Alexandria, Va. – The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), through its cause-led arm the GBTA Foundation, has announced the 2025 WINiT Top 50, honoring industry leaders, rising talent and corporate champions who elevate and celebrate women in the business travel and meetings sector.
Now in its 11th year, GBTA WINiT is dedicated to advancing equity and opportunity for women across the business travel industry. It offers leadership development, mentoring connections, networking and public recognition to accelerate career progression. In recent years, the program has expanded, and the WINiT Summit, Awards and Gala now serve as a high-visibility platform for recognizing exemplary leaders, allies and corporate champions.
This year’s Top 50 winners hold a wide range of positions in the travel industry and represent 36 companies from across the globe.
The WINiT Top 50 for 2025 honorees and their affiliated companies are listed below, across four categories and criteria for their recognition (in alphabetical order by last name):
Women Innovating the Way We Travel, honoring 13 visionaries and those who inspire others to join their efforts:
- Angela Arntz, Unisys
- Mia Beltran, Fox World Travel
- Nicole Chowning, Airlines Reporting Corporation
- Megin Dressel, Keller
- Beth Gibson, Avis Budget Group
- Jessica Gillingham, Abode Worldwide
- Sarah Kuberry Martino, DirectTravel
- Sheryl Pflaum, Collinson Group
- Tami Pharr, Zillow
- Cassandra Rollins, Emburse
- Dana Sample, Delta Air Lines
- Sangitha Shetty, Tata Communications
- Heather Wright, BCD Travel
Global Leaders with Global Impact, recognizing nine leaders who have made a significant impact on a global scale:
- Claire Barrie, Synergy
- Roberta Billie, Sandoz
- Michelle Degenhardt, Flight Centre Travel Group
- Claudia Florean, UVET American Express
- Sasha Johnson, United Airlines
- Michelle Jolley, Flight Centre Travel Group
- Sonia Menda, Micron Tech
- Christine Sikes, DirectTravel
- Amanda Vining, Corporate Traveler
Rising Female Leaders, celebrating 16 early career professionals who are high-performing future leaders:
- Gabriella Antoniotti, FCM Meetings & Events
- Patricia Ascencio, Amex GBT
- Ashley Clarke, Enterprise Mobility
- Jenna Collura, PwC
- Christine Connolley, BCD Travel
- Joy Donnelly, Amex GBT
- Jordan Jones, DirectTravel
- Kristin Lynch, BCD Travel
- Haley McIntyre, Placemakr
- Chelsea Mullin, Visiting Media
- Katherine Quiroz, National Corporate Housing
- Bianca Rank, BWH Hotels
- Mahua Sen, Amex GBT
- Courtney Sheard, Cenovus
- Kellie Stanbury, CTM
- Julie Stuckey, BCD Travel
FollowHer: Legends and Mentors, recognizing 12 exemplary leaders who are committed to advancing women in the industry:
- Sue Calais, Enterprise Mobility
- Karen Catlin, United Airlines
- Kim Conway, ASK4 Group
- Ronda Dean, F5
- Sabrina Kronk, Vanderbilt University
- Stacey Mack, Conferma
- Kate Nummikoski, Hyatt
- Tammy Schneider, Amex GBT
- Ann Huckstadt Smith, Amex GBT
- Eva-Lena Storbacka, Amex GBT
- Katherine Tomasi, BCD Travel
- Samantha Unell, Southwest Airlines
An additional seven Pinnacle and Leadership Awards will be announced at the GBTA WINiT Gala on Thursday, October 23, 2025, from 6:30-10:00 p.m. ET at Civic Hall on East 14th Street in New York City.
The Awards Ceremony and Gala follow the WINiT Summit. Designed as a dynamic, full-day experience, the daylong event – with the theme this year of “The Power of Possibility” – invites participants to engage in high-impact programming rooted in WINiT’s core pillars: mentorship, professional development and community. Attendees will explore new frameworks to break barriers and expand leadership opportunities.
Each year, WINiT gives us the chance to recognize and amplify voices that are reshaping our industry. ‘The Power of Possibility’ embodies our belief that when women and allies lead boldly, we all move forward. I can’t wait to see how the 2025 Summit and Awards will fuel new momentum and relationships. Bev Heinritz, Director, Foundation Programs at the GBTA Foundation
To learn more about the WINiT Summit, visit https://www.gbta.org/gbta-winit-summit-2025/.
For more information about the WINiT Awards Ceremony and Gala, go to https://www.gbta.org/gbta-winit-gala-2025/.
About GBTA
The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) is the world’s premiere business travel and meetings trade organization headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area and serving stakeholders across six continents. GBTA and its 8,000+ members represent and advocate for the $1.48 trillion global travel business and meetings industry. GBTA and the GBTA Foundation deliver world-class education, events, research, advocacy and media to a growing global network of more than 28,000 travel professionals and 125,000 active contacts. For more information visit gbta.org.
About the GBTA Foundation
The mission of the GBTA Foundation, the US 501c3 charitable arm of the Global Business Travel Association, is to help the global business travel industry create a positive impact and better future for people and the planet. The GBTA Foundation focuses on the strategy and execution of GBTA’s global sustainability programs, supporting initiatives related to climate action; diversity, equity and inclusion; and other talent-related topics via education, research and advocacy. For more information visit gbtafoundation.org.
Tara Erwin
Manager, Public Relations and Communications
GBTA
