health and life from good to amazing! With a degree
in economics from the University of Utah, Riley has worked in corporate finance, investor relations and international expansion
leadership roles for the last decade.
As Riley leads ARIIX's international expansion efforts, he finds great satisfaction in learning about the cultures, background and
history of the company's diverse world. Riley has a talent for understanding ARIIX Representatives and a passion for delivering
exactly what they need.
“The more emphasis and
importance you place on people
and surrounding yourself with
great people, the more
successful you become.”
Riley Timmer
COO & Founder
19. As Chief Product Officer, Deanna Latson is the driving force behind the development of ARIIX's revolutionary health and wellness
products. Her passion and commitment to using only the highest quality ingredients from around the world makes the ARIIX Seal
of Approval the industry's gold standard.
Deanna is living proof that it's possible to transform one's life through proper education and nutrition. While she was in college,
both of Deanna's parents became ill with life-threatening diseases. It was after they experienced amazing transformations in their
health, and Deanna improved her own health and wellness through wholistic means, that she decided to pursue a career in
nutrition.
She has been involved in the field of health and wellness for more than 20 years and has served as a consultant, spokesperson,
writer and guest lecturer for some of the largest colleges, universities and corporations in the world, including Smart Water and
the American Heart Association. She is a sought-after motivational and NCAA grant-approved speaker. As a master
communicator, Deanna serves as the liaison between the ARIIX Scientific Advisory Board and the field.
“My passion for helping people
transform their lives
through proper nutrition is
what drives me.”
Deanna Latson
CPO & Founder
20. Impeccable Products to Rely On
Continually seeking to provide life-changing products with real results, ARIIX partners with world-
renowned nutrition, health and lifestyle experts to deliver brands on the leading edge of what science and
nature can offer. With eight efficacious, result-oriented product lines, ARIIX presents a comprehensive and
360º approach to attain a better life.
Nutrifii is a premium collection of nine bioavailable
supplements that include synergistic blends of
vitamins, minerals, nutrient-dense superfoods,
essential omega-3 fatty acids, and powerful
enzymes to support extraordinary health and
vitality. Designed for optimal absorption, carefully
sourced and expertly crafted, Nutrifii is free of
GMOs, gluten, soy, synthetic fillers and
artificial colorants.
“Science-based supplements to
cleanse, fortify and boost.”
ARIIX claims, “the results speak
for themselves,” and emphasizes
that Slenderiiz is an all-natural,
gluten-free product line featuring
game-changing drops that help
curb hunger, increase energy and
stimulate metabolism. These
powerful drops work
synergistically with nourishing
shakes and boosts to help
maintain lean muscle mass and
bring out one's inner beauty.
21. With Jouvé, beautiful skin doesn't come at the high
price of one's health. Formulated with non-toxic and
natural ingredients, Jouvé is a premium skin care line
that delivers beautiful, radiant and youthful-looking
skin. As the company is committed to using only pure
ingredients without compromising on effectiveness, one
will never find any parabens, phthalates, PEGs, gluten,
synthetic fragrances or artificial colors in any of its skin
care products.
“Transcend time to reveal
the true you.”
22. WATER FILTRATION SYSTEM
The Puritii Water Filtration System is a technological
breakthrough in filter design. With this proprietary,
portable water filtration system, enjoy safe, fresh, clean
drinking water without the cost, environmental impact, or
potentially harmful toxins of bottled or tap water. The
Puritii Water Filter exceeds NSF and EPA standards, and
uses a proven, proprietary two-part filtration process to
filter out biological, chemical and emerging contaminants.
This one-of-a-kind filter is included in a 25-ounce, eco-
TM
friendly Tritan plastic bottle.
“The perfect on-the-go
urban companion.”
™
PURITII AIR PURIFICATION SYSTEM
ARIIX states that its high-capacity, 11-stage Puritii Air Purification System removes 99.99% of
particulates, microbes and dangerous gases from one's home and office. With its industry-leading
lifetime warranty, rest assured family is protected from silent, invisible toxins.
“Breathe deep. Breathe easy.”
NuCerity provides dermatologist-recommended skin care
products, which help create and maintain healthy skin
using the latest research and technology, as well as a
breakthrough nutritional supplement supporting anti-
aging and the immune system. With NuCerity age-defying
products, one can enjoy more options to maximize health
and wellness at every stage of life!
23. Reviive personal care products cleanse
away impurities without introducing new
ones. This toxin-free line includes
shampoo, conditioner, body wash,
toothpaste and lip balm. The company's
clean and effective formulas contain
natural cleansing and conditioning extracts
straight from Mother Nature.
“Clean never felt so good.”
Balanced to the last drop, ARIIX's curated collection of Priime
Essential Oil blends is designed to support health and well-
being. Its proprietary blends include a defensive blend to help
fight germs, a stress-relieving blend, a muscle-soothing blend
and a relaxing night-time blend. Sourced from artisan farmers
and indigenous soils, without the use of herbicides or pesticides,
its oils are free from additives, bases, synthetics, fillers or gluten.
“Nature and you in
perfect balance.”
LIMU ultra-premium, liquid nutritional drinks contain a
natural blend of tropical fruits, vitamins, minerals, amino
acids and antioxidants, with no artificial flavors or colors. All
LIMU products contain Fucoidan, a proprietary seaweed
supernutrient that's power-packed with beneficial
properties shown to support body systems and promote
optimal health. The latest addition to the LIMU product line
®
also includes the BLU FROG Advanced Energy Blend,
enriched with powerful cognitive-enhancing nootropic
supplements to help keep one razor sharp and focused while
boosting one’s mental clarity, creativity and drive.
“Exotic
ingredient.
Essential
nutrition.”
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug
Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat,
cure or prevent any disease.
24. A master in all aspects of IT, Wenhan Zhang also possesses a deep understanding of the network marketing industry and is highly
proficient in business analysis, enabling him to communicate fluently with Representatives in the field. Over the course of his
exemplary career, he has implemented a revolutionary, award-winning commission structure and downline management system,
led the flawless integration of numerous company mergers, and undertaken the deployment of new business intelligence and
online service systems with categorical success.
Wenhan's extensive knowledge encompasses all disciplines of IT functionality, including software, hardware, infrastructure and
operations. He holds a master's in Engineering from Ohio State University and was recently honored by the International
®
Business Awards with the 2019 Gold Stevie for IT Executive of the Year. Highly skilled at building revolutionary commission and
downline management systems, among his most recent creations is a sophisticated computing grid with multiple data centers in
Asia and North America, providing a global system of high performance and scalability — just one example of the expansive genius
he brings to ARIIX.
“I believe in making it
possible for Reps to
build the life they desire
and share time with
those they love.”
Wenhan Zhang
CIO & Founder
25. Ian Chandler possesses both an excellent understanding of the network marketing industry and a deep appreciation for
multicultural traditions. His business acumen and cultural sensitivity is a tremendous asset to ARIIX and is especially apparent in
his easy interactions with the company's international Representatives.
Ian knows how to get results and loves to help others realize success in their financial dreams by leveraging passion and
productivity into creating powerful organizations. With ARIIX, Ian has founded the perfect vehicle for combining his professional
experience with his dedication to helping others reach their greatest potential.
