World Trade Association of Utah Marks 50 Years
Governor Declares Nov. 4 as WTA 50th Anniversary Day
International Business Leaders Honored
SALT LAKE CITY (Nov. 5, 2021) — The World Trade Association of Utah (WTA), the state’s oldest non-profit organization dedicated to advancing global commerce, last night marked its 50th anniversary during a celebration at the Alta Club in Salt Lake City. The two-hour event featured a reading of the Governor’s declaration, networking reception, and awards ceremony honoring top international business leaders.
“We are proud to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the World Trade Association of Utah, which continues to provide unparalleled mentorship and networking opportunities to Utah companies,“ said Vasili Karpos, WTA president. “In the middle of COVID, we recognized the need to expand our global leadership formally by creating WTA hubs across the world, and have successfully established WTA branches in Greece and Brazil, with more on their way.”
Founded in 1971 by leaders across Utah’s international business sector, local and federal government agencies, and educational institutions, the WTA has for decades provided hundreds of educational forums, site visits to companies, and global mentorship and networking opportunities for Utah’s rapidly-growing economy. Given its unparalleled contribution, Governor Spencer J. Cox declared Nov. 4 as the 50th Anniversary of the World Trade Association in Utah.
“The Governor’s Office joins Utah’s international business community in congratulating the World Trade Association of Utah on achieving this important milestone,” said Franz Kolb, director of international diplomacy and protocol for the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity. “For half a century, this organization has provided critical support, knowledge and networks to help businesses succeed in an ever-evolving global marketplace, and we are grateful for their strategic partnership through the years.”
Traditionally, WTA honors international business leaders as part of its annual event, with this year’s celebration awarding Dr. Baldomero Lago, chief international officer for Utah Valley University as ‘Person of the Year,’ O.C. Tanner as ‘Company of the Year,’ and Lisa McPhie Sagers, former director of operations at Air & Sea International for ‘Lifetime Achievement.’
A native of Santander, Spain, Dr. Lago arrived in the U.S. in 1987 to embark on an educational journey as a first generation college student. Now, as the Chief International Officer for Utah Valley University, Dr. Lago organizes and manages UVU’s global and intercultural academic initiatives, including organizing four diplomatic conferences, the 68th United Nations Civil Society Conference with more than 6,000 attendees across 144 countries, and the 1st Academic International Conference on the Sustainable Development Goals occurring in October 2022. As a service to his country and to the local community since 1999, Dr. Lago has fulfilled his appointment as the Honorary Consul of Spain, and in 2016, was awarded the title of Knight Commander of the Royal Order of Civil Merit by King Phillip VI of Spain.
As the past year has forced companies and HR teams around the world to rethink their approach to company culture, engagement and employee recognition, O.C. Tanner has continued to provide its client base with new and innovative ways to ensure their employees accomplish and appreciate great work. O.C. Tanner helps thousands of global organizations foster cultures that help people thrive, including 30 of Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For® that use the Culture Cloud apps and Culture by Design services to attract talent, inspire accomplishment, and fuel success. Its 3000+ clients in over 180 countries, including over 1,100 multinational clients, also rely on academic-grade research published in the company’s annual Global Culture Report that tracks, analyzes, and forecasts worldwide culture trends.
The International Company of the Year honor adds to the list of recent accolades including being named as one of Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For in 2021, being named as one of Great Place to Work’s 2021 Best Workplaces in Consulting & Professional Services, and being recognized as a leader in Everest Group’s 2021 Rewards and Recognition Solutions PEAK Matrix Assessment. Meghan Stettler, a director at the O.C. Tanner Institute, was also named to the HRD Global 100 list this year.
“We are honored to receive this recognition from the World Trade Association of Utah and to celebrate 50 years of its tremendous work in advancing global commerce,” said Stephen Tanner Irish, chairman of the board at O.C. Tanner. “This award is a testament to the perseverance of our incredible team over the last year and their unwavering dedication to delivering innovative solutions to our customers around the world.”
