Above & Beyond
The 2025 Above & Beyond: Women
Remarkable women leaders improving New York.
City & State presents 2025's Above & Beyond: Women. Jade Greene; Julienne Schaer; Maimonides
They’re public servants, policymakers and politicians. They’re innovators in health care, transportation and the financial sector. They’re serving New Yorkers in need by providing housing, workforce development, and support for children and families. They’re advocates, educators and entrepreneurs.
What all of them have in common is that they’re honorees on this year’s Above & Beyond: Women – and they have a deep commitment to making New York a better place.
The 2025 edition of this list features key public figures, like the leader of New York City’s sprawling public school system and the New York City Council’s new minority leader, as well as behind-the-scenes operators who are driving change from the ground up. Among the honorees are a key official in the Hochul administration and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s point person on diversity, equity and inclusion. And this year’s lifetime achievement honoree is Betsy Gotbaum, who’s retiring after a distinguished and diverse career in public service – but isn’t leaving the public sphere behind just yet.
Without further ado, City & State is pleased to present this year’s Above & Beyond: Women honorees who are improving New York.
– Profiles by Angela Bunay, Erica Scalise and John Celock
Betsy Gotbaum, LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT HONOREE
All Betsy Gotbaum wanted to do was get her dental claim covered by the insurance plan for New York City government retirees, but even the former public advocate ran into a brick wall.
“I had less trouble when it was for other people,” Gotbaum says of her late February bureaucratic snafu.
Gotbaum planned to return to her old public advocate ways, calling a city commissioner to address the issue and make sure it can be solved – for all New Yorkers.
“Day in and day out, I get it done,” she says. “I feel like a hero when I get it done for other people.”
Gotbaum’s résumé reads like a civic directory: public advocate, city parks commissioner, mayoral education adviser, New York City Police Foundation president, New York Historical Society president and Citizens Union executive director.
“I can’t keep a job,” she jokes about her distinguished career.
Gotbaum never set out to be a titan of New York City. She had been living in Brazil with her then-husband, a CIA officer, where both were undercover as he was supporting Catholic priests spearheading a social movement and she handled his administrative tasks. Returning to New York as the marriage was crumbling in the 1960s, the only job she could find was as a secretary.
“I was a terrible secretary,” she recalls with a laugh.
She reached out to a friend who recommended her to a new Vera Institute program to improve police precinct community relations. Gotbaum got the job and the rest was history.
Now, as the octogenarian plans to hand off the reins of Citizens Union, she doesn’t intend to fully retire. She would like to help House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries in securing a congressional majority and continue to be engaged in the city.
As she reflects on a career that has included fighting for city parks, saving the New York Historical Society, protecting the public advocate’s office from Mike Bloomberg’s efforts to dismantle it, advocating for school transportation in far-flung parts of Staten Island and Queens, and helping countless New Yorkers, there is one thing that stands out as her proudest accomplishment.
Gotbaum said her tenure at the city’s Police Foundation involved raising the funds to provide every police officer with a bulletproof vest. Years later, during her 2001 run for public advocate, she remembers being in Queens and an NYPD officer expressing gratitude.
“That is the kind of thing that makes it worth it,” she said.
– John Celock
Karen Alford
Karen Alford started out in publishing at Ballantine Books, but at the encouragement of a friend, she embarked on a two-week trial as a teacher. Beginning at a school in Ocean Hill-Brownsville, just 10 minutes from where she grew up, two weeks turned into three decades.
Coming from a family of educators and union members, Alford recognized the challenges facing students and teachers, which inspired her to advocate for change. Three years into teaching, she ran for union representative. “People told me, ‘You’re crazy to run for union representative before tenure,’” Alford says. “But I knew if I wanted change, I couldn’t wait.” She won in a landslide.
Alford later made history as the first Black person and first woman district representative to lead the Ocean Hill-Brownsville Community School, breaking barriers in a traditionally white male-led district. Alford channels underestimation as motivation: “There’s something about being the underdog that makes you fight even harder,” she says. As district leader, Alford tackled overcrowded classrooms and demanded stronger educator support.
Today, as the United Federation of Teachers’ vice president of elementary schools, she drives policies affecting thousands of teachers and students across New York. She also serves as executive director of United Community Schools, a UFT network of 31 community schools in New York City that supports over 20,000 students by addressing educational, emotional, social and health challenges.
“At the end of the day, if teachers have what they need, students thrive,” Alford says. “That’s the goal.”
– Angela Bunay
Na’ilah Amaru
After two decades shaping public policy at every level of government through advocacy and grassroots organizing, Na’ilah Amaru is back in the classroom.
“Empowering everyday people to be active change agents has been the core of my career,” says Amaru, who is pursuing a doctorate at the CUNY Graduate Center, which would be her sixth academic degree. Amaru’s passion for policy began as a tenant organizer in Atlanta, leading to roles as policy adviser to then-Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and legislative aide to the late Rep. John Lewis.
In New York, her #LetNYVote campaign expanded ballot access, and the #JustPay initiative secured over $1 billion in wage increases for human services workers. As executive director of the New York City Council’s Black, Latino and Asian Caucus and national director of The Democracy Project, she built coalitions and recruited hundreds of legislators to drive progressive democracy reforms. A U.S. Army veteran, Amaru credits her military experience with instilling discipline and resilience.
Currently, she is a founding member of BIPOC Democracy Table, a coalition advancing the needs of diverse New York communities. Amaru also handles policy, advocacy and government relations at Women Creating Change, formerly the Women’s City Club of New York. There, she developed an intersectional research portfolio to assess policy impacts on diverse women’s identities while advancing racial and gender justice. Now she is moving toward academia.
“I want to teach the next generation of changemakers, equipping them with the knowledge and tools to shape the systems that govern their lives,” Amaru says.
– A.B.
Joann Ariola
Joann Ariola is among the most prominent Republicans in New York City, but it’s more than just partisan politics for the Queens lawmaker – it’s about results.
Since taking office in 2022, Ariola has secured $31 million for her district, supporting infrastructure upgrades and community services. She spearheaded the creation of the Office of Marine Debris Disposal and Vessel Surrendering to clean up New York City’s waterways and fought for stronger enforcement against illegal cannabis shops.
Volunteering with her parents early on inspired a devotion to public service, driving her to secure funding for libraries, schools and parks in her community. “The person who comes after me will be cutting dozens of ribbons,” Ariola says. “I will be sitting back smiling, knowing I cared enough about this district to ensure they received everything they deserve.”
Ariola started out in the 1990s volunteering for Alfonso C. Stabile during his successful City Council campaign against an entrenched incumbent. Her role as Stabile’s constituent liaison led her to becoming his chief of staff and working in the Giuliani and Bloomberg administrations. In 2020, she became the Republican candidate for Queens borough president, raising her profile even though she ultimately fell short. Now, as the newly elected New York City Council minority leader, Ariola ensures the Republican delegation has a say.
While her conference is outnumbered, she knows the status quo can shift. “The City Council was dominated by male council members for decades, but for the last three years, it is a majority women-held caucus,” Ariola says. “That means everything.”
– A.B.
Nicole Arrindell
The daughter of a union member and a government worker, Nicole Arrindell learned early on that public service is a calling, and she pursues that mission wearing many hats.
Before launching her legal career, Arrindell navigated the halls of Washington, D.C., working with nonprofits and Fannie Mae to tackle affordable housing policy. After earning her law degree, she became chief of staff for then-Assembly Member Brian Kavanagh, gaining insights into the intricacies of state government. She left government work to advocate for individuals at Mobilization for Justice, representing New Yorkers facing student loan debt claims and foreclosure.
Now at the financial services company Equitable, Arrindell balances her roles as chief of staff to the chief legal officer and as senior director of government relations while pursuing her passion for law and government. “I am a servant leader. I believe no matter the setting I can give to others,” Arrindell says. “So, working on government relations and as a chief of staff, helping to make sure the law department functions properly all of that to me is a form of service.”
Arrindell also serves as an adjunct professor at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, president of the Metropolitan Black Bar Association, and founder and president of NLA Strategies LLC, empowering high-achieving women to become more influential and confident leaders.
“Mentoring has been a thread throughout my career,” Arrindell says. “If you have a seat at the table, bring others with you, and if there is no seat, you build a bigger table.”
– A.B.
