Virginia Business has named Susan Charnaux, Chief People Officer at Appian, a 2026 Women in Leadership Awards recipient, Appian announced. The awards celebrate top women executives for their professional accomplishments, civic engagement, mentorship and advancement.
The Virginia Business leadership team selected the honorees, who have demonstrated leadership and integrity while making an impact in their communities and in Virginia. The full list of winners appears in the October issue of Virginia Business and online at VirginiaBusiness.com.
Why Susan Charnaux Was Recognized
Susan Charnaux brings more than 20 years of experience in professional services to her role at Appian. A member of the executive leadership team, she oversees talent acquisition, learning and development, and human resources.
As Chief People Officer, Susan Charnaux connects Appian’s culture and talent strategy to business growth. According to the company, her leadership has focused on strengthening early-career hiring, onboarding and employee development, and on preparing Appian’s workforce to succeed in an AI-enabled workplace.
“I am honored to be recognized alongside women whose leadership is strengthening the Commonwealth of Virginia,” said Susan Charnaux. “At Appian, we believe top talent is essential to our business growth, and our Virginia headquarters has been the right place for us to find that talent.”
She added that the company is committed to investing in its people at every stage of their careers. “We are committed to investing in our people at every stage of their careers and creating an environment where they solve hard problems, do impactful work, and take ownership of their growth from day one,” Charnaux said.
What Virginia Business Said About the Honorees
Richard Foster, associate publisher and editor of Virginia Business, described the class as trailblazing mentors. “The 2026 Women in Leadership honorees are exemplary executives who are making significant contributions to their organizations and communities as trailblazing mentors who are encouraging future generations of professional women to pursue their own paths and ambitions,” Foster said.
“We at Virginia Business are pleased to recognize these transformational leaders,” he added.
Recognition programs for women leaders continue to grow across the country, from the 23rd Stevie Awards for Women in Business to the New Jersey Women Business Leaders Forum.
Other 2026 Women in Leadership Honorees
Susan Charnaux joins a list of executives from banking, health care, construction, energy, government and the arts. Honorees include Diane Cafritz of CarMax, Wendy Lewis of KPMG, Karen A. Wilson of Bank of America and Amanda Jarratt of the City of Virginia Beach. The list also includes Jane Kamensky of Monticello/The Thomas Jefferson Foundation, Tracy Keller of the Girl Scout Council of Colonial Coast and Kanama Bivins of the Norfolk Airport Authority.
Several recipients are multiyear winners, including Shaza Andersen of Trustar Bank, Laura K. Ipsen of Ellucian and Linda Rabbitt of Rand Construction. Readers following corporate leadership may also see how women executives shape strategy at other large companies.
About Virginia Business
Virginia Business describes itself as the only publication in Virginia dedicated to covering economic activity in every sector and region of the commonwealth. It hosts several annual events to recognize excellence, runs a webinar series with market leaders and is part of BridgeTower Media, which spans more than 40 brands in five sectors across the United States.
About Appian and the Awards Banquet
Appian provides AI automation for business processes at large organizations. On the Appian Platform, customers build AI-powered processes that the company says accelerate work, reduce cost and manage risk. Appian says it has been automating processes for more than 25 years.
Susan Charnaux and the other Women in Leadership honorees will be recognized when Virginia Business hosts an awards banquet on October 6 at the Science Museum of Virginia’s Dewey Gottwald Center in Richmond.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Susan Charnaux?
Susan Charnaux is Chief People Officer at Appian and a member of its executive leadership team, overseeing talent acquisition, learning and development, and human resources.
What award did Susan Charnaux receive in 2026?
Virginia Business selected Susan Charnaux as a 2026 Women in Leadership Awards recipient, which celebrates top women executives in Virginia.
What do the Virginia Business Women in Leadership Awards recognize?
The awards celebrate top women executives for their professional accomplishments, civic engagement, mentorship and advancement.
When and where is the Women in Leadership awards banquet?
Virginia Business will host the banquet on October 6 at the Science Museum of Virginia’s Dewey Gottwald Center in Richmond.
