Category: Leaders

Omar Al Humaidi is a well-versed leader who holds a BBA degree in Business Administration and Management (General) from Franklin University in Columbus, OH. Additionally, the young leader has recently received a Ph.D. in artificial intelligence from Khalifa University. He is a seasoned business development professional with extensive experience in the education management sector. His proficiency in business planning, business management, business development, staff development, training, management consulting, and strategic planning makes him stand out in the crowd.

He embarked on his career in the year 2011 as a Graduate Manager at Etihad Airways. Soon he joined Abu Dhabi Education Council as a Business Development Specialist.

Before joining the Department of Ministry of Economy as the Director of Anti-Injurious Practices in July 2021, the visionary leader worked for the National Media Council of the United Arab Emirates, an independent federal body that aims to organize and develop an integrated national media sector. He joined the National Media Council in 2017. His first role at the organization was that of the Head of Training and Development, followed by that of the Director of External Communication.

A TECH-SAVVY LEADER

As technology continuously keeps evolving, Omar Al Humaidi believes that leaders should keep up with the latest technological advancements in order to stay relevant. According to him, in today’s world, leaders need a realistic understanding of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and the potential of robotics, and natural language processing. Furthermore, they should keep an eye on the newest devices and the latest updates.

In his opinion, without leveraging the latest technology trends, leaders cannot expect their organization to stay ahead of the curve. Thus, staying abreast of the current IT trends is crucial in order to remain a successful leader, he says.

CRACKED 58 CASES OF DUMPING AGAINST UAE EXPORTS

Omar Al Humaidi is constantly developing work mechanisms and services to combat harmful trade practices. Additionally, he is focused on developing smarter ways of automating procedures and investigations and addressing complaints pertaining to harmful practices.

Owing to his unceasing dedication and unwavering focus, he has efficiently enabled the Ministry of Economy in resolving 58 investigations and measures to impose anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties on foreign markets. Next, he intends to expand the Ministry’s efforts in this regard, leveraging the dispute settlement mechanism in the World Trade Organization to settle 100% of cases in a way that would make UAE products and services more competitive in the global market.

As a result of his leadership at the local level, the Ministry was able to address dumping and subsidy policies and increase imports in order to gain and maintain fair competition, protect national production, and implement the best commercial practices in the local markets by adopting legal measures to combat dumped or subsidized imports or by increasing imports.

On behalf of the Minister of Economy, Omar Al Humaidi conducted investigations into this matter, which led to the imposition of seven anti-dumping and protection duties on imported goods into the UAE’s markets, most particularly: car batteries, iron plates, cardboard, ceramics, cement, chemical plastics, and aluminum sheets.

Additionally, the forward-thinking leader is also in the process of devising a proactive mechanism that will intelligently monitor imports similar to local industries and notify consumers when imports are dumped or subsidized or when their quantities increase.

Besides being a successful leader, Omar Al Humaidi is also an inspirational role model for aspiring leaders. The unifying vision behind his leadership is one of his strongest attributes.

Amal holds a Bachelor’s degree in Software Engineering from Higher Colleges of Technology. In 2017, she earned an M. Sc. degree in Project Management from British University in Dubai, followed by a Diploma in Artificial Intelligence from Oxford University in 2019.

She is best known for implementing effective project management strategies at the local and global levels. In fact she has 14 years of experience as a project manager in Dubai, having worked on software projects, programs, portfolio management, executive government portfolio management, and digital wellness. Her greatest strength is her business understanding, which enables her to streamline execution.

In 2021, Amal took over the responsibility of Director of the National Wellbeing Program at the Ministry of Community Development. A core part of her role involves embedding UAE vision for well-being across various core business units, including (Education, Health, Housing, and Residential Communities, Community Development, Economy, Government Services, and Labour).

In addition, she oversees the implementation of the UAE Wellbeing Strategy 2031 and tracks the performance of 49 government entities with local and global KPIs. As the official UAE Government Spokesperson for Wellbeing, she also co-leads the UAE’s National Program for Happiness and Wellbeing Portfolio, besides leading other international wellbeing initiatives. Furthermore, the tech-savvy leader oversees the UAE Digital Wellbeing Program, which lays out the country’s digital initiatives, programs, and policies.

PRESTIGIOUS ASSOCIATIONS

Amal is a member of several prominent institutions in the UAE. She is the member of the UAE Digital Wellbeing Council Secretary (chaired by HH Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior), UAE Wellbeing Council Secretary, and UAE National Mental Health Panel. Besides leading UAE’s Wellbeing Program, she leads the Chief Happiness and Wellbeing Government Network, which involves more than 140 Chief Happiness and Wellbeing Officers from 84 government entities.

