Helena Herrero, SVP HP Southern Europe, Middle East and Africa HP Inc
Editorial
Power. Purpose. Progress
Ineveryera,thereareindividualswhorisenotonlytomeet
challengesbuttoredefinethestandardsbywhichsuccessis measured.Thesearethevisionarieswhobreakbarriers,shift narratives,andempowerotherssimplybydaringtoleadwith authenticity,resilience,andpurpose.Amongthemarewomenwho haveforgedpathsinboardrooms,labs,policychambers,andglobal platforms—notjusttoclaimtheirspace,buttocreatespacefor others.Thisedition, Most Inspiring Women Icons to Follow,isa celebrationofthoseremarkableleaders.
AttheforefrontofthisdistinguishedfeatureisHelenaHerrero,a namesynonymouswithcourage,strategicclarity,andenduring influence.AsthePresidentofHPforSouthernEurope,Helenahas exemplifiedwhatitmeanstoleadthroughtransformation—adapting notonlytotechnologicalchange,buttothehumanneedsthat underpininnovation.Herjourney,rootedinvaluesandshapedby vision,offersapowerfulblueprintforleadershipinuncertaintimes.
Helena’sstoryisn’tjustaboutcorporateexcellence;it’sabout reflective,inclusive,andimpactfulleadership.Herapproach underscoresavitaltruth:leadershiptodayislessaboutauthorityand moreaboutadvocacy—lessaboutcommanding,moreabout connecting.Whetherit'sfosteringdiversetalent,driving sustainability,oradvocatingforresponsiblebusiness,she demonstratesthattrueinfluencestemsfromintegrity
InspotlightingHelenaandothersuchpioneeringwomen,this editioninvitesreaderstolookbeyondtitlesandaccolades,and insteadexplorethestoriesthatreflectgrit,grace,andgrowth.These womendon’tsimplyinspirebecauseofwhatthey’veachieved—but becauseofhowthey’veachievedit:byupliftingothers,staying groundedintheirvalues,andusingtheirplatformstocreatelasting impact.
Thewomenfeaturedherearenotjusticonstoadmire—theyare voicestofollow,lessonstolearnfrom,andforcesthatcontinueto shapethefuture.
Lettheirjourneysigniteyourown.
ARTICLES
Empowered to Lead: Fostering Inclusive and Authentic Leadership
Women at the Helm: The Rise of Gender-Equitable Leadership
Art
Business
Business
Digital
Co-designer
Marketing
Helena Herrero, SVP HP Southern Europe, Middle East and Africa HP Inc.
The Reflected Glory of Excellence in Leadership
Helena wants to keep driving digital transformation with a focus on responsible innovation, diverse talent, and positive social impact.
Leadershipisrarelyaboutthespotlight.Itisn’tabout
followingasetpath—it’saboutnavigatingthrough theunknown,stayinggroundedwhenthingsget tough,andinspiringothersthroughactions,notjustwords. It’stheabilitytoleadwithclarityandcourage.It’sabout showingupeveryday,notjustwithvision,butwiththe confidencetomaketoughdecisionsandthehumilityto listenwhenneeded.
Trueleadershiprevealsitselfovertime—inthequiet decisions,thepivotalmoments,andthewayoneshowsup whenitmattersmost.HelenaHerreroembodiesthese traitsofatrueleader.HercareertrajectoryastheSVPHP SouthernEurope,MiddleEastandAfricaisshapedby thefundamentalsofcontinuallearning,self-reflection,and growth—constantlyrefiningherleadershipapproachwhile remainingsteadfastinhercommitmenttopeopleand progress.
Overtheyears,shehasexperiencedmomentsthathave redefinedthecompany’strajectoryandherown,both personallyandprofessionally.Beingpartofsuchimportant milestonesasthemergerwithCompaq,theacquisitionof EDS,andmostimportantly,theseparationofHPintotwo independentcompanieshashelpedprovideleadership focusedonmakingapositiveandrealimpactonpeople’s livesandtheday-to-dayoperationsofbusinesses.
