Whether they were a teenage mother, founding a nonprofit from scratch, or launching their own media company, these women have all tackled life and career challenges with gusto, each forging their own extraordinary path.

My name is Dawn, also known as the Unique Connector. Once a very shy girl, I’ve transformed into a master connector.

Lupita Montoto has been a Madison media presence for more than 24 years. She and her husband, Luis, cofounded La Movida Radio in 2000 out of a small station in Poynette.

In a world of key performance indicators and LinkedIn humblebrag posts, it’s easy to fall into the habit of comparing ourselves to others, then feeling like we’ve come up short.

After seven years as CEO of YWCA Madison and transforming the organization into an equitable community hub, Vanessa McDowell-Atlas was ready for a new challenge.

Rachel Neill had an idea: What if there was a toy that kids could rearrange into different shapes — covered in child-friendly fabric and thoughtfully designed — built for them to jump and climb on?

In 2023, Heidi Duss envisioned a transformative initiative for the LGBTQ+ community, leading to the creation of the OPEN Foundation.

As the founder of SMITH Company, Lisa Smith works with female-led businesses and executives to help them increase their revenue and reverse their limiting beliefs.

The seeds for Sandy Morales’ journey to become CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County (BBBS) were planted years before she ever joined the nonprofit.

Julia Steege-Reiman and her husband own Voyageur Extended Stays, which offers seven furnished, extended-stay properties in Madison.