Speakers
Subject To Change
Paru Ajjarapu
Senior Director, Identity Governance and Partner Enablement, Bristol Myers Squibb
Paru Ajjarapu is an accomplished IT leader with over 20 years of experience driving digital transformation to advance and enable organizations’ business strategy through technology. She is responsible for the user-centered vision and strategic direction for partner enablement digital capabilities at BMS. Paru holds the belief that diversity adds strength to the organization. She is a member of BMS IT D&I council and leads the BMS Chapter of WITI.
Brian Amend
Senior Director, Supply Chain Systems, Walgreens
Brian Amend is a Senior Director for Supply Chain Systems at Walgreens, responsible for the end-to-end supply chains systems of forecasting, ordering, warehouse management, transportation, and vendor collaboration. With over 20 years of consulting and industry experience, Brian has a proven track record developing and executing IT strategic visions, driving innovation, delivering on new business capabilities, and for using technology and innovation to solve complex business problems and to develop customer centric solutions. Brian is also the executive sponsor of the IT engagement committee and has a passion for driving employee engagement across organizations.
Aliya Amershi
Tech Coach & Startup Founder, Codefree App Launch
Aliya Amershi is the Tech Coach and Startup Founder of Codefree App Launch. She is on a mission to help ambitious women entrepreneurs break into tech and launch an app idea that gets customers, without all of the unnecessary barriers to entry. In her online accelerator she coaches women entrepreneurs to quickly get their app idea to launch without pitching to investors, learning how to code, or paying for developers. Aliya is a former Engineer turned Entrepreneur, with over 20 years of technology experience and five years of startup experience. She has helped build multiple popular apps and tech products, including the Emmy Award-winning Nick App. She has worked as a tech lead at Fortune 500 Enterprises, built two bootstrapped Startups, and served as a local Director for a Silicon Valley-based Incubator. In addition to running her online accelerator, Aliya is a member of the Young Entrepreneur Council and regularly contributes to Forbes and Inc. with her expert advice on technology and entrepreneurship.
Sahar Arshad
Co-Founder & COO, CloudMedx
Sahar Ashad is the Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of CloudMedx - a healthcare AI company that aims to help physicians and patients improve care. Ms. Ashad leads the strategic development, technical execution, recruiting, and day-to-day operations. She is also involved in crafting the company culture and identifying future growth opportunities. Ms. Ashad has a degree in Computer Science and over 13 years of experience in creating healthcare portals, deep data analytics, and managing software and hardware products. CloudMedx is working with some of the best health systems in the country.
Tom Austin
CEO & Founder, Analyst Syndicate
Tom Austin is the CEO & Founder of Analyst Syndicate and former Head of Research and Fellow at Gartner for almost 25 years. His academic background is in Brain Sciences. At Gartner, Tom drove research and advisory services on Office Systems, Client/Server, Network Computing, Workgroup Systems, Portals, Content and Collaboration, Social Software, Cloud Computing, and Artificial Intelligence. He is probably most renowned for his hugely successful disruptive Maverick innovation research program. Six weeks after leaving Gartner in June 2018, he began planning the Analyst Syndicate which went commercial October 2019 and now has almost 30 senior analysts. See his work on thansyn.com and follow his posts on LinkedIn.
Michelle Bailey
In May 2021, Michelle Bailey became the new Chief Executive Officer of Women in Technology International (WITI), succeeding WITI Founder Carolyn Leighton. Leading WITI's next stage of growth, Michelle will expand the organization's business services to help women, minorities, and technology organizations in realizing a diverse and inclusive workplace. For the past 25 years, Michelle has advised senior technology industry executives, including CEOs and Board members, Chief People Officers, and DE&I VPs. A specialist in emerging and disruptive technologies, she founded and championed diversity and inclusion research and advisory for the technology sector, with an emphasis on under-represented minority employee insight. Most recently, Michelle was Group Vice President and Research Fellow at International Data Corporation (IDC), and previously Chief Research Officer at 451 Research. Her expertise spans Cloud, Digital Infrastructure, Datacenters, AI, Security, and Talent Management & the Human Enterprise. She holds a B.S. (Hons.) in Mathematical Statistics from Monash University, Australia.
Karlyn Barilovits
Dean, College of Management and Technology, Walden University
Karlyn Barilovits is dean of the College of Management and Technology at Walden University. She has been with Walden since 2010 and has served as program director for the Doctor of Information Technology program and associate dean for the School of Information Systems and Technology. She holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from The University of Tennessee, an MS in Computer Science from Clemson University, and a BS in Computer Information Systems from the University of North Carolina Asheville. Dr. Barilovits has taught at campus-based universities for 16 years and has been in teaching and administration online for 15 years.
Jane Barr
Executive Coach , Kinnexion, LLC
Jane Barr is an ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC), Master Facilitator for Regenerating Images in Memory and author of "WiseWoman Leadership.” Her heart is for promoting the growth of women leaders in technology. For 30 years she consulted with the national retail industry leading system, reengineering projects for companies such as CVS, GAP, and REI. Jane knows what it takes to deliver projects on time and on budget, to build strong teams, and to generate business worth millions of dollars. She is an active member of WITI and Corporate Alliance Chair for WITI/Tampa Bay.
Bethanie Baynes
Director, Global Partnerships, Google
Bethanie Baynes is Director of Global Partnerships at Google. Throughout her 16-year career at Google she has spent 12-hour days reviewing ads, sold the first campaigns on YouTube, created, launched and (sometimes) sunsetted products, negotiated billions of dollars in first-of-their-kind deals, and now oversees New Business Development, Revenue Management and Analytical Insights. Bethanie is a tireless women's advocate and recognized leader on the topic of breadwinning women. She founded the Breadwinning Women's community at Google, which has grown to almost 2000 women globally in less than a year. As well, she is the host of the podcast Working Wife, Happy Life!, launched in early 2020. She was an official speaker at the Women's March NYC 2020, helped to launch the parents network at NASA, and hosts many Talks At Google events for the Google-sponsored YouTube channel on topics focused on furthering women in various industries. Bethanie holds a BA in Human Services from Northeastern University.
Deb Becker
Founder & Leadership Coach, Becker Leadership Impact
After 20 years in the corporate sector, mostly in aerospace and defense, Deb Becker founded Becker Leadership Impact, a coaching and leadership company focused on developing leaders for incredible impact. As an experienced coach and dynamic leadership program facilitator, she creates environments where leaders at all levels of the organization can think, reflect, and identify new mindsets, approaches, and behaviors that enable them to lead more authentically, intentionally, and impactfully. She also leverages assessments, goal-setting frameworks, and neuroscience to support leaders on their journey. Deb has her MILR degree from Cornell University and a BA from Syracuse University. She is trained in the results-based coaching system, received her Coaching Certificate from Babson College, and is certified in numerous leadership assessments.
Ngozi Bell
Partner, Trans-Sahara Investment Corporation
Ngozi Bell is a partner at Trans-Sahara Investment Corporation, a Private Equity and Business Development Consulting Company. Prior to that, she was the appointee for regulatory affairs for the Mid-Atlantic States, with the United States Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy. As a corporate strategist and motivational team builder with vast trans-Atlantic experience, Ngozi Bell has a Physics degree (University of Port Harcourt) and an electrical engineering degree (Florida State/Florida A&M University), Ngozi launched her career in telecommunications (AT&T, Lucent, and Agere Systems) and today specializes in venture capital strategies, technology strategies, new business development, and business growth and rescue. As Director at Lucent Microelectronics, Agere Systems and LSI Corporation in Allentown, PA, Ngozi was responsible for designing and executing the long-term business and strategic direction of semiconductor communications wired and wireless applications. In addition, Ngozi is the Co-Founder of the African Leadership Alliance, and Founder of Entrepreneurship University, Diaspora Bell, Miranet LLC, Womenshistorymonth-LehighValley, and a Board Member of the Lincoln Leadership Academy, the Women Empowerment Project, Association of Women In Science S2M, and the Association of African NGOs. Prior to public service, Ngozi was Vice President, Birchmere Ventures, an early stage venture capital firm with $160M to $250 Million under management.
Genevieve Bell, Ph.D.
Director, 3A Institute, Australia National University
Genevieve Bell is the Director of the School of Cybernetics, Director of the 3A Institute (3Ai), Florence Violet McKenzie Chair, and a Distinguished Professor at the Australian National University (ANU) as well as a Vice President and Senior Fellow at Intel Corporation. She is a cultural anthropologist, technologist, and futurist best known for her work at the intersection of cultural practice and technology development. After completing her Ph.D. in cultural anthropology at Stanford University, Genevieve spent 18 years in Silicon Valley helping guide Intel's product development by developing the company's social science and design research capabilities. Genevieve established 3Ai in September 2017 at the ANU in collaboration with CSIRO's Data61, with the mission of building a new branch of engineering to effectively and ethically manage the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on humanity through better design and management of technology. She is also the inaugural appointee to the Florence Violet McKenzie Chair at the ANU, Non-Executive Director of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia Board, a member of the Prime Minister's National Science and Technology Council, a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE), an Officer of the Order of Australia, and in 2020 she was named the first Engelbart Distinguished Fellow by SRI International. She also presented the highly acclaimed ABC Boyer Lectures for 2017, in which she investigated what it means to be human, and Australian, in a digital world.
Amy Biesenthal
Senior Manager, Inventory Management, Walgreens
Amy Biesenthal is Senior Manager of Supply Chain Inventory Management for Walgreens. She is responsible for managing inventory for the Grocery & Household departments, leading a team of Demand and Supply Planners to optimize product availability and inventory productivity. After completing a summer internship at a Walgreens Distribution Center in 2004, Amy started her career in analytics and has utilized that foundation in various roles throughout Walgreens Supply Chain, including special project work, transportation operations, and most recently inventory management. Previously, Amy practiced corporate law, and continues her practice through pro bono work. She holds a Juris Doctorate from Loyola School of Law, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from The Ohio State University, and a Bachelor of Arts in German from The Ohio State University; she is a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (Black Belt in training).
Vivian Blade
Principal, Vivian Blade Consulting
Vivian Blade works with organizations to grow the high-performance capacity of an inclusive workforce and leadership pipeline, reducing turnover of valuable talent. In her work as a talent and performance excellence strategist, author, empowerment speaker, and executive coach, her passion in Building Leaders and Developing Excellence empowers companies to fuel incredible leadership, and professionals to fuel incredible careers. Her approach to equipping professionals with the skills and self-confidence to be great leaders is realized in inspired teams and higher levels of business performance.
