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T O P 1 0 M O S T I N F L U E N T I A L P E O P L E I N A G R I C U LT U R E A N D FA R M I N G H I S T O R Y, 2 0 2 5

www.cioviews.com

DECEMBER 2025

Redeﬁning Small Business Growth for a Global Economy

Clayton Michael-Butler Founder & CEO, Upper Echelon Consulting

The Innovators Behind Global Agriculture

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Agriculture has always been more than simply providing food; it has also provided the foundation for society to be formed and civilizations developed and sustained. The agricultural pioneers were not only farmers or scientists, but they were also innovative thinkers who revolutionized the way the world grows, nourishes, and sustains itself. They converted local farming practices to global systems that could feed billions of people. From their original pioneers who developed the fundamental concepts of soil and seeds to today's new and innovative thinkers who are redefining sustainability; all have contributed to advancing humanity. Today there is still innovation, resilience, and vision in agriculture, which are due to the contributions of those thought leaders. As we continue to face modern challenges, the contributions of those thought leaders remind us of what visionary leadership can accomplish. Their stories remind us that the path of progress is often paved with curiosity, bravery, and the willingness to challenge the status quo. This edition is dedicated to those outstanding thinkers whose thoughts on agriculture will continue to shape our future. At CIO Views, we honor these empowering leaders by dedicating this issue titled “Top 10 Most Influential People in Agriculture and Farming History, 2025” to them. Featuring as the cover story, we have covered the successful & motivating journey of Clayton Michael-Butler, Founder & CEO of Upper Echelon Consulting. We have also included the inspiring stories of Agapol Na Songkhla, Chief People Officer at Thai Beverage PLC; Aiden Keegan, CEO of Esquires Coffee; Henrik Stamm Kristensen, Founder of Blendhub; Nicole Hart, Managing Director of Afrikelp; Ghizlane Tazi Mouden, General Manager at Noor Fès Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil; Rebecca Amukhoye, CEO of Micro Enterprise Support Programme Trust; Tulin Akin, Co-Founder of Tabit Agricultural; Sanjay Singh, Global Chief Human Resources Officer at UPL; and Jaye ConnollyLaBelle, CEO of RippleNami. CIO Views is a business magazine that mainly focuses on business leaders, their journey, views on current economic states, and all other relevant subjects that refer to the business world. Our goal is to be a leading source of information dedicated to providing our readers with detailed perspectives and views of successful business leaders who are transforming the business outlook and redefining their goals. With exclusive editions on various industries like software, education, healthcare, technology, real estate, and many more, CIO Views is driven to promote excellence in the world of business. Happy Reading!

Mousmi

Mousmi N.

COV E R S TORY

10.

Clayton Michael-Butler

16.

Agapol Na Songkhla

CON T EN TS

42.

22.

Rebecca Amukhoye

26.

Tulin Akin

Aiden Keegan

Henrik Stamm Kristensen

32.

Nicole Hart

38.

Ghizlane Tazi Mouden

48.

52.

Sanjay Singh

58.

Jaye ConnollyLaBelle

Redeﬁning Small Business Leadership for a Global Economy

*****

ecognized for his influence in business consulting and leadership transformation, Clayton MichaelButler has never chosen the easy path. 'I wasn't wired for mediocrity,' he says. 'I was wired for mission.' From long days on a small Indiana farm to leading international consulting transformations, he has built a career by defying limits, not just for himself, but for every business he touches. His story is not one of shortcuts, but of perseverance, values, and an unwavering commitment to helping leaders worldwide succeed. From Roots to Resilience Clayton's journey began on a multigenerational farm in Mulberry, Indiana, where work ethic and resilience were not abstract ideals but daily practice. Saturdays were spent working alongside family in the fields, repairing equipment, and tending homestead. His great-grandfather's story, rising from sharecropper to landowner, instilled in him the belief that legacy is built through grit and vision. Farming became his first classroom, while organizations like 4-H and FFA provided

him with early leadership opportunities. Graduating high school early, Clayton chose a path of service by joining the United States Marine Corps. The Marines became a crucible for his leadership philosophy, embedding discipline, accountability, and mission-ﬁrst clarity, principles that continue to deﬁne him today. Rising Through Agribusiness and Beyond After his military service, Clayton earned a degree in Agribusiness from Purdue University, balancing academics with family farm responsibilities. He went on to build a decade-long career with global leaders like Syngenta, AgReliant Genetics, and Performance Ag Indiana. In each role, whether driving sales strategy, developing talent pipelines, or scaling dealer networks, he discovered his unique strength: not simply operating within systems, but building and reinventing them. This entrepreneurial mindset later propelled him into leadership roles where he doubled customer bases, launched new divisions, and built scalable programs. But over time, Clayton realized his passion wasn't just

10 | DECEMBER 2025

Clayton Michael-Butler Founder & CEO, Upper Echelon Consulting

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creating results for one company, it was empowering many businesses to accelerate growth through custom strategy and execution. The Leap into Upper Echelon Consulting In 2022, Clayton launched Upper Echelon Consulting with a clear purpose: to reject one-size-fits-all coaching models and deliver bespoke strategies that align with each business's goals, culture, and longterm vision. He saw too many leaders handed generic playbooks or frameworks that failed in real-world application. UEC was designed differently, walking side by side with clients to implement systems, coach leaders, and ensure execution sticks. UEC's offerings include proprietary frameworks like Command the

Chaos™, which helps business owners move from ﬁreﬁghter mode to strategic leadership, and OpsHQ™, a CRM and automation platform that bridges the gap between enterprisegrade insights and the usability needs of small and mid-sized teams. Both tools are globally adaptable and have been implemented not only across the United States, but also in markets like Italy, Nigeria, and South America. Today, Upper Echelon Consulting partners with leaders across North America, Europe, Africa, and South America, demonstrating its ability to translate strategies across industries and cultures worldwide. These frameworks have helped clients achieve multimillion-dollar growth within two years, reduce operational chaos, and strengthen leadership teams, delivering measurable outcomes rather than theoretical plans.

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Trust, Inﬂuence, and Innovation For Clayton, inﬂuence has never been about control or authority, it's about trust, perspective, and clarity. A college professor once told him, 'When you speak, it feels like you're sharing a secret just for me.' That became emblematic of his style: guiding others to see their own way forward, rather than pushing them into decisions. He is candid about the toughest barriers leaders face: resistance to change and the mindset of 'we've always done it this way.' To break through, Clayton aligns innovation with purpose. 'Innovation isn't about shiny tools,' he explains. 'It's about solving the right problems in ways that scale across borders, industries, and cultures.' His approach ensures that technology and data are not ends

in themselves, but levers for measurable outcomes and long-term resilience. Beyond frameworks and technology, Clayton is passionate about mentoring executives, developing the next generation of leaders, and fostering cultures where teams thrive instead of burning out. Building Companies Worth Owning, Legacies Worth Passing On Integrity, transparency, and commitment are Clayton's guiding values. He tells clients the truth, even when it's diﬃcult, because credibility is built on honesty. For him, success is not just measured in revenue but in freedom, sustainability, and generational endurance. From Indiana roots to international boardrooms, his mission remains clear: empower entrepreneurs everywhere to build companies worth owning and legacies worth passing on. As he puts it: 'Small and midsized businesses are the backbone of economies worldwide. They deserve strategies that honor their grit, their vision, and their future.' It's a message that resonates deeply with CIO's readership of executives, decision makers, and global leaders, those who understand that inﬂuence, when paired with integrity and innovation, has the power to transform industries and communities for generations to come.

