World’s Rising High Women Leaders to Watch in 2023

1. Vol. 10 | Issue 13 | October 2023 www.worldsleaders.com WORLD'S RISING HIGH Women Leaders to Watch in 2023 LEADING LEADERS TO ACHIEVE THE BEST VERSION OF THEMSELVES PG. 22 An Enthusiastic Entrepreneur Revolutionizing Cosmetic Industry PG. 36 Gurminder Matharu Revolutionizing the Fashion Industry by Creating the Finest Sustainable Products

4. World's Rising High Women Leaders to Watch in 2023 Changing the Way of Modern Leadership A positive trend that indicates a growing recognition of the value and influence of women in positions of authority is the rise of women in leadership. By overcoming barriers and challenging gender stereotypes, these women are paving the way for future generations of women to succeed in positions of leadership. With her force and passion for this business, Gurminder founded Ltdedition with her team to bring the fashion industry the dedication it deserves in creating the best sustainable products. Join us in celebrating this fashion industry insider, Gurminder Matharu, and her commitment to sustainable fashion. Within the workplace, female leaders are promoting their female colleagues' empowerment and motivating them to realize their full potential. They are advocating for women's rights, gender equity, and equitable compensation. Additionally, they are striving to close the gaps in health equality, promote better maternal health services, expand access to family planning and contraception, and enhance healthcare for women and children. Gurminder is a passionate professional who knows how to lead her team in creating high-quality commercial products with a sustainable core. Her ability to maintain long-lasting business relationships with like-minded manufacturers sets her apart from the rest. Her extensive knowledge of the European fashion industry allows her to think along with the customer and deliver customized services. She offers Ltdedition customers a variety of high-end products that are both fashionable and sustainable. World's Leaders newest release of “World's Rising High Women Leaders to Watch in 2023” showcases women leaders who have made remarkable strides towards enhancing education and advocating for equitable access to quality education for all. These trailblazers are actively endorsing policies that bolster girls' education, encourage and enable STEM education, and combat the digital divide. Also, while you flip through the pages, don't forget to read the articles created by our in-house editorial staff and industry experts. The cover features Gurminder Matharu, a fashion enthusiast with thirty years of experience in the apparel industry. She is leading her team at Ltdedition to bring the best apparel to their customers. As the company's ambassador to the world of sourcing, buying, production, and distribution, Gurminder is the driving force behind the success of this sustainable fashion brand. Have a lovely read!

5. CREDIT PAGE Editor-in-Chief Steve Sanchez Managing Editor Jagdish Chincholikar Executive Editor Nicole Williams Assistant Editor Gayatri Bhujbal Art & Design Director Jack Anderson Business Development Manager Mia Oliver Business Development Executive Natalie, Jerrey Associate Designer Kevin Rust Digital Marketing Manager Victor Clarke Sales Manager Casey Simpson, Irfan Shekh Marketing Manager Tom Swann Technical Specialist Barry Jones Circulation Manager Danny Parker OCTOBER 2023 3296 Westerville Rd #250, Columbus, OH 43224, USA Copyright 2023 WORLD’S LEADERS Media Tech LLC, All rights reserved. The content and images used in this magazine should not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission from WORLD’S LEADERS Reprint rights remain solely with WORLD’S LEADERS. Follow us on :

6. Cover Story 08 Revolutionizing the Fashion Industry by Creating the Finest Sustainable Products

7. 18 Bev Moore Cloé Caron 22 Dr. Katie Lau 28 Ingrid Vasiliu-Feltes 32 36 Missy MacKintosh Nicole Carter 40 46 Nita White-Ivy 50 Sandrine Desbarbieux-Lloyd 54 Thuy Nguyen

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9. Revolutionizing the Fashion Industry by Creating the Finest Sustainable Products worldsleaders.com | 09

