Ambar Balderas - The 10 Most Impactful Managing Directors Powering Business in 2026-compressed

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FROM THE EDITOR

Guiding Business Growth With Precision Leadership

Today's Managing Directors do not act as mere administrators of company matters but as agents of

change who propel the organization forward to achieve its goals and grow.Their power is in their capability to combine vision with action in such a way that their strategic plans bear fruit. What makes these leaders special is the ability to combine preciseness and innovative approaches in order to create organizations that can succeed in the conditions of uncertainty. They foster resilience through buildingadaptabilityintotheverycoreoftheirorganizationsandencouragingcreativityandtalentswithin the organization. The impact of their choices influences the industries, communities, and even the entire economy far beyond the scope of quarterly reports. Their success is about more than just profit margins –they create value for stakeholders and the society at large through their work. Through embracing the change,theydefinethenewstandardsofleadershipintheworldofconstanttransformations.

AtCIOViews,wehonortheseempoweringleadersbydedicatingthisissuetitled“The10MostImpactful ManagingDirectorsPoweringBusinessin2026”tothem.Featuringasthecoverstory,wehavecovered the successful & motivating journey ofAmbar Balderas, Chief Operating Officer at The Debt Defenders. We have also included the inspiring stories of Lizette Ibarra, CEO and Founder of Latina Chief; Elaine King,CEOandFounderofFamily&MoneyMatters™;EricStanley,FounderandCEOofMinorityMoves Network; Frank Corcoran, CEO of Sierra Vista Hospital; Marloes Knippenberg, CEO of Kerten Hospitality; Fatima Hasan, Managing Director at Blue Line Security Solutions, LLC; ReemAsaad, Vice President for Middle East &Africa at Cisco; Karina Erlandson, Director of Human Resources at Novaria Group;andVictoriaJenkins,CEOofUnhidden.

CIOViews is a business magazine that mainly focuses on business leaders, their journey, views on current economic states, and all other relevant subjects that refer to the business world. Our goal is to be a leading sourceofinformationdedicatedtoprovidingourreaderswithdetailedperspectivesandviewsofsuccessful business leaders who are transforming the business outlook and redefining their goals. With exclusive editionsonvariousindustrieslikesoftware,education,healthcare,technology,realestate,andmanymore, CIOViewsisdriventopromoteexcellenceintheworldofbusiness.

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“THE

10. Ambar Balderas

22. Lizette Ibarra

Elaine King 26.

Reem Asaad 50.

Eric Stanley 30.

Frank Corcoran 36.

Marloes Knippenberg 40. Fatima Hasan 44.

Karina Erlandson 54.

Victoria Jenkins 58.

Ambar L. Balderas

Ambar L. Balderas

The First-Gen COO Scaling

High-Volume Operations by Weaponizing Empathy

Chief Operating Officer, The Debt Defenders

Aprimary force shaping the leadership philosophy of Ambar L. Balderas, Chief

Operating Officer at The Debt Defenders, was adversity early in life. She grew up in a home where safety was inconsistent, marked by financial instability and frequent volatility. When she was twelve, the FBI raided her home. As the only bilingual child present, she translated for her mother while agents explained the allegations. One of them looked directly at her and asked, "Do you feel safe at home?" She answered, "Yes."

After her father was sentenced to eight years in prison, the family's challenges were exacerbated. Although the youngest of four,Ambar stepped into a leadership role long before she held a formal designation, supporting the household by cooking, cleaning, and working through high school while caring for her mother, who struggled with depression. Many evenings were spent listening to her mother's grief, forcingAmbar to offer stability before she fully understood it herself.

Despite these circumstances, she maintained a 4.0 GPA, graduated second in her class, and became the commanding officer of her Naval Junior ROTC unit. Under her leadership, the unit won its annual military inspection, earning her an appointment to the United States NavalAcademy.

As a first-generation MexicanAmerican, she was surrounded by people who considered survival as the end goal.Ambar chose to see it as a starting point. She was determined to break generational patterns and build a different future defined by possibility.

The NavalAcademy and New Horizons

The NavalAcademy was the first time Ambar was surrounded by relentless ambition, placing her among top performers from every background imaginable. For someone shaped by her upbringing, the experience was both inspiring and intimidating. It quickly exposed gaps in her exposure to the world because she had never even learned how to swim, just because access had never been

available. Rather than discouraging her, the environment humbled her, honing her self-awareness and making it clear that growth would have to be pursued intentionally.

The experience also redefined her understanding of leadership. Watching both exceptional and ineffective leaders up close taught her that authority alone does not inspire people, but empathy, accountability, and clear communication do. Her work as a Sexual Assault Response Guide and Peer Educator deepened her ability to handle sensitive situations with care.At the same time, exposure to the military's focus on technology sparked a lasting interest in operational strategy. These experiences taught her that the most effective leaders do not choose between people and systems. They build both.

Dening Success and Industry Trends

Ambar defines success by impact more than titles or traditional business metrics. Nothing resets her perspective more than seeing a member of her team achieve a milestone like buying their first car, purchasing a home, or reaching a level of stability where they can finally exhale. Because she grew up in survival mode, she views success as creating freedom and peace for others. When she thinks about wealth, she thinks about having the time to be present with family and live without fear or scarcity. One of her proudest accomplishments is breaking generational cycles for her own children.

As she considers her goals, she notes that "Performance answers the question, 'What did you achieve?' Impact answers the question, 'How many lives, teams, and futures are better because you were here?'”

This focus on impact shapes her view of future industry trends. Over the next decade, she foresees a continued movement within the debt management sector toward consumer-centered solutions,

transparency, and education. Financial hardship is incredibly stressful, and consumers are frequently presented with conflicting advice or predatory practices.

While many debt settlement companies and credit providers

offer legitimate value, the challenge lies in ensuring consumers have access to trustworthy, tailored solutions rather than a one-size-fitsall approach. This philosophy is why The Debt Defenders built their model around three objectives: Resolve Your Debts, Protect Your Rights, and Help You Rebuild Your Credit. Their internal Standards of Excellence, which are Validate, Empower, and Provide Relief, reflect this belief.

Looking ahead, she hopes the industry continues moving away from transactional thinking and toward a holistic approach that recognizes the human realities behind financial hardship. The organizations that will have the greatest impact over the next decade will be the ones that stop seeing people as accounts and start seeing them as individuals.

Professional Evolution

Ambar's professional journey was not conventional. While attending the Academy, she became unexpectedly pregnant and faced a decision that altered the course of her life.Abrief public service announcement she often shares is that young women should always ask whether medications can affect their birth control, something she learned the hard way. She chose motherhood over the future she had envisioned, leaving theAcademy to embark on an uncertain journey as a young single parent.

That period was one of the most difficult chapters of her life. She was grieving her expected future while trying to build a new one from scratch. While raising her daughter, working full-time, and pursuing her education, she adopted a simple philosophy where, as long as she

completed at least one class each semester, she was making progress. Some semesters, life became overwhelming, and she had to withdraw entirely. But she never stopped trying. Reflecting on those years,Ambar remarks, "Your dreams are achievable, no matter how long they've been waiting for you to believe in them again."

Professionally, she started in retail and customer service before moving into administrative support and the legal industry, naturally gravitating toward operations, process improvement, and organizational strategy. Ironically, her career outpaced her education. Before earning her Bachelor's degree in Management Information Systems, she had already helped transform a consumer law firm from a startup into a multi-state practice operating in more than 25 states, advancing from Legal Operations Manager to Vice

President of Operations. By the time she encountered many operational concepts in the classroom, she had already spent years applying them in the real world. What could have been a disadvantage became an asset, giving her a practical perspective that continues to shape how she leads today.

Eventually, she joined The Debt Defenders as Director of Operations and later became Chief Operating Officer after engineering a dramatic profit turnaround, strengthening operational infrastructure, and driving unprecedented growth. She also completed her Master of Science in Information Science because she believes that if she expects her team to embrace continuous improvement, she must model it herself.

Balancing Vision and Execution

As a senior executive,Ambar

operates at the intersection of strategy, culture, and problemsolving. She believes sustainable growth requires what she calls radical accountability and innovation, balancing long-term vision with disciplined execution.

At The Debt Defenders, the organization built a highly customized technology ecosystem tailored to a high-volume consumer law practice. Yet forAmbar, technology is effective only when people understand and trust it. This belief led her to create Debt Defenders University, an internal training platform that centralizes policies, procedures, and institutional knowledge to reduce reliance on informal information sharing.

The firm expanded this approach by developing a customAI-powered learning agent within the platform so team members can clarify processes and troubleshoot issues in real time. Building on that success, the organization is extending the concept

into a client-facing education platform supported by anAI agent designed with clear guardrails and strong data governance. ForAmbar, innovation should expand access to knowledge and remove unnecessary barriers.

