In 2024, a group of remarkable women is set to make waves across various fields. This list of ten inspiring women shows us what's possible when talent meets opportunity. From groundbreaking scientists to bold business leaders, from passionate activists to creative artists, these women are changing the game. Their work isn't just about personal success – it's about making the world better for all of us. In this article, we'll explore their stories, achievements, and the big ideas that are shaping our future. Get ready to meet the women who are not just part of the conversation, but are leading it in 2024.
Angela Zeng
Angela Zeng is the Founder and CEO of Karviva, a pioneering brand in the health and wellness industry. With a background in pathology from St. Louis University School of Medicine, Angela's journey into entrepreneurship was sparked by a desire to bridge the gap between traditional Chinese Medicine and modern wellness practices. Drawing upon her profound appreciation for herbal science and holistic healing, she launched organic and Non-GMO antioxidants, Prebiotic Fiber, clean protein, and a nutritious line of Karviva healthy juices. Angela's commitment to sustainability, community support, and natural healing has earned her recognition from prestigious institutions such as the Women's Business Development Center and the St. Louis Business Journal, as well as a 2021 Mid-America Emmy Award for her dedication to promoting good health and wellness. With her unwavering dedication to holistic wellness and a vision for global impact, Angela continues to lead Karviva toward a future where everyone can thrive.
Marjori Pretti
Marjori Pretti is a young entrepreneur and a Registered Nurse. Along with her mother and sister she is the co-founder of Pretti Aesthetics which is located at the center of Cape Cod, MA.
What sets her apart from other Providers is her keen eye for symmetry. She is known for her approach of harmonizing the face, or what she likes to call it “balancing one's face”. She has trained with top providers from both Brazil and the US. Her extensive training led her to combine techniques and create her own approach. She is also known for creating the “Brazilian Lip Technique” which focuses on the delicate design as well as the well-defined Cupid’s Bow. Marjori has been nominated as one of the “Top 100 Injectors in the USA”. She continues to learn and master different procedures and techniques as well as educate experienced injectors with her one-of-a-kind patented technique.
Mashi Epting
Mashi Epting is a multi-faceted business executive and medical professional with a diverse background spanning entrepreneurship, healthcare, finance, and personal development. As the founder of Complete Treatment, a healthcare company, Complete Taxes, a reputable tax firm, and Complete Tax and Training Software, she has built an impressive portfolio of successful ventures over nearly a decade.
What sets Mashi apart is her unique combination of business acumen and a deep understanding of mental and holistic well-being. A certified therapeutic recreation specialist, she is dedicated to fostering supportive work environments that prioritize employee mental health and overall wellness.
Mashi's expertise extends beyond just financial and operational matters. She is a master strategist, guiding business owners and individuals toward success through her extensive knowledge of business, life, and finance. Her innovative approach to mentorship and leadership development has earned her a reputation as an invaluable resource.
A multi-state life agent and mentor, Mashi's impact transcends boundaries. She empowers others with the tools and strategies needed to thrive personally and professionally. Her passion for innovation and commitment to holistic well-being make her a trailblazer in business, healthcare, and personal growth.
Sian Gunney
Gunney’s approach is not for the faint-hearted. Her closed-loop marketing and media strategies allow her to execute, track, and demonstrate the impact of campaigns on the bottom line. Known for transforming brands into market leaders, she showcases their uniqueness and fosters community, creating brand evangelists out of customers.
Her clientele spans the UK, USA, and Canada, and she offers remote services, making her expertise accessible globally. Gunney has a remarkable track record in scaling memberships, launching products, revitalizing brands, and mentoring high-level professionals.
Celebrities and industry leaders seek her guidance for her vibrant personality and credible success. Sian Gunney is more than a consultant; she’s a transformative force in the business world.
