Most Inuential CEOs to Watch Transforming Ideas into Impact
,, ,, Wealth consists not in havinggreatpossessions, but in having few wants. - Epictetus To Be a CEO is Truly a Calling Manypeoplelookatbeingthechiefexecutive
officerofacompanyasjustanothercareerpath -ahigh-poweredjobthatcomeswithan impressivetitle,afancycorneroffice,andahugepaycheck. Butthetruthis,toreallysucceedasaCEO,itrequires muchmorethanjusttreatingitasemployment.Ithastobe acalling.
Acallingissomethingyoufeeldrawnto,almost inexplicably,asifguidedbyaforceoutsideyourself.It consumesyourmindandfiresupyourpassion.Whenyou haveacalling,theworkdoesn'tfeellikelabor Yes,it requirestremendouseffortanddevotion,butyouhavean intrinsicdrivetopouryourselfintoitcompletely That'swhatittakestobeaneffectiveCEO.Thejobisallencompassing.Theweightofbeingthevisionaryleader makingthebigstrategicdecisionsthatshapeacompany's futurerestssquarelyonyourshoulders.Youareultimately responsibleforyouremployees'livelihoodsandyour investors'profits.
ACEOcan'tjustpunchinandpunchout.Theroledemands thatyouliveandbreathethecompany'smissionand
challenges24/7.Yourheartandmindhavetobeinvested. Youhavetolovewakingupeverydaytotacklenew obstacles.Ambitionandadherencehavetoconsumeyou.
ManyarecapableofdoingthejobofCEOcompetently. ButthegreatCEOsarethosewhohaveansweredacalling andwhoapproachitwithfullemotionalandintellectual force.It'sthatenergyanddrivethatallowthemtopersevere andleadtheircompanytonewheights.
AtTheCIOWorld,wehonorCEOsfromalloverthe worldwhohavehelpedtheirfirmsstandoutina competitivebusinessenvironment.Inthisedition,entitled "Europe'sMostInfluentialCEOstoWatch," we highlightexecutiveswhohaveembracedthecallingofCEO withpassionandexcellence.TheseCEOsexhibitthe attributesrequiredforeffectivecorporateleadership: inventiveness,versatility,andacommitmenttogreatness. Theyserveassourcesofinspirationforbothaspiringand experiencedleaders.
Haveagoodreadahead!
Simona Maggini
Transforming Ideas into Impact
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EUROPE'S MOST INFLUENTIAL CEOS TO WATCH Featuring
Dr. Murat Caglayan CEO
Jonathan Turner CEO
Gallagher Specialty www.ajg.com
Laurent Puons
CEO Roy Jakobs CEO
Simona Maggini Country Manager of WPP in Italy and Group CEO of VML Italy
Wael Sawan CEO
MONACO MEDIAX
Royal Philips www.philips.com WPP www.wpp.com
Shell www.shell.com
Descrip on Dr. Murat Caglayan is a dynamic execu ve with a passion for technology and customer-centric solu ons, dedicated to enhancing opera onal efficiency and driving growth in diverse markets.
Jonathan Turner is a results-oriented professional recognized for his exper se in risk management and innova ve solu ons, commi ed to delivering excep onal value to clients and stakeholders.
Laurent Puons is a visionary entrepreneur who has significantly influenced the media landscape, driving innova ve solu ons and fostering strong client rela onships throughout his career.
Roy Jakobs is a forward-thinking leader with a strong focus on sustainability and innova on, dedicated to transforming healthcare and improving lives through advanced technology.
Simona Maggini is a strategic leader with extensive experience in communica on and marke ng, known for fostering collabora on and empowering women in the industry
Wael Sawan is a strategic thinker with a global perspec ve, known for his commitment to sustainable energy solu ons and driving opera onal excellence in a rapidly changing industry
Simona Maggini Transforming Ideas into Impact C OV E R S T R Y
Simona Maggini Country Manager of WPP in Italy and Group CEO of VML Italy WPP in Italy
Exploring Simona Maggini's Trailblazing Career in Advertising and Leadership at WPP in Italy Weliveinaworldwhereadvertisingis omnipresent.Whetherit'sthecommercialsthat interposeourfavoriteTVshowsorthe sponsoredpoststhatpopuponoursocialmediafeeds, advertisinghasbecomeaninseparablepartofourdaily existence.Butsomewherebetweentheregularityof intermissionsisanimmensepullthathasthepowerto moveouropinions,adaptourneeds,andinspireour behavior
It'sthisforcethatSimona,alongwithmanyothers,finds deeplyinspiring.Whatdriveshertopursueacareerinthis fieldisnotjusttheindustry'scapacitytogenerate innovativeideasoradapttoradicalchangesovertime;it's theprofoundimpactadvertisingcanhaveonpeople's behaviors,promotingpositiveculturalshifts.Shefirmly believesthatthroughthepowerofideas,advertisingcanbe animpulseforpositivechange,influencingculture,and balancingthewaywethinkforthebetter
Withacareerspanningovertwodecades,Simona Maggini'spassionforthecommunicationindustryhasbeen unrelentingsincesheembarkedonthispathasaninternin 1998.Throughdifferentrolesandresponsibilities,shehas witnessedtheevolutionofadvertising,fromphysical layoutstoremotepresentationstotheriseofgenerativeAI. Yet,amongstthesetransformations,herdedicationtoher workremainssteadfast.
ForSimona,advertisingismorethanjustaprofession;it'sa passionandameanstomakemeaningfulconnections.She firmlybelievesinthepowerofinnovativeideastoshape cultureandinspireaction.It'sthisbeliefthatdroveherto shareherinsightsandexperiencesinherbook,"Ideason theRun:ALifeinAdvertising,"publishedbyMondadoriin 2022.Inherbook,sherecountsthehighsandlowsofher career,offeringreadersaglimpseintothedynamicand ever-evolvingworldofadvertising.Fromthethrillof creativebreakthroughstothechallengesofnavigating industryshifts,sheprovidesinvaluablelessonsand inspirationforaspiringprofessionals.
Shecontinuestoleadwithvisionandenthusiasmasthe GroupCEOofVMLItalyandtheCountryManagerof WPPinItaly,inspiringherpeopletoreachnewlevelsof innovationandcreativity.Herjourneyisametaphorforthe reformingpossibilitiesofadvertisingandtheenduring impactsoffollowingone'spassion.
Join us as we delve into the extraordinary career of Simona
WHAT INSPIRED ME TO PURSUE THIS CAREER IS THE INDUSTRY'S ABILITY TO GENERATE INNOVATIVE IDEAS, ADAPT TO RADICAL CHANGES OVER TIME, AND BE ABLE TO CHANGE PEOPLE'S BEHAVIOR. ,, ,, ,, ,, Maggini, a trailblazer in the world of advertising, whose relentless pursuit of excellence continues to shape the industry and inspire generations to come.
WPP:TransformingCreativityGlobally
Inexplainingtheinceptionstoryofthefirm,Simona highlightedWPPasaglobalcreativetransformation companythatintegratescreativity,technology,anddatato facilitateclientgrowth.Withaworkforceof114,000 individualsspreadacrossover100countries,thecompany operatesindiversesectorssuchasadvertising,media, publicrelations,branding,andrelatedservices.Their missionistoleveragetheirexpertisetogeneratemeaningful workthataidsclientsinaccomplishingtheirbusiness objectives.
WPPtakesprideinitscommitmenttogenderequality,as evidencedby41%ofexecutiveleadershiprolesbeingheld bywomen,demonstratingadedicationtocultivatingan inclusiveandequitableworkplaceenvironment.