A DISTINGUISHED CAREER

As a leader, Amal demonstrates resilience and provides innovative insights that are deeply inspirational for others. She works unstintingly to ensure a sound digital public wellness infrastructure. Among the initiatives that the leader spearheaded are the UAE Digital Wellbeing Program, the Digital Wellbeing Policy, the Digital Wellbeing Knowledge Platform, the Digital Wellbeing Support Line, and the Digital Wellbeing Curriculum. She also developed the UAE Game Classification Platform. Her other accomplishments include successfully establishing the UAE Wellbeing Program, including Wellbeing Local and Global Councils, the Excellence Framework, the Wellbeing Platform, and the Wellbeing Network.

RACKING UP ACCOLADES

Amal has received many honours in recognition of her accomplishments, including the Sharjah Government Media Award for Most Impactful Community Initiative 2021; the UAE Artificial Intelligence Program Award for Most Feasible Project 2019; the Ministry of Interior Award for Child Protection Initiative 2019; Emirates Group Spark Leadership Program Award 2016; and the Emirates Group 14 Najm Awards for exceptional performances 2007 – 2016

Mr. Al Nuaimi joined DNI earlier this year. Before that he has held various roles in his career spanning more than 2 decades in government as well as private sector. These pivotal roles include Director of Operations and International Cooperation at Etihad Credit Insurance. Previously he has worked as the Executive Vice President, Shared Services in Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company for 9 years. Mr. Al Nuaimi is a skilled professional and specializes in ‘end-to-end’ transformation management of organizations to attain profitability targets with minimum cost and maximum ROI.

CLIMBING THE LADDER OF SUCCESS

Mr. Al Nuaimi has graduated from the Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania with an Executive MBA in Leadership & Business Management. He has also earned a higher diploma in Advanced Trade Credit Insurance from Offenburg University of Applied Sciences – Germany. Over the years he has built his expertise in people-focused processes and culture by leading his teams to collaborate and deliver to maximum efficiency.

His efforts have also been recognized by the UAE’s insurance sector. He was recently appointed a Board Member of Emirates Insurance Association for proactively contributing to promote cooperation between member insurance companies and agents, and to study the needs of insurance sector in the Emirates.

In his previous role as the Executive VP – shared services at Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company, he was leading the entire shared services portfolio of the organization including Human Capital Management and Administration, Information Technology, Marketing & Corporate Communication, Quality Assurance and Program Management. He was taking care of many important functions that cumulatively gave him an unmatched experience of the insurance sector.

TRYING HIS BEST TO MAKE THIS WORLD A BETTER PLACE

He is a strong believer in giving back to society. He is actively involved in various entities that work for the upliftment of society. He is an active Board Member of UAE Genetic Diseases Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing the prevalence of common genetic disorders in the UAE through preventative awareness programs and screening based on research studies and knowledge sharing. He also supports Khalifa University’s vision and provides strategic advice to the top management on internal and external communications issues.

STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCE AT DNI

Mr. Al Nuaimi was brought on board to DNI after careful consideration of his achievements and professional experience. The Chairman at DNI had shared that Mr. Al Nuaimi was selected basis his vast experience in the insurance sector. His experience was in sync with the strategic goals the management had in mind for DNI.

Under his leadership, DNI has scaled many milestones already. Recently, the company collaborated with Munich Re to takeover of medical portfolio of Generali Global Health (GGH). DNI also partnered with Magnati, a fully owned subsidiary of First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), to support customers with a new, easy payment gateway. The solution is offered in collaboration with Payit, the first fully featured digital wallet in the UAE from FAB. At DNI, Mr. Al Nuaimi is leading many similar new initiatives.

His numerous achievements in his decorated career highlight what a stellar professional he is. Mr. Al Nuaimi stands for hard work and perseverance; and his work does the talking. He is truly a leader that all young professionals look up to.

WELL-DESERVED RECOGNITION

Mr. Al Nuaimi was instrumental in attaining Mohamed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Business Excellence Award in 2019 under his leadership and strategic direction.

UNCOMMON RESOLUTE FOR BUSINESS

Vaibhav possesses a rare combination of entrepreneurial skills that makes him stand out. Born in Kolkata and raised in Delhi, he studied in New Delhi and Mumbai before he moved abroad to pursue higher education. Besides earning a PG Diploma in Global Business from Oxford University, the young leader has a Bachelor of Science from Carnegie Mellon University. Vaibhav has been with the Enso Group since 2005. Over the years, he has seen the Group through ups and downs. As a result of his relentless efforts, the company’s valuation and revenues grew significantly, placing it among the top companies in India. This is the best position the company has been in so far. Having seen his organization grow from nothing to become a reliable, collaborative organization is one of the greatest achievements of his career. As a forward-thinking leader, Vaibhav thinks locally yet acts globally. His long-term goal for the Enso Group is to make it a significant force in the global market. While he understands that competing on the global stage will be difficult due to the weak rupee, he is confident he can reach his goal of working internationally with dedication and hard work.

