Pledge 1%’s #WomenWhoLead series celebrates female leaders who are paving the way for the next generation. While our featured leaders come from a variety of backgrounds and industries, they are united in their efforts to promote equality for all women in the workplace. We’ve asked them to share a bit about their journey to success, as well as lessons they’ve learned along the way. 

Lis Best

Executive Coach and Founder, Girls Club Collective

Oakland, CA, USA

What is your current role? Briefly describe in 1-2 sentences.

I am an executive coach for women in sustainability and social impact, founder of the Girls Club Collective, the intentionally intimate community for change agents, and host of the Women Changing the World podcast.

This year’s International Women’s Day theme is “Embrace Equity.” What does this mean to you? How can we build workplaces that are more equitable and inclusive?

I love this year’s theme because it’s about giving people what they need to achieve equitable outcomes – not simply giving everyone the same access to opportunity. It recognizes that we are not born onto an equal playing field, and that if we want a different future than our present reality, we need to allocate resources differently to get there.

To build workplaces that are more equitable and inclusive, we need to create mechanisms that actually help women and minorities advance to positions of power – and stay there. That means going well beyond creating one seat at the table. It can also mean, in many cases, giving employees access to spaces with totally new tables and resources to help them lead and thrive.

Do you have any mentors or role models who have helped you on your personal journey?

Yes! I have too many mentors and role models to count. One person who has been especially influential on my journey is Molly Gavin – I reported to her for six years when I was just getting started in my sustainability career, and I learned so much from her! Truly, she taught me so many things, from how to write a great email to how to effectively run a meeting and enable cross-functional collaboration. Not only that, but she really inspired me to imagine and embody a different kind of leadership than I had been exposed to before – leadership defined by authentic relationships, strategic thinking, and fun.

What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?

One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever received is that you get more information through action than through endless strategizing, so be willing to take messy, imperfect action and learn from it vs. trying to have the perfect game plan with all the details figured out before you begin.

The past few years have brought many new and unprecedented challenges. What keeps you motivated or inspires you to stay optimistic?

The women I have the privilege of working with keep me motivated and inspire me to stay optimistic! There are so many brilliant, talented change agents working so hard (and smart!) on so many of the different challenges facing the planet and humanity. I feel like there’s nothing they (we!) can’t do, and whenever I’m feeling down about whether we’re making progress fast enough, I take a look around and am reminded that a) it’s going to take all of us, and b) it’s a marathon, not a sprint.

Pledge 1% helps companies of all sizes and stages leverage their assets for social good. Why do you think it’s important that companies prioritize social impact? Do you have any specific stories or examples from your work or colleagues you can share?

It’s important for companies to prioritize social impact because business can be such a force for good. After spending many years working on impact with massive companies and organizations, it has been interesting to explore the different ways to apply an impact lens to my own small business.

Pledge 1% offers such a useful framework for thinking about how to bake impact in from the very beginning in a way that makes sense. For me, that has looked like giving 1% of my time through pro bono coaching with the Women’s Impact Alliance and donating 1% of revenue to support women’s access to reproductive healthcare.

There are a lot of ways that we can create the future we want to see through our businesses, like being thoughtful about who we hire, how we pay people, and what we buy. Pledge 1% offers an additional opportunity to commit core business resources – in our case, time and money – to creating a more just and sustainable world.

If you could describe yourself in one word what would that be and why?

My favorite word to describe myself is moxie. It’s a great word, and it captures a lot of the energy and magic behind my coaching, consulting, speaking, and approach to life.

Do you have any go-to apps or tools use love to use?

Too many to count! Some of the most helpful tech tools in my day-to-day are Calendly, Honeybook, Reclaim.ai, Voxer, and Circle. I also love the Chani astrology app for insights and meditation.

What are you looking forward to this year? Are there any goals (personal or professional), activities, or experiences you are excited about?

This year, I am most excited about the official launch and expansion of the Girls Club Collective, the intentionally intimate personal and professional development community for women changing the world. This is something I’ve been thinking about and building for more than a year, and it’s so exciting to officially open to the doors to such an amazing group of women! I’m really looking forward to seeing how it evolves over time and to being able to spend more of my time focusing on connection and community.