Furthermore,sustainabilityservesasthefoundationoftheir corporateresponsibilityendeavors.Aspioneersinthe sustainabilityarena,WPPissueditsinauguralsustainability
O V E R S T R Y
reportin2002,establishingaprecedentfortransparency andaccountabilityintheindustry Withambitiousnetzero goals,itaimstoachievenet-zeroemissionsby2025inits operationsandby2030acrossitsentirevaluechain, underscoringitsdedicationtofosteringpositive environmentalchangeandensuringasustainablefuturefor forthcominggenerations.
Continuallyevolvingtomeetindustrydemands,WPP pridesitselfonbeingattheforefrontofinnovationand creativity.Recently,thecompanyannounceda£250million annualinvestmentinAIandtechnology,furthersolidifying itscommitmenttodrivinginnovationandcreativityinthe digitallandscape.
20+YearsinMarketing Inhercareerspanningover20yearsinmarketing,Simona shedslightonpivotalexperiencesthathaveprofoundly
influencedhercareertrajectory.Commencingheradventure inadvertisingtwodecadesago,shefacednumerous challengeswithdeterminedperseveranceandpositivity Alongherprofessionaljourney,threedistinctmilestones emerged:atransformativeperiodspentabroadinVienna, EasternEurope,andMoscow;assumingtheCEOrole amidstthemergerofY&RandVMLintoVMLY&R;and undertakingthemantleofWPPinItalyCountryManager
Notably,therecentamalgamationofVMLY&Rwith WundermanThompson,culminatinginthebirthofVML, markedyetanothersignificantjunctureinhercareer evolution.Throughtheseexperiences,Simonahonedan arrayofmanagementcompetencies,fromorchestrating integrationprocessesandexecutingintricaterestructuring planstospearheadinginnovativeworkingenvironments suchastheWPPCampusinMilanandRome,allwhile craftingcomprehensivegrowthstrategiesfororganizational success.
BrandStrategyInsights WE TAKE PRIDE IN OUR COMMITMENT TO GENDER EQUALITY, WITH 41% OF EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP ROLES HELD BY WOMEN, REFLECTING OUR DEDICATION TO
FOSTERING A MORE INCLUSIVE AND
EQUITABLE WORKPLACE. "Living and working abroad naturally fosters an appreciation for diversity, as it exposes one to different cultures and perspectives," Simonareflects.Theencounter withothers,differentfromoneself,inevitablybroadensthe mind,promptingtheexplorationoffreshsolutionsand venturingbeyondcomfortzones.Whatshelearnedduring heryearsabroadprovesinvaluableinherdailyworkwithin amultinationalnetworklikeWPP,whereshecollaborates withcolleaguesacrossdifferentcountriesorcontinents.The synergybetweenunconventionalvisionsandperspectives fuelscreativityandrenderstheirworkunique.
ExploringDiverseMarkets WithhertimespentinMoscow,inparticular,Simona's internationallivingandworkingexperiencesdeepenedher understandingofvariety.Theresheobserveddeepcultural differences,whichareespeciallyimportantwhenitcomes tomarketingandcommunicationtactics,beyondtheusual differencesacrossnations.
Interactingwithpeoplefromdifferentbackgroundsalways broadensperspectivesandinspiresexperimentationwith novelideasanddeparturesfromthenorm.Thekey takeawaysarethevalueofadaptabilityandflexibility,indepthanalysisofregionalmarkets,andproficient communicationwithavarietyofaudiences.
CraftingConnectedBrandsforGrowth Expressingexcitementforthejourneyahead,Simona
introducesthelaunchofVMLItaly,aimingtocreate connectedbrandsthatresonatedeeplywithconsumersand drivegrowthbyaligningwiththeirgenuineneeds.With confidenceinleveragingtheexpertiseofVMLY&Rand WundermanThompson,VMLseekstoestablishastronger andmorecutting-edgestructure.Thisendeavorisbolstered byaninternationalteamandapoolofexcellenceaccessible onlytotheleadingglobalcreativeagency
BalancingProfessionalCommitmentsandCharity Work Expressingadesireformoretimededicatedtocharitable endeavors,Simonarecentlyfoundafulfillingopportunityto intertwinephilanthropywithherprofessionalrole.In additiontofinancialcontributions,sheactivelysupports LILT(ItalianLeagueagainstCancer)byleveragingher networkandinfluencetoadvocatefortheimportanceof prevention.AforthcomingpodcastonSpotify,createdin collaborationwithLILT,willfurtheramplifythismessage. SimonaalsoextendshersupporttoAliceforChildren, particularlyintheireffortstoprovideeducationforchildren inKenya.
WPP'sJourneyTowardsEquality SimonaunderscoresWPP'snotablepresenceofprofessional women,oftenoccupyingkeyleadershippositionswithinthe network.Sheremainsdedicatedtosupportingfemale leadership,havingnurturedadynamicteamofwomenon theMilanCampusthroughinvestmentinmentoring, training,andcontinuousdevelopment,fosteringprofound andlastingchange.Thejourneytowardsparityremains ongoing,withWinspire,thelocalItalianD&Iprogram launchedin2017,joining,in2023,Stella,WPP’scrossagencyglobalnetworkthatsupportsfemaletalentsand leadership,promotinggreaterdiversityandinclusion.
ThroughWPPStellaItaly,variousactivitiesare implementedtounlockwomen'spotential,provideequal opportunitiesfordevelopmentandpromotion,andcreatean inclusiveworkenvironment.StellainItalyhasorganized over15DEI-themedeventsandmorethan30coursesin partnershipwithleadingcompanies.Recentinitiatives supportingfemaleemploymentinclude"TheCEOCall Center"byDressforSuccessMilan,whereCEOsandtop managersofferjob-seekingadvice,andtheWPPDiversity &InclusionBoard,establishedin2021,aimingtoredefine diversityandinclusionlanguage.
Theboardaimstogivelifetoanewlanguageofdiversity andinclusionbasedonactiveengagement,contributions, andtheexchangeofopinionsfromallparticipants.
Theinsightsgatheredarecompiledintoawhitepaper providingguidelinesonDiversity&Inclusiontopicsinthe Italiancontextandassistingteamsinintegratingbest practices.
Additionally,probonocampaignsforPangeaOnlus, supportingwomeninneed,and"HackYourCampaign" eventsincollaborationwithSheTechItalytobooststartups ledbywomenfurthershowcaseWPP'scommitmentto femaleempowermentandinclusion.
PrioritizingWell-being Inthecommunicationsector,flexibility,courage,and dynamismshapeeachday,asrevealedbySimona. Nevertheless,atWPPinItaly,personaltimeishighly valued.Thesignificanceoffreetimeisacknowledged, recognizingthatbreakthroughideasoftenemergeduring seeminglyidlemoments.LastOctober,inobservanceof MentalHealthDay,WPPinItalytookaproactivestepby shuttingdownitsoffices.Allstaffweregrantedtwodaysoff tounderscorethecompany'scommitmenttomentalwellbeing,encouragingindividualstoprioritizetheiremotional healthandthatoftheirlovedones.
Personally,Simonahasprioritizedefficiencyandrapidityto safeguardleisuretime.Engaginginexecutivecoachinghas playedapivotalroleinherpersonaldevelopment.While harboringaspirationsofpursuingamaster'sdegree,finding thetimeremainsachallengeyettobeovercome.Despite this,sheensurestocarveouttimeforphysicalactivities suchasgolf,alongsideleisurelypursuitslikeshoppingand socializingwithfriends.
