The Most Successful Business Leader to Watch Out

WWW.THEENTERPRISEWORLD.COM | AMERICA EDITION | JULY 2022 The Most SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS LEADER to WOuattch CEO, WingoCase Disrupting the Industry with Innovative Vision







From Editor’s Desk Successful entrepreneurship comes from within, is something that can now be easily discarded as a myth. It requires consistency, facing problems and finding solutions and leading a team to success. It is more about building a strong and trusted team rather than just going forward. Most successful business leaders are the ones who have started with nothing and have today built successful enterprises. With the right kind of perseverance and attitude towards life, anything is possible. The Enterprise World’s this issue of The Most Successful Business Leaders to Watch Out features the stories of such business leaders who with their wit and hard work have made success stories happen. For the cover story read about- Leading people in its truest form, was Steve Elwell. Like every other CEO, he faced hardships in his journey, but his zeal to succeed made him the leader he is today. Leading WingoCase- Ambulant Inc. Steve is the CEO of his word and one in its true sense. With his ability to lead a call with the shareholders with utmost ease, and find an innovative way around the everyday problems the organization faces on a daily basis, Steve has been able to take the company to new heights. Steve has a proven track record of growing and leading some of the most prestigious leading organizations in industries like medical device, and many more. This is the vision with which he has made WingoCase one of the most successful organizations in its industry. “I am a bit of a “throwback” CEO. It is mostly because of my relationships from the executive team to the back-office staff.” Mr. Elwell Brings expertise in strategy, marketing, sales leadership, and business development. He brings over twenty years of senior management experience in the medical device industry and has been a part of three successful exits; ApaTech (sold to Baxter), Salient Surgical (sold to Medtronic), and Global Medical Concepts (sold in 2018). Virginie Simone is the Founder and Director of Simon&Co. Virginie is one of the most innovative, visionary, and charismatic business leaders of the year. She has revolutionized the industry with her company’s leading services, embedded with her expertise and invaluable experience. Simon&Co has become one of the leading names in PR and strategy with unmatched services, providing solutions that offer clients flexibility, scalability, and growth. Their long list of loyal clients makes them highly sought-after and one of the most trusted PR agencies in the market. Simon&Co establishes itself as a leading PR strategist and brand builder, through its comprehensive methods and ethos. Their primary service offerings revolve around reputation management plans, launches, communications of influence, public affairs, media relations, and business development. Patti Brownsord, Partner at Grounded With Data, who is making lives easier with her accurate information and representation of data. In this interview with her, let us know more about the journey of the company. Grounded With Data is a market research and data analysis consulting firm. We work with businesses to help them figure out what they're leaving on the table by not using their data and how they can start making better data-driven decisions. “My business partner and I both come from agency backgrounds where every day was different, and we had to learn fast about various industries to become effective with our recommendations. We pride ourselves on quickly getting up to speed with clients and bringing them new insights and ah-ha moments. One of our favorite things to hear is, \"well, I never thought about it that way before .\" We wanted to start this company for the freedom of being our own bosses, working for clients we love, and growing a team that felt supported and inspired by their work.” Shalmali Shalmali W.

The Enterprise World, 1985, Henderson Rd, Columbus, Ohio, 43220 Follow Us On: For Editorial Concerns: [email protected] For Sales & Branding Enquiries: [email protected] For Subscription: [email protected] Publisher The Enterprise World Creative Content Editor Shalmali W. Marketing Coordinator Peter J. PR & Marketing Coordinator James H. Business Development Executive Rachel Hayden Creative Design Head: Sushant K. Social Media Manager Narendra S. Digital Circulation Manager Amanda V. Digital Marketing Executive Prachi K. This list is NOT a ranking. The companies on listed in magazine serve different aspects of the market, making ranking them in any order except revenue impossible and unfair. We try to bring a perfect platform for business organization to showcase their valued products/ services. Copyrights © The Enterprise World | 2019. All Rights Reserved. The images and content included in this magazine should not be copied, transferred or reproduced in any form or by any means, electronics, mechanical, photocopying, recording, otherwise, without proper permission from The Enterprise World. The Enterprise World solely owns all the reprint rights.

