LADY GLOBAL POWER - APRIL ISSUE ANNIE GIBBINS

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Building a Global Empire: Annie Gibbins' Blueprint for Creating and Scaling Global Brands

Interview by Hazel Herrington

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Building Empires: The Rise of Powerful Women Entrepreneurs

Written by Hazel Herrington

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Growth Mind-set

By Precious Nyarambi

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Dear readers,

Welcome to the latest edition of Lady Global Power Magazine, where we celebrate the incredible achievements of women in business and empower our readers to reach new heights. In this issue, we are thrilled to explore the theme of "Building Empires: The Rise of Powerful Women Entrepreneurs." It is our honour to showcase the stories of remarkable women who have defied the odds, shattered glass ceilings, and inspired countless others with their unwavering determination, innovation, and leadership.

Our cover girl for this edition is none other than the visionary entrepreneur Annie Gibbins the founder of Women’s Biz Global, who is making waves as she builds a global empire and sets the blueprint for creating and scaling global brands Her journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, ingenuity, and an unwavering belief in one's vision. In our exclusive interview, she shares her secrets to success, offering valuable insights into her approach to business and the lessons she has learned along the way.

In this issue, we also delve into the stories of five powerful women entrepreneurs who have made an indelible impact on their respective industries. From technology and fashion to consumer goods and event management, these trailblazing women have proven that anything is possible with determination and the right mindset. By sharing their journeys, we hope to inspire our readers to chase their dreams, embrace challenges, and redefine success on their own terms

As you flip through the pages of this issue, we invite you to consider the ways in which you, too, can build your empire. Whether you are an aspiring entrepreneur, an established business owner, or simply someone who wants to make a difference in the world, we believe that you have the power to create lasting change and forge your own path to success

At Lady Global Power Magazine, our mission is to empower, inspire, and uplift our readers. We are confident that this edition will not only ignite your passion for entrepreneurship but also provide you with the tools and resources you need to turn your dreams into reality We hope that the stories of these powerful women entrepreneurs will serve as a reminder that with hard work, passion, and resilience, anything is possible. Thank you for joining us on this journey, and we wish you every success as you embark on your own path to building your empire.

Building a Global Empire:

Annie Gibbins' Blueprint for Creating and Scaling Global Brands

Annie Gibbins is a trailblazer in the world of business, known for her expertise in building global brands and scaling businesses across international markets. As the founder and CEO of Women’s Biz Global, she has built a global empire that spans more than 50 countries and serves millions of customers worldwide.

In this cover story, we explore Gibbins' blueprint for creating and scaling global brands. We examine the key strategies and tactics she has used to expand her business into new markets, including the importance of understanding local cultures and customs, forging strong partnerships with local companies, and leveraging cuttingedge technologies to stay ahead of the competition.

We also dive into the challenges Gibbins has faced along the way, from navigating complex regulatory environments to adapting her business model to meet the unique needs of different markets.

We hear from Gibbins herself, as she shares her insights on leadership, innovation, and the art of building a truly global empire.

Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned business leader, this cover story is a must-read for anyone looking to build a brand that transcends borders and captures the hearts and minds of customers around the world.

Join us as we explore the secrets of Annie Gibbins' success and learn how you too can build a global empire that stands the test of time

Interview by

Hazel Herrington

HH: Can you tell us a bit about Women's Biz Global and what inspired you to start the company?

Women’s Biz Global is an international organisation, driven to set women up for unlimited success. We educate, motivate, and elevate women so they can feel and be empowered to live a life they love. At the core of Women’s Biz Global, is a motivation to see women thriving, both professionally and personally. We believe anything is achievable with the right success formula and we aim to excel. We are the cheerleaders that every woman deserves, by standing in her corner offering unstoppable support.

We stand by these statements:

We are the experts that women worldwide have been missing up until now.

We are the women who can boost brands with insider knowledge. We are the women who can.

Women’s Biz Global offers a one stop shop for women wanting to rapidly scale their global brand including Coaching, Blog, Podcast, Summits, Magazine, TV Show, Publishing, Shopping, and a few more exciting concepts launching soon.

Our global tribe embraces the concept of collaboration over competition and refuse to waste time, money and energy when we can benefit from the synergy resulting from the collective force. I am of the thinking, “if you want to create a meaningful business, do it! After All, why wouldn’t you want to explore your dreams?”

HH: How have you seen Women's Biz Global evolve and grow over the years?

Women’s Biz Global has grown massively over the last 12 months. Pre pandemic it originated as Women’s Biz Tribe and the changing tide of women’s needs resulted in an enormous shift in my suite of offerings. So, in very ‘Annie Gibbins’ style, I am fully committed to the growth of the business, and exceed all expectations of my clients, consumers, and ‘tribe’. It is worth noting that success is never a given, just because the intention is there.

If you know me, I work faster than most, and social engagement within my network continues on an hourly basis Being a solo success is one thing, but who wants to feel success alone at the end of the day?

So, my team and I are fully committed to ensuring that every woman who visits our website, campaigns, social media, and inbox, feel heard, seen and celebrated. I would encourage the readers of this magazine to most definitely ‘watch this space because BIGGER things are always coming.

HH: What new projects is Women's Biz Global currently working on?

This is always an interesting one, as I’d say, “what aren’t we working on?” As I have mentioned, we have multiple business arms, platforms, and business divisions As a fast paced and rapidly growing company, now, we are putting our time, love, passion, and energy into ensuring all our goals and objectives are 100% crystalised. After launching our Special Edition: International Women’s Day 2023 Women’s Biz Magazine, only a few days ago, and preparing to release our next addition in the coming weeks, this has demonstrated how efficient and passionate the team at Women’s Biz Global are.

We are also working on our first Women’s Biz Publishing anthology, Heart Warrior’, which is due to be released in July 2023, and expanding our suite of products at Women’s Biz Shopping.

A BIG dream of mine has always been to launch my own TV channel, and I had my first guest on the show just last week which is now live in 91 countries via The Everyday Women’s Network.

In addition to the wonderment, I am currently in discussions for more keynote speaking opportunities, corporate partners and sponsorships, and building our wonderful global community

HH: Can you tell us more about your upcoming TV show and what viewers can expect to see?

Oh my, this is something that I’ve wanted to do for many years. I have been a devoted fan of my peers who have successful TV shows, and as a passionate speaker and conversationalist, I am on top of the world when I am sitting opposite a guest, who has an outstanding story to share. It’s so vital that we provide women with opportunities to step onto our platforms, to elevate their brands, challenges overcome, and their uniqueness.

Women’s Biz TV is the talk show where empowered women share their journeys of shattering visible and invisible glass ceilings. Women’s Biz TV LIVE streams into 91 countries across the world via The Everyday Women's Network and partners ROKU and Fire TV.

HH: Women's Biz Shopping is a new addition to the Women's Biz Global platform, how did this idea come about?

Who doesn’t love the idea of creating a place that I would personally shop? I love ecommerce, supporting established and boutique stores, and this is a concept that will showcase standout brands, and be both profitable and rewarding. That’s right – I love making profits, because this is a wonderful reward for hard work.

By listing some amazing brands, in turn, I am providing an opportunity to expose new and successful companies, giving them the chance to reign in the big bucks

Many start-ups find the expense of hosting their own store costly, so creating their own store on our platform is a dream come true. Women’s Biz Shopping aligns with the values of Women’s Biz Global, and that is to create a solution for people’s needs, and in this marketplace, it’s to be pampered.

