Company/Organization & Achievement Awards Judging Committee
Chair:
Jenny Leman, President
CareerPlug, Austin, Texas, United States
After 20 years in either healthcare or business operations, Jenny Leman is currently the President of CareerPlug, a people operations software platform that helps small business teams grow by hiring and retaining the right people. As an EOS Integrator, she is dedicated to partnering with Founders/Visionaries to help their entrepreneurial dream and vision come to fruition through execution across product delivery, go-to-market strategies, and all internal operations so teams can deliver consistent results that work for the business and its customers.
During Jenny’s 8 years there, CareerPlug’s impact expanded from supporting about 7,000 small business teams to more than 70,000 today, most commonly in the franchising space. The organization was recognized with a Stevie Award for Sustainability in 2024 and recently, Jenny was accepted into the University of Texas ‘Women Who Mean Business’ Fall 2025 executive leadership program, which develops rising executives who are ready to further accelerate their influence and impact.
Jenny’s expertise spans SMB SaaS operations, people-first operations, entrepreneurial organizations, and partner ecosystems with parent-child networks such as franchises. She champions equitable and transparent employment practices and builds systems that make fairness practical, measurable, and sustainable.
As an occasional podcast guest and speaker, Jenny advises early Visionaries, women in tech, and small business leaders on topics such as leading People-First, navigating the volatile North American labor market, shifting applicant expectations, and the responsible use of AI in hiring. She serves as Co-Chair of the Austin Women in Franchising Network and on the board of Protect Young Eyes, a nonprofit helping youth build healthier digital habits. She is a committed advocate for working parents and for workplaces where talent, results and family can thrive together.
As a judge, she looks for organizations with a clear vision, operational excellence, and an unwavering commitment to their values and mission, along with the agility/creativity to stay relevant when competitive markets shift.
Committee:
Pulkit Aggarwal, Senior Product Manager
Workday, Inc., Pleasanton, California, United States
Pulkit, Senior Product Manager at Workday, drives innovation with AI and ML solutions that optimize workflows, deliver actionable insights, and enhance decision-making. Formerly at Gap Inc., he transformed global supply chain operations and is recognized for his strategic vision, leadership, and commitment to advancing the technology community.
Damilola Abiola Akinduro, Global Head of Benefits
Equinix, Milton, Ontario, Canada
Damilola Abiola Akinduro is a global HR Executive specializing in Total Rewards. She has led this sub-function Globally and across regions at Equinix, Barry Callebaut, Nestle and KPMG. A trusted advisor and international speaker, Damilola is known for driving high-impact people practices that elevate employee experience and business outcomes.
Ramya Avula, Business Info Developer Consultant
Carelon Research, Wilmington, Delaware, United States
Ramya Avula has over a decade of experience in healthcare research and analytics, collaborating with pharmaceutical companies, the FDA, and academia. Published in The Lancet and JAMA, she develops industry-standard algorithms and enterprise applications that enhance public health outcomes, improve operational efficiency, and advance the integration of AI in healthcare.
Amy Cannon, Integration Consultant
Commerce Technology, Charleston, South Carolina, United States
Amy has spent the last decade working with a focus primarily on commerce and healthcare technologies, helping multi-billion dollar businesses and healthcare organizations embark on digital transformation projects and optimize use of technology for operational and revenue driving needs.
Manikandan Dhanabalan, Software Engineering Senior Director
CRC Group, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
A seasoned engineering leader delivering enterprise-scale digital transformation across the financial services and insurance sectors. Led high-impact initiatives involving finance system modernization, large-scale data migrations, mainframe optimization, and the development of secure, cloud-native platforms. Renowned for architecting resilient, scalable solutions aligned with strategic business goals, he thrives in fast-paced environments.
Lorretta Gasper, Principal
Wind Rose Communications, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Lorretta Gasper founded Wind Rose Communications, a public relations and marketing consultancy specializing in B2B technology. She has more than 35 years of experience as a financial journalist and corporate communications/investor relations executive, including at the Wall Street Journal and publicly traded corporations.
Rose Jurczewski, Portfolio Manager
Associa, Schaumburg, Illinois , United States
Rose Jurczewski, received her AA in Business Management Computer Analysis with a Minor in Accounting from the University of Pennsylvania. Rose is a Portfolio Manager for several homeowner associations in Illinois and an active member of the Illinois Legal Action Committee for the Illinois Chapter of Community Association Institute (CAI).
Palak Mittal, Senior Manager, Product & Engineering Management
Align Technology Inc., San Jose, California, United States
Dr. Palak Mittal is a Senior Manager of Product & Engineering Management at Align Technology (the makers of Invisalign). With a Bachelor’s degree in Dental Science, followed by MS in Healthcare Management, Palak has over 10 years of experience in product development in the healthcare and medical devices industry.
Sayaka Ohshima, Audit Associate
Haskell & White, Irvine, California, United States
Sayaka Ohshima is a U.S.-based auditor and business writer specializing in cross-border accounting, contributing to numerous international publications. She holds an MBA from Utica University, with her work focused on SEC compliance, economic policy, and global capital flows, promoting financial transparency and innovation through public accounting and thought leadership.
Ozioma Onyeibor, Vice President
Iroko Capital, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria
Accomplished finance executive with nearly 20 years' experience guiding investment strategy, corporate governance, and portfolio performance across multiple sectors, including healthcare, power, infrastructure, and financial services. Skilled in overseeing complex, high-value transactions—recapitalizations, M&A, capital raising, and strategic investments—while driving operational growth and shareholder value.
Raghavender Reddy Puchhakayala, Senior Quant Analytics Associate
JPMorgan Chase / Senior Member IEEE, Dallas, Texas, United States
Raghavender Puchhakayala is an accomplished Analytics Solutions Associate Senior at JP Morgan Chase, with over a decade of expertise in data warehousing and business intelligence. Based in Dallas, he holds a Master's degree in Computer Science from UMKC and actively contributes to the IEEE, advancing technology discourse and professional networking.
Atul Punj, CEO
IBSFINtech USA Inc. Bridgewater, New Jersey, United States
With over 30 years of experience in the IT industry, Atul is passionate about delivering innovative solutions that empower businesses to achieve their goals. As the CEO of IBSFINtech USA, Atul led the expansion of his corporate finance platform, the TMS, into the US market, a strategic move to revolutionize global treasury operations.
Hitali Shah, Advanced Analyst
Electronic Arts Wesley Chapel, Florida, United States
Hitali Shah is an Advanced Analyst at Electronic Arts with expertise in data analytics, business strategy, and innovation. She holds two master's degrees and has worked at LinkedIn and Oracle. Passionate about leveraging data for decision-making, she holds multiple certifications and thrives on solving complex problems to enhance user experiences.
Lucia Stoicescu, Country Manager Wonderful
Bucharest, Romania
Lucia is an IT Leader and Board Member with 20 years of expertise in software and consultancy. Harvard alumni are driven by purpose and committed to operational excellence, building high-performance teams, advancing ethical AI and responsible innovation.
Alla Stozhok, Founder & Director, Cello Story LLC and Music Educator
Cello Story, Pomfret Center, Connecticut, United States
Alla is a music director, orchestra artist, and educator with over 7 years of experience, a researcher in the field of the impact of music on child brain development, and the founder of an innovative music school. She created a unique author’s music education methodology that combines classical music education and psychological-pedagogical principles of development.