Karin Ann | Global Leaders to Watch | Exeleon Magazine

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CONTENTS

CONTENTS ELIZABETH FAYE 22

CONTENTS KAVITA

#MyJourney

BEYOND

BEYOND

is a universal language that transcends borders, cultures, and generations. It has the power to evoke deep emotions, to transport us to another time and place, and to connect us with others in ways that nothing else can. From classical melodies to modern pop songs, music has been a driving force in our lives, shaping our memories, our identities, and even our views surrounding the world.

But music is more than just an art form. It's a powerful tool for social change, a means of raising awareness about issues that matter, and a platform for artists to express their ideas and inspire others to action. From Bob Dylan to Beyoncé, musicians have used their voice and platform to push for social justice, political reform, and an altogether better world.

Featuring as the Cover of our Women of Excellence issue is the 20year-old Slovakian singer-songwriter Karin Ann, who is using her music to talk about subjects of relevance and spearheading a global change.

THE MUSICAL RANGE

Growing up in Slovakia, Karin Ann started her writing journey at the age of 14. Through her lyrics, she was able to innately capture the

complexities of life, one that connected with people of all age groups.

Soon Karin was discovered by producer Matt Schwartz, and it brought upon new opportunities in her young musical career. She began touring with the likes of Imagine Dragons, YUNGBLUD, Alie Templeman, LP and My Chemical Romance and steadily created a name for herself on the live circuit.

Talking about these opportunities and if she would like to do anything differently in her journey, Karin assertively mentions “The journey has been a lot of hard work, but I am grateful for all the opportunities I've gotten.”

She adds “I don't think it does any good dwelling on what you would've done differently in the past. I think the choices we make bring us to where we are so who knows where I'd be if I had done something differently.”

In recent years Karin Ann has established a loyal following with popular songs like you make me miserable , looking at porn , almost 20 , i'm a loser , and more. Her latest single

"I think like any artist I want to be remembered for my art and for what I stand for.”

Karin has always been a strong advocate for the LGBTQ+ community as well as for minority rights.

In July 2021, During her appearance on TVP, Karin Ann began her performance on the program titled Question for Breakfast by giving a special message “I would like to dedicate this song to the LGBTQ community in Poland. I know you don't have it easy here. You deserve love, you deserve to feel safe. I'm with you, I'm standing here with you, I love you.” She gave this statement while wrapping herself with the symbolic rainbow lag.

The outrage and media attention the statement garnered across the country further stood to cement the power as well as the truth her message held.

Since then, international icons like Mel C and Black Eyed Peas have also shown their support for the LGBTQ+ community in Poland. Moreover, global publications and social media inluencers have also joined-in to voice their support to the community in Poland and beyond.

In August 2021, Karin Ann went on to become the irst Slovak artist to be featured on the billboard in New York's Time Square as the face of Spotify's 2021 EQUAL campaign.

Cor Sry

for a moment is already garnering rave reviews and is a clear indication of the musical heights she is about to reach in 2023.

IMPACTING THE YOUNG GENERATION

Karin Ann's music has struck a chord with audiences of all ages, but perhaps nowhere is her impact more keenly felt than among the young generation.

But it's not just the subject matter of Karin Ann's music that resonates with teenagers. It's also the honesty, vulnerability, and authenticity of her lyrics, which speak directly to the experiences and emotions of young people. Whether she's singing about the pain of a healing heart or the urgency of political activism, Karin Ann's music captures life with a sensitivity and insight that is rare among artists of any age.

“I think societal issues need to be talked about in mainstream media. So, when people (artists) who are featured talk about the issues it could get a lot more attention, and in turn something can be done about them,” she explains.

Perhaps this very understanding of social subjects and openness to topics riddled with stigma has garnered her the support of audiences and celebrities alike from across the globe.

THE KARIN ANN BRAND

In just a short span, Karin Ann

Karin's latest single For a Moment is a beautiful song that speaks the universal truth that time doesn't necessarily heal all wounds, but it can make the pain hurt a little less. And in those moments when the pain is still raw and the wounds are still fresh, it's okay to let go for a little while. To dance and forget and allow ourselves to be happy, even if it's only for a moment .

In another interview, Karin mentioned the meaning and thought-process behind writing this song “Writing it was kind of therapeutic for me, it's about accepting the bad things you went though, it's about accepting that healing takes time and that it's OK to not feel OK and it's OK to feel like something horrible you went through didn't make you stronger but actually made life much more dificult. It's about accepting all that you went though and taking conscious steps towards healing."

Even then, the songwriting process for Karin is never limited to a set idea or theme. She explains, “I don't ever think there is a speciic theme I want to write about when I start writing. I just start writing and whatever comes out is what ends up being a song.”

has already been the recipient of multiple music awards, touring all over the world, working with various labels, actively representing the LGBTQ+ community in Slovakia and in Europe, been referred to as the Billie Eilish of Europe, and most importantly, broadening her portfolio of good music.

