The Top 50 Columbus Women Leaders of 2026
Columbus has become a “headquarters city” with an outsized civic footprint: retail brands with national reach, energy and insurance decision-makers, fast-moving healthcare systems, and a deep bench of nonprofit leaders who can actually convene-then execute. That mix creates a special kind of influence: the kind that doesn’t just move an organization forward, but moves an entire region’s momentum.
This ranked list is an editorial snapshot of 50 of the most influential women shaping the Greater Columbus metro-from boardrooms to courtrooms, from major employers to high-impact founders, from cultural institutions to community systems work. (And yes: there are many more who deserve recognition.)
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#1 Fran Horowitz
As CEO of a global retail company headquartered in the Columbus area, Fran Horowitz sits at the intersection of brand strategy, consumer behavior, and large-scale job creation. Her influence shows up locally through executive decision-making that impacts corporate roles, creative and marketing ecosystems, and vendor networks-while also shaping how a major public company recruits, develops, and promotes talent. For professional women across Central Ohio, she represents a version of leadership that blends disciplined operating cadence with cultural intuition-an increasingly rare combination in modern retail.
#2 Hillary Super
Leading one of the most recognizable brands in American retail from the Columbus region is a high-leverage role-and Hillary Super’s mandate is transformation. As CEO and a board member, she influences not only strategy and performance, but how the company evolves its product direction, customer experience, and brand relevance in a market that moves fast and judges loudly. In Columbus, her leadership matters because the decisions made at VS\&Co ripple through headquarters employment, creative work, supplier ecosystems, and the region’s identity as a place where national consumer brands are built and rebuilt.
#3 Jane Grote Abell
Jane Grote Abell embodies a particularly Columbus kind of leadership: values-forward, operationally serious, and deeply tied to community. As executive chairwoman and chief purpose officer of Donatos, she influences how a hometown brand competes, grows, and invests-while keeping culture and purpose central rather than ornamental. Her visibility also matters: she normalizes the idea that legacy businesses can be modern, innovative, and led with conviction-without losing their soul.
#4 Tanny Crane
Tanny Crane has long been a defining force in Columbus’ civic-and-business fabric. Through Crane Group, her leadership touches investment, governance, and the philanthropic backbone that helps the region fund solutions at scale. What makes her influence distinctive is durability: she operates in the long arc-building institutional partnerships, helping organizations sustain through cycles, and shaping what “responsible power” looks like in a fast-growing metro.
#5 Alicia Knapp
Energy strategy is economic strategy-and Alicia Knapp’s role is about shaping the future of reliable power at a time when electrification and resilience are redefining regional competitiveness. As AEP’s president of nuclear development, she leads strategy and growth for a major generation pathway-work that touches policy, investment, workforce planning, and long-term infrastructure decisions. In practical terms: roles like this determine what kind of industrial growth a region can support, how stable the grid will be, and how credibly Columbus can position itself for the next era of energy demand.
#6 Tauana McDonald
Healthcare is one of Central Ohio’s most consequential “systems,” and leading a major health system is a role with immediate impact on workforce stability, patient access, and community health outcomes. Tauana McDonald’s appointment is historic-and operationally important-because it places her at the center of decisions that affect thousands of employees and countless families. The ripple effects extend beyond hospitals: employer health benefits, public health collaboration, behavioral health capacity, and the overall resilience of the region’s safety net.
#7 Dr. Teri Caulin-Glaser
The leaders who shape care standards and clinical strategy quietly shape a region’s productivity and quality of life. As OhioHealth’s chief clinical officer and an executive vice president, Dr. Teri Caulin-Glaser influences how care is delivered, how service lines evolve, and how clinical quality and safety priorities are executed across a major system. For working women in Columbus, this kind of leadership matters because it directly affects access to care, clinical innovation, and the ability of employers and families to function in a healthy, supported community.
#8 Karen Morrison
Karen Morrison’s influence sits where healthcare, philanthropy, and public policy intersect. Leading the OhioHealth Foundation while also serving as a senior vice president positions her to shape what gets resourced-health equity initiatives, community partnerships, and strategies that expand access and reduce disparities. In a region growing as quickly as Columbus, the ability to align donor dollars, institutional priorities, and government relationships is a strategic advantage-and she operates right at that hinge point.
