The Top 50 Salt Lake City Women Leaders of 2026
Salt Lake City’s “business map” is more like a mountain trail system: public-sector decisions shape private-sector opportunity; fast-growing tech sits next to life sciences and healthcare; and philanthropy, arts, and education aren’t side quests-they’re core infrastructure for a region that’s scaling quickly.
What’s especially compelling about leadership along the Wasatch Front is how often influence shows up as ecosystem-building: recruiting and retaining talent, modernizing regulation, expanding healthcare access across the Mountain West, building companies that become local anchors, and turning major moments (like global events and tourism) into durable economic gains.
Below is an editorially ranked list of 50 of the most influential women leaders across the Greater Salt Lake City metro/Washatch Front business community-spanning corporate executives, founders, civic leaders, nonprofit builders, and power players in law, finance, healthcare, real estate, technology, hospitality, and the arts.
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#1 Gail Miller
Few leaders have shaped modern Salt Lake’s business identity as broadly as Gail Miller. Co-founding The Larry H. Miller Company in 1979, she oversees a diversified enterprise with major footprints in automotive, real estate, finance/insurance, healthcare, and sports & entertainment-sectors that directly influence regional jobs, development patterns, and civic identity. Her impact also extends beyond the balance sheet: the Miller family foundation’s high-profile investments in community revitalization signal a “build here, stay here” commitment that sets a tone for long-term local stewardship.
#2 Erin Mendenhall
As mayor of the state’s capital and economic hub, Erin Mendenhall sits at the intersection of growth, housing, infrastructure, and business confidence. Her influence is felt in the day-to-day conditions that determine whether companies expand, talent relocates, and neighborhoods thrive-everything from development process to long-range city priorities. In a region where growth is both opportunity and stress test, the mayor’s office is one of the most consequential “platform roles” in the metro economy.
#3 Jenny Wilson
Salt Lake County is the connective tissue of the metro economy-public health, safety, human services, and regional systems that keep the workforce functioning. Jenny Wilson’s leadership matters because county government is where business meets reality: homelessness response, behavioral health capacity, and regional coordination all translate into measurable impacts on downtown vitality, employee wellbeing, and the overall investability of the area.
#4 Lisa Eccles
Lisa Eccles leads one of Utah’s most influential philanthropic institutions. The Eccles Foundation processes 300+ funding requests annually and awards $20-$30 million in grants-capital that materially shapes what gets built, scaled, studied, or preserved across education, arts, and community wellbeing. When philanthropy is this central to a region’s civic and cultural fabric, it becomes a form of economic development-and Eccles is one of its most important architects.
#5 Deidre Henderson
Lieutenant Governor is a high-leverage leadership role in Utah-linking policy priorities, civic operations, and statewide initiatives that affect business climate, labor markets, and civic trust. Deidre Henderson’s influence shows up in the structure and stability that employers depend on, and in the state-level agenda-setting that shapes everything from workforce participation to the regulatory environment.
#6 Catherine Raney Norman
Global events don’t “just happen”-they’re won, planned, financed, and operationalized. Catherine Raney Norman’s leadership with the committee pursuing/organizing a future Winter Games positions her as a major force in Salt Lake’s next era of tourism, infrastructure acceleration, and international brand-building. Her credibility as a past Olympian, paired with civic/business leadership, helps convert a big idea into a coordinated regional strategy with real economic stakes.
#7 Margaret Woolley Busse
Business ecosystems thrive when rules are clear, fair, and modern. As Executive Director of the Utah Department of Commerce (a key regulator for professional licensing and consumer protection), Margaret Woolley Busse has outsized influence on how fast-growing industries scale responsibly. Her work has also been closely associated with Utah’s push to confront the downstream impacts of major tech platforms-an approach that signals a “future-proofing” mindset as AI and digital business models evolve.
#8 Mary Beckerle, PhD
Healthcare leadership becomes regional economic leadership when an institution serves multiple states and anchors research, clinical excellence, and workforce pipelines. Under Mary Beckerle’s tenure as CEO (since 2006), Huntsman Cancer Institute became the region’s only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center and expanded its reach across the Mountain West-impacting care access, research output, and the biomedical ecosystem that surrounds it.
