⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Of the interview, our founder and host, Sue Rocco, says: “Listen in as I sit down with Maria to talk about her younger years growing up in Philadelphia, playing varsity soccer on a boy's team, the loss of her father to Colon Cancer, her best advice for women in sales, and why she loves her job so much!”

ABOUT ANN:

Ann began her career "at the bench," hand-forging precious metals using traditional fine jewelry techniques. A chance meeting at a trade show led her to love, marriage and LAGOS®. For over two decades Ann and Steven Lagos collaborated to create one of the world's top jewelry companies. When QVC came calling, Ann responded with the Ann King for QVC collection and sold it on air. Along the way her work garnered numerous awards, including Moore College of Art's Visionary Women Award honoring outstanding women leaders who have made a powerful impact in the world of art and design.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Of the interview, our founder and host, Sue Rocco, says: “Listen in as I sit down with Maria to talk about her younger years growing up in Philadelphia, playing varsity soccer on a boy's team, the loss of her father to Colon Cancer, her best advice for women in sales, and why she loves her job so much!”

ABOUT MARIA:

Maria Grasso is the Chief Sales Officer at the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB), leading three business development divisions, the convention sales team and destination services team in growing convention bookings, while positioning Philadelphia as the premier destination for meetings, conventions and major events.

Actively involved in Philadelphia's hosting of the FIFA World Cup 2026™, Maria serves as the hotel accommodations expert, representing Philadelphia and the PHLCVB with FIFA and U.S. Soccer. She has served in similar capacities for other historic events including the 2015 World Meeting of Families & Papal Visit, 2016 Democratic National Convention and the 2017 NFL Draft.

A 25 year veteran of the organization, Maria joined the PHLCVB in 1999 as senior director of national accounts, quickly establishing herself as the organization's top-producing sales director. She most recently served as vice president of sales and convention services, a customer-facing role focusing on organizational growth in key industry verticals.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Of the interview, our founder and host, Sue Rocco, says: "This interview with Shauna was a personal one for me. Having lost my mother, her two sisters and my grandfather to Alzheimer's, the new tech company Shauna founded would have been a Godsend.  Shauna talks about growing up with her single dad and the tight bond they formed, his later diagnosis with Alzheimer's and her decision to leave a successful job at Meta to develop an app that would assist caregivers as they maneuver the complex and frightening world of taking care of a loved one with chronic disease."

ABOUT SHAUNA:

Shauna's personal journey of caring for her father, who has early-onset Alzheimer's, inspired her to help millions of family caregivers like her through technology. Prior to Tender, Shauna was a tech executive and led a significant Employee Resource Group, Caregiving@, for aging parents and caregivers. Before that she was a professor of rhetoric at USC. Beyond her professional roles, she contributes to her community, having served on the boards of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce and the Asia Society. Shauna resides in New York in a historic, converted 1850s barn with her husband, daughter, two step-children, and their pet sheepdog, along with a small flock of chickens.

LEARN MORE:

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Rating: 5 out of 5.

Of the interview, our founder and host, Sue Rocco, says: "Listen in as I sit down with Allie to talk about her visionary grandmother, Jean Griswold, the Founder of Griswold Home Care, her competitive nature growing up as a Polo and Ice Hockey player competing with the boys, the dynamic of her relationship with her co-founder brothers, and why it is important to always be open-minded when faced with gender bias in the workplace"

ABOUT ALLIE:

Allie started her career in strategy consulting with a focus on consumer goods at McKinsey & Company where she led several global strategy and leadership projects, which ultimately introduced Allie to the beverage industry. While consulting for a large alcohol company, Allie was able to observe a high-level view on how different brands operate within a portfolio, how the three-tier and distribution models work, as well as the best practices for branding 

★★★★★

Harris is a multiple Emmy award-winning anchor. She joined FOX News Channel in 2005 and currently helms two top-rated daily daytime programs – The Faulkner Focus (weekdays, 11AM-12PM/ET) and serves as the co-host of Outnumbered (weekdays, 12-1PM/ET). She previously anchored Outnumbered Overtime with Harris Faulkner, which was number one in its timeslot since its 2017 launch.

DISCLAIMER: Guests of Women to Watch® do not represent the views of our Host, Sue Rocco, or the Women to Watch® brand.

★★★★★

Of the interview, our founder and host, Sue Rocco, says: "Listen in as I sit down with Mara to talk about motherhood, her career as an attorney in a large firm, her work as a corporate strategist at McDonald's Corporation, and going on emergency bedrest while pregnant with her twins, which led to the difficult decision to leave the corporate world and start something new."

MORE ABOUT MARA:

Mara Smith, a former attorney in Chicago, started drinking tequila when she was looking for a clean, gluten-free spirit that fit into her active lifestyle. She and her friends enjoyed the versatile, carb-free and zero sugar spirit but they were not drawn to the traditional offerings. For years, Mara searched for a tequila brand that was additive-free with a look, taste and aroma that appealed to her and that she could share with her friends and family and proudly display on her bar. That perfect tequila simply did not exist, so she decided to create one.

Mara went to work studying the industry, and more importantly researching and testing what mindful consumers like her were looking for in a tequila. Her goal was to create a clean, smooth and sippable 100% Blue Weber Agave tequila without any of the additives often found in other tequilas, and with every detail thoughtfully crafted, from the meticulous production process to the sophisticated and sleek bottle that is easy to hold and pour.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Of the interview, our founder and host, Sue Rocco, says: “Listen in as I sit down with Laura to talk about the loss of her father when she was 8, why it led to a deep understanding of the fragility of life, how an internship at Madison Square Garden opened her eyes to her love of business and creativity and why becoming a mother was the best thing that ever happened to her career."

MORE ABOUT LIZ:

Liz Hirsh Naftali is the great-aunt of Abigail Mor Edan, a three-year-old who was held hostage in Gaza for fifty-one days. Abigail was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023, from her community, Kfar Aza, after her parents were both murdered in front of her by Hamas terrorists. 

In the wake of that attack, Naftali became a fervent advocate working for the release of the hostages. Even after Abigail’s release on November 26, 2023, she remains dedicated to working for all those who remain in captivity in Gaza. Liz is author of “Saving Abigail: The True Story of the Abduction and Rescue of a Three-Year-Old Hostage”.

Liz is also businesswoman and the host and creator of The Capitol Coffee Connection podcast, a platform where she invites prominent, diverse leaders to talk about the common thread that binds us all together—our shared experiences, stories, and the very essence of our heart and humanity—leaving out politics and policy.

She was raised in Los Angeles where Tzedakah and Tikkun Olam were an important part of her upbringing. Her father, Stanley Hirsh, was the publisher of the Jewish Journal, president of the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles and chairman of the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency. Her mother, Anita Hirsh, was a leader in the Soviet Jewry movement and Jewish Family Service in Los Angeles. Naftali is the mother of five children and has lived between Israel and the US since 1992. 

★★★★★

Of the interview, our founder and host, Sue Rocco, says: "Listen in as I sit down with Laura to talk about the loss of her father when she was 8, why it led to a deep understanding of the fragility of life, how an internship at Madison Square Garden opened her eyes to her love of business and creativity and why becoming a mother was the best thing that ever happened to her career."

Laura started her career at just 19 years old with an internship at Madison Square Garden and went on to excel at selling sponsorships—generating millions for many preeminent sports properties within a global marketing agency. Having grown up in rural Middle America, it was a dream come true.

In 2014, she began applying sports best-practices to non-traditional properties, pioneering an innovative partnership-led solution that drove significant revenue and brand equity. Passionate about the art of possibility and driving success for her clients, Laura is a catalyst for growth.

Laura and her husband Bryan live in Westfield, NJ with their four children (two sets of twin toddlers) and what seems like an army of much appreciated childcare givers.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Of the interview, our founder and host, Sue Rocco, says: "Listen in as I sit down with with Nora to talk about her life growing up outside of Philadelphia in a large Irish Catholic family, her love of the Girl Scouts, a time spent backpacking alone through France and the pioneering company she founded in 1997 called The Bit Screen."

ABOUT NORA:

Nora is the managing partner of Bridge View Media, a communications consultancy, and the author of "The Strategy of Story--Why Story Works and How You Can Make It Work for You".

Nora has written for the Wall St. Journal, Forbes, and Reuters and has written extensively about story and emerging forms of narrative across multiple platforms. Nora has been a jurist for a number of film festivals and she launched the first website for online film, The Bit Screen, in 1998. She coaches clients on story and presentation skills.

★★★★★

Of the interview, our founder and host, Sue Rocco, says: "Listen in as I sit down with Inge to talk about her early years growing up in Antwerp, Belgium, the personal adversity she and her family faced during Covid and why she's excited for the important work she is doing connecting the people of the Caribbean to the rest of the world."

Inge leads the Cable & Wireless Communication's team with vision and expertise. With a wealth of experience in the telecom industry, Inge is responsible for overseeing the company’s operational performance, including strategic planning, technology evaluation, product development and implementation, sales, operations, and customer service. 

Inge's previous experience includes serving as Senior Vice President of Residential Marketing and Chief Marketing Officer for Liberty Global in the Netherlands and holding various Marketing and Commercial positions with Procter & Gamble. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Of the interview, our founder and host, Sue Rocco, says: "Listen in as I sit down with Eylem this week to talk about Eylem's family having to flee Turkey as Kurdish members, the challenge of integrating into a new culture in Switzerland, her experience with workplace bullying by her manager in a large Pharma company that led to a mental and physical breakdown, and the founding of her new venture to help working women thrive."

ABOUT EYLEM:

Beginning her career in the banking world, Eylem swiftly transitioned into the Pharma Industry, leaving an indelible mark at renowned companies such as Actelion, Celgene, Vifor Pharma, Novartis, and Bayer. Over a span of 22 years, she not only led international teams but also collaborated with professionals from 40 different nationalities. Eylem’s commitment to excellence extended beyond corporate boundaries as she coached, and trained over 1000 individuals.

★★★★★

Of the interview, our founder and host, Sue Rocco, says: "Listen in as I sit down with Katie to learn what it was like growing up poor and at times homeless, how she was left to care for three younger siblings, her revelation later in life about how hard her mom worked to care for them, and where the affordable housing market is today."

ABOUT KATIE:

Katie Goar’s journey from experiencing housing instability as a child to leading a national affordable housing consulting firm has given her a unique perspective on the importance of safe, stable housing. With nearly 30 years in the affordable housing industry, she has witnessed firsthand how a secure home can transform lives. At Quadel, she is dedicated to enhancing workplace culture and customer service, recognizing that engaged employees are crucial for delivering empathetic, high-quality service. She believes that providing exceptional service not only meets immediate needs but also helps restore hope and stability to vulnerable populations. Katie also hosts the “ChangeMakers” podcast in partnership with Forbes, where she highlights leadership and innovations in affordable housing.

★★★★★

Of the interview, our founder and host, Sue Rocco, says: "Listen in as I sit down with with Atia to talk about her parents having to leave their homeland in Afghanistan due to war, her reporting from Afghanistan years later, dispelling myths about the Afghan people, the importance of empathy, and what her life is like today as a mother of two and wife to a fellow journalist.

ABOUT ATIA:

From an early age, Atia knew she wanted to be a journalist. After graduating from Virginia Tech, where she anchored the college’s local television station VTTV, Atia volunteered and was then hired on at CTV 76 –a local TV station in Largo, MD. In Maryland, Atia covered a wide range of stories – from politics to the impact that drugs and crime had on the local community - before moving to Atlanta to work for CNN.

Atia’s first book, “The Secret Sky: A Novel of Forbidden Love in Afghanistan” was published by Philomel, an imprint of Penguin Group, in September 2014. Her second book, "A Land Of Permanent Goodbyes", released on January 23, 2018. The story is based on the ongoing Refugee Crisis. Her next book, “She Persisted: Sally Ride” released in March 2021; the book is a series created by Chelsea Clinton.

In 2022, Atia began her television writing career and is represented by The Gotham Group.

★★★★★

Of the interview, our founder and host, Sue Rocco, says: "Listen in as I sit down with with Susannah to learn about her important role as Chief Technology Officer under the President Obama administration in the Department of Health and Human Services, how a degree in Anthropology has assisted with her work in technology, and how she coined "Peer-to-Peer" advice within the health field."

ABOUT SUSANNAH:

Susannah Fox is a health and technology strategist. Her book, Rebel Health: A Field Guide to the Patient-Led Revolution in Medical Care, was recently published by MIT Press. She is a former Chief Technology Officer for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where she led an open data and innovation lab. She has served as the entrepreneur-in-residence at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and she directed the health portfolio at the Pew Research Center’s Internet Project.

★★★★★

Of the interview, our founder and host, Sue Rocco, says: "Listen in as I sit down with Madison to talk about her upbringing in South Coventry, PA, her aspiration to grow up and work in a tall building in the city, her love of politics and math, and why her mom's deployment to Iraq and subsequent injury was a life-changing moment for Madison."

Madison joined Comcast in 2013 and oversees the Company’s enterprise-wide political activities compliance program. Specifically, she is responsible for the administration, compliance, and disclosure related to political action committee, corporate, and executive personal political contributions; corporate and trade association political action committee solicitations and receipts; state and local pay-to-play; federal, state, and local lobbying; gifts and entertainment of government officials; and government conflicts of interest.

Madison serves as a board member of the Public Affairs Council. Prior to joining Comcast, Madison worked in Development and Alumni Relations at the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

Madison holds a B.S. in Political Science and Mathematics from Drexel University and a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Pennsylvania Fels Institute of Government.

★★★★★

Of the interview, our founder and host, Sue Rocco, says: "Listen in as I sit down with Joya to talk about her dream to be a TV Anchor from the age of 4, having to find a way to finance her education at Bucknell, her discovery that many Indian women were inspired by watching her on TV, and her best practices for successful public speaking."

Joya is a first-generation Indian born to immigrant parents from Calcutta and Myanmar. Since the age of 11, she remembers wanting to be a journalist.

For the last 15 years, Joya has been reporting for Bloomberg TV, CNN and ABC. She is currently a business anchor with NY1 News and CNN. In November 2009, she also began directing and producing social justice documentaries. First Sight tackles the issue of curable blindness in children in India and is her first feature-length film. www.firstsightthefilm.com

She is currently principal and co-founder of Avenue Media, (www.avenue-media.com) based in New York City. She and partner Greta Knutzen are fusing old school journalism and storytelling with new school media tools and metrics to help clients tell their story. Avenue Media is currently engaged by the Rockefeller Foundation to produce a series of mini-documentaries as the organization celebrates its centennial.

Listen to the interview below, on your favorite podcasting app, or watch on Youtube!

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★★★★★

Of the interview, our founder and host, Sue Rocco, says: "Listen in as I sit down with Kelly to talk about her desire to leave her hometown in search of more, an unexpected dinner with Malala, working in NY's start-up community and how the most important key to building your network is to know your why."

With her law degree and business cards in hand, Kelly advanced along a predictable corporate career path until a unique opportunity in 2009 infused her career with confidence and encouraged her to stop playing it safe. Working alongside the visionary leader of a global business network for women, co-founding a startup accelerator, angel investing, an interim CMO position (and reporting to a founder/CEO twenty+ years younger) – these roles are all part of an unimaginable career journey to becoming a published author, career coach and keynote speaker.

Some of her other crazy career outcomes that have resulted from building a diverse network: appearing on CNBC’s Power Pitch, moderating the Meet The Innovators speaker series at the Apple Store, and contributing to publications such as The New York Times, Forbes.com, Fast Company, Inc. and more. Today, Kelly enjoys transforming how others approach the vital activity of networking, through her various speaking, coaching, facilitating and hosting roles.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Of the interview, our founder and host, Sue Rocco, says: "Listen in as I sit down with Cheryl to talk about her upbringing which included numerous moves when she was young, a humiliating comment a teacher made to her in high-school that was a significant motivator for her, the challenges of building a company as a single mother of two and why she believes the key to her success was continuing to do what was necessary."

MORE ABOUT CHERYL:

Cheryl has built a multi-million-dollar commercial cleaning and building maintenance services company that employs more than 700 people in a male-dominated industry. She’s overcome personal struggles-divorce, single motherhood, and a child’s health crisis- to achieve professional success. 

It all started with just a single employee: herself. In the late 1980s. Cheryl was a young, newly married woman looking for additional income to supplement her salary as a receptionist. When she started to clean the office building where she worked after hours, she did not know it then, but it was the very first choice she made that led to the company, now known as Elite Building Services. As she, slowly started to gain new clients, Cheryl began hiring additional employees and offering a wider array of building services.

The success Cheryl found in her professional life didn’t always translate into an easy personal life. Now divorced, Cheryl had to navigate the challenges of raising children alone. Her daughter experienced continual health challenges requiring more than 20 surgeries over several years.

★★★★★

Of the interview, our founder and host, Sue Rocco, says: "Listen in as I sit down with Resa to talk about her third generation family from Westerly, RI, her push-back from a young age to the gender expectations that were placed on her, her relentless love of learning and how small actions in the workplace can have big impact."

MORE ABOUT RESA

RESA E LEWISS MD is a Professor of emergency medicine, TEDMED speaker, TimesUp Healthcare founding member, designer, entrepreneur, and award winning educator, mentor, and point-of-care ultrasound specialist. She studied at Brown University, the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, the NIH Howard Hughes Research Scholars Program, Harvard Emergency Medicine, and Mount Sinai St. Luke’s Roosevelt. She hosts the Visible Voices Podcast, amplifying content in the healthcare, equity, and current trends spaces. Her writing is widely published in science journals and the popular press. She has written for CNBC, Fast Company, Harvard Business Review, Nature, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and Slate. Her podcast has been featured in the Guardian, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and the Brown Alumni Monthly. Her co-authored debut book, MicroSkills: Small Actions, Big Impact, (HarperCollins) was published in April 2024.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.

MORE ABOUT LIZA:

Of the interview, our founder and host, Sue Rocco, says: "Listen in as I sit down with Liza to discuss a troubled home growing up, finding her love of drawing and making people laugh, landing a spot at The New Yorker as the youngest female cartoonist and exploring the long history of women trying to find their voice."

Liza has been drawing cartoons and writing about culture and politics for The New Yorker Magazine for forty years. She has contributed to CBS News and CNN, creating political cartoons as well as live-drawing special cultural and political events. Donnelly writes and draws for The New York Times and CNN Opinion pages and the Washington Post. Liza is also a screenwriter, working on her third feature and currently pitching a documentary.

Donnelly delivered a very popular TED talk, which was translated into 40 languages and viewed over 1.4 million times. She is a return speaker at SXSW, has delivered talks at the United Nations in New York and Geneva, The New Yorker Festival, five TEDxes (most recently in Charlottesville, Virginia), universities, NGOs and corporate venues in the US and abroad. Donnelly has been a Cultural Envoy for the US State Department, traveling around the world to speak about freedom of speech, cartoons and women’s rights.

★★★★★

Of the interview, our founder and host, Sue Rocco, says: "Listen in as I sit down with Maya to talk about her life as a dancer growing up, her realization over time that she may be better suited for a behind-the-scenes career in the arts and her current love of the work she does while always staying true to her own values."

Maya is the Director of Strategy at BRC Imagination Arts, which partners with brands including Diageo, Ford, and NASA to translate brand and cultural stories into transformative, human experiences. Maya co-develops and oversees the short and long-term marketing, positioning, and business strategy for the firm, including all brand and growth-related activities including content, PR, events, awards, and strategic partnerships. She received an M.B.A. from the Drucker School of Management at Claremont Graduate University, where she now serves as Vice-Chair on the Advisory Board of Directors. She also produces and hosts ‘Masters of Storytelling,’ BRC’s podcast featuring conversations with storytellers across the creative spectrum.

★★★★★

Of the interview, our founder and host, Sue Rocco, says: "Listen in as I sit down with with Brantley to learn how a young girl from Brooklyn, NY ended up studying Mandarin, is set to open a new Dwight School in Hanoi Vietnam, and is still learning how to become more self-aware as she helps her students do the same."

Brantley is originally from Brooklyn, New York. Her interest in Asia began as an undergraduate at Brown University studying East Asian Studies and Art Semiotics. After first traveling to China in 1993 and studying Mandarin in Beijing at Beijing Language and Culture University from 1995-96, she completed her graduate work in 2000 at the John-Hopkins Nanjing University Center for Chinese and American Studies. She founded China Prep in the experiential education sector and is a Ph.D. candidate at the International School of Management with coursework in Shanghai, New York, and Paris. She served as the Dwight School Director of Programs for Ch

Of the interview, our founder and host, Sue Rocco, says:

“Listen in as I sit down with Sara to talk about her upbringing in a big traditional Lebanese family, how she always felt pulled to explore the world outside that family, and what led her to dive deep into her own health journey in order to find the connection between autoimmune disease and empowerment.”

MORE ABOUT SARA:

Named as an “Architect of Change” by Maria Shriver, Sara Hirsh Bordo is a 15x award-winning filmmaker and Founder/CEO of Women Rising®, listed as “One of the Most Innovative, Interesting, and Purpose-Driven Women Led Startups to Watch” by Inc Magazine.

Women Rising® began in 2013 with Sara directing and producing the first TEDxAustinWomen which became the year’s most live and on-demand viewed TEDxWomen event around the world. Sara’s film directorial debut, A BRAVE HEART: THE LIZZIE VELASQUEZ STORY premiered and won the 2015 Audience Award at SXSW and won awards at all eleven festivals it played, received two WEBBY Awards, and secured global distribution via National Geographic, LifetimeTV, Amazon Prime, and iTunes.

Alexis is an internationally recognized speaker, media personality, activist, and author. She is a proud Latina originally from Texas. Alexis grew up with four older brothers and moved to Los Angeles where she completed her undergrad and Masters both from USC. Alexis wrote the book, I AM THAT GIRL and her most recent book, Joy Hunter published by Penguin/ Random House was released June 2023. Alexis has a passionate, online community of over 1.2M+ people. She has hosted a TV show on the Red Carpet, worked on shows at Fox Sports, ESPN, CBS, MTV, and TLC. Alexis also created ProtectHer, an educational program for men on the importance of respecting women and has been invited to speak in Division I locker-rooms, board rooms, and war rooms all over the country. 

SUE SAYS:

"Sue sits down with Alexis Jones to talk about her early aspirations, straddling two worlds being poor in an affluent community, the importance of allowing men the opportunity to talk about their own inner thoughts and feelings, and how she has finally learned to slow down and stop "chasing" after opportunities."

With over three decades of high-impact leadership roles ranging from CEO and Chief Sales Officer to President and Master Trainer, Brooke stands as a transformational force in the business and personal development arenas. Her innate ability to forge deep connections with business owners, C-suite executives, and ambitious entrepreneurs is truly remarkable. She possesses a level of intuitive intelligence that ensures opportunities for growth and fulfillment are identified with ease, leading clients to rapid breakthroughs.

By fusing behavioral science, NLP and Human Design Intelligence, Brooke has developed groundbreaking programs and services designed to navigate the complexities of both professional leadership and personal growth. This work offers women the pathway to better connect with their unique brilliance, step into their genius and create increased fulfillment in all areas of their lives. 

Brooke’s unmissable internationally best selling book, Burn On Not Out- Finding Fulfillment Beyond Success is now available.  

SUE SAYS: "I sit down for a conversation with Brooke about a childhood with both emotional and physical abuse, finding ways to cope as an only child, how her own journey of self exploration helped fuel her success and why she believes all women need to support other women. "

Allison, an accomplished student life and events coordinator with over 20 years of experience working in higher education and not-for-profit organizations, has always had a desire to help and care for people. As a young girl, she was always involved in event planning and various projects serving and entertaining the community-hosting charity softball tournaments, helping run roller derby bouts. She even managed a local rock band. Higher education has further helped Allison fulfill that desire by overseeing the campus food pantry, foster support program, and working with students needing emergency financial assistance (among many other duties!). 

Allison's significant life challenges came later in life, when in 2023 she lost her husband, at the age of 45, to cancer. They had been married 10 years, and Allison was his full-time caregiver over the past number of years while he navigated life with a degenerative nerve disease. 