TheseparationofHPwasamajorturningpointforthe company’sfuture.Notonlydiditchangethebusiness structureandprepareitsteamforaneweraofmoreagile, customer-focusedinnovation,butitbroughtimmense growthopportunities—firstinSpainandPortugal,andlater inaregionasdiverseasSouthernEurope,theMiddleEast andAfrica.
Sheexpressesthat,“There were also challenging times in this journey, such as the economic crisis and the pandemic, that tested us as leaders and individuals, requiring us to act with empathy, resilience, and determination.”
ADefinitiveApproach
Helena’sleadershipphilosophyisgroundedinaclear conviction:Technologyhasthepowertotransform,butitis peoplewhomakethedifference.That’swhysheleadswith astrategicvision,humanconnectionandsocialresponsibility.
Helena’sleadershipmodelrequiresvision,adaptability,and criticalthinking.Itinvolvesunderstandinganever-changing
Helena’s leadership philosophy is grounded in a clear conviction: Technology has the power to transform, but it is people who make the di erence.
globalenvironment,anticipatingtrends,andleadingwitha long-termmindsetfocusedonsustainabilityandpositive impact.
Italsocallsforanalyticalrigorandasolution-oriented approach:connectingideas,fosteringinnovation,and seekingopportunitiesforgrowthandimprovement.Atthe coreofHelena’sleadershipisemotionalintelligence. Listening,empathizing,communicatingclearly,and buildingdiverseandinclusiveteamsfosteranenvironment wherepeoplecanthrive.
Sheisastrongbelieverinethicalleadership.Inanincreasinglytechnology-drivenworld,weneedleaderswithsolid principleswhocandrivepeople-centricdigitaltransformationandintegratesustainabilityintoeverydecision.Tolead todayistocombinevisionandhumanity.Itisabout inspiring,transformingandcreatingpurposefulchange.
GroundedinValues
Aftermorethanfourdecadesinthisindustry,Helena understandsthattheonlyconstantischange.Shewitnessed profoundtransformations—fromtheadventoftheInternet totheriseofartificialintelligence—sheunderstoodthat adaptingisnotoptionalbutapermanentstateofmind.
Overtime,shehaslearnedtounlearn,tosurroundherself withtalentthatchallengesthinking,andtocombine experiencewithanopenandflexiblemindset.Curiosity fuelsherjourney,purposeguidesherpath,andpassion propelsherforward.Today,morethanever,leadingwith impactinthetechnologysectormeansfocusingonthree pillars:listening,learningandleadingwithpurpose.
Listening—becausethemostvaluablesignalsforchange oftencomefromthoseclosesttothecustomer,thefield,and theday-to-dayreality.Learning—becausethereisno
sustainableleadershipwithoutcontinuousevolution.And leadingwithpurpose—becauseintimesofdisruption, clarityofthe“whatfor”makesallthedifference.
Shefirmlybelievesinthepowerofpeople.InHelena’s perspective,trueinnovationhappenswhenpeopleintegrate diverseperspectives,workcollaboratively,andcultivatea cultureoftrust.Leadingtodaymeansanticipating,knowing howtolistentowhatisnotsaid,andactingwith agility—withouteverlosingsightofpeople.
MaintainingaHealthyWork-LifeBalance
ForHelena,balanceisn’taboutsplittingtimeevenly—it’s aboutbeingfullypresentineachmoment.Withyearsof experiencebehindher,shehascometounderstandthatit’s notaboutdoingeverythingatoncebutaboutchoosing wheretofocusherenergywithintention.
Helena believes there is also a responsibility to lead by example, showing that self-care isn’t a luxury—it’s essential for leadership that is both sustainable and authentic
Balancingprofessionalresponsibilitieswithpersonalwellbeingdemandsself-awareness,thecouragetosethealthy boundaries,andagenuine,ongoingdialoguewithoneself. Helenahaslearnedtotunein—torecognizewhentopush forwardandwhentopause.Shealsoplacesdeeptrustinthe powerofstrongteams.Shebelievesthatdelegatingisn’ta signofsteppingback—it’sanactofsmart,empowered leadership.
