The tech industry has long been dominated by men, but women have been making tremendous strides in recent years, shattering glass ceilings and reshaping the landscape of innovation. From pioneering entrepreneurs to visionary engineers and influential executives, women are leaving an indelible mark on the world of technology.
That’s why we’re celebrating 26 remarkable women in emerging tech hubs who are not only excelling in their fields but also paving the way for future generations of female tech leaders.
These trailblazers represent a diverse range of backgrounds, experiences, and areas of expertise within the tech sector. From artificial intelligence and biotech to investing and community building — and everything in between — these women are pushing the boundaries of what's possible and challenging long-held assumptions about gender roles in technology.
26 Top Women to Know in Midwest Tech
Crystal Brown
As the CEO and co-founder of CircNova, Inc., Crystal Brown leads an early stage biotechnology company that leverages its unique AI NovaEngine™ to identify, generate, and design circular RNA for therapeutic development. Crystal brings over 20 years of experience in operations, program management, and leadership roles in various industries to help drive innovation and growth in the biotech sector. In addition to CircNova, Crystal also co-founded and served as the CEO of Great Lakes Biologics, a CRO that specialized in the process development of small scale batches of biologic product candidates. As a female founder of color and a top woman in tech, Crystal is committed to building a diverse and inclusive technical workforce in biotechnology and empowering the next generation of biotech leaders.
Lisa M. Chambers
Lisa M. Chambers is the Chief Executive Officer at TECH CORPS, a national nonprofit organization that imagines a world where every student has a keen understanding of how technology impacts their lives, empowers them to become full participants in society, and unlocks the door to a successful future. TECH CORPS is closing the equity gap in technology by delivering high-quality, career-connected computer science programs to K-12 students historically underrepresented in technology fields and their educators. Lisa was named among 11 recipients of the inaugural Ohio Trailblazers Award presented by Verizon, celebrating the women transforming Ohio tech. She has a passion for providing access and opportunity to people who have been marginalized and does so through the lens of technology.
Tamira Chapman
Tamira Chapman is the Founder and President of Storehouse, the 8th fastest-growing woman-owned enterprise globally in 2022. In her roles, she has harnessed the power of E-commerce to not only dominate market share with a 98% customer retention rate but also to serve as a catalyst for societal change, raising millions for nonprofits and providing essential resources to African villages. A pioneer of the E-commerce subscription model, Tamira leveraged her expertise to shape Ford Motor Company's E-commerce and social media strategies while safeguarding the brand through robust legal strategies. A recognized industry leader with accolades, including being recognized as EY Entrepreneur of the Year in the Midwest, an Enterprising Woman, a WPO, and JP Morgan Woman 2 Watch, Tamira also lends her expertise to influential boards and organizations, perpetually driving business innovation.
Mimi Chizever
Based in Columbus, Ohio, Mimi Chizever is the VP of Technology Strategy & Innovation at Nationwide, where she leads the integration of Generative AI to enhance productivity and customer service. Her long career at Nationwide has been focused on technology transformation and other initiatives that bolster expertise, establish robust governance, and foster a culture of innovation. Mimi is driven by the potential to make a difference—whether it's through leading high-performing teams to drive enterprise-wide transformations or navigating the intersection of strategy, technology, and innovation.
Lauren Flanagan
As Co-founder and CEO of Sesame Solar, Lauren Flanagan is helping lead the team that’s decarbonizing disaster response and off-grid power. Based in Jackson, Michigan, Sesame Solar designs and manufactures the world’s first 100% renewable mobile Nanogrids that bring power to communities in less than 15 minutes when disaster strikes. Lauren is a lifelong entrepreneur, strategic advisor and angel investor. She’s been recognized for her work and leadership in Time Magazine’s Best Inventions (2023), Inc.‘s 2024 Female Founders 250, and is a part of the Clean Mobile Power cohort.
Patti Glaza
As the EVP & Managing Director at Invest Detroit Ventures, Patti Glaza brings twenty years of high-tech and high-growth investment and operational experience to the Detroit startup community. She manages several venture funds and has invested in pre-seed and seed-stage technology start-ups for over ten years, accelerating high-growth companies in the Great Lakes region. The portfolio includes over 200 companies, and Patti also serves on the board of several innovative startups and industry associations. Entrepreneur, coach, and champion for the Michigan startup and tech community, Patti is a top woman in tech.
Megan Glover
Megan Glover is the co-founder and CEO of 120Water, the nation's leading provider of software and solutions that water quality professionals use to manage lead mitigation and other compliance programs. Megan founded 120Water in 2016 after experiencing a personal need to test her own tap water. That impetus grew as Megan’s passion to bring modern digital technology to the water sector grew, and she proudly launched the Badass Women of Water “BAWOW” ecosystem. In addition to leading 120Water, Megan is an active board member and Capital Chair of the Indiana Innovation and Technology Association and was appointed by Governor Holcomb in 2019 to serve on the Governor’s Workforce Development Cabinet. She is also an inaugural member of The White House Get the Lead Out task force. Glover is a 2x Inc Women of the Year and E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year finalist. 2018 IBJ Forty Under 40 2021 Indiana Chamber Dynamic Leader of the Year, DePauw University Robert C McDermond Medal for Excellence in Entrepreneurship and Young Alumni Award.