UNIQUE LEADERSHIP STYLE

Vaibhav’s leadership style prioritizes strong teamwork, respect for people, and positive purpose and culture. When a team member is working with him, he ensures they don’t feel inferior or subordinate. He believes in the inner power of every human being and the ability to harness it. In addition to being a value-driven leader, Vaibhav is committed to transparency and above board practices. It is for this reason he founded the Enso Advisory Board (consisting of advisors to the group) that reviews the company annually.

LEADING WITH COMPASSION

Vaibhav is incredibly passionate about the importance of corporate social responsibility (CSR). His charitable projects include the Enso Foundation to contribute to charitable causes, and Enso Care, an alumni group of past and current employees. The socially responsible leader plans to set aside ample funding for CSR activities during the next few years. Under his leadership, the Group regularly incorporates sustainability aspects into its operations. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Enso Group paid its employees full salaries and allowed them to work from home.

A SUSTAINABILITY ADVOCATE

Additionally, Vaibhav has been dealing with the sustainability aspect of the business of late. He has also enabled significant transformations throughout the organization by introducing best sustainability practices, incorporating diversity, and keeping an eye on sustainability. As the thoughtful leader points out, this planet was bequeathed to us by previous generations; therefore, it should be protected and handed down to the next generation with value addition rather than depleted.

NOTEWORTHY ACHIEVEMENTS

Vaibhav’s leadership qualities have earned him several awards and accolades. The CEO Insights Magazine selected him as one of the ‘10 Best Leaders in Oil & Gas’ for his unique leadership skills. Additionally, the enthusiastic leader has been honored with the Indian Achievers’ Award for Business Leadership 2021 by the Indian Achievers’ Forum. Aside from his professional duties, Vaibhav is passionate about writing as a hobby. The multi-talented leader has contributed to the BW Business world magazine as a guest author. He has published several articles on issues related to economics, regulation, and business.

Known for his composed demeanor and commitment to excellence, Biren has been the Country Head of Technicolor India for over a decade. This US $5 billion MNC provides services and products for communication, media, and entertainment industries. Biren is a marketing strategist with experience spanning many different industries in India and the Middle East. Biren graduated from the University of Calcutta with a degree in commerce and pursued an Advanced Management Program in Corporate Planning and Management Control at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Sloan School) in the United States. Biren’s leadership skills have been the cornerstone of Technicolor India’s success. He built Technicolor’s India studio from scratch when he joined the company in 2009. The studio he helped establish is now a primary hub for animated content in television, movies, and games. From a small crew to a staff of approx 6,000 artists and technicians, Technicolor India has become the industry’s largest computer graphics company. Biren also manages a team of over 500 engineers who maintain the firm’s competitive edge by constantly inventing new approaches. One of the best characteristics of this inspiring leader is his willingness to take risks. Biren is ecstatic about his achievements, but he also welcomes failure & strives to learn from it. “Failure is part of the learning process, much like falling over when learning to walk,” says the upbeat leader. Biren has spent two decades working in the FMCG and Durables industry in both strategic and operational roles, which has allowed him to gain exposure to both Indian and international markets. During this period, he became involved in many joint ventures and collaborations, allowing him to create new business models. For the past ten years after that, his journey has taken him through some exciting media and entertainment assignments. He has been involved in all forms of content conception, production, and distribution, focusing on kids and family genres.

AN INSPIRING THOUGHT LEADER

Biren is a thought leader and industry pioneer who has been lauded as a mentor and a revolutionary by government and industry leaders alike. The Indian government has recognized him as a leader in policy formulation and advocating educational initiatives. The dynamic leader has also been an advocate of the French industry in India. His studio’s accomplishment has been displayed to several high-level French delegations visiting Bengaluru. Additionally, he has implemented a series of French technology events in Bengaluru and spoken at various government and industry conferences about the strategic roadmap for French companies.

WEARING MULTIPLE HATS

The task of wearing multiple hats is never easy, but Biren doesn’t embrace what is easy for him. Besides being the President of ABAI [the Bangalore-based AVGC association], the animation evangelist is also the Vice Chairman of the CII National Media & Entertainment Committee. He also serves as the Chief Mentor for STPI’s Centers of Excellence for animation and AR and VR in the Northeast of India. Further, the multi-talented leader has been a member of the management committees of NASSCOM, FICCI, and other trade associations. His zeal aids him in juggling various responsibilities.

