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Women working every day to create opportunities for others had their own moment in the spotlight Friday as Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area (WSRCA) Chief Solutions Officer Kelly Moreno and Workforce Solutions Capital Area CEO Yael Lawson were recognized as part of the Austin Business Journal’s 2026 Women in Business Awards.

Kelly was named among this year’s Women in Business nominees, while Yael was recognized as a 2026 Women in Business Finalist, putting two Central Texas workforce leaders among an impressive group of women from business, nonprofits and organizations across the region.

For those of us who work in workforce development, it was a proud moment. But as the stories unfolded throughout the afternoon, it became about much more than recognition.

Leadership That Helps Others Thrive

The Women in Business Awards celebrate women who’ve forged their own paths, overcome obstacles, solved complex challenges, mentored others and made a difference in their companies and communities.

Those qualities came through in story after story Friday. We heard from women who faced challenges, took risks, built organizations, changed industries and found ways to turn their own experiences into opportunities for others.

What stood out wasn’t simply what these women had accomplished. It was how many of them had made helping others part of their success.

They opened doors, mentored emerging leaders, strengthened their communities and used what they’d learned along the way to help someone else move forward.

It was inspiring, and it felt very familiar.

That’s because helping people move forward is at the heart of workforce development.

The Work Behind the Recognition

Workforce development is rewarding work, but it isn’t easy work. The challenges facing workers, employers and communities are complicated, and there’s rarely one solution that works for everyone.

A student trying to figure out what comes after high school has very different needs from someone rebuilding a career after a layoff. A parent may be ready to return to work but need child care before that’s possible. An employer may have good jobs available but struggle to find people with the right skills. A community may be experiencing tremendous economic growth while trying to make sure local residents can access the opportunities that come with it.

Addressing those challenges takes more than programs. It takes people who listen, build relationships, bring partners together and are willing to rethink the way things have always been done.

That’s the kind of leadership Kelly brings to WSRCA every day.

As our Chief Solutions Officer, Kelly helps lead work connecting people across the Rural Capital Area with education, training, careers and opportunities. She brings people together around difficult challenges and keeps pushing conversations toward solutions that can make a meaningful difference.

Most importantly, she keeps the focus on the people behind the programs.

Whether we’re talking about a high school student discovering a career they didn’t know existed, a job seeker looking for a fresh start or an employer trying to build a stronger talent pipeline, Kelly continually brings the conversation back to how we can create a better experience and a better outcome for the person we’re trying to serve.

Proud to Celebrate Kelly

Kelly didn’t walk away from Friday’s luncheon with a trophy, but she left with so much more.

She spent the afternoon surrounded by women whose stories reflected many of the same qualities she brings to her own leadership: resilience, creativity, determination, compassion and a genuine desire to help others thrive.

And that made her nomination especially meaningful.

We get to see Kelly’s leadership up close every day. We see the questions she asks, the partnerships she builds and the way she challenges us to think differently. We also see how much she invests in the people around her and how deeply she believes in the potential of the people and communities we serve.

The Women in Business nomination gave the broader Central Texas community an opportunity to recognize that leadership, too.

Of course, we would’ve loved to see Kelly leave carrying some hardware. We’re a little biased.

But the trophy was never really the point. Being recognized alongside so many accomplished women and hearing the stories of what they’ve overcome and what they’ve created was a reminder that leadership isn’t defined by an award. It’s reflected in the opportunities we create for others.

Kelly, we couldn’t be prouder of you.

Congratulations to Women in Business Finalist Yael Lawson

We were also incredibly proud to see Yael Lawson, CEO of Workforce Solutions Capital Area, recognized as a 2026 Women in Business Finalist.

WSRCA has had the opportunity to work alongside Yael and her team on regional workforce initiatives for many years, and we’ve seen firsthand the leadership and collaborative spirit she brings to Central Texas.

That collaboration is important because our workforce doesn’t stop at county lines. People travel across the region every day for work, education and training. Employers recruit talent from neighboring communities, and the growth of an industry in one part of Central Texas can create opportunities throughout the region.

Meeting those challenges takes leaders who understand that we can accomplish more when we work together.

Yael has been an important part of building that regional approach, and seeing her recognized as a Women in Business Finalist was a well-deserved moment for her and a proud one for the workforce development community.

Congratulations, Yael!

A Proud Moment for Workforce Development

Seeing Kelly and Yael recognized together also represented something bigger.

Workforce development doesn’t always happen in the spotlight. Much of this work happens behind the scenes through conversations with employers, partnerships with schools, career coaching, training programs, labor market research and countless connections between people and opportunities.

But the impact is everywhere.

It’s there when a student discovers an apprenticeship that can lead to a great career. It’s there when someone who lost a job finds the training they need to start again. It’s there when an employer finds the skilled workers needed to grow. And it’s there when organizations across Central Texas come together to tackle challenges none of us could solve alone.

That’s why seeing women who lead this work recognized alongside some of the region’s most accomplished business and community leaders matters.

Kelly and Yael lead different organizations and serve different communities, but their work shares an important purpose: helping other people succeed.

That spirit was reflected throughout Friday’s Women in Business Awards. Again and again, we heard from women whose success wasn’t simply measured by what they had achieved for themselves, but by what they had made possible for others.

That’s a definition of leadership we can get behind.

We came to Friday’s luncheon ready to celebrate Kelly. We cheered for Yael. We listened to some incredible stories from women across Central Texas. And we left with even more appreciation for the women who are using their leadership to create opportunities for the people around them.

Congratulations to Kelly, Yael and all of this year’s Austin Business Journal Women in Business nominees, finalists and honorees.

We’re proud to see women in workforce development among them, and even prouder of the work they’re doing every day to help Central Texans thrive.