The 10 Most Influential Business Leader of 2021 March2021

LEADERS VIEWPOINT

Business Leaders who changed the World

A GLOBAL KEYNOTE

SPEAKER, RENOWNED EXPERT

SURGEON AND PROFICIENT BUSINESS LEADER

Editor’s Desk

ToLeadis Destiny

LeadershipinotherwordsmeansPower.Aleaderhas

agreatinfluenceonthepeoplehe/sheleads,andthe actionstakenbyhimdirectlyimpactsthelifeofthe people.

Beforewebegintheeditorialonleadership,whoexactlyis consideredaleader?Let’strytobereasonableandmake justicebyansweringthequestionthroughthiseditorial.

Anyonewhokeepsothersfirstandleadsshouldbe consideredaleader Theonewhosupportsmotivatesandis alwaysreadytohelpothersisagoodleader.Aleadercanbe anyone,justlikethehealthcareworkersworkingtosave livesinthetoughtimesofpandemic.Theytookthestandto savehumanity,riskingtheirlivesandcanbecalledaleader. Ourparentswhoworkdayindayoutforus,sacrificing theirowndreamstofulfilloursareleaders.Inthesame way,thereareleadersinsocietywhoarealwaystherefor peopleintimesofneed.

ForaLeaderinbusiness,leadershiphasmoretodowith gettingthejobdone.So,itbecomescrucialtotake importantdecisionswithalotofpatienceandresearch. Managingtheteamandputtingthebestpeopleatthebest placebringsthebestoutoftheteam.Wheninnovationand technologyarethebuzzthebusinessleadertakesthe couragetoimplementitintheorganization.Asitgivesa competitiveedgeoverallthecompetitorsandthe companies.

AsthequotefromSpidermangoes,“With great power comes great responsibility”.Theleaderrepresentsthe peopleinthebusinessthatisabigresponsibility The motiveisservingpeopleforgoodandmakingadifference intheirlives.

Leadershipisacallingtoo.Theveryfactthatyouworry aboutbeingagoodleadermakesyoualreadyone.Tothe

world,theymaybealeader,buttoustheyareHero. Itistheactofaleadertoawakecreativityand knowledgeinthebusinessandsociety.The involvementwiththeteammembersinthecompany bringsthebestoutoftheemployees.AsBenjamin Franklinrightyquotes-“Tell me and I Forget, teach me and I Remember, involve me and I Learn”.

Leaderscanchangetheworld,examplesareSteve Jobs,JeffBezos,andElonMusk.Theyinvolveinthe ever-learningprocessofinnovationasthereis alwayssomethingtoimprove.Thebestpartofbeing aleaderisholdingthepowertomoldtheteamand buildaknowledge-basedsociety.Althoughthe positionischallengingbutsuccesstastessweeter whenearned.Andfailureisapartofit.

Withsuchabilitytobringthechangeinthebusiness orsociety Insights Success featuressuchbusiness leadersinitsupcomingedition-The10Most InfluentialBusinessLeaderof2020.Featuringits CoverisRodneyPeyton,OwnerandConsultant SurgeonatPeytonMedico-LegalServices.Rodney isinvolvedinthehealthcareindustryforover40 years.Hisprovensystemsandtechniquesareused aroundtheworldtoteachsurgicalskillstoeveryone fromtraineesurgeonstoexperiencedconsultants. Hiscorebeliefistheleadershiproleisallabout addingvaluetoandmakingadifferencefor,others andthattheabilitytobringaboutchangeforagroup orforsocietyisthekeydistinguishingfeature betweensuccessasapersonandsuccessasaleader.

Lastly,donotforgettoreadabouttheCXO standpointswrittenbytheindustryexpertsandthe creativearticlesdraftedbythein-houseeditors. sourabh@insightssuccess.com

A Global Keynote Speaker, Renowned Expert Surgeon and Procient Business Leader

Managing

Senior

Marketing

David,

Business

SME-SMO

Circulation

FeaturedPerson

AlexeyChalimov CEO

CompanyName

EasternPeak easternpeak.com

AsaTamsons HeadofBusiness Ericsson ericsson.com

EltonJohnson ExecutiveChairman AmeriVetSecuritiesInc. amerivetsecurities.com

JamesGorman ChairmanandCEO

MorganStanley morganstanley.com

EasternPeakisatechnologyproviderofcustomhardwareand softwaredevelopmentsolutionsanddigitaltransformation consultingservices.

EricssonisoneoftheleadingprovidersofInformationand CommunicationTechnology(ICT)toserviceproviders.

JeffLoCastro CEO/Founder

NeenerAnalyticsInc. neener.net

AmeriVetSecurities,Inc.isaninstitutionalbroker/dealer, ownedandoperatedbydisabledU.S.militaryveterans.

MorganStanleymobilizescapitaltohelpgovernments, corporations,institutionsandindividualsaroundtheworld achievetheirfinancialgoals.

NeenerAnalyticsInc.istheonlysocialmediaanalysisthat actuallydeliversdirect,immediate,monetizableresults---ina 100%friction-lessenvironment.

JimHenderson CEO AssuredPartners assuredpartners.com

MtetoNyati CEO

RodneyPeyton OBEMDMPM

RonaAmbrose DeputyChairwoman

Altron altron.com

PeytonMedicoLegal rpeyton.com

TDSecurities tdsecurities.com

AssuredPartnersiscommittedtopartneringwithsuccessful regionalandlocalinsuranceprovidersthatsharethesamegoal: toservicecustomersbetterthananyone.

