Latest news with #Women'sGlobalImpactForum
Newsweek
06-08-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Women's Global Impact Forum 2025: Former Pepsi CEO on Juggling Career and Family
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. "There's a lot of women who serve as the backbone of the country." That was one of the closing lines from Indra K. Nooyi, former chairman and CEO of PepsiCo, at Newsweek's inaugural Women's Global Impact Forum on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at Newsweek's headquarters in New York City. The one-day event, sponsored by MyEyeDr., with partners Starz and TriNet, brought together 300 senior executives and rising stars across multiple industries to celebrate the achievements women have made, connect with inspiring women and find practical solutions to overcome some of the biggest challenges they still face in the workplace. On the stage, leaders from companies like the WNBA, SoulCycle, Nissan, Samsung, Hulken, Coach, Estée Lauder and Girl Scouts of the USA shared personal anecdotes about their professional journeys and the struggles of being women in the workplace. Chloe Coscarelli, Allison Stransky, Tanya Taylor and Nicole Wegman speak on the "Fostering Creativity While Impacting the Bottom Line" panel during the Women's Global Impact forum on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at the One World... Chloe Coscarelli, Allison Stransky, Tanya Taylor and Nicole Wegman speak on the "Fostering Creativity While Impacting the Bottom Line" panel during the Women's Global Impact forum on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at the One World Trade Center in New York City. More Weston Kloefkorn | For Newsweek While the conversations noted the unique challenges for industries like sports, fashion, retail, beauty, tech and health care, the women on and off stage found common ground. Most of the women in the room have experienced discrimination, failures, company reconstruction and imposter syndrome. At the core of the conversations, each speaker exemplified what it means to be a strong and effective leader today and in the future. Prioritizing wellness During the "Prioritizing Wellness" panel, speakers agreed that good leaders take their wellness seriously. Sakara co-founder Danielle DuBoise stressed the importance of "checking your engine light" by listening to your body to prevent burnout. "So I'd say the first thing is to really get to this place where you can tell when your body is listening," she said. "And then second is, once you listen, like I know my throat gets a little funky, I say to myself, 'OK, I need more rest. I need more greens and plants, or I just needed to tap out for a little bit.'" Sakara co-founder Danielle DuBoise joined WeightWatchers CMO Kim Boyd and SoulCycle CEO Evelyn Webster for the 'Prioritizing Wellness Makes Us More Impactful' panel during the Women's Global Impact forum on Tuesday, August 5, 2025. Sakara co-founder Danielle DuBoise joined WeightWatchers CMO Kim Boyd and SoulCycle CEO Evelyn Webster for the 'Prioritizing Wellness Makes Us More Impactful' panel during the Women's Global Impact forum on Tuesday, August 5, 2025. Weston Kloefkorn | For Newsweek SoulCycle CEO Evelyn Webster said leaders "set the weather" for their organizations, so it's important to be consistent. "I can tell when I'm not investing in my own wellness because of the way that I start to set the temperature in the organization, and that's not a good thing." "Over time, when I invested in my wellness, I'm happy and a better human," she said. "When you're healthy, you are happy and we all deserve to be happy." As the leader of an exercise company, she sees every day how endorphins make her clients and instructors happier, think clearly, communicate better and help enable them to better lead and inspire. Seeking out and being a mentor Mentorship was an essential tenet that has allowed many of the women to thrive/climb the corporate ladder. Girl Scouts of the USA CEO Bonnie Barczykowski said it best on the "Shaping an Equitable Future" panel: "Girls achieve what they can see." Girl Scouts USA CEO Bonnie Barczykowski listens to an audience questions during the "Women at Work: Shaping an Equitable Future" panel at the Women's Global Impact forum on Tuesday, August 5, 2025. Girl Scouts USA CEO Bonnie Barczykowski listens to an audience questions during the "Women at Work: Shaping an Equitable Future" panel at the Women's Global Impact forum on Tuesday, August 5, 2025. Weston Kloefkorn | For Newsweek Allyson Witherspoon, the chief marketing officer of Nissan U.S., said on the "Leadership: The New Measures of Success" that she is grateful for the many male mentors she's had who took a chance on her throughout her career. But it wasn't until she worked with a female CEO that she said she began to "understand what it took to be a leader like that, and then what