$10.00 Summer 2026 Understanding AI • A practical way to think about AI in your business • Why women founders must invest in AI infrastructure • AI is not neutral—and how women need to change that • AI won’t fix what your business isn’t built to hold And much more on how combining technology with experience, wisdom and trusted relationships will help us make better decisions and scale our companies. Introducing the WPO’s 50 Fastest Growing Women-Owned/Led Businesses #1 on the 50 Fastest: Allison McCrea & Carmen Castillo SDI International Special 16-page Entrepreneurs of Purpose (EOP) section on using AI for good, plus spotlights on women entrepreneurs building remarkable legacies!
Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC ©2024 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved. MAP6161919 | AD-11-23-0419 Ready for the next step on your journey? Great things can happen when you make every move matter. Building a business takes skill and determination. But it also helps to have a network of support. At Bank of America, we listen to your business goals and help you achieve them. With our financial expertise and your dedication, there’s nothing you can’t accomplish. Let’s take the next step together. Please take a moment to schedule an appointment with a Bank of America small business banker. To learn about the resources and support we offer women small business owners, or to make an appointment, scan or visit: bankofamerica.com/SBwomen.
Understanding AI, showcasing the ’50 Fastest’ and growing our Foundation with three dynamic programs When we decided to tackle one of the most important business topics of our time, understanding and using artificial intelligence (AI) in your business, we called on experts on the Enterprising Women Advisory Board to help us. We are also so fortunate that the Enterprising Women Foundation’s Entrepreneurs of Purpose (EOP) program now has an AI committee made up of brilliant minds who met and reviewed the topics they felt should be covered in this issue. The result is a 27-page section examining AI from many angles. There is so much wisdom on the pages that follow that it would be impossible to recap it here, but let me quote one of our contributors, Dr. Sandi Webster, who noted that “the future likely will not be a choice between humans or AI. It will be about humans working with AI to make better decisions.” Another contributor and advisory board member, Marilyn Magett, who writes a regular finance column for us, said “When used intentionally, AI can help leadership teams spend less energy buried in operational details and more energy focused on strategy, planning and long-term growth.” Our thanks to Kathy Durfee, Advisory Board member and EOP AI committee member, who led a team that consulted on this issue. Her business, TechHouse, has been helping business owners understand and adapt with AI. Kathy and her team help small to mid-sized businesses use technology more effectively to grow and scale their companies. Since our Spring issue was published, I’ve had the honor of participating in two dynamic conferences for women entrepreneurs—the WPO Entrepreneurial Excellence Forum hosted in May in Hollywood, Florida, and the WBENC Conference hosted in June in Salt Lake City, Utah. At the WPO’s Forum, together with sponsor JP Morgan Commercial Banking, they announced the 2026 list of the 50 Fastest Growing WomenOwned/Led Companies. We’re proud to share the full list in this issue and feature Allison McCrea and Carmen Castillo, who were named #1 on the 50 Fastest list. Carmen is a previous recipient of the Enterprising Women of the Year Award and a long-time friend. Her company, SDI International, merged with HCMWorks, Allison McCrea’s Canadian-based company, and now Allison will lead SDI as a global powerhouse with more than $518 million in annual revenues. For Carmen and Allison, it’s a match made in heaven. The Enterprising Women team is busy this summer planning our upcoming issues of the magazine, our 25th Annual Enterprising Women of the Year Awards Celebration & Conference (see below) and scaling three dynamic programs of the Enterprising Women Foundation. The Foundation’s Entrepreneurs of Purpose program, co-chaired by Edie Fraser and Sharon Reynolds, is on fire with new members coming on board every day and monthly scale-up calls that connect women entrepreneurs leading purpose-driven companies. Check out the EOP section in this issue starting on page 56 to learn more. Our Young Enterprising Women Mentoring Forum program has grown to more than 30 events hosted throughout the U.S. at underserved high schools. We teach financial literacy, connect local women business leaders with amazing young women for mentoring, and plant the seeds of entrepreneurship, with a focus on encouraging more young women to enter the STEM fields. And, finally, our Peace Through Business program, now in its 21st year, is teaching entrepreneurial skills, mentoring and building connections with women entrepreneurs in Afghanistan, Rwanda, Uganda, and immigrant women in the U.S., Canada, and the UK. Next on our list is expansion into Latin America. Learn more about the work of the Enterprising Women Foundation at www.enterprisingwomenfoundation.org. We’re so proud of the Enterprising Women community in the U.S. and around the globe, and thankful for our many partners who contribute so much to the strength of our community. Enjoy this issue! Monica Smiley, Publisher/CEO msmiley@enterprisingwomen.com SAVE THE DATE: 25th Annual Enterprising Women of the Year Awards Celebration & Conference, April 4-6, 2027, Wyndham Grand Hotel, Clearwater Beach, Florida! Nominations for the 2027 Enterprising Women of the Year Award open Oct. 1, 2026 at www.enterprisingwomen.com. enterprising Women 3 Monica S. Smiley FROM THE PUBLISHER