Amidst the popularity and expectations, Karin emphasizes that she doesn't think about the potential possibilities of the future. She further adds “I have anxiety so thinking about the future is very stressful for me, haha.”

From her own experiences, Karin understands inding your audience and standing out in the music industry is extremely dificult, however, she points out “We live in a time where the music market is oversaturated so it deinitely is hard to ind an audience, but I think as long as you're doing what you love and you're doing it for the right reasons, sooner or later your people will ind you.”

Talking about how she wants to be remembered by Karin concludes saying “I think like any artist I want to be remembered for my art and for what I stand for.”

We Embrace Excellence!

Exeleon Magazine features some of the leading players in business and shares their journey of excellence to inspire aspiring leaders across the globe.

HOW A HAIRSTYLIST CAN CHANGE THE WORLD?

INTERVIEW WITH ELIZABETH FAYE

At the age of 12, Elizabeth Faye was

expelled from school for coloring her natural hair with a box of dye. But as fate would have it, this led her to a chance encounter that would change the course of her life.

Her parents booked her a color correction at a fancy upscale hair salon. While sitting on the hairdresser's chair, Elizabeth started sharing every little detail of her life to her stylist – Brandon.

For the irst time in her young life, Elizabeth felt heard, beautiful, seen, and loved.

This cemented a bond between Elizabeth and hair salons, and eventually paved the way for her professional journey as a hairstylist.

A single act of kindness changed the life of Elizabeth Faye. Today, as a hairstylist turned coach, Elizabeth is determined to help transform the lives of others like someone did to her.

In this Exclusive Interview, we interact with this incredible entrepreneur and learn more about her journey and beyond.

From visiting a hairstylist that changed your world to today a hairstylist turned coach that is changing the world, what has been the journey like for you?

The journey has been a wild ride. So much learning and growth. The entrepreneurship journey is truly the greatest opportunity for personal development on a fast track in the best way. There are highs and lows, and I wouldn't have it any other way!

What prompted your interest and subsequently your foray into the coaching space?

I began working as an assistant in a salon that was very education-forward where I was working for salon educators in the beauty industry. From day one, I've worked backstage on hair shows, teaching at salons, working alongside educators at salons, etc. I also come from a family of educators. My grandpa was a teacher, my father does a lot of work within the church such as teaching and guiding hikes, yoga, etc.

Teaching has been in my blood. I became a beauty school teacher at Paul Mitchell for four years and then taught at Redken for six

years. From there, I went on doing independent education since 2014. My transition from hair educator to business coach then led to a healing journey that really led me to goal setting and manifestation.

Talk to us about your client approach, one that has facilitated the career transformation of 1000s of individuals.

I am a business coach that hones in on attracting wealth, shopping online, marketing, and working with educators on establishing their mission and curriculum. However, the strategy is only 20%, when 80% of career transformations derive from personal and spiritual development.

Our signature framework, Sacred Success Method, blends strategy, somatics, and conscious work. Somatics is understanding the nervous system [this is where breathwork comes in and is one of the best ways to heal your nervous system] and marrying the mind and body together and mixing it with business strategy.

Blending strategy, somatics, and subconscious work together is very important to me because it really brings together the science and spiritual side of success and empowers others to understand it and to lean into their own tools - which are themselves!

What is your vision through Hair Love University? How is it empowering and impacting the hairstylists community and beyond?

My mission is to help hair stylists show up as the most authentic version

of themselves, which is going to require some healing work as well as strategy and skill to help them feel aligned in their work and attract wealth in a really aligned way. I want them to feel really lit up about what they do because they really are in such proximity with people all of the time and are often seen as a trusted space where people feel comfortable coniding in them.

I know irsthand as a former hairstylist and salon owner that I was there through some of my client's biggest milestones [marriage, divorce, babies, death, etc.] and people really turn to us as a close person in their life. I want to help hairstylists be well and regulate their nervous system as they act as that rock for other people that sit in their chair.

I believe we are all a part of The Ripple Effect but hairstylists touch so many lives, and if I can help them, then I am quite literally helping hundreds of thousands of people.

Brief us about the importance of visibility and for women entrepreneurs to put their personal brand out there.

This is why I do a lot of personal and spiritual development work with people because putting your brand out there is sharing your heart. Sharing your perspectives, desires and how you want to serve people can be a really vulnerable thing to do as female leaders.

As we lead, we have an opportunity to share from the heart space, to collaborate, and to empower. Sharing your mission and heart is incredibly needed - your story matters!

As an entrepreneur, coach, speaker, author, and mother, what does a day in your life of Elizabeth Faye look like? How do you ensure work-life balance?

Typically, the morning starts with Cacao [I love a daily Cacao] and bringing my nine-year-old to school. Then, I coach a few days a week, so taking a moment to get grounded, light some incense, and then start my day with some rituals is very important to me. After a day of coaching my clients, we have dinner and family time [typically involves board games].

