Shannon Ralston: The 10 Visionary Entrepreneurs Powering Business Growth in 2026 | CIO Views

Visionaries Redefining Business Growth

Today's most exciting entrepreneurs aren't just starting businesses; they're creating growth ecosystems. Their businesses are forward-thinking - they see shifts in consumer behaviors and technological patterns before those trends are recognized as such. They value creativity and smart risk; they see uncertainty as an opportunity to explore the unknown, and frequently, raise the game for all in the industry.These pioneers know growth is not a straight line - to grow we need to rethink, we need to be nimble, and we needtoberelentlessinfindingrelevance.Whatsetsthemapartfromother leaders is their ability to scale visionary thoughts into actualized dreams, developing what may seem to others as wild ideas into a viable long-term business.Theyareresilient;theyseemtofindclarityandconfidencewhen everything appears chaotic. For them, business growth isn't just about growing, it becomes a narrative around momentum, often encouraging otherstodisruptthestatusquoandreconsiderwhatispossible.

At CIO Views, we honor these empowering leaders by dedicating this issue titled “The 10 Visionary Entrepreneurs Powering Business Growth in 2026” to them. Featuring as the cover story, we have covered the successful & motivating journey of Shannon Ralston, Founder of EmpowerYourEvent.WehavealsoincludedtheinspiringstoriesofKaren Finch, Founder and CEO of Legally Yours; Corinna Schulthess, CEO of Family Office Management Consulting Ltd; Julia Carlson, Founder and CEO of Financial Freedom Wealth Management Group; Ahmed Detta, CEO and Founder of Enviroo; Michelle Beyo, Founder and CEO of Finavator; Sonu Shivdasani, Founder and CEO of Soneva; Daria Dubinina, CEO and Co-Founder of Crassula; J. Christopher Lombardo, Partner at Woodward, Pires & Lombardo; and Elaine King, Founder and CEOofFamily&MoneyMattersInstitute™.

CIOViewsisabusinessmagazinethatmainlyfocusesonbusinessleaders, 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,realestate,andmanymore,CIOViewsisdrivento promoteexcellenceintheworldofbusiness.

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10. ShannonRalston

Corinna

“WORK-IDENTITY CRISIS” THE

How Shannon Ralston Is Redefining Corporate Events

Every transformative business begins with a moment of reckoning. For Shannon Ralston, Founder and CEO of Empower Your Event, that moment arrived in her mid-twenties. It was a time she now calls her “work-identity crisis.”

It was a season of reflection that led her to a simple yet powerful realization: most corporate events were missing the human element. “They were stagnant and transactional,” she recalls. “The focus on logistics had replaced the focus on connection.”

From that insight, Empower Your Event was born:Acompany on a mission to turn conferences, kickoffs, and incentive programs into spaces where culture, collaboration, and commerce align The result is a felicific blend of business transformation and genuine joy.A model that proves purpose and profitability can coexist.

The Journey

Launching a company from scratch was never going to be easy, and Ralston knew it.After years working behind the scenes in event management, she'd seen

agencies tout “innovation” and “experience” as buzzwords rather than values. She envisioned something different which is a model grounded in empathy, creativity, and measurable impact.

Her first clients came through word of mouth and existing relationships. Rather than pitch, she listened. “Relationships always come before projects,” she says. “When trust and appreciation exist, the work naturally clicks.”

That philosophy became the foundation of The Empower Method. It is a disciplined, strategy-meets-creativity framework that guides every project her team produces. No fluff. Just meaningful experiences designed to build culture, spark collaboration, and drive results. That mindset turned a modest startup into a company known for its clarity of purpose and intuitive understanding of both the human pulse and the corporate tempo.

The Empower Method

At the core of Empower Your Event lies a distinct process that marries strategy

with imagination. For Ralston, creativity isn't decoration — it's a business tool. Her team cuts through jargon and focuses on purpose, designing events that feel real, relevant, and resonant.

Success, according to her, is seen in what happens after the event, when people think differently, work better together, or take action. That philosophy has made Empower Your Event one of the most distinctive emerging firms in corporate experience design.

Leadership and Company Culture

Ralston's leadership style mirrors the

ethos of her company: collaborative, curious, and grounded in trust. She believes the best leaders don't dictate vision. They discover it by asking the right questions.

At Empower Your Event, titles take a back seat to talent. Every collaborator, from a freelance producer to a corporate client, is treated as an equal contributor to the creative process. She is intentional about surrounding herself with imaginative thinkers who see possibilities, not limits.

The result is a culture that thrives on authenticity, shared ownership, and the freedom to experiment. It is an

environment where structure and creativity exist in harmony. As she puts it, "When people feel connected to purpose, that's when real growth happens." To Shannon, effective leadership means empowering others to see how their spark connects to the bigger picture.

Work-Life Flow

Ralston organizes her days around flow, not rigidity. Some weeks are dedicated to travel and client events; others to strategy and "deep work”. The constant, she says, is passion.

Her husband, Nick, is both her grounding force and biggest

creativity decorationisn’t

— it’s a business tool.

start before you feel ready.

champion. Their conversations often revolve around ideas, growth, and mutual improvement. She says, "When you are passionate about something and want to see it grow, it doesn't feel like 'work' as much as it does a passion project.”

Outside of the boardroom, Ralston finds balance through simple rituals: book club evenings with the Women of theArts Society, long walks, podcasts like Las Culturistas, and a glass of wine with friends. Wherever she is, she tries to be fully there, with her clients, her team, or her loved ones. That's what gives her life its quiet balance.

Overcoming the Credibility Gap

Early on, Ralston often found herself the youngest person in the room, pitching fresh ideas to executives with decades of experience. Winning their confidence required persistence and results. “I had to prove that creativity could be strategic that it could drive business outcomes,” she says.

Her ability to translate imagination into measurable ROI became her differentiator. Yet she admits there were blind spots. Coming from a journalism background, she lacked formal business training. She closed that gap by enrolling in Stanford Graduate School of Business's LEAD program, a global executive education experience that sharpened her financial and leadership acumen.

That leap of faith, she says, reinforced a truth she now shares with other founders: “You don't have to wait to feel qualified to make an impact. If you're in the room, you're already qualified.” It is that exact zeal that has earned Shannon a respected position among "The 10 Visionary

Entrepreneurs Powering Business Growth in 2026." We celebrate her wholeheartedly.

The Demands of Wearing Every Hat

Running a growing company means balancing creativity with accountability. Ralston wears every hat: strategist, producer, marketer, and CFO. Some days are filled with spreadsheets, others with stage lights and storytelling.

She jokes that she's her own “C-suite of one,” but the hands-on involvement gives her a pulse-level understanding of her business. Even so, running Empower Your Event alone can be intense. She admits that at times she struggles to feel connected to the big picture when she's buried in the small stuff. To manage that, Shannon blocks out one full day each month for what she calls "deep work." She steps away from the buzz, finds a calm spot, and resets her vision. Sometimes that's a cozy coffee shop. Sometimes, just her kitchen table. "Taking something that feels complicated and making it simple is where the magic happens. The moment you stop letting anxiety or fear take the lead, the path forward gets a lot clearer," Shannon explains. She opens a blank document and starts typing whatever comes to mind, like words, ideas, numbers, and plans. Once the jumbled thoughts are on paper, she begins organizing them into actionable timelines. She breaks them down into four groups: Monthly, quarterly, annual, and future goals. It's her way of keeping order in the concoction of moving parts. This simple habit has shaped her discipline and keeps her aligned with Empower Your Event's broader vision. For Shannon, leadership is about focus,

renewal, and clear intention for where the company goes next.

