Women We Admire is pleased to announce The Top 50 Women Leaders of Massachusetts for 2023. These accomplished leaders bring a unique perspective, strong work ethic, and exceptional skills to the table, resulting in innovative solutions and transformative growth. With a rich history of entrepreneurship and education, Massachusetts has built a thriving economy that spans various sectors, including finance, healthcare, biotechnology, and renewable energy. This year’s awardees play a pivotal role in driving Massachusetts’s vibrant and robust economy and contributing to its highly educated workforce. Their presence not only empowers other women to pursue leadership roles but also paves the way for a more inclusive and prosperous future for the state.
Among this year’s awardees is Jennifer Chadwick, Chief Scientific Officer at ProtaGene, who has an extensive publication record including approximately 75 peer-reviewed publications, 13 patents, and four book chapters. Awardee Amelia Dunlop, US Chief Experience Officer of Deloitte Digital, leads a team of problem-solvers who use human-centered design and customer insights strategy to help organizations shift their focus from the customer experience to the human experience. Also awarded is Rosa Colon-Kolacko, Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer of Tufts Medicine, who is a seasoned leader with over 25 years of experience making significant contributions in the global pharmaceuticals, health systems, academia, government, and nonprofit spaces
Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of The Top 50 Women Leaders of Massachusetts for 2023.
1. Amelia Dunlop
US Chief Experience Officer, Deloitte Digital
As US Chief Experience Officer at Deloitte Digital, Amelia Dunlop helps companies develop winning strategies that combine innovation, design, and strategy. She is passionate about elevating the human experience and exploring how organizations can connect with the humans they call customers, workers, or partners. Her first book, the bestselling Elevating the Human Experience: Three Paths to Love and Worth at Work, explores the value of love and worth in the workplace. As co-author of the bestselling The Four Factors of Trust: How Organizations Can Earn Lifelong Loyalty, she examines why building and measuring trust is the path to loyalty.
Amelia leads a team of problem-solvers who use human-centered design and customer insights strategy to help organizations shift their focus from the customer experience to the human experience. She loves helping clients tackle their toughest problems by creating more human experiences, earning them long-term loyalty and trust in the process. For her work, she received Consulting Magazine’s 2020 Top Women in Technology Award for Excellence in Innovation.
Amelia writes and speaks regularly about the human experience, design, and customer strategy. Her thought leadership has appeared in Harvard Business Review, MIT Sloan Management Review, Forbes, Wired, Thrive Global, and Entrepreneur. She also serves on the board of MacDowell, a national not-for-profit organization that creates space for artists. Born in London, Amelia has lived and worked across Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and India. She lives with her husband, the award-winning novelist Andrew Krivak, in Boston with their three children.
2. Aimee Cardwell
SVP & Chief Information Security Officer, UnitedHealth Group
Aimee Cardwell is a highly accomplished Chief Information Security Officer for UnitedHealth Group. With an impressive 25 years of experience in the technology sector, including a decade in financial services, she possesses a wealth of knowledge and expertise. Aimee leads a dedicated team of cybersecurity professionals, entrusted with the crucial task of safeguarding the organization against cyber threats while upholding privacy and security requirements in IT Governance & Policy. Their efforts extend globally to protect the technology assets of members, patients, providers, partners, and colleagues.
Throughout her career, Aimee has excelled in various technology-related roles. She has demonstrated her leadership abilities by spearheading large IT organizations, shaping technology strategies, establishing and enforcing governance frameworks, overseeing cybersecurity operations, and executing successful IT acquisitions. Notably, Aimee has collaborated with renowned companies such as eBay, PayPal, and American Express on projects involving mobile device security, mobile wallet and consumer security patterns, and the development of anti-fraud capabilities for Optum Financial. Her deep involvement in internet security dates back to the early days of the consumer internet when she played a pivotal role in building one of the first online stores at Netscape.
Outside of her professional pursuits, Aimee finds solace and inspiration in the world of culinary arts. She dedicates her spare time to exploring the science, art, and meditative practice of cooking and serving food to those she holds dear. This passion reflects her commitment to creating meaningful experiences and nurturing the well-being of others.
3. Dawn McAuliffe
Executive Vice President, Randstad
Dawn McAuliffe is an experienced sales and operations executive with a remarkable track record at Randstad. As the Executive Vice President of Randstad North America's Sales and Business Operations organization, she is deeply committed to learning and people development. Dawn leads the change management and knowledge evolution at Randstad, working closely with a team of educators to ensure that business models and products are aligned with efficient processes. Through multidimensional learning, clear communication strategies, and the right tools, they strive to outperform expectations.
In her previous role as SVP of sales and business operations, Dawn had a range of responsibilities. She oversaw the Knowledge group, where new hires and managers received education on Randstad's business processes to enhance productivity goals. She also managed the Continuity group, which developed processes and key performance indicators for success within Randstad. Additionally, she led the Project Management and Intelligence groups, which focused on enterprise projects and analysis to drive growth.
Dawn's overarching objective is to position Randstad's field organization for above-market performance in the present and future. She achieves this by conceptualizing and optimizing products and services, ensuring that managers and employees are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in their roles.
4. Cindy Stockwell
Vice President, The TJX Companies, Inc.
Cindy Stockwell, a noted visionary in media strategy, creativity, and organizational structure, made a significant impact when she successfully launched Trilia Media, a part of the Hill Holliday Group, in 2015. With a strong belief in the power of deep data insights and creative use of media and technology to drive business success, Cindy led Trilia/Hill Holliday Media to impressive growth and diversification in today's complex multi-media market.
Under Cindy's leadership, the agency's programmatic practice thrived under a unique structure, delivering lower fees for clients while increasing engagement metrics by 2-5 times and reducing acquisition costs by 15-50%. She unified the data and analytics teams, forming a new Decision Science practice focused on making better marketing and media decisions faster through data and technology.
Cindy's unwavering focus on meeting and exceeding client KPIs has resulted in remarkable client longevity, with an average client tenure of 12 years under her leadership. This commitment has garnered considerable industry recognition, with Trilia/Hill Holliday Media receiving annual awards for multiple clients from prestigious publications such as AdWeek, Media Magazine, MediaPost, Digiday, MMA, IAB, 4A's, and The Ad Club. Cindy's accomplishments include being recognized as an Ad Club Media Maven and an All-Star by both Adweek and OMMA.
5. Erika Pabo
Chief Transformation Officer & Central Operations, Centerwell & Conviva, Humana
Erika Pabo is an executive leader and social entrepreneur who is dedicated to transforming the healthcare system for the better. With her extensive background in value-based insurance and care delivery, Pabo is committed to meeting the needs of individual patients and populations while ensuring sustainability over time. She currently serves as the Chief Transformation Officer and Operations Officer of Centerwell and Conviva of Humana.
Before joining Humana, Pabo served as medical director for population health and associate medical director for Brigham and Women's Hospital Primary Care Center of Excellence. Her responsibilities included managing population health, overseeing primary care growth, and driving care delivery innovation.
Pabo earned an undergraduate degree in history of medicine from Yale College, a medical degree from Harvard Medical School, and an MBA from Harvard Business School. She completed her residency in internal medicine in both the primary care and management and leadership tracks at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and is ABIM board certified in internal medicine.
6. Rosa Colon-Kolacko
Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer, Tufts Medicine
Rosa Colon-Kolacko is a seasoned leader with over 25 years of experience in spearheading diversity, inclusion, and equity strategies, as well as managing change management teams and various human resource functions across a range of industries and geographical locations. She has made significant contributions to global pharmaceuticals, health systems, academia, government, and nonprofit boards.
