One of the things that brings me joy as an editor are the projects and stories that go beyond the ordinary to uplift, inspire and perhaps even motivate change.
If you’re lucky enough to have parallel experiences in your career, you know what I mean.
Our Summer 2026 issue is one of those labors of love, not just for me but for my colleagues at Columbus Monthly. We’re thrilled to present the third annual installment of Inspiring Women, which celebrates 21 individuals making a difference on the job and in the community.
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The process to select our 2026 class was a thoughtful one. As Monthly’s editor, Katy Smith, explains, “The editorial team took great care to ensure a diverse mix of people, and not just ethnically—from scientists, doctors, artists and educators to political, business and community leaders, young women to righteous septuagenarians.” I couldn’t have said it better.
We sought nominations from our Inspiring Women of 2024 and 2025, and we gave those recommendations special consideration. The public also was invited to submit ideas, and we added the 94 we received to our internal list and past honorees’ suggestions.
The resulting group, we think, truly lives up to the Inspiring Women name. We celebrated all of them at a joint event June 23 at The Ellis in Columbus. Stay tuned to our website for event photos. In the meantime, check out the online version of our Inspiring Women feature to meet all 21 honorees.
This issue’s cover story features Becky Griffin, the new Columbus location leader and the head of servicing and support operations for home lending at JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Griffin is inspiring in her own right. Not only has she carved out an impressive career that she balances with her family, but she also makes it a point to give back. In addition to serving on the national board of Pink Ribbon Good, she dedicates time to mentoring. “When I talk about how supported I was in taking on new challenging roles, I think it’s really important that that’s true for the next generation of leaders, as well,” she explains.
I hope you’ll spend some time learning about these women and how they are making an impact on their workplaces and communities. Perhaps you’ll even be inspired to give back yourself.
Our Summer issue also features our annual editorial focus on the Columbus Partnership. Find out how the nonprofit civic organization is working to drive new investment in the region and how it aims to move the needle on affordable housing. And check out a who’s who of its 84 members.
Plus, don’t miss stories on recreational marijuana in the workplace, Accelerating Angels’ first fund and more.
Thanks for reading.
This story appears in the Summer 2026 issue of Columbus CEO. Subscribe now.
This article originally appeared on Columbus CEO: Get to Know Chase’s Becky Griffin in Columbus CEO’s Summer 2026 Issue
Reporting by Julanne Hohbach, Columbus CEO / Columbus CEO
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Julanne Hohbach, Columbus CEO | USA TODAY Network
