What does innovation mean?

It's a question we posed to three women who've each become synonymous with the word due to their disruptive work in their respective fields. Shamini Rajarethnam, Robyn Coutts and Vera Yan are powerful women at the helm of three internationally successful beauty and fitness brands, and a collective of women who constantly push forward, challenge and drive change.

Guest panellists at our recent #ELLEinspires event, ELLE chatted with the incredible line-up about what it takes to break through the market, be at the top of their game and be fierce female leaders.

"I believe the best innovators are definitely people who suspend all judgement and are able to think laterally," says Shamini Rajarethnam.

The new mum and CEO of powerhouse skincare brand Rationale is responsible for glowing complexions across the country. Rising to CEO after spending just five years at the company, Rajarethnam says she's worked across almost every department of the business at one point throughout her tenure, and is a big believer in innovation at all layers of the ladder.

"I started out in the marketing team as a coordinator," she reflects. "I was afforded so many opportunities to move within the business to where I am today."

One of the brains behind the Dyson Supersonic™ hair dryer and Airwrap™ hair styler, Robyn Coutts is leading change through technology.

"The reason the hair tools have been such disruptors is that at Dyson we look to solve problems that others ignore," Coutts explains. "Hairdryers haven't fundamentally changed since their conception."

The Dyson design engineer says her day-to-day operations vary drastically, with the company constantly looking for ways to empower their customers.

"For me, the best people to be innovators are people who just want to challenge convention, who have resilience and just want to keep pushing," she says. "The most empowering thing about working at Dyson is that we really champion innovation and really embrace failure."

"When we first started the business, the driving force behind the brand was really to create what it was, that we, as consumers, were looking for in the marketplace," says Vera Yan, Co-Founder and Director of the Bondi Beach-based activewear brand.

What started as a shared love of RnB and aerobics between friends Vera Yan and Katia Santilli is now a coveted activewear label and complete industry innovator. Stocked internationally online at luxury e-tailers such as Farfetch, Nimble Activewear also has two brick-and-mortar stores—a huge feat given today's booming e-commerce climate.

"I think for us, as the business has grown, what drives the brand has really shifted," Yan reveals. "It's become more about; how do we create this community and how do we empower women and give women the products and the space that they need to feel comfortable and to feel safe?"