






DearReaders,
TheChiefExecutiveOfficer(CEO)isthemaestrointhedelicatedanceofbusinessdynamics, orchestratingsuccessthroughvision,strategy,andleadership.TheCEO,asthecompany's highest-rankingexecutive,ischargedwithleadingthefirmtowardsuccess.Theirresponsibilitiesinclude strategicdecision-making,creatingthecompany'sdirection,managinghurdles,andcultivatinganinnovation andexcellenceculture.Intoday'scorporateworld,theCEOismorethanjustaleader;heorsheisachange agent,propellingtheorganizationforwardinthefaceofrapidtechnicalbreakthroughsandeconomic uncertainty.Inthisedition,weproudlypresent“The10ProminentCEOsof2023,”atributetovisionarieswho aresteeringtheircompaniestowardunprecedentedsuccess.
OnthecoverpageofthiseditionisMichaelVlad,thedistinguishedGeneralManagerandCEOofThe Argyle.HisleadershipatTheArgyleservesasatestamenttothemultifacetedroleofaCEO,whereinnovation, resilience,andacommitmenttoexcellenceconverge.Vlad'sstrategicbrillianceandforesighthavepositioned TheArgyleasatrailblazer,underscoringtheprofoundimpactavisionaryCEOcanhaveonthetrajectoryofa companyintoday'srapidlyevolvingbusinesslandscape.
Beyondthecoverstory,thiseditionbrieflyspotlightsotherinfluentialCEOswhoarepioneersintheir respectiveindustries.Theseleaders,suchasLinHan,PrabakarSelvam,RanCraycraft,andAmberSchroader, embodythediverseskillsandattributesthatdefinesuccessfulCEOsinthecontemporarybusinessecosystem. Eachprofileoffersaglimpseintohowthesevisionariesareshapingtheirorganizations,illustratingthe collectiveimpactofCEOsonthedynamictapestryofcorporatesuccess.
AswelookdeeperintothestoriesoftheseCEOs,itbecomesclearthattheCEO'sinfluencegoesbeyondthe limitsofboardrooms,influencingtrends,supportinginnovation,andcreatingacultureofexcellence.Thisissue honorsthestrategicthinkerswhoareleadingthecharge,drivingtheirfirmstonewheightsofachievement,and makinganeverlastingimpactontheever-changingbusinessworld.
Happy reading!
PROJECT
ASHWINI
C O N T E N T S
Vlad 12
MichaelVladistheGeneralManagerandCEO atTheArgyleandadistinguishedfigureinthe worldofhospitality.Hiscareerinhospitality drawssignificantinfluencefromhisfather,who boastsdecadesofexperiencemanaginghotelsand restaurantsinEurope.Fromanearlyage,he absorbedthefundamentalvaluesof hospitality—sharing,caring,andrespect—guided byhismother,whoservedashisfull-timetutor
At20,MichaelarrivedinNewYorkCityand beganatransformativejourneythatledhimtothe renowned “Windows on the World” restaurantat theWorldTradeCenterOne.Here,herefinedhis skillsandpassionforservicealongsidean exceptionalteamofprofessionalswhoplayeda pivotalroleinshapinghiscareer
However,Michael’slifetookanunexpectedturn onSeptember11,2001,whenhenarrowly escapedthetragiceventsattheWorldTrade Center.Thelossof87colleaguesleftanindelible markonhim,leadingtoayear-longperiodof reflectionandreevaluationofhiscareerpath.
Hispursuitofknowledgecontinuedatprestigious institutionssuchastheInstituteofArts,Cornell University,andtheUniversityofBerkeleyHaas BusinessSchool.Thisacademicjourneyopened doorstonewperspectivesandknowledgethat Michaelincorporatedintohistransformational leadershipstyle.
AstheGeneralManagerandCEOofTheArgyle, Michaeliscommittedtoprovidingresourcesto thestaff,nurturingtheireducation,andinspiring themtoachievebothpersonalandorganizational goals.Hispassionforhospitalityanddedication toexcellenceestablishhimasadynamicleaderin theindustry.
Michaelhasdefinedhiscareerbyfacingandovercoming significantchallengesthattestedhisleadershipand adaptability Twoparticularlynoteworthychallengesstand out,showcasinghisresilienceandinnovativeproblemsolving.
First,hefacedthetraumaticexperienceofbeingnearthe WorldTradeCenterduringthe9/11terroristattacks,which resultedinthelossofmanyfriends.Confrontingthe emotionaltraumaofthiseventandcontinuinghiscareer whilehonoringtheirmemoryrequiredexceptionalstrength andpsychologicalresilience,demonstratinghiscapacityto endureandemergestrongerfromadversity.
Thesecondsubstantialchallengewastheglobalimpactof COVID-19,whichaffectednotonlyhisworkforcebutsociety asawhole.Intheearlystagesofthepandemic,Michael exhibitedremarkableleadershipbypromptlyimplementing effectivestrategies.Heensuredfreeon-siteCOVIDtesting fortheentireworkforcetocreateasafeworkingenvironment. Furthermore,heenabledover50%ofthestafftoworkfrom homewhilemaintainingfullmedicalbenefitsand compensation.Thisproactiveresponseprotectedthe workforceandminimizedoperationaldisruption.