For more than 40 years, Lisa McPhie Sagers has been integral in building global bridges for Utah’s international transportation sector. Before retiring in 2020, she served as the longstanding director of operations for Air & Sea International, a freight forwarding company for nearly two decades. Currently, she serves on the Utah District Export Council and teaches courses as part of Salt Lake Community College’s Global Business Management certificate, which was honored by the Obama administration in 2016 with President’s “E” award for its role in advancing exports. Across her career, Lisa has served on the board of World Trade Association, including organizing scholarship funding at annual golf tournaments for international business students, and being the second female president in 1990.
“I am honored to receive this prestigious award from the World Trade Association of Utah,” said Lisa McPhie Sagers. “WTA has added value to my own career through mentoring, networking and education, and it’s been a privilege belonging to an organization where I could give back in return. These friendships, business connections, and memories will last a lifetime.”
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About World Trade Association of Utah
World Trade Association of Utah is the state’s longest standing non-profit organization dedicated to advancing international trade and commerce. The WTA offers its members a valuable opportunity to share experiences and remain current with other professionals in the complex environment of international trade by providing a forum for the exchange of ideas and information through various workshops, seminars, publications and special events with academic, government and private organizations specific to international trade. Each year WTA bestows the leading International Person of the Year Award, International Company of the Year Award, and Lifetime Achievement Award with special recognition for contributions to international commerce.
With over 30 years of experience in international business development, Franz Kolb, a highly distinguished WTA of Utah board member, has helped companies reach international audiences and assisted their exporting and importing efforts. With his background of growing up in Austria and completing an international business apprenticeship, working with businesses and diplomats is his second nature. Today, Kolb utilizes his well versed international business experience as Director of International Trade and Diplomacy for the Governor’s Office of Economic Development.
As a diplomat, Kolb understands the importance of networking in order for companies to reach global audiences. He expanded his own connections by working for the government in international business consulting and management. By building this foundation, Kolb established a robust network, eventually leading one of Utah’s governors to ask for his assistance in improving Utah’s international image. As a result, Kolb has successfully connected Utah with other diplomats, organized trade missions, and arranged meetings with key business leaders and trade delegations from all over the world.
According to Kolb, for businesses that desire to expand internationally, “They should do an internal analysis to see if everybody is committed to this international venture. [Then], put together a plan of how they would tackle that because it can be very complex, and the world is huge. They need to focus on some of the key areas in the world, based on certain parameters that they should develop. [Then], they need to have a...medium and long term strategy...in order for them to be successful.”
In addition to conducting this analysis and developing strategies, Kolb stresses the importance of pre-existing connections, especially on a global scale. He states that “When it comes to business and connections, in order for a company to be successful internationally, they need to develop a formal and informal international network. Meaning...if you want to do business in a certain country, [you] can’t cold-call somebody...it doesn’t work well in some countries. But if you have an introduction from somebody who has a network or knows somebody over there, and they then introduce you to their network, it is much easier to be successful. So, it’s crucial for individuals [and] companies to develop international connections and to maintain those. That’s when their network becomes very important.”
Moreover, understanding cultural barriers and differences within relationships are key factors for companies to be successful internationally. According to Kolb, “40% of international businesses fail because of a lack of cultural understanding. Everytime you meet somebody from another country, whether it’s a diplomat or a business person, they have their own cultural identity...and this requires people to be very well prepared because it's not just about traveling and meeting people. It’s [needed] to maintain a good relationship and contact. It takes an open minded person on one side to be successful internationally.”
In order for domestic companies to successfully reach international audiences and markets, they must initially build substantial relationships both internally and externally. Subsequently, unified companies, with a strategic game plan that are able to build its international network while maintaining cultural sensitivity, are following Franz’s formula for international success. To read about and meet more inspiring business leaders, please visit our blog and become a member. Event updates are posted on our LinkedIn and Twitter.
On July 29, 2021, WTA’s Simon Greathead lead a training on International Negotiations for Global Markets. As an associate professor at Brigham Young University's Marriott School of Business, Greathead is highly experienced in teaching negotiation strategies and lead the seminar with practical stories and examples.
