Cover Story

March 2023

EDITOR’S NOTE Arvind

EDITOR

TRAILBLAZING A PATH TO PR FOR FEMALE PROFESSIONALS

There existed an era when public relations was regarded to be a party-oriented career. But, over the last several decades, the credibility of the reputation management sector has finally changed, and people recognize that it is a difficult task that cannot be performed by just anybody.

To live and succeed, one must be properly taught and nurtured in a variety of talents. If a person is not fully equipped with the necessary skills, there is a risk of making mistakes that are irreversible. These are some mantras for all the brilliant ladies out there to help them succeed faster.

It is often assumed that women are born with the ability to multitask. This trait is useful in the field of public relations. Being in the communications sector entails dealing with several stakeholders at once, including media, clients, and so on, while also composing an important section of the article. And if you are successful in doing so, you will save a lot of time and become more productive.

It is critical for team members to support one another in order to preserve team cohesion and work successfully. A big portion of the public relations workforce is under the age of 30. As a result, it is critical to supply them with frequent incentives and recognition.

Maintaining connections is a big part of public relations, whether it’s self-management, managing the media, or managing customers. Being a woman in communications has an advantage since we are more engaging than males. If we employ this trait wisely, we may develop deeper relationships with many stakeholders, and such ties give immeasurable advantages.

Healthy ‘Chemistry’ between team members is essential for any team to succeed. Being a woman makes it easier for us to be empathetic and comprehend ‘how’ a certain team member reacts to a given scenario or challenge.

All of the following are my personal opinions. We just believe that women are inherently endowed with a few attributes that might be useful in a job like public relations. The secret to success is never saying no, being proactive, and working smart and hard!

PUBLISHER

ARVIND YADAV

EDITORIAL TEAM

Sonali Sinha, Neetu, Arvind

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Ishaan Kumar, Prateek, Manish Kumar, Mandeep Singh

CREATIVE TEAM

Irfan ahmed, Piyush, Saba Praveen

DATA RESEARCH & ANALYST

Monu Nrwal, Pawan Thakur, Golu Kumar

DIGITAL ADVERTISING & PROMOTION

Divyansh Thakral, Neha Singh

Address: Plot No. 109/115 Bajghera Chowk, Palam Vihar, Gurugram, Haryana Pin: 122017

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SPACEX

The Incredible Journey of Elon Musk, the Visionary Entrepreneur

Elon Musk is a household name known for his innovative and ambitious ventures that aim to revolutionize the world as we know it. He is a tech entrepreneur, investor, and engineer who has co-founded multiple companies, including PayPal, Tesla Motors, SpaceX, Neuralink, and The Boring Company. Despite facing numerous setbacks and challenges, Elon has proven time and time again that success is not just about talent, but also about persistence, resilience, and a relentless pursuit of one’s vision.

Elon’s journey to success started in his early childhood, where he showed an aptitude for technology and entrepreneurship. He taught himself computer programming at the age of 12 and sold his first computer game, called “Blastar,” for $500 at the age of 14. This experience would lay the foundation for his future ventures and give him the confidence to pursue his dreams.

In 1995, Elon enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania where he studied Economics and Physics. He dropped out after two years to start his first company, Zip2, a web-based business directory that provided local newspapers with maps, directions, and business listings. The company was eventually sold to Compaq for nearly $300 million, providing Elon with his first significant financial success.

With the money from the sale of Zip2, Elon co-founded X.com, an online payment company that eventually became PayPal. The company revolutionized the way people made online transactions and was sold to eBay for $1.5 billion in 2002. This success established Elon as one of the most promising entrepreneurs in the tech industry.

However, Elon’s ambitions were not limited to the tech industry, and he soon set his sights on creating a sustainable future for humanity. In 2003, he founded Tesla Motors with the aim of producing electric cars that were not only environmentally friendly but also stylish and affordable. Despite facing numerous challenges, including production and financial issues, Elon and his team were able to turn Tesla into a major player in the automotive industry.

