Women In Business Archives

Jekaterina Stuģe: The Trailblazer of Female Leadership in The Beverage Industry

Be it retail, technology, education, social enterprise, or the food & beverage sector, women are trooping out of their comfort zones and emerging as leaders and change-makers. And Jekaterina Stuģe, CEO of the rapidly growing spirits company, Amber Beverage Group, is the perfect reflection of the world’s top-tier leaders. She is one of the rare female C-Suite examples in the beverage industry.

Designated as the Group Chief Executive Officer and Board Member at Amber Beverage Group, Jekaterina is a business leader, advisor, financial expert, and trailblazer. In addition to her excellent ability to manage and develop a global business, innovation is her second passion as she is truly an innovative leader on an everyday basis.

“My first serious job was with the auditing company Arthur Andersen (later Ernst & Young Baltic). At that time, becoming an auditor in an international audit firm was not easy, it was a great challenge and an honour to get accepted into this society,” shares Jekaterina Stuģe. She spent more than 10 years at Ernst & Young, earning a master’s degree in economics and business administration, as well as expanding her knowledge at other educational institutions.

After work for the audit company, Jekaterina Stuģe joined the newly formed Latvian food producer group NP Foods (currently Orkla Confectionery & Snacks Latvija) as Board Member with responsibility for financial management and information technology. It was very interesting period where in NP Food Jekaterina created Shared Service Centre for servicing NP Food subsidiaries Laima, Staburadze, Gutta, Euro Food, and NP Logistics. After almost four years at NP Foods, Jekaterina Stuģe joined the Eco Baltia team as CFO and Board Member.

Jekaterina joined the SPI Group (Parent company of Amber Beverage Group) as the CFO of the Baltic business unit in 2014. She has participated in the development of Amber Beverage Group (further also – ABG) and since that time, she has worked across many parts of the business. While she held the roles of CFO and COO in the Group, she was made CEO in 2020. As an executive, she has overseen the company’s growth and now is set to reach the main ABG goal: to become a €1 billion company over the next five years.

ABG – A GLOBAL PLAYER IN THE BEVERAGE LANDSCAPE

ABG is a leading beverage producer, distributor, logistics provider, and retailer, with over 1400 brands spanning everything from premium vodka and sparkling wines to specialty Mexican tequilas. The company has grown from its original core production business established in 1900, to become a global spirits industry player that, despite the challenges faced by the industry in 2020, had one of its busiest years with excellent financial results reaching almost EUR 31m EBITDA, which exceeds the previous results.

ABG has transformed from a Baltic enterprise into a global organization with world-class infrastructure. In addition to developing and growing the business ABG already maintains, the Group has been active to acquire and integrate several new companies in the UK, Australia, Austria, Mexico, and elsewhere.

“ABG is operating in a highly competitive environment and faces pressure from both local and international spirits producers. This is the reason why ABG is looking to be a widely integrated company through production, logistics, distribution, and retail. We are distributing and developing our own brands like Moskovskaya® Vodka, KAH® Tequila, Riga Black Balsam®, Rooster Rojo® tequila, Cross Keys Gin®, and Cosmopolitan Diva®, but we are also representing third party Brand owners and we are proud with our capabilities to distribute through our own route to markets even competing brands,” adds Jekaterina.

OVERCOMING THE CHALLENGES

From local producers to global spirits companies, the Amber Beverage Group faces challenges every day, but the main point, it never stops and finds each day new ideas to be better.

Jekaterina believes that getting used to changes is the biggest challenge in every company. “Thinking of what and how can be changed and done more efficiently is part of my daily life. The main challenge in driving non-stop improvements in such a global company as ABG is to make people believe that they need these changes and convince them to see that as something positive and not as a threat. From my perspective, this is a very interesting process,” she says.

THE BELIEFS AND SUCCESS

“You must always be ready to respond to the most unusual challenges and business opportunities,” reveals Jekaterina Stuģe. She believes that business success is based on continuous development – both at the personal and company level.

“Employees need to be excited! It is important that they want to be on the same team as you because it is impossible to do great things without an excellent team. That is the key to my success. Employees need to be passionate about their jobs, they must want to achieve something more than just work for another day. For that to happen, we as an employer need to offer the opportunity to turn their ideas into reality. The slogan of the Group (in the meantime – also the abbreviation of “Amber”) is – “Ambitious Minds Bring Excellent Results” and I really believe in it,” reveals Jekaterina Stuģe.

THE DRIVING FORCE

“There are two things that helped to reach where I am today. The first one, dedication, hard work, and enthusiasm for the company that I represent. And second, the teams that I have worked with. I’ve always believed that the right team stimulates you to reach the best results possible. The team that pushes each other to the next level is priceless while achieving your personal and also company’s goals,” said Jekaterina Stuģe.

ACHIEVEMENTS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS

In the past Jekaterina has won several business awards including the Best Female CEO from Latvia of the Year 2020 in the Global 100 Annual Awards, the prestigious Business Worldwide Global Corporate Excellence Award in such categories as The Most Innovative CFO – Latvia and The Strongest Growth Strategy Team in Europe. Finance Monthly Magazine has recognized Jekaterina as one of the strongest financial professionals in the region.

EXPANSION GOALS FOR ABG

The key objective of Jekaterina in her role as the CEO of Amber Beverage Group is to pivot the whole organization by means of an innovation agenda. This includes the development of new products, expansion in new markets and consumer segments, the introduction of the latest technologies in AI and automation, and reinvention of operational and production processes to achieve efficiencies.

Overall, ABG is continuing on its path towards its ambition to become a Top 10 spirits industry player globally. This will be achieved through smart brand building, active management of sales channels, expanding ABG e-ambition, further investment in innovation, focused work on efficiency and effectiveness programs, and capturing new business opportunities.

JEKATERINA STUĢE’S WORDS OF WISDOM

Diversity in the workplace, including gender diversity, makes things better. As simple as that. It works like a law of physics – the more perspectives you have, the more active and creative the workplace dynamic becomes, and as a result – the more efficient the outcomes are. To sum it up – you get better performance. And yet this rule is still far from reality and gender parity remains elusive.

Here, Jekaterina presents an optimistic view. The situation for women in the workplace, despite the entrenched obstacles, has perhaps never been better. That glass ceiling is there, but it is now within the reach to be knocked at and eventually shattered. This is the time for us, women, to dare and challenge and take that ambitious step by saying out loud “Yes, I have the competence and the vision, and I will be the leader!”

CLOSING WITH A QUOTE

“I am a fan of one quote but in a little bit adjusted way. In 1962, Malcolm X, an influential African American human rights activist, said that “The future belongs to those who prepare for it today.” I would like to offer a version we are using at ABG: “The future belongs to those who invent it”, shared Jekaterina Stuģe.

In The Lead Of Business by Susanne Skov Diemer

As a business leader, you have an important duty and task to protect your company´s people, assets, information and brand reputation. And you must set an example for others to follow – mentally and physically, ethically and digitally, personally and professionally.

Real change happens through people, and real risk management happens via the security culture. It is not just about putting up a fence or install an antivirus system. To lead to and assure the highest – and necessary – security standards and culture, it must be rooted and spread.

