DYNAMIC LEADERS 2024
Deadline: September 2024
EDITORIAL NOTE
In today's fast-paced business environment, being disruptive means more than just introducing a novel product—it signifies a fundamental shift in how industries operate and how consumers engage with markets. Disruption often starts with addressing gaps in the market, providing solutions that are not only innovative but also more accessible, cost-effective, and user-friendly. According to a study by Accenture, 63% of companies are now experiencing significant industry disruption, underlining the pervasive impact of this trend.
At the core of a disruptive company is a leadership that embodies vision and adaptability. Leaders of disruptive companies are not just strategists; they are pioneers who foresee future needs and steer their organizations toward uncharted territories. They cultivate an organizational culture that prioritizes innovation, embraces risk, and encourages constant learning and unlearning. This leadership style ensures that the company remains agile, ready to pivot in response to new opportunities or challenges.
Moreover, these leaders invest heavily in research and development, understanding that staying ahead of the curve requires continuous exploration and experimentation. They empower their teams to think creatively and challenge conventional wisdom, fostering an environment where groundbreaking ideas can flourish.
In conclusion, the essence of a disruptive company lies in its ability to transform markets through innovation, driven by visionary leadership that champions agility and forward-thinking. As industries evolve, those who can disrupt effectively will not only survive but thrive, setting new benchmarks for success.
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SHOCKWAVE MOTORS
KHRIS THAYER 42
Revolutionizing Electric Commuting
S
Shockwave Motors, a veteranowned and SAE-certi ied motorcycle manufacturer, is making waves in the automotive industry with its innovative approach to sustainable transportation.
Founded by John McMillian, Carrie Fair, and Normand Rheault, and headquartered in Russellville, Tennessee, the disruptive company focuses on producing affordable, eco-friendly, and fun-to-drive electric vehicles designed for daily commuting. The company's lagship products, the De iant EV3 Roadster™ and Draco Sports Trike™, are testaments to its commitment to innovation, ef iciency, and sustainability.
FOUNDERS' VISION AND INSPIRATION
John McMillian's passion for electric vehicles dates back to his childhood. Recounting an early memory, he recalls, "I remember when I was just 5 years old my Dad and I were sitting on the kitchen loor cleaning up an old car starter
motor. His idea was to mount it on my little red pedal tractor and turn it into an electric riding toy. Electric riding toys are everywhere today –but not in 1958! This sure made an impression on me."
Carrie Fair and Normand Rheault also bring their unique perspectives and expertise to the company, contributing to the innovative designs and strategic direction of Shockwave Motors.
THE DEFIANT EV3 ROADSTER™ AND DRACO SPORTS TRIKE™
Both the De iant EV3 Roadster™ and Draco Sports Trike™ are threewheeled electric vehicles designed to meet the needs of daily commuters. Their unique design and features make them standout options in the EV market.
Ef icient Design: The threewheeled design of the De iant EV3 Roadster™ and Draco Sports Trike™ reduces rolling resistance at low speeds and allows for a more aerodynamic body, enhancing
At Shockwave Motors, we make EVs cool by providing high performance EVs that are safe, pollution free, economical, and fun to drive.
MILESTONES ACHIEVEMENTS &
Shockwave Motors has achieved several signi icant milestones since its inception:
Secured $6 million in pre-orders and was named Impact Company of the Year by DotCom Magazine.
Reached the Top Ten Finalist position in the National Cleantech Open Competition.
Won the Southeast Region in the Cleantech Open Accelerator.
Received the Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award at TiECon Detroit.
Awarded Most Signi icant Innovation in Electric Vehicles by IDTechEx.
These accolades highlight Shockwave Motors' relentless pursuit of excellence and innovation in the electric vehicle sector.
"With relatively little promotion and advertising, we have hundreds of people that have signed up telling us, in writing, when we are in production, they want to buy one!"
John McMillian
performance at higher speeds. The Roadster has a top speed of about 70 MPH and the Draco tops out at about 90 MPH. The vehicles' stability and design were validated by the Québec Advanced Transportation Institute, underscoring their reliability and safety.
Battery Technology: The Roadster and Trike use Lithium Iron
Phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries, which are known for their stability and safety. Unlike traditional Lithium-Ion batteries, which can be prone to explosive reactions under stress, LiFePO4 batteries are much safer. John emphasizes this point, mentioning, "These are the most stable of the Lithium chemistry. They are not prone to explosions, and I have seen video of steel spikes being driven through the cells and
nothing happens!"
Range and Charging: Addressing the common issue of range anxiety, both vehicles achieve approximately 100 miles on a single charge, making them ideal for the average daily commute of 30 miles. Additionally, they can be fully charged in about 8 hours using a standard 120-volt outlet, eliminating the need for expensive
and complex charging infrastructure.
