On July 22, the national nonprofit 50/50 Women on Boards announced its 2026 cohort of 50 Women to Watch for Boards. Catapult President and CEO Dr. Cheryl Richards is on the list.

The 2026 cohort was chosen from 314 applications by an independent selection committee of sitting public company directors, board chairs, and governance experts from across North America. They were looking for executives ready to serve on public company boards right now, and Cheryl is one of them.

What is 50 Women to Watch for Boards?

50 Women to Watch for Boards is an annual recognition program from 50/50 Women on Boards, a nonprofit working toward gender-balanced corporate boardrooms. Each year, an independent selection committee vets and names 50 women executives across North America who are ready to serve on public company boards.

The numbers behind the program are worth knowing. According to 50/50 Women on Boards, 42 percent of Russell 3000 companies still have two or fewer women on their boards. The program exists to close that gap by putting vetted, board-ready candidates in front of the directors and search firms filling those seats.

42%

of Russell 3000 companies still have two or fewer women on their boards. The 50 Women to Watch for Boards program exists to close that gap.

The 2026 honorees will be recognized during Global Summit Week in New York City this September, including a closing bell ceremony at Nasdaq. We’ll be cheering loudly from the Carolinas.

Who is Dr. Cheryl Richards?

Dr. Cheryl Richards, President and CEO of Catapult Employers Association, speaking about workforce and leadership strategy

If you’ve worked with Cheryl, this news probably doesn’t surprise you.

Dr. Cheryl Richards has served as President and CEO of Catapult Employers Association since 2021. Before that, she spent three decades in higher education, serving as president of Johnson & Wales University’s Charlotte campus and as the founding CEO and regional dean of Northeastern University in Charlotte. She also serves on the NCWorks Commission, appointed by the Governor to help strengthen North Carolina’s workforce.

At Catapult, she leads a team of HR, legal, and business experts supporting more than 2,300 employers across the United States.

Cheryl is also a frequent keynote speaker on workforce strategy, leadership, and talent development. If you’d like her to speak at your conference, association meeting, or company event, request Cheryl as a speaker to check availability.

What this recognition means for Catapult members

Here’s the part we care about most. When our CEO is vetted by public company directors as board-ready, that same caliber of leadership is shaping the advice, research, and advocacy behind every Catapult membership.

Dr. Cheryl Richards and the Catapult team accepting a Best Employers in North Carolina award — Dr. Cheryl Richards and the Catapult team accepting a Best Employers in North Carolina honor.

Board governance, succession planning, and leadership development aren’t abstract topics for us. They’re daily conversations. Our Learning & Development team helps member organizations build their own bench of future leaders, including structured programs like The Management Advantage for emerging supervisors through senior managers.

Strong boards start with strong leaders. Building them is what Catapult has done for employers since 1958.

Ready to build your organization’s next generation of leaders?

Explore Catapult’s HR & Leadership Solutions