Showing posts with label Women Business Leaders. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Women Business Leaders. Show all posts
By Christopher O | Strong Female Leaders
Reading Time: Approx. 5 minutes
Target Audience: Entrepreneurs, Professionals, Professional Women, Solo-Preneurs, Women on Leadership Paths, Business Women, Women Business Owners

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1. Carol M. Meyrowitz, President and CEO of The TJX Companies
Since 2007, Meyrowitz has been developing low-cost retail brands such as TJ Maxx, Home Goods and Marshall's. Today, TJX is a $21 billion business.

Meryrowitz started as an assist buyer at Saks Fifth Avenue, and leveraged hard work and sales savvy to achieve more prominent positions. In 2015, she made a bold move by announcing that TJX would increase minimum wage from $9 to $15 per hour. This improved the financial situations thousands of employees who currently work at one of TJX's thriving stores, and set an example for CEO's who wish to push the envelope.

We love that Meyrowitz came from humble beginnings and took a discount chain to one of the nation's most well-known brands in a highly competitive space. She's a powerhouse female CEO who makes big plans and knows how to execute them. We cannot wait to watch her next move.
2. Cindy Mi, CEO of VIPKid
While Working as an English teacher in China, Mi realized the untapped demand for English language tutors. In fact, Mi had to teach English to herself with tapes and cassettes. The entrepreneur-minded teacher then created a web-based educational tool that could be accessed anywhere. Her idea met the needs of so many people that VIPKid catapulted from a small startup to the biggest K-12 online English language school in the world.

We love Mi's alarming intuition for discovering, exactly, what the market needs, and her passion for teaching and helping people.



3. Anne Wojcicki, CEO of 23AndMe
After graduating from Yale University with a biology degree, Wojcicki started 23AndMe while working as an investment analyst. She saw a need for people to be better educated about their personal disease risk and how they can take preventative steps for a healthier life.

Today, 23andMe is a pioneer in biotechnology and genomics. It is also the only FDA-approved individual-based genetics firm. Wojcicki took a gamble to leave a comfortable position in finance to create something that she truly enjoys doing. That's why we feel that she is the best of the up and coming.

4. Laura J Alber, President and CEO of Williams-Sonoma Inc
After joining William-Sonoma in 1995 as a senior buyer, Alber earned several promotions, including the Director of the Pottery Barn Catalog and the President of the Pottery Barn business line. In 2010, the board elected her to replaced W. Howard Lester as the CEO of Williams-Sonoma. Under Alber's leadership, Williams-Sonoma became one of the largest U.S. online retailers, and launched multiple products, partnerships and campaigns. In 2014 and 2015, Fortune Magazine named her "Business Person of the Year."

Alber is innovative, creative and not afraid to try new ideas. We look forward to what she comes up with next.

5. Emily Weiss of Glossier
In 2014, after successfully launching the popular beauty blog, Into the Gloss, Weiss founded Glossier Inc, a digital beauty products company that aims to change how the we view beauty. By developing both online and offline beauty experiences that create conversation and connection amongst the Glossier community, Weiss took a small startup to an up-and-coming beauty company with over 200 employees and $186 million in venture funding.

Since Glossier's debut, Weiss has been named Time's 100 Next and Fortune Magazine's 40 Under 40, and Fast Company's Most Creative People in Business. We are excited to see what this business "beauty" creates next.

6. Julie Bornstein, Former Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing and Digital Officer Sephora USA Inc., Founder of The Yes App
As the former Chief Marketing and Digital Officer at Sephora, Bornstein doubled the size of its online purchases and established the brand as a leader in the e-commerce space. Today, Bornstein is the CEO of The Yes App, an AI-powered shopping platform that helps consumers find personalized products.

The Yes App is completely innovative and the next-gen in the beauty industry. If Bornstein can grow Sephora into the beauty giant it is, we have no doubt that she can do the same for The Yes.

8. Lisa Skeete Tatum, CEO & Co-Founder of Land It
After graduating from Cornell with a degree in chemical engineering, Tatum worked for Procter and Gamble before joining a startup, where she realized how much she enjoyed building a business from the ground up and solving problems with innovative solutions. She then attended Harvard Business School, where she met LandIt co-founder Sheila Marcelo.

LandIt is a personalized career planning platform that helps diverse groups thrive at work. Its intriguing business model certainly deserves our attention, and its CEO certainly sets an example for young women.

9. Reshma Saujani, CEO & Founder of Girls Who Code
In 2012, Saujani founded Girls Who Code, a nonprofit that equips young women with the skills to pursue opportunities for a technical and computing education, and close the gender gap in technology. The platform offers classes in robotics, web design, and mobile development, as well as mentorship for young women.