Pledge 1%’s #WomenWhoLead series celebrates female leaders who are paving the way for the next generation. While our featured leaders come from a variety of backgrounds and industries, they are united in their efforts to promote equality for all women in the workplace. We’ve asked them to share a bit about their journey to success, as well as lessons they’ve learned along the way. 

 Becky Ferguson

SVP of Philanthropy & COO of Salesforce Foundation, Salesforce

Seattle

What is your current role? Briefly describe in 1-2 sentences.

As SVP of Philanthropy, I direct grant operations for all Salesforce giving, which exceeds half a billion dollars to date. I’m also COO of the Salesforce Foundation  where I help set our grantmaking strategy, build alignment and partnerships, and drive our mission to equip all young people with the skills and opportunities to reach their full potential.

This year’s International Women’s Day theme is “Embrace Equity.” What does this mean to you? How can we build workplaces that are more equitable and inclusive?

To me, equity isn’t a one off activity, it’s a lens we should apply to everything we do. This includes building values-aligned practices, policies, and systems that reinforce and center equity in your work.

If we want to build more equitable and inclusive workplaces, we need to create more equitable and diverse talent pipelines. We know that talent is equally distributed, but opportunity is not—and we need to close that gap.

One of the best ways to do this is by investing in untapped talent, or young people from underserved and underrepresented communities who may be unaware of or lack access to the career possibilities that exist for them.

As companies, we can open the doors of opportunity by providing diverse career pathways for untapped talent. This can mean building out internship and apprenticeship programs. It can mean dropping the college degree requirement for new hires and focusing on skills instead.

The past few years have brought many new and unprecedented challenges. What keeps you motivated or inspires you to stay optimistic?

What keeps me optimistic is all the innovation from new leaders and organizations. Last year we launched the Salesforce Catalyst Fund, an initiative that provides unrestricted startup capital for younger or smaller nonprofits led by people of color and other underrepresented groups. These are up-and-coming organizations that may have been traditionally overlooked by philanthropy.

We’ve seen incredible impact come from these nonprofits, like The Hidden Genius Project, which has created a nationwide movement to train and mentor Black male youth in technology creation, entrepreneurship, and leadership skills to transform their lives and communities.

Pledge 1% helps companies of all sizes and stages leverage their assets for social good. Why do you think it’s important that companies prioritize social impact? Do you have any specific stories or examples from your work or colleagues you can share?

We know that for our business to thrive, our communities need to thrive. That’s why social impact is so important.

23 years ago we pioneered the 1-1-1 model, and it is still one of the most innovative in the industry – that’s because it empowers any company at any stage to give back. We are proud to be part of the global Pledge 1% movement of 18K companies around the world that are activating the full power of their business for social good — from their philanthropic funding, to their employee talent and time, to their products.

One of my favorite examples of the impact we can have when we partner together is our work with Stephen and Ayesha Curry’s Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation. We provided $1M in funding to them to launch a pilot program to provide a scalable, sustainable solution to help schools, families, and farms combat food insecurity and food waste due to the pandemic. In addition to the philanthropic investment, a range of partners such as Oakland Unified School District, World Central Kitchen, Numi Foundation, Full Harvest, along with volunteers — came together to deliver 1.7 million pounds of food to nearly 126,000 families facing hunger.

Do you have any unique or useful life hacks to help get through your day?

One practice I picked up from my dad is the power of a daily jog. It doesn’t have to be long or fast, but just getting outside on a regular basis to move in the fresh air really helps me hit the reset button. My dad is in his early 80s and still gets out almost every day for his jog. I hope I can say the same! He also set a now long-running tradition of getting me a new pair of running shoes annually. Each year on my birthday, a pair of colorful sneakers arrives from my dad serving as a little reminder to keep it up.

Do you have any go-to apps or tools use love to use?

I love a classic hard cover Moleskin journal. There is something very special about unwrapping a new one and the invitation to put pen to paper and fill it with new ideas, thoughts, and learning.

What are you looking forward to this year? Are there any goals (personal or professional), activities, or experiences you are excited about?

