Influential Businesswomen to Follow in 2025 | Kimberly Carney | FashWire

MARCH 2025

ISSUE – 31

Founder & CEO FashWire, GlossWire & PawWire

Influ ential BUSINESSWOMEN TO FOLLOW

KIMBERLY CARNEY

Leading the Charge in Tech-Driven Retail

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CONTENTS

12 KIMBERLY CARNEY

CONTENTS

30 KATRINA SRIRANPONG

CONTENTS

40 NICOLE BUFFETT

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COVER STORY

KIMBERLY CARNEY Founder & CEO | FashWire, GlossWire & PawWire

Leading the Charge in Tech-Driven Retail

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In

a world where technology evolves rapidly and consumer expectations shift even faster, few entrepreneurs are able to anticipate trends, harness data, and drive disruption across industries. Kimberly Carney is one of those rare visionaries.

As the founder and CEO of FashWire, GlossWire, and most recently, PawWire, Kimberly has not only created transformative digital platforms—she's reimagined how brands and consumers engage in fashion, beauty, and lifestyle spaces.

What makes her leadership stand out isn't just the tech infrastructure she's built, but the thoughtful, deliberate strategy that underpins each decision. As Exeleon Magazine spotlights women shaping the future for its 2025 Women's History Month issue, Kimberly exempli ies a new kind of entrepreneur—one who blends technological luency with emotional intelligence, and market insight with a deep commitment to empowering both brands and consumers.

Planting the Seeds: From Concept to Launch Kimberly irst envisioned FashWire as far back as 2009, long before fashion-tech was a recognized category. At the time, she owned a successful retail store and recognized a glaring gap in how brands and consumers interacted digitally. But the journey from concept to launch would take nearly a decade—one shaped by both resilience and re inement.

“It took six years of funding my retail store to get to the point where I could start FashWire,” Kimberly explains. In 2016, she took the leap by hiring her irst developer. But when the initial code turned out to be unusable, she was forced to start from scratch. What could have been a major setback instead became a 14 | APRIL 2025

pivotal turning point. “That delay allowed us to meet Hooman Hamzeh, the CEO of DevelopingNow, and gave us time to reevaluate our vision and gather meaningful feedback from fashion brands.”

This collaborative process helped her hone not just the functionality of the platform, but its core purpose. By the time FashWire of icially launched in 2018, Kimberly had built more than just an app—she had created a scalable ecosystem grounded in real-time data, brand storytelling, and user engagement. It was, as she says, “the perfect moment to launch.”

A Real-Time Revolution in Consumer Intelligence What sets FashWire—and its sister platforms,

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GlossWire and PawWire—apart is their ability to connect brands and consumers through real-time data and insights. In a world driven by fast feedback loops and hyper-personalization, this feature has proven invaluable.

“Our platforms allow brands to gather instant feedback on their products based on how consumers interact with them,” Kimberly explains. Each swipe, click, and like feeds into a feedback system that gives brands a clearer understanding of trends, preferences, and customer behavior.

But the bene it isn't one-sided. Consumers receive tailored recommendations, access to exclusive launches, and curated content that aligns with their personal style or beauty routine. “It's about creating a W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M

dynamic, responsive relationship where both sides feel seen and heard,” Kimberly says.

This real-time, reciprocal data model creates a virtuous cycle. Brands stay agile and informed, while consumers enjoy a more personalized and engaging shopping experience.

Making Data Digestible—and Actionable

Even as businesses accumulate more data than ever before, many struggle to translate those insights into meaningful strategies. Kimberly designed her platforms speci ically to address that challenge.

“Brands often feel overwhelmed by the volume of consumer data,” she notes. “Our platforms simplify

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COVER STORY

that by offering clear, actionable insights.” FashWire, GlossWire, and PawWire allow brands to not only track consumer preferences in real time but also segment their audiences and adjust accordingly.

Whether it's changing a marketing strategy, re ining a product line, or planning an inventory shift, Kimberly's platforms empower brands to be proactive. “You no longer have to guess what the consumer wants—you know,” she adds. And in a world where timing and relevance are everything, that clarity can be a game-changer.

Post-Pandemic Consumer Shifts: Digital, Mindful, and Personal Since launching FashWire, Kimberly has observed signi icant changes in how consumers approach shopping—especially in the wake of the pandemic.

The most notable shift, she says, is the acceleration of digital- irst behavior.

“Consumers now expect convenience and lexibility,” she explains. Mobile shopping has become the norm, and brands without a strong digital presence risk irrelevance. But it's not just about being online—it's about being meaningful online.

Another shift has been toward mindful consumption. Shoppers are asking more questions—about sourcing, sustainability, and ethics.

They're seeking brands that align with their values.

“People are more conscious of what they're buying and who they're buying from,” Kimberly observes.

And inally, personalization is no longer a luxury—it's a baseline expectation. Consumers want products and experiences tailored to their tastes, and platforms like FashWire deliver exactly that.

“Brands that personalize and adapt in real-time are the ones seeing the most engagement and loyalty,” she says.

The Anatomy of a Standout Brand

In an increasingly saturated market, Kimberly believes a strong brand identity is essential for standing out. It's not just about having a good product—it's about having a story, a soul, and a strategy.

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A LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP As a woman founder in tech—a space still challenged by gender disparity—Kimberly understands the importance of representation.

Her journey, built on self-funding, resilience, and relentless iteration, serves as an inspiring blueprint for other women in business.

Her leadership style is collaborative yet decisive, visionary yet grounded. She empowers her team, values feedback, and embraces change. “Leadership is about listening, adapting, and lifting others as you climb,” she says.

Kimberly's impact isn't just measured by the platforms she's built or the brands she's helped grow—it's in the space she's created for innovation, authenticity, and purpose-driven entrepreneurship to thrive.

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“Consumers are looking for authenticity and transparency,” she says. Today's shoppers are drawn to brands that share their values and act with integrity—whether that's in sustainability, diversity, or social impact.

