Kwashie Senam Zilevu did not set out to work in oil and gas. He set out to solve problems.

Today, he is the Chief Technology Officer at Mizan Energy, where he leads digital transformation efforts across a global energy operation. His path from software engineer to technology executive reflects a steady focus on systems, discipline, and long-term thinking.

This spotlight looks at how Kwashie built his career, how he approaches leadership, and why his work sits at the intersection of technology and modern energy.

Early Life and Interest in Technology

Kwashie grew up in Alexandria, Virginia. From an early age, he showed a natural interest in how things work.

“I was always curious,” he says. “I liked taking systems apart, understanding the logic, and figuring out how to make them better.”

That curiosity extended beyond computers. He played soccer and learned the value of teamwork early. He also grew up in a family that valued education and technical excellence. His sibling, Setor Zilevu, would later become a recognized expert in artificial intelligence.

Seeing that path up close shaped Kwashie’s mindset.

“It made technology feel real,” he explains. “It wasn’t abstract. It was something you could build a life around.”

Education at Virginia Tech

Kwashie attended Virginia Tech, graduating in 2008. The experience sharpened both his technical skills and his work ethic.

“Virginia Tech taught me how to think under pressure,” he says. “You learn fast that clean code and clear logic matter.”

During this time, he focused on building a strong foundation rather than chasing trends. He spent hours refining fundamentals and learning how large systems interact.

That focus would later become central to his leadership style.

From Software Engineer to Technology Leader

After college, Kwashie began his career as a software engineer. He worked close to the code and close to real operational problems.

“I wanted to understand the ground level,” he says. “You can’t lead engineers if you’ve never sat where they sit.”

As his responsibilities grew, so did his scope. He moved from writing code to designing systems. From solving isolated problems to thinking about scale, risk, and reliability.

That progression eventually led him to Mizan Energy.

Driving Digital Transformation at Mizan Energy

As CTO of Mizan Energy, Kwashie now focuses on using technology to support complex energy operations. His work centers on efficiency, data integrity, and long-term system resilience.

“Energy is physical,” he says. “But the decisions behind it are digital.”

He views technology as an operational backbone, not a side project. Systems must be stable. Data must be trusted. Tools must support people, not slow them down.

“My job is to make technology invisible when it’s working,” he explains. “If teams can focus on operations, then the systems are doing their job.”

Leadership Philosophy in High-Stakes Industries

Kwashie’s leadership style is calm and methodical. He values clarity over speed and structure over noise.

“Good leadership is about consistency,” he says. “People need to know what to expect from you.”

He believes credibility is earned through decisions, not titles. That belief comes from his early engineering years.

“Engineers respect leaders who understand the work,” he adds. “You don’t need to know everything. But you need to know enough.”

In a high-stakes industry like energy, that mindset matters.

Life Outside the Office

Outside of work, Kwashie enjoys flying private planes, traveling, and reading. Aviation, in particular, reflects his personality.

“Flying teaches discipline,” he says. “You plan carefully. You respect systems. You stay humble.”

He still plays soccer and values the balance it brings.

“Sports remind you that progress is incremental,” he explains. “You train. You improve. You stay patient.”

Values and Philanthropy

Kwashie also remains committed to giving back through regular church-based donations. For him, success comes with responsibility.

“It’s important to stay grounded,” he says. “Giving keeps your perspective clear.”

That grounding influences how he leads and how he measures success.

Looking Ahead in Energy and Technology

Kwashie does not frame his work around hype. He focuses on durability.

“Trends come and go,” he says. “Strong systems last.”

As energy companies continue to rely on data, automation, and digital infrastructure, leaders like Kwashie play a critical role. His career shows how technical depth, steady leadership, and long-term thinking can shape complex industries.

“I’m still learning,” he says. “That’s the job.”