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Chief People Oﬃcer, Thai Beverage PLC

16 | DECEMBER 2025

AGAPOL NA SONGKHLA Sustainable growth through Human Capital approach

gapol Na Songkhla is one of the most recognized HR leaders in Southeast Asia with a career journey that resonates with big following from millennials to baby boomers. He currently serves as the Chief People Officer of Thai Beverage, with frequent contributions to the people development community in ASEAN. He is wellversed in three languages—Thai, Japanese, and English—and has excelled in various fields such as broadcasting, management consulting, and banking before transitioning to HR. As the Chief People Officer of Thai Beverage, Agapol is responsible for managing a workforce of 60,000 employees, with about 40,000 based in Thailand. The rest are employed across Southeast Asian countries, working for renowned food and beverage brands like F&N and Sabeco. He has also been royally appointed to serve on the Civil Service Commission of

Thailand. Despite the challenges of overseeing such a vast and diverse workforce, Agapol views strategic planning for business growth as both challenging and exciting. According to Agapol, Thai Beverage has evolved from being a national champion to a global player, with no signs of slowing down. He emphasizes the company's eﬀorts to create regional capabilities and establish trust in new markets. Before his tenure at ThaiBev, Agapol held a position as the Head of Strategy and Transformation at TMB Bank, where he served in several high-level strategic functions for eight years. He also worked as a principal and project lead at the Boston Consulting Group, where he gained valuable business experience that he now brings to ThaiBev. Currently, Agapol is working closely with his team at ThaiBev to take their

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transformation efforts to the next level, recognizing that transformation is a never-ending process. One of Agapol's current priorities is to embrace the multi-generational workforce, which includes not only digital millennials but also baby boomers approaching or already in retirement age. He believes that people are at the center of everything they do at ThaiBev and that the potential of people is what drives their success. He takes pride in being part of a team that helps people realize their full potential and believes that HR can transform people's lives. Agapol's career-defining moment was transforming their HR practice into a Human Capital mission in 2015, which had a significant impact on ThaiBev's growth and success, as well as inspiring a significant number of peers across industries. He is admired by the younger generation for his

coaching and mentoring practices to university students as well has developing the unique ASEAN internship programs. ThaiBev is a role model organization in recognizing talent potentials of all generations. Thai Beverage PLC Thai Beverage aims to become a sustainable and stable leader in the beverage and food industry in the ASEAN region. The company was established in Thailand by its chairman, Mr. Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, who consolidated various spirits businesses before expanding into the beer sector with its iconic Chang beer. Later, under

“Resilience is key to success.” leadership of the Group CEO Mr.Thapana Sirivadhanabhakdi, Thai Beverage added a third leg of nonalcoholic beverages, including dairy products, thereby becoming a comprehensive beverage company. To better connect with end consumers and adapt to the changing behavior brought about by changes such as the COVID pandemic, the company added a fourth leg of the food business. Today, Thai Beverage holds leading positions in ﬁve ASEAN countries, 18 | DECEMBER 2025

namely Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, and Vietnam. As an ASEAN company, Thai Beverage has a deep-rooted mission to create and share value through growth. The company is committed to investing in and developing local markets, unlocking sustainable growth potentials of ASEAN countries. Stepping into the Industry with a stand for Human Capital After spending several years working in transformation, Agapol transitioned into the HR industry with a desire to make a signiﬁcant impact by inspiring people. He believes it is crucial to diﬀerentiate between human capital and human resources. As per Agapol's

philosophy, resources are typically utilized and depleted, whereas capital is intended to be grown. Therefore, he and his team focus on growing their people to serve the business, rather than merely utilizing them, in line with their mission as human capital. However, implementing this philosophy has been challenging in the face of competitive pressure, with many business leaders still viewing their employees as resources with a short-term focus on utilization and headcount expenses. Despite this, with the ﬁrm support of their Group CEO, Agapol's team has consistently pursued their human capital philosophy, with a focus on holistic people development and a long-term view of each person's unique life pace and journey.

Agapol acknowledges that they are still early in their journey and cannot claim success yet. However, he has learned two valuable lessons so far. Firstly, it is crucial to have employees be self-motivated about their own development, allowing the company to focus on nudging them. Secondly, it's vital to be consistent in what the company can aﬀord to oﬀer, avoiding unsustainable practices such as what is recently seen in the tech sector. Agapol advocates for a sustainable approach to employee development,

“The secret of success is consistency of purpose.”

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combining a push for individual motivation with a realistic and sustained commitment from the organization. Establishing Culture of Integrity and Innovation Agapol emphasizes the importance of a strong and consistent tone from top management in shaping the culture of an organization. At Thai Beverage, the chairman, vice chairman, and Group CEO have provided such a tone and launched the company's mission statement, which centers around creating and sharing the value of growth and is supported by the three values of collaboration, creating value, and caring for stakeholders. These values were deﬁned and reﬁned

by the company's top 400 leaders and are now ingrained in the company's culture. The company prioritizes sustainability and encourages integrity and innovation. It has been recognized as a world leader for sustainable development in the Beverage industry in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the past ﬁve years. Thai Beverage conducts mandatory annual training for employees to promote integrity, and it also has a WOW program that encourages process improvement and innovation ideas from employees at all levels. The company has allocated 10% of each employee's KPI to process improvement and people development initiatives, resulting in many cross-team initiatives and inclusive platforms for employees to share their ideas. Leadership Principles Agapol advocates for three principles

“Opportunities often come in disguise. Grab them and grow!” that can be applied by human capital teams. The first principle is having faith in the immense potential of people. Agapol believes that every individual has the ability to achieve great things, and it is essential to trust in oneself and in each other. The second principle is the belief that significant challenges will help individuals become stronger. Agapol encourages individuals to embrace challenges and use them as opportunities to learn and grow. When team members approach their leaders with complaints about the difficulty of their work, applying this principle involves assigning them even more

20 | DECEMBER 2025

challenging tasks. This approach can make their previous work seem easier in comparison. Lastly, Agapol believes that by developing others, individuals can also grow themselves. Leaders and team members have a responsibility to support and mentor those around them. It is important to communicate to the team that when faced with a large challenge, opting to confront it will lead to personal growth. On the other hand, walking away from the challenge will result in shrinking one's abilities. Therefore, it is crucial to encourage and empower employees to confront challenges and continue to grow. Seeing True Success in Empowering Others Agapol's career started at the Boston Consulting Group in 1997. He spent eight years at BCG, where he learned

about the potential to achieve significant impact through the power of ideas and working with a diverse range of decision-makers through effective communication. As a leader in a large organization like ThaiBev, Agapol feels that his best recognition comes from his contribution to inspiring the diverse workforce towards sustained self-development and the company's vision. Through the Dream Big programs, ThaiBev has helped thousands of employees rekindle their personal dreams and find relevance to their work, creating a culture where employees of all ages can strive for their entire long career.

“Believe in human potentials for greatness. Believe in unbounded potentials.”

Agapol takes pride in the belief that there are limitless opportunities

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within ThaiBev and within each individual and the culture that they have built to support this belief. Agapol believes that success is deﬁned by the impact one has on others. He strongly believes that by helping others grow, one can also grow themselves. Therefore, he ﬁnds it empowering and rewarding to help others succeed, even if it means not being in the limelight. This is a context in which he lives both in his professional and personal life.

CEO, Esquires Coﬀee

22 | DECEMBER 2025

AIDEN KEEGAN The Best Coﬀee Service Esquires Takes the Lead

offee is the most popular beverage consumed in the world. Statistics say that more than 400 billion cups are consumed each year. The aroma, the essence and relief it offers in a cup, is mesmerizing, making it an important part of peoples' day to day life. Doug Williamson, a 24-year-old young Canadian man realized that people needed a place to congregate outside of the local pub. With love for coffee and the people, Doug and his close friend set out on a daunting venture of exploring this flavorsome industry. They started Esquires in 1993, in a small “strip mall” that has grown to be the leading coffee brand in Canada and New Zealand today. As young, amateurs who had nothing but passion with the power to think out of the box, Doug and his team have an inspiring tale to tell. Passion that Paved the Way Starting their first coffee shop in in a small “strip mall”, as we refer to them in Canada, Doug refers to this opportunity as his first lucky break. The small but charming center, comprised of about 30 or so retail businesses, had come under tough times and was in receivership, which

worked in favor of Doug's business plan. He grabbed the opportunity embarking a new career path without any experience. Evidently, the ﬁrst obstacle that would befall them was sustainability in the market without a name. They needed to work doubly hard to stay put in the competitive ﬁeld. With the presence of the big brands around, Doug and his team worked tirelessly to earn a position and acceptance within the community. CIO VIEWS | 23

They needed to listen to the customers and evolve to serve them and customize their design according to the taste and choice of the local community. Hard work and dedication saw them through, and they gained the trust of and respect of people living in North Delta. By the 90s they had established Esquires as a leading specialty retail coﬀee brand in western Canada.

opening Esquires franchise outlets throughout the country. Today, they have more than100 stores, but Doug is very proud to say that Esquires Coﬀee evolved from that one small store in a small suburb of Vancouver; by showing people that they valued their business more than the big brands. The Essence of Remarkable Services

Name and fame followed as the team kept working relentlessly year after year. More doors of opportunities started opening every year. There was all sorts of pressure, as happens in business, to grow and expand, but they had worked really hard building the chain and did not feel a great deal of urgency to expand for expansion's sake. However, fate had something diﬀerent in store. In 1999, a lovely

couple who were franchise experts in UK happened to visit the Vancouver Island store and cite their experience as “We fell immediately and madly in love with their energy, environment, and friendliness. We knew Brits would just adore this brand!” Well, another lucky break in the book of Esquires wrote a new chapter of success and the following years just Saw Doug travelling across UK 24 | DECEMBER 2025