Other days, I am in a lot of CEO meetings [either in bed or from my hanging chair] and blending my rituals into the day which can look like breathwork, meditation, or

taking a walk. I am a big believer in moving energy through dance and yoga. In between all of that, I am often speaking, traveling, and hosting retreats.

To ensure work-life balance, it is important to build in those small rituals. It can be making your nightly bath or drinking your daily beverage ritualistic. It is really bringing intention and slowness into these different spaces of your life. Oftentimes, I bring in coaches and experts to guide me so I can constantly learn, grow, release, and be cared for because the higher level of a performer you are in your business, the higher level support you are going to need in your life and your self-care. Lean on your support system - you are going to need to even out that load to show

up for yourself and your business.

Finally, what does the future look like for you and your brand?

I am now a Tedx Speaker and I am publishing a book in the fall! I am looking forward to more speaking engagements and continuing to coach high level humans and doing breathwork exercises in huge settings. I am looking forward to working with more corporate brands and schools, as well as helping more people change their life.

I am dabbling in more projects that are outside of the box - music and products that are more ritualistic. We just came out with a conscious song titled, I Am Loved Devine, on Spotify.

Disrupt Yourself

5 WAYS TO BECOME YOUR OWN AGENT OF DISRUPTION

Disruption is a bad thing, right? Well, it depends. Are you the disruptor or the disrupted? In startups, disruptors reap the massive beneits of doing things a new way. Name any unicorn company, like Apple, Amazon, or Uber — in fact, name any great company, and behind its success is a story of disruption. But remember, companies don't disrupt, people do. People who disrupt stand to reap massive beneits for not following the status quo. Reid Hoffman in his book, The Startup of You , advises everyone to think of themselves and their career as their own startup. And Tara Parker-Pope recently wrote, we can use 'design thinking' to better ourselves through personal reinvention. I believe that it's imperative to become your own Agent of Disruption. Yes, I know, it sounds like a fun spy game. Let's play!

In my book, Disrupt Yourself!, I outlined seven variables for harnessing the powers of disruption. Because you can never know too much about how to ride the waves of change, below are some practical tips from entrepreneurs who have “Disrupt yourself” as one of their favorite mantras.

TRY SOMETHING NEW Gillian Morris, CEO, HitList

'Studies have shown that being in unfamiliar places helps you think creatively. Neurologically, you make new connections between unfamiliar frameworks as you move through new territory, and it can impact how you

think in your 'normal' life as well.

'I've found that travel makes me more resourceful, and keeps me calm and grounded through the inevitable ups and downs of being an entrepreneur.

Stuck in trafic on the way to a critical meeting?

Inconvenient, but not as bad as having food poisoning in Afghanistan and discovering the nearest hospital is in territory controlled by the Taliban. Experiences like that put the rest of your problems in perspective. Being outside your comfort zone reinforces what's important. It's said that travel is cheaper than therapy, and though it won't cure everything, I think there's a lot to be said for travel as a health beneit.'

If you're feeling stuck then try something new. It literally feels good to disrupt. When you learn you get a squirt of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that makes you happy. You may think you crave certainty, control, and tasks you can easily complete, but agents of disruption know that moving into terra incognita — the unexplored territory — feels better. A study done by Kennon M. Sheldon and colleagues found that self-expression and creativity may increase positive feelings leading people to act more responsibly, cooperatively, and cheerfully. Launching into the unknown, not only makes you feel good; it inspires your team too. It's restorative, both emotionally and physically. If you are feeling stuck, focus on who you want to become, not who you are. It will help you move from stuck to unstuck.

KEEP GOOD COMPANY

Anna Curran, Founder, Cookbook Create

'I surround myself with people who inspire me to live life to the fullest, dream big and go for it. Each friend has their own super power. Deborah Jackson, Founder of Plum Alley, encourages me to push the limits of big thinking and dreaming. Jessica Randazza, CMO Dannone, constantly inspires me to play and cultivate my creative side. Sloane Davidson lends her rose-colored glasses often and renews my faith in the world as a beautiful place.'

Motivational speaker Jim Rohn once famously said, “You are the average of the ive people you spend the most time with.” It's true, and what's good for you is good for them. Research has shown that emotions are contagious. As you enjoy the feel-good effects of disruption, others will too. When you share your dreams of disruption with you mentors, friends and team, you release the bonding hormone, oxytocin, which activates higher levels of trust. Sharing makes other people feel trusted and that makes them feel good, too.

