“Where Wealth Meets Well-being”
earReaders,
Financialfreedomisn’tjustaboutthenumbersinanaccount;it’sthequietconfidenceto makechoices,theresiliencetonavigatelife’sunexpectedturns,andthepowertodesigna futureonyourownterms.It’safundamentalformofempowerment.Yet,fortoomany,thepathto achievingitfeelscomplexandinaccessible.Theleaderswhoarechangingthisnarrativeareaspecial breedofvisionary.Theydon’tjustmanageassets;theybuildconfidence,demystifycomplexity,and championinclusivity.Itisthisspiritoftransformativeguidancethatweareproudtofeatureinour latestissue,CelebratingVisionaryLeadershipinFinancialEmpowerment Thiseditionisatribute tothearchitectsofopportunitywhoareredefiningwhatitmeanstobetrulyprosperous.
OurcoverstoryshinesalightonKarenKoenig,theFounderandCEOofKKFinancialSolutions.Her journeyisapowerfultestamenttoalifelivedwithpurposeandreinvention.AretiredAirForceMajor whooncemanagedhigh-stakesbombermissions,Karenbringsarareblendofmilitarystrategy, logisticalprecision,andhard-wonempathytotheworldoffinance.Herownexperiencenavigatinga difficultdivorcebecamethecrucibleinwhichhertruecallingwasforged:tohelpothers,particularly womenandentrepreneurs,takefirmcontroloftheirfinanciallivesduringtimesofimmense uncertainty Atherfirm,aclient’smoneymindsetisasimportantastheirportfolio,provingthatthe mosteffectivefinancialplansarebuiltonafoundationofpersonalempowermentandholisticwellbeing.
JoiningKareninthisissueisaninspiringgroupofleaderswhoarealsopavingnewpathsinthe financialworld.WearedelightedtofeaturetheinsightsofDanielaJurado,ExecutiveVicePresident forNorthAmericaatVTEX;ChananZevin,CEOofInsightfulDataTechnologies;PremaVaradhan, PresidentofProductandCOOofTemenos;andReemIkram,Co-FounderandCEOofThriftPlan.
Thestorieswithinthesepagesaremorethanjustprofilesinsuccess.Theyareablueprintforamore equitableandempoweredfuture,provingthatthebestleadersdon’tjustcreatewealth,theycreate possibilities.Wehopetheirjourneysinspireyoutotakethehandlebarsofyourownfinancialdestiny
PaNKAJ GHOLAP Managing Editor
KAREN KOENIG
Cover Story
COVER STORY
Thereisacertainkindoffreedomthatcanonlybe
understoodonthebackofaHarley-Davidson,a feelingofcommandoveryourowndirectionasthe landscapeofSurprise,Arizona,unfoldsaroundyou.For KarenKoenig,thisisnotjustaweekendhobby;itisa metaphorforalifelivedonherownterms.Sheisawomanof fascinating,harmoniouscontrasts.SheisaretiredAirForce Majorwhoonceoversaw24-hourbombermissionsinthe IndianOcean.Sheisaquilterwhopatientlystitchestogether intricatepatternsfromdisparatepiecesoffabric.Sheisan authorwhochallengesoutdatedmodelsofleadership.Andshe isafinancialplannerwhoteacheswomen,entrepreneurs,and peoplenavigatingthebewilderinglandscapeofdivorcehowto takethehandlebarsoftheirownfinanciallives.
TounderstandKarenKoenig,youmustunderstandthe unconventionalpaththatledherhere.Hersisnotthestoryof aprodigywhoclimbedtheladderonWallStreet.Itisthestory ofawomanwhobuiltalifeinthestructured,male-dominated worldsofthemilitaryandaerospace,thentookthediscipline, strategy,andresilienceshelearnedthereandfuseditwiththe hard-wonempathyofpersonalcrisis.Shehascreateda financialpractice,KKFinancialSolutions,whichisas uniqueasherjourney.Itisaplacewhereaclient’smoney mindsetisgiventhesameweightastheirmarketportfolio, andwherethegoalisnotjusttoaccumulatewealth,butto buildalifethatfeelsasfreeandintentionalasarideonthe openroad.
TheMakingofaMajor
Karen’sstorybeginsinthedisciplinedrhythmofamilitary familyinNebraska.Structure,service,andasenseofduty weretheairshebreathedfromanearlyage.Inspiredbyher parents,sheenlistedintheAirNationalGuardattheageof 21,startingherjourneyasanElectronicMechanic.Overthe next26years,shewouldbuildadistinguishedcareer, eventuallyearninghercommissionandretiringasaMajor.
Hertimeinthemilitarywasamasterclassinleadershipunder pressure.ShedevelopedsignificantcommunicationsandIT skills,servingasaCommunicationsCommanderwhere, duringatwo-yearactivedutytourinsupportoftheNational GuardBureau-directedOperationJumpStart,she managedtheCustomsandBorderProtection(CBP)P-25 project.Thiscriticalinitiative,whichwasonepartofthe largerOperationJumpStart,involvedupgradingthestate emergencyradiofrequenciesfromanalogtodigitaltoenable vitalinter-agencycommunication.Shealsoleddiverseteams inhigh-stakesenvironmentswhereclarityandcalmwerenot justvirtues,theywereessentialforsurvival.
DuringadeploymenttoDiegoGarciainsupportof OperationIraqiFreedom,sheservedasaServices Commanderindirectsupportofthebombermissions. Inthiscapacity,shemanagedover132contract personnel,oversaw300recreationandsportsactivities withover10,000participants,andhaddirectoversight of3Morale,Welfare,andRecreation(MWR)facilities servingover9,600patrons.Itwasthislarge-scale responsibilityforpersonnelandlogisticsthat highlightedherstrategicmindforresource management.Sheimplementedareusablewater containerinitiative,aseeminglysmallchangethat ultimatelysavedtheAirForceover$100,000annually
Afterhermilitarycareer,Karentransitionedintothe aerospaceindustry,whereshemanagedthecomplex logisticsandbudgetingformultimillion-dollar projects.Theseexperiences,inthemilitaryandin aerospace,werehercrucible.Theytaughtherhowto thinkstrategically,howtomanagevastresources efficiently,andhowtoleadwithasteadyhandthrough thefogofuncertainty Thesewerenotskillsshewould leavebehind.Theywouldbecometheveryfoundation uponwhichshewouldbuildhernextchapter,achapter sheneversawcoming.
TheCrossroadsofaNewLife
ThemostpivotalmomentinKaren’slifedidnot happeninawarroomoracorporatehighrise.It happenedduringherowndivorce.Suddenly,the structured,predictablepathshehadknownwasgone. Shewasfacedwiththedauntingtaskofcompletely rebuildingherfinanciallifefromthegroundup.Itwas aperiodofprofoundstressanduncertainty,butitwas alsoamomentofpowerfulrevelation.Sherealized howdeeplyunpreparedmanypeople,especially women,arefortheseismicfinancialshiftsthatcome withmajorlifetransitions.
“That experience made me determined to help others avoid the stress and uncertainty I went through,” Karenreflects.Itwasinthecrucibleofherown vulnerabilitythatshefoundhertruecalling.Her passionforfinancialplanninggrewfromadesireto combinethestrategicmindsetshehadhonedover decadeswiththecompassionandclaritythatpeopleso desperatelyneedduringtheirmostdifficulttimes.She hadspentacareermanagingmissionsandbudgets; now,shewouldmakeithermissiontohelppeople managetheirlives.
“
If
you focus on building relationships, delivering real value, and continually learning, success will follow.”
COVER STORY
In2021,shetookaleapoffaithandfoundedKKFinancial Solutions.Thetransitionwasnoteasy.Afteralifetimeofsteady paychecks,thefirsttwoyearsofbuildingabusinessfromscratch wereaperiodofimmensefinancialandemotionalstrain. “It took two years to actually start making money and steadily bring in clients,” Karenadmits, “and that can be scary.” Butshewasnot alone.Herfamilystoodbehindhereverystepoftheway,providing notjustfinancialsupport,buttheemotionalencouragementshe neededtopersevere.Shebelievesthiskindofsupportsystemis essentialforanyentrepreneur.
