5 Champions for the Advancement of Women | Linkage Announces Women in Leadership Executive Impact Award Recipients for 2024

The advancement of women leaders continues to be a critical need for organizations—especially when women account for just 8% of CEOs at S&P 500 companies.

From our work with leading organizations, as well as our research, we know that the hurdles to advancement in the workplace for women have never been higher—or harder to scale. We need champions for women leaders—the type of people who will roll up their sleeves to take on the hard work of identifying, advancing, sponsoring, and supporting all women in leadership.

Each year, Linkage, a SHRM Company, recognizes exceptional leaders who are committed toward women’s progress in their organizations and their communities. On Nov. 11–14 at the Women in Leadership Institute™ (WIL), Linkage will recognize five extraordinary leaders with the 2024 Women in Leadership Executive Impact Award.

This year’s recipients are striking examples of people who have empowered their organizations to new heights through the support, engagement, and advancement of women and cultures of inclusion.

WE ARE THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE THE WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP EXECUTIVE IMPACT AWARD RECIPIENTS FOR 2024:

• Tiffanie De Liberty, Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Chief Compliance Officer, Constellation Brands, Inc.
• Nina Goodheart, SVP and President, Structural Heart and Aortic, Medtronic  
• Deepshikha (Deep) Mahajan, Vice President, Talent Management, Juniper Networks
• Dr. Carmelita Nix, Executive Director of Finance Strategy and Management, Kaiser Permanente 
• Sonja Teague, Senior Vice President, North America Claims Producer and Client Relations, Chubb 

What makes these recipients so special? These leaders are innovative, transformational, and trailblazing. They work to create seats at the table for women and lift others as they climb. They are changing the game for women in the workplace and leading paths to a more inclusive world. And they all see a future where women thrive at the highest levels.

Here is what makes these 2024 honorees models of excellence:
 

Tiffanie De Liberty

Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Chief Compliance Officer, Constellation Brands, Inc.

Tiffanie De Liberty champions the advancement of women and leads inclusively, giving everyone a chance to shine.

As Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Chief Compliance Officer, De Liberty fosters an inclusive company culture at Constellation Brands, Inc. (CBI) As a leading producer and marketer of beer, wine, and spirits, CBI employs more than 10,000 people. De Liberty is an attorney, a leader in CBI’s Legal Department, and a certified coach.

“Tiffanie’s passion for empowering women and advocating for inclusive leadership is an inspiration to us all,” said her nominator. “She reminds us that true leadership is not just about holding a position of power, but about lifting others up and creating opportunities for everyone to succeed.”

De Liberty leads a Legal Development Day and a Global Legal Symposium, which help employees foster professional growth and development. She also champions the advancement of women within CBI by serving as an executive sponsor to WISE, the company’s Women’s Business Resource Group, which helps women build a strong network, develop as leaders, and advance to the C-suite.   

“Tiffanie believes in the power of diverse perspectives and works diligently to ensure that every voice is heard and valued,” said her nominator. “Her inclusive approach has created a workplace where everyone feels empowered to contribute their best, fostering innovation and collaboration.”

Nina Goodheart

SVP and President, Structural Heart and Aortic, Medtronic   

Nina Goodheart is an advocate for women in leadership and a board member of Teach for America/Philadelphia and Permobil.

As SVP and President, Goodheart leads Medtronic’s Structural Heart and Aortic operating unit, which is one of the largest growth businesses in the company with 3,000 employees.

Goodheart co-chaired the company’s employee resource group, the Medtronic Women’s Network, to cultivate and sustain a culture where women lead at all levels. During her two years as co-chair, Medtronic exceeded its target goal of 42% of women in manager-and-above roles globally.

“During her co-leadership of the Network, she helped drive cultural transformation through policy recommendations and advocacy from working with international experts to track and improve pay for historically underrepresented groups to bringing industry-leading family and medical leave benefit policies to the company,” said her nominator. “Nina firmly believes that when more women are in leadership positions, organizations see improved business results, employees are more engaged, and patients benefit from improved outcomes.”

Goodheart championed the landmark SMART Trial and uses her leadership to solve access-to-care challenges. She is also an advocate for addressing gender disparities in clinical research.

“Nina’s tireless work with colleagues, physicians, and advocates across the globe to impact women’s lives is nothing short of extraordinary,” said her nominator. “When she asked her LinkedIn followers what advice they would give their younger selves, one responded: ‘Find a mentor, advocate, and friend as invaluable as Nina Goodheart.’ ”

Deepshikha (Deep) Mahajan

Vice President, Talent Management, Juniper Networks

Deepshikha (Deep) Mahajan sets a benchmark for inclusive excellence.

As Vice President, Talent Management, at Juniper Networks, Deep Mahajan is dedicated to organizational success through talent capability and culture building. She has more than 20 years of HR expertise and has led transformative organizational initiatives.

