In every era, certain leaders emerge who challenge the status quo, push boundaries, and inspire others to follow in their footsteps. Today, we're witnessing a wave of extraordinary women who are not only leading but transforming their fields with unmatched passion, insight, and determination. These women are reshaping industries, driving social change, and setting new benchmarks for what it means to be a leader. In this article, we introduce you to five visionary women whose leadership is making an indelible impact on the world, marking them as leaders to watch in the coming years.
Gerda Micke
Gerda Micke, a visionary entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Elite Property London, has demonstrated remarkable resilience and adaptability, leading her property management company to a 4.5x growth in the past year. In response to the demand for personalized rental experiences in the mid- and short-term market, she established NourNest Apartments, offering a wide spectrum of properties from luxurious to affordable. The brand’s exceptional customer service was quickly recognized, earning the prestigious Luxury Lifestyle Award for Best Luxury Management Company in London.
Under Gerda’s leadership, each guest enjoys a personalized and unforgettable stay, blending service excellence with a genuine passion for creating a home away from home. Her company is also dedicated to giving back to the community through various initiatives.
As an accomplished leader, Gerda empowers aspiring women in the property industry, mentoring them to become future leaders. Her journey from overcoming pandemic challenges to building a thriving business and nurturing female entrepreneurs makes her a standout leader to watch in 2024.
Dr. Melissa Alexander
Dr. Melissa Alexander, AU.D, CCC-A, ABA, is the founder of Alexander Audiology, a premier hearing care clinic in Los Angeles that was established in 2017. With a Doctorate from Rush University Medical School in Chicago, IL, Dr. Alexander specializes in tinnitus management and integrates the latest advancements in hearing technology into her practice. Recognized by the City of Santa Monica for her exceptional service, she is dedicated to providing personalized care. Beyond her professional achievements, Dr. Alexander volunteers fitting Holocaust survivors with hearing aids and leads charitable programs, reflecting her commitment to improving lives through better hearing.
Lorraine Le
Lorraine Le, an International Advocate, Columnist, and Chef is renowned for her unconventional, refreshing, and vulnerable approach to raising awareness around personal development and mental health conversation. Following a transformative moment at 31, catalyzed by past trauma, she established Inward in 2019, a non-profit in Asia supporting mental health adversity, sexual trauma, and domestic violence survivors. Through her initiative, Grow With Lorraine, she continues to offer inspiring content, workshops, and provocative experiences, guiding individuals toward greater fulfillment through a deeper understanding of themselves. Lorraine's vision is to cultivate compassionate and empowering communities where everyone can thrive and feel acknowledged, valued, and seen for who they truly are.
Dr. Nikita Sharma
Dr. Nitika Sharma, originally from India, is a dedicated and accomplished dentist now practicing in Arizona, USA. After moving to the USA for further studies, she earned her DDS and a Master’s in Public Health, which allowed her to expand her community service efforts and promote oral health on a larger scale. To further master her skills, Dr. Sharma completed an AEGD ( Advanced Education in General Dentistry)residency program before joining Heartland Dental, one of the largest dental corporations, where she now serves as a Subregional Doctor Mentor, guiding and mentoring other dentists. Passionate about changing smiles one at a time, Dr. Sharma is committed to educating her community about oral health. As a brand ambassador for the Women in Need Foundation and the 2nd runner-up Mrs. USA in the Mrs. Globe pageant, she advocates for women’s empowerment. She also volunteers with the "Give Back a Smile" foundation, providing essential dental care to survivors of domestic abuse, embodying her dedication to community service and making a positive impact through dentistry.
Rosemary Meran
Rosemary Meran, mother of three and founder of Soul Connections, brings over 20 years of experience in intuitive guidance and therapy to her work. As an interpersonal hypnotherapist and birth and postpartum doula, she provides parents with the tools to connect deeply with their inner wisdom and nurture their children with mindful presence in their parenting journey.
Inspired by her transformative experiences of motherhood, including a high risk twin birth, Rosemary created Soul Connections to offer a comprehensive approach that integrates hypnotherapy, soul integration, and her extensive training as a doula and yoga practitioner. Her commitment to spiritual practice empowers parents to embrace both the beautiful and challenging aspects of themselves and the birthing process, cultivating unconditional love and mindful presence in their journey towards birth.
Through hypnotherapy, Rosemary facilitates positive birth experiences, helping mothers trust their natural birthing instincts. As a doula and yoga practitioner, she offers holistic support that nurtures physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being throughout pregnancy and childbirth.
Rosemary’s mission is to transform the experiences of pregnancy, childbirth, and motherhood into deeply fulfilling journeys. She believes that birth should be a central concern for everyone, recognizing its profound impact on the well being of families and society. Through Soul Connections, she provides a sanctuary for parents to explore their inner selves, cultivating peace, joy, and contentment in their daily lives.