Affordability: One of the key selling points of the Roadster and Trike is their affordability. With a price tag of $24,950 for the Roadster and $19,950 for the Draco, they are signi icantly cheaper than many other electric vehicles on the market, even before federal and
state incentives are applied. This makes electric vehicle ownership accessible to a broader audience.
Safety Features: Safety is a paramount focus for Shockwave Motors. Both vehicles are equipped with seat belts, shoulder harnesses, and a tubular steel roll-bar-like protection system. However, because of the Draco's tadpole
design (two wheels in the front), only the Roadster™ has front and rear crumple zones and the Passive Head-on Crash Avoidance Design™, which reduces the likelihood of head-on collisions.
TACKLING BARRIERS TO EV ADOPTION
Shockwave Motors has
systematically addressed the common barriers to electric vehicle adoption:
• Range Anxiety: By providing vehicles with a reliable range and easy charging from a standard 120-volt outlet, Shockwave Motors ensures that daily commutes are stress-free.
• High Purchase Costs: The affordable price of the De iant EV3 Roadster™ and Draco Sports Trike™ makes them accessible to a wider audience, democratizing electric vehicle ownership.
• Battery Safety: Using Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries enhances the safety and reliability of the vehicles.
• Charging Infrastructure: The ability to charge the vehicles using a standard 120-volt outlet eliminates the need for expensive home charging setups.
• Manufacturing Carbon Footprint: The vehicles' design and manufacturing processes result in a signi icantly smaller carbon footprint compared to traditional electric vehicles. The chassis is made from tubular steel and the body is iberglass. The battery is 1/5th the size of a typical EV, signi icantly reducing the manufacturing environmental impact.
Shockwave Motors has adopted a grassroots approach to market its vehicles. Over the past few years, the company has showcased the Roadster at various car shows, expos, and Earth Day events across the country. This direct engagement with potential customers has been instrumental in building interest and securing pre-orders.
John explains, "We have personally talked to thousands of people. We've also done a relatively small amount of advertising on Facebook. The vast majority of people like what we are doing and that we are focused on a niche where EVs are really needed – the daily commute."
This strategy has paid off, as evidenced by the over $6 million in pre-orders the company has secured.
SCAN THE QR CODE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT INVESTING IN SHOCKWAVE MOTORS
“I wanted to design the most efficient electric vehicle that I could. The threewheeled design means less rolling resistance at slow speeds and allows a more aerodynamic body for better performance at higher speeds.”
John McMillian
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Shockwave Motors is committed to sustainability and reducing environmental impact. The Roadster and Trike's ef icient design allows them to travel about 50 miles on the amount of electricity needed to produce one gallon of gasoline. Additionally, the manufacturing process for the vehicles is designed to minimize their carbon footprint, utilizing fewer components and materials than traditional vehicles.
The environmental bene its extend to the vehicles' operation. With the sale of the irst 500 Roadsters, the company anticipates saving 15,000 barrels of crude oil annually and avoiding nearly 3,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions.
FUTURE PLANS AND PRODUCT LINE EXPANSION
Looking ahead, Shockwave Motors has ambitious plans to expand its product lineup. The company is developing several new vehicles, including:
• Draco Sports Trike™: A two-person sports trike currently undergoing prototype testing.
• Last Mile Delivery Van: A vehicle designed for ef icient and sustainable urban deliveries.
• Two-Person Pickup: A compact pickup truck for light-duty use.
• Four-Person Sedan: A practical and affordable family car.
Additionally, the company plans to introduce the Auxiliary Power Trailer™, designed to provide power to the EV on the road or in emergency situations and to power critical appliances around the home.
John is optimistic about the future,
stating, "The three-wheeled design promises a blend of affordability and practicality that perfectly suits the needs of today's commuters. The focus on fun and a commitment to sustainability makes our EVs a breath of fresh air in the electric car market."
EQUITY CROWDFUNDING AND INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Shockwave Motors recently launched an equity crowdfunding program to raise funds for the next steps in production. John highlights the advantages of investing in the company, noting that as an SAE-certi ied motorcycle manufacturer, Shockwave Motors is not as capital-intensive as an automobile manufacturer. This makes it a more attractive investment opportunity.
"With our focus on the daily commuter and not trying to be all things to all people, we are set to disrupt the paradigm of sustainable urban transportation," he explains.
The investment opportunity is open to anyone and you can learn more and invest on the Title3Funds.com platform. Scan the QR Code to invest in an electric future!
Shockwave Motors is poised to revolutionize the electric vehicle market with its innovative, ef icient, and affordable electric vehicles. By addressing common barriers to EV adoption and focusing on the needs of daily commuters, the company is well positioned to make a signi icant impact on both the environment and the automotive industry. With a strong foundation of achievements, a clear vision for the future, and a commitment to sustainability, Shockwave Motors is set to drive the next wave of electric vehicle innovation.