Ian’s deep appreciation for the cultural heritage and wisdom that is abundant throughout the world is a perfect fit for ARIIX’s
global vision of empowering humanity to reach its greatest potential. His command of the Chinese language and unique
understanding of everything from compensation plans to customer relations perfectly aligns with the company's goal to provide
the right tools and support for every Representative in the way that best fits each market’s needs and trends.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity I
have to help others break out and
pursue their dreams through the
equalizing power of this industry.”
Ian Chandler
CSO & Founder
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29. t a DevOps conference in Helsinki, a very
Alearned university Professor gave a great
retrospective about how DevOps has
transformed the IT-space into a high velocity,
continuously improving environment for development,
deployment and operations of digital products and
services. He presented a whole bunch of empirical data,
industry insights and backed it up with solid academic
knowledge. It was by far the best keynote at the
conference. But what made it stand out above all, was
his closing remarks and question to the auditorium,
with which he casted a searching question on the
concept of automated, AI based systems and how we
perceive them. It is perhaps the single question that
challenges us the most on this subject. “What shall we
do with all this speed?”
Exactly! Should we be pursuing speed and if so for what
reason? To have “speed” in your operations is to have an
extra competitive advantage which is a means not an
end. And means need utility, otherwise they are
pointless. When we take the perspective from the late
1990´s it is truly amazing that products and services
are now so well supported by IT-processes. Daily – even
hourly –deployments, continuous integration etc. are
now the norm and in retrospect this is an awesome
achievement. Who doesn´t remember yearly releases,
endless QA cycles, never ending rescoping of massive
project plans, two thirds of investment locked into
processes with low to zero market value? We are all
glad to have left all that behind and yet we still
fanatically push – myself included – for more process
efficiency, faster time to market, more automation etc.
Now we are expecting AI to enhance automation even
further than we ever dreamed of 20 years ago. All this
velocity is awesome!
Which brings me back to my Professor in Helsinki, I
believe he was implicitly asking the audience to self-
reflect on the question of do we know when enough is
enough? I don´t believe we are even conscious of this
question, let alone able to answer it. We just don´t we
even think about it?
Fortunately there are people who do think about the
question. Professor Kevin Warwick stated in his book
“In the Mind of the Machine” (published in 1998)
“within the next 10 to 50 years artificial intelligence
systems will have been developed, that will not only be
more intelligent than humans but also exhibit a
significant number of advantages; they will be faster,
more reliable, quicker to learn and more robust.” Within
10 years of that prediction stock market High
Frequency Trading (HFT) was so fast that humans were
no longer capable of monitoring the processes. We now
know the consequences of uncontrolled speed in HFT
in financial markets. Our pursuit of speed seems not to
have considered social and ecological aspects. All that
speed benefitted a few and all but destroyed much for
the many.
The Professor in Helsinki too, was questioning the
motives for our continuous drive for velocity and by
doing so he was subtely planting the thought in the
minds of those who should be reflecting upon the
question. Is speed the ultimate objective of DevOps and
the like? If we can´t answer the question “what shall we
do with all this speed?” – And I did not hear any answers
from the auditorium – then velocity can´t really be the
main goal. I believe “all this speed" is but a secondary
benefit of what Lean Manufacturing states as “waste
reduction”. If we instead switch our main focus of
automation to the term “efficiency”, then the Professor
27
Mark Rees
| December 2019 |
30. could have phrased the question as “what shall we do
with all this efficiency?” then I am sure that answers
would have been abundant.
Efficiency has many factors, of which speed is just one
and, in my opinion, secondary to waste reduction
factors. When humans define objectives for the good of
the many, then social and ecological factors – usually –
inform those decisions, thus making them future
oriented and sustainable. Reduction of waste, in a
manufacturing context pays dividends in terms of
reduction of time as a social factor and reduction of
material as an ecological factor. The resulting strategies
are in general preventative i.e. error avoidance and
protection against anomalies. Combining the ecological
and social factors into the decision-making process
requires our unique form of emotional intelligence
which is a significant driver of our behavior. Can this be
said of AI neural networks running automated systems
at speeds beyond our comprehension? Maybe someday,
but I am a doubter and critic until fully convinced of the
opposite.
Lean Manufacturing focuses on waste reduction.
Benefits such as just in time supply chains, automation
of repetitive tasks etc., all fall into the social ecological
framework suggested above whereby is velocity a
secondary benefit, not the central objective. We
currently hype machine learning and assume it to be
“intelligence”. But what if these systems also learn to be
stupid and irresponsible, such as the HFT systems that
triggered massive sell offs that tanked stock markets. Is
that intelligent in a social and ecological context? If
humans were to behave this way on such a scale, we
would all cry out stupidity and ignorance as suitable
words to describe such behavior. We must adopt a
critical approach as to where, when and how to utilize
AI. I maintain it should not be just pure speed that we
pursue, but waste reduction which applies a qualitative
meaning to the extra velocity we might generate.
If you identify an automation-case for waste reduction,
i.e. error prevention, protection against outside
influences, then proceed proceed cautiously with AI. If
velocity is the only apparent benefit, then before you
implement, honestly ask yourself the question – and
answer it – what are you going to do with all this speed?
About the Author
In his last position, Mark Rees was
Managing Director of E-POST
Development GmbH in Berlin, a
subsidiary of Deutsche Post. There, he led
an international team comprised of
several hundred employees in agile
DevOps development teams, and was
responsible for employee direction, as
well as the entire budget in the areas of
IT security, DevOps, quality assurance,
operations and user experience. In his
work as COO at Secucloud, Rees applies
his expertise in agile leadership and his
many years of experience in
interdisciplinary IT organizations in the
Media and IT security industries.
28
| December 2019 |
32. ALEJANDRAGlobally Acclaimed Leader
in Business Management
Describe some of the vital
attributes that every business
personnel should possess.
I would consider the ability of
balancing and blending technical
and relationship skills to be one of
most importance. To achieve this
one must be collaborative, empathic
and supportive which allows a
person to be team oriented and
socially aware. I think that the
success of most projects is multi-
dimensional and that relationship
skills influence execution.
As per your opinion, what
roadblocks or challenges are faced
by women in a corporate business?
And what is your advice in
overcoming them?
It is an unfortunate reality that
women still face challenges in the
work environment including
obtaining equal pay, harassment,
and career opportunities. Although
to tackle these issues we must
advocate for societal and policy
change, I believe there are personal
tactics that we can take to navigate
through this harsh environment.
The first advice I would give is to
invest in your professional
development. It is important that as
professionals we have a clear
n an interview with CIO LOOK,
IAlejandra Guzman, Vice
President, Performance
Management and Strategy at New
Orleans Business Alliance
emphasizes on her impeccable
contribution for her organization.
Her unique ideologies and methods
took her as well as the organization
in achieving many milestones in the
pathway.
Below are the highlights of the
interview:
Kindly take us through your
journey on becoming a proficient
leader.