Moreover,Michael’sabilitytoretainover95%ofthe workforceduringthepandemicunderscoreshiscommitment toemployeewell-beingandorganizationalstability.Shifting servicestooffertakeoutoptionsanddrive-throughservices duringthischallengingtimehighlightedhisagilityin adaptingtochangingcircumstances.
AstheGeneralManagerandCEOatTheArgyle,Michael embracesamultifacetedrolethatunderscoreshisdeep commitmenttothehospitalityindustry.Hisextensivethree-
decadecareerequipshimwiththeknowledgeand experiencerequiredtosteertheorganizationtoward strategicsuccess.
Atthecoreofhisresponsibilitiesliesthecompany’s strategicvision.Michaelleadsthesettingand implementationoftheorganizationalstrategy,ensuringit alignswithlong-termgoals.Thisroledemandskeen foresightandaprofoundunderstandingofindustrytrends toguidethecompanyeffectively
Michaelplaysapivotalroleindefiningthecompany’s vision,values,andculture.Heshapestheorganization’s ethos,fosteringconsistency,coherence,and comprehensiveness.Nurturingthecompany’scultureand promotinghigh-performancevaluesareintegralaspects ofhisrole,drivingstrategicsuccess.
AnothervitalaspectofMichael’spositionishisrolein teambuildingandmanagement.Leveraginghiswealthof experience,heassemblesandnurturesadynamicgroup ofindividuals,identifyingtalentandfosteringtheir growthwithintheorganization.Hisabilitytoconnect withandinspirehisteamisacornerstoneofhis leadershipstyle.
AsaCEO,Michaelisresponsibleforcapitalallocation decisions.Hemustmakechoicesthataffectthe company’sfinancialhealthandgrowth,requiringadeep understandingofthecompany’sfinanciallandscapeanda strategicinvestmentapproach.
Effectivecommunicationwithallstakeholdersisa fundamentalpartofMichael’srole.Heexcelsatfostering transparentandopenlinesofcommunication,ensuring thateveryoneinvolvedintheorganizationiswellinformed,engaged,andalignedwithitsmission.
BeyondthetraditionalresponsibilitiesofaCEO, Michael’sdedicationextendstohisabilitytoconnect withemployeesonapersonallevel.Herecognizesthe significanceofcelebratingtheirsuccesses,offering supportduringchallengingtimes,andcollaboratively planningtheirfuturewithintheorganization.This compassionateapproachsignificantlyimpactsstaff morale,productivity,andtheoverallorganizational culture.
Furthermore,Michael’scommitmenttostayingcurrentin thefieldisevidentthroughhisprofessionalaffiliations withesteemedorganizations.Theseaffiliationsensure
“ DOSOMETHINGTHAT MAKESYOUUNCOMFORTABLE ONAREGULARBASIS.
thatTheArgyleremainswell-informedand alignedwithindustrybestpractices.
Moreover,Michael’sparticipationintheUC BerkeleyHassBusinessSchoolCEOprogram gavehiminsightsintotheorganization’scultural profile.Itrevealedthatthecompany’scultureis characterizedbyhighlevelsofintegrity,afocus onmembersandemployees,collaboration,a results-orientedapproach,adaptability, innovation,andagility Thesecorevaluesform thebedrockofthecompany’scultureanddrive itsstrategicsuccess.
Michael’sleadershipstyleisbestdescribedas thatofaservantleader,drivenbyadeeppassion fortreatingemployeesandteamswiththesame levelofrespectandcareasguests,clients, vendors,andmembers.Hefirmlybelievesthat theworkforce’sproductivityandoverallimpact directlyreflecttheorganization'sleadership.
Duringhisdecade-longtenureinhiscurrent role,Michaelhasfoundsatisfactioninworking alongsidehisstafftohelpthemachievetheir dreams.Whetherit’sassistingtheminbuying theirfirsthome,supportingtheirchildren’s education,ormanagingtheirdebts,his commitmentextendsbeyondprofessional growthtopersonaldevelopmentforhisteam members.
Inhisrole,hehasdemonstratedanexceptionalfocus ontheimpactonmembers.Collaboratingand strategizingwiththeboardtocreatefunding opportunitiesfornewfacilitieswithoutpassingthe expenseontomembersrepresentsasignificant achievement.Thisapproachhasnotonlyledtoa growingmemberwaitlistbuthasalsomaintainedalltimelowattritionlevels,highlightinghiscommitment tobalancingmemberneedswiththeorganization’s financialhealth.
Furthermore,Michaelacknowledgestheimportance ofadaptingandevolvingintheprivateclubindustry. Heunderstandsthatthelongevityandrelevanceof suchorganizationsdependontheirabilitytomeetand exceedmemberexpectations.Thisinvolves continuallyadapting,creatingnewprograms, designingfacilities,implementingamenities,and evolvingpoliciestoattractandretainmembers.His leadershipisrootedintheideathatprivateclubs shouldbedynamicandresponsivetotheevolving needsoftheirmembers,enrichingtheirlivesand creatingmemorableexperiences.
Michael’sapproachtowork-lifebalanceshowcases hisdeepunderstandingoftheimportanceof connectingwithone’spassionsandhobbiesto achieveoverallwell-beingandhappiness.It’sa philosophyhenotonlytalksaboutbut wholeheartedlypractices.
