Women We Admire is pleased to announce The Top 100 Women Leaders of New York for 2021. We recognize these women for their achievements within their professions, where they are consistently breaking barriers into new and innovative territories. Throughout history, women in New York have made significant contributions in areas like politics, arts, technology, and urban development. Women like Alice Austen, a pioneer in journalistic photography and the first female to own a car in Staten Island, or Edith Wharton, the first female to win a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, got their start in New York and drew inspiration from their surroundings. From the beginning of its development in the 18th century, New York has drawn people to its greatness and helped develop some of the most prominent leaders today.

Sophia Mendelsohn, the Chief Sustainability Officer and Global Head of Environmental Social Governance for Cognizant, is responsible for leading the integration of policies into the company’s thinking, decisions and actions to protect our environment. Geeta Nastasi is making her mark as the Chief Nursing Informatics Officer of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital where she leads major aspects of IT strategies to benefit the clinical, nursing and administrative areas of the hospital. Meanwhile, awardee Cheryl Capps, the Senior Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer of Corning Incorporated, assists the company with applying their expertise to glass science to manufacture and engineer products that transform industries and change lives.

The unique backgrounds of this year’s awardees span across nearly all industries. Their visionary guidance has made them role models and pioneers, driving innovation and change. Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of The Top 100 Women Leaders of New York for 2021.

 

3. Renee Bomchill
Deloitte

Renee Bomchill began her professional career over 27 years ago. Today, she is a Partner in Deloitte’s Controllership Services practice and serves as the Deloitte Risk & Financial Advisory Consumer Products Leader as well as the Lead Client Service Partner for two New York-based Fortune 500 companies. Deloitte provides industry-leading audit, consulting, tax and advisory services to many of the world’s most admired brands, with a focus on delivering measurable, lasting results.

Prior to joining Deloitte, Bomchill worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers in the Audit and Global Capital Market practices. She graduated from Texas A&M University with a BBA in accounting and is a Certified Public Accountant.

 

5. Allissa East
PricewaterhouseCoopers

Allissa East began her professional career over 24 years ago. Today, she is a Principal and Partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers. PricewaterhouseCoopers is a multinational professional services network of firms, operating as partnerships under the PwC brand. PwC ranks as the second-largest professional services network in the world.

East first got her start in 1997 as an advertising automation manager at The Virginian Pilot. From there, she went on to Harry Fox Agency, before eventually rising to become a senior manager at BearingPoint, her most recent position prior to joining PricewaterhouseCoopers. East graduated from Clemson University with an undergraduate degree in English.

 

6. Jennifer Daniels
PricewaterhouseCoopers

Jennifer Daniels is a Partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers. She joined the company nearly 11 years ago. PricewaterhouseCoopers is known for its outstanding corporate finance accounting services in areas such as auditing, tax analysis, business compliances, corporate finance, risk management, security and other services that are on par with the latest in the financial industry.

Previously, Daniels served as a manager with KPMG before moving on to become a principal with Mercer Human Resource Consulting. Her most recent position prior to joining PwC was with Ernst & Young where she also served as a partner. Daniels is a graduate of Boston University with an undergraduate degree in mathematics.

 

8. Jessica Rodgers
Ernst & Young

Jessica Rodgers began her professional career 23 years ago. Today, she is a Partner and FSO Enterprise Risk Leader of Ernst & Young LLP. EY is a multinational professional services network that offers assurance and consulting services. The insights and quality services they provide help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies all over the world.

Rodgers first got her start in 1998 as a NY Metro compliance officer at American Express Financial Advisors. From there, she went on to Ernst & Young, before moving on to become the AVP of Internal Audit at Delta Financial Group. In between Delta and Amex, Rodgers was with EY as an internal audit consultant. She spent some time with American Express as a VP and portfolio general auditor before landing her current roles with EY. Rodgers graduated from Hofstra University with an undergraduate degree in business administration and accounting.

