She brings over 20 years of sales, marketing, and operations expertise to her role at the organization. She has specific oversight over several Meet Boston departments – including Human Resources, Membership Development, Information Technology, Finance, Publications and Advertising, Leisure Destination Services (includes two Visitor Information Centers), and Operations – and leads many of the Meet Boston’s most important initiatives related to community engagement, workforce development, accessibility, and a wide range of mission-critical work in the equity, diversity, and inclusion space.

A Seasoned Leader With Extensive Experience

A native of Ethiopia, Ajakaiye came to the United States in 1987, where she learned English as a second language and graduated with a high school diploma and an associate degree simultaneously at the age of 17. Her undergraduate studies were completed at the University of Massachusetts, and in 2017 she graduated from Northeastern University with an MBA in International Marketing Management. The seasoned leader had previously worked for Ahold Delhaize, where she had achieved national distinction for successfully managing several teams and managing a $805 million operating budget.

Hilina D. Ajakaiye AHOLD DELHAIZE, Headquartered in Quincy, MA

Overseeing a diverse workforce of 150+ associates, Ajakaiye has faced many work-related challenges, but one of the biggest came not from within but without: In August 2011, Tropical Storm Irene barreled into town, causing her store to lose power for more than 26 hours. This emergency required monumental efforts on Ajakaiye’ s part to corral her team, employing quick response and clear actions, steps and thinking to mitigate chaos. Through her leadership, more than $1 million of company assets were successfully secured, with minimal loss to the store. Although Ajakaiye was unable to get home to her family for nearly two days, she was able to serve as a source of comfort and strength for her associates and many area families who had no power for many days after the storm. The result was that her store suffered the fewest losses of the division’s stores in the affected area. Putting employees FIRST remains the focus of her leadership.

Ajakaiye is passionately committed to causes that promote equity. She is the driving force behind the Meet Boston’s collaboration with Tourism Diversity Matters (TDM), which aims to diversify the travel and hospitality profession, especially in the upper management and leadership tiers. The US Travel Association has officially acknowledged and accepted the Meet Boston-TDM model that Ajakaiye has established as the benchmark that other destination marketing organizations should follow. She also currently serves as co-chair of the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committee for Destinations International.

Partnership is the cornerstone of success for Ajakaiye. She is leading an overhaul of the Meet Boston’s traditional membership structure to replace it with a partnership paradigm. This initiative aims to improve the organization’s value proposition by broadening the range of constituents and stakeholders – driving more community participation and inclusion while bringing businesses and communities who were previously on the outskirts of the tourism economy into the fold. In her endeavor to drive a greater value proposition for the Meet Boston, Ajakaiye has developed a 501 (c)(3) private foundation that will allow the organization to pursue charitable work and community partnerships like never before.

Furthermore, under her guidance, Meet Boston unveiled TheBOS, a new Mobile Visitor Information Center. TheBOS takes the visitor center concept and puts it on wheels, offering tourist services to major events, fun festivals, and local happenings throughout the metropolitan area. In this project, she led from the angle of equity and bringing\getting into neighborhoods critical information about visitors.

Ajakaiye is also the Founder of the R.I.S.E. Women’s Leadership Conference, for which she was named “Rhode Islander of the Year” in 2019 by Rhode Island Monthly. She has been called on to serve on The Network of Executive Women (NEW), as a board director for Big Brothers, Big Sisters, and Progreso Latino, and as a board trustee for the Woodward School for Girls. She has recently joined the board of the Rose F. Kennedy Greenway Conservancy, where her voice will amplify and guide the Greenway’s core mission to create a sustainable urban green space that is active, immersive, and, above all else, accessible.  Ajakaiye also serves on the Board of Trustees for Centreville Bank and Mosses Brown School.

Ajakaiye is an inductee into the Big Brothers, Big Sisters “People We Admire” program and is a graduate of The Partnership, Inc.’s Leadership Program. She frequently travels with her husband and two kids and believes that travel lowers boundaries, promotes the flourishing of intercultural relations, and develops global citizens.

In her personal and professional life, the dedicated and steadfast leader is deeply committed to philanthropy, community development and supporting the underserved, and women empowerment in all that they do. R.I.S.E. has allowed her to create a successful brand that has supported over 10,000+ women over five years and is currently in its 6th year. The company has also given 30 young women scholarships for their education.

Creating a Safe Environment For Girls And Women

Realizing Inspiration & Sustaining Excellence (R.I.S.E.) envisions a world devoid of unfavorable societal norms that impact all women and girls who work. The RISE Women’s Leadership Conference fosters communication, thought leadership, and connections between a wide range of extraordinary women. The experience creates a safe environment for girls and women to have daring and inspiring talks about the subtleties of social-economic, workplace, and gender parity. R.I.S.E is a 501(c)(3) educational organization with the purpose to inspire, connect, recognize, and assist women and girls as they navigate the workplace and entrepreneurial landscape while appreciating the significance of work/life balance that occurs across both areas.

“RISE supports women and girls to live out their fullest potential in traditional, entrepreneurial, and creative professional experiences through peer engagement and mentorship opportunities. In addition, R.I.S.E is deeply invested in the young women of today who will be leading the world and futures of tomorrow. We partner with many great organizations that positively shape the lives of youth for the future. After all, the outcomes of tomorrow are grounded in the efforts of today!” says Ajakaiye.

Meet Boston (formerly The Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau (GBCVB) is the primary private sector marketing and visitor services organization charged with the development of meetings, conventions, and tourism-related business. Its goal is to enhance the economy of Boston, Cambridge, and the metropolitan area.

Meet Boston is a non-profit, membership-driven sales, and marketing organization comprising over 1,200 businesses in Boston, Cambridge, and around New England that rely on the tourism and convention sectors for their success.

The following divisions are involved in Meet Boston’s marketing strategy: Group Sales, Visitor Services, Media Relations & Tourism Sales, Visitor Marketing, and Destination Services. The solicitation of conventions and meetings involves city and state government, area hotels, exhibition companies, and other Meet Boston member companies.

