The 10 Most Inspiring CEOs Making a Difference in 2023.pdf

CHRISTOPHER
Novel Insights
Disrup ve Innova on
and the Role of the
CEO in Driving Change
CHRISTOPHER
Carter Committed to Empower
Sheer Excellence
Christopher Carter
Founder and CEO
Approyo
Inspiring
Making a
Difference
in
2023
The
Most
Prospects of Innova on
The Importance of
Con nuous Learning and
Self-improvement for CEOs
and Business Leaders
VOL-04 | ISSUE-10 | 2023

Business Arena
Business Arena
the Gems of
the Gems of
Showcasing Brilliance of
Showcasing Brilliance of

Abhishek Joshi
The business world is constantly changing; business
leaders are adapting to new challenges and
opportunities. They are flexible and open to new
ideas and are willing to pivot their strategy when necessary.
In the dynamic business arena, an inspiring CEO is true to
themselves and their values. They are honest and
transparent with their team and are able to build trust
through their authenticity. A CEO who is empathetic and
understands the needs of their team can create a positive
and supportive work environment.
A successful business leader is often the driving force
behind a company's growth and success. A CEO possesses
various traits that create a difference from the rest and can
motivate and inspire their team to reach new heights. An
inspiring CEO has a clear and compelling vision for their
company's future. They are able to articulate this vision in a
way that motivates their team and creates a sense of
purpose.
A leader who is passionate about their work can inspire
others to share that passion. They are enthusiastic about
their company's mission and are willing to go above and
beyond to achieve their goals. An excellent CEO is able to
make tough decisions quickly and confidently. They weigh
the pros and cons of each option and make a choice based
on what is best for the company.
They listen to their employees and are able to address their
concerns in a thoughtful and compassionate way. Building a
successful company is not without its challenges, and an
inspiring CEO is able to bounce back from setbacks and
keep moving forward. They are tenacious and persistent in
the face of adversity. A CEO possesses a combination of
vision, passion, decisiveness, adaptability, authenticity,
empathy, and resilience. These traits enable them to lead
their team to success and create a positive impact on the
world.
Spotlighting these charismas and their odyssey of
excellence, the latest edition of Insights Success, “The 10
Most Inspiring CEOs Making a Difference in 2023,”
features the CEOs who are making a positive difference in
their respective industries in 2023.
These CEOs are not only successful in their businesses but
also lead with purpose and have a significant impact on
their communities and the world. Flip through the pages
and indulge in this saga of brilliance.
Have a delightful read!
T

08
CHRISTOPHER
Sheer Excellence
Cover
Story

Contents
Paige Arnof-Fenn
Enabling Immense Business Growth
24
Navigating the Future
How Emerging Technologies Are Shaping Business
36
Digital Revolution and Innovative Technologies
Commerce Reinvents itself to meet the
challenges of the Digital Age
32
A r t i c a l
Prospects of Innovation
The Importance of Continuous Learning
and Self-improvement for CEOs and
Business Leaders
28
Novel Insights
Disruptive Innovation and the Role
of the CEO in Driving Change
20
32
24
C X O
Nicolae Buldumac
Leading the Charge in Innovation and Growth
16
16
36

sales@insightssuccess.com
April, 2023
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Sales Executives
Tim
Business Development Executives
Steve, Joe
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Abhishek Joshi
Ankita Pandharpure
Jenny Fernandes Anish Miller

Inspiring
Making a
Difference
in
2023
The
Most
Brief
Company Name
Adeshina Adewumi is a social entrepreneur, MB100 2021
Entrepreneur committed to using technology to support small
retail businesses as regards Access to market and Finance
across emerging markets.
Featured Person
Trade Lenda
tradelenda.com
Adeshina Adewumi
CEO
Bailey is a results-driven entrepreneur with a passion for
helping business leaders develop, launch and manage
successful companies, products and services.
The Jordan Group
Jordancollective.com
Bailey Jordan
CEO
Bruce Magown is the Founder, Chairman and CEO at the
InterWeave and is supported by a passionate team that is
empowering businesses of all kinds with CRM integrated
solutions.
Integration Technologies
interweave.biz
Bruce Magown
Founder, Chairman
and CEO
With almost 30 years of experience in the SAP industry,
Christopher M. Carter founded Approyo to provide full SAP
service technology with extensive capabilities in hosting and
managing services, upgrades, and migration of its clients,
running any AP-supported core functionality.
Approyo
approyo.com
Christopher Carter
Founder and CEO
Dupe Olusola serves as the Managing Director/CEO Transcorp
Hotels Plc., Africa's leading hospitality brand; and owners of
the award winning Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja & Transcorp
Hotels Calabar.
Transcorp Hotels PLC
transcorphotelsplc.com
Dupe Olusola
Managing Director
and CEO
Royal Holloway graduate, Nicolae has learned well to express
himself in an easy-to-follow way for professionals and
beginners alike
Global Database
globaldatabase.com
Nicolae Buldumac
Founder and CEO
Paige is a creative, strategic thinker who exudes energy and
enthusiasm and she continues to identify and address strategic
marketing opportunities.
Mavens and Moguls
mavensandmoguls.com
Paige Arnof-Fenn
Founder and CEO
An accomplished CEO with a track record of success in
business development and Project Management whilst working
for a variety of Government Bodies and private sector
organisations.
Hafan Cymru
hafancymru.co.uk
Sian Morgan
CEO
Thierry M. enables customer experience by providing highly
innovative payment services through Social networks, instant
messaging applications, ultra-secured E-mails and texts.
Paytweak
Paytweak.com
Thierry M.
CEO
Veronica considers herself a creative mind with a clear focus on
innovation in the digital space and ﬁnancial inclusion.
MO Technologies
motecnologias.com
Veronica Crisafulli
CEO

Cover
Story
Christopher Carter
Founder and CEO
Approyo

CHRISTOPHER
Sheer Excellence
Approyo has a ﬁrm mission to
support any company running SAP software
and to support them with the best skilled and
most supportive staﬀ members around
the planet.

