Purpose is the New Power
How Women Are Redefining Impact at the Intersection of Fashion, Beauty, and Business
At the 2025 Women of Impact Summit, hosted by Delivering Good, a new narrative emerged: one where purpose-led leadership and cross-industry collaboration are shaping the future of fashion and beyond.
2025 DG WOIS Photo Credit Layra Marte
In an era where storytelling and social value are as critical as silhouette and stitch, the 2025 Women of Impact Summit at the Fashion Institute of Technology brought together more than 250 leaders to celebrate a rising shift in the fashion and textile world — the growing fusion of purpose and profit. Hosted by nonprofit Delivering Good, an organisation that connects individuals and families in need with new products that open doors to hope, dignity, and opportunity. The event focused on how women are leveraging fashion, beauty, tech, and finance to build more equitable, conscious, and community-driven futures.
The Summit's panels reflected a broader movement taking hold across the creative economy. Fashion is about what your brand stands for. Industry veterans and new voices alike discussed how sustainability, inclusivity, and digital disruption are no longer niche concerns but foundational pillars.
A standout trend? Radical reinvention. Journalist Lisa Marsh set the tone early by encouraging attendees to 'stay curious' and embrace multi-hyphenate careers — a nod to how today's fashion leaders are shifting from legacy roles into multi-sector entrepreneurship. This was echoed by Emily Hikade of Petite Plume, whose transition from CIA operative to luxury sleepwear founder shows how agility and vision are reshaping leadership pathways in the fashion world.
Throughout the day, fashion insiders and adjacent innovators explored how impact is no longer measured solely by the bottom line. In the Beauty, Unfiltered panel, inclusive branding was reframed not as an initiative but as an imperative. As a panellist and 2020 Miss Earth, Lindsey Coffey noted, 'The next generation of leaders is not waiting to be handed power, they're creating it. And beauty, when it's unfiltered and inclusive, can be a catalyst for real change.'
Key themes that emerged across the Summit included:
Sustainable Supply Chains as Standard: From material innovation to end-of-life circularity, sustainability was not positioned as a trend, but the new baseline for ethical production.
Financial Equity Meets Fashion: Executives from Blackstone, Salesforce, and Mastercard discussed how wealth-building tools must be accessible — particularly for women in creative fields navigating entrepreneurship.
Tech-Enabled Creativity: From AI-powered retail platforms to digital try-ons and intelligent inventory management, the conversation spotlighted how tech continues to merge with fashion to elevate customer experience and reduce waste.
Emotional Impact of Clothing
: Stories from Delivering Good's partners revealed a quieter but deeply resonant trend — clothing as a form of emotional restoration. FIT President Dr. Joyce Brown and high school student Khosi Ahmed both emphasised how receiving new apparel builds confidence and dignity in vulnerable communities.
The presence of powerhouse names like Danessa Myricks, MM.LaFleur's Sarah Miyazawa LaFleur and KraveBeauty's Liah Yoo drove home one clear takeaway: the future of fashion belongs to those who lead with purpose and aren't afraid to challenge the system.
Andrea Weiss, Board Chair of Delivering Good, shared, 'For 40 years, Delivering Good has been making an impact, not just the buzzword but a real impact in the lives of those facing poverty, disaster, and other social challenges. The intersection with the Women of Impact Summit lies in the fact that many of the recipients of DG's work are women: women rebuilding after natural disasters, young women ageing out of foster care, women fleeing domestic violence or trafficking. The link between the Summit and Delivering Good's mission is clear: when we engage and empower women, we can change entire communities.'
