Atin Agarwal Atin Agarwal: From Trainee Software Engineer to IT Leader & Entrepreneur   “I have been loved by my teams and colleagues in any organization or workplace where I have worked, whether it’s my own direct team or partner teams,” Atin Agarwal.  There’s no greater way to honor our beliefs than to rejoice when we see them put into action. Atin Agarwal’s career story is one of practical learning and recognition. Beginning as a Trainee Software Engineer at Birla Soft Ltd., Atin soon realized that he wanted to work with machines, tools, and instruments. This led him to MSME – SEDL, where he was awarded the “IT Power User Award” in 2004. Interestingly, this was also the day when Atin’s son was born, making it a precious memory for him. Atin’s journey then took him to DSM, a European conglomerate, where he was asked to implement SAP with technology protection in their pharmaceutical plants in India. His next move was to Airtel Enterprise Services, where he managed IT operations, governance, PMO, service management, and IT shared service centers across India, South Asia, and Africa. During his tenure, Atin received numerous recognitions from CEOs, Directors, and Leadership Teams, including the prestigious “Chairman’s Appreciation.” In 2018, Atin joined Adani Enterprise, where he was responsible for integrating IT systems for group companies. However, he had to exit due to family reasons and started his own IT Consulting for Telecoms, FMCG, Conglomerates, and Manufacturing Sectors across the globe. Atin was introduced to one of the EOUs, who wanted him to set up their complete production planning system, digital platform, and plant, and parallelly integrate all in-house apps to one platform, including Oracle ERP, which also required an upgrade. Atin completed this assignment in around 26 months and was “Appreciated by Manufacturing Today in May’21” and “Business World CIO in Jun’21.” Atin’s expertise in cloud deployments caught the attention of Hitachi Systems India, who approached him to join them as VP – of IT Strategy and Alliances. Atin is passionate about working on different and challenging projects, which has led him to start his own consulting business. His aim is to provide virtual CIOs to small and medium enterprises across all industrial sectors and IT domains, allowing them to save costs and get access to the best resources with proven track records. Working Creatively, Innovatively & Responsively Atin Agarwal, a successful leader with close to 2.5 decades of experience, believes that his success is attributed to three key personal qualities. The first quality that he identifies is the ability to simplify problems. According to Atin, identifying the problem in a simpler manner can lead to simple solutions that do not require significant changes or huge costs. Atin emphasizes that people often make problems more complicated than they are, leading to unnecessary costs and time wasted. By simplifying problems, Atin has been able to find efficient and cost-effective solutions. The second personal quality that Atin identifies as contributing to his success is collaboration. Atin believes that collaboration with the right people or organizations can significantly reduce time and increase efficiency. He emphasizes the importance of trusting people with the right skill set and outsourcing when necessary. Atin encourages people to believe in themselves and their skills but to seek help when needed to achieve the best results. The third quality that Atin believes contributed to his success is innovation. Atin emphasizes the need to think outside the box and try new things. He believes that technology is evolving so fast that fresh ideas are needed to solve problems. Atin encourages people to think beyond what they have learned from books or past implementations and to try something new. Atin Agarwal on Keeping Up-to-Date with Latest Technology Atin Agarwal emphasizes the importance of keeping up-to-date with the latest technology. He acknowledges that there are many communities, forums, webinars, and online materials available to learn and get certified, but he prefers to learn from his team. Atin recognizes that technology can be a boon, but it can also pose challenges during implementation and deployment. He identifies change management as the main issue that comes with technology selection and ownership from business stakeholders, workflow customization, end-user expectations in terms of UI/UX, and proper UAT before going live. Atin has learned that proper planning and communication are crucial to overcoming these challenges and ensuring a successful implementation. Atin, like a true leader, is leading by example, encouraging others to dream big and believe in themselves!   Overcoming Career Obstacles: Insights from IT Leader, Atin Agarwal Not many people can face adversity with grace! Atin Agarwal, a seasoned IT leader, believes that the toughest obstacles in one’s career are often rooted in one’s own mindset. He believes that with the right perspective and a focus on collaboration, innovation, and simplification, any challenge can be overcome. However, Atin acknowledges that there are certain challenges that are common to all CIOs and IT leaders. These include budgeting and control, technology and partner selection, and change management. One of the biggest hurdles is cost optimization and deployment of new technology, which often involves convincing the CFO and top management for technology adoption. The feasibility of mapping existing business processes with technology systems and then adopting them is another major challenge. Lastly, convincing stakeholders to embrace technology can be difficult, as they may fear a loss of visibility within the organization. Despite these obstacles, Atin believes that with the right mindset and approach, anything is possible. Ultimate Awards & Milestones Atin Agarwal has received several recognitions and accolades throughout his career. He prides himself on his ability to lead and work alongside his colleagues, earning their respect and admiration wherever he goes. His colleagues have described him as a dedicated and hardworking individual who consistently delivers results without compromising on quality. In addition to his impressive reputation among his colleagues, Atin has also been recognized by industry experts and publications for his outstanding contributions to the field. He was named one of the

Moneeka Sawyer Moneeka Sawyer: A Paradigmatic Woman Entrepreneur Known for Her Undaunted Attitude…   With women choosing different entrepreneurships as their career pursuits, the motive is usually very different from that of their counterparts. Most of the time, women enter the business landscape to add a new perspective to any business community by facilitating more women’s empowerment and equality in a particular industry. Though patriarchal dominance exists across the majority of industries, the daring ‘Sheprenuers’ are shoving the needle in every possible field to prove their power and visionary approach to creating a difference. One such challenging industry is real estate investing which is heavily dominated by men. But, a handful of women entrepreneurs have plunged into the space with their audacious attitude to add significant value and crucial changes to the real estate industry. And this narrative is of such a bold businesswoman, Moneeka Sawyer, who is a highly-acclaimed radio show and podcast host at BlissfulInvestor.com. Let’s unveil her success story based on the conversation held with her. Here are some excerpts of the cherishable chat we had with her.   