Atthecoreofhisapproachisthewiseallocationof time.Michaelintentionallysetsasidemomentsinhis scheduleforhishobbiesandinterests.Herecognizes thattheseactivitiesarenotmereindulgencesbut integraltohissenseofselfandpersonaljoy.Making thisconsciouschoicetoprioritizehispassionslays thegroundworkforhisbalancedlifestyle.
Crucially,Michaelavoidsoverwhelminghimselfby settingachievablegoalsforhishobbies.By establishingrealistictargets,heensuresthatthese activitiesremainenjoyableandfulfillingratherthan becomingasourceofstress.
ConsistencyisahallmarkofMichael'swork-life balance.Hededicatesregulartimetohishobbies, suchasplayingtennis,topreventthemfrombeing
“ Irealizedlifeisnot aboutme,butabout sel esslyservingothers.
neglectedamidabusyprofessionallife. Thisconsistencyallowshimtopreservea crucialpartofhisidentity.
Tomaintainthisequilibrium,Michael adeptlyweaveshishobbiesintoother activitieswheneverpossible.Forexample, hispassionforfitnessseamlesslyaligns withhiscommitmenttostayingactive, allowinghimtoderivejoyfromhishobbies withoutaddingunnecessarypressure.
Furthermore,hisadaptabilityisevidentin hisabilitytomakehishobbiesportable. Whetheritisagameoftennisoraworkout, hecanengageintheseactivitiesinvarious settings,freeinghimfrombeingtiedtoa specificlocationorcontext.
Michael’senduringlovefortennis,which hasbeenwithhimsincechildhood, embodieshiswork-lifebalance.Ifhecan’t stepontothetenniscourt,heeasily transitionstootheractivepursuitslike runningorworkingout.Thisadaptability underscoreshiscapacitytoharmonizethe demandsofabusycareerwithhispersonal interests,enrichinghisoverallwell-being whilestayingalignedwithhisprofessional aspirations.
Leveraginghisextensivecareerandleadership experience,Michaelimpartsvaluableguidanceto aspiringyoungleadersaimingforfutureCEOroles. Hisadvicecentersonfundamentalprinciplesthat underpineffectiveleadershipandpersonalgrowth.
Michaelencouragesyoungleaderstoactively embracediscomfort.Hefirmlybelievesthatit’s duringmomentsofuneaseandunfamiliaritythat individualsexperiencegenuinegrowthand learning.Byregularlysteppingoutsidetheir comfortzones,theseaspiringCEOscandevelop resilienceandadaptability,qualitiescrucialfor leadershiproles.
Challengingtheestablishedorderisanothercritical aspectofMichael’scounsel.Heurgesyoung leaderstoquestionestablishednormsandask “why.”Bydoingso,theycansparkinnovation, driveprogress,andleadtheirorganizationstoward positivechange.
Effectiveleadershipalsohingesonstronglistening skills.Michaelunderscoresthesignificanceof beinganattentivelistener.Activelylisteningto colleagues,employees,andstakeholdersallows futureleaderstofosterdeeperunderstanding, collaboration,andinformeddecision-making.
Michaelviewsfailureasaninherentpartofany leadershipjourney.Headvisesyoungleadersto learnfromfailureand,moreimportantly,nottofear it.Setbacksandmistakesoftenyieldvaluable lessons,andcultivatingaresilient,growth-oriented mindsetisessential.
AccordingtoMichael,futureleadersshouldnurture theskillofremainingcalmandcomposedduring stressfulmoments.Thisemotionalstability supportseffectivedecision-makingandinstills confidenceinone’steam.
Michaelalsoemphasizestheimportanceofhaving aclearvisionordreamandactivelypursuingit. Wanderingaimlesslycanbecounterproductive. Youngleadersshouldinsteadestablishmeaningful objectivesanddiligentlyworktowardthem, maintainingasenseofpurpose.
Lastly,heencouragesaspiringleaderstoadopta mindsetofcontinuouslearning.Michael’sdaily readinghabitandcommitmenttobeinga lifelongstudentofliteratureserveasareminder thatlearningisanongoingjourney.FutureCEOs shouldembracetheirthirstforknowledgeand remainopentonewideasandperspectives.
Reflectingonhisjourney,Michaelwouldoffer wisecounseltohisyoungerself,sharingthe lessonshehaslearnedthroughyearsof experience.Hewouldencouragehisyoungerself tobeauthenticandstaytruetohisvalues, emphasizingtheimportanceofhonestyasa guidingprinciple.Success,hewouldemphasize, isachievablebutmustbefueledbygenuine passionandunwaveringdedication.
Focusingonthepositivesandpossibilitieswould beakeypieceofadvice.Maintainingapositive mindsetcanopendoorstoopportunitiesthatmay notbeimmediatelyapparent.Attentiontodetail isacrucialskillbecausesmallthingsoftenhave thebiggestimpact.Transparencyandeffective communicationareimportantforconveying messagesupanddownthechainofcommand.
Asenseofurgencywouldalsomakeittohislist ofrecommendationsforhisyoungerself.Timeis precious,andtheabilitytoworkwithurgency canbeapowerfuldriverofprogress. Importantly,he’dadvisenevertoforgettohave funalongthejourney.Successshouldbe fulfilling,andjoyisanessentialingredientina meaningfullife.