She outlines ive key pillars that make a brand truly stand out:

1. Authenticity and Transparency: A clear commitment to ethical practices builds trust.

2. Consistency Across Channels: From social media to packaging, coherence in tone and visuals reinforces credibility.

3. Personalized Customer Experience: “The more a brand understands its audience, the more loyalty it earns.”

4. Innovation and Agility: Brands that evolve with trends and tech maintain their relevance.

5. Emotional Connection: Storytelling, shared values, 18 | APRIL 2025

and community-building are powerful tools for brand loyalty.

In Kimberly's eyes, brands that embody these principles are well-positioned not just to compete—but to lead.

Tech as the Growth Engine for Entrepreneurs For emerging fashion and beauty entrepreneurs, Kimberly's message is clear: embrace technology early and strategically. In an increasingly digital economy, technology is not just an operational tool—it's a growth engine.

Her top advice includes investing in scalable systems, leveraging data to personalize customer experiences, and staying agile by experimenting with emerging tech like AR, AI, and virtual try-ons. “Digital marketing and social media are also critical,” she adds. “That's where your audience lives—so your presence needs to be strong and consistent.”

Perhaps most importantly, Kimberly urges founders to

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EXPANDING THE VISION Enter PawWire In 2023, Kimberly launched PawWire, extending her multi-platform ecosystem into the booming pet care market. The new platform applies the same principles of data-driven insights and brand discovery—this time tailored to pet wellness, fashion, and lifestyle.

think beyond short-term wins. “Build a tech infrastructure that grows with you,” she advises.

“That's how you go from startup to sustainable success.”

Sustainability: From Trend to Expectation

As sustainability moves from buzzword to baseline, Kimberly sees it becoming a non-negotiable in the fashion and beauty industries. “Consumers are more environmentally conscious, and they're holding brands accountable,” she says.

Her platforms are evolving to support this shift, offering features that allow brands to highlight ecofriendly materials, ethical sourcing, and sustainable packaging. Tools that let consumers explore a brand's sustainability practices or certi ications will become increasingly important.

Beyond transparency, Kimberly foresees innovation in logistics—carbon-neutral shipping, circular fashion models, and biodegradable packaging. “Sustainability won't be a niche,” she emphasizes. “It'll be an expectation. The brands that adopt it early will shape the industry's future.”

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It's a natural extension of Kimberly's vision: creating digital spaces where brands and consumers meet in meaningful, personalized ways.

Whether it's fashion, beauty, or now pet care, her platforms re lect a commitment to community, innovation, and connectivity.

Looking Ahead As technology continues to reshape commerce, Kimberly remains committed to staying at the forefront—evolving her platforms, expanding her reach, and empowering more brands and consumers to connect in real time.

Her focus for the future includes continued innovation in sustainability tech, expanding global partnerships, and deepening personalization tools across her platforms. But at the heart of it all, her mission remains the same: to give brands the tools to grow smarter and give consumers the experience they deserve.

“In the end,” Kimberly re lects, “it's about creating a space where technology and human connection work together to elevate the experience for everyone.”

As Exeleon Magazine honors women building the future, Kimberly Carney's legacy is clear—she's not just following trends. She's setting them.

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S I M P LY S C A N A N D S U B S C R I B E

EXELEON EXCLUSIVE

King’s Crown The

An Interview with Award-Winning Cosmetic Chemist – Ginger King

A

s an award-winning cosmetic chemist and the founder of Grace Kingdom Beauty, a New Jerseybased cosmetic product development irm, Ginger King has dedicated her career to creating beauty brands from concept to launch, including formulation.

With multiple patents and awards to her name, King's expertise and contributions to the beauty industry have been recognized by some of the most prestigious organizations and publications.

She has served as Allure magazine's Beauty Judge for Breakthrough Products since 2017, received Yahoo's Diversity In Beauty Award in 2018, and judged the Beauty Packaging Award in 2019. Her

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insights are valued in New Beauty Magazine's Brain Trust since 2020, and she has been an Iconic Fragrance Judge for Elle Magazine and an Iconic Skin Product Judge for Shape Magazine in 2023. Additionally, she is a NEXT Beauty Award Judge for Beauty Matter in 2023.

What prompted your interest and subsequently your foray into the beauty space?

I was born into beauty, as my mom was the irst woman to bring a Shiseido boutique from Japan to Taiwan. I never realized those early in luences until later.

I came to America when I was 16 years old and started wearing makeup. Originally, I

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EXELEON EXCLUSIVE

wanted to be a makeup artist, but being Asian, I was expected to have a PhD or at least a master's degree.

So, I decided to major in chemistry and eventually became a cosmetic chemist.

You emphasize a 360 approach to beauty business. Could you elaborate on what this approach entails and how it sets you apart in the industry?

Most careers in beauty involve working in silos. If you are a chemist, you may not be familiar with marketing, and vice versa.

Since my early interest in beauty, I have worked in every single aspect of the industry, starting from being a beauty consultant at a cosmetic counter where I learned what consumers want, to R&D in formulation and marketing on how to promote the products. I even worked as a cosmetic raw material salesperson, so I understand where innovation comes from.

You can dream big, but if you do not have the raw materials to support it, it will not happen. I also worked in manufacturing, so I am one of the very few who have 360degree experience in beauty. That is what I bring to my clients, where I create their beauty brand from concept to launch, including a formulation they can own.

Tell us about your latest venture, FanLoveBeauty, a clean vegan beauty brand. How did the inspiration from mentor Daymond John of Shark Tank shape this venture, and what

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goals do you aim to achieve with it?

I was with Daymond John at an event. He took out a lip balm and used it in front of me. I thought, if it's something that close to him, in his pocket, on his lips, it must be mine.

He had some health issues previously, and what he was using, I actually frowned upon. So, I created a vegan lip balm with him in mind.

He's a business mogul who inspires people, so I dedicate my line to entrepreneurs who want to be as great as him. If you use my lip balm, you can speak like a shark.

As a mentor and inspiration to others, what advice would you give to aspiring cosmetic chemists, entrepreneurs, and individuals looking to make their mark in the beauty industry?

If you really want to be in beauty, take whatever job you can get, because eventually, you will realize how everything is connected. Only when you truly embrace every aspect of the beauty industry can you be more ef icient and creative in creating the next best thing.