Today, Esquires is a fast charging coffee brand in the U.K. and Ireland with market leading innovation around food and beverage. Today's coffee shop plays a unique role in their social interaction evoking different emotions in people. The Esquires coffee shops offer many other services apart from their refreshing coffee. They are places to meet friends, places to find peace; they are places where business is performed in an ever-increasing manner, they are places to unwind after the stresses of a busy day. They function as an extension of homes and businesses, as well as a place to escape them. Whatever the reason for visiting Esquires, every customer enjoys being in a comforting and peaceful environment where they can rely upon exceptional service and delicious food and coffee. Esquires draws on that need by providing a warm and welcoming experience while offering Organic Fair-Trade coffee, along with a range of quality teas and the latest in health focused cold drinks as well as delicious food freshly made in store. This clearly differentiates Esquires and has created a distinct goodwill with our customers who have become enduring and loyal devotees of the brand. The Expansion of the Business with Strategic Planning From moving into new markets to developing new products, franchising has given the company different avenues of growth. More specifically,

it has helped the company grow by allowing them to utilize the talents and local knowledge of their franchise owners whilst they can focus on building the brand, the supplier network, generating value and improving their systems. Additionally, having franchise owners that challenge them daily to refine their systems for maximum efficiency is a powerful way of growing, which they would not have otherwise. Indeed, franchising has its challenges as well. Assembling a team of like-minded individuals is incredibly important, as is finding qualified franchise owners that share our vision and values. However, franchising has fostered the growth of the company largely with over 100 successful stores today. Over the last number of years store growth has been steady and indeed continues to be so and in the more recent past they have also been marrying store growth to in house improvement in profitability through improved food programs and focus on procurement. While the latter does not necessarily bring about growth as such it does drive profitability in store for the people at the coal face, their franchisees. The Experts Driven by a Vision Doug started Esquires at the age of 24 along with his friend while they were still in search of a promising career path. Without any experience to begin an entrepreneurial journey was a challenging task however the suburb of Vancouver known as North Delta, is a land brimming with working professionals, students, and families of all ages, which could have been one of the factors that boosted Doug to take an unnerving step of risk. Taking calculated risks and standing strong despite the challenges has brought Esquires in the lead position today. Aiden Keegan took over from Doug in 2018 and has played a vital role in

the strategic growth of the company and having been a major contributor in the growth of the business. “Having been with Esquires, albeit in the Irish and GCC sides of the business since 2004 it sometimes seems to me that I have done little else! However, I did also spend some years in Ireland's biggest indigenous coffee chain before joining Esquires and before that in various roles across hospitality.” Says, Aiden. Aiden's roles and responsibilities as the CEO of Esquires are quite varied and cover everything from operational improvements to procurement to franchisee development as well as looking after the balance sheet. In terms of the emotions around this, it is mainly pride in the job being done by the great team, Aiden finds himself lucky to have a skilled team around him and the 'product' they deliver to their customers, the franchisees. The Vision of a Unanimous Team The team is passionate about ensuring their customers enjoy their experience at Esquires. They focus on building an emotional connection with the customers, paired with a functional solution to achieve a unique brand attachment and loyalty. Some of their key means of ensuring an exceptional experience in their coffee shops are: •

•

A commitment to third wave coffee excellence and the desire to pioneer new innovative espresso beverages that are helping to shape the future of our coffee such as our recent Black & Tonic. Freshly roasted Organic Fairtrade coffee, teas and chocolate served alongside a selection of carefully chosen healthy and freshly prepared in store food. Individually designed and immediately recognizable cafes, exhibiting our sustainability commitments, independent CIO VIEWS | 25

•

• •

character and proudly located in premium locations. Comfortable seating and readily accessible internet connections, supported by great music and magazines Staﬀ are extensively trained to ensure they value all customers and practice a personal service Constant innovation to stay ahead of our competitors and strengthen our reputation of always being “the place to be”

The Future of Esquires Esquires already operates in numerous countries around the globe including Ireland, Canada, China, Pakistan, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan and Portugal. Franchising at its core, is essentially the leveraging of a good idea or a suite of good ideas and sharing that IP and adapting it for the market you are entering, however, for it to work one key factor must be at the heart of the business, the Franchisee. Without the Franchisee there is no franchising so their wellbeing in the business is the keystone to building any successful franchise. However franchising may change in the future, this tenet ought to remain true and adhered to. Esquires plan is to continue this expansion but in a sustainable way with strategic partners on the ground in these and new locations. Esquires started with soul, passion and love.and today, 25 years later it has made a remarkable impression on the coﬀee industry. With over 100 successful stores, Esquires has taken the lead in the market as one of the best coﬀee brands with the best service. The skilled leadership and knowledgeable team continues to work hard to stay in the lead.

Founder, Blendhub

26 | DECEMBER 2025

HENRIK STAMM KRISTENSEN Creating High Impact with Blendhub's ‘Food-as-a-Service' platform

ood-as-a-Service may seem to be trending nowadays but Henrik Stamm Kristensen, Serial Founder and Chief Moonshot Officer of Blendhub, was one of the first ones to implement it. He has revolutionized the global food industry with his remarkable service platform called Blendhub. This platform assists everyone who wants to innovate and produce sustainably for higher quality food access. He shares, “I founded Blendhub based on a collaborative model between the different operators in the supply chain with localization of operation and production closer to raw materials and final consumers. We were visionary and the first ones to develop a safer, fairer, more efficient, and sustainable food production model.” While most couldn't anticipate this initially, now more and more stakeholders are joining hands to share value. Recently, Unilever also announced that they were now stressing on localization of production, which was spearheaded

by Henrik more than a decade ago. He is happy to have made an influence and tasted great success by making people believe what he believes. Crossing Hurdles along the way Carrying perseverance along the journey of success and failures has helped him make a difference. He says, “I firmly believe in my ideas and despite both the incomprehension and resistance of adoption that I have encountered, we are today showing that visionary ideas developed decades ago are about to revolutionize the agri-food production model. The key is to have confidence in one's ideas and to fight to make them real.” Laying the foundation stone of Blendhub Henrik hails from Denmark and has traveled and worked across the world. However, 30 years back, he finally settled in Spain to follow his passion for food. With an idea to establish his own food technology company, he CIO VIEWS | 27

founded Premium Ingredients in 1996. The brand countered the challenge of disappearance of every pure food ingredient into black box recipes by manufacturing powderbased food recipes with traceable ingredients for the food industry. However, after learning valuable lessons, he plunged into following a different approach for the future. Thus, he came up with a collaborative platform concentrating on Food-as-aService. This has now been named as Blendhub. He says, “After building a traditional static factory in 2004, I challenged my engineers to develop a portable production unit. In 2011, we patented and deployed our first Portable Powder Blending factory in India.” After that, they have progressed ahead using localized production models for being in close proximity to raw materials and final consumers. They even deployed a network of production hubs with the help of portable factories as per a unique replication model. They even patented

their recipes to foster transparency of ingredients. Till date, Blendhub has deployed 7 hubs in Spain (2), India (2), Mexico, Colombia, and Thailand.

and enable them to become a branded food producer.

Redeﬁning 'Food-as-a-Service' with Blendhub

Driving a transformation in agri-value chain, he wants to prioritize the UN's sustainable development goals #sdg 2, 12, and 17. He adds, “We cannot tolerate having anyone going hungry to bed or suﬀering diseases or malnutrition because of harmful food products or the lack of the right ingredients.” Thus, the company's growth strategy has three pillars:

Blendhub empowers the stakeholders to design, launch and produce their own food products at a rapid pace with low investment and risk. Localizing the food production helps in cutting the cost by 30 to 50% and results in the global supply chains efficiency. He believes decentralizing food production and stimulating local supply chains can help generate local employment as well as reduce gas emissions as well. He states, “Replication is at the core of our business. We deploy identical production hubs featuring portable powder-blending units worldwide. One unit, all hardware and software included, fits in a 40' container. It can be deployed in less than six months anywhere: near the raw materials and the final consumer.” With Blendhub's Food-as-a-Service platform, they are even meeting UN's SDG 17 (Partnerships for the goals) that states, “Real value sharing includes stimulating open, multilateral trading systems, disseminating technologies in developing countries and assisting domestic economies in their development.” By formulating a large network of affiliated partners (raw material producers, machinery producers, food technologists, technology companies, blenders, distributors, food producers) via Blendhub, they are able to shorten prices, make food more accessible

3 Growth Pillars for faster success

Ÿ Food as a service: With its extensive food-related services, Blendhub can help all food companies to launch a new product anywhere in the world in just 90 days. Ÿ Infrastructure as a service: Multilocalization of food production is cost-effective (saves 30% to 50% cost), is environment-friendly and can be easily replicable from ideation to production in the entire world. Ÿ Digitized food quality and supply chains as a service: Maintaining standard food quality is the key, thus they have software to check the food quality and ensure food safety in the entire chain. He shares, “Chemometric Brain is a quality certification software based on NIR technology that identifies the components of any ingredient or food product in powder, liquid, solid, or gel form in just a few seconds. In 2020, we decided to make it an independent company to digitize quality and supply chains for any food company independent of size and know-how.”