Altroncombinestechnicalexpertisewithin-depthcustomer understandingtoprovidehighlydifferentiatedtechnology solutionsthatareend-to-end,holisticanddigitallytransformed.

Mr.J.W.RodneyPeytonOBEisinternationallyhighly regardedasanaccomplishedconsultanttraumasurgeon,author andtrainerwithalongstandingtrackrecord.

TDSecuritiesoffersarangeofcapitalmarketsproductsand servicestocorporate,governmentandinstitutionalclients,who chooseusforourinnovation,executionandexperience.

ShannonSusko CEO

MetronomeUnited metronomeunited.com

MetronomeUnitedworkswithCEOsandtheirleadership teamstohelpthemgrowconfidentlyandpredictably.

PEYTON

A Global Keynote Speaker, Renowned Expert Surgeon and Procient Business Leader

SUCCESS JOURNEY is a , not a DESTINATION

RodneyPeyton, Owner&ConsultantSurgeon, PeytonMedico-LegalServices

MrPeytonOBEMDMPMhasbeeninvolvedin thehealthcareindustryforoverfortyyears.Heis aninternationallyrenownedtraumasurgeon, author,trainer,andkeynotespeakerwhohasenjoyedalong anddistinguishedcareerspanningseveraldecadesandis regardedbymanyastheworld’sleadingsurgicalcoach.He washeadoffacultydevelopmentandthenexaminer trainingfortheRoyalCollegeofSurgeonsinEnglandand hasspentmuchofhisprofessionalcareerdrivenbyadesire toimprovesurgicalpracticeandensurebetteroutcomesfor patients.Hisprovensystemsandtechniquesareused aroundtheworldtoteachsurgicalskillstoeveryonefrom traineesurgeonstoexperiencedconsultants.

MrPeytonisregardedasaleadingauthorityonsurgical educationandthedemandforhisexpertisehasseenhim traveltheglobe,winningaplethoraofprestigious internationalawardsintheprocess. Todateheremainsthe onlypersonwhohasbeenawardedfivefellowshipsfrom theRoyalCollegesofSurgeonsandPhysiciansintheUK andIreland.Hiscorebeliefistheleadershiproleisallabout addingvalueto,andmakingadifferencefor,othersandthat theabilitytobringaboutchangeforagrouporforsociety isthekeydistinguishingfeaturebetweensuccessasa personandsuccessasaleader

FosteringPracticeBasedLearning

WhenRodneyfirsttookonhisroleasHeadofFaculty DevelopmentwiththeCollegeofSurgeonsinEngland morethan30yearsagotherewaslimitedacknowledgement thatteachingadultswasaparticularskillanddependanton anunderstandingofhowpeoplelearn. Mostprofessionsat thattimefollowedanapprenticeshipmodelwheretrainees learnedonthejobbyworkingalongsidemoresenior

colleagues.Also,universitylecturersweretypicallychosen astheyweregoodatresearch,ratherthanatdelivering information.Therapidadvancesofknowledgeand techniquesinrecentyearshavemadeanapprenticeship modelredundant. Learningnolongerhasanendpointand eventhemostexpertandexperiencedineveryspeciality mustbecommittedtolife-longeducation.

Rodney’spioneeringTrainingtheTrainerscourses developedattheRoyalCollegeofSurgeonsarenowtaught somewhereintheworldonanalmostdailybasisandthe maintheoriesarecapturedinhisbestsellingtextbook “TeachingandLearninginMedicalEducation”(1998). Whatwasthenarevolutionaryideaisnowmainstream, withmostuniversityandpostgraduatetrainersnowbeing requiredtohaveaformalteachingcertification.

HealthcareTransformationDuringPandemic

Whileallindustrieshavebeenaffectedbythepandemic,it hasperhapshadthegreatestimpactonhealthcare,stressing thedeliveryofpatientcareandforcinghealthservices globally,aswellasindividualhospitalsandservice providers,tomakeenormouschanges. Theseinclude introducingsafetyarrangementstoprotectstaffand patients,makingchoicesbetweenprioritisingtheresponse topatientswithCovidagainsttheongoingneedsofpatients withotherlife-threateningillnessesandcopingwiththe impactoncolleaguesofstaffsuccumbingtothevirus.

Onapersonallevel,Covidhasimpactedonemergency workersasfamilymembersasthey,likeothers,havehadto copewiththenewchallengesofhome-schoolingand isolationfromrelatives,friends,andcolleagues.

Leadership is all about adding value to, and making a difference for others, which is the key distinguishing feature between success as a person and success as a leader.

Healthcarepersonnelhavealsohadtoleadonthelogistics ofimplementingthevaccinationprogramme.Thishas requiredaprojectmanagementapproach,withappropriate planning,deliveryprocessesforthevaccineitself,complex arrangementsforsafelyadministeringthevaccineona phasedbasedtoidentifiedgroupsandallinthecontextof worldwideknowledgesharinganddisseminationof informationonanalmostdailybasis.

ThishasbroughtintosharpfocustheneedforRodney’s currentcollaborationwithinternationalexpertswiththeaim ofintroducingabespokeprojectmanagementapproachinto thehealthcareenvironment.

