The 10 Most Inspiring CEOs to Watch 2021 Vol-1 Nov 2021, features inspiring CEOs who have transformed the face of their respective industries

1. VOL 11 I ISSUE 03 I 2021
CEOs
MOST INSPIRING
to Watch, 2021
THE
Assistive Leadership
Empowering Others:
Closer to Success
One Step
Peerless Role
Leading From
the Front
1

4. Imbuing
Inspiration
hat makes an organization stand out from the rest? The
Wanswer may vary from person to person; however,
there are several aspects: core values, innovative
products, result-oriented services, and a dedicated team that
contributes to making an organization the best in the industry.
Though mapping these aspects to align with each other for
creating a fluid workflow requires visionary leadership, and that is
where the CEO comes into the picture.
A CEO understands every aspect of the business and has the
insights to demonstrate various traits to take the organization to
the next level. With a clear mindset that is ready to face challenges
at any given moment, they can make the decisions that can
withstand the hurdles in the long term. It becomes essential for a
CEO to go beyond employee engagement and correlate with their
team to quickly adapt to the changes that present themselves as a
challenge. The CEO inspires and insists on all aspects to drive
resulted-oriented performance, doubling their odds with their out-
of-the-box strategies. They are team players who know how to
enhance their team's talents as a group and as individuals to
adhere to elite practices.
Along with implementing the best practices, a CEO maps the
internal framework of the company to go above and beyond to
create dynamic elements that adapt quickly to new encounters
and opportunities. They reframe the methodologies to stay
relevant to the ever-evolving business world with programmatic
EDITOR’S NOTE

5. mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, capital expenditure, and productivity improvements. These
methodologies help CEOs to accomplish, drive and communicate tailored solutions. These bold moves can
bring encouraging disruptions within the company and in the industry. With such different values, integrity,
and sheer fortitude, these CEOs can inspire the next generation of business leaders.
Seeking such inspiring CEOs, CIO LOOK embarked on a voyage to find "The 10 Most Inspiring CEOs to
Watch, 2021" across the globe.
On the cover, we have Orri Björnsson, the CEO of Algaif Iceland, who has over two decades of extensive
experience behind his back and has inspired several leaders in the pharma and nutraceutical industries.
Dive into such inspiring stories of various leaders who have transformed the face of the industry with their
skillset and idealistic beliefs. Flipping through the pages, have a quick glance through the articles written by
our in-house editorial team, and gain business insights with the CxO penned down by industry experts.
Dive right in!
Aditya Gaikar
1
CEOs
MOST INSPIRING
to Watch, 2021
THE

6. Contents
Cover Story
Articles
24
Assistive
Leadership
Empowering
Others: One Step
Closer to Success
36
Peerless Role
Leading From
the Front
Orri Björnsson
Unlocking the Powerful Health
Benefits of Nature’s Most
Precious Resources and Nutrients
08

7. 18
Brent
Kruel
A Veteran Turned
Entrepreneur
to Improve the
Quality of Life
32
Dan
Prince
Bringing Life to
Innovative Ideas to
Impact Lives
of Millions
26
Brian J.
Esposito
Creating Bigger and
Better Visions
for the World
40
James Michael
Lafferty
A Visionary Leader
Improving the
Lives of People

8. CONTENT
Senior Editor Alan Swann
Executive Editors Aditya Gaikar
Alex Spellman
DESIGN
Visualizer Dave Bates
Art & Design Director Shubham Dali
Associate Designer Kartik Balapurkar
SALES
Senior Sales Manager Kshitij S.
Customer Success Manager Jack Ryan
Sales Executives John, Sagar, Dharmendra
TECHNICAL
Technical Head Aditya K.
Technical Consultant Victor Collins
November, 2021
Copyright © 2021 CIOLOOK, All
rights reserved. The content
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9. Brief
Company Name
Nicola Veratelli
CEO
Orri Björnsson
CEO
Dan Prince
Founder and CEO
John Ferguson
CEO
illumisoft is a mission-driven, custom software development
company that makes healthcare better.
OCTO is a leading provider of telematic services and advanced
data analytics for the insurance sector.
ALGALIF is a leading supplier of high-grade natural
astaxanthin products.
Purolator Inc. is Canada’s leading integrated freight, parcel and
logistics solutions provider.
Brent Kruel
CEO
BioFunctional Health Solutions revolutionized corporate
occupational health by leveraging the latest technology and
mobility healthcare trusted by small businesses to Fortune 500
companies.
BioFunctional Health
Solutions
biofunctionalhealth.com
illumisoft
illumisoft.com
Purolator
purolator.com
Brian Esposito
Founder and CEO
What started 20 years ago packing beauty supplies to
professional and retail consumers has grown into a holding
company with operations in media, liquor, music, apparel, sea
exploration, aviation, space, crypto currency, hemp, oil & gas,
mining, TV & film, and technology.
Esposito Intellectual
Enterprises
eie.rocks
Mark Barnes
CEO
LNL Systems is a leading provider of comprehensive
communication solutions for retailers and supermarkets.
LNL Systems
lnlsystems.com
Algalif
algalif.is
Hamad Al Mehyas
CEO
Daman is the UAE’s leading health insurer and trusted
Government partner, offering leading solutions that provide
access to unparalleled healthcare services, covering around 2.5
million members.
