The Top 50 New Orleans Women Leaders of 2026
New Orleans is a city where “influence” rarely looks like a single job title. It’s the leader who can align a neighborhood and a boardroom. The executive who can keep a system running through storms, staffing crunches, and shifting economics. The operator who can turn culture into commerce without losing the soul of either. And the builder-literal or figurative-who expands opportunity so more people can participate in the region’s growth.
This year’s list spotlights 50 women shaping the Greater New Orleans metro through business ownership, senior leadership, civic systems, healthcare, education, law, and the nonprofit engine that makes the region work. It’s intentionally cross-industry, because in New Orleans the biggest wins almost always happen at the intersections: workforce + schools, power + housing, safety + tourism, public health + productivity.
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#1 Gayle Benson
In New Orleans, major sports franchises are not just entertainment-they’re a year-round economic driver for hospitality, media, events, and civic identity. Gayle Benson’s leadership matters because it shapes how two of the region’s biggest cultural-business brands invest locally, partner with institutions, and amplify New Orleans on a national stage. Her influence also shows up in how a “headline organization” sets expectations for professionalism, philanthropy, and community engagement across the metro.
#2 Helena Moreno
The mayor’s office is one of the most direct levers on the business climate: permitting and city services, public safety coordination, infrastructure priorities, and the tone of public-private partnership. Mayor Helena Moreno steps into the role at a moment when reliability (basic systems working), momentum (housing and jobs), and trust (execution) are the currency of growth. Her impact will be felt in how confidently employers can invest-and how predictably the city delivers on fundamentals.
#3 Cynthia Lee Sheng
Jefferson Parish is a core engine of the metro’s workforce, neighborhoods, and commercial corridors. As Parish President, Cynthia Lee Sheng influences infrastructure, quality-of-life services, and regional coordination that affect where talent lives and where businesses expand. In practical terms: if the metro is going to compete on affordability, mobility, and resilience, Jefferson Parish execution is central-and her role sits at the middle of that equation.
#4 Deanna Rodriguez
Every growth conversation in New Orleans eventually hits the same constraint: the systems that keep the city functioning-especially power. Deanna Rodriguez leads Entergy New Orleans, the electric and gas utility serving more than 211,000 customers in the city, which puts her at the center of reliability, grid modernization, storm readiness, and long-range planning. When energy is stable and forward-looking, everything from housing development to business continuity gets easier-and her decisions ripple across the metro.
#5 Sandra Lombana Lindquist
Chambers can be networking clubs-or they can be real economic infrastructure. Under Sandra Lombana Lindquist’s leadership, the New Orleans Chamber represents a large member network and acts as a connector between small businesses, major employers, and policy conversations that shape entrepreneurship and job growth. In a city where relationships accelerate outcomes, her role carries outsized influence in what gets prioritized, advocated, and scaled.
#6 Shelina Davis
Public health is economic development-especially in a region balancing workforce needs, equity gaps, and resilience after disasters. As CEO of the Louisiana Public Health Institute, Shelina Davis operates at the intersection of healthcare systems, community partners, and outcomes that affect business productivity and quality of life. Her additional role in chamber leadership strengthens that bridge between “health strategy” and “business strategy,” which is exactly where modern metro competitiveness is headed.
#7 Cate Swinburn
New Orleans has learned that talent pipelines don’t build themselves. Cate Swinburn’s work through YouthForce NOLA focuses on helping young people connect school to real career pathways-an approach that matters to employers struggling with skilled-labor gaps and to families looking for mobility. Being named CityBusiness’ overall Woman of the Year underscores the regional weight of her mission: aligning education, workforce, and opportunity at scale.
#8 Melissa Sawyer
Economic growth is fragile when young people are disconnected from school, work, and stability. Melissa Sawyer’s long-running leadership at Youth Empowerment Project has helped build community-based programs across multiple parishes, expanding opportunity through reentry support, education, and youth development. Her influence shows up in the workforce and public-safety ecosystem: when fewer young people fall through gaps, the entire metro benefits-employers included.
#9 Joan M. Coffman, FACHE
Healthcare isn’t just a sector-it’s a foundational service for every employer and every growing community. Joan Coffman’s leadership of St. Tammany Health System matters to the Northshore and the full metro region because clinical access, staffing stability, and service quality influence where families settle and where businesses can recruit. In high-growth corridors, hospital leadership often becomes a “quiet power center” shaping long-term livability.