Reshma began her career as an attorney. When she ran for U.S. Congress in 2010, she visited many schools and realized the gender gap between men and women in technology. This motivated her to start Girls Who Code. Under her leadership, Girls Who Code reached over 185,000 students and was awarded the Most Innovative Non-Profit by Fast Company.

We love how determined Saujani is to close the gender gap; and, despite starting in a different career, she pursued her passion and created opportunities for an underserved community.

9. Yunha Kim, CEO & Founder of Simple Habit https://www.simplehabit.com/
Kim studied Economics at Duke University and moved to New York City to pursue a career as an investment banking analyst. She quit her job to begin working on Locket, a mobile lock screen app, and raised more than $3 million in investment.

After Locket was acquired by Wish in 2015, Kim began business school at Stanford, and dropped out to start another app, Simple Habit. Simple Habit taps into the growing trend for mindfulness by offering 5-minute meditation to users. A firm believer that mindfulness is the path to personal happiness, Kim wants to make mental health to everyone.

Kim is passionate about what she does and isn't afraid to pursue her dream to the fullest. We need more women leaders like her, and know that she will achieve greater success in the future.

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1) Get Over Your Damn Self: The No-BS Blueprint to Building a Life-Changing Business
2) Leapfrog: The New Revolution for Women Entrepreneurs

3) Self Made: Becoming Empowered, Self-Reliant, and Rich in Every Way


[ End of Article ]

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By Eroh K | Strong Female Leaders

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TIFFANY PHAM OF MOGUL AND OTHER TOP MILLENNIAL WOMEN CEOS
In today's business world, it is not shocking that many of the most powerful and effective CEOs are millennial women. In fact, the latest statistics show that 33 Fortune 500 companies are led by this group. Here is a look at seven of the most influential females who have provided important contributions to society.

1. Tiffany Pham Mogul
Tiffany Pham is one of the top women CEOs. She became an entrepreneur early in her life. In 2014, she launched Mogul, a website for millennial women. Currently, there are 18 million users across 196 countries. Her goal was to create a platform that brought women together on an intellectual level so that they could learn from each other.

As a graduate of Harvard Business School, Pham began working with various television outlets like HBO and CBS. She became an expert in the media industry so that she could turn her dreams into reality. She wanted to build a company that empowered women across the globe. Her most recent endeavor was publishing YOU ARE A MOGUL, a book that discusses her journey with her start-up. Her ultimate goal is to help other women find their true selves so that they gain the confidence to become great leaders. Her endeavors have truly empowered women, so it is not hard to believe that many people refer to her as "Tiffany Pham Mogul."




2. Alexis Irene STATIC NAILS
Alexis Irene is the founder and CEO of Static Nails, a company that produces fake nails that are reusable and that can be applied with a glue that does not damage natural nails.

In the early days of her business, she worked out of her home. Through forming strategic partnerships with Sephora and HSN, she was able to enjoy over $500,000 in sales in a short amount of time. Irene explains that she has always wanted to make a difference and introduce innovative products to the world. She encourages other entrepreneurs to always ask for what they want. Being afraid to do or ask for things will stall the process of growth.

"The only person who can hold you back is you." Irene explains that when a person wants to start something new, it is crucial to have a plan and to be brave enough to act on it.


3. Katie Fang SchooLinks
Katie Fang has gained great success in the tech industry. She is the CEO of SchooLinks, an Austin-based online education website. This platform is designed to help students choose a fulfilling career path and to select the best college. Started in 2014 with a $5,000 loan from her father, Fang set up the business in her house. Eventually, she moved to Texas and teamed with Capital Factor, a business accelerator. Also, she was backed by Charles Thounburgh, CEO of Citivan Learning, Inc.

What makes her website different is its user-friendly interface. It follows a Tinder-style where students swipe through an evaluation that helps them determine the best career paths. Fang's ultimate goal is to help teens comprehend what will make them happy and gain success.


4. Daisy Jing Banish
Daisy Jing began as a YouTuber who reviewed skincare products. She suffered severe acne and was looking for help. One day, she began experimenting on her own and created a unique acne-fighting solution. She started packaging and selling the items from her kitchen. Thanks to her online following, she grew her "Banish" line. Her all-natural products were quite successful, and she had enjoyed more than $3.5 million in revenue. She intends to keep growing her company and hopes to expand it on an international level.

Daisy Jing considers herself a success every time she witnesses happy users who experience positive transformations with the help of her products. She advises other entrepreneurs to identify a personal problem and to create a solution. It may make a difference to a large group of people.



