The 10 Most Influential Business Leaders to Watch in 2024

VOL 08 I ISSUE 17 I 2024 Charlene Ignacio Serial Entrepreneur & Mul?-Indutry CEO From Manager to Leader Essen?al Skills for Career Advancement The Power of Empathy How Leaders Can Cul?vate Stronger Teams

ĞLeadership is not about being the strongest in the room but about enabling others to be their bestąğ

Victors in Business n today's business environment, leaders are making a remarkable impact by redefining success and shaping the future of industries. These individuals are not just steering their companies towards I greater profitability but are also setting new standards in leadership and innovation. What sets them apart is their exceptional ability to foresee and adapt to change. With rapid technological advancements and shifting economic conditions, these leaders are adept at integrating cutting-edge technologies and evolving their strategies to stay ahead. Their forward-thinking approach not only advances their organizations but also influences broader market trends and industry norms. Their influence extends beyond technology and profit margins; they are also at the forefront of promoting sustainability and ethical practices. As global concerns about environmental and social issues intensify, these leaders are integrating responsible practices into their business models. They understand that long- term success is closely linked to the health of the environment and the well-being of communities, setting a new benchmark for how businesses should operate. Their innovative approach to fostering organizational culture is transforming workplaces. By emphasizing inclusivity, collaboration, and employee well-being, these leaders drive productivity and enhance job satisfaction and retention. Their focus on creating supportive and dynamic work environments is setting new standards for leadership and employee engagement. The business leaders making waves today are those who combine visionary thinking with a commitment to ethical practices and progressive work cultures. Their impact is far-reaching, shaping the future of business and setting an example for others to follow! Have a mesmerizing read ahead! Prince Bolton Editor's Note

C C O V E R S T O R Y 08 O N P R O F I L E S T Aliza Ayaz Naviga?ng Climate Ac?on and 16 Corporate Reali?es E Tiffany Mackinnon Transforming Supply Chain Excellence 24 with Innova?on and Exper?se N A R T I C L E S From Manager to Leader Essen?al Skills for Career 20 Advancement T The Power of Empathy How Leaders Can Cul?vate 28 Stronger Teams S

Featured Person Company Name Brief Aliza is Management Consultant and working independently Climate Action Society, Aliza Ayaz with Climate Action Society, United Nations and TORI UN and TORI Global Management Global, collaborating with governments, businesses, and www.toriglobai.com Consultant educational institutions providing expertise. With close to 30 years' experience, Anna has managed broad Anna Lee remits including Operations, Finance, People & Culture, Flybuys Chief Executive Legal, Risk and Compliance, IT and Office Management www.livehire.com Officer functions. Pooja M Bansal Editor-in-Chief Charlene Ignacio Charlene has 25+ years of experience as a serial Fornix Marketing entrepreneur and business coach to help owners, global Serial Entrepreneur and www.fornixmarketing.com CONTENT companies, and MSPs stay competitive and grow. Multi-Industry CEO FOLLOW US ON Deputy Editor Anish Miller www.facebook.com/ciolook Managing Editor Jasper Sheppard www.twiter.com/ciolook Christina Mertens Christina is an experienced Business Development Manager VIRTUS Data Centres with expertise in IT, Corporate Finance, Strategic Planning, VP of Business WE ARE ALSO AVAILABLE ON www.virtusdatacentres.com and Marketing. Development DESIGN Visualizer Dave Bates David has the capacity to create momentum to mobilize people David Fiorucci LP3 AG Leadership Art & Design Director Davis Mar?n towards a common objective towards an attractive vision via a www.lp3leadership.com Founder & CEO stimulating, creative and inspiring framework. CONTACT US ON Associate Designer Jameson Carl Email Natasha Makhijani Natasha is the Group CEO at Oliver Sanderson Group PLC, Oliver Sanderson info@ciolook.com SALES delivering unmatched recruitment and consultancy through Group Chief Executive Group PLC For Subscripton personalized, client-focused partnerships. Officer www.oliversanderson.com Senior Sales Manager Wilson T., Hunter D. www.ciolook.com Customer Success Manager Luke Dam Sabine Reuss Copyright © 2024 CIOLOOK, All Sabine is an expert in Brand Management, Corporate Capgemini Chief Marketing & rights reserved. The content and Sales Execu?esTim, Smith Marketing, and Communications, including Social Marketing, www.capgemini.com Communications images used in this magazine should Crisis Management, and Corporate Responsibility. not be reproduced or transmited in Officer, Germany TECHNICAL any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, Technical Head Peter Hayden photocopying, recording or A highly motivated and goal-orientated business leader with Qiagen Simona Grandits otherwise, without prior permission more than 10 year of international experiences in the IVD and Technical Consultant Victor Collins www.qiagen.com/in from CIOLOOK. VP GEM EEMEA LS industry. Reprint rights remain solely with SME-SMO CIOLOOK. Research Analyst Eric Smith Soukayna Ikhiche Soukayna is a B2B Manager at Zalando, a top online fashion Zalando Manager, B2B SEO Execu?eAlen Spencer platform, serving 50 million customers in 25 markets with a www.zalando.com/en wide range of brands. (Southern Europe) Tiffany MacKinnon Tiffany is senior logistics and supply chain leader possessing HCL Technologies sales@ciolook.com extensive knowledge in import/export regulatory requirements, Head of Global Supply www.hcltech.com global logistics and supply chain program development. Chain Services August, 2024