Dia Bondi
Founder, Dia Bondi Communications
Dia Bondi has coached CEOs, innovators, and ambitious professionals and led workshops at corporations including Quartz, Twitter, and Facebook. She helped Rio secure the 2016 Summer Olympics and has spoken at the 2018 3% Conference and Pandora’s Women in Tech Summit. After attending auctioneering school for fun, she translated the techniques she learned into a program called “Ask Like an Auctioneer,†which prepares women to ask for more and leave nothing on the table. She's been covered on CNBC Make It and Forbes.
Tom Brouchoud
Senior Director, Global Recruiting Programs, Proofpoint
Tom Brouchoud is Senior Director of Recruiting Global Programs at Proofpoint. The company provides the most effective cyber security and compliance solutions to protect people on every channel including email, the web, the cloud, and social media.
Paula Cabrera-Urena
Vice President and Head of IT User Experience, Bristol Myers Squibb
Paula Cabrera-Ureña is the Vice President of IT User Experience at Bristol Myers Squibb. She is a strategic and energetic leader who exercises significant influence over the design, implementation, and operations of companywide digital capabilities leveraged by users across the BMS ecosystem. Paula is passionate about advocating for women in STEM and is the executive sponsor of the BMS chapter of Women in Technology International (WITI), and serves as a mentor in the Rutgers Douglass Residential College Program.
Emily Calandrelli
Executive Producer & Host, Xploration Outer Space
Emily Calandrelli is an Executive Producer and an Emmy-nominated host of FOX’s Xploration Outer Space, as well as a correspondent on Netflix’s show, Bill Nye Saves The World, and most recently Emily is set to star in Netflix’s recently announced pre-school series “Emily’s Wonder Lab.†This series takes kids through lively experiments and entertaining activities to demonstrate what makes STEAM fun. Named to Adweek’s “11 Celebrities and Influencers Raising the Bar for Creativity in 2017,†Emily is an accomplished writer and speaker on the topics of space exploration, scientific literacy, and equality. Her chapter book series, The Ada Lace Adventures, center around an eight-year-old girl with a knack for science, math, and solving mysteries with technology, debuted in August of 2017. Emily has given talks about the importance of science literacy, the benefits of space exploration, and the challenges for women in STEM careers for clients includig Google, Pixar, MIT, Texas Instruments, and CERN, as well as dozens of K-12 schools across the nation. Prior to her work in science communication, Emily attended West Virginia University, where she received Bachelor of Science degrees both in Mechanical Engineering and Aerospace Engineering; and MIT where she received two Masters of Science degrees, one in Aeronautics & Astronautics and the other in Technology and Policy. Through her work, Emily wants to make science and space exploration relatable, more welcoming, and more exciting than ever before in history.
Sarah Campbell
IT Cloud Business Operations, Magellan Health
Sarah S Campbell is a Lead IT Business Operations Specialist at Magellan Health. She is responsible for leading small projects to enhance the internal IT end user experience. She loves the varied responsibilities of her role and is learning and growing more every day. Previously, Sarah worked at Nationwide Insurance, moving her way up from executive admin to portfolio coordinator. She then spent a year at Safelite Autoglass building up the pmo and portfolio space and dabbled in vendor management. Sarah appreciates every opportunity she's been given to prove herself able to gain new skills in a hands-on environment. She holds a Bachelor's and Master's degree from Kent State University - both in Art Education. Sarah loves giving back to the community with various organizations and has mentored a refugee student for 7+ years and counting!
Alyssa Carson
Astronaut in Training, Advanced Possum Academy
Alyssa Carson is an Astronaut in Training, a global speaker, a future Mars Walker, and an Author. At just 18 years old, her list of accomplishments include witnessing 3 Space Shuttle launches, attending Space Camp 7 times, Space Academy 3 times, Robotics Academy once, youngest to graduate Advanced Space Academy, and multiple Sally Ride Camps. In 2012 and 2013, she furthered her education at Space Camp Turkey and Space Camp Canada, becoming the first person to attend all three NASA Space Camps in the world. Alyssa is also the first to complete the NASA Passport program, visiting all 14 NASA Visitor’s Centers stretching across 9 states. In 2013, NASA invited Alyssa to be on the MER 10 panel in Washington DC to discuss future missions to Mars live on NASA TV. She was later selected as one of seven ambassadors representing Mars One, a mission to establish a human colony on Mars in 2030. In 2016 she was the youngest to be accepted by and graduate the Advanced Possum Academy, officially making her certified to go to space and an astronaut trainee. More than anything, Alyssa is driven by an insatiable desire to live life to the fullest; to break through the ceiling of possibility and make a positive and lasting impact on the world.
Brooke Cartus
Director of Business Development and Senior Facilitator, ImprovEdge
Brooke Cartus is the Director of Business Development and Senior Facilitator with ImprovEdge. A graduate of the The Michael E. Moritz College of Law at The Ohio State University, Brooke is a licensed attorney who has been published in numerous publications including the Berkeley Journal of Gender, Law & Justice and the Huffington Post. A part of the 40 Under 40 Class of 2019 in Columbus, Ohio, Brooke collaborates with statewide and national organizations to discuss the importance of acknowledging unconscious bias in the workplace. She has facilitated public discussions on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion with a wide range of organizations and individuals, including the NFL, and has spoken with the Simmons Leadership Conference with Michelle Obama. ImprovEdge is the recipient of the International Stevie Award for Most Innovative Business of the Year and the Athena PowerLink Award for outstanding woman-owned business and is a WBE.
Lela Christine
Publisher/ Founder, Lifestyle Elevation Media Group
Lela Christine, Publisher of LifeStyle Elevation Media Group, is a brand creator of digital media, fashion, beauty, and lifestyle living. In a career spanning more than a decade, Lela created top-line fashion collections featured in department stores including Bullocks and Robinson/May, and numerous fashion catalogs across the United States. Lela eventually transitioned into the entertainment sector and worked with KCET production teams before beginning a career at 20th Century Fox Studios, quickly transitioning into the field of marketing, promotions, and digital technology. Lela serves on the advisory boards of Black Women In Technology, and of Independent Fashion Bloggers (IFB). Her Business Certifications include DBE, SBE, MBE, WBE, SLB, and CBE. She is among the first class of business leaders certified and received capital from the Urban League Entrepreneur training program initially launched in Los Angeles.
Barbara Clarke
Founder, The Impact Seat
Barbara Clarke is founder and president of The Impact Seat. Barbara is an angel investor and venture capitalist working nationally and internationally. She advises top teams on business processes and access to capital, and she collaborates with impact investing networks globally. Barbara serves on the board of directors of Portfolia, Inc an innovative fintech company disrupting venture capital. She also serves on the board of directors of Founder First Capital Partners which invests in small and medium sized businesses led by underrepresented founders. Prior to these roles, Barbara spent over a decade in management consulting (KPMG, PwC), including international appointments. She earned a BA from Tufts University in Quantitative Economics and a MA in International Economics and Finance from Brandeis University.
Pamela Coburn-Litvak
Executive Advisor & Trainer, Litvak Executive Solutions
Pamela Coburn-Litvak, Ph.D., CEC, is a neuroscientist, stress researcher, speaker, author, and certified executive coach. She uses her 25 years of experience in stress research and mental health to help executives and leaders manage their stress in terms of overwhelm, personnel issues, and team management. Her peer-reviewed research has been published in the journals Neuroscience and Neurobiology of Learning and Behavior.
Karen Cone
Advisory Boards Director, Venture Partner
Karen Cone serves on multiple advisory boards and is a venture partner with the Mastersfund, focused on women founders in technology. She is the former General Manager of Microsoft Worldwide Financial Services, CEO and Board Director of the advisory research firm, TowerGroup, and SVP at Gartner where she also served on the Gartner International Board. Karen has also held executive positions with MasterCard and at IBM where she started her career on the market opening teams in Russia (then the Soviet Union) and China. She has lived and worked in the Americas, EMEA & Asia.
Brad Cook
Vice President, Global Talent Acquisition, Intuitive Surgical
Brad Cook is Vice President of Global Talent Acquisition at Intuitive Surgical. Intuitive is a global technology leader in minimally invasive care and the pioneer of robotic-assisted surgery. The company believes that minimally invasive care is life-enhancing care. Through ingenuity and intelligent technology, Intuitive seeks to expand the potential of physicians to heal without constraints.
Marian Cook
Digital Transformation Consultant & Educator, 2U
Marian Cook is an expert digital transformation consultant and educator. At 2U, a premier online education company, she is responsible for classes on corporate innovation, leadership, and digital transformation. She also manages a portfolio of online education from top universities, and teaches an executive MBA course on digital transformation at the Illinois Institute of Technology. She has a long executive career in both the private and public sector, including as the head of the Emerging Technology & Innovation team at Slalom Consulting in Chicago, and as Chief Strategy Officer for the Department of Innovation and Technology for the State of Illinois.
Tahereh Daneshi
Professor, Ashford University
Tahereh Daneshi, Ph.D., is a professor at Forbes School of Management and Technology. With over 26 years of higher education experience in both state and private universities, she knows the value of continuing education for women. In addition to higher education, Dr. Daneshi has 12 years of industrial experience working in the Semiconductor, Data Management, Transportation, and Wireless Telecommunication Industries. While in industry, she contributed to the design, architecture, and development of many systems, such as Programable Logic Arrays, Enterprise Data Management, Airline APU Monitoring, Handheld Wireless Package Tracking Devices, and Telecommunication Broadband Wireless. Dr. Daneshi holds an MS in mathematics from Oklahoma State University, an MS in computer science from Midwestern State University, and a Ph.D. in mathematics from Texas Christian University.
Clara Durodie
Founder & Executive Chair, Cognitive Finance Group
Clara Durodie is the Founder & Executive Chair of Cognitive Finance Group. Clara is a leading expert and author on governance of artificial intelligence, technology strategy in financial services. Her work is focused on the use of trusted AI for business growth and profitability. She is the founder of Cognitive Finance Group, an international specialist consultancy that advises boards of directors on best practices in the adoption, selection, and implementation of AI-based systems. Clara authored "Decoding AI in Financial Services," the first book to examine the business and governance implications of AI in financial services; as well, it is the first AI in business book authored by a woman as a sole author. Clara also publishes the popular DecodingAI newsletter, the first AI in Business and governance newsletter produced by a woman.
