The inaugural class. Eight remarkable women honored across eight categories.<\/p>\n<\/div>
Kris was a beloved artist, curator, and instructor in Loudoun County whose vibrant spirit and creativity left a lasting legacy. Originally from Trinidad, she brought her Caribbean flair to Northern Virginia\u2019s art scene after moving to Leesburg in 2009. She taught popular adult watercolor classes, managed the award-winning TRYST Gallery, and championed local women artists\u2014pioneering virtual art openings to make art more accessible.<\/p>\n
Even during her battle with metastatic breast cancer, Kris remained dedicated to uplifting others. Her final works, created during treatment, now hang in INOVA\u2019s cancer center, offering beauty and hope to those navigating their own journeys. Through her art, teaching, and unwavering heart, Kris continues to inspire.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Kindra is a business consultant, author, and entrepreneur who is breaking barriers as the founder of Purpose WorX and owner of Fifty Leven Wine\u2014the first Black-owned wine company in Loudoun County. Without formal training, she carved her path in the wine industry through mentorship, research, and a drive to serve an underserved audience, creating a brand that celebrates professionals and innovators exploring their own tastes.<\/p>\n
Beyond business, Kindra plays an active role in civic and leadership development as Program Coordinator for Leadership Loudoun and a commissioner on the Loudoun Economic Development Advisory Commission. She also serves on several advisory boards and mentors young entrepreneurs, all while championing representation, ownership, and authenticity in every space she enters.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Shreyaa and Esha Venkat are the inspiring sister duo behind NEST4US, a global nonprofit they founded to create a kinder and more equitable world. What began as a small volunteer effort has grown into a far-reaching organization powered by over 6,000 volunteers, impacting tens of thousands across 30+ countries on six continents. Through five core programs, they address critical global issues like hunger, climate change, education, mental health, and gender equity.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Now 20 and 17, Shreyaa and Esha are widely recognized changemakers, having spoken at international summits and been featured by Forbes, GMA, The TODAY Show, and People Magazine. From mentoring with the Clinton Global Initiative to serving as ambassadors for Rare Beauty and Giving Tuesday, they continue to lead by example\u2014proving that youth, compassion, and purpose can drive powerful change.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Katie is a dedicated educator and middle school leader with 18 years of experience, including 14 at the middle level. As the proud principal of Belmont Ridge Middle School, she has led the school to multiple honors, including being named an inaugural School of Distinction by the Association of Middle Level Education, a four-time National School to Watch, and a Purple Star School for its support of military families.<\/p>\n
With degrees from SUNY Binghamton, Hofstra University, and George Mason University, Katie brings a deep commitment to whole-child education and adolescent development. Her passion lies in creating supportive, engaging learning environments that empower students during their most transformative years.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Sigrid is a pioneering bioethicist, attorney, and patient rights advocate who has spent her career driving critical changes in healthcare policy\u2014often from home while raising two sons, one born with cancer and the other navigating ADHD and a learning disability. She helped draft the national law on patient self-determination and founded the country\u2019s first charity focused solely on the rights of living organ donors, most of whom are women.<\/p>\n
The first graduate of a joint-degree program in bioethics and law from the Kennedy Institute and Georgetown Law, Sigrid has spoken with authority in spaces often dominated by men\u2014whether at NIH, legislative meetings, or TED Talks\u2014challenging assumptions and fighting for patient autonomy. Her advocacy has led to now-standard services in hospitals across Virginia and the U.S., proving the lasting impact of her trailblazing work.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Vanessa is the Interim Chief of Police and Deputy Chief of the Leesburg Police Department, where she has served with distinction for nearly 27 years. Since joining the department in 1996, she has held roles in patrol, community services, criminal investigations, and administration. Among her many accomplishments, she established the department\u2019s first junior police academy, developed its false alarm program, and helped shape domestic violence protocols.<\/p>\n
A Loudoun Valley High graduate and U.S. Army veteran, Vanessa began serving her community at age 16 through Loudoun County Parks & Recreation. She holds a degree in criminal justice with a concentration in forensic psychology and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, the Institute for Leadership in Changing Times, and the Professional Executive Leadership School\u2014exemplifying her lifelong commitment to service and leadership.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Karen is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, attorney, and award-winning author who founded 100WomenStrong in 2008\u2014a collective of strategic philanthropists dedicated to improving the quality of life in Loudoun County through targeted grants in shelter, health, hunger, and education. Her passion for early education also led her to co-found All Ages Read Together, a program that prepares young children for school while fostering intergenerational connections through volunteer-led reading.<\/p>\n
