This Women’s History Month, we celebrate the remarkable contributions of Simone Ross, Dr. Kia Washington, Jacqueline Withers and Dr. Yasmeen Nkrumah-Elie – trailblazers who inspire change in their fields. From transforming business landscapes to pioneering breakthroughs in medicine, aviation and science, these women lead with vision, resilience and a commitment to inclusivity. Their work highlights the importance of empowering women to break barriers in the pursuit of personal and professional success.
Simone Ross: A Force for Women in Business
Simone D. Ross stands as a powerful advocate for women in business, leading with a laser-focused vision of inclusivity and transformation. As CEO of the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Executive Director of the Colorado Women’s Chamber Foundation, she has dedicated her career to dismantling barriers and fostering equitable growth for women in Colorado’s business landscape.
Originally from Denver’s Park Hill neighborhood, she provides deep expertise in operations, change management and corporate strategy. In her previous leadership roles, she spearheaded market expansions, strategic business development and complex mergers for major corporations.
Her impact extends beyond corporate leadership and involves nonprofit advocacy and consultation. She founded Simone D. Ross, LLC, a consulting firm focused on operational change, and she supports nonprofit development through executive board leadership. She also facilitates a leadership program for middle school students as the founder of SDR Events and Youth United University.
Ross’ influence has earned numerous accolades, including the Denver Business Journal’s “Outstanding Women in Business” and “40 Under 40” honors. With a steadfast commitment to equity, she continues to drive systemic change, reshaping the landscape for women in business and ensuring that Colorado is at the forefront of economic inclusion.
Dr. Kia Washington: Fighting Against Vision Loss
Dr. Kia Washington is a pioneering surgeon and scientist at the University of Colorado Anschutz (CU Anschutz) Medical Campus, who is leading groundbreaking research aimed at curing blindness through total eye transplantation.
As principal investigator of a project recently awarded up to $46 million by the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), Dr. Washington’s work focuses on restoring vision by overcoming the complex challenge of optic nerve regeneration. With expertise in facial and eye transplantation, her transformational approach to this high-risk, high-reward research has the potential to positively affect the lives of millions affected by vision loss.
With a projected timeline of ten years to achieve successful total eye transplantation, her visionary leadership continues to push the boundaries of medical science, offering hope for a future where blindness can be cured.
Beyond her research, the Stanford and Duke graduate serves as Vice Chair of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Director of Research in the Department of Surgery at CU Anschutz, advocating for inclusivity within the medical community.
Her dedication to fostering diverse leadership while driving medical innovation underscores the broader impact of her work, inspiring future generations of women scientists, surgeons and researchers to advance the healthcare industry.
Jacqueline Withers: Soaring to New Heights
Jacqueline Withers, founder of the Fly Girls and Boys (FGB) Bessie Coleman Denver Chapter of Take Flight Leadership Aviation, has been instrumental in empowering youth through aviation education.
Established to honor Bessie Coleman, the first Black and Native American woman to earn a pilot’s license, the organization imparts leadership and aviation skills to teenagers, drawing inspiration from Coleman’s trailblazing legacy.
Under Withers’ guidance, the organization has received numerous accolades, including proclamations from state leaders who recognize the group’s contributions to the community.
Beyond her work with FGB, Withers is an accomplished artist. In 2003, she created a series of stunning sky paintings honoring Coleman, which are installed at the Stiles African American Heritage Center in an exhibition titled, “Transforming Hell Strips into Health Strips.”
In 2024, she was honored during the unveiling of an installation at Denver International Airport celebrating Ed Dwight, the first Black astronaut candidate and a renowned sculptor. She was recognized for her dedication to preserving and promoting the legacy of Black pioneers in aviation.
The multi-talented artist and organizational leader continues to enrich Denver’s cultural landscape. Her leadership is fostering a new generation of aviators and leaders committed to breaking barriers and soaring to new heights.
Yasmeen Nkrumah-Elie, PhD: A Trailblazer in Nutrition and Wellness
Dr. Yasmeen Nkrumah-Elie has made significant contributions to the Denver community through both her professional and cultural engagements.
As a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Colorado Denver’s Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, she focused on research in foodomics, mass spectrometry-based metabolomics and asthma.
In 2015, she founded Health & Wealth with Dr. Yaz, a freelance consultancy that provides scientific communication, health promotion, curriculum development and program management services.
Now the Global Director of External Research at ChromaDex, Dr. Nkrumah-Elie was honored with the inaugural Trailblazing Woman Award by Radicle Science and the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) at the CONVERGENCE ’24 conference, recognizing her impact on the dietary supplement and functional food industry.
She manages a portfolio of over 240 studies across more than 160 institutions in 30 countries, focusing on the science of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+). Under her leadership, the program has established nearly 300 research collaborations worldwide, resulting in over 30 published clinical trials.
Recognized for her commitment to advancing science, promoting diversity and mentoring the next generation of female leaders, her dedication to mentorship has had a profound impact on women in the industry, inspiring and empowering future leaders in food and health sciences.
