Adrienne Sartori Managing Director Sartori & Co.
ADRIENNE SARTORI
Editorial
The Power of Presence
Ineveryindustry,certainindividualsrisenotmerelythroughtitlesor
tenure, but through their ability to create meaningful impact —transforming challenges into opportunities, and vision into value. TopIcontoWatchin2025isacelebrationofsuchtrailblazers—individuals whoseleadershipisnotdefinedbyconventionbutbycourage,clarity,and thedrivetodothingsdifferently.
Amongthisyear’smostcompellingfiguresisAdrienneSartori,anamethat has become synonymous with adaptive excellence and purpose-driven leadership.Herjourneyisnotonlymarkedbyimpressivemilestones,but alsobythesubtlestrengthofreinvention—aqualitythathasallowedherto lead with both resilience and relevance in a fast-changing professional landscape.
WhatmakesAdrienneSartoriastandouticonisherdeep-rootedbeliefin reflective leadership. She embodies a leadership style that is intentional, empathetic,andattunedtobothorganizationalgoalsandhumandynamics. Inanerawheretransformationisconstant,shehasembracedchange—not as a disruption, but as an invitation to innovate, to learn, and to lead differently.
-Alaya Brown
Herclient-centricideologyhasredefinedtraditionalbusinessapproaches. Rather than simply delivering solutions, she has focused on building relationships grounded in trust, insight, and long-term value This philosophy has not only set her apart but has also influenced broader industry norms, encouraging a shift toward more personalized, partnership-orientedengagementmodels.
As industries continue to evolve under the pressure of digitalization, sustainability, and global interconnectivity, professionals like Adrienne remind us that adaptability and authenticity are not trends—they are timeless assets. She exemplifies how influence is not about commanding attention,butaboutinspiringaction,fosteringcollaboration,andcreating cultureswherepeopleandperformancethrivetogether
Top Icon to Watch in 2025 is a lens through which we recognize those shapingthenextchapterofleadership.AdrienneSartoriisnotjustpartof thatfuture—sheishelpingdefineit.
Adrienne Sartori
Redening Risk and Setting New Standards in Advisory Excellence F E A T U R I N G
ARTICLES
Power, Grace, and Grit: The New Age of Women in Leadership
The Alchemy of Inuence: Turning Ideas into Impact
Art
Business
Business
Digital
Co-designer
Marketing
Managing Director
& Co.
Adrienne Sartori
Sartori
F E A T U R I N G
ADRIENNE
Redefining Risk and Setting New Standards in Advisory Excellence
True success is rarely linear but always driven by determina on, adaptability, and a clear sense of purpose.
Top Icon to Watch in 2025
Adrienne's professional achievements are many, but
thereisonethatsheholdsmostdear:beingawarded the Best Currency Risk Advisory Firm Australia –2024bytheWorldwideFinanceAwards.
Thisawardisareflectionofhercommitmenttoofferbespoke, client-ledadviceinthecurrencyandinterestratemarkets.
Her launch of bespoke strategies has become the new benchmark in the industry and is a defining feat in her professionalcareer
Outsideofherprofessionallife,Adriennederivessatisfaction inartisticendeavors.Remodelingherhome,aprojectinspired byearlycourseworkininteriordesign,providesherwiththe opportunity to put her knowledge of color theory, lighting design,andspaceintegrationtouse.Thesystematic,reverseplanmethodsheemploysinremodelingparallelsherprocess in risk management, illustrating the synergy between her artisticandanalyticabilities.Adrienne'spassionforSogetsu Ikebana,theclassicJapaneseflowerarrangementart,further demonstratesherdevotiontoharmony,balance,andcreative freedom.ThepublicationofherworkinexpertIkebanabooks hasprovidedindividualachievementsthathaveenhancedher overallunderstandingofdesignandstrategy.
Anchored by Love: The Personal Foundations Behind ProfessionalSuccess
Although theprofessional accomplishmentsofAdrienne are well-documented,thepersonalrootsthatunderliehersuccess are just as deep. Two unshakeable sources of happiness and equilibriuminherlifearehersweetheartandsoulmate, Gary, andtheircherishedgoldenCockerSpaniel,JinJin.
Effec ve risk management must strike a delicate balance between protec ng business profitability and enabling long-term wealth crea on.
Intheearlypartofherpath,Adriennededicatedherselffully to career establishment, fueled by a passion to create somethingenduringandmeaningful.Yet,inthelasttenyears, her journey has been deeply enriched by Gary A life companionfirst,Garyisalsoaconsistentpartner—asounding boardwhosepracticaljudgmentandimplementationstrength have served to hone Adrienne's ideas and turn vision into action. He is a sharer in every achievement, providing encouragement when there are victories, as well as perspectivewhentherearesetbacks.