MaximizingMarketingPotential PartnershipswithindustrygiantslikeGoogleandFacebook offerinvaluableinsightsintocutting-edgedigitalmarketing strategiesandplatforms,empoweringmarketingteamsto engageaudienceseffectivelyanddriveresults.Engagement withesteemedinstitutionslikeLuissBusinessSchool providesaccesstoacademicresearch,thoughtleadership, andexecutiveeducationprograms,enhancingstrategic thinkingandleadershipskills.Activeinvolvementin organizationsliketheIAAItalyChapterfostersnetworking opportunities,knowledgesharing,andcollaborationwithin themarketingcommunity,facilitatingindustryinsightsand meaningfulrelationshipswithpeersandexperts.
FutureofCommunicationandMarketing Exuberantabouttheversatileworldofcommunicationand strategicmarketing,Simonadrawsmotivationfromtheway consumerbehavior,technology,andeconomicconditions
In Her Own Words: A Legacy ofRecogni Throughout my career path, I've been privileged to receive several awards and recognitions. For instance, I have just been included in the 2024 Business People ranking of the 100 most in uential managers and entrepreneurs in Italy, marking my fourth consecutive year of recognition. In 2023, I was invited to participate as an expert speaker in roundtable discussions and panels on the topic of female empowerment, such as the one organized by Elle Italia last November. In 2021, I had the honor of serving on the Italian jury for the Gerety Awards, a prestigious accolade that evaluates creativity from a distinctly female perspective, during which VMLY&R Italy earned a nomination for Agency of the Year.
Furthermore, since 2022, I have been privileged to join the Board of Directors of UNA, the Association of Communication Companies, where I now hold the position of Vice President. Additionally, ADC Group, one of the foremost publishers in the Italian communication sector, bestowed twice upon me the esteemed title of Manager of the Year. Furthermore, for the last 12 years, in partnership with TEHA, an Italian consulting rm and think tank consisting of over 300 professionals, we have been organizing the WPP Forum. This annual gathering stands as a cornerstone event for businesses, institutions, and all professionals within the marketing and communication sector. It marks the culmination of a meticulously planned expedition undertaken by the WPP Advisory Board | The European House - Ambrosetti, of which I am a member.
arealwaysmodifying.Sheisespeciallyoptimisticaboutthe futureofartificialintelligenceincreativeprocesses, expectingincreasedclientreturnsfromarangeofAIenabledservicesandsolutionsprovidedbyWPPOpen,an AI-poweredmarketingoperatingsystemfromstarttofinish.
AInotonlyenhance–andnotreplace-humancreativity andimaginationbutalsoaugmentscontentcreationand audienceengagement.Forinstance,WPPOpenX introducedSpriteLimelight,aglobalmusicplatform
I DEEPLY BELIEVE ADVERTISING CAN CHANGE THE WORLD THROUGH IDEAS AND POSITIVELY INFLUENCE CULTURE AND THINKING. IT'S THIS PASSION THAT INSPIRED ME TO RECOUNT MY CAREER JOURNEY IN A BOOK TITLED "IDEAS ON THE RUN: A LIFE IN ADVERTISING," WHICH WAS PUBLISHED BY MONDADORI IN 2022. ,, ,, ,, leveragingAIaudiosynthesistechnology.This collaborationwithglobalproducerJamesBlakeresultedin musicthatcouldbereinterpretedbyartistsworldwide, offeringauniqueAIDIYmusicexperiencetailoredtoGen Z.With580millionsongplays,record-breakingmarket performance,anda10%salesboost,thecampaign significantlyimpacteditsaudience.
Similarly,OgilvyemployedAItoextendVermeer's painting,TheMilkmaid,forNestlé'syogurtbrand,La Laitière.Throughnearly1,000iterations,Nestléandthe agencyrevealedanextendedversionofTheMilkmaid, imaginedbyAI,capitalizingonglobalinterestinthe Rijksmuseum'sfindingsontheoriginalpainting.Thehero videoshowcasingtheAI-createdartworkgarneredimmense attention,reaching15millionpeopleandgenerating €700,000ofmediavalue.
AtWPP,AI-driveninsightsandtoolsareleveragedto personalizemarketingeffortswithunparalleledaccuracy andefficiency AI-poweredpredictiveanalyticsoffer valuableforesightintomarkettrends,shiftsinconsumer behavior,andcampaignperformancemetrics,reinforcing WPP'sbeliefinenhancinghumancreativitywithAI technology
5Questions Every Employee Should Ask Their CEO Inthehierarchyofacompany,the
CEOcanoftenfeellikeadistant figure.They'retheonesmaking thebigdecisions,andchartingthe courseoftheorganization,while employeesonthegroundlevelfocus ontheirday-to-daytasks.Butahealthy companyculturethrivesonopen communication,andthatincludesa two-waystreetbetweenleadershipand staff.
EngagingwithyourCEO,evenifit's justforabriefconversation,canbe incrediblyvaluable.Itdemonstrates yourinterestinthecompany'sfuture andallowsyoutogaininsightsyou wouldn'totherwiseget.Herearefive keyquestionseveryemployeeshould consideraskingtheirCEO,alongwith thereasoningbehindthem:
1.Whatisthecompany'slong-term vision?Whatdoessuccesslooklikein 5or10years?
Understandingthecompany'slongtermgoalshelpsyouseehowyourrole fitsintothebiggerpicture.Doesthe CEOenvisionthecompanyexpanding intonewmarkets?Developing innovativeproducts?Aligningyour workwiththesegoalsboostsyour senseofpurposeandcaninspireyouto gotheextramile.
ThisquestionalsorevealstheCEO's priorities.Aretheyfocusedsolelyon short-termprofits,ordotheyhavea moresustainable,long-termvision? Knowingthisallowsyoutoassessif yourvaluesalignwiththecompany's direction.
2.Whatarethebiggestchallenges facingthecompany,andhowcan employeescontributetoovercoming them?
Everycompanyfaceshurdles.By understandingthesechallenges,you
canbecomeamoreproactiveand valuableemployee.Perhapsthe companyisstrugglingtokeepupwith technologicaladvancementsorfacing increasedcompetition.Whenyou're awareoftheseobstacles,youcanstart brainstormingsolutionsandwaysto adaptyourworktoaddressthem.
Thisquestionalsodemonstratesyour initiativeandwillingnesstogobeyond yourassignedtasks.ItshowstheCEO you'reinvestedinthecompany's successandnotjustfocusedon punchingtheclock.
3.Howdoesthecompanyplanto developandsupportitsemployeesin thecomingyears?
Intoday'sjobmarket,employee developmentiscrucial.Employees whofeelstagnantandunseenaremore likelytoseekopportunitieselsewhere. Askingaboutprofessional developmentopportunitiesshowsthe CEOyou'reinterestedingrowing withinthecompany
TheCEO'sanswercanrevealthe company'scommitmenttoits workforce.Dotheyoffertraining programs,mentorshipopportunities,or tuitionreimbursement?Knowingthese detailsallowsyoutoassessyourcareer pathwithintheorganizationanddecide ifitalignswithyouraspirations.
4.Howdoesthecompanymeasure success,andhowdoindividual employeecontributionsfactorintothat success?
Understandinghowsuccessis measuredgivesyouvaluablecontext foryourwork.Areindividualmetrics heavilyemphasized,oristhereafocus onteamworkandcollaboration? Knowingthesefactorsallowsyouto tailoryourapproachandensureyour effortscontributedemonstrablytothe company'soverallgoals.
Thisquestionalsoopensadialogue aboutemployeerecognition.Doesthe companyhaveasystemfor acknowledgingandrewarding outstandingwork?ACEOwho emphasizestheimportanceof individualcontributionsislikelyto fosteracultureofownershipand accountability,whichcanbevery motivatingforemployees.
5.Whatareyourthoughtsonthe currentcompanyculture,andhowcan weimproveittofosteramoreengaged andproductiveworkenvironment?
