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Name: Renee Vardouniotis Business Name: The CAPE Movement Location: Philadelphia, USA Establishment (Year): 2021 Category/Industry: Education and Learning Profession/ Specialty: Mindset and Empowerment Educational Programs for Kids/Teens Website: www.capemovement.com Social Media: LinkedIn Company Detail: She is a Speech-Language Pathologist and she has worked full time for 20 years in public schools. After embarking on a personal self-development and mindset journey, she discovered that the material she was studying was foundational and life-altering. She knew then that it was her purpose to develop programs for kids inspired by Bob Proctor's teachings. This material is not taught in schools or most homes, however, when studied and applied it could change the trajectory of their whole lives. She resigned from her job and created CAPE (Children And Parents Empowered), a Movement created out of a strong desire and passion to make a global impact and put a proverbial dent in the mental health stats in the US. They have created approachable, inclusive, and enjoyable science-based programs that build interpersonal skills in their youth and provide a resiliency toolkit to armor them through the peaks and valleys of life. Unique Selling Proposition or Competitive Advantage: Their Mindset Method University program provides solutions (not bandaids), for the root cause of social-emotional, behavioral, developmental, and academic challenges. The benefits of the program are vast. They have built foundational skills such as effectively processing emotions, resilient leadership, confidence, and mastering the art of goal setting. their passion is guiding children to discover their true gifts and talents, developing a positive attitude, and nurturing a clear direction towards their goals and dreams for life success. Challenges Faced During the Journey: The challenges and obstacles she has faced include not having any experience starting a company or even how to navigate the ins and outs of entrepreneurship. Spending a lot of money on advice, strategies, platforms, and mentors that were not necessarily aligned. Having worlds of ideas but struggling to follow through due to overwhelm. Advice for Women Entrepreneurs: KEEP GOING. YOUR DREAM IS POSSIBLE. KEEP GOING. KEEP GOING!!!!! Did I say KEEP GOING?? YOUR DREAM IS POSSIBLE!!!!

Name: Colleen Biggs Business Name: B You B Strong, LLC DBA Colleen Biggs Location: Mesa, USA Establishment (Year): 2018 Category/Industry: Business Services Profession/ Specialty: Business Consulting Website: https://colleenbiggs.net/ Social Media: LinkedIn Company Detail: Colleen believes we’re all unique and possess God-given talents and strengths that make us unstoppable. When you’re unwavering in your purpose — and equipped with the right tools and guidance — driving revenue becomes easy! A Business Strategist & Coach with over 22 years of experience, Colleen: Has launched over 340 businesses, Is a sought after Keynote Speaker, Authored 5 #1 International Best-Selling books with the latest Step Into the Spotlight to Expand your Influence Is a 2020 Local Business Person of the Year, 2021 Top 10 Women Business Leaders, & 2023 Most Inspirational Leaders in Business to watch out for Is the Founder & CEO of The Leap Community as well as the Infinite Impact Mastermind Is the popular podcast host of Take The Leap ranked in the top 3% global podcasts Colleen’s passion is coaching women to move from surviving to thriving in their business through strategic wealth building. With years of experience and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by women in business, Colleen is committed to helping her clients gain clarity, set strategic goals, and take decisive actions to generate more money and achieve financial independence. Unique Selling Proposition or Competitive Advantage: Colleen gets to the meat of the business through numbers. She takes a strategic approach to understand the vision and goals of the organization and aligns the operations, products and services to achieve those goals and outcomes. She cares, deeply about her clients and leads them to success through their specific skills and empowers them to find the who's needed in their business instead of always being the "how". Challenges Faced During the Journey: As a woman in business, she has faced the good ole boys club and rose above to initiate my female presence and energy or power to enroll, nurture and cultivate strong communities of support for many organizations. She has hired large companies to assist me in marketing strategies that fell flat. She has spent countless amount of money investing in "silver bullets" and realized that there aren't any. Scaling and growth takes time and perseverance and the right team to get you there. Advice for Women Entrepreneurs: Be YOU! Be Unique and don't hide! You have everything you need to stand out, so use it to your advantage! Be proud to be a strong woman in business and don't let anyone leave a label on you stating anything different.

