Ruth Ann Harnisch

Ruth Ann Harnisch (born 1950) is an American investor, activist, philanthropist, writer, and coach. A former news anchor and radio talk-show host, according to Forbes she was "one of the first women to anchor evening news, and had an award winning career in radio and print media." Her on-air reporting for WTVF-TV in Nashville, Tennessee resulted in an Emmy nomination, after which she opened a pro bono coaching practice as a professional coach. Harnisch founded and is president of the Harnisch Foundation, through which she founded programs such as Awesome Without Borders, SupporTED, and Funny Girls. Among other grants, the institution has funded the formation of the coaching department at McLean Hospital and the journalism departments at Kennesaw State University and Baruch College. Earning the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Association of Coaching in 2016, the year prior MSNBC named her one of "11 women's rights activists you should know." She has served as an executive producer on films such as Unrest, The Hunting Ground, The House of Tomorrow, Columbus, Love the Sinner, and Lucky.