We all need to feel good about ourselves, homes, and self-care is definitely a necessity not a luxury!

I am so proud of Women’s Biz Shopping, as it was complex to create, but so brilliant to see come to life!

HH: What makes Women's Biz Shopping unique compared to other e-commerce platforms?

Women's Biz Shopping provides an opportunity to purchase and sell high quality goods via our web store. We have partnered with luxury brands and ethically responsible retailers, curating a digital marketplace for global consumers.

We boast a beautiful collection of pieces ranging from keepsakes, premium gifts, luxury accessories, and all created with quality in mind.

The only fix you need for luxury shopping online, this is your onestop-shop for on-trend and affordable women’s books, fashion, beauty care and premium goods, selected with you in mind.

Find everything right here from bespoke trinkets to high-end cosmetic collections. Luxury is the most desired feeling in the world. Once you’ve tasted it, nothing else ever tastes so good. We are an independent business lifestyle retailer of all thing’s designer, highend quality and must have keepsakes for the successful woman in us all We hope you find our website a joy to use.

Women’s Biz Shopping have partnered with luxury brands and affluent retailers, curating a digital marketplace where you can find products and keepsakes to enrich your life, in ways you once only dreamed of. Women’s Biz Shopping boasts a beautiful collection of pieces ranging from keepsakes, premium gifts, luxury accessories, and all created with quality in mind. We believe that each time you purchase from us, the pleasure should begin from the moment the item arrives

HH: How does Women's Biz Global offer coaching and mentorship to its members?

I have been a Success Catalyst and exclusive coach for more than a decade, prior to launching Women’s Biz Global.

Supporting women through ‘bespoke bootcamps’, short courses, and premier programs is at my very core of being a CEO. For most of my life, I have been an educator across multiple industries, so imparting my experience, qualifications and knowledge comes second nature to me. Through the evolution of Women’s Biz Global however, I have been able to identify specialist areas, a wider network, and gather intelligence about what women really want (and need!).

Essentially, if you are talking or hearing from me, you are getting a sprinkle of my coaching power, and enrolling in my courses or programs gives women the opportunity to land that 7-figure salary, capture market appeal, and become a dominator in any niche and mainstream industry.

HH: Can you tell us more about Women's Biz Global magazine and what readers can expect to see in each issue?

Women's Biz Magazine is a quarterly digital publication, available on Press-reader to a global reach of 300M and 12M monthly subscribers. The magazine features articles from business leaders, innovators, thought-trail blazers, and change agents and includes content aligned to 12 Business and Life Pillars.

We offer limitless benefits to our contributors including, reaching an engaged global audience across our powerful social media channels and networks. We offer feature articles, advertisements, regular columns and Women’s Biz Global news across lifestyle, business, health and well-being, fashion and well, the list goes on!

HH: How does Women's Biz Global help female entrepreneurs break into traditionally male-dominated industries?

First and foremost, Women’s Biz Global believes in absolute equality, and that includes working with our international female community, including our male supporters.

In saying that, we are incredibly aware of the gender pay-gap, and the additional hurdles women face breaking into C-Suite roles. In addition to that, entrepreneurs starting out in business can feel intimidated by breaking into business, especially those who have taken time-out to focus on raising their families, or sadly, those who step away from professional roles during the global pandemic.

As a versatile business, we encourage all women to feel empowered, supported, and fearless in their pursuits for professional success. For this reason, our coaching and media opportunities are highly focused on smashing visible and invisible barriers that have previously been seen as obstacles but with the right mindset and strategy, don’t need to be moving forward.

HH: How does Women's Biz Global empower women to build and grow their businesses?

It’s so important that I continue to demonstrate my brand, by living the advice I offer.

For example, last month, I have joined forces in an Exclusive Diamond Partnership with LeadHERship Global,

a community for extraordinary women in leadership around world, unleashing greater potential of high-performing and growth-oriented leaders in a confidential, supportive and private community. LeadHERship Global helps members accelerate their success by defining their vision, growing their leadership, expanding their influence, and leaving a lasting legacy.

Together we harness the knowledge, influence, and trust of high-performing women to stimulate idea exchange, support creativity, provide resources and tools and accelerate personal and professional growth. United in purpose, mission and vision, the communities of Women’s Biz Global and LeadHERship Global have formed a partnership that will advance the success of women in leadership worldwide by integrating self-directed learning, impactful group experiences, peer advisory services, and expert-led coaching and mentoring

Together, LeadHERship Global and Women’s Biz Global will combine the wealth of their expertise, their international networks, valuable resources, and tools, as well as the strategic opportunities and exclusive advantages available in these communities to provide their collective members with unparalleled benefits.

This partnership will enable worldwide coverage, ensuring that development opportunities are available for all women. The future for Women’s Biz Global is bright, busy, and at the core of our ethos is to grow business for all women, in addition to ourselves by offering expert advice and solutions, empowering women to back their bands unapologetically, and maintain a sense of steadiness in the explosion of success!

HH: What advice do you have for aspiring female entrepreneurs who are just starting out?

The secret to women's empowerment is women. I know, that's a given right? However, it doesn't always happen. We have been taught for many years that independence, autonomy and going-it-alone are the qualities needed for solo success. And whilst this statement rings true, it also goes against what truly works, and that's being together. Women for centuries, in some shape or form, have been gathering in communities.

Communities for storytelling, circles for community, and circles for support. We have this innate ability to tend and befriend; our instinct to seek out those who need us and support them in a way that they need. Whilst we no longer huddle around fires, we do huddle around as tribes or at least, I hope we do.

How many amazing things have happened to you because you had the roaring courage to say, “yes”?

How many times have you felt deflated and unfulfilled because you said, “no”?

The power of saying “yes”, whilst sometimes scary, can be the most liberating word in our entire orbit.

Here are my tips and tricks on why the word ‘yes’ can be a dealbreaker to a great life:

A YES mindset: The first thing I want to talk about is how we need to change our way of thinking. We have been conditioned to think negatively.

When we do not get what we want, we tend to think something bad happened. Instead of saying “I did not get what I wanted”, we should say “I got what someone felt I deserved”. If we look at the world around us, we can see that everything happens for a reason We may not understand why things happen, but they always do.

So instead of being upset over not getting what we want, we should focus on what we desire and why it is not worth giving up on.

Be grateful: When we are grateful, we are happy. Gratitude changes our perspective and gives us a positive outlook on life. We should always be thankful for what we have. We should never take anything for granted. Even if we do not have much, we still have something. We should appreciate what we have and be grateful for it.

Take responsibility: We cannot blame others for our problems. We need to accept full responsibility for our actions. No matter what someone else does, we are responsible for our own actions. We should not point fingers at others and make excuses for ourselves. We should learn to take ownership of our mistakes.

Do not give up: If we keep trying, we will eventually succeed. Success comes from consistent intentional action, so focus on making sure you keep showing up every day as the person you dream to be The laws of attraction will ensure blessing will follow so please do not give up easily To achieve greatness, you first need to believe that you are worthy of receiving it, so spend some extra time investing in your own self-belief. You are worthy, you just need to believe it!

Stay focused: To stay focused, we need to remove the distractions to pull us off track as they will rob your potential. Our minds are powerful tools, and we should use them wisely, hence I’m a huge fan of having vision boards scattered all over my visual space

From prominently positioned motivational images, empowering affirmations, desktop screensaver challenges, do whatever it takes to keep your hope and dreams front and centre.

Do you want a successful and happy life? I think we both know the answer to that!

