




Womenaregreatleaders',scrutinizingthisfactis challenging.However,theworldwitnessingincreased participationinbusinessesvisioningtotransformthe workingenvironment.Incomparisontothepreviousscenario, thereisamoreunbiaseddistributionofwomenincorporate leadershipandentrepreneurshiprole.Throughouttheirhustling journey,manybusinesswomenarecarvingtheirfootmarksinthe realmofthemen-centricbusinessworldandmadeseveral ground-breakingchangestotheirenterprises.
Inthisedition,we,TheLeadersGlobeMedia,coverthe“The10 MostPowerfulBusinessWomen2023”thathaveengravedtheir existenceinthemen-orientedcorporateworldwiththeir quickest-developingintellectinthebusinessdomain.These spectacularwomenleadershaveintroduceddistinctsetsoflife andworkexperienceswithinnovativeperspectivesandarticulate distinguishedopinions,preferences,andtacticstoconcretetheir progressivefoundationandconqueredthemarketplace.
Tailoringauniqueidentityiscriticalinthedomainofan overwhelmingbusinesslandscape.Thepotentialityofthe renownedpersonalitiescoveredinthisissueisatributetotheir contributiontoaccomplishingahighlevelofsustainablegrowth withtheirnew-fangledapproachesfordeliveringcomprehensive quickfixeswiththeforemostvisionofachievingsatisfied clientele,buildingtrust,andlong-lastingfruitfulrelationships basedontheirauthenticityandcommitments.
Despitechanges,businesswomenstillfacebarrierslikelackof funding,confidencegap,andmanymore.Though,their positivityandnevergivingupspiritenactedsignificantchanges, superchargingtheircareers,andhelpingtoshapethefutureof businesses.Acrossadistinguishedrangeofindustries,women entrepreneursaidtocuratecutting-edgeproducts,services,and businesseswhichisnotonlybeneficiarytoorganizations,but alsogoodforconsumers.
Today,thesetrailblazingbusinesseswomenbreakingthe stereotypesandchallengingthestatusquo.Womenhave emotionalintelligencecompetencieswhichincludeteamwork, conflictmanagement,adaptability,andmorewhicharecrucial elementsforworkplaceleadership.Throughtheirout-of-the-box mentoringandcoaching,womenentrepreneurssetan inspirationalexampleforothercareer-aspiringwomentoenter andsucceedintheworldofbusinessandpioneerthefutureof businessesforupcomingyearsforsocietalenrichment
- PublisherMr. Rajesh Kendale
- Senior Editor Zelen Silva
- EditorDr. Sonal Burghate
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editor@theleadersglobe.com
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Womenhave traditionallybeen underrepresentedin business,butinrecentyears therehasbeenagrowing awarenessoftheneedfor greaterdiversityandinclusion intheworkplace.Thishasled toapushformorewomento enterintobusiness,aswellas
formoresupportand resourcesforwomenwhoare alreadyinthefield.
Thepublicrelations(PR) industryhastraditionallybeen male-dominated,butinrecent yearstherehasbeenan increaseintherepresentation ofwomeninleadershiproles. Accordingtoa2020studyby theWomeninPRgroup, womenmakeuparound60% ofthePRworkforceinthe US,UKandCanada,buthold only30%ofleadership positions.
Despitetheslowprogress, somewomenhaveachieved successinthePRindustryand becomeinfluentialleaders. TherearefemaleCEOsand PresidentsatmajorPRfirms, aswellaswomenleadinginhousecommunicationsteams atmajorcompanies. Additionally,therearemany femalePRprofessionalswho
haveestablishedthemselvesas expertsintheirfieldandhave becomesought-afterspeakers andauthors.Nicole Rodrigues,CEOofNRPR Group,isonesuchpowerful femalewarriorshatteringthe existingstatusquo. HeadquarteredinBeverly Hills,NRPRGroupisa leadingPRagencythat's staffedwithexperienced writers,communicators, thinkers,anddoers,working relentlesslytoestablishlasting relationshipswithclientsand themediatocreatevalued narrativeswithtangible results.