SUE SAYS

"I sit down for an interview with Allison Mootz to talk about the status of colleges today, the critical need for resources for caretakers and why she now knows the most important thing we can do is spend quality time with the ones we love."

Jamie is a 3-time CMO with more than 25 years of experience in growth marketing. As CMO of DexCare, she is responsible for accelerating market expansion and brand value through effective go-to-market strategies, product positioning, and customer advocacy programs. Jamie has worked with industry leaders who drive positive social impact, including Microsoft, GE, and DreamBox Learning, finding their most compelling stories and telling them in the most powerful way.

SUE SAYS

"I sit down for an interview with Jamie Gier to learn about her life growing up without her mom around, the latest in healthcare technology, being in the C-suite as a single mom, and a 25 year career in marketing with companies like GE, Microsoft and DreamBox."

In her current role, Kiesha oversees and directs programming and funding priorities for the charitable arm of the Los Angeles Lakers. She is responsible for implementing the mission of the Foundation which is to assist underserved youth in our communities to develop and recognize their full potential by providing positive experiences and resources in education, health & wellness and sports.

Kiesha oversees the funding which supports over 100,000 youth in 20+ Southern California Boys & Girls Clubs through basketball and health & fitness and the Jr. Lakers Youth Basketball Program; has helped to build 40+ basketball courts throughout Los Angeles and surrounding counties, 15+ Reading Rooms and has completed 3STEM Lab projects at local middle and high schools in Los Angeles. Kiesha is also very active in the Lakers civic engagement, social justice and diversity & inclusion efforts. Being one of the founding members of the organization’s Employee Resource Group–B.A.N. (Black Action Network).

Kiesha works with countless non-profit organizations and serves as a Mentor to youth throughout the community. Kiesha has received numerous Leadership, Community Service & Humanitarian Awards. She strives to uphold the Lakers reputation of being “Champions in the Community” as well as on the court.

SUE SAYS

"I sit down for an interview with Kiesha Nix to talk about her upbringing in south central L.A, the sacrifices her grandparents made to provide for her, the support she's received from Magic Johnson over the years and why giving back to the community Kiesha grew up in is so important to her."

Kavita has over two decades of professional experience, with a background in investment banking, private equity, startup consulting, entrepreneurship, and education. After working as an Investment Banking Analyst at Wachovia Securities, they transitioned to private equity, serving as a Growth Equity Fund Executive at TA Associates and a Consumer Product Turnaround Fund Associate at Sun Capital Partners.

Later, they worked as a Head of Channel Development for BackOps and a Growth Consultant for Have BIGplans, LLC. In 2016, they became the CEO and Founder of their own company, K Sahai, and is still currently in that role. Sahai also spent four years as an Adjunct Professor at Lynn University, where they co-created the entrepreneurship curriculum and annual business plan competition. Throughout their career, Sahai has executed on mergers and acquisitions, structured debt and equity transactions, and developed turnaround and restructuring strategies for distressed portfolio companies.

SUE SAYS

"I sit down with Kavita Sahai to talk about her years in Saudi Arabia, her large conservative Indian family, growing up with the desire to challenge tradition and her decision to leave a successful corporate career for entrepreneurship."

In the midst of the reverberations of slavery, Jim Crow laws and the great migration, Armstrong became America’s first Black popular music icon. The Museum preserves his home and archives and develops programs grounded in the values of artistic excellence, education and community. This year, Ms. Bain recently opened the new 14,000 sq. foot Armstrong Center housing a multimedia exhibit curated by Jason Moran, a 75-seat performance space, and the 60,000-piece Armstrong Archives — the largest archives of any jazz musician and one of the largest of any Black musician.

Previous to her appointment at LAHM, Ms. Bain served as Associate Vice President of the Posse Foundation — a national leadership and college access program. Bain’s efforts helped to increase Posse’s national student graduation rates for four consecutive years. Bain is currently the co-chair of Culture @3’s anti-racism subcommittee and recently served on the Yale Board of Governors.

SUE SAYS

"I sit down with Regina Bain and talked about her upbringing in southern California, her mother who taught her the value of music and the arts, finding her voice, and what it took to step into a leadership role during a global pandemic."

As a chief transformation officer at ServiceNow, Kelley helps ServiceNow's customers drive workforce transformation. She previously served as head of workforce innovation at ServiceNow and was the founder and CEO of Hitch Works Inc., an internal talent mobility platform acquired by ServiceNow.

Kelley brings more than 25 years of executive management experience, with 13 years as a chief human resources officer in technology. She serves on the board of FormFactor, Inc. (NASDAQ: FORM) and is Chair of the Advisory Board for the Silicon Valley Education Foundation

SUE SAYS

"I sit down with Kelley Waiss, CTO of ServiceNow and discussed the tragedy that happened with her mother, her winding career path, the acquisition of her company by ServiceNow and her latest book, Valley Girls."

A lifelong champion of women’s rights and gender equity, Pierce was most recently Executive Director of the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania, where she was responsible for the management and

operation of the nonprofit, nonpartisan organization with 2,500+ members statewide.

Prior to that position, she provided strategic support and thought partnership for Kaplan Hecker & Fink LLP, one of New York’s premier litigation boutiques. She also served as policy communications advisor for the NYC Mayor’s Office for International Affairs. She earned a Master’s in Public Administration at the University of Pennsylvania Fels Institute for Government. While at Penn, she served in several fellowship roles at vital PA-based women’s organizations, including Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates, the Women’s Law Project of Pennsylvania, and Rittenhouse Political Partners.

“It is an honor to be selected to lead The Forum of Executive Women,” said Pierce. “I look forward to

working closely with the board to identify and evaluate the many ways this preeminent organization can make an even deeper impact within the region. Expanding The Forum’s advocacy footprint, diversifying revenue sources, developing our member base, and connecting more employers to the dynamic, experienced women leaders in our network are just a few of the areas of opportunity I cannot wait to realize."

SUE SAYS

"I sit down with Meghan to talk about her "family of feminists," the positive experience she had attending an all girls school, her time working for Mayor Bill de Blasio and something Meghan refers to as "the third space.""

As the Global Head of Precision Talent and Executive Scouting at Novartis, Erin leads a cross-divisional and cross-unit team of talent professionals with a focus on executive advisory and community of practice for internal and external talent strategies.

With over 20 years of HR and talent experience, Erin has broad and diverse expertise across talent management, talent acquisition, talent scouting, executive search, talent analytics and insights, and strategic leadership initiatives. She is also a certified leadership coach and a member of Chief, a network of women leaders.

Erin is passionate about human connection, employee advocacy and engagement, and championing talent innovation. She thrives on leading high-performance teams across the globe to ensure the future success of the organization. Erin has a proven track record of delivering effective talent strategies in complex and innovative environments, as well as superior talent identification, engagement, business insights, competitive intelligence, and project management. She is an inclusive and servant leader who loves collaboration and partnership.

SUE SAYS

"I sit down with Erin Krolikiewicz of Novartis Pharmaceuticals to talk about being the first in her family to go to college, what it was like being an introvert and an old soul growing up, and how her divorce was one of the greatest challenges of her life."

Julie is an American soccer executive and entrepreneur who is president of Angel City FC, a National Women's Soccer League team based in Los Angeles, California, that Uhrman also co-founded. She was previously an executive at Playboy Enterprises, Lionsgate Entertainment, IGN, and Vivendi Entertainment, and founded the former video game console company Ouya.

In 2020 Uhrman co-founded Angel City FC with venture capitalist Kara Nortman of Upfront Ventures, and actress Natalie Portman. The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) club signed 21 sponsors and sold 14,300 season tickets before its first season of play, and attracted a $14 million investment round from numerous celebrities, including lead investor Alexis Ohanian. Nortman recruited Uhrman in 2019 from the pickup basketball league both women competed in and tasked her with building the team's business plan, despite Uhrman not previously knowing that the NWSL existed. The NWSL granted Uhrman's group an expansion team on July 21, 2020, for play in the 2022 NWSL season.

SUE SAYS

"I sit down with Julie Uhrman, the President of Angel City Football to talk about women in sports, pay equity, the value of sports for young girls and her surprise when she found out she'd be working with Natalie Portman!"

Kimberly is a creative executive with over 25 years of senior and c-suite leadership experience in maximizing brands, connecting communities, and growing businesses.

Her international professional experience spans from Macy’s Executive program to Footlocker Global, Inc, to Brand President of London Fog and Joe Boxer to brands, where she led the $2+B Home business. She is currently CEO of Bumbershoot, LLC, a boutique firm that provides cultural and market insights for inclusive, equitable, and diverse representation across brand, content, and customer experience.

She serves on the Advisory Board for MIVE: Slow Fashion E-Marketplace, as Director, National Board of Together Digital, Inc., Secretary for the New Vision Dance Co. BOD, Trustee for NA Foundation Board, and the Nominating Chair, Marketing, Youth programming, and Fundraising Chair for several organizations. She has also served as a Director on the Board of the Center for Arts Education in NY, NY, and was an active member of C-Suite, Partnership in Boston, MA.

Her personal passions bring people and ideas together for inclusive engagement, creating safe spaces for community connection and personal growth for everyone, the arts, and continuous learning.

SUE SAYS

"I sit down with Kimberly Lee Minor, CEO of WOC Retail Alliance to talk about the high expectations her parents had for her, the special relationship she had with her grandmother, wanting to be Oprah and having a nervous breakdown in an airport."

Bronwen is a seasoned media executive with over 25+ years of experience across production and development. Previously she led her own production company, Two Bears Productions, where she consulted for various brands and platforms. Before that, Bronwen spent over 20 years at Nickelodeon, where she rose in the ranks to become an Executive Vice President, overseeing all “Live Action” production and development for the #1 global kids content brand.

SUE SAYS

"The Global Head of Content for The Harlem GlobeTrotters talks about growing up in a divorced family, living in a high-rise in New York City, falling in love with the gift of imagination, and landing a job at Nickelodeon where she worked her way up from assistant to EVP of Production."

Molly is a leading expert in the field of branded podcast production. Her agency specializes in creating top-notch branded content that helps businesses generate revenue and cultivate strategic relationships through the power of podcasting. With extensive experience and knowledge in the business of podcasting, podcast booking, and content creation, Molly frequently shares her insights as a speaker. Her belief that listening is the revolution is what has driven her success, and she currently resides in Costa Rica with her 3 dogs, nestled next to a volcano, where she manages her global business remotely. Pura vida!

SUE SAYS

"Molly discusses living with a debilitating disease, leaving home for good at 17, how she landed her first job from the phone book and her goal to hit 2M in revenue every year."

Joy Fan is a 2x founder, operator, and urbanist - democratizing access to affordable real estate.

Previously, Joy popularized the pop-up retail industry as a founding member of Storefront - the largest marketplace for short-term retail with over 150,000 brands (acquired in 2016).

Joy is known for building consumer enablement technology, and created the "retail-as-a-service" model adopted by thousands of DTC brands, REITS, mall operators, developers, and landlords; is an active committee advisor for Women in Proptech and a part of Mayor Eric Adam's NYC Small Business Advisory Commission.

Today, with the height of the pandemic leaving cities vacant; small businesses crushed with displacements, and online brands competing for expensive digital ad space (moving 20% of marketing spend to physical retail) – the $17 Trillion Real Estate industry is due for further disruption.

Joy and her team built a B2B marketplace + booking platform that lands online/DTC brands into shared retail by instantly matching them with their end consumer (a $120 Billion dollar annual opportunity).

Re/tell has oversubscribed brand partners, a growing waitlist, e-commerce marketplace partners (Verishop, Marmalade, Pattern Brands, Sharma Brands, We Are Women Owned, Ladies Who Launch, New York Naturally), enterprise space partners (Jamestown, Brookfield, Westfield), BID (Business Improvement District) demand from 3 major cities, and an official partnership with New York Mayor Eric Adams and NYC/EDC to drive economic growth and innovation.

Julia is on a mission – to enable wellness for all. As a member of Fortune magazine’s list of Top 50 Most Powerful Women in the U.S., Julia has built and grown successful brands for over 40 years. She has climbed the ladder up to executive leadership for companies like Taco Bell, Applebee’s, IHOP, and Dine Brands Global, Inc.  Julia has always understood the benefits of maintaining a balance between body, mind, and spirit and holds this philosophy as the foundation of her endeavors. 

In 2020, Julia launched Alurx to offer health-conscious individuals with a consistent, proven line of wellness-based solutions that can be personalized to match their goals. Its wellness information, advice, and products are developed and curated by the AMEC, Alurx Medical & Expert Council.

SUE SAYS

"The idea of having a plan has always been a struggle for me. I am one of those people who truly lives in the moment. What I learned from Julia is that having a plan can actually be fun! And having some kind of direction is the best way to relieve stress in life."

Flame Bearers is an award-winning podcast and the world's first storytelling platform specifically for women Olympians and Paralympians. Her background is in media, having managed a $30+ Million media portfolio on behalf of the conglomerate of Yahoo, The Huffington Post, AOL, and Verizon. She founded Flame Bearers while receiving her Masters in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School where she received an award for her significant impact on the Harvard community. Jamie's work with Flame Bearers has reach in 49 countries and won countless international awards for her work in video and podcasting including being a Webby’s Finalist, Davey Awards “Best in Show,” Signal Awards in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion as well as Public Service & Activism, Telly Awards and Communicator Awards. Prior to Harvard, Jamie received her MBA from Dartmouth's Tuck School of Business.

Sandra was raised in a loving family with her brother and parents in West Philly. She is a Deaconess, Drama director, and choir member, at Vine Memorial Baptist Church.

Sandra began her professional career as an educator. Early on she recognized that our children bring many social service issues to the classroom that greatly impact their success in life. She left the field of education and entered the social services. Sandra retired from Philadelphia Corporation for Aging in 2018 where she was employed as the Interfaith Outreach Coordinator.

Sandra is the founder and CEO of ICAP, Inc (Intergenerational Community Alliances & Programs) a non-profit as part of her mission work assigned by God. She provides workshops and motivational speaking on select topics. She is a board member to FUNTIMES Magazine. She has been blessed to parent her son, Rasheen who is a strong Black man with Christian values and lifestyle.

Sandra was co-founder of The Black Adoption Consortium, Inc , agency from 1991-2000. (She retired from the agency to become a Caregiver for her father and then mother.)

Biquan Luo, co-Founder and CEO of sleep tech startup LumosTech, shared the story behind her title with us on September 20, 2023.

Dr. Luo developed the algorithm to shift circadian clocks against jet lag based on Dr. Jamie Zeitzer’s research at Stanford and created the Lumos Smart Sleep Mask to help everyone improve their sleep. She built the company’s circadian rhythm optimization IP portfolio and product roadmap, and she is the inventor of 1 issued and 2 pending patents on circadian rhythm adjustments. She has been working closely with military sleep scientists and human performance leads to enhance mission readiness.

Dr. Luo is an alumna of the Ignite Program for Entrepreneurship at Stanford Graduate School of Business, the Stanford-affiliated accelerator StartX, and the Sleep Cohort of the Philips Healthworks Accelerator. She is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow of Personalized Medicine at Stanford University and has a Ph.D. in Genetics, Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of Southern California.

Dr. Erin McNamara Horvat, the Senior Vice Provost for Faculty Advancement for Drexel University, shared the story behind her title with us on September 13, 2023.

An ethnographer and sociologist of education, Dr. Horvat’s research agenda has explored how race and class shape access throughout the educational pipeline, focusing especially on the role of social and cultural capital in shaping families’ interactions with schools, students’ college experiences, college access, and high school dropout and reentry. She has been deeply committed to work with out-of-school youth through her support of YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School as a longtime board member and 4-year board chair. 

Since joining Drexel in 2015 her research has focused on the groundbreaking and visionary civic engagement efforts being undertaken by Drexel University in the West Philadelphia neighborhood in which it resides. She has Co-Chaired the Education Committee for the Federally designated Promise Zone and served as the education lead on the 30 million dollar Promise Neighborhood grant submission. 

Her publications include Beyond Acting White: Reframing the Debate on Black Student Achievement (coedited with Carla O’Connor), and Doing Qualitative Research, published by Teachers College Press as well as peer reviewed articles in Sociology of Education, Anthropology and Education Quarterly, Youth and Society and American Educational Research Journal. Her work has been funded by the Spencer Foundation and The Ford Foundation.

A native Californian, proud Philadelphian and mother to Katherine and Margaret, Dr. Horvat currently serves at Senior Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs at Drexel University. She is an avid oarswoman continuing to row competitively as a Masters rower in local and regional regattas and enjoys all aspects of food, especially cooking and eating.

Sylvie Lorente, Associate Dean for Research & Innovation in the College of Engineering at Villanova University, shared the story behind her title with us on September 6, 2023.

Sylvie is also a Professor (Exceptional Class) at the National Institute of Applied Sciences (INSA), University of Toulouse, France. In 2019, she joined Villanova University where she holds the position of College of Engineering Chair Professor in the department of Mechanical Engineering.

She was appointed Hung Hing-Ying Distinguished Visiting Professorship in Science and Technology at Hong Kong University (Hong Kong) in 2017. Sylvie Lorente is also an Extraordinary Professor at the University of Pretoria (South Africa), and an Adjunct Professor at Duke University, USA. She is a member of the Academia Europaea.

She is editor of the International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer and a member of several other editorial boards. Sylvie Lorente has a passion for flow architectures and works on thermal design, energy storage, vascularized structures, porous media, biological flow networks, urban design, and organisations. Together with her group, she uncovers the engineered and biological hierarchical flow pathways that endow complex systems with efficient properties and behaviors. She is the author of 7 books, 10 book chapters, and 200+ peer-reviewed international journal papers. She is listed amongst the 2% most cited scientists worldwide.

Maggy Wilkinson, Founder & CEO of Athena Global Advisors, shared the story behind her title with us on August 30, 2023.

Maggy is known to say "all talk, no do" when colleagues bring her a strategy not underpinned by practicality. While big-picture ideation and strategic discussion play a critical role in making progress, she truly subscribes to Thomas Edison’s adage, “Vision without execution is hallucination.” A concept with no potential for fulfillment holds little interest for her. And neither do unambitious goals. With that thinking as a backdrop, she founded Athena to be a force for positive change, creating a company that functions as the indispensable link between ideation and execution.

This unwavering pursuit of results has required Maggy to build a company that values impact over convention. With teams of project managers, designers, data analysts, marketing experts, content creators, copywriters, researchers, video producers, event specialists, and much more, Athena serves best in the collective. It is the confluence of these seemingly disparate practices that enable Athena to wear the many hats necessary to address complex and ever-evolving client needs.

Maggy and her team have brought their skills to bear for clients around the globe in media, telecommunications, professional sports, fashion, healthcare, hospitality, and much more.

Gabrielle Fitzgerald, Founder and CEO of The Panorama Group, shared the story behind her title with us on August 16, 2023.

Gabrielle has spent her career working in politics, policy and philanthropy—and Panorama works at the intersection of all these fields. The Panorama Group is made up of three entities: Panorama Global, Panorama Strategy and Panorama Action. Gabrielle created Panorama to serve as a platform for social change, with a mission of maximizing social impact by partnering with visionary leaders to co-develop solutions with audacious thinking and bold action.

Prior to founding Panorama, Gabrielle spent more than a decade working in philanthropy, serving as the Director of Global Program Advocacy at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, plus a year managing the $100m Ebola program at the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation. Earlier in her career, she led the public affairs strategy for HIV/AIDS at the U.S. Agency for International Development and served as the Communications Director for the U.S. Committee for Refugees. She also served as a speechwriter for President Clinton at The White House.

Gabrielle lives in Seattle with her husband and two daughters.

Khazar Fatemi has a Kurdish ethnicity and was born in Iran and raised in Afghanistan. Her family fled to Sweden when she was seven. 

For the last 15 years, Khazar has worked as a bilingual journalist and presenter on Swedish television. As a broadcast journalist, she has reported from 20 different countries. The main focus has been coverage of poverty, war, conflict, climate crises, and endangered cultural heritage at risk.

Khazar has been lecturing for over ten years. Her lectures highlight the importance of democracy, freedom of expression, and cultural heritage. But also her experience covering wars and conflicts with a special focus on women and youth.Her clients have been the UN, the Swedish Defence Forces, the Swedish Parliament, schools, universities, and many others. The "Culture, Identity and Belonging" lectures received the Swedish Unesco Award 2020.

Since 2015 Khazar has been working closely with Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, TAPS founder Bonnie Carroll and as project manager and producer for the TAPS film team. She has produced several short films from Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kurdistan. They tell the stories of some surviving families that TAPS has worked with and about the work that TAPS does in the US and the region.* Bonnie Carroll was awarded America's highest civilian honour by President Obama. "President's Medal of Freedom."

SUE SAYS

"Amnesty International Press Officer joins us for an intimate conversation on her documentary, her career as a journalist covering war in the Middle East and why meeting people up close and personal in these areas gives her hope."

Rebuild is an over $500 million historic investment in improving parks, recreation centers and libraries across the City. The program focuses on physical improvements, promoting economic inclusion by ensuring diverse businesses have access to work on Rebuild sites, and engaging residents and stakeholders to help determine the future of their facilities. Before leading the program, she served as Rebuild’s Deputy Director of Design and Construction.  

Kira previously served as the Vice President of Community and Economic Development for the People’s Emergency Center, a non-profit community development corporation in Philadelphia, and has been honored as a 40 Under 40 by The Philadelphia Business Journal. She currently serves on the Advisory Committees of the Community Design Collaborative and the Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations.

SUE SAYS

"In Kira's role as Executive Director for Rebuild, she leads a team in a massive project to update over 400 public spaces in Philadelphia. We talked about her discovery of a passion for transforming spaces at a young age and how a defining moment in her life was when she was working in community development and felt as though she found her path in life."

With over 20 years of experience in negotiations, DE&I and sports business, Mori's impressive roster of clients includes Fortune 100 companies, major sports leagues, leading charitable institutions, and government agencies.Top business publications and media outlets have featured Mori's work, including ESPN, Forbes, INC., Marketplace, Money, NPR, and the Next Chapter by American Express. She regularly contributes to sports discussions on Wharton Business Daily on SiriusXM. 

Mori is a member of the Board of Directors for USA Track and Field (USATF) and the Advisory Board of the Sports Leadership & Administration Undergraduate Degree Program at UMass, Boston, Mori earned her BA from Barnard College of Columbia University and MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

SUE SAYS

Mori was born in Iran and came to live in the U.S. at the age of 7. She has fond memories of her time in Iran and struggled a bit with her identity while becoming acclimated to a new culture here in the U.S. After significant self-reflection, she would ultimately discover that being authentically who we are is when all of our negotiations in life have the best outcome.

Mary Gay is a life-long advocate for children and families. In November 2018, she was sworn into Congress following a special election victory - the first woman of the new wave of representation to be sworn in.

In her second full term in Congress, Mary Gay has continued her relentless advocacy on behalf of children and families in Pennsylvania’s 5th District and across the country. She was appointed, by her peers, to serve as Vice Chair of the prestigious House Judiciary Committee, and also serves on the House Rules Committee and the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress. She is a member of dozens of important caucuses, including the Bipartisan Working Group on Addiction, the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, and the Equality Caucus.

Mary Gay has cosponsored over 400 bills to improve the lives of families in our region and across the country. When roughly 4,000 jobs at the Boeing Plant in Ridley were on the chopping block, Mary Gay led the charge to successfully restore funding for this critical program in the National Defense Authorization Act. She also helped secure a $650 million contract to produce new ships at the Philadelphia Shipyard. Congresswoman Scanlon has introduced legislation to reduce the burden of student loan debt and the costs of prescription drugs. She led House floor debate on critical legislative victories, including the Equality Act and the Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women’s Act. Mary Gay also helped push forward two critical pieces of commonsense gun violence prevention bills, which earned bipartisan support in the House. Congresswoman Scanlon has been tirelessly fighting for the people, working to restore faith in our democracy, and has been a leader in the House effort to hold the Trump Administration accountable.

