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Digital Magazine In an era where corporate leadership is often synonymous with cold efficiency and bottom-line priorities, Alwin Swales stands as a compelling counterpoint. As a Partner at PwC UK, his journey—from the rural landscapes of apartheid-era South Africa to the upper echelons of global consulting—is not merely a story of professional ascent. It is a narrative about the transformative power of people-first leadership, the courage to challenge systemic barriers, and the quiet determination to ensure others don’t face the same obstacles alone. Swales’ approach to leadership is anchored in a philosophy he sums up in a single, deeply personal mantra: “People matter more than things.” This principle, forged through decades of navigating spaces not designed for someone like him, has shaped his career, his advocacy, and his vision for inclusive business. His story is one of resilience, yes, but also of profound humanity—a reminder that the most influential leaders are those who lift as they climb. Leadership, to me, has never been about titles or corner offices — it’s about the responsibility you carry when you’ve walked through doors that were once closed to people like you. It’s about looking back, reaching out, and making sure those doors stay open for others. Every obstacle I’ve overcome, every boardroom I’ve stepped into, has been a reminder that true success isn’t measured by how far I’ve come, but by how many people I’ve helped move forward. Early Foundations: Education as Liberation Alwin Swales’ journey began in humble circumstances. Born in rural Swaziland (now Eswatini) and raised in apartheid South Africa, he understood early that education was his only viable escape from systemic oppression. “The message was clear: if you were Black, your options were limited,” he recalls. “But my parents instilled in us that learning was the one thing no one could take away.” This belief propelled him to excel academically, even when the odds were stacked against him. In a pivotal turn of fate, a utility company launched a bursary program for disadvantaged Black students with top marks—a rarity at the time. Swales was among the first cohort to benefit, securing not only a university education but also a guaranteed job upon graduation. ” Getting that bursary changed my life completely,” he shares. “It proved to me that even in places where opportunities seem absent, they can still be made.” He studied Computer Science and Mathematical Statistics, hedging his bets between technology and actuarial science. Yet, it was an unexpected leadership role in his third year of employment—overseeing a team of 20—that altered his trajectory. “I hadn’t considered myself a leader before then,” he admits. “But seeing how guiding a team could unlock collective potential—that was electrifying.”   The Entrepreneurial Spirit: Building and Letting Go Swales’ early career was marked by an entrepreneurial drive. Alongside friends, he launched a small consulting firm that grew rapidly, amassing 20 clients from South Africa’s top 40 listed companies and a team of 22 within two years. The business was acquired by a listed consulting firm, where Swales stayed on as divisional COO, managing over 125 employees. This phase taught him critical lessons about scaling businesses, but more importantly, about the kind of leader he wanted to be. “I saw how traditional hierarchies could stifle innovation and morale,” he says. “I realized that if you want people to invest in a vision, you have to invest in them first.” In 2005, seeking new challenges, he moved to the UK to join Paragon Consulting, a 20-person firm with ambitions to grow. As part of the leadership team, the company expanded to 95+ employees with offices in London, Dubai, and delivery teams in Singapore and Istanbul. When PwC acquired Paragon in 2010, Swales found himself in a global arena—one where he would continue to champion leadership grounded in service, not just strategy. When the world told me I had no place in it, education whispered otherwise—it gave me a name, a path, and the courage to keep going. The Heart of Leadership: “People Matter More Than Things” Swales’ leadership ethos crystallized in his early 30s when he penned his personal purpose statement: “People matter more than things.” This wasn’t just a platitude; it became the lens through which he made decisions, from team management to client engagements. “Leadership isn’t defined by who speaks the most or the loudest,” he notes. “It’s about creating a space where others feel heard, valued, and empowered to contribute.” This servant-hearted approach, inspired in part by the book Jesus CEO: Using Ancient Wisdom for Visionary Leadership, contrasts sharply with the stereotypical, top-down corporate model. At PwC, he has embodied this philosophy in multiple roles: leading the graduate program, steering financial services solutions teams, and serving as a Lead Client Partner. Whether mentoring junior staff or advising C-suite executives, his focus remains on unlocking potential. “A leader’s role isn’t about knowing everything,” he explains.. “It’s to ask the right questions and help others find their superpowers.”   