Melissa Aviles-Ramos
New York City schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos’ mother toiled tirelessly to put her daughter through private school, determined to give her every opportunity at advancement. It paid off, as today, Aviles-Ramos is the leader of the nation’s largest school district.
Aviles-Ramos says that seeing “the sacrifices that my mom made for my education made me think about how we need to empower our families to be at the decision-making table. We have to make sure our community schools are gems – excellent options for our families so they don’t have to make the sacrifices that my mom made.”
An educator for over 15 years, Aviles-Ramos has served as a principal, acting superintendent, chief of staff to her predecessor and deputy chancellor. Her career started in publicity and finance, but a subway ad for the NYC Teaching Fellows program changed everything.
“I remembered how much I enjoyed spending time with my teachers,” she recalls. “I was looking at the advertisement and said, ‘I really want to do something meaningful.’”
She quickly rose through the ranks, shaped by strong mentors and a deep understanding of her community’s needs. Among her proudest achievements is launching Project Open Arms, which welcomed some 50,000 asylum-seeking students into the city’s schools.
Now, she’s bolstering interventions for struggling students, standardizing the approach so teachers aren’t left to navigate it alone.
“If nothing else,” she says, “I want people to know that they have an advocate and someone who is willing to listen and work on their behalf.”
– A.B.
Irene Baldwin
Irene Baldwin never set out to run a nonprofit, but life had other plans.
Her journey took many turns, from being a Girl Scout in Philadelphia to studying medieval history at Fordham University, and from serving in the Peace Corps in Africa to engaging in grassroots tenant organizing in New York. But every step led her to Ariva, a Bronx nonprofit where she helps thousands gain financial literacy.
After returning from the Peace Corps, a conversation with a friend spurred Baldwin to begin tenant organizing with the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition. “That got me really hooked on New York City neighborhoods,” Baldwin says. This work led her to the Association for Neighborhood and Housing Development. While there, she noticed a young professional saving 10% of his paycheck, while her own longtime secretary, a single mom, struggled to save anything. The contrast made financial literacy a priority for Baldwin and motivated her to become a certified financial planner.
In her decade at Ariva, Baldwin has made it a financial lifeline for over 172,000 New Yorkers. Among her proudest initiatives are the Ventanilla project, launched at the Mexican consulate and recently expanded to the Ecuadorian consulate, to help immigrants navigate the financial system, and the Bronx Seniors Financial Empowerment Project, which addresses the growing need among seniors seeking assistance.
Baldwin believes meaningful change comes from listening to and partnering with communities. “We learn a lot from our clients every day,” Baldwin says. “You just have to trust what people on the ground are telling you.”
– A.B.
Courtney Burke
Whether navigating complex health care policy or leading major organizations through transformational change, Courtney Burke isn’t afraid of tough challenges.
A college lecture by Surgeon General C. Everett Koop on health care reform under the Clinton administration sparked a lifelong commitment to improving medical systems. “Health care is so vital, and it was very complex, which was intriguing to me,” Burke recalls.
Over the years, Burke has held leadership roles across New York’s health care and policy landscape, including chief operating and innovation officer at the Healthcare Association of New York State, where she helped hospitals manage patient surges and vaccine distribution during the COVID-19 pandemic. She has also been a senior vice president and chief strategy officer for Albany Medical Center, and director of the Rockefeller Institute’s Health Policy Research Center. In state government, she served as deputy secretary for health and commissioner of the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities.
“When I took the job as commissioner, it was in part because the agency was somewhat in crisis,” Burke says, referring to a New York Times exposé on abuses within the system. “Finding the balance between allowing people freedom of choice in their services and ensuring their protection was a challenge.” She says listening to people receiving services and their families to find solutions is essential.
Now at Sachs Policy Group, Burke is modernizing support systems for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, advising hospitals on financial sustainability and supporting vital social care networks tied to the state’s Medicaid waiver.
– A.B.
Ana Chireno
Ana Chireno always wanted to uplift her community at the grassroots level – but she never expected to do it as a lobbyist.
At the MirRam Group, Chireno works with nonprofits in a variety of sectors, including affordable housing, mental health and youth organizations. “I didn’t think that I would be in the lobbying sector,” Chireno says. “But this is absolutely the type of work that I’ve always wanted to do.”
She started in Bushwick, where she grew up, volunteering at Make the Road New York. Driven by her Dominican immigrant roots, she advocated for a federal DREAM Act and tutored individuals preparing for the U.S. naturalization exam. Chireno still remembers the poignant moment of seeing her students take the pledge of allegiance after passing the test.
In 2014, Chireno joined then-New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer’s community affairs unit. In 2016, she pivoted to the arts as director of government and community affairs at El Museo del Barrio. “I missed working somewhere rooted in community, and Museo del Barrio is a community anchor for East Harlem,” she says.
In 2022, her museum’s lobbyists at MirRam encouraged her to join them. “I saw how essential lobbyists were to my work at the museum,” she says. Now, Chireno says she’s a “secret weapon” for her nonprofit clients.
Her latest project exemplifies that: transforming an old police parking lot into permanently affordable housing with a 300-seat theater for the Afro Latin Jazz Alliance. “It’s a neighborhood that has so much cultural potential,” she says, “and being part of that team is a dream.”
– A.B.
Hae-Lin Choi
Hae-Lin Choi grew up immersed in labor activism with an early exposure to racial and economic injustice.
At 13, she witnessed violent riots against Somali refugees after German reunification, including arson attacks on asylum-seekers’ homes. Fearing for her own community, she had a realization: “I made the decision, I’m going to fight against this.” That conviction led Choi to study political science and join the German labor movement, recognizing how it gave her family a chance at a better life.
Later, in the U.S., Choi’s search for ways to reinvigorate labor organizing took her to the Communications Workers of America. She focused on organizing for nearly a decade, but the first Trump presidency and shifting dynamics in New York spurred her toward political advocacy in 2018. Now, as CWA’s political director for New York, New Jersey and New England, she spearheads legislative advocacy, political organizing, fundraising, membership development and movement building.
Choi embraces empowering union members, particularly in securing New York’s public campaign financing system after Democrats took control of the state Senate in 2018. She also helped lead the 2021 campaign to close tax loopholes for billionaires and corporations, a fight waged from her office near Wall Street.
Through every campaign and legislative battle, Choi remains steadfast in her belief in collective action. “I continue to feel, even after this election, more committed than ever to the labor movement,” she says.
– A.B.
Jaime Ciffone
Coming from a long line of educators, Jaime Ciffone was destined for a career in education.
“Watching my father work with students throughout my entire life, I wanted to create a classroom culture of collaboration and build relationships with students the same way,” Ciffone says.
A school official recognized her potential early on, encouraging her to step into leadership beyond teaching. As an instructional coach, Ciffone discovered her passion for advocacy, putting her on the path to her work with the New York State United Teachers. Union work wasn’t her initial plan, but it runs deep – her great-grandfather was a vice president of the International Garment Workers Union and the AFL-CIO.
At New York State United Teachers, Ciffone dissects programs and policies, ensuring they serve educators and students across the state. “Connecting on the ground with our educators is probably my most favorite part,” she says. Her leadership is rooted in collaboration. “I lead from not always in front, but beside,” she says. “And I recognize the strengths of others to compliment endeavors we’re facing.”
One of her most significant projects is the More Teaching, Less Testing task force, advocating against standardized assessments based on arbitrary metrics. Believing literacy is a fundamental human right, Ciffone is also leading an initiative on the science of reading, spearheading a successful $10 million grant proposal to ensure all educators have access to high-quality literacy training. “We need to make moves in literacy and help support the achievement of that human right,” Ciffone says. “And give everybody the chance to succeed.”
– A.B.
Maria Conzatti
Once a student navigating the halls of Nassau Community College, Maria Conzatti is now leading the Long Island institution.
Conzatti grew up in a household where higher education was not an expectation for her. “My Italian dad said, ‘That’s for boys. I’m not spending money for you to just get married and have kids.’” Undeterred, she put herself through Nassau Community College while working on campus. She then earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Adelphi University. She returned in 1989 as a technical assistant in the NCC engineering department.
Rising from administrator to assistant dean to vice president, the highest office was never on her mind. But an interim president asked her why she kept playing second fiddle, encouraging her to become president herself. Inspired, Conzatti pursued her doctorate at 50 and stepped up to the plate as NCC’s first woman and alum leader.
