City Awake’s Ten Outstanding Young Leaders


Each year, we honor ten exceptional emerging leaders whose impactful contributions enhance both their company’s portfolio and their community, making a significant difference in the civic and business landscape of the Greater Boston region. Nominees must have held a leadership position within their organization or community, have lived or worked in Greater Boston for at least one year, and demonstrate a commitment to fostering an equitable and diverse culture.

The Ten Outstanding Young Leaders Awards celebrate young professionals dedicated to advancing the Greater Boston region as the premier place for businesses and individuals to thrive. These awards recognize their innovative approaches, leadership, and steadfast dedication to improving their communities and industries.

ABOUT CITY AWAKE

City Awake centers young professionals, seeking to welcome and retain them in Greater Boston with an intentional strategy of cross-sector collaboration to increase their social capital through a blend of programming. Its programming is designed to promote civic engagement; connect them to personal and professional networks across industries and communities; and strengthen the region’s inclusivity efforts while highlighting its cultural vibrancy.

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Jessica Sanon
Jessica Sanon

Senior Program Manager

Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce

Check out our past honorees or Check out our 2023 Honorees!

Alain Mathieu

Attorney, Mintz

Alain is the son of Haitian immigrants who grew up on Long Island, NY. He has been in New England for 15 years, during which he studied at Bowdoin College, attended…Read more

Anthony Richards

Vice President of Equitable Business Development, MassHousing

Tony Richards is the Vice President of Equitable Business Development at Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency (MassHousing). In his role, he works intentionally…Read more

Brian Awe

President, The Fallon Company

Brian Awe was named president and partner of The Fallon Company in March 2022. He is responsible for all business operations and plays a pivotal role in creating,…Read more

Carl Rodrigues

Chief Executive Officer, Harvard University – Harvard Allston Land Company

Carl serves as the Chief Executive Officer for Harvard Allston Land Company (HALC) where he is responsible for the development of Harvard University’s 36-acre…Read more

Chareeda Rustanavibul

Vice President, Startup Banking | Chief Convention Director, Silicon Valley Bank | NAAAP Boston

Chareeda Rustanavibul is a startup enthusiast, community builder, DEI advocate, and nonprofit executive. Chareeda works at Silicon Valley Bank as a Vice President…Read more

Gary Prado

Senior Legal Counsel, Fidelity Investments

Gary Prado is Senior Legal Counsel at Fidelity Investments, where he serves as chief counsel to Fidelity’s private equity business, Devonshire Investors. Prior…Read more

Guadalupe Hayes-Mota

CEO & Founder, Healr Solutions

Guadalupe Hayes-Mota is a biotechnologist, entrepreneur, professor, and public servant with a diverse background spanning the private, public, and nonprofit sectors…Read more

Jessica Carless

Staff User Experience Researcher, Google

Jessica Carless is a User Experience Researcher on the Android team at Google Inc, where she leads innovative GenAI teams and workspaces to shape the future of mobile…Read more

Kleida Martiro

Partner, Glasswing Ventures

Kleida Martiro is a Partner at Glasswing Ventures with specialized expertise in data science, entrepreneurship, and product management. As the former Head of Data…Read more

Qingjian “QJ” Shi

Director, Asian Business Empowerment Council, The Boston Foundation

Qingjian Shi is a highly accomplished leader and advocate for the Asian American business community. Currently serving as the Director of the Asian Business Empowerment…Read more

The TOYL Honorees must have at least one of the following qualities:

Nominee Criteria

The nominee must have held a leadership position within their organization or community.

The nominee must be under 40 years old as of November 1, 2024.

The nominee must demonstrate inclusive leadership and actively support and promote an equitable and diverse culture.

The nominee must have lived or worked in Greater Boston for at least one year.

Thank you to our supporter!