Global Executive. STEM Ambassador. Speaker. Triathlete. 2x Author. mentor. Change maker
meet rhonda -
As seen in
rhonda vetere, named one of the most powerful women in technology two years in a row.
top tech executive & passionate stem through sports global leader
A Global Technology C Suite Executive and athlete herself, she applies this mental model in & out of the office, guiding how she leads her life with others around her- known as a Corporate Athlete. Rhonda is an active leader — whether she’s spearheading corporate initiatives around the world, competing in another IRONMAN 70.3 mile triathlon, Racing Across America or mentoring students & athletes globally. She is passionate about people, technology, growing Companies while bringing people along the journey and elevating others.
Rhonda has worked across industries intentionally to gain experience across all verticals. She is technology global C- Suite executive, and digital transformation change agent at Herbalife Nutrition, Santander Bank, Estée Lauder Companies, AIG, HP Enterprise Services, Barclays / Lehman, Bank One / JPMorgan Chase, CompuServe, UUNET, MCI, and Worldcom. She serves on Boards and is a Global Strategic Advisor to Companies around the world. Fun fact: She has spoken at Davos during the World Economic Forum 2019, 2023 and 2024.
She has lived and worked internationally – in New York, Hong Kong, Singapore, London, Mumbai, and across India – and has managed teams of up to 20,000 people. In October 2022, she was inducted in India as the Global STEM Ambassador by Meghalaya Chief Minister along with other dignitaries and the Chancellor of the University of Science & Technology Meghalaya (USTM).
In addition, USTM named a new Rhonda Vetere Biodiversity Park for her sustainability work around the globe, and she commissioned the ground breaking ceremony for the USTM I Can I Will Academy in Meghalaya, India.
Vetere is the author of Grit & Grind and co-author of an HP special edition book, Enterprise Service Management for Dummies.
With an ability to support mergers, create synergies across lines of business, and leverage her onshore/offshore experience, Rhonda is a results-oriented, client-focused executive and delivers value by driving technology improvements for cost and performance to drive the right business outcomes.
From her experience as Chief Technology Officer at Estée Lauder Companies, Rhonda has deep domain expertise in technology and data. Her role included global leadership across 162 countries and running the technology & operations team. She spearheaded the transformation of the IT capabilities foundation into a digital environment at record industry pace, without business disruption, around the world – while saving $28 million a year.
2023, Rhonda completed the NYU Law Board of Directors Academy
As of March 2024, she has completed 112 races which span from Racing Across America on her bike, Ironman 70.3’s ( over 20) long endurances races over 55 miles, marathons, NYC Navy SEAL Swim(s) and half marathons. She is an endurance athlete in and out of the office many refer to as the one that is the Corporate Athlete. All of her races have intentions to help others.
Awards & Recognition
Rhonda has been recognized with for her leadership and influence, notably as one of the Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Technology by the National Diversity Council in 2019 and 2020, and Stevie Award for Excellence in Transforming Business (competing with over 1500 CIOs and CTOs) in 2017. In March of 2024 she was named one to the Women Trailblazers to watch in business. In 2022, Rhonda was named one of the Luminaries: Most Admirable Leaders Revamping by CIO Today and one of 2022’s Most Empowering Businesswoman of the Year. In 2023, she was one of The Most Admired Women Leaders in Business, Top 20 Businesswomen Leading the Charge, 2021 Most Influential Businesswoman in Technology by Corporate Vision Magazine, 2021 Top CIO/CTO by the Tech Inclusion Conference, Top 100 DEI Leaders in 2021 by Mogul, and The Most Admired Women Leaders in Business by CIO Views. In 2022, CIO Today named her one of The Luminaries: Most Admirable Leaders Revamping The Future in 2022 and 2023.
For 2022, 2023, 2024, Rhonda is the Information Technology Awards Judging Committee Chair for the 20th Annual American Business Awards® (the Stevies). On being invited to Chair this committee she said: “As a previous winner of a Stevie Award, I came to realize the importance of industry recognition. I have received several industry awards throughout my career. However, the Stevie Award was the biggest!” Speaking at Davos is a true honor 2019, 2023 and 2024.