Great Companies: How did you get your idea or concept for the business? Rohit Kochar: I always wanted to build an institution from India. Over my professional journey with GE and American Express, I realised that there is lot of entrepreneurial ability within me in terms of problem solving, client focus, leadership, setting up a clear vision and followed by strategy in execution. Clarity of thought was very strong from the beginning, and I wanted to leverage on this by starting a small company and then building it up. My entrepreneurial idea germinated from my personal experience with my father, later on with my mother. My father went through lot of serious ailments. Even though he recovered well, there was fear of these chronically ill diseases, affecting with any lacunae in medicine, food regime, or workout regime which could culminate in fatality. So that helped me in focussing, gave me a purpose and idea, to have sense-connect-act. Vital parameters are sensed, detected by hospitals, nurses, and doctors in real-time and analysed, processed and timely actions are taken. And that is how I started Dice Automations, a company in stealth mode, by end of 2015. I began thinking on how I can scale this up to other industries, that is where the focus on energy efficiency improvement started. And then the space was evaluated, and different aspects of energy generation, energy distribution and energy consumption were mapped. For the last five years, Bert Labs has been helping clients achieve their sustainability goals, capital efficiency goals and bring-in the direct impact on profitability. Great Companies: What are the various services provided by Bert Labs? Rohit Kochar: Bert Labs was incorporated on 19 January 2017. Bert Labs is making things connected for consumers, businesses, and governments. Bert Labs is innovation at the inter-section of Artificial Intelligence -Internet of Things solving complex industrial problems, energy efficiency improvement and production efficiency improvement for large corporations across industry verticals, to help them achieve their year-on-year Sustainability, Productivity, Capital Efficiency goals. Bert Labs helps customers leverage their software and hardware to generate customized applications, delivered within the nerves of where they are located. Until March 2020, Bert Labs was building and deploying Bert Platform Solution to help Enterprises and Governments achieve their sustainability goals in commercial buildings. Due to pandemic for next two years, commercial buildings was not the obvious focus. Bert Labs built and deployed Bert Platform Solutions to help Enterprises and Governments achieve their sustainability goals and manufacturing goals for Pharma Formulation clean rooms, Pharma API clean rooms, Specialty Chemicals, Chemical Soda Ash, Chemical Caustic Soda, Cement Pyro, Automobile four-wheeler paint shop, Automobile two-wheeler paint shop. Bert Labs’ objective is to become Business Transformation Partner of choice for industries such as – Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing, Drug Discovery & Development Cement Chemical & Textiles FMCG Pulp & Paper Automobile White Goods Commercial buildings (Corporate Offices, R&D Centres, Hotels, Airports, Smart Cities, Hospitals, Malls, etc) Some of the Business Transformation use cases in above industries are: Sustainability, Energy Efficiency Improvement, Decarbonization, Zero Carbon and Carbon Neutrality Thermal and Air Quality Improvement Production Efficiency & Quality improvement for Manufacturing Operations & Process Excellence and World’s Best in Class Products Safety Improvement Supply Chain Planning &Inbound/Outbound Logistics Efficiency Improvement Great Companies: What makes Bert Labs different from hundreds of other similar service providers? Rohit Kochar: Bert Labs’ business strategy works on Start Small, Expand Rapidly Flex Muscle. We start with Phase I in different industry verticals and different domains, making Bert Platform Solution ready to use with client appreciation, trust & support. Then we grow in both directions, within the same client for their other plants & in other client ecosystems in the same industry. This model offers Bert Labs the opportunity to expand rapidly, and the scope to offer the most competitive ROI & value enhancing proposition to the client. Bert Platform is a complete ecosystem starting from Sense to Connect to Insight to Act, which very few companies globally are currently offering to their clients. With such robust & innovative capability, Bert Labs is offering the most cost-effective solution with attractive payback period, for their applications, which in turn is giving them collective savings of INR 10,000 crores - 25,000 crores over next 5 years, having impact on their Profitability of 50-400 basis points, and direct positive proportionate impact on EPS and Shareholder Value. At Bert Labs, we have made a small, yet significant beginning to building a mindset for Research & Innovation, to solve complex problems for their clients more impact fully than anybody in the global marketplace. Among several strategic ongoing initiatives & drives, the Company challenges all its scientists, developers & designers with 10 patent filings every year. Bert Labs is the place where the best of global talent come and express themselves, where complete ownership is entrusted upon them based on their raw/latent talent, identified by the Founder/CEO and the leadership at a very early stage, in Bert stringent recruitment process. Then, Bert Labs supports them completely to be a great success, and in the process allows them to learn from their failures. Bert Labs is a place which is led with the highest level of transparency & full