In celebration of Women’s History Month, Steptoe & Johnson presents the sixth installment of our “Women Who Inspire” series, featuring female leaders who will share reflections on women empowerment, opportunities for professional women now and in the future, and the women they have looked up to throughout their careers.
Nadege Souvenir is the CEO of the San Antonio Area Foundation where she leads an organization that stewards more than 600 charitable funds and $1.3 billion in assets. Since 1964, the Foundation has awarded more than $900 million in grants and scholarships to address opportunity gaps across the region.
Nadege was recently named to the Texas 100: Influential pros to know in 2026 and also to the 2025 South Texas Power Players by the San Antonio Business Journal. She helps shape the region’s future through civic engagement and bold philanthropic leadership. She serves on the board of UP Partnership, a collective impact organization ensuring that all young people in Bexar County are ready for the future through data-informed strategies and community collaboration.
Prior to her role at the San Antonio Area Foundation, Nadege served as COO at the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation where she led operations, governance, and evaluation efforts. She also co-hosted the podcast “I So Appreciate You!” to elevate community leaders. Earlier in her career, Nadege was a litigator focused on complex commercial litigation, trademark law, employment matters, and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration, and she was named a Minnesota Super Lawyers Rising Star.
One of my greatest successes was stepping away from the practice of law. I was on track to make partner, but it became clear that my passions and the best use of my skills lay elsewhere. Some might say I took a step backward by moving into philanthropy, but it was exactly the right step forward for me.
I was drawn to philanthropy, specifically community foundations, because much like litigation, the work spans a wide range of issues, but with the added purpose of helping communities thrive. Using my legal training to support nonprofits, work with donors, and help effect positive change has been a gift. I’ve never regretted that decision, and it ultimately led me to this moment of leading the San Antonio Area Foundation, even though at the time it felt scary and counterintuitive.
My biggest advice is to trust your gut because, at the end of the day, you know yourself best. Too often, we feel bound by unwritten rules or hesitate to pursue opportunities unless we meet every qualification. But when I talk to women one-on-one, they almost always know what the right next step is. We shouldn’t be trained out of trusting that instinct.
I hate that this is still an issue. We should be paying for talent regardless of who holds it. Leadership must do better and stop taking advantage of women who are advancing. At the same time, women need to articulate their value.
Earlier in my career, I accepted less than I deserved because I was hesitant to negotiate and left things on the table. We need to advocate for ourselves, and mentors and peers need to advocate for us as well. And as women move into leadership, we have a responsibility to ensure we are not perpetuating inequities.
I’m surrounded by brilliant women all the time, and I think the opportunities are unlimited. I don’t want people to frame the outer edges of their goals. For example, where you see yourself in a few years is helpful, but it could be much bigger than that. Be open to opportunities and take risks, because you never know what the catalyst for the next thing will be.
There are several — my great-grandmother, who made an impossible choice to leave a difficult marriage. A former boss who advocated for her mentees and opened doors for me. And my daughter, who leads with empathy and kindness. Seeing kindness paired with leadership reminds me that we don’t have to lose who we are to be successful.
We have to let them in, and we have to develop them along the way. Relationships matter, and talented women need access to the same networks, sponsorship, and opportunities so that when the moment comes, the choice is obvious.
My superpower is showing up as who I am. When I stopped trying to model someone else’s leadership style, I became more grounded and authentic. Women have historically minimized themselves in the workplace, and we shouldn’t. Be who you are — that’s the version of you that will be most successful.
Keena M. Smith is an award-winning economic strategist who founded The Women’s Center for Economic Opportunity (WCEO) in 2013 and became its CEO in 2021. Prior to the WCEO, Keena served for more than 25 years in local government and economic development positions, including with the city of Columbus and the Franklin County Board of Commissioners, where she was appointed the first African American woman deputy county administrator.
The WCEO equips and empowers socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs in five areas: wellness, business and wealth acceleration, research, publishing, and ecosystem building. In May 2025, Keena became the founding publisher of Aspire Women’s Book of Business, which elevates the visibility of the economic impact of women in entrepreneurship.
Keena is also a business owner of nearly 30 years, supporting public and private sector organizations with research, planning, and capital-raising strategies to foster shared prosperity in the communities they serve. Through her work nationally and locally, she has helped raise and deploy over $5 billion in New Markets Tax Credits and other capital resources, accessible to under-resourced communities and entrepreneurs.