The first step towards culture change is a shift in mindset, which means that management and staff need to change their habits. If we define a company culture as shared everyday habits, leaders must take steps to improve these daily habits in order to create a new awareness and a new security awareness culture. The risks and stakes are too high not to do so.

I always know what risks might be ahead for my company, business and staff. It enables me to have the proper mitigation processes in place. They are constantly developing and changing, along with the risks and business world. Tomorrow is a new day with new risks and new opportunities. In the security sector, we always look ahead. We think of the unpredictable too, as new risks are constantly arising, along with new measures being required.

To lead or follow

By being aware of the risks, we can prevent. And we must be proactive and preventative in your mindset and actions and take the lead.

In essence, security specialists are the voice of the inconvenient truth and leaders should be too. We must pay close attention to the importance of listening to people and organizations with other views than our own. It is the only way that we can broaden our horizons, know a fuller picture – and lead in the right direction.

It is easy to follow – maybe too easy – what everyone else is doing, but it does not make you a business – or political – leader. It does not minimize risks to the maximum and it certainly does not secure next year´s turnover and your current business

I encourage people to have or to find the courage to speak up if there is something you do not agree with or have critical information about. It can save your business, your reputation and it can save people.

Ways to lead by example

‘Lead by example’ also means that you listen to the people around you. You see what is going on (and you investigate further if there is something you do not understand). You speak with your staff and with the people around you. Make sure you are available to them when they have something they want to say and share. Show respect – also to people you do not agree with. And have the courage to lead.

By following these simple steps, you become a better leader, make sure that your company is open for a new and better security culture, which at the end of the day – and financial year – can mean a higher turnover and valuation of your company and reputation.

Managing Risks & Risk Management

We do business in increasingly uncertain times. Risks are dynamic and predictably unpredictable. We are more interconnected and technological than ever before. The global business environment is constantly changing and leaders should rise and adapt to this new reality. Risk management should be key from a strategic perspective and a key factor to achieve strategic goals and turnover.

With the world being more interconnected, we are also seeing a strong tendency for communities, people and companies to come together, joining forces and operating cross sector and cross borders. Especially in times of crisis, knowledge sharing and synergy are essential and we all need to take responsibility, professionally and also on a private level. One of my contributions is to democratise my extensive security and intelligence knowledge and crisis management experience gained throughout the past 25 years on the global security scene. I recently wrote the book “Your Urban CRISIS SURVIVAL PLANNER” to share and raise the security awareness, understanding and ultimately improve it. We should all contribute in our own ways and lead by example.

A game of dominoes

A crisis can be seemingly small or even insignificant. However, a crisis always creates a domino effect that should not be overlooked. And a crisis is very likely – directly or indirectly – to have an impact on turnover and human resources, customers and employees both internally and externally, and in the present and future. As we are in the midst of a global pandemic and its domino effect, we have a unique opportunity to prepare for and prevent future crises by learning from the current crisis and experiences.

With crises and crime, there are often hidden costs of chain reactions, many of which are long term. From an increase in insurance premium to operational disruption or destruction, lost value in customer relationship and contract revenue, devaluation of brand, etc. Crises certainly never come alone.

The future now

A lack of awareness of risks and of people’s roles and responsibility as far as preventing and controlling risks, and of ways of using risk data and new technologies and tools, increase the challenges of risk management.

Risk management should play an important offensive and defensive role. It is an important tool to preventatively and proactively assist a company in achieving strategic goals, innovation, and resilience. And a future.

How to Support Employee Wellness and Retain Top Talent During the Pandemic: Nicole Mixdorf

As the pandemic rages on, companies everywhere are scrambling to find ways to support the well-being of their employees. Stress levels are at an all-time high, and employees are experiencing burnout in record numbers. On top of this, turnover rates are climbing as employees seek out new opportunities in a hot job market, a trend coined as “The Great Resignation”.

Everyone knows the tremendous costs of turnover – It’s roughly 150% of someone’s salary to replace them when you factor in recruiting fees, loss of productivity, ramp up time, bonuses for the right candidate, etc. Retaining top talent in this market should be a priority for every business.

Fortunately, both issues can be addressed by implementing a comprehensive well-being program for mental, physical, emotional, social, and financial health. Employees are stressed out, stretched thin, and overwhelmed with the pandemic, which is affecting focus, morale, and health outcomes. Providing resources and tools to support them through this challenging time helps employees feel appreciated, which goes a long way toward job satisfaction.

What to look for in a comprehensive wellness solution

With a multitude of solutions on the market, it’s important to get clarity about the vision for wellness within your business. What is your reason for wanting to implement a wellness program? What behaviors or health outcomes are you looking to change? What kind of culture are you trying to foster that a wellness program can support?

Most companies still have remote workers, making a virtual wellness solution an ideal option for greater engagement. But what should it include? Before landing on a solution, it’s always valuable to gather feedback from your staff to better understand their needs and interests. Have you done a pulse survey to see how your people are feeling and what areas of support they need right now? This is always the best place to begin so that you can find solutions that fit their needs.

After gathering information from your team, reach out to your insurance company and see if they can give you data on your Top 10 health care claims for the year. It’s always a wise strategy to incorporate programming that addresses specific health conditions that your staff is already dealing with. That allows the programs to feel more personalized and relevant.

Do you want wellness challenges? Mental health programs? Fitness programs? Nutrition programs? Inspirational or motivational content? Therapy sessions? Team building activities? Or do you want a comprehensive platform that includes all the above? Narrowing down what you are looking for will guide you toward the right solution.

In general, a comprehensive wellness strategy will incorporate elements of physical, mental, emotional, social, and financial health. The idea is to support the whole person, providing them with access to resources that will help them in all aspects of their lives. You want your people showing up happy, healthy, balanced, and motivated each day. That’s a success strategy to spark greater innovation and results in the business.

Other considerations to keep in mind are ease of use, reporting and metrics, and promotional strategy. You can have the best program in the world, but if you don’t promote it well internally, it won’t succeed. It’s important for leaders to walk the talk. How can they lead by example, demonstrating the importance of self-care? Another element to consider is whether you have the internal resources to design and manage a wellness program, of if it’s easier to hire a wellness consultant to drive the initiatives for you.

Communication is key.

The most important way to keep your employees engaged is by talking to them, listening to them, and helping them feel valued for their contributions. Retain your top talent by reimagining your culture to be one of health, diversity, inclusion, collaboration, and appreciation. Offer attractive benefits, a positive work environment, and greater flexibility. Gather insight from your people as you map out your return-to-work policies. Determine what level of flexibility and responsibility you wish to give your employees regarding when and where they work, keeping in mind that this can be a major factor in their overall job satisfaction.

Employees have been through a lot since the start of the pandemic, which has affected each person in a unique way. We are facing a mental health crisis due to the fear, trauma, isolation, and uncertainty associated with this pandemic that has no end in sight. Don’t shy away from the difficult conversations. Talk about the stigma of mental health as you encourage participation in the wellness initiatives that you choose to provide. Drive well-being into your corporate culture by encouraging walking meetings, or by starting Zoom team meetings taking a few collective deep breaths to release tension and feel more grounded. Your people will appreciate it, and it will help them feel supported in showing up as their best selves each day and doing their best work.