HH: Does Women's Biz Global have any plans to expand into publishing? If so, what types of books can we expect to see from the company?

Absolutely! In fact, Women’s Biz Publishing launched in November 2022 and we are full steam ahead. Women's Biz Publishing is a growing independent Australian publisher specialising in helping women in business to get their book published so they can build their brand globally, dominate in their business niche and create success on their terms.

We love to make dreams come true and are passionate about ensuring all books reflect the dreams of our authors and their brand. If you are ready to turn your book into a #1 best seller, reach out to us today, we are ready to be your champion. Currently, we are working on three anthologies in 2023, and a poetry book.

We have captured the passion of a beautiful collection of Authors, who are submitting the chapters and prose across the following titles;

Heart Warrior, Memoirs of Successful Women, Dream Big Act Bigger, and Awaken Your Divine Feminine. We are also appealing to solo authors, who are wishing to explore their publishing opportunities as a debut or established Author, which is very exciting.

HH: How has your family supported you throughout your journey in building Women's Biz Global and your career as a business leader?

When I wrote my memoir, Twins: Double Trouble Double Treat, I told the story of how James and I raised two sets of twins, born just 26 months apart, before having our fifth beautiful child 5 years later. Alongside my beautiful husband, James, we knew that to gain happiness and joy in the home and to succeed professionally, we needed to be a solid team.

And I am happy to say, that team Gibbins is going strong today as we have been happily married for 35 years. My family have only known me ‘this way’; formidable, passionate, quirky and determined to be someone who can ‘have it all’. Whilst some would say that’s not possible, I would confidently say that it absolutely is, you just need to find your own way. My family are my biggest cheerleaders, and even now, some of my adult children are helping me grow some arms of the business. My family however is everyone in my tribe, and I am so proud of them all!

HH: Can you tell us about a particular challenge or setback you faced while building your business, and how you overcame it?

I see setbacks as opportunities to learn. Growing Women’s Biz Global at the pace I have, has required a lot of ‘trial and error’.

I am constantly learning new technology platforms, working out what systems are more efficient than others, developing new ways to redirect my ideas, and sometimes, refining the simplest of day-to-day tasks.

When I moved from a start-up business to a scale-up, I didn’t have the correct IT infrastructure in place, so it was a mad scramble to automate or I was at major risk of burnout.

Preparing for success is ensuring you are ready for it – so, it’s so important to put your mindset in the future and question, “Am I ready to blitz the business world and what would happen if high numbers of dream customers came flooding in?” Truly, it’s a great problem to have but you don’t want your castle tumbling down around you!

HH: Balancing work and family life can be a challenge for many entrepreneurs. How do you prioritise your family while also running a global business empire?

I am an avid adrenaline junkie, hiker, and love activity based ‘downtime’. I continue to enjoy ‘date nights’ with my husband, and love looking after my beautiful granddaughters, surrounded by my five wonderful children who are navigating such interesting times in their life. It’s so important to maintain a sense of balance both at home and work because both are not enjoyable when one suffers neglect.

Being an entrepreneur does come with certain sacrifices, and some compromise is required. However, if I could leave one piece of lasting advice, is that “you deserve and can have it all!” so put the key not negotiable needs in your diary before ‘busy’ takes over.

Building Empires:

The Rise of Powerful Women Entrepreneurs

Written by Hazel Herrington

Breaking Glass Ceilings and Redefining Success, One Business at a Time

In a world that has historically been dominated by men, the past few decades have witnessed a remarkable shift. The rise of powerful women entrepreneurs has not only redefined the rules of the game but has also empowered women worldwide to challenge the status quo and create their own paths to success. With grit, determination, and an unwavering focus on their goals, these trailblazing women are reshaping the business landscape and building empires of their own. In this article, we celebrate five such phenomenal women who continue to inspire and lead the way for future generations.

1.Sara Blakely:

The founder and CEO of Spanx, Sara Blakely, is nothing short of a self-made billionaire. With just $5,000 in savings, she revolutionized the world of women's undergarments by creating a product that provided support and confidence. Through sheer persistence and business acumen, Blakely transformed a simple idea into a multibillion-dollar empire. Today, Spanx is a global powerhouse that continues to challenge traditional norms and empower women with its innovative product line

Whitney Wolfe Herd: Whitney Wolfe Herd, the founder and CEO of Bumble, has undoubtedly made her mark in the world of technology and online dating. Her app not only empowers women by putting them in control of initiating conversations, but also promotes a safer and more equitable online dating experience. Since its launch in 2014, Bumble has expanded its reach, becoming a true force to be reckoned with in the tech industry. Wolfe Herd's commitment to gender equality and women's safety has made her a prominent figure among today's powerful women entrepreneurs.

Julia Hartz:

the co-founder and CEO of entbrite, Julia Hartz has volutionized the event management d ticketing industry. Since its eption in 2006, Eventbrite has grown ponentially, allowing millions of ent organizers worldwide to plan, omote, and sell tickets to their events th ease. Hartz's dedication to user perience and commitment to novation has allowed Eventbrite to main at the forefront of its industry, aking her one of the most influential omen entrepreneurs of our time.

2.

elanie Perkins: va, the online graphic design form, owes its success to the vision determination of its co-founder and O, Melanie Perkins. This Australian repreneur started her company in 3 with the goal of making graphic ign accessible to everyone Fast ward to today, and Canva has become essential tool for millions of users ldwide, boasting a valuation of over billion. Perkins' relentless pursuit of dream has made her one of the st successful and powerful women repreneurs in the tech industry.

Actress-turned-entrepreneur Jessica Alba has proven that talent and business acumen can go hand in hand. As the cofounder of The Honest Company, Alba has been a force for change in the consumer goods industry. Her commitment to providing safe, ecofriendly, and affordable products for families has transformed The Honest Company into a household name, earning her a spot among the most influential women entrepreneurs of our generation.

The rise of powerful women entrepreneurs is not just a testament to their individual success stories, but also a reflection of the changing world we live in. These remarkable women have broken barriers, challenged stereotypes, and paved the way for future generations to follow in their footsteps. As they continue to build their empires, they serve as an inspiration to women everywhere, proving that with determination, passion, and vision, anything is possible.

5.Jessica Alba:

Growth Mind-set

By Precious Nyarambi

An excerpt from the book: Thriving Entrepreneurs

to at time.

g g, hindrance to the growth of my business. Sometimes it was due to personal and emotional attachments to my organisation that affected the growth. When my mental capacity grew, my business began to grow.

I remember one day when a business mentor was trying to highlight some truths and wisdom to me, and I could not properly perceive the message. The mentor was speaking from a good place of heart and meant well but I was emotional about the business, and I failed to grasp the lessons.

There is often that notion that you write the vision down and make it plain, the interesting thing for me is that after you map out your vision, you must then work backwards and do things that will feed into your end goal i.e.: your vision. The vision remains something to be achieved within given timelines. Success is no accident. It is planned hard work and smart work, perseverance, sacrifice and most of all, love and passion for what you are doing or learning to do.

When you align purpose, vision and growth mind-sets in your entrepreneurial journey, and factor in “The Power of Yet”, it leaves room for continuous personal growth and in turn business growth. ‘Yet’ puts a fixed mind-set statement into a growth mind-set context of learning over time. Yet is a little word with potentially big powers of motivation

This is the power of “not yet according” to Carol S Dweck Not yet gives confidence, a different perspective and a bigger picture and empowers the mind-set. The mind-set will direct the habit and attitude.If you don’t have it figured out yet, keep at it. One day it will come together.

