Addressing Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is the number 1 cause of gynecologic cancer deaths. Each year 22,000 new cases are diagnosed and there are 14,000 deaths yearly in the United States alone. Ovarian Cancer accounts for 5% of all cancer deaths due to its high mortality rate. One in two women diagnosed with ovarian cancer are expected to die from the disease compared to one in ten women that are expected to die from Breast Cancer. The high mortality rate of Ovarian Cancer. is due to the fact that more than 60% of Ovarian Cancer cases are identified at late stage (III & IV). Solving for early detection and prevention is imperative due to early-stage disease having a much improved 5-year relative survival rate of 92%.

“Aspira Women’s Health is transforming women’s health with the discovery, development and implementation of innovative testing options and bio-analytical solutions that help physicians assess risk, optimize patient management and improve the chance of an early-stage disease diagnosis of ovarian cancer,” says Aspira COO, Kaile Zagger.

In a testament to the company’s hard work, an OVA1plus patient, a 34-year-old Ashkenazi Jewish woman with a history of breast cancer in her family. “I was vigilant about getting my yearly mammograms and ensuring that my fate was not that of my mother, my aunts and my grandmother. At the age of 32, I began experiencing symptoms that persisted and lasted for 2 years. I saw 8 physicians of varying specialties in 2 years, none of which made a diagnosis. A few months ago, my physician discovered I had a large adnexal mass. She was smart enough to know that breast and ovarian cancers could be connected and didn’t want to take any chances with me. She made the decision to run both Aspira GenetiX and OVA1plus to better understand my risk of Ovarian Cancer. The tests came back troubling, and she immediately sent me to a Gynecologic Oncologist for surgery. I am more than grateful for Aspira and believe that years have been added to my life because of our ability to understand my mass.”

Towards the Future

Aspira Women’s Health had a recently presented abstract “Serum-based Assay for Adnexal Mass Risk of Ovarian Malignancy” at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2021 meeting this past June.

The accepted abstract presents data demonstrating the analytical validation performance with initial clinical validity data of Aspira ‘s OVAWatch™ blood-based biomarker test for ovarian malignancy risk assessment in women with an adnexal mass. Samples collected from real-world evidence studies with a low prevalence population of malignancy detection (5%) were used to validate the algorithm. This technology, a laboratory-developed test, will provide clinicians with a high negative predictive value to provide confidence when managing or monitoring a suspected benign mass and a greater positive predictive value to increase confidence in malignancy risk. The product is expected to be available in Q4 2021.

“OVAWatch™ is intended for use as a noninvasive risk assessment tool used in conjunction with clinical assessment and imaging to determine ovarian cancer risk for patients with an adnexal mass for whom surgery is not currently recommended and for women who may benefit from a monitoring approach,” said Kaile Zagger “Our goal is to categorize disease risk with confidence and to replace CA-125 test as an option for assessing risk in women with suspected begin or low risk pelvic masses”

About Aspira Women’s Health

Aspira Women’s Health is dedicated to the discovery, development and utilization of novel high-value diagnostic and bio-analytical solutions that help physicians diagnose, treat, and improve gynecologic health outcomes for women.

What We Do

We are helping to transform women’s health with the discovery, development, and utilization of innovative testing options and bio-analytical solutions that help physicians assess risk, optimize patient management, and improve gynecologic health outcomes for women. Our FDA-cleared products OVA1® and OVERA® detect the risk of ovarian malignancy in women with adnexal masses planned for surgery. We are preparing to launch a new disruptive solution in the fall, OVAWatchTM, that will focus on assessing ovarian cancer risk in masses that are not planned for surgery, increasing our portfolio of solutions to cover all masses. With over 10 years of experience in ovarian cancer risk assessment, Aspira Women’s Health has expertise in cutting-edge research to inform our next generation of products. Our focus is on delivering products that allow healthcare providers to stratify risk, facilitate early detection and optimize treatment plans. Our mission is to eradicate late-stage gynecological disease diagnosis.

The Brave Visionary

Kaile Zagger, COO of Aspira Women’s Health, has an incredible passion for early detection of Ovarian Cancer that has come from experiencing close relatives on her maternal and paternal side of the family succumbing to the disease at young ages include her mother at the age of 46. She lives a life dictated by passion and purpose, coupled with strong expertise in the healthcare and transformational leadership realm. Kaile began her career in the GE Global Leadership Development Program, where she became rooted in strong financial management and Six Sigma methodology. She has spent the past 20+ years building and transforming businesses.