FOLLOW YOUR PASSION

Vanessa Quigley, Co-Founder, Chatbooks

'I had no intention of joining my husband in a start-up when the last of my seven children started school. I was going to get into yoga, local theatre, and enjoy my newfound free time. But one day I discovered that I had no printed pictures of my youngest child. All he had to show for his young life was a tattered little snapshot taken by his preschool teacher. I used to make elaborate scrapbooks when I was a younger mom, but as life got busier I quit printing pictures all together. So I went to my entrepreneur husband with an idea: could we make creating photo books as easy as taking the photos?

'My passion for my family and my desire to help people hold on to their memories — quickly, easily, and affordably — drove me to disrupt headirst into the chaotic, exciting world of a startup. Incidentally, we've disrupted the photo book industry, having sold over a million books, and attracted hundreds of thousands of subscribers.'

It doesn't always follow that we are good at the things we care about, but it's an excellent place to start. Successful agents of disruption are those who identify an unmet need that can be illed by their unique talent

set. Don't be dismissive of your passions — chances are that you're not the only one who cares. If you're dissatisied with how existing products and/or services address your needs, then others have the same concerns. Your solution may be the solution everyone is looking for. Don't we all wish we'd invented Velcro?

TRAVEL THE NON-LINEAR PATH Renee DiResta, Haven

'Some people have always known what they're born to do. They specialize early and quickly acquire deep experience. Not me. My latest career move was to help start a company in an industry I'd never previously worked in: transportation logistics.

'I studied computer science, but a serendipitous interview led me to inance. As a trader from 2004–2011, I watched technology transform the market. I left inance to pursue a hobby, tracking ineficient private market trading of startups. As I worked with dozens of founders, themes emerged. Manufacturing and distribution are still very hard; production delays are common. Teams rely on outmoded methods to meet their deadlines.

'When Haven's founders looked at the freight industry, there were many parallels to early inancial markets. Transportation logistics was begging to be transformed from an opaque phone-and-email market, through the creation of a technologically sophisticated exchange that reduced overhead costs of time and money and improved eficiency.

'Depth of experience is incredibly important for a company's success, and Haven has team members with decades of supply chain and freight experience. But breadth of experience helped me visualize how an innovation that transformed one industry might beneit another. Don't be afraid of a non-linear path.'

You don't have to invent something new to be an agent of disruption; you only have to be willing to reinvent yourself. Sometimes that means deploying earned skills in a new enterprise, entirely unrelated to prior experience, but susceptible to the same problems — and solutions — that you've encountered previously. Your fresh eyes and mind focused in a new situation may be able to make connections that those with long experience are too fatigued to spot. Agility and adaptability are hallmarks of disruptors. And when it

comes to technology, the only thing that isn't news is that we have to keep up with it.

Taylor Reynolds, the Director of Technology Policy, MIT Internet Policy Research Initiative says, “The verdict is still out on the long-term effects of technological innovation on jobs, but those who can pick up new skills and pivot themselves towards jobs that use these new technologies will be the ultimate winners in our increasingly digital economy.

INVEST IN YOURSELF

Jane Barratt, Founder & CEO GoldBean

'Moving to Asia in my mid-20's was life-changing. Money and investments were topics of everyday conversation. I adopted the local habit of investing, even though I had no previous experience or real understanding.

'We're well-trained as consumers. Aggressive marketing blurs the lines between our wants and our needs. Investing forced me to look differently at how I spent money. I still bought the shoes and bags I loved, but I started to ask who made them. Are they public companies? Worth investing in? Consumers drive the success of investors. Recognizing that fact slowed down my impulse purchasing and prioritized putting money into a trading account versus a shopping spree.

'When I moved to the U.S., I built my company to encourage people to think differently about money, and to use what they knew and did as a consumer as a starting point to invest in themselves, rather than just the shareholders of the companies they like to patronize.'

Making an investment in yourself is the most basic reason for self-disruption. A direct portfolio investment is only one possibility. When we are agents of disruption we can reap a windfall of beneits: new opportunities, career advancement, inancial advantage, personal satisfaction. Doing something new produces a different outcome, an outcome over which we have some control. In this, agents of disruption differ from objects of disruption — the former chooses to act, while the latter is acted upon, without their input.

CONCLUSION

It may sound “evil empire”-ish, but being an agent of disruption is a very powerful positive force. When you disrupt yourself, you not only cope with the forces of disruption, you enable yourself to harness its power and unpredictability to propel you forward, and potentially those around you, too. What are you waiting for? Join the game. Disrupt yourself.

About the Writer

Whitney Johnson is the CEO of human capital consultancy Disruption Advisors, an Inc. 5000 2020 fastest-growing private company in America. One of the 50 leading business thinkers in the world (#14) as named by Thinkers50, Whitney is an expert at helping individuals, teams and organizations become peak performers. Moreover, Whitney is an award-winning author, world-class keynote speaker, and frequent lecturer for Harvard Business School's Corporate Learning

TURNING PAIN INTO PURPOSE

Jamie Batiste

Pain is an inevitable part of the human experience. It can come in many forms, from the loss of a loved one to the sting of rejection, and it can leave us feeling broken and lost. But pain can also be a source of growth and transformation if we're willing to embrace it.

