The 10 most successful businesswomen to watch

VOL 11 | ISSUE 06 | 2021
Amanda
Buhse
Spreading Smiles & Lighting Up People's Life
www.insightssuccess.com
1
Most Successful
Businesswomen
to Watch, 2021
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1
Most Successful
Businesswomen
to Watch, 2021
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Unity in Diversity
Building a Diverse
and Inclusive
Workplace
Taking the
Forefront
Evolution of
Women
Leadership

Leadership is
not Gender-
Dependent
he definition of leadership is different for different
Tpeople.
For George R. Terry, “Leadership is a relationship in which
one person influences others to work together willingly on
related tasks to attain what the leader desires.”
According to Koontz and O’Donnell, “Leadership is the
process of influencing people so that they will strive
willingly towards the achievement of group goals.”
For Chester I. Bernard, “Leadership refers to the quality of
the behaviour of the individual whereby they guide people
on their activities in organised work.”
There are many other such definitions of leadership, but not
a single definition states the gender of a leader. It is the
result that matters.
In today’s competitive business world, what organizations
look for is strong leadership. It doesn’t matter which gender
fills that space.
If a startup company is making huge strides from its initial
years and its employees are getting handsomely paid to
raise their family well, are they bothered that it is a woman
who made it possible? I don’t think so.
That being said, today, women are making waves in almost
every sector with their creativity, exemplary leadership
skills, and solution-oriented mindsets. Their abilities and
way of leading have been proven instrumental to an
organization’s success.
There are many such examples of women from across the
generations, who have either climbed the corporate ladder
Editor’s Desk

and attained coveted positions or are running their
businesses successfully.
In this edition, “The 10 Most Successful
Businesswomen to Watch, 2021”, we have curated a
list of women leaders who are setting new
benchmarks for excellence in their respective
domains.
On the cover, we have Amanda Buhse, the CEO
and Chief Creative Officer of Coal and Canary.
Amanda is an entrepreneur who has held multiple
titles in her journey, proving herself time and time
with her leadership and commitment. She harnesses
the power of creativity to enhance every aspect of the
business. Her dedicated efforts and focused
engagement have resulted in the fruition of Coal and
Canary spreading its wings through its products in
the household.
Delve in to unveil more alike and inspiring stories of
successful women leaders and their remarkable
contributions to the business world.
Lastly, while flipping the pages, you will come
across the articles written by our in-house editorial
team and CxO standpoints of some of the leading
industry experts to have the know-how about
different industries.
Let’s get on board!
hitesh@insightssuccess.com
Hitesh Dhamani

Cover Story
Amanda Buhse
Spreading Smiles
& Lighting Up
People's Life
08
Unity in
Diversity
Building a Diverse
and Inclusive Workplace
24
ARTICLES
Taking the
Forefront
Evolution of
Women Leadership
34

CONTENTS
Carol Stewart
A Pioneer in the
Research Park World
20
Robyn Bordes
Oﬀering Consistent
Top-Tier Solution in
Public Relations
44
Kate Headley
Challenging the
Conventional
38
Jillian Weston
An Astute Digital
Marketer Leading with
Relatability and Empathy
30
Cloé Caron
Guiding Leaders to
Develop their True
Potential
26

sales@insightssuccess.com
November, 2021
Editor-in-Chief
Senior Sales Manager Business Development Manager
Marketing Manager
Technical Head
Technical Specialist Digital Marketing Manager
Research Analyst
Database Management Technology Consultant
Hitesh Dhamani
Managing Editor
Anish Miller
Executive Editor
Sharad Chitalkar
Assistant Editors
Jenny Fernandes
Visualizer
David King
Art & Design Director
Priyanka Rajage
Associate Designer
Kshitij S Peter Collins
John Matthew
Sales Executives
David, Martin, Vinod
Business Development Executives
Steve, Joe, Dharmendra
Jacob Smile
Aditya Marry D'Souza
SME-SMO Executive
Amol Wadekar Frank Adams
Circulation Manager
Robert Brown Stella Andrew David Stokes
Shubham Dali
Co-designer
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Kartik Balapurkar

Brief
Company Name
The Clear Company
theclearcompany.co.uk
Kate Headley
Director
The Clear Company is the UK's leading provider of services to
employers to support inclusive recruitment and talent
management practice.
Coal and Canary
coalandcanary.com
Amanda Buhse
CEO & Chief
Creative Officer
Coal and Canary creates hand-poured luxury wood wick
candles for every occasion.
Jillian Weston
Owner & Founder
Jillian's Circus
jillianscircus.com
Jillian's Circus help all industries and professionals gain real,
organic, leads for their business.
Cloe Caron
President & Founder
o2Coaching
o2coaching.ca
o2Coaching strongly believes that any person or organization
can acheive its goals by adopting simple fundamental shifts in
mindset, attitude and behaviour.
Illuminaon PR
illuminationpr.com
Robyn Bordes
CEO
Illumination PR is a lifestyle Public Relations firm.
Lisa Collum
CEO and Author
Top Score Writing
Inc.
topscorewriting.com
Top Score Writing® prepares students for the state writing
assessment providing both interactive online and blending
learning resources to schools and districts.
Anna Warren
CEO
Acrelec
acrelec.com
Acrelec is a global technology company.
Carol A. Stewart
Associate Vice President
Tech Parks Arizona,
The University
of Arizona
techparks.arizona.edu
Tech Parks Arizona attracts and retains technology companies
and talent in alignment with the research, mission and goals of
the University of Arizona.
Shelby
CEO & Director
of Research
Ocean Rescue
Alliance
oceanrescuealliance.org
Ocean Rescue Alliance is a marine conservation and restoration
non-profit organization.
Ellen Ryan Mardiks
Chairman
Golin is a global public relations agency that helps companies
create change that matters.
Golin
golin.com
Featured Person
1
Most Successful
Businesswomen
to Watch, 2021
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1
Most Successful
Businesswomen
to Watch, 2021
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COVER
story
Amanda Buhse
CEO & Chief
Crea ve Oﬃcer
Coal and Canary