ransformation is imperative for most companies
Ttoday. In a fast-paced environment marked by
digitization, organizations face threats that emerge
faster and from a broader range of competitors than ever
before. In this environment, some businesses must
transform their organizations to stay competitive, while
others are experiencing a decline in performance and
require drastic measures to turn things around.
As a result, CEOs cannot concentrate solely on short-term
operational improvements. They must also present a
strategy for new growth—the transformation's success
chapter. This entails challenging the firm's business model's
foundations, developing a new vision for growth (via new
products, services, and value propositions), and a pure
commitment to innovation.
There are additional traits and abilities that come with
confidence. When CEOs are confident in themselves, they
also have confidence in the company they are in charge of,
its employees, and the work everyone completes to bring
even more success to the organization.
Some of the best CEOs are genuinely enthusiastic about
their work and the company they lead. This is usually
because they believe in the mission statement and values of
the company and want others to do the same. Employees
notice these qualities in their leaders and are inspired to
emulate them in their work.
CEOs keep their promises, finish their work, communicate
effectively, share company news on time, and make time
and resources available to employees. When a CEO is
dependable, employees can have faith in the organization's
potential.
Striving towards the horizons of success with all these
attributes that exhibit exceptional leadership and sheer
brilliance is Christopher Carter, CEO of Approyo.
With almost 30 years of experience in the SAP industry,
Christopher Carter founded Approyo to provide full SAP
service technology with extensive capabilities in hosting
and managing services, upgrades, and migrating its clients,
running any AP-supported core functionality.
Under Christopher's adept leadership, Approyo provides
full SAP service technology with extensive capabilities in
hosting and managed services, upgrades, and migrations for
its customers, running any SAP-supported core
functionality.
With over a thousand SAP environments under
management around the globe, the organization supports
businesses from production landscapes to migrations onto
SAP S/4 HANA.
In this exclusive interview with Insights Success,
Christopher shares valuable facts highlighting his
professional tenure, journey, and the significance of
Approyo as a global leader in the dynamic business arena.
Below are the excerpts from the interview:
Brief our audience about your journey as a business
leader until your current position at Approyo. What
challenges have you had to overcome to reach where you
are today?
My journey has been a long and winding trail of success
and failure of highs and lows of growth and stagnation. It's
one thing that makes me proud of my current status in this
journey, as every executive will learn, and every executive
knows no path is a straight line.
As such, I started out as a young man in Wisconsin, having
grown up in the home of a parent who was on the social
welfare system. We lived in and out of different homes with
different friends and coaches throughout my youth. As we
finally settled down for my high school years, I gravitated
toward business and athletics.
People work for me and with me,
but I also treat them as if some
family members would be treated
like bringing them inside the fence.
the planet.

One of the things that caught my eye early in 1984 was
computers. I literally bought the first Commodores Vic 20.
It was the first time I ever coded on a computer. It was a
cool experience. I had seagulls flying across my screen, and
I was soon creating my own video games and code.
Some of the trials and tribulations as I went through college
learning about a new SAP creativity called R3 were surreal.
There were highs and lows growths and stunts, but at the
end of the day, it's not how many times you get knocked
down. It's how many times you get up and keep moving
forward. Can you take a punch? Can you take a hit and
keep moving forward?
As Sylvester Stallone quoted in the great movie rocky, I
was fortunate in my early years to be able to run with some
SAP folks who have taken to executive positions; having
good friends in the ecosystem is always exciting and
beneficial. We can share ideas, thoughts and concepts with
each other.
Even when I was highly leveraged in one of my companies,
with one of our clients taking up 70% of all billable
activities, and when that came crashing down, I learned
very quickly the next direction not to put all my eggs in one
basket.
I also learned very quickly to trust other executives and
team members. Why did I learn this? Because some
offshore team members out into the world of SAP do it for
no other reason than to hide and be disruptive to the
ecosystem.
One thing that I continue to learn today is that you have to
be very careful about whom you hire, especially when it
comes to consultants in overseas capacities; too many
times, they are working for two 3-4 different companies at
the same time, and it just is a disruption on you your
company and your remaining staff.
Tell us something more about your company and its
mission and vision.
Approyo has a firm mission to support any company
running SAP software and to support them with the best
skilled and most supportive staff members around the
planet.
We provide full SAP service technology with extensive
capabilities in hosting and managing services upgrades and
migrations for our customers running any SAP-supported
core functionality. Our true mission is to ensure that the
customer can sleep soundly at night and not be interrupted
by any sort of outage or support issue; we put your mind to
ease.
Enlighten us on the impact of your work through your
expertise in the market.
I feel that you can see the impact of our work in the market
almost every day. We are still known as one of the first
partner companies to launch an SAP production
environment in an encapsulated VM or cloud environment.
When we launched that at sapphire, phones were ringing,
text messages were going off questions were being asked
how is this possible? This is not approved yet; who's doing
this, and why are they doing this? Finally, it came down to
someone finding me, Christopher Carter, immediately!
Our expertise starts in the SAP landscape and that clouded
environment that companies use to run the environment.
With we believe in taking full control and working hand in
hand with our partners and our customers on a day-in and
day-out basis, so our expertise in the marketplace shines
through with every customer that we work with and every
partner that we engage with.
Describe in detail the values and the work culture that
drives your organization.
The values we bring to the table internally as an
organization start at the top. I know many companies like to
write a mission or value statement, and then it's just a piece
of paper not for me.
The 10 Most Inspiring CEOs Making a Difference in 2023