10. (From left to right)Sunil Kumar Pandey,Uma Arora, Gurminder Matharu, Akshi Sood, Shweta Bali Kumar, Vikas Gupta Sustainable fashion is a growing trend in the fashion industry that focuses on creating clothing that has a minimal impact on the environment. This includes using sustainable materials, reducing waste during production, and promoting fair labor practices. The concept of sustainable fashion also emphasizes the longevity of clothing and encourages consumers to invest in high- quality, timeless pieces that can be worn for years to come. By prioritizing sustainability in fashion, we can reduce the negative impact of the industry on the environment and create a more ethical and responsible approach to fashion consumption. to their customers. As the company's ambassador to the world of sourcing, buying, production, and distribution, Gurminder is the driving force behind the success of this sustainable fashion brand. With her force and passion for this business, Gurminder founded Ltdedition with her team to bring the fashion industry the dedication it deserves in creating the best sustainable products. Join us in celebrating this fashion industry insider, Gurminder Matharu, and her commitment to sustainable fashion. Gurminder is a passionate professional who knows how to lead her team in creating high-quality commercial products with a sustainable core. Her ability to maintain long-lasting business relationships with like-minded manufacturers sets her apart from the rest. Her extensive Meet Gurminder Matharu, a fashion enthusiast with thirty years of experience in the apparel industry. She is leading her team at Ltdedition to bring the best apparel 10 | October 2023

11. knowledge of the European fashion industry allows her to think along with the customer and deliver customized services. She offers Ltdedition customers a variety of high-end products that are both fashionable and sustainable. managing the supply chain for a range of fashion needs, including apparel, shoes, accessories, and home furnishings, ensuring that customers receive high-quality products within the shortest possible timeframe. The Company Environmental sustainability is at the core of Ltdedition's mission. Looking towards the future with great aspirations, the company understands the importance of preserving nature, which it sees as being as close to the divine as possible. As a result, Ltdedition vows to continue prioritizing sustainability and ensuring that its customers never feel guilty about the impact of their fashion choices on the planet. In a world where sustainable fashion is becoming increasingly important, Ltdedition is working tirelessly to make this vision a reality. It has partnered with brands and retailers to create shared value through its intuitive approach to sustainability. As a global sourcing forum, Ltdedition works with authentic suppliers who are certified for sustainable products, primarily based in India, Bangladesh, and China. The team is dedicated to (From left to right) Akshi Sood, Gurminder Matharu, Shweta Bali Kumar worldsleaders.com | 11

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13. Valuable Advice for Young Women Leaders As a successful entrepreneur and business leader, Gurminder has some valuable advice for young, emerging women leaders. Firstly, she emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive outlook, even during the most challenging of times. Keeping your head held high and believing in yourself and your vision is essential for success. Secondly, Gurminder stresses the importance of treating the people you work with well. These individuals are your colleagues, your peers, and your team, and they will be there to support you throughout your journey. So, it's crucial to treat them with kindness, empathy, and respect, regardless of their position in the hierarchy. Gurminder also notes that holding a title may give you authority, but it's important to use that power wisely and with firmness, so that you never have to use it. Ultimately, good leadership is about how you treat people, and the mark of a great leader is someone who can inspire and motivate their team to achieve great things. By following these principles, young women leaders can set themselves up for success and make a positive impact in their industries and beyond. worldsleaders.com | 13

14. (From left to right)Sunil Kumar Pandey, Uma Arora, Vikas Gupta, Akshi Sood, Shweta Bali Kumar, Gurminder Matharu From Childhood Fascination to Running a Multinational Company starting at a small export house in Greater Kailash. Over time, she worked her way up to running and overseeing the entire sample room of a larger export house. Her hard work and dedication eventually led her to become the Country Head for a European multinational, where she ran their head office in Gurgaon for over 25 years. Since her early childhood, Gurminder had been fascinated by the process of garment making. Watching her mother stitch school uniforms and clothes at home on a Singer's hand machine sparked her interest in fashion design. After completing her high school education, Gurminder pursued her passion and enrolled in a fashion design program at an institute in New Delhi. Starting a Company During the Pandemic Starting a new company amidst the pandemic when other businesses were shutting down was a daunting task for Gurminder. The challenges of working from home during the lockdown only added to the difficulties. From managing paperwork to designing the company's website, every step came with its own set of hurdles. The biggest challenge was finding and retaining customers, as retail shops were closing down and orders were dropping. Under the tutelage of renowned teachers like Ms. Vandana Narang and Ms. Bani Jha, Gurminder honed her skills in garment making, putting in long hours of hard work to perfect every step of the process. She gained practical experience by creating garments for herself and her siblings, applying her theoretical knowledge to create beautiful pieces. Gurminder entered the fashion industry by 14 | October 2023

