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Author: theciotimes

BEV MOORE :Kindness first

Posted on by theciotimes

Bev Moore is a humble intersection of talent, dignity, and kindness. She is CEO/owner of Bev Moore Talent Agency. A Philanthropist, Global Influencer and writer, Bev is an inspiration to women all across the globe. She offers in-depth guides, empowering and inspiring others to flourish for a better future. Bev has co-founded and managed multi-million-dollar companies over the years. She is the current owner and CEO of many business ventures. Her business expertise and personal experiences combined to give a special energy to any given audience. 

Bev builds upon the Swahili Proverb; Unity is Strength, Division is Weakness. She believes great things can be accomplished while people are unified towards a common goal in numbers rather than by themselves. This gives them a greater power to far exceed their expectations. This philosophy inspired Bev to take action and launch her platform. As we speak, the platform is growing and now you can also be a part of it.

 As an entrepreneur, Bev has been involved in a serious business ventures and her experience applies to all of her work and what she is trying to achieve. Because of the choices she made, Bev has vast experience,  she is focusing on touching as many lives as possible. Bev is a philanthropist. She invests time, money, and energy in causes that resonate with her values. There have been numerous projects where Bev has left her fingerprint. Bev believes in the power of doing. Don’t promise, prove!

THE OUTSET OF HER JOURNEY

Bev grew up in South Carolina and has been in Charlotte for over 4 years now. Her guiding light is kindness. She believes that every person must be kind to their fellow human beings. Even as a young adult, she was spontaneous and ready to take up challenges. She started with coaching. Bev would help out the children in their neighborhood. If they needed scholarships for school or tutoring to get better grades a test, she would always be happy to help. She would boost their self-esteem and watch over them like a second mom, and she would help them through their teenage years and act as a mentor.

She moved to Charlotte, considering it as an opportunity to grow, experiment and diversify. Bev has always had entrepreneurial instincts. She has always been inclined towards doing/creating something impactful, something that helps the people. During the pandemic, she witnessed the plight of numerous businesses and how entrepreneurs were struggling with their respective market sectors. Her primary intuition was to create something that would develop an outreach.

Since the start of her platform in 2020, Bev has created a safe space for lifting people, networking, and boosting careers. A hub is now live where everybody can find resources in a time of need. Bev has always been ready for any challenge and she has always tried something new by experimenting and opening new doors.

She has produced films like Amrak. Bev is moving towards more projects in the coming future.

THE RISE OF BEV MOORE TALENT AGENCY

Being an entrepreneur for so many years helped her to identify her real purpose. She realized that her forte was communicated. She started her agency knowing that she was going to connect people and the knowledge she had acquired over the years, leverage it to the benefit of others and make a difference in the world. She was urged by many celebrities to move forward and open up an agency because that was what she had been doing for them. She was made to realize that she was helping talent and helping talent grow by making it available to those who wanted it. She received a lot of support from those around her to recognize and employ the gift that she possessed. She was motivated and prompted to push herself out there and make an impact. Bev was able to reach out across all platforms and get people connected. She continues to excel in her field of work and is grateful to have found a profession in something that she loves doing. Thus, she launched the talent agency. She wants to bring unity and bring people together, to make this place a better world.

SPEAK UP BEV!

Speak Up Bev was started with the death of John Lewis. His death created such a strong impact on her life which made her realize that her purpose was to bring people together. She was prompted by such an exceptionally unique platform that enabled people to share their minds and speak about various topics. She is always talking about kindness, and thus she created this platform out of the love in her heart. The platform is free of any kind of politics, race and social status. It is an open platform where people connect and talk and are free to share stories. It is a platform for mental and physical well-being and growth where everyone is prompted to develop a better side of themselves. She has had republicans, democrats, rich people and many others, and nobody knows who’s who, yet everyone gets along so well. It shoves any kind of negativity and bad nature and promotes a happier and healthier environment and society.

WORLDWIDE UNITED

A shining star, Bev, is one of those few people who hold compassion and love for those who are underprivileged. She started her charity, Worldwide United, upholding her principles of strength in unity. The charity is very close to her heart. The charity commenced operations in Nigeria with over 200 children and she has been working with a vision to help those who are deprived of the basic amenities in life. Worldwide United will be spreading its arms and touching other developing nations and consistently contribute to humanitarian causes and uplift those who are suffering.

HER FORTHCOMING PROJECTS

Her latest work where she serves as the executive producer is Inherit the Land. This premieres on October 16Th in Monroe, NC. Bev is the executive producer of the upcoming film, Laura. The movie will hit the screens in 2021 itself. It revolves around the story of Tom Dooley, and the mystery surrounding the murder of Laura Foster told from Laura’s perspective over the last week of her life.

Being an exceptionally talented individual, Bev has diversified her scopes in various fields and excels in each due to her utmost dedication and commitment to her work.

BEV AT HOME

She is an animal person, and she has been one since a very young age. She had a horse, chickens, dogs, and cats, and now she has two cats and two dogs. One of them is called Poppy, and he’s her absolute favorite. She loves cats because she has an unconditional love for them and finds them adorable. She’s always known how to take care of people and animals. That has shaped her into the incredible individual she is today.

Gina Diez Barroso :The founding story of her organisation

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Her journey began with one of the great heroes and mentors in her life: her grandfather. He founded Mexico’s first radio station, which later became Televisa, the leading broadcasting media company in the Spanish-speaking world. Although she worked for Televisa for several years; she knew deep down that she wanted to trace her own path and make a name for herself.

Out of a deep passion for design, architecture, and construction, she started Grupo Diarq, a firm that innovated by offering all three areas under one same roof. Diarq grew fast. It was the first company to showcase model homes, apartments, and hotels in Mexico.

Even though Diarq was enormously successful, she wasn’t satisfied. She was reminded of the great legacy her grandfather had left behind in telecommunications in Mexico. So, she wondered, “What legacy was I leaving?” Houses, buildings? She always believed that the way to help people succeed in life is through a good education. What frustrated her was seeing how education was stuck using obsolete methods and, as a result, creative education wasn’t moving forward despite all the technological developments happening around the world. Therefore, she decided that it was time to start building her legacy. It was then that she decided that her next venture would be to establish a University for creative disciplines, with novel teaching methods and an innovative curriculum, combined with an entrepreneurship and business component. Establishing a University was not an easy project. Actually, it was her most difficult project, Gina said. She encountered many hurdles and nay-sayers, but she made a point to surround herself with people who believed in her project and vision and who contributed to making the project come to fruition.

In 2004, after six years of research and development, she launched CENTRO University. CENTRO has been a great success. It currently offers seven undergraduate programs, 22 postgraduate courses, and 200 continuing education courses and is affiliated with the leading design schools around the world. Of its approximately 3,000 students, 65% are women and around 1,000 are attending on a scholarship. They also have the first campus in the world to obtain a LEED Platinum certification in all the buildings.

With CENTRO, Ms. Diez Barroso understood the importance and impact of education and how it can change lives. For 19 years she has been part of a group called C200.org – she is the only Latin-American woman in this group. Together with her colleagues from C200 they have taken part as speakers and mentors of female MBAs and PHDs of some of the most prestigious universities in the world. They usually speak to students about their experiences as businesswomen, giving them advice on career development and on how to maintain a healthy work-life balance. During her visit to those universities, she felt that although many women had outstanding academic credentials, they lacked some fundamental ingredients for success. She has always believed that being a confident leader is more than mastering the “hard skills” of business. It also takes soft skills like negotiation, communication, emotional intelligence, personal resilience, and networking, to name a few.

To teach more of these “life leadership” abilities, in 2017 she started another education project and founded Dalia Empower – a global lifelong learning project dedicated to supporting women in reaching their personal and professional goals – helping women to step into their full potential, feel confident with their power and achieve both their personal and professional goals. It is designed to help women entrepreneurs, women in the public sector, women in corporations, and women entering board positions. Dalia Empower also provides programs and tools for corporations to measure, implement and improve their gender and diversity policies.

Grupo Diarq has currently comprised 9 subsidiary companies (including CENTRO and Dalia), more than 600 employees, and has offices in Mexico and the United States.

