World's Most Admired Women Leaders to Follow, 2024

www.worldsleaders.com
Weaving Equity, Social Justice, and Human Rights into Education
Educator, Equity and
Inclusion Speaker
Nilmini
Ratwatte
World's Most Admired
to Follow, 2024
Women
Leaders
Vol. 03 | Issue 10 | March 2024
Womens Day

World’s Most Admired Women
Leaders to Follow, 2024
While there is an increasing trend toward greater
representation of women in business, this is not a widely
held belief. For a very long time, women have battled the
stereotype that says they should take care of the home,
cook, and clean. The aspiration of women entering the
labor was to attain more equality and overall well-being.
Since then, they have proven to be extraordinarily
effective in a range of industries. This accomplishment
has been accompanied with a lot of challenges, though,
which makes it more difficult to provide opportunities
for other women in business.
Historically, women have performed worse than males in
the workplace, earning, on average, only 75% of what
men have. Actually, that's just half the story. In last few
years, women have started their own businesses at a
higher rate than men, and they have been successful. In
truth, there is a demand for and a significant
representation of women in the corporate sector.
In this edition “World's Most Admired Women Leaders
to Follow, 2024”, World's Leaders features woman
leaders which are thriving in leadership and leading with
best practices and strategies to take their idea into action.
The cover has Nilmini Ratwatte-Henstridge, an
elementary school teacher with a heart woven with
threads of Equity, Social Justice, and Human Rights. In
the vibrant landscape of social media, she's not just
connected; she's actively writing and advocating in these
crucial areas.
Life's journey is a winding path, and for Nilmini, it led to
the fulfilling world of education. The dream to be a
teacher took root early, sprouting into reality during high
school when she seized an opportunity to teach
Kindergarten at a daycare center. The excitement of that
experience fueled her passion, dating back to a childhood
dream at the tender age of three.
Also, while you flip through the pages, don't forget to
read the articles created by our in-house editorial staff
and industry experts.
Building New Norms
Have a lovely read!

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should not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
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remain solely with WORLD’S LEADERS.
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CREDIT PAGE
March 2024

08
Cover
Story
Weaving Equity, Social Justice, and Human
Rights into Education
Nilmini
Ratwatte

Dima Rachid Jamali
Elena Turanskaya
Lindsey Gamell
Tonya Winders
Oksana Kolesnikova
Nita White-Ivy
Heidi Lindner
Meredith Caram
Amy Buynoski
58
52
48
42
38
32
28
24
20

Nilmin
Ratwatte
Weaving Equity, Social
Justice, and Human Rights
into Education
08 | March 2024

Kindergarten at a daycare center.
The excitement of that experience
fueled her passion, dating back to a
childhood dream at the tender age
of three.
High school presented its
challenges—ﬁtting in socially,
adapting to a new language, and
building new friendships. Nilmini's
resilience shone as she embraced a
demanding schedule, teaching
Kindergarten during the early hours,
attending school, and returning for
the late afternoon shift, all while
completing high school. It was a
Rotary Community Dinner work with my Rotary Volunteers to bring the community together and get support in place
for the homeless, address support services for anyone in needing these service such as social work, community care
organiza ons in an indirect way and respec ng senior needs and sharing knowledge.
Ratwatte, an elementary school teacher with a heart
woven with threads of Equity, Social Justice, and Human
Rights. In the vibrant landscape of social media, she's not
just connected; she's actively writing and advocating in
these crucial areas.
Life's journey is a winding path, and for Nilmini, it led to
the fulﬁlling world of education. The dream to be a
teacher took root early, sprouting into reality during high
school when she seized an opportunity to teach
Meet Nilmini
10 | March 2024

Volunteering to help my dog park with a community lead team of real estate agents to clean and help maintain the dog park
- which me and my dog Odie goes to with the Leash Free Halton Volunteer Commi ee in my neighbourhood.
transformative period that shaped her work ethic and,
ultimately, her decision to pursue teaching in
university.
But life has its surprises, and a detour into the world
of fashion during a summer job introduced Nilmini to
a love that lingered. The experience in retail not only
adorned her with the best clothing but also presented
a managerial opportunity. Yet, her unwavering
commitment to becoming a teacher prevailed, as she
declined the oﬀer to pursue her degree in Child
Studies in St. Catharines, Ontario.
Nilmini's story is a testament to the unpredictable yet
beautifully aligned moments that shape our journeys.
It's about opening doors, adapting to change, and
embracing the unique paths we carve for ourselves.
Her philosophy resonates with the idea that we can't
control others' perceptions, but we can always aspire
to be our best selves—a guiding principle she carries
with a smile through the exciting and hardworking
tapestry of her life.
worldsleaders.com | 11

