In the world of business, inspiring women leaders have proven their worth again and again. They’re an invaluable resource that brings new perspectives, fresh ideas, and invaluable experience to any organization or industry. Here’s a list of 10 female business leaders who are sure to make waves in 2023 with their inspiring stories and accomplishments.
From entrepreneurs to executives, these women demonstrate strength, resilience, and leadership on a daily basis. Read on to learn more about these trailblazers who are making an impact on today’s business world.
J.J. Lee, L’Orèal Group
J.J. (Jennifer) Lee, Director of Global Innovation and Marketing at L’Orèal and Founder of non-profit United We Mask, channels an entrepreneurial mindset inside and outside of the industry. While at L’Orèal, JJ spearheaded the development of their first DTC personalized hair colour brand, Color & Co (awarded 2x Allure’s “Best of Beauty”) and managed the development of innovative skincare devices for Lâncome. At the start of the pandemic in March 2020, despite the scepticism surrounding mask-wearing practices, JJ mobilized students and employees from organizations like UCLA, Harvard, Google, and Boys & Girls Clubs to build a flexible supply chain, making masks more accessible to the public, and reserving N95 masks for members at higher risk. Together, they donated over 10,000 mask-making kits and offered diverse PPE solutions based on the community’s needs. As a female scientist, engineer, and fashion designer, JJ finds great pride in bridging the gap between fashion, science, public health, and anything in-between.
Kaeli Lindholm, KLC Consulting
Kaeli Lindholm is CEO of KLC Consulting and Founder of the POP Aesthetic Leadership Academy, a 12-month business development incubator for female founders in aesthetics and wellness. Her mission is to help 1000 inspiring and intentional women cross the next million-dollar milestone in their business in 2023.
Widely recognized as a brand revisionist, Kaeli believes achieving the ‘category of one’ success requires taking a differentiated approach. Her coaching and academy programs bring unique perspectives that challenge the very construct of business success. Paired with significant revenue growth, clients describe the benefit of working with Kaeli as “game-changing”, “both guide and exceptional partner”, and “provides value well beyond monetary measurement!” When you partner with Kaeli, you will make an empowered transformation in your business and life.
Kaeli’s signature programs bring fortune 500 leadership systems to high-impact women in aesthetics. Catch Kaeli on her award-winning podcast, The Fierce Factor.
Laura Jakobsen, RIOT Energy
Laura’s outlook in life was shaped by growing up as a ski racer. She believes you can make anything possible – if you commit, persevere, and remain fearless in facing challenges. Previously, she was a strategic brand and product development consultant to C-level executives in top food and beverage companies, and before starting RIOT Energy, Laura was the Chief Marketing & Product Innovation Officer for Pinkberry Frozen Yogurt.
Now, Laura, the Founder of RIOT Energy, plans to create a RIOT in the 12B+ Energy Drink market by giving the next generation of consumers exactly what they are demanding- real, simple & effective ingredients. For decades, the energy drink industry has hit repeat on the status quo – continually underserving people with sugary, potentially harmful chemical combos- remaining generally unresponsive to the customer demand for better.
So as they do, Laura went ALL IN – determined to create RIOT Energy. A daily energy drink that delivers the same energy level as traditional energy drinks from organic, radically better, real and refreshingly tasty, 100% plant-powered ingredients. Zero chemicals. Zero added sugar.
Annie Leib, Annie Leib LLC
Annie Leib is an experienced executive coach and businesswoman whose sole purpose is to align leaders with their most authentic selves, which unlocks their ability to create a huge impact in the world. She helps companies see that “when you take care of your people, your people take care of your business.”
Annie’s message and methodology span across industries and has brought praise from companies for the change it has created. Her clients become changed leaders that lead change.
Her unique methodology is captured in her trademark BREATH Framework, which focuses intensely on identifying a person’s life purpose, value system, and core leadership traits. Annie helps clients realign their actions and mindsets, unlocking their hidden potential.
Annie’s world is centred around her practice and her incredible family. She has an Executive MBA and her professional coaching certification.
Annu Talreja, Accacia
Annu Talreja is an INSEAD graduate with 15+ years of experience in global real estate M&A, asset management, sustainability, and development projects. She has successfully transacted >$1bil in real estate & infrastructure and managed delivery of projects worth >$2bil.
Annu worked with leading global companies in the Real Estate industry, including Marriott, AECOM and EY, before she founded her first venture Oxfordcaps – a student housing company operating in Singapore and India. Within four years, she grew the business to US$20mil annual revenue before exiting in 2021. She has also won many accolades for her entrepreneurial journey, including 40 Under-40 Business Leaders, Southeast Asia’s Top 50 Rising Women in Tech 2021, Forbes Modern India’s Gamechangers and INSEAD’s Young Alumni Achievement Award.
With her current venture, Accacia.ai, Annu is all set to help global real estate move towards net-zero goals and combat climate change. Acacia has led a seed round led by leading international investors like Accel and B-Capital.