Morethananything,shevaluestimedeeply Whetherit’s withfamily,friends,herself,orherteam,shestrivestobe presentandintentional.Whileachievingthisbalanceis neverwithoutitschallenges,shemakesaconsciouseffort toensureeveryspace—personalorprofessional—holds purposeandmeaning.
Helenabelievesthereisalsoaresponsibilitytoleadby example,showingthatself-careisn’taluxury—it’s essentialforleadershipthatisbothsustainableand authentic.
FosteringAugmentationswithaVision
Helenabringsherwayofworkingtolifethrough everythingshedoesatHP.Sheexplains,“At HP, innovation isn’t just a buzzword—it’s part of who we are. We’re not just focused on the next big tech breakthrough; we’re driven to find real, meaningful solutions that help people, support businesses, and respond to the world’s biggest challenges. That starts with staying curious, working together, and paying close attention to what our customers and the market truly need. Innovation comes from listening. We pair that mindset with strong investment in R&D and a deep belief that sustainability isn’t separate from growth—it’s at the heart of it.”
Withthatbeingsaidanddone,Helenafurtherexpresses, “Our purpose guides everything we do: to improve people’s lives through technology. And our goal is clear: to drive growth that is profitable, responsible, and resilient—ensuring long-term success for our company, our partners, and the communities we serve.”
Shebelievesthatdiversityisthekeytosustainable innovation.That’swhyshepromotesaninclusive environmentwhereeveryvoiceisvalued,anddiversetalent becomesapowerfulsourceofbreakthroughideas.
CreatingaLastingLegacy
Helena’sgoalsforthefuturearedeeplyconnectedtoHP’s purpose:tocontinuedevelopingtechnologiesthatimprove livesandhelpbusinessesbecomemoreefficient, sustainable,andconnectedtotheworldaroundthem.She wantstokeepdrivingdigitaltransformationwithafocuson responsibleinnovation,diversetalent,andpositivesocial impact.
Beyondbusinessoutcomes,whattrulymotivatesHelenais helpingbuildaculturethatinspiresandempowersnew generations—especiallywomen—toleadwithout compromisingtheirauthenticity.
Throughouthercareer,Helenahasreceivednumerous prestigiousaccolades.Amongthem,theLifetime AchievementAwardfromForinvestandherrecognitionas PersonalityoftheYearby Byte magazinestandoutas recognitionofherenduringcharismaandinfluence.
ShehasalsobeennamedExecutiveoftheYearbyboth Ejecutivos magazineandtheSpanishFederationofWomen Managers,Executives,Professionals,andEntrepreneurs
(FEDEPE),andhonoredasWomanManagerbytheMadrid Woman’sWeekFoundation.
Hercommitmenttoexcellencehasfurtherearnedherthe ProfessionalismAwardfromEVAP,thePeopleManager AwardfromtheSpanishAssociationofHumanResources Directors,andtheANQUE2018AwardfromtheNational AssociationofChemistsandChemicalEngineersofSpain.
Thelegacyshehopestoleaveisoneofleadingwithvision, passion,andhumanity Tohaveshownthewayatcritical moments,supportedothersintheirgrowth,and demonstratedthatit’spossibletoleadamajortech companywithoutlosingsightofwhatmattersmost:people, values,andpurpose.
CreatingaLastingImpression
Helenareveals,“Innovation is part of HP’s DNA.”And expresses,“Beyond developing advanced technologies, we aim to create meaningful solutions that address society’s greatest challenges and deliver real value to people and businesses.”
Thecompanyfostersacultureofcuriosity,collaboration, andforesight,whereinnovationisdrivenbyactively listeningtothemarketanditscustomers.Thisispairedwith ongoinginvestmentinR&Dandaholisticapproachto sustainabilityasagrowthdriver
Sheadds,“We believe diversity is the key to sustainable innovation. That’s why we promote an inclusive environment where every voice is valued, and diverse talent becomes a powerful source of breakthrough ideas.”
