Pilar Castro Di Carlo, founder and CEO of More Canvas Consulting (MCC), was named a 2026 NJBIZ Leading Women in Business honoree at an awards ceremony held August 18, 2026, at The Palace in Somerset Park, Somerset, N.J. The recognition celebrates her leadership and the firm's evolution over the past twelve years.
Founded in 2014, More Canvas Consulting began with a mission to provide practical support to innovators with purpose, initially helping creatives manage administrative and communications tasks. Over time, the firm expanded far beyond its roots in New Jersey's arts scene. Today, More Canvas works across three practice areas—Consulting, Creative, and Coaching—serving healthcare systems, nonprofits, Ivy League institutions, physician-owned practices, and small businesses across the Northeast.
The Coaching practice, formally launched in early 2026, follows Castro Di Carlo's completion of a Certificate in Professional Coaching from NYU SPS. This new offering reflects an approach that had been integrated into client work for years, now formalized as a distinct service. More Canvas is a WBENC-certified Women's Business Enterprise and currently operates with an all-women team.
Castro Di Carlo attributes the honor to collective effort. "This kind of recognition rarely reflects one person's work alone," she said. "It belongs just as much to the clients and collaborators who've trusted our team to help them navigate change over the years."
The impact of More Canvas's work is evident in client feedback. A chief operating officer at a national healthcare network noted, "Collaborating with More Canvas has been a pleasure. When implementing a complex initiative—especially one involving multiple departments and stakeholders—More Canvas was exceptional at organizing and synthesizing everyone's input into a clear, logical, and actionable framework."
The firm's client work spans a wide range of industries, from growing medical practices to established nonprofits. Across engagements, the common thread is building infrastructure that serves the people using it and exiting strategically so clients can operate independently.
Castro Di Carlo's background includes an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, an MFA from NYU Tisch School of the Arts, and a BA cum laude from Princeton University. She also holds an ICF-aligned Certificate in Professional Coaching from NYU SPS. Her leadership extends beyond her firm: she serves on the board of the United Way of Greater Mercer County and is a founding board member of Princeton Arts Alumni. She regularly mentors founders through Princeton University's Entrepreneurship Council START program and E-Club Mentorship program, and speaks at institutions including The Wharton School on creativity in business and human-centered leadership.
This recognition underscores the importance of supporting purpose-driven organizations with practical strategy and operations. As More Canvas Consulting continues to grow, its founder's honor highlights the value of combining business acumen with a human-centered approach.
