James Hutson: Dedicated To Driving Growth In Education Through XR And AI

James Hutson is a visionary educator and tech leader who has created equitable, engaging, and innovative learning experiences for over one and a half decades. As the Lead XR Disruptor at Lindenwood University, James empowers partners and clients through consultation on AI integration projects.

A Versatile Leader: Adapting and Growing

James’s journey at Lindenwood University began in 2010 with the mission to build and develop the undergraduate Art History program within the School of Fine and Performing Arts. His academic foundation lies in Studio Art and Art History, with degrees from the University of Tulsa and Southern Methodist University and a Ph.D. from the University of Maryland, College Park. These credentials enabled him to expand the Art History curriculum, transforming it into a comprehensive program recognized nationally for undergraduate and graduate study.

By 2016, James transitioned into more administrative roles, including Assistant Dean of Online and Graduate Programs. This marked a turning point as he gained significant exposure to business management and technology. He led the development of 25 new online degrees and certificates, several of which have received awards. This period also saw the creation of a graduate degree in Art History alongside programs in Game Design and Digital Marketing, integrating creativity with cutting-edge digital technologies.

In 2019, James took on the leadership of immersive realities (VR/AR) initiatives at Lindenwood, resulting in the establishment of the XR and Gaming Lab. This lab quickly became a hub for human-subject research focused on serious gaming, where their work informs both academic innovation and practical industry applications.

By 2021, James was appointed as the Lead XR Disruptor, expanding his success in VR to a broader range of AI initiatives. Currently, he is focused on integrating AI solutions across the campus, driving curriculum innovation, and leading conversations on AI’s transformative potential in academia and related industries. In addition to these roles, he serves as the Department Head of Art History and Visual Culture.

“The convergence of these roles has allowed me to build a unique perspective that blends art, technology, and leadership. My current objectives include positioning Lindenwood as a leader in human-centered AI programming while expanding our immersive realities research,” James says.

Fostering a Collaborative Culture

Fostering collaboration in a multidisciplinary environment requires creating an atmosphere of trust, open communication, and shared vision. James prioritizes cross-disciplinary partnerships, forming teams that blend diverse expertise—from AI and XR technical specialists to art history and pedagogy experts. His leadership philosophy revolves around empowering each team member, ensuring everyone feels valued for their unique contributions, and creating an environment where creativity and innovation can flourish.

“The XR and Gaming Lab is a perfect example of this approach. By ensuring that our lab is a space where people from diverse academic backgrounds can experiment and contribute, we create synergies that drive impactful outcomes. I focus on aligning our initiatives with broader academic goals while ensuring the work remains relevant to industry needs. This collaborative approach extends to partnering with external entities,” explains James.

Challenging Leadership Decisions in Leading the Immersive Arts and Culture Hub

James described one of the more complicated leadership decisions as balancing the need for rapid technological advancements with the ethical considerations inherent in immersive technologies. As the Immersive Arts and Culture Hub expanded, James and his team had to establish protocols that would ensure both academic freedom and adherence to ethical standards, especially in human-subject research. This challenge required navigating diverse viewpoints and stakeholder interests while maintaining the integrity of the research outputs. To address this, James spearheaded the development of a rigorous ethical framework and standardized procedures that all projects in the XR Lab must follow.

Creating a Fine Balance Between Technical and Creative Aspects in Leadership Roles

Balancing the technical and creative aspects of leadership roles involves embracing the idea that innovation thrives at the intersection of these domains. Whether leading the Art History department, the XR Lab, or AI initiatives, James prioritizes projects that integrate both creative expression and technological rigor. This duality is particularly evident in how the team designs immersive learning experiences that blend storytelling, historical analysis, and AI-driven interactivity.

The Impact of AI-Driven Tools and Technologies

AI-driven tools such as adaptive learning platforms and real-time data analytics have the potential to revolutionize XR in education. Predictive models that adapt educational content based on individual learning trajectories show particular promise. These tools can transform traditional static learning modules into dynamic experiences that cater to each student’s needs.

Furthermore, the integration of natural language processing within XR environments can enhance interactivity by allowing students to engage in more nuanced dialogues and scenarios.

The Integration of AI in Educational XR Environments

Ensuring ethical and inclusive AI integration requires a multi-layered approach focused on transparency, accountability, and equitable access. The XR Lab team adheres to strict ethical guidelines designed to protect user data and ensure informed consent in all projects. They also prioritize inclusivity by designing platforms accessible to learners of diverse cognitive and physical abilities.

Inclusivity also extends to AI model training, ensuring diverse datasets are used to prevent biases that could disadvantage certain groups of learners. By embedding ethical considerations from the outset, the primary goal is to create AI-enhanced XR environments that enhance learning without perpetuating existing inequities.

Transforming Traditional Educational Models and Challenges

AI and XR are set to significantly change educational models by making them more personalized, interactive, and adaptable. Traditional one-size-fits-all approaches are being replaced by learning environments that can dynamically adjust to the needs of each student. This is especially important in subjects that benefit from experiential learning, where students can engage with concepts in immersive, hands-on ways.

However, these advancements come with challenges. Integrating AI and XR requires significant investment in infrastructure, professional development, and ongoing support. Moreover, there is the risk of deepening digital divides if access to these technologies is not made equitable. Addressing these challenges requires careful planning, robust policy frameworks, and a commitment to inclusivity.

Emerging and Exciting trends

As Editor-in-Chief, James is particularly excited about trends that explore the convergence of AI, XR, and human-centered design in educational contexts. The journal serves as a platform for showcasing cutting-edge research that pushes the boundaries of how they think about education. James is especially interested in studies investigating the ethical dimensions of AI and its implications for inclusivity, as well as research on adaptive learning technologies that offer personalized educational experiences.

Another exciting trend is the exploration of AI’s potential in fostering creativity, challenging the idea that technology and creativity are at odds.

The Remarkable Impact of the XR and Gaming Lab at Lindenwood

The impact of the XR and Gaming Lab is measured through a combination of academic metrics, industry collaborations, and community engagement initiatives. The success of the projects is tracked through published research, student outcomes, and partnerships with external organizations. The human-subject research at Lindenwood generates data that not only contributes to academic discourse but also informs real-world applications in education, healthcare, and other areas.