According to a former manager and the CEO of a Fortune 500 Company, “Kaile has an innate ability to see a vision that others on the team could not. I have been in countless meetings with her and could not grasp the blueprint that she was whiteboarding … but ended up being right. She is extremely brave and has an appetite to take big but calculated risks that accelerate business growth. She can construct and deconstruct unlike any other that I have ever witnessed. But, if her true secret sauce that has driven organizational success is her emotional intelligence, inspirational nature, and people-centric management style.”

A True Mentor

Kaile has been passionate about mentoring women and ensuring they can achieve great heights in their life. “Women are brilliant, multi-dimensional, instinctive and powerful. When you find strong females that have great potential, Kaile believes that it is imperative to lean in and mentor, develop and provide a safe place for those women to learn, grow and most importantly, provide space and courage to become a risk taker. You must work hard to stay out on the edge of the frontier – the frontier is where greatness and also, great failure reveal themselves. Without great failure, you cannot have great success. Pushing yourself to stay out on the frontier so that both failure and success can be explored, is imperative to cultivation of a great leader. Keep in mind that nothing worth anything is intended to be easy and that when you are doing something great, it will be and should be challenging. Dive into those uncomfortable spaces – its where growth, brilliance, and wisdom are born,” says Kaile.

Kaile believes that one can best empower women and help them reach their maximum potential by modeling the following:

• You are capable of anything and everything that you commit to and put your mind to. You can manage your home, be a great mother and transformative executive -you need to decide that you are going to do it and do it with greatness

• Break the glass ceiling -many women have one, and it deeply embedded -we must model shattering the false ceiling and how to climb beyond what was ever thought could be

• Become tempered steel – and seek opportunities that will refine you as steel is refined in the tempering process

• Don’t do what is easy, do what makes you great

• “If you think you can, or you think you can’t, you are right.” -Henry Ford

Kaile has been deeply influenced by her late mother, Marilyn. She was a woman that cherished community, friends, family. Kaile was very close to her mother and admired her and how she conducted her life. When her mother passed away, she was 19 years old and left to survive on her own. She went back to college without any parental support and had to create a path to survive. She worked long hours while earning her degree and ended up in a position that only a few globally achieve -a spot in the GE Global Leadership Development Program upon graduation. Through this journey of hardship, loss, and deeply challenging times, Kaile learned important leadership lessons and developed the strength of character that would allow her to lead and transform global organizations, including Aspira. IEWL

Fueled by Naomi Traimer’s personal experience with anxiety, her desire to help others that are suffering has helped motivate and drive her to create a brand—MeditationRings—that is inspiring, meaningful, unique, and beautiful. Naomi wants her brand to help remind people to slow down and focus on the present moment while increasing feelings of peacefulness and serenity.

“Our designer sterling silver and gold spiritual rings have spinning bands that help increase serenity and peace in the wearer.”

After traveling extensively through many different parts of the world, Naomi realized that every culture had a concept or unique way of coping with stress. Looking for ways to relieve stress herself, Naomi would practice meditation and yoga and tried different techniques to help her cope and relieve her anxiety. Many tools have been used for centuries to help cope with anxiety, such as the Tibetan Prayer Wheel and Worry beads. Naomi’s love for Jewellery, specifically rings, helped her to see how the spinning motion of the spinning ring could be used in meditation and take a person to another level of relaxation by giving their mind something steady—like rotating the bands—to help in the process of clearing their mind.

Spinning the bands on the MeditationRing can help users channel their anxious energy into the constant rhythmic pattern of spinning their ring. “Thus, freeing your mind from negative thoughts and the feelings associated with anxiety. When you spin the band, it helps create a calming effect, helping to focus your thoughts as you turn the band,” explains Naomi. “Our MeditationRings give you a point of focus, and a less obvious way to move your hands in those times that you feel you need to. Simply turning the band with your fingers, with slow deep breaths can wash a calm over you.”

According to Naomi, rather than ignoring anxiety or stress, it is far better to acknowledge and accept it to get past it. “Our MeditationRings can help bring you into the present and acknowledge the anxiety, while calming your thoughts,” she says. “The spinning motion creates a rhythmic sound and sensation that can help you focus your thoughts and emotions and center yourself in the moment.” She guides to start associating the MeditationRing with something positive—a “happy place,” a pleasing memory, or find a remote spot to sit and enjoy the calmness—spin the band with nothing but positive thoughts. “Everyday, whether you are stuck in traffic, in a meeting, or at the bus stop, try to close your eyes even for a quick moment, take a deep breath in and a deep breath out while spinning the band on your MeditationRing,” she adds. “You will find this to be a soothing and effective way to get rid of those negative thoughts, anxiety feelings or just to focus on that present moment and clear your mind.”

