Jackie Bandish, Head of Life Sciences Recruiting at The Bandish Group, LLC, is the creative force behind the company’s recruitment strategies and services that have been implemented in identifying the top talent in the industry. Her team provides a professional yet personal approach. In 1996, Jackie did not set out to start a business. It was a time in her personal life of survival. Now, entering her 27th year in business, The Bandish Group has become a trusted partner in the life sciences industry. Through her journey of life, she has learned a lot of life lessons and now dedicates her time towards helping others. Her values, morals and ethics are the backbone of her success. She is open, honest, passionate, and transparent. She is known in her industry as a trustworthy confidant and partner for both candidates and clients. This is not her ‘job’ but her passion. Jackie says, “In these past 26 years, I have never felt like I was going to work but rather going to make a difference in the lives of others.”

Biggest Achievement of your Organization

For Jackie, it is being surrounded by an amazing, dedicated, trusted, and collaborative team who takes pride in providing a personal approach to both candidates and clients alike. “They share my same values, morals, and ethics of treating everyone with respect and they stand behind our commitment of finding ‘the best fit and not just any fit.’”

The team works hard to understand their client’s pain points and customizes their services to meet the needs of each client. “It is a true partnership.” Jackie stressed that she and her team represent individuals, not pieces of paper. They are about open and honest lines of communication and provide feedback from client to candidate and vice versa. This goes back to her values, morals, and ethics of treating others with respect.

The Bandish Group has a unique hybrid model. They are not a contingent firm, but a boutique life sciences executive search firm. They provide exclusive retained recruitment services that are effective and cost-efficient for their clients. The firm specializes in recruiting in the Pharmaceutical, Biotech, Diagnostics, Medical Device, CDMOs, Life Sciences Construction, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Digital Healthcare industries. The company is headquartered in the Greater Philadelphia region and provides nationwide executive life sciences recruitment services.

Inspiring and empowering team members into becoming great leaders of tomorrow

As her team’s mentor and leader, Jackie encourages continuous education and has an open and safe forum where they can share their personal and professional experiences. “We provide support and inspiration to one other,” says Jackie. “We learn the most from others and from each other.”

For over 20 years, Jackie has remained an active alumni member being actively engaged in Temple University, Fox School of Business’ Mentorship Program. She is also a Certified Get 5 Career Coach.

“I find great pleasure in mentoring our future leaders of tomorrow. Life is a journey. It is not linear. There will be many bumps, twists, and turns along the way, with highs and lows. We all need to support one another and share our experiences so others can grow and learn from ours.”

Goals still working towards achieving

I set daily, monthly, and annual goals targeted at being the best version of myself. I find great pride in being a trusted partner and confidant to our clients and candidates alike. My goal is to help our clients succeed by identifying their top talent and by guiding candidates to finding their best career.

How long did it take to find success

“Success is in the eye of the beholder,” Jackie says. “My success is a continuous journey. Success for me is looking in the mirror and having that reflection smile back knowing I did the best I could to help others that day.”

Clean the World, headquartered in Orlando, Florida, is a global leader in WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) and sustainability. Sandie Beauchamp is the Chief Experience Officer and oversees product development, marketing, and technology. She uses her 20+ years of experience in these areas to make Clean the World a leading social enterprise globally. She has boundless energy and is not afraid to push the limits to create innovative social impact products. She expects operational excellence and is driven toward delivering an exceptional experience for her customers.

Sandie understands the challenges that female business owners face. During her career, she has led large and small teams and worked with some of the brightest female professionals in her industry. As an executive, Sandie provides daily mentorship and guidance to up-and-coming female leaders. “Additionally, I look for opportunities to volunteer with female organizations when possible. I hope that I can be a shining light to others on the importance that individuals should be recognized for their ability and expertise, regardless of their gender, age, or ethnic background,” elucidates Sandie.

The Clean the World team describes Sandie as outspoken, aggressive, fair, and caring. The reason is that she never asks her team to do anything she wouldn’t do. “I can often be found in the trenches with my team, especially when faced with a tight deadline. I lead by example and inspire my team to be the best they can be,” explains Sandie. “My team knows that I am there to offer guidance and eliminate any potential roadblocks that keeps them from being successful. I also spend time with each of my team members to understand their personal development goals, and then offer support and advice to help them reach these goals. This is true for my peers. I know I can lean on the other executives and my manager for support, and they know I have their back too!”

