FALLS CHURCH, Va.--()--Women in Technology (WIT), the premier organization contributing to the success of professional women in the Washington, D.C. area technology community, today announced the finalists for the 26th Annual Leadership Awards. The program honors outstanding women shaping the future of the technology industry through groundbreaking innovations, expertise, and a passion for uplifting the next generation of professionals within their organizations and in the broader community. This year saw an unprecedented number of applications, reflecting the growing recognition of women leaders driving excellence in the technology industry.

The finalists for the 26th Annual Women in Technology Leadership Awards include:

Corporate Large-Market Sector

  • Sanaa Jlidi, Salesforce
  • Mary Schwarz, ICF
  • Carol Williamson, Leidos
  • Tara Winn, Dexian
  • Julianne Zuber, Infinera

Corporate Mid-Market Sector

  • Jocelyn Byrne Houle, Securiti
  • Anita Lynn, Capgemini Government Solutions
  • Indunil Ranaviraja, REI Systems, Inc.
  • Lauri Reishus, Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC)
  • Dilantyra Scott, RIVA Solutions

Corporate Small-Market Sector

  • Ariana Amparan, Proveo Automation
  • Kelly Baltz, B&A
  • Janel Merritt, Digidoc Incorporated dba Public Sector Solutions Group
  • Kaylan Sites, BTI360
  • Natasha Williams, Integrity Management Services, Inc.

Founders/Entrepreneur

  • Nicole Bass, Service Professionals & JoinTheTrades.com
  • Sanam Boroumand, Main Digital
  • Sharon Hamer, Akiak Technology, LLC
  • Jacquetta Jacobs, Capstone Technology Partners
  • Cara Lesser, KID Museum

Government & Defense

  • Lara Bair, Peace Corps
  • Sheena Burell, National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
  • Chandra Donelson, United States Space Force
  • Sarah Haddock, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Michelle Washington, Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO) Office of the Secretary of Defense, U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)

Non-Profit & Academia

  • Mackenzie Abramson, Global Genes
  • Linda Bixby, NobleReach Foundation
  • Francisca Boateng, Slamm Foundation
  • Lorelie Diestro, The CNA Corporation
  • Aliyah Pandolfi, Kashmir World Foundation

Rising Star

  • Melisa Bardhi, Excella
  • Tiffany Chong, Steampunk
  • Cory Everington, CACI International, Inc.
  • Michelle Fultz, IBM
  • Norissa Solomon, Solomon Dynamics, LLC

STEM Leadership

  • Terri Hogan, Accenture Federal Services
  • Reha Malik, Alpha Omega
  • Tamla Olivier, Pepco Holdings
  • Nisha Paliwal, Capital One
  • Roopa Vasan, Leidos

Unsung Hero

  • Anamika Goyal, Leidos
  • Natasha Laorenza, CACI International, Inc.
  • Elizabeth “Brett” Mills, Booz Allen Hamilton
  • Valerie Sayd, SeKON
  • Elizabeth “Izzie” Zahorian, United States Digital Service

“We are immensely proud to unveil this year’s finalists, who are true pioneers in the field and serve as a powerful reminder of the tremendous impact women are making in the technology sector,” said Lisa Shea Mundt, president of WIT. “These finalists represent a diverse group of trailblazers who inspire not only those around them, but also future generations of women pursuing careers in the industry. We are eager to celebrate their remarkable achievements.”

WIT will announce the winners at the 26th Annual Leadership Awards Gala on May 15, 2025, at the Hyatt Regency in Reston, Virginia. For information about sponsorship packages and to purchase tables or individual tickets, please visit https://www.womenintechnology.org/leadership-awards and follow us on X: @WITWomen, #WITLA2025

About Women in Technology

Women in Technology (WIT) is a not-for-profit organization with the mission of advancing women in technology — from the classroom to the boardroom. With more than 1,000 members in the Washington, D.C. area, WIT fulfills its vision by providing leadership development, technology education, networking, and mentoring opportunities for women at all levels of their careers and for girls interested in STEM. For more information, please visit: womenintechnology.org or connect with us via Facebook, LinkedIn or X (@WITWomen).