Driving Growth by Integrating XR and AI in Education

Looking ahead, James aims to establish an AI research center that will serve as a hub for interdisciplinary collaboration. This center would address complex global challenges such as sustainability, health, and equity by integrating insights from fields as diverse as art, machine learning, and human-centered design to create innovative solutions that have a real-world impact. Further, James plans to build on the existing success of the XR and Gaming Lab by expanding partnerships with industry, government, and academic institutions. He wants to create an environment where breakthrough research and transformative learning experiences can flourish by fostering fluid academic boundaries.

CADILA PHARMACEUTICALS: SHAPING THE FUTURE OF PHARMACEUTICALS WITH RAJIV MODI AT HELM

Located in the “Manchester of India,” Ahmedabad, Cadila Pharmaceuticals is one of India’s largest privately held pharmaceutical enterprises. It is widely renowned for manufacturing affordable medicines for patients worldwide.

Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit and sense of patriotism Shri I. A. Modi, a vibrant business leader, popularly known as the ‘medicine man of India’ laid the foundation of Cadila Pharmaceuticals in 1951. Later, his son, Dr. Rajiv I. Modi, took the helm of the company as Chairman and Managing Director.

Carrying his father’s legacy forward, Dr. Rajiv I. Modi leads the company with extensive experience and industry knowledge. Under his hegemony, the team has dedicated itself to fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, and integrity within the organization, driving the venture towards its mission of delivering high-quality, affordable healthcare solutions to communities globally.

Rajiv’s incredible journey at Cadila Pharmaceuticals began in 2012. He has played a crucial role in establishing research, production, sales, and distribution for Cadila Pharma across the globe. His impressive academic accomplishments include a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from the University of Michigan, an M.Sc. in Biochemical Engineering from University College in London, and a B.Tech. in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Mumbai.

GAINING AN EDGE OVER OTHERS

The company attributes its remarkable growth and achievements to its multifaceted approach, which evaluates markets’ unique characteristics and obstacles. Cadila Pharmaceuticals stands out amongst others in the global market by leveraging its strengths, adapting to local market dynamics, and understanding needs, forecasts, and growth areas.

They have dedicated a specialist team for each of these markets, responsible for customizing their products and solutions to match the unique requirements and preferences. This involves conducting thorough market research, understanding local regulations, and engaging with key partners to develop offerings that resonate with local audiences. Additionally, they prioritize innovation and invest heavily in research and development to continuously enhance their product portfolio and stay ahead of competitors in key markets. They ensure that Cadila Pharmaceuticals maintains its competitive edge in diverse global markets by combining localization with innovation and agility and delivering value to patients and stakeholders.

SYNCHRONISM WITH TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS AND TRENDS

Cadila’s team incessantly works to stay at the forefront of innovation. They prioritize research and development, dedicating significant resources to exploring new technologies, equipment, and automation. They participate in industry conferences, seminars, and forums and actively connect with top experts and thought leaders to stay up-to-date on the newest advancements and emerging trends.

They also promote a culture of flexibility and agility, which enables them to seize new possibilities and react quickly to market changes. By continuously evaluating and embracing new technologies and trends, they ensure that Cadila Pharmaceuticals remains well-positioned to address evolving healthcare needs and deliver impactful solutions to patients worldwide.

THE MAJOR HURDLES ALONG THE WAY WHILE GROWING GLOBALLY

There are several obstacles to overcome when entering foreign markets, from cultural differences and market dynamics to regulatory complexity. At Cadila Pharmaceuticals, the team has navigated them successfully through strategic planning, meticulous execution, and a proactive approach. The regulatory frameworks are upgrading their requirements, and the bar for their approval is becoming more stringent. To address this, they have invested in building a strong regulatory affairs team with expertise in global regulations and different skill sets. They enable early market access while ensuring adherence to global standards. Additionally, they have focused on forging strong partnerships with local stakeholders and partners, including distributors, healthcare providers, and regulatory authorities, to gain insights into local market dynamics and establish a strong foothold.

FOSTERING INNOVATION TO BUILD THE PATH OF GROWTH

The innovation lies at the heart of Cadila Pharmaceuticals. In the Biotechnology Division, the company fosters an environment that values imagination, curiosity, and teamwork. Its approach to fostering innovation begins with empowering the teams and providing them with the resources, autonomy, and support needed to explore new ideas and technologies. It invests significantly in research and development, leveraging the latest advancements in biotechnology to drive the discovery and development of novel therapies and solutions.

The company has created and commercialized new-generation vaccinations that are safer and of higher quality. It has also obtained the most advanced technology in the world, known as VLP (virus-like particles).

UPHOLDING A BALANCE THAT DRIVES INNOVATION AND HONORS TRADITION

Cadila Pharmaceuticals strives to maintain a balance between heritage and innovation. As custodians of their family’s legacy, Dr. Rajiv I. Modi and his team are deeply committed to upholding the core values and principles that have guided them since their inception, including integrity, excellence, and customer-centricity. Simultaneously, they acknowledge that innovation and adaptation are essential for successfully navigating the changing corporate landscape.

To strike this balance, they foster a culture of respect for tradition while encouraging and rewarding innovation within the organization. They empower the teams to challenge the status quo, explore new ideas, and embrace change, thereby driving progress and evolution. By embracing innovation and upholding tradition, they ensure Cadila Pharmaceuticals stays robust, relevant, and prepared for the future.

EFFICIENTLY ADDRESSING HEALTHCARE CHALLENGES

Cadila Pharmaceuticals addresses pressing healthcare challenges and promotes access to affordable medicines, both in India and globally. It prioritizes the development of medicines and therapies, focusing on areas of unmet medical need and major public health diseases. Additionally, it actively engages with healthcare providers, governments, international agencies, and NGOs to facilitate access to our products, particularly in underserved communities and regions. It strives to ensure that everyone, regardless of socioeconomic class or geography, has access to high-quality medications and treatments through programs like patient assistance programs, pricing tactics, and advocacy for healthcare policy improvements.

A QUICK LOOK AT THE CSR ACTIVITIES

The company is committed to incorporating corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability principles into all aspects of its operations, including community development, ethical supply chain promotion, and environmental footprint reduction. Their CSR initiatives entail healthcare, education, and environmental conservation, aligning with their commitment to positively impacting society and the environment.