Daman - National Health
Insurance
damanhealth.ae
Octo Telematics
octotelematics.com
James Michael
Lafferty
CEO
Fine Hygienic Holding has been driven by one clear, simple
mission: to provide its consumers with high-quality hygienic
paper products that will make their lives more joyful.
Fine Hygienic
Holding
finehh.com
Michael Whife
CEO
Selling Simplified Group, Inc. aims to empower companies in
their marketing and sales efforts.
Selling Simplified Group
sellingsimplified.com
Featuring Person

10. Orri
Björnsson
UNLOCKING THE POWERFUL HEALTH BENEFITS OF
NATURE'S MOST PRECIOUS RESOURCES AND NUTRIENTS
Algalif is committed to
providing a reliable supply of
high-quality, pure,
sustainable astaxanthin from
micro algae.
“
“
COVER STORY

11. Orri Björnsson
CEO
Algaif Iceland

12. B
eing a leader and taking charge of an
organization is not an easy feat. It is way more
challenging than it looks.
Though, there are plenty of books and even courses
that talk about leadership and what traits every leader
should possess. But leadership comes with a lot of
experience and learning through personal trials and
errors.
In today's competitive business world, organizations
are in dire need of leaders who are mentally oriented to
continuously look forward to reaching the finish line,
set ambitious goals for themselves and their teams, and
are driven by progress.
Algaif Iceland found the one as its CEO, Orri
Björnsson.
Orri has been working in the pharma and nutraceutical
industries for nearly 25 years. He has extensive
experience in building and starting up new plants and
upgrading plants in many different countries. Currently,
he is taking Algaif to new heights with his exemplary
leadership skills and competence in GMP, general
quality, project management, recruitment, and
operations. Today, Algaif Iceland is a leading supplier of
high-grade natural astaxanthin products from micro
algae, including ingredients and finished formulations.
At Algaif, Orri leads by example. We, at CIO Look,
caught up with Orri to know more about his journey
and how Algaif Iceland is helping solve the nutritional
needs of current and future generations through the
development and delivery of sustainable, high-quality
micro algae.
Below are the highlights of the interview:
Brief our audience about your journey as a business
leader until your current position at ALGALIF. What
challenges you had to overcome to reach where you
are today?
I have been working in the pharma and nutraceutical
industries for nearly 25 years. I´ve worked in the
industry in Iceland, and in Eastern Europe as Icelandic
companies took over companies there. Through my
work in Europe, I gained extensive experience in
building and starting up new plants, as well as in
upgrading plants in all sort of condition. That led me to
a position as a consultant for the United Nations in
Africa. All this work in many different countries has
helped me to gather competence in GMP, general
quality, project management, recruitment, and
operations. My track record in getting things done on
time and budget finally led me to Algalif almost a
decade ago. There have been many challenges on that
road, big and small. However, the most difficult ones
always have to do with the human factor of running a
company.
Tell us something more about your company and its
mission and vision.
Algalif is a relatively young Startup company in the
biotechnology sector. It was founded in 2012 and we
started operations in Iceland in 2013. Not long after
that we had our first successful harvest of micro algae
and commercial astaxanthin, which is our main product.
In this short time, we have managed to become a
powerful industry leader. Our mission is to become the
best micro algae producing company in the world. We
are already among the biggest and the quality of our
product is unmatched according to our customers.
Apart from that, sustainability has always been a big
factor for us. My vision is to build a company that can
be a role model for others in green technology and
sustainable industry practice. We are already a green
company, only using 100% renewable geothermal
energy and working under strict Zero Fossil Fuel and
Zero Waste policies. We also want to be a great place to
work. So, quality, reliability and sustainability are the
three key words that we keep in mind every minute of
the workday to reach our mission to be the best and the
greenest in the industry.
Describe in detail the values and the work culture that
drives your organization.
A stated before, we, the Algalif team, work by a simple
philosophy of excellence and sustainability. We are
guided by three words: quality, reliability, and
sustainability. We keep them in mind every day and
every minute of the workday. On top of that we want
Algalif to be a great place to work. Therefore, we try to
make sure that hierarchy in the workplace is as little
and as invisible as possible. My doors are always open,
and we are informal in our communications. We also
make sure that everybody in the company is on board
regarding our vision and mission to become the best
and the greenest company in the industry. I realize that
our success is founded on the great staff that we
managed to get to the company. And even though,
technology, knowledge, finance and leadership matters,

15. the basis of the company is the people working there.
Undeniably, technology is playing a significant role in
almost every sector. How are you leveraging
technological advancements to make your solutions
resourceful?
Our business is basically very simple. We produce one
type of plant micro algae. But to achieve excellent
results, as we have managed to do, we need to take
advantage of all the best technology available. We grow
the algae in glass pipes inside and control the whole
environment very precisely. This is a very high-tech
cultivation of simple organisms. We have excellent
scientists on our staff and approach every step of the
production from a scientific and technical point of view.
Just to give you an idea. The way we set our lamps is a
result of comprehensive experiments and extensive
usage of data. To find the exact spectrum of light to get
the maximum growth at every stage of the algae
lifecycle is a huge task where we use both biology and
data driven technology. And the result is that we have
great productivity.
If given a chance, what change would you like to bring
in the Nutraceuticals Industry?
For any business to be successful you need a few things.