Conzatti is addressing major challenges, including tackling a multimillion-dollar deficit. “Families question if college is worth it. We must maintain quality while evolving to meet student needs,” she says. She listens closely to students, adjusting programs to match workforce demands.
Strengthening the NCC’s role in the community is crucial to Conzatti. “The greatest thing that this college gave me was the ability to have a living wage and be able to stay in Nassau County,” Conzatti says. “And it’s my way of paying it forward and it’s my privilege to see these students get an education and have the same choice to stay on Long Island.”
– A.B.
Heidi Evans
Heidi Evans stepped away from journalism in 2015, but she’s still amplifying voices in health and medicine.
After decades of holding the powerful accountable, the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist took on a new challenge as executive director of the LiveOnNY Foundation. Now, Evans is returning to storytelling at LiveOnNY, which coordinates organ donation in the New York City metro area.
Her commitment to organ donation advocacy is deeply personal, cemented by her brother’s heart transplant. “I became very interested because of the journey our family went through,” Evans says. “I decided to start writing stories to educate the public about organ donation and transplantation.”
In her current role, Evans shines a light on the journeys of donors, their families and recipients, raising the process’ visibility. One story that still resonates with her is of Wilbert Mora, a young New York City police officer killed in the line of duty in 2022. Mora’s final act of generosity, donating his organs, saved five lives. “The police commissioner called him ‘three times a hero’ – in his life, sacrifice and death,” Evans recalls, emphasizing the public impact of such widely covered stories.
Under President and CEO Leonard Achan, LiveOnNY boosted organ donor rates in New York by nearly 70% in three years. Evans is excited to build on that progress, expanding LiveOnNY’s news service and launching new media projects to raise awareness.
“I get to tell families’ stories to educate the public about donation and help create a legacy for their loved ones,” Evans says. “It’s a privilege and an honor to do.”
– A.B.
Ivy Fairchild
“We are born to serve,” Ivy Fairchild’s mother told her when she was growing up. This guiding principle has propelled her from the political offices of a state senator and City Council member to a groundbreaking career in nonprofit consulting.
In 2016, Fairchild founded Landmark Consultants to help nonprofits build sustainable infrastructure, raise funds and develop future leaders.
Previously, Fairchild worked at UnidosUS, a U.S. civil rights and advocacy organization for Latinos, where she managed marketing, communications and development while increasing the organization’s donor base and organizing its annual conference. At Columbia University, Fairchild developed community affairs programs, raised over $35 million and championed underrepresented organizations, particularly those led by Latinos and African Americans.
Now, as a certified fundraising executive, Fairchild strengthens nonprofits through strategic planning and development. “Being able to help organizations to develop and last is what really drives me every day,” Fairchild says. “It’s not work. It’s a joy being able to serve them.”
An initiative at the Hispanic Federation that provides assessments and technical assistance to 40 organizations across five states is one of Fairchild’s proudest projects. But her work doesn’t stop there – a quarter of her projects are pro bono, ensuring that smaller nonprofits receive the support they need.
“Nonprofits are safety nets for our communities,” Fairchild says, adding that it’s time to look beyond the usual suspects and recognize the work happening locally on the ground. “They are the wheels that make communities move, and they’re the ones people reach out to in times of crisis.”
– A.B.
Filomena Fanelli
Filomena Fanelli never anticipated being a public relations powerhouse, but looking back, it doesn’t surprise her. “I had no idea PR was a career option, but it combined everything I naturally gravitated toward,” she says.
A sixth-grade civic oration contest victory and a successful class secretary campaign she engineered for a high school friend planted the seeds for a career that would intertwine Fanelli’s love for writing and connecting with others.
Initially planning to be a preschool teacher, Fanelli pivoted to communications and public relations – which she discovered was a perfect fit.
After spending over seven years at Rubenstein, building the foundation of her PR education, Fanelli had her first child and started freelancing at home. “I was sending out invoices each month to the same group of people, and my phone was ringing and people kept requesting my support and help,” Fanelli says. “And, at that time, I turned to my husband, and I said, ‘I feel like I have a business here.’”
Over the past decade, she has built a reputation for amplifying important messages across industries – from supporting nonprofits in securing grants to collaborating with public figures like Hillary Rodham Clinton and Paul Rudd. “Whether it’s a small business or a nonprofit, helping clients find their voice and telling their stories is what drives me,” she says.
From assisting a nonprofit client to garner visibility leading to significant funding and community impact, to mentoring emerging talent and teaching as an adjunct professor at Marist College, Fanelli is dedicated to helping others.
– A.B.
Jeehae Fischer
Jeehae Fischer is a beacon of hope for immigrant women, creating programs that empower survivors of gender-based violence to reclaim their voices and futures.
After studying nonprofit management at The New School, Fischer joined the Korean American Family Service Center as a self-sufficiency program coordinator, a role in which she provided job training programs and services for immigrant survivors of gender-based violence. She expanded the organization’s scope from a handful of clients to supporting around 122 women. In 2019, Fischer was elevated to executive director, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, the center expanded its budget from $1.8 million to $4.5 million, ensuring vital services continued throughout the public health crisis.
Fischer still remembers a quiet client she tutored on computer skills. During their sessions, Fischer noticed the client’s scratches and bruises, so when they set up a Yahoo account, Fischer asked why she wanted an email. The client said her son was serving in Iraq and wanted to communicate with him. After some email exchanges, she found the courage to leave her abusive relationship. With the support of Korean American Family Service Center, including legal assistance for her divorce and transitional housing, she eventually secured a full-time job as an airline ticketing agent. “That made a huge impact on me,” Fischer says. “These services could really transform someone’s life.”
Fischer’s next goal is to build a community center. “Our team members, our community members, deserve a beautiful facility to walk in right and get the help that they need,” she says.
– A.B.
Lauren Ford
As a key analyst at the Iroquois Healthcare Association, Lauren Ford is not just crunching numbers – she’s shaping the future of New York health care.
At Iroquois Healthcare Association, Ford is removing educational barriers for aspiring health care professionals through the Caring Gene Career Pathways Training program, a workforce initiative supported by state funding. By covering tuition for trainees, she’s forging a brighter future for thousands. “To be growing the health care workforce, and breaking down those barriers, that’s super exciting,” Ford says. She oversees the program’s implementation and is developing the data infrastructure for reporting to the state Department of Health. Ford describes advocacy for sustainable programming and funding for upstate New York’s hospitals and health care systems as her “bread and butter.”
While also overseeing a growing team of analysts and a comprehensive survey program that addresses workplace violence, workforce shortages and patient utilization, Ford emphasizes empowerment and encourages her team to pursue their passions.
Ford’s career path from helping children with developmental disabilities to her current role at the nonprofit regional health care trade organization was ignited in childhood. “It takes a village,” she says, reflecting on her upbringing as the daughter of a single mother as well as the impact of a neighbor who taught her to embrace differences. This ethos guides her in every role, from case management to legislative advocacy. “A guiding principle in my life is that everybody should have the ability to thrive regardless of the cards that they’re dealt at birth or afterwards,” Ford says.
– A.B.
Jaime Franchi
A communications professional with government and higher education experience, Jaime Franchi is a prominent advocate for Long Island’s construction industry.
Franchi has taken on a leadership role that aims to uplift and empower those often overlooked in this male-dominated field. She joined the Long Island Contractors’ Association, which represents the interests of the region’s heavy construction general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and industry supporters, in 2022 as director of communications and government relations. She advocated for a billion-dollar allocation in the governor’s transportation budget to address material cost inflation and pushed for the establishment of a Nassau-Suffolk Metropolitan Planning Organization.
Recognizing the need for more women in infrastructure, Franchi founded FOREWomen, a networking group aimed at connecting women in construction. “At my first event, we had over 60 attendees, all women, sharing their experiences and forming bonds,” she says, noting the immediate demand for more such gatherings. “This is about creating a community where we can support each other and amplify our voices.”
As a member of the board of trustees for the Suffolk County Subwatersheds Wastewater Plan, Franchi also plays a role in improving sewer infrastructure based on the Suffolk County Water Quality Restoration Act, which she successfully lobbied to pass last year.
