Women We Admire is pleased to announce the Top 50 Women CEOs of 2022. With women leading just 4.8% of the world’s largest businesses on the Global 500, it is more important than ever to highlight the career achievements of women who fill the role of CEO. This year’s awardees are committed to making profound changes within their organizations. They are equally driven by both a sense of purpose and achieving business results. They integrate courage, agility, risk-taking, resilience, and managing ambiguity, all contributing to their personal and professional success today.
Among this year’s awardees is Corie Barry, CEO of Best Buy, who took on the role in 2019 and is admired by her team for her combination of technical skills, great human leadership capabilities, and humanity. Awardee Lisa Su, President and CEO of AMD, is the first woman to run a Fortune 500 semiconductor company and is credited with expanding the market for the company's chips beyond PCs to game consoles and embedded devices. Also awarded is Gina Drosos, Chief Executive Officer of Signet Jewelers, who is at the forefront of innovating mass market e-commerce retail, while globalizing and reinventing product categories, increasing sales and profits of brands recognized worldwide.
This year’s awardees are leading change within the business world. Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of the Top 50 Women CEOs of 2022.
1. Mary T. Barra
CEO, General Motors
Mary Barra is a Chair and Chief Executive Officer of General Motors. She was elected Chair of the GM Board of Directors on Jan. 4, 2016 and has served as CEO of GM since Jan. 15, 2014. Under Barra’s leadership, GM envisions a world with zero crashes, to save lives; zero emissions, so future generations can inherit a healthier planet; and zero congestion, so customers get back a precious commodity – time. Barrais focused on improving the customer experience and strengthening GM’s core vehicle and services business, while also working to lead the transformation of personal mobility through advanced technologies like connectivity, electrification and autonomous driving.
Prior to becoming CEO, Barra served as GM executive vice president of global product development, purchasing and supply chain since August 2013, and as senior vice president, global product development since February 2011. Previously, she served as vice president, global HR; vice president, global manufacturing engineering; plant manager, Detroit-Hamtramck assembly; and in several other executive engineering and staff positions. Barra began her career with GM in 1980 as a General Motors Institute co-op student at the Pontiac Motor Division. She graduated with an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
2. Corie Barry
CEO, Best Buy
Corie Barry is CEO of Best Buy Co. Inc., the leading provider of consumer technology products and services, with approximately 100,000 employees in North America and $47 billion in annual revenue. She also serves on the company’s board of directors. Under Barry’s leadership, Best Buy is driving toward being one of the best places to work in America, doubling our significant customer relationship events to 50 million and growing annual revenue to $50 billion by fiscal 2025.
Prior to becoming CEO, Barry served in several other executive positions. Most recently, she was the company’s chief financial and strategic transformation officer, overseeing strategic transformation and growth, digital and technology, global finance, investor relations, enterprise risk and compliance, integration management, and Best Buy Health. Barry joined Best Buy in 1999 and has held a variety of financial and operational roles across the organization, both in the field and at the corporate office. She became CFO in 2016 and, prior to that, served as chief strategic growth officer. She has also served as senior vice president of domestic finance and interim president of Best Buy’s services organization. Before joining Best Buy, Barry started her career as an auditor at Deloitte & Touche. She earned undergraduate degrees in accounting and management from the College of St. Benedict, where she now serves on the board of trustees.
3. Susan Wojcicki
CEO, Youtube
Susan Wojcicki is the CEO of Alphabet subsidiary YouTube, which has 2 billion monthly users.
In 1998, Google co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page rented Wojcicki's garage in Menlo Park, California and developed Google's search engine there. Wojcicki was hired in 1999 as Google employee number 16, and worked on everything from AdSense and Google Analytics to Google Books and Google Images.
In 2006, Wojcicki advocated for the $1.65 billion acquisition of YouTube, which she has run since 2014. Before Google, Wojciki worked in the marketing department at Intel and as a management consultant at Bain & Company. She graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with an MBA in economics, from the University of California, Santa Cruz with an MS in economics and from Harvard University with an undergraduate degree in history and literature.
4. Akiko Tanaka
Deputy CEO of Corporate Planning Headquarters, Canon
Akiko Tanaka is the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Corporate Planning Headquarters of Canon. She first joined the company in 2008 as general manager of the chemical products and marketing division. Canon Inc., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leader in the fields of professional and consumer imaging equipment, industrial equipment, and information systems. Tanaka manages business development of Canon Inc. and continues to serve as the president and CEO of subsidiaries of Canon U.S.A. — Canon BioMedical, the global headquarters of Canon's biomedical business, and Canon U.S. Life Sciences, the biomedical research and development partner of Canon BioMedical. The two companies develop, manufacture, and market products that integrate Canon's technologies into novel biomedical research and medical applications.
Tanaka earned an undergraduate degree in natural science from International Christian University.
5. Lisa Su
President & CEO, AMD
Lisa Su is the President and CEO at Advanced Micro Devices, a Fortune 500 technology leader. Since joining AMD, she has successfully executed a transformation of the company’s strategy, market focus, and product execution. Su’s passion lies within leading global technology teams to bring great products and solutions to market.
Prior to joining AMD, Su spent over 15 years in the semiconductor industry in various engineering and general management roles at Freescale and IBM. She currently serves the board of directors of Cisco Systems Inc., the U.S. Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), and the Global Semiconductor Alliance (GSA). Su graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with an undergraduate degree, master’s degree, and a PhD in electrical engineering.
