Women in Agribusiness (WIA) has announced the 13 winners of its inaugural WIA Leadership Awards, a new program recognizing the industry’s most influential women for their specific contributions to the future of the food and agriculture sector.
The WIA Leadership Awards are the only independently judged, discipline-specific recognitions in agriculture designed to honor the executives, investors, technologists, and advisors shaping the industry’s future. The program is part of WIA’s broader awards platform alongside its long-standing Demeter Award of Excellence – WIA’s highest honor since 2013, which recognizes cumulative, career-defining contributions to the sector. Together, the two programs form a complete picture of women’s contributions to agriculture: the Demeter Award for exceptional achievement built over a career, and the Leadership Awards for the most consequential work being done in specific disciplines right now.
“We are proud to announce the inaugural class of WIA Leadership Award honorees as they represent the strategic and operational excellence that is driving the agribusiness sector forward,” said Svitlana Synkovska, WIA portfolio director. “These leaders are not just excelling in their fields; they are defining what is possible in agricultural technology, finance, talent development, and executive strategy. Their achievements provide a clear benchmark for leadership across the industry.”
The selection process was guided by an independent judging panel, which evaluated nominations against defined criteria for each of the six categories. Nominees were assessed based on quantifiable outcomes, recent achievements, and impact beyond their immediate organizations.
The winners of the 2026 Women in Agribusiness Leadership Awards are:
Executive Leadership
Sarah Beth Aubrey, Founder & CEO, The Envoy Group
Marji Guyler-Alaniz, CEO, AgriSompo North America
Meryl Kennedy, CEO, Kennedy Rice Mill, LLC
Christy Seyfert, CEO, Farm Credit Council
Sara Wyant, Founder & President, Agri-Pulse Communications
Innovation & AI Leadership
Sarah Hinkley, Co-founder & CEO, Barn Owl Precision Agriculture
Investment & Capital Leadership
Susan Payne, Co-founder & CEO, Holistic Agricultural Investments Group Ltd (HAIG)
Talent & Workforce Leadership
Kathy Eichlin, Head of Corporate & Crop Protection Communications, Syngenta North America
Advisory & Consulting Leadership
Jacqueline Langlois, Founder & CEO, Gen D Consulting
Krista Swanson, Chief Economist, National Corn Growers Association
Rising Leadership
Samantha Shapess, General Manager, Mercer Milling
Natalie Shaw Wagner, Communications Lead, CHS Inc.
Baylie Williams, Owner & CEO, Eden Bay Advising
The winners will be formally recognized at an awards presentation on September 24 during the 2026 Women in Agribusiness Summit in New Orleans.
