Women To Watch 2025 honoree Vanessa Riley

A Rochester, New York native, Vanessa Riley’s journey has been shaped by deep-rooted family values, spiritual grounding, and an unwavering commitment to service. She began her nursing career in 2006 as a Licensed Practical Nurse. Today, she stands as a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with over two decades of experience in long-term care, infectious diseases, and hospital medicine.

In 2025, Vanessa founded KhonsuAI, an AI-driven healthcare technology company designed to empower small and mid-sized clinics. The platform was built to alleviate the burden on providers and expand access to care in underserved communities. At its core, KhonsuAI reflects Vanessa’s core belief: that technology should elevate empathy, not replace it.

She also created RileyRounds, an educational and lifestyle brand that supports nurse leaders, women in healthcare, and emerging innovators. Through guided reflection tools, leadership development, and digital learning experiences, RileyRounds is redefining what it means to lead with heart in modern healthcare. Vanessa is a proud member of Sigma Theta Tau, the National Society of Black Engineers, and the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI), bridging clinical practice with the frontiers of science and technology.

With every step, Vanessa Riley remains committed to transforming healthcare into something smarter and more sustainable for patients, providers, and future generations. Whether she is building intelligent tools, holding space for healing, or reimagining systems of care, Vanessa isnot just a woman to watch; she is a woman here to lead.