“Now we will have a dedicated fund for sewer infrastructure, which doesn’t sound like it’s a big deal, but it is,” Franchi says. “This will be $4 billion to install sewer systems throughout Suffolk County, which will have a direct impact on business development and help clean up our water.”
– A.B.
Fariha Habib
Armed with degrees in electrical engineering and business and a commitment to service, Fariha Habib has journeyed through the male-dominated world of telecommunications and engineering with unwavering dedication.
Beginning as a project coordinator at a general contracting company in New York, Habib has climbed the professional ladder, culminating in her role as project manager, where she managed high-profile projects for major telecom giants like AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile.
Driven by her passion for technology and a desire to create opportunities, Habib founded H&H Telecom Construction in 2022, a general contractor serving sectors like government, health care, transportation and manufacturing, alongside her her father Abid Habib and Bellal Hossain. “I thought if I put the same hard work and dedication toward my own company, why not start it and make a living for other people,” she says. Most recently, the company has received a carbon offset certificate from Climate Impact Partners.
Habib aims to make H&H one of the top contractors in New York City, on par with the industry’s giants. But for her, the greatest success is measured by the impact she has on others.
Habib’s commitment to corporate social responsibility shines through her involvement with the Lions Club, through which she chairs the Lion Fariha Women Development Center in Khulna, Bangladesh. Seeing the disparities faced by girls in her mother’s village of Paigram Kasba inspired Habib to establish a training center to provide computer education. “I don’t want to just raise money,” she says. “I want to help women build careers.”
– A.B.
Heather Hage
Heather Hage was a curious kid who begged her parents for a computer. Now, she leads an organization advancing technological innovation in New York.
Curious by nature, Hage was nurtured by a liberal arts education at Hamilton College. After exploring investment banking and law, Hage had a pivotal meeting with the SUNY vice president for technology transfer while at Albany Law School. He explained how he helps inventors in SUNY laboratories transform ideas into products and services that can make the world a better place. “And I was like, ‘That’s what I’m supposed to be doing with my life,’” Hage recalls.
Hage spent 17 years at the SUNY Research Foundation, starting as an intern. When the Griffiss Institute did a national search for a new president, Hage answered the call and returned to the Mohawk Valley. She channels her expertise into initiatives that bridge technology and community, particularly to support the needs of the defense industrial base.
Hage says technology transfer is fundamentally about people, not just technology. “For concepts to be successful and yield outcomes that influence society effectively, that means engaging individuals from all different backgrounds,” she says. This philosophy underscores her leadership style, which she describes as: “Head up, shoulders back, heart forward,” an approach that combines awareness, confidence and empathy.
Among her proudest achievements is the establishment of the Advancement Center at the Griffiss Institute and her work with Patterson Aerospace Systems in fostering new ventures that promise to reshape industries and create economic mobility.
– A.B.
Tyquana Henderson-Rivers
In high school, Tyquana Henderson-Rivers organized a march after the acquittal of police officers involved in the beating of Rodney King. The demonstration connected her with then-New York City Council Member Thomas White Jr., who introduced her to a local Democratic club, where she learned about advocacy and power.
“I had regular hours in his office after school,” she says. “He taught me how to advocate for constituents. He brought me to council meetings to represent him.” She even became one of the youngest grant writers in New York City history and secured a $2,800 grant for a program at 14.
Her career spans various government and advocacy roles, including working for then-New York City Council Member Peter Vallone Sr., U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer and then-New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.
But her passion for grassroots power led her to lobbying. In 2008, she launched Connective Strategies, bridging gaps between government, corporations and community organizations, making her one of the most sought-after consultants in the state.
“When I started my business, the clients lined up,” she says.
In addition to helping elect a number of notable politicians in Queens, among her notable initiatives is her mobilization of 1,000 pastors for the Affordable Faith Care Act.
With a firm located in her childhood district, Henderson-Rivers is committed to helping her community. “My brick-and-mortar office is in District 28, so I’m running business in the district and in the community that has given me so much,” Henderson-Rivers says. These days, she also serves on the regional board of the New York League of Conservation Voters.
– A.B.
Julie Hendricks-Atkins
From championing affordable housing to overseeing ambitious real estate projects, Julie Hendricks-Atkins’ passion for improving New York City is as relentless as the city itself.
Growing up on an Oklahoma farm, Hendricks-Atkins was steeped in the values of hard work and community. After college, she dove into politics, managing campaigns across the country, from congressional races in Oklahoma to statewide campaigns in New Jersey. This led her to New York City, where she successfully managed a competitive Assembly race on the Upper East Side, ultimately serving as chief of staff to then-Assembly Member Jonathan Bing.
Now at Geto & de Milly, Hendricks-Atkins navigates government approvals for various real estate projects and engages with community boards to ensure that new developments enhance rather than disrupt neighborhoods. She is particularly energized by the variety of her projects – she once worked simultaneously on preserving a historic mansion on Fifth Avenue and creating a state-of-the-art life sciences building on First Avenue. “Both are an integral part of the fabric of New York,” she notes.
She is especially proud of her work on the Gowanus neighborhood rezoning initiative. Through multiple mayoral administrations, Hendricks-Atkins championed a project that will yield thousands of new housing units, a substantial portion of which will be affordable. “Being involved in that planning process and seeing it come to fruition has been incredibly gratifying,” she says.
Hendricks-Atkins loves adapting and responding to the evolving needs of New York’s communities. “Navigating the ever-changing dynamics of city government is what keeps this work exciting,” she says.
– A.B.
Suzan Johnson Cook
Suzan Johnson Cook is not just shattering glass ceilings – she’s rebuilding them into pathways for others.
Johnson Cook was born into a family of leaders in Harlem, with parents dedicated to civil service. “Our home was extended to students and community residents,” she says. This spirit of generosity became the cornerstone of her identity, guiding her path toward empowering others.
But her path has not been without hurdles. Whether facing subtle racism in elite educational settings to combating underestimation in her professional life, “I never felt defeated,” she says. Her leadership style is defined by grit and a refusal to accept “no” as an answer.
The third-generation Black woman business owner is the founder of the Global Black Women’s Chamber of Commerce. The coalition established a program to provide resources and support to women struggling to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. “I pulled together some women business owners that I knew, and said, ‘We’ve got to help,’” Johnson Cook said. A former ambassador during the Obama administration, Johnson Cook also launched Women on the World Stage, a platform dedicated to uplifting women globally. “I’m about celebrating and elevating women,” she says.
One of her proudest achievements is the State of Black Women Summit, which brought together women from the global Black diaspora to celebrate their contributions and develop action plans. Johnson Cook is developing the SJC Global Center for Women to be a space dedicated to leadership development and mentorship, because Cook says, “each one has to teach one.”
– A.B.
Emily Kadar
Emily Kadar jokes that she “came out of the womb” fighting for gender equity. Today, the lifelong feminist is shaping statewide policy from inside the Executive Chamber.
Kadar’s advocacy efforts began as a campus organizer with the Feminist Majority Foundation while in college at Brandeis University. She later returned to New York to work at the National Institute for Reproductive Health. While there, she played a key role in passing the Reproductive Health Act, a landmark law protecting abortion rights in the state.
In 2019, Kadar joined the Cuomo administration as the director of women’s affairs. One of her proudest moments came after the Dobbs decision overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, when she helped secure $35 million for abortion providers and pushed for shield laws to protect access to care.
Kadar thinks working for Gov. Kathy Hochul, the first woman governor of New York, is a game changer when protecting reproductive care. “It’s not just something where she’s like ‘Oh, yeah, I think this is good,’” Kadar says. “These are core to her.”
Recently promoted to senior director of constituency affairs, Kadar continues to drive policy initiatives supporting women and marginalized communities. She is now focused on expanding support for survivors of sexual violence and advancing paid parental leave. Her day-to-day work ranges from crafting policy to staffing events for the governor, always maintaining a hands-on approach.
“I remind myself sometimes, if my 18-year-old self knew that I was doing this work for our state’s governor, I would pinch myself,” she says.
– A.B.
Robin Kaufman
Robin Kaufman turned a desire to make friends in her new Queens neighborhood into a 35-year journey of transforming lives and nurturing families.
Kaufman found herself drawn to Commonpoint after her children were born, volunteering in departments that sparked her passion for education and community service. When the opportunity arose to lead the organization’s Parenting Center, she embraced it, knowing it was her true calling.
