rtuneLeader
INNOVATIVE LEADERS REFORMING Business in 2024 The Most
Manchanda Foundation Manchanda Foundation
A SAGA OF ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN
Zarine Manchanda CEO
Editors Insights
Welcome to The Fortune Leader magazine's
special feature on the “The 10 Most Innova ve Leaders Reforming Business in 2024”. In this issue, we shine a light on the incredible work and forward-thinking leadership of those who are se ng new standards and transforming industries.
At The Fortune Leader, we are proud to spotlight the remarkable journey of Zarine Manchanda, CEO of Zarine Manchanda Founda on, on the cover page of the magazine, in our special feature on “The 10 Most Innova ve Leaders Reforming Business in 2024”. Zarine, originally aspiring to Bollywood fame, faced numerous challenges but found her calling in philanthropy. She founded the Zarine Manchanda Founda on in 2019, launching over 300 ini a ves to support Mumbai’s poorest ci zens, earning her the moniker "Princess of the Poor." Not stopping there, Zarine opened the Zarine Manchanda Café during the COVID-19 pandemic, which quickly became a popular spot for Bollywood's A-list.
Through sheer determina on, Zarine has built a socially conscious empire, blending luxury and philanthropy. Her story is a true inspira on for women entrepreneurs across India, proving that resilience and vision can overcome any obstacle.
We are proud to celebrate the innova ve spirit of excep onal business leaders who are transforming industries. This special edi on showcases the remarkable journeys of Nomazwi Mhloma, Deputy Chief Informa on Officer at eThekwini Municipality; Arun K. Singh, CEO of Ilantus Technologies; and Tim Ma hews, CEO of Cozairo. Addi onally, we feature an insigh ul ar cle by Dr. Gustavo Sosa, Founder and Scien fic Director of INBIOAR, tled "Weeds Kill Weeds," highligh ng the power of nature-driven innova on.
We are excited to showcase these trailblazing leaders and their extraordinary innova ons. May their achievements inspire you, and their groundbreaking work offer valuable insights into the future of business.
Enjoy reading!
EDITORIAL TEAM
Editor-in-chief
Sco Edward
Sales & Marke ng
Lily Hayler
Business Development Manager Rosie jonas
Millie Butler
Business Development Execu ve
Lauren Green
Ashley Tucker
John Hart
Victoria Ma hews
Art and Design Director
Paul Brown
Zarine Manchanda Foundation
Zarine Manchanda Foundation
A SAGA OF ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN
India'sentrepreneuriallandscapehasseensignificanttransformation
inrecentyears,particularlywiththeriseofwomenentrepreneurs. Asof2024,womenaremakingnotablestridesinthebusiness sector,drivenbyacombinationofincreasedaccesstoresources, evolvingsocietalattitudes,andsupportivegovernmentpolicies.Women entrepreneurshipinIndiahasbeenonanupwardtrajectory.Recent studiesandreportsindicatethatwomennowconstituteapproximately20 percentofthetotalentrepreneurialpopulationinthecountry.The proliferationofdigitalplatformsandtoolshasloweredtheentrybarriers forwomenentrepreneurs,enablingthemtostartandscalebusinesses withrelativelymodestinvestments.
The 10 Most Innovative Leaders Reforming Business in 2024
ThefounderoftheZarineManchandaFoundation,ZarineManchanda,isoneofthemost PersuasiveWomenLeaders.Zarinefacedmanyobstaclesduringherinitialstage,buther tenacityandfortitudeenabledhertogopastfailuresinbothherprofessionalandcharitable undertakings.Shehashadatremendousimpactonsocietythroughherfoundation,andher successstoryisproofofthestrengthoftenacityinthefaceofdifficulty.Zarineisdeservingof herplaceonourlistofsignificantwomenleadersbecauseofhercontinuousdedicationto buildinganopulentandsociallyconsciousenvironment.
TheInceptionstory
Zarine’s,fatherwasawell-knownbusinessmanandapoliticianinHimachalPradesh.She shiftedtoMumbaitofollowherchildhooddreamofbecomingaBollywoodactor.Buteven aftertakingactingclassesandgoingtoalotofauditions,successinthebusinessremained elusive.TheZarineManchandaFoundationwasestablishedin2019asaresultofZarine's unwaveringpursuitofapoliticalcareerandadvicetoestablishacharitablefoundation.
Sincethen,thecharityhasmanagedmorethan300donationinitiativesforMumbai’spoorest citizens,gainingherthetitleof“PrincessofthePoor”andextensivemediacoverageinsomeof India’smostwell-knownnewspapersandmagazines.
ZarinefoundedtheZarineManchandacaféduringtheCOVID-19epidemic,inspiredbythe successofherfoundation.Althoughthereweremanydifficultiesatfirst,thevenuesoonbecame thebuzzofthetownforBollywood'sA-listaudience.Zarine’sbusinessdrivetookoffas franchiseinquiriesandoffersforhercafébegantocomeinfromallovertheworld,including India.
Beating
theodds
AprominentfigureinIndianpoliticsandbusinessisZarine,hadtoovercomeanumberof obstaclesonherpathtosuccessbeforeshecouldgettowheresheisnow.Buildingherpolitical basewasZarine'sinitialobjective.Butcompletingtheassignmentwasnotsimple.Herlong battletogainrecognitioninBollywoodwasadishearteningtimeinherlife.Zarinedidn’twaver inherwilltopursueherobjectivesinspiteoftheseobstacles.
ThedecisionZarinemadetolaunchherfoundationmarkedaseachangeinherlife.The foundationhelpedherovercomeobstaclesinherprofessionandprovidedherarenewedsenseof focusandpurpose.Zarinemadeabeneficialcontributiontosocietythroughthefoundation, whichgavehertheself-assuranceandencouragementsheneededtoachieve.
WhentheCovid-19pandemicstruck,Zarinehadtodealwithadditionaldifficultiesdespitethe successofhercharity.Herfoundationandcaféwereimpactedbytheepidemic,soshehadto findnewwaystocarryonwithherphilanthropicactivitiesandmaintainoperations.Zarine’s tenacityandfortitude,however,enabledhertoovercometheseobstacles,allowinghertoreopen
hercaféforregularbusinesshoursandexpandthescopeofherfoundation'scharitableendeavours.