I know what it's like to be that consultant on the road. I
know what it's like to be the executive behind the desk
worried about their systems being secured or unsecured and
being attacked being vulnerable.
I know what it's like to have those tough conversations
through HR. I know what it's like to have tough
conversations with my staff members, so the work culture
that I've tried to cultivate is semi-family. At the end of the
day, I get it.
People work for me and with me, but I also treat them as if
some family members would be treated like bringing them
inside the fence. I may be a little bit more open with staff
members than maybe most companies would be, but I also
feel that by being a part of a team and being part of a family
and working together hand in hand with my staff.
A quick story of one of my staff members who has been
with us for several years now was a very green SAP
consultant out of college. He was very motivated, wanted to
learn, and took the extra initiative.
I've tried to give him every opportunity to be what he wants
to be, no matter if it's with the cloud side of the business,
the basis side of the business, or wherever that leads him
year after year after year. He has grown, and he has taken
new courses.
He has learned new SAP tools, and he has grown in our
company every year. He has been promoted within the
organization, and I value him as a person as well as a staff
member by his example. I hope I've led that way as an
example to everyone in the company.
Undeniably, technology is playing a significant role in
almost every sector. How are you leveraging
technological advancements to make your solutions
resourceful?
Technology plays an incredibly significant role in our
company, from our cloud-based solutions with SAP to our
tools, specifically around our Overwatch tool, cloud-based
management security, and AI-based tool set.
As a managed service provider in the SAP ecosystem, we
understand how important IT total landscape infrastructure
is. We also understand how important your data is to the
daily success of your business. There are many parts of
your landscape that make management and monitoring a
complex task. Still, with Overwatch, we can quickly gain a
complete view of that IT infrastructure, including networks,
servers, cloud containers, and applications.
We help companies avoid issues before they even occur and
provide the 24 by 7—365 effective monitoring of the data
and systems no matter how complex your landscape is. So
as such, owning and building from scratch, this tool set
gives us an advantage in helping our customers to be
successful and helping you sleep easily at night.
What change would you like to bring to the IT industry
if given a chance?
What would I change? Well, I would love to have every
company running SAP software working with us so they
can see how we put their minds at ease and how we, as an
organization, are there for them to help us all become better
SAP-run customers. What else would I change? I want to
change the ability for more encryption from a data
perspective.
Homomorphic encryption and AI-based tools are going to
be a future for everyone. We just started using those tools
two years ago, and they're seeing dramatic success results
with data monitoring support and proactive activities that
help customers not only in the SAP ecosystem but across
their entire landscape around the globe.
We are at the forefront of an empidid where Approyo will
lead By example and by success from our customers around
the globe, and that's the great thing about this organization.
We have customers in Europe, Asia, the United States, and
Latin America. We support them in so many different
manners, core SAP ECC. We even have an R3 environment
that we manage and run for an organization. Our team is
built around technology and how that technology can be
utilized for everyone.

What, according to you, could be the next significant
change in the IT sector? How is your company
preparing to be a part of that change?
As I mentioned above, I firmly believe that homomorphic
encryption and AI-based tools are the future of IT. As I
stated also above, we've already started using those tools in
situations to monitor and maintain landscapes across the
globe.
When our tool is enacted and supported across an entire
landscape, the ticket reduction and the ability to see into the
future is greatly increased. I firmly believe that these tools
are going to revolutionize how a company is managed and
supported.
I no longer need 20 people to staff, manage and run a
landscape. I can install Overwatch in a very small way and
manage an entire landscape with a quarter of the people. I
can now have you or us take the remaining staff members
and use them for projects use them for new activities to
grow your organizational structure and to keep you better
sleeping at night with ease.
Where do you envision yourself to be in the long run,
and what are your future goals for Approyo?
I so enjoy running this company. I love my staff, and to see
them talk with them on a day-to-day basis, I so enjoy going
to see our clients face to face as often as I can. That being
said, I also love my family, and as they get older, I want to
be able to interact with them a little bit more 16 and 18-
hour days for 30 years is getting a little old, but I am not
slowing down anytime soon.
I so want to help this ecosystem and the companies within
the SAP ecosystem to be successful. The upgrade cycle that
we are in is the strongest and most vulnerable upgrade cycle
I've ever been a part of since the 1990s when we started the
R3 upgrade cycle.
Imagine that 1/2 a million customers need to upgrade to the
new S4, and because of that, I am motivated every day to
help them to succeed because mind you, it is a strong, tough
upgrade with all the modifications and changes companies
make day in, and day out on their system it is not easy.
But I sure do love having conversations and helping
organizations take that step. As I like to say, "Let's all rise
together," and let's be successful for your landscape.
What would be your advice to budding entrepreneurs
who aspire to venture into the IT sector?
Do it…do it…do it…do it…there is nothing greater in my
life other than my daughters and family than having started
multiple companies and have grown them and nurturing
them and going in knowing that when I get up at 5:00
o'clock in the morning, I may be the first one up. Still, I'm
preparing the company for success; it's on me. It's on my
shoulders.
I'm the one that wants to help customers to succeed. Then
the second part of that is nurture, nurture other staff
members bring in smarter people who know what you do
not know to bring in staff members that will help let them
be the Ying to your Yang.
Watch your productivity grow as well as theirs, and then
help with the new generation behind you. Just because
you're a young entrepreneur does not mean there's not a
younger entrepreneur behind you. Remember, as you're
growing and going up the ladder of success, reach your
hand back and help the next young entrepreneur come up
the ladder of success.

Global
Subscription
Global
Global
Choose
Excellent
Choose
Insights.

Nicolae
Buldumac
Buldumac
Buldumac
Leading the Charge
in Innovation and Growth
ffering organized and comprehensive datasets on
Ocompanies globally, which enables users to
explore business opportunities worldwide easily,
Nicolae Buldumac launched Global Database.
As the Founder and CEO, Nicolae utilized his decade's
experience to elevate the company to newer heights. Under
Buldumac's leadership, Global Database has become one of
the leading providers of business intelligence and company
data, serving clients in over 195 countries.
The company's platform offers a wide range of data points,
including financial information, contact details, company
structure, and more, making it an invaluable tool for
businesses looking to expand their operations or conduct
due diligence.
We caught up with Nicolae and talked about his journey
and where it headed next.
Below are the highlights of the interview:
leader until your current position at Global Database.
What challenges have you had to overcome to reach
where you are today?
As the CEO and Founder of Global Database, I have been
on a challenging and rewarding journey over the past eight
years. Before founding Global Database, I worked with
some of the world's most recognizable companies, such as
Amazon and Fitch Ratings. These roles allowed me to
develop my skills and knowledge in various areas,
including market research, business intelligence, and
customer engagement.
My passion for data and technology motivated me to take a
leap of faith and create a business that could help other
companies leverage these assets to drive growth and
minimize risks.
One of the most significant challenges was to build a team
that shared my vision and could execute it effectively.
Finding the right people took a lot of time and effort, but
eventually, we created a talented and dedicated team.
Another challenge was gaining our customers' trust and
convincing them that our solutions could deliver real value.
We had to prove that our data was the most up-to-date,
genuine, and trustworthy. We had to show how our
technology could help them identify high-probability
prospects, verify, engage, and monitor new prospects while
keeping tabs on existing business partners effectively. It
took a lot of hard work and perseverance, but we brought
proof-of-value solutions to hundreds of companies,
including the London Stock Exchange, Amazon AWS,
WeWork, and SAP.
Tell us more about your company's mission and vision.
At Global Database, our mission is to provide structured
company datasets that enable businesses to explore
opportunities globally, verify and approve financially stable
and regulatory-compliant companies with high lead scores,
contact the right people at the right time, and grow their
business exponentially through data-driven decisions.
Our vision is to become the go-to global company
intelligence hub that clients fully trust. This way, each
stakeholder can rely on our business intelligence engine to
make informed business decisions and explore word-grade
partnerships or growth opportunities. We are committed to
accuracy, clarity, commitment, continuity, and trust value
April 2023 | 16 | www.insightssuccess.com