Leaders in Spotlight Leading people in its truest form, was Steve Elwell. growth. Their long list of loyal clients makes them Like every other CEO, he faced hardships in his highly sought-after and one of the most trusted PR journey, but his zeal to succeed made him the leader agencies in the market. he is today. Leading WingoCase- Ambulant Inc. Simon&Co establishes itself as a leading PR strategist Steve is the CEO of his word and one in its true and brand builder, through its comprehensive methods sense. With his ability to lead a call with the and ethos. Their primary service offerings revolve shareholders with utmost ease, and find an innovative around reputation management plans, launches, way around the everyday problems the organization communications of influence, public affairs, media faces on a daily basis, Steve has been able to take the relations, and business development. company to new heights. Patti Brownsord, Partner at Grounded With Data, who Steve has a proven track record of growing and is making lives easier with her accurate information leading some of the most prestigious leading and representation of data. organizations in industries like medical device, and many more. This is the vision with which he has In this interview with her, let us know more about the made WingoCase one of the most successful journey of the company. organizations in its industry. Grounded With Data is a market research and data “I am a bit of a “throwback” CEO. It is mostly analysis consulting firm. We work with businesses to because of my relationships from the executive team help them figure out what they're leaving on the table to the back-office staff.” by not using their data and how they can start making better data-driven decisions. Mr. Elwell Brings expertise in strategy, marketing, sales leadership, and business development. He “My business partner and I both come from agency brings over twenty years of senior management backgrounds where every day was different, and we experience in the medical device industry and has had to learn fast about various industries to become been a part of three successful exits; ApaTech (sold to effective with our recommendations. We pride Baxter), Salient Surgical (sold to Medtronic), and ourselves on quickly getting up to speed with clients Global Medical Concepts (sold in 2018). and bringing them new insights and ah-ha moments. One of our favorite things to hear is, \"well, I never Virginie Simone is the Founder and Director of thought about it that way before .\" We wanted to start Simon&Co. Virginie is one of the most innovative, this company for the freedom of being our own visionary, and charismatic business leaders of the bosses, working for clients we love, and growing a year. She has revolutionized the industry with her team that felt supported and inspired by their work.” company’s leading services, embedded with her expertise and invaluable experience. Simon&Co has become one of the leading names in PR and strategy with unmatched services, providing solutions that offer clients flexibility, scalability, and

10. Steve Elwell

20.ARTICLE Patti Brownsord C O N TC EO NN TT SE N T S 30. Virginie Simon The Future of 26.

COVER STORY Disrupting Industry Innovative Vision Steve Elwell CEO 10 J U L Y 2 0 2 2

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COVER STORY A As it is in stardom and in being a leader of a company, there is no big screen and a biopic playing for people to know you. Your excellent people skills, the way you tackle difficult situations, the way you maintain a positive work environment everything comes to play when you decide to become a CEO of a company. Leading people in its truest form, was Steve Elwell. Like every other CEO, he faced hardships in his journey, but his zeal to succeed made him the leader he is today. Featuring his story is The Enterprise World in this issue of The Most Successful Business Leader to Watch Out. Unmatched Leadership of Steve- Leading WingoCase- Ambulant Inc. Steve is the CEO of his word and one in its true sense. With his ability to lead a call with the shareholders with utmost ease, and find an innovative way around the every day problems the organization faces on a daily basis, Steve has been able to take the company to new heights. Steve has a proven track record of growing and leading some of the most prestigious 12 J U L Y 2 0 2 2

