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Farah Zafar : If it was easy, everyone would be doing it

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THE OUTSET OF HER CAREER

Christina Thomas has redefined real estate as a profession for women. A strong and independent woman, she is an inspiration to many young girls. Christina Thomas is no foreigner to struggle. Born to a single teem mom, Christina realized the worth and importance of money at a very early age in her life. She was abandoned in her early years and had to live on the streets for a short period in her life, experiencing the sourest lemon life had to offer. However, Christina turned out to be one of those inspirational women who would not settle for less.

In an adventurous field like real estate, where your career depends on your pitch and your ability to communicate resourcefully to meet the requirements of your customer, Christina is a dedicated professional with multiple skills. She is experienced in different aspects of the industry, such as marketing, management and finance. These contribute to her overall merit and worth as a professional. She has thrived in this competitive environment and come out as an experienced and astute professional. Thomas’ career in real estate began in 2004 when she passed her real estate exam while simultaneously receiving her licensing as a Mortgage Loan Officer. This unique combination allowed her to help her clients understand the finances, emotions, complexities, and strategies of home purchasing and financing.

Her dedication and commitment to her trade led her to obtain her Broker’s license in 2008 and open a successful real estate office in San Diego, where she also continued to negotiate luxury brands and high visibility commercial transactions as a Commercial Real Estate Broker. Christina is a person who doesn’t wait for others. She lives in the moment and seizes every opportunity that comes her way. Expanding her network from first time home buyers to high-net-worth individuals with multi-billion-dollar portfolios, she made sure that she was taking the right steps at the right time and working to the best of her ability. Thomas prides herself on delivering extraordinary service across all price points. Whether she is representing a buyer or a seller, her goal is always to negotiate a mutually beneficial transaction by implementing her “win” business philosophy. Her industry knowledge and resourceful thinking have contributed to Thomas’ ability to negotiate the $72M sale of the Ritz Carlton in Lake Tahoe on behalf of her buyers. She is a woman with a vision who leaves no stone unturned.

Her irrevocable devotion to her work has taken her to a great height, in 2012 she was recruited to join the Pacific Sotheby’s International Realty. In 2020, she was appointed to the company’s management team as Pacific Sotheby’s International Realty’s Brand Influencer. In this role, Thomas is responsible for cultivating and strengthening relationships with agents, engaging them on the new culture, synergy, and direction of the company, and communicating the benefits of being part of the Sotheby’s International Realty global network – the world’s leading luxury real estate brand.
Thomas’ work ethic and dedication to succeed, comes from a very modest family upbringing in the Los Angeles area. “Nothing was handed to me. As a goal-oriented individual, I sought out the tools, resources and connections that set me apart from my peers, and provide my clients with every advantage. I have enjoyed working for all that I have accomplished, and I am fortunate to have a great family to share it with.”

A FAMILY PERSON

For many years, when her kids were small, she would pretend that she didn’t have kids because people would say things like “don’t you have to be with your kids”. “Do you even have time? “. It was apparent that if you were a working mother, you were a disservice. She never spoke about her kids at work, because she was afraid she wouldn’t get the listing just because she was a mom. This is a form of discrimination. Many of her friends who are working mothers have gone through this as well. Now she talks about her kids. She schedules showings around their games so she has to never miss one. She owns the fact that she is a working mother and she is proud of it. 

Thomas adds “Men who are father are always applauded if they had to reschedule a home inspection because society would be so delighted to know he was making time for his children, unlike a mother who is expected to acceptably skip work to attend her children’s games. Christina is here to remind other woman that they should absolutely prioritise their  family and devote their love and time to their children and make them feel appreciated. She feels that children tend to remember the little things such as their parents missing their games and that is what shapes them as an individual when they grow up and face the world. However, a client won’t remember you missed your child’s game for their home inspection that could have waited a day”.

Besides her professional achievements, Christina makes it a point to find time for other important things. Despite her busy schedule, Christina volunteers her time to youth sports. She has served as the President of the Carlsbad Pop Warner Football Program and her son’s Team as the Business Manager for 8 seasons. During her time as President she was able to apply her business mind to the non-profit organization which ultimately increased their registration numbers for youth tackle and produced 4 teams to the Championship games, this was something that hadn’t been done the previous five seasons. She has been happily married for a little over 19 years and has two beautiful children to who she devotes all her love and time. She has also held the VP chair of Fundraising both on Carlsbad Pop Warner Football and Pacific Rim Elementary School PTA board.

One of her favorite memories of the PTA was creating the first “Fall Carnival” for the school.  She was successful in raising $15,000 in a 3 hour period.  “I Love Halloween so I brought all my party ideas to the school campus which included haunted maze, DJ, blacked out entrance into the carnival, bigger prizes for the games and pre-selling the tickets ahead of time so parents didn’t have to wait in long lines just to get in”, Thomas tells us with a smile on her face. You can see that she really loves making the kids happy not only at the school events but on the Football field. 

ADVICE TO MODERN AGE ENTREPRENEURS

“When you do business right and show up authentically every day, great things happen.”

 It’s a fundamental rule that Christina Thomas has lived by for the last two decades, and time after time, it’s paid off in big ways for her clients. She began her real estate career in 2004. Christina’s unique experience as an agent, a mortgage loan officer, and a broker quickly explains why she’s able to sell a $72M Ritz Carlton just as easily as she can a starter home. She’s become one of Southern California’s top real estate professionals, and clients seek her out because she’s incredibly successful and deal maker. She believes that a relationship with a client shouldn’t end after your deal is closed. She feels that client relationships are the most important thing, which is why she is always available to her clients, even after a deal is closed. She makes sure that she is as authentic and as candid as possible with each client.

THE GREATEST MILESTONE IN HER CAREER

One of the greatest milestones in her career was the transition into commercial real estate. She taught herself the ethics and concepts of business while maintaining the residential side. A lot of people have their doubts about her ability to close any type of commercial. She worked on the Ritz Carlton in Lake Tahoe for over a year and a half. She had several interested buyers that wrote offers that never got accepted. She kept at it. She was introduced to Kennedy Wilson, that ended up being the buyer. The property was sold off-market for $72m. This was a game-changer for her, as it proved that she was connected in the market world. Most commercial clients prefer to get the first look at a property before it goes through the broker daisy chain. She prides herself on not being the broker daisy chain. She is direct to her clients and they know that.  

Thomas is currently working on the deal of the century with an evaluation of over $1B. She doesn’t hold back on price limits and continues to push herself in avenues of real estate to be the best in her game.  “I have done many other commercial deals but most are signed under confidential agreements so I can never talk about them. The Ritz transaction is a global brand everyone knows and loves so it’s always fun to bring that one up”, Thomas says proudly.

OBSTACLES AND DISCRIMINATION FACED

Like most women, she has been subjected to many forms of discrimination during her two decades in the real estate industry.  She can’t go into one in great detail, however, she has received considerable discrimination about being pregnant in the workplace. Throughout the years, it’s small-minded people that find her to be a threat when working on deals together. She would be talked down to or treated like their assistant instead of their partner on the deal. She has been circumvented on large deals because of greed.  They exploited her knowledge for months to gain momentum on the deals​ only to circumvent her.  She adds “I let karma do its job with people who lack ethics in this business. There is no reason to stoop to their level to prove them wrong.  I know that everything happens for a reason and when you show up in this business with ethics you are ultimately the winner even if you didn’t get a slice of the commission you earned.” Thomas finishes with “Almost every career or job I have had there has always been discrimination.  What young girls need to know is that this is the era of speaking up and not allowing this from anyone.  It’s not only men that discriminate against women, there are women that do this to other women as well.  I will say that I know many men that see woman as equal.  I think it’s important to acknowledge that.”

 THE QUALITIES OF A GOOD LEADER

A great leader is someone that ​is honest, open minded, acknowledges hard work in others and compassionate.

Leaders are meant to lead by example. Actions always speak louder than words.

Chrishtina Thomas

Posted on by theciotimes

‘If it was easy, everyone would be doing it’

THE OUTSET OF HER CAREER

Christina Thomas has redefined real estate as a profession for women. A strong and independent woman, she is an inspiration to many young girls. Christina Thomas is no foreigner to struggle. Born to a single teem mom, Christina realized the worth and importance of money at a very early age in her life. She was abandoned in her early years and had to live on the streets for a short period in her life, experiencing the sourest lemon life had to offer. However, Christina turned out to be one of those inspirational women who would not settle for less.

