“You can never predict the future, you can only control how you respond to it.”

Diagnosed with breast cancer two days shy of her 37th birthday, Monisha understands how fast life can change. As co-lead of Tiffany’s largest Employee Resource Group, the New York/New Jersey Women & Allies, she credits her strength—both personally and professionally—to her diagnosis. “The surprising thing is that it changed my life for good in so many ways,” she says. “The perspective I derived from undergoing treatment (including tackling the persistent physical, mental and emotional challenges) is something that I draw on every day.” It taught her, “You can never predict the future. You can only control how you respond to it.” In the seven years since her diagnosis, this perspective is something that Monisha reinforces to the women in her life. “There is no such thing as work-life balance,” she says. “Demonstrating vulnerability will ultimately be more empowering than striving for any superficial sense of perfection.”

“It’s personally fulfilling to empower women to reach their full potential.” 

As a leader of the African Brilliance Collective Employee Resource Group at Tiffany, Tolulope empowers others by “encouraging them to regularly share their unique and diverse insights.” Her optimism and entrepreneurial spirit led her to host fundraisers for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Foundation and run the Nike Women’s San Francisco Marathon in 2012, where she received her first Tiffany & Co. pendant awarded to all participants at the finish line—a precursor to starting her career at Tiffany in 2014. Whether motivating colleagues or as a career coach and personal shopper at nonprofit Dress for Success, where she volunteers, as she says best, “It’s personally fulfilling to empower women to reach their full potential.”

“As women, we can be anything.” 

An HR partner at Laurelton Diamonds, a subsidiary of Tiffany & Co. in Cambodia, Sophea learned the importance of hard work early. At just five years old, to help her mother, she took on the task of looking after her three siblings, who were all under the age of three. “My mother played the role of both mother and father, working very hard to earn enough money to feed my siblings and I,” she says. “It empowered me to work hard to create my own life.” Today, she uses her own background story to empower her family, friends and team members. “As women, we can be anything,” says Sophea, who acts as a role model for her employees, fostering a culture of growth. 

“There’s no limit to how much we can learn from other people.” 

Raised by a single mother, Shoko knows the importance of being confident in your abilities. “I never had an opportunity to question or doubt women’s capabilities,” she recalls. “Watching my mother, I knew that women can achieve anything.” As someone who credits her success to stepping out of her comfort zone, she inspires others to do the same through her work as an HR Director and co-lead of Japan’s Employee Resource Group for Women in Leadership. “Culturally, it can be challenging to get voluntary participation in Japan,” she explains. “We have a humble and modest culture.” In only her second year as co-lead, she is changing the narrative by empowering fellow employees to challenge their own career trajectories. As she says, “There’s no limit to how much we can learn from other people.” 

“I feel proud…when I’ve contributed to someone’s journey.” 

As Managing Director of Italy and Spain, Serena’s greatest strength is her ability to see the big picture. “I’ve always been quite ambitious and in the beginning of my career, I was pushing myself hard to deliver results,” she says. “Now I understand the importance of identifying the ‘why?’ and building something that will last long-term.” This ability to see through a wider lens has also impacted the way she has empowered her teams throughout her career in her role overseeing omnichannel growth. “I’ve learned to take full ownership for my actions—there’s no room for blaming others,” she notes. “I’ve been encouraging change—pushing my colleagues out of their comfort zone and fostering talent development,” she says. “I feel proud when ex-employees reach out to share their achievements…I feel I’ve contributed to their journey, I’ve built something deep. It gives meaning to my job.”