International Women’s Forum Announces Chanel Global CEO Leena Nair as Inaugural Recipient of IWF Leadership Fellows Program Alumna Award

WASHINGTON, DC, September 16, 2024 – Today, International Women’s Forum (IWF) announced that Chanel’s Global CEO Leena Nair will be awarded its inaugural Leadership Fellows Program Alumna Award, which will celebrate every five years the exemplary achievements of a former fellow whose success is both inspirational and aspirational.

The award announcement was made in advance of the Leadership Fellows Program 30th Anniversary Gala at the Library of Congress on 16th October. The Gala will be the first time that all alumnae across the years have been invited to reunite and to join the IWF members who launched and have sustained this one-of-a-kind initiative to advance women’s leadership.

Leena Nair was chosen for this inaugural award as an accomplished alumna who aligns with the IWF mission to “provide women with the support to take them where they want to be”. Each year the IWF Fellows Program selects a geographically, culturally, ethnically, and professionally diverse group of up to 45 leaders in corporate, government, nonprofit, academic, and entrepreneurial and social impact organizations who are looking to breakthrough into leadership roles.

Ms Nair was an IWF Fellow in 2013 and when she originally applied to the program, she shared that she wanted to “bust the myth that moving from Human Resources to CEO is difficult. I want to be able to demonstrate my firm belief that people are at the heart of good business and good management principles only show results if people apply them with integrity and authenticity.”

Leena became Unilever’ youngest Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) and was appointed a member of their Global Executive Committee from 2016. Then, after thirty years at Unilever, and after first stating her leadership aspirations as an IWF Fellow, in January 2022 she was appointed Global Chief Executive Officer at Chanel – the first Indian-born female to lead a major global luxury company. Leena has built a global reputation for progressive human-centered leadership, championing a long-term purpose driven-agenda and delivering significant business results and sustainable impact.

“Ms. Nair’s life and career are a testament to achieving her goal while demonstrating to people across the world the art of the possible. From achieving gender parity in management at Unilever, to emphasizing environmentally and socially conscious

decision-making at Chanel, to boosting the company’s investments in Fondation CHANEL’s support of women and girls being able to shape their own destiny, Ms. Nair’s actions embody the vision of the Leadership Fellows Program,” said IWF Chief Executive Officer Stephanie O’Keefe.

Leena Nair, Global CEO at Chanel “It is a real honour to receive this inaugural Alumni Award among so many of my distinguished peers. Being part of the IWF Fellows Program a decade ago was invaluable in providing an inspiring network of other professional women to further my career development. This award is testament to having the courage to go further, to push boundaries but most importantly putting people at the heart of everything you do, and supporting others along the journey – as per my motto “lift as you climb”. Even now in the 21st century, there still remain many gender barriers and I want to encourage other women to continue to realise their goals and dreams as I have done.”

IWF’s world-class Leadership Fellows Program accelerates the career path of high-performing women, catalyzing their potential, and elevating their impact within companies worldwide. The program was developed in direct response to the 1991 U.S. Glass Ceiling Report, which identified three key barriers that restrict the potential of women leaders: inadequate leadership training; limited access to professional networks; and lack of mentors.

Now in its 30th year with more than 730 alumnae from 56 countries, the IWF Leadership Fellows Program is unique among leadership development programs globally. Its scope, rigor, and results make it an unparalleled tool for career development and succession planning.

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About International Women’s Forum (IWF):

The International Women’s Forum unites our global community of women leaders to advance women’s leadership today and tomorrow. IWF connects more than 8,000 preeminent women leaders in 76 Forums in 33 countries around the world. For more information, please visit: https://iwforum.org/