SUE SAYS

"Mary Gay grew up in Watertown, NY, as an Irish Catholic and one of three girls. While her initial aspirations were to practice law to help the less fortunate, Congresswoman Scanlon would later discover a new calling in politics to have an even greater positive impact. Her goal remains to protect and improve the lives of American children, families, veterans, and seniors."

A self-described “human Venn diagram” CHRISTINA WALLACE has crafted a career at the intersection of business, technology, and the arts. She is currently a Senior Lecturer of Entrepreneurial Management at Harvard Business School, where she co-leads HBS Startup Bootcamp, and is an active angel investor and startup advisor. Her latest book, The Portfolio Life: How to Future-Proof Your Career, Avoid Burnout, and Build A Life Bigger Than Your Business Card will be published in April 2023 (Hachette). 

She co-authored New To Big: How Companies Can Create Like Entrepreneurs, Invest Like VCs, and Install a Permanent Operating System for Growth (Penguin Random House, 2019) with David Kidder, co-founder of growth advisory firm Bionic, where she worked as the Vice President for Growth before joining the HBS faculty. Early to the podcast scene, she co-created and co-hosted The Limit Does Not Exist, a podcast about portfolio careers produced by iHeartRadio with 125 episodes over 3 seasons and millions of downloads by passionate listeners.

She regularly speaks, writes, and consults on a wide range of topics, ranging from failure and resilience to corporate innovation, from K12 computer science education to her viral TED talk detailing her unique approach to hacking online dating. Mashable called her one of “44 Female Founders to Know” and Refinery29 named her one of the "Most Powerful Women in NYC Tech." She has been profiled in Elle, Marie Claire, the Wall Street Journal, and Fast Company, among others.

Originally from Lansing, Michigan, Christina is pleased to serve as a mentor for several accelerators, including Techstars Anywhere and the NEW INC accelerator for startups at the intersection of art and technology. A lifelong musician, she earned her high school diploma from Interlochen Arts Academy, where she studied piano, cello, and classical voice. In her free time, she sings with various chamber choirs, embarks on adventure travel, including summiting Mt Kilimanjaro and trekking to Everest Base Camp, and is an endurance athlete, with 22 half marathons, 3 triathlons, and 3 marathons under her belt. She lives in Cambridge with her husband Chas Carey and their two children.

SUE SAYS

"Christina grew up with a love of both music and math. While she thrived academically, she also had a love of the arts. When she combined the two she would learn that the perfect route for her was to become an entrepreneur. Many twists and turns that took place in her life led to her latest book, The Portfolio Life which details the importance of diversification in both finance and life."

human2human is a space to reimagine interpersonal relationships with others and ultimately ourselves. Created by Stacy Ike, a recovering perfectionist on a deep quest to live more spiritually, healthy and free, she connects to the hearts of some of your favorite celebrities, thought leaders, and tastemakers in an honest, curious, and thoughtfully critical way — largely holding up a mirror for herself, her guests, and the audience to dive into a brave space of self-reflection, healing and human connection, one conversation at a time.

Stacy Ike is a content creator, entrepreneur, and inquisitive storyteller who drives every conversation with passion, purpose, and ease. Her luminous and charismatic personality along with her ability to disarm any guest has allowed her to build a reputation as the host to share the best moments. Memorable interviews with Oprah, Tom Ford, Viola Davis, and Melissa McCarthy amongst others pair well with working alongside companies such as the OWN Network, Hollywood Reporter, Essence, Warner Brothers, and more! Stacy is a content creator, who enjoys partnering with brands to tell stories through elements of healing, abundance, love, and diversity.

Currently, Stacy is the creator and host of a new digital series and podcast, human2human brought to you by the Revolt Podcast Network. Her mission is to bridge the gap through stories and share collective experiences in a safe space of curiosity, community, and connection. When she’s not recording you can find her cancelling plans, re-watching a show she has already seen, or on the phone with one of her siblings. Catch up with Stacy at StacyIke.com, or on Instagram and Twitter @onetakestace.

SUE SAYS

Stacy Ike grew up in Houston TX, the oldest of four with parents she attributes to being the ones who believed in her from the start. They saw her innate curiosity of people and supported her inquisitive nature. When a pastor told her parents that Stacy asked good questions, a light went off for Stacy and opened her up to explore a career in journalism. It's been her passion ever since.

Dr. Willeumier is a leading advocate for brain health and wellness and a frequent contributor to top media outlets. She has been featured on Radio MD with Your Brain Health with Dr. Kristen Willeumier and the Salem Radio Network with Here’s To Your Health. She has appeared on Good Morning America (GMA3), Good Day LA KTTV-TV FOX Los Angeles, Good Day NY WNYW-TV FOX New York, FOX 32 Chicago, KMIR-TV NBC Palm Springs, KING5-TV CBS Seattle, KDVR-TV FOX Denver, WATN-TV ABC Memphis, WSFA-TV NBC Montgomery, KSWQ-TV FOX San Diego, Signal Boost with Zerlina Maxwell, Salem Radio, Coast-to-Coast, The Michael Savage Show, and on-line/print magazines including Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar Arabia, Shape, Science Times, Yahoo News, PopSugar, Niki Swift, HelloGiggles, mindbodygreen, Well+Good, Verywell Health and Psychology Today. She is the author of the new book Biohack Your Brain: How to Boost Cognitive Health, Performance & Power, published by the William Morrow imprint of HarperCollins.

SUE SAYS

"From a young age Kristen found herself interested in the workings of the brain, from small creatures the size of bugs to eventually pro-athletes who suffered from repetitive head trauma. What she is most excited about is what her research has proven. We can improve our brain health!"

Omlie is a women-owned management consulting firm helping clients build transformative strategies and trusting teams in the health, wellness, and cannabis industries.

Sarah has worked extensively in conceptualizing, developing, and implementing innovative solutions that grow and scale businesses using data-driven procedures. Her open, approachable demeanor allows her to excel at uniting disparate teams around a singular, cohesive organizational vision & lead high-impact transformational initiatives for clients.

Sarah will be the first to tell you — she’s not a traditional “stoner.” When she first started looking into the cannabis industry, it wasn’t for her own sake but for her father, who suffered from chronic pain. As she learned more about the benefits of cannabis, she realized how it could significantly improve her way of life, and she was compelled to act. Today, Sarah’s multi-million dollar, women-owned consulting firm, Omlie Consulting, is on a mission to destigmatize cannabis and expand the definition of healthcare to include cannabis.

Having been both a client and a consultant, Sarah knows that well-defined strategies often struggle or fail because the people asked to realize the vision haven’t been engaged and prepared to carry the work forward. Leveraging deep expertise in management consulting and traditional healthcare, she launched Omlie Consulting to help clients in the health, wellness, and cannabis industries build transformative strategies and trusting teams. 

Building Omlie from the ground up was no easy task, but Sarah and her team managed to create a multi-million dollar business within two years — during the heart of the pandemic. With a pioneering spirit in mind, Sarah intends to break down the taboos about cannabis through the Omlie community by educating the canna-curious.

SUE SAYS

"Sarah grew up in NJ with a tight-knit family and parents who were relentlessly loyal and optimistic. It taught her to be the same, ultimately leading her to take a risk and start her own company. As a consultant in the health, wellness, and cannabis industry, Sarah is always focused on the greater good, and her curiosity will continue to fuel the success of OMLIE."

An experienced founder and C-suite leader in the sports tech industry, and former NCAA athlete, Marilous is dedicated to equitable opportunities and a level playing field for all.

Marlous is the founder+CEO of Women in Sports Tech (WiST) and was CMO/CRO of Mustard, CEO of Edufii (CoachNow) and president of STATSports in North America. She specializes in innovative sports performance technologies, building high performance teams and inclusive cultures and leading expansive startup growth.

With the mission to empower growth opportunities for women and employers in the sports tech business, she founded WiST as a non-profit organization in 2017. WiST develops and delivers innovative programs, original content and a global community that provide tangible value for women and employers alike. Flagship initiative is the WiST Fellowship program, offering grants and mentorship for exciting summer internship projects in the sports tech industry for female-identifying undergrad and grad students. WiST is supported by corporate partners Comcast NBCU, Nike, the NBA, IBM Sports, the USOPC, Catapult, Stats Perform and numerous others.

Her global network includes the most successful NCAA and academy coaches in the U.S. across all sports, professional team and club administrators, the largest sports and tech companies and brands in the world, award-winning creative talent and elite athlete management agencies.

She is a lifelong Tar Heel and graduate of UNC’s Kenan-Flagler business school, she is a 3:06 marathon runner and former UNC varsity cross country runner.

SUE SAYS

Marilou grew up in Chapel Hill, NC as the oldest of three and the first to attend college. From the start, sports played an essential role in her life. Today as the Founder of WiST, Marilou is passionate about helping both women and companies come together to ensure that the sports technology space becomes more inclusive and diverse to help society as a whole.

Alethia is a storyteller, bridge builder, diplomat, and Word Nerd, who is happily serving as the Chief Communications Officer at Visit Philadelphia.

Visit Philly is the region’s official leisure tourism marketing agency, whose mission is to build Greater Philadelphia’s image, drive day and overnight visitation and boost the economy. Plus, the increase the number of visitors who come, the frequency in which they come, the number of nights they stay and the number of things they do. These marketing efforts enhance residents’ quality of life and civic pride.

Everything Visit Philly does— their advertising, communications, website (visitphilly.com), social media, podcast, event and attraction promotion, hotel packages, product development and even playing up Philly’s starring role in pop culture — gives Philadelphia a voice and strengthens the ever-evolving Philadelphia brand.

It’s important that people feel like they know a destination — that’s what makes them want to visit!

SUE SAYS

Alethia grew up in a small town in Florida where she spent most of her time playing outdoors. With parents who were both artistic, they encouraged the exploration of nature and the atmosphere around her. What she would later learn was that she had an innate curiosity of people and culture which would lend itself perfectly to a career in marketing, communications and PR. She would come to realize the importance of empathy and listening as a leader and works to bring that to her job every day.

Patricia (Trish) D. Wellenbach is the President and CEO of the Please Touch Museum, one of the country’s leading children's museums located in the Centennial District of Philadelphia. The museum welcomes over 500,000 visitors a year and facilitates early childhood learning and development through play through its exhibits, and education and special programs.

She is formerly President and CEO of Green Tree School and Services, an agency located in Philadelphia that serves children ages 5‐21 who are on the autism spectrum or are severely emotionally disabled.

She was Founder, President, and CEO of Sandcastle Strategy Group LLC, a company providing management consulting services to clients primarily in the health care, small business and non‐profit sectors. She previously served as Managing Director for Business Development & Strategy, at Granary Associates; and as Executive Director of The Wellness Community of Philadelphia (now Cancer Support Community of Philadelphia).

Ms. Wellenbach started her professional career as registered nurse and clinical instructor of obstetrics at Pennsylvania Hospital. In 2016 she was appointed to the Mayors Cultural Advisory Board. In 2018 she received the City and State PA Above and Beyond Award honoring women of public and civic minds. From 2010-2017, Ms. Wellenbach was a board member of the Reinvestment Fund, a Community Development Financing Institution, where she chaired the audit committee, and was a member of the executive committee and of the governance committee. She was a Trustee of Abington Health from 2005‐2015.

In addition, Ms. Wellenbach currently serves as a member of The National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), Women Corporate Directors, PA Women’s Forum and Forum of Executive Woman, as well as Director of the NACD Philadelphia Chapter Board.

SUE SAYS

"Trish grew up in a small town in NJ as an Irish Catholic and the oldest of five. She felt a sense of responsibility to lean in and help where needed and would take that leading role with her throughout life. Her grandmother played an important role in shaping who Trish would go on to become, and she remains forever grateful for having had her in her life."

Genevieve “Ginny” Hill is a dynamic executive leader whose career has focused on empowering and advancing women and girls. Since 2013, she has served as CEO of the Girl Scouts of Central & Southern New Jersey, which supports more than 19,000 girls, grades K-12, and 10,000 adult volunteers across nine counties (Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Mercer, Middlesex, and Salem).

In addition to serving as CEO of Girl Scouts of Central and Southern New Jersey, Ginny also sits on the Board of the Burlington County Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Ginny has been recognized by the Philadelphia Business Journal as a 2022 Woman of Distinction, the National Association of Women Business Owners for strong leadership, and was named a 2017 “Woman to Watch” by South Jersey Biz magazine. She serves as Treasurer of IWF Delaware, on the board of Trustees of Color, Inc., and on the Institutional Advancement Committee at Archmere Academy in Delaware.

Ginny's Topics of Expertise include Women and Girls' Empowerment, Girls in STEM, Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Financial Literacy for young people.

SUE SAYS

"Ginny grew up in Wilmington, DE. It was a small community where she swam, sang and joined the Girl Scouts. Little did she know that one day she would become the CEO for one of their largest councils in the U.S.. What led her there was an evolving sense that she was meant to serve and meant to lead. Working in the non-profit industry has given her an immense sense of reward and joy."

Dr. Judy is a triple board certified and licensed Clinical and Forensic Neuropsychologist, a tenured Associate Professor at Pepperdine University, and a published author, most recently penning Stop Self-Sabotage, published by HarperCollins; a book detailing a scientifically driven six-step program which has been translated into seven additional languages around the world.

Dr. Judy maintains a private practice in Manhattan Beach, CA where she specializes in comprehensive neuropsychological assessments and expert witness work.

She is skilled at working with individuals of all ages struggling with complex mental health, cognitive, and substance abuse concerns, including severe mood and anxiety disorders, posttraumatic stress, psychotic illnesses, developmental disorders, neurocognitive disorders, personality disorders, specialized forensic issues, and lesser known clinical conditions. She uses a scientifically driven and highly individualized approach with each patient to ensure accurate diagnoses and the development of a well-rounded treatment plan to help them recover and live their best lives.

SUE SAYS

"Judy was born in Taiwan and moved to the U.S. when she was 9 years old. She describes her grandmother as her saviour growing up for her love and support while her parents were working. Her first interest in psychology came from an opportunity she had to mentor a little girl in foster care while volunteering for the Boys and Girls Club. Both of these experiences as well as her own innate optimism is tied directly to her success today. "

Colleen has built a reputation for scaling organizations to establish customer experience excellence, drive profitable growth in competitive markets, and create sustainable shareholder value. She brings years of experience in enterprise software, technology, and organizational development coupled with a passion for driving long-term business growth.

Over the course of her 16-year career with Guidewire Software, Colleen has steadily progressed with the company through eight impactful roles. Currently as Senior Vice President, Enterprise Business Operations and Chief of Staff to the CEO, she leads two separate global teams in Field Enablement and Strategic Business Operations. Colleen’s leadership is critical to the execution of Guidewire’s corporate strategy as she leads strategy sessions with the Top 30 and the Top 100 leaders in the company.

Colleen holds an MBA from Duke University and a Bachelor’s in Biomedical Engineering from Boston University. She earned Duke University certificates in Health Sector Management, Communication for Leaders, and most recently Duke Leadership.

Featured in the Building Better Cultures podcast due to her passion for Raw Leadership™, Colleen also sits on the Board of Trustees for The Raleigh School and is an active member of Chief.

An active golfer, downhill skier, and mother of two boys, she enjoys being outdoors in any capacity as a participant or a fan of her sons’ golf, hockey, and baseball teams.

SUE SAYS

Colleen grew up and was raised primarily by her mom after her parents divorced when she was three. Not having her father in her life left a mark that stayed with her well into adulthood. She found herself wanting to prove to him she was worthy. Once she uncovered what was holding her back, she was able to lean in fully to her professional role, and to teach others as well the importance of being vulnerable and authentic.

Carolyn T. Carluccio is a Republican candidate for Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court. The incumbent Common Pleas Judge from Montgomery County will bring unmatched experience, proven temperament, and unquestioned impartiality to Pennsylvania’s highest Court.

Judge Carluccio was elected to the Montgomery County Common Pleas Court in November 2009,where she has served with distinction as the Court’s first female President Judge in the County’shistory. As a common pleas judge, Carluccio was assigned to sit in the Criminal, Family and Civil Court Benches, and as an alternate Judge to Juvenile Court.

Judge Carluccio began her legal career as a Federal Assistant United States Attorney prosecuting large-scale drug dealers, bank robbers, and money launderers. Her work earned her recognition from the United States Secret Service and United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.

Judge Carluccio served as the first-ever female Chief Public Defender for Montgomery County, where she managed a team of 35 staff and attorneys.

A registered republican, Judge Carluccio intends to pursue the endorsement of the Pennsylvania Republican Party. Judge Carluccio has earned the endorsement of Republican committee people in prior campaigns.

Judge Carluccio earned her Bachelor of Arts from Dickinson College and her Juris Doctor Degree from the Widener University School of Law. Carluccio’s Court Admissions include: Pennsylvania, Delaware, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, District of Delaware, Third Circuit Court of Appeals, and United States Supreme Court. Click here to read Judge Carluccio's full resume.

A life-long resident of Montgomery County, Judge Carluccio is married to her husband with three adult children: Andrew, Charlie and Joseph.

SUE SAYS

"Growing up in the Tornetta household, nothing was more important than family values and doing what was right. Manners and respect were paramount in the family. While Judge Carluccio may have been a bit shy as a little girl, she learned the art of performing from her Grandmother which led to her love of being a trial attorney. That led to the confidence and courage it took to become the very first female President Judge in the history of Montgomery County Court."

Jenna is the Vice President of Startup Development and Head of Comcast NBCU SportsTech which finds, funds, and fast-tracks startups working at the intersection of sports and technology. In that role she is responsible for leading strategy for the accelerator fund; defining the investment thesis, and managing key industry partnerships. Jenna is also responsible for managing key industry partnerships, including the SportsTech Partner Consortium, comprised of Comcast NBCUniversal’s sports brands - NBC Sports, SkySports, Comcast Spectacor, and Golf – alongside NASCAR, PGA TOUR, WWE and three US Olympic sports organizations. Prior to joining Comcast, Jenna held various business development, sales strategy and communication roles at startups, pre-IPO organizations to Fortune 500 companies, including Symantec and Concentric Networks.

SUE SAYS

"Growing up and having a mother who struggled with medical issues, Jenna learned first hand the lesson of resilience. While it was tough, her mother did not let her disability stand in the way of following her own dreams.  Jenna took that strength she witnessed with her as a competitive runner in college and well into adulthood, climbing directly up the corporate ladder to where she sits today."

Heidi is an entrepreneur and investor who has founded several global businesses, most notably LinkShare and Collective[I]. Heidi also served as a board member, President, and Chief Operating Officer of LinkShare, helping to create the sector of online marketing commonly referred to as affiliate marketing.

Collective[i] is on a mission to help companies, sales professionals, and connectors be more prosperous with shared [human and artificial] intelligence. Whether it be in the form of automated CRM activity and contact capture, one click daily forecasting, access to a community who can provide warm introductions and referrals, or the ability to collaborate more effectively, we provide a platform for revenue growth in the post-Covid era. Our name stands for Collective Intelligence-- a concept that when knowledge is shared, everyone wins.

SUE SAYS

"Heidi grew up in Westchester, NY among a family of entrepreneurs. Initially, her first aspiration as a young girl was "to be President of the United States!" After the passing of her father when she was just 11, it was all hands on deck to carry on and help Mom with the family business. That first introduction to what it takes to run a company offered so many lessons that allowed Heidi to go on and build her own companies."

With 25+ years of experience in Technology & Leadership realms, Edwige is a distinguished Technologist, Transformational and heart-centered leader who consistently bridges the gaps between Engineering and business domains. Described as the Translator of new innovations, she is a “ Triple Minority” in tech - A native of Ivory Coast, West Africa - a foreigner, being female and black, she is known for her unwavering courage and optimism. 

Despite countless obstacles to impede her success, she forged ahead and has succeeded in vital roles at major companies such as Hugues Networks Systems, AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Sprint, Time Warner Cable, Comcast, NBC Universal, and more.

Edwige is also best known for championing women in technology and leadership. She believes being an authentic role model is part of her calling. She supports gender inclusivity in the workplace and works tirelessly towards that goal. She is a beacon of hope and strength in helping people see that it is possible for them as well to succeed. 

A mentor for young women in Technology, she was recently recognized by Aleria Tech as one of the “Awesome Black Women Everyone Should Know” and by the 1 million STEM women (1MWIS) as a Visible Role Model who inspires the next generation of girls. (1MWIS) is a global network of women in STEM.

She sits on several Advisory Boards driving STEM education to underserved communities. She helps organizations understand and leverage diversity; while engaging, energizing, and empowering employees to excel.

SUE SAYS

"Edwige came a long way to the U.S. from the Ivory Coast of Africa when she was just a teenager. While she dreamed of a better life for herself and her family, she also was deliberate in her choices and used her innate optimism to ensure she stood out from the crowd....a lesson her grandfather taught Edwige would serve her well in life."

As the first female director of a performance brand and motorsport for an automotive company (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles), Beth epitomizes the female success story in the automotive and motorsports industries.

In 2015, Beth launched Grace Autosport, a professional race team of women and an initiative to promote STEM education for girls as the ultimate example of applied science. Working tirelessly on the core mission to mentor kids about career paths in automotive and racing, Beth has broadened the mission of Grace Autosport across multiple racing series to reach girls around the world to connect them to education that leads to career paths.

In 2021 she launched PARETTA AUTOSPORT to lead diversity initiatives across professional racing disciplines, starting with the NTT Data INDYCAR series and the Indianapolis 500 Mile race.

Beth was named one of AutoWeek magazine’s “Secret People” who will change the car world; as well as a “Game Changer” by Sports Business Journal for her work with Grace Autosport. She is on the Board of Directors of the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in Daytona, Florida. She resides near Detroit, MI.

SUE SAYS

Beth was first exposed to cars as a little girl watching her brother and father work on old cars in the family's garage. She didn't know at the time that a career in autosport was in her future. What she did know was that she had a love of business. In looking back to the connection she had with her brother who passed from Leukemia, her interest in cars returned and led to the first ever female team in the NTT IndyCar Series.

Jill leads AT&T business activities for the Department of Defense and U.S. Intelligence Community - delivering strategic technology solutions and services to the military and national security organizations. Her thirty-plus years of government and industry experience include positions as Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the National Reconnaissance Office, Deputy CIO for the Central Intelligence Agency, and Director of the Diplomatic Telecommunications Service for Department of State.

Jill serves on the Board of Trustees for the University of West Florida and as an executive-on-grounds at the University of Virginia. She is a Governing Board member at the International Spy Museum and a six-time Wash100 award recipient.

SUE SAYS

"Jill talks about being the first to go to college in her family and recognizing early on her aptitude for math and science. Being fiercely independent and the youngest of three, she took that confidence with her throughout her professional journey and now relishes in the work she does helping the U.S. government with their defense and national security innovations."

Alice is a nationally recognized expert in life sciences, drug pricing, and market access. She advises pharmaceutical and biotech companies, from start-ups to multinational companies, on commercialization, compliance, and policy. Known for her regulatory and financial acumen, she partners with drug developers to design innovative drug commercialization strategies that facilitate patient access to critical therapies. The Financial Times recently recognized her in its awards for Most Innovative Legal Practitioner. With Congress’ recent adoption of significant changes to drug pricing regulation, she is a sought-after speaker on the economic and policy implications of the Inflation Reduction Act.

Alice worked a reduced schedule throughout her career in the private sector until joining the leadership ranks at Hogan Lovells, serving on its International Management Committee as a Regional Managing Partner and then head of the firm’s Global Regulatory Practice. She completed her leadership stint as the head of the firm’s 700-lawyer Global Regulatory and Intellectual Property practice, helping direct strategic planning and day-to-day operations.

During her tenure, Alice delivered profitable business growth, while emphasizing a culture of collaboration and trust. She also championed the firm’s initiatives for equity through inclusion, flexible working arrangements, and the advancement of women lawyers.

The mother of three adult children, she lives with her husband in McLean, Virginia.