Pre-Destined for Real Estate   Before Moneeka was even born, her adventure with real estate was already destined. After being married in India, her parents made the decision to leave their country and go to the United States in order to follow their higher calling and create a new life. They barely had $200 in their pockets, but they had heard that purchasing real estate was the path to fortune in the United States. In a few years, Moneeka was born, filling her parents with love, happiness, and optimism. After she was born, they were determined to make real estate investments in order to provide her with the finest possible quality of life.   Through Moneeka’s early years, her parents began to save their nickels and dimes which led to purchasing their first home. But, they still needed to save enough so they could invest, even though her mom, a doctor, desired to have comfort and convenience in their lovely new home. For their windows and sofa, she stitched the drapes and cushions on her own. They exerted every effort to provide a comfortable living for their new family as well as create future plans. They were able to purchase their first rental home when Moneeka was three and were elated to embark on this thrilling adventure.   After fifteen years, they were able to use the proceeds from real estate to pay for Moneeka’s college tuition. The same thing was done for her two sisters, and their real estate investments kept providing their way to a better lifestyle.   Though life was running at a perfect pace, Moneeka had an epiphany in which she quotes, “When I was a young child, I observed my parents’ real estate investing and saw the wonderful benefits it brought to our family. But I could also see how stressed out my Dad was as a result. He dealt with all the issues that landlords complain about. They occasionally struggled to make mortgage payments due to late rents. They often dealt with broken leases, toilets, and late-night phone calls. I could see that real estate required a lot of dedication to be truly successful, and I didn’t want to spend that much time on something that would drain the life out of me as it had for my dad. So, I decided very young that it wasn’t for me and told my dad as much.   Fast forward a few years, there was a recession when I graduated from college, and I struggled mightily to find a job. I was under a lot of stress and it paid very little when I finally got one. When I was talking to my dad about my anxieties one evening over the kitchen table, he said something to me that forever changed my life. He said “Moneeka, everyone has stress, everyone has fear, and everyone has money problems. Do you want poor-people money problems, or do you want rich-people money problems?” She was completely silenced, and she pondered this statement a lot.   Her dad’s words of wisdom gave her the realization that if she was going to face money problems, she’d rather have rich-people money problems! Hence, she decided to invest in real estate investments from that day. Getting there, however, was not a cakewalk. Her father was not able to help her financially as her two sisters were in college and the family budget was tight. Therefore, she decided to save on her small income only. Then when she got married two years later, the couple asked for money towards their down payment as a wedding gift from everyone. They got enough to put 5% down on a very humble home, so they bought it. Moneeka and her husband still couldn’t afford the mortgage so they got a roommate. The newlywed couple was focused on making their way in the real estate world and Moneeka’s vision for the future became clearer to her day by day. And the rest is history!   The Stirring Ideology   Moneeka happened to realize her potential at quite a young age. Yes, she was bullied and humiliated frequently due to racism in her hometown, which pushed her towards depression. Gradually, her zeal to seek her ultimate joy and well-being propelled her to start questioning life from different angles. And all of this began at the young age of 6! She started her journey to find her happiness.   Later in life, she replaced the term happiness with the term bliss as she realized that happiness is a temporary emotional state that depends on outer circumstances. Contrary to this, she found bliss to be a state that is much deeper. It’s a deep sense of joy and contentment and emotional resilience. And no matter what occurs in your life, you can rely on that bliss as your emotional support system.   “This is such a core value

Karan Yaramada Karan Yaramada: Driven by Integrity; Inspiring Leaders Globally Empathy, vision, passion, integrity, and courage are at this story’s core. This publication testifies how these values make any leader stand out. By embodying these qualities above, a leader can inspire his team members to reach their full potential and achieve great things together. One such exemplary leader is Karan Yaramada, who has empowered his organization- Jade Global, with his insightful approach to scaling the ladder of success. This article delves into the length and breadth of his extraordinary venture and spectacular leadership style. Today, each employee follows the solid values, beliefs, and customer-centricity approach laid down by Karan. Let’s get going; what is there to explore and learn? The Company Summary Karan established Jade Global in 2003 with the fundamental goal of delivering exceptional IT services to businesses. Being a Harvard Business School alumnus, he implemented a culture of utilizing advanced technologies to address intricate business problems, which has now become a fundamental principle of Jade Global. Innovation is ingrained in the company’s DNA. Karan’s leadership has propelled the organization to substantial growth, earning a spot on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in the United States for twelve consecutive years. The company’s unwavering commitment to fostering a culture of learning, development, and innovation, prioritizing people, is a testament to its thought leadership. This approach has been instrumental in cultivating strong leaders and building high-performing teams within the organization. Karan believes in empowering employees to unleash their full potential and inspiring them to achieve extraordinary things. While working at KPMG, Tata Consultancy Services, Johnson and Johnson, and General Electric, he leveraged emerging technologies to drive significant growth for these companies. At the company’s core lies innovation, with teams continuously exploring means to automate monotonous and routine business operations that enable customers to concentrate on their primary strengths and business expansion. Jade is in a solid position to support customers in embracing automation. Besides understanding the technology, their expertise in business processes and domain positions them to aid customers in mapping out and implementing their automation journey while upholding a robust technology foundation to ensure uninterrupted daily operations. Values Driving The Operations At Jade Global The organization’s strength lies in the diversity of its people, appreciating their unique perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds. The differences are valued and embraced, recognizing their role in creating a stronger, more inclusive, and supportive team. Jade values employee satisfaction and growth and provides continuous learning and development throughout each employee’s career at Jade. Providing exceptional service and exceeding customer expectations is a top priority, with a focus on building positive, enduring relationships