I am excited to look at how the practice of listening shows up in my work. This includes building connections and ties with other leaders in the social impact space, and creating trusting relationships with our partners. We are embarking on a new body of work to reimagine how we engage our grantees as thought partners so that together we can identify areas for improvement, new partnerships, and transformative philanthropic needs and opportunities. I am excited to share more about what we learn from this effort in the year ahead.

Pledge 1%’s #WomenWhoLead series celebrates female leaders who are paving the way for the next generation. While our featured leaders come from a variety of backgrounds and industries, they are united in their efforts to promote equality for all women in the workplace. We’ve asked them to share a bit about their journey to success, as well as lessons they’ve learned along the way. 

Jacqui Meskell

Founder and CEO , Huggnote

Limerick, Ireland

What is your current role? Briefly describe in 1-2 sentences.

Two time ‘Digital Trailblazer of the Year’ and ‘Female Entrepreneur of the Year’ finalist, Jacqui Meskell is founder and CEO of Huggnote – a messaging app for expressing emotion through music. Huggnote has users in 205 countries.

This year’s International Women’s Day theme is “Embrace Equity.” What does this mean to you? How can we build workplaces that are more equitable and inclusive?

To me ’embracing equity’ signals a moving beyond a time when achieving gender parity was something that needed to be ‘worked into’ a pre-existing model for work – as an afterthought or ‘tick box’ exercise – to a time when it is inherently woven into the fabric of any company’s DNA. Of course this takes time but the best way to ensure workplaces are more equitable and inclusive is to shout very loud about the benefits of doing so. The key driver for business decisions is success – and bottom line is that diversity pays. All the research is clear that it leads to higher cash flows, higher revenue, lower staff turnover… the list goes on.

Do you have any mentors or role models who have helped you on your personal journey?

I grew up in a female-centric household with 3 sisters and a working Mum, all of whom inspire me daily – and a Granny who was as strong as she was kind,  the traits of a great leader. My Dad was what we’d now call an incredible ‘ally’ – always my biggest cheerleader. I have a strong female founder network and that peer support is a game-changer. As regards role models, I’m hugely inspired by those who were underestimated initially but succeeded – and without compromising their sense of self. I’ve always rejected the message that women should conform to a ‘masculine’ standard to do well and these women prove that their fierce feminity is in fact a business superpower – Sarah Blakely, Rihanna, Jessica Alba, Bozoma Saint John, Miranda Kerr, the entire Kardashian clan, Melaine Perkins – there are so many.  Also founders like Arbia Smiti in France, who after having built and sold her first start-up opted to create a second with a strong social purpose with Fintech-for-good start-up Rosaly. When women win – everyone gains. 

What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?

‘Win gold and wear it!’ My Granny – an amazing woman used to say her parents used to say this to her. And its actually later in life that I understand the wisdom she was trying to impart. It’s actually so important – especially for women, who are often conditioned to play small and prize modesty at all costs. But we are not helping ourselves or society at large by dimming our light. My Granny’s words remind me to stay true to myself, work hard and own my success. We all need to do better at this. We all have talents. We all need to feel better about using them. That’s how we inspire others to the same.

The past few years have brought many new and unprecedented challenges. What keeps you motivated or inspires you to stay optimistic?

Little things that help to shut out the noise because honestly that’s how we have to view these challenges. We have to focus on what we can control. Life is what you make it (another saying of my Granny) so I make a conscious effort to enjoy simple moments, meditate, spend time in nature, be present. Anything that gives me perspective. Hanging with my niece and nephew, who are such rays of sunshine in my life – reminds me how important it is that we adults keep it together – so we are able to do what’s needed to pass a better world on to them.

Pledge 1% helps companies of all sizes and stages leverage their assets for social good. Why do you think it’s important that companies prioritize social impact? Do you have any specific stories or examples from your work or colleagues you can share?