SUE SAYS

"As a young girl, Alice would go to work with her Dad and watch him "perform" as a trial attorney. The experience was exciting and sparked an interest in Alice to pursue law herself. As a top expert today in the field of Pharmaceutical and Biotech, Alice brings her lessons learned around having the courage to say no and asking herself, "why not me" in all moments she's called to lead."

Alexandra made sports (and medical) history through activism and determination. When she learned that women were not allowed in bobsled, she lobbied for equal status with a relentless letter-writing campaign. It had not yet occurred to her that she had no idea how to actually bobsled. As a former fighter in martial arts, she had only cared that women were banned from a sport deemed “too dangerous” and “too fast.”

When told that the women’s program had no by-laws and was therefore unofficial, Allred co-authored the first U.S. women’s bylaws and helped secure a sponsor. She ultimately won the U.S. Nationals in September 1994, making sports history as she was named to the first-ever U.S. women’s bobsled team. When the United States Olympic Committee named her Athlete of the Year for her sport, it made international news that Allred was also pregnant.

At the time, there was very little data on elite pregnant athletes who did powerlifting and plyometrics. While Allred became the “poster child” of the Case Western OB/GYN international study, Allred was squatting 375 lbs. and clocked at 20 MPH sprints into her second trimester.  The results of this study changed how to measure the safety of baby in utero for competitive athletes. Both the United States and International Olympic Committee used Allred’s training data as a safety guide for pregnant athletes and she served as a fitness/nutrition expert for two decades. Upon retirement, Sports Illustrated asked her to try out for a women’s professional football team and write about her experiences in the award-winning book, Atta Girl! A Celebration of Women in Sport (Wish Publishing). Allred later became the first American (male or female) to test drive the Volvo Gravity car for Volvo magazine in North America.

SUE SAYS

"Alex made history through activism and sheer determination after learning that women were not allowed to participate in bobsled. She lobbied for equal status by launching a relentless letter-writing campaign at the powers that be. Although she had no idea how to actually bobsled, she cared that women were banned from a sport deemed “too dangerous” and “too fast” and decided to do something about it. Watch Alex talk about the life experiences she had including Dyslexia and a sexual assault that led to her determination to help others."

From the boardroom to the bright lights of Broadway, Dr. Wendy's clients range from Fortune 100 CEO's to Grammy-award winning artists. She believes that your voice is your most important communication asset. Understanding and maximizing your communication strengths through her training and workshops provides companies, teams, and individuals with exciting and inspiring communication outcomes. Original peer-reviewed research has been published in multiple international journals and numerous voice textbooks. She presents nationally and internationally on the elite professional voice and is co-author of the best-selling book, The Vocal Athlete.

In an effort to best meet the needs of her clients, after a 24-year career serving as a voice pathologist and clinical director, she is the CEO and Owner of Professional Voice Consultants, LLC, a private practice voice center based in Cincinnati, Ohio where she evaluates, treats, and maximizes vocal athletes with high-impact voice and communication demands. Her patients and private clients currently can be seen and heard on television, podcasts, film, cruise ships, Broadway, Off-Broadway, national tours, commercial music tours, and opera stages around the world.

SUE SAYS

"Wendy knew from a young age that her voice would be the focus of her career and future. At first wanting to perform on Broadway and then realizing that the study of the voice could also be her path to a fulfilling profession. Wendy is now a sought-after voice pathologist, speaker, author, and master-class clinician regarding vocal wellness and vocal athletes."

As CEO, Heather leans into her passion for listening – to the SignatureFD team, our clients, and the industry – to create and implement the organization’s vision and mission to impact the lives of 10,000 families. Practicing a “coach with empathy” leadership style, Heather leverages her unique ability to harmonize people’s passions and talents to build teams and lead organizations that deliver excellent and inspiring client experiences.

Previously serving as Chief Operating Officer, Chief Compliance Officer, and President of SignatureFD, Fortner has learned, navigated, and held strategic oversight for every aspect of the organization. A highly sought-after leader in the industry, Fortner is regularly asked to speak on the ever-changing landscape of wealth management. In 2021, Heather was awarded CEO of the Year by WealthManagement.com for the category Individual RIA Firm Leaders. And, in 2022, Heather was awarded “Most Admired CEO” by the Atlanta Business Chronicle.

SUE SAYS

"Heather grew up knowing that money was tight at home. There were times when a loaf of bread and milk were all there was that week for the family. This left an impression on Heather and she made a conscious decision that her life would be different when it came to money. She wanted to be able to build a life that allowed her the freedom to choose her 'Net Worthwhile'"

The Creative Ladder, a non-profit connecting, inspiring and elevating a new generation of creative industry leaders, was launched by Ryan Reynolds, Dionna Dorsey Calloway, and David Griner. The founders created the nonprofit in response to a few glaring problems regarding equal and diverse representation in the creative industry. 

Dionna is also the founder of DISTRICT of CLOTHING, a lifestyle brand encouraging progression, inspiring action, and supporting self-love. With apparel and accessory items for the sideline rejectors who awake with passion for progress and desire to make their dreams reality, District of Clothing is worn by the change-makers making change happen. 

Dionna’s love for design began as a young child with a coloring book and has since grown into an entrepreneurial passion. She uses culture, empathy, simplicity, and inspiring design to support clients in their brand development. Her compassionate nature allows her to empathize with her clients–as well as their audiences–and the result has been her unique ability to create, develop, and nurture ‘the’ message to best align the purpose and passion for brands. 

Dionna attended Villanova University in Villanova, Pennsylvania and Istituto Marangoni in Milan, Italy, and currently resides in Washington, DC.

SUE SAYS

"Dionna's interest from the very beginning was based around design. With the influence and support from a tribe of women including her entrepreneurial grandmothers and an aunt who saw her gift for creativity, Dionna was able to develop self-esteem that allowed her to pursue her own calling while always staying true to her inner voice."

Ronnie is an award-winning journalist, speaker, and certified positive-psychology practitioner who uses her deep listening and reporting skills to uncover and honor what matters to us the most: Our dreams - for ourselves and for those we love. Our relationships - with others and with our own hearts. Our courage and strength - which is always, always greater than we realize. 

She’s adept at seeing the unexpected ways that decisions and actions – conscious or unconscious – shape the moments of our days. How we choose to interpret them makes all the difference in creating lives filled with meaning, joy, love, and belonging.

It just takes compassionate curiosity. 

SUE SAYS

'As one of the oldest of 9 children growing up in the Philadelphia area, Ronnie was not always sure of what her place was in the world. She would go on to discover that the option to listen to people's stories and then write about them was actually a job! That discovery would lead to a 23 career with her own column at The Philadelphia Inquirer."

Ric Edelman is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of 10 books on personal finance. He was ranked three times as the nation’s #1 Independent Financial Advisor by Barron’s and founded the nation’s largest financial planning firm, now serving 1.3 million clients and managing $300 billion in AUM.

Edelman is in both Research Magazine’s and Barron’s Financial Advisor Halls of Fame, and recipient of IARFC’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Investment Advisor, RIABiz and InvestmentNews all named him one of the most influential people in the investment management profession. He is the #1 New York Times best-selling author of 10 books on personal finance with more than one million copies in print in seven languages.

SUE SAYS

"Ric grew up in New Jersey, the youngest of three in a family full of entrepreneurs. While his initial aspirations were in politics, he later launched his own financial firm after an experience with an advisor left him amazed at the lack of integrity in the advice he was given. That instinct served him well, as he is now one of the nation's success stories.

Panthertec is a performance enhancement company that combines data, neuroscience, and biomechanics to capture athletes' motion and provide sensory feedback. Their goal is to enhance performance and reduce injuries and impact by disrupting sports training and recovery.

The Kinesthetic Awareness Training system was invented by company founder Dr. Jo Shattuck, an experienced coach, educated neuroscientist, and former professional athlete. Kinesthetic Awareness Training was created from Dr. Shattuck's personal experience as a top 10 world-ranking professional racquetball player and 23 years of coaching in a highly technical sport.

SUE SAYS

"Dr. Jo is an accomplished athlete, coach, advisor, Neuroscientist and Entrepreneur who shares her story of overcoming self-doubt....something we all experience. Listen in to Jo describe her invention that captures movement in real time and teaches it back to the wearer with vibrations felt through sensors. It's a fascinating device that may well end up helping numerous industries outside of sports!"

For almost 15 years, Stacey has led the team at The Narrative Group, an award-winning creative agency, in building authentic and engaging brand experiences. With notable clients in their portfolio, including McDonald’s and Universal Pictures, Stacey has positioned herself as an expert in building brilliant experiences for consumers and brands.

Besides having co-founded the company, Stacey also sold The Narrative Group to their parent company, Plus Co - a feat that is rare for women founders, especially in the advertising and creative industry. Stacey is passionate about empowering women and mothers/parents in the workplace and is an angel investor for mom-centric companies like HeyMama and Loom.

SUE SAYS

"Stacey grew up in the suburbs of L.A. in a family she describes as ahead of its time from a wellness perspective. Her mother, a Reiki Master and Spiritual Healer introduced Stacey to what we now call mindfulness when she was only six years old. She is convinced that her upbringing is what allows her to continually be brought back to center no matter what life brings…a powerful tool as an entrepreneur."

Laurie is a nationally recognized author. Her memoir, Crave: Sojourn of a Hungry Soul, was named by The Root as one of the best nonfiction books by Black authors in 2015. The memoir was also listed as an Indiefab Book of the Year 2015 finalist in the autobiography/memoir category and named a finalist for the Library of Virginia People’s Choice Award for nonfiction.

An outspoken advocate for survivors of military sexual trauma, Carter has published personal essays on the topic, as well as poverty and domestic violence, in several publications and has presented talks, lectures, and workshops at organizations including the KGB Literary Bar, Girls Write Now, The Women’s Initiative and West Point Military Academy. Most recently, Carter served as a panelist on military sexual trauma and presented to Denis McDonough, secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Carter is also an award-winning educator having recently been awarded the Academic Excellence Award for an outstanding faculty member from Hampton University.

SUE SAYS

"Laurie grew up in Portsmouth Va in a community where she witnessed abuse, crime, drugs and fractured families on a regular basis. As she sat in her bedroom as a young girl dreaming of a different life for herself, she discovered a love of language and reading. While it can take a lifetime to heal from abuse, the very act of leaning into our vision and interests can lead us down paths we never could have imagined."

Lisa is a proven leader and marketer who has built some of the world’s most iconic brands and sports properties and has a demonstrated record of revenue and profit growth in dynamic technology and media industries. She is serving as a director on the board of Cantaloupe (NASDAQ: CTLP), a leading provider of payment hardware and software services for self-serve commerce, and as a board advisor to AveriQ Technologies. Lisa has also served on the Boards of Fox Racing, now a division of Vista Outdoor, GK Elite Sportswear, the Board of Trustees for the International Hall of Fame of Tennis and the Women’s Sports Foundation. In 2021, she was recognized by Sports Business Journal as the Sports Breakthrough of the year, by Fast Company, a nominee for Sports Executive of the Year and as a top one hundred most innovative leaders by Fast Company

In addition to her board work, Lisa advises C-Suite and Board clients on growth, ESG and governance. Most recently, Lisa served as the Commissioner of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), the world’s leading professional women’s soccer league. During her tenure, she launched the league’s first broadcast and streaming media partnerships, led the pro sports industry as the first pro league to return to play in North America in 2020, signed ground-breaking sponsorships and expanded the league into three new markets. This put the league firmly on a path to growth and profitability.

SUE SAYS

"Lisa's career has been vast, encompassing years of marketing experience with Fortune 500's, the Olympics and the NWSL. Now in her later years, she is able to tap into her career and take the role of advisor. What Lisa learned is that the work is always enjoyable when you're on a team with like-minded people who all are committed to the same goal."

Dr. Robinson is a celebrated publisher, best-selling author on leadership, inspiring speaker, and talent innovation specialist. Her company Diversity Woman Media is recognized nationally as a leading multi-platform enterprise with program offerings that advances all dimensions of diversity and inclusion (D&I).

An expert in diversity and inclusion, Dr. Robinson helps leading companies transform their culture to reach gender parity, equity, and belonging by combining her first-hand experience climbing the corporate ladder with the highest academic degrees, best practices from her leading magazines, and a deep passion for evidence-based workplace learnings.

Dr. Robinson is the author of three books: Lead by Example: An Insider’s Look at How to Successfully Lead in Corporate America and Entrepreneurship (2014), Your Tool Kit for Success: The Professional Woman’s Guide for Advancing to the C-Suite (2017) and Redefining Your Life D.I.E.T. : Transform How You Look, Feel and Perform (2021)

She has been featured in Forbes, Fortune, Entrepreneur, and Publishing Executive magazines. Dr. Robinson earned both a Masters of Education and a Doctorate of Education from the University of Pennsylvania.

SUE SAYS

Sheila grew up the youngest of three girls and lost her father when she was ten years old. Her mother would go on to become the driving force behind Sheila's path toward education, research and her devotion to assisting in the advancement of all women. "Work for what you want," her mom would tell her. Listen to why today Sheila's mantra is to lead by example and how her glass is always half-full. 

Ajim Capital is a venture capital firm based in the US that invests in early-stage technology startup companies in Africa. We believe that African entrepreneurs have the power to create valuable businesses using technology that compete on a global scale while massively changing the lives of Africans.

Eunice is an executive with experience ranging from start-up funding and management to leading a $10M+ tech startup. She has a track record of leading business organizations to profitable, market-winning positions in hyper-competitive environments.

She was previously a co-founder of OpenTeams, an online marketplace that makes it easy for users of open source to connect and transact with service providers.

Prior to OpenTeams, she founded DataGig, an online marketplace where enterprises hired vetted data experts and vendors for their big data and analytics projects on-demand.

Prior to founding DataGig, she was a Product Consultant and Analyst at Apple.

She's also a Founder Institute and SputnikATX alumni, programs that teach all facets of start-up development and growth from concept, to fund-raising, to validation and expansion, all the way to exit.

Eunice strongly believes in educating, equipping, and empowering the next generation of African founders, investors, and innovators on the continent and in the diaspora.

SUE SAYS

"Coming to the U.S. from Africa at age 15 for an education, Eunice had big dreams. She knew early on that she would eventually become an entrepreneur. Following in her father's footsteps, she started her own venture capital firm at the age of only 26. Now her sights are set on changing the ecosystem and opportunities for the entire continent of Africa. Tune in to see how she plans to do just that."

NACD is the leading membership organization for corporate directors who want to expand their knowledge, grow their network, and maximize their potential.

As Chief People Officer, Tracy is responsible for developing and executing all aspects of NACD's people strategies and human resources activities, including talent acquisition, talent management, diversity, equity and inclusion, organizational effectiveness, succession planning, and compensation and benefits. She joined NACD from Raytheon Company, where she was responsible for leading all human resources and global security operations for the company's Global Business Development function.

In 2019, Savoy Magazine named Gee as one of the "Top 100 Most Influential Women in Corporate America." Over her 25+ year career, Gee has held human resources positions in a variety of industries: Aerospace and Defense, Investment Management, Insurance, and Commercial Banking. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wellesley College. She also has an advanced certificate in organization development and HR management from Columbia University.

SUE SAYS

"Growing up in the south with older parents whose message was to always treat others with dignity and respect, Tracy attributes her success to living that lesson boldly. While others may perceive kindness as a weakness, Tracy knew that her ability to always lead with kindness was actually a demonstration of confidence. Watch to learn why leaving a legacy for her family is so important to her."

Ruder Finn is one of the largest independent communications consultancies in the world serving clients across four key pillars – Technology & Innovation, Corporate & Public Trust, Health & Wellness, and Consumer Connections.

In her more than 30 years of experience, Dr. Bloomgarden has developed communications programs to help shape and enhance the reputation of clients across industries, including Novartis, Citi, PepsiCo, Cisco, Sanofi, and Microsoft. In today’s environment in which business reinvention and transformation have become a vital component of success, she works closely with C-suite executives to highlight the impact their business has on society, as well as their personal leadership values, while also building confidence and engaging stakeholders. Under Dr. Bloomgarden’s leadership, Ruder Finn opened one of the first global communications offices in China over 25 years ago, which has grown to eight offices in the region. Dr. Bloomgarden has also overseen the growth of Ruder Finn Innovation Studios (RFI), one of the industry’s largest dedicated digital teams, with expertise in online presence and reputation management and the development of insights and data analytics.

Dr. Bloomgarden is a board member of the FNIH and the Partnership for New York City, and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Advisory Board of the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs. She is the author of Trust: The Secret Weapon of Effective Business Leaders. She holds a BA from Brown University and an MA and Ph.D. from Columbia University in Political Science. She is fluent in French and has a working knowledge of Chinese, Italian, and basic German and Russian.

SUE SAYS

Many people might find stepping into the shoes of their father and a 74-year legacy a bit intimidating, but when you have the same excitement for the work as Kathy does, it becomes second nature. Listen in to Sue’s conversation with the CEO of Ruder Finn and how continuing to focus on what’s next has served her well.

Shelmina started her career as a software engineer and then moved into sales and sales leadership, leading global teams to deliver over $1B in annual revenues and serving as a key decision-maker in hiring and promoting hundreds of professionals. She received extensive leadership training at IBM, Harvard University, and UCLA. As a global empowerment speaker, Abji has addressed attendees at companies, conferences, and colleges that include Google, Edward Jones, National Center for Women in Technology, Black women in STEM, and Harvard.

SUE SAYS

Born in Tanzania from what she describes as humble beginnings, Shelmina was determined to pull her family out of poverty....and she did here in the U.S., beginning at IBM.

Business, the arts & charity are the driving forces behind all of Renee’s endeavors as she continuously explores new ways to create the best products and experiences on the planet.

During her Journalism & Media undergraduate studies at Rutgers University, she was a DJ at WRSU 88.7FM, interned at MTV News & KWOD 106.5FM, and wrote music reviews for The Daily Targum. She has a master’s in international journalism from Leeds University and a mini-MBA in social media marketing.

Renee has a unique work background that couples Marketing and Design Thinking to reach people in the most authentic ways possible. She first thrived at digital agencies in the UK, and after winning multiple industry awards, she moved back across the pond. Before joining Accenture, Renee flourished as a digital director at CPG Food & Beverage companies, such as Applegate and B&G Foods.

Needing a creative outlet and wanting to flex her entrepreneurial muscles, Renee founded Made of Lionesses, an experiential boutique that designs and builds sets for bands and brands. Renee’s educational, professional and personal work has allowed her to lay the foundation necessary to create dynamic experiences and innovative kitchen gadgets like Banana Loca!

SUE SAYS

"Growing up in Mexico the youngest of eight, Renee was always up for an adventure. She went to work with her dad to learn business, traveled to Costa Rica as an exchange student at the age of 11, and volunteered for Odyssey of the Mind in grade school to become better at problem-solving. All of this prepared Renee for her latest adventure as an entrepreneur and also as a new mom."

Susan started with one school in Philadelphia in September 2005 and has added schools every year. Her former career as a special education teacher spanned fifteen years and five states. Sue is a proud graduate of Boston College and holds a master's degree from Johns Hopkins University.

SUE SAYS

"Sue's life from the start has been a lesson in the power of helping others. She saw it as a little girl by example from her parents. She experienced it for years as a teacher guiding children with special needs, and she lives it today, running a national nonprofit that teaches ballroom dance to underserved boys and girls. It literally changes the course of their life. Listen in to learn of the single event that changed the course of her own life."

Hall of Fame sportscaster Linda Cohn has served as a SportsCenter anchor since joining ESPN in 1992. She is ESPN’s longest-tenured SportsCenter anchor and in early 2016, was recognized for anchoring her 5,000th SportsCenter, the most of any anchor in ESPN history. In 2017, she was inducted into the National Sports Media Association (NSMA) Hall of Fame.

A fixture in the hockey world, Cohn serves as the in-arena host and reporter for NHL game coverage, often reporting from between the benches. Cohn is also the primary host of In the Crease, a nightly hockey program on ESPN+, which began during the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

In 2021, Cohn and national hockey reporter Emily Kaplan launched In the Crease – The ESPN NHL podcast. The podcast brings fans insider perspectives, reporting, reactions, and analysis to the latest breaking headlines and under-the-radar stories both on and off the ice. Cohn also currently appears as an analyst on SIRIUS XM’s NHL Network Radio every Monday during the NHL season and regularly fills in as a host on Mad dog Sports Radio.

SUE SAYS

"Often the unconditional support of parents is the key to the success of children. Such was the case for Linda Cohn who has fond memories of watching the Knicks with her Dad and being taken to tryouts by her mom for a boys ice hockey league. Her love of sports came early and sustained throughout her (to date) 30 year career with ESPN. Her advice? Take chances, keep learning and take every opportunity to connect with people who may lead you to your next opportunity."

A Philadelphia native, Devan is one of only a few female sports talk radio personalities in the Philadelphia market! She is a Host for SportsRadio 94WIP and a co-host for Jakib Media’s Eagles Postgame Show alongside Mike Missanelli, Seth Joyner, and Derrick Gunn.

Devan is also a betting analyst for the BetQL Network and SuperBook Sports. Outside of Philly, you can find her on the sidelines covering professional lacrosse for networks such as ESPN, TSN and NBC Sports. 

SUE SAYS

"Devan grew up in Radnor, PA, an area she describes as a blessing to be raised in. She also has traveled to many places as a TV and Radio host, reporter, and commentator in the world of sports. A comment she made that struck me the most was when she said, "I am exactly where I was meant to be." Tune in to learn why Devan feels so comfortable in her own skin and how she found her voice while encouraging other girls and women to find their own."

In 2012, Mikey partnered with the Alzheimer's Association and a steering committee of women affected by the disease to launch the first Part the Cloud Gala. Since then, Part the Cloud has evolved into more than a star-studded fundraiser — it’s a movement to transform progress in Alzheimer’s research.

"The possibility of solving this disease is real and within our generation," Mikey says. "I know that I can raise money, and I'm confident in the Association's ability to invest the funds in the most meaningful ways."

In 2019, Bill Gates made a personal $10 million gift to the Alzheimer’s Association to stimulate an additional $20 million in private funding for the Part the Cloud global research grant program. Part the Cloud’s total research investment in clinical research now totals $65 million in 65 research projects.

SUE SAYS

"We often don't know what circumstances will enter our lives that completely change our course. What I learned from Mikey is that the best way to handle it is to be proactive. When Mikey's father passed away, she realized the power her personal story could have in rallying people around the Alzheimer's cause. When her mother started to show signs of the disease, it was clear that she was meant to be a voice for the cause and a leader in raising the money necessary to "kick things into high gear." Watch and listen to her optimism around the fight to end Alzheimer's once and for all."

Dr. Scott received her PhD in the Earth and Planetary Science Department at the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences at Johns Hopkins. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Chicago, a Master’s degree in Applied Mathematics from the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), and a Master of Arts and Sciences in Earth Science from Johns Hopkins University.

Dr. Scott has installed sensor networks and led field campaigns in Birmingham, Alabama, Nairobi (Kenya), and Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Scott founded the Baltimore Open Air project, a community-based air quality monitoring project that designed, built, and deployed air monitors in the Greater Baltimore region.

As a scientist, she’s worked on projects around the world with the Red Cross/Red Crescent’s International Climate Center, NASA, The World Bank, and numerous local governments.p on air!

SUE SAYS

"Growing up Anna was a natural when it came to science and math. Not only was she good at it but she loved it. That's not typically popular for a young girl in middle school. She would like to change that. The work she is doing as the co-Founder of Project Canary is not only important and beneficial for humanity, it's also very cool! Listen in to learn more about Anna's journey from academia to entrepreneurship in the field of ESG, Climate Change and Global Warming!"

Throughout her 25+-year career, Tracey has become known as a founder whisperer, delivering epic wins for brands such as Lancer, Murad, and Dermalogica. She is an unapologetic revolutionary who propels the growth engine by unleashing innovative solutions worthy of a cult following and celebrity endorsements while staying true to the founder’s vision and the brand’s essence.

Currently CEO of Lancer Skincare and Lancer Dermatology, Tracey has successfully used the underpinning of Lancer Dermatology to further enhance the trustworthy positioning of Lancer Skincare with a more relative and inclusive message for all consumers.

