This edition features a handful of Women in Business, leaders across several sectors that are at the forefront of leading us into a digital future Read More: https://insightssuccess.com/the-10-most-empowering-women-in-business-2023-march2023/

1. www.insightssuccess.com
Creating New Paths of Success in the Real Estate Industry
Karen Simon
President, and Managing Partner
Emersons Commercial Real
Estate
The Most
Empowering
Women
in Business
Karen
Simon
VOL-03 | ISSUE-01 | 2023

4. The Tale of
Remarkable
Accomplishments
Editor’s Desk
Abhishek Joshi
AbhishekJoshi

5. love stories. Being a writer, that’s no surprise. But I
Ithink a good story can change the world more than a
fact ever could. Stories, I believe, have the power of
transformation – in both positive and negative ways.
Therefore, it is important to be aware of the kind of stories
you are telling yourself and the people you are identifying
with.
The story you tell yourself is perhaps more important than
the story you tell others. Are you the hero or the side
character of your life? Are you the one to whom things
happen, or are you the one who makes things happen? Do
you write your story, or do you just read it? Your hero’s
journey will be defined by the words you have chosen for
yourself.
The pages of this magazine are full of stories. Stories of
painters, teachers, lawyers, and others. Stories of people
trying to make a failing business successful, of losing a
passion to find another, of struggling to be kind in an
industry that rewards the cutthroat. Stories of overcoming
challenges, finding hope, and dreaming about the impossi-
ble.
In the latest edition of Insights Success, The 10 Most
Empowering Women in Business, 2023, you will find stories
of women who are leading the dynamic business arena. The
starlets who have not let any obstacles come in the way of
pursuing their dreams and women empowering others to do
the same.
I hope that you see yourself in these stories. I hope you see
that success is possible beyond the struggles you face, as
these women have found. These stories will inspire you to
dare and wish for more than you have.
These stories will teach you that doubts are just thoughts
worth a penny, but dreams are infinitely precious, and
failing is only a midpoint to winning. And remember, as the
author of your life, you can, at any point, choose to rewrite
your story.
All the best in your journey and Have a Delightful Read!

6. Cover Story
08
Creating New Paths of Success in the Real Estate Industry
Karen
Simon

7. 20
CXO
26
Ellen Voi
16 18
Heather Anne Hubbell
Kim Robatson Lina Acosta
Between Female Empowerment and
the art of Marketing
28
CEO Hafan Cymru
Sian Morgan
Managing Partner

8. sales@insightssuccess.com
March, 2023
Editor-in-Chief
Senior Sales Manager Business Development Manager
Marketing Manager
Technical Head
Technical Specialist Digital Marketing Manager
Research Analyst
Database Management Technology Consultant
Marry D'Souza
Managing Editor Executive Editor Assistant Editors
Visualizer
David King
Art & Design Director Associate Designer
Sihanee M., Rouniyar A. Peter Collins
John Matthew
Sales Executives
David, Martin
Business Development Executives
Steve, Joe
Jacob Smile
Prachi P. Dominique T.
SME-SMO Executive
Sagar L. Frank Adams
Circulation Manager
Robert Brown Stella Andrew David Stokes
Copyright © 2022 Insights Success, All rights reserved. The content and images used in this magazine should not be reproduced or transmitted in any
form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission from Insights Success.
Reprint rights remain solely with Insights Success.
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We are also available on :
Abhishek J.
Revati B.
Jenny Fernandes Anish Miller
Ankita P.