Resilience and Generosity
Nilmini often reflects on the journey she and others take to get to places in
their lives—never easy, but worth the moments of reflection, conflicts, and
effective communication strategies learned along the way. Astounding
statistics reveal the challenges faced by women and children living in poverty,
struggling to lift themselves out with small business ventures to encourage a
positive mindset.
Nilmini's journey in the province of Ontario, Canada, has been filled with ups
and downs and adventures. Immigrating as a teenager from the beautiful
island of Sri Lanka, Nilmini, born resilient, understood the importance of
carving her own path to success in life's journey. Invaluable lessons have
shaped her into the person she is today, with a commitment to growth and
change while holding onto her core self.
Giving back to the community became a fundamental part of Nilmini's belief
system and identity. Volunteering, organizing, and generously contributing to
her community allowed her to align her actions with her goals. The journey
has been eventful, marked by embracing diverse perspectives, finding
resolutions to unexpected conflicts, and adopting the mantra of "Dance in the
Rain instead of waiting for the storm to pass.”
This philosophy served as a consistent reminder for Nilmini, helping her
maintain balance and appreciation for gratitude. She takes pride in achieving
this equilibrium, making time for herself and her loved ones, and being there
for everyone that matters in her life. The path Nilmini has forged reflects her
commitment to collaboration, inclusiveness, and a deep understanding of
equity for women in leadership roles, aiming for equal outcomes in various
aspects of the world.
Consistent Leadership
Nilmini remains consistent regardless of
her surroundings, embodying a reflective
nature and dedicating herself
wholeheartedly to her work. With a born
leadership quality, she maintains a strong
individual mindset while also being a
receptive listener, understanding the
visions of others and collaboratively
steering projects towards success.
Passionate about her chosen work,
Nilmini actively shares her ideas with
others, contributing to positive changes
and fostering a growth mindset. Her
leadership style is characterized by
unwavering positivity, always seeing the
glass as refillable in any situation.
Building strong relationships both within
and outside the workplace, Nilmini's
leadership is marked by a commitment to
inclusiveness, collaboration, and a shared
vision for growth and success.
Landed for Success
Nilmini enthusiastically shares her most
recent endeavor, working with "Landed
for Success" to put Student Voices center
stage through Student Success Talks.
Before taking on any role, she engages in
reflective thinking, considering how she
can contribute to her portfolio and foster
personal growth. Last summer, the call for
"opportunities for students" ignited her
excitement to explore the business world
with the Landed for Success team.
In her role, Nilmini has the privilege to
listen, observe, and witness the solutions
that emerge. This hands-on approach
allows her to establish a meaningful
connection with the younger generation,
understanding the impact of lessons one
student at a time. Her passion, excitement,
and motivation drive her to amplify
student voices, eagerly anticipating the
opportunity to see how her lessons have
been absorbed and adapted to create a
12 | March 2024

phenomenal and positive impact on the
world.
Journey of Growth and Connection
Nilmini steps into the shoes of
someone reflecting on the complexities
of education, acknowledging it as one
of the most challenging roles where
every child, family, curriculum, and
life situation is unique. She resonates
with the sentiment that to make strides,
set high standards, and develop
students to their best potential, one
must have their heart invested in the
students.
For Nilmini, growth in education, as in
any other field, is a personal journey.
She emphasizes the importance of
individual choice as a voice, finding a
mentor or "fementor" who resonates
with and motivates you, and setting
clear goals. In the realm of teaching,
she believes in staying up-to-date
while recognizing the uniqueness of
each teacher's skill set in managing
student reflections, technology, and
behavior in classrooms.
Teaching, for Nilmini, transcends the
concept of personal growth—it's about
building unique and invaluable
relationships. The heart of teaching lies
in the connections formed with
students, their families, and the
community. Once this skill set of
relationship-building is mastered,
everything else falls into place. Nilmini
passionately acknowledges that as
teachers, they play a role in raising
everyone else's children as if they were
their own.
Initiatives for Positive Change
Nilmini is driven to make positive
changes in society, education, and the
daily lives of people. Here are three
areas she aims to improve:
Ÿ Equitable Access to Education and
Skills Development: Provide more
opportunities with funding, grants,
and loans for individuals to pursue
education, trades, or skill
development on their own terms.
Emphasize equity and social justice
in access, ensuring that everyone
has the opportunity to be
successful.
Ÿ Support for Families and Children:
Fund public services to ensure
programming for before and after-
school child care for all ages,
enabling families to sustain
themselves with working hours.
Advocate for subsidized funding
for child care to make it equity and
social justice-driven, recognizing
the importance of supporting
families in their daily lives.
Ÿ Global Connectivity through
Technology: Connect the world
through technology by providing
equitable access to computer hubs,
internet, and devices.
Speaker Student Success I speak to the students but I also a suppor ve judge to hear their speeches and give feedback !

Talks - Toronto with
Nilmini shares valuable advice for those interested in
her areas of expertise and passion:
Ÿ Follow Your Passion with Pragmatism: Pursue
your passion in life and work, but also ensure that
the market is hiring and positions are available for
you to apply to, especially as you work on teacher
certication.
Ÿ Learn, Aspire, and Be Yourself: Follow your
unique path, continuously learn, and aspire to be
authentic to yourself. Embrace your individuality
and let it guide your journey.
Ÿ Embrace the Journey, Not Just the Destination:
Understand that the journey itself is an
experience, and every moment, including meeting
people, laughing, and expressing gratitude,
contributes to its worth. Appreciate all the
moments in between, as they make the journey
meaningful.
Ÿ Be Brave in Inviting Inclusion: As future
education workers, be courageous in promoting
inclusion. Celebrate International Women's Day
and Women's Day by leading as teachers and
aspiring to be equity-minded to achieve equality in
the Women's Rights Movement.
Nilmini encourages a holistic approach to one's
professional and personal journey, emphasizing the
importance of aligning passion with practicality,
staying true to oneself, and cherishing every moment
along the way.
Passion,
Authenticity, &
Inclusion