Our commitment
to excellence,
integrity, and
innovation drives
the values and
work culture at
Global Database.
Nicolae Buldumac
Founder and CEO
Global Database

margins by constantly updating and validating company
information, compiling profiles from reliable sources,
providing dedicated support and guidance, recording
updates, and using trustworthy sources.
At Global Database, our expertise in the market has had a
significant impact on businesses globally. Our data and
technology solutions have helped companies of all sizes to
identify potential prospects, verify them, and engage in
data-driven decision-making. Doing so has enabled our
clients to drive growth and minimize risks, translating into
increased revenue and profitability.
Our commitment to excellence, integrity, and innovation
drives the values and work culture at Global Database. We
strive to provide our clients with the highest-quality data
and technology solutions while ensuring complete
transparency and accountability in all our business dealings.
Our work culture is collaborative, empowering, and focused
on continuous learning and growth.
resourceful?
We leverage technological advancements such as machine
learning and automation to make our solutions more
resourceful and efficient. By doing so, we can provide our
clients with real-time data insights, automated workflows,
and streamlined processes, enabling them to make data-
driven decisions easily. However, we aren't relying solely
on AI to source or organize data due to this paradigm's
"black-box" paradox. Delivering accurate company insights
and firmographics requires a human-machine duo to ensure
transparency for our data-focused operations and be aware
when something doesn't quite fit.
What change would you like to bring to the IT industry
if given a chance?
I'd want to bring a stronger focus on transparency,
data-centricity, and effective operations to the IT industry.
Transparency is critical in building trust with customers and
partners and should be a fundamental value for any
company operating in this space.

Additionally, data-centricity is essential to creating
solutions that meet customers' needs in a rapidly changing
business landscape.
I believe digital twins will be the following significant
change in the IT sector. For those unfamiliar with the term,
a digital twin is a virtual replica of a physical object,
system, or process that allows for analysis and optimization
in a simulated environment.
In the business world, digital twins can help companies
improve their operations by predicting and preventing
problems, testing scenarios, and identifying opportunities
for optimization. At Global Database, we're preparing to
participate in this change by continuing to invest in our data
and technology solutions. We aim to provide an exact
replica of companies worldwide to deliver the best growth
chance to each stakeholder.
Where do you envision yourself to be in the long run,
and what are your future goals for Global Database?
As the CEO and Founder of Global Database, my long-term
vision is to continue the journey of a market leader in
business intelligence and data-driven solutions. I envision
Global Database expanding its reach globally, serving more
businesses across various industries and sectors. The
company already provides innovative and disruptive
solutions leveraging technology to drive growth and
minimize business risks. I'd continue building a culture of
innovation, transparency, and data-centricity within the
organization to keep up with the ever-changing business
landscape.
The future goals for Global Database are to become the go-
to platform for businesses globally to access accurate and
up-to-date company data. We aim to keep investing in
technology and automation to streamline our processes and
provide customers with faster, more reliable service edges.
We will continue to expand our data coverage to more
regions and industries to offer our customers a
comprehensive business intelligence engine while
maintaining our commitment to transparency and data-
centricity by continuously improving the quality and
accuracy of our data to help businesses confidently make
data-driven decisions.
What would you advise budding entrepreneurs who
aspire to venture into the IT sector?
My advice to budding entrepreneurs who aspire to venture
into the IT sector would be to focus on creating value for
your clients. Develop solutions that solve real-world
problems and provide genuine benefits to your clients.
Additionally, stay up-to-date with the latest technological
advancements and be willing to adapt and evolve your
solutions accordingly. Finally, maintain a strong work ethic
and remain committed to your goals, despite challenges and
setbacks.

Novel Insights

Disruptive Innovation
and the Role of the
CEO in Driving Change
isruptive innovation is a concept that has been
Daround for decades, but it is only recently that it
has become a buzzword in the business world.
Disruptive innovation refers to the process by which a new
product or service enters the market and disrupts the
existing market, ultimately displacing established products
and services.
While disruptive innovation is often associated with
startups and new entrants to the market, established
companies can also drive disruptive innovation. However,
driving disruptive innovation requires a company to take
risks, invest in new technologies, and be willing to disrupt
its own business model.
This is where the CEO plays a crucial role. The CEO is
responsible for setting the strategic direction of the
company and making sure that the company is well-
positioned to compete in the market. In order to drive
disruptive innovation, the CEO needs to have a clear
understanding of the market, the company's strengths and
weaknesses, and the potential for disruption.

