
Celebrating Cambridge Women in Business
The Inspire Awards recognize the commitment and contributions of outstanding women leaders in the Cambridge community.
2023 Lifetime Achievement Award:
Gilda Nogueira, Chief Executive Officer, East Cambridge Savings Bank
2023 Inspire Awardees:
- Heather Henriksen, Chief Sustainability Officer, Harvard University
- Denise Jillson, Executive Director, Harvard Square Business Association
- Emma Lees, SVP, BMS Oncology Research and Site Head, BMS R&D Cambridge
- Aisha Losche, Chief Diversity Officer, Draper Laboratory
- Miriam Ortiz, Director of Education and Training, Just-A-Start Corporation
- Tiffany Thiel, Executive Director, Process Development, Amgen, Inc.
- Kathy Watkins, Commissioner DPW, City of Cambridge
- Ayesha M. Wilson, MSW, Cambridge School Committee, Social Worker, Advocate

2023 Inspire Awardees

Gilda M. Nogueira
Our 2023 Lifetime Achievement Awardee Gilda, is the Chief Executive Officer at East Cambridge Savings Bank.

Heather Henriksen
The Chief Sustainability Officer at Harvard University

Denise Jillson
The Executive Director at the Harvard Square Business Association

Emma Lees
The Senior Vice president at Bristol Myers Squibb Oncology Research and Site Head, BMS R&D Cambridge

Aisha Losche
The Chief Diversity Officer at Draper Laboratory

Miriam Ortiz
The Director of Education and Training at Just-A-Start Corporation

Tiffany Thiel
The Executive Director of Process Development at Amgen Inc.

Kathy Watkins
Commissioner DPW For The City of Cambridge

Ayesha M. Wilson
MSW, Cambridge School Committee, Social Worker, and Advocate
Celebrating Cambridge Women in Business
2022 Inspire Awardees

Helen Elaine Lee
Author of “The Serpent’s Gift” and “Water Marked”, Director of the Program in Women’s & Gender Studies, and Professor of Fiction Writing in Comparative Media Studies/Writing.
MIT

Charlotte Allerton
Senior Vice President, Head of Medicine Design
Pfizer

Kendalle Burlin O'Connell
President & COO
MassBio

Sumiao Chen
CEO & Founder
Sumiao Hunan Kitchen

Christine Elow
Commissioner
Cambridge Police Department

Jane Hirschi
Executive Director
CitySprouts

Katie Lapp
Executive Vice President
Harvard University

Colleen O'Connor
Senior Vice President of Leasing
BioMed Realty

Joanne Smith-Farrell
CEO
Be Bio
Past Awardees

Awardees: Aine Hanly, Vice President of Drug Substance Technologies, Amgen, Dr. Carolyn Turk, Deputy Superindentent of Schools, Cambridge Public Schools, P.A. d'Arbeloff, Director, MIT Nord Anglia Collaboration, MIT Museum, Erin Lanciani, Head of HR and Organization Strategy, Sage Therapeutics, Kelly A. Flynn, Associate Director, Real Estate, Global Real Estate, Facilities, and Procurement, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Eva Martin Blythe, Executive Director, YWCA, Keynote Speaker: Jeanette Clough, Former President, and CEO, Mount Auburn Hospital.