with clients. The organization takes pride in its accomplishments, knowing they stem from dedication, hard work, and teamwork. Successes are celebrated, and failures are viewed as opportunities to improve and develop. As responsible employers, the organization acknowledges its responsibility to impact society positively. It goes beyond the pursuit of profit by giving back to the community, reducing its environmental impact, and cultivating a workplace that promotes diversity, equality, and inclusion. A few of the additive values that could be frequently seen airing in the company are: Uphold the highest ethical standards, maintaining integrity, transparency, and professionalism in all our interactions, valuing creativity and encouraging new ideas, seeking better solutions, staying relevant in a constantly evolving market, etc. Emphasizing the value proposition ensured by his company to the end client, Karan states, “We believe in the power of lifelong learning and personal development and strive to improve ourselves daily, seeking new challenges, opportunities, and experiences that help us grow as individuals and professionals. Our mantra is to be focused on the power of teamwork and collaboration. We support and encourage each other, working together to help everyone reach their full potential and achieve their goals. We believe honesty, transparency, and ethical behavior are essential to building trust and fostering long-lasting relationships.” The USPs Karan’s brainchild has left an indelible mark on the industry by offering something unique that cannot be copied. Jade Global’s competitive advantage lies in its focus on innovation, technology, customer satisfaction, responsible employment practices, and ethical standards. The company’s ability to use cutting-edge technologies to help clients overcome their most significant business challenges distinguishes it from its competitors. Jade Global’s commitment to providing exceptional customer experiences and promoting responsible employment practices helps establish positive, enduring relationships with clients and employees. Finally, the company’s emphasis on ethical standards sets it apart from competitors that adhere to different values or professional standards. The Top-notch Portfolio The company began as an Oracle consultancy firm with a vision to provide comprehensive 360-degree services. By staying committed to customer-centricity and values, Jade Global’s revenue grew to over $100 million today. In 2003, Jade started with a single Oracle customer, and then in 2005, they expanded to 50+ employees and formed the Salesforce Alliance and Microsoft Gold Partnerships. Snowflake Managed Services was crucial in driving steady growth from 2005 to 2010. In 2015, Jade launched its AWS Practice and established a Global Delivery Centre in Hyderabad. As part of Jade’s fabric of services and partner offerings, they introduced Xenon and Kanverse AI (Artificial Intelligence) in October 2020. The workforce grew steadily from 450+ employees in 2015 to 1100+ in 2020, and it continues to grow in 2023 to over 2000 team members. The key to Jade’s success is its ability to develop innovative technologies while nurturing relationships with top technology alliance partners. Our clients look to us as trusted advisors to help them make the right technology decisions. Jade continuously evaluates and looks to achieve higher designations with the best-of-breed providers in business applications, technology platforms, and solutions. Our strategic partnerships with leading companies like SAP, Boomi, ServiceNow, Mulesoft, and many more global alliances to ensure access to innovative solutions, frameworks, and methodologies. Overcoming The Challenges When the subprime crisis hit US- market, the company faced financial challenges that posed a difficult situation. Rather than opting for layoffs, employees were asked to take pay

Christina Flach Christina Flach, Founder & CEO of Pretty Girl Makeup“Victory is not always winning the battle…but rising every time you fall” From juggling to keeping a fine balance between her personal and professional life to proving herself as a Wonder Woman everywhere, Christina Flach has proved to be the epitome of hard work, dedication, and success! She is a widely acclaimed businesswoman of Pretty Girl Makeup and a wonderful mother of five. Confidence is what this successful makeup artist wears every single day! The Magic of Inspiration & Ambitions Diligence is the vehicle; ambition is the way to victory! Christina Flach has had her own share of ups and down while figuring out her career. Talking about her struggles, she says, “I was in a constant battle while driving my kids around drinking water, and trying to find a lipgloss that would stay on more than three sips of water. A lipgloss that wasn’t matte and drying, too thick, too thin. I couldn’t find one, so I thought that I would create my line.” She identified the correct textures and colors after a year of working with a beauty chemist, conducting experiments on herself, friends, and family members, and a lot of patience and feedback! Soon enough, she introduced Pretty girl with seven amazing shades. “My key goals, are to make PGM have the best quality products, profitable, hopefully making my customers laugh with funny names for my products and feel beautiful of course,“ includes Christina. As the CEO of Pretty Girl Makeup, she is shouldered with the duties and responsibilities of everything to make it extraordinary! Whether it is formulation, packaging, naming, marketing, or social media, she manages every little thing! Over the years she gained a lot of experience and kept discovering new aspects of her work. Although the list of problems was unending, she never gave up! She has been self-funding her business since 1999, and she is currently working with her partner Jordan Hall to build their new brand, ‘I’m Too Busy Cosmetics.’ Being Out of the Box! What makes Christina stand out in the world is her Art and Creativity! She is proud of herself as more than a business person she is an Artist! Pretty Girl is not only her business plan but a one-time solution to all her problems with a lip gloss! She successfully made her ideal lip gloss, which was long-lasting, moisturizing, anti-aging, and of course the perfect color for every skin tone. “It is also important to me that my customers know that every time they get a product that it’s going to be high-quality and then perhaps looking at the name on the bottom will make them smile for a few seconds out of their busy lives,” she adds. Her journey exemplifies the saying, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way!” Origin of the Name Pretty Girl Makeup You never know when a moment becomes a memory! Christina came up with a beautiful name for her brand while she was on a vacation with her family and friends in Hawaii. When she was sitting by the pool with her friends, one of her friends Claudia said, “Look honey, we’re finally pretty girls sitting by the pool!” They were chatting, reading magazines, and sipping iced tea while sitting there looking gorgeous! Flach felt as if everything was light and breezy during this delightful moment. As they say, the rest is history. Pretty Girl Makeup now makes ladies feel beautiful on the inside and out! Love what you Do, Do what you Love! Discipline and determination make your wildest dreams come true! And the most satisfying aspect of pursuing your dreams is having a goal! “I never in a million years could have dreamed that I would be the makeup artist for these fashion brands, celebrities, CEOs, athletes, TV shows, politicians, and