Equally important is radical accountability. The firm uses performance scorecards, structured decision frameworks, and transparent expectations so every team member understands both their goals and their authority. Employees are encouraged to develop expertise beyond their immediate roles in areas like automation and workflow optimization. This combination of clarity and ownership allows individuals to operate independently, freeing leadership to focus on strategy. True operational scale comes from creating an environment where both innovation and accountability coexist.As she explains, "Leadership is less about carrying the raid and more about teaching the team how to clear it without you."

Integrating Personal Priorities

Growing up in an environment defined by survival mode,Ambar saw firsthand how unaddressed trauma, chronic stress, and emotional exhaustion affect families. Those experiences molded her foundational view that mental health, physical health, and personal fulfillment are not separate from professional success; they are prerequisites for it.

Ambar finds balance by investing heavily in the things that energize her outside of work. She is a fitness enthusiast, a gamer, and a raver. While strength training taught her discipline, gaming introduced her to her partner and helped her build the family she cherishes today. Music festivals offer her a rare opportunity to disconnect from daily responsibilities and be present. For Ambar, "PLUR isn't just for raves. Peace, Love, Unity, and Respect turn good organizations into extraordinary ones.”

She strongly rejects the outdated belief that success requires constant burnout. If an organization consistently depends on people sacrificing their health and personal lives to achieve results, she views that as a symptom of ineffective systems rather than exceptional performance. By intentionally building environments where people can excel professionally without neglecting their personal lives, she ensures her team shows up stronger and more invested.

Ultimately, she works so hard to create opportunities, healing, stability, and freedom for the people she loves. She wants her children to inherit possibilities, a strong foundation, and the time to build lives they genuinely enjoy.

Team Motivation Strategies

Arecurring mistake organizations make is assuming everyone is motivated by the same things. In reality, drive comes from different sources: recognition, ownership, competition, purpose, or connection.

At The Debt Defenders, motivation starts with understanding the individual. The company builds systems to reward different styles, utilizing transparent KPI scorecards for competitive spirits, and clientexperience initiatives for purposedriven employees.Apeer-driven recognition program also allows team members to publicly reward coworkers organically.

Furthermore,Ambar shares that approach also incorporates the Enneagram, using personality insights during coaching, evaluations, and conflict resolution. ToAmbar,

effective communication is about whether the other person can receive it in a way that resonates with them. Understanding how different people process feedback and stress allows leaders to communicate with greater empathy.

She also believes it is vital to celebrate employees who are exceptional individual contributors but do not seek leadership titles or the spotlight. When people feel seen, understood, and rewarded in ways that align with who they are, engagement becomes authentic and high performance becomes sustainable.

Overcoming Career Challenges

One of the most challenging moments inAmbar's career came after five years spent helping to scale a consumer law firm into a multi-state practice. She had invested an enormous amount of herself in the organization, helping launch secondary business ventures and becoming deeply integrated with the founders' personal finances.

The true test began when the firm pursued an expansion opportunity involving a potential third partner, bringing in an outside individual to evaluate the organization. Initially, Ambar welcomed the support to help prepare for the next stage of growth. Instead, it quickly spiraled into a deeply disappointing leadership experience as the workplace culture shifted.

Over a short period, she witnessed behavior that crossed serious ethical lines, including discriminatory treatment toward employees, manipulation, and an environment

driven by fear and division. Feeling a responsibility to protect her team, Ambar carefully documented and formally escalated these issues. Looking back, she realizes she relied too heavily on her history with the firm, assuming the facts would speak for themselves.

They did not. Instead, the response became a masterclass in how powerfully greed can influence decision-making. The subsequent investigation felt entirely performative, conducted by an attorney who maintained an active business relationship with the firm. The concerns were dismissed, an employee who reported discriminatory remarks was terminated, andAmbar was offered a path to quietly step away from the conflict, remaining financially secure by continuing to oversee the partners' side ventures.

ForAmbar, this was the moment of truth.As she reflects: "Culture is the sum of the decisions leaders make when money, growth, politics, and principles come into conflict. Anyone can talk about integrity when it is convenient. The real test comes when integrity becomes expensive."

Because the easy, lucrative path directly conflicted with her values, she chose to walk away entirely. While leaving was one of the hardest professional decisions of her career, it was the easiest from a moral standpoint. If success requires compromising your values, the cost is too high.

Watching the aftermath unfold was heartbreaking, but it ultimately reaffirmed her belief that culture

always matters. Many of the original team members left, the ethical issues escalated, and the resulting fallout crippled the stability of the business, proving that shortcuts in integrity always come due.

Leading Global Teams

Leading globally taught The Debt Defenders that while businesses operate internationally, leadership must remain human-centered. Too often, companies treat global talent as a transactional assembly line, isolating roles into narrow tasks.Ambar's team rejected that model. They rebuilt their international training from the ground up, moving away from rote tasks to teach the foundational "why" behind the work. By helping global team members gain a profound understanding of U.S. debt structures and their clients' emotional experiences, the quality of decision-making and communication improved dramatically.

Ultimately, leading globally has proven that when you invest deeply in people, they rise to the occasion, regardless of where they are in the world.

Legacy and Authenticity

Among her proudest achievements at The Debt Defenders are eliminating approximately $31 million in debt for consumers across Texas in 2025 alone and expanding operations into Georgia. Behind those numbers are families who can finally sleep at night.

As a first-generation Mexican-American woman, Ambar is aware that statistically, her journey is uncommon. One of the biggest impacts she hopes her leadership has is very precise: "Sí se puede." She wants other Latinos and Latinas who grew up in difficult environments to see someone like them and realize that their starting point does not define their ceiling.

She hopes her journey challenges the outdated belief that empathy and operational excellence cannot coexist, proving that leadership need not look cold, transactional, or robotic to be effective. Her advice to aspiring leaders is to preserve their authenticity. Newer generations of professionals value connection, transparency, and personality over a hyperpolished facade.

Authenticity alone, however, is not enough. Vision without execution is just a good idea, and culture without accountability is just a slogan. She stresses, "Great leaders must build the systems, processes, and operational infrastructure necessary to turn ideas into sustainable results.”

The legacy Ambar hopes to leave is proof that highperforming organizations do not have to sacrifice humanity to succeed, measuring an enterprise's ultimate value by the transformation of the individuals who pour their labor into it. As Ambar concludes thoughtfully, "The most powerful thing you can build is not a company; it is the people who discover what they are capable of while building it with you."

CEO & Founder, Latina Chief

Lizette Ibarra

On a Mission to Assist Companies in their Pursuit of Building Diverse, Equal, and Inclusive Organizations

The diversity of our life, work, and cultural experiences, as well as our individual differences, drive each of us to view circumstances, opportunities, and challenges through a distinct lens, leading to various ways of thinking and making decisions. Future-proof organizations exhibit a high level of competency in their capacity to capitalize on the advantages that come from this variety of vision, thought, and viewpoint, utilizing this rich array of resources to generate greater innovation and commercial performance.

As the CEO and Founder of Latina Chief, Lizette Ibarra is on a mission to close the gender and ethnic leadership gap and assist her clients in building diverse, bold leadership teams. Latina Chief is a retained executive search firm that values diversity. It holds that having more Hispanics in leadership positions is not only the moral thing to do, but also the sensible thing to do and a necessity for business success to promote economic growth. Latinos account for 19.2% of the US

population and they are awfully represented in corporateAmerica –only 4.7% of them are part of it. Hispanics are an economic power, with 2.8 trillion dollars in GDP and over 2 trillion in purchasing power. The company's business concept is straightforward: its candidate slates include the most qualified Latinos and Latinas in each sector.

The Road Leading to Entrepreneurship

Being a leader or entrepreneur is one of the most challenging and interesting roads one can take. In order to handle the stage where as a mother, she needed a more flexible work schedule, Lizette realized she had to leave her corporate career. She had always believed that if other people could be successful business owners, she could too. Lizette has never experienced any kind of fear.

As a businesswoman, Lizette constantly considers the worst-case scenario before making a significant

choice. She decides to “go on” if the response reassures her that neither she nor anyone else will perish, and that nobody's integrity will be jeopardized. She asserts, "I have always liked to take the road less traveled and go against the current, because I believe it is there where the real opportunities are. Of course, I cannot say that all my decisions have been correct, I have made many mistakes that have helped me grow and do better next time. I would not change a thing of what I've done in my professional life since everything has given me one of two things: learning or satisfaction."

Lizette's favorite definition of leadership says, "Aleader takes people where they would never go on their own." (Hanz Finzel). Leadership has nothing to do with you and everything to do with one's impact on those who follow him or her and entrust his or her vision to lead the way. She further adds, "As a leader, you must ensure that your team and people are better off after every interaction with you.”