A GLIMPSE OF FUTURE ENDEAVORS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIETY

Under Rajiv’s leadership, Cadila Pharmaceutical is diligently working to contribute to broader societal and environmental goals by advancing healthcare innovation, promoting access to affordable medicines, and fostering sustainable practices throughout its operations. They strive to leverage their resources, expertise, and influence to improve healthcare outcomes, enhance quality of life, and contribute to a more sustainable and equitable world. Over the years, as a responsible corporate citizen, the venture has volunteered to adhere to ESG goals through an internal program to implement and monitor that those goals are met.

Mohit Uppal: Visionary Journey in Transforming Airport Journeys and Elevating Travelers’ Experience

In the fast-paced corporate world, where the spirit of entrepreneurship thrives, trailblazers like Mohit Uppal emerge as an embodiment of expertise, knowledge, and excellence.

Mohit Uppal is an accomplished and seasoned professional with over twelve years of enriching expertise in various domains, including airports, e-commerce, agribusiness, digital marketing, and startup banking. As the Partnerships Lead at HOI, Mohit oversees the introduction and management of cutting-edge digital solutions that improve passenger happiness and the traveller experience at several Indian airports.

As a pioneer and leader in the realm of brand engagement and business growth, Mohit Uppal has revolutionized the branding space and made a substantial impact on the expansion of businesses. With an illustrious 12+ year work history, equating to 78,840 hours, 3285 days, and 3000+ coffee conversations with clients and partners, the visionary leader has actively worked with more than a thousand startups, developed strategies, facilitated more than 450 brand partnerships, and made significant contributions to the expansion of businesses—often under tight financial constraints.

Mohit finished his B.Tech. in automobiles in 2009 and commenced his professional career. During a six-month internship at Udaipur-based Maruti Suzuki Dealership, he realized this wasn’t his calling. Driven by his passion, he relocated to Delhi to pursue further education, starting an MBA program at the NIILM School of Business in February 2010

Mohit worked part-time jobs, handed out flyers, and even posed as a brand model for at many expos and exhibitions to make ends meet. The pivotal moment occurred when he joined Gurgaon-based BrandAppz, a digital consultancy company, in 2012. Within a year, he joined Value 360 India, Delhi’s most trusted PR firm, to kickstart their digital arm. The turning point in his career occurred in 2016, when he joined a new television series called “The Vault.” Through this project, he was able to become more familiar with the nuances of angel investing, venture capital, and private equity. The performance was aired on Times Now and ET Now with over 5,000 submissions, further fueling his passion for startups.

Then, he moved to RBL Bank as the youngest employee to oversee the startup banking portfolio for North India, building on his prior expertise. He formed commercial and strategic alliances with co-working spaces, incubators, accelerators, and government agencies during a two-year period, which led to the creation of a startup banking portfolio.

As the Partnership Head at Hoi, his role is centred around cultivating and leading strategic partnerships, integrating innovative features through seamless onboarding of partners, sourcing and promoting exclusive offers, facilitating efficient onboarding of airport concessionaires, and ensuring streamlined end-to-end service delivery for an enhanced user experience.

Overall, Mohit’s journey has been amazing– from founding a digital vertical to managing partnerships and marketing for “The Vault” and Hoi.

Mohit’s Distinctive Leadership Approach

Mohit found that in the fast-paced world of technology, effective leadership includes cultivating a culture of ongoing education, creativity, and flexibility. Maintaining agility and growing approch is crucial for navigating a constantly growing landscape.

Sharing more about his leadership, the magnificent man said, “Adapting my leadership style has been crucial in changing between roles. I identify the need for change by assessing the unique challenges and dynamics of each role. Whether it was at OkCredit, RBL Bank, or Hoi, adjustments involved tailoring his leadership approach to align with team goals, leverage strengths, and address specific challenges.”

Crafting a Collaborative and Innovative Workspace

Creating an environment that values experimentation, teamwork, and ongoing learning is essential to developing a dynamic mindset.

He encourages open communication, celebrates innovative ideas, and provides opportunities for skill development. Building a team that welcomes change involves taking steps like identifying adaptive behaviours and implementing cross-functional projects.

Finding the Optimal Balance between Adaptability and Innovation

Balancing stability and innovation requires a strategic approach. He establishes a stable foundation by ensuring clear goals, effective processes, and a supportive work environment. In addition, he supports an innovative culture by providing time for creativity, cultivating a risk-taking environment, and rewarding progressive processes.

The Significance of Mentorship for Mohit

Mentorship has played a pivotal role in his career journey. Engaging with experienced individuals provided insights, shared experiences, and strategic advice. He actively sought guidance to navigate challenges, broaden perspectives, and accelerate professional growth. Now, he aims to pay it forward by mentoring others in the tech and startup community.

The Latest Industry Trends—At a Glance

The IT and startup landscapes have evolved dramatically over the last 15 years, which is evidence of how dynamic the market is. Crucial developments include the development of artificial intelligence (AI), the introduction of cloud computing, and the rise of e-commerce. Among the most important trends, e-commerce’s prevalence has emerged as one of the most noteworthy, particularly for small business entrepreneurs. This trend has reshaped the way businesses operate, emphasizing digital presence and customer-centric approaches.

India has emerged as the 3rd largest ecosystem for startups globally, boasting over 1, 12, 718 DPIIT-recognized startups across 763 districts of the country as of October 3rd, 2023. This growth signifies the vibrancy and potential within the Indian startup ecosystem.

The COVID-19 pandemic, while causing a historic contraction in India’s economic growth in 2020, showcased the resilience of startups. Innovations in technology and research, coupled with strategies to build more sustainable and revenue-oriented businesses, demonstrated the adaptability of the startup community. Whether it was setting up coronavirus testing laboratories, streamlining domestic logistics, or integrating technologies swiftly, Indian startups led the charge in innovation.

Edtech, content, SaaS, healthcare, fintech, and e-commerce have witnessed significant behavioural shifts toward fully digital solutions. Deep tech, addressing challenging problems in AI and satellite/space technology, is experiencing rapid growth. The Indian founder and venture ecosystem for 2024 is poised to be an exciting space.

What Lies Ahead for Mohit Uppal and His Career ?