Jennifer Brisby
Jennifer is an Interior Architect, Teacher of Eastern Arts, Clairvoyant Healer, Mom, and Surfer. In 2018 after becoming disillusioned with the US economic structure, she sold her home in Vermont over a plate of Nasi Goreng in Nusa Lembongan, Indonesia. Training to be a Yoga teacher and determined to write a book, the journey took her back to the jungles of Costa Rica. There, she learned Spanish taught Yoga, and went on to have a baby as a single mother during the pandemic. Now fully immigrated to Central America, Jennifer speaks 3 languages, holds a Master’s Degree from the NYSID, and currently runs a boutique Architecture, Design, and Wellness Studio called Creative Channel. Her career began running samples to the D&D building in NYC for David Mann, a prominent New York Architect. She also rolled burritos, learned to cook from Mexicans in a Jersey Italian restaurant, answered phones at Burton Snowboards, and developed Snowboard Products for the company as a performance athlete.
Lana Kurayeva
Lana Kurayeva is one of the only Board Certified Colorists in the state of New York, thriving as a salon owner in Manhattan. Hailing from humble beginnings, she discovered her passion for creativity at a young age. She extended her true passion for art through experimenting with various colours and shades and soon delved into the hair, fashion and cosmetology industry. Her arrival in the States with her parents became a turning point when she expanded her knowledge in the field through various courses and classes. After gaining significant experience, Lana decided to open up her salon- ‘Shear Bliss’ and has been running it for the past 18 years with immense success. What sets Lana apart is not only her passion but also her keen eye for trends and unwavering attention to detail. While she blooms in the industry, today she has gained a cult on Tiktok and Instagram and continues to educate others in cosmetology.
Dr. Nneamaka „Amaka“ Nwubah
Dr. Nneamaka Nwubah, who goes by Dr. Amaka is a fully trained plastic surgeon in Nashville, Tennessee. In addition to rigorous plastic surgery training, she also completed an aesthetic fellowship and trained with renowned leaders and “giants” in aesthetic surgery at the Aesthetic Center for Plastic Surgery. Dr. Amaka is one of only few surgeons in the country to have this additional fellowship training in advanced aesthetic techniques.
Dr. Amaka has lectured and published and presented on plastic surgery topics on over 60 occasions. Dr. Amaka’s contributions to plastic surgery have been recognized by numerous prestigious awards, including the Gaspar Anastasi Research Award, the Plastic Surgery Foundation Grants (in 2015 and 2017), and the National Institutes of Health Research Fellowship.
Dr. Amaka, as a female plastic surgeon, blends a surgeon’s skill with a woman’s perspective. Her philosophy is to produce high quality results with attention to detail, compassion and safety. She utilizes advanced techniques and combines that with her technical expertise, an artistic eye and compassionate care.
Aisha Saintiche
Aisha Saintiche is a certified Health Coach and the founder and owner of MetoMoi Health. With over fifteen years of experience in Mental Health, Accessibility and Diversity and Inclusion, Aisha has used her experience as a strategic advisor and health coach to understand the complexity and intersectionality of the mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual barriers that keep people from achieving their optimized health and wellness.
Aisha also holds a Masters in Public Policy Administration and Law, as well as a certification in Change Management, Advanced Crisis Intervention and Counselling and Health Coaching. Always seeking opportunities to bring about change within her community, she is the Board Chair for Afiwi Groove School – a performing arts and drumming school that educates, empowers and inspires kids and youth through African Arts and Culture.
Samaneh Payandeh
Samaneh Payandeh AIA.AWA. is a Designer and Founder of Multidisciplinary, ᔕaᔕᕼe Luxury Brand. Her main experience in design focuses on architectural design, residential and educational categories. She holds an architectural design degree from California Polytechnic University. She has been trained for many years under many icons who were stars in architecture, fashion, interior, and space design and has received multiple design awards and recognition in the nation and over the sea. She explains herself as a designer who seeks the freedom, courage, and science latent in multi-disciplinary design and that taught her to consider all the elements in human life to bring the soul in her work as a poetry and pass joy to her clients.
She thinks Architecture and fashion must often strive to coordinate disparate elements in an environment, integrating them and making them purposeful within the space being developed. And for that, she is introducing her brand ᔕaᔕᕼe to the market in Fall 2023. As her introduction to the world of design began with my first-hand experience of creating a multidisciplinary brand ᔕaᔕᕼe, I aspire to lead a principled life as a designer, even going a step beyond what is required, to give joy to my clients who have entrusted me. Therefore, being a leader in design locally, and in the world, is a huge responsibility that I take seriously.
She says” With ingenuity, productivity, and compassion, I hope to fulfill my purpose of creating architectural designs that will reconcile all levels of society and promote the opportunity to experience the pleasure of an urban life reconnected with nature”
Final Thoughts
The influence of these five dynamic women extends far beyond their respective fields, serving as a testament to the power of visionary leadership. Their stories are a reminder that true leaders are those who innovate, inspire, and leave a lasting legacy for others to build upon. As they continue to navigate challenges and seize opportunities, these women exemplify what it means to lead with purpose and passion. Their journeys encourage us all to look forward with optimism, knowing that the future is in capable and transformative hands.