In addition to his work at Tesla, Elon also founded SpaceX with the goal of reducing the cost of space exploration and enabling the colonization of Mars. He invested a significant portion of his wealth into the company and pushed its team to work tirelessly towards the goal of making space travel accessible to the masses. Today, SpaceX is considered one of the most successful private space exploration companies in the world and has already made significant contributions to the advancement of space technology.

Elon’s drive to improve the world doesn’t stop there. He also co-founded Neuralink, a company that aims to develop technology that can be implanted into the human brain to enhance its capabilities. Additionally, he founded The Boring Company, which aims to reduce traffic congestion by creating a network of underground tunnels for highspeed transportation.

Despite his many successes, Elon has faced numerous challenges along the way. He has been criticized for his management style, and his companies have faced legal and financial difficulties. However, Elon has never let these setbacks deter him from pursuing his vision, and his unwavering commitment to his goals has inspired countless others to do the same.

HERE ARE A FEW THINGS ONE CAN LEARN FROM HIM:

• Think big: Elon Musk has a vision to change the world and he thinks big. He is always looking for ways to make a significant impact on the world. He believes that the only way to change the world is to aim for the stars.

• Be persistent: Elon Musk has faced numerous setbacks and failures throughout his career, but he never gave up. He is always pushing forward and striving to turn his ideas into reality.

• Embrace risk: Elon Musk is not afraid to take risks. He is always willing to put himself and his companies on the line in pursuit of his goals.

• Stay curious: Elon Musk is known for his insatiable curiosity and love of learning. He encourages others to stay curious and continue to learn and grow throughout their lives.

• Innovate: Elon Musk is always looking for ways to do things differently and better. He is constantly experimenting and pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

In conclusion, Elon Musk’s story is one of persistence, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to his vision. He has proven time and time again that success is not just about talent, but also about the ability to overcome challenges and pursue one’s dreams with tenacity and determination. Today, Elon is considered one of the most influential entrepreneurs in the world, and his companies are shaping the future in exciting and innovative ways. His story serves as a testament to the power of hard work and determination and is an inspiration to entrepreneurs and visionaries everywhere.

Kalee Boisvert has been in the financial industry for over 15 years, but her love of money started very young. Growing up in a single parent household, she watched her mom struggle with finances and wished there was something she could do to help. Around this time, she realized she needed to find her own way to save and earn if she wasn’t going to allow her circumstances to define her. And so, her own journey to financial literacy began.

Today, as a single mom and financially independent woman, Kalee is called to support women in their financial lives. Early on she had decided that no woman should ever feel anxious about having enough money to support themselves, their family, or their future. She felt the pull toward a career that would allow her to pursue this deeply personal goal to advocate for women and their money, which led her on the path to becoming a financial advisor. Being an advisor allows her to work directly with women to empower and support them and help put an end to any money-related stress and doubts.

Kalee continues to create initiatives to grow a community that brings together financially independent women that are stepping into their worth as serious earners and smart investors. Knowing that talking about money and investment topics can be intimidating and

overwhelming for women, five years ago she started women-only events to offer a safe and comfortable space for women. She continues to host these ongoing events on various wealth topics on a monthly basis that attract over 1000 women per year.

Kalee is also the creator and host of The Wealth and Wellness podcast – which brings together the important link between our net-worth and self-worth, and has seen downloads increase by 30% per month. As a strong proponent of financial literacy she writes articles on financial topics and has been published in Calgary’s Child magazine with her article called ‘Raising Money Savvy Children’. And appeared on the Global Morning show in Calgary to discuss ways to teach your children about money.

Kalee has spoken on various panels including the Divorce Symposium and Women in ETF’s about investing and money topics. She has

also been requested to speak for a variety of organizations and groups including the Young Women Lawyers Association, Articling Students Association, Young Women in Business, and Women in Energy on topics such as “Women Building Wealth”, “Investing for Success”, and “Money Mindset”. She is the sessional instructor teaching the ‘Investing 101’ course with the Alberta Securities Commission. And was recognized by Wealth Professionals as one of the 20 Rising Stars in Canada in 2020, and was the gold winner of the Young Achiever of the Year award.