Nandini Easwar
Head of Engineering, Speakfully
Nandini Easwar is the CTO & Co-Founder at Speakfully where she is aiding and solving for workplace culture and mistreatment issues by building a modern, action-driven software product. Through her extensive career as a thought leader, her focus has been on humanizing tech solutions for a cause. Nandini has built teams across the globe and brought a wide range of software products to market. Prior to Speakfully, Nandini held a variety of leadership positions at Esurance where she was responsible for incubating and delivering a wide range of new technologies to the insurance market encompassing diverse domains such as billing, customer experience, claims and back-office support. She has also consulted with multiple startups in the emerging mobility and insurance space. She is a passionate proponent of women in STEM fields and supports access to diverse talents while enabling women to grow and learn to their fullest potential. Nandini holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Pune University and a Master’s Degree in Computer & Information Sciences from Temple University.
Desi Ekstein
Drone Diva Desi, On The Go Video.biz
Desi Ekstein - a female UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) pilot with over 100 flights and a passion to fly and to help others - has a Federal Aviation Administration Section 333 exemption and is currently working on obtaining her sport pilot license. Desi uses her drones for photography and videography. She has written for two UAS Internet sites - Skylabflightsystems.com and DigitalAviators.net - regarding drone safety and awareness. She has owned and operated a successful business for over 20 years. Her "Fly Right" program promotes the value of drones and teaches safety in accordance with current FAA guidelines. Desi also works with Leslie Bates at SheDrones and STEM education.
Klyn Elsbury
Founder, MK Foundation
Klyn Elsbury challenges leaders to think differently about the most important decisions they've made: how to interpret and respond to change. A masterful storyteller, she grew up in hospitals battling cystic fibrosis and has taken those lessons, blended them with tactics rooted in neuroscience, and uses that combination to help teams get "unstuck." Her keynotes and workshops focus on embracing change and mastering resilience. Expected to die, Klyn now teaches leaders how to live. She provides actionable strategies to maximize competitive advantage and enable employees to solve complicated problems with energy and enthusiasm.
Marti Evans
Managing Director, Strategic Partnerships, WITI
Marti Evans, Managing Director of Strategic Partnerships at Women in Technology International (WITI), is an innovative technology executive grounded as an Industry 4.0 Digitization and Operational Excellence thought leader. She has worked for Fortune 50 technology companies leading large-scale strategic business transformation pursuits and overseeing their successful implementation. Managing sales teams, cross-functional pursuit teams, delivery teams, and client relationships at all levels, Marti has been noted for her authentic leadership, business acumen, and deep relationships. Her work has taken her from the C-Suites of North America to operational sites in the US, Canada, Chile and Mongolia. As a WITI PowerSource Coach, Marti brings tools, methodologies, and human performance understanding to help those women who are following her to bring their A-Game to work each day and reach their highest level of performance.
Leann Forst
Holistic Health Practitioner
Leann Forst is a Board-Certified Holistic Health Practitioner and Essential Oil Expert, holding a Master’s degree from Drake University and a Bachelor of Science from Upper Iowa University. Leann is certified by the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and accredited by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners. She is also an award-winning author of two books: “How to Get Your Kids to Beg for Veggies†and “100 Ways to Lose Weight.†Leann works with individuals and groups, and speaks regularly at hospitals, schools and organizations to teach people how to attain optimal health by getting to the root cause of chronic and inflammatory conditions, while using healing modalities such nutrition, detox, supplement protocols and essential oils.
Hillary Frank
U.S. Digital Response
Hillary Frank is a natural community builder and has been in Silicon Valley for the past two decades. She is currently working with the newly-formed USDigitalResponse.org, a non-profit aimed at accelerating government response to the COVID-19 crisis, focusing on marketing and communication and online community efforts. Previously, Hillary led Talent, Community, and Marketing at CRV (Charles River Ventures) for six years. In this role she helped transform the way in which VC firms provide services to their portfolio companies. She is also a founding member of the ICON Board, the Israeli Collaboration Network, a pre-seed stage incubator connecting Israeli startups to Silicon Valley. Hillary is also an active investor in J-Ventures. Previously, Hillary spent nearly a decade at Facebook and Google scaling the businesses pre-IPO in a variety of global operating and people management roles. She was primarily focused on Sales and Operations, Learning and Development, and People Operations.
Andrew Gardiner
Co-Founder, The HireKey
- 107 - Career Fair Panel: Finding Work in a Post-COVID World, Part 1
- 117 - Career Fair Panel: Standing Out During Your Job Search, Part 1
- 207 - Career Fair Panel: Finding Work in a Post-COVID World, Part 2
- 241 - Career Fair Panel: Standing Out During Your Job Search, Part 2
Andrew Gardiner, Co-Founder of The Hire Key, is an HR subject matter and solutions expert, with over 25 years of experience. Andrew helps employers address pain points across all areas of talent recruitment/sourcing, management, retention, and branding, with an unbiased approach. He is also the founder of BAJobs.com, San Francisco Bay Area's most popular job board, and a staple for both Bay Area employers and job seekers. In a previous life, Andrew ran his own ad agency.
Lia Garvin
Executive Coach & Senior Program Manager, Google
Lia Garvin has almost a decade of experience working in some of the largest and most influential companies in tech including Microsoft, Apple, and Google. As a Senior Program Manager at Google, Lia leverages her leadership coaching and program management skills to examine the challenges holding teams back from doing their best work, and develop programs, workshops, and resources to help foster psychological safety, inclusion, and effective team dynamics. She built the Diversity & Inclusion program for Google's Augmented and Virtual Reality team, mentors and coaches program managers across the company about how to drive impactful and measurable D&I programming, and was recognized by the National Diversity Council as a 2021 DEI Champion. Lia is a certified executive coach, and works with her clients on how to use the power of reframing to achieve the goals they have for their lives and careers. Lia holds a Bachelor's in sociology from UCLA and a Master's in media studies from The New College of California.
Katrina Georgiou
Senior Manager, Box
Katrina Georgiou is a Senior Manager at Box, which was launched in 2005 to make it easy to access information from anywhere and collaborate with anyone. At Box, Katrina serves as a talent acquisition leader with experience developing, launching, and optimizing recruitment functions.
Maayan Gordon
CEO, Maayan Gordon Media
From HOMELESS to Homeowner, Business Owner, and more, Maayan's life has been an incredible journey from college dropout to accomplished entrepreneur, driven by her passions and curiosity. Maayan is a TikTok Consultant, Branding Expert, Glass artist, Business owner, Writer, Speaker and Influencer
Caitlin Gould
Director, Bluefruit Software
Caitlin Gould is a Director at Bluefruit Software, an Embedded Software company based in Cornwall, UK. Her role is focused around strategic growth for the business, looking at industry and global trends, and how the company’s embedded software expertise can meet an expanding global need for increasingly intelligent devices. As a member of the executive team, Caitlin works closely with the finance, operations, and engineering teams on the company strategy. She also sits on the Bluefruit Board of Directors. Bluefruit Software delivers embedded software using Lean-Agile practices and a test-driven development approach. They work with innovative companies within quality-critical spaces such as medical devices, biopharmaceutical equipment, aerospace, and manufacturing.
Susan Graye
Principal, Susan Graye Executive Recruiters
Susan Graye is a global talent leader with expertise in spearheading and leading innovative strategic programs resulting in improved candidate and employee experience, robust inclusive and diverse talent pipelines, reduced time to fill, increased quality of hire, recognition as best in class employer, and more. Programs launched by Susan include the award-winning HPE Veterans and Military Spouse Program, Strategic Sourcing Program, Employment Marketing Analytics, Recruiter Onboarding, Inclusion and Diversity training, and more. As well, Susan is an ERE Talent Advisor.
Carlye Greene
Start-up & Innovation Lead, Future of Work, Deloitte
Carlye Greene is the Future of Work Start-up and Innovation Lead at Deloitte Catalyst. In this role, she engages with startup founders, venture capital investors, and industry experts to connect solutions - focused on work, the workforce and the workplace - to the biggest problems facing large enterprises today. She also serves as the Chief of Staff to Catalyst leadership, where she supports the workforce and growth strategy for a team of innovative consultants in pursuit of bringing the startup world to Deloitte’s clients. Prior to her role at Deloitte, Carlye spent seven years at Capital One in a variety of roles, both in community affairs and tech, primarily focused on launching a number of tech + human-focused programs. She started her career at Motorola, in corporate philanthropy, where she developed philanthropic and volunteer programs to support STEM education initiatives and access for underrepresented groups, mainly women and girls. Carlye has spoken on social impact, learning and development, and tech inclusion at several conferences. She received her Master’s at DePaul University, with a degree in International Public Service Management and her undergraduate degree from University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Pattie Grimm
Author, Speaker, Trainer, Coach and Women's Advocate, Advantage Training Ltd and Women Kicking Glass
With over 25 years of experience, Pattie Grimm is an empowerment expert for organizations, leaders, teams, and women. She worked as a senior leader for the Microsoft Enterprise Team for 15 years, including 3 running the Asia Pacific Region. She worked at Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision as the Global Head for Performance and Leadership Effectiveness. Pattie was one of the youngest female Vice Presidents for a California Bank. Currently, she runs her own training and consulting company focused on educating and empowering women and girls to be the best they can be. She is an author, speaker, master trainer, coach, and women's advocate.
Laura Hamilton
Vice President of Product, Rally Health
Laura is Vice President of Product at Rally Health, where she is leading the product team rolling out machine learning-based personalization to the digital platform. Prior to Rally, Laura worked as a product leader at five tech companies at various stages of maturity, from pre-funding startup to publicly traded. She holds an undergraduate degree in mathematics from the University of Chicago, and a master’s in computer science with specialization in machine learning from Georgia Tech.
Neal Hardin
VP, Global TA & Strategic WF Planning, Western Digital
Neal Hardin is Vice President of Global Talent Acquisition and Strategic WF Planning at Western Digital. He is a highly focused, progressive Talent Leader with a successful track record of design, implementation, and management of human capital.
Jordan Harrod
Ph.D. Student & NSF Fellow, Harvard-MIT Health Sciences & Technology Program
Jordan Harrod is currently a Ph.D. student in Medical Engineering and Medical Physics at the Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology program. Her research focuses on the intersection of non-invasive brain-machine interfaces and deep learning for clinical pain and anesthesia. In her spare time, she loves to engage in science communication, science policy advocacy, and writing. You can primarily find Jordan on her YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/jordanharrod , where she discusses how artificial intelligence and algorithms impact our everyday lives. She is also the Chair of the External Affairs Board of the MIT Graduate Student Council, where she manages advocacy related to graduate student issues at the local, state, and federal levels. Additionally, she teaches for Splash at MIT, works with Skype at Scientists and Letters for Pre-Scientists, and much more.