AHolisticBlueprintforFinancialFreedom
WhatKarenbuiltisnotatypicalfinancialadvisoryfirm.Itisa practicedeeplyrootedinherownjourney,offeringaholistic approachthatseamlesslyblendsstrategywithmindsetcoaching. Herclientsarewomen,divorcees,andsmallbusinessowners, peoplewhoareoftenatapointofinflection,needingmorethanjust astocktiporaretirementcalculator
Herservicesincluderetirementplanning,investmentmanagement, divorcefinancialanalysis,andbusinessconsulting.Butthesecret ingredientistheintegrationofmindsetcoachingintoeveryplan. “Financial decisions are rarely just about numbers,” Karen explains. “They are about emotions, fears, and habits.” Sheuses practicaltoolslikeherown and DivorcePrepChecklist SMART GoalsWorksheettohelpclientsorganizetheirfinances.Thesetools domorethanjustmanageassets;theyaredesignedtogiveclientsa tangiblesenseofcontrolduringtimesofoverwhelminguncertainty
Karenleveragessophisticatedtechnologytosupportthis personalizedapproach.SheusesGDX360,agoals-basedwealth managementplatform,andOrionAdvisorSolutions,anintegrated suiteoftoolsforportfolioaccountingandfinancialplanning.These platformsprovidetherobust,data-drivenbackboneforthe personalized,human-centeredadvicesheprovides.Herapproachis aboutbuildingboththeknowledgeandtheconfidenceherclients needtotaketrueownershipoftheirfinancialfutures.
Oneofthebiggestchallengesinstartingherfirmwasbuildingtrust inacrowdedmarketplace.Sheovercamethishurdlebyleaninginto thevaluessheholdsmostdear:transparency,consistency,anda genuine,unshakablecareforherclients success.Shefocusedon ’ buildingrelationshipsbeforeevertalkingabouttransactions.
TheWomanOnTop
Karen’sleadershipstyleisadirectreflectionofherlifeexperiences. Itisrootedinaccessibilityandempathy.Havingnavigatedherown lifetransitions,sheisdeeplyawareofhowintenselypersonal financeis.
Shestrivestocreateasafespacewhereclientscan askanyquestionwithoutfearofjudgment.She alsovaluesflexibility,buildingstrategiesthatcan adaptwhenlifeinevitablyveersoffcourse.
Thisphilosophyiscodifiedinherbook, “Woman On Top: How to Win in a Woman’s Way.” The bookisaculminationofherinsightsfrom workinginmale-dominatedfields,amanifesto thatchallengesoutdated,top-downnotionsof leadership.Itchampionsamodelofsuccesswhere womencanleanintotheirinnatestrengths,like collaboration,empathy,andintuitivedecision making,towinontheirownterms.Shenowhas plansforasequel,onethatwilltracktheevolution ofthewomenshefeaturedintheoriginalbook.
Theimpactofherworkisbestseenthroughthe livesshehaschanged.Karenspeakswithpride aboutoneclientinparticular,awomanwhohad purchasedaninsuranceagencyinatownan hour’scommutefromherhome.Herdayswere longandarduous,andshewasmissingouton precioustimewithherhusband.Karensatdown withher,analyzedthenumbers,andshowedhera surprisingtruth:shewasactuallylosingmoneyby workingthisdemandingjob.Sheadvisedherto quitandfocusonrunninghersidebusinessfull time.
“Within two months of that meeting, she ended up renting out the space and doing just that!” Karensays,hervoice filledwithwarmth. “Seeing clients achieve goals they once thought were impossible is incredibly fulfilling.”
TheQuilter’sRespite
Inthemidstofherbusycareer,Karenfindsbalancein pursuitsthatseem,atfirstglance,tobeworldsawayfrom financeandHarleys.Sheisanavidreaderwholovesto unwindwithagoodfictionbook.Sheisafrequentgolfer, takingadvantageofthefourPGA-stylecoursesinher community Andsheisaquilter.Overtheyears,shehas madeseverallapquiltsandlarge,quiltedChristmas stockings,patientlypiecingtogetherdifferentcolorsand patterns.
Itisperhapsinquiltingthatthemostelegantmetaphorfor herworkcanbefound.Aquilt,likeafinancialplan,isan actofassembly.Itistheprocessoftakingdisparate, seeminglyunrelatedpieces,aswatchofmemoryhere,a blockoffutureaspirationthere,andcarefullystitching themtogether.Itrequirespatience,foresight,andaclear visionofthefinalproduct.Theendresultisnotjusta randomcollectionofparts,butacohesive,beautiful,and deeplypersonalwholethatprovidescomfortandsecurity foryearstocome.
Lookingtothefuture,Karen’svisionforKKFinancial Solutionsistocontinueexpandingitsreachandtohelp morepeoplefindfinancialclarityandconfidence.She wantstodeepenthefirm’seducationalimpactthrough workshopsandonlineresources.Personally,shedreamsof travelingmoreandspendingtimewithhergrandchildren, oflivingalifethatreflectsthesamebalanceandfreedom sheworkssohardtocreateforherclients.
Heradvicetoaspiringentrepreneursisareflectionofher ownjourney. “Start with a mission that is bigger than money,” Kareninsists.Inafieldthatcanbehighly technical,sheremindsusthatitis,atitscore,about people. “If you focus on building relationships, delivering real value, and continually learning, success will follow,” shesays. “Be prepared for challenges, but remember that challenges are opportunities in disguise. Stay adaptable, stay curious, and never lose sight of why you started.” It isthewisdomofawomanwhohasnavigatedthe challengesofwar,thecomplexitiesofindustry,andthe painofpersonalloss,andhasemergedontheotherside, onherownterms,chartingaclearcoursedowntheopen road.
“
Financial decisions are rarely just about numbers. They are about emotions, fears, and habits.”
Celebrating Visionary Leadership in Financial Empowerment
Karen Koenig
Chanan Zevin
Reem Ikram
Daniela Jurado
Prema Varadhan
ZEVIN Forecas ng Finance through the Prism of AI
Inthehigh-stakesarenaofglobalfinance,predictive accuracyisparamount,yetnotoriouslyelusive. Artificialintelligenceisemergingasapotentially transformativeforce.ChananZevin,ChiefExecutive OfficerofInsightfulDataTechnologies,isattheforefront ofthisshift. HisfirmispioneeringAI-drivenpredictive analyticstorevolutionizefinancialdecision-making.
AsZevinstates, “My goal is to achieve a high level of reliability in financial forecasting, enabling investors and institutions to make data-driven decisions with greater confidence.” Establishedin2023,InsightfulData Technologies,headquarteredinDubai,israpidlygaining recognition.ThisprofileexaminesChananZevin’scareer journeyandtheinnovativetechnologiespoweringInsightful DataTechnologies.
Zevin’sCareerPath:FinanceandAlgorithmicExpertise
ChananZevin’scareerisablendofpracticalfinancial marketexperienceanddeepknowledgeofalgorithmic design.Hisfoundationalyearswerespentinconsultancy
rolesatmajorEuropeanbankssuchasDresdnerBank, Commerzbank,andDiscountBank,providinghimwitha robustunderstandingofbankingoperationsandrisk management.
Furthermore,headvisedgovernmentministries,applying hisknowledgeofalgorithmsandprocessoptimizationto nationalsystems.Thisextensiveexperienceinfinance gavehimadeepunderstandingofmarketdynamicsand thecriticalneedforaccurateforecasting.
However,itwasinthefinancialmarketsthatZevin recognizedtheuntappedpowerofAI.“Myinterestin AI-poweredpredictiveanalyticswassparkedbymy workinfinancialmarkets,”heexplains,“whereI recognizedthepotentialofmachinelearninganddeep learningtoenhanceforecastingaccuracy.”
ThisrealizationsparkedtheideaforInsightfulData Technologies:astartupfocusedondevelopingcuttingedgeAImodelsforpredictingstock,forex,and commoditymarkets.
InsightfulDataTechnologies:CoreOfferings
InsightfulDataTechnologies,operatingthroughitsplatforms AizevinStocks.comandAizevin.com,deliversAI-driven analyticstailoredforthefinancialsector,banking,ecommerce,andmedia.AsZevinexplains,InsightfulData Technologiesis“anAI-drivenanalyticscompany specializinginpredictivemodelingforfinancialmarkets, banking,e-commerce,andmedia.”
InsightfulDataTechnologies’coreservicesare:
●AI-PoweredFinancialForecasting:Utilizingsophisticated AImodelstopredicttrendsinstock,forex,andcommodity markets,aimedatinformingandenhancinginvestment strategies.
●BankingRisk&CreditAnalytics:ProvidingAI-driven toolsforcreditriskassessmentandfrauddetection,intended tostrengthenriskmanagementwithinfinancialinstitutions.
●E-commerceDataOptimization:Deliveringdata-centric solutionsfordemandforecasting,strategicpricing,and personalizedproductrecommendationstooptimizeecommerceoperationsandenhancecustomerengagement.
