This Women of Achievement edition of In Business Magazine celebrates women who are using their leadership positions in for- and nonprofit organizations to make a difference in our community. This year’s annual tribute shines a spotlight on women whose engagement extends well beyond their organizations through board service, mentoring, philanthropy and other powerful contributions.
The awards remind us that meaningful progress begins with the conviction that a better future is possible, followed by the persistence to bring people together to create it. That belief shapes my work at Center for the Future of Arizona, where we listen closely to Arizonans, understand what they want for our state, identify where they agree and turn those shared aspirations into action.
One of the most encouraging things we consistently find is that Arizonans agree on much more than our politics and public discourse would sometimes have us believe. That common ground gives Arizona a strong foundation for progress. Leadership plays an important role in building on it — listening to different perspectives, creating opportunities for people to contribute, bringing people together around shared priorities, and turning that common ground into action.
This September issue’s cover story celebrates 14 Women of Achievement and the recipient of the Arizona Leadership Award, sharing their stories and contributions. I am honored to be recognized alongside these accomplished leaders as this year’s Linda M. Herold Lifetime Achievement Honoree.
The women recognized in this issue demonstrate the impact of engaged leadership in many different ways. Their accomplishments span organizations, industries, and communities, but each has made a contribution that extends beyond individual success. They are strengthening organizations, opening doors for others, serving their communities and helping Arizona move forward.
The September edition also explores a range of issues shaping business and the workplace today, including artificial intelligence, workforce and employee experiences, healthcare, trade, and the changing environment in which Arizona businesses operate. Together, these topics reflect the breadth of opportunities and challenges leaders are navigating, as well as the many forces shaping how businesses operate, adapt and plan for the future.
Arizona is a state defined by growth, change and tremendous possibility. Realizing that possibility requires leaders across business, nonprofit, government and community life who are willing to look beyond the immediate challenges before us and envision what we can accomplish together.
Leadership is, ultimately, about more than what we accomplish individually. It is about how we engage others, the opportunities we create, the progress we advance and what we make possible for those who come after us.
I hope you enjoy this September edition, and that you are inspired to consider the role each of us can play in creating a stronger future for Arizona.
Sincerely,
Sybil Francis, Ph.D.
Chair, President & CEO
Center for the Future of Arizona
Sybil Francis, Ph.D., is co-founder, chair, president and CEO of the nonprofit, nonpartisan Center for the Future of Arizona. A scientist and public policy leader, she has built her career around creating positive change. Her love of Arizona drives CFA’s work to understand what Arizonans want, identify where they agree and turn shared aspirations into action. Before helping found CFA, Francis shaped policy in the U.S. Congress and White House. She remains focused on possibility and bringing people together to achieve it.
