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Sovereign Magazine

Startup DAYs BERN | JUN 10 & 11 | 2020

Switzerland's leading Startup and Investors event is back for its 17th year. Early bird tickets now available: startupdays.ch Organised by

In partnership with

Sovereign

Official media partner www.sovereignmagazine.co.uk

Sovereign Magazine is excited to announce a new media partnership with Digital Switzerland and Startup Invest for Startup DAYs 2020.

Startup DAYs is a collaboration between Digital Switzerland and Startup Invest, it is the referenced annual Startup Event in Switzerland. This yearly event pulls in a large number of investors, startups, entrepreneurs and industry leaders not just from Switzerland but from across the globe. The 2020 event will take place June 10-11 in Bern, Switzerland. As part of the media partnership, Sovereign is delighted to create a special edition dedicated to showcasing the Swiss startup ecosystem along with the event. It will comprise featured interviews and profiles on the founders, organisations, members and participants who make the event possible. The special edition cover will feature the key players, namely Jean-Pierre Vuileumier, Nicolas BĂźrer, Daniel Bermejo and Matthias Zwingli. To stay up to date with the latest news and articles around this special edition or to find out ways to get involved, visit: www.sovereignmagazine.co.uk/startupdays

Sovereign Magazine

As another year draws to a close, itâ€™s time to look back and think about the role you played in supporting us over the past 12 months. The question of success in business is one that boils up at the top, transforming our perception through inclusion, diversity, and awareness. Far from reaching any kind of magic formula, business success means different things for different people. When Larisa Miller contacted us, we decided to share with you what really drives her passion and determination for sustainability through beneficial investment, developing strategies and unlocking results. Larisa Miller demonstrates a ferocious confidence to dare and succeed when others give up, and inspired us to stamp her own voice on Sovereign. We are very excited by the progress we have all made, raising the profile of Business Men and Women from five continents, elevating the concept of inclusion and equality. While we are a work in progress, each success story is another milestone to impact and effect real change over the diversity agenda in business, we need to continue to build business men and women's visibility, influence and give them the recognition they deserve. 2019 was a tough but wonderful year, the year of trailblazing together on the Sovereign Road, which took us to other shores, in well over 50 countries, where we forged life-lasting partnerships with world class leaders and loyal customers. Under your patronage we enriched our team with brilliant, visionary minds and the best is yet to come. Thank you for choosing us as your supplier for GOOD NEWS!

MarinaNani Dr Marina Nani Editor-in-chief

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10 Marina Nani

Edition-in-chief, Founder

Darie Nani

Managing Editor, Art Director

Christian Demetriad Graphic Designer

Alexis Boddy

Writer & Researcher

In this issue

08. The Frequency of Success All that glitters: How Shaun Leane built one of the world’s pre-eminent jewellery houses

10. It’s Very Lonely at the Top A

38. Ways to change the world From pattern recognition to perhaps one day quantum computing. Interview with Paola Bonomo

woman who was bashed, thrashed, ignored, laughed at and bullied, but made it on her own

42. Quid pro quo The origins of the

12. Through the Camera Lens

44. The MBA is changing but can

Anthony Grant Guest Author

#ANDME: In the quest for equality, why are women NOT represented at the other end of the spectrum?

Brigitte Lawler

14. Sheila Gemin Senior leaders set

Columnist

Latin term and how its uses evolved in English it keep up?

46. Uber’s troubles in London are nothing compared to the bigger picture

Guest Author

the tone within any organisation and lead the way in shaping the culture in a way that can strengthen diversity and inclusion at all levels

Dennis Jett

COVER STORY

Nicholas Harding, CEO of Lending Works shares his knowledge of funding in this month’s guest article.

Elaine France

Larisa Miller, CEO Phoenix Global

50. Watching The Whistleblowers Two new spy films

Elaine Pringle-Schwitter

22. Tesla’s business strategy is not chaotic - It’s Brilliant!

52. Mind Over Matter Penney

Gavin Brown

24. Marking Thirty Years Since The Fall Of The Berlin Wall Three

Catherine Edwards

Guest Author Columnist Columnist

Guest Author

John Colley Guest Author

Joseph Coppolino Guest Author

Lesley Calvó Columnist

16. Sustainability Through Beneficial Investment Interview with

decades later, we ask if the reunification of Germany is complete.

26. Buckle up for turbulence Why a

48. 3 Tips For Scaling Up A Startup In The Finance Industry

tailor-made for an age of paranoia Megginson is Pioneering a New Approach to the Mind-Body Connection

55. Healing & The Modern Business Man A remarkable story of a businessman turned healer.

global debt crisis looks very hard to avoid

58. Depression Men far more at

28. Are women offered leadership roles just to fill quotas? A new

61. A Truly Bespoke Experience A

risk than women in deprived areas property refurbishment and construction service like no other.

Nathan Furr

perspective on the current state of women in tech

Nicholas Harding

30. Learn to Move Mountains: Write a new story of hope and action

64. A Lesson from our Prehistoric Past other humans the first victims

Nick Longrich

32. More than 1,000 cryptocurrencies have already failed

66. The Ultimate Christmas Gift

34. Redefining Business Success

68. 9 Good News Stories about Climate Change After a year of

Guest Author Guest Author Guest Author

Olivia Remes Guest Author

here’s what will affect successes in future

Guest Author

Why discernment is the most needed competence in business

Rodrigo Olivares-Caminal

36. Changing Fashions Why Vegan

Richard Whittle

Guest Author

Clothing is Good Business

Published by MTN Press Limited. Printed in the United Kingdom

of the sixth mass extinction? An US ambassadorship

devastating fires, lets remember that positive things are happening for the environment.

Sovereign Magazine SUCCESS STORY

Frequency of Success All that glitters: How Shaun

Leane built one of the world’s pre-eminent jewellery houses

veryone who achieves success goes through a personal journey of deep transformation. We have to dig deep within ourselves to discover our true creative source and passion. People often think that success is an external quality, a list of accomplishments we achieve through our lives and material wealth. The biggest success stories are the people who have succeeded in finding peace within themselves and true joy in their work. Today I interview the multi-award winning and iconic International jeweller Shaun Leane (shaunleane.com). Leane lives in London, United Kingdom. In February 2006, he was made a Freeman of the City of London which is the highest honour in the city. He is one of the UK’s most innovative jewellery designers and through his partnerships with Alexander Mcqueen, Sotheby’s and Royal families around the world he has created some of the most incredible fine jewellery pieces of the 21st century. In conjunction with Kerry Taylor Auctions, Leane’s personal archive of couture jewellery was offered for auction by Sotheby’s New York, and showcased 45 of the most iconic designs produced in the last two decades for Alexander McQueen, Daphne Guinness, Sarah Jessica Parker, Isabella Blow and Kate Moss. The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Victoria & Albert presented Leane’s most inspiring artistic creations.

What inspired you to create your business? In the beginning I never really set out to create my own business it developed organically. While working full time for English traditional jewellery, in 1994 Alexander McQueen asked me to start working with him on his first fashion shows, here we struck a beautiful partnership where I could fuse my traditional, classical gold smith training with an Avant Garde fashion platform. Here the identity and the Signature handwriting of the house of Shaun Leane was born. It was throughout these four years I created an identity and began to create a name for myself as my work was on catwalks from Paris, London and New York. In 1998 I was then approached by department stores worldwide to purchase Shaun Leane collections, at this point I hadn’t created collections so due to demand I began to design a range of commercial works that were a fusion of my classical goldsmithing training and contemporary design inspired by my works for the McQueen shows. Through this demand I left English traditional jewellery after 13 years (where I served my apprenticeship) rented a single bench in a shared workshop and began my business in 1999.