Rosa’s impressive professional background includes serving as the chief diversity officer and SVP of the Learning Institute at Christiana Care Health System in Delaware, as well as holding the position of SVP and chief people officer at NY City Health + Hospital. Additionally, Rosa successfully ran her own diversity and global learning consulting firm, catering to esteemed clients such as Jefferson Health and Baptist Health in South Florida.
During her earlier career, Rosa held influential positions at Bristol Myers-Squibb and SmithKline Beecham (now GlaxoSmithKline). She earned a PhD in organizational development and change from Benedictine University, an MBA from Henley Business School at the University of Reading in England, and a post-graduate marketing diploma from the Chartered Institute of Marketing in London. She has made significant contributions to academia, holding positions as a professor of professional practice at Bowling Green State University and as adjunct faculty at Georgetown University, the University of Delaware, and Thomas Jefferson University.
7. Praveen Sharma
CEO & President, BitSense
Praveen Sharma heads security and privacy with a balance of strategic and tactical perspectives for BitSense. Before this role, she headed the IT Cyber Security Innovations department as well as the security and privacy of HealthSuite Insights Platform of Philips Healthcare. In her current role, she is responsible for the strategic roadmap as well as the technical execution of innovative tools, concepts, and technologies in support of Philips IT security. In particular, she directs the development of tools, concepts, and technologies to rapidly mitigate existing and emerging threats, oversees large-scale systems assessments that include providing application defense and deception approaches, red-teaming, designing metrics for assessing enterprise security, and evaluates the risks of emerging technologies such as IoT and migration of enterprise applications in the cloud.
In addition, Sharma has collaborated with her peer groups regarding risk, compliance, and information awareness, security operation center, security engineering, business engagement, and the group responsible for deploying security solutions on Philips infrastructure. Sharma is also a liaison for Philips relationship with Cybersecurity at MIT. Before this position, she leads research and engineering programs for DoD and DHS. She has several patents and has authored more than 10 papers.
8. Alison Erbig
CFO, Liberty Mutual Global Risk Solutions
Alison Erbig, the Chief Financial Officer of Liberty Mutual Global Risk Solutions, leads a dynamic and global finance and risk team, emphasizing the importance of embedded partnerships with the business. With an extensive career within Liberty, she has gained experience across various departments within the Finance organization. Alison recognizes that collaboration and transparency are crucial elements in positioning Finance as a strategic support function.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Alison is a passionate advocate for women and girls, actively championing Liberty Mutual's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) goals. She plays a pivotal role as a co-chair on the Career committee of WE@Liberty, an employee resource group dedicated to empowering and elevating women. Additionally, Alison serves as a board member of Girls on the Run Greater Boston, a nonprofit organization that promotes empowerment through physical activities.
9. Sandra Sims-Williams
Chief Diversity Officer, Nielsen
As Chief Diversity Officer of Nielson, Sandra Sims-Williams leads Nielsen's diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) team, driving efforts to cultivate a more inclusive culture within the organization and enhance diverse representation. Having joined Nielsen in January 2020 as SVP of diversity and inclusion, Sandra had already been instrumental in shaping and executing Nielsen's D&I strategy for both the Media and Connect businesses. With over 30 years of experience, she is a transformative leader who effectively aligns diversity and inclusion strategies with broader corporate initiatives.
Before her tenure at Nielsen, Sandra served as the CDO at Publicis Groupe, where she developed expertise in diverse leadership development, retention programming, analytics and effectiveness, supplier diversity, multicultural talent acquisition, and cross-functional initiatives to foster diversity and inclusion. Sandra earned an undergraduate degree from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, and a master’s degree from Hunter College in New York.
Recognized for her outstanding contributions, Sandra was included in several prestigious lists, including the Black Enterprise Top Corporate Executives, The Inaugural Champion by Adweek & ADCOLOR, and SAVOY Magazine's Most Influential Women in Corporate America. She actively participates in advancing diversity in the advertising industry, serving on The Advertising Industry's Diversity Steering Committee and holding board positions at New York Women in Communication, the Advertising Club of New York, and ColorComm.
10. Anelise Sacks
EVP & Chief Customer Officer, Analog Devices
Anelise Sacks, serving as Executive Vice President & Chief Customer Officer at Analog Devices (ADI), plays a pivotal role in shaping the company's customer strategy and ensuring the seamless delivery of innovative solutions to a diverse customer base worldwide. With her comprehensive oversight, she spearheads global sales, digital transformation, solutions development, data analytics, marketing, communications, and sustainability teams, all geared towards advancing ADI's vision of engineering good and enriching the end-to-end customer experience. Moreover, she focuses on expanding ADI's go-to-market strategies across various channels and ecosystems.
Before joining Analog Devices, Sacks amassed a wealth of experience at Texas Instruments, where she held multiple leadership positions for 15 years, driving growth in their analog, digital, and software technology portfolio. Her responsibilities encompassed investment strategy, product roadmap definition, new product development, marketing, systems, and application engineering, as well as technology advancement. Before Texas Instruments, she worked as a research and development engineer at Bosch, further augmenting her expertise.
Sacks boasts a diverse skill set, acquired through her experiences across different geographies, technologies, sales, and business units. Having lived on three continents and speaking five languages, she brings a global perspective to her role. She holds a degree in electric and electronic engineering from the Federal University in Rio de Janeiro, along with an MBA with merit from the Open University Business School in the UK. She has also participated in executive education programs at Harvard Business School and INSEAD.
11. Andi Karaboutis
Group Chief Information & Digital Officer, National Grid
Andi Karaboutis is the Group Chief Information and Digital Officer at National Grid where she is tasked with spearheading innovation and frontier technologies that will position the company at the forefront of the energy future. With a track record of driving transformative change, Andi has made significant contributions to various industries throughout her career.
During her tenure as EVP of technology, business solutions, and corporate affairs at Biogen, Andi introduced cutting-edge digital and data capabilities that unlocked substantial value across the drug discovery, development, and delivery processes. Before this, she served as VP and CIO at Dell, Inc., where she played a role in driving value through efficiencies, innovation, and disciplined change management. Andi previously held key leadership positions at General Motors and Ford Motor Company. She has successfully led transformative initiatives for renowned global brands such as Dell Inc, Biogen, General Motors Corporation, and Ford Motor Company, delivering tangible business value.
Andi earned an undergraduate degree in computer science from Wayne State University, where she was recognized as a merit scholar. She also contributes her insights and expertise as an independent board director for Aon plc and Perrigo plc, in addition to her previous role as an independent director for Aspen Technology, Advance Auto Parts, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts.
12. Jennifer Chadwick
Chief Scientific Officer, ProtaGene
Jennifer Chadwick, the Chief Scientific Officer of ProtaGene and Site Head in Boston, brings an impressive background of two decades leading scientific teams in the biotech industry and academia. With expertise in the development of biologics and gene therapy products, she has established herself as a well-recognized expert in the field. Before her current role, she served as VP of analytical development and biologic development at BioAnalytix for four years, where she contributed significantly to the company's success.
Before her industry career, Chadwick held a tenured professorship at the University of Kansas, where she conducted research in the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry. Her academic work focused on unraveling the molecular mechanisms underlying protein instability and exploring methods to stabilize proteins using exogenous compounds. During her twelve-year tenure at the university, she actively participated in biologic drug development and collaborated with various pharmaceutical and biotech companies, providing valuable insights into stability problems and formulation challenges in therapeutic proteins.
