Rhonda Vetere: Leading Global Teams Across Continents

Managing 20,000+ Professionals and Guides Companies Through Technology and Growth! 

Have you met a businesswoman who has completed 141 endurance races since 2016 and is recognized as one of the top women leaders around the globe? Meet Rhonda Vetere. 

Leading a team that spans dozens of countries requires more than sharing instructions. It demands understanding, listening, and adapting to countless perspectives. Rhonda learned this early in her career, forming the way she approaches leadership. Managing IT divisions of over 20,000 people across multiple continents, she discovered that connecting with people is just as critical as managing systems. 

Her career has taken her through sectors ranging from telecommunications and technology to finance, insurance, retail, lifestyle, and beauty. She has led over 20 mergers and acquisitions, managing complex challenges while keeping her teams aligned and motivated. Working with professionals across 162 countries, Rhonda has developed a unique perspective on how culture shapes collaboration and decision-making, ensuring strategies resonate globally while respecting local nuances. 

Rhonda’s accomplishments extend beyond leadership roles. She is a two-time published author, a speaker, and a recipient of multiple distinguished awards in executive and technology fields. Yet, she values mentorship and guidance above accolades. She takes pride in sharing her experience with students, contributing to academic and professional advisory boards, and supporting veterans, believing that her knowledge is most meaningful when it empowers others. 

Her approach to technology mirrors her approach to people: practical, empowering, and centered on growth. Every project, every merger, and every team she leads offers lessons in resilience, adaptability, and human connection. Rhonda’s philosophy is clear, technology is a tool to serve people, not just a system to manage. 

Whether leading boardrooms, mentoring students, or guiding organizations through transformation, Rhonda demonstrates that true leadership transcends borders. It thrives on empathy, insight, and courage, and it leaves a lasting impact on both people and businesses alike. 

Let us learn more about her journey: 

 A Global Leader with a Purpose 

Rhonda is a seasoned global executive with more than 25 years of experience in technology leadership. Her career spans industries such as finance, insurance, healthcare, beauty, wellness, telecommunications, private equity, and investment banking. She has held significant positions at companies including Herbalife Nutrition, Santander Bank, nThrive / Pamplona Capital Management, Estée Lauder Companies, AIG, HP Enterprise Services, Barclays, Bank One / JPMorgan Chase, and several telecommunications firms. 

Rhonda’s commitment to pushing boundaries does not end at the boardroom door. Her personal pursuits reflect the same mindset she brings to business: courage, resilience, and a relentless drive to achieve the extraordinary. From diving off cliffs to cycling 3,082 miles across America in support of mental health and suicide prevention for veterans and first responders, she embraces challenges that test both body and mind. She has competed in IronMan 70.3 events across Bahrain, Finland, and New Zealand, run through snow and ice in New York City, and became one of the first women to complete a 55-mile run through the Serengeti with armed protection. 

Rhonda has led teams through complex transformations while maintaining a human-first approach. Her leadership spans telecommunications, technology, finance, insurance, lifestyle, retail, and beauty sectors, overseeing more than 23 mergers and acquisitions. She mentors students and athletes, contributes to advisory boards, and focuses on STEM initiatives through sports. 

Athletic pursuits enhance her mental resilience, decision-making, and ability to navigate high-pressure environments. Completing over 138 marathons, triathlons, and IronMan events, Rhonda remains committed to fitness despite traveling 75% of the time. She encourages her teams to maintain the same discipline, embodying the philosophy of a Corporate Athlete both in and out of the boardroom. 

Her professional and personal pursuits converge around one goal: creating meaningful impact. By acknowledging challenges in both life and work, Rhonda transforms opportunities into growth, both for herself and those she leads. 

Purpose-Driven Leadership on Every Front 

Rhonda is recognized globally for her extraordinary ability to transform companies, consistently doubling and even tripling bottom-line revenues while steering organizations through complex challenges. Her leadership extends far beyond strategy and operations; it is grounded in resilience, mental toughness, and intentional action, qualities she demonstrates both in the boardroom and through sports.  

Since 2016, Rhonda has completed 141 endurance races, including her seventh Abbott World Marathon Major in September 2025, where she guided Chris Nikic, the first athlete with Down syndrome to complete the 6-star challenge in one year. Her commitment to sports is purposeful: every race, every marathon, and every triathlon is an opportunity to inspire, empower, and advocate for individuals with Down syndrome, autism, and other challenges.  

Through these feats, she shows that leadership is about vision, discipline, and the courage to lift others while pushing oneself to extraordinary heights. Rhonda’s global influence, whether driving business growth, mentoring leaders, or championing inclusion through sports, demonstrates that impact is measured not just in profits, but in purpose and people transformed. Recently, her achievements and transformative leadership were recognized by CEO Times Magazine, further cementing her status as a global change-maker. 

A Life Driven by Leadership and Global Influence 

Rhonda’s global influence is a natural extension of her relentless drive. She combines executive acumen with endurance sports achievements, balancing high-stakes corporate leadership with physically demanding challenges while mentoring emerging leaders worldwide. Her work reflects a dedication to people, innovation, and organizational growth, ensuring that success is shared. 

