Born in Legnano (MI) in 1966, she is married with three children: Andrea, Anna and Tommaso.

She graduated in Foreign Languages and Ameriocan Literature at the University of Milan, before completing a Master’s degree in Marketing Communications and Public Relations at ISFOR, and attending numerous training and refresher courses in Italy and the United States in the field of Marketing and Institutional Communications.

Her experience in the public relations and marketing sectors began while she was still at university, with her first job in the market research office of La Rinascente department stores, and subsequently as a member of the Organising Committee for the Italia ’90 soccer world cup tournament. In 1991, she began her career with Microsoft Italia, where she moved through a series of increasingly strategic roles –as Central Marketing Director–until she reached the role of Director Corporate Social Responsibility and National Development.

On July 1st 2014 she was promoted and she enlarged her responsibilities to become Director of National Development for Western Europe, covering 12 Countries. In this role, Roberta drives the planning and execution of programs that will help demonstrate, internally and externally, that Microsoft is a global corporate citizen that works responsibly and applies its business acumen and technology expertise to serving communities in the local market. This assignment represents a natural evolution of her career in Microsoft and has helped her to establish important relations on an institutional level, participating in numerous projects with government, local bodies, and national associations and organisations.

Since September 1st 2016, she left the private sector to become Municipal Councillor for Digital Transformation and Citizens Services for Municipality of Milan, working directly with the new elected Mayor, Mr. Giuseppe Sala. In this new role her main objective is to leverage digital transformation to offer simpler and better digital services to all 1.5 million citizens in the city and let Milan become a lighthouse for innovation at international level.

In 2004, with the benefit of a background that had led her to take a front-line interest in the question of equal opportunities in Italy, Roberta promoted the creation of futuro@lfemminile, Microsoft’s social responsibility project, which she manages. The project, which seeks to develop women’s potential through technology, became an international practice for Microsoft World Wide and from January 2012 Roberta is part of an international task force on Gender Activities, in partnership with important international Public and Private Organization such as United Nation Women, UNESCO, ITU. This effort on Gender Gap evolved into the creation of Pink Cloud, which became one of the top project for pushing girls into STEM all across Italy, reaching thousands of young women. In 2016 this activity was connected to the worldwide commitment of Microsoft towards women and the result was the European edition of Makewhatsnext which reached 10.000+ girls offering in 27 Countries hundreds of digital trainings.

On March 8th 2010, on the occasion of International Women’s Day, Roberta Cocco was conferred a knighthood as Commendatore dell’Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana by President of the Italian Republic Giorgio Napolitano.

Roberta Cocco is also a free-lance Journalist, very active online and she writes on several women’s magazine and blogs, such as http://parla-con-noi-d.blogautore.repubblica.it/, the blog of the main Italian newspaper “La Repubblica” . She is also a contributor of the main independent digital blog “Che futuro!” She is active on twitter: @robi_cocco

Jordan wears many hats at Lifetime Vintage, from product through to finance. She leads the company’s product development efforts, both in managing engineers as well as coding herself. She strategizes about the brand and identity of Lifetime Vintage and infuses it into the website, marketing & public relations outreach, and partnerships with other brands. Jordan also leads the company’s finance department, which ranges from building financial models to creating investor decks.

Prior to founding Lifetime Vintage, Jordan was the Head of U.S. Client Strategy at a financial technology company called Jacobi. She also previously worked in the investment world as a Portfolio Analyst at Brown Advisory. Jordan is a graduate from Duke University and loves to cheer on the Blue Devils during basketball season. She is a WSET Level II Certified Sommelier and is currently studying for the Level III exam. Jordan’s favorite wine is a French Chardonnay, and she’s passionate about making wine more accessible.

Selena Cuffe is a globally recognized entrepreneur and executive. Selena avidly believes that successful business can empower communities. Named the 2009 BlackEnterprise Magazine “BE Next” Entrepreneur of the Year, she is an expert at driving growth and creating value for clients,partners, employees, consumers, and communities.

As President of SodexoMAGIC, a $600 million joint venture between NBA legend andhall of famer, Earvin “Magic Johnson” and Sodexo, a food service and facilities management company, Cuffe empowers 6,500 employees to provide Quality of Life solutions to clients and communities across the United States. She is also co-founder of Heritage Link Brands, the largest M/WBE wine importer in North America.

Selena received a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Stanford University, with minors in Spanish and Portuguese, and she holds an MBA with honors from Harvard University.

A passionate activist for local and global community, Cuffe is a certified mediator, appointed by the Culver City Council to resolve landlord/tenant disputes in the high-tech, fast-growing Los Angeles suburb. Selena is also a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), board member of the Harvard Business School African American Alumni Association, Harvard Business School Women Student Alumnae Board, Vice President Emeritus of the Harvard Business School Alumni Board and anAdvisor to the Stanford University Bing Overseas Studies Program.

She has been recognized for outstanding entrepreneurial achievement, social progress and innovation by Beverage Media, Black Enterprise, Bravo, CNN, Crain’s New York, ELLE, Essence, Forbes, Harvard Business School, Los Angeles Times, PBS,Time Magazine, Wine Spectator, and she is co-author of Inc. Magazine’s “Married with Business” column.

Cuffe, a Diamond Life member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., has lived in four countries and travelled to over 40. She is also married and the mother of three children.

When she was younger, Beatrice Dixon suffered with bacterial vaginosis for eight months. One night, an ancestor gave her the ingredients to heal herself in a dream. From that insightful dream, she created the formula for a healthy, clean feminine wash. In 2014, Dixon launched The Honey Pot Company, a plant-based feminine hygiene line created with a goal to provide women with a healthy alternative to feminine care that is free of chemicals, parabens, carcinogens and sulfates. The rest is history.

With experience in pharmaceuticals, retail and natural foods, Dixon has the insight and expertise to bring the innovative concept of a plant-based feminine care system to the marketplace. Unlike mass market and conventional feminine care brands, consumers will be able to get all of their feminine care needs met under one brand as The Honey Pot Company currently offers feminine washes, wipes, tampons, pads, mommy-to-be products, and soon-to-be additional offerings in both the feminine hygiene and feminine care segments.

Today, The Honey Pot Company’s products can be found online and in stores nationwide at Target, Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, Bed Bath and Beyond, Wegmans and Whole Foods, among other retailers.

An empowering African American female entrepreneur, Dixon has been a recipient of the Sundial and Unilever’s multimillion-dollar New Voices fund; was 1 of the first 40 women of color to raise one million in venture capital; and has been featured in T-Pain’s School of Business, BuzzFeed’s Ladylike series, Today Show, The New York Times, Entrepreneur, ELLE, ESSENCE and Forbes, to name a few. 

Most recently, she was named one of Forbes top 100 Female Founder’s; her company won a 2020 ESSENCE Best in Black Beauty Award and a WWD Beauty Inc Wellness Award; and she received a CEW Indie 65 Award in 2019, honoring beauty’s independent companies. 

Through her diverse background and experience, Dixon continues to make a mark in the world of natural health and retail with a truly revolutionary approach to feminine health and sexual wellness.

Ronan Dunne is Executive Vice President & Group CEO of Verizon Consumer. He leads the teams responsible for providing wireline voice, data and TV products and services and wireless connected experiences to more than 100 million consumers every day. In addition, his teams are helping to build the first 5G technology network that will redefine how customers live, work and play.

Prior to this, Ronan was executive vice president and president of Verizon Wireless, responsible for all aspects of Wireless’ strategy, product development, marketing, operations, customer care and digital operations. He led the teams that provide products and communications services for consumer, business and government customers on the nation’s largest and most reliable network.

Ronan joined Verizon in 2016 as executive vice president and group president of Verizon Wireless. Under his leadership, Wireless continued its evolution and harnessed their network and competitive advantages to provide great customer experiences.

Before coming to Verizon, Ronan was chief executive officer of Telefónica UK (O2). While leading O2 UK, the largest wireless operator in the United Kingdom, he significantly improved its growth trajectory through market leadership in brand, customer satisfaction and loyalty. Ronan was previously O2’s chief financial officer in the UK, and prior to that, served as head of finance and deputy to the group chief financial officer of O2.

Prior to joining O2 in 2001, Ronan held senior positions in banking with Banque Nationale de Paris and in the corporate sector with Exel plc. and Waste Management International plc.

Corporate and charitable leadership

Dunne is a fellow and former council member of the Chartered Accountants Ireland (CAI) and a fellow of the Association of Corporate Treasurers (ACT). Ronan is a Counsellor for the One Young World charity that brings together young leaders from around the world and empowers them to make lasting connections to create positive change.