What do you feel has been the most important part of your journey so far? I feel for me the most important part of my journey so far is after all these years I have realised the love and the importance of understanding my medium, metal!

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Leane’s unwavering commitment to break with entrenched traditions, play with conventions and bring a fresh dynamic to exquisitely crafted fine jewellery has led to esteemed collaborations including his longstanding partnership with Lee Alexander McQueen.

Being able to translate my concepts into different forms with it, from crafting Platinum diamond tiaras for Asprey’s to creating aluminium corsets on the McQueen runways, to now working in architecture and decorating seven story buildings with bronze works which embrace and captivate the building. Learning not to be afraid to explore the different possibilities of how I can manipulate and work with this beautiful material has allowed me to create the diverse body of works to date.

What has been the greatest revelation behind achieving success? I think for me the revelation of success is a deep personal achievement. Growing up in a very strict academic school and being a child suffering from dyslexia at some points I had feelings I had no talent and confusion as I didn’t fit in…to then discover at the age of 14 a foundation course in jewellery making and jewellery design of where I learnt I had a skill and a natural taking to craft which has enabled me over the last 35 years to create the objects from jewellery to body sculpture to architecture. To me this is the revelation of success that I discovered my talent and embraced it and nurtured it to this very day.

What has been your biggest challenge? To be honest I feel the biggest challenge has been to find a work life balance. I am so driven by creativity and a passion to explore new disciplines that throughout my career and passion for my business and for my work sometimes over ride my personal life so this has made it at some point very difficult to find a work life balance. Thankfully now in my later years I have learnt to balance the two which now feeds my creativity even more.

What have been the gifts you have learnt? To know my medium and approach everything with an open mind to not let fear of new exploration or experiment hinder me; but drive me to push boundaries and create the Avant Garde.

If you could go back and give the Shaun first starting out one piece of advice what would it be? I have no regrets in my journey as I feel every crossroad positive and negative has been a learning curve and led me to be the artist I am today. On a logistical view I think if I were to go back working alongside my creative development, I would’ve invested in a short business course as I feel this would have helped me make easier business decisions and along the way.

How did you find your definition of success, what does it mean to you? My definition of success is being able to look back at early works, even going back as far as 30 years and still feeling inspired, provoked and excited knowing that the energy I put into my early works is still a force I understand today. This consistency and deep understanding of myself portrayed in my work is the definition of success to me. This means to me that I am truly grateful that my craft has been the vehicle for me to express my thoughts, emotions and inner-self.

How do you keep hold of your dream? I remain forever teachable, this entail gives me an open mind which allows me to explore new mediums and disciplines allowing the dream to continue.

Leane’s significant design legacy has led to further collaborations with Daphne Guinness, Nick Knight, Boucheron, Damien Hirst and more, propelling Leane to global recognition.

What does the future hold for the brand? As innovation and impeccable hand-craftsmanship remain central to the brand’s ethos, the House continues to take the noble art of the jewel onto new levels and into the future. I remain at the heart of the business as Creative Director working on new concepts and projects both in our London atelier and worldwide. For me, continuing to mentor the team and ensuring meticulous attention to detail is paramount to our enduring legacy.

Lesley Calvó Lesley Calvó ran an internationally-successful jewellery company alongside her work as a design consultant for Hugo Boss, Dior, Vivienne Westwood, Swarovski and Cartier. For almost two decades, Lesley mentored thousands of people to unleashed their infinite potential. She is a world class Business Growth Coach, and passionate Self Awareness and Transformational Change Advocate.

Sovereign Magazine EQUALITY

Through the Camera Lens

#ANDME: In the quest for equality, why are women NOT represented at the other end of the spectrum?

y now, we are all familiar with the arguments regarding the lack of female representation at CLevel management and executive positions. Some of us are even familiar with the studies that show having female representation or a significant proportion of female representation in the boardroom enhances productivity, collegiality and even profit. Women for many years have fact, I would go as far as to say - but please correct me if Iâ€™m wrong - that dispensations, concessions or even a form of discrimination should be granted in order to make this happen. OK, I get it. I support it and have often question why there is a lack of representation at executive level management. There are many answers to this question, but I will not cover them in this article. Now, letâ€™s look at gender equality across the board. What about the lack of representation at the bottom of the corporate, industrial, public sector or governmental ladder. Here are some stats to add to this statement. This was taken from a study in The Boston Globe, done in 2016.

Job Title

Power Plant Operators, Distributors and Dispatchers Sewer Cleaner Construction Workers Crane and Tower Operators Electrical Power line Installers Water and Liquid Waste Treatment Plant Operators Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians Pest Control Workers Garbage/ Waste Collectors Firefighters Heavy Vehicle and Mobile Equipment Service Technicians and Mechanics Brickmasons, Bockmasons and Stonemasons Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipe Fitters and Steamfitters Mining Machine Operators Roofers Structural Iron and Steel Workers

% 99% 99.8% 96.5% 99.2% 97% 94.8% 98% 97.4% 93% 97% 99.5% 99.5% 98.6% 98.5% 98.3% 98%

*The percentage of men in each profession as well as a debate and study from The Agenda by Steve Paikin - Singing the Masculinity Blues. USA and Canadian figures.

Where are the female voices that occupy the stages to highlight this disparity in representation in the work place? Why are the lobbyists and flag-bearers not championing this inequality to redress the balance? Why the silence? Have a quiet word with yourselves, where no one is listening or are able to chal-

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lenge you; and be honest. Be truly honest with the answer to this question. Shall I start? I believe, no one (female) cares to be represented at the other end of the spectrum. Granted, vital roles and tasks are being carried out at that level to help with the everyday functions of a society, but such roles do not have that adulation or joie de vivre that comes with a C-Level position. Unfortunately, such roles don’t get the kind of perks or recognition we care to publicly cherish. So my conclusion to this is that there is a need for status, approbation, grandeur, control even and therefore a major fight is presented in the female corner for it. So that begs the question, what does gender equality really mean? As part of my series of #Andme - the real gender equality that is being sought, I had a conversation with Ruedi and his coworker Nils. I could have spoken with Ruedi for hours. There was a lot more to our conversation than what has been drafted here in this article. However, his succinct points and thoughts are captured below. Ruedi is a construction worker and I wanted to know about his dayto-day activities, work colleagues and the gender mix in his work place; the role he undertakes and his view (as well as his colleagues) on equality in the workplace at his level. They knew or thought it was obvious why women were not visible or represented in their or similar line of work; and importantly, why women were not complaining at the fact. They even questioned the legitimacy of my enquiry and interview. To Ruedi and even Nils, it was a ‘non-article’ a ‘non-story’. Everybody knows and nobody cares. On this gender equality journey we are all on, is that right? Is this truly fair? Why are we women not lobbying to be fully represented at the lower end of the career ladder as much as the top? The thing that surprised me about it all was that it was a known fact to the men in these positions and they, similarly to women, understand the need for women to be represented at the top level. With my discussion with Ruedi, I wasn’t getting a further understanding of the gender equality debate, instead I got a sense of them being programmed - perhaps from birth - to ‘look after women’ therefore “if they want representation at the top, let them have it” his quote. But he and others in his camp were ok with them NOT being represented in his world and line of work. I wasn’t sure if this was a Swiss trait , a sense of protecting the women. So, I discussed this with British counterparts in a similar field on my recent visit to the UK. Elliot - a road repair merchant - had a similar attitude. He felt such work was way too dangerous for women and in turn dangerous for him and his colleagues and it would be better if they were not represented at that level. He shrugged his shoulders to indicate ‘yes’ for women to have representation at the top level. Interesting. This subject was taking a turn for the difference. I thought there would be bitterness about the disparity between women voicing the need to be represented at the top and their silence for representation at the bottom. It was clear - no, women shouldn’t be represented at our level for safety reasons and yes, if women feel the need to be represented at the top, then that must be so. Was that bit for my benefit because they were being interviewed and photographed by a woman? I don’t know and I don’t want to guess. Let’s just take their word for it. What another eye opener for me! In my quest to highlight gender inequalities at the other end of the spectrum, I found myself with admiration for the men in those positions rather than, dare I say it, pity. Despite the fact of the blatant and obvious lack of representation of women, they were content and even as so far as to say protective and felt that their jobs were far too dangerous to have women involved at their level. Is this a generational thing? And that perhaps men of tomorrow will think and behave differently. I don’t think it was the ‘manage the little lady’ syndrome I was witnessing. It was fear. Genuine fear. Fear for themselves and fear for any women who would be involved in such, sometimes treacherous, work.