Empowering the Next Generation

Ralston hopes her journey makes entrepreneurship feel more approachable for younger leaders. “I remember walking into rooms where I was the youngest by over a decade,” she says. “Instead of shrinking, I learned to let curiosity be my fuel.”

She frequently mentors emerging founders who reach out seeking advice on turning passion into a sustainable business. Her message is consistent: start before you feel ready.

To Shannon, confidence, curiosity and courage are some of the most critical startup tools. She encourages young people not to wait until they have it all figured out, simply take a step.

Ralston's philosophy on business success is simple: purpose first, product second. When you understand why you're building something, the how becomes clear.

She encourages founders to share their stories openly. “Whether it's your first project or your fifth,” she says, “someone out there is watching and thinking, if they can do it, maybe I can too. Be proud of that — that's where empowerment begins.”

The Turning Point

Adefining moment for Empower Your Event came when the company hit its first-year financial goals by the second quarter. “That was the moment it shifted from idea to brand,” she recalls. “It proved that creativity and commerce can thrive together.”

From that foundation, the company has grown into a sought-after partner for organizations seeking to reimagine their internal events, sales kickoffs, and client experiences through a culture-first lens.

Staying Steady in Uncertain Times

When uncertainty arises, Ralston returns to her core values: relationships, gratitude, and ambition. She credits her parents and close circle for instilling those principles early on. “They taught me to work hard, listen first, and lead with grace,” she says.

That foundation, along with her faith and family, keeps her centered when

business challenges intensify. “Success isn't about where you end up,” she reflects. “It's about how you show up, especially for the people who helped you get there.”

ALegacy That Lasts

Empower Your Event has carved its place as a creative force in the corporate world. It turns business gatherings into experiences that connect people and spark ideas. To Shannon, that is the legacy she wants to leave behind. She wants people to see that corporate events can be purposeful and still feel human. They can build culture, not just fill calendars. She hopes her work reminds leaders that creativity

belongs in every boardroom. That curiosity and connection matter as much as profit and plans. Even after the lights fade, she wants people to remember how Empower Your Event made them feel inspired, valued, and part of something bigger. To her, that emotional mark is success. It's what transforms a company moment into a lasting memory.

relationships, gratitude, and ambition.

KAREN FINCH

Reinventing the Delivery of Law Services

Lawyers typically bill by the hour, frequently delivering the bill after their services are complete or, worse, sending you a "surprise" invoice you weren't expecting since they weren't forthright about the fees they were charging. In a society that is constantly evolving, Karen Finch thinks there is a more progressive way to do things. She founded Legally Yours to provide access to a variety of lawyers that offer agreedupon upfront pricing and deliver their services in a fashion that is simple, easy and convenient for their clients.

Karen is the CEO of Legally Yours, a Board Member of theAustralian Legal TechnologyAssociation (ALTA), and the Committee Chair of the Women ofALTA(WALTA) AnotherALTAlegal technology member, Pro Help LegalAustralia, also counts Karen as a co-director.

Karen has committed her career to enabling quicker, easier, and more transparent access to fixed-fee lawyers throughoutAustralia by fusing together her legal training, recruitment expertise, and her passion for shaking up the legal industry and the way they deliver their services.

Legally Yours

Legally Yours was created to fill the gap between those in need of transparent and fixed priced legal services and the reputable, knowledgeable fixed-fee lawyers who want to provide them with legal services. The "fixed fee" revolution evolved from there as more and more lawyers began to see the advantages of progressive pricing and cuttingedge business strategies. The demand for a network where like-minded professionals interact and share knowledge has grown as its lawyer

membership has grown, culminating in Legally Yours' launch of their online member community portal, the LY Hub in 2021.

Today, Legally Yours is a leading online legal marketplace that connects clients (both individuals and businesses) to fixed-fee lawyers acrossAustralia, combined with a thriving online member portal where legal professionals, law students, law graduates, legal technologists and businesses who support the progressive legal industry, can connect, support and educate each other in a secure and private members-only online community.

Services that make Legally Yours an exception:

•When one connects with a lawyer through Legally Yours, the lawyer will provide the client

Founder and CEO, Legally Yours

with an upfront quote detailing exactly what the client will receive for the money he or she spends. This will be a "fixed-fee" quote, which means the lawyer will deliver the agreed services for a set price.

•Legally Yours lets clients choose from a range of lawyers and law firms so they can select the right lawyer for their needs. Its online marketplace makes it easy to browse, select, and connect with a lawyer wherever clients are; no travelling, no waiting in the foyer, it's simple, fast, and convenient.

•When it comes to the lawyerclient relationship, trust is paramount.All the lawyers in the Legally Yours marketplace have a minimum of five years' experience and have been personally vetted to ensure they

meet the firm's high standard of client care.

Enabling Growth of Legally Yours

Originally manual "legal matchmakers," Legally Yours, under Karen's direction, has grown into a preeminent online provider of legal connections between clients and fixed-fee lawyers. She says, "We have also created an online member community that enables legal professionals (including law students and law graduates) to connect with each other, to ask questions and seek support from businesses and experts to help them build, grow and scale their firms and their legal expertise, and provides professional development education as part of their membership fee too." Legally Yours is now a thriving online legal marketplace and online member community that is known for its progressive lawyer members and

service delivery, creating greater access to justice for allAustralians and enabling more lawyers and law firms to transition away from the billable hour model towards a progressive, transparent, fixed pricing model.

The Passion for Legal Sector

Since she was a teenager, Karen has been passionate about access to justice. She had first-hand experience with the highs and lows of beginning a business through her father, who in Karen's words is a 'serial entrepreneur'. However, when she was 16 years old, her father became involved in a commercial litigation matter. It was from this experience that she saw the devastating impact that hiring legal counsel who fail to disclose charges or instruct their clients on the procedure can have on families and businesses. Karen made the decision to pursue a career in law after her father lost his business and the family home so she could assist clients in avoiding circumstances like the one her family had gone through. Karen rapidly learned, however, that the legal profession's billable hour model makes it exceedingly challenging for lawyers to have honest, open relationships with their clients since they are "on the clock" every minute they interact with them. Her interest in assisting lawyers in transforming their law firms to ones that promote trust, openness, and certainty was sparked by this.

Recognition for Being the Best

The best recognition Legally Yours has received so far was a finalist nomination in the recent Victorian iAwards. This nomination was noteworthy because the team was recognised for its platform outside of

the legal/legal technology industry. Karen shares, "To be nominated alongside a huge Australian corporation and a medtech company was amazing recognition for how far Legally Yours has come"

However, the best recognition Karen has received personally as a leader are the numerous testimonials and feedback she receives every day from Australians who have used the Legally Yours platform to connect with a lawyer and build a trusted and valuable relationship with them in their time of need.

Bring into Line Work and Life Responsibilities

Karen, who describes herself as a determined individual, is in charge of strategy, expansion, and partnerships at Legally Yours. In order to accomplish this, it is necessary to forge solid relationships with organisations and business groups that require legal content and information for their networks, promote Legally Yours in the media, and offer thought leadership in the area of innovative legal service delivery and legal technology within theAustralian legal sector.

Instead of focusing on a work-life balance, Karen aims for a "total balance." This implies that she doesn't work the typical daytime hours; instead, she prioritises family responsibilities each week and fits her business obligations around them. Karen largely works remotely, so as to cut out travel time to and from an office space, and sometimes she spends a couple of hours on the weekend setting up her week ahead. She always tries to fit in exercise at least 4 times a week too.