Keena has served on many boards and committees, including the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, The Contemporary Theatre of Ohio, and the Community Shelter Board. She currently serves as chair of the Jobs Ohio Small Business Advisory Council and as secretary of the Preston Brown NFL Foundation, and she is a charter member of the Women’s Collective at the Columbus Chamber of Commerce.
By far, my greatest success has been building the WCEO, which supports women-owned businesses that have been historically under-resourced and under-funded. I’m grateful and proud that the economic development and entrepreneurial support work we do isn’t just inspirational; it’s practical. We help women strengthen their mindsets and improve their wellness in combination with helping them grow their businesses and access capital.
The WCEO’s greatest impact is supporting women who are creating jobs, building generational wealth, and expanding opportunities in the communities they live in and love. The research we conduct ensures that programs and initiatives are data informed.
I’ve had experience working in business development and entrepreneurial support, but I am also a 25-year veteran of public service. I always share the same advice with them: Strive for excellence and be intentional. Learn about your industry and learn how power moves in your industry. Here is the key difference maker: You have to learn who makes decisions, who decides how budgets work, and what outcomes get rewarded.
Lean into meaningful relationships, because across the board, relationships are the currency of success. Position yourself as a person who can deliver on aligned outcomes consistently, and do not confuse proximity with progress. Seek mentors and prioritize sponsors, because these are the people who are going to say your name in rooms that you’re not in and help you get into those rooms yourself.
Another piece of advice is ownership: Own your business, your intellectual property, your data, and your voice in the market. Ownership also means owning a seat at the table. In central Ohio, women make up a slight majority of the population. We should see that reflected more in positions of influence and in the locus of power, because that power impacts our everyday lives and our ability to earn and build wealth in our community.
Lastly, I would share that as women we can’t be afraid to move on when there’s evidence that we are being tolerated instead of appreciated and celebrated for the value that we add with our excellence and hard work. It comes down to trusting yourself. One of my favorite quotes is by Audre Lord. She said, “When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.”
It’s a stubborn issue, and it shows up in both corporate careers and business ownership. The fix is not complicated — but it’s not easy, because it is going to take systemic change, and systemic change always requires courage, political will, and accountability.
Consistent awareness and monitoring of contracts to make sure there’s equity can help. More important is for an organization to adopt intentional strategies with measurable outcomes and implement tools that promote pay transparency. We don’t have those regulations now, but there are some corporations and organizations that are going above and beyond, and we need to follow in their footsteps.
Beyond the dollars, I think it’s important to talk about access. Equity isn’t only equal pay for equal work; it’s equal opportunity. Get in the network to get a voice, to get the work, to get the pay.
One critical step is honing our negotiation skills. I wish I had learned that earlier in my career. Negotiation can make for uncomfortable conversations. It feels very risky, but that’s intentional. The system wants us to feel at risk when we’re leaning into our value, when we come with the data, the metrics, the market comparisons, and the documented achievements. Taking a negotiation class or course can be incredibly impactful. I’ve done it myself, and it made a meaningful difference in my career.
There is power in being willing to put your value on the table while remaining detached from the outcome. You hope for the best, but you are prepared to walk away if necessary. That willingness is powerful. Many women struggle because we can become deeply attached to outcomes, and that attachment can limit us. Creating space to step fully into our power during negotiations can be powerful in both our careers and our businesses.
My mother is at the top of the list. She’s in her 80s and fiercely independent — and I want to be just like her.
I’m also inspired by my daughter, who became the first female physician in our family just a few weeks after her brother became the first physician in our family. We are truly blessed. My sister also made history as the first woman to become an NFL agent representing her own son, which is incredibly inspiring.
I’m inspired by innovative women who “build it anyway” — without permission, without perfect conditions, and without shrinking from their visions.
And of course, I am deeply inspired by the exceptional women I work with through the WCEO. These women have built businesses despite being under-funded and under-resourced. They include solopreneurs, brick-and-mortar business owners, attorneys, doctors, and other professionals. At the WCEO, we call them exceptional women who bet on themselves. They often don’t receive the recognition they deserve, but they continue to push forward, and that inspires me every day.
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