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Chasing dreams As the Chief Moonshot Officer of Blendhub, Henrik is giving wings to his big and bold dreams. During his regular work day, he tries to connect with numerous people as well as companies to interact around the global platform model where 8.000 million+ consumers and the planet turn out to be the ultimate winners. Being a firm believer of the old adage, “Coming Together Is A Beginning. Keeping Together Is Progress. Working Together Is Success,” he knows that only with collaborative efforts, a global impact can be observed. When the goals are far-reaching, they need more dedication and eventually more time. Since his goal of making basic nutrition accessible to more people worldwide is quite ambitious, it is not a job for him anymore! It has transformed into a lifetime project with no actual work-life balance. He adds, “I lead with conviction, show by example, and know that we can only do it together. My companies are linked to a social goal, which is to produce more sustainably and ensure basic food for more people, which makes it easy for people to decide if and how they want to participate.” Having witnessed the chief goal of changing the world for the better, the entire team gets constant motivation for doing the best. Marking the Future goals Henrik and his industrious team are striving hard to accelerate the deployment of new production hubs

on 5 continents so that the multilocalization production model gets facilitated. For that, they are looking for collaborating with local likeminded partners/investors. He shares the business success mantra, “Smart money from smart people is the only

way forward.” As per fulﬁlling his personal dreams, he says, “As a business leader, I will continue to work on the growth around a collaborative platform with more value-aligned stakeholders

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joining our purpose-driven business model. Not only will it create shared value and make food production more eﬃcient, safer, and cheaper, it will deﬁnitely leave a net positive impact on our planet.”

Breaking Barriers and Nurturing Growth: The Dynamic Leadership of

NICOLE HART at Afrikelp

icole Hart, the CEO of Afrikelp, stands as an inspiring figure in the business landscape, contributing significantly to the agricultural sector. In this exclusive interview, Nicole shares her thoughts on success, details about Afrikelp, her leadership journey, and her vision for the future. Let's delve into the story of a woman who has not only thrived in her industry but is also paving the way for future businesswomen. Afrikelp's Seaweed Solutions: Sowing Sustainability in Agriculture Under Nicole's visionary leadership, Afrikelp stands as a beacon of excellence in the agricultural sector. This proudly South African company, specializing in seaweed solutions extracted from Ecklonia maxima kelp, has flourished under her guidance. The liquid kelp extracts, which serve as the cornerstone of their agricultural

formulations, have found their way to over 45 countries, making a global impact on crop production. Nicole's strategic approach at Afrikelp prioritizes the business's growth and the ecosystem it operates in. The company's formulations go beyond agricultural enhancements, symbolizing a commitment to sustainable practices. The success of Afrikelp is measured not only by sales volumes but also by its positive environmental footprint. Nicole's leadership narrative aligns with Afrikelp's commitment to sustainability, overcoming global and local challenges and establishing the company as a responsible agricultural player. The success of Afrikelp reﬂects Nicole's dedication to aligning business goals with environmental responsibility. The company's impact stretches far beyond its South African roots, reaching agricultural 32 | DECEMBER 2025

landscapes across the globe. In Nicole's words, "We commit that what we do today will have a positive impact on the earth's future." This forward-looking approach not only drives Afrikelp's operations but also positions it as a key player in the global pursuit of sustainable agriculture. Journey to Success: Navigating Life's Complexities Through Leadership Success, in Nicole's perspective, is a tapestry woven from diverse life experiences. Whether in personal relationships, health endeavors, career accomplishments, or societal contributions, she sees success as a dynamic concept, evolving daily. For Nicole, the essence of success lies in ﬁnding contentment in the continuous pursuit of personal and professional goals, with a profound emphasis on deriving joy from giving rather than receiving.

Managing Director , Afrikelp

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However, leading a company presents its own set of challenges, and Nicole has gained valuable insights from her leadership journey. Acknowledging the complexity of her role, she underscores the significance of integrating purpose, integrity, and ethics into decision-making processes. Nicole advocates for effective communication and collaboration as the linchpin in overcoming challenges, emphasizing that the additional time invested in these aspects can be the differentiator between triumph and setback. Breaking Barriers & Thriving as a Woman in Leadership Nicole Hart challenges the notion that women's leadership success is solely about overcoming challenges. She believes that success lies in delivering value, staying prepared, and remaining fully engaged in the professional landscape. She emphasizes there are advantages to being a female leader, highlighting the unique contributions women bring to leadership roles. By highlighting the positive aspects, she advocates for a paradigm shift, celebrating the inherent strengths and perspectives women bring to the table. Nicole's approach is not just about personal success; it's a broader call to action. She envisions a future where women in leadership roles are not just acknowledged for overcoming challenges but are celebrated for the unique qualities they bring to the professional arena. By setting examples, challenging societal norms, and showcasing the advantages of diverse leadership, Nicole paves the way for future generations of women leaders. A Vision for Afrikelp: Nurturing Growth Sustainably Afrikelp is focused on leveraging and investing in science to maximise the benefits that are possible from quality biostimulant technologies. The company aims to strengthen partnerships and expand its presence in the USA market. They prioritize people and scientific knowledge to unlock the full potential of their offerings. Afrikelp's commitment to sustainability and innovative solutions aligns with their commitment to science. Under Nicole's leadership, the company aims to be at the forefront of transformative changes in the biostimulant sector. On the back of great success in South Africa, Latin America and Europe, Afrikelp is investing into the USA market to bring their sustainable Ecklonia maxima solutions to the major food producing regions. The company's vision CIO VIEWS | 35

emphasizes partnerships and a collaborative approach, highlighting the interconnectedness of people, partners, products, performance, and the planet. Afrikelp's future plans acknowledge the invaluable role of their team and foster a work environment that nurtures excellence and growth. Nicole's commitment to sustainability and people-centric leadership, positions Afrikelp as a beacon in the evolving agriculture landscape, valuing both proﬁts and positive impact. A Journey Rooted in Chemistry Nicole Hart's professional journey unfolds as a narrative of academic prowess and dynamic career

experiences, all of which converge to shape her impactful role as the Managing Director of Afrikelp. Armed with a Ph.D. in Chemistry, Nicole embarked on a trajectory that seamlessly blended technical expertise with a strategic business mindset. Her early career saw her transitioning swiftly from technical roles to commercial positions, where she demonstrated a knack for integrating acquisitions, people and product lines to foster growth. Over 16 years, she played a pivotal role in developing new products and sales globally, leaving an indelible mark on companies such as AECI, and Omnia Fertilizer, both JSE-listed entities. In

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2019 she was elected Chair of the Fertilizer Association of Southern Africa and the following year became the first female Chair of their Board of Directors. The varied experiences gained in leading sales teams, orchestrating acquisition integrations, and steering product development and research, positions her as a seasoned leader well-versed in the intricacies of the agriculture and fertilizer industry. It was in 2020 that Nicole's journey converged with Afrikelp, marking a significant chapter in her career. This shift reflects her commitment to sustainable solutions for agriculture, a theme that has consistently threaded

Motivation and Passion - Driving Excellence in Service Nicole Hart, a coastal KwaZulu-Natal native, is driven by her passion for agriculture and sustainability. Her dedication to the economy, environment, and people of South Africa is fueled by her connection to the ocean and her belief in the symbiotic relationship between nature and human progress. Her role at Afrikelp allows her to channel her passion for making a positive impact on the world, making her an asset to the company.

through her professional pursuits. Joining Afrikelp as CEO oﬀered her the platform to bring her extensive knowledge and passion for sustainable agriculture to the forefront. Nicole's journey is a testament to her continuous pursuit of roles that align with her values and aspirations. The transitions from technical positions to commercial leadership roles underscore her adaptability and strategic acumen. Her experiences in global portfolio management and integration equipped her with a holistic understanding of the industry, positioning her as a leader capable of steering Afrikelp toward greater heights.