To further her efforts supporting financial literacy, Kalee has two books being released in 2023 – a children’s picture book called MoneyWise Mabel’s Bursting Bank, and a non-fiction book called Make Money Your Thing! Which aims to build confidence and empower people in their financial lives.

DEPRESSION Overcoming

10 Practical Strategies for Managing Symptoms and Improving Mental Health

Depression is a common mental health condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It is characterized by feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of energy or motivation. If left untreated, depression can have a significant impact on your quality of life, relationships, and daily activities.

The good news Is that depression is treatable, and there are many effective strategies for fighting it. Here are some practical tips for managing depression:

EXERCISE REGULARLY

Physical activity is one of the most effective ways to combat depression. Exercise releases endorphins, the body’s natural mood boosters, and helps to reduce stress and anxiety. Aim to get at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise, such as brisk walking, every day.

GET ENOUGH SLEEP

Sleep is crucial for both physical and mental health, and a lack of sleep can make depres sion symptoms worse. Try to establish a consistent sleep routine, and aim for 7-9 hours of sleep each night.

EAT A BALANCED DIET

A balanced diet is important for overall health, and it can also have a positive impact on depression symptoms. Eat a variety of nutrient-dense foods, including plenty of fruits and vegetables, and limit your intake of sugary and processed foods.

CONNECT WITH OTHERS

Social support is essential for fighting depression. Spend time with friends and family, and consider joining a support group. Talking to others about your feelings can help you to feel less isolated and more connected.

PRACTICE MINDFULNESS

Mindfulness is a type of meditation that involves focusing on the present moment, without judgment. It has been shown to be an effective way to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Try incor porating mindfulness into your daily routine, through practices like deep breathing, yoga, or simply paying attention to your thoughts and feelings.

CHALLENGE NEGATIVE THOUGHTS

Depression often involves negative and unrealistic think ing patterns. Challenge these thoughts by questioning the evidence for them, looking for alternative explanations, and focusing on your strengths and achievements.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR PHYSICAL HEALTH

Depression can lead to a lack of motivation, which can make it difficult to take care of your physical health. However, taking care of your physical health can have a positive impact on your mental health. So, make sure to eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep.

SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP

If your depression symptoms are affecting your daily life, it may be helpful to seek professional help. Talk to your doctor or mental health provider, who can help you determine the best treatment options for you. This may include therapy, medication, or a combination of both.

CONSIDER COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES

In addition to conventional treatments, there are a number of complementary therapies that can help to reduce depression symptoms. These include light therapy, massage therapy, acupuncture, and herbal remedies. Talk to your doctor or mental health provider to determine if any of these therapies might be right for you.

FOCUS ON SELF-CARE

Taking care of yourself is an important part of fighting depression. This may include engaging in activities you enjoy, practicing self-care rituals, or simply taking time for yourself to relax and recharge.

Symptoms

Depression is a serious mental health condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It can cause a range of physical, emotional, and behavioral symptoms, some of which are listed below:

• Persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness

• Loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities

• Changes in appetite and sleep patterns

• Fatigue and low energy levels

• Difficulty concentrating and making decisions

• Restlessness and agitation

• Physical symptoms such as headaches or digestive problems

• Thoughts of suicide or self-harm

• Feelings of guilt or worthlessness

• Decreased libido

It’s important to note that these symptoms can vary in severity and frequency, and may not be present in every person with depression. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms and they’re affecting your daily life, it’s important to seek help from a mental health professional. Early treatment can greatly improve your chances of recovery.

In conclusion, depression is a treatable condition, and there are many effective strategies for managing it. By incorporating these tips into your daily routine, you can take control of your mental health and start living a more fulfilling life. However, it is important to remember that everyone’s experience with depression is unique, and what works for one person may not work for another. So, be patient with yourself, and don’t hesitate to reach out for help when you need it.

