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VP - Regulatory, Sustainability & Governance, Helen of Troy: The SustainabilityX® Magazine's Global 50 Women In Sustainability Awards™ 2024 Awardee
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“Sustainability isn't a cautious tiptoe into the future, it's a daring leap towards a better one. The greatest advancements come from those who see the impossible as a challenge, not a barrier." - Dr. Janice Lao, VP - Regulatory, Sustainability & Governance, Helen of Troy, United States & The SustainabilityX® Magazine Global 50 Women In Sustainability Awards 2024 (#SustXGlobal50) Awardee
Dr. Janice Lao is a globally recognized environmental scientist and economist, whose career spans over two decades in advancing corporate sustainability across Asia, Europe, and North America. As a multi-award-winning leader, she has been instrumental in shaping sustainability strategies for publicly listed companies, transforming industries through groundbreaking innovations. At the age of 30, Dr. Lao made her mark on the global stage by developing the foundational mathematical and economic model for international aviation’s carbon-neutral growth strategy. This bold initiative led the way for aviation companies to tackle emissions at scale, laying the groundwork for sustainable aviation fuels and more responsible industry practices.
Dr. Lao's bold leadership in sustainability doesn't stop there. She pioneered several "first-in-industry" sustainable financial deals, including green bonds and mergers and acquisitions that prioritized sustainable outcomes—efforts that have become industry benchmarks today. Her visionary work has earned her a place on Forbes and Fortune’s lists of the world’s most influential female sustainability leaders, where she is often recognized as one of the few Asian women and among the youngest to make these prestigious lists.
Her philosophy, encapsulated by the quote, “Sustainability isn't a cautious tiptoe into the future, it's a daring leap towards a better one,” highlights the courage and innovation she embodies in her work. Dr. Lao is driven by the idea that bold leadership, disruptive innovation, and collaboration are necessary to create a world where businesses are a force for good. In her career, she has consistently pushed boundaries, from carbon trading to responsible sourcing and refugee hiring programs, championing transformative solutions that address the world’s most pressing sustainability challenges.
Dr. Lao’s expertise is rooted in her academic background, which includes degrees from the University of Oxford and a PhD in Sustainability Education from Prescott College. Her groundbreaking work has led her to co-author two children’s books on climate change with her children, Esther and Isaac—Sparky & Benny’s Big Home Mystery and Penguins Can Fly, Right?—to inspire the next generation to engage with environmental issues early on. Her passion for education is also reflected in her role as a mentor, helping young professionals navigate and excel in the complex field of sustainability.
Throughout her career, Dr. Lao has faced significant challenges, particularly as a woman of colour in corporate environments, often having to overcome unconscious biases and stereotypes. She highlights that embracing boldness, even in the face of adversity, has been central to her success. Her resilience and determination have helped her carve a path where her contributions are recognized for their impact, not only within corporate spheres but also across communities.
One of her most transformative projects, the carbon-neutral aviation strategy, paved the way for the sector to rethink its approach to emissions and sustainability. This bold, industry-wide initiative continues to influence global aviation policies today. Beyond that, Dr. Lao’s work in pioneering green financial tools has demonstrated that sustainability and profitability can go hand in hand, proving that businesses can achieve long-term value while minimizing environmental and social impacts.
Dr. Lao envisions a future where women in sustainability lead with courage, innovation, and inclusivity. She advocates for breaking down gender biases, encouraging more diverse representation in leadership, and empowering women to lead high-impact sustainability projects. Receiving the Global 50 Women in Sustainability Award™ is a significant personal and professional honour for Dr. Lao, acknowledging her tireless work in advancing sustainability while also opening doors for further collaboration in the global sustainability movement.
The SustainabilityX® Magazine Global 50 Women In Sustainability Awards™ 2024
The SustainabilityX® Magazine proudly presents its third edition of the Global 50 Women In Sustainability Awards™ for 2024. This annual recognition celebrates extraordinary female leaders who embrace boldness in their pursuit of groundbreaking sustainability initiatives, reshaping industries, and driving transformative change towards a more just, inclusive, and sustainable future.