Lookingtothefuture,Michael’shopesand dreamsarerootedintheideaofgivingbackand makingapositiveimpactonpeople'slivesand societyatlarge.Heaspirestocontributetothe bettermentofothersandservewithkindness.He recognizesthatthetruemeaningoflifeextends beyondindividualachievementsandcenters aroundtheserviceandinfluenceonecanexert onothers.Thisperspectivereflectshis commitmenttoapurpose-drivenlife,where happinessisintrinsicallytiedtothepositive transformationofliveshetouchesandthe broadercommunity.
Intoday'sfast-pacedworld,customersseek organizationsthathavearobustonlinepresence. Thus,amajorityoforganizationsrelyheavilyon digitaldevicesandtheinternettooperateandimprove theirbusiness.Aslargeamountofinformationis produced,accumulated,anddistributedviaelectronic means,thesedevicesareoftenvulnerabletocyberattacks.
Thisiswheredigitalforensicsplaysanimportantrole. Digitalforensicsisascientificinvestigationprocessin whichcomputerartifacts,datapoints,andinformationare collectedaroundacyberattack.Understandingdigital forensicprocedureshelporganizationscapturevital informationthatcanbeusedtoprosecuteasuspectthat compromisesdigitaldevicesornetworks.Withthe increasingdemandforsuchservices,severalnewDigital ForensicsandIncidentResponse(DFIR)serviceproviders areemerginginthemarkettoday
Establishedin1999,ParabenCorporationisoneofthe elitefewDFIRcompaniesthathavebeenaroundformore thantwodecades.Sinceitsinception,thecompanyhas beenafoundationinsolutionsformobiledevices, smartphones,email,harddrives,andgamingsystem forensics.ThecompanyisabrainchildofAmber Schroader(FounderandCEOofParaben Corporation).Amberhasbeenaleaderinthefieldof computerforensicsforoverthirtyyearsandisrecognized asoneofthedrivingforcesforinnovationindigital forensics.
Ms.Schroader'sgrandparentsimmigratedtotheUSand openedasmallbusiness.Growingupwatchingthem,she wasinspiredtoopenabusinessherself.Ultimately,when shedesignedthefirsttoolformobileforensicstwenty yearsago,shewasfascinated—andthuswasdrivento
makeadifferenceindigitalforensics.
Ms.Schroaderspecializesinmobileforensics,enterprise forensics&discovery,andharddriveandmedia investigationsandrecovery.Inherexceptionalcareer,Ms. Schroaderhasdevelopedovertwo-dozensoftware programsdesignedforthepurposesofrecoveringdata fromhand-helddevicessuchascellularphonesandPDAs, computerharddrives,andlarge-scalecomputernetworks capableofstoringdatafromseveralthousandcomputers.
Withanaggressivedevelopmentschedule,Ms.Schroader continuestobringforthnewandexcitingtechnologyto thecomputerforensiccommunityworldwide.Shecoined theconceptofthe“360-degreeapproachto
Founder & CEO Paraben Corporation
anaccomplishedcurriculumdeveloperandinstructor,Ms. Schroaderhaswrittenandtaughtnumerousclassesforthis specializedfield.Sheisasought-afterkeynotespeaker, expertwitness,andhasappearedonNBCNightlyNews. Presently,astheFounder,CEO,andChiefArchitectof ParabenCorporation,Ms.Schroaderisresponsibleforthe company'sexclusivelineofdigitalforensicsolutions.
Withaplethoraofexclusivetools,Parabenaids investigatorsinfindingdatafortheirinvestigations.The companyleveragesits20 yearsofinnovativetechnology +
Creativity and imagination are the keys to leadership that can get lost in the digital world. Never discount these skills when it comes to leading a company.
experiencetoDigitalForensicTools,SmartphoneForensic Tools,andEmailInvestigationsToolssuch as—E3:UniversalSoftware,E3:DSSoftware,E3:P2C Software,E3:EMXSoftware,E3:NEMXSoftware,PAP FLEX,MFK-MobileFieldKit,andUFK—UniversalField Kit.
Besidesthese,Parabenalsoprovidesitspatented StrongHoldbagsthatprovidewirelessprotectionfrom signalsthatcancontaminateandpotentiallywipedigital evidence.Thesebagsuseapatenteddesigntoblockout wirelesssignalsfromcelltowers,wirelessnetworks,and othersignalsources.Thespecialmulti-weavematerial usedinthewirelessStrongHoldbagismadeofmultiple materialsthatcombinetogiveoptimalblocking protection.
ThecompanyalsoprovidesDFIR&CyberConsulting servicessuchasdigitalforensicconsulting,expertwitness testimony,apppentests,securityevaluations,etc. Parabentakesacustomapproachbylookingatallthedata
toprocessandthenprocessingitunderasingleinterface. Moreover,itoffersfreetrainingandcertificationwithits softwaretoprovideitsuserswithmoreknowledgeand comfort.Thesefactorsdistinguishthecompanyfromits competitors.
AstheCEO,Ms.Schroaderisinvolvedineveryaspectof thebusiness—suchasoverseeingtechnologyplans, marketing,training,sales,andspeakingengagements.She alsotakestimetoworkonafewprivatecasestostay familiarwithwhatinvestigatorsarefacing.
Ms.Schroaderassertsthatthebiggestissuesfacedby today'scompaniesarewithtechnologytrendsand answeringthosewithsolutions.“We are nimble smaller company, so we can respond quickly, but sometimes many people focus on the bigger brand companies even when your solution offers more overall features for investigators at a price affordable for anyorganization,”sheadds.