Nicole Mixdorf is the Chief Wellness Officer at Balance by Nature, an award-winning employee wellness company. She was recently awarded as a Top 100 Healthcare Leader in the World, and as Most Influential Woman in Corporate Wellness Services USA 2021. You can find out more about Balance by Nature’s programs at www.balancebynature.com.

Wies van ‘t Slot, An Award-winning Business Woman, Mother,& An Outcast Visionary Entrepreneur Heading 365Werk in Pursuit Of Excellence

With a passion to do things differently. More transparent above all, and more digital, Wies van ‘t Slot, Director, 365Werk spearheads her brand to do just that – Digitalize the recruitment and hiring process. She aimed at creating her own culture in her teams and this is what kicked her off and keeps her speeding forward. Forty two-year-old Wies became director and co-owner of 365Werk six years ago, after a career in the Randstad and YoungCapital world.

Full of ambition and full of confidence, Wies van ‘t Slot, a passionate, enthusiastic, hard-working entrepreneur, is the mother of three beautiful boys (13, 11, 9). Being a mum has always been her active wish, as has to be an entrepreneur. The inspiring lady had been dreaming of leading her own company for quite some time before she actually had collected enough guts to go out and give it a shot. “Being an entrepreneur is who I am. It’s who I’ve always been”, said Wies.

More about the Firm

In a shrinking market, the online employment agency, 365Werk has managed to grow, year after year. Besides, Wies started concentrating on the service, saying: if we want to be as online as possible, we need the best human service ever in combination with that’. It was a decision and a focus that really led the team to where they stand now. Investing in the software continues undiminished, A-level service is their main goal. To achieve that, the way the teams are composed and working together is key.

In the last six years, 365Werk has been honoured with FD Gazellen Awards four times, a prize for companies with the largest rise in revenues. Also, because of the rapid growth of 365Werk, Wies has been recognized as one of the hundred most successful businesswomen in the Netherlands.

Clientele & Branding Strategies

365Werk is operating in four different industries: catering, logistics, cleaning, and business services. To ensure their service level keeps surpassing the expectation of their clients, the 365Werk team regularly investigate their wishes and criticism. Their wishes are put directly on top of their innovation agenda. Wies and her team always keep in mind that they have to stay flexible, being able to adapt to new insights and desires.

“We are young, fresh, different, a bit puckish, cheerful, not formal at all. Our message is that anyone can be a boss. That’s our tagline as well. Thanks to us, you’re able to manage how, when, and where you’re working”, asserted Wies while talking about her unique branding strategies.

Impacts of Covid-19 & Solutions

From one day to the next, 365Werk lost about two-thirds of their revenues, mainly due to their hospitality and catering clients being closed down. Immediately following that shock, they started mediating their people to other branches. Meanwhile, they went out to connect more clients from businesses that weren’t torn down by the crisis. One of the riskiest parts of their strategy was that Wies decided to stop sending bills to her clients in hospitality, to protect them from stressing out. The plan worked out beautifully when the government started to help out businesses, which she had anticipated. Today, their client portfolio is more differentiated than it ever was, thanks to the strategy during the deep Covid crises.

From the Founder’s Desk

From within my organization, I can’t see any challenge other than always keeping in mind our teams having an eye on diversity. And of course, there’s the ever-going struggle to use ‘female skills’ like empathizing and being vulnerable on the one hand, and being strict and clear on the other, without growing the label ‘bitch’. Outside my own company, challenges are bigger. Inside the business networks, I feel part of, there are only a few women. It’s always difficult to mix naturally with large groups of men. Whereas they seem to be pals, talking about guy’s stuff, I will never completely fit in. Partly because the stuff palls talk about doesn’t really interest me, but mostly because palls tend to feel forced to switch subject and attitude when a woman is around. That’s something no woman wants to happen.

Wies’s Approach to Entrepreneurship

First of all – and this sounds a bit trite – you have to maintain your own course, stay close to who you are. In her opinion, the worst thing you could do is try to change the way you act. Being a woman in a male-dominated surrounding offers opportunities to your advantage as well. For example, it’s much easier for me to stay top of mind than it is for a man in a blue blazer.

Challenges Faced by Women Entrepreneurs & Wies’s Advice

Wies said, “In my country, the biggest challenge is facing criticism regarding motherhood. A lot of people don’t understand or do not wish to understand how a mother can spend so much time being an entrepreneur whilst having young kids. The danger of being labelled a “bad mother” is one of the biggest factors of woman entrepreneurship being relatively rare. ‘How do you manage at home?’ is a F.A.Q. to a female entrepreneur. Men never receive that question.”

She continued, “I think the way to handle this pressure is to believe in what you are doing. The only way to feel free to do so is to make sure things at home are well organised. Once you’re convinced your family is taken care of, and your professional ambition is undisputed, you should be able to withstand the criticism of that kind and move forward in order to achieve your goals. Just accept that people might have other opinions.”

The Current Hurdles

Wies’s main worry now is how to move the company to the next step, with revenues of around 60 million euros. It’s a big and fantastic challenge to figure out in which way my teams are up to it and to prioritize the tasks ahead. It means She is looking into investments, opening new branches, hiring new talent, and strengthening the IT backbone.

A Day in Wies’s Life

The alarm rings at 06.30. Wies gets up, goes out to have a short hike with her dogs, returns to have breakfast with her husband and sons, takes a shower and leaves at 08.00 for a twenty minutes drive to the office. Every day, the leading lady’s agenda is filled with numerous appointments inside and outside the office. Most of the time, she arrives back home at around 1800 so she can assist her kids with their sports training and have dinner. A couple of times a week she goes out in the evening to the gym, on other nights there’s a network meeting. And sometimes she is at home, watching Netflix with her husband.

365Werk in the Next Five Years

“The next few years are dedicated to growing even faster. We’re going to achieve that thanks to a combination of IT and an ever-improving service. Our means is to extend our efforts on making the best ‘Tinder for work’. That’ll give us the possibility to stay strong and grow. In the next five years, we’ll definitely open more offices around the country and strengthen our brand”, Wies proudly shared.

Words of Wisdom

Just do it. Take it step by step, but get started. You don’t need extensive plans, because they’ll change along the way. There are a thousand reasons not to start as an entrepreneur. Don’t listen to them. Give it a shot, the best shot you have.

Dr Sharon Jones: A Passionate Techpreneur & Award-Winning Educator Spearheading dot. Consulting & Dottie Rose Foundation Successfully

“Believe in yourself, your talent, and your ambition.”- Dr Sharon Jones

A self-motivated, out-of-the-box thinker who brings real-life business problems to tech training and teaches applicable technological solutions to those problems, Dr Sharon Jones leads the dot. Consulting & Dottie Rose Foundation in the key position of CEO.

An award-winning, dedicated educator of computer science and technology for 17 years and throughout her career, she has created, implemented, and facilitated computer science workshops that apply the concepts of technology to everyday activities. She has found her passion in education and has served as a Career and Technical Education teacher in Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools and Wake County Schools as well as a Sr. Technical Trainer with Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC). Besides, she is a well-known industry teacher, trainer, and mentor working for organizations with like-minded missions.