9. Brief
Company Name
Ellen Voie was honored as a Champion of Change for her time
and effort developing innovative ways to help grow and expand
the transportation industry.
Featured Person
Women In Trucking
womenintrucking.org
Ellen Voie
CEO
Heather is passionate about enabling and driving strategic
business transformation, particularly using digital tools,
processes and applications to increase efficiency.
Phundex
phundex.com
Heather Anne Hubbell
Kandy was an amazingly energetic and fun person to work
with, she'd come from BP and relished working in a small
company.
3GIG
3-gig.com
Kandy Lukats
Karen Leslie Simon is one of the first women realtors to forge
this golden path with her sheer determination, hard work, and
passion.
Emersons Commercial
Real Estate
emersonscre.com
Karen Leslie Simon
Kate's leadership is remarkable, high energy and works well
across various departments and leaders
Fortra
helpsystems.com
Kate Bolseth
Kim Robertson is a renowned performer, arranger and
recording artist who has stretched the boundaries of the harp
for a new generation of performers and audiences.
Smile Foundation
smilefoundationsa.org
Kim Robertson Smith
Lina is deeply passionate about getting our brand exposed by
engaging not only our audience but also connecting more
people with our story and purpose as a logistics company at
GLT.
GLT
shipwithglt.com
Lina Acosta
Melanie is an outstanding driver of Eagle's Marketing programs
and always has new ideas, as well as is being open for new
ways and activities from the outside.
TriSports
kettlersport.com
Melanie Lauer
Nilly Assia has a knack for building energetic marketing teams,
and creating strategic, out-of-the-box marketing programs that
aim to optimize marketing’s direct impact on business.
G-CMO
g-cmo.com
Nilly Assia
Sian has worked closely with Government both locally and
nationally and has proved to work effectively within a number
of arenas both social and political, with a clear understanding
of the impact of devolution on a Country.
Hafan Cymru
hafancymru.co.uk
Sian Morgan
The Most
Empowering
Women
in Business
CMO
Managing Partner
CEO
CEO
CEO
CMO
CEO
CEO
CEO

10. Karen
Simon
Creating New Paths of Success in the Real Estate Industry
“
“
I was the first female to head an
industrial or to head any commercial
department within the Miller
organization. When I walked into a
room, people knew who I was because
I was the only woman.
C o v e r S t o r y

11. Karen Simon,
President, and Managing Partner
Emersons Commercial Real Estate

12. eading the way for other women, Karen Simon, a
Lthree-decade real estate professional, has been
fostering growth at Emersons Commercial Real
Estate. Exhibiting sheer brilliance as the President and
Managing Partner at the company, she started her career
in the real estate industry at a time when few women chose
the profession.
Karen now specializes in leasing and sales for the office,
retail, industrial and land sectors. She was the first woman
in Tarrant County to practise industrial real estate and the
first female broker to become one of the department's top
producers in the entire state.
In August, Karen achieved the recognition of
“Businesswoman of the Year” when she was acknowledged
to the famous Marquis Who's Who biographical directory.
This honour was given in recognition of her position,
notable achievements, exposure, and importance in the
industry.
Emersons Commercial Real Estate is a skilled group of real
estate experts committed to giving its clients all the
advantages of an internal real estate management operation
without the usual overhead, costs, or problems related to
hiring their own employees. Its skilled team provides
owners, developers, and tenants with expert property
management services.
In an exclusive interview with Insights Success, Karen
shares her journey as a woman in the real estate industry,
the successes she experienced and the challenges she
overcame.
Below are the highlights of the interview:
Brief us about your career path as a woman leader up
until now to your current position at your organization.
What were the challenges you had to overcome to scale
your progress?
The Henry S. Miller company was the largest real estate
company in Texas. They had no women filling roles as the
chairperson of any department within the Miller
organization other than its residential department.
I accepted their offer to start and chair an industrial and
land division within the Henry S. Miller office in Tarrant
County, specifically Fort Worth, where I live, the largest
city in Tarrant County. Part of the opportunity of chairing
that department was that they were willing to send me to
industrial real estate schools to learn the terms and the
jargon and get a background in the field that I was going to
attempt to grow for them. I held that job for six years.
In the late 1980s, the real estate market took a tremendous
fall. Because I was a female and women and minorities
were given opportunities with the federal government, I
founded a company called the R.E. Group Advisors, Inc,
known as “The Real Estate Group,” and got to have a lot
more opportunities to do business for the federal
government when it came to the disposal of all the
foreclosed assets.
Another position I held was the head of the industrial
department for the Woodmont Company, a large regional
firm. In 2003, I was asked to start a commercial real estate
office for the Bradford company in Tarrant County, and I
held that position for the next 12 years. Ultimately, in 2016,
I met the owners of Emerson’s commercial real estate, and
they were looking to open an office in Tarrant County. One
of them was from Fort Worth. They founded the company
in 2004, and in 2016, we became equal partners in the
Tarrant County office. That is where I am, the office I
manage within their organization, and it has been a very
fulfilling role.
At what stage did you realize that you were on the right
track regarding your career?
I decided I was on the right track for my career when I
All clients wanted was
someone who was concerned
about their business, and was
willing to get a job done. So,
although I was the first, I
always felt that I was pushing
the envelope and that there
was progress.
“ “