Dr. Chadwick has an extensive publication record including approximately 75 peer-reviewed publications, 13 patents, and four book chapters. Her thought leadership articles on the analytical development of gene therapy products have further contributed to the scientific community's understanding of this emerging field. She has served as an associate director of CASSS and has been a member of the Steering Committee for academic-industry relations at the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council. Additionally, she holds the position of Visiting Scholar in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Northeastern University. Dr. Chadwick earned her PhD from Purdue University.
13. Shari Eaton
Chief People Officer, Chobani
Shari Eaton, the Chief People Officer at Chobani, brings a wealth of experience and expertise to her role. With a strong background in HR, she has played a crucial role in developing foundational people & safety/security infrastructure and operating models throughout her career. Shari collaborates with an exceptional leadership team, including the chief legal officer and general counsel, the CIO, and the chief of strategic operations, and oversees the Talent Acquisition & Development department. She plays a pivotal role in shaping the organization's people-related strategies and initiatives.
Before joining Chobani, Shari held key positions at prominent companies, including Peloton Interactive and Amazon Go, where she served as the SVP, global head of people, and national leader, respectively. She holds a business degree from American InterContinental University and a real estate license from Coldwell Banker. She has also pursued further education in compensation studies, earning a degree from Cornell University.
14. Betsy Ward
Chief Financial Officer, MassMutual
Betsy Ward leverages her uncommon depth of expertise in finance, asset management, and global risk management in the insurance industry to both transform and provide informed insights to accelerate growth. Her significant experience as MassMutual's Chief Financial Officer, Chief Enterprise Risk Officer, and investment portfolio management roles for several insurance companies equip her with a broad understanding of varying strategy and execution challenges in the insurance environment in the U.S. and globally.
Having co-founded an insurance investment management firm focused on independent life, health, and property/casualty insurance mandates, she has an entrepreneurial approach to leading and collaborating with teams in small and large corporations. Betsy earned an undergraduate degree in economics and Spanish from the University of Rochester.
15. Krystyna Gielo-Perczak
President, MultiBiomech
Krystyna Gielo-Perczak currently holds the position of President at MultiBiomech. With an extensive tenure spanning from 2007, she has made significant contributions to the company's specialization in biomechanics research, musculoskeletal modeling, multidisciplinary research and analysis, human factors design, and ergonomics.
Before MultiBiomech, Gielo-Perczak served as a scientist at Scientist Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety. Before that, she held the position of visiting professor at the University of Oregon. Throughout her career, Gielo-Perczak has also collaborated with the University of Turin as a visiting research scientist, further augmenting her breadth of experience in her respective field. Her academic achievements include a PhD in mechanical engineering and biomechanics, as well as an MS in control systems, both of which were obtained from the Warsaw University of Technology.
With her comprehensive background, diverse expertise, and commitment to advancing the fields of biomechanics and human factors design, Gielo-Perczak continues to make significant contributions to MultiBiomech's success and the broader scientific community as a whole.
16. Rebecca Mishuris
Chief Medical Information Officer and VP, Mass General Brigham
Rebecca Mishuris serves as the Chief Medical Information Officer and Vice President of Mass General Brigham, a distinguished integrated academic healthcare system renowned for its collaborative efforts in addressing the most challenging issues in medicine, both locally and globally. Mass General Brigham fosters seamless continuity of care through its network of prestigious academic medical centers, specialized and community hospitals, physician networks, a health insurance plan, community health centers, home care services, and long-term care facilities. As a nonprofit organization, they remain steadfastly committed to delivering exceptional patient care, advancing groundbreaking research, promoting innovative education, and serving the community with unwavering dedication.
With a career spanning over two decades, Dr. Mishuris has established herself as a proficient and highly accomplished healthcare leader. Before joining Mass General Brigham, she served as the chief medical information officer at Boston Medical Center and held the position of assistant professor of medicine at Boston University School of Medicine. She contributed her expertise as a consultant at American Management Systems during the earlier stages of her career.
Dr. Mishuris obtained her MD from the Boston University School of Medicine, augmented by an MPH in clinical effectiveness from the Harvard School of Public Health. Additionally, she holds a master’s degree in physiology and biophysics from Georgetown University and an undergraduate degree in biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
17. Kameelah Benjamin-Fuller
Chief Diversity Officer & CSR Leader, PTC
Kameelah Benjamin-Fuller is a multifaceted individual who drives transformational change as an activist, champion of equity, diversity, and inclusion, musician, and mom. In her role as Chief Diversity Officer and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Leader at PTC, she is entrusted with spearheading the company's efforts to fully activate opportunities in this space. With an impressive track record spanning over two decades, Kameelah has amassed extensive experience in DEI and CSR initiatives across various industries, including entertainment, financial services, technology, and travel. Her unwavering passion lies in empowering individuals, communities, and organizations to recognize their potential in effecting impactful change through strong brands, healthy environments, and a clear sense of purpose.
Kameelah's breadth of work encompasses collaborations with prominent organizations such as Gillette/P&G, Korn Ferry, youth programs, social justice organizations, and correctional facilities. Notably, she co-founded and led the ED+I department at Tripadvisor, propelling a small program into a global initiative that extended efforts into the workplace and product experience. Additionally, as the founder of G-Rock Music, Kameelah has dedicated recent years to uplifting the voices of womxn in rock and womxn of color in music. Through her collective, she creates forums and platforms for artists to share their stories and showcase their craft, highlighting emerging, renowned, and legendary talents.
Kameelah holds an undergraduate degree in government from Cornell University and a master's in African-New world studies from Florida International University. With her diverse background and expertise, she continues to make a significant impact in the realms of activism, DEI, CSR, and music, leaving an indelible mark on the path toward a more inclusive and equitable future.
18. Marianne Budnik
Chief Marketing Officer, Talon Cyber Security
Marianne Budnik is an accomplished senior executive with over 25 years of operating experience in the technology industry, specializing in cybersecurity, networking, application management, and enterprise storage. Currently serving as the Chief Marketing Officer for Talon Cyber Security, Marianne has held similar roles at prominent companies such as CrowdStrike, where she also spearheaded the company's diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. She contributes as an independent director at F5, where she actively participates in the audit and risk oversight committee. Additionally, she serves as an independent director at Cerence, where she is a member of both the compensation committee and the nominating and corporate governance committee.
Marianne's previous positions include chief marketing officer at CyberArk, SimpliVity, Acme Packet, and CA Technologies. She also held the role of an independent director and member of the compensation committee at Schibsted Global Media.
With a reputation as a recognized industry and business leader, Marianne has built a personal brand as a builder, transformer, and innovator. Her influence extends beyond her professional responsibilities, as she is a frequent speaker at events such as Women in Cybersecurity and various business, industry, and academic gatherings worldwide. Marianne's extensive experience, diverse skill set, and commitment to fostering inclusion make her an exceptional leader in the technology sector.
19. Beth Downie
Chief Information Officer, Newton-Wellesley Hospital of Mass General Brigham
Beth Downie has been an integral part of Newton-Wellesley Hospital for over two decades, serving as the Chief Information Officer since 2011. With more than 30 years of healthcare IT experience, Beth began her career at the hospital in 1999 as an applications analyst and steadily assumed greater responsibilities, ultimately earning her promotion to the CIO position. Newton-Wellesley Hospital, a member of the Mass General Brigham system, has greatly benefited from Beth's expertise and leadership.
Throughout her tenure, Beth has successfully spearheaded numerous technology upgrades and implementations within the Information Services Department. In addition to her contributions at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Beth has enriched her knowledge and experience by working at two Massachusetts-based healthcare software vendors and two community hospitals within the state. Her diverse background has further honed her skills in healthcare IT, enabling her to bring a comprehensive perspective to her role as CIO.
