by Eva Glassman | Aug 21, 2025 | Blog, Featured
By Jennifer Quigley-Jones | Digital Voices | C200 Member since 2024
Scaling influencer marketing programs is one of the biggest challenges facing brands today.
In her latest Forbes article, C200 member Jennifer Quigley-Jones shares how marketing leaders are tackling this head-on: balancing scale with quality, measuring ROI across channels, and connecting authentically with audiences on platforms like Reddit, Twitch, and LinkedIn.
Drawing on insights from the inaugural Global Influencer Council and examples from brands like DoorDash and Surfshark, Jennifer shows what’s possible when strategy meets speed.
Read the full article here.
by Eva Glassman | Aug 19, 2025 | Blog, Featured
Rochelle Rivas is the Co-Founder and CEO of Ember Group Consulting, a global management consulting company with hundreds of employees. A self-described “corporate refugee,” Rochelle learned early in her career that she had an entrepreneurial mindset, craving environments where she could wear multiple hats, and no two days are ever the same. She believes the key to success is mastering your inner dialogue, because your thoughts show up in your reality. Rochelle has been a Member of C200 since October 2024.
Eva Glassman: Tell me about yourself and your company.
Rochelle Rivas: I’m a mom, first and foremost. Every breath I take is for my kids; they’re identical twins, twenty-four, and my best friends. Secondly, I’m a philanthropist. Then, I’m a business leader.
I put those in that order because I believe that if you’re doing good for the community and supporting the people around you, it’s good for your business. I’ve taken that approach for the bulk of my professional career so that people around me would take a similar approach.
My company, Ember Group Consulting, is a management consulting company. This is my second company; I sold my first one, DARTON GROUP, in 2019 after eleven years. After selling DARTON GROUP and before founding Ember Group Consulting, I held an executive role at North Highland, a mid-size consulting firm. While I was there, I started to have the desire to run a business again, better and different—that’s what led me to create my current business.
It’s been about a year since we founded Ember Group Consulting, and it’s been really fun. A lot of work, but fun. Some things have been easier than the first time, and some things have been more challenging, but that’s indicative of the world we live in right now.
EG: Can you speak more to both the exciting and chaotic aspects of running your current company?
RR: I love sitting across from somebody who has a really complex issue and being able to look back at them and say, “I can help you.” There is a great sense of gratification in that. It’s also important, because our clients are primarily Fortune 500 companies. Companies are starting and stopping quicker than ever before because of the economic and geopolitical uncertainty in our world right now. Sometimes, companies need to bring in outside resources for a fresh perspective on things. Helping companies navigate these issues is something we pride ourselves on in the consulting industry.
EG: I’m curious about your career journey. What was your background at the beginning of your career? Is that in line with how your career journey went?
RR: I always thought I would wind up in an HR role, but I also didn’t want to be confined to one kind of role. At twenty-nine, I had a huge corporate job in the retail environment with tons of responsibility, but it was very mundane. Today, I call myself a corporate refugee, because I knew that being in corporate America was not my desired state.
Running my own company means some days I get to be HR advisor, some days business strategist, some days operations strategist, and so on. I landed here because I knew I didn’t want to do the same thing every day; I’m just not hardwired that way.
EG: What are the factors that led to your success today?
RR: 2008 was a very pivotal year for me, for a lot of reasons. It was a very uncertain time in the world, but also in my life. I had moved my family from Chicago and left my corporate job. It got to a point where I had so much self-doubt that I refused to let myself feel that way anymore. One day, I looked in the mirror and said, “You can do this.” And then I continued to do it each and every day, until I turned my inner dialogue from negative to positive.
I tell people this all the time; the most critical thing you can ever learn how to do is talk to yourself. The way your thoughts manifest determines your reality. If you’re doubting yourself in your head, it shows up in your life. This is so important for women to know. Your self-talk matters in so many ways, whether it’s about your physical or mental attributes.
All this to say, I believe I’m successful because I learned how to talk to myself in a very positive way, and part of that was repeating to myself things like, “You’re not giving up. You achieved this. You deserve to be here.” As I’ve gotten more mature in my career, I don’t let people influence my self-talk or make me feel like I don’t belong.