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INTERVIEW WITH SWITCH FOUNDER
Kathy Roberts
What according to you makes one an innovative entrepreneur?
The adjective “innovative” in front of “entrepreneur” is more than what I usually de ine as entrepreneurial. My opinion is these visionaries see what is coming and usually don't follow rule if they don't produce the outcome desired. They will always ind a way even if it means water has to low up hill.
What is the Switch platform? What was the idea that led to the formation of the company?
The Switch Platform is a blockchain-based inancial ecosystem. From my irst introduction I had a fascination with the reliability of the data on the blockchain and the freedom to make transactions in a decentralized market. The world has shrunk and with that we must adapt and evolve.
This is the second time in a lifetime that I've participated in a project of this type. When Discover Card irst came on the scene in 1985, it offered unheard of features that were disruptive to the existing credit card industry. As an early executive (or “dawner”) at Discover Card, we introduced a lot of disruptive thoughts are now industry standards to the consumer credit industry. Now as a dawner in blockchain inance, we have the same opportunity.
COMPANY SPOTLIGHT
Talk to us about the Switch Rewards Card. What makes it stand out from the crowd?
With our Switch Black Card and Switch Trading Platform, users can buy, sell, and send cryptocurrencies and then can spend those converted currencies in everyday purchases. Through the Switch Node Network, all of these transactions earn our users Switch Digital Rewards. One way that we are unique is our Trading Platform has both a custodial wallet and a non-custodial wallet allowing our users to truly own their digital assets.
As the CEO, what role do you play in the day-to-day proceedings of the company?
As CEO I am looking for opportunities to further unite our product with the needs and desires of users and future consumers. There is the current business to oversee and keep up the momentum of the project, parallel with our future plans.
What have been the biggest challenges for you and the team when it comes to the technology used?
The speed of technology changes and consumer expectations are more rapid than ever. This alone keeps us in constant review of best practices and outcomes for the business and the customer.
What does the future look like for Switch? Talk to us about the recent beta testing expansion of Switch Reward Card and what it means.
With our Switch Black Card in Open Beta and our Switch Trading Platform is Closed Beta (and soon to be Open Beta), this gives our developers an opportunity to work with the Beta Testers in the community and receive feedback on the products and work to create a better user experience. We hope to have both of these products out of Beta Testing and in a full Public Launch later this year and then
working on our roadmap of other exciting customer offerings including B2B products.
FlippA
THE #1 MARKETPLACE FOR BUYERS AND SELLERS TO INVEST IN
DIGITAL ASSETS
The twenty- irst century transformed the way businesses interacted with the world.
A boom of computers, cell phones, internet, and technological advancements brought about an unforgettable digital revolution that shifted the technological world as we know today.
The impact of this movement on the real estate industry was as profound as any sector.
From designing, construction, marketing and sales, technological transformation found its roots in almost every part of the real estate cycle.
There was a massive change in the demand and supply sides of the real estate industry with an introduction to faster, affordable, and more reliable information distribution.
This sector was only accessible to a small in luential pool of buyers and brokers and lacked a system that brought like-minded buyers and sellers to trade real estate properties.
In 2009 this elite class was disrupted and the narrative shifted when Flippa emerged as the leading marketplace in the industry for buyers and sellers to trade digital assets like content blogs, SaaS, Apps, and eCommerce businesses.
The platform is now home to entrepreneurs, side hustlers, and new-age small business owners looking to invest, build assets, and begin exciting new digital journeys.
THE DISRUPTION SAGA
The platform was initially founded by Matt Mickieics and Mark Harbottle in 1999 as SitePoint, an online destination for buying and selling all things internet.
It was consistently ranked in the top 1,000 most visited sites in the world.
Over time, SitePoint's traf ic expanded as community forums grew and digital entrepreneurs started offering their sites for sale to other community members.
Blake Hutchison CEO
This rush of momentum led to the creation of SitePoint Marketplace, later turning into the launch of a new business, Flippa, in 2009.
As the number of website and e-commerce transactions grew over the years, the founders recognized the need to establish a specialized marketplace for this unrepresented group of digital entrepreneurs and small business owners.
Originally a niche marketplace, Flippa quickly became the go-to site to buy and sell businesses with vetted, secure valuation processes.
Users are able to obtain a free, accurate valuation with Flippa before they list their asset for sale on the platform.
The peer-to-peer platform allows users to interact with each other and communicate directly with buyers and sellers. This allows users to control the sale, meet buyers, and negotiate 1:1.