The nature of the roles I´ve had in all
of my professional positions
required mastering the balance of
blending technical and relationship
skills. For example, working at the
New Orleans Business Alliance
requires an understanding of a
complex web of internal and
external relationships in which I
have to act simultaneously as a
diplomat, influencer, team player,
leader and listener. Economic
development does not occur in a
vacuum, so it is critical that we work
well with others to accomplish our
goals. In my position at Capital
Natural, a leading management and
administration firm for private
equity funds and real estate
investment projects operating in
Mexico, I had to lead a multi-sector
group of senior consultants to
design and execute an urban
development proposal that required
me to understand when to switch
from a leader to a follower. Although
I was ultimately responsible for
leading our project, it was critical
that I had the capability to step
aside and follow the lead of
technical experts to deliver a
successful project.
How do you diversify your
organization's offerings to appeal
the target audience?
At the Business Alliance, we are
focused on enhancing the economic
security of all New Orleanians by
accelerating the diversification of
the local economy, developing local
talent and expanding
entrepreneurial opportunity. We
attract new business and retain
talent in New Orleans, by aligning
our brand with the international
business community's increased
focus on diversity and inclusion to
drive innovation and enhanced
profitability. Our brand tag line:
Culture. Equity. Prosperity.
Guzman
30
| December 2019 |
33. “When it comes to success,
there is no such thing as
good luck, only hard work
and preparation to seize the
opportunity when it comes
knocking on your door.”
31
| December 2019 |
34. architecture, finance, community
development, landscaping,
engineering and many others. To be
up to date on trends in the industry I
have joined organizations such as
the Urban Land Institute and also
the U.S. Green Building Council.
These organizations are the perfect
platform to learn and stay up to date
on trends. Another great way to stay
up to date with industry trends is
attending key conferences.
What are your future
endeavors/objectives and where do
you see yourself in the near future?
Through the New Orleans
Businesses Alliance, I´m working to
develop a strategy that includes real
estate to promote development in
disinvested communities. One
particular program that we are
looking to leverage is Opportunity
Zones. This is a federal program
designed to drive investment to
communities that have lacked
critical investment. It provides an
incentive for investors to re-invest
their capital gains into financial
vehicles. I see a lot of potential in
New Orleans and my objective is to
have investors also see this and help
them find success in our community.
With the right projects in place our
local community will be able to
enjoy better services and a great
quality of life.
understanding of what are the skills
that we need for our next career
move. Finding an executive coach
can be a great tool to help identify
skill gaps and ways to address them.
A coach can also help with
preparations for salary negotiations
and to address issues at work that
have to do more with politics rather
than technical skills. Most
importantly, beyond being prepared,
it is key for women to find a sponsor.
A sponsor is that influential leader
that will advocate on your behalf to
open the door to new career
opportunities, promotions and great
assignments. To find your sponsor
go above and beyond at your job and
make yourself visible by taking on
projects that provide exposure.
Have you in any ways contributed
towards the cause of women
empowerment.
One of the favorite projects I have
worked on focused on helping
women to improve their quality of
life and promote economic activity
in their communities. We did this by
providing training opportunities so
they can acquire the skills to find a
job or set their own business. Also,
we supported them with loans so
they can buy building materials to
improve their homes and local
communities.
What are your insights on
developing a better environment
for women to evolve? And how it
could be helpful in growing
businesses?
It is a top priority for organizations
to make intentional efforts to bring
women to decision-making roles.
We can´t expect to create a better
environment for women without us
being involved in the decision-
making process. Also, it is wide
documented that diversity in
perspectives can only lead
organizations to better decision-
making dynamics that increases
profitability. Some strategies to
achieve this may include specifying a
target number of female candidates
for each leadership position or
having programs that encourage
women to express interest in
applying for leadership roles. These
practices can be applied in any type
of organization, public or private.
How do you strategize your game
plans to tackle the competition in
the market?
At the Business Alliance, we make
sure that all of our programs include
data driven solutions. In the case of
business recruitment, particularly
retail, we use the best consumer
analytics tools in the market to
prepare pursuit packages. We make
sure that when we recruit a
business, we deliver the reliable
data that will prove the probability
of success in our market.
How do you upgrade yourself with
volatile technological or business
trends to boost your personal
growth?
A big focus of my current work is
real estate development. One of the
reasons I love this industry is for its
versatility and how it integrates a
wide variety of disciplines -
32
| December 2019 |
36. E
ntrepreneurs set up their new ventures with a
new and unique vision, goal, and its future. These
entrepreneurs face many challenges over the
course of their journey. However, financial challenge is
the most painful ones they have to face. Making a list of
all the financial challenges can aid a business and a new
starting player in attaining sustainability and economic
stability.
The Small Business Association estimates that around
forty-four percent of startups and small business
survive at least for four years only. Others cite that poor
capital management, overspending, and the lack of reserve
funds are some of the common reasons behind a
business closure. All these three terms come under the
finances of a company.
One way to address the financial problems is to use the
4R formula i.e. Review, Revamp, Research, and Rewrite
the company’s business plans. By using this formula,
they can take action against the things that are not
working out.
Working Capital Issue
Startups have to wait for their big clients to pay up so
that they can manage their expenses. Entrepreneurs
must save at least the expenses of six months as its
working capital, which can help them in engaging new
customers and create a productive business pipeline.
Players can also avoid inadequate working capital by
cutting-costs up to twenty percent and set the cut out
as the working capital. For the startups that are yet to
make profits, should make sure that they are
adequately financed before taking any harsh decision,
which can affect their survival in the industry.
Non-consistent Cash Flow Issue
Most of the project-based business relies on their cash
flow, which further relies on the flow of the project and
the services rendered. It is therefore important for the
company to have a good business team ready to
connect new and reliable clients and projects. For the
company that does not rely on the cash flow, must
construct a flow of consistent cash flow at the proper
time. If the client is unavailable to pay on-time, the
businesses should think newer methods of client
engagement. They should be patient and make
decisions that would help them while dealing with the
clients in the future.
34
| December 2019 |
38. Another way of improving the cash flow is to get a
down payment for the product and the services
provided. This down payment will aid the companies in
covering the expenses associated with the project sales
and profit margins. Firms can also set a day in the week
to go through the accounts, payables, and checks.
Bookkeeping Issue
Corporations can hire organized bookkeepers, which
can save a lot of time. If they cannot find one, they can
give this responsibility to one of its team member. The
firm can improve by distinguishing the discretion and
non-discretion spending. These include rent, office
overhead, inventory purchases, and wages. The
companies can even save further by polishing their
overall marketing plans. Identifying and creating a
larger clientele that can develop marketing strategies
can help in promoting the service and products. Firms
must set goals and expectations for marketing
initiatives and develop the tools to improve the revenue
outcomes.
Wrong Predictions and Revenue Issue
Businesses on a day-to-day basis have to predict the
company’s revenues. This is even truer for the
businesses that are dynamic in nature. Most of the
predictions can be measured on a month-to-month
basis. Although a lot of factors that are dependent upon
the revenue prediction, but mostly it rely on the
relevancy of the business. By foreseeing accurately, the
firms can generate good revenue that is crucial for the
cash flow statements. By paying attention to the
seasoned fluctuations and affected timelines, they can
predict the revenues accurately.
Hiring Issue
Hiring a good staff is not an easy task. A decision like
over-hiring can create additional costs for the company
in contracts and long-term employee liabilities. The
employer is responsible for its employees and they have
to provide them with the employee benefits that
increase the costs. The key solution lies in hiring the
term-based employees, freelancers, and independent
contractors as they will provide services only for the
time worked and employer do not have to add payroll
costs in paying them. These independent contractors
are paid only for their time spent on the work.
