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Leading with Purpose:
WOMEN’S VISIONARY ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
APPROACH TO BUSINESS Senela Jayasuriya
is a globally
STRATEGY recognized CEO and
leadership expert with
extensive experience
empowering leaders
Purpose-driven leadership is The Power of Women’s Leadership Overcoming Barriers: and organizations
increasingly recognized as a Studies show that companies with The Challenges Women Face in
powerful force that aligns business higher gender diversity at the leadership Leading with Purpose worldwide. Through
strategy with long-term value level outperform their peers financially. The primary pain point for women her work in leadership
creation, rather than short-term A McKinsey report revealed that when it comes to leading with purpose
gains. When leaders operate organizations in the top quartile for development, corporate
with a clear sense of purpose, gender diversity are 27% more likely to is the struggle to balance personal growth, and women’s
they inspire not only their teams have above - average profitability. values with external expectations, empowerment, she
but also drive innovation and often within environments that are not
sustainable growth within their Women leaders often bring distinct always supportive of their leadership has made a significant
organizations. For example, Indra qualities to the table-empathy, styles. Grant Thornton reports that impact on businesses
Nooyi, former CEO of PepsiCo, collaborative thinking, and a focus on women hold only 33.5% of senior
spearheaded the “Performance sustainability. These traits enable them to management positions globally. This and individuals,
with Purpose” strategy, focusing craft strategies that prioritize long-term underrepresentation highlights the need driving innovation and
on sustainable growth and value creation over short-term gains. for more intentional efforts to support sustainable success. She
healthier product innovations, For example, female CEOs have been women in leadership.
which transformed the company’s shown to place higher emphasis on ESG is the CEO of Women
portfolio while maintaining (Environmental, Social, and Governance) Empowered Global and
profitability. Indra Nooyi’s initiatives, contributing to more socially Women frequently face the challenge of the Managing Director
leadership as CEO of PepsiCo responsible and forward -thinking overcoming gender biases and societal
solidified the company’s financial businesses. pressures that prioritize traditional, of Collective Leadership
success, with revenues soaring to authoritative leadership traits over the Global (UK).
$63 billion by the time she stepped For example, Rosalind Brewer, the former collaborative and empathetic approaches
down in 2018. Her tenure as CEO is CEO of Walgreens, championed supplier many women naturally bring. Additionally,
closely tied to PepsiCo’s standing diversity and equity initiatives, ensuring women are often tasked with managing
as one of the world’s leading F&B marginalized communities have multiple roles—professional, personal,
companies, recognized for its a stronger presence in business and familial—which can lead to burnout,
revenue, profitability, and market partnerships. She is a prominent making it difficult to fully embrace and act
capitalization. corporate executive renowned for on their purpose. The lack of mentorship
her visionary purpose-led leadership, and support for women in leadership
Purpose-driven leadership groundbreaking initiatives, and advocacy
has emerged as a critical for positive transformation in global positions further compounds this
differentiator for organizations business. Featured among Fortune challenge, making it harder for them to
aiming to achieve sustainable and Forbes’ “Most Powerful Women in feel empowered to lead with authenticity
success. Women leaders are Business,” her strategic expertise and and drive lasting change.
increasingly demonstrating how dedication to excellence have established
aligning business strategies her as one of the most influential leaders
with a greater purpose can drive of today. Bridging the Gap:
innovation, nurture inclusivity, Leadership Development Programs
and create lasting impact. Their To empower women and close the gender
unique approaches are reshaping gap, targeted leadership development
industries, challenging traditional programs are critical. Such initiatives help
norms, and paving the way women build the confidence, skills, and
for a more balanced future in networks needed to excel in executive
leadership. roles, aspire to board positions, or launch
31 From Campus to Corporate Leadership l Aug/Sep 2025 l www.bimt.lk From Campus to Corporate Leadership l Aug/Sep 2025 l www.bimt.lk 32