TheCOVID-19pandemicsignificantlyalteredtheway businessesoperated.AccordingtoMs.Schroader,the biggestchallengeforParabenwasregardingofficetime. Observingthesituation,thecompanydecidedtoallowits entirestafftoworkremotely Thedecisionwasabighit andasaresult,productivityhasimproved.
Parabenhassolidleadershipthatthoughtthroughthe differentpotentialoutcomesbeforethechangeswere made.Ms.Schroaderadds,“This was helpful with COVID-19 and the adjustments we needed to do to still reach our audience and keep the personalize style we have always been known for as a company.”
Smallercompaniessometimesoffermoreinnovative solutionsastheyhavetoconstantlythinkoutofthebox. Ms.Schroaderisoptimisticthatmanyofthegroupsthat tookastepbackandstartedemphasizinginnovationwill cometoParabenmoreandmore.
Doyouwishtoelevateyourbrandtothenextlevel?Doyouwanttostand
outfromthecrowd,attractmorecustomers,andgrowyourbusiness?If yes,thenthis30-daybrandmarketingstrategyisforyou.
Brandmarketingistheprocessofcreatingandcommunicatingauniqueand memorableidentityforyourproduct,service,orcompany.Itisnotonlyabout logos,colors,ormarketableslogans.Itisaboutconveyingastory,creatingan experience,andconnectingwithyouraudience.
Itcanhelpyoudifferentiateyourselffromyourcompetitors,increaseyourbrand awareness,loyalty,andtrust,andultimatelyboostsalesandprofits.However, brandmarketingisnotaone-timething.Itrequiresconsistentandstrategicefforts tomaintainandimproveyourbrandimageandreputation.
Thatiswhywehavedesignedthis30-daybrandmarketingstrategytohelpyou takeyourbrandfrommehtomarvelinamonth.Thisstrategywillguideyou throughtheessentialstepsofbrandmarketing,fromdefiningyourbrandidentity tocreatingyourbrandstrategytoexecutingyourbrandcampaigns.
Bytheendofthisarticle,youwillhaveaclearandcompellingbrandthat resonateswithyourtargetaudienceandsetsyouapartfromtherest.
Areyoureadytolearnaboutthestrategy?Let’sgetstarted!
Thefirststepofbrandmarketingistodefineyourbrandidentity Yourbrand identityisthecoreofyourbrand,anditconsistsoffourelements:yourbrand vision,mission,values,andpersonality
Yourbrandvisionisyourlong-termgoal,youraspiration,andyourreasonfor being.Itanswersthequestion: What do you want to achieve with your brand?
Yourbrandmissionisyourshort-termgoal,yourpurpose,andyourreasonfor doingit.Itanswersthequestion: How do you achieve your brand vision?
Yourbrandvaluesareyourprinciples,yourbeliefs,andyourreasonforcaring. Theyanswerthequestion: What do you stand for with your brand?
Yourbrandpersonalityisyourtone,yourvoice,andyourreasonforconnecting. Itanswersthequestion: How do you communicate with your brand?
Todefineyourbrandidentity,youneedtoanswerthesefourquestionsclearlyand concisely Youcanusethefollowingtemplatetohelpyou:
●Mybrandvisionisto_____________________________.
●Mybrandmissionisto_____________________________.
●Mybrandvaluesare_____________________________.
●Mybrandpersonalityis _____________________________.
Forexample,ifyouareacoffeeshop,yourbrand identitycouldbe:
● “My brand vision is to make the world a better place, one cup of coffee at a time.”
● “My brand mission is to provide high-quality, ethically sourced, and delicious coffee to our customers.”
● “My brand values are sustainability, community, and passion.”
● “My brand personality is friendly, warm, and inviting.”
Onceyouhavedefinedyourbrandidentity,writeit downandkeepithandy Youwilluseitasaguide.
Thesecondstepofbrandmarketingistoidentify yourtargetaudience.Yourtargetaudienceisthe groupofpeoplewhoaremostlikelytobuyyour productorserviceandwhoshareyourbrand valuesandpersonality
Toidentifyyourtargetaudience,youneedtodo somemarketresearchandcreatebuyerpersonas. Buyerpersonasarefictionalrepresentationsof youridealcustomers,basedontheir demographics,psychographics,behaviors,and needs.
Tocreatebuyerpersonas,youneedtoanswerthe followingquestions:
●Whoarethey?(age,gender,location,income, education,etc.)
●Whatarethey?(interests,hobbies,lifestyle, values,personality,etc.)
●Whydotheybuy?(goals,challenges,pain points,motivations,etc.)
●Howdotheybuy?(preferences,habits,channels, sources,etc.)
Youcanusethefollowingtemplatetohelpyou:
Mybuyerpersonais_____________,a_____________ wholivesin_____________.He/sheisinterestedin _____________andvalues_____________.He/shebuys _____________becausehe/shewantsto_____________, buthe/shefaces_____________challenges.He/sheprefers tobuy_____________through_____________,and he/shetrusts____________sources.
Forexample,foracoffeeshop,yourbuyerpersonascould be:
“Anna is my buyer persona, a 25-year-old graphic designer who lives in New York. She is interested in art, music, and travel, and values creativity, authenticity, and social responsibility. She buys coffee because she wants to stay energized, productive, and inspired, but she faces the challenge of finding quality, ethical, and affordable coffee. She prefers to buy coffee through mobile apps, and she trusts online reviews, social media, and word-of-mouth.”
