The Top 50 Memphis Women Leaders of 2026
Memphis is a city where influence is rarely one-dimensional. The leaders shaping the metro’s trajectory tend to sit at intersections: logistics and technology, banking and neighborhood reinvestment, health systems and workforce pipelines, public safety and civic trust, philanthropy and execution.
This list is an editorial snapshot of 50 women whose roles give them outsized leverage over what happens next in the Greater Memphis economy-how capital moves, how people get hired and trained, how healthcare and community systems operate, and how organizations show up for the region. The rankings are subjective, but the common denominator is real: each woman here has a job that changes outcomes for employees, customers, patients, students, or entire communities.
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#1 Karen Blanks Ellis
In a logistics-first economy, “sustainability” isn’t a side project-it’s operational strategy. In her role at FedEx, Karen Blanks Ellis sits close to decisions that ripple across fleets, facilities, procurement, and long-term competitiveness. That matters locally because global standards (cleaner operations, supplier expectations, evolving customer requirements) increasingly shape what kinds of jobs and investments land in Memphis-and which ones don’t.
#2 Jana Swearengen-Washington
City Council leadership influences the fundamentals businesses feel every day: budgets, infrastructure priorities, development decisions, and the rules of the road for growth. As chairwoman, Jana Swearengen-Washington helps set the tempo for policy and governance that can either accelerate momentum-or slow it down. In a city where execution and trust matter as much as vision, the council chair’s convening power is a major asset.
#3 Cerelyn “CJ” Davis
Public safety is an economic issue-full stop. Cerelyn “CJ” Davis leads one of the most visible institutions in the city, shaping how Memphis approaches crime reduction, community trust, and modernization in policing. That influence reaches far beyond law enforcement: it affects business confidence, talent retention, tourism perceptions, and neighborhood stabilization.
#4 Hope Dmuchowski
CFOs don’t just “manage numbers”-they determine how aggressively an institution can invest, lend, expand, and weather shocks. As CFO of First Horizon, Hope Dmuchowski has a strategic hand on capital allocation and financial resilience. In a bank deeply connected to the region’s commercial ecosystem, this role shapes what growth gets funded and how risk is managed in real time.
#5 Erin Pryor
In financial services, experience is product-and trust is the brand. Erin Pryor’s influence sits at the intersection of marketing innovation, customer experience, and modern expectations for how people interact with their bank. For Memphis, that means the way a major institution competes, attracts clients, and strengthens relationships with communities and businesses across the metro.
#6 Melissa Flores
The CHRO role is where workforce strategy becomes reality: talent pipelines, leadership development, retention, and culture. At a global company like International Paper, Melissa Flores helps shape how the organization competes for talent and invests in people. In Memphis-where workforce readiness and access to opportunity are central challenges-this kind of leadership has downstream impact across the labor market.
#7 Michelle Borninkhof
Technology leadership at a major retailer is equal parts innovation and reliability: systems, security, supply chain enablement, and customer-facing digital experience. As CIO at AutoZone, Michelle Borninkhof influences how one of Memphis’ flagship companies evolves at scale. That matters locally because enterprise tech leadership drives high-skill jobs, vendor ecosystems, and modern operating standards across the region.
#8 Jenna Bedsole
The general counsel’s office is a power center-governance, risk management, compliance, and the “how” behind strategic moves. Jenna Bedsole helps steer AutoZone through regulatory complexity and corporate decision-making that protects long-term value. In a city anchored by large employers, that kind of disciplined leadership contributes to stability, credibility, and business continuity.
#9 Maria Megdal
St. Jude is one of Memphis’ most globally recognized institutions, and administrative leadership is crucial to keeping such a complex organization running at the level its mission demands. As Chief Administrative Officer, Maria Megdal influences operational excellence that supports research, care delivery, and institutional growth. The ripple effects show up in local employment, partnerships, procurement, and the city’s global brand.