#10 Lona Edwards Hankins
Transit is a workforce issue disguised as a transportation issue. Lona Edwards Hankins leads the RTA at a time when reliability and equitable access to jobs are critical to the metro’s competitiveness. When transit works, employers widen their talent pool, neighborhoods gain opportunity, and the city becomes easier to live in without forcing every solution into a car commute. That’s why this role consistently punches above its weight in civic influence.
#11 Jess Allen
New Orleans’ next decade of growth will be shaped as much by small businesses and social enterprises as by headline institutions. Jess Allen leads Propeller, which supports entrepreneurs and helps them access the resources and relationships needed to scale. Her influence is network-based: strengthening founders, building community capacity, and turning good ideas into durable businesses that create jobs and solve local problems.
#12 Dr. Monique Guillory
Higher education leadership shapes the leadership pipeline. As president of Dillard University, Dr. Monique Guillory sits at the center of talent development, community partnerships, and long-term regional opportunity-especially important in a city where keeping and growing talent is a constant strategic priority. When universities deepen employer alignment and student outcomes, the metro’s business ecosystem becomes more resilient and more inclusive.
#13 Alice Riener, JD
Access to care is one of the most practical business issues in any metro-because it affects attendance, productivity, and stability for working families. As CEO of CrescentCare, Alice Riener leads a model that blends medical care with community-facing services, meeting needs that frequently fall through traditional systems. In New Orleans, where cultural workers, service-industry employees, and small business teams power the economy, this kind of healthcare leadership carries real economic weight.
#14 Susan M. Taylor
Culture is one of New Orleans’ most bankable assets-and one of its most strategic exports. As director of NOMA, Susan M. Taylor influences tourism appeal, philanthropic investment, education programming, and the city’s global cultural reputation. Recognition like France’s Legion of Honor reflects not just personal achievement but also the museum’s role as a civic institution that strengthens the region’s brand and attractiveness to visitors and talent.
#15 Angelica Rivera
Construction is where economic development becomes visible: buildings, infrastructure, and the capacity to grow. Angelica Rivera’s influence shows up in how she expands opportunity inside a traditionally male-dominated industry-launching a women-focused training and career initiative within her company and modeling what inclusive workforce-building can look like. Being recognized as Fidelity Bank P.O.W.E.R.’s 2025 Woman of the Year underscores how seriously the region views her impact.
#16 Natalie Barranco
In many metros, small and mid-sized businesses are the job engine-but they’re often under-supported in strategy, finance, and operations. Natalie Barranco’s leadership at PRIME Business Advisory Solutions matters because it helps organizations build operational discipline and growth plans across sectors-from construction to tourism to professional services. The downstream effect is stronger local companies, better-run teams, and more durable job creation.
#17 Sheriff Susan Hutson
Even the strongest business strategies struggle in cities where safety and justice systems are unstable. Sheriff Susan Hutson’s role is consequential because it touches public trust, city operations, and a major part of the metro’s public-safety infrastructure; her current term runs through spring 2026\. Whether you’re hiring, hosting major events, or trying to stabilize neighborhoods, the functioning of this system influences how the city is experienced-by residents and visitors alike.
#18 Abby Jones
Few venues in the region have the economic gravitational pull of the Superdome. Abby Jones’ commercial leadership impacts the events pipeline-games, concerts, and conventions that drive hotel nights, restaurant revenue, seasonal jobs, and national attention. In a city where “big weekends” can lift entire sectors, the ability to attract and market major events is a meaningful form of influence.
#19 Katie Jensen
Regional growth is built on the “middle layer” of businesses that keep real estate, renovation, and commercial development moving. As co-founder and CEO of Triton Stone, Katie Jensen is a prominent operator in the construction materials ecosystem-an area that directly affects project timelines, housing upgrades, and business expansion. In a metro where rebuilding and reinvestment are constant, this kind of leadership matters.
#20 Liz Roussel
Lawyers become influential when they shape risk, strategy, and outcomes for major employers-especially in complex labor, employment, and business disputes. Liz Roussel’s role as a litigation practice group leader at a major regional firm puts her close to the decisions executives care about most: people, compliance, exposure, and how to move forward when stakes are high. In New Orleans’ business community, that counsel often becomes quietly pivotal.
#21 Marica Mackenroth Brewster
Marica Mackenroth Brewster has built The Von Mack Agency into a go-to communications and branding partner for organizations that need their story told with clarity, creativity, and measurable results. Her ability to translate New Orleans’ distinct culture into standout marketing strategies helps local and regional brands grow their audiences, strengthen reputations, and compete on a larger stage.
