Ignacio Bonasa President of LIDERARTE Factoría de Talento In today’s fast-evolving business world, organizations are moving beyond traditional leadership models to embrace creativity, adaptability, and emotional intelligence. Soulful leadership marks a shift from purely transactional approaches toward more human-centered strategies. Businesses now turn to art, storytelling, and immersive learning to build cultures of innovation and inclusion. This blend of creativity and strategy has inspired new consulting models, education programs, and global movements. Companies across sectors of healthcare, manufacturing, finance, and tech collaborate with experts who use visual arts, theatre, and narrative techniques to unlock hidden potential within teams. As digital disruption accelerates, leaders increasingly recognize that fostering empathy and emotional resilience is vital for sustaining performance, enhancing collaboration, and creating a purpose-driven environment that aligns with the values of a connected, global workforce. Ignacio Bonasa evolved from a prominent banking executive to a pioneer in emotional and creative leadership. Having noticed a disconnect between corporate metrics and individual purpose, he created Liderarte to combine strategic acumen with human dignity. With his Learning Through Art® approach and the Dale la vuelta a la tortilla trend, Bonasa inspires people and organizations globally. His vision emphasizes that true transformation occurs when decision-making is led by creativity and empathy, enhancing both performance and personal satisfaction. From Banking Halls to Creative Awakening Ignacio Bonasa Ditches Old Metrics for Emotional Leadership Based on Empathy Vision and a Re-Definition of Purpose and Impact Ignacio Bonasa’s career started in the formalized hallways of top-level banking, where he learned strategic thinking, crisis management, and team leadership. Having achieved his law degree, he took up senior executive positions that required relentless striving for efficiency, achievement of objectives, and financial effectiveness. His experience in the corporate world gave him discipline, stringency, and a results-oriented approach. However, with every promotion and milestone, Bonasa sensed an increasing disconnection from his true purpose. He knew that ascending the proverbial ladder had put him in a position disconnected from his true voice. Guided by compassion and a need for congruence, he took the brave leap out of the comfort and familiarity of banking. This turning point symbolized the birth of Liderarte, an initiative whereby he would combine his strategic savvy with a renewed passion for human dignity. By applying the operational mastery acquired in finance to a model that honors art, emotion, and imagination, Bonasa set the stage for a revolutionary leadership model, one that appreciates impact rather than profit and human well-being more than mere numbers. Creative Leadership Through Learning Art Introduces Reinvention Methodologies That Employ Visual Narrative Emotion and Creativity to Construct Empathy Trust and Organisational Cultural Resilience Through his proprietary Learning Through Art methodology, Bonasa takes participants into deep creative immersion aimed at releasing untapped potential and developing emotional intelligence. Workshops integrate visual arts, narratives, and theatrical improvisation to allow participants to overcome internal obstacles and redefine self-restricting beliefs. By working on the art itself, participants sidestep defences of skepticism and access deeper reservoirs of insight, creativity, and compassion. Art is not utilized as a luxury item but as an organisational change driver. Sessions have been implemented in varied settings ranging from multinational firms to community-based nonprofits each time producing quantifiable improvements in trust, cooperation, and adaptive problem-solving. Bonasa stresses that training internal facilitators is key to sustaining energy and infusing soulful leadership practices into the daily fabric of life. Teams consequently learn to incorporate creative practices into strategy meetings, decision-making meetings, and company culture. Learning Through Art then becomes a sustainable force for change, with the creative spark created in a workshop keeping every nook and cranny of the organization. From Fear to Purpose Bonasa Confronts Scepticism Criticism Burnout and Structural Resistance While Reframing How Authentic Feeling Transforms Business Strategy Leadership Culture and Self-Development  Bonasa’s move from corporate banking to soulful leadership was accompanied by deep inner and outer struggles that challenged both his vision and personal resilience. Internally, he struggled with deep-seated traditional