Day 01⚓
Tropea
Private transfer from Lamezia, embarkation, time to settle in, explore the old town, and enjoy the beach.
Bunny Island Inc. presents
Women in FP&A
The 2026 awards celebrating the strategic minds, data champions, and influential women redefining the future of financial leadership.
2026
Influential
Woman
of the Year
Influential
Woman
of the Year
2026 Winner
Gabriella Szasz
Manager of FP&A · Riverside CC
26Empowering the future
of financial leadership
of financial leadership
Celebrating excellence in FP&A
Where insight becomes influence.
Every year, WIFPA honors women who drive measurable business impact, champion diversity, and elevate the standard of Financial Planning & Analysis.
“Great financial leadership does more than forecast the future. It creates the confidence to shape it.”
300+Nominations reviewed
10Exceptional finalists
1Influential woman of the year
The 2026 WIFPA Winner
Vision that moves business forward.
After reviewing hundreds of outstanding nominations, our judging panel selected the 2026 Influential Woman of the Year.
Gabriella Szasz
Manager of FP&A · Riverside CC
At Riverside Community Care, Gabriella brings financial leadership to a community-based nonprofit providing behavioral healthcare and human services across Massachusetts.
Congratulations to Gabriella for her visionary leadership, exceptional strategic foresight, and unwavering dedication to advancing women across the FP&A profession.
The WIFPA 2026 judging panel
The 2026 grand prize
The Aeolian Corporate Retreat.
An exclusive, all-expenses-paid sailing expedition through the Mediterranean—created for deep relaxation, inspiring connections, and extraordinary natural discovery.
Day 02🌋
Stromboli
Swim above waters up to 2,500 metres deep, anchor beneath the active volcano, and join an optional guided summit hike.
Day 03🍇
Salina
A day of sailing and swimming, a fresh local lunch with Italian wine, then an evening immersed in island dolce vita.
Day 04♨
Vulcano & Lipari
Pause for Vulcano’s warm mineral mud baths before sailing to Lipari’s lively clifftop old town and panoramic island views.
Day 05🏛
Messina & Scilla
Follow the legends of Homer and Odysseus to a romantic Calabrian fishing village with one of Europe’s most beautiful beaches.
Day 06⛵
Capo Vaticano
Sail back toward Tropea with a final anchoring and swimming stop in the clear water beneath Capo Vaticano.
Days 07 & 08✦
Tropea
A farewell celebration, time for one last stroll or swim, and a comfortable transfer back to Lamezia airport.
The rhythm∞
Live the dolce vita
Sunlit sailing, hidden bays, shared meals, authentic Italian towns, and plenty of unhurried time on the water.
Your home at sea.
A thoughtfully equipped sailing package that leaves more room for discovery—and less for logistics.
Lagoon 42 comfort
Double cabins for up to eight guests plus a captain, with an equipped galley, bathroom, and WC aboard.
Easy arrival
Round-trip group transfers connect Lamezia airport with the catamaran base in Tropea.
Sailing essentials
Captain, boat insurance, marina and buoy fees, fuel, final cleaning, bed linen, and local tourist tax are covered.
Life aboard
Shop and cook together using fresh local ingredients, with the freedom to enjoy waterfront restaurants along the route.
The 2026 shortlist
Meet the women shaping finance.
Our deepest respect goes to every finalist. Together, they represent the very best of FP&A leadership across the nation.
10Remarkable finalists
Gabriella Szasz
Manager of FP&A
Riverside CC
Sarah Jenkins
VP of Finance
New York, NY
Emily Carter
Head of Commercial Finance
Chicago, IL
Jessica Mitchell
Senior FP&A Manager
Austin, TX
Amanda Hayes
Chief Financial Officer
Boston, MA
Rachel Brooks
Director of Financial Strategy
Seattle, WA
Megan Foster
Lead Data & Analytics Partner
Denver, CO
Lauren Reed
FP&A Rising Star
Atlanta, GA
Olivia Bennett
Head of FP&A Transformation
San Francisco, CA
Chloe Peterson
Strategic Finance Director
Miami, FL
Finalist portraits other than Gabriella Szasz are high-resolution representative images supplied by the public Pravatar API.
The year at a glance
The 2026 timeline.
Nominations open
The search for remarkable financial leaders begins.
Nominations close
Submissions move to the independent judging panel.
Top 10 revealed
The exceptional 2026 shortlist is announced.
Winner announced
Gabriella Szasz receives the 2026 honor.
Sailing retreat
The Aeolian Islands expedition sets sail.
Made possible together
Proudly sponsored by.
Bunny Island Inc.🐰🏝️Main organizer · Platinum sponsor
TechFin
SolutionsTechnology partner
SolutionsTechnology partner
Global Data
PartnersData partner
PartnersData partner
Women in Business
FoundationCommunity partner
FoundationCommunity partner