The Initiative & Exclusive Product Portfolio

At the dot. is dedicated to providing innovative solutions to Computer Science education and technology learning. From face-to-face training to blended training techniques, their technology consulting services deliver a distinct advantage for organizations looking to grow. They help people invest in the technical knowledge of individual employees to create an overall collective sharpness, savviness, and greater productivity. Thus, increasing the technological speed and quality of the expertise in your organization. Delivering the key strategies and tools for immediate implementation of short-term and future value. They partner with companies and customize the plan. They offer three ways to work: strategic planning, professional development, and coaching. Their specialty resides in the development of the K12 technology/Career and Technical Education curriculum. Through their hands-on and real-life scenario approach, teachers will use critical thinking and technology skills to solve problems and gain insight.

thedot. Consulting offers three signature virtual or in-person Professional Development opportunities, or they have the ability to create customizable options, so one can choose what best fits his school’s current needs. Below are the three top professional development workshops.

Hello World: Big Concepts of Computer Science and Computational Thinking

Finding Your Tech Genius

Data Science Applied: Creating a Data Culture Through Application

Clients & Branding Strategies

The clientele consists of K-12 entities, including but not limited to Schools, Districts, and even K-12 programs outside of a school. Dr. Jones works directly with teachers, principals, and even the State to ensure they have what they need to integrate Computer Science standards into their curriculum.

Their branding strategy is one that gives educators a glimpse into opportunities to bring computer science into their classrooms. They provide engaging content through their social media, website, and their newsletter that allows teachers to see how easy it is to implement technology into their everyday curriculum.

Major impacts of Covid-19

“The major impact has been to move our work to a virtual platform. All of the in-person workshops were moved to online platforms. In addition, we created videos and content to be shared virtually and created opportunities for students & teachers to connect with community members through virtual talks, podcasting, and live video demonstrations and chats. As we continue to navigate the COVID 19 pandemic, we continue to do a blend of virtual and in-person work. As a technology education company, we have utilized online platforms to communicate and build content for many years as a way to expand our reach, however, the power of in-person can never be replaced. Therefore, the key to our continued success and impact will be with the blend of virtual and in-person” shared the leading lady when asked about the challenges and opportunities during the pandemic.

Challenges for Women Entrepreneurs & Advice to Overcome Them

There are many challenges but here are the top four according to Sharon Jones:

Defying social expectations
Accessing Funding
Owning your accomplishments
Coping with the fear of failure

Each of these challenges has its own hurdles but at the core, each challenge can be approached one step at a time. Own your strengths and be clear on what success means to you. Success is defined by you, not anyone else. Define your goals and take one step forward to achieve them each day.

From the CEO’s Desk

When I went to college, my sophomore year I was asked to create a PowerPoint for our project and I clearly remember turning to the person next to me and asking, what is PowerPoint?

And that is the pivotal moment that really changed my direction in technology. I taught myself PowerPoint and realized how much I enjoyed the learning. Fast forward a few years, and I go to East Carolina University to work on my master’s in education. There I entered my first programming class, Visual Basic.net. I had never programmed before and mind you had just figured out how to do the Microsoft suite of products.

However, I read, worked, failed many, many times, and finally mastered my first two projects of Hello World and turned the light bulb on and off! I received my master’s in teaching in Business and Information Technology and started my teaching career teaching in Career and Technical Education high school in Apex, NC, and then back to my home city of Charlotte. Over the years, my teaching career has been so rewarding as I have adapted learning technology to real-world applications.

I am self-taught in all of the programming languages I know and have continued to learn from my students, in professional developments and continued my education to earn my doctorate in Adult Education. My business started as a side hustle to bring in extra income for my family. I started doing workshops for teachers through Code.org and showcasing that platform and the success of those workshops grew to districts hiring me to lead further workshops around computer science. I stepped into

I have been a K12 educator, a secondary education professional, a corporate trainer, and now a business owner. My work has been a wonderful path of discovery, failures, and finding my true passion.

A Day in Sharon’s Life

Wake around 6:30
Short workout (try to do 30 minutes at least 3 times a week)
Coffee! I love a cup of coffee
Email catches up (8:00-9:00)
Meetings begin
Planning meetings for workshops or content
Collaboration connections
Curriculum planning with teachers during their planning sessions
Curriculum/Content development for Dottie Rose Foundation and schools
Lunch
Meetings continue or in-person visits with schools or Professional Development sessions Dinner with my family
After dinner research and planning for the next day
A good girly show on TV
Bed by 9:30

Future Plans & Jewels in the Crown

Sharon Jones wants her to venture to be the go-to for all things strategy and professional development for computer science integration into a K12 school or district. Here is the list of achievements;

NC Tech Education Technology – Industry EdTech Finalist
Jones was Woman of the Year, Charlotte Magazine
National Women’s Business Enterprise Certification
Top 100 Global Educators Presented by the Global Forum of Educational Leadership, June 2021

Karin Volo, Leading A Novel Training Firm, Evoloshen Academy Bringing Joy to the Workplace

Standing strong on the sturdy shoulders of a flourishing businesswoman, a global leader, an employee engagement expert, and a recognized HR Influencer, Karin Volo, CEO, Evoloshen Academy endeavours to guide employees to be empowered, engaged, and help them reach their full potential. Evoloshen transforms business through culture. It is the team of expert trust advisors to CEOs, CHRO’s, and top management teams to help them work strategically on culture issues.

With over 20 years of experience working with Fortune 500 companies globally, this inspiring leader has insights on business building, cultural transformation, and high performance. Aside from becoming an expert in culture, employee engagement, personal and organizational development, she is an international bestselling author. She is also an accomplished inspirational speaker and a Certified C-IQ™ Coach. Her purpose is bringing joy to the workplace.

Further Karin apprised “I’ve had my own company since 2003 when I started an Executive Search firm in Sweden. My work has evolved from taking the best talent out of companies to helping companies keep their talent through working on their culture. The catalyst for this change came from writing a book called Engage! in 2012 which became an international bestseller. It lead to me speaking on culture, engagement, trust, and purpose and developing impactful training programs in these areas.”

Successful Clientele & Core Values

Evoloshen Academy works actively with progressive CEOs and CHROs who understand the value of culture. They have worked with a number of industries and types of organizations from fast-growing tech companies, global consulting firms, manufacturing, private equity, and governmental agencies to give some examples.

The core is focused on developing and training employees to be empowered, engaged, and to help them reach their full potential. They have training programs such as Ignite Your Trust Factor, am International Cultural Engagement Specialist certification, and Discovering Your Purpose.

The deeper they are able to work with their clients, the stronger the trust and relationships grow. Besides training, they have expanded to offer coaching and group masterminding as well. This has developed from their clients asking the team to support them even more.

Progressing In Entrepreneurship

The absolute key is to know your purpose! Evoloshen aims to bring joy to the workplace and that is what drives Karin and her team every day. They know the power of reaching their full potential and thriving. They share tools and knowledge that are empowering and help people understand who they are. As an entrepreneur, Karin finds it as the complete commitment to a bigger purpose that will drive her through the challenging times. It gives inner confidence and commitment to never give up and to keep going forward no matter what.