enterprisingwomen.com Women THE VOICE OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS Vol. 27, No. 2, Summer 2026 FEATURES EDITOR & PUBLISHER Monica S. Smiley EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Carol L. Genee CONTRIBUTING EDITOR - EOP SECTION Nancy Watt PRODUCTION MANAGER Carley M. Dancer CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Marilyn J. Magett Tasneem Dohadwala Caryn Kopp Erika Baez-Grimes Susan Michel Kathleen Hunt Michelle B. Ray Jen Earle Kathy Durfee Rashmi Chaturvedi Chaitra Vedullapalli Sima Ladjevardian Virginia Littlejohn Angela Dingle Adi Klevit CeCe Cole Johanna Faigelman Keisha A. Rivers Mary Ann O’Brien Melissa Harrison Ilene Rosenthal Christine Hopkins Liz Wool Lisa Larson-Kelley Jacqueline Whitmore Sandi Webster, PhD Edie Fraser Sharon W. Reynolds Andi Simon, PhD Nadine & Derek Nicholson Gloria Bohan Bukeka B. Blakemore Karrie Hileman Esther Ignacia Aguillon Rebecca Contreras Lori Harris Christy Alexander Fabi Preslar Lalitha Nandyala Manishi Sagar Judi Sheppard Missett Lorin Beller ART DIRECTION/DESIGN SPARK Publications VIDEO PRODUCTION MANAGER Alexander Dancer WEBSITE MANAGER Myra Ray EVENT CONSULTANTS Beth Blake Jamie Kopp CORPORATE & ADVERTISING SALES OFFICES 1135 Kildaire Farm Rd. Suite 200 Cary, NC 27511 USA www.enterprisingwomen.com ENTERPRISING WOMEN is published quarterly by Enterprising Women Inc. Annual print subscription rate is $35. Subscribe online at www.enterprisingwomen.com. Download our app in the Apple Store or Google Play. International print subscribers please add $25US for international postage. Enterprising Women is copyrighted 2026 by Enterprising Women, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited except by permission of the Publisher. The views expressed by contributing writers in this issue are not necessarily those of the staff or management of Enterprising Women Inc. Enterprising Women is not responsible for claims made by its advertisers. COVER SECTION: UNDERSTANDING AI 26 This 27-page cover section will help you understand a variety of perspectives on how artificial intelligence (AI) impacts your business. 27 A re you the chef or the dish? A practical way to think about AI in your business. 28 1 0X your business: what AI can actually do for womenowned small businesses. 30 O wn the land, not just the crop. Why women founders must invest in AI infrastructure, not just AI tools. 31 T he businesses that make the rest of the economy run are barely breaking even. How AI could change the care economy. 34 A I is not neutral—and women entrepreneurs need policies to change that. 36 E nsuring women entrepreneurs lead in the age of AI. 37 G etting the most value from AI for your business. 38 T he invisible concierge: why you need AI in your corner. 39 H uman-led AI: the future belongs to those who keep people at the center. 40 A I won’t fix what your business isn’t built to hold. 42 G enerative AI is not a threat to thoughtful marketing. 44 T he human advantage in an AI-driven world. 47 A I won’t save education—putting students first will. 4 enterprising Women
FEATURES 50 P rotecting decision quality in the age of AI. 51 U sing AI to gain a competitive advantage. 52 ‘ Chat, now make it sound like me.’ 53 T he etiquette of AI: how to use it thoughtfully and confidently. 54 A I: the silent seat at the advisory board table. 50 FASTEST SECTION: 9 The 50 Fastest Growing WomenOwned/Led Companies 12 # 1 on the 50 Fastest list is SDI International. Meet Allison McCrea and Carmen Castillo. ENTREPRENEURS OF PURPOSE SECTION: 56 T he greatest gift AI has given us is time. 58 A I for good: women, purpose and the power to change the world. 60 E OP member legacy spotlights. 70 A salute to reaching forward: women, purpose and legacy. COLUMNS 3 P ublisher’s note 98 Endnote SPOTLIGHTS 76 Gloria Bohan, Omega World Travel 78 Bukeka B. Blakemore, FAVUnite 79 Taylor Jezik, Hometown Olathe Family Farm 80 Karrie Hileman, White Magnolia Bridal Collection DEPARTMENTS FINANCE 14 U sing AI to strengthen financial leadership. 16 W omen entrepreneurs are still struggling for VC funding. SALES AND MARKETING 18 I s your AI sales messaging a barrier to landing prospect meetings? 82 T he new rules of digital visibility. MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP 20 T he financial and operational metrics most owners ignore until it’s too late. 21 T he real cost of carrying it all. 22 M odern payroll technology Is helping to improve ROI. 84 P ivoting with purpose: turning disruption into a strategic advantage. 86 The misunderstanding of delegation. HR 24 W hat actually matters most to employees? Rethinking employee benefits. NAWBO 25 A balanced, human-centered approach to AI adoption PERSONAL GROWTH 89 AI can help you move faster, but it shouldn’t decide your direction. 92 Finding joy in a stressedfilled life. 93 I came back: a letter to every woman who thinks she can’t. 95 Finding joy: how I find it, how I keep it. BOOKS 72 Rethink Retirement. It's Not the End—It's the Beginning of What's Next. 74 Impossible Freedom. Grow a Business That Fuels Your Life, Not Consumes It. HEALTHY YOU 97 Beyond hydration: how water and water-based activities enhance your health. enterprising Women 5
Leslie Atkins LA Communications, LLC www.corporatestorytellers.com Robin Bailey The Legacy Connection www.callerconnection.com Robert Bard Latina Style www.latinastyle.com Elin Barton Riveo Creative www.riveocreative.com Betsy Bassan Panagora Group www.panagoragroup.net Susan Phillips Bari The Susan Bari Company www.SusanSpeaks.online Allison Beers Events North www.eventsnorth.com Lorin Beller Lorin Beller & Co www.LorinBeller.com Sarah Benken KNOW Women www.theknowwomen.com Vanessa Best Precision HealthCare Consultants www.precisionhcc.com Fran Biderman-Gross Advantages www.advantages.net Gloria Bohan Omega World Travel www.owt.net Giselle Bonzi Washington Capital Partners www.washingtoncapitalpartners.com Renee Bovelle, MD Envision Eye and Laser www.envisioneyeandlaser.com Jeska Brodbeck Be Light Consulting www.belightconsulting.com Barbara Brown, PhD Capitol Hill Consortium for Counseling and Consultation www.ccccmentalhealth.com Umbreen Bhatti Springboard Enterprises www.springboardenterprises.org Camille Burns Women Presidents Organization www.womenpresidentsorg.com Kristyn Butler Ability Matters www.abilitymattersohio.com Dominique Cagle Nika Corporate Housing www.nikacorporatehousing.com Jennie Campbell The Stewart Lodges (retired) www.stewartlodgeatsteelwood.com Mary Cantando WomanBusinessOwner.com www.womansadvantage.biz Susie Carder SC Consulting www.SusieCarder.com Seema Chawla Tek Valley Corporation www.tekvalley.com Diane Chen, PhD CESI Debt Solutions www.cesidebtsolutions.org Laura Chiesman FirstWave Financial www.firstwavefinancial.com Nicole Cober Cober, Johnson & Romney www.cjrlegal.com Brittany