Executive Women of New Jersey Honors 48 Change Makers Leading the Charge Across the Garden State

2026 Salute to the Policy Makers Gala celebrates game-changing achievement, excellence and resilience while investing in the next generation of women leaders

PEQUANNOCK TOWNSHIP, N.J., Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Beneath the chandeliers of The Legacy Castle, 48 women whose work is changing companies, institutions, industries and communities across New Jersey took the stage Wednesday evening as Executive Women of New Jersey (EWNJ) honored them at its 2026 Salute to the Policy Makers Gala.

The biennial celebration recognized accomplished women from the public and private sectors whose leadership, excellence, resilience and achievements are creating change and helping move New Jersey forward. From CEOs and senior executives to attorneys, educators, civic leaders and professionals in health care, finance, nonprofit organizations and the arts, the 2026 honorees reflected the depth, reach and influence of women's leadership across the Garden State.

"There is no greater testament to America's forward movement than tonight's honorees, a diverse group of women who earned their seat at the table, built their own tables, and created more seats at the table for both women and men," said Susan K. Dromsky-Reed, Esq., president of EWNJ.

Drawing on America's 250th anniversary, Dromsky-Reed connected the evening's celebration to the long history of women advancing opportunity and challenging barriers. She recalled Abigail Adams's 1776 appeal to her husband to "Remember the ladies" and reflected on the enduring symbolism of the Statue of Liberty.

"Lady Liberty is a strong woman holding a beacon of light, taking a step forward into a future shaped by leaders who have courage and integrity. She's walking into the future we want to see for our daughters, our granddaughters, our sons, our grandsons, and the many generations thereafter," Dromsky-Reed said.

Since 1980, EWNJ has championed women business leaders and worked to increase the presence and influence of women in top leadership across New Jersey. This year's Salute recognized women from business, law, education, government, health care, finance, nonprofit organizations and the arts — women who demonstrate excellence, resilience and achievement in their professions and whose work is producing meaningful change.

Onome Adejemilua, Esq., board president-elect of Executive Women of New Jersey and chair of the 2026 Salute to the Policy Makers Gala, reinforced the significance of the evening by connecting the honorees' accomplishments to the broader influence of women's leadership on business, society and future generations.

"Inclusion and equal access to opportunity are at the heart of EWNJ's work, and tonight's diverse and dynamic honorees are a testament to why these principles matter. They matter because women's leadership moves organizations and communities forward. Diverse voices at the decision-making table move us forward," said Adejemilua. "They lead to stronger ideas, sharper judgment, and better outcomes. The data is irrefutable."

She underscored that EWNJ's commitment to advancing women in leadership is supported by years of research demonstrating the financial value of women's participation in corporate decision-making. Adejemilua also emphasized that the gala's impact extends beyond recognizing today's accomplished women. Proceeds support EWNJ's Graduate Merit Award program, which helps women pursue advanced education and prepare for leadership roles. "Most importantly, our scholarship recipients continue to do extraordinary things. Adejemilua said. "They are conducting groundbreaking research, making scientific breakthroughs, creating economic opportunities for those less fortunate, and so much more. This is why we will continue making progress."

Throughout the evening, recognition gave way to reflection, connection and celebration as guests gathered for a reception and dinner, applauded each honoree and heard from keynote speaker Mikki Taylor, author, cultural storyteller, producer and editor-at-large at ESSENCE magazine.

For more than three decades, Taylor has used the power of storytelling and imagery to affirm, inspire and influence change. Through her work with ESSENCE and beyond, she has helped shape the visual narrative of Black excellence, elevate women's stories and connect generations through conversations about purpose, leadership and impact.

At the Salute, Taylor urged guests to look beyond individual accomplishments and consider what their leadership makes possible for others. "A woman holding a position of power matters, don't get me wrong. But what changes because she holds that position matters just as much," Taylor said.

She called on the honorees to translate their influence into action, outlining seven edicts of consequential leadership:

1. Rewrite the rules of possibility.
2. Question the conventional and champion the extraordinary.
3. Make courage non-negotiable.
4. Make collective power consequential.
5. Own the conversation or surrender the opportunity.
6. Be an architect of the future and a steward of transformation.
7. The future is on your watch. Make it count.

Taylor concluded with a challenge: "Know that the future is being written on your watch. Make certain your leadership makes the next chapter extraordinary."

That message echoed throughout an evening designed to celebrate more than professional titles or individual accomplishments. The women honored by EWNJ are change makers whose influence extends beyond their titles — into the organizations they lead, the industries they are helping transform, the communities they serve and the people they inspire.

The celebration also looked toward the women who will create the next wave of change. Proceeds from the gala support EWNJ's Graduate Merit Award Program, which has provided more than $1.4 million in scholarships to nearly 350 women pursuing graduate education at New Jersey colleges and universities. The program reflects EWNJ's commitment not only to recognizing accomplished leaders today, but also to developing the women who will shape New Jersey's future.

That commitment became personal when Talin M. Araian, an EWNJ Graduate Merit Award recipient and doctoral candidate in counseling psychology at Felician University, addressed the gala audience about the impact of the program and shared her journey of returning to graduate school after two decades. With her mother and daughter in attendance during the gala, Araian discussed her research into intimate partner violence and post-separation abuse and the importance of creating opportunities for other women.

"For me, I now recognize that success does not have an expiration date, and the experiences that shape us can make us better leaders, professionals, and advocates," Araian said. Reflecting on the importance of lifting others, she added, "Supporting other women adds to who we are, and to me, there is nothing more beautiful than women who use the strength they have gained from their own struggles to help pave the way for another."

As each honoree's name was called and the room celebrated her accomplishments, the evening made visible what change looks like across New Jersey — one leader, one organization and one community at a time. For EWNJ, that is what the Salute to the Policy Makers is about: honoring the women leading the charge today while helping prepare the change makers who will follow.

About Executive Women of New Jersey

Executive Women of New Jersey (EWNJ) is the leading executive women's organization committed to increasing the presence of women in boardrooms and top leadership of New Jersey companies. Founded in 1980, EWNJ brings together senior women leaders, advocates for women's advancement and supports the development of future leaders through its Graduate Merit Award Program, which has awarded more than $1.4 million in scholarships to women pursuing graduate degrees at New Jersey colleges and universities. For more information, visit www.ewnj.org.

SOURCE Executive Women of New Jersey