#9 Ann Bair
Marketing at the scale of Nationwide isn’t just messaging-it’s trust-building, customer strategy, and brand stewardship for one of the region’s most important employers. As chief marketing officer, Ann Bair influences how Nationwide shows up in the market and in the community, including what partnerships get amplified and what commitments become visible. Columbus feels this role through agency ecosystems, sponsorship investments, and the broader employer brand that helps attract and retain top talent in a competitive market.
#10 Vinita Clements
Workforce strategy is business strategy-especially for a large employer headquartered in Columbus. As Nationwide’s chief human resources officer, Vinita Clements influences how leadership pipelines are built, how culture is operationalized, and how talent is retained at scale. For professional women across the metro, this kind of role matters because it can reshape advancement pathways, flexibility norms, pay equity practices, and management expectations-changes that cascade far beyond one company into the broader labor market.
#11 Helga Houston
Financial institutions shape what gets built-homes, small businesses, commercial projects-and how responsibly that growth happens. As chief risk officer, Helga Houston helps govern the discipline behind those decisions: credit standards, enterprise risk, and the controls that keep institutions stable across cycles. Her influence is structural: when risk leadership is strong, banks can support growth without creating fragility, and that stability is a quiet competitive advantage for the region.
#12 Sarah Pohmer
In a tight talent market, HR leadership at a major bank is a lever that moves thousands of careers. As Huntington’s CHRO, Sarah Pohmer shapes how the organization recruits, develops, and advances people-decisions that affect managerial standards, leadership readiness, and the employee experience at scale. This matters regionally because big employers set norms: what flexibility looks like, how benefits are structured, and how seriously leadership development is taken across functions.
#13 Monica Tellez-Fowler
Transit leadership is about more than buses-it’s access to jobs, education, and opportunity. As CEO of COTA, Monica Tellez-Fowler sits at the center of how mobility evolves across a growing metro: service design, rider experience, and the partnerships required to connect neighborhoods to employment hubs. For professional women (and the employers who want to retain them), transportation choices affect everything from commute time to childcare logistics to whether a job opportunity is realistic in the first place.
#14 Amy Taylor
Downtowns don’t “revive” by accident; they change because leaders align projects, policy, and narrative. Amy Taylor has been tied to city-shaping work in the urban core, helping translate big civic ambition into tangible places and programs. Her influence is felt in how downtown Columbus competes for employers, residents, visitors, and investment-especially as the city grows outward and must keep its center vibrant, safe, and economically relevant.
#15 Lauren Hagan
A modern library system is workforce development infrastructure-digital access, career support, youth learning, and community belonging all live there. As CEO of the Columbus Metropolitan Library, Lauren Hagan leads an institution that touches families at every stage, including professionals upskilling, job-seekers rebuilding, and entrepreneurs accessing resources. In an economy that rewards learning velocity, library leadership becomes a competitive advantage for an entire metro.
#16 Linda Logan
Sports commissions can be serious economic engines: they bring visitor dollars, national attention, and repeatable event operations that strengthen a city’s “capacity muscle.” Linda Logan’s leadership has helped position Columbus as a destination for major sporting events-work that supports hospitality, downtown activity, and the region’s broader brand. It’s also a leadership story about building coalitions: venues, sponsors, government, and community partners all have to move together for bids to become wins.
#17 Rita Soronen
Some leaders influence a city by shaping what it stands for. Rita Soronen leads a nationally recognized Columbus-based nonprofit focused on adoption and child well-being. Her impact is both human and operational: driving awareness, fundraising, program strategy, and partnerships that can change outcomes for children and families. In a professional community, she represents a model of executive leadership where mission is matched with measurable execution-and where Columbus’ influence extends far beyond Ohio.
#18 Julie Tilson Stanley
Leading a major community organization is a complex executive role: governance, philanthropy, safety, education, and community care often converge at once. As president and CEO of JewishColumbus, Julie Tilson Stanley influences civic relationships and regional resilience-especially during moments when communities feel pressure or uncertainty. For professional women, her leadership is a reminder that “business leadership” also includes the institutions that protect belonging, fund essential services, and convene partners when it matters most.
#19 Brooke Minto
Cultural institutions are economic infrastructure in disguise: they drive tourism, talent attraction, education partnerships, and civic pride. As executive director and CEO, Brooke Minto influences how Columbus tells its story-and how accessible that story is to residents across neighborhoods. Her role also shapes partnerships with donors, schools, artists, and employers, helping ensure Columbus feels not only prosperous, but worth living in.