Portfolio of services offered:

Dalia Empower aims to impact 100 million women in 10 years through our diverse education and potent platform. Dalia Empower is a 360-degree solution and has 4 diverse product offerings:

  • Education programs (Dalia Academy) – for both individuals and companies, in-person and online.
  • Community Services (We are Dalia) – such as mentoring, advisory, and networking.
  • Smart editorial content (DaliaNews+Media) – to inspire women & create awareness on diversity and inclusion.
  • Consulting services (Dalia Insights) – for organisations to get the proper data and be certified with the Dalia Gender Race and Diversity Index.

As a result of the pandemic and due to job losses and furloughs, many women were pushed out of the workforce and others voluntarily withdrew to act as caregivers. Many women have found themselves in need to start their businesses. Most are doing it with no previous experience and lacking crucial tools and entrepreneurial expertise.

Dalia has created diverse programs designed to provide the necessary advice, skills, and training to make women´s companies succeed and also, it has developed Dalia Scale Up,a full immersion acceleration program that aims to provide founders and early-stage start-ups with the tools and resources necessary to scale their business to the point where they can be funded by VC Funds. Dalia targets start-ups with female and mixed leadership, and it prioritizes traditional businesses that can scale with digital transformation.

The challenges and obstacles she encountered

Ms. Diez Barroso has always been very determined in her plans and what she has set her mind to. She has faced countless obstacles and people who didn’t believe in her or her projects. She stirred away from them and didn’t take NO for an answer (i.e. when she created CENTRO or Dalia). However, she has also been advised by her mentors and allies – who have proven indispensable for her goals. Also, the multifaceted and multicultural teams she has led have been key to attain success in her endeavours. She always says that nobody works for her, they all work with her towards a common goal.

Awards, Recognition, and Accolades

Her contributions to women, society, and its upliftment have been unparalleled. These contributions haven’t gone unnoticed. Some of the awards she has been honoured with:

  • National Women Award 2011 – National Chamber of Women (Cámara Nacional de la Mujer, A.C.)
  • Fundamental Personality in the World of Design Award, Noldi Scherck, 2014
  • Iberoamerican CIDI Award for Outstanding Entrepreneurial Career in Education, 2015.
  • Luxury Lab Global Award, 2016.
  • “Flame, Life and Women Award”, Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon, 2017.
  • “With Your Generous Hand We Walk Through Life Award”, Magen David Women Committee, 2017.
  • TU Awards (TU Magazine), Televisa Editorial Division, 2017.
  • Enterprising Women of the Year Award Celebration, 2018 
  • Gold Medal of Honour, AS/COA – American Society Council of the Americas, 2019.
  • 2019 National Award for Professional Excellence, National Chamber of Women (Cámara Nacional de la Mujer, A.C.)
  • 2020 NAWRB Commercial Leader Award. 

Her thoughts on the impact of covid-19 on Diarq´s market

Although the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have been far-reaching for all industries, they have fundamentally changed the real estate business. The demand for commercial real estate has and will be impacted by social distancing, space reconfiguration, layoffs and remote work.

Some industries will probably adopt hybrid working arrangements which will consequently change a company’s physical workspace needs. As a result, office space will still be in demand, albeit with different types of space requirements and amenities. While before the pandemic some businesses were looking for spaces with gyms, lounge areas, and meeting rooms, in the post-pandemic era companies might shift their demand putting a greater emphasis on eco-friendly buildings, worker safety, more efficient work plans that accommodate social distancing, indoor air quality, and technologies and a healthy environment. Older office spaces will have to adapt to these requirements or will become obsolete.

The blurring of work and personal life will also have an impact on residential real estate. Residential units will be attractive if they provide separate spaces where people can telework efficiently. Also, since more time will be spent at home, location and amenities such as fitness and in site services (dry cleaners, grocery shops, working spaces) will become increasingly attractive for tenants.

Her opinion on the importance of work-life balance

The need for work-life balance is more important than ever. Especially given the added blurring of lines between work and personal and the unpredictability and increased risk of burnout and depression that the post COVID era has brought about.

Finding a balance between work and personal is not a given– especially for working moms. One must make an effort to set limits, get organised, and carve out spaces in our schedules to spend quality time with our loved ones; work on our mental and physical health; think, recalibrate and regain our centre. Doing so gives us happiness and fulfilment, makes us feel proud of who we are, and gives us clarity as to the next steps we need to go forward. I believe that if we don’t give ourselves time to do the things that we enjoy with the people we cherish, we will not excel in either our personal and professional lives. Finding that balance also increases our productivity, our creative thinking, and our engagement in our homes, works and societies and more importantly our mental health.

Her advice to aspiring women entrepreneurs

I would advise women entrepreneurs to recognise their power, to never stop learning and acquiring new tools and skills, to seek mentors for guidance, to help and encourage other women, and to network and share their experiences with other women entrepreneurs. Dalia Empower is a global project where we help women move forward, work on those objectives and achieve both their professional and personal goals.

I believe that it is crucial that more women – together with our male allies – speak up and fight for gender equality, women’s promotion and equal pay. We need more women in decision-making positions and breaking ground in male-dominated industries. We also need to support and buy from businesses led by women.

Remember that nothing comes easy, especially in entrepreneurship. Be patient, work hard, believe in yourself, build a great team, pitch big, and don’t give up!

Liana Zavo : Tell us something about the outset story of your organization.

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Tell us something about the outset story of your organization.

Growing up, I received my first taste of entrepreneurship from my family business. My family owns multiple restaurants and catering halls throughout New York. Even though it would have seemed to be the obvious choice to continue in my family’s footsteps and work within the business, I had the dreams I needed to chase. I wanted to create a legacy of my own and not take the easy way out and work for my family. So, I started my PR and digital marketing boutique agency, ZavoMedia, on the strength of my industry experience in marketing strategies and public relations with the mindset to assist female entrepreneurs within their journeys and inspire women to live out their goals and dreams. Additionally, I developed a platform of podcasts and interviews of executive female mentors who offer successful tips and guidance to women as they embark or continue the entrepreneurship journey. These platforms concentrate on personal branding, content marketing, brand awareness, leading with confidence, authenticity, and how to push through various obstacles of adversity.

What motivates and inspires you as a young entrepreneur?

As I remember my journey to get to where I am today, my two primary sources of inspiration are my son and the future generations of professionals. My son is my first source of inspiration because I not only want to provide choices and opportunities for him that I did not have when I was young, but I want to show him that anybody can make a difference in the world. Anything is possible with hard work and dedication. My second source of inspiration is providing a successful example to other women and proving that they can make their dreams a reality if they stay focused on the goal. I believe we all have a voice within us that can be powerful and impactful to others when heard. For some, it is life-changing. Speaking up endows more self-confidence and brings in newfound peace and growth. Being in the media industry for over a decade, I’ve witnessed and went through different scenarios that tested my voice as a publicist and Entrepreneur. It wasn’t an easy journey, I admit, but by learning from my experience and extracting the moral lessons, I didn’t end up empty-handed. There were situations when I felt unheard, powerless, and limited by my surroundings. However, it was in those struggles that I pushed myself to step up. I broke through my limits, and from then on, I didn’t allow anyone to trample on who I am and what I am capable of doing. Fueled with the desire to succeed, I decided to step forward and start speaking up for myself rather than staying in the shadows, and my goal is to inspire others to do the same.

How does your company uphold its uniqueness and individuality?

I believe the uniqueness of my company comes from my coaching principles and PR hacks. For example, I formulated my acronym – B. E. P. I. C. – which helped me overcome moments of weakness to this day. I teach this method to my mentees so they can find their confidence and their inner voice to carry them through their journey. At the end of the day, my company’s primary goal is to carve an avenue for women in this male-dominated world continuously. I have stood firm on that goal and stayed committed to not only providing resources to educate women further but also to give them the tools and skills needed to become competent professionals. It is also important to me to not only educate but inspire. As a result, I have utilized my network over the years to give solid examples of what could happen with hard work, persistence, and dedication. Today, I am known as the millennial PR strategist, a media mogul, and a branding maven.

Kindly mention some of the notable recognitions and accreditations received by your organization.