Sandie has been taking the company to new heights with this brilliant mindset. “Be Innovative” is one of the core values at Clean the World. Every member of the team is passionate about the work they are doing. Their mission is to develop products that change the world. They do this by discovering new ways to enhance the customer experience, delivering new product offerings, and creating new programs that serve more people in need. During COVID, Sandie and her team saw their biggest challenge but had the most significant success. It was a time of uncertainty, and with many of their customers from the hospitality and event industries, they saw a drastic decline in revenue. They were faced with the possibility of closing their doors during a time when hygiene and soap were in high demand.

“We came together as a team and developed a new product called the Soap Saves Lives Box, which allowed corporate employees and individual volunteers to build hygiene kits from the safety of their homes and ship these to charities in need of hygiene products,” elucidates Sandie. “This product not only created a new way for volunteers to engage with Clean the World, but it also allowed us to hire back furloughed staff and keep the lights on.” The Soap Saves Lives Box has been transformed into an at-home and in-person offering. They are also offering several boxes: hygiene kits, school kits, and comfort kits for individuals experiencing homelessness. “Today, our revenue numbers have exceeded Pre-COVID numbers, and we have distributed over 1.4 million hygiene kits through the Soap Saves Lives Box product,” says Sandie.

For the days to come, Clean the World will continue to expand its Hospitality Recycling Program by enrolling new hotels around the world. The organization plans to open operations in several new markets globally next year and are working on social micro-enterprising programming in areas with the greatest need, so used soap will be collected, re-manufactured, and distributed all with very close proximity. “We will add new features for existing customers including detailed impact metrics to meet the United Nation Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). For the public, we are planning a cool way for a hotel guest to “track their impact” after use. We are also exploring additional products created out of our recycled plastic, and so much more to come!” adds Sandie. WL

April Weatherly, Director of Solutions and Integrations, BluIP®, brings over 20 years of combined contact center and hospitality experience. With her myriad of experience managing and developing organizations, teams, and projects in these industries, creating strategic initiatives and new technology, and challenging the norm, BluIP®is able to push the boundary of what is expected and offer solutions not already adopted.

Being a support system to female business owners out there trying hard to establish themselves comes naturally to April. From serving as counsel in the hospitality space to developing future female business leaders by serving as today’s mentor, April creates a safe and engaging environment to help develop each of their opportunities to allow for individual growth. “In each female lies a future business owner or leader, but each one requires a mentor or coach to help strengthen their talents, whatever those might be, and allow them to see themselves as great, no matter what the world might make them feel,” says the steadfast leader. April makes it her mission to inspire and empower her team members to become great leaders of tomorrow; by mentoring and teaching, she has spent dedicated time and resource to ensure that each of her team members not just become great leaders but also find that makes them happy, grow, and succeed both personally and professionally.

Even though April has been managing and leading organizations and individuals for the last 20 years, it’s only the last few years that she’s learned what real leadership is about. She explained, “Several years ago, I had a life-changing experience which caused me to reflect on what was most important to me and adapt to life and my surroundings in ways I never thought would be necessary. Overnight, my world changed and, like it or not, I had to change with it. Realizing this shift in myself, understanding the challenges I was experiencing, it made me see others in a more empathetic and personal way than I had before. Nobody thinks that they’ll wake up and their life will change without their permission but sometimes, it does. I realized people needed more compassion and more grace from me. Leading isn’t always about being right or taking charge but instead sometimes it’s just about being present and aware.”

“Mentoring and leading aren’t always easy because sometimes, you want to fix everything and help the person through the storm”, April went on. She described how she began running after these life-changing events caused her to focus on health and growth and in a moment of desperation during a marathon, when she felt she couldn’t continue, her closest friend sent a harsh but necessary text message “You didn’t train all those months to give up now. Get moving!” That message carried her the last 6 miles of the London Marathon and she confessed “I likely cried most of those miles, but I did it because I knew that sometimes even though life is hard, sometimes it takes someone on the other end to tell you to get moving to carry you the last 6 miles. I’ve been pushing people all of my life and that day, I needed to be pushed. So, if you want to know how to mentor or lead, sometimes you just listen and sometimes you tell them to get moving. Either way, being a leader is whatever the other person needs.”

Today, April surrounds herself with people who are encouraging, inspiring, and passionate enough to tell her when she’s wrong. This is one of the brilliant qualities that guide her into becoming a successful leader and passing on her knowledge to others. With this astute mindset, April has been taking the company to new heights. Since 2010, BluIP® has been helping businesses get connected to their customers via Cloud UC/PBX and SIP Trunking. Today, they develop the AIVA Connect™ platform, which April assisted in developing several years ago. This single-pane-of-glass combines AI Virtual Agents with over2,800 low-code, no-code integrations, and a web-based operator console with business intelligence. This product allows their clients to manage all customer interactions from a single interface while also saving on labor costs.

