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B 18 WOMEN IN BUSINESS | HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | APRIL 3, 2023 Lisa Wills Partner Whittlesey L isa Wills, CPA, is a partner at Whittlesey and is the first woman leader of the firm's largest niche, the nonprofit practice. Wills was named a 2022 Connecticut Society of CPA's (CTCPA) Women Distinguished Service Awardee and was the past chair of the CTCPA's nonprofit committee. She co-founded and co-chairs the firm's women's leadership group and serves as a mentor and coach to young women professionals in the firm. Before joining Whittlesey, she spent more than 20 years at KPMG, where she was elected partner in 2009 and was chair of the Hartford office chapter of the KPMG Network of Women. She has been an instructor on accounting and auditing topics at the local and national levels and has been a technical presenter on webinars and at industry conferences. What have been your biggest professional accomplishments so far? Being a partner and member of Whittlesey's leadership group is my biggest accomplishment. I lead our firm's nonprofit niche, which is our largest practice. I have the privilege of working with amazing nonprofit leaders as their trusted advisor, which has become increasingly important as nonprofits have navigated pandemic financial and operational challenges. What's the next big goal you want to accomplish professionally? Being a role model for future women leaders of Whittlesey and in the accounting profession is a passion of mine. As co-leader of the Women of Whittlesey, I would like to help advance more women in their careers and to the partner level. What's one of the biggest professional challenges you've overcome? Balancing my career while raising my family is a challenge. I had to learn to lean on others, to ask for help and to prioritize, professionally and personally. It took years to learn that I could be successful at both. Looking back, that challenge has also been one of my biggest rewards. Who has been your most important mentor and why? I'm fortunate to have had many mentors as I navigated the various phases of my career and work and life challenges evolved. I have also been fortunate to work with women leaders of many of my nonprofit clients over the years who have taught me a great deal about leadership. Cesarina Thompson Dean, College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions University of Hartford D r. Cesarina Thompson is dean of the College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions (ENHP) at the University of Hartford. As dean, she serves as chief academic and administrative officer responsible for academic, personnel and financial matters of the college. Over the past five years, she has led the revision of the college's vision and mission, facilitated the development of values and diversity statements, launched four new undergraduate and graduate programs, expanded the size and diversity of full-time faculty, and grown the college's enrollment by 15%, making ENHP the largest of the seven schools and colleges at the university. What have been your biggest professional accomplishments so far? My biggest accomplishments include leading the development of a number of innovative educational programs, across various professional fields, that have been attractive to a wide range of learners, prepared individuals for rewarding careers and been responsive to the needs of the workforce. What's the next big goal you want to accomplish professionally? I want to contribute to diversifying the teaching and healthcare workforce so it is more representative of the population served and to educate future teachers and healthcare professionals who are committed to equity, inclusion and social justice. What's one of the biggest professional challenges you've overcome? One challenge was encountering significant opposition from competitors when I, with a group of colleagues, developed an innovative educational program some years ago. Although it was challenging at the time, persistence and resiliency led to project completion and the launching of a successful program. What are your keys to maintaining business success? Keys to success include a desire to keep learning; understanding educational and market forces; and taking calculated risks and being persistent. Jenny Steadman Executive Director Aurora Women and Girls Foundation J enny Steadman, Ph.D., is a fierce advo- cate for women and girls. As executive director of the Aurora Women and Girls Foundation, she has produced cutting-edge research on the obstacles and opportunities facing women and girls in Greater Hartford and across Connecticut. She's directed the funding of programs that build economic mobility through education for thousands of women and focused attention and raised funds to address the emergency needs of women and girls during the pandemic. She was a featured presenter at the 2021 Gates Foundation Greater Giving Summit. As a 2020 Fellow of the Women Leaders of the World program, she completed a transformational fellowship for women leaders solving some of the world's most intractable problems. What have been your biggest professional accomplishments so far? I have been proud to lead Aurora to unprec- edented growth and community impact. In 2023, we will triple our grantmaking dollars to build educational and economic opportu- nity for women. Our cutting-edge research leads the nation as a model for how data about women and girls can inform policy, philanthropy and commu- nity transformation. What's the next big goal you want to accomplish professionally? I want to build a pipeline of diverse women's leadership that brings new voices, perspec- tives and ideas to decision making at all levels across Connecticut. What's one of the biggest professional challenges you've overcome? The pandemic represented the largest challenge that I have faced, but by focusing on the community, we were able to address emergency needs, convey the power of our mission to new virtual audiences and help our supporters make a difference. What legacy do you want to leave after your career is over? I want my legacy to be stronger, more equita- ble communities across Connecticut in which all women and girls realize their potential and are full, valued and sought-after participants — economically, politically and socially. Sabrina Tucker-Barrett President & CEO Girls for Technology Inc. S abrina Tucker-Barrett is an innovative leader and visionary who co-founded Girls For Technology Inc. This nonprofit social startup has raised $1 million and aims to expand its reach to three major cities in 2023 and five more locations over the next five years. Tucker-Barrett aims to empower women and girls of color to build a thriving future by providing innovative programs and nurturing connections. With the organization serving more than 3,000 learners, she is elevating opportunities for women and girls of color, improving their economic mobility, catalyzing systems change and inspiring a new generation of technology and entrepreneurial leaders. What have been your biggest professional accomplishments so far? Scaling the organization to $1 million was no easy feat, but a remarkable achievement. Being awarded an honorary doctorate from CT Board of Regents and Charter Oak State College later this year is humbling. Additionally, being invited by Obama's adminis- tration to attend a conference, recognizing my commitment to youth of color was inspiring. What's the next big goal you want to accomplish professionally? My next big professional aspirations include collaborating with tech startups to innovate products and services, serve on a corporate board, publish my autobiography and speak on major stages to inspire others with my insight. I aim to have a broader impact contributing to my personal and professional growth. What's one of the biggest professional challenges you've overcome? As a Black woman, valuing my voice and perspective professionally proved challenging. To overcome this, I stay true to myself while building authentic relationships, sharing impact, raising funds philanthropically and valuing myself. Perseverance amidst adversity and demon- strating integrity by embracing challenges and proving doubters wrong leads to my success. What legacy do you want to leave after your career is over? My career goal is to become a trailblazing figure that empowers communities of color, women and girls. I aim to leave a legacy of being a positive role model who shattered barriers, stereotypes and biases. By inspiring and empowering others to achieve their goals and pursue their passions, I hope to set an example for future generations. THE 2023 WOMEN IN BUSINESS HONOREES