Personal and educational background

Born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, Ronan and his wife Elaine now reside in New Jersey. He is an avid sports fan and enjoys soccer, rugby, field hockey and traveling with his family.

A leader in private wealth management for successful families, women and business owners.

Kathy joined UBS in 2007 and subsequently formed Entwistle Partners, creating a team of professionals dedicated to providing multigenerational wealth advice to affluent families, C-suite executives and founders.

With her nearly 30-year career defined by many leadership roles, Kathy has been recognized with multiple awards and designations for her achievements—from Forbes as a Top 200 female financial advisor in the country to three consecutive Barron’s nominations to their “Top Women Financial Advisors” list. Kathy attributes her success to her dedicated team who help her deliver on strong personal relationships, thoughtful advice and a high level of service.

Experience

Officer in Corporate Trust Department, Manufacturers Hanover Trust

Vice President and Wealth Advisor, Morgan Stanley

Credentials

Certified Financial Planner, (CFP®)

Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®)

Forbes “Top Women Wealth Advisor,” 2018, 2019

Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Advisor,” New Jersey, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020

Forbes “Top 200 Women Advisors,” 2017, 2018

M.B.A., Fordham University

Life

Kathy serves on the Board of Directors for: The Ridgewood Public Library Foundation, The Family Support Organization of Bergen County, St, Joseph’s School for the Blind, Christian Health Care Center Foundation, and Ridgewood A.M. Rotary.

She is an active member of the Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey and Women United in Philanthropy.

In her free time, she enjoys golfing, spending time with family and relaxing at the beach.

Gloria Feldt is an acclaimed expert on women, power, and leadership, a bestselling author,
and in-demand inspiring keynote speaker. She is cofounder and president of Take The Lead,
whose mission reflects her life’s passion for gender and racial equality: to prepare, develop,
inspire, and propel women to take their fair and equal share of leadership positions across all
sectors by 2025 by providing breakthrough training, mentoring and coaching role modeling,
and thought leadership for women in business, public service, and professions. Its signature
50 Women Can Change the World program is an immersive version of her 9 Leadership
Power Tools to Advance Your Career customized by industries for women in early career,
midcareer, and executive levels.

She is the bestselling author of four books; the latest is No Excuses: 9 Ways Women Can
Change How We Think About Power, the research for which plus her own real world
knowledge forms the core of Take The Lead’s programs. She is currently at work on a book
on the power of intention, writes a weekly column published on Medium, and her podcast is
“Power TO You.”

Prior to founding Take The Lead, she was president and CEO of the world’s largest
reproductive health and advocacy organization, Planned Parenthood Federation of
America, capping a 30-year career with the organization that included serving as CEO of
affiliates in West Texas and Arizona before becoming the national CEO. She is known
for her ability to expand services while turning the organization’s political arm into a
powerhouse.

She has often been called a “practical visionary” for her ability to articulate a big vision
and bring together the people and resources to make it happen, even if others thought it
impossible. People magazine called her “the voice of experience.” She was named by
Vanity Fair one of “America’s Top 200 Women Leaders, Legends, and Trailblazers,”
Glamour’s “Woman of the Year,” She Knows Media Inspiring Woman, Women’s eNews
21 Leaders for the 21st Century, Women Economic Forum Circle of Light award, Texas
Monthly’s Texas 20, Martin Luther King Living the Dream Award, Diversity Leadership
Alliance Diversity First Leadership Award, World Woman Foundation Leader of the
Year, and Forbes 40 Over 40.

She teaches “Women, Power, and Leadership” at Arizona State University, where she
and her husband belong to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean’s Council and
for a decade sponsored the “Women of the World” lecture series. Feldt has been widely
quoted as a thought leader and published, including by the New York Times, Washington
Post, USA Today, The Daily Beast, Forbes, Fortune, Wall Street Journal, Fast
Company, Time, Huffington Post, Glamour, Elle and Ms. She has appeared on CNN,

MSNBC, Bloomberg, NPR, PBS, the Today Show, Good Morning America and The
Daily Show as well as being an in-demand podcast guest on top rated shows such as “So
Money” and “ Secrets of Wealthy Women.” She recently served on the board of the
Women’s Media Center, the Jewish Women’s Archive, and Emerge America and
remains on their honorary boards. She currently serves on the board of Women Connect 4
Good Foundation. She is a member of the New York Women’s Forum, the International
Women’s Forum, and the World Academy of Art and Science and is an advisor to the
ERA Coalition.

Gloria is an awesome chili maker and Pilates practitioner. She and her husband Alex
Barbanell live in New York City and Scottsdale, Arizona; they share a combined family
of six children and 15 grandchildren.

Michelle Gadsden-Williams is the Managing Director and Global Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for BlackRock. She is an award-winning global diversity executive, author, activist, producer and philanthropist with more than 25 years of experience as an advocate for equality within corporate America and a thought leader around diversity and inclusion. Michelle is a seasoned diversity practitioner with experience working in the consumer goods, pharmaceutical and financial services industries before transitioning to professional services in 2017.

Michelle is the former, Managing Director of Inclusion & Diversity for Accenture North America. She provided strategic direction, thought leadership and championed the development of an inclusive environment by integrating diversity practice into all aspects of the business. She has held positions of global responsibility in the diversity management arena by living in Switzerland for close to 10 years of her corporate career and managed staffing functions for large multi-national corporations such as Credit Suisse, Novartis and Merck & Co, Inc. Prior to her tenure at Merck & Co., Inc, Michelle has also held positions in Human Resources and Product Development at PhilipsVan Heusen Corporation and Wakefern Food Corporation, both headquartered in New Jersey.

Michelle has acquired a multitude of community service awards and accolades for her work as a diversity practitioner. She has been recognized by Black Enterprise as one of the Top Executives in Corporate Diversity for 2019, 2018, 2017. The Reverend Al Sharpton recognized Michelle as a 2016 honoree at the National Action Network “Woman of Power” Luncheon, an honoree at the Black Institute Awards Gala in NYC and a 2015 Ebony Magazine Power 100 honoree. Throughout her career, Michelle has been profiled in Black Enterprise Magazine, DiversityInc, Diversity Executive, Ebony, Essence, Fortune, History Makers, Heart & Soul, Jet, New Vision, Science Magazine, Sister to Sister, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Target Market News and was recognized as one of 40 Outstanding Executives Under 40 in America in 2006 by the Network Journal. Her other notable tributes include: being named the 2010 recipient of the Maya Way Award for Diversity Leadership by the incomparable Dr. Maya Angelou, receiving the 2008 Harvard Black Men’s Forum Businesswoman of the Year Award, accepting the Rainbow Push Coalition’s Bridge Builder Award by the honorable Reverend Jesse L. Jackson and also being recognized with an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters degree from Kean University for her outstanding personal and professional accomplishments in the field of diversity and inclusion. In 2013 Michelle was appointed as a member of the Global Advisory Council on Gender Parity for the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Michelle earned a B.S. in Marketing, a B.A. in Communications from Kean College of New Jersey and an M.S. in Organizational Dynamics from the University of Pennsylvania. She is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated and the Executive Leadership Council. Michelle serves on several boards including the Jackie Robinson Foundation, The Art Center in Pasadena, CA and a member of the Women’s Leadership Board of the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Michelle and her husband, David Jamal Williams, live in New York City

As co-founder of The Second Shift, Jenny Galluzzo lives her life committed to the empowerment of women through work. She is fiercely dedicated to shifting the path forward for women, encouraging them to forge their own career paths with confidence, intention and optimism.

As Head of Community, Jenny curates events across the country to bring members and business partners together, and she and her team are in close contact with members during the application process and beyond. As Head of Brand, she sets the strategy for messaging, communications, and content. Jenny has also used The Second Shift as an opportunity to connect with and help women beyond members, speaking regularly about career transitions, gender equity in the workforce, and becoming an agent for change.

Jenny recently launched initiatives at The Second Shift: Let’s Be Human– Parenthood at Work, creating a best-practices guide to family leave for corporate clients such as Unilever andGoogle; and a career coaching platform where women hire coaches from within The SecondShift to optimize their career paths for long-term success.

Prior to starting The Second Shift, Jenny spent many years in journalism, researching, writing, hosting and producing for Good Morning America, News 12 and Plum TV. Jenny holds a BA from Duke University and an MS from the Columbia University School of Journalism. She lives in New York City with her two sons.

Misty Gaither (Director Global Head of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging) directly supports the Senior Technical Leaders at Indeed. She is primarily focused on removing bias and barriers from systems and processes, advising on how to build more inclusive products, and building a culture of inclusion and belonging.

