The IAOP Leadership Hall of Fame

Kevin S. Parikh is the CEO and Chairman of the Avasant Group of companies and the Avasant Foundation, with operations in over 50 countries across the Americas, UK, EMEA and Asia. He is a modern visionary, best-selling author, and regularly speaks on topics of Globalization, Digitalization and Innovation.

Kevin founded Avasant, a leading management consulting firm, with the underlying mission of empowering people, businesses, communities, and countries to reach beyond the status quo and realize their potential to acquire new levels of success. An avid philanthropist, Kevin is dedicated to initiatives that support disadvantaged youth, women empowerment and sustainable development. Social entrepreneurship has been a key tenant and continuing theme throughout his career.

Having published numerous white papers and articles, and two books, Kevin is widely acknowledged as a global thought leader, futurist, and expert on digital business strategies, technological solutions, and business transformation. His books New Horizons of Business Process Outsourcing in Africa, Latin America & Caribbean, and Digital Singularity: A Case for Humanity have been written to further empower business professionals to navigate global landscapes in ever-changing digital marketplaces.

Michelle Cirocco is the Chief Executive Officer of Televerde Foundation and the Chief Impact Officer for Televerde. She joined Televerde in 1999 and has held several leadership positions including Chief Marketing Officer.

Michelle was recently named a World-Changing Woman in Conscious Business by Conscious Company magazine. Her journey of transformation was also featured by Forbes in a two-part interview. Michelle is a strong customer champion with a tireless commitment to using business as a force for good. Michelle earned her MBA from Arizona State University where she also serves as an Advisory Board Member for the Center for Services Leadership. She holds multiple certifications from SiriusDecisions.

Michelle is an avid TED fan and organized and hosted TEDxPerryvilleCorrectional, the first TEDx to be held in an Arizona prison. The event looked behind the curtain of incarceration to show the potential that exists in providing second chances. Michelle dedicates a significant amount of her free time giving back to her local community by volunteering for the Phoenix Rescue Mission and Athena International. She is a member of the National Association of Female Executives and MBA Women International.

Chocko Valliappa is the inspirational force behind Vee Healthtek.

He founded the company in 2000 and has led the company to grow in strength and emerge as one of the largest global companies in the strategic services business. His innovative approach has positioned the organization as a fast-growing company that adds value to its clients.

Chocko has expertise in administration, international business operations, and corporate affairs. Also, he is an expert in strategic planning and marketing. Chocko possesses an in-depth knowledge of European, Asian, and American markets and comprehensive expertise in forging alliances and joint ventures of strategic importance. Chocko is one of the founding members of the YEO Bangalore chapter and was formerly its Regional Director for South Asia.

With a great passion for empowering the community, he runs the Valliappa Foundation and established Sona Yukti Pvt. Ltd., which provide skill-based training with a strong industry focus. Through HireMee, a social enterprise, he has created a recruitment platform to enable three million jobs.

Chocko is also the Vice-Chairman of The Sona Group of Institutions, educating 12,000 students each year with 200,000 alumni. With his varied experience in education, industry-focused skill development, and technology, he is guiding Vee Healthtek to reach new heights of success on a global scale.

Chocko is a YPO member of South Asia Regional. He is the Impact Chair for the Healthcare Business Network and the ALO for the People Action Network. He was also the recipient of the prestigious YPO Social Impact award.