An Inspiring Journey towards Success

Since she turned 18, Lizette has been a worker. She began working as an English teacher in a kindergarten while still in college. When Lizette graduated, she began to work in the corporate world for two fantastic firms, Eastman Kodak and Johnson & Johnson, in the fields of human resources and talent acquisition. She was given managerial responsibilities at a very young age, and about 8 years later, she decided to enter the field of executive search and management consulting since she needed a more flexible work schedule after the birth of her first child. Lizette has worked for boutiques and global search firms, as well as founded and developed two executive search firms that grew rapidly, both of them founded on women and diversity long before the term became fashionable. She has also had the privilege of serving on the boards of several non-profit organizations, which has been a transformative experience in her professional career.

"I've always believed and witnessed firsthand that diversity is an imperative for company growth and for societal equality."- Lizette

Every position Lizette has held has been demanding and fulfilling, but she is especially proud of having built her first business around exceptional professional women who had left their corporate jobs to become mothers or wives and were turned down by many employers when they wanted to resume their careers because they had been "inactive" for three or four years. Because she experienced that herself, Lizette hired those women, in her organization, who were dealing with similar difficulties. She created a company that provided access to these amazing ladies with impressive backgrounds. She says, "We taught them the search business, and we built

a very successful company together."

Back then, remote or flexible work was not really an option in many corporations, and Lizette envisioned an organization where women could be women, wives, mothers, professionals, and human beings. She is incredibly proud of that, and now, with Latina Chief, she and her team have assisted many corporations in becoming more diverse and debunked the myth that there is not enough Latino and women leaders available to fill executive positions.

Growing as Woman Business Leader

For the most part, as a woman, Lizette has found more opportunities than obstacles, but it hasn't been easy. Although organizations have made good strides toward gender equality, most leadership tables are not set to accommodate minority women by default. She says, "We have to find ways to get a seat and find our voice at the table. And it is through my work that I want to help correct that imbalance by bringing more Latinas into leadership roles and empowering more women to believe they can and should have a seat at the table." When Lizette decided to quit her corporate career to find more balance and then found success as an entrepreneur, she promised herself that she would find a way to help more women climb the ladder to success.

Lizette envisions a society in which the capacity for leadership will continue to change in favor of embracing empathy and exemplifying leadership in its broadest sense. ESG regulations will continue to be a key priority for corporations and directors since it is crucial to take into account the regional differences that shape global priorities. Lizette says that the entire business ecosystem will put a lot of pressure on organizations to act ethically and responsibly towards the environment, its social components (employees,

suppliers, customers, and the community), and to uphold the highest standards of governance as a result of the acceleration of digitalization.

Take on Challenges

"When you face a challenge, you have two options: undertake it or walk away. If you walk away, you will very likely regret not knowing the outcome," says Lizette. She further adds that if one undertakes it, then he or she will know for sure. Lizette has faced challenges where she has found herself scared and overwhelmed to death, but in those circumstances, she turned on the volume of her intuition and her internal voice. This is a lesson that she has learned over time and through experience. Lizette has always valued the opinion and advice of the people she trusts, but early in her career, she believes it was more about seeking validation. Now, she quiets the external noise and pays more attention to her internal voice.

As per Lizette, she has always treasured a piece of honest advice, but she also learned to dissect who she can trust, and after receiving input, it is then that she tunes in with her intuition.

An Opportunity to Connect with People

Success, for Lizette, only has an internal thermometer. She opines, "Success is not measured by your material possessions or how fancy your career or title may be. Success is being at peace, being whole, happy, and fulfilled with who you are. It is knowing that every day, you have done your very best and tried your very best. Success is also knowing that you can make a difference in the lives of others and that you choose to leave a positive mark." She also believes that the nature of her career has led her to interact with hundreds, thousands of people, including candidates, opinion leaders,

colleagues, business leaders, and those associated with non-profit organizations. She points out that continuing and nurturing these relationships even after many years in the business is a good thermometer of personal and professional satisfaction. She opines, "The true satisfaction of my work has been having the opportunity to touch the lives of many, many people."

Balancing Personal and Professional Life

Not many know this about Lizette, but when she was little, she wanted to be a professional tennis player. She recalls, "I did not have the opportunity to learn the sport or even take lessons because back then tennis was not a very accessible sport in my hometown in Mexico."

So, when she moved to Florida at the age of 40, she decided to grab a racket and take a few lessons.At first, Lizette thought it was ridiculous and that she would not be able to play well, but she still wanted to give it a try; “Ever since, tennis has become a passion of mine.” There is nothing there but the court, the opponent, and Lizette's focus on the game, so it is both highly exciting and calming for her.

Lizette feels that her love of tennis is her Zen zone, where she does not have to concentrate on anything but the game. It gives her balance and keeps her mind, soul, and body in check.

Lizette has been playing the sport for 8 years. She now plays at a competitive level, and she leads adult mixed doubles teams. They have won local, state, and national championships. From a leadership standpoint, Lizette feels her tennis experience has also been very educational. She shares, "I must strategize for every match, study the opponent team, and select the players and positions. It very much resembles the focus I must have every

day to deliver the best services to my clients."

Breaking Traditional Norms

In the future, Lizette sees herself continuing to debunk the myth that not enough Latino/Hispanic talent is available for executive positions and, at the same time, assisting corporations in becoming more successful and innovative by adding Hispanics to their leadership teams.

The Hispanic population is projected to grow 54% by 2027, and Latino GDP is the single fastest-growing GDP worldwide with a striking 2.8 trillion dollars. Corporations lacking Latino leaders are missing opportunities for

growth, and according to Lizette, her company, Latina Chief, is there to help them correct that imbalance.

Message toAspiring Businesswomen

"Find your passion, what moves you to the core,” Lizette says in her message to aspiring businesswomen. “You shouldn't have to try that hard: your passion might be right in front of your face. Your passion is unique to you, and that's the beauty of it: find a niche within a niche and build your dreams around it!”

Elaine King

Empowering Latinas Through Financial Well-Being and Beyond

CEO & Founder, Family & Money

Eric Stanley

Celebrating Individual Diversity and Ensuring Inclusion is the Choice Companies Make

Diversity isn't a fleeting fad or

the most recent workplace trend that a company should aim to implement. Race, gender, sexual orientation, age, education, financial origins, personalities, passions, and so on are all equally relevant in contemporary society.

Diversity is a must-have rather than a nice-to-have. Strong factual evidence is being presented to business executives that a diverse workforce has a significant effect on their bottom line. Companies that struggle with diversity or merely pay lip attention to it are penalised with subpar results. Organizations, on the other hand, are not enthusiastic about I & D. Despite years of diversity efforts, the black presence in Fortune 500 firms in the United States has fallen from 2012 to 2020 and remains anaemic at 1%,

despite the fact that the black population is 13.4%.

An Indiana native and experienced business leader, , Robert Eric Stanley foundedM2N, a black-owned business. Eric's life experiences as one of the only black males in primarily white areas inspired M2N | Minority Moves Network. Eric's leadership team is made up of two former classmates from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana.

To guarantee that the appropriate candidates are offered the correct opportunities, M2N's data-driven hiring solutions prioritise quality over quantity. MPower, the M2N career platform, facilitates long-term relationships between professionals and business leadership, resulting in a more diverse workforce.

MPower is a vibrant online community that fosters a sense of community and embraces the entire range and intersectionality of diversity.

Stepping Up to Bring Change

Eric's career began in sales with Northwestern Mutual and then Johnson & Johnson. Since that time, he has held various successful sales roles in companies across industries. He says, "The recognition I remember most fondly was one of the many trips I won as a top sales performer to Hawaii. I took my mom as my guest to show my appreciation for her unwavering love, hard work, and sacrifices she made to expand my opportunities.”

He worked as an enterprise sales leader for a corporate board software firm before founding M2N | Minority Moves Network. He saw fewer than 5 people who looked like him around the corporate board table over his 5 years in that job and hundreds of talks. This event solidified his understanding of the importance of making a concerted effort to link diverse people to business jobs. "Representation at all levels is key to building sustainable and transformational change within the corporate landscape," Eric explains. Eric's turning point came with the

assassination of George Floyd in the summer of 2020. He spent the following year gathering data, confirming his hypotheses, interacting with investors, and putting up a viable business strategy. He committed to M2N full-time in the summer of 2021 and began developing the MPower platform. Eric is willing to share. M2N is nearing completion of its Friends & Family round, employs five people, has signed its first statement of work with corporate partners, and the MPower app will be available for beta testing in June 2022.

M2N

Diversity is a fact. Inclusion is a choice. M2N redefines the staffing space by building products that celebrate individual diversity and ensure inclusion is the choice companies make.As Eric states,a comprehensive approach is the only way to achieve sustainable change.