Greathead began the training with a story:
“There was a man in the Middle East who left to his 3 sons 17 camels. To the oldest son, he left half of the camels. To the second son, he left a third of the camels. To the youngest son, he left a ninth of the camels. Well, 17 doesn’t divide by a half, it doesn’t divide by a third, and it doesn’t divide by a ninth. The 3 sons went to a wise old woman and said, ‘how do we separate these camels between us?’ To which the wise old woman said, ‘I don’t really know the answer to that question, but I do have an extra camel I can give you.’ The wise old woman gave them one camel. Now they have 18 camels. Well, 18 divides by half, 18 divides by a third—it's 6—and 18 does divide by a ninth. 9 + 6 + 2 is 17 camels. They gave the one camel back to the wise old woman.”
Titled “The Eighteenth Camel,” Greathead’s story serves as a foundation for the training. When “I teach negotiations at BYU, I express to my students that it's your job to find the 18th camel in life, and that 18th camel is the golden goose to solve the world's problems. There is always an 18th camel [but] our personalities get in the way [and] our inability to think critically gets in the way of finding the 18th camel.”
Subsequentially, Greathead introduces negotiation to the age-old argument: nature or nurture. He concludes that competent negotiators are a mix of both, but what is more important is their ability to express and control both emotional intelligence (EQ) and logical thinking (IQ).
Another skill that negotiators have is the ability to correctly choose between what author and psychologist Daniel Kahneman calls “System 1 and System 2…System 1…is emotionally driven. It tends to be the fast part of our brain.” In Kahneman’s book, Thinking, Fast and Slow, he states that System 1 is “our initial response to stimuli.” As a parent, Greathead has learned to overcome System 1 reactions and respond to his children with System 2 replies and reactions. If he does not agree with something his son says, Greathead is now more patient and rational in responding to him.
Greathead then discussed irrational expectations in negotiations. There are 2 steps to overcoming these types of interactions:
As an example, Greathead used a software company and their client. If the company needs the software in a much shorter time than originally anticipated, the software developers cannot finish the product; however, by asking why their client needs the software in such a short amount of time, the software company can then come up with a rational solution. In this case, their client wanted to launch a marketing campaign soon. Instead of producing and utilizing the new software, the software company just needed to launch a marketing module. The software company had found the 18th camel by simply asking why.
Lastly, Greathead taught the difference in and importance of distributive and integrative negotiating. A distributive approach, Greathead explains, strictly sticks to the boundaries of a fixed pie. As a result of not negotiating possible ways to expand the pie, both parties do not get their intended outcome. With an integrative approach, negotiators utilize the tools Greathead previously mentioned such as EQ vs. IQ and System 1 vs. System 2. By demonstrating self-control and patience, negotiators can find the 18th camel and land a deal that satisfies both parties.
To receive more information and details on WTA’s upcoming events, become a member and follow our Twitter and LinkedIn.
WTA of Utah board member Martin Ritter is the CEO of Stadler US, a train manufacturing company that originated in Switzerland. Ritter, who is also from Switzerland, received the assignment to establish Stadler’s North American headquarters before he was 30 years old and has helped increase annual revenue from a few million dollars to over $250 million. He has also grown the company by building a large new facility in Salt Lake City and hiring over 450 employees here.
As the CEO of an international company, Ritter navigates through two different countries’ markets and their regulations. Since part of Stadler’s operations include transferring technology and knowledge from Switzerland to the United States, Ritter is responsible for following legislation such as The Buy America Act. Moreover, he must be aware of the differences in European and North American cultural norms, as Salt Lake City did not have as strong of a rail supply chain prior to Stadler’s establishment.
When choosing the mobility industry, Ritter considered several factors. He was first “inspired simply by the company itself [and] by the people who worked at that company.” Ritter also remembers his childhood and states that like many boys who “dream of building trains [and spent] hours playing with trains when we were little… the train and the childhood [has a] very positive association.” Ritter also thought about the impact his career would have on the environment and shares that “being part of a sustainable industry has certain values. What we're doing, especially in the United States, can really change people's lives.” By choosing a more environmentally sustainable form of transportation, people can “spend half the time during their commute and work…and spend more time with their family or friends. So you can have a positive impact on the work-life balance and the quality of life [in] different communities, [and] I think that's very rewarding. I love to be in [this] industry because we can really change how people move.”