When people talk about Imposter Syndrome, I actually think that feeling comes from poor self-talk. If I walk into a room full of executives—people who are my peers—it’s a fact that I’m not an imposter. The reality is that I’m right where I belong. If I were to walk into a hospital wearing scrubs, I would be an imposter; I’m not a doctor, and I’m not trying to be.
EG: Your commitment to positive self-talk seems like such a basic thing, but you’ve made it clear that we don’t place nearly as much importance on it as we should.
RR: If you don’t do it, who will? No one else can do it but you.
It reminds me of this funny story. As I said earlier, I have identical twin daughters. When they were little, they would always fight and call each other ugly and other insults, and I would always say, “You know, you look just like each other. How can only one of you be ugly?”
EG: Can you tell me more about your journey to C200? How did you find out about us, and what made you want to join?
RR: Last year, I was invited to a private group event for board directors. Before going inside, I saw this lady walking through the parking lot—like a boss. I knew immediately that I needed to meet her. I introduced myself at the event, and we exchanged contact information and met for coffee down the line. That woman was Maryann Bruce.
As we got to know each other, she told me about C200. Maryann is an incredible ambassador for the organization. She offered to sponsor me through the application process.
EG: What a great story about our Chair Emeritus!
RR: I’ve never shared that story before! I still remember exactly what she was wearing in that parking lot. I was and still am so impressed with her—and such a fangirl.
EG: Other than emphasizing the importance of positive self-talk, what other advice do you typically share with women looking to advance their careers?
RR: When it comes to entrepreneurship, people really undervalue what it takes to succeed. I’ve actually talked many people out of starting a business. A lot of people think they can do it, but you have to ask yourself some serious questions, like: How long can you go without a paycheck? Can you put yourself or your family through that? If you find yourself with your back against the wall having to do payroll, how will you feel paying your employees before yourself? You should always be paying your employees first.
It might not be for you, or it may not be time yet. The success rate for startups is very low. I’ve had many people come back and thank me for laying out all the risks that come with it.
EG: To be an entrepreneur, you have to start with an idea. In that way, there is a large part of entrepreneurship that is idealistic. It seems like you’re bringing a very important element of realism to the discussion.
RR: To be an entrepreneur, not only do you have to be smart enough to mesh your dream with reality, but you have to be resilient enough. Resiliency is one of the key things to being successful, even beyond entrepreneurship.
I think the meaning of resiliency has become so misunderstood and overused. To be truly resilient means that you experienced an event—good or bad—and you got through it, not over it. You don’t become resilient after sitting in traffic. Resiliency is born from who you are during the event, not after.
EG: Did you have any women leaders, managers, or mentors along the way of your career journey? Who were the people who inspired you? Who did you connect with to find support?
RR: Early in my career, all my mentors were men. Later on in my career, I have found two or three women who have become my rocks when it comes to business decisions or bouncing ideas around.
When I was advancing in my career, it was my experience that women didn’t yield appropriately to other women. What I mean by that is, if it was me and another woman up for a role or promotion, someone had to yield to the other. If you’re a phenomenal leader, you’re going to yield and say, “You go for this.” I’ve yielded plenty of times in my career so that other women can get that opportunity to advance. I am a big proponent of that concept, because I believe that creates strong relationships and support networks between women in the workplace.
My hope is that younger generations will have a different experience and outlook than me. If there are enough examples around you of women rooting for each other versus being cutthroat, the better off we’re going to be for the future.
EG: I’m interested to know how you think about yourself as a “woman in business.” What does that mean to you? How does that affect the way you work and lead?
RR: In general, it’s a privilege to be in business and have a great product that people want. Being a woman in business is amazing, because we’re excellent critical thinkers who solve problems in very different ways than men.
When I speak with others about Ember Group Consulting, I talk about how our global consulting firm has hundreds of employees—and we happen to be women-owned. I’m wary of the risk of over indexing and I intentionally lead with my strengths. While being a “woman in business” or leading a “woman-owned business” is important, it doesn’t paint a full picture and can lead to others generalizing you.
EG: How do you like to spend your time outside of working?
RR: My daughters played Division One athletics all through college, which pretty much ruled our lives. Now that they are in graduate school, I find myself with much more free time on my hands.