Elaine Pringle-Schwitter A dual British/Swiss citizen, Elaine is an award winning photojournalist and a cinematographer whose photographs have been published in numerous major newspapers and magazines. She has spent two decades in the corporate world at senior management level and now works with MTN Press on collaborations in the Swiss Region.

In some ways it adds to the complexity of reaching the utopia of gender equality. When men, whether it is in their DNA or not, still feel a need to protect women or be the protector and the one that put themselves in harms way even when the very group they are protecting are not requesting equality of responsibilities and risk; but rather demanding positions in the higher echelons of society, industry, law and politics. Is it really fair to only fight for equality at one end of the spectrum? Equality means making a deal to have equal outcomes right? Favourable and adverse. Take the rewards with the punishments. Spoils with losses. Perks with parallel obligations, ergo real equality. This is one for further discussion, but a very interesting and unexpected outcome. How complicated the quest for equality is.

Sovereign Magazine of the Queen bee(s). For many years, I was a worker bee, and I look at those years as being the foundation – the skills-building and experience-building years - which gave me both the knowledge and courage to start my own firm. I have a wonderful business partner, and having a partner makes it a bit less daunting, as you have someone trusted to give you an alternate perspective, validate your decisions, and who has your back through the ebbs and flows of business growth. I find the challenge and excitement to be in the strategy-building, the generation of value, and the ability to rethink our client’s business models and/or approaches, as well as to help facilitate investments that will generate stronger-thanaverage returns for our clients. I don’t aspire to be better than everyone else. I aspire to be DIFFERENT from everyone else. I don’t want to compete with other consulting companies, rather, I forge my own niche and business strategies, allowing me to offer value to clients that cannot be delivered in the same manner or with the same results, by competitors.

n ancient mythology, the Phoenix was a brilliantly-coloured bird of unimaginable beauty and splendour that would brighten the skies with hues of gold, red and purple. It’s story is famous the world-over and the Phoenix itself is synonymous with rebirth, regeneration and the ability to rise from the ashes. So it is fitting that Larisa Miller chose to name her company Phoenix Global. As she says, in her interview with us below: ‘...if I make a mess of today, I forgive myself and start again with the sunrise. No one is going to build my dream, except me.’ Phoenix Global specialises in both domestic and international business development, technology, project management, strategy and sustainability. They recognise the possibilities for growth in emerging economies and seek to foster opportunities and investment in these regions, allowing them to rise up and reach their own potential. From her childhood growing up in the beautiful, agrarian landscapes of Pennsylvania, where she was encouraged to think critically and always think through a multiplicity of perspectives, Larisa Miller has always fostered a creative, entrepreneurial spirit. From her work with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to her role working for the Royal Family in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, she has sought to bring this diversity of thought and variety of perspective to others through educational outreach projects, gender equality campaigns and prioritising technological innovation. Larisa places a strong emphasis on paying attention to the world, to not letting opportunities, people or events pass us by. As entrepreneurs, it can often be easy for us to become blinkered or have a pinpoint focus on one particular area. Larisa believes that it is through paying attention that our best and most compelling ideas will come, that we will meet the most life-changing people and, ultimately, change the world for the better. Like the Phoenix, we all have the chance to change and morph and breathe new life into something that can seem lost. Like the Phoenix we all have the ability to dazzle and regenerate and grow with each iteration of ourselves. Like the Phoenix and, like Larisa Miller herself, we can all learn how to pay attention, to see the world around us in all of its infinite complexity and rise to meet the challenges with each new sunrise.

Larisa, it is a pleasure to have you as the cover for this months edition of Sovereign. As a highly successful business owner, what can you tell us about your journey into entrepreneurship? While entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone, it is undoubtedly the right path for me. When you work for someone else, you are merely the vehicle which carries their ideas and vision to fruition – sometimes with a successful conclusion, and sometimes not. No matter how good your idea is, at the end of the day, you are merely the worker bee, executing the mandate

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We all have unexpected events in life which force us to reevaluate our futures, or events that throw us into a cyclone of change, derailing our carefully blueprinted plans. Not everyone is meant to be an entrepreneur, however, as long as you live your life in a way that will allow you to look back when you are in our 80’s with satisfaction rather than regret, then your life was lived in the way that was ‘right’ for you. For me, that means charging ahead into a daily abyss of uncertainty, sometimes having great success, and sometimes having monumental failures. But, if I make a mess of today, I forgive myself and start again with the sunrise. No one is going to build my dream, except me.

What was your “A-ha” moment, when you knew it was time to forge your own path? Living in Abu Dhabi, and in my mid-40’s, I found myself at a crossroads of impending change, both professionally and personally. With many doors to the past closing, I was faced with great uncertainty as to which path to follow to carry myself forward into a future where I could have more of a direct impact on the decision-making process, and where my vision and ideas would be respected and embraced. After a brief period of self-reflection and assessment, and with the support and encouragement of my business partner, I decided to start Phoenix Global. It would have been easy to take the comfortable route – accept a position in an established company where I would have a reliable paycheck, a set work week with a defined vacation allotment each year, and prescribed targets and responsibilities. But, with a great deal of courage (although, at times it felt more like insanity more than courage), I swallowed my fears, firmly resolved to pull up my bootstraps, and became an entrepreneur. The question I am most often asked by individuals desiring to start their own business is how can you be sure you will be able to find the opportunities and clients necessary to grow and sustain a new business, and the answer I give them is the same answer I give my children about life in general…PAY ATTENTION. Put down your phones and look up. Destiny will walk right by those who are too busy taking selfies. And in my case, this belief has been proven time and time again. Meeting the right people at the right time – and being present enough to recognize the potential importance of these individuals and the influence they will have on my pathways, decisions, and the opportunities – has been both a gift and providence. When life does an about-face and you find yourself at a crossroads of uncertainty about where to go, what to do, and how to do it, remember that you have the power to write each and every scene in your life, and that the people and opportunities which can potentially have the greatest impact on this script will often appear when least expected. But only if you are paying attention.

Can you tell us a bit more about your career beforehand? I started my career in the early 1990’s with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture as the assistant

Sovereign Magazine There is a strong emphasis on facilitating strategic investment in emerging economies. Why is it important to you that Phoenix Global really shines in this area?

ate of Texas, is one of the global leaders amongst nations, and I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to live and work there.