Ÿ M2N's career platform, MPower is a members first solution to guide long term connections between professionals and corporate leadership for an inclusive workforce.

Ÿ MPower 's dynamic online talent community nurtures a shared experience and accommodates the full spectrum and intersectionality of diversity.

Ÿ M2N's proprietary data-driven hiring solutions prioritize quality over quantity to ensure the right candidates are offered the right roles.

Ÿ M2N's Bridge Services support corporate leaders' strategic plans for transformational change.

The Work at M2N | Minority Moves Network

Eric's primary task as M2N's Founder/CEO is to guarantee that his team gets the resources and support they need to succeed. The M2N staff is extremely competent and dedicated to its purpose of fostering diversity in the workplace. Each of them adds a unique set of talents and views to the company, which are critical to its continuing growth and success. Eric also works on forming partnerships with businesses that share M2N's objectives in order to assist them in

developing an inclusive culture with skilled and varied personnel and Bridge Services.

The most important acknowledgment Eric has gotten as the founder of M2N is discovering individuals who share his purpose and want to assist in inspiring change for all of society's communities. Every day, Eric reminds himself and his team of the following quote by philanthropist, Lynne Twist: "If you are here to help, please leave. If you are here because your liberation is bound up in ours, please stay." He believes that when the liberation of others aligns with his, it is the most significant recognition, he can receive.

An Efficient Work Balance

"I need to do a better job at finding balance," says Eric. He goes on to say that building a business from the ground up takes a lot of time and effort. However, he just began to conduct his weekly leadership checkin meeting as a 'walk and talk.' Due to the fact that M2N is a remote company, the team spends a lot of time on video calls. So, instead of watching another hour of Zoom, they can all enjoy some fresh air and exercise while still being connected.

Eric motivates the M2N team by reiterating the company's goal and emphasising the good impact they are having on the communities."I am intentional about giving every member of the team opportunities to be creative, have agency, and share their ideas," says Eric.

From the very start, as per Eric, M2N has had a culture guide in place to set the right expectations and hold him, as a leader, accountable. He states, "Our benefits and policies are

inclusive and flexible to accommodate different life circumstances, family structures, and individual needs." As M2N grows, its team members will directly benefit from additional compensation, bonuses, increased company perks, and benefits to support the team's wellbeing.

Challenges and Success

While having years of experience, Eric still believes that he is just getting started. He feels proud of the work he has done in his previous roles. He asserts, "I am proud of my family and how I have shown up as a father. But my journey towards moving the needle and addressing the systematic barriers for diverse professionals is just beginning."

Eric thinks that facing problems makes you stronger and that conquering them allows you to develop superhero abilities.As a black male in primarily white surroundings, he has learned to overcome institutional hurdles by utilising his situational awareness, self-reflection, and high energy.

Eric made it a point to cultivate a strong network of mentors, sponsors, and friends to assist him on his path. And he constantly asks, "How Can I Help You?" at the end of every conversation, knowing that by working together, any hurdle can be surmounted.

One of the major problems he has experienced as a black founder, and one that he hears from others, is the lack of access to financial investment. As a career sales professional, Eric understands that every 'no' leads to a 'yes,' and this mindset has been important in his ability to gather the required cash to launch M2N.

However, with underrepresented entrepreneurs, the structural impediments that exist in the workforce are exacerbated.

He asserts, "Success is a strong word, because it will take time to achieve what we have set out to do with M2N. I will benchmark success by how much meaningful progress we can make in removing systemic barriers for underrepresented communities." Eric is confident that M2N will be the disruptor needed to make a real difference.

AVision to Create Opportunities

Eric wants to use M2N's MPower app to create a significant impact network for a variety of professionals. He will give the firm's MPower members access to a comprehensive collection of services and experiences tailored to their unique living experiences.

Eric aims to help corporate leaders accomplish transformative change and establish an inclusive workforce by cultivating long-term connections built on trust and psychological safety. He shares, "I would like to encourage aspiring business leaders to allow themselves to be vulnerable to create meaningful connections with their team members and customers."

In the end, Ericwishes to contribute to a collective effort where his children, along every other child, truly has true access to opportunity and are confident in the value they bring to the world.

Frank Corcoran

Driving Positive Change through Strategic Leadership

Being at the forefront of the healthcare industry is a formidable yet fulfilling task. The role demands a unique blend of expertise, skills, and personal qualities to drive positive change in patient care, organizational effectiveness, and overall health outcomes. In this feature, we delve into the inspiring journey of Frank Corcoran, CEO of Sierra Vista Hospital and Clinics, as he navigates the complex landscape of healthcare leadership.

In 2018, Frank Corcoran joined Sierra Vista Hospital as a Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) as part of a Turnaround Team led by Quorum Health Resources, now known as Ovation Healthcare.At that time, the hospital was facing financial difficulties, with only 5 days of cash on hand. In order to address these challenges, a loan was secured to fund a $65 million expansion project, aimed at replacing a 70-year-old building. However, realizing the need for financial prudence, the expansion was scaled down to a $40 million project, marking the beginning of a financial turnaround.

In 2019, Frank transitioned to another project in a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) capacity, focusing on a different turnaround initiative. However, in 2021, he returned to Sierra Vista Hospital as the permanent CEO. Through the collective efforts, Sierra Vista Hospital has made significant progress in improving the hospital's financial stability. Currently, it has achieved an impressive 135 days of cash on hand.

Forging a Path of Compassion

and Leadership

Frank embarked on his professional journey in the Blood Banking Industry while pursuing a Pre-Med degree in college. During this time, he also volunteered at the University of New Orleans, participating in a Sugar Bowl Flag Football Tournament as a trainer and first aid station personnel. It was during this experience that he had the opportunity to care for an injured nursing student, who commended his compassionate bedside manner and encouraged him to consider a career in nursing.

Throughout his career, Frank has been fortunate to have several mentors who have played pivotal roles in guiding his path. However, it was Craig Cudworth, a seasoned hospital CEO, who recognized Frank's potential as an administrator and his innate desire to make a difference in people's lives. From their first meeting, Craig provided unwavering support and encouragement, propelling Frank into the role of an administrator.

While Frank has received numerous accolades throughout his career, one achievement stands out as particularly fulfilling. He spearheaded an innovative initiative aimed at monitoring patients across the hospital, implementing alerts for individuals exhibiting potential distress symptoms in the hospital setting.After a year of implementing this project, the organization witnessed a remarkable 40% reduction in mortalities and an impressive 76% decrease in Code Blue events outside of the ICU. This outcome brought immense satisfaction to Frank and reaffirmed the positive impact he could make through his work.

CEO, Sierra Vista Hospital

From Baseball Dreams to Healthcare Triumphs

Frank's youth was filled with a passion for baseball, and he dreamt of pursuing a career as a professional player. However, he soon recognized the challenges of making a living solely through baseball and embraced the invaluable lesson of humility that the sport imparted.

Before joining Sierra Vista Hospital, Frank gained experience working in various hospitals and later

transitioned into consulting. His consulting work focused on assisting struggling hospitals in achieving financial and clinical improvements. This challenging endeavor brought its own rewards and satisfaction, knowing that his efforts contributed to the betterment of healthcare institutions.

If there were one word to describe Frank, it would be "Persistence." This characteristic embodies his unwavering determination and tenacity in facing challenges and

pursuing his goals.

Delivering CriticalAccess Care

Sierra Vista Hospital is a Critical Access Hospital serving Sierra County and surrounding areas in Southwest New Mexico. The closest hospitals are 75miles in every direction. We operate 11 Medical Surgical Beds, 7 ED Beds, support 9 Rural Health Clinic Providers, and a World Class EMS department which covers Sierra County and surrounding counties.

Sierra Vista Hospital has expanded its range of services to better cater to the needs of the community. Its offerings now include Cardiology, General Surgery, Expanded Behavioral Health services, Sleep Medicine, TeleMedicine Psychiatric and Neurology programs.Additionally, it has strengthened its healthcare team by adding four Rural Health Clinic Providers, enhancing its capacity to provide comprehensive care to patients.

Achieving Harmony

Frank prioritizes work-life balance for himself and his family. He has a strong sense of adventure and enjoys spending time outdoors, engaging in activities such as hiking and exploration. The location of Sierra Vista Hospital in the high desert provides ample opportunities for these outdoor pursuits. With the Lincoln National Forest just two hours away, the Gila National Forest only an hour away, and the Santa Fe National Forest and Pecos Trail accessible within three hours, Frank has a wealth of natural landscapes to explore.