This year also marks a broader strategic mission expansion for The SustainabilityX® Magazine, with a stronger focus on aligning with the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs) in addition to the original foundation of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This evolutionary expansion reflects the magazine’s ongoing commitment to advancing women's leadership in sustainability while championing social equity, environmental stewardship, and inclusive growth.
“Empowering women to lead in sustainability is at the heart of our mission,” says Supriya Verma, founder of The SustainabilityX® Magazine and one of Corporate Knights' Canada’s Top 30 Under 30 in Sustainability Leadership and one of The Peak's Emerging Leaders. “These trailblazers are breaking barriers and redefining what sustainable leadership looks like—showing that it’s about more than policies and practices, but also about social justice, economic resilience, and a regenerative future.”
Rooted in the magazine's guiding pillars of environmental protection, economic prosperity, social inclusion, and ethical governance, The SustainabilityX® Magazine's Global 50 Women In Sustainability Awards™ showcases women from all sectors, industries, and regions, igniting crucial conversations on the intersection of gender equality and sustainable development.
Amidst global challenges and uncertainties, this year’s awards highlight the critical role of women in steering the world towards a more resilient, equitable future. With a continued digital format, the awards amplify voices across borders, bridging the gap between global sustainability efforts and local impact.
As Verma states, “The future of sustainability hinges on bold, inclusive leadership, and these women exemplify the courage and vision needed to transform our world. The SustainabilityX® Magazine remains steadfast in our mission to celebrate and elevate those who are shaping a future where every voice counts and every effort contributes to a thriving, sustainable world.”
View the full list: The SustainabilityX® Magazine Global 50 Women In Sustainability Awards 2024
Read the full press release: The SustainabilityX® Magazine Announces 3rd Annual Global 50 Women In Sustainability Awards™ Under the Theme "Embrace Boldness"
About The SustainabilityX® Magazine
The SustainabilityX® Magazine is an award-winning, digital, female-founded, and female-led non-profit initiative bringing the environment and economy together for a sustainable future through dialogue, and now transforming the environment and economy for a sustainable future through the power of women's leadership. Founded on May 8, 2016, and inspired by the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals by Canada's Top 30 Under 30 in Sustainability Leadership awardee, Supriya Verma, the digital media initiative focuses on approaching the world's most pressing challenges with a holistic, integrated, systems-based perspective as opposed to the traditional and ineffective siloed approach with a single lens on interdisciplinary topics like climate and energy. This initiative ultimately seeks to explore how to effectively bring the environment and economy together through intellectual, insightful dialogue and thought-provoking discussion amongst individuals across sectors taking an interdisciplinary and integrated approach to untangling the intricate web of sustainability while championing women's leadership in sustainability.
The SustainabilityX® Magazine is built upon the four foundational pillars of sustainability: Environmental Stewardship, which emphasizes the importance of improving environmental health; Economic Prosperity, which promotes sustainable economic growth that transcends traditional capitalist models; Social Inclusion, which focuses on equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) for BIPOC, LGBTQ, and other marginalized or vulnerable communities; and Just Governance, which highlights responsible leadership, the equal application of the rule of law, and the creation of fair systems for all.
As we expand our mission to align with the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs), we continue to explore the diverse and interconnected factors that influence sustainability. By recognizing how these elements interact across local, national, and international levels, we aim to accelerate progress toward sustainability goals. In essence, this aligns with The SustainabilityX® Magazine's vision of integrating environmental and economic progress for a more just, inclusive, and sustainable future through thoughtful dialogue.
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The SustainabilityX® Magazine is a proud member of the Sustainable Journalism Partnership, serves as a cause-based media partner for various events such as WIRED Impact, and officially delivers remarks at international conferences such as UNESCO's annual World Press Freedom Day Conference.
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