“The tourism marketing effort is a carefully planned strategy that takes into consideration every opportunity to partner with state and city government, as well as local and private groups who share the same objectives. Through our partnerships, the GBCVB works to stimulate growth in international and domestic markets that offer the highest potential for new business for Greater Boston,” states Ajakaiye.

Promote DEI & Belonging

Be excited about failure as it is a great sign of growth. I would share with young women an excerpt from one of my favorite authors: You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them—Maya Angelou, Letter to My Daughter.

To Ajakaiye, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion mean a true delivery on Belonging. When all women and diverse people have the same opportunities and access to lead a life, they want it both personally and professionally, with no unnecessary obstacles. The initiatives she has led to promote DEI&B is creating the R.I.S.E. Platform, where 14,000 women get together annually to share resources and learning. She has led all DEI projects within Meet Boston, particularly promoting diverse workforce development, and accessibility and reimagining their Partnership model to include diverse and small businesses.

Challenges Women Encounter In The Business World

As a female leader, Ajakaiye knows that women face many challenges in the workplace. Below mentioned are some of them:

• Representation of Women.
• Gender Pay Gap.
• Sexual Harassment.
• Unemployment Penalty.
• Race and Ethnicity.
• Pregnancy Discrimination.
• ‘That Time Of The Month’
• Women Bosses.

That’s why the intentional and passionate leader urges women to continue to use their VOICE and COLLECTIVE power to continue to demand change.  While women have made some strides, there is still a very long way to go. She believes supporting one another is CRITICAL to all collective progress.

Source of Motivation

When asked to share her source of motivation, Ajakaiye replied, “I am motivated by making sure that there is Equity, Diversity, Inclusion AND Belonging in all that I do. Please refer to the bottom two articles that can provide details on my work as a tourism leader in Boston and also my philanthropic work with R.I.S.E. Women’s Leadership Conference.”

Admirable Female Leaders

According to Ajakaiye, Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama, Rosa Parks, Melinda Gates, Kamala Harris, Dr. Amani Ballour, Indra Nooyi are all amazing female leaders which she admires.

Describe In One-Word Or One-Sentence

Ajakaiye, when asked to sum herself up in a single word or phrase, responded confidently, “Intentional & 1000000% Authentic. A Capable woman who uses her voice!”

Future Roadmap

In order to support those around her, Ajakaiye’ s future goal is to attain access and heights on both a personal and

professional level. She is passionate about the world she lives in and how she navigates through her community intentionally. Her future will be firmly rooted in philanthropy, leadership in travel and tourism, and treating everyone she comes in contact with the utmost respect.

Valuable Advice

As a seasoned leader and skilled businesswoman, Ajakaiye would advise young women to be bold in creating goals for themselves. She also states, “Be excited about failure as it is a great sign of growth. I would share with young women an excerpt from one of my favorite authors: You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them—Maya Angelou, Letter to My Daughter.”

Silvia Rocha-Espino (Vice President of People And Culture at Watkins Wellness) has discovered that as a professional woman, regardless of your age or experience, you must be humble enough to ask for help, bold enough to contact that one person you know could help you, and kind and patient enough to listen, watch and learn.

Presently, she is responsible for leading the Watkins Wellness People and Culture teams globally. The dynamic leader and her team work together to develop strategy and solutions across all HR areas, such as talent acquisition, talent development, total rewards, and DE&I, to name a few. Her main goals are to partner with leadership enterprise-wide to support and maximize the success of the organization, drive towards achieving its business objectives, and, most importantly, ensure that its employees thrive.

Recalling her past, Silvia shares, “Not a lot of people know this about my career, but I started my career as a counsellor for victims of abuse at a government office in San Pedro, Cholula, Mexico, and as an elementary school teacher in an all-boys school. It was there that I first understood the big impact a person can have in others’ lives, and I also knew I wanted to find a place where I could continue to learn and grow while creating opportunities to help people do the same; that is how I got into HR.”

The passionate female leader started in the HR field in a very small operation in Monterrey, Mexico. She worked as the HR coordinator for Ke-Casas, a construction company that was expanding into the north of the country. Silvia didn’t have any relevant experience back then, but she had a lot of passion for making things happen and quickly learned that there is nothing wrong with asking questions, recognizing when you don’t know something, and making mistakes as long as you learn from them. Her first real HR experience was at Ke-Casas, and she will always be grateful for the wonderful learning opportunities and excellent coaching and guidance she received there (Alfonso Azcona, Francisco Reyes).

“Life has taken me in very different directions; however, the one constant has always been my passion and love for the Human Resources field. I have spent most of my career working in management roles in Human Resources for large international companies in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada in the Aerospace, Healthcare, and Medical Device industries. This long journey across countries and industries led me to Watkins Wellness, a global manufacturing company owned by Masco Corporation,” states Silvia.

She further adds, “Joining Watkins Wellness and its parent company, Masco, is one of the best decisions I have made in my career. At Watkins, I can drive initiatives that I am passionate about; I believe that showing our employees we truly care about their well-being is crucial. My team and I strive to provide a vibrant culture, excellent work atmosphere, a safe workplace, and the right resources and opportunities for our employees to learn and grow, both as people and professionals.”

One of the reasons Silvia joined Watkins Wellness is because she sees a strong alignment between its core Watkins Way values and her own personal values; Respect, Honesty, and Inclusion are central to the company culture and her personal life and relationships with others. The passionate female leader firmly believes that every employee in the company, regardless of their position, contributes significantly to the company’s success as a whole. Says Silvia, “A crucial component of Who We Are and What We Do at Watkins Wellness is appreciating and acknowledging every employee’s contribution to the company’s success.”

Improving People’s Lives For More Than 45 Years

Since its founding in 1977, Watkins Wellness® has been headquartered in north county San Diego. It is currently the second-largest employer in the City of Vista, second only to the Vista Unified School District. It is also an award-winning employer of choice and was named the #1 Top Workplace in the Large Company category by the San Diego Union-Tribune in 2021.