13. opened the office for Bradford, which was for a 12-year
stint and was a normalizing experience. At Miller, I was
actively in business, but then all of a sudden, we were no
longer in business. With the real estate group, I knew that
we had some time expiration because we were operating the
way we did because we were primarily representing the
federal government.
Bradford was a full-service company. We did management,
sales, leasing, and consulting. We covered the waterfront of
commercial real estate. Every day was different. I realized
how much I enjoyed the fact that I had been given the
opportunity to do something I love. I wasn’t completely
satisfied when ownership was not available. Bradford is a
highly well-run company. It’s run and owned by one
individual. And although we got management participation
in fees when our offices were successful, we were not
partners. We might make suggestions, but we really had no
serious input in the decisions as to how it was run.
Karen, can you tell me, being a woman, how difficult it is
to survive in real estate?
Well, when I started in the industrial real estate business in
1983, I was the first woman in Dallas or Tarrant County. I
was the first female to head an industrial or to head any
commercial department within the Miller organization.
When I walked into a room, people knew who I was
because I was the only woman.
The first time I went to an industrial real estate school, there
were 32 men and me. At the second one I went to, a year
later, there were approx. three women out of 42. I played a
role in the establishment of the first commercial real estate
women’s organization in Tarrant County, and that was in
1987. So, we began to make some progress.
I learned that clients did not resent dealing with a woman at
all. What they wanted was someone who was concerned
about their business, was willing to say that they didn’t
have an answer, but they would try to find out, and someone
who was willing to work longer than from 9:00 to 5:00 if it
was a requirement to get a job done within a specified time
period. So, although I was the first, I always felt that I was
pushing the envelope and that there was progress.
What strategies do you implement to promote gender
diversity for various leadership positions in your
organization?
I think within Emersons, gender has not been a significant
issue because when I came to work for them, they already
had a woman who was in a leadership role on the
accounting side. They also had women in other leadership
positions within the organization. Gender has never been
significant within Emersons, nor has racial ethnicity.
Emersons is a very diverse group. If you were to see the
members of Emersons and their co-partner, you would see
that it crosses all racial and ethnic lines. It’s nothing I ever
had to work for. That opportunity existed on its own.
What values do you incorporate to enhance the work
culture at your organization?
Well, some of the people who worked with us during the
worst part of COVID wanted to work remotely. And I
understood that. A couple of them still work remotely. I
don’t consider it ideal, but I do respect the fact that they feel
more comfortable and choose to do that. They come

14. I think women need to be
able to say, as should men, “I
don’t know the answer to
your question, but it’s a good
question, and I will find out.”
I think that the humility of
recognizing that you can’t be
the best at absolutely
everything and have all the
answers is essential.
“ “