“ By removing the broker from the middle and enabling peer-to-peer transactions on its platform, Flippa democratized access to selling and buying online businesses. We empower individuals and companies to
take control, to take ownership, and thrive in this new small business economy to either supplement their income, acquire their next job, or invest,” says Blake Hutchison, CEO of Flippa.
FORMING INDUSTRY ROOTS
Naturally, keeping up with the demands of a growing business had some challenges.
To create a safe, ef icient process for asset trading, Flippa provides buyers and sellers with services like ID veri ication, escrow, legal advice, contract templates, and veri ied data integrations.
Users are able to gain reports that will provide insight on asset highrisk levels, traf ic information from website and social platforms that will provide the buyer with tangible numbers on organic searches, paid traf ic, and more.
Sellers are also able to obtain track record information on an asset's revenue from the past 12 months.
The company's recent partnership with Yardline helps eCommerce sellers thrive in the marketplace economy by using growth capital and gives buyers the con idence and security to invest in digital assets with acquisition funding of up to $1 million.
Additionally, Flippa's partnership with Contract Counsel connects buyers and sellers with an experienced, vetted, quali ied lawyer who assists with safe and secure acquisitions or disposal of a business asset.
Today, Flippa has the greatest
number of worldwide purchasers, with over 30,000 new buyers joining the platform every month.
More companies have been purchased and sold on the platform than any other marketplace, with various assets and price ranges to suit the needs of a diverse pool of business owners and entrepreneurs.
Today, the platform has over 300,000 registered buyers and has sold over 38,905 digital assets worldwide.
Apart from building trust amongst buyers and sellers with product enhancements and integrations, it's no surprise that Flippa is the #1 marketplace for buyers and sellers to trade digital assets.
A DIVERSE TEAM
Flippa promotes a 'Think, Say, Plan, Do' culture.
Based in Melbourne and Austin, the Flippa has attracted a wide range of talent across the globe, ranging from New Zealand to Jamaica.
As the demands of the digital landscape continues to increase, the company is constantly expanding its team with innovative thinkers.
Flippa's team is driven by people who have a uni ied passion and vision to offer every aspiring entrepreneur a chance to own their future and every business owner a clear route to exit.
Ideas for new product enhancements and services are constantly emerging and the team has a responsive 24/7 customer
support capacity that serves its linguistically diverse clientele.
A WAY OUT
For Flippa, the future is nothing short of an open ocean.
With the online landscape continuously evolving, digital business owners are constantly inding ways to optimize the way they do business and interact with their consumers.
Blake strongly believes that the online economy will continue to grow uninterrupted and the increasing number of consumers turning to online businesses will create an opportunity for digital entrepreneurs to capitalize on this trend.
This upward trend will pave new opportunities to recruit new talent across the globe, introduce new asset kinds, and service worldwide markets.
Although the pandemic brought about an unprecedented shock, a shift in the digital landscape resulted in entrepreneurs locking online, creating new online businesses, and purchasing digital assets.
Blake sees the silver lining for digital entrepreneurs: the rapid increase of migration toward the digital arena will allow people to take control of their inancial goals and become the driving force of their future.
Altek Industrial Supply
A HERITAGE COMMITTED TO PEOPLE AND CUSTOMERS
In modern days, the importance of distribution of industrial products has grown by leaps and bounds. Throughout the world, many industries rely on this distribution to keep their businesses running. Without reliable supplies coming in, daily operations would begin to slow down, which could cause mild inconveniences to extensive damage.
And in this whole multifaceted process, distribution channels play an essential role in completing this circulation. These intermediaries act as the wholesaler in the industry, supplying goods and services to other businesses to use them in their services.
Altek Industrial Supply is one such distributor which is serving the industry and its customers for over 20 years. Continuing upon its two decades of legacy, Altek is a second-generation family-owned international master distributor of industrial products. The irm stores market products from the leading brands in the energy sector and provides technical support to the Oil & Gas, Mining, Re ining, Chemical, Water, and Wastewater Industries.
However, what differentiates this irm from a traditional business is its philosophy, investment in its employees, and the integrity it holds for its customers.
FOR THE CUSTOMERS
The year 1999 saw two visionary personalities, Fred and Debbie Atema, coming together to ful ill a need. Both these personalities wanted to create their own destiny, and hence, left behind an organization that no longer supported their vision.
With the experience gained since the 1970s, these dynamic personalities branched out to create something of their own. And the result was a company that saw a humble beginning with a simple yet powerful ideabuild a company with a strong desire to focus on customers' needs.
And for the past 20 years, Altek has succeeded by staying true to family values. It has followed its strong principles of hiring and retaining top talent, and carrying a large inventory of quality products. It has also developed a robust network of committed customers
that rely on Altek to deliver on every promise.
