CEOs Transforming Business Through Innovation.pdf

www.insightssuccess.com
Strategizing
Businesses
Impact of Innova ve
Leadership in
Enhancing Workﬂow
VOL.08
ISSUE 10
2022
Lutz
Hilbrich
The DEI Rule
Top Technological
Solu ons that Impacts
Organiza onal Inclusivity
Dr. Lutz Hilbrich
Chief Executive Officer
ProBioGen

Edor Empowering
Corporations
for the Future
n the initial years of life, endless stories of valor,
Icommunities, and folklore have connected everyone to
the past. But the question of what created these
beautiful victories emerged later while discovering the
depth of the world. While passing by various historical
bibliographies, the common answer found was – A Leader.
Addressed by unique names in various civilizations around
the world, Leaders have been a path-guider for a wide array
of demography, ushering a wave of change and reforms that
ensures to bless the world with an Enriched Life—a life that
is witnessed to be better than yesterday.
Flipping the pages to contemporary times, these steps of
transformation are being painted by business leaders – the
CEOs, whose reﬂections can be witnessed in the multifold
progress instilled in the dynamics of society, economy,
polity, ecology, or major corporate policies.
The role of a Chief Executive Oﬃcer has been central in
empowering any industry, creating a never-imagined
cooperative era that is not only empowered but also
development-driven. In the organizational formulae of
adding creativity to this mixture, global C-level executives
are actively infusing the marvels of emerging technology to
simplify lives. Well, what could have been the other reason
for us to sit and communicate thoughts and opinions with a
single electronic touch?
Shrutika Khedekar
Managing Editor

-Drishti Gaikwad
YES! That is the power CEOs are branching out to the
global citizenry, crafting an era of enhanced consumer-
manufacturer relations.
But this is just a dot in the entire pages of their innovative
and business-transforming stories. Their leadership lifetime
has been woven with colorful beads of experiences and
creations that were at times either warm or at times from
the palette of cool colors.
To be a medium to share their wisdom and their life
musings, we at Insights Success came up with our latest
edition, “CEO’s Transforming Business Through
Innovations,” which will serve you a one-stop inspiring
read about the journey, life lessons, inventions and
discoveries, and much more of the CEOs around the world,
that will quench the questions of your curious souls asking,
“How a leader is made and how are they transforming the
globe?”
Dive in to begin the journey into their magically
empowered worlds! While you delve deeper into the
edition, enjoy the surprise of mind-boggling articles
scripted by our in-house editorial team.
I hope you have an insightful read!
, ,
CEO's not only empower corporate
entrepreneurship but also impart values, behaviors
and attitudes to closely manage growth.

Cover
Sto
Lutz
Hilbrich
Envisioning a World
with No Fear of Sickness
08
The DEI Rule
Top Technological Solutions that Impacts
Organizational Inclusivity
Strategizing Businesses
Impact of Innovative Leadership
in Enhancing Workﬂow
30
18

Addis Alemayehou
Devising Marvels with
Strategic Counsel
Anthony J James
Envisioning Innovation,
Transforming Businesses
Dr. Mko Balogun
Interview With Insightssuccess
32
22 26
36
Mirabell Mayack
Inside Helper in
African Investment

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August, 2022
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Kelly, David
Business Development Executives
Managing Editor
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Business Development Manager
Bhushan Bhad
Art & Design Head
Art & Design Assistant
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Assistant Digital Marketing Manager

Brief
Company
Savvy Marketers
savvy-marketers.com
Brian Goudie
CEO
Denise Sangster
CEO
Addis Alemayehou
Chairman
Anthony J James
Founder and CEO
Alexandra Gonzalez
CEO and Founder
Addis Alemayehou struck through the entrepreneurial battlefield
to promote pioneering innovation which is bridging the gap
between innovative ideas and strategic partnerships.
Since founding Savvy Marketers in 2012, Alexandra Gonzalez
has been a leader in providing strategic guidance to Chairmen,
Presidents, and CEO’s on topics that include Strategic Planning,
Category Expansion and New Product Innovation.
The Founder and CEO of Influencer Active, Inc.—Anthony J James
is known to be the transformative wheel behind the world’s first
Business Influencer Marketplace.
Brian Goudie strengthens company’s leadership, bringing
decades of innovation and experience to increase the trust and
efficiency of the payments industry.
Denise Sangster is an expert with knowing how to “unleash”
the power of partner ecosystems, accelerating IT company-
partner success, and establishing predictability of growth,
revenue, profitability and value between IT companies.
Kazana Group
kazanagroup.com
Influencer Active, Inc.
influencer-active.com
Aurora Payments
risewithaurora.com
Global Touch, Inc.
globaltouch.com
GPFI Group
gpfigroup.com
Julie Russell
CEO
Lutz Hilbrich
CEO
Emma Dickison
CEO and President
Dr. MKO Balogun
CEO
As the Group CEO of GPFI Group, Dr. MKO Balogun
drives the company to top the leaderboard in the
African Continent.
Emma Dickison began her career in franchising 30 years ago,
having worked with two other strong brands, both number one
in their respective industries.
Julie genuinely enjoys what she gets to do everyday and is
thankful for the path that led her to where she is now.
Being the CEO of ProBioGen and MiGenTra, Lutz Hilbrich
aims to develop innovative solutions for today’s and
tomorrow’s diseases with the collective efforts of the entire
teams.
Home Helpers
Home Care
homehelpershomecare.com
Diamond Edge IT
diamondedge-it.com
ProBioGen
probiogen.de
Mario Martinez
CEO and Co-founder
Mario spent 96 consecutive quarters in B2B Sales and
Leadership roles growing hundreds of millions of dollars in
revenue annually.
Vengreso
vengreso.com
Featuring
Mirabell Mayack
Senior Director
Governmental
Affairs and Strategic Sales
Mirabell Mayack established African Investment Intelligence
with the grail to provide the investors with expert opinion
giving them an edge to invest and immerse with confidence in
Sub Saharan French Speaking Africa.
African Investment
Intelligence
africaninvestmentintelligence.com