Frank also recognizes the significance of promoting a culture of work-life balance within the hospital. He

understands the importance of allowing employees to have time off to participate in significant family events, regardless of their scale. This culture fosters an environment where employees can recharge their energy, resulting in improved productivity in the workplace. By valuing work-life balance, Frank supports the wellbeing of his employees and encourages a healthy equilibrium between personal and professional lives.

Commitment to Healthcare Technology and Cybersecurity

Frank witnessed the transition from paper health records to advanced healthcare technology throughout his nursing career. The adoption of Electronic Health Records (EHR) has significantly improved patient care by streamlining data collection and enabling real-time decision-making. However, the rise of cyber threats has underscored the importance of robust cybersecurity measures to protect patient information. Frank remains vigilant in addressing these risks while maximizing the benefits of healthcare technology, ensuring the highest level of care for patients.

Inspiring Integrity and Empowering Innovation

Frank prioritizes integrity, holding himself and his team to high standards. He believes that integrity starts at the top, fostering trust and credibility.

Accountability is essential in upholding integrity, and Frank ensures that individuals take responsibility for their actions, promoting transparency and ethical behavior.

Frank empowers his staff, granting them autonomy and encouraging

creative thinking. This approach leads to job satisfaction and innovative problem-solving.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of adaptability and creativity. Frank and his team swiftly adjusted their strategies to provide safe care, demonstrating the power of innovation in healthcare.

Revitalizing Sierra Vista Hospital

Sierra Vista Hospital has successfully turned around its financial situation, becoming a stable institution. The next steps involve replacing the remaining old hospital infrastructure to create a modern healthcare environment.

Expanding Behavioral Health Services is a priority for Sierra Vista Hospital. They aim to introduce MedicalAssisted Therapy for substance abuse and offer Outpatient Partial Hospitalization and Intensive Outpatient programs to meet the community's primary needs in behavioral health support.

Through these initiatives, Sierra Vista Hospital is dedicated to addressing critical gaps, enhancing patient care, and contributing to the overall wellbeing of the community.

Measuring Success in Healthcare

Frank believes that success in healthcare is measured by several key factors.At the end of the day, success is achieved when patients receive appropriate care and treatment, indicating positive health outcomes. Engaged staff members contribute to a positive work environment and ensure the delivery of high-quality care. Building trust within the community is another crucial aspect of success, as it reflects the hospital's reputation and its ability to meet the needs of the community. Lastly,

achieving a positive bottom line indicates financial stability, which enables the hospital to sustain its operations and invest in further improvements.

For Frank, true success lies in consistently meeting these criteria every day. When the hospital consistently provides appropriate care, engages its staff, fosters community trust, and maintains financial stability, it can consider success as its ultimate achievement and recognition.

Message toAspiring Healthcare Leaders

Frank's message to aspiring leaders in the healthcare industry is to recognize and embrace the constant changes and transformations within the field. Healthcare is a highly regulated and complex business, and it requires leaders who are committed to the mission and challenges it entails.

Frank stresses the importance of striving for excellence in all aspects of healthcare leadership. Every decision should be centered around the patient and the continuous improvement of care.As leaders, their primary purpose is to care for those who are unable to care for themselves.

By keeping these principles at the forefront, aspiring healthcare leaders can make a positive impact in the industry, contribute to the well-being of patients, and drive the necessary changes to improve healthcare delivery and outcomes.

CEO, Kerten Hospitality

Marloes Knippenberg

Commitment to Changing the Hospitality Landscape

Hospitality has always been a collaborative space that allows like minded, passionate and driven people to nurture their creative skills. Intrigued by the operations of this massive industry Marloes Knippenberg, CEO of Kerten Hospitality, stepped into this space to find her career path. She soon recognized her passion for hospitality and pursued a successful career in this field leading her to become one of the most influential personalities in the industry. The success of Kerten Hospitality as a renowned brand, a mixed-use and lifestyle operator in the marketplace, speaks volumes of Marloes' contribution as a leader. In an exclusive interview she shares her incredible journey with the global hospitality group and speaks of the roadmap that lies ahead.

What motivates you to get up every morning and keep on doing what you do?

My biggest daily motivation is triggered by all the new initiatives we are launching, diversity, the young

people I work with, as well as the world's ongoing challenges, because it is essential to take action. We believe that if we don't do something promptly, no one will! We are constantly en route to drive change and development and that has been the key reason I had to spend 90% of my time on planes shuttling from project to project, prior to the World pushing the Snooze button.

The vibe and the experiential part of our industry has continuously motivated and fascinated me since the very first moment I have been exposed to hospitality making it my career choice and my true passion –something that would remain unchanged.

Could you introduce Kerten Hospitality?

Kerten Hospitality is a mixed-use and lifestyle operator managing and operating hotels, branded residences, serviced apartments, workspaces, transforming destinations through impactful collaborations both with our

own and other Food & Beverage, Retail,Art and Wellness brands with a focus on building Ecosystems, and unique community-centric destinations that empower entrepreneurship, economic growth and the socioeconomic space in the projects where we are present.

Adivision of Kerten, an Irelandheadquartered investment vehicle, Kerten Hospitality manages a portfolio of 11 owned brands including Cloud7 Hotel and Residence, The House Hotel and Residence, The House Residence, Ouspace – a collaborative Social Hub and serviced offices concept. We have a suite of in-house designed Food & Beverage offerings and employ and collaborates with world renown Michelin-starred chefs.All our brands have an edge, a story and a purpose, which we can adapt and integrate into any project.

Five years ago, we started with one brand in 1 country - The House Hotel brand. Today, we have 11 aspirational brands, a pipeline of 30+ projects

across 3 continents and a number of openings scheduled this year alone.

We operate lifestyle destinations, from resorts to urban locations, communities and new spaces in mega developments and we take on green field, brown field and conversion projects, with and for any owners who understand that hospitality can be applied in many ways, and many industries such as retail, hospitals, living and beyond.

What part of your leadership journey and experiences have shaped you to become the leader you are today at the steering wheel of Kerten Hospitality?

Being an agile hospitality operator that needs to continuously adapt to the

industry's evolving requirements through our Lifestyle brands requires keeping the pulse on trends but remaining truthful to your key value proposition: helping people with tailored experiences, contributing to entrepreneurship and building communities through transformational collaborations and partnerships with global best in class organisations. The constant learning curve is what keeps you focused on the key objective.

Collaborating with the new generation, having a front row seat to their innovative ideas, the understanding of sustainability and the real solutions provided by young millennials and GenrationZ-ers have been a big part of this learning journey. Being a Co-Chair

of the Sustainable Hospitality Challenge – a global sustainability and innovation competition between the Top Tier global hospitality schools mentored, judged and supported by leading C-Executives from the industry has taught me how important it is for all to collaborate for the greater good.

Tell us about Kerten Hospitality's core values and share how do you ensure a culture of creativity and innovation in your company and how do you manage to keep the team motivated?

Our key pillars are Innovation, Mentorship and Sustainability all combined in initiatives that empower entrepreneurship and support the local communities and the reason we build brands with a purpose and create destinations that help people build communities based on wellbeing and locality. We always seek to work with visionary owners who seek to make a difference and create Ecosystems across.

Those pillars have been recognized for its merit and impact – an assessment that comes from the multiple global recognitions we received in the last 2 years: Disruptor of the year, Most Innovative Company, Leading Hotel Group, in addition to multiple team recognitions and the most coveted award for Best Recruitment and Onboarding Strategy by the Future WorkplaceAwards 2020 for our newly launched Remote-ship programme that was created to support the young generation of industry leaders.

Sustainability, women in hospitality, and supporting the new entrepreneurial generation are some of our key ESG activities that we do out of passion, and believe that only

in this way we can make a difference in the industry.

Kerten Hospitality is now engaged in some of the largest development projects in the Middle East and Eurasia regions and is striving to push the envelope of innovation, to create meaningful partnerships and collaborations and to contribute to the local Communities where we are present and where we are going to have our openings.

What does work-life balance mean to you and how do you juggle both?

When it comes to family and work-life balance, there are always choices to be made. I feel these choices happen naturally with their own challenges and ups and downs. Every day I am beyond thankful for the inspirations and the

opportunities presented and this keeps my pulse on the role to achieve my utmost to be an example, mentor and supporter to anyone who shares the same drive!

Outside of my day job, I have become a contributor to large industry boards: as Vice Chair of GRI's Hospitality Club connecting C-Suite real estate and Infrastructure leaders from around the world as well as BenchAdvisory Board – an industry powerhouse that gathers Thought Leaders driven by impact, IHIDC – Vienna,AHICUAE, IHIF – Berlin, are just a few engagements.Across all these engagements, the stimulating industry discussions we share keeps me motivated and future-focused.

Additionally, being part of the Women in Hospitality [WiH] – a best in class

community of women that provides an outstanding support to Women leaders through mentorship and engagements –has been an enriching experience that highlighted a gap in our industry: the need to mentor the future female leaders and to also be mentees.

