The Empower Role Model Lists showcase business leaders who are breaking down barriers at work and working hard to smash the ceiling for people of color across the world.
Role Model Lists
Empower, Outstanding and Heroes Role Model Lists
Our Empower, Outstanding and Heroes Role Model Lists showcase and celebrate global business leaders who are driving change in the workplace and inspiring the next generation of diverse talent.

The global Outstanding LGBTQ+ Role Model Lists showcase LGBTQ+ business leaders and allies who are breaking down barriers and creating more inclusive workplaces across the world.

The global Heroes Women Role Model Lists showcase leaders who are championing women in business and driving change for gender diversity in the workplace.
Meet Our #1 Role Models

Titi Cole
CEO, LEGACY FRANCHISES
Titi is the number 1 Senior Executive on our Empower Role Model List 2023. As the first Black woman on Citi’s Executive Management team, Titi uses her position as CEO of Legacy Franchises to address systemic and structural barriers that impede the advancement of women and underrepresented groups.

Karen Blackett
UK PRESIDENT, WPP
Karen is the number 1 Senior Executive on our Heroes Women Role Model List 2023. Dedicated to advancing women’s careers, Karen is the Executive Sponsor of Stella, a WPP Employee Resource Group supporting women’s opportunities and gender diversity. She also launched Elevate, a program for high-potential Black female employees. Karen champions WPP’s Propeller program, fostering diverse leadership pipelines with 2,633 participants across 71 countries.

Julia Hoggett
CEO, LSE PLC AND HEAD OF ENQUITIES, CAPITAL MARKETS
Julia is our Outstanding LGBTQ+ Role Model List 2023 number 1 Executive. Julia Hoggett joined the London Stock Exchange plc as CEO in April 2021, becoming the first openly gay person to hold the role. At LSEG, Julia has supported Trans Awareness and Lesbian Visibility Weeks, hosted DEI events including Q&A sessions with LSEG’s Pride Network and the celebration of the 50th anniversary of women’s admission to the LSEG trading floor.

Esther Akinwolemiwa
FIXED INCOME SALES – RATES, WELLS FARGO
Esther is the number 1 Future Leader on our Empower Role Model List 2023. Alongside her main role at Wells Fargo, Esther also serves as the Marketplace Outcomes Co-Chair for the Wells Fargo EMEA Black Connections network where she organizes a series of talks featuring Black Managing Directors within the organization which aims to improve the visibility of Black leaders and provides a platform for career guidance to all EMEA employees.

Thamina Stoll
WOMEN@ LINKEDIN GLOBAL EXTERNAL NETWORK LEAD & SENIOR CLIENT SOLUTIONS MANAGER, LINKEDIN
Thamina is the number 1 Future Leader on our Heroes Women Role Model List 2023. Thamina Stoll is a Women’s Advancement & Diversity Advocate, B2B Marketing & Sales Expert, Podcast Host, Board Member, Angel Investor, and Speaker. By 28, she had generated and influenced 8 figures in revenue for LinkedIn and was appointed the youngest Women@ LinkedIn Global Leadership Team member. Thamina also hosts the Give Her Dollars Podcast, helping women build wealth and reclaim economic power.

Andre Bogues
SENIOR CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT MANAGER, DIAGEO
Andre is the number 1 Future Leader on our Outstanding LGBTQ+ Role Model List 2023. As part of his role, Andre champions Diageo’s Progressive Marketing framework, ensuring that Diageo’s commitment to the LGBTQ+ community shines through its work and marketing. Alongside his day-to-day role, Andre is the Community Pillar lead of Diageo’s GB-based Rainbow Network, the ERG that ensures Diageo is a fantastic place to work for the LGBTQ+ community.

Christophe Beck
CEO & CHAIR, ECOLAB
Christophe is our Empower Role Model List 2023 number 1 Advocate Executive. Under Christophe’s leadership, Ecolab has made significant progress towards its 2030 DEI goals, including a 50% increase in female and BIPOC executives since 2016. Christophe also joined the Minnesota Business Council in 2020, where he established a Diversity and Inclusion Task Force, and launched a CEO pledge to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion at Ecolab.

Christoph Schweizer
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP
Christoph is the number 1 Advocate Executive on our Heroes Women Role Model List 2023. As CEO of BCG, Christoph has made diversity, equity & inclusion a key priority for the firm. Christoph sets clear aspirations related to the hiring, promotion, and retention of women, working closely with the Executive and Operating Committees to advance this agenda. In 2023, Christoph sponsored the launch of the BLISS (Bias-Free, Leadership, Safety, and Support) Index to quantify the employee experience of inclusion and ensure everyone can bring their authentic selves to work – creating a happier, more motivated, ambitious workforce.

Neeraj Aggarwal
REGIONAL CHAIR – ASIA PACIFIC, BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP
Neeraj is the number 1 Ally on our Outstanding LGBTQ+ Role Model List 2023. In his role, Neeraj consistently supports LGBTQ+ DEI by making it a key priority for the region. He championed the recruitment of their first LGBTQ+ equity partner (MD & Partner) and facilitated a pipeline of future senior leaders. Neeraj has spoken at several events, including BCG’s first in-person Pride@BCG conference in APAC and a landmark DEI roundtable conference that BCG had hosted for 13 C-suite executives from Southeast Asia.