However, like most industries, COVID-19 has impacted BluIP® and its customers. “We have had to adjust our sails and support them where they needed, which happened to be a reduction in the workforce,” elucidates April. “Before COVID-19, we had already developed and implemented an Artificial Intelligent Virtual Agent, named AIVA™, part of a full suite of products under the umbrella, AIVA Connect™.” Since AIVA™ was already developed and available for deployment, BluIP® customers could take advantage of this product when the workforce and staffing augmentation began without disrupting their businesses. AIVA™ has continued to grow and deploy across all its customer verticals, helping customers solve staffing challenges daily.

BluIP® CEO Armen Martirosyan once said, “just have fun. If you aren’t having fun, nothing else matters.” April believes this approach impacts employees, customers, and partners to the core because they know that BluIP® is developing products and solutions that don’t just matter but also have fun developing. “Our employees create our success, and if they aren’t happy with what they are doing, how can we develop products, deliver services, and support our customers successfully?” says April, who believes individual growth should never stop. Hence, her list of goals is long enough to fill a room. “However, professionally, Armen, our CEO, would likely say that I could work to use less words, and personally, my friends would likely say I could be less serious,” adds April. “But for the time being, I’m focused on continuing my education, developing my communication capabilities, teaching others what I’ve been taught, and the life-long pursuit of success.”

For the days to come, BluIP® is working on improving their AI, AIVA™, and April and her team are working towards witnessing record growth in the next year in this area. “I love working with our customers, solving challenges, creating solutions, and developing new technologies. Each day, I learn something new, work with an amazing team of people, and can impact change, so if the future stays just as it is today, that’s ok too,” she says.

Rose S. Valenzuela, Sr. Vice President of Administration & Sr. Special Projects Officer at Unity National Bank, has made significant progress in the last two years, not only in Unity’s Transformation but also in driving the evolution of various Administration functions. Rose is overseeing the design and implementation of Transformation efforts across Unity. She has been operationalizing Unity’s Transformation plans using her in-depth understanding of Administration and strong relationships across the bank to help accelerate the progress. One of her main goals is to ensure that as the bank prepares to celebrate Unity’s 60th Anniversary, its Transformation is genuinely embedded throughout Unity.

As part of the executive team of a community financial institution, Unity is aware that women-owned entrepreneurship is on the rise. Unity understands they are at a higher risk of failure without financial support. “Unity and I are committed to serving women-owned businesses, including those underserved, underbanked by financial institutions and those who face barriers to accessing capital,” says Rose. “We provide financial products and services, as well as financial education to meet the needs of these businesses.

During the Pandemic which threatened to close many of these female businesses, Unity was instrumental in securing over 1000+ PPP loans which many went to woman-owned businesses.” Another way Rose supports female business owners is by deliberately buying from women-owned shops and promoting their businesses on social media.

Rose has a passion for mentoring and coaching. She truly enjoys teaching others and helping them become more marketable. Rose knows and understands that being a team leader is an enormous responsibility, regardless of one’s position. To ensure the emergence of future leaders, she instills a culture in which leadership is appreciated and honored. She provides vision and purpose; she creates inspiring visions of the future and gives her team a purpose. She is exceptional at making the vision achievable and realistic and works closely with the team toward achieving the goals. She uses personal stories and anecdotes to explain her vision and inspire her team members.

Rose leads by example, constantly motivating, working hard, and showing professional integrity. She practices a positive mental attitude and encourages members to work together by stressing the importance of teamwork and achieving group goals. Always optimistic, the steadfast leader constantly praises and appreciates her team while continually communicating and empowering team members to take control and ownership of their projects. She is always available to assist and provide guidance, ensuring the connection is never severed. Rose instills in her team members the knowledge that leadership begins with recognizing the opportunity to provide leadership. “My advice to everyone is to be brave to achieve our goals.

As women, we are often considered “weak and emotional .”Often times I have taken roles before I felt I was ready, yet the roles challenged me and took me outside of my comfort zone. When I first became an executive, I was the only female at the table – intimidating, to say the least,” says Rose.

With this brilliant mindset, Rose has been taking Unity to new heights. Under her aegis, Unity has obtained extensive support from major banks in the country. With their assistance, knowledge, and financial support, Unity is moving into the technology space by offering new services, enhancing its in-house technology, and developing and implementing new technology as they plan. “As a community bank, our reach is limited to the communities we serve. However, as part of our strategic plan, Unity successfully applied and was selected to participate in the Treasury Bank Mentor Protégé Program,” elucidates Rose. This program was established in 2018 by the Department of Treasure, Bureau of the Fiscal Service, to recognize and promote the important role played by minority-owned and women-owned banks, small banks, and financial institutions in the nation’s economy and financial system. The mission of the program is to pair large banks with small and minority and women-owned banks to cultivate a broader pool of FIs that have the ability, skills, and knowledge to provide services on behalf of Treasury and support the preservation of minority deposit institutions (MDIs) through the encouragement of private sector business growth and development.