There are more and more talks about linking wellness and beauty to be holistic, and there are also scienti ic advances in new peptides that target speci ic concerns. I go to a lot of trade shows and am also a speaker at several beauty conferences, as I believe the day you stop learning is the day you fall behind.

What are your future goals for Grace Kingdom Beauty and FanLoveBeauty, and how do you envision your impact on the beauty industry evolving in the coming years?

For Grace Kingdom Beauty, I really enjoy working with indie beauty brands that have a purposeful mission, and seeing their success is my success.

For FanLoveBeauty, it started as a pet project, but I want to have a stronger impact on aspirational beauty, as beauty should not be just on the surface. FanLoveBeauty is obsessed with inspirations from our daily lives and creating meaningful products that bene it mankind.

What emerging technologies or trends in skin treatment, color cosmetics, fragrance, hair, and personal care excite you the most, and how do you stay ahead in incorporating them into your work?

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Marsha Stone Leading the Way in Addiction Recovery

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s the CEO of the Foundation Stone Family of Programs, Marsha Stone shares her personal journey through addiction and recovery, shedding light on the challenges she faced as a single mother of three while navigating law school.

As a leader in this male-dominated sector, Marsha also discusses the unique challenges and opportunities she has encountered in her leadership role. Through her candid re lections and advice, Marsha offers hope and guidance to individuals currently facing addiction and mental health challenges, while outlining her future aspirations for the Foundation Stone Family of Programs.

Can you share a bit about your personal journey with addiction and recovery, especially during your time in law school and the challenges you faced as a single mother of three?

Re lecting on my law school days as a single mom with three kids, I felt like I was 26 | APRIL 2025

constantly in the eye of a storm. A glass of wine here and there seemed harmless at the time. Everyone around me was doing it, and I was trying to keep up with my studies while raising my kids. I didn't really know much about alcoholism, the genetics of it, or how stress and trauma could make things worse. I kept telling myself, "It's not a big deal. I'll get it under control once I'm done with school."

Before I knew it, I was caught in this cycle where any excuse was good enough for a drink, whether I was having a bad day or celebrating something. I didn't see the trap I was walking into until I was already in too deep, drinking daily and watching it mess up my work and my relationships with people.

My real wake-up call came after a series of tries and failures. Starting in 2002, it was like I was on this merry-go-round of treatment, detox, and then falling right back into it. It was rough, dealing with the shame and seeing how my struggles were wearing on everyone around me.

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But something clicked in 2008. I was just fed up with the whole cycle and realized if I didn't make some serious changes, it was only going to get worse. That's when I decided to give the treatment another shot, and this time, it stuck. I haven't touched a drink since coming out of that last treatment, and while I'm super proud of how far I've come, it was just the start of a whole new journey for me in understanding and working within the treatment industry.

Talk to us about Foundation Stone Family of Programs. How did your experiences in the treatment industry shape the vision for this organization?

Foundation Stone began after I had a 10+ year career of developing programs for substance use disorder. Over time, my team and I began to recognize that mental health, trauma, personality disorders, etc., were becoming more and more prevalent in cases where someone was also suffering with substance use disorder. The term for this is co-occurring disorders, and over time we began to be more aware of the complexities, the clinical complexities of cases.

And when we made the decision to start a new program, we decided that from the very beginning we were going to collaborate more and not look at different diagnoses or different behavioral issues in a silo.

I think it's important that as our understanding of substance use disorder and mental health continues to develop over time, that we become accustomed to evolving and updating our programs and our policies.

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Being one of the few female CEOs in the recovery industry, what insights can you share about your experiences and challenges in this leadership role?

Navigating the male-dominated behavioral health industry as a female CEO has its challenges, but it's also opened a lot of doors that were once closed to me. It's so important for women to recognize their potential to lead, especially as personal experiences may uniquely position them to excel in certain areas.

My approach has been to stay true to my values and insights into business dynamics and relationships. The journey to leadership as a woman can be long and at times isolating, but inding and nurturing a supportive team is key. Building loyalty within these relationships is essential, as it can be tough being one of the few women in the room.

Re lecting on your entire journey, what advice would you give to individuals currently facing challenges with addiction and mental health?

One of the main principles involved in the recovery process is honesty.

Honesty can be especially dif icult when you're dealing with intimate parts of your life and people close to you, because prior to recovery, most people spend a lot of time making excuses, de lecting, or trying to hide their struggles from people that are up close and personal with you every day. So, to really begin to live a life that is based in authenticity and honesty and transparency, being able to be honest about your own desire to

participate in recovery, is something that I would recommend early on.

You also need to remember that your recovery and your sense of self is safe and supported, whether it is completely applauded by everyone.

I think that the most important thing that I would suggest, based on the people who I have seen to be the most successful over time, is to ind a support system and process that works for you. There are as many ways to recover and as many ways to do relationships as there are colors in the rainbow. Some people that are in long-term E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E

recovery never go to 12 steps.

Instead, they go to yoga ive days a week, or they go to church, or run marathons. I'm not a person that would ever fault someone for inding a different path that helped them to get into recovery and to really have a better relationship with themselves and their families.

Having created the Foundation Stone Family of Programs, what are your future aspirations in terms of helping individuals struggling with mental health and addiction?

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When we opened our Foundation Stone Family of Programs, we always knew that we wanted to be in the business of helping people. At both Amend Wellness and The Pearl, we continue to expand our services and evolve our offerings to include holistic practices and wellness programs.

not just treatment centers, but a community dedicated to transformation and recovery.

Since opening last year, our Foundation Stone family has expanded, and the bonds we've formed with our clients, partners, and the broader community have become the cornerstone of our mission. We are eager to expand our network of programs to become APRIL 2025 | 29

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Katrina Sriranpong Human Rights Advocate and Change-Maker espite which walk of life you come from, everyone has the power to make a difference – this is the philosophy Katrina Sriranpong has followed from her career as a legal entrepreneur to her full-time pursuit of philanthropy and activism.

