Lucy Santana – Los Angeles Times

Director of the company
Girls Inc. from Orange County

In 2024, Lucy Santana celebrated 25 years as CEO of Girls Inc. of Orange County (GIOC), where her visionary leadership has greatly expanded the organization’s influence. Under her leadership, GIOC grew from 1,500 girls in 2001 to 9,000 in 2024, increasing services by nearly 15%. Santana has secured significant funding and established key partnerships with major companies to support transformative programs in education, career readiness and personal development. Notably, she co-authored Project Accelerate, which aims to increase the presence of women of color in leadership positions, and doubled her participation in its second year. Santana’s efforts have also led to the expansion of programs such as Girls Meet the Workforce and College Access, and she is a strong advocate for women’s and girls’ issues.