dress for success
Courtesy Dress for Success

March is Women’s History Month, and Dress for Success, the global nonprofit employment resource for women, is paying tribute with its annual Your Hour, Her Power campaign. The program, which launches today, honors 19 C-suite executives, media moguls, and other force-of-nature women who embody Dress for Success’s mission of providing job access, career advancement, and financial wellness for women entering and reentering the workforce. The goal: inspiring women the world over to donate one hour’s pay to help other women achieve their professional goals.

Donate to the campaign here

The campaign also features a five-episode podcast series, Power Shift, hosted by Dress for Success CEO Michele C. Meyer-Ship. The conversations, featuring a few of the honorees, are warm and spontaneous, and explore themes like agency, power, resilience, courage, and community.

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Listen to the podcast here, and get to know this year’s honorees below.

Sunny Hostin

Cohost of The View; Lawyer and Journalist, Sunny Hostin Productions

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Dress for Success

An Emmy-winning journalist and lawyer, Hostin lives to tell underrepresented stories. These days, she’s doing that through her newly launched media company, Sunny Hostin Productions, which will create and produce premium film and television content highlighting social justice issues and underrepresented groups. She’s also written a memoir, I Am These Truths, and a novel, Summer on the Bluffs (plus a sequel, Summer on Sag Harbor). “I am so honored and humbled to be among this group of powerful and accomplished women,” Hostin says. “Each one of them is a strong and inspiring example of what is possible when women are given the opportunity to shine.”

Laurie Kirschner

Senior Director of Marketing, Church & Dwight

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Dress for Success

For Kirschner, the strategy lead for Arm & Hammer’s Laundry business, empowering colleagues and deepening the brand’s emotional connection with consumers are equally crucial. “I’m honored to continue our great partnership with Dress for Success in this year’s Your Hour, Her Power Campaign,” she says. “I am personally moved by the profound impact Dress for Success has on millions of women’s lives by providing the resources to help them achieve their career goals and gain economic independence.”

Cynthia Marshall

CEO, Dallas Mavericks & Marshalling Resources

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Dress for Success

“Confidence comes from hard work and dedication, but also understanding the importance of sisterhood,” says Marshall, who joined the Mavericks determined to establish a new NBA standard for inclusion and diversity. Her prior experience helped: She founded Marshalling Resources, a consulting firm that specializes in diversity and inclusion, and has also served as AT&T’s chief diversity officer. And in all her spare time? She’s written a leadership book, You’ve Been Chosen.

Joy-Ann Reid

Host of The ReidOut on MSNBC

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Dress for Success

“When women are supported, everyone wins because women contribute so much to their communities and to the economy,” says Reid, who is a New York Times bestselling author, podcast host, and journalist. She previously served as managing editor of theGrio.com, a daily online news and opinion platform devoted to delivering stories and perspectives geared toward Black audiences, and also as press secretary during Barack Obama’s Florida campaign in 2008.

Krista Bourne

Chief Operating Officer, Verizon Consumer Group

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Dress for Success

“When women are empowered, communities are empowered, and everyone benefits,” Bourne says. “This is why it is so important to advocate for women—for their professional and personal development and economic independence.” Bourne has spent more than 20 years at Verizon, working her way up from mailroom assistant to various leadership roles. As an advocate for women’s rights and advancement, she uses her voice to encourage women to relentlessly pursue their dreams and create opportunities for others along the way.

Elizabeth Nieto

Global Head of Equity & Impact, Spotify

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Dress for Success

“I strongly believe that every time we support a woman to achieve economic independence through career development, a supportive network, and professional attire, we are improving her and her family’s likelihood of success,” says Nieto, who oversees efforts in social impact, sustainability and climate action, and diversity, inclusion, and belonging at Spotify. Born and raised in Argentina, Nieto also works with nonprofits that support access to developmental opportunities for young, underserved talent and teenagers at risk.

Celia Edwards Karam

President of Retail Bank, Capital One

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Dress for Success

For Karam, the customer is always right—that’s why she is devoted to building customer experiences, loyalty, and financial well-being at Capital One. “There’s such a closeness between the work we’re doing and Dress for Success’s quest to help women achieve economic independence,” she explains. Karam goes above and beyond to support that goal: She’s the executive sponsor for Capital One’s Black business resource group and serves as a board member at Commonwealth, a nonprofit that builds solutions for financially vulnerable people.

Kay Lazidis

Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, U.S. Global Banking & Markets, Scotiabank

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Dress for Success

“I believe in a more diverse and gender-equitable finance industry that welcomes and empowers women to thrive in work and in life,” Lazidis says. “Dress for Success is a frontline solution for women of all backgrounds entering or reentering the workforce.” At Scotiabank, she is a champion of the bank’s diversity, equity, and inclusion strategy and also serves as a member of the U.S. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. She is also chair of the Process Improvement Initiative, designed to build and enhance programs that attract, promote, and retain diverse and inclusive groups.

Janelle Bieler

President, Adecco Canada

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Dress for Success

“One of the most invaluable resources women have is other women,” says Bieler, who was appointed to her role in 2021 after several years at Adecco, a workforce solutions company. Bieler is responsible for the company’s strategy and operations—but she’s most passionate about collaborating with both job candidates and hiring companies to develop training and job opportunities for our communities. To do so, Bieler has cultivated relationships with government workforce and economic development partners, local schools, the Exceptional Women’s Alliance, and ACSESS. “In my career I have learned that the ladder to success works both ways,” she says. “As women, we must be equally focused on climbing up and reaching down to pull other women up alongside us.”

