It is gratifying to be bringing you the amazing stellar women in issue 6. Issue 6 is about leadership. All the women interviewed are in top leadership roles in different sectors and across the globe. We have covered fashion, music, technology, aviation, and business, and all the stories are shared from the heart.
“If not me, then who?” words of Rachel B Lee echoed into my ears and brought a vibration into my body during the interview as I realised this was the whole purpose, of not only this issue, but also the magazine. We’re all called to greatness and our journey with you is to ensure that you realise this. One of the ways we do this is through stories that relate to you or the knowledge or skill that you need to fill the gap and enable new possibilities. It is a pleasure to share this knowledge and I am grateful to all the women interviewed and our expert contributors in the mind and body, money and business, and fashion and beauty who are always willing to share their expertise.
Our cover woman Amy Williams is an award-winning entrepreneur, a thought leader, and the founder of Fem Foundry, an app that provides a platform for women to connect, share their knowledge and help each other. What a perfect fit for Stellar Woman magazine. Amy’s work involves ensuring that women believe in themselves, and take on power positions so that they can impact the world.
Just as emphasised by Brené Brown’s key leadership attributes, Teresa Goncalves, the CFO of SATA International Airlines and board member of IATA, reveals courage and vulnerability. She has beaten breast cancer twice! This is the reason we’re using this issue to raise awareness and fundraise for breast cancer research – please join us to make this possible. Read, be inspired, and donate.
I spent a glorious one hour and a half with Teresa in the Azores, which time I treasured given that we were meeting for the first time and it was a very busy day for her. This act of giving left me mesmerised by the human being Teresa is. Teresa combines a sincere and enthralling smile with an open heart, positivity, and deep care for her team and colleagues.
If you’re like me and have a deep love for fashion and are interested in saving the planet by choosing sustainable living, then the twin sisters Daniela and Annette Felder’s interview will provide you with a full perspective. Daniela and Annette are the founders of Felder Felder which is a sustainable luxurious brand. They offer everything; from inspiration and mindsets required for success on your internship journey, to learning how to collaborate with others. They have dressed celebrities such as Rihanna and Gwyneth Paltrow. They discuss leadership qualities required to thrive in the fashion industry, their emphasis being listening to the customer.
Rene Byrd, a musician, songwriter, and ambassador to Nelson Mandela’s children fund, opens your eyes to another way of realising your greatness. She highlights the importance of self-care, not only for oneself but also for the team you lead. She talks about doubt and imposter syndrome as issues that sabotage women’s growth. Renee encourages women to be curious and risk-takers to be able to maximise their full potential.
Ceil Stanford’s definition of leadership, which is being the person who walks the talk, leads, guides, and inspires, is one I believe you can easily incorporate into your life today. Ceil Stanford is the president of the Leadership Academy Institute in the US. She discusses many things and provides a detailed account of what holds women back from being great leaders. She also encourages women to go below the surface and face what is there. She talks about mentors that chose her, especially at the beginning of her career, that have enabled her to be the woman and leader she is today.
I would like to meet that woman,
Rachel B Lee, a brand marketing lady boss, a Linkedin development strategist, and co-founder of StandOut Authority, provided a deep and candid conversation about all challenges that women face. According to her, they are mainly contributed by society, and the fact that as women we don’t believe that we’re capable and worthy. She encourages professional women to take positions and build their brands on Linkedin and join Web 3.
Diana Richardson, who has always seen and envisioned empowerment of women as being a catalyst for change, is out to reach, uplift, educate and empower women. Just what we like to echo. She is the founder of Empowered Women Empower Women and Bronzedglo Beauty. She talks about the most difficult part of being in a leadership role, which is the elimination of old habits carried from being an employee.
We also featured and offered a full outlook of leadership at MB Associates. This features Monica Bradley, the founder and MD of MB Associates (which is one of the leading mortgage brokerages in the UK). You will discover how Monica approaches leadership and how some members of MB Associates team think about her leadership style and the incidents that reveal her style.
I very much hope that you enjoy, reflect, and take action to improve your leadership approach. Continue to support your knowledge and skills by reading from the 20 recommended books on leadership and reflect on the most required leadership qualities from any great leader which were collected during a survey. Listening and integrity (walking the talk) were the top leadership attributes. Don’t forget to take on the challenges left by the stellar women interviewed. Do the exercises provided in mind and body, be inspired by the fashion and beauty section, and improve your leadership in money and business. No matter what your understanding of leadership is, there will be something new for you to learn.
Wishing you a happy read.
From me and the Stellar Woman magazine team.