disclosures, with its internal & external stakeholders. Bert Labs’ Founder CEO lives by the principle of, “when in doubt, disclose”, and by the principle that, for any leader, it’s not possible for him/her to be nice every time, however, it’s important to be fair every time. Great Companies: What were the struggles and challenges you faced and how did you overcome them? Rohit Kochar: I strongly believe there a few elements which can be improved in the ecosystem to give a shot in the arm of deep tech early-stage companies. At Bert Labs we have done well for ourselves in terms of idea generation, building these ideas into product services and then servicing the B2B clients or the end consumers. But around it, building successful enterprises, building institutions, which become world leaders in different sectors, domains, areas is not what we have been able to do so far. At Bert Labs, the philosophy when it comes to investment is that we will rely on our own revenues and profits. Our investment would be as and when we need money to support, investment in innovation, investment in global expansion, and investment in people. These are the 3 areas we look for money from outside, largely from ultra HNIs and family offices, who bring in the strong credentials which we need for Bert Labs. Also, bring in the right intent as an investor where along with the returns, they also want to be part of a journey where we are building something which would last forever. With this temperament, we are building this company which is built to last. From that perspective, yes, we have brought in investment but with very diligently. At Bert Labs, we pursue a problem led approach rather than product led approach. Initially we started off in the energy space, where energy consumption was the low hanging fruit for us. In energy consumption, commercial buildings was the choice, compared to a manufacturing plant. We started with looking at commercial buildings, and visited airports, Delhi airport, Mumbai airport, Kochi airport, Bangalore airport, we started to visit hotels, hospitals, Taj hotels, Apollo, Fortis, office complexes. One thing which we determined was that the number one energy guzzler anywhere in the world, is centralised air conditioning system, what is called HVAC system (heating ventilation air conditioning system). The second step was realising gaps in the solutions of existing solution providers. Then there are product related challenges. Hardware is a major challenge, in terms of the ecosystem and in terms of finding the right manufacturers. We outsource the manufacturing of our products which are microcontroller, microprocessor led printed circuit boards. We design them, we write our own software on these PCBs in terms of fabrication and assembly. We outsource manufacturing parts through engagements and have institutionalised our relationship with these companies. Then there is the integration between hardware and software, how do we make it seamless from the perspective of upstream data flow and downstream data flow because that is what is the fundamental requirement for our solution to work and deliver. The other side of innovation is you do not get enough reference points, so you end up thinking original. you end up thinking indigenously and a lot of Bert ingenuity came into existence for what we ended up building. Doing original work in research and innovation, because all engineers are doing is relying on the existing libraries, technologies to solve an application. You can certainly do that, at Bert Labs also we do that. But along with this, there are lot of areas which require indigenous thinking. To write an original piece of code, which is solving a problem which does not have a reference point and for that, there comes a lot of training which Bert Labs has been challenged with. Training to begin with the mindset where you are thinking original, that requires very diligent work on behalf of the company. Great Companies: How do you plan to grow in the future? What does 5 years down the line look like for Bert Labs? Rohit Kochar: At Bert Labs, our vision for the future is driven by innovation, sustainability, and impactful contributions across various industries. As we look five years down the line, our roadmap is shaped by several key pillars that will guide our growth and influence: Innovative Solutions: We envision ourselves at the forefront of cutting-edge technological advancements. Over the next five years, we aim to continuously develop and deploy innovative solutions that address complex challenges across industries such as automotive, manufacturing, construction, energy, and more. Our commitment to research and development will remain unwavering, ensuring that our technologies remain ahead of the curve. Global Presence: Building on our current success, we aspire to expand our global footprint. By establishing strategic partnerships and collaborations, we intend to reach new markets and regions, bringing our transformative solutions to a broader audience. This expansion will not only amplify our impact but also contribute to creating a more sustainable and interconnected world. Diverse Industry Influence: In the coming years, we plan to further solidify our presence in multiple sectors, becoming a go-to brand for innovative solutions. Our efforts in, manufacturing optimization, energy efficiency, and more will shape industries and set new standards. By diversifying our portfolio, we can effectively tackle a wider range of challenges. Talent and Culture: Our growth hinges on our exceptional team. As we move forward, we continue to attract top-tier talent, foster a culture of collaboration, and provide an environment that encourages creativity and growth. Investing in