Carolyn Jahnke is something of a real-life Wonder Woman, balancing multiple careers, entrepreneurship, motherhood, and community service to become a Madison area standout — and now the Business Forum’s 2025 ATHENA Leadership Award recipient.
The ATHENA Leadership Award honors women for their personal and professional accomplishments, excellence in their field, dedication to their community, and commitment to uplifting other women.
The Business Forum recognized Jahnke, the founder of Verona’s Athena Legal Solutions (which is not affiliated with the award), and five nominees at the 28th annual ATHENA Leadership Award celebration, held March 13 at the Monona Terrace.
Nominees included Gail C. Groy, the owner and CEO of Groy Law Firm SC; Ashley Rodriguez, the owner of Carbon World Health; Chantel Soumis, a fractional chief marketing officer for software as a service (SaaS) and tech startups; Mercury Stardust, a peer educator, author, and professional home maintenance technician; and Janis Strutt, the co-founder and executive director of Morgan’s Caring Connection Inc. They were honored alongside Jahnke at the event.
“I am deeply humbled and honored to receive this award, especially among such a remarkable group of nominees,” said Jahnke. “It’s a privilege to support women entrepreneurs, many of whom navigate their journeys without a cheerleader in their corner. This recognition reinforces the importance of our work at Athena Legal Solutions. … Being part of a community that uplifts each other’s inspiring efforts is truly a blessing.”
“All of the candidates were going above and beyond,” said Laura Gallagher, president and founder of the Creative Company and an ATHENA judge. “They … see the deep need in the world as well as their civic responsibility and abilities to change it for the better.”
Jahnke, who was previously a Young ATHENA Award nominee in 2018, began her career as a policymaker in state government working to improve health care outcomes, and then pursued a law degree while working full-time at CUNA Mutual Group. At the same time, she was raising two children and expecting a third. Returning to her studies just two days after giving birth, Jahnke graduated from UW-Madison in three years and started Athena Legal Solutions to offer low-cost services to businesses and nonprofits.
“Athena Legal Solutions … represents [Jahnke’s] belief in using the law as a tool for empowerment, particularly for women entrepreneurs navigating the complexities of growing their businesses,” said her ATHENA Award nominator, Christy Gibbs, chief marketing officer of Girl Scouts of Wisconsin–Badgerland. “[Jahnke] has built a platform for advocacy, confidence, and long-term success.”
To complement the law firm’s work, Jahnke established the Athena Founders Collective, which offers mentorship and support for women business owners. In 2024, the collective hosted its first event and awarded a $1,500 scholarship to a young entrepreneur.
Gallagher points to Jahnke as an example of “women bringing other women along, providing the … resources [to change] not just individual lives but the community as a whole.”
Fellow ATHENA judge Shayna Mace, the editorial director of BRAVA Magazine, said Jahnke’s work “capture[s] the spirit of helping women build upon their leadership potential.”
Jahnke serves as a board member and second vice chair on the Girl Scouts of Wisconsin–Badgerland Council, and the secretary and chair of the Center for Community Stewardship’s governance committee. She sponsors the Western Wisconsin Women’s Business Conference as well.
She’s now a mother of four and still flying in the face of the limits of a 24-hour day.
Editor’s note: IB Madison was a sponsor of the ATHENA Leadership Awards and reporter Brittney Kenaston served as a judge.