6. Gina Drosos
Chief Executive Officer, Signet Jewelers
Gina Drosos is the Chief Executive Officer of Signet Jewelers, the world’s largest specialty retail jeweler, where she is focused on delivering a world class digital-first, omnichannel experience to customers of Kay Jewelers, Zales, Jared, Banter by Piercing Pagoda, Diamonds Direct, Blue Nile, Peoples Jewellers, James Allen, Rocksbox, H.Samuel and Ernest Jones. Drosos served as an independent director of Signet’s Board since 2012, until her appointment as CEO in August 2017. She is also on the Board of Directors of Foot Locker, Inc.
Drosos previously served as president & CEO of Assurex Health, where she delivered significant revenue growth and executed the strategic sale of the Company to Myriad Genetics for up to $410 million. Prior to Assurex Health, Drosos spent 25 years at P&G where she held positions of increasing responsibility with strong proven results and became a thought leader in Beauty and mass brand retailing. She most recently served P&G as group president, Global Beauty Care, an over $6 billion business unit with a portfolio of more than 20 brands, each with its own marketing strategy, over 6,000 employees and 22 manufacturing sites. In this role, she had responsibility for overseeing the business unit operations, strategy and long term business development, successfully transformed the unit’s digital marketing efforts including the first digital-only brand campaign for P&G’s Secret brand, and innovated large brands, such as CoverGirl, Old Spice and Olay. Olay grew from a less than $200 million to $2.5 billion iconic mega beauty brand under her leadership. Drosos holds an undergraduate degree in business administration from The Terry School, University of Georgia, and an MBA from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.
7. Holly Zheng
Chief Executive Officer, BlueFocus
Holly Zheng has over 20 years of experience as a global business executive as well as a board member and advisor to early stage and growth companies. She currently serves as the Executive Chairwoman of Blue Impact, CEO and President of BlueFocus International and Board Director of BlueFocus Intelligent Communication Group. BlueFocus Communication Group is established in 1996 and has become the top communication group around Asia. Currently there are more than 6,000 employees globally working in 100 offices in more than 10 countries, and BFG's headquarter locates in Beijing, China.
Prior to BlueFocus, Zheng held various management positions at Marvell Technologies, NXP Semiconductors and Cisco, focusing on sales, marketing, and corporate development. Her personal strength covers the field of digital transformation, new media and disruptive business models. She leads at the intersection between technology and branding, east (China) and west (U.S.). Passionate about people, talents, Diversity and Inclusion, she focuses on building and leading an organization with purpose and impact. Zheng got her education in both the U.S. and China and has worked in Asia, Europe, and the U.S.
8. Stephanie Sievers
Chief Executive Officer, AltaOne Federal Credit Union
Stephanie Sievers began her professional career 20 years ago. Today, she is the Chief Executive Officer of AltaOne Federal Credit Union, a federally chartered, full-service, member-owned financial cooperative. Headquartered in Ridgecrest, California, the credit union was organized as the Naval Ordnance Test Station Employees Federal Credit Union in 1947 at China Lake. The credit union offers financial services, loans and support both for member businesses and individuals.
Sievers previously served as the CEO at Sisseton-Wahpeton Federal Credit Union. She graduated from the University of Miami with an MS in finance and from the University of Houston with an undergraduate degree in credit risk analysis.
9. Jean Freeman
Principal & CEO, Zambezi
Jean Freeman is Principal and CEO of Zambezi, the largest, female-owned, full service creative agency in the country. Jean has grown Zambezi from a startup to a thriving business that propels brands forward, and developed an agency culture where employees are empowered and supported in all aspects of life. With Jean at the helm, Zambezi has attracted a number of blue chip clients including Under Armour, Google, Disney Plus, The TaylorMade Golf Company, Los Angeles Rams, UKG, Beats by Dre andTraeger Grills. The agency has been included on the Inc. 5000 list five times, named Small Agency of the Year by Advertising Age twice.
A leading advocate for the advancement of women business leaders, Jean’s commitment to teaching women the skills to run and grow a business and thrive in their own leadership positions has led her to be a part of a number of female-focused initiatives, including serving on the MAKERS and The 3% Movement advisory boards. Jean is also the co-founder of the OWN IT (untilyouownit.com) initiative to track and increase the number of women-owned advertising agencies. Jean is a frequent speaker and op-ed contributor on issues ranging from entrepreneurship and female leadership, to building and maintaining a sustainable business, and was recently featured in Forbes and Entrepreneur Weekly.
10. Carolyn Rachel-Price
President & CEO, Essential Pharmacy Services of CVS
Carolyn Rachel-Price is the President and CEO of Essential Pharmacy Services of CVS. She first joined the company in 2014. Rachel-Price is a consultant pharmacist currently working with private pharmacy related businesses in need of subject matter expertise in Medication Therapy Management (TMT), pharmacy project management, formulary development, budgeting, pharmacy contracting, policy and procedure development and related areas needed for successful management of pharmacy programs.
In addition to her roles with Essential Pharmacy Services, Rachel-Price is a consultant pharmacist with years of executive level government, organizational and association management experience. Her leading voice in the pharmacy community has helped increase the visibility of pharmacy professionals in the DC and beyond. Her mission in pharmacy continues to empower pharmacy professionals as she advocates for the profession through continued activism on the local and national level. Rachel-Price graduated from Xavier University of Louisiana with an undergraduate degree in pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences.
11. Suzanne Lerner
Chief Executive Officer, Michael Stars
Suzanne Lerner, co-founder and CEO of contemporary fashion and lifestyle brand Michael Stars, is an activist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Under her leadership, Los Angeles-based Michael Stars, the company that she co-founded with her late husband Michael Cohen, has evolved into a collection of beautifully designed fashion essentials. One of the first socially responsible apparel brands, Michael Stars has always ensured fair wages and was an early innovator in local sourcing and manufacturing.
