URBANE celebrates the honorees whose leadership, influence and impact continue to shape communities across the state.
The Women’s Foundation of Arkansas, in collaboration with Little Rock Soirée magazine, has announced the 2026 Top 100 Women of Arkansas, recognizing women whose leadership, professional accomplishments and community impact are helping shape the state.
The triennial initiative highlights 100 women from across Arkansas who have demonstrated exceptional achievement in their industries while making meaningful contributions to their communities.
“Women are not simply participating in Arkansas’ economy and communities, they are shaping them,” Women’s Foundation of Arkansas CEO Anna Beth Gorman said. “The Top 100 Women of Arkansas gives us an opportunity to recognize the women whose leadership, ideas and influence are moving our state forward, often while creating opportunities for others along the way.”
Gorman also emphasized the importance of visibility in expanding perceptions of leadership and influence.
“When we name and celebrate women’s impact, we help change the perception of who holds influence, who leads and who belongs at the tables where decisions are made,” she said.
The Top 100 Women of Arkansas was originally created as a five-year initiative in the 1990s and helped launch the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas. The project was revived in 2023 as part of the nonprofit’s 25th anniversary celebration and is now published every three years.
For Little Rock Soirée, the initiative reflects a broader commitment to recognizing women whose work extends beyond professional success.
“The Top 100 Women of Arkansas is more than a recognition, it is a powerful reflection of the leadership, vision and service shaping our state’s future,” said Mandy Richardson, publisher of Little Rock Soirée, president of Arkansas Business Publishing Group’s consumer division and founder of the Soirée Women’s Leadership Symposium.
Richardson said the partnership allows the organizations to preserve the stories of women whose accomplishments are matched by their investments in their communities while also inspiring future generations of Arkansas women.
The 2026 honorees will be featured in a dedicated print publication and digital showcase scheduled for release in December.
Shout out to -
Latriece Watkins — Sam's Club
photo source: https://corporate.walmart.com/about/leadership/latriece-watkins
Yara Robertson, M.D. — CARTI
photo source: https://www.carti.com/providers/robertson/
Jean Block — Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority
photo source: https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/jul/22/jean-block-named-new-chief-executive-officer-of/
Matuschka Lindo Briggs — Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis-Little Rock Branch
photo source: https://www.stlouisfed.org/about-us/leadership-governance/bank-officers/executive-bios/matuschka-briggs
Garbo Hearne — Hearne Fine Art
photo source: https://www.littlerocksoiree.com/garbo-hearne-and-the-art-of-legacy/
Ronda S. Henry-Tillman, M.D. — UAMS Health
photo source: https://uamshealth.com/provider/ronda-s-henry-tillman/
Marico Bryant Howe, Ph.D. — Community Health Centers of Arkansas
photo source: https://www.theurbanemag.com/recognitionluncheon
Carla M. Martin — University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
photo source: https://uasys.edu/news/four-finalists-selected-in-national-search-for-next-uapb-chancellor/
Dr. Constance Meadors — University of Arkansas at Little Rock
photo source: https://ualr.edu/news/2023/08/23/constance-meadors/