PersistenceisTheKey

Therearecurrentlyenormousopportunitiesforaspiring entrepreneursinthehealthcareindustry,anareawhich spanseverythingfromdigitaltechnologytothe developmentofmedicalinstrumentsandfromeducational provisiontothedirectdeliveryofprivatehealthcare services.

Achievementofanygoalrequirespersistentaction,asany significantchangeislikelytofaceresistance.Entrepreneurs needtoformstrongstrategicallianceswithinandoutside theindustryandwithothersectors,oftenonaninternational scale.

Aswithanyundertaking,itisimportanttobeclearonthe vision,purpose,andoutcomesofanyprojectfromthe outset.Furthermore,successisajourney,notadestination and,fortheindividual,encompassesanall-roundprosperity toincludefamilylife,financialfreedom,goodphysicaland mentalwellbeingaswellashavingasatisfyingprofessional practiceorbusiness.

ANeededChangeforImprovement

Rodneybelievesthatthesinglemostsignificantinitiativeto transformhealthcareprovisiongloballywouldbethe introductionofrelevantmanagementtechniques,in particularprojectmanagementapproaches,specifically adaptedforthehealthcaresector Aprojectmanagement approachwouldradicallyimprovethequality,effectiveness, andefficiencyofallaspectsofhealthcaredeliveryresulting inbetterpatientoutcomes.

ThroughhisinvolvementwiththeInternationalInstituteof MedicalProjectManagement(IIMPM)Rodneyhasbeen engagingwithhealthprofessionalstoensureappropriate systemsaredevelopedtoimprovetheplanningand executionofprojectssuchasrespondingtoCovid-19, whichhasbeenaclassicexampleof“agile”project management. Workisongoingtoadapttraditionalproject

managementtoolssotheyareproperlycontextualisedtothe uniquenessofthesector

CombiningPassionandBusiness

Rodney’svisionforthefuturecombineshisentrepreneurial andbusinessspiritwithhispassionforeducation.Those whoundergotrainingattheInstitutecanberecognisedwith globalcertificationandalsohaveinternalqualificationsin leadershipandprojectmanagement.Havingleapfrogged intoaworldofvirtualmeetings,allkindsofeducationare nowavailableonline,includingleadershipskills. Another ventureinwhichRodneyisinvolved,thistimewithhisson whoisanaccidentandemergencydoctorinWestern Australia,isanonlineeducationforumfordoctors internationallytosharetheirknowledgeandexpertiseona securesocialmediaplatform(seewww.ediofy.com).

PositiveWorkCulture

Itisatruesayingthat“cultureeatsstrategyforbreakfast” andtheneedforbeingattentivetothevaluesystemsand wellbeingofstaffhasneverbeenmoreimportantthan duringthepresentpandemicwheneveryonehashadto copewithradicallychanginglifestyles.

WhileinhisbusinessRodneyhasadaptedfairlyeasilyto remoteworkingwithoffice-basedrotaarrangements,far greaterpressureshavebeenfacedonadailybasisbyhealth careprofessionalsincludingnothavingtheopportunityto switchoffwithaquietmealorgothegymafteralongshift. Changesofthismagnitudeneedtoensureappropriate engagementofstaffandregularcommunicationwhich acknowledgescommitmentandachievements.Trustwithin anorganisationtakestimetobebuiltbutcanbedamaged quicklyifleadersdonotremainsensitivetoevolving challenges.Itisalsoimportanttomaintainteamworkat everylevelandtounderstandthateachperson’sexperience ofthepandemichasbeenunique,andmanyhavebeen placedatconsiderablepersonalrisk.

Inconclusion,leadersshouldmodelandencouragestaffto maintainapositivemindset,tohavedailydisciplinesfor selfcareandtosetappropriateboundariesaroundworkand homelife.

Withthetime,businessesalsoriseandfalllike empires.Fewstaysatthepathofsuccessfor ages,whileothersfailoutwithinacoupleof years.Themajordifferencedeemedtocontinuingsustained successisthroughgreatleadership.AndItisobviousasa greatleadercaninspireothersandleadswithaclearvision othercanbelieveinandcanbringinnovationwithinan organization.Companiesunderthegreatleadershiptaking thereins,investors,consumers,andemployeesareallgoing towanttobuyin.

Tomanageateameffectively,onealsoneedtobeagreat leader,andthat’sthereasonwhytheworld’smosteminent companieshavesomeextremelysmartpeopleattheboard. Itdoesnotmatterwhetheraleaderismanaginganewstart upordirectingareputablebrand,he/shemustinnovateto keepthecompanyfreshatthelead.

Theindividualswearementioninginthisarticlearehail fromabroadrangeofbackgrounds,howeverallofthem havepushedtheirboundariesthroughunwavering determinationandturnupwithvisionarywaystoaccelerate progressintheirbusinesses.Onecanbyhavingabusiness managementdegreepossiblylearnagreatdealoftheskills neededtooperateasuccessfulcompanybutatthesame time,it’sessentialtohaveavisionaryoutlook.“Constantly thinkabouthowyoucouldbedoingthingsbetterand questioningyourself,”saysPayPalco-founderElonMusk. Inthisarticle,wearegoingtodiscussaboutsixbusiness leaderswhohaveshownthecapabilitiestocompletely changedtheworldweliveintoday.

