CEO MONTHLY / Female CEO of the Year 2023 19 Oct23510 Before Windy Elstermeier was a dynamic business owner, overseeing operations of a company that has been successfully operating now for more than three years, she spent 17 years at Walmart, where she was promoted from a store manager to an operations manager in the corporate office. During her time in this role, Windy proved vital in the opening of more than 800 store formats across the nation, before leveraging this experience and expertise in her current position, driving strategic growth for many businesses as opposed to just the one. With a proven track record of leadership to boot, Windy serves as the ultimate choice to grow a business successfully and sustainably. Windy Elstermeier is CEO of Pivotal Solutions LLC, a business that works alongside entrepreneurs and CEOs to help their companies grow through the implementation of customised business strategies and meticulously coaching them across the finish line. Windy and the team assist in pivoting a business, growing its revenue, and helping its owners to better enjoy their lives. This is achieved through a rigorous process of determining actions to achieve goals, before mobilising resources in order to execute these actions with impact. We catch up with Founder and CEO Windy, who provides further insight into her journey, career, and the subsequent successes that have led to her achieving this award. Over the course of her illustrious career, Windy has seen the retail industry grow and change exponentially. In the beginning, Windy would find that she was the only woman in a room full of managers in the region, whereas now, she is more likely to be one of two women in that room, representing a step in the right direction for the industry. Women in positions of power tend to downplay titles such as CEO, instead merely referring to themselves as “owner” or “founder”, which for Windy, is “indicative of the ongoing struggle to challenge gender norms and expectations.” So, while progress is being made, it is important to acknowledge that gender disparities and biases are still present across wider industry. During her tenure at Walmart, Windy gained an array of experience which ultimately set her up for future success. Some notable achievements throughout her time with Walmart include designing and implementing an 18-month training programme for approximately 2.5 million associates and winning the company its first Brandon Hall Award for the leadership content that she designed, showcasing a unique ability and unrelenting drive. Windy explains, “my background has provided me with a strong foundation in managing large-scale projects, creating effective training programs, and contributing to the growth and success of the organization through strategic planning and execution.” In order to help other women achieve what she has, Windy spends a great deal of her time mentoring, carrying this out through her work with the Rotary Organisation, which supports women across the community and enables them to successfully build a network comprised of like-minded individuals. Moreover, Windy frequently volunteers at women’s shelters and partakes in schemes for incarcerated women looking to reintegrate into society, this in addition to adopting diversity and inclusion programmes in her own company, thus enabling women to be supported and gender equality promoted in the workplace. As for the future, Pivotal Solutions LLC has a twofold plan for success in 2024, with this consisting of working with product companies and non-profit companies for outdoor recreation respectively. The team currently work with ten product companies and are looking to expand this to 50 by the end of 2024. As for the latter, it is the mission of Windy and the team to raise nearly $40m for non-profit organisations by the end of 2024, with both of these goals hoping to be achieved through a choice combination of clear communication, strategic planning, and a pronounced focus on value. Looking ahead to her future specifically, Windy remains committed to playing her part in driving wider societal change and believes continuous evolution to be the highlight of her career. She remains immensely proud of everything that she achieved at Walmart, and being the CEO of her own company also serves as a personal highlight, as too does publishing her own motivational development book, which has sold well in five countries across the globe. 2024 is set to see the release of Windy’s next book, PLAN, which takes the reader on a transformative journey that clears the path to realise their dreams. We wish Windy Elstermeier and everybody at Pivotal Solutions LLC the best of luck for 2024 and beyond. Most Innovative Growth & Strategy Consulting CEO (Southern USA): Windy Elstermeier Contact: Windy Elstermeier Company: Pivotal Solutions LLC Web Address: www.pivotalsolutions.co
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