TOP 10 Business Women in Latvia Revealed

When asked which personality they associate with being the most outstanding modern businesswoman in Latvia, respondents mentioned women who have been active in business for many years as well as entrepreneurs who have made their mark more recently.

The survey reveals that the Top 10 businesswomen in Latvia are:
1. Lotte Tisenkopfa-Iltnere
2. Vija Kilbloka
3. Elīna Didrihsone
4. Ieva Plaude
5. Ieva Treija
6. Baiba Rubesa
7. Kristina Andža
8. Egija Gailuma
9. Santa Anča
10. Benita Danilenko (Sadauska)

“The results of the survey show that people in Latvia talk about those leaders who have a strong personal brand. Each of these women’s paths to recognition has been different — they have used various channels and approaches. However, they are united by a clear sense of mission and the ability to communicate it convincingly to the public,” says Olga Kazaka, partner at the public relations agency Olsen+Partners, adding that, in honor of these leaders’ qualities, each woman included in the Top 10 will receive a herstory tie — a symbolic manifesto for women leaders, created by fashion designer Una Pūpola at the request of Olsen+Partners.

This handmade tie, which combines wool, silk, and lining fabric, symbolizes the unity of corporate discipline and feminine confidence — “a blazer tied around the neck.”

“A leader in her daily life can be very diverse — firm, gentle, elegant, and rebellious, and all these qualities are necessary. To reflect the diversity of a woman leader’s everyday life, we have developed the herstory leadership language, where each way of tying the tie conveys its own message,” explains Olga Kazaka.

The classic knot symbolizes strength and confidence (empowerment), the bow – femininity (elegance), a light knot with one wrap – balance, while an untied tie symbolizes freedom from the obligation to prove oneself (liberation). Meanwhile, a knot tied twice (legacy) reflects a woman’s ability to connect the past with the future.

*The survey was conducted by the market research company Norstat on behalf of Olsen+Partners, interviewing 1,017 residents of Latvia aged 18 to 74.