The company has been improving people’s lives for more than 45 years as the global maker of the world’s best-selling hot tubs and aquatic fitness systems, including Hot Spring® Spas, Caldera® Spas, and Endless Pools® fitness systems. Its growing portfolio of well-being products provides multiple pathways to wellness for consumers seeking a place for improved physical, mental, or emotional well-being, or an environment to relax and reconnect with others.

As the world’s leading manufacturer and marketer of well-being products for at-home use, its more than 3000 employees across seven global locations take pride in designing and building the highest quality hot tubs and aquatic fitness systems and in supplying consumers and dealers with the absolute best shopping and ownership experiences. These disciplines have enabled the Watkins team to deliver a remarkable record of year-over-year growth and achievement. Watkins is proud to be the first and only manufacturer to build more than 1.5 million hot tubs, with more than 1000 dealer partners in all 50 states and more than 70 countries.

Fortune 500 company Masco Corporation, whose products include Behr® paint and Delta® and Hansgrohe® faucets, bath, and shower fixtures, has owned Watkins since 1986.

Watkins’ average employee tenure of 12 years and its 94% employee retention rate can in part be attributed to the Company’s unique culture, which is grounded in its eleven core Watkins Way values, including Ethics, Transparency, Accountability, and Passion.

Promote Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion (DE&I)

According to Silvia, DE&I is a journey at Watkins. The past few years have been spent building a solid foundation, going in-depth, and learning from the staff about the company’s strengths and limitations in relation to DE&I. As a result, a DE&I Council was established that is governed and sponsored by the Executive Leadership Team Members. They work together to build on the solid foundation of the Watkins Way values, including its Endless Pools Core Tenets, to foster a culture where everyone feels respected, valued, and inspired to nurture the same in others.

“One of the most important efforts we are undertaking this year is to create more DE&I awareness, learning, and understanding within our Executive Team. We are all embarking on a DE&I journey together, so we can continue to drive and support these important programs,” says Silvia.

Challenges Faced To Withstand The Complexities Of The Industry

Throughout the various industries Silvia has worked in, there have always been two different types of challenges. One of the biggest challenges she has faced is very common among HR professionals. HR has evolved from the Personnel department of days past to the current People and Culture function; however, the challenge remains the same: the proverbial HR seat at the table.

I am a passionate, highly motivated leader who cares about people and wants to make an impact; I try to leave things better than I found them

The other type of challenges she has faced, especially living and working in countries like the US and Canada, is related to her Hispanic origins; more specifically, her language. English is Silvia’s second language, and it has been very hard for her to continue to improve her vocabulary and “sound” as smart as she is in Spanish. But, she is doing her best to overcome these challenges.

Common Challenges Faced By Women In The Corporate World

“The struggle between career-family and work-life balance is probably the biggest challenge I face daily. We all, men and women alike, struggle to find work-life balance, but women who work or start businesses have to take care of both their families and their organizations. The guilt and pain when you miss a field trip or a spelling bee because of a work engagement are real,” shares Silvia.

Hence, to combat this, she has made a list of things she doesn’t want to miss out on. For example, one of three annual field trips, her son’s end-of-the-year performance, and so on. Silvia has split the activities with her husband and made the time to be there when it is most important. It is crucial to find ways to do both. She believes it is OK to take time in your workday to take care of your family and sometime in the evening to take care of a couple of work things if it works for you and your family. Find what works best for you!

Silvia’s Source Of Motivation

Silvia’s biggest sources of motivation are “her boys,” her husband, Omar, and her son, Sebastian, a.k.a. “Bash.” They are the motor that keeps her going. “I want my little one to see and learn that when you work hard and are passionate about what you do, good things happen. I do what I do in the kindest, most positive way that I can, so I can be their guide and their example,” says Silvia.

She further adds, “The second thing that gets me going is making an impact and leaving a fingerprint on everything that I do and touch. I want my team to learn, grow, and get excited; I want to continue to foster the “best” culture for our employees so that they can have better lives at work and home; I want to make an impact in our community through different charitable contributions and partnerships.”

One-Word Or One-Sentence Description

When asked to describe herself in one word or one-sentence, Silvia replied, “I am a passionate, highly motivated leader who cares about people and wants to make an impact; I try to leave things better than I found them.”

Future Plans

As a successful woman leader, Silvia loves where she is right now! Since she began her HR career, she has striven for and daydreamed about a position similar to the one she currently holds. Silvia wishes to keep working to strengthen the foundation at Watkins Wellness, expand the company through P&C initiatives, and elevate the role that People & Culture play in the organization. She will continue to prepare, learn, and strengthen her capabilities to become an even more robust CHRO.

Currently, Hernández serves as the Director of Global Human Resources in Aleatica and as an independent director for General de Salud, an insurance company that is part of Corporativo Peña Verde in Mexico City.

She has managed a cultural shift at Aleatica that has prioritized the well-being of its more than 2,800 employees, increased gender inclusion and diversity, as well as initiatives to create a culture of safety. As with many other businesses, Aleatica had difficulties during the global Covid-19 outbreak, but as a director, Lilia is pleased to say that they managed to retain all of their employees.

“I am very thankful for my career. I have walked a wonderful path that includes more than 35 years of experience, contributing to areas of human resources, talent recruitment, organizational development, diversity, and inclusion, as well as mediation and conflict resolution that has given me the tools to perform as a leader today. Along with the trust and support of my leaders, I have been able to build my career thanks to the powerful teams that have accompanied me.” says Hernández.

At Banco Internacional (which became Banco Bital, part of Grupo Financiero Bital), Lilia worked as the Human Resources Consulting and Labor Development Director. She negotiated general conditions of employment for the first collective bargaining agreement and consolidated 18 roles into four as part of the implementation of a completely new and transformational model of services.

Hernández actively contributed to the design and implementation of the cultural shift that involved becoming a private company instead of a government institution. She was a member of the team that supported the company’s organic development from 320 branches to 1500 in three years, which resulted in significant hiring.