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leading organizations in industries like swears by, and that is empowering “Fall of 2022 will have many new exciting products from medical device, and many more. This them to make decisions. When you WingoCase that will grow our ecosystem into more is the vision with which he has made empower individuals and they know tablet and phone devices brands.” WingoCase one of the most successful that they are trusted and supported, organizations in its industry. they will make decisions that are for the betterment of the larger good. “I am a bit of a “throwback” CEO. It is mostly because of my relationships The Company- from the executive team to the back- office staff.” “WingoCase is based in Bend, Oregon and our mission is to create the most Mr. Elwell Brings expertise in strategy, comfortable and versatile digital marketing, sales leadership, and accessories that remove limitations business development. He brings over between people and their devices.” twenty years of senior management experience in the medical device The “science” behind this product is a industry and has been a part of three 12-inch wooden ruler! WingoCase's successful exits; ApaTech (sold to Founder, Cole McGowan, was home Baxter), Salient Surgical (sold to for a family weekend and his father, an Medtronic), and Global Medical arthritis sufferer, had purchased a tablet Concepts (sold in 2018). so he could read books but was having to put the tablet down because of the Being a Washington State native, Jim excessive grip pressure required to Sinegal, the founder of Costco has hold it. To make the tablet easier to always been Steve's role model. A hold, Cole's Father taped a 12-inch piece of philosophy Steve has adopted wooden ruler to the back of the tablet from his role model Sinegal is that of which effectively created “wings” that taking good care of the employees. extended beyond the perimeter of the And that is the reason why he device and enabled him to hold it undoubtedly believes that the effortlessly. employees are a company's most prominent advocates. Steve's Cole realized that tablets and phones philosophy is that if you as a leader go were hard to hold, and he immediately the extra mile to take care of your secured two utility patents around people, it will create a cyclical energy creating independently deployable that will ultimately benefit your “wings” that make tablets easier to organization in the long run. hold. Building of a Strong Team- The Challenges and Success- The building blocks of raising a strong 2019 was the year WingoCase stepped team are to know each and every in the market, launching their first ever employee on a human level. With the product, WingoCase for the iPad Mini concept of remote work making its 4. The product was a massive hit, way, everyone's work lives and home selling all the inventory. Considering lives are very much intertwined these the convenience of this case, and its days. So to rise above that and be a easy to use nature, WingoCase was great company, all the employees need thriving in the market with great to know that they matter as individuals reviews. and not just as an employee number. And as the company was ready to kick- Another key pillar in taking care of the off better customer engagement with employees at WingoCase is what Steve some of their newest additions, 14 J U L Y 2 0 2 2

COVER STORY www.theenterpriseworld.com 15

products that supported the iPad 8th both with an extensive device in addition to protecting the device Gen and iPad Air 4, the world was background in building brands itself. shutdown due to COVID-19. This was and distribution partners as well a huge blow on the company's progress as building a world-class sales The initial vision of Wingo was to create as it greatly impacted the company's organization. an ergonomic holding solution for phones ability to penetrate the market deeper and tablets. As the company grew, it and wider. But the plight of the The Products and Services- quickly realized that, in addition to pandemic was such that it eventually making phones and tablets easier to hold, led to the 2021 supply chain issues that “How can we make it more consumers also needed the ability to make impacted the globe. comfortable? More usable? More their phones and tablets stand up in both intuitive?” portrait and landscape mode. Enduring the strong impact, it had on the company, 2022 was the year that While other companies promote To raise the bar even higher, the team also marked for the growth of WingoCase. features of their accessories, realized that a variable angle stand did not The company has also on-boarded Wingo puts people at the center of exist in the market so Wingo set out to Sandy Gohres as the company's new every design decision. create a stand that could be adjusted to Executive Vice President of Sales and any angle without having to physically Marketing and Roberto Gonzalez as Wingo is the first tech accessory adjust the stand. After months of the company's new Sr. director of Sales company that focuses on the well- prototypes and tests, they have recently being of the person holding the released their first accessory for phones 16 J U L Y 2 0 2 2