So, Phoenix Global was born, tell us what are the main areas your are focusing on? Phoenix Global is a consulting, investment and development company, facilitating strategic investment in beneficial markets, focusing mainly on developing and emerging economies. Specializing in business acceleration and growth, at Phoenix Global, we introduce and guide our private sector clients and investors toward opportunities for expansion and profitability in new markets around the world. Prioritizing technology, recognizing that technology will be the nucleus of all sectors moving into the future - agriculture, energy, transportation, finance, government, etc., we align with governmental leaders, strategic partners and global technology companies to build large-scale technology parks which include data centers/data management, cybersecurity, blockchain, IoT, agri-tech, fintech, artificial intelligence, e-Government, and more. An important aspect of our technology parks is education and working with the national university(s) in the host countries of our parks, we will bring satellite campuses of major worldwide universities to provide the necessary education and training for the local workforce. We are always looking for compelling tech partners and companies, from large brands, to SME’s, micro-enterprises and entrepreneurs. The future of innovation is in the diversity of the concepts, ideas and inventions of companies and individuals around the world, and it is the union of the large companies with visionary small enterprises that makes our technology park strategy unique and compelling for investment. Our flagship technology park is in Skopje, North Macedonia, with additional parks planned for several additional countries, such as, Zambia, Slovenia and Ecuador. Presently, in tandem with our significant and influential global partners, and with major tech companies serving as anchor tenants, our Skopje Technology Park offers an attractive market for tech companies of all sizes to expand into a region of growth, value and innovation. Additionally, by offering value-based consulting to our public and private sector clients, our expert team works with clients to derive and implement innovative strategies such as, improved operational efficiency, revitalization of business models, and the incorporation of organizational plans of sustainability – all of which lead to quantifiable growth and profitability, giving our clients competitive advantage in the marketplace.

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During my years in the Middle East, I spent considerable time visiting refugee camps in Jordan, Iraq and Yemen, as well as rural areas of Africa, where they struggle with abject energy poverty and the lack of access to quality education and employment. I began to conceptualise strategies that could be implemented in these countries to support nation-building through innovative growth and progressive development – and now, at Phoenix Global, a great deal of our business strategy is structured around introducing the compelling opportunities in these countries to global businesses and investors. Instead of seeing these struggling economies as countries filled with challenges, I see potential – economically and socially. We study the environment – the education system, the infrastructure, energy, agriculture and technological potential, analyzing the value and facilitating the process of bringing significant development partners to these nations. This was the vision and concept for a business that was planted in my mind, long before Phoenix Global began to sprout. And now, as the impact of Phoenix Global is felt in over 14 countries, across 4 continents, the personal reward that I receive from watching the economic, social and environmental metamorphosis in these nations, stemming from projects and development introduced by Phoenix Global, makes the challenges of being an entrepreneur worthwhile and gratifying.

What would you say is the most profound impact Phoenix Global can make as a result? The most fragile nations – the ones struggling to overcome systemic problems that the developed nations take for granted, often offer the most outstanding investment potential. It is gratifying to facilitate investment that helps provide access to energy, improved infrastructure, cuttingedge agricultural techniques, the introduction of technological innovation – and the educational and entrepreneurial opportunities that accompany this growth potential, allowing developing and emerging nations to transform into a regional vanguards of progress and potential. This also paves the way for strong medium and long-term returns for investors, essentially making them stakeholders in the emergence and growth of these developing nations. We have a collective responsibly to work together to impact the triple bottom line - people, planet and profit, as we move into the transformation era of digitization, technology and sustainability. By strategizing future growth around the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, recognizing that we are all stewards of our planet, Phoenix Global has joined the Sustainable Development Goals Partnership Platform, professing our commitment to using these 17 goals, and the 169 targets contained within these goals, as a blueprint for develo9pment and responsible global stewardship. As governments, businesses, and investors look to grow their portfolios through sustainable impact, our team at Phoenix Global prioritizes the mandatory merger between sustainability and industry. It can’t be us against each other, rather, it has to be all of us united against the problem.

It is undeniable that you have a huge passion for the work Phoenix Global does and the projects you are undertaking. With that in mind, what would you say is the best thing about your job? I have to answer this question from two decidedly different angles – professionally and personally. The professional side of me – the CEO, is inspired and gratified when I see a company or government embrace my strategies, realizing measurable benefit to their efficiency, profitability or growth. Personally, the most rewarding aspect of my job is having the ability to serve as a role model to young women who are entering the job force or climbing the corporate ladder. Mentoring and motivating young women as they follow their individual career paths, I endeavor to encourage them to think of themselves simply as professionals – not as ‘female’ professionals. We are all one. We are all worthy of our opinions, perspectives and aspirations. I try to live by example, helping these young women to embrace their talents and skills without trying to BE what others expect them to be.

17 LARISA AT A SYRIAN/IRAQI REFUGEE CAMP IN MOSUL, IRAQ.

Sovereign Magazine

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LARISA WITH THE TRIBAL CHIEFTEST, AND HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS NEAR MUMBWA, ZAMBIA .

When I can inspire a young woman to have the confidence to live her dreams, writing HER story HER way; helping her to have the courage to take the proverbial road less travelled, sometimes defying the expectations of others; and, helping her to climb the corporate ladder with fearless determination and confidence, I have immense pride of accomplishment. When young women embrace their own individual style, not being afraid to show their personalities and emotions – empowering them to have the self-assurance to recognize that they are just as capable and worthy of success as their peers and colleagues, we move closer and closer to a corporate world where there is no delineation between men and women. It is not a competition between the sexes, and it is not a gender-based race to the top. As we adopt the Sustainable Development Goals as the foundation for the future, and as we embrace gender balance as a critical component of a sustainable business strategy, we will then own a future where the corporate culture is fully based on inclusion and unity.

Of course, we have to realise that no matter how much you enjoy and believe in what you do, there will always be challenges. What would you say has been your biggest so far? As an entrepreneur and head of a global company, I know first-hand the struggle, the anxiety and the loneliness that entrepreneurs experience in their business journey. The pace can be gruelling, and some days there are far more noes than there are yeses. For entrepreneurs – regardless of what type of business you own, there are moments of selfdoubt, and at times, an overwhelming desire to quit. But, if you set the grandest goal you have for yourself, no matter how difficult, far away, or unattainable it may be, and then set achievable benchmarks along the way to this grand goal, you will use those benchmarks as your measures of achievement. This way, you’ll always see forward progress – you’ll always realize success along the way to your goals, and you’ll find that you are not as overwhelmed, discouraged, or tempted to wave the white flag of surrender. If you constantly have measurable, achievable accomplishments on your entrepreneurial journey, and if you resist the urge to quit when the challenges seem to outweigh the rewards, you’ll be unstoppable.

I always like to say “Failure is the price of success”, I think it’s something all entrepreneurs can understand and as you say, if you resist the urge to quit when it’s though then undoubtedly rewards will follow. With that in mind, what have been the more satisfying moments of being an entrepreneur for you? This may sound like a very contrived and predictable answer, but quite honestly, there have been many satisfying moments. If business could be defined simply by one or two satisfying moments, it wouldn’t be very successful, and likely would not be a business that’s ‘in business’ for long. Some of the satisfying moments for me with Phoenix Global were when I finally took the leap of faith and successfully registered the business; when my partner and I decided on our logo; our first client; each time we add a new country to our investment and development portfolio; and anytime we can make a quantifiable impact on youth, on businesses, on clients, and on nations.

It’s interesting you mention the points right at the beginning, getting the businesses registered, getting the logo and branding sorted... It’s always an existing first step of what we entrepreneurs hope will be a life long journey. I wonder, what what would be your one piece of advise for someone just starting out? Being an entrepreneur is the most challenging – and most rewarding undertaking you can take in your career-life. You’ll have great successes, and not-so-great failures. Do not be afraid to fail. Failure is one of the necessary stepping-stones of life. Follow your endeavors through to the end – sometimes the end is bitter, and sometimes sweet, but each conclusion you reach will leave you stronger that you were at inception.