D

Katrina Sriranpong is a social advocate who has made her lifelong mission to make a positive change in the world. Formerly the only Thai-speaking lawyer in her home of Vancouver, British Columbia, she spent a signi icant portion of her career assisting immigrants and refugees navigate complex Canadian law and policy. As a lawyer, she has represented human rights activists from Syria and Ukraine in claiming refugee protection in Canada as well as other refugee claimants from India, Pakistan, Turkey, Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, Somalia, Botswana and Albania. She also provided free legal advice to low-income migrant workers at risk of labour exploitation and victims of human traf icking. Sriranpong has a deep interest in assisting vulnerable populations as well as advocating for the rights of children in con lict-affected regions and

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supports programs aimed at rehabilitation, education and developmental aid for children.

Today, in consideration of the on-going con lict between Israel and Gaza, we will discuss the topic of human rights and explore activisms in the current generation.

What are your thoughts regarding the current con lict between Israel and Gaza?

Katrina Sriranpong: I am extremely saddened by the October 7, 2023, attack on innocent Israeli civilians, including children. I am also equally saddened for the retributive bombings over one of the most densely populated cities in the world, Gaza, with over 2 million innocent Palestinian civilians, half of whom are children.

It's crucial to give context to have a complete understanding of the situation. Israel has been committing very serious human rights violations against Palestinians for decades, which has been documented by international rights groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. For the last 75

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years, Palestinians have lived under oppression and brutality. 75 years ago, more than 750,000 Palestinians became refugees, almost overnight. This mass displacement of people from their ancestral land in order to create Israel is known as the Nakba (meaning catastrophe in Arabic).

Approximately 15,000 Palestinians, including women and children, were killed by the Zionist military forces in the massacres.

After the Six-Day War in 1967, Israel illegally occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank. Since then, Palestinians have been targeted by Israeli authorities who use discriminatory laws to steal Palestinian land by forced evictions and demolish their homes so the land can be given to Jewish Israelis.

They have to live in constant fear of losing their home. Their life is illed with human rights abuses and daily discrimination.

More recently, Gaza was referred to as the world's largest “open-air prison.” Since 2007, Israel has deprived more than two million residents of Gaza an opportunity to a better life. Israel's closure policy blocks most Gaza residents from travelling to the West Bank, prevents travelling abroad via Israel, restricts their rights to work and an education and prevents residents from pursuing opportunities within Palestine.

Israel continues to control Gaza's territorial waters, airspace, and the movement of people and goods, except where Gaza borders with Egypt.

When Palestinians tried to organize a peaceful protest (the “Great March of Return” from 2018 to 2019), over 200 unarmed 32 | APRIL 2025

protestors were killed with snipers (including 40 children) and over 8000 were injured by bullets and over 150 had to have their limbs amputated.

Palestinians are arrested, detained, and tortured without charge for an inde inite period of time, which is allowed under Israeli military law.

The minimum age of criminal responsibility is only 12 years old.

According to Human Rights Watch, detention can be renewed inde initely based on secret information, which the detainee is not even allowed to see. Many children are detained, tortured, and kept from seeing their families simply for throwing rocks at Israeli soldiers. Israel is the only country in the world that systematically prosecutes children in military courts, which lack fundamental fair trial rights and protection.

Of course, I want to emphasize that the actions by the Hamas on October 7, 2023, were horri ic and inexcusable. However, demonstrating support for the innocent civilians of Gaza and support for Palestinian liberation should not be seen as supporting Hamas or antisemitic. It is not simply about religion, but the violation of human rights. Harvard's former executive director of Harvard Hillel, the University's Jewish Center, Mr. Bernie Steinberg, stated “for the safety of Jews and Palestinians, stop weaponizing antisemitism.” As a leader in the Jewish community, he argues there is currently a cynical weaponizing of antisemitism by powerful forces who desire to intimidate and silence legitimate criticism of Israel and American policy on Israel. This takes place in the form of bullying pro-Palestine organizers and

anyone that does not show deference. Steinberg makes his position clear by stating that “it is not antisemitic to demand justice for all Palestinians living in their ancestral lands.” He goes on to explain that if Israel's case requires categorizing its critics as antisemitic, then it has already admitted defeat. This does not imply that antisemitism does not exist, it simply means that it cannot be used to silence dissent of Israeli policies. Fabricating fair criticism of Israeli policies as antisemitic also undermines the ight against genuine antsemitism in the world.

Unfortunately, Israel has criticized Amnesty International as “biased” and a spokesperson for the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated publicly that “Amnesty International is an antisemitic organization” simply because they claimed war crimes had been committed by “all parties.” Amnesty International has also labelled Israel's treatment of Palestinians as apartheid and a cruel system of domination and a crime against humanity. The United Nations has even been labelled as antisemitic simply because they demand a cease ire to prevent further civilian casualties.

It's important to understand that the laws in Israel are designed to discriminate and dispossess Palestinians of their land and repress any dissent. This is an apartheid as con irmed by every major international human rights organisation including the United Nations. It violates international law and breaches human rights.

Palestinians want a two-state solution. Netanyahu said, “Israel is not a state of all its citizens [but rather] the nation-state of the

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Jewish people and only them.”

Regarding the current war on Hamas, the queen of Jordan stated that you can kill the combatants, but not the cause. There must be an end to oppression and apartheid.

Where there is oppression, there will always be resistance.

How are human rights being affected during the war?

Katrina Sriranpong: During an armed con lict, the respect for human rights becomes even more essential. Children still have the right to attend school during war and people still have the right to healthcare, food and clean water.

The states involved still have a duty to respect and protect the rights of all individuals. Certain human rights are so important that they can never be suspended or changed, even during an armed con lict. For example, the right to life, prohibition against torture, prohibition against slavery, requirements of a fair trial, freedom of thought, conscience and religion or your belief, prohibitions against taking hostages, and medical care as well as access to food, shelter, and safe water are essential human rights.

Therefore, even in times of war, states are bound by human rights duties. However, in times of war, other laws will begin to apply to regulate all parties: international humanitarian law. International humanitarian law are a set of rules to protect civilians or people who are no longer taking part in the ighting or hostilities. It's also important to emphasize that international humanitarian law are non-reciprocal, meaning that the violation of these rules by one party does not justify the opposing side 34 | APRIL 2025

breaking their own obligations under international humanitarian law.