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17. Despite the obstacles, Gurminder persevered, and the first order was a turning point. The graph steadily improved, but the pressure of all the work remained. Working 24x7, seven days a week, Gurminder felt the weight of responsibility for not just her own family but also those who worked with her. The pressure was tough to mitigate, and Gurminder often found herself praying for strength and guidance. Nevertheless, she remained grateful for the people who believed in her vision for LTDedition and trusted her to provide for them. Though times were tough, Gurminder knew that she had the expertise and determination to succeed, no matter what challenges lay ahead. garment industry. She believes in the interconnectedness of work and life and strives to create a work environment where everyone's input and suggestions are valued. For Gurminder, leadership is not about personal gain, but rather about serving the people she works with. Exploring the Vision and Collaborative Efforts for Sustainable Future For three decades, Gurminder has been immersed in the apparel industry, surrounded by a network of talented individuals from diverse fields. She has explored fairs, traveled to exotic locales like printing and weaving mills, and regularly met with manufacturers to stay abreast of developments in her industry. With an insatiable thirst for knowledge, Gurminder never shies away from new technologies, preferring instead to surround herself with skilled experts in this area. Resilience, Integrity, and Creating a Positive Work Culture One of the significant milestones in Gurminder's professional journey was her perspective on leadership and the impact it had on her attitude and behavior towards the industry. She believes that respect is not something that can be demanded, but rather earned through gratitude and good behaviour. To be a leader, one must have resilience and integrity, as these qualities have the potential to bring out the best outcome. Gurminder also emphasizes the importance of creating a positive and trustworthy work culture, where people can openly communicate their ideas without fear of judgment or doubt. But LTDedition is more than just Gurminder's vision - it's a shared dream among a tight-knit team of collaborators. Through years of collaboration, they've built a foundation of trust and mutual respect that fuels their passion for sustainable fashion. Together, they strive to create a platform that will promote "sustainable fashion for good" and unite people around the world in this common cause. At the heart of their vision is a belief in the power of business to effect positive change in the world. Through a shared set of values, they hope to inspire others to join them in their pursuit of a more sustainable future. By doing their part to create a better tomorrow, they believe they can create a brighter future for all. Gurminder recognizes that her success as a business leader is not solely based on her own efforts, but also on the people who have accepted her as their leader and supported her outside of the worldsleaders.com | 17

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20. O Bev is a philanthropist, global influencer, writer, a talent manager and film producer in addition to being a visionary leader. She provides in-depth recommendations that empower and inspire people to thrive in order to create a better future. Bev has spent her whole life as an entrepreneur in a competitive atmosphere, and these are the lessons she's learned. power of action; "Prove it, not promise it.” When it comes to writing, the website contains a number of pieces written by Bev that might assist you in moving ahead in your own personal tale. Bev will assist you in locating the resources you require for success. Since the launch of her platform in 2020, Bev has established a secure area for individuals to rise, network, and advance in their professions. In essence, a hub has gone online where anyone may obtain resources in a pinch. Her life experiences are applied to her profession and all she aspires to. Over the years, Bev has co- founded and managed multi- million dollar businesses. She is the current owner and CEO of a variety of businesses. Her professional knowledge and personal experiences combine to give each audience a unique vitality. Organizations must adapt swiftly in a rapidly changing world to suit the requirements of their changing environment. Only by adopting a transformational leadership approach that meets the demands of their changing environment can organizations remain relevant and achieve long- term success and sustainability. Governments, industries, hospitals, schools, and other institutions require "genuine leaders" who "assist us in overcoming our constraints today more than ever." Bev has always been up for a challenge, and she has never been afraid to try anything new by experimenting and breaking through barriers. One can get important insights that can assist in navigating life's problems and achieving one's goals/making the seemingly impossible now achievable. She asserts, "You will change your mindset so you can overcome any challenge ahead and become self-aware in order to position yourself as a winner.” Bev uses the Swahili proverb, "Unity is Strength, Division is Weakness," to illustrate her point. She believes that great things may be done when individuals work together to achieve a shared objective rather than working alone. This empowers them to greatly exceed their own expectations. Bev was motivated by this idea to take action and start her platform. The platform is currently expanding, and you may now become a part of it. It is hardly a challenge for the weak of heart to create a distinct commercial legacy. Those who want to make a difference must devote themselves to this difficult task with utmost devotion and tenacity. "The most successful businesses are not afraid to do things differently," says Bev Moore . She is the founder Bev Moore Talent of Agency, and she aspires to revolutionize the business by doing things that no one else has done before. Bev has a wealth of experience as a result of her decisions, and she is currently concentrating on affecting as many people as possible. Her business knowledge and personal connections combine to give her a unique energy with any audience, allowing her to make things happen. Bev provides in-depth information to her customers in order to motivate and encourage them to strive for a brighter future. A True Philanthropist CEO and Bev is a philanthropist who devotes her time, money, and energy to causes that she believes in. Bev has made her mark on a number of projects throughout the years. Bev is a firm believer in the 20 | October 2023

