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Editorial

-AlayaBrown

Leadership Rooted in Humanity

Thejourneytowardfulﬁllingone’sprofessionalaspirationsis

rarelylinear.Itisadynamic,evolvingmap—shapednotby convenience,butbycourage,dedication,andthewillingness toriseabovechallenges.In2025,aswespotlightindividualswhoare notonlyshapingindustriesbutelevatingthehumanexperience,one namestandsasatestamenttothistruth:LauraM.Troyer.

Laura’sstoryisoneofquietstrengthandextraordinaryimpact.An award-winningBusinessConsultant,best-sellingauthor,andsoughtafterinternationalspeaker,sheexempliﬁesarareblendofstrategic intellectanddeeplyrootedempathy.Herworkisdrivenbyaheartfor humanityandanunwaveringcommitmenttosolutionsthatuplift individuals,organizations,andcommunitiesalike.

HerjourneybeganinOhio,asthesecondoldestofsixchildren.Itwas here—withinabig,bustlingfamily—thatsheﬁrstwitnessedthe transformativepowerofcollaboration.Thebeliefthat“anythingis possiblewhenweworktogether”becamenotjustachildhoodlesson, butthefoundationofherleadershipethos.Today,nestledin Greenville,SouthCarolina,Lauranavigateshigh-stakessectorssuch aslegal,healthcare,andhighereducationwiththesamevaluesshe learnedearlyon:unity,resilience,andaccountability

WhatmakesLauratrulyinﬂuentialisnotjustherprofessional success,butthewaysheintegratesitwithafullandgrounded personallife.Asamotherofthreeaccomplishedadultchildrenand “Gigi”tothreegrandchildren—withtwomoreexpectedin2026—she drawsstrengthfromherfamily,allowingherpersonalworldto becomethecompassion-fueledenginebehindhercommunity involvement.Herimpactextendsfarbeyondconferencestagesand boardrooms;itspillsintothelivesofthoseshementors,supports,and inspiresdaily.

Inanerawhereleadershipisoftenmeasuredbytitlesoraccolades, Lauraremindsusthattrueleadershipisalegacy.Itisdeﬁnedby presence,humility,andawillingnesstoremainteachable.Itiscarried forwardnotthroughforce,butthroughintegrity—consistently choosingthehigherbarandinvitingotherstorisealongsideher

AswehonortheInﬂuentialPeopleWhoDeﬁne2025,LauraM. Troyerstandsasabeaconofwhatispossiblewhenambitionaligns withpurpose.Herjourneycontinuestoilluminatethepathfor professionalsaroundtheworldwhobelievethatsuccess,atitshighest form,isalwaysrootedinservice.

Art

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Award-Winning Consultant | Best-selling Author | International Conference Speaker

. Troyer, BA

Navigating Business, Family, and The Pursuit of Mastery

Thejourneytofulﬁllingyourprofessional

aspirationsisnotalinearpath,butratheracomplex mapcreatedwithcommitmentandresilience. CenterstageonthismapisLauraM.TroyerMBA,a professionalwhosecareertrajectoryisdeﬁnedbyher unwaveringinneressence.Sheisanaward-winning BusinessConsultant,best-sellingauthor,andimpactful internationalspeaker.Lauraisdrivenbyherheartfor humanityandapassionforsolution-orientedoutcomes.

Laura'slifestoryunderscoresamanifestoforperseverance inherpersonalandprofessionallife.Growingupthe secondoldestofsixchildreninOhio,shequicklylearned thatanythingispossiblewhenweworktogether.Now livinginGreenville,SouthCarolina,sheworksinhighstakesprofessionalsectors;includinglegal,healthcare,and highereducation,whilecontinuingtoprioritizeherfamily. Asamotherofthreesuccessfuladultchildrenand'Gigi'of threegrandchildren(withtwomoreduein2026),her personallifehasbecomethecompassion-fuelledenginefor herinvolvementinthecommunity