Ÿ
Approach technology initiatives with a
social justice mindset to bridge gaps
and create a more connected and
accessible world.
Nilmini recognizes the challenge of
understanding equity but emphasizes
its effectiveness in addressing classism,
poverty, and discrimination. In
education, she advocates for an
equitable distribution of resources,
considering aspects like school
supplies, internet access, devices, and
more. She believes that removing
financial barriers is crucial to ensuring
equal opportunities for all students.
Promoting social justice education is
an emotional investment, requiring a
willingness to learn. Nilmini
encourages creating a climate in
schools and communities that accepts
and believes in achieving social justice
as the norm. She suggests practical
actions, such as non-perishable food
drives, to understand and contribute to
the needs of local communities,
fostering a sense of service and
understanding among students and
teachers alike.
Finding Strength in Diversity
Nilmini's family is a diverse and
vibrant tapestry of unique ideas,
values, and personalities, serving as a
constant inspiration for seeking
positive sounding boards before
embarking on any plan of action. The
happiest part of her daily routine is
returning home and expressing
gratitude for the wonderful people she
has brought into her life. Gratitude
becomes a crucial element in her
downtime, providing moments of
reflection.
The strength lies in the support and
challenges from friends and family.
They serve as cheerleaders but also as
constructive critics, allowing Nilmini
to lead confidently even in the absence
of support. This ability stems from
building strong yet resilient
relationships that empower her.
Challenging relationships have taught
her to develop thick skin and trust her
intuition when bringing people into her
life.
For Nilmini, friendships go beyond
mere connections—they are the family
that has evolved over the years. These
relationships are marked by strength,
resilience, and the ability to be there
during both the good and challenging
moments. Whether sharing tears,
conversations over a movie, or a
comforting cup of tea, these friends
have seen the real Nilmini and
supported her journey, celebrating
successes and cherishing the shared
experiences that shape their paths in
life.
Embracing Opportunities in
Educational Technology
Nilmini recognizes that technology has
been the most significant change in the
educational landscape, impacting
teachers, educational systems, and
schools. While it has brought
numerous advancements, the
challenges arise from varying levels of
support among stakeholders, including
federations, school boards, parent
councils, students, community
businesses, elected trustees,
educational workers, and political
leaders in education.
The primary challenge, according to
Nilmini, lies in the needed mindset
change rather than the technical
aspects of incorporating technology
into education. Overcoming this
challenge involves not just learning
how to use technology but also
ensuring that students and parents see
the positive outcomes it can bring.
Despite the challenges, Nilmini
focuses on the possibilities that
technology offers, particularly in
connecting schools globally. The
ability to use platforms like Zoom and
Teams, remote learning, and accessing
educational resources from home
brings a smile to her face. She sees the
potential for technology to eliminate
obstacles by providing every child,
student, and young adult with access,
allowing the younger generation to
lead with a globally connected
mindset.
Nilmini emphasizes the importance of
garnering support from businesses, as
their involvement can play a crucial
role in ensuring that technology
becomes a tool for empowerment,
helping the younger generation
navigate and contribute to a more
connected and technologically
advanced world.
Advocating for Education
Worldwide
Nilmini expresses tremendous
enthusiasm about working with the
Landed for Success Team, aiming to
take Student Success Talks worldwide.
16 | March 2024

Her first envisioned stop is her birth country,
Sri Lanka, where she hopes to inspire girls
and women to establish themselves, make a
difference, and achieve financial
independence. Her initial goal involves
encouraging collaboration among males to
support this cause.
Beyond this, Nilmini aspires to lead an
organization that actively seeks and
implements meaningful change, focusing on
improving the lives of children globally by
providing access to education. While she
acknowledges the importance of setting smart
goals, she prefers a less structured approach,
allowing for guidance from others and
embracing a "Road less traveled."
Looking ahead, Nilmini envisions goals like
working with UNESCO, engaging in
diplomacy, and contributing to politics,
particularly leading Sri Lanka. She also
expresses a passion for collaborating with
businesses to promote equity principles and
potentially representing Canada on an
international stage.
Nilmini's long-term aspirations include
leadership roles in organizations such as UN
Human Rights, UN Women, and contributing
to the United Nations Global Goals. She
emphasizes that her skill set will be put to use
to make positive changes, taking one step at a
time in her journey. She recognizes that there
is ample time in the span of a lifetime and
appreciates the gift of time, emphasizing the
importance of experiencing each step in the
journey rather than rushing toward a
destination. Nilmini's philosophy involves
opening doors one at a time, gaining valuable
experiences, and leading organizations while
cherishing the journey along the way.
For more information - Nilmini Ratwatte
Nilmini started a mentorship blog for the
Elementary Teacher Federation of Ontario
and has held the roles of Human Rights
Committee Chair and Ani Racism and Equity
Committee Chair. In the past years, she also
mentored many teachers coming into the
field. - https://heartandart.ca/?s=Nilmini

100 series for Educational Professionals
Stop Ignoring Your Own Biases
Writing this chapter made me smile each sentence and
reﬂect on why we know as humans we are imperfect,
ﬂawed yet have high expectations for ourselves as
educational professionals. The importance of a growth
mindset along side establishing boundaries and growth
principles on how we want to learn, teach others with a
open mind and positive mindset mattered so very much
when I think about all the "isms", biased perspectives that
can be addressed daily when working in our communities,,
societies and established circle of loved ones and friends
that we call family. The chapter will give you a great insight
into my blog Equity and Inclusion Just got better with a
synopsis of me and who I am today as a person and
constantly growing as a leader.
18 | March 2024

