Women CEO Pioneers: Deborah Sawyer

Today's women business owners stand on the shoulders of the pioneering women who have come before us, breaking down ceilings, opening doors of opportunity, and blazing trails.

We honor the memory of Deborah Sawyer, who founded Environmental Design International, Inc. in 1991. On her experience accessing capital for her firm: "I had to go see twenty-four banks before anybody would ask me to sit down."

Deborah Sawyer
Founder of EDI, Inc.

She persevered and eventually secured bank financing to grow the business and received assistance from Women’s Business Development Center.

In her tenure leading the firm as president and CEO, EDI generated over $100 million in revenue and secured contracts for key projects including Exelon City Solar power plant in the West Pullman neighborhood of Chicago’s South Side, O'Hare Airport Modernization Program, and Illinois Tollway and Illinois Department of Transportation projects. She and the firm received numerous awards for outstanding engineering work, business acumen, equity and inclusion, and community leadership.

30 years later, EDI is still alive and well. Headquartered in Chicago and led by Ms. Sawyer's sister, Leslie Sawyer, EDI continues to provide award-winning engineering consulting services to cities and corporations and gives back through donations and scholarships.

Thank you, Deborah Sawyer, for your example of leadership, tenacity, service, and generational and community wealth!

One of Ms. Sawyer’s mantras was “$50 million by tomorrow.” We love it!

What’s one of your business mantras?

Photo Source: Taylor Castle/Chicago Magazine.