6 Female Thought Leaders to Follow
Written by Courtney Monasch
Finding new role models isn’t easy. With unlimited access to millions of creators, entrepreneurs and businesses online, it can be hard to narrow it down to who’s really trustworthy and worth following. In this article we partnered with cred, a specialized communications and PR firm based in San Francisco that builds thought leaders through speaking and events, to round up a group of inspiring and educational women leaders to follow.
Below are 6 female thought leaders who are successful business leaders, innovators, and change makers who are making an impact across industries like marketing, technology, beauty, HR, wellness and more. May their stories inspire you to confidently chase your dreams, to make a difference, and to always lift others up along the way.
Lola Bakare, Founder, be/co
Lola Bakare has always been a person who leaders approach when they need someone to help them figure out the “how”. She started her marketing career at PepsiCo and went on to serve in brand marketing and strategy roles at New World Pasta, Diageo, Dell, and The Daily Dot where she developed deep client side expertise as she found her true calling: helping other marketers unleash their own magic.
Today, Lola is the founder of be/co, a boutique consultancy that empowers brands and marketing leaders with strategic guidance, coaching, training and workshops to maximize their impact and unlock new levels of success. And her work speaks for itself: she is an Anthem Award-winning Inclusive Marketing Strategist, was recently named one of the 15 2022 LinkedIn Top Voices in Marketing & Advertising, and her writing and commentary can be found in major publications including Adweek, Harvard Business Review, Marketing Brew, and Business Insider. Outside of work, she’s just like us — obsessed with news, pop culture and literature, and is constantly streaming various podcasts and audiobooks. Speaking of books, her first, “Responsible Marketing” is in the works with Kogan Page with an expected release in July 2023.
You can follow Lola on LinkedIn here and learn more about be/co at makeitbe.co.
Krysta Lewis, CEO & Founder, Aisling Organics
Krysta is a beauty influencer and the CEO/founder of Aisling Organics, a high-performance organic makeup brand. With a focus on both purpose and profit, Krysta was inspired to launch Aisling Organics when she realized the unregulated chemicals in our cosmetics were causing chronic illness and there were no effective alternatives on the market. Within two years of launch, Krysta built one of the most successful e-commerce start-ups, grew an extensive following, and received recognition as one of Entrepreneur magazine’s Most Influential Entrepreneurs of 2018 and Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
As a young female entrepreneur who bootstrapped her way to success in the cosmetics industry, Krysta offers unique perspectives on how to scale a business, how to effectively engage with audiences on TikTok, and how to build a more sustainable makeup routine.
You can check out Aisling Organics at aislingorganics.com and on TikTok @itskrystalewis for more beauty insights from Krysta.
Heather Hansen, CEO, Heather Hansen Presents
For over twenty years, Heather was a trial attorney. Her job was to help diverse groups of people believe in her case so that her client could win. Today she’s using her experience in the courtroom, her degree in psychology, and her certification as a mediator to teach people how to be better advocates. Her tools empower individuals to overcome objections, banish doubt, build credibility, and change perspectives. In particular, Heather helps women build confidence and effect change by becoming fierce advocates — for their families, for their ideas, for their businesses, and most of all for themselves.
Heather has been featured on the Today show, CNN, Fox Business, Good Day Philadelphia, The Dr. Oz Show and is the author of The Elegant Warrior: How to Win Life’s Trials Without Losing Yourself and Advocate to Win: 10 Tools to Ask for What You Want and Get It.
You can follow Heather on Instagram @imheatherhansen and learn more about working with Heather at heatherhansenpresents.com.
Gina Michnowicz, CEO & Chief Creative Officer, The Craftsman Agency
A two-time CEO, Gina is dedicated to creating magical moments for her clients that leave lasting impressions. Her expertise in advertising and marketing has driven business growth for clients like Cisco, Disney, 20th Century Fox, Paramount and Microsoft. For these and other brands, she has led teams from concept to delivery of immersive digital experiences, experiential installations, websites, and bespoke advertising campaigns.
As a thought leader, Gina covers topics like the power of storytelling, humanizing your brand, and driving impact across generations.
You can follow Gina on LinkedIn here and learn more about The Craftsman Agency at the craftsmanagency.com.
Chrystina Woody Train, EVP and General Manager, Buckshot Marketing
Chrystina Woody Train is a brand builder, storyteller and connector of culture. With over 16 years of experience leading global marketing campaigns at the agency and brand levels, Chrystina now runs Buckshot Marketing — a consultancy collective.The company champions working with partners whose ethos is aligned with their own and their mission-based work at events like Girls Build Summit, Teen Vogue Summit, and Instagram’s Share Black Stories has made headlines. Chrystina’s goal is to help organizations like Salesforce.org, Rebel Girls, GoldieBlox, RockThe Bells and HartBeat tell the right story, to the right audience, at the right time through the right cultural lens.
As a thought leader, Chrystina champions Black women and marketing through a relevant cultural lens.
You can follow Chrystina on Instagram @thewoodytrain and connect with Buckshot Marketing at buckshot.marketing.
Abby Hamilton, Chief People Officer, LiveIntent
As an HR professional for over 15 years, Abby’s mission is to put people first in the workplace. She has led People teams in AdTech, MarTech, and pharmaceuticals to create innovative solutions to talent challenges, implement globally consistent programs, seek operational excellence, and empower employees to bring their best selves to work. At LiveIntent, she partners with leaders to build a positive company culture through the entire employee lifecycle, from hiring and engagement to leadership and succession planning. Abby’s work is crucial to the planning, strategy, and execution of LiveIntent’s vision. She is a proud member of the LinkedIn Expert Advisory Group and Chief.
As a thought leader, Abby frequently speaks about support for parents working from home, work-life integration, wellness in the workplace, living out your values, and the importance of having hard conversations.
You can connect with Abby on LinkedIn here and listen to her episode on HR Superstars here.
To learn more about thought leadership, speaking and events, head to the credBlog or credpr.com.
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