The contemporary business world is full of breathtaking hustle and bustle. Yet some extraordinarily multitalented business leaders establish empires of purpose, passion, and lasting significance that empower the past, present, and the future. With a twenty-five-year record of hugely successful founding, running, and expanding numerous UK businesses, David Manners, one of the highest entrepreneurial spirits, has shown a mastery of holistic, sustainable, all-inclusive, and progressive stewardship that is both strategic and profoundly ethical. Since becoming Owner and CEO of Sumillion Limited, David has not only established the UK’s most sustainable IT reseller but has also redefined the concept of being a corporate leader. The company is unique in the industry as the sole reseller to give 10% of yearly profits to charity, an indication that David believes economic development and sustainability are not at odds, but complementary. With his other pioneering ventures: Qumillion Limited, a Marketing & design consultancy specializing in creating strong brand identity and bespoke campaigns for its clients Bemillion Limited, a channel-only recruitment specialist, works as an invisible and anonymous value-added supplier Vemillion Limited, Basingstoke’s most sustainable café and first (and still only) 100% Vegan Café. Numillion Limited, a modern construction company specializing in sustainable renovations and conversions Ommillion Limited offers yoga and wellbeing classes, creating a space where people can reconnect to themselves and their lives through movement, meditation, and breathwork. As well as rebranding and managing: To Live in H.O.P.E, a non-profit organization aimed at empowering global communities through Health, Opportunity, Peace and Education. David Manners, the Owner and CEO of **Million and Chairman of Trustees of the charity, has been revolutionizing the modern era and redefining what a new business paradigm means. Demonstrating that a true leader means more than just a successful entrepreneur. He can be much more―a dedicated philanthropist. A devoted family man. And a proud vegan at the same time. All the while remaining true to a vision that is both profound and uncompromising. That’s why the global industry calls him a catalyst―change agent. Because he is envisioning a new generation of leadership that is building businesses that succeed, transform lives, and leave the world a better place. The **Million Brand’s Grand Vision: A Purpose Beyond Profit Having already built successful, traditional ventures, David reached a pivotal realization: he wanted to do more than simply succeed in business. He yearned to create a lasting, positive change in the world. This desire sparked the genesis of the **Million brand—a group of companies and a charity all united by a singular, powerful mission. Each entity, from Sumillion to Vemillion, was designed to challenge conventional industry norms and lead by example. The brand is built on a bold, recognizable identity and a non-negotiable commitment to giving back, with a minimum of ten percent of profits dedicated to charitable causes. David’s vision was to prove that “you cannot choose between economic growth and sustainability” and that the two can, in fact, be powerful allies. The influence of his personal vision is evident in every facet of the business. By embedding a core purpose of philanthropy and environmental responsibility, he ensured that the ventures would be truly unique and driven by a mission to improve the world. This isn’t just about corporate social responsibility; it’s the very foundation of the business model. The Soul of the Business: Leading with Integrity When it comes to steering his multiple ventures, David firmly believes that the soul comes first. For him, the core of the business isn’t just a strategy on a whiteboard; it’s the deeply held values and beliefs that define its existence. This is what truly separates the **Million brand from its competitors. By focusing on “why we exist, what we believe, and how we behave,” he cultivates a corporate culture that is both productive and deeply meaningful. His passion for creating lasting, positive change isn’t just an aspiration; it’s the guiding principle behind every strategic decision, ensuring that profitability is always balanced with integrity and a genuine commitment to social and environmental betterment. A Constant State of Reinvention Leadership, for David, is not about finding a single, static formula for success, but about a continuous process of reinvention. He keeps his leadership style fresh and future-focused by nurturing a constant state of curiosity and learning.  He doesn’t just look for new ideas himself; he actively encourages his team to have a voice, listening to them, his customers, and his peers. Whether it’s exploring emerging technologies, sustainability practices, or innovative leadership frameworks, David is dedicated to learning and applying new knowledge. He prides himself on staying ahead of the curve, constantly challenging his own practices and those of his companies to remain at the forefront of innovation and sustainability in their respective industries. A Test of Resolve: Building on Belief Every visionary faces setbacks, and for David, the first major roadblock was a self-imposed one. From the very beginning, he made the deliberate choice to hire people based on personality and shared values, not on prior experience. This was a radical departure from traditional business models, but he believed it was the only way to build a company with the integrity and passion that defined his vision. The challenge, however, was significant. Without employees who had predefined ways of doing things, the company had to develop its own best-in-class training programs and procedures from the ground up. This process was time-consuming and required immense patience and resolve to get right, but it laid the foundation for a company culture built on trust and a shared mission. From Relevant to Revolutionary: Leading the Green Agenda In a world of constant change, David has ensured that Sumillion remains not only relevant but truly revolutionary by combining purpose with agility. He believes the company’s relevance comes from being the UK’s most sustainable IT reseller, but its revolutionary edge is its unwavering commitment to embedding sustainability into every part of the business.  This goes far beyond a marketing slogan; it’s a strategic imperative that influences everything from procurement and partnerships