Firstly, you need an idea of course and some capital. But
the number one factor in success of any business is the
knowhow of the team along with leadership,
entrepreneurial spirit, and vision. In other words, good
team, with the right mindset, is the main ingredient in a
recipe for a successful business. This is something that
the tech companies discovered decades ago and their
success, in my opinion, is the result of that realization. I
would like to bring that philosophy of people first, into
the Nutraceuticals Industry. But there is also another
huge reason for the success of Algalif. We believe that
sustainability should be a way of life. All our energy is
green, all our cars run on electricity, we also try to make
sure the food in our canteen is locally sourced and all
other inputs we buy for the business are
environmentally certified. I would like to bring that
vision of sustainability into the Nutraceuticals Industry
as a whole. In my opinion, the best way to do that is to
be a leader and a role model. To really show by example
that a successfulcompany can be carbon neutral and
sustainable. Finally, a transparent and open approach is
vital for the industry to reach higher grounds.
What truth everyone needs to know about Natural
Astaxanthin and Micro algae ingredients with
multiple health benefits?
Algalif is a producer of a raw material that is the
sustainable natural astaxanthin. Our marketing is all
towards other businesses. From our point of view, we
try to get the message of the quality of our work
Algalif is built on a
foundation of quality, purity,
and sustainability, and we
remain firmly committed to
these principles.
“
“
COVER STORY

16. processes and of the professionalism of our quality
assurance team across to all current and future
customers. We also know that the product quality of
our astaxanthin is superb because we have been told so
by our customers and independent labs and
researchers. The health benefits are not really disputed
in the world of science. The health applications are
commonly acknowledged for muscle recovery, anti
inflammatory benefits joints, skin, eyes, hearth,
vascular system, healthy aging and so on. More and
more research is coming out every year to support this.
The truth that everybody needs to know, is that
astaxanthin is an amazing natural product that has very
beneficial effects on human health. And because it
works, it is gaining more and more popularity every
year. All our production is basically sold out and
therefor we are building new facilities and will triple
our production capacity in two years.
What, according to you, could be the next big change
in pharma industry? How is your company preparing
to be a part of that change?
Everywhere we look, people are talking and thinking
about the climate, global environmental issues, and
sustainability. People are also taking action. In my
opinion the big change will be that the market will
demand traceability of all ingredients and they also
need to be produced in a sustainable manner. We are
also seeing this happening in the food industry. Being
environmentally friendly or sustainable is no longer
something that gives you a market advantage. It is more
and more becoming an entry ticket into the market. We
can clearly see this happening in Europe and America,
but also in Asia and other parts of the world. Algalif is at
the forefront of sustainability in this industry and we
prepare for the future by getting even better at the
things we are doing well.
Where do you envision yourself to be in the long run
and what are your future goals for ALGALIF?
The future goals for Algalif are clear. We want to be the
best micro algae company in the world and a leader in
sustainability, both in our industry sector and in our
community. We are on our way to become the biggest
producer of sustainable natural astaxanthin in the
world. Once our new facilities in Iceland are finished,
we will be producing micro algae in a 12.500m2 state-
of -the-art facilities with an environmental footprint
that is close to zero. At the same time, we want to
nurture our amazing team and still be a great place to
work.

18. My personal goal is to spread our vision of quality and
sustainability into the industry and the community.
Algalif is a great example of how to use green energy to
create a profitable business and good jobs for young,
educated people. Now we only produce one type of
micro algae, but we are already doing R&D into other
types of algae to produce other ingredients. I want to
see Algalif grow and be one of the global leaders in the
health and sustainability in the coming years.
What would be your advice to budding entrepreneurs
who aspire to venture into the Biotechnology sector?
The Biotechnology sector is young, and this industry is
growing and changing fast. Unfortunately, only few of
the companies and ideas that start the journey ever
become a fully grown and profitable companies. We
managed to that at Algalif, and we are thankful to
everybody that helped us on that journey. My advice to
other entrepreneurs who aspire to venture into
biotechnology is to remember that this is a teamwork.
Sure, you need vision, you need knowledge and capital,
but the team is the heart of soul of each startup
company. And do not forget about your social
responsibility. No man, and no company is an island.
Give back to the society and be a leader in
sustainability. These have been my guiding lights in
building one of the biggest and most successful micro
algae companies in Europe.

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20. Brent Kruel
A Veteran Turned Entrepreneur
to Improve the Quality of Life
A
passionate drive to truly care for people by
helping to eliminate their pain and poor health
is what led Brent Kruel to create BioFunctional
Health Solutions, Inc. (BHS). As the Chief Executive
Officer, Brent utilizes his profound expertise to make
BHS the leader in onsite and digital wellness solutions
for U.S. employers. His venture has revolutionized
corporate occupational health by leveraging the latest
technology and mobility healthcare trusted by small
businesses to Fortune 500 companies.
We, at CIO Look, came across Brent in our endeavor to
find 'The 10 Most Inspiring CEOs to Watch, 2021.' Our
conversation led to more in-depth insights on how
Brent and BHS have changed the landscape of the
healthcare sector with their innovative technologies.
Let's unveil the journey to understand more about the
Brent and his strategic mission in the health and
wellness community.
Where did it all Begin?
Upon enlisting in the Air Force, after graduating from
high school, Brent was assigned to a combat
communications unit which introduced him to some of
the most advanced technology of his time. He quickly
developed passions for both technology and helping
people. This was born out of his experiences during
deployment into combat environments and
humanitarian missions like Operation Uphold
Democracy, in Haiti, in 1994. Brent went on to attend
the United States Air Force Academy, in Colorado
Springs, CO. While there, Brent’s highly athletic
lifestyle led him to the track where he competed as an
NCAA Division I varsity 800-meter runner for the
Academy’s track and field team.
