The Dispatch Magazines team is proud to present our second class of Inspiring Women: 23 trailblazers who make Columbus a better community for everyone. In a joint project between Columbus CEO and Columbus Monthly, we’ve profiled leaders including elected officeholders, nonprofit and business leaders, philanthropists, creatives and individuals using their personal experience and expertise to make a difference in their communities and the wider world.
Save the date for our Inspiring Women event, scheduled for June 18 at Vitria on the Square in Columbus, where we will celebrate our honorees. Watch our website and social media pages for more information about the event.
In the meantime, read on to meet the Columbus CEO 2025 class of Inspiring Women, as well as those from Columbus Monthly.
Lisa Berger and Ilaria Rawlins Forge a New Banking Model
The founders of women-owned Fortuna Bank aim to help local business owners grow and thrive.
Lisa Hinson Dedicates Efforts to Cancer Research and Education
The veteran public relations executive is just as dedicated to the community as she is her clients.
Amy Klaben Builds a Foundation to Improve Housing Equity
The Families Flourish co-founder and longtime affordable housing advocate is working to effect change, one family at a time.
Karen Morrison Works to Create Healthier Communities
The OhioHealth Foundation president has taken a leading role in helping to reduce disparities and improve access to care.
Debbie Penzone Helps Clients Embrace Their True Beauty
The salon president and CEO is leading the business into the future with a yoga studio and a new community and event space.
Angela Plummer Leads a Refugee Agency With Compassion
The executive director of Community Refugee & Immigration Services helps newcomers navigate the legal system and make a new life in Columbus.
Barb Smoot Helps to Empower the Next Generation of Leaders
The president and CEO of Women for Economic and Leadership Development is helping women build and embrace their potential.
Meet the Inspiring Women Profiled in Columbus Monthly
Dr. Amy Acton Helps Solve Tough Problems
The physician and Democratic Party candidate for Ohio’s 2026 gubernatorial race helps Ohioans co-create a better future for everyone.
Ukeme Awakessien Jeter Builds an Inclusive City
The Upper Arlington mayor and city council president draws on her lived experience as an immigrant to improve her adopted hometown and build a new model for leadership.
Lourdes Barroso de Padilla Champions New Generation of Leadership
The first Latina ever elected to Columbus City Council is changing policy and paving the path for the next generation of the city’s residents and leaders.
Michelle Brandt Helps People Think Differently Through Art
The gallery owner and art consultant is sharing and amplifying other people’s stories through her art gallery.
Jeni Britton Helps Others Flourish
The founder of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams is starting a new chapter with her health-conscious fiber bars, Floura.
Sophia Fifner Builds Community Through Conversations
The president and CEO of the Columbus Metropolitan Club is having the necessary conversations to foster ideas and unity.
Jessica Krauser Helps People With Parkinson’s Disease
The podcaster and founder of the 5K for JK raises vital funds for Parkinson’s disease research while helping others who are living with the disease.
Sangeeta Lakhani and Letha Pugh Create a Stronger Service Industry
The co-founders of Service! Relief for Hospitality Workers are addressing the needs of industry workers and supporting their professional growth. .
Cathy Lyttle Enhances the Community Through Philanthropic Work
The Blue Jackets Foundation board chair prioritizes community building and problem solving in her multiple projects throughout the city.
Nadine Muzerall is Transforming the Ohio State Women’s Ice Hockey Team
The Ohio State women’s ice hockey coach has led her team to the national championships four years in a row.
Lindy Noel Advocates for Organ Donorship
The Columbus Blue Jackets communications specialist gave back to the sports community in a big way when she donated her kidney to former sports reporter Aaron Portzline.
Angela Pace
The iconic Columbus broadcaster made countless community contributions and covered many notable stories, opening the door for other journalists.
Teckie Shackelford Supports College Education
The co-founder of the I Know I Can program has helped thousands of kids pursue higher education.
Maggie Smith Makes Writing Accessible to Everyone
The best-selling poet and essayist is making the creative process understandable and approachable in her new book.
This story is from the Inspiring Women feature in the May 2025 issue of Columbus CEO. Subscribe at subscribe.columbusceo.com.
This article originally appeared on Columbus CEO: Columbus CEO’s Inspiring Women: 23 Trailblazers Who Make a Difference in the Community
Reporting by Julanne Hohbach and Katy Smith, Columbus CEO / Columbus CEO
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