Companyculturedirectlyimpacts employeemorale,productivity,and overallwell-being.Byaskingaboutthe CEO'sperspectiveontheculture,you openaconversationaboutitsstrengths andweaknesses.
PerhapstheCEOidentifiesareaswhere communicationcanbeimprovedor acknowledgesadesiretocreateamore collaborativeenvironment.Thisisyour chancetoshareyourobservations aboutthecultureandsuggestwaysto makeitbetterforeveryone.
ProTipsforAskingYourCEO Questions Whilethesearegreatquestionsto consider,thereareafewthingstokeep inmindwhenapproachingyourCEO:
• Contextiskey.Lookfor opportunitiestoaskyourquestions duringtownhalls,all-hands meetings,orothercompanyevents whereCEOinteractionis encouraged.
• Berespectfuloftheirtime.Keep yourquestionsconciseandtothe point.
• Doyourresearchbeforehand. Showthatyou'reengagedwiththe companybydemonstratingabasic understandingofitscurrent challengesandgoals.
• Focusonsolutions,notjust problems.Ifyouidentifya challenge,comepreparedwitha suggestionforhowtoaddressit.
Byfollowingthesetipsandasking thoughtfulquestions,youcanturna briefinteractionwithyourCEOintoa valuablelearningexperiencethat benefitsbothyouandthecompany.
Remember,opencommunicationisa two-waystreet.Takingtheinitiativeto engagewithyourCEOdemonstrates yourcommitmentandhelpsbuilda stronger,moretransparentcompany culture.
-Alaya Brown
Leadership is not about being in charge, Its about taking care of those in your charge.
- Simon Sinek
Laurent Puons Tonourishacultureofexcellenceandinspirefuture achievements,visionaryleaderswhochampion outstandingtalentacrossdiverseindustriesare essential.
Byprovidingexceptionalhospitality,engagingactivities, memorableinteractions,andaninclusiveatmosphere throughorganizingeventsthatbringpeopletogetherand celebratesuccess,thoseinpowercancreateaglobal impact.
LaurentPuons,aseasonedexpertwithapassionforsports andeventmanagement,hasmadesignificantcontributions totheindustry.Hispassionforcombatsportsledtothe establishmentofFightNation,adigitalplatformfor illustratingfighters.Hesuccessfullyorganizedthe prestigiousMonteCarloTVFestivalandSPORTEL Awards,recognizingexcellenceintelevisionandsports.
AsCEOofMonacoMediax,Laurentbalanceshis demandingcareerbydelegatingresponsibilitiestotrusted teammembersandprovidingstrategicguidance.Withover 20yearsofexperienceintheeventssector,heestablished himselfasaprominentplayer,hostingrenownedcultural andtradeeventsliketheMonte-CarloTelevisionFestival andSPORTELAwards.
Heemphasizestheimportanceofguidinghisteamto executehisvisionandvaluestheirdedicationtoevent success.HerecognizestheinfluenceofOTTanddigital platformsonthemediaenvironmentandincorporatesthese trendsintoeventstrategy.
Laurent’slong-termambitionistomaintainMonaco Mediax'sleadershipandworldwidereach.Heisalways uncoveringnewtalentandperformances,ensuringMonaco remainsamagnetforprestigiousandartisticevents.
Herearetheinterviewhighlights:
Canyoupleaseintroduceyourselfandyourmotivation toembarkonthissector?
AfterstartingmycareerintheMonegasqueadministration, IjoinedMonacoMediaxin2001asanAdministrativeand FinancialDirector.IwaspromotedtoCEOin2012,and sincethenIhavedevotedallmyenergytothedevelopment ofMonacoMediax'seventsandtheprincipality'sexposure abroad.
Couldyoupleasegiveabriefintroductiontoyour companyanditsinceptionstory?
UndertheHonoraryPresidencyofH.S.H.PrinceAlbertII, MonacoMediaxhasbeenoperatinginthePrincipalityof Monacosince2001.Withmorethan20yearsofexperience, ithasbecomeareferenceintheeventssectorinMonaco andinternationally Weorganizeculturaleventssuchasthe Monte-CarloTelevisionFestivalandSPORTELAwards,as wellastradeshowslikeSPORTELConventions,which havebecomeannualmust-attendeventsforkeyactorsin theinternationalarena.
Createdin1961,theMonte-CarloTelevisionFestival gathersmajorstudios,broadcastnetworks,digital platforms,andrenownedtalentoverseveraldaysto promotetheirprogramstothepressandpublicandcompete fortheprestigiousGoldenNymphAwards.
Furthermore,SPORTELdeliverstheidealenvironmentfor keystakeholdersintheinternationalsportsmediarightsand technologymarketstocometogetherandshapethefuture oftheindustrythroughnetworking,knowledgesharing,and decisivedeal-making.Weholdseveraleventsperyear acrosstheworld,withtheSPORTEL‘Flagshipevent’in
You cannot reach your objectives, without implementing the company’s strategy.
Laurent Puons CEO Monaco Mediax
There is more competition, so our long-term goal and vision are to remain a leader and to continue to contribute to Monaco's in uence and promotion abroad. Monacogatheringmorethan2000participantsandthe SPORTELspring‘touring’conventionsinAsiaandthe Americas,oursmallerregionalandmoreintimateevents.
Finally,theSPORTELAwardsareorganizedeveryyearas partofSPORTELMonaco.Thiseventisfirstandforemost aninternationalcompetitionthatrewardsthemost outstandingsportsfootageoftheyear.Itisalsoan opportunityforsportsfanstoexperienceuniquemoments withrenownedelitesportingchampionsduringevents dedicatedtothepublic.
Howhaveyoubeenabletofosteradynamicand innovativeteamcultureatMonacoMediaxoverthepast 10years?9.Canyoudescribeyourleadershipstyleand howyoumotivateandempoweryourteamtodeliver exceptionalresults?
AsCEO,myroleistobevisionary,buildthemainstrategy, anddeterminetheobjectivesofthecompany.Iamamanof challenges,anditisaculturethatIhavefosteredatMonaco Mediax.Imanagewithcourageandtrust.Ibelievein guidingmyteamtoexecutemyvisioneffectivelyonan operationallevel.Behindeveryleader,thereisagreatteam! Iamveryproudofthemandoftheireverydayinvolvement anddedicationtomakingoureventsasuccess.
Whataresomeofthekeystrategiesyouhave implementedtoensurethesuccessandgrowthofthe Monte-CarloTelevisionFestival,SPORTEL,and SPORTELAwards?
Youcannotreachyourobjectiveswithoutimplementingthe company’sstrategy Toalwaysstayaheadofthegame,you needtohaveacultureofchangeandbeabletoadapt.
Forexample,whenIbecameCEO,oneofmyfirst decisionswastoopentheTVFestivaltothefansandthe public.AlwaysfollowingourHonoraryPresident,Ialso
madedrasticchangestotheGoldenNymphAwards competition,tomakeitmorerelevanttotheever-evolving industryandtogaintheinternationalrecognitionit deserved.Finally,theTVFestivalwasthefirstfestivalto openwithaprogramfromadigitalplatformin2018with TomClancy’sJackRyan.ThesearealsochangesthatIput inplacefortheSPORTELAwards,byallowingsportsfans tomeettheirchampionsandmakingthecompetitionmore prestigiousandattractive.
Ontheotherhand,forSPORTEL,wecontinuetodevelop ourbrandabroadwitheventsinnewmarketsandterritories toalwaysoffernewbusinessopportunitiestoour communitytoattractthemtoourmainevent,SPORTEL Monaco,lateron.Forexample,in2024,weorganizedthe 2ndeditionofSPORTELinBali,asmallerregionalevent dedicatedtotheAPACmarket.Thisyearwealsoorganized, forthefirsttime,aSPORTELdedicatedtotheAmericasin aSpanish-speakingcountry,LATAM,inBuenosAires (Argentina).