In an adventurous field like real estate, where your career depends on your pitch and your ability to communicate resourcefully to meet the requirements of your customer, Christina is a dedicated professional with multiple skills. She is experienced in different aspects of the industry, such as marketing, management and finance. These contribute to her overall merit and worth as a professional. She has thrived in this competitive environment and come out as an experienced and astute professional. Thomas’ career in real estate began in 2004 when she passed her real estate exam while simultaneously receiving her licensing as a Mortgage Loan Officer. This unique combination allowed her to help her clients understand the finances, emotions, complexities, and strategies of home purchasing and financing.

Her dedication and commitment to her trade led her to obtain her Broker’s license in 2008 and open a successful real estate office in San Diego, where she also continued to negotiate luxury brands and high visibility commercial transactions as a Commercial Real Estate Broker. Christina is a person who doesn’t wait for others. She lives in the moment and seizes every opportunity that comes her way. Expanding her network from first time home buyers to high-net-worth individuals with multi-billion-dollar portfolios, she made sure that she was taking the right steps at the right time and working to the best of her ability. Thomas prides herself on delivering extraordinary service across all price points. Whether she is representing a buyer or a seller, her goal is always to negotiate a mutually beneficial transaction by implementing her “win” business philosophy. Her industry knowledge and resourceful thinking have contributed to Thomas’ ability to negotiate the $72M sale of the Ritz Carlton in Lake Tahoe on behalf of her buyers. She is a woman with a vision who leaves no stone unturned.

Her irrevocable devotion to her work has taken her to a great height, in 2012 she was recruited to join the Pacific Sotheby’s International Realty. In 2020, she was appointed to the company’s management team as Pacific Sotheby’s International Realty’s Brand Influencer. In this role, Thomas is responsible for cultivating and strengthening relationships with agents, engaging them on the new culture, synergy, and direction of the company, and communicating the benefits of being part of the Sotheby’s International Realty global network – the world’s leading luxury real estate brand.
Thomas’ work ethic and dedication to succeed, comes from a very modest family upbringing in the Los Angeles area. “Nothing was handed to me. As a goal-oriented individual, I sought out the tools, resources and connections that set me apart from my peers, and provide my clients with every advantage. I have enjoyed working for all that I have accomplished, and I am fortunate to have a great family to share it with.”

A FAMILY PERSON

For many years, when her kids were small, she would pretend that she didn’t have kids because people would say things like “don’t you have to be with your kids”. “Do you even have time? “. It was apparent that if you were a working mother, you were a disservice. She never spoke about her kids at work, because she was afraid she wouldn’t get the listing just because she was a mom. This is a form of discrimination. Many of her friends who are working mothers have gone through this as well. Now she talks about her kids. She schedules showings around their games so she has to never miss one. She owns the fact that she is a working mother and she is proud of it. 

Thomas adds “Men who are father are always applauded if they had to reschedule a home inspection because society would be so delighted to know he was making time for his children, unlike a mother who is expected to acceptably skip work to attend her children’s games. Christina is here to remind other woman that they should absolutely prioritise their  family and devote their love and time to their children and make them feel appreciated. She feels that children tend to remember the little things such as their parents missing their games and that is what shapes them as an individual when they grow up and face the world. However, a client won’t remember you missed your child’s game for their home inspection that could have waited a day”.

Besides her professional achievements, Christina makes it a point to find time for other important things. Despite her busy schedule, Christina volunteers her time to youth sports. She has served as the President of the Carlsbad Pop Warner Football Program and her son’s Team as the Business Manager for 8 seasons. During her time as President she was able to apply her business mind to the non-profit organization which ultimately increased their registration numbers for youth tackle and produced 4 teams to the Championship games, this was something that hadn’t been done the previous five seasons. She has been happily married for a little over 19 years and has two beautiful children to who she devotes all her love and time. She has also held the VP chair of Fundraising both on Carlsbad Pop Warner Football and Pacific Rim Elementary School PTA board.

One of her favorite memories of the PTA was creating the first “Fall Carnival” for the school.  She was successful in raising $15,000 in a 3 hour period.  “I Love Halloween so I brought all my party ideas to the school campus which included haunted maze, DJ, blacked out entrance into the carnival, bigger prizes for the games and pre-selling the tickets ahead of time so parents didn’t have to wait in long lines just to get in”, Thomas tells us with a smile on her face. You can see that she really loves making the kids happy not only at the school events but on the Football field. 

ADVICE TO MODERN AGE ENTREPRENEURS

“When you do business right and show up authentically every day, great things happen.”

 It’s a fundamental rule that Christina Thomas has lived by for the last two decades, and time after time, it’s paid off in big ways for her clients. She began her real estate career in 2004. Christina’s unique experience as an agent, a mortgage loan officer, and a broker quickly explains why she’s able to sell a $72M Ritz Carlton just as easily as she can a starter home. She’s become one of Southern California’s top real estate professionals, and clients seek her out because she’s incredibly successful and deal maker. She believes that a relationship with a client shouldn’t end after your deal is closed. She feels that client relationships are the most important thing, which is why she is always available to her clients, even after a deal is closed. She makes sure that she is as authentic and as candid as possible with each client.

THE GREATEST MILESTONE IN HER CAREER

One of the greatest milestones in her career was the transition into commercial real estate. She taught herself the ethics and concepts of business while maintaining the residential side. A lot of people have their doubts about her ability to close any type of commercial. She worked on the Ritz Carlton in Lake Tahoe for over a year and a half. She had several interested buyers that wrote offers that never got accepted. She kept at it. She was introduced to Kennedy Wilson, that ended up being the buyer. The property was sold off-market for $72m. This was a game-changer for her, as it proved that she was connected in the market world. Most commercial clients prefer to get the first look at a property before it goes through the broker daisy chain. She prides herself on not being the broker daisy chain. She is direct to her clients and they know that.  

Thomas is currently working on the deal of the century with an evaluation of over $1B. She doesn’t hold back on price limits and continues to push herself in avenues of real estate to be the best in her game.  “I have done many other commercial deals but most are signed under confidential agreements so I can never talk about them. The Ritz transaction is a global brand everyone knows and loves so it’s always fun to bring that one up”, Thomas says proudly.

OBSTACLES AND DISCRIMINATION FACED

Like most women, she has been subjected to many forms of discrimination during her two decades in the real estate industry.  She can’t go into one in great detail, however, she has received considerable discrimination about being pregnant in the workplace. Throughout the years, it’s small-minded people that find her to be a threat when working on deals together. She would be talked down to or treated like their assistant instead of their partner on the deal. She has been circumvented on large deals because of greed.  They exploited her knowledge for months to gain momentum on the deals​ only to circumvent her.  She adds “I let karma do its job with people who lack ethics in this business. There is no reason to stoop to their level to prove them wrong.  I know that everything happens for a reason and when you show up in this business with ethics you are ultimately the winner even if you didn’t get a slice of the commission you earned.” Thomas finishes with “Almost every career or job I have had there has always been discrimination.  What young girls need to know is that this is the era of speaking up and not allowing this from anyone.  It’s not only men that discriminate against women, there are women that do this to other women as well.  I will say that I know many men that see woman as equal.  I think it’s important to acknowledge that.”

 THE QUALITIES OF A GOOD LEADER

A great leader is someone that ​is honest, open minded, acknowledges hard work in others and compassionate.

Leaders are meant to lead by example. Actions always speak louder than words.

BEV MOORE :Kindness first

Posted on by theciotimes

Bev Moore is a humble intersection of talent, dignity, and kindness. She is CEO/owner of Bev Moore Talent Agency. A Philanthropist, Global Influencer and writer, Bev is an inspiration to women all across the globe. She offers in-depth guides, empowering and inspiring others to flourish for a better future. Bev has co-founded and managed multi-million-dollar companies over the years. She is the current owner and CEO of many business ventures. Her business expertise and personal experiences combined to give a special energy to any given audience. 

