Take The Lead is sharing your Power To Change Stories here, in our weekly newsletter, and in an upcoming ebook collection. Each week we highlight true, personal stories from around the world of how you are using your power to activate change. Together we can support each other in the mission to reach gender and racial parity in leadership across all sectors. Submit your stories here.
By Janie Blouin Grondin
The first time I truly understood the power of subtle biases was before a major presentation to a group of C-level executives. As I walked in, one of them greeted me with, "Ah, it's always a pleasure to have the beautiful Janie here to present her recommendations!"
Before I could react, my then-boss immediately interjected: "Her name is not ‘the beautiful Janie’—it’s Janie."
Read MoreBy Dinah Chapman
From the moment I became a mom, everything shifted. While on maternity leave with my first son, Cash, I started what I thought would be a small side hustle—Little Trouble. It quickly grew from a side project into a business that replaced my corporate salary.
In corporate America, I saw pressure to give everything to a company, often at the expense of personal well-being. Leaving corporate America (and physical America) was a necessary shift to recalibrate and scale a purpose-driven brand with the flexibility I was looking for while also raising two kids.
Read MoreBy Chelsea Haskins
Working in a male-dominated industry presents challenges, but I’ve used them as fuel to lead, advocate, and drive meaningful change. As a woman in cannabis, my commitment to expanding safe access, advancing policy reform, and amplifying operators' voices has shaped my career. I’ve helped push the industry forward by increasing business opportunities, advocate for fair regulations, and created pathways for sustainable growth.
By Dinah Chapman
From the moment I became a mom, everything shifted. While on maternity leave with my first son, Cash, I started what I thought would be a small side hustle—Little Trouble. It quickly grew from a side project into a business that replaced my corporate salary.
In corporate America, I saw pressure to give everything to a company, often at the expense of personal well-being. Leaving corporate America (and physical America) was a necessary shift to recalibrate and scale a purpose-driven brand with the flexibility I was looking for while also raising two kids.
Read MoreBy Narmin Jarrous
I’ve never been someone capable of complacency - whether that’s because I live in chronic pain and refuse to tolerate one iota more of discomfort is yet to be determined. What I do know is that complacency has no place in my life, career, or the cannabis industry.
When I first entered this space, I saw far too much stagnation. Licensing regulations that didn’t make sense, social equity plans that rang hollow, and marketing strategies that catered to one very particular type of man. Today’s cannabis industry wasn’t built for people like me; women, especially women of color, weren’t considered. That needed to change.
Read MoreBy Tricia Symbersma
Gratitude opens doors. For me, it led to becoming a HeartMath® Certified Trainer and, ultimately, to HeartWorks. I discovered it is not about mending something that is broken, it's more about encountering and reconnecting with the energy already present in all of us. This realization is what I regard as HeartWorks, where science, art, and mindfulness, foster a new way for people to experience daily alignment and personal growth.
By Tiffany Antoine
The first time I understood just how overwhelming spirituality is to people around me, I was taken back. For what is supposed to bring clarity and peace, it definitely felt shrouded or hidden behind complex processes, extensive commitments, and expensive courses. I knew there had to be an easier way to approach it.
To do just that, I created Meditating Human, integrating ancient spirituality concepts into the framework of real life. The idea is to make practices practical rather than shrouded in the rituals and other daunting practices of the past, making them more approachable and relevant to modern people and professionals.
Read MoreBy Kayla Ende
The first time a mentor told me that gearing jewelry sales towards women was new territory, I was surprised and skeptical. After all, jewelry is traditionally associated with women and femininity. We’re the main market for it- how could gearing sales towards us be “new”?
Read MoreBy Marianela Nanninga
I’m the Founder and CEO of ToDo Robotics, where we’re not just building robots—we’re reimagining industries and redefining leadership. From revolutionizing hospitality and food service to blazing a new trail for automation, my journey has been fueled by a passion for innovation, a commitment to inclusion, and a relentless drive to make technology a force for good.
Read MoreBy Lynn Margherio
One day, while helping my young niece get dressed, I noticed her closetful of beautiful, outgrown clothes that could benefit another child. I imagined how many other kids had closets filled with quality clothes they no longer needed. That was my “aha” moment.