As CEO, Tracey is responsible for leading Lancer’s overall vision and strategy, financial objectives, and crisis management, as well as new business development for the skincare brand’s global business ventures. With over 20 years of vast experience formulating scalable growth strategies for founder-led beauty and wellness brands, Tracey has leveraged a fierce education in the skincare industry which propels her unique approach to Lancer’s brand performance.

SUE SAYS

"Tracey was born in Iran, moved to the UK, and landed in the U.S. at the age of 24. She learned from an early age what resilience is all about and adapted a "flow with life" mentality that has served her well. Listen in to her conversation with Sue, where they talk about how being your true self will often land you in the top spot of an organization."

Sonita is an accomplished leader with unique insight and foresight at the intersection of innovation, digital transformation, and customer experience. Over her more than two decades of extensive experience, she has led and advised on innovative, customer-centric programs that have delivered positive impacts to businesses, consumers, and society. 

Most recently, from April 2018 to February 2022, Ms. Lontoh served as the Global Head of Marketing of the Personalization and 3D Printing business of HP Inc., a global provider of technology solutions. Ms. Lontoh previously served as Vice President of Strategic Marketing, Digital Grid NA, at Siemens AG, a global leader in automation and digitalization solutions, from February 2016 to April 2018. Prior, Ms. Lontoh served as the Director of Marketing of Trilliant, a global provider of IoT solutions, from February 2011 to February 2016. Earlier in her career, Ms. Lontoh served at PG&E, one of the largest energy utilities in the United States.

SUE SAYS

"Sonita's journey from Indonesia to America at the age of 18 is a great example of what happens when you pursue your dreams with curiosity and the desire to make a difference. Throughout her life, Sonita always seemed to be thinking about how her work could make the world a better place. Listen in to hear how she went from executive innovator to trusted and sought after advisor in the tech community."

A true global citizen, Samara was born in Jerusalem as a German national with Palestinian roots and grew up immersed in the hospitality industry. Her family owned a travel agency and led tours of the Holy Land in Jerusalem, and from an early age, she remembers traveling to the airport to greet arriving guests and going to dinners with tour groups.

“Hospitality runs in my blood,” says Samara, reflecting not only on her family history in the industry but also building a sense of community in and outside the hotel. “A hotel is so much more than just a place to stay. It is an opportunity to create beautiful experiences, and Four Seasons has done that for generations of Philadelphians. I’m proud to be part of a team that is tightly woven into the fabric of this community.”

A passionate art lover, the vast collections found at the Barnes Foundation and Philadelphia Museum of Art drew her to the City of Brotherly Love. Samara used to enjoy oil painting and pottery, but with time now tight, she enjoys experiencing art by going to museums and galleries often. “Love for the arts is ingrained in me, and I’m thrilled to have the masters at my fingertips. I love having the opportunity to explore the multiple galleries throughout Philadelphia.”

A graduate of Hawaii Pacific University, the past ten years of her career as general manager, have been focused on flagship properties. In 2018 she joined Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club as General Manager. In Philadelphia, oversees hundreds of Hotel team members and is happy to be working with the award-winning team.

SUE SAYS

"Growing up in Jerusalem into a family that led tours of the Holy Land, hospitality is in Cornelia's blood. Her father taught her the importance of treating people with kindness and how to create experiences that they would enjoy. It seems inevitable that she would end up a leader in the field. Tune in to learn how Cornelia's consistent devotion to her work caught the eyes of her colleagues who would eventually entrust her with leading new teams."

Melinda has over two decades of experience starting and leading health companies. Using her expertise, she wraps a company around a technical/scientific team so they can focus on meeting the company’s milestones. Melinda built CardioDx, a molecular diagnostics company specializing in cardiovascular genomics, and ParAllele, high-throughput sequencing and SNP discovery company, from the foundation point. ParAllele was acquired by Affymetrix in what one investor said was their best investment of the decade. Previously, she served as the Inaugural Entrepreneur in Residence for New York City, solving problems for aspiring entrepreneurs, and as Chair of the Board for the Save the Redwoods League. Before ParAllele, she guided Molecular Dynamics Manufacturing, building it from an 8-person to an 85-person manufacturing organization. Melinda holds an MBA from Harvard and a BS from UC Berkeley.

SUE SAYS

"Melinda Thomas' life and career journey was one of saying yes to opportunities that presented themselves to her. From when she was seven and said sure, I'll help the neighbor build that cinderblock grease pit to saying yes to the multiple opportunities to launch new companies. It's always been a matter of following her gut and wanting to learn new things. Learn why she and her co-Founder decided to tackle the most complex neurological disease first when launching Octave."

Jane has been the driving force of Mural Arts Philadelphia since its inception, overseeing its growth from a small city agency into the nation’s largest public art program and a global model for transforming public space and community through art. Under Golden’s direction, Mural Arts has created over 4,000 public art works through innovative collaborations with community-based organizations, city agencies, nonprofit organizations, schools, the private sector, and philanthropies.

SUE SAYS

"As a young girl, Jane Golden had an affinity for art and the world around her. Growing up in Margate, NJ, by the vast ocean, her surroundings piqued her imagination and supported her desire to create. As an adult, Jane was able to follow her dream of using the arts to help transform the lives of those who lacked the opportunities to support their dreams. Now living with Lupus, Jane talks about the persistence and resiliency that has guided her life and work."

Kate founded School the World, a community-driven nonprofit committed to solving extreme poverty through the power of education, in 2009. Her vision is to fight extreme poverty at its roots by bringing education to the world’s poorest children. Before School the World, Kate was an attorney and executive at General Electric Company. She grew up in Bridgeport, CT, and enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her very large extended family.

SUE SAYS

"In 2007, Kate Curran, an executive with GE at the time, suffered a tremendous loss. She lost both her parents and her brother within a very short period. The grieving led her to make a major change in her life, and she walked away from the financial security of a successful corporate job. What she did next has led to significant impact for children living in impoverished countries abroad."

Christine is a clinical pharmacist and health communications specialist. Her 25-year career as a licensed healthcare professional encompasses work in the academic, health system, pharmaceutical industry, and non-profit settings. Her passion for raising awareness of the importance of early and accurate diagnosis of hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) is driven by the memory of her father, who died prematurely in 2009 due to a delayed diagnosis of HH, and her desire to prevent another family from experiencing this unnecessary tragedy. Christine works full-time in the biotechnology industry, supporting scientific communications for genetic conditions. She lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with her husband, Michael Alleruzzo, and their rescue kitty Mr. Higgins. 

SUE SAYS

"Christine has a very personal family connection to the disease of Haemochromatosis, a severe iron disorder. Her father died from it. She is on a mission to raise awareness among the Irish community and talks about why this fairly unknown condition can be treated successfully if caught early enough."

Emily is an award-winning marketer and passionate entrepreneur who is empowering the next generation of work. She has reimagined how projects are outsourced, creating the first agency marketplace for online high-value, high-consideration transactions.

As Co-Founder of Breef, Emily uses innovative technology to empower brands and agencies to work better, together — improving productivity, business outcomes and relationships. Her leadership has grown the company's network to 5,000 digital and creative agencies globally with users in over 20 countries in less than two years, while securing significant venture funding for expansion.

SUE SAYS

"Emily talks about why it's so important to live a marathon and not a race in life."

In addition to being co-founder and Chief Content Officer of From Day One, a conference series and media outlet focused on innovative ways for companies to foster stronger relationships with their employees, customers, and communities, Steve is also a regular media commenter on the relationship between companies and their employees, customers, and community. At a time when society holds businesses to a rising level of accountability, From Day One explores how companies can build well-grounded values into their business—diversity, responsibility, transparency—and stick with them in an economy driven by disruption.

Steve is a veteran journalist who has served as executive editor of Time and Fortune, editorial director of Time Inc. Books, founder of the local Brooklyn publication The Bridge, and co-writer of a movie about journalism, The Paper. While he has lived in New York City for most of his life and has adopted its customs, he's a native of the ultimate swing state, Wisconsin, and a stockholder in the Green Bay Packers.

SUE SAYS

"Steve spent his entire career working in publishing, reporting, and editing in executive roles at Time, Fortune, and Newsweek. Having his very first boss be a woman, he realized early on the different types of energy women bring to the workplace. Now his goal is to help businesses and companies focus more on their relationships with the people they work with and their well-being to bring about better outcomes and profitability."

Prachi is an entrepreneur and philanthropist who has currently been working in web 3 & blockchain industry with a vision to help shape this cumbersome space. She is the co-founder and CEO of a boutique web 3 startup that focuses on investing and creating innovative crypto and NFT projects.

Prior to this, Prachi began her career in accounting with KPMG and then transitioned into finance with Goldman Sachs. She left corporate finance in her early 20s to figure out how to leverage her acquired skills to help create business opportunities for underprivileged communities in Uganda. After successfully starting a Bed & Breakfast in the adventure capital of East Africa (Jinja), she decided to pursue her curiosity which led to working in creative writing, theatre, digital marketing, and as a Chef in Europe. Prachi has amalgamated her knowledge and skills from all her experiences to now ensure business success for her web 3 clients. 

SUE SAYS

"Prachi was born in Mumbai and came to the U.S. at age 11. While the transition was challenging because of cultural differences and judgments from other children, Prachi had the incredible support of her older sister who taught her to stay true to herself. In honoring her own ambition, she launched a successful company in a complex field and talks about the future and potential of Web 3."

For over 25 years, Dr. Weishar has shared her passion for dermatology with her patients, students, and her dedicated team of aesthetic medicine professionals. As the daughter of artists, Dr. Margo Weishar has been passionate about the creative world since she was a child. However, it is her fascination with science that drove her to pursue her medical degree. The combination of her creative upbringing and her education led her to become double board-certified in internal medicine and dermatology, with a focus on aesthetic dermatology.

SUE SAYS

"Margo grew up in an artistic family but always had a fascination with science. By blending the two together, she realized the connection between the visual arts and the diagnostics in medicine when it came to dermatology. Her greatest joy comes from mentoring young women in her practice and helping them discover their own place in the world."

Katie leads the implementation of Feeding America’s strategy, working hand in hand with member food banks and other key partners to advance an America where no one is hungry. In her role, Katie oversees and facilitates synergy among Feeding America’s Equity and Program, Supply Chain, Network Engagement, Research, and Strategic Partnership functions. 

Katie and her team work to develop and implement changes in Feeding America’s operating model in support of our strategy and outcomes, together with the food banks as well as new partners who complement our core capabilities. Another important part of her role is building and enhancing relationships with network leaders and other key partners to clearly define shared goals and co-create strategies and plans for achieving those goals in support of our vision and mission. 

SUE SAYS

"Of all the challenges the world has faced since the pandemic, hunger and poverty have had a direct impact. Thanks to organizations like Feeding America, these needs are being met. Katie Fitzgerald, the organization's COO is responsible for managing all aspects of operations and supply chain issues and shares with Sue why there's hope."

Dr. Graham is passionate about serving others and helping high-achieving anxious women find clarity around their purpose, so they can build personal brands and strong foundations for long-term business success. 

Dr. Graham helps her clients overcome mindset barriers, create brand marketing strategies, navigate the challenges of tech, systems and processes, and take intentional effective action to build the businesses of their dreams. She saves her clients from investing time, energy, and money with no results.

Dr. Graham enjoys speaking about personal branding, mindset, anxiety, and faith to help women become confident in pursuing their God-led callings and navigate the digital world of entrepreneurship. 

Dr. Graham is a wife, a mom of three, and a woman of faith. She serves on the executive board of directors for Face to Face Germantown, an organization in the greater Philadelphia area that provides support and much-needed services to impoverished members of the community.

SUE SAYS

"Today's entrepreneur has a lot to think about and an enormous amount of 'to do's" to manage. Before any of it can be done effectively, you need to have the right mindset that comes from a deep dive of introspection into who you are and what makes you tick. Robyn Graham learned first-hand how to manage her own anxiety in order to build her dream business and she can help you too."

For nearly two decades, Karith has taken her passion for entertaining and critical thinking nationwide- from the airwaves to organizations; from universities to corporations creating a seismic shift in mindsets to create a space for effective communication.  

​She is the visionary behind INVERSITY™ a philosophy and methodology intentionally designed to revolutionize and transform the way we address issues of diversity and leadership.

As the former co-host of controversial radio personality Don Imus and a former Fortune 500 human resources executive administrator, Karith draws inspiration from her vast experiences, creating the perfect blend of anecdotes, audience engagement, and expertise to convey the constant need to address diversity and inclusion. She builds a true connection to her audiences, providing individuals with not only information about diversity but simple ways to promote inclusion in their daily lives. Karith leaves each of her audiences feeling inspired and encouraged to commit to a journey to find mutual respect, acceptance, and a greater sense of belonging.

SUE SAYS

"Karith Foster grew up as the only black girl in her class and suffered an identity crisis in her early years. What she discovered later was that her experience actually became a benefit leading to her ability to not let others define who she is."

As Vice President for News and Civic Dialogue at WHYY in Philadelphia since 2016 and a member of the executive team, Sandra led WHYY’s news operation across all platforms, including radio, TV, web, and digital, and works collaboratively with teams across the enterprise to expand and diversify local audiences and national program carriage, grow revenue and build membership, and amplify the station’s brand and positioning.

Sandra is a leading voice in journalism, challenging norms and practices that create barriers to building trust and meaningful, sustainable connections with communities. She is credited as the primary driver of the station’s diversity, cultural competency, community engagement, and trust-building efforts. Under her guidance, WHYY’s newsroom went from 19% to 45% BIPOC in four years. Her innovative mutual-aid engagement approach with local content creators and communities of color has drawn national recognition as models for stations across the country.

Angela is charged with spearheading the economic engine for the region’s robust tourism industry, which supports local businesses, creates jobs, generates taxes, and ultimately enhances residents’ quality of life.

A recognized trailblazer within Philadelphia’s tourism and hospitality industry, Val brings more than two decades of destination marketing experience to her role, which she assumed in June 2022. Her distinct track record of success and impact in destination marketing and organizational leadership will take VISIT PHILADELPHIA® to new heights of recognition among diverse regional and national audiences.

Val’s homecoming to VISIT PHILADELPHIA® is full-circle. She began her career at the organization 17 years ago, where she worked her way up from executive assistant to the c-suite. Her efforts helped establish the organization as a powerhouse, executing some of its most successful campaigns and initiatives, including With Art Philadelphia, Philly 360, Philadelphia Neighborhoods, and the Philly Overnight Hotel Package. Val significantly contributed to the organization’s growth and concluded her first tenure in 2016 as Chief External Affairs Officer.

Val is an effective leader, connector, and culture builder, always striving to lead by example with an approachable and earnest executive style. She is abundantly committed to bringing vibrancy to Philadelphia’s business and cultural communities and currently serves on the board of Horizons Greater Philadelphia. A Maryland native, Val moved to Philadelphia to attend Drexel University, where she received her bachelor’s degree and made the city her chosen home upon graduation. Thirty-one years later, she now resides in Point Breeze with her husband, Joe.

In addition to being the Executive Director of the National Center for Victims of Crime, Renée also serves as the Director of the National Crime Victim Bar Association, an affiliate program of the National Center. Prior to taking the helm of the NCCV, Renée was the executive director of a legal services organization in Pittsburgh, which focused on the legal rights of victims of domestic violence and other indigent clients. Renée is seasoned in nonprofit leadership, also serving as a board member for several non-profits, most recently, Voices in Action and the Community Liver Alliance. Renée is passionate and stays connected to the community as well. She volunteers at Children’s National Hospital and Maryland Therapeutic Riding, and advocates for children as a court-appointed special advocate (CASA). For these efforts, she has been recognized as an Athena Young Professional Finalist, named one of Pittsburgh’s 40 under 40, and received a Jefferson Award. Renée completed her undergraduate studies in theatre arts at Point Park University and subsequently received her Juris Doctor from the University of Pittsburgh, School of Law.

SUE SAYS

Renee grew up with educators as parents and a desire to go into the arts. Her aspirations would take a turn however when a family member became involved in a criminal case, and Renee saw firsthand how victims of crime are treated within our justice system. She would go on to become a leader for victims' rights across the country.

Priscilla is a multi-national board director and C-suite executive with 30 years of financial services experience. Prior to joining Amalgamated Bank she was the Group Executive for Marketing and Corporate Affairs at Commonwealth Bank of Australia, where she focused on rebuilding trust and pride in the bank with direct responsibility for end-to-end marketing, branding, stakeholder insights, government and public affairs, and environment and social policy.

Prior to Commonwealth Bank, Ms. Brown held senior positions at AXA Financial, Inc., Sun Life Financial, and Lincoln Financial Group. She has advised several digital startups and served as the Chief Executive Officer of Emerge.me, a digital health insurance broker.

She was a member of the AXA Financial US Executive Committee, serving as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), where she directed all aspects of US marketing and led global digital marketing initiatives. Prior to AXA Financial, Ms. Brown served as CMO at AmeriHealth/Caritas, where she developed a new go-to-market strategy for the largest Blue Cross/Blue Shield Medicaid company in response to the Affordable Care Act. At Sun Life, Ms. Brown served as CMO and Chief Strategist, where she negotiated and managed Sun Life Stadium naming rights, Pro Bowl, Super Bowl and other major events with the Miami Dolphins NFL football team.

SUE SAYS

"Priscilla did not grow up in what society would describe as traditional. She was left by her parents in the U. S. and adopted so that her mother could return to Ethiopia as the first woman to serve as a Senator there. Priscilla describes herself as having both the genetic makeup of her biological mother as well as the influences of her adopted mother. Both shaped her and led her down the path of social justice."

After being diagnosed with breast cancer at 31, Elissa launched Polite Tumor in 2017 as a response to the community that emotionally and financially supported her and that was critical in her healing process.

Polite Tumor’s mission is to provide financial assistance to women under 40 who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. When financial assistance comes with strings attached, the message is “we know what you need more than you know what you need.” Polite Tumor challenges that model. What we know is that cancer is expensive, that every woman’s needs are different, and that no one can foresee the financial obstacles that will be thrown their way. We’re giving women the opportunity to look beyond their diagnosis and their treatment, we’re providing the freedom to heal – however they define it.

SUE SAYS

"At 31 Elissa was diagnosed with breast cancer. A year later she set out to help other young women finance the high cost of beating this awful disease. As someone who always believed she could conquer anything, naive as that might sound she states, that her non-profit is unique, growing, and sure to become national in no time."

Star Harbor Space Academy is the world’s first publicly accessible spaceflight training facility and cutting-edge research and development campus.

Our mission is to cultivate a sustainable and thriving future for all those on and off the planet.

We believe the minds and technologies that solve our challenges in space will help to solve many of our most pressing challenges on Earth. This is why we are creating affordable public access to the critical infrastructure and testing environments necessary for human spaceflight training and the rapid development of impactful technologies.

SUE SAYS

"Maraia grew up in a small town in California and had a lifelong curiosity about space. As a young girl, she often felt like an outsider as what she describes as a talk, red-haired freckle-faced girl. Having a mother who always supported her nonconformist interests and views, she grew up to launch the very first astronaut school and is committed to finding solutions for climate change and sustainability. "

Carol is a former award-winning career federal prosecutor and trial lawyer in the United States Department of Justice,

As a member of the Firm’s White Collar, Regulatory Defense, & Internal Investigations group, she represents public and private companies, corporate officers, and other individuals in white-collar criminal and regulatory matters, both before and after charges have been filed. With respect to investigations, in addition to responding to government inquiries, she conducts sensitive internal investigations for her corporate and individual clients and counsels them on the development, implementation, and enhancement of compliance and remediation programs, including with respect to the Bank Secrecy Act, anti-money laundering, trade, export control, and health care laws and regulations, and the False Claims Act and related qui tam provisions. In the civil realm, Carol represents clients on a wide range of complex commercial litigation issues, including business torts, fraud, and RICO. 

SUE SAYS

"Carol grew up in California one of three with parents who were immigrants and demonstrated what it is to sacrifice for their children. With a mom who was often home alone to parent, Carol saw what a strong woman looks like and carried that with her throughout her career. Her advice for young women? Fake it til you make it."

Liz is a visionary entrepreneur who has reinvented the practice of public relations for today’s social/digital world.

Liz founded Kaplow Communications on the belief that brands can make meaningful connections with consumers through storytelling, an insight ahead of its time. Two-plus decades later, she pioneered the use of emerging technology to revolutionize the practice and better serve clients.

A respected advisor to business leaders around the globe, Liz also has been a mentor to prominent young practitioners. She has earned many honors, including the coveted Matrix Award from New York Women in Communications and PRNews’ Top Women in PR Award, as well as a repeated spot on New York Observer’s PR Power List.

She serves on the boards of Cosmetic Executive Women and the PRSA Foundation. An honors graduate of Vassar College, she has a graduate degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology.

SUE SAYS

"As a young girl, Liz was naturally fascinated by people and wanted to learn more about who they were. This inquisitive nature opened up opportunities for Liz to understand the importance of relationship building. In the world of communications and PR, her natural ability to connect has been the foundation of her firm's success for over 30 years."

By working and supporting some of the biggest brands on a global scale such as Sotheby’s International Realty, BMW, and IBM, serving on executive boards, and leading multi-million dollar business divisions, teams and projects, Marion has gained valuable insight into what works and what doesn’t across industries.

As a result, Marion has a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities organizations and leaders face in an ever-changing world, particularly complex when navigating international environments and cross-cultural differences.

SUE SAYS

"Growing up in a traditional family in Germany, Marion was taught that it was not her place to question authority. This did not feel right to her and she spent her early years uncovering her own views and finding the confidence to challenge the opinions of others. Her message for women is that we can indeed follow our ambitions without sacrificing our family and values."

Dr. Fallon is considered a visionary scientist who has dedicated her life’s work to championing the health and wellbeing of children worldwide. Curemark is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel therapies to treat serious diseases for which there are limited treatment options. The company’s pipeline includes a phase III clinical-stage research program for Autism, as well as programs focused on Parkinson’s Disease, schizophrenia, and addiction.

Curemark will commence the filing of a Biological Drug Application for the first novel drug for Autism under the FDA Fast Track Program. Fast Track status is a designation given only to investigational new drugs that are intended to treat serious or life-threatening conditions and that have demonstrated the potential to address unmet medical needs.

SUE SAYS

"As a child, Joan was told by her father that she could be whatever she wanted to be. That messaging along with her own innate desire to think outside the box led to her success in discovering new therapies for Autism. What struck me about Joan was her commitment to staying true to herself as a woman in science and connecting with her kindness in order to become a leader in her field."

After a stint at Toptal and a brief detour at CERN, Irina co-founded Galactic Fed to create strategic growth marketing solutions for modern companies of all sizes. Irina has helped shape a Galactic Fed culture that values independent thought, honesty, and humility. Her personal motto, paraphrased from President Abe Lincoln, is: If you have 4 hours to chop down a tree, spend the first 3 sharpening the axe.

SUE SAYS

"Irina's journey as a two-year-old immigrant from Romania, to landing in Chicago with her grandparents, to a visit back to Romania to find her roots is steeped in life lessons. What struck me was Irina's continued choice to take risks in life, and do the next thing she felt compelled to do. Tune in to find out what allows her to truly live in the moments of life."

Dr. Dixit is a Physician Executive with more than 20 years of experience in the healthcare and life sciences industry. She has been in executive leadership at Sanofi, Allergan, and GE and has been responsible for launching a number of innovative medicines. She was voted innovator of the year at GE in 2008, nominated as a Top 50 Thought Leader in “Big Data” in Life Sciences in 2016, and featured in the Pharma Executive Magazine cover-page article “Real-World Evidence: From Volume to Value” (Oct 13, 2016). Shailja has built and has had successful exits with many projects.

SUE SAYS

"Shailja was born in India and came to the U.S. to pursue her education in health and life science. Her journey led her to uncover the need for a place that women could go to find the resources and care across their entire cycle of life. Curio will be that resource and guide to help women face each phase of their physical life and well-being."