Canyoushareanexampleofaparticularlychallenging projectyou'veoverseenandhowyouledyourteamto overcometheobstacles?
Iamadeterminedmanofchallenges,ambition,andaction, whocanreconsider,renew,andreinventhimselftostrive forthesameexcellencethatdistinguishesthePrincipalityof Monaco.Myroleistomotivatemyteamandtoassumeall responsibilitiesforthecompany’schoices.
Oneofourbiggestchallengesistoalwaysremaintheleader forourdifferentevents,while,overtheyears,wehaveto facemoreandmorecompetitionduetothenumerous eventsthatappeareveryyear
Asaco-founderofFIGHTNATION,whatmotivated youtogetinvolvedinthecombatsportsandmartial artsspace,andhowhaveyouworkedtopromoteand supportthisindustry?
Ihavearealpassionforfightingsportsandboxing,whichI haveperformedprofessionally.EvenifIstoppedmycareer attheageof22,Ihavecontinuedtofollowthissportwith greatinterest.
FightNation'sobjectiveistoputthespotlightonFrenchor foreignfighterswhodon'thavetheopportunitytobe broadcastonmajorchannels.That’swhymypartnersandI createdthefirstdigitalplatformdedicatedtocombatsports.
butit'sbettertobewrongandmakemistakesthantodo nothingandworkincomfortandcontinuity.
Inyourexperience,whataresomeofthemost importanttrendsanddevelopmentsshapingtheglobal medialandscape,andhowareyouadaptingyour approachtostayaheadofthecurve?
Themostimportantdevelopmentseeninrecentyearsisthe arrivalandcontinuousdevelopmentofOTTanddigital platforms,whichhaverevolutionizedthemarketandthe wayweconsumecontent.Today,consumershavemore powerthanever,astheycanwatchaprogramanywhere, anytime,onanydevice.
Itisatrendthathasbeenintegratedintoourevents,andwe haveadaptedourstrategiesaccordingly
Howdoyoumaintainawork-lifebalancewhileleading suchabusyanddemandingcareerintheevents industry?
SincethecreationofFightNation,Ihavehadtwofull-time jobs.SoIdonotsleepmuch.ButIknowhowtodelegate, andIsurroundmyselfwithpeopleIcantrust.Igivemy strategyanddirectivestomyteam,andIdonotgointothe detailsoftheoperationalpart.
Whatadvicewouldyougivetoaspiringeventorganizers ormediaprofessionalslookingtofollowinyour footsteps?
Myfirstpieceofadviceistobevisionaryandalwaystryto overseethenextstep.Sometimesyoucanmakemistakes,
Whatareyourlong-termgoalsandvisionforthefuture ofMonacoMediaxandtheeventsyouoversee?
Thereismorecompetition,soourlong-termgoalandvision aretoremainaleaderandtocontinuetocontributeto Monaco'sinfluenceandpromotionabroad.
Forexample,forSPORTEL,wedevelopedaneweconomic modelwherewelookforforeigninvestorstoorganize eventsinnewdestinationsandoffernewbusiness opportunitiestoourclients.
Lastbutnotleast,whenanewtechnologyarisesinthe sportsmediarightsandtechindustries,wetrytobethefirst toincludeitinourmarketingstrategy.SamefortheTV Festival;wealsostrivetodiscovernewtalentandshowsto inviteandbroadcastinMonaco.
Securing Your Ideas: Why Using a VPN is a Must for CEOs?
Astechnologyadvancesand
digitalcontentbecomesmore available,it'seasierforpeople tocopyanddistributecreativeworks withoutpermission.Ontopofthatare cybersecuritythreatsloomingatevery corneroftheInternet.
Cyberattackswerethetopthreats amongbusinessesworldwide,leading thelistat34percentin2023.Business leadersknowtheharmanddisruptiona cyberincidentcancauseinthe company
However,manymaynotfullygrasp theextentandlonger-termimpactsof thethreat.Besideslosingcustomer dataanddealingwithrulesand reputationissuesafteracyberincident, companiesalsosufferthelessvisible costsofanattack—intellectual propertytheft.
Withthatinmind,protectingyour valuableideasisimperative.One powerfultoolthatorganizational leadersorchiefexecutiveofficers (CEOs)canuseisaVirtualPrivate Network(VPN).Here,we'lldiscuss VPNs'criticalfunctioninmaximizing onlinesecurityandwhyCEOsmust adoptthissecurityservice.
Butbeforedelvingintothat,let's understandCEOs'crucialroleina company'scybersecurityandthe challengesoftenencountered.
CybersecurityChallengesCEOs CommonlyFace
TheInternetoffersbusinessleaders immenseopportunitiestolaunchand growtheirventures.Whetherthrough socialmediaore-commerceplatforms, thepossibilitiestoconnectwith partners,employees,suppliers,and customersarecountless. Ascompaniesrelyincreasinglyon digitalinfrastructure,CEOsgrapple withmanycybersecuritychallenges thatcanharmthebusiness'soperations,
bottomline,andreputation.
CEOs'topconcernsforcyberrisks
APwCsurveyrevealedthat58percent ofCEOsviewcyberattacksasa substantialthreattotheirbusinesses. Ofthosesurveyed,62percentare mainlyconcernedwithdisruptionsin thesaleofproductsandservicesto customers.
Salescanbemessedupsignificantly whenyourbusinessgetshitbya ransomwareattackpartiallyoreven completely.Likewise,someone stealingyourideasorinventionscan slowdowninnovationandproduct development.
Thevulnerabilityofexecutivesto cyberattacks
Astheorganization'shighest-ranking executive,CEOsprimarilyhave unrestrictedaccesstocompanydata, makingthemaprimetargetfor hackers.
Generally,executivesarewellprotectedwhileusingthecompany's network.Butthatsecurityoften vanishesoncetheyleavethepremises. There'susuallylittletozeroprotection overtheirhomenetworks,personal devices,andaccounts.
Onesurveyfoundthat58percentof US-basedcybersecurityleadersdidn't covercyberthreatpreventionfor executivesandtheirdigitalassetsin theirstrategiesandbudgets.
Asaresult,cybercriminalsarealtering theirtactics,suchascompletely bypassingthecorporatenetwork. Instead,theyattempttobreacha companybydirectlytargeting executivesathomeandthroughtheir personalonlineaccounts.
Commontacticshackersemployto targetCEOs Hackershavediscoveredthatmost CEOsareunprotectedwhennotusing theirworkaccountsordevices.They commonlyusethefollowingtacticsto targetexecutiveswithprivileged accesstothecompany'shighly sensitivedataandsuccessfullyexecute abreach:
• Usestolenpasswordsfromthe darkwebtogainunauthorized accesstotheexecutive'spersonal emailandgetholdofthe company'sfiles.
• ImpersonatetheCEOtosendfake emailcommunicationsto employeesrequestinganurgent wiretransferoffunds.
• Utilizesocialengineeringtotrick executivesintogivingaway sensitiveinformationor committingsecuritymistakes.
• Infectoneofthefamilymember's devicestolaunchasecondary attackontheexecutive.
HowVPNsCanHelpExecutives EnhanceCybersecurity? AsaCEO,havingextensiveaccessto organization-widedataputsyouatrisk forcybersecurityvulnerabilities. Consideringthis,executive cybersecurityprotectionshouldbepart ofthecompany-widesecuritystrategy.