This is such an interesting question because the research shows that women owned businesses tend to have more of a ‘social good’ foundation. We tend to solve meaningful problems. I’ve yet to come across a female founder who’s trying to find yet another way to deliver pizza – not that there’s anything wrong with that – but I do think its yet another stellar reason to empower women to step into the ring. With Huggnote, a friend of mine had a miscarriage and I wanted to be there for her but couldn’t – and then a song on the radio brought back so many happy memories of us, I realised that if there was a way to digitally gift-wrap it and send it to her – it would say everything words couldn’t. And so my sister and I created a way to do that. It wasn’t about ‘how can we get rich’ or make the next cool thing. We wanted to make a difference in people’s lives. Nothing makes us happier than hearing from users how Huggnote meant so much to them it made them cry! Knowing that we’re helping people in 205 countries say those words that mean the most like ‘I love you’ or ‘I’m sorry’ is the best feeling in the world. We’re so proud to have won awards for our ‘Social and Sustainable Impact’ – every Hugg sent instead of a greeting card for example, saves 140g CO2e, so Huggnote has the potential to make a real difference to the planet too. This matters so much to us. And we’re only getting started.

If you could describe yourself in one word what would that be and why?

Multifaceted’. I have an MPhil in International Peace Studies, am a yogi and a have a strong social conscience. But I’m also smart, strategic, ambitious and not afraid to speak up or get things done. This duality is I believe a superpower and why women make such great leaders.

Do you have any unique or useful life hacks to help get through your day?

Music – I use music a lot throughout my day as it’s the best way to alter your mood. I also love to work with music – if you hear ‘deep house’ music from my office you’ll know I’m probably working on excel spreadsheets; jazz means I’m being creative I’m also adamant that we have to look after ourselves first before we can be there for anyone else – especially taking care of our mental and physical health. I’m a qualified yoga teacher and can’t overestimate the difference yoga has made in my life. On busy days I’ll just do it from bed so it’s done before my day even starts. On really busy days I’ll do Zach Bush’s ‘4 Minute Workout’ (if it’s good enough for Elle McPherson!).

Do you have any go-to apps or tools use love to use?

Honestly, Huggnote – I use it almost every day because its fast but makes such an emotional impact. I send my niece and nephew morning Huggs they can play when they wake up to start their day with some positivity – or to just cheer up a friend, or say Happy Birthday. Also Shazam – it’s always on my phone so I can identify a piece of music in seconds. Work-wise definitely Canva, Trello, Zoom and of course my trusted Google calendar!

What are you looking forward to this year? Are there any goals (personal or professional), activities, or experiences you are excited about?

I feel like I’ve been in a protracted period of sewing seeds and now I see everything come to fruition, which is really exciting. As the founder of an early-stage company my personal and professional life are very interlinked and so one goal is to do better with having some boundaries around that. Professionally – we have big plans for the company this year, which I can’t say much about but we’re so ready for the challenge.

 Pledge 1%’s #WomenWhoLead series celebrates female leaders who are paving the way for the next generation. While our featured leaders come from a variety of backgrounds and industries, they are united in their efforts to promote equality for all women in the workplace. We’ve asked them to share a bit about their journey to success, as well as lessons they’ve learned along the way. 

Tracy Young

CEO and Co-Founder, TigerEye

Remote, USA

What is your current role? Briefly describe in 1-2 sentences.

I am the co-founder and CEO of TigerEye.

This year’s International Women’s Day theme is “Embrace Equity.” What does this mean to you? How can we build workplaces that are more equitable and inclusive?

Equity means acknowledging that we don’t all start from the same place. In practice, equity is important because it creates a level playing field for all employees to succeed based on their skills and abilities, regardless of their gender, race or background. This not only promotes diversity and inclusivity in the workplace but also leads to better decision-making, increased innovation, and ultimately, improved business performance. We must avoid the typical “it’s a pipeline problem” response and be more invested and strategic on recruiting diverse candidates.

Do you have any mentors or role models who have helped you on your personal journey?

Carol Bartz, George Hu, Bob Tinker, Holly Liu, Maria Alegre

What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?

My co-founder of PlanGrid, Antoine Hersen, gave me his copy of “On the Shortness of Life” by Seneca before he passed away. The book contained his final letter to me, “Life is short. Take care of Ralphie. Don’t be afraid to try new things. Never do anything that makes you unhappy.”

The past few years have brought many new and unprecedented challenges. What keeps you motivated or inspires you to stay optimistic?

Building a better company with TigerEye. We want to show the world that a productive company can also be a caring one.