 

9. Katherine von Jan
Salesforce

Katherine von Jan began her professional career over 29 years ago. Today, she is the Chief Strategy Officer in the Office of Innovation with Salesforce. Salesforce is a cloud-based software company that provides customer relationship management services and also provides enterprise applications focused on customer service, marketing automation, analytics, and application development.

von Jan first got her start in 1992 as a founder and managing partner at IDG Design Group. From there, she went on to IBM, before eventually rising to founder and CEO at RadMatter, her most recent position prior to joining Salesforce. von Jan graduated from the University of New Hampshire with an undergraduate degree in international business.

 

11. Sophia Mendelsohn
Cognizant

Sophia Mendelsohn is the Chief Sustainability Officer and Global Head of Environmental Social Governance (ESG) for Cognizant. Cognizant is one of the world's leading professional services companies, transforming clients' businesses, operating and technology models for the digital era. She is responsible for leading the integration of ESG considerations into the company’s thinking, decisions and actions. Mendelsohn has 16 years of experience. She began her career in 2005.
Prior to joining Cognizant in 2020, Mendelsohn was the first chief sustainability officer at JetBlue Airways. She was also previously the head of sustainability at Haworth and held an ESG role at the Jane Goodall Institute in Shanghai, China. Mendelsohn graduated from Columbia University with a master’s degree in sustainable management and from Nanjing University with an undergraduate degree.

 

13. Cheryl Capps
Corning Incorporated

Cheryl Capps is the Senior Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer of Corning Incorporated. She joined the company in 2011. Corning is one of the world's leading innovators in materials science, with a 167-year track record of life-changing inventions. They apply their unparalleled expertise in glass science, ceramics science, and optical physics along with its deep manufacturing and engineering capabilities to develop category-defining products that transform industries and enhance people's lives.

Capps first got her start in 1983 when she joined the Manufacturing Management Program with GE. She spent nearly 14 years with the company in various capacities before moving on to Bristol-Myers Squibb where she served as the senior VP of global manufacturing, her most recent position before joining Corning. Capps graduated from Rice University with an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering and psychology and from Purdue University with a master’s in engineering.

 

15. Christina McCaughey
Ameriprise Financial

Christina McCaughey is a Financial Advisor and Managing Partner at Iron Birch Advisors, a private wealth advisory practice at Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC based in New York City. McCaughey focuses on personal financial planning including retirement strategies and planning, wealth management, financial protection, tax efficient strategies. In addition to personal financial planning, she assists companies with 401K plans and employee benefits.

McCaughey began her career in investment banking and spent 20+ years working for leading Wall Street firms: Salomon Brothers, Citigroup, Credit Suisse, Barclays, NYSE & State Street, in 3 different countries before becoming a financial advisor. In 2015, McCaughey began her financial advisor career at AXA Advisors, LLC., before helping to establish Iron Birch Advisors. McCaughey graduated from the University of Connecticut with an undergraduate degree in economics.

View the complete list of awardees.

 

16. Radhika Ray
McKinsey & Company

Radhika is a Partner at McKinsey & Company, a global consulting firm that advises many of the world's most influential businesses and institutions. McKinsey is driven by a purpose that is articulated in their values and reinforced continuously, to be a lasting firm that adds value for its clients. Ray leads large-scale transformations that result in dramatic and rapid change, often in the Chief Transformation Officer role.

Ray was previously an operating executive with Cerberus Capital, a private equity firm where she took interim executive roles to turnaround Avon, YP, and others. Ray earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and an undergraduate degree from Western University’s Ivey Business School in Canada.

 

19. Geeta Nastasi
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital

Geeta Nastasi is the Chief Nursing Informatics Officer of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. She first joined the hospital in 2016 as the director of information services. NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital is a nonprofit, world-class academic medical center in New York City, committed to excellence in patient care, research, education and community service, affiliated with two Ivy League medical schools: Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and Weill Cornell Medicine.

Previously, Nastasi was a registered nurse at Northwell Health. Earlier in her career she worked with North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust as a registered general nurse. Nastasi has led teams for several clinical information systems and multiple electronic health records implementations. She is a Samuel H. and Maria Miller Scholar in the DNP Nurse Executive Track with Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing from Case Western Reserve University.