#22 Cherie Teamer-Henley
As an attorney and executive counsel in the government relations arena, Cherie Teamer-Henley helps organizations navigate complex policy, compliance, and stakeholder environments with confidence. Her blend of legal rigor and public-sector insight supports smarter decisions, reduces risk, and positions clients to advance work that creates jobs and long-term community value.
#23 Amy Landry
Amy Landry’s work with Loyola University’s Women’s Leadership Academy strengthens the leadership pipeline by equipping professionals with practical tools, confidence, and lasting peer networks. Her influence shows up in better-led teams and organizations across the region, as graduates carry those skills into business, civic, and nonprofit decision-making.
#24 Kati LeBreton
Kati LeBreton leads Fidelity Bank’s P.O.W.E.R. initiative, an influential platform that equips women entrepreneurs with education, mentorship, and connections to capital. Her leadership strengthens the small-business ecosystem across the Gulf Coast by helping founders scale sustainably, expand hiring, and turn ambition into durable economic growth.
#25 Donna Bach
Donna Bach has grown Pizza Platoon into a purpose-driven local brand that pairs strong operations with an unmistakable commitment to community and service. By creating jobs, partnering with local organizations, and supporting veterans and families through her business, she demonstrates how neighborhood entrepreneurs can generate both revenue and real civic impact.
#26 Ashley Burton
Ashley Burton has established Burton Transit as a trusted, women-owned transportation provider that delivers high-touch logistics for corporate travel, events, and tourism. Her focus on safety, reliability, and customer experience elevates the region’s visitor economy while building stable employment and opportunity in a traditionally male-dominated industry.
#27 Trenez Jackson Carter
Trenez Jackson Carter’s leadership at Kinderland Academy strengthens one of the most critical pieces of any local economy: high-quality early childhood education. By investing in safe, nurturing learning environments and supporting working families with dependable care, she helps parents stay in the workforce and gives young children a stronger start that benefits the community for years.
#28 Adele Dauphin
Adele Dauphin has built PoBoy Productions into a trusted, solutions-focused enterprise that supports residents and small businesses with notary and title services when deadlines and accuracy matter. By streamlining processes and delivering responsive service, she reduces friction in everyday transactions and helps customers keep life and commerce moving.
#29 Jenny Domiano
Jenny Domiano founded the Therapeutic Learning Center to deliver high-quality pediatric therapy services that help children build skills and families find consistent support. Her growth-minded approach expands access to care across schools and clinics, creating specialized jobs while improving outcomes that ripple through classrooms, households, and the broader community.
#30 Britney Duke
Britney Duke launched B Duke Law Firm with a clear focus on strong advocacy and practical guidance for clients facing high-stakes personal and business matters. Through leadership in the legal community and a reputation for client-centered work, she strengthens access to justice while helping people and organizations manage risk, recover losses, and move forward with stability.
#31 Mimi Fallo
Mimi Fallo has built Mimi’s Laser Alternatives into a respected aesthetics and wellness business by combining deep technical expertise with an exceptional client experience. Her entrepreneurial success contributes to the region’s small-business vitality, creating jobs and setting a high standard for professional, compliant care in a fast-growing service industry.
#32 Lorena Ford
Lorena Ford’s work through Ford Living & Ford Consulting reflects the kind of brand and design leadership that turns real estate development into a premium, trust-based customer experience. By shaping how homes are positioned, marketed, and delivered, she helps drive demand, strengthen a local building business, and influence the residential landscape across the metro.
#33 Nenette Gray
Nenette Gray turned an entrepreneurial leap into Lemonade Creative Marketing, a high-energy firm known for helping organizations sharpen their message and stand out in crowded markets. Her ability to blend strategy with execution empowers clients to grow revenue, improve visibility, and build lasting customer loyalty—impact that extends well beyond a single campaign.
#34 Kodi Guillory
Kodi Guillory has earned recognition as a civil and environmental engineering leader by building Sustainable Design Solutions into a firm that delivers practical, resilient infrastructure. From the systems people rely on every day to long-term environmental improvements, her work strengthens public health, business continuity, and the region’s capacity to grow responsibly.
#35 Tiffany King
Tiffany King co-founded The Organized Social to help businesses thrive online, translating creative storytelling into clear digital strategy and consistent results. By giving entrepreneurs the tools to reach customers, build strong brands, and convert attention into sales, she helps local companies compete—and win—in an increasingly digital economy.