International humanitarian law outlines for the protection of civilians, children, hospitals, and schools. It also requires parties to respect the principle of proportionality, where the harm caused to civilians because of a military attack should not be excessive in relation to the direct military advantage expected. In other words, disproportionate attacks is considered a war crime.

Further, international humanitarian law requires the parties to abide by the principle of distinction, where they must ensure targets are military and not civilian. Attacks on civilians such as doctors, humanitarian aid workers, journalists and children as well as civilian objects are considered war crimes.

Israel instructed 1.1 million people who lived in the North of Gaza to evacuate during intense bombings while cutting off electricity, food, water, fuel and humanitarian assistance. They violated international humanitarian law.

These evacuation orders against whole cities or regions are not considered effective. Israel disregarded the obligation to distinguish between military objectives and civilian objects as well as the prohibition on indiscriminate attacks. These “evacuations” are a form of collective punishment and violates international humanitarian law, which may amount to war crimes.

close proximity to populated civilian regions. White phosphorus creates a dense smoke screen and causes excruciating burns putting civilians at risk of serious and longterm injuries. The use of white phosphorus by Israel in such a densely populated area magni ies the risk of civilian casualties and injuries and violates international humanitarian law.

Also, evacuating civilians from a region with the intent to clearing the area and preventing residents to return home after the con lict is considered a war crime and crimes against humanity. In other words, if the people of Gaza choose to leave their home during the war, they must be allowed to return.

Understandably, many civilians in Gaza are worried they may not be able to return home as they were forcefully displaced in the Nakba of 1947 to 1949. I think the world needs to keep a close eye on this situation to ensure it does not happen again.

Human Rights Watch has also documented the use of white phosphorus by Israel in Gaza, which is not allowed to be used at or in E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E

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UNICEF of icial, Mr. James Elder, reported the hidden danger of “safe zones” in Gaza". For safe zones to be safe, they must, by law, provide water, food, shelter, and medical supplies. Also, UN's child relief agency stressed that for safe zones to provide protection, people have to be able to safety get to them.

Unfortunately, throughout the war on Gaza, the Israeli military has repeatedly instructed Palestinians to evacuate to these “safe zones,” and then later bomb those areas as well as the evacuation routes. As a result, UNICEF believes that only a cease ire can save the children as there is no safe place in Gaza.

Recently, Amnesty International's investigation has revealed that there were no military objectives on some sites that were bombed, which raises concerns that some strikes were direct attacks on civilians or on civilian objects.

Further, Amnesty International argues that indiscriminate attacks or direct attacks on civilians or civilian objects must be investigated as war crimes. In addition, starvation is being used as a weapon of war against Gaza civilians. Hospitals have also been targeted, preventing thousands from getting life-saving medical care. The Washington Post found there was no evidence behind Israel's assertion that Hamas used Al-Shifa hospital as a command center. A New York Times investigation con irmed that Israel bombed safe zones where it told civilians to evacuate. Forensic Architecture, a research agency based at the University of London investigating human rights violations around the world, revealed that hospitals in Gaza were being systematically targeted by Israel.

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Over a thousand children in Gaza have had their limbs amputated without anesthesia due to the lack of medical care. Gaza has been turned into a slaughter house in this military mismatch. To date (December 2023), over 20,000 Palestinians have been killed, with approximately 8,800 of them being children and 6,300 of them being women. However, there is more than 7,000 missing and believed to be under the rubble.

Mr. Craig Mokhiber, former Director of the NY Of ice of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights wrote that the situation in Gaza is a “text-book case of genocide.” He argued the “European, ethnonationalist, settler colonial project in Palestine has entered its inal phase” toward the expedited destruction of the last indigenous Palestinian life in Palestine. He found it horri ic that the United States, the United Kingdom, and much of Europe was complicit to this assault. These countries are not only refusing to meet their obligations for the Geneva Conventions, but they are actually providing inancial support, intelligence, and political cover for Israel's atrocities while Israel is committing war crimes.

Israel has publicly stated their intent to kill innocent civilians, which has been well documented.

Meirav Ben-Ari, an Israeli politician, said, “The children of Gaza have brought this upon themselves,” and Daniel Hagari, Israel Defence Forces Admiral and IDF spokesperson, said, “The emphasis is on damage and not accuracy.” As the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights stated, usually the most dif icult part about proving genocide is intent because there has

to be an intent to destroy in whole, or in part, a particular group. But, in this case, the Israeli government's intent has been publicly and explicitly stated by the prime minister, by the president, by senior politicians, and by their military leaders. It's on public record and therefore very easy to prove.

I believe that Palestine is a daily test for the conscience of the world.

Genocide is not self-defence and genocide can only persist through silence. By sharing information, you spark conversation and encourage people to awaken their moral conscience, compelling them to speak up and advocate for humanity.

How do you think the voice of the younger generation is affecting our society in consideration of the current situation?

Katrina Sriranpong: Well, when we discuss the voice of the younger generation, it's important to understand the impact of the digital age, which has signi icantly affected the spread of information and the ability to mobilize a cause. The digital age has changed social activism forever.

I de ine myself as a millennial as I was the irst generation to grow up with the internet. We're considered the irst global generation and heavily rely on the internet, mobile devices and social media. Digital technology has had a dramatic impact on political engagement.

Ordinary people can be a catalyst for social change and participate in the political process well beyond voting. They can mobilize others to get involved by sharing information, raise funds for a

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speci ic movement, and organize protests. However, the digital environment comes with consequences that we must all be aware of such as “fake news,” misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech, which is common in the digital public sphere. For instance, Israeli social media space has been a breeding ground for anti-Palestinian movement referring to Palestinians as “animals” or “dogs” without the historical context. The IDF is posting their own killings, showing bodies, to gain support for their lack of progress in the war. Whereas the same videos may be used to document war crimes.