Thepost-covidscenario
ZarineManchandaconsidersthewaysinwhichtheepidemichasimpactedIndianentrepreneurship. Zarinehasseencertainshiftsinthebusinessworld,thoughshecannotspeakforotherCEOs.Tothebest ofherknowledge,theepidemichasmademanybusinessesreevaluatehowtheydobusiness.Therehas beenanincreaseinremoteemployment,whichhasmadepeopleinIndiaandthroughouttheworldfeel morealone.Butthepandemichasalsoreleasedapowerfulforce:theneedforindividualstohavea strongsenseofpersonalconnectionwithoneanotherwhiletheyareoutandabout.
ZarineManchandathinksherenterpriseshavebenefitedfromthisneedforconnection.Sheaimsto fosteranenvironmentoffriendlinessandcommunitythattranscendsstandardbusiness-to-business interactions.This“spiritualcharm,”asshereferstoit,hasenabledherenterprisestoprospereveninthe post-pandemicperiod.
Thefutureroadmap
Zarineisplanningtoexpandhercompanyandgrowhercompaniesinternationally Withherwidearray ofbusinesses,whichincludeacaféandcloudkitchen,acharitablefoundation,andhigh-endsecurity servicesthatprovideanopulentexperiencewithaspiritualtwist,shehasalreadyestablishedherselfin Mumbai.Zarine'sfirstmovetowardgrowthistoofferhercaféandhigh-endsecuritybusinessesfor franchising.Sheintendstointroduceherdistinctbrandofluxurywithaspiritualtwisttothe internationalmarketinanefforttobuildadevotedfollowingandbuildherbrand.
Zarinehasabiggerplanthanjustgrowinghercompanies.Shealsointendstouseherfoundationtohave abigsocialinfluence.HerCSRproceduresarecurrentlyinoperation,butsheintendstoexpandher foundationbynamingschools,orphanages,andseniorcarefacilitiesafterherself,aswellasbyoffering freefoodcanteensfortheunderprivileged,alargenumberofambulances,andmobilemedicalclinicsto deliveressentialmedicalcareintheslumcells
Arun K. Singh
A top-notch AI-Powered Holistic Identity and Access Management Services Company
IdentityandAccessManagement(IAM)servicesare increasinglycriticalinthemoderndigitallandscapeas organizationsseektosecuretheirdata,applications, andsystemsagainstabackdropofgrowingcyberthreats andregulatoryrequirements.IAMencompasses technologiesandprocessesformanaginguseridentitiesand accessrightstosystemsandresources.ThemarketforIAM serviceshasexperiencedsubstantialgrowthandevolution, drivenbyadvancementsintechnology,changingbusiness needs,andemergingthreats.TheglobalIAMmarketis robustandexpanding.Asof2024,theIAMmarketis projectedtogrowatacompoundannualgrowthrate (CAGR)ofaround13-15percentreachingavaluationof approximately$30billionby2026.Thisgrowthisfuelled bytheincreasingcomplexityofITenvironments, heightenedcybersecurityconcerns,andstringentregulatory requirements.
Ilantus wasfoundedin2000toprovidetop-notchIdentity andAccessManagement(IAM)servicestoclients worldwide.Startingasaprofessionalservicescompany, IlantusgainedextensiveexperienceintheIAMdomain overtheyearsfromthousandsofIAMimplementationsfor majorbrands,includingFortune500companies.This expertiseeventuallyledthecompanytodevelopaunique IAMproductcalledCompactIdentity,whichiswell recognizedbyleadinganalystsgloballyandlistedin Gartner'sMagicQuadrant.
In2022,astrategicdecisionwasmadetorestructureIlantus byseparatingitsproductbusinessasadifferentcompany Also,toprovideaholisticcybersecurityservicestoclients, inFebruary2023,Ilantus'servicesbusiness mergedwith NetworkIntelligence,aprominentproviderofdigital cybersecuritysolutions.
IlantusServicesisnowafullyownedsubsidiaryof NetworkIntelligence,offeringafullrangeofAI-driven
IAMservicesimplementingaZeroTrustFrameworkto providecustomerswithanidentity-centric,holistic cybersecuritysolution.
Theinitialchallenges
“AsignificantchallengeIfacedasCEOofIlantuswasthe lackofclearboundariesbetweentheProductandServices businessunits,leadingtooperationalinefficienciesand strategicmisalignment.Uponjoining,Irecognizedthatthe differingnaturesofthesedivisionswerecausingnumerous problems.Toaddressthis,Iledacomprehensive restructuringofthecompany,establishingseparateentities forProductandServices,eachwithitsownindependent P&L.
Thisstrategicseparationallowedeachunittofocusonits corestrengthsandobjectives.Subsequently,Isoldthe Servicesbusiness,generatingcapitalthatwascrucialfor investinginandexpandingtheProductdivision.This restructuringnotonlystreamlinedoperationsbutalso facilitatedtargetedgrowthandinnovationinourproduct offerings,ultimatelydrivingbusinessgrowthandenhancing ourmarketposition,”saysArunK.Singh,CEO,Ilantus.
Clientorientedservices
“WehavebuiltGenAIbasedproductizedserviceofferings supportedwithuniquesolutionacceleratorstoensure predictiveoutcomes.Wealsohaveadedicateddivisionfor servicequalityauditwhichworkswitheachclient engagementasanindependententityandpresentsunbiased reporttotheseniormanagement.Ouruniquedelivery approachforIAMincludessettinguparobustfoundation withkeycriticalsystemsincloudoronpremise.Oncethe foundationistestedforhighavailabilityandpeakload,we bringinour“FactoryModel”toonboardapplicationsand enablesecuritycontrolforrestoftheenvironment.This
enablessustainabilityandhelpsustoscaleuptherapid deploymentofcybersecuritycontrols,”addsArun.
Achievements
“IbuiltatransformationroadmapforIlantusthatenabled growthmindsetforeveryoneinthecompany.Ilantus productgotlistedinGartner'smagicquadrantand professionalservicesreceivedseveralrecognitionsby leadingcybersecuritygroups.Fortheacceleratedgrowthof Ilantusbusiness,oneofthekeymilestonewastoseparate outproductbusinessasanewcompanyandretainthe IlantusbrandforprofessionalServicesinIdentityand AccessManagementdomain.