Pledge 1% helps companies of all sizes and stages leverage their assets for social good. Why do you think it’s important that companies prioritize social impact? Do you have any specific stories or examples from your work or colleagues you can share?

Everyone needs help today and it’s our responsibility as business leaders to step up. Pledge 1% is a massive impact opportunity to help our community.

If you could describe yourself in one word what would that be and why?

Mom – it’s my #1 job.

Do you have any unique or useful life hacks to help get through your day?

I drink tea and listen to jazz.

Do you have any go-to apps or tools use love to use?

TigerEye, Signal, Spotify

What are you looking forward to this year? Are there any goals (personal or professional), activities, or experiences you are excited about?

Launching TigerEye to the world.

Pledge 1%’s #WomenWhoLead series celebrates female leaders who are paving the way for the next generation. While our featured leaders come from a variety of backgrounds and industries, they are united in their efforts to promote equality for all women in the workplace. We’ve asked them to share a bit about their journey to success, as well as lessons they’ve learned along the way. 

Clara Perez

Founder & CEO, Radical One

Santiago, Dominican Republic

What is your current role? Briefly describe in 1-2 sentences.

As the CEO of a start-up, I play several roles, including understanding client needs, assisting my team’s professional growth, and occasionally rolling up my sleeves and joining the action to provide great value to each of our clients.

This year’s International Women’s Day theme is “Embrace Equity.” What does this mean to you? How can we build workplaces that are more equitable and inclusive?

It means that you use your knowledge, skills, and network to teach and change society so that it is a more fair and just place for all. Regardless of gender, race, religion, origin, or background, everyone is welcome.

What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?

In today’s world, you can’t keep everyone happy. Sometimes you will have to choose who you will disappoint; When you make the decision, ensure it’s not you.

The past few years have brought many new and unprecedented challenges. What keeps you motivated or inspires you to stay optimistic?

Teaching others that they, too, can grow and develop, even in the face of adversity, is what keeps me motivated. 

Pledge 1% helps companies of all sizes and stages leverage their assets for social good. Why do you think it’s important that companies prioritize social impact? Do you have any specific stories or examples from your work or colleagues you can share?

At Radical One, we do well by doing good. Sharing, whether it is money, time, or knowledge, is how we provide others with the same opportunity we were given.

A few years ago, I mentored a young professional twice a week over a period of six months. He was eager and excited to learn the skills and trades he would need to get a job. The work we did bore fruit, and he was able to pass his first certification exam. We had no idea at the time that this milestone would be a game changer. He is now in charge of a group of developers and is helping others get into the field.

If you could describe yourself in one word what would that be and why?

Curious.

What are you looking forward to this year? Are there any goals (personal or professional), activities, or experiences you are excited about?

I’m excited to help build a community at work and in life that values diversity, inclusion, and equality.

Pledge 1%’s #WomenWhoLead series celebrates female leaders who are paving the way for the next generation. While our featured leaders come from a variety of backgrounds and industries, they are united in their efforts to promote equality for all women in the workplace. We’ve asked them to share a bit about their journey to success, as well as lessons they’ve learned along the way.

Jaime Brown

Vice President of Operations, Appluent Business Solutions

Phoenixville, PA, USA

What is your current role? Briefly describe in 1-2 sentences.

As the Vice President of Operations, I’m responsible for overseeing the operations team and ensuring Client Success while assisting in company growth.

This year’s International Women’s Day theme is “Embrace Equity.” What does this mean to you? How can we build workplaces that are more equitable and inclusive?

To ‘Embrace Equity’ is to ensure there are fair opportunities and treatments for all individuals within an Organization. To practice this, you must first be aware that these barriers and advantages do exist. Once you accept and understand that, you can start working towards improving these situations for all individuals.

Do you have any mentors or role models who have helped you on your personal journey?

My family. My family is very hard working, supportive, and encouraging. Everyone is constantly striving to do their best and work hard which has been a great environment to grow up in. The environment they provided has shaped me into who I am today both professionally and personally.

What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?

