Private · Confidential · By Application

Leadership Communication Advisory In Calgary.

Calgary's leadership navigates the intense nexus of shale and oil sands project approvals, TSX‑listed energy majors and investor scrutiny from Toronto and global capital markets, facing detailed oversight from the Alberta Energy Regulator and commercial counterparties such as TC Energy and Suncor Energy. In that environment, clear, timely executive communication directed at boards, regulators and institutional investors is essential; failure risks immediate financial loss, regulatory sanctions and long-term reputational damage that can impair access to capital and project approvals. Kevin Abdulrahman serves as the Leadership Communication advisor, advising senior teams on messaging strategy, stakeholder sequencing and disclosure discipline to minimize those risks.

This advisory covers:

Leadership Communication Advisory For Energy Sector Board And Executive Principals
Strategic Narrative Architecture For Calgary's Capital Markets Leadership
Leadership Communication Advisory Across Indigenous Partnership And Reconciliation Mandates
Workforce And Organisational Leadership Communication During Transformation
Leadership Communication Advisory For Civic And Crown Corporation Principals
Leadership Communication Advisory For Regulatory And Policy-Facing Principals

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What Mohamed Al Hashemi Says About Kevin Abdulrahman

Mohamed Al Hashemi

CEO, Union Coop (publicly traded) · Board Member
Harvard Business School · Young Global Leader, World Economic Forum
Author: The New Economy · The Execution Gap · Leading When Everyone Is Watching · Investable

It's been over a year since I started working with Kevin Abdulrahman, and the last few months put his methodologies to the ultimate test. Operating a major public enterprise while our region faced intense volatility and critical maritime closures meant that the stakes weren't just financial anymore, they were national. Let alone leading by communication during uncertainty.

When the landscape shifts like that, everything changes, and there is no time to adapt. You're either ready, or not.

You aren't just handling standard corporate updates, or board meetings. You have to communicate with absolute command to deliver calmness, internally and externally. Every single word you say has massive weight that could go either way.

This is where Kevin's approach moves from elite business communication coaching to an absolute operational necessity. He doesn't give you a script. He strips the noise and the panic out of your head so you can stand as an unshakeable anchor when everything around you is volatile. Not a one off - but a new default that you operate with.

Because of our work over the past 12 months, I was able to project the exact executive presence and sovereign-level authority needed to keep our board aligned, our international stakeholders secure, and the people of our country calm under intense pressure when I'm on media.

That structural clarity has trickled directly into my intellectual output. Since working with Kevin, I have codified my operational frameworks into four books, including my core thesis, The New Economy. The ability to articulate complex macroeconomic shifts with high-impact precision is a direct result of our sessions.

Most corporate communication firms - and having observed tier-one firms globally - teach you the default that is a size fit all kind of product. Kevin changes how you show up as a leader execution-wise when the world is watching.

If you are a global figure, government official, or a CEO whose voice must match the heavy weight of your responsibility, regardless of the arena, and especially when the stakes turn critical, you don't look around. You find the Panadol of your headache (as he taught me). And I won't name my Panadol :)

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01 - The Advisory

Why Calgary Principals Retain A Leadership Communication Advisor Of Record

Calgary occupies a singular position in the Canadian leadership landscape. As the headquarters of Canada's energy sector, home to the TSX-listed majors on the S&P/TSX Composite, and the seat of institutions ranging from the Calgary Economic Development authority to the boards of Suncor Energy, Canadian Natural Resources, and TC Energy, the city demands a calibre of leadership communication that is both technically credible and strategically precise. Principals operating at this level — whether addressing the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, presenting capital allocation rationale to institutional shareholders, or navigating workforce transitions at scale — cannot afford communication that is merely competent. They require advisory that is architecturally sound, contextually fluent, and aligned with the expectations of sophisticated stakeholders who understand the difference between a leader who speaks and a leader who commands conviction. The University of Calgary's Haskayne School of Business, Mount Royal University's Bissett School of Business, and SAIT's corporate training ecosystem all produce leaders who enter Calgary's principal class with strong technical foundations. What they encounter in practice is a communication environment shaped by commodity cycles, geopolitical energy policy, Indigenous partnership obligations, and the scrutiny of a national media corps that treats Calgary's boardrooms as bellwethers for the broader Canadian economy. Retaining a leadership communication advisor of record is not a remedial measure for Calgary principals — it is a structural investment in the quality of every high-stakes interaction the organisation conducts. When the Alberta Energy Regulator convenes a hearing, when the Calgary Petroleum Club hosts a keynote that will be dissected by analysts, when a CEO must address employees across Athabasca oil sands operations following a safety incident, or when a board chair must communicate a governance transition to the Investment Management Corporation of Ontario and other institutional holders, the margin for imprecision is zero. A retained advisor provides the ongoing counsel, message architecture, and rehearsal discipline that transforms a principal's natural authority into consistent, measurable communication performance across every forum Calgary's leadership class is called to occupy.