Thethirdstepofbrandmarketingistoconductabrand audit.Abrandauditisanin-depthexaminationofyour presentbrand’sperformance,strengths,flaws, opportunities,andthreats.
Toconductabrandaudit,youneedtoevaluatethe followingaspectsofyourbrand:
Yourbrandidentity:Howwelldoesyourbrandidentity reflectyourbrandvision,mission,values,andpersonality?
Yourbrandpositioning:Howwelldoesyourbrand differentiateitselffromyourcompetitorsandappealtoyour targetaudience?
Yourbrandstrategy:Howwelldoesyourbrandstrategy alignwithyourbrandgoals,objectives,andtactics?
Yourbrandassets:Howwelldoyourbrandassets,suchas yourlogo,name,slogan,website,socialmedia,etc., supportyourbrandidentity,positioning,andstrategy?
Yourbrandreputation:Howwelldoyourcustomers, employees,partners,andstakeholdersperceiveyourbrand intermsofquality,value,trust,andloyalty? Toevaluatetheseaspects,youneedtocollectandanalyze datafromvarioussources,suchas:
Yourrecordsandreports,suchassales,revenue,costs, customerfeedback,etc.
Youronlinepresenceandperformance,suchaswebsite traffic,socialmediaengagement,onlinereviews,etc.
Yourmarketresearchandsurveys,suchascustomer satisfaction,brandawareness,brandpreference,etc.
Yourcompetitoranalysisandbenchmarking,suchas competitorprofiles,SWOTanalysis,etc.
Youcanusethefollowingtemplatetohelpyou:
Mybrandidentityis_____________,anditis _____________(strong/weak)because_____________.
Mybrandpositioningis_____________,anditis _____________(strong/weak)because_____________.
Mybrandstrategyis_____________,anditis _____________(strong/weak)because_____________.
Mybrandassetsare_____________,andtheyare _____________(strong/weak)because_____________.
Mybrandreputationis_____________,anditis _____________(strong/weak)because_____________.
Forexample,ifyouareacoffeeshopowner,yourbrand auditcouldbe:
● “My brand identity is friendly, warm, and inviting, and it is strong because it reflects my brand vision, mission, values, and personality.”
● “My brand positioning is high-quality, ethically sourced, and delicious coffee, and it is strong because it differentiates me from my competitors and appeals to my target audience.”
● “My brand assets are my logo, name, slogan, website, social media, etc., and they are weak because they are outdated, inconsistent, and ineffective in supporting my brand identity, positioning, and strategy.”
Thefourthstepofbrandmarketingistodefineyourbrand goalsandobjectives.Theyarethespecificandmeasurable outcomesthatyouwanttoachievewithyourbrand marketingefforts.
Todefineyourbrandgoalsandobjectives,youneedtouse theSMARTframework,whichstandsfor:
●Specific:Yourgoalsandobjectivesshouldbeclearand precise,notvagueorgeneral.
●Measurable:Yourgoalsandobjectivesshouldbe quantifiableandtrackable,notsubjectiveorintangible.
●Achievable:Yourgoalsandobjectivesshouldberealistic andattainable,notimpossibleorunrealistic.
●Relevant:Yourgoalsandobjectivesshouldbealigned withyourbrandvision,mission,values,andpersonality,not irrelevantorcontradictory
●Time-bound:Yourgoalsandobjectivesshouldhavea deadlineoratimeframe,notindefiniteoropen-ended.
Youcanusethefollowingtemplatetohelpyou:
Mybrandgoalisto_____________by_____________.
Mybrandobjectivesareto_____________by _____________.
Forexample,asacoffeeshopowner,yourbrandgoaland objectivesmightbe:
“My brand goal is to increase my brand awareness, loyalty, and trust by 20% in the next 6 months.”
Mybrandobjectivesareto:
- Increase my website traffic by 50% by the end of the month.
- Increase my social media followers by 100% by the end of the quarter
- Increase my customer retention rate by 30% by the end of the year.
Thefifthstepofbrandmarketingistocreateyourbrand strategy Yourbrandstrategyistheplanofactionthat outlineshowyouwillachieveyourbrandgoalsand objectivesusingtheresourcesandtoolsavailabletoyou.
Tocreateyourbrandstrategy,youneedtoconsiderthe followingelements:
Yourbrandmessage:Yourbrandmessageisthecoreidea thatyouwanttocommunicatetoyourtargetaudience, usingyourbrandidentity,positioning,andassets.
thatyouwanttocommunicatetoyourtargetaudience, usingyourbrandidentity,positioning,andassets.
Itanswersthequestion:Whatdoyouwantyour audiencetoknow,feel,anddoaboutyourbrand?
Yourbrandstory:Yourbrandstoryisthenarrative thatconnectsyourbrandmessagewithyourbrand valuesandpersonality.
Itanswersthequestion:Howdoyouwantyour audiencetorelatetoyourbrand?
Yourbrandchannels:Yourbrandchannelsarethe platformsandmediumsthatyouwillusetodeliver yourbrandmessageandstorytoyourtargetaudience.
Theyanswerthequestion: Where do you want your audience to see, hear, and interact with your brand?