"The Labyrinth of Leadership”
Chapter: Philosophy of Leadership
I loved writing the chapter on the
book about Leadership Philosophies. I
believe it is an important consideration
to note who leads since all research
points out you have to find the correct
fit for your style, not learn a new one
in leadership since it is what will
enhance your work.
An important asset was being able to
share my knowledge on how I
embedded teaching about Equity,
Social Justice and Inclusion into the
chapter if you purchase the book, I
wholeheartedly believe that Educators
are important just like all other
professionals to enrich the society's
fabric on achieving the right changes
to move it forward
Equity and Inclusion Just Got Blog
Series
Written from the heart of and
educator who is passionate about
sharing knowledge and the education
perspective present will help you
establish classroom norms in your
classroom that will make you engage
with student learners in a positive
manner with insightful collaborative
ideas into lesson planning.
The School Rubric Travel the World Series Podcast
The school rubric podcast will establish a great
connection and insight into differentiation and
insightful ideas onto educational practices from the
classroom of others that you will celebrate as you
work on your own practice. As community members it
is my hope that you uplift education as a system and
that you engage in positive conversations with your
child's classroom teacher to work together to help
your child be successful in their best way at school.

Dima Rachid
Dima Rachid
Dima Rachid
Jamali
Jamali
Jamali
Educating Future Leaders as Change
Makers of a Better Tomorrow
Lifelong learning can assist us in achieving
personal fulﬁllment and pleasure, whether we
are following personal interests and hobbies or
professional goals. It acknowledges that
humans have a natural desire to explore, learn,
and grow and exhorts us to do so by paying
attention to the principles and objectives that
motivate us. Dima Rachid Jamali is the Dean
and a Professor at the University of Sharjah.
She is a strong proponent of lifelong learning
and the value of embracing constant
interactions with peers who share similar views
and exchanging best practices through
attendance at important local, regional, and
international conferences and events, in
addition to executive workshops to stay up to
date on the most important new trends and
innovations reshaping business and academia.
24 | March 2024

Dima Jamali
Dean & Professor
University of Sharjah

The Backstory of Her Success
Dima Jamali previously held the
Kamal Shair Chair in Responsible
Leadership and was a professor and
associate dean at the Olayan School
of Business, American University of
Beirut (AUB). She graduated with a
PhD in Social Policy and
Administration from Canterbury,
UK's University of Kent. Her studies
and instruction have mostly focused
on social entrepreneurship and
corporate social responsibility (CSR)
over the years (SE). She is the author
or editor of seven books, including
Handbook of Responsible
Management (Edward Elgar 2019),
CSR in Developing and Emerging
Economies: Institutions and
Sustainable Development
(Cambridge University Press), Social
Entrepreneurship in the Middle East
(Palgrave, 2015), CSR in the Middle
East (Palgrave, 2012), and Corporate
Governance in Arab Countries:
Specifics and Outlooks (NTER Press
2019), and over 100 significant
international publications, which are
widely circulated and cited
internationally and concentrate on
various facets of sustainability,
sustainable development, and CSR in
developing nations generally and the
Middle East specifically. She gained
invaluable experience founding,
growing and working with the UN
Global Compact Network of
Lebanon to organize high-level
forums, roundtable discussions,
national programs, and activities
focused on empowerment, inclusion,
development, and well-being with
the goal of leaving no one behind.
She also engaged a broad range of
individuals from the private sector,
the public sector, academia, and the
entire UN system.
Bestowed for excellence
Dima Jamali was recognized by
Stanford University as one of the top
2% most influential global scholars
in the field of sustainability as a
result of her extensive research, and
she also received the 2015 Aspen
Institute Faculty Pioneer Award,
which the Financial Times referred to
as "the Oscars of the Business School
World" for faculty who are at the
forefront of their discipline's teaching
and research. She also received the
2015 Arab Organization for Social
Responsibility Personality of the
Year for CSR award and the Shield
of Excellence for the Arab Region, as
well as the 2010 Shoman Prize for
Best Young Arab Researcher, which
honors outstanding scientific
contributions that help address
pressing issues at the local, regional,
and global levels.
At Global Compact Network
Lebanon, Dima founded this
important network and continues to
serve as steward and president. The
UN Global Compact is the largest
sustainability program in the world
and calls on businesses to connect
plans and operations with
fundamental values of anti-
corruption, labor, environmental, and
human rights. She is also a member
of the Global Council for the UN
Principles of Responsible
Management Education (PRME),
which strives to instill sustainability
at the core of higher education
institutions, which has invited her
=to join in 2020. She is also a
contributor to the Globally
Responsible Leadership Initiative
(GRLI), an organization that
promotes ethical leadership in both
the public and private sectors.
The University of Sharjah
The University of Sharjah was
established with the intention of
adding to the qualities of
distinguished universities all over the
world share. University of Sharjah
provides extensive and multi-
disciplinary education and research
programs. The University of Sharjah
is a full-service academic
organization with a unique teaching
methodology, great research
reputation and a worldwide
perspective. In the UAE and the
GCC, it is a leader in academia,
science, and the arts and was ranked
number 1 in the UAE along with
UAEU University by Times Higher
Education Rankings in 2022. The
UAE Ministry of Higher Education
has accredited all programs.
Engineering, Communication,
Science, and Business are just a few
of the disciplines that have received
international accreditation. At the
University of Sharjah, faculty
members are dedicated to delivering
a top-notch educational experience
that equips future leaders with a
comprehensive set of knowledge and
abilities. They are committed to
creating a cooperative, long-lasting
atmosphere that supports cutting-
edge research and scholarship as well
as the development of skills for the
twenty-first century.

