Embracing Excellence

www.exeleonmagazine.com
I N - F O C US

Jamie
Batiste:
Turning Pain
into Purpose
E X E L E O N E XC L U S I V E
Karin
In
Conversation
with Laura
Ann
Osorio
GL OBAL
WOMEN LEADERS
T O W AT C H I N 2 0 2 3
 Embracing Excellence
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CONTENTS

12 KARIN ANN
CONTENTS

22 ELIZABETH FAYE
CONTENTS

48 KAVITA CHANNE
Exeleon Magazine Presents

#MyJo
urney
Coming Soon...
 RIN A
N
N KA

N KA
N

RIN A

BEYOND
12 E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E
D
W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M 13
 is a universal language that transcends borders, cultures, and
generations. It has the power to evoke deep emotions, to transport
us to another time and place, and to connect us with others in ways
that nothing else can. From classical melodies to modern pop songs,
music has been a driving force in our lives, shaping our memories,
our identities, and even our views surrounding the world.

But music is more than just an art form. It's a powerful tool for social
change, a means of raising awareness about issues that matter, and a
platform for artists to express their ideas and inspire others to
action. From Bob Dylan to Beyoncé , musicians have used their voice
and platform to push for social justice, political reform, and an
altogether better world.

Featuring as the Cover of our Women of Excellence issue is the 20-

year-old Slovakian singer-songwriter Karin Ann, who is using her
music to talk about subjects of relevance and spearheading a global
change.

THE MUSICAL RANGE

Growing up in Slovakia, Karin Ann started her writing journey at the

age of 14. Through her lyrics, she was able to innately capture the

14 E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E
 "I think like any artist I want to be
remembered for my art and for
what I stand for.”

complexities of life, one that

connected with people of all age
groups.

Soon Karin was discovered by

producer Matt Schwartz, and it
brought upon new opportunities in
her young musical career. She began
touring with the likes of Imagine
Dragons, YUNGBLUD, Al ie
Templeman, LP and My Chemical
Romance and steadily created a name
for herself on the live circuit.

Talking about these opportunities and

if she would like to do anything
differently in her journey, Karin
assertively mentions “The journey has
been a lot of hard work, but I am
grateful for all the opportunities I've
gotten.”

She adds “I don't think it does any

good dwelling on what you would've
done differently in the past. I think the
choices we make bring us to where we
are so who knows where I'd be if I had
done something differently.”

In recent years Karin Ann has

established a loyal following with
popular songs like you make me
miserable, looking at porn, almost 20,
i'm a loser, and more. Her latest single

W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M 15
 Karin has always been a strong advocate for the
LGBTQ+ community as well as for minority rights.

In July 2021, During her appearance on TVP, Karin

Ann began her performance on the program titled
Question for Breakfast by giving a special message “I
would like to dedicate this song to the LGBTQ
community in Poland. I know you don't have it easy
here. You deserve love, you deserve to feel safe. I'm
with you, I'm standing here with you, I love you.”
She gave this statement while wrapping herself with
the symbolic rainbow lag.

The outrage and media attention the statement

garnered across the country further stood to
cement the power as well as the truth her message
held.

Since then, international icons like Mel C and Black

Eyed Peas have also shown their support for the
LGBTQ+ community in Poland. Moreover, global
publications and social media in luencers have also
joined-in to voice their support to the community in
Poland and beyond.

In August 2021, Karin Ann went on to become the

irst Slovak artist to be featured on the billboard in
New York's Time Square as the face of Spotify's
2021 EQUAL campaign.

16 E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E
W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M 17
Cor Sry
for a moment is already
garnering rave reviews and is a
clear indication of the musical
heights she is about to reach in
2023.

IMPACTING THE YOUNG

GENERATION

Karin Ann's music has struck a

chord with audiences of all ages,
but perhaps nowhere is her
impact more keenly felt than
among the young generation.

But it's not just the subject

matter of Karin Ann's music that
resonates with teenagers. It's
also the honesty, vulnerability,
and authenticity of her lyrics,
which speak directly to the
experiences and emotions of
young people. Whether she's
singing about the pain of a
healing heart or the urgency of
political activism, Karin Ann's
music captures life with a
sensitivity and insight that is
rare among artists of any age.
“I think societal issues need to be
talked about in mainstream
media. So, when people (artists)
who are featured talk about the
issues it could get a lot more
attention, and in turn something
can be done about them,” she
explains.
Perhaps this very understanding
of social subjects and openness
to topics riddled with stigma has
garnered her the support of
audiences and celebrities alike
from across the globe.
THE KARIN ANN BRAND
Karin's latest single For a Moment is a beautiful
song that speaks the universal truth that time
doesn't necessarily heal all wounds, but it can
make the pain hurt a little less. And in those
moments when the pain is still raw and the
wounds are still fresh, it's okay to let go for a
little while. To dance and forget and allow
ourselves to be happy, even if it's only for a
moment.
In another interview, Karin mentioned the
meaning and thought-process behind writing
this song “Writing it was kind of therapeutic for
me, it's about accepting the bad things you
went though, it's about accepting that healing
takes time and that it's OK to not feel OK and
it's OK to feel like something horrible you went
through didn't make you stronger but actually
made life much more dif icult. It's about
accepting all that you went though and taking
conscious steps towards healing."
Even then, the songwriting process for Karin is
never limited to a set idea or theme. She
explains, “I don't ever think there is a speci ic
theme I want to write about when I start
writing. I just start writing and whatever comes
out is what ends up being a song.”