The war in Gaza has been a signi icant point for the media ecosystem. Social media allows us to see the brutality and genocide of innocent civilians in Gaza, many of them children, directly from the source. Families in Gaza are sharing personal stories of pain and suffering as well as journalists on the ground covering the atrocities, and being targeted by Israel for doing so, as reported by Amnesty International in December 2023.

The younger generation has learned to question and be critical of sources of information. The complicity of so many Western news outlets are being realized as they have been repeatedly exposed for failing to question Israeli propaganda before spreading the disinformation. There is an abundance of disinformation published to defend the indefensible. Although Israel is a democratic country, there has always been a severe limit to free speech of pro-Palestinian views.

Israel has also imposed communication blackouts in Gaza,

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which prevents people from sharing and documenting human rights violations such as disproportionate force by the military. Imposing internet shutdowns and restrictions are a human rights issue.

Currently, over 80 percent of democratic voters in the U.S. want a cease ire and the younger generation feel that politicians are not listening to their concerns. The younger generation is also cognizant of the fact that weaponizing antisemitism has become part of a political game to silence dissent. Younger Canadians are more inclined to view Israel's offensive in Gaza as excessive and disproportional. Social media in luencers have provided our generation with a new un iltered lens on the Gaza war. They become the media with the power of their phone to in luence millions. They help to shape the narratives and signi icantly changed our understanding and perception on wars and con licts. Social media platforms provide a new perspective of real-time, un iltered content that is immediate, uncensored, and often very raw.

These platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok allow viewers worldwide to witness con licts through a different viewpoint that traditional media does not cover.

This change has revolutionized grassroots-level narrative and activisms.

For instance, Jewish Voices for Peace has had a strong presence on social media and has increased the amount of followers exponentially in the last several years. They are the largest progressive Jewish antiZionist organization in the world.

They focus on grassroots

movements to support the Palestinian struggle for freedom.

Zionism suggest that Jews require a supremacist nation state to secure the safety of all Jews. However, Jewish Voices for Peace argue that Jews belong everywhere in the world and should be safe. They advocate that real safety does not grow from guns, checkpoints, walls or a military state. They believe true safety for Jews is built by forging real solidarity with all those ighting for a more liberated world.

In 1997, Nelson Mandela said, “We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.” He was a change maker. However, I would de ine a change maker as anyone who is willing to implement and advocate for change regardless of the consequences it may entail. These may include bloggers, scholaractivists, and social media in luencers who are able to shape the narrative of Israel's war on Gaza and expose the truth of the systemic oppression, domination, dispossession over ive decades of occupation, the 16-year blockade on Gaza, the apartheid regime, human rights abuses, and war crimes. The crimes committed by Palestinian armed groups on October 7, 2023 cannot justify Israel's collective punishment of indiscriminate or disproportionate bombing of innocent civilians in Gaza, half of them being children.

There is no justi ication for war crimes.

www.katrinasriranpong.com

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IN – FOCUS

Art, Technology and Groceries

By Nicole Buffett

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pon irst entering the Web3 space in early 2021, I, like so many of us, embraced the great unknown with a healthy combination of bravery and insecurity. All of us had no idea what would happen next personally, politically, or spiritually.

At this time, I realized that the agitating force of uncertainty offered an immense gift of change and transformation. We were all already out of our collective and personal comfort zone. We had entered a new territory of genuine possibility.

Being a traditional painter, I rolled up my sleeves and instead of mixing paint, I went even farther out of my comfort zone and created a twitter account. The twitter account was my proclamation to meet the world halfway--leading with the intention to connect and resist the foreboding isolation of the pandemic.

My work as a painter up until 2021 had been nature based and very much centered on organic physical materiality. As I became aware of NFT's, I immediately realized the 40 | APRIL 2025 01

function and phenomena that technology could play and create in getting my work into the world. I experienced this new digital platform as a means to an end- or really the means to a beginning.

The irst phase of this era of embracing technology as a traditional painter relied upon my willingness to GROW beyond even my own highly developed identity as a traditional painter. I realized that what I found the most fascinating initially about the world of NFT's and Web3 was this new emboldened community of people investing in new concepts of how we do money.

As you can imagine, money is a subject that is brought up often in my family, however not in the typical sense - but in the spiritual sense.

One thing we all realize is that where there is money, there is privilege and there is agency.

There is the freedom to invest. There is the capacity to choose. There is the power to create. The irony is that agency, freedom, power, and creativity do not come from money. We cannot purchase or buy these qualities. We assign value through our money system. Money is the agreed upon external

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object of value. Money allows us to act upon the value system that exists within us.

As I embarked upon learning and navigating my way into the new-ish system of crypto currency, I was instantly inspired and started to meditate on the origins of our monetary systems and how they function to re lect our identity as human beings.

This consideration led me to create the concept of my genesis NFT collection, The Spirit Coin. I was inspired to create a series of circular hand painted designs that captured aspects of ourselves that come from the inner source of our own being.

The Spirit Coin collection represents the equity of connection versus transaction. The second phase in this new digital era was the invitation to SHARE more.

Because my work was now being seen on a computer screen, the story and the content changed and developed so that the message could be fully received by the viewers.

Each digital scan of each physical painting on paper became a special story to tell and an energy to transmit.

The desire to stay connected to my own art making practice and to also share it with others motivated me to reach wholeheartedly into this new medium and embrace the illusion of constraint the screen seemed to pose. The digital space opened and expanded the storyline, the meaning and the multi-dimensional quality of my work. I started to animate my work and create sound pieces to accompany the images. The additional layers of movement and sound brought my work to an even greater life.

While completing my MFA at The San Francisco Art Institute, a professor presented us with a concept I carry with me into my practice as a professional creative to this day. He asked us to consider the extent of generosity in our work. He asked us to consider if we were allowing our audience inside of our work. Were we being generous and allowing our audience to see exactly what it is that we are creating? Or were we treating our audience like outsiders? He then proposed a simple, yet paradoxical question: Does this piece of art have joyful complexity? What is joyful complexity? Joyful complexity is the act of embracing our inherent in luence and control alongside our total surrender as to W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M

how something turns out with a commitment to keep going until there is joy in the inished product. Joyful complexity is about the balance between what we know and the beautiful mystery that drives us to know more.