CAREER HIGHPOINT

When asked to recount the pivotal moment of his career, Biren cites 1987-1989 as a defining point when he gained the responsibility to lead a Joint Venture between a Swedish Biotech firm & UB Group. However, he says his current role in Technicolor India is the most remarkable, as he was hired into a company when the firm was undergoing the process of transitioning to a 100% subsidiary in 2009. Biren is a fantastic team player and believes that teams that work together are more resourceful and add more value to firms than conflict-ridden teams. Through his pacesetting leadership styles, he sets the pace for others to follow. The people-oriented leader firmly believes that the key to fostering teamwork and collaboration is to empower the team members with a clear purpose. He never fails to appreciate his team for their hard work and efforts. He applauds the talent of his team, saying, “The way Technicolor India’s artists have carried out character performances for some of the world’s most iconic characters speaks volumes about their artistry.” The humble leader adds, “We owe our success to our diligent team members who have been pushing the boundaries of innovation by collaborating with the world’s best artists and designers.” Biren aims at creating a positive and inclusive work environment that promotes gender diversity. He asserts, “I believe strongly that every person should be encouraged to be the best version of themselves. Even though 50-60% of animation students are women, hardly 5% of women studio executives are involved in animation/VFX worldwide. Technicolor India has increased the representation of women in its team by 11%. Currently, we have approximately 650 women working for us.” He appreciates differences in individuals and cultures. “Our workforce comprises people of different genders, ethnicity, ages, nationalities, and religions. Thus, we have a clear diversity and inclusion policy in place that benefits our employees,” he says.

DEDICATED TO SOCIAL WELFARE

The compassionate leader is keenly aware of the importance of CSR and participates enthusiastically in giving back to society. His goal is to use visual communications and the arts as a catalyst for community development. In his opinion, the development of talent in skill sets across all spectrums of digital arts can lead to economic growth.

BASKING IN GLORY

He was recently awarded the Ordre National du Mérite by the President of France. The award bestows on Biren the title of “Chevalier,”- a French knighthood. Also, his unstinting involvement has earned Technicolor seven Emmy Awards in Animation from 2016 to 2019. He has also enabled his clients to win a number of world titles such as Oscars, VES, BAFTA, Cannes Lions, and many others for their pioneering work in VFX and animation in films TV, advertising, and games.

Never settling for anything less than the best is Biren’s success mantra. He is extremely passionate about art and music. He loves collecting art and listening to jazz music. His hobbies include playing guitar, tennis, photography, F1 motorsports.

Dr. Pramod Chaudhari started Praj Industries nearly 40 years ago with a humble dream to build something innovative that would contribute to the making of a modern India. What started off as an entrepreneurial venture four decades ago, is today India’s most successful company in the field of bio-based technologies and engineering with presence in more than 100 countries across all five continents over the world. Praj is focused on the environment, energy, and Agriprocess industry.

Bio-MobilityTM and Bio-PrismTM are the mainstays of Praj’s contribution to global Bioeconomy. Bio-MobilityTM platform of technologies envisages utilization of bio-based resources for production of low carbon transportation fuels across all modes of mobility namely Surface, Air and Marine. Bio-PrismTM portfolio comprises of technologies for production of renewable chemicals and materials (RCM).

RCM produced from bio-based feedstock, are sustainable alternatives to products made from fossil resources. Praj Matrix, the state-of-the-art R&D facility, forms the backbone for the company’s endeavors. The zeal of working toward making the world a better place has been at the heart of all his efforts and still continues to fuel the fire.

FIRMLY GROUNDED IN VALUES AND GUIDED BY ETHICS

Dr. Chaudhari is an IIT Bombay alumnus in Mechanical Engineering (1971) and also holds an advanced management degree from Harvard Business School (1995). After graduating from his alma mater, he tried the usual route of working with the MNCs and building a corporate career. But, his dream was bubbling inside so in 1983, he gave his all to his venture – Praj Industries.

The organization started as a supplier of ethanol plants and today it is one of the most renowned socio-economic ventures with a wide range of sustainable solutions for bioenergy, high purity water, critical process equipment, breweries and industrial wastewater treatment. Owing to his foresight of creating a business in ethanol and scaling it to a level that Dr. Chaudhari has, he is often referred to as the ‘Ethanol Man’ in the industry circles.

Dr. Chaudhari had spent some time in his childhood near sugar industries and that is when he developed an interest in agri processing. He founded Praj Industries with a motive to support farming community.