Just as solidly rooted is Jin Jin, whose Chinese name translates to "gold" (her spelling tenderly anglicized) Adrienne's faithful friend and fellow traveler with an unsettling emotional sensitivity, Jin Jin reminds her of life's uncomplicated pleasures. Particularly in the stress of home
The more op ons you create for yourself, the more empowered you are to adapt, innovate, and select the most effec ve path forward.
workinginhigh-pressurefinancialmarkets,JinJinhas a talent for pushing Adrienne away from the desk, refocusing, and restoring the rejuvenative power of beingandpause.
Gary and Jin Jin, along with Adrienne, create the emotional center of her life. They always make her remember that genuine achievement isn't quantified only in numbers or landmarks, but in the times and peoplethatmakethoseachievementsworthwhile.
Withloveandsupportfromthem,Adriennecontinues to prosper—personally centered and professionally empowered.
Leadership: Authenticity, Service, and Empowerment
Adrienne's leadership philosophy is rooted in authenticity and self-knowledge. She holds that effective leadership necessitates a clear picture of one's values, strengths, limitations, and motivations. Leadership is not generic for Adrienne; it is about aligning one's style with underlying principles and creating an environment where others feel noticed, nurtured,andempowered.
Herguidancetofutureleadersistoestablishtheirown leadershipstyleaccordingtoindividualvaluesandto allowthemtoinformtheirdecisions.
Never underes mate the power of small ac ons—the way you treat others and the values you uphold daily will shape your leadership legacy.
Excellent leaders, she insists, do not know everything; they ask good questions, listen actively, and foster open conversation.
Leadership, to Adrienne, is service, not status—assuming responsibility for results and distributing praise to the team, showing courage in making decisions, humility in acknowledging errors, and wisdom in dealing with uncertainty.
Ongoing self-improvement is yet another foundation of Adrienne's leadership philosophy She believes in learning through experience, receiving feedback, and being curious. Readingwidelyacrossfields,shethinks,iscriticaltoknowing people and situation. Leadership, Adrienne thinks, is not a matterofperfectionbutofprogress,intention,andintegrity.
She also emphasizes the importance of small actions in shaping a leadership legacy The way one treats others, the exampleonesets,andthevaluesuphelddailyallcontributeto lastingimpact.Adrienneaspiresnotjusttolead,buttoleadin awaythatbringsoutthebestinothersandleavesapositive, enduringmark.
GuidingPrinciples:ChoiceandVision
Adrienne's growth and success mantra is rooted in two fundamental principles: the ability to choose and the vision forit Theabilitytochoose,shefeels,generatesempowerment,
responsiveness, and innovation. The wider horizon for making decisions allows creative problem-solving and flexibilityinthemidstofchange.
Also vital is the habit of working backward from a welldefined objective Starting with the end goal in mind, Adrienne turns ambiguity into intentional action, dividing large challenges into small steps. This technique guarantees eachchoiceisintentional,thoughtful,andgoaloriented.
These same guiding principles—grow choice and reverseengineer success—are evident in all aspects of Adrienne's personalandprofessionallife.Theyhaveallowedhertostay strong, clear, and deliberate amidst changing markets and changingbusinesslandscapes.
ALegacyofThoughtfulExcellence
Adrienne's career is an inspiring model of what is possible through a combination of analytical acumen, creative imagination,andrelentlessdedicationtoclients.Hercapacity for managing complexity, building true partnerships, and leading from the heart has made her a change-making presenceinfinancialadvisoryandriskmanagement.
By her work, Adrienne continues to challenge others to be adaptable, strive for excellence, and lead with purpose. Her story is both one of professional success and one of a life devoted to intentional, client-focused innovation and lasting effect.
POWER, GRACE, AND GRIT:
THE NEW AGE OF WOMEN
IN LEADERSHIP
It is a world in which leadership itself is being rewritten according to the values of inclusion, empathy, and creativity,anditiswomenleaderswhoarerewritingthe very definition of power No longer bound to traditional norms of domination or superiority, power today is more associated with influence, collaboration, and mission —values many women leaders possess with breathtaking integrity.
Theriseofwomenasleadersisnotatrend—itisaseachange. Withmoresophisticatedglobalchallenges,organizationsare discoveringthatleadershipofthefinestkinddoesnotemanate from command-and-control mind-sets, but rather from leaderswhounderstandhowtomotivate,unite,andnavigate through change with strategic insight and emotional intelligence. Women, long excluded from decision-making tables, are rising up with not just competence, but with the capacitytoleadbothgraciouslyandgrittily
GraceasStrategicStrength
Grace is often mistaken for softness or passivity, but as a leadership trait - emotional flexibility, resilience, and being presentinthemidstofdifficulty Womenleadersareshowing that grace is not avoidance of conflict it's conflict management with heart and clarity. It's pushing against the status quo without losing your cool, and enabling others withoutovershadowingthem.