VirtualPrivateNetwork(VPN) solutionsarepowerfultoolsto minimizethecyberrisksyoucould face.AVPNbuildsanencryptedtunnel betweenthedeviceandtheserver. Yourdatagoesthroughthatsecure tunnel,makingitimpossiblefor anyonetoreadwithoutthedecryption key.
IthidesyourInternetProtocol(IP address)andonlineactivitiesfrom externalentities.ThisIPaddress
concealmentprotectsyourpersonal andcompanyinformationfromspecific attacksandunauthorizedaccess attempts.Asaresult,itwillbemore challengingforhackerstosteal personalandcompany-widedata.
Moreover,VPNsallowsecureremote accesstoorganizationnetworks.This allowsyouandothersinthecompany toworkfromanywherewhilekeeping thebusiness'sintellectualproperty privateandsecure.
EssentialVPNStrategiesEveryCEO MustKnow Arobust,strategicallyplannedVPN willensureyourhomeandcompany networksremainprivateandsecure. Remember,hastilyinstalledVPN solutionscanresultinnumerous securityvulnerabilitiesandrisks. ConsiderthesestrategiestouseVPNs inyourorganizationeffectively:
SelecttherightVPNsolution
DifferentkindsofVPNscaterto specificneedsandsituations.Sincenot everyVPNisthesame,selectingthe rightoneiscrucialtofortifyyour defenses.BeforeinvestinginanyVPN solution,takethetimetodetermine yourspecificrequirements.
Thesecuritylevelandflexibility featuresitoffersareessentialcriteriain theselectionprocess.Since cybersecurityisyourprimaryconcern, chooseaVPNthatemploysrobust securityandencryptionprotocols. AES-256isthestandardforencryption strengthasit'svirtuallyunbreakableby hackers.
TheVPN'scompatibilitywithyour devicesandoperatingsystemsis important,too.Supposeyou're selectingaVPNsolutionforyour NVIDIASHIELDdevice.Usethe appropriateNVIDIAShieldVPNto
experiencesmoothandsecure streamingonyourdevice.
EquipemployeesonVPNusage
ThebestVPNwon'tprotectyou enoughifyouandyouremployees don'tknowhowtouseitproperly
Recognizingthehumanelementin cybersecurityisequallycritical. Clickingonphishingemailsand employingweakpasswordsaresome humanerrorsthatcommonlymakea company'snetworkvulnerable.It's worthnotingthateventop-level executivescanbecomevictimsofsuch attacks.
Employeescanbethemostsusceptible linkincybersecurityiftheyarenot adequatelyequippedwithVPNbest practices.Trainemployeesonthe significanceofVPNs,howtoinstall andconfigurethemontheirdevices, andthesafestwaystoconnecttothe companynetwork.
EnforceVPNsecuritypolicies
Thereshouldbeclearsecuritypolicies ontheacceptableuseofVPNs,from accessingcorporatenetworksremotely totransferringcompanydataand reportingsuspectedcybersecurity incidents.
It'salsocrucialtospecifywhatdata andappscanbeusedandhowto secureVPNlogininfoanddevices. Thepolicymustbedocumented,and everyuserconnectingtothenetwork mustreadandcomplywithit.
MonitorVPNperformance
RegularmonitoringoftheVPN performanceiscriticalformaintaining thesecurityandefficiencyofthe company'snetworkinfrastructure.It letsyoudetectandaddresspotential issues,ensuringaccesstoessential
resourcesanddatawithoutdelaysor interruptions.
Downtimecanslowproductivityand disruptdailyworkoperations,so immediateresponsetosecuritythreats iscrucial.Forinstance,tools,suchas VPNlogs,reports,andalerts,canhelp youfindvulnerabilitiesinthenetwork andtakeproactivestepstoboost cybersecuritymeasures.
EliminateVPNsecurityrisks
Whenusedcorrectly,VPNsaresecure andreliabletoolsfororganizations. However,poorlyconfiguredor unverifiedVPNservicescanexpose yourcompanytovulnerabilities. Investinginapaidserviceisoneofthe bestwaystominimizeVPNsecurity risks.
UnlikethefreeVPNservices,apaid providerhasadequateinfrastructureto keepupwiththeevolvingcyberthreats facingyouandyourbusiness.You'll alsogetbetterspeedswithunlimited bandwidth,robustsecurityfeatures, anddependablecustomersupport.
AdditionalCybersecurityMeasures CEOsCanTake InvestinginaVPNisoneoftheeasiest waystomitigatecybersecurityrisks. Yetmoresophisticatedcyberattacksare increasinglytargetingexecutives.
Therefore,additionalsecuritymeasures areessentialtobolsterexecutive cybersecurityprotectionandenhance capabilitiestodefendagainstthemost advancedattacks.
BesidesastrongVPNstrategy, advancedsecurityprotocolsareequally vitaltostrengthenyourhomenetwork andmitigatethecyberriskscommonly posedtoexecutives.
Sincehomenetworksareusuallyless securethancorporatenetworks, cybercriminalsfrequentlytargetthem. Amongthebestpracticesyoucan implementtoboostyourhomenetwork securityinclude:
• Secureaccountswithmultifactor authentication.
• Ensureallyourdevicesonthe networkhavethelatestsecurity updates.
• UtilizesecureWiFiconnections withstrongencryption.
• Restricttheuseofthe administratoraccount.
• Unplugandsafelystoreexternal storagewhenyou'renotusingit.
BoostCyberResilienceAcrossYour Organization
Protectionagainstevolvingthreatsis nolongeroptional.It'samustforsmall businessesandlargecorporationsalike totakeproactivemeasures.
AstheCEO,youhaveanimmense responsibilitytosettheorganization's strategy,fromsecuringintellectual propertyandcybersecurityto distributingresourcesaccordingly Thatinvolvesmorethanpreventing cyberattacksanddetecting vulnerabilitiesearly.Equallycriticalis reducingtheirimpactsandensuring continuityofoperations.
Beingacyber-resilientcompanyhelps minimizefinanciallossand reputationaldamage.Butit'sessential tonotethateffectivecyberresilienceis acollaborativeapproach,fromthe executivestoalltheorganization's staff,partners,suppliers,andclients.
The leading regional port operator is future-proofing operations with SAP solutions, leveraging automation and AI capabilities, and embedding sustainability processes!
Sharjah,UAE,January24,2024:Gulftainer,a leadingoperatorofregionalportsandterminalsanda providerofcustomizedsupplychainandlogistics solutions,hasannouncedthatitwillmigrateitscoreERPto thecloud,adoptingRISEwithSAPandS/4HANAto enhanceitsregionalandglobaloperationsaspartofits widerdigitaltransformationroadmap.
Undertheirexpandedcollaboration,Gulftainer'sGroup CEO,PeterRichards,metwithMarwanZeineddine, ManagingDirectoratSAPUAE,atCOP28ExpoCity Dubai,alongsideseniorrepresentativesfromboth companies,includingVinaySharma,DirectorofITat Gulftainer,andJohannesDressler,ChiefOperatingOfficer atSAPMiddleEastSouth,toformalizeanewchapterof thisstrategicpartnershipthatwilladvanceGulftainer's digitalcapabilities,providingacompetitiveedgeto customersandpartners.
PeterRichardscommented:"Inadynamicandfast-paced supplychainandlogisticsindustry,technological innovationsarethekeydriverforourtransformation journey.Gulftainerhaslongbeenattheforefrontof acceleratingtechnologytrends,settinganambitious strategytoimplementnewtechnologiesandinnovative solutionswithinouroperations,infrastructure,business procedures,andengineeringtoachieveourgrowthgoalsin meetingcustomers'needsandthedynamicchangesinthe market."