Vanessa Kahlon
Vanessa Kahlon is a trailblazing entrepreneur dedicated to supporting families for over two decades. As the Founder and Executive Director of Kahlon Family Services (KFS), she provides behavioral consultations, social skills groups, and invaluable assistance to families navigating children's learning and behavioral challenges. Kahlon's visionary leadership extends to the KFS School, a K-8 program serving the San Francisco and Bay Area community.
Beyond traditional education, Vanessa has developed her own yoga curriculum, YEAS YOGA, aimed at fostering self-regulation in high-spirited children. She also introduced the 3R Method, focusing on social-emotional learning through relationship building. Her innovative approaches have garnered widespread recognition, with San Bernardino Unified School District adopting her book "How To Do Parenting With Confidence" for district-wide use with Tier 3 families.
Vanessa's outstanding contributions have earned her numerous accolades, including Woman of the Year by the National Association of Professional Women and a feature among the Top 30 Influential Entrepreneurs. She has been featured in Forbes New York, Bloomberg, New York Journal, and various TV and podcast interviews. Tune in to Parenting With Vanessa Kahlon on 95.7 The Game at 7:30 AM every Saturday morning.
Jessica Quarello
Jessica Quarello (Jess Quarello) is a mother, singer, content creator, disability advocate, published author/songwriter and an Extra Lucky Mom living in Short Hills, NJ. In 2020 she gave birth to Adeline, who at birth was diagnosed with Down syndrome. What started as a traumatic and scary diagnosis has propelled her into a life of advocacy and passion for her daughter and the disability community. She co-founded the advocacy platform Extra Lucky Moms with Taryn Lagonigro whom she met and connected with through friendship and advocacy efforts in May of 2021. ELM is committed to showing the world what it means to be Extra Lucky and to inspire those outside the disability community to create a more inclusive world. She is committed to spreading the joy of disability caregiving and to shifting perspectives, especially as the co-host of the Extra Lucky Podcast.
Jess started sharing her family and disability advocacy on TikTok in 2020 and over the last three years has been able to partner with many amazing brands open to inclusion and disability visibility. She hopes to inspire others facing a disability diagnosis to not fear the future but to embrace a new beautiful perspective.
From January to March of 2024, Jess was thrilled about the amazing opportunity to represent Walmart and Kimberly Clark as the 2024 Huggies Brand Ambassador. Authenticity is so important to Jess which made this collaboration beautiful and fulfilling. Jess is currently working on her music and advocacy and is busy raising her two beautiful daughters
Ashley Elizabeth Tuffnell
Ashley Elizabeth Tuffnell is a dynamic entrepreneur specializing in clean haircare, skincare, makeup, stem-cell growth drinking water, and a holistic wellness approach. As the CEO and Co-Founder of Evolve Empire Real Estate Partners, she leads a premier property management company offering high-end real estate services to residential and commercial clients. Partnered with Enagic U.S.A. Inc. since 2010, Ashley champions the benefits of Kangen water for optimal health, embodying her motto: “Change your water, change your life!”
In 2020, Ashley joined Monat Global Corp, quickly rising to the top 3% of the company in 4 short months. She promotes their organic, vegan, and cruelty-free products, known for their innovative and safe formulations. The Monat product line is free of all parabens, sulfates, and animal-derived ingredients and is developed using ground-breaking technology. Ashley is a Brand Ambassador for LifeWave Inc. Her motto with them is, “Live Longer, Younger and Well!” Life Wave is a phototherapy patches that stimulate stem cell growth and enhance’s overall well-being and health. Ashley is a True Influencer, Driven by a passion for holistic health and wellness, she is committed to helping others achieve a healthy, happy lifestyle through her years of expertise and the products she trusts. You can delve into her Expertise on IG @LadybossAshleyTuffnell, Facebook @AshleyElizabethTuffnell, Linkedin @LinkedIn.com/in/ashleytuffnell and msha.ke/ashleyelizabethtuffnell as she will enlighten you all with her inspiring, down-to-earth content on all platforms.