Lutz Hilbrich
Lutz Hilbrich
Envisioning a World with No Fear of Sickness
Making a difference is what
drives me, and being committed
to healthcare, positively
impacting people's lives, keeps
me going.
Cover Story

Dr. Lutz Hilbrich
Chief Executive Officer
ProBioGen

The formula for an organization's growth can differ
from leader to leader, but the one thing that remains
common in all of them is their enthusiasm to
collaborate with people. Once the leader has established a
teamwork spirit within his/her people, then ideas for growth
and innovations can flow smoothly within the organization
without hesitation.
Every other company, as we all know, is undergoing a
transformation majorly aided by technology.
Biopharmaceutical companies are no exception. The
COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to the demand for
developing strong and sustaining medicinal solutions. It has
placed enormous responsibility on the leaders of
biopharmaceutical companies to manufacture and develop
ground-breaking solutions for new and old diseases.
As the leader of two biopharmaceutical enterprises, Lutz
Hilbrich believes in fulfilling these responsibilities through
effective collaboration with his people. Being the CEO of
ProBioGen and MiGenTra, he aims to develop innovative
solutions for today's and tomorrow's diseases with the
collective efforts of the entire teams.
ProBioGen is a renowned Contract Development and
Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) and technology
provider. It develops and manufactures unique and
individualized biopharmaceutical drug candidates reliably
and rapidly. Its innovative technologies can elevate clients'
products to the highest yield, potency, quality, and safety
levels.
Without further ado, let's get to know more interesting
insights about Lutz Hilbrich and how he effectively keeps
ProBioGen on the growth track.
Managing Responsibilities with Honor and Humility
Since joining ProBioGen in June 2020, Lutz has focused
first and foremost on what he considers the company's
biggest asset – its people. He believes that “success is not a
one-person show.” This is why he has an open-door policy
and has kept aside a two-hour timeslot every Monday
morning for anyone in the company for feedback, to ask for
advice, or just to chat.
As the CEO of ProBioGen and its subsidiary MiGenTra,
Lutz notes that he has to travel frequently and also has to
take care of many other responsibilities. Due to this, he
mentions that the time he can reserve for the interactions is
becoming infrequent, but still, he manages to facilitate as
many interactions as possible.
Furthermore, on creating a strong team, he says, “We aim to
hire and retain dedicated employees, whom we call
'ProBioGeniuses,' as they are crucial to our productivity
and success.”
Lutz has constantly been working on growing the company.
In the past two years, the firm has accelerated its path of
expanding capacity and diversifying. Mid 2021, ProBioGen
incorporated its subsidiary MiGenTra, which develops
biosimilars, vaccines, and cell and gene therapies for the
Middle East and African continent.
“Together, we aim to transform the lives of millions in
urgent medical need with modern biological medicines at
affordable prices,” quotes Lutz.
As the CEO of both MiGenTra and ProBioGen, Lutz
focuses on carrying out the responsibilities with “honor and
humility.”
Enhancing the Operations of ProBioGen
ProBioGen is a biopharmaceutical enterprise in Berlin that
operates globally and has 28 years of experience. The
company has a staff of over 250 at its three locations in
Berlin.
The company started in 1994 with just four people as a
production partner for diagnostic antibodies. "We have
experienced steady growth by increasing capacity as well
as diversifying our business segments," says Lutz.
Today, ProBioGen is not only a Contract Development and
Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) but also a technology
provider. It partners with pharmaceutical and biotech
companies to develop and manufacture biopharmaceutical
active ingredients and vaccines for medicines. “We engineer
cell lines, develop optimal processes and technologies, and
ensure consistent and controlled quality standards,”
highlights Lutz.
The company uses proprietary technologies to optimize
biopharmaceutical manufacturing and analysis. It also
offers process development services and manufacturing
technologies for viral vaccines.
Speaking about the ambitions of ProBioGen, Lutz says,
“Our vision is that in the future, no one will have to fear

Together, we aim to
transform the lives of millions
in urgent medical need with
modern biological medicines
at affordable prices.

getting sick. We can achieve this by helping today develop
tomorrow's medicines— also for diseases that are not yet
curable.”
He adds, “We aim to accomplish this with knowledge and
technologies based on our core values: innovation, passion,
partnership, solutions, and being fearless.”
Offering Individualized and Unique Solutions
ProBioGen is an innovative Contract Development and
Manufacturing Organization, not a classic Contract
Manufacturing company. Speaking about its specialized
offerings, the CEO says, “Our strong scientific foundation
enables us to combine intelligent and modular services with
innovative platform technologies. This allows us to offer
clients individualized and unique solutions, unlike the
competition.”
®
ProBioGen's proprietary technologies, like GlymaxX ,
fucose-targeted glycoengineering used to make antibodies
against cancer and infectious diseases more potent and
®
DirectedLuck Transposase, an efficient gene delivery
system to increase production levels of desired proteins,
resulting in better outcomes for its clients. “Our patent
portfolio is continuously expanding. This is what makes a
difference in the value proposition,” denotes Lutz.
Overcoming COVID-19 Challenges
ProBioGen has faced various challenges during the
COVID-19 pandemic. The company had to ensure stable
supply chains and the availability of consumables and was
physically cut off from some overseas customers. “To
overcome this, we – and by that, I mean every employee –
have had to remain flexible and agile,” says Lutz.
“Together with the executive team, I am aiming to give our
employees a sense of security at all times. This is an
indispensable foundation to face future challenges as well.”
Embracing the Technology
Modern technological inventions are making it possible for
every industry to take its operations to the next level.
Speaking about how today's advanced technology can
enhance the pharmaceutical industry's functions, Lutz
emphasizes, “There are many problems that require new
solutions. This is true in medicine and R&D, but also in
how existing medicines and vaccines are distributed around
the world. Advanced technologies can help the health
industry tackle these problems.”
Furthermore, he notes that “At ProBioGen, we continuously
develop and expand our innovative and advanced
technology portfolio. We embrace technologies that benefit
our customers, and ultimately, the patients we all serve.”
“In ProBioGen, we see a company that values scientific contribution and enables high-quality drug
development for customers, which ultimately benefits the patients we all serve."
- Senior Director, Biologics Development, Celgene Corporation
"In the midst of an escalating pandemic, ProBioGen successfully managed safety, staffing, and
procurement to maintain aggressive timelines for Pionyr's two first-in-class TME-directed fucosylated
monoclonal antibodies."
- Senior Vice President, Technical Operations, Pionyr Immunotherapeutics, Inc.
"Because of ProBioGen's continuous support and always providing valuable information not only on
technical challenges but also urgent issues associated with the project, our teams were able to bring a
product from their facility into the clinic as scheduled within several months here in Japan.”
- Director, Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls Development, Chiome Bioscience Inc.

