The Top 50 Baltimore Women Leaders of 2026
Baltimore’s business story is bigger than “eds and meds” (though those anchors are enormous). It’s also energy strategy and grid modernization, global consumer brands that shape culture far beyond Maryland, real estate bets that change whole neighborhoods, and a fast-moving tech-and-health innovation layer that keeps surprising people who aren’t watching closely.
This list is an editorial snapshot of women whose roles meaningfully shape the Greater Baltimore economy-jobs, capital, policy, community investment, innovation, and opportunity. Titles can change quickly; the emphasis here is influence: who is making big systems move and leaving Baltimore better than they found it.
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#1 Dr. Redonda Miller
When Baltimore talks about opportunity, talent, and health outcomes in the same sentence, Hopkins is usually in the middle of it. As president of The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Dr. Miller sits at the intersection of clinical excellence, workforce scale, and community care-leading one of the region’s most important institutions and one of its most powerful “talent engines.” Decisions at this level ripple through hiring pipelines, supplier ecosystems, neighborhood health, and the broader reputation of Baltimore as a place where world-class medicine and community impact can coexist.
#2 Valerie Sheares Ashby
UMBC is one of Baltimore’s quiet superpowers: a research university with an outsized role in producing STEM talent, innovators, and leaders who stay and build in the region. President Ashby’s influence shows up in the partnerships UMBC makes with employers, the research it translates into new products and companies, and the opportunities it creates for first-generation and underrepresented students-expanding what “the Baltimore talent pipeline” looks like over the next decade.
#3 Jennifer Nickoles
Health systems are among a metro’s biggest employers, budget managers, and community stabilizers-and LifeBridge is deeply embedded across the Baltimore region. Jennifer Nickoles’ move into the president/CEO seat is consequential because it’s a leadership transition at a major regional healthcare platform, with direct implications for access to care, workforce strategy, and how Baltimore navigates the next era of healthcare delivery and financial pressure.
#4 Dr. Sandra Kurtinitis
If you care about workforce readiness, mid-career upskilling, and the practical bridge between education and jobs, CCBC is central-and so is Dr. Kurtinitis. As president of the region’s largest provider of higher education, her leadership shapes how quickly Baltimore can retrain and credential people for the jobs employers are hiring for now (healthcare, trades, tech-adjacent roles, and business services), which is one of the most underappreciated levers of regional competitiveness.
#5 Jen Dardis
In a market that lives and dies on capital, the CFO seat at a Baltimore-headquartered investment giant matters-locally and globally. Jen Dardis influences the financial strategy and operational priorities that help determine how a flagship employer invests, grows, and sustains itself-and that, in turn, shapes jobs, philanthropy, and the long-run business gravity of downtown Baltimore.
#6 Dee Sawyer
Distribution leadership is where finance meets relationships, reputation, and growth. Dee Sawyer’s role matters because she oversees the teams responsible for global sales, marketing, and client service-helping determine what stories get told about the firm, which client needs get prioritized, and how capital and trust are built in a competitive landscape. For Baltimore, it’s a reminder that some of the region’s most influential “business development” work happens at global scale-but is led from home.
#7 Susie Kutansky
Baltimore’s clean-energy and reliability conversation is inseparable from Constellation’s footprint-and the workforce behind it. As CHRO, Susie Kutansky influences how a major employer recruits, develops, and retains the talent required for safety, reliability, and growth-especially as energy strategy and infrastructure needs accelerate. In a tight labor market, this role is a real lever on regional prosperity.
#8 Emily Duncan
Strategy and advocacy are where companies translate operational realities into long-term direction-policy, reputation, partnerships, and investment logic. Emily Duncan’s role matters because it sits at the nexus of enterprise strategy and external engagement, influencing how Constellation shows up in public conversations that shape Baltimore’s economic and environmental future.
#9 Tabata Gomez
Few brands are as emotionally “Baltimore” as the flavors and labels McCormick stewards-Old Bay is practically civic infrastructure. As CMO, Tabata Gomez shapes global brand strategy and storytelling for a company headquartered in the region, influencing the creative economy, marketing ecosystems, and the way a legacy Baltimore company stays modern and competitive.