SPARTAN INTERNATIONAL

The Holistic Guide To Your Health & Wellbeing Today

Meet Oliver Rolfe, the Founder and CEO of Spartan International, which specialises in building, creating, and assisting new departments, divisions, and teams within the Global Equity space, as well as Life/ Career & Health/Wellbeing Guidance. Oliver is also a twotime published author, having published his first book ‘The Survivor’s Guide to Your Career Today’, which is a must-have career guide for 16-25 years old, at the end of 2019 (just before the pandemic struck). During this time, it allowed Oliver to write and focus on his second book “The Holistic Guide to Your Health and Wellbeing Today,” and was ranked 41st on the Amazon Best-selling charts when it was released at the end of 2022.

Oliver has also been featured in several prestigious newspapers throughout the world, including the New York Times, Bloomberg, The Trade News, EuroMoney, The Gulf Times, and many more. Over 21,000 people follow Oliver and Spartan on social media, and they also have a daily blog that receives 100,000’s of monthly views, a newsletter with over 14,000 subscribers, and a Spartan International YouTube channel.

In 2022 both Oliver and Spartan international have launched a new charitable trust named Education to Career (etc). Over the past six months or so, Spartan International has started an effort to offer every secondary school, business school, and university within England a free copy of Oliver’s first book, ‘The Survivor’s Guide To Your Career Today,’ to place within their libraries for the use of all of their students. Additionally, Oliver has created free online videos to guide students through each step of his book and has also included the ‘Survivor’s

Guide Presentation’ online for free, plus more. Additionally, both Oliver and Spartan are offering heavily reduced books for all students and places of education.

“The Holistic Guide to Your Health and Wellbeing Today”

A decade ago, my life changed forever. Now, using my personal experiences, professional knowledge and scientific studies, this book guides you through the minefield of information available to you and highlights the key aspects that assist complete and holistic health across our four core bodily systems – the physical, mental, energetic and emotional.

The Holistic Guide covers everything from how to improve your immune system, nutritional guidance, mental health, the chakra system, numerology, emotional intelligence, advanced body language, deep breathing, meditation and more.

Working with psychologist David Moxon, international numerologist Ann Perry, Darren Rolfe from the addiction rehabilitation centre Steps Together and international medium and healer Sara Leslie, we have created a complete guide for your holistic health.

“The choices in life are always yours and yours alone. Do not let others define who you are; let YOU define the person you want to become.”

Take Action Today!

Available now on Amazon and at all book shops.

Oliver Rolfe

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

SOFT CLOUDS

Customer Expectations in 2023 with Great CX Strategies.

Exceeding

86% of consumers would leave a brand after as few as two poor experiences, and US businesses lose around $35.3 billion annually in customer churn. 2023 will be a defining year for technology, platform, and solution vendors to demonstrate value to their clients, which is why providing excellent customer experiences (CX) has become so important. With the current economic uncertainty, clients are scrutinizing their CX investments and looking at customer retention for better ROI. This is where SoftClouds, based in California - an innovative and well experienced CX solutions provider excels in.

SoftClouds provides implementation services and CX solutions for enterprise companies around the world and is led by an industry leading CX expert, Balaji Ramachandran aka Bala, its CEO. The organization has been in the business for over 17 years and is based in San Diego, California with offices in India and Japan.

Bala tells us that businesses must be very careful in choosing the right technologies and platforms that enable them to adjust quickly to the ever-changing market. Customers are looking for instant gratification and personalized experiences. These requirements push businesses to work continuously to improve and enhance CX. Customers expect quick, immediate, efficient, and effective customer service, which means businesses must be careful in choosing the right platforms and services for their CX, and the right implementation partner who excels in CX solutioning.

Bala predicts that in 2023, technology will help companies improve on their CX. Here are some futuristic CX trends & solutions that will help improve businesses:

ENHANCE INTERACTIONS WITH BOTS:

Users no longer need to search a company’s website for data. By using a familiar discussion interface, they can easily communicate with a bot that’s integrated with the business’s information system and can give hyperindividualized responses.

HUMANIZE DIGITAL EXPERIENCES:

Creating offerings that adapt to shifting consumer tastes and behaviour is a prerequisite for personalization. Instead of lumping people into larger groups, AI-based personalization attempts to give the best CX in real-time, tailored to that individual’s needs.