Nicole is a dedicated individual who drives positive transformation within the biostimulant industry. She believes in pushing boundaries for constant improvement. Her proactive approach to challenges is not just strategic but also a reflection of her mindset. By refining and optimizing processes, she ensures Afrikelp operates at the pinnacle of efficiency, delivering excellent products and services. Harmony in Life and Ambition In the intricate dance between personal and professional realms, Nicole embraces the challenge of maintaining equilibrium. For her, meticulous planning is key to the delicate balancing act, ensuring that vital family engagements take precedence even as the demands of a thriving career persist. At the core of Nicole's ambitions as a businesswoman lies a perpetual commitment to nurturing a highperformance and value-adding workplace. Leading Afrikelp, she envisions growing the brand of South African people and products on the CIO VIEWS | 37

global stage. Her aspirations extend beyond corporate borders to significantly contributing to sustainable global food production. This vision reflects her steadfast commitment to a responsible and ethical approach to feeding the planet. Message to Aspiring Businesswomen: Seek Excellence and Collaborate! In parting words, Nicole encourages aspiring businesswomen to seek and deliver excellence, emphasizing the contagious nature of passion. Her advice includes continuous networking, resilience in the face of rejection, and delivering high-level performance while finding joy inside and outside of work. Her journey serves as a beacon, lighting the way for those who aspire to make a lasting impact in the business and natural world. Nicole Hart's story is not just about success in business; it's about a journey of purpose, sustainability, and inspiring future generations. Afrikelp, under her leadership, continues to sow the seeds of growth while staying rooted in values that go beyond profit. As we navigate the future, Nicole's story stands as a testament to the transformative power of passion, perseverance, and purpose in leadership.

General Manager, Noor Fès Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil

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GHIZLANE TAZI MOUDEN Enthusiastic and Forward-thinking Executive in the Organic Olive Oil Sector

Ghizlane Tazi is a beacon of leadership and innovation in the competitive agri-food sector of the present day. She is the general manager of Noor Fès Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil and has played a pivotal role in the growth of the company. Due to her passion, experience, and commitment to the profession, her path is an inspiration to all. This article goes deeper into her inspirational path, leadership style, and vision for the future of Noor Fès. A Visionary Beginning Ghizlane Tazi's eyes sparkle with excitement when asked what motivated her to become a member of Noor Fès. "What motivated me to join Noor Fès was above all the vision of its creator, Mr. Dakir Berrada," she says. His faith in the product and his serene, systematic approach to building a brand touched her deeply. On top of that, her long interest in the agri-food sector and the value product of extra

virgin olive oil made the decision a simple one. Ghizlane's experience as a General Manager has been rewarding. With more than two years at Noor Fès, she looks back at her varied career experiences that inﬂuenced her business and leadership style. "My tenure as a strategy consultant at McKinsey & Company ingrained in me never to fear grasping a new industry fast," she aﬃrms. A Journey of Happiness and Growth For Ghizlane, success is not measured on traditional grounds but by the deep sense of satisfaction and happiness it brings. "Success to me is being contented," she declares with a peaceful smile. This deeply rooted is spent in quality time with those she loves, indulging in her self-interest, such as yoga, and seeing her children thrive and grow.

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"Working part-time and being new to the industry, it is obviously thanks to the support of my teams and the unconditional commitment of Mr. Berrada that everything I try to undertake becomes possible.”

"As long as I am learning something new every day and also sharing it with others, then I'm okay," is how she reacts, showing the way, she nurtures learning and acquisition. Yet success was not reached without a struggle for her. She underwent a phase of uncertainty and discontentment before arriving at Noor Fès. "I was getting nowhere, looking for myself," she candidly confesses. It was a time in her life for searching and reflection. A respite from professional life gave her the liberty to reflect and redefine her professional aspirations.

Mastering Multiple Hats As General Manager of Noor Fès, the role is anything but one-dimensional. Seamlessly jumping between a series of responsibilities, each with its own set of skills and information, is simply part of the daily routine. From product development to spearheading marketing campaigns and managing human resources, the role is very multi-faceted. Even with the scope of responsibilities, distribution is paramount. There is a ﬁrm dedication to strengthening Noor Fès's grip on the Moroccan market and aggressively penetrating overseas 40 | DECEMBER 2025

markets such as the U.S. and the UK. "We need to make it a success story so the brand can grow and develop," she says ﬁrmly. This vision and tenacious persistence are the secret to navigating the diﬃculties of global markets and ensuring the brand's long-term growth and success. Illuminating African Agriculture: A Vision for Organic Excellence "Morocco is one of the world's largest producers of olive oil, but nobody else knows this except us," she says. By highlighting Noor Fès as a successful Moroccan brand, that is capable of producing top quality product, and competing with the most

“There are already many producers of great products in the Maghreb and Africa, but they don't necessarily dare to highlight their brand and origin. As a result, they often end up being suppliers for European brands that use their products and sell them under private labels.”

prestigious Spanish, Italian and Greek olive oils, she wants to encourage other African producers to do the same, and is on a quest to give Morocco and the continent global visibility. Her dream goes far beyond Noor Fès itself; it has a larger target of changing perception and inspiring the rest of the African agrifood brands to step into the global limelight. Through this action, she aspires to form a ripple that will raise the whole agricultural chain in Africa in the global agenda, aiming to showcase that the continent possesses the natural resources and the capability of producing world-level organic products. Milestones and Empowerment Looking back on her career milestones, Ghizlane is proud to have revived the Luxury Business Unit of Groupe Aksal. "It was extremely loss-

making when I took charge of it," she says. She turned the unit around with planning, acquiring franchise contracts with high-end brands. That success established her as someone capable of initiating transformation and delivering first-class results. She is in the process of going Noor Fès global, and she does this with great enthusiasm. International expansion and a global footprint for Noor Fès are a testament to her vision and leadership. Finding the Ideal Balance In the competitive business environment, a balance between professional and personal life is very much feasible. Ghizlane Tazi, however, considers it both a necessity and an aspiration. "Personal life comes first," she declares firmly. Having spent years working and traveling around the clock, she deliberately changed direction. CIO VIEWS | 41

Working part-time these days, Ghizlane gets to spend time with her family and enjoy the moments most precious to them. Having the freedom to concentrate on her own interests, especially sports, is a respite to her. Conclusion The inspiring tale of Ghizlane Tazi's drive, vision, and ingenuity with Noor Fès Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil is told. Because of her commitment to the industry, strategic thinking, and focus on quality, Noor Fès is a signiﬁcant force in the agri-food sector. As she continues to grow the company and impact the industry, her experience inspires upcoming leaders and entrepreneurs.

REBECCA AMUKHOYE Leading an Organization With a Vision to Build a Prosperous Society

elonging to a family of smallholder farmers, Rebecca Amukhoye, CEO of Micro Enterprise Support Programme Trust (MESPT), has always dreamed of making agriculture profitable, ensuring a quality life for smallholder farmers. Agriculture is not only her work, but her life! Influencing Others Positively As a student, Rebecca thought success was passing exams and advancing to the next grade; as an employee, success was achieving work targets and making the employer happy; as a senior manager, success was building and growing a team by delivering the organizational goals and positively impacting the community. Now, she defines success as the ability to influence someone's life positively in terms of quality of life and economic wellbeing.

Leading a Vision

Building a Prosperous Society

Rebecca leads MESPT by relentlessly pursuing perfection, illustrating true integrity, valuing ability rather than experience, sharing her vision and having a sense of purpose. She believes in creating an environment in which people refuse to accept mediocrity, practice mutual respect, excel in work, undertake deserving roles and encourage staﬀ engagement.

Micro Enterprise Support Programme Trust (MESPT) is a development organization established in 2002 by the Government of Kenya and the European Union and later by the Royal Danish Embassy in Kenya, (DANIDA) enjoined through a Trust Deed of 2013, with the main goal of promoting economic growth, employment creation and poverty alleviation. This is achieved through capacity building which includes skills development and technical assistance to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by providing business advisory and market linkages. MESPT has implemented its mandate through two key segments: Value Chain & Enterprise Development and Financial Services. Their Vision is “to build a more prosperous society” and their Mission is “to provide sustainable business development and

She does find it challenging to make difficult decisions like dismissing a staff member, handling conflict and finding the balance between demanding results and top performance from people without instilling a fear of failure in them. Nevertheless, she is always there to inspire the team in times of uncertainty, staying positive and calm.