#10 Sarah Piper
Every Baltimore leader talks about talent. The CHRO role is where talent becomes a system: hiring, development, inclusion, retention, and culture at scale. Sarah Piper’s influence is in shaping how a global company builds the kind of workforce that can execute-while remaining a stable, high-quality employer rooted in Greater Baltimore.
#11 Mehri Shadman
The legal and governance seat at a Baltimore-headquartered public company is more than risk management-it’s strategic permissioning. Mehri Shadman’s role helps determine how fast Under Armour can move (and how safely), what partnerships it can pursue, and how it navigates the compliance and reputation landscape that comes with operating at global brand scale.
#12 Angela Celestin
In many metros, the health insurer is one of the most influential “behind the scenes” institutions. As CHRO, Angela Celestin affects how CareFirst attracts and retains talent to deliver coverage, services, and innovation-while also shaping leadership development and culture across a large organization with deep regional impact.
#13 Mary D. Kane
Baltimore’s business momentum is shaped by what happens in Annapolis as much as what happens at the Inner Harbor. Mary Kane’s role matters because the Maryland Chamber convenes and advocates across industries-tax policy, regulation, competitiveness, workforce, and the rules that determine whether companies expand here or elsewhere. That’s “macro influence” with very local consequences.
#14 Sally S. Hebner
Real estate development is an ecosystem-capital stacks, risk, timing, public-private coordination, and long-run value creation. As CFO at a major Baltimore-based developer, Sally Hebner influences investment discipline and the financial direction behind projects that shape where people live, shop, work, and gather-i.e., the physical stage where Baltimore’s economy plays out.
#15 Claudia Jolin
Large-scale redevelopment succeeds or fails on execution: safety, cleanliness, programming, tenant confidence, and the “feel” of a district. Claudia Jolin’s district leadership role matters because the Baltimore Peninsula is one of the most watched transformation efforts in the city-an economic bet with implications for jobs, tax base, and how Baltimore competes for talent. Her planning commission work also positions her at the table for how the city grows.
#16 Shanaysha M. Sauls
Philanthropy isn’t just generosity-it’s strategy. As CEO of BCF, Shanaysha Sauls helps decide which neighborhood solutions get scaled, which partnerships get funded, and how donor priorities translate into real outcomes. In a city where capacity and coordination are often the constraint, convening power and disciplined investment can be transformative.
#17 Chrissy M. Thornton
Economic growth that doesn’t reduce inequality eventually becomes instability. Chrissy Thornton leads a Baltimore-based racial equity organization that focuses on removing barriers in policy and the workforce-work that directly affects entrepreneurship, employment pathways, and wealth-building for communities that have historically been excluded. In practical terms: she influences how inclusive Baltimore’s “business success” becomes.
#18 Tammi Thomas
Innovation ecosystems don’t run on vibes; they run on capital, networks, and visibility. Tammi Thomas’ role at TEDCO matters because it helps power the state’s tech and life sciences engine-raising awareness, building partnerships, and helping resource the pipeline of companies that can become the next generation of Maryland employers (many clustered in the Baltimore-Columbia corridor).
#19 Hafeezah Muhammad
Founders who build healthcare access at scale change regions. Hafeezah Muhammad’s work matters because pediatric mental health is one of the most urgent, system-level needs-and building delivery models that actually reach families requires grit, innovation, and operational excellence. Her leadership signals what Baltimore-area entrepreneurship can look like when it’s mission-driven and built to grow.
#20 Jill Donaldson
Hospitals are anchor institutions-clinical care, employment, training, and community trust. Jill Donaldson’s role matters because Harbor Hospital is deeply connected to South Baltimore’s health outcomes and workforce. Steering strategy and operations in today’s healthcare environment is complex, high-stakes work, and the choices made here influence employers, families, and neighborhood stability.
#21 Nancy S. Grasmick
Nancy Grasmick’s influence is reflected in a Leadership Institute that develops practical, values-driven leaders for organizations across the region. By championing leadership as a multiplier for performance and culture, she helps strengthen the talent pipeline that fuels healthier institutions and a stronger economy.