WhiletodayNicoleleads NRPRasaseasonedPRand socialmediamarketingpro withovertwodecadesof experienceunderherbelt,her initiationintotheindustrywas fairlyhumble.Asagraduatein
“Greatness lies in one's ability to chase constant improvement. Without that zeal for the next great thing, no leader can tap into the true meaning of greatness”
PublicRelationsfromSan JoseStateUniversity,Nicole alwaysnurturedapassionfor PR.Shestartedhercareer workingforanenterprise softwarefirm.Whenan
opportunitytointernwiththe OaklandRaiderscameup,she leftherpositioninthe company.Fromcheeringfor theteamasacheerleaderto progressingtothepositionof
thePlayerDevelopment CoordinatorfortheNFLteam, Nicolegarneredinvaluable insightsintoskillsthathelped hercarveoutherPRnichein thelateryears.
AfterhoningherPRskills, Nicolewentontoworkwith someofthebiggestnamesin theindustry.Sheideatedand executedstrategiccampaigns forbrandslikeYahoo!,Dolby, SonyPicturesEntertainment, SonyPlayStationHulu, MobiTV,Heal,andDemand Media.Finally,in2014,she leftherVPofDigital Entertainmentpositionat Bender/Helpertoturnher long-standingdreamof establishinganinnovativePR firmintoreality.Thisgave birthtotheground-breaking NRPRGroup.
NicolecreatedNRPRasaPR agencywithadifference.Her visionwastocreateaPRfirm thatespousedinnovationand pavedthewaytoawholenew digitalfuture.Withthebirthof NRPRGroupin2014,she successfullycreatedanawardwinning,full-servicePRand brandpositioningagencythat servesavastrangeofclients rightfromstart-upstoFortune 500companieswithinthe consumertech,FinTech, MedTech,sportsand
entertainment,enterprise software,mobile,and consumerproductsindustries. Apartfromthemultichannel PRservicesofferedbythe company,NRPRisalsothe onlyPRagencytoextend cutting-edgecontentcreation services.ThroughNRPRBiz Pro™,thecompanyoffers end-to-end,pre-launch businessdevelopmentstrategy andsupport.
WhileNicoleiswell-known andrecognisedforherpivotal roleasNRPRCEO,she jugglesmultipleroleswith perfection.Asaprolificwriter, Nicolepensherinsightsand regularlycontributesarticles torenownedpublicationslike Forbes,WorkingMother Magazine,Adweek,PRNews, andTheHYPEMagazine.She hasalsopennedherfirst businessandlifeskillsbook, BeverlyHillsBosstohelp aspiringentrepreneurs overcomeobstaclestotaste success.Nicolehastakenon thetaskofbridgingthegap betweenthemediaandPR professionalswithherpodcast, PRfectPitchandherYouTube show,BeverlyHillsBoss.
Nicole'sexpertiseinthePR industryhasearnedhera positionasamemberofthe
exclusiveForbesAgency Council.Sheisalsooneofthe eightselectedwomenonthe boardofTheOrganizationof AmericanWomeninPublic Relations(WomeninPR
USA).Apartfromthesekey roles,Nicolealsoservesasa boardmemberofFremont College,theKenleyJansen Foundation,Gradeloand Dock.
WiththemyriadofPR agenciesovercrowdingthe market,establisheddifference iskey.NicolestartedNRPR withasetofclearobjectives thathavekepttheventure fromgettingdrownedinthe seaofPRagencies.Basing strategiesonclearplanning, cohesivemessaging,and detailedexecutionhashelped thecompanyconsistently succeedinitstaskof challenging,redefining,and reshapingthePRstatusquo.
AtNRPR,thefocusisonthe client'suniquevoice. Abandoningtheage-old cookie-cutterapproach, thecompanybelievesin espousingatailored one,wheretheclient's voiceisprivileged. Nicolebelievesthat understandingthis uniquevoiceand messagecanhelp thecompanybetter communicatewith theclient'starget audience.Thus, Nicoleandthe teamatNRPRhave modelled themselvesas extensionsofthe client'sinternalmarketing team-dedicatedtoenhancing theclient'sbottomlinewith PRstrategiesthatalignwith theclient'sbroadervision.
The insights we gather during our formative years have a way of impacting the rest of our lives This adage is more than true for Nicole who grew up in the shadow of an empowered female figure As Nicole heads one of the largest and steadily growing PR agencies, she is reminded of this key influence on her entrepreneurial journey. Nicole credits her mother for the relentless drive to excel she espouses today. Growing up, Nicole witnessed her mom balance work and home. She witnessed her mom take care of six kids on her own, while simultaneously handling business operations Her mother's zeal and resilience give her the inspiration she needs to strike the perfect balance in her life as a mother and CEO.