Kaufman’s approach to parenting support is deeply personal. Understanding the challenges new parents face, she prioritizes family connections and guidance. By creating a nurturing environment, she helps families navigate the often overwhelming transition into parenthood.
Kaufman is proud of hiring seniors as part-time assistants, recognizing their wealth of experience while providing them with a sense of purpose in the community. “They go into the classroom, they’re kind, loving, responsible and they’re all in their 70s and 80s,” she says.
Kaufman often serves as a welcoming committee for families, offering advice and support for everything from high school choices to connecting with resources for children’s developmental needs. Her open-door policy encourages parents to seek her out for guidance, fostering a sense of trust within the community. “I have a wall here that’s 1/15th of all the thank you cards I have, and it’s so heartfelt,” Kaufman says.
Her unwavering commitment to families in Forest Hills has transformed lives and created a thriving community that continues to grow under her leadership. As she says, “I can’t believe how fortunate I am to do what I love.”
– A.B.
Cathy Kim
After growing up in her family’s bustling food business, Cathy Kim is now empowering others through the culinary arts and fostering economic mobility for business owners like her mother.
Like her hardworking immigrant parents, Kim is driven by a personal mission to pay it forward. “The common thread has always been giving people a leg up in their economic journey,” she says, reflecting on her diverse professional background in affordable housing, financial literacy and workforce development.
At the nonprofit Hot Bread Kitchen, Kim oversees programs that focus on both workforce development and small-business growth in New York City’s food industry. “We use the food industry as a platform that gives our members a pathway toward putting more income in their pockets,” she says.
One of Kim’s most cherished success stories is of well-known food cart Fauzia’s, which sought Hot Bread Kitchen’s help to grow its business. Through their partnership, Fauzia’s has expanded its offerings, locations and products. Its owner is able to raise a family in New York City. Kim says she wants to have “helped others feel good about the work they do.”
Kim is now launching “The M2M Project,” an accelerator organization scaling small businesses into larger companies, inspired by similar models in other cities, including Cincinnati. “Working with food businesses sparked a deep interest in business ownership as a path toward income mobility and wealth generation,” Kim says. “So I’m really excited to build on my work at Hot Bread Kitchen.”
– A.B.
Jeannine Frisby LaRue
New Jersey changemaker Jeannine Frisby LaRue is nearly 75, but she has no plans to stop, saying there is still too much advocacy work to do.
From her early days as a trailblazing elected official in her New Jersey town to her decade of work as a lobbyist for the New Jersey Education Association, LaRue knows the political landscape. LaRue served on the state’s casino commission when now-President Donald Trump was running casinos in Atlantic City, built up public affairs departments at RWJ Barnabas and Rutgers University, and later joined New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine’s administration. While there, she met Moxie Strategies’ founding CEO, Maggie Moran.
Moxie, a new public affairs firm, champions diversity, equity and inclusion, principles LaRue has advocated for throughout her career. “The team that we’ve put together is extremely diverse,” LaRue says. “We look at issues a lot differently than other public affairs firms out there that don’t have the same kind of diversity.” With her help, the firm has quickly become a multimillion-dollar entity, making waves in the New York market within months of opening.
LaRue now helps clients expand their brand, connects them with key influencers and plans events, fundraisers and higher education initiatives.
Uplifting the next generation of leaders is crucial to LaRue. “One of the greatest things in my life journey is helping women understand we are worthy, and we have a lot to offer,” she says. “We can make a huge difference if we are not just in the room, but at the table.”
– A.B.
Kelly MacMillan
Kelly MacMillan’s career stretches from the campaign trail in New England to shaping New York’s public infrastructure, always with a focus on making government work – one small business at a time.
MacMillan’s passion for public service was sparked while volunteering for U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy’s 1980 presidential campaign. She went on to work on the Clinton-Gore campaign in Rhode Island. “Once you see what you can do to help communities, it’s almost addictive,” she says.
Since then, MacMillan has become a strategic force in government relations. She has held senior positions at top lobbying firms, run her own government relations practice, managed political and advocacy campaigns and spent six years at Westchester Medical Center Health Network driving health care policy. Among her proudest achievements is advocating for safety net hospitals to ensure their sustainability.
Appointed by then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo as director of public infrastructure, MacMillan oversaw the construction of the Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge. She brings that impactful experience to her portfolio at Statewide Public Affairs, including projects like the Westchester RiverWalk, a decade-in-the-making effort to make nature more accessible. “Being able to do infrastructure projects that help with economic development, but at the same time go above and beyond in protecting the environment and the natural resources, are the most rewarding aspects,” she says.
Yet for MacMillan, “Sometimes the small wins matter even more,” she says, as she finds joy in solving small-business regulatory issues to keep businesses open and save jobs.
– A.B.
Busie Matsiko-Andan
Busie Matsiko-Andan is inspired by the women who came before her. Her aunt was an organizer of the Beijing World Conference for Women, and today, Matsiko-Andan is a global strategist and an entrepreneur with a commitment to economic empowerment.
In 2004, Matsiko-Andan founded Fashion Indie, a fashion tech company later acquired by Nylon magazine. “I founded it out of the need to support indie designers,” she says. “So it was one of the first blogs, and then it became a platform for emerging designers.” Her mission is to champion diversity and inclusivity, ensuring emerging talent has the opportunities she once sought.
Beyond fashion, Matsiko-Andan is the president of the New York Africa Chamber of Commerce, fostering economic empowerment and trade with African global markets. She focuses on trade partnerships, investment opportunities and connecting African entrepreneurs with global resources. “I’m an immigrant, and I’ve lived in poor countries, from when I was a baby to now, and New York is a melting pot,” she says. “I’ve met people from all over the world who want to do business. That’s why I embraced the global approach.”
Matsiko-Andan is the first African-born woman to serve on the Berkeley College board of trustees, shaping the institution’s vision and supporting future leaders. She is also the founder and CEO of Pont Global, a consulting firm centered on helping mothers return to the workforce. “You build yourself by building others as well,” she says. “What good is being the only one in the room and being the last?”
– A.B.
Susan Morth
Susan Morth doesn’t have time to get bogged down by bureaucracy – the financial executive is all about getting results. As the leader of the Energy Investment Corp., a state-authorized local development corporation, she has transformed the landscape of sustainable financing in New York, cutting through red tape and upending the status quo.
When she was tasked with cleaning up the organization’s financial mismanagement, she didn’t just clean house – she rewrote the rules. Morth implemented Open C-Pace, a program that allows municipalities to fund sustainability projects without relying on public dollars. Morth says EIC represents 78 New York municipalities, who each have their own municipal sustainable loan program but allow EIC to act on their behalf so that their decarbonization plans involve no public money. “I’m not a government person,” she says. “This is run as a business.”
Morth, who previously worked at Empirical Research Partners and Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. LLC, has pushed back against the New York state Energy Research and Development Authority, whose guidelines govern EIC’s underwriting.
Morth says her philosophy is simple: The government should serve the people, not the other way around. She believes transparency is key, arguing that public resources should be managed with the same rigor as private investments. “I’m refusing to back down and refusing to do anything that is against the public’s best interest,” she says. “And fighting back against those that want the public lien to be used for things that don’t bring a public benefit.”
– A.B.
Lindsay Ornstein
Raised in a family of mostly boys, Lindsay Ornstein learned to be confident and assertive to be heard and make an impact. Today, that serves her well as a leader in the male-dominated real estate industry.
As a co-founder of OPEN Impact Real Estate, Ornstein is committed to leveraging real estate as a catalyst for positive change. “We view real estate through a different lens than conventional brokers do,” she says. “It’s about creating spaces that serve communities with dignity and reflect their values.”
Ornstein’s path was shaped by her professional career as a broker, her desire to give back to her community through nonprofit work and her focus on building diverse partnerships. “It feels good,” Ornstein says, “knowing that you’re helping your city be a better place.”
A defining milestone for OPEN was its strategic alliance with JLL, which formed one of the largest women-owned business enterprise commercial real estate platforms in the country – a major milestone for the commercial real estate sector’s impact work. “Having JLL as our national WBE partner is something we’re incredibly proud of,” Ornstein says.
Ornstein credits much of OPEN’s success to her partnership with co-founder Stephen Powers, who has dedicated his career to nonprofit real estate. “Stephen’s creativity and thought leadership have not only strengthened OPEN,” she says, “but also elevated nonprofit real estate in New York.”
