Now more than ever, businesses, nonprofits and government agencies rely on strong, energetic leadership to thrive during challenging times.
At Better, we think it’s important to recognize the leaders who are building businesses, serving as public servants, and leading nonprofits, all of which inspire positive change in the world — whatever the arena.
The women in our 2021 roundup are change-makers, tree-shakers and all-around powerful forces. Our list covers politicians and business titans, philanthropists and social justice warriors. Some are very much in the public spotlight, while others are creating impact behind the scenes. What they all have in common: making a difference and driving positive changes in our world while paving the way for other women to follow in their footsteps.
Here is our 2021 Most Powerful Women in the Bay Area list, organized alphabetically:
Nandita Bakhshi
President and CEO, Bank of the West
Why we chose her:
In the male-dominated banking and finance industries, less than 2% of bank CEOs worldwide are women. Among those, Bakhshi, who is at the helm of San Francisco-based Bank of the West, is a stand-out leader in the industry.
Why she’s a force:
Bakhshi, who started her banking career as a part-time teller, has created a vision for Bank of the West that centers on sustainable finance, diversity and inclusion. As a result, Bank of the West has a taken a strong stance on the environment, launching a checking account that enables customers to track the carbon impact of their purchases and as well as give back to climate change organizations. The bank has been named on several best-places-to-work lists for its support of women, diversity and LBGTQ equality. Bakhshi has been regularly recognized on influential leader lists issued by American Banker, Barron’s and The San Francisco Business Times.
Her advice to other women — particularly younger women and girls — about pursuing their dreams and going after what they want:
“Be your authentic self. Being different is a strength. And I’d share that one way I’ve advanced my own career has been to follow the rule of thirds: always seek a position that is one-third comfortable, one-third a stretch, and one-third pure white-knuckle terror.”
Nooshin Behroyan
Founder and CEO, Paxon Energy & Infrastructure Services
Why we chose her:
In less than five years, Behroyan’s company, Paxon Energy, is the second-fastest-growing private company in America within the energy sector — a sector that, for years, has been almost exclusively male dominated.
Why she’s a force:
Behroyan has a deep commitment to diversity and inclusion, both in terms of her own employees and the partners she does business with. Her determination to push women forward within her own company is directly tied to her desire to help level the playing field within her industry. She is also a big proponent of hiring veterans, which she says “have the right mindset to get the job done,” and make up 20% of her staff.
CJ Bhalla
CFO, and Senior Vice President, Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and Health Plan California
Why we chose her:
Bhalla oversees the finance strategy for Kaiser Permanente Northern and Southern California, which serves more than 9 million members.
Why she’s a force:
Originally founded in Oakland in 1945, Kaiser is the nation’s largest integrated health system. Northern and Southern California are its two biggest markets. Bhalla has been instrumental in keeping Kaiser financially sound during the past year in California, which has faced some of the greatest challenges of any state in terms of impact from the Covid-19 pandemic. She also pays her own success forward by sponsoring the Women in Leadership development program at Kaiser Permanente.
Other women who have inspired her:
“My mother and countless other women in my life who have consistently lifted up the women around them. The further I go in my career, the more I understand the value of the support I’ve received from the women in my personal and professional circles.”
Safra Catz
Chief Executive Officer, Oracle
Why we chose her:
She took the helm at Oracle from the iconic Larry Ellison when he retired in 2014, and she’s one of a mere handful of women leading an S&P 500 company.
Why she’s a force:
Catz has driven Oracle’s continued success during the last decade. The company’s annual revenue has grown from around $22 billion to nearly $40 billion, with fiscal year 2020 marking one of the company’s highest revenue figures to date. She has led an aggressive acquisition strategy that has positioned Oracle time and time again as one of Silicon Valley’s — and the world’s — software leaders.
Ayesha Curry
Entrepreneur, Restaurateur, Author and Philanthropist
Why we chose her:
While she is married to one of the NBA’s brightest stars, Curry is a fierce and creative entrepreneur that is very much a shining star all on her own.
Why she’s a force:
Where do we start? Curry has forayed her love of cooking into one of San Francisco’s hottest restaurants — International Smoke — teaming up with renowned chef Michael Mina. Curry is also a New York Times best-selling author of cookbooks, television host and producer, and the proprietor of her own lifestyle brand, Sweet July, consisting of a brick-and-mortar store in Oakland, extensive product line, lifestyle magazine and production company. She and her husband, Golden State Warriors player Stephen Curry, co-founded their own charity, Eat.Learn.Play. focused on ending childhood hunger, offering students access to quality education and providing safe places for kids to pay. To date, the charity has provided 16 million meals to Oakland-based kids and families in need.
Kamala Harris
Vice President of the United States
Why we chose her:
She’s the first female Vice President of the United States. She is also the first Black American and first South Asian American to serve in that capacity.
Why she’s a force:
As if being second-in-charge of the United States wasn’t enough, she is also a former U.S senator, California attorney general and district attorney of San Francisco. Born in Oakland to immigrant parents, Harris has a deep sense of commitment to those individuals who are less privileged and marginalized. She has fought (and won) for the rights of immigrants, the LBGTQ community, maternal health care, students and veterans and for the environment.