●Media&ContentIntelligence:OfferingAIanalyticsfor audiencebehaviorandtrendpredictionindigitalmedia, designedtorefinecontentstrategiesandboostaudience engagement.
AizevinStocks.comispresentedasaspecializedplatform providingdailystockpredictionsgeneratedbyAI.It incorporatesdeeplearning,ensemblemodels,andnatural languageprocessingtoanalyzeextensivemarketdataand generateprecisestockpriceforecasts.
Inaddition,Aizevin.comfunctionsasthecorporatehub, “servingasacorporatehubthatshowcases:Company Vision&Expertise,Technology&AIModels,Business Solutions,Research&ThoughtLeadership,andContact &Partnerships,”asperZevin.
AIPredictionSystem:TechnologiesandMethodologies
InsightfulDataTechnologies’predictionsystemis underpinnedbyasophisticatedAIarchitecture,reportedly achieving“areported85%accuracyinforecastingstocks, forex,andcommodities.”Keytechnologiesand methodologiesintegratedwithinthesystemincludea“hybrid approachthatcombinesmultipleAImodels,including deepneuralnetworks(DNNs),ensemblelearning,and reinforcementlearning,”accordingtoZevin.Thekey componentsare:
●HybridAIModelApproach:Thesystememploysa hybridapproachintegratingdeepneuralnetworks (DNNs),ensemblelearning,andreinforcementlearning. Ensemblemodelingenhancespredictionaccuracyby dynamicallyselectingthebest-performingmodelfor eachasset.
●FeatureEngineeringandDataIntegration:Multilayereddataprocessingintegratesdiversedatasets, includinghistoricalpricetrends,technicalindicators, marketvolatilityindices,andmacroeconomicdata. NaturalLanguageProcessing(NLP)isutilizedto analyzefinancialnewssentimentandmacroeconomic reports,enrichingdatainputs.
●AdaptiveModelSelectionandContinuous Learning:Thesystemdynamicallyselectsthemost appropriatemodelforeachassetbasedonreal-time performancemetrics.Reinforcementlearningis implementedtoenablecontinuousmodeladaptationto marketdynamics,improvingthroughiterativefeedback loops.
●RiskManagementandReliabilityScoring:A proprietaryreliabilityscoringalgorithmassessesthe confidencelevelofeachforecast,prioritizinghighprobabilitypredictions.Errormetrics,suchasMean AbsoluteError(MAE)andRootMeanSquareError (RMSE),andsafetyindicatorsareintegratedtofinetuneandvalidatemodelperformance.
●ScalableAIInfrastructure:Thesystemisdeployed onacloud-based,high-performancecomputing infrastructure,utilizingparallelprocessingandGPU accelerationtofacilitatereal-timedataanalysis efficiently APIintegrationensuresseamless accessibilityforinstitutionalclientsandtraders.
Thesemethodologies,asZevinemphasizes,areintricately woventocreate“anadvancedAI-drivenprediction systemthatleveragesstate-of-the-artmachine learninganddeeplearningtechniquestoforecast stocks,forex,andcommoditieswithhighaccuracy.”
ImplementingAIPredictions:AddressingKey Challenges
Zevinacknowledgesthat“BridgingthegapbetweenAI capabilitiesandreal-worldbusinessapplicationsin financialmarketsrequiresovercomingseveral challenges.”
“
Leaders who invest in AI today will define the industries of tomorrow.
KeyChallengesandSolutions:
●DataQualityandAvailability:CrucialforAI accuracy,ensuredbyrigorouspreprocessingand anomalydetectionforclean,high-qualitydatasets.
●MarketVolatilityandExternalFactors: Unpredictablemarketsareaddressedwithadaptive AImodelsusingreinforcementlearningandrealtimedatafordynamicforecastadjustments.
●ModelInterpretabilityandTransparency: Essentialfortrust;ExplainableAI(XAI)techniques likeSHAP/LIMEprovideclearrationalesbehindAI predictionsforfinancialinstitutions.
●OverfittingandModelGeneralization:Prevented bycross-validationandensemblelearning, enhancingmodelgeneralizationandensuring reliableperformanceinnewmarketconditions.
●RegulatoryandComplianceConstraints:Strict financialregulations(GDPR,SEC)navigated throughauditableAIprocesses,biasmitigation,and proactiveadherence.
●Real-TimeDecisionIntegration:Cloud-based, low-latencyarchitectureswithAPIconnectivity enableswift,real-timedeliveryandintegrationof AIpredictionsintofinancialsystems.
CEORolesandAchievements:LeadershipinAI Innovation
AsCEOofInsightfulDataTechnologies,ChananZevin’s roleismultifaceted,encompassingstrategicleadershipand hands-oninvolvementinAIinnovation.Hisprimary responsibilitiesincludeguiding“StrategicLeadership–Settingthecompany’sdirectioninAI-poweredfinancial forecasting,”and“AIResearch&Development Oversight–Leadingthedevelopmentofmachine learningmodels,”amongothersaspreviouslydetailed.
Zevin’snotablecareerachievementsunderscorehis expertiseandimpact:
●ServedasaconsultantformajorEuropeanbanks, includingDresdnerBank,Commerzbank,andDiscount Bank,whereheprovided“expertiseinAI-basedrisk modelingandfinancialanalytics.”
●Heldadvisoryrolesforgovernmentministries,“focusing onalgorithmicdesignandprocessoptimization.”
●LedthedevelopmentofInsightfulDataTechnologies’ predictiveAImodels,reportedlyachieving85% accuracyinforecastingstocks,forex,and commodities.
●DesignedproprietaryAImethodologies“thatbridgethe gapbetweenacademicAIresearchandpractical businessapplications.”
●CompletedadvancedprofessionaltraininginData EngineeringandDataScienceatNayaCollege.
SourceTop-Notch Supplies Without Burning Cash
Let’sbehonest:
Mostsmallbusinessesoverspendonsupplies.Notbecause they’rereckless.Becausethey’rebusy.Buried.Swamped.
Andwhenyourattentionisdividedbetweenkeepingthe books,hiringtherightpeople,managingcustomerissues, andkeepingyourproductorservicealive—thelastthing youwanttodoishuntforbetterdealsoninventory,parts, orpackaging.
Buthere’sthecatch: Suppliesquietlybleedyourprofitmargins.
Notdramatically.Notinonebig,flashymistake. Butdripbydrip,invoicebyinvoice—untilyoulookat yourP&Landwonderwhyyour20%marginlooksmore like9%.
ThatStopsNow.
Thisisnotapostaboutcouponcodesorgeneric“cutcosts” tips.
Thisisatacticalframeworkthatlean,resourceful foundersusetobuybetter,smarter,faster—without compromisingonquality.
Let’sunpackit.Linebyline.Nofluff.
1.You’reNotaCustomer—You’reaBusinessPartner
First,changethewayyouapproachsuppliers.
Mostbusinessownerstreatsupplyvendorslikevending machines:putinarequest,gettheproduct,moveon.
Thatmindsetkeepsyouina transactionaltrap—whichiswhere youoverpaythemost
Greatoperatorsflipthescript.
They build supplier partnerships,not justvendorlists.Thatmeans:
· Callingyoursupplierinsteadof emailing.
· Askingaboutbulkthresholds, paymentterms,freight arrangements.
· Lettingthemknowyourorder frequencyandaveragevolume.
· Negotiatingnotonthepricetag butontherelationshipvalue.
Becausehere’sthetruth: Vendorscareaboutpredictability morethanprice.
Ifyou’reareliablerepeatbuyer,many willofferflexiblepaymentwindows, earlyaccesstoinventory,oreven waiveshippingfeestokeepyouloyal.
Don’t ask for a discount. Ask for a better deal long-term.
2.StopBuyingfromtheFrontPage
Retailersoptimizetheirwebsitesand catalogstomakeyoubuyfast—not smart.
Ifyou’resourcingfromthesamefive suppliersaseveryoneelse,usingthe defaultSKUs,andneverasking: “Who’sactuallybuildingthisstuff?” you’reeatingmiddlemancostsevery time.
Thesmarterplay?
Goupstream.
• Forequipment:Find themanufacturers,notjustthe reseller
•Forrawmaterials:Locatenicheor regionalsupplierswhospecialize inyourspace.
•Foroperationaltools:Consider refurbishedorhigh-qualityused gear
Areal-worldexample?
Farmersbuyingbulkfeedbins directlyfromregionalmanufacturers aresaving30–50%comparedto thosebuyingviasupplychains. Why?Nomarkuplayers.Andthese binslast10+years—whichmeans moreROIperdollarspent.