From the C-suite to the supply chain, women are rewriting the rules of fashion and textiles, proving that conscious leadership isn't just aspirational, it's actionable.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fashion Value Chain
14 hours ago
- Fashion Value Chain
Purpose is the New Power
How Women Are Redefining Impact at the Intersection of Fashion, Beauty, and Business At the 2025 Women of Impact Summit, hosted by Delivering Good, a new narrative emerged: one where purpose-led leadership and cross-industry collaboration are shaping the future of fashion and beyond. 2025 DG WOIS Photo Credit Layra Marte In an era where storytelling and social value are as critical as silhouette and stitch, the 2025 Women of Impact Summit at the Fashion Institute of Technology brought together more than 250 leaders to celebrate a rising shift in the fashion and textile world — the growing fusion of purpose and profit. Hosted by nonprofit Delivering Good, an organisation that connects individuals and families in need with new products that open doors to hope, dignity, and opportunity. The event focused on how women are leveraging fashion, beauty, tech, and finance to build more equitable, conscious, and community-driven futures. The Summit's panels reflected a broader movement taking hold across the creative economy. Fashion is about what your brand stands for. Industry veterans and new voices alike discussed how sustainability, inclusivity, and digital disruption are no longer niche concerns but foundational pillars. A standout trend? Radical reinvention. Journalist Lisa Marsh set the tone early by encouraging attendees to 'stay curious' and embrace multi-hyphenate careers — a nod to how today's fashion leaders are shifting from legacy roles into multi-sector entrepreneurship. This was echoed by Emily Hikade of Petite Plume, whose transition from CIA operative to luxury sleepwear founder shows how agility and vision are reshaping leadership pathways in the fashion world. Throughout the day, fashion insiders and adjacent innovators explored how impact is no longer measured solely by the bottom line. In the Beauty, Unfiltered panel, inclusive branding was reframed not as an initiative but as an imperative. As a panellist and 2020 Miss Earth, Lindsey Coffey noted, 'The next generation of leaders is not waiting to be handed power, they're creating it. And beauty, when it's unfiltered and inclusive, can be a catalyst for real change.' Key themes that emerged across the Summit included: Sustainable Supply Chains as Standard: From material innovation to end-of-life circularity, sustainability was not positioned as a trend, but the new baseline for ethical production. Financial Equity Meets Fashion: Executives from Blackstone, Salesforce, and Mastercard discussed how wealth-building tools must be accessible — particularly for women in creative fields navigating entrepreneurship. Tech-Enabled Creativity: From AI-powered retail platforms to digital try-ons and intelligent inventory management, the conversation spotlighted how tech continues to merge with fashion to elevate customer experience and reduce waste. Emotional Impact of Clothing : Stories from Delivering Good's partners revealed a quieter but deeply resonant trend — clothing as a form of emotional restoration. FIT President Dr. Joyce Brown and high school student Khosi Ahmed both emphasised how receiving new apparel builds confidence and dignity in vulnerable communities. The presence of powerhouse names like Danessa Myricks, Sarah Miyazawa LaFleur and KraveBeauty's Liah Yoo drove home one clear takeaway: the future of fashion belongs to those who lead with purpose and aren't afraid to challenge the system. Andrea Weiss, Board Chair of Delivering Good, shared, 'For 40 years, Delivering Good has been making an impact, not just the buzzword but a real impact in the lives of those facing poverty, disaster, and other social challenges. The intersection with the Women of Impact Summit lies in the fact that many of the recipients of DG's work are women: women rebuilding after natural disasters, young women ageing out of foster care, women fleeing domestic violence or trafficking. The link between the Summit and Delivering Good's mission is clear: when we engage and empower women, we can change entire communities.' From the C-suite to the supply chain, women are rewriting the rules of fashion and textiles, proving that conscious leadership isn't just aspirational, it's actionable.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Why your job applications keep getting ghosted: Top tech executive reveals red flags young candidates ignore
