The Top 50 Indianapolis Women Leaders of 2026
Indianapolis has a particular kind of momentum right now-equal parts Midwest practicality and big-league ambition. In the middle of it are women who are steering billion‑dollar healthcare and life‑sciences engines, reshaping how capital flows into housing and development, modernizing state operations, scaling high-growth tech networks, and using arts and sports platforms to drive tangible community change.
This list is designed for professional women who want to know: Who is setting the agenda in Indy? Who’s building? Who’s reforming? Who’s quietly making the city work better?
How this ranking was built (in plain English): it’s an editorial, “impact-weighted” view of influence-based on role scope, decision-making authority, industry footprint, and visible community impact. To keep it genuinely metro-focused, it emphasizes leaders whose work is deeply connected to the Indianapolis region.
For the contact info of the Top 50 and Members Join or Login
#1 Gail K. Boudreaux
When Indianapolis hosts a national healthcare powerhouse, the ripple effects are real-jobs, partnerships, and the tone of local corporate civic life. Gail Boudreaux leads Elevance Health from its Indianapolis corporate headquarters and is widely recognized for steering one of the country’s largest health benefits organizations. Beyond operations, she’s also influenced national CEO-level priorities, including being elected chair of The Business Council-an indicator of peer-level influence that few executives reach.
#2 Adrienne Brown
In a city where life sciences are a defining economic pillar, Adrienne Brown sits at the intersection of pipeline decisions and market-shaping strategy. As an executive vice president and president of Lilly Immunology-and a member of Lilly’s Executive Committee-she holds one of the roles that helps determine which therapies get built, scaled, and brought to patients. She’s also connected into Indiana’s broader life-sciences ecosystem through regional leadership circles.
#3 Anat Hakim
Some leaders influence a city by steering product lines; others do it by protecting the governance and ethical backbone that enables scale. Anat Hakim oversees Lilly’s legal strategy and advises the board and senior executives-while also carrying responsibility across functions like ethics & compliance, privacy, and public policy. That combination puts her in the room for the highest-stakes decisions that shape Indianapolis’ most globally visible company.
#4 Jennifer A. Johnson
Corteva’s Indianapolis global headquarters represents major global decision-making landing in the metro, and Jennifer Johnson is central to how that enterprise navigates regulation, risk, partnerships, and public affairs. As chief legal and public affairs officer (and corporate secretary), she helps guide the frameworks that allow innovation-led businesses to execute-especially in a heavily regulated, globally interconnected sector like agriculture and crop science.
#5 Audrey Grimm
Talent strategy is economic development-full stop. Audrey Grimm’s scope at Corteva includes building the culture and people systems that make a large, complex global organization function (and compete). Her work sits at the heart of workforce strategy, inclusion efforts, and long-horizon leadership development-exactly the kind of “behind the scenes” leadership that determines whether a headquarters city truly benefits from corporate growth.
#6 Carlie Irsay‑Gordon
The Colts are more than a football team in Indianapolis-they’re a civic brand, a downtown economic driver, and a philanthropic platform. Carlie Irsay‑Gordon stepped into the owner & CEO role in 2025 after years as vice chair/owner, bringing both continuity and a highly visible leadership model. Her influence touches business (events, partnerships), culture, and community priorities in a way few local leaders can match.
#7 Kalen Jackson
Kalen Jackson is a blueprint for modern sports leadership: brand-building paired with measurable community investment. As chief brand officer, she has led mental health advocacy through the Colts’ “Kicking The Stigma” initiative-an effort the AP reports has surpassed $30 million in contributions to mental health nonprofits. That’s influence that shows up in real dollars and real services, not just messaging.
#8 Vanessa Green Sinders
When the state’s largest business advocacy organization is led by its first female CEO, that matters-especially in a capital city where policy and commerce constantly overlap. Vanessa Green Sinders took over as president and CEO in January 2024 and has been positioned to shape Indiana’s business agenda via convening power, advocacy, and the ability to align statewide business priorities with what employers need on the ground.
#9 Ting Gootee
A metro’s “tech ceiling” is often set by who can convene capital, talent, and credible storytelling about why companies should build there. Ting Gootee has played that role for Indiana as CEO of TechPoint (appointed in 2022), helping represent and strengthen the state’s innovation economy-and later announcing a transition to roles focused on digital adoption and health ventures. In practical terms: she’s helped make “Indy as a tech city” a more actionable narrative for founders and employers.