One of Naomi’s clients, a mother, was looking for a little Meditation Ring for her son, who had ADHD and was having trouble sitting still during class at school. She purchased one of their stackable Meditation Rings which are good for children as they are lighter to wear and more comfortable. “She expressed to us later that is has really given her son comfort and has been a needed tool for him to help assist during the long school day,” says the steadfast leader. “We have also have received feedback that our rings have been great in helping people suffering from PTSD.”

Naomi wants to continue to bring her brand to the public for the days to come while creating awareness about Mental Health and the importance of acceptance and love. “We would like to continue with the wholesale part of our business and work with retailers across North America to showcase our brand,” she says. “We would like to expand our line of more affordable Meditation Rings so that they are accessible to everyone. We recently partnered with the Canadian Mental Health Association, National and we donate a percentage of our online orders to help bring awareness to Mental Health issues. We would like to be able to do more to help remove the stigma of Mental Health Disorders and promote more acceptance and understanding.” IE

MeditationRings

Management

Naomi Traimer
Owner

Description

The brand MeditationRings is based in Toronto, Canada and over the last several years we have created a new trend in the fashion jewelry industry based on spinning rings. Our collections’ pieces are all hand crafted from artisans in Israel and Thailand from .925 Sterling Silver with elements of Silver, Gold and semi-precious stones.

Amber Wallace started Dowitcher Designs in 2006 and in the past 15 years the full-service marketing and technology agency has collected more than 45 industry awards.

“We take the time to truly partner with our clients,” says Amber, “and that has been key to our success.” Dowitcher takes pride in listening and learning, and their unique approach has paid off. “Too often agencies step in with recommendations without fully understanding the client’s needs. We ask the hard questions, we listen, and we work to find underlying causes. We then pull from our expertise to craft solutions, whether those are marketing, creative, technology, or something else.”

The agency’s focus on creativity, agility, and integrity has helped fuel growth. “Clients know we will provide honest, consultive feedback, even if it’s not what they want to hear.” Isn’t that bad for business? “Thankfully not for us! We value long-term, honest, mutually beneficial relationships. We’re not here to ‘sell something’. When clients know they can trust us, then we can truly partner to find the best solutions.”

Are there any other keys to success? Amber loves the quote attributed to Thomas Edison: “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” She shares: “Sometimes there’s an expectation that as a business owner, a woman leader, a CEO, that you’ve ‘made it’ and things should be easy. When I’m mentoring women entrepreneurs, I encourage them to work smarter, not harder. Identify where it makes sense to spend time, and what the opportunity costs are for what you’re deciding to do yourself. Recognize sometimes it is hard work, but if it’s the right kind of hard work, it will get you where you want to go.”

Dowitcher’s culture celebrates diversity, equity, and inclusion and the agency is proud to be a certified LGBT business enterprise (LGBTBE), a woman-owned business enterprise (WBE), and a woman-owned small business (WoSB). The agency was recently recognized on the ANA list of diverse agencies. “Visibility is important. It’s important for women leaders, for members of the BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities, for people of all abilities,” Amber shares. “I hope to see more diverse businesses in every industry, and that we support one another.”

Amber enjoys working with other women business owners. She serves as President of the National Association of Women Business Owners California (NAWBO-CA) and loves mentoring new business owners. “New business owners bring such excitement and creativity to their businesses. They’re looking at problems differently and bringing their unique past experiences to solve problems. I love it.”

Amber’s advice to the future leaders who want to make it big in this space? “Listen. Stay humble. And always keep learning.” The marketing and tech spaces move quickly and the desire to learn and grow fuels the Dowitcher team. The agency loves finding creative solutions and leveraging technology, which requires staying on top of the latest in web and mobile apps, marketing trends, automation, social media, and more. “I often say we’re creative and a little geeky, and I think that fits,” shares Amber. The agency is data-driven, creative, and collaborative. It seems that mix has served them well.

So, what’s in the future? Amber looks forward to continuing to grow the agency, the team, and Dowitcher’s impact on purpose-driven organizations. “It’s so much fun to work with a talented team and see the positive impact of our agency’s work. We get to collaborate daily with organizations actively making the world a better place. It can’t get much better than that!” IEWL

Dowitcher Designs

Management

Amber Wallace
President & CEO of Dowitcher Designs

Description

Dowitcher Designs is an integrated marketing agency founded in Santa Barbara in 2006. With local roots and a global reach, Dowitcher provides strategic design, development and marketing services to organizations large and small.

Future of School has an enormous task ahead of it – to truly transform the education system at every level – and such a goal requires a leader who dreams big and is comfortable with the uncomfortable; one who lays it all on the line to go after what’s right, is unafraid of ambition and, from time-to-time, has no problem with failure as long as it leads to another attempt to find what works.

