The Most Dynamic Leader To Watch In 2025 Vol-2 April2025

Sharon Pierce Shappley

The world’s most prominentWomen leaders show the importance of honesty, courage, impact, and decisive action in leadership.

Editorial

Lighting the Path

InthisInsightsSuccessspecialeditionof The Most Dynamic Leader To Watch in 2025,

weareproudtofeatureSharonPierceShappley,avisionarywhoseleadershipcontinues toredefineboundariesacrossindustry,innovation,andimpact.Sharonembodieswhatit meanstoleadwithclarity,purpose,andunwaveringdeterminationinaworldwhere adaptabilityandauthenticityaremoreessentialthanever

WhatsetsSharonapartisnotjustherremarkabletrackrecordofaccomplishments,buther relentlesscommitmenttoempoweringothers.Whetherdrivingtransformativestrategiesin corporateboardroomsormentoringthenextgenerationofchangemakers,sheleadswitharare blendofstrategicinsightandhuman-centeredleadership.Herabilitytonavigatecomplexity whileremaininggroundedinvalueshasearnedhertherespectofpeersandtheadmirationof thosesheinspires.

Thiseditionismorethanaprofile,it’sacelebrationofleadershipinitsmostdynamicform. Throughcandidinterviews,in-depthanalysis,andreflectionsfromthosewho’veworked alongsideher,weuncoverthequalitiesthatmakeSharonaleadertowatch—notjustin2025, butwellbeyond.

Wehopeherstoryencouragesreaderstoembracetheevolvingnatureofleadership—boldyet compassionate,innovativeyetinclusive.Aswelooktothefuture,it’sleaderslikeSharonwho remindusthatprogressbeginswithvision,butit’ssustainedthroughcourageandaction.

Thankyouforjoiningusinhonoringaleaderwhosejourneyisshapingthelandscapeof tomorrow.

Happy Reading!

-Alaya

Brown

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A Journey of Passion, Purpose, and Perseverance Through the World of Language Education

14. 18.

5 Emerging Leadership Trends Reshaping Executive Development The Evolution of Dynamic Leadership in the Digital Age

A JOURNEY OF AND Perseverance THROUGH THE WORLD OF LANGUAGE EDUCATION

To truly be passionate about teaching, one must also be passionate about learning. The two go hand in hand, forming a cycle of growth and enrichment that benefits both student and teacher.

Featuring

BeingborninavibrantstateofLouisianaSharon

PierceShappleyherearlyyearsspentsoakingin thewarmthandcultureoftheCaribbeanislands.It washere,surroundedbydiverselanguagesandrhythms, thatherfascinationwithlinguisticsbegan.Fromatender age,hercuriosityaboutcommunicationindifferent languagesledtowhatwouldbealifelongcommitmentto education.

Heracademicjourneyischaracterizedbyasenseof resilienceandpassion.Graduating inBachelorofArts degreeinSocialSciencewithanEducationConcentration andaminorinChildDevelopmentandfurthergraduated withaMagnaCuminAugust22,2011.Severalyearslater, shepursuedaMaster'sdegreeinEducation(MAED),which providedthefoundationforanevenmoreformidable challenge—thepursuitofherdoctoraldegree.

In2022,SharonwasofficiallycrownedforherPh.D.in Education.Herdissertationcenteredonadultsecond languageacquisitionwasaresultofyearsofrigorous academicresearchandreal-worldexperience.Despitethe challengesfacedduringtheCOVID-19pandemic, includinguniversityclosuresandformattingchanges,she adapted.Shetransformedtheresearchprocessintoan onlineexperience,rewrotesectionstocomplywithrevised APAguidelines,andlearnedpatienceandperseverancein thefaceofuncertainty.Shedevotedherselftoeducation andempoweringlearnerswasunwavering.

ACareerSpanningContinentsandClassrooms

Sharon’sprofessionaljourneyineducationbeganin1974, withahumblestart—teachingEnglishtostudentsinPuerto Ricowhofounditdifficulttograspthelanguagein traditionalclassroomsettings.Whatbeganaslocaltutoring blossomedintoaglobalmission.Sharonhassincetaughtin overadozencountries,includingBelarus,China,India, Italy,Japan,Russia,Spain,Ukraine,theUSA,andVietnam.

