Women Leader August 2024

Veronica Robinson, the CEO of Stepping Stones Behavioral Solutions leads with the Golden Rule in all facets of life. Her purpose is to treat everyone with the same kindness and grace. She demonstrates a deep respect for those that she serves with a willingness to gladly perform any task, whether it is changing diapers or cleaning toilets if it needs to be done.

A Chartered Accountant by profession and having worked close to two decades in the Finance sector, Manjula Basant Rai, Founder, and CEO of Spaanda, always felt something was missing and sometimes questioned the purpose of her journey. While at Tesco, she stumbled across sustainability by chance, and that was her light bulb moment. In a flash, she knew what she could do and what she had to do. “Spaanda was born in my thoughts and over time I gave it shape and form in my own head.

Malea Chavez, CEO of Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, has always been motivated by innovation and creative new ways of problem-solving. As a Staff Attorney, she was limited to the number of people she could assist. Still, when Malea learned about the impact of being a leader and shaping policy on the whole community, she was inspired to move into a leadership role.

Leadership with a sense of responsibility is a valuable trait. It is often associated with individuals who are accountable, reliable, and committed to their roles and the people they lead. Such leaders prioritize the well-being of their team members and strive to create a positive work environment that fosters growth, collaboration, and innovation. What motivated Ioanna Fergadiotou, Head of Athens Lab, Inlecom, to become a pioneering leader was a sense of responsibility to positively impact her country during the recession by creating new job opportunities and combating brain drain. Additionally, she was driven by a strong desire to lead a dynamic team towards excellence in applied research and innovation.

Deniz Bruce is no ordinary leader. Her professional background is enriched with extensive experience in various pharmaceutical and medical device organisations, where she has held global leadership positions overseeing diverse product portfolios. Her expertise centres on strategic planning and execution within medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and biologics.

Dana Lasenby is on a mission to inspire hope, empower people and strengthen communities. She is doing this by being part of Oakland Community Health Network (OCHN), a provider service network that assists approximately 27,000 Oakland County citizens at more than 300 service sites across the county. Dana is a Behavioral Health Care Executive and Limited Licensed Psychologist with more than 25 years of experience in the public and private sectors of the behavioral healthcare industry.

Christine McHugh, the Managing Principal of White Strand Development, believes Sustainability, Community, and Innovation are the building blocks which align best with her company’s culture. “Tomorrow belongs to those shaping today’’. Sustainability is fundamental because it ensures resources are used in a way that preserves them for future generations.

Aoife Reid is breaking through glass ceilings in the male-dominated legal industry serving as the Managing Partner at McMahon, Martine & Gallagher since 2017. Aoife started her career as one of the younger women admitted to the New York bar at age 23. A trial attorney by her late 20’s Aoife won the first trial she ever took to verdict. Aoife also handled and won many Appeals for the firms clients. Before she turned 35, Aoife was made a Partner in the firm, becoming the first female partner in MMG’s 60-year history.

Anu Muurinen, the CEO of Aamit Oy, is a senior digital leader with a wealth of experience in building and leading high-performing teams in the retail, consumer goods, and travel industries. She is a skilled communicator and collaborator, known for bringing out the best in her team members. Anu is passionate about creating a diverse and inclusive culture, which she believes is critical to fostering innovation and driving business success.

Jivka Ovtcharova, head of the Institute for Information Management in Engineering at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), learned to take on a leadership role as a child. She had the advantage that her parents, who worked, gave Jivka the freedom to shape herself professionally and personally and decide which path she wanted to take. “The inner conviction to go one’s own way and the knowledge of what one must do for it made me naturally self-confident and strong,” says Jivka.