Entrepreneurs embrace challenges and their problem-solving technique eventually grows. They are able to not get stuck. The process of going through different challenges, dealing with them and overcoming them builds some sort of capacity through stretching and confronting the challenges In my case, whenever I face a challenge, I sit down, reflect on it and unpack it. Eventually I work out a solution to that challenge, by chance the tenacity to face obstacles also grows. Once you overcome a challenge, you become a master over it.

After years of being stretched and facing different challenges, you grow and mature enough to face obstacles, big and small. It then becomes more like training and equipping of some sort. You become a victor not a victim after overcoming.

Entrepreneurs see efforts as paths to mastery, learn from criticism, find lessons and inspiration in the success of others and as a result, they achieve ever-higher levels of achievement for themselves.The mind-set must be empowered continuously and sees more opportunities in every situation. The mind is a powerful tool, fill it with positive thoughts and your life will flourish What you think, you shall become.

A growth mind-set means you believe your skills are not static, and you can evolve, learn, and grow. It gives you a path into the future and can be an upward learning curve if tapped into With guidance and an open mind, people will continue their learning trajectories and grow in every circumstance. As human beings, we always must develop and improve ourselves. Learning is a continuous cycle. We become more relevant and needed when we are holistically empowered

One would wonder where I am going with this! Well, I believe that we are called to something or some sort of purpose that we must run and win in our lifetime and for some it is easy to identify and resonate with it and for some, it is not. Imagine if we all knew our purposes in our lifetime, the impact and relevance we would bring. If you are already living your purpose, that is good and if not, ‘yet’ is motivation enough to begin pursuing your purpose. Purpose leaves you fulfilled and complete as alluded to earlier, loneliness is the absence of purpose If you find yourself lonely, you are not busy and utilising your time well. I encourage you to become productively busy. Redeem and account for your time.

My conviction and belief system has been my anchor over the years. I know that I can do all things and that all things are possible. I am fully convinced that the 'violent’ shall take it by force in this world. The race is not for the slow but for PUSHERS, people who are willing to defy the odds and are able to stand up to their convictions at all costs. Become accomplished against all odds. Forget all the reasons why it won’t work and believe one reason why it will.

Once one identifies with their purpose, it begins to push them to see the great seed manifesting that is deposited in each one of us. That great seed must be identified and harnessed and developed for fruition.

It is amazing how things that frustrate us the most can ultimately become breakthroughs for us if we allow ourselves to see the lessons beyond the frustration. Have you ever realised that some of the greatest breakthroughs are derived from places of deepest frustration and when they were able to dig deep within and process it, they were able to birth something not only for themselves but something that positively transformed many in the process. I believe human beings have the power to overcome almost anything.

The fact that it bothers something inside you, makes you the solution giver to that thing. It shows that you know better than what you are seeing or experiencing and can therefore improve it, act on it and you will be amazed at how you can transform yourself and many others around you.¡

One of my favourite stories is that of Grameen Bank, which illustrates how analysis of unmet needs can lead to a promising new idea. It illustrates how we as a people must understand that we are part of the change we want to see, that our daily efforts and sacrifices can ultimately add on to some greater impact we desire to see and experience. There is definitely a bigger need for thorough needs analysis that empowers an entrepreneur or social entrepreneur with evidence to implement solutions to community ills.

It is important for entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurs to understand market gaps and community needs so that all efforts are integrated. Needs analysis normally helps in identifying required knowledge and community gaps, it helps to prepare and identify areas that need prioritizing and the urgent needs that must be addressed. I remember one time I took a solution to a community because I felt that was what the community needed. Instead that exercise, as much as it trained me in every sense to put it together, became futile.

The needs analysis then matches the community gaps or needs because they are tailor made for that particular problem. Few would deny the need to address poverty in the desperately poor rural villages of Bangladesh and other impoverished communities. In his search for ideas that might respond to this need, economics professor Muhammed Yunus and his students spent significant time in these villages.

They found that many women generated income for their families by operating small businesses, but these women could not get credit on affordable terms to develop and expand their operations, limiting their income potential.

This is so relatable to me on so many levels as it’s difficult to secure funding without collateral and most women do not have collateral. I have had some projects put on standby due to lack of funding. At the same time, I am confident that I can repay a loan if I secure one.

To most funders, your word is not enough. They consider the viability of the business and collateral;

hence many projects or businesses are stagnating because of that even though they have the potential to scale-up and do better.

Thus, while investigating the broad need to reduce poverty, Yunus through the Grameen Bank, identified a more specific need for access to affordable credit, especially for women.

Based on his analysis and understanding of this need, he generated the idea to create a bank that would serve this market, using an innovative approach of peergroup lending.

Though many traditionalists in Bangladesh objected to his focus on the economic empowerment of women, Yunus had confidence that he would be able to persuade a sufficient number of others, both in and out of Bangladesh, that he was responding to a legitimate need

It is important to pursue legitimate needs that need addressing, it saves time, resources and one from frustrations.

Thus, a promising and ultimately very successful idea was born out of researching an unmet need. While it is important to ground new venture ideas in a plausible diagnosis of social needs, there is a danger of over-emphasizing the negative Yunus pursued a genuine and legitimate need, he pursued his conviction to solving a societal problem of economic empowerment for women.

Some argue that the social sector concentrates too much on needs and that better ideas emerge out of a focus on assets. North-western University’s John McKnight worries that emphasizing needs can lead us to see people and communities as “deficient.”

He contrasts the concept of a ‘neighbourhood needs map’ that focuses on problems such as unemployment, gangs, illiteracy, crime, child abuse, and homelessness with a ‘neighbourhood assets map,’ that replaces the above problems with local businesses, community groups, schools, police departments, health centres, available real estate, and more.

Balance of both worlds of pursuing the needs and the assets is an ideal solution. The two ultimately feed into each other. Social enterprises are on the frontline of communities: meeting basic needs, connecting people to resources, advocating for policy change, and providing programs the government and the private sector cannot accomplish.

The latter presents the community in a new light and may inspire creative new ideas that would not be visible if social entrepreneurs looked at needs alone. For instance, in researching the Bangladeshi villages, Yunus and his students found assets, such as the entrepreneurial spirit of village women, which helped them generate the core idea behind Grameen Bank

While the idea generation process should not be constrained by the resources readily available, understanding the tangible and intangible assets in a community can lead to the development of promising ideas. Though both McKnight and Yunus are primarily concerned with neighbourhood or village development, the concept of asset mapping can be applied more broadly to fields of activity, communities of practice, and even to specific organisations.

For instance, Community Wealth Ventures (CWV) is a consulting firm that specializes in helping nonprofits find new sources of earned income. CWV encourages organisations “to think about their assets in a new way - as valuable commodities that can be leveraged to create wealth.”

Challenges or frustrations or societal ills become a training ground that fuels individuals to confront community ills and has a propensity to greatness if thoroughly analysed and dealt with.

One must not perceive challenges from a victim mentality but as a victor. When you go through a challenge and overcome it, you become a master over it. Yunus addressed the challenges the community faced and a bank was formed.It is the hard days, the times that challenge you to your very core, that determine who you are and in turn improves the communities we live in In the instance of Yunus, going through the challenge of lack of support for women’s small businesses in India led to the formation of a bank through thorough research and community engagement.