N. Cole Career Thrivers www.careerthrivers.com Rebecca Contreras AvantGarde LLC www.avantgarde4usa.com Wendy Coulter Hummingbird Creative Group, Inc. www.Hummingbird-creative.com Carolyn Marshall Covington Insightful Visionaries www.insightfulvisionaries.org Karen Cripe Label Logic, inc. www.label-logic.com Carol Curran Phoenix Data Corporation www.phoenixdatacorporation.com Shital Daftari Saris and Things Inc. www.sarisandthings.com Sharon Davison 1021UX.com www.SharonADavison.com Michelle DeClerck Conference Event Management. www.myCEM.com Laurie DeJong LDJ Productions www.ldjproductions.com Anne Descalzo Clutch www.connectwithclutch.com Karen DeYoung DeYoung Consulting Services www.deyoung-consulting.com Harriet Diamond Author, writer, speaker www.harrietdiamond.net Chala Dincoy The Repositioning Expert www.repositioner.com Nathalie Doobin Harvard Services Group www.harvardsg.com Desiree Doubrox HomWork www.homwork.com Kathy Durfee TechHouse www.tech-house.com Jen Earle National Association of Women Business Owners www.nawbo.org Susanne Evens AAA Translation www.aaatranslation.com Celeste Ford Stellar Solutions, Inc. www.stellarsolutions.com Judy Fourie Fourie Group www.fouriegroup.com Edie Fraser Enterprising Women Foundation www.enterprisingwomenfoundation.org Renee White Fraser Fraser Communications www.frasercommunications.com Anne Freedman Speak Out Inc. www.speakoutinc.com Joan Killian Gallagher Warden-Brooks, Ltd. www.wardenbrooks.com Jayanthi Ganapathy Finaccurate LLC www.finaccurate.com Twyla Garrett Growth Management Services, Inc. www.hiregms.com Deborah Garry BBG&G Advertising & Public Relations www.bbggadv.com Dima Ghawi www.DimaGhawi.com Molly Gimmel Design To Delivery Inc. www.d2dinc.com Chanie Gluck 4D Global www.4dglobalinc.com Nadine Green The C-Suite Group www.thec-suitegroup.com Erika Baez-Grimes The BPH Group, LLC/Silver Tsunami Transitions www.erikathebroker.com Lili Hall KNOCK, Inc. www.knockinc.com Monick Halm Real Estate Investor Goddesses www.realestateinvestorgoddesses.com Linda Hamilton Linda A. Hamilton, CPA PLLC www.lahcpas.com Darnyelle Jervey Harmon, PhD Incredible One Enterprises ,LLC www.incredibleoneenterprises.com Lori Harris Harris Whitesell Consulting, LLC www.harriswhitesellconsulting.com Melissa Harrison Allee Creative, LLC www.alleecreative.com Mara Hedgecoth APCO Worldwide www.apcoworldwide.com Cynthia Hetherington Hetherington Group www.Hetheringtongroup.com Dana Hetrick Lucas Commercial Flooring Group, Inc. www.lucasflooringkc.com Christine Hopkins ASCI http://www.ascillc.com/ Sonya Hopson HIRE Strategies LLC www.hire-strategies.com Sally Hughes Caster Connection www.casterconnection.com Sharon Hulce Employment Resource Group, Inc. www.ergsearch.com Kathleen Hunt Personalized Payroll Services, Inc. www.personalizedpayroll.com Barbara Hutchinson, MD, PhD Chesapeake Cardiac Care www.ccardiac.com Marilyn Johnson MarilynjSpeaks.com www.marilynjspeaks.com Kathy Kamei www.kathykamei.com Nina L. Kaufman, Esq. www.NinaKaufman.com Karen Kerrigan Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council/ Women Entrepreneurs Inc. www.sbecouncil.org Merrilee Kick Sung-Joo Kim Sungjoo Group www.sungjoogroup.com Adi Klevit Business Success Consulting Group www.bizsuccesscg.com Caryn Kopp Kopp Consulting, LLC www.koppconsultingusa.com Sima Ladjevardian Women’s Entrepreneurship Institute www.weiimpact.org Lisa Larson-Kelley Quantious www.quantious.com Cathy Light Lideranca Group Inc. www.liderancagroup.com Julie Lilliston Julie Lilliston Communications www.julielilliston.com Kirsten Liston Rethink Compliance LLC www.rethinkcomplianceco.com Virginia Littlejohn Quantum Leaps, Inc. www.quantumleapsinc.org Renee Pepys Lowe RPL + Associates www.rplassociates.com Maril MacDonald Gagen MacDonald www.gagenmacdonald.com Gia Machlin Eco Plum Inc. www.ecoplum.com Marilyn J. Magett Evolve CFO Services www.evolvecfoservices.com Rúna Magnúsdóttir Connected-Women.com www.connected-women.com BRANDit www.brandit.is 6 enterprising Women
Purba Majumder Cybervation www.cybervationinc.com Andrea March Women’s Leadership Exchange www.womensleadershipexchange.com Angela Marshall, MD Comprehensive Women’s Health www.mdforwomen.com Brittany Quintana Marti Quintana Law, PD www.quintanalawpd.com Kris Martinez Martinez Creative Group www.martinezcreativegroup.com Patricia Marx New World Van Lines www.newworldvanlines.com Martha Mertz Athena International www.athenainternational.org Susan McGlory Michel Glen Eagle Advisors, LLC www.gleneagleadv.com Wanda McKenzie McKenzie & Associates Janice Migliore PALCO www.gotopalco.com Judi Sheppard Missett Jazzercise, Inc. www.jazzercise.com Shaila Rao Mistry JAYCO MMI www.jaycopanels.com STEM-Institute www.stem-institute.org Cindy Monroe Fatimah Moody Linkvisum Consulting Group www.linkvisum.com Jacqueline Muller 3DOM (Asia Pacific) Ltd. www.jacquelinemuller.com Lalitha Nandyala Smart Folks Inc. www.smartfolksinc.com Bonnie Nawara Association of Women’s Business Centers www.awbc.org Terry Neese Peace Through Business www.enterprisingwomenfoundation.org Phyllis Newhouse Xtreme Solutions, Inc. www.xtremesolutions-inc.com Marlene Morrison Nicholls Stewart Morrison Insurance www.stewartmorrison.ca Nkem Okeke, MD Medicalincs www.medicalincs.com Kathie Okun The Okun Financial Group, Inc. www.theokungroup.com Pooja Chandra Pama ACE Foods www.acefoods.org Neelima Parasker SnapIT Solutions LLC www.snapit.solutions.com Shina Parker Integrity Title & Escrow Company www.integritytitlellc.com Desirée Patno National Association of Women in Real Estate Businesses www.nawrb.com Kathleen Scheil Pavlik IBM - retired www.ibm.com Tameka L. Payton, Ph.D. Psychometric Solutions, LLC www.pychometricsolutions.org Silvia Pencak WBE Canada www.wbecanada.org Iris Phillips Grace Federal Solutions, LLC www.gracefederalsolutions.com Shelly Porges Beyond the Billion www.BeyondtheBillion.com Barb Potter TJ Potter Trucking Inc. www.tjpottertrucking.com Esther Poulsen Raare Solutions LLC www.raaresolutions.com Jeanette Hernandez Prenger ECCO Select www.eccoselect.com Fabi Preslar SPARK Publications www.sparkpublications.com Lori Purnell Spencer-SHE www.spencer-she.com Marcel Quiroga TQM Wealth Partners www.tqmwealthpartners.com Sara Rahn Madison Avenue Worldwide, LLC www.madaveww.com Adonica Randall Abaxent LLC www.abaxent-global.com Hedy M. Ratner Women’s Business Development Center www.wbdc.org Michelle Ray Blackwell HR www.blackwellhr.com Marti Reeder Edge Solutions & Consulting, Inc. www.edgesolutionsinc.net Lisa Rehurek The RFP Success® Company www.therfpsuccesscompany.com Sharon Reynolds DevMar Products, LLC www.devmarproducts.com Keisha A. Rivers, M.Ed. 