definitions of success: anxiety about failure, anxiety about letting others down, and anxiety about moving away from a secure, high-achieving career. These internal critics urged him to remain on the traditional track, cautioning him and encouraging conformity. Adopting vulnerability over security demanded great bravery and daily resolve. Externally, he faced general doubt. Most stakeholders considered the integration of art, emotion, and creativity into leadership as unrealistic or frivolous. Persuading traditional boards and institutions of its long-term strategic benefits required unshakeable determination and a strong skill in reframing soulful leadership as a business asset. His passion, though a driving force, tended to push him towards burnout, compelling him to acquire the value of setting limits and taking care of himself. He also had to battle cultural perceptions that link emotional openness with vulnerability and view errors as liabilities. In each failure, Bonasa discovered meaning. Each obstacle solidified his conviction that genuine, emotionally smart leadership could not only get by but flourish. His determination still compels people and institutions to lead with authenticity, compassion, and valor. Scaling Impact Internationally Bonasa Expands Dale La Vuelta A La Tortilla And Liderarte With Digital Tools Human Networks Mentorship And Programs That Humanise Leadership Through Courage Art Empathy And Action Ignacio Bonasa’s vision for the future is a large and international one, both for his social movement, Dale la vuelta a la tortilla, and his leadership platform, Liderarte. His vision is to have regional chapters spread over continents where experiential labs function as centres of transformation, enabling people and organizations to leverage adversity into creativity, resilience, and meaningful action. These physical environments will be supplemented by a strong online platform that will offer access to peer mentoring, collaborative learning, and emotional support networks, eliminating spatial barriers and making leadership development accessible to all. Professionally, Bonasa will turn Liderarte into a multidisciplinary consultancy that unites artists, psychologists, educators, and business strategists to co-design spaces based on empathy, innovation, and sustainable impact. He is dedicated to mentoring the future generation of changemakers, authoring perceptive books combining emotional intelligence with business strategy, and being a

Casimiro da Silva Santos Leadership & Business Coach at ActionCOACH Sul do Tejo Business coaching focuses on helping organizations and individuals improve their performance, achieve their goals, and drive growth. It encompasses a wide range of services, including leadership development, strategic planning, performance optimization, and personal development. Professionals in this industry use structured methodologies and personalized guidance to address business challenges, enhance team dynamics, and support decision-making. The industry serves clients across all sectors, from startups to large corporations, offering tailored solutions to meet unique needs. As companies increasingly seek external expertise to stay competitive and adapt to change, the demand for coaching services continues to rise. This industry plays a critical role in empowering leaders, strengthening businesses, and promoting sustainable success in a rapidly evolving global economy. Casimiro da Silva Santos started in chemical engineering and worked in top roles at Nalco and Kemira. After an inspiring talk with a mentor from Simon Sinek Inc., he left his corporate job to follow his passion. He started Bring the Best, a company that mixes business skills with kind and purposeful leadership. Now, as an ActionCOACH partner, he helps small business owners grow with confidence and care. Casimiro lives in Setúbal, Portugal, with his family. The Global Emergence of Leadership and Business Coaching as a Transformational Industry Coaches empower leaders to navigate change, build trust-based cultures, and lead with intention. Coach Cas exemplifies this movement, combining business acumen with a deeply human approach. His work through Bring the Best and partnerships like ActionCOACH highlights the transformative power of coaching. By focusing on courage, resilience, and empathy, he helps clients achieve clarity and sustainable success. As the industry grows, thought leaders like Casimiro are redefining leadership, emphasizing authenticity and connection in a competitive landscape. His professional life started with a solid grounding in technical and strategic knowledge. Casimiro da Silva Santos holds a Chemical Engineering degree from the University of Coimbra, where he developed his analytical