#10 Beth Keyser
Healthcare affordability and access are local business issues-affecting employers, family budgets, and workforce stability. Beth Keyser has led Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Indiana since 2020, running one of the state’s largest health plans. Her influence shows up where corporate healthcare intersects with community needs and employer realities.
#11 Dr. Michele Saysana
Hospital leadership is “infrastructure leadership,” especially in downtown Indianapolis. IU Health named Dr. Michele Saysana president of its Adult Academic Health Center and Metro Region-covering major hospitals and a broad footprint. That scope gives her direct influence over care delivery, clinical priorities, and how major medical campuses integrate with the city’s workforce and neighborhoods.
#12 Katie Lucas
Indy has a long history of motorsports and mobility-adjacent business-and Lucas Oil is part of that identity. Katie Lucas was promoted to president in 2024, with responsibilities spanning operations, long-term strategy, and philanthropic initiatives. It’s a role that combines brand stewardship with tangible community presence across the metro.
#13 Lisa W. Hershman
When state operations run better, local business runs smoother. Lisa Hershman serves as Indiana’s Secretary of Management and Budget-an appointment that places her over major budget and management functions, including operational oversight that affects agencies and statewide execution. In the capital city, that translates to an outsized ability to shape how policy becomes practice.
#14 Elise M. Nieshalla
Fiscal stewardship isn’t flashy, but it is foundational. As Indiana’s state comptroller, Elise Nieshalla is responsible for the accounting and reporting of state funds, disbursement processes, and key financial operations-work that underpins Indiana’s ability to invest, pay vendors, and maintain credibility with employers and bond markets. Her seat is one of the most structurally influential in the capital.
#15 Gina Miller
Housing affordability is one of the defining “quality of life \= talent retention” issues for metros. Gina Miller has led INHP as president and CEO since 2022, in a period where interest rates, construction costs, and home prices have challenged first-time buyers. Her influence is practical and local: programs, funding, and partnerships that determine whether Indianapolis neighborhoods can remain accessible to working families.
#16 Paula Moan
If you want to understand a city’s growth, follow who is building the capital stack. Paula Moan’s leadership in the Indianapolis banking market has been credited with dramatic market growth and a deliberate strategy of building a locally rooted team. It’s the kind of financial leadership that enables small and mid-size businesses to expand-quietly shaping corridors, job creation, and redevelopment.
#17 Judith B. Thomas
Strong cities don’t treat arts as decoration; they treat it as civic infrastructure. Judith B. Thomas was appointed president and CEO of the Indy Arts Council in 2025, leading a major platform for grants, public art, and cultural-sector coordination. Her role helps determine how Indianapolis invests in creative identity, neighborhood engagement, and the “stickiness” that keeps talent here.
#18 Tamara Winfrey‑Harris
Economic growth that doesn’t work for women doesn’t work-period. Tamara Winfrey‑Harris leads the Women’s Fund of Central Indiana, an organization focused on mobilizing investment and advocacy so women and girls can reach their full potential. Under her leadership, the organization has emphasized strategy and measurable goals-bringing data-driven urgency to issues like equity, opportunity, and long-term community prosperity.
#19 Dina M. Cox
In every metro, there are lawyers who “practice” and lawyers who shape the business environment. As managing partner of Lewis Wagner, Dina Cox is positioned to influence how companies manage risk, navigate disputes, and execute deals-while also helping set leadership expectations within a major Indianapolis-based firm.
#20 Betsy K. Delgado
Workforce development is one of the most leverageable forms of economic impact. As chief mission and education officer at Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana, Betsy Delgado sits close to the systems that help people connect to training, credentials, and employment stability-an impact that shows up in household resilience and employer talent pipelines across the region.
#21 Janmarie H. Connor
Connor has built Connor Painting into a respected, safety-first contractor, proving that operational excellence and people leadership can redefine what success looks like in construction services. By mentoring talent and delivering consistent results for major projects across the region, she has expanded opportunity and set a higher standard for the industry.