Whilenavigatingthroughcorporatelife,Lauramaintainsa relentlessfocusontheprofoundandweightyworkof empoweringindividuals,assheislivingproofthat leadershipisalegacydeﬁnedbybeingpresent,remaining teachable,andalwaysinvitingthehigherbarofintegrity

EarlyLifeandProfessionalAwakening

Laura’snarrativebeginsinToledo,Ohio.Herlargefamily structureimmediatelyshapedhercollaborativespiritand instilledessentialresilience,lessonslearneddailyfromher parents,ChuckandPamKessinger.Aftercompletingher highschooleducation,shecontinuedherpathofdiscipline andfocus,earningherbachelor'sdegreefromGrace CollegeinWinonaLake,Indiana.Herinitialcareer steppingstonewasinthebankingindustry,whereshe gainedfoundationalknowledgeinﬁnanceandclient service.Shelatermadeaprofound,consciouschoiceto pivotandbecomeastay-at-homemother,aperiodthat became,unexpectedly,hertrueprofessionalawakening.

Hertransitionintosalesbeganaccidentallywhenshe simplyneededaMaryKayconsultantaftermoving. Thoughshepreviouslyrejectedthenotionofbeinga "salesperson,"sheviewedtheopportunityasapositive environmentforbuildingnewfriendships.Shequickly realizedthecoretruth:salesisabouttalkingauthentically, listeningintently,andprovidingsolutions,notjustselling products.Sherapidlyascendedtoteamleader,andthis

My natural excellence in remote work became a strategic enabler, allowing me to master my schedule while maintaining high performance.

hands-on,home-basedbusinessservedastheaccidentalyet cruciallaunchpadforherfutureconsultingcareer

Followingadivorce,Laurareturnedtothefull-time workforceindemandingbusinesssalesconsultantroles, drivenbyasingle,profoundmotivation:tobethereliable providerandapillarofstrengthforherchildren.She maintainsapassionfornature-basedactivitieslikecamping andboating,ﬁndingpeaceoutdoorswithfamilyand friends.ShealsoremainsaloyalfanoftheOhioState BuckeyesandCincinnatiBengals,provingherrootsrun deep.

StrategicCareerDesignandMastery

Laura’scareertrajectoryisdeeplyandintentionallymarked byhercommitmenttokeepingherfamilyashernonnegotiableanchor.Earlyon,sheestablishedaﬁrm boundary,refusinganyprofessionalrolethatrequired lengthytravelawayfromherchildren.Thiscommitment cameatthecostofpromotionsandhighersalaries,butshe reasonedthathermostvitalrolewasraisingthenext generationofleaders,instillingcorevalueslikeintegrity,a strongworkethic,andmodellingrespect.

Tosuccessfullyintegratehercareerwithherchildren's activelives,shestrategicallysoughtoutoutsideorﬁeld salesconsultantroleswithastrictone-hourgeographic constraintonherterritory Thisstrategyforcedherto maintaincontroloverherownscheduleandmaster exceptionaltimemanagementskills.Hernaturalexcellence inremotework,longbeforeitwascommon,becamea powerful,strategicenablerofhersustainedwork-life balanceandhighperformance,cuttingcommutetimesand reducingcosts.

My family is my non-negoable anchor; I refused to take any professional role that required lengthy travel away during child raising years.

Decadesafterherundergraduatestudies,Laurapursueda lifelongaspiration:anMBA.Thiswasachallenging commitment,asshebeganherstudieswhilebalancinga careerandfamily.Despitefallingslightlyshortonthe GMAT,shesuccessfullysubmittedapersuasiveappeal basedonhertwodecadesofhigh-levelprofessional experience,gainingacceptanceonprobation.Herintense dedicationpaidoﬀ:shegraduatedwithherMasterof BusinessAdministration(MBA)fromtheRajSoinCollege ofBusinessatWrightStateUniversityinDecember2019,a monumentalachievementthatvalidatedhercommitmentto continuousintellectualgrowthandthepursuitofmastery