Seeing Challenges as a Career Booster

Karen totally concurred that the biggest business lessons are often learned through problems rather than accomplishments. When Legally Yours was first introduced, the Australian legal sector wasn't nearly ready to accept a new method of providing legal services. In the early years of Legally Yours, they invested a lot of time in educating the legal community about why moving away from billable hours was a better economic model for their clients and their law firms, as well as how doing so would foster a healthier and happier law firm culture. The company's objective and vision, as well as how the team might assist clients and law firms in developing dependable partnerships, had to be made very obvious throughout this educational phase.

What Success 'Means'

Karen's definition of success is the ability to be able to pursue a career

based on one's passion, vision, and values and be able to generate revenue and profit from it at the same time. She feels very lucky and privileged that her career and source of income are derived from her passion to enable greater access to justice for allAustralians, and she is able to live her personal mission, vision, and values through her business, Legally Yours. She asserts, "I'm so fulfilled in my role at Legally Yours, but we are only part way through our mission of creating access to justice for all Australians!"

Plans for the Future

The BHAG (big hairy audacious goal) of Legally Yours aims to take its platform global and increase the availability of other professional services in both its marketplace and online member community. In the future, Karen envisions a single online marketplace where customers will be able to easily and conveniently get all the professional services they need.

There has never been a better moment to work in the legal field, Karen tells aspiring lawyers. She believes that the current state of the industry is one of innovation, technology, and collaboration, and that if one is considering a non-traditional legal career, this is the time to be inventive and curious. She also thinks that there are a lot of unique and varied ways to practise law, and that the legal profession is just now beginning to recognise the value it provides clients—value that doesn't require selling time—and is looking into creative delivery methods.

CORINNA SCHULTHESS

Pioneering Excellence in FamilyOffice Management

In the dynamic world of family office management, Corinna Schulthess stands out as a leader who has redefined success through her innovative approach and dedication.As the Chief Executive Officer of Family Office Management Consulting Ltd., Corinna's journey is a testament to her expertise, passion, and commitment to excellence.

This article explores Corinna's career, leadership philosophy, and the impact of her work on future generations. Her story is one of resilience and the relentless pursuit of excellence.

From Investment Banking to Family Office Management

Corinna Schulthess began her career on the investment side of banking, dealing with complex liquidity events on a global scale. "This is when I realized how challenging the

transition from business to wealth owner can be, especially the larger and more complex wealth structures are," she explains. Her role required a deep understanding of both transactional and investment management aspects.

Corinna's early experiences in building up family office advisory units within banks allowed her to pioneer professional setups and international structuring. These formative years laid the foundation for her future success, providing her with invaluable insights and skills.

Key Milestones on the Path to CEO

Corinna's journey to becoming the CEO of Family Office Management Consulting Ltd. is marked by significant milestones. "I was fortunate enough to learn on the job, working on some of the largest

international wealth structures from an early stage in my career," she shares. Her innovative approach and willingness to embrace new challenges allowed her to excel in various roles. Her ability to think outof-the-box and engage with influential entrepreneurs and business conglomerates set her apart as a strategic leader.

These experiences not only honed Corinna's expertise but also expanded her professional network, which has been crucial to her success.

ALeader's Evolution and Overcoming Global Challenges

Corinna's definition of success has transformed significantly over the years. "When you are early in your career, success is certainly defined in a very different way," she notes. Initially, success might have been

Chief Executive Officer, Family Office Management Consulting Ltd

about promotions and exciting projects, but today, it means pioneering work that stands the test of time and makes a meaningful impact. "Success is also being able to do what I do best and what I am passionate about," she adds. This evolution in her perspective highlights her growth as a leader and her unwavering commitment to making a lasting difference.

Working on a global scale has presented both challenges and opportunities for Corinna. "The most challenging part was implementing the best structures and people locally wherever the client needed or wanted to be based," she explains. Her extensive network has been crucial in navigating these complexities. Additionally, her ability to break away from standardized solutions and

implement innovative, client-focused strategies has set new industry benchmarks. These achievements underscore her adaptability and leadership in a constantly evolving landscape.

Shaping the Future: Legacy and Motivation

Corinna's work has a profound impact

on future generations of wealth owners and entrepreneurs. "Navigating through this ocean of opportunities and choices, defining and implementing their very own vision, and leaving a lasting footprint is one of our most important mandates," she explains. Her focus on passing the baton and adapting to new opportunities ensures a legacy.

By empowering the next generation, Corinna is helping to shape a more innovative and resilient future. Her efforts are paving the way for a new era of wealth management, where personalized visions and sustainable practices take center stage.

Corinna advises aspiring leaders to be hands-on, honest, and authentic while staying open-minded and thinking out of the box. "The impact of the relationships you build over time is the most meaningful part of our work," she emphasizes.

This passion for her work drives Corinna to continually push boundaries and strive for excellence. Her dedication to making a difference is evident in every aspect of her professional journey.

Mastering the Balance: Leading a Global Firm and Personal Life

Balancing the demands of leading a global consulting firm with personal life is a challenge Corinna Schulthess embraces wholeheartedly. "My work is extremely inspiring and multifaceted enough that there is never a dull moment," she asserts. The energy she derives from her work transcends into her private life, driven by her passion for what she does. "You excel in doing what you are passionate about and what makes you happy," she emphasizes. This seamless

integration of work and personal life has been key to her sustained success and well-being. Her ability to find joy and fulfillment in both realms is a testament to her dedication and positive outlook.

Atypical day for Corinna involves checking in with different locations early in the morning, catching up on markets and news, and dedicating most of her day to client work. "I always try to communicate as much as possible with my network to get a good feel of current sentiments, trends, and the news," she shares. This proactive approach ensures she stays ahead of industry trends and maintains strong relationships with clients and colleagues.

Corinna's daily routine is a testament to her dedication and strategic thinking. By staying connected and informed, she effectively navigates the complexities of her role, ensuring that both her team and clients are well supported.

Carving New Paths:Achievements and Leadership Philosophy

Corinna takes immense pride in the fruitful working relationships she has established and the success of her clients' structures and organizations. "We were brave enough to break away from standardized clusters, thereby carving out new best practices," she asserts.

Since founding her firm in 2009, the family office consulting industry has evolved significantly, with more diverse wealth owners and bespoke structures tailored to their unique visions. This evolution reflects Corinna's ability to anticipate and adapt to changing industry dynamics, ensuring her firm remains at the

forefront of innovation and excellence.

Corinna's leadership philosophy is centered on leading by example, delegating, and enabling strong teamwork and communication. "I aim to be a mentor and enabler for others whenever and wherever I can," she explains. Her belief in the importance of people who believe in you and provide opportunities has profoundly shaped her approach to leadership. By fostering a supportive and empowering environment, Corinna ensures her team can thrive and achieve their full potential. This philosophy not only drives her team's success but also cultivates a culture of trust and collaboration within the organization.

Conclusion

Corinna Schulthess's journey in family office management consulting is a powerful example of how passion, innovation, and dedication can transform an industry. Her leadership, grounded in personal values and a relentless pursuit of excellence, continues to inspire and create meaningful change.As we look to the future, leaders like Corinna remind us of the profound impact that dedicated individuals can have on our world. Her story is a testament to the power of vision, resilience, and the unwavering commitment to making a difference.

JULIA CARLSON

On a Unique Path of Freedom

Finance and business have been her passion since a very young age.As a young girl she would set up lemonade stands with her brother, mow the neighbor's lawn and had her own babysit club. These small businesses fueled her passion and led her to become one of the leading businesswomen today. Julia Carlson started her journey at an amateur age of 23 in a male dominated industry, however her determination has steered her steps on the path of success that she always dreamed of. Financial Freedom Wealth Management Group founded by Julia is a well-established company thriving amidst a competitive industry.As we share Julia's story, we are certain that her journey will be an inspiration to all the aspiring businesswomen who need the motivation to get started.