it's like to be a woman in that role." "This was the first time that I saw somebody, I kind of thought, maybe I can be in a leadership position too," she said. Clinique and Dermatological Brands general manager Kelly Fanning shared how her parent company, Estée Lauder, has a "reverse mentorship" where junior executives mentor senior leadership. Through that, Fanning said she learned how to look at TikTok, Sephora shopping and AI tools in new ways. "So the reverse network has been awesome," she said. "It's fun to be able to see that executive level, you're still learning." Using experience from other jobs Both on stage and in the audience, the women in attendance share a lifetime of experiences. But, as with many successful people, their journeys were not linear. Whether it's a promotion or a complete industry change, a good leader can take all their cumulative experiences and skills and bring them into a new role. Those soft skills or traditionally female skills have often been seen as a detriment in the workplace, but the women at this event said it is those very things that have allowed them to succeed. As she built the optometry network MyEyeDr., Sue Downes recognized that women tend to be more attentive to others' behaviors and have more compassion for other people's needs. She told the audience that being a leader doesn't mean forgetting who you are as women. "Don't be afraid to be a really great mom," she advised. "If I'm in a board meeting and my child calls, I'm excusing myself. Do what you want to do and don't be judged by anyone else." WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert speaks with Newsweek Editor-in-Chief Jennifer Cunningham for a fireside chat during the Women's Global Impact forum on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at the One World Trade Center in New York City. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert speaks with Newsweek Editor-in-Chief Jennifer Cunningham for a fireside chat during the Women's Global Impact forum on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at the One World Trade Center in New York City. Weston Kloefkorn | For Newsweek Before she was the commissioner of the WNBA, Cathy Engelbert was the first female CEO of Deloitte. When she made the jump from consulting to sports, she said she was apprehensive at first because she knew "nothing about being a commissioner running a sports league." "I've been a CPA. I've been an accountant. I've worked in the pharma industry. I worked in banking clients. I've worked in consumer products, but I don't know anything about running sports," she said. But after landing the position, she quickly found that a lot of her skills were transferable – including strategy planning to take care of players, fans and shareholders, scenario planning during the draft in the COVID-19 pandemic and executive marketing to transform an under-resourced team into a league with over 100 million fans. Listening and delivering on stakeholder needs A good leader is one who listens – to colleagues, customers and trends. This includes leaning into trends that align with company values and goals and starting from a place of learning in the boardroom. Hulken CEO Alex Schinasi also talked about how her bag company turned the "really unsexy" task of schlepping things around into New York City's hottest accessory. From makeup artists to grandmas getting groceries to moms carpooling to soccer practice – Hulken thrives on user-generated content and authentic reviews. "Shlepping is universal," she said. "By leaning into that, we actually created a sense of authenticity, of honesty, that our audience can really relate to. So this feeling of relatability is actually hugely impactful." Newsweek weekend reporter Mandy Taheri moderates the "Redefining the Market: How Women in Business Are Transforming Consumer Engagement" panel during the Women's Global Impact forum on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at the One World Trade... Newsweek weekend reporter Mandy Taheri moderates the "Redefining the Market: How Women in Business Are Transforming Consumer Engagement" panel during the Women's Global Impact forum on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at the One World Trade Center in New York City. Panelists include NFL VP Sarah Bishop, Hulken president Alex Schinasi and Coach Collaborations and Coachtopia SVP Jennifer Yue. More Weston Kloefkorn | For Newsweek When entering a new company or board, it is also crucial to observe and learn as much about the company as possible from the jump. Bridget Ryan Berman, member of the board of directors of the Asbury Automotive Group, Newell Brands and Tanger Inc., spoke on the "Women on Boards" panel about how making an impact comes in a variety of forms and strengthens with time and experience. Good leaders, she said, don't lead with ego. "Oftentimes, people try to oversell