In just a short span, Karin Ann

18 E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E
 has already been the
recipient of multiple music
awards, touring all over the
world, working with various
labels, actively representing
the LGBTQ+ community in
Slovakia and in Europe, been
referred to as the Billie Eilish
of Europe, and most
importantly, broadening her
portfolio of good music.

Amidst the popularity and

expectations, Karin
emphasizes that she doesn't
think about the potential
possibilities of the future.
She further adds “I have
anxiety so thinking about the
future is very stressful for
me, haha.”

From her own experiences,

Karin understands inding
your audience and standing
out in the music industry is
extremely dif icult, however,
she points out “We live in a
time where the music
market is oversaturated so it
de initely is hard to ind an
audience, but I think as long
as you're doing what you
love and you're doing it for
the right reasons, sooner or
later your people will ind
you.”

Talking about how she wants

to be remembered by Karin
concludes saying “I think like
any artist I want to be
remembered for my art and
for what I stand for.”

W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M 19
 We Embrace Excellence!

Exeleon Magazine features some of the

leading players in business and shares
their journey of excellence to inspire
aspiring leaders across the globe.

SUBSCRIBE
www.exeleonmagazine.com
 EXELEON EXCLUSIVE
HOW A HAIRSTYLIST CAN
CHANGE THE WORLD?
INTERVIEW WITH ELIZABETH FAYE
A t the age of 12, Elizabeth Faye was
expelled from school for coloring
her natural hair with a box of dye.
But as fate would have it, this led her to a
chance encounter that would change the
course of her life.
Her parents booked her a color correction
at a fancy upscale hair salon. While sitting
on the hairdresser's chair, Elizabeth started
sharing every little detail of her life to her
stylist – Brandon.
For the irst time in her young life, Elizabeth
felt heard, beautiful, seen, and loved.
This cemented a bond between Elizabeth
and hair salons, and eventually paved the
way for her professional journey as a
hairstylist.
A single act of kindness changed the life of
Elizabeth Faye. Today, as a hairstylist turned
coach, Elizabeth is determined to help
transform the lives of others like someone
did to her.
In this Exclusive Interview, we interact with
this incredible entrepreneur and learn more
about her journey and beyond.
22
From visiting a hairstylist that changed
your world to today a hairstylist turned
coach that is changing the world, what
has been the journey like for you?
The journey has been a wild ride. So much
learning and growth. The entrepreneurship
journey is truly the greatest opportunity for
personal development on a fast track in the
best way. There are highs and lows, and I
wouldn't have it any other way!
What prompted your interest and
subsequently your foray into the
coaching space?
I began working as an assistant in a salon
that was very education-forward where I
was working for salon educators in the
beauty industry. From day one, I've worked
backstage on hair shows, teaching at salons,
working alongside educators at salons, etc. I
also come from a family of educators. My
grandpa was a teacher, my father does a lot
of work within the church such as teaching
and guiding hikes, yoga, etc.
Teaching has been in my blood. I became a
beauty school teacher at Paul Mitchell for
four years and then taught at Redken for six
E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E
 EXELEON EXCLUSIVE

W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M 23
24 E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E
 EXELEON EXCLUSIVE

years. From there, I went on doing of themselves, which is going to

independent education since 2014. require some healing work as well as
My transition from hair educator to strategy and skill to help them feel
business coach then led to a healing aligned in their work and attract
journey that really led me to goal wealth in a really aligned way. I want
setting and manifestation. them to feel really lit up about what
they do because they really are in such
Talk to us about your client proximity with people all of the time
approach, one that has facilitated and are often seen as a trusted space
the career transformation of 1000s where people feel comfortable
of individuals. con iding in them.

I am a business coach that hones in on I know irsthand as a former
attracting wealth, shopping online, hairstylist and salon owner that I was
marketing, and working with there through some of my client's
educators on establishing their biggest milestones [marriage, divorce,
mission and curriculum. However, the babies, death, etc.] and people really
strategy is only 20%, when 80% of turn to us as a close person in their
career transformations derive from life. I want to help hairstylists be well
personal and spiritual development. and regulate their nervous system as
they act as that rock for other people
Our signature framework, Sacred that sit in their chair.
Success Method, blends strategy,
somatics, and conscious work. I believe we are all a part of The
Somatics is understanding the Ripple Effect but hairstylists touch so
nervous system [this is where many lives, and if I can help them,
breathwork comes in and is one of the then I am quite literally helping
best ways to heal your nervous hundreds of thousands of people.
system] and marrying the mind and
body together and mixing it with Brief us about the importance of
business strategy. visibility and for women
entrepreneurs to put their personal
Blending strategy, somatics, and brand out there.
subconscious work together is very
important to me because it really This is why I do a lot of personal and
brings together the science and spiritual development work with
spiritual side of success and people because putting your brand
empowers others to understand it and out there is sharing your heart.
to lean into their own tools - which Sharing your perspectives, desires and
are themselves! how you want to serve people can be a
really vulnerable thing to do as female
What is your vision through Hair leaders.
Love University? How is it
empowering and impacting the As we lead, we have an opportunity to
hairstylists community and share from the heart space, to
beyond? collaborate, and to empower. Sharing
your mission and heart is incredibly
My mission is to help hair stylists needed - your story matters!
show up as the most authentic version