CARRYING ON THE FAMILY LEGACY
Altek has always had fantastic customer support since day one. This support isn't formed by hard work alone. It is built on the relationships that Fred and Debbie forged with the customers and how they supported them. And now, their son Mike Atema as well as his siblings Katreena and her husband Tyler, Brendan, Rob and his wife Heather, Jeremy and his wife Lacey, and Jon, are carrying on the legacy their parents started 20 years ago, working together to propel the company forward.
As the President and CEO of Altek Supply and the Atema Group, Mike looks after the company's strategic direction, culture, and growth. While Altek is in the energy business, the Atema Group has its roots in Commercial Property, Manufacturing, Agriculture, and Distribution, being the core business of Altek Supply.
Mike also concentrates on the continuous addition of value to support Canadian energy. Besides the irm and
group, he also sits on the Board for the True North Strong Foundation.
GROWTH TRUST AND IMPACT
Altek Supply has been representing leading brands and consistently providing unmatched customer service to the industries for a long time. The irm has achieved this unmatched success with its strong core values; Growth Trust and Impact .
In the words of Mike, "It is in how we treat our Customers and Employees. We foster a safe, respectful environment that encourages our Core Values of Growth, Trust, and Impact. From that anchor point, our team can provide an unmatched customer experience, genuinely care about making a difference in our industry and in the lives of everyone we deal with."
While Altek was never established to be a 'disruptor,' these core pillars rendered the company to ind new ways to be disruptive and innovative. Mike asserts, "It may be common to think, 'I need to invent the next Amazon or Net lix', but there are companies like BestBuy that are disruptive within their footprint. They innovate a better experience or more value, and that disrupts that space."
Altek also differentiates itself by being more focused on growth, trust, and a positive mindset with a synonymous effort. "Altek is more aligned with that type of disruption. Our core values are Growth, Trust, and Impact. This Growth Mindset
will ensure the continual pushing of our limits. Always more, always progressive, always more value to our customers and employees, and often its wonderfully subtle," Mike continues.
CORE VALUES WON OVER THE PANDEMIC
Altek's core values got challenged in the unprecedented times of the coronavirus pandemic. The challenges forced Mike to take a hard look at the situation and see it as the ultimate test. "Covid tested everything. The ultimate question was how can we do right by our team? Our people helped build this business, our team is our secret sauce, and now, the ultimate test, it wasn't a typical recession."
However, with a strong belief in the company's core values, Mike decided to stick by all his employees and committed to standing up and improving the situation. "The decision was made quickly; we keep them all! What kind of business are we if it doesn't stand behind the people when they need it the most? Our core value 'Trust' means nothing if they can't trust us now. We committed, they committed, and it was beautiful. Never underestimate what your team is willing to do for their business."
Mike was also able to remove the fog behind challenges and saw a future full of opportunities. "We don't have challenges in the future. We have opportunities. Our team has been building and waiting for the economic recovery, and because
we are all here, everyone can lift. We'll dominate our industry. The future is an opportunity for us."
THE A-TEAM
Besides the core values, the people at Altek also make up for the company's success. As the irm's roots are engraved in the family, the employees of Altek are also considered a part of the family. This culture led the irm to be honored as a Top100 Canadian Employer as well as being awarded the TinyPulse' Happiest People'.
"Companies say 'our culture' all the time. Altek Culture, the A-Team, is an eco-system of safety, reward, passion, and vision. Our people show up every day and continually build that spirit. Management adamantly protects it," describes Mike.
And the extraordinary people that form such a culture also get praise from Mike. "We hire great people, recognize them, support them, praise them, retain them, celebrate them. Very few companies compare to how much we love our people. As a family business, we are literally a family."
Mike will continue to rely on his amazingly talented people for the company's growth in the future. He describes the forthcoming years as 'unrecognizable' in the face of positive disruption.
Authenticity ↘ Lead with
Authenticity
A go-to Guide for Entrepreneurs
As a leader, it can be easy to think that the best
approach to leading your team is by being strong, insistent and showing that you always have certainty. While these qualities are helpful for the people that you lead, the reality might look a little different.
THE OLD WAY OF LEADING
When we think of leaders, we usually imagine someone who has con idence in every decision they make, has unwavering certainty and is willing to push through every dif iculty and challenge that arises.
We also imagine them having no personal issues, nothing setting them back and that they never lose heart in the depths of challenge. Think of the polished character Harvey Specter from the drama series Suits.
That type of leadership may have worked in the past, culturally we're on the doorstep of a lot of business and leadership changes. One of those changes is moving from having a hard style of leadership to a new kind of human leadership.
THE 21ST CENTURY LEADER
Today more than ever, honesty and transparency are valued in the workplace. Especially when in the throws of dif iculty and adversity.
As a leader, you might think to yourself that you need to hide all of the dif iculties and challenges you're facing in the business as a way to protect your team from knowing everything that is challenging. But what if keeping them in
the dark about what you're wrestling with is actually setting them up for confusion?