 

21. Dimitra Manis
S&P Global

Dimitra Manis is the Chief Purpose Officer of S&P Global. She first joined the company in 2018 as chief people officer. S&P Global is a publicly traded corporation headquartered in New York City. They are a leading provider of transparent and independent ratings, benchmarks, analytics and data to the capital and commodity markets worldwide.

Previously, Manis was a chief human resources officer at Revlon and before that a SVP of global talent at The Estée Lauder Companies. She has taught as an Adjunct Professor at New York University’s Stern School of Business, Cornell University, Mountbatten Institute/St Mary’s College, and Monash University. Manis holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Monash University and a postgraduate diploma from Deakin University, both universities in Australia.

 

24. Radha Subramanyam
CBS

Radha Subramanyam began her professional career 22 years ago. Today, she is the President of CBS Vision and Chief Research and Analytics Officer of CBS Corporation, both part of ViacomCBS. ViacomCBS is a leading global media and entertainment company that creates premium content and experiences for audiences worldwide. Driven by iconic consumer brands, their portfolio includes CBS, Showtime Networks, Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, BET, CBS All Access, Pluto TV and Simon & Schuster, among others.

Subramanyam first got her start in 1999 as a manager at NBCUniversal. From there, she went on to Comedy Central, before eventually rising to president of insights, research and data analytics at iHeartMedia, her most recent position prior to joining CBS. Subramanyam graduated from Northwestern University with a PhD and MA in media studies.

 

28. April Jeffries
Ipsos

April Jeffries is a Global President at Ipsos UU, the qualitative division of Ipsos. She first joined the company in 2012. Ipsos Group, headquartered in Paris, is a multinational market research and consulting firm, delivering reliable information and a true understanding of society, markets and people.

Previously, Jeffries was a vice president of innovation at Pinnacle Foods Corporation. Earlier in her career she worked with Kraft Foods as a senior product manager. Jeffries earned an MBA in marketing and finance from The Wharton School and an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

 

31. Renee Golderman
Capital District Physicians' Health Plan

Renée Golderman is the Senior Vice President and Chief Quality Officer of Capital District Physicians' Health Plan (CDPHP). CDPHP is a physician-founded and guided health plan offering affordable high-quality coverage with commercial and government-sponsored plans. In this role, Renee provides the strategic leadership needed to design, implement, and manage quality improvement programs at CDPHP, and is responsible for the plan recently being named a 5 Star plan by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Golderman has 31 years of experience. She began her career in 1990.

Prior to joining CDPHP, Golderman has held various positions in the health care industry and has a record of accomplishments in a range of health care settings. Golderman has served as the director of nursing for Seton Health System. In addition, she held clinical management positions at New England Baptist Hospital and New Britain General Hospital. She has also served as a clinical educator for The Eddy. Golderman earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from SUNY Buffalo, and a master’s in health care management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Golderman is a nurse executive-board certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and is a member of the National Association for Healthcare Quality.

 

34. Linda H. Martin
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

Linda Halliday Martin is a Litigation Partner of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. She first joined the firm in 2015. Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is a global law firm with a long-standing track record of successfully supporting the world's leading national and multinational corporations, financial institutions and governments on ground-breaking and business-critical mandates. Their 2,500-plus lawyers deliver results worldwide through their own offices and alongside leading national firms.

Linda first got her start in 1990 when she served as the director of administration for the Community Health Accreditation Program of NYC. She then moved on to become an associate and partner of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP before joining Freshfields. She has previously served as the President of the Duke Law Alumni Association, a member of the Duke Law School Board of Visitors, and as Chairperson of the board of directors for the Children’s Tumor Foundation, a New York-based non-profit dedicated to improving the health and well-being of individuals and families affected by neurofibromatosis in New York and nationally. As a member of the board of directors and its legal affairs committee, she helped the organization with its efforts to bring new drugs and treatments to market. Linda earned an undergraduate degree in government from Harvard University and a JD from Duke University School of Law, both cum laude.