21. Key Advice for Aspiring Individuals Bev Moore is a visionary leader who recognizes great potential and is not hesitant to try new things. Mentorship and coaching have been regular routes throughout her career, and her objectives have been sincere. Bev feels giddy when she can assist others and make their dreams come true. Her purpose is to bring together some of the greatest in the entertainment world for partnerships and initiatives. Her advice to young, up-and-coming leaders is to: Ÿ Be an expert in the market that your company is expanding into. Always build on your strengths as a company. Achievements and Accolades Healthcare Council.org member for a bio-science company on the Johns Hopkins University campus. Bev networked as a source of medical grade collagen, primarily for inclusion in a turn-key proprietary component integrated wound care clinical protocol for promoting accelerated wound healing to be founded and marketed to a 3rd party concierge with a customer base of over 10,000 physicians and health care professionals in the United States alone. Bev has invested in and mentored a variety of initiatives and enterprises, ranging from the entertainment industry to Fortune 500 companies and international non-governmental organizations. She helped build the correct strategy and business plan for the businesses she worked with, ensuring their success. She thinks that when people work together toward a shared purpose, amazing things may be accomplished. This provides them with a tremendous amount of power, which they may use to help them exceed their goals. Communicate on behalf of the company, with government entities, and the public. lead the creation of the company's short- and long-term strategies Create and implement the company or organization's vision and mission. Maintain awareness of the competitive market landscape, expansion opportunities, industry developments, etc. Ensure that the company maintains high social responsibility wherever it does business. Assess risks to the company and ensure they are monitored and minimize. Set strategic goals and make sure they are measurable and describable. Ÿ Member of the Emerging and Evolving Leaders Leadership Development Team. Ÿ Bev has received the following honors during the course of her career: Ÿ Member of the Women's Presidents Organization (WPO) The 10 Most Inspiring Business Women Making a Difference in 2021 with CIO Times. Ÿ The Leaders Globe's 50 Supertech Brands for 2021 Ÿ Member of Innovation Care & Consulting (ICC), a Ÿ worldsleaders.com | 21

22. PRESIDENT & FOUNDER O2COACHING CLOÉ CARON 22 | October 2023

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28. FOUNDER DR. KATIE CLINIC 28 | October 2023

29. DR. KATIE LAU Using Aesthetic Medical Services to Assist People in Living a Beautiful and Healthy Life worldsleaders.com | 29