Think about how many times you've been left to make assumptions about someone or a situation because you didn't have enough information. That's when your imagination kicks in and colours the image with all kinds of wild imaginations and personal issues being projected onto the matter.
The issue with not showing your vulnerable and honest side is that you leave your team to make assumptions, leaving them guessing and colouring the situation with their own brushes of personal stories.
BE YOURSELF
It's important to be yourself instead of trying to be someone that you're not. We all inherently have an honesty radar that goes off whenever someone is not telling us the truth. Those alarms go crazy when our leaders are trying to spin a story or sugarcoat a dif icult issue.
What your team want from you is honesty and transparency. They want to see a human being lead them. This makes you more relatable and easier to connect with. For example, in the Marvel ilm, Iron Man 3, Tony Stark experienced deep fears and panic attacks, which showed a vulnerable side to this lawless superhero. It made his character much more relatable to audiences because it demonstrated a human side that we all share.
BE WILLING TO BE VULNERABLE
It's common for leaders to have moments of doubt, confusion, and worry. It's equally common for leaders to hide these feelings from their teams.
When I encourage my clients to lead with this vulnerability, their team step up to the plate and tackle the challenges alongside their leader.
In one particular case, I was working with one of my clients who is the CEO of a growing business. He was facing several challenges in his personal life, and it was affecting how he was showing up in the business and how he was leading his executive team. After working through the underlying issues he was wrestling with, I suggested that he share it with his team so they could get a clearer picture of why he wasn't delivering his best.
They immediately responded with empathy, understanding and most importantly, respect. What followed was inspiring. The team stepped up and took on extra work with more enthusiasm while my client sorted through his personal life. His personal challenges brought the team together and formed a closer bond. Their productivity had grown and so had the inspiration in the company. This resulted in them having the biggest month in sales in the following month.
What does leading with vulnerability look like in actuality?
When you're experiencing concerns and worries about a project it's
valuable to express these worries to your team. Share your concerns and your thoughts with them. Communicate that you don't want to burden them with the worry but that you're sharing these concerns with them to see if they have any ideas or solutions to the problem.
Doing this does two things:
1.You'll earn their respect. While you might feel that being vulnerable will lose their respect, the reality is that they'll appreciate your honesty and transparency so much that they'll only respect you more.
2.It gives them a sense of inclusion. People want to feel valuable and useful. By sharing your concerns and worries with the people you're working with, they'll feel included and trusted by you. This will inspire them to help you solve the problem together.
We're living in a day in age when people appreciate and respect vulnerability and the human side of work. Too often we get caught in the trap of doing things the old way because it was the old way of doing things but in reality, being a vulnerable human, experiencing your fears and communicating them only shows how much true strength you have.
Leadership is not about pretending that you're superhuman. Authentic leadership is about being a human being. Nothing earns respect from others more than that.
↘
About the Author:
Giorgio Genaus is a highly committed coach with a great deal of experience and expertise as a teacher, author, coach to leaders, and writer. His unique perspective on career and life, in general, has allowed him to help people ind meaning and ful ilment through mindset-mastery. With a distinct voice, he is able to engage and create high-calibre quality content that entices readers with insightful and research-backed techniques from a variety of powerful approaches.
With over a decade of experience in the ield, he gained authority on the topics of mindset, coaching, and business development. Over the course of the year, he was able to successfully publish bestselling mindset books. One of his latest books is “How To Do Life: A Guide to Navigating Life's Challenges and Understanding the World Around you".
Khris Thayer | CEO & Co-Founder
An in luential leader is a
leader that strives to make a positive impact on people affected by seen and unseen decisions. In fact, good leaders are good listeners and inquisitive about what makes people tick, encourage people to play to their strengths and provide opportunities to strengthen their weaknesses.
Good leaders use this diagnostic approach to provide clarity and purpose through decisive and independent thought. Khris Thayer, CEO and Co-founder of OPTIZMO Technologies, is an ingenious example of an in luential leader. He implements his thought-leadership style through seeking and providing opportunities for others.
Additionally, he proactively contributes in leveling-up his team's knowledge and experience. He says, “I make a conscious effort to empathize without sacri icing high standards in order to appease.”
FACING THE MUSIC— LIKE A REAL LEADER
Khris' earliest memory as a leader is mostly centered around music. Growing up in a small town in rural Texas, it was dif icult for him to ind creative outlets. But re lecting on his formative years made him realize the importance of manifestations through adversity. This eventually led him to excel in his personal growth and interests.