#20 Maureen O’Brien
A symphony is a performance organization-and a sophisticated business: fundraising, governance, community engagement, and artistic excellence must all align. As president and CEO, Maureen O’Brien leads one of the city’s enduring cultural brands while building relevance for new audiences. Her influence shows up in the health of the arts ecosystem (musicians, educators, venues, sponsors) and in Columbus’ ability to offer the kind of cultural depth that keeps top talent rooted in the region.
#21 Lisa S. Courtice, Ph.D.
Courtice leads United Way of Central Ohio with an outcomes-first approach, aligning donors, employers, and nonprofits around measurable community results. Her leadership turns broad civic goodwill into targeted investments that strengthen education, financial stability, and health for families across the region.
#22 Sophia Fifner
Fifner has elevated the Columbus Metropolitan Club as a trusted forum for civic dialogue, bringing business, government, and community voices together with clarity and respect. With deep experience in strategic communications and philanthropy, she has helped steward significant resources for social impact and strengthens the region’s culture of informed leadership.
#23 Sharon L. Kennedy
As Chief Justice, Kennedy sets the tone for Ohio’s judicial system, championing fairness, efficiency, and public confidence in the courts. Her decades-long career in law and public service reflects steady leadership that helps create the stable legal environment businesses and communities rely on.
#24 Shayla Favor
Favor is reshaping how public safety and justice can work together, bringing equity-minded leadership and accountability to the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office. By focusing on community-centered solutions and practical reforms, she is building trust while working to reduce violence and improve outcomes for residents.
#25 Barb Smoot
Smoot has grown WELD into a high-impact leadership engine, connecting and developing women executives who drive Central Ohio’s most important organizations. Her work expands opportunity and strengthens the regional economy by turning leadership development into a measurable community advantage.
#26 Jeni Britton
Britton transformed a Columbus idea into a nationally celebrated brand, proving that product innovation, craft, and values can scale together. Through Jeni’s and her newer ventures, she continues to set a high bar for creativity and entrepreneurship that elevates the city’s reputation for consumer innovation.
#27 Nikki Fisher
Fisher helps steer CASTO’s portfolio strategy with the kind of disciplined management that keeps large, complex real estate assets performing over time. Her leadership supports thriving retail and multifamily communities across Central Ohio, translating smart investment decisions into places where businesses grow and residents live well.
#28 Purba Majumder
Majumder built Cybervation into a high-growth technology and staffing company, demonstrating bold entrepreneurship and operational excellence in a fast-changing sector. Her leadership creates opportunity for clients and talent alike, and her visible advocacy for women in tech strengthens Columbus’ innovation ecosystem.
#29 Jill Frey
Frey scaled Cummins Facility Services into a national, 100% women-owned enterprise known for dependable operations and a strong service culture. By embracing innovation in facilities and workforce practices, she has created thousands of jobs and delivered outsized economic impact from a Central Ohio headquarters.
#30 Dr. Elena Christofides
Christofides pairs clinical expertise with executive leadership, guiding Endocrinology Associates while advancing patient care in diabetes, metabolism, and hormone health. Her commitment to education and research elevates care beyond the exam room, helping patients and peers make better, evidence-based decisions.
#31 Laura MacDonald
MacDonald is one of the region’s most influential voices in philanthropy, helping nonprofits build sustainable fundraising strategies and stronger endowments. Through The Benefactor Group and her thought leadership, she has strengthened the capacity of mission-driven organizations that underpin Central Ohio’s quality of life.
#32 Catherine Strauss
Strauss leads Ice Miller’s Columbus office with a practical, business-forward approach that helps employers navigate labor, growth, and regulatory complexity. As a trusted adviser and community leader, she strengthens the legal and civic infrastructure that enables companies to invest and expand in the region.
#33 Janica Pierce Tucker
Tucker serves as partner-in-charge of Taft’s Columbus office, bringing steady leadership and sharp judgment to high-stakes labor and employment matters. Her counsel helps employers and educational institutions prevent risk, resolve disputes, and build policies that support strong workplaces.
#34 Katrina Thompson
Thompson channels capital into community progress by structuring sophisticated transactions that leverage tax credits for affordable housing, historic preservation, and other catalytic projects. Her work helps developers and investors deliver deals that create jobs, strengthen neighborhoods, and broaden opportunity.