Nadine Burke Harris
California Surgeon General
Why we chose her:
As the surgeon general of the State of California, Dr. Burke Harris is at the forefront of helping solve California’s pandemic crises, especially when it comes to all the stress it’s causing.
Why she’s a force:
Dr. Burke Harris is an award-winning physician, researcher and advocate for the prevention and treatment of childhood trauma. Her life’s work has centered on being a champion for those individuals who have experienced adverse childhood experiences which have caused toxic stress and trauma later in adulthood. This suits her perfectly to be a leader in helping all Californians navigate the stress-laden pandemic and advance to a better place for us all.
Laurene Powell Jobs
Businesswoman & Philanthropist
When women have the freedom to thrive, the world flourishes—in science, art, innovation, exploration, empathy, health, security, and justice. #InternationalWomensDay
— Laurene Powell Jobs (@laurenepowell) March 8, 2021
Why we chose her:
She has smartly used her status as one of wealthiest women in the technology industry — and the world — to support socially beneficial endeavors, ranging from education and climate change to gun violence and immigration.
Why she’s a force:
Powell Jobs has founded several companies and nonprofits for good; while education appears to be her sweet spot, she is interested in fostering social movements on many levels. Her company, Emerson Collective, focuses on creating systemic change in climate change, immigration and even cancer research. She is a co-founder of College Track, a nonprofit in East Palo Alto designed to help underprivileged youth get into college; and XQ: The Super School Project, which works with communities to create and implement new plans for high schools.
Jeanine Nicholson
Fire Chief of San Francisco
Why we chose her:
As the first openly LBGTQ fire chief in San Francisco, Nicholson is sworn to serve the second most dense city in the U.S.
Why she’s a force:
Fire season in California is a very real thing, with the looming and threatening potential of fire always present. Nicholson’s team of 1,700 uniformed members, including firefighters, EMTs and paramedics, are always at the ready to protect city residents and lend support to other areas when needed. Her department has been instrumental in the city’s new street crisis response team, providing help to people suffering from mental health and substance use issues on the streets. She is also leading efforts to create greater diversity, equity and inclusion in the department, putting everyone on equal footing to advance their careers.
Her advice to other women — particularly younger women and girls — about pursuing their dreams and going after what they want:
“Well, I never imagined I would be here (as fire chief). Growing up, I lived across the street from a fire station, and never saw any female firefighters. It was only after I moved to San Francisco and met a friend who encouraged me to get into the fire department, that I went for it. She believed in me. So first I’d say believe in yourself. If you don’t then surround yourself with people who believe in you and will support you.”
Elaine Petrocelli
Owner of Book Passage
Why we chose her:
Petrocelli’s innovative approach of bringing both famous and before-they-were-famous authors to her bookstores in Marin County and San Francisco has created a way for readers to connect with thousands of writers and foster a love of reading like no other bookseller.
Why she’s a force:
Petrocelli started Book Passage in 1976 with a simple goal: bringing the world to Marin County and bring Marin County to the world. More than 40 years later, Book Passage is a phenomenon, with 700 events per year, many with famous or celebrity authors and local charitable beneficiaries — plus writing classes and internationally renowned author conferences. The store’s newsletter reaches 40,000 people around the world, and Petrocelli has been named “Bookseller of the Year” by Publishers Weekly magazine.
Other women who have inspired her:
“Anne Lamott and Isabel Allende, whom I both met over 30 years ago, have been constant inspirations to me, as well as dear friends. When the pandemic took away our ability to host in-person events, Anne and Isabel stepped up to launch our online Conversations with Authors events. I am so lucky to be able to call each one of these brilliant and wonderful women a supporter and a friend.”
Villy Wang
CEO, BayCat
Why we chose her:
Long before the #BlackLivesMatter movement, Wang founded BayCat to help end racism by giving a voice to those individuals — including people of color — who are traditionally underrepresented in the mainstream press.
Why she’s a force:
Wang leveraged her background in film (she was formerly the president of the San Francisco Film Commission) to approach storytelling in a whole new way through BayCat, first founded in 2001. Her belief is that what we see and hear in the media matters, and creating an equitable representation of all Americans through storytelling will help reshape the way people think about themselves and others. Wang’s filmmaking and storytelling training programs for young people have launched hundreds people of color and women into related careers.
More from Better:
- Alicia Garza on What It Takes to Create Change
- Jill Wine-Banks Reflects on Watergate, Self-Doubt, and Plans to Turn Memoir into a Movie Starring Katie Holmes
- Celebrating Women on the Rise: 13 Expert Tips from Women Leaders
Donna Berry Glass is a freelance writer in Marin County who writes mostly about family and kid-oriented topics. When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with her family exploring the natural beauty of Marin, snuggling with her Cavalier King Charles spaniel while reading a good book or whipping up something delicious in her space-challenged kitchen. Donna is a supporter of the California Academy of Sciences, a world-class science museum and research institution, and the Institute on Aging which provides much needed services to seniors and disabled individuals.