Bev builds upon the Swahili Proverb; Unity is Strength, Division is Weakness. She believes great things can be accomplished while people are unified towards a common goal in numbers rather than by themselves. This gives them a greater power to far exceed their expectations. This philosophy inspired Bev to take action and launch her platform. As we speak, the platform is growing and now you can also be a part of it.

 As an entrepreneur, Bev has been involved in a serious business ventures and her experience applies to all of her work and what she is trying to achieve. Because of the choices she made, Bev has vast experience,  she is focusing on touching as many lives as possible. Bev is a philanthropist. She invests time, money, and energy in causes that resonate with her values. There have been numerous projects where Bev has left her fingerprint. Bev believes in the power of doing. Don’t promise, prove!

THE OUTSET OF HER JOURNEY

Bev grew up in South Carolina and has been in Charlotte for over 4 years now. Her guiding light is kindness. She believes that every person must be kind to their fellow human beings. Even as a young adult, she was spontaneous and ready to take up challenges. She started with coaching. Bev would help out the children in their neighborhood. If they needed scholarships for school or tutoring to get better grades a test, she would always be happy to help. She would boost their self-esteem and watch over them like a second mom, and she would help them through their teenage years and act as a mentor.

She moved to Charlotte, considering it as an opportunity to grow, experiment and diversify. Bev has always had entrepreneurial instincts. She has always been inclined towards doing/creating something impactful, something that helps the people. During the pandemic, she witnessed the plight of numerous businesses and how entrepreneurs were struggling with their respective market sectors. Her primary intuition was to create something that would develop an outreach.

Since the start of her platform in 2020, Bev has created a safe space for lifting people, networking, and boosting careers. A hub is now live where everybody can find resources in a time of need. Bev has always been ready for any challenge and she has always tried something new by experimenting and opening new doors.

She has produced films like Amrak. Bev is moving towards more projects in the coming future.

THE RISE OF BEV MOORE TALENT AGENCY

Being an entrepreneur for so many years helped her to identify her real purpose. She realized that her forte was communicated. She started her agency knowing that she was going to connect people and the knowledge she had acquired over the years, leverage it to the benefit of others and make a difference in the world. She was urged by many celebrities to move forward and open up an agency because that was what she had been doing for them. She was made to realize that she was helping talent and helping talent grow by making it available to those who wanted it. She received a lot of support from those around her to recognize and employ the gift that she possessed. She was motivated and prompted to push herself out there and make an impact. Bev was able to reach out across all platforms and get people connected. She continues to excel in her field of work and is grateful to have found a profession in something that she loves doing. Thus, she launched the talent agency. She wants to bring unity and bring people together, to make this place a better world.

SPEAK UP BEV!

Speak Up Bev was started with the death of John Lewis. His death created such a strong impact on her life which made her realize that her purpose was to bring people together. She was prompted by such an exceptionally unique platform that enabled people to share their minds and speak about various topics. She is always talking about kindness, and thus she created this platform out of the love in her heart. The platform is free of any kind of politics, race and social status. It is an open platform where people connect and talk and are free to share stories. It is a platform for mental and physical well-being and growth where everyone is prompted to develop a better side of themselves. She has had republicans, democrats, rich people and many others, and nobody knows who’s who, yet everyone gets along so well. It shoves any kind of negativity and bad nature and promotes a happier and healthier environment and society.

WORLDWIDE UNITED

A shining star, Bev, is one of those few people who hold compassion and love for those who are underprivileged. She started her charity, Worldwide United, upholding her principles of strength in unity. The charity is very close to her heart. The charity commenced operations in Nigeria with over 200 children and she has been working with a vision to help those who are deprived of the basic amenities in life. Worldwide United will be spreading its arms and touching other developing nations and consistently contribute to humanitarian causes and uplift those who are suffering.

HER FORTHCOMING PROJECTS

Her latest work where she serves as the executive producer is Inherit the Land. This premieres on October 16Th in Monroe, NC. Bev is the executive producer of the upcoming film, Laura. The movie will hit the screens in 2021 itself. It revolves around the story of Tom Dooley, and the mystery surrounding the murder of Laura Foster told from Laura’s perspective over the last week of her life.

Being an exceptionally talented individual, Bev has diversified her scopes in various fields and excels in each due to her utmost dedication and commitment to her work.

BEV AT HOME

She is an animal person, and she has been one since a very young age. She had a horse, chickens, dogs, and cats, and now she has two cats and two dogs. One of them is called Poppy, and he’s her absolute favorite. She loves cats because she has an unconditional love for them and finds them adorable. She’s always known how to take care of people and animals. That has shaped her into the incredible individual she is today.

Gina Diez Barroso :The founding story of her organisation

Posted on by theciotimes

Her journey began with one of the great heroes and mentors in her life: her grandfather. He founded Mexico’s first radio station, which later became Televisa, the leading broadcasting media company in the Spanish-speaking world. Although she worked for Televisa for several years; she knew deep down that she wanted to trace her own path and make a name for herself.

Out of a deep passion for design, architecture, and construction, she started Grupo Diarq, a firm that innovated by offering all three areas under one same roof. Diarq grew fast. It was the first company to showcase model homes, apartments, and hotels in Mexico.

Even though Diarq was enormously successful, she wasn’t satisfied. She was reminded of the great legacy her grandfather had left behind in telecommunications in Mexico. So, she wondered, “What legacy was I leaving?” Houses, buildings? She always believed that the way to help people succeed in life is through a good education. What frustrated her was seeing how education was stuck using obsolete methods and, as a result, creative education wasn’t moving forward despite all the technological developments happening around the world. Therefore, she decided that it was time to start building her legacy. It was then that she decided that her next venture would be to establish a University for creative disciplines, with novel teaching methods and an innovative curriculum, combined with an entrepreneurship and business component. Establishing a University was not an easy project. Actually, it was her most difficult project, Gina said. She encountered many hurdles and nay-sayers, but she made a point to surround herself with people who believed in her project and vision and who contributed to making the project come to fruition.

In 2004, after six years of research and development, she launched CENTRO University. CENTRO has been a great success. It currently offers seven undergraduate programs, 22 postgraduate courses, and 200 continuing education courses and is affiliated with the leading design schools around the world. Of its approximately 3,000 students, 65% are women and around 1,000 are attending on a scholarship. They also have the first campus in the world to obtain a LEED Platinum certification in all the buildings.

With CENTRO, Ms. Diez Barroso understood the importance and impact of education and how it can change lives. For 19 years she has been part of a group called C200.org – she is the only Latin-American woman in this group. Together with her colleagues from C200 they have taken part as speakers and mentors of female MBAs and PHDs of some of the most prestigious universities in the world. They usually speak to students about their experiences as businesswomen, giving them advice on career development and on how to maintain a healthy work-life balance. During her visit to those universities, she felt that although many women had outstanding academic credentials, they lacked some fundamental ingredients for success. She has always believed that being a confident leader is more than mastering the “hard skills” of business. It also takes soft skills like negotiation, communication, emotional intelligence, personal resilience, and networking, to name a few.

To teach more of these “life leadership” abilities, in 2017 she started another education project and founded Dalia Empower – a global lifelong learning project dedicated to supporting women in reaching their personal and professional goals – helping women to step into their full potential, feel confident with their power and achieve both their personal and professional goals. It is designed to help women entrepreneurs, women in the public sector, women in corporations, and women entering board positions. Dalia Empower also provides programs and tools for corporations to measure, implement and improve their gender and diversity policies.

Grupo Diarq has currently comprised 9 subsidiary companies (including CENTRO and Dalia), more than 600 employees, and has offices in Mexico and the United States.

Portfolio of services offered:

Dalia Empower aims to impact 100 million women in 10 years through our diverse education and potent platform. Dalia Empower is a 360-degree solution and has 4 diverse product offerings:

  • Education programs (Dalia Academy) – for both individuals and companies, in-person and online.
  • Community Services (We are Dalia) – such as mentoring, advisory, and networking.
  • Smart editorial content (DaliaNews+Media) – to inspire women & create awareness on diversity and inclusion.
  • Consulting services (Dalia Insights) – for organisations to get the proper data and be certified with the Dalia Gender Race and Diversity Index.

