Edition name – Top influential woman leader of the year-2026

Michelle Ponto is the Founder and CEO of Blue Gecko Communications and a globally respected strategic narrative and positioning advisor to leaders and organizations in complex and highly regulated industries. An Emmy-nominated journalist and Top 50 Disrupter Awardee, she brings more than 20 years of experience helping executives articulate who they are, where they are going, and how to communicate that with credibility across the GCC, Europe, and North America.

In 2021, Michelle founded Blue Gecko Communications as a strategic narrative advisory focused on leadership positioning, market strategy, and enterprise-level communications in industrial and technical sectors. Her work supports organizations at critical moments — whether shaping corporate direction, repositioning in new markets, navigating leadership change, or communicating sustainability and operational performance. Blue Gecko is often called when the story is complex, the stakes are high, and credibility matters most.

For more than a decade, Michelle has worked directly with senior leaders in energy, petrochemicals, advanced materials, technology, and science-driven institutions. Known for her judgment, precision, and credibility, she is trusted to translate complex business strategy into communication that is commercially grounded, strategically aligned, and trusted by investors, regulators, customers, and employees alike.

Shaping the Future: Leaders Making a Difference in 2026 – Vol 1

Ishara Saldin is the Founder and CEO of Reach4TheStars®, a dynamic initiative dedicated to empowering individuals and leaders to break through barriers, unlock their full potential, and achieve extraordinary results. A highly accomplished risk management executive, board director, and inspirational leadership keynote speaker, Ishara brings over 20 years of experience across financial services, governance, and enterprise-wide strategy.

Having worked with large family businesses and globally listed companies, Ishara has delivered sophisticated funding and investment solutions within complex operational, financial, and regulatory environments across Europe, America, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East. Her expertise lies in overseeing strategy and governance frameworks at board level, with a deep operational understanding of both financial and non-financial risk across the private and public sectors.

The Healing Visionary: leading the future of healthcare in 2026

In an age where healthcare is increasingly shaped by rapid innovation, digital transformation, and complex systems, the true essence of medicine remains deeply human. Few disciplines reflect this balance more clearly than family medicine—a field that demands scientific precision while calling for empathy, patience, and an unwavering commitment to understanding the individual behind every diagnosis.

Dr. Sofica Bistriceanu has built her career at this intersection of science and humanity. Her professional journey reflects a rare harmony between clinical excellence and compassion, positioning her as a leader whose influence extends beyond medical practice into research, education, and the broader global healthcare conversation. Her work exemplifies the values celebrated in CEO Scoop’s Healthcare & Wellness Leaders Edition: purpose-driven leadership, lifelong learning, and patient-centered innovation.