#9 Heather Brace
Intermountain Health is one of the West’s defining healthcare employers, and Heather Brace is shaping how that workforce is structured, supported, and scaled. Her influence is especially visible in the “operating system” of the organization: organizational design, culture, leadership development, and the people infrastructure behind care delivery across a multi-state footprint. When healthcare is both a major employer and a community lifeline, HR leadership at this level becomes civic impact.
#10 Mitzi M. Montoya, PhD
Talent is the metro’s most important “export”-and universities are where talent strategy becomes reality. As provost, Mitzi Montoya helps set the academic vision and priorities of a flagship research university, influencing innovation ecosystems, workforce readiness, and the research partnerships that seed new companies and industries.
#11 Jennifer Smith
Regional banks are the circulatory system of growth-capital access, operational modernization, and risk management all affect how businesses expand. As Chief Technology and Operations Officer, Jennifer Smith’s influence is in how one of Utah’s best-known financial institutions evolves its digital capability and operational resilience-capabilities that increasingly determine competitiveness for banks and their customers.
#12 Jeanette Bennett
Real estate leadership is economic leadership in a fast-growing metro. Jeanette Bennett sits in one of the most influential seats in Utah’s commercial real estate market, shaping how companies choose locations, how projects get positioned, and how the built environment responds to demand. In practice, that means her work touches the physical footprint of growth-office, industrial, retail, and development strategy across the region.
#13 Carine S. Clark
Carine Clark’s influence comes from operating at the intersection of housing finance, entrepreneurship, and board-level leadership. As CEO of a major mortgage lender, she affects how homeownership and housing mobility function in a high-demand region. She has also taken on high-visibility governance roles in Utah’s tech community-expanding her impact beyond one sector and into the broader leadership fabric of the state’s business ecosystem.
#14 Aimee J. Daily, PhD
Aimee Daily leads a national nonprofit headquartered in Salt Lake City with a direct line to one of the most emotionally resonant issues in any community: children’s health. Her role influences philanthropic flows, corporate partnerships, and hospital support across North America-proof that Salt Lake isn’t only building companies, but also scaling mission-driven institutions with national reach.
#15 Cydni Tetro
Cydni Tetro is a rare blend of corporate operator and talent-pipeline builder. Through Women Tech Council and SheTech, she has helped create on-ramps for girls and women into STEM-reportedly reaching 40,000+ high school girls through SheTech programming-while also leading at the enterprise level as a technology executive. That combination (industry \+ pipeline) is how regions turn “hot markets” into durable economies.
#16 Kaitlin Eskelson
Tourism is not fluff-it’s jobs, sales tax, and national perception. Kaitlin Eskelson has been central to rebuilding and expanding Salt Lake’s visitor economy, including meetings and events strategy that directly affects hotels, restaurants, venues, and downtown vitality. Utah Business credits Visit Salt Lake’s booked meetings/events with significant direct visitor spend, reinforcing that her leadership is a measurable economic driver-not a branding exercise.
#17 Amy Rees Anderson
Amy Rees Anderson’s influence shows up in the “capital \+ mentorship” layer of the ecosystem: investing, advising, and helping entrepreneurs build companies that can scale beyond the early stage. Her visibility and voice in Utah’s business community-especially around entrepreneurship and leadership-make her a meaningful force in shaping how founders think, fundraise, and grow.
#18 Danielle “Danni” Wright
Wealth management can be a quiet lever of influence-steering philanthropic strategy, business transitions, and long-term capital decisions. As head of J.P. Morgan Private Bank in Utah and Idaho, Danni Wright plays a key role in advising many of the region’s most economically influential families and leaders, while also shaping leadership within one of the world’s most prominent financial institutions.
#19 Laura Griffin Kennedy
In high-growth metros, elite legal leadership is a foundational power center: deals, disputes, regulatory navigation, and corporate strategy all run through it. Laura Griffin Kennedy’s election as president of Parr Brown places her at the helm of one of Utah’s most prominent firms-positioning her to influence business outcomes across industries while modeling top-tier leadership in a field where representation still matters.
