This edition commemorates a few women leaders that have transformed the face of the industry with their skillset & idealistic beliefs
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The 10 Most Admired Women Leaders in Business 2022, February2022.pdf
1. The 10Most Admired
in Business, 2022
Vare a
Huggins
Instilling Integrity to Become
the Voice for People
www.insightssuccess.com
VOL-02 | ISSUE-08 | 2022
Door to Success
Leaders that
We Need Today
Womanhood
Unlocking the POTENTIAL of
WOMEN for WELFARE
of the WORLD
2.
3.
4. Inspiring
Vision,
Aspiring
Change
omen have been subject to changing
Wenvironments in the business world much
more than their male counterparts. Facing
multiple challenges in their way, women have become one
of the most dependent classes of business leaders. Today,
they hold powerful and impactful positions to bring about
disruption. It is safe to say that we live in an era of evolving
business leaders and women are at the center of it. They
carry a fresh idea of accelerating the growth potential while
maintaining an equal balance of work and leisure.
Strength is a powerful word often associated with the
female gender. Women have the appetite to take risks, deal
with remarks, insults, or stereotypes, take risks, and dare to
stand for the ideology they believe in. They should believe
in themselves even when nobody else fails to do so. They
have the determination and stability to see things more
precisely than the rest and take risks based on their intuitive
qualities. Every obstacle or setback is a learning
opportunity for business leaders to learn and grow. Being
brave is a quality of leaders, and women lead the way in
this aspect for the rest of us to follow.
Women can look back at their journey, think about the
challenges and difficulties, and work on ways to improve
them. To create women-friendly workplaces, a change at
ground level is bound. Having women leaders enables
young women entering the industry to be vocal about their
problems and have a level of comfort to get involved while
solving them. Women employees often have so much to
say, but few can listen to them.
Editor’s Desk
5. Team building is an essential aspect of any work if
the organization has to grow collectively. Great
leaders always encourage healthy team-building
activities to gel employees together. Women are
traditionally known to have a great EQ which can
help this cause. An optimal balance of work and
leisure activities can help the team efficiently match
up to their tasks. There is often employee burnout
after long sessions of work without any breaks or
stops. This can be easily stopped by intricate
planning of work. New-age women leaders know
how to maintain a delicate balance between work
and play.
We are not far from the day when we can say that we
have built an ecosystem that is a fair playing field for
both genders. I expect this year and ultimately this
decade to be known for transitional stories of women
leaders who are known for their work and admired
for their vision. Insights Success commemorate alike
women leaders in its edition “The 10 Most Admired
Women Leaders in Business,2022.”
Dive into such inspiring stories of various leaders
who have transformed the face of the industry with
their skillset and idealistic beliefs. Flipping through
the pages, have a quick glance through the articles
written by our in-house editorial team, and gain
business insights with the CxO penned down by
industry experts.
Dive right in!
Raunak Mhetre
Raunak
raunak.mhetre@insightssuccess.com
6. A R T I C L E S
28
Door to Success
Leaders that
We Need Today
50
Womanhood
Unlocking the POTENTIAL of
WOMEN for WELFARE of the WORLD
C O V E R
S T O R Y
08
C O N T E N T S
Varetta Huggins
Instilling Integrity to
Become the Voice for People
7. 24 Daria Dubinina
Building the Next-generation FinTech Products
36 Heather Ripley
Helping Businesses Stay Ahead of the Curve
32
Elissa Weimer Training Your Dog to be PAW-SOME
42
Karina Tiwana
An Ardent Legal Professional
Exemplifying Passionate Leadership
46 Meg Prejzner
Framing YOUR Marketing Roadmap
Ruthie Staalsen
Sherry Blinkhorn
52
56
16 Alicia Asín Pérez
A Proficient Leader with Exceptional Leadership Traits
20
Cloé Caron
Guiding Leaders to Develop their
True Potential
An Avid Designer Creating Spaces that
are Collected, not Decorated
An Accomplished Real Estate Broker and
a Passionate Advocate for the Mentally Ill
9. Brief
Company Name
Hackett Brand Consulting builds marketing programs that drive
business results while staying centered on the mission that
drives you to wake up and work hard every day.
Alicia Asin Perez
Co-founder and CEO
Libelium Cloud is the software platform.
Infinera is a global supplier of innovative networking solutions.
Paw & Order Dog Training offers certified dog training
programs.
Libelium
libelium.com
Blinkhorn Real Estat implements innovative technologies and
offers virtual reality tours and drone videography to enhance
the listings services.
Ruthie Staalsen Interiors helps you create relaxed, collected
interiors, with a global influence.
o2coaching strongly believes that any person or organization
can acheive its goals by adopting simple fundamental shifts in
mindset, attitude and behaviour.
V-Project Management Consulting is a woman-owned,
disadvantaged-owned, and minority-owned small business
enterprise.
Featured Person
o2Coaching
o2coaching.ca
Crassula
crassula.io
Paw & Order Dog
Training
pawandorder.com
Ripley PR
ripleypr.com
Infinera
infinera.com
Hackett Brand
Consulting
hackettbrandconsulting.com
Ruthie Staalsen Interiors
ruthiestaalsen.com
Blinkhorn Real Estate Ltd
blinkhornrealestate.com
V-Project Management
Consulting LLC
v-pmc.com
Cloe Caron
President & Founder
Daria Dubinina
CEO and Co-founder
Elissa Weimer
Owner & Professional
Trainer
Heather Ripley
CEO & Founder
Karina Tiwana
Vice President, Legal
Meg Prejzner
CEO & Founder
Ruthie Staalsen
Owner & Professional
Trainer
Sherry Blinkhorn
Broker/Owner
Varetta Huggins
Founder, President
& CEO
Crassula White Label solutions build PSP, Banking, FX
products.
Ripley PR is an award-winning, global public relations agency.
The 10Most Admired
in Business, 2022
11. Varetta Huggins
Instilling Integrity to
Become the Voice for People
V-PMC is based
on the premise that
all US Government
Agencies need seamless
3PMO Consulting Solutions
to assist with their constant
charge to reduce duplication
of effort, waste, cost
overruns, and schedule
slippages.
The 10 Most Admired Women Leaders in Business, 2022.
12. To do the right thing in the professional world takes
courage. When one dares to say NO to the things
that don't align with the ethics of the business, one
implies a strong voice that is bound to make a disruptive
change. Varetta Huggins faced a similar situation, took a
stand against it, and eventually became her own champion
and founded V-Project Management Consulting LLC (V-
PMC). She is the Chief Executive Officer, President, and
one of the billable Consultants for Federal Government
clients such as FAA, ED, USDA, and USAID, to bring in
Government Contracting revenue for V-PMC. She now
conducts consulting work on her terms as the prime
contractor or subcontractor working with Government
clients.
The woman whose journey started on a guitar-shaped island
of St. Kitts, who dreamed of owning a software consulting
company, is now one of the most admired business leaders
in the world. Varetta is a remarkable example of how
woman leaders are disrupting the business world, making a
dent in the universe, making their voice heard, and listening
to the concerns that need the most attention.