As a result of the pandemic and due to job losses and furloughs, many women were pushed out of the workforce and others voluntarily withdrew to act as caregivers. Many women have found themselves in need to start their businesses. Most are doing it with no previous experience and lacking crucial tools and entrepreneurial expertise.

Dalia has created diverse programs designed to provide the necessary advice, skills, and training to make women´s companies succeed and also, it has developed Dalia Scale Up,a full immersion acceleration program that aims to provide founders and early-stage start-ups with the tools and resources necessary to scale their business to the point where they can be funded by VC Funds. Dalia targets start-ups with female and mixed leadership, and it prioritizes traditional businesses that can scale with digital transformation.

The challenges and obstacles she encountered

Ms. Diez Barroso has always been very determined in her plans and what she has set her mind to. She has faced countless obstacles and people who didn’t believe in her or her projects. She stirred away from them and didn’t take NO for an answer (i.e. when she created CENTRO or Dalia). However, she has also been advised by her mentors and allies – who have proven indispensable for her goals. Also, the multifaceted and multicultural teams she has led have been key to attain success in her endeavours. She always says that nobody works for her, they all work with her towards a common goal.

Awards, Recognition, and Accolades

Her contributions to women, society, and its upliftment have been unparalleled. These contributions haven’t gone unnoticed. Some of the awards she has been honoured with:

  • National Women Award 2011 – National Chamber of Women (Cámara Nacional de la Mujer, A.C.)
  • Fundamental Personality in the World of Design Award, Noldi Scherck, 2014
  • Iberoamerican CIDI Award for Outstanding Entrepreneurial Career in Education, 2015.
  • Luxury Lab Global Award, 2016.
  • “Flame, Life and Women Award”, Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon, 2017.
  • “With Your Generous Hand We Walk Through Life Award”, Magen David Women Committee, 2017.
  • TU Awards (TU Magazine), Televisa Editorial Division, 2017.
  • Enterprising Women of the Year Award Celebration, 2018 
  • Gold Medal of Honour, AS/COA – American Society Council of the Americas, 2019.
  • 2019 National Award for Professional Excellence, National Chamber of Women (Cámara Nacional de la Mujer, A.C.)
  • 2020 NAWRB Commercial Leader Award. 

Her thoughts on the impact of covid-19 on Diarq´s market

Although the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have been far-reaching for all industries, they have fundamentally changed the real estate business. The demand for commercial real estate has and will be impacted by social distancing, space reconfiguration, layoffs and remote work.

Some industries will probably adopt hybrid working arrangements which will consequently change a company’s physical workspace needs. As a result, office space will still be in demand, albeit with different types of space requirements and amenities. While before the pandemic some businesses were looking for spaces with gyms, lounge areas, and meeting rooms, in the post-pandemic era companies might shift their demand putting a greater emphasis on eco-friendly buildings, worker safety, more efficient work plans that accommodate social distancing, indoor air quality, and technologies and a healthy environment. Older office spaces will have to adapt to these requirements or will become obsolete.

The blurring of work and personal life will also have an impact on residential real estate. Residential units will be attractive if they provide separate spaces where people can telework efficiently. Also, since more time will be spent at home, location and amenities such as fitness and in site services (dry cleaners, grocery shops, working spaces) will become increasingly attractive for tenants.

Her opinion on the importance of work-life balance

The need for work-life balance is more important than ever. Especially given the added blurring of lines between work and personal and the unpredictability and increased risk of burnout and depression that the post COVID era has brought about.

Finding a balance between work and personal is not a given– especially for working moms. One must make an effort to set limits, get organised, and carve out spaces in our schedules to spend quality time with our loved ones; work on our mental and physical health; think, recalibrate and regain our centre. Doing so gives us happiness and fulfilment, makes us feel proud of who we are, and gives us clarity as to the next steps we need to go forward. I believe that if we don’t give ourselves time to do the things that we enjoy with the people we cherish, we will not excel in either our personal and professional lives. Finding that balance also increases our productivity, our creative thinking, and our engagement in our homes, works and societies and more importantly our mental health.

Her advice to aspiring women entrepreneurs

I would advise women entrepreneurs to recognise their power, to never stop learning and acquiring new tools and skills, to seek mentors for guidance, to help and encourage other women, and to network and share their experiences with other women entrepreneurs. Dalia Empower is a global project where we help women move forward, work on those objectives and achieve both their professional and personal goals.

I believe that it is crucial that more women – together with our male allies – speak up and fight for gender equality, women’s promotion and equal pay. We need more women in decision-making positions and breaking ground in male-dominated industries. We also need to support and buy from businesses led by women.

Remember that nothing comes easy, especially in entrepreneurship. Be patient, work hard, believe in yourself, build a great team, pitch big, and don’t give up!

Liana Zavo : Tell us something about the outset story of your organization.

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Tell us something about the outset story of your organization.

Growing up, I received my first taste of entrepreneurship from my family business. My family owns multiple restaurants and catering halls throughout New York. Even though it would have seemed to be the obvious choice to continue in my family’s footsteps and work within the business, I had the dreams I needed to chase. I wanted to create a legacy of my own and not take the easy way out and work for my family. So, I started my PR and digital marketing boutique agency, ZavoMedia, on the strength of my industry experience in marketing strategies and public relations with the mindset to assist female entrepreneurs within their journeys and inspire women to live out their goals and dreams. Additionally, I developed a platform of podcasts and interviews of executive female mentors who offer successful tips and guidance to women as they embark or continue the entrepreneurship journey. These platforms concentrate on personal branding, content marketing, brand awareness, leading with confidence, authenticity, and how to push through various obstacles of adversity.

What motivates and inspires you as a young entrepreneur?

As I remember my journey to get to where I am today, my two primary sources of inspiration are my son and the future generations of professionals. My son is my first source of inspiration because I not only want to provide choices and opportunities for him that I did not have when I was young, but I want to show him that anybody can make a difference in the world. Anything is possible with hard work and dedication. My second source of inspiration is providing a successful example to other women and proving that they can make their dreams a reality if they stay focused on the goal. I believe we all have a voice within us that can be powerful and impactful to others when heard. For some, it is life-changing. Speaking up endows more self-confidence and brings in newfound peace and growth. Being in the media industry for over a decade, I’ve witnessed and went through different scenarios that tested my voice as a publicist and Entrepreneur. It wasn’t an easy journey, I admit, but by learning from my experience and extracting the moral lessons, I didn’t end up empty-handed. There were situations when I felt unheard, powerless, and limited by my surroundings. However, it was in those struggles that I pushed myself to step up. I broke through my limits, and from then on, I didn’t allow anyone to trample on who I am and what I am capable of doing. Fueled with the desire to succeed, I decided to step forward and start speaking up for myself rather than staying in the shadows, and my goal is to inspire others to do the same.

How does your company uphold its uniqueness and individuality?

I believe the uniqueness of my company comes from my coaching principles and PR hacks. For example, I formulated my acronym – B. E. P. I. C. – which helped me overcome moments of weakness to this day. I teach this method to my mentees so they can find their confidence and their inner voice to carry them through their journey. At the end of the day, my company’s primary goal is to carve an avenue for women in this male-dominated world continuously. I have stood firm on that goal and stayed committed to not only providing resources to educate women further but also to give them the tools and skills needed to become competent professionals. It is also important to me to not only educate but inspire. As a result, I have utilized my network over the years to give solid examples of what could happen with hard work, persistence, and dedication. Today, I am known as the millennial PR strategist, a media mogul, and a branding maven.

Kindly mention some of the notable recognitions and accreditations received by your organization.

The first honorable accomplishment that I cherish is becoming the first female Entrepreneur and businesswoman in my family. I am an official member of the Forbes Business Council and Chairwoman of WMW Lounge in New York. I am also one of the latest members of the Young Entrepreneur Council, the editor and chief of my lifestyle magazine, and a celebrated keynote speaker. However, out of all of my accomplishments and accolades, my most outstanding achievement is helping women create their own space and succeed in their entrepreneurship journey. I started the podcast “What Makes a Woman.”, and have penned multiple columns for various prestigious outlets such as Entrepreneur, and have appeared on notable platforms such as Forbes, Huffington Post, INC and more. More recently, I mentor girls from orphanages by providing them the necessary resources to educate them on the art of entrepreneurship. I feel that if I reach back and help future generations, the cycle will continue, and I have made my mark on this world.