These leaders possess various traits that enable them to lead
their company towards a compelling vision for the future.
They are strategic thinkers, creative and innovative,
passionate and committed, and able to inspire and motivate
their team towards success.
The CEO must also be willing to take risks and invest in
new technologies. This can be a difficult decision, as
investing in new technologies can be costly, and there is
always the risk of failure. However, without taking risks, a
company cannot innovate and disrupt the market.
In addition to taking risks, the CEO must also be willing to
disrupt the company's own business model. This can be
challenging, as established companies often have a strong
sense of identity and may be resistant to change. However,
in order to drive disruptive innovation, the CEO must be
willing to challenge the status quo and be open to new
ideas.
Strong communication skills: CEOs are able to articulate
their vision for the company in a clear and compelling way.
They are also skilled at communicating their vision to their
team, stakeholders, and customers. These leaders are able to
navigate challenges and setbacks with resilience and
adaptability.
They are able to learn from their failures and make
adjustments to their strategy as needed. Strategic thinking:
Visionary CEOs are strategic thinkers who are able to see
the big picture and understand how different parts of the
company fit together. They are able to anticipate trends and
changes in the market and adapt their strategy accordingly.
Creativity and innovation: Business leaders, especially
CEOs, are often creative and innovative thinkers who are
able to come up with new ideas and approaches. They are
not afraid to take risks and are willing to experiment with
new products, services, and business models.
Passion and commitment: They are passionate about their
vision for the company and are deeply committed to its
success. They are willing to put in hard work and make
sacrifices to achieve their goals.
Ability to inspire and motivate: Visionary CEOs are able to
inspire and motivate their team to achieve their vision for
the company. They are able to create a sense of purpose and
meaning for their employees, which leads to higher levels
of engagement and productivity.
Customer-focused: Visionary CEOs are often customer-
focused and are able to anticipate and meet the needs of
their customers. They are able to create products and
services that are not only innovative but also meet the needs
of their customers in a meaningful way.
One example of a CEO who successfully drove disruptive
innovation is Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon. Bezos
recognized the potential of e-commerce early on and
invested heavily in the technology and infrastructure
needed to build an online retail giant. He was willing to
take risks and disrupt Amazon's own business model, such
as when he introduced Amazon Web Services, which
initially cannibalized the company's own retail business.
However, this decision ultimately paid off, as AWS has
become a major revenue stream for Amazon.
In conclusion, disruptive innovation can be a powerful
force in the business world, but it requires a CEO who is
willing to take risks, invest in new technologies, and disrupt
the company's own business model. By doing so, the CEO
can position the company for long-term success and ensure
that it remains competitive in a rapidly changing market.

Paige Arnof-Fenn
Enabling Immense Business Growth
In today's data-driven world, we all have information,
statistics, and reports at our fingertips 24/7. However,
accessing this information is only part of the challenge
we face; great marketing leaders cut through the noise to
find the signal, digesting data quickly and smartly to
identify the right metrics by which to measure their success.
Marketing doesn't operate in a silo; it's part of a cross-
functional business strategy. Successful leaders realize that
marketing is part of a relay race; their job is to get a
winning lead before handing off the baton to sales, who can
convert that lead into an opportunity.
This is where Paige Arnof-Fenn, Founder & CEO of
Mavens & Moguls, excels in the niche as a strong leader
with extraordinary strategies, resulting in vast business
growth.
Moreover, under her steady leadership, Mavens & Moguls
envisions a future where all organizations, regardless of size
or budget, have access to the best marketing talent on an
outsourced basis to help them find their audience with the
right words and pictures to tell their stories in compelling
ways.
In an interview with Insights Success, Paige shares valuable
facts highlighting her professional tenure and the
significance of Mavens & Moguls in the niche.
Below are the excerpts from the interview:
leader until your current position at Mavens & Moguls.
What challenges have you had to overcome to reach
where you are today?
My dad and both grandfathers were commercial bankers in
the South. I was always good with math and numbers, like
my dad, an Economics major in college. I started my career
in NYC on Wall Street in the 80s, thinking I would follow
the 3 of them in finance, albeit a more intense path.
I was good at the job, and it paid very well, but I did not
really enjoy it at all, so I decided to return to grad school to
get an MBA to figure out a better fit. There were really only
3 parts of my investment banking job I truly enjoyed --
upon completing a deal, transaction, merger or sale, I was
responsible for planning the closing dinner, advertising it in
the financial trade publications, and buying a gift for the
team to commemorate and celebrate its completion.
My friend pointed out to me that the parts of the job I most
enjoyed were not, in fact, finance in nature at all. They were
all under the marketing function—event planning,
advertising and promotions.
I also got the top grade in my first year required marketing
course for my MBA and a great summer internship that led
to a full-time offer in marketing post-graduation. My friend
was right and very perceptive; I was not meant to be a
banker after all but a marketer!
I worked at a series of more mainstream corporate jobs for
1-3.5 years at places like Procter & Gamble and Coke; then
I ran marketing at 3 successful venture-backed startups that
all had strong exits after 1-2 years each, so if you had told

Paige Arnof-Fenn
Founder & CEO
Mavens & Moguls

me my longest job would be at a company I started I would
have said that's crazy yet here I am running a global
branding and digital marketing firm that I started 20+ years
ago right after 9/11 when the startup I ran marketing for cut
their budget, so I hung out a shingle and the rest, as they
say, is history. I guess that makes me an accidental
entrepreneur.
Tell us something more about your company and its
mission and vision.
How we deliver on our vision has changed, but I
think we are more relevant today than when we started
2+ decades ago; great stories never go out of style. I
want to bring world-class marketing talent and expertise
to organizations that want to make a difference in the
world.
Your core values and mission statement are intangible
assets that are your roadmap to success. They must evolve
as you grow and are reflected in your branding because
people choose to do business with companies that align
with their values, so this information needs to be visible to
them. Your mission also gives your team a clear objective,
which helps them to make decisions that align with the
company's purpose.
Since starting my business, I have joined boards and
volunteered at several organizations. I am a mentor to the
next generation of leaders and have helped build a very
successful anti-bullying program that >150,000 middle
school aged kids have gone through. As a marketing
consultant, I am able to write articles, contribute to books
and speak at events to share my experience and lessons
learned.
Volunteering is a great way to give back and get to
know like-minded people who care about causes you
believe in. I am on the boards of several nonprofits;
volunteering is the ultimate way to do well by doing
good. In my experience the more you give, the more
you get.
It is important to me to stay true to my core beliefs. Loyalty
is one of my core values—a commitment to myself and to
others whom I respect. It's important to me to gauge how
many colleagues and customers come back and refer us to
those who trust them. Being true to the mission of the
organization and delivering superior experiences matter to
me a lot too.
Having the confidence to walk away from a client or
colleague who's diluting the equity in your brand is tough,
but it's necessary sometimes. You must always be authentic
to the essence of your brand and surround yourself with
people who reinforce your brand and its values--not tarnish
it.
resourceful?
Technology is essential for my business today; it has
been a lifeline throughout the pandemic. Pivoting to
online meetings, webinars, etc., has been a smart and
productive way that companies can continue to have
conversations that educate and inform, build
relationships and move forward during this crisis
period.
Social media is also a great way to build your brand,
increase your visibility more broadly, raise your profile
and attract more clients/customers.
It is important to
me to stay true to my core
beliefs. Loyalty is one of my core
values—a commitment to
myself and to others whom
I respect.