Amy Valentine, Future of School’s CEO and Education Evangelist, fits this description and more. She is a builder in every sense, from culture to relationships, teams, and coalitions. Those who have had the opportunity to work with Amy describe her as the embodiment of a positive force for good – someone who can rally large groups of collaborators around a common goal because they believe it’s being led by the right organization and the right leader. A key quality that shouldn’t be overlooked is sincerity, a trait Amy’s colleagues often observe. It’s Amy’s sincere interest in the populations served by Future of School, colleagues say, as well as her genuine care for the needs and interests of Future of School’s collaborators, that give the organization the necessary credibility to tackle huge challenges.

Amy is generous with her time and expertise, always willing to share her insights with up-and-coming leaders and those currently in positions of leadership who are looking for a different perspective. She makes it a goal to see the potential for leadership in others who don’t yet see it in themselves and is a big believer that there’s great force in collaboration, whether small or large groups. She takes her role seriously as a woman in leadership in the education industry, a profession that is seeking a better balance of representation. Therefore, it’s a great opportunity for Amy and her peers to encourage and cultivate the next group of women leaders to influence the industry.

Future of School works to advance, document, forecast, and broadcast the evolution of K–12 education in real-time. “Education is the cornerstone of our society; without a solid system in place to ensure equal access to high quality teaching and learning, students will not be prepared for the workforce and for life beyond high school,” Amy explains. “Yet, K-12 schools in America look much the same as they did when the first school houses were opened in the late 18th century. Our country is in a unique position to transform the one-size-fits-all approach to one that is innovative, incorporates the smart use of technology, and truly prepares students for the future. The ‘real world’ in America relies on blended and online modalities—now it is time to infuse this into our K-12 schools.”

Future of School focuses on real-time creative collaborations – bringing together diverse expertise and insights to find out what works and what works for all. This includes initiatives like the Resilient Schools Project, which features a collaboration with several school districts across the U.S., is receiving input from educators and other experts, and incorporates partnerships with Microsoft, Stride Inc., The Digital Learning Collaborative, Achieve3000, ChanceLight, StrongMind, MGT Consulting, and the Successful Practices Network – companies and organizations representing expertise and impact across all corners of the education system.

As its work continues, Future of School will become the household name for mobilizing change in American education to create an equitable, innovative system that ensures all students reach their unbounded potential no matter where their learning takes place. “It is our goal to be a ‘by the people, for the people’ organization that grants funds, ensures access to resources, and leads our country to create the innovative, world-class education system our students deserve,” elucidates Amy. “Importantly, we make it a priority to elevate all voices – educators and parents, students and industry leaders – to remove limitations from our collective perception of what’s possible, as we work together to create a new reality in which all learners have the relevant opportunities and support to reach their unbounded potential.” IE

Future of School

Management

Amy Valentine
Chief Executive Officer & Education Evangelist at Future of School Inc.

Description

Future of School mobilizes change in American K-12 education from a one-size-fits-all system to one that ensures all students reach their unbounded potential no matter where their learning takes place.

Linda Muroski, President of Trelleborg Sealing Solutions Marketing Americas and Global Healthcare & Medical, enjoys pushing the envelope. As she puts it, “Status quo is not my strength; change is too exciting when it spawns success.”

Growing up in a multi-generational home in the suburbs of New York City in Hillsdale, New Jersey, Linda derived her strength and ambition from her grandmother, Lydia, whom she considers her earliest and greatest role model. Lydia, a first-generation American, marched for women’s right to vote during the suffrage period and worked as a substitute teacher and secretary at a time when fewer than 10% of working women held such professions.

Independence; however, did not come easily for Lydia. She encountered resistance, even from her father who insisted that a woman’s place was in the home, not the workforce. Lydia held her ground and encouraged Linda to do the same and to never let anyone hold her back. Taking this advice to heart, Linda has broken down barriers throughout her career, not only for herself but for other women as well.

While Director of Business Excellence for multinational chemical company, BASF, Linda founded a Women in Business chapter at the corporate headquarters, creating a network of female leaders across the industries in which they served. The program enabled women who were not in leadership positions to take on leadership roles within the chapter, providing them with unique experiences and opportunities they wouldn’t have had otherwise.

In her five years at leading global engineered polymers solutions company, Trelleborg, Linda has championed diversity, fostered collaboration, and empowered her team, resulting in greater accountability, increased employee satisfaction, and improved business results. Through these efforts, she nurtured the career paths of and promoted several exceptional women within her business, creating a more inclusive and diverse environment with a leadership team composed equally of women and men.