W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M 25
EXELEON EXCLUSIVE

As an entrepreneur, coach, taking a walk. I am a big believer in up for yourself and your business.
speaker, author, and mother, moving energy through dance and
what does a day in your life of yoga. In between all of that, I am Finally, what does the future look
Elizabeth Faye look like? How do often speaking, traveling, and like for you and your brand?
you ensure work-life balance? hosting retreats. I am now a Tedx Speaker and I am
publishing a book in the fall! I am
Typically, the morning starts with To ensure work-life balance, it is looking forward to more speaking
Cacao [I love a daily Cacao] and important to build in those small engagements and continuing to
bringing my nine-year-old to rituals. It can be making your coach high level humans and doing
school. Then, I coach a few days a nightly bath or drinking your daily breathwork exercises in huge
week, so taking a moment to get beverage ritualistic. It is really settings. I am looking forward to
grounded, light some incense, and bringing intention and slowness working with more corporate
then start my day with some rituals into these different spaces of your brands and schools, as well as
is very important to me. After a day life. Oftentimes, I bring in coaches helping more people change their
of coaching my clients, we have and experts to guide me so I can life.
dinner and family time [typically constantly learn, grow, release, and I am dabbling in more projects that
involves board games]. be cared for because the higher are outside of the box - music and
level of a performer you are in your products that are more ritualistic.
Other days, I am in a lot of CEO business, the higher level support We just came out with a conscious
meetings [either in bed or from my you are going to need in your life song titled, I Am Loved Devine, on
hanging chair] and blending my and your self-care. Lean on your Spotify.
rituals into the day which can look support system - you are going to
like breathwork, meditation, or need to even out that load to show

26 E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E
28 E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E

D i s r u p t
Yo u r s e l f
5 W AY S T O B E C O M E Y O U R O W N
AGENT OF DISRUPTION
isruption is a bad thing, right? Well, it
D depends. Are you the disruptor or the
disrupted? In startups, disruptors reap the
massive bene its of doing things a new way.
Name any unicorn company, like Apple, Amazon, or Uber
— in fact, name any great company, and behind its
success is a story of disruption. But remember,
companies don't disrupt, people do. People who disrupt
stand to reap massive bene its for not following the
status quo. Reid Hoffman in his book, The Startup of You,
advises everyone to think of themselves and their career
as their own startup. And Tara Parker-Pope recently
wrote, we can use 'design thinking' to better ourselves
through personal reinvention. I believe that it's
imperative to become your own Agent of Disruption. Yes,
I know, it sounds like a fun spy game. Let's play!
In my book, Disrupt Yourself!, I outlined seven variables
for harnessing the powers of disruption. Because you
can never know too much about how to ride the waves
of change, below are some practical tips from
entrepreneurs who have “Disrupt yourself” as one of
their favorite mantras.
TRY SOMETHING NEW
Gillian Morris, CEO, HitList
'Studies have shown that being in unfamiliar places
helps you think creatively. Neurologically, you make new
connections between unfamiliar frameworks as you
move through new territory, and it can impact how you
W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M
IN – FOCUS
think in your 'normal' life as well.
'I've found that travel makes me more resourceful, and
keeps me calm and grounded through the inevitable ups
and downs of being an entrepreneur.
Stuck in traf ic on the way to a critical meeting?
Inconvenient, but not as bad as having food poisoning in
Afghanistan and discovering the nearest hospital is in
territory controlled by the Taliban. Experiences like that
put the rest of your problems in perspective. Being
outside your comfort zone reinforces what's important.
It's said that travel is cheaper than therapy, and though
it won't cure everything, I think there's a lot to be said
for travel as a health bene it.'
If you're feeling stuck then try something new. It literally
feels good to disrupt. When you learn you get a squirt of
dopamine, a neurotransmitter that makes you happy.
You may think you crave certainty, control, and tasks you
can easily complete, but agents of disruption know that
moving into terra incognita — the unexplored territory
— feels better. A study done by Kennon M. Sheldon and
colleagues found that self-expression and creativity may
increase positive feelings leading people to act more
responsibly, cooperatively, and cheerfully. Launching
into the unknown, not only makes you feel good; it
inspires your team too. It's restorative, both emotionally
and physically. If you are feeling stuck, focus on who you
want to become, not who you are. It will help you move
from stuck to unstuck.
29
IN – FOCUS
KEEP GOOD COMPANY
Anna Curran, Founder, Cookbook Create
'I surround myself with people who inspire me to live
life to the fullest, dream big and go for it. Each friend has
their own super power. Deborah Jackson, Founder of
Plum Alley, encourages me to push the limits of big
thinking and dreaming. Jessica Randazza, CMO Dannone,
constantly inspires me to play and cultivate my creative
side. Sloane Davidson lends her rose-colored glasses
often and renews my faith in the world as a beautiful
place.'
Motivational speaker Jim Rohn once famously said, “You
are the average of the ive people you spend the most
time with.” It's true, and what's good for you is good for
them. Research has shown that emotions are contagious.
As you enjoy the feel-good effects of disruption, others
will too. When you share your dreams of disruption with
you mentors, friends and team, you release the bonding
hormone, oxytocin, which activates higher levels of
trust. Sharing makes other people feel trusted and that
makes them feel good, too.
FOLLOW YOUR PASSION
Vanessa Quigley, Co-Founder, Chatbooks
'I had no intention of joining my husband in a start-up
when the last of my seven children started school. I was
going to get into yoga, local theatre, and enjoy my
newfound free time. But one day I discovered that I had
no printed pictures of my youngest child. All he had to
show for his young life was a tattered little snapshot
taken by his preschool teacher. I used to make elaborate
scrapbooks when I was a younger mom, but as life got
busier I quit printing pictures all together. So I went to
my entrepreneur husband with an idea: could we make
creating photo books as easy as taking the photos?
'My passion for my family and my desire to help people
hold on to their memories — quickly, easily, and
affordably — drove me to disrupt head irst into the
chaotic, exciting world of a startup. Incidentally, we've
disrupted the photo book industry, having sold over a
million books, and attracted hundreds of thousands of
subscribers.'
It doesn't always follow that we are good at the things
we care about, but it's an excellent place to start.
Successful agents of disruption are those who identify
an unmet need that can be illed by their unique talent
30
set. Don't be dismissive of your passions — chances are
that you're not the only one who cares. If you're
dissatis ied with how existing products and/or services
address your needs, then others have the same
concerns. Your solution may be the solution everyone is
looking for. Don't we all wish we'd invented Velcro?
TRAVEL THE NON-LINEAR PATH
Renee DiResta, Haven
'Some people have always known what they're born to
do. They specialize early and quickly acquire deep
experience. Not me. My latest career move was to help
start a company in an industry I'd never previously
worked in: transportation logistics.
'I studied computer science, but a serendipitous
interview led me to inance. As a trader from
2004–2011, I watched technology transform the market.
I left inance to pursue a hobby, tracking inef icient
private market trading of startups. As I worked with
dozens of founders, themes emerged. Manufacturing
and distribution are still very hard; production delays
are common. Teams rely on outmoded methods to meet
their deadlines.
'When Haven's founders looked at the freight industry,
there were many parallels to early inancial markets.
Transportation logistics was begging to be transformed
from an opaque phone-and-email market, through the
creation of a technologically sophisticated exchange that
reduced overhead costs of time and money and
improved ef iciency.
'Depth of experience is incredibly important for a
company's success, and Haven has team members with
decades of supply chain and freight experience. But
breadth of experience helped me visualize how an
innovation that transformed one industry might bene it
another. Don't be afraid of a non-linear path.'
You don't have to invent something new to be an agent
of disruption; you only have to be willing to reinvent
yourself. Sometimes that means deploying earned skills
in a new enterprise, entirely unrelated to prior
experience, but susceptible to the same problems — and
solutions — that you've encountered previously. Your
fresh eyes and mind focused in a new situation may be
able to make connections that those with long
experience are too fatigued to spot. Agility and
adaptability are hallmarks of disruptors. And when it
E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E