With ambitious growth plans, Ornstein is excited about expanding OPEN’s nonprofit initiatives and corporate business nationally while continuing to cultivate a supportive, innovative workplace.
– A.B.
Jeri Powell
Years after accepting an invitation from a friend to join the New York Junior League, Jeri Powell took on the role of president of the 125-year-old institution, challenging it to think bigger and more inclusively.
Powell, who is also an attorney, advocate, consultant and strategist, views the organization as a catalyst for empowering women while supporting families, a mission that has engaged her for over a decade. Through mentorship and collaboration, she has reinforced the organization’s cycle of empowerment.
“What makes me so committed to the New York Junior League is working alongside inspiring women, women who have served as mentors to me and women who I’ve been able to help develop as a mentor,” Powell says. “We are able to impact our community in a hands-on way.”
After joining the NYJL, she created the organization’s Social Justice Initiative while chairing its DEI Board Work Group. This initiative redefined volunteerism, enabling members to engage in policy, education and advocacy to address systemic inequities.
Beyond the NYJL, Powell is the founder of Take Office, a nonprofit aimed at helping women pursue senior leadership roles, including public office. “I credit my volunteer experience at the New York Junior League and the training to be able to have an idea like take office,” Powell says. Recognizing the barriers many talented women face, she also launched the Pathways to Politics program at Columbia University in 2020.
Powell’s philosophy, “Lead where you are,” reflects her belief that leadership can emerge from any position.
– A.B.
Nanda Prabhakar
Nestled a mile away from the nearest train station, Spring Creek Towers isn’t on everyone’s map. But for Nanda Prabhakar, it’s a space brimming with potential.
As executive director of The Opportunity Hub, a settlement house supporting a large affordable rental community and surrounding neighborhoods, Prabhakar views her work as a calling. “Growing up, I thought about what I enjoyed,” she says. “I love helping people, but what I really love is getting to know their stories, setting goals together and working toward them.”
Since stepping into her leadership role in 2021 as the organization’s sole employee, Prabhakar has transformed an inactive nonprofit into a bustling social services organization. Today, she has a staff of 23 and over 100 young people enrolled in after-school programs. She hosted the community’s first career fair in over two decades, drawing 200 attendees and 30 hiring partners. “This is actually meeting a need,” she explains.
Her leadership is rooted in collaboration and adaptability. While collective decision-making isn’t always easy, she believes fostering an inclusive environment ensures lasting impact. “Feedback is feedback – even when it’s tough, we learn from it,” she says.
With a background in social work, Prabhakar immerses herself in the community, from distributing winter coats to building relationships with program participants. “Every day is different, but the joy comes from being present,” she says.
Although she never envisioned herself in leadership, Prabhakar has embraced it. “Creating an environment where people feel safe and want to be – that’s our biggest win,” she says.
– A.B.
Vanessa Preston
Vanessa Preston once dreamed of becoming the first woman president. Instead, she found her true calling in workforce development at Grant Associates, where she transforms lives every day.
Transitioning from running a regional training center in the restaurant industry, Preston joined Grant Associates eager to make a difference. She started on the front lines of an industrial and transportation career center, then quickly assumed oversight of public assistance programs across New York City.
Her passion for workforce development stems from seeing her parents enjoy successful careers. Her father was a city bus driver, and her mother spent 25 years in the airline industry. “I felt connected to the work from my first days here,” she says.
Preston thrives on coaching and empowering others. One of her most profound experiences involved a client from a decade ago who overcame addiction to secure stable employment. “In our very first interaction, she told me she was going to wait outside for me with the brick,” Preston says. “By the end of our journey together, she invited me to her daughter’s high school graduation.”
Committed to reshaping workforce services into a human-centered experience, Preston wants every client to feel valued and welcomed, “like they’re at Disneyland,” she says.
Beyond work, she serves on her local board of education and is active in community groups, including her beekeeping club. “If I want to create something of high quality, I have to put in the work,” she says, a philosophy that defines her leadership.
– A.B.
Jennifer Rivera
Jennifer Rivera didn’t plan for a career in government and public affairs, but she found her passion after accepting a volunteer opportunity. Now senior vice president of corporate and legislation at Kasirer, Rivera has nearly two decades of experience bridging the gap between government and private sector interests to drive key policy outcomes.
A Bronx native, Rivera’s dedication to service is rooted in her upbringing. Her journey began after graduating with a psychology degree and joining the campaign of Bronx City Council candidate James Vacca. She quickly proved her mettle as an organizer and was offered a position in Vacca’s district office, gaining firsthand experience in navigating government processes to solve everyday problems for New Yorkers.
“I was helping people looking for support for various issues, a lot of quality-of-life issues,” Rivera says. “And I really enjoyed working with people.”
This ignited her passion for public affairs, leading her to the Cuomo administration, where she honed her expertise in government relations and built a robust network. Joining Kasirer, the city’s top lobbying firm, in 2019, she has risen through the ranks to oversee a team supporting over 40 clients.
Rivera focuses on advocacy and strategic communication, fostering collaboration between government and business for the public good. She highlights initiatives like the Big Apple Connect program, which provides free broadband access to public housing residents, as a testament to effective corporate-government partnerships. Lobbying is “finding what the government needs are, then marrying that to our clients’ needs,” Rivera says.
– A.B.
Stacey Roberts
Stacey Roberts, who leads Greater Mental Health of New York, is exactly where she has always wanted to be. Roberts has spent decades ensuring vulnerable individuals receive the care they deserve.
“I wanted to help vulnerable people that didn’t have a voice, help them manage a system that’s really complicated at times and help people feel they’re not alone,” Roberts says. She always dreamed of being a social worker, believing her strengths were best suited to support others emotionally.
Her journey began in college during an internship where she witnessed firsthand the barriers to accessing mental health care for mothers, domestic violence survivors and others.
Roberts joined what’s now Greater Mental Health of New York as a clinical social worker, eventually rising through the ranks to CEO. Determined to drive systemic change, she has expanded services to ensure care meets people where they are, offering outpatient programs and community-based support for individuals across all life stages.
With Roberts at the helm, the organization has grown into a comprehensive provider, emphasizing accessibility and inclusivity. Last year marked the completion of a merger between The Mental Health Association of Westchester and The Mental Health Association of Rockland with a new name, Greater Mental Health of New York.
Leading through workforce shortages and financial constraints, Roberts prioritizes transparency, staff engagement and policy advocacy. She’s driven to “listen more and talk less, have a growth mindset for your team and learn from your mistakes.”
– A.B.
Monica Santos
Monica Santos grew up with a grandmother who welcomed neighbors into their home and shared resources with those in need. This ingrained sense of service has propelled her into a career dedicated to supporting underserved populations through nonprofit leadership.
Facing challenges is part of the job, especially in securing resources from government and funders. Yet, Santos has learned the importance of work-life balance, especially for women in leadership roles. “You can’t pour from an empty cup,” she says, encouraging her staff to pursue personal growth alongside their professional commitments.
Her work inspires her daily. “My team are the dream-fulfillers,” Santos says, reflecting on their successes, like helping individuals transition from shelters to homes and creating adaptive programs for people with disabilities, including making a wish come true for a wheelchair user who dreamed of ice skating.
This past year, Santos and her team opened community fridges and two supportive housing projects in Brooklyn and the Bronx, aiming to eradicate homelessness and address food insecurity.
Though she has accomplished much, Santos remains humble, attributing her success to her team. “They inspire me to find resources for our initiatives, aiming to improve not just the lives of those in our programs but the broader community as well,” she says.
As a leader, Santos aims to be approachable and believes in the power of optimism and honesty. “What you see is what you get,” she says, ensuring those around her know where she stands.
– A.B.
Kelly Sexton
After ignoring her dad’s union talk for years, Kelly Sexton never imagined working for one. But she’s now a rising force in the labor movement, after trading a career in real estate for the front lines of workers’ rights.
Her political awakening came at a New York City Council meeting, where she saw firsthand how policy shapes lives. This sparked a public service passion that led her to intern for then-New York City Council Member Donovan Richards, who’s now Queens borough president, and juggling campaign work and college coursework during the coronavirus pandemic. After working on several local New York City political campaigns, she was hired as the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 30’s first political director.