Yourbrandtactics:Yourbrandtacticsarethe specificandcreativeactionsthatyouwilltaketo implementyourbrandstrategyusingyourbrand channels.
Theyanswerthequestion: How do you want your audience to engage with your brand?
Youcanusethefollowingtemplatetohelpyou:
Mybrandmessageis_____________.
Mybrandstoryis_____________.
Mybrandchannelsare_____________.
Mybrandtacticsare_____________.
Forexample,foracoffeeshop,yourbrandstrategy couldbe:
Mybrandmessageis: “We make the world a better place, one cup of coffee at a time.”
Mybrandstoryis: “We are a coffee shop that cares about the environment, the community, and the quality of our coffee. We source our coffee beans from ethical and sustainable farms, we roast them in-house, and we brew them with love. We also support local artists, musicians, and charities, and we create a cozy and friendly atmosphere for our customers.”
Mybrandchannelsare: “My website, my social media, my blog, my podcast, my newsletter, my loyalty program, my events, and my word-of-mouth.”
Mybrandtacticsare:
●Createavideoseriesthatshowcasesthestories behindourcoffeebeans,roastingprocess,andbrewing methods.
●Launchasocialmediacampaignthatencourages ourcustomerstosharetheircoffeemomentsusingthe hashtag#BetterWithCoffee.
●Writeablogpostthatfeaturesthelatesttrends,tips, andtricksinthecoffeeindustry,andinviteguest bloggersfromourpartnersandcollaborators.
●Startapodcastthatinterviewsourcustomers, employees,partners,andstakeholdersandsharestheir insights,experiences,andstoriesrelatedtocoffee.
●Sendanewsletterthatoffersexclusivedeals, discounts,andrewardstoourloyalcustomersandasks fortheirfeedbackandsuggestions.
●Createaloyaltyprogramthatrewardsourcustomers foreverypurchase,referral,andreviewandgives themaccesstospecialperksandbenefits.
●Hosteventsthatshowcaseourlocalartists, musicians,andcharitiesandcreateasenseof communityandbelongingamongourcustomers.
●Encourageword-of-mouthmarketingbyproviding excellentcustomerservice,qualityproducts,and memorableexperiences.
Thefinalstepofbrandmarketingistoexecuteyour brandcampaigns.Yourbrandcampaignsareaseries ofcoordinatedandintegratedactivitiesthatyouwill carryouttoimplementyourbrandstrategy.
Toexecuteyourbrandcampaigns,youneedtofollow thePDCAcycle,whichstandsfor:
●Plan:Planyourbrandcampaignsindetail, includingyourbudget,timeline,resources,roles,and responsibilities.
●Do:Doyourbrandcampaignsaccordingtoyour plan,andmonitoryourprogressandperformance.
●Check:Checkyourbrandcampaignresultsand outcomes,andmeasureyoursuccessandimpact.
●Act:Actonyourbrandcampaign’sfeedback andinsights,andimproveyourplanandactions.
Youcanusethefollowingtemplatetohelpyou:
Mybrandcampaignis_____________,anditis basedonmybrandtactic_____________.
Mybrandcampaignplanis_____________.
Mybrandcampaignexecutionis_____________.
Mybrandcampaignresultsare_____________.
Mybrandcampaignfeedbackis_____________.
Mybrandcampaignimprovementis _____________.
Forexample,foracoffeeshop,oneofyourbrand campaignscouldbe:
“My brand campaign is a video series that showcases the stories behind our coffee beans, our roasting process, and our brewing methods, and it is based on my brand tactic to create a video series.”
Youcanrepeatthisprocessforeachofyourbrand campaignsuntilyoucompletethe30-daybrand marketingstrategy
Inconclusion,the30-daybrandmarketingstrategyisa funandeffectivewaytotransformyourbrandfrommeh tomarvelinjustonemonth.Byfollowingthisstrategy, youwillbeabletoimproveyourbrandidentity, awareness,andreputationandattractmorecustomersand fans.Youwillalsobeabletolearnnewskillsandtools anddiscovernewopportunitiesandpossibilitiesforyour brand.
Wehopeyouenjoyedthisblog/articleandfoundit informativeandvaluable.Ifyoudid,pleaseshareitwith yourfriends,leaveacommentbelow,andletusknow whatyouthinkaboutthebrandmarketingstrategyand howyouplantoutilizeit.Wewouldlovetohearfrom you.
Thank you for reading, and good luck with your brand marketing journey!
Dr. Lin Han
CEO, GATE.IO
Theglobalfinancialcrisismakes
leadersbattlewithtough situationsandthismakesthem stronger,betterleadersintheindustry. Manybrightindividualsworkclosely withgloballeadersandacquire importantinsightsandcreativeideasto boosttheircompanies.Suchleaders possessqualitieslikeopennesstolearn andadapttotheworkingenvironment andconstantlychangingmarket.Taking along-termapproachtobuildingsolid foundationsofwork,Dr.LinHan (CEO,Gate.io)isleadingthecrypto sectordiligently
Linwasfascinatedbyconsumer technologyfromayoungageand decidedtopursueacareerinthe same.Hestudiedhardandmanaged toobtainaPh.D.inHighPerformanceComputingAlgorithms. Laterintheearly2010s,whenLin cameacrosstheBitcoinwhitepaper, hesawthepotentialof cryptocurrenciesandhowtheycan revolutionizethefutureofglobal finance.Hestartedinvestingin Bitcoinandpurchasedthesame. However,itwasadifficultprocessin itsearlydays,andLinwasalso scammedandlost100bitcoins.