Used ≠ cheap. Sometimes it’s just smart buying from businesses who upgrade faster than they depreciate assets.
3.LocalIsn’tJustEthical—It’s Efficient
Toomanybusinessessleepontheir localvendorsbecausetheythink “local”means“limited.”
That’swrong.
Localsourcingcangiveyou:
•Fasterturnaroundtimes(no7day shippingdelays).
•Lowerlogisticscosts(localpickup, nofreight).
•Betterservice(becauseyou’rea knownface,notorder#934201).
Andhere’salittle-knownpower move:
Barteringwithlocalvendors.
Thinkdesignservicesinexchange forpackaging.Orpromotingtheir brandtoyourcustomersinexchange fordiscountedgoods.
Trust and proximity build creative deals — not just invoices.
4.BuyinBulk—ButOnlywithaStrategy
Yes,buyinginbulksavesmoney.Butonlywhen:
•Youusethatproductconsistently
•Youhavethestoragespace.
•Youcanabsorbtheupfrontcostwithout cashflowpain.
Otherwise,bulkisatrapdisguisedasadeal.
Ifbulkpurchasingfeelsrisky,groupbuyingis yoursecretweapon.
Formapurchasingalliancewith3–5other businessesinyourniche.
Splitthecost.Splittheshipment.Keepyour marginstight.
Thisworksespeciallywellfor:
•Packagingmaterials
•Perishableingredients(withsynchronized productionschedules)
•Maintenancepartsorconsumables
Buying together creates scale advantages without scaling too fast.
5.PlaytheTimingGame
Suppliersrunoncycles.
•End-of-quarterclearance.
•Off-seasonpricing.
•Holidayoverstockselloffs.
•Fiscal-year-closediscounts.
Knowingthisgivesyouastrategicedge. Don’tjustbuywhenyourunout.Buywhenthe pricecurvedips.
Thebestoperatorsusepurchasecalendars. Theyplanprocurementwindowsaroundthese cycles—notonpanicreorders.
Setalertsforseasonaltrendsinyourindustry
Keeparunning“nextbuy”list.
Even10%offacross20SKUs,4xayearthat’s thousandssavedannually.
Buy early. Buy when the market blinks.
6.ChallengeBrandLoyalty
You’renotNike.Youdon’tneedbrand consistencyontheboxesyouopen behindthescenes.
Ifyou’repayingapremiumjust because“that’sthebrandwe’ve alwaysused”—askyourself: Isitactuallybetter?Orjustfamiliar?
Comparison-shopwithspecs. Lookatmaterialquality,warranty, leadtimes—notlogorecognition.
Newerorupstartbrandsoften overdeliveratlowerpricestobuild marketshare.Youwinbytestingand switchingwherepossible.
TryA/Btestingyourtopfive purchaseswithalternativesuppliers quarterly
Trackcost,performance,andfeedback fromyourteam.
Familiarity feels safe. But margins don’t lie.
7.CreateaSupplierScorecard
Tostayruthlessaboutyoursupply chain,trackmorethanprice.Builda monthly/quarterlysupplierscorecard with:
•Costperunit(includingdelivery)
•Productdurability/returnrate
•Leadtimeaccuracy
•Paymentflexibility
•Responsiveness
Thenrankyourvendorsandditchthe bottom20%.
Noemotion.Justperformance. Greatbusinessesdon’tjusttrack sales metrics.Theytrack spend performance withthesamediscipline.
If you’re not measuring supplier performance, you're not managing it.
8.DocumentYour ProcurementPlaybook
Here’sadirtytruth:Mostsmall businesseskeepsupply sourcing“intheowner’shead.”
Thentheownergetssick,hires abuyer,orscales—andchaos follows.
Don’twingit.
StartasimplesupplySOP:
•Whereyoubuyfrom(and2–3 backups)
•Whyyouchosethem(price, quality,relationship)
•Howoftenyoubuy(and seasonalitynotes)
•Whatdealyou’venegotiated (andrenewalterms)
Documentingthissavestime. Trainsyourteamfaster Protectsyoufromkey-man risk.
Systems scale. Scramble doesn’t.
FinalWord:SmallBusiness,Big Advantage
Thedifferencebetweenascrappy businessandascalableoneoften sitsininvisiblesystems. Procurementisoneofthem.
Whenyoushiftfrompassive buyingtoactivesourcing,you unlock:
•Highermargins
•Moreresilience
•Lessstress
Youstopreactingandstart operating
Sowhetheryou’rerunningarural supplyshop,aSaaSstartupwith physicalcomponents,oralocal foodbrand—rememberthis: Everydollaryousave without sacrificing quality dropsstraightto profit.
Smartsupplychainsaren’ta luxury.They’reaweapon.
Usethemlikeone.
TheNorthAmericanmarketforenterprisedigital
commercepresentsaformidablechallenge.It demandssophisticatedtechnologyplatforms capableofhandlingimmensecomplexity,coupledwith strategicleadershipadeptatnavigatingrapidtechnological shiftsanddiverseclientneedsacrossmultipleindustries. Succeedinginthisenvironmentrequiresnotonlyarobust productofferingbutalsoastuteregionalleadershipcapableof tailoringglobalcapabilitiestolocalmarketdynamicsand drivingcommercialsuccess.
DanielaJuradoservesastheExecutiveVicePresidentfor NorthAmericaatVTEX(NYSE:VTEX),holdingdirect responsibilityforthecompany’sperformanceinthiscritical region.Hermandateencompassesleadingthesales, marketing,andsolutionengineeringfunctions–thecore commercialengineforVTEXintheUSandCanada.Hertask involvesleveragingVTEX’sglobalenterprisecommerce platformtowinmarketshareanddelivermeasurablevaluefor someoftheworld'smostrecognizedbrands,citing partnershipswithcompanieslikeAdidas,Hmart,and Whirlpoolasexamplesofthecaliberofclientssheengages.
ThisanalysisexaminesMs.Jurado’sstrategicapproach,the toolssheemploysfromtheVTEXportfolio,thechallenges shenavigates,andtheleadershipphilosophythatunderpins herdirectionofVTEX'sNorthAmericanoperations.
Jurado’sStrategicToolkit:LeveragingtheVTEX Platform
AkeyresponsibilityforMs.Juradoiseffectivelydeploying VTEX'splatformarchitecturetomeetthevariedneedsof NorthAmericanenterprises.Sheworkswithtwoprimary architecturalapproachesofferedbyVTEX:
1.ComposableArchitecture:Ms.Juradoutilizes theconceptofcomposability–building systemsfrommodular,interchangeable components–toofferclientsmaximum flexibility Thisapproach,whichVTEXterms “PragmaticComposability,”allowsher teamstoguideclientsinintegratingnew technologiesorcapabilitiessequentially, aligningwiththeirimmediatebusiness prioritieswithoutnecessitatingacomplete systemoverhaul.Sherecognizesthevalueof relatedconceptslikeheadlesscommerce (decouplingfrontend/backend)and microservices(small,independentprocesses) withinthisframeworkforclientsprioritizing adaptabilityandinnovation.
2.CompletePlatform:Forclientsrequiring fasterdeployment,reducedcomplexity,or morestandardizedoperations,Ms.Jurado leveragesVTEX’s“Complete”platform.This providesacomprehensivesuiteofrobustoutof-the-boxcapabilities,includingspecific featuresformanagingCustomerCreditand complexB2BOrganizations,allowing businessesto“plugandgo-live”morequickly.
Ms.Jurado’sstrategictaskinvolvesguidingNorth Americanclientstowardthearchitecturalapproach –composable,complete,oroftenapragmaticblend –thatbestsuitstheirspecificbusinessmodel, technicalreadiness,andlong-termobjectives.This requireshersalesandsolutionengineeringteamsto possessadeepunderstandingofboththeclient’s businessandVTEX’stechnologicalcapabilities.
DemonstratingValue:Jurado’sCaseforVTEX inNorthAmerica
InthecompetitiveNorthAmericanmarket, demonstratingatangiblereturnoninvestmentis paramount.Ms.Juradoutilizesdataandcase studiestobuildthebusinesscaseforVTEX.Akey toolinherarsenalistheForresterConsulting “TotalEconomicImpact”(TEI)study commissionedbyVTEX.Shecanpointtoits findings–suchasareported133%ROIwithin threeyearsofmigrationandUS$5.8millionin savingscomparedtolegacyplatforms–as quantitativeevidenceoftheplatform’sfinancial benefits.