themselves," she said. "You see that often in a boardroom, you read about people who come in and they want to take the oxygen around the room," she said. "It's really about becoming a student of that company and of the business and the industry they're in and leaning into that really from day one." Deconstruct the myth of having it all Finally, in a room of accomplished and powerful women, there is a lingering pressure to "have it all." But at the final chat of the day, Indra Nooyi shut down the myth of being perfect. "You can't just be average at being a mother, average in being a wife and average at being an executive ... you've got to be good at the job, and the burden falls on us [women]," she said. "So I look at all this and say, we are lying to women that you can have it all. Let's be honest and say it's that difficult. It's a juggling act. Just hope the most important balls don't drop." Part of deconstructing the expectation of having it all is being authentic, even when things are tough. Melody Lee, chief marketing officer at Mercedes-Benz USA, said in the leadership panel that she wished the previous generation of working women could have been more vulnerable and honest about when they failed. "Women before felt pressure not to see the cracks... but it's not a linear path," she said. Former PepsiCo CEO Indra K. Nooyi and Newsweek Editor-in-Chief Jennifer Cunningham debunk the myth of "having it all" during the Women's Global Impact forum on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at the One World Trade Center... Former PepsiCo CEO Indra K. Nooyi and Newsweek Editor-in-Chief Jennifer Cunningham debunk the myth of "having it all" during the Women's Global Impact forum on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at the One World Trade Center in New York City. More Weston Kloefkorn | For Newsweek Dismantling norms is not only reserved for the office – women are also working to get rid of stigmas about their health and bodies. During the "Female Founders: Navigating the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem" panel earlier in the day, Megababe founder Katie Sturino shared how her own struggles with body acceptance and thigh chafing inspired the launch of her company that aims to alleviate the physical problems women face but are often too embarrassed to discuss. Additionally, both Dr. Jessica Shepard, the chief medical officer of Hers, and Jannine Versi, co-founder and CEO of Elektra Health, discussed how there is still a lot of shame and a lack of information surrounding menopause. By being authentic, attentive, adaptable and open to building connections, women in all industries and experience levels can thrive in the workplace. Women have made incredible strides in the professional world, but there is much work to be done. And hopefully, the women at the Women's Global Impact Forum were inspired enough to take these lessons back to their organizations and start fostering change. As Girl Scouts of the USA CEO Bonnie Barczykowski put it in a statement to Newsweek, "If the energy in the room is any indication of mobilizing change – we're on our way!"
Newsweek
06-08-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Women's Global Impact 2025: Day of Networking, Panels Inspires Attendees
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Some of the most powerful and well-connected women in business gathered at Newsweek's New York headquarters at One World Trade Center today for the company's inaugural Women's Global Impact Forum. The event kicked off with a breakfast and continued with opening remarks by Newsweek's Editor-in-Chief Jennifer Cunningham who set the stage for the topics of the day, including entrepreneurship, gender equity, women's health, transformations in customer engagement, directing business from the board room, leadership, artificial intelligence, female audiences and how to define having it all. Across 12 panel discussions and three fireside chats, over 300 guests listened to high-profile guests from Mercedes-Benz, the American Heart Association, SoulCycle, Sakara, Clinique, Hulken and Nissan dispense invaluable advice and tell stories of their success. One attendee said, "Everything feels really actionable and relatable" when describing the morning's panel lineup. In addition to the discussions, attendees were able to mingle with one another and learn about each other's respective industries and the impact they were making through their work. "What I observe in our wellness industry are so many fads, whether it's pursuing cold plunges, protein, Pilates," SoulCycle CEO Evelyn Webster told the crowd. She added that the biggest killer of women in America was heart disease and that exercise was an essential part of staying healthy and well. "That doesn't mean you need to be running marathons. It means that you need balance, a balanced exercise regimen," she said. "So if that is