August 14, 2024 / St. Louis, Missouri – YWCA Metro St. Louis is delighted to announce its 2024 Leaders of Distinction, who will be honored at the 44th Annual YWCA Leader Lunch on Friday, December 13. These women will join the esteemed YWCA Academy of Leaders, a group of more than 450 honorees from the past four decades that includes the most notable and accomplished women in the St. Louis region.
Although women have made considerable advancements in the professional space, they have yet to attain equal representation in leadership roles. According to the Women in the Workplace 2023 report by McKinsey & Company in partnership with LeanIn.org, women represent roughly one in four C-suite leaders and women of color – just one in 16.
Publicly acknowledging the achievements of YWCA Academy members and sharing their journeys sends a powerful message to women of all ages and backgrounds that success is attainable, despite the obstacles they may encounter. The central takeaway of YWCA’s Leader Lunch, as exemplified by the accomplishments of the honorees, is one of talent, persistence, work ethic, and sisterhood.
Nominees are put forth by their peers and selected by an independent panel based on their professional achievements and contributions to the community.
“Congratulations to the new class of Academy Leaders! We are thrilled to celebrate these accomplished professionals as we wrap up our 120th year of impact in the St. Louis community,” said Dr. Cheryl Watkins, MBA, YWCA Metro St. Louis President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our honorees exemplify the strength, resilience, generosity and leadership that drive positive change in our community. We are proud to honor these remarkable women and to continue our mission of eliminating racism and empowering women.
We are also very excited to welcome YWCA USA CEO, Margaret Mitchell to St. Louis to celebrate with us. Margaret is a dynamic leader and we know she will add another inspirational dimension to this very special event.”
The 2024 YWCA Leaders of Distinction are:
Elizabeth Mannen Berges, Lead Trustee, Berges Family Foundation
Leann Chilton, Vice President, Government Relations, BJC HealthCare
Lesley Hoffarth, President and Executive Director, Forest Park Forever
Dr. Farzana Hoque, Associate Professor, Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Taliya J. King, Office Managing Director, Accenture
Helen Lee, Founding Principal, Tao + Lee Architects
The Honorable Ellen Sue Levy, State of Missouri, 21st Judicial Court
Debbie Monterrey, News Anchor/Talk Show Host, KMOX NewsRadio 1120
Dr. LaTonia Collins Smith, President, Harris-Stowe State University
Leader Lunch 44, YWCA’s primary fundraiser, will be held at the Marriott St. Louis Grand Hotel (new location) on Friday, December 13. A private Holiday Bazaar featuring women-owned businesses will precede the program. Individual tickets and tables are on sale now. All proceeds support YWCA, which provides its services free of charge to more than 10,000 women and their families each year. This event typically sells out, so early purchase is highly recommended. Sponsorships are also available. For more information, visit ywcastl.org/events/leader-lunch.