With Zoom, social media, cell phones, etc. we see that
technology does not have to be isolating; it can be used to
build our real-world communities and relationships too!
I think AI and ChatGPT are already having major
impact/making waves for entrepreneurs and SMBs,
especially when your task is low stakes, with high
fluency (i.e. writing copy); conversational AI is likely a
good fit for the task. The possibilities for entrepreneurs
are everywhere to save time, increase productivity and
replace jobs.
Where do you envision yourself to be in the long
run, and what are your future goals for Mavens and
Moguls?
I have no idea where my business will go post-pandemic.
Still, I have built a great foundation with interesting clients
and colleagues who value communication and want to use
marketing best practices to make a difference in the world.
It has been a circuitous route to get here, but as Steve Jobs
said, only by looking backwards can you make real sense of
connecting the dots in life.
I believe I am on the right path and am going to follow it
and see where it goes. The lessons from the pandemic that
will stay with me include my gratitude and appreciation for
the simplicity of good food, nature, my inner circle,
essential products/services and health.
In my experience, the sayings are true: your network
is your net worth, and your health is your wealth.
Everything else is a distraction, so stay focused on
what matters most!
What would be your advice to budding entrepreneurs?
If I have learned anything in my career as an
entrepreneur, here are the lessons that have really stuck
with me:
Not getting what you want can lead you to magical
outcomes, and you learn a lot more from failure than
success in life.
When things work well, you never really know why,
but when there are problems, mistakes or failures, you
have a real learning opportunity to see which assumptions
were incorrect, and that is the knowledge you will never
forget again. The hard-fought lessons that come from
age and experience are gold. Being in the trenches
together is where I have met some of my best friends
and colleagues though, those relationships are
deep.
Looking back at what you once thought was a failure
could make you realize it was, in fact, a blessing in
disguise…
Whether you were laid off, overlooked for the job or
did not get the full bonus you expected, as Winston
Churchill said, failure is not fatal and being resilient is
really what matters in life; you have to keep trying again.
My definition of success changed once I left corporate
life to become an entrepreneur.
I realized I did not need to run a Fortune 500 company
to be happy; I love building a small business and
growing it successfully. Entrepreneurship is scary, but
you can't wait for the perfect time to act; you just have
to course correct as you get more feedback along the
way.
Learn to get comfortable making decisions without
perfect information. Entrepreneurs never give up on
their beliefs; dreams can become a reality when you
pursue them with intention and courage. When you
learn from every setback, you make better mistakes
over time; in my experience, that is where you learn
the most! You learn to do by doing. Course correct
and pivot along the way; it makes for a fun path
in life.

The Importance of
Continuous Lening
and Self-improvement
for CEOs and
Busine Leaders
In today's rapidly changing business landscape,
continuous learning and self-improvement have
become essential for CEOs and business leaders. The
pace of technological change, global competition, and
evolving consumer needs and preferences make it
imperative for leaders to stay abreast of the latest trends,
tools, and strategies. With the rise of new technologies,
global competition, and evolving consumer preferences, it
is more important than ever for leaders to stay ahead of the
curve and continuously update their skills, knowledge, and
strategies.
Here are some of the key reasons why continuous learning
and self-improvement are so important for CEOs and
business leaders.
Keeping up with technological changes: Technology is
advancing at an unprecedented pace, and CEOs and
business leaders must stay up to date with the latest trends
and tools.
This includes emerging technologies such as Artiﬁcial
Intelligence, blockchain, and the Internet of Things, as well
as the latest advancements in software, hardware, and
cybersecurity. By staying informed about the latest
technology trends, leaders can make more informed
decisions about investments in technology, develop new
products and services, and improve business processes.
Driving Growth and Innovation: Continuous learning and
self-improvement can also drive innovation and growth for
the organization as a whole. By staying informed about the
latest trends, tools, and strategies, leaders can identify new
opportunities for growth and development. They can also
inspire their teams to think creatively and come up with
new ideas and approaches to business challenges.
By driving innovation and growth, leaders can position
their companies for long-term success in a rapidly changing
market. It can also create a competitive advantage that can
set them apart from their competitors.
Adapting to changing market conditions: Market conditions
are constantly evolving, and CEOs and business leaders
must be able to adapt to these changes. This includes
changes in consumer preferences, shifts in industry trends,
and the emergence of new competitors. By staying
informed about these changes and continually learning
about new approaches to marketing, sales, and product
development, leaders can position their companies for
success in a rapidly changing market.
Building new skills and knowledge: Continuous learning
and self-improvement enable CEOs and business leaders to
build new skills and knowledge that can be applied to their
businesses. This includes skills such as leadership,
communication, negotiation, and strategic planning.
Prospects of Innovation