ability, and an Executive MBA from Erasmus University, where he developed his leadership skills. These skills resulted in senior positions at Nalco and Kemira, overseeing operations, cross-functional teams, and regulatory compliance while driving performance. Financial success did not leave Casimiro fulfilled, however, with a feeling of disconnection between accomplishment and purpose. A game-changing coaching session from Stephen Shedletzky of Simon Sinek Inc. precipitated an awakening: authentic leadership exists beyond measures, needing trust, emotional intelligence, and value alignment. This awareness led to a drastic career change. Quitting the corporate scene, Casimiro established Bring the Best, a coaching company specializing in conscious, brave leadership. His change of course was not motivated by ego but by his desire to serve from a place of truth, to help people grow from within. Changing tracks took a lot of guts, entering the unknown arena of entrepreneurship to merge business know-how with human development. Casimiro’s odyssey highlights the strength of decisions that are guided by purpose, demonstrating how a burst of insight can transform a career. Building the Best as a Conscious Coaching Movement and Partnering with ActionCOACH to Help Entrepreneurs Achieve Scalable Growth Through Courage, Empathy, and Resilience With Bring the Best, Casimiro da Silva Santos established a platform to inspire entrepreneurs through coaching that combined business strategy with human development. His programs, consisting of one-on-one sessions, workshops, and online content, emphasize clarity, operational excellence, and team performance and build emotional intelligence and purpose. His coaching philosophy has three legs: courage to confront uncertainty, resilience to thrive in adversity, and empathy to establish trust. With the aid of tools such as reflective journaling and emotional intelligence surveys, he assists clients in building these qualities. To expand his reach, Casimiro has collaborated with ActionCOACH, utilising a world-renowned coaching system while incorporating his human-centric philosophy. This partnership allows him to help small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) achieve sustainable growth and purpose-based leadership. Through newsletters, online sessions, and social media platforms, he has developed a worldwide community that embraces his vision of conscious leadership. His customers care not only about profitability but also about making a difference and about teamwork. Casimiro’s skill in incorporating tried-and-tested methodologies with one-on-one coaching makes him stand out, giving entrepreneurs practical tools and greater self-knowledge. With his growth of digital services and community outreach, Bring the Best is now a movement towards transformational leadership. Overcoming Grief, Doubt, and Imposter Syndrome While Earning Global Recognition and Inspiring a Purpose-Driven Leadership Legacy Casimiro’s journey has challenged his resilience and enriched his philosophy of leadership. Guiding a team through the traumatic loss of a member and another’s arrest, he walked the tightrope between counselling and business as usual, affirming his commitment to empathetic leadership. Personally, leaving a corporate executive to become a coach came with self-doubt, but client achievements and personal development validated his authenticity. Being vulnerable made him stronger in his relationships with clients, and it was a leadership strength. His work has been recognized as a Top 500 Global Inspirational Leader, named in Forbes Founders. With a Chemical Engineering degree, an Executive MBA, and a Business and Sustainability certification, he continues to grow, working towards achieving ACC accreditation with the International Coaching Federation by August. In the future, Casimiro plans to coach 10 one-on-one clients by the end of the year, increase digital programs, and hold seminars for entrepreneurial groups. By hiring a business development manager, he intends to grow Bring the Best internationally. Initiatives such as the Network of Effective African Leaders indicate his dedication to large-scale impact. Casimiro’s vision is to build a legacy of value-driven leadership, motivating leaders to turn values into action. Words of Wisdom: Be the Leader You Follow My advice to developing leaders is simple: become the leader you would want to follow. Leadership doesn’t require a formal title or a perfect plan; it begins with authentic action and genuine care. Show curiosity, ask thoughtful questions, and practice integrity in daily interactions. Focus on adding value to others rather than seeking praise. As you uplift colleagues, clients, and communities, success will follow naturally.