Would you chart for us Kerten Hospitality's expansion and growth trajectory for the future?

Kerten Hospitality has a number of projects opening shortly including: The House City Yard Jeddah , the first true mixed use hotel, serviced office, community and F&B destination in KSA,

The House HotelAl Khiran in Kuwait, The House Hotel Old Tbilisi in Georgia – one of 3 projects in the country and a second phase of the recently opened Cloud7 Residence AylaAqaba project in Jordan. Additionally, the first phase of Kerten Hospitality's projects in Egypt – part of Tatweer Misr's mega developments in the country.

Our current pipeline includes 4,000+ keys, and some 20,000+ m2 of serviced offices and collaborative Social Hub spaces and a variety of purposeful Food & Beverage concepts in projects across the Middle East and NorthAfrica, Europe and Eurasia. We have a robust expansion in the GCC region with more signings and projects that are under negotiation now and are going to be announced soon.

Kerten Hospitality is geared up to redefine hospitality in their own unique way with Marloes being at the forefront of the industry influencing the future generation with passion and innovation.

Fatima Hasan

Shaping Successful Business Operations with

Effectively Managed Processes

Women are being appointed to senior leadership roles in a growing number of corporations, including General Motors, UPS, Best Buy, CVS, and Walgreens. This trend appears to be gaining traction, and it is a promising form of empowerment. However, there is still much to do to improve the status of women in our society. For instance, even today, there remains a gender wage gap, employment discrimination, a substantial shortage of women in decisionmaking positions, and cultural stigma.

Fatima Hasan Callahan, Managing Director of Blue Line Security Solutions, LLC, feels that a woman must be versatile and willing to be outspoken in today's corporate world. Women, according to Fatima, must be prepared to confront obstacles. She says, "It is important to always stand proudly and confidently in the face of adversity." She encourages women leaders to support other women in their endeavors because their success takes nothing away from others. She asserts, "Do not hesitate to share your unique and meaningful perspectives as a woman because they are invaluable in today's work environment."

One way Fatima supports women is through Blue Line Security's hiring and promotion practices. She states, "I believe leaders today have a duty to advance their workplaces and industries. Leadership is not a benefit to yourself, but an obligation to others." The team prides itself on elevating women in the field, as many fill integral leadership and management

roles throughout the company. "Their experience and input matters and their essential work on crucial responsibilities allows our company to operate effectively," Fatima articulates.

Focused, Dedicated, and Determined

Growing up, Fatima was always quite active. She trained in martial arts for over a decade, took dance classes for many years, played lacrosse, and rode dirt bikes. Fatima was a member of Libertyville High School's debate team and the school's environmental club.At Lake Forest College, she was a DJ at the student-run radio station, WMXM 88.9FM, which broadcasts to the Chicago region. Fatima worked as treasurer and, subsequently, general manager of the radio station, the campus's largest student organization. Furthermore, Fatima was also involved inAlpha Phi Omega at Lake Forest College, a co-ed volunteeringbased fraternity.

Fatima was always an excellent student, and her parents constantly emphasized the importance of education to her.After graduating from Libertyville High School, Fatima received her bachelor's degree from Lake Forest College. She began attending college part-time at the end of her sophomore year since her father was undergoing surgery, and she wanted to focus more on her profession. Fatima graduated magna cum laude from Lake Forest College in 2018 with a double major in communication and finance and a minor in legal studies.

During her time at Lake Forest College, Fatima was inducted into three honors societies: Omicron Delta Kappa, Omicron Delta Epsilon, and Lambda Pi Eta.Additionally, she was also awarded the Senior Prize in Communication. She is presently pursuing a dual master's degree in communication and business administration at Johns Hopkins University. Fatima intends to further her security education by obtaining her anti-terrorist certification, threat management certification, a private detective license, and other credentials. She has always had a soft spot in her heart for animals of all types, and she has adopted and rescued dogs, cats, turtles, lizards, birds, and other creatures. She states, "I still love playing video games, reading, and spending time with

family and friends."

ABorn Leader

Ever since Fatima was little, she knew she wanted to one day be a business owner and start her own ventures. This motivation was before she even knew what the word "entrepreneur" meant. She says, "For as long as I can remember, my parents encouraged me to pursue my passions and take calculated risks." Fatima was inspired to be a part of Blue Line Security Solutions because she believed in the organization from the very onset.

Fatima notes, "I felt we were prepared to do the necessary work. I also knew that we possessed unique strengths and capabilities that differentiated us from others. Blue Line Security

Solutions was an opportunity, and good opportunities often present themselves spontaneously and are usually messy and challenging. There is risk involved, and one must be ready to remain dedicated and adaptable in the face of adversity. I would always rather take a chance and fail than face the regret of never trying at all."

Keeping EverythingAligned

Fatima's workdays at Blue Line Security Solutions are quite varied, which she adores. She has learned to work from practically anywhere, giving her more freedom and flexibility when needed. Some days she works from home, some days from a Blue Line office, some days at her parents' firm, and some days she

is traveling and may be at a hotel or security site. She says, "It all depends on what is going on with the businesses." Some of Fatima's responsibilities at Blue Line Security Solutions include handling its finance and accounting, sales and marketing strategy, innovation, and insurance acquisition and maintenance. Fatima states, "My business partner and I emphasize establishing the right systems and processes across the company. I also work on regulatory compliance, assist with new client and site onboarding and maintenance, and anything else to ensure our clients and staff are served well, with the business operating efficiently and effectively."

Valuing Team Work

Fatima believes that Blue Line Security Solutions is where it is today because its entire team has worked tirelessly toward its shared vision. She asserts that great things in business are always done by a team of people. Fatima feels honored to work with her business partner, Jack Harris, and expresses, "our management team is unbelievable, and I am grateful to work with such talented and dedicated leaders. Currently, we are making significant integrations with new technologies that will enhance the way we can service our clients. We are all honestly having so much fun as we continue to make advances with Blue Line Security. We have all been through so much together over the years. We have become more than a team; we are a family now."

Fatima believes that a culture of honesty and creativity must start at the top of a company. Management must hold themselves to the highest standards while also ensuring that the rest of the team believes in those

values and a shared vision. Blue Line Security's management keeps itself accountable and demands the best from its staff. Fatima notes that the team follows through on its promises to clients and one another. The team makes every effort to provide the best service possible, encourages each other to talk openly and respectfully, and listens to comments. She says, "Our management team is dedicated to our growth and continuous improvement, and that is why we promote innovation whenever possible."

The security industry is constantly evolving, and Fatima and her team are determined to continue innovating and staying at the forefront of all new significant developments. The company will soon be offering several new services to its clients to provide them with more transparency, information, interactivity, and responsiveness. This means faster threat detection and response, and increased peace of mind for our clients. Jack and Fatima are very hands-on and have a shared vision of providing the best quality service to clients and treating staff right. "We believe this is why Blue Line Security has grown so quickly to what it is today," says Fatima.

APositive Perspective on Challenges and Success

Fatima believes that challenges make you stronger in countless ways.Afew challenges that she has faced in her professional journey include establishing a healthy work-life balance, managing growing businesses with limited amounts of resources, and navigating through the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. It is critical to take one thing at a time, one day at a time. She adds, "You must continue putting your

heart into your work and believe in yourself and your people through difficulties. Everything that is meant to be will be."

Challenges push you to think creatively and are a great way to learn and keep you humble. They also make you appreciate your achievements and progress that much more. "We all have our distinct definitions of what it means to be successful," says Fatima. For her, success is an attitude and a state of mind. She further elucidates, "It means being happy and loving what I do every day. It means making a positive impact on our communities and the lives of others."

Blue Line Security's Continued Expansion

Fatima and Jack aim for Blue Line Security Solutions to continue expanding around the country. They intend to maintain solid employment for its staff and exceptional and innovative service for its clients.

Fatima strives to help others and encourages women to pursue careers in security and similar industries. She explains that there are many programs and methods to get engaged in such a large and diversified industry. In addition, Fatima conveys that there is a need for more women to climb into decision-making roles and positions of leadership. She hopes that women can further contribute their indispensable insights and knowledge in all fields.

Reem Asaad

A Highly Successful Business Leader with Extensive Experience in a Variety of Industries

My interest in technology started at an early age and is rooted in my DNA. I have always been amazed by learning how things work and how technology and innovations have the potential to change lives," says ReemAsaad

Reem is for Vice PresidentMiddle EastAfricaCisco & at and a highly successful business leader with over 20 years' experience across industries, including technology, financial services, and customer experience. Forbes named her one of the Middle East's most powerful women, and she has demonstrated the capacity to adjust her leadership style in complex working contexts, understanding when to lead from the front and when to assist and support the larger team. Reem is responsible for strengthening Cisco's position as a leading technology provider and consultant to organisations in the Middle East and Africa, as digital transformation continues to change and evolve at a rapid pace. Her role primarily focuses

on strengthening collaborations with governments, customers, and partners, underpinned by Cisco's portfolio of advanced solutions and help accelerate their digitization agendas.