Think about the most signiicant moments in your life. Chances are, they weren't all sunshine and rainbows. They were likely moments of struggle, hardship, and pain. Yet, it's often these moments that deine us, that shape who we are, and who we eventually become.

By embracing our pain, we can ind purpose in it. We can use it as fuel to create something positive, to inspire and empower others who are going through similar struggles. We can turn our pain into a catalyst for personal and professional success.

Jamie Batiste is one such powerful woman who after experiencing rejection and heartbreak, channeled her pain into a brand that would inspire others to embrace their inner strength and resilience.

In this Exclusive Interview with the Founder of Rejected Hearts Club, Jamie talks about her brand, her story, and entrepreneurship.

What according to you makes one a powerful woman? How do you integrate the same thought into your leadership?

Women are powerful humans all around. For me a powerful woman is someone who possesses a strong sense of selfworth and conidence, someone who is able to pursue their goals with determination and resilience. Someone who is not afraid to take risks or challenges, and who uses their voice and inluence to advocate for themselves and others.

They also recognize the importance of building relationships and networks and understand that collaboration and teamwork are key to achieving success. I integrate these traits in order to build a great team and have great collaboration. Networking is a big one for me as you never know who you are going to meet and what value you can learn from someone or what value you can bring to the table to help someone else.

Talk to us about your growing up years. What is your earliest memory as a leader / entrepreneur?

Growing up I've always had the drive to be someone and make a difference in this life. I was in a ton of sports and played various instruments which taught me leadership and how to be a great teammate. I then also loved the idea of being in radio/tv so I started faux radio shows with my brother in my room and would do interviews and record full blown shows on a cassette player. ha-ha.

It led me to start my radio career at the age of 14! From there, I was able to produce on ESPN radio and then became an On Air radio host on KissFM Austin, TX which is now IHeartRadio. I also voiced a lot of commercials which lead to meeting

tons of amazing people and I was able to communicate with various people with multiple personalities. As an entrepreneur, you have to learn to adapt to situations and people.

Talk to us about how the idea formed of starting Rejected Hearts Club?

Honestly…My best ideas and thoughts come to me while in the shower. It's my place of alone time with my own thoughts. One day after a hard breakup I was thinking of what I would name a company to help others heal from heartbreak and loss. I realized that rejection is a universal experience that everyone goes through at some point in their lives.

Overall, the idea of Rejected Hearts Club was formed as a way to turn

pain into a purpose and help others going through similar experiences to get their hearts back one piece at a time.

What is the message that you want to share through your brand and entrepreneurial journey?

The main message that is promoted with RHC is to Love Yourself. It's okay to put YOU irst. It's important to remember that self-love is not selishness or arrogance. It's about valuing and respecting yourself, recognizing your own worth, and taking care of your physical, emotional, and mental well-being. When you love yourself, you're able to show love and compassion to others and make positive contributions to your relationships.

Looking at your journey as an

entrepreneur, what would you have done differently if you were to start again?

I've always learned that failure leads to success. Therefore, every mistake that has been made as an entrepreneur has made me grow and learn. I wouldn't do anything differently; I would however have started building a community for

the brand in the earlier stages. RHC has the power to build a great community for people to share their own stories and to ind love within themselves.

What does a day in the life of Jamie Batiste look like? How do you ensure work-life balance?

I'm sure most Entrepreneurs say

there are never enough hours in the day. For myself, I am learning the art of delegating in order to be more eficient and focus more on scaling the brand and stay true to my passion of design.

What would be your advice for aspiring and emerging women entrepreneurs?

Never give up on yourself - no matter what. Remember that failure doesn't deine you but can be a great opportunity to learn and grow. Believe in yourself and be kind to yourself - because you are worth it and most importantly LOVE YOURSELF. The best way to reach success is to keep going despite obstacles, and to never be afraid to take risks.

Finally, what does the future look like for you and your brand? What are you most excited about?

Exciting things are happening for the brand and the community. RHC is a give back culture, so next up we are creating a show to have people talk about their breakups and how to heal.

I want it to be a space for people to work through their emotions and learn to love and accept themselves despite rejection. It will be a place for people to learn about healthy relationships, boundaries, and selfcare practices.

Creating a Future of Hope

Alina Su

It is said that there is no better exercise for the heart than reaching out to lift people up. It is liberating, empowering, and transformational. It is powerful!

With the same intention of lifting people up and create a better future, Alina Su is spearheading a transformational vision through her company NovaXS Biotech Corp .

NovaXS is a smart medical device startup building a drug delivery platform to make it easier for

people to get access to quality healthcare.

In this Exclusive Interview, the young and powerful entrepreneur talks about her journey, challenges, and her vision for the future.

What according to you makes one a powerful entrepreneur? How do you integrate the same thought into your leadership?