Aditya Deshpande Senior Software Engineer at PayPal Engineering with Purpose: Aditya Deshpande’s Journey from Code to Impact Aditya Deshpande, Senior Software Engineer at PayPal, has always approached his career with a clear sense of purpose and a desire to create technology that truly serves its users. His journey began in India, where he completed his undergraduate education in engineering. Early on, he was drawn to the idea of building software that was not just functional but meaningful, solutions that solved real problems for people. He started his professional journey with Tata Consultancy Services, where he focused on backend systems built for efficiency and scalability. These foundational years helped him sharpen his technical skills and instilled in him an appreciation for software that addresses user needs beyond the surface level. With an eagerness to expand his understanding beyond code, Aditya moved to the United States to pursue a Master’s in Management Information Systems at Texas A&M University. The program gave him insight into how technology and business strategy intersect, equipping him with a broader perspective that now informs his engineering decisions. Following graduation, Aditya joined Paycom and eventually transitioned to PayPal, where he is currently part of the Braintree Settlement Platform team. His work involves building and maintaining systems that support secure and seamless transaction processing for millions of users worldwide. It’s a role that requires both technical precision and a strong sense of responsibility, given the scale and critical nature of the platform. Throughout his journey, Aditya has relied on a few guiding principles. One is his curiosity, specifically, a purpose-driven kind that encourages him to explore how systems work and how they can be made better. Rather than stopping at the immediate task, he’s consistently looked for ways to understand the broader picture and contribute more holistically. Another important trait for him has been persistence, especially in uncertain or high-pressure situations. Whether it was adapting to a new country or managing production issues under tight deadlines, Aditya has learned to remain composed and focused. In roles that require real-time decision-making and problem-solving, particularly in financial technology, this ability has proven essential. Aditya also believes in the power of collaboration grounded in empathy. Working with cross-functional teams has shown him that effective communication and understanding different perspectives are just as important as technical skills. For him, empathy isn’t just about being a good teammate, it’s a way to build better, more user-aware products. Beyond Code: Aditya Deshpande’s Vision for Responsible Innovation Aditya Deshpande sees technology not just as a means to solve problems but as a way to empower people and systems. Whether it’s helping businesses scale, improving how customers interact with digital platforms, or exploring the responsible use of artificial intelligence, his work is grounded in the idea of impact. For him, innovation should always serve a larger purpose. Currently a Senior Software Engineer at PayPal, Aditya has taken his commitment to thoughtful tech development a step further by pursuing an Executive Ph.D. in Information Technology. His research focuses on how AI can be responsibly integrated into financial technology systems, a field that demands both technical depth and ethical consideration. His goal is to help build systems that are not only efficient and secure but also aligned with human needs and values. His professional approach sits at the intersection of innovation and ethics. He believes that even in highly technical environments, it’s possible to stay rooted in human-centric design. This outlook shapes both his work and his academic pursuits. Beyond his core role, Aditya is also active in supporting the broader tech community. He mentors aspiring engineers, speaks at conferences, and serves as a judge at hackathons. These efforts reflect his belief in sharing knowledge and helping others navigate their paths in the industry. His journey from India to the United States brought its own set of challenges. Moving to a new country meant adjusting to a different culture, establishing a new network, and finding his place in a competitive, fast-paced tech landscape. It was a shift that tested not only his technical skills but also his adaptability and resilience. One of the most meaningful changes in his career has been learning to think beyond the immediate task of writing code. He has developed a broader understanding of how technical decisions connect with larger business goals, regulatory concerns, and user expectations. This shift toward systems-level thinking, while still staying hands-on with technology, has helped him become a more thoughtful and effective engineer. Aditya’s story reflects a deliberate effort to grow both as a technologist and as a contributor to a more responsible digital future. His journey continues to evolve, but the core of his mission remains the same: to use technology in a way that creates lasting, meaningful impact. Shaping the Future: Aditya Deshpande’s Commitment to Purposeful Innovation Aditya’s journey in technology has been marked by a consistent focus on creating meaningful impact. His work, both in industry and academia, reflects a dedication to building systems that are not only technically sound but also aligned with larger social and ethical goals. Recognition has followed naturally, reinforcing the values that guide his career. One of the most significant milestones in Aditya’s journey was receiving the Indian Achievers’ Forum Award for Outstanding Professional Achievement and Contribution toward Nation Building. The award, while acknowledging his professional accomplishments, also highlighted the deeper purpose behind his efforts, to represent Indian talent globally and apply technology to solve real-world problems. Over time, Aditya has also gained visibility as a thought leader in the tech community. He has been invited to judge and speak at several high-profile hackathons, including LA Hacks 2025, Hack TX 2024 at the University of Texas at Austin, and Hack4Humanity. These events bring together some of the brightest minds in technology, and his role has involved evaluating projects that aim to balance innovation with practical and social impact. In addition to these industry engagements, Aditya has contributed to the academic world through research focused on artificial intelligence and financial technology. His