The first honorable accomplishment that I cherish is becoming the first female Entrepreneur and businesswoman in my family. I am an official member of the Forbes Business Council and Chairwoman of WMW Lounge in New York. I am also one of the latest members of the Young Entrepreneur Council, the editor and chief of my lifestyle magazine, and a celebrated keynote speaker. However, out of all of my accomplishments and accolades, my most outstanding achievement is helping women create their own space and succeed in their entrepreneurship journey. I started the podcast “What Makes a Woman.”, and have penned multiple columns for various prestigious outlets such as Entrepreneur, and have appeared on notable platforms such as Forbes, Huffington Post, INC and more. More recently, I mentor girls from orphanages by providing them the necessary resources to educate them on the art of entrepreneurship. I feel that if I reach back and help future generations, the cycle will continue, and I have made my mark on this world.

The pandemic turned the tables for every sector of the economy, telling us something about your market and its scope for growth.

Covid-19 has changed the structure of business for everyone. Thankfully, my team and I could adopt more technology and create a digital avenue that allows us to reach a bigger audience and develop more effective and profitable services for these times. We were able to pivot my platform during a pandemic and carve out a new way to reach women on the one latest and aggressively growing apps, Clubhouse. The idea and overwhelming response from the platform motivated me to start a virtual public relations academy, Zavo PR Academy, which transforms professionals, entrepreneurs, and executives from being unknown to becoming unrecognizable by teaching proper industry strategies for boosting personal brands. The academy also uses a specific method to help magnify and monetize a message, how to find your unique voice, and how to develop an authority in your niche. As a result, we were able to broaden my audience and help more women create a better life for themselves and their families without losing any of our team members.

Where do you see your organization in the years to come?

Going forward, my organization and I plan to take my brand and mission to the next level. Zavo Media Group is becoming a global company by establishing offices in Paris and Dubai in the Spring of 2022. We will capitalize on technology so we can reach an even larger audience and help more women tap into their unique voice and story to share with the world. I plan to continue to educate and inspire those who know that there is more to life than doing the bare minimum and those that want to live instead of merely existing. Overall, I will remain persistent in creating more avenues and preparing the next generation of successful entrepreneurs for their greatness. I love the idea of giving voice to the voiceless, and I love the idea of storytelling and the power behind someone’s message. As a result, I plan to continue creating a brand that is aligned with the things that I am extremely passionate about.

Entrepreneurship is an art, what is your take on that?

I agree that entrepreneurship is an art because this journey is not for everyone. It takes a skillful and passionate person to understand the balance of talent, dedication, and the need for patience to trust the process of birthing a dream. Most people give up because of the dark and narrow roads of entrepreneurship, mainly because there are no guarantees, no safety nets, and no one or nothing to fall back on. Everything rests on the entrepreneur’s shoulders, and not everyone can bear that amount of weight. For example, before I started my company, I was a college dropout and a single mom at age 20. I knew I wanted more so I decided to learn for myself the art of storytelling and how to get it out to the public. I wanted to share my story with the world so others can learn from my experience and become inspired. When PR initially piqued my interest, I had no knowledge of the industry, but I decided to partner with a firm in NYC under one condition: I would introduce new clients from my family’s restaurant, and in return, they will let me shadow and learn everything there is to know about PR. I gave myself a year, and during that year, it was nothing but hard work, grit, and determination. By the end of the year, I learned the ins and outs of PR and hired a mentor to teach me the business aspect, and started my journey. With only $5000 and a spirit of determination, I started my bootstrap startup company in 2017 without any partners to assist.

I want to encourage people not to quit on themselves and to trust the process. Every task, every mistake, every pitfall, and every move is pushing you closer and closer to your dream, and you will see that one day, it was worth it.

Justine Pogroske : Powerful Branding Solutions

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There are companies and then there are brands. A powerful brand is not only distinct and stands out from the competition due to its product/service but also due to the values it stands for, no matter what. Having a clear identity and purpose helps brands to effectively connect with consumers on an emotional level. 

To create this emotional connection, brands will need to focus on creating a positive customer experience. This means providing high-quality products and services that meet customer needs and expectations. Also, be accessible and convenient, making it easy for consumers to purchase their products and services. 

As the world becomes increasingly digitized, the way consumers interact with brands will also change. To stay relevant, brands need to be agile and adaptive, able to quickly respond to changes in the marketplace. They will also need to have a strong online presence, utilizing social media and other digital channels to reach their target audience. Building “raving fans” and community will stand brands in good stead and brands can now create a loyal following effortlessly with the use of digital media. Furthermore, brands will need to focus on creating an engaging and personalized experience for consumers and Justine Pogroske at Million Dollar Branders helps them in this journey.

Finding her Entrepreneurial Gene

Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Justine had her first brush with business at the age of 6 when she sold used toys. As a child, she was fascinated by the idea of starting her own business and always knew she would eventually be her own boss. So, when the time came to choose a career, there was really only one option for her: entrepreneurship.

At age 11, her family migrated to Sydney, Australia. After school, she fell in love with the advertising industry. “I think it was the creativity that first drew me in – the way that a good advert can tell a story, evoke an emotion, and sell a product all at the same time. I also loved the challenge of it; trying to come up with an idea that is both original and effective,” recalls Justine.

After receiving her diploma in graphic design she started her career at one of the most renowned agencies in the world called Ogilvy and Mather(not without putting some serious campaigning skills on display until the creative director finally got her on board). The advertising industry turned out to be an incredible fit for her as she had always excelled at art and had always been good at public speaking. “I think that the advertising industry was a perfect mix of both of those talents. I have always loved coming up with creative ways to sell products, and been great at telling people about those products,” shares Justine.

Over the years she worked for leading agencies, M&C Saatchi, Optus, PwC, and more. At 24, she saw a gap in the market for an agency with the mindset of a “large agency” but the thoughtfulness of a boutique agency. That’s when her company, Million Dollar Branders was born. Justine says, “I wanted our number one focus to be on “expensifying brands” and building on “brand experiences”. Million Dollar Branders(MDB) is a boutique agency whose focus is on building brand empires and legacies for the experience age. We aim to deliver timeless branding solutions anchored in result-driven formulas. Today our client base ranges from Fortune 500 companies, Global thought leaders and celebrities, Nascar to Silicon Valley movers and shakers.”

Creating Unique Value

There are a few things that make Million Dollar Branders a leading brand agency. First, they have unrivaled industry experience building legacy brands. The team is comprised of experienced professionals who have a deep understanding of branding and marketing. Second, they’re always on the cutting edge of the latest industry trends – constantly exploring new ways to reach consumers and stay ahead of the competition. And third, they’re not afraid to take risks. They believe that to achieve something great, sometimes you have to think outside the box. 

The company believes that a great brand is more than just a pretty logo. It’s the sum of all the experiences a customer has with the company, from their first impression to their ongoing interactions. That’s why they take a 360-degree approach to branding (MDB calls this The Bankable Brand Alignment Method], developing strategies that cover everything from corporate identity, to digital presence: website, digital marketing, and social media. They’re also experts in brand positioning and messaging, so can help brands stand out from the crowd and connect with your target audience. In short, they know what it takes to build a strong, sustainable brand. 

Qualities that make a leader

As per Justine, a leader must be many things: confident, decisive, and level-headed. They must be able to take charge in a crisis and rally others to their cause. They must possess the strength of character to make tough choices, even when the path ahead is uncertain. And they must have the vision to see what is possible, even when others cannot. These are the three most important qualities a leader must possess. With them, anything is possible. Without them, even the simplest tasks become insurmountable. Most importantly a leader should be heart-centered and lead by example. 

Being decisive and rationale is crucial for leaders. But human as they are, there are moments when they might feel stuck. At times like these, Justine usually takes a deep breath and reminds herself that it is okay to not know everything. “I try to remember that everyone feels stuck or confused at times, even the people who seem to have it all together. Once I have given myself a little pep talk, I start brainstorming possible solutions. I try to think of all the different ways I could approach the problem. Sometimes, just taking a few minutes to brainstorm gives me the clarity I need to move forward. Other times, I like to do a little more research or ask for help from someone who has been there and done that and is well versed in that area or topic. I am very lucky to be connected with some incredible thought leaders. Most importantly I am kind to myself in the way I speak to myself as I know that I need to back myself to get through the situation. If you don’t believe in yourself then who will, period. I believe if you can see it in your mind, you can achieve it,” says Justine.