The leading man aims to stay ahead in the dynamic landscape of sales, marketing, and partnerships by consistently updating his skills. This entails keeping up with the most recent developments in emerging technologies and digital marketing, as well as honing his interpersonal and negotiation abilities.

In addition, he hopes to establish a work-life balance that will enable him to succeed in his career aspirations while also making time for his hobbies and personal life. This will involve mentoring younger members of his team by imparting his expertise and experience.

On the professional front, Mohit aims to lead strategic initiatives that contribute significantly to the growth of the businesses he is associated with. This entails finding and seizing new business opportunities, cultivating intelligent alliances, and optimizing sources of income. He envisions progressing into an executive-level leadership position. Where he can drive overarching business strategies and influence decision-making processes.

He is also planning to spearhead innovative campaigns that not only elevate brand visibility but also showcase the organization’s commitment to staying at the forefront of industry trends and contributing to the expansion of a business into global markets. This entails creating and upholding global alliances, understanding various market dynamics, and customizing sales and marketing plans for various geographical areas.

Bala V Sathyanarayanan: The Architect of Innovation

Meet Bala V Sathyanarayanan, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Greif, a 146-year-old multi-national supplier of industrial packaging products and services.

Mr. Sathyanarayanan started his career in 1991 as a Graduate Engineer trainee at United Technologies and navigated the management chain to own P&L for Otis’s Field Operations in Chennai, India. His illustrious career has seen him in influential roles at renowned organizations such as Coca-Cola, Polaris, Avaya, Hewlett Packard, Xerox, and Balmer Lawrie-Van Leer Ltd.

Academically, Mr. Sathyanarayanan is a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. Complementing this achievement, he holds a Master of Human Resources Management (MHRM) degree from Rutgers University in New Jersey, an MBA in General Management from the University of Madras, and a BE in Electronics and Communications Engineering from SVCE.

A recipient of many global awards, Mr. Sathyanarayanan was named among the list of Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business (AABDC), Executive of the Year by Columbus CEO Magazine, Top Inspiring Business Leaders of the Year in 2020 by Industry Wired Magazine, 10 Most Influential Business Leaders to Follow in 2021 by CIO Insights Magazine to name a few.

A century-old Company

Established in 1877, Greif is a leading global supplier of various industrial packaging products and services. With strategic locations throughout more than 40 countries, Greif remains steadfast in its commitment to being the highest-performing customer service entity for its global and regional customers.

Greif’s global packaging division supplies steel, fiber, and plastic drums; intermediate bulk containers (IBCs); container liners; closures; filling and reconditioning services, which helps protect and safely transport products worldwide. On the other hand, Greif’s Paper Packaging and Services (PPS) division manufactures containerboard, coated recycled paperboard, uncoated recycled paperboard, industrial and corrugated products, and offers recycling services. In North America, PPS serves construction, paper products, textiles, explosives, automotive, manufacturing, and many other industries. PPS also has a closed-loop system that recycles the brand’s fiber, providing competitive advantages through flexibility, supply security, and sustainability.

Life at Greif

Mr. Sathyanarayanan joined Greif in 2018 as Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer to create a global workforce capable of effectively executing business strategies and delivering exceptional value to customers. Known for his strategic acumen, Mr. Sathyanarayanan closely collaborates with the CEO, the Executive Leadership Team, the Leadership Council, and the Board of Directors to drive organizational change and envision the company’s future success.

As a dynamic business leader, he goes beyond the conventional approach by constantly motivating and acknowledging colleagues with regular personal recognition. This, in return, boosts employee morale and translates into better customer service and business yields.

Mission and Vision

As the Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources officer at Greif, Mr. Sathyanarayanan’s mission is to deliver a world-class, diverse, and engaged workforce to help the company deliver its global vision. Mr. Sathyanarayanan’s role is of a strategist, an activist inside the organization who shakes things up and allows it to become more innovative. However, his personal mission as the Global CHRO extends much beyond managing the present; instead, it involves strategically laying the foundations that will ensure enduring global success in the future.

Looking at the Future

Looking ahead, Mr. Sathyanarayanan envisions a future where he can successfully leverage his capabilities to make a meaningful impact by fostering flourishing communities in the various countries where Greif operates. He plans to achieve these goals by focusing on Greif’s executive leadership team’s strengths: open-mindedness, action bias, passion for continuous learning, and the desire to positively impact the brand’s global customers by providing them with legendary customer service through a highly engaged workforce.

Christopher M. Carter: Building Meaningful Business Relationships

With almost 30 years of experience in the SAP industry, Christopher M. Carter founded Approyo to provide full SAP service technology with extensive capabilities in hosting and managing services, upgrades, and migration of its clients, running any SAP-supported core functionality. With more than a thousand SAP environments under management around the planet, Approyo supports businesses from production to landscapes to migrations onto SAP S/4 HANA. As an SAP partner, Approyo offers its solutions as a service to its clients and partners across the planet. While many Managed Service Providers are likely to provide several forms of ERP systems to expand their services portfolio, Approyo only deals with systems related to SAP directly. While the organization offers integrative services with several other ERP providers like Microsoft Azure, AWS, etc., Approyo’s primary focus is still on SAP.

The Steadfast Leader

Chris attended The Georgia Institute of Technology during his college days, where he found his love for technology. After graduating, he shortly started working with SAP and later worked in a California-based start-up, where he was responsible for running day-to-day sales and marketing activities. He then served in multiple executive positions in the SAP ecosystem. At this point of time, he founded his own business, which was sold at a later stage. After selling his company, Chris retired for a few years until one of his old friends called him to inform him about the latest release of SAP HANA. Soon after that day, he was convinced to dive back in and flew to Germany to start working and learning about SAP HANA. Later in December 2013, he founded Approyo to provide global leadership for SAP directives.

Greatest Accomplishment

As the organization’s leader, Chris is proud of the team he has been able to develop at Approyo. Chris and his team have brought in some of the best talents on the planet by expanding the firm’s reach into Brazil, the UK, Spain, and India. Presently with offices being developed in several other parts of the world, Approyo no longer must worry about resources, as it ensures the company has the right resources for its clients anywhere at any time.

Chris says, “It’s a game changer for us, and it’s a great accomplishment for our team these men and women are our incredible staff members, and we’re blessed to have them here.”