TheConsultant'sCore:Purpose,Resilience,and Tenacity

Lauraholdsanenormousappetitefortheworldofbusiness, viewingitasthe"enginethatmakestheworldgoround," butherfocusremainsrelentlesslyonindividual empowerment.Herprofessionaldriveisdedicatedto helpingorganizationsﬁndsolutionsandachievesuccess, fuelledbytheconvictionthatassistingsomeone professionallyinherentlyhelpsthempersonallyby providingﬁnancialstabilityandmentalhealthsecurity

Sheﬁndsgreatsatisfactioninleveragingherentrepreneurial spirittomanageherownbookofbusinessandmakecrucial strategicdecisions.Herconstantapplicationandsharpening ofskillsacrossdiverseindustries,legal,healthcare,and highereducation,ensureherongoinglearningandmental stimulation.

Herinternaldriveissupportedbyexceptionaltime managementandahighlytask-orientednature,builtonthe disciplineofcompletingonetaskentirelybeforemoving on.Critically,shelearnedthattrueleadershipisn'tatitle;it isbuiltuponcaringsincerelyaboutothers.Thisperspective guidesher:agreatleadermusthirecompetentpeople, providetraining,andreleasethemwiththeessentialgiftof trusttoexecutetheirroles.

You are your own personal brand, and that means you are responsible for your ongoing development to achieve your goals and dreams.

Theymustprioritizetheirteam’stotalwell-being,avoiding thedebilitatingstressofmicromanagementandrecognizing employeeshavelivesoutsideofwork.Crucialpersonal lessonsweremasteringthepowerofhumility,whichshe viewsasastrengthbornfromlearningfrommistakes,and recognizingthat"it’soktosay'no'sometimes"tomaintain focusandavoidburnout.Sheactivelyworksondeveloping robustemotionalresilienceagainsttoxicwork environments,learningtopause,stepaway,andnot overthinkscenariosinvolvingworkplacepressures.Her unwaveringpassionfortruth,integrity,andmaintaininga clearconscienceformstheethicalfoundationofher professionallife.

EnduringthePost-PandemicUpheaval

TheoptimismfromherMBAgraduation(Dec2019)was short-lived.Ayearlater,theeconomicfalloutofthe COVID-19pandemichitwithdevastatingforce.Laurawas fortunatetobeinaremoteroleinitially,butthelong-term instabilityledtoherenduringtwolayoﬀsinthesame calendaryear,abrutalshockafter15yearsofstabilityand onlyonepreviouslayoﬀ.Thisexperienceforcedher family’srelocationfromOhiotoGreenville,South Carolina,inpursuitofstablework.

Thetransitionwasdeﬁnedbyextremementalstrainasshe foughtforstabilityinajobmarketthathadbecomea "nightmare,"wherehighlycompetentprofessionals struggledformonthstosecureroles.Sherecallsaperiodof suchmentaldrainthatshehadtostopcheckingprofessional socialmedia,overwhelmedbythestoriesofpeoplelosing workandfearingfortheirsecurity.Heroptimismquickly shiftedtoarelentlessfocusonsurvival,leadingherto

questionifhersuccessfulcareerwas,infact,over.She observedadisturbingriseintoxicworkenvironmentspostCOVID,characterizedbyanexcessivepressurefor numbers,alackofgenuineleadershipconcernfor employeewell-being,andsuffocatingmicromanagement. Despitetheemotionalweightofthesereversals,Laura's internaldriveremainedanunyieldingcompass,compelling hertopersevereandfindrenewedsuccess.Thisfightfor stabilitygaveherthecourageandempathytolatershareher story,transformingapersonalsetbackintoaplatformfor globalencouragement.

