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 on August 18, 2026, at The Palace in Somerset Park, Somerset, N.J. This recognition underscores Di Carlo's significant contributions to the business landscape in New Jersey and beyond, particularly through her work in consulting, creative services, and coaching.
Since founding More Canvas in 2014, Di Carlo has built a firm that initially focused on helping creatives manage administrative and communications tasks, allowing them to concentrate on their craft. Over the past twelve years, the company has expanded significantly, now operating across three practice areas: Consulting, Creative, and Coaching. Today, More Canvas partners with healthcare systems, nonprofits, Ivy League institutions, physician-owned practices, and small businesses across the Northeast.
The Coaching practice, which was formally launched in early 2026, reflects an approach that had been integrated into the firm's client work for years. Di Carlo completed a Certificate in Professional Coaching from NYU SPS, an ICF-aligned credential, to formalize this offering. More Canvas is a WBENC-certified Women's Business Enterprise and currently operates with an all-women team, emphasizing its commitment to diversity and empowerment.
"This kind of recognition rarely reflects one person's work alone," said 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, such as the Chief Operating Officer at a National Healthcare Network, who praised More Canvas for its exceptional ability to organize and synthesize input into clear, actionable frameworks.
The impact of More Canvas's work is evident across a wide range of industries, from growing medical practices to established nonprofits. The firm's philosophy is to build infrastructure that serves the people using it and to exit strategically so clients can operate independently. This approach has earned Di Carlo recognition not only as a business leader but also as a mentor and advocate for entrepreneurship and creativity.
Di Carlo's impressive 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 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 like The Wharton School on creativity in business and human-centered leadership.
The recognition as a Leading Women in Business honoree is a testament to Di Carlo's dedication to her clients and her community. It highlights the importance of her work in helping organizations scale with clarity and purpose, and it serves as an inspiration for other women leaders in the business world. As More Canvas continues to grow, Di Carlo remains committed to her mission of providing practical support to innovators with purpose.