with SoulCycle, great! But even if it's not SoulCycle, please move your body and get your heart pumping 150 minutes a week." Webster added that exercise also helped to shape better business leaders. Quoting Legally Blonde icon Elle Woods, she said, "Exercise gives you endorphins, endorphins make you happy. And happy people just make better leaders." The crowd ate it up. Many attendees showed interest as Kelly Fanning, general manager of Clinique and Dermatological Brands, North America, shared the unusual "reverse mentorship" program offered by her parent company, Estée Lauder. "Estée Lauder has a long-standing, very formalized program of reverse mentoring," Fanning explained. "Essentially, what it is is more junior-level talent in our organization has the opportunity to be connected with VP-level and above, and they mentor us. NFL VP Sarah Bishop chats with Women's Global Impact attendees during a networking session on Tuesday, August 5, 2025. NFL VP Sarah Bishop chats with Women's Global Impact attendees during a networking session on Tuesday, August 5, 2025. Weston Kloefkorn | For Newsweek "The first time I did it, I had no idea how to prepare, because I think through our career as a mentor, when you have a mentee, you think about questions you're going to ask," she continued, adding that she'd had a meeting with her reverse mentor on Tuesday morning. "And from the past year, I've learned TikTok differently. I've gone to a store to shop Sephora with them, see how they shop. What do they do? Why don't they pick our brands? Why do they pick our brands? I've learned AI and how to do the most easy tasks, all the way through to 'Hey, how do I take all this data and just make a report to pull that off my team's plate?' Right?" During the lunch break, attendees dined on a variety of fare with a New York City theme. After, the panel discussions continued. Daniella Pierson, founder and CEO of The Newsette and CHASM, discussed how to achieve gender equality in the workplace. "I believe the way that we are actually going to have gender equality... is by making as many badass female entrepreneurs as we can," she said. KaLeigh Long, founder & CEO of Westwin Elements, urged her fellow female Gen Z aspiring business leaders to focus on "doing something, not being someone." The day concluded with a one-on-one interview of Indra Nooyi, former chairman and CEO of PepsiCo, by Cunningham, and a cocktail reception. Glasses at the Women's Global Impact Forum cocktail hour sponsored by Hers at One World Trade Center in New York City. Glasses at the Women's Global Impact Forum cocktail hour sponsored by Hers at One World Trade Center in New York City. Weston Kloefkorn | For Newsweek "Speaking at Newsweek's Women's Global Impact Forum was more than an honor—it was a powerful reminder of what's possible when purpose-driven leadership meets collective ambition. At Nissan, we know that real change begins with listening, learning and leading boldly. Being surrounded by trailblazing women from across industries reaffirmed the strength of our voices and the impact of our actions. Thank you to Newsweek for championing progress and creating space for meaningful dialogue," Allyson Witherspoon, chief marketing officer of Nissan U.S., told Newsweek.
Newsweek
05-08-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Women's Global Impact Forum 2025 Live Updates: WNBA, Hulken, Nissan Leaders Connect
While women have made significant strides in the corporate world, there is still work to be done to ensure equity and success. Women still face pay inequity, harassment and a lack of representation as they move up the corporate leadership ladder. Newsweek's inaugural Women's Global Impact Forum on Tuesday, August 5, will bring together women in senior leadership with the "rising stars" across industries at Newsweek headquarters in New York City. Speakers and attendees will discuss the progress we've made and share actionable solutions to navigate the remaining challenges facing women in the business world. The one-day event is sponsored by MyEyeDr., with partners Hers and STARZ. Panels will feature discussions about navigating the entrepreneurial ecosystem, equity and inclusion, consumer engagement, redefining metrics of success, adopting AI, fostering creativity and the "post-girlboss" leaders of the next generation. Notable speakers include Lo Bosworth, founder of Love Wellness; WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert; SoulCycle CEO Evelyn Webster; and Indra K. Nooyi, former chairman and CEO of PepsiCo. Other speakers represent companies such as Girl Scouts of the USA, NFL, Ring Concierge, Clinique, Ford Motor Company, WeightWatchers and Virtua Health. Find the full schedule and list of speakers here. Women's Global Impact: Generic Thumbnail Women's Global Impact: Generic Thumbnail Newsweek Illustration Follow Newsweek's live blog for the latest updates.