Tackling Challenges

Chris is 100% up for tackling challenges. He considers himself fortunate to be controlled and prepared to lead Approyo to new challenges and heights. He says, “I have an incredible staff around me who supported my decisions and helped me make those decisions so we could accomplish greatness for our customers. It’s all about them and my staff we want to support our customers in their needs that’s why we did some of the most unprecedented support activities during the pandemic to help them, and we will continue to support them on a global stage.”

Leadership Principles

Chris’s primary leadership principles;

As the organization’s leader, Chris trusts his team to make the necessary decisions to support customers and keep them on a proper lifestyle, as they don’t want interruptions.
He believes in training his staff and increasing their skill sets as he wants them to become the next managers or executives of Approyo.
Lastly, he wants Approyo’s customers to sleep well at night. Chris wants them to have the ability to lead the lifestyle or workstyle they deserve, and they should not have to worry about the landscapes of their systems, people, and applications.

Implementing New Ideas

Approyo is implementing its AI-based monitoring and support tool on every client the firm acquires. This tool provides the opportunity to proactively understand what’s going on with the system and how it will run in the coming weeks. This also provides valuable information on how security is being enacted in case of any vulnerabilities. It is a true AI tool that helps the company by providing everything it needs to be proactive and hyper-aggressive in supporting its clients.

Picture of the Future

Chris says, “Our future, I feel, is quite bright. We have plans with our AI-based tools to support and provide the managed services and details companies need to run their SAP and other landscapes with our managed service provider organization. We also feel that our best-in-breed SAP migration and support will continue to revolutionize the ecosystem.”

By combining Approyo’s tools, people and processes, Chris feels that the company is second to none in this ecosystem, and it’ll continue to strive to provide for our clients on an ongoing day-in and day-out solution basis.

Kevin Ashley: Helping with an Affordable Customisable Learning Management Solution

Established in August 2018, myAko helps small to medium-sized businesses improve how they engage, educate, and communicate with their teams. It is a cloud-based, scalable solution that can be launched within a few hours instead of days and weeks. Led by its founder and CEO, Kevin Ashley, myAko ‘s primary mission is to continuously develop tools to make its client’s life easier and provide them with more time for the important stuff.

By utilizing a team of staff with more than five decades of experience in training across multiple sectors, the myAko team has realized that there’s more to life than spending several hours on ineffective and unengaging eLearning. Established with a mission to make learning quicker, more engaging, and easier, myAko quickly expanded into a multifaceted solution that makes manager’s and learners ‘ lives easier. While learning is still a significant part of myAko’s package, the organization also provides everything else that its clients need in one place, from training management to staff appraisals, accident, incident, near miss reporting, audit, risk management, task lists, and intuitive team dashboards.

The Veteran Leader

Being an army veteran, Kevin did not take the traditional route of attending university before starting his working career. After leaving the military, Kevin studied Business Studies and Service Excellence at the University of Wales and Open University. His commercial background was focused on telecommunications, senior operational management, business re-engineering, and consultancy before entering the world of SaaS software and digital learning. Kevin considers himself lucky to be a part of the One2One team that launched the planet’s first digital mobile network in the UK in January 1993. Since then, he has worked with many great people and held several senior management roles in many diverse industries across the planet.

Standing Tall amongst the Crowd

As the company’s founder, Kevin believes several key differentiators make myAko a different organization from its peers. myAko is a business partner and not just a service provider. It helps clients to set up their customized solutions and works proactively to maximize their user experience and ROI. The organization also actively listens to its client’s business challenges and needs and helps them find cost-effective technical solutions.

myAko’s clients can fully manage the platform and service for their learners without frequently seeking support from myAko. However, in case of any need, myAko’s client success team is always available to help. The best part is the firm’s clients influence its product roadmap and is actively involved in helping the company drive innovation. In summary, it offers small and medium size businesses an affordable enterprise solution where clients only pay for what they use.

Greatest Accomplishments

Kevin feels his greatest accomplishments are restructuring a business to increase its revenue by US$23m in 8 months and more recently supporting myAko’s clients during the COVID-19 crisis, ensuring they could still remotely complete their compliance training. This included growing the client base during this period.

Under his leadership, myAko has helped UK NHS to educate care home staff on dysphagia and partnered with Teleswallowing Limited, Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, and Mastercall to deliver remote Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) assessments into care homes, which significantly reduced the NHS dysphagia waiting list. It has also supported clients and charities to deliver interactive, innovative education programs.

“Our current initiatives are to educate the world on deaf awareness and the impact of menopause. We are working with some excellent partners to help educate and make a positive difference in people’s lives.”– Kevin says.

Tackling the COVID-19 Crisis

Kevin believes launching a brand and SaaS solution into a highly competitive market is challenging at any time. However, trying this during the pandemic was challenging, especially when companies had ceased office-based operations. The increase in home and remote working worked nicely for Kevin and his team, as many companies lacked robust learning management systems or appropriate training.

myAko also helped deliver digital learning on COVID-19 and safe working practices, which helped its clients massively. From a team’s point of view, myAko went from permanent office-based to remote working. The team quickly adapted and has been successfully remote working since. As the CEO and founder, Kevin also changed his communication method with regular video conferencing, which helped keep everyone aligned and motivated.

Looking at the Future

myAko aspires to continue to work with its innovation partners who share its passion and vision to make a positive difference. It will continue to deliver new digital features that guide and help its clients and their teams improve their skills, knowledge, well-being, mental health, fitness, and capabilities. Supporting them to achieve their career and life aspirations.

myAko will continue to expand within the UK and into several other key markets, including the USA, Asia, and Europe. The organization will achieve this by proactively working with passionate resellers and other software and education businesses, where myAko will complement its service offerings and give its clients a higher level of integrated features, products, and services. A good example is our partnership with Advanced in the UK, where they utilize a white-labeled version of myAko, to successfully deliver their product and service software training and resell myAko digital courses to their clients.

Pablo Vidarte: Creating a Biotech World

Established by Pablo Vidarte, Bioo is a biotech company focused on the biotechnological transformation of our beloved planet through unique proprietary technologies that can generate electricity from nature.