AccordingtoLin,hisearly experienceswithcryptoandscams fueledthedesiretocreatean accessible,safetradingplatformfor cryptocurrencies,a‘gatewayto crypto’.Overtheyears,Gate.iohas evolvedpastjustbeingacrypto tradingplatformtoagrowingcrypto ecosystem.Itincludesthenative
GateChainblockchainecosystemas wellasothertradingandinvestment products.Thecompanyhasalso establishedGateLabsandGate Venturestoactivelyinvestinand supportupcomingprojectsinthe cryptoindustry.
Gate.io’steam,underLin’sguidance, usesitswealthofknowledgeand financialresourcestosupportstartups indevelopment.Italsohelpsbuild greatproductsthatarevitalfor growingthecryptoindustry.The companyhasrecentlylauncheda StudentAmbassadorProgram. Currently,itisworkingon Gate.io Learn whichwillbeinstrumentalin educatingthemassesaboutcrypto andensuringthattheyarewell equippedtoeitherinvestinorbuild inthecryptoindustry.
Gate.iohasmadegiantstridesin offeringamoresecureand comprehensivesolutioncomparedto itscompetitors.Thecompany developsandmaintainsthemost
advancedblockchaininfrastructurein theindustry.Thisinfrastructure includeshundredsofblockchainsand nodesandtheyactasabridgetolink thecentralizedanddecentralized world.“Asaresult,thecompany offersoneofthewidestvarietiesof tradableassets(over1,500)inthe industry.”Moreover,auniqueservice thatthecompanyprovidesisthe Proof-of-Reservesservice.
Gate.iocreatedandpatenteda methodforverifyingtheexchange thatholdscustodyofallofitsuser’s assetsthroughaMerkleTree—adata structureusedincryptographyto verifydatasets.AsperLin’s opinions,ithasbecomevery importantforuserstobeableto verifytheirassetsaresafeasmany platformsaregoingbankruptor insolventrecently,leavingusersin thelurch.
“I try to lead by example, I am very hands-on when it comes to developing and expanding the range of products and services we offer,” briefsLin.Lin'sresponsibilities includeworkingcloselywitheach teamincludingthemarketing, branding,andproductdevelopment teams.ThishasledLintohold severalblockchain-relatedpatents andhaveathoroughknowledgeof theinnerworkingsoftheplatform andthepeoplewhoworkonit. AccordingtoLin,itisimportantfor leaderstokeepteamsinspiredand motivatedduringtimesofvolatility anduncertaintyinthemarket.
‘Proof-of-reserves’Audit
Gate.iocoversthecryptocurrency exchangeindustry.Thecompanyisa constantlygrowingcryptoecosystem withawiderangeofproductsand
services.Therefore,thetargetmarket forthecompanyisbroadthatcovers bothindividualsandinstitutions interestedineitherinvestingor buildinginthecryptoandweb3 industries.TheGateLabsandGate Venturesteamsareproactiveand enthusiasticallyinvestinandsupport projectsbuildingthefutureofcrypto, web3,themetaverse,andfintech. Gate.ioupliftstheprojectsthataim tobuildthefutureoffinanceand technology.Additionally,the proofof-reserves audit showsthe commitmenttotransparencyand inspiresmoreindustryplayersto achieveexcellency
Beingproactiveisoneofthe importantfactorsthatcontributetoa company’ssuccess.AsLinsays, “You need to be aware of the everchanging conditions of the markets you operate in, the state of the global economy, and every factor that may influence the success of your business both in the short and long-term.” Lin activelyattendsallthemeetingswith alldifferentteamsinthe organization.Thiskeepshimup-todatewitheverynewdevelopmentso thathecanlendhissupportwhen needed.
Maintainingaperfectwork-life balanceisveryimportantandLin handlesbothsidesverywell. “Some
may call me a workaholic, but if you enjoy what you do, then every moment spent doing it is rewarding,” briefsLin.Whenhehassomefree timetospare,heenjoysreading books.Hesaysthatitcancompletely unwindthepersonandtakehim/her inanotherworld,ifhe/shereads booksforanhourortwoaday.It alsofosterscreativityandstimulates themind.
TeamworkmakestheDreamwork!
Tomotivatetheteam,Gate.iooffers greatperformance-basedincentives. However,Linbelievesinproviding histeamwiththefreedomtoperform theirdutiesinthewaystheyfind mosteffectiveandtrustingthatthey willexecutethewaystothebestof theirabilities.Asmicro-management isnotaneffectivemethodof managingstaff,offeringfreedomand trustisveryimportant.Theyactasan incentiveforemployeesto outperformindustrypeers.Likethe cryptoindustry,theexcellentteamat Gate.ioisdecentralizedandbasedall aroundtheworld.Everyonefromthe teamworksonwelcoming newcomersandhelpingthemgrow bothwithinthecompanyandthe industryasawhole.
Beinganexperiencedpersonalityin theindustry,Lingivesadviceto buddingleadersasthekeytosuccess is leading by example.Aleadermust setanexampleforemployeesto followbyworkinghardandwith consistency “You also need to continuously learn; educate yourself about the industry you’re active in, the latest developments, new trends, and more,” addsHan.