ElonMusk-TeslaMotorsandSpaceX

ElonMuskistheCEOandCTOofonethebiggestspace agenciesSpaceXandisalsotheCEOandChiefProduct ArchitectofEVcarcompanyTeslaMotors.Itclearly shows,hehasadeepinterestinadvancedtechnology.In 2013,SpaceXmadeheadlinesasthefirstprivatecompany toreleaseasatelliteintogeosynchronousorbit.

JanKoum-WhatsApp

JanKoum,co-foundedtheWhatsAppin2019.Theapphas gainedpopularityinnotimeandinthreeyearslateritwas processing10billionmessagesdaily.InJune2013 WhatsAppstatedanewrecordof27billionmessages carriedinoneday,andbytheendoftheyear,thecompany announcedthatithad400millionmonthlyusers.Koumis alsothecompanyCEOandagainsttheadvertisingand makessurehewillnothaveitonWhatsApp. “The user

experience would always lose, because you always had to provide a service to the advertiser,” Koumsaid.

EvanSpiegel-Snapchat

In2011,EvanSpiegel,CEOandco-founderofSnapchat launchedthephoto-sharingappfromhisfather’sliving room.TillJune2013,Snapchatwasn’tgeneratingany revenue,yetduetohighventurefunding,thecompanywas valued$860million.Spiegelsays, “Somewhere along the way when we were building social media products we forgot the reason we like to communicate with our friends is because it’s fun.”

JeffBezos-Amazon

Recognizedasworld’srichestpersonfounderandCEOof AmazonJeffBezosstartedwithonlinebookstorein1995. Itisleadershipthatin2013,AmazonreplacedApplefrom thetopspotandbecomeAmerica’smosttrustedcompany, accordingtoasurveybyHarrisInteractive.Today,Amazon shipstomorethan50countriesanddistributesmillionsof uniqueproductseveryday

SteveJobs-Apple

KnownasthefounderofApple,SteveJobsisconsideredas oneofthemostinfluentialentrepreneurs,visionaries, innovators,andbusinessleaderswhochangedtheworld throughhistechnology.Hemadecomputermoreexciting andaccessiblefortheworldthaneverbefore.Duetohis contributionsthreeindustrieshadrevolutionized-music, mobile,andpersonalcomputing.Thesmartdevices developedbythecompanysetthestageforthemobileand smartdevices.Andtoday,Appleleadsasapremierfactorin theelectronicandtechnologyindustry

WarrenBuffet-BerkshireHathaway

Knownas“OracleofOhama,”Buffetisconsideredasone ofthewealthiestbusinessinvestorsofalltime.Heisthe CEOofBerkshireHathaway,amultinationalholding companywhichtransectsbillionsofdollarsworthofstocks everyyear AsBuffetisconsideredtheall-timebestinthe tradefield,manytopfinancialholdersfollowBuffett’s expertiseandapproachtostocksandtrading.Healso vowedtodonatethevastmajorityofhiswealthafterhis deathlikeBillGates.

BUSINESS LEADERS WHO CHANGED THE WORLD

and CEO

Alexey Chalimov

ItwasAlexeyChalimov’spassion

forbuildingandlaunchingnew techproductsthaturgedhimto foundEasternPeakbackin2010,in thefirstplace.EasternPeakisa professionalstrategyconsultingand technologyproviderthathelps companiesofallsizesandacross differentindustriesacceleratethespeed atwhichtheydobusiness,improve theirtimetomarket,bringcostsdown, andinstillproductivechangesinevery process,employee,andbusiness model.

AsaWhartonBusinessSchool graduate,Alexeyfeltitwashiscalling tohelpbusinessesundergodigital transformation.Hewasalsolooking forwardtoleveragingmytech expertiseinvariousindustries.

Alexeythinksit'sthefactthathehas beenfascinatedwithtechnologyfrom theverystartthatmadethemajor impact.Hispreviousexperience includedworkingasaCEO,founder, andtechadvisorintransportation, education,andappdevelopment sectors(GetTaxi,MaximumEducation, andUbertestersrespectively).Withit, hewascapableofextendinghis experiencefurther,andbetter understandtheneedsofthecompany’s clientsfromdifferentindustriesand businessdomains.

quantities.SohewenttoUkraine,a post-Sovietcountrywithalargepool ofexcellentSTEMtalenttohiretopnotchdevelopersforEasternPeak.Of course,theconvenientlocationand Ukraine’sstrongculturaltieswith Israelalsoplayedanimportantpart.

Let’sfindouthowAlexeyhasheaded EasternPeaktomakeitone-stopshop inagiledigitaltransformationand innovationinaninterviewconducted betweenAlexeyandInsightsSuccess.

Below are the highlights of the interview:

Couldyouthrowsomelightonyour missionandvisionstatement?

Asatechconsultinganddevelopment firm,webelieveourmissionistohelp companies,largeandsmall,toadaptto today’sever-changingbusiness environment.Webelieveinnovationis thekeytosurvivingandthrivinginthe moderneconomy Weapplyour expertiseinAI,IoT,BigData,and immersivetechnologiestohelp organizationsflexiblyadjusttoallthe economical,technological,and regulatorychallenges.Wealsohelp startupsenterthemarketwithfresh businessideas.

helporganizationsbridgethegap betweenbusinessandtechnologyby upgradinglegacysystemsand preparingtheirinfrastructurefor continuousinnovations.Ourclients’ businessgoalscomefirst-weleverage technologytohelpcompaniesachieve betteroperationalefficiency,accelerate timetomarket,improveandautomate everyprocess,startingfromthemost meticulousones.Wealsobuildnew productsfromscratchandofferarange ofservicestostartups-fromproduct discoveryandbrandingtohelpthem createpowerfulinvestorpitchesin ordertoattractfunding.