30. P her educational journey as a medical student, nor did she want to concentrate in the disciplines of cosmetic and aesthetic medicine. Her ultimate purpose was to assist those who were in need. Following three years of basic surgical training at Queen Mary Hospital—the University of Hong Kong's teaching hospital—several unexpected possibilities led her into private practise in 2011. She began her career as a general practitioner and an aesthetic physician. After a few years, she chose to devote herself entirely too aesthetic medicine because it entails more operations and allows for healing with the hands, as opposed to surgery. her sympathetic character. Katie reflected on the period when she was insistent about choosing aesthetic treatment as her last choice, admitting it was the finest decision she had ever made. She sought to use her talents to help others, which gave her a feeling of fulfilment and comfort. Her goal was never merely to give people medicine, but to make them happy by treating their psychological structures as well. People prioritise their health above anything else in their life. When someone becomes ill or injured, their usual way of life is disturbed, and physicians have the great potential to restore these people's lives to normal. As a result, becoming a doctor is immensely satisfying. Katie learned after years of working in this field that many of the 'imperfections' identified by her patients were the result of a variety of social or other external influences. The most prevalent reason for people knocking on the doors of aesthetics physicians was peer pressure. She is a firm believer in focusing on visible qualities while also addressing interior difficulties in order to create one's identity. She quietly counsels her patients with some insightful chats and specific programmes to enhance their highs and reduce their lows, all with this great purpose in mind. Throughout her journey, Katie acquired a strong foundation and tactful approach to dealing with people from various backgrounds, while developing and shaping her missionary principles and direction over time, thanks to a variety of experiences—including technical and personal aspects gained from working for several centres. Furthermore, the sportsmanship she developed as a competitive swimmer throughout her adolescent years helped to shape her strong character, which survived and remained throughout. Dr. Katie Lau is an aesthetic doctor with over ten years of expertise treating patients in the field of aesthetic medicine. In 2017, Katie founded Dr. Katie Clinic in the field of cosmetic medicine as her own private enterprise. Katie earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Hong Kong in 2006. She began working in aesthetics in 2011 after completing her surgical training at Queen Mary Hospital. During this time, she worked for a variety of firms, honing her abilities and gaining expertise. Furthermore, Katie identified certain pain problems while aggressively working at private institutions to acquire expertise, where many actors were highly focused on promoting technological advancements rather than providing appropriate answers to patients. Many private clinic entrepreneurs did not come from a medical background, demonstrating their business- oriented mind-set. Helping those who are in Need The Motivation behind Starting Entrepreneurial Journey - devote herself entirely to aesthetic medicine Katie Lau's cosmetic clinic is not only a place where individuals may have their physical looks changed, but it's also a place where patients can have their personalities changed because of Katie had no intention of starting her own business when she began 30 | October 2023

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38. issy MacKintosh is the M Cosmetics, a beauty product company that aims to redefine the cosmetics industry by combining the high-quality application with ethical and ecological manufacturing. Missy MacKintosh built MisMacK from the ground up in her basement in small- town Canoe, BC, Canada. She personally has never met or knew of anyone who had built a Makeup brand before. She had to learn all of it on her own. However, she has been in the industry for over 25 years and 16 years of that as a Professional Makeup Artist, and her work has been internationally published, and she has worked in Management for companies such as MAKE UP FOR EVER, and Nars. She says, “As someone who eats, sleeps, breathes makeup on a daily basis, I know what works and what doesn't.” According to Missy MacKintosh, she had the vision of MisMacK in her head for a long time. “In 2017, it was time to bring my plan to action,” says Missy MacKintosh. world into one unique amazing brand. I understand that makeup is not a passive sale. It takes education and getting our clients into our chair to experience it firsthand. At our MisMacK stores, we offer Complimentary Pampering Sessions all day every day to give our clients exactly that. We are also the only brand that offers private one on one makeup lessons where you become the student and learn as you're doing your makeup with our guidance. We make you write each step down, so you have that to take home with you. Because really, where can you go to learn without someone trying to sell you a trend. We teach based on a technique that I call the Natural Guides to a face. These are taught in our MisMacK Artistry education modules for future Makeup Artists wanting to learn and become professional makeup artists. Founder and CEO of MisMacK Clean Below are the highlights of the interview conducted between World's Leaders and Missy MacKintosh: Describe MisMacK's offerings that address the need of your customers. MisMacK is one of the first Professional Performing Clean Makeup Lines on the Market. In 2016 I was introduced to Clean Makeup, but they all had the same issue – lack of performance and pigment. Trying to find products that held up to my picky pro standards just didn't exist. So I created them working directly with a Female Canadian Chemist who specializes in Clean beauty. MisMacK merges both the Mainstream the Clean and the Pro 38 | October 2023

