Sveta Dawant
Senior Vice President, Head of Academy Business, Guild
📍Denver, CO
What qualities do you think leaders need to have in today’s world?
Adaptability and Humanity. We’re living in a moment of relentless change. The leaders who are thriving aren’t the ones with all the answers; they’re the ones who ask the hard questions, recalibrate quickly, and bring their teams along for the ride. The relentless pace of change is going to come with tough situations and choices – running the marathon rather than the sprint will require keeping humanity and empathy front and center.
If you had to describe your leadership style in one word, what would it be and why?
Grounded – is the word my teams have most frequently used. I have a steady presence driven by strong conviction that challenges are best faced head-on.
How does your company’s Pledge 1% program help shape the kind of workplace culture you believe in?
Guild’s Pledge 1% commitment helps create a culture where purpose and performance are intertwined. It sets the expectation that impact isn’t separate from the work and is a measure of how well we’re doing it. I believe in building teams that think beyond immediate outcomes and consider the broader systems we’re influencing. Pledge 1% reinforces that mindset, encouraging us to lead with intention and ensure that as we grow, the communities around us grow too.
This year marks the 7th year of Pledge 1%’s #WomenWhoLead campaign. How can companies champion and support female leadership?
Pledge 1% is a powerful framework because it asks companies to commit and not just aspire. That accountability is everything. Companies need to create cultures where women don’t have to choose between ambition and humanity. Where advocating for your team isn’t seen as “soft,” where taking parental leave is supported, where leading with empathy is recognized as a strategic strength.
I also believe now companies need to start seeing AI literacy as a gender equity initiative. World Economic Forum estimates that only 22% of AI professionals globally are female. If companies aren’t actively bringing women into AI strategy, AI governance, and AI-adjacent roles right now, they’re going to bake bias into the next decade of technology, and widen an already serious gap. Upskilling women in AI can’t wait.
If you could write a note to your younger self on her first day of work, what would it say?
Dear younger self, You’re going to find your footing as a calm, confident leader in a world that is continuously changing. Learn early that your instincts are data. The moment you feel something is off , or have conviction in an idea, that feeling is information worth noting. Practice honing and trusting those instincts. You’re going to make mistakes. And get feedback. Good. That’s the fastest education you’ll ever get, and surround yourself with people who will give you honest critiques directly. The more senior you become, the more important that is.
Oh and you’re going to spend a lot of energy trying to prove (mostly to yourself) that you belong in certain rooms or conversations. You don’t need to. You already do. Enjoy the ride, prioritize the people who are on it with you. P.S. don’t buy too many skinny jeans – they go out of style far too quickly.