models. I love going to new places, meeting these extraordinary people, that I get one on one alone time with, and on top of that I have my line of makeup,” shares Christina. She wants her children to see their work as worship, and pursue their passion! She wants them to make money out of the things they wouldn’t mind doing 24/7 because practicing something you don’t enjoy requires a lot of extra time, energy, and effort, which subsequently leads to business failure. “I think it is best not to know how hard your dream is, just to love each moment of it, even the worst moments, because the great moments are even sweeter!” Christina adds. Breaking a Dream into Milestones The past 20 years have been a roller coaster ride for Christina, filled with excitement and enthusiasm! Seeing her products used by celebrities, in magazines, people approaching her and complimenting her on how beautiful her lip gloss is, an increase in sales, no debt, presenting fantastic business plans to investors with great returns, and having agents represent her filled her with delight! Flach is proud of herself as she has worked for famous personalities who she had admired on TV shows and magazines! Seeing her work on magazine covers and insides makes her every day special! These are the milestones that keep her going and motivate her to emerge stronger every day! Striving for Improvement Christina’s experience running a business has not always been smooth; good things don’t come easy, and there have been many ups and downs! Funding her brand, formulation of products, learning how to deal with social media, hiring people, and marketing was not an easy task! Christina often gets inspired by Tyler Florence’s quote “If people knew how hard it was to be exceptional no one would do a damn thing.” Flach says that change is constant! One should learn how to adapt to different environments and situations. Things got worse as time went on, as she lost her baby on Christmas Day, then her husband died of sepsis twelve years later, which was a devastating blow for Christina, and then came

Leon Abdullah El-Alamin Leon Abdullah El-Alamin, CEO of The MADE Institute Name: Leon Abdullah El-Alamin Company Name: The M.A.D.E Institute Designation: Founder & Executive Director of MADE  Have you ever made a mistake or completed a task after which you thought to yourself, ‘Maybe I could have done better?’ or ‘I should have done this instead of that?’ We all wish for second chances in our lives and those who get them are the lucky ones. When you do have the chance to redo something, you always make sure to do it perfectly. Leon Abdullah El-Alamin, the CEO of The MADE Institute, is an entrepreneur who is guided by these ideals and is transforming the lives of those who become victims of violence and who have been impacted by mass incarceration by providing them with an invaluable second chance! Turning His Passion Into His Profession We all face many challenging choices along the way, there is no denying that. You can either come to the conclusion that where you originate from doesn’t really matter in the end; what matters is the destination that you land upon, or you can blame your situation and the circumstances that you were born and raised in as the cause of your poor judgments and downfall. Born and raised in Flint, Michigan, Abdullah had humble beginnings early on in his life. It was not easy for him as his grandmother was responsible for most of his upbringing. His mother influenced his life later on in his teenage years. Leon was born and raised in a hostile environment, so it’s not unexpected that he chose the same path. During his adolescence, his surroundings influenced his choices, and for a while, he adopted that culture. Soon enough, he realized that his environment was a mess. He saw first-hand the damage that drugs, mass incarcerations, and structural racism in the institutions caused not only to the people actively involved in them but also to their families. It destroyed people and drove families apart. It was after observing all of this that Abdullah made up his mind, he was not going to be just another bystander, he was going to sit there and wait for change to come but he would lead the change himself. From that day onwards, he has made it his life’s mission to end mass incarceration and help rebuild marginalized communities and those who get caught in the cycle of violence! Education: The Most Powerful Weapon Leon Abdullah shifted his focus from the violence-ridden streets and all other negative aspects of his environment to positive things that would benefit him in the long run. The passion that drives him today is spirituality. It has had a profound impact on his life and helped him think deeper and develop a solid mindset. His love for the community, his family, and those riddled with violence guides him on a daily basis. He now addresses structural issues such as racial profiling, police brutality, mass incarceration, miseducation, and the economic exploitation of marginalized communities. He aims to hit these issues at their core and come up with solutions that will help eradicate them. Today, his organization The MADE Institute which stands for Money, Attitude, Direction, and Education is dedicated to serving the community. He is attempting to give a second chance to those who became negative products of their environment. A Community Development ReEntry Corporation, M.A.D.E offers comprehensive trauma-informed programming for juveniles and adults who have a history of crime but have the potential to recover and contribute to society. In addition to this, M.A.D.E also helps at-risk youth who are born and brought up in environments similar to that Abdullah was raised in. The institution attempts to do everything in its power to change the lives of these individuals around. M.A.D.E is committed to making people’s lives better than ever! From Convict to Clean Chit You can’t save anyone who wouldn’t save themselves if you weren’t there! We all know the extreme environment Leon was brought up in. He got caught up in it, and as a result of some poor choices and terrible timing, he was convicted and sentenced to 12 to 20 years in prison for drugs and gun charges. He served 7 years of his sentence after a drug law had changed in the state of Michigan. Abdullah’s focus shifted toward making a name for himself and working for the betterment of his community. After he was freed from prison, the first thing he did was visit North Flint, his old neighborhood. He made many investments in properties that he believed had strong financial potential and at the same time, held special significance for him. From here, The MADE Institute’s unofficial history began. Leon trained folks who had just been released from prison how to rehabilitate their houses, live better lives, and become productive members of society. What the MADE Institute Has in Store? The Government established community development centers do not offer as many facilities and programming that particularly focus on those who have been impacted by the war on drugs and the school-to-prison pipeline as M.A.D.E does. From offering workforce development and helping individuals learn new skills to providing transitional housing, the organization is fighting to better the lives of individuals. In addition to these skills, urban farming, financial literacy, required mentoring, job readiness with opportunities, health and wellness, research, technology, and advocacy are all undertaken by them. They aim at the holistic development of an individual to ensure that they are ready to stay away from a life of crime. The most popular course offered by M.A.D.E is their Life Skills program, a 10-phase program that lasts for 12-14 weeks. It aims to aid an individual to grow in all aspects of life. The course can be undertaken by people from all walks of life as there is no age restriction in place. It teaches students how to dress for work, how to construct a cover letter and resume, and how