WhilepursuingherBachelor’sdegreein2003,shebecame deeplyinvestedinsecondlanguagelearning.Thisphase becameatransformativechapterinherlife,inspiringherto designanadaptable,level-basedEnglishcurriculumthat guidesstudentsfromtheirexistingproficiencytotheir aspirationalfluency.Herteachingmodelhassinceevolved intoarobustsystem,integratingcontemporary methodologiesandensuringrelevanceinanever-changing educationallandscape.

Today,Sharonofferstailoredlearningopportunitiesthrough herdigitalplatform.Frompreschoolstudentstoadult learners,thecoursescatertovaryinglevelsofEnglish proficiency,helpingstudentsnotjustunderstandwritten Englishbutmasterit.Hercoursesarebuiltwithafocuson individualneeds,andherdoctoralresearchcontinuesto influenceongoingcurriculumrefinement.

Currently,sheisspearheadingthelaunchofa comprehensiveEnglish-learningsoftwarealignedwith Europeanlanguageacquisitionstandards.Withten proficiencylevels(A1toC2)andmodulesforfivedistinct agegroups,thisofferingrepresentsSharon'svisionof accessible,high-qualitylanguageeducation.Asingle subscriptionopensaccesstofiftydynamiccourses,anda7dayfreetrialisavailableatsharonsclasses.org.

ManagingLife,Lessons,andLearning

Balancinganexpansiveeducationalbusinessandpersonal commitmentshasbeenachallengingyetrewarding endeavorforSharon.Withhandwrittennotebooks,intricate lessonplans,andover900lessonsmappedacrossten proficiencylevels,herdedicationtobuildingameaningful language-learningecosystemisevidentineverydetail.

Herdayrarelyendswithoutcarryingherlaptop,ensuring sheremainstetheredtohermissionofupliftinglearners. Fortunately,Sharonissurroundedbyasteadfastsupport system.Fromcollaboratorstolovedones,manyhave steppedintoassist—whetherironingouttechnicalglitches, offeringemotionalencouragement,orsimplyensuringshe takestimetorest.

Tomaintainbalance,shefindssolaceintravel.Cruises,in particular,offerhermuch-neededrespitefromthedigital world,allowingformomentsofreflectionandrejuvenation. Sharonalsoremainsanardentsupporterofthearts, frequentingconcerts,plays,ballets,andsportingevents, especiallyhockey.

Herstudents,meanwhile,serveasacontinuoussourceof inspirationandjoy WeeklyZoomsessionsgobeyond academicdiscussions—theyarecommunitiesofshared lives,laughter,andcollaboration.Studentsoftenbecome testersandadvisors,contributingreal-timefeedbackto improvethesoftware’sfunctionalityandcontent.Intimes offrustrationorfatigue,Sharonrecallsthesemomentsand theimpactsheismaking.

My mission is clear to offer affordable, effecve English language instrucon to anyone with the desire to learn—regardless of their economic or geographic limitaons.

Evenduringcommunitycelebrations,likePassover,her commitmentdoesn’twane.Shemultitasks—attending festivitieswhileuploadingnewcontenttoherlearning managementsystem.Learningtheinsandoutsofplatforms likeAbsorbLMShasbroughtfreshchallenges,yetthe delightindiscoveringfeaturesthatcanenhancestudent experienceskeepsherenthusiasmalive.Assheaptly summarizes, “It’s with a little help from my friends and an abundance of passion that I continued to thrive.”

DrivenbyaPurposeGreaterThanProfit

Herprofessionalpersonaismarkedbygoalorientation, collaborativeenergy,andanunyieldingdesiretoseeothers succeed.

Withanaffinityfortechnologyandpresentationdesign, Sharonisconstantlypushingtheboundariesof conventionalteachingmethods.Whethercollaboratingwith felloweducatorsorrefiningcurriculumbasedonstudent feedback,sheapproacheshermissionwithgrace,grit,and generosity.