One of the most intense times of uncertainty was midway into the pandemic, none of us knowing how long it would go on and what the outcome would be or how we would collectively survive. I remember the simple act of going to the grocery store took on a new level of joy for me like never before! This was one of the most exciting parts of the day for quite some time! So, we come to our inal stage, EASE. The Web3 space catapulted my vision not because of initial necessity, constraint, or technological advancement- I have been catapulted into new levels of creative, inancial and personal ful illment because of people.

Something I let go of is the idea that I have to do it all by myself, or that I have done it all by myself. In the West, there is great emphasis on the culture of hyper individualism and validation through singular power structures. In Web3, anyone and everyone who is in the space knows that we not only need each other but we thrive when we work together. It's about celebrating community and connection. The willingness to partner and collaborate with others in business is one of the most important evolutionary acts that we can make as artists, companies, brands and businesses. Learning to trust in the dynamic exchange and opening to the cocreative force is an act of faith in our need to be together, to work together and to live together. Being together is one of our basic needs as human beings. We need each other like we need groceries.

Togetherness and groceries, like all basic needs are meant to be met. As I placed my fully loaded grocery bags into my car packed to the brim with beautiful food one recent evening, I was stunned at the depth of my good fortune. It was then at that moment of deep gratitude that I heard and realized the word groceries. I heard it just as I write it here in these three words: grow, share, ease. It is simple, powerful and true: When we grow, we create more to share and when we share, we create an ease based upon the abundance of connection.

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EXELEON SPOTLIGHT

The Importance of Mentorship for Female Leaders

Wri en by Malika Begin

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n today’s dynamic and complex professional landscape, mentorship shines as an inspiration, guiding individuals toward success and nurturing their growth. It also gives them a competitive advantage if pursued strategically. Amidst the intricacies of modern workplaces, mentorship isn't just advantageous; it's essential, especially for female leaders breaking barriers and challenging societal norms.

As the Founder and CEO of Begin Development, I've personally witnessed the profound impact of mentorship on female leaders' journeys. I've built mentorship programs at multiple organizations because I believe in and see irsthand the impact on junior and mid-career employees.

Transitioning from a contributor to establishing my own women-led irm, I'm committed to cultivating a 46 | APRIL 2025

thriving career in people development for myself and others.

Mentors and mentorship communities have played an invaluable role in this success.

CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH

One of the primary functions of mentorship is to create growth opportunities through guidance and wisdom. Female leaders face complex challenges in the workplace, ranging from gender bias, work-life balance, mental load, and lack of representation.

A mentor can serve as a guide, offering support and perspective during crucial times. At one point in my career, I was a prime candidate to leave the workforce due to my age, gender, and newly added children. My insightful male boss allowed me to have a lexible

schedule and work from home as a working mother. When he retired, the company no longer allowed this policy. Though, I didn't want to leave, I changed my trajectory to move on because it was dif icult to imagine being the kind of mom I wanted to be with the commute, travel, and long hours.

This led me to start my own company, Begin Development. I had a key female mentor at that pivotal moment that encouraged and enforced me to make that leap of faith.

Moments like these illustrate the possibilities when women have great mentors by our side versus when the corporate structures continue to promote gender inequality within the workplace.

Even as I started on my entrepreneurial journey, I

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continued to utilize the power of mentorship. I was able to navigate the obstacles of entrepreneurship more effectively and develop the con idence to pursue my ambitions as a Founder.

With effective mentorship, women can continue to thrive and grow, progressing on the same earning potential path as others while also providing a space to champion other women in the workplace.

BREAKING THROUGH BARRIERS AND STEREOTYPES In male-dominated industries, breaking barriers and stereotypes is an ongoing battle for female leaders or women working their way up the leadership ladder.

Mentorship provides a platform to challenge the norms and carve out a space for women at the table.

By connecting with mentors with challenges like mine, I've been exposed to a wide range of expertise. Studies show that mentorship increases con idence levels among female mentees, helping them navigate challenges

with resilience and self-assurance.

According to two studies by the Harvard Business Review, employees with mentors are more likely to receive promotions and salary increases compared to those without mentors.

Around 71% of executives choose to mentor employees of the same gender or race. Therefore, mentorship, self-awareness, con idence, and positive self-talk foster a culture of inclusivity and diversity, further helping pave the way for greater representation of women in leadership roles.

PAYING IT FORWARD: MENTORSHIP AS A CATALYST FOR CHANGE As female leaders progress in their careers, we must pay it forward and mentor the next generation of aspiring leaders. A study by Catalyst found that female employees with female role models were likelier to aspire to leadership positions and stay in them. Mentorship creates a ripple effect, catalyzing positive change within organizations and

communities. By serving as mentors, we as women can empower others to reach their full potential.

CONCLUSION

United, women, and men can dismantle outdated norms and relentlessly pursue the obliteration of glass ceilings hindering women in the workplace. With more advocating for better systems and lexible ways of working, we create more opportunities for talent, especially women.

Mentorship emerges as a formidable instrument to chart our course forward. It transcends mere ascent to leadership; it embodies the ethos of uplifting others on our journey. The time has come to embrace mentorship as an indispensable cornerstone for cultivating the future generation of women leaders, paving the way for a more radiant, inclusive tomorrow for everyone.

About the Author Malika Begin is a people and organization development leader and the founder of Begin Development—a business consulting irm that works with companies to build strong, healthy cultures. Built over a decade of experience in the people development space, Malika's signature style and dedication to team health are powered by her belief that leaders who invest in their employees, excel in con lict and communication

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skills, and foster collaborative teams are the biggest asset to a successful organization.

Malika's work spans that of startups and brands in tech, media, marketing, and entertainment, and her client set includes a breadth of companies from Magnite, BOND, and CreatorIQ to SKIMs and Good American, and even Delta Airlines and YPO.

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EXELEON SPOTLIGHT

What You Don’t Know About Women Entrepreneurs in Developing Countries

Wri en By Donna Rosa

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omen's History Month ushers women across the globe into the limelight and advocates for women's equality. Yet, we're overlooking millions of women as if they were invisible: female entrepreneurs in developing countries. They are unseen and unheard outside the international aid community, but they are a quiet, hardworking, and productive force.