WespecializeinIoT,enterprisedigital transformation,SaaS,mobileapp,and Uber-likesolutionsdevelopment, buildingwebsites,marketplaces,as wellasfintechtoolsandplatforms.We offerarangeofcooperationmodels: managedprojects,teamextension,or on-demandservices.

Needlesstosay,atEasternPeak,we employbest-of-breedexpertsinthese fieldsandrecruittopEasternEurope techtalent.Expertiseandtalentareour greatestassets.

Describeindetailtheworkculture andthevaluesthatdriveyour company.

Alexey’sconnectionswithEastern Europewerealsohighlyimpactful.His companyneededvasttechnological expertiseandR&Dcapacitiestofulfill itsmission.Itcouldfindtechtalentin Israel,butnotinthenecessary

Describeyourcompanyandits cutting-edgeengineeringanddigital transformationsolutionswhich addressalltheneedsofyour customers.

AtEasternPeak,weofferengineering anddigitaltransformationservices.We

AtEasternPeakweplaceahigh emphasisontransparency,enabling clientstocommunicatewithour remoteteamsaseffectivelyasifthey wereworkingwiththeirin-house developers.

Wevaluetrust,soitisimportantforustoletclientsknow whatweareworkingonandforwhatpurpose.Wealso strictlyadheretointellectualpropertylaws,soourclients cantrustuswiththeirideas.Weensurepredictabilityand competencebydeliveringontimeandstickingtoa project’stimeline.

Keepingcommunicationlinesopenisalsooneofour strongestvalues.Werunregularcallsandmeetingsandour clientscanalwaysreachuswiththeirfeedback.

WhatisyourideaofCorporateSocialResponsibility?

Weareaglobalcompany,workinginternationally,sowe viewfosteringbusinessgrowthandinnovationasourmajor CSRinitiative.Forexample,inthewakeoftheCOVID-19 pandemic,wewerehelpingbrick-and-mortarbusinesses, regardlessofsizeandlocation,toshiftonline,digitizetheir projectsandservices,discovernewbusinessopportunities, andbuildemergencyresponsestrategies.

AnimportantpartofourCSRvisionisbeingaresponsible employer Wemakesureourwagestructureisfairand transparentandofferpossibilitiesforemployeetrainingand development.Wealsoputforthsignificanteffortstocreatea safeworkenvironmentforouremployees,with professionalair-purificationandhand-sanitizingstationson-

premises-whichisespeciallyimportantinthepostpandemicreality.

Whatareyourcompany’sfutureaspirations?What strategiesareyouundertakingtoachievethosegoals?

Inthefuture,weplantokeepupthegoodworkinlinewith ourmission:helpingbusinessesacrossallindustriesand domainsachievebetteroutcomeswithdigital transformation.Inthisregard,attractingthebesttalent, keepingabreastoftheemergingtechnologiesand continuouslearningarethebeststrategies.

“Our innovative development team works at the forefront of modern technology and employs best practices in software development.”

ELTON JOHNSON, JR.

A Combat Vetrepreneur

Beingabusinessleaderisacalling.Oneshouldnot doitjustbecauseitisajob.Itisacalling,andyou havegottobeinvolvedinitwithyourhead,heart, andhands.Yourhearthasgottobeinthejob;yougotto lovewhatyoudo;itshouldconsumeyourconsciousness. OnesuchconsciousandintuitivebusinessleaderisElton Johnson,Jr Founder,ChairmanandFormerCEO .,the of (“AVI”,“AmeriVet”).

AmeriVetSecurities,Inc.

AmeriVetSecuritieswasformedin1993totakeadvantage ofanewCalifornialawthatplaceddisabledveteranowned andoperatedcompaniesinthesamespecialcategoryas femaleandminorityownedandoperatedcompanies.Elton Johnson,Jr.,isadisabledveteranduetoaninjuryhe sufferedduringaparachutetrainingexercisein1988when hewasservinginaU.S.ArmyReserveSpecialForcesunit (GreenBerets).

ExemplifyingProficiencyintheFinancialServices Industry

Eltonhas43yearsofexperienceinthefinancialservices industry.HestartedAmeriVetwithaborrowed$1150andin twenty-sevenyearsasitsCEO,hegrewthecompanyto fortyfulltimeemployeesandregisteredrepswho altogether,generatedover$8millioninannualgross revenuesresultinginover$1millioninprofitin2020.The missionstatementofAmeriVetSecurities,Inc.,readas follows: “A Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Business (SDVOB) and a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) that specializes in capital markets, public finance, agency trading, and other financial services for institutional clients and is committed to hiring and training U.S. military veterans and providing them with opportunities for advancement in the financial and corporate sectors.”