When Varetta graduated in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science
degree in Computer Science, she began her consulting
career working with Government Contractors to provide
consulting services to Federal Agencies such as NASA,
NOAA, and FAA. During that time, she earned her Master
of Science degree in Information Systems Technology
concentrating in Management Information Systems then her
Project Management Professional (PMP) Certificate.
The Voice for All
Varetta's contributions to impact the consulting solution
niche are unmatched. She tailored and developed new
consulting and coaching services for small business owners
who hunger for authentic, professional, Government
Contracting Coaching services.
Varetta notes, "Most small business owners that came to us
had paid for services they did not receive or overpaid for
services and did not get the value they were seeking. As a
result, they lost trust in hiring Consultants to help them with
their business needs, and in most cases, we were their last
resort." V-PMC took on customers wounded by the
Consulting system, then provided them with the services
they needed and added more value than they were seeking.
Once customers realized the values they received from its
Consulting services, they trusted V-PMC with their
consulting needs and recommended them to their family,
friends, and colleagues.
Varetta spoke on stages to the small business community
and sent out email campaigns during the Pandemic with
content they could use. The COVID-19 Pandemic allowed
her to meet small business owners across the U.S. virtually
and hear their stories to cope and keep their businesses
afloat. V-PMC's email campaigns provided critical PPP,
EIDL, and other financial information to small businesses
seeking ways to keep their business operations going, open
their businesses safely, and find new technologies to operate
lean businesses. Varetta had many small businesses who
called or emailed during the Pandemic for help with filling
out PPP, EIDL, grants, and other programs and for advice
and guidance on gaining government contracts and grants.
She says, "Many did not trust the government but reached
out to us, a familiar, trusted source for the small business
community, to verify SBA information and gain the
clarification they needed on small business assistance."
Consulting Making Difference
V-Project Management Consulting (V-PMC), LLC is an
SBA certified 8(a), woman-owned, disadvantaged-owned,
and minority-owned small business that provides Enterprise
Project, Program, and Portfolio Management Office (E-
PMO) services to Federal, State, and Commercial clients.
Its Consultants aim to become the E-PMO Trusted Advisor
for the clients they serve.
In 2018 Varetta started the V-Government Contracting
Success Program. She helps small business owners,
entrepreneurs, independent consultants, and non-profit
owners become Government Contractors and be ready for
Government contracts and grants. Today, V-PMC provides
Enterprise PMO, Executive Business Coaching,
Government Contracting Coaching, and Government
Grants Coaching services to Government and non-
Government clients.
The vision of V-PMC is to serve the U.S. Government as
the #1 Enterprise PMO Service Provider.
The mission of V-PMC is to develop best practice approach
solutions using innovative technology to support
Government and Non-Government Clients.
The Solidary Pillars
For 2022, V-PMC's core values are to have integrity, deliver
excellence, and be loyal.
Varetta believes that having personnel who aim to have
uncompromising integrity in all they do will foster a
company with honest, respectable, responsible, trustworthy,
13. Giving YOU
access to our
Training
Platform and
Coaching
Sessions to
transform your
business
financially and
professionally.
14. and hardworking people. She asserts, "Our people are the
ones working directly with our Government and non-
Government clients, and their integrity will drive them to
deliver excellence on all submissions and interactions with
team members and clients. Our company's work culture of
delivering excellence ensures that our staff is loyal to the V-
PMC brand and our clients and customers."
V-PMC provides a work environment with continuous
opportunities for growth, where personnel is challenged,
and where dreams are achieved. It provides personnel
development by constantly improving every member of its
V-PMC team through certification, training, lessons learned,
and providing the right tools. It also fosters a caring
company culture where each member is treated as a family
member, where teamwork overrides individuality, and
where compassion is employed when addressing personal
and family needs.
Adapting Technology
Varetta states that V-PMC embraces technology so much
that it is a part of its culture and mission. For Government
clients, it recommends using innovative technologies to
solve business challenges and support strategic objectives.
It shows its small business customers how to use new tools
to manage their business and business processes with less
staff efficiently.
As a Consulting Company, V-PMC takes pride in gaining
the latest training on new and existing technologies and
their enhancements, to develop best practice approach
solutions for each Government client and small business
customer. Varetta and her staff attend webinars, seminars,
expos, e-conferences, and zoom sessions to learn about the
latest technologies and their use for Government and non-
Government clients. The company has adopted some of
these technologies and recommended and showcased its
service to its small business customers. During the
Pandemic, V-PMC reduced its staff but still kept business
operations going by using tools such as Monday, Stripe,
Calendly, Constant Contact, Docusign, Zoom, Loom,
QuickBooks, Google Suite, Wrike, LinkedIn, LinkedIn
Recruiter, Indeed, ZipRecruiter, OneNote, Microsoft Office,
and others to complete work virtually.
Potential Entrepreneurial Drive
Varetta expects the following significant change in the
consulting industry: the regular 9to5 job is less enticing,
and more people becoming entrepreneurs and independent
consultants. The U.S. Small Business Association (SBA)
reported that in 2019 there were over 30 million small
businesses in the U.S. Today, over 32 million small
businesses are being reported. People are taking the next
step to becoming entrepreneurs and starting their
businesses.
V-PMC is ready to educate more entrepreneurs and
independent consultants on starting their new company. V-
PMC has already created training for entrepreneurs and is
updating its Training Program in 2022 to include a
dedicated Training website. Varetta is currently working
with partners to start a Program to train small business
owners from the cradle to the grave on what they need to
know to start and operate a successful business.
What Comes Next?
Varetta's purpose is to empower business owners to achieve
personal, spiritual, financial, and professional growth. She
knows that getting her story out there to business owners
and equipping them with the tools, techniques, services, and
partnerships needed will provide them with the access they
need to grow their business exponentially. Her ultimate goal
is to grow V-PMC into the #1 Business Management
Consulting Government Contracting Company by
partnering with business owners through the V-GovCon
Program.
Varetta envisions being on the stages across the U.S. and
worldwide, sharing content with business owners on how
they can grow their businesses with Government
Contracting. How they can speak to sell their goods and
services and how they can set goals then work on action
plans daily to achieve them. She hopes to inspire and
empower more women and minority business owners to
take the leap to build their businesses and impact millions
daily.
Bequeathing Excellence
Varetta advises budding entrepreneurs to take the leap
NOW. "Opportunities are waiting for you NOW. You don't
want to keep putting it off and find out two years from now
how far you could have been if you had just leaped in
2022," concludes Varetta.
27. omen have made enormous strides in the
Wfinance sector. Their contributions in the space
are strengthening the financial-services industry
and helping businesses stay ahead of challenges. One such
woman shaping the future of finance is Daria Dubinina.
Before diving into entrepreneurship, Daria's journey has
been full of discoveries and industry research. She has been
working in the FinTech and payments field for five years,
doing e-commerce and online payments. This allowed her
to get to know the FinTech industry and strengthened her
desire to learn and develop in FinTech.