comes to technology, the only thing that isn't news is
that we have to keep up with it.
Taylor Reynolds, the Director of Technology Policy, MIT
Internet Policy Research Initiative says, “The verdict is
still out on the long-term effects of technological
innovation on jobs, but those who can pick up new skills
and pivot themselves towards jobs that use these new
technologies will be the ultimate winners in our
increasingly digital economy.
INVEST IN YOURSELF
Jane Barratt, Founder & CEO GoldBean
'Moving to Asia in my mid-20's was life-changing. Money
and investments were topics of everyday conversation. I
adopted the local habit of investing, even though I had
no previous experience or real understanding.
'We're well-trained as consumers. Aggressive marketing
blurs the lines between our wants and our needs.
Investing forced me to look differently at how I spent
money. I still bought the shoes and bags I loved, but I
started to ask who made them. Are they public
companies? Worth investing in? Consumers drive the
success of investors. Recognizing that fact slowed down
my impulse purchasing and prioritized putting money
into a trading account versus a shopping spree.
W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M
IN – FOCUS
'When I moved to the U.S., I built my company to
encourage people to think differently about money, and
to use what they knew and did as a consumer as a
starting point to invest in themselves, rather than just
the shareholders of the companies they like to
patronize.'
Making an investment in yourself is the most basic
reason for self-disruption. A direct portfolio investment
is only one possibility. When we are agents of disruption
we can reap a windfall of bene its: new opportunities,
career advancement, inancial advantage, personal
satisfaction. Doing something new produces a different
outcome, an outcome over which we have some control.
In this, agents of disruption differ from objects of
disruption — the former chooses to act, while the latter
is acted upon, without their input.
CONCLUSION
It may sound “evil empire”-ish, but being an agent of
disruption is a very powerful positive force. When you
disrupt yourself, you not only cope with the forces of
disruption, you enable yourself to harness its power and
unpredictability to propel you forward, and potentially
those around you, too. What are you waiting for? Join
the game. Disrupt yourself.
A b o u t t h e W r i t e r
Whitney Johnson is the CEO of human capital
consultancy Disruption Advisors, an Inc. 5000
2020 fastest-growing private company in
America. One of the 50 leading business
thinkers in the world (#14) as named by
Thinkers50, Whitney is an expert at helping
individuals, teams and organizations become
peak performers. Moreover, Whitney is an
award-winning author, world-class keynote
speaker, and frequent lecturer for Harvard
Business School's Corporate Learning
31
EXELEON EXCLUSIVE
T U R N I N G PA I N I N T O P U R P O S E
Jamie Batiste
P ain is an inevitable part of the
human experience. It can come in
many forms, from the loss of a
loved one to the sting of rejection, and it
can leave us feeling broken and lost. But
pain can also be a source of growth and
transformation if we're willing to
embrace it.
Think about the most signi icant
moments in your life. Chances are, they
weren't all sunshine and rainbows. They
were likely moments of struggle,
hardship, and pain. Yet, it's often these
moments that de ine us, that shape who
we are, and who we eventually become.
By embracing our pain, we can ind
purpose in it. We can use it as fuel to
create something positive, to inspire and
empower others who are going through
similar struggles. We can turn our pain
into a catalyst for personal and
professional success.
Jamie Batiste is one such powerful
woman who after experiencing rejection
and heartbreak, channeled her pain into
a brand that would inspire others to
embrace their inner strength and
resilience.
32
In this Exclusive Interview with the
Founder of Rejected Hearts Club, Jamie
talks about her brand, her story, and
entrepreneurship.
What according to you makes one a
powerful woman? How do you
integrate the same thought into your
leadership?
Women are powerful humans all around.
For me a powerful woman is someone
who possesses a strong sense of self-
worth and con idence, someone who is
able to pursue their goals with
determination and resilience. Someone
who is not afraid to take risks or
challenges, and who uses their voice and
in luence to advocate for themselves and
others.
They also recognize the importance of
building relationships and networks and
understand that collaboration and
teamwork are key to achieving success. I
integrate these traits in order to build a
great team and have great collaboration.
Networking is a big one for me as you
never know who you are going to meet
and what value you can learn from
someone or what value you can bring to
the table to help someone else.
E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E
 EXELEON EXCLUSIVE