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From Manager to Leader Essential Skills for Career Advancement areer advancement is a primary goal for many professionals, and the transition from manager C to leader marks a crucial milestone in this journey. While managerial roles often focus on tasks such as planning, organizing, and coordinating, leadership involves inspiring, guiding, and influencing others to achieve a shared vision. To successfully make this shift, professionals must develop a distinct set of skills that extend beyond traditional management capabilities. These essential skills not only differentiate effective leaders but also ensure that they can drive their teams and organizations toward sustained success. Strategic Thinking One of the key differences between a manager and a leader is the ability to think strategically. Managers often concentrate on day-to-day operations, ensuring that tasks are completed efficiently, and objectives are met. In contrast, leaders must have the foresight to anticipate future challenges and opportunities. This requires a broader perspective, where decisions are made with long-term goals in mind. Strategic thinking involves analyzing complex situations, considering multiple outcomes, and crafting plans that align with the organization's vision. To develop strategic thinking, professionals should engage in continuous learning and stay informed about industry trends, economic factors, and technological advancements. This knowledge enables them to identify potential threats and opportunities early on, allowing for more informed decision-making. Additionally, leaders must cultivate the ability to see the bigger picture, understanding how different parts of the organization interconnect and how their decisions impact the overall direction of the business. 20 21 www.ciolook.com |August 2024 | www.ciolook.com | August 2024 |

Emotional Intelligence Leaders must be comfortable with taking calculated risks and making decisions without having all the Emotional intelligence is another critical skill for those information. They must also be willing to take ĞLeadership is the responsibility for the outcomes of their decisions, seeking to advance from manager to leader. While technical expertise and industry knowledge are whether positive or negative. To improve decision- abilit} to guide others important, the ability to understand and manage making skills, professionals should develop their critical emotions—both one's own and those of others—is what thinking abilities, seek diverse perspectives, and reflect without the use of forceąğ sets great leaders apart. Emotional intelligence on past decisions to understand what worked and what encompasses self-awareness, self-regulation, didn’t. motivation, empathy, and social skills. Adaptability and Resilience Leaders with high emotional intelligence are better equipped to handle stress, make sound decisions under In today's business world, change is constant. Leaders pressure, and maintain positive relationships with their must be able to adapt to new situations, challenges, and team members. They can accurately assess the mood opportunities as they arise. This requires a level of and morale of their teams, addressing issues before flexibility and resilience that goes beyond the they escalate. Moreover, emotionally intelligent leaders capabilities of a typical manager. are skilled in providing feedback and resolving conflicts in a way that maintains trust and respect within the Adaptability involves being open to new ideas, willing team. to change course when necessary, and remaining calm in the face of uncertainty. Resilience, on the other hand, Effective Communication refers to the ability to recover from setbacks and continue moving forward. Leaders must be able to Communication is at the heart of leadership. While maintain their composure and lead their teams through managers may focus on giving instructions and periods of change, ensuring that morale remains high, ensuring compliance, leaders must inspire and motivate and that the organization stays on track to achieve its through their words and actions. Effective goals. communication involves not only articulating ideas clearly but also listening actively, asking the right Conclusion, questions, and adapting the message to the audience. The journey from manager to leader involves more than Leaders must be able to communicate the just a change in title—it requires the development of a organization's vision and goals in a way that resonates new set of skills that enable professionals to inspire, with their team members. This requires clarity, guide, and influence others. Strategic thinking, transparency, and the ability to convey complex ideas in emotional intelligence, effective communication, a simple and relatable manner. Additionally, leaders decision-making, and adaptability are all essential for should be skilled in both formal and informal leadership success. By honing these skills, professionals communication, whether delivering a keynote address, can not only advance their careers but also contribute leading a team meeting, or having a one-on-one to the long-term success of their teams and conversation with a team member. organizations. In the end, true leadership is about creating a vision, guiding others toward that vision, and Decision-Making remaining resilient in the face of challenges. Those who master these skills will find themselves well-equipped The ability to make decisions confidently and to lead in any business environment. effectively is crucial for leadership. While managers often make decisions based on established procedures and protocols, leaders are frequently called upon to make judgment calls in uncertain or ambiguous situations. This requires a balance of analytical thinking and intuition. 22 www.ciolook.com |August 2024 |

