Pegine Echevarria Receives Legends of the Platform Award, Highlighting Critical Link Between Women's Leadership and Organizational Success

Pegine Echevarria, MSW, CSP, has been honored with the prestigious Legends of the Platform Award at the 2025 Legends Banquet, joining an elite group of only 138 top speakers worldwide recognized since the award's establishment in 2000. The recognition carries significant implications for human resources professionals and organizations seeking to enhance performance through diverse leadership.

Echevarria's acceptance speech delivered a powerful message about organizational success, emphasizing that when women leaders are bold, brave, seen, heard, and paid well, organizations thrive. She stated that legends are forged through adversity rather than born, noting "Legends aren't born—they're forged. Forged in the fire of rejection, of starting over, of being told you're too much or not enough—and showing up anyway." This perspective underscores the critical need for women to answer the call to leadership, as their influence directly impacts organizational performance.

The business case for women in leadership is supported by compelling data that HR vendors and their clients should consider. Companies with at least 30% women in leadership positions demonstrate 15% higher profitability, while leadership teams with strong female representation make better decisions 87% of the time, leading to 60% stronger results. These statistics present a clear financial imperative for organizations to prioritize gender diversity in leadership development programs.

Additional data reveals that women with MBAs see 55–65% pay increases within five years, with four out of five reporting stronger career opportunities. Furthermore, 73% of women MBA graduates say business school prepared them for leadership, and 79% reported promotions to higher-level roles. These findings suggest that investment in women's leadership development through programs like those offered by Team Pegine Inc. yields substantial returns for both individuals and organizations.

Echevarria's work through Team Pegine Inc. has impacted over one million people worldwide through high-energy keynotes and leadership programs delivered to Fortune 50 companies, military bases, and global conferences. Her signature programs—Communicate Your VALUE™, Leadership Aura™, and Be Powerful! Be You!—equip leaders to influence, impact, and inspire with confidence, providing practical tools that HR vendors can incorporate into their offerings.

As one of only a handful of Latinas in the Motivational Speakers Hall of Fame and founder of Power Women Worldwide, Echevarria's recognition cements her mission to ensure women are prepared and empowered to lead. The data clearly indicates that organizations that amplify women's voices unlock innovation, profitability, and success, making this recognition not just a personal achievement but a call to action for corporate leadership worldwide to prioritize gender diversity and women's leadership development as strategic business imperatives.