W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M 33
EXELEON EXCLUSIVE

Talk to us about your growing up tons of amazing people and I was pain into a purpose and help others
years. What is your earliest able to communicate with various going through similar experiences
memory as a leader / people with multiple personalities. to get their hearts back one piece at
entrepreneur? As an entrepreneur, you have to a time.
learn to adapt to situations and
Growing up I've always had the people. What is the message that you
drive to be someone and make a want to share through your
difference in this life. I was in a ton Talk to us about how the idea brand and entrepreneurial
of sports and played various formed of starting Rejected journey?
instruments which taught me Hearts Club?
leadership and how to be a great The main message that is promoted
teammate. I then also loved the idea Honestly…My best ideas and with RHC is to Love Yourself. It's
of being in radio/tv so I started faux thoughts come to me while in the okay to put YOU irst. It's important
radio shows with my brother in my shower. It's my place of alone time to remember that self-love is not
room and would do interviews and with my own thoughts. One day sel ishness or arrogance. It's about
record full blown shows on a after a hard breakup I was thinking valuing and respecting yourself,
cassette player. ha-ha. of what I would name a company to recognizing your own worth, and
help others heal from heartbreak taking care of your physical,
It led me to start my radio career at and loss. I realized that rejection is emotional, and mental well-being.
the age of 14! From there, I was a universal experience that When you love yourself, you're able
able to produce on ESPN radio and everyone goes through at some to show love and compassion to
then became an On Air radio host point in their lives. others and make positive
on KissFM Austin, TX which is now contributions to your relationships.
IHeartRadio. I also voiced a lot of Overall, the idea of Rejected Hearts
commercials which lead to meeting Club was formed as a way to turn Looking at your journey as an

34 E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E
 EXELEON EXCLUSIVE

there are never enough hours in the

day. For myself, I am learning the
art of delegating in order to be
more ef icient and focus more on
scaling the brand and stay true to
my passion of design.

What would be your advice for

aspiring and emerging women
entrepreneurs?

Never give up on yourself - no

matter what. Remember that failure
doesn't de ine you but can be a
great opportunity to learn and
grow. Believe in yourself and be
kind to yourself - because you are
worth it and most importantly
LOVE YOURSELF. The best way to
reach success is to keep going
despite obstacles, and to never be
afraid to take risks.

Finally, what does the future look

like for you and your brand?
What are you most excited
about?

Exciting things are happening for

the brand and the community. RHC
is a give back culture, so next up we
are creating a show to have people
talk about their breakups and how
to heal.

I want it to be a space for people to

work through their emotions and
entrepreneur, what would you the brand in the earlier stages. RHC learn to love and accept themselves
have done differently if you were has the power to build a great despite rejection. It will be a place
to start again? community for people to share for people to learn about healthy
their own stories and to ind love relationships, boundaries, and self-
within themselves. care practices.
I've always learned that failure
leads to success. Therefore, every
mistake that has been made as an What does a day in the life of
entrepreneur has made me grow Jamie Batiste look like? How do
and learn. I wouldn't do anything you ensure work-life balance?
differently; I would however have
started building a community for I'm sure most Entrepreneurs say

W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M 35
IN – FOCUS

Creating a
Future of Hope
Alina Su

I t is said that there is no better exercise for the

heart than reaching out to lift people up. It is
liberating, empowering, and transformational.
It is powerful!
people to get access to quality healthcare.

In this Exclusive Interview, the young and

With the same intention of lifting people up and
create a better future, Alina Su is spearheading a
transformational vision through her company
NovaXS Biotech Corp.
powerful entrepreneur talks about her journey,
challenges, and her vision for the future.
What according to you makes one a powerful
entrepreneur? How do you integrate the same
thought into your leadership?