Shederivesimmensesatisfactionfromthose‘aha’moments whenastudentfinallygraspsachallengingconcept. “My mission is clear to offer affordable, effective English language instruction to anyone with the desire to dless of their economic or geographic saysSharon.

Herbusinessishervoice,hertool,andhertestimony.It’s ,nurturedwithknowledge,andsustained “Running a business, I believe, is among the toughest jobs one can take on. But if fueled by belief in its value and executed with heart, it can become a beacon of shecommented.

ithin:PassionasFuel

WhatdrivesSharoneachdayisanundyinglovefor education.Bookshavealwaysbeenhercompanions,and thejoyshefindsinreadingissomethingsheyearnstoshare withtheworld.Knowledge,shebelieves,isthekeytoa morecompassionate,enlightened,andinclusivehumanity.

Thesparkofpassionigniteseverytimesheseesstudents genuinelycurious,notjusttryingtopassexamsor appeaseparents.Herroleistoprovidethemwiththe ,thrive,andfindpurpose.ForSharon, tmeasuredinoutputsalone—it’sthe senseofaccomplishment,thegrowthofself-worth, andtheenrichmentoflives.

Herfamilyhistory,too,playsapoignantrolein shapingherdrive.Sheoftenrecallsher ,whoreachedonlythirdgradeand expresseddeepregretoverherlimitededucation. ThatlegacyisSharon’smotivator.Itcompelsher toensurethatnooneisdeniedthejoyoflearning simplybecauseofcircumstance.Through education,sheseekstohonorherancestorsand upliftfuturegenerations.

Running a business, I believe, is among the toughest jobs one can take on. But if fueled by belief in its value and executed with heart, it can become a beacon of transformaon.

Sharonbelievesthat “To truly be passionate about teaching, one must also be passionate about learning. The two go hand in hand, forming a cycle of growth and enrichment that benefits both student and teacher”she quotes.Witheverylesson,she’snotjustteaching;she’s learninganew

TurningCrisisIntoCatalyst:TheCOVIDChapter

ForSharon,thepandemicwasaparadox—filledwith hardshipbutbrimmingwithopportunity Whenclassrooms shutdownandteacherswereleftwithoutphysicaltools,she sawthegapsandsteppedintobridgethem.Assomeone alreadyseasonedinonlineeducation,shequicklybecamea guidingforce.

Theinitialwavebroughtaninfluxofstudentsworldwide. However,itwasn’taneasytransition.Trainingcertified teacherstoadapttothedigitalrealmtookpatience,energy, andresolve.Unlikein-personteaching,onlineeducation demandedmoreplanning,morecontrol,andahigher emotionalbandwidthtokeepstudentsengaged.

Jugglingmultiplescreens,settingupZoomrooms,grading digitalsubmissions,andmanagingvirtualclassrooms becamethenewnorm.Amidthistransformation,Sharon andherteamturnedtohumor,resilience,andinnovation. Propsets,onlinecompetitions,spellingbees,andeven cookingconteststurnedthevirtuallearningspaceintoa lively,engagingcommunity

Heartbreakwasalsoareality—studentsandcolleagues werelosttothevirus,andgriefhungheavy.Butthemission carriedon.Theymadespaceforsocialization,creating globalconnectionsamongyounglearnerswholaughedand learnedacrossborders.Itwaseducationatitsmosthuman.

Fromthosedifficultmonthsemergedastronger,moreagile platform.Thechallengesgavewaytonewtools,new lessons,andnewvictories.Sharonturnedadversityinto advantage,painintopassion,andisolationintoinspiration. Theworldmighthavestoodstill,butherclassroom continuedtothrive.InthelifeandworkofSharonPierce Shappley,educationisnotmerelyaprofession—itisa calling.Fromchildhoodwondertodoctoralacclaim,from classroomwallsinPuertoRicotodigitalscreensaroundthe globe,shehasremainedsteadfastinhermission.Her journeyisatestamenttothepowerofperseverance,the impactofinspiredteaching,andtheimmeasurablevalueof knowledgesharedwithlove.