Now, Sexton’s days are a flurry of candidate screenings, legislative positioning and union advocacy. She thrives on getting labor leaders aligned. “When unions work together, they have the most power,” she says.
As a young woman in a male-dominated industry, Sexton knows how to assert herself. “I’ll be the only (woman) there. I will also be the person there who’s the youngest by far,” she says, adding that people have been welcoming of her opinions.
She is proudest of her work mobilizing first-time voters and securing a hard-fought contract for union members at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens, demonstrating the power of grassroots activism.
One area Sexton is focused on is the future of renewable energy. She’s committed to expanding apprenticeship programs and creating opportunities for a diverse workforce, ensuring labor has a seat at the table in this evolving industry.
– A.B.
Veronika Sikorski
Veronika Sikorski stands out not just as the first woman president of the New York City Special Riggers Association but as a powerful advocate in the scaffolding world.
With a long family history in suspended scaffolding, Sikorski watched her father navigate the industry starting in the mid-1980s. Despite her early resistance to joining the family business, her career trajectory shifted after working for a large corporation, where she felt stifled. “I was a little frustrated,” she says. “It was very hard to get things done,” At just 23, Sikorski chose to join her father’s company, ELM Suspension Systems, where her passion for the trade blossomed.
Over her two decades in the field, Sikorski has risen through the ranks, starting as office manager and becoming the company’s operations manager before obtaining her special riggers license in 2016. Today, she’s not only the singular active woman special rigger in New York but also a fierce advocate for her clients and the industry, addressing critical issues like safety, regulatory changes and fraudulent claims that plague contractors.
Although she’s a woman leader in a male-dominated space, Sikorski doesn’t feel different, seeing more and more women in the construction sector. She’s also been in the field long enough that she’s confident in her abilities and her track record. “Experience is what brings you to the top of your industry,” she says. “You have to have been to many rooftops before you can tell people what the right solution is for the job.”
– A.B.
Nina Simone Stovel
With no prior experience, Nina Simone Stovel began her career as a high school special education substitute teacher in East New York, Brooklyn.
“The school was actually located where I grew up, but my mom used someone else’s address and signed me up from a Park Slope address,” she recalls.
Describing it as a “fake it till you make it” situation, Simone Stovel says the experience completely changed her life.
“I came alive and I saw so much of myself, my family, and all of my loved ones in those students,” she says.
Teaching in the classroom quickly blossomed into something bigger, spurring her to start a workforce development program dedicated to helping low-income teens of color.
This paved the way for her to join United Way of New York City, where she led the $25 million Education Equity Action Plan Coalition’s initiative that developed the Black studies curriculum for New York City schools.
Now at New Settlement, Simone Stovel is working to support all of the programs happening across the organization, from food insecurity to educational access and more.
“I’m so grateful for every woman of color who gave me a great opportunity,” she says, reflecting on her journey. “It was challenging to get folks to take me seriously. I had to learn to really just not care about what anyone said and that the proof would be in the pudding – to focus on community and focus on students and the results were really able to speak for themselves.”
– Erica Scalise
Kate Slevin
Kate Slevin’s path to urban planning and transportation began with an environmental science major and a study abroad program spanning five countries.
Exploring urban infrastructure around the world – in England, India, New Zealand, the Philippines and Mexico – solidified her interest in urban planning. “It became apparent to me, just the need for greater awareness in cities of sustainability and equity,” she says.
Her early love for nature, nurtured by her mother’s gardening, merged with a deep appreciation for urban life. As an urban park ranger in Brooklyn, she saw how public spaces shape communities.
After earning a graduate degree from the NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, Slevin worked at the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, linking transportation to climate and equity. She led the organization, helping advocate for congestion pricing in New York City. “I’ve worked on that since I began at the Tri-State Transportation Campaign in the early 2000s, so it’s really been 20 years of advocating for this policy,” she says. “To see it go into effect was wonderful.”
Now as executive vice president of the Regional Plan Association, Slevin is excited to monitor the Gateway Program, which will improve the rail connection between New York and New Jersey, and to address New York’s housing crisis by “changing outdated zoning regulations and building more housing in communities with great access to transit,” she says.
Slevin also champions gender and racial equity. “If you find passion in your work, that’s a really privileged position,” she says. “Do the best that you can to improve the world for everyone.”
– A.B.
Wanda Soto
Wanda Soto may be retired, but she’s not hanging up her hat when it comes to advocating for the rights of 18,000 current and retired educators across New York City.
Now leading the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators’ field service team for Manhattan, Soto advocates for principals, assistant principals, supervisors and more, always keeping an ear to the ground on school- and district-level issues.
As a retired principal, Soto knows the ins and outs of the city’s public school system. Now, she’s working to pay it forward.
“After 15 years of being a principal, I thought it was time for me to shift focus so I was offered the position of assistant director at CSA,” she says. “Now, I’m actively helping our current members. We’re building rapport, building unity, and building leadership. It’s about showing solidarity – that I’ve been there, done that and I’m here to help you.”
Soto’s day to day involves everything from helping members understand their contracts and benefits to navigating professional development issues, medical challenges and more.
She sees the organization as more than a union, more like a family committed to ongoing support.
“If we say CSA, we say all the way,” she says. “That’s a promise to our members that we are there for them.”
Soto says it’s always challenging for women in the workplace, but “there isn’t anything that anyone cannot do.” “We have women who are strong and who will stand on their feet, firm and grounded and we have to celebrate those successes.”
– E.S
Laura Spring
Laura Spring was the only woman partner at three different firms before joining Lippes Mathias.
“Fortunately it didn’t play a negative role in my career, but I’ve seen the change over time,” she says of the diversifying legal field. “When I started, there were not as many women. It’s nice to see that it’s not evenly populated but there’s probably more women coming out of law school than men.”
Spring discovered her interests early on in school. Her bread and butter – often English and history courses – pulled her toward law from a young age. Now, with over 30 years of litigation experience, she hones her practice in labor and employment law, human rights disputes, health law, intellectual property rights and commercial litigation.
Her work involves negotiating critical agreements for executives, physicians and employers, and she currently serves as the Onondaga County Bar Association president.
Of her accomplishments, Spring says it’s work she couldn’t have done alone – and she encourages those entering the field to get involved in their bar associations and to build relationships with colleagues.
“It’s judges” who played a big role in mentoring her across Syracuse, she says. “I think being in a smaller city community helped me grow as a lawyer.”
Spring is especially proud of her work at St. Joseph’s Health Hospital in Syracuse, where she served as both chair and president of the St. Joseph’s Health Foundation board and was recently given the worker award for her dedication to supporting underserved communities throughout the city.
– E.S.
Geraldine Stella
From graphic design intern to health and safety director, Geraldine Stella has been a dedicated force in public service since joining the New York State Public Employees Federation in 1992.
Raised in a union household – her mother a public school teacher and her father involved in journalism – Stella’s activism was nurtured from an early age. “My father actually had me and my twin sister on this strike line with him at one point,” she says. “So, I was kind of born into it.”
In her current role, Stella has tackled significant challenges, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she played a crucial role in creating a nationwide toolkit for safe workplace practices. Her focus extends beyond immediate support. She collaborates with various agencies to implement policies that enhance safety for workers across the state.
Currently, she is leading efforts to rebuild health and safety committees and address workplace violence within state facilities. “It sounds minuscule and unimportant, but it was those health and safety committees that were able to communicate directly with members right away when something happens,” Stella says. “That network was hugely important.”
As a woman leader in the labor movement, she’s grateful for the support the New York State Public Employees Federation has given her.
“It has made a huge difference for our union, and for the labor movement, to be so safety minded and involved,” she says. “They have given me and my department the tools that we need, the resources to do what we need to do. And that’s not something every union can say.”
– A.B.
Mariam Sukiasyan
Mariam Sukiasyan is living proof that a transitional job can turn into a lifelong career.
“I came to New York at 15,” she recalls. “When I was in college, I was looking for a part-time job and that’s when I got this job.”
While juggling school and work, Sukiasyan became increasingly drawn to helping patients navigate New York City’s complex health care system, especially those with limited English language ability trying to access medical benefits.
Quickly, a part-time position turned into a full-time passion.
“Since I was a little girl, I loved helping,” she says. “I feel like I was born to serve, to serve the community, society, patients, everyone. It makes me happy to get the job done and usually 99% of it gets done because I don’t give up. I’m going to knock on the door until someone answers.”