Cherizar Walker
Cherizar Walker is a researcher, storyteller, and shamanic practitioner with a diverse
background in aerospace engineering and the healing arts. Her unique blend of
experience informs her writing and her approach to holistic health. "The Conception of Utopia" is her first book, and is a captivating memoir chronicling her transformative experiences studying with renowned healers in the mountains of Ecuador. The book is not just a deeply personal account of healing and growth; it is also an exploration of the potential of shamanic practices to address modern-day challenges and create a more interconnected and compassionate world. If you are seeking inspiration, solace, or a deeper understanding of your own spiritual path, The Conception of Utopia offers a powerful and inspiring guide.
Cherizar is originally from Los Angeles, but now lives in Montreal with her son. She hopes to use her unique background to create a new paradigm for the future.
Christine Stoddard
Christine Stoddard is a multi-hyphenate writer, filmmaker, performer, artist, and founder of Quail Bell Press & Productions, including QuailBellMagazine.com. She was named one of Brooklyn Magazine’s Top 50 Most Fascinating People, Ms. Magazine’s “Ms. Muse,” and is a Miss Subways finalist. She hosts the television shows “Badass Lady-Folk” and “Don’t Mind If I Don’t” with Aaron Gold. Both shows are filmed at Manhattan Neighborhood Network and can be streamed on YouTube @badassladyfolk and @dontmindtheshow. Her award-winning films include “Sirena’s Gallery,” “Uncontested,” “Bottled,” "Her Garden,” and “De Colores (Chorus of Melancholy).” Since launching in April, her new YouTube channel @stoddardsays earned thousands of views for her filmed play “Mi Abuela, Queen of Nightmares,” as well as coverage of the protests at her graduate institution, Columbia University. Her critically-acclaimed books, which can be ordered on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other booksellers, include Desert Fox by the Sea, Belladonna Magic, Heaven is a Photograph, Water for the Cactus Woman, Hispanic & Latino Heritage in Virginia, and other titles. Her words, images, and videos have appeared in Cosmopolitan, Digital America, The Huffington Post, Yes! Magazine, Bustle, Marie Claire, Rutgers University’s Rejoinder, Teen Vogue, Ravishly, and beyond. The oldest of three, Stoddard was born to a Salvadoran mother and Anglo-American father in suburban Washington, D.C.
Jayeeta Putatunda
Jayeeta is a Senior Data Scientist with extensive experience in NLP, Statistical Modeling, and scalable ML solutions. As Manager of Emerging Technology at Fitch Ratings, she leverages Generative AI to develop efficient business solutions. A dedicated Gen AI researcher, she explores advanced open-source models to create impactful products, believing data is the best storyteller.
Passionate about empowering women in tech, Jayeeta mentors women in STEM through Women Who Code and Google’s Women Techmakers. Her commitment to diversity is demonstrated in her roles as an ambassador for Women in Data Science at Stanford, a mentor at Girl Up, United Nations Foundation, and WomenTech Network, and as NYC Chapter Lead for Women in AI. She is also part of 100 Women in Finance and the Women's Bond Club.
A sought-after speaker at prestigious conferences like ICML, ODSC, and WomenTech Global Conference, Jayeeta was nominated for the WomenTech Global Awards as “Rising Star in STEM” and recognized among the Top 100 Women Who Break the Bias. Jayeeta is redefining the tech landscape by breaking barriers for women and building an inclusive community.
Final Thoughts
The ten women we've highlighted are more than just names on a list. They're real-world examples of what leadership and innovation look like in 2024. Coming from different backgrounds and working in various fields, they show us that there's no one path to making a difference. Their stories prove that with hard work, fresh ideas, and determination, it's possible to tackle big challenges and create positive change. As we move further into 2024, these women will continue to inspire not just through their words, but through their actions. They remind us that progress happens when people dare to think differently and work together. Whether you're a student, a professional, or someone with a big dream, let these ten women inspire you to aim high and make your own mark on the world.