PROUDLY TAKING THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED

“Right from the beginning, as a proponent of sustainability I had endeavored to strike a balance between three P’s namely Planet, People and Profit,” said Dr. Chaudhari. His one true belief is that the 3 P’s are a perfect formula for sustainability. As an entrepreneur and a leader, innovation is what drives him. In the early days of Praj, Dr. Chaudhari had adopted the approach that innovation would always be the growth driver. He personally ensured that this culture was kept afloat at Praj in their day-to-day functioning as well. The company has structured programs, innovation awards and competitions to foster a culture of innovation. The company also has a dedicated R&D center called Praj Matrix which is a hub of new ideas. Creative problem solving is another intrinsic part of the culture promoted by Dr. Chaudhari. He also holds problem-solving competitions at renowned colleges, where he tries to identify talent and encourage students to consider careers in industrial biotechnology and green chemistry. This is not just business, Dr. Chaudhari is working to change mindsets about biotechnology as a career and raising awareness about the industry.

LEAVING A TRAIL OF GLORIOUS AND NOTEWORTHY ACHIEVEMENTS

Dr. Chaudhari is one of the most respected and recognized professional in the industrial biotechnology field. One can’t talk about biofuel and not take his name. His consistent efforts and progressive work have been recognized globally many times. He was recently awarded the prestigious ‘George Washington Carver Award 2020’ by BIO-Impact, Washington DC, USA – he became the first Indian to receive this global honor. He was also bestowed with ‘D.Litt.’ by Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth (TMV) for his exemplary contribution to the Biofuel Industry worldwide, and for establishing & institutionalizing a quality benchmark of Indian products & services at global level. He has previously been named amongst the ‘Globally Top 100 People’ in BioEnergy Industry by USA-based publication, ‘Biofuels Digest.’ Dr. Chaudhari has also been awarded the prestigious BioSpectrum Leadership Award for his extraordinary work in spreading the cause of biofuels in the past three decades. Under his able guidance, Praj Industries has also been the recipient of many industry awards. Last year, Praj Industries was ranked first among the “Best Places to Work in the advanced bioeconomy 2020” by ‘Biofuels Digest’. Biofuels Digest has also ranked Praj 2nd in a list of world’s 50 hottest companies in global bioeconomy for 2021 in low carbon fuels and renewable chemicals category. Besides, Praj secured 3rd ranking in the newly-introduced biodesign and engineering category. It has also been named the ‘Bio-Excellence Award’ by Government of Karnataka in the category of Industrial Bio-tech Sector consecutively for three years. These and many other premier industry awards and global recognition are testimony to the fact that Dr. Chaudhari is not only working tirelessly for a better world, but also ensuring the change begins right at his doorstep with his team and employees.

MAKING A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE WORLD

In his journey as an entrepreneur and thought leader, Dr. Chaudhari has also ensured he extends his passion for social causes beyond his core business. He always believes in giving back to the society. In 2004, he established Praj Foundation to give an expression to all the efforts that he and his organization are taking towards social impact activities. Praj Foundation closely works with various NGOs and institutional partners on multiple projects in water conservation, education and preventive healthcare. They also conduct awareness drives to encourage more people to be part of the movement towards sustainability and betterment. ‘‘When you can do the common things in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world,” goes a famous quote by Dr. George Washington Carver. Dr. Chaudhari is testament to this quote. He chose one of the most underrated industries and made a huge impact. He put India on the world map and also became an inspiration to every individual who wanted to work in the biotechnology industry.

Having graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Rajasthan in India and a Master of Science degree from California State University at Northridge, Unmesh brings a wealth of engineering experience to the company. His expertise lies in data-driven automation and technical solutions. Unmesh has also successfully completed the Emerging Leader Program at The Wharton School and the Artificial Intelligence Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

AN IMPRESSIVE CAREER

Before joining P3, the leader-cum-innovator was an Associate Vice President at Optum Care, where he led innovations and business transformation. Also, he oversaw the creation of new management strategies and operating models for UnitedHealth Group, Toyota Financial Services, and Kaiser Permanente in Southern California. Unmesh believes the experience he has gained from his internships and past work has given him a unique perspective on the art of sales and implementation, which is likely one of the reasons for his success. He is well known in his circle for his extensive knowledge and expertise.

A TECHNOLOGY WIZARD

Unmesh loves technology and stays abreast of the latest trends in the industry. With his innovations, healthcare providers have been greatly empowered. Among the technology products, he has delivered include clinical decision support technology for providers, data analytics, and artificial intelligence that enable seamless care delivery to patients, and multiple other innovations that reduce the administrative burden for providers and hospitals. Moreover, P3 Data Fabric—his brainchild, gives intelligent insights to the entire care ecosystem at the point of care. With this platform, partners of P3 Health can manage medical risk, care delivery, and patient experience by using advanced data integration, analytics, and artificial intelligence.