Furthermore,shedrawsuponspecificclient successes,relevanttotheindustriesherteams target,toillustratepracticaloutcomes:
· HowMotorolautilizedVTEX’s adaptabilityforfastergloballaunches andachieved20%annuale-commerce growth.
· HowBelcorpgainednecessarybusiness agilitybymigratingfromacumbersome legacysystem(SAPHybris)toVTEX’s flexiblearchitecture.
· HowaB2BcompanylikeBriggs& StrattonleveragedVTEX’scomposable features(VTEXIO)tomodernize operationsandenhancecustomer experience.
PresentingtheseexamplesallowsMs.Jurado andherteamstotranslateplatformfeatures intoconcretebusinessadvantageslike increasedefficiency(developerandmarketing teamsreportedlysawgainsupto50%by yearthreepertheTEIstudy),fasterspeed-tomarket,andimprovedgrowthtrajectories.
NavigatingMarketDynamics:Jurado’s StrategicPerspective
LeadingVTEXinNorthAmericarequires Ms.Juradotoconstantlyassessmarkettrends andadaptherstrategy.Sheidentifiesseveral keyfactorsinfluencingherapproach:
· EconomicPressures:Risingcustomer acquisitioncostsdemandsolutionsthat optimizeperformanceanddemonstrate clearROI–reinforcingtheimportance oftheTEIstudydataandefficiency gains.
· TechnologyIntegration(AI): Recognizingthekeeninterestin ArtificialIntelligence,particularlyfor applicationslikedemandforecasting, Ms.Juradoensuresherteamsare proficientinpositioningtheVTEXData Pipeline.ThisintegratedAIsolution aimstostreamlinedatainfrastructurefor clientsandprovidetailoredinsights, presentingacompetitiveadvantage.
· EnhancedSecurityNeeds:Withgrowingtransaction volumes,Ms.JuradoemphasizestheimportanceofVTEX Shieldasacomprehensivesecurityoffering(includingrealtimemonitoring,vulnerabilityassessmentreadiness,and firewallprotection)toaddressclientconcerns.
· ImmersiveCustomerExperiences:Observingtheriseof livetechnologies,Ms.JuradopositionsVTEXasaplatform readytosupportliveshoppingandconciergecommerce, enablingbrandstobuilddeeperconnectionsanddrive conversionsthroughinnovativechannels.
· OmnichannelComplexity&Data:Ms.Juradofocuseson VTEX'sabilitytofacilitateseamlessomnichannel transformationsandprovidesolutionsthatcentralizecrucial data(inventory,loyalty,sales)formoreinformeddecision makingandoperationalefficiency
Herstrategyinvolvesnotjustreactingtothesetrends butproactivelyincorporatingrelevantVTEX innovationsandacquisitions–liketheAI-powered customerservicecapabilitiesgainedthroughthe Weniacquisitionortheenhancedbehavioral predictionmodelsresultingfromtheSynerise investment–intothesolutionsproposedtoNorth Americanclients.High-profileeventslikeVTEX CONNECTNYC(scheduledJan13,2025, featuringSimoneBiles)alsoserveasplatforms underherpurviewtoengageregionalleadersand showcaseVTEX'sthoughtleadership.
TheLeaderHerself:Resilience,Adaptability,and Vision
Ms.Jurado’sleadershipinthedemandingNorth Americanmarketisinformedbyherown professionaljourneywithinVTEXandthe challengesshehasnavigated.Herprogressionfrom leadingtheLatinAmericanPartnerProgramin2015 tolaunchingoperationsinItalyandeventually managingtheentireEMEAregion(70people across7countries)providedherwithinvaluable cross-culturalandoperationalexperience.
Shespeakscandidlyaboutovercomingskepticism encounteredasayoung,Latinwomanleadinga Braziliantechcompany’sexpansioninEurope.Her approachwasnottoshyawaybuttoearnrespect throughdemonstratedexpertiseandthequalityof herinsights–atestamenttoherresilience.She activelylearnsfromsetbacks,utilizingapersonal “debrief”processafterdifficultsituations(like losingsignificantdealsorkeyteammembers)to analyzefailuresandimplementcorrectivemeasures, turningchallengesintoopportunitiesforstrategic refinement.Whileacknowledgingthepotential isolationofseniorroles,shecreditsVTEX Co-founderMarianoGomideforprovidingcrucial mentorship.
Herleadershipphilosophyemphasizescorevalues shedeemsessentialfornavigatingtoday'svolatile environment:
· ResilienceandOptimism:Maintaininga positiveoutlookdespiteuncontrollableexternal factors.
· DisciplineandFocus:Leadingbyexampleand inspiringteamsthroughaction.
· Adaptability:Recognizingflexibilityascritical fororganizationalsuccess.
· A“HumanFirst”Approach:Leadingwith compassionandacknowledgingtheintegration ofprofessionalandpersonallives.
TheseprinciplesguidehermanagementoftheNorth Americansales,marketing,andsolutionengineering teamsandshapeherinteractionswithclientsand partners.Hercommitmentextendstofosteringfuture talent,reflectedinherguestlecturingengagementsat USuniversities.
Conclusion:DrivingVTEX’sNorthAmerican Ambition
AsExecutiveVicePresidentforNorthAmerica, DanielaJuradoholdsacriticalpositionwithin VTEX’sglobalstructure.Herleadershipinvolves morethanmanagingregionaloperations;itrequires strategicallyapplyingVTEX’ssophisticatedplatform capabilities–balancingcomposableflexibilitywith out-of-the-boxcompleteness–tomeetthespecific, complexdemandsofNorthAmericanenterprises. Sheleveragesquantitativedata,clientsuccesses,and akeenunderstandingofmarkettrendstobuildthe caseforVTEXwhilenavigatingcompetitive pressuresandeconomicuncertainty.
Herpersonaljourneyunderscoresresilienceand adaptability,qualitiesreflectedinherleadership philosophy.Byfocusingonmeasurableresults, strategicpartnerships,continuousinnovation,anda client-centricapproachinformedbydeepindustry experience,Ms.JuradoworkstosolidifyVTEX’s positionanddriveitscontinuedgrowthinoneofthe world’smostimportantdigitalcommercemarkets. Herlegacygoal–toberememberedforhelping shapethecareersofothers–furtherinformsher commitmenttoimpactfulleadership.
Let’sGetBrutalforaMinute.
You’renotconfused.
You’re avoiding the real question.
You’renotspinningincirclesbecauseyoudon’tknowhowto buildabrand.Orpriceyouroffers.Orwritetheperfectbiothat screams“humblegenius.”
You’respinningbecauseyou’reaskingweak,genericquestions thatkeepyourpowerdiluted.You’vegotvision-boardglitterin youreyesandyoucan’tseethedamnroad.
You’reasking:
· “WhatshouldIdo?”
· “WhatnicheshouldIpick?”
· “HowdoInotsoundtoobraggywhilealsosounding likeBeyoncé?”
You’rechasinganswerstoquestionsdesignedtokeep you small
NowI’mgoingtosaysomethingyourcoachwon’t. Thosearethequestionsthatamateursask.
Prosdon’task,“WhatshouldIdo?” Theyask,“WhatdoIwanttobeknownfor?”
Readthatagain.
ThatQuestionChangesEverything
It’sthe power seat.Itdoesn’tcarewhat’strending.It doesn’tcarewhatyourcompetitor’scharging.It doesn’tneedaCanvatemplate.
Itasksyoutostandstillforonesecondandremember: You’renotheretofitin.You’rehereto own your lane.
Andnoonecanownanythingtheyhaven’t claimed. Sohere’sthetruthnoone’sputtingonInstagram: Ifyoucan’tanswer“whatdoIwanttobeknown for?”,thennothingelsematters.
Notthelogo.Notthepackages.NottheDMstrategy Notthethree-partemailfunnel.
Becauseifyoudon’tknow why yourworkmatters,whythe hellshouldanyoneelse?
Let’sTalkAboutYou.No,Seriously
You’vebuilt,orarebuilding,somethingthatmatters.That takesguts.Butsomewherealongtheway,youstopped buildingamovementandstartedbuildingabrochure.
Youoverthinkyourpositioning.
Youwaterdownyourmessage.
Youwritecaptionsthatsoundlikeyouswallowedan inspirationalquotebookandpanickedhalfwaythrough.
Meanwhile,therealyou—theonewhohasstoriesthat couldchangelives,lessonsburnedintoherbones,anda truthonly you canspeak—iswaitingtobeinvitedtothe table.