#10 Monica Wharton
A health system COO sits at the center of operational realities: staffing, service delivery, compliance, and performance across hospitals and shared functions. Monica Wharton’s role is especially consequential because healthcare is one of the region’s largest employers and an essential infrastructure for every other industry. When operational execution improves, the whole metro feels it-patients, employers, and the workforce alike.
#11 Kristy Gay
Patient experience is a leadership discipline, not a slogan: it’s access, communication, safety culture, and the employee experience that powers care. Kristy Gay’s system-wide role shapes how Baptist Memorial competes on quality and trust, influencing what patients choose and what clinicians and staff experience on the ground. For Memphis families and employers, that translates to real-world outcomes.
#12 Manoucheka Thermitus
Regional One Health plays a vital role in the metro’s care continuum, and the COO’s job is to make the system work-every day, under pressure. Manoucheka Thermitus’ leadership affects throughput, staffing, coordination, and operational readiness. In a region where healthcare capacity and consistency matter to workforce participation and community well-being, operational leadership is a major lever.
#13 Lashell Vaughn
Modern cities run on invisible systems-digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, and operational technology as much as pipes and wires. As VP and CIO at MLGW, Lashell Vaughn is positioned at the intersection of reliability and modernization. That influence touches every employer and household: the stability of basic services, the security of critical infrastructure, and the long-range capacity to support growth.
#14 Tomeka Hart Wigginton
United Way CEOs operate as civic “connective tissue,” aligning employers, nonprofits, and public sector partners around measurable goals. Tomeka Hart Wigginton’s role matters because it’s about mobilizing resources-and coordinating action-across multiple counties and systems. In Memphis, where collaborative execution is the difference between programs and progress, this kind of convening leadership is high impact.
#15 Jennifer Collins
Higher education leadership is workforce leadership. As president of Rhodes, Jennifer Collins influences the region’s talent pipeline, institutional partnerships, and civic leadership networks. The most durable economic advantages often come from talent density and community-connected graduates-and college presidents shape that long arc.
#16 Dr. Tracy D. Hall
Community colleges are where workforce strategy becomes accessible and scalable. As president of Southwest Tennessee Community College, Dr. Tracy D. Hall is positioned to impact credentialing, adult upskilling, and employer-aligned training. In a metro focused on mobility and talent development, this role is one of the most practical forms of regional influence.
#17 Meredith Diagostino
People leaders in headquarters companies help set the tone for culture, talent strategy, and retention-especially in competitive labor markets. In her role at Frontdoor, Meredith Diagostino influences how the company attracts, develops, and supports its workforce. That matters locally because “how a flagship employer leads” often becomes a benchmark for others in the market.
#18 Kathy Collins
Revenue leadership is growth leadership: go-to-market strategy, customer outcomes, and the discipline of scaling what works. Kathy Collins’ role has direct influence on how Frontdoor expands and competes. For Memphis, strong headquarters growth supports jobs, vendor ecosystems, and the city’s reputation as a place where major brands can lead from.
#19 Jen Andrews
Quality of life is economic strategy-and few assets are as visible (or as used) as Shelby Farms Park. As CEO, Jen Andrews influences programming, stewardship, partnerships, and the long-term value of a landmark civic space. Parks at this scale shape talent attraction, neighborhood identity, and the “feel” of a city-often more than policy papers do.
#20 Tammy Henry
Founder-led and owner-led companies are a huge part of Memphis’ business fabric-and their influence often travels through hiring, vendor relationships, and community investment. As CEO of Data Facts, Tammy Henry represents the kind of scalable, Memphis-rooted leadership that creates opportunities locally while competing in a data-driven economy.
#21 Robyn Diaz, JD
As executive vice president and chief legal officer at St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Robyn Diaz provides the governance and risk leadership that helps a world-class research mission move fast and stay trusted. By overseeing legal, compliance, and integrity functions, she protects the institution’s ability to partner, fundraise, and innovate while keeping its focus on curing and saving children.