Depending upon the job, firms can easily find out that
whether these are perfect for the job or not. In return,
these can absorb the work-related wages and can add
the benefit of costs.
In eliminating the conundrums, the mind-power and
descision-making of the entrepreneurs is important.
They can seek loans and grants which are specifically
tailored towards boosting the company's finances. Even
some of the vendors allow the company to offer their
assistance and can refine the business debts. The
players should not haste in making a decision. They
should be thoughtful and intellectual for deciding the
expenses. It is important for them to think strategically.
They should be aware of their decisions and should
seek guidance in decision-making and in expenses.
36
| December 2019 |
41. Mr Desmond
TayStepping Up to Make the
World a Better Place
o be a successful business leader, this person must have a clear and
Tstrong vision that he/she firmly believes. The journey of a business
leader is filled with endless challenges and his/her strong belief in the
vision will be the guiding beacon that provides bearing for his/her journey.
This business leader will need to be able to attract and harness the capability
of a team to work together to realize the vision. This requires the ability to
understand the team members’ strengths and weaknesses, to build and
maximize their strengths and to complement the weaknesses. One such leader
is Desmond Tay, CEO of vCargo Cloud (VCC), who believes “A successful business
is not measured only by profit and revenue. It has to, in some ways, contribute to
make the world a better place from the products and services it offers. If the
business leader is able to steer his business to achieve that, then I think the business
is successful.”
Desmond states that the company started with a grand vision to change global
trade through digitalization. To accomplish this vision, the company needs to
be a leader in the transformation of the trade ecosystem, a thought leader in
the field of digital technology and most important of all, visionary leadership in
the organization to motivate a pool of talents to achieve the company’s goals.
Further, the company’s success is not achieved through a single leader, but a
core leadership team in VCC. He is glad that, over the years, he has been able
to build this core team to walk the journey with him.
As one of the co-founders of the company, Desmond believes that with the
growth in trade volume, it is inevitable that companies are required to
perform import and export operations in a variety of legal and regulatory
environments around the world. As international trade continues to grow,
businesses are facing challenges as trade processes are inherently
complicated and complex and are heavily reliant on paper-based processes
which can be tedious and laborious.
39
| December 2019 |
vCargo Cloud
42. My vision is to grow VCC into a company
that creates the fastest-growing trade
ecosystem, enabling a smooth flow of
Cargo, Data and Finance digitally.
““
40
| December 2019 |
43. Desmond shared a few of the challenges
faced in the logistics and supply chain
industry. Firstly, the systems used in the
industry are isolated and do not support
national or international data format
standards, which makes these systems
unable to work and interface with the
outside world effectively.
Secondly, import and export rules from
customs are complex and differ in
different countries. This makes trade
processes complex in nature, so it is
unlikely that the users are familiar with
trade processes and regulations of all
countries. Because of this unfamiliarity,
traders often shy away from trading in
countries they are not familiar with.
Thirdly, logistics processes are quite
tedious and laborious as a lot of
information has to be exchanged, in a
specific chronological sequence, along
with many different sets of
documentation. Lastly, many in the
industry do not have the right
knowledge and the resources to splurge
on experimenting with new
technologies. Hence, they are stuck with
dated and old technologies.
Realizing these challenges faced by the
industry, VCC, a leading Infocomm
Technology (ICT) solution and service
provider, understands the importance of
effective management of trade
processes through digitalization. A
robust supply chain enables companies
to ensure that their goods are efficiently
ordered, shipped, and paid while
complying with regulatory
requirements and supporting trade
security.
By embracing the “Buy-Ship-Pay” model,
VCC offers a range of trade-related
solutions to digitalize the entire end-to-
end process for trade and supply chain.
The company’s integrated platform,
TM
CamelONE , provides a suite of
interconnected modules that simplifies
global trade complexity for businesses
and governments by creating an ecosystem that connects stakeholders
in the trade compliance, cross-border logistics, and trade financing
sector.
Users can select these services according to their business needs.
CamelONE helps users overcome trade processes and complex trade
rules, to trade without having to know all the trade details. For example,
they can get freight forwarding service by stating their requirements
and following a simple process, without needing to understand how the
process works exactly. The same goes for other complicated tasks such
as permit preparation, submission and clearance, preparation and
submission of Certificate of Origin (CO), trade financing, and more. And
since CamelONE is a cloud-based solution, users enjoy the benefit of
having continual technological refresh whenever new functions and
technologies are added to CamelONE.
Desmond sees himself continuing to lead the team in VCC in the
foreseeable future to achieve their goals. VCC is a technology company,
and it is in its employees’ blood to embrace new technology. The
influential culture of keeping an open mind, be connected to the world
and the courage to try new things will ensure VCC is always ahead of its
competition.
41
| December 2019 |
45. Entrepreneurship
Going Beyond the Comfort of
Safety to Make Larger Impact
Entrepreneurship is the process
of starting a new business that
adds some value to the world
by solving some specific problems.
Entrepreneurship is the capacity
and willingness to develop, organize
and manage a business venture
along with any of its risks in order to
make a profit. Entrepreneurship
combined with land, labor, natural
resources and capital can make a
profit. Those who create these
businesses are called entrepreneurs.
Entrepreneurial spirit is
characterized by innovation and risk
taking and is an essential part of a
nation’s ability to succeed in
constantly changing and
increasingly competitive global
market place.
Entrepreneurship in its truest form
is all about identifying a gap in the
market and creating a product
which can fill that hole.
Entrepreneurship is not solely about
making money- it is also about
changing and enriching the lives for
better. It is about improving people’s
lives through creation of products or
launching services that makes the
lives of people easy. If one’s business
does not add value to the lives of
people then it is unlikely to survive.
The business that makes nothing but
money can easily be considered as a
poor business.
Entrepreneurship is the act of being
an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurs act
as managers and oversee the launch
and growth of an enterprise. It is a
process by which either an
individual or a team identifies a
business opportunity and acquires
and deploys the necessary tools and
resources required for its utilization.
Entrepreneurship is all about being
ready to go beyond the comfort
zone. It is about defining success on
one’s own terms and achieving it by
one’s own process and methodology.
It is also about thinking outside the
box or thinking like there is no box.
True entrepreneurial spirit is about
seeing challenges as opportunities.
Entrepreneurs should be able to
shake off depression, laziness and
should jump into the flowing stream
of hard work in order to achieve
their dream. True Entrepreneurs
understand that they can’t be great
at everything they do, but they
know that they can be great at
something. They focus on that
particular something in which they
are good at with laser like focus and
they are passionate to deliver the
best solutions in their chosen work.
Entrepreneurs create something
new, something different that solves
some problems or adds value to the
world. An entrepreneur is a person
who is willing and able to convert a
new idea or invention into a
successful innovation.
Entrepreneurial journey is not
always so easy. As Elon Musk
Quotes “Being an entrepreneur is like
eating glass and staring into the abyss
of death.” Many people experience
entrepreneurial journey as a
rollercoaster ride filed with
challenges and opportunities; ups
and downs. Entrepreneurship is
about perseverance through all such
43
| December 2019 |
Mentor’s Role
46. ups and downs. The journey may be
filled with crest and troughs but the
journey is worth taking.