Carrie Kelsch, A Plus Garage Doors
Carrie Kelsch is an entrepreneur. As a business owner, leader, and innovator, she has founded and led many successful companies and stays driven by her desire to help others.
Kelsch is the founder and president of A Plus Garage Doors, established in 2005. Under her leadership, it has become an award-winning, multi-million-dollar home services company with 90+ employees and numerous loyal customers throughout Utah.
Her latest venture is the Travalière, a patented invention with the potential to revolutionise the travel luggage industry, eliminating knots or tangles of jewellery while travelling.
A natural leader and motivator, she always looks for ways to improve the world around her. She has a gift for finding creative solutions to problems and constantly seeks new challenges. Her determination and drive will undoubtedly lead to many more successful ventures.
Bethany Plaza, Bethany Plaza
Bethany Plaza leverages emerging technologies to transform companies, accelerate sustainable innovation, and identify growth opportunities – in collaboration with leadership, multi-disciplinary teams, and customers. Recognised as a revitalisation chief, she enjoys disrupting the status quo to help businesses stay competitive, drive supply chain resiliency and plan for the future.
She currently serves as a CEO for WorkFar Robotics and Advantage Plastics (a manufacturing company) and is the founder of Innovation Tech. A seasoned entrepreneur, Plaza has built and exited five startups over the last several years. Before the exits, her companies grew by more than 500% YoY and produced double-digit EBITDA growth. In addition, she has built and led professional services teams and consistently delivered profit margins of more than 30%.
When Plaza is not driving innovation and operational excellence, she enjoys helping women in tech advance their careers, transforming victims of abuse at the workplace into victors. She also serves on several boards, including a cybersecurity company currently in stealth mode. Plaza is the National Director for Women in Technology International (WITI).
Upasana Sharma, Investor Quotient Canada Inc.
Meet Upasana, a true trailblazer and the dynamic CEO of IQ Canada. She is also the Co-founder of Canada’s fastest-growing Venture Studio.
With a wealth of legal experience from her time practising law with Toronto’s leading law firm, Lerners LLP, she brings unique insight into the Canadian regulatory system- an invaluable asset backing her expertise in advocacy, negotiating, critical thinking, and problem-solving! Named a MacArthur Foundation Scholar for her dedication and drive, Upasana achieved academic success by obtaining an LLM degree from the University of Toronto.
Upasana has used her formidable knowledge and experience to build one of the most influential companies in Canada’s Startup ecosystem, helping clients break into Canada’s competitive market. Being an entrepreneur herself, Upasana has the acumen and empathy to aid entrepreneurs through the daunting process of expanding their ventures to Canada. Upasana is an unstoppable force in providing exceptional service, which has positioned her as a trusted advisor to many startups. She sits on the Board of Angel One Network and is the Vice President of TiE Toronto, with a mission to foster entrepreneurship. Her impressive network brings together top investors, business experts, and lawyers that help her clients with vital services to ensure their success.
Silvina Nordenstohl, Galderma
Silvina Nordenstohl joined Galderma in 2007 in Argentina. Over the past 16 years, Silvina has served the company in increasingly senior roles as Marketing Director in Brazil in 2011, Business Unit Director in 2013, LATAM Aesthetics Business Unit Director in 2016, Head of the Aesthetics and Prescription Business in 2017 and then as General Manager, Brazil in 2019 and was appointed Head of Galderma’s LATAM region in May 2020. In August 2022, Silvina was appointed Head of the U.S., Galderma’s largest region.
Before joining Galderma, Silvina worked as Marketing Manager with Beiersdorf and the Coca-Cola Company in Argentina and other regional roles. Silvina holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of Torcuato di Tella, Buenos Aires, Argentina, and has completed several executive training courses at the Harvard Business School and Stanford University Graduate School of Business. Silvina speaks fluent English, Spanish and Portuguese.
Lucinda Koza, I Ally. Inc.
Lucinda Koza had just premiered a short film at the Cannes Film Festival when she suddenly became her father’s sole caregiver at a young age. The lack of support she experienced drove her to create I-Ally, an app that provides resources for young caregivers. She has since become an advocate for the 65 million unpaid, invisible Americans who are family caregivers. Mrs Koza has had essays published in Thought Catalog, Medium Women, Caregiving.com and Hackernoon.com.
She was featured in Founded by Women: The Book and named a “Hero of the COVID Crisis” by Authority Magazine & Thrive Global. Most recently, Mrs Koza joined forces with Egyptian filmmaker Roshdy Ahmed to co-direct Caregivers: A Story About Them, which has just been nominated for Best Documentary Short by the Oniros Film Awards.
We hope this list of inspiring women business leaders will motivate and inspire you to continue striving for success in your own career journey. Remember that anything is possible no matter who you are – these powerful ladies are living proof!