From the CEO’s Desk

The two biggest challenges I’m looking at currently are how best to grow my business and to offload many of my daily tasks and projects. As a leader, I’m evolving and growing as well. This is why I’m a big believer in coaching and mentoring! It helps along the way and can save a lot of time and mistakes.

While talking about the branding strategies of Evoloshen Academy to stay ahead, Karin said, “We rely a lot on word of mouth and recommendations. Giving value and building strong relationships over time builds high levels of trust. I also have a podcast called The Amazing Leader Series where I love to showcase progressive CEOs and leaders who are proving that working with culture is great for business because they are actually doing it. This provides a lot of value and inspiration to leaders. In addition, we have published a number of free reports on our website that have great value and information to help support people who want to learn more about cultural transformation.”

Challenges for Women Entrepreneurs & Karin’s Views

She finds it tough to generalize this. She says we all have our own experiences and journeys we are on. Women need to support each other and lift each other up as much as possible. In Karin’s view, young women feel pressure to balance between their personal/family lives and their professional lives. She has noticed that once kids are grown, women seem to step into their power. They have a lot of drive and energy and can really make an impact. And she always encourages mothers to enjoy their time with their children because they grow up too quickly! It’s important to enjoy each stage of life and know that the journey is constantly changing. When you can embrace the phase of life you are in and truly appreciate it, that helps to handle the ups and downs that life will bring your way no matter what. It’s a part of the human experience. So why not enjoy it along the way?

Karin’s Daily Routine

“With an ideal day, I normally wake up around 6:30 or 7:00. I like to enjoy my mornings by easing into the day, working out at home, drinking my daily green smoothie and walking my dog. My days are always different based on the projects I’m working on, which I normally have two to three at a time. It often includes meetings with clients and/or my team, sometimes preparing for workshops, writing articles, checking emails, making videos, working on web pages”, Karin shared when asked about her daily routine.

Milestones & Future Roadmap

Evoloshen has been recognized as one of the Top 10 Organizational Development Companies in Europe by HR Tech. Karin Volo has also been recognized as a Top Thought Leader in Trust, named on the Engagement 101 Influencers several years in a row, Top 10 HR Influencers, and many others.

Evoloshen is on the way to be known globally as the trusted company to help develop leaders and employees, create high trust organizations, and the team is working diligently to transform many lives! Plus, with every client project, Evoloshen will also contribute to support education, clean water, or fighting child sex trafficking.

A Piece of Advice for Aspiring Female Entrepreneurs

The world needs women entrepreneurs now more than ever. Women are naturally caring and nurturing and the business world is changing to be more supportive on a human-to-human level. Karin Volo believes that will make it even easier for women to be themselves and step into their power. There is nothing that can hold female power back and their time is now!

Turning Solutions towards Covid-19

Karin Volo said, “Our world has gone through some severe trauma in recent times. We need to come together to heal and support each other. I absolutely see a world in the future where every person can thrive and reach their full potential. Our children deserve this and together we can solve the problems in our world. It all comes down to love. Love is the currency of business—we want to love our jobs; we want to Live Our Values Daily. So, it’s time for us to realize that when we are united, we become an unstoppable force and we can use this to create momentum to change the world. We must have the courage to care for and love one another!”

Kamales Lardi, Moving Businesses into the Digital Age with Brainchild Endeavour Lardi & Partner Consulting

Kamales Lardi, a Digital Business Transformation Expert & Thought Leader successfully contributing top-line growth of businesses, their operational excellence and capabilities development through digital transformation. She combines over 21 years of deep cross-industry experience with the latest digital and technology solutions and is presently leading Lardi & Partner Consulting in the key position of CEO.

In academics, Kamales did B.Sc. in Computing & Information Systems where she found her interest in technology, programming, and business strategy. The inspiring lady began her career at Accenture (Andersen Consulting back then) after graduating in 1999. Then, she enrolled in MBA at Durham University Business School in the UK (2003). Kamales worked in Zurich Insurance for a while, and then at Deloitte Consulting. In the year 2012, she decided to start her own consultancy.

Further Kamales shared about her journey, “I became a parent and found the consultancy business model not conducive to a balanced lifestyle. This became the premise for my ‘modular consulting’ business model, a term that I coined to combine high-quality solutions with a flexible and agile delivery model. This approach has resonated well with many business leaders and has helped my company stand out in the digital space.”

In addition to consulting, Kamales Lardi is active in teaching as well and has lectured at several higher institutions like ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences, HWZ Zurich University of Applied Sciences in Business, and Durham University Business School. She is the Chairperson of the FORBES Business Council Women Executives group and a dynamic and influential speaker.

Lardi & Partner Consulting, Transforming Traditional Business Models

Lardi & Partner Consulting GmbH is a boutique consultancy specializing in digital business transformation and emerging technologies. We enable organizations to transform traditional business models, processes, and operations to meet the needs of the digital economy and customer experience. We help companies define their customer’s needs and identify the best ways to utilize digital and emerging technologies across the business value chain to gain sustainable returns.

The firm provides advisory services to mostly multinational companies across various industries in Europe, Asia, and Africa. In addition, over the years they have also advised SMEs, start-ups, and the public sector.

Kamales’s focus on creating value in business enabled by technology has helped the Lardi & Partner Consulting firm stand out. She often says, ‘technology is not a silver bullet solution, a clear value proposition should drive any transformation effort’. This approach resonates well with many business leaders and has helped her stand out in the digital space.

The Impacts of Covid-19

COVID-19 has shifted mindsets towards greater adoption of technology and digital platforms. As experts in Digital Transformation, Kamales and her team have extensive implementation experience in this space and actively support companies in driving. They have taken a people-first approach that focuses on team wellness and prioritizing clients in their work. This works well as they have strong personal relationships with their clients and understand their personal and business challenges. In addition, their capabilities in business transformation and emerging technology solutions are exactly what companies need now to create business continuity and resilience.

From the CEO’s Desk

When asked about her views on challenges faced by women entrepreneurs and advice to overcome them, Kamales Lardi said “I do believe there is still a certain level of bias, conscious or unconscious, in the field of tech, entrepreneurship, and business. This could relate to a range of challenges such as women getting fewer opportunities in the field, struggling to gain funding, not receiving the credibility or recognition that they deserve for their work, or even manifest in the technology solutions being developed because of the lack of diversity in the development teams. This challenge should be addressed at various levels to be effective, including education, support, and deliberate actions and policies to enhance diversity – not just across gender but in every area.”

What Fascinates You the Most about Running your own Business?

“I take an active role in every client engagement that we deliver. I like working with clients and each company is unique, bringing new experiences, challenges, and opportunities. I find this fascinating and exciting. Also, the best part for me is seeing our solutions and advisory moving from vision to action, driving transformation in the company, and delivering real business results. This brings satisfaction and motivates me to keep doing what I do”, shared Kamales Lardi while disclosing the fascinating part in her business role.