LeveragingRISEwithSAPwillallowGulftainertoadopt newtechnologysolutions,reduceoperatingcosts,andcut
timetomarketwithcustomizedsolutions,aimingtorealize itsdigitalambitionofbecomingmoreinnovativeand resilient.
Throughthenewsolution,Gulftainerstandstobenefitfrom managedservicesthatincludecontinuousupdatesand maintenance.
Richardsadded:"Weareconfidentthatthe implementationof'RISEwithSAP'inourbusiness ecosystemwillpropelustowardsnewlevelsofefficiency, sustainability,andexcellenceinthesupplychainand logisticssectors.ThisunderscoresGulftainer'sdedicationto leveragingcutting-edgetechnologyfortheadvancementof ourregionalandglobaloperations."
Additionally,theadoptionofRISEwithSAPwillgrant Gulftaineraccesstoadvancedanalytics,machinelearning, androboticprocessautomation(RPA)technologies, fosteringimprovedbusinessoperationsandinsightful decision-makingwhilehelpingthecompanymeetits environmentalcommitments.
SAP'sZeineddineexplains,"Fromourdiscussionsat COP28,itwasclearthatGulftaineriscommittedto reducingitsenvironmentalimpact,andbyembracingcloud computing,thecompanywillbeabletoleverageembedded sustainabilityprocessesinS/4HANA.Gulftainerwillalso befuture-proofingitsbusinessthroughautomaticupgrades toitssolutionsleveragingadvancedtechnologies.With SAPS/4HANAdeployed,thecompanywillbenefitfrom increasedefficiencies,real-timedatainsights,andgreater visibilityoveritsoperations,enablingtheagilitytorespond quicklytochangesinthemarketandtakeadvantageof opportunitiesastheyarise."
"TheadoptionofRISEwithSAPwill ensureunparalleledoperational efficiency,fromstreamlinedupdatesto morerobustsecurityfeatures.The solutionwillempowerGulftainerwith advancedtechnologicaldatatoenhance ourbusinessoperations,license optimization,andcustomerservice," saidVinaySharma,DirectorofITat Gulftainer."RISEwithSAPwillopen thedoorforbuildingbusiness-specific solutionsbyleveragingtheSAP BusinessTechnologyPlatform,AIbasedautomation,anddataanalytics capabilitiesthatenableagile,effective responsestochangesinglobalsupply chainsandmarketconditions.Weare keentoaccelerateourdigital transformationandinnovationtobetter serviceourcustomers,keepingpace withtechnologicaladvancementsinthe industry."
Gulftaineriswell-placedtoutilize SAP'sexpertisetodrivefurther innovationsandtransformativechanges withinitsregionalandinternational terminalsandlogisticscenters.
Gulftainer is a leading operator of regional ports and terminals and a provider of customized supply chain and logistics solutions, based in Sharjah, UAE. Since its inception, the company has been the rst to operate a container terminal in the Middle East, which is the Sharjah Container Terminal.
Over the past 50 years, it has taken great strides in expanding its tailored trade solutions to customers by keeping them at the heart of its business and becoming a trusted supply chain enabler in niche markets.
Today, Gulftainer's portfolio encompasses managing container terminals in the UAE (Sharjah Container Terminal and Khorfakkan Container Terminal), KSA (Jubail Commercial Port and Jubail Industrial Port), Iraq (Iraq Container Terminal and Umm Qasr Logistics Centre), and USA (Canaveral Cargo Terminal), along with freight forwarding, supply chain operations, and logistics through its subsidiaries, Momentum Logistics and Avalon Transport.
The CEO Paradox: Prioritization and Execution in a
Demanding Role TheCEO'sjobdescription
mightseemstraightforward: leadthecompanytosuccess. Butbeneaththatsimplestatement liesacomplexwebof responsibilities.CEOsareexpected tobestrategicvisionaries,inspiring leaders,anddecisiveproblemsolvers,allwhilemanaginga demandingscheduleandaconstant barrageofinformation.
Themillion-dollarquestionis:how dothebestCEOsnavigatethis paradoxandgetthetrulyimportant workdone?Here,weexplorethe keystrategiestheyemploy
FocusontheFew,Critical Activities
GreatCEOsunderstandthey can't—andshouldn't—doeverything themselves.Theirtimeisaprecious resource,bestspentonactivities withahighimpactonthecompany's directionandlong-termgoals.This oftenmeansapplyingthe80/20rule (ParetoPrinciple),where80%ofthe resultscomefrom20%oftheeffort.
Masteringprioritizationiscrucial. ManyCEOsusea60/40rule, dedicating60%oftheirtimeto essentialbutlessstrategictaskslike boardmeetingsandinvestor relations.Theremaining40%isthen focusedontheircoreresponsibility: drivingstrategicexecution.This mightinvolvespearheadingkey initiatives,fosteringinnovation,or buildingstrongrelationshipswith criticalpartners.
EffectiveCEOsalsodelegate ruthlessly Theysurroundthemselves withtalentedindividualsand empowerthemtomakedecisions withintheirareasofexpertise.This freesuptheCEO'stimeforthebigpictureissues.
Communication:TheCornerstoneof Success
ThebestCEOsrecognizethatclearand consistentcommunicationisthe cornerstoneofsuccessfulexecution. Theirvisionandprioritiesneedto cascadedownthroughtheentire organization,ensuringeveryone understandstheirroleinachievingthe company'sgoals.
Thiscommunicationtakesmany forms.Regulartownhalls,clearand concisemessagingininternal communications,andreadilyavailable leadershipallplayapart.Highly effectiveCEOsdon'tjust communicate;theyactivelylisten, gatheringfeedbackandensuringatwowayflowofinformation.
Here'sacrucialpoint:communication isnotaone-timeevent.ThebestCEOs understandtheneedforconstant reinforcement.Theyrepeatkey messagestirelessly,ensuringeveryone staysfocusedonthemostimportant work.
ResourceAllocation:PuttingMoney WhereYourMouthIs
Strategyiscrucial,butwithoutproper resourceallocation,itremainsjustan idea.ThebestCEOsensuretheirvision isbackedbyconcreteactions.This meanstheyhaveafirmgrasponthe company'sfinancialresourcesand ensuretheyaredirectedtowardshighimpactinitiatives.
Thismightinvolveinvestinginnew technologiesthatsupportthestrategic direction,hiringtalentedindividualsto fillcriticalroles,orallocating marketingbudgetstosupportnew productlaunches.Byaligning resourceswithpriorities,CEOsensure theirvisiontranslatesfromtheoryto reality
BuildingaCultureofExecution GreatCEOsunderstandthata successfulcompanyculturefuels strategicexecution.Theyfosteran environmentthatvaluesaccountability, initiative,andresults.
Thismightinvolveimplementing performancemanagementsystemsthat trackprogresstowardclearlydefined goals.Itcouldalsomeancreatinga cultureofopencommunicationwhere employeesfeelcomfortablesharing ideasandconcerns.Additionally, celebratingsuccesses,bigandsmall, reinforcespositivebehaviorsandkeeps teamsmotivated.
Ultimately,theCEOsetsthetonefor theentireorganization.By demonstratingarelentlessfocuson execution,apassionforresults,anda willingnesstotakecalculatedrisks, theyinspireotherstofollowsuit.
TimeManagement:Masteringthe Artof"No" CEOsarebombardedwithrequestsfor theirtime.Meetings,phonecalls, emails—thedemandsareendless.The abilitytosay"no"effectivelyisa criticalskillforsuccessfulCEOs.
Thisdoesn'tmeantheywillbecome inaccessible.Itsimplymeansthey carefullyguardtheirtime,ensuringit's spentonactivitiesalignedwiththeir priorities.Theydelegateeffectively, scheduletimeforfocusedwork,and leveragetechnologytomanagetheir inboxes.