“She seamlessly weaves her passion for D&I [diversity and inclusion] into every aspect of talent management, profoundly influencing the company’s culture on a global scale,” said her nominator.

Mahajan led a program called The Visibility Process, which offers early visibility to leadership candidates prior to promotion decisions. This program allows candidates to identify and address their developmental gaps in advance of promotion time, accelerating employee development.

“Since its inception, the process has resulted in a significant year-over-year increase in the strength of the pipeline talent, with a significantly higher representation of underrepresented groups,” said her nominator. “Deep’s leadership and The Visibility Process have had a profound and lasting impact on the advancement of women and underrepresented groups within Juniper, creating a more inclusive and equitable leadership pipeline.”

Mahajan also serves as a mentor, supporting women along their career journeys. Mentees note her invaluable advice and insights.

“Her visionary approach, unwavering passion, and exceptional execution skills transform her commitment into measurable outcomes,” said her nominator. “Her leadership not only drives the company’s D&I agenda but also sets a benchmark for inclusive excellence in the industry.”

Mahajan is a frequent speaker on panels, where she shares her story as a woman of Indian origin in the tech industry.

“Her story is one of breaking barriers and overcoming obstacles,” said her nominator.
 

Dr. Carmelita Nix

Executive Director of Finance Strategy and Management, Kaiser Permanente    

Dr. Carmelita Nix encourages and inspires women at every level of their journey.

Working at Kaiser Permanente since 2000, Dr. Carmelita Nix currently serves as its Executive Director of Finance Strategy and Management, focusing on management cross-functional initiatives and finance strategy. She has more than 30 years of experience in finance management across multiple industries, holds a doctorate in psychology, and is a U.S. Air Force veteran. Nix was recently nominated for the 2023 Inspirational Women in Leadership Award by the Los Angeles Times B2B Publishing.

“Dr. Nix focuses on encouraging and inspiring women at every level,” said her nominator.

Nix is a member of several associations, including the Kaiser Permanente African American Professional Association (KPAAPA), the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA), and the National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA). She is an alum of the Kaiser Permanente Finance Leadership Institute and the Kaiser Permanente Women in Leadership (WIP). She is a board member of the Vanden Viking Boosters Club in Solano County, Calif. Additionally, she is a member of the first historically Black female sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., which focuses on service to all humankind.

In 2019, Nix founded the Young Women Leadership Academy program to coach at-risk young women on financial literacy, generational wealth, and ways to achieve their educational goals. The program has granted more than 20 college scholarships.

“Through the Young Women Leadership Academy and other advocacy work, Dr. Nix inspires future generations of young women to be authentic, take risks, and continuously elevate their skills,” said her nominator.
 

Sonja Teague

Senior Vice President, North America Claims Producer and Client Relations, Chubb   

Sonja Teague is known for leaving a memorable impact through her work.

With more than 30 years of experience in the insurance industry, Sonja Teague serves as a leader at Chubb as the Senior Vice President, North America Claims Producer and Client Relations. She is dedicated to refining and elevating the client experience and navigating challenges with claims. Previously, Teague was Chubb’s Head of North America Accident and Health Claims. Her insurance industry contributions have been featured in Risk & Insurance and Disability Management Employer Coalition (DMEC) @Work Magazine. Business Insurance named Teague one of its “2018 Women to Watch.”  

Teague is a strong believer in networks and sponsors. She serves as a mentor and coach to several of her colleagues at Chubb and is an executive sponsor for Chubb’s cohort of the 2024 Leader’s Edge “A Leadership Experience for Black Women” program.

“No matter how full her calendar is, [Sonja] remains diligent in her personal coaching sessions with peers, former employees, and formal proteges,” said her nominator. 

Teague also helped spearhead Chubb’s new employee network group, Black Women of Chubb (BWoC) Collaborative, which seeks to address the challenges and barriers faced by Black women in corporate organizations, foster a greater sense of belonging, and support career development and advancement at Chubb. This is just one example of her work toward building a more inclusive work environment.

“One colleague said she is a true champion of diversity and encourages everyone to show up as their authentic selves,” shared her nominator. “Sonja knows that true growth comes from outside your comfort zone. She pushes you to performance levels you didn’t think possible.”

Outside of the office, Teague is a board member of Wellspring Living, a nonprofit providing resources and recovery services for victims of domestic sex trafficking. She also co-launched Sista’s, a grassroots organization that gives back to the community through service-related activities, including food and clothing drives.

“I am a benefactor of Sonja’s legacy,” said one of her mentees. “I am a stronger, more effective leader because of Sonja’s mentorship and leading by example.”

Help us celebrate these talented leaders! Register to join us virtually on Nov. 11-14 for this transformative experience, the 2024 Women in Leadership (WIL) Institute.