Honoring achievement in the world of comms.
Earlier this week, communicators from across the nation and world gathered at Manhattan’s City Winery on the banks of the Hudson River to honor the best in the industry. Ragan’s 2026 Top Women in Communications Awards reception brought together the top minds in communications to honor rising stars and established professionals as part of the Top Women Hall of Fame Class of 2026.
The festivities kicked off with a selection of Broadway standards by actress and singer Kate Rockwell, setting the tone for a festive afternoon.
Ragan CEO Diane Schwartz addressed the audience at the top of the event, offering words of recognition and appreciation for the honorees.
“At events like these, we get to be reminded of the love and support we have around us,” Schwartz said, referencing the large crowd.
She also told the audience that part of what’s made a difference for high-achieving communicators is their ability and confidence to adapt to a changing industry.
“Communications has always demanded a lot, but what’s being asked of you right now — the speed, the stakes — it’s a fundamentally different job than it was even a year or two ago,” Schwartz said. “And all of you here are probably not waiting for the dust to settle, because you’re making smart decisions amid the uncertainty. That takes a particular kind of confidence women have always had to operate in this industry.”
Hear from the Hall of Famers
The audience also heard a few words from each of this year’s Ragan Top Women Hall of Fame inductees.
Grace Leong, CEO of Hunter, said that the main foundation of great communications work is trust.
“Right now, trust feels really fragile,” Leong said. “We’re living in a time when misinformation moves so quickly, when credibility is questioned and when audiences are taught to be skeptical and suspicious. In this environment, creativity alone is not enough. Strategy alone is not enough. Without trust, communication cannot do this job, so it’s our responsibility, especially as a strong community of female leaders and the men who support us, to not simply craft compelling narratives. We have to model credibility.”
Goldie Taylor, chief communications and marketing officer at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, shared a bit of insight on why she’s in the world of comms.
“I’m a storyteller because I believe the stories reveal empathy,” Taylor said. “They connect people to correct injustice. They can remind institutions of who they are and who we are speaking to. If I’ve done anything worthy of a Hall of Fame, I’ve tried to use my voice in service of something bigger than myself.”
Dana Anderson, director of corporate compliance and executive operations at Avista, also shared her thoughts on her induction.
“When I look back on my 40-year career in communications, what stands out isn’t a single crisis campaign or headline,” Anderson said. “It’s the people, the mentors who opened doors and trusted me with responsibility before I felt fully prepared. It’s the colleagues who taught me that empathy is a leadership skill.
She also referenced Ragan’s Rising Stars, a group of outstanding young comms pros, in her induction speech.
“The next generation of communicators who continue to raise the bar and remind me what matters,” Anderson said. “This honor reinforces something I’ve always believed: that best communication is an act of service. We translate complexity and we build trust. We help people see what’s possible.”
Megan Noel, chief corporate affairs officer at Covista, shared an experience from earlier in her career when she was passed over for a major promotion — and the resilience that it built within her. She ascribed it to the many teammates and mentors she’s built relationships with over the years.
“The people who genuinely want to show up for you don’t disappear when things go sideways,” Noel said. “They lean in harder, especially women letting them in. And I mean, really letting them in that vulnerability is its own kind of strength.”
Sean Devlin is an editor at Ragan Communications.
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