Navigating Spaces That Weren’t Built for Him Swales’ career has been shaped by his experiences as a Black leader in industries where diversity remains a work in progress. From apartheid South Africa to the UK’s corporate landscape, he has learned to navigate—and ultimately reshape—systems that weren’t designed for someone like him. One of his earliest lessons came at 22, when he was elected to lead the Black Managers Forum at his first job. “Suddenly, I was representing Black employees to senior leadership,” he recalls. “It was daunting, but it taught me how to advocate for others while bridging divides.” Many years later, in his role as PwC’s Consulting Partner and sponsor of the Colourbrave campaign, he applied those same abilities to lead open and honest discussions about race in the workplace. His TED-style talk to 150+ PwC partners the year after George Floyd’s murder stands out as a defining moment. “I shared three personal stories about racism—not to shame, but to help them feel what many of their colleagues experienced daily,” he says. The impact was profound, with partners still referencing it years later as a catalyst for

Digital Version In Poland’s increasingly dynamic business landscape, the intersection of technology, finance, and entrepreneurship is creating new opportunities for growth and innovation. At the forefront of this movement is Patrycja Strzelecka, Co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer of CashDirector, a pioneering fintech company redefining the way small businesses manage their finances. Her professional journey is a powerful testament to visionary leadership, resilience, and the belief that technology can democratize access to financial services for all. What begins with a vision becomes a movement — when it’s fueled by clarity, commitment, and the courage to reinvent what’s possible. Patrycja Strzelecka’s career is not just a story of fintech innovation, but of bold leadership, purposeful risk-taking, and an unwavering drive to empower others at every step. The Inspiration Behind CashDirector The idea for CashDirector was born from a clear and urgent need: to revolutionize the delivery of accounting services to micro and small businesses. Drawing on years of experience in financial outsourcing and a successful exit from their first venture, Patrycja and her team recognized that millions of small enterprises lacked access to affordable, intuitive financial management tools typically reserved for large corporations. Additionally, they observed that many accountants were confined to repetitive tasks, limiting their potential for professional development. The vision was to digitize accounting, integrate it directly with online banking, and create a seamless, empowering financial management experience for SMEs. “Our journey has been about consistently realizing this vision,” Patrycja shares. In 2016, CashDirector achieved a milestone by executing the first full integration of a cloud-based accounting system with online banking in Europe. Since then, the company has expanded its reach significantly, now serving 250,000 users and collaborating with six major banks in Poland. Initially envisioned as a pure SaaS platform, CashDirector quickly evolved into a comprehensive Tech-Enabled Accounting Services provider. Recognizing that clients needed full-service offerings, including handling tax and accounting matters, the company’s technology now enables accountants to manage up to 150 micro-companies per month — an extraordinary leap in efficiency and scale. Balancing Strategy with Innovation and Agility As Managing Director, Patrycja embraces a leadership philosophy centered around trust and transparency. She fosters an environment where innovation thrives, encouraging her team to experiment, propose ideas, and learn from their experiences. “I believe in a participative leadership style — encouraging decision-making, solution testing, and quick learning from mistakes,” she explains. Setting clear strategic goals provides a vital compass, ensuring that creativity is aligned with the company’s mission and market needs. Patrycja’s approach to leadership highlights the importance of balancing ambition with clarity. Strategy, in her view, must be flexible enough to adapt to new realities but structured enough to provide direction. By embedding openness, mutual respect, and continuous improvement into CashDirector’s culture, she has cultivated a resilient and dynamic team capable of thriving in the fast-moving fintech sector. Modernizing SME Banking: Overcoming Challenges Introducing innovation into traditional industries often means challenging established mindsets. For CashDirector, one of the greatest hurdles was winning the trust of both banks and small business owners — stakeholders who are, by nature, cautious and skeptical of new technologies. The solution was simple but powerful: deliver measurable results. By demonstrating how their platform could save time, reduce costs, and minimize financial risks, Patrycja and her team slowly but steadily built confidence among their partners. Banks came to realize that integrating accounting and banking services into a single, user-friendly platform could provide them with a competitive edge. It allowed them to deepen customer relationships, increase transaction volumes, and enhance user loyalty. Strategic partnerships with forward-thinking banks became instrumental in scaling the adoption of CashDirector’s services, ultimately setting a new standard for SME banking in Poland. A Career Shaped by Global and Entrepreneurial Experience Patrycja’s career path reflects a unique blend of corporate rigor and entrepreneurial daring. She began her