Brent also suffered a severe injury resulting in a
fractured spine from jumping out of an airplane at
10,000 ft during his time at the Air Force Academy.
This injury jeopardized his commission and the ability
to compete in the 800-meter. He pushed through the
pain but still needed help to heal. He became
passionate about alternative therapies that would
reduce the pain and inflammation and allow him to
function and compete. This new passion led him to
choose the medical service corps office upon his
graduation from the Air Force Academy in 2000.
It was a formative experience for Brent's career to be a
medic in the Air Force. Some of his accomplishments
include being in charge of building a new hospital, CIO
of a large inpatient facility at 27 years old and landing
the job of hospital administrator of the largest hospital
in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Air Force also
sponsored his in-residence Master's in Healthcare
Administration at the #1 school of public health in the
nation, UNC-Chapel Hill.
A year after separating from the Air Force, Brent was
promoted to his first executive-level position in a
significant software and services company that was a
market leader in healthcare insurance and payment
processing software. Not long after, Brent suffered
another injury, a torn ACL, that required surgery. This
was a success, but he lost range of motion in his knee
and it was suggested that he have yet another surgery.
Brent did not see this as an option and he went on a
quest to find other alternatives. This is when Brent was
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21. 19
Brent Kruel
Chief Executive Officer
BioFunctional Health Solutions, Inc.
| November2021 |
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22. introduced to a better healthcare option and a model
that professional athletic teams used on their athletes.
In less than five minutes, in a treatment that looked like
a pinpointed massage, he regained full range of motion
without surgery.
Brent has experienced four more miracles of this level
using these soft-tissue healthcare methods and avoided
four surgeries. He now lives pain-free.
Brent’s passion about bringing this care to as many
Americans as possible in his lifetime led him to create a
company that will carry on his passion to a larger scale
for generations to come. And so began the birth of
BioFunctional Health Solutions. BHS is now the leader
in TOTAL health and wellness, leveraging technology as
well as hands-on soft tissue healthcare to resolve and
treat conditions that cause pain. But this is not where it
ends. This dynamic company offers a whole litany of
other traditional wellness modalities.
On the Mission of Healthier Nation
BHS is radically passionate about improving American
employees' quality of life, leading to a better tomorrow
for them and their employers.
20
It’s mission is to make the chronic pain prevention and
resolution programs available to as many employees
and their families as possible, knowing that this will lead
to a healthier, happier, and more productive nation,
asserts Brent.
The company intends to be available to every American
by 2023 either through employer-sponsored wellness
programs or its new application, YouMari. BHS is the
first company to translate its hands-on system into a
self-treatment system coupled with a symptom checker
enabling customized self-treatment programs to
resolve musculoskeletal conditions accessible from
anywhere.
A Complete Wellbeing Approach
BHS is a thought leader and innovator in
musculoskeletal health. It has become the standard
pathway for resolving musculoskeletal conditions
(MSKs) like back pain, shoulder/neck pain, carpal tunnel
syndrome (CTS), and many more, which are very
expensive, invasive, and a leading cause of opiate
addictions in the United States.
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23. It is bringing American employees the most effective,
least invasive, and most affordable resolution for these
MSK issues that cause over 50% of adults' chronic pain.
It does this by detecting injuries and dysfunctions
through its patented 3D mobility health assessment
system and leveraging a proven hands-on system that
professional athletes trust.
This hands-on system is not new, although it is not
widely available. According to Brent, the system was
developed in 1991 by a doctor of osteopathy that made
a revolutionary discovery regarding the relationship
between the connective tissues (fascia) and MSKs. This
system has been widely adopted in elite sports to
include professional sports and Olympic athletes.
These elite athletes are not the only ones who need to
stay pain-free and competitive; your employees
deserve this care as well so they can be productive and
safe in the workplace.
Innovating Technology
BHS is an innovator in technology and consummate
collaborators with others advancing technology in its
field. It was the first to implement patented screening
tools using a 3D range of motion analysis that identifies
dysfunctions in the musculoskeletal system and joints.
This analysis helps it to treat repetitive motion injuries
before they become painful chronic conditions.
Envisioning Future Wellness Culture
BHS envisions itself servicing 100 million Americans
within the next three years with its onsite and online
solutions. Its goal is to be the first choice in employee
wellness and MSK treatment for individuals.
Guiding the Caretakers of Tomorrow
Brent advises upcoming entrepreneurs in Employee
Health and Wellness sector to match the solutions
according to market needs by seeking and
understanding the market before designing any
solution. He says, "This is how we were able to redefine
ourselves prior to developing and adopting technology that
supports our solutions.”
"Do not get caught under the complexity avalanche of
technology functionality and instead leverage technology to
enhance outcomes for your customers without burdening
them with using the technology," concludes Brent.
"We keep your
employees happy
& healthy."
21
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26. Empowering Others:
One Step Success
Closer to
24
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27. A
ny organization is as powerful as the individuals
within the organization. The success of any
organization is dependent on how talented and
resourceful people are there in the organization.