For the days to come, Rose wants to continue to guide the bank towards the growth and expansion of their Mentor Protégé Program for Unity by obtaining additional contracts/projects. “I also want to increase the Non-Interest revenue currently generated by this program by 50% within the next 24 months,” adds Rose.

Danielle Hilliker has vastly progressed Southeastern Michigan Health Association (SEMHA) and paved a clear path for a thriving future. The President and CEO have spent the last 18 months rebuilding SEMHA’s infrastructure and developing operational efficiencies to be a better partner, service provider, and employer. Ultimately, being a leader and change agent for the stakeholders.

Danielle has focused a good amount of effort on restructuring SEMHA’s Center for Population Health division and strategically developed a framework that centers around equitable health for communities throughout Southeast Michigan. The newly formed Health Equity Division helps partners build a proactive public health infrastructure, ensure communities are valued and included in multisector partnerships, share resources for collective impact, and remove patterns that contribute to poor health in Michigan.

SEMHA has come a long way from its initial work with tuberculosis and has transformed the organization to support partners with community health needs assessments, working with MDHHS to gather utilization data across the state, studies to support infant and maternal health, and so many more public health programs in the past 60+ years. “SEMHA has been a humble and supportive partner, and we not only want to improve our existing infrastructure to serve our stakeholders better, but we also envision SEMHA being a more active partner and leader in building a culture of health,” says Danielle.

Women’s economic empowerment is much more complex, and supporting women’s rights, health, education, poverty reduction, and upward mobility is always a priority for Danielle. “I believe health is wealth, and wealth is health. Women’s economic mobility and the additional resources women need to truly support their household are a driving force in my decision-making,” explains Danielle. “Women’s economic empowerment is interconnected to women’s health services. Advocating for policies and the workforce to meaningfully invest in safe, fair, and healthy practices for all women is vital to this country’s future. It is time to recognize and take action!”

Danielle leads by example. She has a great sense of self-awareness and exhibits confident humility. The Ubuntu philosophy shapes Danielle’s leadership, “I am because we are”. Her humbled leadership creates space for her team to thrive and grow. Danielle also pushes her staff to think critically and then rethink. The ongoing opportunities for professional development and encouragement to be a lifelong learner creates a safe space for an authentic growth mindset. Armed with this passion, Danielle is taking SEMHA to great heights.

SEMHA’s most significant achievements have led to where they are now. Danielle propelled a transformation of not only the institute but also the leadership. Historically SEMHA had an identity that kept them in the background. “We are shifting that culture and leveraging our collective model to drive change. Again, being accountable to our clients, employees, and communities is driving our transformation,” elucidates the steadfast leader. “This has organically led to new partnerships and relationships that will benefit the health and wellbeing of Michiganders.”

As Danielle works towards completing her Ph.D. degree in public policy and health services, she aspires to cultivate a culture of health. For over a decade, Danielle has dedicated her work in various ways to the nonprofit sector; whether it be working directly to support the infrastructure or impacting the community, she has consulted with and led various nonprofit organizations to effect change. “I believe that building a culture of health encompasses everything we do, how we live, work and play, ultimately impacts our health outcomes. I am dedicated my future to changing the narrative for future generations,” adds Danielle.

SEMHA envisions a culture where the barriers that lead to health inequities in Michigan have been permanently removed, all individuals and populations are valued equally, historical injustices are remedied, and resources are distributed according to need. SEMHA is positioned to play a significant role in navigating collaborative governance to develop synergies and strategies to make systemic change. “It is vital that we build a culture of health to shift the dynamic in our resources and built environment. Building a “culture of health” is a realization that health is affected by every aspect of our lives. Until we approach our policies and decisions in such a way that contributes to these factors, we will continue to fall short of creating equitable opportunities and outcomes for every individual,” says Danielle. “All sectors should recognize the larger impact of bridging the gap and creating collaborative strategies that contribute to improved health outcomes.” WL

Advancing the Hybrid Workplace in the Digital Age

Former College Soccer Player Heather Lockhart Gets a Kick Out of Building a Game-Changing, Customer-Centric Brand for Leading Managed IT Services Provider Compucom

When Heather Lockhart played college soccer – and later as a semi-professional female athlete competing abroad – she understood the importance of sizing up opponents, working collaboratively to advance the ball up the field toward the goal, and having the vision to see openings for teammates to seize advantage and score.

