7 Questions with leaders of small and medium enterprises
Read insights and thoughts from leaders of small and medium enterprises around the world.
Thank you to the amazing leaders of SMEs who have answered our 7 questions so far, we hope you find their answers helpful for you in your leadership journey!
7 Questions with Bill Harper
Name: Bill Harper
Current title: CEO
Current organisation: wmHarper
“If you asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.” – Henry Ford
Consumers buy/buy-in emotionally, then justify their decisions logically. They can’t tell you what they want, but they can tell you what they don’t want and, more importantly, what they value. Using creative business strategies to turn their insights into traction for brands - via compelling stories that surprise and delight - is what I spend my days trying to achieve.
I believe that the most effective and awe-inspiring work comes from simple ideas executed in simple but elegant ways. The process itself is anything but simple or elegant. Fortunately, I love this sort of challenge. In fact, I live for it. It’s been described by some as a sickness and, if I’m being honest, it’s probably closer to an addiction – one that I’m just unusually comfortable having.
I’ve had the pleasure of struggling over simple and elegant solutions for clients like Carfax, Denny’s, Delsey Luggage, Precision Tune Auto Care, and Music & Arts to name a few and have had the pleasure of being recognized more than 100 times for the effort – including one textbook mention, which I’m particularly proud to call my own.
I’ve been fortunate enough to start four successful agencies and shared the joy of working alongside the insanely talented people who have joined them. When I’m not pouring over the latest Discovery Survey or chasing the next creative strategy, you can find me at home with my amazing wife, three beautiful children and our nearly-Wookie-of-a-dog, Oreo.
It really doesn’t get any better than this.
7 Questions with Kip Knippel
Name: Kip Knippel
Current title: President & CEO
Current organisation: KIP Search, LLC
Kip has learned that clients like to have a quarterback or “go-to” person they can talk to about their strategic talent needs. He likes being in that quarterback role for the clients we serve.
The large network of relationships Kip has developed within the Twin Cities and the national business and legal communities, along with his broad technical recruiting expertise, enable him to bring the right resources to help our clients solve their most difficult executive recruiting, talent acquisition and business challenges.
Multiple years while in private law practice, Kip was named a Minnesota Super Lawyers Rising Star. He is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association and a former Minnesota State Senate candidate.
Kip earned his B.A., cum laude, in English and Communication from St. John’s University and his J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law.
Kip is married with three children, involved in coaching youth athletics, an avid triathlete, marathoner, and fitness & weight training enthusiast.
7 Questions with Heinrich Brand
Name: Heinrich Brand
Current title: Co-founder & COO
Current organisation: Hepstar
Having swapped the courtroom for the control room, Heinrich has played a key role in defining Hepstar's business model and value proposition as an insure-meets-travel-tech business, as well as navigating an evolving regulatory environment during Hepstar’s quest for global expansion. Heinrich is tasked with ensuring compliance of the business and overseeing delivery of key projects.
7 Questions with Aaron Birnbaum
Name: Aaron Birnbaum
Current title: Chief Security Officer
Current organisation: Seron Security
Aaron Birnbaum is an experienced technology professional with over 30 years of experience leading high-performing technical and non-technical teams developing strategy, understanding technology and cyber security across multiple industries. He has worked with companies in size from Fortune 500 to several small startups across a number of industries. He is an entertaining public speaker that engages the audience and helps explain a clear plan of action.
A published author, experienced public speaker, IT-security evangelist, trusted advisor and personal mentor. Mr. Birnbaum has a Bachelors degree from Oswego and a Master’s degree from the University of Denver. He is currently the Founder and Chief Security Officer for Seron Security.
7 Questions with Shubhra Shrivastava
Name: Shubhra Shrivastava
Current title: CEO
Current organisation: Digiprima Technologies
Shubhra Shrivastava CEO of DigiPrima Technologies is an energetic, driven, and accomplished entrepreneur with a track record of success in managing complex IT modernization. Her passion is to resolve the business challenges through technical innovation, sophisticated software and engineering skills.
She is a solutions driver who bridges the gap between business and technology while envisioning the bigger picture to solve problems and provide results.
A software architect by profession and a wild kid by nature who knows no limits when it comes to taking challenges and executing them with brutal honesty! Her strategic and pragmatic approach drives performance excellence when it comes to executing road maps. All complemented by being an innate team collaborator with the ability to inspire thought leadership.
Before setting up DigiPrima, she worked at HCL Technologies in Fintech and Healthcare domains. The role also gave her exposure and passion for how an enterprise company can be grown exponentially without a proportional increase in headcount, thereby increased efficiency.
She is Member of:
• Mobile World Congress (MWC) Los Angles, USA
• Gitex Tech Week Dubai, UAE
• Women In Technology, USA
• Google Women Techmakers, USA
• Great ideas & MVPs
7 Questions with Ram C. Pal
Name: Ram C. Pal
Current title: Founder & Managing Director
Current organisation: Nakshatra Business Management-Dubai (UAE)
I’m a self starter with strong interpersonal skills professional and work efficiently both as an individual contributor as well as along with a team also who always believe in character, values, vision and action. I’m a creative thinker and like to explore alternative solutions to problems and have an open mind about what would be the best as well as a people person and really enjoy working with a lot of multicultural peoples and like to travel for explore new things always across the Globe.
7 Questions with Evan Morgenstein
Name: Evan Morgenstein
Current title: CEO
Current organisation: The Digital Renegades
Morgenstein is a serial entrepreneur starting one of the largest Olympic athlete representation agencies w icons like Mark Spitz, Janet Evans, Jackie Joyner Kersee, Dara Torres, Greg Louganis, Brice Jenner and others. In 2008, Morgenstein started a corporate consulting agency working with Microsoft, Smithfield, Mercedes Benes and others. Currently owns one of the largest social media in he fee agencies in the world with icons such as Jen Selter, Sonny aHurrell and Ilana Muhlstein.
7 Questions with Frank J. Agin
Name: Frank J. Agin
Current title: President
Current organisation: AmSpirit Business Connections
Frank Agin (http://frankagin.com) is president of AmSpirit Business Connection, which empowers entrepreneurs, sales representatives and professionals to become successful through networking.
He also hosts the Networking Rx podcast, which has insights and interviews related to better business relationships.
Finally, Frank is the author of several books, including Foundational Networking.