She also held the position of Director of Human Resources at HSBC Mexico, where she had the chance to help the bank´s transition from Bital and implement new procedures and international regulations.

In Telefonica Group –a multinational telecommunications company– Lilia oversaw the implementation of the total compensation strategy for the group’s 1,400 senior managers worldwide. The versatile leader had the opportunity to guide the Diversity and Inclusion Office, creating the Diversity Forum with two other global companies in Spain, which led to the signing of the first Diversity Charter in 2008. In Telefonica Mexico, she helped to achieve a 35% increase in the employee satisfaction and commitment index.

Hernández was a member of the MetLife team that successfully secured a 45% increase in earnings in Mexico over five years. Within three years, they were able to position the business as a Great Place to Work and an Employer of Choice,a nationally recognized ranking. She also had the opportunity to participate in MetLife’s International University regional launch in Mexico and Latin America.

A Top Infrastructure Investment Firm

Aleatica is an Australian business that is owned by IFM Investors, a top infrastructure investment firm that oversees more than $220 billion in global assets. Since 2018, it has been committed to managing mobility assets and other transportation infrastructure across South America, Europe, and Mexico. Its operation includes 20 concessions in 7 countries. Every year more than 232 million people travel on the roadways of Aleatica in Mexico.

Hernández and her team are constantly seeking to provide mobility solutions that meet people’s needs. What makes Aleatica different from other transportation infrastructure operators are the five pillars that guide its actions, operations, and programs: Safety as our top priority; passion for our team; service excellence; social and environmental sustainability; and corporate integrity.

Women’s Empowerment

In recent years at Aleatica, Hernández, and her team have worked with two CEOs: Ken Daley and now David Diaz, both of whom are active promoters of diversity, equity, and inclusion. For Hernández, supporting colleagues occurs when they are seen, heard, and listened to, and when there is an interest in learning about their thoughts and what they can contribute. And this is the focus that Hernádez promotes as a human resource leader in Aleatica. Hernández notes that while this would seem quite simple, many leaders frequently neglect to provide this attention to female talent.

“At Aleatica, our CEOs have empowered us to decide, express ourselves, execute, and be accountable for our results. We know that we can count on our leadership’s trust every step of the way, providing support and guidance whenever we need it,” says Lilia. “Since 2019, we have been building a diverse and inclusive culture, anchored in our pillars in order to ensure that Aleatica is a great place to work where the best talent wants to contribute. We are moving in the right direction, and today we have two independent female directors on the Board of Aleatica, and our first female general manager of one of Aleatica’s concessions.”

The Current Industry Scenario

“In Aleatica, my current job is to focus on the well-being of people and their workplace, which means that on a bigger scale, I am helping to achieve a safer and more competitive transportation sector that allows our country to grow. The infrastructure sector is key to the country’s competitiveness since transportation infrastructure is critical to connect goods, services, and people,” says Hernández.

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transportation in Mexico is focused on forming partnerships with other industry stakeholders to ensure that the sector as a whole becomes safer, more sustainable, and more productive in order to improve Mexico’s competitiveness. Hernandez knows that with her team, Aleatica is making a substantial contribution to improving the transportation industry of her country.

Future Roadmap

As Aleatica continues to grow, Hernández wants to encourage a sense of belonging across the countries where the company manages road concessions, under a concept known as One Aleatica. It has been critical to establish best practices and share information across the organization, regardless of geographical location. Along with these roles, she also wishes to be a coach and mentor for young professionals, both men and women, and an independent board member of organizations that pursue excellence and positive transformation.

Source of Motivation

When asked to share her source of motivation, Hernándezstressedthat, “I want to inspire and support those that work with me, providing advice when needed and offering an listening ear; for my children, I want to be an example of someone who strives and confronts challenges and who helps others find their way.”

Describe in One-Word or In One-Sentence

To describe herself in one word, Hernández says she is a warrior. She likes challenging herself to find innovative solutions as quickly as possible and resolve any issues at hand.

Words of Wisdom

As a multi-talented female leader who paved her own path, Lilia advises, “Stay very alert, very aware to distinguish if an obstacle exists or we only believe it exists. It is very useful to have a mentor to help us explore solutions. Everyone needs help and guidance. Never lose confidence in yourself, and never stop believing in your value. There are work environments or leaders with destructive attitudes that can affect our personal safety if we allow them to.”

Experiences That Shaped The Entrepreneurial Journey Of Laura  

Her journey started in 1973, when her father, Joe Zanchin launched his first Honda store. At the time, Laura was eight years old and working there with her mother and sister, doing whatever they could to support the business. Throughout her career she has worked in reception, accounting, being made Controller, and as General Manager of her own store and Dealer Principle to more than one store. So the automotive industry has always played a significant role in her life. Even when she is not in a store, the topic of conversation is always the events that go on within the store’s day-to-day operations. “With a family like mine, that’s just the way it is. We are car people through and through,” says Laura.

“My father was blessed with daughters; however, being Italian and being of a certain generation, it took a while for my sister and I to make him understand that his company was in very capable hands. We did that through hard work and smart decision-making. Nothing was ever really handed over to us, it had to be earned, and that’s how I learned to do things. Under his strong vision and guidance, we have developed into very capable operators,” states Laura.

An Automotive, Motor Vehicles, And Retail Company

Zanchin Automotive Group is the largest privately owned Automotive Group in Ontario, specifically Toronto, with 38 stand-alone stores and 19 different brands. The company sells and services new and used vehicles, and it does this by empowering its people to ensure its customers are happy. Their Executive Team oversees day-to-day operations from a higher level and the managing partners and General Managers are given the autonomy needed to make good business decisions within the stores. On top of all of this, Laura’s father has always had the ability to select the right investment property and as a result, the company has developed and built Auto malls as well as future residential developments within the city.

“We have an exceptional Executive Team that has built a strong alliance, and alongside them, there is still a great opportunity for the Zanchin Automotive Group to grow. Support comes from critical thinking and transparency, and many hard discussions. The discussions are always passionate and honest, and I will say that our point of view is at the heart of every decision made, and so I, as well as my sister feel very supported and respected. We have been brought up to do this, and we do it well,” says Laura.