Your perception over a matter becomes justified and authenticated after overcoming a challenge. The many challenges our communities face are opportunities waiting to be exploited by citizens and ultimately becoming solutions and revenue streams I challenge us to be intentional in solving problems in our communities.

Purpose will push you even when there are no profits being realised. Once there is a deep conviction and a clearly defined need, purpose amplifies and gives direction. Purpose is something deeper that adds to fulfillment and is not necessarily satisfied by money but lives being improved. The beauty with purpose is that once one starts to pursue it, it attracts resources towards itself. Things begin to align.

I always encourage myself and other people that the most important thing in life is to just begin rather than contemplating on it.

As you begin to pursue, some energy is building towards your purpose and that decision. As you feel it, begin to work around it.

Most times you will realise many are mistakes but that is how you begin to perfect them and have a tried and tested model that can begin to develop and sustain itself. Your purpose is also tied to someone else and that begins to form a chain and sequence that builds a huge force of greatness. We all feed into each other; our efforts don’t grow in isolation

Collaborations and strategic synergies are now the new competition. Our purposes feed into each other. If you do not do your part, something will be amiss in this puzzle that could potentially feed into the next person’s purpose. So when you arise to who you are called to become against all odds, you become an answered prayer for someone, a bouncing board for others to arise to theirs and before we know it we have this amazing testimony of joined efforts that culminate into something substantive

For instance, Yunus was relevant and that brought meaningful change to impoverished communities he was working with. He needed researchers to assist him to empower women. All efforts combined to bring about a positive change to the community.

Our breakthroughs bring about ripples of opportunities for us and communities around us. We begin to light each other’s candles and grow from it

We carry inside of us a seed of greatness, we are able to triumph over any obstacle and succeed. It is in our nature to overcome. Be determined and purposed to transform yourself and your community regardless of difficulties. We are all a part of a master plan. You begin to encourage yourself that you will arise and shine, that what was heading towards bad has a way of turning into good. It eventually turns out for good in due time Be full of conviction and nurture the right thoughts as you embark on the journey of purpose and impacting yourself and communities.

Let your heart be sure and resolute that you will win. We remain the people we are waiting for to bring about the change we want to see. I am trying to encourage everyone that their part matters, especially in these uncertain times we find ourselves in. You arising to your purpose plays such an important part to the puzzle we face in our lifetime. Do not doubt it, trust the process and be led, obey and remember that we all await our manifestation.

Do that which resonates with your spirit and heart. There is that thing that burns within you which yearns to come out and be released. That thing that leaves you anxious and feeling empty because it has not been done and rightly met. That very thing that keeps you passionate and alive. Dare to step up, step out and pursue it. Your background cannot disqualify you, neither should your age, race, colour, financial status or anything for that matter.

Throughout history either in the Bible or stories of people we know, or some we have encountered, great people come from the strangest of backgrounds and have sailed through all sorts of storms to make it The storms or challenges shape the character of individuals. There is a solution to every challenge we face, one just must look deep and within, process it and come out victorious.

In every challenge lies a purpose, once you overcome it, a purpose is birthed. So, when we encounter challenges, we know it is a chance to be promoted to something greater and more meaningful. A challenge you face is a set-up for greatness. Human beings are created most amazingly, they can overcome anything. What frustrates you, will develop you if you tap into it. Use grace to help you overcome any challenge. No matter how big a challenge is, someone somewhere has also gone through it and has overcome it.

A Role Model for Promoting Women's Empowerment

(Written by Naeem Ul Hassan Kandwal)

h two e both ty. Both he same ve fast s are on with the will be en are ocial .

Women's empowerment refers to improving the social, economic, political, and legal strength of women and girls. Furthermore, women's empowerment means promoting women's sense of selfworth and their ability to determine their own choices.

The term "women's empowerment" indicates that women are not as empowered as they should be. Gender equality is a fundamental human right. Women's empowerment refers to creating means and providing channels through which women can enjoy equal rights with men.

The children of today are the leaders of tomorrow. A mother plays the role of a child's first teacher. A mother's teachings play a key role in shaping the personalities of children. Gender equality is a human right. Until women are fully empowered, i.e., they have full rights equal to men, then they cannot reach their full potential.

When women receive the same education and job opportunities as men, they can play a vital role in socioeconomic development.

All human beings are equal. Women are humans, so women and girls are entitled to the same fundamental rights as men. According to the 2022 Statista research report, four European countries hold four out of the top five positions, offering the most gender-equal conditions

These countries include Iceland, Finland, and Norway, respectively. Europe takes the top spot as the best place in the world for women to work. According to a report from the OECD, almost three in four working-age women in the Nordic countries are part of the paid labour force.

According to a report published in CEOWORLD magazine, the top four best countries for women are European. The report is based on a survey of about 390,500 women worldwide Most importantly, eight out of the top ten countries on the list are European. It would not be wrong to say that Europe is at the top in terms of women's empowerment. It is an undisputed fact that despite the work of dozens of human rights organizations, women’s rights continue to be violated due to social norms,

economic inequality, and legal discrimination, both in the Eastern world as well as in some Western countries.

Four human rights that women are still disproportionately deprived of include freedom from torture and degrading treatment, freedom from slavery, the right to own property, and the right to participate in a community's cultural life. Promoting gender equality is the key to building a society in which men and women have equal access to human rights. Undoubtedly, European culture should be followed in terms of gender equality.

In eastern culture as well as in some western countries, a negative mindset still exists that women are less talented than men Hive, a productivity platform, released its "State of the Workplace Report." According to this report, women work 10 percent harder than men in today's offices. Throughout history, women have played a great role in every walk of life, even in wars.

Bravery is considered an attribute of men, but contrary to this, ancient Persian warriors like Sura, Pantea Arteshbod, Artunis, and Youtab Aryobarzan have proven that women can be better warriors than men.

Sura, the daughter of Parthian king Artabanus, served as General of the Army. In the reign of Darius, Irdabama was a top businesswoman who travelled to many countries herself to make business deals.

In the present, thousands of women have proven that they can perform better than men These women include Ursula von der Leyen, Roberta Metsola, Kamala Harris, Oprah Winfrey, Rashida Tlaib, Jacinda Ardern, Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Sanna Mirella Marin, Mette Frederiksen, Christine Lagarde, Condoleezza Rice, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, Noof Alshekar, Sumaiya AlSiyabi, and Malala Yousafzai. The term "women's empowerment" shows that women are still deprived of fundamental human rights. The phrase "women's empowerment" has emerged as a strong global movement

Women and girls represent half of the world’s population, in other words, half of its potential. Keeping half of the world's population deprived of fundamental human rights is an obstacle to building a fair, inclusive, prosperous, and peaceful world

Europe is playing a stronger leadership role in promoting gender equality and women's empowerment. Due to women's vast participation in political and public life, undoubtedly, Europe has emerged as a role model for promoting women's empowerment.

(Written by Naeem Ul Hassan Kandwal)

Accelerating Digital Era

for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Asia Region

Article by Dr Rubee Singh

as r ime equality

for connecting women and girls to knowledge, career opportunities, networks, products, services, and other benefits the internet can provide.

A digital era of gender equality ensures that women and men are free to choose the life they wish to live without being influenced by gender stereotypes, roles, and prejudices, and that their rights, responsibilities, and opportunities as citizens are not determined by their gender identity

32 years, The tools in ay help to celerate qualityand if ll women and girls.