Amanda
Buhse
Amanda
Buhse
Spreading Smiles & Lighting Up People's Life
We like to say we
don't take ourselves
seriously while
taking the product
we produce very
seriously.

In uncertain ways of business, one has to be ready for
spontaneous challenges. If one can mold these
challenges and utilize them as a ladder to climb up to
the next level, one can bring a disruptive change with an
innovative approach in their business niche. Following the
zeal from graphic designing to lead a passion project that
turned into a renowned brand in the hand-poured candle
industry is Amanda Buhse. An entrepreneur who has held
multiple titles in her journey, proving herself time and time
with her leadership and commitment, she has gained
valuable recognition as one of the most successful
businesswomen in Canada.
As the CEO and Chief Creative Officer of Coal and
Canary, Amanda harnesses the power of creativity to
enhance every aspect of the business. Her dedicated efforts
and focused engagement have resulted in the fruition of
Coal and Canary spreading its wings through its products in
the household.
Coal and Canary creates hand-poured luxury wood wick
candles for every occasion and every day. Its candles are
made with the highest quality vegan soy and vegetable wax
blend and true to scent fragrance oils. All of its candles
feature a cozy, crackling wooden wick.
Dive into the exhilarating story of Amanda and her
experiences!
Placing the Wick
Amanda's professional journey began as a graphic designer,
and later she worked as a marketing executive for large and
small companies in retail, fashion, and agency
environments. She gained diverse experiences, which gave
her a global perspective on leading a brand, business, and
team. Without formal business education, Amanda used her
work experiences to learn from the ground up and started
her passion project, which became the Coal and Canary that
everyone knows today!
Since Coal and Canary's initiation, Amanda faced the
challenge of keeping up with a rapidly growing hobby-
turned-business, with no financial assistance other than the

$40 each from her and her previous business partner.
Learning to delegate tasks and not take on too much has
been another diﬃcult challenge for Amanda. She says,
"When the company began, I was responsible for all
marketing eﬀorts and business development, and I never
expected to one day have employees to help take on those
areas of the business with me! It's been sometimes
challenging to let go and hand over full control to my
trusted employees.”
Mission and Vision
Since its initiation in 2014, the mission at Coal and Canary
has been to make people smile. Amanda mentions there
weren't many hand-poured candles with any story or
personality behind them, and she wanted Coal and Canary
to be more than just a candle on a shelf.
It's very important for the brand to express who it is and
pull back the curtain behind Coal and Canary to show its
customers. The brand's goal is to make all of its customers
feel like their best friends, and Amanda feels that this
approach isn't currently the standard in the hand-poured
candle industry- and it should be.
Coal and Canary
loves making
candles but also love
making friends!

Amanda expresses that Coal and Canary love making
candles but also love making friends! The company is in the
business of fun first and happens to make deliciously
scented candles second. Coal and Canary's mission
statement is as follows: Make candles. Have a kick-ass
time. Sissy that walk. Have hustle. Care about the details.
Play nice with others. Be creative. Pop bottles. Be sassy.
Enjoy the ride.
Becoming Beloved
Coal and Canary's innovative approach has gained the
brand a robust position within the hand-poured candle
space, setting it apart from the competition in its pursuit of
being the best and unique.
Even though Amanda started Coal and Canary as a passion
project, not intending on becoming a business, she still did
ample research on what was currently offered within the
industry; and what wasn't. With this research, she
discovered a gap in the niche candle market and felt an
opportunity to fill it.
Coal and Canary set the standard for candle production in
Canada. From innovative packaging to youthful and trendy
design, Coal and Canary remain at the forefront of the
hand-poured candle industry. It has successfully married
two typically juxtaposing attributes, selling luxury candles
at an affordable price while focusing on the fun. The brand
is the first of its kind for small batches, locally made
candles, focusing on authenticity between its team and
customers, fun branding, and design while not sacrificing
quality.
Cheeky
candles for
playful
personalities.