Linda joined Trelleborg Sealing Solutions in 2016 as President of Marketing Americas and immediately set the stage for growth by developing her strategy and marketing teams and focusing all commercial efforts on key market segments. Under her leadership, the business area exceeded its 2020 strategic plan in the US more than a year early through significant growth. In response, she challenged her team with a new, more aggressive goal to accomplish by 2025 one that to achieve, would require teamwork and the breaking down of well-established silos. To support this objective, Linda launched the Together 2025 initiative, comprising the four key pillars upon which the business is expected to deliver results; talent, innovation, market, and excellence.

Linda subsequently reorganized the business to better serve customers based on their unique needs, redirecting resources and empowering frontline personnel to create value for customers, ensuring an exceptional customer experience. The result is improved service levels, an increased focus on creating value, and a lower cost-to-serve.

At the same time, having Identified the healthcare market as a significant growth opportunity, Linda integrated two bolt-on acquisitions to augment Trelleborg’s technical expertise and manufacturing capabilities, forming the global Trelleborg Healthcare & Medical business unit, establishing Trelleborg as a leading supplier to medical device, pharmaceutical and biomedical manufacturers worldwide. Formation of the entity required development of a highly functioning leadership team and rapid integration of the acquired businesses, comprising five manufacturing facilities, marketing and sales operations. Under her guidance, Trelleborg Healthcare & Medical has coalesced to deliver innovative solutions and consistent, high-quality products that help improve patient lives worldwide.

Today, Linda continues to push the envelope and challenge her team to create value through talent development, a focus on strategic markets, innovation, and excellence. IE

Trelleborg Sealing Solutions

Management

Linda Muroski
President

Description

Trelleborg Sealing Solutions is a global developer, manufacturer and supplier of precision seals, bearings and molded components. Our comprehensive sealing portfolio of elastomer, silicone, thermoplastic, PTFE and composite technologies includes aircraft seals, engineered seals and gaskets, hydraulic piston and rod seals, scrapers/wipers and wear rings, liquid silicone rubber (LSR) parts, mechanical face seals, O-Rings, pneumatic seals, rotary seals, silicone tubing and hose and static seals.

Amelia Williams Hardy is an innovative and transformational business leader who consistently delivers results. As vice president of Inclusion & Diversity Strategic Initiatives, she and her team partner across the enterprise to integrate inclusion and diversity into all aspects of the business. “We don’t just stop at what is being done. We also look at the possibilities. We make sure that our processes and programs are developed with an inclusive approach,” says Amelia. She has been acknowledged for creating collaborative, engaged, progressive, diverse, and high-performing teams. Her career experiences include marketing, strategy, brand management, business development, product commercialization, P&L management, and inclusion & diversity.

“Amelia Williams Hardy, Vice President- Inclusion and Diversity Strategic Initiatives of Best Buy, is an innovative and transformational business leader who consistently delivers results.”

Servant leader at work

As a Black woman who has reached the vice president level at Best Buy, a publicly traded company, Amelia is part of a small number of BIPOC women nationally. Amelia offers to mentor many employees, coaching them on how to navigate the corporate environment. She also helps develop leaders along their own I&D journey. “Look for ways to diversify your team. No matter who you are, what your background is, people want to feel valued and appreciated. We all want to belong.” During her six year tenure for the Black Employee Resource Group, membership doubled. Recently, Best Buy made public commitments targeting the increase of equity, not only in the company but also in the community. “We have a goal of becoming one of the best places to work in America. But more than that, we are prepared to earn that title by increasing the diversity of our leadership, employee base and suppliers.”

Intentional at home

Amelia is also an advocate for working mothers and supporting initiatives that provide working parents with the resources that their families need to thrive. “I am constantly considering how my company can be even more inclusive and welcoming to promote the well-being of all of our employees,” says Amelia. Outside of work, Amelia resides in Woodbury, MN, and enjoys spending time with her husband and their four kids ranging in ages from three to 16 years old. She spends time at dance competitions, soccer and basketball games, and the local playgrounds. Her husband, Cordell, also has a demanding career and they work together to support each other in their careers while raising happy kids. “You have to really be in it and intentional about making it work and not holding so tightly to any stereotypical or familiar roles,” she says. IE

Best Buy

Management

Amelia Williams Hardy
Vice President – Inclusion and Diversity Strategic Initiatives

Description

Best Buy is a leading provider of technology products, services and solutions.

Archana Kotecha’s distinctive characteristics of resilience, flexibility and vulnerability have aided in the launch of The Remedy Project and its success toward its goal. Archana’s success is a work in progress, and it takes all of the attributes stated above to persevere through challenges and disappointments, as well as to stay motivated and driven to improve its offering. Archana is passionate about her work, and The Remedy Project gives a wonderful platform for her to help people in need. Archana Kotecha is recognized as a regional expert on human trafficking and forced labor issues across APAC. A UK-qualified barrister and former corporate lawyer, Archana has over 15 years of experience advising international organizations (including the UN International Organization for Migration, UN International Labour Organization, US-AID), ASEAN bodies, governments, and human rights practitioners on human trafficking and forced labor. Archana is widely published and regularly engaged as a subject matter expert by NGOs, governments, and the private sector.