Entrepreneurs understand that
seduction of safety is much more
dangerous than the perception of
the risk. Therefore they take
calculated risks based on market
trends and market estimation.
Where common people see the
problems entrepreneurs see the
opportunities. Entrepreneurs are
driven to create solutions to those
problems. Entrepreneurs are not
the part of problems but
entrepreneurs are people who want
to be part of the solution to those
problems. Entrepreneurs are
innately programme to create
solutions to the existing problems.
Entrepreneurs roll up their sleeves
every day and work hard to create
solutions to the existing problems in
the world in order to make profit as
well as to enrich the lives of people.
They are in the game to make a
difference and impact in the lives of
people through offering solutions to
some of the biggest problems.
Money is secondary to them but
making valuable contribution and
adding value to the world is what
they focus on. They understand that
money is just a byproduct of serving
as many people as possible with full
efficiency. Entrepreneurs plan their
work and work their plan. Successful
entrepreneurship requires
entrepreneurs who take conscious,
systematic, logical and thoughtful
decisions. It is about thinking
deliberately and acting on the
conclusion of logical thought
process. Great entrepreneurs have
the ability to think decisively even in
indecisive environment also. Their
conscience and intuition helps them
to come up with some solutions that
add glory to their business.
Successful entrepreneurs are also
very cautious of making use of the
latest technology for creating more
profitable solutions. They know how
to leverage everything to create
glorious business that adds value to
the larger portion of the world.
Entrepreneurs are here to make a
valuable contribution to the world
through their words and worthy
actions; they just don’t want to
occupy the space in the universe.
Entrepreneurs believe in making
world a better place by creating
something that customizes the lives
of people for better. Great
entrepreneurs walk their talk and
talk their walk. Their lips and lives
both make difference in the lives of
people. They know that world
rewards those who press on.
Entrepreneurship is about paying
the price of dedication,
commitment, sacrifices, hard work
and putting heart and soul into the
business to create something
different that makes lives of people
easier. The words and actions of
great entrepreneurs show that they
know where they are going and the
world has the habit of making room
for such people.
Entrepreneurship is about knowing
the way, going the way and showing
the way. Entrepreneurs lead by
example. They use all the resources
they have to make larger
contribution to the world. They
think of changing the world through
their skills, abilities, talents and
making optimum utilization of all
the resources they have.
Entrepreneurs build a strong
network of people in their
organization. The great
entrepreneurs understand that
one’s network determines one’s net
worth. Therefore they choose smart
and pragmatic people around them
that are having the ability to come
up with solutions to some of the
toughest problems. They are very
cautious of people they associate
with. Entrepreneurship is about
building bridges of success instead
of creating barriers to opportunity.
It is about having talented people
on-board to come up with great idea
and to implement that idea to make
a tangible difference in the lives of
people.
44
| December 2019 |
48. ROB LESLIE
A Pioneer of Anti-Money Laundering and KYC domain
igitalization has taken an active pace since
Dits inception. Integrating digital
technology with business aspects has
turned out to be an art rather than ‘a do’.
This acknowledgement as an art, led many
innovations to flourish in the respective industries. One
with such comprehension is Rob Leslie.
In an interview with CIO Look, Rob Leslie, Founder and
CEO of Sedicii, shares valuable insights from the
experiences he gained on his entrepreneurial journey.
Moreover, he broadly discusses the services offered by
the company.
Below are the highlights of the interview conducted
between Rob and CIO Look:
How do you diversify your organization's offerings to
appeal the target audience?
We take a collaborative approach to problem solving
with our clients, to deliver industry specific, cutting
edge eKYC and AML transaction monitoring solutions
to achieve their particular goals. Our target audiences
operate across banking & financial services,
Governments and enterprise – where regulatory
requirements mandate high levels of customer due
diligence. We help reduce the burden of responsibility
and improve efficiencies for our clients and enable
them to preserve the privacy of their customers.
At Sedicii we provide a portfolio of solutions which
appeal to our target audiences. We help secure
identities and provide unique authentication and
identity verification services where personal
information is never exchanged without explicit data
owner consent. Sedicii’s key differentiator is our focus
on privacy using our patented application of the zero
knowledge proof protocol. With an unwavering focus
on adding value to clients, we are constantly exploring
innovative ventures.
“Good leaders drive their people
forward with energy, excitement,
vision, inspiration and trust. When
you lead by example, it is the
creation of the art of the possible.
“
46
| December 2019 |
50. Kindly take us through your journey on becoming a
leader.
Becoming a leader isn’t something you aim for. I believe
leaders evolve, partly by accident over a period. It’s a
blend of ideas, circumstances and a determination and
drive to bring ideas to life and bring people together
that makes a leader in my view. It’s not about knowing
everything, in fact it's quite the opposite -it’s about
gathering and inspiring a team of experts and
collaborators to achieve common goals. That’s the
challenge, something I truly relish! It might well be the
engineer in me, but where others may see problems to
be avoided, I see opportunities and challenge, and am
rarely content until they are fixed.
I whet my appetite with Dell Japan as part of a
management team that established and grew the
business to almost 300 employees and $300M turnover
in 4 years. Since then I have grown a number of
businesses to considerable scale. My background is in
the Anti-Money Laundering / Know Your Customer
(KYC) domain. I co-founded Kyckr, a company which
specializes in corporate identity and AML compliance
solutions. (Kyckr is now listed on the Australian Stock
Exchange (ASX:KYK)). This opened up a whole new
world of possibilities for privacy protection and
preservation of our identity. In 2015 the World
Economic Forum named me as a Global Technology
Pioneer - that was a significant step on my leadership
journey and was instrumental in building a network of
like-minded thought leaders who inspire me to drive on
and to explore innovative opportunities and solutions
to crucial challenges of securing our current and future
global economies.
What are the crucial traits which every business
leader must possess?
The role of a business leader, in my view is to inspire the
people around you to push themselves and in turn the
company, to excel in everything they do. Good leaders
drive their people forward with energy, excitement,
vision, inspiration, good communication and trust.
Leading by example, by walking the walk and talking the
talk builds that trust.
Warren Bennis was an American scholar and
organizational consultant. He is widely regarded as a
pioneer of the contemporary field of leadership studies
and is known to have created the famous quote
“Managers are people who do things right; leaders are
people who do the right thing.” As the leader, you know
that keeping your team together, working towards a
common goal, getting them to support and help each
other is your job. If you succeed, they will succeed;
morale will rise and more success will follow.
As per your opinion, what roadblocks or challenges
are faced by a business in a corporate business? And
what is your advice to overcome them?
The challenges come from many angles, not always
from the direction you expect. Sometimes you need
eyes in the back of your head to keep ahead of the
game. Building the right team with the right skillset is a
challenge at the beginning, one we were fortunate to do
right from the start. With Sedicii, our unique offering is
our technology. Our tech team includes experts in
cutting edge machine learning, cryptography and
blockchain and they are constantly challenging the
Status Quo with innovative ways to tackle global issues
related to privacy and identity. Roadblocks often
represent potential forks in the road where decisions
need to be made quickly and being flexible in your
approach is important.
What will be your future endeavors and/or where do
you see yourself in the near future?