View the complete list of awardees.

 

38. Fiona Bruder
George P Johnson Experience Marketing

Fiona Bruder is the President of the Americas of George P Johnson Experience Marketing (GPJ). She first joined the company in 2002 as the executive director of client services. GPJ is the world's leading experience marketing agency. They create ideas and bring them to life through integrated experiential programs that leverage digital, mobile and physical brand activations.

Bruder has nearly 30 years of experience, almost 20 of which are with GPJ. Earlier in her career she worked with Knowledge Industry Publications as a conference director. She is an active member of the Forbes Agency Council and serves on the board of directors at Girl’s Inc. Westchester, an organization that supports girls to value, develop and discover their strengths while navigating life’s challenges. Bruder earned an MBA in marketing and an undergraduate degree in economics from Fordham University.

 

43. Laurie Ehrlich
Datadog

Laurie Ehrlich is the Chief Counsel of Sales and Alliances of Datadog. Datadog is the essential monitoring platform for cloud applications. It brings together data from servers, containers, databases, and third-party services to make a data stack entirely observable. Ehrlich has 19 years of experience. She began her career in 2002.

Before joining Datadog, Ehrlich was an associate general counsel and the head of legal operations at Cognizant and before that an associate at Allen & Overy. Earlier in her career she worked with Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP as an associate. Ehrlich graduated from New York University School of Law with a JD and from Cornell University with an undergraduate degree in industrial and labor relations.

 

46. Elizabeth Schrero
Seyfarth Shaw

Elizabeth Schrero is a Partner with Seyfarth Shaw. She first joined the firm in 2006. With approximately 900 lawyers across 17 offices, Seyfarth Shaw provides advisory, litigation, and transactional legal services to clients worldwide. Their drive for excellence leads them to seek out better ways to work with their clients and one another. They have been first-to-market on many legal service delivery innovations and continue to break new ground with their clients every day.

Prior to joining Seyfarth Shaw, Schrero was a partner with Mandel Resnik Kaiser Moskowitz & Greenstein. She graduated from Brown University with a degree in English and from Boston University School of Law with a JD.

 

49. Irina Gershengoren
EisnerAmper

Irina Gershengoren is a Partner in the Financial Services Group of EisnerAmper. EisnerAmper, one of the largest business consulting firms in the world, is comprised of EisnerAmper LLP, a licensed independent CPA firm that provides client attest services and Eisner Advisory Group LLC, an alternative practice structure that provides business advisory and non-attest services. Gershengoren has over 20 years in the alternative investment industry.

In addition to her current role, Gershengoren serves as an executive committee member. Before joining EisnerAmper, Gershengoren was a partner at BDO USA. Earlier in her career she worked with BNS Investments as a CFO. Gershengoren graduated from Pace University - Lubin School of Business with an undergraduate degree in accounting.

 

53. Bonnie Sussman
EisnerAmper

Bonnie Sussman is a Partner in the Financial Services Group of EisnerAmper. EisnerAmper is one of the largest accounting, tax and business advisory firms in the U.S., with more than 2,000 employees and over 200 partners across the country. They combine responsiveness with a long-range perspective to help clients meet the pressing issues they face today, and position them for success tomorrow. Sussman has nearly 15 years of accounting, audit and operational experience and provides services to private equity funds, venture capital funds, hedge funds, and investment advisors.

Before joining EisnerAmper, Sussman was an assistant controller at Rho Ventures and before that she was a senior audit staff member with EisnerAmper. Earlier in her career she worked with Matthews & Co, LLP as a staff accountant. Sussman graduated from Hunter College with an undergraduate degree in accounting.

 

54. Helene Banks
Cahill Gordon & Reindel

Helene Banks began her professional career nearly 34 years ago. Today, she is a Partner of Cahill Gordon & Reindel. Cahill Gordon & Reindel is a New York-based international law firm with offices in New York, Washington, D.C., and London. The firm is prominent in the practice areas of capital markets, banking and finance.