Her career has guided major companies through critical transitions. She played a pivotal role during the fallout of Lehman Brothers, steered AIG through challenging moments, and facilitated the merger of JPMorgan and BankOne. With 23 mergers and acquisitions under her belt, her expertise in navigating complex business landscapes is unmatched. 

International experience shapes her leadership style. Having lived and worked in New York, Hong Kong, Singapore, London, Mumbai, and across India, Rhonda fosters collaboration across cultures and time zones. Her global impact was recognized in 2022 when she was named a Global STEM Ambassador in India. Her contributions to sustainability and education include the University of Science & Technology Meghalaya naming a biodiversity park in her honor and the inauguration of the I Can I Will Academy in Meghalaya, reflecting her commitment to empowering future generations. 

Through every endeavor, Rhonda demonstrates that leadership is not just about results, but about uniting people, purpose, and progress on a global scale. 

Driving Business Value Through Technology Leadership 

Rhonda’s ability to connect people with technology sets her apart. With expertise in supporting mergers, aligning multiple lines of business, and managing both onshore and offshore operations, she consistently delivers measurable value through technology improvements that enhance cost efficiency and performance. 

As CTO at Estée Lauder Companies, she transformed global IT operations creating a fully digital environment while generating $28 million in annual savings and maintaining seamless business continuity. Her strategic vision and hands-on expertise consistently translate into industry-leading results. 

Beyond corporate achievements, Rhonda shares her knowledge through authorship. She has written Grit & Grind and co-authored HP’s Enterprise Service Management for Dummies. In 2023, she completed the NYU Law Board of Directors Academy, further strengthening her governance expertise. Her career reflects a consistent focus on client outcomes, operational excellence, and driving innovation through technology. 

Endurance, Impact, and Leadership 

Rhonda’s personal and professional pursuits converge in endurance, purpose, and leadership. She has completed 141 races, including marathons, triathlons, and the Abbott World Marathon Majors, achieving six-star status in 2024 alongside Chris Nikic. Each race carries a mission, often supporting veterans, first responders, and mental health initiatives. In December 2024, she represented the USA at the Ironman World Championships 70.3 in New Zealand, following consecutive Ironman 70.3 World Championships in 2023 and 2024. 

Her dedication to sports mirrors her leadership philosophy: discipline, perseverance, and purpose-driven action. Recognized as a world-renowned Change Agent, she transforms companies and individuals alike, demonstrating that endurance and vision are inseparable from effective leadership. 

Guiding Principles for Leadership and Growth 

Rhonda’s second book, Grit & Grind: 10 Principles for Living an Extraordinary Life, has become a cornerstone for leaders seeking practical guidance. Released in 2019, it quickly earned recognition among CEO READ’s Top 10 Books Corporate America is Reading and UPJOURNEY’s Top Books For Women To Read. Academic institutions integrate it into curricula, while organizations invite her to lead keynotes and workshops, sharing strategies drawn from decades of experience. 

Earlier, in 2011, she co-authored Enterprise Service Management for Dummies, sharing practical insights in enterprise service management with industry professionals. Her writing embodies the same clarity and actionable approach that defines her leadership. 

Awards and Accolades 

Rhonda’s career is marked by recognition at every level. She has been listed among the Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Technology by the National Diversity Council (2019–2021), received the Stevie Award for Excellence in Transforming Business (2017), and been recognized among Women Trailblazers to Watch in Business (2024, 2025). CIO Today named her among the Luminaries: Most Admirable Leaders Revamping the Future, and CIO Magazine named her Woman of the Year in 2025. 

Her influence extends beyond awards. She chairs the Information Technology Awards Judging Committee for the American Business Awards® (the Stevies), speaks at DAVOS, and contributes to Forbes, CNBC, Huffington Post, and Triathlete Magazine. She serves on boards spanning education, athletics, and social impact, including Longwood University, George Mason University School of Business, the African Community & Conservation Foundation (ACCF), Laureus Sport For Good, and Make-A-Wish. In 2023, she completed the NYU Law Board of Directors Academy, reinforcing her dedication to leadership excellence and governance. 

Across every role, race, and boardroom, Rhonda Vetere exemplifies leadership that acts, inspires, and creates lasting influence, uniting people, purpose, and progress on a global scale. 

She loves helping Veterans, First Responders, and the disabled leapfrog into meeting their goals. Whether it is transitioning out of one chapter of life or pivoting into taking on a new challenge, Rhonda is there lining up people for success. If you want positive change, she is your woman. 

Quotes: 

“Leading global teams across 162 countries has taught me that purpose and clarity guide every transformation.” 

“STEM education and mentorship are not just initiatives, they are investments in the leaders of tomorrow.” 

“Discipline, perseverance, and balance are the same principles I apply as an athlete and a technology executive.” 

“True leadership is measured by the positive impact we leave on both people and communities.”