Elena
Turanskaya
28 | March 2024

Heidi Lindner
Supporting Entities in the Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Sectors
“The possibility of designing solid
and innovative legal strategies to
face the challenges of my clients
has always been a source of
professional inspiration.”
32 | March 2024

The success of the client is
very important in the work
proﬁle. The most crucial
aspect of any leader's daily
activities is to deliver a skilled
service devoted to their clients'
needs, ensuring that they always
receive a solid and considered
response that gives them the
greatest possible perspective on
the anticipated results. Building
strong personal links and reliable,
enduring relationships with
clients is essential. Heidi Lindner,
Senior Partner at Arochi &
Lindner, believes that
professional ethics and
accountability are essential to
achieving the intended
outcomes, in addition to this
commitment to providing
services.
34 | March 2024

The Heidi Staircase
As a young child, Heidi Lindner
enjoyed arguing, debating, expressing
her opinions, and taking the lead. Her
decision to seek a career in law may
have been influenced by her feeling of
powerlessness in the face of injustices
as much as her rage. Since her first
year of high school, she has known that
she wants to follow this area of study.
She earned a master's degree from
Panamerican University, a
specialization in constitutional
litigation (Amparo) from the Supreme
Court of Justice of Mexico's Institute
of Judicial Specialization, and a
master's degree from George
Washington University.
As her career progressed, Heidi
eventually concentrated on the topic of
Life Sciences within Intellectual
Property Law, paying particular
attention to the most recent
developments in science and
technology. She worked for Baker &
McKenzie's Intellectual Property
Department for about eight years.
During that time, she also rose to the
position of local partner. She joined the
current company, which was formerly
known as Arochi, Marroquin &
Lindner, in 1994. She is a Senior
Partner and the head of the Patent
Litigation section of Arochi & Lindner,
and she has more than 35 years of
experience in intellectual property and
life sciences litigation and advising,
achieving favorable rulings in several
landmark cases for clients in the
pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and
medical device industries.
Arochi & Lindner
Arochi & Lindner is a well-known and
respected name in Latin American
intellectual property protection. It was
established in 1994 and has become a
prominent firm in large part because of
its innovative and customer-focused
mindset. It opened an office in Spain in
2011, and as a direct result of its
success, they are still expanding both
domestically and internationally today.
Offering high-profile legal counsel in
the fields of intellectual property, life
sciences, marketing and advertising,
civil and commercial litigation,
corporate and regulatory, and personal
data security, the company has more
than 27 years of experience.
It helps clients overcome the legal
challenges they face by providing clear
and accurate advice that recognizes
and minimizes risks, foresees and
resolves issues, and secures the highest
potential profit for the clients within
each business opportunity, market, or
industry.
Due to its unwavering commitment to
each project, it is famous for its client-
focused service delivery method that
generates results quickly and
effectively. This is made possible by
the firm's commitment to each project;
its thorough approach based on years
of experience across a range of practice
areas; the assertiveness and
competence of its associates; and its
excellent understanding of clients'
business objectives.

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s a
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38 | March 2024

“The most difcult
thing is the decision
to act, the rest is
merely tenacity.”
Amelia Earhart
The Leading Lady of the Aviation Industry

T
T
T
Today's aviation sector is lacking in
crucial leadership expertise since
more than half (59%) of women in
leadership roles in the sector have
thought about quitting. Women are
more likely to be forced out of the
profession because of bad
experiences, but males are more
likely to be drawn away by the
promise of greater prospects. Greater
and more noticeable roles for women
are emerging in the sector.
There have never been more women
in top positions in the aviation sector.
Still, there is a leadership gap as a
result of the prejudices and obstacles
faced by female leaders that continue
to limit their development and
influence. There is a growing trend
for people of all genders to adopt
leadership styles that support
successful women in business and
the organizations they manage, as
more women assume high-ranking
positions.
Lindsey Gamell is a skilled and
seasoned company leader and
manager who is extremely passionate
about aviation, is well-versed in the
laws and rules pertaining to FAA
compliance, and develops and
upholds policies and procedures. She
skillfully manages teams, production,
maintenance work orders, supply and
inventory, and ensures customer
satisfaction and support in her role as
business development and program
manager at TP Aerospace. To
improve organizational strategy, she
cultivates long-lasting connections
with stakeholders, senior
management, and customers.
After graduating from high school in
2002, Lindsey began working in
aviation. She comes from a highly
varied background in the industry.
She began in general aviation,
working in different office support
functions and learning the
fundamentals of aviation
maintenance. After that, she briefly
worked as a flight attendant for an
airline. She then entered the area of
maintenance repair organizations
(MRO), which is essentially where
she is currently as TP Aerospace is a
part 145 repair station. For most of
her career, Lindsey worked as a
maintenance planner, arranging
heavy maintenance projects on
airplanes, which in layman terms
entailed organizing the whole work
scope and process for disassembling
an airplane fully, inspecting it, and
then putting it back together to get it
back in the air.
The Leading Aviation Aftermarket
Supplier
As the top aftermarket provider of
aircraft wheels and brakes, TP
Aerospace provides all of its clients
with an easy substitute for
conventional component
management. It excels at what it does
because it has a narrow focus. The
firm ensures quality, simplicity, and
value for all of its clients globally,
wherever they may be, at any time. It
combines market experience with
substantial MRO capabilities and a
global network. The Honeywell 737
Classic Series is distributed solely by
TP Aerospace.
TP Aerospace provides its airline
clients with the highest level of
flexibility and cost transparency
through its integrated programs, all
of which are powered by its pay-as-
you-go model. Customers of the
program benefit from an all-inclusive
approach that is supported by an
excellent warranty, a guarantee of
stock availability, and first-rate
customer service.
The staff is committed to serving its
clients and is aware of the many
difficulties faced by aircraft
operators. When enrolled in a
program with TP Aerospace, its
clients are given a personal program
manager who is intimately familiar
with their requirements and serves as
a sparring partner in streamlining
their wheels and brake operations.
Being an Aviation Leader
At TP Aerospace, Lindsey's duties
include leading a group of Customer
Executives that, together with her,
handle all of the program accounts
for the North American region. This
includes managing contracts, visiting
with clients to report on KPIs;
monitoring daily operations; and
managing the technical facets of
asset management, including
establishing priorities with the
business' internal MRO shop.
Lindsey also works to provide
awareness and brand familiarity in
her business development role.
40 | March 2024