Sensitive to fusing strategic thinking with laser-like tactical execution, Lockhart believes her growth as an executive in the B2B technology industry is in large part due to understanding and embracing “the hybrid model.” After all, with an obvious acknowledgement of the hyphen, what’s more hybrid than being a scholar-athlete?

Lockhart, now Chief Marketing Officer at Compucom, explains the environment of a specific sport has its unique rules and requirements, just like today’s current work environment.

“When you’re a scholar-athlete you must excel in BOTH environments. Companies must straddle the line with today’s distributed workforce working in a variety of places and with a variety of technologies,” Lockhart said. “It takes adapting to that unique environment, whether on the field or the board room, to compete at the highest levels.”

Post-Covid, the Hybrid Workplace and Digital Technology Take Hold

The past couple of years shed a new light on the term “hybrid.” No longer just the domain of eco-friendly passenger vehicles, it also now applies to how we get work done.

“Following the world’s massive involuntary experiment in fully remote and hybrid work models, the results are in: people are going back to the office, people are staying remote, and there will be everything in between,” Lockhart said.

A hybrid workplace model mixes in-office and remote work. In doing so, it can offer flexibility, autonomy and better work-life balance – which can lead to more engagement as a result. Employers benefit by building a more productive, healthy, stable workforce.

However, the hybrid workplace is not a simple formula or a panacea for all workplace challenges. Today’s hybrid workplace must be implemented strategically, taking advantage of modern technologies that engender connection, collaboration, productivity and employee engagement.

But how does a company know what technologies are best and how to improve the employee’s digital work experience?

Building a Bold Brand

That’s where Lockhart, possessing some 20 years of marketing management experience at technology-savvy companies such as Disney and Volvo, and Compucom get involved.

Lockhart and Compucom have easily embraced the changing work world, taking a leadership position in all things digital employee experience. One of the biggest transformations the company has gone through has been a complete brand recharge. In early 2022, Lockhart led the charge of transforming the brand, taking a bolder, more innovative and entrepreneurial approach using bold, vibrant colors that invoke confidence.

“We must continue to evolve as the market evolves. Our new brand identity evokes confidence, innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit,” says Lockhart. “We now have a fresh look to go with our forward-thinking mindset, focus on being agile and innovating for our customers.”

Leading with Purpose

Just like Compucom, Lockhart has been a leader in tech. According to Deloitte Global’s estimates, women’s share in the overall global tech workforce has increased 6.9% from 2019 to 2022, while their share in technical roles has grown by 11.7%. Notably, the fastest growth—an estimated gain of nearly 20%—has occurred in the proportion of women in leadership.

Lockhart’s leadership skills, no doubt, were formed by her ‘hybrid’ scholar-athlete experience, her education which includes an undergraduate degree and an MBA in international marketing. But perhaps an equally valuable component to her rise as a female executive in the tech world has been her listening skills.

“When you work alongside very smart professionals and do more listening than talking, success is much easier to achieve,” she says.

Lockhart recommends to young women aspiring to achieve leadership roles in the tech world that they purposefully choose to join customer-centric companies with diverse workforces that fuse strategic thinking with flawless tactical execution, as well as those that appreciate collaborative employees with excellent listening skills.

In addition to mentoring female leaders locally, she serves on the company’s Operations Committee, made up of C-suite executives, is the executive sponsor for the associate-led Women in Technology Affinity Group (WiT), and mentors those not just on the marketing team but also throughout the enterprise. The WiT Affinity Group, the company’s largest and fastest-growing affinity group, was established to help inspire, educate and promote equality in STEM disciplines.

Compucom Kudos

According to the industry analyst firm Information Services Group (ISG), Compucom is a leader in the highly competitive managed service provider (MSP) space for both Large Accounts and Midmarket categories. ISG noted the company’s focus on overall employee experience as a strong reason for recognizing Compucom as a Leader in the 2022 ISG Provider Lens™ Future of Work – Services and Solutions report.

“Compucom has been ahead of the digital workplace curve and leading the future of work for 35 years,” Lockhart says. “We’ve continued to innovate and automate. To think about what a wide spectrum of enterprises needs today and anticipate what they will need tomorrow and the future. Compucom is a leader in advancing the digital workplace while listening well to the needs of each enterprise customer as we work to earn their business every day.” WL

Clean the World, headquartered in Orlando, Florida, is a global leader in WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) and sustainability. Sandie Beauchamp is the Chief Experience Officer and oversees product development, marketing, and technology. She uses her 20+ years of experience in these areas to make Clean the World a leading social enterprise globally. She has boundless energy and is not afraid to push the limits to create innovative social impact products. She expects operational excellence and is driven toward delivering an exceptional experience for her customers.