ThenextmilestonewastomergetheIlantusServices businesswithNetworkIntelligence (NetworkIntelligence.ai)inFebruary2023.Network Intelligenceisoneofthetopcybersecurityservice providersinUSA,Australia,SaudiArabia,UAE, Singapore,Netherlands,India.ItisfullybackedbyaUSbasedinvestmentfirmwithanaspirationtogrowatarapid pace.
Forme,itwasanenrichingexperiencetoleadtheentire exitprocessforIlantusservices-frominvestorpitchtodue diligencetofinalizingtheagreementsandcompletingthe mergerprocess.Tostayabreastofemergingtrendsand developmentsinourfield,Ihaveestablishedamultifaceted approachthatprioritizesappliedinnovationandclient collaboration.Ourstrategyrevolvesaroundproactive monitoringofthetechnologylandscape,including emergingtrends,threatvectors,andclientpriorities, throughourdedicatedResearch&Developmentteam. Leveragingcutting-edgesolutionslikeGenerativeAI enablesustostrikeabalancebetweenoperationalefficiency andcustomersatisfaction.”
CEO, Ilantus Technologies
“Lookingahead,I'mthrilledaboutintegratingGenerative AI(GenAI)withourZeroTrustsecuritymodel.This fusion,positionsourfirmasatransformativeleaderin cybersecurity,offeringAI-poweredIAMsolutionsthat provideunparalleledprotection.
OurAI-enhancedZeroTrustmodelwillcontinuously validateuseridentityandadapttoemergingthreatsinrealtime.Thisalignswithourcommitmenttoexcelinrisk assessments,threatintelligence,andrapidincident
response.ByincorporatingGenAIintoouraccesscontrols, dataprivacymeasures,andcomplianceprotocols,we're settingnewstandardsincustomertrustandsecurity We're alsoaddressingthecybersecurityskillsgapbyaugmenting ourteam'scapabilitieswithAI.
We'realsoimplementingsafeguardsagainstAI-powered attacks,ensuringmodelupdates,andmaintainingregulatory compliance.EducationonresponsibleAIusein cybersecurityisalsoapriority ThisGenAI-drivenapproach notonlyfortifiesbusinessesagainstcyberthreatsbutalso preservesreputationandensureslong-termfinancial stabilityinanAI-powereddigitallandscape,”concludes Arun.
Thefutureroadmap
INVESTING IN GREEN TECHNOLOGIES INVESTING IN GREEN TECHNOLOGIES
TGreenTechnologyInvestments:VariousOptions
heterm“greentech”referstoacollectionof technologieswiththeoverarchinggoalof mitigatingoreradicatingthedestructiveeffects ofhumanactivitiesonthenaturalenvironment.This involvestheinvestigationofnew,clean,andrenewable sourcesofEnergytopioneeringnew,cleanmaterialsand discoveringtechniquestorecyclegarbageandmaterials thathavealreadybeenutilised.Therearemanydifferent methodstoinvestinenvironmentallyfriendly technologies,suchasinstallingsolarpanelsandwind turbinesorsponsoringresearchonelectricvehicles. Greentechnologymaygetsupportfromboth commercialcompaniesandpublicinstitutions.Green technologyfirmsmaygetsubsidiesortaxcreditsfrom thegovernment,whichisone-waygovernmentsinvestin greentechnology.Privatepeoplecanalsohelpgreen technologybusinessesbyprovidingthemwithmoney Investorscontemplatingputtingtheirmoneyinto environmentallyfriendlytechnologywouldbewellto spendsometimelearningaboutthehistoryofthe industry,particularlytheobjectivesthatformthebasisof thisconstantlyexpandingsubject.Theseaimsareas follows:
Ÿ Changesinproductionandconsumptionhabitsare neededtodecreasepollutionandwasteattheir sources,whichisreferredtoassourcereduction.
Ÿ Inthecontextofmeetingsocietaldemands, “sustainability”referstoeffortstoimplement practisesthatmaybeutilisedendlesslyintothe
foreseeablefuturewithoutdepletingnaturalresources orcausingdamagetothem.
Ÿ Developingenvironmentallyfriendlysubstitutesfor existingpollutingtechnologyisaprimaryemphasis oftheinnovationprocess.
Ÿ Cradle-to-cradledesignreferstocreatingthingsthat mayberecycledorrecovered,breakingwhatis knownasthe“cradle-to-grave”cycle,whichrefersto thelifecycleofproducedgoods.
Ÿ Viability:Theobjectiveistoestablishaneconomic activitycentrethatfocusesongoodsandtechnologies thataregoodfortheenvironment.Thiswillresultin anincreaseintherateatwhichideasfor environmentallyfriendlyproductsandtechnologies maybeputintoaction.
Whyshouldacompanyinvestingreentechnologies?
Letusnowgothroughthemainreasonswhycompanies shouldnolongerdelayinvestingingreentechnology.
Trulyhelpingnature
Goinggreenisthebestwaytomovetheworldforward. However,actionsandstepstakentowardsustainability needtomakesensebeforetheycanbeconsidered successful.Oneexcellentillustrationisthetransition fromusingplasticbagstopaperbags.Toreducethe negativeeffectourusageofpaperbagshasonthe environment,weneedtoreuseeachbagatleastthree moretimes.Thisindicatesthatwewoulddolessdamage totheenvironmentifwedisposedofathrowawayplastic bagproperlyratherthanpurchasingapaperbagthat
gavetheimpressionofbeingenvironmentallyfriendly Theenergysectoristypicallythesectorthatcontributes themosttoairpollutionovertime.Itisalsothesectorat theverybeginningofthewholeproductionchainfor carbonemissions.Therefore,ifweareseriousabout helpingourplanet,wemustgettothebottomofthe issueassoonaspossible.Itisundoubtedlythecasethat emission-freealternatives,suchasrenewableenergy sourcesandbatterystoragesystems,benefitthe surroundingecosystem.However,theyneedathoughtful approachtoboththeirinstallationandmanagement.In addition,thespeedwithwhichthesetechnologiesmay paybacktheircarbondebtmakesthemausefulweapon inthebattleagainstclimatechange.Inourblog,wehave alreadydiscussedthequestionofthecarbonfootprintof renewableenergysourcesaswellasbatteries.Eventhe storageofEnergyinbatteriesmaybeconsideredan exampleofenvironmentallyfriendlytechnology.Itdoes thisbyprovidingwhatareknownasregulationservices, whichmeansthatthebatteryisallowedtochargewhen thereisanexcessofelectricityinthepowergridandis allowedtodischargewhenthereisashortageof electricityinthepowergrid.Thishelpstoreducethe numberofcarbonemissionsthatareproduced.Inthis manner,itfunctionsasareplacementforfossilsuppliers ofregulatingservicesandcontributestomaintainingan efficienttransmissionsystem.