#22 Lee Ernst
Ernst has guided Johnson Grossnickle and Associates through a strong leadership transition while driving record growth in a firm known for pairing fundraising strategy with analytics. Her work helps mission-driven organizations secure resources, strengthen governance, and turn ambitious goals into measurable community impact.
#23 Jamie Ford‑Bowers
Ford‑Bowers is a licensed engineer and partner who leads HWC’s land development, planning, and landscape architecture teams, translating complex projects into outcomes that work for communities and clients. Her ability to grow new lines of business while maintaining technical rigor has helped expand the firm’s footprint and influence across central Indiana.
#24 Brenda Hacker Freije
Freije leads the Rethink Coalition with a rare blend of civic strategy and cross-sector collaboration, pushing bold conversations about how infrastructure decisions affect health, equity, and economic vitality. By building partnerships and advancing actionable plans, she is helping Indianapolis envision growth that is both more connected and more human-centered.
#25 Christina Laun Fugate
Fugate is a recognized leader in franchise and distribution law who helps companies scale responsibly, protecting brands while navigating high-stakes disputes and complex regulatory questions. By growing a thriving practice and delivering trusted counsel nationwide, she has strengthened both client outcomes and her firm’s market leadership.
#26 Rachelle Gardner
Gardner co-founded Hope Academy to give teens in recovery a real path to graduation, combining educational rigor with the support students need to rebuild stability. Her decades of leadership in adolescent recovery services have changed lives at scale and created a model of impact that reaches families, schools, and the broader workforce pipeline.
#27 Kate Gundlach
Gundlach has helped deliver championship-level performance in IndyCar through rigorous data-driven engineering and a relentless focus on continuous improvement. As a race engineer at Arrow McLaren, she turns complex information into clear decisions that maximize speed, strategy, and results on race day.
#28 Heather D. Harris
Harris has built a standout practice at the intersection of public policy and legal execution, helping education and healthcare organizations navigate funding, governance, and compliance with confidence. Her trusted leadership inside the firm and in the community reflects the kind of steady, solutions-oriented influence that keeps vital institutions moving forward.
#29 Lee Ann Kwiatkowski
Kwiatkowski brings turnaround-tested leadership to Marian University, elevating educator preparation and strengthening the university’s partnerships with K-12 schools across Indiana. Her focus on innovation and practical outcomes helps develop the next generation of teachers and leaders, amplifying regional workforce readiness.
#30 Nicole Paulk
Paulk shapes enterprise strategy for Indiana University Health, aligning growth, innovation, and patient experience so the organization can deliver better care at scale. Her ability to connect big-picture planning with execution strengthens the health system’s competitiveness and its impact on communities across the state.
#31 Dr. Jennifer Satterfield‑Siegel
Satterfield‑Siegel has built a trusted pediatric dental practice by pairing clinical excellence with a child-centered approach that makes care easier for families. Through steady entrepreneurship and specialized service for young patients, she improves community health while setting a high standard for patient experience.
#32 Terry J. Stigdon
Stigdon leads the American Red Cross in Indiana with a mission-ready mindset, coordinating services and volunteers that support millions of residents when disasters strike. Her background in nursing and public leadership shows in the way she builds resilient systems that protect communities and respond with speed and compassion.
#33 Kristian Stricklen
Stricklen has guided the Madam Walker Legacy Center into a stronger era of sustainability and visibility, preserving a historic landmark while expanding its cultural reach. By strengthening finances, programming, and partnerships, she ensures the legacy of entrepreneurship and Black excellence continues to generate real economic and civic value today.
#34 Beth Tharp
Tharp oversees hospital services and nursing strategy across Community Health Network, translating frontline experience into systemwide operational excellence. Her leadership elevates quality, safety, and workforce stability across multiple hospitals, making a direct difference in how care is delivered every day.
#35 Deborah Tobias
Tobias is a catalytic civic leader whose philanthropy strengthens healthcare and higher education, investing in innovation that benefits patients and communities for the long term. By championing bold giving and sustained volunteer service, she helps institutions scale what works and expand opportunity across Indiana.
#36 Eunice Trotter
Trotter is preserving Indiana’s Black heritage by identifying, protecting, and elevating historic sites that shape how communities understand their past and plan for the future. Her work turns storytelling into stewardship, creating lasting cultural and economic value through preservation-led revitalization.