Archana says, Having spent many years witnessing and working with migrant workers who failed to avail themselves of traditional justice mechanisms to protect themselves and enforce their rights, I set out to craft an alternative justice mechanism that would promote migrant leadership, agency, and community building. The idea was to create a system that would bring all stakeholders in the ecosystem of work to unite in common principles and values and by their investment in a remedial structure that would allow vulnerable workers to access remedy and for companies to learn from the process and address underlying governance issues that might have given rise to the issues in the first place. It felt like the time was ripe with regulations around Mandatory Human Rights Due Diligence emerging in different countries and with modern slavery compliance becoming more of a requirement across different buyer markets. The ESG movement had also been gathering momentum and this created a climate ripe for such a framework. The Remedy Project was my way of bringing innovation and a worker-centered focus to remediation at a time when exploitation across global supply chains is one of the key human rights issues we are grappling with. Every day and across every shred of our daily lives are the imprints of those who have worked in exploitation so we can have accessible, affordable comforts and luxuries. It felt right and timely to innovate and perhaps fail in the process than to be complicit in silence and accept the status quo.

“The Remedy Project envisions ecosystems of work where migrant workers in global supply chains are respected, protected, and, in instances of harm, have remedies provided to them in a fair, transparent, and accessible manner.”

The Remedy Project will trial its novel worker-centered remediation mechanism in 2022, and fully operationalize The Remedy Project’s sister charity ReAct Asia, which will offer mobile legal clinics for the most vulnerable workers in supply chains in Southeast Asia. The Remedy Project is also working to digitize its mechanism and make it more accessible to important stakeholders. Archana aims to work to create a work environment that values dignity and respect, where migrant employees are treated with dignity and their contributions to the workplace are appreciated. She anticipates a society in which migrant workers have agency and are able to use institutions and platforms to assert their rights and improve their own and their communities’ lives.

Archana was designated as one of the top ten inventive lawyers in the Asia Pacific by the Financial Times in 2017, and she is a graduate of the US Department of State’s prestigious International Visitor Leadership Program. She is frequently recognized as a powerful changemaker, and APAC Entrepreneur has named her one of Asia’s most inspiring entrepreneurs. Ashurst recently honored Archana with the Emilie Ashurst Anti-Slavery Award for her contributions to the anti-slavery movement. Being driven by purpose and constantly striving to learn more. Being valiant in failure and humble in success. Being self-critical and compassionate at the same time, and being guided by a life of giving and service is the secret of Archana’s success as a Pacesetter. IEWl

The Remedy Project

Management

Archana Kotecha
CEO and Founder of The Remedy Project

Description

We’re social entrepreneurs providing expertise on global supply chain labour compliance. We aim to revolutionise how workers access remedy within global supply chains. The Remedy Project envisions ecosystems of work where migrant workers in global supply chains are respected protected, and in instances of harm, have remedies provided to them in a fair and transparent manner.

Robin Toft has always been the type of person who believes “ if you set your mind to it, you can do it!” As a cancer survivor fifteen years ago, she resigned from her executive role with a vision for “changing the future of medicine, one relationship at a time.” she realized that women were an under-utilized resource, so she bet her company on them! Today, she knows that next-gen women are the answer to the industry and nationwide talent crisis in Life Sciences and Technology. After interviewing thousands of executives, Robin Toft has discovered that a person’s career is rarely a straight path. She stated that her career had three chapters and that she is currently in the fourth. Robin Toft spent the first ten years of her career in a clinical laboratory fundamental job, and the next ten years excelling in sales while improving her relationship-building talents. Then, at the age of 45, she was diagnosed with colon cancer in the ER, a career-defining event. She recognized the internalized stress of her current role as a contributor right away, therefore she resigned from her executive position at the time.

Robin Toft immediately aimed to develop Toft Group Executive Search in order to have a positive impact on how cancer is handled in her life by identifying the greatest women – and men – for the jobs. Toft Group developed quickly from $0 to $10 million in sales before being acquired by ZRG Partners, the world’s fastest-growing search agency, in November 2019. The next ten years for Robin Toft will be focused on promoting women in their careers so that the Toft Group can address the talent shortage, bring life-saving products to market faster, and enhance healthcare.