5. Nina Tandon EpiBone
Nina Tandon is a successful biomedical engineer and entrepreneur. She co-founded Epibone, the first company to grow living human bones for skeletal reconstruction.

One of her earliest contributions to science and medicine was her involvement in the development of an electronic nose that was used to "smell" lung cancer. She is constantly looking to better herself and advises others to have faith in themselves. This keeps people on the right path, especially when they are facing challenges. She was inspired to enter this field so that she could help her siblings who had trouble with their vision. Her ultimate goal is to create a process where it is possible to grow whole human organs for implantation.


6. Carrie Hammer Carrie Hammer Clothing and Apparel
Carrie Hammer is a millennial CEO who has changed the meaning of beauty in the fashion industry. She began her clothing line with professional women in mind. During her first runway show, she replaced traditional models with powerful women, including executives, activists, and philanthropists. Her "Role Models, Not Runway Models" campaign transformed the fashion world by focusing more on internal body positivity than outward physical appearance. She expanded the definition of conventional beauty to include characteristics like passion, accomplishment, and purpose. She has empowered a new generation of females to feel comfortable and to embrace life in their own skin.


7. Heather Marie Shoppable
Heather Marie is CEO of Shoppable, a software company that enables mass product distribution between merchants and millions of customers.

Her company stemmed from her frustration of not being able to buy certain products that she found on her computer. With Shoppable, a user can purchase anything that is found online through a "Universal Checkout."

Today, her company provides the opportunity to buy more than 20 million products. Thanks to the demand for retailers to grow their digital marketing strategies, Shoppable has enjoyed a high growth spurt. As the company continues to expand, Marie explains that her initial mission remains the same. She has created a platform where consumers can shop when they are inspired and to complete their purchases at the most convenient times.


Parting Words
Women are slowly closing the gender gap and are taking control of successful companies. The above top women CEOs are just a few examples of how female millennials have worked hard and climbed the ladder of entrepreneurial triumph. Their stories should inspire you and other women to follow in their footsteps. By watching these ladies turn hard work and aspirations into reality, you should learn that anything is possible. If you have a business idea that is a true passion, it is worth pursuing your dreams.

BOOKS WE LOVE


GIRL MOGUL BY TIFFANY PHAM



YOU ARE A MOGUL BY TIFFANY PHAM



#GIRLBOSS BY SOPHIA AMUROSO



The Harvard Business Review Entrepreneur's Handbook
(Everything You Need to Launch and Grow Your New Business)



THE ART OF THINKING CLEARLY

[ End of Article ]

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Written by Nan Nan Liu | Researched by Matthew M | Strong Female Leaders

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How to be more assertive at work, and not aggressive?
There is a fine line between being assertive and being aggressive in the workplace. You want to be respected at work, increase your command presence, and speak up for yourself and for your team, yet you also want to avoid appearing hostile, putting others down, and making accusations. In high-stakes situations, being kind AND assertive at the same time is possible, as long as you put forth the effort to learn and practice this trait. When your natural people skills are sharpened to tackle tough conversations, they can help you become more influential at work, gain others' trust and respect, thrive in your career, and be seen as a true and deserving leader.
Below are some ways you can be more assertive at work, without being aggressive.
1. Be More Direct
Many women speak with passive language, in order to appear nice, only to appear soft. For example, instead of stating that "I need those documents completed by 5 p.m.," they say, "I was sort of hoping that you could finish this assignment soon."

Words such as "sort of," "I think" and "It would be great if" lessen the importance of the task at hand, as well as the importance of the person assigning the task. Setting specific deadlines, spelling out details and speaking with a firm tongue can only improve your image as a respectful female leader, and correctly communicate the assignment's expectations and your own significance.



2. Be Open Minded
When pushing for your own agenda, strike a balance between passion and empathy. It's great that your solution appears to be the most brilliant; however, other team members offer valuable insights too. Having an open mind gives you control over your emotions in situations that you don't have control over. You may not get your way all the time, but you will have more information to make a decision with, and do it with confidence.
3. Be Ready to Walk Away
During tough negotiations such as negotiating salary increase or contracts, be ready to walk away if the situation becomes combative. As great as it is to stay loyal to your organization or nab that contract from competitors, if you don't get what you are worth, then you should look for more attractive opportunities. You are better off focusing your energy on seeking new opportunities than selling yourself short.

Still can't walk away? One method is to separate your options into one of two categories: a must-have section and a nice-to-have section. If anything in your must-have section is not met, then ready yourself to walk away, respectfully, assertively and with your head held high.