Satisfaction is the
foundation for higher
productivity. I have lived this
throughout my entire life: as
a student, scientist, medical
doctor, and now as CEO.

Meet the ProBioGeniuses
People are an invaluable asset for any company. Building a
team of experts needs time, patience, and, most importantly,
an ability to recognize the potential of each one. Speaking
about the executive team at ProBioGen, Lutz says, “Our
executive team's strength comes from working together to
realize our mission.”
ProBioGen's talented executive team includes Dr. Gabriele
Schneider, Chief Business Officer; Andrea Hauptmann,
Chief Financial Officer; Dr. René Brecht, Chief Operations
Officer; Dr. Volker Sandig, Chief Scientific Officer; Dr.
Marco Riedel, Senior Vice President, Head of Digital
Transformation; and Susanne Kaestner, Senior Vice
President, Quality.
“Some have been with ProBioGen for over 20 years, others
joined more recently, and all add invaluable knowledge and
experience to our team,” adds the CEO.
Word of Advice
Guidance from the wise can be worth gold to many
entrepreneurs looking to follow the right direction and save
time and resources. We asked Lutz, what would be his
advice to budding entrepreneurs, to which he replied,
“Focus on the basis of success: people. By creating a work
environment that values our employees' well-being at work
and home, we foster a culture that emphasizes our biggest
asset: my colleagues.”
He further adds, “Satisfaction is the foundation for higher
productivity. I have lived this throughout my entire life: as a
student, scientist, medical doctor, and now as CEO.”
Speaking about his own motivation to enter the healthcare
industry, he says, “Healthcare is not a privilege nor an
entitlement. It is a human right. I went to medical school
because I believed I could help people directly. Going into
biotech has scaled up the impact of the work I was able to
do as a practicing physician.”
In addition, he says, “As a CEO, I can contribute to finding
solutions that affect the lives of millions of people. This is
very rewarding and humbling. I would hope budding
entrepreneurs share this same sense of mission – helping to
turn health as a human right into a reality.”
Envisioning a Bright Future
ProBioGen's future is bright. Its customer base is growing.
Sharing further details about what plans are in place at the
company to expand its scale, Lutz reveals, “We are
extending our capacities and are diversifying, for example,
by expanding our viral vector and vaccine business unit
and services. Our contribution to breakthrough therapies
helps address unmet medical needs.”
Lutz feels “deeply unhappy” about the number of unmet
medical needs around the world, the inequitable distribution
of basic medicines, and, as we painfully witness every day,
COVID-19 vaccines, particularly on the African continent.
“With our subsidiary MiGenTra, we are developing
biosimilars, vaccines, and cell and gene therapies for the
Middle East and African continent. This continent is
especially overlooked and underserved,” quotes Lutz.
“Our work is fully aligned with our vision that no one
should fear getting sick, no matter where they live,”
concludes Lutz.
Ÿ ESACT Innovation Award for outstanding innovators in the field of Animal Cell Culture Technology, Dr. Volker
Sandig, ProBioGen's Chief Scientific Officer (2019)
Ÿ Innovation Award Berlin-Brandenburg for novel vaccine production methods based on duck cell lines (2009)
Ÿ Animal Protection Award from Germany's Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection for
reducing and replacing animal tests, Dr. Christoph Giese, Head of ProBioGen's Cell and Tissue Services
department (2007)
Ÿ Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Award for one of the fastest growing life sciences companies (2007)
Ÿ STEP Award for products/technologies (2006)

Our work is fully aligned
with our vision that no
one should fear getting sick,
no matter where they live.

kimberly Khoury
Paving her Way in Sustainability Development
&
&
The
20
BUSINESSWOMEN
to Watch, 2020
Most

M
any people aim to have a personality that other people look up to in
tough times, but only a few people possess the quality and ability to live
this dream. These people change the face of the world by standing
against the odds.
But nobody is born a leader.
Then how does one inherit leadership skills?
A true leader is always chosen when the time gets tough, and the situation becomes
impossible. In such dark times, a leader becomes the light that directs the path of
the people from the impossible toward the pool of possibilities.
It is extremely common for leaders to adapt to changes and come forth with unique
and effective solutions. They understand the importance of developments and
never fail to walk with these advancements.
In the modern technological era, leaders have set their eyes on the developments
and innovations that the world is going through. They understand the need for
these changes and implement them in their business culture. So, when the tough
time comes, they could be prepared for the worst situation and work toward
flipping the circumstances upside down and enhancing the way of their workflow.
What are these creative leadership skills?
Follow the light to discover the path.
Attention to Detail
Leaders indeed possess a very observant nature. This particular trait alone can
boost their chances of identifying possibilities that others fail to notice.
Impact of
Innovate
Leadehin
Enhancing Workflow
AUGUST | 2022
18