Robin Toft says, Creating a powerful, well-differentiated, beautiful brand with significant consumer value was one of my personal challenges. Unlike the competitive executive search businesses, which were predominantly slow and managed by middle-aged white men, I solely bet on two things: “quick and female.” I told my clients that we will supply top female Life Science and Technology employees more quickly than other companies. I hired a mostly female team and instructed them to meet executive women first, which was unheard of at the time. Our common goal was to get referrals by delivering exceptional service with high integrity, two qualities that have been our key sales advantage to this day.

“There’s a struggle for talent in the life sciences. To find and keep the best, you must look in the right places for those who are both a technical and cultural fit, and be diligent about providing career progression. We follow the same rules for our own company.”

Executive Search by Toft Group was a game-changer. Rather than “filling tickets,” as is common in the industry, they took the long view and developed long-term connections with top female talent. While others focused on “those who are looking,” Toft Group went after “those who aren’t”: experts in their professions who had no desire to change careers.

Robin also says, There is nothing but opportunity for young women in the Life Sciences and Technology industry today, even if you’re graduating college as a “generalist” today. WE CAN, The Executive Woman’s Guide to Career Advancement is a powerful platform for change. A book that advises where others fear to tread women’s indecision and doubt; the need for discipline, for a plan, for a map of one’s progression; to practice one’s confidence; to create opportunities; to practice self-care. “Building the plane while flying it” if you will. I was the main person running operations, responsible for the top-line revenues to the bottom-line profit, and in parallel trying to find and attract talent and develop them into exceptional search professionals. “Be positive and accept challenges as opportunities. After 20 years in biotech and 10 years with my own search company, I’ve learned to set goals, achieve them, and – most importantly – be happy. Teaching that to executives both women and men is my mission for the rest of my career.” IEWL

Toft Group Executive Search

Management

Robin Toft
Chairman & Founder of Toft Group Executive Search

Description

Toft Group Executive Search is a global retained executive search firm that is 100% dedicated to life sciences and healthcare industries, including biotech, pharmaceutical, medical device, diagnostic companies, and digital health.With offices in San Francisco, San Diego and Boston, our client list spans a wide range of local, national and international companies – from venture-backed start-ups to Fortune 500 corporations.

Yuridia Peña’s career as a communicator has been centered around achieving social justice for immigrants and communities of color. The Founder and Strategic Communications Advisor of the firm Alta Consulting (Alta), has worked with community advocates and activists, labor unions, government agencies, elected officials, the private sector, and non-profit organizations to highlight proposed legislation, amplify city and statewide initiatives, and develop multilingual marketing campaigns that impact the most vulnerable populations.

Yuridia’s passion transcends in her work. “Storytelling is a powerful tool beyond measurable analytics. I enjoy elevating individuals, families and entire communities simply by providing access to a platform or various platforms where they can share their story,” says the steadfast leader. Armed with this ideology, Yuridia is leading the company to new heights.

“Storytelling is a powerful tool beyond measurable analytics. Alta uses compelling storytelling to develop a brand’s personality and purpose. We offer tailored strategic communications and marketing that is laser-focused on meeting the needs of the consumer, amplifying our clients’ services and positioning them as industry leaders.”

Alta is designed to provide tailored strategic communications to brands, C-level executives, and organizations. With deep knowledge of issues and strong relationships with the media, the firm leads proactive press opportunities and manages crises. Yuridia works diligently with clients to build and protect their credibility and reputations.

Alta was created during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic as many businesses struggled to engage with their audience due to the oversaturation of pandemic media coverage. “All of our lives were upended in 2020 by a global pandemic, it was during that time of turmoil that I identified a need and decided to launch a public relations firm,” says Yuridia. “Today, Alta’s diverse portfolio includes issue-based brands and campaigns around good government policies and progressive initiatives,” she added.

According to Yuridia, identifying your competitive advantage is a crucial factor to achieving success. “As a Latina in the communications industry launching a Minority/Women-owned business, my competitive edge was clear – Alta brings not only nearly two decades of public affairs and communications experience across sectors, but also provides cultural competency, strong relationships and a strong network with city and state public agencies, elected officials and thought leaders.”

Digital marketing is imperative for the success of any company – whether its services or product-based, lifestyle, public or private sector. Creating captivating content is critical in our globalized world. “Alta uses compelling storytelling to create a personality and a purpose to brands, offering a tailored approach that is laser-focused on consumer needs, promotes clients’ services and positions them as an industry leaders,” she said.

Alta is committed to amplifying the stories of organizations and thought leaders advocating on behalf of underserved communities. In 2020, Alta represented Former HUD Secretary and OMB Director under President Obama Shaun Donovan as an NYC Mayoral Candidate. “We disseminated a smorgasbord of innovative policy ideas in the areas of housing, economic development, health care, immigration, education, criminal justice, climate, that underscore real issues affecting everyday New Yorkers,” she said. As a result, the campaign was recognized as ‘The Campaign of Ideas’ and received praise from thought leaders and journalists for developing smart policies that would rebuild and reimagine a city that works for everyone.