She Knew Her Path

Julia's passion for business and finance started young. In high school, she had an amazing teacher who taught her about business and finance. After her first mock stock portfolio, help from her Dad to set up her first investment account and hearing about stocks from her Grandpa, Julia was hooked on figuring out how to make this into a career. She knew entrepreneurship, personal finance and investing was just what she wanted to do. When Julia was 19, she moved to a small town on the Oregon Coast and got married. She started working at a local bank. It only took about four years to hit the glass ceiling realizing she didn't have much opportunity if she stayed there. In 2000, at the age of 23, Julia left the bank and married her entrepreneurial spirit with her passion for helping people with their money and started

what is now Financial Freedom Wealth Management Group.

Initially, what stood in Julia's way was her own lack of confidence. She was 23 and didn't have a lot of experience, it was hard for her to convince people to trust in her and hand over their investments for her to manage. Client by client Julia built her confidence and capabilities which led to win the clients trust and the referrals started to flow. In the beginning, she learned resilience as she heard a lot of no's and had to keep going. But Julia's dreams were bigger than the rejections.

As her business grew, Julia had to learn to let go and fire herself in several areas of the business. She was trying to control too much. As they added more employees and clients, business got more complex and Julia could not manage it all by

Chief Executive Officer, Family Office Management Consulting Ltd

herself. Staying in her strengths and hiring to her weaknesses ultimately led to the amazing diverse team they have today and more growth than she could have ever imagined.

The Expansion of Financial Freedom Wealth Management Group

Financial Freedom Wealth Management Group is a comprehensive wealth management and planning firm committed to helping their clients improve their long-term success and pursue financial freedom. They offer Wealth Planning & Investment Services, Retirement Income & Distribution Planning, Tax Reduction Planning, Family Wealth Planning, Educational

Events & Communication, PersonalizedAttention and Consulting and Exit Planning Services for Businesses.

In the past 5 years their revenue has grown 26% each year and their staff has doubled. The plan for the company is to continue this growth path and look for acquisitions that are aligned with their core values and vision.

Financial Freedom Wealth Management Group believe in their vision and are driven by it to provide the best to their clients. Their vision as a team can be explained as follows:

Our Commitment to care deeply about you and your financial life.

Our Core Values: Treat all people with respect, never compromise our integrity, delight our clients and embrace our team culture.

Our Focus: To create a plan for your dreams and inspire you to pursue financial freedom.

Our Niche: Love

Leadership is Her Distinctive Attribute

Julia is the Visionary at the firm. She has an amazing team that takes her good ideas and integrates them into the company. Her role as the CEO of the company is to inspire and lead the direction of the firm. She also works with clients one on one who need

complex business exit planning, tax strategy and advanced estate planning.

Julia lives a freedom filled, abundant life without apology and wants the same for you. Through her journey and courage, she has learned to live a passion filled life. Julia started her business at age 23 in a male dominated industry with a much older demographic.At that time, she felt trapped to fit in for acceptance because she cared about what other people thought which sabotaged her growth and success. Eventually she learned to free herself from the judgement of others by ridding the scarcity and fear mindset and built a business around unleashing “her” spirit. Her passion is inspiring others through coaching disciplined strategies to create a life of Freedom. She has a thriving business and enjoys disrupting the industry as a thought leader. She is a frequently requested keynote speaker, an author and super mom to three amazing kids.

The Future of the Company

The employees of the company have regular, FUN team retreats and events woven into the year. They also have strong team principles that keep them united and aligned. They understand that individuals will make mistakes, but the team can be perfect.

They currently have clients in 29 states and are continuously expanding as the needs arise. They plan to be a nationwide trusted brand and serve the needs of mass affluent and business owners. They grow organically through referrals and they also have a marketing strategy around their digital platform to build clientele throughout the nation. (They are

governed to only do business within the US)

Lastly, Julia asks the aspiring businesswomen an interesting question and sends out an inspirational message through her thoughts “Freedom! What Does This Word Mean To You?” When you focus on one area, the focus and discipline show up in all areas. In that discipline you find FREEDOM.

Freedom of TIME

Do what you want to do just because you want to do it. We all have 24 hours a day, are we living those hours by doing what we desire?

Freedom of PASSION

Be authentically you and do what you

love without fear or judgement of yourself or others.

Freedom of RELATIONSHIPS and COMMUNITY

Choose who you spend time with, ensuring they help and support the life you want, creating the best version of you!

FINANCIALFreedom.

Create an abundant mindset no matter how much money you have.

AHMED DETTA

Shaping a sustainable, circular economy with the power of recycling

With plastic pollution advancing at an unprecedented rate and continually posing a serious threat to humanity, several leaders have taken action to limit plastic waste and recycle it responsibly. One such changemaker is the Founder and CEO of Enviroo Ltd,Ahmed Detta. He came up with the concept to bring a change in human's existing relationship with plastic and driving change by creating habitual behavioural patterns that are easy to adopt and implement. Brimming with passion about restructuring the current recycling industry, his recycling career has evolved from recycling mobile phones, office IT equipment, and progressed to plastic.

He says, “We are all guilty of lambasting plastic but not actually working collaboratively to create solutions. Recycling, if done correctly

an opportunity to make a positive change to the world that encapsulates both environmental and social impact gains.”

Laying the foundation of Enviroo Ltd

Enviroo came into existence when Ahmed decided to meet the UN SDGs and create a super-effective social impact strategy and DNAlevel circular economy approach to bring about change. His industrious team will be creating food-grade polymers to a recognized standard globally.

Every company faces numerous hurdles in its path to success. Enviroo also faced many problems, and the biggest setback was posed by the lack of legislation. However,Ahmed and his tenacious team always strived hard to conquer the macro challenges faced by the industry and focussed on

overcoming all the local challenges to make their mark.

The strong teamwork and a good dose of patience paved their way to success and assisted them in getting over all the impediments on the way.

Overview of Enviroo Ltd

Being an agile and nimble organization, the company stays ready to adapt and react as per the industry changes, and this has offered them an edge over other competitors in a perfect manner. The team at Enviroo always supports as well as interacts with all the industry bodies to be aware of all the upcoming challenges they may face and find relevant solutions beforehand.

Dedicated to making a difference in the world, Enviroo always stays one

step ahead with its social impact commitments. They have re-branded to Enviroo and have amalgamated social impact with innovative technology to develop a better environment that is best suited for both current and future generations.

Transforming the Recycling Industry with Enviroo Ltd

Enviroo aims to strike on bringing a shift in the behavioral habits of plastic users so that no plastic gets dumped in the oceans or landfills. The company is responsible for recycling 100% of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) plastic waste and creating unity among all the circular economy stakeholders.Also, this change is only possible if the entire landscape of the plastic industry gets ready to bend and people witness the

implementation of stringent protocols and regulations in the best way.

Ahmed shares, “Contribution to this growth has stemmed from the belief that Enviroo is providing a long-term solution. When you take a long-term view, growth, and scale, this becomes a very clear process that is both tangible and achievable.”

Ahmed has formulated a 5-step process for responsible recycling:

1.Collection of PET plastic by LocalAuthorities or Waste Operators, which is purchased by Enviroo for further processing.

2.At Enviroo, the processing of the plastic waste is done via a wash line that produces flakes.

3.Then, the transferring process of these flakes to an extruder takes place that converts them into polymers.

4.All these polymers are later used to design pre-molds for bottles by manufacturers.