The Power of Empathy How Leaders Can Cultivate Stronger Teams n today's business environment, the ability of leaders to cultivate stronger teams is essential for I organizational success. While technical skills and strategic acumen are often highlighted as critical leadership qualities, one often underappreciated attribute that has profound implications for team building is empathy. Empathy, the ability to understand and share the feelings of others, can be a powerful tool in creating a cohesive, motivated, and resilient team. The Role of Empathy in Leadership Empathy in leadership goes beyond simply acknowledging the emotions of team members. It involves actively listening, understanding diverse perspectives, and responding thoughtfully to the needs of others. When leaders demonstrate empathy, they build trust within their teams. This trust fosters open communication, encourages collaboration, and helps resolve conflicts more effectively. Leaders who practice empathy are more attentive to the well-being of their team members. They recognize when someone is struggling, whether due to personal issues, workload, or other challenges. By addressing these concerns with compassion, empathetic leaders create an environment where team members feel valued and supported. This, in turn, leads to increased job satisfaction, loyalty, and productivity. Empathy as a Driver of Collaboration Collaboration is at the heart of successful teams, and empathy plays a pivotal role in enhancing this collaboration. When leaders show empathy, they create 28 29 www.ciolook.com |August 2024 | www.ciolook.com | August 2024 |

an atmosphere where team members feel comfortable culture. When leaders consistently demonstrate sharing their ideas and opinions without fear of empathy, they set a standard for behaviour that judgment. This openness encourages the exchange of permeates throughout the organization. This creates a Ğś leaderĊs most diverse perspectives, leading to more innovative culture where empathy is valued, leading to more solutions and better decision-making. positive interactions among employees at all levels. powerful all} is their Empathetic leaders also facilitate collaboration by An empathetic organizational culture can also enhance recognizing and respecting the unique strengths and employee retention. In a workplace where people feel own e|ampleąğ weaknesses of each team member. They understand understood and appreciated, they are more likely to that everyone has different working styles and stay and contribute to the organization's long-term preferences, and they strive to create a work success. Moreover, such a culture attracts top talent, as environment that accommodates these differences. potential employees are drawn to organizations where This inclusive approach not only boosts team morale empathy and support are integral to the work but also maximizes the potential of each team member, environment. resulting in a more cohesive and high-performing team. The Challenges of Practicing Empathy Empathy and Conflict Resolution While the benefits of empathy in leadership are clear, Conflict is inevitable in any team, but the way it is practicing it consistently can be challenging. Leaders managed can make or break the team's cohesion. often face pressure to meet deadlines, achieve targets, Empathy is a crucial tool in conflict resolution, as it and make tough decisions, which can make it difficult to allows leaders to understand the root causes of prioritize empathy. However, the long-term advantages disagreements and address them in a manner that of cultivating an empathetic leadership style far respects all parties involved. outweigh the challenges. Empathetic leaders approach conflicts with a mindset of understanding rather than blame. They take the time One-way leaders can overcome these challenges is by to listen to each side of the issue, acknowledging the being mindful of their own emotions and stress levels. emotions and concerns of everyone involved. This Self-awareness is key to maintaining empathy, as it approach not only helps de-escalate tensions but also allows leaders to manage their own reactions and paves the way for constructive dialogue and mutually respond to others in a thoughtful and compassionate agreeable solutions. manner. Empathy and Employee Development Conclusion, Employee development is another area where empathy Empathy is a powerful and often overlooked tool in can have a profound impact. Leaders who are leadership that can significantly strengthen teams. By empathetic are more likely to recognize the aspirations, understanding and addressing the emotions, needs, and goals, and potential of their team members. They take perspectives of their team members, empathetic an interest in their employees' professional growth and leaders build trust, enhance collaboration, and cultivate provide the support and guidance needed to help them a positive organizational culture. Although it may achieve their full potential. require effort and mindfulness, the rewards of empathetic leadership are substantial, leading to more Empathetic leaders are also better equipped to give cohesive, motivated, and successful teams. In the end, constructive feedback. They deliver feedback in a way empathy is not just a leadership skill; it is a fundamental that is considerate of the employee's feelings and human quality that, when embraced, can transform provides clear, actionable steps for improvement. teams and drive organizational success. Empathy and Organizational Culture The impact of empathy in leadership extends beyond individual teams to shape the broader organizational 30 www.ciolook.com |August 2024 |

ĞThe best leaders are those who show their strength through humilit} and vulnerabilit}ąğ

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The 10 Most Influential Business Leaders to Watch in 2024

The 10 Most Influential Business Leaders to Watch in 2024

Presentation Transcript

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