A powerful entrepreneur is someone who takes responsibility for human beings' wellness and

creates a better future. Powerful entrepreneurs design the future, align their own vision and act on it daily. Rome wasn't built in a day and building our future will not be any different.

Creating positive change in the world is what powerful entrepreneurs do every day. As a leader, I am an action-oriented type. I outline and execute a strategy that

makes my vision a reality. Instead of sitting around and philosophizing about how to change the world, I focus on creating real changes like the many patients we help every day at NovaXS.

Talk to us about your growing up years. What is your earliest memory as an entrepreneur that you can remember?

Growing up, I remember being very curious and always asking questions. I love school and being in the lab. Since starting my company NovaXS, I've considered myself a researcher and student before a businessperson. That being said, I am also a problem-solver and a good entrepreneur who focuses on solving a problem, not selling a product.

My earliest memory of this is when I had to balance three different roles as an entrepreneur, researcher and student. My , morning started with attending my classes and simultaneously inishing my breakfast while reading industry-related news and improving the company's product design. I would brainstorm in the afternoon, go to the lab to research regenerative medicine and discuss , drug-device combinations with my professor and our scientiic , advisory board from Harvard, exPizer, UC Berkeley.

I would then talk to investors about new updates and receive feedback and make a second round of edits on my pitch deck. I would sit in MBA classes in Biotechnology Entrepreneurship and Business Case Analysis at 9 PM.

Finally, I get to go home to think back and summarize all that I did today. I always ind myself sleeping with my glasses on, with a pen and book in my hand since I barely have time to sleep. I learned how to become a good business leader from my dad and grandpa, who were serial entrepreneurs their whole lives. They had a large impact on me being the entrepreneur that I am today.

What prompted your interest and subsequently your foray into healthcare and tech space?

My inquisitive nature and imagination worked hand in hand with my love for science. Wanting to understand my sister's medical condition pushed me to study bioengineering at the University of California, Berkeley, and obtain a

degree in Public Health and Bioengineering. Today I am a Ph.D. student at Harvard Medical School, furthering my education in Biological and Biomedical Sciences. As a student, I lourish in the lab studying gene editing and degenerative diseases. Throughout my lab work, I've noticed how people navigate the healthcare system and often cannot access the necessary care.

What led you to start NovaXS, BioTech Corp.? What was the pain point you wanted to address through this platform?

When I was growing up, my sister was diagnosed with a chronic condition requiring her to make a one-hour round-trip to the nearest hospital every day for three years to get multiple shots.

Looking back on my childhood, I relect on the time I spent inding ways to support my sister through her treatments. I am naturally curious, and I remember thinking of ways to improve such an agonizing process.

When I realized my sister is not alone in the struggle to access quality healthcare, I wanted to use my expertise for good and take action.

Did you know that one in four adults and two in three children have a needle phobia and that 50% of medications for chronic diseases aren't taken as prescribed? My goal is to make healthcare treatments more accessible.

I assembled a team of my classmates, professors, mentors, and friends to start NovaXS Biotech

Corp, a smart medical device startup building a drug delivery platform to make it easier for people to get access to quality healthcare.

What have been some of the biggest challenges in your journey as a young Entrepreneur, Investor, and Inventor?

One of the biggest challenges has been ighting the stereotypes people have about me. As a young female entrepreneur, my ability is often questioned, and I have to go above and beyond to prove that I deserve a seat at the table.

But I remind myself that these stereotypes are not true and are projections of others' insecurities in themselves. I acknowledge when I am being treated unfairly and do not let it prevent me from doing my best work. I am determined, strong, and capable of doing anything I set my mind to.

What does a day in the life of Alina Su look like? How do you ensure work-life balance?

A goal of mine is to have a longlasting career helping people access quality healthcare, so I realize the importance of a healthy work-life balance. To start my day on the right foot, I meditate with a peaceful mind and catch up on the latest news.

Creating a ritual for my morning routine sets me on the right track and keeps me motivated. I am the most creative in the afternoons, which I set aside for collaboration with my team. Since my team is all around the world, I usually have meetings with our partners

overseas in the evenings. After those meetings, my workday ends, and I get to indulge in my guilty pleasures. One of my favorite things to do after a hectic day is to read a good book and escape for a while.

What would be your advice for entrepreneurs and business leaders in the healthcare space?

I would tell entrepreneurs to connect with others and prioritize building relationships with clients and investors. It requires time and patience, but if you can create longlasting relationships in this industry, you will be able to ind ways to make your business relationships mutually beneicial.

I also recommend enrolling in

accelerator programs like mHub MedTech Accelerator and Berkeley SkyDeck, which give business leaders access to resources and mentors to help ine-tune product development, leadership strategies, and much more.

Finally, what does the future look like for NovaXS? What are you most excited about in the coming years?