“By running my own business, I have full control over the types of projects we do, who we work with, and what kind of results we can bring. For example, we usually work with multinational corporations, however, if there is an interesting project with a small company or start-up, we could still take it on. I am also excited about exploring new capabilities and skills. For example, back in 2016, many clients asked about the impact of blockchain and crypto in their business. This led me to deep dive into the topic, including understanding the technology and programming in this scape and eventually designing and building a blockchain-based traceability solution for the agriculture supply chain”, she further added.

Awards and Milestones on the Way

The company has hit the 10-year milestone for the business this year and they are still going strong. This is a big achievement considering the competitive market. Lardi & Partner Consulting has been honored with the 2020 Global Corporate Excellence Award from Business Worldwide Magazine in the category ‘Digital Business Transformation Firm of the Year’. In addition, Kamales Lardi has received numerous awards including:

“Top 10 Global Influencers & Thought Leaders in Digital Transformation” (Thinkers360, 2021)
The Top 50 Women in Tech – Influencers to Follow (2021)
Top 20 visionaries of the media and technology industry (Adello Magazine, 2021)
First-ever Forbes Business Council Women Executives Chair (2021)
Women in Fintech Powerlist (2017)

Lardi & Partner in The Next Five Years

Lardi & Partner Consulting aims to flourish into a globally recognized brand and expert partner in digital business transformation in the near future. Also, the team is planning to work on more technology projects that deliver towards sustainability and climate change solutions

Advice for Female Entrepreneurs

Don’t limit yourself to what others or society or even you think you should be doing. The possibilities are unlimited, as long as you are bold and take a leap of faith in yourself. Build the right capabilities and experience required to succeed, but remember you do not need to be 100% ready, leverage teams that can help you build the right capabilities.

Jane Stevensen: Woman Behind JS Global Advisory Resolving Environmental Issues

Finding the path to motivation and purpose is uniquely carved by every individual. Jane Stevensen, Founding Director of JS Global Advisory, is leading by example as an inspirational woman leader with over 20 years of experience advising businesses on sustainability strategy and practice. She is an expert in the creation of global engagement programmes to achieve consensus and drive visionary change.

Understanding the need for robust solutions for fragile ecosystems with enormous environmental challenges, Jane established JS Global in 2018 after holding senior executive roles in both corporate and not-for-profit organizations .

JS Global brings together an industry-leading team of advisors in climate-related policy & regulation, sustainability strategy, and practical ways of enhancing ESG – Environmental, Social and Governance – performance. Experienced in working across sectors, with particular expertise in oil & gas, shipping, mining & metals, and financial services, they have deep understanding of the new technical, regulatory, commercial and digitalisation challenges confronting Boards, CEOs and executive management teams.

Prior to setting up JS Global, Jane led Grant Thornton LLP’s Sustainability Advisory Practice, is a former Managing Director of the highly influential Climate Disclosure Standards Board, was Chair of the Oil & Gas Advisory Group at CDP – the global climate information disclosure specialists (formerly known as the Carbon Disclosure Project) – and headed CDP’s engagement with the Taskforce for Climate-related Financial Disclosures (or TCFD) set up by Mark Carney, ex-Governor of the Bank of England and now the UN Special Envoy on Climate and Finance. She has advised the UN Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative and the UK-City of London Green Finance Initiative.

Jane began her career in the Oil & Gas industry – as an exploration geologist, her working environment encompassed the oil rigs of the North Sea, the rare Jarrah Forest of Western Australia, the rainforest of Papua New Guinea, the Apennine Mountain home of the European Brown bear and the cities of London, Milan, and Paris.

Many of these places comprised fragile ecosystems with enormous environmental challenges, and indirectly led Jane Stevensen to ultimately setting up her own business. With an early understanding that the planet was a stakeholder in all operational activity and a belief that business has the potential to be a real force for good, Jane’s journey has brought her to where she is today, advising global companies on environmental risk and opportunity, governance, climate strategy and across the whole spectrum of ESG.

More about the Company and its Distinct Offerings

JS Global works across sectors and brings particular knowledge, insight, expertise, and understanding of the natural resources and energy industries – often called the “hard-to-abate” sectors. Their bespoke approach to sustainability consulting and climate change strategy and engagement is built on a unique understanding of the diverse perspectives that influence the way governments, businesses and financial market participants address the mega-trends affecting our planet and society.

The key areas JS advisory work encompasses consist of:

Engagement programmes – the company specialises in the design and delivery of engagement programmes to bring together key influencers with often conflicting viewpoints to catalyse real change.

Sustainability strategy – JS Global helps clients address key issues related to sustainability strategy, environmental and social impact across operations, stakeholder engagement, sustainability-related growth, and cost opportunities, and understand the reputational implications.

TCFD Advisory – the recommendations of the Taskforce for Climate-related Financial Disclosures (the TCFD) provide a vital catalyst to enable companies to achieve climate-related targets in line with the Paris Agreement, and in particular map out a route to Net Zero carbon.

ESG services – Environmental, Social and Governance – ESG – criteria are a set of standards for a company’s operations that socially conscious investors use to screen potential investments. JS Global works with businesses to support them in the development of ESG policy and strategy and strengthen understanding of the rapidly evolving regulatory environment.

Clientele & Corporate Ethos

The JSG clientele ranges from global FTSE 250 companies to small independents. Climate change and the need for a sustainable business strategy affect every business and everyone in it. They all receive the same care and attention to ensure that each consulting project is bespoke, tailored to their objectives. Above all the team builds relationships, and their clients trust them.

Major Impacts of Covid-19

Covid-19 brought the whole world to a standstill, and some clients were unable to continue with the advisory work they had commissioned. The philosophy of JS Global is to engage with the clients and build trust to give the team the confidence that once the crisis abates, they will be back, and that is already proving to be true. The practical implications of the pandemic for the business have meant travelling to clients’ premises and working alongside them has stopped completely and they have all had to work from home, and so building those relationships has meant working much harder as it’s all had to be done over Zoom and Teams!

From the Founding Director’s Desk

“Having started my career in the Oil industry, being the lone woman is something I’m very used to! Once you’ve been in charge of an oil drilling rig in the North Sea or remote Western Australia there’s not much that phases you”, asserted Jane Stevensen while discussing her biggest challenges as a woman entrepreneur.

Jane’s Approach towards Entrepreneurship

The sheer unpredictability of the business world is something that fascinates Jane Stevensen the most!

Jane’s style is collaborative, thoughtful, she likes to listen to all the viewpoints, and determine the facts. She is able to draw on a whole career in business and industry, has run multidisciplinary teams around the world, and worked in difficult and dangerous environments where it was essential to be able to think on your feet and anticipate multiple outcomes. She has also spent time as Managing Director of a highly influential global climate NGO and sat on the Boards of charities as well as commercial entities. Furthermore, she has a wealth of experience to draw on, and as an entrepreneur she is able to deal with whatever comes up – the key is always to expect the unexpected.

A Day in the Life

“I’m an early riser – a lark not an owl, so usually up well before 6.30, cup of English breakfast tea as I stroll around my garden (weather permitting) with my dog. Then I will start the day with the 5 Tibetan Rites, an ancient yoga practice. Then it’s usually time to check the emails, work on client pitches, and respond to requests. During the pandemic with working from home I will have a daily morning Zoom call with my senior business partner where we touch base on what’s needed for the day, review new opportunities, discuss the current projects, and generally catch up”, said Jane Stevensen when asked about her daily routine.