And for Kwashie Senam Zilevu, that mindset has made all the difference.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) is preparing a comprehensive overhaul of its portfolio management services (PMS) regulations, chairperson Tuhin Kanta Pandey said on Monday. The regulator will also look into brokers’ representations seeking its intervention on the Reserve Bank of India’s new capital market funding norms, he said at a PMS conclave.

On the PMS norms, Pandey said, “We propose to carry out a comprehensive review… so that the framework remains effective, adaptable, and aligned with evolving market dynamics.” The draft regulations will be released for public consultation before Sebi’s June board meeting, he added.

The PMS industry, which has about 2.15 lakh clients, managed Rs 10.5 lakh crore in assets (excluding EPFO and PF) as of January 31, 2026, growing at a 17% CAGR, according to Sebi data.

“But regulation alone cannot build a strong industry. The real strength of PMS will come from what firms do every day — in governance, suitability, technology and conduct,” Pandey said.

He stressed that investor suitability must remain central to the business model. “Risk profiling, suitability assessment, and client communication must be clear, consistent, and evidence‑based. Going ahead, PMS distributors conduct matters the industry must guard against mis‑selling,” he said.

New RBI funding norms

Separately, Pandey said Sebi would examine representations from stock brokers on the Reserve Bank of India’s new capital market funding norms. The RBI has proposed raising bank‑guarantee collateral requirements for proprietary traders to 100% from 50%.
“We have received a representation. I saw it on Friday. We will see what we can and need to do on it because RBI had initially opened draft guidelines and sought their opinion,” Pandey said. “It is in relation to issues around bank guarantees and how much collateral has to be given for proprietary trading. There are three to four issues. Since the representation has come to us, we will have a look at it.”
Speaking to the media after RBI’s board meeting in New Delhi, Governor Sanjay Malhotra said the central bank is not considering a review of the recently announced rules on bank financing of stock‑market intermediaries. The framework was finalised after due consultation, he said. “There is no change that we are contemplating.”
Under the new regulations, banks’ lending to brokers will face more scrutiny in terms of collateral requirements as well as purpose of the loan, while proprietary trading is seen taking the biggest hit

Oversight on grey‑market trading

Pandey said Sebi is working on a mechanism to introduce oversight on ‘to‑be‑listed’ stocks — a move aimed at grey‑market activity linked to upcoming IPOs.

“I think we have fairly deliberated this issue internally, and there is a possibility of such through the exchange mechanism for to‑be‑listed stocks — not the entire unlisted space, but the to‑be‑listed space where Sebi’s jurisdiction comes from the statute,” he said.

He added that Sebi would work out the operational details and issue a consultation paper in due course.

Senior Sebi employee suspended

Pandey also addressed the suspension of a general manager on Friday in connection with a “sensitive vigilance matter.” The regulator is contemplating disciplinary proceedings.

“The evidence was egregious enough for us to act,” Pandey said. “It is important that if there is any such case, we will get to the bottom of it.”

The cost of cyberattacks is rising rapidly as hackers develop increasingly destructive and sophisticated attacks. As a business leader, you should invest in a network security solution provider to combat this issue.

This guide will give you a solid framework for choosing a security provider.

What to Look for in a Network Security Solution Provider

Before examining providers, establish standard features of reliable providers. The following traits are worth considering.

Proactive Threat Detection

Traditionally, cybersecurity systems use historical data to combat threats, but this approach typically results in reactive rather than proactive action. To adopt a proactive approach, providers must use machine learning or AI to establish a baseline of regular activity so it can notify the team when abnormal activity occurs. This approach usually prevents attacks from escalating.

Comprehensive Visibility

The provider should allow for comprehensive visibility into your entire network, including cloud environments, IoT devices and on-premise servers. When you view all these systems, you can spot discrepancies and manage cybersecurity measures from a single place.

Ability to Grow Alongside the Company

As your company expands, your network security should grow with you. The one you choose should be able to handle a large influx of customers or increased system complexity. As you gain new equipment, the provider’s cybersecurity measures should adapt to protect those assets, as well.