our people will remain a cornerstone of our strategy, ensuring that our team's passion and expertise continue to drive our success. Sustainability Champion: Environmental consciousness is central to our identity. In the next five years, we aspire to make even greater strides in sustainability, developing solutions that contribute to a greener future. Our commitment to reducing carbon footprints, enhancing energy efficiency, and promoting sustainable practices for our clients is paramount for us, and will continue to be a driving force. Customer-Centric Approach: Our success is deeply intertwined with the success of our customers. Over the next five years, we will refine our customer engagement strategies, aiming to provide personalized solutions that address specific needs. By forging strong, long-lasting relationships, we'll continue to co-create value and drive mutual growth. Thought Leadership: Bert Labs aims to be a thought leader in the industries we serve. Through thought-provoking content, participation in conferences, and active engagement with industry experts, we will continue to shape conversations and drive discussions around technological innovation, sustainability, and the future of various sectors. In essence, five years down the line, Bert Labs will be a globally recognized name synonymous with groundbreaking innovation and sustainable solutions across industries. Our influence will be felt not only in the technological advancements we bring forth but also in the positive impact we make on the world around us. We are committed to shaping a better future, and our journey toward that future is only just beginning. Great Companies: If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would it be? Rohit Kochar: Starting a company and building a company is the same as building any other company out there. There is nothing like startup, companies are in their first year of operation, or tenth year or 100th year. The fundamentals of building a company remains the same. We must be very clear on the problem which we are solving, the market we are solving the problem for, problem must be looked at as understood by the end customer. Develop a perfect market product fit and focus on revenues and profits from day one. Web Site : https://www.bertlabs.com/ Social Media : LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook

Great Companies: How did you get your idea or concept for the business? Dr. Ankit Gupta: I graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering and later pursued a master's in production engineering. I had an inclination to start an industry, but I wanted to first understand how industries functioned. After working for three months, I realized that establishing an industry required substantial funds. Being from a middle-class background, while I had the talent and dedication, I lacked the financial means. I took a break, traveled within India, and then visited what I consider my pivotal destination, Rishikesh. It was there that I felt there was a gap in the field of psychology and counseling – a lot had been done qualitatively but not quantitatively. I then began my research, referring to the Vedas and Manu Smriti. I pursued my second master's in employee psychology under the IEM stream. In 2016, I founded THE BRAIN SEEDER, and Brain Waves Tech in 2022. Our primary goal is to educate communities about the importance of mental health and its role in attaining happiness and satisfaction in life. Great Companies: What are the various services provided by The Brain Seeder and Brain Waves Tech Pvt. Ltd? Dr. Ankit Gupta: The Brain Seeder specializes in brain waves analysis and offers customized sound therapy for ages 5 to 95. This therapy assists in alleviating mental ailments and disorders and enhancing brain potential. Brain Waves Tech empowers seven sectors - individual professionals, psychologists, counselors, alternative therapists, schools, colleges, universities, coaching centers, centers for children with special needs, rehab centers, corporates, meditation and yoga centers, defense, and researchers. Our brain-computer interface technology can record and analyze an individual's state of mind in just minutes, boasting an accuracy of over 92%, validated by many prestigious institutes and organizations. Great Companies: What distinguishes The Brain Seeder and Brain Waves Tech Pvt. Ltd from other similar service providers? Dr. Ankit Gupta: To answer with a quote, “If you cannot measure it, you can't improve it.” We stand out because we quantify parameters and conduct both pre and post analyses to measure improvement levels. Great Companies: What were the challenges you faced, and how did you overcome them? Dr. Ankit Gupta: Instead of viewing them as struggles or challenges, I see them as tasks. We work in the field of mental health, where the initial step is intangible. Just because something isn't visible doesn't mean it isn't there. Our task was to educate people about mental health. While COVID-19 has been a disaster in human history, it gave people time to understand mental health better. Now, more individuals are educated about mental health, and the stigma around discussing it has diminished. Great Companies: How do you plan to grow in the future? What does 5 years down the line look like for The Brain Seeder and Brain Waves Tech Pvt. Ltd? Dr. Ankit Gupta: My belief is rooted in education. The more we educate people about our services, the more the company will grow. In the next five years, we aim to impact more than 1 million lives with over 100,000 subscribers to the Brain Waves Tech software. Great Companies: If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would it be? Dr. Ankit Gupta: “There is joy in simplicity.”