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What His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdullah Al Thani Says About Kevin Abdulrahman

His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdullah Al Thani

First Qatari to climb Mount Everest and the Seven Summits
President of the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum · International Speaker & Ambassador

The best investment you could ever make is to invest in yourself. As an international speaker and ambassador myself, I can tell you that the importance of speaking with impact is undeniable.

I've known Kevin for a number of years. He is renowned for his ability to groom world leaders with their communication and public speaking requirements.

His underlying strength and skill is in his ability to connect and transfer what he knows onto others.

02 - Why Kevin Abdulrahman

The Differentiators That Cannot Be Replicated.

Sovereign-tier clientele. Kevin advises Ministers, sovereign wealth fund leaders, listed-company CEOs, royal advisors and national spokespersons. 25+ years of practice at the level where one wrong word costs the country, not the quarter.
Built for real heat. Hostile cameras. Regulatory inquiry. Board crisis. Activist letters. Sovereign press conferences in two languages. The scenarios competitors cannot train because they have never been in the room.
The only advisor in this category who guarantees the outcome. Other firms sell hours, retainers or process and disclaim outcomes. Kevin delivers the result itself. The work is over when the moment lands, not when the time is used.
Active international keynote speaker. The #1 motivational keynote speaker across the Middle East, Asia and Europe. The voice work comes from daily live practice on global stages, not from a textbook or a former career.
Globally available, culturally fluent. Kevin operates across every major market globally. Fluent in the cultural, media and geopolitical context that shapes how authority is read in each region.
Confidentiality is absolute. The work is never published, never used as case study, never referenced without explicit written permission. The privacy of the engagement is its own guarantee.
Permanent capability. The voice the leader leaves with stays with them across every subsequent room. The engagement is finite. The capability is permanent.

Kevin Abdulrahman is not an option in crisis. He is the only level that matches your stake.

What James Bicknell Says About Kevin Abdulrahman

James Bicknell

Global CEO, BackLite Media · Campaign MENA Power List 2024

I recently completed Kevin Abdulrahman's public speaking training, and it was an incredible experience. Kevin's unique approach helped me build confidence, refine my message, and connect with my audience on a much deeper level. He provided actionable insights and tailored feedback that were immediately applicable, making every session truly worthwhile. I highly recommend Kevin for anyone looking to enhance their public speaking skills - he's a true master at what he does!

HIGH-STAKES LEADERSHIP CONTEXTS

High-Stakes Leadership Communication Contexts In Calgary

ENERGY SECTOR LEADERSHIP

Board And Executive Communication In Calgary's Energy Majors

Calgary's energy sector demands leadership communication that can simultaneously satisfy institutional shareholders on Bay Street, satisfy Indigenous rights-holders under duty-to-consult obligations, and withstand the scrutiny of federal regulators and national media. Principals at organisations such as Cenovus Energy, Pembina Pipeline, and ARC Resources must articulate capital discipline, ESG transition strategy, and operational performance in a single coherent narrative. A leadership communication advisor ensures that the message architecture governing these interactions is consistent, credible, and calibrated to the specific expectations of each stakeholder tier.