Care For Good Employees

As the Principal and Executive Vice President, Laura believes good employees are really hard to maintain; therefore, when she and her sister find them, they encourage and support them. This hands-on approach with their staff is a Zanchin trait and enables the sisters to stay in tune with employees and understand the real issues within their stores. Together, they try and listen to everyone by making themselves available and approachable. Laura and her sister understand the challenges women in the automotive industry confront because they have been there that’s why they encourage and mentor and listen, and when allowances can be met, they accommodate when they can.

Pick Your Battles Carefully

As a female leader, Laura understands that the car business is not only male-dominated- but extremely complex. She has to maneuver and master four different sections within a single store to be truly successful. There is finance and accounting with sales, service, and parts. She believes there are so many areas to get it wrong, and that’s why it is so important to rely on people you trust and always have your ear to the ground. Also, being a woman adds still another layer of difficulty because she has to earn the respect and trust of others around her in order to establish her competence.

In order for young women to succeed, they need persistence, determination, and resilience. They should surround themselves in an environment with like-minded people who encourage and support their mistakes as well as their gains.

“When I was first given a General Manager’s position, I made sure not to make any assumptions about the store itself or the people in it. I kept quiet and listened when someone had something to say. I waited a very long time to make any kind of changes, and I made sure my decisions and actions were in agreement with my managers, and when they weren’t, I took the fall myself. I owned up when we made mistakes, and I clapped when the team succeeded. I’ve earned the respect of the people who are important, and I ignore the rest. I am part of the team, and I’m here to make everyone succeed,” recalls Laura.

Plus, when facing challenges, Laura believes there are two ways to tackle them, and both are extremely effective. She states that you can ignore a problem or tackle it head-on. To put it another way, pick your battles carefully! The women who really succeed are those who are skilled at knowing when to ignore a problem and when to face it. And she hopes to be one of them.

Current Industry Scenario  

Inventory and supply chain issues continue to have an impact on our day-to-day operations as the automotive industry struggles to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Laura. Even though production is slowly rising on all fronts, the market is currently being hit by interest rate increases, lower used car evaluations, unpredictable increases in  MSRPs because of supply chain issues, and in Ontario specifically, a new luxury tax. In spite of all of this, Laura and the company continue to hit targets and KPI’s without relying on last years’ data and realizing that due to instability in supply chains, their communication with their customers has to be completely transparent.

First Priority Is Always Customers

Customers are always the first priority at the Zanchin Automotive Group, and employees who work in the stores every day are always Laura’s top priority. Their employees represent them, so she needs to stay connected. “That’s why I come in because I feel their energy and excitement, and I thrive in it,” says Laura. The business succeeds when she sees the people around her flourish, which distinguishes the company from other organizations. Her future goal is to become even bigger and better than they already are.

Source of Motivation

“Automotive was never my first career choice; I was born into it, and thank goodness I love it!” says Laura. Her main sources of inspiration will always be the strong women that she sees around her who choose the automotive industry as their profession. Whether they are managers in sales, marketing, service, or detailers and controllers. The women who have made careers in the business she loves and grew up in will always inspire her to do better because they do.

“My mother has also played a huge part in motivating me. She worked right alongside my father and had a financial background, and so she was and still is instrumental in getting our company to where it is today,” states Laura.

Words Of Wisdom

Being a strong-willed woman and leader, Laura gives advice, “In order for young women to succeed, they need persistence, determination, and resilience. They should surround themselves in an environment with like-minded people who encourage and support their mistakes as well as their gains. Mentorship is more about creating a safe place where discussions can go anywhere, and critical thinking is encouraged. That’s how I have grown in business, and I’m not done yet.”

As the Chief Corporate Affairs Officer and Head of ESG, her responsibilities include overseeing the work of the advisory and sustainability teams, collaborating closely with her colleagues in product and sales to improve their solutions, interacting with clients and partners, and providing thought leadership in the quickly evolving sustainability field. As a founding team member of Diginex, the diligent leader is proud to work alongside 80 purpose-driven and diverse, talented individuals.

Before joining Diginex, Jessica led her own strategy consulting practice, advising international organizations, governments, growth companies, and accelerators on scaling strategies for sustainability, social impact, and impact investments in frontier markets. Her first board position was as a Non-Executive Director of an agro-forestry company listed on the AIM markets of the London Stock Exchange at the age of 34 years.

Before this, she was elected as a Global Leadership Fellow and worked as an Associate Director at the World Economic Forum, where she facilitated public-private partnerships with a focus on gender parity, entrepreneurship, and innovation for senior executives and ministries around the world and in Davos. With Thomson Reuters, Jessica started her career as a Financial Market Executive.

Technological Solutions To Meet Sustainability Requirements

Diginex provides end-to-end technological solutions to meet sustainability requirements. Its innovative ESG reporting, supply chain due diligence, and climate SaaS solutions are designed to be accessible, intuitive, and scalable. Together with her team, Jessica makes sure that every one of their products is user-friendly, and also adheres to the highest security standards, and employs blockchain technology to protect client data and make it possible to provide audit trails that enable investor-grade data. Its products are also aligned with international standards and are certified by the leading ESG framework providers. Diginex’s objective is to enable small and mid-cap enterprises to easily exchange non-financial data with financial institutions and large brands, looking for scalable ways to undertake due diligence on their smaller business partners.

“Our products are already being used by customers in over 30 countries and across a wide range of industries. Yet, as we strive towards democratizing sustainable reporting, it still feels like we are very much at the beginning of the journey, says Jessica, It’s the diversity of thought and skills, at the intersection of technology and sustainability, that makes Diginex an exceptional company.”

Promote DE&I

Jessica proudly asserts, “The focus on diversity, equality, and inclusion is part of diginex’s DNA.” Diginex hires exceptionally talented people from a wide range of cultural backgrounds, gender, and sexual orientation. Women are well represented on the executive team and throughout all ranks of the organization, including the company’s product and engineering teams. Diginex has always been great in championing the most innovative ideas, regardless of gender or level of seniority. “This goes to my own experience in the days of the early incepting diginexESG, where I pitched the idea internally. I received nothing but support from our Founder and leadership team,” says Jessica.