5.The manufacturers transform the pre-molds into bottles which are then distributed for client consumption

Awards &Accolades

As Enviroo begins to implement its operations successfully, it has been called a Disrupter in the field of recycling. Some of the recent awards include being ranked 10th Most Disruptive Company in the UK as per Disruption50 Index by Disruption

Hub, Most Progressive Circular Economy Recycling Firm 2019 by Build Magazine, Social Impact Accreditation Issued by the Social Stock Exchange, one of the top disruptive Tech companies to watch in 2020 by Industry Wired, Top Revolutionary Tech Companies of the year 2020 by GlobalTech Outlook.

InsideAhmed's Life

Ahmed always wanted to revamp the present recycling industry, and he became successful by ethically recycling plastic waste with smart solutions. So, after completing his BSc of Science in Marketing at Lancaster University in 2003, he went on to pursue jobs in marketing until he took the onus of becoming the Program Director at The Green Foundation.After 1 year, he enrolled for his post-graduation in Sustainable Business from the University of Cambridge. Since then, he worked in numerous roles until he became a

founder of Ducycle in 2014 in the UAE.

He is currently pursuing MBAin BusinessAdministration and Management from Quantic School of Business and Technology and will graduate in 2021.

After attaining success,Ahmed wanted to achieve the same success via Enviroo in the UK in 2018. His prime role as the CEO involves Stakeholder engagement, driving growth/profitability/ championing recycling in the industry, and creating long-term solutions. He even keeps his team motivated by ensuring that their immense knowledge is creating a huge difference in the world. He further explains, “Every single piece of plastic recycled will make a monumental difference over the long term to preserve the beautiful earth we live on for future generations to come.”

Future Roadmap of Enviroo Ltd

Ahmed shares, “We plan to look at a number of different forms of plastic recycling. Once we have established our Polymers across the industry, our next mission is to look at 'tray to tray' recycling as well as PP materials.”

Ahmed had always aimed to make plastic recycling a positive habit that must be inculcated in everyday behavior and instill the belief that profiteering from this process is good for all involved. He led the entire business model from its concept to full equity investment funding for a recycling facility in the Middle East. In the future, he plans to replicate the same model of creating a visionary recycling business across the UK market as well.

MICHELLE BEYO

Innovative Payment and Digital services

Passion has always driven an exponential growth trajectory in all fields. Many inspirational leaders backed by passion and innovation have attained the zenith of success, and one among them is Michelle Beyo, the founder and CEO of Finavator. Her passion for using payment technology to gain high financial inclusion is immense, and she believed it could help empower other women in this field as well. Owing to this, she came up with Finavator and had been living her dream life since then.

She says, “Today, Finavator holds a unique position within the Canadian financial services space, which is helping to create a more collaborative ecosystem by bringing stakeholders together to build more innovative products and services for consumers.”

Lessons learned via the hurdles along the way

Starting up a business and maintaining that same pace holds many aspects to consider. One of the crucial ones still is to just go for it. Michelle had to constantly motivate herself that she can make it! She adds, “I learned that imposter syndrome is very real, but it's important to not focus on it and to build good habits. Even if you have decades under your belt, self-doubt, and fear of failure can erode growth and success for your business.”

Rest growing the network is another obstacle; however, over the years, she has overcome it by surrounding herself with like-minded people and other hard-working personalities in the same domain.

Michelle's Contribution in the Fintech Industry

Michelle started Finavator, an awardwinning strategy consultancy to fill the gap between FinTechs and traditional banks. She further explains, “We work with our clients to build innovative payment and digital services that allow them to stay competitive, offer their customers relevant solutions as well as find new revenue opportunities. Finavator has expertise in a variety of areas, including Payments, Prepaid Solutions, Open Banking, Challenger Banks, E-Commerce,Affiliate Marketing, Micro Loans, Rewards, and Loyalty.”

Her strategic partnerships and other consistent efforts have brought her laurels. She says, “Through my

Founder and CEO, Finavator

passion for building a more collaborative ecosystem, I am an honored Money 20/20 2019 Rise Up alumni, Women in Payments Global Council Committee Member, Canadian Prepaid Providers Organization Membership Chair, and NFCAPaymentAdvisor. Additionally, I am currently a strategic advisor to a number of FinTechs.”

She firmly believes open banking will rule the Fintech industry's future.

Owing to this reason, she has kept Finavator's policies in such a manner that when the time comes, they can easily adapt them. She further adds, “As a Board Member at the Open Banking Initiative of Canada (OBIC), I have joined a group of like-minded individuals who share a deep bench of industry expertise.”

Core

values and Vision for Finavator

Finavator's team believes in honesty,

respect, lifelong learning, and boldness that have helped them stay abreast of the competitors. She says, “I believe that company values are important ingredients to building a strong company culture and business strategy. These values in particular, I feel help to create purpose, improve team collaboration, and helps to build a sense of commitment to the work we're doing at Finavator.” The entire team also ensures to do competitive analysis and research sessions to learn, adapt and grow as per the trend.

Michelle is still awestruck with the company's growth and is right now working with students of Rotman School of Business, to analyze Finavator's growing competition in theAmerican market. She further adds, “When you decide to take the leap and become an entrepreneur, there are so many unknowns, but I've been fortunate to discover that what was behind the proverbial 'door number 3' were successes and challenges that have made me a better person and a stronger leader. I'm excited to see what's coming next!”

For the future, the company has set the goal for the next few years to continue to grow the client base in both Canada and the US as well as expand the team further.Also, she wants to help stakeholders get maximum benefits from her venture. She adds, “Through attending and speaking at events, leveraging our deep network, and committing to a strategic marketing and communications plan, we hope to achieve this roadmap.”

Michelle's Life as CEO and at home

Her 'corporate education' has led to gaining ample experience before

commencing the operations of Finavator. Her life as the CCO of a startup, handling 4 major airline online shopping malls, and joining a 50/50 executive team as head of sales and marketing has influenced her responsibilities as a CEO better. She even won one of thirty spots at the Money 2020 rise-up program in Vegas which was her greatest achievement. She says, “Winning this spot was a dream come true as I was one of the two Canadian selected and over 400 women around the world applied. I felt not only pride but a responsibility to give back and use my knowledge and incredible network to push open banking and consumer-focused products forward.”

Being a founder and CEO, her role juggles among daily operations, strategy, growth, and planning success. She states, “As a leader, I believe that it is important to support my employees by providing supportive leadership, empowering them, developing a positive workplace environment, as well as recognizing and rewarding employees for their achievements.” She keeps herself motivated to give back the acquired financial knowledge in different arenas in the best possible way.

At home, owing to this pandemic period with her kids being home, she emphasizes on taking advantage of free moments to de-stress and focus

on activities that help her refuel. She adds, “I think it is also essential to learn from your mistakes, there have been times where I decided not to take time for myself or couldn't help with homework, missed baking time or bathtime, and I later regretted the decision. It is so important to find your rhythm!” She emphasizes on realizing the pivotal priorities of life and then working dedicatedly to build the life you want to live in the future.

SONU SHIVDASANI

A Focused and Zestful Hotelier Who Brings His Consciousness for Native Life & The Environment to His Business

Sonu Shivdasani (born 1965) is an Indian-British hotelier, and the founder and CEO (Guardian of the Culture) of Soneva, which operates the award-winning Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani resorts in the Maldives and Soneva Kiri in Thailand. Sonu first visited the Maldives with Eva, his wife, in 1987 and fell in love with the place. He states that he had never seen anything quite like it. Eva, who had been going to the Maldives for modeling shoots in the late 1980s and early 1990s, loved the untouched, simple way of life. Together they decided they wanted to open a resort like no other, whilst ensuring they protect the environment.

“We believe that a company must have a clear purpose beyond turning a profit. It must serve and contribute to the society in which it operates and should not negatively impact the

environment in which it is located,” says Sonu.