Helenaarticulatesaclearandpurposefulideology:that purposeisthedrivingforcebehindeveryaction.She believesinharnessingtechnologytoenhancelives,a principlethatunderpinsherprofessionaljourney.AtHP,her missionisdefinedbyacommitmenttofosteringgrowth thatisnotonlyprofitablebutalsoresponsibleand resilient—deliveringlong-termvalueforthecompany,its partners,andthecommunitiessheserves.
Empowered to Lead Fostering Inclusive and Authentic Leadership
Commandandcontrolleadershipisinthepast.Today's
globalized,networked,andpurpose-drivenworldnow demandsadifferentkindofleadershipfoundedonbelonging andauthenticity Thebestleadersarethosewholeadauthenticallyand generateasenseofbelonging.Thisnewleadershipmodelemphasizes empathyoverego,transparencyoverstructure,andasenseof belongingovercompliance.Thesevaluesaren'tjustrewritingthe leadershiprulebook—it'srewritingtherulebookonhoworganizations operateandthrive.
Inclusiveandauthenticleadershipisnotatrend.It'samandatethat fuelsinnovation,formsculture,andboostsperformance.Engaged leaderswhocreatesuchculturescanpotentiallyunlockthefull potentialoftheiremployeesandthriveinthenuanceofafast-evolving globalworld.
DefiningInclusiveandAuthenticLeadership
Inessence,inclusiveleadershipisaboutbuildingacultureinwhichall haveavoice,arenoticedandrespected,nomatterbackground,identity, orworldview.Itisbeyondrepresentation;itisintentionaltoplace multiplevoicesatthetableandestablishpsychologicalsafety.
Trueleadership,incontrast,dependsonself-awareness,integrity,and authenticity Trueleadersdon'thesitatetostatewhattheystandfor,lead genuinely,andarewillingtobevulnerable.Theyrefusetoconformto traditionalprofessionalismnormsthatsuppressindividuality.Rather, theysharetheirentirebeingwithothers—andinviteotherstodothe same.
Authenticityandinclusiontogethercreateachange-resistantleadership modelthatisimmenselypowerfulandpeople-centered.
WhyAuthenticityandInclusionMatterNow
Thesocio-economicclimateoftodaynow—oneofglobalambiguity, revolutionthroughtechnology,andincreasingdemandsforsocial justice—demandsadifferenttypeofleadership.
Workers,particularlyfuturegenerationsofworkers,are lookingtoworkinworkplaceculturesreflectiveoftheir own.Theywanttoworkfororganizationsthatpaylip servicetodiversitybutinfuseinclusionintotheculture.
Inclusivenessandauthenticitypropeltrust.When employeesarefreetobethemselves,creativityisincreased, teamworkismorerich,andengagementismoreprofound. Theyarebusinessoutcomes,not'moralwins.'Againand again,evidenceconfirmsthatinclusiveanddiverse organizationsperformbetterthantheircomparableothers onbusinessperformance,customersatisfaction,and innovation.
Additionally,employeesduringtimesofcrisesturnto actual,empathetic,andgroundedleaders.Empathetic leaderscreatestabilityinthemidstofchangeandconstruct respectandresilienceculturesforeveryone.
ConstructingEmpoweredLeadership
Empoweredleadersdonotmaterialize overnight—empoweredleadersareconstructed. Constructinginclusiveandrealleadershipbeginswitha commitmenttogrowthasanindividualandamotivationto challengeconventionalmodels.Constructingempowered leadershipincludes:
•Self-awareness:Achievinganunderstandingofone's values,strengths,andblindspotsisagoodstart.Leaders needtoknowwheretheirownbiasesareandhowtheymay, inturn,influencetheirowndecisionsandinteractions.
•Listeningandempathy:Multiculturalleaderslistenin tryingtounderstandratherthanrespond.Theysoakup inputfromnumerousdiversevoicesandcreateroomfor viewsotherthantheirown.
•Courageandvulnerability:Couragerequiresthe acceptanceofdeficiency.Vulnerableleadersarethosethat showtheirvulnerabilityandareopentofeedback,an indicatorofhumilityandtrust.
•Accountability:Inclusionisnotacomfortstation.Ittakes goalsetting,measurement,andholdingselfandothersto accountforinclusiveaction.