Strategizing Businesses
19 www.insightssuccess.com
AUGUST | 2022
19

The tiniest of mistakes can create a negative impact on the
entire process, while taking slow but accurate measures can
help them effectively achieve their goals.
Ineffectiveness is born when there is no attention paid to the
details while performing the tasks and responsibilities.
Employees’ irresponsible behavior and lack of seriousness
in their work can potentially damage the company’s
reputation.
This defectiveness can cause a loss of time and resources.
Therefore, innovative leaders tend to complete the task at
hand correctly and rightfully by having a comprehensive
view of the entire project. They remain focused, time-
driven, and task-oriented throughout the process.
Strength of the Team
Leaders are alone but never lonely. The power of their
people keeps them strong and rigid. These people are
unified by their leader’s unbiased business acumen.
Creative insights are received when people from different
experiences, backgrounds, and knowledge work
collectively with a common goal to achieve to take the
organization to a greater level.
This has changed the perception of many leaders and they
have started preferring a collaborative environment instead
of harmony. They support the arguments and opinions of
the employees and find a way to produce ideal solutions for
every obstacle that the project may encounter during the
process.
Promotes Creativity
A leader in innovation is aware that extraordinary
achievements are necessary for creativity. This explains
why management that uses innovative leadership goes
beyond tactics that are frequently and commonly used.
They go beyond expected bounds and inspire their team
members to pursue bold ideas. They encourage their staff
members to think creatively and out of the box and provide
them the space to properly debate ideas for development,
ensuring to make they feel equal.
Since this style of leadership places a strong emphasis on
innovation, managers encourage their staff members to
express their creativity by launching idea challenges and
other contests that could inspire collaboration and
innovative thinking amongst all levels of employees.
Provides Feedback
Leaders are willing with an open mind to explore new ideas
that team members come up with in greater detail to
determine their viability and the best way to implement
them. Additionally, they offer honest, detailed, and useful
comments to enhance the ideas provided.
They are open to hearing genuine thoughts in exchange.
They are aware that accepting criticism is a necessary step
in resolving problems and other difficulties that can delay a
company’s ability to innovate in the upcoming future.
They think that teamwork is very important, that the
opinions of the employees’ matter, and that offering and
receiving feedback is a key factor in the long-term success
of the company. It also ensures that the employees feel
included in the process and decision.
Knowing the Risk
Leaders encourage creativity and are aware that it also
carries several threats. Business executives that want to
boost innovation performance are high-risk takers.
They carefully and thoroughly examine every angle that
could be present in a given circumstance. They are aware
that advancement entails dangers, but they also think that
these risks might be opportunities to gain more knowledge
about the topics they have chosen.
Above all, they are fully aware of the potential dangers
associated with implementing a novel concept. These
innovators have, however, previously considered every
potential hurdle and are ready to deal with it all.
Wrapping Up
Leaders are the first to bring changes and development to
everything. Their ideas and views are different, unique, and
directed toward the point. They can recognize the
employee’s talents and provide them with the perfect
opportunity to showcase their skills.
-Harshal Wahane
AUGUST | 2022
20

In this immersive world, globalization has disrupted the
entire business atmosphere. Inculcating this view,
disruption’s outcome, in a way, benefits the masses in
the business culture. This adaption of perception in a
business evaluates progression to the expected
transformation.
From the socio-cultural point of view, the setting in which
business ideas come through but does not emerge from a
similar division of the community. However, the ideation to
create a disrupting business anticipates a financial base and
inbuilt strengthening combat while uprising in a specific
sector.
Exemplifying such entrepreneurial zeal is the Kazana
Group that aims to create economic success by assisting
African businesses in making significant improvements and
resolving crucial issues in the lives of global communities.
While forging the industrial village, Addis Alemayehou,
the Chairman, struck through the entrepreneurial
battlefield to promote pioneering innovation which is
bridging the gap between innovative ideas and strategic
partnerships and is inducing a successful platform in the
business setting, worldwide.
How could one venture this universal effect?
Let’s find out through this Interview:
Addis, kindly tell our readers about yourself and your
professional journey so far. What was your inspiration
to step into your current profession?
My name is Addis Alemayehou. I am the chairman of
Kazana Group, an investment holding group with a
portfolio of 19 companies and counting, all over Africa,
operating in various sectors. I’ve always had an urge to be a
problem solver. Where everyone else saw a problem, I saw
an opportunity. Thus, I started my first greenfield start-up,
Afro FM, when I observed a need for an all-English media
platform where expats in Ethiopia could consume
information and entertainment. Ever since then, I have
established and/or invested in over 19 companies that
solved some problem or addressed a certain need in their
own ways.
Tell us about Kazana Group, its mission, and its vision.
What role did you play in furthering its development
and outreach?
Kazana Group is a holding company working towards
building Africa’s future one start-up at a time. Our mission
is to promote economic prosperity by supporting companies
in Africa that make impactful changes and solve critical
problems in the lives of communities around them. We offer
a flexible structure for growth for these companies through
the commitment of capital resources and the facilitation of
strategic partnerships. I sit on the board of the group,
among other amazing business people I call partners,
ensuring that we work towards our goals, taking it one day
at a time.
, ,
, ,
AUGUST | 2022
22

Addis Alemayehou
Chairman
Kazana Group
Interview with Insights Success
AUGUST | 2022
23