Thereisnoneedtoworryaboutbearingsignificant upfrontfees.
Althoughinvestmentsinenvironmentallyfriendly technologymightbecostly,thereturnsonsuch investmentsarewellworththemoney.Theinitial investmentinsolarpanelswithbatterystoragecan provideareturnoninvestmentofuptothreetimes throughoutthebattery’slifetimeofaround15years. Whenconsideringthe25to30-yearlifetimeofsolar panels,batteriesmaybereplacedattheendoftheir usefulliveswithnewbatteriesandnewtechnologies, whichwillundoubtedlybemuchmoreeffectiveand, accordingtotheevolutionofbatterycosts,alsobeless expensive.Today,acompanydoesnotnecessarilyneed accesstoalargeamountofreadilyavailablecapitalto makesuchaninvestment.Companiescannowbuy
environmentallyfriendlytechnologyintheformofan “operatinglease”thankstothenewEnergyasaService model(EaaS)introduction,whichsolvestheissueof largeupfrontexpenses.Thisresultsinamarginal lengtheningofthepaybacktimefortheendconsumer Still,inadditiontofacilitatingsimplerfinancialaccess, allofthechallengesassociatedwithadministering, servicing,andmaintainingenvironmentallyfriendly technologyareremoved.
Moreautonomyandenergyindependence
Evenamomentaryabsenceofelectricitymaysometimes resultinsignificantdifficultiesandfinanciallosses. Businessesthatusetechnologythatreliesonaconstant supplyofelectricityabsolutelyneeddependablesecurity againstpoweroutages.Toaccomplishthisobjective, theyuseeitherabackuppowersourcethatcanprovide Energyintheeventoflongerpoweroutagesormore responsivetechnology,suchasaUPS(Uninterruptible PowerSupply),thatisabletocovertheshortermicrooutages.Thedieselgeneratoristheemergencypower supplythatiscalledonmostoften.However,thetimeit takestorespondmightbequiteabit.Thereactiontime mightrangefromtentothirtyseconds,whichis determinedbytheamountofpreheatingthegenerator hasreceived.Thebatterystorageisreadyforusein practicallynotime,anditcanactasbothabackup sourceandaUPS.Becauseitnowhasitsrenewable energysource,thefirmisinapositiontobecomeless reliantonthesupplyofelectricityfromthepowergrid andnaturallymoreEnergyself-sufficient.
Deputy CIO
eThekwini Municipality
fostering socio-economic development & improving the quality of life for residents
Thelocalgovernmentmunicipalservicessectorisnavigatingacomplex
landscapecharacterizedbytechnologicaladvancements,financialpressures, andastrongfocusonsustainabilityandcommunityengagement. Municipalitiesareincreasinglyadoptingdigitaltechnologiestoimproveservice deliveryandefficiency.Thisincludessmartcityinitiatives,theuseofdataanalytics forbetterdecision-making,anddigitalplatformsforcitizenengagement.eThekwini Municipality,establishedtogoverntheDurbanmetropolitanarea,wasdrivenbythe needtounifyandstreamlinetheprovisionofmunicipalservicesacrossvarious previouslyfragmentedregions.Thegoalwastofostersocio-economicdevelopment andimprovethequalityoflifeforresidentsbycreatinganefficient,integratedlocal
governmentstructure.Thisconsolidationaimedto addressthediverseneedsofurbanandrural communities,enhanceinfrastructuraldevelopment,and ensureequitableservicedelivery.
eThekwiniaimstoprovideworld-classservicestoall residentsinaninclusive,transparent,andsustainable mannerfocusingonfosteringeconomicgrowth,social development,andenvironmentalsustainability.The municipalityvisionistobeAfrica'smostcaringand liveablecityby2030,characterizedbyavibrant, equitable,andsustainableurbanenvironmentthat enhancesthequalityoflifeforallitscitizens.
Theinitialchallenges
“TheInitialchallengesincludedtheintegrationof disparatemunicipalsystems,addressingsignificant infrastructuralchallenges,andmanagingarapidly growinganddiversepopulation.Overcomingthese challengesrequiredamultifacetedapproach:
StrategicPlanning:Developingcomprehensiveplansto alignvariousmunicipalservicesandstreamline operations.
CommunityEngagement:Activelyinvolvingcommunity membersindecision-makingprocessestoensuretheir needsandconcernswereaddressed.
InnovativeSolutions:ImplementingadvancedICT systemstoimproveservicedelivery,suchasthe introductionoftheMicrosoftOffice365Enterprise DigitalTransformationProgrammetoenhance communicationandcollaboration.
CapacityBuilding:Investingintrainingand developmentformunicipalstafftoimproveservice efficiencyandresponsiveness,”saysNomazwiMhloma, DeputyCIO,eThekwiniMunicipality.
Clientorientedservices
Municipalityoffersacomprehensiverangeofservices
designedtomeetthediverseneedsofitsresidents: BasicServices:Watersupply,sanitation,electricity,and wastemanagement.
InfrastructureDevelopment:Buildingandmaintaining roads,bridges,publictransportsystems,andhousing projects.
HealthServices:Clinicsandhealthprogramstopromote publichealthandwell-being.
CommunitySafety:Policing,fireservices,and emergencyresponse.
SocialServices:Programsaimedatsocialdevelopment, includingsupportforvulnerablepopulationsand communitydevelopmentinitiatives.