39. Enlighten us on how you have made an impact in this industry through your expertise in the industry. MisMacK provides fun and safe products packed with pigment and perform better than mainstream. I understand how products sit on the skin and work with my Chemist to create them, so they are easy for consumers to apply and blend. The technology we're using is incredibly unique in the cosmetic world. We're truly pushing the industry forward in more ways than one. Our impact is also around education. We are passionate about educating the Pro world of Makeup Artists and the everyday consumer that your body is your largest organ. It only takes 28 seconds for a toxic ingredient to hit your bloodstream. Yes, your body is good at getting rid of it but when we're marinating in these products since before we are born our systems tap out. We start seeing allergies, and a lot of these ingredients are hormone disruptors that can contribute to fertility issues. We're providing makeup and tools that allow everyone to ignite their creativity, push their limits, and work flawlessly in a safe way not only for all humans but also for our environment. complimentary pampering sessions all day every day at our MisMacK stores; educating our clients on product placement and how to use our unique products. We believe less is more and learning how to use our products in multiple ways. Our tag is 'we're Small but Mighty and the Masters of Multi-Purpose products'. Eliminating wasteful packaging and the overwhelming guilty feeling you have when you open up an over- packed makeup bag. We teach that “Makeup does not define you; it's merely a tool of Empowerment” Dany Sanz the founder of Makeup Forever is my biggest idol. Our stories are incredibly similar, and a super cool thing is that we now have her full support and her using MisMacK in her pro kit. My time favourite book is the 5 am Club. Taking into consideration, the current pandemic, and its impact on global economies, how are you driving your organization to sustain operations and ensuring the safety of your employees at the same time? Where do you envision yourself to be in the long run, and what are your future goals for MisMacK? Safety is of utmost importance here at MisMacK. As a pro makeup artist sanitation is our number one priority. Being in a small boutique shop that's a small batch, we're able to easily manage quality and safety control. We always make sure our team is happy and healthy. What are the challenges you and your team at MisMacK come across in your day-to-day operations? I envision MisMacK being a trusted Global Brand. My goal is to have about 5 stores across Canada, one in London, one in Paris, New York and LA. 9. What would be your advice to budding entrepreneurs? Fail into your flow. Failure is where growth happens. I say if you're not failing you're not growing. Everything is also figure-out-able. If you want it bad enough you will figure out a way to make it happen. Well to be quite honest, we do all the things here at MisMacK HQ including shipping, receiving, and labelling. And getting our labels on straight is truly a daily challenge lol. Describe in detail the values and the work culture that drives MisMacK. What people, what books, what life factors have influenced and impacted you? We value education, customer service, customer experience, and fun. Makeup is fun. We offer worldsleaders.com | 39

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46. Chief Human Resources Officer BlackBerry NITA WHITE-IVY A Tech Savvy HR Leader with Extensive Work Experiences 46 | October 2023