She further adds, “Beyond our own organizational boundaries, I am excited for the teams to be working on products that empower women in particular. To support brands in identifying the risk of gender-based violence and harassment in their supply chains, Diginex has recently launched a new Gender Module in its supply chain due diligence platform, diginexLUMEN.”

The tool helps suppliers carry out a self-diagnostic gender gap analysis – using a survey developed by Unilever and validated by the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW). It empowers suppliers to assess gaps on gender equity issues, while crucially reaching workers and giving them a voice through the integrated worker voice tool, diginexAPPRISE.

Facing Challenges Head-on

According to Jessica, women tend to set high standards for themselves and believe that they need to run all dimensions of their work and life perfectly. When faced with obstacles, they blame themselves rather than looking at the reality that our societies still lack the appropriate support structures and face issues of perception and systemic challenges to equality.

It goes a long way to show that it is not perfection that gets you closer towards success and a happy balance. What it takes is stamina to work in the light of imperfection and discomfort towards goals that are continuously re-evaluated, yet clearly defined.

“A few months ago, by a note, I received following an investor call from a black woman that was part of the investor team, which acknowledged how rarely she said in investor talks with other women of color on the other side. This is my experience too, and even more so underlines the importance for female and male leaders to continue to championing women and minority groups, to help break down the barriers in industries, such as technology and finance, that have traditionally been underrepresented by women,” shares Jessica.

Source Of Motivation

When asked to share her source of motivation, Jessica replied, “Today, my primary source of motivation are my two beautiful children, for whom I wish to serve as an example of being a “good global citizen.” The global health crisis exposed our vulnerability, the urgency of the climate crisis is looming, and political conflict and crisis are omnipresent, including here in Europe. Inaction is not an option, and I am a big believer that each one of us has a unique talent to bring to the table. Combining a diverse set of skills and perspectives will help unlock the much-needed innovation and progress towards a more sustainable world.”

Future Plans

As a founding team member of Diginex, Jessica plans to continue to support the company’s growth by focusing intently on scaling its products and services across industries and sectors. She also wants to support female entrepreneurs, offering advice to a wider variety of C-level executives on how to successfully integrate sustainability at the top of the board agenda, and share her knowledge from working in this rapidly changing sustainability space. In line with her motto “life is a journey”, Jessica is looking forward to future travels, discovering new places and cultures, and fulfilling her commitment to life-long learning.

Valuable Advice

Being a successful women leader and seasoned professional, Jessica gives valuable advice, “I’d recommend to any female professionals and aspiring entrepreneurs to find what you are truly passionate about in the early years of your career. This will make it less likely to give up work entirely when kids are at a young age, which helps secure financial independence and avoid widening of the pay gap longer term. Rather invest in equal distribution of home choirs and building up a strong supporting network,  join an organization that caught up with the norms of working at more flexible hours and  remote, where possible.”

She further adds, “I’d also encourage a greater emphasis on risk-taking. I believe it’s important to expose young female professionals and entrepreneurs to role models across a wide range of disciplines. Leadership can be found in the commitment of public sector leaders, to those steering fast-past entrepreneurial ventures all the way to sports.“ Jessica explains that she herself has always enjoyed reading and interacting with inspirational public figures and the many outstanding female leaders – some well-known, and others working in the shadows.  She said that if she had to highlight just one, it would be Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who in 2021 became the first African woman to hold the position of General Director at the World Trade Organization (WTO). Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala continues to be an inspiration to women all over the world as a global finance expert, economist, expert in international development, and mother of four kids.

When asked for advice on how to keep going when times get hard, Jessica replies: “It goes a long way to show that it is not perfection that gets you closer towards success and a happy balance. What it takes is stamina to work in the light of imperfection and discomfort towards goals that are continuously re-evaluated, yet clearly defined.”

Experiences That Shaped Clarice’s Journey

Clarice recalls, “My journey was unconventional and unpredictable, to say the least. As the first-born daughter to first-generation immigrants to the United States of America, I am humbled and forever grateful for the sacrifices made by my parents to make a better life for themselves and their children.” From her early years, she remembers a natural desire to lead, seek excellence, and having a competitive and self-determined edge

These qualities came into play when she lined up her dolls for the lesson of the day, played stickball with the local boys on the streets of New York City, and neatly and efficiently organized her room! Both within and outside of school, she experienced a sense of empowerment and freedom from societal constraints.

After graduating high school, Clarice didn’t take the most common career pathway as many other girls in her class did. Those options were in the secretarial or nursing professions. However, these options weren’t aligned with her passions. So the determined leader rejected these predestined options and decided to pursue her passion for business, fashion, or the performing arts.

Recalling her memories, Clarice shares, “Not being college graduates themselves, my parents lacked the agency to help guide and direct my collegiate path. From this point forward, my life and career took many unpredictable turns, but I remained resolute in becoming my best self! I started college and worked in the health and fitness field during school. I married young and had my first child within two years. Life and a lack of financial means put a hold on my college journey but did not put a damper on my ambitions. I was determined to “do it all”! I would compete with the “at home” and PTA mothers while simultaneously challenging myself to compete with my male peers in a male-dominated work environment.”

She further adds, “Three children later, I never made it back to complete my undergrad degree. Raising children, and working to provide, forced my focus on their academic future, not mine. In retrospect, now married, working, and raising children, I was determined to continue moving forward without having to go backwards to achieve a societal rite of passage and perceived the “necessary” cost of admission to a rewarding and meaningful career. I was, in many ways, already experiencing success by committing to continuous learning, pursuing excellence, and taking in all of what corporate America had to offer. In the late 1990’s I was fortunate to have exceeded my own expectations.”