DigitalTransformation:ICTservicestoenhance operationalefficiencyandservicedelivery,includingthe implementationofenterpriseITservicemanagementand desktopmodernizationprojects.
Thedifferentiatingfactor
Municipalitydistinguishesitselfthroughitscommitment todigitaltransformationandinnovationinpublicservice delivery.Keydifferentiatorsinclude:
ProactiveDigitalInitiatives:Leadingthewayin adoptingadvancedICTsolutionstoimproveefficiency andreducecosts,suchastheCOVID-19Digital Transformationinitiativethatensuredseamlessbusiness continuity
StrategicLeadership:StrongleadershipinICT governance,strategy,andriskmanagement,exemplified byinitiativesledbyNomazwiMhloma.
CollaborativeCulture:Fosteringaworkenvironment thatvaluescollaboration,innovation,andcontinuous improvement.
CommunityFocus:Acommitmenttoengagingwithand servingthecommunity,ensuringthatservicesare responsivetotheneedsofresidents.
TheClientele
eThekwiniMunicipalityservesadiverseclientele, including:
Residents:Providingessentialservicesandinfrastructure tosupportdailyliving.
Businesses:Facilitatingeconomicdevelopmentand supportinglocalenterprisesthroughbusiness-friendly policiesandservices.
Visitors:Enhancingtheexperienceoftouristsand visitorsthroughwell-maintainedpublicspacesand services.
Stakeholders:Collaboratingwithvariousstakeholders, includingcommunityorganizations,government agencies,andprivatesectorpartners,toachievecommon goals.
Theworkculture
TheworkcultureateThekwiniMunicipalityis characterizedby:
Collaboration:Encouragingteamworkandcooperation acrossdepartmentstoachievesharedobjectives.
Innovation:Promotingacultureofinnovationwhere employeesareencouragedtodevelopandimplement newideasandsolutions.
Inclusivity:Valuingdiversityandensuringthatall employeesfeelincludedandrespected.
ContinuousImprovement:Fosteringamindsetof continuousimprovement,withafocusonenhancing servicedeliveryandoperationalefficiency.
Empowerment:Providingopportunitiesforprofessional developmentandempoweringemployeestotake initiativeandmakestrategicdecisions.
ClienteleTestimony
ResidentFeedback:"Themunicipality'sresponseduring
theCOVID-19pandemicwasexceptional.Theswift implementationofdigitalplatformslikeMicrosoft Teamsensuredthatservicescontinuedwithout interruption,makingiteasierforustoaccessthesupport weneeded.”
BusinessOwnerFeedback:"eThekwiniMunicipalityhas beeninstrumentalinsupportinglocalbusinesses.Their proactiveapproachtodigitaltransformationhas streamlinedmanyprocesses,makingiteasierforusto interactwithmunicipalservicesandcomplywith regulations.”
CommunityOrganizationFeedback:"Weappreciatethe municipality'scommitmenttocommunityengagement. Theireffortstoinvolveresidentsindecision-making processeshavemadeasignificantpositiveimpactonour neighbourhood.”
The
futureroadmap
eThekwiniMunicipality'sfutureroadmapincludes:
AdvancingDigitalTransformation:Continuingto leveragetechnologytoimproveservicedelivery,with planstoexpanddigitalservicesandenhanceICT infrastructure.
SustainableDevelopment:Focusingonsustainableurban developmentprojectsthatpromoteenvironmental stewardshipandresilience.
InfrastructureEnhancement:Investingincritical infrastructureimprovementstosupporteconomicgrowth andimprovethequalityoflifeforresidents.
CommunityEngagement:Strengtheningcommunity engagementinitiativestoensurethatmunicipalservices areresponsivetotheneedsandaspirationsofall residents.
CapacityBuilding:Enhancingtheskillsandcapabilities ofmunicipalstaffthroughongoingtrainingand developmentprograms.
Fromallelopathytobio-herbicides:Alotofwork withgoodresults...commerciallystilltocome.
Itisnoteasytoimaginehowyour“enemy”canhelptowin thebattle.Mayanenemygiveusthetoolstowin?Every yearthefarmersreceivealotofweedsconsumingthecrops resources.Howcanitbepossiblethataweedhelpto controlweeds?Butweedscanhelpcropskillingweeds.Let metellyouhow
Itisverywellknownthatplantsreleasechemicalstothe environmentandthatchemicalcontrolsthegrowing(and behavior)ofotherplantsaround.Whatifwecanisolatethe chemicalreleasedandputitinabottleanduseitasaBioHerbicide.
WeatINBIOARscreenlargeareascollectingsamplesof plants.Weobserveinthenaturalenvironmenthowthe plantscoverthesoil.Thesuccessinthecolonizationofthe soilisademonstrationoftheabilityoftheplanttogrow andreproduceunderdifficultconditions.Manytimes,the weedspeciesaretheKingsintheconquestofthesoil surface.
Weassumethehypothesisthattheskilltocoverthesoil competitivelyisbecausetheplantproduceseffective chemicals.Thechemicalcontroltheplantgrowing conditionsinitsenvironmentallowingthegrowingof
W Weeds Kill Weeds.
plantsfromthesamespecies,notfromtheotherspecies.In whatisanaturaldefensemechanismoftheplantthatwas perfectionatedduringthousandofyears,weseeabioherbicides.Aplantreleasesachemicaltokillotherplants. Inthefarmitisthefarmerwhousesthechemical(thesame chemical)tokilltheweeds.
Wedidexperimentsandwedeterminedthatmanyplant speciesgrowinginsomeregionsproducemore“bioherbicides”thanthesameplantinamorecomfortable weather.
Wehavepublishedapaperabout ammi visnaga asasource ofKhellinandVisnagine.Ammiisaweedoriginallyfrom Egyptandspreadglobally Aweedlikeammi,canbe transformedinthe“rawmaterial”toproduceabioherbicideinaridregions.Theplantcangrowfreelyand abundantlyinthatweathercondition.
Thinkingmore,weproposethataweedspeciescanbe transformedintoanewcrop.Semidesertsarepoorregions becausetherearenotmanynaturalresourcestoproduce goods.
