Women Who Lead

At Lavoie CPA, we are dedicated to making a difference in the community by supporting causes that uplift women and contribute to the betterment of society.
Women Who Lead has been featured by:

Empowering Female Leaders

Sharai Lavoie, the CEO of Lavoie CPA, passionately advocates for the empowerment of women and encourages them to pursue their passions. The Women Who Lead initiative was launched in 2022, aiming to acknowledge and celebrate women who serve as inspirations in our daily lives. As a method of giving back to the community while uplifting female leaders, Women Who Lead partners with and donates to a chosen charity each year.

The women are highlighted with a new art installation every year to represent the lasting impact they’ve left on each of their respective industries. The Women Who Lead initiative brings together charity, small businesses, and the public to celebrate the female professionals who make a difference.

Do you know someone who has been influential in your community?

Stay tuned for our 2025 campaign to nominate them as a leader.

“We have all these wonderful women who do all these wonderful things and they fly under the radar. I just thought it would be really impactful to spotlight those women. Women Who Lead is something that can live on and continue to give and add joy.“
Sharai Lavoie

Lavoie CPA

2024 Campaign

Perseverance

Women Who Lead In Healthcare

This year, our primary objective is to celebrate women in the healthcare and health tech industry. Many women still struggle to get their foot in the door when it comes to male-dominated leadership positions, and must draw on a wealth of perseverance to succeed in their chosen career paths.

The 2024 Women Who Lead art installment will utilize painted doors to symbolize the barriers these women in leadership have overcome. This exhibit will highlight nominees’ perseverance throughout their roles in healthcare, inspiring viewers to take action in their own communities and careers.

Nominations for 2024 are closed. Stay tuned for 2025!

25%

Percentage of leadership positions within the healthcare industry are held by women

Campaign Winners
Naya F. Powell
Jessica Mendelsohn
Christine Emery
Jenna Hartter
Shelly Lanning
Brittany Barreto
Irene Froehlich
Christine Nicodemus
Supriya Laknidhi
Spring Moore
Georgia Homsany
Erica Corbin
Dr. Nora Arronte
Laurel Fuqua

Women Who Lead Healthcare Scholarship

We’re proud to announce our inaugural scholarship supporting women pursuing healthcare careers. This initiative will provide financial assistance to one outstanding candidate for the 2025-2026 academic year.

Applicants will share their healthcare journey and vision through a short essay or video submission. All donations collected this year will directly fund this opportunity.

Help us empower the next generation of women healthcare leaders!

Apply for the Scholarship
“The Women Who Lead initiative plays a crucial role in recognizing and celebrating female leaders. It shines a spotlight on the accomplishments and contributions of women in various fields, breaking down barriers and inspiring others to pursue their dreams. It is a platform that empowers women and encourages them to step into leadership roles, fostering a more inclusive and diverse society.”
Mattie Finch

Sage Marie’s Coffee & Tea

Past Campaigns

2023 Campaign

Passion

The 2023 Women Who Lead campaign was developed in partnership with QC Women to place focus on local small business Sage Marie’s Coffee and Tea, a Charlotte-based purveyor of premium coffee, espressos, teas, and beauty products, founded by a 2022 Woman Who Leads, Mattie Finch.

Finch crafted a coffee label specifically dedicated to Women Who Lead, and the proceeds generated from sales of this custom-designed coffee were directed toward Finch’s fundraising efforts for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). This campaign both celebrated a Charlotte woman providing delicious coffee to her community, and the work that LLS does as the largest nonprofit funder of leading-edge research for every type of blood cancer.

2022 Campaign

Initiative

The inaugural class of Women Who Lead were featured on a mural painting located in attractive South End Charlotte. The 2022 campaign prioritized each of their individual achievements, with interviews posted to the Lavoie CPA website and the mural that reminds shoppers, workers, and South End residents every day that these women are the trailblazers who inspire us all to become better leaders.

At its core, the 2022 Women Who Lead project also spotlighted Sharai Lavoie, CEO of Lavoie CPA and the brains behind Women Who Lead. As a woman in accounting, Sharai Lavoie has always made an effort to uplift those alongside her, and this new initiative was her way of taking that value one step further.

Campaign Winners
Devin Allen
Emma Allen
Tera Black
Raelynn Angela Blondet
Brittney Bogues
Cherly Butler
Kristen Cagney
Caitlin Sellers Castevens
Dr. Betty Brown Chidester
Terry Cox
Caitlin Dobbins
Shelly Domenech
Sholeh Ehdaivand
Brooke Faw
Mattie Finch
Sara Giles
Bryanna Hames
Kristen Haugsted
Yolanda Hemphill
Nichole Johnson
Judith Kumpf
Sharai Lavoie
Grace Lightner
Jody Luke
Kelsey Mayo
Kelley Michalski
Patricia Miller
Jenny Moates
Emily Newton
Kerry Barr O’Connor
‘Granny’ Pamela O’Donovan
Megan Orrell
Danielle Patterson
Neville Poole
Fabi Preslar
Minji Ro
Vickie Smith
Alison Stahl
Melissa Sutherland
Marcia P. Walker
Dr. Shanté Williams
Meggie Williams
Cristina Wilson
The Women of Bespoke Sports & Entertainment

Do you know someone who has been influential in your community?

Nominate them today.

At Lavoie CPA, we are dedicated to making a difference in the community by supporting causes that uplift women and contribute to the betterment of society. We firmly believe in the power of healthcare, education, and financial literacy.