Never stop learning or growing as a person. I always strive to continue to learn and improve on myself. Whether it is learning from failing, learning from other individuals or learning from difficult situations. It is important to stay open minded and find ways to grow and improve in every aspect of your life. Things happen out of our control and the best we can do is take that experience and learn something from it. I do believe everything happens for a reason and part of that is to help us learn and grow.

The past few years have brought many new and unprecedented challenges. What keeps you motivated or inspires you to stay optimistic?

The last few years have been incredibly challenging on everyone. We have experienced situations that we have read about in our history books but I never thought we would experience in our lifetime. Some of the situations we have been handed is out of our control. If it is out of our control, the best we can do is adapt and stay positive. Understand that things and situations change throughout our lives and we need to adapt with that. We can take a moment to be upset or sad about a situation but then we need to adjust and continue on. Life it too short to not be optimistic about the future. To quote Dave Matthews Band “Whatever tears at us, whatever holds us down, and if nothing can be done, we’ll make the best of what’s around” which I think is a great quote to live by.

Pledge 1% helps companies of all sizes and stages leverage their assets for social good. Why do you think it’s important that companies prioritize social impact? Do you have any specific stories or examples from your work or colleagues you can share?

It is extremely important for companies to incorporate social impact in their organization. Finding time for individuals to help contribute can be difficult in their daily lives but if organizations give their employees the option to contribute all together we are increasing the impact. Our company schedules days throughout the year where we volunteer and donate our time to help local organizations.

If you could describe yourself in one word what would that be and why?

Reliable. You can rely on to do what is expected of me in my professional life. You can rely on me to be there for you if you need a friend. And my family can rely on me to be there for them always.

Do you have any unique or useful life hacks to help get through your day?

I wouldn’t say it is unique but I personally find it useful. I enjoy incorporating music into my day. It really helps me focus and ‘get in the zone’ to make my day most productive.

Do you have any go-to apps or tools use love to use?

Being in the technology space, I love apps and tools that make my job responsibilities easier. I regularly use Salesforce, Conga and Slack in my day to day but there is one tool in particular that stands out called FilePulse. FilePulse layers on top of the Salesforce and alerts me when new files or file versions are created. This tool helps keep me in the loop with Sales for large quotes are being generated and when new Statement of Works are executed. I get a notification so I can prepare on the Operations side appropriately for resources. In addition, when a client uploads a new file into our Community for a support case we get a notification to help support them faster. If you use Salesforce, I would definitely recommend looking into this app.

What are you looking forward to this year? Are there any goals (personal or professional), activities, or experiences you are excited about?

I’m excited to start enjoying experiences again such as travel, sporting events and concerts. It has been difficult the last few years with these activities disappearing and I’m going to enjoy the events we took for granted previously. Hopefully we can celebrate another World Series appearance – Go Phillies!

 Pledge 1%’s #WomenWhoLead series celebrates female leaders who are paving the way for the next generation. While our featured leaders come from a variety of backgrounds and industries, they are united in their efforts to promote equality for all women in the workplace. We’ve asked them to share a bit about their journey to success, as well as lessons they’ve learned along the way. 

Roshawn Blunt

President, Corsaire

La Jolla, CA, USA

What is your current role? Briefly describe in 1-2 sentences.

I am the founder and president of Corsaire Corporation, a Black-woman-owned small business tailored to clients in the life sciences sector.

This year’s International Women’s Day theme is “Embrace Equity.” What does this mean to you? How can we build workplaces that are more equitable and inclusive?

I can only hope that the term “Embrace Equity” is not just a platitude but rather a sentiment that takes root and drives individuals to acknowledge that differences exist, and such differences require different levels and types of resources, needs and/or opportunities.

Organizations can embrace equity first by acknowledging that, due to historic systems and current mechanisms of oppression, not everyone is starting from the same place. Organizations can embrace inclusion by fostering a sense of belonging among people of different backgrounds, valuing their experiences and identities, and welcoming everyone equitably as decision-makers.

While there can be a strong financial return on investment when you achieve a workplace that values equity and inclusion, striving for that goal also comes with costs in terms of time, energy, and resources. Organizations that want to be more equitable and inclusive should set priorities, revise processes, and/or adjust targets as needed. The reality is, though, that it is very difficult to quantify all the ways that equity initiatives increase productivity, improve retention, attract better talent, help build better products, and connect you with customers. And frankly, some equity initiatives will result in no additional profit—but that doesn’t mean they aren’t worth doing. If an executive team is convinced that embracing equity can be a critical strategic initiative only if it drives revenue or saves money, or if the executive team doesn’t actively champion the work via financial investment, it’s very difficult to make tangible progress.