Multiple Layers of Security

One layer of security is not enough to protect an entire network, so a good enterprise will establish multiple layers to safeguard your brand, like antivirus software or firewalls. A notable approach is adding a zero-trust layer, which protects different network areas based on a user’s position within the company.

Reliable Customer Support

A final attribute of a provider is reliable customer support. The business should respond promptly in the event of an emergency. The response time must be short, considering some support is time-sensitive. Its team should be dedicated to helping you stay alert to cybersecurity threats.

Best Network Security Solution Providers

After examining some common traits of good brands, the following are the best network security solution providers.

1.   Darktrace

The best overall network security solution provider is Darktrace. It serves around 10,000 customers and uses its own AI-based cybersecurity approach. Darktrace AI learns and adapts to your company’s system and detects many cyberattacks, including AI-driven ones. The service identifies threats across the entire organization in real time.

Darktrace deploys autonomous responses to threats to deliver the fastest possible protection. It also protects the cloud, prioritizes security throughout all levels of your enterprise and gives you visibility across your entire domain. This option works with both large and small businesses to deliver robust cybersecurity.

2.   Check Point

The security solutions provider Check Point uses four principles to establish cybersecurity, including security in hybrid mesh networks, workspaces, AI transformation and prevent-first. The provider has worked in security since 1994 and has a 99.9% prevention rate.

Check Point’s Infinity Platform provides a comprehensive view of your cybersecurity procedures. You can activate a demo to test its full capabilities. The website features multiple customer stories from around the world, reports, a Resource Center and a live threat map for early detection.

3.   Palo Alto Networks

Another security provider is Palo Alto Networks, which utilizes an identity security approach. Its website features many demos and trials to test its products. This entity has a significant focus on AI, as it is one of the most pressing cybersecurity concerns. Palo Alto Networks uses a platform approach to cybersecurity, operating a Strata Network Security Platform powered by Precision AI.

The provider blocks around 30.9 billion in-line attacks per day. It has over 70,000 customers and uses a zero-trust policy. The website features multiple notable brands that use its platform, as well as the many awards it has won. Palo Alto Networks provides real-time cloud security and updates its data daily to remain informed.

4.   Fortinet

The network security solution provider Fortinet hosts an annual conference called Accelerate that focuses on cybersecurity. It serves over 70,000 enterprises worldwide and practices high security assurance standards. The provider focuses on AI-driven security, utilizing its own FortiAI. It has multiple cybersecurity platforms, including FortiOS and Global Cloud Network.

Fortinet blocks around 360,000 malware executions a day. Its website showcases several case studies and customer videos to boost its credibility. It has several articles on its website about the latest innovations, as well.

5.   Cisco

Another notable security provider is Cisco, which serves over a million customers, including many well-known entities. It utilizes AI Canvas for autonomous, AI-driven cybersecurity. Along with AI, it has a team of human employees who focus on hacker intent and security policies.

Cisco protects the cloud and its users with enhanced threat detection and response technology. It operates a hybrid mesh firewall and emphasizes zero-trust access and Cisco AI Defense for its clients.

6.   Zscaler

The network security provider Zscaler uses an AI security platform with a zero-trust policy to protect your business. It reduces costs and complexity while accelerating cloud adoption. The provider helps you embrace AI securely, since improper usage brings about its own cybersecurity challenges.

Zscaler helps make your enterprise invisible to attackers by providing automated security operations. It also assesses your current data security posture and provides suggestions for improving it. The website features multiple customer success stories, as well.

7.   AlgoSec

Utilizing the AlgoSec Horizon platform, AlgoSec provides an application-centric security management solution. The provider has served over 2,200 organizations since 2004. It works with many notable brands and provides coverage across your business’s entire estate.

AlgoSec is ideal for brands with employees working in hybrid environments, protecting systems across many devices and in multiple locations. It automates security changes to maintain continuous compliance. AlgoSec works well with data center and multi-cloud network security and offers an eBook on application security for your education.

Security Provider Comparison Table

The following table outlines each security provider’s key features for a quick comparison.

