July 2026 Promoting Global Prosperity Through Visionary Entrepreneurship Based in New York, Prosperity First Resources is a structured company aiming to generate prosperity through creative financial engineering, business-to-business resources, and strategic alliances. The company is on a mission led by CEO Dr. B. J. P. Ladson, an experienced professional bringing more than five decades of experience to generate positive change in quality of life on Earth. We spoke with Dr. Ladson below to learn more, following his recent recognition in the 2026 Most Influential CEO Awards.
Welcome to the July 2026 issue of CEO Monthly We are pleased to bring a selection of news, features, and success stories to our readers around the world. This month’s cover features CEO B. J. P. Ladson, of Prosperity First Resources, Inc., as he is awarded not one but two accolades in this year’s Most Influential CEO Awards. Dr. Ladson’s contribution to his industry continues to generate prosperity across New York and beyond, and it’s a delight to applaud his creative approach to financial engineering and business development. Elsewhere in this issue, we showcase dedication and brilliance across the corporate landscape through the unwavering efforts of CEOs committed to making a difference. We wish you every bit of success for the month ahead, and we look forward to seeing you again for our August issue. Sofi Parry, Senior Editor Website: www.ceo-review.com AI Global Media, Ltd. (AI) takes reasonable measures to ensure the quality of the information on this web site. However, AI will not assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, correctness or completeness of any information that is available through this web site. If errors are brought to our attention, we will try to correct them. The information available through the website and our partner publications is for your general information and use and is not intended to address any particular finance or investment requirements. In particular, the information does not constitute any form of advice or recommendation by us or any of our partner publications and is not intended to be relied upon by users in making or refraining from making any investment or financial decisions. Appropriate independent advice should be obtained before making any such decision. Any arrangement made between you and any third party named in the site is at your sole risk and responsibility.
4. News - CompTIA names Sean Ryan CEO, signaling next phase of growth - Performacentric Publishes Executive Research Report on Agentic AI in Business Operations 6. The Leadership Expert Who Says Burnout Starts When People Lead From Fear, Not Purpose 9. Promoting Global Prosperity Through Visionary Entrepreneurship 10. Developing Workplaces with MWA Projects’ CEO Matt Watts Contents
NEWS CompTIA names Sean Ryan CEO, signaling next phase of growth
Performacentric, an AI strategy and implementation firm serving North American small and mid-market businesses, has released a new CEO-focused research report titled “Agentic AI in Operations: Driving Business Performance.” The report provides executive leaders with a practical, evidence-based guide to deploying agentic AI across core operational functions, including procurement, manufacturing, logistics, IT, and administrative workflows. The report arrives as autonomous AI systems move from isolated pilots into mainstream enterprise adoption. Analysts project that nearly half of enterprise applications will include task-specific AI agents within the next year, yet most mid-market companies lack a structured framework for capturing that value. Performacentric’s report addresses this gap directly, combining real-world case studies with implementation strategies designed for organizations operating between $500,000 and $250 million in annual revenue. The report documents measurable outcomes across six North American companies. Order.co achieved 100% end-to-end order automation across seven vendor platforms, reducing order processing time from hours to minutes. JADA Squad’s procurement AI delivered a 70% increase in cost savings and halved RFQ-todecision time, with 90% recommendation accuracy. PrecisionTech Manufacturing reduced machine downtime by 35% and increased throughput by 28%. Industrial Corp reported a 60% reduction in operational costs and a 45% efficiency gain, supported by continuous 24/7 quality monitoring. Pegasus Logistics cut fleet maintenance costs by 50% while increasing delivery volume by 40%. A global consumer goods firm, operating through Sigmoid Analytics, achieved 70% faster issue resolution in IT and data operations. “The data is clear: companies that deploy agentic AI in structured, outcome-focused ways are compressing cycle times, reducing costs, and scaling capacity without proportional headcount increases,” said Matthew May, Chief AI Strategist at Performacentric. “This report gives CEOs a grounded, practical framework to move from curiosity to execution, anchored in the kind of evidence that justifies board-level investment.” Beyond case studies, the report outlines a phased implementation strategy covering high-value task identification, golden-path workflow design, validation and human oversight protocols, continuous performance monitoring, governance frameworks, and a KPI measurement model for tracking impact before scaling. The report is available now at Performacentric.com. Performacentric Publishes Executive Research Report on Agentic AI in Business Operations Experienced commercial executive to accelerate CompTIA’s AI skills and credentialing growth CompTIA named Sean Ryan chief executive officer, signaling an accelerated push toward growth and expanded impact as demand for technology, artificial intelligence (AI) skills and credentialing continues to rise. Ryan, an accomplished senior executive in the education sector, joins CompTIA after six years as president of the School Group at McGraw Hill, a leading global provider