Background

About Athena | Athena is the premier advocacy organization transforming STEM professionals into corporate leaders.Through enterprise-aligned leadership development, strategic partnerships, and a focus on organizational performance, Athena empowers STEM professionals to lead at the highest levels of industry. With a bold goal to advance 1 million STEM leaders by 2030, Athena strengthens the executive pipeline, fosters cultures of innovation and impact, and accelerates workforce readiness for the future economy. Founded in 1998, Athena’s global community spans executives, emerging leaders, entrepreneurs, and academics across life sciences, technology, engineering, mathematics, healthcare, defense, and the ecosystem of service providers.

CEO Bio

Holly Smithson, Chief Executive Officer | As CEO of Athena, Holly leads efforts to advance STEM leaders and drive business performance across global industries. Under her leadership, Athena is emerging as a global movement, dedicated to equipping leaders and workplace allies to succeed in science and technology fields. Holly's career spans transformative roles, including leading the launch, merger, and financial turnaround of three companies in cleantech, biotech, and STEM.

Previously, Holly served as a Presidential Appointee in President George W. Bush's administration, advancing critical legislative initiatives at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and State Department. She was also a delegate in California Governor Jerry Brown's Cleantech Trade Mission to China.

Her exceptional leadership has earned widespread recognition. She was inducted into the San Diego Women's Hall of Fame in 2023 and named among San Diego's Top 500 Most Influential Leaders from 2018-2024. Additionally, she's been honored as CEO of the Year and Businesswoman of the Year.