Elizabeth Hagerman
Elizabeth M. Hagerman, Ph.D., is a biotech leader currently serving as Chief Innovation Officer for UW Health. She’s also Executive Director of UW Health’s Isthmus Project, an innovation initiative in partnership with the UW School of Medicine and Public Health. Elizabeth is responsible for operations of the Isthmus Project, which provides a place for healthcare innovators to seek support for their ideas that aim to achieve better health outcomes or to solve problems facing UW Health patients, providers and the health system.
Katie Hall
Katie Hall is Founder and CEO of Claira, a software startup building an AI talent assistant. Throughout her experience working in business, public policy and government, she has spent 10 years helping organizations prepare for the AI impact on the future of work. Claira was selected in 2021 for the Google for Startups Accelerator and Katie has been named a Forbes Next 1000.
Nadiyah Johnson
Milwaukee’s Nadiyah Johnson is the CEO and Founder of Jet Constellations, a fast-growing software company that provides technology solutions in the medical, financial, and socially responsible industries. As a technologist and STEM advocate, Nadiyah is also the founder of the Milky Way Tech Hub, a community that is actively transforming Milwaukee into a tech hub that functions to spur economic inclusion and develop sustainable solutions around the racial wealth and achievement gaps in the city. In 2023, Nadiyah was appointed to serve on the Governor’s Task Force on Workforce and Artificial Intelligence, underscoring Nadiyah’s expertise and leadership in the tech industry.
Achsha Jones
Achsha Jones is a serial entrepreneur dedicated to solving important challenges within the food, education, and transportation industries. Her most recent venture, TripSlip, a Detroit based edtech company that has solved the paper problem for field trips. Achsha is an active member in the Detroit startup and tech community and is currently the Entrepreneur in Residence at the Detroit Neighborhood Entrepreneur Project. A lifelong and intentional Detroiter, she is passionate about entrepreneurship, transportation equity, access and availability.
Jasmit Kaur
Jasmit Kaur is CEO of Culturebie, a people analytics company that specializes in understanding employee experience and workplace culture. She brings her experience as a former HR executive at Microsoft to her work as an entrepreneur, data scientist, and mom. Jasmit applies her endless curiosity and tireless energy toward advising leaders on HR and business strategy.
Amanda Lewan
Amanda Lewan is a Detroit-based entrepreneur with a mission to change culture and inspire innovation. She co-founded Bamboo, overseeing its three locations, and serving 1,300 members. Bamboo’s mission is to serve as a space platform for Michigan entrepreneurs and doers. Additionally, Amanda has helped to launch impactful programs including accelerators, conferences, and community meetups. She has been influential in the growth and development of the Detroit startup community.
Anna Mao
Based in Ann Arbor, Anna Mao is the VP of Operations at Enpower Greentech, a global battery manufacturer with North American offices in California and Ann Arbor. In her role, Anna oversees the Ann Arbor campus expansion efforts, helping establish the new location, secure customers and sign contracts with Michigan automotive OEMs. In an ever growing industry, Anna is helping lead the way toward a greener future that is built in Michigan.
Rochelle Nawrocki-Gorey
Rochelle Nawrocki Gorey is the Founder & CEO of SpringFour, the first-of-its-kind, leading financial health fintech that empowers banks, lenders, credit unions, and more to deliver financial health resources to consumers. In 2024, Gorey was named to the 2024 American Banker Most Influential Women in Fintech and Inc's 2024 250 Female Founders, and in 2023, she was awarded Finovate’s 2023 Innovator of the Year award and SpringFour was recognized with Fast Company’s 2023 Brands that Matter. A trusted expert, thought leader, and innovator, Gorey is revolutionizing the way the financial industry responds to consumers experiencing hardships by improving customer outcomes while driving impact for organizations and their bottom lines.
Emma Off
Emma Off is CEO, President, and Partner at CincyTech, which invests in innovative founders tackling the world’s complex problems. Here she works with entrepreneurs, investors, economic development partners, research institutions, and community stakeholders to advance CincyTech’s mission. She has spent over a decade working as a lawyer, and her vast experience with mergers and acquisitions has made her an indispensable advisor to high-growth companies, venture funds, and the founders, investors, and boards that support them. A Cincinnati native, Emma is actively involved in the community through her leadership in organizations such as ArtWorks, ArtsWave, the Ohio Arts Council, and the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens.
Angela Peat
Angela Peat is the Co-Founder of Delve Collective, a platform that connects teams with an elite community of digital professionals who are experts at solving complex digital problems and driving results. As a co-founder and servant leader of the Delve Collective, Angela champions the democratization of high-end technology consulting services, ensuring they are accessible to start-ups, non-profits, and credit unions. Beyond her business achievements, Angela dedicates 10-15% of her time to mentoring within the tech and small business community, driven by a belief in the power of connectivity to foster economic growth and innovation. Angela is heavily involved in the Ann Arbor tech community and leverages her technical expertise to drive digital transformation.
