The Most Powerful Business Leaders in Arizona for 2025 includes Mary Fedewa, president, CEO, director and co-founder, STORE Capital. Meet her here.

Mary Fedewa, president, CEO, director and co-founder, STORE Capital

Background: Known throughout the industry for her business acumen and solutions-oriented charisma, Fedewa co-founded STORE Capital in 2011. She was appointed president in September 2020 and ascended to CEO in April 2021.

Leadership style: “I lead by example — with energy, integrity and a commitment to inclusion and collaboration. I work to empower my team to make informed, confident decisions, creating an environment where they can excel. I have found that diverse empowered teams consistently deliver the strongest results — and STORE’s success is proof of that.”

How to evolve: “If there’s one constant in business, it’s change. My approach has always been to embrace change as an opportunity to adapt, innovate and strengthen the organization.”

Defining moment: “Leading STORE through its 2023 privatization —partnering with Blue Owl and GIC — has been a defining moment of my career. Valued at nearly $15 billion, it was one of the largest M&A transactions in the U.S. real estate market and the second largest in Arizona’s history. This partnership gives STORE exceptional access to long-term capital, strengthening our ability to provide long-term tailored real estate solutions to businesses nationwide.”

Opportunities ahead: “I see robust infrastructure investment and continued workforce development as  Arizona’s biggest opportunities over the next several years. By strengthening our infrastructure and investing in talent, we can build on the State’s strong business culture and position Arizona as an even more attractive place for companies to grow and innovate.”

Business advice: “With the rapid growth of computing power and artificial intelligence, it’s more important than ever to stay grounded in the fundamentals. Prioritize employee well-being, build strong relationships, and focus on serving the customer – those are the actions that create long-term business value. The best advice I’ve ever received — and would pass along — is this: Trust the journey. Everything, regardless of the outcome, offers a lesson. Learn from each one.”