The determined leader Clarice started in an entry-level role while in college and continued to be promoted. Then, she was promoted to a multi-unit operator position in the health and fitness industry, in which she had great interest. After closely collaborating with senior leadership and HR during the business’ union organizing campaigns in the early 2000s, she was tapped on the shoulder for an opportunity within HR. Trusting her gut, she accepted it since Clarice wanted to broaden her range of experience. It was a great blessing for her to have a leader who would later serve as her unofficial mentor.

It’s important to lean in, and it’s also important for those in higher-level positions (both men and women) to lean back and pay it forward to support the advancement of women.

He showed interest in her and gave frank, constructive criticism about her opportunities and strengths. With his support and guidance, Clarice decided to pursue the certification route. And as a result, she has maintained dual certifications with the Human Resource Certification Institute’s Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) since 2008. As well as the Society of Human Resource Management’s Senior Human Resources Professional (SHRM-SCP) since 2015. She is also a devout advocate and believes wholeheartedly in the benefits of mentorship and paying it forward!

“My career journey has allowed me to fulfill my passion for building high-performing teams and helping businesses solve challenges through the lens of talent strategy. Looking back, I have no regrets and very much look forward to what’s yet to come!” says Clarice.

Whole Foods Market: Nourishing People and The Planet

Clarice feels blessed and humbled to be able to contribute her skills and leadership to assist Whole Foods Market in fulfilling its vision and purpose of nourishing people and the planet. To be able to work in this space is both intrinsically and practically rewarding for her. Whole Foods is a truly unique place and business that provides the best natural and organic foods, adhering to sustainable agriculture and maintaining the highest industry standards for quality. It also serves communities and the world through its foundations’ Whole Cities, Whole Kids, and Whole Planet.

Women’s Empowerment

Whole Foods Market’s Core Values and Declaration of Interdependence, in practice, set the right environment for individual pursuits of Team Member’s growth and happiness. Opportunities are not constrained by bureaucracy and are limitless. And Whole Foods Market also fosters an environment of empowerment and entrepreneurial spirit. As the Talent COE leader, Clarice has been thrilled to be able to enhance opportunity pathways for women through various programs and initiatives like its Cultivate Mentorship Program, Cultivate Whole Women Leaders program, Career Development Programs, Campus Recruitment, and additional investments in high-performing high potential women leaders within her Team Member population.

The Current Industry Scenario

According to Clarice, “It is the state of the industry and the world today.  Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous.  In this competitive and volatile talent climate, it is important as an HR leader to guide your company’s focus on the skills that will sustain your company’s competitive advantage now, and into the future. The biggest advantage the best HR practitioners have over all the rest, is the ability to “see around corners and plan”!”

Future Roadmap

Clarice sees herself continuing to learn, grow, and make an impact no matter what she is doing. It’s crucial for her to connect meaningfully, to listen to and learn from people, and to have a purpose in her work. She always tries to leave things better than she found them, no matter what she does. This idea permeates both her personal and professional life.

Source of Motivation

Clarice responded when asked where she gets her inspiration from, “This one is tough because I have many sources of motivation. I’ll start with my parents. They overcame many odds and adversities. They moved to a foreign country without knowing their native language, worked hard, became citizens, raised three children, achieved the “American Dream” of home ownership, and fully funded their retirement. They managed to live and continue to live a fulfilling, healthy and prosperous life.”

She further adds, “My husband has been my best friend, supporter, and fan for over 35 years! Our marriage and our family are constant motivators. I thrive when I am surrounded by a talented team. I’m motivated by and draw energy from passionate and talented people. Lastly, my own individual pursuit of excellence and continuous improvement is my internal compass and fire! I pursue holistic well-being and vitality through exercise and connection, which keeps me driven and optimistic about possibilities.”

Describe in One-Word or in One Sentence

The real meaning of her name, Clarice, has always resonated with the versatile leader, which is Bright, clear, and famous. She works hard to stand out and be an authority in her industry even though she is not famous and doesn’t want to be.

Words of Wisdom

Being a diligent leader and experienced individual, Clarice advises, “I would reiterate to all women that they find and ensure their voices are heard. To perform well but also manage their individual brand and gain exposure. Finally, remember your worth and fight for it just as a man would! I benefited from mentorship and remained an advocate and champion for mentor-ship. It’s important to lean in, and it’s also important for those in higher-level positions (both men and women) to lean back and pay it forward to support the advancement of women. In closing, your potential is limitless even when your options appear to be limited.” 

Leaders are under increased pressure to produce results with a smaller workforce as the great resignation continues. Organizations still require assistance with managing a hybrid and remote workforce that emphasizes soft skills like empathy, trust, mindset, communication, and emotional intelligence, as well as assisting them in making the transition to operate in flatter organizational structures.

This is where Accelerations Group (AG), founded by Emily Nichols-Mitchell (Founder and CEO), comes into the picture. AG supports leaders and organizations through leadership and organization development solutions. The powerhouse CEO and her team understand that each organization has unique challenges and needs. They offer tailored leadership enhancement programming, organizational strategies, tools, and initiatives to meet those needs. Emily and her team also provide special leadership programs for C-Level and women executives.

Meet The Change Agent, Leadership Strategist Maximizer, And Results Accelerator

When Emily started her career right out of college, over 25 years ago, she redefined the phrase “breaking the glass ceiling.” She was appointed COO of one of the few prosperous black-owned waste management companies in Kentucky and the Midwest. Within 24 months, she expanded the company’s sales territory, increased profit margins, and strengthened its brand, attracting the top three international waste corporation giants, with which she co-led the company’s merger and acquisition.

As an executive, Emily has strategically eliminated inefficient contracts and poor business practices reimagined diversity and inclusion, and created new business structures, saving organizations millions in revenue. She became well-known as an expert and thought leader for helping organizations tackle some of the most daunting people challenges using technology, processes, and systems leadership. Her emphasis on leadership development and employee engagement made her a leading authority in the field. Her versatile business and human resources skills helped Emily to be a key human resources leader in numerous Fortune 500 organizations.