One day our app will help people with chronic illnesses selfadminister treatments and provide their doctors' data on treatment monitoring. The app will connect to an injector that doesn't require needles. You just hold it to your skin, and pressure pushes the medicine into your body.

More injectable therapies are looking for more effective and convenient delivery methods that improve the patient experience. NovaXS is taking a patient-centric approach to make self-injections easy and centering our work around remote healthcare optimization.

For the millions of people who deal with chronic conditions like diabetes or growth hormone deiciencies or for hopeful families going the IVF route, I hope that NovaXS will play a role in making their lives easier.

Alina Su

Founder & CEO

NovaXS BioTech Corp.

EXCLUSIVE

Laura Osorio In conversation with

What makes you a powerful woman?

I believe what makes me powerful is my resilience, I have been able to overcome many challenges in my life and therefore it makes me that much stronger at the end. I integrate the same thought into my leadership by not allowing anything to get in my way towards success.

What prompted your interest and subsequently your foray into the skincare space?

From a young age, I always loved everything about beauty and skincare. Eventually I wanted a bigger purpose in life and loved helping people, so I decided to mix my hobbies and my aspiration into one career, Licensed Esthetician and Skin Care Specialist.

Talk to us about Lola's Beauty Bar and

what makes it the #1 Skincare Salon of Tampa Bay.

Lola's Beauty Bar was founded on the basis of women empowerment and making them feel better not only about their appearance but also from within. Our goal is to give resultdriven results but also allow every person to feel welcomed, treated with the utmost respect, and be given all the knowledge to continue their journey of self-care at home. We are the #1 Skincare Salon of Tampa Bay because we offer the best quality products, luxury treatments, and an amazing customer experience.

As a female entrepreneur, what has been the journey like for you? If you were to start again, what would you do differently?

As a female entrepreneur, this journey has had very high highs and very low lows. It was

very hard to start from scratch and work my way up as a business owner and a service provider. The main thing I would do differently would be having mentors very early on in my career to help guide me better.

What would be your advice for women entrepreneurs who are struggling?

The main advice I would give for women struggling to take a risk and leap of faith in their business is to trust yourself and give it your all. When we believe in ourselves and give it all the motivation and nurture our business, everything else comes together.

There are multiple advancements being made in the beauty and cosmetic space, what do you think is the future for the industry?

As many things are changing in the beauty and cosmetic space, I believe this industry will have a lot more technologies that we can help treat our clients and therefore we need to stay on top of education and products to provide the best results and treatments.

Finally, what does the future look like for you and your brand?

My brand has so much coming. As I plan to rebrand and grow my team, I see Lola's Beauty Bar becoming a medical spa as I inish school and become an Aesthetic NP. I am most excited to see my clients take advantage of these amazing treatments I will be offering and seeing all my hard work pay off.

“We are the #1 Skincare Salon of Tampa Bay because we offer the best quality products, luxury treatments, and an amazing customer experience.”

S p n g S u c c e s

How Kavita Channe Turned Her Passion for Wine into a Leading Brand

Kavita Channe, the former sports presenter

and TV personality, is making a mark as a successful entrepreneur with her latest venture, Sip Channé, comprising an awardwinning line of Rosé and Blanc varietals that are created and imported from Provence, France.

As a best-selling author, speaker, and inluencer, Kavita's journey from being a broadcaster to a business owner is nothing short of inspiring. In this interview, we will take a closer look at her journey, her vision for Sip Channé, and how she is inspiring women entrepreneurs to take that leap of faith in themselves.

Talk to us about your growing up years and the inluence your family had on you to eventually become an entrepreneur.

My ancestors are from India, however, I draw my inspiration from all over the globe, including East Africa, where my parents were born and raised. They eventually moved to the UK for their education, and this is where they met… and I was born.

I'm the middle child of two sisters so there was always excitement around my house. My mom

gave up her accounting career to be at home with us. My father was a robotics engineer working for a company, however, after a health scare with my little sister he then started his own business in the nutrition space.

From my teenage years, I watched my father run his own business from home. Over the years, I witnessed many ups and downs, but we always were provided for and had all we needed and more. I believe that is why being an entrepreneur is not scary at all for me. It actually feels familiar.

What is scary is having to be in an ofice doing things I do not enjoy day after day. I did that a few times in my 20s and was not so excited about life at those times. I actually felt trapped in certain ways. So eventually I started my own business in my late 20s and have never stopped creating since then.

What according to you makes for a good wine? How have you integrated that into your brand - Sip Channé?

We don't aim for “good” wines—only GREAT wines or why bother!? A great wine is a wine that you enjoy drinking glass after glass and it's really relative to the person's taste.

For me, whether red, white, or rosé—I love dry wine! Also, my favorite wines are usually French, however, that's not to say I don't buy wine from other areas. I tried a Shiraz, the other day from Australia, that I absolutely loved—and I typically don't like Shiraz. There was just something about it that was so different and delicious without being overpowering or too strong compared to some I've tried.