EmbraceContinuousLearning Thebusinesslandscapeisconstantly evolving.ThebestCEOsarelifelong learners,alwaysseekingnew informationandperspectives.They readvoraciously,attendindustry conferences,andactivelyseekout mentorsoradvisors.Bystayingahead
ofthecurve,theyarebetterequipped tomakeinformeddecisionsandlead theircompaniesintothefuture.
TheHumanTouch GreatCEOsarenotjuststrategic masterminds;theyarealsoemotionally intelligentleaders.Theyunderstandthe importanceofempathyandbuilding strongrelationships.Theytakethetime toconnectwithemployeesatalllevels, fosteringasenseoftrustand belonging.
Thishumantouchiscrucialfor buildingamotivatedandengaged workforce.Whenemployeesfeel valuedandrespected,theyaremore likelytogotheextramile,contributing tothecompany'soverallsuccess.
BeyondtheNumbers Whilefinancialperformanceisakey metricforCEOs,theybestunderstand theimportanceofleadingwith purpose.Theyarticulateaclearvision forthecompany'simpactbeyondthe bottomline.Thispurposecouldbe aboutenvironmentalsustainability, socialresponsibility,orcreatinga positiveimpactonaspecific community.
Byaligningthecompany'sgoalswitha largerpurpose,CEOscreateasenseof meaningandmotivationfortheir employees.Peoplearemorelikelyto beengagedandproductivewhenthey feeltheirworkcontributesto somethingbiggerthanthemselves.
TheFinalWord:
BeingaCEOisamarathon,nota sprint.Thechallengesareconstant,and theroadtosuccessisrarelysmooth. However,thebestCEOsapproachtheir rolefromalong-termperspective. Theyunderstandthatsuccessisa journey,notjustadestination.
Theyareadaptable,willingtolearn fromtheirmistakes,andconstantly strivingtoimprove.Theyfocuson buildingasustainableandresilient organizationthatcanthriveintheface ofchange.
Inconclusion,navigatingthecomplex worldofaCEOrequiresaunique blendofskillsandstrategies.By masteringprioritization, communication,andresource allocation,CEOscanensuretheir visiontranslatesintoreality.Buildinga cultureofexecution,managingtime effectively,andprioritizingwell-being arealsocrucialelementsofsuccess.
Ultimately,thebestCEOsarenotjust leaders;theyarearchitects,shapingthe futureoftheirorganizationsand leavingalastingimpactontheworld aroundthem.
TheCEO's Guide to Mitigating Legal Risks in the Workplace Whenowningormanaginga
business,therearemany legalaspectsandrisksto navigatefromcontractstoemployee protections.Businessesmustmitigate asmanylegalrisksaspossibletoavoid lawsuits,fines,andpotential shutdowns.Owners,managers,CEOs, andotherleadersmustfamiliarize themselveswithallaspectsofbusiness lawtomaintainanindustrystandard thatisethical,legal,and straightforward.Whataretheserisks andhowaretheybestquelled?
TypesofBusinessLegalRisks Businessesmustoperatelegallyand ethically.Contractsmustbebinding andlegal,employeesmustbetreated andcompensatedfairly,andall financesmustbeproperlyreportedand filed.Therearemanyaspectsto businesses,andthereforemanytypes oflegalrisks.
ContractRisk
Contractsarelegallybinding documentsthatdefinepolicies, relationships,orprocedureswithina business.Contractrisksarisewhen thereisaproblemwithinacontract.
Contractscanbebreached,create financialissues,besubjectedtoprivacy laws,andaffectoperations.For example,anemployeecontractcanbe breachedwhenemployeesarepaidless thanthecontractdictates.
RegulatoryorPolicyRisk Changesinbusinessregulationsand lawscanpresentaregulatoryriskif yourbusinessdoesn'tadapttothese changesaccordingly Asimpleexample wouldbeachangeincustomerdata privacylaws;ifyourcompanydoesnot adheretothesenewchanges,itcan causefines,jailtime,orevenclose yourbusiness.
LitigationRisk Thereisalwaysariskthatabusiness orindividualwithinacompanywill facelegalaction,suchasalawsuit. Thisisknownaslitigationrisk.This canbeassimpleasacustomer sustaininganinjuryonbusiness propertyandfilingapersonalinjury lawsuit.Itcanalsobecomplicated, suchaslegalactionagainstaCEOfor embezzlingbusinessfunds.
MitigatingRisks Whileit'scommonforbusinessesto facelegalrisksregardlessof countermeasures,therearesome infalliblewaystosignificantlyreduce thelegalriskthatbusinessesand brandsface.
HireLegalTeams Yourbusinessmusthavecounsel. Hiringatleastonelawyerorlegalteam canhelpyouidentifyanyrisks prevalentinyourcurrentbusiness operationsandhowtoreducethem. Lawyershavespecializationsin contractlaw,personalinjury,worker's compensation,taxlaw,andmoreto coveralltypesofrisk.You'llwantto hireateaminthesamestatethatyour
businessoperates.Forexample,a Miamibusinesswouldlikelynot benefitfromaNewYorklegalteam.A Chicagocompany,however,would ideallylookintohiringaChicago personalinjurylawfirmtohelp mitigatelawsuitrisks.
StudyAllContracts Contractsneedtobeverycarefully craftedandwordedbeforesending. Anycontractsreceivedtosignneedto bemeticulouslystudied,preferablyby multipleparties,especiallylawyers specializingincontractlaw.This reducesnotonlylegalrisksbutcan helpabusinessfromlosingprofitsas well.
FileTaxesCorrectly Taxesmustbecalculatedandfiled accuratelyandontime.Thisincludes meetinganyquarterlytaxdeadlines. Allprofitsandincomemustbe reported,receiptsmustbeonfile,and deductionsneedtobeaboveboard. Ideally,businessesneedtohirespecific payrollandaccountantteamsforthis. Havingataxlawattorneyonhandis alsoincrediblybeneficial.
StayUptoDate Abusinessthatstaysuptodateondata laws,privacylaws,andotherbusiness policylawswillkeepitselfoutoflegal trouble.Ifabusinessisnoteasily adaptabletoregulatorychange,itcan createamajorlegalrisk.Hired professionalscankeeptrackof changinglawsandregulationsand adaptbusinesspoliciestoreflectthose changes.
IndustryStandardBusinessConduct Maintaininganindustry-standard ethicalbusinessiskeytomitigating legalrisk.Whilemanyethicaland legalcompaniesfacelegal consequencesonceinawhile,the
falloutisminimalwhenbusinesses operateaboveboard.Anyillegalor unethicalpracticeswilleventually cometolightinoneformoranother
HandlingLegalIssuesinthe Workplace Regardlessofhowwellabusiness handlesriskmitigation,litigationsmay stillariseformanyreasons.Whenthis occurs,you'llwanttoensureyou've hiredalocal,qualifiedattorneyorlegal teamtoprovidethebestcourseof action.Followalllegalproceduresand lawsappropriatelyandtimely.Be certaintokeepevidenceandrecordsof allconductforevidenceandreference.
Conclusion Legalrisksintheworkplacecannever beeliminated,buttheycanbe significantlyreducedwithproper mitigation.Hiringlegalexpertsor teamscanhelpabusinessnavigateany changingpoliciesorcontractswith ease.Thoroughlyexaminingall incomingandoutgoingcontracts, adaptingtonewbusinessregulations, andhandlingfinanceslegallyand timelycanminimizelitigations.Iflegal problemsdoarise,becertainyouhave counselandfollowallprocedures legally.
Success is not how high you have climbed, but how you make a positive difference to the world. - Roy T. Bennett www thecioworld.com