UN Women's 2022 Gender Snapshot estimates that women's exclusion from the digital world has cost developing countries $1 trillion in the last decade, with a loss that will double by 2025 if nothing is done to address this issue. Enhancing women's access to digital technologies offers a significant number of advantages, including economic benefits, as well as the potential to address humanitarian and development challenges and to spark innovative and creative solutions to meet women's needs.

The participation of women in the digital realm is therefore more than an issue of gender equality - it is a prerequisite for sustainable growth. It is also essential to encourage women and girls to participate in the ICT sector by developing their skills in areas such as coding, where they are still severely underrepresented.

By bringing women into the country's IT sector, we work with the government and our partners to provide them with ICT training. In addition to improving their digital skills, we can also provide them with female role models who will increase their chances of pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) - a field in which 75 percent of jobs are expected to be engaged by the year 2050.

The government, academia, civil society, as well as the private sector, will need to work together to achieve this goal. Moreover, women must be involved in the creation of digital technology and in decision-making related to it. Today's emerging data-driven solutions must avoid perpetuating harmful gender stereotypes.

In order to support women and girls in their development and empowerment of their rights, online content and technology need to be designed and developed with women and girls in a way that takes into account their specific needs and priorities within a regulatory framework that protects, promotes, and prioritises their human rights.

Disconnected: Not Enough Women, Not Enough for Women:

Digital inequality is influenced by social, cultural, and gender norms. Without access to the internet, women and girls are cut off from knowledge, employment opportunities, social networks, products, services, and benefits that the internet has to offer.

Accordant to UN Women data and the International Monetary Fund, women own 1/3 of the world's biggest tech companies but hold only one out of four leadership positions.

There are approximately 264 million fewer women than men using mobile internet in low- and middleincome countries of Asia.

Every country in the region must close gaps in digital access, use, and skill, as well as eliminate inequities in digital leadership and decision-making There is a need for countries to continue to strengthen their gender analysis, which can shed light on the reasons for gender differences in health policies, programs, and interventions across the board, including those related to digital health.

“It’s time to close the digital gender gap together and let’s connect the digital world towards gender equality and women’s empowerment.”

Equal rights for men and women are fundamental human rights However, despite progress, women and girls around the world do not have access to equal rights, and their potential as agents of economic, social, and sustainable development remains untapped.

The current rate of economic empowerment and participation of women will take over 267 years to reach equality.

In the business world, women are underrepresented

There is an unequal pay for equal work and they continue to be the victims of physical and sexual abuse. Furthermore, women-owned enterprises are economically disadvantaged and lack the opportunity to compete for business opportunities

Legal barriers and other factors also affect women's employment and entrepreneurial opportunities. In order to increase economic growth, promote social development, and establish more stable and just societies, women and girls must be empowered.

By 2025, it is estimated that women and men participating equally in the economy will contribute US$28 trillion to the global economy UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) emphasize women's empowerment as a key development objective and emphasize that addressing a broad range of global issues requires gender equality.

When it comes to global discussions on gender parity, Southeast Asia is often overlooked. There are more than 676 million people living in the region, 11 countries and tens of thousands of islands

The region is characterized by a great diversity of linguistic, religious and cultural influences. In recent years, Southeast Asia has experienced immense growth, resulting in the fifth largest economy in the world. During the next five years, the region's GDP is expected to grow by more than five percent - 1.5 percent higher than the global average.

Women are both driving and benefiting from this growth, including in employment, health, education, and decision-making. The health indicators for women in Singapore are very impressive, with a longer life expectancy and lower maternal mortality rates than the global average. It is necessary to address harmful stereotypes and biases in each country in order to overcome the root causes of the gender gap. Southeast Asia has made significant progress toward gender equality.

Gender Parity versus Gender

Equality:

Women's disparities continue to be targeted through efforts that focus on symptoms rather than causes.

A clear example of this can be found in Southeast Asia's labor force, where women account for approximately 70% of the informal economy, which is generally characterized by lower-paying, more vulnerable jobs and traditional, traditional jobs.

Informal employment excludes women from the social protections of formal employment. These include wage consistency, collective bargaining, gender-sensitive policies, and legal protections. Moreover, there is a high rate of sexual harassment among women in these professions, and there is little or no legal recourse available to them.

Striking at the Roots:

It is possible to become complacent when focusing on individual gender targets. For gender equality to be sustainable and long-lasting, institutional and systemic changes are required. It is essential to target the underlying social norms and structural factors that prevent women from reaching their full potential.

The only way to ensure the rapid development of the region is through these measures, rather than by piecemeal and superficial means. It is time to dismantle decades of harmful norms that disadvantage women and impede the progress of our nation. The time has come to address the root causes of gender inequality to give women in Southeast Asia a brighter future.

Empowering Gender Equality in Digital Era:

In the digital sector, contributors called for policymakers to consider the individual needs of women and girls, as well as their perspectives and experiences, when designing, implementing, and measuring policies and programs.

Today, having a mobile phone and access to the internet can have a profound impact on one's life," said an anonymous contributor In developing countries, the Internet can serve as a gateway to educational opportunities and help women develop their confidence, self-esteem, and selfdetermination.

The implementation of digital literacy programs may also help women and girls become more informed and engaged digital citizens

Design gender-responsive digital policies

Promote access to technology and skills

Challenge gender preconception and cultural norms

Fight cyberviolence against women and girls

Bring more women into the technology sector

Dr Rubee Singh

Social Activist, Global Goodwill Ambassador, Child Advocacy, Post Doctoral Researcher (D.Lit.), Kumaun University, Nainital, Academician, GLA University, India

Emai: dr.rubeerajput@gmail.com

Location: New Delhi, India

Cybersecurity training and awareness campaigns are also effective tools to prevent cybercrime and cyberbullying in women and girls. .

Spring into Action:

Empowering Women to Achieve their Goals

Written by Hazel Herrington

As the flowers bloom and the weather warms up, there's a sense of new beginnings in the air. Spring is a time of growth and change, and it's the perfect time for women to take action and start working towards their goals. Whether you're looking to advance in your career, improve your health, or achieve a personal milestone, it's time to spring into action and empower yourself to succeed.

The Importance of Setting Goals

Before we can begin to take action towards achieving our goals, we first need to set them. Setting goals is a crucial step in the process of personal and professional development. It provides us with direction, motivation, and a sense of purpose.

The act of setting a goal helps us to clarify what we want to achieve and why it's important to us. By setting specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals, we can break down larger goals into manageable steps that we can work towards over time.

This helps to build momentum and a sense of accomplishment as we make progress towards our goals.

Goals also help us to focus our attention and prioritise our actions. When we have a clear goal in mind, we can more easily identify the steps we need to take to achieve it.

This can help us to avoid distractions and stay focused on what's most important.

Finally, setting and achieving goals helps to build self-confidence and a sense of self-efficacy. When we set a goal and work towards it, we are demonstrating to ourselves that we are capable of achieving great things.

This builds a sense of self-esteem and belief in our ability to tackle future challenges.

Tips for Setting and Achieving Goals

Now that we understand the importance of setting and achieving goals, let's explore some tips for making the process more effective:

Start with your why: Before you set a goal, take some time to reflect on why it's important to you. What do you hope to achieve by reaching this goal? What will it mean for your life and your future?

Make it SMART: When setting a goal, make sure it's specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. This will help you to break down larger goals into smaller, more manageable steps.

Write it down: Putting your goal in writing can help to make it feel more tangible and real. Write it down in a journal, planner, or on a sticky note and keep it somewhere you'll see it often.

Make a plan: Once you've set your goal, create a plan for achieving it. Break it down into smaller steps and identify the actions you need to take to reach each milestone.