47. O analytics, HR operations, support and services, and strategic programs. being a new immigrant to the U.S. and living with the sole purpose to provide a good life for her son as a responsible parent. She set out her “to get the proper academic preparation” to be able to compete in the job market and qualify for a good job and pay. It was an unwavering goal for her to secure a stronger future for both of them (for her and her child.) The challenges of not having friends or family members to assist her, working full-time while going to school full-time, did not derail her from the goal. Nita considers that the reason she is thriving and feeling strengthened in the sector is because of being an active participant and contributor in a turn-around organization. BlackBerry is the third turn-around company that she had been fortunate to join. There is the ultimate reward and the sweetness of success when the company succeeds in achieving its transformation objectives. She deems, “Employee morale, performance and retention, recruitment of talent, and company stock price all get the positive boost just to name a few.” The Beginning Nita considers her entering the high technology industry as HR manager of professional employment and compensation for a notable mainframe computer company was the true beginning of her HR career. Prior to joining BlackBerry, Nita spent 15 years as the head of global HR with Sybase Inc., until it was acquired by SAP. She says, “We became part of SAP and I concurrently served as Chief People Officer for SuccessFactors (another SAP-acquired company) until I joined BlackBerry.” Operating an efficient business requires effective communication, a skilled workforce, and effective work culture. These all can be achieved by having a proficient HR team that is also responsible for moderating errors, increasing employee engagement, forming the foundation for better client relationships, stimulating innovation and creativity, and helping in building a positive culture. Meet Nita White-Ivy, Chief Human ResourcesOfficer at BlackBerry, who holds on experience in best-in-class global HR practices/management and interface with the compensation committee of company's board of directors mostly in the areas of officers' and board of directors' compensation, incentives, and benefits. At the beginning of her career, she was termed “the feisty” and “most productive recruiter” for developing and driving successful university relations and recruitment programs which accelerated recruitment of top- notch college graduates to fill engineering and development employment requisitions. Nita was also fortunate to be selected at that time as one of the high-potential employees for the company thereby receiving a promotion to the next grade every 15 to 18 months. She asserts, “It was my desire to be in high demand, energized, and forward-looking-industry and work environment. I always aspire to be where technology addresses current global requirements plus the foresight for the future.” For Nita, success is having a strong purpose to achieve with focus and perseverance, overcoming challenges, acknowledging any fear of failure, and managing it until the completion of what one sets out to accomplish. Thriving in Male-Dominated Sector At BlackBerry, Nita is responsible for leading the HR team to design and deliver global programs, initiatives, partnerships, solutions, and services in all facets of HR, to support the achievement of the company's operational goals and strategic objectives. This includes HR business partnerships, talent development, talent acquisition, total rewards, employee relations & compliance, DE&I, HRIS/HRIT & A Woman of Persistence Nita states, “Challenges, setbacks, roadblocks, and the lessons we learn from them do make a person Nita was a single mom at a very young age. Then, she was taking the responsibility alone for the child, and worldsleaders.com | 47

48. AWARDS stronger.” From her journey experiences, she points that as a woman, and a minority, entering the high-technology world and succeeding in it was most challenging, to say the least. needs/requirements: and. (3) Balance mind and heart when leading and developing your team members. Accept that there will be some failures and disappointments, but witnessing mentees grow, and blossom professionally are the precious rewards to savour. The Brand; BlackBerry in the last 20+ years has its own set of challenges. But they are just that - challenges to overcome and to navigate with purpose and determination for one to succeed and make a difference.” The biggest lessons of Nita's professional journey are: (1) Ability to juggle, prioritize and re-prioritize what needs to get done as days usually do not go as planned: (2) Understand, keep up to date, and deliver to the company's business Nita recalls that she worked doubly hard every step of the way, did her “homework” to demonstrate knowledge and proficiency, and earned professional respect accordingly. She asserts, “Being a corporate officer for three companies BlackBerry is delivering the next generation of cloud-based, AI cybersecurity solutions to address 48 | October 2023