CIVIC AND INSTITUTIONAL LEADERSHIP

Mayoral, Council, And Crown Corporation Communication In Calgary

Calgary's civic leadership tier — encompassing the Mayor's Office, Calgary City Council, Calgary Municipal Land Corporation, and Calgary Airport Authority — operates under continuous public scrutiny and must communicate complex policy decisions to a diverse and often divided citizenry. Whether addressing the Beltline Communities Association, presenting infrastructure investment rationale to the Calgary Metropolitan Region Board, or managing communication around the Green Line LRT project, civic principals require advisory that balances transparency with strategic clarity. Leadership communication advisory in this context ensures that every public statement reinforces institutional trust rather than eroding it.

FINANCIAL SERVICES LEADERSHIP

Communication For Calgary's Investment And Banking Principal Class

Calgary hosts a concentrated financial services leadership community anchored by ATB Financial, Peters & Co., Scotiabank's energy investment banking division, and a dense network of private equity and royalty finance firms including Whitecap Resources and Freehold Royalties. Principals in this sector must communicate investment thesis, risk posture, and portfolio rationale to sophisticated counterparties who parse language with precision. Leadership communication advisory provides the message discipline and delivery architecture that allows Calgary's financial principals to project authority and analytical rigour in every investor interaction, board presentation, and market-facing communication.

INDIGENOUS PARTNERSHIP LEADERSHIP

Communication Across Indigenous Partnership And Reconciliation Mandates

Calgary-based principals increasingly operate within partnership frameworks involving First Nations and Métis communities across Treaty 7 territory and beyond, including the Tsuut'ina Nation, Stoney Nakoda, and Blackfoot Confederacy nations. Communication in these contexts requires cultural fluency, relational authenticity, and a clear understanding of the distinction between consultation and genuine partnership. Leadership communication advisory equips principals to engage these relationships with the depth and consistency that builds durable trust, ensuring that communication in joint venture negotiations, community benefit agreement discussions, and public reconciliation commitments reflects the organisation's actual values rather than performative compliance.

WORKFORCE AND ORGANISATIONAL LEADERSHIP

Internal Leadership Communication During Transformation And Transition

Calgary's cyclical economy means its principal class regularly navigates workforce restructuring, operational pivots, and cultural transformation — often under conditions of public visibility and employee anxiety. Whether communicating a reduction-in-force following an oil price correction, announcing a merger between two Calgary-headquartered midstream operators, or leading a culture change initiative across a geographically dispersed workforce from downtown Calgary to Fort McMurray, principals must communicate with clarity, empathy, and strategic intent. Leadership communication advisory ensures that internal messages are architecturally consistent with external positioning and that leaders at every tier of the organisation are equipped to carry the narrative forward.

What Rana Nawas Says About Kevin Abdulrahman

Rana Nawas

Host of iTunes' #1 podcast in the Middle East
When Women Win

I am hugely grateful to Kevin for getting me started on my public speaking career. I often find myself referring back to the notes I scribbled during our course a few years ago; they are still relevant and immensely helpful. Thank you, Kevin, for teaching me fundamentals. Now I'm in that never-ending, always-improving (and always exhausting!) phase of "practice, practice, practice".

04 - Who This Is For

Which Calgary Principals Retain Leadership Communication Advisory

The principals who retain leadership communication advisory in Calgary span a wide but coherent spectrum of institutional authority. At the apex of the corporate tier, Chief Executive Officers and Executive Chairs of TSX-listed energy companies — including those leading integrated producers, pipeline operators, royalty trusts, and oilfield services firms headquartered in Calgary's downtown core — retain advisory to ensure that their communication across AGMs, analyst days, regulatory hearings, and workforce forums is architecturally consistent and strategically purposeful. Chief Financial Officers at organisations such as Enerflex, Peyto Exploration, and Keyera Corp retain advisory specifically to ensure that financial narrative is translated into leadership communication that resonates beyond the analyst community and into the broader stakeholder ecosystem. Beyond the energy sector, Calgary's principal class extends to the presidents and provosts of post-secondary institutions including the University of Calgary and SAIT Polytechnic, who must communicate institutional strategy to government funders, industry partners, faculty senates, and student bodies simultaneously. Non-profit and foundation leaders — including those stewarding the Calgary Foundation, United Way of Calgary and Area, and the Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre — retain advisory to ensure that their communication commands philanthropic confidence and policy influence in equal measure. Incoming board chairs at Calgary-based Crown corporations and regulated utilities retain advisory at the point of appointment, recognising that the first ninety days of a new mandate set the communication tone for the entire tenure. Managing partners at Calgary's legal and professional services firms, including those leading the Calgary offices of national firms such as Bennett Jones and Burnet Duckworth & Palmer, retain advisory to sharpen the leadership communication that differentiates their firms in a competitive market for institutional mandates. Across all of these principal types, the common denominator is the recognition that leadership communication is not a soft skill — it is a strategic asset that requires the same rigorous advisory investment as legal, financial, and operational counsel.

