LEADERS. ALLIES. CHANGEMAKERS.
Congratulations to the 2026 Gearing Up Leadership Award Recipients!
Gearing Up Leadership Awards Luncheon
2025 Gearing Up Leadership Award Recipients
In celebration of Gearing Up’s 20th anniversary in 2025, the CWB established an awards program to recognize outstanding achievements and contributions by individuals and organizations who demonstrated excellence, innovation, and dedication to dismantling systemic barriers in career advancement for women+.
Amelia is a dynamic leader committed to empowering women+ colleagues and driving organizational success. As Finance Manager at KLINGSPOR Abrasives, she has implemented a new ERP system across multiple countries and managed two finance teams. Amelia actively mentors emerging talent, facilitates professional development initiatives, and has refined internal policies to address gender disparities. Her efforts are fully supported by senior executives, ensuring resources for diversity and inclusion projects. Amelia's proactive leadership and willingness to tackle high-stakes challenges inspire others to become agents of change. Driven by a passion for creating an inclusive workplace, Amelia is an exceptional advocate for diversity and equity.
Dr. William Kapfer is the Global Head of Supplier Diversity and Community Engagement at JPMorgan Chase, leading efforts to integrate diverse-owned businesses into the firm’s supply chain and support community economic growth. Under his leadership, JPMorgan Chase was inducted into the Billion Dollar Roundtable, making the firm 1 of only 2 financial services firms to be inducted. The firm was also named one of the Top 50 Best-of-the-Best Corporations for Inclusion by the National Business Inclusion Consortium (NBIC). Prior to joining the firm, William spent over 20 years in media and marketing positions with both mainstream and diverse-market segments; including strategic roles at American Express Publishing, Hearst and Condé Nast. William currently serves on the boards of: National Minority Supplier Development Council, the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, the Billion Dollar Roundtable and WEConnect International.
Lynelia Raposo is an influential leader dedicated to empowering women and making a positive impact in her community. As Director of Women of ALPFA Boston and a board member of the R.I.S.E Women's Leadership Conference, she has demonstrated her commitment to fostering leadership, supporting professional growth, and championing diversity and inclusion. Lynelia's work includes organizing impactful events like the Rise Women's Leadership Conference and ALPFA's Latina Summits, which provide tools, resources, and support for women to excel in their fields. Her leadership is backed by robust support from organizational leadership, ensuring funding and resources for diversity initiatives. Lynelia's passion for fostering diversity and empowering women's leadership is driven by her personal experiences and dedication to uplifting her community, making her an inspiring advocate for change.
Loomis Sayles is deeply committed to advancing women and fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within its organization and the broader community. The UWIN program was founded in 2015, after a review of job applicants revealed that female candidates for junior level research positions at Loomis Sayles comprised only 18% of the applications received in 2014 and 2015. In 2021, the firm appointed Marques Benton as its first Chief DEI Officer, tasked with implementing strategic initiatives to attract, develop, and retain diverse talent, and to cultivate an inclusive workplace culture. The company supports various employee resource groups, such as MOSAIC, Pride, Women @ Work, and Valor, which aim to promote a culture of diversity, connectivity, and understanding.
Since 1926, Loomis, Sayles & Company has helped fulfill the investment needs of institutional and mutual fund clients worldwide. The firm’s performance-driven investors integrate deep proprietary research and risk analysis to make informed, judicious decisions. This rich tradition has earned Loomis Sayles the trust and respect of clients worldwide, for whom they currently manage $390.1 billion in assets (as of 31 March 2025).