The organization’s founder, CEO, and Managing Director, Pablo, is also an inventor, writer, and entrepreneur. With his transhumanist way of thinking, Pablo wants to revive the natural world we have left behind in line with technology and progress. He created his first computer program at the age of 10, published his first book at 14, and at the age of 16, he created his first software company. Later he created a hardware company about geolocalizers, which he sold, and then he finally founded Bioo.

He also worked on creating external combustion engines, thus improving a system NASA left back in 2002. He was also invited to the Singularity University’s first summit done by NASA and Google in Europe.

While studying engineering in Barcelona, Pablo started his career leading the engineering in geolocation hardware, evolutionary AI software, and systems for organic hydrogen generation in rivers for clean fuel applications. Later at the age of 19, Pablo left the university. His areas of expertise include engineering, electronics, and business administration.

Pablo’s creations in Bioo include biological batteries plugged into the ground to generate electricity naturally through microorganisms in the subsoil nourished by organic matter and other developments like using living plants as biological batteries. Over the years, Pablo has received more than 20 globally renowned awards. He was also included in the Forbes Under 30 Europe list at 20. Since its inception, he has led Bioo to win prestigious awards, including the most innovative company in Europe by the European Parliament, the most disruptive company of the year by Google in South Summit, and a representative in the Universal Expo of Energies of the Future.

Disruptive Products

Biological batteries in controlled environments have been around for ages, but sadly we can’t use them in a natural open system as they quickly become contaminated and stops working. However, at Bioo, Pablo and his team’s research discovered several mechanisms to ensure long life by creating a perfect environment for the ideal microorganisms. So, instead of incorporating external microorganisms, Bioo attracted those it was most interested in and that already existed in the soil, naturally.

Pablo states, “If humans first used fossil energy and then sought out renewables to prevent the world from getting worse with renewables, we were now looking for a way to recover it. Bioo represents that next step: we wanted to be part of the next biotech revolution by generating natural energy, without harming it but rather incentivizing it.“

With a passion for bringing together nature and technology via innovative solutions that improve quality of life, Bioo has developed two technologies and three different commercial lines;

Technologies:

● Generating Energy from Nature: Bioo takes advantage of the organic substances in natural soils and decomposes them with microorganisms, which it uses to create free electrons and generate an electric current. These batteries can absorb at least 334,4g/m2 of CO2, reduce up to 50% of all irrigation costs, and up to 4 degrees in temperature while generating energy. Bioo uses the generated energy to power light points in parks, gardens, and green roofs.

● Using Plants as Biological Switches: Bioo is harnessing the antenna effect of the plants to turn them into biological switches naturally without damaging them. This way, Bioo can activate lights, sounds, and screens and create automation out of a symbiosis of nature and the human being.

Commercial Lines

● Urban Spaces: Under Pablo’s leadership, Bioo transform spaces by creating the first biotech buildings in the world, as well as parks, streets, and more. It does this by providing biological batteries in the shape of panels named Bioo panels to transform green spaces, avoiding costs in irrigation and maintenance, reducing CO2 emissions, and generating energy to power light points. The best part is these panels are hidden below the ground while preserving the natural ecosystem on top unaltered. No living being gets damaged during the process.

● Lifestyle: Bioo creates daily life products to transform personal homes and offices, like Bioo Lux, a lamp and a plant pot made from translucent ceramic and using its biological switch technology to turn on the light.

● Agriculture: Bioo is working to develop biological batteries that can power autonomous systems in agriculture, with sensors to optimize irrigation, and with the vision of activating many other solutions in the ag-tech industry directly from the same soil farmers are already taking care of.

Tackling the Pandemic

The pandemic has only been a struggle for Bioo from a commercial standpoint. “We have a line on the market dedicated to transforming urban spaces, and suddenly they ‘got closed.’ We progressed extensively with the agricultural line and developed new solutions for our interior environments. The whole team already had a lot of flexibility regarding home-working. Still, it dramatically had to evolve to absolute flexibility, which may sound obvious for most companies. Still, when you have labs with living things in them (plants and microorganisms), things get tricky.”– stated Pablo.

Transforming the World

Bioo believes social responsibility is a crucial pillar for every company. For example, it not only aims to transform cities and make them greener and more innovative, but it also wants to see that in every single person working with it. So, whenever, Bioo hires someone, it pays planet insurance along with the standard medical insurance. Everyone at Bioo calls it the 69 trees policy, which means the company will fully plant 69 trees for every employee to compensate 100% of the individual’s footprint.

“We need other companies and even countries on a public level to replicate this same model, not as a sustainable claim but actually as something that creates a change. Imagine if this same insurance was given to every newborn child on Earth as we have social security in Europe. CSR is a great way to give an example, but we all need to push it, and there are many other ways to achieve it. We always say in Bioo that innovation doesn’t need to be a special department but has to be an intrinsic part in every single area, either in the research department, operations, sales or HR.”– States Pablo.

The Future

Bioo aims to expand in the world’s leading cities, covering parks, gardens, and transforming ordinary buildings into the first biotech buildings on the planet. It is eying to cover thousands of light-points per city powered by mother nature herself and also to incorporate its biological batteries in agriculture as a standard solution instead of the present-day chemical batteries provided by most distributors. Bioo has the goal of reducing up to 1% of the total CO2 emissions predicted by 2050, being an 80% by the impact from agriculture (involving a 20% of the IoT ag-tech sector) and a 20% from urban spaces (by covering an area equivalent to the 10 main metropolitan areas of the world). Pablo says, “It’s achievable, but of course, it will take time and resources, but we have the tools to achieve it.”

The CEO Revolutionizing The Global Cold Storage Landscape At Lowenco A/S

The 2012-incepted, Lowenco A/S’s CEO, Mikael Hoier’s journey took a turn as he joined Lowenco A/S and became the guiding force in the expansion of the company. He is successfully spearheading the firm on its mission of revolutionizing the general perception of how ultra-low temperature-controlled storage units are built and optimized for bio-pharma companies and their high valued products.

As Mikael didn’t lay the foundation of Lowenco, he was always “on the sideline” when the company commenced its operations. “After my first meeting with the owner of Lowenco at the very early start of Lowenco, I clearly remember my own “speak to myself,” when walking from the Lowenco workshop to my car; “This is a company I really would like to be a part of.” Three years later, I became a part of Lowenco”, shared Mikael.

