Run the World
At a luncheon on April 30, 10 exceptional women will be recognized as the 2026 Career Women of Achievement. The annual event is the largest fundraiser for YWCA Greater Cincinnati, with proceeds supporting programs focused on safety, racial justice and inclusion, economic empowerment and mental health and wellbeing.
Soledad O’Brien, an Emmy Award–winning journalist, documentarian and entrepreneur, is the headliner for luncheon on April 30 at Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati, bringing her nationally recognized voice on leadership, equity and opportunity to one of the region’s most influential annual events.
The 2026 Career Women of Achievement event chairs are Michelle Hopkins, Lifestyle TV Host, WCPO and Community & Engagement Director at The Women’s Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, and Susan B. Zaunbrecher, Partner and Director of Special Projects and Strategic Initiatives at Dinsmore & Shohl.
Founded in 1868, YWCA Greater Cincinnati creates community-wide programs in the areas of safety, racial justice and inclusion, and empowerment and economic advancement.
Get to know this year’s honorees!
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abila Ahmad is the IBM Americas Sales Leader, where she drives strategic growth initiatives and develops high-performing teams in one of the world’s most competitive and quickly evolving industries. Over her career in technology sales, she has often been one of the only women - and one of the only women of color - in the room. Advancing into leadership as a Muslim woman has shaped her commitment to representation, mentorship and creating pathways for others to rise.
Ahmad has been a dedicated advocate for women and underrepresented talent, leading career-acceleration initiatives at IBM and serving as a mentor to emerging professionals both in and out of the company. She remains deeply engaged with the University of Cincinnati, partnering with the College of Business to support and uplift female business students through mentorship and professional networking.
A graduate of Leadership Cincinnati and an active member of several philanthropic organizations, Ahmad has served on the United Way of Butler County Board and participates in multiple Muslim women’s philanthropic and social welfare groups. She has been recognized with numerous IBM Golden Circle Sales Excellence and Leadership Awards. The daughter of Pakistani immigrants, she credits her family, faith and community with shaping her belief that leadership must be grounded in integrity and service.
She lives in Mason with her family and is the proud mother of three sons.
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Evaline “Evie” Alessandrini, MD, is the Chief Operating Officer of Cincinnati Children’s and a nationally recognized pediatric healthcare leader whose career has centered on improving child health, strengthening systems of care, and advancing health equity. A purpose-driven executive with decades of experience in both clinical and operational roles, she empowers teams to drive meaningful change while keeping children, families, and communities at the center of the mission.
Dr. Alessandrini began her career as a pediatric emergency medicine physician and later transitioned into healthcare leadership, where she has guided major initiatives in patient care, quality improvement, and organizational performance. She brings a deep belief that purpose-led institutions outperform when they create real impact for the people they serve. The first woman in her family to become a physician, she continues to pave pathways for others through sponsorship, mentorship, and leadership development.
A longtime advocate for developing women leaders in healthcare, Alessandrini has mentored women at every stage of their careers and serves as a faculty leader in Drexel University’s Executive Leadership in Healthcare programs. Her commitment to “lifting as you climb” is grounded in the idea that progress is sustained when opportunity is shared and systems work better for everyone, not just those with access.
A resident of Madeira, she and her husband have three adult children. Outside the hospital, she is a passionate women’s soccer fan, attending the FIFA Women’s World Cup every four years.
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Debbie Brant serves as President & CEO of Cincinnati Ballet, where she leads one of the region’s most celebrated cultural institutions and champions the role of the arts in shaping our community. Her leadership reflects more than three decades of service across the nonprofit, Jewish and arts sectors, where she built a reputation for listening, aligning mission with resources, and mobilizing people around ambitious goals. Brant’s career includes a national fundraising portfolio with major cultural organizations, paired with deep board and volunteer leadership that helped strengthen institutions through capital campaigns and strategic governance.
Brant’s approach to leadership is rooted in collaboration and execution. She models values-driven leadership and creates pathways for others to step into executive roles with confidence. She believes institutions thrive when people are given space to do their best work and when progress endures beyond any single leader.