#37 Mali Bacon
Bacon has helped build GangGang into a powerful engine for the creative economy, expanding visibility and paid opportunities for Black artists and cultural workers. Her leadership demonstrates how arts entrepreneurship can create jobs, attract investment, and strengthen a city’s identity at the same time.
#38 Jennifer Hallowell
Hallowell is a trusted strategist who helps organizations navigate government relations, communications, and association management with clarity and results. By translating policy and stakeholder landscapes into actionable plans, she enables clients to elevate their voice and achieve measurable wins.
#39 Gail Lowry
Lowry strengthens the fight against hunger by leading philanthropy and fundraising strategy at Gleaners, ensuring the resources are there to meet rising community need. Her disciplined approach to donor engagement and long-range giving fuels both immediate relief and lasting capacity for impact.
#40 Jennifer Miller
Miller is a deal-side advisor who helps businesses and investors make smarter decisions, bringing rigorous financial due diligence to complex transactions. Her leadership in transaction advisory strengthens confidence in growth strategies and helps clients protect value while pursuing opportunity.
#41 Dawn Moore
Moore leads pharmacy strategy for Community Health Network, improving safety, access, and efficiency in services that touch patients every day. Her modernization work, including expanding safety technologies and standardizing processes, strengthens quality of care while supporting smarter systemwide spending.
#42 Alice Morical
Morical is a high-stakes litigator who brings sharp strategy and courtroom credibility to complex disputes for clients across industries. Her track record of leading critical cases and building teams reflects the kind of decisive leadership that protects businesses when the stakes are highest.
#43 Sarah Myer
Myer helps steer Indiana Sports Corp’s strategy, turning major sporting events into sustained economic and community benefit for Indianapolis. Her blend of operations and brand leadership strengthens partnerships, attracts opportunities, and keeps the city’s sports momentum moving forward.
#44 Aimee O’Connor
O’Connor keeps Thompson Thrift’s fast-growing platform running at a high level, aligning teams, processes, and culture so development and construction execution stay strong. Her focus on efficiency and collaboration has boosted productivity and morale, reinforcing the company’s reputation as a dependable builder and operator.
#45 Mary Beth Oakes
Oakes leads a century-old, woman-owned company with a modern vision for how workplaces support productivity, wellbeing, and organizational culture. By pairing deep operational experience with client-centered design, she has kept Business Furniture thriving and relevant across corporate, healthcare, and education sectors.
#46 Marci Reddick
Reddick pairs decades of real estate and civic infrastructure experience with a steady leadership style that helps Indianapolis deliver complex projects and public-private partnerships. Her influence spans law, policy, and community governance, strengthening the venues and development strategies that fuel the region’s economy.
#47 Anne Marie Tiernon
Tiernon has built decades of trust with Central Indiana audiences, bringing clarity and credibility to the stories that shape civic life. Her leadership in broadcast journalism elevates community awareness, supports informed decision-making, and highlights issues that improve health and wellbeing.
#48 Julie Sharp
Sharp has helped expand Merchants Capital’s ability to finance affordable and workforce housing by building and leading a high-growth tax credit equity platform. Her results-oriented leadership channels institutional capital into projects that create homes, strengthen neighborhoods, and deliver measurable social impact.
#49 Tanuja Singh
Singh is reshaping the University of Indianapolis with a focus on experiential learning, industry partnerships, and student success that connects education to regional workforce needs. As a trailblazing president, she brings strategic momentum that strengthens the university’s relevance and its economic impact.
#50 Keeanna Warren
Warren leads Purdue Polytechnic High Schools with an innovation mindset, expanding student-centered, STEM-focused learning that prepares graduates for college and high-demand careers. By building strong pathways with industry and higher education, she is strengthening Indiana’s talent pipeline and widening access to opportunity.
FOR THE CONTACT INFO OF THE TOP 50 AND MEMBERS: Join or LoginTop 50 recipients may display this badge on their profiles, signature & LinkedIn (must link to this page for verification).
Corrections to photos or bios may be sent to Barbara in our Customer Service: Service @ WomanLeaders.org
Recipients are chosen purely on merit, our association is not related to other publishers that charge fees to appear.