Follow your dreams, but do not be afraid to change those dreams. As you grow and mature, so will your hopes, goals and aspirations. Life is unpredictable, and ever changing. Be brave enough to change with it. Be strong in your convictions, even if those convictions are contrary to popular opinion. Do not be afraid to swim against the current. The right path for you may not always be the popular path. Make a decision, believe in that decision, and follow it through to the end – regardless of the outcome. Be resolute and do not quit. Do not doubt yourself. YOU are the one person with whom you can have complete trust. Make mistakes. Mistakes are as much a part of life as successes, and they often teach you the largest, most important lessons. Finally, always, always be kind.

You mention mistakes are as much a part of life as success is but what does success mean to you personally? Depending on which aspect of life you are defining, the definition of success will be different. But the common denominator for both personal and professional success comes from the legacy you leave. In my opinion, success is achieved when you make a lasting impact on people, or on the environment. Endeavor to make a difference to just one person in your entire lifetime. If you can change just ONE person’s life, you will have an ancillary impact on millions, as by changing the life of that one person, you will change the life for every one of their descendants for generations to come. The ideal would be to commit to making a positive impact on as many people as possible throughout your lifetime, but if you one truly can change the life of just ONE person, your life will be a success. The ‘things’ you acquire – the size of the home you live in, the car you drive, the watch you wear, are all ‘pats on the back’ for your achievements, but these are not the measures which will define your legacy, as rarely will people remember what kind of watch you had. It’s not the job promotions that you earn, the height of the corporate ladder you climb, or the clients you sign that will define your success in life. Yes, these are all signs of your abilities, skills and accomplishments, but success comes from selfless acts of kindness. This can be as simple as giving someone a hug, or taking the time to get to know their story, or it can be as magnanimous as giving a child without the means a chance at an education, or helping a woman to support her family by turning her skills into an entrepreneurial opportunity. The more people you take the time to help, the more people who will be touched by your legacy, and your legacy is your success.

Larisa, it has been a pleasure! Before we wrap this up, can you tell us, what is next for Phoenix Global and your personally? For Phoenix Global, our primary focus moving forward is to use our global exposure and experience to continue to help companies – domestically and internationally, to expand and develop their businesses in new markets, as well as to continue to work with clients to revitalize their business models to make them more profitable, competitive and compelling as we move into the vibrant and dynamic future of technology, sustainability and responsible competitiveness. It is very rewarding to be able to help companies go from merely surviving to thriving. As for what is ahead for me personally, I am optimistic that good things lie ahead, and while it’s difficult to foresee, the mystery is part of the excitement. My children, of whom I am so proud, are taking their steps into adulthood, and it is an honor for me to watch and mentor them as their futures takes shape. As I enter a new phase of my life, I am blessed to be facing the future with the support of my family, good friends and trusted partners, and with this support, the future is a journey of awesome possibilities.

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Learn to Move Mountains Write a new story of hope and action Sponsored by Lemania-Verbier International School. To find out more visit www.lvis.ch for more information.

W planet.

ith winter sports and seasonal festivals upon us, perhaps there are different ways to consume and do business, to respond to the global call to action on preserving and protecting the

There is hope. All summer, young people globally have been striking and marching. I see an abundance of creativity for developing different, better, bolder solutions in my work with youth, educators and entrepreneurs, as we capacity-build skills to imagine, design and create a new future. It is a narrative of action. At the UN Climate Summit in New York in September 2019, initiatives were launched by governments and businesses who understand the positive economic benefits for taking action. The World Economic Forum’s Mission Possible Platform is working with public and private sector to support transition to green-tech in carbon-intensive industries. It is crystal clear that children and youth want us to reflect on how we do business. They want to know, “How do your products or services contribute to the flourishing of people and planet? Do they? How could they be better?”

This winter, how will you take care of the land you stand on? Opening up to innovate new solutions, means changing perspective. One of the ways to do this is to play a little. This winter, what land will you stand on? 11th December is International Mountain Day, so if you’re winter-sporting, show some care for these giants of the planetary cooling system. And what story will the land you stand on speak of, about how it has been cared for since time began? What tale will it tell, of how you are caring for it now? What dreams have gone before? This literal ‘grounding’ through storytelling is a cultural perspective that features as a key element in wellbeing indices, such as the Bhutan Gross National Happiness Index. We flourish through telling stories that connect us to the land we stand on. In the summer, I was at one of my best friend’s kiddo’s 4th birthday party in the forest. Other than wishing I was standing there in an extravagant outfit that only a 4 year can put together…all wellies, superhero capes and ra-ra skirts, I was imagining these children’s laughter soaking into the ground we were on and wondering what stories that space would tell in the future.

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What land will you stand on in 2031? When we steward the ground that we stand one, feel connected to it and see ourselves as responsible for it, we create the space for new paths to unfold. Taking this route to innovation opens up many, many ways to march. You are part of this business ecosystem, so what lands are your products and services standing on? Which places do they impact? Who lives there? Imagine your business in 2031 – the year after we planned to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). What does the world look like if you designed your solutions with flourishing of people and planet in mind? What does the world look like if didn’t? When we clean up the space that we’re in, we are gifted an opportunity to write new legends which tell of courageous deeds, about the day, “we cleaned up the land.” We make room for new truths which empower new voices. I heard Prof. Dr. Thomas Crowther’s inspirational talk at TEDx Lausanne about the Crowther Lab’s projects on soil, trees and cooling cities, bringing nature and science together to generate social and economic solutions.

Bringing your business values to life These new perspectives of the land you stand on, directly link to your business values and how you practice them in the day to day running of your business. Dust off your organisation’s values and drag them into the daylight. Is ‘love for the planet’ one of them? I’m guessing no. And yet, this is the ground zero of your creativity, in turn opening up your best capacity to take risks with incredible, real, disruptive innovation. What if it was? Looking through this lens, you gather your courage to explore and create your best solution. You can’t look away from the impact further down the line on people or planet. You are forced to keep coming back to designing around flourishing. In Love Letter to the Earth, Thich Naht Hanh writes: “We are a living, breathing manifestation of this beautiful and generous planet. Knowing this, we can begin to transform our relationship to the Earth…We will fall completely in love with the Earth.” Ever one to find a way to add in a Star Wars reference, and slightly beside myself with excitement with this December’s new instalment, imagine ‘it was a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…’ what legend do you want to tell about the future of this pale blue dot? What story do you want to unfold about the land you stand on? How will you take action in your business?

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To distinguish between an investment and a gamble. In business we know that decisions are made on an assessment of cost and benefit, but almost always there is some guesswork and assumptions involved. Is there such a thing as a sure bet? It is usually not a yes-or-no, black-or-white situation. How do you know when you are making an investment in an anticipated outcome? How do you know when you are making a gamble on a hopeful outcome? There is always risk involved. Every entrepreneur will tell you that sometimes you have to take a leap of faith that sometimes will pay off and often times it will not. Itâ€™s part of the game of entrepreneurship. What is important is to be aware of whether you are entering into an investment or a gamble, and that depends on the level of confidence you have in the research and due diligence performed.

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To distinguish between when to forge ahead and when to change tack. Many ventures will be fraught with challenges. It is laudable to stay the course. We all know of extremely successful business people who have eventually succeeded after long periods of hardship simply because they stayed true to their vision and made it eventually. Sometimes the smartest decision to make is to change the plan, but what is the right time to do that? How soon is too soon to adjust the plan? Does it feel like giving up? The answers to these questions are situationspecific but they need to be asked. In business it is important to be crystal clear on the vision and objectives you wish to achieve, but not be too stuck on the plan of how to get there. We need to be constantly reviewing the outcomes and willing to make adjustments, if and when the time is right.

To distinguish between healthy diversity and an ill-fitting team. Diversity is so important if you want to have a strong, innovative team. Having a team comprised of different experiences, perspectives, representation and skills is the right set of ingredients for success. Creative abrasion leads to breakthrough ideas, if the conditions, culture and leadership is geared to foster such an environment. But diversity is not the same as being different. Not all competition is healthy, just as abrasion can be creative or it can be destructive. How do you tell the difference? And how do you design your teams with the right kind of diversity that propels the business forward and avoids having a group of people who undermine success because of the challenges of their differences?