COVER STORY that incorporates Variable Angle Stand The Road Ahead- and is the driving force for WingoCase Technology (V.A.S.T.). product evolution. WingoCase's mission is to create the most In short, Wingo has developed a comfortable and versatile digital Quite simply, with their extensive proprietary friction hinge that enables accessories that remove limitations research and development, the team consumers to securely stand their between people and their devices. As the knows that mobile devices are only phone at any angle (landscape mode). average daily usage of mobile devices going to be more prevalent in our daily Smartphones are extremely powerful, continues to rise globally, the frequency of routine and WingoCase strives to be and it is a fact that people are capable RSI's (Repetitive Stress Injuries) continues the first company that not only protects of doing amazing things with their to rise. the device but protects the well-being phones. of the person holding the device. The “At Wingo, we take this very seriously. company is on a mission to provide its “At Wingo, we want to remove The genesis of Wingo emerged from a customers the creative freedom and restrictions that limit the power of desire to help people.” soar and will continue to put people people and their devices and our and their well-being at the center of Variable Angle Stand Technology Wingo's mission is at the core of all of every decision they make as a (V.A.S.T.) accomplishes just that.” design discussions and roadmap reviews company. www.theenterpriseworld.com 17





Partner Grounded With Data 20 J U L Y 2 0 2 2

Patti Brownsord Making Lives Easier with Accurate Information Defined as the systematic Brief us about your company, what What are the products or services collection and the analysis of inspired you to start the company? the company focuses on? How are data market research and data your services different from those in analysis is a branch where the data Grounded With Data is a market the market? regarding a specific target market or research and data analysis consulting even a defined segment is collected for firm. We work with businesses to help Grounded With Data typically works review. This can include the them figure out what they're leaving with clients still learning about data information of your competition, or the on the table by not using their data and how it can be used. We focus on information related to your business and how they can start making better third-party research projects, surveys, needs like supply and demand, data-driven decisions. and setting up data processes; products and consumers. additional tasks such as focus groups, My business partner and I both come asset analysis, marketing analysis, and Collecting of this data and representing from agency backgrounds where dashboards/reporting blossom from the it in a way that is easy for the investors every day was different, and we had to initial work. or the stakeholders to explain is a skill learn fast about various industries to donned by just a few. become effective with our We're the Approachable Data Folks. recommendations. We pride ourselves We want our clients to feel comfortable Featuring for The Enterprise World's on quickly getting up to speed with with their data and create this issue of The Most Successful clients and bringing them new presentations, dashboards, and reports Business Leaders to Watch Out is Patti insights and ah-ha moments. One of that are easy enough for them to Brownsord, Partner at Grounded our favorite things to hear is, \"well, I present to others and look like With Data, who is making lives easier never thought about it that way before rockstars. I've seen many consultants with her accurate information and .\" We wanted to start this company for come in to build dashboards and representation of data. the freedom of being our own bosses, reports that become so elaborate that working for clients we love, and the end-user scraps them. If our clients In this interview with her, let us know growing a team that felt supported and don't use it, it wastes everyone's time, more about the journey of the inspired by their work. and we never want that. company. www.theenterpriseworld.com 21

Most non-profits and foundations we media, marketing, business from different generations and work with come to us with a problem intelligence, and general strategy has backgrounds to help build to solve, and then we start building put me in a unique position to help collaborative reports. It always leads to more long-term relationships with clients consistently steer themselves to innovative insights that leave our them as their go-to data people. For the best outcomes. clients delighted. small and medium-sized businesses, we either help them prepare for growth My business partner, Dr. Jack Slingluff, Our team consists of an executive or figure out their capacity issues since Jr., is the other Co-CEO and COO and administrator, who keeps Jack and me they grew too fast and hadn't prepared is in charge of the outcome of the in line, plus is our editor and gut-check for it. It's usually a combination of projects. He has experience working to ensure that we never sound wonky system congestion and culture shift, so with large casinos for their Customer to clients. In addition, we have a we always mix training and process Experience and Satisfaction. He knows project manager who acts as our senior improvements. surveys, focus groups, and the best market researcher. And we have way to tackle big market research various other friends we work with that Please tell us about your team. projects. He also loves advanced help with our market research, data statistics. integration, data analysis, and data I am essentially the Co-CEO, CMO, in visualization projects. We pull them in charge of sales and stay directly When we take on market research as needed, depending on the connected with the clients as their projects, we always create a team of assignment. representative. My experience in senior leaders and creative thinkers 22 J U L Y 2 0 2 2

