HR.com Recognizes Top CHROs and Women Leaders in Human Resources for 2026

The 2026 Top CHROs, Top Women CHRO Leaders, and Top Women Founders in HR Awards were announced during HR.com’s CHRO Virtual Event on February 25, honoring executives who consistently drive organizational success. These honorees exemplify exceptional leadership, strategic vision, and outstanding contributions that inspire teams and drive results across dynamic, evolving workplaces. The recognition matters because it spotlights the critical role human resources professionals play in shaping organizational culture, fostering innovation, and achieving measurable business outcomes in today’s competitive landscape.

The list of Top CHROs of the Year includes Amy Cappellanti-Wolf of Dayforce, Angella Alexander of ATS Corporation, Ariane Hermansen of Servier, Carina Cortez of Cornerstone OnDemand, Christen Scofield of Panorama Insurance Associates, Christina Payne of Precise Systems, Inc., Dr. Kylie Ensrud of Humanized HR, Dr. Waajida Small of Trinity Church NYC, Jeff Simpson of Association of Alberta Municipalities, Jemar Ward of Public Health Solutions, Jody Lirette of HELP USA, Kashan Akram of Cnergyico Pk Limited, Katkoor Srinivas Rao of SAS India, Ms. Dolloress Johnson, MPA, pHCLE, of Arlington ISD, Nancy Masoud of Orange Public School District, Olena Fedorchenko of Codify, Raquel Hoffstot of Circular Services Inc, Ren Jethi, CPHR, SHRM-SCP, of Akhurst Machinery Ltd., and Smruti Kasulwar of Salaam Bombay Foundation. These leaders demonstrate how strategic HR management directly impacts employee engagement, operational efficiency, and long-term organizational resilience.

The Top Women CHRO Leaders category features Angella Alexander of ATS Corporation, Billie Wright of The Recycling Partnership, Carla Gatza of Action Property Management, Christen Scofield of Panorama Insurance Associates, Donna Smith of The Jewish Board, Dr. Kylie Ensrud of Humanized HR, Felicia Rickett-Samuels of Bronxworks, Gigi Garcia of Commonpoint, Jennifer Butler of Pavement Preservation Group, Kartheka R of Madras, Kellie Teal Guess of Rackspace Technologies, Kristin Scott of Health Alliance, Marisol Cortez of Berry Corporation, Nahla Abualula of SADAFC, Nancy Masoud of Orange Public School District, Oriana Vogel of ZS, Ren Jethi, CPHR, SHRM-SCP, of Akhurst Machinery Ltd., Rupali Srivastav of CareEdge, Tracey Schiro of Ochsner Health, and Waajida Small of Trinity Church NYC. This recognition underscores the growing influence of women in senior HR roles and their contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives that are essential for modern workplaces.

The Top Women Founders in HR list includes Aminata Coulibaly of Aminata Digital Shop, Amy Spurling of Compt, Ange MacCabe of Intuity Performance, Candice Faktor of Disco, Christine Nichlos of People Science/Hiregate, Ciela de La Torre of Makwa Global, LLC, Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer of Bentzen Performance Partners, Darlene Nue of The Money Collective, Deb Muller of HR Acuity, Dr. Cornelia Shipley Bearyman of 3C Consulting, French Self of AmeriSource HR Consulting Group, LLC, Jean Roque of Trüpp, JoDee Curtis of Purple Ink LLC, Kara Yarnot of Meritage Talent Solutions, Katherin Nukk-Freeman of SHIFT HR Compliance Training, Kimberly Miles of The Payroll Company, Maury Hanigan of SparcStart, Melissa Pearce of The Money Collective, Rachel Schneider of Canary, Ren Jethi, CPHR, SHRM-SCP, of Akhurst Machinery Ltd., Ruth Thomas of Payscale, Sarah Hamilton-Gill of Globus HR Consulting Ltd., Sarah Wilkins of Reverb, Shana Ryan of Conceptual HR Solutions, Sneh Lata of RChilli Inc., Sue Marks of Cielo Talent, and Tiffany Sequeira of Prestige Development Group. These founders are driving innovation in HR technology, consulting, and services, addressing evolving challenges in talent management, compliance, and workforce development.

HR.com CEO Debbie McGrath emphasized the importance of these awards, stating, “Exceptional HR leaders shape the future of their organizations through vision, strategy, and execution. These executives and founders in HR are driving innovation, inspiring teams, and delivering measurable results. Congratulations to all the winners and nominees for their outstanding contributions!” The full list of awards can be viewed at https://www.hr.com/awards. This announcement highlights the strategic value of HR leadership in navigating complex business environments, where effective people management is increasingly linked to organizational performance and sustainability. The recognition serves as a benchmark for excellence in the field, encouraging continuous improvement and innovation across the HR profession.