I currently live in Charlotte, and I’ve been on a lot of amazing nonprofit boards that really drive change in our communities in issues like public health and women’s initiatives—things that are important to me.
I love spending time with friends. I love being outside—not doing anything physical but laying out on the back porch in the summer. You won’t see me hiking out in the mountains. Hands down, my absolute favorite place to be is at the beach, reading a book.
EG: Why C200? What has been your experience so far as a Member? What are you looking forward to?
RR: It’s been fantastic. There’s a level of authenticity that you find among C200 Members that I haven’t found anywhere else.
Business leaders like myself get invited to do a lot of things, and honestly, too many of those things don’t end up being worthwhile. I’ve attended plenty of webinars where afterwards, I felt like, “Well, I just lost an hour.” That isn’t the case at C200. The content and the way that leaders show up in this community has been incredibly impressive.
You get to a certain point in your career where you really have to spend your time wisely, and my time is well-spent at C200.
by Eva Glassman | Jul 17, 2025 | Blog, Featured
Melissa Witbeck is a VP at Charles Schwab, managing a multi-billion-dollar portfolio and working with many clients navigating the Great Wealth Transfer. Melissa is passionate about women’s financial literacy and the potential economic and philanthropic impact women can have as more wealth passes into their hands. Outside of work, Melissa enjoys outdoor activities and traveling with her family. Melissa has been a C200 Member since 2025.
Eva Glassman: As a VP of Charles Schwab, what are your responsibilities? What are things that you love about what you do, and what are some more challenging aspects?
Melissa Witbeck: I manage a $100 billion portfolio, so it’s very dynamic from day-to-day, from building strategy, leadership, focusing on meaningful impact, to making sure my team and our clients receive the best of Schwab. No two days are ever the same, which definitely keeps me on my feet.
When I wake up every day, I’m grateful to have the ability to shape our vision into reality and see ideas come to life. Watching our teams thrive is incredibly rewarding.
The most challenging part is keeping a fine balance between long-term strategic planning and the day-to-day operational needs of running this kind of portfolio.
EG: Did you always want to go into financial services? Take me through your career journey.
MW: When I was a kid, I actually wanted to be an orthodontist. I was the oldest child, raised by a single mom. When I was sixteen, my grandfather passed away and we received a reasonable inheritance. As the oldest child, my mom would bring me along to the financial advisor meetings for managing the inheritance.
None of the advisors asked us about our goals or what we wanted to accomplish; they just wanted to take this money and get it invested. Even then, I knew that wasn’t right. That was when I knew I had to go to college for finance. I needed to understand how this all works.
To this day, it’s personally important to me to make sure that women are comfortable and understand finances, so that when circumstances change—be it their husbands pass and they’re inheriting the money or unfortunately, they get divorced—they know how to manage the money so they can take care of themselves, their future potential, their children, and/or how they want to donate it.
All that being said, my career path has not been linear, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I have taken on different roles within the same industry, because I was always curious and had a desire to solve problems. When I see a problem coming up, I have this strong sense of desire to understand. How did we get there and what can we do to solve it? How can we provide a better experience?
I didn’t imagine I’d be where I am today. It wasn’t something I sought out to do, but each chapter along my journey has prepared me for it. The biggest factor in my success has been a combination of being resilient, being open to change, and surrounding myself with people who challenge and inspire me.
EG: Who are some of those people who have inspired you over the years?
MW: I had no formal mentorships early in my career, but I sought out examples of leaders where I could find them. Over time, I’ve been fortunate to be mentored and supported by strong, thoughtful women who were willing to be authentic with me about their experiences, and in turn, I could share with them what I was experiencing in my career. They gave me the strength to keep pursuing my dreams and the opportunities that were given to me. These women embody courage, clarity, and compassion when they lead. Those are the types of people I’m drawn to and who I want to emulate.
EG: Speaking of seeking out women leaders, how did you discover C200? What made you want to join?
MW: I feel so lucky. I was introduced to C200 through a trusted colleague who knew that I was looking to engage more deeply with a community of senior women leaders. I’ve had the fortune of crossing paths with several C200 Members before joining myself. There are all sorts of networking groups out there, but what stands out to me about C200 is the authenticity and generosity of the Members.