Tanping Wang Senior Director, ML and AI Development

Jacqueline Karlin Senior Director of AI Product PayPal

Venkatesh Shivanna

Shardul Desai

Sandeep Jha

Eleonore Fournier-Tombs

Kailash Thiyagarajan

Naresh Dulam

5 Emerging Leadership Trends Reshaping Executive Development

Theleadershiplandscapeischangingrapidly The

traditionalmodelsofexecutivedevelopment—that wereoncebasedalmostentirelyonhierarchical powerandstrategicdelegation—arenowbeingreshapedby changingsocietalexpectations,technologicalinnovation, andamultigenerationalworkforce.

Leadershiptrendstodayinthehigh-speedbusiness environmenthaveacriticalparttoplayindetermininghow executivesarebeingdeveloped,mentored,andpreparedfor thefuture.Thesenewtrendsarenotonlyremodelling executivemindsetsbutarealsoshapingtheverydefinition ofleadership.

The following are five leadership trends that are having a substantial impact on executive development in 2025 and beyond:

1.Human-CentricLeadership

Oneofthemostcompellingleadershiptrendsinrecent yearsisamovetowardshuman-centricleadership.Inthe post-pandemicera,leadersmustleadwithempathy, emotionalintelligence,andauthenticity.Beingableto establishtrust,createpsychologicalsafety,andenhance employeewell-beingisnolongerseenasasoftskillbutis beingframedasakeyleadershipcapability.

Executivetrainingprogramsareaddingmoduleson inclusivecommunication,empathytraining,andactive listeningtotheircurriculumnow Thisreflectsan acknowledgmentofthefactthattheperformanceofan organizationhasanintrinsicconnectiontothe psychologicalandemotionalrobustnessofhumanbeings. Connectedleadersratherthancontrollingleadersarebeing showntobemoreproficientathandlingambiguityand change.

2.DigitalFluencyandTech-DrivenDecision-Making

Technologyisnolongeranenablerbutastrategicdriverin leadership.AI,machinelearning,andbigdataanalytics havebroughtinchangesthatcompelleaderstobecome digitallyliterate.Thesinglemostsignificantleadership trendofthedayisperhapstheneedfortechnologically inclinedexecutiveswhoareabletousedigitalsolutionsin ordertomakedecisionsbasedonknowledgeandnot assumptions.

Today'sexecutivedevelopmentprogramsinvolvestudying digitaltransformationapproaches,cybersecurityculture, anddataliteracy.Leadersneedtonotjustcomprehendhow technologyoperatesbutalsohowitcancontributetoa competitiveadvantage.Thistransformationisalsomaking wayformoreintensecooperationamongCIOs,CTOs,and theC-suite,withtechnologybeingintegratedintoevery strategicendeavor

3.AgilityandContinuousLearningasLeadership Imperatives

Thosewerethedayswhenonlyyearsofexperiencehad beentheweaponofexecutives.Nowadays,intheVUCA world,theneedforagilityandlifelonglearningcultureis oneofthemostessentialleadershiptrends.Executivesneed tomatchpacewithmarkettransitions,customerdemands, anddisruptionsfromacrosstheglobe.

Future-facingorganizationsareinvestinginleadership developmentmodelsfoundedoniterativelearning,speeddrivenexperimentation,andfail-fastculture.Executive coaching,peer-learningnetworks,andmicrolearning platformsaredeployedtofosterreal-timeknowledge assimilationandresponsiveness.Itkeepstheleaders current,effective,andcompetitiveinachangingworld scenario.

4.Diversity,Equity,andInclusion(DEI)asa LeadershipMandate

Oneoftheotherdisruptiveleadershiptrendsispromoting diversity,equity,andinclusionfromcompliancetobusiness priority Today'sexecutivesarealsorequiredtobeDEI champions,activelycreatinginclusiveculturesanddiverse leadershipteams.

Executivedevelopmentischanging,aswell.Unconscious bias,inclusivehiringandinterviewing,andfair performancemeasurementarenowaddressedincourses.

Companiesarealsodesigningsponsorshipandmentorship programstobuildunderrepresentedtalent.Thesearen't optics—certainlynot.They'reaboutbuildingmore successful,moreinnovativecompaniesthathavea representativeface.