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Vazquez WEConnect International www.weconnectinternational.org Cristina Vicini The International Alliance of Women www.tiaw.org Andrea Vigil Allegiant Electric LLC www.allegiantelectricllcnv.com Jill Vitiello Vitiello Advisory https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillvitiello/ Lucie Voves Church Hill Classics www.diplomaframe.com Deborah Ward UV BIOCLEAN www.uvbioclean.com Dr. Sharita Warfield The Lifestyle Transformation Coach, M.D. www.drsharitamd.com Joanna Wasmuth Erase Poverty www.erasepoverty.org Nancy Watt Nancy Watt Communications www.nancywattcomm.com Sandi Webster, PhD Sandi Webster LLC www.sandiwebster.com Cheryl White National Access Design LLC. www.nationalaccessdesign.com Lynn Whitesell Harris Whitesell Consulting, LLC www.harriswhitesellconsulting.com Jaqueline Whitmore The Protocol School of Palm Beach www.etiquetteexpert.com Shakenna K. Williams, PhD Babson College www.Babson.edu Bonnie Wong Asian Women in Business www.awib.org Victoria Woods ChappelWood Financial Services www.chappelwood.com Liz Wool Public Speaking & Presentation Pros www.woolcg.com Mei Xu Mei Xu & Co. LLC www.meixu.com Sandra Yancey eWomenNetwork.com www.ewomennetwork.com Gwen Young Women Business Collaborative www.wbcollaborative.org Tina Young Quality Compliance & Management www.QCMConsulting.com Jenny Jing Zhu Lush Decor Home www.lushdecor.com enterprising Women 7
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Women Presidents Organization (WPO) has announced its 19th annual list of the 50 Fastest Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies. The businesses on this year’s list collectively generated more than $8.5 billion in gross revenue, and employed more than 23,000 people, in 2025 alone. Many of these companies are expanding into new markets, increasing investment in technology, and scaling teams to support continued growth. For each of the five years since 2021, the honorees sustained substantial year-over-year growth, demonstrating continued momentum across industries such as Technology & IT, Healthcare & Wellness, Professional & Financial Services, Construction & Infrastructure, Manufacturing & Supply Chain, and Transportation & Travel. “The women leading the 50 Fastest Growing Women-Owned/ Led Companies are not only scaling successful businesses, they are navigating change, seizing opportunity, and setting the pace within their industries,” Camille Burns, CEO of the Women Presidents Organization, said. “Their collective impact reflects the growing influence of women at the highest levels of business. These companies are redefining what scalable leadership looks like today.” Topping the list of 50 Fastest Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies are the following: 1. SDI International led by CEO Allison McCrea; based in Toronto, Ontario 2. Just Ingredients led by CEO Karalynne Call; based in Orem, Utah 3. Collette led by President & CEO Jaclyn Leibl-Cote; based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island 4. Zum Services led by Founder & CEO Ritu Narayan; based in Redwood City, California 5. FACE FOUNDRIÉ by CEO Michele Henry; based in Eden Prairie, Minnesota The 50 Fastest is sponsored by J.P. Morgan Commercial Banking and is open to all qualifying businesses regardless of WPO membership. “Congratulations to this year’s honorees,” said Carolina Jannicelli, Global Head of Diversity, Opportunity & Inclusion at JPMorganChase. “Your growth is a testament to bold vision, disciplined execution and innovative leadership. We are honored to support WPO in their mission as well as these incredible entrepreneurs growing businesses, creating jobs and strengthening communities.” FEATURE WPO announces its annual list of THE 50 FASTEST GROWING women-owned/ led companies More about this year’s 50 FASTEST GROWING WOMEN-OWNED/LED BUSINESSES: 76% of the CEOs on the list founded the business 58% started with their own funds 88% plan to invest in technology & innovation in 2026 100% of CEOs on the list are active in day-to-day operations Companies are prioritizing talent, operational scale, and market expansion as key growth drivers. The 50 Fastest companies were honored during a ceremony at the WPO Entrepreneurial Excellence Forum on May 7, 2026, in Hollywood, Florida, at The Diplomat Beach Resort. The Women Presidents Organization (WPO) is a non-profit organization that supports and addresses interests of dynamic and diverse women business leaders around the world. Learn more at women-presidents.com.The 50 Fastest list features women-owned or led companies, where honorees must meet a minimum of $500,000 in annual revenue for each of the past five years. Applicants undergo a rigorous evaluation process, with companies ranked using a proprietary methodology that considers both percentage and absolute revenue growth. Top row: Allison McCrea, Carmen Castillo, Karalynne Call; bottom row: Jaclyn LeiblCote, Ritu Narayan, Michele Henry enterprising Women 9
THE 2026 LIST OF THE 50 FASTEST GROWING WOMEN-OWNED/-LED COMPANIES The WPO is proud to announce the 2026 50 Fastest Growing Women-Owned/-Led Companies list. The list features the fastest-growing women-owned and -led companies from around the world who are experiencing significant revenue growth as they reach new levels of success. 