The preferred style of management

As a business leader, Justine believes that there are pros and cons to micromanaging. On the one hand, micromanaging can ensure that every aspect of the business is running smoothly. However, it can also be time-consuming and stressful, and it can prevent employees from taking initiative and being creative. Justine believes in empowering her employees to excel by giving them enough responsibility and resources to feel fulfilled and proud of their achievements and who they are becoming. She believes that as a business leader, one should set expectations and provide guidance, but one should also allow their team members to take ownership of their work and make decisions for themselves. “This approach has helped me to ensure that the business is running smoothly while also freeing up time to focus on other important tasks and goals,” she shares.

To the Budding Entrepreneurs:

Justine feels there’s no easy answer when it comes to the question of what advice to give young entrepreneurs. There are so many factors to consider and every situation is unique. So here’s what she has to say.

However, if I had to narrow it down, I would say that the most important thing is to be passionate about what you’re doing. If you’re not passionate about your business, it will be very difficult to succeed. You have to be willing to put in the hard work and dedication necessary to make your business a success. Additionally, you need to be able to take risks and accept failure as a possibility. Without taking risks, you’ll never achieve great things. 

As a young entrepreneur, you have a lot to learn. But don’t worry, that’s what entrepreneurship is all about – learning through experience. Always be learning. Be curious and read everything you can get your hands on – books, articles, blogs, whatever. And don’t just read about business – broaden your horizons and learn about history, psychology, science, art, anything that interests you. The more you know, the better equipped you’ll be to deal with the challenges of entrepreneurship. 

Don’t be afraid to fail. Failure is part of the process and it’s how we learn and grow. What matters is how you handle failure – do you let it defeat you or do you use it as motivation to succeed? Finally, always remember that attitude is everything. Entrepreneurship is tough and there will be days when you want to give up. It’s during those times that your positive attitude will make all the difference. Follow your dreams, work hard, and never give up, keep your head up, stay focused on your goals, and never give up. If you do those things, you’ll be well on your way to success.

I love the line from the poem Invictus “ I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul”. I keep this quote on my desk. As an entrepreneur, you will always be in control of your fate and your destiny.

Preparing for the New Normal

It’s no secret that the Covid-19 pandemic has turned the tables for every sector of the economy. With industries like hospitality and retail being hit the hardest, many companies have had to pivot to stay afloat. However, the IT sector has been one of the few to not only weather the storm but actually thrive in these uncertain times.

This is likely because, more than ever, people are relying on technology to stay connected and productive. As a result, there is a growing demand for innovative and reliable tech, creativity and software solutions. 

 So where does Justine see MDB in the years to come? She envisions the company as being at the forefront of this industry, providing cutting-edge solutions that help its clients stay ahead of the curve. To sustain this position, the team will continue to invest in research and development, and tech skills ensuring that they are always at the forefront of innovation.

 “Looking ahead, we see a bright future for our company. We plan to continue releasing cutting-edge services and products that meet the needs of our customers. We will also focus on building strong relationships with our clients, as we help them to future-proof their brands and pivot into the meta-verse terrain. We aim to help legacy-minded entrepreneurs cement their brands into the future of tech. With these strategies in place, coupled with our well-trained team of experts, we are confident that we can maintain our position as a leading brand and digital agency in the years to come,” concludes Justine.

Flybits : was born in a university research lab in 2008

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Flybits was born in a university research lab in 2008, by Professor Hossein Rahnama. He recognized that humans make decisions using different inputs and sources of information. It was a time when people were being bombarded with information while devices were getting smaller. An opportunity existed, to apply context to data and deliver relevant recommendations. It’s only with context that our physical and digital worlds can seamlessly connect, to bring experiences that are more impactful than we’ve ever seen before.

What are your aims, visions and ideals?

At Flybits, we believe that bad data sells and better data serves. We recently launched an open letter to Canada’s top national newspaper, the Globe and Mail. In it, we discuss the true promise of the Data Age. When data is protected, organized, secured, and delivered through the right channels, its power can work for us: relieving stress, fostering connections, and improving lives. We feel there is a huge opportunity for trustworthy, accountable financial institutions to be the standard-bearers of better data use.

View our open letter here

The data economy requires a new paradigm where data is treated as an asset class. And there is a major opportunity (and need) for banks to bring trust into the mix, and reimagine their business models.

Please view our video

Tell us about the services you offer to your customers?

Flybits empowers banks to engage an audience of one, at scale. Through our leading customer experience platform, banks can incorporate a human touch on their digital channels, and service customers through a dynamic feed of data-driven insights, personalized recommendations, and advice. While banks leverage our live-feed, we also prepackage all the relevant points of interaction — that help customers buy a home, save, manage debt, or onboard to a new product. Marketers activate these turnkey services to both help customers and drive real results. We enable the world’s top financial institutions to advance beyond transactions and be with their customers in the moments that matter.

Mention some of your contributions to the technological sector of the economy.

Flybits has built their product with financial institutions in mind. Ensuring that the solution we offer can address the problems in which they face. Namely, Flybits is an end-to-end and a fast time-to-market solution that was built with privacy and scalability in mind. What’s more, we bring financial institutions the power of context to address the demand of highly personalized, “always on” customer experiences. Flybits holds a patent portfolio with 11 patent filings under 3 families, combining the strength of semantic computing with data intelligence, machine learning and software engineering design patterns. And with a focus on customer centricity and intuitiveness, Flybits customers have a significant competitive advantage as they transform their digital channels with predictive, contextual intelligence.

Flybits has successfully helped FIs deliver hyper-personalized and predictive customer experiences to achieve business objectives. For example, a major bank in North America that leverages Flybits’ technology saw a 43% increase in user engagement in their mobile channel after implementing Flybits. Another major bank in Latin America achieved a 164% increase in offer redemption after personalizing customer experiences using Flybits.

  • Enlighten us about the notable recognitions and accreditations you have received as a company Flybits successes continue to be recognized at home and abroad.
  • The Globe and Mail named us amongst the Top 100 Growing Companies in Canada for our exceptional growth over the last three years.
  • Barclays has recognized us as a Highly Commended company. The criteria for this honor is based on a combination of disruption, impact, scale, and diversity of a product.
  • The University Waterloo awarded our HR team with their Generation Award, which highlights the continuous focus and impact we have made in developing the next generation of talent.
  • The Great Place to Work Certification, a direct result of our employees and their pride in working for Flybits.

In 2019 alone, were also recognized by:

  • Deloitte – as one of Canada’s fastest-growing technology companies as a 2019 Technology Fast 50™ award winner by Deloitte.
  • Frost & Sullivan awarded Flybits for best practices in Technology Innovation in global customer experience technology for the financial services market.
  • Recognized in The Fintech Power 50, an annual guide to the most influential, innovative, and powerful figures in the Fintech industry.
  • LinkedIn included Flybits on its 2019 Top Startups list in Canada, recognizing the organization as one of the hottest high-growth global companies to work for in the country.
  • CIX, Canada’s largest curated startup investment conference, named Flybits to its annual list of Top 10 Growth companies — a list that recognizes innovative, mature startups with high potential to scale.
  • How has the pandemic affected the tech market in Canada? Is your company changing with the market?

The pandemic brought with it a great amount of uncertainty. Flybits, along with our customer base, was impacted dramatically, not only from a revenue growth standpoint but also on an organizational level where we had to quickly mobilize our entire employee-base to a new working environment, while working closely with our customers who faced significant challenges.

When the pandemic hit, most banks around the world entered a crisis mode of accelerating and building digital capabilities to catch up to where they should have been. Inspired to be a catalyst for change and empowered by our entrepreneurial spirit, we have collectively emerged stronger from what was a very difficult year. We have been able to advance our product with a framework that makes it easy for our customers to integrate data, we built template experiences for our customers to go-to-market faster, and created audience optimization – an intelligence layer that helps banks better target their customers.

Modern technology has changed human thinking and its existence. With the rapid advancement towards globalization, what do you think the post-pandemic market will look like for tech companies?

