Organization: PWHL
Title: Executive Vice President, Hockey Operations
Industry: Sports
Standout achievement in 2025: Brought women's professional hockey into the national spotlight as the PWHL shattered attendance records in its second season.
A four-time Olympic Gold medalist and a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, Hefford has played a pivotal role in the early success of the PWHL.
Founded in 2023, the Professional Women's Hockey League currently competes across eight markets, four in the U.S. and four in Canada. Hefford co-leads the PWHL alongside fellow 2026 CNBC Changemaker Amy Scheer.
The league's current season — which runs from November to April — has been its best yet both on and off the ice.
Hefford was instrumental in the PWHL decision to introduce its own innovative on-ice rules to make the game more competitive and exciting for fans. At the mid-season point, the PWHL has already sold more tickets than its previous season in total and shattered multiple global attendance records for women's hockey.
Sixty-one of the PWHL's players, representing 30% of the league, competed in the 2026 Winter Olympics.