1 Allison McCrea* & Carmen Castillo* SDI International Toronto, Ontario 2 Karalynne Call Just Ingredients Orem, Utah 3 Jaclyn Leibl-Cote* Collette Pawtucket, Rhode Island 4 Ritu Narayan Zum Services Redwood City, California 5 Michele Henry FACE FOUNDRIÉ Eden Prairie, Minnesota 6 Amy Neary Prime IV Hydration & Wellness Colorado Springs, Colorado 7 Kristi Alford-Haarberg E2 Optics Englewood, Colorado 8 Kirsti Jane House Of Luxury, LLC Missoula, Montana 9 Caridad Ochoa Electrolit U.S.A. Houston, Texas 10 Daniella Levy, Lydia Di Capua, Tatiana McDaniel, & Daniella Piantini Happy V Miramar, Florida 11 Summer Vyne Anuvision Technologies, Inc Jacksonville, Florida 12 Jeanna Hondel Ascension Construction Solutions Columbus, Ohio 13 Jill Lytwyn* Lotus Pharmacy Plymouth, Minnesota 14 Arlene Inch TransPak, Inc. Hayward, California 15 Maryann Pagano BlackHawk Data, LLC New York, New York 16 Aline Vandecasteele ANOTHER A STORY New York, New York 17 Michele L. Snyder Grove* D & A Grove Construction, LLC Mount Union, Pennsylvania 18 Leslee Deanes-Bryant UltraCare Services Hawthorne, California 19 Jamiee Simmons & Jasmine Simmons Always Compassionate Homecare Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania 20 Erica Jain Healthie Beaverton, Oregon 21 Jennifer Alleva Your Part-Time Controller, LLC Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 22 Angela Bradley* BTI Security Rockville, Maryland 23 Alicia Lyttle* & Lorette Lyttle AI InnoVision Palm Bay, Florida 24 Katie Bigelow* Mettle Ops Madison Heights, Michigan 25 Angelica Connor Stansell Odessa, Florida 26 Dao Jensen* Compass UOL San Francisco, California 27 Kara Trott* Quantum Health Dublin, Ohio 28 Stacey M. Coopes* Unite Digital Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 29 Mary Kariotis* Merrimak Capital Company Salt Lake City, Utah 30 Erin Tolefree Baldwin Richardson Foods Macedon, New York 31 Lisa Duarte & Jessica B. Fairchild Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres, LLC Chicago, Illinois 32 Kathy Ramsberger Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts Orlando, Florida 33 Tanya Biggers* Big Star Transit, LLC Dallas, Texas 34 Taylor Albertini Liquid PC, LLC Portsmouth, New Hampshire 35 Kathy Mills Strategic Communications, LLC Louisville, Kentucky 36 Mila Evans Evans Industrial, Inc. Midland, Texas 37 Patricia Bible KaTom Restaurant Supply, Inc. Kodak, Tennessee 38 Kelley Dixon St Croix Linen St. Paul, Minnesota 39 Lucy Stratton Agency EA Chicago, Illinois 40 Nishta Sharma KNAV Advisory, Inc. Atlanta, Georgia 41 Ashley Driscoll* Bancroft Construction Services, LLC La Jolla, California 42 Cathy Langham Langham Logistics Indianapolis, Indiana 43 Kirsten Maitland* Rebel Cheese Austin, Texas 44 Julie Haley Edge Solutions, LLC Alpharetta, Georgia 45 Kathleen McCarron* Portland Pet Food Company Portland, Oregon 46 Phoebe Casey* RxWellness LLC Herndon, Virginia 47 Tracy Gregorio G2 Ops, Inc. Virginia Beach, Virginia 48 Ann Ramakumaran Ampcus Inc Chantilly, Virginia 49 Nancy Gail President Commercial Quality and Food Safety Solutions Atlanta, Georgia 50 Camryn Mastel Innovien Solutions, LLC Atlanta, Georgia Rebecca CenniLeventhal Atrium New York, New York *WPO Member 10 enterprising Women FEATURE
WPO Zenith Members: MARIL GAGEN MACDONALD, Founder & CEO MARGERY KRAUS, APCO Founder & Executive Chairman APCO and Gagen MacDonald are majority woman-owned global consulting firms helping clients navigate and thrive through periods of profound change and uncertainty. For more than 20 years, Margery and Maril’s leadership, and friendship, has shaped cultures, industries and policies, and is making a lasting impact in the world. By bringing diverse stakeholders and ideas together, inspiring confidence in others and working beyond traditional boundaries, APCO and Gagen MacDonald are building the un/common ground upon which progress is made. building un/common ground apcoworldwide.com
12 enterprising Women FEATURE #1 on the “50 Fastest” The merger of two powerful women-led companies— SDI International and HCMWorks creates a global powerhouse SDI International LLC, a global leader in procurement and tail spend optimization, led by founder Carmen Castillo, and HCM Works Inc., a leading North American provider of contingent labor solutions, led by Toronto-based Allison McCrea, announced a strategic merger that led to SDI International earning the #1 spot on the 50 Fastest Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies list with a whopping $518 million in revenues for the global powerhouse Together, SDI and HCM offer an integrated solution designed to transform procurement and extended workforce services. The new organization is uniquely positioned to address complex and fragmented spend categories. Enterprising Women had an opportunity to connect with Carmen Castillo and Allison McCrea to get their perspectives on the merger, the impact of being named to the #1 spot on the “50 Fastest,” and hear what’s ahead for this fast-growing company. ENTERPRISING WOMEN: You’ve earned recognition as #1 on the 50 Fastest list. What does this recognition mean to you? CARMEN: It is an honor to receive this recognition alongside Allison. This achievement reflects more than three decades of hard work and commitment from our team. It really is a testament to their dedication and, most importantly, to the trust our clients have placed in us over the years. Allison: I couldn’t agree more. Being recognized as #1 is incredibly meaningful, and it reflects the work of our people more than anything else. Growth at this scale only happens because of an incredible team and partners who believe in the vision. EW: How did this merger come together? CARMEN: The merger came together quite organically. One of our longtime executives joined Allison’s organization after nearly 30 years with SDI and immediately recognized the potential of bringing our two companies together. We met, and the chemistry was palpable from the start. The more we learned about each other’s businesses, the more obvious the opportunity became. ALLISON: It really was fortuitous. My business was primarily in the contingent labour space, and I was Carmen Castillo