Misty spent the majority of her career in business development and sales roles while working for Altria Group and JPMorgan Chase. She pivoted into DI&B by way of Business Development at Code2040, a non-profit start up focused on Racial Equity and Inclusion in technology. Leading Business Development efforts at Code2040 gave Misty an inside look at the Talent Attraction, HR and D&I operations at some of the most impactful tech companies in Silicon Valley. To learn even more about DI&B challenges at companies she made the move to “in-house” DI&B at Twilio. Misty’s cross-industry experience contributes to her wealth of knowledge and unique approach to developing DI&B strategies into the infrastructure of the company.

Misty is a natural connector and relationship builder. She has an innate ability to engage with leadership, is comfortable asking the tough questions, and providing strategic recommendations for solutions. She leverages being the “only” in a room as her superpower and is passionate about implementing change through education and awareness about the innumerable topics surrounding DI&B and disrupting the systemic issues that exclude underrepresented groups.

Misty is a proud alumna of Florida A&M University, School of Business and Industry where she earned her degree in Business Administration with a Marketing concentration, an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., and the Founder of HBCU No Regrets; a consultancy that develops talent attraction strategies inclusive of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Misty is a dog mom to a 7 year old Yorkie (Dash), an active Godmother of 3, enjoys a good book and magazine, fitness, traveling, shopping, brunch, and spending time with family and friends.

Marcus is a successful entrepreneur, and consummate story teller. His breath of experience and expertise at weaving together relevant trends, cultural influences and technologies has made him a sought after advisor and speaker.

As the Founding Partner of the private equity firm M. Glover Capital and Board Chair of Defy Ventures, Marcus catalyzes change through social impact investment and criminal justice reform. Through close collaboration with local stakeholders, M. Glover Capital’s investments drive job creation to economic stability and wealth generation for systems affected communities. Through Defy Ventures, which fights mass incarceration and recidivism by building on the natural talents of incarcerated men, Marcus mentors youth and teaches yoga and meditation.

As a Global Creative Director and Chief Marketing Officer, Marcus produced some of the most memorable advertising campaigns within pop culture urban lifestyle, music, sports, entertainment, including an award winning Super Bowl commercial. Based on his agency experience, Marcus is highly active as a consultant for early stage ventures and leads workshops on brand and personal storytelling for founders and leaders.

Marcus has created successful ventures with some of the world’s most beloved celebrities and athletes as an agency owner. He has also served as executive producer on films such A Beautiful Game and Bilal, and served on the Board of Harlem Arts Festival and Liberation Prison Yoga.

Gina Hadley does not like the status quo–if something doesn’t work, fix it. As co-founder of The Second Shift, making change is her daily mission. She works in close partnership with companies to design working cultures that support and retain women. By demonstrating how even small changes ripple into big impact, Gina helps businesses of all sizes shift their workplaces forward into more flexible, nimble working structures.

In addition to being co-founder, Gina is in charge of new business at The Second Shift. In this role, she takes a consultative approach, nurturing close relationships with business partners and remaining connected to them from onboarding through ongoing engagements. Together they create solutions that best support their business needs and identify opportunities to incorporate on-demand expertise into their human resources strategies. Gina is known for helping move clients from talk to action. She also speaks regularly at industry conferences as a leading expert on the future of work, gender equity as good business, and flexibility as a talent pipeline solution.

Prior to founding The Second Shift, Gina was Worldwide Creative Coordinator at Ogilvy & Mather on the IBM business, and later pursued an entrepreneurial path as a founder of ads.com and Urban Monkeys in Seattle. Gina is an expert in being flexible and nimble, having moved her family cross-country four times in five years as a freelance consultant herself. She is now settled back in New York City with her husband and teenage daughter and son. Gina holds a B.A. from Connecticut College and a MFA from New York University.

Emmy award winning television journalist and coach Jane Hanson has spent over 30 years helping people learn to communicate better.

Not only does it enhance their presence, and ensure they resonate with every type of audience, but In today’s fast paced world, it is imperative to be on one’s game 24/7. Hanson focuses on three core elements: what you say, how you say it, and how your body language keeps it all in sync.

Among her diverse array of media and presentation training clients: top tier leaders of corporations spanning the fields of finance, insurance, startups, technology, education, fashion and media; publishers and editors in chief of numerous national magazines; key opinion leaders in the pharmaceutical industry; politicians and world leaders, internet entrepreneurs; chefs and restaurateurs. She has also hosted programs on cable channels and private satellite broadcasts, covering nearly every subject, from healthcare to food to finance to religion. And she is a frequent speaker, emcee, host, and panel moderator. Events she has participated in range from the New York Emmys to Toys for Tots to the Race for the Cure to the Randall’s island Sports Foundation. She has hosted events for virtually every industry, many health care issues, dozens of schools and colleges, and many groups focusing on women and children.

Jane Hanson grew up on the prairies of rural Minnesota, coming to New York three decades ago to join the NBC networks. She began as an anchor and correspondent for NBC New York in 1979. In 1988, Jane was named co-anchor of “Today in New York,” a position she held until 2003 when she became the station’s primary anchor for local programming and the host of “Jane’s New York”; She covered events ranging from the tragedy of 9/11 to the joy of Yankees victory parades to Wall Street and Washington; has interviewed presidents, business magnates, prisoners, and celebrities; traveled as far as the Gobi Desert of Mongolia and the great depths miles below New York City for her special reports. Most recently she hosted a daily entertainment and lifestyle program, New York Live, for NBC4 in New York City.

Jane has won 9 Emmy Awards. In addition, she was named Correspondent of the Year by New York’s Police Detectives and received a similar honor from New York’s Firefighters. She has also been the recipient of numerous other awards for her service to the community. Jane has served as the March of Dimes Walk-America Chairman, honorary chair for the Susan B. Komen Foundation’s Race for the Cure, and as a board member of Graham Windham, Phipps Houses, the Randall’s Island Sports Foundation, the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center, and Telecare. She has taught courses on communication at Long Island University, Stern College, and the 92nd Street Y. Hanson is a Past President of the New York Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

Rachel Haot is Executive Director of the Transit Innovation Partnership, a public-private initiative of the Partnership for New York City and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority with the mission to modernize the transit system. Rachel previously served as the first Chief Digital Officer for New York City and the first Chief Digital Officer for New York State. Earlier in her career she was Founder and CEO of global open source news platform GroundReport. Rachel received her bachelor’s degree in history from New York University and is a Board Member of Tech:NYC, the Regional Plan Association and the Jamaica Bay Rockaway Parks Conservancy.

Cat is a people first investor, former operator, and accidental work therapist.

By way of background, Cat spent a decade operating in early stage startups before joining the Primary Ventures partnership where she played a critical role in shaping the firm’s post-investment approach for the better part of five years. Today, she is General Partner and founding team member at The Venture Collective (TVC), a transformational, early stage venture business that is on a mission to bridge the funding gap for underrepresented founders. In her spare time, Cat also works closely with All Raise, PeopleTech Partners, NYC BLEND, and the 1k Project. If you’d like to get in touch, she is @catmhernandez on all the social networks.

Ashley M. Hunter is the Managing Director of HM Risk Group, an international insurance, reinsurance and risk management firm.

Prior to founding HM Risk Group, Ashley worked in various claims and underwriting management positions for State Farm Insurance Companies and AIG Insurance Company.  In her role as Managing Director of HM Risk Group, Ashley has assisted many startups and corporations with alternative risk transfer schemes and reinsurance placement globally.   Under Ashley’s leadership, HM Risk Group has become a leader in the development of niche insurance products for the sharing and assistive reproductive technology industry. In addition to working with industry leaders, HM Risk Group has been instrumental in the creation and development of policy forms for several multinational insurance companies. Ashley frequently contributes on risk and the implications on emerging markets to many global publications.

Ashley has a BM in Music Theory and Composition from Centenary College of Louisiana and a MBA in Finance from Texas A&M University. Ashley is also an accomplished concert violinist.

Victoria James is the Director of Beverage and Partner at Michelin-starred Cote Korean Steakhouse in NYC as well as their new Miami location, she recently received for the second year in a row a James Beard nomination for “Outstanding Wine Program.” She has worked in restaurants since she was thirteen, fell in love with wine and when she was twenty-one became certified as a sommelier, the youngest in America. Victoria’s name has appeared on many notable lists: Forbes “30 Under 30,” Food & Wine’s “2018 Sommelier of the Year,” Zagat’s “30 Under 30,” Wine Enthusiast’s “40 Under 40,” and “2020 Sommelier of the Year.” She is the author of Drink Pink, A Celebration of Rosé (HarperCollins) and her most recent memoir became an instant international bestseller, Wine Girl, The Obstacles, Humiliations, and Triumphs of America’s Youngest Sommelier (Ecco/HarperCollins). She is a contributing columnist to Forbes Magazine and has written for Esquire, Cosmopolitan, Eater, and Bon Appétit. She also co-founded Wine Empowered, a 501c3 non-profit that diversifies the hospitality industry by offering tuition-free wine classes to women and BIPOC.