Salumeh Companieh

Chief Digital & Information Officer, Cushman & Wakefield

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Dress for Success

“I am truly passionate and eager to push the boundaries of what leadership looks like by encouraging women of all backgrounds to bring their authentic selves to work,” says Companieh, whose work is dedicated to improving operations, enhancing client service, and driving new business for the real estate company Cushman & Wakefield. Companieh is also an active mentor to colleagues throughout the organization and is a member of T200, a group with the mission of fostering, celebrating, and advancing women’s leadership in tech. “I am excited by what we can collectively accomplish by lifting up and encouraging others,” she says.

Geraldine White

Chief Diversity Officer, Publicis Groupe

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Dress for Success

“When I first got involved with Dress for Success locally in New York, I was truly inspired by the women I interacted with while volunteering,” White says. “I reflect on those interactions often and am honored by the opportunity to make further impact in partnership with their Your Hour, Her Power campaign.” White’s position at Publicis Groupe, a public relations company, focuses on improving systems, policies, and practices to create more equity. She also works on generating long-term systemic change and continually fostering an inclusive environment for all identities, communities, and facets of intersectionality.

Rebecca Yeung

Corporate Vice President of Operations Science & Advanced Technology, FedEx

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Dress for Success

Yeung, who was born in China, went from living in a house with no electricity or running water to transforming the future of FedEx operations. This means overseeing complex technological advances like scaling up robotics, automation technology, and autonomous vehicles. “As a woman and a mother, I believe the fun part of life is to break down barriers and make the impossible possible,” she says. “Thank you, Dress for Success, for continuing to help women around the world live this out.”

Monique Rodriguez

Founder & CEO, Mielle

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Dress for Success

“I believe in collaboration and women joining forces to empower other women—particularly women of color—to equip them to be the best version of themselves,” Rodriguez says. She’s the visionary behind Mielle, a natural haircare company that she started with just one product. Now the line is sold in more than 100,000 stores across the U.S. In 2021, Rodriguez became the first Black woman to raise a non-controlling, nine-figure investment from Berkshire Partners, and in 2023, Mielle announced a historic partnership with P&G Beauty. Rodriguez strives to provide Black and brown communities with education, mentorship, and financial support.

Erin Bigley

Chief Responsibility Officer, AllianceBernstein

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Dress for Success

“I believe there is strength in numbers, and women are stronger together,” Bigley says. In her position, she ensures that AllianceBernstein, an asset management firm, maintains responsible practices and strategies. This work involves integrating environmental, social, and governance considerations throughout the firm’s research, engagement, and investment processes. She is also the co-chair of AB’s Women’s Leadership Council, which seeks to cultivate an empowering environment for women to build and broaden leadership roles at AB. “It is our responsibility to find ways to lift other women up, take the time to encourage and mentor, and ultimately pave the path forward for future women in the workplace.”

Abigail Lovell

Chief Sustainability Officer, Experian

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Dress for Success

“Compassion and kindness are underrated,” Lovell says. “They’re the catalyst to uplifting others and empowering communities to succeed.” That’s the mindset she uses in her role as the chief sustainability officer at Experian, where she oversees climate change initiatives like the transition to net zero, along with social responsibility and innovation programs that benefit employee engagement.

Charlotte Van Meer

Chief Legal Officer, Trivium Packaging

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Dress for Success

“As a lawyer, equal treatment and equal opportunity are important to me,” Van Meer says. “More women in the workplace also simply makes business sense.” This mindset comes through in her work as the chief legal officer at at Trivium, a company that makes sustainable packaging, as well as her partnership with Dress for Success. “Lots of work to do, but every step in the right direction matters,” Van Meer says.

Kristina Cole

Chief Commercial & Customer Officer, Danone

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Dress for Success

As a leader in the consumer-packaged goods industry, Cole oversees $7 billion in revenue and leads a team of 400 people. She’s all about Danone’s mission: bringing health through food to as many people as possible. “From attracting and developing diverse talent and engaging in our communities to partner in change, organizations like Dress for Success and Danone help pave the way for more women to lead,” Cole says. She also heads up Danone’s LIFT group, where she helps foster diversity and inclusion by creating an environment where women can flourish through inspiration and empowerment. And, naturally, she has a favorite Danone product: the Stok-Cold Brew Coffee.

Leslie Vickrey

Founder & CEO, ClearEdge Marketing

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Dress for Success

“Creating opportunities for the next generation of female leaders to rise up is a personal mission of mine,” says Vickrey, a marketing expert and business adviser who has been running her own agency since 2006. Vickrey also cofounded ARA, an organization that advances women in technology (and has 6,000 members), and additionally, she belongs to several other organizations and boards of directors that support innovation and inclusion. Vickrey hosts a podcast, TheEdge, and recently contributed to Together We Rise with 14 other female executives. “Joining forces with the Dress for Success Your Hour, Her Power campaign will help open the door for more women to join the workforce and be the change we need to see with more women in the C-suite, on boards, and starting their own businesses.”

Yie-Hsin Hung

President & Chief Executive Officer, State Street

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Dress for Success

“When we empower others, we also empower those around them,” says Hung. At State Street, she oversees investment management as well as strategy and policy making. Hung has been featured on Barron’s list of the 100 Most Influential Women in U.S. Finance, American Banker’s 25 Most Powerful Women in Finance, and Forbes’ 50 over 50. “At State Street, we are proud to support Dress for Success’s Your Hour, Her Power campaign to support women and to help end gender-based inequality,” she says.

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Cassie Hurwitz
Assistant Editor

Cassie Hurwitz (she/her) is an assistant editor at Oprah Daily, where she covers everything from culture to entertainment to lifestyle. She can typically be found in the middle of multiple books and TV shows all at once. Previously, Cassie worked at Parents, Rachael Ray In Season, and Reveal. Her love language is pizza (New York slices, Chicago deep dish, and otherwise).