Organizationsplayaninstrumentalroleinmakingit possible.Leadershipdevelopmentprograms,mentoring, coaching,andsystemicpolicymodificationareall mechanismsthatenhanceinclusiveleadershipdevelopment.
InclusionwovenintoCulture
Inspirationalleadershiphastogobeyondthe individuals—ithastobebasedinorganizationalculture. That'sgoingtorequireturningonitssidehowpeopleget broughtonboard,howperformanceismanaged,andhow communicationhappens.Leadersneedtobechampionsof inclusivepolicies,inclusivebenefits,anddiverseleadership pipelines.
Aboveall,theconversationaroundinclusionneedsto transcendraceandgenderandencompassdisability, neurodiversity,age,sexualorientation,andsocioeconomic status.Itisnotsamenessbutonenessindiversity
Self-reflectionisalsoacontinuousrequirementfrom leadership.Organisationsneedtocheckfromtimetotime whethertheircultureisprogressingtogetherwiththeir statedvalues—andwhetherleadershipactionisbuildingor underminingtrust.
TheRippleEffectofEmpowerment
Whenleadersleadauthenticallyandinclusively,theyare abletobringoutthebestinothers.Employeesfeelmore secureintheirrole,teamsfunctionbetterincombination, andinnovationbenefitsfromarichersourceofexperience andideas.
Thisdominoeffectgoesfarbeyondthat.Empowering leaderstransformcommunities,transformindustries,and maketheworldamorejust,amorehumaneplace.They redefinesuccess—notjustthroughpromotionorprofit—but throughpurpose,impact,andlegacy.
Conclusion:LeadingwithHumanity
Thefutureofleadershipliesinourpowertoleadwith humanity.Inaworldbecomingevermorecomplexand interdependent,itwillbetheempowered,authentic,and inclusiveleaderwhowilltriumph—nolongerbyscreaming loudest,butbylisteningmostdeeply;notbycommanding fromabove,butbyelevatingfrombelow
Businessesthatinvestincultivatingthiskindofleadership aren'tonlypreparedfortomorrow—They'recreatingan organizationwhereanyoneperson,regardlessofidentityor background,canlead,contribute,andflourish.
Empoweredtoleadisempoweredtochangethe world—oneactofinclusive,authenticleadershipatatime.
Women at the Helm
The Rise of Gender-Equitable Leadership
Fromtheboardroomtothestartup,publicsectortoprivatesector,
acrosstheglobeofbusiness,anunprecedentedtransformationis underway—womenaresteppingintoleadershiprolesformerly heldbymen.Theriseofgender-equitableleadershipisnotonlya triumphfordiversity;itisaculturalandstrategicshiftinthemeasure ofsuccesswithinorganizations.
Thistransformationisdrivenbymoralimperativeaswellaseconomic imperative.Asbusinessesfaceuncertainty,complexity,andinnovation atrecordpaces,inclusiveleadership—fueledbydiverseinputandfair opportunity—isbecominganecessarydifferentiator Womenleaders arenotjustsittingatthetable—they'redesigningthetable.
BreakingBarriers,BuildingValue
Womenhaveseendecadesofdeliberateexclusionfrom leadership—everythingfromovertdiscriminationtothemore insidious,yetequallydebilitating,effectsofunconsciousbias,social networkexclusion,andasymmetricalaccesstomentorshipand opportunity.Evenwithimportantadvances,genderequityinleadership meansmorethanmerenumeraterepresentation.Itinvolvesculturaland structuralchangethateradicatessuchbarriersandpositively encouragesequalinvolvement.
Consistently,researchfindingsbyMcKinsey,HarvardBusiness Review,andtheWorldEconomicForumhaveidentifiedthat organizationswithdiverseleadershipperformbetterthanorganizations thatarenot.
Thefinancialperformanceandmoreinnovationandgoodgovernance inorganizationswithhigherpercentagesofwomenintopjobs highlightthis.Besides,womenexecutivespossessamore collaborative,empathetic,andresilience-drivenstyleof leadership—featuresthatareparamountfortoday'sresponsive,peoplecentricorganizations.
