2023 Prestigious Women Awards Honoree: Cicely Strickland-Ruiz

In her role as Chief Strategy Officer of United Way of Broward County, Cicely Strickland-Ruiz brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in the nonprofit and human service industries. She is focused on implementing strategies to increase revenue, reduce costs, strengthen customer relationships, and improve business practices, with the sole purpose of creating meaningful community impact. Strickland-Ruiz completed her M.S. in Strategic Leadership at Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, NY, where she hails. She began her career working for a nonprofit social work agency that championed children’s rights. This experience gave her a deep appreciation of how nonprofits seek to improve the quality of life for everyone. Prior to taking on her role with United Way of Broward County, Strickland-Ruiz served as Chief Operating Officer at United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes (NY), overseeing the operational functions of the organization while leading a team of 20 fundraising professionals to raise more than $30 million annually through workplace development, corporate giving, and individual philanthropy. She believes in supporting the community where she lives and has served as a volunteer tax preparer through United Way’s supported program, VITA, on the Steering Committee of the Race, Equity, Justice Initiative (REJI), as a member of the North Broward County (FL) Chapter of The Links, Inc., and on multiple boards that support the empowerment of women, children, and education.