Track your progress: Regularly check in on your progress towards your goal. Celebrate your successes and make adjustments to your plan if necessary.

Get support: Surround yourself with people who believe in you and want to see you succeed. Consider seeking out a mentor or accountability partner who can provide guidance and encouragement along the way

Empowering Yourself to Succeed

Setting goals is an important first step, but it's not enough on its own. To achieve our goals, we need to take action and empower ourselves to succeed. Empowerment is about taking control of our lives and making the choices that are right for us It's about building confidence and resilience in the face of challenges, and pushing ourselves beyond our comfort zones.

Here are some ways to empower yourself to succeed:

Believe in yourself: One of the most important aspects of empowerment is believing in yourself and your abilities. Recognize your strengths and remind yourself of past successes when you're feeling doubtful. Take ownership of your choices: Empowerment is about taking control of your life and making the choices that are right for you. Don't let others dictate your path or make decisions for you. Trust yourself to make the right choices and take responsibility for the outcomes.

Challenge yourself: Empowerment means pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone and taking on new challenges. Don't be afraid to try new things or take risks. Remember that failure is a natural part of the learning process, and it's through our failures that we often learn the most. Surround yourself with positivity: The people we surround ourselves with can have a huge impact on our mindset and our ability to achieve our goals. Surround yourself with people who believe in you and support your aspirations. Avoid negative influences that bring you down or discourage you

Take care of yourself: Empowerment also means taking care of yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally. Make time for self-care activities like exercise, meditation, or hobbies that bring you joy. Get enough sleep, eat well, and take breaks when you need them.

Embrace your unique strengths: Empowerment means embracing your unique strengths and talents. Don't compare yourself to others or try to fit into someone else's mold. Celebrate your individuality and use your strengths to achieve your goals.

Overcoming Obstacles

Despite our best efforts, achieving our goals is not always a smooth and easy process. There are often obstacles and challenges that we must overcome along the way. However, with the right mindset and strategies, we can overcome these obstacles and stay on track towards our goals.

Here are some common obstacles to goal achievement and strategies for overcoming them:

Lack of motivation: Sometimes, we may lose motivation or feel stuck in a rut. To overcome this, try breaking down your goal into smaller, more achievable steps. Celebrate small wins along the way to build momentum and motivation

Time constraints: Busy schedules and competing priorities can make it difficult to find the time to work towards our goals. To overcome this, try breaking your goal down into smaller chunks that can be accomplished in short bursts of time. Prioritise your goals and make time for them in your schedule.

Fear of failure: Fear of failure can be a major obstacle to goal achievement. To overcome this, try reframing failure as a learning opportunity. Focus on the progress you've made, rather than the mistakes you've made along the way.

Lack of support: Sometimes, we may not have the support we need from those around us. To overcome this, seek out a supportive community or mentor who can provide guidance and encouragement.

Self-doubt: Self-doubt can be a major obstacle to empowerment and goal achievement To overcome this, try practicing self-compassion and positive self-talk. Remind yourself of your strengths and accomplishments, and challenge negative self-talk when it arises.

Conclusion

Spring is a time of growth and change, and it's the perfect time for women to start working towards their goals. By setting SMART goals, taking action, and empowering ourselves to succeed, we can achieve great things and make positive changes in our lives. While there may be obstacles and challenges along the way, with the right mindset and strategies, we can overcome them and stay on track towards our goals. Let's embrace the spirit of spring and make this season one of personal and professional growth and empowerment.

Kelly Markey Interview

Interview by Hazel Herrington

HH: As a successful woman in both writing and entrepreneurship, what advice do you have for other women who are looking to start their own businesses or pursue careers in writing?

You define success, not society. The only boundaries are the realisation of your hesitations. We often hear that a book dwells in each of us. While this is true, we all have lived experience that we can inspire others with. The distinct difference is learning the art of storytelling. Many books are not do not move the reader. Successful writing breathes life into every page. I do this with passion and flair and I am ready to help others tap into this writing prose that will set you apart.

HH: How do you incorporate leadership and mentorship into your work at the writing academy? Absolutely both leadership and mentorship goes hand in glove with my values and motto.

I am here to mentor others to exceed my boundaries and reach for the stars. This begins with a great leader that has walked the path and show you the pitfalls and gleans. Writing is an art and the more lived experience from another author, the greater your skillset. Markey Writing Academy will help you to weed out what works and what does not.

HH: Can you speak to the importance of branding in today's business landscape, and how you've used branding to grow your own writing career and the writing academy?

Branding is an integral part and parcel of any flagship brand. It sends a powerful message to your target market and beyond. It affiliates you with a calibre of product or service that will speak for itself

Quality matters, Shakespeare has set the tone with his style. Four hundred years later and he still does not need an introduction. Branding and quality worked for him.

HH: How do you balance your roles as a best-selling author and the head of a writing academy?

In addition, I have a professional corporate job, and several other hats. I am fuelled by my passion to make a material difference to humanity

My writing and books have touched, inspired and acted as a prescriptive balm to readers around the globe. I am driven to help more souls as many readers love my writing style and storytelling. I find my balance in aligning with my vision – to change the world. Sometimes it does feel like I am burning the candle from both ends . . .

I then purpose to disconnect I love walking, listening to music or simply switching off so I can find my equilibrium to bounce back into action. I have mastered the art of resilience and curated 25 tools to help humanity in this arena. This is available in my bestselling book “Don’t Just Fly, SOAR”.

HH: As a woman in a leadership role, have you faced any unique challenges or obstacles, and how have you overcome them?

I am an avid traveller and have lived in 5 different countries. Worked for several world gorilla organizations, I have just about seen it all My faith has anchored me through it all. Some days I could not find fine with binoculars but God gave me the strength to march on. Developing a strong mindset is the key. Understanding that every predicament is just a season helps to look into a brighter future. I personally use every setback for a comeback. There is no failure, just another lesson in life.

HH: How do you encourage creativity and innovation with your clients, while still maintaining a structured curriculum?

When you find your passion, you will never need encouragement. Your passion will drive you period! Creativity and innovation lurks all around us. I stay focused and present to tap into what speaks to me in the moment, go with the flow but understand the plan. That’s why it is important to have a vision so you are not engulfed by the fads

HH: Can you discuss any specific initiatives or programs you've implemented at the writing academy to support women in writing or entrepreneurship?

I have two comprehensive master courses:

1.

2.

Writing fundamentals for the novice or those that are seeking to polish their craft ( 10 modules)

Prerequisites for Nobel Nominations for those that are aiming for the most prestigious award in the writing industry ( 10 modules)

HH: How do you stay connected with other authors and entrepreneurs in your field, and how has networking played a role in your success?

I am an influencer and Mark Zuckerberg has me on his private channel – this influencer bow takes my brand to every part of the globe. I am a philanthropist and champion for many charity organisations. This opens up many doors for networking and connection. I belong to a few author clubs and have positioned myself in many top brands of magazines, podcasts and radio. Most readers and authors find me.

HH: Can you speak to any specific strategies or techniques you've used to build your personal brand as an author and entrepreneur?

Consistency and quality are my best friends. Focus on calibre not only quantity. Likes means jack when you are not really enhancing the world in a profound way. Build a brand that is making a substantial difference. Invest in a professional brand and marketing manager. Do not cut corners but do cut off from those that suffocate you. Align to what takes you to new levels. Never allow anyone to spoil your brand with poor standards.