#20 Lauren Gustus
In a modern economy, credible local journalism is part of civic infrastructure-affecting public trust, accountability, and the quality of information leaders act on. Lauren Gustus became the Tribune’s first-ever CEO while continuing as executive editor, helping steer one of the region’s most important institutions through the business realities of modern media. Her recognition by the Salt Lake Chamber underscores her role as a leadership figure not only in journalism, but in the broader business community.
#21 Sally Dietlein
As co-founder and artistic director of Hale Centre Theatre, Sally Dietlein has helped build a beloved cultural institution known for ambitious production quality and audience loyalty. Her creative leadership sustains a thriving organization that generates jobs, attracts visitors, and strengthens the region’s arts-driven economy.
#22 Madeline Adkins
Madeline Adkins sets the artistic standard as concertmaster of the Utah Symphony, leading with precision, mentorship, and performance excellence. By elevating the ensemble’s reputation and audience experience, she helps keep classical music a vibrant driver of the region’s cultural brand and ticket-supported revenue.
#23 Tori A. Baker
Tori A. Baker has guided the Salt Lake Film Society with a clear mission and strong operational leadership, expanding community access to independent film and year-round programming. Her work strengthens the creative economy by attracting audiences, supporting local partnerships, and positioning Salt Lake City as a destination for cinematic culture.
#24 Jennifer Christopulos
Jennifer Christopulos leads Utah corporate banking at Zions Bank with a growth mindset, helping companies secure the capital and counsel they need to expand responsibly. Her relationship-driven leadership supports job creation and fuels the region’s business momentum across industries.
#25 Mandy Richards
As Chief Nursing Executive at Intermountain Health, Mandy Richards leads one of the most critical workforces in healthcare, setting expectations for quality, safety, and patient experience. Her operational and clinical leadership improves outcomes while supporting the stability of a major regional employer.
#26 Lorena Riffo-Jenson
Lorena Riffo-Jenson drives Salt Lake City’s economic development efforts by aligning business needs with smart policy, inclusive growth strategies, and practical support for entrepreneurs. Her leadership helps attract investment, strengthen corridors and districts, and create conditions where local companies can thrive.
#27 Ally Isom
Ally Isom advances Clyde Companies’ market presence and community partnerships through strategic marketing and external affairs leadership that builds trust with customers and stakeholders. Her recognized civic leadership underscores how strong corporate stewardship can strengthen both business performance and community outcomes.
#28 Melanie Bowen
Melanie Bowen builds meaningful community relationships for the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation, connecting leaders, programs, and partners around civic education and engagement. Her work expands the foundation’s reach and strengthens collaboration that benefits Utah’s future talent and leadership pipeline.
#29 Jenny Groberg
Jenny Groberg founded BookSmarts Accounting and Bookkeeping to give entrepreneurs the financial clarity and confidence needed to make smart decisions. By professionalizing back-office operations for growing companies, she helps small businesses scale sustainably and stay resilient.
#30 Sara Jones
Sara Jones leads InclusionPro with a practical, outcomes-focused approach that helps organizations build cultures where people perform at their best. Her work improves retention and leadership effectiveness, creating business value while raising the standard for inclusive workplaces.
#31 Monnica Manuel
Monnica Manuel co-founded RSG Performance and leads with the discipline and empathy required to help clients achieve peak performance and long-term wellbeing. By building a trusted brand around measurable results, she has created a business that strengthens the region’s health, sports, and performance ecosystem.
#32 Crystal Anderson
Crystal Anderson keeps strategic priorities moving as VP of Enterprise Strategy & Operations and Chief of Staff at MX Technologies, translating vision into execution across teams. Her leadership helps a fast-scaling fintech operate with clarity and discipline, enabling innovation that supports the broader digital economy.
#33 Jenn Barlow
Jenn Barlow leads Barlow Family Companies with long-term stewardship, balancing growth with values-driven decision-making across a diversified portfolio. Her leadership supports jobs, investment, and community-rooted business continuity that strengthens Utah’s economic fabric.
#34 Lauren Barnes
Lauren Barnes leads Broadband Communication Systems at L3Harris Technologies, guiding high-stakes programs that demand technical excellence and dependable delivery. Her leadership sustains advanced-industry jobs and helps position the region as a hub for sophisticated communications and defense technology.