Chief Revenue Oﬃcer
JS Group
MEREDITH
CARAM
An Emblem of Women Empowerment
and Visionary Leadership
42 | March 2024

Effective leadership is all about
creating a positive environment
with a purpose that matters, a
plan that works, and outcomes
that meet your objectives.
Impactful leaders understand how
important it is for the team to
embrace the challenge or
opportunity ahead, contribute to
the solution development, and
internalize the winning strategy.
Meredith Caram, JS Group's
Chief Revenue Officer, is a
motivator who inspires,
encourages, and motivates her
team to achieve their goals. Her
ability to take organizations to
new heights of success has been
helped by her decisiveness. Her
expertise embodies knowledge
and experience, as well as a
proven track record that inspires
confidence.
Meredith earned her MBA in
STEM Leadership from Brown
University in 2018, fueling her
academic curiosity and impact on
the business world. Meredith
Caram joined JS Group as Chief
Revenue Officer in February
2021, bringing with her
intellectual leadership, strong
channel expertise, and an
solutions, advancing women in
technology, focusing on customer
obsession, and growing
nextgeneration leaders while cutting
through the noise to deliver
outcomes.
JS Group and Future Strategies
The JS Group, founded in 2018,
is a market-leading consulting
organization that develops
effective go-to-market strategies
and channel activation programs
for technology companies.
As we all know, as technology
advances, the channel evolves as
well. The "digitalnormal" is one
of the things that sets JS Group
apart, including its social selling
program, which helps partners
uncover new leads and close more
transactions. For many
businesses, achieving a new
digital normal is vital to their
survival. This opens up a huge
window of opportunity for the
channel, which JS Group is
assisting businesses with.
Security, IoT, enterprise video,
cloud, and mobility services are
all areas where the JS Group team
excels.
Long before the epidemic, the JS
Group concentrated on digital
norms and emerging distribution
methods. Creating programs to
assist its clients in creating
demand, capturing sales, and
evolving their prowess in an
increasingly digital environment
allowed us to gain market share
during the difficult circumstances
of the last two years and positions
us for future success. Meredith
claims that the team is doubling
down on areas such as edge
computing and 5G, which allow
for the implementation of exciting
new technology. She asserts,
"We're digging in areas like AI
and security.”
Meredith sees this year more than
ever, everyone is focused on
demonstrating value in a world
that has shifted and will never go
back, which means partners'
business models need to change.
She says, "Our programs solve
these challenges with how to
provide the technologies, market
the technologies, and sell the
technologies to make sure the
channel remains relevant in the
coming years as we move into
another evolution.”
Growth is the name of the game
these days. Meredith ensures that
JS Group will continue to
enhance its offerings in order to
enable market channel
acceleration while also being a
good partner and industry
member. Meredith's mission is to
develop innovative new ways to
increase channel capacity while
also increasing growth and
generating high-margin revenue
for their clients.
Raising Voice for Women's
Equality in the Corporate
Sector
Meredith has received 5-star
channel program honors and is
the recipient of numerous
industry awards, including the top
10 most influential CROs for
2021 and the top 10 most
powerful women in technology
for 2020, to her joy. Meredith's
basic principle, without a
question, has had a significant
impact on the impact this
boundary-breaker leader has had.
Her passion for technology and
joining the JS Group team comes
E