Jennifer Justice is an entertainment and live-experience executive known for her expertise in building artists’ careers and business portfolios by marrying art with commerce. JJ, as she is known, made her mark as an entertainment attorney at Carroll, Guido and Groffman LLP, where she was made partner in only three years. With a roster of clients that included Jay-Z, Outkast, Slipknot, and Mark Ronson, as well as having negotiated massive joint venture agreements which included the partnerships of Jay-Z and Roc Nation with Live Nation.

JJ parlayed her experience to join Jay-Z to build Roc Nation in 2010. As general counsel and EVP at Roc Nation, she helped structure the vision and growth of Roc Nation and oversaw the expansion of Roc Nation’s portfolio offering to include TV, film, branding, sports, and media entertainment. She served on the board of Roc Nation’s joint venture companies Three Six Media and Steam Engine; aided the creation of major strategic partnerships including Stance, Skullcandy, Puma, and Budweiser. JJ served as Jay-Z’s personal entertainment attorney for a total of 17 years and Beyonce’s personal attorney for one year while at Roc Nation. She joined Superfly in 2016 as the president of corporate development and during her two-and-a-half-year tenure, Superfly doubled their ownership of live music experiences, increased revenues by 65%, and raised a Series B round of financing.

In 2019, JJ founded The Justice Dept. – a management, strategy and legal firm that works with female (and woke male) entrepreneurs, executives, talent, brands and creatives to build and maximize their value focusing in the areas of tech, consumer product, finance, media, entertainment and fashion.

From the beginning of her career, JJ has championed gender equality and diversity in the workplace. She serves on many boards with the same initiatives, including as a founding advisory board member of USC’s Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, on the board of the innovative domestic violence organization, Freefrom and on the inaugural board of the WNBAPA. In addition, JJ serves on the board of One Hope Wines, advisory board to Loop & Tie, MyMoneyMyFuture and Buho. JJ has been named a “Game Changer” by Goop, one of the 50 Badass Women Changing the World in 2020 by InStyle, and has been listed on Billboard’s Women in Power three times. She has been featured on the TODAY Show and is a regular contributor on NBC News.

Josh is the CEO of Clarim Media where he oversees the overall strategic direction of the organization as well as works closely with the management teams of the individual portfolio companies to build scalable products and services.

Prior to Clarim, Josh served as CEO of Techonomy Media, which was sold to Clarim Holdings in 2018. At Techonomy, Josh spent 8 years driving sustainable business growth through strategic partnerships and new product development. He built Techonomy to be one of the leading media companies covering technology and it’s impact on business and society.

Josh holds a MBA from Boston University and a BA from Brandeis University.

Hilary Knight is an Olympic Gold Medalist, two-time Olympic Silver Medalist, seven-time World Champion, and arguably the best female hockey player in the world. An outspoken advocate for gender equality, she is changing the landscape for women in sport. In 2014, she made history as the first female skater (non-goalie) to practice with an NHL team after she took the ice with the Anaheim Ducks. Hilary was also extremely successful at the collegiate level, a three-time All-American and appearance in the NCAA Finals all four years at the University of Wisconsin.

As a part of Team USA, Hilary has helped lead the National Team to seven IIHF World Championships, including a 1-0 overtime win against Canada in 2017. Hilary is a veteran leader on the US Women’s Hockey Team, and was one of the leading voices during the USWNT’s fight for equitable pay in Spring 2017. She continues the fight for equality for the next generation of women hockey players. Hilary is also working with her peers to build a sustainable professional women’s hockey league for generations to come.

Lucy Lang is a candidate for Manhattan DA in the June 2021 primary. Lucy is a nationally recognized criminal justice reform leader and most recently served as the Director of the Institute for Innovation in Prosecution at John Jay College, a leading criminal justice think tank, where she worked with communities and progressive DAs across the country. Prior to that, she was an assistant district attorney in Manhattan, where she prosecuted homicide and domestic violence cases and served as Special Counsel for Policy and Projects. In that role, Lucy created a first of its kind, semester-long college-in-prison course, bringing together assistant district attorneys and incarcerated students to study criminal justice side by side inside New York State prisons.

Ms. Lebenthal is a member of Houlihan Lokey’s Financial Sponsors Group and leads an initiative focusing on female-led companies.

Prior to joining Houlihan Lokey, Ms. Lebenthal was the CEO of Lebenthal Holdings, LLC, a municipal bond firm founded by her grandparents in 1925, which she joined in 1988. She started her career in the municipal bond department at Kidder Peabody.

Over the course of her career, Ms. Lebenthal has been a leader and champion for women in business. She has received many awards and recognition, including being named one of New York’s “100 Most Influential Women” by Crain’s New York Business in 1999 and one of the “Top 50 Women in Wealth Management” by Wealth Manager in 2009. In 2013, she was named to both Crain’s “Largest Women-Owned Businesses” and “Fast 50” lists.

Ms. Lebenthal holds a B.A. in History from Princeton University. She is a member of C200, the leading organization for women in business, and an advisory board member of Interprice Technologies Inc.

Debra Lee brings more than 20 years of board service across seven different public boards and spent 13 years as the Chairman & CEO of BET Networks. She currently serves on the boards of AT&T, Burberry, Marriott, Procter & Gamble, and several nonprofits, where she has led numerous board committees. Debra Lee is also the founder of Leading Women Defined, an annual networking conference for successful Black women. Debra Lee earned a JD from Harvard Law School, an MPA from Harvard Kennedy School., and a BA from Brown University.

Christine Leong Connors is a Managing Director and Head of Northern California for J.P. Morgan Private Bank. She leads a team of professionals in San Francisco and Silicon Valley who provide comprehensive wealth management services to affluent individuals, families and nonprofit organizations in the Bay Area.

Energetic and personable, Christine has more than 20 years of experience managing wealth for the area’s foremost entrepreneurs, financial principals, nonprofit leaders and business executives. She is focused on continuing to build the firm’s local presence and driving new initiatives to bring the best solutions and advice to clients in Northern California. Christine and her team offer client-specific, individually designed strategies across banking, investing, tax-efficient borrowing, trust and estate planning, IPOs and business sales. She is an acknowledged authority on the income and estate tax issues surrounding executive compensation, and she speaks regularly on the subject.

Christine joined J.P. Morgan in 1999. Prior to her current roles, she was head of the firm’s West Coast Investment Bank/Private Bank Partnership, responsible for delivering J.P. Morgan’s wealth management capabilities to clients of the Investment Bank. She earned her B.S. in Business Administration with a minor in Economics from Bucknell University, and her M.B.A. from a joint program of the University of California, Berkeley and Columbia University. She holds Series 7, 9, 10, and 63 FINRA licenses.

Christine has long been recognized for her outstanding work. She was named to the Financial Times’ “100 Women Financial Advisors” in 2014, and the San Francisco Business Times cited her in its 2015 “40 Under 40” list. In 2017, Silicon Valley Business Journal named her one of the top “100 Women of Influence.” She sits on the boards of the San Francisco Ballet, the Freeman College of Management at Bucknell University, The Board of Trustees for the Schools of the Sacred Heart San Francisco and the honorary board of Meals on Wheels. Originally from Connecticut, Christine, her husband and two daughters now live in San Francisco, where she enjoys tennis, fitness and cooking.

Katie Loeb joins the team as a partner at Lockstep Ventures, a social justice venture firm, leading up marketing, community and partnerships.

Formerly Katie led branding and communications at Loeb.nyc, rebranding the company and transforming the overarching marketing and brand awareness approach. Under Katie’s vision, Loeb.nyc has established itself as one of the most unique and nimble venture firms in the space, identifying nascent startups and developing and funding them until fully fledged.

Katie also headed up Loeb.nyc and Bonin Venture’s proprietary conference The ‘Or Not’ experience, a day long summit that is geared towards brand marketers that focuses on the latest trends and tactics in the investment space. The flagship event draws a crowd of over 200 takes place every spring in Southampton, NY.

Emily is a New York based sommelier and wine educator who is passionate about tasty juice made by thoughtful individuals. She believes wine is an everyday luxury that helps us build meaningful memories, travel to new places, and get a little boozy.

While her wine journey began at a young age, she took the leap to pursue wine full time in 2018. After working as a bartender at the Odeon Restaurant, she joined the team at Terroir TriBeCa under Paul Grieco, where her passion for the esoteric and high acid took on new heights. While Emily has always been theatrical, she found a new passion for storytelling table side while waxing poetic on the volcanic soil deposits of the Willamette Valley, the pradikat system of Riesling, or why we shouldn’t give up on Chardonnay. Emily is currently a WSET 3 candidate.