#22 Ellen Fish
Ellen Fish strengthens Baltimore’s business climate by connecting companies and civic institutions to the banking relationships and resources that enable growth. Her leadership helps move capital into the local economy in ways that support expansion, hiring, and long-term community investment.
#23 Shalisa Mohamed
Shalisa Mohamed helps Mindgrub Technologies scale with intention by aligning operations, people, and performance in a fast-moving technology environment. Her emphasis on an inclusive, growth-oriented culture strengthens the company’s ability to attract talent and deliver high-impact digital work for clients.
#24 Mindy Lehman
Mindy Lehman helps strengthen Maryland’s innovation economy by supporting the programs and partnerships that move promising ideas into scalable companies. Her work at TEDCO expands opportunity for entrepreneurs while reinforcing the ecosystem that creates jobs, investment, and long-term competitiveness.
#25 Susan G. Idzi
Susan Idzi drives operational excellence that makes healthcare coverage work better for members, employers, and providers at scale. Her leadership improves reliability and service experience in a complex system where better execution directly affects families, businesses, and the region’s health outcomes.
#26 Sonia Alcantara-Antoine
Sonia Alcantara-Antoine has strengthened the public library as a modern engine of access, connecting residents to learning, digital resources, and career support. Her community-focused leadership helps ensure opportunity is practical and reachable for people of every age and background, reinforcing the region’s social and economic fabric.
#27 Laura Musser
Laura Musser helps organizations operate more securely and confidently by strengthening cybersecurity readiness and day-to-day resilience. Her leadership translates complex risk into practical execution, enabling clients and partners to stay competitive while protecting what matters most.
#28 Martine Kalaw
Martine Kalaw brings a people-and-performance lens to her work, helping leaders build inclusive cultures and develop talent that scales with the business. Her focus on practical strategy and measurable outcomes strengthens teams, improves execution, and supports durable organizational growth.
#29 Lauren Madison
Lauren Madison helps clients turn complex financial questions into clear, confident decisions that support long-term stability and growth. Her disciplined, client-centered approach builds trust and delivers real-world impact for households and business owners planning for the future.
#30 Stacey Smith
Stacey Smith turns strategy into community impact by producing events that mobilize partners, raise resources, and accelerate organizational missions. Through Smith Consulting & Events, she has built a trusted platform for connection and storytelling that helps clients strengthen their brands and deliver results.
#31 Karen Falkler
Karen Falkler has built Falkler Advisory into a distinctive leadership and wellness practice that helps executives perform at their best by aligning mindset, health, and high-stakes decision-making. Her coaching influence extends far beyond Baltimore, translating evidence-based insights into stronger teams, healthier workplaces, and more sustainable success.
#32 Sarah Hemminger
Sarah Hemminger has helped Thread prove that sustained relationships can change life trajectories, building a model that surrounds young people with long-term support. Her leadership strengthens Baltimore’s future workforce and civic fabric by showing how community investment can be both intentional and scalable.
#33 Alexis Davis
Alexis Davis helps the Technology Advancement Center deliver programs that accelerate cybersecurity innovation and prepare talent for mission-critical work. Her operational leadership strengthens collaboration between government, industry, and small businesses, turning complex challenges into measurable progress for the region’s tech economy.
#34 Fereshteh Aalamifar
Fereshteh Aalamifar is advancing pediatric care through PediaMetrix by applying rigorous engineering and AI to make early detection and intervention more accessible for families. Her ability to translate real clinical needs into scalable technology demonstrates the kind of innovation that improves outcomes while building a high-impact health-tech business.
#35 Jordana Blesa
Jordana Blesa leads Hygea Healthcare with a mission-driven focus on making treatment for substance use and mental health more compassionate, accessible, and effective. Her leadership brings innovation to a critical public health challenge, helping patients and families find pathways to recovery while elevating standards of care.