Reem would define herself as "inquisitive". Even though she has worked in technology for years, she believes there is always more to learn in the sector and from other people –especially with the acceleration in digital transformation that the world has witnessed over the past two years.

ATech Enthusiast

At the age of 16, Reem left Egypt for the United States, where she pursued an education in information technology. This sort of schooling was not accessible in Egypt at the time, which is why Reem moved. Her passion for computer technology began there, and it has followed her throughout her professional life.

According to Reem, it is disheartening to see negative stigma attached to women who demonstrate ambition and commitment across all industries. She observes that when a guy is domineering, he is often seen favourably by his colleagues, but a woman is frequently recognised and labelled as contentious. Only by calling out unfair treatment for what it is can this change. She suggests, "We must put checks and balances on each other and be vocal if we feel we have been mistreated—this goes for everyone, from every background."

Reem believes that encouraging more girls to consider a future in technology requires a collective effort. She says, "From an early age, we need to instil in every child, boy or girl, that they can broaden their area of interest and succeed in whatever they choose. When it comes to technology, we need to ensure that our children are raised to be techsavvy so they know how to get the best out of devices and solutions.

Vice President for Middle East & Africa, Cisco

Girls should be encouraged to pursue their interests in science and technology. We must ensure that girls see role models in their likeness, so that they do not feel as though they are being differentiated against. They need to know that they belong. "

Working at Cisco

The majority of the clients Reem speaks with are considering how they might reinvent the way they design, create, and deploy apps, both internally and externally, in order to provide digital consumer experiences. Cisco develops solutions that link any user to any application and any cloud, and provide unique insights and observability from the infrastructure to the application. She says, "Our visibility capabilities allow us to understand better than any other vendor how a user connects to an application." This gives companies and institutions an end-to-end view into the digital delivery of applications and services over the internet.

Cisco helps businesses secure data as cyber security becomes one of the most pressing issues today. Machine learning is used in its solutions to gather and analyse data while investigating, identifying, and containing bad actors.

Cisco also assists clients in transforming their infrastructures through intelligent networks, which open up new opportunities for a more sustainable, inclusive future and power hybrid work.

Celebrating women's empowerment

Women's empowerment is critical for the health and development of families, communities, and nations.

Women may realise their greatest potential when they are secure, fulfilled, and productive. Reem sees men as allies who can help in attaining gender equality and campaigning for women's empowerment. They may serve as role models in encouraging women's employment, appropriate working conditions, and full involvement in decision-making.

Cisco's management is dedicated to ensuring that its diversity and inclusion programmes have true impact.Above all, diversity and inclusion are about providing people with the right opportunity. Reem states, "We must see women in positions of power and be treated on an equal footing as their male counterparts—judged for their actions and output alone." She's been with Cisco for nearly two years, and she's gotten a lot of positive feedback. She can confidently state that Cisco values women — not merely to check a box, but to ensure balanced representation and recognition of accomplishments. The management of the organisation seeks to have a diverse leadership team. People should be able to look up to top management and feel a sense of belonging, knowing that they, too, may rise through the ranks based only on merit. Reem explains, "Our purpose as a company is to 'power an inclusive future for all'—this really gives you a sense of how we seek to embody inclusivity in every aspect of our operations."

Creating Positive Work Environment

"Maintaining a positive working environment is as much of a business priority, as it is our ethical duty," says Reem. She feels that it is critical for decision-makers to evaluate how to

best maximise and sustain a positive culture from wherever their employees may be. What sticks out to her is how she manages to achieve a balance between efficiency and flexibility while still ensuring employee wellbeing. Reem listens to what people desire at Cisco and actively seeks a middle ground.

Reem manages the work of 2,500 workers and contractors throughout 74 markets in the area. This implies she must prioritize the well-being and motivation of the company's employees, and in order to do so, she must anticipate needs and be open to input.

Honored for Being an Inspiring Female Leader

Reem considers herself fortunate to be Cisco Middle East andAfrica's first female Vice President and first local leader. "Giving back to my home country is crucial for me," she adds. Dr.Amr Talaat, Egypt's Minister of Communications and Information Technology, named Reem to the Board of Directors of the country's Information Technology Industry DevelopmentAgency (ITIDA), which she considers to be one of the highest honours she has received. Serving in this role allows her to be a driver of digital transformation and competitiveness while also contributing to economic growth.

An Open Letter toAllAspiring Businesswomen

Without a doubt, technology is a male-dominated world, and there are still certain barriers for women to overcome and progress to be made. However, the Middle East andAfrica

region is witnessing more of an intentional effort to increase the presence and impact of women in technology. What's amazing is that more young women and girls are interested in obtaining a degree or a job in the sector, and this trend is expected to continue.

Reem's advice to aspiring businesswomen is to be true to themselves. She adds, "If they're not sure about a particular topic, they shouldn't be afraid to ask questions and to educate themselves, so that they can form a point of view. They deserve to be a part of the

conversation as much as everyone else. "

More from Cisco in Future

The team at Cisco believes in the potential of technology and what it can accomplish. During the pandemic, we have seen how technology has helped people reimagine lives, become a critical lifeline for businesses, and connect the world while ensuring that children continue to learn, people have access to healthcare, businesses can operate, and loved ones can stay close even if they are physically separated.

Throughout the last year, Cisco has assisted organisations of all sizes in ensuring continuity and, when necessary, regaining their footing. Reem says, "In this new, digital world, we see it as our duty to be that guiding light and counsel as businesses navigate new challenges and identify opportunities for growth. This remains not only my personal focus, but also the shared vision of our teams. "

Karina Erlandson

Rising from the Ashes: Karina Erlandson’s Transformative Journey in HR

Few stories pack as much punch as Novaria Group Director of Human Resources Karina Erlandson. Hers is a gripping case study in strength, fortitude, and the life-changing power of personal tragedy. This article delves into Karina's story, explaining how surviving devastating loss shaped her career and leadership style and how she continues to drive impact in the HR field.

AJourney Tainted by Loss and Resilience

Karina Erlandson was at a turning point five years ago in her career. No matter what she did, she wasn't going anywhere that she had planned. Then the unthinkable happened. "I unexpectedly lost both my parents within six weeks of one another," she says. The shattering blow led Karina to reexamine her values and seek out a new passion. "After going through

deep loss, I knew I needed to turn my life around," she states.

This epiphany drove Karina to follow her passion for HR leadership, eventually establishing her own consulting firm,Ann Lewis HR Solutions, in honor of her parents' middle names.

From Entrepreneur to Corporate Leader: The Pandemic Pivot

Pivoting to start a business in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic was no easy task, yet Karina's determination paid off. Through referrals, she landed her first two clients in months. Fast forward a couple years, and one of them was so impressed with what she did that they offered her a job full-time at Novaria Group. "It was a turning point in my career," she says.

At Novaria, Karina established herself quickly, shifting from working only on HRIS and Compliance to working on all areas of HR, including mergers and acquisitions.

Reinventing HR: From Disorganization toAlignment

Within two years at Novaria, Karina has accomplished a great deal in HR development. She addressed the disorganized HR function at corporate, putting into place innumerable policies and procedures, streamlining payroll practices, and enforcing compliance for HR and Benefits programs.

"I'm now the person everyone comes to for all their HR questions and problems," Karina says with pride. Her work has earned the trust and reliance of the portfolio locations, a demonstration of her dedication and professionalism.

Inspiring and Empowering: BattlingAdversity toAchieve Success

Karina believes that what she went through can serve as an inspiration to the next generations of HR professionals. "Each person's journey through tragedy is unique, and I hope that my experience can show that even though something profoundly life-changing has happened, you can use that inspiration to push through the adversity and achieve success," she says.

Her experience is a solid example of how life experiences can change professional success.

For those aspiring to contribute something meaningful to HR, Karina emphasizes initiative. "You are the voice of the employees as an HR leader," she insists. She also emphasizes the importance of selfpromotion, especially for women in leadership positions. "Building a strong sense of self-worth and advocating for your strengths and achievements can be a gamechanger," she suggests.

Taking the Initiative and Playing to Strengths

Karina remains at the forefront of HR trends and innovations through proactive ongoing learning. She is an active member of the Society of Human Resources Management and several HR groups, where she shares ideas and stays up to date on industry trends. "It's important to keep current on data and trends in your company in order to solve issues before they become problems," she says.