Alyse Hart
Founder, Freebird Mojo
- 112 - Wellbeing Center Live Session- Energy Management
- 242 - Wellbeing Center Panel: The Power of Mindfulness at Work, at Home and in Every Aspect of Your Life
- Energy Management Stretch Break with Alyse Hart
Alyse Hart understands the demands, uncertainties, and velocity of the workplace, having worked from NY to LA and Silicon Valley with companies big and small. Her ability to deliver action-oriented teachings comes combining esoteric concepts with down to earth teachings. She is a former VP, entrepreneur, author, speaker, and certified Qi Gong instructor. Alyse's company, Freebirdmojo.com, focuses on self-mastery and natural ways to increase presence, energy, and mojo and boosting inner power and awareness through movement and words.
Phil Haynes
Head of Global Talent Acquisition, ZOOM
Phil Haynes is a transformational Talent Acquisition leader who builds, inspires, and engages high performing teams in fast-paced, high-pressure, and ambiguous growth environments. He uses a deep understanding of business challenges and goals to deliver measurable success within resource constrained organizations. As well, Phil takes a consultative approach and is adept at turning abstract talent acquisition/recruiting needs into practical strategies and solutions to ensure the desired results.
Justine Hollingshead
Chief of Staff and Asst Vice Chancellor, NC State University
Justine Hollingshead has 30 years of success working as an administrator in higher education on various college campuses across the country, in addition to the business sector as well. She offers particular expertise in event planning, emergency preparedness and crisis response, training, leadership, supervision, diversity education, and administration at NC State. Justine earned her Bachelor’s degree from Slippery Rock University in Communication, her Master’s degree in Counseling and Student Personnel Administration from the University of Maryland, College Park, and has completed a ten-week comprehensive business training program with the Council for Entrepreneurial Development in North Carolina. Justine is involved with a number of nonprofit organizations and is committed to community service. She is a certified Small Unmanned Aircraft System (drone) pilot with the Federal Aviation Administration and the state of North Carolina. As well, she is a certified Emergency Medical Technician in the state of North Carolina and has done medical service work across the globe.
Janice Bryant Howroyd
Founder & CEO, The ActOne Group
Businesswoman, entrepreneur, educator, ambassador, author, mentor, and Presidential Special Appointee, Janice Bryant Howroyd is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of The ActOne Group, a global leader providing customized cutting-edge solutions in the human resources industry. Janice is currently #39 on Forbes list of America’s Richest Self-Made Women. In 2014, she was recognized by Black Enterprise as the first black woman to own and operate a billionâ€dollar company. She was BET’s first-ever BET Honors Entrepreneur of the Year, and also received Black Enterprise’s Business of the Year award. Janice also received a Presidential appointment by President Barack Obama as a member of the President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities. She was appointed to the Federal Communications Commission’s Advisory Committee on Diversity and Digital Empowerment (ACDDE) in 2017. Her mantra is “Never compromise who you are personally to become who you wish to be professionally.â€
Amy Huang
Senior Manager, Onsite Technical Support, Marsh and McLennan Companies
Amy Huang has over 20 years of experience in commercial and government organizations across financial, health, education, and information technology industries. Currently, she is a Senior Manager, Onsite Technical Support at Marsh and McLennan Companies, leading 46 technology professionals supporting 5,800+ colleagues in 90+ locations in 4 countries. In all of her roles, Amy has served as a diversity and inclusion champion to create a culture of belonging where everyone’s potential can be unleashed. At MMC, she is a representative on the MGTI Diversity Council, Global Lead of the Buddy Program, Mental Health Champion and Global Ambassador for Lean In Circles. Previous roles at other organizations included LGBT Employee Resource Group president and vice president, recruiting chair, and social chair. Amy earned an MBA in Finance from New York University Leonard N. Stern School of Business and a BA in Chinese Studies and Economics from Wellesley College. She also holds ITILv3, Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Scrum Master (CSM), Certified Product Owner (CSPO) and PADI Advanced Open Water and Enriched Air certifications.
Holly Jean Jackson
Owner, Success Coach, and Speaker, Holly Jean Jackson LLC
Holly Jackson helps female entrepreneurs love their life and their business again. With over 12 years of technology and business experience, she helps business owners get their groove back physically, mentally and emotionally. She does this through a combined approach of both coaching and consulting providing practical and actionable results. Holly also teaches women to remember self-care is essential, not optional and that community is critical to success. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Elmhurst College; a graduate degree in Public Administration & Public Policy from North Carolina State University; and is qualified as a Health Coach, Life Coach, and a Transformational Coaching Method Coach through Health Coach Institute.
Gail Jacobs
Senior Director, People Centers of Excellence, Guardant Health
Gail Jacobs is a Senior HR Leader with expertise in organizing teams of recruiters, improving internal systems and processes, and managing the overhaul of human resources infrastructure. She began her career as a Human Resources Generalist; over the past 10 years, Gail has expanded her skill set to include leading Talent Acquisition teams for global companies. She possesses skills related to the operations of human resources and talent acquisition as well as data analytics, project management, and systems improvement.
Suzzette Jaskowiak
Divisional VP, Pharmacy, Healthcare & Customer Engagement Technology, Walgreens
Suzzette Jaskowiak, Divisional Vice President - Pharmacy, Healthcare and Customer Engagement Technology for Walgreens, is responsible for the technology that enables 10,000 stores to process more than 3 million scripts on a given day. Suzzette leads both operations and application development for Retail Pharmacy, Specialty Pharmacy, Healthcare Clinics, and Technical Field Services. She created and is the executive sponsor of Walgreens InclusivIT resource group. With more than 25 years of experience across application development, infrastructure, and operations, Suzzette has a broad spectrum of experience in consulting, technology, and the creation and management of lines of business for organizations as diverse as Accenture, ABN AMRO, and Forsythe. Suzzette is committed to encouraging girls to participate in STEM through organizations like Girls Who Code, Lumity, Girls on the Run, and her local school districts.
Jovita Jenkins
Executive/Leadership Coach, GOOYOW GROUP
Jovita Jenkins is a global executive/leadership coach, peer coaching group facilitator, strategist, author, and speaker. Jovita supports and collaborates with aspiring and seasoned leaders as they come up to speed more quickly in new roles, adapt to rapidly changing global environments, and discover ways to raise their levels of confidence, executive presence, influence, and effectiveness. As a speaker, seminar leader, author, and west coast aerospace "hidden figure," Jovita inspires audiences to shift their mindsets and overcome their success roadblocks.
Greg Jennings
Co-Founder & CTO, MondoBrain
Greg Jennings is the Co-Founder & CTO of MondoBrain. He is a data scientist, entrepreneur, software engineer, husband, and dad to two girls. He is currently the CTO & Co-Founder of MondoBrain, an AI Software as a Service (SaaS) company providing a platform for question-and-answer style machine learning that is both accessible and interpretable. Greg has helped a variety of organizations use analytics effectively to optimize their decisions and processes, including US government departments and agencies, and companies from a variety of industries, both domestic and international. He was also the technical editor for the book "Data Smart," one of the best-selling introductory data science books designed to help explain data science to beginners from a practical, approachable perspective.
Miku Jha
Founder & CEO, AgShift
Miku Jha, Founder and CEO of AgShift, is a passionate entrepreneur and product executive with a proven track record of successfully launching and scaling products across multiple startups and companies such as VMware and IBM. As part of senior leadership and product teams, Miku helped build and scale multiple storage, mobile software startups into well-known global companies. She was instrumental in growing the storage business as a Founding Engineer at Ariodata, which was acquired by Xyratex. She helped grow and scale mobile business and product at Worklight, which was acquired by IBM. She led several mobile and IoT initiatives at IBM - under the Mobile First portfolio. She was responsible for the successful execution of the mobile virtualization initiative at VMware, under the office of the CTO. Miku serves on the advisory board of BetterMDM, PlainMark, and MergeLane. She holds an MBA from Cornell University and a BS (Hons.) in Computer Science from the University of Mumbai.
Eyvette Jones-Johnson
Founder, Urban Possibilities
Eyvette Jones-Johnson is the founder of Urban Possibilities https://urbanpossibilities.org, an empowerment organization that transforms homeless and low-income job seekers lives though the art of writing and performance. Eyvette was raised in Chicago and grew up with activism. Since she was a little girl she marched for human rights along side her activist mother. Rev. Jesse Jackson was a part of her household along with stories and lessons which have informed her path.
Louise Jupp
CEO, Terreco Aviation
Louise Jupp is the best-selling author of “Precision Farming from Above†and editor of the best-selling “Drone Professional 1.†She is a licensed drone pilot and drone instructor. She has a Master’s Degree in Environmental Science and has over 28 years’ experience in environmental impact assessment and management in the UK, Europe, and across Africa. Louise is the owner of Terreco Aviation, a consultancy for the professional use of drones in agriculture and sustainable land management community, based in South Africa. She recognizes the powerful data gathering and management tool commercial drone systems provide across many sectors. With a passion for the professional use of drones in land management and agriculture in particular, Louise believes commercial drone systems are fundamental to all farmers increasing their productivity and to helping nations meet rising global demand for food production in more sustainable ways. Louise actively promotes the professional drone industry, through collaborative books that bring together global experts to showcase their experience and raises awareness of the value of drone systems for agriculture and sustainable land management through public speaking.
Amy Kao
Co-Founder & President, RxAll
Amy Kao is on a mission to eliminate counterfeit drugs and ensure that every person has access to safe, quality medicines. Born in the USA, she has lived abroad in Shanghai, Singapore, and Hong Kong and is a first-hand witness to fake drugs in emerging markets. She now spends her time working both as a strategy management consultant and entrepreneur - heading up RxAll, a company she co-founded to combat counterfeit medicine using artificial intelligence and molecular spectroscopy. RxAll is the world's leading AI-hyperspectral IoT platform for authenticating drugs in real time and was recently named the most innovative startup in the 2019 Hello Tomorrow Global Challenge, out of 4500 applications from 119 countries.

A classically trained pianist and violist, Amy is also Founder of the International Music & Arts Society (global music non-profit), an ex-Googler, Tedx Speaker, New York Fashion Week runway model, and former Miss Connecticut US International. She proudly advocates for diversity and inclusion and was recently named a "30 Under 30 Trendsetter" by SNJ Millennials. Amy received her Bachelor's degree from Carnegie Mellon University and MBA from Yale University.
Janice Kaplan
Author, Shine Media
Journalist and author Janice Kaplan is the author of many bestselling books, including "The Gratitude Diaries." Her latest book "The Genius of Women" has been called "riveting" and "a game changer." In addition to her historical research, she interviewed women geniuses currently working in robotics, AI, chemistry, microbiology, and the arts. A graduate of Yale, Janice was previously the editor in chief of Parade magazine and a network TV producer.