As he tried to create an outlet for himself, he soon realized that there were other people all around him looking for the same thing:
Inspiration. They needed a catalyst and he wanted to be that for them. Khris shares, “I listened to other young people talk as they were looking at albums at a local record shop. While they were buying albums, popular within the culture of the area, I would hear them comment about wanting to ind something new. They would complain about everything sounding the same or that their parents didn't like it. “
There were plenty of options for new music to be discovered, and Khris took this as a cue for him to lead people towards a free and open-minded perspective. He recalls, “ I walked over to a nearby demo stereo and began to play music that I found interesting. Music not found on any of the top sellers.” He would play the most random albums and after a few weeks of doing this, he made more friends than he ever wanted.
There was a gravitational pull as he explained his reasons for creating music and inding inspiration to in luence his own writing. This was the irst time he cognizantly realized that people want to be led, but not forced into following. Khris believes that “we all want to be inspired by people who are unapologetic about what drives them.”
Inspiration is contagious and we want to follow people who are deliberate and passionate. Those same friends are still his friends now: bandmates, roadies, his unpaid marketing team, his creative consultants and production engineers, and lifelong fans of
anything that he has pursued throughout his life.
A HAPPY CHANCE WITH HIS PASSION
Music has always been a means of catharsis for Khris and integral to his success and sanity. The discipline and focus required to create music, write songs, identify patterns, inspire emotion, and take people on a journey has played a positive role in his life. It also created a positive impact as it taught him about leading and in luencing people to a desired outcome.
But it was a fortunate stroke of serendipity when he was introduced to the email marketing industry. Coincidentally, around that time, his friend and CTO/ Cofounder, Grant Fern had started a think-tank passion project. This led them both to discuss business ideas, concepts, and philosophy. After years pondering a company together, they decided to collaborate and make things happen.
He believed that the market needed a better and more reliable solution for managing the collection, storage, and distribution of email suppression lists. As a result, he and Grant decided to focus on work low automation and ef iciency. Eventually, they built a team dedicated to customer success and this was the impetus for creating OPTIZMO.
Sharing his idea about the name of the company, Khris shares “As with a lot of companies, the name
resulted from some back-of-anapkin doodling, playing around with the word, Optimize. Eventually, Optimization-Gizmos led to the company name, OPTIZMO.”
As a CEO, Khris believes his role is to build a competent team, empower and facilitate them with the tools that they need to succeed, and then let them do what they do best. So, while he is often involved in day-to-day operations, his leadership focus is providing strategic guidance according to the circumstances.
EYES ON THE REAL PRIZE
For Khris, his people are the real assets as he treasures them dearly. From the beginning, he had his vision set on hiring highly entrepreneurial, self-motivated people with expertise in their respective ields. “Results-driven autonomy has created an environment that supports both personal and professional growth for individual team members while inspiring camaraderie and collaboration as a team,” he adds.
Additionally, Khris is driven and passionate to ensure optimal client experience and satisfaction. His focus is simple, impactful and progressive on three key areas: providing the best data management and compliance technology; delivering world-class customer service and support; managing scale while not sacri icing service for growth.
Khris' journey has been an exciting and adventurous one and rarely, if ever, a straight path. It has been a challenging route of many ups, downs, curves, and crossroads towards success. But, he is not
really one for regrets, as he thinks it is dif icult to say if there is anything that he would do differently.
However, Khris always strives to improve and become better through experience and learning. “I try to remain cognizant of my responsibility to my partner and my team. I try to remain humble and open to learn from those I lead and those who lead me. I've been fortunate in that many of those, the ones I lead and who lead me, are one in the same,” he concludes.
HIS BIGGEST EXPERIENTIAL ADVICE
Adaptability, mindfulness, and gratitude are rare qualities that should warrant more attention in the context of business and leadership. Khris suggests aspiring business leaders to be adaptable to market trends and changes in the business and pivot quickly and decisively.
He also thinks it is more important to make moves and changes in the right direction than it is to be right about an initial direction or idea. Additionally, being mindful of your actions and decisions impact those you lead. Khris repeatedly emphasizes on being responsible for outcomes and leading by example.
Gratitude is another important ingredient required to cook your delicious success story. Khris also says, “Positive outcomes are often the result of learning from negative outcomes. Be grateful for the learning opportunities, but do not focus on the negative. There is almost always a silver lining.”
Lastly, be deliberate: say what you
mean and mean it when you say it. “Your clients, partners, and team members will respect you for it and it will, likely, earn you goodwill to get you through the moments when you misstep. Work environments may change, but these philosophies never will,” he concludes.
OPTIMIZING FOR THE FUTURE
With over 15 years of experience, Khris still has a fascination for his company and is very excited about the future. As thought leaders in the digital marketing industry, he believes his team is in a great position to anticipate the challenges of the future and rise to meet them head-on, while expanding the business offerings.
“We prepare for this with a sense of cultural readiness as we scale our team to meet the demands of our growing and ever-evolving company,” he shares. Moreover, he will also be focusing on international growth in 2022 and beyond.