“Lunch is a sandwich, and I will have a break and take my dog for a walk. Then back to it for the afternoon, often with client calls and reviews. I enjoy cooking and dinner is usually around my kitchen table with whoever is at home from my family”, she added. “As the world opens up post-pandemic I’m looking forward to getting back to the theatre and opera which I love, and supporting the arts again”.

JS Global in the Next Five Years

The foundation of JS Global Advisory was to support businesses in their sustainability journey, tackling the most pressing issue of the current time – climate change. The vision of JS Global in the next five years is to be able to provide the toolkit for businesses, regardless of sector or size, to address both the risks and opportunities of climate change and be part of the global solution. Moreover, they want to be able to inspire organizations to believe they really can do it and radically increase ambition to achieve much greater targets than they thought possible.

A Piece of Advice

Stay focused, have a target in mind, but don’t be inflexible. Stuff happens along the way, and being too rigid will not help you. Accept help whenever it’s offered – if you can find a mentor you really like who supports but also challenges your thinking that is enormously helpful.

Above all – keep calm and carry on!

Dr. Wendy Liew, The Award-Winning Entrepreneur & Certified Consultant Building Organizational and Personal Brands with The Image Creator

In a rapidly transforming virtual world, Dr. Wendy Liew, Director & Founder, The Image Creator, is a growth partner carving the path for success. She is the woman with multiple hats- Certified Image & Brand Management Consultant, Keynote Speaker, Trainer, Author, and an award-winning entrepreneur. Wendy is also recognized as a Trailblazer of AsiaBizToday, Inspiring Women of Malaysia by Malaysian Business Magazine under the class of 2019 MB’s Notable & Successful Women, accredited as one of the personalities in the First Edition of Human Encyclopedia (Britishpedia) titled “Successful People in Malaysia” by British Publishing House Ltd and featured in the 3rd Edition coffee table book titled “50 Influential Women of the World”. Furthermore, Wendy Liew has been listed as one of the LinkedIn Icons & Influencers in the article “Power of Persuasion” on Social Media Influencer by “TheSunDaily”.

While sharing her business journey, Wendy Liew apprised, “I’m running 4 different companies, from Image & Brand Management in Education & Training, Branding & Marketing content development to IT & infrastructure and lastly into Trust & Integrity building for businesses. With TIC, we started on conducting personal branding in the areas of image, colours & style workshops a decade ago and it slowly moved into mostly conducting corporate training to Multinational companies, Government Link companies and Fortune 500 companies.”

More about the Company

TIC is one of Asia’s Best Brands 2019 and Malaysia’s leading training providers of image and skills consulting services, specializing in helping clients develop a strong impression, desired perception, and brand identity, through image and brand management, communication, etiquette, and protocol skills.

Almost 90% of TIC’s clients are corporate companies that include MNCs, GLCs & the Fortune 500 companies. To date, it has trained more than hundreds of companies and over 70, 000 corporate people ranging from lower-level all the way to the C-Suites level and the VVIPs in the areas of Professional Image Branding, Protocol & Business Etiquette.

Hurdles on the Way

The toughest time so far was last year when the pandemic started where everything was put to a halt. As it dragged on for months and months with low business, Wendy Liew said, she struggled a lot in sustaining the business and maintaining all employees. They are trying their best not to reduce their salary and to retain all employees with the company. Fortunately, she made it happen.

However, Wendy Liew believes, everything that happened is like the flip of the coin. The impact of the pandemic isn’t that bad after all. Instead of moving downhill, they are maintaining and what’s most precious to us is that they see clarity, they feel the unity and they manage the urgency in pivoting.

What Helped You along the Way?

“Being a trainer/educator, I believe strongly in continuous education regardless of the level or position that we are in. When we stop learning, we stop growing”, shared Wendy Liew.

“I set aside a fund for at least 2 new courses every year overseas. This helped me tremendously in my journey in building my business. It’s so important to learn from the people or industry that is totally out of our own industry and finding relevancy on how to bring our existing offering from different perspectives and to different levels. In each of the courses, we can see what have we done well here in our country, and what are the things that work in other countries, and how to close the gap in solving current challenges with the new input that we learn from the new learning and the other countries”, she further added.

Creating a more Balanced and Equal Industry

In the goals of achieving diversity in having a greater proportion of women and ethnically/culturally diverse individuals) especially in the leadership of large companies and financial outperformance, some of these contributions and efforts What can companies do in order to achieve a more balanced and equal industry:

Commit and cascade from top-down to convey the importance of I&D as part of the company culture and values, especially during onboarding.
Link I&D as a part of the growth strategy. The I&D priorities must be explicitly defined based on what will drive the business growth strategy.
Craft an initiative journey or roadmap in pursuit of the I&D goals. Companies should go for programmes and training to build the culture of I&D.
Tailor for impact. I&D initiatives should be tailored to the relevant business area or geographic region context to maximize local buy-in and impact. There are no one-size-fits!

A Day in Wendy Liew’s Life

Here is Wendy’s schedule after Covid-19:

7.00 am: Wake up
7.30 am – 8.30am: Physical Activity
9.00 am: Salad breakfast with hubby
9.30 am: To-do list (meetings, coaching, training, speaking, and meeting clients)
12.00pm: Lunch
1.00pm: continue working
5.30 pm: Family leisure time
7.00pm: Dinner
8.00 pm: Will continue to work if it’s urgent, else, that will spend with family
10.00 pm: Supper time
11.00 pm: Reading/ preparing on tomorrow’s schedule/to check with any unfinished work or catching up with backlogs if any.
12.00am/1.00am: Sleep

Favourite Book

“How Women Rise” – Marshall Goldsmith & Sally Helgesen

Future Roadmap

Dr. Liew is pivoting her business needs to integrate the essential touch of humanization with the full fledge of digitalization that eventually promotes a sustainable future!

Her whole team is super excited and looking forward to the whole completion of their digital ecosystem that can be fully automated from e-learning in training & education to Image Gamification system, 100% Online Certification Programmes, Sales & Marketing Vault Funnelling system, Image Apps and finally to an award giving platform. Meanwhile, they are in the midst of coming out with a few implementation programmes for SMEs/start-ups that will eventually also be converted into digital/automated systems.

Jewels in the Crown

Award Recipient of “Malaysia Most Fabulous Training & Development Leaders 2020” – World Federation of HR Professionals
Award Recipient of “Women Super Achiever 2020 & 2019” – Women Leadership Congress Award
Award Recipient of “Content Developer of The Year” under the category of Asia Training & Development Excellence Award 2019
Award Recipient of “Malaysia Women Leaders 2019”
Award Recipient of “101 Top Global Training & Development Minds 2019”
Award Recipient of “Distinguished Trainer 2019”
Award Recipient of “Coaching & Development Leadership 2019”
Award Recipient of “Asia Best Brand 2019” – CMO Asia Singapore
Award Recipient of “Women Icons Malaysia 2018”
Award Recipient of “The 100 Most Influential Young Entrepreneur 2017”

Advice for Female Entrepreneurs

There’s nothing wrong to be ambitious as ambition is for everyone, not just for men.
Never short-change yourself as a woman.
Demand for your value as you know what’s the value that you can bring to the table.
It’s okay to be vulnerable and seek support. The support system is your strength.