Security Provider	Clients	Platform/AI	Security Visibility
Darktrace	10,000 customers	Darktrace AI	Across domains
Check Point	Global outreach	Infinity Platform	Live threat map
Palo Alto Networks	70,000 customers	Strata Network Security Platform	Real-time cloud security
Fortinet	70,000 enterprises	FortiAI, FortiOS and Global Cloud Network	Worldwide
Cisco	One million customers	AI Canvas and Cisco AI Defense	Cloud and hybrid mesh firewall
Zscaler	Many customer success stories	AI security platform	Can see the current security posture and offer suggestions
AlgoSec	2,200 organizations	AlgoSec Horizon	Across the entire estate

Methodology for Choosing Security Providers

The security providers were chosen according to each’s key features, including customer outreach, platform or AI utilization, and its security visibility. The rankings were selected based on comparisons of key features and similar lists.

Find the Best Network Security Provider

It’s vital to invest in a reliable security partner that fits those needs. To find the best network security provider for your business, assess your own needs and consider the criteria outlined above.

One of the plaintiffs in the Supreme Court case that challenged President Donald Trump’s tariff authority says Friday’s ruling against the president’s authority is “not enough.”

On Friday, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 against Trump’s tariffs. Later that day, however, Trump announced a 10% global tariff, which he later raised to 15% on Saturday.

One plaintiff, Illinois toymaker Rick Woldenberg, CEO of Learning Resources, called the ruling a “small improvement.” He joined the case against Trump’s tariffs after his toymaking company was adversely affected, as many of his toys are imported from China.

TRUMP RESPONDS TO SUPREME COURT RULING REJECTING SWEEPING TARIFFS POWERS: ‘A DISGRACE’

“An asphyxiating tax is an economic depressant,” he told “The Claman Countdown” on Monday. “Federal plus state plus IEPA tariffs on our company last year exceeded our earnings. So, make a dollar pay, more than a dollar in taxes.”

Woldenberg argued that Trump’s tariff policy over the last year has hurt consumers and caused significant turmoil for his business.

He said his business faced a hard choice when dealing with the economic impacts of Trump’s tariffs.

WHY TRUMP IS WRONG TO CALL DISSENTING REPUBLICAN JUSTICES AN ‘EMBARRASSMENT’ FOR VOTING AGAINST HIS TARIFFS

“Either we’re gonna liquidate our business into the pockets of the federal government or we have to pass the costs on,” Woldenberg explained. “So, the tariff which falls on us becomes a regressive tax falling on the folks on the lower end of the economic spectrum.”

“I’m very uncomfortable with that. I think regressive tax is immoral,” he added.

The toymaker clarified that his case against Trump was not personal but rather a call for law and order.

TRUMP REVEALS HIS ‘NEW HERO’ SUPREME COURT JUSTICE AFTER TARIFFS RULING

“We’re not for Mr. Trump or against Mr. Trump, we’re against the misapplication of law,” he told FOX Business.

Woldenberg will attend Trump’s State of the Union on Tuesday.

FOX Business host Liz Claman asked Woldenberg whether he thinks it will be awkward to see Trump in person after he called him and his fellow plaintiffs “sleazebags.”

SEN. JOHN KENNEDY SAYS ‘GRIZZLY’ TRUMP SECURED TRADE WINS DESPITE SCOTUS TARIFF BLOW

“I’m not embarrassed to be there – obviously don’t appreciate being called names,” he said.

MGA Entertainment CEO Isaac Larian also joined “The Claman Countdown” and said Trump’s push to bring back U.S. manufacturing through tariffs was “impractical.”

Larian, whose company manufactures Bratz dolls, said shifting production to the United States would make it impossible to maintain current price points for American consumers.

“This Bratz is right now a number one selling toy…” Larian said. “They are made in China right now, and they sell for $25. There is no way to make that in America and if it was, it would be $50 instead of $25.”