A few of his other priorities are to enhance the SaaS platform, scale the infrastructure and team, while continuing to create more value through diversi ication of OPTIZMO's product and service offerings. Lastly, he is looking to expand OPTIZMO's network of cross-platform integration partners. “We are always innovating and incubating new business models and ideas,” he concludes.
Novolyze and Safesteril Partner to Revolutionize Food Ingredient Safety with Data-Driven Validation
Novolyze, a leading provider
of cloud-based food safety and quality digitalization technology and microbial process validation solutions, today announced a strategic partnership with Safesteril, a brand of ETIA, a subsidiary of the VOW ASA group specializing in continuous heat treatment processes for dry food products.
This collaboration leverages the strengths of both companies:
Safesteril's industry-leading sterilization equipment: Safesteril's technology effectively eliminates pathogens and bacteria from dry food ingredients while preserving their organoleptic properties.
Novolyze's innovative SMART Validation software: SMART Validation automates data
collection, analysis, and reporting, enabling ef icient process validation for a wider range of products.
A Game-Changer for Ingredient Processors
Ingredient processors face a signi icant challenge: validating the safety of a vast number of products against a multitude of pathogens. Traditional methods, requiring individual validations for each product, are economically unsustainable. Novolyze's SMART Validation solves this problem by:
Product Grouping: Automatically grouping similar products into a manageable number of validation categories (typically 5-7) optimizes validation coverage without compromising safety.
Complete Coverage: Ingredient processors can achieve comprehensive validation for all their products at a fraction of the usual cost compared to traditional methods.
Real-Time Compliance: SMART Validation automatically matches products and production sequences, calculates log reduction, and generates compliant validation reports. Real-time deviation analysis ensures immediate corrective actions when needed.
Safesteril Users Gain Additional Bene its:
Ingredient processors using Safesteril equipment who also subscribe to the Novolyze platform can further optimize their sterilization processes with:
Reduced Processing Time and Temperature: SMART Validation helps identify the most ef icient sterilization parameters while remaining compliant with FDA regulations.
Increased Throughput: The faster processing times and lower temperatures result in more product being processed without additional investment in equipment.
Preserved Quality: Spices and herbs retain their natural color and lavor due to reduced overprocessing.
“Ingredient processors are under constant pressure to ensure food safety while maintaining ef iciency,” said Karim-Franck Khinouche, CEO and Founder of Novolyze. “Our partnership with Safesteril empowers them with a powerful combination to achieve both objectives. By leveraging SMART Validation, Safesteril users can achieve comprehensive validation coverage, optimize their sterilization processes, and ultimately deliver safer, higherquality ingredients to consumers.”
Safesteril's Expertise in Food Sterilization
Safesteril's innovative sterilization process uses continuous dry steam to eliminate pathogens and bacteria without compromising the quality of food products. Their patented Spirajoule® technology ensures gentle and homogeneous treatment, preserving taste, color, and moisture while achieving a 5log reduction in Salmonella and signi icant reductions in other
NEWS ROOM
harmful microorganisms.
“Safesteril is committed to providing our customers with the most advanced food safety solutions available,” said Yvan Kostadinov, CEO at ETIA. “This partnership with Novolyze enables Safesteril customers to unlock a new level of ef iciency from their best-in-class sterilization equipment to achieve new levels of ef iciency and peace of mind in their sterilization processes.”
About Novolyze:
Founded in 2012, Novolyze enables the world's largest food production companies to reduce overprocessing and increase ef iciencies by digitalizing food safety and quality processes. Its patented solutions offer a holistic view of environmental monitoring, process control, sanitation, and other food safety and quality processes that can bene it from smart monitoring and traceability. In addition to
optimizing operations, Novolyze solutions can help companies with sustainability initiatives, by providing a roadmap for decreasing energy and water use, thereby shrinking a company's carbon footprint. For more information, visit www.novolyze.com or follow the company on Twitter/X and LinkedIn.
About Safesteril
Safesteril, a brand of ETIA, a subsidiary of the VOW ASA group, is a global leader in continuous heat treatment processes for dry food products. Their innovative sterilization equipment uses dry steam to eliminate pathogens and bacteria while preserving the integrity of food products. With over 114 installations worldwide, Safesteril empowers food manufacturers to deliver safe and high-quality products to consumers around the world.
Financial Concerns Vary Across U.S. States in 2024
New data from SMB Compass
reveals that Vermont residents are the most worried about saving money, with the highest average monthly searches for inancial advisors and money-saving tips. The study analyzed over 4,000 search terms, identifying trends in inancial concerns across the U.S.
Top States Concerned with Finances
1. Vermont : 1,138 searches per 100K residents, most frequently searching for "