Ritter attributes part of his success and work ethic to his service in Switzerland’s military. Although many things have “had an impact on my work ethic [and] my career, certainly the military played [an] important role. [I] went through management development in the military, up to the rank of a Captain. I benefited a lot…systematically [from] the thinking process [and] decision making process.” Additionally, Ritter shares that his military service helped “from a people skills perspective. It's a different way to lead. To lead in a military operation…you have to be able to read people’s minds [and] conditions.” Ritter’s company highly values these skills, and they “appreciate people who went through the military leadership training in Switzerland.”
Ritter encourages both established and rising business leaders to consider the future and positive impact of the mobility industry. It is “really something where you can have a positive impact on the next generation in a sustainable way.” He also states that it “is a very dynamic industry. We might want to think trains are old fashioned [but] once you look [it is] absolutely not. It is a very dynamic and changing environment especially in the United States.” In the future, Ritter believes that “If we want to have an impact on the next generation, and [a] sustainable way of living to maintain a certain quality of life on this planet, then this is a wonderful industry to be in.”
Ritter’s dedication to sustainability through the transportation industry provides optimism for the future. To read about and meet more inspiring business leaders, please visit our blog and become a member. Event updates are posted on our LinkedIn and Twitter.
Past WTA of Utah President and current board member Baldomero Lago was born in Spain and came to the United States as an international college student. Initially, Lago was interested in hotel management but later found his love for teaching. In 1990, he became an adjunct professor at both University of Utah and Salt Lake Community College, and then taught at Brigham High School for 7 years. Subsequently, Brigham Young University recognized Lago’s teaching gift and recruited him to join their staff as a teacher trainer. After 5 years, Utah Valley University (UVU) recruited Lago to establish the language education program and became the language program’s Department Chair. Seven years ago, he was asked to oversee the university’s global operations.
As the leader for Global Engagement at UVU, Lago decided to ensure that the institution responds to the community’s needs. With strong dual language programs and over 4,000 international companies in Utah, Lago constantly looks for potential partnerships and opportunities not only for his students, but for the greater community as well.
Lago is also the Honorary Consul of Spain, exercising his diplomatic skills to generate more global connections for Utah. In the role of UVU Chief International Officer, Lago established the Utah Diplomatic Conference, bringing “up to 25 diplomats from all over the world…it's a great event because it brings business leaders from the community…[opening] up our markets and companies in [different] countries.”
Lago’s two main roles as an educator and diplomat are intertwined. He states that “I build bridges for local business with diplomacy. Then, of course, the benefit is also for faculty and students that participate [and] they see how things are done right.” One of his biggest accomplishments is having UVU become affiliated with “the United Nations (UN). That was a huge partnership…our work with the UN has been remarkable.” Moreover, in 2019, Lago partnered with Mayor Jackie Biskupski to “bring the United Nations to Salt Lake City. It [was] the first time ever in the history of the UN, that they had conducted a major conference outside their New York headquarters in the United States. It was remarkable for our community, for our institution, [and] for the United Nations.” Currently, Lago is “working on another conference for 2022. [It] will be the first international [academic] conference on the [UN’s] sustainable development goals.”
At one of the UN’s dinners, Lago was labeled as “The Connector.” He developed this skill by learning how to “listen [and] look for opportunities of collaboration.” Moreover, Lago lives by his personal motto: “It’s always a win-win situation.” Lago establishes connections with the mindset of doing “something that will benefit you, and will benefit us. The moment that you have that attitude, that I am not imposing anything, but rather [doing] things for the benefit of others, including [my] students,” are when quality relationships are built.
However, Lago acknowledges that diplomatic relationships are not always this easy. “You need to be very sensitive, especially in diplomacy. Not everything is beautiful and pinky and rosy. There are some challenges, [and there is a] mutual respect that has to happen in negotiating, understanding, and turning things around [to] look at possibilities.”