Sandie understands the challenges that female business owners face. During her career, she has led large and small teams and worked with some of the brightest female professionals in her industry. As an executive, Sandie provides daily mentorship and guidance to up-and-coming female leaders. “Additionally, I look for opportunities to volunteer with female organizations when possible. I hope that I can be a shining light to others on the importance that individuals should be recognized for their ability and expertise, regardless of their gender, age, or ethnic background,” elucidates Sandie.

The Clean the World team describes Sandie as outspoken, aggressive, fair, and caring. The reason is that she never asks her team to do anything she wouldn’t do. “I can often be found in the trenches with my team, especially when faced with a tight deadline. I lead by example and inspire my team to be the best they can be,” explains Sandie. “My team knows that I am there to offer guidance and eliminate any potential roadblocks that keeps them from being successful. I also spend time with each of my team members to understand their personal development goals, and then offer support and advice to help them reach these goals. This is true for my peers. I know I can lean on the other executives and my manager for support, and they know I have their back too!”

Sandie has been taking the company to new heights with this brilliant mindset. “Be Innovative” is one of the core values at Clean the World. Every member of the team is passionate about the work they are doing. Their mission is to develop products that change the world. They do this by discovering new ways to enhance the customer experience, delivering new product offerings, and creating new programs that serve more people in need. During COVID, Sandie and her team saw their biggest challenge but had the most significant success. It was a time of uncertainty, and with many of their customers from the hospitality and event industries, they saw a drastic decline in revenue. They were faced with the possibility of closing their doors during a time when hygiene and soap were in high demand.

“We came together as a team and developed a new product called the Soap Saves Lives Box, which allowed corporate employees and individual volunteers to build hygiene kits from the safety of their homes and ship these to charities in need of hygiene products,” elucidates Sandie. “This product not only created a new way for volunteers to engage with Clean the World, but it also allowed us to hire back furloughed staff and keep the lights on.” The Soap Saves Lives Box has been transformed into an at-home and in-person offering. They are also offering several boxes: hygiene kits, school kits, and comfort kits for individuals experiencing homelessness. “Today, our revenue numbers have exceeded Pre-COVID numbers, and we have distributed over 1.4 million hygiene kits through the Soap Saves Lives Box product,” says Sandie.

For the days to come, Clean the World will continue to expand its Hospitality Recycling Program by enrolling new hotels around the world. The organization plans to open operations in several new markets globally next year and are working on social micro-enterprising programming in areas with the greatest need, so used soap will be collected, re-manufactured, and distributed all with very close proximity. “We will add new features for existing customers including detailed impact metrics to meet the United Nation Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). For the public, we are planning a cool way for a hotel guest to “track their impact” after use. We are also exploring additional products created out of our recycled plastic, and so much more to come!” adds Sandie. WL

Ayla Harwood, COO of Opal Senior Living, is a forward-thinking innovator in the senior living space. She works hard to stay educated and informed on market trends, industry standards, and the shifting population within senior housing. Ayla works to develop transformative programming to provide superior care and active engagement for each person within all Opal communities. Opal Senior Living’s programs are tailored to each individual to provide maximum engagement while being mindful of physical barriers and personal preferences. Ayla takes a great deal of time to meet with residents and associates to curate new ideas to keep senior living active and exciting.

Ayla proves that everything is possible when you put your mind to it. Starting her career in senior living in high school, she worked as a caregiver. Through time and schooling, Ayla became a nurse. In nursing, Ayla developed a passion for serving those enjoying life with supportive services. Working from the ground up, she has participated in every role in the senior living workforce. Ayla has spent time speaking to local students to empower students to work hard to follow the path meant for them. Ayla always seeks to be a mentor for rising leaders.

The pioneering leader believes that a great leader supports and encourages others to succeed and grow. Opal Senior Living works hard to encourage and promote leaders within the organization. Ayla is a servant leader who looks to impact others in growth and development. Ayla believes that the success of Opal Senior Living rests upon those we serve and our associates that make the ultimate impact. Collaborating with team members creates a culture that supports bottom-up growth and empowerment.

Ayla’s advice to everyone is never to give up. “As a child I always believed that I would become a doctor. I worked hard on my education to put myself in a position where this would be possible. I decided to go to school for nursing to be able to work through my schooling,” she says.

