INvolve, the global network and consultancy specialising in diversity and inclusion, has revealed the HERoes Ethnically Diverse Women Role Models who are smashing the glass ceiling in business.
This year’s list, supported by HSBC, features 20 powerful women from across the globe – from the UK and the UAE to the Philippines and Kenya. These women, who were chosen for their meteoric rise to success in business and their inspirational stories, share their lived experiences.
“The power of sharing lived experiences and championing positive role models cannot be underestimated when it comes to forging opportunities for this, and the next, generation of women leaders,” commented Suki Sandhu OBE, Founder & CEO of INvolve. “We increasingly live and work on a global stage, and the HERoes Ethnically Diverse Women Role Models list brings us stories of success, struggles and obstacles overcome in business that can inspire us all.”
UNIQUE & SHARED EXPERIENCES
Although each Role Model’s story is unique, some common themes and regional differences have emerged. Many of them have experienced difficulties in patriarchal societies, where women struggle to find confidence to speak up; and ensure their voices are heard or are only permitted an online presence at meetings.
This contrasts with women in the West, who typically start from a better place in terms of acceptance in top roles and boardrooms; but face higher childcare costs and scattered extended families which can impact on their progression. Meanwhile, women in the East, UAE and parts of Africa often have extended families who routinely offer childcare support; which can allow them to forge an unbroken career path.
Uniting all the women on the list is their ambition to succeed; and a firm belief in the importance of role models. Many of the women say they didn’t have role models to follow during their early careers; so they have become role models in their own right to ensure the next generation don’t experience this.
TOP 20 WOMEN SMASHING THE GLASS CEILING
This year’s top 20 women smashing the glass ceiling in the international business arena include:
- Bo Zhou, Senior Vice President, Account Management – S&P Global Market Intelligence, Hong Kong
- Catherine Mijares, Head of HR Operations Asia – Manulife, Philippines
- Christina Liciaga, Head of Customers & Products, Europe, Channel Islands and Isle of Man – HSBC, UK
- Diana Velarde, Delivering Deal Value Director – PwC Mexico
- Divya Steinwall, Head of Sales Enablement and Business Management for iShares Canada – BlackRock Asset Management
- Gunjan Sharma, Client Service Delivery Senior Manager – Accenture India
- Haydi Adel El Lamey, Regional Head of Customer Experience, Wealth & Personal Banking EMEA – HSBC, UAE
- Janelle Reiko Sasaki, Director, Brand, Marketing & Communications – EY Japan
- Jeanette Gitobu, Director, Women in Wind Global Leadership Program – Global Wind Energy Council, Kenya
- Jenny Chung Savidge, Head of Legal Compliance, U.S. Data Security – TikTok, USA
- Justina Omotayo, Diversity and Inclusion Manager – Slaughter and May, UK
- Lanaya Irvin, Chief Executive Officer – Coqual, USA
- Leya Teo, Vice President – Edelman, China
- Mayra Souza, Global Trade Leader & D&I Champion, Belgium
- Plaxedes Makura, Legal Manager, Disputes, Alternative Legal Services – Herbert Smith Freehills South Africa LLP
- Ramat Tejani, Marketing Strategist and Chief Encouragement Officer – The Inspiration Box, UK
- Shivani Tannu, Analyst, Institutional Sales Fixed Income – JP Morgan & Chase, India
- Souad Benkredda, Global Head of Strategic Investor Group Sales – Standard Chartered Bank, UAE
- Vaishali Rastogi, Global Head: Technology, Media, Telecommunication Practice – Boston Consulting Group, Singapore
- Virginia Mayo, Distinguished Engineer – Kyndryl, USA
INSPIRATIONAL STORIES
Diana Velarde, Delivering Deal Value Director of PwC México offered a taste of life as a top woman executive in México. “México continues to operate in a patriarchal system where it is accepted that women should be the ones at home; while the men go out to work,” she highlighted. “Many men still believe that a woman cannot manage seniority at work, because how else would they run their household? As a unified front at PwC, we want to motivate women to build a career and break down the barriers that still stand in their way.”
Vaishali Rastogi, Global Head of Technology, Media and Telecommunication Practice for Boston Consulting Group in Singapore, also shared her experience of wishing she had more access to role models. “I had great mentors, but I think if I had visible roles models it would’ve helped me really get that inspiration and to calm that inner voice that sometimes nags me on whether I can do something or not. It’s incredibly important; I call it the multiplier effect, where one role model can inspire so many others. I hope I can play a small role in creating that multiplier effect,” concluded Rastogi.
To listen to the inspirational stories of the 20 global inspiring women in business in this list, click here.
Here are the top firms recently honoured for accelerating opportunities and progress for women. Click here to read the full article.
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