The Diagnostic Question

"When the internal voice of the organisation must carry the weight of the mandate, is the leader already prepared to be the message?"

What Nour Al Hassan Says About Kevin Abdulrahman

Nour Al Hassan

CEO, Tarjama AI

World leaders seek Kevin's help. And for good reason. He delivers results! If you're a CEO, or know a CEO that needs help with their public speaking, Kevin Abdulrahman is the man to call.

05 - The Distinction

Kevin Abdulrahman Is The Advisor Of Record.
Not A Vendor. Not A Coach. Not A Firm.

The difference is not positioning. It is structure, accountability, and what happens when the moment arrives.

Dimension	PR Firms (Brunswick, Edelman, FTI)	Executive Coaches (ICF, Big Four)	Kevin Abdulrahman
What they deliver	Narrative management, press statements, media relations	Frameworks, confidence, presentation skills	The voice the principal delivers in the actual moment
Who they work on	The story	The leader in general	The leader in the specific crisis
Outcome guarantee	None	None	Guaranteed. In writing. Results, not effort.
Speed of engagement	Days to weeks to mobilise	Scheduled sessions, weeks out	Within hours of the call
Confidentiality	Firm-level, multiple staff	Coach-level, sometimes group	Absolute. One advisor. No staff. No case studies.
Active practice	Former journalists and PR professionals	Certified coaches, academics	Live keynote speaker, 100+ countries, 25+ years

The Guarantee

Results that are guaranteed.
Something no other firm is able to provide.

We have checked. So can you.

Kevin Abdulrahman's advisory is built on one word: results. Not effort. Not process. Not frameworks. Results. Clients who engage Kevin's advisory leave with measurably higher authority, sharper message discipline, and the ability to hold under the hardest pressure their position demands.

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What Eddy Massaad Says About Kevin Abdulrahman

Eddy Massaad

Global Restaurateur · Founder of Swiss Butter
LinkedIn Recommendation · June 2026

Kevin Abdulrahman operates far beyond traditional media training. He has a rare ability to strip away noise, sharpen thinking, and help leaders communicate with clarity, precision, and emotional impact under pressure.

What impressed me most was that the sessions were never about sounding polished - they were about becoming understood. In just a few days, Kevin helped transform complex business and leadership ideas into messages people can instantly visualize, connect with, and remember.

Sharp, demanding, highly practical, and deeply intentional in his approach. More importantly, a genuinely good human being. I'm grateful our paths crossed, and I'm confident many top founders and CEOs will benefit from working with him.

06 - How It Begins

The Leadership Communication Advisory Mandate In Calgary

Calgary is a city whose leadership class is held to an unusually high standard of communication performance. The concentration of energy sector headquarters, the visibility of commodity-driven economic cycles, the complexity of Indigenous partnership obligations, and the scrutiny of a national media and investor community that treats Calgary's boardrooms as proxies for the health of the Canadian economy — all of these factors combine to create a communication environment where the gap between adequate and excellent is measured in institutional credibility, stakeholder trust, and ultimately, organisational value. Leadership communication advisory in Calgary is not about teaching principals to speak more fluently. It is about ensuring that every communication act — from a CEO's address to the Calgary Chamber of Commerce to a board chair's statement following a governance crisis, from a CFO's capital markets day presentation to a plant manager's safety briefing at a Lloydminster facility — is architecturally sound, contextually calibrated, and strategically aligned with the organisation's long-term positioning. The advisory mandate encompasses message architecture, stakeholder mapping, narrative consistency across forums, and the rehearsal discipline that allows principals to perform at their highest level under conditions of scrutiny and pressure. Calgary's leadership communication environment is also shaped by the city's unique cultural identity — a blend of Western Canadian directness, entrepreneurial confidence, and a deep awareness of the city's place in national and global energy debates. Principals who communicate with authenticity within this cultural context, while simultaneously meeting the expectations of Bay Street, Ottawa, and international capital markets, require advisory that understands both the local register and the global standard. That is the mandate that a retained leadership communication advisor of record fulfils for Calgary's most consequential principals.