Please brief us about your professional experience. I started at an advertising agency for seven and a half years, where I was a media planner and supervisor. I helped win various clients for the agency, my favourite being the St. Augustine-Ponte Vedra Visitor and Convention Bureau, which we later re-branded Florida's Historic Coast. After finishing my master's degree at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, I became the Digital Media Manager for Clear Channel Outdoor, where I managed the digital billboards in the area. This experience gave me a better understanding of the value of money for small businesses, and I became friends with many non-profits I helped with fundraising by putting them on my digi-boards. After that, I had a small stint as a Media Director for JWT Inside (J. Walter Thompson's recruitment division). I then left media for Business job from my old client. The second successful through their grants. We Intelligence at the AAA National achievement was winning the Winter also love working with non-profits Office in Heathrow, Florida. I received Park Health Foundation's data analysis because of their impact on the a crash course in proper data and market research. They are now our community. And we enjoy working visualizations and dashboarding and oldest and dearest client. They are with small and medium-sized then moved to the Strategy, Insights, & continually finding more things we can businesses because if they can grow Experience department as the help with, and we couldn't be happier! and be successful, that helps their team Association Strategy & Special The third achievement was my ability be happier, and that also can help the Projects Manager. This position helped to leave my corporate job and turn my community. increase my strategy, company goal side hustle into a thriving business. We setting, and leadership knowledge. still have a way to go to be wildly Which one is your favourite quote? When I left JWT Inside for AAA, they successful, but we're thriving. asked me if I could work on a few “Knowing is not enough; we must things for them since no one else could Any client experience you would like apply. Willing is not enough; we must do it. I obliged and started this to highlight? do.” - Bruce Lee company! I was finally able to go full- time in July of 2021. We love working with foundations because they can help many non- What are the key achievements of profits and individuals become more your business journey? My first achievement was winning the Orange County Regional History Centre for its media planning and data analysis. This win was the first contract we received where it wasn't a pick-up www.theenterpriseworld.com 23





The Futu 26 J U L Y 2 0 2 2

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Digital currencies will barriers to utilizing crypt-enabled debit cards bridge the undoubtedly have an cryptocurrencies in their daily lives, gap between regular money and influence on financial which must be overcome if digital bitcoin, providing a solution. systems. According to the World money is to gain widespread Economic Forum, 86 percent of the adoption and eventually replace fiat Wirex, for example, is prioritizing world's central banks are as the dominant monetary system. the acquisition of local banking investigating the advantages and licenses in order to secure the disadvantages of central bank Legal Documents & Smart assets of its clients. In fact, the firm digital money. Cryptocurrencies Contracts is licensed to issue electronic fiat were a big issue at the World money and payment instruments by Economic Forum's Davos Agenda The blockchain is used to keep the UK Financial Conduct this year. Leaders in the blockchain track of digital money production Authority under the Electronic sector met electronically to discuss and transfer. This capability is ideal Money Regulations 2017, with concerns such as legislation and for storing and enforcing legal equivalent licenses in Japan and the which features were necessary for documents in the form of smart the industry's continuing growth. contracts. Smart contracts are computer programs that run when Cryptocurrencies based on the certain criteria are satisfied and are blockchain provide an alternative to maintained on a blockchain. This established money systems like fiat. enables legal agreements to be Digital currency may theoretically automated so that all contract remove control of money away participants are immediately aware from institutions and return it to the of the conclusion, with no time lag people by eliminating the power of or need for an intermediary. The governments and central banks. adoption of legal papers and smart Unfortunately, the world has been contracts will be driven by the slow to accept this concept. Despite automation of workflows, its inherent promise, Bitcoin has triggering the next step when had a bad image throughout the criteria are satisfied, and first decade of its existence. The irreversibly recording status on the public impression of the emerging blockchain, especially when the asset class has shifted due to cheaper cost of conducting business enterprising criminals, crowds out paper-based contracts. unscrupulous investors, and institutional apprehension. Crypto-enabled debit cards Speculators and initial coin offerings (ICOs) took advantage of In recent years, a number of United States due soon. There is a the potential to earn a quick creative fintech startups that try to lot of market volatility right now. buck—often at the cost of give alternatives to bitcoin Cryptocurrencies, unlike traditional inexperienced investors—during exchanges have thrived. These fiat currency, are vulnerable to the crypto boom of 2017. include mobile-based systems that severe market volatility. This Thankfully, the focus has shifted let customers to buy and exchange implies that the value of tokens like away from cryptocurrencies as a a variety of digital and fiat bitcoin, XRP, and ethereum might speculative asset and toward currencies. Wirex cards, for fluctuate dramatically in a single aiming to solve many of the example, may turn any fund into day. The value of a single bitcoin problems that consumers and fiat instantly, letting clients to soared from $5,940 to more than companies face throughout the spend it in stores and online just $19,190 at the end of 2017, before world, from faster and cheaper like cash. Although exchanges are cross-border transfer to banking the still an important element of the unbanked. However, most ordinary bitcoin infrastructure, they lack the people still face considerable practicality and simplicity to allow everyday payments. As a result, 28 J U L Y 2 0 2 2