Legacy:MilestonesandThe UnshakeableSelf

Laura’slifestoryisarichinventoryof professionalaccoladesanddeep personalmilestones.Herbusinesssales careerbroughtcontinuousawards, includingthecoveted"President’s Club"triptoCancun,Mexico,and consistentrecognitionas"Top Consultantoftheyear"and"VIP winnerofthemonth".Furthermore, hercommitmenttoherprofession, family,andcommunityearnedherthe prestigious"OutstandingWomanin Leadership"awardfromtheGlobal SocietyofEmpoweredWomenin 2016,followedbyaninvitationtojoin theGoldenKeyInternationalHonor Society

However,sheconsistentlynamesher mostmeaningfulaccomplishmentas raisingherthreechildren(Kayla, Brandon,Abbey)asasinglemother. Despitetheimmensechallengesand ﬁnancialworries,allthreesuccessfully earnedtheircollegedegrees-asanurse practitioner,amechanicalengineer,and aDigitalMarketingspecialist.Theyare allhappilymarriedandhavenow bestoweduponherthecherishedtitleof "Gigi" (grandmother),asourceof immensepride,especiallyastwomore grandchildrenareexpectedin2026.

Herunexpectedcareerasanauthorandspeakerbeganin 2022aftersheenrolledinapublicspeakingclass,whichled toaninvitationtosharehersingle-parentexperiencesona familyseminarpodcast.ByJanuary2023,shebecamea collaboratingauthoron"MaintainASolidMentalHealth," courageouslysharingherjourneyofhumanresiliencyand strength.Thebookswiftlybecamea#1internationaland Amazonbestseller,catapultingherontotheglobalstage.A crowningmomentarrivedinMarch2025,whenshewas invitedtospeakinParis,France,forInternationalWomen’s Day.Herinsightsweresubsequentlypublishedinboththe FrenchChroniclesandthePeerciteJournal,ﬁrmly establishingherasaglobal,compellingvoicein professionalempowermentandpersonalresilience.She usesthisplatformtoinspire,empower,andpositively

impactindividuals.

Laura’sultimatewisdomisfirm: never allow your job title to define your identity Shecautionsthatbecausepeople dedicateimmensepassiontotheirwork,itisdangerously easytoletaprofessionbecomewhoyouare,making layoffsdevastating.Heressentialmessageistoestablisha clear,protectiveboundarytoseparatewhoyouarefrom whatyoudo.Sheencouragescontinuousself-love, proactivenetworking(evenwhenhappyinacurrentrole), andtheacknowledgmentthatcompanydecisionsaresimply "business."Aboveall,sheremindseveryonethat“youmust neverallowhowotherstreatyouoryourprofessional performancetodetermineyourself-worth”.Shebuildsher enduringlegacyonthisunshakeablefoundationoftheself.

BALANCING INNOVATION WITH INTEGRITY

Leadershipisheadingtoanintersectioninaworld

thatismainlycomposedofdisruption,progress, andchangethatisconstant.Wehavenever witnessedinnovativebreakthroughstobesorapid,yetthe needforintegritycouldnotbeanyhigher.Ononehand,the worldcelebratesthevisionarieswhoupsettheindustries, butontheotherhand,itexpectsleadersthatupholdandlive theirvalues.Findingtherightbalance:balancingthetalent toinnovatewiththeintegritytobehonestandfairactually constitutesboththebiggestchallengeand,simultaneously, thebiggestaccomplishmentofleadershipnowadays.The leadersthatwillshapethefuturearethosewhocanmake changeswithoutlosingtheircharacter,whocanmove forwardwithouttheirmoralcompassandwhoareableto combineambitionwithauthenticity

TheAgeofDualDemands

Today’sleadersaresurroundedbyconditionsthatcallfor andbeneﬁtfromspeed,experimentation,andconstant reinvention.Marketscanbealteredtoanextremedegreein justaday,newtechnologiescanmakeentireindustries obsoleteandcompetitorscancomefromanypartofthe world.Innovationhasbecomenecessaryforsuccess. However,despitethisconstantcallfornewthingsand disruption,thereisatthesametimeagrowingperception thatinnovationwithoutintegritycannotlast.

Themosteﬀectiveleadersarethosewhounderstandthat thepursuitofprogressmustbeaccompaniedbyprinciples. Itisintegritythatgivesinnovationtherightdirection;itis

theelementthatmakesnewinventionsnot onlyfortheproﬁtbutalsoforthebeneﬁtof people.Thecoreofmodernleadership, whichisnotonlycapableofchange, evolution,andinspiringbutisalsofounded ontrustandtransparency,isbasedonthis balance.