At C200, it’s not about titles or achievements. What’s profoundly different about C200 is the connections, wisdom, and desire to share and lift one another up. All of us are super busy, but all of us are builders and lifters, and will take the time to do so with each other.
EG: You are very involved at Charles Schwab in advancing the next generation of women leaders in the company, and I know that part of your work is in the Great Wealth Transfer. So, what does being a “woman in business” mean to you? How do you apply that thinking to what you do?
MW: A woman in business means embracing both the responsibility and the opportunity to lead with authenticity. It’s about creating an impact and space—not only for yourself, but for others who haven’t always been at the table. In every meeting that I hold, whether it’s hiring decisions or mentoring others, I try and bring in other perspectives or challenge norms that need to evolve.
The reason I’m so passionate about this is because the wealth space is changing. Traditionally, patriarchs have held the money, but in this very moment, the money is transferring to the matriarchs—the women. Men are passing away before their spouses, and the money gets transferred to the women, and then it will pass down to the children.
I’ve traveled across the country to speak with these wealthy families, and I ask the matriarchs, “What are you going to do with the money once it passes to you?” Time and time again, they talk about how they’re going to bring their children into the conversation, and as a family, they’re going to work together. This creates a much different experience than we have seen in the past.
I’m very excited about this shift, because we are already seeing what women do once they have money. They turn around and they help others—not just their own family, but they’re helping for the greater good. Melinda Gates is a clear example of this shift.
This gives me so much hope for the future. We need to be prepared and ready for a new type of client. Getting ready for the Great Wealth Transfer requires strategy, and I’m very optimistic about where we’re going in the future.
EG: When you are not working with clients and informing people about preparing for the Great Wealth Transfer, how do you spend your time? What do you like to do outside of work?
MW: I love spending time with my family. When we are together, we love to explore the outdoors, be it surfing or hiking or playing baseball.
I’m also very passionate about community initiatives, including youth development. I am part of a local miracle league here in the Dallas-Fort Worth area that provides opportunities to children who are physically or mentally disabled to get to play baseball. We are able to provide an opportunity for them that they wouldn’t otherwise get to experience, and that brings a ton of joy to me. I’m also on the board for the American Heart.
Whenever I can, I love to travel and experience new cultures and perspectives. When we can step outside and look at how other cultures do things, I believe that truly makes us better leaders.
EG: Is there a recent trip that you’ve been on that was particularly insightful or inspiring?
MW: I went to Paris right before the 2024 Olympics. What intrigued me was their slower pace of life; over there, it’s totally normal for them to sit in a restaurant for two hours. I was really taken aback by that because, in American business culture, we are “Go, go, go” all the time. The culture in Paris reminded me that, in reality, it’s very important to slow down and build relationships; a two-hour business lunch could make a huge difference, versus cramming everything into an hour. Seeing that really shaped and defined what’s important to me as a leader—and it also reminded me how important it is to spend more time with the people around me.
EG: What is your advice to aspiring women business leaders to advance their careers? What would you say to those looking to join C200 one day?
MW: My advice is to be bold in your ambition but grounded in your values. As women leaders, we have to build real relationships. While we have to advocate for ourselves, we also have to find people who will advocate for us when we’re not in that room.
We have to stay curious; the learning never stops. I’m the first to jump at learning opportunities, because I want to hear other perspectives. It takes real confidence to be open to other perspectives. If a person’s viewpoint is different than mine and has expanded my own, I feel okay to change my answer. When we collectively share our ideas, we create something even better.
For those who are aspiring to join C200, focus on your impact. C200 is more than just success—it’s about how you use your success to elevate others.
EG: It’s just like our motto, Success Shared—people don’t achieve success by themselves. It has to involve a network or community in support of one another.
MW: C200 represents community, leadership, and legacy. It’s a place where extraordinary women come together—not just to network, but to genuinely support and grow one another. It’s a source of inspiration and a call to action to give back, to mentor, and to lead with intention.
As a newer Member, I am most excited about being with women who believe the same as me. It’s rare to be able to connect and engage with people who have similar values to me, and especially these values.
We may not all have similar personalities, but everyone I’ve spoken to is comfortable with hearing others’ perspectives and being confident and open enough to make the changes necessary for the greater good.
by Eva Glassman | Jul 9, 2025 | Blog, Featured
By Lauren Herring | IMPACT Group | C200 Member since 2009
What happens when AI enters one of the most human parts of leadership — layoffs?