When asked how Lago is able to maintain global relationships, he attributes part of his success to his good friend, Franz Kolb. At a workshop, Lago recalls Kolb teaching about the use of a business card. While looking at things from “different lenses, coming from different cultures, and how [cards are] treated, [Kolb] said something that really sealed my heart for years, and that is the moment you give or the moment you receive a business card. What are you going to do with it?” With this question in mind, Lago has developed “the habit that the moment that I receive a card, I respond…I initiate the conversation, maintaining those partnerships.”
WTA of Utah values and supports Lago’s dedication to building international bridges for his students and community. To read about more global business leaders, please visit our blog and look for regular updates on our LinkedIn and Twitter.
Lisa McPhie Sagers, a long-time board WTA member, recently retired from her successful career as the Director of Operations for Air & Sea International. Sagers currently teaches a course at Salt Lake Community College, and still values the lessons learned from her employees and co-workers.
Sagers has been with WTA since the 80’s and has held positions as the Treasurer, Secretary, First and Second Vice President, and was the organization’s second female President. Although she has retired, Sagers shares that “I'm just happy to help however I can.” One of her projects was starting and organizing WTA’s annual golf tournament, which successfully generated funds for scholarships and fostered networking opportunities for local businesses.
Although the golf tournament has not been active in the past couple years, Sagers remembers the work she put in to organize the event. Most importantly, “the support of the members and the board” made each tournament successful. Businesses sponsored “a hole, so they could set up a booth at the hole talk to people about their company.” Moreover, international business students from various universities were awarded scholarships at the end of each tournament, “which was nice. That was the whole purpose…to have the scholarship go to the different colleges that we had selected and worked with.” In the future, Sagers looks forward to hosting more events like the tournament, restoring a sense of physical community in a post COVID-19 world.
When reflecting on her years at WTA, Sagers believes that it is “a very wonderful platform for people that need to learn and be taught about international business. One of the things that's important about this organization is we can teach, we can mentor, we can network, and…[after] COVID…I think we just need to get us out there and in front of people.”
Based on her years of experience in both international business and with WTA, Sagers strongly believes that both college students and business professionals should not only become members, but “they need to get in, meet with people, [and] listen to mentors. A lot of us have been doing this for [years]. I've been doing it over 40 years, and we know some of the shortcuts, the ins and outs, the things that are working, that are not working, and I think that supporting and being in a group like us would help them with getting their feet wet in international marketing.” Moreover, Sagers believes that since “There's so many of us that [are] either importing, exporting…on the ground level, or at the corporate level…there's so much there that we have to offer.”
Sagers has been a valuable member of WTA for the past 40 years and continues to help the organization thrive. Networking and finding a mentor are vital steps for an individual or company’s journey to international success. To get connected, become a member today and follow our LinkedIn and Twitter to stay up to date on upcoming events.
In a recent interview, Barbara Bagnasacco, one of WTA of Utah’s board members, shared her advice and experience as an attorney and advisor for companies wanting to reach international markets. With a strong sense of justice and an extensive writing background, Bagnasacco attended law school in Italy and knew from a young age that this was the career she wanted to pursue.
Currently, Bagnasacco assists both smaller and multinational corporations, working on their mergers and acquisitions, and negotiating and closing international transactions. As part of her practice, Bagnasacco provides legal assistance to businesses that are in the process of creating a strategy to penetrate international markets. The attorney works with companies that are both in the beginning stages of going international, and companies that have already established their presence in a foreign market, assisting them with various contracts, corporate governance, and inter-company issues.
Bagnasacco breaks down international expansion into three phases:
1) Importing and exporting globally
2) Appointing international distributors or sales agents
3) Creating a strategy to penetrate a foreign market (through the establishment of a foreign entity or the acquisition of another company)
For a company that is considering a divestiture, whether domestic or international, Bagnasacco recommends using “this transition time now that we are exiting the pandemic…to prepare itself for such a transaction and…to put its corporate affairs in order, to make sure that it protects its intellectual property in order to be desirable to a potential investor.”