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CEO, Micro Enterprise Support Programme Trust CIO VIEWS | 43

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Co Founder, Tabit Agricultural

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TULIN AKIN Educating and Helping Farmers to Solve Farming Challenges Associated with the Present

usiness executives are expected to be able to express a compelling vision of a chosen future that motivates and inspires the next generation in the face of multiple global uncertainties. Ms. Tülin Akin, founder of Tabit Agricultural Information and Communication Technologies Inc., pioneered Turkey's first communication, e-learning, and etrade media in the agriculture field through the website tarimsalpazarlama.com that she created in 2004 while still a student. She is forward-looking, sees exciting possibilities, and engages others in a shared vision of the future. She made sure farmers could receive financing without suffering losses by simulating their credit cards with banks. Ms. Akin established the Vodafone Farmers' Club in partnership with Vodafone and launched early warning notifications in agriculture to provide 1 million 400 000 farmers and their families with information and services through unique farmer applications. In 2015, work on implementing the Vodafone Farmers' Club business model in India, Ghana, Kenya, New Zealand, and Tanzania began. Thanks to Intel's cooperation, she was able to build a Farmer Computer program that enables any

literate person to utilize and ask questions to specialists regarding information, communication, marketing, and whatever else they require. She executed social responsibility projects for developing water awareness in rural areas and preventing tractor accidents. Currently, Ms. Akın is working in the village of Aydin in order to bring rural life into the future by establishing an implementation area of intelligent agriculture technologies, which is the Vodafone Smart Village, where the farmers can see either farming or technology at the same place. Idea to Inception Ms. Akin was a student before Tabit. When she started Tabit, she was 22. She held a few brief jobs when she was a student. She initially believed that being a young woman in ﬁelds like agriculture and technology, which are often controlled by men, was a barrier, but as she became more aware of the breadth and size of her job, she became both terriﬁed and inspired. Ms. Akin attended a computer course, worked as an assistant in accounting for a business, and learned how to design. Everything she learned helped CIO VIEWS | 49

her make a difference in what she does. She asserts, "I still continue to study and learn new things. My trainings can be related to work or in a completely different field that I am curious about." Ms. Akın thinks that differentiation comes from touching on different thought systems. Although the company works in agriculture and technology, it can also be inspired by theatre and music. For example, consider operations management, order and rules. Combining Agriculture and Tech When she was a student at Akdeniz University's Agricultural Marketing division in 2004, Ms. Akin launched Tabit, a social venture that combines agriculture and technology. The first agricultural e-commerce system and the first agricultural social communication and information network in Turkey were two of Tabit's initial ventures. She shares, "As we saw the shortcomings in the sector, we started to work on them, and by modelling Turkey's first farmer credit card, we enabled the farmer to find financial resources without any financial troubles." By establishing the world's first Smart Village, which provides applied management technology training to

time it takes to achieve this change of mind. She and her team have been so successful that a seemingly absurd business has become a part of life, and the thought system, which has begun to be perceived as normal, has radically changed. She can't think of a higher achievement. Ms. Akın received many international awards from huge institutions, but the best appreciation she received was the words of an old farmer woman in a village where she went to promote Tabit's work, "I always wanted to see Atatürk, but now I see you, I will not feel sorry even if I die". While Atatürk was the commander-in-chief in the freedom struggle, he is a leader who helped establish modern Turkey with his administrative innovations, whether in education or in the equality of men and women. Mistakes Lead to Perfection

farmers, Ms. Akın and her team have enabled more than 1.5 million farmers in Turkey and 7 million farmers in African and Middle Eastern countries to come together with information and technology. She states, "Can agriculture be done with technology in places that are not currently suitable for agriculture, for example, in a desert? We are working on this subject. All our projects continue successfully. It is becoming an agricultural policy in the countries we work with. It's being sampled. That was our aim, too, to inspire and to radically transform the system.”

True Success "When you do a new job that hasn't been tried before, people who learn what you do talk like this: "What a ridiculous job. Will that work? Did it just occur to you, don't bother with vain things?" But you work hard, time passes, everyone adopts the job, and it comes to such a point that your business line has become an inseparable part of the sector. Then you hear things like "So what, everybody thinks about it, of course it would be like this, we knew it anyway" So most people always express negative opinions no matter what." For Ms. Akın, success is the

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"If you are doing an innovative business, it means you are doing it for the first time. If you don't have any past experience in what you do, you move forward by guessing, trying, and often by mistake. These mistakes bring you many difficulties, but when you overcome this difficulty, you can discover the solution to many difficulties that you may encounter in the future. On the other hand, if you have started to create the experience, others will come from the path you have opened, and the experiences that say they will try other ways will diversify," says Ms. Akın. Ms. Akn had the greatest challenges in her professional life as a result of the lack of legal definitions for the rules governing creative firms. This taught her an important lesson: in the absence of rules, anybody may set the rules. On smart agricultural technologies, Tabit is engaged. It works to guarantee that farmers in rural regions make products that are simple to use, inexpensive, and that increase output.

For the producers impacted by climate change, for those who have trouble getting food, and for a sustainable, healthy production by safeguarding nature—that is, for the Earth—Ms. Akn regarded this as a crucial step. She acted because she felt responsible. She believes the sense of responsibility and imagining and being excited about what happens next is all inspiring. Revolutionizing Agriculture 7 million farmers in Kenya, Egypt, India, Tanzania, New Zealand, and Ghana, as well as 1.5 million farmers in Turkey, have access to information regarding weather conditions, natural disasters, assistance, product-specific material, and new agricultural techniques. Through the mobile phone application, farmers may locate consumers for their goods. They can ask veterinarians and agricultural engineers questions. With affordable and simple-to-use rates, the technology, which only huge firms can invest in, has expanded throughout rural regions. The smart village that Ms. Akin and her team created served as inspiration for other initiatives, and with the team's help, it began to take root in other nations, such as Azerbaijan. There is a growing understanding that technology is the only way to completely eradicate the detrimental impacts of climate change on agriculture. Team Tabit is pleased to receive international honours after successfully implementing these change procedures because it makes them feel as if their efforts are being recognized. In order to ensure a culture of honesty and innovation in Tabit, Ms. Akın focuses on the purpose of life and dreams that she/he wants to realize, rather than professional and

educational information while recruiting. After all, a person can be taught to do business, but not to be a good person and dream. She says, "Even if we have hired a person in the team who does not have this spirit, she/he soon realizes that not to belong here. Our company considers business life as a lifestyle, not a career step." She goes on to say that there are already far too many companies where those with career goals can work to meet KPIs. Here we fulfil our life goals. Passion for Work Ms. Akın's most important responsibility is to provide an environment and management where the team can work in harmony, with a heartfelt sense of the organizational goals. She says, "To mentor the ideas and development of each team member while leading the team according to our founding purpose. Thus, we can take the steps of unique and big projects." Every workday and schedule are different. There is no routine that Ms. Akın does every day. She always starts the day with breakfast in the office kitchen. She gets information about the issues the team focused on that day by having short conversations with those who go in and out of the kitchen. She believes that informal knowledge and informal knowledge management are more important than sharped and preprepared manipulable reports. She shares, "KPIs are not the success criteria of our field of study." Since meetings, interviews and trips are planned well in advance, Ms. Akın gives herself time to prepare for them, but what she cares about most is interacting with the team, feeling excited and acting together. Sometimes Ms. Akın finds herself very patient and sometimes extremely excited, but the most she has heard about herself for all these years. She CIO VIEWS | 51

says, "how can one be so excited when you're still talking about your work. I think I'm most excited." Planning for Keeping Everything Align Ms. Akin makes an eﬀort to have two distinct lives and avoid blending her personal and professional lives. "I shouldn't transform a Sunday morning brunch with my family into a business meeting or consider my daughter's puberty issues while I'm at work," she argues. To me, planning is crucial. Ms. Akin planned everything, including what she will do when and how she will spend her time, even though she doesn't have routines. She makes plans to balance her professional and personal life. A Woman with Vision As the possibilities oﬀered by technology develop, Tabit is moving forward with the aim of ensuring its simultaneous adaptation to agriculture and strengthening the rural area both technologically, economically, and socially. Today, the company is working on agriculture in the desert, making improvements on easy-to-use, economically accessible, yieldenhancing agricultural technologies. She says, "Regenerating the Earth and making the trip to Mars unnecessary is among our goals. However, agricultural needs at the space base are also one of the projects we are working on." Ms. Akın's personal goal was to show her two daughters that they can change the world, and she does. Her message to promising businesswomen is 'Dream! Move on! Be patient! Then your dreams will go beyond reality.'