C200 Member Lauren Herring, CEO of IMPACT Group, explores this complex question in her latest Forbes article. As AI tools become more common in workforce decisions, Lauren shares how companies can avoid common missteps and use technology to support, not replace, human judgment.
Key takeaways from the article:
- Poor data and bias can lead to flawed or unfair layoff decisions
- AI should never operate without human oversight in emotionally charged moments
- Outplacement is more than a benefit—it’s a signal of respect
- Responsible use of AI can help protect morale, reputation, and even open the door to redeployment
This is a must-read for leaders thinking about how to combine innovation with empathy.
Read the full article here.
by Eva Glassman | Jun 27, 2025 | Blog, Featured
C200 is honored and thrilled to announce the recipients of our 2025 Luminary Awards!
We want to thank our Members and the Luminary Awards Committee for an engaging nomination and voting process. We received a record number of nominations this year, creating a strong selection of individuals who have each made significant impacts for businesswomen in their respective fields. We are proud of this year’s quality turnout and are excited to continue this wonderful tradition that celebrates and funds the advancement of businesswomen around the world.
Our Luminary Award categories are: Entrepreneurial Champion, Corporate Innovator, and Lifetime Achievement. More information about the history of our Luminary Awards, how awardees are nominated and chosen, and detailed descriptions of each award category, can be found here.
Without further ado, here are the winners of each award:
Entrepreneurial Champion: Hannah Kain | ALOM
Hannah Kain is President and CEO of ALOM, a global supply chain company headquartered in Fremont, California.
ALOM operates out of 20 global locations to support its Fortune 500 customers in the technology, automotive, life sciences and regulated industry sectors with brand enhancing supply chain management services and solutions.
Prior to founding ALOM in 1997, Kain held various management and executive positions since 1983, with a wide range of experience in the packaging industry dating back to 1990.
In 2014, Hannah Kain co-founded 2020vet with Erica Courtney, a former combat pilot and disabled veteran.
A global supply chain executive, Kain has established herself as a thought leader, pioneering technology enabled and environmentally responsible supply chain. Kain has changed and impacted the approach to risk-based supply chain management, and pioneered excellence-based thinking in supply chain. She has spoken at international and national supply chain and business conferences, and she is a frequent guest and resource for news media.
Kain holds three university degrees (a B.S. in political science, a M.S. in communications, and a B.Sc./M.B.A. in marketing.). She was a lecturer at Copenhagen Business School. She is a frequent lecturer and speaker and is a published author of a popular textbook on market analysis, now in its 4th edition.
She has extensive international management experience, membership and involvement in numerous governmental and educational agencies and business groups. Kain is a board member of the National Association of Manufacturers, WBEC-Pacific, and the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) where she also serves as the WBENC Forum Chair. Further leadership roles include board chair of How Women Lead–Silicon Valley, advisory board member with Heritage Bank of Commerce, and former chair of the Silicon Valley board for the Women’s Initiative.
In 2011, Hannah was accepted into the prestigious Committee of 200 (C200), an invitation-only membership organization of the world’s most successful women entrepreneurs and corporate leaders.
She has received numerous industry and leadership awards. Recently Hannah was recognized for lifetime achievement as an SDCE 2024 Supply Chain Pros to Know. Additional awards include the 2023 WBEC-Pacific Pinnacle Award and 2021 WE USA Top WBE CEO. In 2020 she was featured as a Business Insider Top 100 People Transforming Business, recognized as a Top 10 Women in Logistics by Global Trade Magazine, and won the SDCE Women Leaders in Supply Chain award,. Prior awards include the Gold Woman of The Year Stevie, Silver Best Global Woman-owned Business Stevie, Top 25 Champion of Diversity in STEM, Manufacturing Institute STEP Ahead Award, YWCA Tribute to Women Award, and induction into the Silicon Valley Capitol Club wall of fame.
Hannah Kain was born in Denmark where she had a business and political career that included a short time as a member of parliament and a member of several commissions, such as the national foundation for scientific research. She also headed her party’s equal rights commission and was a member of the governing board of her party.