Additionally, Bagnasacco provides consultation from both business and legal perspectives. Based on her expertise, “the companies that are more successful when they go international have a strategy in place for their international expansion, and so it's very important from a business perspective for the company to have a strategy that not only addresses the budget for international expansion, but all of the steps that the company wants to take once that international expansion is taking place.”
Concerning intellectual property, Bagnasacco advises companies “to have a strong intellectual property plan in place, meaning that the company should be able to protect its patents and trademarks before it goes to international markets.” Unfortunately, Bagnasacco has worked with clients “who went into a foreign country [and] did not think about protecting their name. Third parties registered the name of the company in their own name, and the company had to buy back the use of the name from those third parties. So [it] is important to plan for intellectual property protection as you go internationally. ”
According to Bagnasacco, “one of the big trends right now is making sure that an international business complies with anti-bribery regulations, which are very strict in the United States but are also emerging in many other foreign countries. It's important to have not only policies and procedures in place, but also the employee training and a corporate culture that facilitates compliance with anti-bribery regulations.” As for the future of mergers and acquisitions, “I see a lot of new activity in the market…after the pandemic, during which there was a pause for several industries. Now, investors have funds available to invest in companies…so I see a lot of potential for mergers and acquisitions, including in Utah where the economy proved to remain very strong.”
As Utah’s oldest international networking organization, Bagnasacco values the connections and partnerships fostered in WTA of Utah. She believes that it is “important for executives and professionals who are involved with international transactions to have a network in place to exchange ideas, discuss best practices, and even negotiate deals when the opportunities arise.” WTA of Utah welcomes members who hold these same values, and provides regular updates on LinkedIn and Twitter. To read more stories about influential business leaders, please visit our blog.
In a recent interview, WTA of Utah’s Secretary, Scott Bell, shared insight on both personal growth and the future of Utah’s professional development. Bell began with a local data entry company in high school, growing from just 40 employees to 88,000 employees and generating $6 billion in annual revenue over the next several years. As part of this exponential growth, Bell began traveling the world, setting up operations in over 20 countries, some of which have generated over $100 million annually. Bell spent a year in Texas and 15 years in Kentucky and after the business was sold to Xerox, he moved back to Utah where he became COO of Focus Services and Vanderhall Motor Works. Bell is now a consultant for companies around the United States, but has his eye on future professional developments.
His “role as Secretary is to...help keep [WTA] moving and support the President and Vice President, so the organization can continue to move forward.” As an executive board member of WTA of Utah, Bell has experienced the benefits and potential of being a part of the organization. After moving away from Utah for 16 years, joining WTA was “a great opportunity for me to reconnect with a lot of the Utah businesses and leaders and help them grow their businesses.” Moving forward, “I'm looking forward to participating in even more events as we have more opportunities with the different connections that board members have.”
When asked about his future, Bell shares that he is “excited about the Utah business environment and is looking at a few different options to participate in the growth Utah businesses are enjoying. I would also be happy to mentor someone that is trying to grow their business...I’ve worked for and with several different companies.”
In addition to Bell’s own career goals and achievements, he shares that Utah is exhibiting similar growth. He shares that “I have a lot of faith in Utah businesses. Utah business is where I started, with this little company that had only 40 employees and through hard work, determination and some smart business decisions, we had tremendous growth! I have a lot of faith that businesses, if they’re run correctly, can really grow and be rewarded, not only for the owners of the companies but also the employees.” Bell is looking forward to Utah’s future, as “We're seeing…a lot of jobs and [many] new startups and all sorts of exciting things happening and I think it's awesome to be part of that.”
Bell looks at Utah’s business boom through many lenses. With experience as a consultant, COO, and Vice President of several corporations, he sees the potential of many Utah owned tech and solar companies and loves the “Silicon Slopes idea, [which] is a fantastic one.” As an experienced professional, he recognizes that not every startup will succeed; however, “a lot of them will…Utah is a very business friendly state so I think you'll continue to see more and more businesses starting, moving, and growing here in Utah because of the environment. We have a lot of skilled labor so the workforce is strong.”