We are working on some very interesting global
projects at present. Our AML transaction monitoring
service is one which is creating waves internationally as
it allows two banks to mutually assess risk by gaining
insight on all parties to a payment transaction using a
cryptographic protocol that never exposes any private
information about one party to the other party’s bank.
Sedicii’s AML solution reduces false positives, identifies
risks in real-time, in full compliance with Banking
Secrecy and the strictest data privacy legislation.
As a leading expert in Zero Knowledge Proof Protocol,
what is your contribution in evolving the digital
sector?
Fragmented and unreliable digital identity mechanisms
are limiting growth in the global economy and adding to
the costs of doing business. Experts are in agreement
that securing identities is critical, especially where the
stakes are high. Powered by Sedicii’s patented Zero-
knowledge proof (ZKP) technology, two parties can
now prove to each other that they both have the same
piece of information without the need to expose the
information that each has in their possession, or under
their control, to the other. Combining this capability
with efficient and easy-to-use consent management, we
can change the digital world as we know it and
simultaneously secure the privacy and security of
personal information (PII) throughout the world. We
see ourselves best placed to ‘Fix’ what we call the
‘Identity Problem’ to enable the quantum leap required
to drive the next wave of business innovation.
48
| December 2019 |
53. Sandro
Schmid
A Bold Leader in the
Digital Transformation
nvestment advice and guidance is often promised to be delivered
Ithrough expert judgment & skillful opinions by professionals in asset or
wealth management. However, much of the global wealth invested lacks
systematic quantification – many decisions are intuition-based. And even
though the complexity of algorithms in financial services has increased in
specific areas (first generation of Robo-advisory, or high-frequency trading,
hedge funds, etc.), widely used statistical methods applied (often still
EXCEL based) that are used to back-up or justify decision making, still lag
decades behind the most advanced quantitative methods developed in
academia. So, due to a lack of technology use: risks are higher than
necessary, and returns are lower than possible!
With a deep knowledge of the financial market coupled with different
quantitative skills, such as mathematics, quantitative finance, AI, ML,
modern statistical inference, and computer science, Sandro Schmid stands
as Co-founder and CEO at AAAccell. AAAccell is a high-tech company in
Risk and Asset Management, developing pioneering solutions for the
financial service industry. The company is a spin-off company of the
Universe of Zurich. With a former banking CEO and Big 4 Partner, as well as
M.As and PhDs from several top universities, the company has a powerful
team that applies the scientific and expert knowledge to create real
solutions for the financial industry.
Below is Sandro’s story,
51
| December 2019 |
AAAccell
54. Sandro Schmid started his career in banking, where he
was working in different functions in front- and back-
office departments. He moved on into Consulting,
working for many years for a Big4. Further, He has had
been always close to academia, where he was engaged
in research and education.
The banking has given Sandro , a good understanding of
clients, products, processes, and governance while the
advisory gave him the ability to challenge existing
frameworks & the academia enabled him to identify
new technology, trends, and leading research. He uses
the latest technology & methods and always tries to
add a notch on top of it, keeping in front of the tech
race. “It is like in a bicycle race – staying in the front with
the others is a tough job every day”, says Sandro.
Sandro thinks each company needs other skills
depending on the maturity of the company, the
ambition, the market, and its technology. And, he also
thinks that today, it is very convenient to learn a live
time with all the technical possibilities. “We can read
everywhere, listen to books or podcasts, study on the
browser with E-Universities, etc.,” says the CEO.
Sandro doesn’t think that there is a one-size-fits-all set,
otherwise, the executive recruiter would have an easy
job. Understanding markets and clients- “The best
product is useless if markets are not ready, don’t understand
the product or are not willing to pay for it. This is quite a risk
for tech companies since it is like with an oil painting; it is
never really finished, but there must come the time to go
live.”
But no leader deserves this term if he/she is not able to
attract and hold talents. Sandro is convinced that a firm
can only win if the team acts as a team and not in single
cells. And this is not happening on its own; a great team
must be identified, on-boarded, and managed well like,
e.g. a good soccer team.
Sandro Schmid was always convinced that we live in a
world of live-time education. He never stopped reading
or learning after his educations. It was also a reason
why he is teaching on the side at the Universities
because this pushes him to keep his hand on the pulse.
A good example is a growing regulation which he needs
to understand for his courses. And just reading the
papers isn’t enough to be able to teach it.
Another important point is to use the time smartly -
don’t get distracted by topics, leads, or conversations
with people or companies that are not strategically of
relevance. This, of course, holds only in business, not for
private people.
It always starts with a problem in the market, and
Sandro thinks no one would claim that in the Financial
Service market problems are scarce. The next step is to
identify the proper solution in respect of complexity,
meaning for simple problems, the company would not
propose a complex solution, but typically, the problems
are complex, so advanced methods are required.
Sandro Schmid
Co-founder & CEO
Dr. Boris Wälchli
CTO
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| December 2019 |
55. AAAccell offers a standard solution which is market
practice plus new innovative solution which are still
giving institutions a USP compared to their peer. In
case, a client has a very specific request, the company
also works for some clients like Rothschild/Orox purely
exclusively.
For Sandro, it is very helpful to understand trends and
market behavior coupled with a lot of optimism,
flexibility, open-minded, ambitions, and an overall
reason for the company’s activities.
AAAccell is currently expanding, also in the process of
an inorganic transaction, which will require a lot of time
shortly to assure that all interests are aligned among all
the stakeholders. So, Sandro’s future will not change
much. He still wants to make a positive contribution to
the financial service market with the products such as
the fund rating filter, where the company tries to
eliminate mutual funds, which are constantly under-
performing drastically and still charge the clients with
high fees which are not appropriate.
Authentic innovation to
yourself that solves a
market problem is a
good reason to get up in
the morning.
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| December 2019 |
56. The Key to
Secure Digital
Transformation
Marc Vanmaele
CEO
TrustBuilder
54
| December 2019 |
57. arc Vanmaele, CEO at
TrustBuilder. He initially started his
career as Technical Support Manager in
(Philips Data System) and later on
became business partners with Soft-
Switch. He also served as the Director at
Management Software Benelux.
Besides, Marc contributed his best at
every organization and mentored them
in the path of success. Currently, he is a
part of SecurIT which was later
renamed as TrustBuilder in 2017.
About the Author
M
arc Vanmaele, CEO of TrustBuilder explains how
organizations can beat balance the needs of
security and user experience
What do Users Want?
Your users demand simplicity. Whatever sectors you
operate in, whatever the scale or scope of your offering,
if your customers find it too difficult to access and use
your service, they will go elsewhere.
The same rules apply within your organization. If your
staff find it too difficult to access and use the
applications and systems they need to do their jobs,
they will go elsewhere too. This rarely means that they
will leave their jobs altogether – rather, it means that
they will seek workarounds and shortcuts,
unauthorised tools and unsanctioned processes.
Both situations can be a big problem. Losing customers
very directly affects your business bottom line – and,
depending on how vocal they are about moving on, your
reputation in the marketplace too. Employees who seek
workarounds may compromise security, opening up
vulnerabilities or weak points in your infrastructure, or
fail to complete tasks as required, bringing operations
and productivity to a halt. They may be unable to
deliver the right levels of service to their customers,
which once again impact your revenue and reputation.
