Pilar Castro Di Carlo, founder and CEO of More Canvas Consulting (MCC), has been named a 2026 NJBIZ Leading Women in Business honoree. The award was presented at a ceremony held August 18, 2026, at The Palace in Somerset Park, Somerset, N.J. This recognition highlights her leadership in building a consulting firm that supports innovators across healthcare, education, and the arts.
Castro Di Carlo founded More Canvas in 2014 with a mission to provide practical support to purpose-driven innovators, allowing them to focus on their core work. Initially serving New Jersey's arts community, the firm has expanded significantly over the past twelve years. Today, More Canvas operates across three practice areas: Consulting, Creative, and Coaching, partnering with healthcare systems, nonprofits, Ivy League institutions, physician-owned practices, and small businesses throughout 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, an ICF-aligned credential. This addition reflects an approach that had been integral to the firm's client work for years. More Canvas is a WBENC-certified Women's Business Enterprise and currently employs an all-women team.
"This kind of recognition rarely reflects one person's work alone," said Castro Di Carlo. "It belongs just as much to the clients and collaborators who've trusted our team to help them navigate change over the years." Her sentiment is echoed by clients. The 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. The common thread across engagements is building infrastructure that serves the people using it and ensuring clients can operate independently after the consulting engagement ends. This strategic approach has been key to the firm's success.
Castro Di Carlo's background is as diverse as her clientele. She holds 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. Her commitment to community is evident through her board service with the United Way of Greater Mercer County and as a founding board member of Princeton Arts Alumni. She also mentors founders through Princeton University's Entrepreneurship Council START program and E-Club Mentorship program, and speaks at institutions like The Wharton School on creativity in business and human-centered leadership.
The NJBIZ Leading Women in Business award recognizes women who have made significant contributions to their industries and communities. Castro Di Carlo's inclusion among the 2026 honorees underscores her role as a leader in the consulting industry and her dedication to helping organizations scale with clarity and purpose. As More Canvas Consulting continues to grow, this recognition serves as a testament to the impact of her work and the team she has built.
