The Top 50 Sacramento Women Leaders of 2026
Sacramento is often introduced as “the capital,” but the people shaping the region’s future know it’s much more than that. It’s a decision-making economy (policy, regulation, public finance), a systems economy (healthcare, utilities, transportation, water), and an increasingly build-and-scale economy (construction, cybersecurity, government tech, and fast-growing founder-led firms). The result is a metro where influence doesn’t only come from size-it comes from who can align institutions, get complex work executed, and move resources toward real outcomes.
The women on this list are doing exactly that: leading major financial institutions and healthcare operations, driving housing and downtown revitalization, pushing clean-energy execution, shaping legal and policy outcomes, and building companies that keep talent-and ambition-rooted in the region.
Note: This is an editorial, impact-oriented ranking built from publicly available leadership roles, regional footprint, and civic/economic influence. (And yes-“influence” here includes the people who make big systems actually work.)
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#1 Jennifer Barrera
Sacramento is one of the few metros where state-level policy is local economic development-and Jennifer Barrera sits in the middle of that reality. As CalChamber’s President & CEO, she influences how employers across the state interpret (and engage with) legislation, regulation, workforce policy, and competitiveness questions that directly affect the Sacramento region’s business climate. Her role has outsized “multiplier power”: when CalChamber convenes, it pulls in decision-makers from every major industry-making this one of the most strategically connected seats in the metro.
#2 Donna Bland
Golden 1 is a cornerstone institution in the region’s financial ecosystem, and Donna Bland’s leadership touches everything from small business access to capital to household financial resilience. In a metro where affordability and homeownership pathways matter enormously to talent retention, credit union strategy has real civic impact. Her influence shows up in how local consumers, entrepreneurs, and nonprofits finance growth-and how financial institutions show up as community partners, not just lenders.
#3 Faye Nabhani
SAFE Credit Union has long been one of the region’s most visible member-owned financial institutions, and Faye Nabhani’s CEO role is a high-leverage platform for financial wellness, community investment, and regional liquidity-especially for middle-income families and small businesses. In a metro balancing growth with cost-of-living pressure, the institutions that make saving, borrowing, and buying a home more achievable have quiet but profound influence.
#4 Jita Pandya Buño
Healthcare is one of Sacramento’s most important “economic engines,” and operations leadership is where the engine either hums or stalls. As UC Davis Health’s Associate COO, Jita Pandya Buño is positioned to shape patient access, staffing realities, and system performance at one of the region’s most significant clinical and employment centers. Her influence is felt by families navigating care and by employers thinking about workforce health-because operational decisions determine everything from throughput to capacity to patient experience.
#5 Aparna Abburi
Aparna Abburi operates at the intersection of healthcare delivery, employer coverage dynamics, and population health outcomes. Leading Sutter Health Plan while overseeing population-health strategy means her decisions can shape how value-based care scales, how preventive care is incentivized, and how employers and families experience healthcare affordability. In a region where healthcare costs and access affect every boardroom conversation, this is a role with broad economic ripple effects.
#6 Rachael McKinney
Regional healthcare leadership is both operational and deeply civic: it affects who can get appointments, where service lines expand or consolidate, and how a major employer supports workforce stability. As President of Sutter’s Greater Sacramento Division, Rachael McKinney holds a leadership seat that influences day-to-day care access and longer-term system planning across the metro. In practical terms, this role helps determine how resilient-and responsive-the region’s healthcare infrastructure is.
#7 Lora Anguay
Sacramento’s growth story depends on reliable, affordable power-and the next chapter depends on decarbonization execution. Lora Anguay’s role is influential because “zero carbon” isn’t a slogan at utility scale; it’s a multi-year portfolio of grid strategy, electrification readiness, and community adoption. When the metro talks about EV charging, building electrification, resilience, and climate commitments, utility leadership is where those ideas become timelines, budgets, and infrastructure.
#8 Laura Lewis
If Lora Anguay helps define the “what” of clean-energy execution, Laura Lewis has major influence over the “how”: regulatory alignment, government relationships, and the legal scaffolding that enables projects to move. In a capital-region metro, policy fluency is power-and SMUD’s government affairs and legal leadership sits at the nexus of state priorities, local needs, and ratepayer accountability. This is a behind-the-scenes role with very public consequences.