Read MoreBy Naz Aksu
In the male-dominated jewelry industry, I’ve witnessed how traditional, top-down leadership often overshadows collaborative voices. Early in my career, I chose a different path, prioritizing empathy and inclusion. By encouraging open dialogue, my team and I co-created a new customer service model rooted in mutual respect and innovation. The results—improved morale, stronger teamwork, and exceptional customer satisfaction—reinforced my belief that empathy is a strength in leadership.
Read MoreBy Esther Choy
After the election, I was in a discussion group where the leader wanted to create space for people to share their feelings. The leader assumed that everyone was feeling devastated. Anyone who may have felt differently faced a higher barrier to share authentically. Finally, one person expressed he felt exasperated by the whole thing. He didn’t vote, and he didn’t want to hear anymore about it. No one knew how to respond to his outburst.
Read MoreBy Susan B. Eirich, Ph.D.
I’ve had the privilege to live with and learn from the wild animals I’ve rescued and rehabilitated - wolves, bears, coyotes, foxes, buffalo and other mammals native to the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem. These experiences have shown me something undeniable: the profound connection between humanity and nature, and the transformative impact wildlife has on human well-being.
Read MoreBy Helen Curran
My passion for supporting mothers stems from my own experiences. Having navigated the challenges of motherhood while building a career in international business and marketing, I understand the unique needs of this audience. From my early days in Europe, working across Spain and France, to honing my skills at brands like Tommee Tippee and Berghaus, I've always been driven to make a difference.
Read MoreBy Laurel Mintz
The most impactful moment was the moment I decided to start Fabric VC. I remember starting to research venture capital after the idea was planted in my head of potentially launching a fund. At that stage of my life I had been an LP and had been investing with impact, but I didn’t really know the numbers. I was shocked when I first came across the 2%. If you don’t know. 2% and really less than 2% is the percentage of venture capital dollars that are allocated to diverse-led businesses globally. This was a shocking number to me, and ultimately was the reason that I launched Fabric VC. I thought, ”If not me, who…if not now, when?”
Read MoreBy Sharrie Woodring
When I was asked to share how I've empowered women in my industry, my first reaction was to laugh. I’ve spent the last 16 years balancing a demanding career with raising children, leaving little time for leadership activities.
However, upon reflection, I realized leadership isn’t about grand gestures but rather the everyday moments that shape us. It’s about quiet resilience, small connections, and the support we give each other, often without even realizing its impact.
Read MoreBy Iveta Kuzela
Growing up in a traditional Eastern European society, I always questioned the rigid expectations placed on women because I could never seem to fit into them. This left me feeling like an outcast, constantly second-guessing myself and my place in the world. To cope, I made myself small, dimming my light so that others would feel comfortable around me, believing this would help me belong.
Read MoreBy Dalene Heck
My journey has been anything but conventional. After climbing the corporate ladder in my twenties, my husband Pete and I decided to sell everything we owned and travel the world. This decision came after a series of personal tragedies in 2007 that made us reevaluate our lives. What started as a plan for a one-year adventure turned into nearly eight years of nomadic living, during which we visited 60 countries. We built a successful travel and marketing company, leveraging our experiences to consult with travel brands and tourism boards.
By Janita Pannu
For many small business owners who excel in their specific fields, achieving success in other areas like marketing can be a daunting challenge. As the founder of OPIIA, it’s my mission to empower small businesses to achieve big things.
My journey began as a freelancer, offering marketing services to small businesses. I quickly noticed that traditional companies like law firms and trades businesses lacked the marketing support they needed to thrive. This became even more dire during the challenging times of COVID-19.
Read MoreBy Hanna Pujato
My journey began in 2013 when I moved to the UK and enrolled in a beauty therapist course to improve my English. There, I discovered my passion for eyelash extensions, especially the new Russian Volume technique.
However, my path wasn’t easy. When I decided to become a lash educator, all the major schools rejected me. Instead of giving up, I took a small loan, got a teaching qualification, wrote my training manual, and started ordering products for students’ kits directly from factories.
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