By Blossom Ukoha “I am deeply honored to assume the role of CEO and lead Dow into our next chapter… Our focus remains unwavering: delivering reliable and innovative solutions for our customers, and long-term value for our employees and our shareholders, while accelerating our transformation to set a new competitive standard for best-in-class performance.” For Karen S. Carter, the words mark more than the beginning of a new executive assignment. They represent the culmination of more than three decades of growth, responsibility and leadership within Dow, one of the world’s largest materials science companies. On 1 July 2026, Carter became Chief Executive Officer of Dow, succeeding Jim Fitterling, who transitioned to Executive Chair of the Board. Named CEO-elect in April after serving as Chief Operating Officer, Carter became the first woman and the first Black woman to lead the 129-year-old company, which recorded approximately $40 billion in sales in 2025.…
Heidi O’Neill Takes the Helm: Inside Lululemon’s New CEO Playbook
By Blossom Ukoha “As I step into the C.E.O. role in September, my job will be to build on that foundation — to accelerate product breakthroughs, deepen the brand’s cultural relevance, and unlock growth in markets around the world.” For Heidi O’Neill, becoming Chief Executive Officer of Lululemon is not simply a move from one global sports brand to another. It is an opportunity to bring decades of experience in building consumer businesses to a company at an important crossroads. In April 2026, Lululemon Athletica named O’Neill as its next CEO, following an extensive search for a leader capable of combining creative brand-building with operational discipline. On 8 September 2026, she officially assumed the role and joined the company’s Board of Directors at its global headquarters in Vancouver, British Columbia. She succeeds Calvin McDonald, who stepped down at the end of January amid pressure from founder Chip Wilson, activist investors…
The Working Woman’s Guide to a Home That Actually Relaxes You
After a long day of meetings, deadlines, emails, caregiving and countless decisions, coming home should feel like a release. Yet for many working women, home can become another source of demands: unfinished chores, cluttered surfaces, work equipment, constant notifications and a growing list of things that need to be done. A relaxing home does not necessarily require a large house, expensive furniture or a complete interior makeover. What matters is creating an environment that makes it easier to switch off, recover and feel comfortable. With a few intentional changes to boundaries, lighting, clutter, textures and daily routines, your home can become the soft landing it was always meant to be. Leave Work at the Door One of the biggest challenges for women who work from home or carry demanding careers is the disappearance of the boundary between professional and personal life. When the laptop remains open on the dining table…
Charlyne Brumskine: A New Voice for Justice on West Africa’s Regional Bench
By Blossom Ukoha “Today, I speak not as a woman who is a lawyer, I speak as a lawyer who happens to be a woman. I am proud of us.” Those words capture the professional identity of Charlyne Mnamah-Mar Brumskine, a Liberian lawyer whose career has now taken her into one of West Africa’s most important judicial institutions. Brumskine has made history as the first Liberian woman appointed as a Judge of the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, beginning a term that will run from 2026 to 2030. Her appointment represents a significant milestone for Liberia and for women’s representation within regional judicial leadership. A Historic Seat at the Regional Bench The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice serves as the judicial organ of the Economic Community of West African States, handling matters involving member states, community institutions and human rights issues within the region. Brumskine joins the Court at a time…
Ahunna Eziakonwa: The Nigerian Woman Taking Africa’s Voice to the UN’s Top Table
By Blossom Ukoha “Africa is shaped like a question mark, but it has the answer the world is looking for.” For Ahunna Eziakonwa, Africa is not a continent waiting for its moment. It is a continent already shaping the future and that conviction now sits at the heart of her new role at the United Nations. The Nigerian career UN official has assumed office as Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on Africa to the UN Secretary-General, becoming one of the most influential African voices within the United Nations system. Appointed by Secretary-General António Guterres, Eziakonwa succeeded Cristina Duarte of Cabo Verde, bringing nearly three decades of experience in humanitarian affairs, development, governance and international cooperation to the position. From Nigeria to the World Stage Eziakonwa’s journey began in Nigeria, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Pedagogy, English and Literary Studies from the University of Benin. She later moved to the…
Destry Damayanti: The Woman Making History at Bank Indonesia
By Blossom Ukoha “I swear that I will carry out the duties and obligations of the BI Governor to the best of my ability and full of responsibility.” With those words, Destry Damayanti accepted the responsibility of leading Indonesia’s central bank—and, in doing so, made history as the first woman to serve as Governor of Bank Indonesia. Sworn into office in Jakarta on 2 September 2026 for the 2026–2031 term, she became the 17th Governor of the institution, bringing with her more than three decades of experience across economics, banking, capital markets, public policy, financial regulation and central banking. A Historic Oath, A New Era Destry’s appointment is significant not simply because she is the first woman to occupy the position, but because of the institution she now leads. Bank Indonesia sits at the centre of Indonesia’s economic architecture, with responsibility for monetary policy, financial stability and the resilience of the…
South Korea’s Wellness Boom: What Women Can Learn from the New Health Culture
By Janet Coin On a weekday morning in Seoul, a young professional finishes a Pilates session before heading to work. Later that evening, she stops at a wellness store for a functional drink and a product designed around a specific health need. Before bed, she sets aside her phone and prepares for sleep. None of these actions feels unusual. They are simply part of her routine. This is the changing face of wellness in South Korea. The country that introduced the world to K-beauty is moving beyond skincare and cosmetics towards a broader culture of wellbeing. Beauty remains important, but it increasingly sits alongside nutrition, fitness, mental health, sleep, preventive care and recovery. For Korean women, particularly younger women and working professionals, wellness is becoming less about occasional pampering and more about maintaining the whole self. From K-Beauty to K-Wellness South Korea’s global beauty influence has long been associated with…