Uniquely Driven Work Ethics
A mixture of fun and smart work is what makes Coal and
Canary a unique beloved brand. Though Amanda says, "We
like to say we don't take ourselves seriously while taking the
product we produce very seriously," she loves to instill fun
into every extension of the company.
Every wall at the office, warehouse, and storefront is
painted with the brand's signature pink color. Amanda
integrates music at work to have fun and treats the staff to
monthly Coal and Canary Fun Days by going on a special
outing or participating in a fun activity together. She
immensely believes in giving back to the community with
value and respect while giving them a voice with utmost
importance.
Helping Hand to Community
Coal and Canary were founded by a woman and member of
the LGBTQI2S+* community; the brand has created the
space for these particular minority groups. It strives to
invite others into this space and connect with customers and
other business owners who identify within these groups to
give everyone a seat at the table. These efforts are
demonstrated through C&C's seasonal "I Can See Queerly
Now" candle is re-released every summer. A portion of the
proceeds from that candle is donated to a local
LGBTQIA+* non-profit organization.
Into the Mix
What makes Coal and Canary a unique brand is the mix of
conventional and modern blends. Amanda asserts that
candles are a "very old" and traditional product, but the way
these candles are marketed is innovative, fun, and current.
Almost 100% of the company's marketing efforts are
executed through social media and email marketing. She
continues that communicating through social media has
been the most effective way to build stronger relationships
with customers, expanding brand awareness and reach,
which are incredibly important.
Shifting Tides
Amanda believes that design trends change every day; that
is why she stays current by releasing different candle
collections seasonally. Amanda enjoys researching new
trends and ensures those trends are continuously
incorporated into Coal and Canary's marketing and design
efforts!

Over the Horizon
In the long run, Amanda aims to
continue to grow and hopes to be
known as the number one hand-poured
candle company in Canada. She would
love to expand the brick and mortar of
her venture across the country in
anticipation of allowing her customers
to be in a fully immersive Coal and
Canary space.
Only time can tell where Coal and
Canary make their mark; however,
Amanda wants to make her stores
interactive and experiential by having
people prep, pour, and box candles in
the store space. In her opinion, this
initiative will create a stronger
connection with customers and help to
demonstrate the love and care that goes
into making every candle!
Lighting the Candle
In her advice to budding women
entrepreneurs aspiring to begin their
venture in the marketing sector,
Amanda recommends speaking to
other women in the community who
currently work in the market sector and
asking them about their ﬁrsthand
experience and advice!
She says, "Entering any male-
dominated industry can be intimidating
at times, but it's important to stay
focused, and remember that as a
woman in the business community, you
bring a unique voice and perspective
that's important to be heard.”
"You're going to make mistakes along
the way, but make sure to use them as
learning experiences to continue to
grow, improve, and hone your craft,"
Amanda concludes.

Carol A. Stewart
Associate Vice President
Tech Parks Arizona,
The University of Arizona
20 | November 2021 www.insightssuccess.com

Carol
Stewart
A Pioneer in the Research Park World
With an enriching experience of working with
research parks, technology commercialization,
business incubation, governmental relations,
and business development, proactive leader Carol Stewart
leads by example. Currently, Carol is steering the ship of
Tech Parks Arizona as Associate Vice President at the
University of Arizona, bringing her knowledge and
experience after serving as a champion of Canadian
innovation and entrepreneurship.
Carol is at the leading edge of innovation, willing to jump
in and bring others along for the ride. Her diplomacy,
political acuity, and steadfast leadership provide focus,
stewardship, and vision to the networks she leads and which
she is part of. She not only serves as a role model, but is a
friend to this community, eager to collaborate and serve the
University of Arizona, Tucson, and the international
community.
Supporting and Mentoring the Community
Building on decades of experience in the research park
world, Carol landed in Tucson, Arizona to elevate the
success of the University of Arizona (UA) Tech Park and to
build a second park – The UA Tech Park at The Bridges
which is located closer to the main UA Campus. It was also
Carol’s vision to transform the UA Center for Innovation
into a business incubator network that not only serves as a
vital part of the Southern Arizona entrepreneurial
ecosystem but also as a key soft landings location for
international businesses. Her commitment to the region is to
advance the community and make a real impact through
university-based economic development.
Leading-edge Innovation
Tech Parks Arizona creates the place, environment, and
interactive ground that generates, attracts, and retains
technology companies and talent in alignment with the
research, mission, and goals of the University of Arizona. It
directs the UA Tech Park at The Bridges, and the University
of Arizona Center for Innovation with the highest priority
of recruiting companies seeking connections to the UA to
locate at these facilities.
For over 25 years, Tech Parks Arizona has significantly
contributed to regional economic development by
advancing the University of Arizona’s impact in many
ways:
Ÿ Supporting technology innovation and
commercialization
Ÿ Generating economic impact through the UA Tech Park
Ÿ Advancing new technology
Ÿ Enhancing R&D efforts of industry
Leads by Example
In the opinion of Carol, the pandemic has motivated
educational institutions and businesses to push beyond
traditional activities and take new creative approaches.
Carol and her team have seen the University of Arizona
mobilize as an agent of change to support COVID-19
research, testing, and vacation site. The University of
Arizona mobilized quickly and has continued to inform the
public through weekly briefings and lead the region as a
Point of Distribution (POD).
21
The 10 Most Successful Businesswomen to Watch, 2021
|
November 2021