Brant currently serves as a Trustee of The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati and The Jewish Federation of Cincinnati (where she is a former Board Chair), and sits on the boards of Most Valuable Kids and Creative Ohio. She and her husband, Jody, live in Amberley Village and have two adult daughters.
A devoted arts supporter and an avid baseball fan, Brant remains driven by a mission of stewardship: strengthening organizations, expanding access and ensuring the enduring impact of the arts for generations to come.
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Julie Kirkpatrick, CDME is the President & CEO of meetNKY, where she leads Northern Kentucky’s visitor economy strategy and champions regional collaboration to grow tourism, strengthen local businesses and elevate the community’s profile. A connector by nature and a change agent by reputation, Kirkpatrick believes that progress happens when leaders share credit, build momentum together and widen the circle of opportunity. Under her leadership, meetNKY has advanced development initiatives and expanded partnerships while helping position the Northern Kentucky region as a dynamic destination for both residents and visitors.
Kirkpatrick is the first woman to serve as CEO of Northern Kentucky’s tourism industry, and her celebrated leadership is grounded in stewardship, collaboration and legacy. She has a reputation for moving initiatives from concept to reality and for bringing people together around shared goals, including cross-river partnerships and destination development efforts that strengthen the region’s competitive edge. Kirkpatrick also invests heavily in the next generation of women leaders, opening doors and creating access through sponsorship.
Kirkpatrick currently serves on the boards of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Kentucky Tourism Industry Association, Red Bike and the Cincinnati Music Festival. She is the proud mother of Lily and Logan, who fuel her commitment to building a region that is vibrant, welcoming and full of possibility.
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Sheryl M. M. Long serves as City Manager for the City of Cincinnati, where she leads day-to-day operations of the municipal government and advances policy, infrastructure and community priorities across one of the Midwest’s most dynamic urban regions. Long entered a life of public service with the goal of solving problems and improving outcomes for residents.
A lifelong Cincinnatian, Long the first woman appointed City Administrator for North College Hill and the second African American City Manager in Cincinnati’s history. Known for her motivation to open doors rather than close ranks, she leads with intention around who has a seat at the table and is committed to elevating voices that have historically been left out of decision-making spaces, particularly in matters of neighborhood investment and quality of life.
Beyond her executive role, Long has been recognized for her leadership by the Cincinnati Regional Chamber, the Holocaust & Humanity Center and the League of Women in Government. She is an active member of the International City/County Management Association and previously served as president of the Ohio City/County Management Association. She lives in Clifton with her family and brings to her work a spirit shaped by service, vulnerability and the women who came before her.
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Michele O’Rourke is the CEO of O'Rourke Wrecking Company, and has built her career on a simple philosophy: you do the hard work, you do it the right way, and you take care of people along the way. As the first female CEO of O’Rourke Wrecking Company, she leads in a field where women are scarce and expectations are high. Under her leadership, demolition is not just about tearing buildings down, it is about clearing the way for what comes next. Her work has shaped some of Cincinnati’s most visible redevelopment projects, including Riverfront Stadium, the Millennium Hotel, and the U.S. Playing Card site.
Early in her career, O'Rourke traded pharmaceutical sales for the family business. Over three decades, she learned every part of the operation on her way to CEO. She has since been recognized for her innovative leadership as she helps create access for the next generation of women in construction.
Motivated by purpose, service, and the belief that leaders ripple impact far beyond their job descriptions, O'Rourke views demolition as an act of renewal and leadership as a responsibility.
O'Rourke is a native Cincinnatian and now lives in Hyde Park with her husband, her high school sweetheart. The YWCA motto, “lift as you climb,” speaks to the heart of her leadership. Her mission is equally clear: to build leaders, protect people, and leave every community stronger than she found it.
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J. Phenise Poole serves as Deputy General Counsel and Senior Vice President at Fifth Third Bank, where she provides strategic legal leadership and counsel on complex organizational matters while advancing equity and opportunity within the legal and corporate sectors. Throughout her career, Poole has combined legal expertise with a collaborative approach to problem-solving, earning recognition as a trusted advisor, thoughtful strategist and leader who delivers results in challenging environments.