Daria has dedicated more than nine years to mastering
payments, e-commerce, and business development. As a
leading strategist and entrepreneur, she has also led major
partnership deals with top international companies. Today
she is the CEO and Co-founder of Crassula.
Let's unveil more about Daria's journey and how Crassula is
delivering the world-class products.
Putting Accumulated Knowledge into Action
Crassula's story began when Daria met Alex Novozhenov
and Vlad Nikolayev. They all are co-founders of Crassula.
The decision to found Crassula was a natural progression of
the desire to put the accumulated knowledge into action.
They started with a simple idea to provide fast and easy
core technology for launching FinTechs. And today
Crassula White Label solutions are trusted by the industry
leaders. The company allows users to build their PSP,
Banking, FX products in days and provides access to world-
class products to over 5 million users.
Allowing Companies to Create their Products and
Services
Crassula White Label software provides the technical
infrastructure for the FinTech companies that allows
creating their services and products. With Crassula,
companies can concentrate on building their businesses
without spending years and huge budgets developing their
solutions. Also, this approach reduces the risks when testing
a business idea; now the company can begin to implement
its idea on Crassula's platform, attract customers and enter
the market.
Crassula allows its clients to launch their crypto banks and
wallets, accepting crypto payments. Using its solutions,
clients can start their crypto business in days.
February 2022 | 25 | insightssuccess.com
The 10 Most Admired Women Leaders in Business, 2022.
28. Helping Companies Bring their Ideas to Life
Daria is playing a crucial role in supporting the launch,
growth and development of FinTechs around the world
through Crassula. Firstly, Crassula helps FinTech
companies to bring their ideas to life quickly and save their
budgets. It also creates a whole infrastructure of solutions
and products, a kind of tech hub, stimulating the creation of
new products and services development.
"We also do a lot of R&D and there is a clear trend of
FinTech penetration into most tech industries. Social media,
retail, gaming, and other industries are developing FinTech
components. Thus, our solutions are also becoming more
global, which allows us to develop the global market,"
Daria notes.
Creating Most Effective Products for Customers
Further Daria mentions that Crassula researches and tests
the latest technological advances to create the most
effective products for its customers. Today, the Crassula
platform offers 3 main products: Core Banking System,
Crypto Banking System, and PSP.
Core Banking System provides ledgers with IBANs, card
management system, KYC onboarding and verification
module, AML financial monitoring module, SWIFT &
SEPA transfers, Currency exchange, and more.
Crypto Banking product allows Crassula's clients to launch
their crypto projects, manage and open accounts with
unique crypto addresses, exchange fiat to crypto, make
crypto transfers, invest in crypto, issue cards for private and
business clients.
PSP is helping create a global payment gateway attributed
with alternative payment methods, anti-fraud, risk
management, merchant integration, smart routing, and
virtual currencies, enabling payment companies to make
online payments secure and smart for merchants and
payers.
Encouraging Out of the Box Thinking in Team
Members
Stating the importance of culture Daria states that the most
“We are constantly
developing,
growing and
improving.”
February 2022 | 26 | insightssuccess.com
29. important value for Crassula is its team. For its community,
one of the key principles is called "Freedom And
Responsibility". It does not control every minute of working
time, giving its teammates freedom to create whenever they
want, but expects responsibility of finishing the projects on
time and with the highest quality. It created its product with
the ability to think out of the box and tries to encourage this
skill in its team.
As a CEO, Daria tries to motivate Crassula's community, be
a role model, share her experience and stimulate creativity
in the area of responsibility of Crassula's teammates.
Daria believes that the basis for building a team is to work
with the best. To cooperate with the best professionals from
around the world, Crassula developed remote working
practices even before the pandemic. So, when COVID-19
flipped the workplaces upside-down, Crassula had already
embraced a remote work model before hiring professionals
online began to get popular. This approach enabled the team
to double in size in 2021. Currently, Crassula is a technical
hub bringing together professionals from all over the world.
Its dream team is working remotely from Latvia, the UK,
Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan.
Keeping Pace with World Trends and Availing Edge
We asked Daria her opinion on the next big significant
change in the FinTech space, to which she says, "Pandemic,
lockdown, and society changes led to radical changes in
technology. Technologies today are developing rapidly as
never before, and the FinTech industry is growing as well.
Online banking is becoming a transforming tool in finance.
And it's not just about the cashless economy. Digital
banking offers more innovative services and products,
improves security and transparency. It is important to
mention white labelling as one of the main trends. White
Label FinTech solutions allow the market to develop faster,
and the businesses to launch their own solutions, minimize
risks and costs.”
According to Daria, one of the most important financial
innovations and one of the main trends is crypto. Trends
such as robotic process automation and voice-enabled
payments cannot be ignored. No one could even imagine
how quickly it could evolve when online banking has just
started. Big data projects are still an important trend, as
people create an incredible amount of data every second.
Crassula is at the cutting edge of technology development,
and it is going to work to let its products keep pace with
world trends and possibly lead them.
Looking Forward to Working on New Solutions
Looking backward, Daria sees a lot of amazing clients,
successful projects, and collaborations. Therefore, she is
looking forward to working on new solutions for Crassula's
clients, to new integrations, nominations, and
collaborations.
Being Open to New Opportunities
In her advice to emerging entrepreneurs, Daria says,
"Building your own business is one of the most hard yet
exciting journey. This is a chance to give rise to new trends
that may one day change the world. Therefore, you should
be open to new opportunities, work hard, and develop your
networking skills. You should always take care of yourself,
of your team and keep moving to the new goals.”
February 2022 | 27 | insightssuccess.com
31. Life is a struggle that revolves around personal
and professional challenges. And, when you
are struggling, seeking advice from genuine
friends always helps you. But instead of following
people and their advice, create your own opportunities
that help you find your own path. Because fate is by
far the greatest mystery of all, and you can never
know where it will take you. But the real question is
there an alternative to all of this? While everyone
speaks about these complicated things, let’s discuss
the solution through this article.
Our lives are connected to technology and social
media, as they play a key role in today’s modern
world. As business leaders, we have to accept the fact
that the vision to bring change in the lives of the
people and transform the world is possible with
technology. But, promoting compassion and well-
being among the people is also equally important.
Understandably, everyone wants to create their
identity and influence the world. But developing
leaders just for the sake of business output and profits
will degrade the quality of the leadership. And, we
don’t want such leaders, especially in tough times like
today.
We want leaders who can get the best out of their
team, which is possible only without the fear of
judgment. It is a great way to lead, discuss, guide, and
help each other in crucial times. A ray of hope is all
people need, and leaders can bring that hope through
these sources. For example, if any employee knows
that he/she does not have to face the issues alone and
there is someone to talk about it, it gives hope to that
person.
Yes, that’s the alternative for a leader – to connect - to
help those who feel down and try to bring the best out
of them. That’s what the leader should be recognized
for, and this is the shift leaders need to bring currently.
As an organization and as people, we should develop
compassion and ethics that reflect our outlook on the
world.