The institution also took the opportunity to be proactive and
review all of its assets and opportunities. The acquisition of
the Ashford University, now UA Global Campus, is an
example of being disruptive in these business unusual
times.
Much More than Buildings and Conference Rooms
When asked, what is the one thing you would change in
advancing knowledge worldwide, Carol highlights what
has been achieved by scientists all over the world by
collaborating on a vaccine solution and stresses that what
can be learned and achieved with such concentrated
endeavors. Carol states that we can collectively streamline
the process to support businesses to not duplicate efforts.
Ideally, there would be a worldwide database for businesses
around the world to plug into. By showcasing organizations
and their unique offerings, she believes startups would have
more valuable resources which would supercharge their
path to market.
The Best Workplace
Carol notes that culture is king. Employees and employers
thrive in environments where networking and spontaneous
discussions unfold. UA Tech Parks serves as the campus
where community thrives, where emerging businesses and
tech giants work side by side. The company has
reimagined what the new workplace looks like post-
pandemic.
It is building flexible environments and developing
programming that is highly adaptative to meet the
growth trajectory of each business, including the nearly
60 startups that are currently in its UA Center for the
Innovation incubator program.
Looking Forward
Prosperous businesses equal a prospering community.
Carol listens to the needs of companies and connects
them with the resources necessary. The business that
connects with the collective expertise of the University
can solve grand challenges to the problems society faces.
She has never settled for mediocre and believes this has
served her well. Carol sees many opportunities for
collaboration and growth in Southern. Arizona, and
works tenaciously toward those goals.
Find your tribe and
use your network.
Business is about
relationships. Each
relationship you build
is foundational to
success.
‘‘
‘‘
22 www.insightssuccess.com
| November 2021

Building a Diverse
and Inclusive
Workplace
Unity in Diversity
| November 2021

Avariety of opinions and ideas lead to better
innovations and more increased creativity. The
power of unity is always very strong. Redwood
trees are a great example of how all the trees together can
face all the storms because their roots are intertwined with
each other. Similarly, all the people working together can
face anything together with more confidence and more
potential. Diversity should always be celebrated as it is very
significant in promoting a variety of new thoughts and
inventions. There should not be any discrimination against
anyone in the workplace, and everyone should be respected
and cherished for a higher purpose of achieving
organizational goals.
Organizations with a culture of celebrating diversity and
promoting overall inclusiveness flourish in their businesses
with more creativity and innovative ideas coming from
everyone. The culture of celebrating diversity is paramount
to the success of all organizations. There is no better sight
than seeing everyone united together for the purpose of
achieving the goals of organizations. Therefore, building a
diverse and inclusive workplace is vital for the success of
all organizations. When everyone feels included and is
cherished in the organization, they feel like contributing
better for the cause of the organization. The approach of
inclusiveness and diversity is important for avoiding any
form of unnecessary discrimination against anyone.
Unity in Variety
Having ‘Unity in Variety’ is the best approach workplaces
should have to ensure cooperatively working together
even if there is a lot of variety. There can be
variations in the organization based on gender,
caste, creed, religion, or race. Still, all these
apparent differences are of less importance, but
ensuring unity in the organization despite all
variety is the right approach for the good
cause of the organization.
Celebrating, Respecting, and
Appreciating Everyone
Promoting the culture in the organization to
celebrate, respect, and appreciate everyone can
lead to a more harmonious workplace. Besides,
promoting values such as equality, unity,
fraternity helps in building a diverse and inclusive
workplace. Taking disciplinary actions against
those who create a threat to the culture of
diversity and inclusiveness can also be beneficial
for fostering a diversified and inclusive culture in the
workplace.
Celebrating differences of opinions and coming to the right
conclusion that is in the best interest of the organization and
all its stakeholders with an inclusive approach increases the
cultural value of the organization in the industry. Leaders
should promote the culture of celebrating achievements of
each other and should inspire, encourage, empower all the
people in the organization for doing their best.
Inclusive Approach Leads to Better Decision-Making
The inclusive and broad-minded approach in the leaders
leads to diverse and inclusive workplaces. Leaders should
see the bigger picture. They should make sure that the
teams are united with keeping the organizational goals in
the center. Healthy contribution of the goals of
organizations is possible in organizations with an inclusive
culture. Diversity leads to better decision-making because
of the good opinions that come from everyone. More
informed decision-making is possible with a diverse and
inclusive culture. Listening to all employees can help
leaders to make decisions.
The culture of diversity and inclusiveness leads to a
stronger workforce, and this increases organizational
outputs. Leaders should take into account the thoughts,
feedback, and opinions into consideration and make the
best decisions that will drive successful organizational
results. Building a diverse and inclusive work culture using
various ways is a win-win situation for all the stakeholders
related to the organization. This culture in the workplaces
can lead to heightened organizational success and broader
growth. Using inclusive ‘we and our’ language in the
organization instead of ‘I and mine’ language can also lead
to more inclusive workplaces.
Concluding Words
Supporting a diverse workforce leads to better inclusiveness
and better organizational achievements. Building diverse
and inclusive workplaces by putting aside all the differences
like race, gender, religious background, age, nationality, and
such apparent differences is highly beneficial for all
organizations from all angles. Integrating inclusivity and
diversity into the core values of organizations can lead to
building diverse and inclusive workplaces. The business
leaders who are accountable to practice inclusive leadership
will lead to more diverse and inclusive workplaces and
better organizational results overall.
25
www.insightssuccess.com |
November 2021