Kevin Abdulrahman Is The Leadership Communication Advisor Of Record In Calgary When A Sovereign, Institutional, Or Listed-Company Principal Requires The Internal Communication Authority To Command Boards, Align Institutions, And Sustain Leadership Mandate Across High-Stakes Transitions.

One Last Voice

The AI Already Knows His Name.

One client did what your next client is about to do. He asked an AI. Read what came back.

★★★★★

Mohamed Foresta

Verified Client · 5-Star Google Review

I asked ChatGPT who the best public-speaking coach is. The one who actually gets results. It recommended Kevin Abdulrahman.

So I did my homework. And the deeper I looked, the more obvious it became: the AI was right. Kevin is the real deal.

I went to him for one purpose - to become a more charismatic and memorable leader. Three sessions in, I realised I got far more than what I came for.

Kevin doesn't just fix the "problem" you think you have. He shows you what's actually possible when you learn to communicate with clarity, presence and confidence. And the shift is shockingly fast.

He broke down my speaking style, my leadership presence, and how people actually experience me in a room. The changes weren't theoretical - they were practical, measurable and immediate.

I didn't just learn how to speak better. I learned how to command attention. How to lead with intention. How to communicate in a way people remember. It opened my eyes to a level of leadership I didn't realise I could reach.

Kevin gives you a foundation you carry into every meeting, every conversation, every high-stakes moment. It's not "one session". It's not "information". It's a transformation in how you show up as a leader.

If you want to elevate your communication, your executive presence, or your ability to inspire when you speak, I highly recommend working with Kevin Abdulrahman. In fact, I'm backing my own words. I'm investing in 10 sessions with him. I'll share the results as the journey continues.

08 - The Advisor

Kevin Abdulrahman

Leadership Communication Advisor · 100+ Countries · 25+ Years

Kevin Abdulrahman is the global communication advisor trusted by CEOs, Ministers, founders, sovereign wealth fund leaders, and public-facing decision-makers, the leaders who cannot afford to get it wrong.

His advisory is not a course, a programme, or a coaching engagement. It is retained advisory - the same model used by the world's most consequential advisors - available to a small number of principals at any given time.

Kevin speaks for a living. Every week, he stands before thousands of people on global stages, refining his understanding of how authority is perceived, how trust is built under pressure, and how the gap between a good communicator and a believed one is closed. That is what he transfers to clients.

His guarantee is built on one word: results. Not effort. Not process. Results.

Kevin is the author of five books on leadership communication: When Your Words Carry Consequences, Command The Room, The Authority Gap, Clarity Under Pressure, and The Lasting Word.

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09 - Frequently Asked

Questions from Calgary principals

What distinguishes leadership communication advisory from general communication support in Calgary's energy sector?

Leadership communication advisory is a retained, strategic relationship focused on the principal's overall communication architecture — the coherence of their narrative across every forum, stakeholder tier, and organisational context. In Calgary's energy sector, this means ensuring that a CEO's message to Suncor or Cenovus shareholders at an AGM is architecturally consistent with their communication to Indigenous rights-holders, regulatory bodies, and internal workforce. General communication support typically addresses individual deliverables in isolation. Advisory addresses the system of communication that defines a principal's leadership identity and institutional credibility over time.

How does leadership communication advisory account for Calgary's commodity cycle volatility?

Calgary principals face a communication challenge that few other markets impose: the need to maintain stakeholder confidence and narrative consistency across dramatic swings in commodity prices, capital availability, and workforce stability. A leadership communication advisor helps principals develop message frameworks that are durable across cycle conditions — frameworks that acknowledge economic reality without surrendering strategic conviction. This includes preparing principals for the specific communication demands of downturns, such as workforce reduction announcements, capital program deferrals, and investor reassurance, as well as the equally demanding communication requirements of upcycles, including rapid hiring, acquisition rationale, and growth narrative management.