It is only with this approach we can make it possible
to sustain and impact lives for longer, creating a better
world for all. This is a much-needed alternative in
today’s pandemic situation – promoting compassion
and well-being among the people. Now that we have
got the alternative solution for the leaders. The next
question is, how do you recognize that you need help?
Most of us today are too busy making a living. We
exist only within our daily routine, as we are
preoccupied with massive responsibilities in many
aspects of our lives, like academic, financial, career,
household chores, etc. And due to this, it becomes too
late to realize that you are already struggling –
emotionally and mentally. We no longer listen to our
body & mind, and finally, we do not appreciate our
actual/real life.
There appears an absence of self-care. Taking care of
yourself can be overlooked against all the professional
pressures of our life. But it is important to take time to
care about your physical, emotional, spiritual, and
mental health.
Before you extend your compassion and authentic
care for people, you must first practice self-care.
Why? Because you can never give what you do not
have.
Below are things that can help you in practicing self-
care:
Ÿ Start your day doing things you love the most and
boost your mood.
Ÿ Be grateful for things you have, no matter how
small or big it might be.
Ÿ Have sufficient sleep, healthy food, and exercise
regularly
Ÿ Do activities and interactions add value to your life
There are much more things that you can discover
yourself to practice self-care. After following all the
things, you will appreciate your life, even more,
resulting in a healthy work-life balance. With peace of
mind, you will achieve your life goals. You will know
yourself better – see a better version of yourself and
attract positivity in your life.
February 2022 | 29 | insightssuccess.com
32.
33.
34. February 2022 | 32 | insightssuccess.com
The 10 Most Admired Women Leaders in Business, 2022.
35. Elissa Weimer
Training Your Dog to be PAW-SOME
f you are a pet owner, you may understand that the
Ibond between a dog and owner is impeccable. You
might have come across several videos on social media
where a dog is happy, carrying out his shenanigans,
spreading smiles on millions of faces. However, many
efforts go into training these dogs, considered as an
essential part of canine companionship. Elissa Weimer
takes dog training to her heart to deepen the bond between
the owner and the dog to widen their smile.
Elissa is the Owner of Paw & Order Dog Training and is
a Professional Trainer, with numerous certifications to her
name. Through Paw & Order, she offers professional,
balanced, dog training and behavioral problem solving
throughout the Pittsburgh area. Paw & Order recently
expanded its reach to Southwest Florida, Houston, TX, and
Central Ohio through franchising.
Insights Success caught up with Elissa in our endeavor to
find “The 10 Most Successful Businesswomen to Watch
2022” and talked about how she is instilling pride in dog
owners, as well as making dogs safer in the community as a
whole!
Below are the highlights of the interview:
Brief our audience about your journey as a business
leader until your current position at Paw & Order Dog
Training. What challenges have you had to overcome to
reach where you are today?
I joined the military right out of High School. Being a
Military Policewoman led me to the path I am on now.
During college, I acquired a paid internship with the
Attorney General’s office and later with the Federal Bureau
of Investigations on their Violent Drug and Gang squad in
Philadelphia, PA. After two years of interning there, I
applied for a Special Agent position, but quickly realized
that just was not what I genuinely wanted to do for the rest
of my life. I wanted to help people and wanted people to be
excited when they saw me arrive at their homes—a
different feeling than seeing an agent or police officer at
your door.
I knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur, but I did not know
where to start. I spent a long time figuring out what I was
good at and realized I am good at teaching people. I just
had to decide what I would be excited to teach! I realized
that I love animals and that they had the power of making
people feel good in so many ways. I realized that so many
people have dogs, so I decided to shadow many other dog
trainers and attended a ton of schools to learn as many
techniques as possible to help people ENJOY their dogs. To
this day, I continue to learn and better myself and my team
of trainers to help as many people as possible. We not only
continue our education with behavioral problems, but also
February 2022 | 33 | insightssuccess.com
36. with other areas of dog training such as trick training,
Therapy Dog Training, Canine Good Citizen, agility
training, large field socialization classes, and K9 Detection
training (my Belgian Malinois and I won 1st Place
Narcotics at last year’s Police K9 Competition in
Kentucky). We realized how much we have to offer and
how unique our company is that we decided it was time to
franchise in 2019!
Tell us something more about your company and its
mission and vision.
Paw & Order’s mission is to improve the lives of as many
families as we can by providing quality and effective
individualized dog training. Our vision is to continue
spreading Paw & Order nationwide and have an amazing
training program to ensure that the quality of our local
Pittsburgh market is mirrored in every major city in the
United States. We train our trainers to the highest standards
and treat our employees like family. All our trainers are
extremely valuable to us, and we make sure that they are
well taken care of. It builds their loyalty to our brand,
making them want to work even harder to ensure that our
clients are happy and excited to refer us to their family and
friends.
Enlighten us on how you have impacted the training
niche through your expertise in the market.
Our training is unique to each dog and family. We have also
made training simple and effective for families and dogs. So
often, we hear that “my dog will only listen if I am holding
treats or the leash/some other piece of training equipment.”
Or a client will say that their dog knows all basic
commands (sit, down, come, stay) but will not do it when
there are other distractions around or the environment does
not look the same every time for the dog.
Dogs do not generalize things well and need hundreds of
repetitions in as many situations as possible to reliably
understand what you are asking them to do. We have
mastered our communication with dogs and their owners to
train SIMPLE. We have found that overloading our clients
with a bunch of training jargon that means nothing to them
is not helpful. Dog owners want their dog to be a good
family dog they can trust and be proud of! They are not
competing in shows with their dog where they need to learn
fancy tricks and unrealistic positions to their family
situation (there is nothing wrong with competitions, but
most pet owners do not care about that). Most people do not
have perfect timing when it comes to communicating with
their dog, so we use methods that allow a delay between
rewards and consequences once their behavior, like/dislike,
has been identified. This helps tremendously so that their
dog will listen even if their owner does not have food or a
leash in their hand.
We pride ourselves on solving behavior problems and
teaching good behaviors for the long term, not just for the
moment. Our clients have lifetime access to our trainers and
they have access to a free private adventure group after
their training is complete to make sure that they continue to
be successful. It introduces them to an amazing community
of other dogs and owners to experience fun things with. At
least once a week, we meet up at trails, parks, stores, lakes,
bars, etc., and go hiking, camping, kayaking, or just enjoy a
nice day outside with our dogs and a drink! We want people
to experience how life-changing our dog training programs
are. Once your dog is well trained, your world becomes
more fulfilling and exciting!
Where do you envision yourself to be in the long run,
and what are your future Paw & Order Dog Training
goals?
We recently started opening new locations nationwide and
want to continue doing so. We strive for the QUALITY of
our trainers instead of quantity. Paw & Order is my “baby,”
and we will only expand with individuals that match our
integrity and motivation to work hard, be proud of what
they are doing, and continue to improve the quality of the
business.
“We pride ourselves on solving behavior problems and
teaching good behaviors for the long term, not just for the
moment. We will investigate and solve your dog's behavior
problems.”