#35 Brenna C. Baker
Brenna C. Baker drives performance as a VP and GM at L3Harris Technologies, aligning teams around execution, innovation, and customer commitment. By delivering complex work at scale, she contributes to business growth and reinforces Utah’s footprint in high-tech manufacturing and engineering.
#36 Sarah Jensen Clayton
Sarah Jensen Clayton is a respected leader at Korn Ferry Consulting, advising organizations on the leadership, structure, and talent strategies that determine long-term success. Her global practice leadership helps companies build stronger executives and teams, creating ripple effects across performance and competitiveness.
#37 Robyn Cohen
Robyn Cohen blends senior-level media leadership with entrepreneurial initiative, building partnerships and strategies that elevate brands and audiences. Through her work at Universal Media and as founder of W Collective, she strengthens networks that help women leaders expand influence and business opportunity.
#38 Lindsay Ashby Devonas
Lindsay Ashby Devonas advances green hydrogen business development at Avangrid Renewables, helping turn emerging clean-energy markets into real projects and partnerships. Her work supports investment, innovation, and future-ready jobs while accelerating the region’s transition to sustainable industry.
#39 Chris Ebert
Chris Ebert leads complex transformation through the Project Management Office at Mountain America Credit Union, bringing structure and accountability to enterprise initiatives. Her ability to deliver projects that improve member experience and operational efficiency creates measurable value for a fast-growing financial institution.
#40 Salinda Horrocks
Salinda Horrocks drives successful expos, events, and exhibits by pairing creative vision with rigorous operational execution and client service. Her leadership supports an industry that boosts tourism, fills venues, and generates meaningful economic activity for local businesses.
#41 Lavanya Mahate
Lavanya Mahate has built an admired hospitality brand through Saffron Valley Restaurants while also investing in workforce development through RISE Culinary Institute. Her entrepreneurial leadership creates jobs, cultivates talent, and expands the region’s culinary and small-business economy.
#42 Anne Marie Leavitt McDonald
Anne Marie Leavitt McDonald leads Mam Capital with an investor’s rigor and an operator’s perspective, supporting entrepreneurs and organizations as they scale. By connecting capital with strategy, she helps strengthen the region’s innovation pipeline and long-term business growth.
#43 Brandi Madill Mechling
Brandi Madill Mechling brings operational discipline to Savage Companies, strengthening the systems that keep complex logistics and industrial services running safely and efficiently. Her leadership supports reliable delivery for customers and reinforces Utah’s role in critical supply-chain and infrastructure work.
#44 Shannon O’Grady
Shannon O’Grady leads Gnarly Nutrition with a sharp focus on product quality, brand authenticity, and customer trust in a competitive wellness market. Her leadership grows a performance-driven company that supports the outdoor and endurance community while creating local economic impact.
#45 Alison O’Mahony, PhD
Alison O’Mahony, PhD, leads pharmaceutical research at Seek Labs, guiding scientific work that turns complex discovery into practical innovation. Her leadership strengthens the company’s R&D capability and contributes to the region’s growing life-sciences economy.
#46 Darci Piz
Darci Piz drives marketing at VLCM with a clear understanding of how technology solutions translate into customer outcomes and business growth. Her strategic storytelling and go-to-market leadership help expand an essential IT partner that supports modernization across industries.
#47 Kathleen Roberts
Kathleen Roberts leads revenue strategy at Christopherson Business Travel, building client relationships and commercial discipline in a fast-changing travel landscape. Her leadership drives growth by aligning sales, service, and solutions that help organizations travel smarter and manage spend.
#48 Kara Rogers
Kara Rogers provides financial stewardship as Chief Accounting Officer at Instructure, ensuring strong controls, transparency, and scalable processes that support growth. Her leadership helps an education technology leader operate with confidence while investing in products that serve learners and institutions.
#49 Kristie J. Rowley, PhD
Kristie J. Rowley, PhD, advances applied AI as a senior leader in Domo’s AI Labs, translating cutting-edge methods into real business value. Her work accelerates smarter analytics and decision-making tools, strengthening the region’s reputation for data-driven innovation.
#50 Alexis K. Juergens
Alexis K. Juergens helps companies protect and defend their most valuable ideas through intellectual property litigation that supports innovation and fair competition. Her advocacy and technical fluency provide critical risk management for businesses building products, brands, and new technologies.
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