“Fortune has its roots in disaster”

Sonu's personal definition of success is to continuously learn, enjoy what he does daily, and achieve a good balance between work and life. When it comes to the resorts, he and Eva are both owners and operators of the resorts, which allows them to ensure that they are very focused on their philosophy and enhancing that.

“We can evolve and innovate rapidly as the world changes.Avisit to a Soneva will clearly show how different we are from any other luxury experience that exists in the markets where we operate,” explains Sonu.

Eva and Sonu have been through many crises during their long careers.

They have always operated on the basis that they have no control over the cards which they are dealt, but they have complete control over how they play the cards. Difficult times can bring out people's true character. One can either make good or bad from difficult events, and it depends very much on one's attitude and one's frame of mind.

Sonu finds the saying by Lao Tzu, “fortune has its roots in disaster” very inspiring and relevant, during crises. He truly believes that when facing roadblocks, the most important thing is that we do not lose our values and our humanity.

Aluxurious island getaway in the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean

Soneva is a name that has become

Founder and CEO, Soneva

synonymous with luxury. One simply thinks of Soneva and images of never-ending seascapes of turquoise waters, and the feeling of having sand between your toes, pop up.

With climate change and its effects so apparent, the whole world is striving for real experiences. Living in the moment is everything everyone needs. This is exactly what Soneva strives to provide their guests on holiday. They don't want their guests to do the same thing they do at home – they want them to escape, to dream, to feel, and they deliver exactly this.

At Soneva, guests are offered the ability to completely disconnect from their daily lives. They encourage their guests to walk barefoot, turn the WiFi off in their villa, and ignore the news. They invite them to immerse themselves in the beauty of the resorts, the experiences that they offer, and, most importantly, to connect with each other.At Soneva, they are rich with learning experiences, whether it is at their observatory, learning to free dive, or snorkeling with their Marine Biologist. There are also learning opportunities from interesting visitors, whether it is an astronomer, glass artist, world champion athlete,

famous author, Michelin-starred chef, winemaker, or a Grand Slam tennis champion like Jonas Björkman.

Sonu states that SLOW LIFE is a guiding principle for all their employees, who are known as Hosts. It is their moral compass, as well as their operating compass.

“Sustainability runs through our core, and we always strive to limit the negative environmental impacts of our activities – which is both difficult, and yet critical, for a company which operates resorts in remote places of pristine natural beauty,” he further explains.

Being a pioneer in the hospitality industry

Soneva has always endeavored to be a pioneer in the hospitality industry, whether it is opening some of the first spas in resorts inAsia, introducing private pools to villas, redefining the water villa with slides into the sea, introducing retractable roofs that open up the sky to the master bedroom, making 'barefoot luxury' a signature, a floating villa experience with the Soneva inAqua ultra-luxury yacht, and their focus on sustainability and commitment to existing in harmony

with their local, natural environment. This is in addition to complimentary ice cream and chocolate parlors, open-air bathrooms, observatories, and private cinemas at all their resorts.

“We always continue to innovate, both reinforcing our existing concepts and creating new, unforgettable experiences for our guests,” says Sonu.

From assisting in the family business to becoming a successful entrepreneur

Adescendant of Indian parents, Sonu was born and educated largely in England, with some periods of his life also spent in Nigeria and Switzerland. He is an alumnus of Eton College and a graduate of Oxford University, where he studied an MAin English Literature – really nothing you would normally associate with a business or hotel career. During this time at Oxford, he met his Swedish wife, Eva, at the Monaco Grand Prix.

When Sonu and Eva met, he did not have clear career plans at that time. They first went to the Maldives when Sonu was in his second year of university.As he was graduating the next year, they decided that they wanted to develop a resort in the country, as they both fell in love with the untouched beauty and simple way of life in the Maldives. This became one of their life goals.

The first four years of Sonu's career were spent in Geneva working with the family business and assisting with some of the assets owned by the family. He did not have any hotel experience before starting Soneva. “In fact, an absence of hotel school, training, and experience has been the

hallmark of some of the most successful visionary hoteliers,” explains Sonu.

Sonu and Eva always wanted to develop a resort that would satisfy their desires for a dream destination for those who liked to travel in luxurious style, and they both had an overwhelming desire to protect the environment. They came across a lot of skepticism in their quest to build their dream. They also faced challenges to get funding for the construction. One of the reasons for this was that they refused to build hundreds of rooms and aim at the low-end mass market, which was the norm in the Maldives at that time. They did not want to offer a product that served tuna in tin cans and relied on volume. Instead, they opted to build a limited number of villas – 42 initially – despite being situated on one of the largest islands in the Maldives.Additionally, they built a spa, which was also unusual at that time. Today, you would be deemed crazy if you did not include a spa in resort development.

It took a good four years to raise the funding and construct the resort and, in 1995, they opened Soneva Fushi. Their focus on low volume, high quality, and high-end clientele was a conscious decision. They wanted to preserve the natural beauty of Maldives, and they needed to limit the number of people coming.

Sonu strongly believes that combining luxury and sustainability is the right business model and that, when done right, is the most successful. However, he had no idea that this intensely personal vision of a locally crafted villa and environmentally responsible lifestyle would form the basis of a successful

collection of world-class resorts. But that's exactly what happened.

Soneva Fushi was the first castaway resort in the Maldives, pioneering a trend for back-to-nature luxury holidays. What they also did not realize was that their decision helped transform the Maldives from a threestar high-volume destination into the luxury destination it is today.

Day-to-day responsibilities as a CEO living close to nature and splendor

At Soneva, they move the clocks one hour ahead because they are located close to the equator. This act allows more of their guests to enjoy both the sunrise and the sunset, the two most beautiful times of the day. Sonu says that he is usually up at 6:30am with the sound of the birds. “We are blessed to be surrounded by such incredible wildlife and biodiversity. I read somewhere that birds tend to wake up half an hour before the sun rises as they are roused by the plants and trees emitting a high level of oxygen in the air,” he states.

It's a lovely time in the morning. “I quickly brush my teeth and shave, take my morning supplements (a probiotic, a tonic that is good for stimulating gut bacteria, cod liver oil, and glutathione). Nowadays, if I am meeting people, I also take Andrographis Paniculata, a fantastic anti-viral that has been extremely successful in fighting the SARS virus, both the earlier version and more recently, COVID-19,” says Sonu.

After his morning routine, Sonu sits on a sun lounger on the beach and looks through emails and messages that have come in overnight.At 8:00 am, it's either 40 minutes of yoga or

an hour in the gym followed by 30 minutes of meditation. He is then ready to start his day with calls with his team and investors who work remotely all around the world. Then at night, he is usually in bed by 11pm so that he gets a good 7.5 hours of sleep.

To Sonu, staying motivated is about finding the right balance and growing with innovation and constant improvement.At Soneva, they are always trying to better their services, offerings, and the pristine locations and communities that their resorts are surrounded by.

Plans for the future of Soneva

Over the coming months, Soneva have several exciting new launches, including new one-bedroom beach villas at Soneva Jani. They also recently unveiled their all-new family zone, The Den, at Soneva Jani.

Earlier this year, they partnered with TeamworkArts to bring JLF to Soneva Fushi. Together, they brought over 30 authors and artists from all over the world to celebrate literature, music and art. Following its success, the event will return for its second edition from May 12-21, 2023.

Next year they will also be hosting a wellness festival, SOUL, which will be held over a ten-day period from September 29 to October 8, 2023, featuring some of the world's leading practitioners for a series of insightful talks, presentations, and specialist wellbeing offerings.