Great Companies: How did you get your idea or concept for the business? Shailja Singh: Shailjaz Art Factory was born right before the year of pandemic. I come from a family where everyone is good at arts but no-one was taking it up professionally. So as a kid, art and craft was the first thing that I learnt and I dreamt of becoming an Artist. My parents were very supportive and took me to various art classes and hobby classes. (My mother during early years kept me engaged by giving me tasks to make something out of waste and that really helped me grow as an artist.). They promoted me to participate in a lot of extra curricular activities and pushed me to compete at school and college level. But due to higher education and corporate jobs it took a back seat before I actually understood that I left my passion behind. But in 2018 I quit my job and started exploring new art forms, art tools, new raw materials available in my field. I started learning by taking up various workshops and started making things which my friends and family liked. So I started gifting them to my closer ones. But during pandemic when everything stood still we had nothing much to do, that's when my Bestie Major Purnima Tiwari, started making Mandalas and sharing them with me. I couldn't resist the temptation to draw myself and started with whatever I had. That was the time when I started my IG page and got in touch with some real good artists and craftsmen who were doing excellent then. I started practicing by watching their videos and making out of what was available. When people started admiring my work, my husband Mr. Abhishek Singh, pushed me to start my own small venture and supported me in all ways possible. And since I was always very cautious about environment I began with theme of upcycling mostly everything and customising them for the needs of the people in pocket friendly ways. Great Companies: What are the various services provided by Shailjaz Art Factory? Shailja Singh: Shailjaz Art Factory is a place where you get variety, we refuse to stop at one idea and offer a variety of home utility products, home decor products and converting scrap to beautiful items. People can send their old decorative products and get a complete new look for them. We focus mostly on customisation as per the need of the customer. We make paintings of all sizes, we make beautiful home decoration products along with home utility products as per the budget and requirements of the customer. We also focus on upcycling glass and plastic bottles which is a major waste problem for the environment to create something useful and for decoration purposes. Great Companies: What makes Shailjaz Art Factory different from hundreds of other similar service providers? Shailja Singh : We do a lot of upcycling! We upcycle old paintings done on canvases or boards, upcycling glass and plastic bottles and making home decor products out of it. We try using discarded raw material from old products to make new ones. We create new paintings over old ones. We use old raw material, clean them and use them in our new products in making, while trying to keep those emotions attached with the product for the customer. We try to use old packaging boxes and sheets to reduce any further waste production. We try to reduce waste as much as possible and yet create bright and eye catching products. Great Companies: What were the struggles and challenges you faced and how did you overcome them? Shailja Singh: Starting after so many years was tough in many ways. Since we started Shailjaz Art Factory after a very long time so a lot of techniques were changed by then. Lot of new material was introduced in market which I had never used. Lot of new artforms were also there which we never heard of. People started promoting themselves over Social media using videos and posts; etc So during the initial stage, I had to unlearn a lot of things and learn lot so techniques of painting and crafting, I had to learn about newly launched crafting tools and methods to use them, I had to learn to use social media professionally and other applications to enhance pictures, the videos and learnt ways of promoting them. It was difficult initially but as we kept on going, the road became smoother. Our biggest challenge once we started was to understand what the customer would like to buy and it is an everyday challenge for every small business. Great Companies: How do you plan to grow in the future? What does 5 years down the line look like for Shailjaz Art Factory? Shailja Singh: We have always kept on exploring new ideas to keep growing and bringing something new everytime for our customers and admirers. We plan on becoming a brand known globally and employing a whole bunch of art enthusiasts to work together and specially making women empowered by ways of making them skilled and self dependent. We wish to work with artists on a larger platform. Great Companies: If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would it be? Shailja Singh: Advice for the budding aspirants would be to - 1. Keep learning - Unlearn old ways and learn new things everyday, from everywhere and everybody. You learn things from the most unexpected places and people . 2. Take challenges - take challenges for yourself, a little positive pressure hellos you think and grow beyond your imagination. 3. Ask Questions - Don't fear to ask questions if you don't know something. Asking questions gives you an insight in your field of work. 4. Register yourself for workshops - workshops helps you learn new tools and techniques. You get to meet like minded people who inspire and help you grow.