Lydia has led auctions for more than six hundred organizations and raised over half a billion dollars for nonprofits globally. Lydia is a keynote speaker represented by CAA and travels internationally speaking to groups about unlocking their sales potential and empowering their teams in the workplace. She was named one of New York’s most influential women by Gotham magazine and has been featured in the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes and Crain’s, and has appeared in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Vanity Fair and Town & Country. Her widely acclaimed book, ‘The Most Powerful Woman in the Room is You’ was published by Simon & Schuster and was optioned for TV/Film by New Form Entertainment in February 2020. Lydia is currently writing The Most Powerful Girl in the Room is You.

SUE SAYS

"Lydia grew up in Lake Charles Louisiana, one of four in a household that encouraged art and history. As a boarding school attendee, Lydia learned from an early age to be independent and confident. She took this confidence and love of art to land in the top spot at Christie's Auction House and now is on a mission to help other women find their own inner power and confidence.

As secretary, Yassmin oversees programs and policies affecting highways, urban and rural public transportation, airports, railroads, ports, and waterways. She manages PennDOT's annual budget of $9.5 billion, which is invested in all of Pennsylvania's approximately 120,000 miles of state and local highways and 32,000 state and local bridges. Under her leadership, PennDOT is directly responsible for nearly 40,000 miles of highway and roughly 25,400 bridges. She also has oversight of the state's 11.8 million vehicle registrations and 10.3 million driver's licenses and IDs.

Gramian assumed the role of secretary amid the COVID-19 global pandemic. This challenging time necessitated quick, decisive action to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 to best protect citizens, employees, and business partners. Under Gramian's leadership, PennDOT moved swiftly during the early stages of the pandemic to transfer essential functions to remote operations, while continuing to ensure roads were kept safe and passable, and crews remained available for responding to weather events. Gramian also serves as chair of the Transportation Revenue Options Commission (TROC), which was established by the Executive Order of Governor Tom Wolf to develop comprehensive funding recommendations for Pennsylvania's large and aging infrastructure.

SUE SAYS

"Yassmin came from Iran to America at the age of 17 without her parents or family. She came for an education and studied Civil Engineering. She would go on to become the very first female bridge inspector for a U.S. engineering firm and later step into a top spot with PennDOT. She attributes her success to her ability to adapt to new people, places, and situations that began as a child." 

Lidija is an unconventional entrepreneur, master coach, and an overall corporate hippy, who travels the world coaching budding entrepreneurs, teams, corporations, and awesome females to take their ideas off the ground and turn them into reality, inspiring them to nurture their dreams, to enjoy building and growing their businesses, to enjoy profits, while cultivating the powerful art of hustling gently.

Her work is mindfully created and consciously inspired. She is an accredited Business and Performance Strategist, Strategic Leadership expert, NLP Trainer (Classic and New code), Master Coach, Executive Coach, Hypnotherapist, Reiki Master, Pranic Healing Practitioner, Deep PEAT Practitioner, Integra Protocol Practitioner, and an expert in non-verbal communication, international public speaker.

She has been in Tony Robbins’s UPW volunteer crew team since 2005, supporting and helping people overcome their limiting beliefs and going for their dreams. The environment inspired her to complete Tony Robbins’s Mastery University.

She studied NLP from its co-creator Dr. John Grinder, Energetic NLP from its creator Art Giser, who is her mentor and spiritual teacher. She studied Pranic Healing from Antoine Delabarre, from the Master Choc Kok Sui’s School.

Lidija believes that we owe to ourselves the deepest and the most authentic version of ourselves, and in pursuing her thirst for new learnings and experiences, she spent some time in Kyoto, Japan, at the Shunkoin Temple, studying Zen Buddhist meditation.

SUE SAYS

"When Lidija was young she began to have panic attacks that became a routine part of her life. After every excuse she could find for why it was happening, she had a breakthrough and realized she was anxious because she was not living the life that was meant for her. The decision to leave her job to create a life on her own terms changed everything."

A founding member of Multiverse, a tech startup focused on high-quality education and training through professional apprenticeships, Sophie is a former impact investor and consultant. After helping Multiverse grow its delivery operations over the last four years, she made the jump to NYC, where she now leads its US team.

SUE SAYS

"Sophie grew up in London and had a love of business from a very young age. At 7 she opened her first lemonade stand and was immediately thinking about ways to keep production going! She is also a ferocious reader and her first book, Noughts & Crosses, left an imprint on her curiosity around racism and how she could serve to fight it. A heavy topic for a little girl but one that makes sense now as she continues to look for ways to mentor those who need it."

Ms. Dempsey served as the first Chair of the Board of Directors at DePaul College Prep from 2014 - 2016. In 2016, Ms. Dempsey was elected President of DePaul College Prep and President of the DePaul College Prep Foundation. She remains a member of the Board of Directors. Ms. Dempsey is an attorney and President of the Philip H. Corboy Foundation. From 1994 - 2012, she served as Commissioner of the Chicago Public Library where she was responsible for the construction of 44 neighborhood branch libraries, the introduction of rich book collections and technology system-wide, and the creation of innovative programs such as One Book One Chicago and the YOUMedia digital technology initiatives for teens. Prior to her appointment as Commissioner of the Chicago Public Library, Ms. Dempsey practiced law for 12 years in Chicago focusing principally on legislative and land use issues, which was preceded by her first professional job as a public librarian in suburban Chicago.

SUE SAYS

"Mary's career has spanned life as an attorney, a commissioner of the Chicago Public Library System, an Administrator and now President of a college prep high school. Throughout her life she has continually connected the dots back to her upbringing and the focus on education that her parents instilled in her. The world is for the taking if you educate yourself and take advantage of the connections you make along the way."

Jennifer is a co-founder and has served as the Chief Executive Officer and as a Director of Tivic Health Systems, Inc., a commercial-stage bioelectronic medicine company focused on treating diseases and conditions by modulating the electrical signals carried along various nerve pathways. They focus on non-invasive products that offer consumers a choice in the treatment of inflammation and related conditions.

Jennifer has also served as the CEO and Chief Strategy Officer of the U.S. subsidiary of Thin Film Electronics ASA. She worked for Xerox PARC for over 20 years, where she held multiple go-to-market roles, including as the Director of Business Development. Additionally, she served as a director of FlexTech Alliance, the U.S. national consortium for flexible and printed electronics, for three years, including one year as the Chair.

Jennifer earned her Master of Business Administration degree from Santa Clara University, and has been featured in Inc., The HealthCare Technology Report, and Thrive Global as a female leader who is shaking up things in the industry.

SUE SAYS

"Jennifer grew up as a "late in life" baby, the youngest of four, who spent a lot of time listening to the grownups talking. Her inquisitive nature early on in the area of math and science makes perfect sense today as she leads a company that is on the cutting edge of bioelectric medicine. Being a woman in STEM was never something Jennifer questioned or found a challenge as she continually moved up in her career and landed as an inevitable entrepreneur. "

Ilana is the founder of Golan Ventures and Leap, the exclusive program that has been transforming thousands of lives and careers. Tech executive, turned entrepreneur, board director, and investor (in over 100 companies). Selected top 40 women to watch in 2016, Business Insider Silicon Valley Women of influence in 2017, and the prestigious CEO World award for 2019. Forbes Contributor & award-winning international keynote speaker. Featured on Yahoo Finance, Market Watch, Fox, NBC, CBS, ABC, and more. Started her career as an F-16 flight instructor and the first woman to become a commander in her squad.

SUE SAYS

"In Ilana’s own words – 'I was leaping in my career continuously. Air Force → Engineer →Technical Sales → Product Manager → VP Technical Operations… I decided to start a tech company with a friend. We raised $800,000! I was so excited. I thought I was living the dream. I told everyone about this company-in-the-making. And then, my co-founder decided to take the money and kick me out of the business.'"

Since Elizabeth took the helm of MIT Technology Review, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s independent media company, in mid-2017, the business has undergone a massive transformation from its previous position as a respected but niche print magazine to a widely read, multi-platform media brand with a global audience and a sustainable business. Under her leadership, MIT Technology Review has been lauded for its editorial authority, its best-in-class events, and its novel use of independent, original research to support both advertisers and readers.

Elizabeth has a 20-year background in building and running teams at world-leading media companies. She maintains a keen focus on new ways to commercialize media content to appeal to discerning, demanding consumers as well as B2B audiences.

Prior to joining MIT Technology Review, Elizabeth held a senior executive role at The Economist Group, where her leadership stretched across business lines and included mergers and acquisitions; editorial and product creation and modernization; sales; marketing; and events. Earlier in her career, she worked as a consultant advising technology firms on market entry and international expansion.

Elizabeth holds an executive MBA from the London Business School, an MSc from the London School of Economics, and a bachelor’s degree from Swarthmore College.

SUE SAYS

"Elizabeth grew up in Tampa Florida in a community where she was out and about most of the time "free wheeling" as she describes. It was a time where helicopter parenting did not yet exist. While the idea of having that kind of freedom was appealing to most kids, Elizabeth shares she was yearning for attention and chose good grades as a way to gain the attention she desired. It certainly paid off landing her in the top spot at MIT Technology Review."  

Elissa has been with the Philadelphia Fashion Incubator at Macy's Center City since 2011 and, along with the board, launched the successful initiative which is now used as an international model for fashion incubation.

Elissa is a highly sought-after international speaker on fashion incubation and the business of fashion traveling to Italy, Russia, the Baltics, Israel, and Scotland. In 2015, she was invited by The White House to speak at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Kenya.

Elissa has been nominated as a 2019 “Connector of the Year” award with RAD Girls. In 2018 Elissa was awarded the Philadelphia Business Journal Woman of Distinction. In 2017 she was nominated as the Philadelphia Ambassador of Women’s Entrepreneurship Day, a global event empowering female entrepreneurship that is celebrated in 144 countries with the United Nations. Elissa organized and led Philadelphia’s first and second annual event honoring female entrepreneurs in the region. In 2016 she was honored with the Trailblazer Award by Philly Fashion Week.

SUE SAYS

"As a young girl, Elissa loved to color. Little did she know that years later her love of color and design would come back and allow her the opportunity to start all over with her very own brand! Throughout her life, she held many titles...consultant, teacher, director, entrepreneur, and mentor. Now she's come full circle and proving it's never too late to start again."

Diana (DB) began her career at Munchkin in 2014. She oversees global brand partnerships and manages the Public Relations, Social Media and Brand Design teams worldwide. Under DB’s leadership, Munchkin’s Brand Design team has won over 80 top international design awards for 360 designs, the highly coveted Red Dot Award among the latest. A passionate advocate for trees, animals, and the environment, DB created and leads all Munchkin CSR initiatives such as partnerships with The Whale Sanctuary Project, Trees for the Future, and IFAW (The International Fund for Animal Welfare), and Radiant Colors. Before joining Munchkin, DB served as the Global Director of Brand Design for Dell, Inc. In this key role, she led global teams in Austin, India, China, and Japan. Prior to this, her career actually began in music and entertainment, holding executive creative positions at Sony and EMI, as well as several global ad agencies. She received a BA in English Literature from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and a BFA in Graphics/Packaging from the Art Center College of Design. She has also recently completed several Executive MBA programs in Marketing and Finance at Harvard Business School.

SUE SAYS

"As a young girl growing up in Nashville, DB had a heightened sense of her surroundings. She was also not afraid to ask "why" when presented with things from those around her. The question of "why" is critical for leaders looking to get to the heart of the work they are doing. As DB so artfully says, it can never be about the money…if it's about the "why," the money will come."

Ala had been working with the designer Antonio Gual for years, creating such pieces for herself, when in 2015 he suggested applying her original nature- and travel-inspired artworks onto them. From there, Ala Von Auersperg — the brand — was born, with her daughter Sunny Kneissl joining the team as their in-house stylist. Since day one, they've focused on making women feel wonderful in the feminine flow of the fabric, the transparency that reveals but also partially conceals the body, and the soft touch of textiles on the skin.

Their goal is to help all women realize that they can be glamorous, no matter their size or age. AvA is about enjoying life as you are and being the best version of yourself because when a woman looks her best she feels better about herself. We all have roles to play and we’re going to do them more effectively when we’re at our best —and, frankly, there is too much fun to be had to be focused exclusively on what you’re wearing.

This passion for creating clothes that boost a woman’s confidence also underpins Ala's philanthropic work, specifically her work with women who have experienced violence, because the thing that those crimes take away from women is their self-esteem. The National Center for Victims of Crime, which Ala co-founded in 1985, works to remedy this loss, while the Brain Trauma Foundation (originally the Sunny Von Bülow Coma and Head Trauma Research Institute), which she founded in 1986, supports ongoing research on traumatic brain injuries. Together with Ala's conservation efforts, these causes advance my ultimate aim as a daughter, mother, and grandmother: to leave the world a better place.

SUE SAYS

"Growing up in what Ala described as a privileged upbringing, she is grateful for the opportunities and experiences she had. At the same time, there were events in her life that truly tested her resilience. What she discovered about herself was that she could always move forward and never give up on life...there was always too much to be thankful for."

Dr. Perry is the Principal of the Neurosequential Network, Senior Fellow of The ChildTrauma Academy and a Professor (Adjunct) in the Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago and the School of Allied Health, College of Science, Health and Engineering, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria Australia. 

Over the last thirty years, Dr. Perry has been an active teacher, clinician and researcher in children’s mental health and the neurosciences holding a variety of academic positions. His work on the impact of abuse, neglect and trauma on the developing brain has impacted clinical practice, programs and policy across the world.

Dr. Perry is the author, with Maia Szalavitz, of The Boy Who Was Raised As A Dog, a bestselling book based on his work with maltreated children and Born For Love: Why Empathy is Essential and Endangered. Dr. Perry's most recent book, What Happened to You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing (2021), co-authored with Oprah Winfrey, is a #1 New York Times Bestseller. 

SUE SAYS

"The moment I read the title of Dr. Perry's latest book, I was struck by the brilliance of the question. All I had ever heard throughout life when it came to children who may have been acting out was what was wrong with them. To turn that question into "what happened to you" gets to the very heart of the reason. Dr. Perry's research is critical for any adult who works with children in order to better understand their behavior and help them thrive."

Lauri-Ann carries with her years of experience in developing the Caribbean’s entrepreneurial landscape. Having coached and mentored startups, she’s developed a strong passion for supporting the entrepreneurial ecosystem supported by her visionary thinking and leadership capabilities around development, partnerships, fundraising, and communications. She is a certified project manager and a graduate of the University of Toronto.

SUE SAYS

"Two significant events happened to Lauri-Ann when she was young. Her father walked out when she was 8 years old, and a few years later her brother died. These experiences led to her lack of self-worth and a feeling of victimhood. What is inspiring about her story is her sheer determination to heal so that she could live the best life possible for her children and become keenly aware of who she was."

Dr. Anne Prisco began her tenure as the sixth president of Holy Family University in July 2021. She has dedicated herself to advancing higher education and student success. Over the course of her impressive career, Dr. Prisco has served as an administrator, faculty member, researcher, and consultant. From 2012-2020, Dr. Prisco served at Felician University, where she was also their first lay leader. Prior to the presidency at Felician, Dr. Prisco served in a number of higher education institutions, including as a Vice President at Loyola Marymount University, a faculty member at St. John’s University, and a policy researcher at New York University.

Dr. Prisco holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Arizona with the highest distinction, an MBA in Finance from Fordham University, and a PhD in Economics and Education from Columbia University. She is the recipient of numerous awards including a public policy fellowship from Columbia University, named a Top 50 Business Women in New Jersey, and the Wise Woman Award from the National Organization for Italian-American Women. She is a member of the Forum for Executive Women in Philadelphia and is a champion for diversity, inclusion, and access in higher education.

SUE SAYS

"Anne grew up in Brooklyn the daughter of an immigrant from Italy whose sole reason for coming to the U.S. was to give his family better opportunities to live a life well-lived. Knowing just how important education was to her parents, Anne was dedicated to her schooling but also had her own innate desire to teach. Her openness to learning, pivoting, and evolving led directly to her role as President of Holy Family."

Monique is a globally recognized entertainment pioneer. Her power and influence stem from a unique blend of business acumen and innovative strategic vision. Monique brings over two decades of unprecedented success as CEO of Reign Venture Capital. By adeptly traversing the spectrum from entertainment, marketing, press, and entrepreneurship, she has earned a reputation as an industry visionary. One of Gotham Magazine’s Powerful 100 names to know, her expansive reach into the hearts and minds of people across the world is transforming the way people interact with each other and iconic brands.

SUE SAYS

"Monique grew up in what she describes as humble beginnings, but she never felt she was lacking for anything. Her outlook was due to the love and support of a mother who instilled in her the advantage of accepting life's twists and turns and remaining grateful for what is. She now is following her own dream to help the world recognize the power of acceptance without judgment."

Being raised in the El Paso/Juarez area, Sarah grew up on incredible, family meals centered around her mother Gloria’s “famous” salsa. Because Sarah was known to “spice things up”, she shamelessly would add several helpings of lime juice and cayenne pepper to her bowl…leading to what came to be known as "Sarah's Salsa”.

Upon the success of this spiced-up salsa, Sarah expanded her cooking expertise by transforming the traditional, often unhealthy staple Hispanic dips - crema and queso - into healthy, allergen-free, plant-based alternatives.

For Sarah, this was something she not only wanted to do for her family - many of which suffer from various health issues as well as dairy intolerances - but for others too. With a dedication to better health alternatives, Sarah developed healthy, flavorful products with the mentality of "ZUBI's for Everyone" because she envisioned a world and community brought together through delicious, nutritious food (no matter one's dietary lifestyle or preference).

Sarah launched ZUBI Farms and Facility in November 2019. From the beginning, Sarah has focused on ensuring that her dedicated Farm and Facility are zero-waste, certified organic, and always free from the top-8 allergens.

SUE SAYS

"Sarah grew up humbly in El Paso TX with a loving family and a gift for numbers. Beneath the surface however she questioned why she was so different from her parents. She would later learn she was adopted and it all became clear. What both families shared however was a love of food and so she set out to produce a healthy version of the Latin cuisine."

Kirsten didn't intend to start a tech company, yet here she is, the co-founder and COO of an H.R. tech platform that allows individuals and employees to be their best selves both at work and at home. Cloverleaf believes that good business is about putting humans in positions that allow them to be their best. From their office in Cincinnati, Ohio, they equip employers and empower employees to give the greatest contribution to their organization and have the most fulfilling opportunity in their role.

They believe it's critical for people to be intentional about truly knowing who they work with, even in a small team like theirs. The combination and contrast of their skills elevate ourselves and others. This creates exceptional value to everyone involved.

SUE SAYS

"Kirsten's life story is a prime example that we are not meant to "follow the rules" and live life like everyone else. We think differently, we learn differently and we are all energized by different things. Once we learn that about each other, there are no limits to what we can create or accomplish together, whether personally or professionally!"

Awarded a 2021 Meritorious Service Medal by the Governor-General of Canada for work with CGB & named one of the top 100 most influential people in Canadian baseball by the Canadian Baseball Network, Dana is a strong advocate of empowering girls through sports and giving them the soft skills to become future leaders.

SUE SAYS

"Dana began her life in Canada with a love of writing and journalism. Life however had a different plan for her as she would later learn when her six-year-old daughter wanted to play baseball, but not be the only girl out of 400 players. As a producer Dana was used to solving problems, so she decided to create a place for her daughter to play and it turned into a national baseball league for girls. Now it's a sport anyone can play!"

Over the course of more than 35 years in banking, Jeane served in various roles at financial institutions of all sizes throughout the Philadelphia region, gaining insight into the workings of community, regional and corporate banks. As an active leader in the Pennsylvania business and financial community, Jeane donates her time and leadership talents to several industry groups, including as Chair of Community Depository Institutions Advisory Council (CDIAC) of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, and as Pennsylvania Member Director on the board of directors of the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) of Pittsburgh, which supports homeownership programs throughout Delaware, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania.

SUE SAYS

"Jean grew up in what she describes as less than ideal circumstances. Her mother suffered from mental illness. Any child unable to have a healthy relationship with their mother knows what that can do. Fortunately, Jeane had a loving and supportive father who instilled a tremendous sense of confidence and independence in her. It helped her to see herself as capable and worthy and she carries that with her today in her role as a CEO." 

Susan is a serial connector, angel investor, and corporate responsibility expert. She is the 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 events including Inspirefest/Dublin, BSR, Center for Corporate Citizenship’s Annual Summit, DLD and Techonomy, 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.

SUE SAYS

"As the youngest of three and "teeny tiny" in stature, Susan always felt compelled to speak up. It served her well in life as she recognized the ability to speak to others in an authentic and curious way would often lead to opportunities. She also lost her mother in a tragic accident which placed even more emphasis on the importance of meaningful relationships over living with the goal of "what can I get?" Wise words from a champion connector."

Skoog Co is a brand strategy and communications firm that represents many of the most celebrated luxury and lifestyle brands. theJuggl is a private membership marketplace uniquely featuring advice, tools & direct connections to move you towards your personal and professional goals.

Melissa is as much a fashion insider as they come. After majoring in glass-blowing at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the Hinsdale native kick-started her career as Anna Wintour's assistant at Vogue. She climbed to accessories editor at Marie Claire before making the not-oft-accomplished leap from editorial to industry, spending four years in San Francisco as a merchant for women's fashion at Gap Inc. There, she co-managed a $200 million business at Banana Republic and soaked up lessons from retail guru Millard "Mickey" Drexler, the former Gap chief who now helms J. Crew.

SUE SAYS

"Raised as the baby in a small town in Illinois, Melissa spent a lot of time unsupervised and by herself. Her independence was seeded and she dreamt of living in the big city. Ironically after fulfilling her dream of working in fashion in NYC with the biggest names, Anna Wintour and Prada, she felt the need to leave it all behind to focus on herself and the wellness of other women."

Gayle is the author of New York Times bestsellers, The Dressmaker of Khair Khana (2011), Ashley’s War: The Untold Story of a Team of Women Soldiers on the Specia Ops Battlefield (2015), and The Daughters of Kobani (2021).

Lemmon is a frequent speaker on national security topics, including at the Aspen Security Forum and TED forums, and has given talks at West Point, ODNI, the Defense Intelligence Agency, the U.S. Naval Academy, and the National Infantry Museum. Her TED Talk on Ashley’s War and the reshaping of the hero story to include women has received more than a million views worldwide. She regularly appears on MSNBC, CNN, PBS, and National Public Radio.

Along with her national security work, she has reported and written extensively on topics including child marriage in the United States for PBS NewsHour and on school choice, single moms, and the power and importance of girls’ ambition for The Atlantic. Lemmon holds an MBA from Harvard and received the Dean’s Award for her work on women’s entrepreneurship. In addition to serving as a Robert Bosch Fellow in Germany, she served as a Fulbright scholar in Spain, on the board of the international aid organization Mercy Corps and is a member of the Bretton Woods Committee. She speaks Spanish, German, and French and is conversant in Dari and Kurmanci. 

SUE SAYS

"Growing up Gayle was heavily influenced by the women in her life going back several generations. She lost her mother to cancer at the age of 13, but not before her mother taught her that women could and should work to serve others and help to make the world a better place. In bringing forth the remarkable and often untold stories of women in war-torn countries who are stepping and speaking out, she is doing just that."

In her latest book, Melissa mother of six, married 30 years, and entrepreneur shares her inspirational journey and the LifeLines that enabled her to triumph over anxiety, depression, and despair, a story she hopes will help others find their path to meaning and inner peace.

SUE SAYS

"From a very young age, Melissa had deep and dark thoughts about the meaning of life. Not knowing consumed her, and left her feeling alone and severely depressed. It was not until she discovered her purpose of creativity through the creation of her toy company that she was able to live a truly joyful life. Now her purpose is to help others arrive at the same place."

Gayle single-handedly designed, manufactured, and marketed the iconic SHERPA Bag you see everywhere! This carrier, which millions have bought for their dogs, cats, and other animal companions, continues to be THE top-selling, prize-winning, globally popularly soft-sided pet carrier. Further, It is because of Gayle’s advocacy and entrepreneurship that pet travel on airlines is now possible and common. Gayle’s the author of “IT’S IN THE BAG,” which is part memoir and part business book.