Together everyone certainly attains more. The power of
unity has the potential to break all the shackles and
cross all the challenges that may inevitably come on the
journey of success. Together people are able to make up
for the weaknesses of each other and are able to
enhance the strengths of each other. Challenges make
the journey interesting because, in the process of
overcoming these challenges, one gets to learn many
things, and overcoming these challenges gives more
meaning to the journey.
There is a part of leaders that gets imprinted on the
employees in their organizations. Therefore, having an
exemplary leader is the most crucial part of the success
of any organization. When competition turns to the
contribution, then life or business becomes a
celebration. Leaders of the organizations should
promote healthy competition between their team
members. The purpose of healthy competition is to
drive the growth of the organization. Everyone should
contribute their best in a healthy spirit of contribution,
which ultimately leads to the organization's increased
success.
The empowerment by leaders of the organizations goes
a long way in bringing out the best in the individuals in
the organizations. Empowerment means to bring out
the best in the people one is leading. Leaders have to
lead by example in order to make a difference in every
person in their organization. Leaders should have a
system in place for the systematic training and
guidance of the people in their organizations to make
them more resourceful and talented. The role of
empowering others is absolutely the most important
task of leaders to drive the sustainable success of their
organizations.
Without the quality contribution from the team
members, it is impossible to attain great results. Great
results come from the great empowerment of the
people in the organization. They should be inspired to
do their best; they should be nourished with the
necessary intelligence. To lead others effectively,
leaders should first learn to lead themselves effectively.
For that purpose, leaders have to exhibit high
competence and strong character. High competence
and strong character in leaders make them more
trustworthy. This helps them lead by being genuinely
exemplary, and they also have positive self-esteem to
lead and empower their team members.
The best way to increase the productivity of the team
members is by empowering them. The empowered
people are able to justice to their roles, routines, and
responsibilities more judiciously. What matters is
receiving the right guidance from the right people. If
employees of the organization get good guidance from
their leaders, they will be able to make a more
significant contribution to the organization's cause. It
depends so much on the complementary efforts by the
teammates and the leaders that lead to the successful
growth of the organizations. There are no shortcuts to
success. Employees and leaders should be conscious of
putting their efforts in something worthwhile pursuits
to achieve something valuable. They should be super
cognizant of implementing the latest technologies in
their organizations to improve the solutions provided.
It is absolutely of importance to deliver more than
expected to be more credible.
Nothing substantial in this world can be attained
without sufficient contribution from all the team
members and without empowering leadership at the
helm of the organizations. Therefore, the value of
empowering leaders is very much in all organizations.
Individuals are only at the maximum as much strength
as the leaders. As the contribution spirit of every
member in the team increases, their generosity to serve
very productively increases. If the leaders empower
their team members with sufficient inspiration and
appropriate guidance, they will be able to do the most
significant contribution to the organizations' successful
growth, and there can be more causes of celebration for
organizations.
25
Assistive Leadership
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28. 26
Brian J. Esposito
Founder & CEO
Esposito Intellectual
Enterprises (EIE)
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29. BrianJ.
Esposito
Creating Bigger and Better Visions for the World
he worldwide business connections and strategic
Tresources enhance the prospects for success.
Knowing how to connect people to create a
solution puts your dreams into action. Driving that
passion of connecting executives around the globe is
Brian J. Esposito, who knows what it takes to make a
brand successful.
With over 20 years of experience in high-profile
executive roles involving complex business challenges
and high-stakes decisions, Brian founded Esposito
Intellectual Enterprises (EIE) in New York in 2013. He
is also serving as the CEO of the company.
Brian has dedicated himself to enriching the lives of the
people globally as he proves himself to lead with a clear
sense of direction and purpose. He is an incredible
connector and is directly responsible for the growth of
the company through strategic relationships.
Wholly owned by Brian, EIE currently has 75+ entities
within it and over 150 joint ventures that have been
accumulated around the world over the last 20 years.
With a technique that he spent years perfecting, Brian
connects the right people at the right time. He says,
Integrity is at the core of who we are and what we do at
EIE. We strive to do good business with good people.
We, at CIO Look, caught up with Brian to know more
about his entrepreneurial journey and his contribution
to the finance industry through EIE.
Below are the highlights of the interview:
Brief our audience about your journey as a business
leader until your current position at Esposito
Intellectual Enterprises. What challenges you had to
overcome to reach where you are today?
Over the last 20 years has been one hell of a ride. There
have been numerous base hits, doubles, triples, home
runs, and many strike-outs as well as hit by pitches. If
you can follow the business comparison to baseball I am
trying to make here. I would not trade my journey for
anything, it has allowed me to grow, overcome so many
challenges, understand people, and more importantly
how to properly navigate any situation. I've always felt,
and now officially learned, that there is always a
solution, and time spent on figuring out what that
solution is, is more productive than worrying about it,
complaining about it, crying why me! about it, or
worse, adding more potential issues on top of it.
Enlighten us on how you have made an impact in the
Investment Banking niche through your expertise in
the market.
I have gone to the school of finance through the streets
and learning how to survive, add value, grow, pivot, and
create market-clearing transactions. I have a unique
ability to see things differently, understand what the
market needs, and put together the right people, teams,
and companies to create products, services, solutions,
or technology properly priced and then correctly
distributed to the market.
These efforts are to create real tangible value, boost
balance sheets, and create win/win situations for all
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30. parties involved. That's what I had to do and learn for
myself while building EIE, and more importantly, that's
what I love to do with the startups, and even up to
fortune 500 companies I get to work with; create value.