Julie Karbo
Founder, Karbo Communications
With more than 30 years in the technology industry, Julie Karbo's strategic marketing and communications experience originated with the birth of high-tech marketing. Julie has worked with such companies as Apple, eBay, TIBCO, and Oracle, and has a strong track record in helping clients drive sales and achieve and maintain market leadership. Prior to founding Karbo Communications, Julie founded K/F Communications, which became one of the most respected technology PR boutique agencies in the world. Earlier, as group account manager at historic marketing and PR agency Regis McKenna, Inc. (RMI), Julie directed positioning and communications efforts for many of the technology industry's pioneers. She holds an M.B.A. in Marketing and a B.A. in Economics from San Francisco State University.
Alana Karen
Director, Search Platforms, Google
Alana Karen is an award-winning tech leader, author, and speaker whose work impacts many of our everyday lives. From Google Search to Ads, Fiber to Google Grants and beyond, Alana has been leading the charge to develop, scale, build, and drive team and product development that has seen rippling industry impact. Alana has spoken at conferences and summits on technology, leadership, DEI, talent and innovation. Alana’s book, “Adventures of Women in Tech†(coming in Fall 2020), aggregates hundreds of stories on these topics.
Saadia Khilji
Head, API Integrations, MassMutual
Saadia Khilji currently works as Head of API Integrations at MassMutual, where her team is responsible for providing integration services across the enterprise, being a critical player of digital and data transformation. Saadia previously worked at The Hartford Insurance Group, as Assistant Vice President, Application Development. There she led five persistent scrum teams and was accountable for development and implementation of technology to support Workers Compensation Claims. During this timeframe, she scaled her organization from one to ~40 high performing employees and also successfully led high profile digital and Machine Learning Operationalization initiatives. Saadia has a passion for learning new technologies and transforming teams towards success by delivering what is most valuable for business. A strong advocate of diversity and inclusion, she led the Asian employee network and held leadership position in the Women in Technology Program at The Hartford. Saadia holds an undergraduate in Software Engineering and a Master’s in Information Systems Technology from The George Washington University.
Hope King
Business News Anchor
Hope King is a familiar face and name to anyone who follows business news. Hope covers everything from the financial markets and economy, to Silicon Valley, Hollywood, China, and the White House. She has interviewed Alibaba founder Jack Ma, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, NBA superstar Stephen Curry, and “Crazy Rich Asians†author Kevin Kwan. Hope was most recently the Top News anchor at Cheddar, reporting live from the New York Stock Exchange every day for nearly four years. Prior to that, Hope was a tech reporter at CNN.
Vera Kutsenko
Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Neverland
Vera Kutsenko is Co-founder and Co-CEO of Neverland, a modern plant company powered by technology and community. Vera is a Cornell alum, Ex-Facebook and Uber senior software engineer, Thrive Global Contributor, and has coached over 100 people on health and wellness.
Hayley Leibson
Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Neverland
Hayley Leibson is Co-founder and Co-CEO of Neverland, a modern plant company powered by technology and community. Hayley is a Forbes 30 Under 30 2020 for consumer tech; she previously co-founded an a16z-backed startup called Lunchclub, and is a Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef and certified yoga instructor.
Anna Leighton
Founder, Annatarian Designs
- 172 - Art and Tech for the Greater Good
- 242 - Wellbeing Center Panel: The Power of Mindfulness at Work, at Home and in Every Aspect of Your Life
Anna Leighton is an eco-effective designer, artist and techno futurist. She melds historical knowledge and out-of-the-box thinking into her creations; whether they be red carpet evening gowns or product managing and building systems within companies. Her focus and talent is exploring to find important pieces, bringing them together in unique ways, and in doing so, showing how diversity is better.
Carolyn Leighton
Founder/Chairwoman, WITI
Carolyn Leighton founded WITI in 1989 as a worldwide e-mail network for women in all technology sectors. At the time WITI was established, Ms. Leighton was President of Criterion Research, a research consulting firm for the high tech industry which she founded in 1984, as well as chair of the Core Competency Database Project at Stanford University. Due to Ms. Leighton's leadership and vision, WITI has grown to be the premiere brand and worldwide organization dedicated to empowering women worldwide to achieve unimagined possibilities and transformations through technology, leadership and economic prosperity. Ms. Leighton has 35 years of experience as an educator and entrepreneur. In addition to WITI, she founded four start-ups in the high-tech, legal sectors and, most recently, the pet industry. She attended the University of Michigan and has a bachelor's degree in human development from Pacific Oaks College. Ms. Leighton has received numerous accolades, twice named as one of the "Top 100 Women in Computing." More recently, she was named one of Fast Company Magazine's "Most Influential Women in Technology."
Daniel Leighton
Artist
- 114 - Art & Technology Café
- 172 - Art and Tech for the Greater Good
- 242 - Wellbeing Center Panel: The Power of Mindfulness at Work, at Home and in Every Aspect of Your Life
- 244 - Art & Technology Café
Daniel Leighton is an Augmented Reality artist, iPad painter, filmmaker, and technologist who started programming at the age of eleven. Having Crohn’s Disease since birth, Daniel faced his mortality from a very young age. He creates emotional portraits with simple lines and brilliant colors to capture complex states of the human psyche, while exploring the possibilities of technology and human emotion being harnessed for the greater good.
 Daniel adds Augmented Reality (AR) to his paintings by combining his backgrounds in filmmaking and computer programming. His work has been featured by Timothy Potts, Director of the Getty Museum in Los Angeles, Bryan Barcena Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCA), Nicholas Barlow, Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), Victoria and Albert Museum in London, where he recently spoke, the LA Center for Digital Art (LACDA), Technarte, the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art (SLOMA) and more.
Kim Linton
Owner, 1Light Daring Leadership & Facilitation
Kim Linton is the owner of 1Light Daring Leadership & Facilitation. She works with individuals and teams who want to make work modern, courageous, and intentional. She is a Certified Dare to Leadâ„¢ Facilitator, and provides agile, repeatable, people-positive solutions for teams.
Michael Machado
CSO, RingCentral
Michael Machado, CSO at RingCentral, has over 25 years of experience in technology roles. Michael and his team are responsible for information security and communications fraud management at RingCentral, the market leader in unified communications as a service with over 400,000 business customers. Michael has successfully driven business objectives into actionable information security and cloud product offerings at companies ranging from startup to Fortune 100. He has held other diverse technical roles, has presented at multiple security conferences, and holds several cybersecurity and privacy certifications, including CISSP, CISM, CIPP/E, CIPM and multiple GIAC certifications.
Kira Makagon
Chief Innovation Officer, RingCentral
Kira Makagon is Chief Innovation Officer at RingCentral, where she leads global product, UX, engineering, and operations. She is a critical driver in defining RingCentral’s product strategy and in bringing to market RingCentral’s robust communications and collaboration solutions. She has pioneered multiple breakthrough industry solutions and companies, garnering a reputation as a visionary product and business leader. Kira holds a bachelor's degree in Computer Science and an MBA from the Haas School of Business UC Berkeley. She serves as an advisor to entrepreneurs and early-stage companies, including Illuminate Ventures, and is a Board member at Calix. Kira has received numerous awards, including a 2018 San Francisco Business Times Forever Influential Honor Roll award.
Ashley Malone
Senior Recruiter, Talent Acquisition, Dine Brands Global
Ashley Malone works in recruiting and talent acquisition at Dine Brands Global, franchisor of two of the world’s largest full-service restaurant brands - Applebee's (established in 1980) and IHOP (founded in 1958).
Nancy McCabe
What's Next? Coach, Results Business Coaching
Nancy McCabe is an executive and career coach helping clients answer “What’s Next?†She helps professionals and organizations on the verge of change. Her specialty is helping you find the clarity you need to take your next step. She asks you the tough questions and helps you work through the answers.
Kelly McCarthy
Principal, Kelly McCarthy Coaching
Kelly McCarthy is dedicated to coaching Silicon Valley leaders, who usher in the future every day, to be catalysts for continued professional growth for greater results. She is passionate about her clients uncovering their leadership and shaping the culture around them. The bond she creates with her clients is the foundation of impactful outcomes in increased emotional intelligence, stronger partnerships, and elevated visibility. Kelly has combined a background in Psychology and multiple coaching certifications (CPCC, ACC) to support leaders to greater clarity and confidence through workshops and speaking engagements focused on the importance of slowing down to speed up.
Marguerite Mcleod-Fleming
Co-Founder & President, Propelle Leadership
- 145 - Leveraging Diversity of Thought with Remote Teams
- 274 - INNOVATION LAB - Developing an Innovation Leader Capability: How To Lead Better Ideation and Problem-Solving
Marguerite Mcleod-Fleming is Principal of Propelle Women's Leadership and Innovation Culture Group. She works with companies, educational institutions, and non-profit clients to facilitate creative thinking that achieves innovative ideas using a proprietary Actionable Innovation System. Many business leaders partner with Innovation Culture Group to identify opportunities to solve complex problems in their diversity and inclusion portfolio. Marguerite received her MBA from the Schulich School of Business, where her studies spanned the fields of strategic management and organization development. Her work in the area of how to apply creative and inventive thinking to the diversity and inclusion space is driving the conversation of how to operationalize the impact of awareness training. Marguerite is a SIT (Systematic Inventive Thinking) Innovation Associate and is certified to deliver the ISPI (Innovation Strengths Preference Indicator) assessment LEGO SERIOUS PLAY engagements. She is also co-director of the Toronto WITI Forums.
Kim Meninger
Executive Coach, Your Career Success
- 104 - Stepping into Our Power in Uncertain Times
- 102 - A Tech Guide to the First Virtual WITI Summit
- 201 - A Guide to the First Virtual WITI Summit, Day 2
- 213 - Coaching Circle - Authentic Self-Promotion Strategies to Raise Your Influence & Visibility
- 243 - Networking Café
- 254 - Coaching Circle - Walking the Tightrope: Mastering the Balance between Likability and Respect
Kim Meninger is an executive coach, TEDx speaker and host of the Impostor Syndrome Files podcast. She helps individuals/organizations to understand and embrace the human experience at work to reach their full leadership potential. Kim has coached hundreds of clients and has presented on career advancement and leadership topics to corporate, non-profit and academic audiences. She leverages her psychology degree, MBA and over a decade of experience as a high-tech leader to empower professionals to lead themselves and others more effectively. Kim is especially passionate about helping women and members of other historically marginalized groups to become more confident, visible and influential leaders.