at a pivotal moment: the advent of
the fourth industrial revolution,
fueled by 5G, which provides the
organization with low latency,
high-speed digital technologies.
Edge computing and linked
devices, for example, are helping
to define a new future for us all.
All disciplines, industries, and
economies are projected to be
impacted by this revolution.
Meredith's business and
leadership skills, like these rising
technologies, are upending the
status quo, assisting tech
enterprises in entering new
markets and shaking up growing
industries to win new business.
The JS Group provides clients
with an average improvement rate
of 17 percent in channel operating
costs and a 40 percent
improvement in channel
performance.
When she first started in sales at
AT&T, Meredith saw possibilities
to climb up and establish avenues
to prove her value. Because she is
a woman, she has always felt
compelled to work more and
establish herself in a
maledominated field like sales.
Meredith has worked with
colleagues to redefine ideas of the
attributes that make a strong
leader in revenue-generating roles
in order to overcome this hurdle
with other women who feel the
same way. It was vital to create an
environment in which she could
establish goals for herself in order
to advance her profession, but it
didn't end there. It has grown to
include new ways for women to
shine in their own unique way.
Meredith is a high-energy person
who claims that jumping out of
bed each morning is one of the
nicest parts of her day since each
day is a new chance to write a
new happy ending. She
concentrates on the prospect of
success every day and isn't really
sure what that means for her, but
it entails being motivated by
people, working on yourself,
avoiding negativity, and
achieving her objectives.
Meredith says, "If you're a
woman working in any type of
male-dominated field, it's vital to
always be aware of gender
roadblocks so you can be savvy
and strategic about your next
career move." Meredith says she's
met a lot of brilliant, educated
allies, but she's also met a lot of
males, who harshly criticize her
potential and make her feel
unwelcome, as if she doesn't
belong. Meredith feels that
women are strong and desire to
bond over shared experiences. It
irritates her even more when she
sees an all-male panel at industry
events. She rationalized it at first
by claiming that all of the women
were preoccupied; now she
believes it to be another one of
those pathetic things. She adds,
"Women should be represented,
and she is passionate about
identifying ways to not only
actively support this rich talent
but also define and innovate it.”
A Message to All Aspiring
Females Out There
Meredith discovers that one
barrier stands out above the rest:
women's lack of confidence. The
problem isn't that women lack
confidence in themselves; it's that
companies lack confidence in
women. Meredith is particularly
enthusiastic about this because
she has frequently been defined
by stereotypes in which a
woman's stated role is a
secondary one. Meredith asserts,
"To make this change from
secondary to primary, I had to be
bold about change and address
this gender bias by bringing
stakeholders together to create
action that is also good for
business." Meredith's strong voice
for women in technology inspires
other female executives to share
their own adventures, provide
professional advice, and conduct
thought-provoking dialogues.
Meredith has a number of
leadership lessons to teach, all of
which revolve around women
speaking for themselves and their
evolving needs and wants, which
helps to develop workplaces that
are inclusive of all women. The
most important thing is to be the
first — don't wait for permission
to take the lead. She says, "Take
the initiative and take action. The
new playbook for being a good
leader is Apple TV's Ted Lasso –
watch it and ask yourself, "How
can I bring a little of Ted Lasso
into my daily work?" Ted's
unwavering optimism, ability to
motivate a team, and unmatched
empathy inspire me to imagine
what the future of work might be
like."

NITA WHITE-IVY
A Tech Savvy HR Leader with Extensive Work Experiences
Chief Human Resources Officer
BlackBerry
48 | March 2024

Operating an efficient business
requires effective communication, a
skilled workforce, and effective work
culture. These all can be achieved by
having a proficient HR team that is
also responsible for moderating
errors, increasing employee
engagement, forming the foundation
for better client relationships,
stimulating innovation and creativity,
and helping in building a positive
culture. Meet Nita White-Ivy, Chief
Human Resources Officer at
BlackBerry, who holds on
experience in best-in-class global HR
practices/management and interface
with the compensation committee of
company's board of directors mostly
in the areas of officers' and board of
directors' compensation, incentives,
and benefits.
At BlackBerry, Nita is responsible
for leading the HR team to design
and deliver global programs,
initiatives, partnerships, solutions,
and services in all facets of HR, to
support the achievement of the
company's operational goals and
strategic objectives. This includes
HR business partnerships, talent
development, talent acquisition, total
rewards, employee relations &
compliance, DE&I, HRIS/HRIT &
analytics, HR operations, support and
services, and strategic programs.
The Beginning
Nita considers her entering the high
technology industry as HR manager
of professional employment and
compensation for a notable
mainframe computer company was
the true beginning of her HR career.
Prior to joining BlackBerry, Nita
spent 15 years as the head of global
HR with Sybase Inc., until it was
acquired by SAP. She says, “We
became part of SAP and I
concurrently served as Chief People
Officer for SuccessFactors (another
SAP-acquired company) until I
joined BlackBerry.”
At the beginning of her career, she
was termed “the feisty” and “most
productive recruiter” for developing
and driving successful university
relations and recruitment programs
which accelerated recruitment of top-
notch college graduates to fill
engineering and development
employment requisitions. Nita was
also fortunate to be selected at that
time as one of the high-potential
employees for the company thereby
receiving a promotion to the next
grade every 15 to 18 months. She
asserts, “It was my desire to be in
high demand, energized, and
forward-looking-industry and work
environment. I always aspire to be
where technology addresses current
global requirements plus the
foresight for the future.”
A Woman of Persistence
Nita was a single mom at a very
young age. Then, she was taking the
responsibility alone for the child, and
being a new immigrant to the U.S.
and living with the sole purpose to
provide a good life for her son as a
responsible parent. She set out her
“to get the proper academic
preparation” to be able to compete in
the job market and qualify for a good
job and pay. It was an unwavering
goal for her to secure a stronger
future for both of them (for her and
her child.) The challenges of not
having friends or family members to
assist her, working full-time while
going to school full-time, did not
derail her from the goal.
Nita considers that the reason she is
thriving and feeling strengthened in
the sector is because of being an
active participant and contributor in a
turn-around organization. BlackBerry
is the third turn-around company that
she had been fortunate to join. There
is the ultimate reward and the
sweetness of success when the
company succeeds in achieving its
transformation objectives. She
deems, “Employee morale,
performance and retention,
recruitment of talent, and company
stock price all get the positive boost
just to name a few.”
For Nita, success is having a strong
purpose to achieve with focus and
perseverance, overcoming
challenges, acknowledging any fear
of failure, and managing it until the
completion of what one sets out to
accomplish.
Thriving in Male-Dominated
Sector
Nita states, “Challenges, setbacks,
roadblocks, and the lessons we learn
from them do make a person
O

