Alumna Cassi Janakos (Porter ’11, economics) has been named to the prestigious Inc. 2025 Female Founders 500 list for leading workplace lactation solutions. Janakos, Chief Operating Officer for Healthy Horizons, was recognized on the list along with her mother, and Healthy Horizons CEO, Sheila Janakos.
“This incredible recognition is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and passion we pour into Healthy Horizons every single day,” Janakos said. “Sharing this milestone with my mother makes it even more special.”
The annual Female Founders list honors 500 women whose innovations and ideas lead their industries forward. These entrepreneurs collectively attracted approximately $9 billion in 2024 revenue and $10.6 billion in funding.
Specializing in corporate lactation programs, new parent support, and breast pumps, Healthy Horizons empowers breastfeeding parents at work and home. Healthy Horizons provides lactation rooms and lactation benefits services for Fortune 100 organizations, startups, universities, and other workplaces across North America.
Janakos and Healthy Horizons recently partnered with UC Santa Cruz to establish a lactation center in the Humanities One building. The lactation room includes a hospital-grade pump, milk fridge, microwave, personal breast pump kits, and other amenities to help make nursing mothers more comfortable. This room is one of 21 lactation rooms on campus where nursing mothers can express milk and nurse their babies.
"I am incredibly proud to have partnered with UC Santa Cruz to create a dedicated lactation room for the Humanities staff, students, administration, and faculty,” Janakos said. “Providing a comfortable and private space for expressing milk allows parents to continue their academic or professional pursuits while also meeting their personal and family needs."
In addition to creating the lactation room on campus, Janakos has included UC Santa Cruz in her will, ensuring that her philanthropy will make a difference for future students.
UC Santa Cruz is proud of Janakos for this well-deserved recognition by Inc., showcasing how UC Santa Cruz alumni are making significant impacts in addressing important societal issues.