#36 Christine Sanni
Christine Sanni has helped Sybal reimagine how regulated organizations strengthen governance, turning accountability into a measurable advantage. By pairing invention with executive leadership, she is building solutions that reduce risk and increase trust for institutions that underpin the economy.
#37 Rebecca Rosenberg
Rebecca Rosenberg has built ReBokeh Vision Technologies around a clear purpose: giving people with low vision more control over how they see the world through empowering assistive tools. Her ability to pair lived experience with entrepreneurial execution is expanding accessibility and creating meaningful impact across industries and communities.
#38 Natalia Luis
Natalia Luis has helped lead M Luis Construction Co with disciplined, growth-oriented management that delivers complex infrastructure and site projects reliably and safely. Her business leadership supports jobs and regional development, demonstrating how operational excellence in construction creates lasting community value.
#39 Cidalia Luis-Akbar
Cidalia Luis-Akbar co-leads M Luis Construction Co and brings strong financial and strategic stewardship to a company that plays a vital role in the region’s built environment. Her ability to balance operational rigor with long-term growth sustains opportunity for employees and partners while strengthening the communities the company serves.
#40 Mara Sierocinski
Mara Sierocinski supports business expansion by connecting companies to thoughtful commercial banking leadership and financing that enables investment and resilience. Her work translates financial strategy into practical resources that help organizations grow, adapt, and contribute more strongly to the regional economy.
#41 Leea Carter
Leea Carter helps organizations build cultures where people can do their best work and stay for the long term by advancing belonging and inclusion through practical leadership. By turning values into systems for recruiting, development, and accountability, she strengthens business performance through stronger teams and better client outcomes.
#42 Michele Chalmers
Michele Chalmers brings trusted leadership to CLA’s work in Maryland, helping organizations make high-confidence decisions through strong advisory and client service. Her focus on risk management, relationship-building, and strategic growth supports healthier enterprises and more resilient nonprofits across the region.
#43 Liz Robinson
Liz Robinson helps strengthen Baltimore’s global business connectivity by convening leaders and expanding the relationships that drive trade, investment, and collaboration. Her leadership elevates women and executives alike through signature programming that builds influence, insight, and durable networks.
#44 Sylvia Toense
Sylvia Toense brings seasoned strategic insight to the World Trade Center Institute, helping shape fellowships and programs that develop globally fluent leaders for the region’s economy. Her ability to translate international perspective into practical learning and connections strengthens the pipeline of executives who grow businesses beyond local boundaries.
#45 Lisa Whaley
Lisa Whaley strengthens one of the region’s most essential workforces by aligning people strategy with the realities of delivering high-quality care. Her leadership helps build resilient teams and develop leaders, reinforcing the stability patients and communities depend on.
#46 Ayeshah Abuelhiga
Ayeshah Abuelhiga has built Mason Dixie Foods into a brand that proves better ingredients and better business can scale together. Her entrepreneurial drive and sharp brand instincts have created jobs, expanded market reach, and raised expectations for quality in a competitive consumer category.
#47 Simone Grimes, CPA
Simone Grimes brings rigorous financial leadership and strong governance instincts to a highly regulated industry where trust and execution matter every day. Her stewardship supports sustainable growth, helping ensure the organization can serve customers reliably while creating long-term value.
#48 Michelle RhodesBrown
Michelle RhodesBrown provides financial and operational leadership that helps The Walters Art Museum thrive, ensuring resources are managed strategically in support of world-class cultural programming. Her ability to pair investment discipline with mission focus strengthens institutional resilience and expands the museum’s impact on the public and the creative economy.
#49 Jennifer Jones
Jennifer Jones helps drive regional competitiveness by supporting entrepreneurs, attracting investment, and translating local strengths into sustainable job creation. Her collaborative approach makes it easier for companies to navigate growth, reinforcing Howard County’s role as a hub for innovation and opportunity.
#50 Kimberly Mentzell
Kimberly Mentzell helps Maryland businesses stay ahead by advancing cybersecurity and aerospace priorities that matter for both innovation and resilience. Her blend of technical credibility and ecosystem-building creates practical pathways for talent development, emerging technology adoption, and sustained industry growth.
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