#35 Laura Hult
Hult helps lenders, investors, and middle-market companies execute financing and M&A transactions that define turning points in growth. Her dealmaking discipline and clear-eyed risk management make her a valued partner to organizations building durable value in Ohio and beyond.
#36 Christy Rideout Schirra
Rideout Schirra guides clients through complex environmental regulation and litigation, helping projects move forward responsibly while protecting communities and resources. Her reputation as both an expert adviser and a generous mentor makes her a standout leader in Columbus’ legal and business ecosystem.
#37 Jeanna Hondel
Hondel has earned recognition as a construction industry leader, building Ascension Construction Solutions with resilience, credibility, and a commitment to excellence. By creating pathways for collaboration and inclusion in a project-driven sector, she delivers business results while expanding who gets to build and lead.
#38 Kathy Starkoff
Starkoff brings deep technology and governance expertise to boardrooms, drawing on senior CIO experience and her work advising leaders through transformation. Through Orange Star Consulting, she helps organizations manage cyber risk, modernize operations, and make strategic decisions with confidence.
#39 Debbie Penzone
Penzone has led PENZONE Salons + Spa with a focus on innovation, wellness, and a service culture that keeps a homegrown brand thriving in a competitive market. Her leadership develops talent, supports local philanthropy, and demonstrates how a people-first company can scale its impact across the region.
#40 Angela Plummer
Plummer leads CRIS with compassion and operational strength, helping refugees and immigrants build stable lives through resettlement, legal support, and workforce services. Her work expands Columbus’ talent pipeline and strengthens the community by turning welcome into real opportunity.
#41 Lisa Berger
Berger co-founded Fortuna Bank and helped mobilize the capital and community support needed to launch one of the nation’s few majority women-owned banks. By centering women and entrepreneurs in the banking model, she is widening access to resources that power small-business growth and financial independence.
#42 Ilaria Rawlins
Rawlins brings decades of banking expertise to Fortuna Bank, leading with a customer-first philosophy and a clear mission to empower women and local businesses. Her ability to build a new institution from the ground up reflects both entrepreneurial courage and a commitment to inclusive economic growth.
#43 Amy Klaben
Klaben has spent her career expanding affordable housing and economic mobility, bringing deep expertise from years leading major community development efforts. Through Families Flourish, she has built cross-sector partnerships that help families secure stable homes and create long-term pathways to prosperity.
#44 Lisa Hinson
Hinson has built a trusted public relations platform in Columbus, guiding organizations through media, community relations, and high-visibility projects with calm professionalism. Her long-running civic engagement and board leadership extend that impact beyond clients, strengthening the connective tissue between business success and community progress.
#45 Dr. Amy Acton
Acton became a widely respected public health leader by guiding Ohio through a defining period with calm, science-driven decision-making and clear communication. Her continued focus on health equity and systems improvement reflects leadership that shapes policy, organizations, and community outcomes at scale.
#46 Ukeme Awakessien Jeter
Jeter has broken barriers as a municipal leader, guiding Upper Arlington with a focus on civic investment, responsive governance, and community connection. Her leadership shows how inclusive, values-based decision-making can strengthen a city’s economy, services, and sense of belonging.
#47 Lourdes Barroso de Padilla
Barroso de Padilla has made history on Columbus City Council while championing practical policies that improve public services and open doors for small and minority businesses. By celebrating Latino heritage and pushing for more equitable growth, she brings fresh energy and representation to the city’s economic future.
#48 Jessica Krauser
Krauser turned a personal health challenge into a powerful community movement, using 5K for JK to fundraise for Parkinson’s research and support local families. Her work reduces fear for newly diagnosed patients by pairing advocacy with tangible resources that help people take their first steps forward.
#49 Sangeeta Lakhani
Lakhani co-founded Service! and has led it with urgency and empathy, delivering direct relief and building new support systems for hospitality workers across Central Ohio. By turning industry experience into scalable programs and partnerships, she is helping create a stronger, more equitable service economy.
#50 Letha Pugh
Pugh co-founded Service! and brings an entrepreneur’s mindset to community problem-solving, advocating for fair treatment and financial stability for hospitality workers. Her leadership blends business building and civic involvement, creating pathways for people to earn, learn, and advance in an essential industry.
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