The pandemic has accelerated digital transformation for many organizations with an emphasis on advancing customer experiences to be more in tune with personal needs and requirements. For tech companies, this will translate to collaborating with external partners to build robust customer ecosystems that can provide relevant and contextualized experiences.

Sushil Shamlal Wadhwa: Platinum World Grroup (yes it is spelt with an extra ‘r’)

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When I founded Platinum World Grroup (yes it is spelt with an extra ‘r’) in 2002, there was no other company offering Travel as an incentive for companies to rewards their top performers and stakeholders, neither was the concept of Destination Weddings existing. I started the company during a time when mobile communication and internet services were just about starting, so it was an incredibly challenging time to communicate internationally at that time, where International calls were super expensive, faxes were the default mode of sending documents, internet had just started thru dial-up connection and mobile telephony was very expensive. I was able to grow the company despite these odds and today it has achieved wonders. From organizing international company events for L’Oreal, E&Y, Citibank, HSBC, SCB, Reliance Industries Ltd and to organizing destination weddings to promoting brands and experiences the company has spread and grown well.

Platinum World Grroup became a conglomerate with a presence in MICE, Destination Weddings, Decor, Entertainment, Luxury Holidays, Cruises, Yacht Charters, TV & Film Production, Digital & Experiential Marketing, Content Creation, Health & Wellness.

The legal entity name is ‘Platinum Incentives and Events (P) Ltd.’​, in India and Platinum World Events in UAE.

PWG’s associate network is spread across 500+ destinations in 100+ countries, while the company has successfully executed Thousands of MICE projects, Weddings & Luxury Holidays in 80 Countries delighting over half a million people globally since inception. It was the 1st company in the world in it’s industry to get the prestigious ISO 9001: 2008 Certification for its processes in MICE, Events, Weddings and Luxury Travel.

The different businesses of Platinum World Grroup are operated under the following brands:

1. Platinum World Events –Offering Advisory and Turnkey Solutions for MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Events), Experiential Marketing, Hybrid Events, Virtual Events, Luxury & Fashion Events, Product Launches, Brand Activations, Corporate & Business Events. Now adding an Online Discovery Platform for Tourism Destinations, Hotels, Venues & Cruises, while being the leading information resource for companies planning MICE, Corporate Events and beyond worldwide.

2. Platinum Wedding World – Offering Advisory and Turnkey Solutions for High End Weddings, Destination Weddings, Wedding Entertainment & Decor, Anniversaries, Engagements, Pre-Wedding and Birthday Celebrations. Now adding an Online Discovery Platform for Tourism Destinations, Hotels, Venues & Cruises, while being the leading resource of inspiration and information for HNIs planning Destination Weddings & Celebrations worldwide.

3. Platinum Signature Experiences – Solutions include Luxury Hotel & Villa Bookings, Private Jet, Helicopter & Yacht Charters, Supercar Driving Experiences, Gastronomic Fine Dining Experiences amongst others. Now adding an Online Discovery Platform for Tourism Destinations, Hotels, Private Villas, Yachts, Private Jets, Helicopters, Venues & Cruises, while being the leading source of information for HNIs planning inspirational curated Luxury and Adventure Travel Experiences worldwide.

4. BILLIONAIRE LIFESTYLE – Leading Online Discovery Platform and Digital Marketing Partner for Luxury Brands in Real Estate, Automobiles, Private Jets, Luxury Yachts, Watches, Jewellery, Holiday Homes, Luxury Hotels, Resorts & Villas while being the ultimate resource of luxury inspirations for connoisseurs worldwide.

5. Platinum Pictures – High Quality, Creative, Video & Still images, Content Creation for Digital Marketing, TV & Film Production.

6. VITALYSE LIFESCIENCES – Offering Health & Wellness solutions through extensively researched Health Supplements in the form Oral Dissolving Strips, under the brand, ‘Vitalyse Wellness Strips’, made with Natural Active Ingredients and Proprietary Nanotechnology, with therapeutic qualities that offer optimum nutrition and enhance the body’s abilities to improve Immunity, General Wellness, Anti Ageing, Ingestible Beauty, Gut Health, Weight Loss, Energy, Sleep and more, with no side effects.

Standing true to its tagline, Platinum World Grroup has touched many lives with splendour and created umpteen experiences beyond extraordinary. Highest quality standards, experienced leadership, and a thorough orientation towards client’s requisites give an edge to the company and make it stand out among the best of the best.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS:

  1. Associate network in 500+ destinations across 100 countries
  2. Thousands of Events, Weddings & Luxury Holidays successfully executed in 80 countries delighting more than half a millions people around the world.
  3. First company in Event Industry worldwide to get ISO Certification for its processes.
  4. Adding a new dimension with an online discovery and resource platform for Business Events, Celebrations and Luxury Travel.
  5. Ventured into Health & Wellness with Vitalyse Lifesciences
  • What are the aims and ideals that guide your organisation?

We have always responded to challenges and problems with quick thinking and effective solutions. Moving forward, we see that more and more companies and individuals will have the DIY (Do It Yourself) Approach to MICE, Corporate Events, Weddings and Travel. As a company with enormous experience of having successfully done various projects in 80 countries, we are now adding an Online Discovery Platform, that will give Tourism Boards, Hotels, Venues & Cruises to reach out to their target audience through our network, while giving our clients the ready information, inspirations and resources to plan their own events, weddings & travel and get latest ideas and trending destinations. We continue to offer Advisory or Turnkey Solutions for Business Events, Celebrations and Luxury Travel, for companies and individuals wanting the extra edge for their programs.

  • Enlighten us about your source of inspiration? What or who motivates you to work harder?

I’m a strong believer in following one’s passion and having a balance in all areas of life like personal development, family, health, emotional and spiritual. I believe in discipline and being positive, as a positive mindset makes you rise higher daily and makes you face any situation in life and discipline keeps you on track.

I believe that “Education makes a Nation. I intend to fund the education of as many lesser privileged children as possible so that they can get basic & vocational education and are ready to make their own careers. Besides that, I intend to work on helping the lesser privileged with basic health care. These causes motivate me to work hard daily to achieve my personal goals and create enough wealth to able to fund these causes close to my heart.

  • Kindly mention some of the notable recognitions and accreditations received by your organisation.

Our company was the first company in the event industry worldwide to get an ISO Certification for all our processes in event management, wedding planning and travel planning. This was an achievement, because they’re so many factors at play when you’re planning a live event, and to be able to implement world class processes and systems took a lot of effort. Personally I was one of the first Indian’s to serve on the Asia Pacific MICE Advisory Board for Starwood Hotels & Resorts for 3 years, and then it was acquired by Marriott Hotels. I also have had the privilege to be the first and only Indian, to be on the jury of Miss Portugal for 2 years.

  • Where do you see your organisation in the years to come? How do plan to respond to the lows that followed the pandemic?

Technology has and will continue to play a major role moving forward in our industry with the pandemic having had its effect on the events, travel and tourism industry worldwide. But when the world starts opening up, we expect to see a huge surge in business, at the same time see the industry evolving to Hybrid Events. Hence we are working on our online platform to adapt to this situation as mentioned earlier, where we will create an online Discovery Platform, that will help both the Tourism Boards, Hotels & Venues reach their target audience and help our clients plan their own events, should they choose to, or take our Turnkey Solutions to plan it for them.

  • Do you think technology is a blessing or a double-edged sword?

There are always two sides to it!! If technology replaces physical events, then it’s a double edge sword, but if it enhances the industry, then it’s a blessing. Personally, I like to view it as a blessing. With hybrid events, the opportunity of having a physical audience, while reaching to a larger virtual audience, has now gone mainstream to business events and celebrations. This I feel has changed the Events industry greatly.

Thanks to the advent of Social Media Technology, we have built a loyal following of our clients on my personal and the company’s social media handles. In earlier times, we would have to send out newsletters to keep our clients informed of our work and new destinations and trends, now that has changed, as they follow our social media handles and get almost instant updates about new trends and destinations. This is a major boon and has encouraged us to use our collective reach in excess of 250K Followers, many of which have been our clients or experienced our services, and offer this bouquet of our 5 Handles as an Influencer to various Tourism Boards, Hotels & Venues who want to reach out to the perfect audience.3

What is your advice to budding entrepreneurs who wish to kick start their careers?

