Now Reading: Leading with Purpose Women’s Visionary Approach to Business Strategy
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Leading with Purpose Women’s Visionary Approach to Business Strategy
Leading with Purpose Women’s Visionary Approach to Business Strategy
As a global entrepreneur and leadership coach, working with diverse teams across markets has enhanced my adaptability and impact. Empowering women leaders taught me that resilience is key to lasting influence. Facing personal caregiving challenges in 2024 deepened my strength and strategic focus, reinforcing leadership grounded in clarity and perseverance. I share these insights to inspire women to lead with resilience and break barriers even amid adversity.
Ms. Senela Jayasuriya
Purpose-driven leadership is increasingly recognized as a powerful force that aligns business strategy with long-term value creation, rather than short-term gains. When leaders operate with a clear sense of purpose, they inspire not only their teams but also drive innovation and sustainable growth within their organizations.
For example, Indra Nooyi, former CEO of PepsiCo, spearheaded the “Performance with Purpose” strategy, focusing on sustainable growth and healthier product innovations, which transformed the company’s portfolio while maintaining profitability. Indra Nooyi’s leadership as CEO of PepsiCo solidified the company’s financial success, with revenues soaring to $63 billion by the time she stepped down in 2018. Her tenure as CEO is closely tied to PepsiCo’s standing as one of the world’s leading food and beverage companies, recognized for its revenue, profitability, and market capitalization.
Purpose-driven leadership has emerged as a critical differentiator for organizations aiming to achieve sustainable success. Women leaders are increasingly demonstrating how aligning business strategies with a greater purpose can drive innovation, nurture inclusivity, and create lasting impact. Their unique approaches are reshaping industries, challenging traditional norms, and paving the way for a more balanced future in leadership.
The Power of Women’s Leadership
Studies show that companies with higher gender diversity at the leadership level outperform their peers financially. A McKinsey report revealed that organizations in the top quartile for gender diversity are 27% more likely to have above-average profitability. Women leaders often bring distinct qualities to the table—empathy, collaborative thinking, and a focus on sustainability. These traits enable them to craft strategies that prioritize long-term value creation over short-term gains.
For example, female CEOs have been shown to place higher emphasis on ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) initiatives, contributing to more socially responsible and forward-thinking businesses.
Rosalind Brewer, the former CEO of Walgreens, championed supplier diversity and equity initiatives, ensuring marginalized communities have a stronger presence in business partnerships. She is a prominent corporate executive renowned for her visionary purpose-led leadership, groundbreaking initiatives, and advocacy for positive transformation in global business. Featured among Fortune and Forbes’ “Most Powerful Women in Business,” her strategic expertise and dedication to excellence have established her as one of the most influential leaders of today.
Overcoming Barriers: The Challenges Women Face in Leading with Purpose
The primary pain point for women when it comes to leading with purpose is the struggle to balance personal values with external expectations, often within environments that are not always supportive of their leadership styles.
Grant Thornton reports that women hold only 33.5% of senior management positions globally. This underrepresentation highlights the need for more intentional efforts to support women in leadership.
Women frequently face the challenge of overcoming gender biases and societal pressures that prioritize traditional, authoritative leadership traits over the collaborative and empathetic approaches many women naturally bring. Additionally, women are often tasked with managing multiple roles—professional, personal, and familial—which can lead to burnout, making it difficult to fully embrace and act on their purpose.
The lack of mentorship and support for women in leadership positions further compounds this challenge, making it harder for them to feel empowered to lead with authenticity and drive lasting change.
Bridging the Gap: Leadership Development Programs
To empower women and close the gender gap, targeted leadership development programs are critical. Such initiatives help women build the confidence, skills, and networks needed to excel in executive roles, aspire to board positions, or launch successful entrepreneurial ventures.
These programs also provide mentorship and practical tools to address challenges unique to women in leadership, such as work-life integration and breaking through bias.
One such initiative making waves is the 6-Month Leadership Development Program by Women Empowered Global (WEG). This comprehensive program is designed to upskill and empower women within the corporate leadership pipeline.