IMPLEMENT AI TECHNOLOGIES:

A company’s competitive advantage depends on its capacity to scale up the collection, analysis, and use of individualized data to improve the customer journey. By using AI to individualize CX based on data, companies can experience a multi-fold increase in ROI.

IMPROVE PRIVACY & SECURITY:

86% of consumers are concerned about data privacy, 78% fear the amount of data collected, and 40% say they don’t trust brands to use their data ethically. Concerns about data privacy are justified. Businesses must make sure to invest in customer data privacy and security.

Balaji Ramachandran aka Bala CEO, Softclouds

CONVERSATIONAL VOICE TECHNOLOGY:

It is easy to build solutions that connect with humans in a natural & conversational setting. Natural language processing (NLP) and conversational AI are being integrated with machine learning and natural language understanding (NLU).

PROVIDE OMNICHANNEL EXPERIENCES:

Clients who engage in omnichannel shopping tend to spend more money than those who only shop through a single channel. Not only do they spend 4% more in-store, but they also spend 10% more online than single-channel shoppers. Furthermore, the more channels they use, the more they tend to spend.

EVALUATE YOUR AUDIENCE:

Users are growing tired of being followed online by ads for items they sought weeks ago or inundated with ads for products they’re not interested in. Instead of cookies tracking their audience, companies can use AI to evaluate and determine their audience’s needs in real time.

DEVICE-AGNOSTIC EXPERIENCES:

Clients want the freedom to choose from various payment methods or shopping channels. Creating seamless and device-independent shopping experiences at the physical or digital point of sale is essential for businesses hoping to attract and hold the attention of clients.

SWITCH TO SELF-SERVICE:

88% of global consumers expect businesses to have a self-support portal. Self-service solutions focused on client success are being developed by organizations with the use of modern technologies.

SoftClouds strongly believes that personalization will remain the top priority for loyalty, and humanized digital experiences will become much more important for next-generation CX. For this to happen, businesses need to embed the importance of CX across the entire enterprise and unify customer data to provide the best experiences. Regardless of the channel, customers desire for instant gratification is a common requirement throughout all interactions with their favourite brands.

The experts at SoftClouds recommend that businesses stop isolating their customers and start providing them with the right resources to achieve the best

CX. By giving customers what they need to meet their needs swiftly & successfully 24x7 a customer can provide effective self-service that liberates customers using connected gadgets or payment methods. Therefore, the need for businesses to invest in futuristic and strategic CX platforms and solutions is significant for them to be successful.

SOFTCLOUDS – THE EXPERT CX SOLUTIONS PROVIDER

SoftClouds learned early on the importance of customer experience, especially at the enterprise level. SoftClouds was founded in 2005 by its CEO, Balaji Ramachandran who is deeply focused on creating excellent & exceptional CX solutions. He has 25+ years of entrepreneurial and innovation leadership experience that has helped shape today’s CX software industry. Bala has a solid foundation of implementing customer relationship management for SMBs and enterprises.

As an innovative software solutions provider, SoftClouds delivers cloud, mobile, and digital solutions for CX and digital transformation that improve corporate profitability. The offerings SoftClouds provides its clients with in-depth business performance data to make their analysis quickly and efficiently. SoftClouds is very proud to say that enterprises choose SoftClouds as their trusted CX solutions provider.

SoftClouds believes in guiding their clients through their customer journey by delivering innovative, creative, and consultative solutions. Team SoftClouds enables clients to be successful by embracing their vision. With decades of experience and deep industryspecific expertise, the solution architects at SoftClouds provide Oracle and Salesforce implementations and custom Apps/ERP/SaaS & Mobile solutions development to help their clients achieve their goals.

SoftClouds has a very well experienced team that has delivered successful solutions for many markets and industries. SoftClouds offers flexible business models (fixed bid, time, and material) and have multiple execution locations (on-site, off-site, offshore). The main offices of SoftClouds are based in San Diego, CA, USA with global offices in Japan and two offices in India (Hyderabad & Delhi).