The pandemic turned the tables for every sector of the economy, telling us something about your market and its scope for growth.

Covid-19 has changed the structure of business for everyone. Thankfully, my team and I could adopt more technology and create a digital avenue that allows us to reach a bigger audience and develop more effective and profitable services for these times. We were able to pivot my platform during a pandemic and carve out a new way to reach women on the one latest and aggressively growing apps, Clubhouse. The idea and overwhelming response from the platform motivated me to start a virtual public relations academy, Zavo PR Academy, which transforms professionals, entrepreneurs, and executives from being unknown to becoming unrecognizable by teaching proper industry strategies for boosting personal brands. The academy also uses a specific method to help magnify and monetize a message, how to find your unique voice, and how to develop an authority in your niche. As a result, we were able to broaden my audience and help more women create a better life for themselves and their families without losing any of our team members.

Where do you see your organization in the years to come?

Going forward, my organization and I plan to take my brand and mission to the next level. Zavo Media Group is becoming a global company by establishing offices in Paris and Dubai in the Spring of 2022. We will capitalize on technology so we can reach an even larger audience and help more women tap into their unique voice and story to share with the world. I plan to continue to educate and inspire those who know that there is more to life than doing the bare minimum and those that want to live instead of merely existing. Overall, I will remain persistent in creating more avenues and preparing the next generation of successful entrepreneurs for their greatness. I love the idea of giving voice to the voiceless, and I love the idea of storytelling and the power behind someone’s message. As a result, I plan to continue creating a brand that is aligned with the things that I am extremely passionate about.

Entrepreneurship is an art, what is your take on that?

I agree that entrepreneurship is an art because this journey is not for everyone. It takes a skillful and passionate person to understand the balance of talent, dedication, and the need for patience to trust the process of birthing a dream. Most people give up because of the dark and narrow roads of entrepreneurship, mainly because there are no guarantees, no safety nets, and no one or nothing to fall back on. Everything rests on the entrepreneur’s shoulders, and not everyone can bear that amount of weight. For example, before I started my company, I was a college dropout and a single mom at age 20. I knew I wanted more so I decided to learn for myself the art of storytelling and how to get it out to the public. I wanted to share my story with the world so others can learn from my experience and become inspired. When PR initially piqued my interest, I had no knowledge of the industry, but I decided to partner with a firm in NYC under one condition: I would introduce new clients from my family’s restaurant, and in return, they will let me shadow and learn everything there is to know about PR. I gave myself a year, and during that year, it was nothing but hard work, grit, and determination. By the end of the year, I learned the ins and outs of PR and hired a mentor to teach me the business aspect, and started my journey. With only $5000 and a spirit of determination, I started my bootstrap startup company in 2017 without any partners to assist.

I want to encourage people not to quit on themselves and to trust the process. Every task, every mistake, every pitfall, and every move is pushing you closer and closer to your dream, and you will see that one day, it was worth it.

Justine Pogroske : Powerful Branding Solutions

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There are companies and then there are brands. A powerful brand is not only distinct and stands out from the competition due to its product/service but also due to the values it stands for, no matter what. Having a clear identity and purpose helps brands to effectively connect with consumers on an emotional level. 

To create this emotional connection, brands will need to focus on creating a positive customer experience. This means providing high-quality products and services that meet customer needs and expectations. Also, be accessible and convenient, making it easy for consumers to purchase their products and services. 

As the world becomes increasingly digitized, the way consumers interact with brands will also change. To stay relevant, brands need to be agile and adaptive, able to quickly respond to changes in the marketplace. They will also need to have a strong online presence, utilizing social media and other digital channels to reach their target audience. Building “raving fans” and community will stand brands in good stead and brands can now create a loyal following effortlessly with the use of digital media. Furthermore, brands will need to focus on creating an engaging and personalized experience for consumers and Justine Pogroske at Million Dollar Branders helps them in this journey.

Finding her Entrepreneurial Gene

Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Justine had her first brush with business at the age of 6 when she sold used toys. As a child, she was fascinated by the idea of starting her own business and always knew she would eventually be her own boss. So, when the time came to choose a career, there was really only one option for her: entrepreneurship.

At age 11, her family migrated to Sydney, Australia. After school, she fell in love with the advertising industry. “I think it was the creativity that first drew me in – the way that a good advert can tell a story, evoke an emotion, and sell a product all at the same time. I also loved the challenge of it; trying to come up with an idea that is both original and effective,” recalls Justine.

After receiving her diploma in graphic design she started her career at one of the most renowned agencies in the world called Ogilvy and Mather(not without putting some serious campaigning skills on display until the creative director finally got her on board). The advertising industry turned out to be an incredible fit for her as she had always excelled at art and had always been good at public speaking. “I think that the advertising industry was a perfect mix of both of those talents. I have always loved coming up with creative ways to sell products, and been great at telling people about those products,” shares Justine.

Over the years she worked for leading agencies, M&C Saatchi, Optus, PwC, and more. At 24, she saw a gap in the market for an agency with the mindset of a “large agency” but the thoughtfulness of a boutique agency. That’s when her company, Million Dollar Branders was born. Justine says, “I wanted our number one focus to be on “expensifying brands” and building on “brand experiences”. Million Dollar Branders(MDB) is a boutique agency whose focus is on building brand empires and legacies for the experience age. We aim to deliver timeless branding solutions anchored in result-driven formulas. Today our client base ranges from Fortune 500 companies, Global thought leaders and celebrities, Nascar to Silicon Valley movers and shakers.”

Creating Unique Value

There are a few things that make Million Dollar Branders a leading brand agency. First, they have unrivaled industry experience building legacy brands. The team is comprised of experienced professionals who have a deep understanding of branding and marketing. Second, they’re always on the cutting edge of the latest industry trends – constantly exploring new ways to reach consumers and stay ahead of the competition. And third, they’re not afraid to take risks. They believe that to achieve something great, sometimes you have to think outside the box. 

The company believes that a great brand is more than just a pretty logo. It’s the sum of all the experiences a customer has with the company, from their first impression to their ongoing interactions. That’s why they take a 360-degree approach to branding (MDB calls this The Bankable Brand Alignment Method], developing strategies that cover everything from corporate identity, to digital presence: website, digital marketing, and social media. They’re also experts in brand positioning and messaging, so can help brands stand out from the crowd and connect with your target audience. In short, they know what it takes to build a strong, sustainable brand. 

Qualities that make a leader

As per Justine, a leader must be many things: confident, decisive, and level-headed. They must be able to take charge in a crisis and rally others to their cause. They must possess the strength of character to make tough choices, even when the path ahead is uncertain. And they must have the vision to see what is possible, even when others cannot. These are the three most important qualities a leader must possess. With them, anything is possible. Without them, even the simplest tasks become insurmountable. Most importantly a leader should be heart-centered and lead by example. 

Being decisive and rationale is crucial for leaders. But human as they are, there are moments when they might feel stuck. At times like these, Justine usually takes a deep breath and reminds herself that it is okay to not know everything. “I try to remember that everyone feels stuck or confused at times, even the people who seem to have it all together. Once I have given myself a little pep talk, I start brainstorming possible solutions. I try to think of all the different ways I could approach the problem. Sometimes, just taking a few minutes to brainstorm gives me the clarity I need to move forward. Other times, I like to do a little more research or ask for help from someone who has been there and done that and is well versed in that area or topic. I am very lucky to be connected with some incredible thought leaders. Most importantly I am kind to myself in the way I speak to myself as I know that I need to back myself to get through the situation. If you don’t believe in yourself then who will, period. I believe if you can see it in your mind, you can achieve it,” says Justine.

The preferred style of management

As a business leader, Justine believes that there are pros and cons to micromanaging. On the one hand, micromanaging can ensure that every aspect of the business is running smoothly. However, it can also be time-consuming and stressful, and it can prevent employees from taking initiative and being creative. Justine believes in empowering her employees to excel by giving them enough responsibility and resources to feel fulfilled and proud of their achievements and who they are becoming. She believes that as a business leader, one should set expectations and provide guidance, but one should also allow their team members to take ownership of their work and make decisions for themselves. “This approach has helped me to ensure that the business is running smoothly while also freeing up time to focus on other important tasks and goals,” she shares.