DARIA DUBININANI

Advancing the FinTech Industry Ahead with Crassula

For some successful leaders, their success lies in fulfilling the needs of different stakeholders. It means if customers require a new product or the team needs the company around, or the industry calls for new transforming innovation taking place and the leader can manage all this then, that makes all the difference. One such dedicated leader is CEO and Co-founder of Crassula, Daria Dubinina. For her, one is successful when he can confidently answer the vital question, “Why do we do what we do?”.

Inspired by Ben Horowitz's book, “The Hard ThingAbout Hard Things,” she knows, “there's no such thing as the universal, ultimate best CEO.” No doubt, she feels pride in getting recognized by an external organization or media edition. However, she states, “The real recognition occurs when your opinion

matters, you are inspiring others, you can make a difference, lead people and grow the company.”

Stepping Stones to building Crassula

Daria experienced her first entrepreneurial experience at the age of 20. Then, after completing her Master's degree in FEAmanagement, she began working from the lowest position at an international payment system where she learned about FinTech, and over the years, she has grown professionally; in 2014, she and her fellow employees started building their own ventures.

In 2017, Crassula was the result of the team effort of Daria and her cofoundersAlex Novozhenov and Vlad Nikolayev. The trio shared the same vision and strived hard to demonstrate

their unique skills in building strategy and technology. They had their designerAndrew Ponochovnyi created an attractive look and feel of the product.

She shares, “Together we created a unique skillset in which everyone played their part bringing the concept to life and giving each other confidence in what we were doing, inspiration for creating something new, and supporting each other during the bad times.”

While building a company from scratch, there were new challenges every day which the small team needed to solve and make smart decisions. Many times, the decisions were right; however, sometimes they were wrong that could hamper the company's growth and take them behind for months.

CEO and Co-founder, Crassula

Initially, their main roadblock was getting the right investors for funding the company growth. The team spent many months in this process, which resulted in high frustration and no gains. Then, Daria shares, “We started focusing on business,staying bootstrapped, and that was the best decision that we could make because it taught us to survive difficult times, do big and beautiful things with very limited resources, and actually earn money.”

Brief about Crassula's Remarkable Services

Crassula specializes in developing White Label core banking products, PSP services, FX services, wallets, crypto banking, and crypto exchange solutions. It offers an all-in-one software platform that facilitates the launch of products within a few days and with a low budget. Its products are cloud-based and provide backend with its core banking system, admin panel for managing the business, and frontend with client web interfaces, iOS, andAndroid mobile apps. Crassula's systems are provided with dedicated openAPIs which enable a

myriad of FinTech services and assist most innovative business ideas.

Crassula embodies a unique culture of freedom and responsibility that fosters prudence, communicability, proactivity, striving for development, creativity, decisiveness. Daria says, “We embrace these qualities and develop them by providing constant

education opportunities, helping each other in day-to-day work, and always trying something new by developing new products, trying to implement new solutions, and always doing something that we have never done before.”

For Crassula, their people have always been the main backbone of the

firm. The industrious team always keeps developing and ameliorating their products to empower the customers with world-class solutions. She adds, “We value the elegance of solutions and everything related to their quality. This combination helps us to make new people want to join the company, reach new clients and partners, engage them and make them want to stay with us.”

Daria's efforts in redefining the fintech industry

She shares, “The FinTech industry is very fragmented, but each element is connected to another. On one side we have large and mature financial institutions - they have history, trust, reliability.At the same time, they have legacy, bureaucracy and low speed of innovation. On the other side, we have young companies which are able to disrupt the industry, brilliant ideas, but don't have time and money. On the third side, we have a totally parallel world of crypto with its technology, dynamic, risks and transformation. These are only 3 of so many, but supporting such fusion solutions helps to move the whole industry forward”.

As a visionary, she looks ahead to bring a huge metamorphosis in the financial industry where all the banks and financial institutions will amalgamate into platform solutions. She aims to make the ultimate FinTech platform and proffer a comprehensive range of tech-enabled financial services for companies around the world to take the industry forward.

Balancing Personal and Professional Fronts

Being CEO of Crassula, she ensures that the company keeps growing. For that, she formulates a strategy and stays involved in the daily activities connected to IT development, product development, sales, partner relations. She handles about 2-5 work meetings daily, with different departments and external parties and is usually involved in making smart business decisions or resolving complex issues.

Her secret in maintaining a perfect work-life balance is thoughtful planning. Even though it is hard to take ample rest while working from home, she always adds an outdoor walk or workout on the calendar.

Also, she keeps her weekends free for outdoor rejuvenation.

She feels staying positive and supportive in all situations is her key motivator. To explain it further, she says, “When something goes wrong, I prefer not to waste time on finding out whose fault it is, but rather fix the problem and analyze how to avoid repeating the situation. This approach helps to reach the highest result, and the result is the most powerful progress mover.”

Future Roadmap

Crassula aims high and has many prime goals for the future, such as entering new markets, speaking new languages, adopting more technologies, transforming the platform into a no-code product builder so that anyone can design and launch FinTech products without any hassle.All-in-all, the entire team desires to make complex and deep technologies incredibly easy-toimplement, highly accessible, and attractive for their customers.

Personally, Daria wishes to grow the company by 5x while maintaining excellent performance and effectiveness as a company.

Sharing her advice for budding entrepreneurs, she says, “Never be afraid to start, experiment, and keep moving, improving and delivering even if things are not so shiny right now.”

J. CHRISTOPHER LOMBARDO

A Certified Financial Litigator Enhancing the Family Law Community Through Advanced Financial Education

J. Christopher Lombardo, Partner at Woodward, Pires & Lombardo, P.A. has almost four decades of experience practicing law in the state of Florida. Chris received his Juris Doctorate from Florida State University College of Law. He serves clients in marital and family matters in Collier County; He also provides legal services in civil litigation. He is a Certified Financial Litigator and Founding Member of theAmerican Academy for Certified Financial Litigators. Chris also holds theAV Preeminent Peer Review rating by Martindale-Hubbell.

In addition to his legal practice, Christopher Lombardo has served on the Board of Fire Commissioners of the North Collier Fire Control & Rescue District since 1999 and is the current Vice Chairman.Active in the community, he is on the Board of Directors of Shy Wolf Sanctuary and

Golisano Children's' Museum of Naples.

Chris believes that success is helping others and enjoying what you do, and at the same time building a successful business to the benefit of your employees and your clients. He feels success is the knowledge you have of accomplishing and achieving the best possible result for those individual circumstances - small or large.

WPLand its growth under Chris' leadership

In 1971,Arthur V.Woodward, Esq. founded the first law firm on Marco Island, Florida which emphasized the importance of superior work ethic, collegiality and respect among their peers, and a special conscience that commands participation in opportunities for the good of the

public. These guiding principles formed the tradition of excellence that the attorneys and staff at WPL work hard to uphold today.

Today, WPL is proudly celebrating 50 years of providing legal services with offices in Marco Island and Naples. The attorneys at WPL provide an array of legal services to individuals, businesses and local and state government agencies throughout Florida.

As leader of the Family Law & Litigation Services group at WPL, Chris states that they are proud of the law practice they have built and their network of colleagues in Collier County as a result of a great reputation and their extensive legal services.

Partner, Woodward, Pires & Lombardo

Overcoming challenges professionally

Chris recognizes that everyone will always have challenges and obstacles in life. He defines himself as an innovative person and believes that it is how we creatively manoeuvre around those obstacles that teach us something. “It also helps to keep the obstacles in perspective, and to recognize the resiliency we didn't realize we had,” he explains.

Achievements as a legal professional

Chris claims that he has achieved almost everything that he has ever dreamed of, but he also says that there is always more to achieve and he aspires to do so.