Alta is currently working on commissioning artists to create public artwork around climate change in New York City, overseeing the creation of a workforce development space that will bring career training and family-sustaining jobs in Connecticut and working with a tech company committed to bringing fresh, nutritious and culturally relevant food to food insecure communities in New York City. “Social responsibility is giving a voice to the voiceless. Most of my career has been rooted in social good. Incorporating cultural competency is key when communicating a service, product or ideology with consumers, thought leaders, and the general public,” says Yuridia. IEWL

Natalia, the founder of Dharma Creativ Agency, is a creative Colombian who has spent the most of her life in South Florida. Natalia was enthralled by Miami and decided to further her education as a professional at the University of Miami. She began her undergraduate studies at UM in 2014, concentrating in Public Relations and Marketing with a minor in Entrepreneurship, because she had always wanted to establish her own business. As a business owner, she had her father’s example of the satisfaction of having a direct impact on the world and helping people. Natalia will begin her MBA program at the University of Miami for professionals and entrepreneurs in the spring of 2022.

“We invest in our client’s present to transform their future.”

Natalia began her professional career at a young age. She had always been curious and eager to learn, so she embarked on her first internship in her sophomore year of college after a series of incredible encounters with various Florida agencies and programs that aided her in developing her experience in public relations and marketing. It has taught her the importance of honesty, ethics, and creating relationships in order to grow a business. Along with accomplishments such as time management, excellent writing skills, teamwork, great communication, flexibility, organization, and creativity, it is also important to enhance all of the skills learned along the way to apply in daily life, positive energy, an outgoing personality, and the ability to turn problems into opportunities.

These rewarding experiences led her to DX Agency in 2019, a New York-based marketing agency that taught her how to run an agency and manage a team properly. She was able to collaborate and become a member of the Mastercard team.

Mastercard, a Fortune 500 corporation, provided her with invaluable training. She oversaw, supervised, and established Mastercard’s B2B CRM email communications for all Latin American markets. She created content for all markets as her copywriting talents improved, working with Harvard Business Review, The Business Insider, and Kantar research. She was given all of these amazing studies and insights to translate and update for the LATAM markets. She recognized that working for Corporate America was not for her during the pandemic. It was nearly hard to change the world and directly assist others. She did a wonderful job, but it will always be known as Mastercard.

Natalia founded Dharma with the mission of naturally disrupting the industry without making any false promises, as has been shown in marketing and any digital strategy that displays solid results three months after launch. Dharma has taken businesses to the next level, guiding their clients hand-in-hand with new and unique images, ensuring that any material developed educates and informs their audiences. Dharma has three main objectives: educating and informing users every day as part of social responsibility, creating conscious content, and having consistent marketing plans, keeping in mind that growth is one step at a time.

Dharma is reality and present – the basic principle of the individual existence and the divine law to one’s life purpose.

Dharma is a creative firm that will assist in the transformation of the brand’s presence to the future. Dharma revamps the client’s brand by creating and deliberately designing compelling content. Dharma aims to increase brand awareness and growth by planning conscious content that has a meaningful impact in the digital media age. Dharma focuses on a thoughtful, fundamental approach that is innovative and fascinating and will inform, educate, and motivate customers.

Dharma’s team directly manages the entirety of their client’s brand’s digital presence, from all aspects of digital marketing, CRM strategies, email marketing, and SEO guidance. To manage all social media channels, designing high-level content to create follow-worthy feeds, ensuring that engaged followers convert into loyal customers. Dharma develops meaningful media ties that keep the client’s brand visible in important periodicals. By developing deliberate and meaningful content that has an influence on the marketplace, the Dharma team elevates businesses to a whole new level.

What would I tell those new business owners who want to disrupt industries?

Consistency first, then discipline and passion. These are the three essential things that you have to apply every day, as you have to eat, sleep, breathe and live to honor your company and do what you love.

Natalia’s endearing desire to assist company clients led to her founding Dharma, and Dharma’s excellent work has elevated her to the astonishing Top 10 Women Business Founders of 2021. IEWL

Dharma Creativ Agency

Management

Natalia Gonzalez Mejia
Founder of Dharma Creativ Agency

Description

We are a creative agency that will help change your brand’s present to transform their future. We create and strategically design engaging content to revamp your brand. Our mission is to elevate brand growth and exposure through strategic conscious content that has a real impact in this digital media era. We focus on a thoughtful fundamental approach that is creative & captivating and will inform, educate and motivate consumers.