SANJAY SINGH A Leader of Diversity Embracing Shared Growth and Collaborative Success

n our interconnected, 24/7, postCOVID world, professionals can increasingly make choices on where and how they want to work. These decisions are based on an organisation's values and the degree to which it can give them what they want to accomplish in their lives, towards a higher purpose for the greater good of the society and at the same time, what they need in terms of lifestyle, flexibility and working conditions. As a result, human resource management is key to an efficient, effective and smooth-running organisation by being aware of these expectations and offering a specialised scientifically informed framework for each firm. For Sanjay Singh, Global Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) at UPL, it's simple: "HR functions need to move on from metrics to insights that

improve people and business decisions within a more energising and sustainable environment.” Across his career, Mr Singh has been a part of this transformation of HR into a discipline with a valued seat at the management and leadership table. A Leader and a Team Player Today, Mr. Singh is responsible for UPL's end-to-end HR functions, leading reviews and reporting required of a global company with teams and operations in 100 plus countries. He began his career with Indian Railways, the second-largest organisation in the world run by a single management team. His ﬁrst job in the private sector was with Dr. Reddy's, where he managed numerous international missions in Europe and Russia. Later, he became 52 | DECEMBER 2025

head of human resources for Tata Motors' commercial vehicles, which included global operations and joint ventures abroad. Subsequently, Mr Singh was appointed executive vice president and the global head of human resources for Crompton Greaves. Mr. Singh now values the conﬁdence this early experience in handling size, scale and change management in highly complex environments with long legacies brought him. Since then, he has drawn on these experiences to forge new successes - and believes they are to thank for some of the awards with which he has been honoured over the course of his work. UPL Ltd. - Nurturing sustainability, integrity and innovation In his current role at UPL Ltd., Mr

lobal Chief Human Resources Oﬃcer, UPL CIO VIEWS | 53

Singh is responsible for helping strengthen and grow a culture of sustainability, innovation and high impact in one of the world's largest providers of sustainable agriculture products and solutions. Through its OpenAg® purpose, UPL is focused on accelerating the sustainable transformation of global food systems by “building a network that is reimagining sustainability, redeﬁning the way an entire industry thinks and works - open to fresh ideas, innovation and new answers as we strive towards our mission to make every single food product more sustainable." With annual revenue exceeding US$6 billion, UPL is one of the largest agricultural solutions companies worldwide. Its robust portfolio consists of biologicals and traditional crop protection products with more than 14,000 registrations, oﬀering integrated solutions across the food value chain, including seeds, post-

harvest and physical and digital services. It is the fastest growing organisation in the sector and already present in more than 130 countries and is represented by more than 10,000 associates worldwide. Culture of Innovation UPL's internally nurtured culture of integrity and innovation is lived primarily by role models who are supported by detail-orientated organisational processes that institutionalise these values. Through its OpenAg purpose, UPL believes that anyone in the food value chain can innovate and that, in today's world, innovation is best achieved through collaboration and partnerships. As Mr. Singh puts it, "One needs an open network of farmers, researchers, start-ups, technologies, and others committed to farmer resilience to come together and ﬁnd solutions that improve farmers' ﬁnancial conditions with 54 | DECEMBER 2025

climate-smart, sustainable solutions." Through its OpenAg approach, UPL is a purpose-led company always looking for opportunities to collaborate, partner and learn from both within and beyond its industry. And this unique strategy extends to ensuring it hires the top people from a wide variety of professional backgrounds. Therefore, UPL's associates are thought leaders, knowledge providers, and - more importantly - networkers able to help innovation happen through this open network. Joining the HR Industry HR professionals must balance qualitative and quantitative factors in their work. It was an interest in managing these intricate and sensitive interactions that ﬁrst attracted Mr. Singh to his - almost accidental - role in the HR ﬁeld. And since making this leap from the pure-play laws of

mathematics and science that were his background, these functions continue to captivate and interest him to this day. "Every day we are responsible for the running of a complex engine, combining social, cultural and emotional overtones with scientiﬁcally predictable processes,” Mr. Singh explains. “We provide a model that works for our employees, our values and our purpose, maintaining the spark of life within the organisation." Aligning Priorities Nonetheless, Mr. Singh emphasises that the human element is vital to human resource management, recognising that motivation can be dangerously sapped by a lack of communication on professional development. He therefore ensures that employees are given consistent written feedback on their potential, performance, and way forward in their career. This approach enables the organisation to both retain and develop talent within its ranks, and builds employee trust. Mr. Singh is an example of just how strongly building individual connections, maintaining active listening, and proactively discussing and collaboratively deﬁning career progression journeys

can positively impact employee motivation. Linked to this, is the awareness that personal and professional life exists as a continuum rather than a dichotomy. For both himself and the colleagues in his charge, he endeavours to empower the ability to choose a consistent set of priorities that keep UPL's people happy, productive, and committed. For himself, he states, "Choosing my priorities with an end in mind and doing a good job on both - whether it is work, health, or family - has kept me in good stead throughout." Adjustment with Career Transition In bringing on new talent and helping existing talent develop, Mr. Singh can also draw on one of the toughest obstacles in his early career: the transition from the public to the private sector. Migrating to a diﬀerent setup with new rules almost everywhere forced him to unlearn assumptions and habits as much as he had to embrace new ones. In Mr. Singh's experience, it is from overcoming obstacles that he has learned resilience and some of his most valuable lessons. This has also been true in Mr. Singh's current role at UPL where he was in

charge of overseeing the human resources element of a sizable acquisition. Mr. Singh was faced with maintaining UPL's agility, speed, and culture of empowerment – facets that always come under threat when increasing the size of the company and the complexity of operations. This required reorganisation and realignment of the management team at multiple levels, by emphasising best-in-class employee motivation and nurturing UPL's vision and values within the wider team, Mr. Singh was able to oversee a successful integration over a period of 12–18 months. "It cannot be described in words, but I believe our integration story was one of the biggest achievements for me and my team, and it was driven strongly by the successful integration of the leadership team," says Mr. Singh. An Expert's View Mr. Singh is keenly aware that talent is easily fungible due to a job market that is always connected and where skills can be evaluated and traded on a regular basis. The result is that organisations that want to attract and retain the best talent must themselves have the best people processes. And at the same time, digital and social media advancements such as LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and internet discussion boards mean that an organisation's employee value proposition is deﬁned by social media threads rather than the corporations themselves. Consequently, HR is becoming more externally focused with a de-emphasis on internal employee surveys and employee engagement ratings. Regardless, for Mr. Singh, the most progressive organisations must always keep their employees at their heart, seeing the world through their

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ensures that we achieve what we set out to do and maintain continuous internal improvement as we do so." Plans for the Upcoming Years As UPL works towards its vision of reimagining sustainability to make every food product more sustainable, the firm is concentrating on transforming food systems through its OpenAg network. For UPL's people, this means close collaboration with its customers: "We are working with farmers across the world to provide them with customised solutions that minimise environmental impact, lower water usage, and reduce farmer costs, all while increasing farmers' yields and making them more financially resilient," Mr. Singh explains. This close collaboration with farmers requires UPL's team from top to bottom to be knowledgeable about biological and conventional crop inputs; ahead of the curve in the opportunities bringing new tech platforms, appropriate financing, and insurance to the ag industry; and committed to reimagining sustainability themselves. eyes and never losing sight of individual motivations. He asserts, "If we truly empower our employees and live our values as an organisation, we help them connect with the larger purpose of the organisation and enable them to contribute to the greater good of the society in ways that go far beyond quarterly profits." For Mr. Singh, this is key to getting the best out of every person in the organisation. Leadership and Success There are two popular ways to measure success: the first is the success of the outcome; the second is the enabling success that comes from systems and processes, utilising strong tech platforms with intelligent data. For Mr. Singh, success is both

achieving the team's goals and also creating an internal culture that nurtures the talent and positive intent towards securing further successes. Running a process with integrity and depth, learning from mistakes and missteps, and sharing those experiences both as leaders and as team members is a success all on its own. With this in mind, Mr. Singh is always insistent that UPL teams learn from the ups and downs of execution to streamline technology and ERPs with sensible data to ensure continuous learning and improvement. "Achieving goals and learning lessons cannot be separated – like an enzyme and substrate complex,” Mr Singh elaborates. “And so, I try to attain that perfect internal lock that 56 | DECEMBER 2025

Mr. Singh wants UPL to be recognised as a powerhouse of leaders who meet and exceed these expectations and who can show the agricultural industry the way forward with sustainable solutions that put farmers ﬁrst. By working closely to develop leaders and collaborators driven to reimagine sustainability, Mr. Singh and his team are playing their part in providing farmers, food systems, and consumers around the world with climate-smart, environmentally friendly, and community-nurturing solutions.

JAYE CONNOLLY-LABELLE A Thought of Goodness Led her to Success

echnology is an exceptional innovation that has equipped us to connect and experience the different dimensions of modernization. However, choosing this field as a career option and securing a notable position in the industry as the owner of a technological company is an audacious step that not everyone is willing to take. But, an aspiring businesswoman, Jaye ConnollyLaBelle, dared to take that leap and founded one of the leading technological companies that has brought about a transformation, RippleNami, under her resourceful guidance. A woman of strength and perseverance, Jaye, explored a new dimension of technology and found herself an inspiring profession. She is a leading businesswoman and a proficient leader today, and CIO Views is honored to cover her story.

eventually led her to being a 3 time CEO leading to successful exits but her biggest accomplishment is raising an amazing strong intelligent daughter who is a ﬁerce litigator giving women and children a voice in court. Jaye realized early that empowering women and children will make the world a better place. Jaye saw something in RippleNami, she knew it would impact the world and wanted to be a part of the sea change it had the potential to aﬀect. Jaye is a fearless leader and was not afraid to dip her toe in the sand when she set out to do good. She had a vision of connecting 5 billion unconnected people with an easy-touse technology that leverages the mass adoption of the cell phone. Jaye knew that if she could take this technology solution into developing countries, the world would forever be changed. First stop: why not start in Africa.

