2023 Most Influential Women

Editor's Note: If you’ve attended a Most Influential Women event in recent years, you’ve seen the videos that play as honorees accept their awards on stage. A line from Deputy Superintendent of Academics for Springfield Public Schools Nicole Holt’s video submitted for this year’s event has stuck with me. She talked about the little and big things the honorees do to impact the community.

Often, we celebrate the big things – as we should – but we forget to acknowledge or celebrate small things. Most of our days are made up of small things – maybe it’s meetings, project work, volunteering, emails and phone calls, housework, and friends and family time. Our daily actions and choices make up our lives and, ultimately, determine influence and impact. Taking pride and care in the small things is how we get entrusted with the big things.

The honorees in this year’s 2023 class of Most Influential Women have shown their dedication to the little and big things. I hope this year’s class feels this honor not just at the awards event but also in the quiet moments that don’t involve a stage. You’ve earned this distinction.

A special thanks to the panel of judges who selected this year’s class. We hope you enjoy reading this special edition.

—Christine Temple, Executive Editor