Kim has a BA in psychology and an MBA from Boston College. She is an ICF Professional Certified Coach and CCE Board Certified Coach with certifications in confidence, career, executive and leadership development coaching. Kim also holds a certificate in Executive Leadership from Cornell University.
Laurel Mintz
CEO, Elevate My Brand
- 121 - Coaching Circle - The Changing World of Marketing Due to COVID-19
- 181 - Keynote Panel: Words of Wisdom from Women Who Persisted
With a J.D/M.B.A from Rutgers University, Laurel Mintz's background has uniquely prepared her to run a successful agency. Inspired by the innovative consulting work she executed early in her career with such brands as Le Bec Fin, Public House Restaurant Group, Bassett Furniture, and Julie Hewett Cosmetics, Laurel knew she wanted to play bigger. A decade later, she has created an agency family serving both startups and blue chip global brands like Facebook, Verizon Digital Media Group, PAW Patrol and Zendesk. Laurel's favorite saying is FIOGID: Figure it out, get it done. Laurel sits on the Board of Directors for NFTE (Network for Teaching Leadership), the Women Founders Network, and the UCLA Restaurant Conference. She is a mentor for The Women's Global Leaders Initiative and advises LAVA (Los Angeles Venture Association). Laurel wrote a weekly Inc. Magazine column appropriately entitled "On Brand†for three years. Her published work can be found in Entrepreneur, USA Today, The American Marketing Association and C-Suite Quarterly Magazine. Laurel and the agency have recently won the W3 Silver Award for the PAW Patrol Road Patrol Campaign, the 2017 Patrick Soon-Shiong Innovation Award, the LABJ Women in Business Award, Comerica and LA Lakers' Women's Business Award, amongst others.
Kathleen Mitford
EVP & Chief Strategy Officer, PTC
- 108 - Success Stories from Successful Women
- 247 - Keynote Fireside Chat - Why Diversity Drives Innovation: Life Lessons
Kathleen Mitford is a passionate champion of initiatives to drive inclusion and diversity and women in technology within and outside of PTC. She is a frequent panelist on the topics and her expertise helps to drive innovation and digital transformation. As PTC’s Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, Kathleen’s responsibilities include Strategy, Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A), Strategic Alliances, Corporate Marketing, and PTC Academic. She joined PTC in 2006 to drive retail strategy and to develop technologies and systems adopted by major retail chains. She has led international teams across Product, Research & Development (R&D), Internet of Things (IoT), Augmented Reality (AR), Computer-Aided Design (CAD), and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM). The product lines for which Kathleen had responsibility have seen noteworthy market success. She is the recipient of numerous awards, most recently the 2019 Mass Technology Leadership Council's Tech Excellence Leadership Award. Kathleen serves on the board for the Mass High Tech Council and she has a Bachelor of Science degree from Thomas Jefferson University.
Martha Montoya
CEO, Agtools
Martha Montoya is CEO & Founder of Agtools Inc., a Microsoft award-winning Machine Learning/Artificial Intelligence company. With over 25 years of worldwide agricultural and supply chain experience, Martha is appointed to the California Board of Agriculture and Food and has served on the worldwide Advisory Board of Women for Walmart. Agtools delivers a market intelligence dashboard, www.ag.tools, that allows farmers and food supply chain stakeholders to make better decisions, increase profits, avoid waste, and impact climate change. Through proprietary algorithms, several industries besides supply chain stakeholders have embraced AGtools, such as banking, insurance, and logistics as they look to streamline losses. Dealing with humble and industrial farmers, government entities, and sophisticated buyers across four continents, Martha's work includes social impact programs.
David Moore
Vice President, Recruiting, Box
David Moore, Vice President of Recruiting at Box, is a global talent acquisition leader with industry expertise in Consumer Electronics, Technology, and Retail. David is a career recruiting professional with a passion for connecting people and changing lives. A Brit, he started his career in the UK and then spent the next decade in the Asia Pacific region. David is currently based in California with a focus on markets in the US, Canada, and Latin America.
Keiko Munechika
Co-Founder, Daisuki Coaching
Keiko Munechika is the co-founder of Daisuki Coaching. Being a scientist herself, she is passionate about supporting women/men in the tech/science field to move forward in their careers. She firmly believes that success is 80% psychology and 20% mechanics. For that reason, she works on her clients' mindset as she helps them go from where they are to where they want to be. Keiko holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry and is also a Chief Executive Officer of a technology company (HighRI Optics, Inc.) in the San Francisco/Bay Area. She brings in the on-the-field experience of leadership and management into her coaching. Her private clients include individuals in medicine, science, and technology.
Amit Pandya
Global Talent, Couchbase
Amit Pandya has been a corporate attorney, mediator, executive coach, and recruiter, consistently building upon skills surrounding a singular passion: talent development. What drives him is finding opportunities and creating ways by which individuals can excel. He lives for moments when one can say, "I love what I do, and I'm amazing at it."
Juliet Peniston
Vice President, Global Talent Acquisition, Roku
Juliet Peniston is Vice President of Global Talent Acquisition at Roku, the television streaming pioneer. Juliet is an innovative and passionate Global Talent Acquisition Leader with comprehensive experience building and leading world-class scalable recruiting teams, talent plans, technology development, infrastructure, and processes globally. She has extensive experience in pioneering transformative change in environments from hyper-growth startup to evolving enterprise.
Julie Phelps
Director, Digital Collaboration and Productivity for R&D, Bristol Myers Squibb
As the Director of Digital Collaboration for R&D at Bristol Myers Squibb, Julie Phelps focuses her team on adding value to R&D by providing fit-for-purpose solutions. Julie is a technology leader whose background combines pharmaceutical experience, digital collaboration technologies knowledge, and training and development skills, as well as management and leadership capabilities.
Lisa Pierosara
Co-Director, WITI Toronto Network
- 145 - Leveraging Diversity of Thought with Remote Teams
- 274 - INNOVATION LAB - Developing an Innovation Leader Capability: How To Lead Better Ideation and Problem-Solving
Lisa Pierosara is a Professional Certified Coach, facilitator & Team Effectiveness Advisor with a history of fostering career transformation, communications excellence, and leadership effectiveness. She has a particular focus and advocacy in supporting the advancement of women. Lisa has 25+ years of experience across corporate Canada and one of Canada’s top business schools, including a background in MarComm in telecom. She currently serves as Principal at Elevation Coaching GTA and is Co-Founder of Propelle Leadership, a boutique consulting firm that helps tech-driven organizations become inclusion leaders through a unique innovation methodology.
Petra Pino
Manager, Recruitment & Sourcing Programs, Roku
Petra Pino is a Silicon Valley veteran recruiter and staffing leader. Having worked at startups and larger companies, the theme of her career has been “growth mode. Petra is passionate about creating scalable and low-impact solutions that allow companies to expand rapidly … and with the right people.
Lotem Porat
Yoga / Meditation Instructor
- 242 - Wellbeing Center Panel: The Power of Mindfulness at Work, at Home and in Every Aspect of Your Life
- Energy Management Stretch Break: Easy Yoga with Lorem Porat
Lotem Porat is a yoga/meditation instructor and a 3rd degree Reiki practitioner. She has a bachelor's degree in psychology and has completed over 500 hours of Yoga Alliance certified trainings. Lotem teaches in yoga studios, retreat centers, corporations, rehabilitation centers, and recovery facilities internationally, and currently in Los Angeles. Lotem's studies and teachings include a fusion of Vinyasa, Hatha, Iyengar, Yin, and Restorative Yoga. She guides through practice of asana (physical poses) meditation, pranayama (breath-work), and philosophy. In her creative and dynamic sessions, she blends an energizing flow with a calming fusion of Restorative Yoga and meditation. Yoga has been a source of healing to restore mental, emotional, spiritual and physical balance. Lotem's goal is to create a safe space for students to unwind, receive, and enjoy themselves through cultivating self-awareness and compassion. She feels that through attention, time, movement, and breath we each have the capacity to heal ourselves from the inside out. She aims to help people connect internally to their body, breath, and heart in an uplifting and gentle way.
Snegha Ramnarayanan
Senior Security Specialist, Okta
Snegha Ramnarayanan is a Senior Security Specialist in Pre Sales at Okta, a leading independent provider of identity for the enterprise. As well, Snegha is currently an MBA candidate at UC Berkeley Haas.
Phaedra Randolph
Founder & CEO, Spero Foods
Phaedra Randolph is the Founder and CEO of Spero Foods, which uses patented cleantech to transform seeds into dairy alternatives. Spero is the first company making dairy alternatives mainstream: delicious, nutritious, good for you and the planet. Phaedra’s experience spans business, biosciences, and software engineering at Facebook, Goldman Sachs, Harvard, and Cornell.
Rene Redwood
CEO, Redwood Enterprise, LLC
- 118 - Addressing Systemic Racism: A Business Imperative
- 106 - COVID-19's Impact on Women in Technology
- 141 - Equity Centered Re-Orientation to WorkSpaces in COVID Reality
Rene Redwood, CEO of Redwood Enterprise informs the debate, policies, and practices on equity and inclusion while directing winning initiatives for public, non-profit, and private sectors. She is a chemist by training, was director of the Presidential Glass Ceiling Commission, was court-appointed to oversee a Fortune 100 corporation class action settlement, and currently chairs the Equality Task Force for a security agency. Rene conducts: workplace audits, culture assessments, and barrier analysis on human capital organizational risk; workforce systems and process transformation; and qualitative research with internal and external customers on policies, institutional practices, values, and attitudes impacting morale and the bottom line. She facilitates learning on: EEO, DEI, sexual harassment; and the impact of bias on individual and institutional success.
Sheryl Root
Director/Assoc. Professor, Carnegie Mellon, President and CEO, RootAnalysis
Sheryl Root is currently Director/Professor for the Masters in Technology Ventures and Professor for Masters in Software Management at Carnegie Mellon University, Silicon Valley. Ms. Root is a strategy, marketing, and product development executive with over 18 years of experience at Hewlett-Packard Company and 10 years of software systems experience and leadership in the financial and computing industries. Her strategic and program leadership experience focused on the definition and delivery of technology-based products and solutions, and her marketing operations experience has been in creating new business models, organizational structures, cost reductions, and revenue generation programs. She has demonstrated proven leadership in business strategy development/execution, marketing operations, and software systems delivery working across departments, functional areas and geographic regions. In addition to her work at CMU, Ms. Root is President/CEO of RootAnalysis, and consults in business strategy creation and execution, program management, and marketing effectiveness for companies including HP, PeopleSoft, Santa Clara University, Novell, and Philips. Ms. Root sits on several boards, including Sloan School of Business, WITI (Women in Technology International), Teach for America, and the Stanford Institute on Research in Women and Gender. She holds a Sloan Master's in Business from Stanford University.