When Emily isn’t sipping on White Burgundy, you can find her snuggling with her pup Zoe and fiancé Alex while watching reruns of the West Wing.

Cate Luzio is the Founder and CEO of Luminary, a global collaboration hub for women who are passionate about professional development and expanding their networks. We are committed to advancing women through community and content. Luminary is the ultimate career advocate and inclusive membership community supporting both individuals and organizations including UBS, WW, JPMorgan Chase, Unilever, Goldman Sachs, Mastercard, Girls Inc., WPP, Blackstone, Verizon and many more corporate members. Every year, Luminary delivers thousands of immersive, professional programs, and experiences to thousands of members.

Cate self-funded and launched Luminary after two decades of leadership in financial services, leading global, multibillion-dollar businesses, and P&Ls. Previously, she was Global Head of Multinational Corporate Banking for HSBC, managing more than 2,000 employees worldwide and prior to that, she served as Head of Multinational Corporate Banking at J.P. Morgan EMEA based in London for 7 years. She spent her early years in Latin America with Bank of America across both consumer and wholesale banking. She started her career working in tech in China. Cate is committed to leveraging her extensive corporate experience to support and encourage women and push for gender equality and pay parity in the workplace. A long-time advocate for empowering women and girls, she serves on the National Board for Girls Inc., sits on the Advisory Board for Pomp & Whimsy, a woman-founded gin brand, and WaterAid.

Cate was named to American Banker’s ‘Most Powerful Women in Banking’ list multiple years in a row, and she’s a three-time Financial Times Global Diversity Champion, and a Yahoo Finance Diversity Hero x2. She was named a Top 100 Female Founder by Inc Magazine in 2019 and has been featured inBloomberg, CNBC, Yahoo Finance, CBS, CNN, WSJ, Forbes, Business Insider, Inc., Entrepreneur, Fast Company, InStyle, Worth, TheStreet, Now This, Women 2.0, Thrive Global, USA Today, New York Post, Bustle, Robb Report, American Banker, Women’s Health, Fortune, Linkedin News, and more. Cate also is contributing writer to Fast Company, Forbes, Business Insider and Worth. She acts as a WE.NYC mentor and was recently announced as University of Maryland’s Entrepreneur of the Year.

Luminary: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook: @BeALuminary 

Cate: @CateLuzio (Instagram) / @KTLuzio (Twitter) 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cluzio/

Website: https://www.luminary-nyc.com/

Lauren Maillian is a change agent committed to diversity, innovation and inclusion. She brings her unparalleled energy, creativity and problem-solving skills to her role as CEO of digitalundivided, the social startup that leverages data and advocacy to catalyze economic growth and create pathways for Black and Latinx women entrepreneurs.

Lauren is a consumer brand strategist, an award-winning marketer, a chief operating officer, and a technology startup investor and advisor. Lauren was invited by Walmart’s CEO to join theBoard of Disruptors, their first-ever Innovation Council. A pioneer in the tech space, Lauren was the first Black woman to start an early-stage venture capital fund, as a founding partner and managing director at Gen Y Capital Partners. She has advised and invested in over 40 startups, which have generated over $700 million in revenue. She serves on the Board of Directors atCoSign and LIQS. She is also the Founder and CEO of LMB Group, a strategic marketing and brand advisory company driving consumer connection and brand innovation for companies including J.P. Morgan Chase, Cover Girl, Brooks Brothers, Bumble and Bumble, and HSN.

Lauren has long been committed to empowering and advocating for women, lending her expertise and sharing her own experience. She serves as an advisor to Pipeline Angels, asocial enterprise that trains executive women to become angel investors. She is the founder of Straight Up and Successful, a community and personal and professional development company, and is the Founder and Creator of The Collab, an arts and culture club committed to championing artists of color and diversifying the face of future collectors. She has distilled what she’s learned about entrepreneurship in her best-selling memoir, The Path Redefined: Getting To the Top On Your Own Terms, and she’s shared her passion for innovation as the MasterMarketer and co-star of the Oxygen startup-focused docu-series Quit Your Day Job.

Lauren began her entrepreneurial journey at age 19, co-founding a boutique winery, Sugarleaf Vineyards, which quickly became an internationally recognized, award-winning brand. Lauren
was the youngest self-made winery owner in the country; she served as Chief Operating Officer from inception through the brand’s acquisition in 2011.

Lauren is a sought-after speaker who has offered thought leadership at Harvard, Columbia, andCornell Universities; at Fortune 500 companies including Google, Dell, Ernst and Young (EY),Prudential, Ogilvy, L’Oréal, LinkedIn and Bloomberg; and at industry-leading conferences and events such as Social Media Week, ColorComm and AdWeek. Her work has been featured in many national media outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Business Insider, FastCompany, Entrepreneur, Cosmo, Inc., Jet, Essence, CNBC’s Nightly Business Report, MSNBC, and Black Enterprise. Lauren was recently named to The Root 100 List of most influentialAfrican-Americans in 2020. She has received numerous awards including a 2011 Kauffman Foundation Empact 100 top entrepreneurs under 30 Award; a nod from Essence as a 2013“Shot Caller” to watch in business; a Smart CEO Brava Award in 2015; and a spot on Walker’s Legacy’s 2016 WL50Power List, honoring women making strides in the business and philanthropic community.

Lauren serves on the Board of The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Advisory Committee on Cultural Engagement. She is Vice-Chair of The Apollo Theater Foundation Young PatronsSteering Committee, a member of New York Urban League’s Development Committee, a founding member of the Young Entrepreneur Council, and a Lifetime Member of the Children’sAid Society. Lauren is the creator and co-founder of the exclusive art series The Collab, which brings together artists and their supporters to uplift the work of artists of color. In 2014, the New York Urban League’s Young Professionals named Lauren Philanthropist of the Year.

Lauren holds a Bachelor of Science, Magna Cum Laude, in International Trade and Marketing from the Fashion Institute of Technology. She lives in New York City with her two children and her husband.

Valarie J. McCall is the Chief of Communications, Government & International Affairs for the City of Cleveland and Mayor Frank G. Jackson. McCall serves as the Jackson administration’s primary liaison to local and state government, federal agencies and international organizations. She also oversees the administration’s appointments to internal and external boards and commissions, and helps implement the Mayor’s policies to promote regional growth and cooperation. McCall also oversees the City of Cleveland’s communications strategy, media relations and brand identity.

McCall is the Mayor’s primary representative to several national organizations, including the U.S. Conference of Mayors, National League of Cities and the National Black Caucus of Local and Elected Officials. She is also past chair of theAmerican Public Transit Association’s Executive Committee (board member emeritus).

McCall serves on the board of several Cleveland-based organizations including the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame andMuseum, Destination Cleveland, The Downtown Cleveland Improvement District, Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, Global Cleveland, Greater Cleveland Sports Commission and was the City lead for the 2016 Republican National Convention Host Committee. She is also on the board of the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency and served as the first African American female president – with a second term as chair in 2019. She was also a member of the 2014 GayGames Cleveland host committee.

McCall serves as the Jackson administration’s representative to the Ohio Municipal League, Cuyahoga County Mayor’s &Managers Association and the Northeast Ohio Mayors & Managers Association. She is also a member of the MaxineGoodman Levin College of Urban Affairs Visiting Committee, a former member of the Cleveland State University Center forNonprofit Policy & Practice advisory board and is a current member of the Cleveland State University (CSU) Center forPopulation Dynamics.

In addition to her domestic responsibilities, McCall represents the Jackson administration and the City of Cleveland overseas, including many of Cleveland’s sister cities. She is as a former panel member at the United Nations International Development Organization’s Conference on Urban Agglomerations and a former member of the Rouen Business School International Panel. McCall has traveled to Europe, meeting with leaders in the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece,Belgium, and Italy. She has also represented Cleveland in China and Japan. She is an American Council of Young PoliticalLeaders Fellow and an American Marshall Fellow.

Prior to her roles in the Jackson administration, McCall served as Cleveland City Council’s youngest City Clerk and Clerk of Council. As its chief administrative officer, she streamlined the legislation process, installed a strong management team and increased the efficiency of office operations.

McCall is also the City’s former Director of the Empowerment Zone, overseeing a more than $200 million budget. She successfully supervised the distribution of funds for job training and placement programs, as well as direct lending programs to assist neighborhood businesses.