Lerner’s activism and philanthropy focuses on funding grassroots and community organizations that are building critical pathways to gender and racial equity. She invests in communities both domestically and internationally through personal grants, impact investments, and the Michael Stars Foundation, which she and Michael established nearly 20 years ago. She is a frequent contributor and speaker on running socially responsible businesses, women entrepreneurs, and encouraging the next generation of leaders. She serves as the vice-chair of the Fund for Women’s Equality (ERA Coalition) and as a board member of the Ms. Foundation for Women, and the Foundation Board of the ACLU of Southern California. She is an advisory board member of A Call to Men, Prosperity Catalyst, and Children Mending Hearts as well as a member of Forbes Business Council, Women Donors Network (WDN), Women Moving Millions, and the Women at Sundance Initiative. She is also funding a program in Africa thru the Maverick Collective (PSI). Lerner graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Madison with an undergraduate degree in humanities.
12. Shannon Buerk
Founder & CEO, engage2learn
Shannon Buerk is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of engage2learn, a leading provider of Education Intelligence for public schools through smart professional learning, job-embedded coaching and training, and related technology solutions since 2011. Educator turned entrepreneur, Buerk has emerged as a thought leader on educational leadership, organizational culture, and systems thinking.
Previously, Buerk served as a high school English teacher, administrator, and assistant superintendent. She recently published Connect the Dots: Utilizing Education Intelligence to Accelerate Growth, Retain Talent, and Optimize Outcomes. She received her undergraduate degree from Schreiner University and Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction from Portland State University.
12. Brenda Stallings
Chief Executive Officer, Matrix Integration
Brenda Stallings is the Chief Executive Officer of Matrix Integration. She first joined the company in 1979. Matrix Integration was founded around a central philosophy, to help clients achieve their goals through the use of technology. Over 40 years later, this philosophy continues to guide their success, serving more than 1000 clients in more than a dozen industries nationwide. As a result, they are trusted technology advisors to countless people who rely on their team to design, implement, and utilize technology to enable them to achieve success.
Previously, Stallings was a business owner at The Sound of Music and before that an electronic typesetter and Go-to-Press expert at St. Meinrad Abbey Press.
14. Sapna Khandwala
Chief Executive Officer, Stillwater Sciences
Sapna Khandwala has been working in the environmental field for over 20 years, with a career that spans field biology, complete with helicopter drop-offs to remote and beautiful locations to monitor frog populations; project management; graphic design and layout, including developing cover art for a peer-reviewed open-source scientific journal; and marketing and communications for small and large environmental firms (nonprofit and for profit). She is currently CEO of Stillwater Sciences, a small, woman-owned scientific consulting firm specializing in natural resource management and river and watershed restoration. Khandwala recognized early in her career that working with scientists gave her far more pleasure than working as a scientist. She led Stillwater’s successful marketing and business development efforts post-recession, and began overseeing operations of the company in 2014. She brings teams throughout the firm together with a renewed focus on ownership and accountability.
Before joining Stillwater Sciences, Khandwala was a communication manager at The Watershed Project and before that a senior designer at Sierra Club. She graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with an undergraduate degree in biology.
15. Usha Kale
Founder & CEO, OrgSpire
Usha Kale is the Founder and CEO of OrgSpire. OrgSpire, is a WBENC Certified leading strategic service provider offering technology services and supply chain solutions to customers around the globe. Founded in 2006, having three global delivery centers covering three geographies, OrgSpire’s tier1 partnership with world's leading technology manufacturers brings hardware and software solutions that drive clients' digital business towards sustainable scalability. These manufacturers range from Silicon Valley heavyweights like Google, Dell, VMware, TIBCO and several others. An adept technologist at heart with a keen sense for transformative innovation, Kale is an accomplished business leader who believes in building cohesive and value aligned high performance teams. Under her leadership, OrgSpire has emerged as one of the fastest growing global IT consulting and advisory companies today. Her innate quality of fostering strong business relationships has enabled OrgSpire to deliver highly differentiated services to Fortune 500 clients.
Kale’s passion for technology complemented by strong focus on both customers and employees has enabled her to earn the confidence and trust of both, making OrgSpire receive its reputation of being partner and employer of choice. With her intense commitment to delivering business value and nurturing the spirit of a collaborative partnership with clients, Kale has helped OrgSpire emerge as a key catalyst in the client's digital transformation journey. Their solutions intersect cloud, bigdata and agile development, creating a framework that increases data leverage, accelerates application delivery, and plummet cost, while providing enterprises the security, speed, and scale they need to compete. Kale graduated from Osmania University with a master's in computer science.
16. Cate Dyer
CEO & Founder, StemExpress
Cate Dyer is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of StemExpress. She first joined the company in 2010. StemExpress was founded in 2010 to accelerate the cure and prevention of significant medical conditions at a life-changing speed. StemExpress supports cell and gene therapies, commercialization of disease-specific treatments, medical research, clinical trials, precision/regenerative medicine, among other researchers and clinicians around the world who are developing and implementing revolutionary treatments and cures. They are currently the nation's leading biospecimen provider of human primary cells, stem cells, human bone marrow, cord blood, peripheral blood, maternal blood, and disease-state products for academic, biotechnological, diagnostic, pharmaceutical and contract research organizations.
Dyer earned an undergraduate degree in sociology, biology, chemistry and business from California State University-Sacramento.
17. Vita Lanoce
Chief Executive Officer, Linical Americas
Vita Lanoce is the Chief Executive Officer of Linical Americas, a public, mid-sized contract research organization headquartered in Japan with a significant presence across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. Linical provides the full spectrum of drug development services from early stage to large-scale, multinational studies. Their areas of focus include Phase I-IV studies in oncology, infectious disease, and CNS. Rather than be all things to the market, this intentional design allows them to provide their clients the right size, right reach, and right team. Lanoce has 37 years of experience. She began her career in 1985.