Name: Kate Alonzi Business Name: Vizamerica LLC - Alonzi Law Group - iWork Way Location: Phoenix New York Los Angeles, USA Establishment (Year): 2017 Category/Industry: Legal & Accounting Profession/ Specialty: Attorney, Consultant Website: www.vizamerica.com www.e2visalawyers.com www.iworkway.com Social Media: LinkedIn Company Detail: She is the Co-Founder, CEO and Managing Attorney at Vizamerica LLC and Alonzi Law Group. Both companies specialize in helping foreign entrepreneurs enter the United States on E-2 visas and EB-2 NIW visas and to succeed in their business endeavors. Their services involve business consulting, business mentorship, company setup and attorney work. Because of their work their clients have become immensely successful in the U.S.; from successful tech companies to small start-ups. Since 2017, they have helped hundreds of people achieve their dreams. Being a woman in business, they recognize the challenges faced by women worldwide and offer personal mentorship services for women who decide to take a leap and open a business in the U.S. Unique Selling Proposition or Competitive Advantage: The uniqueness of their offerings lies in our A-to-Z services and their unique approach. From the minute a client contacts them, they get access to the best business experts and attorneys who will not only ensure their visa application success but also their U.S. business success. That is what allowed their companies to become one of the TOP business/immigration law companies in the U.S. Challenges Faced During the Journey: She was born in a tiny village in Eastern Europe during communism when people were not allowed to dream. Ever since she remembers, she wanted to make an impact on the world, so when she turned 17 I moved to the UK and ultimately, through her hard work, became successful enough in business to move to the U.S. and pursue the American Dream. The obstacles and challenges she faced were many but she learned from every single one of them and became resilient; that’s what allowed her to reach where she is now Advice for Women Entrepreneurs: From a very young age she learned that success in life is proportionate to one’s ability to master themselves. It instilled in her the understanding and acceptance that to become great at something she first had to master herself and learn to trust herself. Life as well as business is filled with ups and downs, but our ability to remain centered and true to yourself is the key to both personal and business fulfillment.

Name: Kate Enters Business Name: ArtCan Location: Baldock, Hertfordshire Establishment (Year): 2016 Category/Industry: Event & Entertainment Profession/ Specialty: Art Exhibitions Website: www.artcan.org.uk Social Media: LinkedIn Company Detail: ArtCan is an artist-led, non-profit arts organization with members across Britain and internationally. ArtCan’s work is supported by the efforts of artist-member volunteers and contributions from donations and Friends of ArtCan. ArtCan works with galleries, but also seeks new spaces where art becomes a part of everyday life and with the aim of involving audiences in an organic and personal way. ArtCan’s artist-centred ethos means that the model does not involve charging membership fees or commissions on sales, to help artists focus on developing a sustainable practice. ArtCan now represents 537 members from 26 countries, and organizes an annual programme of strong and vibrant collaborative art exhibitions. Throughout 2023, ArtCan is celebrating its 10 year anniversary Unique Selling Proposition or Competitive Advantage: Artists often work in isolation but crave connection and camaraderie of other artists. ArtCan provides a network and structure to connect with peers, filling a gap in the art world. ArtCan’s unique exhibition process unlocks possibilities for an artist to sustain their individual practice by removing barriers such as the up-front cost of exhibiting, steep commission structures, and lack of marketing resources. By bringing artists together ArtCan increases the chance for exposure and potential sales. Challenges Faced During the Journey: ArtCan started as a small, inadvertent rebellion against the traditional structure of the art world. An artist herself, Kate Enters had organised many of her own solo exhibitions and found herself stymied by the up-front cost of promotion, high commissions taken by the galleries, and the same faces at private views. She needed a way to expand her audience and keep costs lower in order to sustain her own practice. Being an artist can be an isolated existence, but the need for connectivity is innate and the pandemic drew that need sharply into focus, ArtCan had to adapt to the changes and support its artists members in staying connected. Advice for Women Entrepreneurs: Follow you passion and build a strong network that aligns with it and your energy, it will grow organically and develop on that strength. The future is incredibly bright and exciting!

Name: Alison Morgan Business Name: Relauncher Location: Sydney, Australia Establishment (Year): 2010 Category/Industry: Training and Coaching Profession/ Specialty: Business Coach Website: www.relauncher.com.au Social Media: LinkedIn Company Detail: Business Coach guiding Small Business Owners 1:1 to set up, grow and evolve. Unique Selling Proposition or Competitive Advantage: Have been 1:1 Coaching Small Business Owners for 13 years. A very tailored and boutique approach. Also have a Graphic Design Studio, Sticky Studio that executes branding, packaging and websites to assist Business Owners stand out. Challenges Faced During the Journey: Swapping time for money and having a very large customer base. I have since refined my target audience and launched Sticky Studio, so the 2 businesses flow together seamlessly. Advice for Women Entrepreneurs: Pinpoint where you'd like to be in 5 years and take the action now to set up and begin to market yourself. Never doubt yourself and believe you can achieve exactly what it is that you'd like to. Crafting and designing your life is achievable and leads to tremendous fulfilment.