5.Purpose-DrivenLeadershipandStakeholder Capitalism

Maybethemostvalues-basedleadershiptrendispurpose. Leaderstodayarebeingaskedtoseebeyondshareholder valueandadoptstakeholdercapitalism.Thatmeans recognizingenvironmentalstewardship,socialjustice,and communityinvolvementascoreaspectsofbusiness strategy

Executivesareincreasinglybeingtrainedwithanemphasis onethicalleadership,socialresponsibility,and sustainabilityreporting.Leadershipprogrammesare integratingESG(Environmental,Social,andGovernance) principles,sothatfutureleadersareabletobalance profitabilityandsocialgood.Thisishighlyheardby millennialandGenZemployees,whodesiretoworkfor companiesthatsharelikevalues.

Conclusion

Astheworlditselfischangingataspeedneverbeforeseen, sotoomustthemannerinwhichwebuildandsustainour leaders.Thefivetrendsofleadershipthathavebeen identifiedabove—human-centricleadership,digitalfluency, lifelonglearning,DEI,andpurpose-drivenleadership—are nottrendstobeadopted,butinsteadanimperative redefinitionofwhatitmeanstobealeaderinthe21st century

Firmsthatadoptthesetrendsaspartoftheirexecutive educationeffortswillbewellpositionedtohirethebestand brightest,navigatedisruption,andbuildenduringvalue. Mostimportantly,theywilldevelopanewgenerationof leaderswhoarenotonlycompetentbutalsocaring, inquiring,inclusive,andethical.

Thedaysoftheomniscient,command-and-controlCEOare over.Followingintheirplaceisanewarchetype—one drivenbyflexibility,empathy,andpurpose.Embracingand adaptingtheseleadershiptrendsarenolongersimplynice todo;theyareessentialtolong-termsuccess.

Inaninternationalagewheretechnologicalinnovation isdevelopingataspeedneverbeforeseen,theold leadershipstylesarerapidlylosingplacetonewer, moreadaptable,responsive,andvisionarystyles.Atthe pinnacleofthetopcompetenciesneededthatare undergoingchangeinthisnewworldisDynamic Leadership—astylethatspeakstoresponsiveness, inclusiveness,andinnovationamidstthedigitalage.

UnderstandingDynamicLeadership

DynamicLeadershipisanimbleandresponsivestyleof leadershipthatadjustsinrealtimeasaresultofcontinuous feedback,data-drivendecisions,andafeelingofteamwork. Contrastingwithhard,top-downstructuresofold,dynamic leadersarecharacterizedbytheirabilitytoleadthrough uncertainty,respondtochange,andmotivatecrossfunctionalteamsthroughcomplexdigitaltransformations.

Thisformofleadershipisnotindustryspecific.Across technologystart-upsandmultinationalcorporations,across healthcareandeducation,theabilitytoleadinfluidterms hasbecomethedefiningfeatureofsuccessfulorganizations intheDigitalAge.

TheDigitalAge:ACatalystforChange

Theeraofdigitization,dominatedbytechnologiessuchas artificialintelligence,cloudcomputing,dataanalysis,and remoteteamcollaborationtools,hastransformedthevery natureofwork.Theydemandnotonlytechnicalabilities butalsoemotionalmaturity,foresight,andcultural flexibility—essenceofDynamicLeadership.

Historically,leadershipinvolvedhierarchicalcontroland long-termplanning.Nowadays,however,decisionsneedto bemadeinreal-time,onthebasisoffluctuatingdataand fluctuatingmarkettrends.Leadersneedtobeadaptable, constantlyadaptingstrategymid-coursetotakeadvantage ofnewopportunitiesorreacttounforeseenrisks.Dynamic leaderssucceedinthisenvironmentbecausetheyare comfortablewithuncertaintyandabletomakerapidbut rationaldecisions.

KeyQualitiesofDynamicLeaders

AfewessentialqualitiesdistinguishDynamicLeadershipin theonlineenvironment:

Adaptability:Onlineleadersmustbecapableofchanging theirstrategiesquicklyinresponsetonewintelligence, technologies,ormarketneeds.