The question is not whether to embrace AI or not to embrace AI. The question is not even how soon a company must adopt it. The real question is how they, as an organizational culture, can really adapt to it. To answer this most crucial question, we need a charismatic entrepreneurial mind bearer who has seen it all and solved tech problems all their professional life. Welcome, Rick Inatome. He has spent decades at the crossroads of disruption—from the personal computing revolution alongside Steve Jobs and Bill Gates to today’s AI transformation. But ask him about leadership, and he won’t start with strategy or technology. He’ll start with something more fundamental: the willingness to change yourself first. As Chairman of Léman Manhattan Preparatory School and Founder of Collegio Partners, Inatome helps institutions prepare for the AI era not by installing new tools, but by transforming the cultures that will use them. His philosophy is simple. Technology opens doors, but people with adaptive, values-driven cultures can walk through them more easily. Humility-Based Leadership Is Key Obviously, the first question that comes to mind when Inatome is in front of you is how he has led through multiple waves of disruption, including personal computing, the internet, and now AI. And how has his perspective on leadership evolved over that time? When we asked those questions, Inatome’s eyes wandered back in the past. The answer came instantly. “Learning from great leaders has taught me that humility-based leadership trumps everything else that drives productivity and progress. This is especially so as we become more dependent upon AI, because it lacks the human aspect of leadership. It is incapable grasping the nuance of emotion, and we must find ways to maintain human connectivity.”  In tech, Inatome learned from others to see futures many couldn’t yet imagine. In business, he learned to make those visions real. “But education? That changed me and today, with AI, I see it as the primary means by which we can reverse some of the troubling impacts of modern technology upon younger generations. The one teacher to 30 students model of education today has not changed much since when I was in school. But educators increasingly must struggle with young minds that, in addition to the explosion of autism, dyslexia, and ADHD, have been wired by technology-fed dopamine loops. AI provides technology that can facilitate the individualized breakthroughs educators need in this challenging environment.        Constantly Changing Currents And he is right, as AI is reshaping everything, everywhere, all at once, conventional boundaries get erased in the blink of an eye. Next, when asked what makes Collegio Partners different from traditional consultancies, Inatome says that many leading consulting firms are at risk of becoming obsolete in the era of AI. “We are in the uncharted waters of transformative times.” “And we start with a simple truth.” Technology without cultural transformation is a waste of opportunity. Inatome adds that before he and his team talk about implementing transformative new tools, they must focus on whether leaders are ready to transform themselves first. Because an institution’s readiness mirrors its leaders’ readiness. They also bring the resources to finance real change, not just workshops and reports, but the sustained work of shifting mindsets and processes. “Our goal isn’t to help organizations ‘use’ AI, but to help them redefine what success looks like in an AI world.” Being the Change Inatome often says that personal transformation comes before organizational transformation. In practice, he means by it that change is deeply personal before it’s organizational. Too many leaders treat transformation as something that happens ‘out there’ to ‘somebody else.’ “They forget that the real battleground is between our ears.” Inatome learned this important lesson from his father. “My father was born an American citizen, but during WWII, his family lost everything in the internment camps. At an age when bitterness would have been justified, he enlisted in the U.S. Army to prove his loyalty to the country that had wronged him. When we moved to Detroit and a real estate agent returned his check, tears in his eyes because neighbors wouldn’t let a Japanese family move in, he still chose dignity over resentment,” he shares. Becoming Human, AgAIn! In the AI era, the importance of conventional technical skills keeps shrinking. The most important trait to lead AI initiatives is human. What endures is the capacity to learn, unlearn, and relearn, and to model this habit for your teams. If a leader hasn’t embraced that discipline personally, their resistance will spread throughout the organization, claims Inatome. At Léman Manhattan, he champions the ‘favorite teacher model.’ Explaining it, Inatome recalls that on his first day of fifth grade, his teacher walked into class — a tall, distinctive man who wrote “Mr. Smigel” on the chalkboard. Then he turned around and said, “My real name is Smigelski, but my father changed it because he grew tired of enduring all the dumb Polack jokes.” His words struck Inatome like lightning. He reveals, “We were the only Japanese family in that school, and my father had changed the pronunciation of our name to sound less ‘Japanese. Mr. Smigel seemed to understand the shame of my story without me having to tell it. Throughout that year, he brought out something in me I couldn’t see in myself. He became my favorite teacher not because of what he taught from textbooks, but because he made me feel capable of more.” That’s what they honor at Léman, learning happens best through deep human connection, insists Inatome. Students remember the teacher who believes in them first, not the technology they use or the grades they can attain. AI has the power to reduce the teacher’s time on the mundane so they can devote time and attention to enhancing those relationships. He further explains, “We’re preparing students for a world where AI will be pervasive, but we’re going to lead by strengthening its tie to humanity.” Mindset Must Shift Moreover, Inatome shares the biggest mistake