#22 Nicole Washington
Nicole Washington strengthens Regional One Health by leading people strategy that elevates hiring, development, and employee wellbeing across a complex healthcare system. Her steady, values-driven approach builds resilient teams and a workplace culture that directly supports better patient care for the Memphis community.
#23 Ocpivia Stafford, PharmD, MBA
Ocpivia Stafford leads Methodist South Hospital with a sharp focus on patient safety, service quality, and operational excellence. Her collaborative leadership helps align clinicians and staff around consistent care experiences, improving outcomes while strengthening trust in a vital community hospital.
#24 Christi Kelley
Christi Kelley has grown Kelley and Associates Advertising into a trusted, full-service partner by pairing creative storytelling with disciplined strategy and client service. Her leadership helps organizations clarify their brands, reach the right audiences, and compete more effectively in a crowded marketplace.
#25 Kathy Pampuro
With decades of commercial real estate experience, Kathy Pampuro has helped shape where businesses choose to locate, grow, and invest in the Memphis area. As executive vice president at Boyle Investment Company, she builds long-term tenant relationships and delivers leasing results that strengthen the region’s economic momentum.
#26 Cici Ebersole
Cici Ebersole leads talent strategy at Ducks Unlimited, building the people practices that allow a major national nonprofit to scale its conservation impact. By prioritizing culture, development, and accountability, she helps teams perform at a high level while attracting and retaining mission-driven professionals in Memphis and beyond.
#27 Karen Waldrop, PhD
Dr Karen Waldrop guides Ducks Unlimited’s conservation strategy, translating science and stewardship into measurable results across wetlands and wildlife habitat. Her leadership drives large-scale partnerships and disciplined execution that protect natural resources while delivering lasting value to communities and economies that depend on healthy landscapes.
#28 Mary Ann Beil
Mary Ann Beil provides the financial stewardship that keeps the Memphis Zoo strong, sustainable, and able to invest in animal care, education, and conservation. Her disciplined approach to budgeting and long-range planning helps ensure the Zoo can grow its impact while remaining a beloved community institution.
#29 Michele Correia
Michele Correia fuels the Memphis Zoo’s mission by leading development efforts that turn community enthusiasm into transformational philanthropy. Through strategic fundraising and relationship-building, she helps expand programs and experiences that educate visitors, protect wildlife, and strengthen Memphis tourism.
#30 Sally Jones Heinz
Sally Jones Heinz has led MIFA with steady, mission-first leadership that scales services for seniors and families facing hardship across the Mid-South. By building partnerships and operational strength, she has helped turn compassion into consistent delivery that improves stability, dignity, and opportunity for thousands.
#31 Dr. Patricia Lee Daigle
Dr Patricia Lee Daigle shapes Memphis’s cultural future by curating modern and contemporary art with rigor, relevance, and community connection. As chief curator at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, she elevates programming and storytelling that attracts audiences, strengthens philanthropy, and deepens the city’s creative economy.
#32 Dana Pointer
Dana Pointer leads Preserver Partners with a clear focus on disciplined investment management and client trust, guiding strategy and operations across a growing firm. Her steady leadership strengthens access to sophisticated portfolios for institutions and families while reinforcing Memphis’s reputation as a place where financial expertise and inclusive leadership thrive.
#33 Lenore Trammell
Lenore Trammell helps steer Big River Steel with the kind of governance and compliance leadership that enables large-scale growth without sacrificing integrity. As chief compliance officer and general counsel, she protects the company’s ability to operate, innovate, and invest confidently while championing a culture of accountability and people development.
#34 Barbara Hyde
Barbara Hyde has used philanthropy as a catalyst for civic transformation, investing in education, public spaces, and initiatives that build a stronger Memphis for all. As a founding chair of the Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis, she has helped elevate women’s leadership and expand resources that improve outcomes for families across the region.
#35 KaShaundra L. Blackwood
KaShaundra L. Blackwood leads Grove Park Dental Group with an operational mindset that combines patient experience, clinical quality, and sustainable growth. Her leadership strengthens access to trusted care while building community partnerships that reflect the practice’s commitment to Memphis.