VisionOrientation:Agilityisessentialintheshortterm, butdynamicleadersalsopossessawell-definedvisionfor thelongertermthatdrivestheirdecisionsandinspirestheir staff.

CollaborativeIntelligence:Nodynamicleaderdoes anythingbythemselvestodayinthenetworkedworld. Dynamicleadershipemphasizescollaborationacross functions,geographies,anddisciplines.

TechSavviness:Notnecessarilyprogrammingexperts,but dynamicleadersunderstanddigitaltoolswellandnew technologythatcansparkinnovationandproductivity

EmpowermentandInclusion:Empoweringteams,diverse perspectives,andapsychologicalsafetyandexperimental culturearecultivatedbydynamicleaders.

ChallengesinPracticingDynamicLeadership

Despiteitsadvantages,DynamicLeadershipisnotwithout itschallenges.Hierarchicallyembeddedfirmsmayresist culturalchangetoaccommodateitsimplementation.Even executivesmaystruggletoshedcontrol-oriented philosophiesfortrust-orientedones.

Also,inourmoderninterconnectedworld,information overloadcanparalyzedecision-making.Dynamicleaders mustbeabletocutthroughthenoiseandpinpointthose insightsmostpertinent,sodecisionsareontimeanddatadriven,butnotreactiveorshort-term.

Anotherdifficultyarisesinfindingabalancebetween dynamismandstability.Beingdynamicdoesnotmean beingimpulsive.Leadersmustensurethatrapidchangesin directionarestrategicandcongruentwithotherobjectives. Maintainingthistightropebalancerequiresintelligence,but equallyasmucheffectivecommunicationandemotional maturity

DynamicLeadershipinAction

Anumberofexamplesintheworldofbusinessexhibitthe powerofDynamicLeadership.TheexampleofSatya Nadella'sMicrosoftisone:"bydevelopingagrowth mindsetculture,bettingbigoncloud,andenablingaculture ofcollaboration,"Nadellashoweddynamicleadershipat scale.Microsoftbecamealeaderintechnologyagainwith hisleadership.

Similarly,whenthepandemicofCOVID-19emerged, companieslikeShopifyandZoomillustratedhow transformativeleadershipcouldsteerduringcomplete disruption.Thesecompaniesquicklyreactedtospiraling demandsandshiftingworkingpatterns,growing infrastructureandfine-tuningserviceswithexcellent resilience.

Startupcommunitiesandinnovationcentersalsoprovide fertilegroundforagileleadership.There,inthishighgrowthecosystem,peoplewhocanacceleraterapidly,are abletofuelcreativity,andcanlearnthroughfailuresare irreplaceable.

CreatingaCultureofDynamicLeadership

FororganizationsthatwanttodevelopDynamic Leadership,theprocessstartsinthemind.Leadership developmentinitiativesneedtoprioritizeflexibility,digital fluency,anddiversity-inclusivepractices.Feedbackloops, mentorship,andlivelearningplatformsneedtobe integratedintothefabricoftheorganization.

Nolesscriticaliseliminatingstructuralobstacles.Flatter structures,decentralizeddecisions,andunobstructed channelsofcommunicationprovidetheenvironmentwhere dynamicleadershipcanflourish.

Technologyalsohasitsturn.Collaborationsoftware, openness,andperformancemonitoringsoftwarecanenable leadersandteamstoresponddynamicallywithout sacrificingaccountability

Conclusion:TheFutureIsDynamic

Aswecontinueforward,DynamicLeadershipwillcontinue tobethesolutiontoindividuals,teams,andorganizations succeedingintheageofthedigitalrevolution.Inanera wheretheworldismarkedbycontinuousdisruption,the abilitytoleadwithagility,clarity,andcompassionis needednowmorethanever

Thisisnotmerelyacaseofadjustingtochange—it'sabout designingchange.Effectiveleadersarenotjustresponders; theyarearchitectsofchange,takingchallengesand transformingvisionintoreality.

Inessence,DynamicLeadershipisnotanephemeral occurrencebutanaturaltransformationofleadership knowledgeandapplication.Theywillnotjustcopebutlead thewaytothenextwaveofinnovationanddevelopment.

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