Newsweek
10-07-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Women's Global Impact Forum 2025: Newsweek Celebrates Female Leadership
Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the interpretation of facts and data. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. There's one thing that the CEOs of the "Big Four" tech companies, the secretary-general of the United Nations, the CEO of America's largest bank, the commissioners of the NFL, NBA, MLB or NHL and the president of the United States all share in common. No woman has ever held any of these positions. Today, 55 women serve as Fortune 500 CEOs—the highest number ever. And yet, gender equity in the workplace remain. In 2025, women continue to earn, on average, less than their male counterparts. They remain underrepresented in boardrooms and executive roles. Workplace harassment still disproportionately affects woman. Despite these obstacles, many companies around the world continue to take steps towards progress, fostering environments where women not only thrive but also lead. To celebrate these efforts, Newsweek is hosting its inaugural Women's Global Impact forum next month. The event, which will take place at Newsweek's headquarters on August 5, will bring together senior female executives across various industries, as well as rising stars on the path to C-suite positions. "Newsweek's Women's Global Impact Forum is more than just an event; it's a platform for connection, inspiration, and action," Megan Knapp, Newsweek's senior vice president of events, said. "We're bringing together senior executives and rising leaders across industries, and creating a space where bold ideas and meaningful relationships can flourish. Our goal is to empower women to shape the future of leadership, work, and equity with confidence and purpose." The forum, which is sponsored by MyEyeDr. and Hers, will include panels hosted by Newsweek's editorial team, including Editor-in-Chief Jennifer H. Cunningham, Senior Autos Editor Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, Health Care Editor Alexis Kayser and senior reporters Lauren Giella and Katherine Fung. These panels will explore how to thrive as a female founder in today's entrepreneurial ecosystem, what meaningful change looks like in the boardroom, why leaders need to prioritize wellness, unique ways to leverage artificial intelligence and the future of women in leadership. Joining Newsweek on the main stage will be Indra Nooyi, the former CEO of PepsiCo, and Cathy Engelbert, the commissioner of the WNBA. Other speakers include leaders from Ford Motor Company, Girl Scouts USA, SoulCycle, Clinique and Dermatological Brands, WeightWatchers and Virtua Health, as well as board members of The Carlyle Group and Newell Brands. "Being part of Newsweek's Women's Global Impact Forum is more than an honor—it's a call to action," Allyson Witherspoon, the chief marketing officer of Nissan U.S. and global brand advisor, told Newsweek. "This event brings together trailblazers and rising stars who are not just breaking glass ceilings, but redesigning the entire structure. I'm thrilled to join a community of women who are boldly reimagining leadership, championing equity and leaving a legacy of impact for generations to come," she said. Witherspoon will join Falkenberg-Hull in the "Leadership: The New Measures of Success" session. Dr. Jessica Shepherd, the chief medical officer of Hers, will also join Newsweek as part of her continued mission "to break down barriers and make personalized, effective healthcare accessible to every woman, on her terms." "For nearly two decades, both as an OB/GYN and now as chief medical officer of Hers, a leading digital health platform for women, I've seen firsthand how advocating for women transforms lives," said Shepherd, who will partake in a fireside chat during August's forum. "I feel that women deserve care that recognizes and champions their unique strength, empowering them to make a profound impact on the world. When women prioritize their health, it transforms how they show up in life: confident, strong, and ready to thrive." Attendees include representatives from AARP, Albany Med Health system, Atlantic Health Systems, Bayer, Bazooka, Bergdorf Goodman, Burlington, Campbell's, Celine, the City of New York, City and County of Denver, CVS, Estee Lauder, Fleur du Mal, Free People, Global Justice Center, Gucci, Kiehl's, Lancôme, L'Oreal, MIT Sports Lab, Northwell Health, Nutrafol, Penguin Random House, Prudential, Ralph Lauren, Rag & Bone, Rothy's, Sotheby's, Thom Browne, Tom Ford Beauty, Tomorrow Today Beauty, Vike Beauty, the Vitamin Shoppe and YOOBIC, among others. Information about the forum, including the full schedule and panel descriptions, can be found here. To request an invitation, follow this link here.