plunging in January 2018. Skewed of ordinary people, rather than closed worldwide network of wealth distribution can cause central banks and government financial institutions that works to volatility, with a few high-net-worth entities. The irony is that without expedite settlement among its people or organizations exerting the assistance of such members. Cryptocurrency's general disproportionate pricing power. organizations, widespread adoption is unavoidable, but However, macroeconomic acceptance of digital money is whether it will replace or just considerations and public image are improbable. After all, changing a supplement the present fiat money vitally important in the digital money system that has ruled for system remains to be seen. Fintech currency industry. Despite the fact over 50 years is no easy task and companies will continue to create that its underlying blockchain necessitates a massive revamp of methods to assist businesses and technology enables for safe low-cost the global financial infrastructure. individuals in using digital money payments and transfers outside the in everyday life until that day traditional banking rails, The financial elite has long been comes. cryptocurrency's inherent volatility skeptical about cryptocurrencies' ability to become a mainstream Conclusion makes it an undesirable means of monetary system, citing examples exchange. of fraud, crime, and a lack of We believe that the popularity of Mainstream adoption of digital regulatory control. \"Central banks digital currencies and currency might not happen have been sleeping at the wheel cryptocurrencies will continue to immediately over the future of our money grow, and that banks, governments, Cryptocurrency supporters are a system being defined by a tiny and other institutions will be dreamy lot. Decentralised digital number of banks, payment powerless to stop it. The beast's currency is claimed to be an businesses, and now internet very nature is adaptive, responsive, alternative to traditional fiat money giants,\" says Fran Boait, executive and technologically adept, implying that puts control back in the hands director of advocacy organization that the developers behind it can Positive Money. overcome practically any obstacle placed in their way. The only However, governments and people who should be concerned commercial organizations are those who have invested throughout the world are starting to millions in such currency. Because see the advantages of a tokenized the dependability of any currency economy over the present fractional cannot be guaranteed, caution reserve banking system. Central should still be maintained when Bank Digital Currencies are being taking risks with large sums of investigated by the Bank of money. England, Sveriges Riksbank, Bank of Japan, and European Central Bank (CBDCs). The Bank of England stated in a financial stability assessment released in December 2019 that \"stablecoins might partially replace or supplement present payment arrangements.\" This concept is also being accepted by private businesses. Wirex teamed with IBM towards the end of 2019 to become the principal issuer of regulated stablecoins on the IBM World Wire Network, a www.theenterpriseworld.com 29