The conventional age of traditional business leadership and meaning of success has passed. Today, “Your success isn’t just about what you achieve—it’s about how you live, lead, and expand along the way. The Quantum Age of leadership is here. The question is: will you step into it?” asks Erem Latif―Best-Selling Author, Keynote Speaker, Executive Coach, Business Innovation & Advisory Services Provider, Conscious Business Leader, Corporate Mindfulness Trainer, & Fractional Chief Engagement Officer―CEO and Founder of Engagement Lab™. Being named one of 2025’s Most Transformational Leaders is a true honor, she says, and adds that in parallel, her aligned measure of success is the impact she leaves on people and organizations. “Leadership, to me, is about living and leading with heart—bringing coherence, resonance, and purpose into every decision.” Her latest book, Live Engaged and the Engagement Lab™ protocols were born from this belief: that when leaders align science with soul, they not only achieve results but also create cultures of wellbeing, abundance, and joy. “My invitation is simple—live engaged, lead with love, and let your leadership be a force for transformation”, appeals Erem. Learning and Learning More Her academic foundation began at Emory University, followed by a Master’s in Neurophysiology at Georgetown University and an MBA from the Florida Institute of Technology. Yet she knew her path as a leader required more than traditional credentials—it required soul alignment. That led her to complete the Inner MBA program through New York University and Sounds True, as well as, most recently, a certification from the Feminine Frequency Business School™. While seemingly unconventional, these programs were transformative, revealing how energetics, frequency, and resonance shape success in both professional and personal life. Alongside her academic and professional training, Erem has been honored to co-author two best-selling business books—Leading with Compassion and Are We Friends or Coworkers?—and she is soon to be featured on the cover of Awakened magazine. “I also have my first solo book due out this Fall: Live Engaged!” For Erem, the most meaningful accomplishment is not a single award or title, but the realization that we are always manifesting—always creating and self-realizing. Her achievements, both traditional and non-traditional, reflect that truth. They are milestones on a larger journey: helping leaders and organizations move beyond old paradigms into a new model of success that is grounded in coherence, resonance, and impact. Overcoming Obstacles from the Beginning Erem’s own leadership persona developed from her life to date, a journey of overcoming one challenge after another. Her parents are first-generation immigrants with Arabic and Southeast Asian heritage. She grew up in a small town in Alabama, where her passion for reading, writing, and learning began at a very early age. She admits that it was, “Primarily because there was nothing else to do in our small town. (LOL)”. Unlike current millennial mindsets, Erem got married in her early twenties, seeking some degree of stability and order. She was blessed with two children and through her marriage and its eventual dissolution, she learned a great deal about life, the human experience, and personality types through early relationships and parenthood. Also early in her life, Erem’s mother suffered a serious brain aneurysm. Although her mother regained most of her functionality after nine months in a rehabilitation hospital, Erem was not prepared for the multiple strokes her mother would suffer in the years to come. This experience taught Erem to build and rely on her own internal guidance to overcome life’s challenges and her own limiting beliefs. Due to her mother’s early neurological event and her own passion for science, prioritizing health and wellness became a non-negotiable for Erem. In fact, she built her entire career on these principles. After obtaining her master’s degree in neurophysiology, she pursued a traditional career in the drug development space, where she honed her skills in go-to-market strategy, education, medication adherence, and patient engagement. Lifelong Commitments Erem’s business began as a natural evolution of two lifelong commitments: health and wellness as a personal non-negotiable and healthcare access as her professional mission. For over 20 years, she worked at the intersection of patient education, outcomes research, and population health, helping people not only gain access to care but also track and transform their results. What struck her was the realization that the most profound shifts in health and longevity didn’t come from healthcare access alone but from the unrecognized inner keys—mindset, self-concept, coherence, and resilience. This insight led her to integrate neuroscience, quantum mechanics, psycho-cybernetics, somatic therapy, and integrative health into what would become her life’s work. As a result of her work, she developed her patented systems based on her Helix of Health™ model. After years of refining and validating her Engagement Lab™ protocols, Erem launched her business to empower high-impact leaders. Today, she guides executives and organizations through quantum business strategy and executive coaching, helping them achieve growth that is both measurable and meaningful. By default, her work is also creating a community for these soul-aligned leaders. At its core, her business is about transformational leadership for the Quantum Age. For her, “Living (and Leading) Engaged” is more than a framework; it’s a leadership skill, a philosophy, and a lifestyle brand—anchored in longevity and luxury, alignment and authenticity, coherence and resonance. A Pledge to Personal Protocol Erem’s ability to balance the demands of her professional and personal life begins with her living by her own protocols. “Our Engagement Lab™ methods were born from the integration of neuroscience, behavioral health, and daily practices I’ve cultivated over the past 5 years; the foundation of these methods, which is my Helix of Health™ model”. Meditation and breathwork are non-negotiables (outside of her focus on diet and fitness)—they create space in the nervous system, which allows her to lead with coherence and resonance rather than reactivity. She pairs this with consistent movement—whether it’s Pilates, strength training, running, or walking—always approached with intention, because alignment with a clear goal transforms routine into renewal. She also builds in micro-pauses throughout the day— “My family will tell you about the alarms on my phone—where I