Women's History Month 2026 at FINN

News and Insights

Women's History Month 2026 at FINN

March 31, 2026

In celebration of Women's History Month, we spotlighted women leaders across FINN in honor of this year's theme, Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future. They shared the mentors, clients, and trailblazers who inspire their work every day.

Terri Bloore, Managing Partner

"Having grown up watching "Absolutely Fabulous" ("Ab Fab"), and admittedly one of the reasons I was so drawn at the time to a career in Public Relations (I don't know whether I should admit that - too late now!) was that I loved Joanna Lumley's character - the bonkers Patsy. Not only did I love the character, but Lumley's campaign work in environmental and social justice has inspired me over the years.

'Learn from nature. Stuff lives and stuff dies all the time, you know. Animals and birds and flowers. Trees come and go, and we come and go. That's it. So, we should all seize life and make the most of what we have while we can,' she once said. I love that and I try to stick to it.

Lumley used her public profile to secure rights and funding for Gurkha veterans and brought international awareness of the issues. I know about the inequalities the brave Gurkhas faced due to her Gurkha Justice Campaign. Her work spans decades, often drawing on her personal connection to the Gurkhas (her father was a Gurkha officer) and a strong sense of personal responsibility for environmental protection - such as Tree Aid and Born Free Foundation."

Liz Ferreira, Office Manager

"My mother's resilience and empathy taught me the value of service to mentors who believed in me early in my career, like the manager at the IRS who entrusted me with my first supervisory role at 26 for a team of 11 employees. I've been shaped by extraordinary women - among them a former manager, Ingrid Otero-Smart, President and CEO of Casanova/McCann, who is one of those rare leaders. More than 16 years of knowing her, including ten working side-by-side, has shown me what true leadership looks like…visionary, compassionate, and fearless. Her example reminds me daily that leadership is about service, courage, and creating opportunities for others and her tireless efforts to elevate the Hispanic market and tackle social, economic, and environmental challenges has been an example that continues to inspire me to act with purpose and courage."

Donna Garcia, Senior Partner

"One person who has shaped how I think about sustainability and leadership is Alison Harley, Global Director of Conservation in Fragile and Conflict-Affected States at WWF. Alison was my client when she served first as Communications Director, and later Country Director, of WWF Myanmar. She has since become a trusted friend and mentor.

What stands out about Alison is how she remains deeply grounded in empathy and partnership while leading conservation efforts in some of the world's most complex, conflict-affected environments. She has shown me that beyond protecting ecosystems, sustainability requires understanding communities, navigating sensitivities, and building trust that makes lasting change possible.

Through her work, I've seen how environmental stewardship, social justice, and peacebuilding are intrinsically linked, and how much courage and humility that intersection requires.

Alison's influence shows up in how I approach my work and the causes I care about: prioritizing relationships and storytelling that respect nuance, elevate local voices, and strive for impact over visibility."

Heather Gordon, Senior Partner

"I have two quotes that inspire me from the illustrious Maya Angelou:

'Determine to live life with flair and laughter.'

'Stormy or sunny days, glorious or lonely nights, I maintain an attitude of gratitude. If I insist on being pessimistic, there is always tomorrow. Today I am blessed.'"

Shivani Gupta, Managing Partner

"Two leaders who have profoundly shaped my thinking are Sudha Murthy and Ela Bhatt. Sudha Murthy's work reflects how education, when approached with empathy and intent, can become a long-term force for societal resilience. Ela Bhatt demonstrated that economic empowerment is foundational to social justice, and that sustainable progress begins by enabling individuals, especially women, to participate fully in the economy.

Their leadership reinforces my belief that meaningful change is built quietly, through consistency, inclusion, and a commitment to expanding opportunity for others."

Thekla Eftychiadou, Senior Partner

"Science is most powerful when it serves the people. That's why I'm inspired by Dr. Catherine Nakalembe this Women's History Month.

A Professor at UMD and Director for NASA Harvest Africa, Catherine is the 2020 Africa Food Prize Laureate, but her real trophy is the impact she's had on hundreds of thousands of lives. Her work is crucial because it supports the development of AI-driven satellite tools for disaster response, crop monitoring, and environmental resilience.

By using these technologies, she's giving communities the data they need to survive and thrive in a changing climate. She reminds us that a sustainable future isn't just about 'green,' it's about smart, collaborative, and inclusive innovation."

Telli Seth, Talent Acquisition Manager

"For me, inspiration comes from the women in healthcare who quietly sustain essential systems every day. My mother served as a registered nurse, and many women in my family are nurses and physicians, so I've always had deep respect for the discipline, resilience, and accountability the profession requires.

At FINN Partners, I see a strong parallel - our long-term success depends on building and supporting the right teams. Through Talent Acquisition, I'm focused on identifying and attracting thoughtful, high-performing talent who strengthen our culture and position FINN for continued growth and impact."

Alexis Simms, Associate Vice President

"The client that inspires me the most is Meharry Medical College, especially their executive leadership team. They are fully committed to creating the next generation of Black healthcare workers while actively investing in Nashville and many Tennessee communities. From providing high-quality educational programs for local K-12 students to expanding access to essential oral and primary care, their impact is incredible and easily felt and seen. I work with many people across the College, and they all truly embody the ethos of serving the underserved. Working with Meharry has pushed me to give my best and made me a better and more well-rounded communications professional."

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