enterprising Women 13 interested in the greater procurement industry. After Carmen and I started talking about how we could work together, we found an opportunity to collaborate on a client project that went really well. It confirmed that the organizations were highly complementary. From there, conversations naturally evolved from how we could partner, to what one company would look like. EW: Carmen, I understand you will play a continued role as a consultant. What role will you play to help build on the success of SDI? CARMEN: I will continue as founder and senior advisor for the next three years, and I am grateful for the opportunity to remain involved during this exciting chapter. After more than 30 years building the business, it is important to me that we have a thoughtful transition for our clients, employees, and partners. My primary focus will be supporting client relationships and overseeing several strategic projects that were launched prior to the merger. EW: When two strong womenled enterprises come together it is especially impactful. Was continuing as a women-led company important to both of you? CARMEN: Absolutely. The strategic fit and opportunities for our clients were the driving forces behind the merger. At the same time, I was proud that the company would continue as a women-led business. As someone who has spent more than 30 years building a women-owned company, it is meaningful to see that legacy continue. ALLISON: Yes. It was definitely important. While the business case for the merger was compelling on its own, preserving a womenled organization was something we both valued deeply. I hope our story encourages other women entrepreneurs to think about what is possible. EW: Allison, where do you see SDI in the next five years and what do you view as most critical to its continued growth? ALLISON: Our goal is for SDI to become the most trusted name in procurement and extended workforce solutions. We have been fortunate to build long-standing relationships with many of our clients, some spanning decades, and we believe that trust has been earned through consistently delivering results and putting our clients first. Over the next five years, we want to build on that foundation by helping more organizations solve their business challenges. What will be most critical to our growth is maintaining the culture and service mindset that have made us successful. If we continue to do those things well, I believe the opportunities ahead are tremendous. EW: Carmen, you are a previous recipient of the Enterprising Women of the Year Award and you have been very involved with WBENC, WPO and other major women’s as well as Hispanic business organizations. How would you say that engagement contributed to your success? CARMEN: My involvement with organizations like WBENC, WPO, NMSDC, Enterprising Women, and many others has been instrumental to my success over the past 30 years. These organizations provided opportunities to build relationships, learn from fellow entrepreneurs, and connect with companies that are committed to supporting diverse suppliers. The supplier diversity community has created meaningful opportunities for countless businesses, helping them grow, create jobs, and contribute to economic development across the country. I am deeply grateful for the commitment that so many corporations have made to supporting women-owned and diverse businesses. Monica, receiving the Enterprising Women of the Year Award was a tremendous honor. To be recognized alongside such an accomplished group of women leaders was incredibly meaningful, and it certainly helped raise the visibility of our business and open new doors. Thank you for all that you and your organization continue to do to support and elevate women entrepreneurs. MONICA SMILEY is editor and publisher of Enterprising Women. Allison McCrea
Using AI to strengthen financial leadership Artificial intelligence is changing the way businesses manage financial operations. For women business owners leading growing companies, AI is creating opportunities to improve visibility, streamline workflows, and make faster, more informed decisions. But the real value of AI is not simply automation. It is the ability to support stronger financial leadership. As businesses grow, leadership decisions become more complex. We are balancing cash flow, hiring, profitability, pricing, operational capacity, and long-term sustainability — often simultaneously. AI can help us process information more efficiently so we can spend less time gathering data and more time making thoughtful decisions. Where AI is helping financial operations Many businesses are already using AI-powered tools within their accounting and finance functions. For example, AI can help: ■ Automate transaction coding and expense categorization ■ Identify duplicate or unusual transactions ■ Improve forecasting accuracy using historical trends ■ Accelerate monthly financial reporting ■ Monitor cash flow patterns and upcoming shortfalls ■ Benchmark performance against industry data ■ Generate operational and profitability insights more quickly These tools allow leadership teams to access information faster and identify issues earlier. A growing business may use AI-supported forecasting to anticipate seasonal cash flow pressure before it becomes a problem. An agency may use AI-driven reporting to better understand which clients, services, or projects are generating the strongest margins. A leadership team may use automated dashboards to monitor labor costs, accounts receivable trends, or profitability by division without waiting weeks for manually prepared reports. The result is not simply faster reporting. It is better visibility and more clarity. Better information supports better decisions One of the most valuable aspects of AI is that it helps leadership teams move from reactive decision-making to more proactive planning. When leaders have timely, organized financial information, they are often able to spot trends earlier and make adjustments before issues become disruptive. For example: ■ Earlier visibility into declining cash flow can support more intentional hiring decisions. ■ Profitability analysis can help leaders adjust pricing before margins become strained. ■ Benchmarking data can reveal operational weaknesses that may otherwise go unnoticed. ■ Forecasting can help businesses prepare for expansion, financing needs, or large investments with greater confidence. These are not small improvements. For growing businesses, they can significantly reduce financial stress and improve decision-making quality. This means better information and more confidence. Turning information into decisions While AI improves access to information, leadership still determines how decisions are made. Financial data always exists within the context of people, operations, goals, and long-term strategy. A forecasting model may suggest growth opportunities, but leadership must determine whether the business has the operational capacity to scale responsibly. A dashboard may show strong revenue growth, but leadership still needs to evaluate whether the growth is sustainable and profitable. An