Butifwethinkthatweedsandthefewplantspecies growinginthesemidesertshaveaneconomicroleinthe industry,thentheregionhasaneweconomicincome.A studyliketheonethatINBIOARisdoinginsemi-desert regionswillhelptofindnewresourcestotradeworldwide
Gustavo Sosa Ph. D. President and Founder of INBIOAR SA
Gustavo Sosa is a forest engineer and has a Ph. D. in plant biochemistry and molecular biology. He did two post docs. The last one in The Ohio State University. Gustavo funded INBIOR thirteen years ago thanks to the Rosental Family ofce.
Gustavo led the Ph. D. Thesis work of María Lucía Travaini with whom he established INBIOAR. Lucía is the CEO of INBIOAR Argentina while Gustavo is establishing INBIOAR in the US. He expects to be in the US collecting samples in The Southwest during the 2025 summer.
Gustavo used to be a mentor and speaker in many congresses and universities where he is invited to talk about leadership and research.
fromthearidregions.Thenewcropmaychangethepeople reality,anditisaplusinourprojectthatmakesusvery happy.
Howmuchcosttocultivateammi?Ammicanbegrown everyyearfreelyinthefield.Wecancollecttheflowersto producethebio-herbicideplantextract.Thecultivationof ammiinthefielddonotrequirecare:notfertilizers,not fungicidenorinsecticides.Itisaweed!
Ammicanproduce15tonsofflowersperyearinone hectare.Itwillallowtoproduceenoughbio-herbicidetodo oneapplicationin1.200hectares.Theratioseemsvery good.Butitcanbeimprovedforsure.Westartedusing visnagineat15kg/ha.Nowweareusinglessthan3kg/ha. Westilldonotknowhowfarwecangowiththisbioherbicideindevelopment.
Ifwethinktoproducetheextract,thenthetrashweproduce aftertheextractisdoneisjustwetplanttissue.Theextract isdriedbyaspray-drier,andthewetplanttissueismix withthesoilafteritisused.Thenthereisnottrashleft behindtheproduction.
Inthefarmthepowderextractisofferedinwater-soluble bags.Thebagsaredropinthewatertankjustbeforetobe used.Theadjuvantmaybeofferedinsmallbagstoprepare theformulatedjustbeforeuseinthewatertank.
ThisisAgri-FoodCleanTechnologywherenosynthetic chemicalsareusedandthereisnotrashanywhere:not whenweproduceit,notwhenitisappliedto.Thenatural chemicalsarequicklydegradedbynature.Whatthenature does,thenaturedegraded.Thefoodinourfreezerwillbe cleanofchemicals!
Plants(weeds)cancontrolweeds.Aplantspeciesthatdo notparticipateintheeconomycanbetransformedina competitiverawmaterial.
AGovernmentcanseeourprojecttoimprovetheincomeof aregionusingwhatisanon-cropintoanimportantcropto producebio-agrochemicals.Whenaweedistransformedin acrop,wearesurewearedoingscienceforthepeople.
How Can Healthcare Businesses Become Greener In The Modern Age? How Can Healthcare Businesses Become Greener In The Modern Age?
Whenoperatinginthehealthcaresector,taking careofthepatientwillalwaysbejobnumber one.Nonetheless,protectingtheenvironmentis somethingthatallbusinessownersinthissectorshould focusontoo.Forstarters,weallhavearesponsibilityto protecttheplanetwhilethesectorisresponsiblefor5%of allcarbonemissions.Withtherightstrategiesinplace, though,youcansignificantlyreduceyourfootprint.
Inadditiontosatisfyingapersonaldesireto“gogreen”, yourcommitmentwillnotgounnoticedbypatientsor employees.So,itcanformacrucialstepontheroad towardscultivatingabetterworkplaceandachieving sustainableprofits.Herearesomeofthebestwaystoshow greaterresponsibilityandworktowardsacarbon-neutral outcome.
FocusOnEnvironmentally-FriendlyBuildings
Commercialbuildingsshouldbethefirstfocalpointforany businessthatwantstogogreen.Incorporatinggreener materialsshouldbeaprioritywhendesigningnew commercialbuildings.Thismayincludeusingrecycledor naturalbuildingmaterials.Likewise,introducingwater harvestingsystemsoraddingsolarroofpanelscanbea greatwaytoreducethecarbonfootprint.Architectural designsshouldalsotakelightingandinsulationinto consideration.Thiswillunlockthebestresults.
Eveniftheworkplacebuildingalreadyexists,itispossible tomakebigimprovements.Efficientlightingsystemsand theuseofSmarttechinallpartsofthepropertywillwork wonders.Itisalsopossibletoextendthecommitmentto greenerpracticesbyaddingelectricalvehiclecharging points.Whetherit’sasmalldentalpracticeoralarge
hospitalwithseveralbuildingsdoesn’tmatter.Itisatask thatcompaniesacrossallsectorsofthehealthcareindustry canlooktopursue.
EmbraceRenewableEnergy
Theuseofsustainablebuildingmaterialsandafocuson efficientclimatecontrolcreatesastrongfoundation. However,medicalfacilitiesthatwishtogotheextramile willalsoturntheirattentiontorenewableenergysources. Theaforementionedsolarpanelsareagreatstartingpoint. Renewableenergysourcesalsoextendtohydro,wind, geothermal,andbioenergy.Introducingeachofthemin appropriatesituationswilltakegreeninitiativestothenext level.Forexample,hydroenergycanbeusedforbackup powergenerators.
Aswellasactivelyusingrenewableenergy,healthcare firmsmaywanttosupportinitiatives.Charitieslikethe RenewableEnergyFoundationactivelyworkonfinding newsolutions.Backingthoseorganisationsallows healthcarefirmstoseeindirectbenefitswhileitcanalsobe promotedasapartofthebrandimage.Ifnothingelse,the shifttorenewableenergywillimprovethecompany’s collectivemindset.Itwillalsoreduceenergyprices,which supportshealthcarecompaniesofallsizes.
InvestInGreenerProducts&Packaging
Healthcarebusinessesarepredominantlyfocusedon providingaservice.Still,someproductsandequipmentare neededforcounselling,physio,orsurgicalprocedures.The harshrealityisthatmanyoftheitemsaresingle-useitems. However,optingforsustainablematerialsandavoiding dangerousplasticslikePVCwillaidthecause.Similarly,
recyclablehygienerollsforhospitalbedsandsimilar settingsareadvised.Nowmorethanever,therightchoice ofdisposablefacemasksmatterstoo.