Before joining Linical Americas, Lanoce was an SVP of clinical development at Accelovance Inc. and before that a VP of radiant development at Radiant Research. Earlier in her career she worked with Penn Medicine as a research scientist. Lanoce graduated from Rutgers University with an MS in biomedical engineering and from Manhattanville University with an undergraduate degree in biology.
18. Cheryl Ecton
CEO & Founder, Elite Building Services
Cheryl Ecton began her professional career 33 years ago. Today, she is the Chief Executive Officer and Chairwoman of Elite Building Services, a responsible, single-source, preferred partner, providing world-class facility services while striving to be the best place to work. Elite is a certified woman-owned business, headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware. They service the New England, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest and Southeastern regions of the United States. Established in 1989, Elite has focused on two enduring principles: quality and responsiveness. Today, their core values of safety, quality, integrity, collaboration, sustainability, and responsiveness are the guiding principles that drive Elite employees across fourteen states, serving customers in multiple industries.
19. Mary Mihalyo
Chief Executive Officer, Delta Care Rx
Mary Mihalyo is the Chief Executive Officer of Delta Care Rx. She first joined the company in 2012. Delta Care Rx transforms and improves the hospice pharmacy industry through business transparency, innovation, extreme customer service, and the maintenance of vital community-pharmacy relationships. As a pharmacist-owned, privately held provider, Delta Care sets the industry benchmark for pharmacy benefit management, on-demand pharmacist services, and hospice tailored electronic prescribing that now features telemedicine options. Additionally, they offer tools and technologies, including telemedicine, to simplify essential workflow and ordering processes within hospice settings.
Previously, Mihalyo was an EVP and general manager at ProCare HospiceCare. She earned a degree in pharmacy practice from Duquesne University.
20. Shelley Stewart
President & CEO, Southern Title
Shelley Stewart began her professional career 27 years ago. Today, she is a President and Chief Executive Officer of Southern Title. Southern title is Florida's title company of choice, offering the ultimate closing experience to generations of Florida property owners. With decades of experience handling purchases, refinances, commercial property, construction loans, lines of credit, reverse mortgages, private money investor transactions and more, Southern Title has the talent and tenacity to simplify the closing process. Its mission is to do what it takes to make it easy for their clients to buy or sell real estate in Florida, while protecting their property rights and funds.
Stewart graduated from Daytona State College with an undergraduate degree in land title search.
21. Valerie Moizel
CEO & Chief Compliance Officer, The Woo
Valerie Moizel is the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Compliance Officer of The Woo. She first joined the company in 1998. The Woo is an independently female-owned creative advertising agency in Los Angeles, California with over 24 years of experience. Its mission is to make brands feel more connected with customers. Moizel believes that consumer decision-making is driven by emotion and feelings. The company builds strategies and integrates Omni channel communications around the psychology of human behaviors.
Previously, Moizel was a senior art director at PP&G Advertising. She earned an undergraduate degree in advertising from ArtCenter College of Design.
22. Amanda LaGrange
Chief Executive Officer, Tech Dump and Tech Discounts
Amanda LaGrange is the CEO of Tech Dump and Tech Discounts, the linked e-waste recycling, refurbishing, and retail social enterprise that creates jobs for people with barriers to employment. LaGrange helped to found Tech Dump as a board member in 2010 while she worked at General Mills in corporate finance. Grounded in her belief that business can be a solution for injustice, she joined the Tech Dump leadership team as the director of marketing in 2013 and created awareness that drove double digit annual growth and established Tech Dump as an award-winning top electronics recycler in Minnesota and a leader nationwide in its commitment to the environment and job creation.
LaGrange has operationalized a strategy to increase revenue that included portable cell-phone collection bins, the successful launch of the retail brand Tech Discounts and a second stand-alone location for store. She has testified before the Minnesota Legislature on the Right to Repair and has been recognized by The Minneapolis - Saint Paul Business Journal as a Top 50 Women in Business and as a Titan of Tech. LaGrange graduated from Indiana University - Kelley School of Business with an undergraduate degree in accounting and international business.
23. Sandra Miller
Chief Executive Officer, Runway Innovation Hub
Sandra Miller is the Chief Executive Officer of Runway Innovation Hub. She first joined the company in 2019. Runway provides workspace, innovation consulting, and event services to a global community of startups and enterprises. They equip tech companies with all-inclusive workspace memberships, weekly events, and access to its global network so they can succeed in growing a business. They help large organizations navigate amongst trends and opportunities, identify and engage with high-potential startups to achieve long-term success.
Previously, Miller was a director of innovation at Oregon State University College of Business and before that at Accenture. Earlier in her career she worked with Stanford University as a managing director of biodesign. Miller earned an MBA from Pepperdine Graziadio Business School and an undergraduate degree from Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management.
24. Lee Wallace
Chief Executive Officer, Peace Coffee
Lee Wallace is the Chief Executive Officer of Peace Coffee. Peace Coffee believes that coffee is more than just a commodity. They believe it is essential to weekends and workdays, brunches and bundt cakes, and everything in between. They also believe it’s essential to their farmer partners who attentively tend coffee trees from seed to harvest in hopes of making a good life for their family. They play fair, they play hard, and sometimes they just play because they believe that the most important thing they can do, besides making delicious coffee, is to enjoy the ride. Wallance has 21 years of experience. She began her career in 2001.
Before joining Peace Coffee, Wallace was an associate director at the Resource Center of the Americas. She graduated from the University of Minnesota with a master's in public policy and from Macalester College with an undergraduate degree.