February 2022 | 34 | insightssuccess.com
38. Heather Ripley
Helping Businesses Stay Ahead of the Curve
hat was it that made your competitor position
Witself as an industry leader? It was likely a PR
agency that helped it gain a competitive edge.
Well, your business can make it too. What it needs is an
agency that can create results-driven branding for your
business and help you compete successfully. This is exactly
what Ripley PR brings to the table. Spearheading the
operations of the company is Heather Ripley, an
accomplished PR executive and its founder and CEO.
Heather combines business management, solid analytical
skills, and creative B2B public relations strategies to deliver
measurable results for your brand.
Inspired by her passion for serving clients, we at Insights
Success got into conversation with Heather to learn more
about her journey and how her rare combination of
creativity and analytical thinking is helping businesses
thrive.
Below are the highlights of the interview:
Brief our audience about your journey as a business
leader until your current position at Ripley PR. What
challenges have you had to overcome to reach where you
are today?
In 1996, I worked for a department store’s buying office and
fell in love with ad copywriting. My career over the years
evolved into public relations and marketing. In 2009, I was
managing PR and marketing for a large franchisor,
Clockwork Home Services. While there, I secured a spot for
our three franchise brands, One Hour Heating & Air
Conditioning, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing and Mister
Sparky, on The Celebrity Apprentice with Donald Trump.
That appearance helped our CEO position the company for
acquisition, and he sold the brands for more than $180
million. I then entered the agency world and worked in
senior management for two different agencies before
moving back to my hometown of Maryville, Tennessee and
starting Ripley PR in 2013.
Within 45 days of starting Ripley PR, I had secured my first
three retainer clients. Within six months, I had hired my
first full-time employee.
Now, Ripley PR is a global public relations agency that has
been recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine as a Top
February 2022 | 36 | insightssuccess.com
The 10 Most Admired Women Leaders in Business, 2022.
40. Franchise PR Agency four years in a row and was honored
by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies in 2021.
Through our hard work, we have cemented ourselves as one
of the top PR agencies in the country for the home service
industry and skilled trades. I also published a book for the
home services industry last year, entitled “Next Level
Now,” which is available for purchase on Amazon.com.
Tell us something more about Ripley PR, its mission and
vision.
My team really loves what we do. We only succeed when
our clients succeed. It’s not about gathering awards for
Ripley PR, but how best to ensure that we successfully
advocate for our clients.
At Ripley, you don’t just get one person to help you
increase your company’s visibility; you get an entire team
of specialists. Our experts can help you create content, pitch
story ideas to the media, and show you the best way to
become an expert in your industry.
Enlighten us on how you have made an impact in the PR
niche through your expertise in the market.
We pride ourselves on our knowledge of the home services
industry and the world of franchising. Those are two of our
nicheindustries that we serve. During the time I spent at
Clockwork Home Services, I came to realize that the home
services industry was underserved in the public relations
field. Many home services business owners don’t
understand the power of PR or feel they don’t need public
relations until their business is larger or has a crisis. Ripley
PR’s success in driving growth for home service companies
and adding value to a franchise system illustrates how
important public relations is to these industries. Our goal is
to help home services and franchises dominate in their
service areas.
“Success to us is
all about you. It’s not
about placing another award in
our office. It’s about your success in clear,
easy-to-understand, concise numbers.”
February 2022 | 38 | insightssuccess.com
41. Undeniably, technology is playing a significant role in
almost every sector. How are you leveraging
technological advancements to make your solutions
resourceful?
The ability of the average person to influence the reputation
of service companies through review sites like Google or
Yelp is a perfect example of why an agency like Ripley PR
is useful to this industry. While we do rely on tried-and-true
earned media outreach strategies, we employ world-class
systems like media databases and workflow management
platforms to help us provide measurable results for our
clients. In addition to using technology ourselves, we also
represent several tech and SaaS companies operating both
in and outside the home service industry. Journalists are
hungry for more news about innovation, so we lean into and
leverage the stories behind our clients’ own tech
advancements to keep their brands top of mind.
If given a chance, what change would you like to bring
to the sales and marketing industry?
I’d like to show smaller businesses who want to double or
triple in size how public relations can help them grow.
Many smaller companies think they don’t need PR because
they either aren’t big enough or they aren’t going through a
crisis. But public relations can work for any size
organization. If you’ve ever wondered why your top
competitor was quoted as an expert on your local news, the
chances are it wasn’t just luck. The owner probably hired a
PR agency. A public relations agency can help any size
business become known as the thought-leaders in their
field.
What, according to you, could be the next big change in
the public relations industry? How is Ripley PR
preparing to be a part of that change?
Social media will continue to grow and evolve. While
social media has had a share of bad publicity lately, it’s still
a medium that journalists follow. So, in order to stay
relevant and top of mind for those delivering the news,
companies will need to stay active on social media. In
addition to legacy media, non-traditional media is becoming
increasingly popular. Influencers, podcasters, YouTubers
and others will continue to impact more of our decision-
making on media outreach.
Where do you envision yourself to be in the long run
and what are your future goals for Ripley PR?
Ripley PR has clients across the U.S., as well as
internationally. We will continue to evolve, improve and
grow as an agency and deliver results for our clients, no
matter where they are based. We provide our clients with
detailed reports that help us determine what is working and
what is not, and we make the necessary adjustments to
improve results.
Four years ago, I started another division of Ripley PR
called Orange Orchard. This agency division is committed
to using what we’ve learned at Ripley to advocate for
organizations that are providing eco- and animal-friendly
products and services. I would like to see Orange Orchard
be a global force for good in the world.
What would be your advice to budding entrepreneurs
who aspire to venture into the business sector?
If you believe in yourself and you are willing to work
harder than ever before, you can be successful. When I
started Ripley PR, I had my knowledge of the industry and
my business acumen to fall back on, but I experienced a lot
of challenges and was determined to remain resilient. If you
believe you have a unique talent or product to offer the
world, take a chance and showcase what makes you special.
February 2022 | 39 | insightssuccess.com
45. Karina Tiwana
An Ardent Legal Professional
Exemplifying Passionate Leadership
t takes dedication and laser focus to find success, not
Ito mention rolled-up sleeves and dirt under your finger
nails”, states an ardent leader, Karina Tiwana. As the
General Counsel, Vice President and Corporate
Secretary of ALE USA – the U.S. entity name of Alcatel-
Lucent Enterprise - Tiwana has been an integral part of the
success of the company. Her passion for the business side
of law and sheer dedication has led Tiwana to where she is
today.
After spending almost 15 years at Alcatel-Lucent, first as a
Contract Manager for five years, Tiwana moved up through
the ranks of the legal department, where she landed a
corporate counsel position supporting the most innovative
business divisions of the company. Eventually, became a
primary legal resource to one of these divisions, the
Enterprise division, in 2006. Thereafter, she was tapped to
support one of the highest revenue-producing divisions in
the company. She did that up until 2014 when she was
invited to support the planned divestiture of the Enterprise
division as General Counsel in the United States. Tiwana
would be charged with building a department to support all
the legal needs of Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise, the new
stand-alone company, in North America. This was no small
feat but, she said, “many talented and professional people
carried my torch.”