In addition to her current roles, Banks serves as the co-chair of Cahill’s M&A and Corporate Advisory practice groups. She graduated from Fordham University School of Law with a graduate degree and from Baruch College with an undergraduate degree in business administration.

 

57. Melynda Barnes
Ro

Melynda Barnes is the Chief Medical Officer of Ro. She first joined the company in 2018 as an associate clinical director. Ro is a healthcare technology company building a patient-centric healthcare system. Its vertically integrated primary care platform powers a personalized, end-to-end healthcare experience from diagnosis to delivery of medication, to ongoing care.

Previously, Barnes was an independent contractor at CompHealth and before that a facial plastic surgeon and head and neck surgeon at ENT and Allergy Associates. Earlier in her career she worked with Stanford University Medical Center as a resident physician. Barnes earned an MD from Mount Sinai School of Medicine and an undergraduate degree in biological sciences and Spanish literature from Stanford University.

View the complete list of awardees.

 

60. Sue Suh
TIME

Sue Suh is the Chief People Officer of TIME. TIME is a global media brand built on 98 years of unparalleled trust and authority, with an audience of more than 100 million people worldwide across all of their platforms. Suh has 20 years of experience. She began her career in 2001.

Before joining TIME, Suh was a managing director and senior advisor at The Rockefeller Foundation and before that a director for community outreach and on the board of directors at The Kind Exchange. Earlier in her career she worked with the U.S. Department of State with multiple positions. Suh graduated from Columbia University in the City of New York with an MA in political science, from Nanyang Technological University with a master’s degree in international relations and strategic studies, and from Princeton University with an undergraduate degree in politics.

 

61. Missy Foristall
Dept Agency

Missy Foristall is the Chief Operating Officer of Dept Agency. Dept Agency is a digital agency for creativity, technology and data. They help their clients build and accelerate their digital businesses. They are an international company with over 1,500 experienced thinkers and makers in 13 countries across Europe and the Americas. Foristall has 26 years of experience. She began her career in 1995.

Before joining Dept Agency, Foristall was a VP of IBM’s talent management solutions and before that a head of digital marketing at JP Morgan Private Bank. Earlier in her career she worked with K2 Design as a project manager. Foristall graduated from Hartwick College with an undergraduate degree in art history.

 

63. Monique Jefferson
New York Public Radio

Monique Jefferson began her professional career 25 years ago. Today, she is the Chief Human Resources Officer of New York Public Radio. New York Public Radio is America's most listened-to public radio station and the producer of award-winning programs and podcasts like Radiolab and On the Media. It produces innovative public radio programs that touch a passionate community of over 23.4 million people monthly on air, online and in person.

Prior to joining New York Life Insurance in 2009, Jefferson spent over seven years with Merrill Lynch in the Global Markets & Investment Banking division. She initially joined Merrill Lynch in 2002 as an HR associate. Before that, Jefferson worked at Bristol Myers Squibb pharmaceuticals as a sales staffing specialist and manager of leadership development. In 1998, Jefferson also worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers as a resource manager. She began her career as a financial auditor with Ernst & Young. Jefferson graduated from The New School with an MS in human resources management and from Bentley University with an undergraduate degree in accounting.

 

64. Darline Jean
Matterkind

Darline Jean is the Global Chief Operating Officer of Matterkind. Matterkind offers an expanded and enhanced suite of addressable activation solutions, advisory services and affiliate marketing taking a people-first and ethical approach to engaging audiences and driving meaningful real business outcomes both across and within channels. She has a 20-year track record of success as a C-level leader in the media industry. She has deep experience across the digital ecosystem as a publisher, adtech and agency executive.

Jean joined Matterkind from Essence Communications, where she was chief digital officer. Before that, she was a senior executive at The New York Times Company’s About Group. She assumed the CEO role in 2011 after serving as COO and CFO and led the sale of About to IAC in 2013. She was also the COO at Pulsepoint, a major programmatic ad-tech platform. Jean graduated from Long Island University with an MBA in finance and accounting and from Stony Brook University with an undergraduate degree in business administration and psychology.