Please brief us about the industries and sectors in which
Kazana Group’s companies are operating. And how are
they helping to build Africa’s future?
Kazana Group currently holds an extensive portfolio of 19
companies and counting, operating in a diverse array of
industries and sectors, notably in Marketing,
Advertisement, Fintech, Telecom, Manufacturing,
Logistics, Technologies, Investment Management &
Advisory, and Entertainment, and many more. Each
portfolio under our company helps build the future of
Africa by contributing to the continent’s economy through
the creation of jobs, improvement of local innovation and
productivity, and introducing innovative products, methods,
and production processes to the market.
In your opinion, what impact is technology having on
African businesses? And how is your group adopting
advanced technological solutions to enhance the overall
business operations?
Technology allows Africa to leapfrog to new ways of
operation without having to go through a learning curve.
Imagine, we went from having almost no phones direct to
mobile technology. Technology is a critical driver for
enhancing workers’ productivity and easing a company’s
operations. Our group is always seeking and working with
the best talent in Ethiopia and the region to support
disruption in various industries. Technology is at the core of
everything that we do.
What are the biggest challenges you have faced and the
most important lessons you have learned in your career
so far? What are the types of challenges that you still
face to this day?
Most of the biggest challenges I have faced in the past are
due to bad partnerships. There’s no way to get around that.
Partnerships are like marriages; thus, you don’t know what
you are getting into until you get into it, unfortunately. Bad
partnerships are still the cause for some of the challenges I
face to this day.
In your view, what are the common challenges faced by
African entrepreneurs? And what steps or actions do
you suggest to tackle them?
There are a lot of challenges. The lack of adequate
infrastructure is one example. Lack of an enabling
environment, as well as ﬁnancial support, is another. We
cannot do much with the lack of infrastructure since that is
usually a heavy-duty investment that takes years to mature,
leaving us with the only option of doing what we can with
what we have. We can’t wait for the Governments to catch
up, so we are forced to be creative and innovative to deliver
what our clients need. Another challenge is around policies.
In regards to that, we as the group are at the forefront of
pushing and working together with various governments
through multiple policy consultations to help with the
government’s eﬀorts to change and adapt to a modern and
enabling environment. We believe this will empower the
next generation of entrepreneurs in Africa.
What, according to you, are the most important traits of
successful leaders today? And what are the leadership
tips or advice you would like to share with budding
entrepreneurs?
The most important trait of successful leaders today would
be listening. I believe that you have to be open to adapting
to new technology and ideas. You also should be able to
understand and respect that Africa is a young population,
and therefore, new ways of thinking is the way to the
future.
Where do you see yourself in the future? Also, how do
you envision scaling Kazana Group’s operations and
outreach in the coming years?
We are currently working on raising a fund from our
Diaspora families and friends residing in all parts of the
world to invest in start-ups in Ethiopia and the region. We
feel the Horn of Africa region has largely been ignored thus
far by Tech investors. Therefore, we are focusing our
energy and resources on actively supporting our regional
start-ups. However, within the coming few years, we see
our group active beyond the East/Horn region. We would
like to expand our operations to cover the majority of the
continent with the mission of unlocking Africa’s potential
one start-up at a time. As for myself, I will be mentoring
and getting my replacement ready to take over the group
and take it to new heights.
AUGUST | 2022
24

n an age where everything is taught, and every skill is
Iscouted to get inculcated, there is a very intrinsic
element of human intelligence that even algorithm-
mediated intelligence is not capable of catching hold of.
To the above-ideated maze, one term suffices and ends the
discussion—Innovation.
It is said that innovation is a confluence of intelligence,
creativity, and far-sighted vision.
"But how do these three magical virtues collide and reach
its deserving destiny?" might be the question for many.
To answer this complicated riddle, we have one of the
astounding CEO who has not only exemplified technology
leadership but also is a great example of, "Creativity is
intelligence having fun."
As the Founder and CEO of Influencer Active,
Inc.—Anthony J James is known to be the transformative
wheel behind the world's first Business Influencer
Marketplace.
Let's slide into the interview and learn more about Anthony
and the lessons he learned during his entrepreneurial
journey.
Below are the interview highlights.
Anthony, kindly tell our readers about yourself and
your professional journey so far.
I am an innovative and creative, technology-driven business
solutions leader with a strong focus on idea generation,
commercialization, and growth. My experience in the
digital innovation field spans over a quarter of a century for
global marketing agencies, technology companies, start-
ups, and management consulting firms.
I have received industry recognition from LinkedIn as the
most influential thought leader in the Asia-Pacific region for
my work in innovation, consumer engagement, and
disruptive growth strategies. I have also received a
LinkedIn Power Profile and LinkedIn Top Voice.
I have deep Asia Pacific and global experience and have
unique insights into digital platforms, solutions, future
technologies, and strategies that engage consumers and
solve big business problems across markets and cultures. I
speak as a thought leader and technology evangelist to
business leaders around the world.
What was your inspiration to step into the advertising
services industry?
Actually, I was headhunted! However, the transition was a
very natural one. I started my career as a graphic designer
in the film and television industry, so it was almost a return
to my roots. In the corporate world, I led with a creative
lens, not one that necessarily worked for a "suite and tie
world".
The move back onto the agency side allowed me to help
agencies extend beyond the pure advertising offerings and
helping compete against the large corporates, who have
been encroaching into their accounts for many years. I was
inspired to blend my experience and knowledge of the
digital tech world, to commercialize existing creative
solutions and look for new growth opportunities for the
agency.
Tell us about InfluencerActive, its mission, and its
vision. What role did you play in founding and growth?
I am the Founder and CEO of InfluencerActive is my latest
and very exciting start-up. It's the world's first business
influencer marketplace, featuring more than 200 hyper-
networked, leading business influencers for B2B and B2C
brands. These influencers are spread across 15 countries in
the U.S., Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Europe. The
marketplace offers a combined first-level reach of over 22
million people and a network reach of more than 250
million people, numbers that are growing daily as more
influencers join the platform. I and currently the Founder
and main driver of the growth of the marketplace.
Anthony J James
AUGUST | 2022
26

I believe
innovation
is more about
business
solutions than
the next
cool thing.
Anthony J James
Founder & CEO