15. together with us when we have company meetings a couple
of times a month. We try to allow people to work to the best
of their ability within the framework that they feel
comfortable working.
Do you feel in recent times that there is a difference in
opportunities for women in real estate?
Well, women are still sort of recognized as being a minority
as far as roles in commercial real estate. But there are a
great many women today that play essential roles within
their own organizations. I would venture to say that in the
last 30 years, women have made leaps and bounds in
recognition within this industry.
What do you believe is the significant factor for women
in the business arena, and what is the most critical
aspect of your success in adhering to these
fundamentals?
I think women need to be able to say, as should men, “I
don’t know the answer to your question, but it’s a good
question, and I will find out.” I think the humility of
recognizing that you can’t be the best at everything and
have all the answers is essential.
The willingness to go the extra mile, I think, is significant.
The willingness–– for example, if someone can’t see a
building on a Monday through Friday and you feel an
obligation to make it available on Saturday, you should be
willing to do it yourself. You don’t necessarily need to
“send someone.” You need to show that a client’s interests
are vital enough to you to put yourself out.
What could be the next significant change in the modern
business arena?
So much has gone digital that it has changed the way we do
business in considerable measure. But we are still required,
in my opinion, to meet a client face to face to show a
property as opposed to telling someone that there is a
lockbox and here is the combination, and you can get the
key. I mean, I think we cannot push that envelope so far that
we have a total disconnect from human contact. I
sometimes feel that my younger associates are not
practicing the art of conversation. They almost do
everything by text or email. I don’t think that is the best
method of great success. I think you must show a personal
interest and participation.
What advice would you give to the next generation of
women leaders willing to venture into the modern
business arena, especially in a real state?
I would say, among other things, don’t allow gender to be
an active part of your transaction. In other words, if you’re
dealing with someone who is courtly and wants to open the
door for you, let them do that as opposed to pushing back
for a total lack of involvement from the feminine
perspective. Be natural, be normal. But at the same time, be
the best-educated person in the room. Be the person who is
willing to go the extra mile. At the same time, don’t be
disruptive because general behavioral patterns are such that
we live in a society in which men generally do open doors
or at least offer to do so.

18. very nonprofit organization was formed from idea
Eby someone who saw a need. Currently, there are
over 1.8 million nonprofit organizations in the
United States, and they represent nearly six percent of the
US economy. There are different types of nonprofits, and
the largest category includes churches, schools, and
foundations (40%) which are supported by charitable
donations.
Another type of nonprofit is a trade or professional
association, which comprise about fifteen percent of
nonprofit organizations in the US. The Women In Trucking
Association falls into this category but is a hybrid trade
(representing organizations) and professional (representing
individuals.)
I founded the Women In Trucking (WIT) Association
because I recognized the need for an entity to represent
women employed in the trucking industry. Our mission
includes encouraging the employment of women in the
industry, addressing obstacles that might keep women from
succeeding, and celebrating the success of its members.
Our membership includes both men and women who
support the mission. We currently have over 8,000
members in ten countries.
Starting a nonprofit is a challenge, as fifty percent of all
nonprofit organizations will fail. WIT was formed in 2007,
which was right at the beginning of the recession.
However, we reached our goal of 500 members our first
year. The challenge was in obtaining the support for our
mission, which has never wavered.
Many of our members joined us in our first year, but every
one of them waited to see if we would execute our mission
before they renewed. They needed to be confident in our
ability to create positive change by increasing the ranks of
women in all career levels, from the cab to the S-suite.
Sixteen years ago, gender diversity in the trucking industry
was not a priority. In fact, the typical response from
carriers was that they just hired the best employee. Once
we pointed out the fact that there wasn't a level playing field
for women, we started to convince them to change.
The trucks were designed for men, who are usually taller
and have longer arms and legs. The truck stops were
designed for men as well, as the lounges were only for men
and the showers were locker room style with no privacy.
Even the uniforms were men’s sizes and styles, and women
had to adapt the shirts and pants to their smaller frames.
Additionally, there wasn’t much data available about
women in the trucking industry. Companies didn’t even
track the percentages of women as drivers, managers,
CEOs, or directors. Beyond the demographic data, there
was rarely information regarding safety or inspection by
gender.
We had to create a movement by building a business case
for gender diversity. Originally, we used any data relevant
to female drivers or women as leaders. However, as we
pushed for a more level playing field, we started seeing
positive trends in attracting and retaining women.
This allowed us to start to measure diversity numbers and to
identify best practices from the companies with higher
female leaders, managers, and drivers. The data began to
follow, and we were thrilled to learn than women are safer
commercial drivers than men. We also found that women
were typically easier on the equipment, better with
paperwork and more engaging with customers.
Although women were not prevalent in the higher levels of
companies, the ones who did promote and empower women
into more powerful roles were finding their net profits were
increasing. Women’s voices reflect different decision-
making processes which creates a broader range of
perception and understanding.
Ellen Voie
March 2023 | 16 | www.insightssuccess.com