The leading man, Mikael Hoier, Graduated with the Academy Profession Degree in Leadership and Management and with excellent passion and dedication, progressed in the sales domain. He took the onus of Sales Manager, General Manager, Sales Director/CCO and excelled in the roles. Being an ambitious leader, he instilled values in his teams and led them to explore new heights. Having a strong back hold of his past roles and a solid skill set in the managerial domain, he is paving the way for Lowenco to the next level and beyond.

LOWENCO, ONE-STOP STORAGE SOLUTION

Lowenco A/S is one of the leading manufacturers of cold storage facilities, and they have formed a strategy on how to change the expensive, inefficient, and non-environmental friendly temperature-controlled storage. The solution has been developed under the brand names CON20 and LSSU and more cold storage facilities are under development. At Lowenco, they produce high-end cold storage facilities, refrigerated units, and freezers from well-known quality components in their facilities in Denmark, but they are also able to deliver custom-made freezers and cold storage facilities where GMP guidelines must be applied worldwide.

Further Mikael Hoier apprised, “At Lowenco we have unique product solutions to the pharmaceutical market. A product that is so much more than just a product. We are not only offering Large Scale ultra-low temperature freezer storage solutions but solutions where the highest quality goes hand in hand with the highest possible safety for the people handling the products going into the very low temperature storage area of 80C and safety of the products been stored and a unique low energy consumption per liter of product stored. In every product we are developing saving energy is essential without any reflection on the quality and performance. We want to help, making the world a better place to live. The name Lowenco comes from Low Energy Cooling and our slogan is Creating a better world one unit at a time. Every time we can replace existing solutions used in the market with our innovative solutions with much lower energy consumption, we are helping to reduce the Co2 footprint and Creating a better world.”

THE ROADBLOCKS & LEARNING

“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”, as Kelly Clarkson sings. Challenges in development for the human being as Mikael sees it. “We need to learn every day this is what develops you as a person, as a company as well as the whole world”, he said.

On the personal development side, the inspiring leader has learned to trust the people that he needed to hand over some jobs to colleagues and not just making everything himself. In more years he just made things himself instead of involving colleagues, who were actually hired to do parts of the jobs.

WHAT IS SUCCESS?

For Mikael, success is when his staff succeeds! “Happy and inspired people makes better results better results make success, success makes happy and inspired people. The right people at the right positions in the organization are the key to success. As a leader you are only as strong as the weakest point of your organization”, said Mikael.

THE CORE VALUES OF LOWENCO A/S

The firm is its daily operations on the basis of these core values:

Creating success through team efforts and competencies
Knowing the customer’s expectations and producing solutions that help the customer in reaching their objectives
Innovation and out-of-the-box thinking and predictability
Having a common responsibility to make the world a better place

STAYING ABREAST WITH THE GROWING COMPETITION

Mikael Hoier and the whole team are closely following the trends in the market and their segment of product solutions. Their innovative prefabricated modular, scalable, and highly flexible solutions are unique to the market and with their daily development and focus on optimizing, With more and more installations made no longer only in Europe, but also in the US and Asia, they are expanding into new markets and becoming more and more visible in the field. This has been discovered by more and more clients and the best marketing everyone is when clients speak positively about you to a new potential client. And what’s great is, more and more of their existing clients buy more and more times, for expansions of the facilities but also for new sites. They are becoming “the internal worldwide site standard”.

VISION FOR THE COMPANY

Mikael’s vision is to bring Lowenco to the position of the most recognized and trusted supplier of high-end cold storage facilities for pharmaceuticals and biotech firms around the world. But not only the best-in-class product, but also keep the position of being the most innovative and “green” solution for the benefit of our clients, the environment, and for the individual all of them. Creating a better world one unit at a time.

KEEPING THE EMPLOYEES MOTIVATED

An open and honest environment, where all are important and know they are important to the company, positiveness, and humor create a great working environment at Lowenco. “Great products to work with and where people can focus on quality instead of quantity, this I believe brings pride into the job and pride brings ownership for what you do. And all summed-up gives a great working environment a great atmosphere and a great place to be, which I believe motivates all the employees including myself”, Mikael further added.

FUTURE OF LOWENCO A/S & MIKAEL’S PERSONAL GOALS

For Lowenco, Mikael’s goals are clear to continue the great developing process already started to become an even stronger and greater company to being a part of. To continue executing the growth strategy to grow the business, grow the market share, enter new markets, expand the workforce to become present more locally worldwide to serve clients worldwide even better than today.

Mikael’s personal goal as a business leader is to develop people, getting them to perform and fulfill their individual potential to become a success. His goal is to do the same for the companies he is involved in developing the company to growth and success, performing on the highest level, bringing great products and services to the clients and fulfilling the potential.

MESSAGE TO READERS

Be yourself trying to be another is not you? Develop the people around you they are the key to your success. Give yourself to the company instead of expecting to have. Give yourself to your employees and do not expect just to have. By doing so you will get so much more return than you are giving. You and nobody else can take care of your career and your life in general take full responsibility for your own personal development and you will get success in life.

Gene Saunders: Helping to Bring Loved Ones Home

Gene Saunders

The founder and CEO of Project Lifesaver, which is a non-profit 501c3 organization specializing in the radio-tracking and locating of individuals with cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Autism, and others that may tend to wander and become lost. They are located through the signal emitting from a wrist transmitter being tracked by an equipped, trained search team. The organization also offers training on the disorders for law enforcement and first responders and consulting for agencies conducting searches.

The Man Behind the Non-Profit Organization

Gene founded Project Lifesaver as a non-profit 501c3 organization. After graduating from Norview High School in Norfolk, Virginia he entered the US Army for active duty. On leaving active duty, Gene had several jobs including Virginia Power, Credit Manager, Desk Clerk, but in 1968 Gene joined the Chesapeake Virginia Police Dept. He retired in 2001 from the police dept as a Captain, having served in all areas of the police dept., including forming the SWAT Team and serving as Commander for 23 years. During those times Gene attended Old Dominion University, and the University of Louisville Southern Police Institute for 2 years before retiring from the police department.

While with the Police Dept SWAT Team, Gene and his team began having to conduct several searches for persons with cognitive disorders and were not as successful as they wanted to be. These searches took vast amounts of time and manpower, and little was known as to proper search techniques for those persons. Gene always wanted something that would enable the agencies to move quickly to locate the person before tragedy overtook them and to reduce the amount of manpower needed for such searches.