Varetta Huggins “Get a seat at the table or create your own table and lead it.”  Varetta Huggins – Most Powerful Women in Business Varetta Huggins life story is about setting goals and doing the work daily to achieve them. Her life began on the small guitar-shaped island of St. Kitts in the Lesser Antilles of the Caribbean.  A fertile sunny island blessed with fruit and vegetable trees, beautiful beaches with aquamarine oceans, and friendly people, makes St. Kitts one of the most beautiful islands all year round.  She grew up in a single-family home with her mom and her little sister and by island standards, they were poor, but the island provided the food and water they needed daily to survive. She remembers her mom’s constant voice telling them to “make something of yourselves…and do well in school” because her mom did not complete her schooling.  Her mom had her sister and her as a teenager and was forced to end her schooling early to raise them.  This fueled Varetta’s goals as a teenager which were to pass her end of grade exams annually and to graduate high school.  During her last two years in high school, she met a teacher who became her mentor and told her she could study Computer Science in college and her goals were expanded to go beyond high school.  After graduating high school, she started applying to colleges.  When she applied to Hampton University, she had to complete an essay which required her to describe her short-term, mid-term, and long-term goals and share how she would change the world with a degree from Hampton University.  Her long-term goal was to own a software consulting company and she knew that to be able to make this a reality she needed to have a degree in Computer Science and to understand how to manage information technology and people.  Her short-term goal was to graduate college with a degree in Computer Science and her mid-term goal was to graduate college with a master’s degree. She got married in 1995 but decided to continue pursuing her goals instead of starting a family immediately. She was accepted into the Computer Science program at Hampton University and in January 1997 she arrived in Hampton, Virginia where the cold immediately reminded her that she was far away from home.   The campus of Hampton University was surrounded by water, and the beautiful trees, flowers, and friendly people reminded her of home. She graduated Hampton University in three and a half years then landed her first job in 2000 at NASA’s Langley Research Center as a Computer Programmer and Analyst working as a Government Contracting Consultant for SAIC.  She had achieved her short-term goal then began working immediately to complete her mid-term goal.  She moved up to the DC Metropolitan area in 2002 and transferred within SAIC to work at NOAA’s National Weather Service as an Information Engineer.  She quickly enrolled in a master’s program at the George Washington University and attended classes during weeknights. She graduated in 2005 with a master’s degree in Information Systems Technology concentrating on Management Information Systems and a Certificate in CIO Federal Executive Competencies.  She also gave birth to her first child in 2005 while working on her degree. She had achieved her mid-term goal, did well in school, and started her family, all in the same year. She needed to gain more working experiences as a Government Contracting Consultant before she could complete her long-term goal. She left SAIC to work with another Government Contractor and became one of the first Consultants hired for a new government contract at NOAA’s National Weather Service. She transitioned engineers, managers, and other staff onto the contract then began managing numerous projects on the contract. She then obtained her Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification from PMI then moved to work with Government Contractors at the Federal Aviation Administration then back to NOAA’s National Weather Service.  In 2009, she found a business mentor then she decided to start a Government Contracting company based on her strength of IT Project Management.  In November 2009, V-Project Management Consulting LLC was born, and the logo included colors from the Caribbean Ocean. Her first Government client was the Federal Aviation Administration, and she became the first billable Government Contracting Consultant for V-Project Management Consulting LLC.  It was at this moment that she felt she had made something of herself and achieved her long-term goal.  Today, she is the President and Chief Executive Officer of V-Project Management Consulting LLC where they offer Enterprise Program Management Office services to their government clients.  Their contracts included working with FAA, ED, USDA, DOJ, and USAID and they have hired up to 20 employees and consultants since their inception.  In 2018 Varetta started the V-Government Contracting Success Program where she speaks across the U.S. to business owners about navigating Government Contracting and offer Executive Business Coaching services to business customers.  As she looks at the work they have done for their government and non-government clients, she can truly say that her knowledge and work has changed the world.  Live Every Day by Purpose To live every day by purpose by inspiring and empowering business owners to achieve personal, spiritual, professional, and financial growth, even more.  She understands that being a speaker, mentor, and executive coach means that she is given the voice to influence others who are looking for someone to fill the gap and inspire them.  Empowering others mean that I give them the knowledge they need by showing them how to fix the problems that arise in their businesses. Varetta’s says Client Centricity as her greatest strength One of her greatest strengths is that she listens to her customers and provide them with the solutions they currently need based on where they are at in their business journey. Their competitive advantage is that they show their customers how to solve their current needs not just provide to them what they need.  She calls this their how