Do you have any mentors or role models who have helped you on your personal journey?

There have been many times in the formative years of my career when I stumbled. I found out later—sometimes much later—that Kathryn West, a legend in the oncology advocacy world, had reached out to provide silent assistance. What you do as a mentor or role-model when you see that your mentee’s career may be is “stalled” on the way up may be far more important. Kathryn actively monitored my career progression and intervened, without my knowledge, where appropriate and necessary, to ensure that my “stumbles” did not become “derailers.” I miss her every day.

What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?

If you don’t like the rules of the game, you have three choices: be unhappy playing the game—even if you’re good at it; change games; or move up the ranks, become the commissioner, and change the rules.

The past few years have brought many new and unprecedented challenges. What keeps you motivated or inspires you to stay optimistic?

It’s laughter—I stay motivated by finding a way to have fun and laugh as much as possible. One of my mantras is: Take your work seriously, but not yourself.

Pledge 1% helps companies of all sizes and stages leverage their assets for social good. Why do you think it’s important that companies prioritize social impact? Do you have any specific stories or examples from your work or colleagues you can share?

Press releases and public statements touting equity and inclusion are akin to thoughts and prayers for change. As a Black business owner with a company mission to illuminate paths to healthcare access for members of marginalized communities, I’ve learned that corporate America may not always make good on its pledges. Prioritizing social impact is only meaningful if we materialize such commitments and drive actual measurable change.

I’ve found that, as a consultant working in corporate America and the pharmaceutical industry specifically, my opportunity to make an impact in this arena is unique. My organization helps companies navigate the pharmaceutical value chain. In doing so, we can simultaneously help our clients consider business factors through the four types of social impact: clear, high, wide, and deep. Further, we suggest deliberate initiatives they can enact while advancing their business goals. For example, in order to address the long-standing challenges presented and created by the underrepresentation of various racial groups in clinical trials, the DEPICT Act requires drug companies to submit diversity action plans for registrational trials. Access to life-changing therapies for all communities is too important for this legislation to fail in its overarching purposes. Therefore, each time we work together with our clients to understand the unique circumstances and needs of different consumer groups and find ways to address such differences in an ethical and meaningful way, we help that company reach tangible business goals while taking steps towards equity and ultimately towards equal access to health care.

If you could describe yourself in one word what would that be and why?

Enigmatic. I once had a colleague who said I am the definition of Bushnell’s Law: easy to learn and difficult to master.

Do you have any unique or useful life hacks to help get through your day?

Because my business is client services, I have to plan my day knowing that one of my clients might have an emergency that I need to help resolve. So I keep a few hours on my calendar each day free for that. Should an emergency or unexpected critical task present itself, I don’t have to juggle my schedule or work extended hours to handle it. And if nothing else takes precedence, I have time to get ahead on my work or make progress on a personal initiative.

Do you have any go-to apps or tools use love to use?

No, I am a bit of a technology Luddite. And sometimes a pencil and a notebook are really all you need to get a lot accomplished.

What are you looking forward to this year? Are there any goals (personal or professional), activities, or experiences you are excited about?

On the personal front, I set a goal to treat myself in 2023 to a concert or performance at least once a month. I am ahead of schedule and have been able to see some amazing artists already; what’s more, I have some exciting big-name events I am looking forward to. See you in June, Lizzo!

Pledge 1%’s #WomenWhoLead series celebrates female leaders who are paving the way for the next generation. While our featured leaders come from a variety of backgrounds and industries, they are united in their efforts to promote equality for all women in the workplace. We’ve asked them to share a bit about their journey to success, as well as lessons they’ve learned along the way. 

Chloe Watts

Internal Communications Lead, Atlassian Foundation, Atlassian

Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia

What is your current role? Briefly describe in 1-2 sentences.

