At NU, we know firsthand what it means to build something bold—our firm was founded by four women who set out to rewrite the rulebook on executive search and change the way business is done in a 60+-year-old, previously static industry.
As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we’re proud to spotlight 10 women who are making waves in business. These leaders are scaling companies, breaking barriers, and paving the way for future generations of women in leadership.
Shobhana (Shobz) Ahluwalia, Chief Information Officer at Roblox
Shobhana (Shobz) Ahluwalia is a transformational technology and cybersecurity leader, driving innovation at Roblox as Chief Information Officer. At Peloton, she led a $150M digital overhaul, fortifying cybersecurity, streamlining supply chain logistics, and enhancing enterprise efficiency. As Uber’s CIO, she scaled global IT operations to support the company’s explosive growth into an $80B industry leader, ensuring seamless technology infrastructure.
A startup investor and advisor, Shobz champions diversity in tech leadership and helps high-growth companies navigate digital transformation. With a track record of scaling operations and securing digital ecosystems, she’s shaping the future of enterprise technology and cybersecurity.
Leah Belsky, Vice President & General Manager, Education at OpenAI
Leah Belsky is driving AI’s impact in education as VP & GM of Education at OpenAI, expanding AI access across global learning and workforce ecosystems. Previously, as Chief Revenue Officer at Coursera, she grew the platform’s reach from 10M to 140M learners, led its $600M revenue expansion, and helped take the company public. She built Coursera’s enterprise business from $1M to $150M, enabling governments, universities, and businesses to upskill workforces worldwide.
At OpenAI, Leah continues to drive innovation by deploying AI-powered educational tools, such as ChatGPT Edu, across institutions like the California State University system. This initiative aims to enhance personalized learning experiences for over 500,000 students, preparing them for an AI-driven future. With a background that includes roles at the World Bank, NIH, and President Obama’s Technology Policy Committee, Leah has built a career at the intersection of technology, policy, and education. Her work exemplifies how visionary leadership and a passion for impact can reshape industries and open new opportunities for millions.
Jennifer DiRico, Chief Financial Officer at Commvault
Jennifer DiRico is a growth-focused finance leader with a proven track record of scaling companies, driving profitability, and leading high-impact transformations. As CFO of Commvault, she’s focused on accelerating revenue growth, optimizing financial strategy, and strengthening operational efficiency in the cyber resilience space.
Previously, Jen played a pivotal role in Toast’s meteoric rise, helping scale the company to 100,000+ customers and over $1B in recurring revenue, while guiding its successful IPO. She’s known for her ability to build and lead high-performing teams, navigate complex financial landscapes, and unlock growth opportunities in fast-scaling, high-stakes environments.
Saydeah Howard, Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Cherryrock Capital
Saydeah Howard is a venture investor and talent strategist driving systemic change in venture capital. As Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Cherryrock Capital, she’s leading a $172M fund to back underrepresented founders at the Series A and B stages, fueling market-defining companies in digital health, enterprise SaaS, fintech, and the future of work.
Previously, Saydeah spent nine years at IVP, where she built and scaled the firm’s talent strategy, helping portfolio companies secure top leadership and navigate hypergrowth. She’s played a pivotal role in shaping executive teams, driving leadership excellence, and increasing diversity across venture-backed companies.
Amanda Kocon, Chief Strategy Officer at Edmentum
Amanda Kocon is a driving force behind scalable, high-impact education solutions that improve student outcomes. As Chief Strategy Officer at Edmentum, she’s leading initiatives that expand personalized learning tools to millions of students across 50 states and 100+ countries, ensuring educators have the resources to close learning gaps and accelerate achievement.
Previously, as Chief Strategy Officer at TNTP, Amanda shaped national education reform efforts, driving policies that improved teacher effectiveness and student success. She also held senior leadership roles at JP Morgan Chase, where she scaled global operations and financial strategies, bringing an analytical, results-driven approach to complex problem-solving in education.
Alison Moore, Chief Executive Officer at Chief
Alison Moore is a distinguished business leader with over two decades of experience in the technology, media, and social impact sectors. In February 2025, she was appointed CEO of Chief, a prominent network for senior women executives. She’s expanding Chief’s impact, ensuring more women leaders gain the access, influence, and support they need to shape industries and boardrooms.