Jessica Rosa You try, you may fail but the real failure is when you stop trying. Today through this column we bring you the story of a powerful women who didn’t stop trying and that’s what became the success mantra of her life. Unveiling the life of Jessica Rosa who is inspiration of many. The outset story of her career all started at the beginning of the pandemic. She was working in the hospitality industry as a Front Office Manager and Sales Coordinator, she had been working in the industry for almost seven years at the time. Unfortunately, like many others, she was laid off from her position because of the COVID-19 Pandemic. In the blink of an eye, the world changed drastically, and she knew she would have to make some changes to adapt. After taking some time to consider her future and what she truly wanted in it, she knew she wanted freedom, to support others, to use her full potential to do something she was passionate about, and to never be limited. This led her to recall a conversation she had with one of her older sisters before the pandemic. She had informed her about her entrepreneurial journey as a Virtual Assistant. At the time, she thought she could never run her own business. After recalling this conversation, she did some research, took a Virtual Assistant course, and launched JM Virtual Solutions, LLC by the end of December 2020. When she first launched her business, she was doing general virtual assistant work. She had no idea what services she wanted to offer or whom she wanted to work with. So, she was doing a bit of everything and working with any client who was willing to work with a new VA. It took her about four months of being in business before she niched down into social media marketing as that is really where her passion is. She was also receiving a lot of inquiries for social media management from clients. Additionally, she was and currently am, working on her Master of Science degree in marketing with a concentration in social media. All of this to say, social media was her calling. Today, she is happy to say that as a social media strategist with a passion for supporting fempreneurs, she has had the pleasure of working with over fourteen women in the online space, helping them implement social media strategies that align with their business goals to help them achieve them. She feels blessed to be able to wake up every day to do work she is truly passionate about that also provides her with the freedom she was looking for and best of all, there are no limitations as to where her business can go. Its all about Passion, Creativity, and Innovation Several aims and ideals guide her as an individual and a social media professional. The first is creativity. Working in the marketing space and creating a lot of content as a social media strategist, creativity is a value high on her list. She has always been a creative person and have always admired the arts. The work she does at JM Virtual Solutions has given her that creative outlet in my professional life that she can share with her clients. Passion is next on her list. When you have passion for what you do, you never work a day in your life. She has come to learn the truth behind this statement as she wakes up every morning with so much passion for the work she does, that it sometimes feels like she is not working. She believes that when we are passionate about something, we put more of ourselves into it and produce better results. It is important to her to not only have passion for her business but for the businesses of the clients she works with as well. Nothing stays the same for long in the world of social media. Therefore, JM Virtual Solutions aims to be innovative. Steve Jobs once said, “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.” As the leader of JM Virtual Solutions, she aims to be innovative in developing social media strategies and campaigns that work toward helping her clients achieve their goals. Being Human- Have an Emotional Connect Her greatest strength in the social media world is simply this, being human. She thinks when we enter the digital space, especially as a business, we forget that the individuals on the other side of the conversation are human. At the end of the day, people do not like to be bombarded with sales, they want to be talked to like a human. As humans what drives us to make a purchase is our emotions. Think about when you go to the store and you try on the perfect dress. It makes you feel confident, sexy, and beautiful. Those emotions that you feel are what drive you to make the purchase. One of the things she helps her clients with is focusing on making that emotional connection with their audience. The key to social media marketing is knowing who your audience is and how to connect with them on an emotional level. Social media is very much like a cocktail party. You mingle, introduce yourself, strike up a conversation, and start connecting with people, right? Many conversations are happening at once in the online space. People are introducing themselves, asking questions, a common interest is discovered, and a connection is made. If you want to be successful with your social media marketing efforts and build a strong community of fans, build trust, and gain loyalty, you need to do it online the same way you would do it offline. Having a strong comprehension of this has helped her to develop her approach, providing a valuable strength to social media marketing. All about JM Virtual Solutions She is the founder, strategist, and creative behind JM Virtual Solutions. As a solopreneur, her primary goals are just about

Davielle Jackson Black women have plenty of hurdles that would make a man of any other race or creed quit their job and run off screaming! Davielle Jackson is a female entrepreneur who believes in the power of her own vision of what is best for others. As the CEO of Femi Secrets, Davielle is motivated to ensure that every woman has access to healthy hygiene products. As she continues to battle for making a difference on a daily basis, this charismatic leader takes pride in taking on a large amount of responsibility that comes with being a girl boss. Femi Secrets, the only award-winning feminine care brand, offers women of all ages the best protection throughout their monthly menstruation cycle. It inspires women to take charge of their bodies, their health, and their lives. With strong work ethics, Davielle Jackson strives to nurture all the amazing women out there in all the best ways with her venture! The Story of a Self-Made Black Woman   Davielle Jackson believes in living for a sense of purpose, a quest for knowledge, and the opportunity to leave a lasting impression on the world. As a free-spirited person, she has always been courageous enough to speak for herself.  Both her mother and father were accomplished businesspeople. She never saw them work for anyone, but she did witness them working really hard. Talking about her love for biology, Davielle says, “My goal was first biology. So, the clear first path was medicine. Medical school, started off in nursing but I clearly felt I needed to be more of an influence in the world by mass, a greater difference. So, then I applied to medical school, and Dr. Jackson sounded good. But then I felt my life slipping away. I was so young so talented, yet I was spending most of my life studying.” When she turned 22, Jackson did the calculations in no time. By the time she’ll be 35, her school loan debt will be roughly $300,000, and her life will have only just begun, she’ll have to work out everything. Little did she know that destiny had planned everything to nourish her business zeal. One of her friends approached her one day and asked for her help. This was the time when Medicine, health, and assisting women, three of her favorite things in the world, collided. Davielle created the Pretty Panty, the world’s first patented chemical-free disposable product. After working relentlessly for six months, she was partnered with Walmart. She finally realized what she wanted to pursue for the rest of her life after this delightfully new experience. With the launch of Femi Secrets, this businesswoman has created a secure environment that offers the healthiest and most secure times. Women who use Femi’s products report that their periods are healthier and lighter, with fewer cramps! Femi Secrets – Breaking the Taboo Femi Secrets is a safe, long-lasting, and innovative source of period protection. This wonderful brand has a passion for investing in women’s health solutions. With chemical-free and FDA-approved products, Femi stands for young, healthy, and beautiful women. Before Femi, women were afraid to talk about periods. The company has been the first to come up