McCall is a recipient of numerous accolades including the prestigious Cleveland State University Alumni Emerging Leadership Award, Ebony Magazine Young Leader of the Future award, Crain’s Cleveland Business 40 under 40 award, Kaleidoscope Magazines 40/40 Club, Rotary Club of Cleveland International Service award, Lifetime Achievement award from the Liberia Economic Development Initiative, U.S. Secret Service Appreciation award, Cleveland State University Young Public Administrator of the Year award, Smart Business Magazine Progressive Woman award, the Sales & Marketing Executives Distinguished Marketing and Sales award, and the Conference of Minority Transportation ‘Women Who Move the Nation’ award. She is also a member of the ‘Best Leadership Cleveland Class Ever’ and is theWoman of Color Foundation’s “STAR” Professional Woman of the Year.

McCall is the former host of “Government Affairs: A Closer Look” a public affairs television show about local community issues. She served as chairwoman of Mayor Jackson’s 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018 inaugural committees, overseeing all planning aspects of the inaugural activities and ceremonies.

McCall held several jobs early in her career which helped prepare her for future positions. Her first was at McDonald’s where she learned the value of customer service, leadership, punctuality and preparedness.

McCall is a native Clevelander and a graduate of Martin Luther King Law & Public Services Magnet High School. Sheholds a bachelor’s degree in social work and a master’s degree in public administration from Cleveland State University.The university awarded her with an honorary doctor of public service degree honoris causa (with all rights, privileges and honors).

McCall resides in the beautiful city of Cleveland, Ohio, USA with her dogs Kapono and Barack.

Jim McCann is a successful entrepreneur, business leader, author, media personality and philanthropist whose passion is helping people deliver smiles. Jim’s belief in the universal need for social connections and interaction led to his founding of 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc., which he has grown into one of the world’s leading floral and gourmet gifting companies.

Jim’s willingness to embrace new technologies that enhance customer engagement, such as 800 phone numbers and e-commerce, often long before other retailers, has consistently kept 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. ahead of the curve and positioned it as a leading innovator in the marketplace. These innovations have played a vital role in strengthening customer engagement, something that has always been a key element of Jim’s business philosophy.

Jim’s strategy for growth has included an effective combination of birthing and acquiring new businesses and brands that resonate with customers for their gifting and celebratory occasions. The company’s gift offerings include iconic brands such as Harry & David®, Wolferman’s®, Cheryl’s® Cookies and The Popcorn Factory®, as well as Simply Chocolate®, Personalization Universe® and 1-800-Baskets.com®, among others.

Jim is also deeply involved in philanthropy and is especially devoted to helping individuals with developmental disabilities. This includes his continued work as Founder and Chairman of Smile Farms, a 501(c)3 organization established in 2015. Smile Farms provides meaningful jobs in agricultural settings to young adults and adults with developmental disabilities, allowing them to master new skills, experience teamwork, contribute to their community and, importantly, take home a paycheck. As a result, Jim was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Long Island Business News 2019 Corporate Citizenship Awards.

In 2018, Jim established Clarim Holdings, a private holding company that expands market opportunities for clients by providing capital along with an extensive network of high-tier support partners. Jim also serves as a director for The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, Amyris and International Game Technology PLC, as well as a variety of private and not-for-profit boards.

Susan McPherson is a serial connector, seasoned communicator and founder and CEO of McPherson Strategies, a communications consultancy focused on the intersection of brands and social impact. She is the author of The Lost Art of Connecting: The Gather, Ask, Do Method for Building Meaningful Relationships. Susan has 25+ years of experience in marketing, public relations, and sustainability communications, speaking regularly at industry conferences, and contributing to the Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and Forbes. She has appeared on NPR, CNN, USA Today, The New Yorker, New York Magazine and the Los Angeles Times. Susan is a Vital Voices global corporate ambassador and has received numerous accolades for her voice on social media platforms from Fortune Magazine, Fast Company and Elle Magazine. She resides in Brooklyn.

Tulaine Montgomery is an entrepreneur, educator, writer and organizer. She has played leadership roles in the launch and expansion of social enterprises across the U.S. and internationally in the Carribean, East Africa, Indonesia and South Africa. Tulaine is a Managing Partner at New Profit, a venture philanthropy that
backs entrepreneurs who are advancing equity and opportunity in America. Tulaine is a trusted advisor to nonprofit organizations and socially responsible companies providing strategic and financial support to many of our nation’s most
powerful and promising social innovations. Tulaine leads New Profit’s Inclusive Impact, a $100 million social impact fund providing growth capital and capacity support for Black, Latinx and Indigenous social impact leaders.

Tulaine serves on several boards including GirlTrek, YouthBuild and College for Social Innovation. She has a master’s in public policy from Tufts University and a bachelor’s degree from Smith College.

Tulaine has traveled extensively to facilitate learning on racial equity, education, social justice, futurism, philanthropy, impact investing and wellness. Her writing has been featured in Stanford Social Innovation Review, The Root, Worth Media, and more. She is featured in “Portraits of Purpose: A Tribute to Leadership” – a
visual chronicle and historic narrative of community leaders.
(www.portraitsofpurpose.us). In 2020, Tulaine co-authored a research report on equity in philanthropy in partnership with Next Street, Transforming the Social Sector: The Opportunity and Need for Action

Tulaine is the Host and Executive Producer of  “Say More: Live conversations with Tulaine” – an Instagram Live series that serves as a virtual “salon” where people of different identities and experiences explore what it would take to build a world that works for everyone.

Tulaine is a cellist and has written and produced several original plays.

Marianna is a corporate attorney, tech sector executive and advisor to mission-driven ventures, including Jetstream Africa, a digital logistics business transforming trade in African countries, and Lockstep Ventures, a new fund focused on addressing issues of racial inequality and specifically supporting black female founders.  Marianna was the chief strategy and chief operating officer of Uzabase, Inc., a global business intelligence and business media company, where she oversaw strategic transactions in the US market.  Prior to that she was a corporate attorney at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, where she executed over $100bn in public and private company deals and authored a guide for public companies on corporate governance. Before becoming a lawyer, Marianna worked with presidencies and ministries of finance in African countries on economic reform and investment and sustainability issues. Marianna studied at Howard University, where she was selected as a Rhodes Scholar, at Oxford University and at Yale Law School, where she was selected as a Paul & Daisy Soros Fellow. 

CeCe Olisa is an award-winning writer, speaker and entrepreneur who is committed to building confidence in others. She is also the Co-Founder of the CURVYcon and a lifestyle influencer who adheres to her personal motto “Don’t wait on your weight to live the life you want.” She currently lives in New York City. Her Tedx Talk “How to Build Self Confidence” can be viewed at ceceolisa.com/tedx.

Katherine Oliver is a media and entertainment executive based in New York City. Katherine is currently a Principal at Bloomberg Associates, an international philanthropic consulting firm founded by former New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. In her position overseeing the media and digital strategies portfolio, Katherine helps cities harness the power of media and technology to improve government services, and advises them how to attract and promote businesses to support economic growth in these sectors. Katherine also oversees Bloomberg Philanthropies’ film, TV and digital projects and served as an Executive Producer on From the Ashes, and Paris to Pittsburgh, two documentary films tackling climate change and action. Prior to joining Bloomberg Associates, Katherine served as Commissioner of NYC’s Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment from 2002-2013 building NYC into an $8 billion production capital, increasing local employment levels by 50% and implementing the Made in NY marketing and branding program.

Maria Pinelli, is a Senior Global Executive, Director and former EY Partner. She recently retired from EY and serves as a board member for Clarim Acquistion Corp. (NASDAQ: CLRMU). She is the founder of Strategic Growth Advisors working with high growth companies to achieve their goals.