Medicationisthetypeofproductthatpatientsaremost likelytotakehome.Sustainablemedicinemanufacturing subsequentlyhasahugeinfluenceonoverallcarbon footprints.Likewise,greenerpharmacyblisterpack suppliesthatfeaturerecyclablematerialsarehighly advised.Afterall,manypatientswillneedrepeat prescriptions.Inthiscase,greenerpracticeswillhavea positiveimpactduringeachcycle.Wheretheexpiration datesallowforit,allowingpatientstohavealargervolume canbeuseful.
GoPaperlessWherePossible
Embracingpaperlesstechisundoubtedlyoneofthebest
waysformodernbusinessestoreducetheircarbon footprints.Whenworkinginthehealthcaresector,it’s impossibletoavoidallphysicalproductsandprinted materials.Theaforementionedmedicationsandpackaging areagoodexample.Still,integratingpaperlesstechand communicationintherightsettingswillmakeabig difference.Patientinteractionsareoneofthebestplacesto embracethisidea.
OptingforSMSappointmentreminderswon’tonlyreduce printingandmailingneeds.It’llalsoactivelytranslateto increasedpatientpunctuality.Usinganapptomanage documentsandsecurepatientsignaturesisaconvenientand eco-friendlysolution.Onasimilarnote,emailingthe transcriptofalivechatinteractionortelephonecallisa betteroptionthanprintingit.Asfarasinternal communicationisconcerned,onlinerotaplanningisthe bestupgradetoconsider.
OptForLocal,Environmentally-FriendlyResources
Reducedpaperusageandsmarterequipmentchoicesdo haveapositiveimpactoncarbonfootprintsinhealthcare. However,theyaren’ttheonlyaspectsthatdeservesome attention.Healthcarefacilitieswilluseawiderangeof productsduringdailybusinessoperations.Manyofthemdo notdirectlyimpacttreatments.Choosinglocalor sustainablefurnitureandinteriordesignitemsforreception areasisagreatstartingpoint.Similarly,plantsinsuitable locationshaveapositiveinfluence.
Itisequallyimportanttothinkcarefullyaboutfood supplies.Locallysourcedgoodswillreducecarbon emissionsasaresultofreducedtravel.Meanwhile,opting forrecyclabledisposablecupscanworkwonders.Water filtertapscanalsoreducetheneedtopurchaseasmuch bottledwater,againsavingontransitemissionsandplastic usage.Similarly,woodencutleryandpaperstrawsarefar betteroptionsthanplastic.Crucially,recyclingbinsmustbe convenientlylocated.Chemical-freecleanersareanother greatsolution.
EmbraceTelehealth
Whenthinkingaboutwaystocreateaneco-friendly healthcaresetting,it’simportanttolookbeyondthewallsof yourbuilding.Indirectbenefitscanbeunlockedby reducingthepatient’scarbonfootprint.Therising popularityandadoptionratesoftelehealthserviceshave openedthedoortobetterhealthcare.Itreducestheneedfor patientstomakeasmanyvisitstothehealthcarefacility, whichseestheiremissionsfallbyremovingtravel.Itcan alsoseein-facilitymaterialslastlonger
Telehealthhasbecomeverypopularwithpatientsaswellas businessesinthefield.Evenitemslikeenergyusagecansee apositiveimpactwhilecompaniesinthefieldcanoften workfromsmallerlocations.Timesavingsallowformore peopletobeseen,whichmeanstheresourcesusedwillalso feedintotheprocessofprotectingtheplanet.Aswellas providingappointmentsthroughdigitalchannels,e-learning cantransformstafftraining.It’sgreen,convenient,and moreengagingforemployees.
KeepEquipmentInGoodHealth
Healthcarecompaniesdomanagealotofdisposableand single-useitemsduetohygienerequirements.However,a lotofmachineryandequipmentisalsoused.FromGPsto physiosordentists,expertsrelyonthoseproductsdaily. Whilethosetoolswillencountersomewearandtear, stayingontopofthemaintenancewillsupporthealthcare teams.Itpreventscostlyunscheduleddowntimeandcan extendthelifeoftheequipmentinquestion.
Therefore,oneofthesmartestthingsateamcandoishire anexpertwhocantroubleshootandrepairequipment. Whetherit’sultrasounds,ventilators,dentalX-ray machines,oranyotheritemsdoesn’tmatter.Itisalsoworth usingcomputersoftwaretotracktheperformanceofeach machine.Assoonasperformancelevelsbegintofall,the faultsmustbefixed.Itpromotesabetterlevelofpatient carewhilealsosupportingoperationalefficiency.Repairing partsratherthandisposingoflargeequipment.
SustainableMarketing
Itmayfeelalittledifficulttothinkofpatientsascustomers. Nevertheless,healthcarecompaniesrelyonasteadyflowof patientstoturnaprofit.Thisisespeciallytrueforprivate businesses,whichiswhyeffectiveoutreachstrategiesare vital.Naturally,then,itisanotherareawhereorganisations canlowertheircarbonemissionswithbigresults.Firstly,a focusondigitalmarketingwillinstantlyenhancegreen initiatives.Evenwithlocalefforts,afocusonbillboardsor radioisbetterthanleaflets.
Inadditiontousingfewerrawmaterials,healthcare marketingshouldtargetefficiency.AstronglocalSEO strategyshouldbeatthetopoftheagendaasmostpeople searchforthetypeofservicestheyneedratherthanrespond toarandomad.Meanwhile,clearemailmarketingstreams thatpushleadsdownthesalesfunnelcanworkwonders.It isveryusefulforcosmeticdentistryornon-emergency servicesthatpatientshavethoughtaboutforsometime.But itworkswellacrossthesector
EncourageCompany-WideEndeavours
Finally,whenhopingtobuildgreenerhabits,healthcare firmsmustoptforcompany-wideefforts.Otherwise,the successinsomeareaswillbeundonebyproblems elsewhere.Stafftrainingandregularnotificationsto highlighttheneedformoremindfulactionsarevital.For thebestresults,though,companiescanmakeitfunand rewarding.Acycle-to-workscheme,forexample,builds teamunityandinjectshealthycompetition.Notleastif prizesareintroduced.