Carolina Pluszczynski
Carolina Pluszczynski is the Chief Operating Officer at Michigan Central, a 30-acre campus that serves as a powerful convening place and real-world test bed to build the urban transportation solutions that advance a more sustainable, equitable future. Carolina has worked in a range of leadership roles at Ford Motor Company, including Chief of Staff for the Mobility President. Her work has focused on delivering large scale technology programs to transform the business in manufacturing and product development, and company-wide programs to accelerate changes in corporate governance, implementing product driven teams, and progressing diversity and inclusion.
Heidi Poscher
Ann Arbor-based Heidi Poscher is an innovative, green solutions founder. Much of her career has been spent consulting with C-suite peers for some of the largest domestic Investor-Owned Utilities, offering guidance on technology planning, systems integration, performance evaluation, and proof of impact via operational improvements. She now serves as Sustainable Technology Advisor at 4M where she leads a team that is strategically integrating energy systems into real estate developments, creating forward-looking solutions that meet the needs of the community.
Mariyah Saifuddin
Mariyah Saifuddin is the co-founder and CEO of Innovative Solution Partners, a Michigan-based IT consulting firm that guides enterprise clients across the nation in using data to drive business growth. Since 1999, Innovative Solution Partners has been helping businesses save money and maximize their budget dollars by creating custom analytic and reporting solutions for informed decision making. Mariyah’s decades of IT and entrepreneurship experience helps her team fulfill their mission of connecting the dots between people, operations, and technology to achieve clarity across an organization. Innovative Solution Partners is an SAP Services Partner, a graduate of the SBA 8(a) program, and a certified minority and women-owned enterprise. She serves as the President for the NAWBO Greater Detroit Chapter as well a Board Director for CARES in Farmington Hills, the first Michigan food pantry to have an on-site SNAP store. Mariyah has been recognized as an Enterprising Women Honoree in 2022 for her commitment to business and the community.
Charlene Tay
Charlene Tay is the Sr. Director of AI and Data Science at the Engineered Innovation Group (EIG), an innovation and development agency specializing in partnering with founders to help companies of all sizes create meaningful products and build their software organizations. With a background in applied machine learning and AI, Charlene has worked across the High Alpha portfolio, supporting startup founders in developing their ML/AI initiatives and building data products. Before joining EIG, Charlene led data science at Pattern89, a marketing AI company later acquired by Shutterstock, where she expanded her expertise in predictive and generative AI solutions.
Alison Todak
Alison Todak is Director of Platform at Plymouth Growth, an investment firm that supports growth-stage tech companies. In addition to her work at Plymouth Growth, connecting startups to the resources they need, Alison has spent a decade building up Ann Arbor's tech ecosystem. She’s helped launch accelerators, establish and grow a community of women in tech called Shine & Rise, and helped other women enter the field of venture capital. Her work as an ecosystem builder and leader in tech has helped support the community and pave the way for more women in tech.
Kara Uchtman
Cincinnati tech leader Kara Uchtman is the Co-founder and Chief Product Officer of Narratize, a startup that’s building a generative AI co-author to help distill the most complex scientific, technical, and medical insights into content that convinces across the innovation cycle. Working alongside the all-female executive team, Kara is a passionate problem solver comfortable in a fast-moving, results-driven environment, with a successful track record of defining and executing against strategic and innovative initiatives significantly impacting the company’s valuation.
Trista Van Tine
Trista Van Tine has been a crucial part of the growth of the Michigan startup and tech community. After working in startups and venture capital in the UK, California and Switzerland, she returned to Michigan in 2020, co-founded Michigan Founders Fund (MFF) and served as its Executive Director through 2023. This statewide effort to build bridges across each region of the state in service of entrepreneurs has been a model of culture and community for other support organizations. She also created Michigan Tech Week; established the first of its kind team-style pitch competition for founders from different companies to win non-dilutive funding with the MFF Venture Competition; launched a DEIB Internship Program for underrepresented students to get experience in tech startups and VC; established the MFF Founders Retreat, and helped MFF achieve the 100-member milestone in a short period of time. Now, Trista is working on her own startup venture - helping companies and organizations with distributed people networks scale their offerings with a new human-centered AI platform - and continuing to make a meaningful impact across the tech industry.
Tia White
Tia White is General Manager of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning at Amazon Web Services. Long before most organizations had data transformations and cloud migrations on the radar, Tia was pioneering innovations like these at Fortune 100 companies like Capital One, JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo and more. With her extensive background in engineering, professional experience as a CTO, and a director of the most innovative technology at some of the world’s biggest companies, Tia is a top leader in tech. On top of that, she’s a purpose-driven leader and passionate about creating a STEM world where women, Black and Brown people are no longer a minority.
Kristi Zuhlke
Kristi Zuhlke is the CEO and Founder of Dott, a mobile app that uses computer vision and other generative AI technology to transform memories — in any media — into your engaging stories, privately and smartly storing them now and years into the future. As a serial entrepreneur, Kristi has built impactful tech teams with supportive work cultures. She has also been an advocate and mentor for other women in tech, making sure to support employees and uplift the other women around her.