While Chris recognizes that he has sanely led hundreds of divorce clients away from their pre-existing

tumultuous relationship to help start the next chapter of their life, he feels his greatest accomplishment as a leader was safely delivering 23 teenage girls over the rugged 10,000' elevation of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of New Mexico for 10 days without incident, at least not a major one!

Maintaining a work-life balance and staying motivated

Chris states that he has many hobbies such as creative welding, reading, kayaking and ranching. He enjoys exploring off the beaten path new places and discoveries. In his personal time, he tends to his ranch and cattle. Chris previously enjoyed being a scoutmaster as well.

He keeps himself and the staff motivated by the quality cases they receive which he claims are very interesting. “We work as a team effort

and celebrate our successes together and recognize our legal talent,” he states.

Plans for the future and growth of WPL

At WPL, they recently expanded their space with new offices so they continue to grow and change with the times. In their new space, they have installed a state-of-the-art “Zoom Room” for video hearings, trials, meetings and depositions.

Chris' message for aspiring lawyers is: Tend to your clients and employees earnestly and be sure to also tend to marketing and business development of their practice along the way.

ELAINE KING

Empowering Latinas Through Financial Well-Being and

Beyond

Elaine King Fuentes is an award-winning author, international speaker, and the founder of the Family & Money Matters™. Her mission is to assist families in attaining financial wellbeing through actionable strategies, empowerment tools, and educational programs.

Elaine founded Family and Money Matters™ a decade ago to provide bilingual financial planning services to individuals, offer family governance guidance for multigenerational family enterprises, and deliver financial education programs to employees of Fortune 500 companies and institutions. She is a dedicated advocate for financial education while also providing guidance on investment and family constitutions. The company's mission is to empower both financial and human capital within families to achieve financial well-being.

Family and Money Matters™ clientele ranges from multigenerational 150-member family enterprises to Fortune 500 companies to individuals. Elaine has served as the Family Financial Planner for over 1,200 families and 100 multigenerational family enterprises, crafting actionable family financial plans. Her goal is to enhance financial literacy knowledge, particularly within the U.S. Hispanic population, to help families reach financial prosperity.

From a YoungAdventurer to a Financial Industry Leader

Elaine's journey began at a young age when she left home at 17, traveled overseas with her luggage and golf clubs, and embarked on a path that eventually led her to New York City. She graduated from university with a BBAin just 3 years. Over the course of more than 20 years, she had the

privilege of ascending the corporate ladder within some of the world's largest and most influential financial institutions. During this time, she provided valuable advice to international families, offering actionable strategies for creating healthy financial plans, structures, and family governance. Elaine's career included pivotal roles at International Trust Companies, Family Offices, and InvestmentAdvisory firms.

Bridging

Cultural and Financial Gaps

As a Latina, Elaine King understands the unique challenges and opportunities many families and individuals face in their quest to create financially savvy and economically healthy households. This is why she is dedicated to making money and financial planning a positive force in communities, particularly for women.

Founder and CEO, Family & Money Matters

Elaine was born in Peru, and Spanish is her first language. She has lived in Austria, Mexico, Japan, Peru, Canada, and comes from a lineage of immigrants, with her grandmother traveling from Hong Kong to Peru, and her grandfathers hailing from Spain and England. Growing up in such a diverse environment required her to adapt quickly. However, regardless of language or culture, numbers remained a constant for her, leading her to continue nurturing her knowledge in this area.

Guiding Clients to Financial WellBeing

Elaine's approach to helping clients at Family and Money Matters™ is to be relatable and assist them in understanding the emotional side of their relationship with money. This

approach ensures that financial goals align with actions and behaviors as relates to money. Over the years, Elaine has observed many individuals who put their financial lives on autopilot. Instead, she encourages them to take a more active role in their finances and approach financial matters with purpose. While the world of finance can be overwhelming or intimidating for some, Elaine believes it doesn't have to be that way. She helps her clients and television audiences break down seemingly daunting objectives into smaller, achievable goals with actionable steps that can improve their financial well-being.

Making a Lasting Impact

Elaine's impact in the financial education space extends to various

forms, from delivering over 350 lectures in 35 cities to being featured as a financial expert on prominent platforms such as CNN, Telemundo, Business Insider, Wall Street Journal, and Forbes. However, her most substantial impact comes through her books. She has authored eight books that cater to diverse audiences, including teens, families, women, immigrants, couples, kids, and family enterprises. One of her most wellknown books, "Family and Money Matters: Life Lessons for the Next Generation," has achieved bestseller status. In her books, Elaine shares real-life cases, strategies, and roadmaps to help readers strengthen their relationship with money and provides actionable advice to overcome potential obstacles on their path to financial well-being.

In 2023, Elaine is proud to have been named the 10th Most Influential FinancialAdvisor in the Investopedia 100. Prior to this recognition, she achieved another significant milestone by being named one of People Magazine's 25 Most Powerful Women in 2017. Elaine expresses gratitude for these accolades and the opportunity to positively impact countless individuals on their financial journeys. She eagerly anticipates the future and the opportunities it holds.

On a Mission to Empower and Educate

Elaine's professional identity can be summed up in one word: impactdriven. Her typical workday starts with exercise and catching up on investment news, setting the tone for productivity. Throughout the week, her schedule includes client meetings, strategy development, networking, and content creation. To promote financial literacy among diverse

audiences, Elaine actively produces content in both English and Spanish on her various social media platforms. Her client-centric approach goes beyond numbers, aiming to empower individuals to shape their desired lives and achieve their aspirations through sound financial practices.

Elaine remains dedicated to helping people thrive financially by collaborating with companies to implement personalized educational programs for their teams. Recognizing that investing in employees' financial well-being is a key driver of productivity and success, she is particularly committed to keep reaching millions of Hispanics and women who, with the right knowledge, can transform their lives and harness the positive influence of money, rather than letting it control them.

Keys to Motivation and Success

Elaine emphasizes that motivation comes from within, and she places great importance on the first few minutes of her morning routine. She regularly reviews her own goals and those of her clients, focusing on a team-oriented environment where everyone contributes to the core strategic plan and financial goals. Elaine believes in the power of prioritization and practices discipline by limiting her daily focus to three key tasks. She also organizes her responsibilities by categorizing them by days and blocking off time on her calendar.

On a personal level, Elaine finds motivation through meditation and her passions for golf and scuba diving, which she makes time for on weekends. Spending time with her family is another source of motivation

and fulfillment for her. Elaine recognizes that success, especially when it comes to optimal financial health, involves being well-rounded and engaging in experiences that enable individuals to be positive forces in the world.

Defining Success

Elaine recognizes that success can be defined in various ways, and it often depends on an individual's unique perspective and goals. In her role as a certified financial planner, author, television personality, and keynote speaker in the U.S. and LATAM, she has had the privilege of working with diverse individuals and families. One common factor she observes is that achieving optimal financial health provides the freedom to make choices and define success on one's own terms. Success, in this context, is about having the means to pursue one's goals and aspirations with greater flexibility and independence.

Path to Financial Leadership

Elaine emphasizes the importance of education and purpose in one's career.

Education provides the qualifications and preparation necessary for various situations. She holds a B.B.Ain International Finance with a concentration in European Markets from St. Mary's University and an International M.B.Afrom Thunderbird School of Global Management. Elaine also continues to stay relevant in her field through ongoing certification programs and postgraduate studies.

Elaine's message to aspiring financial leaders is to find purpose in their work rather than purely focusing on monetary gains. She believes that one should prioritize education and certifications as they provide longterm benefits. Knowledge is a valuable asset that equips individuals to support and positively impact others. In essence, she encourages individuals to find purpose in the pursuit of financial success while also prioritizing personal growth and the betterment of others.