I always advise budding entrepreneurs the following:

  • Identify their passions
  • Find problems and offer solutions
  • If the solution is part of their passion, then they’ve hit bulls eye.
  • Be ready for financial challenges
  • Have a Positive mind-set

MARINA WORRE: A virtual experience like no other

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THE DAWN OF WORRE STUDIOS

Worre Studios is a state-of-the-art 25,000 square foot facility that brings virtual and traditional events into the future. From live television broadcasts, product launches, live concerts, award shows, press conferences, hosting a speaker series, or even a business meeting, producers now have a way to reach a global audience most efficiently and impressively.

What started as a temporary solution, ended up being a new way of doing virtual and hybrid events that will be here for decades to come, and the capabilities of Worre Studios now stretch even beyond events and into filming and video production.

It was simple at first – she had a problem (COVID shut down the world and she had in-person events planned during 2020) and she needed a solution. She played with the live streams and webinar type of formats, but they were missing the connection piece – interacting with the people attending. It felt like they were just talking and talking to a camera without any feedback, versus educating and making sure those they were teaching were fully engaged and joining in on what was happening. That end-user experience is what propelled her to create this incredible studio facility, which now has morphed into something much bigger in scope, reach, and accessibility.

A pioneer in producing events, Marina is truly paving the way for revamping the future for virtual and hybrid events.

CHALLENGES AND OBSTACLES FACED IN HER JOURNEY

The first challenge was building the studio – in less than 90 days during the pandemic they had the idea for a studio of this nature. They created the plan to build it, and then they constructed it and finished it in time to host their first event. They had to deal with a lot of supply chain issues, like most in this industry face, but they triumphed over their obstacles and found a way to stay on schedule. The other challenge was learning the technology and the capabilities – they continue to find new capabilities and new ways of using the technology all the time so the offerings of what they bring to the table keep multiplying. It’s a good challenge to have!

PORTFOLIO OF SERVICES OFFERED

At its heart, Worre Studios is a multi-use state-of-the-art 25,000 square foot production studio and event facility. What makes it stand out is the technology – surrounding the stage-in-the-round footprint are dual 73-foot wide, 14-foot tall 1.9mm 4k curved LED video walls. It’s incredible! All of the broadcasting elements and audio and video equipment is are highly advanced –she wanted the equipment to go beyond what people were currently using, knowing that they can grow along with the tech housed in the studio for years to come. Since launching, they have hosted globally-reaching events with guest speakers, product launches, educational seminars – they have even filmed a music video! For the large-scale events, they can have a full-interactive/full-participatory style event with hundreds of thousands of attendees in real-time, giving everyone a front-row seat. They also have the ability to stream to multiple platforms to increase engagement; they can create 3D immersive environments allowing guests and hosts to join from around the world, but appear together, and with the use of Unreal Engine they have XR/VR/AR capabilities. They are currently building a full green-screen room to add another layer to what they can do with the content.

She had two huge factors that led her to the foundation of Worre Studios. The first was the capability to interact in real-time with event attendees, which they accomplished seamlessly. The second factor was utilizing the system so they could have real-time translations into other languages – a huge factor when reaching hundreds of thousands of people around the world. During an event I produced in May, they had more than 180,000 attendees registered and they spanned over 100 countries, and it was a really special experience.

HER OPINIONS ON THE CHANGE IN THE MARKET POST-PANDEMIC

I think we are learning first-hand that the event market is a bit unpredictable. Right now, with the rise of the Delta variant of COVID, we are seeing a lot of events that are either still wanting to go fully virtual or are looking to add virtual elements and additional events for their attendees who are still not travelling. I feel the need for this type of studio is long-term, which is why I made sure the technology was so advanced that when we look to five, 10, even 15 years in the future, we have the capabilities to keep up with the changing tech environment. I also think a lot of future events will be hybrid which is why we made half of the 360-degree LED screens available to be moved back to the house a live audience or create a lounge area for a party.

CREATING A WORK-LIFE BALANCE

I believe that balance means different things to different people, it is a subjective topic. I don’t believe in balance in a 24-hour cycle – you can’t maintain it. What my husband and I do is look at our life in seasons. Season to grow, season to maintain, and season to harvest. When we are working on a big project, there might be several months of long workdays with no weekends. Then there will be less intense periods where we work quite less, and then there is a season when we can work for a couple of hours a day and enjoy family vacation time for a couple of weeks. But we are never completely off. We love what we do and for us, it doesn’t feel like work. It’s a passion. So, we don’t differentiate between work and life. For us, it’s all life. It just has different seasons in it.

HER ADVICE TO YOUNG WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS

I like to prove people wrong and constantly raise standards for myself and other female entrepreneurs around me. I don’t mind playing with “big boys”, because I have confidence in who I am and what I’m doing. My advice is to work on your confidence, know your worth, plan big, and speak up!

Elizabeth Cowper -A Driven Leader Transforming Workplace Inclusion

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While most of us are happy discussing how space tourism can be made feasible over say next 10 years, a few of us are still struggling to close the gender pay gap here on earth which, by estimates would take around 100 years by the current rate. Reasons? Aplenty. As per a recent survey, 77% of men believed that their partner should be the one making the career sacrifice for the sake of their family. 

It’s not just about men, many women also feel that it is their moral duty to choose family over their career. This comes from the conditioning they have had since childhood. Subconscious biases persist and often gender roles are used as a pretext for curbing women’s career development.

When women do get into the workforce, their decision to start a family is often seen and perceived as a decision to let go of their careers. Neither they nor their team, often comprising men is sure of how to handle the transition that starts with their pregnancy. Should they come to the office? Should they be called up when they are taking a day off for a routine checkup? Who would handle their tasks when they finally take maternity leave? These and more questions bother not just working women but their peers at work. Thankfully, a working mother took notice of it and with experience came up with promising solutions.

Meet Elizabeth Cowper

Founder of the Ludo, Elizabeth Cowper has been through – and continues to face – many of the challenges any working mother experiences. She loves being a mother and was equally passionate about her career as a VP of HR. She’s proud of both the Wo (working) and Mo (mother) parts of her life.

Her previous role as VP HR and Global Head of Wellbeing helped Elizabeth see things from both the employer and the employee sides. She has seen maternity leave and returning to work managed brilliantly. She has also seen it be a complete disaster. “If we get it right from both sides the return to work can be a far easier transition for both. I believe us WoMos deserve support and a resource for the challenging moments,” she says.

Determined to help both ends of the spectrum, Elizabeth went on to establish Ludo, a company on a mission to engage female talent in the workforce. Ludo is all about tech for inclusion, working to close the gender pay gap, and educating, informing, and supporting HR. 

What Ludo Does

Ludo provides tech for inclusion and the basis for its B2B SaaS works similarly to other benefit contents platforms.

It has amazing content from expert partners and what sets Ludo apart in the market is its HR and Line Manager learning hub. It supports HR and Line Managers on how to deliver a culture of inclusion and drive the right behaviors. “It is important to support everyone in the business. We focus on the inclusion of women as the gender pay gap is still horrific and women are a long way off gender parity, and we do this through driving inclusion for all,” explains Elizabeth.

A Career shaped by Passion

Before starting Ludo, Elizabeth had a career of 25 years in HR. She is also a mother of 3. 2 daughters and a son. She has always worked full-time and has been committed to her career alongside being a good mum to her kids. 

The last role she had in her corporate career was Global Head of Wellbeing and part of the Global DEI committee alongside her role as VP of HR.  

The three components of this role bought together Elizabeth’s HR career and she found her true passion and purpose, to drive a culture of inclusion. She was described once as the ‘culture adjuster’. 

“I see the benefit of each and every employee being able to work as their authentic self, which in turn creates happier employees, a better working environment, and greater productivity which is good for business. This all matters to drive a winning culture, and for people to feel valued with a sense of belonging,” she says.