Kain is married to Dr. Jakob Nielsen, retired co-founder of Nielsen Norman Group and a world recognized leader in Web usability, a celebrated speaker and published author. The couple has lived in Silicon Valley since 1994.
C200 is comprised of some of the world’s most accomplished business leaders, and I am truly honored to be recognized by such a distinguished organization. Being an entrepreneur is exciting and fulfilling, especially in a challenging field like supply chain. This award is especially meaningful to me because it celebrates not only my passion for entrepreneurship and for growing my company, but also my commitment to empowering female entrepreneurs.
Entrepreneurs drive innovation and shape the future, and women—by bringing unique perspectives, values, and products to the marketplace—are making an ever-greater impact. It is inspiring to witness the remarkable growth of women-founded companies, and I am proud to be part of this movement.
Corporate Innovator: Jan Babiak | Independent Director
Jan Babiak spent 28 years with EY, the last 20 based in London, before starting her ‘portfolio corporate board career’. While EY and its Big 4 competitors, are widely known for audit, tax and traditional consulting advice, Jan did not follow a traditional career path within the firm instead serving as a self-appointed, serial, corporate “intrepreneur”. This began in the 1980s with her involvement in creating a successful and pioneering business in information and cyber security. She even served as lead author of a definitive book on board level oversight of IT and cyber security—’Defending the Digital Frontier: Practical Security for Management’—over twenty years ago, long before it was a top item on the agenda of management and boards the world over.
Once the cyber security business was fully established across Northern Europe, Middle East, India and Africa (NEMIA), she handed it over to a successor and created a Regulatory & Public Policy function within the NEMIA region in response to changes that moved the profession from self-regulated to external regulation with the creation of audit firm regulators (e.g. PCAOB) around the world early in the current century. Once that was working well, she again handed over to her successor, as she created a business case and founded EY’s global Climate Change & Sustainability Services practice in 2008. While building these businesses, she also advised and served the firm’s most prestigious clients in financial services, technology, energy, media, transportation, retail, and more.
Upon leaving EY, she successfully pivoted to a board portfolio serving on corporate boards in five countries, multiple sectors, and public companies ranging from Fortune 20, FTSE 100, and TSX 10 with sales of over $100 billion to assets under management of over $1 trillion to large private equity backed firms and even large employee or family-owned businesses. Her board roles, often as lead director or audit committee chair, include providing experience and insight into global board governance, how digital and legacy technologies impact M&A, business transformation, cyber risk, cyber security, artificial intelligence (AI), strategy, operations, and stakeholder engagement from customers to suppliers to the investor community.
Over a decade ago, Jan became frustrated that corporate boards were identifying candidates through personal networks that favored one demographic rather than seeking the best candidates based on merit and experience. In response, she began to accumulate bios and to actively refer outstanding, qualified candidates for board roles that came to her attention. As a result, more than 65 women (and a few good men) have been appointed to corporate boards through her “Project Starfish”.
In 2024, Corporate Board Member magazine included her in the “Top 20 Value Creating Directors in America”. In 2017, she was named by NACD Directorship magazine as one of the most influential people in the boardroom community. Agenda, a Financial Times publication for board members, named her in their ‘International 100: Top Board Candidates with Global Skills’ and the Confederation of British Industry named her as their inaugural First Woman of Technology.
Over the last quarter of a century, I have consistently found myself in awe of the extraordinary leadership, energizing spirit, and unwavering encouragement present in the C200 Sisterhood – but never more so than each year when we celebrate the phenomenal women honored in the various Luminary Awards. As such, I could not be more surprised or humbled to have been told I was the 2025 recipient of the Corporate Innovator Luminary Award.
For now, my main goal is to resist the tidal wave of Imposter Syndrome washing over me, as I know that is the one thing that will never be tolerated by this amazing and supportive group of women!
Lifetime Achievement: Nancy Peterson-Hearn | Peterson Tool Company
Photo by Hatcher & Fell
A nationally recognized business entrepreneur and Nashville community leader, Nancy Peterson Hearn was the longstanding chairman and chief executive officer of Peterson Tool Company, Inc. Under her leadership, the company made exponential gains in sales, production and reputation, and is ranked among the world’s premier designers and manufacturers of custom insert tooling. Peterson Tool has earned numerous quality and certification awards including General Motors’ Targets for Excellence Award and Caterpillar’s coveted Certified Supplier of Quality Materials awards. Since her retirement, she has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors. The first American to earn the prestigious Veuve Clicquot Business Woman of the Year Award (1990), Ms. Hearn has a distinguished leadership record that includes roles on some of the most prestigious boards in the nation.