4. Have Contingency Plans Ready
Let's face it: you will never get everything you want. In order to face disappointments with grace, you can stay confident by preparing contingency plans. A fear of failure exists in even the most successful individuals. To ease your own fear of failure, having Plan B in your back pocket, even if you don't need it, can help you be more assertive in tricky situations.
5. Overcome Imposter Syndrome
Many women suffer from Imposter Syndrome, which is "a psychological term referring to a pattern of behavior where people doubt their accomplishments and have a persistent, often internalized fear of being exposed as a fraud." Feeling like an imposter can paralyze you to speechlessness in high-stakes situations when you need to be heard the most. If you believe that you don't deserve the job that you have or the accomplishments you have worked hard for, then you will never assert yourself the way a successful female leader should.

One way to overcome Imposter Syndrome is to focus on the process, instead of how you feel and what others think about you. Focus on what you are doing, right now, and what you hope to accomplish, right now. Be action-oriented and not judgement-oriented. And just pretend that everyone wants to see you succeed. So, why shouldn't you?



6. Visualize Positivity
Being assertive in the workplace isn't all seriousness. You can be happy, smiling and still assert yourself confidently and respectfully. To do so requires having a positive mental attitude, full of affirming thoughts.

What are you grateful for today? Who makes you happy? When was the last time you really laughed? What are your happiest childhood memories?

Point is: there are many ways to fill your head with positive thoughts. During tense times at work, you may need to look harder, so start practicing, and practice often. And, if all else fails, just stand tall, pull your shoulders back, and smile.

[ End of Article ]


We dedicate today's article to the young women who aim to become leaders in their industries.  We believe that, despite being few and in between, women are able to lead organizations in various industries.  We also believe that women must help each other and create a supportive community.  We provided the list of women CEOs below, and hope that they serve our readers the examples they need.
List of Women CEOs (January 2019 Edition)

Mary Barra
Mary Barra is the current chairman and Chief Executive Officer at the General Motors Company. She has been at the helm of GM since January 2014. Her leadership at General Motors has seen some major corporate improvements as the company has undertaken measures targeting aligning itself with the corporate call for a global reduction in carbon emissions. Other achievements under Marry Barra’s leadership at the GM include the inception of the autonomous vehicle development project.

Mary's career at the General Motors Company has seen her advance from being the executive vice president to serving as a senior vice president in charge of various global operations in product development and supply chain management. She has particularly been instrumental to the global growth of the General Motors Company. She is, therefore, an inspiration to upcoming female corporate leaders who target making a difference in the most challenging workplaces.


Marillyn Hewson

Marilynn Hewson is the current chairman, president, and Chief Executive Officer at the Lockheed Martin Corporation. She has been holding the position since January 2013 after rising through the ranks from Executive Vice President in charge of electronics systems to being the President and Chief Operating Officer in 2010 and 2012 respectively. Her career with Lockheed Martin spans the last 35 years when she joined the company as an industrial engineer, a career that few women dare to venture into. Among her accomplishes at the Lockheed Martin Company so far include overseeing the culture of innovation and problem-solving at the customer, national, and global level.

Safra Catz

Safra Catz currently serves of the Chief Executive Officer of the Oracle Corporation, a position she has been holding since 2014. She also serves in the company's Board of Directors. Safra has held various other high-ranking positions within the company since 1999 when she joined. Safra’s skills in corporate leadership and decision-making has seen her appointed to serve as Director at the Walt Disney Company and had held a similar previous position at the HSBC Holdings Plc.

As the Chief Executive Officer, she has overseen the strategic expansion of the company's partnership in providing technical solutions to businesses, governments, and individuals. Safra is, therefore, a major inspiration to women aspiring to make a difference in leadership and corporate management.

Virginia Ginni Rometty

Virginia Rometty is IBM Company's current President and Chief Executive Officer since January 2012. In her position, she has overseen significant transformation and reinvention of the company to incorporate concepts relating to artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, and cybersecurity. Her visionary leadership has seen IBM become one of the global strategic partners in the development of cutting-edge computer solutions that are making a huge difference today. She has also overseen the ushering in of a new era in data handling and processing. She is a true inspiration to upcoming women with ambitions of changing the world through visionary corporate leadership.


in the company of women book



Patricia Kampling

Patricia Kampling is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Alliant Energy Corporation. She joined the company in 2005 and served in various positions including as the Vice President in charge of Finance before transitioning to other roles including the Vice President in charge of Treasury, Executive Vice President, and Chief Financial Officer. She was promoted to the current CEO position in 2011 before being named as the company’s President in 2012. Her visionary leadership in the Alliant Energy Corporation has seen some major changes in customer service and development of innovative energy solutions. She is, therefore, a true inspiration to women leaders in the energy sector.