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Larian also said Americans deserve to know whether they will get rebates tied to the tariff policy over the last year.

“The Supreme Court says these tariffs were illegal. If they’re illegal, they’re an illegal tax on Americans. And Americans deserve clarity on the refunds,” he said.

The Economics Have Fundamentally Changed

The traditional formula—double revenue, double headcount—is breaking down. AI-native startups now average $3.48 million in revenue per employee compared to traditional SaaS companies at $610,000. Even excluding outliers, AI-enabled companies average $2.47 million per employee—over four times conventional benchmarks.

Palantir demonstrates what’s possible: $1.14 million revenue per employee in 2025 while growing revenue 56% and adding just 5% headcount. Their CEO’s declaration captures the shift: ‘We will grow 10x with fewer employees than we have today.’ This isn’t aspiration—it’s operational reality backed by an industry-leading 114% Rule of 40 score.

The driver is agentic AI—systems that don’t just automate tasks but execute entire workflows autonomously. McKinsey reports 88% of organizations now use AI in at least one business function, with 23% actively scaling agentic systems. The agentic AI market is projected to explode from $12-15 billion in 2025 to $80-100 billion by 2030, a compound annual growth rate exceeding 40%.

What Leading Companies Are Actually Achieving

The performance data validates both the opportunity and urgency. Salesforce realized $50 million in cost savings in 2025 by reassigning 500 customer service workers to higher-value roles, achieving productivity gains exceeding 30% in engineering teams. Marc Benioff announced the company will hire ‘no more software engineers in 2025’ due to AI productivity gains—unthinkable three years ago.

ServiceNow is saving $100 million in staffing costs through internal AI deployment. Their CEO envisions ‘a company that could still operate if every employee called in sick on the same day.’ HubSpot maintained flat headcount in customer support while growing revenue 19% in Q2 2025, with AI automating prospecting, engagement, and content creation.

Customer success platforms show 80% of routine inquiries now handled by AI, delivering $3.50 return for every dollar invested while achieving 25% cost reductions and 45% satisfaction increases. Teams that previously managed 1,000 accounts can now effectively serve 5,000, with account managers focusing exclusively on complex strategic relationships.

Strategic Imperatives for Leadership

Rethink Talent Allocation, Not Headcount

The question isn’t how many people to hire—it’s where human judgment creates irreplaceable value. ChurnZero’s 2026 research confirms ‘CS roles are evolving faster than job descriptions. Leaders will hire less for task execution and more for decision-making under pressure.’ Automate administrative work and shift that capacity into deeper customer conversations, strategic planning, and complex problem-solving.

Establish AI Governance Now

Gartner estimates 70% of enterprises will implement AI governance frameworks by 2026, driven partly by regulations like the EU AI Act. Only 22% had visible strategies in 2025—creating significant competitive advantage for early movers who demonstrate their automation operates ethically, transparently, and with continuous risk monitoring.

Centralize Through AI Studios

Leading organizations are adopting enterprise-wide AI strategies through centralized ‘AI studios’ that bring together reusable tech components, frameworks for assessing use cases, testing sandboxes, deployment protocols, and skilled people. This structure links business goals to AI capabilities while maintaining governance and surfacing high-ROI opportunities.

Prepare for Pricing Evolution

Traditional subscription models are giving way to hybrid approaches. Gartner predicts over 30% of enterprise SaaS solutions will incorporate outcome-based components by end of 2025. Salesforce pioneered ‘Agent Engagement Licensing Agreements’—flat fees providing budget predictability while encouraging AI adoption. Customers increasingly pay for results delivered rather than seats occupied.

The Widening Gap

The divergence between automation-first companies and traditional models is accelerating. Competitors operating at $1+ million revenue per employee don’t just have better margins—they have fundamentally different cost structures, pricing flexibility, and strategic options. They can undercut on price to capture market share, maintain premium pricing for superior margins, or over-invest in product development. Traditional players built on linear headcount-to-revenue assumptions lack these degrees of freedom. They’re structurally disadvantaged.