#36 Debbie Branan
As owner and attorney at Branan Law Firm, Debbie Branan has built a reputation for clear counsel and steady advocacy in matters that directly affect families and property. Her long-standing work helps clients navigate high-stakes decisions with confidence, supporting stability for households and small businesses throughout the region.
#37 Michelle Epps
Michelle Epps brings deep technology and operations leadership to enterprise transformation work, helping organizations modernize systems and execute change with confidence. As CIO practice lead at Reach Partners, she turns complex initiatives into measurable improvements in performance, service, and long-term resilience.
#38 Ruby Hancock
Ruby Hancock leads KPMG’s Memphis office with a client-first approach that helps organizations strengthen controls, manage risk, and plan for growth. Her achievement as a trailblazing leader in the local market also expands what is possible for women in top-tier professional services.
#39 Laura Linder
Laura Linder guides Jewish Community Partners with strategic leadership that aligns philanthropy, investment stewardship, and community planning. By connecting donors and organizations to high-impact initiatives, she strengthens Memphis’s nonprofit ecosystem and helps resources reach the people and programs that need them most.
#40 Lura Turner
Lura Turner has built Turner Marketing into a trusted partner for organizations that need sharp positioning and consistent messaging in a competitive landscape. Her leadership helps clients grow visibility and credibility, strengthening the connection between Memphis institutions, audiences, and the community.
#41 Janet Brueck Lang
As board chair of Mid-South Food Bank, Janet Brueck Lang provides governance and leadership that help keep hunger-relief efforts effective, accountable, and responsive. Her commitment to collaboration and results helps mobilize resources at scale, supporting families across the region when they need it most.
#42 Roshun Austin
Roshun Austin leads The Works with a neighborhood-centered approach that blends affordable housing, food access, and community revitalization into real, on-the-ground progress. Her work turns development into opportunity, creating healthier communities and a stronger foundation for inclusive economic growth in Memphis.
#43 Suzanne Jackson
Suzanne Jackson has elevated the Tigerettes program through consistent coaching, high standards, and a deep commitment to student development and performance excellence. By stewarding a visible campus tradition, she strengthens the University of Memphis brand and creates opportunities for young performers to lead with confidence.
#44 Perre Coleman Magness
Perre Coleman Magness has built a distinctive voice in food writing that celebrates Southern traditions while making them fresh, approachable, and original. Through The Runaway Spoon and her published work, she influences how people cook, host, and gather, bringing positive attention to Memphis’s creative and culinary culture.
#45 Dr. Fedoria Rugless, PhD, CCRP
Dr Fedoria Rugless advances better health outcomes by leading population health work that bridges research, community partnership, and practical implementation. Her leadership strengthens data-driven decision-making and program design, helping organizations target interventions that improve wellbeing across Memphis.
#46 Claire Shapiro
Claire Shapiro helped shape Rhodes College as a people-first chief HR officer, strengthening policies, culture, and leadership practices that support faculty and staff excellence. Her long tenure and strategic mindset made the institution stronger and more inclusive, proving how thoughtful HR leadership translates into organizational performance.
#47 Raumesh Akbari
As a Tennessee state senator and legislative leader, Raumesh Akbari translates community priorities into actionable policy that impacts Memphis at scale. Her influence on education, workforce, and economic issues helps shape a business climate where opportunity can expand and communities can thrive.
#48 Karen Camper
Karen Camper has delivered steady legislative leadership for Memphis, advocating for policies that strengthen families and create more equitable economic opportunity. Her long-standing service and respected voice in state government make her a key driver of the decisions that shape workforce readiness and community wellbeing.
#49 Sarah Jemison
Sarah Jemison has helped expand ALCO’s mission-driven approach to affordable housing by pairing strategic leadership with a focus on service and long-term stewardship. Her work strengthens communities by improving housing quality, building partnerships, and investing in people development that creates quality jobs and upward mobility.
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