To the Budding Entrepreneurs:

Justine feels there’s no easy answer when it comes to the question of what advice to give young entrepreneurs. There are so many factors to consider and every situation is unique. So here’s what she has to say.

However, if I had to narrow it down, I would say that the most important thing is to be passionate about what you’re doing. If you’re not passionate about your business, it will be very difficult to succeed. You have to be willing to put in the hard work and dedication necessary to make your business a success. Additionally, you need to be able to take risks and accept failure as a possibility. Without taking risks, you’ll never achieve great things. 

As a young entrepreneur, you have a lot to learn. But don’t worry, that’s what entrepreneurship is all about – learning through experience. Always be learning. Be curious and read everything you can get your hands on – books, articles, blogs, whatever. And don’t just read about business – broaden your horizons and learn about history, psychology, science, art, anything that interests you. The more you know, the better equipped you’ll be to deal with the challenges of entrepreneurship. 

Don’t be afraid to fail. Failure is part of the process and it’s how we learn and grow. What matters is how you handle failure – do you let it defeat you or do you use it as motivation to succeed? Finally, always remember that attitude is everything. Entrepreneurship is tough and there will be days when you want to give up. It’s during those times that your positive attitude will make all the difference. Follow your dreams, work hard, and never give up, keep your head up, stay focused on your goals, and never give up. If you do those things, you’ll be well on your way to success.

I love the line from the poem Invictus “ I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul”. I keep this quote on my desk. As an entrepreneur, you will always be in control of your fate and your destiny.

Preparing for the New Normal

It’s no secret that the Covid-19 pandemic has turned the tables for every sector of the economy. With industries like hospitality and retail being hit the hardest, many companies have had to pivot to stay afloat. However, the IT sector has been one of the few to not only weather the storm but actually thrive in these uncertain times.

This is likely because, more than ever, people are relying on technology to stay connected and productive. As a result, there is a growing demand for innovative and reliable tech, creativity and software solutions. 

 So where does Justine see MDB in the years to come? She envisions the company as being at the forefront of this industry, providing cutting-edge solutions that help its clients stay ahead of the curve. To sustain this position, the team will continue to invest in research and development, and tech skills ensuring that they are always at the forefront of innovation.

 “Looking ahead, we see a bright future for our company. We plan to continue releasing cutting-edge services and products that meet the needs of our customers. We will also focus on building strong relationships with our clients, as we help them to future-proof their brands and pivot into the meta-verse terrain. We aim to help legacy-minded entrepreneurs cement their brands into the future of tech. With these strategies in place, coupled with our well-trained team of experts, we are confident that we can maintain our position as a leading brand and digital agency in the years to come,” concludes Justine.

Flybits : was born in a university research lab in 2008

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Flybits was born in a university research lab in 2008, by Professor Hossein Rahnama. He recognized that humans make decisions using different inputs and sources of information. It was a time when people were being bombarded with information while devices were getting smaller. An opportunity existed, to apply context to data and deliver relevant recommendations. It’s only with context that our physical and digital worlds can seamlessly connect, to bring experiences that are more impactful than we’ve ever seen before.

What are your aims, visions and ideals?

At Flybits, we believe that bad data sells and better data serves. We recently launched an open letter to Canada’s top national newspaper, the Globe and Mail. In it, we discuss the true promise of the Data Age. When data is protected, organized, secured, and delivered through the right channels, its power can work for us: relieving stress, fostering connections, and improving lives. We feel there is a huge opportunity for trustworthy, accountable financial institutions to be the standard-bearers of better data use.

View our open letter here

The data economy requires a new paradigm where data is treated as an asset class. And there is a major opportunity (and need) for banks to bring trust into the mix, and reimagine their business models.

Please view our video

Tell us about the services you offer to your customers?

Flybits empowers banks to engage an audience of one, at scale. Through our leading customer experience platform, banks can incorporate a human touch on their digital channels, and service customers through a dynamic feed of data-driven insights, personalized recommendations, and advice. While banks leverage our live-feed, we also prepackage all the relevant points of interaction — that help customers buy a home, save, manage debt, or onboard to a new product. Marketers activate these turnkey services to both help customers and drive real results. We enable the world’s top financial institutions to advance beyond transactions and be with their customers in the moments that matter.

Mention some of your contributions to the technological sector of the economy.

Flybits has built their product with financial institutions in mind. Ensuring that the solution we offer can address the problems in which they face. Namely, Flybits is an end-to-end and a fast time-to-market solution that was built with privacy and scalability in mind. What’s more, we bring financial institutions the power of context to address the demand of highly personalized, “always on” customer experiences. Flybits holds a patent portfolio with 11 patent filings under 3 families, combining the strength of semantic computing with data intelligence, machine learning and software engineering design patterns. And with a focus on customer centricity and intuitiveness, Flybits customers have a significant competitive advantage as they transform their digital channels with predictive, contextual intelligence.

Flybits has successfully helped FIs deliver hyper-personalized and predictive customer experiences to achieve business objectives. For example, a major bank in North America that leverages Flybits’ technology saw a 43% increase in user engagement in their mobile channel after implementing Flybits. Another major bank in Latin America achieved a 164% increase in offer redemption after personalizing customer experiences using Flybits.

  • Enlighten us about the notable recognitions and accreditations you have received as a company Flybits successes continue to be recognized at home and abroad.
  • The Globe and Mail named us amongst the Top 100 Growing Companies in Canada for our exceptional growth over the last three years.
  • Barclays has recognized us as a Highly Commended company. The criteria for this honor is based on a combination of disruption, impact, scale, and diversity of a product.
  • The University Waterloo awarded our HR team with their Generation Award, which highlights the continuous focus and impact we have made in developing the next generation of talent.
  • The Great Place to Work Certification, a direct result of our employees and their pride in working for Flybits.

In 2019 alone, were also recognized by:

  • Deloitte – as one of Canada’s fastest-growing technology companies as a 2019 Technology Fast 50™ award winner by Deloitte.
  • Frost & Sullivan awarded Flybits for best practices in Technology Innovation in global customer experience technology for the financial services market.
  • Recognized in The Fintech Power 50, an annual guide to the most influential, innovative, and powerful figures in the Fintech industry.
  • LinkedIn included Flybits on its 2019 Top Startups list in Canada, recognizing the organization as one of the hottest high-growth global companies to work for in the country.
  • CIX, Canada’s largest curated startup investment conference, named Flybits to its annual list of Top 10 Growth companies — a list that recognizes innovative, mature startups with high potential to scale.
  • How has the pandemic affected the tech market in Canada? Is your company changing with the market?

The pandemic brought with it a great amount of uncertainty. Flybits, along with our customer base, was impacted dramatically, not only from a revenue growth standpoint but also on an organizational level where we had to quickly mobilize our entire employee-base to a new working environment, while working closely with our customers who faced significant challenges.

When the pandemic hit, most banks around the world entered a crisis mode of accelerating and building digital capabilities to catch up to where they should have been. Inspired to be a catalyst for change and empowered by our entrepreneurial spirit, we have collectively emerged stronger from what was a very difficult year. We have been able to advance our product with a framework that makes it easy for our customers to integrate data, we built template experiences for our customers to go-to-market faster, and created audience optimization – an intelligence layer that helps banks better target their customers.

Modern technology has changed human thinking and its existence. With the rapid advancement towards globalization, what do you think the post-pandemic market will look like for tech companies?

The pandemic has accelerated digital transformation for many organizations with an emphasis on advancing customer experiences to be more in tune with personal needs and requirements. For tech companies, this will translate to collaborating with external partners to build robust customer ecosystems that can provide relevant and contextualized experiences.

Sushil Shamlal Wadhwa: Platinum World Grroup (yes it is spelt with an extra ‘r’)

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When I founded Platinum World Grroup (yes it is spelt with an extra ‘r’) in 2002, there was no other company offering Travel as an incentive for companies to rewards their top performers and stakeholders, neither was the concept of Destination Weddings existing. I started the company during a time when mobile communication and internet services were just about starting, so it was an incredibly challenging time to communicate internationally at that time, where International calls were super expensive, faxes were the default mode of sending documents, internet had just started thru dial-up connection and mobile telephony was very expensive. I was able to grow the company despite these odds and today it has achieved wonders. From organizing international company events for L’Oreal, E&Y, Citibank, HSBC, SCB, Reliance Industries Ltd and to organizing destination weddings to promoting brands and experiences the company has spread and grown well.