Describe in detail the values and the work culture that
drives your organization.
We are an ecosystem of a few very simple philosophies.
First, the company motto for quite some time is, and
always will be, that Time Is Our Most Precious
Commodity. This is a crucial foundation that we only
utilize that precious time with opportunities, people,
and desired outcomes that we feel are worth it.
Money is a by-product of doing great work, and with
that, we turn down more opportunities than we accept
to be involved with if we feel the companies, entities, or
individuals do not have true ethical standards or a good
moral compass. I am very fortunate to be able to be
very selective with who I invite into my world and who
is escorted out if they add any negativity or toxic
behaviors.
Undeniably, technology is playing a significant role in
almost every sector. How are you leveraging
technological advancements to make your solutions
resourceful?
I have always been technology-focused since the mid to
late 90's when I built the first B2B and B2C e-
commerce platform for the beauty industry. Since then,
I have been building and working with some exceptional
technologies. However, with that, the new and
seasoned Brian J. Esposito will only build technologies
that have a firm business path to generate positive
earnings.
I do not build or get involved with companies that have
the hope to make money one day; they need to be on
a trajectory to have a need in the market with a long-
term positive outlook. I do not like the idea of unicorns,
I like real businesses that create positive sustainable
healthy earnings, and I love to de-risk the use of my
time or resources when I get involved. That means
immediately creating value and putting something out
into the market that is desirable, accessible, fills a need,
and priced accordingly.
“
Use not only your
capital but your
network to create
new revenue-
generating
opportunities for
your investments.
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31. If given a chance, what change would you like to bring
in the Finance industry?
I would love to see the hundreds of billions of dollars
that go into supporting unicorns be more spread out
to startups around the world. I believe this would fuel
tremendous innovation, job creation, and millions of
successful startups. VC's and investment banking firms
that are supporting unicorns because they are too big
to fail are just wrong to me.
Once the IPO and those equity holders have a liquidity
event, the new public stockholders that get in on the
IPO price usually lose a lot of their investment. The
market is not stupid and prices equities based on a
multiplier of earnings. Eventually, those equities come
back up and even surpass their IPO prices, but in some
cases, this can take many years.
Where do you envision yourself in the long run, and
what are your future goals for Esposito Intellectual
Enterprises?
I expect our core business philosophies to be timeless,
which are; find a need, fill a need, and work with good,
talented, ethical people. With this simple approach, I
believe we can continue to create exceptional value and
continue to grow, pivot when needed, and create long-
term safe strategies that protect EIE. I want to create a
world that can continue to do great things with or
without me, and EIE is getting to that point where it can
live on and do what it was built to do, establish win/win
situations that create sustainability and tangible value.
De-risk the capital and
give these companies
more of your time.
“
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34. W
hen a compassionate leader encourages
people around them, they lay a strong
foundation of acknowledgment and
support. They create an environment filled with
passion, enthusiasm, and commitment to contribute to
improving humanity's future.
Implementing this compassionate approach, Dan
Prince set out on a mission to make healthcare better
with his venture illumisoft. As the Founder and CEO, he
assists his clients in understanding their needs and
provides them with the correct software solutions.
CIO LOOK embarked on a quest to find inspiring
leaders; we came across Dan. We talked with him to
know how his experience of over two decades has
maximized resources that help healthcare
organizations.
Below are the highlights of the interview:
Brief our audience about your journey as a business
leader until your current position at illumisoft. What
challenges have you had to overcome to reach where
you are today?
I got my start very early in life thanks to having
entrepreneurial parents who were early adopters of
computers for their deposition service back in the mid-
seventies. This allowed me to learn about computer
architecture and coding at an early age. Playing with
computers back then was like a game to me. I played on
the computer much as I played on my Atari. I didn't
imagine that it would turn into a life-long interest or a
career. In my 20s, I worked in construction, and it
wasn't until I was a father of four with all the bills that
accompanied my children that I decided to get a college
degree. I worked part-time, and my wife watched the
kids while I went to school full time for four years to
earn the piece of paper that would begin my journey
into professional technology development.
In early 2014, I was given the opportunity to help
someone that was in dire need, the CEO of an early
startup by the name of Unidoor Enterprises, who had
hired a technology agency to produce a prototype of a
software system. After several months without any
evidence of progress, he wanted me to help him
determine if he should continue that relationship. He
wanted me to do an assessment, and of course, he
wanted to pay me for my time. My initial response was
to turn him down. I didn't need another job. I had a good
job already as a software development manager over
several teams at Epiq Systems in Kansas City. But over
the next several weeks, he contacted me several more
times, asking and then finally pleading with me to help
him. I gave in and agreed, but only because of his
desperation. I said I would help him, but I wasn't going
to charge him because I didn't want the hassle of billing
and taxes. I just wanted to give him a quick favor and
then go on with my life. After a preliminary audit of the
agency situation, I determined that they would not be
able to provide the system. I reported the same back to
the Unidoor CEO with regret about the situation. But
then I saw hopelessness in his eyes. The owner had
invested a lot of money, and the lack of software was
keeping them from moving forward. If the CEO couldn't
deliver on his part, it would be a huge issue for the
entire company.
So, again, I gave in and told him I would see what I could
do. Within a month, I had hired a handful of developers
and was busily creating the software for Unidoor. So
those are the things that inspired me to push forward
with illumisoft and as a business leader in general. I just
want to build something that inspires my sons to build
their own businesses and, hopefully along the way, set
an example about being centered around helping
others.
