Top 5 Influential Women Defining 2026
As industries continue to evolve in 2026, women across business, media, technology, wellness, and the creative sectors are redefining what leadership and influence look like on a global scale. Through innovation, resilience, and a commitment to meaningful impact, today’s leading women are not only building successful careers and companies, they are also shaping conversations, inspiring communities, and opening doors for future generations.
The women featured in this list represent a diverse range of expertise and accomplishments, yet they share a common ability to lead with vision and authenticity. Whether through entrepreneurship, advocacy, artistic expression, or transformative business strategies, each of them has demonstrated the power of influence in a rapidly changing world. Their work extends beyond personal achievement, contributing to broader cultural, professional, and social progress.
As audiences increasingly seek leaders who combine purpose with innovation, these women stand out for their ability to create lasting impact while remaining adaptable in an ever evolving landscape. “Top 5 Influential Women Defining 2026” celebrates individuals whose contributions are shaping industries, empowering others, and setting new standards for leadership in the year ahead.
1- Marta Rossato
Great design often begins with a feeling rather than a plan. It grows from a desire to create spaces that support daily life while also inspiring emotion. In today’s homes, there is a deeper need for connection, clarity, and meaning. Interiors are no longer just visual statements. They shape how people live, move, and experience their surroundings.
For Marta Rossato, Founder and Creative Director of Marta Rossato Interiors, this way of thinking is rooted in her own journey. Her path into design was not linear, shaped instead by life changes, bold decisions, and a strong instinct to create something of her own. After relocating from Rome to the UK in 2017 while seven months pregnant, she found herself starting over in a new place with no established network. Raising her child became her primary focus for several years, yet her connection to design never faded.
Four years later, watching her daughter step confidently into her first day of school felt like a turning point, and Marta began to rebuild her professional path. Around the same time, she was navigating a major renovation of her own home during lockdown, with two children and family life in full motion. What began as a practical transformation soon became something deeper.
She started documenting the process through a blog, sharing how she created small moments of beauty amid the disruption. Through this experience, she felt design was not only about space, but about how it shapes how people feel.
This period became a bridge into her professional work. She began working part-time in a furniture showroom in Bristol, where conversations with clients often evolved into full design discussions. In 2021, she formally launched her studio. And her work grew steadily from smaller projects into full home transformations involving construction and detailed coordination. She built strong systems to guide clients with clarity, while gaining confidence on-site and leading teams with authority.
Starting from zero in a new country, building a career while raising children without close family support, and turning a lifelong passion into a business required determination and trust in her own vision. Today, her work remains grounded in meaning, sustainability, and connection.
Marta Rossato continues to develop a practice that reflects who she is and what she stands for. Those interested in her work and ongoing projects can visit her website and follow her on social media for further insight.
2- Susan Jomha
The way a space is designed can influence how people move, gather, and feel within it. Thoughtful interiors create a sense of balance that feels natural and effortless. When every element is considered with care, a room begins to tell its own quiet story. It becomes a place that not only looks refined but also feels deeply personal.
Susan Jomha brings this philosophy into every project she takes on as an interior designer and decorator. Her work is rooted in the belief that a home should reflect both beauty and meaning. She focuses on creating interiors that feel elevated yet comfortable, with each element thoughtfully chosen to support the overall vision. Her approach is hands-on and detail-driven, allowing her to guide each project from concept through completion with clarity and precision.
As the founder and principal designer of Distinct Interior Design, she has built a reputation for delivering refined residential and commercial spaces. Her signature style leans toward modern luxury with a timeless quality. Clean lines meet rich textures, while a balanced palette creates a sense of calm and sophistication. Clients value her ability to turn ideas into spaces that feel cohesive and complete, with every layer carefully considered.
Her design journey began from a personal turning point. After years focused on family life, she chose to pursue a path that felt aligned with her creativity and passion. That decision led to a career that continues to grow through dedication and a strong connection with her clients. Their reactions and trust remain a driving force behind her work.
Her accomplishments reflect this commitment. She received a Gold Award at the International Architecture and Design Awards 2025 for the Sehg Residence. She also earned Platinum recognition in Entry Design and Kitchen and Dining Design categories. In addition, her insights have reached a wider audience through television appearances on CTV Edmonton.
Her vision centers on continued growth, thoughtful design, and building a recognizable identity within the industry. Each project contributes to a body of work that reflects intention, elegance, and a clear creative direction.
To learn more about her work and ongoing projects, visit her website and follow her on social media for updates and design inspiration.
3- Rebecca E. Tenzer
Conversations around mental health have evolved in recent years. More people are seeking support that feels personal, accessible, and connected to everyday life. At the same time, there is growing interest in wellness practices that support both emotional and physical health. This shift has encouraged professionals across the wellness space to rethink what modern care can look like and how communities can feel more supported in the healing process.
In Chicago, Rebecca E. Tenzer has built a practice that reflects this changing perspective on care. As the owner and head clinician of Astute Counseling & Wellness Services, she has created one of the first spaces in the city to combine a full-service mental health practice with a holistic wellness center under one roof.