After 11 years at RiverSpring Health Plans, Sukiasyan is still chasing those wins.
As a senior advocate, her days are often bookended by long phone calls with members of the “sandwich generation” – those caught between caring for an aging parent and their own children.
The Armenian-born Sukiasyan says she sees her mother – who went back to school in a new country at age 45 – as her most influential mentor. She also credits her bosses, Susan Aldrich and Patty Hron, for consistently lifting her up in the face of challenges.
“It’s easy to work alongside such a great team,” she says. “Every one of them is just like me. We love to help.”
– E.S.
Ashlie Taska
When Ashlie Taska first started attending meetings at Salesforce for Ponce Bank, she noticed something glaringly obvious.
“Finance is mostly men, especially on the tech side, so these spaces are mostly male-dominated,” she says. “For me to have a voice in these rooms, I feel like I am breaking through.”
Taska is used to trailblazing in the workplace. After being referred by a friend who worked at Ponce, she initially saw her teller role as a way to dip her toe into corporate America.
Eight years later, she has risen from teller to assistant vice president to vice president Salesforce administrator, a role in which she currently sits as the company’s product owner and administrator for the bank.
Deplying Salesforce software, she works with different departments to find efficiencies and streamline processes that better assist the departments and the bank.
She credits her mentor, Betty Campiz, for constantly investing in her and helping her build her skill set.
“I began working with her when I started in the contact center and she has provided so much valuable guidance and has always been supportive through my career and my journey,” Taska says. “She’s also helped me see things from a new perspective.”
The work is most rewarding for Taska when it makes people’s lives easier.
“I like to hear what people are struggling with and I love to get together with my team and just brainstorm and think of the best solutions,” she says. “That just brings me joy.”
– E.S.
Natalie Terhaar
A major career pivot took Natalie Terhaar from working at a Fortune 500 company to becoming a corporate philanthropy stalwart.
“I’ve been in this work for 10 years and it’s so rewarding,” Terhaar says. “I can’t think of anything more meaningful than potentially changing someone’s life with a program we fund.”
As a community engagement manager for both National Grid Ventures and Community Offshore Wind, Terhaar administers grants and spearheads STEM education and environmental and sustainability programming across the Northeast.
Under her guidance, 3,000 STEM-focused books were donated to families in Brooklyn, and over 1,000 pounds of garbage was cleaned from the borough’s waterfronts and on Long Island. She also led an initiative that provided nearly 75,000 fresh seafood meals to food banks across New York state.
“Not only were we helping our fisheries, which is a really important stakeholder for us, but we ensured that we got fresh seafood to communities who are food insecure.”
Passionate about putting offshore wind on the radar, she cited her earliest role models – her father, who donated his time cutting wigs for cancer patients, and her mother, who worked as a nurse.
Terhaar’s boss, Alanna Russo, has also been instrumental in her success at National Grid Ventures.
“I truly feel that you need to find someone like her within your company who’s going to lift you up and say your name in a room when you’re not there,” Terhaar says. “She is the true definition of a woman lifting up another woman.”
– E.S.
Jenny Tsang-Quinn
Passionate about reshaping the primary care experience, Dr. Jenny Tsang-Quinn is reimagining the relationship between patients and health care providers.
“I wanted to really create a system where patients felt like this was part of their day to day, and it wasn’t a place to go for sick care, but a place where they can get enough care so that they can be well and have enough access to well care,” she says.
As a primary care physician, Tsang-Quinn shifted her focus from seeing patients to managing a team of health care providers dedicated to identifying issues that result in patients getting left behind.
She says language barriers, low literacy and even busy schedules often can be major obstacles for everyday New Yorkers, but she’s working to change that. By connecting patients with providers who speak their language, and striving to enhance Maimonides Health’s digital tools like its patient portal, Tsang-Quinn remains committed to fostering clear connections between patients and their providers.
Tending to the diverse needs of New York City’s population hits home for the doctor. She’s working to open doors for new and experienced health care workers and patients like her own family members, who immigrated to the U.S. from humble beginnings, with no access to care.
After spending time in vice president and director roles across organizations, Tsang-Quinn wishes she could reach every single patient.
“I’m hoping our organization and mission cascades down and our patients are empowered to take care of their own health care needs,” she says.
– E.S.
Elisabeth Wynn
After 25 years at the Greater New York Hospital Association, it’s the constantly evolving political landscape that keeps Elisabeth Wynn coming back.
As an executive vice president, Wynn is continually working to reinvigorate her approach, especially amid proposed Medicaid cuts.
“We’ve seen proposed cuts to National Institutes of Health grants. We’ve seen changes around focus on health equity. We are expecting very significant challenges in Congress,” Wynn says of the current situation – one she warms could change the financial landscape for providers for the next generation.
But she’s not cowering in the face of these challenges. Instead, she’s focused on educating and protecting members.
“There is lots of work to be done, but that’s part of what makes me passionate about my job,” Wynn says.
Steering the association’s work with the state Department of Health and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on reimbursement issues, she oversees the organization’s work on issues such as access to capital, financial assistance policies, revenue cycle, utilization management and payer audits.
As the child of parents who worked in health care policy, Wynn has a deep understanding of the industry and its challenges going back to her youth. “It was something that I grew up discussing at the dinner table,” she says.
Citing her former boss, Karen Heller, Wynn stressed the importance of finding community in the workplace.
“She took me under her wing from day one and taught me everything she knew, which was a tremendous amount,” Wynn says.
– E.S.
Lourdes Zapata
Lourdes Zapata has relied on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to get around for as long as she can remember. Now, she’s changing it from the inside.
“I’m serving as the person who ensures the MTA’s commitment to equal opportunity is met, day in and day out,” she says.
From working as New York’s chief diversity officer under then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo to leading the South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corp., Zapata has displayed an unwavering commitment to making New York more equitable and accessible.
The native New Yorker has built her entire career around uplifting disadvantaged communities within the nonprofit and governmental sectors.
During a time where diversity, equity and inclusion is under intense federal scrutiny, Zapata remains steadfast in her determination to get the job done. She says that though this period has been anxiety inducing, she’s not letting it affect her dedication to her work.
“I’m proud that despite what we’re seeing at the federal level, the MTA’s commitment to equity has not wavered an inch,” Zapata says. “I have received – and my colleagues have received – messages and conversations of support from the MTA chairman directly, reinforcing the MTA’s commitment to equity.”
Zapata is especially passionate about the change she has witnessed in her own workplace.
“One of the things that I’m really excited about at the MTA is that when I sit at executive meetings, there are plenty of other women of color and people of color sitting at the table with me,” she says.
– E.S.
Irene Zoupaniotis
Labor and employment law was not on Irene Zoupaniotis’ radar until a law school writing competition changed everything for her.
“It was a little bit of an accident,” says the Queens native of her career trajectory. After getting placed on a labor and employment law journal following her first year, Zoupaniotis was drawn to the field’s variety and relatability. “After that, I realized that I really liked it,” she says. “You’re helping businesses navigate these personnel issues that all of us experience because all of us have jobs.”
An array of diverse clients keeps every day different for Zoupaniotis, who represents small and medium-sized businesses as well as nonprofits. She provides advice and counsel, defending clients against wage and hour disputes, and takes on discrimination, harassment and retaliation cases. Her work also involves government audits and investigations, helping clients navigate complex regulatory landscapes.
While litigation often takes a long time, it’s the everyday victories that keep Zoupaniotis going.
“Anytime you win a motion or win a proceeding for your client, that always is a good feeling,” she says.
Zoupaniotis, a member of the Queens Theatre and Long Island City Partnership boards, is passionate about her Greek heritage and seeks to bolster cultural enrichment throughout the city.
She points to her mother, a former diplomat, as her first mentor.
“She worked, she raised children, had a home and had a serious job,” Zoupaniotis says. “Seeing those things and having these people as examples really made me believe I could do it.”
– E.S.
Corrections: An earlier version of this post incorrectly identifed Bellal Hossain as the father of Fariha Habib. Her father is Abid Habib. An earlier version of this post also incorrectly stated that Stacey Roberts had been an intern at the New York City Department of Social Services. This has been updated to reflect that Busie Matsiko-Andan is the first African-born woman to serve on the Berkeley College board of trustees, not the first Black woman on the board.
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