In a world brimming with glossy job titles and Instagram-worthy offices, it's easy for young professionals to fall for roles that sound cool but have little alignment with their experience. But according to Chidi Achara , the Global Chief Product Officer at design and tech powerhouse Huge , that mismatch is one of the most common—and fatal—mistakes fresh candidates make. Speaking to CNBC Make It at Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies Gala and Summit , Achara reflected on his years of experience leading teams at major companies including Nike and investment app Stash. With a keen eye for talent, Achara has conducted countless interviews and learned to spot red and green flags almost instantly. Humor and Storytelling Go a Long Way In an era where AI can mimic professionalism and resumes are increasingly polished, Achara values something far more human: personality. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Vergiss die blaue Pille: Diese Methode stellt alles auf den Kopf Undo 'Do they have a sense of humor?' he told CNBC Make It . 'Do they have storytelling ability so they can communicate clearly?' These two qualities, he believes, are not just soft skills—they're essential signals that a candidate can gel with a team and carry ideas forward with impact. It's not just about ticking technical boxes anymore. The ability to tell a story, to inject warmth and clarity into communication, is a trait that separates good hires from great ones, Achara emphasizes. You Might Also Like: This job search hack helped a candidate land 3 interviews in a week. Here's how Applying Without Alignment But for all the charm a candidate might bring, a lack of relevant experience is still a dealbreaker. One of the biggest issues, according to Achara, is the 'scattergun approach' many young jobseekers take when sending out applications. 'They're just applying for a bunch of stuff because the title sounds cool, or they like the comp, or they like the location,' he explained. This unfocused strategy may stem from desperation in a tough job market, but it rarely works. 'Hiring managers can very quickly see those people are not qualified,' Achara warned. And when it's clear that a resume doesn't match the role, 'I'm probably going to move on to the next.' Experience Doesn't Always Mean Employment Still, Achara isn't suggesting that recent graduates need years of full-time work behind them. He's a strong believer in the value of side projects, internships, and passion-driven pursuits. 'Say you're applying for a web developer or an engineering job and you've never worked full-time in either but on the side, you've built an app,' he said. If you've published it and drawn users—even just a few thousand— that counts. You Might Also Like: Bill Gates predicts only three jobs will survive the AI takeover. Here is why Tailoring your resume to highlight such accomplishments can tilt the odds in your favor. 'Immediately, you'll take that person more seriously,' Achara noted. The hiring team is looking for proof of potential—not perfection. So, what's the key takeaway for job-hunters, especially those at the start of their careers? Be selective. Be strategic. And be honest. 'If they're just applying because they think it sounds like a cool job, then it's probably not going to work,' Achara concluded.
India Gazette
3 days ago
- India Gazette
PM Modi arrives at Kananaskis lodge for G7 Summit
Kananaskis (Alberta) [Canada], June 18 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at the Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge in Canada on Tuesday to attend the G7 Summit. Canadian PM Mark Carney received PM Modi as he arrived at the venue of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta. This marks his sixth consecutive participation in the G7 Summit and his first visit to Canada in a decade. PM Modi received a ceremonial welcome at the Calgary airport, where India's acting high commissioner, Chinmoy Naik, was among those who received him. Upon arriving in Calgary, Canada, PM Modi on Monday (local time) said he will meet various leaders at the G7 Summit and share his thoughts on important global issues. PM Modi said he will also emphasise the priorities of the Global South. This visit is part of PM Modi's three-nation official tour, which began with Cyprus and will conclude with Croatia. In a post on X, PM Modi stated, 'Landed in Calgary, Canada, to take part in the G7 Summit. Will be meeting various leaders at the Summit and sharing my thoughts on important global issues. Will also be emphasising the priorities of the Global South.' Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that PM Modi will be participating in G7 discussions on the future of energy security, including diversification, technology, infrastructure and investment, to ensure access and affordability in a changing world. 'At the invitation of PM @MarkJCarney, PM @narendramodi arrives in Alberta, Canada for the G7 Summit. PM will be participating in @G7 discussions on the future of energy security, including diversification, technology, infrastructure and investment, to ensure access and affordability in a changing world. PM will also hold several bilateral meetings on the sidelines,'Jaiswal posted on X. The Prime Minister arrived in Canada after concluding his visit to Cyprus. PM Modi's visit to Canada marks a significant moment in bilateral ties following a phase of strained diplomatic relations. On Monday, India's Acting High Commissioner to Canada, Chinmoy Naik, expressed optimism over discussions set to be held between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart, Mark Carney, on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Alberta. Speaking to ANI, Naik stated that PM Modi has been invited to the G7 Summit by Carney and noted that India will be participating in the G7 Summit as a guest country for the sixth time. He stated that India at the G7 Summit will speak about energy security, innovation, and new technologies like AI. The G7 Summit is an annual gathering of leaders from the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, Canada, and the European Union (EU). This marks PM Modi's sixth consecutive participation in the G7 Summit. (ANI)