Beth's educational background includes an undergraduate degree in psychology from Stonehill College, and she is a member of the Health Information and Management Systems Society. With her wealth of experience, dedication, and continuous pursuit of innovation, Beth Downie remains a pivotal figure in advancing the technology-driven healthcare landscape at Newton-Wellesley Hospital.
20. Shannon Gath
Chief Information Officer, Teradyne
Shannon Gath is a senior technology executive with a career spanning over 25 years. She has played a vital role in assisting both public and privately held technology, life sciences, and financial services companies in achieving global growth. Shannon's impressive track record showcases her leadership abilities in spearheading large-scale transformative IT initiatives. Currently serving as the Chief Information Officer at Teradyne, a prominent global test and industrial automation company with a market value of $3.7 billion, Shannon continues to drive innovation and technology adoption. Her strategic vision and expertise have been recognized through numerous accolades, including being named a finalist twice for the prestigious Boston CIO of the Year Awards.
Shannon has been named one of the Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Technology by the National Diversity Council and has also been recognized as a Rising Star by the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association. Beyond her professional achievements, she actively contributes to various nonprofit organizations, serving on the board of directors for Women's Money Matters, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering low-income women and girls by fostering financial literacy, confidence, and security. Additionally, she is a board member for SustainableIT.org, a nonprofit committed to advancing global sustainability through technology leadership.
21. Carmen Bozic
Chief Medical Officer & EVP, Vertex Pharmaceuticals
Carmen Bozic brings extensive expertise in leading global clinical development programs across various phases of development and multiple diseases and therapeutic modalities. Since joining Vertex in 2019, she has played a vital role in the company's clinical development programs, overseeing areas such as clinical development, medical affairs, drug safety, global clinical operations, and biometrics. Her experience and leadership skills have been instrumental in driving the execution of these programs.
Having graduated with a medical degree from McGill University, Carmen furthered her education with a residency in internal medicine, where she excelled and eventually served as chief resident. She pursued a combined fellowship in pulmonary and critical care medicine at renowned medical institutions, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
Carmen's contributions extend beyond her work at Vertex. She serves as a member of the Clinical Advisory Committee at Akili Interactive, contributing her expertise and insights to guide their clinical endeavors. In the past, she held the position of industry representative to the US Food and Drug Administration's Risk Communication Advisory Committee. Additionally, she was a member of PhRMA's Clinical and Preclinical Development Committee.
22. Nyla Saleh
Executive Vice President, Weber Shandwick
Nyla Saleh embarked on her professional journey nearly two decades ago, commencing her career as an executive assistant at MH MEDIA in 2004. Since then, she has steadily progressed through the ranks, and today holds the esteemed position of Executive Vice President at Weber Shandwick. Weber Shandwick is a strategic communications and consulting network comprising specialized creative, marketing, communications, and consulting firms, strategically designed to navigate the intersection of society, media, policy, and technology. As a premier PR agency, Weber Shandwick is dedicated to providing cutting-edge solutions to global brands, businesses, and organizations, spanning key markets worldwide.
Before her tenure at Weber Shandwick, Saleh honed her expertise at renowned firms such as Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide and Edelman, where she ascended to the position of SVP. Her educational foundation was laid at Syracuse University, where earned an undergraduate degree in public relations and Spanish.
23. Yvonne Garcia
Chief of Staff to Chairman & CEO, Global Head of Internal Communications, & Head of Global CEO Experience Program, State Street
Yvonne Garcia is a multicultural Fortune 500 C-suite executive with more than 25 years of experience. Currently, Yvonne serves as Chief of Staff to the Chairman and CEO, Global Head of Internal Communications, and Head of the Global CEO Experience Program for State Street. She serves as a strategic advisor and first point of contact across various stakeholder relationships, including employee, client, regulator, community, and investor engagement. She is responsible for aligning the vision of the chairman and CEO across key business priorities. Yvonne is also a member of the board of directors for State Street Technology Zhejiang Co. As the Global Head of Internal Communications for State Street, she drives the internal communications strategy for over 40,000 employees and numerous executive leadership platforms. She is also responsible for the oversight of a program including State Street’s most strategic clients representing over $6.5B in revenue.
As an active leader of local and national communities, Yvonne served as the chairman for the largest Latino Professional Organization in the country, ALPFA, and is currently chairman of its National Corporate Advisory Board. She also drove the implementation and launch of Small Business Strong, a nonprofit chaired by State Street chairman and CEO aimed at providing pro bono support to Massachusetts women and minority-owned small businesses, and currently serves as its Executive Director. Yvonne is also the co-founding chair of Milagros para Niños, an initiative at Boston Children’s Hospital, which has raised more than $14 million in funds for Hispanic children who cannot afford medical care.
In addition, Yvonne was appointed by Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker to serve on the state’s Latino Advisory Commission Board and was also appointed as the president of the Greater Boston Chamber’s Women’s Network. She holds an MBA from Boston University in finance and marketing, an undergraduate degree from SUNY Albany, and is a Six Sigma Black Belt. She was also awarded an honorary degree in Doctor of Humane Letters from Cambridge College in Boston, Massachusetts, and an honorary degree in Doctor of Commerce from New England School of Business.
24. Janine Fondon
President and CEO, UnityFirst Direct Inc.
Janine Fondon uses the art and science of public relations, communications, and DEI to elevate inclusive voices, engage audiences, and inspire creative thinking in a world of change. Over two decades, her work in corporations and communities has resulted in success for small businesses, diverse entrepreneurs, women leaders, and students in Massachusetts and beyond. She has created paths for connecting the digital dots in our communities and workplaces. Fondon and her husband Tom Fondon co-founded Unity First Direct, Inc as an inclusion-based direct email service, social platform, and learning community that has become one of the longest-running, independent, Black-owned multimedia platforms in Massachusetts.
Fondon also found a place for her voice in academia. After teaching at several institutions, she is now chair of undergraduate communications/assistant professor at Bay Path University. She founded and continues to direct the University's inaugural student-facing multimedia digital newsroom, launched the “On the Move Forum to Advance Women'' and created a museum exhibit, "Voices of Resilience: The Intersection of Women on the Move'' (the untold stories of women and women of color) that was first displayed at the Smithsonian-affiliated Springfield Museums. Fondon has received top scholarly prizes for this work from Bay Path University and others as well as published numerous articles.
In 2021, Fondon was named a BusinessWest magazine Difference Maker for her business leadership and qualities as a 'connector.' In 2020, she was awarded the treasured Pynchon Medal, Western Massachusetts' region's 100+-year-old public-service award, and received top creative awards from the Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts. She was also included in a book published in 2019 by Western Massachusetts' leading news publisher, The Republican, highlighting "The Power of Women." Fondon has worked at Digital Equipment Corporation, BankBoston, ABC Network, and CBS Broadcasting. She completed degrees at Colgate University, New York University, and Bay Path University.
25. Gina Coletti
Chief Fiduciary Officer, Nixon Peabody LLP
Gina Coletti embarked on her career over a decade ago, marking the genesis of her flourishing career. Currently holding the esteemed position of Chief Fiduciary Officer at Nixon Peabody LLP, a renowned law firm headquartered in Boston and ranked among the Global 100, she spearheads a team of over 700 proficient attorneys. Committed to fostering symbiotic relationships, Nixon Peabody collaborates extensively with corporations, regulatory bodies, financiers, and industry frontrunners, diligently facilitating strategic alliances, identifying lucrative prospects, and mitigating potential risks for its esteemed clientele.