A lifelong lover of stories, Karen turned her childhood love of books into a successful writing career, publishing several children’s titles including The Lollipop Tree, Larry and Bob, How to Eat a Peach, and her latest, Vultures, A Love Story. Through creativity, community service, and advocacy, she continues to make a lasting impact on Loudoun County and beyond.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Michelle is a powerful voice for justice, history, and healing in Loudoun County. A graduate of Duke University and a former tech entrepreneur, she retired at 27 to pursue a higher calling as a pastor and community advocate. As a high school student, she helped lead the 1987 Forsyth County Civil Rights March alongside icons like Coretta Scott King and Rev. Jesse Jackson.<\/p>\n
Now the founder and leader of the Loudoun Freedom Center, Michelle has dedicated her life to preserving African American history\u2014starting with the protection of a burial ground for the enslaved at Belmont. Her work continues through plans to build Loudoun\u2019s first African American history and heritage museum, and through her advocacy for inclusive historical trails and markers. After the tragic loss of her son Fitz, she launched the Fitz Scholars Fund with Hope Floats Foundation to provide life-saving swim lessons to children in need\u2014turning grief into purpose for the greater good.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
View Nominees\u00a0here.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>Images from the Hall of Fame Luncheon<\/h2><\/div><\/a><\/span><\/div>View images here.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>2023 Loudoun Women’s Hall of Fame Sponsors #grateful<\/h2><\/div>Leadership Sponsor<\/h3><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/i><\/div><\/i><\/div><\/div><\/div>Empower Sponsors<\/h3><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/i><\/div><\/i><\/div><\/div><\/div>Collaboration Sponsors<\/h3><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/i><\/div><\/i><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5245,"parent":4369,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"100-width.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-4446","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lsi-training.com\/LCWAG\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4446","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lsi-training.com\/LCWAG\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lsi-training.com\/LCWAG\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lsi-training.com\/LCWAG\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lsi-training.com\/LCWAG\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4446"}],"version-history":[{"count":40,"href":"https:\/\/lsi-training.com\/LCWAG\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4446\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6095,"href":"https:\/\/lsi-training.com\/LCWAG\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4446\/revisions\/6095"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lsi-training.com\/LCWAG\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4369"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lsi-training.com\/LCWAG\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5245"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lsi-training.com\/LCWAG\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4446"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
View images here.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>2023 Loudoun Women’s Hall of Fame Sponsors #grateful<\/h2><\/div>Leadership Sponsor<\/h3><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/i><\/div><\/i><\/div><\/div><\/div>Empower Sponsors<\/h3><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/i><\/div><\/i><\/div><\/div><\/div>Collaboration Sponsors<\/h3><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/i><\/div><\/i><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5245,"parent":4369,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"100-width.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-4446","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lsi-training.com\/LCWAG\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4446","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lsi-training.com\/LCWAG\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lsi-training.com\/LCWAG\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lsi-training.com\/LCWAG\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lsi-training.com\/LCWAG\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4446"}],"version-history":[{"count":40,"href":"https:\/\/lsi-training.com\/LCWAG\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4446\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6095,"href":"https:\/\/lsi-training.com\/LCWAG\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4446\/revisions\/6095"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lsi-training.com\/LCWAG\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4369"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lsi-training.com\/LCWAG\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5245"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lsi-training.com\/LCWAG\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4446"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}