The term career women used to conjure up cliched images of power-suited, Wall Street-type workaholics. However, that image has changed considerably given the number of women who hold prominent positions in both public and private sectors. In STYLE's last issue of the year, we pay homage to some of the world's most successful women. Gracing our cover is Aerin Lauder, granddaughter of the late Estee Lauder. The heiress to the cosmetics giant is known for her down-to-earth demeanour, effortless grace and dedication to the family business. Here she talks to Jennifer Cardenas about finding balance in her fast-paced lifestyle, and shares her most essential items. At the helm of the sparkling empire of Swarovski is Nadja Swarovski, the great-great-granddaughter of founder Daniel. Nadja has injected a breath of fresh air into her family business which, until the past few years, was seen as kitsch and passe. Working relentlessly with some of the fashion world's most creative labels, Nadja has taken the Austrian firm to a new level. She talks to STYLE about some of her recent projects and plans for her international name brand. For those looking for investment ideas, Kavita Daswani gives the lowdown on making a profit from club memberships. Forget equities and bonds, some of the coolest club memberships around the world offer lucrative returns that rival blue-chip stocks. Our power women portfolio features, among others, writers Tina Brown and Ariana Huffington. Last but not least, our fashion shoot and hit list are loaded with essential workplace clothes and accessories to make your wardrobe selection easier. On behalf of STYLE, we wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. Carmen Li Associate Editor