Prior to her role at Chief, Alison served as CEO of Comic Relief US, a nonprofit organization leveraging entertainment to drive social change, where she successfully raised over $436 million, impacting the lives of 35 million children. Her career also includes executive positions at renowned companies such as HBO, NBCUniversal, SoundCloud, and Condé Nast, where she consistently drove digital innovation and transformational growth.
Alison’s inspirational leadership stems from her unwavering commitment to empowering women and fostering inclusive communities. As a founding member of Chief, she has firsthand experience of the organization’s potential to connect and support female leaders across industries. Her strategic vision and ability to drive innovation while staying true to an organization’s core mission have been pivotal in her career. Alison’s leadership style emphasizes empathy, openness, and focus, qualities that have enabled her to navigate organizations through periods of change and growth effectively.
Elizabeth Sandler, Chief Operating Officer at Mohari Hospitality
Elizabeth Sandler is a proven leader who’s driven business transformation and operational excellence at scale throughout her career. As COO of Mohari Hospitality, she’s shaping strategy and execution for a global luxury investment platform, ensuring sustainable growth, operational efficiency, and long-term value creation.
With a track record of optimizing multi-billion-dollar businesses at Blackstone and Deutsche Bank, she’s built high-performing teams, streamlined complex operations, and navigated market shifts. She also founded the HumanTech Institute, helping organizations adapt to the evolving intersection of AI and human intelligence. Elizabeth’s expertise in scaling businesses, managing risk, and leveraging technology for competitive advantage makes her an invaluable leader.
Brady Stewart, Chief Executive Officer at Bay FC
Brady Stewart is leading Bay FC’s rapid rise as a premier professional women’s soccer franchise. Under her leadership, Bay FC secured a historic $120 million investment, the largest private equity commitment in U.S. women’s sports. She’s driving the club’s expansion, building its business operations, securing sponsorships, and developing programs that support players beyond their careers.
In her inaugural season as CEO, Bay FC achieved a record-breaking 11 wins—the most by any NWSL expansion club—and secured a playoff spot. Stewart also spearheaded the development of a state-of-the-art training facility on Treasure Island, setting a new benchmark for women’s sports infrastructure. Previously, Brady led Levi’s direct-to-consumer business, overseeing significant revenue growth.
Lisa Valentino, President at Best Buy Ads
As President of Best Buy Ads, Lisa Valentino is leading the company’s retail media business, transforming data and technology into powerful revenue-driving solutions. Her leadership is shaping how advertisers engage with Best Buy’s customers in meaningful, high-impact ways.
Previously, Lisa played a key role in modernizing advertising at The Walt Disney Company, driving data-driven, addressable media strategies that reshaped the industry. She’s also held leadership roles at Condé Nast and ESPN, consistently pushing boundaries in media and commerce. As Chair of the Advertising Club of New York, she’s had a major influence on the future of digital advertising and media innovation.
Lisa is also a champion for diversity and representation, actively supporting the Association of National Advertisers (ANA) and its #SeeHer campaign, which works to eliminate gender bias in media and marketing by ensuring accurate representation of women and girls in advertising.
Isabelle Winkles, Chief Financial Officer at Braze
As CFO of Braze, Isabelle Winkles has been instrumental in transforming the company’s financial strategy, enabling its rapid global expansion and long-term resilience. She architected the financial framework that fueled Braze’s successful IPO in 2021, ensuring the company was positioned for sustainable, high-growth performance in the competitive SaaS market. Her leadership has strengthened investor confidence, optimized financial operations, and enhanced the company’s ability to scale while maintaining profitability.
Outside of Braze, Isabelle serves as Audit Chair at Webtoon and advises venture-backed companies, applying her expertise to strengthen financial strategy and governance. With deep experience from Cognizant and Morgan Stanley, she has led organizations through market shifts, operational scaling, and capital strategies.
NU Advisory Partners is an AI and tech-led retained executive search and advisory firm focused on senior executive, operating, and board positions. If you’re interested in learning more, get in touch here.