Saving Hundreds of Lives

Gene’s Project Lifesaver Program is run at the municipality level by various public safety agencies. When an agency decides to implement a program, Project Lifesaver International will equip them with all the needed technologies and provide the needed training to those involved. The non-profit organization’s training includes the use of the equipment implementation of the strategic methods specifically designed for the program, and also community policing courses that provide a basic understanding of cognitive conditions to better comprehend the behaviors of an individual with said condition.

The non-profit organization has also included the PLS Database during the training, which is provided to the member agencies free of cost. Gene says, “Completion of training is required for certification. Once an agency has become certified, they may begin acquiring clients for their local program.”

Project Lifesaver’s method relies on proven radio technology and specifically trained search and rescue teams. Those who enroll for Project Lifesaver, wear a small transmitter on their ankle or wrist that emits an individual frequency signal. If a client goes missing, the caregiver contacts the non-profit organization, and a trained emergency team responds to the wanderer’s area. The first responders then use the client’s individualized frequency to locate the position of the individual. The knowledge given from the community policing courses is best applied in this situation because the first responders know how to best approach the client once found, and allow them to be brought back to safety.

Advantage over Peers

Project Lifesaver is quite different from its peers mainly due to;

Innovation: Project LifeSaver strives to find innovative ideas to improve the methods of “bringing loved ones home!”
The program, Not a Product: It is not about wearable technology; it’s a program specifically designed to protect certain ‘at risk’ individuals.
Community Involvement: The non-profit organization, bridges the gap between the first responders and their community.
Cost-Effective: The program reduces funds, manpower, and time needed to conduct a search and rescue mission.
Proven and Trusted: Project Lifesaver is the most effective SAR program for the ‘at risk’ population.
Peace of Mind: It provides caregivers peace of mind knowing their loved ones are protected.

Tackling Challenges and Future Roadmap

As a leader of Project Lifesaver, Gene believes his biggest challenges are Supply issues and getting good staff. He feels, planning, and moving with the flow will help, in the supply issues, so he suggests to, recruit good people that have a mindset like you. Reward good performance and look out for your people.

When it comes to the future, Gene plans to continue to grow Project Lifesaver’s membership of agencies and work toward even better technology to aid in the mission he has.

Suggestions for Younger Self

When we asked Gene to provide some valuable suggestions for young entrepreneurs, he said, “If you have an idea, move on it. Do not let others discourage you! Understand there will be obstacles and make up your mind to overcome them. Never Quit!”

Freddie Savundra: Helping Clients to Connect with Answers

Meet Freddie Savundra the founder of Meet Parker, which is an AI development firm specializing in AI Assistants for the mortgage, insurance, and property sector. The organization launched its SaaS offering in January 2021, and now hosts a client bank of large and small firms, with shareholders and an advisory committee including Twenty7Tec, and other leading industry experts.

Meet Parker now designs and builds more than just the conventional AI chatbots. The firm’s experienced team offers a wide range of services for the mortgage, insurance, and property industry.

Freddie Savundra is a modern language graduate in Spanish, French, and Russian. Later he went to live in Russia, to learn more about the culture, and language. Then Freddie joined the British army and moved from the Royal Corps of Signals to the Royal Engineers. While serving the army, Freddie graduated and moved in mortgages with London and Country on their grad scheme. Later, Freddie left the organization to join Savills Private Finance and ultimately moved from being a help-to-buy Mortgage Advisor to CTO.

The History and Inception of Meet Parker

Meet Parker was programmed, by a team of mortgage brokers and estate agents to build a streamlined process that works for the client. It all started with social media, the team wanted to help clients connect with the answer they were looking for and the product has grown from there. As a firm, Meet Parker now integrates with over 10 different social channels and has insurance data and quotations provided by iPipeline, with mortgage criteria and data-led by Twenty7tec.

Freddie Savundra still remembers walking into a High Street Bank and enquiring about getting a mortgage. Freddie couldn’t believe it when he was told that he would need to make an appointment, 3 weeks from the date. It just seemed odd to him.

When Freddie Savundra saw how backward the house buying process had become and how there was a desperate need for a more practical solution, he began to design an engagement solution that ultimately formed the skeleton for Meet Parker. Since, 12 Months from launching, Freddie feels great to see how far the firm has come and how the incredible team of Meet Parker has accomplished its work.

Keeping it Simple

As a leader, Freddie understands the pain points of property transactions, so Meet Parker offers;
Premium customer service, backed by business experts during working hours. A simple to use UI, which is built for Facebook, Whatsapp, Instagram, Twitter, and WeChat.
Meet Parker searches online to find the best rates in the market.
The firm runs an encrypted and secure service to keep clients’ data safe.
Meet Parker generates a mortgage, insurance, and property decision in principle- passing the information to its clients’ businesses.

Tackling Challenges

Freddie Savundra feels, that every aspect of start-up life is a learning lesson, it’s important to listen to the feedback and data that a team and clients put forward. In start-up life, one needs to spend months of time and development resources on projects that ultimately will need to be washed away. On the other hand, Freddie considers himself lucky, to have worked at the best fee-free brokerage in the country, it was a robust, slick, and well-driven machine. To move to SPF Private Clients and be lucky to have the opportunity to turn from mortgages into software and IT development is a chance very few people have, this is in part down to having a very supportive partner and a great mentor/support network. Ultimately, Freddie feels, it’s great to look back at the late nights and early starts and see what Team Parker has accomplished.

Mission and Vision

Under the leadership of Freddie Savundra, Meet Parker’s main mission is to engage. The firm wants to be the first contact for its clients’ businesses in order to connect seekers with experts.

As the mortgage market grows and develops, Freddie wants to put the client at the center of Meet Parker’s goal to create a seamless and frictionless client experience.

Preparing for the Future

When it comes to the future, Freddie Savundra is all excited about Parker 2.0! Freddie and his entire team hope to have reinvigorated the house buying process and raised the bar on certain aspects, in the hope that another tech firm will try to better what they have accomplished. As the founder of the firm, Freddie feels, that ultimately that level of competition is how you know you’re on the right track and will only be better for the market.