Coletti's professional journey began in 2010 as an accomplished account manager at Northern Trust Corporation. Demonstrating unwavering dedication and prowess, she then advanced her career by assuming the role of trust advisor at Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP. Recognizing her remarkable acumen, she subsequently ascended to the position of senior advisor at O'Brien Wealth Partners LLC. Coletti studied at the University of South Florida, where she successfully attained an undergraduate degree in criminology.
26. Danielle Baptiste
Vice President & General Manager, Software, Onto Innovation
Danielle Baptiste serves as the Vice President & General Manager of Software at Onto Innovation, a renowned industry leader in process control. Leveraging its global presence and an extensive range of cutting-edge technologies, Onto Innovation specializes in diverse areas such as un-patterned wafer quality, 3D metrology spanning nanometer-scale transistors to large die interconnects, macro defect inspection of wafers and packages, metal interconnect composition, factory analytics, and advanced semiconductor packaging lithography. By offering comprehensive solutions across the entire semiconductor value chain, Onto Innovation empowers its customers to overcome their most challenging obstacles related to yield, device performance, quality, and reliability.
With a remarkable career spanning 29 years, Danielle Baptiste began her professional journey in 1994. Before her tenure at Onto Innovation, she held the role of associate vice president of product management at HCL Software, and before that, she served as an executive director of offering management at IBM. Earlier in her career, she excelled as an account executive at McAfee. Danielle is an alumnus of the University of Rhode Island, where she obtained her undergraduate degree.
27. Priyanka Sharma
Vice President, World Education
Priyanka Sharma, as the Vice President of World Education, is responsible for overseeing various projects and centers of expertise based in the United States. These include the EdTech Center, National College Transition Network, New England Literacy Resource Center, and SABES Program Support Center. World Education is a Boston-based international nonprofit dedicated to improving people's lives around the world through education and economic and social development programs rooted in basic education and literacy. Founded in 1951, World Education has worked in over 50 countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, as well as in Massachusetts and throughout the United States.
Priyanka takes charge of initiatives focusing on post-secondary career readiness, technology integration, digital transformation, and the development of digital skills. One of her key roles is co-leading Digital US, a national initiative that adopts a cross-sector approach to create a learning and working ecosystem that promotes digital resilience for all individuals engaged in learning and work. Additionally, Priyanka directs the New England Literacy Resource Center and leads collaborative projects involving policymakers, professional developers, and practitioners. She holds a degree in biology and anthropology from the State University of New York.
28. Rebecca Love
Chief Clinical Officer, IntelyCare
Rebecca Love is an exceptional nurse executive with a remarkable track record of accomplishments. She made history as the first nurse to be featured on Ted.com and the first nurse panelist at SXSW. Rebecca's expertise and contributions have garnered recognition from prestigious publications and media outlets such as BBC, Fortune, Becker's, Forbes, Chief Healthcare Executive Magazine, and ABC News. She currently serves as the Chief Clinical Officer of IntelyCare, where she continues to champion the empowerment of nurses and the creation of collaborative communities to drive healthcare innovation.
With her extensive expertise, Rebecca sits on advisory boards for leading digital health startups and organizations. She is also a co-author of two books, a founder of three companies, and an internationally sought-after speaker. Rebecca Love's unwavering dedication to empowering nurses and propelling them to the forefront of healthcare innovation and entrepreneurship is truly inspiring.
29. Jessica Veiga
Chief Marketing Officer, Botkeeper
Jessica Veiga is an accomplished B2B marketing expert, boasting an impressive background in various sectors such as software, SaaS, technology, accounting, and services. Her deep-rooted passion for social sciences and effective communication led her to the realm of sales and marketing, where she has collaborated with clients spanning diverse industries, including retail, education, and technology. With her extensive real-world experience acquired from prominent marketing and software companies in Boston, Jessica has aided countless businesses at various stages of growth, making her a highly qualified senior leader and valuable team player. Jessica's academic background also complements her practical expertise, as she holds an undergraduate degree in psychology & counseling, lending her a unique perspective in guiding organizations to enhance their outreach, narrate compelling stories, embrace digital transformation, and establish mission-focused marketing strategies.
Jessica's skill set encompasses a wide range of specialties, including branding strategy, search engine optimization (SEO), social media management, integrated marketing campaigns, web design, digital marketing, project management, email marketing, product marketing, strategy development, content creation, and public relations. Beyond her professional life, Jessica takes immense pride in being a mother to five strong and intelligent daughters. Additionally, she is an avid animal lover and enthusiastically attends Comicon events, always ready to indulge in nerdy discussions, wherever and whenever they arise.
30. Tanya Bodell
Partner & Executive Director, StoneTurn Group LLC
Tanya Bodell is a leader in the energy industry transition, serving as a trusted advisor to business executives and top levels of government. An expert in energy and its impact on the environment, she advises established businesses on their sustainability strategies, develops new entry strategies for advanced energy technologies, and serves as an expert on policy, regulatory and litigation matters, levering more than 25 years of experience in energy and environmental matters.
Tanya helps clients to unlock value through informed business decisions that create competitive advantage. She has led a number of strategic and highly quantitative analyses focused on the power sector and the fuels industry, as well as renewables, energy storage, hydrogen, and new technologies. She interacts extensively with executives, corporate boards, and senior management of energy companies, adding value through the development of business strategy, expert insights, and transaction support. She has advised on billion-dollar acquisition opportunities and managed billion-dollar energy procurement processes. Tanya also has significant experience in high-stakes regulation and litigation in which hundreds of millions of dollars are at risk in North America and abroad.
Tanya has served as the president of the Northeast Energy Commerce Association, vice chair of the International Chamber of Commerce Center for Expertise, and chair of her town’s Alternative Energy Committee. She regularly speaks on energy trends and authors articles that provide insights on business issues facing market participants operating in the energy industries.
31. Yolanda Coentro
President and CEO, Institute for Nonprofit Practice
Yolanda Coentro is the President and CEO of the Institute for Nonprofit Practice (INP), which works to transform the social impact sector into one exponentially more effective, equitable, diverse, and connected. Under Yolanda’s leadership, INP has fully integrated social justice, racial, and gender equity into its suite of leadership development programs, alumni offerings, and community convenings. Deepening programmatic impact for participants - the majority of whom are Black, Indigenous, people of color, and women - Yolanda is leading the way to expand INP’s reach, scaling nationally to serve more communities.
Yolanda has consulted with nonprofits and companies across sectors to advance organizational change while actualizing their diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging objectives. She previously held leadership roles at distinguished organizations within the greater Boston area, including The Home for Little Wanderers, YWCA Boston, and Horizons for Homeless Children. She is currently on the board of directors at The BASE, is a LEAP Ambassador, and serves on the advisory council of the Women’s Foundation of Boston along with the Center for State Policy Analysis.
Yolanda was recognized as one of The NonProfit Times’ Power & Influence Top 50 in 2020 and 2021, selected as a 2019 Barr Foundation Fellow, and featured in the Chronicle of Philanthropy among 15 More People Changing the Nonprofit World. She is a proud alumnus of the Institute for Nonprofit Practice and a graduate of Boston College where she earned an MSW.
32. Mary Boyd
President and CEO, Plymouth Rock Assurance
Mary Boyd currently serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Plymouth Rock's Independent Agency Group. With a wealth of experience in the insurance industry, Mary oversees all Independent Agency operations across the six states where Plymouth Rock conducts business. Before her role at Plymouth Rock, Mary held various senior leadership positions at The Hartford Insurance Company, including leading its personal lines agency and personal lines direct channels. Her tenure at The Hartford provided her with invaluable insights into strategy, product management, predictive analytics, and affinity marketing.