Cloé Caron
Guiding Leaders to Develop their True Potential
Driven by the passion to help, inspire, and develop
individuals, Cloé Caron has transformed the lives
of many leaders and organizations through her
human approach to entrepreneurship.
After a transitional career change from manager to coaching
leaders on the impact they wish to have on their team and
organization, Cloe is now the head of a coaching company
named o2Coaching, which counts five employees. From
being a coach to an entrepreneur, her role has evolved, and
she feels that it is now her responsibility to share and
implement an inspiring vision to her team for them to
achieve the goals that she had in mind when she started the
company. Besides, she is also an Author of Empower
Your Team and the Founder of the Empower Your Team
Movement.
We, at Insights Success, interviewed Cloe to unveil her
inspiring entrepreneurial journey and her contribution to the
coaching industry through o2Coaching.
Below are the highlights of the interview:
Take our readers through your journey of being at the
helm of o2Coaching.
I have been challenged every day since day 1. I was always
a high performer, but as an entrepreneur, I had to let go of
my ego and my desire to be perfect. If I wanted my
business to be successful, I had to shift from me performing
to helping others to perform. A shift I had started as a leader
in the pharmaceutical industry but that was completed by
me having to be and act as the CEO of my company.
To reach the goals I have set and to have an impact on
organizations, team dynamics is so important, especially in
a small company. I am proud that my company now
employs 5 great women who work with me in the
realization of my vision. I call them the Exceptional
Contributors.
When was the company established, and what was the
idea behind starting it?
Younger, I studied law, hoping that my contribution would
be grand. I realized that it was not my path, that it didn’t
suit my empathetic nature. I wanted to make a difference, to
have an impact in people's lives, to be the change as they
say.
I managed to land a position in the pharmaceutical industry
at GSK, a place where communication and leadership were
valued. There, I had the chance to develop my leadership
abilities, and I discovered coaching. It led me to launch my
coaching and leadership company o2Coaching, six years
ago. It’s been a great journey ever since.
What is your idea of impactful leadership? What style of
leadership do you personally prefer and have
implemented at your company?
I believe that an optimal leader knows how to juggle
numerous leadership styles depending on the situation,
people, and context. It requires empathy and perspective.
The more we use the leader-coach style, the more we
develop people and create engagement, autonomy, and
accountability. This leadership style is the one I use as often
as I can. It allows my team to be innovative and to fully
contribute to achieving the goals of the organization.
What were the challenges you came across in becoming
what you are today?
Before becoming an entrepreneur, I had a great job,
prestige, security, and notable growth opportunities.
Somehow, I was willing to give it all up to focus on what
mattered most to me: people. Am I going to be successful?
Will I make the difference that I want to make? I realized
that I had a great network, experience, and skills to make it
happen. Therefore, I took the plunge and created my
business o2Coaching.
Our mission is to create a
new generation of
professionals and inspiring
(and inspired) leaders.
‘‘ ‘‘
| November 2021

Cloe Caron
President and Founder
o2Coaching
27
November 2021

This biggest challenge I’ve had to face since was the
pandemic. Would my business survive or disappear? Have I
done all of this for nothing? I had big ambitions. I choose to
maintain my company and support the leaders of tomorrow.
Elaborate about o2Coaching’s Professional Training &
Coaching and its importance.
Our main feature at o2Coaching is that we are flexible, and
we adapt to the needs of our customers. All our coaching
and programs are delivered by ICF certified coaches
available 100% online through virtual meetings, micro-
learning tools, blogs, podcasts, and my book, Empower
your Team, in which you find my 5C Model to help any
leader and team to perform.
The needs change from one client to another. In the past
years, we have developed multiple programs to support
those needs such as individual and group coaching,
leadership development program, and one-team support
approach.
As coaches, we bring a different perspective from a
consultant when working with teams and organizations. We
start from the premise that our clients have their answers,
their solutions, and that we are there to help them access it,
achieve it and ignite the best way to work with their team.
One of the keys that I have developed to do this is the very
powerful concept of the Unique Strategic Contribution
(USC). By identifying their USC, leaders become aware of
the impact they can AND must have on their team to ensure
that everyone develop to their full potential and achieve
desired results.
Every year, we accompany hundreds of leaders in the
development of their leadership through our programs and
curated coaching methods.
What are your plans for the company’s future?
My mission is to create a new generation of inspiring and
inspired leaders by making a positive impact in the lives of
a million leaders through my book and the Empower your
Team Movement. To succeed in our mission, we want to
reach leaders around the world.
The Covid-19 pandemic has put additional
responsibility on educators and institutions in terms of
hygiene and safety precautions. How do you intend to
prepare the people for the same?
The pandemic has been unexpected and very challenging.
Its effects are felt worldwide in every field. Everybody has
been impacted by it.
At the beginning, I was very nervous about how we would
position ourselves. I reflected seriously and realized that we
would rise above. I wanted to be there to accompany
leaders during the pandemic and seize that opportunity to
make a difference in the worldwide culture shift I want to
create. Moreover, I acknowledge that our biggest strength
came from our business model; my team was working
remotely since the start, six years ago.
I want to make changes, to evolve and adapt our methods as
humans and coaches. I aspire to contribute to developing
caring and inspiring leaders, the leaders that will rise above,
the leaders of tomorrow.
As an established business leader, what would be your
advice to the budding leaders aspiring to venture into
the Professional Training & Coaching industry?
You can start by being very clear as to what I call your USC
– Unique Strategic Contribution. It’s what you, in your
current role, are the only one that can and should make as a
contribution at the highest level. And if you were to focus
most of your time on your USC, you would not only
maximize your contribution but the one of your team. You
would elevate everybody’s game.
| November 2021