Innovation:TheEngineofProgress

Innovationisthemostimportantthingofthelifeofthe organizationsthatsuccessfullycontinuetheiractivities.It confrontstheorganizationswithproblemsthatsolvingthe problemsisthematteroftheprocessitself,isseekingit withcuriosityandisboldenoughtoseeabetterway throughit..Theleadersthatareinpowerconstantlyalive andknowhowtokeepthisenergygoing,doitbyleading theactivitiesthatcreateafertilesoilfortheideatosprout andforthetestingtobedonefromwhichtheylearn.They givetheirsquadsthefreedomtotakerisks,doubt,andlearn fromfailure.

However,innovationstandsforalotmorethanjust invention,itreshapestheworldwithapurpose.Notatall, innovationsaresimplynewlymadethings,butbetterones fromtheold.Therealinnovatorsarenotmotivatedbythe desiretocausedisruptionforitsownsake,buttomakethe worldabetterplace.Theircreativeworkisregulatedby ethics,sothatwhattheydoforprogressdoesnotcausea decreaseinthestandardsoflife,butincreasesthem.

TheHumanDimensionofDynamicLeadership

Leadershipatitscoreisaveryhumanthingtobe.While innovationmayhavethepowertochangewholeindustries, itisstillintegritythatchangespeople.Leaderswhoareable tokeepbothinbalanceknowthattheirpowergoesfar beyondthecompanyanditsproducts-itisthepowerof touchingpeople'slives.

Suchleadersuseintellectaswellasempathyintheir leading.Theyseesuccessnotonlyinﬁguresbutalsointhe value.Theygeneratethekindofenvironmentwhere employeesareatthesametimebothmotivatedand supported,wherethedriveforsuccessiscontrolledby responsibility,andwhereinventivenessisaccompaniedby morality.

Thehumansideofleadershipthroughchangesteachesus thatinnovationisnotamatterofsubstitutinghumanwork bytechnologybutrathertoimprovehumanitybymeansof technology.Itisaboutkeepingtheprogresspursuitin harmonywiththeprinciplesthatmakeprogressvaluable.

Thedemandforbalancedleadershipisbecomingmoreand moreevidentastheworldischangingatanunprecedent rate.Leadersofthenextdecadewillberequiredtobeable touseoneofthegreatestassetsoftheirtime,creativity, withoutlosingtheircredibilityandatthesametimemake relentlessprogressonissueswithoutgivinguptheir principles.Thefuturewillnotbethechildrenofthe recklessinnovatorsnorthefollowersofthepastwhohold ontoittightlybutitwillbetheleaderswhoareableto balancebothsideswitheleganceandunwaveringfaiththat willtakecharge.

Suchaleaderisnotonlyabletoforeseethefuturebutis alsoacarefulcustodian—heprotectsvalueswhileleading change.Theymakeusrecallthatinnovationmayalterthe world,butitisintegritythatkeepsit.Anditisinthis equilibriumthatthetruepowerofmodernleadershipis found—theauthoritynotonlytocreatethenew,butalsothe right.

TheFutureBelongstotheBalanced

WOMEN LEADING WITH

Leadershiphasalwaysmirroredtheeraitlivedin,

andnowitisbeingrewritten.Astudyacrossthe threeverticalsofindustries,countries,androles revealedthatwomenaretheultimatere-deﬁnersof leadership.Nolongerconﬁningthemselveswithinobsolete notionsofdominatingpowerandcontrol,femaleexecsare settingthestageforafreshermodelthatcouplesempathy withperfection,intuitionwithreason,andcompassionwith insight.Alongsidetheseattributes,theyinvolvenotonlythe brainbutalsothestrategy,theheart.

TheShiftfromPowertoPurpose

Thestandardframeworkforauthoritywasbasicallythatof apowergrab—onethat,throughmanipulationand exploitation,enforcedcontrolandthusrespect.However,in suchafast-changingworld,whichisbuiltontheprinciples ofcollaboration,inclusion,andinnovation,thesekindsof modelshavetheirdaysnumbered.Thenewageof

leadershipisaboutinﬂuence,notintimidation;aboutvision, notvolume.