Ms. Pinelli was Global Vice Chair of Ernst & Young LLP (EY) from 2011 to 2017 and led EY’s Global Strategic Growth Business unit with a focus on serving entrepreneurs, private and public companies poised for exponential growth. For this multi-billion dollar business, Ms. Pinelli led EY’s efforts across all business sectors overseeing the Americas, Europe, Middle East, India, Africa Asia Pacific and Japan regions covering over 150 countries. During the same period, she also served as EY’s Global IPO Leader, helping clients prepare for the public markets including IPO readiness, SOX compliance and how to manage stakeholder expectations. Prior to leading this global business of EY, Ms. Pinelli was EY’s America’s Director of Strategic Growth Markets from 2006 to 2011. In this role, Ms. Pinelli led a team of over 5,000 professionals serving high growth private, pre IPO companies, public and private equity backed businesses. As a recognized expert commentator on the trends that are driving global activity in the IPO market, entrepreneurship and innovation, and economic growth, Ms. Pinelli often speaks on business matters and testified before the subcommittee of the US House Financial Services Committee on the US competitiveness and global IPO trends and capital raising. She oversaw The Entrepreneur Of The Year Program globally which recognizes inspirational entrepreneurs and innovators, launched The Strategic Growth Form, a gathering of high growth companies and The EY Entrepreneurial Winning Program, a leadership program for Women Entrepreneurs now in over 25 countries. Following her global role, from 2018-2020, Ms. Pinelli led EY’s Consumer Products and Retail sector based in the US Southeast. Ms. Pinelli is a qualified public accountant in Canada and the United Kingdom and prior to her EY Global and America’s role was a lead client service partner serving significant clients in the technology, consumer and retail sectors. She was involved in multiple IPOs and M&A Strategic Transactions over her career. A Bachelor of Commerce graduate of McMaster University, Canada and executive programs at Harvard Business School and Kellogg School of Management, she was recognized by “Lean-In” for her support of women, and has spoken at the Most Powerful Women Summit, Davos, and G20 Summits as well as was featured in the WSJ, Bloomberg, CNBC, and Squawk Box. She was admitted to the Committee 200 and named to the list of Power 100 Women, celebrating the Square Mile’s Most Inspirational Women in the city of London, UK. Ms. Pinelli’s community support includes her previous roles as Chair of the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship, as a member of the World Economic Forum Global Growth Company Advisory Committee and her corporate, government and entrepreneurial support for innovation and entrepreneurs. She is passionate about helping woman succeed in business and personally, recognizing their positive contribution economically and socially

Leona Qi serves as President of VistaJet US.  With her leadership, her team is responsible for growing the customer base in North America, the biggest and fastest growing market in business aviation.  The North America region has seen double-digit year-on-year growth for VistaJet over successive years. 

Ms. Qi has over a decade experience in capital markets and business aviation finance prior to joining VistaJet in early 2016. She held various roles at Global Jet Capital, Guggenheim Partners and BNP Paribas. She holds a master’s degree from Princeton University and resides in New York City with her family.

Sara Rodell is the Founder and CEO of Loop & Tie. Before starting Loop & Tie, Sara started her career at UBS in New York City and her experiences lead her to launch Loop & Tie as a smarter, streamlined, and sustainable way to manage end-to-end corporate gifting. Developing a distributed team before it was en vogue, Sara has been on the forefront of flexible work marketplace creations. She’s been named as a Female Entrepreneur to watch by Inman News, Thrive Global, and Buzzfeed.

Katica Roy is a gender economist and the CEO and founder of Denver-based Pipeline, an award-winning SaaS company that leverages artificial intelligence to identify and drive economic gains through gender equity. Pipeline launched the first gender equity app on Salesforce’s AppExchange.  The Pipeline platform was named one of TIME Magazine’s Best Inventions of 2019 and Fast Company’s 2020 World’s Most Innovative Companies. In 2020, Katica was named the Colorado Entrepreneur of the Year.

In 2017 Katica was named a Luminary by the Colorado Technology, in 2018 a Colorado Governors’ Fellow, in 2019 a Top 25 Most Powerful Woman in Business and a Stevie Entrepreneur of the Year, Gold Award. She is also an industry entrepreneur, thought-leader, and frequent editorial contributor and speaker.  Katica’s articles have been published by Fast Company, World Economic Forum, NBC, Forbes, Bloomberg, Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, The Hill, The Advocate, Salesforce, and Morning Consult.  In 2019, her articles garnered over 1B impressions.

Reshma Saujani is the Founder and CEO of Girls Who Code, the international nonprofit organization working to close the gender gap in technology and change the image of what a computer programmer looks like and does. The organization has reached 500 million people and 300,000 girls in all 50 U.S. states, Canada, India, and the United Kingdom. She is the author of the international bestseller Brave, Not Perfect and the New York Times bestseller Girls Who Code: Learn to Code and Change the World. Reshma’s TED talk, “Teach girls, bravery not perfection,” has more than five million views and has sparked a worldwide conversation about how we’re raising our girls. In 2010, Reshma surged onto the political scene as the first Indian American woman to run for U.S. Congress. Reshma lives in New York City with her husband, Nihal, their sons, Shaan and Sai, and their bulldog, Stanley.

John T Saunders is the Chief Diversity Officer of Korn Ferry.

Over the course of his tenure with the firm, JT has worked across Korn Ferry’s lines of business, developing subject matter expertise in executive recruitment and diversity and inclusion solutions.

Over the past 10 years, JT has developed a track record of success working with executives and next generation leaders. He has provided a host of services ranging from executive recruitment to leadership development.

JT brings a wealth of experience to the firm in the areas of strategic Diversity and Inclusion consulting and organizational root cause analysis.

JT offers a holistic understanding and approach to organizational development as a result of his experience working with leaders at all levels within organizations.

As a D&I consultant, JT seeks to support organizations that aim to nurture, retain, and promote talent as a means of driving strategic business and organizational objectives.

As an innovative talent advisor, JT has developed a reputation for working across organizations to help leaders to recruit, retain, and develop engaged, high performing talent committed to advancing an organization’s strategic agenda. Prior to joining Korn Ferry, JT led a leadership development program for high achieving, Black male young professionals.

JT received his Master’s degree from New York University and his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Vicki Saunders is an entrepreneur, award-winning mentor, advisor to the next generation of change-makers and leading advocate for entrepreneurship as a way of creating positive transformation in the world.

Vicki is Founder of #radical generosity and SheEO, a global community of radically generous women supporting women-led Ventures working on the World’s To-Do List.

Vicki has co-founded and run ventures in Europe, Toronto and Silicon Valley and taken a company public on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Vicki was received numerous awards for her work at SheEO including; UBS Global Visionary in 2020, YWCA Women of Distinction Award in 2020, Business Leader of the Year 2019 by the Toronto Regional Board of Trade, 2018 Startup Canada Entrepreneurship Promotion Award and was selected as a Global Leader for Tomorrow by the World Economic Forum in 2001.

Liz is the managing partner for McKinsey in North America. She is a member of McKinsey’s Shareholders Council, the firm’s equivalent of the board of directors, and a member of the global partnership service team, the firm’s 16-person leadership team. She formerly led McKinsey’s Marketing & Sales Practice in the Americas and the New York office.

Since joining the firm, Liz has partnered with clients on their transformations, including strategy, implementation, and capability building. She has largely focused on consumer marketing, growth strategy, and performance improvement. She has served clients across several consumer-facing industries, including media, telecommunications, travel, entertainment, retail, financial services, and automotive.

Liz serves on the boards of The Conference Board and the Central Park Conservancy and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. She is a member of the American Marketing Association’s Marketing Hall of Fame Academy and a founding member of the Harvard Business School Women’s Club of New York. Liz was recognized by Working Mother as a 2018 Working Mother of the Year and included in Crain’s New York’s 2019 list of Most Powerful Women and 2018 list of Notable Women in Accounting and Consulting. Previously, she served on the board of ClickFox, a customer-journey-analytics-technology company, and the education not-for-profit organization Prep for Prep.

A most sought after and captivating speaker throughout the United States, Europe, Africa, Central America and the Caribbean, she is inspired by her Parents, theirs and theirs before them. For Ambassador Shabazz, it has been a most natural, hence lifelong devotion to focus on the aspirational side of human, societal and business development with strategic evaluation, practical investment and enrichment outcomes for “definitive beneficiaries” — that has been most fulfilling in her career.

Raised in Westchester County, New York, Ambassador Shabazz is the eldest of six daughters born to Dr. Betty Shabazz and Malcolm X Shabazz. She graduated from the United Nations International School at 17 and entered Briarcliff College the following fall semester, majoring in International Law with a minor in English.

A producer, writer and diplomat she has spent over 38 years offering keynote addresses, while developing curriculums and programs for educational institutions, executive forums, diplomatic networks, penal systems, conferences and human service organizations globally– with the
purpose to motivate and encourage the young and mature alike to recognize the value in and appreciation of — diverse cultural engagement, traditional rights of passage and perspectives, thus a genuine respect for oneself and others.

In 1996, she established the Pilgrimage Foundation in honor of her Father’s spiritual journey to the Holy land. “It offered him the ‘Light of Understanding’ and confirmed his vision for our Oneness” she states. Ambassador Shabazz is the founder of Tapestry Bridge, Legacy Inc.,“Everybody Has One”, the Pilgrimage Foundation, Inc., The Humanity Passport Project and the Malcolm X Shabazz Birthplace & Foundation.

Upon years of personal service, the former Prime Minister of Belize, recognized her as a key advisor on International Cultural Affairs & Project Development. In 2002, he appointed her as the Ambassador-at-Large representing the country of Belize internationally and in perpetuity.