With a focus on practical training, coaching, strategic thinking, and personal growth, the program equips participants to take on leadership roles with clarity and confidence. By creating a culture of continuous learning and development, WEG’s program also supports organizations in retaining talented women and strengthening their leadership bench.
The Visionary Approach: Leading with Purpose
Purpose-driven leadership is a defining trait of many successful women leaders. They leverage their values and vision to inspire teams, align stakeholders, and create strategies that deliver both financial results and social impact.
This approach not only differentiates businesses but also attracts top talent and builds trust among customers and communities.
A growing number of women are also stepping into entrepreneurial roles, where they lead with purpose to address societal challenges. Whether launching tech startups, driving innovation in healthcare, or championing sustainability in fashion, female founders demonstrate how purpose and profit can coexist seamlessly.
A Personal Journey in Leadership
As a global entrepreneur and leadership coach working across multiple international markets, I have had the privilege of collaborating with clients leading both global and regional businesses with diverse, multicultural teams. This dynamic environment has continuously driven me to learn, adapt, and elevate my capabilities to thrive and deliver meaningful impact.
My journey has been profoundly shaped by these experiences, particularly in empowering women leaders to rise with confidence and purpose. I’ve come to understand that resilience, especially when facing complex challenges, is essential for creating lasting influence.
In 2024, when a close family member fell seriously ill, I embraced the role of caregiver while balancing my responsibilities as both a mother and business leader. This chapter deepened my understanding of strength, perseverance, and the power of mindset in navigating life’s complexities.
This profound experience has not only fortified my leadership but also sharpened my strategic lens, reinforcing the importance of adaptability, clarity, and focus during times of personal adversity.
By sharing these insights, I empower women to break through limitations, foster cultures of innovation, and lead with resilience—proving that even in the most demanding circumstances, they can rise and create extraordinary impact.
Creating a Ripple Effect
When women lead with purpose, the impact extends far beyond their immediate organizations. They serve as role models, mentors, and advocates, inspiring the next generation of leaders to think bigger and aim higher. Their influence helps cultivate inclusive workplace cultures where diverse perspectives drive creativity and problem-solving.
Organizations that invest in women’s leadership are not just addressing an equity issue; they are positioning themselves for long-term success. A commitment to advancing women in leadership roles signals to employees, investors, and stakeholders that the organization values innovation, inclusivity, and sustainable growth.
Women Empowered Global’s 6-Month Leadership Development Program exemplifies the power of purpose-driven leadership in action. This comprehensive initiative empowers women to break barriers and advance in both entrepreneurial and corporate spaces.
Designed to equip women with practical leadership skills, strategic thinking, and executive coaching, the program has successfully partnered with company boards and leadership teams to develop female leadership pipelines, boost retention of top talent, and strengthen leadership capacity across industries.
A core component of the program is the role model segment, where participants gain access to stories of everyday women who demonstrate resilience by balancing multiple responsibilities. These stories emphasize that strength doesn’t come solely from grand achievements but from navigating the challenges of daily life with perseverance and grace.
By fostering a culture of continuous learning and development, Women Empowered Global ensures more women rise to influential positions, driving lasting impact in global leadership.
Looking Ahead
The journey toward gender parity in leadership is a collective effort that requires support from individuals, organizations, and society as a whole. By championing initiatives that empower women and celebrate their visionary approach to business strategy, we can build a future where leadership is defined not by gender, but by purpose, impact, and innovation.
The time is now to recognize and amplify the contributions of women leaders. They are not just shaping industries—they are shaping a better world.
About the Author:
Senela Jayasuriya is a globally recognized CEO and leadership expert with extensive experience empowering leaders and organizations worldwide.
Through her work in leadership development, corporate growth, and women’s empowerment, she has made a significant impact on businesses and individuals, driving innovation and sustainable success.
She is the CEO of Women Empowered Global and the Managing Director of Collective Leadership Global (UK).
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