25. Sarah Woodley
Chief Executive Officer, BPA Health
Sarah Woodley began her professional career 28 years ago. Today, she is the Chief Executive Officer of BPA Health, a Boise, Idaho behavioral health and managed services company that connects people to services to make individual lives better, organizations more effective, and communities stronger. Working throughout the Northwest and nationally, BPA Health helps people address problems that adversely impact their personal relationships, job performance, health and overall wellbeing. Behavioral health is a matter of overall health, and their expert-designed behavioral health and managed services create efficiency and value that helps businesses improve operations and performance.
Woodley graduated from Santa Clara University with an undergraduate degree in Spanish and anthropology.
26. Susan Davis
Chief Executive Officer, Donsuemor
Susan Davis is CEO of Donsuemor, Inc., the premier provider and market leader of traditional French madeleines in America. She has more than two decades of leadership, management and operational experience in specialty food manufacturing. She joined Donsuemor in 1987 working side by side with the owners. Since assuming the head of the company in 1997, she has led it from a regional specialty producer to a nationwide company supplying blue chip coffee houses and supermarket retailers. Her commitment to reaching the highest ethical and operational standards in every aspect of the business has awarded the business a reputation for excellence.
Previously, Davis was a national sales coordinator at Cartier and before that a bilingual secretary at Revlon. She earned an undergraduate degree in French language and literature from the University of California, Berkeley.
27. Melony Samuels
Chief Executive Officer, The Campaign Against Hunger
Dr. Melony Samuels, The Campaign Against Hunger's (TCAH) CEO and Founder, is a humanitarian, visionary leader, and staunch advocate for food and health equity. She has dedicated her life's work to improving the conditions of marginalized communities and strengthening New York City's emergency food system. Dr. Samuels is a pioneer and nonprofit leader. She spearheaded the first farm-to-pantry distribution model in NYC and several transformative initiatives to advance healthy food access for communities that face food and nutrition insecurity. Well respected in all quarters, she is among NYC’s anti-hunger leaders and exhibits strength in nonprofit management, financial planning, cost management, strategic development, and project implementation.
Dr. Samuels has worked extensively to bring social change and racial justice to communities of color and low-income families through advocacy, philanthropy, and connecting and maximizing resources. Her most notable innovation was during the Covid pandemic when she revolutionized the food access service model in NYC by using 30,000 square feet of warehouse space in Brooklyn and Queens as food distribution centers to serve over 2 million New Yorkers in need. She also formed the Urban Healthy Food Coalition with over 100 community advocates to tackle hunger and poverty in high-need areas. Her advocacy and leadership have resulted in funding a first-of-its-kind permanent community food hub to be created in Brooklyn using food access, education, and innovation in urban farming to break the systemic cycle of hunger and poverty in NYC. She has ensured that TCAH's operational infrastructure, on the food production, supply, and distribution side, is robust, well-tested, and financially sound. Today, TCAH is one of the city's largest and most impactful nonprofits. She continues to lead with vision, grit, love, and compassion for those struggling to meet their basic needs.
28. Caroline MacDougall
CEO & Founder, Teeccino Caffé
Caroline MacDougall is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Teeccino Caffé. Teeccino Caffé is the premier line of roasted herbal blends that brew like coffee or steep like tea, without caffeine or acidity. Both coffee and tea drinkers love Teeccino’s rich, bold flavor with its unique taste experience that fans describe as satisfying, smooth and creamy. With 5 collections of over 30 blends, Teeccino can meet any taste preference. Their two new collections of wellness blends provide maximum health benefits in every cup from plant-based prebiotics, adaptogenic herbs and mushrooms. MacDougall has 49 years of experience. She began her career in 1973.
Before joining Teeccino Caffé, MacDougall was a co-founder and EVP at Interlink Electronics and before that, a VP of purchasing at Celestial Seasonings. MacDougall graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with an undergraduate degree.
29. Lori DeVore
CEO & President, DeVore Technologies
Lori DeVore began her professional career 26 years ago. Today, she is the Chief Executive Officer and President of DeVore Technologies. DeVore Technologies offers comprehensive computer training services including curriculum development, rollout management, scheduling, custom training and computer classroom rentals. They create mission-critical applications designed to help their clients connect with customers, vendors, employees, and information, faster and more effectively than ever. They utilize the most current technologies to craft software solutions tailored to your specific business need. Their developers use the most powerful, flexible design and programming tools available to develop efficient interactive systems for any organization.
30. Adriana Soto Ospina
Chief Executive Officer, Progressus
Adriana Soto Ospina is the Chief Executive Officer of Progressus. At Progressus they provide early access to mental health in pregnant women, through a mental fitness program who combine an evidence-based platform and human accountability. Additionally, Ospina is the CEO of Mind+ where they reduce the mental health factors in women that affect and increase the risk of preterm birth. As a clinician for over 15 years in private practice, like occupational therapist and clinical psychologist, Ospina was tired of seeing thousands of patients asking for help very late, just because people underestimated the symptoms of the stigma and the lack of effective access, so in the last 5 years she launched and relaunched her businesses until finding her niche in maternal health.
Previously, Ospina was a CEO at ColorsMed and before that a COO at IPS Centro Integral de Salud La Z. Earlier in her career she worked with Casa Madre Canguro Alfa as a pediatric occupational therapist. Ospina earned an MBA in executive coaching in transformational leadership and an undergraduate degree in psychology from Universidad del Valle.
31. Missy Lavender
Chief Executive Officer, Renalis Health
Missy Lavender is the Chief Executive Officer of Renalis Health. Renalis Health develops FDA-cleared prescription digital therapeutics for the treatment of pelvic conditions. Their lead product is CeCe, a mobile-enhanced digital therapeutic for first-line treatment of overactive bladder (OAB) in persons assigned female at birth. CeCe delivers cost-effective, accessible, and engaging behavioral therapy to patients with OAB symptoms via their Apple or Android smartphone. Lavender has 39 years of experience. She began her career in 1983.