| November 2021

31
November 2021

Celebrating Success of Each Other
When it comes to driving an organization’s success,
maintaining a positive work culture is essential. Jillian’s
Circus strives for a positive work environment. Its training
manual goes beyond basic skills/rules. It stresses inter-
office relationships and collaborative strategies by
encouraging a non-competitive environment, offering on-
going training/team meetings, and hosting several parties
every year for all employees and clients. Jillian’s Circus
celebrates one another’s successes and provides incentives
to reward excellence.
Besides, Jillian expresses, “If there is even one negative
Ned/Nancy in your office- get them out!!! Like right now-
stop reading and fire them. If you’re the person who is
negative, then you need to stop because it’s killing your
business.”
One Desired Change
If given a chance, one change that Jillian would bring in the
way brands and people connect is to remove people's
skepticism when it comes to sales. She states, “Every
business is in business because it fills a need. If there is
something you need or want, and you hear about someone
who has or can do it, then book a meeting with them to see
if what they offer makes sense. If it does, move forward. If it
doesn’t, let them know and thank them for their time.”
Creating Strong Base and Building on that
Jillian advises aspiring businesswomen to start by creating a
strong base. She instructs, “Think about your client’s
journey from hearing about your business to working with
you for 10 years. Think about what they will see, what they
will hear, what they will receive, etc. when they interact
with your business and employees. Will they see a
professional website? When they call how does someone
answer? What does follow-up look like? If they walk into
your office, is it comfortable? Then create a consistent,
professional, branded flow every customer will
experience.”
Creating Authority in Digital Marketing Space and
Growing Like a Wildfire
Over the next 5 years, Jillian’s vision is to establish Jillian’s
Circus as an authority in the digital marketing space, work
on digital advocacy, and grow like wildfire.
“Jillian’s Circus is a
full-service online marketing
agency that regularly
makes magic happen for clients.”
| November 2021

Evolution of Wom
| November 2021

men Leadership
Long ago, there was a huge skepticism towards
women’s ability to lead businesses. But today, we
can see that they have gone beyond all prejudices
and are playing a pivotal role in every field. They have
crossed over all the barriers, and today they are the drivers
of most successful businesses and are the most resourceful
asset to many businesses worldwide. The leadership of
women is evolved over the years and is continuing to
evolve. They might have faced challenges in their evolution
but they have been determined to thrive in the world of
business. They have proved their value to the world.
Understanding how female leadership has evolved over
time can help us tap the potential for their advancement in
the future. The evolution of women's leadership is not an
abrupt thing. It has been happening for long years, and this
evolution will continue to happen in the future. Since the
event of the collapse of Lehman Brothers in September
2008, progress for women leadership has proven quite more
substantial. Women leaders have proved that they are
capable of taking the right decisions. They have proved that
they understand the strategy and are rational in their
approach. They have a vision, mission, and guts to play the
role of leadership without being afraid and drive the
businesses in the appropriate direction of growth and
development.
Today, women realize their potential and act on their
greatest strengths to address the challenges that minimize
their efforts to build successful, rewarding, and sustainable
careers. Women’s perception of themselves as potential
leaders today has undergone a remarkable shift. They
address the needs that are to be addressed much diligently
and calculatedly. They don’t take irrational decisions but
are capable of taking high-value decisions that drive the
profitability of the businesses.
Women leaders have become more confident that they can
contribute significantly to any field. They are not limiting
themselves to any area, and are thriving even in the male-
dominated industries. Besides, they are setting an
exemplary example for many women to come ahead and be
a part of the workforce. They have learned the value of
female solidarity and supporting each other. They are open
to learning from each other. They are comfortable working
with men allies and prove themselves as capable and
resourceful assets to the organizations with their leadership
abilities and soft skills. The women-led movements and
government support have also contributed significantly to
the rise of women's leadership.
Today no one can dare to underestimate the value women
leaders bring to the table. Many women today are in
leadership positions of global institutions and influential
companies. More women leaders have also been elected to
represent the high office in the world. Today in 2021,
almost 24 countries are being led by women leaders.
The pandemic has also contributed to the evolution of
women's leadership. As there is an increasing shift towards
remote work culture, there is an opportunity for the
inclusion of the number of women into the workforce.
Today women leaders are creating many opportunities for
themselves and are seizing the opportunities when they are
available. They are not casual and are ready to play a key
role by being in leadership positions. They are
demonstrating their excellence by leading effectively and
producing successful results. They are strengthening their
capabilities and resolve to push through all the barriers and
come out victorious.
Today women leaders are defeating all prejudices and
biases, setting the standard of exemplary leadership,
profoundly contributing to the businesses, and proving their
excellence. Over the years, the leadership of women has
evolved incredibly and will continue to evolve more in the
future.
35
Taking the Forefront
|
November 2021