Ambassador Shabazz’ hope is to motivate and inspire one to have a better understanding of his or her history, the world around them and their constructive place in it. Thus to encourage a positive self- concept, she affirms, “It is within you to be ALL that your dreams imagine”.

Juliet currently serves as CEO for media brand Worth, responsible for leading its transformation from a print magazine to a content platform that focuses on ‘Worth beyond Wealth’ and inspires and informs an affluent, influential and successful community of individuals to be their best selves.

Juliet began her career as a management consultant, learning to code at IBM Business Consulting Services, before focusing on business strategy and organizational change, working with clients to solve complex business problems across a variety of sectors through the use of technology.

Her experience in this area took her to a role at Boxwood (now KPMG) where she worked as a senior consultant in strategy and business change, with a focus on the media and technology sector. After working as a consultant with Guardian News & Media on its print to digital strategy, in 2012 she was confirmed in a permanent role to lead strategy and operations for the Guardian Media Group’s commercial division based in London.

Juliet joined the Guardian’s executive committee in 2015 and, as chief delivery officer; was responsible for the strategic implementation of the global three year turnaround plan and subsequent transformation and growth for the Guardian’s US operation, relocating to New York in 2016.

She lives in Westchester with her husband and son, is a keen runner, yogi, and skier.

Grounded in the principle that “talent breaks all ties”, Julie Turpin is committed to Brown & Brown’s high-performance culture and to providing teammates a competitive, fun, and rewarding environment, rich with opportunity and potential. As a seasoned business professional, she values people above all other assets and recognizes the return on investment that comes from coaching leaders and acting on the feedback of the broader team. This philosophy is at the core of Brown &Brown’s employment practices that led to being named a Great Place to Work-certified company in 2019.

As Chief People Officer for Brown & Brown, Julie is responsible for teammate engagement, learning and development, compensation, rewards, and benefits, as well as all other Team Resources operations. Julie Turpin joined the organization in August 2012 as the Chief Operating Officer of a subsidiary company, The Advocator Group. She was drawn to Brown & Brown because of its distinct, decentralized operating methodology, wherein she could independently set strategy and execute on results for her business unit, while simultaneously having unlimited growth opportunities within the construct of the parent company. That, together with a culture of determined optimism, was a superb match for Julie’s personal and professional goals, as well as her people-centric skill set.

In 2014, she assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer of The Advocator Group, and subsequently became a Service Sector leader with responsibility for additional Brown & Brown subsidiaries, including Professional Disability Associates, Nuquest, and Medval. Under her leadership, several of these business units doubled their top line results in a five-year span. Prior to her experience at Brown & Brown, Julie was a Principal and the Head of Operations for GCG Risk Management Consultants. She also served as the Senior Vice President and Head of Operations in the Midwest Zone for Marsh USA. Her experience as a business operator, as well as in property and casual insurance leadership, uniquely positions her to understand and anticipate the needs of the over 10,000 Brown & Brown teammates.

Julie and The Advocator Group were honored for five consecutive years from 2014 to 2019 as a Top 100 Women-Led Business in Massachusetts. In 2019, she was named as an Influential Woman in Business honoree by the Daytona Beach News-Journal and the Volusia-Flagler Business Report. Julie received her Bachelor ofScience from Cardinal Stritch University. She resided in Palm Coast, Florida, and enjoys yoga, meditation, travel, and the outdoors.

Micki Wagner is a New York City-based writer and editor exploring food, fashion, and female empowerment in her work. She specializes in digital media and content creation & production.

Before coming to Worth, she worked as a social media producer for American Media, Inc., as a department editor for Vox Magazine and as a contributing writer for HerCampus and MyTherapistSays.

A St. Louis native, Micki attended the University of Missouri-Columbia, where she received a Bachelors of Journalism in Arts & Culture Magazine Journalism and an Associates in Ancient Mediterranean Studies.

Julie S. Washington is Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing, Communications and Customer Experience Officer at Trinity Health, a Catholic health care delivery system in 22 states with hundreds of hospitals and continuing care locations. Washington is responsible for the strategic leadership of marketing, brand building, demand creation, digital, crisis management communication and community engagement. In addition, she leads organization-wide efforts to create and deliver an integrated and inclusive care experience. Prior to joining Trinity Health, she served as Chief Marketing Officer for Champion Petfoods. Previously, she was the Chief Marketing & Innovation Officer for Jamba Juice and marketing leader at Procter & Gamble, Nestle Purina and Luxottica Retail.

Washington is committed to community improvement and, in parallel with her professional trajectory, has a long history of service on a variety of boards. She currently serves on the corporate board of Amyris, Inc and as a trustee of Union Institute and University. Her accomplishments and contributions have been featured in a number of arenas, including selection as one of Black Enterprise’s “Top Women Executives in Advertising & Marketing” (2016), Savoy magazine’s Top 100 Most Influential Blacks in Corporate America (2020), and the Marketers That Matter “Top B2C Marketing Executive of the Year” (2013).

Washington received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry and Psychology from Emory University and Master of Business Administration degree from Washington University. As a certified executive coach and champion of diversity and inclusion, Washington has helped companies build more inclusive and high performing teams.

Jill Wesley’s mission is to help people find common ground and work together to find solutions to the world’s biggest challenges. Jill is in Partnerships with The Female Quotient (FQ) where she advises on strategic relationships, program design and panel curation to give a platform to diverse voices and innovative solutions. Jill is the founder of Science + Soul of Speaking where she helps world-class leaders, experts, scientists, journalists and pro athletes shape and share their messages on the biggest global stages. She has worked as an executive coach, professional speaker and event producer for over 25 years and has led professional development programs in communication and leadership to over 85,000 leaders and their high-performing employees at some of the world’s top organizations. Jill is Head of Speaker Coaching for TEDxSanFrancisco and serves on the board of Latina Geeks. She spent six years overseas working in Europe, Australia, Asia, and South America and is committed to creating equitable, inclusive workplaces.

Denise is the Founder and CEO of Partake, a line of nationally distributed allergy-friendly snacks inspired by her daughter’s experience with food allergies. Launched in 2017, Partake’s first product — 10 flavor varieties of delicious, nutritious, allergy-friendly cookies — can now be found in more than 5,500 retailers including Target, Sprouts, and Whole Foods Market. In December 2020, the company closed a Series A round of funding led by investors including Rihanna, CircleUp Growth Partners, FF2032 and Marcy Venture Partners. Of the $7.5 Million Denise has raised, more than 50% has come from Black investors. In January 2021, Partake released a 5-in-1 Baking Mix followed by a Brownie Mix in February—both are available on partakefoods.com. Prior to launching Partake, Denise spent a decade in consumer packaged goods at various Fortune 100 companies and is the first Black woman to raise more than $1 Million publicly for a CPG food startup.

Shelley Zalis, known as the “chief troublemaker,” is a pioneer for online research, movement leader, and champion of gender equality. She is an internationally renowned entrepreneur, speaker, mentor, mother, and founder and CEO of The Female Quotient.

Zalis rewrites the rules and innovates solutions to impact real change. In 2000, she left the corporate world to found OTX (Online Testing Exchange), which became one of the fastest growing research companies in the world. She sold OTX to Ipsos in 2010, and then led global innovation in more than 80 countries at Ipsos OTX.

Today, as CEO of The Female Quotient, Zalis works with Fortune 500 companies to advance gender equality across industries. The FQ’s signature pop-up experience, the FQ Lounge (formerly the Girls’ Lounge), brings a Home of Equality to major conferences, companies, and college campuses around the world. The FQ Lounge is the gathering place for leaders of all levels at events such as the World Economic Forum, Cannes Lions, Consumer Electronics Show and the Milken Institute Global Conference. Through the destination-turned-movement, Zalis has connected more than 18,000 women in business and created the largest female-led community to transform workplace culture.

Zalis is an acclaimed speaker and member of the Washington Speakers Bureau. She is also a dynamic moderator who has interviewed influencers and leaders such as Katie Couric, Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, Arianna Huffington, Gwyneth Paltrow, Halle Berry, Reese Witherspoon, and David Schwimmer. Zalis authors a Forbes column that provides advice for women in the messy middle (middle management). She is the co-founder of #SeeHer, a movement led by the Association of National Advertisers (ANA) to increase the accurate portrayal of women and girls in advertising and media. Zalis is also on the Board of Directors for MAKERS, ColorComm and Dress for Success.

A firm believer in giving back with generosity, Zalis is not only a mentor to women around the world, but also provides time and resources to educating girls in countries such as Rwanda. She has been awarded the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Global Marketing Leadership Award, ARF Great Minds in Innovation Award, AWNY’s Game Changer Award, and the Matrix Award.

You can follow Zalis on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.