Before joining Renalis, Lavender was an executive director and founder at Women's Health Foundation and before that, a partner at K.G. Redding and Associates. Earlier in her career she worked with Harris Bank as a corporate banker. Lavender graduated from Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management with an MBA in international finance and real estate and from Miami University with an undergraduate degree in speech communication and rhetoric.
32. Honor Belew
CEO & Founder, Nashville Execs
Honor Belew is the CEO and Founder of Nashville Execs. Nashville Execs offers executive coaching that supports executives and professionals in transforming their learning into improved personal effectiveness and business results. Belew specializes in executive and team coaching and partners with clients in their journey to be highly effective leaders and lead more fulfilling lives. Additionally, she is the co-founder and collaborative leader of Women’s Growth Collab. At the Women's Growth Collab, women business owners challenge and learn from each other. They cultivate the right mindset to grow their businesses, enhance their business acumen and leadership abilities, and ultimately get a good night's sleep.
Belew first got her start as a director of finance and placement for ITT Technical Institute before moving on to become the operations and HR manager for Arthur Andersen Business Consulting. She previously served as a director of operations for Hitachi Consulting. Belew graduated from Oklahoma State University with an undergraduate degree in business administration management and marketing, and from Amberton University with a master’s degree in professional development. She currently serves as chair for Vistage Worldwide where she guides a dozen high-caliber CEOs and key executives as they work together to solve each other’s most pressing business problems.
33. Jaclynn Brennan
CEO & Co-Founder, Fylí
Jaclynn Brennan is the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Fylí. She first joined the company in 2019. Fylí is a female mastermind membership community focused on educational masterclasses, accountability, peer-to-peer mentorship, leadership advancement and funding opportunities for early-stage female founders. This business was started out of a personal need to help create a network of resources, education, and 360 lifestyle support for female entrepreneurs. Brennan is a serial entrepreneur and content creator.
Previously, Brennan was a commercial director and founding partner at ShopYourFit and before that, a VP, creative director, and producer at Unleashed by Kara Ross. Earlier in her career she worked as a marketing branding consultant. Brennan earned an undergraduate degree in fashion merchandising, marketing, and digital design from the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale.
34. Michelle Jones
CEO & President, Violectric
Michelle Jones is the Chief Executive Officer and President of Violectric, a unique fusion of the passion and beauty of classical string instruments with the excitement of cutting-edge modern technology and effects. Using custom arrangements tailored to sound unlike any other, they will take individuals on a musical revolution. Jones has 32 years of experience. She began her career in 1990.
Before joining Violectric, Jones was a musician at Classic Albums Live. She graduated from Converse University with an undergraduate degree in music and from Rollins College with an undergraduate degree in organizational communication.
35. Diana Daniels
Founder & CEO, TinkerLink
Diana Daniels began her professional career 28 years ago. Today, she is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of TinkerLink, the first social marketplace helping communities to get jobs and get paid. Their referral-based app is aimed to help the unbanked underserved to be included in the mobile money revolution. They connect experts who offer services, like nannies, plumbers, maids, painters and more, with people who look for it, through the recommendations of their acquaintances. Its goal is to help build a trusted network to connect Tinkers and customers securely.
Daniels first got her start in 1994 as a marketing director for Latin America at Cabletron Systems. From there, she went on to iBasis. Daniels graduated from Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management with an MBA in management programs and from Universidad del Tepeyac with an undergraduate degree in business administration.
36. Sarah Gavigan
Founder & CEO, The Otaku Group
Sarah Gavigan is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of The Otaku Group. The Otaku Group was founded in 2012 when Gavigan decided to teach herself how to make Japanese Ramen and serve it to Nashville. From a pop-up to 3 brick and mortar restaurants, Otaku is a fast-growing company that values pop culture, music and food as integral parts of the experience they give their guests. The Otaku Group’s mission is to serve every guest with a fun, craveable meal. Otaku Ramen is the first dedicated ramen shop in Nashville with a loyal fan base that keeps them busy year around.
Previously, Gavigan was the founder and owner of Ten Music and before that, an agent and owner at Tenth House Inc. Gavigan earned an undergraduate degree in broadcast journalism from Arizona State University.
37. Donna Marks
Chief Executive Officer, Windfall
Donna Marks is the Chief Executive Officer of Windfall, an easy way to find unexpected savings on products and services you already buy and use every day. Leveraging the group buying power of more than 200,000 members, Windfall negotiates permanent, deep discounts with brand name suppliers (like Office Depot, ADP, 4imprint, FedEx and more) and provides exclusive easy access to savings. It’s free to join, and there are no obligations or contracts to participate. New offers and suppliers are added all the time, bringing even more benefit to its members of reducing costs and increasing profits. Marks has 35 years of experience. She began her career in 1987.
Before joining Windfall, Marks was an owner at BrandWear, Inc and before that a director of coordinated purchasing at Equity Group Investments. Marks graduated from Indiana University, Bloomington with an undergraduate degree in business.
38. Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino
Chief Executive Officer, Compliance4
Founder, The Best Ever You Network
Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino is the Founder of The Best Ever You Network and Chief Executive Officer of Compliance4. Through these companies, she has helped individuals and organizations around the world be their best and achieve world-class excellence with gratitude-based behavior and belief systems. She is one of America's foremost personal and corporate development consultants specializing in mindset, gratitude, facilitating change, and taking action.
Guarino is the author of 8 books including the award-winning book Percolate – Let Your Best Self Filter Through. Her book, The Change Guidebook – How to Align Your Heart, Truths and Energy to Find Success in All Areas of Your Life, ends the search for self-help that works, serving as a life-long companion guide and resource to compliment your life. It is a guide for anyone who is seeking change and wants to align to their highest purpose. Guarino is a member of the Forbes Business Council and serves as a leadership advisor for the Olympia Snowe Women's Leadership Institute. She graduated from St. Ambrose University with an undergraduate degree in multimedia journalism.