SUE SAYS

"From a young age Gayle was looking for ways to fix things. It makes perfect sense then that she came up with a way to allow people to travel with their pets. While she had a very dark moment in her life facing the loss of a job and her fiance all at the same time, it was her sweet dog Sherpa that not only comforted her through that phase, but spurred her idea that would turn into a multi-million dollar company. Keep on trying, she says."

Wema has led global DEI efforts for Google, Pfizer, Sanofi, and Bristol-Myers Squibb to help inform and guide corporate leadership. Throughout her career, she has led teams of more than 85 people and developed multiple Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Councils to build internal capabilities related to belonging, unconscious bias, cultural competence, and global leadership.

Wema is also an executive coach who holds a Master of Science in Human Resource Management and a Master’s-level Certificate in Organizational Change Management both from New School University. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Rutgers University and a certification as a Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR) through the Human Resources Certification Institute.

SUE SAYS

"From a very young age, Wema was interested in people and embraced the diverse community she grew up in. Having experienced first hand the joy that comes from diversity of thought and culture, Wema took this knowledge and landed in leadership roles with fortune 500's to help with their DEI initiatives. While she brought her expertise to these roles, I believe it's her innate optimism that has led to her success."

Positive Equation is a digital consultancy focused on helping nonprofits cultivate a passionate online following of donors, volunteers, and advocates.

Dana has worked with Movember, Dress for Success, USTA, American Idol, The Gary Sinise Foundation, Coin Up, Hashtag Lunchbag, and many more.

Dana is a member of the Purpose Collaborative, an invitation-only, global group of 40+ boutique firms, consultancies, and subject matter experts, all passionate about social purpose. Currently based in Los Angeles, she volunteers as the VP of Content for WISE LA.

She believes social media is a powerful vehicle to spark social change.

SUE SAYS

"Having grown up in Sarasota Florida, Dana was exposed early on to the work of nonprofits and activities that placed her directly in front of people in need. This exposure taught Dana the power of stories and why all organizations should implement strategies that connect their brand directly to the people they are trying to reach. Impatient by nature, Dana set off to start her own company so she could work at her own pace and get things done faster in order to help cause driven organizations."

Ms. Nguyen is a partner in the firm’s Silicon Valley office. She is an accomplished trial advocate, who has practiced both in New York and California. She co-chaired a patent trial that was named a “Top Plaintiff’s Verdict” by the Daily Journal. She has achieved plaintiffs’ verdicts in the hundreds of millions of dollars, and won defense verdicts in bench and jury trials, as well as arbitrations. Most recently, she won a $50 million jury verdict (and an additional $14.3 million in attorneys’ fees) for Olaplex against L’Oreal alleging infringement of multiple patents, trade secret misappropriation and breach of contract. 

Suong received her J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School, and graduated first in her class from Franklin & Marshall College, where she completed her pre-medical studies with a double major in Chemistry and Special Studies in Economics and Business. 

SUE SAYS

"I'm always impressed with people who come to the U.S. to start their lives over, learn a new language and pursue their dreams. Suong is one of those people and takes every opportunity to express her gratitude for her parents, teachers and community members who helped her along the way. What struck me the most was her steadfast belief in herself knowing that she can achieve anything she works to achieve...and she hopes to pass that self-esteem on to her daughter."

Dr. Blay is a scholar-activist, public speaker, and cultural consultant whose scholarship, work and practice centers on the lived experiences of Black women and girls, with a particular focus on identity/body politics and beauty practices.

Lauded by O Magazine for her social media activism, she has launched several viral campaigns including Locs of Love, #PrettyPeriod, and #ProfessionalBlackGirl, her multi-platform digital community.

Widely respected as one of the foremost thought leaders on Black racial identity, colorism, and beauty politics, Dr. Blay is a globally sought-after speaker and consultant with an extensive client list of over two dozen academic institutions including Harvard University, Duke University, Spelman College, New York University, to name a few; and such corporate entities as Netflix, UniLever International, SheaMoisture, Estee Lauder Companies, Procter & Gamble’s ‘My Black is Beautiful,’ and the #meToo. Movement.

SUE SAYS

"Yaba translates her research into engaging creative projects that seek to impact, if not change, our lived experiences for the better.  She has launched several viral campaigns including Locs of Love, #PrettyPeriod, and #ProfessionalBlackGirl. She is also the author of the award-winning One Drop: Shifting the Lens on Race, the inspiration behind CNN’s television documentary “Who is Black in America?,” for which she served as consulting producer. "

Tina is a daughter of Miami – Historic Overtown to be exact – and the powerhouse leader has dedicated her life to improving the lives of those who live, work and play in the community of her birth. 

Armed with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Accounting from Savannah State University; a Master’s Degree in Accounting and more than two decades of experience in the field of accounting and business management for both corporate and non-profit entities.

Today, Tina serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Overtown Youth Center; overseeing both Mourning Family Foundation, & Honey Shine, Inc; with an annual $5 million budget for all for programs; as well as managing a $20 million Capital Campaign Project to reconstruct OYC and expand its programmatic services. Thus far, $15 million has been raised and the project is scheduled to be complete in the 1^st Quarter of 2022.

Due to her lifelong passion of empowering young people, Tina doesn’t take her role lightly or for granted. She believes deeply in changing the narrative of children and families residing in low – socio-economic/systemically marginalized communities by providing a comprehensive and holistic approach that levels the playing field.   

SUE SAYS

"I asked Tina why she felt she was able to aim higher than other children who grew up in the tough neighborhood of Overtown, Florida. It was a teacher, she said. Her history teacher was a man who took the time and interest in Tina and pointed out her gifts so she would see she had choices in life. Tina is certain that having a mentor and someone who believed in her, is absolutely what led her down the right path. Her purpose now is to offer that same hope to other children in Overtown.

Dr. Tandon bridges the realms of business and science, with 10 years of experience in tissue engineering and more than eight in bioreactor design. She completed two advanced degrees at Columbia University: a Ph.D. and postdoc in stem cells and tissue engineering and an Executive MBA in healthcare entrepreneurship. Named one of the 100 most creative people in business by Fast Company, she is also a TED Senior Fellow and MIT & McKinsey alum.

Nina enjoys yoga, rock climbing, surfing, and growing a strong business while growing strong bones. Her TED Talk on personalized medicine has been viewed more than a million times.

SUE SAYS

"On paper, Nina's resume is quite impressive with a Bachelors in Electrical Engineering, a Master's in Bioelectrical Engineering, a PhD, and an MBA! What was most impressive to me however was Nina's ability to articulate her work in a way that was so clear and understandable to a lay person like myself. Her excitement, sense of curiosity, and humor around the important work she is doing left me curious and excited myself to continue to follow her and see what she does next!"

Tere oversees brand strategy across all Redwire and leads the strategic development and execution of marketing and communications plans that advance the business and brand across all marketing channels.

Prior to Redwire, Tere oversaw marketing initiatives, and media partnerships at the International Space Station U.S. National Laboratory driving engagement and key partnerships including various research and science organizations as well as national and international media industries to convey the overall mission of the ISS.

Holding several leadership roles in her career, she was an award-winning producer for Discovery Communications, leading creative and content strategies for global brands like the Discovery Channel, Discovery en Español, Animal Planet, and more. She developed cobranding opportunities working with Fortune 500 companies driving audience retention, ad sales revenue, and ratings. 

SUE SAYS

"In speaking with Tere, I could not help but be moved by her candor. Two defining experiences emerged as she shared who she is and what's behind her strong work ethic. Her Mother, a survivor of breast cancer, came to America to escape Communism in Cuba. Tere's Dad battled alcoholism and died young because of it. Tere opted for a preventative double mastectomy after learning she tested positive for the BRCA-2 gene. In spite of it all, she remains an optimistic, hard working, ambitious wife and mother of two."

Joi brings nearly twenty years of experience in sports and entertainment, a wealth of knowledge in strategic contract negotiations, content creation, event production and management, and an unparalleled work ethic to THINK450, the National Basketball Players Association’s licensing and marketing subsidiary.

SUE SAYS

"Joi grew up in the blue collar town of South Philadelphia whereas she states, everyone is a fan of sports whether they want to be or not. While she had a true love of sports herself, it was PR that led to her current role with the NBPA. Her decision to go to law school enhanced her position and has allowed her to create great influence in an industry that is working hard on its diversity and inclusion."

Helen’s goal since she was 11 has been to create robots. Her career has been her dream come true. She co-founded and served as Chairman and President of iRobot Corporation for 18 years.

Helen also founded CyPhy Works, a drone company that delivered persistent drones flying for many hours, days, weeks at a time autonomously. We had them deployed in Iraq and Syria with Army and Special Forces where they saved lives. CyPhy was sold to NASDAQ[FLIR].

Helen likes delivering robot products that surprise and delight customers with utility, intelligence, and price.

SUE SAYS

"Helen’s love of mechanics and engineering was innate from the very beginning. While she didn’t always feel as though she fit in with the other girls growing up, she pursued her dream anyway to one day build a robot just like R2D2. She is the finest example of living life on her own terms."

Joanna founded InterQ six years ago, after working in the ad agency world. Joanna majored in psychology and has been a lifelong student of understanding how people perceive experiences. At InterQ, she brings this passion into her work: Through qualitative interviewing, the InterQ team seeks to learn how people use products, perceive messages, and navigate digital experiences. Outside of her role at InterQ, Joanna is an avid mountain biker, skiier, cook, gardener, and travel aficionado. She was born and raised in California, where she lives with her partner, Justin, and her cat, Oliver.

SUE SAYS

"Joanna's vision is bold, but I have no doubt she will achieve exactly what she has set out to do. Her background growing up in a rural area of California spending most of her time alone as a child, ties directly to her ability to be comfortable with risk and uncertainty. As she shares, not having structure at every turn can turn out to be a gift."

Nicole was raised in Scottsdale, Arizona. Her father was an attorney and her mother, a licensed counselor that worked with children that were victims of abuse and mental illness. She had a child while in high school stating "The decision to have my son at a young age was not based on political or religious beliefs. On the contrary, it was based on emotion and a sense of responsibility. Had this happened decades prior, I may have been forced into an unsafe abortion or hidden away during my pregnancy and my child would have been given away. I am grateful to have had the choice to choose life". She is married to Dr. Paul Saphier, an endovascular neurosurgeon, whom she met in medical school; they have two sons together.

SUE SAYS

"The news that you're pregnant as a student in high school is news that will rock anyone's world. For Nicole, a type-A determined young lady with a lot of dreams and goals hit hard. Being told by some around her that she would now never reach those goals may have been exactly what she needed to hear to prove them all wrong."

Costantini is a renowned expert in the healthcare industry, with 30 years of experience in strategic leadership, nursing, and international staffing. She was named 100 Most Influential People in Staffing - 2013, Global Power 100 – Women in Staffing –2017 and 2018 by Staffing Industry Analysts. Costantini is the President of the American Association of International Healthcare Recruitment, a trade association she helped form in 2007. Through AAIHR, Costantini actively lobbies Congress for immigration reform to allow a consistent flow of highly skilled healthcare professionals. 

SUE SAYS

"Nothing prepares us for adulthood like our challenges as children. In Shari's case, she had several medical challenges that were not only significant but at a very pivotal age. When Shari looks back, she can see that her ability to work through Viral Encephalitis, conquer rehab, and finish school was a precursor for her ability to start, run and sell a large company in the healthcare industry."

SheCar is Athena's latest venture and the inspiration for her newly formed non-profit organization, SheCare, Inc. which exists to provide women who are emerging from hardship with reliable and safe vehicles. Together the two organizations serve to provide women and men with honest, transparent, and truthful information about the cost and condition of cars.

SUE SAYS

"At the age of 10 Athena wanted a Schwinn 10 speed bike that cost $112.00. Mom and Dad responded with a hard no. So she took it upon herself to work odd jobs saving $10 a week until that bike was paid off. That early determination and planning was an obvious sign that Athena would succeed at most anything she put her mind to. As it turns out, not only did she launch a successful company in a historically male-dominated field, she also launched a non-profit stemming from the sales of SheCar. Not bad for only three years in!"

Early in life, Tanya discovered emotional pain to be a sustainable resource for art and creation—and she hasn’t stopped writing since. Her quotes, stories, poems, and prose have touched readers around the world. She hopes to be a safe space of inspiration and empowerment for years to come.

SUE SAYS

"Speaking to Tanya was such a gift. Her energy is one of calm, love and wisdom that is so needed in our world today. Her life story begins with abandonment, rejection, depression, and addiction, and sits now with her husband and two boys who bring her the acceptance and love she so desperately needed and wanted as a young girl." 

Natalie is responsible for research and programmatic efforts that support women and girls worldwide to lead in their communities and countries. This includes the work of the First Ladies Initiative, which aims to enable and support global First Ladies in effectively using their platforms to impact change. 

Additionally, she is the host of the Bush Institute’s award nominated podcast, Ladies, First; the co-author of a first-of-its kind analysis on global first ladies, A Role Without a Rulebook; and served as a project lead on the development of the Bush Institute’s 2018 and 2019 special exhibits. Her work has also been published or featured across a wide range of external outlets including the New York Times, The Washington Post, Vanity Fair, The Dallas Morning News, Real Clear World, Politico, Bustle, Refinery 29, among others.

SUE SAYS

"We often explore our ancestry to learn where some of our own traits come from. When Natalie looks at her family tree, she can easily see leadership qualities in both her Grandmother, the founder of a candy store in 1946 and her own mother who was a nurse and always instilled in her children the importance of helping others. She now has the opportunity to do just that through her work with The George W Bush Institute."

Dana is a co-anchor of America's Newsroom and co-host of one of the most popular shows on cable television, The Five. Perino was the first Republican woman to serve as the White House press secretary, and served for over seven years in the administration of President George W. Bush, including at the Department of Justice after the terrorist attacks on 9/11. Dana lives in Manhattan with her husband, Peter McMahon, and of course, their dog, Jasper.

SUE SAYS

"It was such a joy to speak with Dana Perino. I have long admired her work and her incredible ability to present the news and her own views on the latest events taking place daily in the U.S. and around the world. Our conversation confirmed my sense that what has led to Dana's success is her absolute faith and integrity that was shaped by the people who knew and loved her best. And on top of all that, she's funny!"

Janeen has been dedicated to creating Return On Leadership® for over 15 years. She spearheaded Indiggo’s transformation from a premier boutique consultancy to a highly innovative tech company that continues to break through static ways of working and unquestioned limiting assumptions.

Never satisfied with the status quo, Janeen relentlessly engages herself and others in being the best they can.

SUE SAYS

"Janeen shared with me that as a child she was actually shy, and typically the observer of others. We talked about how those traits are actually quite positive for leaders who develop the ability to read people, develop insights and come up with the simplest solutions to problems. As the mother of two daughters, she hopes their journey's lead them away from being placed in boxes, and toward the life they were truly meant to live."

Dr. Gotian has been hailed by the journal Nature and Columbia University as an expert in mentorship and leadership development. In 2021, she was selected as one of 30 people worldwide to be named to the Thinkers50 Radar List, dubbed the Oscars of management thinking and is a semi-finalist for the Forbes 50 Over 50 list.

In addition to publishing in academic journals, she is a contributor to Forbes and Psychology Todaywhere she writes about ‘optimizing success’. Her research is about the mindset and skill set of peak performers, including Nobel laureates, astronauts and Olympic champions. Her forthcoming book, The Success Factor, will be out in January.

SUE SAYS

We talk on the show often about being the only woman in the room. For Ruth, she was the only girl in four generations in her family! This comfortableness around boys led her to become the very first girl on the boys soccer team at 10 years old. A true lesson in determination and living by the questions, why not?

Tiffany is a catalyst-at-large in the world of women’s leadership and the author of Drop the Ball, a memoir and manifesto that shows women how to cultivate the single skill they really need in order to thrive: the ability to let go. According to foreword contributor Gloria Steinem, Drop the Ball is “important, path-breaking, intimate and brave.”

Tiffany serves on the board of Girls Who Code and Simmons College. She is a member of Women's Forum New York, Delta Sigma Theta, Sorority, Inc. and is a Lifetime Girl Scouts. She lives in New York City with her husband and two children.

SUE SAYS

"Tiffany was born to very young parents who were not prepared to raise a child. When she reflects on her beginning, she is reminded that while her mother struggled with poverty and addiction, she also spoke to Tiffany in a way that led her to believe in herself, and ultimately aim higher. With the help of her father, she went off to college and discovered her true calling; to help elevate young girls and women become independent for the greater good."

The Stellar Development Foundation is a non-profit organization using blockchain to unlock the world’s economic potential by making money more fluid, markets more open, and people more empowered.

Before joining Stellar, Dixon served as COO of Mozilla, one of the most successful mission-driven open-source organizations. During her tenure at Mozilla, she led the organization’s business, revenue and policy teams including the ongoing fight for Net Neutrality and the global effort to ensure that people can control their personal data. She also pushed Mozilla to understand how to partner with commercial entities while staying true to its core mission of openness, innovation, and opportunity on the web. A lawyer by trade, Denelle previously served as a general counsel and legal advisor in private equity and technology.

Throughout her career, Denelle has been a vocal advocate for net neutrality, encryption, the disclosure of vulnerabilities by governments, and greater user choice and control.

SUE SAYS

"In society today, particularly in the U.S., there are endless conversations around race, prejudice and inequality. For someone like Robin, who in her own words grew up privileged and white, she has a unique perspective because she experienced living in two worlds-one as a minority and one where all her peers looked the same. Robin's integrity and life experience has led her to walk the walk and purposefully contribute in areas that defend the rights of all people."

Robin is an experienced Philanthropist and Community Builder with a successful record in, program design and leadership. She specializes in making connections that build community to improve businesses in the for profit and non-profit areas.

SUE SAYS

"In society today, particularly in the U.S., there are endless conversations around race, prejudice and inequality. For someone like Robin, who in her own words grew up privileged and white, she has a unique perspective because she experienced living in two worlds-one as a minority and one where all her peers looked the same. Robin's integrity and life experience has led her to walk the walk and purposefully contribute in areas that defend the rights of all people."

Deborah has been EVP/Publisher of Radio Ink and Radio + Television Business Report since. She succeeded Eric Rhoads, chairman and founder of Radio Ink, at the helm of the publication which she established in 1992. She has also led the company’s radio conference division since 2007, including Forecast, the Hispanic Radio Conference, Convergence, and the Radio Ink Sports Conference.

SUE SAYS

35 years is a long time to work in one industry. But if you love what you do, you continue to learn and look for ways to be creative. That was certainly the case for Deborah Parenti who even found a way to use her love of food from her Italian heritage as an equalizer when dealing with colleagues and clients. Deborah is the finest example of the power behind leaders allowing others to feel valued and important!

Colleen has over 15 years of experience leading and managing biology teams in academia, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology. Prior to starting Pendulum, Colleen was the Senior Manager of Biology at Pacific Biosciences and a Scientist at Elan Pharmaceuticals. Colleen received her Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Johns Hopkins University and her B.A. in Biochemistry from Wellesley College.

SUE SAYS

"As a young girl growing up in the deep south to immigrant parents, Colleen's experience was not one of racism or discrimination. She recalls the lesson she learned from her parents was that every person, no matter their background, has the absolute power to chart their own course in life. She's taken these values of integrity, hard work and education and applied them directly to her company Pendulum. "

A serial philanthropist and Detroit native, Shy Averett serves as the Global Sr. Community Program and Events Manager for Microsoft in Redmond, Washington where she leads EDU & D & I Programming. She is tasked with strategically creating opportunities for advancement in underrepresented communities, educating the masses, and bringing forth ground-breaking solutions to problems in communities often forgotten.

In 2017, Shy created Microsoft’s MANCODE Program to help underrepresented minority boys grow a passion for STEM related careers. Over the next few years, MANCODE would grow and develop into a program that not only teaches boys basic coding in areas such as C+ or HTML, but to also bring African American male mentors to teach and inspire attendees everywhere. By the end of 2020, almost 70,000 young boys across the US have gone through MANCODE program.

SUE SAYS

"Some of us go through life searching for our “calling.” Others find it early on, and spend their lives doing exactly that. Shy is certainly one of those people. At age 15 she became the youngest President of the NAACP in Michigan, and has been working to help others rise up ever since. Her story is a beautiful example of the power in being ” a little less selfish.”

Elizabeth served in the Trump administration from 2017 to April 2020 as a senior advisor and Deputy Chief of Staff of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to DHS Secretary John Kelly and Acting DHS Secretary Elaine Duke, and as DHS Assistant Secretary for Threat Prevention and Security Policy to DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, Acting DHS Secretary Kevin McAleenan, and Acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf. Starting in 2003, she served on the Homeland Security Council in the George W. Bush administration.

This episode also features Terri Boyer, our Educational Partner, providing information about Villanova University Women’s Leadership Program!

Sue Says

"As a young girl, Elizabeth’s parents told her she could do or be anything she wanted in the world. This lesson was challenged when she heard a different message from some of her peers who felt that women were not meant to lead, but be in more supportive roles. This was not something Elizabeth would buy into, or follow, as she set out to make her way in Washington."

Pavlina, who is currently based in New York City, a Media Culture and the Arts graduate of King’s College, executes her dynamic abilities as a show content creator, host, and producer through the Salem Media Group and her own company’s projects, PAV Media LLC. Pavlina, a winner of many awards, has created, hosted, and produced shows since her first self-created radio talk show at age eleven when she was the winner of a five-time Gracie Award.

Holding the Guinness World Record for “The Most Live Radio Interviews Conducted in 24 hours,” three hundred and forty- seven interviews to be exact. Pavlina has strong roots in speaking to Pop Culture and its plethora of newsmakers, having interviewed over six hundred celebrities to date, including Katie Couric, Shaquille O’Neal and Steve Forbes.

Pavlina consistently appears on various TV, radio, podcast segments, and speaking engagement platforms such as Newsmax, NRB, and her recent podcast creation, “If God had a Podcast,” focused on “Improving You for a Better Us.” Pavlina also appears as the Host of “The Stand” TV show on BOLD TV.

SUE SAYS

"At 23, Pavlina Osta has accomplished more in her life than many adults! She had her own radio show at 11, has written a book and has her own Podcast called “If God Had a Podcast.” With her interest in helping the younger generation get to know themselves better in order to alleviate anxiety and depression, she is well on her way to making a name for herself through curiosity, high energy and a deep understanding that every person should walk their own path."

Gina ia an entrepreneur and investor. She is the Founder & CEO of Mighty Networks. Her mission at Mighty Networks is to usher in a new era of creative business built on community. Mighty Networks serves “creators with a purpose” selling experiences, relationships, and expertise to their members via community, content, online courses, and subscription commerce–all offered in one place under the creator’s brand.

Gina has been featured on the cover of Fortune and Fast Company and in Wired, Vanity Fair, Bloomberg, and The New York Times. She has appeared on Charlie Rose, CNBC, and CNN.

Sue Says

"Gina’s mission at Mighty Networks is to usher in a new era of creative business built on community-serving “creators and brands with a purpose.” She envisions a platform where a brand can house all of its offerings in one place without its members ever leaving because this is where they want to engage. What seemed to give Gina the confidence to launch something in a highly competitive market is that she “always looked at herself as a leader.”

She is a featured columnist for Smart Business Magazine, a regular guest on TV and radio shows, and a preferred keynote speaker for many corporate events including Amazon, Symantec, Ingram Micro, Cisco, RIT, VMware, Nestle, WITI, Progressive, and KeyBank.

Sue Says

"JJ DiGeronimo is recognized as a thought-leader for women and girls in tech & STEM. Even with this recognition, her numerous requests to speak and after authoring two books, JJ shares she still has moments of questioning herself and her ability. We spoke about what it might take for women to be able to once and for all have a consistent belief in themselves. Great topic!"