19. Instead of sons automatically assuming the trucking company lead role, many daughters were chosen to step into the top
position. More and more companies are being started by women and run by women in the transportation industry.
The Women In Trucking Association has become the recognized resource in providing information, education, best practices
and more for carriers to continue to advance the women in their organizations. Additionally, we are tracking the numbers and
watching more women find successful careers as drivers, diesel technicians, safety directors, managers, and directors.
We will continue to monitor the progress of the industry and share best practices so more women can find a home in
transportation. We are proud of our history of being the best resource and for starting a cultural change in all trucking
related roles and we will continue these efforts until the gender imbalance is no longer an issue.
March 2023 | 17 | www.insightssuccess.com

20. n the lead-up to International Women's Day, I've been
Ithinking about how things have changed since I started
my working life. This year's theme is "Choose to
Challenge," encouraging individuals to challenge gender
bias and inequality in all aspects of their lives. That
includes women's contributions to our families,
communities, and societies.
When I was a young girl, people asked me if I wanted to be
a teacher like my mother. No one ever asked me if I wanted
to be an electrical engineer like my father. What I wanted
was to be a fighter pilot like my father. Women weren't
allowed in the air force then, so that wasn't an option for
me, much to my disappointment.
In high school, girls learned cooking and sewing; boys took
woodworking and metalwork. I knew how to cook and
sew, so I wanted to try woodworking and metalwork. I
negotiated with the teacher. I could if I found a boy who
would swap with me. No problem. What's not to like about
a class full of girls for a teenage boy?
During the first few years of my first career, I got turned
down for promotion several times for not having the "right"
experience, and then I had to train the man who did get the
job. I then trained as a lawyer, only to have a managing
partner tell me that women couldn't be litigators and have a
family. Never mind that I didn't want to do litigation and
already had my family! I politely wrote back and told the
firm I wasn't interested in working for a law firm that felt
that way. In those days, women weren't even allowed to
wear trousers in the courtroom. How times have changed
in some respects.
I was a working mother from the earliest days of my
working life, juggling children and law school, working as
a lawyer and then in banking. Multi-tasking wasn't an
option – it was the only way to keep everything on track
and on time. Thankfully my husband was pretty hands-on
with the children, especially once they got interested in
sports.
I watched my male colleagues with frustration as their
wives managed their family life and they got on with work.
Then I realized that my children enriched my working life,
and they could see first-hand that women could do any job
they wanted. Although, when people asked my children if
they wanted to be a lawyer like their mother, they both said,
"no, that's way too much work!”
Having felt the inequality first-hand, I resolved to be very
aware of my female colleagues and friends to see how I
could proactively support them. I suggested they apply for
jobs I thought they would be suitable for (even when they
said, "I'm not sure I have the right skills"). I helped them
craft their CVs and do interview practice. I also hired
women for my teams, even if they would need extra
training to do the job, because I knew it would be great for
their longer-term careers. I especially looked for mothers
as I knew exactly what they had to do to get to work in the
morning and juggle work and home life. What better
experience than that for being able to manage complicated
jobs at work?
For most of the past 15 years, I've run my own businesses.
That meant I could make decisions that worked for me and
allowed me to work against discrimination and open new
opportunities for women. There is nothing more soul
destroying that not getting recognition or a promotion for
your work and contribution, and I've tried hard to counter
that with whatever support I could.
I have a challenge for you as we celebrate International
Women's Day. Think about how you can make a difference
in recognizing women's contributions or encourage others
to do so. Start with one person at a time. You may never
know how much that means to that person.
Heather Anne Hubbell
Heather Anne Hubbell
CXO
March 2023 | 18 | www.insightssuccess.com