Your Reputation Matters! PR and Strategy form the very core of any business Simon&Co establishes itself as a leading PR strategist and looking forward to having a mix of traditional and brand builder, through its comprehensive methods and digital footprint and expanding its service coverage ethos. Their primary service offerings revolve around across the globe. There are many companies providing reputation management plans, launches, communications of exemplary services, led by equally capable and talented influence, public affairs, media relations, and business leadership. development. Virginie Simone is the Founder and Director of Simon&Co views the dynamic of working with its clients Simon&Co. Virginie is one of the most innovative, as a partnership, working together to make the best brand visionary, and charismatic business leaders of the year. She possible. This creates a long-term rapport between has revolutionized the industry with her company's leading Simon&Co and its clients, not only ensuring that the services, embedded with her expertise and invaluable marketing strategy it advises is custom built to fit, but that it experience. can adapt this strategy with the organization in question. Simon&Co has become one of the leading names in PR and Every decision regarding the best ways to communicate a strategy with unmatched services, providing solutions that message to an audience is tailored to the client's specific offer clients flexibility, scalability, and growth. Their long circumstances. Moreover, Simon&Co goes above and list of loyal clients makes them highly sought-after and one beyond to ensure that its clients are ready to deliver the of the most trusted PR agencies in the market. message that they have in mind. When a client presents a plan that their team thinks is ill-timed or could use extra Simon&Co, establishing your brand, revolutionizing PR work, they won't just put the strategy into action, but will and strategy! work with the client until the communication is at its best before release! Simon&Co is a global PR and communications agency, with its wingspan around the world, and its headquarters Given how crucial timing is for an effective campaign, the based in Lausanne, Switzerland. The company's vision is - team of Simon&Co works hard to ensure each “To work with clients to build strong brands that empower communication goes out when the time is right for that them to rise in their industries, helping to develop, promote specific content. Additionally, they encourage their partners and establish them through clear and intuitive to know the assets and selling points of their campaign communication”. beforehand, to know the expectations of their target market 30 J U L Y 2 0 2 2

Virginie Simone, Simon&Co Founder & Director www.theenterpriseworld.com 31

as well as how best to reach them. PR strategy, especially Lastly, Switzerland is also a multicultural country during a pandemic, needs to adapt and evolve with the welcoming a variety of companies, from start-ups to world it wants to make a mark in. multinationals, foundations, and NGOs. It is full of opportunities, allowing them to grow on a wider scale. Journey of Simon&CO Indomitable services of Simon&Co, and what sets them Simon&Co's founder, Virginie Simon feels lucky enough apart? not to have faced initial challenges. When she left her previous agency (as a Senior Consultant and Head of the There are very few true PR companies, as most of them Geneva office), she was very tired and wanted to take a few have become communication agencies, which is great. But months off to follow the training and find a job in a from a PR point of view, communications are only one tool company. Becoming the client was her goal! that can be leveraged to reach wider business-related goals. But the word of mouth is very powerful and the first clients This is why Simon&Co offers a plethora of services, came before Virginie even started to set up her agency. The covering all aspects related to PR and strategy. Their first one came from Brazil and the second one from Korea, services are: which is crazy when you think about it. It's only after a few years that she had to face some typical entrepreneur's Ÿ Public Relations challenges like managing the cash flow and not paying all Ÿ Strategic Counsel your invoices at the same time like a good Swiss citizen! Ÿ Business Development Ÿ Crisis and Change Corporate Reasons that make Simon&Co successful, strong Ÿ Reputation holding their position in the market? Ÿ Media Relations Ÿ Launch It is the patience and diverse experience of Virginie in crisis Ÿ Influencers management as she used to work for the Federal Office of Ÿ Digital Public Health during the H1N1 pandemic, which was key to Ÿ National and international campaigns handling her company during the Covid-19 pandemic. She Ÿ Public Affairs also managed by herself and from A to Z all strategies and Ÿ Coaching and training communications for the most important redundancy that Ÿ Internal communication Geneva has ever experienced. The company has mainly been growing with Virginie, her This along with her expertise in PR and strategy led her and expertise, and experience as it requires skills and SImon&Co to climb the ladder of success, acquiring knowledge you mostly don't learn at school. The company prestigious clients, pushing their growth, and making them and its team also develop services according to their skills successful. and what they feel is going to be the next big change. One of the major reasons that establish their long-standing Their services comprehensively cover all aspects of PR and success, making them a leading name in the PR industry, is strategy, giving their clients a whole fleet of unrivaled the respect and loyalty they have earned from their clients services to choose from. This along with the brand name of over the years. Simon&Co has always believed in being Simon&Co along with their commendable support and true to their work and working with a sense of ethics, which service standards makes them highly sought-after and one has created an unwavering trust with their brand name. of the most reliable PR and strategy agencies. They always try to make the most of their clients and Orchestrator of Simon&Co provide them with nothing but a comprehensive solution, tailored for them. To them, it's not about selling their Virginie is a highly-motivated, multicultural, diligent, and services to their clients, but more about cooperating with passionate PR strategist and brand-builder with 13 years of them and offering them strategic insights, support, and proven track record in delivering strategic communications training on a long-term basis. campaigns, reputation management plans, and high-level change and crisis counseling. She has gained experience in 32 J U L Y 2 0 2 2