Mary's impressive career also includes significant contributions to other renowned insurance companies. She spent a considerable portion of her 25-year tenure in the industry working at ACE and Chubb. Mary holds undergraduate degrees in both applied mathematics and economics from Rutgers University.
33. Erica Melia
Senior Vice President, Digitas North America
Erica Melia serves as the Senior Vice President of Digitas North America, a company specializing in building active brands for some of the world's leading organizations. Joining the company in 2021, she brings a wealth of expertise and experience to her role. Digitas distinguishes itself by combining media creativity, technology, analytics, and a profound understanding of its clients' customers' passions and behaviors.
Before assuming her current position, Erica Melia held key roles within the industry. She previously served as an SVP at AMP Agency and, before that, held the position of VP and group director of marketing at Digitas. Her affiliation with Digitas traces back to her earlier career, where she contributed as an associate director. Melia's educational background encompasses a focus on business management, marketing, and related support services, having completed the Wharton Executive Education program. She holds an undergraduate degree in marketing from Providence College.
34. Kendalle Burlin O’Connell
Chief Executive Officer & President, MassBio
As CEO and President, Kendalle Burlin O’Connell leads the strategic direction for the organization and drives policy advocacy for the industry to ensure that Massachusetts life sciences companies have the best environment possible to research, develop, manufacture, and commercialize breakthrough therapies and cures for people around the world. Pursuing innovation and delivering for members are the hallmarks of Kendalle’s more than 14 years at MassBio, including the launch of several multi-year initiatives focused on realizing a diverse and equitable life sciences industry, supporting the continued growth and sustainability of the industry throughout Massachusetts, and providing resources and solutions to companies across the industry value chain.
Kendalle has played a critical role in MassBio’s growth into the largest life sciences trade association in the world with over 1,600 members. She has overseen the rebranding of several MassBio’s core programs and services and has led the development of the MassBioHub conference and business center. In 2022, Kendalle was instrumental in the launch of MassBio’s newest entrepreneurial accelerator program, MassBioDrive, and MassBio’s Innovation Week, two initiatives focused on advancing breakthrough science and providing opportunities for innovators from diverse backgrounds in all areas of the life sciences ecosystem. She also built a professional relationship with Beacon Capital Partners to create the MassBio workforce training center in Dorchester which will offer, once completed in late 2023, fast-track pathways to industry-aligned credentials and careers.
Kendalle is a 2022 recipient of the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce Inspire Award recognizing outstanding women leaders in the Cambridge community, a 2022 Boston power player as named by Axios, a 2021 executive fellow in the inaugural class of the Civic Action Project Collaborative, and a 2019 Boston Business Journal 40 under 40 honoree. Currently, Kendalle serves as vice chair of the Eastern New England board of directors for the American Cancer Society, co-chair of the 2022 New England ReasearcHERS program, a board of director for the Massachusetts Biotechnology Education Foundation, and an advisory committee member for the Suffolk University Law School All Rise Program. She graduated cum laude from Sacred Heart University with an undergraduate degree in economics and political science and received her JD from Suffolk University Law School.
35. LeeAnn Manning
Partner, Floyd Advisory
LeeAnn Manning is a Partner at Floyd Advisory. She is a recognized leader in both the accounting industry and the Boston community. Manning has considerable experience advising executive management, audit committees, and their counsel on a broad range of accounting, finance, and business-related issues. She has assisted legal counsel across a range of industries with business disputes, internal investigations, SEC-related matters, white-collar defense matters, government inquiries, monitorship and remediation efforts, post-acquisition disputes, and other forensic accounting assignments. Manning has presented findings and observations to several government agencies, including the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Education, and the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau. She has also provided testimony as an expert witness and has served as a neutral accountant assisting with the resolution of business disputes. In addition to her extensive work serving clients, she also leads strategic growth & people initiatives for Floyd Advisory’s Boston office.
Before joining Floyd Advisory, Manning was a managing director in the forensic and advisory services practice at Grant Thornton LLP. She was also a director in the financial consulting practice at Huron Consulting Group and previously worked at Arthur Andersen in both the audit and disputes consulting practices.
Manning is actively involved in the Boston community. She serves as chair of the board of trustees for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston (BGCB) and is a member of BGCB’s Strategic Planning, Governance, and Diversity Committees. She is also actively involved in the Massachusetts Society of CPAs, serving on the Women in Accounting Committee and the Women’s Mentor Circle. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and two daughters.
36. Andrea Falcione
Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer & Head of Advisory Services, Rethink Compliance LLC
Andrea Falcione is Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer and Head of Advisory Services at Rethink Compliance LLC (Rethink). She has over 25 years of legal and compliance experience in several different capacities. Most recently, Andrea served as managing director and compliance and ethics solutions leader at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC). She has provided governance, risk, and compliance consulting services to leading organizations since 2004.
Andrea services clients on a cross-sector basis, regularly assisting in the design, development, implementation, and assessment of corporate compliance and ethics programs, including codes of conduct, training and awareness, program and corporate governance, policies and procedures, risk culture initiatives, risk assessments, conflicts of interest, gifts, and entertainment disclosure and approval processes, investigation protocols, and reporting best practices.
Before joining Rethink, Andrea spent over five years at PwC, where she led the firm’s Compliance & Ethics consulting practice. Before that, she devoted nine years to a leading provider of ethics and compliance products, services, and solutions, where she last served as chief ethics officer and SVP of client services. Andrea also practiced law for nine years at Fleet Bank (now Bank of America) and Day, Berry & Howard LLP (now DayPitney LLP), where she was joint author of the firm’s Diversity Policy and Report. While at the bank, she supported the Capital Markets business and was a member of the Law Department’s Risk Management Committee.
37. Patricia Howard
Chief Operations Officer, Point32Health
Patricia Howard is an accomplished executive with over 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry. Currently serving as the Chief Operations Officer of Point32Health, a prominent $9.5B health insurance company based in Canton, Massachusetts, Howard is entrusted with the crucial task of developing and executing the enterprise operations strategy. As a key member of the Executive Leadership Team, she holds primary responsibility for Point32Health's Healthcare Services, overseeing much of the organization.
Recognized for her commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Howard has spearheaded various initiatives and hosted influential figures like Mellody Hobson Lucas in a Fireside Chat on "The Power of Diversity." Her contributions earned her recognition in the May 2020 Anniversary Issue of "O" Magazine.
Howard's educational background includes attending Upsala College and being a member of the Darden School of Business & Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She has also completed executive leadership programs through the BCBS Association and United HealthGroup and is a member of HFMA. Howard resides in both Boston, Massachusetts and New Jersey with her husband, Carl Howard, a retired NFL Player turned IT executive, along with their three children and two bonus children. With her wealth of experience and dedication, Howard continues to make a significant impact in the healthcare industry.
38. Viv Rettke
Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer, Cole Haan
Viv Rettke, the Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer of Cole Haan, commenced her tenure with the company in 2022. Since its establishment as an independently owned entity in 2013, Cole Haan has experienced substantial growth both domestically and internationally. Renowned for pioneering merchandise that seamlessly combines functionality and versatility, exemplified by its highly acclaimed ZerøGrand and GrandSeries product lines, Cole Haan has secured a distinctive leadership position within the market. The company continually disrupts, reinvents, and sets the pace in the realm of contemporary footwear, bags, outerwear, and accessories, catering specifically to the preferences of young, urban professionals who prioritize style, adaptability, and comfortable functionality in their product choices.