NovaXS is a smart medical device startup building A powerful entrepreneur is someone who takes
a drug delivery platform to make it easier for responsibility for human beings' wellness and

36 E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E

creates a better future. Powerful
entrepreneurs design the future,
align their own vision and act on it
daily. Rome wasn't built in a day
and building our future will not be
any different.
Creating positive change in the
world is what powerful
entrepreneurs do every day. As a
leader, I am an action-oriented type.
I outline and execute a strategy that
W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M
IN – FOCUS
makes my vision a reality. Instead of Growing up, I remember being very
sitting around and philosophizing curious and always asking
about how to change the world, I questions. I love school and being in
focus on creating real changes like the lab. Since starting my company
the many patients we help every NovaXS, I've considered myself a
day at NovaXS. researcher and student before a
businessperson. That being said, I
Talk to us about your growing up am also a problem-solver and a
years. What is your earliest good entrepreneur who focuses on
memory as an entrepreneur that solving a problem, not selling a
you can remember? product.
37
IN – FOCUS
My earliest memory of this is when
I had to balance three different
roles as an entrepreneur,
researcher, and student. My
morning started with attending my
classes and simultaneously
inishing my breakfast while
reading industry-related news and
improving the company's product
design. I would brainstorm in the
afternoon, go to the lab to research
regenerative medicine, and discuss
drug-device combinations with my
professor, and our scienti ic
advisory board from Harvard, ex-
P izer, UC Berkeley.
I would then talk to investors about
new updates and receive feedback
and make a second round of edits
on my pitch deck. I would sit in
MBA classes in Biotechnology
Entrepreneurship and Business
Case Analysis at 9 PM.
Finally, I get to go home to think
back and summarize all that I did
today. I always ind myself sleeping
with my glasses on, with a pen and
book in my hand since I barely have
time to sleep. I learned how to
become a good business leader
from my dad and grandpa, who
were serial entrepreneurs their
whole lives. They had a large impact
on me being the entrepreneur that I
am today.
What prompted your interest Did you know that one in four
and subsequently your foray into adults and two in three children
healthcare and tech space?
My inquisitive nature and
imagination worked hand in hand
with my love for science. Wanting to
understand my sister's medical
condition pushed me to study
bioengineering at the University of
California, Berkeley, and obtain a
38
degree in Public Health and
Bioengineering. Today I am a Ph.D.
student at Harvard Medical School,
furthering my education in
Biological and Biomedical Sciences.
As a student, I lourish in the lab
studying gene editing and
degenerative diseases. Throughout
my lab work, I've noticed how
people navigate the healthcare
system and often cannot access the
necessary care.
What led you to start NovaXS, people have about me. As a young
BioTech Corp.? What was the female entrepreneur, my ability is
pain point you wanted to address often questioned, and I have to go
through this platform? above and beyond to prove that I
When I was growing up, my sister
was diagnosed with a chronic
condition requiring her to make a
one-hour round-trip to the nearest
hospital every day for three years to
get multiple shots.
Looking back on my childhood, I
re lect on the time I spent inding
ways to support my sister through
her treatments. I am naturally
curious, and I remember thinking of
ways to improve such an agonizing
process.
When I realized my sister is not
alone in the struggle to access
quality healthcare, I wanted to use
my expertise for good and take
action.
have a needle phobia and that 50%
of medications for chronic diseases
aren't taken as prescribed? My goal
is to make healthcare treatments
more accessible.
I assembled a team of my
classmates, professors, mentors,
and friends to start NovaXS Biotech
Corp, a smart medical device
startup building a drug delivery
platform to make it easier for
people to get access to quality
healthcare.
What have been some of the
biggest challenges in your
journey as a young Entrepreneur,
Investor, and Inventor?
One of the biggest challenges has
been ighting the stereotypes
deserve a seat at the table.
But I remind myself that these
stereotypes are not true and are
projections of others' insecurities in
themselves. I acknowledge when I
am being treated unfairly and do
not let it prevent me from doing my
best work. I am determined, strong,
and capable of doing anything I set
my mind to.
What does a day in the life of
Alina Su look like? How do you
ensure work-life balance?
A goal of mine is to have a long-
lasting career helping people access
quality healthcare, so I realize the
importance of a healthy work-life
balance. To start my day on the
right foot, I meditate with a
peaceful mind and catch up on the
latest news.
Creating a ritual for my morning
routine sets me on the right track
and keeps me motivated. I am the
most creative in the afternoons,
which I set aside for collaboration
with my team. Since my team is all
around the world, I usually have
meetings with our partners
E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E
 Alina Su
Founder & CEO
NovaXS BioTech Corp.
overseas in the evenings.
After those meetings, my workday
ends, and I get to indulge in my
guilty pleasures. One of my favorite
things to do after a hectic day is to
read a good book and escape for a
while.
What would be your advice for Finally, what does the future look optimization.
entrepreneurs and business like for NovaXS? What are you
leaders in the healthcare space?
I would tell entrepreneurs to
connect with others and prioritize
building relationships with clients
and investors. It requires time and
patience, but if you can create long-
lasting relationships in this
industry, you will be able to ind
ways to make your business
relationships mutually bene icial.
I also recommend enrolling in
W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M
accelerator programs like mHub
MedTech Accelerator and Berkeley
SkyDeck, which give business
leaders access to resources and
mentors to help ine-tune product
development, leadership strategies,
and much more.
most excited about in the coming For the millions of people who deal
years? with chronic conditions like
One day our app will help people
with chronic illnesses self-
administer treatments and provide
their doctors' data on treatment
monitoring. The app will connect to
an injector that doesn't require
needles. You just hold it to your
skin, and pressure pushes the
medicine into your body.
More injectable therapies are
looking for more effective and
convenient delivery methods that
improve the patient experience.
NovaXS is taking a patient-centric
approach to make self-injections
easy and centering our work
around remote healthcare
diabetes or growth hormone
de iciencies or for hopeful families
going the IVF route, I hope that
NovaXS will play a role in making
their lives easier.
39
EXELEON EXCLUSIVE