In the future, Karina dreams large for herself, her company, and the HR

function within Novaria Group. She would love to hire her first employees atAnn Lewis HR Solutions.At Novaria, she hopes to drive additional change and innovation to create a world-class HR function. "I have high expectations about the future of HR at Novaria," she responds positively.

Managing Toddlers and Household Work:Achieving Work-Life Balance

It's difficult for most individuals to balance personal and professional life, and Karina is no exception. Having two little kids and no family members around, she emphasizes setting boundaries. "One of the reasons I wanted to be my own boss was so that I could work from home and set my own schedule," she explains. The fact that she could balance her time allowed her to be with her children when they needed her most during their formative years, so that she could meet both her personal and

professional obligations.

Now at Novaria, Karina enjoys having the freedom to create a flexible schedule with a better worklife balance. She found that establishing strict boundaries and compartmentalizing work ensures that she is in charge without getting distracted. "It's a matter of setting your rhythm and sticking to it," she insists.

By setting a disciplined routine, Karina is able to separate work from life. This balance not only increased her productivity but allowed her to be a more present and engaged parent.

Leading with Vision and Growth:A Personal and Professional Transition

Karina classifies her style of leadership as visionary and transformational. "I try to inspire and motivate others through vision and

innovation," she reveals. Having gone through severe personal struggles has made her a more empathetic person when dealing with people's problems, and she is of the opinion that this is one of the traits of good leaders. Her style of leadership has changed over time to be futuristic and empathetic.

Among her best achievements, Karina enumerates having developed her own business, as well as attaining her SHRM-CP, and Certified 401(k) Plan Sponsor certifications. They prove her commitment to ongoing learning and personal growth. They are but a step in the right direction at the professional level for her, reflective of her commitment to personal and professional development.

"Continuous learning is key to staying ahead and making meaningful contributions," Karina believes. Her accomplishment is a result of her determination and unwavering dedication to excellence in the field of HR.

Conclusion

Karina Erlandson's life is a source of inspiration to the resilience of the human spirit. Her ability to turn personal tragedy into career success is a source of inspiration to all.As she continues to push limits and drive the HR field, her life is a beacon of hope and inspiration for future generations of HR practitioners.

Victoria Jenkins

Creating Sustainability and Style for Disabled Communities

You may be wondering what

adaptive clothing is. The fact is that this is a question for many people since it generally stems from a lack of integration with others who are non-disabled. In other words, if you are not a member of the disabled community, you will never comprehend the significance of adapted clothes.

While adaptive clothing is not for everyone, it is critical for people who have difficulty dressing independently or who have access needs.Although corporations still have a long way to go in terms of understanding inclusion on a larger scale, several brands are taking the lead in this area.

Victoria Jenkins is a garment technologist with 14 years' experience in the fashion industry who became disabled in her 20s. She started Unhidden after a hospital meeting with a cancer patient that changed the path of her life. This is the narrative of Unhidden. She is a multi-awardwinning adaptive designer, disability advocate, author, and speaker. Victoria also has experience in luxury

goods, men's and women's tailoring, wovens, jersey, outerwear, fashion illustration, and textiles. She is a solid professional with a BAin Fashion Design from Istituto Marangoni and accessible testimonials from speaking engagements.

Starting Entrepreneurial Journey

Victoria had always been interested in fashion, but the transition from working for other brands to starting her own came from meeting someone in the hospital who inspired her to think about adaptive fashion—and then the transition came when she did more research and just wasn't seeing what she felt was needed. So Victoria decided to take the plunge herself. She says, "I had lived experience. I had years of garment construction knowledge that I figured could be put to better use!"

Victoria's first paid job after university was as a pattern cutter for an online eCommerce brand—being able to pay rent and survive independently in London felt pretty

amazing and was something she did for a number of years before going freelance and continuing that work until the pandemic hit. She says, "It's been incredibly varied, which I think has ultimately proved to be better for me in the long run."

Before Unhidden, Victoria was a garment technologist who had worked with some wonderful companies and labels. However, due to her own health concerns, it became more about survival with no plan for her own future other than paying rent—not a nice place to be! She had always wanted to be a designer, but the path to that involved internships and working for free for far longer than she was able to afford-she graduated in 2008, and the landscape was different then, not to mention a recession. But Victoria made it work and met some wonderful individuals along the way, proving that the profession isn't always as awful as people believe.

As per her, the best recognition for her was probably doing her TedX talk; being accepted to do one was

terrifying but proof that she had the knowledge and the voice to really say something.

Not Just a Brand

Unhidden is currently made-to-order. The core range addresses a variety of access demands, including dexterity, stomas, wheelchair users and cancer patients. Everyone, regardless of size or ability, may wear the range, excluding no one. Victoria is switching to a standard model with modest adjustable choices to reduce the price because her community (1 in 5 people in the UK) is 50% more

likely to be poor, and she is well aware that she is still too expensive for the majority of people.

Victoria has numerous amazing collaborations in the works, some of which will be released towards the end of this year. Victoria serves on a variety of boards and committees to increase awareness and transform the narrative on disability inclusion from one of pity to one of creative, happy positive portrayal, and to urge other companies and sectors to make better decisions regarding inclusion in the future.

Victoria's current responsibilities include design, social media, networking, pitching, postman, and customer service. There isn't anything Victoria doesn't accomplish, but she is finally assembling a team to work with her! Victoria usually begins her day by checking her daily journal, her to-do list, and then social media. She then attempts to follow up on leads, develop content, or write copy. She is going to use the word some very good friends and peers use to describe her because it does encapsulate how tirelessly she has tried to work to help as many people as she can—unstoppable.

Redefining the Industry

Unhidden is the first adaptive brand to join the British Fashion Council, was the first to sell in multiple retail outlets in London and Cambridge, has had global press coverage and has tried to ultimately do as much as possible in as many places to make people stop and think about what inclusion means and how to achieve it. Victoria is currently preparing for her first full runway show, which will be showcasing an array of disabilities (both visible and non-apparent) in September and hopes that it continues to change the narrative going forwards as well as championing other designers, brands, and people who fight for the same thing-equity.

Staying Motivated and Connected

For maintaining space between work and life, Victoria does have boundaries with other people on engaging with her, but she often sits and works or scrolls or contacts people outside of her self-imposed office hours. Her motivation never really wavers-until adaptive and

inclusive design is normalized and on the high street and accessible, she has all the motivation she needs. She shares, "With my new team, it's trying to keep open and honest communication and working out how to support each other—as it's so new and exciting, motivation isn't what we lack—it's time to get it all done!"

Valuable Lessons

Victoria shares that having faith in her own abilities and ideas has taken a while—having mentors from a variety of people helped with that. Choosing to start trading during a pandemic, after Brexit and targeting an audience that has been left out globally whilst trying to maintain sustainable and ethical manufacturing processes-she couldn't have thrown more obstacles in her own way-but there was no time like the present and her hope is that it will get easier. She asserts, "Getting non-disabled people engaged is one of the hardest roadblocks still, but thanks to a growing interest in social impact brands and better DE&I awareness, staying the course and having faith has worked for me."

Views on Success

While discussing her perspective on achievement, Victoria admits that defining success is difficult for her. She recalls that, because of the unpredictability that comes with freelancing and running a small business as a disabled woman, there is no disputing that success for her is predicated on financial remuneration, which she does not believe she has attained.

Victoria does however also define success as knowing you're making a difference and having your work or

voice recognized, shared, and impacting other people's perspectives and lives.

She states, "Being happy in your work and being excited to work is also a good barometer of success-I feel very privileged to do something I adore."

Plans for the future of Unhidden

Victoria's future plans include workshops teaching people how to adapt their own clothing (80% of the disabled and chronically ill community were not born that waythat's a lot of clothes going to landfill) as well as expanding the range, having their own brick and mortar store that is fully accessible and beautiful and a place for people to hang out in as well as shop. There are some partnerships she'd love to see come to life—the sky is the limit. There is not an area of the retail world that doesn't need an adaptive and inclusive update.

Word to Woman Entrepreneurs

As a disabled woman, Victoria does face challenges ultimately thanks to the people in charge and the stigma around disability- but she has hope

that if even one person sees her trying and has the faith to try themselves too then that is the best thing she can achieve. She asserts, "It is harder, there are challenges- big ones- but that doesn't mean your ideas and voice aren't worth trying to put out there.”

Victoria's message for women entrepreneurs is to listen to your instinct and question where the unsolicited advice comes from. She also adds, "Make sure you have some savings, invest in learning parts of what you don't know- for example, I paid to do a PR course and that has hands down been one of the game changers for Unhidden and continues to be helpful. Finally- have mentorsmore than one." She advises everyone to accept people who ask if they can help but also approach people you look up to and ask them as well- it is always worth asking and trying, shoot your shot!

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