of education solutions for preK-12, higher education and professional learning. Ryan succeeds Todd Thibodeaux, who led CompTIA for nearly 18 years. “Sean distinguished himself throughout the search process as a proven leader who knows how to guide organizations through transformation,” said Jim Ryan, chairman of CompTIA’s Board of Directors and president and CEO of Flexera. “He has a clear vision for expanding access to high-quality skills training at a time when AI and digital transformation are reshaping workforce readiness.” “AI isn’t just changing IT; it’s redefining what workforce-ready means across industries and occupations,” Sean Ryan said. “CompTIA has spent decades building the infrastructure to train people and independently verify their competence through performance-based credentialing that employers trust. That foundation, combined with a clear focus on AI skills and certifications, puts us in a unique position to turn AI ambition into demonstrated, credentialed capability.” As president of McGraw Hill’s School Group, Ryan led one of the largest PreK-12 education businesses in the U.S. through its shift from print to digital and SaaS models, with digital growing to the majority of the group’s mix. He scaled the business past the billiondollar billings mark twice while delivering industry-leading margins and diversified the portfolio through acquisitions and in-house development of data analytics and native AI capabilities. Earlier at McGraw Hill, as senior vice president of sales, service and platform, he rebuilt the sales, implementation, and training organization that drove the School Group’s subsequent growth. Ryan is a graduate of the Stanford Graduate School of Business (Master of Science in Management), the University of Arizona (Master of Arts in International Relations) and the United States Air Force Academy (bachelor’s degree in Soviet Studies).
Feature This exclusive interview with Nikita Thakrar was conducted by Tabish Ali of the Motivational Speakers Agency. Nikita Thakrar knows what it means to have a life forced off course. Before she became an awardwinning author, TEDx speaker and founder of Journey from Karma to Dharma™, her career was rooted in Indian classical dance, discipline and performance. Then a major health diagnosis in her midtwenties pushed her away from full-time performance and into the work that now defines her: mindfulness, meditation, energy healing and spiritual psychology. Her message is aimed at a working world running on pressure, burnout and constant noise. Nikita argues that real leadership begins when people stop reacting from fear and start acting from purpose, clarity and self-awareness. Named one of Management Today’s 35 Under 35 in 2021, she has since built a body of work around conscious leadership, emotional resilience and personal transformation. Her book, Meditation Through Poetry, won an International Impact Award, while her Journey from Karma to Dharma™ framework has become central to her work with high-achieving professionals and organisations. In this exclusive interview with the London Keynote Speakers Agency, Nikita discusses why adversity can make leaders more compassionate, how spiritual psychology can support performance, and why purpose-led leadership may be one of the most important skills in workplaces under strain. Question 1. Your work centres on the Journey From Karma to Dharma. What does that framework mean, and how has it shaped the way you think about authentic leadership? Nikita Thakrar: “I’m Nikita Thakra, founder and pioneer of the global Journey From Karma to Dharma movement. “Karma is operating from reactive consciousness, and dharma is operating from proactive or creative consciousness. This is very important in all forms of leadership. “In my own experience of being on this journey, I’ve noticed that it has shaped authentic leadership. I now show up feeling as though I can be myself rather than as though I’m performing. That’s why I’ve created this unique framework. “Karma represents the patterns stored in our subconscious mind, along with the conditioning and programming we’ve all been brought up with. Dharma is that calm, clear centre, when we remember who we really are beneath the noise and behind all those labels. “I believe that when leaders align with their dharma, they stop performing and start leading from their essence. That’s what the world needs more of today. “This level of alignment makes two things happen. Authentic traits start to shine through, such as integrity, empathy and courage, because they’re no longer filtered through fear. Unique gifts also come to the surface, such as individual strengths which were otherwise masked, but now become organisational assets. “This is the backbone of leadership work: alignment first and performance second. When we embody dharma, trust rises, psychological safety expands and innovation becomes a natural byproduct.” Question 2. You bring together energy healing and spiritual psychology in your work. How can that combination improve performance, decision making and innovation? Nikita Thakrar: “I believe that energy healing and spiritual psychology combined unlock better performance and innovation. “When we go through circumstances in life, we store stagnant energy from unprocessed emotions in our body and subconscious mind. What I help people do is recognise those blocks. “Energy healing and spiritual psychology help to regulate the nervous system and reframe limiting beliefs, so that we can return to our essence, our dharma. From that aligned state, the brain starts to shift from survival to creativity. “In practical terms, this looks like clearer focus, better The Leadership Expert Who Says Burnout Starts When People Lead From Fear, Not Purpose decision making and more inclusive collaboration. When teams learn simple regulation tools such as breath work, mindfulness, journaling, yoga and meditation, and pair them with meaning, purpose flows. “Performance