EffectiveuseofSecuritiesPlatforms

AmeriVetSecurities,Inc.,isafullservice,specialcategory (SDVOBandMBE),institutionalbroker-dealerproviding thehighest,mostdedicated,andmostprofessional standardsofservicethroughitsmultiplelinesofbusiness foritsinstitutionalclients.Thecompany’scutting-edge solutions,whichaddressalltheneedsofitscustomers,all dealwithitsfocusonthemosteffectiveandexpedientuse ofthelatestfinancial/securitiesplatformsinitsindustrythat includebothcommercialandproprietaryplatforms.It pridesitselfonitsreputationfortheeffectiveuseof financial/securitiesplatformstoserviceitsclientsanditis thisreputationthatsetsitapartinthesecuritiesindustry fromtheotherspecialcategorybroker-dealers.

LicencedStockbroker

EltonJohnson,Jr.,hasbeenalicensedstockbrokerforover forty-threeyears.Hecurrentlyholdsfourteen securities/commoditieslicensesputtinghiminasmall uniquegroupinthesecuritiesindustrywhosemembers hold,orhaveheld,adozenormorelicenses.Hismarkupon thesecuritiesindustryisthatheisthefirstMainPrincipal ofabroker-dealertooperatehiscompanyfromacombat zonesinceWorldWarTwo.Healsohasthedistinctionof beingtheonlyMainPrincipalofabroker-dealertohave everservedincombatandhaveaprice(bounty)putonhis head.Thishappenedtwice:inIraqin2004whenheserved astheofficialPaymasterfortheIraqiArmedForces ($20,000bounty)andinAfghanistanin2011whenhe servedwiththeAfghanNationalArmySpecialOperations AdvisoryGroup(ANASOAG;$1000bounty).

EnsuringGreatSuccess

EltonJohnson’sinfluenceoverhiscompanycomesinthe formoftheleadershipskillsandprinciplesthathehas appliedtothesuccessfuloperationofAmeriVetwhichhe learnedintheUSArmyandtheUSMarineCorps.Having completedseveralmilitaryleadershipprofessional developmentcoursesduringhismilitarycareer,including coursesfromtheUSArmyCommandandGeneralStaff College,andhavingbeentheCommandingOfficeroftwo combatcommands,Eltonhasappliedallofwhathehas learnedinthemilitarytohisbusinessafternotingthemany similaritiesbetweensuccessinthemilitaryandsuccessin business.ThegreatsuccessofAmeriVettodayisprimarily duetothemilitaryexperienceandthemilitaryeducationof EltonJohnson.Hehaseffectivelyappliedbothtoensurethe successandgrowthofAmeriVetSecurities,Inc.

UnprecedentedAchievements

Relyingonhisexperiencesandtrainingwhileservinginan U.S.ArmyReserveSpecialForcesunit(GreenBerets), Eltonrealizedthatbuildinganefficientandhighlycapable corporateteamwasthekeytothesuccessofAmeriVet. Thus,whenAmeriVethaditsrelaunchin2018afterbeing inactiveforoverseventeen(17)yearsduetoElton’s wartimeservice,topprioritywasgiventorecruitingand buildingatop-notchcorporateteam.Thisstrongemphasis onteambuildinghasgreatlybenefitedAmeriVet.Theresult ofconcentratingonputtingtogetheranefficientandhighly capablecorporateteamcanbereadilyseeninthe company’scurrentbottomline.Injusttwoyears(20182020),AmeriVethasincreaseditsannualgrossrevenuesby almosttenfold.Ithasalsogonefrombeingintheredto beingintheblackinjusttwoyears.Bothfinancialfeatsare nearlyunprecedentedinthesecuritiesindustry

SupportingVeteranCommunity

AtAmeriVetSecurities,Inc.,itsideaofcorporatesocial responsibilityistosupport,tothebestofitsability,the veterancommunity,andtheveteranserviceorganizations (VSOs)thatassiststheveterancommunity Thebestwayit believesthatitcansupportveteransisbyemployingas manyveteransasitcanandbydoingallthatitcandoto supporttheveterancommunityandveteranservice organizations.

GrowthOrientedApproach

ThefutureaspirationofAmeriVetisquitesimple:to

becomethebestandmostsuccessfulService-Disabled VeteranOwnedBusiness(SDVOB)andMinorityBusiness Enterprise(MBE)broker-dealerinthebusiness.AmeriVet Securities,Inc.,isthesecondoldestSDVOBinthe securitiesindustryanditisveryproudofthatdistinction, butitisitsgoaltoalsobethebestmanagedandthemost successfulSDVOBinthesecuritiesindustry.Thestrategies thatitisundertakingtoachievethisgoalalldealwith detailedlong-termplanning,eitherregardingincreasing currentrevenuestreamsorcreatingnewrevenuestreams. Sincethebattlefocusofanysuccessfulcompanyistogrow thecompanyandoneofthebestwaystodothisisto increasetheamountsoftheexistingrevenuestreamsandto endeavortoalwayscreatenewrevenuestreams,practically alloftheAmeriVetstrategiesconcernthesetwoobjectives.

Amy Schoemehl

Pandemic and Challenges for Socio-economic issues, and Healthcare

COVID-19presentedmulti-facetedchallengesto individuals,families,companies,andcommunities. Nooneperson’sexperiencehasbeenthesame,and wehaveallhaddifferentfeelingsaboutdifferentaspectsat differenttimes;eventhelengthoftimehasimpact–onthe sustainabilitytoendure,onlifedecisions,onmattersof priorityandpolitics.Ithasbeenaglobalchallengeyet polarizinginresponses.