39. Francine Steadman
Chief Executive Officer, BuddhaBooth
Founder, Portable Meditation
Francine Steadman is the founder of Portable Meditation, Inc., a multi-faceted wellness company. In 2015 she created BuddhaBooths®, a line of portable quiet spaces to relax and recharge in virtually any environment with accompanying wellness programs, products, and digital content. Focusing primarily on healthcare and educational institutions, she works with leaders to provide mindful solutions for wellness, delivered directly to the client whether it be live or virtual.
In October 2020, Steadman and Kristin Westbrook of Calm City NYC partnered to launch MyndSet, a collection of self-care and mindful tools for people who help people. With the overall wellbeing of people as a focus, she is committed to providing opportunities to hit the pause button on stress and sensory overload. One of her favorite things about building a business from scratch is that she has been able to integrate conscious capitalism and social impact programs and partnerships from the very beginning. Prior to founding BuddhaBooth, she spent her time consulting and developing business for boutique international companies, as well as nurturing her line of eco-friendly artisan packaging. She is perpetually inspired by her diverse clients and loves navigating the ins and outs of the start-up and art world. Steadman’s soul work is embedded in the healing arts and continues to combine her mission of bringing quiet spaces to noisy places with a focus on helping survivors of domestic violence to find peace and quiet through meditation, painting, writing, reiki and other holistic modalities.
40. Monita Dukhia
Chief Executive Officer, ClinPro Trials
Monita Dukhia is the Chief Executive Officer of ClinPro Trials, a Premier full service Global CRO located in Biotech Bay, that partners with you “From Concept to Commercialisation”. They are a multinational firm that can work seamlessly to provide customisable solutions for emerging, small and mid-sized Biopharma and Pharma firms. ClinPro Trials is an impactful Clinical Research Organization (CRO) and a committed Partner that will guide you through the complexities of the clinical development and regulatory submission process. Dukhia has 26 years of experience. She began her career in 1996.
Before joining ClinPro Trials, Dukhia was a global director of GXP QA at Oxigene and before that a manager of regulatory compliance at Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics. Earlier in her career she worked with Apotex Inc. as a QCI supervisor. Dukhia graduated from McMaster University with an undergraduate degree in chemistry and biochemistry.
41. Valerie Barckhoff
CEO & Co-Founder, SHOAR
Valerie Barckhoff began her professional career 26 years ago. Today, she is the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of SHOAR. SHOAR combines the deep revenue cycle expertise and the AI power of Windham Brannon. With over three decades of experience in the healthcare industry and implementing AI solutions, SHOAR transforms revenue cycles using machine learning and artificial intelligence solutions.
Barckhoff first got her start in 1996 as a staff consultant at Ernst and Young. From there, she went on to Deloitte, before eventually rising to become a VP at The North Highland Company. Barckhoff graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville with an MBA in finance and management and from the University of Kentucky with an undergraduate degree in health sciences.
42. Nicole Sharp
Chief Executive Officer, Griffin Consulting
Nicole Sharp is the Chief Executive Officer of Griffin Consulting. She first joined the company in 2016. At Griffin Consulting, their mission is to combine analytical thinking and intuitive understanding to unleash the full potential of their customers. They contribute to the success of their customer's strategy by delivering uniquely tailored consultancy services that are research-based, practice-informed, and results-oriented. They are dedicated practitioners with a passion for their work that is contagious and inspires individuals and organizations to improve. In partnership with their clients, they bring the positive energy and expertise to build on their organization’s strengths and navigate its complex business challenges.
Previously, Sharp was a deputy program manager at Cherokee Nation Businesses and before that a senior consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton. Earlier in her career she worked with Custom Staffing of Westchester as a recruiter. Sharp earned an undergraduate degree in communication and media studies from Norfolk State University.
43. Ashley Tyrner
Chief Executive Officer, FarmboxRx
Ashley Tyrner began her professional career 8 years ago. Today, she is the Chief Executive Officer of FarmboxRx, an engagement and technology company that breaks down barriers to health equity through nutrition and health literacy. FarmboxRx provides the necessary support for individuals to attain the highest level of health through proper nutrition and support which promotes self-efficacy. FarmboxRx addresses the root cause of inequities in healthcare by supporting and delivering proactive preventative care through its high-tech, high-touch integrated solutions. Their total wellness platform delivers customizable member engagement programs via food solutions that support sustainable, scalable, and long-lasting quality outcomes for healthcare organizations. Farmbox Direct, the parent company of FarmboxRx, was created by Tyrner with a clear vision that healthy foods should be accessible to all.
44. Jennifer Lyn Morone
Chief Executive Officer, RadicalxChange
Jennifer Lyn Morone is the Chief Executive Officer of RadicalxChange, community of activists, artists, entrepreneurs, and scholars using mechanism design to inspire radical social change. She is a multi-disciplinary visual artist and activist whose work focuses on the human experience in relation to technology, economics, politics, and identity and the moral and ethical issues that arise from such systems. Her interests lie in exploring ways of creating social justice and equal distribution of the future. She is a trained sculptor, having studied at Pratt Institute, SACI International, and holds a BFA from SUNY Purchase. After 16 years of living abroad, she returned to study critical and speculative design at the Royal College of Art in London with Dunne and Raby.
Morone’s work has been presented at institutions, festivals, museums, and galleries around the world. Her work has been featured extensively on international media outlets such as the Economist, WIRED, WMMNA, Vice, the Guardian, BBC World News, Tagesspiegel, Netzpolitik, the Observer. Morone graduated from Royal College of Art with a master’s degree in design internations.