Laura
In conversation with

Osorio
What makes you a powerful woman? what makes it the #1 Skincare Salon of
Tampa Bay.
I believe what makes me powerful is my
resilience, I have been able to overcome many Lola's Beauty Bar was founded on the basis of
challenges in my life and therefore it makes women empowerment and making them feel
me that much stronger at the end. I integrate better not only about their appearance but
the same thought into my leadership by not also from within. Our goal is to give result-
allowing anything to get in my way towards driven results but also allow every person to
success. feel welcomed, treated with the utmost
respect, and be given all the knowledge to
What prompted your interest and continue their journey of self-care at home.
subsequently your foray into the skincare We are the #1 Skincare Salon of Tampa Bay
space? because we offer the best quality products,
luxury treatments, and an amazing customer
From a young age, I always loved everything experience.
about beauty and skincare. Eventually I
wanted a bigger purpose in life and loved As a female entrepreneur, what has been
helping people, so I decided to mix my the journey like for you? If you were to
hobbies and my aspiration into one career, start again, what would you do differently?
Licensed Esthetician and Skin Care Specialist.
As a female entrepreneur, this journey has
Talk to us about Lola's Beauty Bar and had very high highs and very low lows. It was

42 E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E
W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M 43
44 E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E
 EXELEON EXCLUSIVE

very hard to start from scratch and work my

way up as a business owner and a service
provider. The main thing I would do
differently would be having mentors very
early on in my career to help guide me
better.

What would be your advice for women

entrepreneurs who are struggling?

The main advice I would give for women

struggling to take a risk and leap of faith in
their business is to trust yourself and give it

“We are the #1 your all. When we believe in ourselves and

give it all the motivation and nurture our
business, everything else comes together.
Skincare Salon of There are multiple advancements being
made in the beauty and cosmetic space,
Tampa Bay because what do you think is the future for the
industry?

we offer the best As many things are changing in the beauty

and cosmetic space, I believe this industry
will have a lot more technologies that we can
quality products, help treat our clients and therefore we need
to stay on top of education and products to
provide the best results and treatments.
luxury treatments, Finally, what does the future look like for
you and your brand?
and an amazing My brand has so much coming. As I plan to

customer experience.”
rebrand and grow my team, I see Lola's
Beauty Bar becoming a medical spa as I
inish school and become an Aesthetic NP. I
am most excited to see my clients take
advantage of these amazing treatments I will
be offering and seeing all my hard work pay
off.

W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M 45
 p n g
IN – FOCUS

S c ce s
Su How Kavita Channe
Turned Her Passion for
Wine into a
Leading Brand

48 E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E
W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M 49

K
avita Channe, the former sports presenter
and TV personality, is making a mark as a
successful entrepreneur with her latest
venture, Sip Channé , comprising an award-
winning line of Rosé and Blanc varietals that are
created and imported from Provence, France.
As a best-selling author, speaker, and in luencer,
Kavita's journey from being a broadcaster to a
business owner is nothing short of inspiring. In
this interview, we will take a closer look at her
journey, her vision for Sip Channé , and how she is
inspiring women entrepreneurs to take that leap
of faith in themselves.
Talk to us about your growing up years and the after glass and it's really relative to the person's taste.
in luence your family had on you to eventually
become an entrepreneur.
My ancestors are from India, however, I draw my
inspiration from all over the globe, including East
Africa, where my parents were born and raised.
They eventually moved to the UK for their
education, and this is where they met… and I was
born.
I'm the middle child of two sisters so there was
always excitement around my house. My mom
50
gave up her accounting career to be at home with us. My
father was a robotics engineer working for a company,
however, after a health scare with my little sister he then
started his own business in the nutrition space.
From my teenage years, I watched my father run his own
business from home. Over the years, I witnessed many ups
and downs, but we always were provided for and had all we
needed and more. I believe that is why being an entrepreneur
is not scary at all for me. It actually feels familiar.
What is scary is having to be in an of ice doing things I do not
enjoy day after day. I did that a few times in my 20s and was
not so excited about life at those times. I actually felt trapped
in certain ways. So eventually I started my own business in
my late 20s and have never stopped creating since then.
What according to you makes for a good wine? How have
you integrated that into your brand - Sip Channé?
We don't aim for “good” wines—only GREAT wines or why
bother!? A great wine is a wine that you enjoy drinking glass
For me, whether red, white, or rosé —I love dry wine! Also,
my favorite wines are usually French, however, that's not to
say I don't buy wine from other areas. I tried a Shiraz, the
other day from Australia, that I absolutely loved—and I
typically don't like Shiraz. There was just something about it
that was so different and delicious without being
overpowering or too strong compared to some I've tried.
And I guess that is where our brand, Sip Channé comes in. We
wanted a wine that was easy to drink while still being
elegant, crisp, and hitting all the right notes of a beautiful
E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E

