“An inspirational leader creates the conditions for others to thrive; challenges what's possible; and leaves people, organizations and communities stronger than they found them.” —Vanessa Kisicki Why is honoring achievement important? How does it impact our business community? Honoring achievement is important because it shines a light on the people and ideas that … [More]
Barb Kozuh
Executive Director, Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation
“To me, an inspirational leader helps others recognize their strengths, believe in what is possible and understand that their contributions truly matter.” —Barb Kozuh Why is honoring achievement important? How does it impact our business community? Honoring achievement is important because recognition creates connections, strengthens communities and inspires others to … [More]
Olivia Lemorrocco
Vice President of Operations, Phillips Law Group
“Inspirational leadership means creating belief, opening doors for others, and turning vision into action that leaves people and communities stronger.” —Olivia Lemorrocco Why is honoring achievement important? How does it impact our business community? Honoring achievement matters because recognition does more than celebrate one person. It shows others what is … [More]
Regina Nixon
Executive Director, Phoenix Conservatory of Music
“Inspirational leadership is creating space for others to discover their potential, find their voice, create opportunities for them to thrive, and build something together that will last beyond them.” —Regina Nixon Why is honoring achievement important? How does it impact our business community? Honoring achievement reminds us that meaningful progress is rarely accomplished … [More]
Torrie A. Taj, CFRE
Chief Executive Officer, Child Crisis Arizona
“Inspirational leadership means helping people find their 'why,' then giving them the safety and support to boldly build their brightest future.” —Torrie A. Taj, CFRE Why is honoring achievement important? How does it impact our business community? Honoring achievement matters because recognition sets the standard for what our community believes is possible. When we … [More]
Inga Rose: Scaling a Science-First Startup in Oncology
Marrying scientific rigor with on-demand solutions
The pace of innovation in oncology has never been faster. Researchers are developing new diagnostics, identifying novel biomarkers and advancing precision medicine at an unprecedented rate. But even as scientific discovery accelerates, one challenge remains constant: streamlined access to high-quality biospecimens. As the founder and CEO of Phoenix-based oncology specimen … [More]
The Workplace Safety Bubble That Backfires
Psychological safety is often weaponized against the very outcomes it was meant to create
Psychological safety has become corporations’ ultimate magic cure-all. Teams underperforming? Build psychological safety. People not speaking up? More psychological safety. Ask ChatGPT for help with any team problem? You guessed it — psychological safety. It’s the ultimate irony: We’ve created groupthink around a concept designed to prevent groupthink. Why did this happen? … [More]
Feedback: September 2026
Q: As a 2025 Women of Achievement honoree, you’ve been recognized for outstanding leadership. Different times seem to call for different strengths. So, what do you feel are the most important leadership qualities for the times we are in now?
Jessyca Leach Chief Executive Officer Prisma Community Care Sector: Healthcare We live in an uncertain climate, both literally and figuratively. Today’s leadership must be compassionate, proactive and focused on building resilience within our teams so people can continue to do meaningful work while maintaining their mental and physical health. For me, that also means … [More]
Four Strategies for Managing Long Sales Cycles
Most people haven’t ever run a marathon. But many salespeople run them every day — the long sales cycle. Salespeople love the quick win — that satisfying moment when a prospect becomes a customer in a matter of days or weeks. Sometimes, it’s even the fabled “one call close.” But what about those industries, or even those times, where the sales cycle stretches into months or … [More]
Mark Davis: Brewing Black Rock Coffee Bar’s Next Chapter
And protecting the people-first culture that rang the Nasdaq bell
When I took over as CEO of Black Rock Coffee Bar in the spring of 2023, I inherited a company with something most leaders only dream of: a culture so strong that guests could feel it the moment they walked in the door. Baristas knew regulars by name and drink, asked first-timers about their day before steering them toward a flavor, and treated the counter like the start of a … [More]