Nicole's place as a leading female executive in the PR field is indisputable. Her role in leading NRPR has achieved boundless recognition ever since the venture's inception In 2017, Nicole was honoured with the StevieAwardsTop Female Executive in the PR Industry award. In the same year, she was also bestowed the
Bulldog Reporter's 2017 Gold Public Relations Professional of theYear award. In 2020, Nicole was named as the Business Role Model of the Year in theWomenWorld Awards for Female Achievers. Most recently, she has received the Most Innovative PR Entrepreneur (USA) award in the 2021 Influential BusinessWomen Awards
those who can inspire and empower others to carve out their own paths of success. Nicole is one such rare gem who has managed to not inspire others but has worked tirelessly to charter an actionable course of empowerment.
Her empowerment journey started in 2017 as the NRPR Group's CSR program -
While Nicole's professional successes have been widely celebrated with awards and accolades, she values her role as a mother to be equally seminal.According to Nicole, having raised her daughter as a driven and exceptional young woman is one of her greatest achievements in life.
Being a great leader isn't just about basking in your own success and chasing the next big accolade True leaders are
'Make It Happen.'This ongoing project soon turned into a second venture for Nicole, one that was focused on helping students find their passion. Established as a nonprofit, theYoung Dreamer's Foundation provides city students with the tools and tactics they need to pave a path for the future It helps aspiring entrepreneurs to connect with executives, celebrities, and athletes to succeed in their future pursuits, both personally and professionally.
“NRPR will continue to grow with the needs of the clients. We will continue to evolve our services and offerings to best meet their needs”
-Nicole Rodrigues
Asaseasonedleader,Nicole hasgarneredboundless industrialknowledgeand insights.Inoutliningthe indelibleindustrysecretsfor youngfemaleentrepreneurs, Nicolestatesthatstagnancyis thebeginningoftheend. AccordingtoNicole,learning isanindispensablepartofany industrialvertical.Withthe constantlychangingbusiness landscape,anyentrepreneur thattakesthiscoreprinciple lightlyisboundtolose.
Researching,gathering insights,andtappingintothe pulseofaclient'sindustryis necessaryifoneistosucceed intheworldofPR.Finding trustedadvisorswillingto guideyouthroughthenorms andwaysoftheindustrycan helpmakethisjourneyeasily. “Whileconsistentlearningcan keepyoupreparedforthe tasksahead,there'sno substituteforhardworkand dedication”,addsNicole.The pursuitofsuccesscannotbe madewithdilutedfocus.A razor-sharpfocusisessential ifwomenaretosucceedinthe competitivebusinessworld. Lastly,understandingthe companyyou'rebuildingcan helpempowerandtrainthose whowillespousetheseroles inthefuture
Brandsthathave achievedthe‘Super Brand’statushave donesobyembracingthe constantneedtoadaptand changewiththeperpetually evolvingmarketlandscape. Theclimatechangepressure remainsaprominentforce forcingbrandstoinnovateand changewiththepresenttimes. MostexistingSuperBrands havealreadyflaredthebanner ofsustainabilityintermsof makingtheirbusiness processesmorestreamlined andenvironmentally conscious.
Settingthemarketstandards quitehigh,thesebrandshave workedrelentlesslyto safeguardtheenvironment.By incorporatingtheboonsof moderntechnological advancements,suchSuper Brandshaveresponsibly optimizedtheirpractices.To takealeafoutoftheir handbookswillhelpserve otheraspiringbrandstoace thisarena.Thus,tohelp achievethisgoal,we’velisted someofthewaysinwhich theseglobalSuperBrands haveembracedtheeraof sustainability:
1.PUMA
Asoneofthemostfamous andsought-afterbrandsinthe world,PUMAhasanswered theneedforsustainabilityby ideatingsomeinnovative
strategiesandprograms.The brand’sFasterForever strategyhasbeencuratedto fosterpositivechangeinthe industry.Beginningalmosta decadeback,in2011,PUMA started‘TheCleverLittleBag’ campaignwhenitredesigned thepackagingofitsshoes. Thepackagingnowbeing usedforPUMAshoes,i.e.,its shoebag,ismadeof cornstarch.Thismeansthat it’seasytonaturally decomposewithinaperiodof 3months.Byforgoingtheuse ofpaperorplastic,PUMA pioneeredalegacysustainable change.Thishasalsohelped reducethecarbonemissions ofthecompanyby10000tons andreduceditspaper consumptionby65%.