She has been featured in renowned publications, including Forbes, Huffington Post, Thrive, Moneyish, CNBC, Women of Influence, Financial Post, Triathlete Magazine, Economist, CEO World, and more. She contributes her perspective and knowledge through serving on boards for professional, educational, and athletic institutions, including African Community & Conservation Foundation (ACCF) Ambassador, Longwood University, George Mason University School of Business, and, most recently, the Laureus Sport For Good Board of Directors. In 2023, she completed NYU Law Board of Directors Academy.
Athletics & Mentorship
A dynamic leader both at work and play, Vetere is constantly training for and competing in events – 112 so far, including triathlons, half-marathons, ultra runs, long distance swims, marathons, and IRONMAN 70.3 mile triathlons (single-day races that consist of a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bicycle ride, and a marathon 13.1-mile run). In 2022, she founded, Aligned Alliance Inc. and rode Across America on a team of 8 riders 3,070 mile on a bike to raise awareness for mental health awareness to help veteran and first responder suicide.
Rhonda is a member of New York Road Runners (NYRR) and encourages her friends and associates to pursue active, healthy lifestyles as an integral part of career success and improving performance. Rhonda is also a member of the Winged Foot Golf Club and (still!) enjoys traveling for work and fun, and mentoring professionals, athletes, and students. She appreciates the opportunity to engage with others, empowering others to seize their moments and share their passions with the world.
August of 2023, she completed her 100th race at The IRONMAN World Championship 70.3 in Finland. Rhonda carried the flag in the Parade of Nations representing the USA with over 115 Countries represented.
Serengeti Girls Run- 55 miles
For four years, Rhonda has participated in the 55 mile Serengeti Girls Run. In October 2018, she joined the first-ever women-only run across the Serengeti wilderness, and returned in 2019 for the second annual run — which received coverage by CNN and included a feature of Rhonda. After missing 2020 due to the pandemic, Rhonda returned in 2021and 2023 to run through the Serengeti yet again.
Each year, Rhonda speaks to local high school girls in Tanzania and goes on a “fun run” with them. In 2021, she spoke to 1050 schoolgirls at one event and over 620 schoolboys at another. In 2023 she spoke to the girls again. Then she ran across the Serengeti with armed guards for the next three days.
She has done the run for 4 years and is the only female to run across the Serengeti for girls empowerment with armed guards - consecutively. The guards and students have become a part of her family and she has impacted their lives as well.
Navy Seal Swim ** Its on the books to complete in 2024
Rhonda participated in the 2021, 2022 and 2023 Navy SEAL Swim in the Hudson River with the GI Go Fund — alongside 150 active & veteran Navy SEALs. Rhonda was the second female to complete the full swim, and she was one of the first in the water in 2021. She is also the only female to complete this three years in a row. Her Dad served in the Vietnam War.
The event honors “our military veterans, their families, and all of those who died during 9/11 and the wars that followed that fateful day. Along the route, the SEALs stop at the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island to perform 100 push ups in honor of America’s liberties, and 22 pull ups in recognition of 22 veterans who commit suicide every day. The event concludes in lower Manhattan to honor the victims of 9/11 and all those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country in the wars that followed.”
Photos courtesy of the GI Go Fund.
African Community & Conservation Foundation (ACCF)
As of 2021, Rhonda is an African Community & Conservation Foundation (ACCF) Ambassador, helping support their mission of preserving African wilderness areas and empowering local communities. Rhonda sponsored a lion for the US Tusk Lion Trail — the “King of Beasts” by artist John Banovich, located at the Wölffer Estate Vineyard. Rhonda takes opportunities to visit and engage with local communities and young people around the world — in Africa, India, and the USA.
USTM Global STEM Ambassador
In October 2022, Rhonda was inducted in India as the Global STEM Ambassador by Meghalaya Chief Minister along with other dignitaries and the Chancellor of the University of Science & Technology Meghalaya (USTM). The University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya is the first State Private University in the entire Northeast India.
IT’S NOT THE cHALLENGES YOU FACE, BUT HOW YOU FACE THEM, THAT MATTERS IN LIFE.
Grit & Grind uses real-life stories of how Vetere and her team navigate the volatile tech industry and illustrates her simple practice for building confidence in her abilities—no matter what the challenge is.
We all face obstacles as we wind our way through life. Whether you’re seeking success at work, creating a lasting relationship, or just trying to get “unstuck” in some area of your life, the quickest way to get what you want is to dive into the mess and learn your way through it. Grit & Grind gives you a simple 10-part practice for building bone-deep confidence in your own abilities.