Reflecting on the experience, Tiwana recognizes she’s
grateful for the men and women along her path that buoyed
her up when she felt she might be drowning. Helping a new
company be born is a daunting task. The Enterprise
Business Division, turned Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise,
contains a close-knit group with many employees boasting
long tenures with the company.
Let’s know more about Tiwana and her contribution to the
industry through an interview conducted between her and
Insights Success.
Below are the highlights of the interview:
As a business leader, what is your opinion on the impact
of the current pandemic on the telecommunications
industry?
The pandemic’s impact on people, in some cases, has been
horrifying and deadly. I will in no way minimize my
feelings of empathy toward families that have lost loved
ones and those who have fallen ill from the virus. And, of
course, to parents trying to cope with both at-home working
and at-home teaching of children ripped from schools and
their friends. This at-home working and teaching has
created an increase in the need for tools like the Alcatel-
Lucent Enterprise Rainbow Unified Communication
Platform, as well as infrastructure solutions, such as the
company’s OmniAccess Stellar wireless LAN and the
OmniSwitch network switches that make everything
connect to support the increased communication needs
spawned by the crisis. In this way, many telecom industry
segments are reaping the benefits of the “new normal”. It’s
a shift from in-office to home working and from in-person
school to home school. Even events and what used to be
live entertainment have gone online as we all try to cope
with the restrictions required to keep all of us safe through
the pandemic. I hear through news reports that many
companies will continue the work-from-home options in
some form or other so, it looks like the need for telecom
industry tools, solutions and infrastructure is going to
continue to grow.
What is your opinion on the necessity for businesses to
align their offerings with newer technological
developments, especially when it comes to Digital
Transformation?
I think that when it comes to digital transformation,
businesses that align their offerings to advances in
“
“
February 2022 | 43 | insightssuccess.com
The 10 Most Admired Women Leaders in Business, 2022.
46. technology further drive the evolution. Technology
continues to be instrumental in our lives and the growth of
business. In particular, I think, as a strategy, aligning
business infrastructure with Cloud technology builds a
mindset that pushes innovation, agility and problem-
solving. Our company’s Cloud technology products and
services have helped our customers push beyond digital
transformation plans and overcome the challenges of
working through a pandemic. It’s clear to me that Cloud
delivers the benefit of scale and adapts to opportunities,
while being reliable and secure. It just makes sense to me
how flexible technology enables businesses to adapt the
work environment, ensure efficient operations and manage
costs.
How do you bring your General Counsel skills in
establishing strategic direction and delivering results
globally?
I do this in many ways, but one of my greatest pleasures in
the recent past has been contributing legal advice to our
team of women and men that have created the Diversity and
Inclusion Employee Resource Group (ESG) under our
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program. With the
executive sponsorship of Rukmini Glanard, our Executive
Vice President of Worldwide Sales, Services and
Marketing, the ESG hosted our second global online
summit to highlight that diversity and equality are life
issues and, definitely, a business issue impacting financial
results. An equal world in business results in an enabled and
better world for business. We need all of our minds and all
of our hands, as a company, to compete and succeed.
Diversity and inclusion – across gender, ethnicity, age,
religion, etc. – enable a better, balanced environment for
economies and communities to thrive.
In what ways have you contributed to the community?
In my community, as a woman Veteran, I am very active in
our American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary. This
“American Legion Family” provides support to local
Veterans, their families and the general community where
Veterans live and work. One example of a recent project in
2020, we recognized the needs of so many children in our
community around Christmas time. We sponsored, locally,
Toys for Tots supported by the United States Marine Corps
Reserve. We served over 300 children and all of them
received gifts and a food donation for their families.
Supporting this kind of “all-volunteer” community event
brings me great joy because I saw the power of giving in
action. College students, home for the holidays, stood
alongside their Parents, Grandmothers and Grandfathers to
participate in the toy and food distribution portion of the
event. I strongly believe in the empowerment provided by
serving a cause much greater than yourself. I get this
empowerment through working within our American
Legion Family. I currently serve on the Executive Board as
Sergeant-at-Arms and have served in the past as Post
Commander. At the time I served as Commander, I was the
very first woman everto serve as Commander in the Post’s
77-year history.Today, I’m proud to say, as other notable
“first women” leaders are saying more and more, “I may
have been the first, but I won’t be the last.”
If given a chance, what change would you bring in
providing growth opportunities to Women?
I am very lucky to have been given the chance at Alcatel-
Lucent Enterprise to effect real change in my role as
General Counsel at ALE USA. I hired student interns in
2014 as a creative way to augment my staff. We showed so
much success with training and utilizing student interns in
our legal department that it inspired the company to adopt
an Internship Program and now, many departments are
hiring student interns. In fact, a recent hire is going to
supplement our global CSR endeavors. She will be
graduating from college soon with a degree in Ethnic
Studies. I think these internship programs are vital to
Step-up
and lead
from the
front.
‘‘
‘‘
February 2022 | 44 | insightssuccess.com
47. creating opportunities and success for everyone, especially
for women. In my case, all of my interns moved on to
become practicing lawyers and have secured positions in
law firms. I’m very proud of all of them.
As an established business leader, what would be your
advice for the budding women entrepreneurs?
Make sure you know a good lawyer! Not a shameless plug.
No, seriously, it’s very important to build a strong network
of diversely talented individuals that can be asked for the
help you need along the way. Be yourself because your
authentic self is your best face. Have a clear picture of what
your authentic self is. Remember, there will be roadblocks
on your journey to success and some may be related to your
gender, your age or any number of things but the
roadblocks are just hills to climb and there are plenty of
people to give you a helpful push so you can keep going.
Leverage your mentors and allies. These are your friends,
your classmates, your teachers, your family, your
colleagues, and your professional network. They will help
you navigate. But, above all, do what you love. Do it a lot.
If you do what you love and you do it a lot, you will get
really good at it. If you get good at it, you will likely make
money at it and you will be wealthy. Wealth is not money
alone. Wealth includes not only professional success but
also self-fulfillment and realizing your dreams.
Karina Tiwana,
General Counsel,
Vice President, and
Corporate Secretary,
ALE USA Inc.
February 2022 | 45 | insightssuccess.com
53. There is a tremendous amount of potential in every
living entity. Untapped potential should be trapped
for the welfare of the world. Where women are
empowered that place flourishes in abundance. Empowered
women leads to the prosperity of families, societies, nations
and the world. Deep down, every person likes to live with
dignity by contributing something to the world according to
one’s capabilities and potential. Therefore, that potential
should be nurtured in everyone and especially in the girls
and women. Nothing can dim the light in every person that
shines from within. All girls and women has to do is to be
aware of their own inner potential and they can contribute
to any field of their choice.