isn’t something squeezed out of us. It flows through us. That’s when innovation thrives, because people feel safe bringing their whole selves to the table.” Question 3. Many leaders are shaped by adversity. How can personal challenge become a source of more inclusive and empathetic management? Nikita Thakrar: “This leads to people being able to overcome personal adversity in an inclusive way. “It’s very important for us as individuals to become purposeled leaders rather than fearled decision makers. Adversity strips back our identity and only our true nature remains. “When leaders use their challenges in their favour, they grow in their capacity for empathy with others. I guide leaders through three clear steps. “The first step is to witness the pattern. That’s observation. It’s noticing what’s really going on beneath the surface. “The second step is to transmute the pattern: to regulate the emotion and reframe the story. “The third step is to integrate. That’s when we start to lead from a place of truth and authenticity. We create policies and rituals that honour different needs and voices. “The outcome is inclusive management grounded in lived compassion.” Nikita Thakrar
Question 4. How can individuals move from fear-led decision making to purpose-led leadership in practical terms? Nikita Thakrar: “We all have a choice in the way we respond to different circumstances. It’s up to us whether we operate from fear, which is the lower part of the mind, or from purpose, which is the higher intuitive part of the mind. “In my talks, I inspire people to recognise the difference between these two states. I also give practical tools and tangible tips they can integrate into daily life. “Fear leads when we’re disconnected from our truth, but purpose leads when we’re aligned with it. That’s why I teach a five-part energetic alignment formula. I love doing this with teams. It lights me up, and it lights them up when they learn it. “The five ingredients in my formula are thoughts, words, beliefs, intentions and actions. When we align those five with our true nature, clarity replaces confusion and courage replaces caution. Decision making becomes values driven, not approval driven. “The key takeaway is that dharma is your true nature, not your job title. When you align with your dharma, your personality traits shine and your unique gifts contribute to your organisation. “I give people practical tools to regulate stress, foster inclusion and lead with purpose.”
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CEO MONTHLY / JULY 2026 9 Promoting Global Prosperity Through Visionary Entrepreneurship Based in New York, Prosperity First Resources is a structured company aiming to generate prosperity through creative financial engineering, business-to-business resources, and strategic alliances. The company is on a mission led by CEO Dr. B. J. P. Ladson, an experienced professional bringing more than five decades of experience to generate positive change in quality of life on Earth. We spoke with Dr. Ladson below to learn more, following his recent recognition in the 2026 Most Influential CEO Awards. Prosperity First Resources was created in 2014, with the aim of becoming a hub of B2B resources for entrepreneurs, innovators, communities, and governments. On a mission to achieve a balance between prosperity, profits, and beneficial quality of life on Earth, the company Prosperity First Resources aims to develop alliances of forward-thinking, visionary entrepreneurs. Recognised for delivering the USA’s Best Creative Financing Solutions 2026, Prosperity First Resources is creatively financing these visionary entrepreneurs. One aspect of its work is to finance infrastructure development and real estate projects, wherever feasible, buildable, bankable, and profitable. It applies its creative financing solutions to a variety of financing challenges via strategic alliances and an exceptional network of resources. At the helm of this work is Dr. Ladson, a seasoned expert who has served as a consultant, advisor, and facilitator for international dignitaries, high-net-worth individuals, humanitarian organisations, and more. Dr. Ladson began his Licensed Career in Financial Services at New York Life Insurance Company in 1982. He worked for World Marketing Alliance as its Marketing Director in the early 1990s, and was a key leader responsible for recruiting, training, and developing one of the largest marketing teams on the East Coast. Dr. Ladson attributes his personal and professional achievements to the blessings of the great mentors who have touched his life. They each noticed something special about him, an entrepreneurial spark that drove them to take him under their wings and accelerate his development, skills, and wisdom. Now, Dr. Ladson strives to leverage the lessons he has learned to help other budding entrepreneurs get a foothold on the corporate ladder and contribute towards global prosperity. “I have been blessed to have been given the benefits of interdisciplinary mentorship in engineering, law, insurance, creative financing, investment banking, real estate, science, philosophy, education, financial literacy, and much more,” the CEO told us. “I encourage those who know to seek out and mentor those who want to know!” All the training and experience Dr. Ladson has ever received has centred around the concept that leadership is based upon a willingness to be of service. This ethos now underpins all the CEO does, driving him to find and cultivate the strengths within his teams whilst supporting them in any areas of weakness. He believes in the importance of his team “working with us and not for us”, working hard to give his team the space and support to make hard decisions, celebrate their successes, and learn from their mistakes. Over the years, Dr. Ladson’s leadership style has evolved alongside his team. The CEO has shifted away from the rigid independence of “Do it Myself” towards the more collaborative