Kanarys is a technology platform that fosters collaboration between companies and employees to improve Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in the workplace and bring about lasting change. We help companies get the specific data and insights they need to diagnose, prioritize, and optimize DEI efforts by facilitating transparency and providing a safe, anonymous way for employees to let their voices be heard.

SUE SAYS

"Growing up in DeSoto TX and being one of only two black students at her school, Mandy recognized early on that there was a different perception of her because she looked different. After a 12 year career in law, Mandy decided it was time to do something actionable so she launched a company that helps organizations question the biases they’ve held, whether consciously or unconsciously, and commit to structurally change their systems."

In 1993 Sheba founded her graphic design, branding and marketing agency, Sheba Concept & Design. She has lead and executed successful branding efforts for clients including the Minnesota Children’s Museum, Abbott Northwestern Hospital Foundation, University of MN, 3M and Pepsi-Co.

Sheba and her husband, Darren Ennis, launched their event production company, Sheba Productions, in 1996. Known for creating high-end, meticulous, creative and unexpected events that surprise and delight guests, including the ASID Showcase Home Tours, the Skyway Open (architect-designed mini-golf event through the Minneapolis skyways), the Taste! wine and food event at the TCF Stadium, the Magic 8 Ball fundraising event to name a few.

Seeking to develop a company built on compassion and connections, Sheba partnered with Rosie DeSimone to launch BIG LOViE in May of 2019.

Esther has held leadership and C-Suite roles within venture-backed e-commerce and retail technology companies for 20 years, including several exits – both acquisitions and IPOs. Prior to Ruby Has, Esther was CEO of DayOne, a baby and prenatal e-commerce, retail and B2B services company. Prior to that, she was founder and CEO of TheShops.TV, an e-commerce company leveraging QVC-style video.

Esther has also held SVP and VP roles with retail marketing technology companies specializing in mobile, ad tech, and data analytics. She has a strong background in fundraising, corporate governance, and media relations, along with significant supply chain background and certifications such as Six Sigma Black Belt and the APICS CPIM certification.

Emma is a career entrepreneur, a home birthing CEO, a prankster and a fierce friend. For 15 years now, she has been talking to women about their lives and their challenges. Emma has been lucky enough to work with some extraordinary people like Sir Richard Branson, Elizabeth Gilbert, Diane von Furstenberg, Seth Godin, Arianna Huffington, Kate Hudson and many more.

A big voice with an even bigger heart, soprano Summer is a singer on a mission. The chart-topping international vocalist aims to inspire as well as entertain. “Go for your dreams and never give up” is the message of this world class classical crossover artist. Having beaten breast cancer and survived a deadly train crash she knows all too well the setbacks that challenge us in life.

Suzanne oversees the firm’s investments and operational activities. Suzanne’s philosophy of combining operational excellence with technological innovation separates Kinzie from other capital providers and seeks impactful and sustained growth for investors.

Prior to founding Kinzie Suzanne was a Managing Director at Versa Capital Management, LLC, where she led transaction development throughout North America. In 2013, she received the “40 Under 40 Dealmakers Award” from The M&A Advisor for her work. Prior to Versa, Suzanne was a Senior Vice President at CIT Group, co-founded LaSalle Bank/ABN AMRO’s Corporate Restructuring Group and held positions in distressed loan portfolio management and turnaround advisory at LaSalle Bank and Ernst and Young’s Restructuring Advisory Group, respectively.

SUE SAYS

"Growing up with parents who immigrated from South Korea and were determined to provide a better life for their children was one of the greatest experiences Suzanne had as a young girl. Tragically, Suzanne's father, a successful entrepreneur was murdered during a robbery when she was 10 years old. How did that experience shape your view of the world, I asked her. To fully understand we have no control over many things in life, but can always move forward."

For decades, Cherie battled feelings of shame, insignificance & depression. She has a family pedigree riddled with addiction & mental illness. As a 20-something new mom, Cherie said goodbye to her firstborn—a girl—when she was 4 days old, which launched her into a major depressive episode that could have ended my life. Cherie later earned a psych degree and became a counselor at a behavioral facility, a psychiatric hospital, and an addiction recovery center. She would also visit siblings who were patients in these places; places that it became abundantly clear to her didn’t hold the big healing picture.

SUE SAYS

Cherie describes herself as a Divine Feminine Scholar. She has come to this place of “knowing” through her own life experience dealing with trauma, mental illness, and loss. Those who suffer loss Cherie believes are the ones who heal more easily because they become more connected to the balance of the feminine male balance that the planet has been missing. A fascinating conversation with a very intuitive woman!

Myoshia is an IT Professional with over 17 years of experience as a Project Manager and Business (Systems) Analyst with an emphasis on Healthcare: Plan Administration, Healthcare Informatics, Medical Management, Risk Adjustment, Business Intelligence (reporting, query and analysis, dashboards and visualization) and Information Management (data analysis, data integration, data quality management, metadata management).

SUE SAYS

Listening to the wisdom of Myoshia is like listening to that small voice inside that we don’t always pay attention to. Fortunately, she did. Myoshia is a perfect example of the power in knowing that our life can truly be what we decide it will be. She came from very little and created a life of abundance, both financially and spiritually, for the sake of her daughter.

Guido & Associates, a Business Management company working in the areas of Strategy, Processes/Systems, Research, Sales, Marketing/PR, Branding, Social Media, Mergers/Acquisitions, Green and Sustainable Markets, Women and Boomer Markets, focuses on helping organizations grow their people and profits.

SUE SAYS

On July 5, 2017, Judy Guido was randomly attacked by a psychotic landscaper who was working at her home at the time. He chased and struck her multiple times with an axe. She survived the horrific incident through what she describes as spontaneously using her strategic and execution abilities as an advisor, and has since recovered from a brain injury. Judy is remarkable in many ways, but what I see in her is a mental and emotional toughness that we all could use.

Heather has spent her entire career immersed in technology, and moved over to Hotwire from Eastwick Communications after its acquisition in 2016. She is now President, North America for Hotwire.

As well as agency experience she has a wide range of in-house knowledge. At Autodesk, Heather focused on integrated brand communications and led the development of the company’s first sustainability report. As Enphase Energy’s global marketing director, she played an integral role in Enphase’s successful IPO and aggressive expansion into Europe.

Heather is a fierce advocate and practitioner of integrated marketing and believes deeply that customers are at the heart of successful communications strategies. A published author, she also holds an MBA from Dominican University.

This episode also features an exciting update on our previous guest Mary Cantando! Learn all about what she’s been up to since our interview with her.

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My conversation with Heather was like sitting down with a friend talking about life. Heather shared candidly the story of growing up without her Dad in her life, and how watching her Mom do what she needed to do to take care of her, was the greatest lesson in how to be independent. Heather is the finest example of what comes when you set goals for yourself and stay dedicated to what brings you joy.

Up until September 2019, Philadelphians woke up to Katie Fehlinger delivering the weather forecast on CBS3 Eyewitness News This Morning. But the 2:45 A.M. alarm eventually wore out its shelf life and Katie decided to take the biggest leap of her life. She left what many would consider a dream job as meteorologist in the #4 market to pursue her true version of happiness – the freedom to make her own schedule.

Now, she’s channeling her talents into multiple pursuits: as a burgeoning author, public speaker and through entrepreneurial ventures, including helping beginner video creators become on-camera and production rockstars.

Before switching professional focus and leaving KYW-TV, Katie made stops at WCBS in New York, AccuWeather Inc., and WLVT as a reporter/producer. She’s worked as a regular game day meteorologist for several regional Fox Sports Networks, NESN, YES, and the Big Ten Network. She also appeared on a host of other major networks including ESPN, ABC, FOX News, FOX Business and Bloomberg. In addition to her television resume, Katie has worked extensively in radio, the highlights of which include a multi-year run as KYW Newsradio’s AM drive meteorologist and as newsbreak anchor for Talk Radio 1210 WPHT.

Katie is also the extremely proud mother of 4-year-old twin daughters and solo-produces content for her thriving DIY YouTube channel.

This episode also features an exciting update on our previous guest Melissa Davey! Learn all about what she’s been up to since our interview with her.

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Katie’s decision to walk away from a successful TV career was not one that came easily. As she said herself, “Being fearless is terrifying!” The irony is that at the root of fearlessness is simply being yourself, and when you’re able to do that, everything else in life becomes easier. Katie is now blissfully in her happy place!

The Greening Youth Foundation’s (GYF) mission is to engage under-represented youth and young adults while connecting them to the outdoors and careers in conservation. GYF’s cultural-based environmental education program engages children from local communities and exposes them to healthy lifestyle choices in order to create an overall healthy community.

Angelou’s love for the environment stretches far back to when she was a little girl who had the chance to escape the dense urban streets of

Jersey City, New Jersey, to summer in upstate New York.

After a brief stint of practicing law, it was through her work as a Legal Specialist for the New Jersey State Agriculture and Development Committee that Angelou embarked upon a career as an environmentalist.

This episode also features an exciting update on our previous guest Mary Cantando! Learn all about what she’s been up to since our interview with her.

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Angelou fell in love with nature as a young girl running around the woods of upstate NY on family vacations. What she realized early on was the power that nature had to bring life and happiness to all those who ventured into it. Now she is on a mission to bring this awareness to people of color who typically do not have the opportunity to learn that conservation can be a career path.

Alison’s undergraduate degree was in History from Princeton University, where she studied Ideological and Cultural History. She obtained her M.D. from Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Rutgers University. Her pediatric residency training was at Duke University and the University of Chicago. She is a former Clinical Instructor in Pediatrics at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine. 

She lives in Illinois with her husband, two rambunctious sons, and a variety of hamsters. 

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Rarely does one family experience tragedy twice, but in Alison’s case, that’s exactly what happened. Both her mother and brother on two separate occasions were involved in accidents that led to brain damage. Alison’s experience as an 11-year-old witnessing this, inspired her to go into medicine as a way to help people who are physically and mentally suffering. 

Claudia is an award-winning, seasoned leader, business owner, and nonprofit executive. Post built Diamond Courier Service, a delivery service, from one location and four employees into the national Diamond Transportation Group, a multi-million-dollar organization with 10 locations, over 350 employees. Then she founded Claudia Post Advisors, a marketing, sales, logistics, and management consulting company. Recognizing cannabis as the next frontier, Post founded Most Consulting Group – which focuses on marketing for cannabis companies.

This episode also features an exciting update on our previous guest Sunny White! Learn all about what she’s been up to since our interview with her.

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Claudia grew up in Philadelphia surrounded by women, her mother and both grandmothers, who worked independently from their roles as mothers and wives. This early influence was significant in the path she would take as an entrepreneur. Her secret sauce? Tenacity, curiosity and the love of solving problems.

Harris is a multiple Emmy award-winning anchor who currently anchors two daily daytime programs – Outnumbered Overtime with Harris Faulkner (weekdays, 1-2PM/ET) and serves as the co-anchor of Outnumbered (weekdays, 12-1PM/ET). Faulkner joined FOX News Channel (FNC) in 2005. 

In addition to being number one in cable news, Faulkner’s Outnumbered Overtime routinely surpasses its broadcast competition, according to Nielsen Media Research.

During her tenure at the network, Faulkner has hosted numerous town hall specials focusing on a variety of current events. Most recently, Faulkner anchored multiple virtual town halls highlighting overlooked issues amid the coronavirus pandemic including America Copes Together, which focused on the psychological effects that the COVID-19 crisis has had on individuals and America Learns Together, which spotlighted the challenges of guiding students through a digital education in the coronavirus era. In March 2020, Faulkner, alongside Bill Hemmer, co-moderated a two-hour virtual town hall with President Donald Trump and members of the White House coronavirus task force on the latest news surrounding the pandemic, as well as the administration’s plans to combat the crisis.

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Harris Faulkner, a self-prescribed military brat, grew up learning about two important lessons in life: From her father, the importance of living with integrity, and from her mother, the importance of giving and receiving love. Our conversation covered journalism, politics, service, self-awareness, and the importance of understanding that things always get better. My take-away? The art of listening is one of the greatest gifts of all.

Nieca Goldberg MD. is the Senior Advisor Women’s Health Strategy NYU Langone Health, a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine NYU School of Medicine, Medical Director of NYU Women’s Heart Program, founder and former Medical Director Joan H. Tisch Center for Women’s Health. She is also the Co-Medical Director of the 92nd Street Y’s Cardio Rehab Program.

Dr. Goldberg is a high-profile nationally recognized pioneer in women’s heart health. She has been in New York Magazine’s annual “Best Doctors” list for fifteen years.

The author of Dr. Nieca Goldberg’s Complete Guide to Women’s Health and the award-winning Women are not Small Men (updated and re-titled The Women’s Healthy Heart Program) and radio show host on Doctor Radio SIRIUS XM 110, “Beyond the Heart,” Dr. Nieca advocates for customized health care for women—at lectures, seminars and in extensive media appearances. She is a national spokesperson for the American Heart Association; she started the “Go Red for Women” campaign and serves on the Woman’s Day Editorial Advisory Board.

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Dr. Goldberg spends her days treating patients, teaching, writing, researching, doing media appearances and hosting a radio show. When I asked her how she manages so much, she said that her active life brings her joy, and that the opportunity to help women in all aspects of their life is a gift. What a wonderful perspective on life!

Camille is an award-winning, dynamic and innovative leader with MBA. She has 20 years experience of Business Strategy, Diversity and Inclusion and Social Impact leadership in the Financial Services and Healthcare industries.

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Camille was raised in a Caribbean household with parents from Trinidad. As a young girl, she felt she didn’t quite fit in because of her differences. Once she discovered the power behind her uniqueness, she began to stop playing small and landed the perfect job working in the D&I Enterprise division of Bank of America.

Lisa is an accomplished senior executive whose career has been defined by understanding how technology impacts society and changes behavior. Lisa helps others create lives of presence and purpose. She also uses her teaching and skills to grow the nonprofit she founded, Police2Peace.

Police2Peace is receiving national media attention by transforming the term “police officer” into “peace officer” on law enforcement vehicles and uniforms around the country. The charitable initiative has already transformed multiple departments and communities across the country.

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At four years old, Lisa experienced a near-fatal accident after falling through a plate glass window. This event completely shaped her life and the way she views the world. In that moment, Lisa discovered that there is much more to life than meets the eye, and anything was possible. As a result, she now mentors others who want to make profound changes in their lives.

Dr. Mancuso’s vision for Jhpiego is rooted in her belief that the organization must engage in programs that are sustainable, that is, programs that build on the capacity of countries to create a well-prepared network of health care professionals and a strong health system that they can build upon to care for themselves.

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For 44 years and in 155 countries, Jhpiego has worked with frontline health workers to design and implement low-cost innovative solutions to prevent the needless death of women and their families. Since Leslie’s arrival at Jhpiego, the organization’s budget grew from $5 million to $408 million, and the number of public health programs expanded from 4 to 100. I am inspired by her work and devotion to helping women in communities that need it the most.

Lisa is a proven and passionate entrepreneur. Named by Profit Magazine as one of the Top Ten Emerging Women Entrepreneurs in Canada and recognized by the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce as Female Entrepreneur of the Year, Lisa has become a thought leader in the areas of entrepreneurship, resilience, the advancement of women, and diversity. She is a frequent commentator on these topics and has been quoted in a variety of media including Fast Company, The Globe and Mail, CBC, and The Toronto Star.

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Two seconds into my interview with Lisa and I knew one of her greatest gifts is her energy. You can hear the passion that she has for wanting to help women live the absolute best and well-balanced lives they can. Her life story of going against what perhaps was expected of her, and pursuing her own dreams, is a lesson in the power of intuition.

Susan is an age-defying entrepreneur who caters to age-defying women. She worked in retail for over two decades, holding executive roles for Ralph Lauren, Polo, and Liz Clairborne before deciding to try her hand at entrepreneurship. She co-founded One Kings Lane, a popular home decor and luxury site that eventually sold to Bed, Bath & Beyond; and In the Groove, a new lifestyle destination for age-defying women.

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Susan started one business at age 53 and another at age 63! How dare anyone say that women are irrelevant after a certain age.  Susan’s love of fashion, lifestyle, beauty, and wellness led her to launch a much-needed destination for women over a certain age…45 and above. It is a place where we can go for inspiration and resources that allow us to continue to learn, grow, and find things that bring us joy.

Johanna is also a host of Pod is a Woman. Maska served President Barack Obama for more than eight years, as Director of Press Advance in the White House, playing a critical role in his 2008 campaign. 

At the White House, Maska served as a guarantor of President Obama’s brand on a global stage, ensuring consistency of message across every continent, whether that was a first-ever live address to the nation from Afghanistan or a multi-country town hall from South Africa. Maska traveled with President Obama to more than 40 countries and almost every state.

Since leaving the White House in 2015, Maska has worked with media companies, technology firms, and non-profit organizations applying her unique touch to projects across sectors. Maska taught communications at the University of Southern California, served as a Fellow at the Dole Institute of Politics, and has spoken at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy Institute of Politics. 

Maska was born in Wichita, Kansas, raised primarily in Galesburg, IL, graduated from Galesburg High School, and attended the University of Kansas. Maska worked in politics in the midwest, for Governor Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas, and in politics in Iowa before joining the Obama campaign. 

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Most people do not have the privilege of traveling to over 40 countries with the President of The United States. Johanna’s experience in doing so opened her eyes to many of the world’s problems, both common to all countries, and some that plague a few. What she learned is that the only way the world will be better for all is when people with the power to create policy can come together and seek resolutions with integrity and an open mind.

Anya was born and raised in Los Angeles and began acting very early on. Her love for storytelling evolved further as she branched out into writing and producing. Anya is an avid reader, loves music and movies, and is a crossword puzzle enthusiast.

Jessica is from Northeast, Pennsylvania. She got her BFA in Acting from Syracuse University and moved to Los Angeles shortly after college to work as a professional actor. She began creating short projects with friends and found that she had an affinity for writing and producing. In an effort to grow her ability, she studied development from the ground up, learning as an artist on set and in the theater.

In 2010 Anya & Jessica co-founded Sidecar Pictures and together they developed and co-wrote several series for YARN-Chat Fiction, a mobile entertainment platform. Their work spans a range of genres and formats (including podcasts, video, and multi-media).

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Jessica and Anya come from two completely different backgrounds and live very different lives today-one a single woman with no kids, and the other married with two. What makes their partnership work is exactly that. Differences are much more interesting when you’re creating content and programming to appeal to a diverse group of women. What they’ve learned is that the key to a great partnership is to “listen.”

Aireka is an usher for Black and Latinx women entrepreneurs in the Nashville area. Aireka founded Nodat in 2017 a startup designed to help small and medium businesses effectively compete for customer loyalty using new and innovative loyalty options that increases revenue and generate repeat loyal local customers. Aireka and her team aspire to disrupt the local marketing and advertising industry by changing the way small and medium businesses and customers engage. Nodat has over 25k downloads and over 10k thousand users in the Nashville area and is a Google for Startups company out of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center.

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Aireka Harvell has been through some major life challenges-domestic abuse, cancer and an experience that introduced her to negative thoughts about herself. In spite of all that, what changed her thinking was looking back at the little 9 year old girl she was with dreams of becoming a “successful business woman.” Today she’s done just that. 

BJ’s experience as a top executive with Fortune 500 companies gives her a unique understanding of what both employees and companies need to be successful. She started GrayMatter Coaching to help leaders improve their inner game.

The leadership 3.0 program is not only to level up their EQ skills but to build the Mental Fitness that is necessary when they are the glue holding people together in today’s challenging environment. Whether it be complex business environments or when the outside world is in chaos, employees want to be engaged in a different way. It has a lot to do with human development and the mastery that you already have inside you.

The cornerstone of her program is using proven cognitive behavior strategies to help shift awareness & develop a better mindset strategy. This is key to leaders breaking through in another way, a Brave Leadership Style.

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BJ’s story is one I would imagine many people can relate to. The sudden loss of someone we love will often instantly change our outlook on life. After losing her Dad at the age of 13, BJ’s main focus in her decisions and motivation centered around the need to feel safe. Today she works with leaders to help them uncover their own motivations, and how they can become better leaders through more self-awareness.  

Under Rachael’s leadership, Enactus, the largest experiential learning platform dedicated to creating a better world while developing the next generation of leaders with a head for business and a heart for the world, is driving innovation to create a greater impact for the 72,000+ participating Enactus university students in 37 countries and for the countless communities in which Enactus students are addressing economic, environmental and social challenges.

Rachael joined Enactus in 2016. Prior to that, she built a distinctive professional portfolio in communications and philanthropic strategy, law, and finance. She served as president of the foundation at Pentair plc, where she led the effective repositioning of the organization and launched a multi-year water initiative in partnership with the Center for Disease Control and non-profit organizations which now provides sustainable access to safe water for 3M+ people.

Earlier, Rachael worked in strategic communications and equity analysis and began her career as an attorney. In addition, Rachael is a writer and has been published in the Wall Street Journal and the New York Post among other outlets, and she is the author of a forthcoming nonfiction book. Rachael was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

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A pivotal moment for Rachael was an experience she had at the age of 7. She saw her Mom looking out the window and crying. When she asked her Mom why she was crying, she said because watching all the people going to synagogue after all they’ve been through, reminds me of their resilience and determination in spite of the trauma as survivors. That planted the seed for Rachael’s interest in serving and non-profit.

Rebecca is the preeminent global expert on the subject of “fast adaptation” and recipient of the prestigious Edward O. Wilson Biodiversity Technology Award. Her career spans four decades of working with founders, executives, and leading venture capitalists in Silicon Valley. Costa’s work has been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, The Guardian, and other leading publications. She presently serves on the Advisory Committee for the Lifeboat Foundation along with futurist Ray Kurzweil and Nobel Laureates Daniel Kahneman, Eric S. Maskin, Richard J. Roberts, and Wole Soyinka.

Costa was the founder and CEO of one of the largest technology marketing firms in California, where she developed an extensive track record of launching game-changing technologies. Her clients included industry innovators such as Hewlett-Packard, Apple Computer, Oracle, Siebel Systems, General Electric, 3M, and others. She has been at the forefront of technological and scientific innovation, assisting venture capitalists and large corporations to identify, fund, and launch disruptive new trends.

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The work that Rebecca Costa does, and continues to do to this day, is one of the most fascinating topics out there. Studying human behavior, genetics, and how both are tied to evolution and the challenges we face today is an enormous contribution to the world. What fascinated me the most about Rebecca was her openness as a scientist, and her willingness to share that her drive actually ties directly to her childhood living with fear in Vietnam. 

Susan has been on the ground floor and helped to build powerhouse media brands like HBO, CNBC, and HGTV. She was the co-founder of Scripps Networks Interactive and former chief operating officer of HGTV. Under Packard’s helm, HGTV became one of the fastest-growing cable networks in television history. Today HGTV is available in more than 98 million U.S. homes and distributed in over 200 countries and territories. Packard helped to build Scripps Networks Interactive to a market value of over $15 billion. In December of 2019 she was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Humanities from Michigan State University.

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Susan spent years in the fast-paced world of media as the co-Founder of HGTV. As her inner voice began to speak to her a little louder, she realized her need for some self-reflection, and desire to find out who she truly was, and what she wanted. It led directly to her one-on-one, heartfelt work with men and women who themselves are in need of some inner work. My take away? Don’t settle for a life that is not serving you.

Eileen is a nationally recognized expert on charitable and planned giving. Ms. Heisman has been interviewed about philanthropy and donor-advised funds on CNBC, PBS, NPR, CNN International and Bloomberg TV, and by nearly every national newspaper and major trade publication, including the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post, Bloomberg, CBS MarketWatch, Financial Advisor, and Investment News. She has been named seven times by NonProfit Times as one of their Power and Influence Top 50, an annual listing of the 50 most influential executives in the philanthropic sector, most recently in 2020. 

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Listening to Eileen talk about her work in the world of Philanthropy was so refreshing. Eileen’s passion for leading a global organization that’s sole purpose is to guide and manage the giving of Donors is an incredible inspiration. Having grown up with little means herself, it is obvious that she carries the empathy necessary to lead NPT!