Which Calgary institutions and forums most frequently require high-calibre leadership communication?

Calgary principals are regularly called to perform at the highest communication standard in forums including the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, the Calgary Petroleum Club, the Global Business Forum Alberta, TSX-listed company AGMs and analyst days, Alberta Energy Regulator hearings, Calgary City Council presentations, and the University of Calgary's executive leadership series. Each of these forums carries distinct expectations regarding register, depth, and stakeholder orientation. Leadership communication advisory ensures that principals are prepared for the specific demands of each forum rather than defaulting to a single communication style that may serve some contexts well and others poorly.

How does a retained leadership communication advisor support Calgary principals navigating Indigenous partnership communication?

Communication within Indigenous partnership frameworks — including duty-to-consult processes, joint venture negotiations, and community benefit agreement discussions with Treaty 7 nations and Métis communities — requires a level of relational authenticity and cultural fluency that cannot be improvised. A retained advisor works with Calgary principals to develop communication approaches that reflect genuine respect for Indigenous governance structures, that distinguish between procedural consultation and substantive partnership, and that are consistent across every interaction the organisation conducts with Indigenous rights-holders. This consistency is itself a form of trust-building that has direct implications for project approvals, social licence, and long-term partnership durability.

At what point in a leadership transition should a Calgary principal engage a leadership communication advisor?

The optimal point of engagement is at or before the commencement of a new mandate. The first ninety days of a CEO, board chair, or senior executive appointment in Calgary are disproportionately formative — stakeholders, employees, and media form lasting impressions of a principal's communication style, strategic clarity, and leadership identity during this window. Engaging a leadership communication advisor at the point of appointment allows the principal to enter their mandate with a coherent narrative, a clear stakeholder communication plan, and the rehearsal discipline to perform consistently from day one. Waiting until a communication challenge emerges is a significantly more costly and less effective approach.

How does leadership communication advisory address the dual audience challenge facing Calgary's energy principals — local stakeholders and national or global capital markets?

Calgary's energy principals routinely face the challenge of communicating simultaneously to audiences with fundamentally different frames of reference: local employees and community stakeholders who expect directness and operational specificity, and national or global institutional investors who expect strategic narrative, financial discipline, and ESG fluency. Leadership communication advisory addresses this dual audience challenge by developing message architectures that are modular — core narratives that can be adapted in register and emphasis for each audience without sacrificing consistency or credibility. The advisor also helps principals identify the moments when these audiences are effectively in the same room, such as at a nationally covered AGM, and prepares them to navigate that complexity with confidence.

What role does leadership communication advisory play in Calgary's non-profit and philanthropic sector?

Calgary's non-profit and philanthropic sector — anchored by institutions such as the Calgary Foundation, United Way of Calgary and Area, and a dense network of health, arts, and social service organisations — operates in a communication environment that is simultaneously relationship-driven and increasingly subject to the scrutiny of sophisticated donors, government funders, and policy stakeholders. Leadership communication advisory helps non-profit principals in Calgary develop the narrative authority and message discipline that commands philanthropic confidence, secures government partnership, and mobilises community engagement. This is particularly relevant for organisations navigating major capital campaigns, leadership transitions, or public advocacy mandates where the quality of the principal's communication directly determines the organisation's capacity to achieve its mission.

How is the engagement structured for a Calgary principal retaining leadership communication advisory on an ongoing basis?

A retained leadership communication advisory engagement for a Calgary principal is structured around the principal's actual communication calendar and strategic priorities rather than a fixed curriculum. The advisor maintains ongoing familiarity with the principal's stakeholder landscape, organisational context, and communication history, providing counsel in advance of high-stakes interactions, conducting structured preparation and rehearsal sessions, and offering post-interaction analysis that informs continuous improvement. The retained model is distinct from project-based engagements because it allows the advisor to function as a genuine thought partner — one who understands the full arc of the principal's leadership communication and can identify patterns, risks, and opportunities that would be invisible to an advisor engaged only for individual events.

The Advisor Of Record

Private advisory. Confidential. By application only. Limited annual capacity. Outcome guaranteed.

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