Sharon Rossmark
Founder, Women and Drones
Sharon Rossmark is the CEO of Women And Drones, the premier global platform featuring women who are disrupting, innovating, and shaping the future of the drone industry. In 2018 and 2019, the company was listed as one of the "Top 100 Companies To Watch" in the drone industry. The organization’s educational theme "learning through the wonders of flying robots™" supports their collaboration with community and educational programs to incorporate drones into STEM programming for youth with an emphasis on engaging girls. An international speaker, panelist, and facilitator, Sharon is also an FAA Certified Drone Pilot. She is the co-author of books, available in both English and Spanish, introducing young children to drones. Most of the characters in the books are girls which is a purposeful, important part of Sharon's commitment to engaging more girls in STEM and aviation.
Kimberly Roth
Global President, Salesforce Women's Network, Salesforce
Kim Roth joined Salesforce in 2011 and is the Director of Services Operations. Kim manages a team within the Customer Success Group that is focused on automating and optimizing Salesforce’s Professional Services systems and tools. She is also the Global President of the Salesforce Women’s Network, the oldest and largest of Salesforce’s 12 employee resource groups. The vision of the Salesforce Women’s Network is to achieve 50% women leaders at Salesforce. Kim is the recipient of numerous awards at her company, including Equality Ally and Compassionate Leader, for her work in leading equality initiatives.
Dr. Sara Rushinek
Professor of Business Technology and Health Informatics, University of Miami
Sara Rushinek is a Professor of Business Technology and Health Informatics at the University of Miami Business School. She is also a Professor in the Master of Science in Clinical and Translational Investigation (MSCTI) Research Program at the Miller School of Medicine. Dr. Rushinek specializes in Expert and Artificial Intelligence Systems, Big Data Analytics, cutting-edge Hybrid Collaborative Tools & Techniques, SEO App Development, Computer Litigation Support, Health Informatics, Cyber Security, Blockchain Applications, and Automated Algorithmic Trading Systems. She serves on the Leadership Team of WITI (Women in Technology International), the Government Blockchain Association, and as an Academic Advocate for ISACA. As well, she serves as an advisor, consultant, and mentor to the business, tech, and startup community. Dr. Rushinek has been a visiting Professor at the University of Southern California (USC), University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), Tel Aviv University, and the Technion. She earned her undergraduate degree from Tel Aviv University and her Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin.
Lauren Sachs
Machine Learning Researcher & Software Developer, Nobel Coaching & Tutoring
Lauren Sachs is a software developer and data enthusiast from Washington, DC. She graduated in 2019 with a B.S. in Computer Science from Stevens Institute of Technology, and is beginning her M.S. in Analytics at Georgia Tech this fall. Lauren loves running with her dog, gardening, reading, and encouraging young women to pursue STEAM for themselves. She believes in the importance of finding your passion and turning that into a career – and she believes the world needs women who are empowered to do that.
Parna Sarkar-Basu
CEO and Founder, Brand and Buzz Marketing
- 108 - Success Stories from Successful Women
- 247 - Keynote Fireside Chat - Why Diversity Drives Innovation: Life Lessons
A tech evangelist, Parna Sarkar-Basu serves as a strategic advisor to transformational leaders and technology pioneers, and helps them launch and reinvent companies. Her expertise includes changing industry perception, building market relevance, corporate (re)-positioning and new market entry as well as helping companies raise funds and navigate the digital era. Recipient of multiple awards, Parna has been instrumental in turning experts into thought leaders and propelling tech companies into innovation leaders in highly competitive markets, including artificial intelligence, enterprise software, storage systems, robots, consulting services. A Forbes contributor, she regularly hosts executive sessions on emerging technologies and frequently speaks on a range of topics, including cognitive robotics, innovation for social good, digital transformation, AI, and impact on the workforce.
Samantha Scully
Drone Pilot and Management Consultant, Sam and Drones
Samantha Scully has been managing Scully Staffing, Inc., since 2000. She has an extensive background in IT recruitment and high-technology management consulting. As the liaison between senior-level business and technology executives, Samantha has strategically placed IT consultants across all industries. She has traveled extensively overseas to consult with international corporate operations and successfully implement technology projects. Passionate about locating high-tech opportunities and matching them with the right people, Samantha continues to outreach to universities STEAM.
Mimi Shalash
Technical Data Sales Rep, Quest Software
Mimi Shalash is an experienced data software & technical product account executive currently working at Quest Software. Her roles have encompassed data analytics, disaster recovery, performance monitoring and cloud optimization. Mimi also serves on the leadership team for WIA (Women in Analytics) and DAMA (the Central Ohio Chapter of the Data Management Association). Among her many leadership engagements, you can find her championing on behalf of underrepresented groups in STEM while also presenting businesses with impact data on the importance of driving social change in the Columbus technology community.
Ramona Shaw
Principal, Ramona Shaw LLC
Ramona Shaw’s mission is to develop high-performing leaders and teams people love to work for. Through coaching and training she helps managers strengthen their leadership behaviors, skills, and habits to reach new levels of performance, confidence, and impact in their roles. After graduating with a finance degree with cum laude distinction, Ramona entered the field of private equity and soon led key strategic projects and international teams in Switzerland and the United States as a VP of Client Services at a renowned global private equity firm. Ramona now specializes in designing and delivering coaching programs and workshops for leaders across the globe and is the founder of the Leadership Accelerator and the Leadership Circle programs. Because of her international background and global work experience, she has a unique understanding of cross-cultural challenges and demands. In addition, as a mother to 3 young children, she knows the additional challenges parents have in integrating both professional and personal priorities.
Renee Smith
Global Senior Director & Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, Walgreens Boots Alliance
Renee Smith is Global Senior Director and Lean Six Sigma BlackBelt at Walgreen Boots Alliance. Renee uses her passion for quality and accessible healthcare, her extensive IT experience, and her process improvement expertise as a triple threat in achieving the triple aim of healthcare reform. Her priority professional and volunteer efforts focus on enabling interoperability and removing blockers in the areas of policy, process, and technology for providers, payers, patients, and proxies. In her current role as Head of Portfolio Management, Renee champions WBA’s digital transformation agenda and drives governance processes for prioritization and execution.
Niharika Srivastav
- 273 - Panel - Health Reimagined: How Data and Technology Enable Transformation
- 235 - Panel - The Future of Cybersecurity
Niha Srivastav is the Chief Operating Officer and co-founder of Sanovatech, a services company focused on simplifying cybersecurity for non-techies, business managers, and executives. Niha has extensive experience in information technology and is very passionate about educating people on cybersecurity threats and risks. She is associated with various non-profit organizations in the Bay area that work towards the education of underprivileged children.
Fred Sugerman
Movement Artist & Educator
Fred Sugerman is a movement artist, educator, and founder of medicine dance. He has an inquiring mind, fierce spirit, and curious body informed by mindfulness, traditional theater, and dance. Fred runs weekly classes, monthly workshops, movement arts laboratories, facilitator trainings, international immersions or retreats, and has a private practice. He is co-creator and interventionist for "Mindful Movement for Breast Cancer Survivors," which has been the subject of research sponsored through the City of Hope, as well as the John Wayne Cancer Institute at Providence St. John's Health Center.
Wendy Sun
Director of Talent Acquisition, Omnicell
Wendy Sun, Director of Talent Acquisition at Omnicell, is an experienced staffing professional with extensive full life cycle recruiting knowledge across multiple industries and technologies. She is passionate about building and managing teams to exceed customer expectations.
Joy Tan
Founder and CEO
As the senior vice president of public affairs for Huawei Technologies USA, Joy Tan is responsible for setting and executing public relations and government relations strategies in the U.S. From 2014 to January 2019, Joy served as the president of global media and communications for Huawei Technologies, setting and executing the media and communications strategy for the entire company. She was instrumental in promoting Huawei's thought leadership, corporate values, key products and solutions and making Huawei one of the top 100 brands in the world. Previously, Joy was responsible for corporate branding, where she led the initiative to transform Huawei into a global brand. She also managed Huawei's integrated marketing communications in the United States.
Jade Tan-Holmes
Science Communicator, Up and Atom YouTube Channel
Jade Tan-Holmes makes science videos about math, physics, and computer science. In her experience, she has found that a lot of people find these particular areas of science quite hard and unrelatable, so it is her mission to make them easy and relatable! Jade not only finds these subjects cool, but also very important, and she would hate for people to miss out on them just because they have not been exposed in the right way. You can find Jade on her YouTube Channel, Up and Atom.
Deborah Theobald
CEO, Vecna Technologies
Deborah Theobald has spent 15 years developing and deploying automation solutions to the global health care sector. As the co-founder of Vecna, a leader in health care information technology and robotics, Deborah has positively impacted millions of peoples' lives through innovative new technologies that improve access to and quality of care. Deborah has brought to market QC PathFinder for electronic outbreak surveillance of hospital acquired infections (HAIs) and Patient Self Service Tablet/Kiosk, Portal and Mobile solutions. In addition, Vecna’s VGo Telepresence Robot is among a number of tools and products fulfilling Vecna’s goal of better technology for a better world. In 2009, Deborah established the Vecna Cares Charitable Trust to extend Vecna resources in IP, engineering capacity and programmatic expertise to developing countries and under-served areas. She is the co-chair of MassTLC (Massachusetts Tech Leadership Council) and serves on the board of GRIT (Global Research or Innovation and Technology). Deborah holds a bachelor of science in Aerospace Engineering from MIT and master’s with an emphasis in space robotics from University of Maryland's Space Systems Lab. Deborah is a certified SCUBA Diver Instructor and the proud mother of five very active children.
Erika Thorson-Garay
Head of Talent Acquisition, LiveRamp
LiveRamp makes it safe and easy to connect the world’s data, people, and applications. Interested in learning more about LiveRamp? Let's connect ... we have a world of opportunity here!
Tiffany Trenda
Artist
Tiffany Trenda is an award winning internationally recognized performance artist in wearable tech based out of Los Angeles. Her performances and installations explore the relationship between the body, particularly the female body, to technology. She interchanges her identity and her physical body with screens to represent how we conceal and reveal ourselves through our devices (smart phones, computers, etc.) and how it affects our social behaviors.