Gail K. Boudreaux

Gail Boudreaux is the current president and Chief Executive Officer at Anthem Inc. Anthem is a prominent Fortune 50 corporate in the health benefits service provision industry. Her leadership at Anthem has seen some major improvements in terms of increased revenue and extended reach to more customers. She has also previously served in other prestigious corporations including United Healthcare and Blue Cross in senior positions. She is currently one of the few prominent women in the healthcare benefits industry.

Tricia Griffith

Tricia Griffith was appointed to serve as the President and Chief Executive Officer at the Progressive Corporation in July 2016. She joined the company in 1988 and has risen through the ranks, serving in various managerial positions in the claims division, the human resource department, and the finance sector. Tricia's visionary management in the company has seen significant improvements in terms of claims processing, customer management, and general service provision in the insurance sector.

The company has, under her leadership, grown to become one of the prominent players in the insurance industry in the automobile, property, and health divisions. In her over 30 years of service at the Progressive Corporation, she has served as a major inspiration to many upcoming women targeting making a difference in their workplaces.

Barbara Rentler

Barbara Rentler has served as Ross Stores Inc’s Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors since June 2014. Prior her promotion to the current position, she served as the President and Chief Merchandising Officer and the Executive Vice President for the company. Since joining the company in 1986, Barbara has made significant contributions to the growth of Rose Stores to become one of the trusted textile and cosmetic products companies in the United States. She has, since appointment, steered the company into successful financial operations, leading to increased revenue, operating income, assets, and equity; a growth that few Chief Executive Officers ever achieve. Barbara is, therefore, a role model for many young women eyeing the beauty and cosmetics industry.

Kathy Warden

Kathy Warden is the current Chief Executive Officer and President of the Northrop Grumman Corporation, a major player in the global aerospace and defense technology industry. She joined the Northrop Grumman Corporation in 2008 before which she had served in various managerial and leadership positions in the General Electric Company and the General Dynamics and Viridian Corporation. Her expertise in aerospace management has enabled her to oversee the development of various mission-critical systems and large-scale complex hardware and software items.

She has also forged good working relations and partnerships with government agencies such as NASA and other international bodies in the aerospace industry. Kathy has dared to venture in an industry that very few women dream of. Her successful career in the aerospace industry in senior managerial positions is a major inspiration for upcoming and aspiring women aerospace engineers and managers.

Indra Nooyi

Indra Nooyi is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the PepsiCo Company, a position she has served in since 2007. While at the helm of the second largest beverage company in the world, Indra Nooyi has focused on delivering sustainable growth in helping the company establish a global footprint and delivery of nutritious beverage products. Before becoming the Chief Executive Officer, Indra served in various other senior management capacities such as the Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President in charge of Corporate Strategy and Development. Her prowess in corporate management has seen the PepsiCo Company expand its emphasis on innovation and product development.


the female lead

Margaret Keane

Margaret Keane serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Synchrony Financial Company. She is one of the few women in the world today serving the CEO of a major financial services company. Margaret has served in the top position since 2011. Under her leadership, Synchrony Financial has achieved significant growth in national and regional markets in partnership with other strategic industry players in the financial services sector. She has overseen the company's growth to the current position where it is the largest provider of private label credit cards in the US market. Margaret’s contribution to the financial management sector serves as an inspiration to upcoming women interested in the professional financial services industry.

Adena Friedman

Adena Friedman became the President of Nasdaq in January 2017. She also serves in the institution’s Board of Directors. With over 20 years of experience in strategic management, Adena brings on board valuable managerial skills essential to spearhead Nasdaq to become the second largest stock market globally. She joined the company in 1993 and has since served in various junior positions where she has risen through the ranks to senior managerial positions. She has also been instrumental to the growth of Nasdaq through the acquisition of the Boston and Philadelphia stock markets, OMX, and INET. Her role in the expansion of the Nasdaq through proper strategizing is a great motivation to many other women who aspire to venture into the stocks exchange sector.

Conclusion

The above list of prominent women CEOs is derived from virtually every possible industry in the market. From the financial industry to the food, manufacturing, cosmetics, and aerospace industries, these CEOs have proven that women can deliver professional results. The incredible contributions that these women have made in their areas of investment are a testament to the concept of women empowerment. Their successful managerial skills have not only positively steered their companies but also inspired upcoming women with managerial aspirations.   

Written by Dan Escriba.  For more information, please contact us at STRONG FEMALE LEADERS.