A GREAT TEAM PLAYER

Unmesh enjoys being in charge, just as a good leader should. The technically sound and focused leader is also a team player who strives to bring out the best in those around him. It is his razor-sharp focus on putting together a world-class team that makes him so successful. He deeply values his team’s participation and recognizes the importance of their involvement in the firm’s success. As a true leader, he develops a growth strategy and provides direction to his team to meet the company’s goals. With the help of his dedicated and proactive team, Unmesh has created a digital technology ecosystem and a data ecosystem at P3 that supports the experience of patients and providers. As a focused leader, he ensures that the entire team is aware of the collective goals they are pursuing.

TOWERING ACHIEVEMENTS

Like a true leader, Unmesh constantly looks for the next big challenge. His leadership qualities have earned him several prestigious awards, including the Digital Disruptor Award by Globant Of 2021, the Top 10 Best CTO’s of 2020 by Industry Era, Talend Data Masters Award 2020, and IFAH top 100 Healthcare Leader Award. Yet he doesn’t trust in resting on his laurels, but rather constantly strives to improve himself as an individual and as a leader.

As the Co-Founder of Attra, Prasad created the company from the ground up, transforming it into a global technology services and solutions provider in the banking and payments space with over 2,200 domain experts and revenue of $75 million. Under his stewardship, Attra has grown to have offices in 13 countries across four continents, with a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 30%.

AN INDOMITABLE SPIRIT

Prasad is a first-generation entrepreneur who made the brave decision at a young age to soar beyond his humble roots by forging a successful future. He took up odd jobs at the age of 16 to get by. He began his career as an engineering apprentice. He paid his way through college by working and studying part-time and earning a bachelor’s degree in commerce.

He subsequently moved into the nascent Indian IT sector after being hired by DCM Data Products, where he quickly rose through the ranks, being promoted eight times during his nine-year stint in the company. He then went on to work for IBM for three years. Following that, he worked in senior positions at Pentasoft and Birlasoft, managing accounts in Sydney, Australia, and overseeing the Asia Pacific region. As the founding member of Pentasoft and Birlasoft in the APAC region, he swiftly scaled both businesses through customer acquisition.

Prasad devoted 18 years to the IT sector before embarking on his entrepreneurial adventure in 2005, establishing his mark wherever he worked by tackling every challenge with entrepreneurial zeal.

His successful track record of building numerous businesses from scratch compelled him to leap into entrepreneurship to uncover his true potential. In 2005, he associated with Attra, Melbourne Australia, founded by Anil Gammampila that primarily served the Australian market. Despite a solid earning potential and a secure job at the top of his career, Prasad invested his life savings in becoming a co-founder of Attra, with a mission to transform the company from a regional to a global player.

As soon as he took over as co-founder of Attra, he launched a series of transformative moves that catapulted the company to the next level, Attra 2.0, which began with the company’s first offshore development center in Bangalore, India. He said, “It was difficult to persuade customers to entrust their projects to a small delivery facility in Bangalore. We persisted in convincing potential leads for the next 12 months until we finally won the trust of a very large Global Payment Credit card company, the center’s first client and project.” With Attra 3.0, the company experienced increased growth and expansion, adding more services to its portfolio to meet the growing demands of customers. Under Prasad’s supervision, Attra expanded globally, opening additional offices and offshore development centers in various geographies and gaining a competitive advantage in 24 countries worldwide. Last but not least, he also oversaw the acquisition of Attra by Synechron, a global transformation consulting firm helping banks, asset managers, and insurance companies accelerate their digital initiatives. Attra has broadened its offerings beyond payments to include wholesale banking, wealth management, and insurance with the acquisition. It has also enhanced its digital, consulting, and technological capabilities. Prasad played a key role in leading the arrangement, which proved to be a huge success and a win-win situation for Attra’s clients.

EMPHASIZES A POSITIVE WORKPLACE CULTURE

Prasad believes that a positive and employee-centric workplace culture significantly improves teamwork, increases productivity, and helps retain employees. He has a well-deserved reputation for tenacity, endurance, and putting staff first. Creating a new practice structure to ensure that teams remain market-aligned and customer-focused is one of the notable initiatives taken by him for the development of his team. Simultaneously, he promotes a culture of continuous learning and development to encourage and support in-house talent.

He has also taken the initiative to create special career pathways for employees with untapped potential, preparing them for success and speeding up their advancement. Moreover, Prasad is also an advocate of gender diversity, which is an essential factor for the company in creating an equal and positive work environment.