I've come to know their stories and sorrows, struggles and successes.

I'm a business coach for entrepreneurs in emerging economies, and before I discovered this calling, I never knew it was a thing. I'd spent the bulk of my career in the corporate world, wanting to give back to society but not knowing how. Over time I realized that I'd accumulated a measure of business experience, 50 | APRIL 2025

and I could either die with it in my head or share it with those who would most bene it from it.

Eventually, I found my way into international development, supporting microenterprises in low-income countries. I saw a key success factor being overlooked: while small business owners were provided technical support and sometimes inancing, they were not being taught day-to-day business management or planning. So I stepped in to ill the gap.

I love this work because it takes so little to make a massive difference in people's businesses--and lives.

And I love entrepreneurs because they are like sponges, eager to absorb everything they possibly can, and grateful for the help. They are exceedingly strong and resilient,

and they don't realize it. They are my heroes.

THE ENTREPRENEURIAL LANDSCAPE

When you think of entrepreneurship in poor countries you might envision a woman selling crafts or vegetables in a local market. Of course there's that—a lot of it. However, entrepreneurs fall along a continuum, from lowincome solopreneurs to small established businesses to high-tech innovators seeking global venture capital. All are found in the developing world, but here I focus on those I work with, microenterprises with 1-10 employees.

While we in the West tend to glorify entrepreneurship (especially

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startups) it's just the opposite in many poor countries. Steady wagepaying full-time jobs are rare and prestigious. Since there are few jobs available even for the educated, the only way to make a living is to igure out how to sell something.

Such business owners are called “entrepreneurs of necessity.”

I work with both male and female entrepreneurs, and many of the problems they face traverse gender.

If you think entrepreneurship is hard, try doing it in a developing country. They deal with innumerable annoying obstacles that shouldn't be issues, like lack of (or intermittent) electricity or clean running water. If they are fortunate enough to have access, it's expensive. Every day they cope with poor infrastructure, extremely limited resources, little or no access to capital, unpaved roads, expensive distribution, old equipment that constantly needs repair, and unreliable suppliers and labor. It's lonely at the bottom.

Underlying all this is the most insidious problem of all: as they most simply don't know how to manage a business, however small.

How could they? There are no Small Business Administrations that give free assistance and advice.

Unstable, under-resourced governments burden businesses with regulations and red tape and thwart business-enabling environments. Aid agencies, NGOs, and social businesses do provide inancial/resource aid and technical training, but there's just not enough to go around.

WOMEN’S WORK

Some time ago the international 52 | APRIL 2025

donor community igured out that when they enable women, they enable entire communities. Turns out that there's a multiplier effect for resources spent supporting them. When women acquire skills and develop incomes, they use a greater portion of that money for their families and communities than men do. That means better education and health for children, as well as poverty reduction. With that kind of ROI, aid has focused on supporting women in many ways, including business.

With the resulting attention on women, I've had the opportunity to work with both individual female business owners and women's groups. I enjoy both. I marvel at how women seem to come together naturally to support each other, especially in dif icult circumstances.

I vividly remember a group I worked with in rural Kenya, where the women took it upon themselves to improve their community after a boy was found dead in an open sewer pit. They began reporting open sewers to the health department, and with that success, initiated all sorts of activities.

Projects included sanitation improvement, protecting the local river, advocating for children's' rights, promoting local droughtresistant crops, assistance for young parents on family, maternal and child issues, gender sensitization, trainings in adjacent communities, and helping women generate sustainable incomes.

I was equally impressed by their business smarts: they acquired some grant funds, and instead of simply dividing the money among the members they chose to create a

small enterprise to generate ongoing income for all.

FEMININE BUSINESS BURDENS There has been signi icant progress for working women and women's rights over the past 50 years. World Bank data indicates that in most countries, women can now sign contracts, open bank accounts, and register businesses, although access to credit is still a problem.

Still, women face obstacles that men do not. Some are cultural and others are simply discriminatory, but either way, women are systematically excluded from economic opportunities, and it prevents them from developing their businesses.

The uneven playing ield starts in the playground: girls have less access to education than boys.

When they marry their needs can be subordinated. If a woman does manage to create a small business, she adds that on top of her responsibilities for child-rearing and running the home.

It can be dif icult for businesswomen to access muchneeded credit in the developing world, which is interesting since women are far less likely than men to default on loans. A report by the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi) states that “Seventy percent of formal women owned SMEs in developing countries are either shut out of inancial institutions or can't get the capital they need.” That makes women's businesses smaller, less pro itable, and slower growing than their male counterparts.

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more concerned with business survival rather than growth.

Legally women are routinely discriminated against in family, land rights, and labor laws. These regulations can be worse for women entrepreneurs than the business laws: they determine whether women can make independent economic decisions, enter contracts, or own, manage, or inherit assets and property. Loans, for example, usually require collateral. Because men can own land and other assets and women often can't, they are immediately excluded from opportunities to borrow.

Other factors play a role, too.

Women frequently lack the business networks, contacts, and access to markets to build successful businesses. They open

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businesses without management skills, education, training, or experience.

BUSINESSWOMEN RISING

Despite the uphill battle, I have high hopes for women entrepreneurs in developing nations. They are both determined and undeterred. If we arm them with skills, encouragement, and funding they have a ighting chance. They deserve not just support, but admiration.

It's important to note that developing-country entrepreneurs need the right form of assistance for their businesses to thrive. I ind they do best when they learn key concepts in the context of their own businesses rather than large scale, one-off generalized training; it's dif icult for them to go home and

apply what they learn after a workshop. That's why I prefer oneone or small group coaching, which enables me to learn the ins and outs of each business and provide the handholding and encouragement they need to develop selfcon idence and achieve pro itability.

If you are part of a business with a social mission, CSR program or ESG mandate consider lending some brain trust, inancing, or mentorship to developing-country women entrepreneurs. Your knowhow can make a big difference with even a small investment.

For more information on Donna and her work visit www.efourenterprises.com and www.donnamrosa.com

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