HH: Looking ahead to the future, what are your goals for the writing academy and your own personal career as an author and entrepreneur?

Markey Writing Academy is committed to helping others find their expressive pens and nurture a cohort of writers that will leave a mark in history. My vision is to change the narrative of writing. Creating books that compel action and change!

As a woman entrepreneur, I know firsthand the struggles and obstacles that come with building a business. It's a tough world out there, where competition is cutthroat and success is measured by the number of followers we have, the degrees we've obtained, and the amount of money we make. It's a world that values hustle, power, and knocking down others to demonstrate our selfimportance.

It's exhausting, isn't it? Constantly striving to be "enough," to prove ourselves to others and ourselves. It can feel like we're always one step behind, always chasing the next big thing, and always trying to keep up with the latest trends and strategies for achieving this success. And in the midst of all this, it's easy to lose sight of what really matters - our values, our purpose, and the impact we want to make in the world.

Leading with Love:

But what if there was another way?

Disrupting

the Business Landscape

Written by Narelle Fleming

What if we could disrupt the marketplace with love? What if we could lead with kindness, empathy, and compassion, and create a business that not only succeeds but also makes a positive impact on the world?

It's not an easy path, but it's one worth pursuing. It means letting go of the belief that success requires us to be constantly busy, to have a never-ending to-do list, and to always be "on." It means embracing the power of vulnerability, authenticity, and of connection It means prioritising the well-being and growth of our team and customers and making decisions that are guided by our values and purpose.

Leading with love means creating a workplace that is not only successful but also fulfilling and meaningful. It means fostering a culture of trust, open communication, and collaboration, where people feel safe to share their ideas and take risks.

It means recognizing that success is not just about making money or achieving personal goals, but about making a positive impact on the world and leaving a legacy that inspires others

It is time to disrupt the marketplace with love Let's lead with kindness, empathy, and compassion, and create a business that reflects our values and purpose.

Let's prioritize the well-being and growth of our team and customers, and create a workplace that inspires creativity, collaboration, and success. Together, we can create a better, more compassionate world, one business at a time.

As leaders, it is our responsibility to raise the next generation and empower them to be better and more successful than we were.

We must pave the way for progress and ensure that our future is one of growth and improvement rather than regression and decline. Leading with love is not just about creating a successful business, it's about creating a legacy that inspires others and sets the stage for the next generation of leaders.

It's about empowering our team members to develop their skills, take ownership of their work, and make a meaningful impact in their own lives and the lives of others.

When we lead with love, we create a workplace culture that fosters creativity, innovation, and growth We give our team members the space to experiment, take risks, and learn from their mistakes.

We build trust by being transparent, authentic, and accountable, and we cultivate a sense of belonging by creating a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and respected.

At the same time, we recognize that success is not just about the bottom line It's about making a positive impact on the world and leaving a lasting legacy that inspires others to do the same

Whether it's through our products, services, or philanthropic efforts, we have the power to make a difference and create a better world for future generations.

Here are three key ways to incorporate love into your business and lead with compassion:

Prioritise people over profits: As a leader, it's important to value and prioritises the well-being and growth of your team members and customers. This means creating a workplace culture that fosters connection, collaboration, and open communication. Take the time to get to know your team members on a personal level and provide opportunities for them to grow and develop their skills. And when it comes to your customers, focus on creating products and services that truly meet their needs and make a positive impact on their lives.

Embrace vulnerability and authenticity: Leading with love means being willing to show up authentically and vulnerably, even when it's uncomfortable or scary. This means admitting when you don't have all the answers, asking for help when you need it, and being open to feedback and constructive criticism.

When you lead with vulnerability and authenticity, you create a workplace culture that values transparency, trust, and human connection.

Give back to your community: One of the most powerful ways to incorporate love into your business is by giving back to your community. Whether it's through philanthropic efforts, volunteer work, or simply making a conscious effort to reduce your environmental impact, giving back is a powerful way to make a positive impact in the world and leave a lasting legacy. Consider partnering with a local charity or nonprofit organization, or finding ways to integrate sustainable practices into your business operations.

Incorporating love into business may present challenges, but it is undoubtedly a worthwhile endeavour. By prioritising compassion and empathy in our leadership approach, we cultivate a workplace environment that emphasizes human connection, collaboration, and personal development. This not only motivates our team members to reach their full potential, but it also creates a ripple effect of positivity that extends beyond our organization. With a commitment to disrupting the marketplace with love, grace, and empathy, we have the power to transform the business landscape for future generations and build a more compassionate world for all Together, let us embrace this entrepreneurial journey by disrupting the marketplace and leading with love.

Narelle Fleming Founder of Slap That Bull

Get featured in our magazines

Are you a female leader, marketer, real estate investor, speaker, writer, entrepreneur, business coach, or journalist who has accomplished great things?

Have you ever thought about sharing your story with the world? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you!

We're looking for inspiring women to feature in our monthly digital magazine, Lady Global Power and I Am Woman Global. Your story can provide valuable insights to others who are looking to achieve success in their own lives.

Not only will being featured in our magazine help boost your brand's credibility, but it can also increase your profits. We've seen women who have been featured in our magazine experience a skyrocket in their businesses.

Being featured in I Am Woman Global magazine offers many benefits to women who have achieved success in their field. Here are just a few reasons why being featured in our magazine can help you and your brand:

1 .Increased credibility: When you're featured in a reputable publication, it adds credibility to your brand. Readers will perceive you as an expert in your field and trust in your knowledge and expertise.

2. Increased exposure: Our magazine reaches a wide audience, both nationally and internationally Being featured in our magazine can expose your brand to new potential customers and clients.

3. Increased profits: As mentioned earlier, we've seen women who have been featured in our magazine experience a boost in their business. With increased credibility and exposure, your brand can attract more customers and increase your profits.

4. Inspiring others: Your story has the power to inspire and motivate others who are on their own journey towards success. By sharing your story, you can help others overcome their obstacles and achieve their own goals.

5.Networking opportunities: Our magazine connects you with other successful women who may be interested in collaborating or doing business with you.

Overall, being featured in I Am Woman Global magazine can be a great way to elevate your brand and take your career to the next level So if you're a successful woman who wants to inspire others and increase your brand's credibility and profits, submit your story today!

To get featured, sponsor or partner with Herrington Publications Worldwide

Contact us today by emailing: info@herringtonpublications.com Visit our website: www.herringtonpublications.com

Copyright Policy:

At our publishing company, we take copyright and intellectual property rights seriously. We respect the rights of our authors and contributors, and we expect them to provide us with honest and accurate information. As such, our copyright policy is as follows:

Authors and contributors are responsible for ensuring that they have the legal right to submit any content to us for publication. This includes obtaining any necessary permissions and licenses for any third-party material included in their work. By submitting their work to us, authors and contributors are representing and warranting that their work is original and does not infringe on any copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property rights.

We do not accept any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information provided by our authors and contributors. It is the responsibility of the author or contributor to ensure that all information contained in their work is accurate and not misleading.

We reserve the right to reject or remove any content that we believe to be inaccurate, incomplete, or misleading, without liability to the author or contributor.

By submitting their work to us, authors and contributors agree to indemnify and hold us harmless from any claims, damages, or expenses arising from any breach of their representations and warranties or any infringement of third-party intellectual property rights.

In summary, our publishing company is committed to upholding copyright and intellectual property rights. However, we do not accept any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information provided by our authors and contributors. It is the responsibility of the author or contributor to ensure that their work is accurate and not misleading.