stronger.” From her journey
experiences, she points that as a
woman, and a minority, entering the
high-technology world and
succeeding in it was most
challenging, to say the least.
Nita recalls that she worked doubly
hard every step of the way, did her
“homework” to demonstrate
knowledge and proficiency, and
earned professional respect
accordingly. She asserts, “Being a
corporate officer for three companies
in the last 20+ years has its own set
of challenges. But they are just that -
challenges to overcome and to
navigate with purpose and
determination for one to succeed and
make a difference.”
The biggest lessons of Nita's
professional journey are:
(1) Ability to juggle, prioritize and
re-prioritize what needs to get done
as days usually do not go as planned:
(2) Understand, keep up to date, and
deliver to the company's business
needs/requirements: and.
(3) Balance mind and heart when
leading and developing your team
members. Accept that there will be
some failures and disappointments,
but witnessing mentees grow, and
blossom professionally are the
precious rewards to savour.
The Brand; BlackBerry
BlackBerry is delivering the next
generation of cloud-based, AI
cybersecurity solutions to address
AWARDS
50 | March 2024

today and tomorrow's cybersecurity
threats and ensure organizations of all
sizes remain safe
BlackBerry is poised to extend this
position by accelerating the adoption
of emerging automotive connected
services with its BlackBerry IVY
platform, co-developed with AWS, as
well as by expanding its footprint in
safety-critical connected endpoints
found in industries such as
transportation, medical,
manufacturing, and robotics. as well
as by expanding its footprint in safety-
critical connected endpoints found in
industries such as transportation,
medical, manufacturing, and robotics.
The Roots of BlackBerry
According to Nita, integrity and
innovation are fully embedded in
BlackBerry's core values, which are
well communicated to its global
employees and posted on the internal
website as shown below. She says,
“HR models these Core Values in
everything that we do.”
Innovation: The Company leads
in its chosen markets by
constantly innovating. “We learn
equally from our successes and
failures, and never rest on our
laurels.”
Integrity: The business is based
on the trust customers place in
BlackBerry to secure their most
valuable information. “We
conduct ourselves at the highest
level of business ethics by
complying with our internal
controls and procedures.”
Customer Focus: BlackBerry is
successful because customers
trust it to secure their most
sensitive information. “Each day
begins by focusing on our
customers first and being as
responsive as possible to their
secure communications needs.”
Accountability: The teams are
knowledgeable, fully engaged,
and accountable. “By cultivating
and rewarding individual
passion, creativity, and
achievement, we meet and exceed
our commitments to our
colleagues and the business.”
Teamwork and Mutual
Respect: All employees work as
one team, united behind the same
goals, and always with respect for
each other as professionals. “We
have each other's backs and do
whatever we can to support each
other, including colleagues in
other workgroups.”
Ensuring the Company Leads with
Best Work Practices
The pandemic has altered the
“normal” or regular workday. Nita
leads the HR team to ensure the
company delivers what is best
practice in the industry in terms of
programs, systems, processes, and
policies to serve the business needs of
the companies and in compliance with
the employment laws of the countries
where BlackBerry does business. She
mentions that due to COVID-19, there
is no “best-practice box” to draw from
for HR practitioners to meet and solve
the challenges, uncertainties, and
issues each day brings. At this time,
and until the teams return to a near-
normal or normal company operation,
she is leading the HR team in
protecting the health and safety of
employees and maintaining ongoing
and close HR communication with the
people leaders and employees.
Furthermore, the team is also keeping
abreast of local government and
health authorities' directives/mandates
and ensuring company compliance.
As a Leader
Nita sees herself as a 'tenacious'
leader. Prioritizing, being resilient,
and taking time to recharge including
taking a 'mental health day off' is her
mantra of having a balanced life.
At the company, she keeps everyone
motivate by having and sharing a
common purpose and focus,
maintaining ongoing communication
and collaboration, and recognizing
team members for their contribution
and support of each other. She asserts,
“I am committed to seeing, and be a
part of, the completion of
BlackBerry's successful turnaround.”
A Note for Young Leaders
“Have a sense of purpose that is
strong enough for you to not yield to
challenges, roadblocks, and setbacks,
each of which carries a lesson to be
learned for future reflection and draw
from as a useful tool,” says Nita. She
further suggests that do our best to
achieve a balance between mind and
heart. She thinks, “Applying
emotional intelligence, especially in
today's world of pandemic fatigue and
mental stress, will connect you
positively closer to your colleagues
and customers.

World's Most Admired Women Leaders to Follow, 2024

World's Most Admired Women Leaders to Follow, 2024

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