As a result, Attra has 31% of women in its workforce. Attra has 85% of its senior management team from within the company, including 75% of the Business Unit leaders. Furthermore, the tech-savvy leader has pushed for the digitization of internal operations to boost intra-organizational operational efficiency.

ACHIEVEMENTS WORTH APPLAUSE

Several awards have been bestowed upon Prasad for his outstanding leadership abilities. He was named one of India’s “Top 100 Great People Managers” by The Great Manager Institute and Forbes India for modeling surefire strategies that encourage his technical leaders to grow and develop organically. Over 5,200 managers took an active part in this evaluation, and the best 100 were picked through a 4-tiered rigorous assessment.

He was also named ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ at the Payments and Cards Summit (5th edition) in 2017. Under his leadership, Attra has earned numerous awards. In 2019, it was honoured with the ‘Best Payments Organization of the Year’ award at the 7th edition of the Payments and Cards Summit. In the same year, Shri Nitin Gadkari, India’s Union Minister for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME), presented the company with the ‘SME 100 Award, 2019’ at the International MSME Convention in New Delhi.

VENTURING WITH HEART AND SOUL

Prasad is also a proponent of environmentally friendly practices. He chose to set up Attra’s new office in a building that was the first in India to be awarded an EDGE green building accreditation by the World Bank/IFC and the Green Building Council of India, despite having more appealing options. Additionally, Attra teamed with ‘Social Venture Partners Melbourne Limited’ under his direction to support seven not-for-profit organizations in their efforts to help underprivileged yet talented youngsters learn, grow, and thrive in life and work. In addition, the firm contributes to the PM’s Relief Fund (India) planting of trees to improve the environment and help farmers, and more recently, the building of essential infrastructure for a two rural school in India.

A member of ACCA since 2004, Ms. Fazeela possesses over 18 years of experience in accounting and finance. Her mission is to increase the awareness of the importance that highly trained accountants bring to companies and economies across the world.

EARLY LIFE

Ms. Fazeela, who was born and raised in the UK, completed her Bachelor’s degree and MBA from the University of Birmingham and the University of Strathclyde, respectively. Before moving to the UAE, she managed and operated an accounting firm in the UK, where she offered specialised financial services to a variety of clients. She was also a Senior Manager at PwC in Dubai.

It’s no surprise that accounting is in her blood, thanks to her father, who was an ACCA member and ran a successful accounting practice in the UK, offering professional financial services to a wide range of customers, including private individuals, small companies, and large corporations. She decided to follow his footsteps as she grew up. The determined leader was constantly mindful of the ACCA qualification from an early age.

THE CONVERSATION STARTER

Ms. Fazeela’s role is to act as a conversation starter, to make people aware about the critical role that accountants play in businesses and economies, especially in the Middle East, through the implementation of VAT, IFRS changes, the incorporation of Islamic finance, business sustainability, and much more. Her position entails managing and developing strategic relationships with regulators, business leaders, stakeholders, and the ACCA Middle East stakeholder network in order to influence dialogue and discussion about key issues affecting the region’s ongoing economic growth.

FORGING KEY PARTNERSHIPS

Ms. Fazeela collaborates with a variety of educational institutions and government agencies in the region to help new generations recognise not only the value of the pandemic-proof profession, but also the critical role that a professionally trained accountant plays in the development of economies.

CONSTANTLY MOTIVATING YOUNGSTERS

With her ceaseless efforts, she has been successfully motivating the next generation to consider and pursue a career in accountancy and finance, while also emphasising the importance of financial literacy being ingrained at an early age. She believes that mentoring can assist young aspiring accountants in achieving career success. Her goal is to empower young people with the required skills such as creativity, communication, and collaboration, along with emotional intelligence, and empathy so that they can navigate effectively through whatever situations arise in this ever-changing global environment.

She regularly designs interesting campaigns to challenge youngsters interested in Finance or Accountancy. ‘Take the Challenge’ campaign, launched in January 2021 has been specially designed to challenge children aged 13 to 16, particularly those interested in accounting and finance.

She lives in Dubai with her husband and two children. She loves spending quality time with her family and maintains a healthy work-life balance.

There are entrepreneurs and then there are change-makers. Mr. Gaur belongs to the latter category. After gaining over 22 years of experience in the banking and telecom sector, Mr. Gaur saw a huge gap in the digital payments industry in the African market. He decided to not only tap that but also lead the digital transformation of how Africa transacts online.

