The Optical Women’s Association hosted its annual Champagne Breakfast celebrating women in leadership on Wednesday, March 11, during Vison Expo 2026 in Orlando, Florida. This year’s recipients are Pleiades Award honoree Susy Yu, OD, of Kaiser Permanente, Pyxis Award honoree Liz Friedfeld of ClearVision Optical, Emerging Leader Award honoree Cathy Firman of GPN Technologies, and Polaris Award honoree Alessandra Senici of EssilorLuxottica. 

Here, EB shares inspiring leadership takeaways from the recipients:

"We live in a world full of distractions, and one of the most powerful things you can do as a leader is to simply be there with your whole self when it counts. In meetings, at events, and in conversation. [Be] truly present for yourself and for the people around you." —Cathy Firman 

"How can we make the doors that open for us open for other women from underserved communities around the world? I dedicate this award to the women who are still waiting for that door to open." —Alessandra Senici

"This award isn't about me or any one woman in this room or in future rooms. It's about a constellation of women who refuse to let each other navigate alone." —Liz Friedfeld

"Choose the right team. Expand the playing field because at the end of the day, eye care is health care." —Dr. Susy Yu