Az Big Media will be profiling one of the Most Influential Women in Arizona for 2026 each day leading up to the celebratory dinner on August 20, 2025. Today, meet Jennifer Wallace-Sasek, president of McCarthy Nordburg.
From a field of more than 2,200 women under consideration, the Most Influential Women in Arizona were selected by the editorial board of Az Business magazine and a panel of 12 former Most Influential Women. The Most Influential Women in Arizona Business for 2026 will be honored at a celebratory dinner on Aug. 20, 2026, at Chateau Luxe in Phoenix. The Spotlight Award Sponsor for the Most Influential Women of 2026 is CORE Construction, the Special Gift Sponsor is Tarbell’s, the VIP Sponsor is GCON, the VIP Reception Sponsor is Cullum Homes, the Cover Photo Shoot Sponsor is Greenberg Traurig, the Beverage Sponsor is Arizona Escrow & Financial, the Valet Sponsor in Stevens-Leinweber, the Floral Sponsor is PCL Construction, the Dessert Sponsor is SottoPelle and Tutera Medical, the 360 Photo Booth Sponsor is Clayco, the Step-and -Repeat Sponsor is Morris Hall, the Digital Sponsor is Desert Diamond Casinos, the Floral Provider is PJs Flowers and the Production Sponsor is Merestone.
WOMEN IN BUSINESS: The Most Influential Women in Arizona for 2026
WOMEN IN REAL ESTATE: The Most Influential Women in Commercial Real Estate for 2026
Jennifer Wallace-Sasek, president, McCarthy Nordburg
Background: Jennifer Wallace-Sasek is president of McCarthy Nordburg, a Phoenix-based interior architecture firm now in its fifth decade. She has spent more than 30 years designing workplace environments for clients across corporate, legal, financial, medical, and higher education sectors. Under her leadership, the firm has planned millions of square feet of commercial space for organizations including Gammage & Burnham, DoorDash, PXG, and Nationwide Realty. Jennifer is active with NAIOP, IIDA, and AZCREW, and is committed to mentoring the next generation of design professionals. She holds a BA in Interior Architecture from Columbia College Chicago.
Advice to younger self: “Trust the process and trust yourself. Early in my career, I spent a lot of energy worrying about whether I was ready for the next challenge. The truth is, you’re never completely ready. You learn by stepping into it. I’d also tell myself to invest in relationships, not just skills. The people who shaped my career the most were the ones I took time to listen to and learn from. Your technical ability gets you in the room. The relationships are what keep you there.”
Surprising fact: “I’ve completed five marathons, including the New York City Marathon. I also compete in triathlons. People who know me primarily through my work in interior architecture are usually surprised to hear that, but distance running and endurance sports have been part of my life for years. There’s a discipline to long-distance training that honestly translates to how I approach design projects and running a business: you plan, you pace yourself, you keep going when it gets hard, and you don’t skip the preparation.”