Thesearethesamewomenleaderswhohaveacceptedthe challengeandareleadingsuchchanges.Thedominant characteristicoftheirmethodofauthorityisasenseof mission.Theyleadnottocommand,buttoconnect;notto dictate,buttoinspire.Theirpowercomesfrombeing sincere–aqualityoflivingtheirfaithanddreambyvirtue oftheirhumanity.Theysubordinateauthoritybyshowing thatitisnotaboutbeingincharge—itisaboutbeing responsible.

ThePowerofLeadingwithHeart

Onceempathywasregardedasanundesirable“softskill”, butnowitisoneofthemoststrategicandinﬂuential powersapersoncanhave.Womenleaderswhoareusually verymuchintouchwiththeiremotionalsideareproving

thatleadershipcentered aroundtheheartisnot emotional,butratherit canbesustainedfora longtime.Inallowing empathytoguidetheir leadership,theythus becomeabletotrust, loyalty,andresilience emergeintheirgroups.

Helptheleadertobeseen bysocietyasanartistof thejobandopenthe partnershipideatothe colleaguethroughhis heartfeltlistening. Correctlymanaging understresswhile estimatingtheemotional partoftheperformers grantsinﬁnite developmentnot achievablebynumbers alone.Bytheirvery nature,workplacesare becomingmorevolatile, withagrowingemphasis onemotionalintelligence astheplatformupon whichsecurityand belongingwillreside.

BreakingtheMold,BuildingtheModel

Theevolutionoffemaleleadershipisnotsolelyabout smashingglassceilings;it'saboutestablishingnewroots. Eachwomanwhocombinesloveandclevernessinher leadershipdeﬁestheoldstorydemandingthatleadership mustbeacertainway.Shedoesn’tjustbecometheexample ofleadership—it’stheonesheleads–equilibrated, participative,andprofoundlyahumanbeing.

Suchleadersgrasptheideathatpowershouldnotbegained throughthedemonstrationofsuperiority,butratherthrough theacquisitionoftrust.Theychangethemeaningof inﬂuencetoempowerment,thereby,givingmorepower,not less,insteadofcontrolling.Theydonotjustcreatesuccess storiesinsystems;theyensuresuccessremainsinthese systems—systemswheredevelopmentiscollective,and ascentismutual.

TheFutureisBalanced

Genderwillnotbeafactorindeterminingfutureleadership. Itwillbetheleaderswhosebalancedemotionalintelligence andstrategicintelligence,authenticityandambition,and collaborationandconvictionstandout.Wehaveaproven recordofwomenleaderswhoaresuccessfullynavigating thispath,oneofleadership,wherebyitisnotamatterof choosingeitherofheartorstrategybutratheramatterof mergingboth.

Withoutdoubt,theypromotetheleadershipmodel,whichis basedontheirinsightandexperience,justlikethemodel thattreatspeopleandconsidersthemasthegreatestasset besidesproﬁtsandpurposes.Thenext-generation leadership,mainlinedbytheirprinciples,istheonethatcan adapt,beaccountable,andbestrong.

ARedeﬁnitionRootedinHumanity

Rebuildingthedeﬁnitionofpowerimpliesbringingback thehumansideofit.Thewomanleaderwhocombines strengthandsensitivityinherleadershipstylecallstheshot andremindstheaudiencethatleadershipisnotamatterof beingatthetopbutamatterofstandingshoulderto shoulderwithothers.Itisabouthelpingothersascendand notgettingthemdown.It'saboutturningempathyintonew opportunitiesandstrategyintoaction.

Intheerawhentheplanetrequiresbothinnovationand moralprinciples,suchleadershipisnotonlywelcome—itis necessary.Leaderswhoarethisway,womenarethevery forceofasilentrevolution—onethatsubjugatescareforthe controlledandreplaceshierarchywithharmony.