WTA of Utah is honored to have Scott Bell on board as an executive member. We are dedicated to creating a strong network of professionals across the state of Utah for international trade, while supporting Utah’s business boom. If you would like more information on upcoming events and join a growing network of distinguished individuals, become a member today. Events and updates are also posted on our LinkedIn and Twitter.
The World Trade Association of Utah recently had the privilege of interviewing Ms. Ifigeneia Vlachogianni, President of the World Trade Association of Greece. Previously the Vice President of the organization, Ms. Vlachogianni is now navigating her own businesses and the organization in a somewhat post-COVID world.
As a young girl, Ms. Vlachogianni watched her father run their family business and became curious about the managerial duties she observed. Additionally, Ms. Vlachogianni developed a great interest in math and numbers. As a result, she decided to study business, and after finishing university, she decided to start her company. In other words, she devoted her career to consulting and providing financial and management services and tools to companies all around the world, in order to grow their potential.
After studying finance and accounting and earning a master’s degree in management, Ms. Vlachogianni has spent the last 15 years as CEO of Epitodin. Moreover, Ms. Vlachogianni helps run her family’s business, which is a cinema that started in 1953. For the past year, she has been utilizing her managerial background and skills at the cinema, maintaining the business’s prosperity in a global pandemic.
Ms. Vlachogianni values the interpersonal connections gained through WTA of Greece and WTA of Utah. She shared that “it’s an honor nowadays to be part of such an organization because it deals with companies and people. I think that the most valuable asset nowadays is dealing with people.”
As the President and a CEO, Ms. Vlachogianni admires the potential that rising business leaders hold. She states that “people are capable of managing their own businesses, [and] that's why I decided to be part of this organization. [I serve] now as the President of the World Trade Association in Greece because I believe in this. We do have a mission, and of course, I believe that partnership, consumers, [and] companies are the keys nowadays in order to achieve commitments, cooperation and development.” Our mission statement defines our organization’s outlook for both internal and external purposes, which drive a new era of development, growth and productivity.
When asked about the struggles WTA of Greece has faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms. Vlachogianni does not deny that the lack of in-person communication has been difficult; however, she maintains an optimistic view of the situation. She shares that “we participated in many webinars, such as the Kainach International Forum, and webinars with...the World Trade Association of Greece [and] with the World Trade Association of Utah.” She also shared that although there were “many challenges throughout this past year, both as Vice President and President...I think it’s time to...go on because the development never stops.”
Similar to many other business leaders around the world, Ms. Vlachogianni had to adopt new business practices during the pandemic. She states that although the first few months were unpredictable, her companies eventually established a balanced and productive remote working routine for their employees. “For my company…[employees] have their own place to be more dedicated to the work they have to do. It was difficult, but through training and education, we tried to guide their daily life in order to get used to remote working.”
“I think that most of the people feel comfortable now to say that despite [having] lost more months of life outside their offices, they [can] say that they didn’t miss every part of the company or of their job because we [had] the opportunity to see each other. When you give [employees] a mission…[and] a vision, we have time to work better from home.” However, Ms. Vlachogianni is ready to “push the button of development again. This is a new year, and we have to be dedicated [to] our goals and challenges. A new era is coming.”
Ms. Ifigeneia Vlachogianni’s service to WTA of Greece and dedication to her businesses are undeniably admirable. As an organization dedicated to networking with highly esteemed individuals such as Ms. Vlachogianni, we invite you to become a member. For future event information and updates on conversations with more influential professionals, please follow our LinkedIn and Twitter.
On June 14, 2021, Kainach International Forum held a discussion surrounding The Emerging Importance of Cybersecurity. WTA of Utah board member Franz Kolb moderated the event, facilitating a conversation among three panelists that highlighted the increased threat from cyber attacks. Panel members included:
-Yoram Hofman: OmniQ, CTO; Salt Lake City, UT
-Haim Teichholtz: VP Engineering of Elbit Systems Land and C4I Division
-Gustavo Henrique Souza: CEO of the Everest Post Grid; State of São Paulo, Brazil
Over the past 10-20 years, what role has cybersecurity played in your industries?