Ms. Hearn is passionate about mentoring other women entrepreneurs and finding gateways for their success. She has dedicated much of her impressive career to supporting organizations and groups that provide opportunity for women leaders. She has served as Vice Chair of the Foundation, Southeast Region chair and Membership Chair for C200, a national organization for leading women executives. C200 established the Nancy Sanders Peterson Scholars Award in her honor. She chaired the C200 Auction from 2000 to 2008, and her efforts have helped to raise several millions of dollars for the C200 Foundation. Ms. Hearn has also been awarded the prestigious Women of Influence award from YWCA, Nashville.
A proud native of Nashville, Tennessee, Ms. Hearn’s longstanding record of community activism includes roles in Leadership Nashville, the Tennessee Workforce Development Board, the Tennessee Council on Vocational Education, and has been recognized by The National Federation of Parents for Drug Free Youth. Among her numerous awards are: Woman Business Owner of the Year by Nashville Business Journal; Small Business Executive of the Year by Nashville Business Journal and Shining Star Award from C-200 Foundation
Ms. Hearn has also served on the board of The Society of International Business Fellows, the Aquinas College Board of Governors, the Mississippi University for Women’s National Board of Distinguished Women, International Women’s Forum, Nashville Symphony, Parthenon Conservancy, Cheekwood and Nashville Ballet Boards.
Ms. Hearn is the mother of six adult children, all of which were involved in Peterson Tool Company, Inc. She was married to the late Billy Ray Hearn, founder of Sparrow Records.
Receiving the 2025 C200 Lifetime Achievement Luminary Award is my greatest honor from my dearest organization. C200 matters so much to me because of our critical mission to support and foster the success of other women entrepreneurs.
I have experienced this firsthand. My lifelong friends at C200 have been unbending in their support. They are my advisors, mentors, and often partners in crime, supporting my wildest dreams for Peterson Tool, during good times and really tough ones. I am forever humbled and grateful.
The Luminary Award was a complete surprise, and I am most appreciative to accept it as we continue to build for the future of this incredible organization.
Join us in supporting our 2025 Luminary Awardees and C200’s mission to inspire, educate, support, and advance current and future women entrepreneurs and corporate-profit center leaders.
Congratulations to Hannah, Jan, and Nancy for this remarkable achievement. We’re proud of the work you each have done over the course of your careers and the influence it has had for women in business worldwide.
Celebrate with C200!
Our award recipients will be honored and celebrated on the evening of Friday, October 17, 2025, at our Luminary Awards Ceremony during the Gala Dinner at our 2025 Annual Conference in Nashville, TN. Individual tickets, tables, and sponsorship opportunities for the Gala Dinner are available for purchase at our Conference website.
Click here for more info.
Note: If you have registered for the 2025 C200 Annual Conference, your registration includes a ticket to our Gala Dinner.
Donate to C200!
Your support of our award recipients raises critical funds for C200’s larger mission and vision to advance businesswomen worldwide. Together, through the celebration of these incredible women, we can make a big impact in the business landscape by creating more opportunities, spaces, and time for women in business to connect with, inspire, and help one another succeed in male-dominated spheres and set examples for the next generation of women leaders.
Click here for more info.
by Eva Glassman | Jun 24, 2025 | Blog, Featured
By Lin Coughlin | Great Circle Associates | C200 Member since 2002
In a world defined by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA), emotionally intelligent leadership isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity.
We’re proud to share the latest Forbes article from C200 Member Lin Coughlin, who brings deep insight into how today’s leaders can navigate disruption with clarity, empathy, and resilience.
Her piece, “How Smart Leaders Thrive in Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous Times,” explores how emotional intelligence helps leaders not just weather change but lead through it with confidence.
This kind of people-first leadership is exactly what C200 champions: bold, grounded, and transformational.
Join us in celebrating the powerful voices of C200 Members shaping the future of business.
Read the full article here.