Creating communications that inspire Atlassian employees to make an impact on a global scale and in their own backyards through the Atlassian Foundation.

This year’s International Women’s Day theme is “Embrace Equity.” What does this mean to you? How can we build workplaces that are more equitable and inclusive?

My first job out of university was at an engineering firm where I used to receive emails addressed “Dear Gents”. We’ve progressed since then but still have far to go. I have a three-year-old son and a two-year-old daughter and I’m dismayed about the myriad ways that society constrains and shapes them according to their gender.

What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?

My dad is a sailor and taught me how to use the Southern Cross constellation to find due south.

The past few years have brought many new and unprecedented challenges. What keeps you motivated or inspires you to stay optimistic?

I subscribe to Future Crunch as an antidote to the fear-inducing news cycle.

Pledge 1% helps companies of all sizes and stages leverage their assets for social good. Why do you think it’s important that companies prioritize social impact? Do you have any specific stories or examples from your work or colleagues you can share?

I love that Pledge 1% challenges the notion that you work all your life, build your wealth and then give back to those who are less fortunate. The belief is that businesses can, and should, bake social impact into their DNA from the very beginning.

Do you have any unique or useful life hacks to help get through your day?

I don’t look at my phone after 8pm. Would recommend!

What are you looking forward to this year? Are there any goals (personal or professional), activities, or experiences you are excited about?

I’ve started ocean swimming. It reliably delivers these lovely, unique endorphins – I think perhaps it’s a combo of the exertion, cold water and seeing so much horizon.

Pledge 1%’s #WomenWhoLead series celebrates female leaders who are paving the way for the next generation. While our featured leaders come from a variety of backgrounds and industries, they are united in their efforts to promote equality for all women in the workplace. We’ve asked them to share a bit about their journey to success, as well as lessons they’ve learned along the way. 

Gabrielle Hendryx-Parker

CEO and Co-Founder, Six Feet Up, Inc.

Fishers, Indiana, USA

What is your current role? Briefly describe in 1-2 sentences.

As the Integrator (we are an EOS company), I strive to create an inclusive and diverse company culture, where staff members commit to doing the right thing for our clients, rely on teamwork, use a can-do attitude and give back to their community, both local and global. I help remove roadblocks and I work hard to make sure our staff is clear on our vision and priorities.

This year’s International Women’s Day theme is “Embrace Equity.” What does this mean to you? How can we build workplaces that are more equitable and inclusive?

Embracing equity means leveling the playing fields and removing barriers for workers who can’t do the traditional on-site 9-5 schedule. This means offering flexible hours, part time options and the possibility to work remotely. And making it ok for anybody struggling with little kids, aging parents, a sick family member, a mental health problem, and other personal issues to talk about it openly at work.

Do you have any mentors or role models who have helped you on your personal journey?

Early on in my career I witnessed plenty of injustice and people treated unfairly at work. I vowed never to follow that path in my own company.

What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?

“Obstacles are the raw material of our goals” (Dan Sullivan)

The past few years have brought many new and unprecedented challenges. What keeps you motivated or inspires you to stay optimistic?

Embrace change. We are incredibly lucky to live in this day and age. We have access to thousands of years of knowledge and wisdom for free. Use it to grow and transform yourself and your community.

Pledge 1% helps companies of all sizes and stages leverage their assets for social good. Why do you think it’s important that companies prioritize social impact? Do you have any specific stories or examples from your work or colleagues you can share?

Prioritizing social impact makes good business sense as it helps with employee retention by boosting morale, creating a sense of purpose and self-worth, and developing empathy in the workplace. It is also a great way to fulfill many entrepreneurs’ goals to make the world a better place.

If you could describe yourself in one word what would that be and why?

Resourceful. I believe we can all solve many more problems than we think we can.

Do you have any unique or useful life hacks to help get through your day?

I focus on doing my best, no matter what it is, so I can’t have any regrets. If I feel down, I first look at fixing my sleep. Beyond that, I have developed a crisis management list for myself for times when I get stressed out so I can remind myself of things that have helped me out in the past.

Do you have any go-to apps or tools use love to use?

All the real time collaboration tools: Slack, Notion, DropBox Paper, Todoist. And Oura to track my sleep stats.