Karen Knudsen, President and CEO of the American Cancer Society

Dr. Karen Knudsen is the first female CEO of the American Cancer Society. As an oncologist, she is also the organization’s first chief executive with a background in science. While 1 in 3 people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, more are living beyond the diagnosis. According to the ACS, there are nearly 17 million cancer survivors alive today.

Big isn’t just this nonprofit’s middle name, it also describes its latest fundraising win—a $3.6 million grant from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. Kwame Johnson, president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta calls the donation “historic,” and says it will help the nonprofit reach more youth through one-on-one mentorship.

As president and CEO of Wellstar Health System, Candice Saunders oversees 11 hospitals in Georgia and 24,000 employees. But the chief executive says her “most important job” is taking care of people. In 2021, Wellstar invested $18 million into MyCare Rewards, a customizable employee benefits program.

For Clyde Higgs, president and CEO of Atlanta Beltline, Inc., leadership is about “bringing more people underneath the tent.” Intentional inclusion has been an important component, he says, of generating innovative ideas for one of the nation’s largest urban redevelopment programs. By the time the Atlanta Beltline is completed in 2030, the 22-mile loop is expected to have attracted $10 billion in economic development.

Bonneau Ansley, III says he has never seen a housing market quite like the one we’re in right now—with soaring prices, slim supplies and strong demand. The founder and CEO of Ansley Christie’s International Real Estate says his team of 350 agents remains energized. In 2021, the Atlanta-based brokerage firm grew its sales by more than 120%.

For T. Dallas Smith, president and CEO of T. Dallas Smith & Co., commercial real estate is not just a career, it’s a calling. He is focused on his mission even if others don’t understand “the call.” It’s paying off. During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, his firm brokered the largest office lease in Atlanta, securing a half million square feet of space in the trendy Midtown area for Microsoft Corp. 

Todd Stansbury’s winning leadership strategy is rooted in a commitment to develop student athletes at Georgia Tech. He returned to his alma mater in 2016 on a mission to build on the Total Person Program which takes a balanced approach to academic and athletic achievement along with personal well-being. He says the goal is to ensure young people are ready for “prime time” after they graduate.

Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice’s prescription for being a strong leader includes developing the ability to “find the potential in people,” and create an environment for their success. The Macon, GA-native is president and CEO of Morehouse School of Medicine which has been at the center of Covid-19 vaccine research and innovation. She says her team rose to the challenge of the global pandemic by tapping into the “resilience and grit” on which Morehouse School of Medicine was founded.

Mike Neumeier’s day is full of growth opportunities. As CEO of the digital marketing and PR agency Arketi Group, he leads a team that helps business-to-business technology firms grow their companies through strategic communications. And as a leader, he says one of his top priorities is to help his employees grow and reach their full potential.

Craig Gunckel has been working in the paper and packaging sector since he was a teenager. Today, he is the CEO of Iconex, the world’s largest manufacturer of roll cash register receipt paper. Despite the rise of digital technology, paper isn’t going away any time soon. Iconex’s label division is on a roll, Gunckel says, and could help the company’s revenue next year, top $500 million.