Metro Chamber CEO Named a 2026 North Bay Business Journal Influential Woman

Ananda has been a dedicated leader at the Santa Rosa Metro Chamber since November 2016, serving in a variety of roles before being appointed Interim CEO and subsequently named CEO in 2024. As the first female CEO in the Chamber's 120-year history, she has helped lead the organization through a period of growth and innovation while convening business, government, and community stakeholders around critical workforce development, economic prosperity, and public policy initiatives.

"She sets the tone for our organization by modeling balance, integrity, and purpose in everything she does," said Janelle Meyers, Vice President of Marketing and Communications for the Santa Rosa Metro Chamber. "As a working mother, civic leader, mentor, and friend, she demonstrates that high performance and humanity are not mutually exclusive."

Ananda's leadership extends well beyond the Chamber. She serves on numerous boards and task forces, including the Sonoma County Workforce Investment Board and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Early Childhood Education Task Force. She is also the president of Our Kids, Our Future, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing policies that support children and families.

One of Ananda's most impactful accomplishments has been helping position early childhood education and child care as essential economic development issues. Through the Chamber's Employer Supported Child Care program, she has worked to shift the conversation around child care from being viewed solely as a social issue to being recognized as a workforce and business imperative.

By bringing together business leaders, policymakers, and community advocates, Ananda has helped build support for solutions that benefit working families, strengthen employers, and contribute to a more resilient local economy.

Reflecting on this work, Ananda shared that she is most proud of the tangible impact these efforts have had on expanding access to child care, supporting working families, strengthening businesses, and creating a more equitable community.

"What makes this achievement most significant to me is the tangible impact—expanding access to childcare, supporting working families, strengthening businesses, and contributing to a more resilient and equitable community," she said.

Throughout her career, Ananda has championed a collaborative leadership style rooted in listening, understanding diverse perspectives, and finding common ground. She believes meaningful progress happens when business, government, and community leaders come together around shared goals.

"Progress depends on bridging gaps between business, government, and community interests," she said. "That work requires curiosity, setting aside assumptions, not taking things personally, and deeply listening to understand what motivates each stakeholder."

As an organization, we are honored to celebrate Ananda's recognition as one of the North Bay's most influential women. Her leadership continues to inspire our team, our members, and our broader community, and we look forward to the continued impact of her work throughout Sonoma County and beyond.

Please join us in congratulating Ananda Sweet on this well-deserved honor.