7 Questions with Board Members of Large Enterprises

7 Questions with Wole Ogundare

Name: Wole Ogundare

Current title: CEO

Current organisation: Carthena Advisory

I'm a financial and management consultant focused on business building across Sub Saharan Africa.

7 Questions with Yashavanth Anantharaj

Name: Yashavanth Anantharaj

Current title: Managing Director

Current organisation: SYConE CPMC PVt Ltd

Yashavanth Anantharaj (Yash) is the co-founder and Managing Director of SYConE, an Engineering, Project Management and Construction Company with offices in Bangalore and New Delhi. He also owns and runs a Construction Consulting Business SYConE Middle East LLC, in the Middle with projects in Oman, UAE and KSA. Solstice Eco Energy (EPC of Renewable energy projects) and Iridium Projects (Turn Key Construction) are the other two companies that are owned and managed by Yashavanth.

A Civil Engineer by education Yashavanth has an MS in Construction Technology & Project Management from Iowa State University, USA. Having worked with a highly disciplined and result oriented Japanese Construction Company in the United States in the beginning of his career, Yashavanth has over 30 years of experience in managing projects across India, United States, Sri Lanka and the Middle East, he brings with him a global perspective and the never-say-die attitude. Steered over 300 projects and continued guiding the SYConE & the group companies to a higher growth trajectory.

A Certified Project Management Professional (PMP), Yashavanth is also a senior elected member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). He is also trained in Lean Thinking.

Being a passionate teacher, Yashavanth is a Member of Board of Studies at Jain University, Bangalore, Amity University School of RICS, Delhi and SJCE, Mysore. A regular speaker for RICS, PMI, ACCE and other professional bodies in workshops and seminars, Yashavanth regularly teaches at several universities & Colleges in India and outside.

In addition to playing a major role in mentoring all projects under SYCone, Yashavanth has delivered projects in the United States, Sri Lanka & the Middle East. The range of projects delivered includes Institutions, Industries, Hospitality, Healthcare, Residential, IT, Telecom, Retail & Infrastructure – Power plants, treatment plants, Roads & Bridges, and Water & WasteWater. Considered among the top three consultants for Institutional projects, won projects of IIM in Udaipur, IIIT at Delhi & IISc in Bangalore through technical competition with large corporations, Public Sector undertakings and MNCs.

Professional Affiliations: Institute of Engineers (MIE), India, National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), USA, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), USA, Association of Consulting Civil Engineers (ACCE), India, Indian Concrete Institute (ICI), India, American Concrete Institute (ACI), USA, Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CII), India, Project Management Institute (PMI), USA, Consulting Engineers Association of India (CEAI), India and Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), UK.

7 Questions with Elena Jasvoin

Name: Elena Jasvoin

Current title: Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Management Board Member

Current organisation: Ringier Axel Springer Media AG

I am a professional CFO with operational and program/project management experience with deep knowledge of CEE & CIS markets as well as of the markets in Switzerland and Germany, with strong financial management background in different industries, different companies (including both big established companies and start ups) and in different business environments (including rapid growth and crisis times). I am originally from Russia, Moscow and have spent the last almost 8 years living with my family in Switzerland. I am a big fan of constant learning and development and I am sure, I should always learn new things to open new horizons, including through testing my limits. Privately I love travelling, nature and being outdoor trekking, cycling, swimming, skiing, I am absolutely fond of organising special events and experiences for my family and friends. I think one could tell, that I like to plan and control things, but I am adjusting more and more to the current VUCA and unpredictable environment.

7 Questions with Julien Machot

Name: Julien MACHOT

Current title: Managing Partner

Current organisation: VERSO Capital

Partner at VERSO Capital. Dedicated independent UHNW Advisor, former Swiss Private Banker turned Merchant Banking expert. Exclusively working with international UHNW and Institutional Clients on transactions of at least USD 100mio. Since 1958, VERSO Capital has built its core business with UHNW, Corporate and Institutional Client Relations and its powerful brand as the Global Merchant Banking Firm.