the public sector, Swiss and international agencies, startups, meetings on a regular basis but their relationships are very nonprofit and multinational corporations, which allows her to friendly and quite cool. All these factors make them a understand and analyze all types of organizations. close-knit family, working synchronously to strive for perfection, and innovate services that imprint Simon&Co's Passionate about business development, brand management, brand, as one of the leading PR and strategy agencies! and strategic communications, Virginie always goes beyond traditional thinking to implement meaningful actions. Her Virginie's take on the responsibilities of an knowledge of the Swiss market has also become a strong entrepreneur? asset for her national and international clients willing to develop themselves or launch new products and services in I don't see my entrepreneur life as full of responsibilities. I such a small but specific country. see it as full of freedom as it allows me to take the risk and develop whatever I want whenever I want. Of course, it is In her previous senior roles in PR and communication also a lot of sacrifices, you work like crazy and cannot agencies, she led major international and national accounts disconnect totally and get paid less than what a big and multifunctional teams, ensuring return on investment and company would offer. But I feel that I do fit this lifestyle reaching high key performance indicators. She in particular the most and wouldn't exchange this freedom for anything managed all communications for the largest redundancy else. Geneva has ever experienced and launched a campaign in more than 35 countries. Prior to that, she developed and Virginie's take on the competition in the market? How launched Swiss national campaigns of prevention, developing does she cope with it? and implementing promotion, media, PR, and crisis communications plans as well as partnerships and events. I believe that there are enough great projects for everyone and that sometimes we could also join forces between Virginie obtained an Advanced Diploma in Strategic Brand agencies. I am quite disruptive with this point of view but Management from the London School of Business and sometimes, if you are too busy or missing one specific Finance, a Diploma of Advanced Studies in Marketing skill or type of person in your company, you should just Management from HEC Business School, and a Master's ask for some support from abroad. degree in Political Sciences from Lausanne University. Trilingual in French, English, and Spanish, she is fluent in I have the chance to have built the most amazing network German and speaks Italian. of professionals around me. I told most startups that the most difficult step to grow is to surround yourself with the The team and work culture at Simon&Co right people. It's the same in our case. We can count on other agencies or experts to support us from time to time Virginie has decided to hire talented people who don't come and they also ask us the same. from the PR or the communication world. They all have a very different path, one was an entrepreneur for instance, and Is competition a motivating factor for Virginie? Does another used to work in a back office and is amazing at she feel it helps to bring out the best? storytelling. But they all have skills that are a plus for the agency and a curiosity that is very important when working Yes and no as of course it motivates you to bring out the with a client. best when you compete during a pitch. But at the same time, if you work with ethics, know where your values are “You have to be open-minded and know what's going on and how you can effectively support a client, there is space in terms of politics, social environment, which are the for everyone. New companies are settling down in the local and more global economic tensions and challenges, country or being created each year. New types of products etc. As they all come from different fields and all want to and services are developed. develop themselves in PR, I offer them the tools and the opportunity to develop what they really want”, Virginie There are still plenty of opportunities. We just have to be adds. clever and make sure our services fit this market and evolve with it. This keeps the team highly motivated, enabling them to learn from each other all the time. The leadership is very flat with www.theenterpriseworld.com 33