#36 Miriam Matasar
Miriam Matasar has helped make Magazine Street Wine Cellar a vibrant part of the neighborhood retail and hospitality scene through thoughtful curation and welcoming expertise. By elevating customer education and partnering with local producers and restaurants, she strengthens the small-business ecosystem and contributes to New Orleans’ reputation as a destination for food and beverage culture.
#37 Renee Melchiode
Renee Melchiode is helping redefine modern hospitality with The Exchange Pickleball \+ Bar, blending recreation, food and beverage, and community gathering into one compelling destination. Her entrepreneurial vision activates new consumer spending, creates jobs, and adds fresh energy to the city’s leisure economy—proof that innovative experiences can be serious business.
#38 Kendra Joy Parson
Through The Mindful Foundation, Kendra Joy Parson expands access to mindfulness and wellness tools that help individuals, families, and youth build resilience in everyday life. By connecting community programming with partnerships that support opportunity and well-being, she delivers measurable social impact that also strengthens workforce readiness and long-term community stability.
#39 Ramsey Roberts
Ramsey Roberts has built I Do Bridal Couture & Proper & Co into sought-after retail experiences, known for impeccable curation and deeply personal service. Her businesses create skilled jobs and draw clients from across the region, contributing to the wedding and events economy while elevating the standard for specialty retail in south Louisiana.
#40 Lisa Taglauer
Lisa Taglauer co-founded Magnolia Physical Therapy and has grown it with disciplined leadership, financial stewardship, and an unwavering focus on patient outcomes. Her work expands access to high-quality rehabilitative care while building a resilient local healthcare business that supports jobs, referrals, and healthier, more active communities.
#41 Anna Zimmer
Anna Zimmer founded Middle C Music and scaled it into a thriving education business that brings high-quality music instruction to families across the region. By creating opportunities for instructors and nurturing lifelong skills in students, she strengthens the cultural economy and proves that arts entrepreneurship can deliver both mission and growth.
#42 Amy Boyle Collins
Amy Boyle Collins leads Gambel Communications with the strategic clarity organizations need when reputation, public trust, and stakeholder relationships are on the line. Her guidance helps businesses and civic institutions communicate effectively through change, protect long-term value, and build the confidence that fuels investment and community support.
#43 Elizabeth Ellison Frost
Elizabeth Ellison Frost plays a pivotal role at Chalmette Refining by building constructive relationships between a major industrial employer and the communities it serves. Her work in engagement, outreach, and partnership helps align business operations with local priorities, reinforcing workforce stability and responsible corporate presence.
#44 Nyka Scott
Nyka Scott’s leadership in customer service and economic development at Entergy positions her at the intersection of reliable infrastructure and regional growth. By improving customer experience while supporting initiatives that attract investment and strengthen communities, she helps ensure the energy backbone of the metro keeps pace with New Orleans’ needs.
#45 Tonia Moore
Tonia Moore advances health equity and community outcomes through her leadership in community engagement at Ochsner Health. By building strategic partnerships that bring prevention, education, and accessible services closer to neighborhoods, she strengthens the region’s health infrastructure and the economic stability that comes with healthier communities.
#46 Suchitra Satpathi
Suchitra Satpathi brings seasoned legal and governmental affairs expertise to Pelican State Partners, helping organizations turn policy complexity into clear, actionable strategy. Her ability to bridge public and private stakeholders supports smarter decisions, stronger advocacy, and business-friendly outcomes that ripple across industries and communities.
#47 Rebecca Sha
Rebecca Sha is a standout labor and employment attorney at Phelps Dunbar, trusted by employers to handle sensitive people issues with both precision and perspective. Her counsel helps organizations reduce risk, strengthen workplace practices, and stay focused on growth—impact that becomes especially valuable when the business stakes are highest.
#48 Mamie Gasperecz
Mamie Gasperecz provides essential operational and financial leadership at the University of New Orleans, safeguarding resources that power education, research, and institutional stability. By strengthening the business foundation behind a key talent pipeline, she supports the workforce development and innovation capacity that the New Orleans economy depends on.
#49 Sondra Brown
Sondra Brown has built Market Dynamic Research Inc into a respected insights partner, helping organizations make smarter decisions through rigorous, behavior-informed research. Her work turns data into strategy that improves marketing effectiveness, customer experience, and growth—an impact felt across sectors from healthcare to consumer brands.
#50 Emily Painton
Emily Painton leads the New Orleans Public Library as Executive Director & City Librarian, guiding a citywide institution that supports learning, workforce readiness, and neighborhood vitality. Her leadership modernizes services and programming while preserving access for all, strengthening the civic infrastructure that helps residents and small businesses thrive.
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