Favourite Quote

It doesn’t matter who you are, where you are from. The ability to triumph begins with you, always! – Oprah Winfrey

Carolyn Jenkins: The Philanthropist, Author, & Social Reformer, Promoting Healthy Lifestyles for The Underserved

As a Foot Health Advocate, Carolyn Jenkins is part of a group of uniquely dedicated social reformers and out-of-box thinkers. While achieving career heights up the corporate ladder, Carolyn Jenkins, Creator & CEO of CjQenterprises, LLC and Executive Director of Jenkins Donelon Foundation, is living her life’s motto, ‘good healthcare for all’ in the truest sense of the word.

As an out of box thinker, Carolyn foot health and healthy lifestyles for the underserved. In March 2016, the Foot Health Advocate formed the Jenkins Donelson Foundation (JDF) to promote good foot health through education, services, and resources in the USA and globally.

In 2019 The JDF mission expanded to “promote foot health and healthy lifestyles.” In addition to giving away shoes, socks, clothing, and foot care supplies, The JDF began giving away everyday essentials, including beds/bedding, toys, and household goods, to families in need. Even with the expanded mission, Carolyn is still passionate about foot health because, many times, foot pain is preventable. Everyone deserves to own a decent pair of shoes and socks. As importantly, no one should suffer from foot pain because they can’t afford medical care. The JDF team actively works to prevent and eliminate foot pain to ‘heal and shoe the world.’

In academics

Carolyn graduated from Bowie State University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. She earned her Social Sector Certification from the University of California Berkley Haas School of Business. She is also an author and an avid booklover.

The Inspiring Journey: From Author to Social Worker

“I have wanted to be an author since I was a child. After working my way through college and working professionally for a few years, I founded a Christian bookstore and a general bookstore. Surrounding myself with books, and authors occasionally, kept my dream alive. The industry changed when Amazon launched, so I went back into the workforce and became a government contractor.

One day I heard myself say, ‘I always wanted to write children’s books,” and I wondered, “why haven’t you?” I sat down and wrote The Family Adventures of Princess Ladybug and Princess Ladybird: Laundry Day. I self-published it through Amazon and immediately decided I didn’t want to be a one-hit-wonder, so I wrote volume two in the series, Papa’s Farm. As I was fulfilling my childhood dream, I broke my pinky toe for the second time. This accident led me to write the book that changed the course of my life. I wrote a poem that highlighted the important role our feet play in our lives. I forgot about the poem until I was introduced to an artist who offered to add beautiful illustrations to my poem, My Feet: An Ode. As I was publishing my book, I searched the National Calendar website to see if a special day existed to encourage people to appreciate their feet and take good care of them. Not finding one, I registered National I LOVE My Feet Day! to be celebrated on August 17. This special day is now recognized annually in the US and abroad”, shared Carolyn Jenkins.

“To supplement I LOVE My Feet Day!, I created ilovemyfeetdays.com so that people could get foot health information in layman’s terms, 24/7. I quickly realized what I was doing was not reaching the people who needed it most, the underserved. At that time, I had already witnessed and understood the inequity in health care, but the inequalities crystallized for me when I began promoting good foot health. The most vulnerable had the greatest need.

Within one year, I established the Jenkins Donelson Foundation, which promotes foot health and healthy lifestyles for the underserved. In 2016 volunteers began giving recycled shoes and new socks to the homeless and low-income. Today, due to multiple retail partnerships, we give away free shoes, socks, clothes, beds/bedding, school supplies, baby/children’s goods, seasonal goods, bikes, kitchenware, bathroom goods, personal products, detergents, outdoor supplies, including swimming pools and lawnmowers, along with a wide assortment of household goods. To date, we have served those in need in eight states, the District of Columbia, and three countries”, she further added.

Favourite Book

Carolyn Jenkins has always loved books. For her, selecting a favorite book is like choosing a favorite child; it’s impossible. Each one shines on different levels at different times. Right now, her favorite shining stars are Just As I Am by Cicely Tyson, Everyday is a Gift by Senator Tammy Duckworth, My Soul Looks Back by Jessica B. Harris, and Along the Way by Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez. Carolyn Jenkins enjoys learning about the ‘journey’ others have made to reach their goals and destinations.

Making A Difference in Lives

Established in 2016, the Jenkins Donelson Foundation (JDF) is focused on promoting good foot health to the underserved. The JDF operates solely through volunteer support and donations. In 2019 The JDF won multiple retail partnerships allowing volunteers to pick up overstock, seasonal goods, and returned goods. This plethora of valuable retail inventory led the Board of Directors to expand the mission to promoting foot health and healthy lifestyles for the underserved. Presently, the JDF is serving the homeless, the underserved, and those in need.

Future Roadmap

The JDF still operates through volunteer efforts and donations. Most JDF volunteers have full-time jobs. In FY21, despite the pandemic lockdown, JDF volunteers gave away more than $150K to those in need.

The JDF keeps its goods in storage units, and this is the location where people come to pick up their everyday essentials.. The JDF hopes to operate from a free-standing building or rent warehouse space in the future to make it easier to serve those in need. The nonprofit would also like to hire part-time assistance, which would reduce the heavy workload on volunteers and help to expand its outreach.

Feathers in the Cap

The JDF received national and international recognition during the pandemic. JDF volunteers remained committed to serving those in need, and donations were distributed to homes, directly to the homeless, engaged through new partnerships and pick-ups at the storage units. JDF volunteers realized quickly that the lockdown would cause mental and additional financial stress, so the goods it had to offer were in greater demand. Through its sister organization, ilovemyfeetdays.com, The JDF also provided foot health information people could incorporate immediately to improve their health during the lockdown. Below is a list of awards The JDF and its volunteers have won:

2021 Top-Rated Nonprofit from Great Nonprofits
2021 Corporate Live Wire Innovation & Excellence Awards Foot Health Specialists of the Year
2021 Gold, Silver, and Bronze Presidential Volunteer Service Awards for JDF volunteers
2021 Five Year Recognition Award from Senator Mark Warner, VA
2021 Volunteer Recognition Award from Senator Tim Kaine, VA
2021 Points of Light Volunteer Recognition #7100 for a JDF volunteer
2020 ManTech International Community Partner
2020 ManTech International Pedersen Community Service Award recognizing a JDF volunteer
2020 General Dynamics IT (GDIT) Volunteer of the Year Award recognizing a JDF volunteer
2020 Fitness & Nutrition Foot Health Social Enterprise of the Year
2020 Top-Rated Nonprofit from Great nonprofits

A Piece of Advice for Female Entrepreneurs

Doing your best is great but striving for balance is critical. Trying to “have it all” can cause us to lose the most important things in life, love and family. One of the biggest takeaways during the pandemic was the reminder that we need to love one another everyday.

Favourite Quote

My trademark quote is, “Take good care of your tootsies; they have to last you a lifetime!”