with non-chemical and disposable panty to infiltrate the feminine care market in over 20 years. Made to fit ladies of all sizes and ages, The Pretty Panty is purely natural and sustainable! Davielle adds, “A tampon was literally invented by a man, to stop a leak! Never did they think how harmful this product would be on the Feminine eco-system. My products are dedicated to healthy women. I was basically the creator of the ‘Fem Tech space”. Before anyone started like, “thinx, lola, Knix, etc.” Award Winning Patented “Pretty Panty”: Women not only love the idea of having a product that is chemical free, biodegradable, eco-friendly and disposable. But most important leak free. Also, send directly to your door via monthly subscription. The embodiment of a carefree period. Amazon for women with periods: Taking away the stress of having to rush to the store to acquire period essentials, this subscription box delivers everything you need for a healthy, happy month. Designed with all the necessities to give you a whole month of feeling the best, Femi provides subscription period products that are shipped right to your door. Premium subscription box: This wholesome subscription box includes The Pretty Panty, pads, liners, wipes, and some relaxations tools like CBD bath bombs and fibroid tea. Filled with hygiene products, Femi Secrets helps in providing a better way to care for your body and turn your life into a beautiful & healthy one! Wegmans and Giant retail: Statistics will demonstrate how Femi Secrets has transformed the feminine care industry in years to come! The company is thrilled to be accessible at Wegmans and Giant retail and grocer locations, and by 2023, it expects to be offered at all major retailers. Integrating Technology with Ease We see the negative effects of being too open on social media quite often! Fear is what stops a lot of people from making the move to social space. One major blunder Davielle Jackson made was hiding her company from social media for a period of time. She was present when it began, but due to concerns about her privacy and intellectual property, she decided it wasn’t for her. As it is now extremely critical to any brand’s success, Jackson feels that she would have arrived sooner and worked harder! Femi Secrets work with the technology of its products on a daily basis in order to achieve a competitive advantage. “We will be releasing a Femi app that will help women in so many different ways this summer.  We have an entire team dedicated to technical advances,” mentions Davielle. Ultimate Accolades You name it, she has done it! Davielle aspires to have a life full of adventures and possibilities. Throughout her chosen career, this remarkable personality has received numerous accolades and recognitions, making her stand out

Holly Dowling There’s no greater way to honor our beliefs than to rejoice when we see them put into action. Holly Dowling, a widely celebrated Global Keynote Speaker and Inspirational Thought Leader, is someone who follows her soul’s highest calling! She defied all odds and built her profession on her own terms. This immensely passionate personality is on a quest to help others realize their full potential and brilliance. With her indomitable spirit to create an impact, Holly strives to be a messenger of hope, inspiration, joy, and healing in this world. Formerly the vice president of an international brokerage firm, Holly creates and delivers bespoke keynotes as well as programs for Fortune 500 companies. She is of the opinion that each of us must define happiness for ourselves, rather than success. She mentions, “I’ve never seen anyone succeed in this profession without the genuine heart and message of selflessness. My soul has always had a strong desire to serve the world. I was chosen to be a global messenger of hope and inspiration.” The Emergence of a Passionate Leader Who you are as a child might reveal a lot about who you will become later on in life. Holly had always been shy as a child. Despite her lack of confidence, she had an entrepreneurial spirit and a desire to both entertain and help others. Since she was a little girl, Holly had always been curious about new things, such as combining entrepreneurship and entertainment, with the ultimate goal of assisting others and spreading happiness. Holly’s professional career started when a woman she knew through her women’s group requested her to talk to a group of high school students in Denver, CO. She wasn’t sure if people wanted to hear about her struggles and overcoming obstacles. The woman advised her to relate the narrative as if she were speaking to a group of adults. It goes without saying that this episode had a profound impact on Holly’s life. After the discussion, she heard a queue of boys and girls applauding her struggle and being inspired to pursue their aspirations in life. Holly’s life was dramatically transformed when she got a letter from one of the students in the audience several days after she talked. The letter recounted how, on the morning of Holly’s seminar, this girl was about to commit suicide because she was being sold for cocaine by her father. The letter went on to add that hearing her story influenced her perspective for good and that she had realized how vital her life was. While that day impacted this young girl forever, the imprint Holly had from the experience changed her life forever as well! The letter had such a great impression on Holly that for the past 25 years, she has carried it with her in a small plastic bag to every speaking event she has done. Following that discussion, the school principal requested Holly to speak at a school assembly. Not just that, other parents approached her too with business cards, inviting her to speak at corporate and business gatherings, and the rest is history! That spur-of-the-moment participation, followed by the life-changing letter, turned out to be a complete game-changer in Holly’s personal as well as professional life. Ultimate Awards & Milestones Holly Dowling is pleased to receive remarkable awards for her unwavering commitment and tenacity. She is an award-winning host on The Notoriety Network and a two-time Stevie Award winner for women in business. Additionally, Holly feels privileged to be a Former member of The African American Consulate, a proud partner of The United Nations Girl Up Foundation, and a Recipient of The American Riviera Women Entrepreneur of the Year Award. As an expert in joy and happiness, she believes that the word “success” has been misused for decades, leading to us being overwhelmed by ideas and experiences that are not in line with our soul’s highest calling. Dowling is also a member of the Anti-Internet Child Exploitation Team, which raises awareness about internet crimes against children around the world. Adding to her key honors, she shares, “I have the extreme honor of being a top ten inspirational thought leader among influencers such as Deepak Chopra, who happens to be one of my all-time most inspirational figures.” There’s no questioning that her career has had its ups and downs, but they have all served as a compass that points her back to the mission she feels privileged to pursue. Holly, like a true leader, is leading by example, encouraging others to dream big and believe in themselves! What Makes her Unique? Holly Dowling, a successful woman with a long list of achievements, utilizes her profession to encourage a message of peace, love, joy, and kindness. She feels that she did not seek out this career; the mission was placed on her heart and the path she is on found her. As a global keynote speaker and inspirational thought leader, Holly, with her team, are continuously called back to serve Fortune 500 companies with a majority of their business based upon a referral. Although she has successfully climbed up the ladder of success, the journey has not been easy. She acquired this accomplishment in a non-traditional manner, without the help of a speaker’s bureau, a TEDTalk, or a best-selling book. She shares, “Attaining repeat clients and referrals are attributed to asking the right questions; by following the goals and the dreams of our clients and customizing presentations to company culture while recognizing individuals of the company as part of the overall mission.” As a disciplined personality, Holly is quite mindful of each of her employees’ strengths and makes sure that they use them on a daily basis. She believes that creating an authentic environment where everyone can be transparent professionally and personally is vital to the success of the daily operations and long-term mission! This self-made leader admits silence to be nectar for her soul. “During my quiet time, which is part of my