Located in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago, the practice offers therapy for individuals, couples, and families through a team of more than 20 clinicians. Alongside traditional therapy services, clients also have access to yoga, Pilates, holistic fitness, massage, acupuncture, Reiki, bodywork, sound baths, and wellness workshops. The goal is to create an environment where mental and physical wellness work together in a more integrated way.
Rebecca Tenzer brings more than two decades of experience as a licensed clinician, educator, and professor. She is also a graduate of the University of Chicago. Her work and insights have appeared in publications including Forbes, Business Insider, Vogue, Parents.com, and Verywell Mind. She has also appeared as a guest expert on WGN television and radio programs, along with several wellness-focused podcasts.
Beyond media recognition, Rebecca Tenzer continues to focus on community impact. Astute Counseling & Wellness Services has partnered with local outreach programs and organizations across Chicago, including collaborations connected to animal care and mental health advocacy. She was also selected as a featured subject in the upcoming 2025 documentary Legacy Makers, which highlights individuals creating lasting impact in their industries.
Rebecca Tenzer continues to expand the reach of Astute Counseling & Wellness Services through educational programs, wellness retreats, and digital resources focused on accessible care.
To learn more about Astute Counseling & Wellness Services, visit the website and follow the practice on social media for updates on wellness programs, workshops, and community initiatives.
4- Stacey Lapuk
The feeling of home often begins long before a person notices the furniture, the colors, or the layout of a room. It starts with a sense of ease. Natural light across a quiet space, textures that invite comfort, and thoughtful details can shape the mood of everyday life in powerful ways.
For four decades, Stacey Lapuk Interiors has focused on creating interiors that feel layered, personal, and enduring. Led by owner and designer Stacey Lapuk, the award-winning firm brings together interior design, interior architecture, and fine arts influences to shape homes that reflect the lives of the people who live in them.
Stacey’s background in fine arts continues to influence her creative process. She often describes interiors as three-dimensional paintings, carefully composed through texture, scale, lighting, and craftsmanship. Her experience growing up in New England and later living on the West Coast introduced her to a wide range of design perspectives. European influences, California aesthetics, Asian details, and Spanish inspiration from Mexico all contribute to the firm’s signature style.
At the center of the firm’s philosophy is Biophilic Design. This approach connects interiors with nature and supports health, well-being, and emotional comfort. Natural materials, thoughtful lighting, organic textures, and balanced spaces help create homes that feel restorative and grounded. Rather than following short-lived trends, the firm focuses on timeless interiors that continue to feel relevant and meaningful over time.
In addition to its full-service luxury design work, Stacey Lapuk Interiors recently introduced Design For You, a more accessible and curated design service. The offering was created for clients who want personalized guidance without committing to large-scale luxury budgets. The service includes consultations, floor plans, design boards, lighting plans, material selections, and curated shopping resources that clients can implement at their own pace.
Throughout the years, the firm’s work has been featured internationally and recognized through publications such as Architectural Digest and Traditional Home, along with appearances on HGTV and designer showcase houses. Still, Stacey places the greatest value on long-term client relationships and homes that continue to support people through different stages of life.
To learn more about her projects, visit the company website and follow along on social media for updates and upcoming projects.
5- Annette Dunn
Conversations at home shape how children see themselves and the world around them. When families create open spaces to talk, kids grow with confidence and a stronger sense of trust. These moments may not always feel easy, but they can make the deepest impact on a child’s choices and well-being.
This belief inspired the work of Nurse Netty, a registered nurse, health educator, and soon-to-be Dr. Dunn. Through her company, How to Have the Talk–Sensitive Solutions, she has built a platform that helps parents navigate the most important yet often avoided conversations. Her mission is clear: strengthen family bonds by teaching parents how to guide their children through topics that matter most.
Nurse Netty created the concept of the RAD parent, which stands for resourceful, approachable, and dependable. Her goal is to see every parent feel confident stepping into this role. Over the years, she has taught thousands of families, spoken at Purdue University, and appeared across media platforms such as Roku, YouTube, and AmazonTV. Her journey began with a small class of five boys in 2014 and has grown into a movement with global reach.
To support busy parents in today’s digital age, she has expanded her work online. The launch of NurseNettyAI, along with the RAD parent library, podcasts, digital shorts, and an upcoming audiobook, gives families instant access to tools and support. She also developed the SECURE method, a framework that helps parents start and sustain meaningful conversations without fear or hesitation.
“My vision is to reach one million parents across the globe,” says Nurse Netty. “I have kept my pricing affordable because I don’t want cost to be a barrier for any family. Every parent deserves the tools to connect with their kids, and every child deserves to feel safe and supported.”
Her focus now is on continuing to build resources that meet parents where they are and give children the chance to feel heard. By making tools simple and accessible, she hopes to remove barriers and keep important conversations going in every home.
For more information, visit the website and follow Nurse Netty on social media to stay connected and explore resources designed to support families every step of the way.