Whenweapplythistotechnologyinnovations,disruptive mindsets,andcrisisremediation,myprevailingthoughtis howtheanswerswerefairlyuniversal. Whilesolutions maybespecificandnuanced,thebroaderheadlineissimple andconsistent–thinkaboutthepeoplefirst,andmakegood decisionsbasedonthepositiveintentiontosupportthose people. Ifthethinkinganddecisionmakingwassoundand crisp,revenueandsupportweresuretofollow

FormeasaCOO,mother,daughter,wife–itismy responsibilitytokeeppeoplesafeandthriving. Inmy experience,thatmeansalotofactivelisteningand compassion. ThisiswheretheEQthatIhaveorhavebuilt overtimeisleveragedandstretched,buteverydayIfeelit isablessingtobeinthepositionIamtobethatcatalyst. Myempathyforhowpeoplearefeelingandexperiencing thispandemichasallowedmetomakegooddecisions aboutthingsrelatedtobalancingworkandlife(employees whoarestraddlingworkingremotelywithcaregivingand homeschoolingsmallchildren,caringforcolleagueswho arestrugglingwithquarantinedisolationanddepression, creatingprocessesandworkflowstokeepemployeessafe whenit’sessentialtheyareinaphysicallocationto properlydoajob);COVID-19hasbeenaforcing mechanismforalotofpeopletoworkinadistributed environment,butalsoilluminatedtheneedforemployersto thinkwithatribementalityandlookaftertheirpeopleas humansfirst.Thehumanconnectioniswhatisgoingtohelp usgetthroughthispandemictogether.

Realizingthisintersectionoroverlapbetweenworkand personallife,Ibeganfeelingamoreacuteandurgentneed

tobeanambassadorofpositivechange.Toseeit,istosay it.TheReverendDr.MartinLutherKingJr.stated,“He whopassivelyacceptsevilisasmuchinvolvedinitashe whohelpstoperpetuateit.Hewhoacceptsevilwithout protestingagainstitisreallycooperatingwithit.”

Alltosay,Ifeelmyprivilegedpositionisaplatformto advocateforchangeandpositivemomentuminallareas–socialandpoliticalreform,howwedobusiness,howwe reconcilerevenuegrowthinsuchadynamicenvironment, andwhatinnovationscanbemadetobettertheecosystem foryearstocome.Alotofthisisempathyandmindset,but somuchisalsousingtechnologyandnewideasto completelyreinventstatusquo. 2020wasriddledwitha varietyofchallengesintheindependentadjusterworld,and Iamsoproudofthehardworkandgritthatouremployees demonstratedinthefaceofadversity–thesinglebiggest contributiontooursuccessasacompanywasourhuman capitalfeelingpsychologicallyandphysicallysafeand supported.Thewayswewereabletogivethattothem(and ourclients)wasthroughablendoftalentmanagement sprinkledwithaheavydoseofingenuityandtechnology investments.E.A.Renfroeunderstoodthatouremployees wereleaningonustosupportthemmentallyand financially.Wehadtoreach17,000employeeswithout comingfacetofacewithnearlyanyofthem.Weaccepted thatchallenge,inthefaceofthepandemiccoupledwith 2020havingthemostnamedeventsinU.S.naturaldisaster history.Themagnitudeandgravityofthesituationcould nothavebeenabiggerchallenge,butwiththegraceofour executiveteamandallthewonderfulpeopleinboththe corporateofficeaswellasinourprojectteams,wenotonly survivedbutthrived.

Forme,walkingoutofthatcalendaryearfeelingaspositive aboutthefutureasIdoisasignalofhowimportantthe workwedotrulyis.Asleadersinanyindustry,aswellas beingmembersinourfamiliesandcommunities,wehave sharedaccountabilitytogetthingsright.

Jeff LoCastro

A Remarkable Record of Developing Companies

Intheeraofpersonalization,shouldn't

decisioningalsobepersonalized?To understandthisconceptJeffLoCastroFounder&CEOatNeenerAnalyticspioneered theconceptofhuman-baseddata.Hisideawas alwaysto“humanize”thedataanduseonlydata thatisuniqueandindividualtoaspecifichuman beingthroughoutthedecisionchain.

Inaninterviewconductedbetween Insights Success andJeffLoCastro,hediscussedusing today'stechnologytodecisionpeopletheway peopleusedtobedecisioned,howitallstarted, andtheconceptofHumanData.Belowarethe highlightsoftheinterview:

Whatledtoaninceptionofthecompany? IlivedinChinafortwoyearsandabout6-months beforecominghome,Imadealistofthefirst thingsIhadtodowhenIgotback.Asmy CaliforniaDriver’sLicensehadexpiredwhileI wasoutofthecountry,thatwasthefirstthingon mylist.Iwonderedwhywasthat?Howhadthat made#1.Istillknewhowtodrive.Sowhywas that#1onmylist? Iwondered,“So,Iwasonly ‘valid’iftheCaliforniaDepartmentofMotor VehiclessaidIwas?”That’sinsane.Howdidmy grandparents’functionwithoutwalkingaround withtheirIDallthetime?”Howwasmy grandfatherabletogetaloan?orwhatever, withoutawalletfullofgovernmentID’sorevena creditscore? Hewasabletodoitbecausehis banker,forexamplecouldsay,“Iknowyou!”the bankerknewmygrandfather’sstory.Andwhere isthatstorybeingtold?SocialMedia.Neener Analyticswasborn.