automated report may highlight rising labor costs, but leadership determines whether those costs represent a problem — or an intentional investment in future growth. AI can provide stronger information. But leadership provides judgment, prioritization, and strategic direction. A meaningful opportunity for women-led businesses Many women business owners are approaching AI thoughtfully. Rather than adopting technology simply to move faster, they are asking how these tools can support healthier, more sustainable businesses. That perspective matters. When used intentionally, AI can help leadership teams spend less energy buried in operational detail and more energy focused on strategy, planning, and long-term growth. The businesses that benefit most from AI will likely not be the ones using the most technology. They will be the businesses that combine strong leadership with better information. AI is helping reshape financial operations, giving leadership teams access to better information and stronger visibility than ever before. But sustainable growth still depends on how we use that information — with judgment, strategy, and intentional leadership. And that is where women-led businesses have an opportunity to lead exceptionally well. MARILYN MAGETT is the Founder & President of Evolve CFO Services, and a seasoned financial executive with decades of experience guiding businesses through growth, complexity, and change. She brings CFO-level insight, strategic perspective, and calm leadership to businesses that need more than reports — they need a trusted financial partner at the table. A recipient of the Enterprising Women of the Year Award, Marilyn is a member of the Enterprising Women Advisory Board. Connect to learn more at evolvecfoservices.com/contact-us/. Email: mjmagett@evolvecfoservices.com 14 enterprising Women FINANCE by Marilyn J. Magett
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Access to capital: Women entrepreneurs still struggle for VC funding The venture capital ecosystem continues to focus on startups across technology sectors, but it is also becoming more consolidated, like so many other industries. The number of active VC firms in the United States has dropped from 8,315 in 2021 to 6,175 in 2024. Yet one unfortunate reality has been consistent for decades: women- and minority-led entrepreneurs still struggle to access VC funding. Even though women-led startups consistently show lower failure rates and stronger capital efficiency, startups with only female-only founders received less than 2% of VC funding in 2023. According to the Founders Forum Group, women business owners captured a disproportionately small share of worldwide VC funding, representing not only an equity issue but missed economic opportunities estimated at more than $5 trillion worldwide. Sadly, this imbalance is nothing new. As far back as 2000, USA Networks founder and cable industry pioneer Kay Koplovitz helped launch Springboard Enterprises, a nonprofit series of investment forums designed to bolster female entrepreneurs and improve their connection to venture capitalists. At the time, she had been stunned to learn that in 1997, “only 1.5 percent of the $20 billion of venture capital raised had gone to women-run businesses.” Even during the record investment boom of 2021, when VC funding reached historic highs, female founders in the U.S. secured just 2% of venture capital, a five-year low. How is it that the numbers barely moved, despite years of awareness and advocacy? Why the Gender Gap persists Women entrepreneurs continue to build successful companies, yet the capital allocated to them remains disproportionately small. This gap is not the result of a single factor; rather, it reflects several structural and behavioral dynamics embedded in the VC world. First, access to venture capital still runs through networks that historically excluded women. As Sharon Hadary, the executive director of the Center for Women’s Business Research once described it, the lack of funding reflects “a total disconnect” between the maledominated financial world and female executives. Equity markets operate heavily through referrals, she noted, and women were largely absent from those referral networks. Venture capital remains overwhelmingly male and deals often move through relationships and communities where women are underrepresented. Some things haven’t changed. Second, women entrepreneurs are often evaluated differently Research shows that female founders are more likely to be asked more negative, risk-focused questions, such as: “What will you do if growth stalls?” or “How will you retain existing customers?” Male founders, by contrast, are more often asked growth-oriented questions, assuming success, including: “How big can this become?” or “How will you capitalize on current momentum?” These subtle differences shape investor perceptions and influence funding outcomes. Ironically, the data suggests investors may be overlooking strong opportunities. Studies have found that startups with female founders can generate higher revenue per dollar invested. Finally, broader economic conditions have reinforced the disparity. Inflation and market uncertainty have increased reliance on insider-led funding rounds, where existing investors support people they already know. Again, the skew toward men in these circles disproportionately benefits founders already embedded in those networks. Today’s repeat-founder pipeline tends to reinforce those same unbalanced demographics. AI’s investment gives—with limits Artificial intelligence is now reshaping the venture landscape as well. In 2025, a record $73.6 billion was directed toward female-founded AI startups. Yet this number is deceiving since a large portion went to only two companies (Anthropic and Scale AI). Venture capital remains highly consolidated, similar to many industries, with the majority of dollars concentrated in a few rather than across the ecosystem. Many major VC companies are increasingly focused on AI infrastructure and biotechnology. But women and minority founders are more commonly represented in such sectors as consumer products, healthcare, and sustainability; these industries historically receive a smaller share of venture funding. Since 2023, AI companies working on IT infrastructure and hosting have attracted the largest share of venture investment, reaching $47.4 billion in 2024 and $109.3 billion in 2025, more than two-thirds as much as all other industries combined. Yet the rise of AI also creates new opportunities. Women are using modern AI platforms and no-code tools to bootstrap companies faster and more efficiently, reducing reliance on the “old-school” network. Entrepreneurs can now automate operations, reach customers more directly, and build products without large teams or heavy capital requirements. In other words, innovation itself can help level the playing field. Expanding the pathways to capital While venture capital remains difficult to access, female founders are increasingly exploring alternative paths to growth. 16 enterprising Women FINANCE by Tasneem Dohadwala