By investing in their own development, leaders can become
more effective at leading their teams, driving innovation,
and achieving business goals.
Inspiring and motivating employees: CEOs and business
leaders who demonstrate a commitment to continuous
learning and self-improvement can inspire and motivate
their employees. When employees see their leaders
investing in their own development, they are more likely to
be engaged and motivated to learn and grow themselves.
This creates a culture of continuous learning and
improvement, which can drive innovation and success for
the entire organization.
Driving innovation and growth: Continuous learning and
self-improvement can also drive innovation and growth for
the organization as a whole. By staying informed about the
latest trends, tools, and strategies, leaders can identify new
opportunities for growth and development. They can also
inspire their teams to think creatively and come up with
new ideas and approaches to business challenges.
So how can CEOs and business leaders engage in
continuous learning and self-improvement? Here are some
strategies:
Attend conferences and seminars: Conferences and
seminars are a great way to stay up to date with the latest
trends and developments in your industry. They also
provide an opportunity to network with other leaders and
share ideas.
Read books and articles: Reading books and articles is an
easy and accessible way to learn about new ideas and
approaches to business. This can include books on
leadership, business strategy, marketing, and other relevant
topics.
Take courses and training programs: There are a wide
variety of courses and training programs available online
and in person. These can be focused on specific skills, such
as public speaking or data analysis, or on broader topics
such as leadership or innovation.
Seek out mentorship: Finding a mentor can be a great way
to learn from someone who has more experience or
expertise in a particular area. Mentors can provide guidance
and support, as well as share their own experiences and
insights.
Experiment and take risks: Experimenting with new
approaches and taking risks can be a powerful way to learn
and grow as a leader. This can involve trying new
marketing strategies, developing new products or services,
or exploring new business models.
Thriving with Emerging Technology
One of the critical reasons why CEOs and business leaders
must commit to continuous learning is to keep up with
technological advancements. Technology is advancing at an
unprecedented rate, and businesses must embrace digital
transformation to stay competitive. Leaders who do not
invest in their knowledge of technology risk falling behind
their competitors.
By staying informed about the latest trends, tools, and
strategies, leaders can make informed decisions about
investments in technology. This can include emerging
technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and
the Internet of Things, as well as the latest advancements in
software, hardware, and cybersecurity. It can also enable
them to develop new products and services and improve
business processes.
Journey towards Innovation
In conclusion, the importance of continuous learning and
self-improvement for CEOs and business leaders cannot be
overstated. With the ever-changing business landscape and
increasing competition, it is crucial for leaders to stay
updated with the latest trends, technologies, and best
practices. Moreover, continuous learning and self-
improvement not only benefits the individual but also their
organizations as it leads to better decision-making,
innovation, and overall business success.
As such, CEOs and business leaders should make it a
priority to invest in their personal growth and development
through various learning opportunities such as workshops,
courses, and mentorship programs. By doing so, they can
effectively lead their organizations towards success and
create a culture of continuous learning and growth.

CXO
Digital Revolution and Innovative
Technologies Commerce Reinvents
itself to meet the
Challenges of the Digital Age
oday, new technologies and digital revolutions are a
Tkey factor for success. They create real
opportunities for companies, entrepreneurs and all
professionals who want to grow.
In fact, the emergence of artificial intelligence and the
blockchain are now offering perspectives that can be both
attractive and worrying at the same time. On the one hand,
they can improve performance and efficiency in order to
differentiate a company from its competitors; on the other
hand, they also create anxiety among people and in the
world of work.
Since the pandemic, we have been witnesses to the
emergence and democratisation of new technologies that
have accelerated the transformation of use.
Covid has been both a disaster and the best manager of
digital transformation in the enterprise. It has forced
consumer behaviour to change, to adapt to ever greater
fluidity, security, personalisation and speed.
Those who have seized the opportunity to transform and
focused on long-term goals have been able to grow their
business significantly.
Artificial intelligence, blockchain, machine learning,
cryptology... The latest technologies are at the heart of
Paytweak. They ensure the security of all remote bank
and PSP transactions.
In the coming years, Artificial Intelligence (AI) will play an
important role in improving the world of payments and
transaction security.
We can already see the enthusiasm from all over the world
for the GPT chat, but we need to understand that this is just
the tip of the iceberg.
AI will provide greater security and a better user
experience. This includes identifying fraud risks and
suspicious behaviour, as well as taking preventative
measures to avoid fraudulent transactions.
It can also provide data and trend analysis to better
understand how users behave and pay. Finally, it can be
used to provide personalised advice and recommendations
to help increase conversion rates and optimise the payment
experience, while ensuring that security is maintained.
Blockchain is the trust technology that is changing the
world, and highlighting the new era of the internet. In fact,
it has the potential to revolutionise business, money,
government and society.
For the first time in human history, people around the world
can trust each other and transact directly. Trust is
established not by a large institution, but by collaboration,
cryptography and smart codes. Thanks to blockchain, we
are entering a radical new evolution in the way we interact
and trade, reducing the doubts we have about others in
order to exchange value with confidence.
Since 2015, in order to offer an innovative, disruptive and
secure payment solution, Paytweak has chosen to use these
technologies, the trusted private blockchain. Machine
learning to learn from the transactions recorded, especially
fraudulent ones, and finally artificial intelligence to select
and advise the merchant in accepting payments.

The aim is to register each transaction in a perpetual chain
by associating it with a profile token. This will create an
intelligence base to increase trust but also to combat fraud.
Online payment: the Covid-era solution for businesses.
Businesses have been forced to reinvent themselves as the
health crisis and its economic fallout have significantly
altered our consumer habits. This has led to an increase in
the demand for digital payments and an acceleration in the
growth of e-commerce. The lock-in period has thus
highlighted the importance of those involved in online
payments!
For the payment ecosystem, which has made its activities
almost transparent to customers (immediacy, ease of use,
security), this difficult period has been full of lessons and
challenges. Moreover, crises are often an opportunity for
companies to reorganise their operations and focus on
innovation and technology. A blessing in disguise for those
willing to seize these opportunities.
With the right strategy and drive, a company in any industry
can grow and reach new heights.
Many changes are afoot. The changing regulatory
environment, PSD2, increased payment security, 3DS2
migration are all important allies in protecting against
fraud, improving the customer experience and reducing
costs.
Instant transfer is a secure, paperless solution that fits
perfectly with current trends and benefits all stakeholders,
including banks, payment service providers, merchants and
consumers.
Another trend to keep an eye on is the development of
voice commerce. Voice assistants are on the rise and their
use is sure to increase with the growing trend for consumers
to do their shopping from home. Therefore, a promising
market for commerce is the shopping experience that
combines voice and secure payment. Paytweak saw this
coming back in 2017 with the creation of VoicePay®, a
secure voice payment solution initially designed for call
centers and now expanding to voice assistants.
The crisis has made it necessary to think about opening up
to other sales channels and the creation of new services,
while at the same time meeting one imperative: the
customer experience.
This requires the introduction of secure and flexible
payment solutions in an increasingly omnichannel world.
Email, SMS, WhatsApp and even chat payment links have
proven invaluable in offering customers services like click-
and-deliver, click-and-collect and a secure alternative to
telephone orders.
This interactive shopping experience increases customer
loyalty and becomes a success factor for all merchants,
regardless of size.
Our future is digital
Surrounding yourself with the right partners is key to
meeting the challenges of new technologies and seizing the
opportunities they offer. Everyone will agree that
successfully transforming your business and delivering the
best customer experience is one of the best levers to
success.
With streamlined, secure and innovative online experiences,
you're ready to meet the challenges of the digital age and
transform your business.