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The key to good business is the ability to make the right decisions at the right time. There is no magic formula to being able to do this, but developing a strong ability to discern is the closest thing to having a compass to guide leaders through volumes of information and distractions.

Brigitte Lawler Brigitte Lawler is an international speaker, bestselling author, founder and CEO of LEGEND SA. She is on a mission to bring inspired ideas to life by building businesses that matter and thrive in this new economy. The need for innovation in business is more important than ever, and LEGEND ensures your business remains relevant in todayâ€™s modern landscape.

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Mind Over Matter WELLNESS

Penney Megginson is Pioneering a New Approach to the Mind-Body Connection | By Alexis Boddy

he world of business is a rewarding, fast-paced, exciting arena but one that can also bring with it stress and anxiety for many. With a recent report stating that 83% of US-workers are suffering from work-related stress, there are many factors, such as travel and subsequent jet lag, that can cause people to become anxious and disconnected from their own psychological and physical wellbeing. Solutions are often short-sighted, with a lack of holistic awareness for each personâ€™s unique interactions with the world. Enter Penney Megginson, who is pioneering a new approach to physical and mental health that hopes to bring different approaches together to provide a holistic, connected response to the unique challenges of each person. We caught up with her to find out more about this innovative, life-changing approach.

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Tell us more about your background. I trained as a physiotherapist and Pilates and yoga instructor initially and also worked as a personal trainer and nutritionist. I have a Master of Science in Physiotherapy and a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology from the University of Miami. Iâ€™ve trained with Brent Anderson from Polestar Pilates, various gurus in Astanga, Vinyasa and Yin Yoga. I am also trained in EFT and Matrix Reimprinting under Founding Master Karl Dawson and qualified as a Health Coach through Integrative Nutrition. I produced two fitness DVDs "Skilates - Pilates for Skiing" and "Trilates -Yoga and Pilates for Triathletes" both filmed in Verbier Switzerland. I was training for an intensely demanding ski touring race, called the Patrouille des Glaciers from Zermatt to Verbier, when I fell and tore my ACL knee ligament. My experience

ADVERTISEMENT with medical professionals after that injury inspired me to create the Megginson Method.

What was your experience with those medical professionals? I was amazed that the foremost response of every doctor I saw was to prescribe medications and advise surgery, with little-to-no appreciation for my own experience or preferences. I found it hugely debilitating and depressing to not only have this injury impede what I wanted to achieve but to also feel like I was disenfranchised in my own recovery.

How did you get through it? My own strength of mind and using everything I had learned during my life so far, with respect to certain neuro-strategies. I was able to use all of this knowledge to heal naturally, avoiding pain medications and surgery. From my experiences with clients, I had already seen that conventional medicine was failing people who had unexplained symptoms, anxiety and chronic pain. The more I listened to my clients, the more I saw that many of them had suffered from stress and even serious trauma. People were struggling with pain and injuries and also engaging in self-sabotaging behaviours and bad habits that they didn’t seem to know how to change. Most needed a new approach to healing, like the one I had adopted personally during my own recovery. I knew at that moment that I had to share my knowledge and experiences with the world.

How did you go about doing that? I decided that there needed to be a different approach to healing that aspired to wellness, not just treating the surface problem or illness. I knew there needed to be a fusion of neuro strategies and modern medicine, in a new, transformative way. I used a combination of techniques, such as specialised breathing patterns, combined with visualisation and tapping techniques to remove negative emotions and baggage from the past. And so, the Megginson Method was born. After my own experience, it probably took me another year of putting everything together, including online courses, downloads and videos, to begin teaching it to both my clients and, ultimately, other medical and health professionals. I built online programmes for dealing with chronic pain, jetlag, increasing sleep, decreasing stress and more. I was seeing a few clients during this time, utilising what I had learned with them and getting great results, which encouraged me to continue.

that they need to be focused 100% of the time, have difficulty getting enough sleep or managing stress. Jetlag can be debilitating and for business professionals who travel a lot it can be really hard to find balance in their lives. Managing extensive travel and different time zones can lead to chronic fatigue, stress and other mental health difficulties. Our strategies allow people to incorporate small changes to their daily routine, that they can do anywhere, when they’re on the go, at their computer in the office, sitting on their flights or in hotel rooms, rather than a one-off solution that has no long-term benefits. The great thing about a combination of elements means that people can find what really works for them, rather than seeking out an unrealistic panacea. The effects are dramatic, from increased energy levels to better resilience and overcoming chronic pain. It is a holistic lifestyle change that has real, practical results.

What are the techniques themselves? We put the emphasis on mind over matter; that the mind has a strong, inextricable influence over the body. It’s a combination of many elements and it will depend on what the person is using it for. For example, a technique we use to help people who are suffering with chronic pain is to visualise their pain, to imagine what it looks like. Then we ask them to actually see it leaving the body, in combination with mindfulness and breathing techniques. I think ultimately what makes the techniques so effective is that they are individualised for each person, with some preferring the visualisation techniques and others preferring guided meditations or mindfulness more helpful. Each person finds their own unique combination of elements that works for them. This, and the fact that they are simple quick exercises that people can easily incorporate into their daily lives, make them appealing and achievable for most people, especially business professionals, who maybe wouldn’t be able to go to a specific class at a specific time. People automatically feel like they are getting better sleep, feeling more relaxed, less anxious and improving other health conditions. For travellers, they find added benefits like their neck and back pain has gone, for example. Men and women both find it useful and I think men particularly find it helpful because, unlike women who are probably more likely to go to a yoga or meditation class, they appreciate its simplicity and its ability to be integrated into daily routines.

Where do you see the business heading?

What can you help people with? Everyone can benefit but it is also especially useful for those who travel a lot, who find

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TRY IT YOURSELF DEEP BELLY BREATHING FOR INSTANT DE-STRESS

A simple technique everyone can do anywhere at anytime to start lowering stress levels instantly. The tip is to learn to override the trigger of stress. The quickest solution is to breathe deeply into the belly to stimulate the vagus nerve which kicks on the parasympathetic nervous system. The parasympathetic nervous system slows down the Heart rate, blood pressure and is what is considered â€œrelaxationâ€? mode. How do we do this? Place one hand over your heart and one hand over your belly. Breathe into the hand on your belly and feel the belly rise and fall with each breath. Aim to have no movement of the hand over your heart. Now try to breathe in for a count of 8 and breathe out for a count of 10. Repeat this 10 times and notice how you feel dramatically more calm. Once you try this a few times, you will be able to do with the hands so that you can do it anywhere without being noticed. Then, you will have this simple tool to instantly calm yourself whenever you are triggered by a stressful situation. You can also add breathing in a feeling of calm and breathing out the stress. Feel the stress leaving your body with each exhalation.

Need a Powerful Restart? Try the

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WELLNESS

Healing & The Modern Business Man A remarkable story of a businessman turned healer. Douglas Ballard discovered from a young age that he had an extraordinary healing touch. Despite challenging doubts from family, friends and the business community, Douglas became a full-time healer as his downto-earth approach of ‘Energy-based’ healing was welcomed across the World with remarkable success.

n today’s world, the principle thrust of medical treatment is mainly pharmacology-led. Sheer volume of patients, extending age and change of lifestyle amongst the young is placing unbelievable pressures on healthcare. Cost limitations in general practice restrict treatments on offer by the NHS, prescription pads abound, advertising suggests we ‘beat’ the illness or indeed ‘kill it’ and appeals for research funding which is fed back into the pharmacological wheel. Illness is often seen as an enemy rather that the body and mind giving warning signs or processing trauma. Credence is given largely to evidence-based trials and unexplained improvement is usually demoted to the level of wishful thinking and placebo. Thought though, is shifting fundamentally and recent comment from the heads of UK general practice have suggested that doctors will start to consider ‘gut-ecology’ as an adjunct to their reliance on blood tests as their primary form of prognosis. A step towards recognising the role of nutrition and well-being. Yet, this still relies on biochemical analysis as the entry point of their thinking and the final point of their treatment, yet again with pharmacology, plus perhaps surgery. The role of physiotherapy is recognised but all these approaches virtually ignore the role of emotion, stress and life management as an approach to illness and well-being.