Platinum World Grroup became a conglomerate with a presence in MICE, Destination Weddings, Decor, Entertainment, Luxury Holidays, Cruises, Yacht Charters, TV & Film Production, Digital & Experiential Marketing, Content Creation, Health & Wellness.

The legal entity name is ‘Platinum Incentives and Events (P) Ltd.’​, in India and Platinum World Events in UAE.

PWG’s associate network is spread across 500+ destinations in 100+ countries, while the company has successfully executed Thousands of MICE projects, Weddings & Luxury Holidays in 80 Countries delighting over half a million people globally since inception. It was the 1st company in the world in it’s industry to get the prestigious ISO 9001: 2008 Certification for its processes in MICE, Events, Weddings and Luxury Travel.

The different businesses of Platinum World Grroup are operated under the following brands:

1. Platinum World Events –Offering Advisory and Turnkey Solutions for MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Events), Experiential Marketing, Hybrid Events, Virtual Events, Luxury & Fashion Events, Product Launches, Brand Activations, Corporate & Business Events. Now adding an Online Discovery Platform for Tourism Destinations, Hotels, Venues & Cruises, while being the leading information resource for companies planning MICE, Corporate Events and beyond worldwide.

2. Platinum Wedding World – Offering Advisory and Turnkey Solutions for High End Weddings, Destination Weddings, Wedding Entertainment & Decor, Anniversaries, Engagements, Pre-Wedding and Birthday Celebrations. Now adding an Online Discovery Platform for Tourism Destinations, Hotels, Venues & Cruises, while being the leading resource of inspiration and information for HNIs planning Destination Weddings & Celebrations worldwide.

3. Platinum Signature Experiences – Solutions include Luxury Hotel & Villa Bookings, Private Jet, Helicopter & Yacht Charters, Supercar Driving Experiences, Gastronomic Fine Dining Experiences amongst others. Now adding an Online Discovery Platform for Tourism Destinations, Hotels, Private Villas, Yachts, Private Jets, Helicopters, Venues & Cruises, while being the leading source of information for HNIs planning inspirational curated Luxury and Adventure Travel Experiences worldwide.

4. BILLIONAIRE LIFESTYLE – Leading Online Discovery Platform and Digital Marketing Partner for Luxury Brands in Real Estate, Automobiles, Private Jets, Luxury Yachts, Watches, Jewellery, Holiday Homes, Luxury Hotels, Resorts & Villas while being the ultimate resource of luxury inspirations for connoisseurs worldwide.

5. Platinum Pictures – High Quality, Creative, Video & Still images, Content Creation for Digital Marketing, TV & Film Production.

6. VITALYSE LIFESCIENCES – Offering Health & Wellness solutions through extensively researched Health Supplements in the form Oral Dissolving Strips, under the brand, ‘Vitalyse Wellness Strips’, made with Natural Active Ingredients and Proprietary Nanotechnology, with therapeutic qualities that offer optimum nutrition and enhance the body’s abilities to improve Immunity, General Wellness, Anti Ageing, Ingestible Beauty, Gut Health, Weight Loss, Energy, Sleep and more, with no side effects.

Standing true to its tagline, Platinum World Grroup has touched many lives with splendour and created umpteen experiences beyond extraordinary. Highest quality standards, experienced leadership, and a thorough orientation towards client’s requisites give an edge to the company and make it stand out among the best of the best.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS:

  1. Associate network in 500+ destinations across 100 countries
  2. Thousands of Events, Weddings & Luxury Holidays successfully executed in 80 countries delighting more than half a millions people around the world.
  3. First company in Event Industry worldwide to get ISO Certification for its processes.
  4. Adding a new dimension with an online discovery and resource platform for Business Events, Celebrations and Luxury Travel.
  5. Ventured into Health & Wellness with Vitalyse Lifesciences
  • What are the aims and ideals that guide your organisation?

We have always responded to challenges and problems with quick thinking and effective solutions. Moving forward, we see that more and more companies and individuals will have the DIY (Do It Yourself) Approach to MICE, Corporate Events, Weddings and Travel. As a company with enormous experience of having successfully done various projects in 80 countries, we are now adding an Online Discovery Platform, that will give Tourism Boards, Hotels, Venues & Cruises to reach out to their target audience through our network, while giving our clients the ready information, inspirations and resources to plan their own events, weddings & travel and get latest ideas and trending destinations. We continue to offer Advisory or Turnkey Solutions for Business Events, Celebrations and Luxury Travel, for companies and individuals wanting the extra edge for their programs.

  • Enlighten us about your source of inspiration? What or who motivates you to work harder?

I’m a strong believer in following one’s passion and having a balance in all areas of life like personal development, family, health, emotional and spiritual. I believe in discipline and being positive, as a positive mindset makes you rise higher daily and makes you face any situation in life and discipline keeps you on track.

I believe that “Education makes a Nation. I intend to fund the education of as many lesser privileged children as possible so that they can get basic & vocational education and are ready to make their own careers. Besides that, I intend to work on helping the lesser privileged with basic health care. These causes motivate me to work hard daily to achieve my personal goals and create enough wealth to able to fund these causes close to my heart.

  • Kindly mention some of the notable recognitions and accreditations received by your organisation.

Our company was the first company in the event industry worldwide to get an ISO Certification for all our processes in event management, wedding planning and travel planning. This was an achievement, because they’re so many factors at play when you’re planning a live event, and to be able to implement world class processes and systems took a lot of effort. Personally I was one of the first Indian’s to serve on the Asia Pacific MICE Advisory Board for Starwood Hotels & Resorts for 3 years, and then it was acquired by Marriott Hotels. I also have had the privilege to be the first and only Indian, to be on the jury of Miss Portugal for 2 years.

  • Where do you see your organisation in the years to come? How do plan to respond to the lows that followed the pandemic?

Technology has and will continue to play a major role moving forward in our industry with the pandemic having had its effect on the events, travel and tourism industry worldwide. But when the world starts opening up, we expect to see a huge surge in business, at the same time see the industry evolving to Hybrid Events. Hence we are working on our online platform to adapt to this situation as mentioned earlier, where we will create an online Discovery Platform, that will help both the Tourism Boards, Hotels & Venues reach their target audience and help our clients plan their own events, should they choose to, or take our Turnkey Solutions to plan it for them.

  • Do you think technology is a blessing or a double-edged sword?

There are always two sides to it!! If technology replaces physical events, then it’s a double edge sword, but if it enhances the industry, then it’s a blessing. Personally, I like to view it as a blessing. With hybrid events, the opportunity of having a physical audience, while reaching to a larger virtual audience, has now gone mainstream to business events and celebrations. This I feel has changed the Events industry greatly.

Thanks to the advent of Social Media Technology, we have built a loyal following of our clients on my personal and the company’s social media handles. In earlier times, we would have to send out newsletters to keep our clients informed of our work and new destinations and trends, now that has changed, as they follow our social media handles and get almost instant updates about new trends and destinations. This is a major boon and has encouraged us to use our collective reach in excess of 250K Followers, many of which have been our clients or experienced our services, and offer this bouquet of our 5 Handles as an Influencer to various Tourism Boards, Hotels & Venues who want to reach out to the perfect audience.3

What is your advice to budding entrepreneurs who wish to kick start their careers?

I always advise budding entrepreneurs the following:

  • Identify their passions
  • Find problems and offer solutions
  • If the solution is part of their passion, then they’ve hit bulls eye.
  • Be ready for financial challenges
  • Have a Positive mind-set

MARINA WORRE: A virtual experience like no other

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THE DAWN OF WORRE STUDIOS

Worre Studios is a state-of-the-art 25,000 square foot facility that brings virtual and traditional events into the future. From live television broadcasts, product launches, live concerts, award shows, press conferences, hosting a speaker series, or even a business meeting, producers now have a way to reach a global audience most efficiently and impressively.

