Leading Outside Her Comfort Zone
byAfter 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.
LOCAL WOMEN
Mother of Invention
byRachel 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?
How to Embrace Inclusive Career Pathways for the LGBTQ+ Community
byIn 2023, Heidi Duss envisioned a transformative initiative for the LGBTQ+ community, leading to the creation of the OPEN Foundation.
How to Recognize Your Value
byAs 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 Courage and Confidence to Lead
byThe 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.
Building Her Own Real Estate Empire
byJulia Steege-Reiman and her husband own Voyageur Extended Stays, which offers seven furnished, extended-stay properties in Madison.
The Empowerment Generation
byMentoring and supporting youth equals curious and confident kiddos that can tackle challenges and take on the world. These Madison- area entrepreneurs and leaders each work with youth in inspiring ways to encourage them to dream big.
Encouraging Girls On – and Off – the Ice
byTara Groth cofounded the Madison Dragons in 2023, which recently finished its first season with one 10 and under (10U) team and two 12U teams.
Piecing Together the Out-of-School Care Puzzle
byWhen women began entering the workforce in greater numbers in the 1970s, the need for safe after-school childcare options led
to the launch of Wisconsin Youth Company in Madison.
Fostering Next-Gen Problem-Solvers
byRoxie Hentz’s nonprofit, CEOs of Tomorrow, is targeted to youth in grades four through 12 to develop business solutions for societal problems.