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So, what realistic alternatives exist as we can be confronted with major illness and lesser acute and chronic ailments as they can tip the balance in our lives, particularly if the mind and body are on stress overload in this ‘24/7 never-away-from-a-screen’ society? Alternative and complimentary medicine (CAM) is treated with considerable scepticism and, if it works, a typical medical response, ‘well if it works for you’ is often the answer when positive results are given (strange though that a High Street today is rarely without an osteopath, chiropractors or acupuncturist). Mainstream complimentary medicine is gaining ground in acceptance as conventional medicine does not have all the answers. Understanding the role and acceptance of CAM demands though, that we step out of understanding illness and recovery though the eyes of a chemist and view it through the scope of ourselves as energetic beings. Humans are literally bundles of energy manifest in physical form. The greatest of our scientists Sir Isaac Newton, in his famous three Laws of Motion, posits that ‘energy never dies, it just changes form (potential energy to kinetic and vice versa). In this sense, we have always been and always will be as energetic forms of Life but at this point in human form. It is our connection with the core of energy that matters. The celebrated engineer and futurist Nikola Tesla (credited with the creation of the modern alternating electrical supply) said: “The day science begins to study non-physical phenomena, it will make more progress in one decade than in all the previous centuries of its existence.” Tesla also postulated: “If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration.” Thought energy varies constantly, consciousness and unconsciousness attention of self and our environment, all processing all the time. As humans, we are extremely sensitive to emotions and big changes in emotional levels or events ranging in moments from love, sexual passion, hate, fear anxiety as the mind and body tries to predict outcomes of our next actions, weeks, months and years ahead. Trauma comes in huge (moving home, divorce, relationship change, finance, work) and small shock in our daily moments (any traveller tracking their wallet, tickets, money, children and luggage can testify to that!) and we store that shock (often as physical and emotional blockages) repeatedly, finally manifest in physical and mental unwellness. We need help in dealing with both the symptoms and causes of this intense life journey. We need help on many different levels some of which have been ignored in the urgency and need to deal with mass illness, the micro-sensitivities of the individual are forgotten and so essential to good health and happiness. So, feet on the ground, how does this help us in our moments of need? Energy-based healing has been endemic in diverse cultures around the World for millennia. Some 30,000 years ago with the aborigines, energy meridians and acupuncture China, Ayurvedic medicine in India, ancient art of Egyptian energy healing, shamanic healing in Red Indian culture, South American healers, all with evidence pointing to over 5,000 years ago. Over the ages, there have been incredible healers with a gifted personal touch and the Bible is full of these stories. So, what you may say is the role of a healer in today’s society, is it a dying ancient art, and how seriously should we take it, and does it work? Douglas Ballard talks simply about energy-based healing. No spirits, no voices, no religion, simply connecting with Universal Energy of which we are all part. Life is totally connected, he maintains, like the unseen mycelia connecting mushrooms and fungi as they grow, we are all part of the fabric of Life as a whole. Ballard comments, ‘the fact that it works is not enough for some

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The day science begins to study non-physical phenomena,

it will make more progress in one decade than in all the previous centuries of its existence.

“Douglas Ballard has helped me with a severe back injury. I had been in pain for months with a prolapse disc. I had tried physiotherapy and acupuncture, but nothing was resolving my pain. I work as the UK Director of Harley Street healthcare with world leading doctors but none could not find an answer to this problem. I could hardly stand up or sit down and Douglas was my last resort as I had tried everything else. The session began and within 10 minutes of the healing I could feel very strong energy running through my body to the point where my body was twitching. It was a life changing experience. The session lasted for an hour and ended with Douglas saying please now stand up slowly. I did so and he asked me how I felt. To my amazement after months of suffering and chronic pain I could move freely again without any pain. I still cannot understand how he did it but this is why this world leading healer achieves miracles for so many people in so many countries.” James Walton UK Director, Harley Street Healthcare Ltd

people’. ‘We often create a whole mystery and culture around simple things in life and healers have always been around in all cultures around the world throughout time’. He maintains that a true healer is flexible to the situation and will work alone or in conjunction with conventional medical practice. He adds, “I help many people deal with the horrible side-effects of chemotherapy which can be totally energy-draining. Having a good energy is essential for long-lasting health and happiness, but it is a real challenge in our high-pressure lives”. But what if it is so simple that in the ‘Great Plan of Life’ we have people that can heal naturally? Ballard comments that healing is a natural part of the human condition and that many of us have the potential to heal others, rather like we all have the potential to play the piano or sing, just a very few though, have the ability to be a concert pianist or a diva. Ballard likens his skills to that of the concert pianist of healing with a very special touch.

“Douglas is a wonderful healer. I am a Director of Elite Talent in London managing Celebrities and the job can be very demanding sometimes causing considerable anxiety. The initial session lasted a few hours talking about what I wanted from his healing session and how he could help me; the healing itself lasted about an hour and I felt like I was floating on air when I left the session. I was hooked, I came home and slept for 12 hours solid and felt like a new woman the following day. My anxiety had lifted and I no longer felt stressed and ready to take on the world. I see Douglas weekly for healing to keep my energy levels high. Not only is Douglas a wonderful healer he gives great advice on any problems you may have, he also became a friend and is a genuinely nice guy. I am recommending all of my clients to see Douglas so they can also benefit from his ‘gift’.” Kirsty Reilly Director, Elite Talent

Douglas Ballard came from a humble background in the post-war era; he worked his way up the management ladder to run a substantial company and was chairman of the UK lighting federation. His story began whilst on holiday skiing in Nevada, when he felt inwardly compelled to approach a lady who had been suffering from severe neck pain for the passed twenty-five years. After placing his hands on her neck, she was out of pain and remained that way. It stunned him and his slightly embarrassed holiday companions and began his journey as a healer. At first it was confusing but as he learnt more about channelling this Higher Intelligent Energy it all started to make sense. Travelling from country to country, Douglas created a portfolio of international clients and practice locations, showing that he is indeed the ‘concert pianist’ of healers, and unlike any other. The variety of his work and application to many different situations is evidence alone of his efficacy ranging from alleviating pain in a dental practice in Portugal, to a leading ballerina that travels all the way from Japan, autistic children and many over-worked and stressed businessmen with anxiety, asthma, heart, cancer and stress-related illness. Douglas works by laying his hands gently on your shoulders and then maybe moving around the body guided by an ‘Intelligent Energy’. Some feel a very powerful sense of relaxation, almost overpowering, others a very gentle clarity that emerges. It can take five days and a passage of treatments if a chronic illness. Ballard stresses that it is not ‘magic’ or ‘spiritual’, simply a pure connection with the Universal Energy of Life. For those whom are still sceptical, there is an increasing body of documented scientific studies in support of healing. Recent studies on Biofield Therapy and Reconnective Healing reveal a powerful recovery rate as an adjunct to cancer treatment, not only in patients but also the wellbeing of the oncology unit. In another study, touch therapies prove even more effective than physiotherapy in cancer treatment recovery, chronic pain and HIV treatment. The University of Northampton ‘Two meta-analyses of non-contact healing studies’ (2014) documented double blind tests discounting human variables with an adapted version of the SIGN50 scale (Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network – responsible for producing evidencebased clinical practice guidelines), using plant cells as a non-human test subject (so no influences by family, religion etc) to show a positive correlation with healing and the growth of plant cells. In simple terms, whether it is a biofield or magnetic touch influence, or something much greater that which we cannot understand with our intellect, nor possibly ever will, testimonials and case studies abound (www.douglasballard.com). Douglas Ballard is a very special person with a very unique healing touch and insight into peoples’ lives. He currently works in central London.