Provence rosé . I am really proud that we have
accomplished the two beautiful blends with our
Channé Rosé and Channé Blanc. When I sip our
rosé , I literally feel like I'm back in the South of
France with a gorgeous hat on, a beautiful
sundress and espadrilles to pair strolling through
the most beautiful villages, cafes, and restaurants
eating the most delicious French fare. It's such a
vibe.
We've won two gold medals this year for our
Channé Rosé , which makes me ecstatic and proud.
Our Channé Blanc is my new favorite. This blend
just launched in Aspen where they truly have the
most fabulous white wine lists (and 'by the glass')
at so many amazing restaurants there. It's truly
white wine heaven and our Blanc is such an
elegant and food-friendly addition with a classic
Provençale pro ile. Both of these wines are no
sugar, no additives, and low in sul ites.
From being a sports presenter, TV personality, lead to burn out, which leads me to the same with Sip
best-selling author, to being a wine Channé .
entrepreneur, what has been the journey like
for you?
The journey has been nothing but amazing! I have
loved every minute of everything I've created and
W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M
accomplished… even the not-so-great moments. I feel like
greatness is formed within us when faced with any adversity.
Those moments of adversity are what help us learn and grow
into a stronger, wiser, and better version of ourselves.
The funny thing is I never know what I'm doing, however, I
know where I want to go which is half the battle. You can
igure out the rest on the way. So, if there's something you
want to do, I would say to de initely go for it!
Looking at this journey, what would have done
differently if you were to start again?
With working in television, I would've started much earlier
instead of trying to be somebody that I'm not because of what
society thinks I should be. I didn't think that I was attractive
or blonde enough or “girl next-door” enough to go for the
roles I wanted—and that is such BS. I wish I would've told
myself to create the roles that I wanted. Don't wait for
someone to hire you. Create the position and hire yourself!
That's what I ended up doing with sports. I didn't have a
background in sports, so I created a YouTube channel which
eventually led to Fox Sports and working in the NFL.
In terms of my children's book, Frederick the Hamptons Frog,
I wish that I would've given myself more time to plan and
strategize for our launch. You really do need a team around
you and so often I am doing a lot of the load myself which can
Last year I took a leap of faith and added a few key team
members. It's amazing what you can do when you have
people around you that are in it with you, care about what
they're doing, and are excited to be doing it every day. That's
51
IN – FOCUS

so important! Shout out to Jonathan

Exe le o n S hort
Chabat, my amazing COO, who is
such an integral part of our
business. We are both working One Book Entrepreneurs Must Read – I haven't read it yet, but
parents and truly collaborative as I want to… “The Virgin Way” by Richard Branson
well as love what we do—which is
One Productivity Tool / App that Everyone Should Use –
key!
Google Workspace
As a female entrepreneur in a One Podcast / Course that you would Recommend –
male-dominated industry, what MasterClass
have been some of the biggest
learnings for you? One Movie / Show that you would Recommend – The Pursuit
of Happiness
I've always been a female in a male
dominant industry, whether it's One Quote that Motivates you the Most – If people aren't
sports, wine, or any business, in laughing at your dreams, then you're not dreaming big enough.
general. I try not to focus on being
One Investment Advice that you Follow – Invest in what you
the minority and just focus on the
know and love… and this not only refers to your money, but also
goals at hand. Obviously, there are
your time.
going to be some awkward or
uncomfortable moments for most
female entrepreneurs—for
example, when people assume I am
an ambassador for my brand as
day with what they do. If that's not so many more to come. We are also
against a Founder—however I
you, you need to make a change going to be launching other
would say that I have experienced
ASAP! products as well as opening more
much more supportive and
states.
collaborative moments that Finally, what does the future look
outweigh any not-so-great ones. like for you and your brand? Just because we can't be in the
The lesson? Make our weakness our What are you most excited French Riviera at this very moment
strengths and keep it moving! about? doesn't mean we can't feel like we
are—and It's my goal to share that
What would be your advice for It's so exciting to see us go from gorgeous South of France / St.
women entrepreneurs who are three states to seven in one year. To Tropez vibe with all of you—which
struggling to take that leap of see people enjoying rosé in the is why we do this!!!
faith to start their business? winter in gorgeous ski towns like
Aspen to the summer in buzzing Also, don't forget to follow us on
My advice would be to just go for it.
places like the Hamptons or Instagram and sign up for our
If you're not doing it, somebody
enjoying rosé year-round in places newsletter on our website. We have
else will—so why should it not be
like Florida or Nashville…it's a some amazing events coming up
you? If you need capital, there are
fabulous time! And to think I was and hope to see you there!
key people and some great funds
advised not to launch a white wine
that speci ically look for female-led
and was told to stick to rosé . I am so
companies to invest in. Take that
glad I did not listen and trusted my
leap of faith—even if it's scary. This
gut.
is your life, and you don't want to
leave this earth with regrets. Our Blanc is truly one-of-a-kind and
enjoyed in so many of my favorite
I want everyone to experience
places which we will be adding in
excitement and happiness every

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