With 88% of organizations already using AI and 76% of SaaS companies actively exploring AI for operations, the competitive baseline rises monthly. Companies treating automation as a 2027 priority are already behind. The executive skill set required is notably different: automation-driven scaling rewards leaders who identify high-leverage opportunities, redesign processes around AI capabilities, and manage lean organizations doing complex work. The CEO who built a 3,000-person company might struggle to build an equally successful 300-person company in this paradigm.

The question facing leadership teams is whether you’re architecting this transformation deliberately or reacting to competitors who are. The former creates defensible competitive advantages. The latter creates obsolescence. Based on current adoption curves, the window for deliberate action is narrower than most boards realize. The mathematics of scale have fundamentally changed. The only question is whether your strategy has changed with them.

Q4: 2026-02-18 Earnings Summary

EPS of $0.10 beats by $0.00

 | Revenue of $43.77M beats by $4.35M

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If your outbound calls are showing up as “Spam Risk” or “Scam Likely,” it can feel maddening when you have already done the “right” thing and implemented STIR/SHAKEN.

Here is the reality. STIR/SHAKEN is about caller ID authentication, not caller reputation. It helps carriers confirm whether a call is likely spoofed, but carriers still use reputation analytics and user feedback to decide whether a call should be labeled or blocked. Even platform providers like Twilio explicitly note that SHAKEN/STIR will not remove nuisance labeling.

This is why many teams reduce their dependence on cold outbound calling and shift more first contact to messaging. Tools like Meera, for example, can engage leads via SMS in a compliant way, qualify intent, and pass only serious prospects to your team, which reduces the call patterns that often trigger spam labels.

In this guide, we will break down what STIR/SHAKEN does, why calls still get flagged, and what you can do to fix labeling across carriers.

What STIR/SHAKEN Actually Solves and What It Does Not?

STIR/SHAKEN is a technology specifically designed to digitally authenticate calls as they pass through carrier networks and eliminate the risk of illegal robocalls and caller ID spoofing.

However, it is important to note that it doesn’t guarantee deliverability, answer rates, or a clean reputation score because carriers and call protection systems can still label and filter calls using their own analytics. AT&T, for example, explicitly distinguishes between “verified” indicators and calls marked as spam or fraud risk, and notes that spam risk calls may not receive verification indicators.

So if you are asking, “We have STIR/SHAKEN, why are we still being labeled?”, the most logical answer is that although you have authentication, your traffic still looks suspicious to carrier analytics, which causes it to be labeled.

What are the Most Common Reasons Legitimate Calls Still Get Labeled?

Carrier labeling systems do not rely on just one factor, but a mix of behavioral patterns, to determine whether a call appears trustworthy. This could be identity consistency, historical reputation, or even user feedback.

Businesses can follow all standard protocols, but still get flagged if the carrier system’s analytics pick up on any of these factors, and their calling activity unintentionally indicates spam-like behavior, which is why, before you look into technical solutions for this problem, it is important to understand what is the reason you’re getting labeled.

Here are some underlying issues you can address to resolve the problem:

Your calls have partial or weak attestation

Even in a STIR/SHAKEN world, calls can be signed with different attestation levels, commonly described as A, B, or C.

An A-level means the provider knows the customer and the caller ID is authorized, while lower levels indicate less certainty. If your traffic is frequently signed at B or C, carriers may still treat the calls as higher risk, especially when combined with other suspicious signals.

Your call patterns match spam behavior

Spam detection is heavily pattern-based. High call volume from one number in a short period, short call durations, and low answer rates can all look like robocall behavior, even when you are a legitimate business. This is especially common when teams use power dialers and rapidly cycle through lists.

Your number has a poor history or a lost reputation after porting

If your number was previously abused, or if it is newly activated with no history, it can get flagged more easily. Porting can also disrupt reputation signals between ecosystems and temporarily increase labeling risk.