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If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration.

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DEVELOPING STRATEGIES UNLOCKING POTENTIAL DELIVERING RESULTS

Phoenix Global is a global boutique management consulting and investment firm, offering clients expert business development and consulting services and building global investment markets for our clients, offering them cross-border market expansion and solid investment opportunities in sectors such as, energy, technology, infrastructure, and agriculture, helping to ensure that our clients become leaders in the competitive marketplace.

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With a focus on technology, recognizing it as the nucleus of all sectors moving into the future, we serve as strategic partners in global technology parks, uniting all aspects (data centers, AI, blockchain, cybersecurity, IoT, robotics, etc.) into one comprehensive ecosystem. We create a favorable environment for business expansion for our technology partners, allowing them to reach new, compelling global markets, while realizing profitable and stress-free business expansion through the oversight of Phoenix Globalâ€™s expert business strategists.

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A Truly Bespoke Experience

A property refurbishment and construction service like no other...

hen we hear the word ‘bespoke,’ the first thing that usually comes to mind is a beautifully-fitted, Savile Row suit. In the days before mass-production, tailors would keep reams of cloth on their premises for their customers to choose from. Clients would pick the cloth they wanted and then that particular length would be put to one side and was said to ‘be spoken for.’ The term bespoke then became synonymous with a personalised product or service, unique to the individual and of the very highest quality. Stephen Collins, founder and CEO of Richemont Construction, has taken this concept of a bespoke service to a whole new level. His company specialises in luxury, highend property refurbishments and construction projects. When they take on a client, the project is, like the finest Savile Row suit, cut to their exact specifications, uniquely fitted to their requirements and delivered with impeccable, meticulous customer service. We spoke to Stephen, to discuss how his early prodigious work ethic and his background in property helped him spot a gap in the market and grow a business that offers a truly bespoke experience for each client. Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur? I grew up in Liverpool, in a large Victorian house that had 36 bedrooms. My family lived on the upper floor and the rooms on the lower floors were let out to students. I spent my mornings before school laying tables and serving breakfast to the students and would then do the same in

the evening. It was a normal part of life and it wasn’t until I started secondary school at the age of 11 that I realised my peers weren’t doing the same. So I had a strong work ethic from the very start and was inspired by my father, who had built a successful electrical contracting business, as well as a diverse property portfolio. During my formative years, I was involved in his work and always took a profound interest in it. So the decision to become an entrepreneur was always more of a natural, organic progression for me. That early work ethic and having my father as a role model meant that starting my own business was always on the cards. What did you do before starting your own business? I left school at 16 years old and joined the family business full-time. At the time, the business was a diverse, property-based group with assets ranging from children’s nurseries and nursing homes to restaurants to hotels. The Portfolio consisted of many character, heritage and listed buildings. The breadth and diversity of the types of property meant that I was able to grow and learn, building on my business and commercial acumen, as well as building up a strong foundation in property-related expertise. Before long, I was responsible for all aspects of the property management and maintenance for the family group, as well as handling construction issues. During this time, I learned a great deal about property, cultivated a multifaceted skill set and, most importantly, discovered a genuine passion for my work. In 1997 I made the decision to leave the family business and venture out on my own. As well as running my own building company, I was brought in as a Construction Project Management Consultant for some external clients. With my extensive knowledge and experience of property

ury homes that my company created for them. It’s a tangible, real feeling of achievement to move through all the stages - from the kernel of an idea, straight through to the finished property. It has its challenges. Sometimes a client will decide to make changes after the building work has started. Often, what they perceive as a minor change will have ramifications for the whole build sequence, or even require new planning or building regulation approval, for example. But I enjoy finding solutions for the client and I will always endeavour to find a way to deliver the project to their specifications. Part of the process is that continual dialogue between myself and the client, always finding ways to see their vision made real. My most satisfying moment so far was when we completed an extensive project for a foreign royal family, whom I cannot name for confidentiality reasons. It was a really noteworthy moment for me, to know that the company has achieved royal approval. Talk us through the process... I think the most vital thing to remember is that, when dealing with Richemont Construction, you are receiving a truly bespoke experience. Our ethos is to provide a superlative client experience, that, ultimately, we are there to offer a service that puts our client’s complete satisfaction as our number one priority. Each year, we only select a handful of projects, so that we can ensure our high standards and keep the client at the centre of everything we do.Quality not quantity. Our Project Development Team consists of all the requisite experts needed to deliver a project. This includes an accomplished team of architects, planning professionals, interior designers, building surveyors, structural engineers, party wall surveyors and MEP and IT/AV specialists. We pride ourselves on being able to take clients projects from inception, through the design and statutory approval / licensing stage, onward through the construction stage. Our Project Delivery Team consists of highly-experienced, professional tradespeople and a select team of dedicated, reliable, bona-fide sub-contractors. Each sub-contractor is a specialist in their respective, chosen field. development, construction, refurbishment and building management it was a “no brainer” to start my own business in this sector. So how did you come up with the idea for Richemont Construction? Around seven years ago, I was contracted to consult, advise and manage a luxury refurbishment project in central London for a high-net worth, overseas client. It was during this particular venture that I saw the gap in the market for specialist, high-end property refurbishment, that looks at the client’s holistic needs and provides a comprehensive strategy. I saw the enormous potential of this particular niche, and how my specific background, knowledge and skills would fit perfectly. From this, I began Richemont Construction as a consummate, unparalleled solution for luxury builds and refurbishments. All aspects of construction and refurbishment projects, from initial concept design and planning, right through to construction management could now be undertaken by just one company. Why do you enjoy what you do? The best thing about my job is the enormous sense of satisfaction I get from seeing satisfied clients living in the lux-

Our supply chain has been built up over many years amongst luxury fixture and fittings and finishing suppliers from all over the world. We bring all of these specialisms, all of this wealth of experience together. By managing the entire process, from start to finish, we can ensure that only the highest quality of build is delivered at completion. We are experts in refurbishment, renovation, conversion, extension and new build construction with the emphasis on heritage, character and listed buildings. We have completed projects as diverse as multi-level basement extensions to house a swimming pool, gym and cinema, to a top-floor extension, complete with retractable roof. Our clientele are predominantly UK and overseas ultra-high net worth individuals who desire the very best lifestyle and a property to match. How do you define success and what would be your advice for an aspiring entrepreneur? I am a committed family man and my greatest pleasure in life is spending time with my wife and five children. So, for me, I define success as having a sustainable business, that allows me to have a great work/life balance, good health and provide a comfortable lifestyle for my family My advice for an aspiring entrepreneur would be to never give up, always adopt a can-do attitude, believe in yourself and smile! Richemont Construction: Richemont is to high end, bespoke property refurbishment and construction, what a tailored Savile Row suit is to the very best quality store-bought version, however good the store-bought suit is, there really is no comparison between us and our competition. Specialising in the Super Prime residential sector, primarily (but not exclusively) in the upmarket areas of London, we are experts in refurbishment, renovation, conversion, extension and new build construction with the emphasis on heritage, character and listed buildings.

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Sovereign Magazine (Issue 23)