I always thought that RJ's statement that the strongest man and strongest women would be effectively equal, basically stated that there is a limit of how useful being stronger in the Power could be. Nynaeve may be able to wield much more of saidar than Egwene and Elayne, but effectively, they have the potential to do the same thing, Talents and skills excluded.

So while Nynaeve may be a bonfire next to the candles of Elayne and Egwene, the other Aes Sedai might very well be muted sparks, but any two or three of those sparks could still hold these stronger woman with a Shield because a Shield is a feat that is a combination of strength, skill, experience and the situation.

Egwene, Elayne and Nynaeve, despite being weaker than Rand, have skills that make them effectively more powerful, even if they can't hold as much Power. Nynaeve's Talent for Healing exceeds Rands' middling abilities by an extremely large margin, Egwene is a Dreamer and can create cuendillar - things that Rand can't do, and Elayne can create ter'angreal, and potentially angreal - once again placing her in a different position relative to him that makes her much more powerful even if "weaker" in the Power.

Even further, while Rand could defeat a Shield held by six or so average female channelers, I always had the feeling that he would be in a lot of trouble if Egwene, Elayne, Aviendha or Egwene, Elayne and Nynaeve came against him, despite him being able to wield more Power than each singularly and potentially even more while they are in a Circle because the advantage of a Circle has more to do with accuracy and fine control versus boosting your strength.

"Raw strength" just doesn't take into account the different skills and Talents that effectively put many channelers on higher levels of power than their "raw strength" might allow, and is probably why the highest ranked Forsaken seem evenly matched to the extent that raw strength is rarely even discussed besides as one factor amidst a range of them.