Kate Headley
Director
The Clear Company
| November 2021

Kate Headley
Challenging the Conventional
Recognized as one of the leading experts of
inclusive recruitment and talent management best
practice, Kate Headley is changing the face of
employment. Kate co-founded The Clear Company in
2003 and as a company Director remains actively involved
in the day-to-day running of the business. Positive,
disruptive, and unafraid to ask the difficult questions, Kate
is known for making change happen.
A qualified HR leader whose career began at Marks and
Spencer, followed by senior roles at Manchester City
Council and Capita, Kate has created impact and change
through her ability to reach senior decision-makers and
influencers in government and businesses. She has
successfully created and bought several digital products to
market.
Moreover, Kate is a published author, prolific speaker, and
facilitator, regularly speaking at prominent conferences and
events. She has led a proactive, practical response to the
challenge of Covid-19, enabling employers to embed an
inclusive approach to the pandemic through best practice
and thought leadership. In addition to her role at the Clear
Company, she is also a founder member of the UK
Governments Disability Confident scheme and founded and
chairs the UK’s ‘Recruitment Industry Disability Initiative’,
a national program to remove barriers for disabled job
seekers.
Kate has Lupus, an autoimmune condition that has caused
significant sight loss during the last five years but has not
brought a stop to her level of professional influence and
activity.
In our endeavor to find “The 10 Most Successful
Businesswomen to Watch 2021”, we caught up with Kate to
learn about her journey. It feels great to interview someone
who is filled with passion and persistence and driven by
values. There is a lot to know about her and Diversity and
Inclusion at work.
Below are the highlights of the interview:
Please list your strategies and services that make you
and your company standout from the competition.
Our teams are passionate about Diversity, Equity and
Inclusion (DE&I), and our mission is to disrupt and
innovate to create an inclusive world of work. Our clients
make DE&I business as usual by understanding the barriers
to inclusion in their workplace and achieve positive,
sustainable change rooted in practical plans that treat the
causes, not the symptoms.
Inclusion Maturity
Assessment of an organisation’s inclusion maturity status
based on robust diversity monitoring data, document and
process reviews, stakeholder interviews and focus groups.
Regular reviews track change as organizations work
towards agreed goals and outcomes, it is applicable to the
complete employee lifecycle or specific processes.
Change Management and Continuous Improvement
Our global DE&I experts work alongside clients to
implement focused action plans, training and access to
ongoing expertise via our scalable digital solutions all
designed to improve internal skills and enable teams to
successfully move from policy to best practice.
Inclusive Leadership Programmes
When leaders embody inclusive leadership behaviors and
act as champions for diversity across their organizations,
there is a noticeable culture shift to the diversity of thought,
customers, markets, and talent. Our high-impact and
transformational coaching programs focus on the personal
DE&I journey of leaders, enabling them to shape their
learning and move forwards.
What were the challenges and experiences overseeing
human resources across different industries and at The
Clear Company?
39
|
November 2021

The central challenge has always been to attract and retain
top talent and improve productivity against changing
economic and social influences. Currently, we are seeing a
much more holistic approach to investing in people and
systems, and HR teams have the opportunity to measure the
impact of their activity with meaningful data analytics.
Being an experienced HR leader, what is your opinion
regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the
Human Resources industry? And how has The Clear
Company managed to overcome this significant
challenge?
Covid-19 has created many unforeseen challenges for HR
leaders and teams in managing the early impact of
redundancies, furlough, and home working, and now by
navigating what a return to the office will look like in the
new working world.
As businesses compete to attract and retain top talent, those
that prioritize DE&I and can demonstrate their ability to do
so will be the ones to grow
This also demands a change in approach by business
leaders too. At the Clear Company, we have more than ever
taken a holistic approach, as the leadership team balances
the challenges of virtual leadership with empathetic skills
that support the wellbeing and mental health of employees.
What is your opinion on the necessity for businesses to
align their offerings with newer technological
developments, especially when it comes to Digital
Transformation?
Digital interaction has become the primary contact with
employees and customers during the last 18 months, and we
have an unprecedented opportunity to change how time at
work and working processes are managed. Internally, it’s
important to balance the technology-driven opportunities
for flexibility against the wellbeing and specific needs of
each workforce. For the majority of people, it’s still hugely
beneficial to have regular face-to-face contact in some
form.
The Clear Company has long recognized the potential of
Digital Transformation to enable our clients to achieve their
goals. Our digital solutions range from inclusivity
The Clear Company provides
businesses with the ability for
change at all levels building the
condence, knowledge and
skills to challenge conventional
thinking and behaviors, aligns
local and global strategies,
inuences change in supply
chains, communities and
inclusive customer solutions.
‘
‘
‘
‘
| November 2021

diagnostics, virtual audit and stakeholder engagement
platforms, online learning and inclusion standards, and
accreditation, all applicable globally.
What people, what books, what life factors have
influenced and impacted you?
Books, I was a Charles Handy fan in my early years and by
far one of the most impactful reads for me recently - Why I
no longer talk to white people about race by Reni Eddo-
Lodge - should be mandated for all CEO’s in my opinion.
Life factors of influence include growing up in South
Manchester, having amazing parents, my 30 year marriage,
our daughter and more recently my sight loss
What would be your advice for aspiring and emerging
women entrepreneurs in the HR Industry?
Do it, be bold, hold true to your values, and have the
confidence to create a team that will increasingly overtake
you in their thinking. Do not let your own lack of self-
esteem hold you back, my generation did enough of that,
you don’t need to anymore!
What is your vision for the company for the next five
years?
The Clear Company’s vision is to expand our reach to
businesses of all types and sizes, making our expertise
available to organizations with global locations and SMEs
alike. To enable this reach, we are bringing a series of
innovative online solutions to market to make best practice
available to everyone. Watch this space, The Clear
Company is about to go truly global.
41
November 2021

