Welcoming Six Outstanding Leaders to ATHENA International’s Board of Directors
ATHENA International is proud to announce the appointment of six deeply respected, visionary leaders to its Board of Directors—each one bringing unique strengths, lived experience, and values-aligned leadership to our global mission of igniting, inspiring, and celebrating women leaders.
This year’s appointments include two returning trailblazers whose past service left a profound mark on ATHENA’s legacy, and four remarkable new directors with expertise spanning finance, entrepreneurship, marketing, public affairs, Indigenous impact, and inclusive technology.
(Top Row Left to Right) Sarah Jennings, Karen Bird, Rana Ghadban (Bottom Row Left to Right) Nicole Newman Enslein, Isadora Maria Mendes de Souza, Ann Playter
🌟 Reinstating Legacy Champions: Ann Playter & Sarah Jennings
After more than five years since their original board terms concluded, Ann Playter and Sarah Jennings return to the ATHENA Board, bringing deep institutional knowledge, long-standing commitment, and hard-won leadership experience.
Ann Playter, ATHENA’s 2024 Global Leadership Award honoree, was instrumental in sustaining the organization through the turbulence of the pandemic. She has long exemplified ATHENA’s Eight Principles of Leadership, through her courage, authenticity, and unwavering generosity. Her ability to instill order, structure, and trust during complex transitions has left a lasting imprint on the ATHENA community.
Sarah Jennings, CPA, CFE, CAE, is a nationally recognized leader in nonprofit consulting, financial accountability, and community engagement. As a past ATHENA Leadership Award recipient and one of ATHENA’s first Global Servant Leader Award honorees, Sarah brings a legacy of service and a bold, strategic vision for the future of leadership. Her long-time advocacy for women in leadership and her creation of local ATHENA networks speaks volumes to her lasting influence.
🌍 Welcoming Four Powerful New Voices to the Board
Joining Ann and Sarah are four new directors who represent the future of global, purpose-driven leadership:
Nicole Newman Enslein is a powerhouse marketing strategist, angel investor, and founder/CEO of Sublime Communications—a women-owned, innovation-led growth acceleration firm. Nicole has led marketing for Fortune 500 companies, launched major IPO campaigns, and curated global events at Davos and beyond. Her bold storytelling, entrepreneurial spirit, and deep network connections will help amplify ATHENA’s impact on a global scale.
Karen Bird is a trailblazing Ojibwe leader and Indigenous economic strategist. As Chief Impact Officer at the Indigenous Impact Investment Circle (3IC), Karen bridges capital and community with authenticity and intention. She is the first Indigenous ATHENA Certified Facilitator in North America and a former Chamber of Commerce President. Karen’s advocacy for women, reconciliation, and culturally grounded leadership brings vital insight to ATHENA’s evolving vision.
Rana Ghadban is a chamber executive and economic development strategist with a proven record of revitalizing organizations and communities. Now serving as Vice President of Small Business Advocacy for CalChamber, Rana previously led five Chambers of Commerce across California. As an ATHENA Certified Facilitator, along with her blend of operational excellence, coalition-building, and passion for civic engagement makes her a natural leader for ATHENA’s expanding U.S. and global footprint.
Isadora Maria Mendes de Souza, a Brazilian-born tech visionary and Business Program Manager at Microsoft, brings a deeply inclusive and systems-thinking approach to leadership. An ATHENA Certified Facilitator and award-winning innovator in AI and UX, Isadora fuses data, design, and sacred feminine wisdom to reimagine leadership in the digital age. Her unique perspective on equitable technology and spiritual resilience will inform ATHENA’s global dialogue on emerging leadership paradigms.
✨ United by Service and Vision
These six women represent far more than impressive résumés. They embody the essence of servant leadership—championing others, giving selflessly, and creating ripple effects that span generations. From returning champions to bold new voices, these leaders reflects ATHENA’s values in action: collaboration, courage, authenticity, compassion, and purpose.
Their collective energy and expertise will help guide ATHENA International into an exciting new era—expanding our reach, deepening our impact, and ensuring women, girls, and allies everywhere have the tools, support, and community to collectively thrive.
We are honored to welcome them.
“Each of these remarkable leaders brings not only extraordinary expertise, but also a deep alignment with ATHENA’s mission and values. Together, they represent the next wave of global, servant-hearted leadership—one that is bold, compassionate, and committed to advancing conscious leadership everywhere. I couldn’t be more honored to walk alongside them as we co-create ATHENA’s future.”
- Traci Costa ATHENA President/CEO