Elizabeth was listed by HR Most Influential 5 years in a row and as The 10 Most Futuristic Business Women Pioneering Innovation, 2022. Ludo won the “Inclusion Initiative of the Year 2022”, Prestige Awards by Corporate Livewire, “Rising Stars in Corporate Wellbeing 2022”, Greater London Enterprise Awards and Best Enterprising Business, SME Awards, London. 

Donna Dalonzo

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“The Real Estate Broker”

Donna Dalonzo is the Provincial Director of eXp Realty, Quebec. Her passion is assisting real estate agents to expand their businesses as well as their teams. The brokerage she is part of now is actually providing an exit strategy while keeping a close watch on the future of real estate at all times. She has been in the real estate estate industry for over 23 years. The talented broker has owned and operated 6 Remax franchises for many years as well as being part of the KW Team in Quebec before joining the team at eXp Realty.  

The great thing is that agents who are joining forces with eXp keep their existing branding, and so they should since they worked so hard to build on-point strategies. She is the Provincial Director and as well as Executive agency officer at eXp Realty, Quebec. The company is focused on ensuring that you, the broker, have everything you need to excel. According to Donna, her company offers you free personal websites as well as a free Lead Generation system with a CRM and more. 

She is a coach; a team builder & she proudly promotes the fact that they at eXp can build a Global real estate business by extending their team internationally. She speaks nonchalantly about the time (almost 23 years now) she’s given to her real estate career. It took Donna Dalonzo a while to find her place, she did and now is working with an innovative real estate company such as eXp Realty. 

Donna Dalonzo and her journey towards success  

Donna is the mother of two beautiful children. She’s the true definition of a warrior. She holds the statement true that there is nothing a woman cannot do. Donna started her career in the fashion industry. Initially, she was fascinated by the fashion industry and she loved fashion, but a small part of her always kept looking to women entrepreneurs in business. She shifted towards finance and started working on mortgage brokerage and appraising homes. The journey of her career in real estate started very smoothly as it was completely a natural transition for her. The real estate business has always been a lucrative option in her mind. 

Her start as a franchise owner made her dreams come true, the partnership and popularity made her very busy. It led to bringing on board many amazing agents and very substantial expansion for her offices. The years of Remax & KW are in her past now, she moved forward with an innovative international company which created a roadmap of how to proceed and succeed while building wealth for the agent and not only for the franchise. eXp Realty is her last stop. She created a network and relationships with the realtors and is always happy to share the exciting news about the fastest-growing company in history. eXp Realty Canada has her involvement as a Provincial Director for eXp Quebec and has just awarded Donna the “Best Provincial Broker of Record of the Year for eXp Canada 2021!

Donna loves to travel, working with eXp Realty makes it so easy to work from wherever she is. According to Donna Dalonzo, she is pretty focused on her business and maybe a bit of a workaholic. She has eXp agents on her team in several countries. She really enjoys meeting with agents and assisting them in their business. Donna has extensive experience in the field of real estate as a real estate agent, team leader and broker of record. In one sentence she is not just the director of eXp global, she is an all-rounder of the company. She has a large following on various social media platforms. Her love for her children, traveling, laughter and nature is shown on her social media pages. Like in any business there are challenges when starting out, but since day one in real estate she never gave up on her dream and never looked back.

eXp Realty of Canada

It all started with Glenn, eXp Realty was founded by Glenn Sanford in the year 2009. He had a huge vision for this company. Glenn wanted to revolutionize the real estate industry by creating a virtual brokerage that offered state-of-the-art technology, coaching and so much more to its agents. After meeting Glenn Sanford, Donna Dalonzo joined eXp Realty. This company is a disruptor in the real estate industry. 

It is growing extremely fast.  eXp realty was built as a virtual office where hundreds and even thousands of agents simultaneously can log in and attend live & interactive courses. The way this company was built allows for tremendous corporate savings which are given back to the agents in the form of free technology tools, lead generation systems, personal websites, and stock awards.  eXp also offers a referral system that creates an Exit Strategy for all agents. The set-up is a real Game Changer. 

The achievement that made her top real estate agent

One of the things that excited Donna most when she started working with eXp is the fact that their Core Values were so in tune with hers. She noticed eXp seems to attract people that increase these values. Transparency is so important to Donna that she feels that honest, clear, and open communication is crucial. The merging of a family to a new home gives her immense joy. The passion is driven by helping other agents and leading them towards the path of success. She is a humble, soft-spoken and determined woman. Her personality of never giving up and working hard has helped her reach the steps of success. 

She believes things happen for a reason at a certain time. When Patrick Ashby from Ottawa contacted her about eXp she was intrigued. She realized in her head after some time that this is going to be big. As a result, today’s eXp is the fastest growing real estate company. She met many phenomenal leaders and influential people at that conference in Florida that changed her life, Jason Gesing, Gene Frederick, Steve Gabellini & Glenn Sanford and many more. The number of agents in October 2017 at the time of that conference was 2800,  today eXp has grown to over 69,000 agents. 

In 2019 she launched eXp in Quebec. According to Donna, the numbers are constantly increasing. Now eXp is operating in all 50 states and 9 Canadian provinces. They are in many countries such as – the UK, Australia, Mexico, Portugal, France, South Africa, India, Panama, Colombia, Italy, Germany, Hong Kong with many more opening soon. Inman has named eXp as the “Innovator Brokerage of the year” as well as  the “Best Place to Work” for several consecutive years.

Obstacles and challenges along the way

The most difficult obstacles she faced launching eXp in Quebec were due to system changes that needed to be compliant in Quebec. For example, their MLS system is very much different from that of North America, so they had to build a system that worked with their Quebec MLS Centris system. They also had to build their website and lead generator in 2 languages such as French and English. Bringing any industry in any field to another Province is always very challenging still she managed to pull it off with her great business skills. During the first year, they reached a total of 40 agents which was considered to be a great milestone. The whole team lives like a big family. They support and teach each other. It creates positive energy and increases productivity in the company. 

Nowadays, there is a huge increase in buyers but little inventory. An agent’s life is listing and selling. As of late they have a listing one minute and sold in another. Multiple offer situations and selling over asking are complicated. It is not only in their market, it’s everywhere such as Vancouver, Toronto, and the US, etc. In the contemporary world, a lot of investors are buying second homes. The company is the best fit for individuals buying or selling, agents provide deep local real estate experience and knowledge to make your experience as frictionless and empowering as possible. 

Donna Dalonzo on her brand expectations in the coming years

They, meaning their industry, actually say that eXp global would probably be the first company to hit one million real estate agents, 500,000 agents within 5 years. The teams that they are bringing over are incredible from every angle. The eXp does not ask you to change your branding to sell theirs. While you will keep your branding, your deals will be brokered by eXp Realty. By this process, a lot of very successful individual agents, as well as large teams and brokerages that are already branded, are making the move. In the present day, the number one luxury Remax team has joined eXp.

 The agents and teams who have worked at other companies such as Remax for as long as 34 years are joining eXp realty of Canada instead of opening their own agencies partly because they could keep their branding. eXp Realty is growing day by day with brokers from all different banners who are making a move to eXp Realty. 

What separates Donna’s company from the rest of the market

The thing that attracted her most to this company was everything they offered to each real estate agent. Being fully virtual was  great timing for her. She had noticed over the last several years that agents were not coming into the office much for meetings and coaching. She wondered why they needed so many physical offices in this day and age, so she found a company with a great plan to solve it. Being virtual allows us to use technology exceptionally. Virtualization reduces tremendous brick-and-mortar office expenses that are pretty much paid by the agents. eXp Realty makes it possible to give so much to agents while keeping the cost low.

 In the case of traditional brokerages, the companies where the more an agent earns, the more the agent pays. In that situation, she thinks of why a high-producing agent should be penalized for that? She loved this part about eXp, her company rewards them with stock options that cover their fees for the year, so the company ends up paying the agent instead of the agent paying. That’s how this plan works!

She loves building and expanding. She loves helping agents to build their businesses and finding out exactly what they need to do it all. Whether it is team building, structure, guidance & them to reach and or surpass their goals. 

 The real estate market, post-pandemic:

Most companies have felt many challenges in the past 2 years and had to learn how to pivot their business to work virtually, some took months to figure that part out. We were blessed to continue business as usual and see unparalleled growth, said Donna In the situation when they look at upcoming challenges, she doesn’t see those & only focuses on her goals to make eXp Quebec the best brokerage to work at. 