Name: Tanya Hilts Business Name: Cloud Business Services Inc. Location: Belleville, Canada Establishment (Year): 2018 Category/Industry: Accounting Services Profession/ Specialty: Accounting Services Website: www.cloudbusinessservices.ca Social Media: LinkedIn Company Detail: Cloud Business Services Inc. provides cloud-based accounting and bookkeeping services. They leverage the power of cloud technology to streamline financial processes, offering real-time access to financial data and efficient solutions. Their experienced team handles a range of accounting services as well as a unique advisory/consulting perspective to help business owners focus on what they do best and excel in their businesses. Unique Selling Proposition or Competitive Advantage: Their bookkeeping and advisory services combine advanced technology with personalized expertise, providing accurate and reliable financial insights. Businesses choose their services for seamless experiences, informed financial decisions, and compliance with regulations. they offer customized solutions, proactive guidance, competitive pricing, and flexible options for businesses of all sizes, as well as specialty niche's in the trucking and insurance industries. Their services are supported by a highly skilled team, dedicated to exceptional customer support. They constantly innovate and stay up-to-date with industry trends, delivering effective and efficient financial solutions. Challenges Faced During the Journey: As an entrepreneur, she experienced growing pains and made some poor business decisions along the way. However, she didn’t dwell on the failures. Instead, she focused on analyzing what went wrong and making necessary adjustments until she discovered the winning formula. Advice for Women Entrepreneurs: Believe in yourself and your abilities. Surround yourself with a supportive network of mentors, advisors, and like-minded individuals. Take risks and embrace failure as an opportunity for growth. Continuously seek knowledge and stay updated with industry trends. Be resilient and persevere through challenges. Network and build relationships within your industry. Prioritize self-care and maintain a work-life balance. Stay adaptable and open to new ideas and opportunities. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or seek guidance when needed. Celebrate your successes and milestones along the way.

Name: Jessica Adanich Business Name: Design Pod Studio Location: Tampa, Florida, USA Establishment (Year): 2018 Category/Industry: Advertisement and Marketing Profession/ Specialty: Graphic Design & Marketing Website: https://www.designpod.studio/ Social Media: LinkedIn Company Detail: DesignPod is a forward-thinking branding, graphic design, and marketing agency entirely based in the United States, led by the visionary founder Jessica Adanich. Their team of innovative, creative professionals is passionate about delivering exceptional results for clients across the globe. Regardless of their location, they connect seamlessly, leveraging the power of technology to collaborate effectively. Unique Selling Proposition or Competitive Advantage: Jessica Adanich, the driving force behind DesignPod, brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the table. With a deep understanding of the industry, she has a proven track record of successful projects and satisfied clients. Her keen eye for design, strategic mindset, and commitment to excellence set her apart in the field. When you choose to work with Jessica and the DesignPod team, you benefit from a unique blend of creativity, professionalism, and dedication. They go above and beyond to ensure the project's success, crafting impactful branding, captivating graphic design, and effective marketing strategies. Their personalized approach and attention to detail guarantee that your vision is brought to life in the most compelling way possible. Challenges Faced During the Journey: In a world where many agencies outsource work and become a broker for projects, they have worked hard to separate themselves in a positive way from that. A design agency that doesn't outsource its work and instead completes all tasks in-house has several key differences from other agencies that rely on outsourcing. Firstly, it offers greater control over the entire creative process, allowing for more streamlined communication and collaboration among team members. This can lead to better quality control and faster project turnaround times. Secondly, an in-house agency may develop a stronger sense of team identity and company culture, leading to improved morale and loyalty among employees. Lastly, clients may experience more direct interactions with the team responsible for their projects, fostering a deeper understanding of their needs and leading to more tailored and effective design solutions. Overall, an in-house design agency can offer more consistency, efficiency, and a closer relationship with clients compared to agencies that outsource their work. Advice for Women Entrepreneurs: Believe in Yourself: Confidence in your abilities and vision is paramount. Trust that you have what it takes to succeed and don't let self-doubt hinder your progress. Embrace Failure as a Learning Opportunity: View setbacks as valuable lessons rather than insurmountable obstacles. Learn from your mistakes and use them as stepping stones toward growth and improvement. Stay Passionate: Choose a venture that aligns with your interests and values. Passion for your business will fuel your motivation during challenging times and drive you to persevere toward success.