Tell us something more about your company and its
mission and vision.
I take a lot of pride in the fact that my company, as a
result of the people within it, is about as modern as you
can get. We are a 100% remote company that focuses
on high-quality customer service as the utmost priority
in any client relationship. We mean it. We would rather
provide good customer service than make a profit and
are willing to make sacrifices to make sure that our
clients get what they want and what they need. Each
member of our team values hard work, intelligence, and
a drive to be the best that we can be for our clients.
At illumisoft, our mission is to provide the healthcare
industry with a technology partner that helps them to
make the technology changes necessary to provide the
best healthcare results possible. Our vision is to make
technology work out of healthcare work. We'll do the
tech stuff that enables you to do healthcare at your
best.
Enlighten us on how you have made an impact in your
industry through your expertise in the market.
I wouldn't say that we've really had an impact on the
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35. BringingLifetoInnovativeIdeas
toImpactLivesofMillions
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36. “Talent wins Games,
Teamwork wins Championships.”
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37. industry...yet. However, we have had an impact
on our region in terms of our competition.
Time and time again, we have had clients take
projects away from other vendors and give
them to us. We hope to be able to repeat this
pattern of delivery so that we can also repeat
the pattern of exponential growth, ultimately
expanding beyond Kansas City to every
research hospital in the US and abroad.
Describe in detail the values and the work
culture that drives your organization.
Being centered around helping others is why
we at illumisoft have focused our services on
the healthcare industry. We realized at some
point several years ago that building great
solutions feels good, and delighting our clients
feels great. But, building great solutions that
delight our clients and then realizing you've
helped literally hundreds of thousands of
people around the world live happier,
healthier lives feels noble, heroic, and worth it.
Where do you envision yourself to be in the
long run, and what are your future goals for
illumisoft?
I see illumisoft becoming the go-to custom
solution provider for hospitals, private
practices, and research centers across the
United States. Eventually, we will spread
worldwide. We have already seen a consistent,
incremental increase in our growth, and we
expect that to continue at an exponential rate.
Additionally, we plan on becoming a product
company and combining that with our service
offerings. We have several product ideas in the
works, and we have a couple of products
already built that we are beginning to market
now.
What would be your advice to emerging
leaders?
I've got a lot of advice for emerging leaders,
but it does depend on their situation to a
certain extent. If I had to give blanket advice, I
would say you read and read constantly. Learn
everything that you can learn. Understand
that people are flawed and that you have to
accept them for their contribution rather than
their proximity to your ideal. Operate your life
out of a place of love for other people. I truly
believe that, although it is kind of corny.
35
Dan Prince
Founder CEO
illumisoft
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38. Leading From
Leading From
W
ith great position comes great responsibility.
The role of the Chief Executive Officer
(CEO) is important for the success of every
organization. CEO of the organization sets the tone for
everyone else. The standards the leader of the
organizations set are emulated by everyone else in the
organization. Therefore, it is important for CEO to lead
from the front by taking responsibility so as to present
the inspiring standard in front of others. CEO is
responsible for leading everybody in the right direction
for successful business growth. No organization can
prosper and attain great heights without the inspiring
role and contribution of a CEO.
Those CEOs who utilize the power and position they
have to positively impact their organizations and
industry are highly motivated themselves. The good
traits in them help them to become inspiring CEOs. A
CEO of any company sets the company's direction and
establishes a strategy for the growth and development
of the organization's business. He or she sets the values
that are essential for the success of the organization
and plays an important role in cultivating good
behavioral norms in the employees in the organization.
CEOs have to prioritize maintaining a positive work
culture and cooperative spirit to boost the company's
productive output and revenue. They make sure that
their employees are trained sufficiently to contribute
successfully to the cause of the organization.
Moreover, CEOS set clear objectives in front of
everyone, and they set the right platform for employees
for meeting the needs of the clients. They make sure
that they are doing justice to the needs of all the
stakeholders involved. Great CEOs know how to
channelize all their resources and assets appropriately
to be a win-win situation for everyone involved in their
businesses.
Inspiring CEOs energize and empower their teammates
and employees. They bring out the best in others. They
see the potential in others and fan that spark to
increase the productivity and efficiency of everyone.
They inspire employees to perform better, nourish
them with the strength of knowledge, training, and
guidance, and strengthen their employees' spinal cord
with their continuous and unwavering support. They
engage their assets and resources creatively to get the
most return from them. They inspire their workforce to
adhere to the mission, vision, values, and objectives of
the organization and contribute their level best for the
cause of the organization and attain great success in
their businesses.
Inspiring CEOs make the lives of their employees easier.
They help them in balancing their personal and
professional lives. They understand that happy
employees are able to contribute the best to the cause
of the organization, and therefore they promote the
happy, flexible, inclusive, and united culture in their
organization. They keep the morale of everyone to the
highest level.
The great CEOs are not afraid to break the traditions.
They are innovative and disruptive in their approach to
providing newer and evolved solutions to clients. They
adopt best practices to deliver the best solutions to
their clients. They have a broad perspective, and they
see the larger picture. Accordingly, they take the most
valuable decisions that are in the interest of the
organization and ensure the sustainable success of the
company they are leading. They are clever at
implementing newer technologies for improving overall
functionalities.