So when we asked Donna about the challenges she foresees, her answer was, “I don’t see obstacles, I see opportunities”.

Luthais McCash -A visionary in new Scientific Development, Research andTechnology.

Posted on by theciotimes

A visionary in new Scientific Development, Research and
Technology. The 10 year journey from zero to Hero as he builds his 175M £
Business Empire.

What’s common between business and science you may ask? Well, they might seem distinct, but there’s no denying the fact that they intersect and often influence each other. For example, scientific research can lead to the development of new technologies that can be used to develop new products and drive business growth. Businesses also use scientific methods especially mathematical and statistical data analysis and
interpretation for decision-making.

As the Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Sigma Solutions, Luthais McCash offers distinct ideas in state-of-the-art data analysis to a variety of businesses across multiple industries. Recognized as one of the Top 20 most dynamic CEOs in the UK in 2022, he is known to finding scientific and creative solutions to complicated problems. Arounen Arnasalon, Founder, Adstrum Accountancy comments, “I can say that he is very knowledgeable, thorough, and rigorous in his approach after a year of collaboration.With such a broad range of expertise and dedication, Luthais McCash ensures only the best for any business he works with while constructing blueprints. He has no trouble bringing business and science together and making it work.” Luthais’ work is “a separate talent of its own.”

Serving Multiple Businesses

Luthais founded his company with the belief that the world needs exciting emerging innovation technology. He believes that there’s no point in just redoing what’s been done for the past 100 years. Through Sigma Solutions, Luthais does a lot of mathematical modelling, physics, and statistical science to provide new models and solutions, optimal solutions for clients in a wide range of sectors. In conjunction with that, there are multiple businesses that he is associated with. 

For example, he is a Board Advisor at Digital Ability, a tech company that tries to provide accessibility solutions for people that are looking to bank online. So, for example, if you’re visually impaired, the online banking system isn’t set up in a way that’s conducive to helping you. So, they develop technology that allows this to be more accessible to people. As a Member of the Board, he is responsible for advising on technology, algorithms, mathematical models, and data science strategy. 

Luthais has just acquired a 40% shareholding in Stratoboster, a UK space company developing low volume payloads. Founded by two Aeronautical Engineers Ben Masey and Andrew Dunn in 2018, Statobooster is looking to expand its technology and commercialize their unique IP. They both recognized the exceptional technical expertise McCash could bring to the business as well as his sharp business mind and commercial strategy. This also couples with McCash’s interest in developing energy efficient space resource and higher orbit travel. In conjunction with his expertise, McCash invests 2M GPB into the business propelling it forward. “Space technology is quickly advancing. I’m very excited to join the Board as a lead investor and scientist. We have an aggressive strategy to move things forward in an effective and robust way.” 

Luthais is also working on holographic technology. He’s involved in developing new holograms and holographic technology for near-instantaneous communication and information transfer. His new business Ologramma has already been in the pipeline for several months working with colleagues on the concept. Already the firm have £10 million pledged investment. These acquisitions only add to Luthais’ exceptional net worth, reported recently at £175M. 

As if this isn’t enough, Luthais has a great passion for travel. “Travel has always been a huge interest of mine, exploring and experiencing different cultures. Covid-19 brought back Staycations and the spirit of traditional family holidays. I’m very excited to be joining Roamad at such an exciting time where we can really accelerate the staycation travel and leisure industry”. Roamad is a compact camping app where you can quickly book campsites, discover new places and stay connected. Julian Niven, CEO and Founder tells us “It’s a pleasure to have Luthais working alongside me and the team at Roamad. His achievements and experiences will help us succeed in becoming the #1 camping app globally. With Roamad, finding your next adventure has never been easier.”

Early Achievements

Luthais broke into the industry scene after being recognized as a fellow of the Royal Statistical Society (RSS) in May 2020. His inventive work on advanced modelling and optimisation in the energy industry with a focus on oil and gas won accolades from all corners. The technology developed and implemented by Luthais transformed the trading and efficient distribution of liquified natural gas by cutting costs by a factor of 10. In June 2021, he was re-elected as a fellow of the RSS. He was also an Honorary Fellow at the University of Leicester between 2019-2021. He also holds a research position at Durham University and serves as the Chair of the Mathematical and Theoretical Physics Group at The Institute of Physics. Professor Timothy Newman, Retired Dean of Science and Engineering at the University of Dundee stated “Luthais is a very extraordinary young man and very unusual in the amount of ambition he has. He has a very broad perspective of science for one so young – he gets it.”

The Challenges

In the consultancy space, Luthais often meets clients that are not necessarily scientific experts and so one of the challenges is in the communication of science – being able to understand what the problems are that these clients have and being able to try to get to the bottom of that is a challenge because often what you find is that the problem that the client thinks they have and the actual problem that they have are not the same things. So, they might have some understanding of what their problem is, but, scientifically that’s not maybe necessarily the same. It is therefore a necessary skill, being able to communicate effectively which is often a challenge, not just in business but just in terms of public understanding of science.

Coupled with this, he finds that the broader public need to be less averse to learning about science. Equally, scientists need to make more of an effort to communicate the work that they’re doing in the importance of that work to that broader public. 

Challenges across Multiple Industries

Luthais feels there’s so much of a split between different industries but more of a split between different problems. So, for example, you could have a fluid flow problem in the O&G industry that you would maybe model or solve our approach in the same way that you would, for example, a climate pressure problem. So, these are two different industries and two different kinds of scenarios, but actually, fundamentally the scientific problem is the same in terms of the approach. 

Dealing with Failures

Luthais feels fortunate in that they have a team of some of the best scientists in the world and so there’s never yet been a problem that they have not been able to solve. That said, there are challenges and sometimes that challenge is being able to communicate those results to clients and how you want to do that has to sometimes change depending on the client to which you’re communicating those results. 

The Industry and the Promises

In the past few years, Luthais and his team have developed statistical models to ensure that electricity and gas supply is available and that this can be routed and rerouted through the country successfully. They’ve developed price predictive models in relation to that which have been successful and ensuring that one can reduce prices in building for the utility companies. During Covid, in 2020, they developed optimization models for a client who was interested in the hospitality sector to ensure that at any given time everybody was seated the appropriate distance away from each other while ensuring that the venue could bring in as many people to the venue as possible.

There have been lots of things in the past couple of years that they’ve been very, very successful at and have been pioneering. The industry, Luthais believes is very progressive and there’s a great lot of new work happening in terms of the science and technology space, but the industry is very much focused on things like artificial intelligence, and machine learning. “I also think that where the industry also falls back is that technology like data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence have been buzzwords for the past 20 years or so, but when it comes to fundamentally understanding the problem, what you need is mathematics and you need very advanced mathematics. And so, where I think businesses maybe are behind the curve a little bit is that they don’t give enough value to mathematicians, mathematics and physicists and they’re too focused on technology alone. Technology is important and has a very significant role, but you need more than a data scientist to develop something that is going to be revolutionary using that technology. 

Focus for Future

Luthais and his team are offering something unique because they’re relying upon very high-end scientific expertise in order to solve these problems rather than just taking some existing model and changing some parameters and changing some values and hoping that it works which is often the kind of current approach. His turn-key focus in the coming years would be his space company and holographic technology, which is very interesting because it relates to near-instantaneous information.

Advise for Budding Scientists

“The biggest thing is being curious. If you’re curious about how the world works and how the universe works and why things work the way you do, then really you want to be a scientist. You also need to work hard, I mean it’s been a misconception that people that are very good at science are gifted or talented or they become good at science, but that’s not quite true. I mean they have to work hard, and they have to persevere and there are a lot of things and science that you might try that are going to be incorrect, but you need to not be disheartened and you need to persevere and you need to keep going. So, I think perseverance, patience and curiosity are kind of key things to consider.” Professor Jeremy Levesley, Emeritus Professor at the University of Leicester, “I have worked with Luthais at the University of Leicester. Luthais is helping us shape our view on enterprise education for our students, helping them to be confident problem solvers, using mathematical and computational tools flexibly.”

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