The model is unlike anything else out there…no
subscriptions, no hidden fees, no briefs! Brands can engage
a business influencer who works in their industry and is
already to connected to the audiences' brands want to
access.
Please tell us about the various sectors InfluencerActive
provides its advertising services to and how it adapts to
the clients' diverse marketing requirements.
InfluencerActive is changing the influencer marketing game
for brands, particularly with small businesses and medium-
sized enterprises. Our focus is on curating a cadre of 'hyper-
networked' business people – real professionals who have a
vested interest in their professional network and the ability
to generate very high levels of engagement. As a digital
marketplace, we have global scope, and our influencers
have worldwide reach through their networks of influence.
In general, our customers don't engage our influencers for
their local expertise but for their regional and international
scale, as well as the voice or the authority and authenticity
they have in their industry.
The marketplace makes it easy for marketing leaders,
brands, and agencies to work with business influencers,
giving them a direct line of communication and a simple
process for integrating them into a campaign to increase
awareness and impact. With the InfluencerActive
marketplace, B2B and B2C marketers can quickly book an
influencer, send the desired media and messaging, and see
their content pushed live by the influencer within a matter
of hours.
How do you ensure innovation within Influencer Active?
I believe innovation is more about business solutions than
the next "cool thing." It's about deeply understanding the
business problem clients face and then applying properly
practiced creativity, a little rule breaking, and collaboration,
to deliver solutions that solve the problem, have a positive
impact on the brand and drives real growth.
Innovation should be transformative and build new
connections.
We always ask five questions to ensure innovation flows
through our organisation:
Ÿ Does the idea change the way we do business?
Ÿ Does it change the way we communicate with
customers?
Ÿ Does it respond to changes in consumer/business
behaviour?
Ÿ Will its development inspire people to talk about it?
Ÿ Is it genuinely new, and not just a new costume for old
products and practice?
The final big filter is am I SO EXCITED about the
innovation that I spend all my spare time thinking about it!
I think if you can answer YES to all of these questions then
you have a really innovative idea…in fact I want to know
what it is!
In your opinion, how is today's advanced technology
enabling the advertising industry to better serve its
clients? Also, in what ways is technology assisting your
agency in bringing out innovative business solutions in
the market?
Advertising today just doesn't offer the same value as it
once did. Sponsored posts simply take the old 'interruption
marketing' model and apply it to digital feeds. But people
don't want to be interrupted! They want context, a story,
entertainment, and trust. Technology combined with real
businesspeople is well-positioned to do just that, and our
marketplace is the ideal vehicle for making that happen. We
put the solution into the hands of the business owner, we
put them in control, and now they can cut through the
channel noise and marketing challenges of a fragmented
media world.
As an experienced leader, what advice would you like to
give to aspiring entrepreneurs and enthusiasts who wish
to venture into the advertising industry?
Two simple rules. One, learn to see just over the horizon.
I'm not a Futurist; I don't look 20 to 30 years into the future.
My skill is to be looking at ideas and concepts that are
going to become mainstream within 2 to 3 years. This is
where clients need to be focused. If they are not starting to
build and implement solutions using those technologies
now then they will be irrelevant.
Second, there are no rules. You need to keep your eyes and
mind completely open. Imagination and creativity can never
be limited or overused. In my role, I get to use these things
every day.
you envision scaling your business operations and
I'm always looking for the next big thing. The new idea.
The idea that makes me say...WOW!! This is my
excitement, this is my passion, and every day is the new
next.
AUGUST | 2022
28

he world consists of billions of people who follow
Tdifferent cultures and beliefs. People have been
living diversified life for ages. This has given birth
to various norms of society that one has to follow; bringing
changes into these things has been difficult as the
sentiments of the people are attached to their practices.
But, with the changing world, the mindset of the people has
seen a shift in the ways they think. Humans are now
opening up to adapt and accept different cultures and norms
of society.
The shift that the advancing world has brought has also
changed the face of the business world. Organizations not
only want to transform the institute but also want to bring a
transformation in the culture. For such changes, many
organizations have started certain practices to be followed
by the employees.
The term ‘equality’ has been an important aspect of the
modern era. The organizational culture has been
transformed by the ethics of organizational inclusivity.
Organizations have started following the ethics of
inclusivity, and there has been a justified role of technology
in its success.
What is the role of technology in organizational inclusivity?
Let’s find out.
Communicating with Confidence
Justification comes with a touch of openness and privacy.
Likewise, the addition of open and private communication
in the organizational culture justifies inclusiveness, security,
and efficiency.
Open and centralized channels are the best pick for the
enhancement of interaction among the teams and also
ensure the interaction of employees in different positions.
Measures as such make the employees feel important and
included in the decisions made by the organization.
But privacy holds equal importance to openness.
The duo that open and private communication channels
make provides the employees a perfect stage to express and
pinpoint their concerns. It ensures the security of any
employee to confidently speak against discrimination in the
organization.
The Well-being of Employees through Tech
The must-win factors of an organization are its employee’s
well-being and confidence. Unfairly managed inclusive and
diversified practices create a negative environment that
becomes the root cause of lacking productivity. This
unattentive behavior later results in the dissatisfaction of the
employees on a large scale and slowly generates trouble in
employee retention.
For the eradication of these situations, technology fills the
gap between the diversified culture. It facilitates enhanced
employee training and connectivity, diminishing the bias
and introducing employee support channels for the
appropriate management of inclusion and diversity.
Facilities like these, in a collective manner, contribute
toward the overall well-being of the employees,
establishing a secure and safe working space for them.
Unbiased Recruitment
A good working space is alwayss built by good employee
recruitment. The process of recruitment always demands
Top Technological
Solutions that Impact
Organ ational Inclusivity
AUGUST | 2022
30

effort and time for any business, but it is also the first and
foremost step in building a better inclusive environment for
the employees. The correct type of technology can work
like a charm for the employees through an optimistic
recruitment and onboarding process.
Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) are
technologies that can be immediately immersed in a digital
environment and can modify the whole process of how
companies take interview candidates, handle onboarding,
job training, and the ways they conduct ongoing employee
development programs. The VR or AR training will
specifically help a person with a disability to practice
interaction with the other employees in a safe environment.
Optimistic interactions and initiatives to keep the office
environment safe and sound in the initial stage of a
professional’s journey establish the business’s inclusive
culture. Moreover, the advancing technology helps in the
efficient tracking of employee achievements, encouraging
them to demonstrate their abilities and skills without the
discrimination of their background when applying for a
promotion or a new role.
Equal and Fair Opportunities
For the eradication of bias and favoritism from the
decision-making process, technology-based shift
management is helpful and handy. Employees get the
opportunity to swap or apply for shifts without the help of
manual coordination by the manager. The availability of the
shifts will be offered based on their skill-set and title. This
ensures an increase in equal access to changes for frontline
workers.
There is a possibility of a final review by the manager, but
each step of the entire process is easily auditable and
documented.
Marching to the End
The advancing technologies are defeating diversity and
enhancing inclusion practices in the business environment.
Centralized communication channels also provide an easy
and handy shift-swapping process between the employees,
which improves employee flexibility and lowers the risk of
understaffing. Employees also get the chance to provide
their availability which makes the scheduling process more
accessible and more convenient.
Lastly, the usage of new technology has brought benefits to
employees and businesses. It ensures improvements in the
work environment and plays a vital role in the
establishment of a confident workforce. All the negative
factors can be diminished, and all the processes can be
carried forward based on skills and abilities.
-Harshal Wahane
AUGUST | 2022
31