REALIZING THE OPPORTUNITY

Mr. Gaur completed his graduation from India in Commerce and went on to pursue masters in International Marketing and Finance. He then completed his MSc in Finance from the UK. After that, he started a fulfilling career in the banking &telecom sector. Over the years he led big names of the industry like SADC, I-Tel Group, Sierratel, Surfline, and Busy. In 2016, Ezipay was launched by the parent company Artificial Intelligence Technologies limited.

The basic premise of Ezipay was to have a safe, convenient and cheap way to send money online to other countries at good rates. It has now grown to be a one-stop shop for all kinds of online services from groceries to air ticket booking, anything can be done on the Ezipay app. The app boasts of over 250 merchants and businesses through which the customers can avail themselves a horde of services.

Under Mr. Gaur’s guidance, the brand has risen to become one of the most coveted fintech companies in Africa. The company now offers a host of services under one umbrella like utility payments, fee payments, money transfer, online shopping, OTT platform, and much more. It was Mr. Gaur’s endeavor to solve the common man’s problem and make their life easier.

An astute businessman and a keen problem solver, Mr. Gaur had the foresight to see this kind of opportunity arising in a developing country where the internet was getting available to everyone. Ezipay is operating in many African countries, including Ghana, Togo, Senegal, Niger, Mali, Cote D’Ivoire, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Benin & Zambia

NOT JUST A BUSINESS

Ezipay is not just a business idea to tap into the growing fintech market. For Mr. Gaur, providing access to financial services to underserved populations is vital in addressing the smart digital financial service. It was Mr. Gaur’s vision to bring the world closer to the African countries. To enable them to stay connected with their families and friends abroad.

A smart digital financial inclusion move that would give access to financial services to all citizens and in turn transform the economy into a cashless digitally empowered society. “Ezipay is committed to making Africa the next powerhouse in digital transformation and financial inclusion for 1.3 billion Africans,” Mr. Gaur shared.

His hard work is starting to pay off. As per the latest data from the Ghana Interbank Payment & Settlement Systems (GhIPSS), digital transactions in Ghana saw a tremendous increase both in volume and value in 2020 compared to 2019. The data showed that the number of transactions rose from 38 million in 2019 to a whopping 77 million transactions in 2020 across all platforms.

The numbers indicate a 103% increase in digital transactions. In a short span of time, Ezipay has become a key player in this bludgeoning market. Under the leadership of Mr. Gaur the organization has become the most preferred online payment app because of its simple user interface and easy transaction method

HARD WORK PAYS OFF

The sheer hard work and diligence of Mr. Gaur and his team have also been recognized by the industry. At the recently held Ghana Business Standard Awards, Ezipay was named the ‘Most Outstanding Fintech Company’ for the year 2020. At the same ceremony, Mr. Gaur was awarded the best CEO of the year and also became the ‘Most Outstanding Business Leader’.

The same year, at the Customer Choice Awards 2020, Ezipay won the ‘Most Outstanding Fintech App of the Year. “It is overwhelming for Ezipay to triumph in such an endowed and competitive category,” Mr. Gaur shared while accepting the Customer Choice Award.

Ezipay’s easy platform came in especially handy at the time of this unfortunate pandemic. A time when people could not reach out to their families and friends and were stuck at home, it was a boon for thousands of people wanting to send money to their families outside of Africa.

Mr. Gaur ensured the Ezipay became a quick and safe way for money transfer with low-cost remittance for people to transfer money to their families outside of Africa. Over time, under Mr. Gaur’s vision more and more services were added all of those helped the people of African countries sail through the routine chores with utmost ease and comfort.

During the Covid-19 outbreak when all over the world online transactions saw a huge jump, people in Africa also embraced the new way of shopping, ordering groceries, money transfers, and utility bills thanks to Mr. Gaur’s revolutionary service.

Under all his efforts and ideas lies Mr. Gaur’s passion to make Africa a cashless economy and lead the digital transformation in the continent. He leads the team with a strong foundation of passion, integrity, and determination.

Mr. Gaur had the courage to tap into the right opportunity at the right time, but it’s not luck or the timing that has helped him reach these milestones. It is his undeterred zeal and drive to stay focused on his goals that make him a leader par excellence.

There is still a long way to go for the online payment market in Africa. There are various reasons which are holding the industry back like masses not being able to transition from offline to online payments, trust deficit, and aversion to change.

It is more of an awareness project than just doing business. It is up to leaders like Mr. Gaur to lead that mindset change and make people embrace new technologies which will put Africa ahead in the global scenario.

Mr. Gaur’s story is not only inspirational but in times to come his name will be among leaders who led the digital payments movement all across West African countries and beyond. It is the mark of a true leader to not only change his destiny but also transform the lives of other people along the way.