Mentorship programs, accelerators, targeted investment funds, and industry bootcamps are helping underrepresented entrepreneurs build networks and gain access to capital, hiring resources, and strategic partnerships. At Excelestar Ventures, we have seen firsthand how diversity drives innovation. Across our portfolio, 61% of companies are minority-led, and 50% are run by women. Many operate in technology, healthcare, and medical device sectors, which tend to have strong traction that needs capital to scale. But improving access to capital ultimately requires more than individual success stories. It requires a dedication–a real passion, to diversify the ecosystem itself. The most effective way to invest in women is to ensure they hold more leadership roles across the industry, as founders, investors, and decision-makers. When women participate in investment decisions, they help broaden networks, identify overlooked opportunities, and support the next generation of entrepreneurs. Women in business must also continue to mentor and support those coming behind them. Throughout my career, I have made a deliberate effort to identify and mentor female-led companies, because representation and guidance matter. If the venture ecosystem is serious about innovation and economic growth, it must also be serious about expanding opportunity. Increasing diversity among founders is not simply about fairness. It’s about building stronger companies and a more dynamic marketplace. TASNEEM DOHADWALA is the Founding Partner of Excelestar Ventures, where she and her team are active investors in founders that exhibit compelling promise in medical technology, deep technology, and beyond. Previously, her experience included working in financial services on the sell-side at Lehman Brothers and Matrix Partners. Notable investments during her time at Excelestar Ventures include Augmenix (acq. by Boston Scientific), nVision (acq. by Boston Scientific), Conformal Medical, Diesel Labs, Instylla, and Altiostar Networks. Excelestar Ventures has been named one of the top 100 Women-Led Businesses in Massachusetts by The Boston Globe. Tasneem is also the Managing Partner of the Golden Seeds Boston Chapter. She is a graduate of Wellesley College and Harvard Business School. enterprising Women 17 A CREATIVE AGENCY KNOCKINC.COM ACCELERATING THE SUCCESS OF ALL WOMEN. ESTd 2001
Lightspring / Shutterstock.com Is your AI sales messaging your barrier to landing prospect meetings? If you’re a business leader, your inbox has become flooded with emails which look polished, have great grammar but say nothing to inspire action. Welcome to the era of AI-generated outreach. It is a lazy seller’s excuse to avoid doing the real work of creating authentic relationships with their most important prospects. Decision makers feel it and they don’t like it. In fact, executives report that if they receive outreach that looks like AI, even if it wasn’t generated by AI, they will not only dismiss it, but they will also consider it disrespectful. They explain that if the seller didn’t care enough about them to personally create a message that was meant for them, they are not interested in relationships that begin that way. They do not want to invest their precious time into someone who only sends out automated sequences written to fulfill a touchpoint KPI that some article said was the key to landing a meeting. AI is not the problem. In fact, it is a powerful tool for researching insights into a decision maker’s world and what might motivate them to take action. Remember, executives can get any information they want simply by going online. They don’t need emails from you that include information they can get for themselves. What they do need is help understanding how to apply that information to their worlds in ways that will make their lives better. That requires someone who cares, who can take the insights provided by AI to a very personal level. What decision makers are too often missing from outreach are the two things that actually open the doors. Relevance and authenticity. Sameness kills curiosity Executive decision makers are busy. Their calendars are packed. If you want them to knock three people off their calendars to make room for you, you better say or write something that is so valuable to them, they wouldn’t wait a single minute to speak with you. Does your AI generated sales messaging create this kind of impact? Most would say no. In addition, decision makers don’t read emails, they scan them. If they can’t quickly know you can make their lives better they will move on. If your “ask” is buried at the bottom of a five paragraph, dense with words email, they will ignore it. Here is where AI is creating an unintended barrier to landing prospect meetings. When everyone uses similar prompts, similar structures, and similar language patterns, the result is outreach that feels identical and identical means not for them. Here are a few examples: “Helping companies like yours achieve better results.” “Driving efficiency and growth.” “Would love to connect and learn more about your priorities.” These phrases do not inspire action. At Kopp Consulting, we teach that no call or email should ever be cold. You warm it up with meaningful language meant for the individual. In addition, our data shows that it takes on average 7.3 touchpoints before a meeting is booked. And that’s only if the messaging and delivery is spot on. If 18 enterprising Women SALES AND MARKETING by Caryn Kopp
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