Before her current role, Rettke served as the head of transformation at Reebok and previously held the position of head of sales of center store grocery at The Kraft Heinz Company. Early in her career, she contributed her expertise as a management associate at Citi. Rettke earned an MBA in finance and marketing from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, and an undergraduate degree in economics from Williams College.
39. Allison Iantosca
President and Owner, F. H. Perry Builder
Allison Iantosca has an undergraduate degree from Skidmore College and has studied business and leadership extensively, including certifications in Skills for Influential Leaders and Leadership in the 21st Century at the Gestalt International Study Center. She is the owner and president of Boston-based business FH Perry Builder, and, in parallel, works with individuals and teams in multiple industries. Allison is a GISC-trained coach and is a certified ACC by the International Coaching Federation.
Allison joined her family business in 2000 and became owner in 2008. During her tenure with the company, she has served on many industry boards and was a member of the Boston Chamber’s Future Leaders class of 2008. Allison has served as a trustee on several nonprofit boards and supports the industry serving as a mentor for Professional Remodeling Organization and as a national remodeling thought leader.
Allison has been recognized as a Banker and Tradesman New Leader, a Professional Remodeler magazine Rock Star and was named to the Commonwealth Institute’s list of Top 100 Women Led Businesses three years in a row. She was named a Distinguished Mentor by Design New England Magazine and most recently, FH Perry Builder was inducted into the New England Design Hall of Fame. In March of 2023, Allison published Leading with HEART a collection of essays offering a reflection on a model of leadership that focuses on the leader as a learner inside a business construct that is highly personal and extremely human.
40. Jessica Sacchetti
President, 20-20 Services LLC
Jessica Sacchetti is the President of 20-20 Services LLC. As President, Jessica is passionate about developing learning programs that help professionals meet their goals. Jessica brings 20 years of experience in the accounting industry, working with accountants, auditors, and tax professionals. She continues to work closely with employers and individuals to create learning solutions that address key organizational and individual needs. Before her current role, Jessica led the product development efforts at 20-20 Services, LLC. She specialized in creating and customizing training programs to best meet the needs of young professionals nationwide.
Jessica began her career at Deloitte & Touche LLP where she served as an audit manager. She is a CPA, licensed in Massachusetts, and is a member of the AICPA. Jessica holds an undergraduate degree in accounting from Stonehill College in Easton and an MA and master’s degree in taxation from Bentley University in Waltham, MA. Jessica has also served as an adjunct faculty member in the Business Department at Stonehill College in Easton, MA.
41. Victoria Conte
Chief Operating Officer, MatchPoint Franchise Consulting Network
Victoria Conte is the Chief Operating Officer of MatchPoint Franchise Consulting Network. MatchPoint is the world's largest dedicated franchise consultancy network with consultants in Europe, North America, Mexico, and the Middle East. Being members of the International Franchise Association (IFA), they are experts in franchising and have been successfully matching individuals to business opportunities since 2006.
Victoria is a passionate media expert and high-achieving entrepreneur who learned at an early age what it takes to be a successful business owner while maintaining a high ethical standard. She has over 25 years in global business strategy and the evaluation and development of franchise networks across the world.
In addition to her roles at MatchPoint, Victoria is the COO and co-host of What is Your Pre-Game where she develops and implements budgets, and sponsorship strategies and provides operational direction. She’s also the founder and president of The Victoria Group, providing operations, marketing, and sales strategies for growing companies to the next level. Victoria graduated from Antioch University with a master’s degree in legal studies and from the University of Rhode Island with an undergraduate degree in business administration.
42. Sara Pouladian
CFO, North Shore Realty Advisors
Sara Pouladian is a licensed Real Estate Agent at North Shore Realty Advisors Inc in Massachusetts and specializes in investment sales and management consisting of multi-family, mixed-use, and 1031 exchanges. Sara has 20 years of real estate experience and has expertise facilitating complex transactions along with Management of +3MM SF of properties. During her real estate and management career, Sara was the senior portfolio manager/general manager for the Master Association of the Ritz Carlton properties in Boston, which included 3 residential condominium towers (369 homes), hotel, Equinox, AMC, commercial/residential garage and numerous retail tenants. Along with her mixed-use management, she has also managed a large multi-family market and affordable properties. Her expertise allows her buyers and sellers a rare opportunity of understanding the upside of the market. Her financial and project management background benefits all involved to increase their return. North Shore Realty Advisors Inc sold $100+ million in 2022-2023 of investment properties ranging from 6-100 units.
Sara grew up in Florida and has resided in Massachusetts for 25 years where she purchased Commercial, Industrial, and Residential properties during her childhood. She is a Certified Property Manager and a Notary. Sara obtained her undergraduate degree in business administration from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts.
43. Maryalice DeCamp
Managing Director, EY
Maryalice DeCamp serves as a Managing Director in the Boston Life Sciences practice of EY. As Global Client Service Partner, she has been instrumental in helping senior client leaders implement strategies to grow and transform their organizations, capture market share and strengthen financial results. She brings more than 25 years of experience in emerging technologies and the disruptive forces shaping today’s business environment. Maryalice has an abiding commitment to going above and beyond in serving her clients while making a positive impact on people, businesses, and the planet. She brings together ideas and connections that matter most to solve complex challenges.
Before her ten years at EY, Maryalice was a chief audit executive at a publicly-traded company, a partner at Computer Sciences Corporation, and held leadership roles at IBM Global Services and Jefferson Wells, all of which shaped her professional experience. She takes an active leadership role within EY, supporting the Entrepreneur of the Year Program, co-leading the Life Sciences Health Equity in Clinical Trials Panel Forum, and acting as a mentor to many. She recently served as the community engagement leader of the Boston People Advisory Board. Outside of EY Maryalice serves on the programming committee of the National Association of Corporate Directors of New England and is a board member of the Center for Women & Enterprise.
As a recipient of Pennsylvania’s Best 50 Women in Business in 2002, Maryalice has always been passionate about gender equity, health equity, and paving the way for the next generation of diverse leaders. She holds an undergraduate degree in economics from Rutgers University and a certificate from the Harvard Business School Strategic Leadership Program. She also is a dual American and Irish citizen.
44. Paula Johnson
President, Wellesley College
Dr. Paula A. Johnson, the 14th president of Wellesley College, has dedicated her groundbreaking career to empowering women to thrive in various fields. Since assuming her role in 2016, she has spearheaded Wellesley's position as a leader in STEM education for women and guided the development of a bold new strategic plan that prioritizes inclusive excellence within the institution.
As a physician-scientist, Johnson has made significant contributions to improving women's health outcomes globally. Her work has focused on addressing gender biases in clinical care and medical research, recognizing the intersection of biological factors, such as sex, with social determinants of health like race. She founded the Connors Center for Women's Health and Gender Biology at Brigham and Women's Hospital, where she revolutionized disease understanding by acknowledging the influence of sex in disease presentation.
Before her presidency at Wellesley, Dr. Johnson held positions at Harvard Medical School and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Her accolades include membership in the National Academy of Medicine and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. She has been recognized with the Alma Dea Morani Renaissance Woman Award from the Women in Medicine Legacy Foundation and the Stephen Smith Medal for Distinguished Contributions in Public Health from the New York Academy of Medicine. Her educational background includes A.B., MD, and MPH degrees from Harvard University.