Caller ID data is inconsistent or incomplete

Carrier analytics do not only look at signatures. They also look at whether the caller ID looks consistent and trustworthy. Mismatched caller name data and inconsistent presentation can contribute to suspicion.

End users and call protection apps are reporting you

User feedback matters. When recipients mark your calls as spam, it can influence your reputation, and many consumer protection products use network analytics and machine learning to identify spam patterns.

How to Diagnose the Real Cause of Labelling?

Here are some steps you need to follow to diagnose the real cause of labelling:

1. Treat this like a funnel problem, not a telecom mystery.
2. Look at what changed in the last 30 to 60 days. Did you increase calling volume too quickly? Did you start using new numbers? Did you port numbers? Did you change your outbound provider?
3. Look at the signals carriers care about.
4. Check your answer rate and average call duration. If a large portion of calls are going unanswered and the average duration is very short, your traffic can resemble nuisance calling.
5. Verify your STIR/SHAKEN attestation level. If you are not consistently getting strong attestation, you may have an upstream configuration or identity problem.

What Actually Fixes “Spam Risk” Labeling?

There are various approaches to fix the “Spam Risk” labelling issue, and we have mentioned some of the most effective solutions below:

Improve identity consistency and attestation quality

Work with your voice provider to increase the likelihood of A-level attestation where possible and ensure caller ID data is consistent. The attestation levels exist specifically to express how confidently the caller ID can be trusted.

Adjust call patterns so they look human, not robotic

If you spin up a new number and immediately push heavy outbound volume, you often get flagged. Some providers explicitly recommend warming numbers and ramping volume gradually.

You also want to reduce behaviors that carriers interpret as nuisance calling, like repeated short-duration calls.

Monitor and remediate reputation, not just authentication

STIR/SHAKEN helps prove calls are not spoofed, but analytics and reputation still drive labeling decisions. This is a widely discussed issue in the industry, including by reputation-focused providers who stress that authentication alone does not solve labeling.

If your business relies heavily on outbound calls, proactive monitoring and remediation should be part of operations, not a one-time setup.

Consider branded calling and richer identity signals

Some carriers and industry discussions point to branded calling and richer caller identity data as an additional trust layer beyond basic authentication.

Best Tools to Reduce Cold Calling Reliance and Keep Leads Warm

A practical way to reduce spam labeling risk is to lower the volume of repeated outbound attempts and move early-stage qualification to channels that feel less intrusive.

Meera

If your team is calling lots of leads just to figure out who is serious, an SMS-first qualification layer can remove a huge amount of outbound call pressure. Meera is an AI texting platform that can respond instantly, qualify intent through two-way SMS conversations, and route warm prospects to your team when they are ready.

HubSpot workflows with messaging integrations

If your pipeline lives in a CRM like HubSpot, workflow automation combined with messaging integrations can help you respond quickly and keep follow-ups consistent, without requiring your team to personally manage every thread.

Twilio for custom messaging and call flows

If you want full control, Twilio provides programmable building blocks for SMS and calling. Twilio also notes that SHAKEN/STIR does not remove nuisance labels, which is a helpful reminder that deliverability requires more than authentication alone.

Plivo for Custom Messaging and Call Flows

If you want full control over your voice and messaging infrastructure, Plivo offers programmable APIs for SMS and outbound calling. It allows teams to build customized call flows, manage caller ID configuration, and integrate directly with internal systems. Like other programmable voice providers, it is important to remember that STIR/SHAKEN authentication does not automatically prevent spam labeling, since carrier analytics and reputation signals still influence call treatment.

Wrapping It Up

STIR/SHAKEN is necessary, but it is not a guarantee that carriers will stop labeling your calls. Carrier analytics, reputation signals, calling patterns, and user feedback still determine whether a call gets marked as Spam Risk.

The fix is usually a combination of stronger identity consistency, healthier call patterns, and reputation monitoring. And for many teams, the fastest relief comes from shifting early qualification to SMS so outbound calling is focused on warmer prospects instead of brute-force dialing.