#9 Cathilea Robinett
Cathilea Robinett leads one of the Sacramento region’s most distinctive influence platforms: government and civic technology media and convening. e.Republic shapes what public-sector leaders pay attention to-cybersecurity, data strategy, modernization, procurement, digital services-through reporting, events, and agenda-setting. In a metro where government is not just “a sector” but a core identity, leading a company that helps define government innovation narratives is a powerful form of regional influence.
#10 Laura Knauss
How a region grows is partly policy-and partly design, engineering, and execution. Laura Knauss’ leadership at Lionakis matters because the firm’s work influences the physical reality of Sacramento’s future: public buildings, education facilities, civic infrastructure, and the spaces where people learn, work, and gather. Architecture and engineering leadership is often underestimated as “influence,” but it’s literally where long-term decisions become the built environment the region lives with for decades.
#11 Cassandra Jennings
Sacramento’s most durable neighborhood transformations tend to come from leaders who can combine education, community development, and place-making. Cassandra Jennings’ role at St. HOPE sits in that space-linking mission-driven strategy to visible change on the ground. Her influence is especially important in a metro where inclusive growth is a constant challenge: making revitalization real means building ecosystems where students, families, entrepreneurs, and artists can actually thrive.
#12 Danielle Foster
Downtown vitality isn’t just “nice to have” in a capital city-it’s an economic competitiveness issue. Danielle Foster leads an organization designed to do what many cities struggle with: align public/private partners to deliver housing and neighborhood infrastructure in the Capitol Park area. Her role matters because the metro’s future depends on whether downtown can become more livable, more connected, and more resilient-especially as work patterns evolve and housing pressure continues.
#13 Dr. Dawnté Early
United Way leadership in a growth region is less about charity and more about systems coordination: aligning employers, nonprofits, and government around measurable outcomes in education, stability, and opportunity. Dr. Dawnté Early’s influence comes from convening power-getting disparate stakeholders to move in the same direction, at the same time. In Sacramento, where needs span housing stability, workforce readiness, and community wellbeing, that “alignment leadership” is a real competitive advantage.
#14 Britta Guerrero
Health equity leadership becomes especially consequential when it’s paired with operational scale and deep community trust. Britta Guerrero’s leadership at Sacramento Native American Health Center influences culturally responsive care, workforce development, and community health outcomes-especially for Native communities and underserved populations. In a metro where healthcare and public policy are intertwined, leaders who can translate community needs into scalable systems are among the most impactful civic and business leaders.
#15 Helen Pierson
Emergency medical services are one of those “you only notice when they fail” systems-yet they underpin community confidence, public health outcomes, and disaster readiness. Helen Pierson leads Medic Ambulance Service, giving her an essential role in shaping response capability, frontline workforce needs, and coordination with hospitals and public agencies. In a fast-growing metro, EMS leadership is a form of infrastructure leadership-protecting both people and the region’s ability to function under stress.
#16 Yvonne Pire
Cybersecurity, IT modernization, and secure infrastructure are now baseline requirements for both public agencies and regulated industries. As CEO of Trofholz Technologies, Yvonne Pire influences the region’s tech economy by leading a firm operating in high-trust, high-stakes environments-and by helping keep sophisticated tech work anchored in the Sacramento area. Her leadership matters because “government tech” isn’t abstract here; it’s a major employment and innovation lane for the metro.
#17 Mirtha Villarreal-Younger
Construction leadership is influence leadership in a region still wrestling with housing supply, infrastructure upgrades, and redevelopment. Mirtha Villarreal-Younger’s role at Agile Construction matters because builders sit at the intersection of public timelines, private capital, labor pipelines, and community outcomes. Leaders who can deliver projects reliably-and expand opportunity in the workforce-shape the pace and character of Sacramento’s growth more than most people realize.
#18 Krista Bernasconi
Roseville’s economic and population growth makes its civic leadership regionally important, not just locally visible. As Mayor, Krista Bernasconi influences how one of the metro’s key growth cities approaches housing, business attraction, infrastructure, and quality-of-life investments. In a region where “where people can afford to live” often drives “where employers can hire,” suburban-city governance is a strategic lever-and Roseville is one of the most consequential.