What started as a temporary solution, ended up being a new way of doing virtual and hybrid events that will be here for decades to come, and the capabilities of Worre Studios now stretch even beyond events and into filming and video production.

It was simple at first – she had a problem (COVID shut down the world and she had in-person events planned during 2020) and she needed a solution. She played with the live streams and webinar type of formats, but they were missing the connection piece – interacting with the people attending. It felt like they were just talking and talking to a camera without any feedback, versus educating and making sure those they were teaching were fully engaged and joining in on what was happening. That end-user experience is what propelled her to create this incredible studio facility, which now has morphed into something much bigger in scope, reach, and accessibility.

A pioneer in producing events, Marina is truly paving the way for revamping the future for virtual and hybrid events.

CHALLENGES AND OBSTACLES FACED IN HER JOURNEY

The first challenge was building the studio – in less than 90 days during the pandemic they had the idea for a studio of this nature. They created the plan to build it, and then they constructed it and finished it in time to host their first event. They had to deal with a lot of supply chain issues, like most in this industry face, but they triumphed over their obstacles and found a way to stay on schedule. The other challenge was learning the technology and the capabilities – they continue to find new capabilities and new ways of using the technology all the time so the offerings of what they bring to the table keep multiplying. It’s a good challenge to have!

PORTFOLIO OF SERVICES OFFERED

At its heart, Worre Studios is a multi-use state-of-the-art 25,000 square foot production studio and event facility. What makes it stand out is the technology – surrounding the stage-in-the-round footprint are dual 73-foot wide, 14-foot tall 1.9mm 4k curved LED video walls. It’s incredible! All of the broadcasting elements and audio and video equipment is are highly advanced –she wanted the equipment to go beyond what people were currently using, knowing that they can grow along with the tech housed in the studio for years to come. Since launching, they have hosted globally-reaching events with guest speakers, product launches, educational seminars – they have even filmed a music video! For the large-scale events, they can have a full-interactive/full-participatory style event with hundreds of thousands of attendees in real-time, giving everyone a front-row seat. They also have the ability to stream to multiple platforms to increase engagement; they can create 3D immersive environments allowing guests and hosts to join from around the world, but appear together, and with the use of Unreal Engine they have XR/VR/AR capabilities. They are currently building a full green-screen room to add another layer to what they can do with the content.

She had two huge factors that led her to the foundation of Worre Studios. The first was the capability to interact in real-time with event attendees, which they accomplished seamlessly. The second factor was utilizing the system so they could have real-time translations into other languages – a huge factor when reaching hundreds of thousands of people around the world. During an event I produced in May, they had more than 180,000 attendees registered and they spanned over 100 countries, and it was a really special experience.

HER OPINIONS ON THE CHANGE IN THE MARKET POST-PANDEMIC

I think we are learning first-hand that the event market is a bit unpredictable. Right now, with the rise of the Delta variant of COVID, we are seeing a lot of events that are either still wanting to go fully virtual or are looking to add virtual elements and additional events for their attendees who are still not travelling. I feel the need for this type of studio is long-term, which is why I made sure the technology was so advanced that when we look to five, 10, even 15 years in the future, we have the capabilities to keep up with the changing tech environment. I also think a lot of future events will be hybrid which is why we made half of the 360-degree LED screens available to be moved back to the house a live audience or create a lounge area for a party.

CREATING A WORK-LIFE BALANCE

I believe that balance means different things to different people, it is a subjective topic. I don’t believe in balance in a 24-hour cycle – you can’t maintain it. What my husband and I do is look at our life in seasons. Season to grow, season to maintain, and season to harvest. When we are working on a big project, there might be several months of long workdays with no weekends. Then there will be less intense periods where we work quite less, and then there is a season when we can work for a couple of hours a day and enjoy family vacation time for a couple of weeks. But we are never completely off. We love what we do and for us, it doesn’t feel like work. It’s a passion. So, we don’t differentiate between work and life. For us, it’s all life. It just has different seasons in it.

HER ADVICE TO YOUNG WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS

I like to prove people wrong and constantly raise standards for myself and other female entrepreneurs around me. I don’t mind playing with “big boys”, because I have confidence in who I am and what I’m doing. My advice is to work on your confidence, know your worth, plan big, and speak up!

Elizabeth Cowper -A Driven Leader Transforming Workplace Inclusion

Posted on by theciotimes

While most of us are happy discussing how space tourism can be made feasible over say next 10 years, a few of us are still struggling to close the gender pay gap here on earth which, by estimates would take around 100 years by the current rate. Reasons? Aplenty. As per a recent survey, 77% of men believed that their partner should be the one making the career sacrifice for the sake of their family. 

It’s not just about men, many women also feel that it is their moral duty to choose family over their career. This comes from the conditioning they have had since childhood. Subconscious biases persist and often gender roles are used as a pretext for curbing women’s career development.

When women do get into the workforce, their decision to start a family is often seen and perceived as a decision to let go of their careers. Neither they nor their team, often comprising men is sure of how to handle the transition that starts with their pregnancy. Should they come to the office? Should they be called up when they are taking a day off for a routine checkup? Who would handle their tasks when they finally take maternity leave? These and more questions bother not just working women but their peers at work. Thankfully, a working mother took notice of it and with experience came up with promising solutions.

Meet Elizabeth Cowper

Founder of the Ludo, Elizabeth Cowper has been through – and continues to face – many of the challenges any working mother experiences. She loves being a mother and was equally passionate about her career as a VP of HR. She’s proud of both the Wo (working) and Mo (mother) parts of her life.

Her previous role as VP HR and Global Head of Wellbeing helped Elizabeth see things from both the employer and the employee sides. She has seen maternity leave and returning to work managed brilliantly. She has also seen it be a complete disaster. “If we get it right from both sides the return to work can be a far easier transition for both. I believe us WoMos deserve support and a resource for the challenging moments,” she says.

Determined to help both ends of the spectrum, Elizabeth went on to establish Ludo, a company on a mission to engage female talent in the workforce. Ludo is all about tech for inclusion, working to close the gender pay gap, and educating, informing, and supporting HR. 

What Ludo Does

Ludo provides tech for inclusion and the basis for its B2B SaaS works similarly to other benefit contents platforms.

It has amazing content from expert partners and what sets Ludo apart in the market is its HR and Line Manager learning hub. It supports HR and Line Managers on how to deliver a culture of inclusion and drive the right behaviors. “It is important to support everyone in the business. We focus on the inclusion of women as the gender pay gap is still horrific and women are a long way off gender parity, and we do this through driving inclusion for all,” explains Elizabeth.

A Career shaped by Passion

Before starting Ludo, Elizabeth had a career of 25 years in HR. She is also a mother of 3. 2 daughters and a son. She has always worked full-time and has been committed to her career alongside being a good mum to her kids. 

The last role she had in her corporate career was Global Head of Wellbeing and part of the Global DEI committee alongside her role as VP of HR.  

The three components of this role bought together Elizabeth’s HR career and she found her true passion and purpose, to drive a culture of inclusion. She was described once as the ‘culture adjuster’. 

“I see the benefit of each and every employee being able to work as their authentic self, which in turn creates happier employees, a better working environment, and greater productivity which is good for business. This all matters to drive a winning culture, and for people to feel valued with a sense of belonging,” she says.

Elizabeth was listed by HR Most Influential 5 years in a row and as The 10 Most Futuristic Business Women Pioneering Innovation, 2022. Ludo won the “Inclusion Initiative of the Year 2022”, Prestige Awards by Corporate Livewire, “Rising Stars in Corporate Wellbeing 2022”, Greater London Enterprise Awards and Best Enterprising Business, SME Awards, London. 

The business world is full of enigmatic stories waiting to be seen and heard. At CIO Times, we handpick such tales for the world to acknowledge. These stories speak not just of success, but also of the struggle hiding behind them. As one of the top business magazines, we share an insight into the inner workings of different business sectors, through inspiring stories.
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Company Overview

The business world is full of enigmatic stories waiting to be seen and heard. At CIO Times, we handpick such tales for the world to acknowledge. These stories speak not just of success, but also of the struggle hiding behind them. As one of the top business magazines, we share an insight into the inner workings of different business sectors, through inspiring stories.

© 2024 CIO TImes Pvt. Ltd. All Right Reserved.