Describeyourcompanyanditscutting-edge solutionswhichaddressesalltheneedsofyour customers.

Whatifyoucouldsiteachcustomerdownwitha psychologistandaskthem,“areyoureallygoing topayusback?” Becausethatisthequestion, right?ThequestionisnotCANthey,thequestion isWILLthey

We’vedevelopedaregulatorycompliantAIbasedfinancialriskdecisioningtechnologyusing 1-clicksocialmediaoranymediausedsociallytohelp lendersbetterdecisionandunderstandspecificindividual riskoutcomesforthin-file,no-file,andcreditchallenged consumers.1-clickAI-basedfinancialriskdecisioning technologyusingSmallData.

Betterdecisioningthin-file,no-file,thecreditchallenged andincreasingFinancialInclusion,isnota“data”problem. It’sa“Human”problem.Lendersdon’twanttoknowifthe consumer’s“data”isgoingtopaythemback;theywantto knowiftheCONSUMERisgoingto.Whichiswhywe havepioneeredHuman-Dataandcreatedthebranchcalled Human-DataScience™.

Couldyouthrowsomelightonyourmissionandvision statement?

Therewasalwaysalotoftalkabout“BigData.”And everybodycheeredit.Butbigdataisnotanewconcept.It’s beenaroundforahundredyearsandit’sprettybasicstuff. Butmostpeopledon’treallyknowwhatitis.Essentially, bigdataareaggregationsorbinsofmotivations,behaviors, oraffinities.Andeveryoneyouthinkthatexhibitsthose motivations,behaviors,oraffinitiesgettossedintothatbin. Butwhatdoesitmean?Well,you’renotreallysuresoyou needmoreaggregationsandbinstotosspeopleinto. Basically,bigdataisthepracticeof, “I don’t know you, but I know people like you.” Whatahorriblewaytomakea decisionorformanopinionaboutsomeone!

Infairness,bigdataisaperfectlyacceptablewaytomake, forexample,marketingdecisions.Butitisaterriblewayto understandauthenticoutcomes,especiallyfinancialrisk outcomes.Bigdatabyitsverynaturecreatesdisparate impact.Therehadtobeabetterway.

Before big data models, how did people make (accurate) decisionsaboutotherindividualhumanbeings?Howdidmy grandfather get his first home loan back in 1940? He just

walked into the bank, said he wanted a home loan, and the banker said,Yes. I know you.” The keywords are: I. Know You.Buthowdidheknow?Thebankerdidn’thavealifetime record of all my grandfather’s transactions. And he didn’t have a collection of his complete payment history But he KNEW my grandfather would pay him back. That banker knewthisbasedontheconversationsandcommunicationshe had with him over time. He knew this by having listened to how my grandfather talked about the things in his life: his words and his communications. Exactly what human beings dowithotherhumanbeings.

Thisistheinnovation,exceptnotusingbigdata.Thisisnot sentimentanalysisorLikes&FriendsorKeywordsor phrases.WehavecrackedthecodeonSmallData.And SmallData=Iknowyou.

Describeindetailtheworkcultureandthevaluesthat driveyourcompany.

Leadersdon’tleadalone.Ithinkthemostimportantjobof anyleaderisbuildingtheteam;the#1priorityisputting greatpeopleintherightplacetosucceed.Greatleaders attracttalentedpeopleandputtheminapositiontowin. Idon’tliketoputtoomanyboundariesonpeopleandwhat

We are the leaders in computational social science and the only social media analytics that delivers specific, individual, risk outcomes in a 100% friction-less environment.

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wedo.Peopleshouldnotbeafraidtomakemistakes. Whenyourdailytaskisinnovationandnotcaretaking,if peopleare“afraid”youatworststagnateanddieoratbest movesuper-slowandfallbehind ...anddie.

1.Hireonlypeoplethathavesharedvalues.I’dratherhave thesecond-bestplayerwhosharesourvaluesthanthebest playerwhodoesn’t.

2.Givepeoplefreedomtomakemistakes.Encourage failure(so-to-speak).Whenpeoplearen’tafraidtofail,they tryallkindsofcrazythings.

WhatisyourideaofCorporateSocialResponsibility?

Ithinkpeoplemakethatideamorecomplexthanitneedsto be.Ideallythebusinessitselfiscreatingvalueforpeople,

theeconomy,andthecommunity,fillingavoid.And regardlessofthebusinessorindustry,treateveryoneinthe communityasiftheyarecustomers.Becausenomatter whatyousell,whatyoubuild,orwhatyouscale;good businessestoucheveryonesomehowdirectlyorindirectly Becausethetruemeasureofaman(andacompany)ishow wellhetreatspeoplewhocan’tdoanythingforhim.My CSRphilosophyflowsfromthat.

Whatareyourcompany’sfutureaspirations?What strategiesareyouundertakingtoachievethosegoals?

We are really pioneering the idea that the consumer is their owndata.Andtheconsumerastheirownsourceofdataisthe future of all consumer engagement. We are currently in 11 countries and I see us owning specific market regions in the next 10 years. We’ve already built out 2 product lines, each delivering5decisioningproducts.Wehaveanotherlineslated for 2021 and are on track for a new line each of the next 5yearswhilecontinuingtoexpandourdecisioningcapabilities. We’ll have offices globally connecting banks, lenders, insurancecompanies,realestatecompaniesandotherswith4billioncurrentlyinvisibleconsumersglobally