S
couting challenges and turning them into
opportunities is rooted in every successful leader and
African Countries, Dr. Mko Balogun is a perfect
example of resilient leadership. He is not only pioneering
the industry but also innovating new opportunities and is
facilitating the world with a one of its own kind leadership
that has never been witnessed ever before.
Global Property & Facilities International Ltd (GPFI),
Dr. Mko enables the client to ease their job by assisting
them to attain their business goals with expertise and
market experience.
As the Group CEO of the company, he drives the company
to top the leaderboard in the African Continent.
In an endeavor to scout real estate leaders, we crossed our
paths with Dr. Balogun and had an interactive interview,
where he expressed and shared his entrepreneurial journey
that changed his life and simultaneously transformed the
lives of many!
Let's slide into the interview:
Sir, kindly tell our readers about yourself and your
professional journey so far.
I was born 55yrs ago in Ibadan, to the late Dr. AbdulGhaniy
Kola Balogun (GKB) and Alh Memunat Balogun, went to
various primary and secondary schools in Ibadan and
Akure, attended Teachers college at Ilesa and remedial
school in Ibadan before heading to the Federal University
of Technology, Owerri, where I graduated with a Bachelor
of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering (Automotive
Engineering).
Before going to university, I had worked as a school
registrar, administrator, sports administrator/event planner,
political mobilizer, and administrator.
After my university education, I joined CFAO-NMI as
Technical Adviser, during the introduction of Peugeot 306
& 406 into the Nigerian market and later General Motors as
Production, then Marketing, and After Sales Manager. I left
GM for Bemil Security where we pioneered Armoured
Vehicle assembly in Nigeria in 2004; subsequently, I left for
Leventis Motors, where we introduced Benz B-Class and
Volkswagen Trucks.
I left Leventis for Mr. Biggs where I was responsible
initially for Project Management and later facilities
management for our then over 700 shops across Nigeria and
Ghana (2); I joined UBA after my MBA on the invitation of
then CEO of the bank and left for MM2 Airport where I had
the pleasure of working with one of the best people to work
for in Nigeria.
In 2008, after graduating from LBS in 2006 and registering
the company, Domme FM Ltd, we went live with our
business, it is worthy of note that the idea of setting up the
company was started initially as our MBA Project. In 2012
we signed a merger agreement with the then WSP FMC to
be part of the company, and I became the CEO on March 1,
2012. In 2014, we changed the company name to Global
Property & Facilities International Ltd (GPFI), which
currently operates in 10 African countries.
That is the short story of my journey.
What was the inspiration that prompted you to venture
into the real estate services space?
While doing my Executive MBA I was working at Mr.
Biggs and saw a lot of challenges and opportunities in the
space, I and some of my classmates then agreed to work
together on our ﬁnal year project on setting up a Real Estate
Services Company (FM Company) and run it after school,
which was exactly what we did and we are still doing.
Leveraging New Ideas, Oﬀering Op mum Services!
Dr. Mko Balogun
AUGUST | 2022
32

Tell us more about GPFI Group. As a Group MD/CEO,
how have you helped your company to improve its
operations and outreach?
GPFI is an integrated RE Services company and a pioneer
in the industry. Our goal as a business is to enable our
clients to achieve their business goals, using our
knowledge, expertise, experience, and partners while at the
same time ensuring that all our stakeholders are getting
value for their association with the company.
To do that, we focus on open communication with our
clients to understand their needs and develop solutions to
support them. Innovation and technology are critical tools
while focusing on developing our team is a major
requirement for us.
Over the years, we have learned from our clients, learned
from our challenges, learned from our partners, and
leveraged new ideas and new ways to continually improve
our offering and service delivery. We will continue to do the
same.
As the Group CEO, my job is simple – like a chef,
identifying and using the best ingredients to create a perfect
dish, working with our board and management, my job is to
drive the businesses in the direction that will make us no.1
in our industry in Africa. them. Improving myself, finding
the right people, right markets, right partners, and working
with the right client will enable the achievement of our
business goals.
We are also focused on social impact, with our TechE
program (a program designed to help young Nigerians and
later Africans become Technical Entrepreneurs); our
participation in the UN Water Mandate (a sub-set of UN
Global Compact Grou); our subjecting our business to
global best practice through ISO Certification and
ECOVADIS, our active participation in the industry not
only in Nigeria but also in Africa, promotion of capacity for
professionals in the industry through promoting the ProFM
Credentials Program (all FMs in GPFI are ProFM Certified)
and we have enabled more than 40 others across Africa to
enroll or certified.
What were the major challenges you faced throughout
your professional journey, and how have they enabled
you to become a better leader?
No challenges, really, for me, all my journey was guided by
God and my desire to excel, so learning was my greatest
tool. Moving jobs, industries, and specialties was not so
difficult. I just have to be determined, learn new ways, and
even go out of my way to learn more than is required.
We focus on open
communica on with our
clients to understand their
needs and develop
solu ons to support them.
Innova on and technology
are cri cal tools, while
focusing on developing our
team is a major
requirement for us.
Dr. Mko Balogun | CEO
Global Property & Facilities International Ltd
CEOs Transforming Business Through Innovation
AUGUST | 2022
33