Attheboardroomtable,gracelookslikelistening,beingopen, and being able to maintain a point of view in high-stakes environments.It'stheaudacitytoremaincalmwhendecisions have high-stakes outcomes and the confidence to lead with vulnerability rather than bluster. Grace generates trust—and trustgeneratestransformation.
This quality has become increasingly vital in the postpandemic age, when employees long to feel connected, grounded, and human-centered leadership. Women leaders wholeadwithelegancecreatecultureswhereindividualscan bethemselves,collaborate,andfeelseen—notjustmanaged.
TheGritThatDrivesResults
While grace communicates emotional strength, grit is unshakable resolve that drives vision into action. Women leaders have exercised grit for decades—at times amidst structural bias, small numbers, and complex intersections of life and work. This grit has been embodied in a leadership modethatistenacious,principled,andoutcomes-focused.
Research continually suggests that female leaders are more likely to adopt inclusive strategies, encourage diversity, and prioritize long-term sustainability over short-term profitability Resilienceforthemisnotmerelyaboutmoving forward,butalsolearningtoshiftwhenit'snecessary,tohold firmwhenit'sneeded,andtoinvestinothers.
This balance of resilience and adaptability is especially evidentincrisis-hardenedwomen-ledorganizationsthathave weathered crises not by reacting habitually, but by rebalancing thoughtfully—through collaboration, reflective innovation,andculturalintegrity
ABroaderLensonLeadership
The new generation of female leaders is also marked by a deeperrealizationofsuccess.Womenareshiftingthedebate fromshareholdervaluetostakeholdervalue,unitingpurpose and profit and rewriting the rules for what it means to lead well.
They're advocating for fairness not just as an ethical imperative but as a business advantage.They're redesigning workplaces, not just to accommodate women, but to benefit everybody—beitmoreflexibleworkarrangementsandbetter parentalleaveorinclusivedecision-makingprocesses.
Thisisnota"women'sversion"ofleadership.Thisismaking leadershipmorehuman,ethical,andforward-looking—what theworldsodesperatelyneedstoday
ThePowerofRepresentation
Representation matters.When women lead, they change the script for those who follow From healthcare and politics to
tech and finance, looking up to female leaders sends a resoundingmessage:leadershipisnotagender,it'spotential.
Butactualprogressisnotseatfilling—it'sabouttransforming systems.Womeninleadershiprolesarenotrolemodels,they are agents of change. They're disrupting ancient norms, advocating for inclusive pipelines, and mentoring the next generationnottofitintooldshapes,buttoinventnewonesfor themselves.
With every step forward, they establish the way for deeper social transformation where girls can imagine without borders, and organizations can leverage the rich fabric of humanpotential.
ChallengesThatEndure—andthePathForward
Despite the progress, women still face strong barriers —comparativepaydisadvantages,underrepresentationonCsuitesandventurecapital,andthepersistentburdenofgender stereotypes. But the tide is shifting. More businesses realize that balanced gender leadership is not just a measure of equalitybutamarkofexcellence.
Support systems like mentorship, leadership growth programs, and diversity hiring are gaining traction. But the realtransformationistoredesigntheleadershipitself—notas a struggle for dominance, but as a stage for making a difference,accessibletoallwholeadwithheart,intelligence, andintegrity
Conclusion:LeadingwithPower,Grace,andGrit
This new generation of women leaders isn't about replacing onedominantmodelwithanother—it'saboutraisingthebar onleadership.Power,whendefinedbygritandgrace,ismore than authority—it's influence that inspires, transforms, and lasts.
Women aren't just leading differently—they're leading more effectively,establishingamodelofleadershipthatisboldand compassionate,strongandthoughtful,strategicandhuman.
Gazingtowardthefuture,thequestionisnolongerifwomen will be the next generation of leaders. The question is: how highwewillclimbwhenpower,grace,andgritareleadingthe way?
THE ALCHEMY OF INFLUENCE: TURNING IDEAS INTO IMPACT
Today's hyper-connected, information-drenched world is home to plenty of ideas—but impact is scarce. What distinguishes a passing fancy from a movement, or a presentation from a paradigm shift, is influence. Influence is the intangible power that turns vision intovelocity,andthoughtintotraction.Itisnotmanipulation masquerading as persuasion—it is the art of generating resonance,drivingalignment,andmobilizingpeopletoward consequentialoutcomes.
True influence is not control; it is connection And in leadership, influence has emerged as the most powerful currency—more valuable than authority, more lasting than position,andmorerepeatablethanpower
TheJourneyfromIdeatoImpact
Eachinnovation,whethertechnologicalorsocial,startswith an idea. But ideas are not sufficient. Between idea and executionisthevitalbridgeofinfluence—wherealeaderhas to persuade, inspire, and involve others to believe in somethingthatdoesn'tyetexist.
