As a tribute to International Women’s Day, we’re launching a mini-series that explores what it means to carry your ambition. On one hand, your &LessBag carries your ambition, literally speaking, your laptop, your essentials, everything you need. But, you also carry ambition in your mind, the weight of striving, facing pressures, and standing firm against doubters. Today, we celebrate six bold women who carry ambition both with pride and purpose.
In the coming days, we will feature these women, each answering the same three questions about what ambition they are pursuing right now, how they navigate the weight of ambition, and how they use style, including color, as a quiet or loud form of power. For now, meet the women we are honored to spotlight.
Cheryl Paarwater
Owner and managing director at Enerlytics and Call Lab BPO
Cheryl Paarwater is the owner and managing director of Enerlytics and Call Lab BPO, who strives to provide utility revenue management services while simultaneously making a positive change and creating job opportunities. She focuses on equipping South African youth with the necessary skills they need to succeed in the job market.
Read her story here.
Anna Eliasson Lundquist
Founder, Kvinnokompetensen
Anna Eliasson Lundquist is the founder of Kvinnokompetensen(Female Competencies) and works with leadership development and organizational transformation, supporting senior executives navigating complexity and structural transition. With a long career in executive search and leadership advisory, she helps leaders strengthen clarity, resilience, and responsible authority in high-stakes environments.
Read her story here.
Chesray Dolpha
Storytelling strategist and Tony Award winning stage director
Chesray Dolpha is a storytelling strategist and Tony Award winning stage director who has built a career focusing on activism, storytelling and social justice. She is the founder and executive creative producer of Story Bridge Consultancy and has worked on Broadway, playing a pivotal role in production.
Read her story here.
Sara Hermansson
Senior Vice President, innovation podcast creator, and founder of a female leader award
Sara Hermansson is Senior Vice President and Head of Scania Power Solutions, the creator of a popular Swedish innovation podcast, and the founder of a female leader award. She was also named Female Engineer Leader of the Year in Sweden in 2015. She dresses with intention and confidence, her signature look is a full orange suit.
Read her story here.
Elin Eriksson
Co founder of Women in Tech Sweden and Hanami Circular Tech
Elin Eriksson is the co founder of Women in Tech Sweden and Hanami Circular Tech. A communications expert, she is passionate about showcasing role models and creating networks for women and non binary people in tech. She balances hands on problem solving with long term vision, with a drive to co create a tech industry where more people can thrive and use their full potential.
Read her story here.
Sandra Bourbon
CEO at E-Drop, podcast host and author
Sandra Bourbon is the CEO of E-Drop, a podcast host, and the author of Swedish Innovation: The Secrets to Successful Disruptive and Sustaining Innovation. With over 15 years of experience scaling companies and improving profitability, she combines analytical thinking with entrepreneurship, and thrives in complex environments where innovation and execution have to move together.
Read her story here.
Ambition can be a spark, a strategy, a responsibility, and sometimes a weight. In this mini series, we want to honor the women who keep carrying it anyway, not quietly, not apologetically, but with presence and purpose.
If you would like to receive each story as it is released, subscribe to our newsletter and stay tuned for the next chapter of Carry Your Ambition.