#19 Martha Guerrero
West Sacramento’s influence punches above its size because it sits at the crossroads of logistics, industrial land, riverfront development, and cross-county commuting patterns. As Mayor, Martha Guerrero shapes growth decisions that affect jobs, housing, transportation coordination, and the city’s long-term economic positioning. In a metro where riverfront and industrial strategy matter-and where downtown vitality is connected to neighboring cities-this role carries real regional weight.
#20 Bobbie Singh-Allen
Elk Grove is one of the metro’s most important growth stories, and mayoral leadership there touches business expansion, housing, civic services, and the conditions that help families stay and build careers locally. Bobbie Singh-Allen’s influence is amplified by the city’s trajectory: decisions made now shape the next decade of infrastructure, community development, and economic identity. In other words, this is where “growth” becomes “quality growth”-or doesn’t.
#21 Rachel Zillner
As CEO and co-founder of Clutch, Zillner has scaled a women-owned consulting firm into one of the region's standout growth stories, pairing strong culture with award-winning client service. Her work helps mission-driven organizations navigate change, strengthen operations, and create jobs that keep more opportunity rooted in the Sacramento ecosystem.
#22 Leah Burdick
Burdick drives growth and innovation at PRIDE Industries, expanding partnerships and new offerings that advance its mission and reach. By leading marketing, customer experience, and innovation initiatives, she helps employers solve real needs while creating more inclusive career pathways for people with disabilities.
#23 Dorene Dominguez
Dominguez has built Vanir into a national leader in program, project, and construction management, delivering major public and private projects with the discipline clients rely on. Her leadership turns complex development into lasting community assets, supporting jobs, infrastructure, and long-term economic competitiveness.
#24 Chrysa Tsakopoulos Demos
Demos stewards a multigenerational real estate enterprise whose developments have shaped housing and commercial growth across California, especially in the Sacramento region. By balancing strategic development with long-horizon stewardship, she influences how communities grow, connect, and thrive.
#25 Risa Omega
Omega's leadership at ABC10 blends business acumen with a commitment to community relevance, keeping a major media platform strong in a fast-changing industry. She has helped sustain a high-performing organization that informs the region, elevates local issues, and strengthens the civic fabric that healthy economies depend on.
#26 Jen Warner
Warner leads growth and transformation for The Raley's Companies, helping a purpose-driven grocer stay innovative while delivering day-to-day value to customers. Her strategic focus on long-term competitiveness strengthens a key regional employer and the food ecosystem that serves thousands of families.
#27 Jessica Blakely
Blakely directs sales and merchandising for Bashas' Division, shaping category strategy, assortment, and customer experience across a major retail footprint. Her operational leadership drives profitable growth and ensures shoppers see consistent value, quality, and innovation in every aisle.
#28 Lakhwinder Kaur
Kaur strengthens Sacramento Valley businesses by leading Five Star Bank's market strategy and building trusted relationships across commercial real estate, manufacturing, C and I, and agriculture. Her community leadership and industry recognition reflect an ability to connect capital with opportunity and help local companies scale responsibly.
#29 Lydia Ramirez
As executive vice president and chief operating officer, Ramirez brings disciplined operational leadership that helps Five Star Bank deliver consistent service as it grows. Her focus on process, compliance, and people development creates a strong foundation for sustainable expansion and a more inclusive banking leadership pipeline.
#30 Regina Cuellar
Cuellar's tribal leadership centers on building durable prosperity, guiding governance that supports economic development, community services, and cultural strength. Her steady, values-driven approach helps create partnerships and long-term investments that benefit the region far beyond tribal lands.
#31 Becky Johnson
Johnson brings deep management expertise to the United Auburn Indian Community, running day-to-day operations with the rigor of a seasoned executive and the care of a community steward. By translating vision into execution, she helps ensure programs, resources, and opportunities reach members efficiently and transparently.
#32 Cindy Petersen
Petersen has grown Gateway Community Charters into a multi-school network, expanding access to high-quality education while employing hundreds of educators and staff. Her leadership strengthens talent pipelines and community stability by helping students graduate with the skills and confidence employers need.
#33 Marisa Sharkey
Sharkey co-founded Birdies and helped turn a fresh idea in footwear into a recognized brand, proving that comfort and style can be built into a scalable business. As president, she has guided growth, team-building, and product expansion that fuels innovation and job creation in modern retail.
#34 Maggie Bender-Johnson
Bender-Johnson leads Bender Insurance Solutions with a clear growth vision, building on a strong local legacy while raising the bar for client service and team ownership. Her leadership helps businesses manage risk smarter and keeps a thriving employee-owned firm anchored in the Sacramento economy.