While working alongside the C-suite executives, she built and revamped talent functions and strategically leveraged HR and DEI processes to strengthen organizational successes across the Americas and emerging markets. Like many journeys, there were twists and turns, successes and failures. Along the way, her high-powered position was eliminated. After deep soul-searching, Emily realized it was time to tap into her God-given superpower. Relying on her faith, and business tenacity, she took a giant leap and started Accelerations Group. She admits that at first, she was afraid, and then she remembered what her mother always said, God will never leave you nor forsake you as long as you keep him first. Even today, she relies on those words to anchor and carries her through.

Leading Provider of Leadership and Organization Development Solutions 

Established in 2012, Accelerations Group is a leading provider of leadership growth and organizational transformation solutions. When companies need more time, expertise, or business capacity to implement solutions to support their corporate strategies, they turn to the expert and in-demand businesswoman Emily and her team at AG. They trust and rely on the AG team to create innovative training programs that deliver compelling ROI.

I use challenges as fuel to stay on top of my game as a CEO, so when large and small corporations, government agencies, and non-profits call the AG team, they can relax knowing they have hired a team that is the best of the best.

When companies anticipate downsizing, upsizing, or restructuring, they contact AG to help them identify the right talent, perform job matching, create better team alignment, boost team morale, ensure business continuity and strengthen their culture inclusivity.

Emily coaches high-powered executives to reach their peak potential. Lisa, one of her clients, was quite hesitant when she first met Emily. She was already a successful senior executive with many awards and accolades to her name. Emily reassured her that if, after three coaching sessions, she didn’t feel like it was worth her time, they could call it quits. Lisa started receiving so much value that she continued for nine months. Lisa grew in ways she hadn’t imagined before. Lisa overcame obstacles, eliminated habits that no longer served her, and created a new mindset. Through coaching, Lisa reached the pinnacle of her career, which included a big promotion, a larger salary, and more internal satisfaction. Her transformation also impacted her team. They started performing at a higher level. Results like the above led Emily to receive the 2020 International Stevie Silver Stevie Award for Coaching Women in Business.

Promote Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging (DEIB)

According to Emily, DEIB is not something you merely enroll in or do as a formality. The unwritten standards that govern how decisions are made and how individuals are hired, paid, promoted, and treated are part of the DEIB culture.

A DEIB culture does not come in a nice box; it is not a checklist that anyone can mark off without much consideration or work. Establishing a DEIB culture takes commitment, time, and effort. When done correctly, it becomes a part of the undertone, the interplay, and the unwritten rules of an organization’s larger culture.

DEIB is a way of behaving that starts with the top executives recognizing their own biases and having the courage to be more self-aware. It is about taking the time to change within to manifest different actions and higher standards for organizations to follow. Only when they take action inwardly will sustainable change occur. “We also believe it is time for organizations to rip the band-aid off and eliminate women’s inequality and microaggressions for good. AG is here to help,” Emily proudly asserts.

Tackling DEIB Workplace Challenges

Emily knows all too well about the microaggressions executive women endure. She’s experienced subtle slights of gender-based harassment, a lack of mentorship and sponsorship, adherence to different expectations than her male counterparts, limited career options, and other subtle discriminations. During those times, life seemed insurmountable until she hired a professional executive coach to help her. Now, Emily uses her gifts, experiences, education, and business skills as fuel to help organizations and leaders achieve tangible, measurable, and sustainable results.

“At AG, we meet leaders and organizations where they are to design policies and create transformative strategies and solutions that facilitate change. We listen to their culture to help them eliminate unconscious biases. We help them design leadership development programs, provide one-on-one and team coaching, and mentor programs. We develop programming for successful women executives and high-potential leaders to activate, elevate, and master what’s within their control to navigate and thrive where they are planted. We have tailored solutions and programs to support the powerful and influential C-suite leaders tasked with setting the vision and leading the change that needs to occur,” Emily asserts.

Future Plans For AG

AG plans to expand partnerships with businesses, non-profits, faith-based organizations, and governmental organizations in the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. She plans to utilize more technology to create and deliver personalized micro-courses and training.

“I desire to see AG as the premier global leader and the go-to firm when organizations need support around everything concerning and managing people. I am also on a mission to support five hundred thousand professional women worldwide to move past not being enough to show up brilliantly-within,” says Emily. To support this mission, she is launching a 12-month women’s leadership growth cohort program to support the next generation of corporate and community leaders and board members. To accomplish this mission, she is currently seeking investors to help her move forward more quickly.

 She further adds, “Accelerations Group prides itself on being socially responsible. We aim to continue supporting initiatives that align with combating hunger, finding a cure for dementia and Alzheimer’s, and programs empowering girls and executive women on the rise from underrepresented areas.” 

Serve As A Thought Leader And Advisor

Emily is tremendously passionate about mentoring and inspiring high-potential leaders in the small business and corporate world because she has walked in their shoes and experienced the good, bad, and challenging first-hand.

As a thought leader and advisor to business leaders and CEOs, she enjoys assisting them in making tough decisions and creating an environment where employees feel like they belong and thrive. Along with this, she is interested in lending her expertise to serving on non-profit and corporate boards. Emily also enjoys traveling and speaking to help professional women and senior executives.

Source Of Motivation

When asked to share her source of motivation, Emily replied, “I rely on scripture and faith in God to stay focused when things seem insurmountable. I love seeing our clients achieve great things and experience extraordinary results – it’s exhilarating! AG works with some fantastic clients, and their trust in our partnership motivates me to develop innovative solutions that produce impressive results for them. Obstacles and challenges fuel a deeper motivation internally to stay focused on ensuring our solutions and service quality are rarely matched!

Pearls Of Wisdom 

When asked if she had any wisdom to share with professional women, Emily says, “A woman’s success depends mainly on her ability to manage her emotions, stress, and situations beyond her control. Every professional woman should hire a trained executive coach and therapist to help her quickly identify and overcome blind spots and barriers before they begin to impede her brand and success. Lastly, incorporating daily prayer, journaling, and time to sit in silence will provide clarity and keep the mental trash at bay, allowing her to show up and perform brilliantly.”