Gina Winstead (37)
Assistant Vice President, Membership Development and External Relations
Vibrant Pittsburgh

As assistant vice president of membership development and external relations at Vibrant Pittsburgh, it’s Gina Winstead’s work to attract, retain and elevate a diverse pool of talent in the region.

And that means educating the business community on issues of diversity, equity and inclusion. She makes her case with money.

“Companies that have more diversity have higher revenues,” she says. “They’re literally making more money by having diversity in their executive roles.”

In fact, according to global management consulting firm McKinsey, companies in the top 25% for racial and ethnic diversity are 35% more likely to have financial returns above their industry peers.

They are also more likely to think innovatively and creatively.

It’s one of the reasons Winstead has always been open to new experiences and willing to squash expected norms. Case in point: She took up fishing after a group of her male relatives disinvited her on a boating trip, citing a desire for a men’s only expedition.

“Now, I can outfish all of them,” she says.

Wach ⇓