Ariel Tavor Ariel Tavor, Founder & Principal of Lions Financial  They say it takes a village to raise a child, similarly, it takes a village and a few to run a successful business. While starting any business, the major part all new entrepreneurs must focus on is taking the business on the right financial path. Finance & Investment keep any business running, making them the most crucial aspects of any industry. Ariel Tavor, holds over a decade of experience in the financial services industry, specializing in insurance and investment companies. Having experience in working with executives & CEOs from a wide range of industries, his work involves counseling CEOs, Boards of Directors, and Capital Investment Funds. He specializes in advising the top management on executive compensation, business plan designs, mergers & acquisitions, due diligence, and asset financing. Being an expert in financial analysis and strategy, Ariel masters in advising the clients on allocations based on their business objectives and analyzing the economic factors, to keep a long-term perspective. With a vision to provide his array of expert services to more clients with a dedicated team, he started his firm ‘Lions Financial’. His company specializes in real estate asset management, e-commerce, automotive distribution, management consulting, financial services, corporate travel, manufacturing, food concepts, and enterprise technology.  Lions Financial – Making A Mark Lions Financial focuses on providing holistic business management solutions by working as a business advisory and wealth management firm for their clients. Ariel & his team manages a diverse portfolio of companies & help businesses build financial management strategies to enhance their business for high growth and long-term success. Not just that, they also have expertise in giving their clients a key solution for three major areas[1] , which include business consulting, capital markets, and last but not least, risk management. They use four specialized disciplines like financial strategy, organizational structure, processes, communications, and technology to fuel better financial management of the clients. Their skilled team serves a variety of industries making them one of the most diversified financial firms that cater to different industries like automotive, hospitality, retail, e-commerce, commercial real estate, financial services, healthcare, engineering, renewable energy, and biopharmaceuticals.  The New Era of Businesses Ariel believes in advancing his techniques and adapting with time. According to him, ‘Industries have evolved a lot over time, and with the digitization of modern technology and businesses, the traditional methods are no longer seen. The industry has adopted the new trends, and businesses are now operating on the factors that can help them move a step forward into the future.’ To maintain pace with the constantly changing market, Ariel advises companies to change their traditional strategies and opt more for online operational methods. He believes every business aspect is different and unique and requires a niche solution that fits their needs. Besides, there is no doubt that technological advancements have shown a drastic effect on the way people used to do business. According to Ariel, successful companies have a thorough understanding of what the future will hold through research and development teams that plan for many ideas and identify future prospects for aspects sought. The recent pandemic has made it a need for companies to transform themselves and be more ‘internet-friendly’.    Significant Challenges & Setbacks In the initial period of starting the business, Ariel has had his share of ups and downs with connecting segments and analyzing bits and pieces that can make a huge difference in the business strategy. As with many companies, Lions Financial had a business plan; but since it was not updated to reflect the current situation early on, it led to miscalculated assumptions. Keeping track of what happened afterward and evaluating it was a time-consuming and ineffective process, Ariel and his team implemented software technology and created an operations team for effective and fast results. In the early days of starting Lions Financial, Ariel focused on companies that had a difficult time obtaining financing, but this created challenges for them to have a longer-term engagement and underfunding for initiatives needed to improve their business. Ariel did not get dispirited by these obstacles and learning from his experiences, shifted his focus to target established businesses that could leverage more complex financial strategies. They started acquiring clients with better potential by arbitrating their clientele by leadership structures such as; multigenerational family businesses, companies with a board of advisors, and companies with successor CEOs. Leadership is an Action, Not a Position A successful leader doesn’t just preach the ideas but makes sure to adapt them to his own work ethic and leads the way while everyone around them learns, grows, and prospers along with the company goals. “I believe in prioritizing my clients’ needs. Our business purpose is defined as providing financial services & solutions to businesses during their different life cycles. We focus on building a team that has this same concern for deciding what is best for clients and making sure solutions are tailored to their needs. I do my best in having discussions with the team and listening to their ideas and concerns. Learning from people on the team helps me look at the bigger picture and gain perspective for effective decision-making,” says Ariel Tavor on leading a diversified team of experts. Lions Financial SIRE Strategy By Ariel Tavor Any business or organization that wishes to bring a revolution into the business world needs to have something unique that others don’t possess. What sets Lions Financial apart from its competitors is its Four-Step value-focused and closed-loop process called SIRE strategy. It includes various factors that comply with the client’s work culture. SIRE process entails the Survey, Insight, Recommendation, and Execution. The strategy has been tried and tested by Ariel Tavor for years and provides a diversified solution to niche problems. Let us understand how this works: The Initial and most crucial stage of this strategy is gathering primary & secondary data through surveys and research to evaluate the business situation. The latter part is the ‘Insight’ stage