“I was fortunate to gain a position in home health that allowed me the time and flexibility to focus on continuing my education. In home health, I was given an assignment to see residents within an assisted living community, and fell in love with the industry. My life forever changed.” She was able to transition into a role as an executive director role and was able to learn so much more about the industry. Through listening to residents and team members, Ayla worked hard to empower all team members to create an atmosphere that mattered.

According to Ayla, senior living is at a pivotal point of change as the Baby Boomers enter senior living communities. It is critical for Opal Senior Living to be mindful of this shift and continue refining its approach in a way that speaks to a generation that is very different from those before. “We continue to evaluate our programming and services to best serve our population. We have implemented an increase in tech-based engagement and smart services,” explains Ayla. “Additionally, we see a large focus on niche-based communities. It is imperative for us to determine what we do best in each of our communities and cater to populations in new and exciting ways.” Opal Senior Living is dedicated to being the gold standard in senior living. Their revolutionary approach to memory care has set them apart in the industry. Reflections is Opal’s specialized program dedicated to serving those with cognitive impairment. Reflections uses evidence-based practices and cutting-edge technologies to elevate the lives of those struggling with diseases like Dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and diseases with cognitive impairment.

“In senior living you are never done working towards goals. Our goals and initiatives are constantly evolving. Just as people age and each generation changes, we too must always be changing to engage and support our seniors,” elucidates Ayla. “The same goes for associate engagement. Our workforce is evolving and we are always implementing new ways to grow our great teams.”

Opal Senior Living aims to keep growing and provide services and programs to more seniors across the United States. “We live in a world where aging is thought to be boring. When you ask those of younger generations what they think about those in their 70s or life after retirement, there is an expectation of our aged population sitting home with their books, crocheting and sewing,” says Ayla. “While these are great hobbies that many enjoy, there is so much living to do and life to experience in the golden years. I aim to see our seniors live life to the fullest, create new interests, and enjoy every moment with the support and care they deserve.”

Lisa Anna Palmer believes in leadership at all ages, all levels, and all backgrounds. She and her team are passionate about helping people reach their full potential. As a public speaker, coach, and trainer focused on leadership development, she helps leaders to light a fire in their hearts by raising their self-awareness and practicing the 3 Cs of Connection: Compassion, Courage, and Competence. Her devotion to her craft is evident in her nearly three decades in the fields of leadership and, human resources & organizational development.

What sets Lisa apart from other coaches and mentors is her ability to teach leaders and their teams how to see the world through a lens of compassion and empathy, which elevates one’s leadership, boosts courage, and strengthens relationships through human connection and belongingness. She works with her valued LYLI team create and share courses and content that inspires, including communicating through social media and press releases to inspire people from across the globe to lead from the heart, backed by strengthened and aligned mindsets.

Light Your Leadership Inc. helps managers and executives to light their leadership and love their lives as leaders. We work with leaders in private, non-profit, or public sector organizations to evolve, elevate, and scale their leadership so they can drive results in healthy and sustainable ways. “We also help self-leaders to find their voice, boost their confidence, and help them unleash their full potential,” says Lisa. “We can teach the secrets of what sets great leaders apart: including the 3 Cs of Connection and the 8 Ps of Ignition: Profundity, Passion, Purpose, Perseverance, Professionalism, Play, Philanthropy, and Prosperity.”

As the proud daughter of hardworking Italian immigrants, Lisa has been passionate about helping people at work from day one. She started consulting in one of the Big Six firms at the age of twenty-two, where she led client teams to reengineer important government business processes. She has coached and facilitated workshops for thousands of people during her career. She started her journey as an entrepreneur after working in private and public sector roles for close to twenty years, when she founded her first company, Cattelan Palmer Consulting in 2011.

Since then, Lisa launched the international bestselling Light A Fire In Their Hearts: The Truth About Leadership, founded Light Your Leadership Inc., and created the LYLTalks Podcast in 2020–all done virtually during the pandemic while she was recovering from a serious fall that left her with a broken her arm and leg.

Lisa is currently writing her second book, the upcoming Leadership In A Post-Pandemic World: How To Elevate And SCALE For The Future With PURPOSE. Most recently, Lisa was featured as a co-host in five episodes of ECCL TV (on Roku), where she collaborated with a team of leadership and education experts to enlighten, encourage, and empower teachers, parents, and children to reimagine education. Lisa continues to advocate for and share strategies to raise awareness about the need for early leadership development.