Janet Tsai
Program Management, Aerospace Defense Industry
Janet Tsai is an IT ambassador with more than 20+ years in the Aerospace Defense Industry. She supported many IT functions from Database Administration, Asset Tracking, PC support, and Refresh, Help Desk, Mobile Support, Process and Planning administration, Staffing, Training, Metrics, and to managing IT Projects. Currently, she is an internal IT Auditor and serves as an Information System Security Officer ensuring computer systems compliance, and raises awareness for Cybersecurity to encourage safer online habits. A graduate with honors, Janet holds a BS in Sociology from UC Irvine and is certified in A+, PMP, Six Sigma Yellow Belt, Security+, and ISO 9001:2015 Lead Auditor. Janet has been a WITI leader for over six years, advocating for and supporting women in tech.
Kathy Tyra
Vice President, Workplace Resources and Real Estate, NetApp
Kathy Tyra has over 25 years of Business Operations, Quote-to-Cash, Shared Services, and Supply Chain Executive Management expertise. She has a proven track record of successfully implementing major business transformations, reducing process complexity, and improving operating margins at leading high-tech companies. Kathy’s been at NetApp for 15-years; in her current role as VP, Workplace Resources and Real Estate, she is responsible for the company’s Worldwide Facilities, Real Estate, Travel and Safety and Security. In January 2020 she assumed responsibility for Crisis Management at NetApp and has been leading the company through their COVID-19 pandemic response. Previously, Kathy was VP of Operations at Aspect Communications and she started her career at Spectra-Physics in various supply chain management roles. She currently serves the Global Chairperson of NetApp’s Women in Technology (WIT) group, and is a recipient of the Silicon Valley YWCA Tribune to Women in Industry Award (TWIN).
Christina Unrein
Clarity & Happiness Coach, Possibility Lab
As a Clarity and Happiness Coach, Christina Unrein energizes and prepares achievement-driven leaders and engineers to be more effective, courageous, intentional, and collaborative. She empowers others to do difficult work, improve their confidence and sense of self/identity, feel comfortable navigating uncertainty and conflict, create boundaries, be less critical, communicate more clearly, and manage their time, energy, and expectations. Achievers, workaholics, perfectionists, people pleasers, rebels, personal development junkies, and over-thinkers craving more fun, laughter, and happiness are her favorite clients. She acts as a sounding board, devil's advocate, confidante, coach, mentor and facilitator to get clients where they want to be quickly.
Nancy Van Schooenderwoert
President & Managing Partner, Lean-Agile Partners
Nancy Van Schooenderwoert was among the first to apply Agile methods to embedded systems development, as an engineer, manager, and consultant. She has led Agile change initiatives beyond software development in safety-critical, highly regulated industries, and teaches modern Agile approaches like Mob Programming, Agile Hardware, and Lean development methods. Initially working as an electronics designer and software engineer in flight simulation, she later focused on software engineering. Nancy has worked coaching Agile teams in the USA, UK, and Germany. Her coaching extended to work with their teams in Japan, India, China and other countries. Nancy's experience spans embedded software and hardware development for applications in aerospace, factory automation, medical devices, defense systems, and financial services. Her coaching practice spans delivery teams to middle and upper managers. A regular presenter at Agile-related conferences worldwide, she is a founder and past president of Greater Boston’s premier Agile user group, Agile New England. Nancy is co-author of the book “Agile Methods for Safety-Critical Systems: A Primer Using Medical Device Examples.â€
Kristen Vargas
Vice President, Retail Operations, Walgreens
Kristen Vargas is Vice President of Walgreens Retail Operations. She is an experienced retail professional with a wide range of field and corporate experience. Kristen is known as a dynamic team leader with the ability to skillfully lead organizational change while simultaneously achieving business outcomes and improving team performance. She is an executive who is committed to keeping the customer and the team members at the center of all business activities.
M. Nadia Vincent
Founder, Digital Transformations Leaders
M. Nadia Vincent is an MIT SLOAN Certified Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence Executive Advisor, with over two decades of international experience. She is the author of "Leveraging Digital Transformation." Nadia is also a professional keynote speaker, leadership coach, trainer, and the founder of digitaltransformationleaders.com, the ultimate resource platform for transformation leaders. Nadia earned a Master of Business Administration degree (MBA) from UBI with a specialization in IT Management. She holds two MIT Sloan Executive Certificates, respectively in Strategy and Innovation and in Management and Leadership. Originally from the Caribbean, Nadia has lived and worked in numerous countries throughout the world, and speaks French, English, Spanish, and Creole. She consults worldwide and currently resides in Brussels, Belgium.
Carolyn Volan
Sales Pivots, Revenue Polymath
Carolyn Volan, currently with Revenue Polymath, has been in technology sales since 1999, for companies including Oracle and Epsilon. As well, Carolyn has built many startups from dollar zero to the first millions. She volunteers as part of the Boston Area Mask Initiative and is the second woman in her family to get a college education.
Grant Weinberg
Vice President, Global Talent Acquisition, TriNet
Grant Weinberg studied Finance in South Africa before joining the Gaming Industry. After an eight-year career in Casinos in various management roles, he decided to transfer his Human Capital skills into the Recruitment Sector. His career has covered Agency, Onsite, In-House recruitment and HR Management across multiple sectors with a strong focus on Recruitment Business Partnering excellence. Grant is currently the Vice President of Global Talent Acquisition at TriNet. His skill set combines both strategy and operational excellence across Talent Acquisition/Management, combined with HR best practice, all underpinned by a strong business acumen. In 2013 Grant was independently recognized as one of the 11 most influential In-House Recruitment professionals in the UK.
Athena Wintruba
Associate Director of Admissions, Carnegie Mellon University
As Associate Director of Admissions at Carnegie Mellon University, Athena Wintruba supports prospective Integrated Innovation Institute students from the point of inquiry until matriculation. In this role, she hosts informational webinars, arranges campus visits for prospective students, and connects those individuals with appropriate contacts throughout the admission process. What drew her to Carnegie Mellon University and the Institute specifically was the collaborative spirit III degree programs foster. III faculty and students embody the spirit of synergy – illustrating that when individuals from diverse backgrounds come together with a common goal, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
Amy Wu
Founder, From Farms to Incubators
Amy Wu is a writer for women's ag and agtech movement and the founder and chief content director of From Farms to Incubators, which has a mission of expanding the profiles of women in food, farming, and tech. From Farms to Incubators includes a documentary and a forthcoming book that spotlights women leaders in ag and agtech. These have been screened and presented at SXSW, Techonomy, the Forbes AgTech Summit, EcoFarm, and The New Food Economy. Amy is an award-winning journalist with significant international reporting and teaching experience, and has reported on agriculture and agtech for The Salinas Californian in Salinas, Calif. She has also worked at Time magazine, the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, and the USA Today Network; and has written for The New York Times, HuffPost, and Wall Street Journal. She spent six years working in Hong Kong, widely reporting within the Asia-Pacific region including Shanghai and Singapore. Amy earned her master's degree in journalism from Columbia University, and speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese.
Karen Xie
Chief Technology Officer, Blue Shield of California
Karen Xie, Ph.D., is Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice President at Blue Shield of California, a $20B annual revenue company servicing more than 4M members in the state’s commercial, individual and government markets. Karen directs and develops overall technology strategy and execution to enable transformation into the digital age. She also leads Health Innovation Technology, driving technology-enabled innovation to enable business growth and healthcare ecosystem transformation. Karen has over 20 years of IT experience in the healthcare industry. Prior to joining Blue Shield in 2014, she served as Vice President of Enterprise Architecture and Innovation at Trinity Health, a Michigan-based national health system. Karen currently serves on the Advisory Board of University of California/Riverside in the Design Thinking Executive Program, and is a member of the Cross-Functional Executive Talent Council at Blue Shield. She has received numerous awards, including the “Bay Area’s Most Influential Women award by The San Francisco Business Times.†Karen holds a Ph.D. in Physics from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, having launched her career over the course of several years as a research scientist in quantum machines at Columbia University. A graduate of the Stanford University’s Executive Program in Leadership, she has published over 25 novel scientific research papers in internationally renowned journals and magazines.
Elizabeth Xu, Ph.D.
CEO, A2C Academy
Elizabeth Xu, Ph.D., is a public company board member and the CEO of A2C Academy. She has served as two CTO positions of billion-dollar revenue companies: CP Group and BMC Software. She became a C-level executive in 2005 at a public company. She provides coaching in Leadership, Digital Transformation, AI, and cloud. She is also an investor for early-stage companies. Elizabeth has taught at Stanford University for six years about leadership, and currently is a guest lecturer at Stanford University Teaching Digital Transformation at the Department of Engineering Management Science. She is also the advisor for MIT Innovation Initiatives. Elizabeth received the TOP 50 Diversity Leader in the United States award in 2020, the Presidential Award in 2019, the Global Leadership Award in 2018, and Women of Influence in Silicon Valley in 2013, along with several other prestigious awards. In 2017 Elizabeth was inducted into the WITI Hall of Fame. A trailblazer who leads a creative and proven path to the top, she lives by The Credo of the Four Ls: 1- Live to my fullest potential; 2-Live to enable others to reach their fullest potential; 3-Learn continuously; 4-Leave a legacy. Elizabeth earned her M.S. and B.S. degrees from Peking University, and a Ph.D. and a Master's Degree from the University of Nevada; as well, she is a Harvard certified board member and attended the Stanford Executive Program.
Jennifer Zhang
IT Director, Intercontinental, Bristol-Myers Squibb
Jennifer Zhang has been with BMS for 8 years; currently she is IT lead for the intercontinental region. Her team represents IT functions in the country as IT business partner, accountable for digital capabilities strategic planning, execution, and value delivery to the market business. Prior to this role, Jennifer served as IT lead for Asia-Pacific markets and China.
Elaine Zhou
CTO, Change.org
Elaine Zhou is the Chief Technology Officer of Change.org, the world’s largest social change platform with more than 300 million users in 196 countries. As Change.org’s technical leader, Elaine leads a global engineering team to drive Change.org to the forefront of Responsible AI, to elevate the platform capability to reach a larger community, and engage repeat users who can lead change for their causes. Most recently, Elaine was the CTO at Vidado.ai, an Oakland AI startup dedicated to helping organizations unlock critical insight trapped in handwritten documents to drive their operations and strategy. Previously, Elaine was the SVP of Development overseeing engineering and product development at Clean Power Finance (CPF), a solar leasing and financing startup backed by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and Google Ventures. Elaine’s 20+ years of experience includes technology strategy, AI research and development, software product development, and process improvement. Elaine received her B.S. in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research from UC Berkeley.