How Emerging Technologies Are Shaping Business
The landscape of business is changing at a never-
before-seen rate thanks to emerging technology.
Businesses that are in the loop of the most recent
developments might acquire a sizable competitive edge and
remain ahead of the curve.
Emerging Technologies in Business
The way organizations work is changing as a result of
upcoming technologies like blockchain, 5G, IoT, and
AR/VR. Development is being revolutionized by no-code
platforms, while AI is automating procedures and
improving customer service. Virtual events and immersive
consumer experiences are becoming more and more
accesible because of the metaverse. Companies who
properly use these technologies will be better positioned to
prevail in a market that is becoming more and more
competitive. We’ll look at these new technologies and their
possible commercial uses.
The newest wireless technology, 5G, provides faster and
more reliable connectivity. The internet of things (IoT)
enables physical devices to connect and exchange data.
Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR) creates immersive
experiences for customers and employees. No-code
platforms enable developers to create software without
writing code.
There are many ways these technologies may be applied to
enhance business operations. Blockchain, for instance, may
be used to safely store and exchange data, while 5G can
provide distant employees quicker and more dependable
connectivity. Although AR and VR may be used to create
immersive consumer experiences, IoT can be utilized to
check inventories and monitor supply chains. No-code
platforms may speed up and streamline the development of
software, while AI can streamline operations and improve
customer service. New options for virtual events and
product creation may be offered by the metaverse.
Applications of Emerging Technologies in Business
As we've seen, new technologies are revolutionizing how
organizations operate. These are some examples of how
businesses are utilizing these technologies to streamline
their processes:
Blockchain: Walmart is tracking the origin and movement
of its products using this technology, giving customers
more transparency and assurance that their food is safe.
IBM is collaborating with a number of significant shipping
businesses to create blockchain-based supply chain
management systems that will assist to decrease fraud and
expedite procedures.
5G: AT&T is collaborating with a number of manufacturers
to create smart factories powered by 5G, allowing quicker
and more effective production techniques. Real-time data
and virtual replays will be available to fans during games
thanks to a partnership between Verizon and the NFL.
IoT: Rolls-Royce uses IoT to optimize maintenance plans
and track engine performance, resulting in less downtime
and more dependability. IoT sensors are being used by
Amazon in its warehouses to manage inventory and boost
productivity, allowing for quicker and more precise order
fulfillment.
AR: IKEA has created an AR software so that buyers can
visualize furniture in their homes before making a purchase.
Walmart has trained sta ffmembers in areas like leadership
and customer service using virtual reality, making the
training process more interesting and productive.
No-code platforms: Unilever uses no-code platforms to
create and implement software applications for a range of
corporate tasks, such as marketing and supply chain
management. Siemens is embracing no-code platforms,
which save time and money by eliminating the need for
human data entry.
CXO

AI: In order to produce and advertise items that are more
likely to be well-received by customers, H&M uses AI to
evaluate customer data and forecast fashion trends. Capital
One uses AI-powered chatbots to offer customer care
around-the-clock, eliminating the need for human customer
service agents.
Metaverse: Nike has built virtual storefronts in the
metaverse so that clients can explore and buy things in a
completely immersive digital setting. In order to provide
guests a more interesting and engaged experience, BNP
Paribas uses the metaverse to offer virtual conferences and
events.
These examples show how developing technologies may be
used for a variety of business tasks and several businesses
are already making use of them to enhance their operations
and gain an edge over rivals in their sectors.
The Future of Emerging Technologies in Business
There will be a lot more innovation because there are so
many business opportunities for technology development.
Artificial intelligence is expected to advance and spread,
with possible uses in targeted marketing, preventative
maintenance, and autonomous decision-making. Virtual and
augmented reality will keep delivering more realistic and
immersive learning, marketing, and consumer engagement
experiences.
Blockchain is expected to be increasingly frequently used
outside of banking, and it has the potential to change
industries including supply chain management, healthcare,
and real estate. No-code platforms are becoming more and
more popular as businesses look to automate and streamline
their processes without requiring extensive coding
expertise. Businesses who successfully adopt and use these
new technologies will be in a strong position to succeed as
they advance and advance.
In fact, the technologies are so far advanced, that as an
example, the paragraph above was written entirely by AI,
and most of us wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. This
shows how much room there is and how many possibilities
there are for innovation that is to come.
Conclusion
In conclusion, new business models and chances for
development and innovation are being created by rising
technology. Forward-thinking businesses are already
utilizing new technologies, such as artificial intelligence
and the metaverse, to improve consumer experiences,
streamline operations, and increase profitability.
Emerging technologies are still young, therefore it's vital to
keep in mind that there is still a lot to come. We may
anticipate even more fascinating advancements in the years
to come as businesses continue to investigate the
opportunities presented by these technologies.
Businesses need to be aware of developing technologies in
order to stay ahead of the curve. They also need to be ready
to adopt and integrate these technologies into their daily
operations. By doing this, businesses may stay one step
ahead of the competition and take advantage of the
numerous opportunities that these cutting-edge tools
provide.

You don't have
to be the
Biggest
to be the best.
You have to be
the
Bestto be the
biggest.

The 10 Most Inspiring CEOs Making a Difference in 2023.pdf

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