professional journey in global organizations such as AT&T and Raiffeisen Bank, where she honed her leadership skills, mastered large-scale project management, and learned to navigate complex, international environments. “Working in these well-organized structures was like a practical MBA,” she reflects. After nearly a decade in the corporate world, Patrycja made the conscious decision to transition into entrepreneurship. She wanted the freedom to innovate, to build something impactful, and to invest her energy and resources into projects she believed in. The combination of corporate discipline, startup agility, and international perspective equipped her with the resilience and adaptability necessary to lead a fintech venture in today’s volatile business environment. Above all, it gave her the ability to recognize moments of transformation and the courage to act upon them — a skill that has proved invaluable throughout her journey. Empowering Small Businesses Across Borders At its core, CashDirector is about empowerment — giving even the smallest businesses access to the kind of real-time financial insights and tools traditionally available only to large enterprises. The company’s platform integrates seamlessly with banking services, offering users a full suite of capabilities: financial data organization and visualization, automatic cash flow forecasting, intelligent reminders, receivables and payables monitoring, direct payment functionality, and even automated settlements with national authorities. Beyond technology, CashDirector also uplifts the accounting sector through OSCBR, a network of 3,000 modern accounting partners. Through this initiative, accountants receive training, technology, and support designed to help them unlock new levels of efficiency and client service. “Our mission is to democratize access to high-quality financial management and to transform the role of accountants from number-crunchers to strategic advisors,” Patrycja emphasizes. Women don’t need to wait until they’re ‘ready’ — they already are. Confidence comes from stepping in and speaking up. Guiding Principles Behind CashDirector’s Vision Patrycja’s leadership is deeply rooted in two core principles: “Think big” and “Give first.” Thinking big drives her to set ambitious, global goals — envisioning CashDirector not merely as a Polish success story, but as a European standard-bearer for SME-focused digital ecosystems. Giving first reflects her commitment to sharing knowledge, supporting others, and building authentic partnerships grounded in mutual trust. Diversity, transparency, and authenticity are not just buzzwords in Patrycja’s

Digital Version In the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare, few industries hold as much promise or face as many challenges as smart healthcare solutions. At the intersection of technology, medicine, and innovation, leaders like Anna Luisa Schaffgotsch, CEO and Founder of Impli Limited, are redefining what it means to deliver personalized, real-time healthcare. With a vision rooted in both personal experience and cutting-edge research, Schaffgotsch and her team are pioneering a future where implantable devices and advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things transform how we monitor, manage, and improve health outcomes. When innovation begins with empathy, healthcare transforms—not just in technology, but in meaning, purpose, and impact. A Vision Born from Personal Experience Anna Luisa Schaffgotsch’s journey into the world of smart healthcare began with a deeply personal motivation. Alongside her co-founder, she faced the challenges of hormonal imbalances, a struggle that inspired her to seek solutions beyond traditional healthcare frameworks. “Our journey began with a shared conviction that implantable devices have the power to reshape real-time healthcare,” she explains. This conviction was not just theoretical; it was grounded in tangible research spun out of Imperial College, where the seeds of Impli Limited were first planted. What started as a mission to create an implantable hormone-monitoring device for women has since evolved into a broader ambition: to leverage continuous data collection to enhance and personalize healthcare for people everywhere. “Over the years, our vision has expanded,” Schaffgotsch notes. “We are no longer just addressing one health concern—we are working toward a future where data-driven insights empower individuals to take control of their health in ways that were previously unimaginable.” Defining Innovation in Smart Healthcare In an industry as complex and rapidly evolving as healthcare, innovation is not just about creating new technologies—it is about solving real-world problems with creativity, resilience, and a commitment to excellence. For Schaffgotsch, innovation is about confronting difficult challenges head-on and refusing to back down, even when the odds seem insurmountable. “Innovation in healthcare is about harnessing creativity, research, and technology to push boundaries,” she says. “It is about persevering through adversity, refining our ideas, processes, and products until we emerge with something that truly transforms lives.” This mindset has been instrumental in guiding Impli’s development of cutting-edge solutions that address some of the most pressing healthcare challenges of our time. The Role of Advanced Technologies At the heart of Impli’s mission is a commitment to leveraging advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and bioinformatics to revolutionize healthcare. These technologies are not just tools—they are the foundation upon which Impli’s solutions are built. “Artificial intelligence plays multiple pivotal roles in our work,” Schaffgotsch explains. “From guiding the design of our devices to interpreting the continuous stream of hormone data we collect, artificial intelligence is integral to our approach.” By correlating these insights with personal health records, Impli is ushering in a new era of personalized medicine. The data gathered from real-time hormone monitoring serves as an unprecedented resource, enabling artificial intelligence algorithms to uncover patterns and deliver tailored recommendations that were previously impossible. This integration of technology and healthcare is not just about improving individual outcomes—it is about creating a more connected, efficient, and predictive healthcare ecosystem. “The future lies in wearable or implantable technologies that seamlessly monitor health parameters in real time,” Schaffgotsch predicts. “Combining these insights with advances in robotics and the Internet of Things will pave the way for a more connected and efficient healthcare system.” Innovation in healthcare is about confronting difficult problems head-on and never shying away from a challenge. Overcoming Challenges in Smart Healthcare While the potential of smart healthcare solutions is immense, the path to implementation is fraught with challenges. Regulatory hurdles, clinical trials, and the high costs of development are just a few of the obstacles that companies like Impli must navigate. “The regulatory environment can be both rigorous and costly,” Schaffgotsch acknowledges. “But we address these challenges by methodically navigating the complex requirements, securing targeted funding, and building strategic partnerships that support sustained development.” This structured approach allows Impli to meet strict compliance standards without sacrificing its innovative spirit. Another key challenge is ensuring that smart healthcare solutions are both innovative and accessible. “Striking a balance between innovation and accessibility can be challenging, especially when hardware is at the heart of the product,” Schaffgotsch admits. However, she remains optimistic. “Our focus is on creating transformative technology that, over time, will become more affordable through economies of scale and ongoing iteration.” The Future of Smart Healthcare As we look ahead to 2025 and beyond, the smart healthcare landscape is poised for remarkable transformation. Schaffgotsch envisions a future where artificial intelligence-driven diagnostics and analytics take center stage, supported by increasingly sophisticated, patient-friendly devices. “I foresee artificial intelligence-driven diagnostics and analytics dominating the healthcare landscape,” she says. “The future lies in wearable or implantable technologies that seamlessly monitor health parameters in real time, delivering data-rich feedback to both healthcare providers and individuals themselves.” This vision is not just about technology—it is about creating a healthcare system that is more proactive, personalized, and predictive. “Combining these insights with advances in robotics and the Internet of Things will pave the way for a more connected, efficient, and predictive healthcare ecosystem,” Schaffgotsch explains. The future lies in wearable or implantable technologies that seamlessly monitor health parameters in real time. Leadership Principles for Success At the helm of Impli, Schaffgotsch’s leadership style is defined by a commitment to fostering innovation, resilience, and collaboration. “I believe in granting people the freedom to explore, experiment, and grow,” she says. “When combined with a culture of hard work and shared responsibility, this approach motivates teams to excel.” Her role, she explains, is to provide clarity of vision and the support needed for her team to fully harness their expertise. “Nurturing a resilient, self-driven, and innovative environment is the best way to ensure our company continually moves forward.” Nurturing a resilient, self-driven, and innovative environment is the best way to

Digital Version As the world races to address the escalating climate crisis, the need for innovative solutions and bold leadership has never been more urgent. Simon Michaux, Associate Professor at the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK), is one such leader, offering a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities of the green transition. With a background in mining and a deep understanding of industrial systems, Michaux’s work focuses on diagnosing the bottlenecks in our current strategies and proposing unconventional solutions to create a sustainable future. In this interview, he shares his insights on the complexities of the energy transition, the role of critical minerals, and the transformative potential of circular economies. Our relationship with the environment must change. We must become aware of what energy is, where we get it from, and what raw materials mean for us. A Journey from Mining to Climate Action Simon Michaux’s journey into climate action began in the Australian mining industry, where he gained firsthand experience in resource extraction and industrial systems. However, his move to Europe in 2015 marked a turning point. “I came to Europe