21. March 2023 | 19 | www.insightssuccess.com

22. Kim Robertson Smith
Kim Robertson Smith
aving been an invaluable team member of Smile
HFoundation since its inception 23 years ago, Kim
has always been known for her never-give-up
attitude and the invaluable positive impact she has made on
the foundation. Inclusivity and the empowerment of others
has always been the mainstay of this compassionate and
visionary woman, who is determined to carry this into her
role of leadership, as she supports and guides the vision and
mission of Smile Foundation, defined by its Board of
Directors.
Being a registered nurse and healthcare professional, Kim
is a natural-born caregiver with medical insight that stands
her in good stead for her role as CEO. With her extensive
managerial experience in the medical sales and marketing
arena, Kim is no stranger to managing, mentoring,
organising, training, and motivating people – which further
supports her belief that solid teamwork will continually
grow an organisation. Apart from the medical field, Kim’s
career spans across a different area of fundraising and
outreach programmes for various organisations, aligning
her even more so to her role as a strong leader with a clear
vision and passion for Smile Foundation. Kim is a well-
seasoned professional, who is caring and compassionate,
and always up for a new challenge that requires a smarter
solution.
“My aim is to continue, with the support of the incredible
Smile team, to see all children smile. My life’s journey has
always been to be involved with helping others and in this
position, I can continue to do what I love - helping children
to become the ‘Hero’ of their own story.” Kim Robertson
Smith, CEO at Smile Foundation.
About Smile Foundation
Every child deserves a secure sense of self – the very
foundation from which their greatest potential can be
reached. This is why we are Smile Foundation are deeply
passionate about making a difference in the lives of South
African children living with facial conditions.
Smile Foundation is a South African Non-profit
organisation operating in South Africa. Our NPO started at
the behest of then President Nelson Mandela, 23 years ago.
We believe that making a real difference is about bringing
the right people together at the right time. In doing so, our
non-profit organisation is able to facilitate expert surgical
intervention for children living with facial paralysis, cleft
lip, cleft palate, craniofacial abnormalities, and burn
wounds.
We offer psychological support to patients and their
families before, during and after surgery. We also offer
“Parent to Parent” support which enables parents and
caregivers to connect with other families who have walked
the same journey.
Education and skills training is something we are
passionate about, our passion towards upskilling surgeons
in specialized techniques carries into the Smile Foundation
skills training. In doing so the organisation is able to
facilitate expert surgical intervention and pre and post-
operative care for communities in need.
Smile Foundation works in partnership with 17 Academic
Hospitals around South Africa where all our surgical
procedures and skills programs are performed.
Not only do we facilitate academic skills programs for
surgeons, nurses and other medical personnel, we also
invest in the infrastructure of the public healthcare system
through purchasing medical equipment, upgrading the
surgical Departments in existing facilities to the benefit of
previously disadvantaged South Africans.
To achieve these goals, we enthusiastically raise funds
through our corporate and private donors. We also reach out
to communities to share and understanding that children
with facial conditions and burns can be helped.
March 2023 | 20 | www.insightssuccess.com

23. March 2023 | 21 | www.insightssuccess.com

24. We assist any child living in South Africa living with facial paralysis, cleft lip and cleft palate, craniofacial abnormalities, as
well as ear, nose and hand conditions and burn wounds. Our contributions go beyond funding children’s surgery and
recovery.
Our Vision
We help children live a life inspired by confidence and possibility, no matter their circumstances.
Our Mission
We transform the lives of children affected by facial abnormalities and severe burns through the best possible and
psychological care.
March 2023 | 22 | www.insightssuccess.com

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31. March 2023 | 29 | www.insightssuccess.com