Here’stheplottwist:Youarethedamntable.
LetMeAskYouThis:
· Whatdoyouknowfor sure aboutwhatyouoffer?
· Whatdopeoplesayaboutyouwhenyou’renotintheroom?
· Whatdoyou wish theysaid?
· Whatwouldyoufightfor,evenifnooneclapped?
Ifyoucananswerthat,youdon’tneedto“findyourniche.” Youaretheniche.
RealConfidenceIsn’tLoud.It’sClear
Whenyouownwhatyou’reheretobeknownfor:
· Yourbiowritesitself.
· Yourcontentbecomesmagnetic.
· Yourpricingstopsfeelinglikeamathtestandstartsfeeling likeaboundary
· Youstopwaitingforpermissionandstartactinglikethe leaderyoualreadyare.
Youwalkintoroomsdifferently.Youpostdifferently. Hell,youwakeupdifferently.
Becausethisisn’taboutbeingperfect.It’saboutbeing undeniable
Here’sthe3-StepClarityDetox
(Ifyou’vebeenstuckin“I-don’tknow-what-to-say”land,thispart’sfor you.)
1.KilltheMediocreQuestions.
They’redeadweight.Stopasking, “WhatshouldIdo?”and“HowdoI lookcredible?”Askinstead:
· “What’sthestoryonlyIcantell?”
· “WhatamIalreadydoingthat peoplethankmefor?”
· “WhatimpactdoIwantmyname attachedto5yearsfromnow?”
2.ClaimYourCategoryofOne.
You’renotcompeting.You’recreating. You’renotheretofitthemold.You’re heretobreakit.Soask:
· “Whatpartofmyworkisnonnegotiable?”
· “WhatamItiredofapologizing for?”
· “WhatdoIdodifferentlywithout eventrying?”
3.SpeakFromThatPlace.Always.
Stopwritinglikeastranger.Stop diluting.Stopmarketinglikeyou’re askingsomeoneoutonadate.
Startsaying,“Here’sthework. Here’swhyitmatters.Ifit’sfor you,let’sgo.”
BeingtheAuthorityIsn’taTitle.It’s aDecision.
Youdon’tneed10,000followers.You don’tneedtolooklikeanadfor ForbesWomen.Youdon’tneedto speakonfivepanels.
Youneedtostopoutsourcingyour confidencetometricsthatdon’tmatter
Yournamebelongsinroomsyouhaven’tenteredyet—butonlyifyou startusingyourvoicelikeithasadestination.
SoLet’sWrapThisUptheWayItStarted
Pullyourchaircloser
You’renot“figuringitout.”
You’re remembering who the hell you are.
You’reheretobuildsomethingbiggerthanabrand.
You’reheretobe known forsomethingthatoutlivesanysinglecampaign, post,orlaunch.
Sostopwaitingto“haveitalltogether.”
Youalreadyknowwhatyoustandfor.
Nowmakeitundeniable.
FinalPrompt:WriteThisSomewhereBigandLoud
“WhatdoIwanttobeso wildly known for thattheysaymynameinroomsI'veneverevensteppedinto?”
That’stheonlyquestionworthanswering.
Andyou’vealreadygottheanswer.Startsayingitoutloud.
President of Product and COO
Prema Varadhan
The Unseen Architect behind Temenos' Fintech Revolution
Whenconsideringaleaderwhoissubtly changingthelandscapeoffintech,onename standsout:PremaVaradhan Althoughshe doesn’tseekthespotlight,herimpactontheindustryis undeniable.AsthePresidentofProductandCOOof Temenos,Premahasdedicatedyearstoshapinga companythatiscontinuouslyredefiningthefutureof banking.However,herstoryextendsbeyondtitlesand products;itembodiesarelentlesspursuitofimprovement inanindustrythatrequiresconstantinnovation.
TheCoreofPrema’sLeadership
Premaisactivelyinvolvedinshapingthefutureoffintech. Everyday,sheasks,“Howcanwemakebankingbetter, faster,andsimplerforourcustomers?”Thisfocusguides herleadershipoftheProductandTechnologyteamsat Temenos.WhatsetsPremaapartisthatshedoesn’t prioritizetechnologyforitsownsake.Instead,sheis deeplyinvestedinunderstandingthechallengesbanks facetodayandfindingeffectivesolutions.
InanindustrywherebuzzwordslikeAIandblockchain arecommon,Prema’sapproachisstraightforwardand practical.Sheisdedicatedtomeetingbanks’needs, whetherthatmeansimprovingefficiency,boosting customersatisfaction,orcreatinginnovativebanking solutions.Sheseesthebigpictureandfocusesonwhat mattersmost.
FromDevelopertoLeader:AStoryofGrit
Premaearnedherleadershiprolethroughhardwork.She startedatTemenosasayoungsoftwareengineerandwas oneofthefirstdevelopersinTemenosIndia.Withouta bankingbackground,shefeltlikeanoutsiderinthe financeworld.However,thisessentiallyhelpedher.Prema viewedbankingwithfresheyesandlearnedasmuchas shecould.Shewantedtounderstandnotjusthowtowrite code,buthowthatcodecouldimprovebanking operations.
Hercuriosityanddeterminationquicklyledtosuccess.Injust afewyears,PremabecameatrustedvoiceatTemenos, especiallyinaddressingcustomerconcerns.Shefocusedon achievingresultsinsteadofbeingtheloudestpersoninthe room.Inbusiness,resultsmattermorethananythingelse.
ALaserFocusonSolvingCustomerProblems
DoyouwanttoknowwhyPremaisdifferent?It’sallabout herapproachtoproductdevelopment.Forher,it’snever aboutlaunchingflashynewfeaturesorfollowingtrends;it’s aboutaddressingrealproblemsforrealcustomers.Every productthatTemenosdeliversunderherleadershipis designedtomakelifeeasierforbanksand,byextension,their customers.
TakeTemenosPositions,forexample.Thisproductwasn’t createdsimplybecauseitwastrendy;itwasdevelopedin responsetobanksstrugglingwithoutdatedback-endsystems thatslowedthemdown.Premarecognizedthefrustrations banksfacedwhiletryingtomodernizetheirITinfrastructure withoutacompleteoverhaul.Shespearheadedthe developmentofTemenosPositions,providingasolutionthat enablesbankstograduallyupdatetheirsystemswithout disruptingtheiroperations.It’spractical,effective,andworks.
TheRealPowerofSaaS
Premaisnotonlyredefininghowbanksoperatetoday;sheis alsofocusedonthefuture.AsastrongadvocateforSoftwareas-a-Service(SaaS)banking,sheviewsitnotasamagic bulletbutasavaluabletoolforbanks.SaaShelpsthem reducecosts,streamlineoperations,andconcentrateonwhat theydobest:servingtheircustomers.
So,whatdoesSaaSoffertobanks?Italleviatestheburdensof managingtechnologyinfrastructure.Banksnolongerhaveto worryaboutservermaintenanceorhardwareupgrades;that responsibilityfallstoTemenos.UnderPrema’sleadership, Temenoshandlestheheavylifting,enablingbankstofocuson innovation.
Furthermore,SaaSnotonlysavesbanksmoneybutalso increasestheirspeed.WithSaaS,bankscanlaunchnew servicesmuchfasterthanbefore.Thisagilityprovidesa substantialcompetitiveadvantage,allowingbankstorespond swiftlyandeffectivelytomarketchanges.Premahasbeen vitalinensuringthatTemenosremainsattheforefront, alwaysreadytoprovidethelatestandmosteffective solutionstoitsclients.
AClearVisionforCloudBanking
Premaismakingasignificantinvestmentincloud technology,andsheisn’taloneinthisendeavor.Banks worldwidearebeginningtorecognizethatpubliccloud solutionsprovideunmatchedspeed,security,andscalability Underherleadership,Temenoshasbeenattheforefrontof thistransformation.However,Prema’sapproachisnot merelyaboutfollowingtrends;sheislaser-focusedonwhat trulybenefitscustomersincloudbanking.
Temenoshasmadesubstantialinvestmentsincloud-native technologies,andforgoodreason.Premaviewsthecloudas thefutureofbankingandisdedicatedtopositioning Temenosasaleaderinthatfuture.Banksthattransitionto thecloudcanquicklyscaletheiroperations,adaptto evolvingcustomerdemands,andlaunchnewproductsmore rapidlythaneverbefore.