Furthermore, dealing with problems of user experience,
whether inside or outside your organisation can take up
a great deal of your IT department’s time and attention.
Digital Transformation: The Road to Simplicity
Little wonder, then, that businesses in all industries
have been encouraged to modernise, improving their
services with innovative new features, foregrounding
user experience and customer journeys, and developing
the most frictionless experiences possible.
This is one of the core goals of many digital
transformation projects. Previously manual processes
are replaced with automation, leading to a smoother
user journey and a strong platform for additional
innovation and creativity. Organizations such as Google
and Apple, with their unrelenting focus on clarity and
simplicity for the end user, have led customers and staff
in other sectors to expect the same.
Leader’s Take
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58. What are the Challenges Faced by the Organization?
But ‘frictionless’ can come with caveats. Such processes
are frequently less secure than their more
cumbersome, multi-stage relatives – precisely because
they entail fewer layers of user identification and
verification. Organizations, then, have to make a choice
– add extra security steps, such as a second password
or PIN code, and hope that this increased complexity
doesn’t lose them users – or keep the process simpler,
and hope that they don’t succumb to a malicious
cyberattack or accidental infection.
Meanwhile, organizations are managing increasingly
complicated IT infrastructures. Their services are made
up of multiple different applications, many of which are
hosted in the cloud with data shared between the
organization and its vendors. This makes providing a
smooth user experience challenging – and making it
secure, even more so.
The Role of Next Generation IAM
This is why next-generation Identity and Access
Management (IAM) services have such a crucial role to
play. They help organizations to not only strike the right
balance between user experience and security, but also,
critically, to maintain that balance as the organization’s
services and systems continue
to evolve.
Such solution incorporates the next evolution of multi-
factor authentication (MFA) systems, which demand
additional layers of verification before or after the user
enters their login details. At present, this extra step will
typically be some token or one time password provided
by the user’s mobile device.
Ultimately, the best way forward is for multi-factor
authentication to be truly – well – multiple in its
approach. That is, it should make use of more than one
additional factor, so that even in the case of a code
being intercepted or a device falling into the wrong
hands, access to the system in question isn’t
compromised. The trick, of course, is to do this without
presenting unnecessary friction to users, which may
cause them to switch to another service.
The most effective IAM solutions take a more
intelligent – and a more user-focused approach,
thereby helping organizations to tread that fine
balancing line. Along with enabling the latest secure
MFA methods like those requiring a hardware or
mobile token; they consider a range of different factors
when verifying each user request, such as where the
user is located, the time of the request, and whether
the device itself is recognized. They also provide a
bridge between different environments, allowing
seamless access while keeping intruders out.
In turn, this allows organizations to offer a genuinely
intelligent and ever-improving security service to their
end users, demonstrating how seriously they take data
protection, whilst automating that security behind the
scenes and therefore smoothing the customer journey
as far as possible.
It is essential to choose an IAM solution that is highly
flexible, able to keep up with the pace of change and
evolve along with the organization in question.
However, in doing so, organizations can take a genuine
step towards balancing user experience with
watertight security – and embracing digital
transformation, securely.
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| December 2019 |
60. SwB
L
eadership is something that one really must grow into either with
time or by diving into the deep end. Keeping in mind that education is
the ticket to her success, Swati Bhargava worked hard at a young
age and excelled in academics as well as cultivated an entrepreneurial
spirit within her, early on in life. Due to the sustained efforts and
commitment of the Co-founders Swati and Rohan Bhargava, CashKaro is
today India's Largest Cashback & Coupons site.
In an interview with CIOLook, Swati narrates her inspiring journey:
CashKaro has always believed in enabling more savings for online
shoppers by taking customer feedback as sacrosanct. It continuously
diversifies its user's touchpoints to offer fast, smooth and easy access to
the best cashback deals and discounts. Since CashKaro.com is India's
Largest Cashback & Coupons Site; it has constant access to exclusive
deals, newer categories and higher cashback offers, which eventually
provide the ultimate cashback experience to its users.
From popular Indian sites like Flipkart, Amazon and Paytm to players like
Ajio and PepperFry, CashKaro has more than 1,500 retailers onboard.
Every time a user shops for something from one of these sites using
CashKaro, they earn Cashback. This Cashback is extended to the users
over and above all other retailer deals & coupons. Users can then choose
to transfer this cash straight to their bank account or can redeem it in the
form of Amazon or Flipkart Gift Cards. Today, CashKaro's users earn
anywhere between Rs. 20,000-25,000/year by shopping via the site.
Within a short span of time, CashKaro has paid over Rs.100 Cr as
Cashback and has recently crossed 3.5Million+ registered users.
Circling back to more ways of diversification besides cashback, CashKaro
also offers coupons & price comparison on its platform. This is another
major differentiator between CashKaro and other similar businesses. No
other player operating in this space is equipped to offer all three benefits
to the users. The largest variety of online brands and a wide array of
verticals like fashion, electronics, groceries, cosmetics, medicines etc.
mean customers get a truly varied shopping platter. The ‘Extra’ nature of
CashKaro Cashback and Rewards makes CashKaro's savings truly unique.
CashKaro recently came up with the idea of enabling the users to earn as
they help others shop. EarnKaro, its latest offering will not just help the
users save more but will also create numerous opportunities for the
people to earn while working from home. Keeping true to its tagline,
'#YouGetMore', CashKaro always strives to walk the extra mile for the
benefit of its users in every way possible.
Rohan and Swati believe in the simple ideology that every entrepreneur
must have great conviction in what they’re pursuing. They must ensure
that they're doing it as much for the journey as for the end. There will be
numerous times when your patience, resilience and ethics will be tested
and it is important to remember what you stand for during trying times.
58
| December 2019 |
62. Hurdles need to be turned into opportunities so you
can take charge and be in control of every situation.
The beauty of entrepreneurship is that it demands one
to acquire and master skills they may not have been
trained in or inclined towards. An entrepreneur is a
marketer, an accountant, a salesperson and more, all
rolled into one. So, one must know their product inside-
out and also educate themselves constantly. For
instance, Swati's Co-founder Rohan who comes from a
hardcore Asset Management and Hedge Fund
background had never worked on product development
before venturing into entrepreneurship. Today, Rohan
is at the forefront of Innovation & Product
development at CashKaro and works closely with its
Chief Technology Officer to add new features to the
existing product. Right from beta testing new products
and adding more verticals to making CashKaro’s
proposition truly unique and beneficial for its users, he
has been putting in efforts to learn and do it all. So,
Swati strongly believes that an entrepreneur who is
running a product-driven business can never be on the
outside of it and must be involved at the core level right
from the point of inception to execution.
Every business is unique and the challenges related to
setting it up are unique as well. However, certain
challenges are common to all businesses. For instance,
developing a top-notch product, ensuring quality
checks, recruiting the right people etc. are common to
all businesses. These issues can be worrying but what
Swati has seen and learnt through her entrepreneurial
journey is to keep calm and focus on one’s course of
action, which is the most powerful solution. She
considers the best approach is to stay composed, be
focused and persistent till one has achieved the
outcome one is aiming for. One’s conviction in one's
business will help one overcome these challenges and
keep moving forward every day.
