Color is one of the most powerful branding tools due to its ability to evoke emotions across a broad spectrum of consumers. Since color can arouse different emotions, choosing the colors that resonate best with your consumer takes an educated and scientific approach. Extensive research has gone into figuring out how people react to color on an emotional and even physical level. For instance, viewing the color green will lower a person’s blood pressure.

We recently attended the BlogHER conference in New York City and were surrounded by social influencers like Gwyneth Paltrow (check out her blog, GOOP), and Christy Turlington Burns (check out her non-profit, Every Mother Counts).

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Most brands and industries have become increasingly aware of the need to create messaging and marketing strategies that specifically speak to women. So just how powerful is the female consumer?

I’ve been captivated by the spotlight on Emma Watson and her humbly moving (even if a bit nervous sounding) speeches about gender equality. Yet her nervousness is not due to an inexperience of being in the public eye, nor is it out of youth or naivety. Rather, it’s driven by her passion to bring a powerful gender equality campaign to the forefront and use her influence to elevate awareness and participation. I’m thrilled to see an unexpected, young ambassador speaking for this cause.

A recent article brought me some more excitement about the new perception of the female that is surfacing. Bridget Brennan of Forbes wrote about the top 10 things to know regarding women consumers. Number 2 on her list is my favorite and states, “Women have a multiplier effect.” We hold multiple roles, which take us into vast, varied and far-reaching market segments that could be converted into loyal customers. We have a voice and know how to transport a message far and wide – and will gladly do so for the causes in which we believe.

Gentlemen, we are not trying to bulldoze you. Your voice is a valued component of healthy professional and personal interactions, information discovery and societal progress. We want to join our voices for good, to effect positive and sustainable change for generations to come. I’m grateful to live in a time when women are being heard and to witness the positive response that is unfolding.

Who DIDN’T watch the game last week? International Business Times reported that an average of 114.4 million people viewed NBC’s Sunday broadcast per minute! And although seeing the best two football teams in America confront one another isn't often considered the place for 'softies', the ads featured last week certainly appealed to the 'softer' side of our emotions.

I am counting down the days for my “Thursday TV Trifecta” (aka: my shows) – Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal and the new How to Get Away with Murder! I had drifted away from Grey’s Anatomy, but my interest was resuscitated when I discovered that Scandal came on right after it. Now, with How to Get Away with Murder rounding out my Thursday night, I am happily planning a girls night in to kick off the fall line-up.

Nordstrom has announced its first-ever private label give-back brand, Treasure&Bond, which will give 5% of its net profits to nonprofit organizations that are missioned with empowering girls and women. I love seeing such a respected retail brand making such a beautifully bold statement. Better yet, I love how a brand that is recognized for showcasing quality fashion trends is perhaps now setting a trend for other retailers to empower-it-forward with young girls and women.