to learn about industrial recycling and the circular economy,” he recalls. Attending EU policy meetings and strategy workshops, Michaux quickly realized a disconnect between the proposed strategies and the realities of energy and resource systems. “The perception was that Europe led the world in phasing out fossil fuels and the green transition,” he says. “But the strategies I heard were not connected to reality at all.” This realization sparked a years-long effort to understand and communicate the systemic challenges of transitioning away from fossil fuels. Today, his work at GTK focuses on grounding the green transition in reality, diagnosing its flaws, and proposing alternative pathways. The Challenges of Securing Sustainable Raw Materials One of the most pressing challenges in the shift to renewable energy is securing sustainable raw materials. Michaux highlights the complexity of this task, noting that the industrial systems built over the past two centuries rely heavily on fossil fuels. “The last two centuries have been spent building the most complex technological industrial system the world has ever seen, using the most calorifically dense energy source the world has ever known—oil,” he explains. The green transition, while essential, faces significant bottlenecks in resource supply. Michaux emphasizes that the current approach may be leading us into a strategic dead end. “If we’re going in the wrong direction because we’ve forgotten what energy really is and where raw materials actually come from, what should we do?” he asks. His work seeks to answer this question by mapping out the physical units and resources required for a sustainable transition, revealing the logistical challenges and inherent weaknesses of current systems. The green transition operates on a much larger scale compared to the circular economy. Balancing Resource Demand and Environmental Protection The demand for critical minerals, essential for renewable energy technologies, poses a significant challenge to environmental sustainability. Michaux argues that our current approach is ecologically disastrous and faces serious resource bottlenecks. “Our current Plan B, the green transition, faces very serious bottlenecks in resource supply,” he says. “We must fundamentally reconsider our technology choices and how we utilize them.” To address these challenges, Michaux advocates for unconventional solutions, such as thorium-fueled modular molten salt reactors (MSRs). “I’ve been modeling these systems, and the results are amazing,” he shares. “It’s possible to deliver concentrated quantities of electrical power and industrial thermal heat from a very small value chain footprint.” However, he cautions that technological innovation alone is not enough. Society must also shift its priorities, moving away from consumerism and toward community and planetary stewardship. The Role of Circular Economies in Sustainability While the circular economy is often discussed alongside the green transition, Michaux points out that the two are not the same. “The green transition is orders of magnitude larger than the circular economy,” he explains. In a case study conducted in Hawaii, Michaux modeled both scenarios and found that the infrastructure required for the green transition far exceeds that needed for a fully implemented circular economy. Despite this, Michaux believes that a circular economy is essential for long-term stability in a post-fossil-fuel world. However, he argues that the current concept of the circular economy is thermodynamically imbalanced and needs to evolve. “In my work, I’ve tried to achieve this, creating what I call the Resource Balanced Economy (RBE),” he says. This approach integrates energy considerations into every action, ensuring a more sustainable and efficient use of resources. Collaboration for a Sustainable Future Michaux emphasizes the importance of collaboration between governments, businesses, and scientific institutions in addressing the climate crisis. “We must withdraw from the natural environment, contract our human systems footprint, and simplify our industrial system,” he says. He calls for a new form of social collaboration, warning that a scarcity mindset and conflict will only exacerbate the challenges we face. For industries pledging to reduce their carbon footprint, Michaux advises moving beyond regulatory compliance. “Many of the systems we rely on now must be replaced entirely,” he says. “This requires a full metamorphosis of our industrial energy system, which is yet to be understood by most people in positions of responsibility.” We must withdraw from the natural environment, contract our human systems footprint, and simplify our industrial system. Urgent Priorities and Breakthrough Solutions Looking ahead, Michaux identifies the evolution of societal paradigms as the most urgent priority. “Our relationship with the environment must change,” he says. “We must become aware of what energy is, where we get it from, and what raw materials mean for us.” He believes that breakthrough solutions, such as thorium MSRs, can play a key role in this transition, but only if accompanied by a fundamental shift in how we view and organize our systems. For the next generation of scientists, policymakers, and industry leaders, Michaux offers a clear message: “Engage critical thinking in all its forms. Collaborate with as many people as possible. Explore all rabbit holes, and don’t be limited by being