WhatdistinguishesPrema’sapproachisherdeep understandingofthesecurityconcernsassociatedwithcloud adoption.Sherecognizesthatbanksmusthaveconfidencein thesecurityoftheirdata.Toaddressthis,Temenoshas partneredwithtop-tiercloudproviders,ensuringthatits customersbenefitfromthebestsecuritymeasuresavailable. UnderPrema’sleadership,Temenosisdemonstratingthatthe cloudisnotjustaviableoption;itistheoptimalchoicefor banksaimingtothriveinadigital-firstworld.
MakingAIWorkforBanks
Let’sdiscussartificialintelligence(AI).Premadoesn’tview AIasjustabuzzword;sheseesitasatransformative technologythatcanrevolutionizehowbanksoperate. However,sheapproachesitwithcaution.Bankscannot affordtoadoptAIcarelessly;theymustensurethatits implementationisresponsible.
That’swhyTemenos,underPrema’sleadership,hasinvested millionsinAIresearchanddevelopment.Sheprioritizes creatingAIsolutionsthatarenotonlycutting-edgebutalso safeandreliable.
Thegoalisstraightforward:touseAItoenhance efficiencyandcustomerexperiencewithout compromisingsecurityortrust.
BanksutilizingTemenos’AIsolutionscanautomate processes,uncovernewinsights,andprovideimproved customerservice.Theyachievethisinacontrolledand securemanner,thankstoPrema’scarefulguidance.She isnotfocusedonhype;sheisfocusedonachieving results.
TheFinancialandEnvironmentalWin-WinofCloud Banking
UnderPrema’sleadership,Temenosisnotonlyfocused onfinancialreturnsbutisalsoaleaderinsustainability. Cloudbankingnotonlylowerscostsbutalsoreducesa bank'scarbonfootprint.Movingoperationstothecloud candecreaseenergyusagebyupto95%comparedto traditionalon-premisesystems.Thisisbeneficialnot justforbusinessbutalsofortheplanet.
Premarecognizesthatbankstodayfaceincreasing pressuretocomplywithclimateregulations.Temenosis supportingtheminthiseffortbyprovidingmoreenergyefficientcloudsolutions.Thiscommitmentisnotjust talk;Temenoshassuccessfullyreducedthecarbon impactofitssoftwarebyover50%since2021.Thisis thekindofleadershipthattrulymakesadifference.
WhyPrema’sLeadershipMatters
Attheendoftheday,PremaVaradhan’sstoryextends beyondfintech;it’sfundamentallyaboutleadership.She hasdemonstratedthatyoudon’tneedtoshouttobe heardorfollowtrendstoachievesuccess.Whattruly mattersisfocusingonsolvingrealproblems,delivering tangibleresults,andstayingaheadofthecurve.
Premaisnotinterestedinfameoraccolades;herpriority isensuringthatTemenosremainsaleaderincloud banking,SaaS,andAI.Sheaimstocreateproductsthat areeffectiveinsolvingproblemsandhelpingbanks thriveinanever-changingworld.
Heruniqueabilitytocombineaclearvisionforthe futurewitharelentlessfocusonexecutionmakesher oneofthemostsignificantleadersinfintechtoday. AlthoughPremaVaradhanmaynotbeahousehold name,sheisundeniablyaforcetobereckonedwithin thebankingsector
Let’sgetonethingstraight—noonebuysyour product.Theybuytheirowntransformation.
That’sthepunchlinetoomanyentrepreneursmiss.If you’restillpitchingfeaturesorbraggingaboutyour process,you’releavingmoneyonthetable.
Thetruth?Peoplebuywhentheyfeellikethestory you’retellingsoundslike their story.Notyours.
Andthemostpowerfulwaytomakethathappenisby hijackingsomethingancient:TheHero’sJourney.
Thisisn’tatrend.Thisishumanpsychology.It’swhat ourbrainsdefaulttowhentryingtomakesenseoflife, change,orchallenges.Hollywoodknowsit. High-performingbrandsknowit.
Founderswhobuildcategory-definingstartupsknow it.
Let’sbreakdownhowyouembeditintoyourbrand messaginglikearealstrategist—notacontentcreator who’swingingit.
1.YourCustomerIstheHero.You’reJustthe Guide.AcceptIt.
Thisoneshiftwillcleanup80%ofyourmessaging clutter
Stoptryingtoconvinceyourcustomerhowsmart, qualified,orexperiencedyouare.Theydon’t care—yet.
Theycareaboutthemselves.Theirproblem.Their need.Theirconfusion.Theirdesiretostopthe bleeding.Soputthematthecenterofyourstory
You’renotthemaincharacter You rethepersonwhohelpsthemaincharacter win.
ThinkYoda.ThinkHaymitch.ThinkMoana’s grandmother They’retheoneswhonudgethe herooutoftheircomfortzone,handthemthe compass,andsay, “This way. I’ve walked this road. You're not alone.”
That’syourjob.
Sonexttimeyouwritecontent,don’tstart with, “I help women build soulful businesses.”
Startwiththis:
“You know that feeling when you’ve outgrown your business, but every pivot feels risky and wrong? Let’s fix that.”
Seethedifference?
2.TheProblemIsn’tJustaProblem—It’s theCalltoAdventure
Yourcustomer’sstuckmoment?That’swhere yourstory starts.
Notyouroriginstory.Notyour“why.”Theirs. Youneedtoarticulatethetensionthey feel—butcan’talwaysname.
Whendoneright,theyreadyourcontentand say, “Wait, how are you in my head?”
That’swhentheykeepscrolling.
Here’showyougetthatclarity:
· Lookatwhatyourbestclientssaidwhen theyhiredyou.
· CheckDMs.Emails.Exitsurveys.
· Payattentiontowheretheyalmostgave up.
· Usetheir actual words.Don’ttranslate themintobrandlanguage.
Example:
· Not: “I help burned-out professionals realign with purpose.”
· Try: “You thought quitting your job would feel like freedom. But now it’s 2PM, and you’re Googling how to price your service—again.”
That’sthecalltoadventure.
Makeitsovividtheyfeelslightly uncomfortablereadingit.That’swhenthe shiftstarts.
3.YouStepIn.NotWithHype—With Help.
Here’swheremostbrandsgowrong.They hear“guide”andthinkitmeans“guru.”
Nope.
Yourjobisn’ttosoundimpressive.It’sto offersomethingsolidtheycanuse today Somethingthatbuildstrustwithoutpressure.
Youofferawayforwardthatfeelssafe. Predictable.Testable.
Youbreakdownthenextstepsclearly.Like this:
“We map out your new messaging in 90 minutes. Then you try it out. We adjust what doesn’t land. You go live without overthinking it.”
That’saplan.
Youdon’tneedfireworks.Youneedstructure.
Shareasmallsuccessstory.Showproof.Bereal.Noneedforpolished perfection.That’snotwhatbuildsconversion.
Claritydoes.
4.ThenYouSelltheTransformation.NottheOffer.
Peopledon’tcareaboutyour6-weekprogram,yourgroupcalls,your templates.
Theycareaboutwhatchangesafterworkingwithyou. Sostoplistingdeliverableslikeamenu.Paintaclearbefore-and-after picture.
Makeitsogrounded,theycanvisualizethemselveslivingitnextweek.
Here’swhatthatsoundslike:
· Before: “I hate marketing. It feels fake. I never know what to post.” · After: “Now I write posts in 30 minutes flat—and people DM me saying, ‘This hit hard.’”
That’sreal.
You’reshowingthemthenewidentitywaitingontheothersideofthe work.
It’snotabout“6coachingcalls.”It’sabout“knowingwhattosaywhen someoneaskswhatyoudo.”
Sell that.
5.YouDon’tNeedaFunnel.YouNeedaNarrativeArc.
Let’sgetpractical.
ThisiswhattheHero’sJourneylookslikeinyourcontentecosystem:
Usethismap.Repeatit.Rotateitthroughyourchannels. Don’tjust“postvaluablecontent”—build narrative momentum.
6.IfYourBrandIsn’tSticky,YourStory’sNotSharp Enough
Mostpeopledon’tquityourcontentbecauseit’sbad. Theyquitbecauseit’svague.
You’renotnamingthetension.You’renotarticulatingthe shift.You’renotclosingtheloop.
Here’swhatfixesthat:
· Cut80%ofyouradjectives.Add20%moreverbs.
· Don’ttellpeopleyou’re“aligned.”Tellthemyou stoppedcryingonSundaynights.
· Don’tsayyouhelppeople“scale.”Sayyouhelped someonedoublerevenuewithoutdoublinghours.
Storystickswhenit moves.
7.LetTheirEndingBeYourBeginning
Here’sthebigone.