45. Mansi Shah
Co-Founder & CEO, Functional Wellness Network
Mansi Shah is the Co-Founder and CEO of Functional Wellness Network, a network of professionals on a mission to put health back into healthcare. They provide business development of individuals and clinics through a functional medicine approach. They have helped over 100 individuals who are either solo practitioners or clinic owners with their signature process to be highly profitable in many areas of this new wave.
In addition to her roles with Functional Wellness Network, Shah is the founder of Healthpreneur Institute, a one stop solution for healthcare heroes to have access to all the things entrepreneurship that they did not learn in school. She is also a radio talk show and podcast co-host for Healthcare Corner Show where they bring the leading experts in the industry to deliver the best wealth of knowledge on health. Shah graduated from Roseman University of Health Sciences with a PharmD.
46. Carol Bramson
Founder & CEO, Side by Side
Carol Bramson is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Side by Side. Side by Side is a natural pet food and nutrition company that delivers a custom comprehensive diet for pets. By formulating food that is nutritionally balanced for canine and feline health requirements, Side by Side meals are able to offer pets delicious food made from fresh ingredients and featuring a full range of nutrients. Additionally, Bramson employs her “Lift While You Climb” philosophy while supporting other entrepreneurs and business visionaries develop and deliver on innovative solutions, with a primary focus on the health and wellness sector.
Bramson is deeply passionate about helping people and their families live better lives, demonstrated in her philanthropic activities and active support for business strategies that improve nutrition, wellness and lifestyle factors. Her experience as a CEO and director of private and public companies uniquely positioned her to be an independent thought leader and advisor with a strong network of senior executives spanning the profit and non-profit sectors. Bramson graduated from The University of Chicago with an MBA in finance and business policy, and from DePaul University with an undergraduate degree in finance.
47. Janet Holliday
President & CEO, The CE Group
Janet Holliday is the President and CEO of The CE Group. At The CE Group, they believe that in today's busy environment, experience-driven experiences are the most direct way for consumers and corporations to connect on every level with a brand and organization. An award-winning experience-based marketing firm headquartered in San Antonio with partners across the country, they utilize strategic and creative ideas, experiences and relevant communications to help their clients achieve marketing goals through six core services including event and production management, destination management, integrated communications, national sports marketing, creative services, and venue management. Holliday has over 32 years of experience. She began her career in 1990.
Holliday graduated from The University of Texas at Austin.
48. Rajia Ackley
CEO, Coldwell Banker Ackley Realty
Rajia Ackley is the CEO of Coldwell Banker Ackley Realty. Coldwell Banker Ackley Realty, an independent, full-service real estate company with strong roots in the communities in which they live and work. Ackley is an entrepreneur and through her visionary leadership has expanded into a major force in the central Florida market. A true success story, she continually focused on professional development earning numerous advanced designations and certifications to enhance her ability to bring expert advice to her clients and the community as a whole. Her leadership within the real estate community has attracted many of the area’s top agents to join her firm.
Ackley’s professional expertise in residential and commercial real estate development is often sought out by those looking to help build our “future” community. As an active believer in the strength of Osceola County, she has personally undertaken a number of significant development projects including the development of the luxury golf community Kissimmee Bay CC. Beyond her business interests, Ackley is deeply committed to the citizens of central Florida. She has strong ties to civic and service organizations and a commitment to enhancing community growth. Serving on numerous nonprofit boards, she is passionate about her charity works which are supported with both philanthropic contributions and personal time to truly support community needs.
49. Michelle Mongeon Allen
CEO, JLG Architects.
Michelle Mongeon Allen is the CEO of JLG Architects, a 100% employee-owned architecture firm that is one of Inc. Magazine’s 50 Best Places to Work in America and MSN Money’s 50 Most Admired Companies in the U.S. Past president of the Minnesota Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and one of Prairie Business Magazine’s Outstanding Woman Executives, Allen led JLG’s operations from a one-office, 15-person North Dakota architecture studio to that of a national design firm with over 100 employees in 12 markets. One of Allen’s first major points of impact was to expand JLG into Minnesota – opening the firm’s second location in Minneapolis – and to grow the company onto the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal’s Top 25 Architecture Firms list. She became a partner in 2004 and COO in 2007 and, under her guidance, transitioned ownership to the employees in 2014 so as to make JLG a legacy company.
Known for her commitment to elevating the next generation of architects, Allen has been a leader within the Minnesota Chapter of the AIA, including positions of Co-Chair of the Council of Firms, Chair of the Annual Conference on Architecture, and the aforementioned President, as well as at North Dakota State University (NDSU), where she serves as Past Chair of the Department of Architecture and Landscape Architecture Advisory Board. She is a guest lecturer at NDSU and a presenter at AIA, PSMJ, and other industry conferences, and was the State Coordinator for AIA North Dakota’s Intern Development Program from 1997 to 2002.
50. Abby Ayoub
CEO, President & Founder, Optical Academy
Abby Ayoub is the CEO, President and Founder of Optical Academy, the nation's leader in comprehensive mobile on-site and on-line eye exams, contact lens renewals and eye wear. Additionally, she is the inventor and patent holder, both nationally and globally, of Camouflage, a remarkable lens edge coating, which seals out scattered light, improves vision and reduces glare.
Ayoub has honorably served on the Better Vision Institute Advisory Council, The Children's Vision Task Force, The Computer Vision Task Force, and the Strategic Communications Committee for the Vision Council of America. While on the council, she was involved in the launch of the Globally recognized campaign, "Check Yearly, See Clearly". Ayoub graduated from St. John’s University with an undergraduate degree in medical lab technology.