 

66. Vanessa Yen
King & Spalding

Vanessa Yen is a Partner and Trial Lawyer in the Intellectual Property, Patent, Trademark and Copyright Litigation group at King & Spalding and specializes in high stakes, complex IP patent litigations in the pharmaceutical, life sciences, biotech and medical device industries. Yen and her King & Spalding’s Life Sciences patent litigation team have been nationally recognized, including by LMG Life Sciences, the National Law Journal, Intellectual Asset Management and Law360, for achieving successful results on behalf of their clients. Yen has never lost a case on behalf of her clients. King & Spalding has been recognized for its Life Sciences Group of the Year and being Law Firm of the Year. King & Spalding has over 1,200 lawyers in 22 offices across the US, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

Previously, Yen conducted years of cancer research and genomic research, and her research contributed to the finding of the PTEN cancer gene. Yen graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Cornell Law School.

 

69. Abbie Fuchs
Harris Beach PLLC

Abbie Fuchs is a Partner of Harris Beach PLLC. She first joined the firm in 2000. Harris Beach and its subsidiaries provide a full range of legal and professional services for clients across New York state, as well as nationally and internationally. Harris Beach is among the country’s top law firms as ranked by The National Law Journal and is among the 2017 BTI Elite law firms.

Fuchs concentrates in the areas of toxic and mass tort litigation, complex products liability litigation, complex commercial disputes and catastrophic injury cases. She represents clients in complex breach of contract, interference, letter of credit, insurance/reinsurance and subrogation/reimbursement actions. She also litigates high-profile personal injury and property damage construction site accident matters. Over the past two decades, Fuchs has successfully mediated or arbitrated hundreds of serious injury and/or wrongful death cases. Fuchs earned a JD from the Boston University School of Law.

 

71. Joanie Mahoney
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

Joanie Mahoney is the President of the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF), the most distinguished institution in the country dedicated to the study of the environment and building a sustainable and resilient future. She is the first woman to lead ESF. Mahoney joined the college in 2018 as chief operating officer and was named president in 2020.

Mahoney previously served as Onondaga County Executive for 11 years, overseeing a county government that served 460,000 residents. During her tenure, she earned national recognition for her environmental stewardship. Before serving as an elected official, Mahoney worked as an attorney both in private practice and as a prosecutor in the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Syracuse University’s School of Management and her Juris Doctor from S.U.’s College of Law.

 

73. Sara Faitelson
Stiletto Financial

Sara Faitelson is a Financial Educator and retirement income specialist. Faitelson founded Stiletto Financial in 2019 because she realized women were looking for education. They were also looking for guidance when it came to how to make independent financial decisions. With over 12 years of experience, she decided to create a whole new language: “Shoeology.” She teaches finance with the use of shoes to help women who are separated, divorced, widowed and are looking for advice on how to make independent financial decisions. Faitelson’s goal is to serve as a resource for women to explore and incorporate components of a comprehensive strategy to help ensure their value, security and future are valued.

Faitelson is a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®). She earned an undergraduate degree in business administration from Pace University, graduating Summa Cum Laude and is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma.

View the complete list of awardees.

 

76. Lori Almeida
Siegel+Gale

Lori Almeida is the Global Chief Talent Officer of Siegel+Gale. She first joined the company in 2011. Siegel+Gale is a global brand strategy and design company headquartered in NYC. Its core expertise spans brand development, brand strategy, design, and customer experience.

Before joining Siegel+Gale, Almeida was the director of HR for Kleinberg, Kaplan, Wolff & Cohen, a law firm in New York City. She held that same title at Merkley + Partners, an advertising agency. Earlier in her career, Almeida was director of HR at ABC Carpet & Home. Almeida earned a JD from the City University of New York School of Law at Queens College and an undergraduate degree from Roger Williams University.