#35 Carmen Marsh
Marsh is building the cybersecurity workforce the region needs, creating pathways for women to learn, earn credentials, and launch careers in a high-demand field. By pairing industry expertise with community-minded leadership, she elevates digital resilience for organizations and expands opportunity in tech.
#36 Marcie Kahbody
Kahbody modernizes technology across California transportation systems, driving collaboration and better IT delivery that improves how millions of people move and interact with public services. Her leadership brings innovation, reliability, and security to complex infrastructure where operational excellence has statewide economic impact.
#37 Katrina Salazar
As CFO, Salazar brings disciplined financial stewardship to a large member organization, ensuring resources are managed with transparency and long-term resilience. Her strategic leadership supports stable operations and effective advocacy, strengthening an institution that influences policy and working conditions across the state.
#38 Rayne Thompson
Thompson protects and advances the interests of growers by leading government relations and sustainability for Sunkist and Fruit Growers Supply, navigating complex policy and regulatory environments. Her work helps an iconic agricultural cooperative stay competitive and resilient as climate and market pressures intensify.
#39 Elizabeth Ewens
Ewens guides clients through California's evolving water and environmental landscape, bringing trusted counsel where legal strategy directly affects development, operations, and community water reliability. Her leadership helps organizations manage risk, secure resources, and pursue projects that are both compliant and future-ready.
#40 Cynthia Larsen
Larsen is a seasoned litigation partner who advises public agencies and businesses through high-stakes disputes where outcomes shape budgets, contracts, and public trust. Her strategic, clear-eyed advocacy helps organizations resolve complex challenges and move forward with confidence.
#41 Cheyanne Anquoe
Anquoe has built an exceptional operations career at Arnold Law Firm, translating decades of hands-on experience into systems that keep the practice efficient and client-centered. Her leadership helps the firm deliver consistent, compassionate service at scale, turning operational excellence into better outcomes for people.
#42 Melissa Brown
Brown has devoted her career to advocating for older adults and people with disabilities, leading legal clinics that deliver real-world help to those who need it most. By training future attorneys through high-impact client work, she strengthens both community wellbeing and the region's public-interest leadership bench.
#43 Shannon Deary-Bell
Deary-Bell has guided Nor-Cal Beverage through major growth and strategic shifts, sustaining a large workforce and a reputation for reliable manufacturing. Her steady leadership supports brands and supply chains while creating opportunity and stability for hundreds of families in the region.
#44 Preet Ahluwalla
Ahluwalla combines entrepreneurial drive with investment discipline, helping clients pursue long-term financial strength while building a firm rooted in trusted relationships. Her community leadership also uplifts women-owned businesses, multiplying her impact across the region's broader economic ecosystem.
#45 Sonia Susac
Susac has carried TECMA's family legacy forward by protecting a culture of quality and precision that has earned trust in demanding industries. Her leadership keeps high-skill manufacturing alive locally, proving that excellence and continuity can be a competitive advantage for decades.
#46 Mary Rotelli
Rotelli helps lead operations at Teichert, a storied infrastructure company, with a focus on safety, exceptional service, and continuous improvement. Her stewardship supports the projects and materials that keep communities building, maintaining, and growing with confidence.
#47 Mary Paasch
Paasch leads complex water-resources engineering that helps communities balance drought risk, flood protection, and long-term water reliability. Her work underpins agriculture, development, and resilience, making her impact felt across both the economy and the environment.
#48 Michelle Willard
Willard is a connector-leader who builds partnerships between Sacramento State, employers, and civic organizations to create real opportunities for students and the region. By aligning external relationships with institutional strategy, she helps turn collaboration into talent pipelines and inclusive economic growth.
#49 Rose McAuliffe
McAuliffe provides the financial and operational stewardship that allows Sacramento State to invest in students, facilities, and long-term stability. Her seasoned leadership ensures resources are aligned to mission, strengthening an institution that fuels the region's workforce and innovation capacity.
#50 Anne Descalzo
Descalzo co-founded Clutch and helped scale it into a fast-growing consulting firm known for a people-first culture and strong client experiences. Her leadership turns complex change initiatives into practical results for organizations, expanding impact and opportunity across the Sacramento region.
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