45. Tamie Thompson
Managing Director, JLL
Tamie Thompson is a strategic real estate advisor at JLL focusing on science and technology companies, site selection, relocation, and negotiation services. She started her career in 1980 at Spaulding and Slye by becoming the first woman broker in any firm in Boston. During her 40-plus-year career, she has held numerous leadership and managerial positions as a trailblazer for women. Among her many achievements, she was a partner at Spaulding and Slye before the companies’ sale to JLL in 2006. She was the first woman president of the Commercial Brokerage Association and the first woman awarded the prestigious Commercial Brokerage Association Broker of the Year Award in 2005 for a career of leadership, charitable giving, and high ethical standings. There have only been three women to receive this honor. In 2011 she was named to the Boston Business Journal’s Women’s Business Hall of Fame and was recently awarded the 2022 CREW Leadership Award, the organization’s highest honor.
Over the years she has been a featured industry speaker and served on numerous boards including The Pingree School in Hamilton, Mass and the Sport Museum (Boston) where she is currently serving on the board of director’s executive committee. The Sports Museum is a nonprofit representing the best in community outreach, leveraging the power of sports and athletes to motivate at-risk kids to participate in transformative educational programs such as the award-winning program Boston Vs Bullies.
Tamie attended Boston College and was named the female athlete of the year in 1980, inducted into the BC Hall of Fame in 1985 for soccer and lacrosse. She was the first woman president of any Division I Varsity Club in the country, and in 2021 was named one of six Legends of Boston College Athletics, the only woman named.
46. Kelly Lear Nordby
Managing Director, Ankura Consulting Group
Dr. Kelly Lear Nordby is an economist and Managing Director at Ankura Consulting Group based in Boston. She specializes in applying economics, econometrics, finance, and statistics to antitrust, consumer, mass torts, and other complex commercial disputes.
Kelly has over 20 years of experience providing clients with rigorous economic analyses of damages, loss, and class certification issues. She has submitted expert reports and provided testimony in arbitration and federal court proceedings. Kelly has worked on matters involving allegations of price fixing, bundling, foreclosure, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of statutory duty, non-disclosure of product defects, abusive tax shelters, environmental contamination, crop damages, property value diminution, patent infringement, and patent misuse. These matters span a broad range of industries, including agriculture, airlines, automobiles, banking, chemicals, energy, freight transportation, healthcare, mortgage servicing, pharmaceuticals, retail pharmacies, vaccines, memory storage, and other consumer products. Kelly directs analyses of large datasets and is adept at using a variety of econometric modeling techniques, including regression analysis, conjoint analysis, difference-in-differences, and synthetic control methods. In addition, she applies her expertise in finance to analyze or develop models of counterfactual investment portfolio returns, lost profits, reasonable royalties, and prejudgment interest.
Kelly also conducts research and has published articles on class certification, antitrust, and industrial organization. Previously, Kelly taught graduate and undergraduate level economics and statistics courses at Northeastern University, the University of San Francisco, Indiana University - Purdue University at Indianapolis, and Indiana University. Kelly has also held positions with other global consulting firms. She is an active volunteer and has served as treasurer for two non-profit organizations.
47. Michelle Higginson
COO & Co-Founder, Inlightened
Michelle Higginson is a highly accomplished operator and marketing professional, boasting over a decade of diverse experience spanning the technology and healthcare sectors. Her career began in fast-paced startup environments, where she played a pivotal role in driving exponential growth. Notably, she contributed to the launch of content marketing and customer advisory board practices for LogMeIn, a globally recognized top 10 SaaS company. This early success set the stage for Michelle's future accomplishments.
Transitioning to the healthcare field, Michelle took on the role of leading marketing and communications for the Heart Center and Pediatric Transplant Center at Boston Children's Hospital. Her visionary approach and meticulous execution enabled her to direct multiple award-winning campaigns, pilots, and initiatives from inception to completion. Michelle's dedication to the healthcare space and her ability to effectively communicate complex messages proved invaluable in creating a positive impact.
Michelle holds an undergraduate degree in marketing from Bentley University, where she also double majored in media arts & society. Complementing her undergraduate degree, she earned her MBA from Bentley's McCallum Graduate School of Business.
48. Lily Leedom
Founder & CEO, Saltery
Lily Leedom is a remarkable entrepreneur, business owner, and the Founder and CEO of Saltery. After spending 15 years in the corporate world of Real Estate Investment, Development & Sales, Lily followed her lifelong entrepreneurial spirit and established Saltery in 2018. In her kitchen, she experimented with pots of slowly evaporated salt water until she discovered the perfect formula, resulting in exquisite, pure sea salt with the desired consistency and texture. Recognizing the growing demand for all-natural, healthy food options, Lily realized that the salt category lacked high-quality, flavorful, pure, and USA-made choices that other food categories had already transformed.
Although she started small, Lily had a grand vision and is revolutionizing the culinary world through her hand-harvested sea salt. By turning her passion into a brand and a thriving business, she exemplifies the spirit of an ambitious entrepreneur with lofty aspirations for herself and Saltery. Beyond her professional pursuits, Lily cherishes her roles as a wife, mother, athlete, and advocate for good health. She finds joy in playing tennis, spending long days at the beach, and cruising on her 13-foot whaler with her husband, two young children, and two golden retrievers. Even when she's not at work or home, Lily can be found immersing herself in nature, walking, and daydreaming about new business ideas. Lily Leedom embodies the essence of a driven and multifaceted individual, making waves in both the business world and her personal life.
49. Kate Donovan
Clinical Director of Innovation, Boston Children's Hospital
Kate is a remarkable individual who holds the position of Clinical Director of Innovation for the Department of Pediatrics, Simulator Program, and Innovation Digital Health Accelerator at Boston Children's Hospital. Her passion lies in identifying pain points and delivering enchanting solutions to enhance the patient and family experience while improving operational efficiency for clinicians. She has pioneered the use of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) in clinical settings and education, establishing the VRx Program within the Simulator Program at the hospital. Kate's research focuses on leveraging VR to reduce narcotic use before pediatric medical procedures, promote empathy and exposure therapy, and educate both families and clinicians. Her expertise in programming languages like Unity and video editing in 2D and 360 formats enables her to create captivating experiences.
As a sought-after speaker, mentor, and collaborator, Kate is at the forefront of using VR with pediatric patients in healthcare innovation. She co-founded Health Voyager, an engaging VR platform incorporating endoscopy findings for patient education, and is the founder of mARk and the CAITLYNN Project. Kate shares her passion for STEM by providing free educational opportunities to at-risk teens in the Boston area. She humbly admits that her students often teach her as much as she teaches them. In her leisure time, she can be found playing music with her band, flying drones, marveling at space travel, and embracing her curiosity about life and the incredible people she encounters each day. Kate's dedication and multidimensional expertise make her an inspiring force in the field of pediatric healthcare innovation.
50. Amanda King
Chief of Staff and Associate Vice President of Sustainability, Bentley University
Amanda King serves as Chief of Staff to Bentley’s President and Associate Vice President of Sustainability. Amanda oversees operations in the Office of the President including providing management and oversight for the university's 2030 strategic positioning process. Specializing in change management, Amanda is also responsible for the coordination and implementation of key strategic priorities and special projects across the university - prioritizing collaborative participatory processes to ensure community engagement in Bentley’s efforts to achieve its ambitious goals.
Amanda also oversees the university’s Office of Sustainability where she guides initiatives aimed at engaging the campus community in achieving Bentley’s 2030 carbon-neutrality goal. The Office of Sustainability’s mission is to mobilize sustainable leadership in business by educating students on the business imperative of the triple-bottom line: considering social and environmental impacts along with economic results. She earned an undergraduate degree from Connecticut College and a master’s degree from Duke University.