 

78. Madeline Marquez
Ponce Bank

Madeline Marquez is the Chief External Affairs Officer of Ponce Bank. She joined Ponce Bank in 2017 as an SVP. Founded in 1960, Ponce Bank has earned a reputation for serving the needs of their communities. With 13 branches in the New York and New Jersey area, Ponce Bank continues its commitment to delivering quality products and services and encouraging long-term banking relationships.

Marquez also serves as the Executive Director of the Ponce De Leon Foundation and oversees Government Affairs for the Bank. Prior to Ponce Bank, Marquez served as the EVP of The Business Initiative Corporation of New York. She has received many honors for her role in fueling the growth of businesses and organizations throughout New York. She has earned an undergraduate degree in bilingual and multilingual education from SUNY Old Westbury.

 

79. Caitlyn Brazill
Per Scholas

Caitlyn Brazill is the Chief Development Officer of Per Scholas. She first joined the company in 2017. Per Scholas is a national organization that has been advancing economic mobility for 25 years. Through rigorous training and professional development, the company prepares individuals traditionally underrepresented in technology for high-growth careers in the industry. Brazill has more than 15 years of experience in the public and non-profit sector.

Previously, Brazill was an adjunct assistant professor of public administration at New York University and before that a senior vice president for strategic partnerships at CAMBA. Earlier in her career she worked with the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies as a senior policy analyst. Brazill earned a master’s in public administration from New York University and an undergraduate degree in sociology from SUNY Albany.

 

83. Lynn Mestel
Hire Counsel

Lynn Mestel began her professional career nearly 35 years ago. Today, she is the Founder and Non-Executive Chairman of Hire Counsel. Hire Counsel, an HCMC Legal Company, is the national leader in legal staffing, eDiscovery services, and project management. As a staffing company dedicated to the legal industry, they have a strong reputation and client network, allowing them to access the best legal career opportunities available with law firms, corporations, and government agencies across the US.

Mestel graduated from Yeshiva University - Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law with a JD and from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University with an undergraduate degree in American history.

 

85. Jazzmine Clarke-Glover
Wagner College

Jazzmine Clarke-Glover began her professional career nearly 15 years ago. Today, she is the Vice President of Workplace Culture & Inclusion for Wagner College. Wagner College is a competitive, four-year private college founded in 1883. It has developed a curriculum that unites deep learning and practical application. Their curriculum incorporates their longstanding commitment to the liberal arts, experiential learning and interdisciplinary education with their geographical location and enduring bond with New York City.

In 2007, Clarke-Glover served as the deputy director, HR manager and benefits officer at the City University of New York. Clarke-Glover graduated from the Fox School of Business at Temple University with an executive doctorate of business, from Baruch College, City University of New York with a master’s degree in labor and industrial relations and a masters and bachelor’s degree in sociology from Boston College.

 

86. Lauren Stanich
Consumer Reports

Lauren Stanich is the Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Consumer Reports. She first joined the company in 2019. Consumer Reports is a nonprofit consumer organization dedicated to independent product testing, investigative journalism, consumer-oriented research, public education, and consumer advocacy. Stanich leads marketing strategies across all the organization’s platforms, with a focus on driving membership, branding, and audience strategy to help expand CR’s reach and impact. She has over 20 years of experience.

Before joining CR, Stanich served as the president and CEO of Swirled. Prior to that, Stanich ran the consumer health business at Everyday Health, where she led the company’s consumer health digital and mobile product development, premium services, and wellness solutions businesses. She also held leadership positions at Meredith and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. Stanich earned her undergraduate degree in economics and European history from the University of Pennsylvania and her MBA from Columbia University.

 

87. Lisette Nieves
Fund for the City of New York

Lisette Nieves is the President of the Fund for the City of New York. She first joined the organization in 2020. The Fund for the City of New York was established by the Ford Foundation in 1968 with the mandate to improve the quality of life for all New Yorkers. The Fund seeks out, adapts, applies and assesses ways to enable government and nonprofit agencies to achieve excellence through its core programs.