Whenthewholeteamisinvolvedintheprocessofgoing green,itbecomesapartofthebrandidentity.Itis somethingpatientsandsupplierswillnotice.Moreover,it encouragesemployeestolookforfurtherimprovements throughoutthebusiness.Companyownersandmanagers canwelcomethoseideasthroughsuggestionboxesand otherfeedbackloops.Forthebestresults,itshouldbeused inconjunctionwithsomeofthestepsmentionedabove.In turn,healthcarefirmsacrossthesectorwillmovetowardsa carbon-neutralfuture.
The 10 Most Innovative Leaders Reforming Business in 2024
offering solutions for carbon capture and permanent sequestration
Thecarboncaptureand permanentsequestration(CCS) marketisexperiencing significantgrowth,drivenby increasingregulatorypressures, climategoals,andtheneedfor industriestoreducecarbonfootprints. Governmentsandprivatesectorsare investingheavilyinCCStechnology. GlobalinvestmentsinCCS technologiesarerising,withnotable financialcommitmentsfrom governments,international organizations,andprivateenterprises. ManycountrieshaveincorporatedCCS intotheirclimatestrategies,offering subsidies,taxcredits,andfundingfor researchanddevelopment.Industry leadersacrosstheglobearetaking stepstocareforstakeholdersby reducingtheircarbonfootprints.
Cozairoservesthesecompaniesby providinguniquelyadvantaged solutionsforcarboncaptureand permanentsequestrationaswellas cleanfuelswitching.Cozairo’sexperts reducecost,complexity,and uncertaintybydrawingondecadesof experienceincarboncaptureand subsurfaceriskmanagement, deliveringefficient,tailored,and optimizedsolutions.
TheInceptionstory
“Ispentthefirst20+yearsofmy careerwithanEnergysupermajor, duringwhichtimeIhadthe opportunitytoworkwith extraordinarilycapablepeoplefrom everyconceivablefieldofexpertiseon
global-scale,billion-dollar
mega-projectbuttheexperiencethat launchedmeonmycurrentpathwas thetechnicalleadershipofasmall(by Energysectorstandards)waste injectionprojectinWyoming.Atthe time,Iwastheonlyprojectleadinmy entiredepartmentwhodidnothavea revenue-generatingproject,andI franklyfeltlikemyemployeratthe timewouldn'ttrustmewithanything important! Butmy“littlewaste disposalproject”turnedouttobethe first,andstillthelargest,CCSproject inNorthAmerica,andthatformative experiencegiftedmewiththecritical buildingblockthatCozairohasbeen builtupon. Itservesasaregular reminderthatIhaven'talwaysbeen abletodiscernhoworwhywhatI'm doingatanytimeisimportant,soI bestgivewhatI'mdoingmyfull effort,”saysTimMatthews,CEO, Cozairo.
Beatingtheodds
“Leadershipisamulti-facetedactivity, butinmyviewthemostimportantand differentiatingelementisrelationali.e. howdowetakecareofourpeople? Oneformativeexperienceformewas inleadingatransformationalinitiative foraglobalteam,wehadaclear businesscasefortransforminghowwe didresourcemanagementand productionoptimizationacross multipleteams.Iwasveryconscious ofthechangemanagementtask,and spentmanyhoursbuilding understandingandbuy-inwithinthe teamasawhole. ButIdidn’tspend
sufficienttimeensuringtheleadersof theteamsthemselveswerealignedand equippedtosupportthechange themselvesandasaresult,Ilostthe heartandmindofoneofthoseleaders permanently,whichinturnforcedme tochangeoutthepersoninthatrole.If I’dbeenmorethoughtful,wewouldn’t havelost6+monthsfightinginternally withintheleadershipteam,”addsTim.
Meetingtheglobalethicalstandards
“We'reatechnologydeployer,rather thanatechnologydeveloper Wework withseveraltremendoustechnology developers,andourjobistomarry greattechwiththerightapplicationto deliverthehighestvalueCCSsolution forourclients. Sustainabilityisakey conceptforthoseworkinginthe EnergyTransition,becausetheterm encompasseseachofthekeytenetsof asuccessfultransitionstrategyitmust delivermaterialbenefittothe environment(inourcase,via avoidanceofGHGemissions),itmust bepermanent,anditmustbe financiallyviable(lesttheendeavourto preservetheenvironmentbankruptthe economiesthataresupportingthe peoplewearetryingtohelpinthefirst place).
NotableProjects
“I'vehadthegreatopportunitytoserve leadershiprolesinglobal-scale UpstreamOil&Gasprojectsfrom businesscasedevelopmentthrough operationsphases,aswellas involvementinmultipleCO2injection projectsintheUS,MiddleEastand Asia-Pacific. InadditiontotheWY CCSprojectpreviouslymentioned,I hadtheopportunitytoleadpreliminary designthefirstCO2sequestration projectinAustralia,aswellas involvementinmultipleCO2injection projectsassociatedwithenhancedoil recovery(EOR).”
Thefutureroadmap
“Cozairowasfoundedtoservethe urgentdecarbonizationneedsofheavy industryinscale,itisachallenge
unlikeanywe’vefacedasasocietyin peacetime. Byprovidingaccesstoour team'suniquecapabilitiesandexpertise inthedeploymentofcarboncapture& storagesolutions,wearehelpingour industrialpartnerssuccessfullydesign, finance,buildandoperatecomplex projectsunlikeanythingtheyhave donebefore. Wearetrulyexcitedby theopportunitieswe'reseeingto partnerwithindustrialstomovethe needleonemissionsreductions. But theseprojectstakeyearsandbillionsof dollarstomaturefromconceptallthe waytooperations. Sowehaveneartermandintermediategoalsthatkeep usontrack. Butourfive-yearvisionis toseeanumberofthemanyCCS opportunitiesthatwearecurrently workingonbuilt,operatingand successfullyavoidingmillionsof metrictonsofCO2emissionsevery year Andsignificantly,wecanseea clearpathtorealizingthatvision,” concludesTim.
Tim Matthews CEO
