Connective Touch is a biometrics integrator and a design house that provides a bespoke offering in the field of access control, security products and solutions. The company operates in the area of 'behavioural' biometrics and is an OEM working through electrical installers, security contractors and architectural specifiers nationally and internationally. The company goes by the brand name Connective Touch.  

Connective Touch has changed the landscape with a proven, world-leading series of low-cost, reliable and easy-to-use systems that have literally opened the door for technology to protect everyone aspiring to live in a safer world. Its patented technology means affordable, secure access at the touch of a finger for care homes, sheltered housing, for any domestic or commercial buildings, as well as individual homes where family members, care or support staff need easy access. The company is seen as an authority on how to support the vulnerable, aging population and those with learning disabilities using biometric technology, especially as the Founder has established The Global Biometric Centre of Excellence focusing on good practice on all biometric modalities and involve a debate on the ethics of the technology. 

Leading with Commitment to Deliver Innovative Solutions 

Devi Sohanta, is the Founder and CEO of Connective Touch. She handles all functions of the business which fall within her role. Devi's ability to deliver business solutions, identify business opportunities, and improve operational excellence underpin her background along with analytical problem-solving and exemplary planning capabilities to effectively manage overall business operations. Integrity and tenacity are by far important to her. Devi's desire and driven attitude to create biometric products that seek to serve vulnerable groups regardless of her limited commercial experience within the security and access control industry demonstrates this. Various challenges, such as managing in a shoestring budget to drive R&D and tapping a male–driven environment has not fazed Devi into defeat. As such, she has the commitment to accomplish what is perceived challenging and sometimes impossible objectives, seeking innovative solutions which are effective and tangible. The one single tenant that runs throughout Devi's working life and career has been the consistent thread that echoes the fundamental basis to understand people regardless of economic status, colour or creed. And, within that notion is to care enough to accept that all are human beings first and foremost, in addition to the reality of living and sustaining through financial security. 

Displaying Exemplary Leadership Skills 

Being resourceful, practical but grounded became essential quality in Devi's early years as the youngest of the family with six brothers and as the only daughter. Devi's mother was a constant inspiration to her, whose calm yet solid ways showed how powerful one can be as a woman. 'Become the example' she would remind Devi often. Later as a mother herself turning her skills and expertise into how small achievements could lead to bigger ones, meant she did much more than many others and was often dismissed as a higher flyer and achiever and not quite fitting the mould. Doing her MBA at the same time as her teenage daughters doing their 'A' levels was not what the wider Asian community expected to see. 

In 1991, Devi won the Women Mean business award in the UK making her as the first Asian women in the country to achieve such an award. Devi considers meeting the, then Prime Minster Mrs. Margaret Thatcher and receiving a huge hamper of perfumes and cosmetics from the Fendi sisters as super exciting and featuring on the BBC 9 pm news being fun. She has received several awards over the years, the last being winner of 'The Most Innovative Social Enterprise in the World in 2017. This was for Devi's goal of enabling vulnerable people to not only use her biometric products for their safety but to make them part of her story and assemble and package their products giving them an opportunity to work in a high technology business and not be dismissed of no value in the job market due to their learning disabilities. 

Conquering Challenges to Offer Dedicated Services 

Speaking about challenges, Devi says that not having the credentials as an engineer and limited knowledge about biometrics yet inventing devices which turned a traditional door into a biometric lock solution which fits 90% of doors presented a challenge for many to understand. In her early years, Devi was not taken seriously, attending security exhibitions, it often felt an uphill struggle to get people to see her goal. She did feel isolated and would question herself, as many a time she was told she should give up. Not realising how much R&D would cost, depleted Devi's personal resources so quickly that she was penniless within two years. 

Attracting some investment proved the hardest as it always seemed as if she had to take several steps before investors would invest and then refuse because they wanted more steps to be taken. Government programs and linked University support, proved another hurdle. One either offered consultancy support from people who had never been in business themselves, using text program methodology to make up for their time. Devi says, "Most of the time people telling you what you know already, or that you are too small for bigger grant funding in innovation. Family showing signs of despair as to my reasons for my business taking so much time, effort and money weighed heavily on me. But the vision of creating a simple set of biometric products that could be used by the aging population and those that are vulnerable to have peace of mind, be safe and have independence, in fact all of us in any door kept me going. People within the access control and security sector described me as either brave or stupid. The jury is still out on that one, but I am still climbing, learning and will achieve my vision." 

Taking Risks and Staying Firm for Transformation 

Sharing her views on transformational leadership, Devi says that having an image and vision of where one needs to get to and keeping that image on the screen of their mind is vital. Transferring that vision to others with meaning and direction with growth and change potential is important. Determination and being persistent is part and parcel of running a business, but if one can combine the softer reasons for why they are selling their product or service, and having respect for their product or service by adding compassion to approach is a central tenant to creating change and leadership. Devi considers that transformational leadership is all about walking a step behind the team and people involved in one's life or business, seeing them as a wider family, understanding their needs and most importantly listening acts as another pillar of leadership. Taking risks and staying firm in achieving one's goal but to have the ability to adapt and be flexible is essential. Self-motivation and motivating others along with communicating a definite and continual message are crucial in making the transformational change. 

Making a Radical Change with Disruptive Technologies 

Disruptive technologies have made a radical change in the way the role of a leader works. Unlike seniors in the industry who lead by telling, one must encourage more teamwork, applying softer approaches and styles of operating, embracing the function of their role is finding and keeping customers by listening to them. To show and demonstrate,  disruptive technologies are fair and equitable and sit within the tapestry of society and not just money-making machines. These technologies can contribute much more as with the application of AI in the current Covid-19 situation. Still in their infancy but growing and changing quickly will lead to progress and enable a freshness to addressing issues of concern to all. 

Forward-Thinking Business Model of the Future 

The future is bright, and Devi sees her company leading the way by setting a standard that shows how biometric technology is as simple and easy as using a traditional manual key but offers a high security level of access into buildings. The need for new, innovative, and more efficient way of doing things, by aligning the innovative lock system, the company has developed with a forward-thinking business model of being a market leader in the area of behavioural biometrics. Connective Touch will enable installers and electrical contractors including locksmith in using biometric technology products and becoming well versed in how to support their customers and users. There will also be a greater integration by combining disruptive technologies and IT especially where sensors and what they are able to detect becomes widely used.   Mistakes in healthcare systems such as a mix-up of records or confusing medical charts can lead to the wrong medications to patients. Major tasks such as administrative costs, legal expenses, and liabilities incur high cost to the healthcare industry using traditional, inaccurate patient identification processes. Biometric technology resolves this concern and is set for an expediential growth. 

An Inspiration for the Emerging Women Leaders 

To aspiring women leaders, Devi advices that they must see their power within themselves and not to be swayed by having to show that power outwardly to others who perceive them as dominant and wielding. Budding women leaders must constantly remember what they stand for, a combination of hard outcomes with soft outcomes as equally important, and not to allow others to change their vision. Lastly, she tells emerging women leaders to remain resolute in their desire to achieve, by remembering that they too, are an inspiration for other women somewhere.  

Devi views that, "We have a growing aging population around the globe, they may not share the  intellect  that are necessary with IT and technologies of the younger generation for whom speed is of the essence, but they will use these technologies more than the developers, so they must not be dismissed casually".