7 Questions with Mirela Cialai

Name: Mirela Cialai

Current title: Board Member

Current organisation: Visiting Neighbors

Seasoned mobile marketing expert, board member, Stevie® Award Marketer of the Year, frequent speaker and podcast guest, founding member of SpeakHer organization striving to promote women speakers within the tech industry, passionate about making a difference and improving the quality of life for older adults, and reducing social isolation.

7 Questions with Nuno Matos

Name: Nuno Matos

Current title: CFO

Current organisation: Future Motion SA

Versatile and highly accomplished Senior Finance Professional, offering experience in the areas of corporate finance and international financial management, business development and organizational turnaround, and due diligence with industry’s best practices. Turnaround and “pilot-project” implementation specialist with extensive leadership, Shared Services Centre and management skills; rich exposure to International business strategy, systems and procedure development, and organizational planning with specialization in conducting a thorough business and financial due diligence to determine and recommend the best way forward, which may include change management, systems improvement, etc. Strong analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills with a passion for work well done, together with the quality and ability to build productive partnerships coupled with excellent communication skills.

7 Questions with PRASHANT PANDIT

Name: PRASHANT PANDIT

Current title: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Current organisation: UNIVERSAL CLC

Corporate leader with 21 yrs of expertise with different industries. Never joined competition, always changed industry and did turn around. Last 10 yrs as an entrepreneur leading a team of experts from 5 different domains. Include change management, systems improvement, etc. Strong analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills with a passion for work well done, together with the quality and ability to build productive partnerships coupled with excellent communication skills.

7 Questions with Santosh Mathew

Name: Santosh Mathew

Current title: Director of Technology

Current organisation: Nielsen

Santosh has spent the last 16 years in multiple industries ranging from Government, Health Care, Insurance, Manufacturing in numerous technical capacities. Currently at Nielsen as a Director of Technology, he leads the Global Mergers and Acquisitions integration practice to rapidly integrate new companies into our HR, Billing, Finance and Payroll systems. For six years and counting he has co-led Nielsen’s Asian Affinity Link Employee Resource Group driving cultural exploration and inclusive practices, and leads the North American Green Team, to ideate ways to make the company more sustainable.

7 Questions with Alok Agrawal

Name: Alok Agrawal

Current title: Member, Prasar Bharati Board

Current organisation: Prasar Bharati

I enable Application of 'Innovation as a Service' (IaaS) to make businesses great. Special interests - FinTech, AutoTech, AviationTech, MediaTech and Entertainment as a Service. ex-Group COO Network 18, CEO Zee Media and COO Cheil worldwide.

7 Questions with Bisila Bokoko

Name: Bisila Bokoko

Current title: CEO

Current organisation: BBES
BISILA BOKOKO is considered one of the ten most influential Spanish women in American business. Former director of the Spain-US Chamber of Commerce in New York, CEO of BBES International and Founder of BBLP African Literacy Project Bisila Bokoko whose mission is to promote literacy among African people. BB has created a collection of wines called “Bisila Wines” made in Spain, which has received international recognition. Since 2010 she works closely with the UNCTAD with EMPRETEC program, supporting emerging entrepreneurs from all parts of the world. Recently Bisila has been awarded by the UN Hospitality Committee with the 2019 Citizen of the World Award, and she is the recipient of the 2019 International Award by the Spanish Federation of Women Managers, Executives, Professionals and Entrepreneurs (FEDEPE). She is also has been awarded by Ideal Woman organization in Equatorial Guinea, the Entrepreneur of the Year Award by Women Work, Inspiring Leader Award by the University of New York (NYU) among others along her career.

7 Questions with Diomares Musa

Name: Diomares Musa

Current title: Marketing and Corporate Development VP

Current organisation: Humano

Experienced in Marketing, Sales and Strategic Planning with a demonstrated history of 25+ yrs working in the Telecommunications and insurance industry. BA, MBA, Certified as Sustainability Practitioner (CSR), master degree in digital transformation. Board Member and Co Director at Girls in Tech, Dominican Republic chapter.

7 Questions with Alessandro Massa

Name: Alessandro Massa

Current title: Independent consultant

Current organisation: My own company

I have been board member since few months ago after participating to an MBO on March 2018. I am still a shareholder of the company: the widest Italian department store chain. Previously I have been an executive manager for several companies in the retail market from fast fashion to luxury segment