ANewLeadershipArchetype
Thetraditionalleadershipmodelofdominance,hierarchy, andlineardecision-makingisrapidlygoingoutofstyle.In itsplace,anewparadigmisemerging:inclusive,adaptive, andultra-sensitivetohumandynamics.Womenin leadershiparedrivingtheshift.
Gender-balancedleadershiptendstostressemotional intelligence,activelistening,andmutualpower.Women leaderstendtobemorelikelytopromoteinclusivecultures, investinbuildingteams,andleadwithintention.Their leadershipstresseslong-termresultsoverquickwins, collaborationinsteadofcompetition,andsustainability ratherthanspeedperse.
Thesetraitshavebeenespeciallyusefulunderconditionsof crisisandtransformation.UnderthepandemicofCOVID19,forinstance,variouswomen-lednationswereobserved tobemanagingeffectively,transparently,andhumanely Thisinternationalperspectivealsoaddsweighttothe transformativepromiseofgender-equalleadership frameworks.
FromTokenismtoTransformation
Inordertotrulymakegender-equitableleadershipareality, organizationsneedtodomorethanaddtokenism. Appointingwomentoleadershiprolessimplyto"checkthe box"isnotenough.Instead,itmeansincorporatingequity intotheorganizationalDNA—throughhiringand promotionpracticestoworkplacepoliciesandleadership developmentinitiatives.
Fromintentiontopay,creatinginclusivepathstoleadership requiresclosingpaydifferences,bringingfamily-friendly policiesintotheworkplace,sustainingflexiblework cultures,andcraftingmentorshipandsponsorship opportunitiesthatpropelwomen'scareersforward.
CultivatingtheNextGeneration
Leadershiprepresentationsparksaspiration.When ambitiouswomenprofessionalsseewomenleadingwith confidenceandauthenticity,itchangeswhatispossible. That'swhyvisibilitymatters—notjustattheexecutivelevel butthroughthoughtleadership,opportunitiesforpublic speaking,boardseats,andmedia.
Organizationscanbuildthenextgenerationofwomen leadersbybuildingequityintotheirtalentpipeline-through
activediscoveryoftalent,inclusiveperformance management,andleadershipdevelopmentthatappreciates theuniquestrengthswomenbringtothetable;thebuilding ofmaleallies;andtheestablishmentoforganizational culturesinwhichgenderequityiseverybody's responsibility
Leadershipcannotberedefinedbywomenalone-itmustbe championedcollectively.
TheGlobalOpportunity
Gender-equitableleadershipisnotjustabusiness agenda—it'saglobaldevelopmentimperative.From economicresiliencetosocialjustice,empoweredwomen leadershipisthekeytorealizinggreaterhumanandsocietal progress.TheUnitedNations'SustainableDevelopment Goals(SDGs)haveincludedgenderequalityandwomen's empowermentasessentialforinclusivegrowthand peacebuilding.
Astheemergingmarketsexpand,women'sleadershipisa hiddenasset.FromvillageenterpriseinAfricatoexecutive innovationinAsia,engagingwomenleadershasa multiplierimpactonfamilies,communities,andnations. Closingthegendergapinleadershipisthereforenotonly theethicalimperative—it'sthesmartthingtodoforglobal advancement.
Conclusion:AFutureReimagined
Womeninchargearenotleadingforsymbolism—they're leadingareimaginedfutureofleadershipthatismore human,effective,andsustainable.Theirriseisasignthat leadershipitselfisbeingreshapedtoservetheworld's diversity
Gender-balancedleadershipdevelopmentdiscomfortsthe conventionalnorms,expandsthemeaningofpower,and freesnewpotentialeverywhere.Asbusinessesgrowtobe anincreasinglyintegrated,value-drivenworld,theleaders whofocusongenderbalanceinleadershipwillnotonly leadbutleadeffectively
Empowered,qualified,andunapologeticallythemselves, womeninpositionsofpoweraren'tsomuchsittingin leadershipastheyarebuildingitafresh.
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