Name: Tiffany Grandchamp Melnik Business Name: Women Lifting Women Location: Mendota Heights, USA Establishment (Year): 2020 Category/Industry: Business Services Profession/ Specialty: Business Consulting Website: Www.womenliftingwomen.org Social Media: LinkedIn Company Detail: They help close the gender pay and opportunity gap. They achieve this by directly offering women services for enhancing their skills and knowledge, while also educating organizations about inclusive practices and policy adjustments aimed at empowering women. Additionally, they provide a platform for data analytics focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Unique Selling Proposition or Competitive Advantage: They are women owned and led. They also have an advisory board that includes men- to help reach men in their mission to close the gender pay gap. Challenges Faced During the Journey: The organization faced the challenge of including men into their mission of promoting gender equality. Despite their primary focus on advancing women's opportunities and pay, they understood the importance of engaging men as allies. Initially, they struggled to identify effective approaches for this inclusion. However, they later developed strategies to achieve this balance. In their comprehensive consulting suite, the organization offers executive coaching to a diverse audience. They have achieved significant success by coaching men on understanding and empowering women, a service that has gained traction. Their Diversity analytics service has interest from men who are eager to support the cause. These analytics provide them with objective insights for targeted actions. Advice for Women Entrepreneurs: They love being an entrepreneur, having initiated the establishment of four companies throughout their life. They believe that entrepreneurship might be an inherent trait for certain individuals. They encourage women who aspire to create something to take the leap and be daring in their pursuits. The individual counters the misconception that entrepreneurship requires assured success, highlighting that it's a mindset. They advise that by preparing for the failure at the forefront, one can get past the fear of taking first step.

Great Companies: How did you get your idea or concept for the business? Sandra Jimenez Marin: During my office life, I organised travelling around bank holidays and annual leave for maximum days off. Then Covid happened and a new way of life came, remote working. Accommodation was always the limiting factor, as it is expensive. So I came up with the idea for Swapoffi. Members of our community swap accommodation instead of paying for it! Great Companies: What are the various services provided by Swapoffi? Sandra Jimenez Marin: We are a home exchange community for remote workers. The cost of accommodation is the single biggest problem for remote workers and digital nomads. Swapoffi eliminates this cost. Great Companies: What makes Swapoffi different from hundreds of other similar service providers? Sandra Jimenez Marin: Swapoffi is different to traditional home exchanges as they cater for families who value bedrooms for one-off vacations. Our home exchange is for solos and couples who value workspaces over bedrooms and who travel as a lifestyle, and for months not weeks. We are different to newer home exchanges as we are first to market. I am proud to say we already have homes, in 25 countries across 4 continents with new ones coming on board all the day. More importantly, we don't just connect people and homes like some emerging competitors, we have a 4 step verification process to verify the person, the home, the workspace and reliable Wi-Fi. It takes a little bit of effort from members and from us, but we think it is worth it for everyone's peace of mind. Great Companies: What were the struggles and challenges you faced and how did you overcome them? Sandra Jimenez Marin: Some start-ups can take an MVP (minimum viable product) approach. We had to build most of our tech features before we could launch, as the first members of our community need the same features as the 1,000,000th member! That was time consuming and at times hard to keep going month after month. Launching to the public in June of this year really helped as we can engage with members now for their input and feedback. Its great to be live and out there, rather than working behind closed doors on market research and tech build for so long ! Now our main challenge is to spread the word about our concept and build our brand. We are entirely self funded so don't have a large marketing budget. Targeting an online audience is much easier though than traditional ways of marketing. Everyone can be found online and most people are also building something so are happy to share or support. If all else fails, hard work overcomes everything! Great Companies: How do you plan to grow in the future? What does 5 years down the line look like for Swapoffi? Sandra Jimenez Marin: Our community is at the heart of everything. So in 5 years time, we expect our active members to do a lot of our marketing as they share with others how much money they can save on accommodation all over the world through being a Swapoffi member. Ultiimately people can travel more and for longer once they have free accommodation. So expect a lot more user generated content about Swapoffi. Also, we are collaborating more and more each month as so many groups and businesses serve remote workers. We can all grow together! Remote work is the new way to travel, so we expect this trend to continue. So in 5 years time, we expect that all remote workers know of this option to join a home swap community for free accommodation and to work productively. We want to be the number one choice for accommodation for remote workers. Great Companies: If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would it be? Sandra Jimenez Marin: Get a good team, or at least one person around that who complements your skills set. If you are building an online business, choose your tech builder wisely. It will be a long term and potentially expensive relationship. There are a lot of supports out there for start-ups. Make sure you know about them and take advantage of them.