Please tell us about the DMB Foundation. What inspired
you to establish it?
As far back as when I was in UBA, 2006 when I walk
around Marina in the morning when I resume or going to
some of our buildings, I saw a lot of young boys sleeping in
front of shops, mostly between 8 and 15yrs old, I made up
my mind I was going to do my best to support youths. I had
seen similar things with Almajeri when I was serving in
Kano, my initial plan was to do a youth empowerment
program, but as time went by, I saw that I might not be able
to make the desired impact, so I decided to focus on
women– Scholarships and Women Enterprise Fund, family
support and some level of general intervention for people
who are in need. So far, we have had seven scholars and
eight women entrepreneurs we have supported and will
continue to support.Our 2 Programs are:
Ÿ One full scholarship every year to a JSS3 female
graduating student to the university level.
Ÿ Women Enterprise fund – to support small business
owners to upscale in the form of grants and interest-free
loans
We have a board comprising of highly placed Nigerians and
we launched the foundation 5yrs ago on my 50th Birthday,
10yrs after initially planned.
As a successful real estate leader, tell us your opinion on
the impact of modern technology on the real estate
sector. Also, expand on the way technology is being
utilized at GPFI Group to enhance its operations and
solutions.
Technology in RE has come to stay and is not new; it's been
with us for some time its only now more necessary to drive
efficiencies and improve service delivery. For us at GPFI is
part of our service offering – we use technology in
operations, process, administration, building management,
technical management.
As an experienced real estate leader, what advice would
you give to aspiring entrepreneurs who wish to venture
into the same industry?
You have to understand the industry and, determine your
area of focus, develop your offering to focus on that area.
you envision scaling your company's operations and
The company is already scaling – we are focused on Africa
and want to be the biggest and most successful RE Services
company in Africa, and probably consider the Middle East
and Europe. For me, continue to contribute to the growth of
the industry in Africa.
Career Councelling session with JS3 students of
Comprehensive High School, Oke Ado, Ibadan and
announcement of scholarship for best gradua ng student.
DMB Founda on Mentoring Session with Scholars
AUGUST | 2022
34

Mirabell Mayack
Senior Director,
Governmental Aﬀairs
and Strategic Sales
African Investment
Intelligence
AUGUST | 2022
36

O
ne of the most diverse continents in the world is
Africa. It is home to nearly 2000 languages with
French being the official language of many
countries and the de facto language in few. Although the
popularity of the language is large, it gets difficult to
connect with people due to a lack of understanding of the
culture. To flourish as a business with the Sub Saharan
French Speaking community, Africa requires a deep
knowledge of the local markets.
And, even with a lot of opportunities, these markets remain
hard to reach from outside requiring powerful facts,
analytics, and insight. This can only be provided by
someone who knows it best.
As a French African connected to the business
world—Mirabell Mayack understood the gap providing
opportunities and needs of the market. Mirabell Mayack,
Senior Director, Governmental Affairs and Strategic
Sales established African Investment Intelligence with the
grail to provide the investors with expert opinion giving
them an edge to invest and immerse with confidence in Sub
Saharan French Speaking Africa.
In an interview with Mirabell, we had an opportunity to
know more about her, her journey, and her company.
Below are the highlights of the interview:
Please shed some light on your leadership journey in
the consulting and investment space.
We are not consultants; our customers are. However,
doing business between two different worlds often
means being a cultural translator and cultural consultant
talking to either side. My leadership journey started with
the aim to change a few points of view in the "doing
business with Africa" landscape that I thought was
wrong. It was a deep wish to change the perception that
Europe had of Africa. It was also a wish of mine to
change the institutional setting of consultants in
Germany, allowing people from the diaspora to sit at
that very same table that is usually occupied by ex-pats.
What was the inspiration that prompted you to
venture into the consulting and investment niche?
I was born into "doing business with Africa." My
parents run an import-export company. I followed their
footsteps and ventured out into investigations supplying
our customers with valuable insights into French-
speaking Africa.
Being the Managing Director at African Investment
Intelligence, how do you envision growing your
network operation and providing your clients with
powerful analytics, facts, investigated insights, and
expertise.
I am a woman, and networking comes naturally to
me...as I like to think. Not only is one of the pillars of
the company the networking opportunities that we take
very seriously, but there is a strong emphasis on the
“
“
AUGUST | 2022
37

onversation rate from such contacts. Becoming
cmore digital and breaking down the process to
access our intelligence is another way forward that I
am working on. We also organized impactful think tanks
that allow us to constantly grow the network and create
long-lasting bonds to our network.
Initiating your career as an Investment Consultant,
what were the challenges youfaced, and enlist us the
professional hacks that helped you become the grand
success that you are today?
What I find difficult to this day in Europe is the fact that
being a real expert is hard to push on the agenda. Doing
business with Africa has often got to do with being
open-minded. The UK market holds very good and
authentic experts that can give realistic feedback.
Looking at Germany the consulting business evolves
around state state-funded advisories dominating the
market with their expat-ise. The challenges were two
different kettle of fish for me. My hacks are simple. Be
who you are. You might not win everyone over, but
some customers will like what you bring to the table.
Focus on these and make them your network and base.
These are your best asset and brand ambassadors. Just be
persistent and consecutive. I don't know if I am a grand
success, but I am a tough cookie, and I do not give up.
Can you please share with us your initial professional
experiences and what were the learning that made you
ramp up your growth curve?
I was born into a family setting within a company. My
parents often discussed business matters around common
family areas and activities. Business in the family meant
helping out, traveling with my parents, and playing in the
backyards of companies where my parents had meetings.
These were my initial professional experiences that have
been my life learning. My father's courage to open a
company in a small German town, my mother's open-
mindedness to just follow her husband to Cameroon, and
my family's faith in life are my ongoing growth curve's
spine. The challenges along the way are my growth
curve.
As a successful leader in the consulting and investment
space, what is your opinion on the future of
investigative research and investment for businesses,
which is currently grabbing the global spotlight?
The future of investment for the investment business of all
sorts (consultancy, advisory, financial deals advisory,
private equity, etc.) will grow, and hopefully doing
international business will become normal. Therefore, we
need more transparency. In the future, someone in a
remote German town will invest in a business in Timbuktu
or in Douala because there will hopefully be enough
transparency and intelligence available to make informed
decisions. Africa is 54 countries with millions of ethnic
groups, customs, and cultures. When it comes to research
and investigative research, Africa is the future.
Please give your valuable input about the investment
and consulting industry for budding entrepreneurs.
Consultancy is a great business sector, especially in
Africa. It is one with much growth opportunities. For a
budding entrepreneur, it is a great business sector. It will
be great to see more African entrepreneurs in the
investment sector such as African financial boutique
advisory and African private equity companies.
AUGUST | 2022
38

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