This trip calls for more than intellectual clarity. It asks for strategic narrative, emotional intelligence, the building of trust,andtheabilitytoreadthemoment.Itinvolvesgrasping notjustwhattheideais,buthowitwillhit,whowillittouch, andwhyit'simportant.
The most effective leaders recognize this gap and craft their communication with that in mind. They interpret ideas into meaning, casting them in the vocabulary of their audience's hopes,values,andfears.Theydon'tsimplyofferideas—they positionthemforadoption.
CredibilityandConsistency:TheBedrockofInfluence
Atthecoreofinfluenceiscredibility Individualsdemonstrate a greater tendency to be influenced by persons they trust —leaders who continually showcase integrity, competence,
andauthenticity.Duringatimewhennoisefillstheairwaves, trustmakesinfluencemovement.
Effective leaders walk the talk. They are principled but flexible in practice. This consistency constructs relational capital over time, and their ideas take hold not because of charisma per se, but because they are credible through behavior.
In addition, influence is not flash-in-the-pan—it's ongoing. It's not one pitch or presentation; it's a collection of work, a rhythm of interaction, and a track record of creating value. Leaders who are able to develop long-term influence do so every day through micro-moments of listening, mentoring, pushingback,andempowering.
EmotionalResonance:TheUnderratedCatalyst
Fantastic ideas don't excite people—emotion does. To be effective, a leader doesn't just need to inform; they need to inspire. This is where emotional intelligence can be an incredibleenabler.Leaderswhoknowtheiraudiences'fears, hopes, and motivations can craft communications that connectwithsubstanceandimpact.
Thisemotionalconnectionisespeciallycriticalduringtimes of change, when uncertainty can foster resistance. Powerful leadersemployempathyasameanstoalign,nottoappease. They listen to context, show they care, and establish psychologicalsafety—enablingindividualstobegintoopen themselvestonewwaysofworkingandthinking.
Theyalsounderstandthatinfluenceisnotnecessarilyaloud thing.Attimesit'squietpresence,steadysupport,ormindful silence.Influenceislessaboutknowingwhattosayandmore abouthowtoshowup.
InfluenceIsMultipliedThroughRelationships
Influence is never exercised in a vacuum; it is triggered through networks. Managers who create healthy, inclusive, andtrustingrelationshipsacrossfunctionsandlevelsmultiply their effect many times over They are bridge-builders, not gatekeepers.
These leaders do not see relationships as transactions. They invest with no scoreboard, knowing that influence is a twoway street. By empowering others, they produce advocates, allies,andcollaboratorswhoworktomoveideasforward.
In healthy teams and organizations, influence is shared, not possessed. The best leaders build cultures where influence moves through ideas, not through hierarchies—where the bestthinkingcanemergefromanydirection.
TheInfluenceMindset:FromEgotoEcosystem
Perhapsoneofthemostimportantleadershipchangestodayis thechangefromego-basedtoecosystem-basedinfluence.It's no longer who owns the idea, but how far it goes and how muchitsinksin.
Innovativeleadersareliberalwithcreditandreceptivetococreation. They don't aim to control the room—they aim to elevate the discussion. They recognize that for an idea to becomeimpact,itneedstobecomeshared—itneedstobelong tomorethanoneperson.
Thischangeofmindreleasesaprofoundtruth:influenceisnot a one-man show. It is a collaborative effort, taking humility, curiosity,andthepowerofflexibility.
Leaderswhogetthisrealizethattheyarenotmerelysupposed toleadideas,buttofreethem—togivethemlifebeyondtheir ownhorizons.
TurningInfluenceintoLegacy
The ultimate test of influence is not applause—it is action. Ideas are only important if they drive change. Great leaders are dogged in their execution. They bring vision and discipline together, storytelling and strategy together, and passionandpersistencetogether.
Andultimately,themarkoftrueinfluenceisitsmultiplication. It’swhenthoseyou’veinspiredbegintoinfluenceothers.It’s when your idea becomes embedded in the DNA of an organization, a culture, or a community. That’s when influencetranscendsthemomentandbecomeslegacy.
Conclusion: Influence is the Alchemy of Modern Leadership
Inatimecharacterizedbydisruption,complexity,andnoise, influence is the subtle superpower of great leadership. It makesideashappen,messagesmultiply,andleadersbecome agentsforsustainedchange.
Themagicofinfluenceisn'tmagic—it'smastery.Mastery ofempathy,trust,timing,andtruth.Forthosewhoseeknot onlytobeseen,buttoactuallymakeadifference,influence isn'tmerelyaskilltoacquire—itisacrafttopersonify
Becauseintheend,leadershipisnotmeasuredbyhow manypeopleyoucommand,butbyhowmanyyoumove.
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