With experience in several different industries such as telecommunications and defense, Haim Teichholtz sees an increasing number of threats, particularly as the world becomes more digitally dependent. According to Teichholtz, security has always been a part of the business model; however, especially within the defense industry, the necessity for cybersecurity is crucial and rising.
Subsequently, Yoram Hofman shared a presentation highlighting OmniQ's services and cyber threats as a company in the "Vision Based Industry." OmniQ's main concerns regarding cyber attacks are:
As a professional in the video and digital surveillance industry, Hofman is particularly aware of the rise in cyber attacks. In 2019, a home's interior Ring camera was hacked, allowing the hackers to view the family's residence and even interact with the children. In March 2021, a security company was attacked, giving hackers access to video footage of "Prisons, psychiatric hospitals, clinics," and the company's own office spaces. According to Hofman, cyber threats such as ransomeware attacks now occur every 11 seconds.
As for cybersecurity in digital marketing in Brazil, Gustavo Henrique Souza knows the importance of personal data. According to Souza, even posting our lifestyles and opinions increases the chance of being attacked. As a form of protection, Souza's company has encrypted sites and installed antivirus programs.
How have you dealt with cybersecurity threats both personally and professionally?
For ransomeware attacks, Hofman states that limiting and securing "Access from computers to [the] external world" and implementing a secured VPN and modems are a form of prevention, but not complete protection against such attacks. OmniQ has taken preventative measures such as implementing antivirus programs and changing the network that the cameras are on.
In Souza's experience, it is important to both "Think like a human" and think like a hacker. By doing so, it is easier to understand why and how the hacker might attack and install malware. Moreover, it is largely up to the user to keep themselves protected. Individuals must be wary of their internet connection and password usage, and install programs that can help prevent cyber attacks.
Teichholtz shared that at his company, which is being cyber attacked thousands of times per day, any phones, headphones, and smart watches are left outside of the meeting room during discussions; moreover, decisions are made slower because almost everything is seen and treated as a security threat. However, he recognizes that "At the end of the day, you cannot fight it." Although individuals may opt out of home cameras and limit their digital presence, Teichholtz states that hackers can still attack. Cybersecurity is dependent on who we trust with our personal information, even with something as simple as a game or shopping app. Teichholtz shares that "Every application that you install on your smartphone can potentially record what you say, take video[s]...or access [your] data." Younger generations, he claims, are less worried about cybersecurity because they are more aware of what information they are sharing with the public, and listen to the good or bad reputations of certain applications.
Will a VPN provide sufficient protection?
According to Teichholtz, using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is relatively safe. A major advantage of utilizing a VPN is that all communication is limited to trusted members of the network. Teichholtz states that private networks have professionals within their organization who authenticate each member, only allowing specific individuals (such as employees) to access and communicate within the network. However, he warns that "If one of them...[decides] that he wants to steal anything from the company, he can do that with a VPN." Although private networks protect the user and organization from outside threats, they are still vulnerable to internal attacks.
What are the next steps for someone who has had their data stolen?
Data theft is violating but occurs frequently; thus, Teichholtz advises to treat the situation like a robbery. Although the data is lost, there may opportunities to get it back. In Israel, victims of data theft can contact the police to report the situation. "In most cases, [hackers] have the integrity...that when you pay, they will give [back] what they robbed from you." Teichholtz advises that in the unfortunate event that an individual is robbed of their data, they must do two things: report the incident to the authorities and change the way they interact digitally. When the victim reports the situation, this helps authorities prevent further attacks on other citizens; moreover, improving the way one handles their digital presence prevents subsequent attacks on the same individual. Souza agreed with Teichholtz's previous statements, adding that "We need to close the door" to further attacks by assessing what internal security changes must be made.
This was the first forum of a three part series. Subsequent discussions surrounding cybersecurity will be held starting Fall 2021. To receive more information and details on upcoming events, become a member and follow our Twitter and LinkedIn.