60
| December 2019 |
63. Swati is quite fortunate when it comes to upgrading
herself in terms of technology and keeping up with the
ever-changing tools and trends. CashKaro has its own
in-house tech team that works on everything from App
UX to SDK integrations from the ground up. Since
CashKaro works closely with experts across fields it
gives both Rohan and Swati ample opportunity to learn
and stay updated.
Given CashKaro is already India’s Largest Cashback &
Coupons Site, Rohan and Swati aim for it to make its
way into every Indian shopper's purchase journey and
perhaps even grow beyond borders over the next few
years. Making CashKaro a household name is how
Rohan and Swati visualise themselves within a few
years from now. CashKaro is targeting an expanded
user base and an increased number of brand partners
across verticals to bring the best savings’ proposition to
the users.
As an organization, CashKaro’s goal is to become the
Largest Online Savings destination in India by
constantly creating more avenues for shoppers to save
online. For example, with the launch of its latest and
first of its kind offering EarnKaro, CashKaro has come
closer to its mission of being the smartest and easiest
way for Indian shoppers to save money. EarnKaro is a
Social Cashback App that enables the users to find and
share the best deals online with friends, family and
acquaintances via social platforms like Facebook,
WhatsApp, Instagram, etc. and earn profit from the
sales made.
Between CashKaro and EarnKaro Rohan and Swati are
estimating a 400% growth over the next 2 years,
including onboarding more brand partners and
registered users on CashKaro. They also aim to further
strengthen their bond with their team members and
shareholders in the years to come.
Speaking specifically with respect to the CashKaro
family, Swati strives to offer team members the best
experience in terms of growth and learning. She aims to
help them grow both financially and in terms of domain
expertise. Similarly, for her shareholders she wants the
journey to be extremely rewarding. Therefore,
CashKaro always works hard to ensure that people are
proud of their decision to invest in CashKaro and the
business.
Swati advises young entrepreneurs to always keep
moving forward and stay focused on reaching the goal
they have set for themselves. Some days may be
tougher than others, but it’s important to stay positive
and remember why one has started out in the first
place. Most importantly, she asks them to try to enjoy
what they are doing because it's important to love work
in order to give one's best to it.
Hurdles are never a hinderance in your journey,
they are the stepping-stones that lead you to the
place where you are meant to be. If you believe
in yourself the world will work to make your
dreams come true.
“
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| December 2019 |
CASHKARO
64. with big multinationals. It is imperative business as the
internet has become the unstoppable trend. There are
some baselines which will help the digital marketing
sphere move forward.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Innovation has reached beyond imagination. AI
(Artificial Intelligence) predicts every move of
consumer. By focusing more on personal rather than
professional front, AI truly shines in the arena of
business. AI makes every customer feel important and
produce a next level customer experience by analyzing
the data of customers, helping businesses to gather
their insights and deliver enhanced services. For
instance, Netflix and Amazon help with
recommendations by viewing history of billions of
hours of content streamed. With the help of algorithm,
they look after the entire experience of individual
subscriber. Depending upon their taste, users get
recommendation of other movies. AI will become the
model of digital marketing because of its accurate
ability to analyze consumer behavior and change the
experience of online business.
User Experience
With the increase in internet users, demand for User
Experience has increased. Intelligent algorithm helps to
analyze huge number of data. It is generated from a
single user’s location, demographics and device. User
Experience has gained positive response from the
consumer by making a personalized experience on a
website. It has also increased conversion rates and
G
lobalization has helped enterprises to dive into
open international market. While companies are
heading beyond the boundaries and are settling
overseas, digital marketing on the other hand is helping
the same to make a good consumer impact. With open
and diversified business market, competition has also
reached the peak. Additionally, the start-up firms from
developing countries have also been incentivized from
the expansion of digital marketing. The primary aspects
which are required to lead a company towards success
include marketing and sales. Companies should make
smart digital marketing strategies while keeping
globalization in context in order to get better
opportunities in the market.
Digitally Globalized Future
Digital marketing with its versatile and constant
changing potential has changed the face of traditional
marketing. Making things available at fingertips have
increased the desire to adapt digital marketing over
time. Mobile devices have helped to grow the demand
of digital marketing. Today, traditional marketing is
being replaced with digital marketing. The demand is
increasing day by day as every minute new website link
is generated; everyday new update enters into digital
market with more advance features. To grab the pulse
of the customer, company should understand the needs
and requirements of its customers. With the increasing
internet population, digital marketing will be a business
platform which will help companies to grow globally.
Digital marketing will help the small firms to compete
with big multinationals. It is imperative business as the
Digital MarketingDigital Marketing
Programming the Human Life
62
| December 2019 |
65. Digital Advertising
Digital Advertising is a part of the
dynamic “Digital Marketing”
industry. Digital marketing
strategies have been changing
depending upon the fluctuating
consumer behavior, seasonal change
and changing rule of digital
marketing. Digital Advertising
platforms like Google Ads and
Facebook Ads have gained
importance in marketing field. They
have started making use of analytics
to find more suitable consumer for
the company through analyzing its
consumer data, interest of
consumer and demographics.
Email Marketing
It examines the best time and day of
the week to contact the consumer,
content which will show their
involvement, the email subject and
title to generate more click. Thus AI
has become friendly user in
personalizing email content for
every internet users by reducing the
margin of error.
Content Generation and Content
Curating
Words play a vital role in
communication. Good content can
bring more business to a brand.
Every work conducted is based on
the data and information. Likely, AI
generates content on the basis of
the data and information it has.
Using templates and keywords, AI
creates a unique content which
attracts more visitors to the
website. Apart from generating
content, AI also curates it. By
showing relevant content it
increases the traffic on website and
connects with visitors in a better
way. It showcases the relevant
content to the visitors depending
upon the topics they had searched.
ChatBots
Communication has experienced a
huge change. From making phone
calls to simply texting,
communication has evolved
technically, increasing the desire of
the users. Brands on the other
hands are making use of the social
apps to promote business. Thus, AI
has powered the Chatbots with the
ability to answer open questions.
With the help of natural learning
processing and machine learning,
Chatbots find the correct response.
Chatbots ask frequent questions to
the potential buyers and answer it in
simplified way. It also helps the
buyer, a way to search for the
product or service they are looking
for. Chatbots also serve clients 24/7
and retain their data. Customers
may get angry, but Chatbots always
stay calm and friendly. It also
responds to several requests from
different customers at a single time,
thus taking less time.
Gaining Utmost Importance
Having AI in the digital marketing
strategy will give a lot of benefits.
Digital Marketing has provided a
platform to conduct business
globally. Its demand is increasing
day by day. It has also enhanced the
growth of the companies. To
maintain the efficiency and
effectiveness of the company,
marketer has to keep on thinking,
learning, testing and implementing
ideas to stay on the top of
competitive market. Instead of
spending more on digital marketing
strategy, the company needs to
come up with smart planner to bring
more clients. Digital marketing has
helped in improving and maintaining
the quality of performance of a
product. It has made very easy to
segment, target and position the
product for marketing with the help
of huge available database and user
information. With the continuous
advancement of technology,
practice of digital marketing has
improved. Developing perceived
knowledge about a product, digital
marketing helps to achieve the
marketing objectives.
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| December 2019 |
Chalk - Talk