Previously, Nieves was a distinguished clinical professor at NYU Steinhardt and before that a co-founder of Lingo Ventures. She has also held senior leadership positions in municipal government at the Dept for Youth and Community Development in the Bloomberg administration and the Corporation for National Service in the Clinton Administration. Nieves received an undergraduate degree from Brooklyn College, a bachelors and masters degree from the University of Oxford, an MPA from the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University and a doctorate with distinction in higher education management from the University of Pennsylvania.

View the complete list of awardees.

 

90. Christine Sobhani
August Leadership

Christine Sobhani is a Partner of August Leadership where she focuses on HR and leadership roles across the industry. She first joined the firm as a managing director. August Leadership is a global executive search firm. They make an impact by helping their clients realize their biggest business opportunities through talent. August Leadership was born from a belief that executive search could be better. They put clients and candidates first by focusing on relationships, not transactions. Sobhani has 20 years in the management consulting industry. She began her career in 2001.

Before joining August Leadership, Sobhani was a managing director at Allegis Partners and before that a principal consultant at TalentAdvisors LLC. Earlier in her career she worked with Michael Page International as a recruitment consultant. Sobhani graduated from San Francisco State University with an undergraduate degree in political science.

 

92. Julia Winters
Katten Muchin Rosenman

Julia Winters is a Partner of Katten Muchin Rosenman. She first joined the firm in 2020. Katten is a full-service law firm with nearly 650 attorneys in locations across the US, London and Shanghai. The company strives to be a firm of first choice for clients seeking sophisticated, high-value legal services nationally and globally.

Previously, Winters was a counsel at White & Case LLP and before that a senior legal analyst at Reorg. Earlier in her career she worked with Enterprise Community Partners as a program director. Winters earned a JD from Brooklyn Law School, a master’s degree in urban planning from Hunter College and an undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor.

 

94. Kiryn Hoffman
New York Hall of Science

Kiryn Hoffman is the Chief Advancement Officer of the New York Hall of Science. The New York Hall of Science is a leader in the science museum field, recognized for its highly regarded exhibitions, programs, and products. They have inspired millions of children, teachers, and families by offering creative, participatory ways to learn by encouraging people to explore their curiosity and nurture their creativity. Hoffman has 21 years of experience. She began her career in 2002.

Before joining New York Hall of Science, Hoffman was a VP and chief development officer at New York Academy of Sciences. Earlier in her career she worked with Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory as a director of major giving and capital campaigns. Hoffman graduated from New York University with a MS in chemistry and from Barnard College with an undergraduate degree in chemistry.

 

97. Valerie Charles
StoneTurn

Valerie Charles is a Partner of StoneTurn. She first joined the firm in 2020. StoneTurn, a global advisory firm, assists companies, their counsel and government agencies on regulatory, risk and compliance issues, investigations and business disputes. They serve their clients from offices across the United States, United Kingdom and in Germany, Brazil and South Africa, assisted by a network of senior advisers around the world.

Previously, Charles was a chief strategy officer at GAN Integrity and before that an associate general counsel and global compliance leader at AGT International. Earlier in her career she worked with Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC as an attorney. Charles earned a JD from Yeshiva University - Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and an undergraduate degree from DePaul University.

 

99. Sharon Emek
Work At Home Vintage Experts

Sharon Emek is the Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Work At Home Vintage Experts (WAHVE), an innovative talent solution that engages vintage professionals “phasing” into retirement who work remotely from home on a contract basis. WAHVE, founded in 2010, has placed thousands of pretiring people on assignments for companies across the country. WAHVE’s vision is to transform how businesses, workers and society view retirement so that people, businesses and society benefit from longer productivity. Emek has 41 years of experience. She began her career in 1980.

Prior to founding WAHVE, Emek was a partner at CBS Coverage Group, Inc., where she managed the New York City office and provided business insurance and risk management for a large client base. Prior to joining CBS, Emek was the president, founder and CEO of The Emek Group, an insurance brokerage she formed in 1988. Sharon began her career as a professor at Rutgers University and as a management consultant to businesses. Emek received her doctoral degree from Rutgers University.

View the complete list of awardees.