The world is currently going through the unprecedented
times due to the ongoing pandemic. This is certainly
challenging time for many people but some exceptional
women leaders see the positive opportunity even in such
unprecedented time and actually that is the hallmark of
good women leadership. Exceptional women leaders are
always aware and they understand that the unprecedented
times always call for unprecedented actions, innovative,
thoughtful, and win-win solutions. The world may be filled
with lot of negativity due to inevitable challenges and
causes, but exceptional women leaders call upon their inner
light and they use such unprecedented time to develop and
nourish their skillsets so that they can be an instrument of
positive contribution to the world in the coming times. Now
more than ever, women and girls need to call on their inner
light to utilize the toughest times to tune into their
conscience, learn new things by using virtual platforms and
make themselves competent.
In the difficult times of pandemic it is essential for women
leaders to be detached from the negativity around
themselves. Unless and until one is detached from the
negativity, it is very difficult to focus on the positive and to
make the most out of that positive. Exceptional women
leaders prefer to be courageous to confront issues more
diligently and deal with people with empathy and due
consideration. Exceptional women leaders choose to think
deliberately and act on the conclusion of logical, rational,
analytical, systematic, and cognitive-intensive thought
process. That is really the most important part of
exceptional women leadership. Leaders are supposed to
think deliberately and act on the basis of logical conclusion
for delivering the efficient results.
Educating and empowering a girl child creates a ripple
effect and it creates a positive influence in the community.
Empowered women invest time and energy in creating the
stronger next generations. The future leaders of tomorrow
can be more talented, dynamic, and competent to deliver
maximum contribution for the welfare of the world if they
are raised by the empowered women. Empowering women
is beneficial in so many ways and their contribution play a
very important role in creating the genuinely exemplary
future leaders.
Gender equality is beneficial for the whole world.
Promoting gender equality is not just responsibility of
women leaders or women issue but it is a societal issue and
everyone should support in promoting the purpose of
gender equality. United nations is again and again
promoting the empowerment of women. That’s very crucial.
The greater number of women in every field is a sign of
growth and evolved culture. The empowered women are
boon to the world. That is the reason ‘Gender Equality’ is
one of the most important sustainable development goals.
Empowering women is essential for the sustainable
development of the world. Empowered women become
great asset for businesses, families, societies, communities,
nations, and that is ultimately beneficial for whole world.
There are plenty of fields where women have opportunities
and they can contribute immensely. The world is in
desperate need of genuinely exemplary women leaders to
make a difference through businesses, science, research,
technology etc. Women can become the leaders in the field
of businesses, science, research, technology and in any
choice of their field if they are willing to be bold and
courageous enough to pursue their career in such fields
relentlessly. They have the potential to make a difference in
the choice of field they go and therefore women should not
shy away from utilizing their best capabilities and they
should deny the world of their valuable contribution.
Empowered women are the secret weapon of creating a
positive change in the society and the world at large.
Empowering and enhancing women and investing in them
unlocks a tremendous potential for the world. Empowered
women are the most important weapon and resource in the
fight against the global poverty. The untapped resource of
women has the tremendous potential and that should be
recognized by the people in the world especially by the
people who have the opportunity to create awareness
related to this.
The empowered women have the potential to significantly
improve livelihoods, productivity, economic outputs, and
the overall human life itself. The basic longing to live with
dignity, the fundamental desire to have control of one’s
lives and one’s future and to be part of determining the
course of our communities and our nations are very much
universal in the empowered women. These longings burn in
the women and girls, and with these longings they can be a
great dynamic force in the world to be an agent of change
and make a significant contribution for the welfare of the
world with their talents, skills, and abilities and that will
lead to the ultimate welfare of the world.
Womanhood
February 2022 | 51 | insightssuccess.com
55. An Avid Designer Creating Spaces that
are Collected, not Decorated
Known for her exquisite taste, superior sense of
style, and infectious personality, Ruthie Staalsen
of Ruthie Staalsen Interiors is a prominent name
in the interior design space.
Born and raised in South Africa, Ruthie has lived all over
the world. She creates homes that have a relaxed, collected
look and adds a global flair to her designs. Her knack for
utilizing existing pieces within a space to create something
completely new makes her a preferred choice among her
clientele.
Besides, she has also co-authored the book, Behind Her
Brand, which depicts what life is like as a female entrepre-
neur, mother, and wife, and how to best integrate these
aspects to create a balanced business and fulfilling life.
Inspired by her passion for designing spaces, we at Insights
Success caught up with Ruthie to learn more about her
journey as a business leader.
Below are the highlights of the Interview:
Brief our audience about your journey as a business
leader until your current position at Ruthie Staalsen
Interiors. What challenges do you have to overcome to
reach where you are today?
I’m the oldest of 3 kids and carried the role of leader as a
kid and still do. I was born and raised in South Africa and
traveled the world in my childhood. Leadership has always
been part of my DNA, and I think living in different
countries all my life, made me a better leader because I
learned to adjust to hardships and certainly learned about
being flexible. That being said, I’m a very driven person
and one of the biggest challenges I’ve had to learn is how to
take time to relax. Being that my business relies a lot on
me, it is hard for me to shut work off. I learned the hard
way and have now hired people to help me do the things
I’m not so good at. This relieves me to do the things that I
love, and that brings me more joy and time to relax.
Tell us something more about your company, its mission,
and its vision.
We are a Dallas based boutique design firm focussing on
residential design. We do everything from walk through
consultations to full-service design projects. Again, because
of our travels, I watched my mom set up home each time
we were in a new country. She always surrounded us with
the things that were important to us and created a home
around those things. Our mission at RSI is to always give
our clients a home they enjoy being in, one that welcomes
them home and makes them spend time with family and
friends. We want the homes we create to be practical,
functional, and beautiful. We create a “feeling” that not just
anybody can create.
Enlighten us on how you have made an impact in the
Interiors niche through your expertise in the market?
I am a part of the Interior Design Society and keep as
involved as I can. I believe that when you have good
relationships with others in the same industry, you can add
your knowledge and experience to others and, interns learn
from others, making our businesses stronger together. I’m
not afraid of making changes to our company if things are
not working as they should. Change is hard but can
sometimes lead you in a more positive direction.
Describe in detail the values and the work culture that
drives your organization.
We have a positive and fun vibe here at RSI, and we hire
people with that same energy. We love employees that have
a lot of experience, however, the most important thing to
me is their attitude, character, and “can do” spirit. Every-
thing else can be learned, but these characteristics are
crucial additions to my business model.
February 2022 | 53 | insightssuccess.com
The 10 Most Admired Women Leaders in Business, 2022.
56. Undeniably, technology is playing a significant role in
almost every sector. How are you leveraging technologi-
cal advancements to make your solutions resourceful?
We are incredibly active on social media platforms and use
them to educate and inspire our existing clients and our
future clients. We do before and after videos of our install
days and document our behind-the-scenes happenings with
our remodels and full home makeovers.
What, according to you, could be the next big change in
the Interiors industry? How is your company preparing
to be a part of that change?