The first Black woman to serve as President of the University of Tennessee Alumni Board of Directors, Poole has continued to break barriers as the first Black female Senior Vice President in Fifth Third’s Legal Department and the Bank’s first Black Deputy General Counsel. She is widely respected for her commitment to mentorship and sponsorship, investing in the next generation of leaders through board service, philanthropy and direct support of young professionals. Her leadership is grounded in integrity, resilience, and the belief that success carries a responsibility to expand access for others.
Poole currently serves on the boards of the Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio, the University of Tennessee Foundation, and the Advocates for Youth Education, among others. She has endowed multiple scholarships designed to increase access to higher education for first-generation students and those pursuing study abroad opportunities. A native Tennessean, Poole resides in Mt. Washington with her fiancé Kelley and their three dogs.
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Cady Short-Thompson, Ph. D, is the President of Northern Kentucky University and a nationally respected higher education leader who has devoted her career to expanding access, success, and opportunity for students. A mission-driven executive with deep roots in the region, she has championed student-centered systems, strengthened academic and operational structures, and advanced institutional initiatives aimed at ensuring more learners can thrive.
Short-Thompson has spent more than two decades elevating educational institutions through transformational leadership, first as a professor of communication at NKU and later in senior roles across higher education, including provost of Hope College. In 2023, she returned to lead NKU as its first woman president and is currently the only woman serving as president of a public university in Kentucky.
A committed mentor to emerging leaders, Short-Thompson believes in empowering others to realize their full potential and “lifting as you climb” by surrounding herself with talented teams, resourcing their success, and promoting their growth. She serves on multiple civic and regional boards, including ArtsWave, BeNKY, United Way of Greater Cincinnati, Dan Beard Council, Cincinnati Regional Business Committee, Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, and OneNKY Alliance. Her leadership has been recognized with recent honors including CEO of the Year (Cincinnati Business Courier), Newsmaker of the Year (NKY Tribune), and the distinction of Kentucky Colonel.
Short-Thompson resides in Covington with her husband Steve and is the proud mother of Alex, Skye, and Seth.
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Susan Street Whaley serves as Chief Legal Officer and Secretary of Procter & Gamble, where she oversees global legal strategy, governance, compliance and business integrity for one of the world’s most recognized consumer brands. Over her 26-year career at P&G, Whaley has built a reputation as a thoughtful, values-driven leader who pairs strategic judgment with a collaborative approach to innovation and business transformation, guiding the company through complex regulatory landscapes and shifting consumer expectations.
Raised professionally at P&G, Whaley has remained rooted in Cincinnati throughout her entire career, an uncommon path for a Fortune 50 general counsel. Beyond the company, she has accelerated and honed her leadership through service on the boards of organizations including Pro Bono Partnership of Ohio, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Camp Joy and Breakthrough T1D, strengthening institutions across legal, health, youth development and community sectors, while broadening the region’s civic capacity.
Whaley is known as transparent and authentic and a champion for balancing meaningful work with personal priorities. She encourages emerging leaders to pursue continual learning, stay grounded in their values and invest in relationships. A mother of four daughters, she lives in Indian Hill and is proud to model for them that professional fulfillment and family joy can coexist and more importantly, thrive.
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Kiana R. Trabue, MPH is the President of the HealthPath Foundation of Ohio and the Public Health Fund of Ohio, where she works to advance health equity, strengthen community health systems and expand who is seen, heard and represented in decision-making spaces. A respected public health leader, Trabue is driven by a deep sense of stewardship and the belief that leadership is meant to serve. Her career is rooted in the principle “for whom much is given, much is required,” shaping her work to create organizations and communities that are more equitable, more humane, and more inclusive than she found them.
Trabue has spent her career expanding access, opportunity and pathways for others through philanthropy, civic leadership and public health strategy. A 2017 YWCA Rising Star, she has gone on to serve in numerous elected, appointed and nonprofit roles, including on the Cincinnati Board of Health, as Vice Mayor of the Village of Woodlawn and as founder and chair of the Transformational Advancement of Black Leadership and Excellence
A committed mentor, Trabue lifts others by sharing knowledge, sponsorship, and access, helping women navigate systems without forfeiting their identity or voice. She resides in Woodlawn—across the street from her childhood home—with her children, Jayla and Jaxon, and credits her close-knit family and community for grounding her purpose and her leadership.