And I guess that is where our brand, Sip Channé comes in. We wanted a wine that was easy to drink while still being elegant, crisp, and hitting all the right notes of a beautiful

Provence rosé. I am really proud that we have accomplished the two beautiful blends with our Channé Rosé and Channé Blanc. When I sip our rosé, I literally feel like I'm back in the South of France with a gorgeous hat on, a beautiful sundress and espadrilles to pair strolling through the most beautiful villages, cafes, and restaurants eating the most delicious French fare. It's such a vibe.

We've won two gold medals this year for our Channé Rosé, which makes me ecstatic and proud. Our Channé Blanc is my new favorite. This blend just launched in Aspen where they truly have the most fabulous white wine lists (and 'by the glass') at so many amazing restaurants there. It's truly white wine heaven and our Blanc is such an elegant and food-friendly addition with a classic Provençale proile. Both of these wines are no sugar, no additives, and low in sulites.

From being a sports presenter, TV personality, best-selling author, to being a wine entrepreneur, what has been the journey like for you?

The journey has been nothing but amazing! I have loved every minute of everything I've created and

accomplished… even the not-so-great moments. I feel like greatness is formed within us when faced with any adversity. Those moments of adversity are what help us learn and grow into a stronger, wiser, and better version of ourselves.

The funny thing is I never know what I'm doing, however, I know where I want to go which is half the battle. You can igure out the rest on the way. So, if there's something you want to do, I would say to deinitely go for it!

Looking at this journey, what would have done differently if you were to start again?

With working in television, I would've started much earlier instead of trying to be somebody that I'm not because of what society thinks I should be. I didn't think that I was attractive or blonde enough or “girl next-door” enough to go for the roles I wanted—and that is such BS. I wish I would've told myself to create the roles that I wanted. Don't wait for someone to hire you. Create the position and hire yourself! That's what I ended up doing with sports. I didn't have a background in sports, so I created a YouTube channel which eventually led to Fox Sports and working in the NFL.

In terms of my children's book, Frederick the Hamptons Frog, I wish that I would've given myself more time to plan and strategize for our launch. You really do need a team around you and so often I am doing a lot of the load myself which can lead to burn out, which leads me to the same with Sip Channé.

Last year I took a leap of faith and added a few key team members. It's amazing what you can do when you have people around you that are in it with you, care about what they're doing, and are excited to be doing it every day. That's

so important! Shout out to Jonathan Chabat, my amazing COO, who is such an integral part of our business. We are both working parents and truly collaborative as well as love what we do—which is key!

As a female entrepreneur in a male-dominated industry, what have been some of the biggest learnings for you?

I've always been a female in a male dominant industry, whether it's sports, wine, or any business, in general. I try not to focus on being the minority and just focus on the goals at hand. Obviously, there are going to be some awkward or uncomfortable moments for most female entrepreneurs—for example, when people assume I am an ambassador for my brand as against a Founder—however I would say that I have experienced much more supportive and collaborative moments that outweigh any not-so-great ones. The lesson? Make our weakness our strengths and keep it moving!

What would be your advice for women entrepreneurs who are struggling to take that leap of faith to start their business?

My advice would be to just go for it. If you're not doing it, somebody else will—so why should it not be you? If you need capital, there are key people and some great funds that speciically look for female-led companies to invest in. Take that leap of faith—even if it's scary. This is your life, and you don't want to leave this earth with regrets.

I want everyone to experience excitement and happiness every

One Book Entrepreneurs Must Read – I haven't read it yet, but I want to… “The Virgin Way” by Richard Branson

One Productivity Tool / App that Everyone Should Use –Google Workspace

One Podcast / Course that you would Recommend –MasterClass

One Movie / Show that you would Recommend – The Pursuit of Happiness

One Quote that Motivates you the Most – If people aren't laughing at your dreams, then you're not dreaming big enough.

One Investment Advice that you Follow – Invest in what you know and love… and this not only refers to your money, but also your time.

day with what they do. If that's not you, you need to make a change ASAP!

Finally, what does the future look like for you and your brand? What are you most excited about?

It's so exciting to see us go from three states to seven in one year. To see people enjoying rosé in the winter in gorgeous ski towns like Aspen to the summer in buzzing places like the Hamptons or enjoying rosé year-round in places like Florida or Nashville…it's a fabulous time! And to think I was advised not to launch a white wine and was told to stick to rosé. I am so glad I did not listen and trusted my gut.

Our Blanc is truly one-of-a-kind and enjoyed in so many of my favorite places which we will be adding in

so many more to come. We are also going to be launching other products as well as opening more states.

Just because we can't be in the French Riviera at this very moment doesn't mean we can't feel like we are—and It's my goal to share that gorgeous South of France / St. Tropez vibe with all of you—which is why we do this!!!

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