Travel takes up so much time and although we love to
travel, we often can't take time away from our ongoing
clients. I see more and more virtual events, showroom
tours, etc. happening (especially since Covid) so that we
can still attend while being in our office. The only problem
is the energy and comradery that goes along with in-person
events is irreplaceable and needed in this lonely career. We
work alone a lot as designers preparing design plans, doing
office paperwork, etc. Being with others that motivate and
encourage us is very important. I certainly don’t want in-
person events to go away.
Where do you envision yourself to be in the long run
and what are your future goals for your company?
I would love to have a unique line with lighting, rug, or
furniture company. I believe my international flair could
God is the
giver of gifts, it
is up to me to
use those gifts
to serve Him.
February 2022 | 54 |
57. really be a benefit. So many companies need to revamp
their outdated showrooms and products to keep them in line
with their competition. Promoting other companies through
my social media is one of the things I do naturally so
putting these two things together only makes sense.
Another goal of mine is to have a Jewelry line made with
bamboo, wood, string, metal, and other fun textures similar
to the textures I use in my designs.
My future goals are to be able to donate more money to my
favorite charities. I started this business with that very goal
in mind and want to continue doing so more than ever.
What would be your advice to budding entrepreneurs
who aspire to venture into the Interiors sector?
Though this industry is a fun one to be in, think about it
seriously. There are lot of clients to please and loads of
balls in the air to juggle constantly. When you first start,
you are solo doing all the things a business needs. Hiring
people comes later and those first few years are HARD. I
would also say that if you are not good at working with
others or are not a problem solver, this industry is not for
you. You need thick skin to be an entrepreneur in general,
also being a marriage Counselor is definitely in your job
description 90% of the time.
| insightssuccess.com
59. Sherry
Blinkhorn
An Accomplished Real Estate Broker and
a Passionate Advocate for the Mentally Ill
t is easy to say be the change you want, but it is quite
Idifficult to really understand the struggle one goes
through to change oneself. We hear stories about
people who have achieved success and paved their way to
the top of their field, but that is just the tip of the iceberg.
Numerous factors drive one to make desired changes to be
the change they want.
In our search to find such a persona, driven to adapt to
change, we came across Sherry Blinkhorn, who perfectly
fits the definition of 'be the change you want.' Currently,
Sherry passionately leads her venture, Blinkhorn Real
Estate Ltd., with her dedication to being the best of the
best.
The Thorns and The Roses
Sherry's journey hasn’t been an easy one. She came up
through the foster care system and went through many
challenges in her life, but she made some conscious
decisions that would change her life for the good after her
children were born.
Sherry began her professional journey as a commercial and
residential property manager in her initial years then in
1998 she pursued getting her salesperson’s license. She
began to achieve one milestone after the other by utilizing
her extensive knowledge and experience to accumulate
record-breaking sales. It resulted in her receiving national
recognition in 2002 and 2003 and in 2004 she received the
'Platinum Award' for her sales achievement, placing her in
the top 5% in Canada's total sales volume with Royal
LePage National Franchise.
Subsequently, embarking on the success, Sherry's
adaptability to change led her to the quest of incepting her
independent real estate firm, in 2005, Blinkhorn Real Estate
Ltd., and she has never looked backed since. She sowed the
seeds of efforts and dedication, forming a team with like-
minded colleagues that reaped her and her firm the fruit of
gaining a solid reputation for providing exceptional services
and supporting many non-profit charitable organizations.
Adding Different Ingredients to the Recipe of Success
Plunging forward in her path of success, she says the
learning process never stops. Sherry holds a diploma in
adult psychology, social work, and counselling skills. Being
amply trained in the mental health field, she understands
how stressful it can be to buy or sell a house.
Sherry has fostered an environment where she puts people
first and encourages her colleagues to do the same. She’s
created a caring and natural positive atmosphere in her
workspace. She knows how crucial it is and is humbled to
be part of the most significant transaction of one's life and is
overjoyed to help it to become a reality. “We don’t see
ourselves as good salespeople – we are good Realtors;
there is a big difference,” says Sherry.
Sherry has focused her work approach around her buyers
and sellers making them the utmost priority. It was vital to
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The 10 Most Admired Women Leaders in Business, 2022.
60. her to create a familial workspace which gives a feeling of
comfort and smoothens the work process. She truly cares
about her clients and understands their real estate needs,
which is why she implies a friendly and professional
atmosphere in her unique way. She has sculpted a value-
driven team that strives and implements effective marketing
strategies with honesty and hard work.
Cherishing The Victories
The amount of hard work and dedication Sherry puts in her
work is commendable in itself. Her work ethic has set an
example, and her efforts have been acknowledged with
numerous awards, including the ‘Community Mentor
Award’ from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pictou County. She
also received the prestigious ‘Business Leader of the Year
award at the Pictou County Chamber of Commerce Gala in
2012. Sherry is the first female to receive this honor since
its inception in 1991.
Her achievements don’t stop there and go further; in 2018,
Sherry received the ‘Volunteer Vision Award’ from the
Nova Scotia Mental Health Foundation. The following year
she was also recognized with the ‘Women in Business
Award’ at the Chamber Business Achievements Gala. Aside
from awards, Sherry was featured in 2020 in the
International ‘Top Agent Magazine’ and her life story in the
Nova Scotia ‘At Home Magazine’.
Leveraging Technology to Provide Upscale Services
At Blinkhorn Real Estate, Sherry has created a work culture
driven by values to make client's lives easier and delivers
high-quality products. The company implements innovative
technologies and offers virtual reality tours and drone
videography to enhance the listings services. They do their
best to ensure that clients get the best prices for buyers and
sellers by through their experience and expertise.
Above and Beyond for the Community
The journey that Sherry embarked on has been a challenge
in itself, she’s worked hard to forge her path to be at the
position she is today. Her experiences have all contributed
to finding transparency in her life. She has been a
passionate advocate for the mentally ill for years. She was
also the public relations director for the Canadian Cancer
Society, Pictou, volunteered for years on the Palliative Care
unit and made it part of her life to give back to her
community.
Sherry has built Blinkhorn Real Estate from the ground up
and contributed to many community organizations in
various ways along the way including sponsoring sports
teams and is routinely involved with multiple non-profits
and other organizations across the county.
The Guiding Flame
Unfolding the pages of Sherry's life, it is crystal clear that
despite hurdles she’s faced, she always has come out on top.
She always empowers, inspires, and encourages a TEAM
environment at her work. She ensures an ambiance of
professionalism, integrity, and superior client service. She
leads with a positive attitude, high ethical values, and hard
work and says she will persist in doing the same into the
future.
Last but not least, Sherry has asserted herself in a firm spot
being a leader in the field of real estate. She is an
inspiration to numerous people and continues to change
many lives. Her compassion, dedication, and her drive to
change have made her a successful businesswoman. She is
truly an example of taking charge of her own life and being
the change, she wants.
Blinkhorn Real Estate is
dedicated to selling your
home or nding you that
dream home creating the
best possible experience
throughout the entire real
estate transaction.
Professionally we serve,
personally we care!
‘‘
‘‘
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