philosophy of “Delegate to Others”, gradually building the confidence to trust his team in achieving greatness without his oversight. Of course, this has been made all the more possible by the close-knit culture he has fostered within Prosperity First Resources. “When one goes from relying only upon oneself to relying upon the skills, experience, and character of others, it is important to become good at learning people for who they are and who they want to become,” Dr. Ladson reflected. “The best teams are the ones with a clear understanding of what is expected of them and know how to find answers among themselves.” Under Dr. Ladson’s unparalleled leadership, Prosperity First Resources will remain on an upward trajectory. While further details are currently under wraps, the CEO did confirm that his team is currently developing a faster track for entrepreneurs, innovators, creatives, and industries in need of creative financial strategies to access the right assistance. With a strong vision for the future, driven by invaluable lessons learned from his past, we at CEO Monthly Magazine are proud to name Dr. B. J. P. Ladson as the Most Influential CEO 2026 in Strategic Finance and Visionary Entrepreneurship. Contact: Dr. B. J. P. Ladson Company: Prosperity First Resources, Inc. Web Address: prosperityfirstresources.com May26062
CEO MONTHLY / JULY 2026 10 A lot of the lessons, challenges, and opportunities that have shaped Matt’s personal and professional journey can be found in the book he recently published (aptly titled ‘Made With Ambition’), which is a enthralling read. Sharing with us a spoiler from its final pages, Matt explained how the book ends with him talking about the subject of his legacy. As for what he would like it to be, Matt replied: “For Ellie and Claudia, my daughters, to walk down the street, and one day, when I am no longer here, see a billboard on the side of a building which states ‘MWA – Making Workspace Amazing’ – and they feel proud and think of all the good times we had together.” It is a sombre thought, and thankfully, Matt is far from slowing down, and he remains committed to his company and its clients. The next 12 months for MWA Projects are all about stability, sustainable growth, and investing in its people. The economy remains a challenge, but there are still countless brands seeking confidence and certainty from their spaces, and these will continue to seek Matt and the team out as partners in their success. And Matt could not be more delighted. “When I set up MWA 25 years ago, I could only dream of the client list we have today and the companies we have worked with”, this awardwinning CEO explained in closing. “I still enjoy what I do as much today as when I started the business.” This passion continues to shine through every day, and has resulted in Matt Watts being named the Most Influential CEO 2026: People-Centric Construction Leadership – UK. More on his work and MWA Projects can be found below. Contact: Matt Watts Company: MWA Projects Web Address: www.mwaprojects.com Making Workspaces Amazing, office fit-out specialist MWA Projects offers workplace design and build to commercial offices and retail occupiers in the UK. The company was founded on the principle that honesty, transparency, and trust are essential in an industry that feels difficult to navigate, something that starts with Matt Watts, its founder and CEO. We caught up with Matt following his recognition as the Most Influential CEO 2026: People-Centric Construction Leadership – UK. “If there is one theme that defines both my leadership and our business, it is trust.” Matt Watts has built MWA Projects on a foundation of trust over the last 25 years, and this CEO has made sure it is injected into every aspect of his company, from its open-book approach to costing to the relationships it has with its people – team members and clients alike. Since launching MWA Projects, which is today responsible Developing Workplaces with MWA Projects’ CEO Matt Watts for designing, building, and maintaining some of the UK’s most impressive workspaces, in 2002, Matt has gone on to cement himself as one of the build industry’s most prominent figures. Some of the biggest brands in the UK call MWA Projects a partner as a result, from Net A Porter to Nike. The strength of its relationships with each of these brands can be traced back to MWA Projects doing what it says it will do, being open when challenges arise, and always putting these partnerships before the shortterm gains of the business. Matt explained: “We believe successful projects are built on trust, and trust starts with openness.” By being transparent about where money is spent, understanding why decisions are taken, and where any potential risks lie, MWA Projects removes a lot of the uncertainty when clients work with a design and build contractor in the UK. This openness has seen the company achieve a repeat business rate of nearly 90%, a rarity in this industry. Success on the outside would not be possible without a strong internal culture, and this is something Matt has worked hard to build over the last 25 years at MWA Projects. Of course, this makes up just a fraction of the responsibilities he has as the CEO of the business, with his role ultimately being to set MWA’s direction, support its people, and ensure its clients get the best outcomes across their fit-out projects. Matt’s ability to do all of this to great effect is something rooted in his journey, which has been shaped by resilience, hard work, and a willingness to take calculated risks. For example, when he first started MWA Projects, Matt was driven simply by the belief that there was a better way for the industry to operate. There have been plenty of setbacks along the way, as with any business, but Matt has only taken from them and doubled down on what he has built – positioning MWA Projects as an industry leader in the process.
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