Lisa supports female leaders and business owners by acting as a speaker, coach, mentor, trainer, and source of inspiration and encouragement for them. Her experience as a mother, partner, daughter and female business owner lends her to understand the challenges many women in business face. In addition, she has successfully overcome three burnouts and learned how to manage fibromyalgia. She eagerly shares her lessons learned with other women in the hope of helping them avoid burnout, to set healthy boundaries and to grow their leadership so they can advance their careers in healthier ways. In the past, she designed and delivered special workshops for participants in the WIL-STEM mentorship program for women enrolled in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math at the University of Ottawa and Carleton University. Beyond business, she is a trusted advisor for women running for council and sits on the She Did It! movement Board.

She also delivered over 100 workshops as part of the World Skills Empowering Newcomer Women Program, and has delivered keynotes and moderated panels for the the local chapter of Dress for Success in Ottawa Canada. Lisa has moderated women’s panels to provide a platform, for instance, a panel for women’s mental health and an all-women panel for how to be respectful allies who honor Black lives. She is taking the opportunity to champion local makeup expert, L.A. Barrett as she launches her own make-up line by inviting her to collaborate in a tradeshow booth with the theme, “The Beauty of Leadership: It’s Within You.”

Recently, Lisa sat on a panel for Elevate International’s Girl Leadership Forum at Ottawa’s City Hall, as well as on a panel at the Elevate Women National Conference 2022 that took place in Canada’s National Capital Region. There, she inspired young women to step into their leadership and practice compassion and courage, find their voice, and get ahead while staying true to themselves. She is also creating a platform for shining a light on leaders who put people and the planet first. She prominently features women leaders and thought leaders through her LYLTalks Podcast, forming and emceeing panels, and all aspects of her work.

“As women leaders, we are constantly having to overcome barriers, find ways to harmonize family and community-related demands with growing our business. We continue to be challenged to prove that we are more than equipped to be ‘at the table’,” explains Lisa. “Given these circumstances, courage, grit, determination, and resiliency are key—as is finding our voice—while at the same time remaining compassionate and nurturing. That is the strength we have and that the world needs more of right now.”

Lisa encourages leaders to answer their calling with a clear vision and to trust that their faith, authentic relationships and the strength of their vision will pull them through, even as life tests us along the way. She holds steadfast in her belief that, “Together, we can make the world a better workplace for all,” WL

Gloria Abreu-Fontana is the Chief Operating Officer at Goldberg & Rosen, a boutique law firm in the heart of Downtown Miami. Gloria oversees almost 50 employees and attorneys, thousands of cases, and tens of millions of dollars in finances.

“Gloria epitomizes the Goldberg and Rosen, P.A. brand: high quality, hard work, and humility. Over the last 28 years, she has transformed the Goldberg & Rosen firm from a two-lawyer solo-style firm to one of the largest and most successful personal injury firms in Florida. She takes a personal interest in every case that comes through the door and oftentimes is found spending hours with grieving clients at their homes. Gloria’s title may be COO, but everyone around her recognizes her for what she truly is: the MVP” said Judd Rosen, Managing Partner of Goldberg & Rosen, P.A. One of Gloria’s greatest strengths is the way she makes clients and employees feel at home and part of the family.

Gloria believes that you grow best by learning from your surroundings. While she has earned degrees in traditional settings- a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Business and Human Resources- it is her family that has taught her the biggest lessons.

“My oldest son, Armani, sets goals and will not stop until they are achieved. He teaches me about motivation, dedication, and perseverance. My middle son, Adrian, has conquered his hearing impairment with a smile. He teaches me about patience, endurance, and ‘perfection is the enemy of progress’. My youngest son, Andre, never takes “no” for an answer. He teaches me about persistence, determination, and discipline,” explains Gloria proudly. “My husband Philippe has taught me that love is unconditional, peace is priceless, and we only get one chance at life. Every day I strive toward my goal of learning from every person I meet and from every moment I experience.” When asked about raising three men, Gloria says she was “raised by women and raising men to appreciate women.”

loria’s familial support system has allowed her to be a powerhouse at work. “They are always there to inspire, boost my confidence, and support me unconditionally,” said Gloria. Specifically, Gloria’s mother made constant sacrifices to provide the COO of Goldberg & Rosen the best life possible. “She is an uplifting selfless woman, and I would be nowhere without her. My drive is her drive,” says Gloria. “I was blessed to have been raised by my female superheroes. My grandmother who to this day at the age of 98, thrives on my accomplishments; my mother, who is my rock; and my aunt, who has taught me never to lose faith.” Gloria’s unwavering ability to accomplish difficult tasks stems from a lifetime of watching them.

Gloria continues to inspire her employees with the motto that has guided her life: “The most effective way to lead is by example, find that thing that you are passionate about and do not let anyone or anything stand in your way of achieving it!” WL