The Leap of Faith Leading to Success

Jaye travels to each of the African countries working directly with African Presidents to solve their critical projects. There are challenges conducting business in Africa, including political instability, loose regulations, disease, death threats, attempts on life and internal country conﬂicts. While trying to close a contract with an African leader, Jaye was poisoned by an internal

As a single working mom, Jaye was and still is full of “tenacity.” She didn't let any diﬃculties stop her; her resilience, strength, and determination drove her to work and study hard. Not only has she thrived in her early career in Oil & Gas then onto $3 billion of Mergers and Acquisitions which

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government ministry who did not want the contract to go through. She rose above the incident and closed the deal despite the attempt on her life. That is what deﬁnes a true leader who stands strong despite the challenges. RippleNami is currently working in 13 African countries along with the United Kingdom on life changing projects to uplift economies and communities. The Incredible Services of RippleNami RippleNami® is a B2B technology company working in developing nations to deliver innovative solutions that solve critical problems. A global game-changer, RippleNami developed the ﬁrst easy-to-use intuitive AI blockchain visualization platform allowing anyone to visualize big data. Their mission is simple: connect 5 billion unconnected people with an easy-to-use solution that leverages the mass adoption of cell phones. RippleNami empowers nations and people with real-time information around the globe to easily connect and create positive change. RippleNami recognizes that people empowered with real-time and easily

CEO, RippleNami

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accessible information around the world can connect and foster unimaginable change. RippleNami is redefining blockchain and mapping with the first visualization platform that consolidates big data and provides information that matters most to users and organizations. Its cost-effective, device agnostic cloud-based platform delivers millions of real-time actionable data points on an intuitive map to customers across enterprises, nonprofits and foreign government agencies that are enabling critical decision making and enhanced collaboration. With seamless integration, limitless customization and scalable architecture, RippleNami allows people to chart their world, streamlining communication and improving operational effectiveness. In today's age of hyper-connectivity, there's so much data that it's easy to get lost in it all. To effectively adapt to often fluctuating conditions, organizations need a platform that enables them to quickly collect, organize and interpret data that is relevant to their operations and utilized by employees across the enterprise. Existing software programs are cumbersome, hard to implement, and expensive. RippleNami's product is a simple blockchain data visualization suite that's easily customizable, user-friendly and cost-effective, enabling organizations to quickly assemble and access layers of data that are critical to their operations. Our product suite is device agnostic and doesn't require extensive training or a geographic information system expert. With endless applications, RippleNami puts the power of big data and sophisticated technology directly into the hands of organizations so they can focus on what's most important visualizing their world.

The Growth Strategy of an Advancing Business Despite $150 billion each year in global development investment and humanitarian aid, few African economies have been measurably elevated. And yet a clear majority of these countries are immensely rich in resources and most importantly in untapped human capital. RippleNami is working to disrupt this historical trend by working with these country's governmental leaders towards establishing greater sovereignty. By identifying each country's citizens, quantifying their collective assets and enabling those citizens to enter into the local and global market through RippleNami's blockchain platform, citizens in eﬀect become shareholders in their country's economic performance collectively referred to as a Smart Country. In Africa over 700 million people live in extreme poverty and are denied from basic opportunities that are common in the West such as a bank account, the ability to sell their products to broader markets or being able to buy items that are vital for their small businesses. As a forward-looking company, Africa's challenges provide unlimited opportunities to innovate and address massive unmet demand across all sectors aﬀecting a person, such as identity, energy, water, agriculture, health, government, economy, housing, education, employment and security. With 40% of the African current population under 16 years old, Africa will become the largest marketplace by 2030. They are witnessing the power of technology taking hold in countries that have long been denied economic prosperity and are now enjoying empowerment through connectivity. In 5 years, Jaye led the company to positively impacted 80 million people in Africa, 1 million livestock and 2.8 million veterans in the U.K.

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The Woman Behind the Success Jaye serves as chairman and chief executive officer of RippleNami, Inc., a global artificial intelligence, blockchain, data visualization technology company working in developing countries. Jaye brings more than 35 years of leadership experience to her role, which she garnered from various positions held in the finance, technology, audit, oil, gas, mining, healthcare, mergers and acquisitions areas, as well as in key C-level roles she served in at both private and publicly traded corporations. In her leadership role with RippleNami, she is responsible for development and execution of the Company's long-term strategy with an emphasis on creating a difference for the unconnected population. Jaye is experienced in leading publicly traded as well as privately held companies and startups. Her public company experience spans key roles at six publicly traded corporations. Over the course of her career, she led 18 accretive acquisitions, adding over $2 billion to revenue. Jaye also possesses significant IPO experience. Previously, Jaye served at the following companies listed below. Ÿ chairman, president and chief executive officer of PathCentral, Inc., which was acquired by XIFIN; Ÿ chairman, president and chief executive officer of A-Life Medical Inc., which was acquired by UnitedHealth Group; Ÿ vice president of business development and mergers and acquisitions at InSight Health Corp. acquired by Center for Diagnostic Imaging; Ÿ director of internal audit at LabCorp; Ÿ finance director at Domtar, Inc. a

Ÿ mining & forest products Canadian company; Ÿ audit and compliance at Pennzoil, Inc. acquired by Royal Dutch Shell.

imagination ran wild with the mission to connect 5 billion unconnected people and execute on their global vision of inclusion.

Jaye earned her Bachelor of Science degree in accounting with minors in computer science, oil and gas from Texas Tech University. She has also been awarded with numerous recognitions in appreciation of her inspiring journey. To name a few, she is the recipient of:

RippleNami is driven by a profound purpose to empower these region's people, society, and independence through technology and our commitment to end poverty. Their team's indiﬀerence to the high-risk of exposure to corruption as well as the diseases, kidnapping and assassination threats sets us apart from other organizations. Where other companies chose to pivot to less volatile market conditions, RippleNami doubles down.

Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ

CEO of the Year 50 Top Inﬂuential Leaders Top 100 Leaders Top 500 Inﬂuential Leaders Most Admired CEO International Women of the Year Businesswoman of the Year Women of the Year Female CEO of the Year Women Who Mean Business

“In a start-up working in Africa, CEOs roll up your sleeves and fill voids all the while creating the strategic roadmap leading to shareholder value. It is truly an honor to work with an amazing team driven by the same mission. To make a simple difference in people's life is our legacy goal.”, Jaye shares. The Vision and Motivation of RippleNami RippleNami's mission is simple: connect 5 billion unconnected people with an easy-to-use solution that leverages the mass adoption of cell phones. Imagine a world where you have all the data that is important to you at your fingertips… a world where vast amounts of data can be visualized so it is easily understandable and actionable… and a world where everyone who has a phone will have equal access to the benefits that this technology will bring. RippleNami's

An Inspiring Experience in the Success of a Businesswoman Early 2017, Jaye and her daughter were honored to spend a great night with Ms. Joanne King Herring. A truly inspirational evening full of “tenacity” and amazing success stories. The international socialite, global political activist and former Texas television anchor – Joanne is known for her improbable fight with the Mujahedeen against the former Soviet Union. These events inspired the book Charlie Wilson's War, consequently, Julia Roberts played Joanne in the movie. In 2009, Joanne founded Marshall Plan Charities to complement the ongoing U.S. military effort in Afghanistan by rapidly and effectively redeveloping normal, healthy civilian life village by village. The charity created a successful holistic model of simultaneously introducing the “essential five” into a village – clean water, food, health care, schools and jobs. Toward this end, they assembled a team of Afghan-focused NGOs and institutions which worked together, with village leadership, to provide these civil essentials village by village rather than project by project. CIO VIEWS | 61

Jaye thanked Joanne for being such a strong role model! Joanne shared with Jaye the only way to make something happen is to keep at it. When you fall and you will, get back on that horse and try again. The Future of RippleNami and A Leader's Thoughts In today's world, when it is it often hard to trust each other, the RippleNami solution becomes a trusted platform on which to collaborate, access economic opportunities, deliver services and conduct business. Their laser focus is to continue to rapidly deploy the technology throughout the African continent one country at a time and lifting an entire population to levels unseen in modern history. They rely heavily on their amazing local partners who share their vision of connecting the unconnected population with data they need not only to survive but to thrive. Jaye dreamed of doing something good to make a diﬀerence in peoples' lives and she was successful in achieving her dream. Her exceptional knowledge and innovative ideas have made her a leader of success leaving a trail on inspiring stories for aspiring entrepreneurs to follow. She has not only succeeded in her will to empower women but has also set example for every person who aspires to inspire. With a phenomenal tale of success, Jaye truly spells woman empowerment.

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