Robyn Bordes
CEO
Illumina on PR
| November 2021

Robyn Bordes
Offering Consistent Top-tier Solution in Public Relations
ith digitalization came a massive wave of
Wtransformation that changed the face of the
Public Relations industry to a scale that it had
to expand its channels to engage with audiences through
various social platforms. Various types of content are
created strategically and implied effectively to ensure the
brand's success to differentiate from its peers. Propelling a
dedicated team to fulfill the needs and surpass clients'
expectations is Robyn Bordes.
As the CEO of Illumination PR, Robyn implies a modern
approach to public relations by implementing innovative
methods to produce real results that contribute to the overall
growth and success of the clients' brands.
Illumination PR is a lifestyle, boutique PR firm that values
and drives a work culture with ethics, dedication, honesty,
and perseverance of its entire team.
The Journey
Robyn's journey began when she was 13 years old; her first
job was at a local restaurant in her hometown in NJ as a
busgirl. From an early age, she always wished to open a
restaurant called Robyn's Nest. She was sure to be in the
restaurant industry until she realized that she could do more
things in her career. Later, Robyn got into various business
sectors from development, web design, and event planning,
which led to public relations.
Public Relations got Robyn excited as she witnessed the
growth in the business through the eye of the media. She
knew she was bringing her skills to the table that moved the
needle for the business. She says, "It was tremendously
rewarding for me to see others excited watching their
business take off. My business grew very quickly, and the
challenges for me were just that my business grew very
quickly. I was a one-woman show and had some big names
to start my business. I was learning and growing at the
same time.”
Mission and Vision
Robyn's vision for Illumination PR is to build a younger
generation of publicists and managers to work with me and
ultimately grow into bigger opportunities while advancing
and managing deals, press, and social media content for
everyone on its roster. When she started her journey at the
firm, she focused on public relations; however, as she grew
and got connected to more celebrities, she realized that
management is what she thrives.
Robyn always wanted to give more to her clients, which
drove her to be successful in negotiating deals and being
creative about deliverables and brand deals. She doesn't like
to say no to the clients and always finds a way to continue
their success and creatively bring in opportunities to build
45
|
November 2021

their brand and exceed expectations without becoming
stagnant.
Robyn wants PR & brand development to have criteria of
education or a specific length of internship that people must
have before getting into PR or management.
Impactful Pioneering Expertise
In the pursuit of being the best, Illumination PR always
strives to be cost-effective for everyone, even if it means
customizing a package for a new business to enable them
the opportunity to have PR, even as a start-up business.
Robyn always puts herself in the position of a new business
owner, knowing the importance of PR; her team and she
build packages for all brands and people to ensure that
everyone can have PR, even for a shorter term or at a
budget-friendly rate. She believes that everyone deserves
the chance to see their dreams come true.
Technological Implementation
Robyn expresses that Illumination PR has a diverse age
range and demographic on its team. Anytime something
new comes out technology-wise, at least one, if not all, on
its team starts to research to see if it has the potential to
become a source of revenue. If the technology has the
potential, the team over familiarizes themselves with the
platform to continue innovating their entire roster. Once
they know that new technology can be monetized, they start
suggesting it to brands when they are doing their outreach.
Only If
Robyn wants brand development to have criteria of
education or a specific length of internship that people must
have before getting into PR or management. She has
experienced a certain client issue that frequently occurs;
clients come to Illumination PR after spending thousands
on other publicists who couldn't deliver or garner any press.
It frustrates Robyn because this issue makes it harder for
companies to be trustworthy. She says, "It's even more
frustrating in the industry she works, but more importantly
for the businesses that believe in the people they hire until
they have exhausted their savings trying to make it. That's
the change I would like to bring to this industry to protect
business owners that are just starting or businesses/brands
that are trying to grow to the next level.”
Setting Up Goals
Looking ahead, Illumination PR plans to expand more into
the travel industry, electric car market, and additional
innovative products. The firm has had great press and
awards generated for international properties that it has
worked with. It is already seeing Amazon start to broaden
its influencer database. Robyn is excited to be a part of the
initiative from the start, as it intends to give brands a new
platform to advertise and influencers an existing platform to
monetize.
Guiding the Next Generation
In her advice to budding entrepreneurs aspiring to venture
into the PR sector, Robyn says, "Intern. Intern, Intern. This
is a market that you want to make sure is right for you. It's
a lot of hours. It's constant availability. Make sure you are
going into the field you are interested in for the right
reasons.
"An internship will properly prepare you for the field and
for the type of clientele you want to work with. In speaking
at colleges nationally, I saw a void in what they teach you
for PR, as opposed to what you learn from working in PR.
There needs to be that level of experience and
understanding that you can truly only get from an
internship," Robyn concludes.
‘‘
At Illumination PR, we are
constantly looking for what's
new, now and next; to ensure
that your brand will have
success and nothing less.
‘‘
| November 2021

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