49. today and tomorrow's cybersecurity threats and ensure organizations of all sizes remain safe trust it to secure their most sensitive information. “Each day begins by focusing on our customers first and being as responsive as possible to their secure communications needs.” employees and maintaining ongoing and close HR communication with the people leaders and employees. Furthermore, the team is also keeping abreast of local government and health authorities' directives/mandates and ensuring company compliance. BlackBerry is poised to extend this position by accelerating the adoption of emerging automotive connected services with its BlackBerry IVY platform, co-developed with AWS, as well as by expanding its footprint in safety-critical connected endpoints found in industries such as transportation, medical, manufacturing, and robotics. as well as by expanding its footprint in safety- critical connected endpoints found in industries such as transportation, medical, manufacturing, and robotics. Accountability: The teams are knowledgeable, fully engaged, and accountable. “By cultivating and rewarding individual passion, creativity, and achievement, we meet and exceed our commitments to our colleagues and the business.” As a Leader Nita sees herself as a 'tenacious' leader. Prioritizing, being resilient, and taking time to recharge including taking a 'mental health day off' is her mantra of having a balanced life. Teamwork and Mutual Respect: All employees work as one team, united behind the same goals, and always with respect for each other as professionals. “We have each other's backs and do whatever we can to support each other, including colleagues in other workgroups.” At the company, she keeps everyone motivate by having and sharing a common purpose and focus, maintaining ongoing communication and collaboration, and recognizing team members for their contribution and support of each other. She asserts, “I am committed to seeing, and be a part of, the completion of BlackBerry's successful turnaround.” The Roots of BlackBerry According to Nita, integrity and innovation are fully embedded in BlackBerry's core values, which are well communicated to its global employees and posted on the internal website as shown below. She says, “HR models these Core Values in everything that we do.” Ensuring the Company Leads with Best Work Practices The pandemic has altered the “normal” or regular workday. Nita leads the HR team to ensure the company delivers what is best practice in the industry in terms of programs, systems, processes, and policies to serve the business needs of the companies and in compliance with the employment laws of the countries where BlackBerry does business. She mentions that due to COVID-19, there is no “best-practice box” to draw from for HR practitioners to meet and solve the challenges, uncertainties, and issues each day brings. At this time, and until the teams return to a near- normal or normal company operation, she is leading the HR team in protecting the health and safety of A Note for Young Leaders “Have a sense of purpose that is strong enough for you to not yield to challenges, roadblocks, and setbacks, each of which carries a lesson to be learned for future reflection and draw from as a useful tool,” says Nita. She further suggests that do our best to achieve a balance between mind and heart. She thinks, “Applying emotional intelligence, especially in today's world of pandemic fatigue and mental stress, will connect you positively closer to your colleagues and customers. Innovation: The Company leads in its chosen markets by constantly innovating. “We learn equally from our successes and failures, and never rest on our laurels.” Integrity: The business is based on the trust customers place in BlackBerry to secure their most valuable information. “We conduct ourselves at the highest level of business ethics by complying with our internal controls and procedures.” Customer Focus: BlackBerry is successful because customers worldsleaders.com | 49

50. Sandrine Desbarbieux-Lloyd Driving Organizational Success through Digital Transformation T revolution is here, and it's only going to accelerate. AI will change the world we live in. Meet Sandrine Desbarbieux-Lloyd, a digital leader by nature renowned for driving changes in organizations. Embracing the Changes to Get Ahead he world is at the very beginning of a very steep change. The 4th industrial fourth industrial revolution and everything is going to change, so I am trying to keep ahead." Digital changes are happening every day. It is no longer just a channel to market, but a way of life. Sandrine believes it's her job to make people comfortable with digital advancements and take them along on the journey. "It's been my role to keep on top of those changes, be ahead of them sometimes, lead teams into the unknown, and make sure my team keeps on learning and challenging themselves," says Sandrine. Advance Tech Offerings Samsung provides innovative products and experiences that enrich their customers' lives with meaningful technology that puts their needs at the core. Samsung's extensive range of products spans from smartphones, tablets, and wearable devices to TVs, digital appliances, and more, all designed with the mission of improving the daily lives of people around the world. With Sandrine's expertise in digital, she has built a high-performing European digital team that overachieves targets every year. She mentions, "As a marketer with over 25 years' experience, I keep the team focused on always putting the customer at the heart of what we do." As a digital marketer, Sandrine concentrates on hyper- targeting and hyper-personalization of team communication with the company's visitors and customers, using AI and machine learning. This helps to increase customer satisfaction and generate additional revenue for the business at the same time. Over the years, she has learned that the best results when creating change always come from multiple teams and multiple outputs. She says, "Good leaders listen to all views before shaping their own, and the great ideas that all of my team have helped form what change looks like." It's especially true of all the work the company does in AI/machine learning and intelligent automation. She opines, "We are at the beginning of the Samsung is also focused on innovations needed for tomorrow, and how it can build a more connected, thoughtful future. Challenges Exposed by the Pandemic Due to the pandemic, the focus on digital has been key for all businesses. It's been the same at 50 | October 2023