The proactiveness and presence of mind help them in
becoming the most inspiring CEO for others. They don’t
micromanage, they don’t manipulate or control others,
but they simply increase the capacities of others to do
more for the cause of the organization. They promote a
healthy work-life balance in their employees. They
appreciate the good work done by employees and
reward them. They encourage others to do their best
for the overall growth and development of their
organization.
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39. m the Front
m the Front
Peerless Role
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42. James Michael
Lafferty
A Visionary Leader Improving the Lives of People
D
escribed as one of the most diversified CEOs,
James Michael Lafferty is not just an influential
leader. He is also an Olympic Coach, an award-
winning journalist, a college professor, a competitive
athlete, a philanthropist, a husband, and a father of 5.
Currently, James is steering the ship of Fine Hygienic
Holding (FHH) as its CEO. An embodiment of influential
leadership, James leads by example, integrity, positive
energy, and a clear sense of direction.
At CIO Look, we caught up with James to know more
about his inspiring leadership journey and how he has
taken Fine Hygienic Holding to new heights.
Diverse and Wide-Ranging Life
Growing up, James dreamt of being a track and field
coach, which led him being hired as a fitness instructor
by Procter Gamble in 1984. This is where his course
changed – a client who was a brand manager pushed
him to apply for a job in marketing. He was turned down
at first but refused to take no for an answer – and that
is how his international corporate career began.
Since then, James has worked for a number of multi-
national corporations, including Cola-Cola and British
American Tobacco across Europe, Africa, and Asia, and
now his home is in the Middle East.
He joined the FHH board in 2015, and impressed with
the ambition and potential of the company, he eagerly
agreed to become CEO in 2018.
Driven by Mission and Vision
FHH is, first and foremost, a wellness company. Building
on the legacy as a leading manufacturer of sterilized
paper products and its consistent dedication to quality
has earned FHH the title #1 Sterilized Tissues in the
World. The company also produces market-leading
antiviral protection solutions, an area where the
pandemic crisis opened the door for exponential
growth.
More recently it has focused on innovation in the
wellness industry. As a wellness company, its mission is
to improve the lives of consumers, and it is taking the
opportunity to do more than ever before to help the
people it serves. The company motto is: “If you don’t
have your health, you don’t have anything”. This commit-
ment extends into absolutely everything it does.
Its vision is to become and remain the shining star of
the Arab FMCG business world. It focuses on out-
innovating its competition. FHH is on a journey to
become a publicly listed company on the London Stock
Exchange. James believes that it will become truly a
“big-time” company—uttered in the same breath
alongside the world’s finest corporations and
organizations.
A Principle-based Team
James never fully let go of his beginnings as a sports
coach and incorporating wellbeing in the Fine Hygienic
Holding ethos was his personal priority. This is not
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43. 41
James Michael
Lafferty
CEO
Fine Hygienic
Holding (FHH)
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44. limited to the products the company sells, although
they are developed to promote greater wellness for all
the customers; it relates to how it values the employees
– the most important asset and it goes above and
beyond to make sure they are in an environment where
they can thrive.
James states that FHH is committed to their health and
well-being, and believes that “if we take care of the
people, the business will take care of itself.” An example of
this in practice is the new corporate wellness facilities
at its offices in Dubai – offering the employees free
access to exercise equipment and classes. It has also
launched a number of programs to look after the
mental health of the employees ever since coronavirus
hit.
When the Going Got Tough
Every sportsman knows that you can never rest on your
laurels – and in 60 years Fine has accumulated more
than a few (40 prestigious awards and counting), but it
continues to evolve. Anticipating the COVID-19 crisis,
Fine Hygienic Holding saw that it could make a real
difference. The company pivoted towards safeguarding
“We also take our
responsibility for
the world we are
leaving behind
seriously and are
committed to
making our
operations
environmentally
sustainable.”
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45. the health of consumers by developing the Fine Guard
line, which uses the most advanced long-term antiviral
protection in the market. Its reusable masks, hand
sanitizer, and specialized disinfectants have been
thoroughly tested in global labs and proven to eliminate
99.9% of germs, offering comprehensive and effective
protection.
Bringing Best Technology for the People
When it comes to leveraging technological advance-
ments, FHH has invested heavily in a complete digital
transformation, allowing it to conduct the business
despite lockdowns and across its various locations. The
company also launched its e-commerce platform, The
Fine Shop, to allow the customers safe and easy access
to all its products.
The organization utilizes a range of patented technolo-
gies in the manufacturing processes: SteriPro, which is
used to sanitize its paper products, and Fine Guard line
incorporates two different non-toxic cutting-edge
technologies, reflecting its commitment to innovation
based on the changing needs of consumers everywhere.
The company has adopted technology to drastically
reduce the use of freshwater in its production pro-
cesses, support only sustainable forestry practices,
have a zero policy for landfill waste across all the
operations, and use natural gas instead of heavy fuel
where possible.
Shaping a Better Tomorrow
Talking about the future plans, James mentions that
since its establishment, FHH has championed progress,
innovation, and diversity. As it looks to the future, it will
continue to lead by moving to the forefront of holistic
wellness. The company’s consistent focus is developing
products centred on its customers’ needs and health.
Through life-saving products like Fine Guard and
health-boosting products like Motiva supplements, it
genuinely wishes to help in small yet meaningful ways
to make the world a better place. FHH is also looking to
expand into new markets, ensuring that its wellness
solutions benefit more people on the planet.
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