WeallknowIKEAasaleader inthefurnishingandhome décorindustry,butveryfew peopleareawareofthegreen initiativestakenbythis industrygiant.Bysourcing halfofitswoodfrom sustainableforesters,IKEA hashelpedreduce deforestationandunchecked lumberingoftrees.Moreover, allIKEAcottonproductsare madefromcottonthat’s sourcedfromfarmsthat adheretotheBetterCotton Standards.Thebrandhasalso shiftedtomoresustainable waysofpoweringitsstoresby switchingtosolarpanels.
Withmorethan700,000solar panelspoweringitsstores, IKEAhasbecomeoneofthe mostenergy-efficientSuper Brandsintheworld.Tohelp reducethecarbonfootprintof itsemployees,thebrandhas alsogiftedthembikes.
Fortheuninitiated,Procter &Gambleistheparent firmforcompanieslikeTide, Febreze,Head&Shoulder, Vicks,andothers.Thisglobal SuperBrandhasdoneitsfair sharetoinfuse environmentalconsciousness intotheoperationsofitsinhousebrandsandventures. ThewaterfromtheHVAC systemsofthefirm’sSaudi Arabiaplantisusedtoirrigate landandtopofffire tankers.Moreover,thisSuper Brandhasfine-tunedits processestotheextentthat 70%ofitsglobalproduction sitesaresendingnowasteto thelandfills.Procter& Gamblehasalsoshiftedtothe useofwindmillenergyinstead offossilfuel-drivenenergy sources.Moreover,‘TheHoly Grail’projectofthefirm manufacturesproductsthat comewith90%recyclable packaging.
4.Nike
Thissportsshoebrandhas onlybutrecentlystarted workingtoachieve sustainabilityinits
productionprocessesaswell asfinishedgoods.However, it’salwaysbettertostartinthe presentratherthanwaitfora timewhentherewillbeno future.Nikehasrecently launchedanappwhere itscustomerscancomparethe environmentalfootprintofthe differentshoefabricsthe brandsells.They’vealso startedusingpost-consumer recycledproductsintheir goodstoreducethewaste outputlevels.
Asaworld-renownedSuper Brand,Appletoohas embracedsustainabilityasan essentialsteppingstonetothe future.Backin2015,Apple signeda$1billiondealwith FirstSolartouserenewable powersourcesforits Californiaoffices, warehouses,headquarters,and datacenters.TheApple RenewProgramalsoallows customerstotradeintheirold Appledevicesforagift
card.Theycanalsohavethem recycledforfreeatanApple Store.Applehasalsoensured thatenvironmentallyharmful PVCisremovedfromits powercords,andearphonesto makethemsafer.
Amazon’ssolarrooftop projectiswell-documentedas oneofthelargest sustainabilitymovesby aSuperBrand,owingtothe magnanimityofthebrand’s reachanddemand.Thebrand isguidedbya‘24/7policyof eco-consciousnessand awareness’.Amazonhas investedin10renewable energyfarmswithwindmill turbinestoleveragetheboons ofcleanenergy.Italsoworks withitslistedmanufacturers toreducewasteoutputsquite significantly.
ApartfromtheseSuper Brands,Googlehasalso workedextremelyhardto
transformitsenvironmentallyconsciouspoliciesinto tangiblereality.Byinvesting $2.5billioninrenewable energyprojectslikeones mappingforestloss,tracking illegalfishing,poaching,etc. thebrandhassoaredhighon thesustainabilityradar.Oneof thebiggestsustainability achievementsofthe brandremainsitssearch engine’s100%transitionto renewableenergysources.
Thus,byfollowinginthe footstepsoftheseglobalSuper Brands,aspiringandbudding onescanalsomakea difference.Sustainabilityis importanttocustomers becausetheytooare increasinglyenvironmentally consciousandwanttoside withbrandsthatmirrortheir philosophicalstandpoints.
5.Apple 6.Amazon 7.Google