Whenpeopleseethemselvesinyourclients’wins,they self-select tostartthejourney
Sobuildyourcontentaroundtransformationsalready happening.
Documentyourclient’sfirstwins.Themessymiddle. Thesurpriseoutcomes.
Saythingslike:
· “Whenwestarted,Samwasn’tevensureshehadareal business.Today,shebookedoutQ3intwoweeks.”
· “Miratoldmeshefeltinvisible.Lastweek,shegother firstpressmention.”
Thesearen’ttestimonials.They’remini-herojourneys. Andtheyshowyouraudienceonething: This is possible for you, too.
NoOneBuysCoaching.OrCourses.OrSystems. Theybuybelief.
Beliefthat this time,they’llmakeitwork.Beliefthat someoneactuallyunderstandswhattheyneed.Beliefthat theywon’twastemoneyagain.
Storiesgivethemthatbelief.
Nothype.Nothacks.Nothigh-ticketurgencytactics. Stories.
Andnotjustanystory—astorywherethey win. That’stheonlypitchthatreallyworks.
FinalWord
Look.We’renotsellinglipstickhere.We’rebuildingtrust withpeoplewho’velikelybeenburnedbefore.Thattakes somethingdeeperthandopaminemarketing.
Ittakesnarrativestrategy
Soditchtheguruvibes.Stepintotheroleyou’reactually builtfor:thewomanwhoshowsupwithamap,amirror, andaflashlight.
You’renotsellingservices.
You’resellingself-belief.
Getyourstorystraight—andwatchwhathappensnext.
Intoday’sdynamicbusiness environment,smalland medium-sizedenterprises (SMEs)arefacingadaunting challengeintheformofsocial security.Fromtheperspectiveof employees,thisresultsinahard-toswallowdeductionfromtheir salaries.However,itisnotjust aboutthefinancialaspect; employees,regardlessoftheir background,wantstabilityand security,aswellasaccesstoa diverserangeofinvestmentoptions tobuildtheirwealth.
Meanwhile,companiesare strugglingwiththeinternal retentionofemployees,losing themduetosmallincreasesin salaries.Itisclearthatthisisnot justacommercialchallenge,but alsoasocialonethatbusinesses needtoaddress.Accordingtoa newBostonConsultingGroup (BCG)study,approximately70% ofUAEemployeesare consideringchangingjobs,with compensation,retirement,and insurancebenefitsbeingthe“top dealbreakers.”
Similarproblemsinothermarkets havebeenaddressedwithDefined contributionPlanssuchasthe401kin theUS.Thesechallenges,however,are globalinscope,anditistheroleof exemplaryleaderstochangenotonly themarketbutalsothoughtprocesses. AnexampleofthisisReemIkram (Co-Founder, CEOand of ThriftPlan).Withhervisionand foresight,sheisredefiningsocial securitybyofferinganinteractive investmentplatformforboth employersandemployeesinthe MENAregion.
ATrailblazer’sJourney
Reemhasanimpressivejourneythat beganinherchildhoodinGermany, whereshediscoveredthethrillof creatingherownenterpriseby sellingstones.Asachild,shewas fascinatedbythefinancialaspectof runningabusiness,andthisearly experienceleftalastingimpression onher
Afterstudyingentrepreneurship, Reemworkedininnovationandtook herfamily’sbusinessfromthefirstto thethirdgeneration.Shefacedthe dauntingchallengeofbringingthe companyintothedigitalageand transforminganimport/export businessintoe-commerce.Her experienceinmanagingfinances provedtobeinvaluableduringthis transformationaljourney.
UponmovingtoSaudiArabia,Reem encounteredasignificantchallenge duringhertimeworkinginPrivate EquityinSaudiArabia–the complicatedpensionsystemfor expatsandthestrugglesofayoung generationthatisnotpreparedfor financialhurdlesinthefuture.
Assomeonewhowasusedtohavinga deductionfromhersalary,Reemfoundit hardtoadapttothenewsystem,andthis realizationpromptedhertoaddressa morewidespreadproblem.This realizationsparkedtheideaforThriftPlan, arevolutionaryplatformthatoffersan interactiveinvestmentplanforboth employersandemployees.
RevolutionizingFinancialSecurityin MENA
Foundedin2019,atAlYasmeen,Riyadh, ThriftPlan’sgoalistohelpindividuals achievefinancialsecurityinaregion wheresocialsecurityisachallenging issue.WithVision2030addressingthe needforsavingsolutions,Thriftplanis activelyhighlightingoneofthelargest sourcesofsaving,theWorkplaceSaving Plan,whichhascrossedamarketvalueof morethanUSD$7trillionintheUnited States.
Moreover,itisthethoughtprocessof companiesandindividualsthatis changing.Oneofthecorestrugglesin encouragingindividualstosavehasbeen thecountry’sleveloffinancialliteracy, whichhasproventobeadifficultobstacle inamarketwithalargeyoungpopulation.
However,byautomatingand encouragingdigitallearningwhile investing,Reemandherteamare changingthefutureofageneration.
“The secret to evoking change is to have believers; my team was the first to believe. They are the ambassadors of saving,” saysReem.
InvestinginEmployeeRetention
AtThriftPlan,theteamhelps companiescreatedefined contributionplansthatincrease internalemployeeretention.Unlike competitors,thecompany’sapproach involvesallowingadirect contributionfromtheemployee’s salarytothesavingsplan,matched bytheemployerbasedontheir retentiongoals.Thisencourages employeestoinvestintheirfuture whilebuildingloyaltytotheir employer.
ThriftPlanalsoempowersemployees bygivingthemtheautonomyto decideontheirinvestmentportfolio, ensuringthatonlytheirdiscretionary fundsaremanagedbythem.
Additionally,ThriftPlanoffers comprehensiveworkshops, educationalcontent,andadvisory servicestohelpcreatethemost suitabledefinedcontributionplanfor eachcompany’suniquehierarchy, objectives,andculture.
MakingThingsPossible
Reemisadynamicleaderwho shoulderstheultimateresponsibility foreverythingatherorganization. Withherleadershipstyleofleading byexample,sheensuresthatnotask isbeneathher,regardlessoftheskill setrequired.Asaleader,sheis renownedforherabilitytomake thingspossible.Sheapproaches everyproblemwithacontingency plan.
“Every problem should have a plan B, a plan C, and if needed all the way to Z,” states Reem.
Asanentrepreneur,Reemunderstands thechallengesofkeepingherselfand herteammotivated.However,she considerstheimpactshehasonthe communityandstakeholderstobethe mostrewardingandrefreshingaspect ofherprofession.Sheisafirmbeliever thatbusinessesmustlookbeyond profitabilityandaddresssocialissuesas well.
Reemremembersatimewhenpeople toldherthatwhatshewasdoingwas impossible.However,sherefusedtolet thenaysayersdiscourageherand insteadpersevered,makingthe impossiblepossible.
Underherleadership,thecompanyhas achievednumerousnotableawardsand achievements.Inrecentyears, ThriftPlanwasawardedtheprestigious titleofthemostinnovativecorporate savingsolutioninKSA.Thecompany hasalsoreceivedmultipleawardsfor itsexceptionaleducationincentive.It participatedinFintechSaudiandwon thefirstprizeduringDemoDay
StayingProactiveinaChanging Landscape
“Opportunities come, but they are a gift; as leaders, we need to be able to recognize them and capture them to succeed,” assertsReem.She opinesthatbeingproactiveisnot onlyimportantbutalsoanobligation forleaderstoseekoutnovelwaysto evolve.Itisnotonlyforthebenefit ofstockholders,butalsoforthe organization’semployees,the ecosystemthatdependsonit,and theindividualswhohaveno alternative.
FromBoardroomtoBarn
Beyondhercabin,Reemindulgesin afewhobbiesthatbringhertrue peace.Shefindssolaceintraining andridinghorses,whichbringsan unparalleledsenseoftrustand rejuvenationbetweentheanimaland therider.Forher,itisarefreshing feelingthathelpsherunwindfrom thedemandsofherbusyschedule. Inadditiontohorseriding,Reem alsoenjoysjoggingandreading whichhelpsherreleasestressand calmhermind.
TheMindsetofaLeader
Reemsharesinvaluableadvicefor aspiringbusinessleaderswhowantto excelintheirfield.Heradviceis simpleyetprofound–“Believe in yourself.”Evenwhenothersdoubt yourabilitiesortellyouthatyourideas areunrealisticorimpractical,she advisesthatyoushouldnotgiveup. Instead,usetheirskepticismasa motivatortoworkevenharderand provethemwrong.
