Career Connections 2024: Where Talent Meets Opportunity

Arianna Huffington is the founder and CEO of Thrive Global, the founder of The Huffington Post, and the author of 15 books, including, most recently, Thrive and The Sleep Revolution. In 2016, she launched Thrive Global, a leading behavior change tech company with the mission of changing the way we work and live by ending the collective delusion that burnout is the price we must pay for success.

Valerie B. Jarrett is a Senior Distinguished Fellow at the University of Chicago Law School, President of the Obama Foundation and Senior Advisor at Attn. She serves as Board Chair of When We All Vote and Co-Chair of The United State of Women. She also serves on the boards of Lyft, Ralph Lauren, Walgreens Boots Alliance, 2U, Sweetgreen, Ariel Investments, the Innocence Project, Time’s Up, the Economic Club of Chicago and the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts. Her New York Times bestselling memoir, Finding My Voice, was published in 2019 and updated in paperback in 2020.

Ms. Jarrett was the longest serving Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama. She oversaw the Offices of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs and Chaired the White House Council on Women and Girls. Ms. Jarrett worked throughout her tenure at the White House to mobilize elected officials, business and community leaders, and diverse groups of advocates. She led the Obama Administration’s efforts to expand and strengthen access to the middle class, and boost American businesses and our economy. She championed the creation of equality and opportunity for all Americans, and economically and politically empowering women in the United States and around the world. She oversaw the Administration’s advocacy for workplace policies that empower working families, including equal pay, raising the minimum wage, paid leave, paid sick days, affordable childcare, and a culture free from sexual harassment.

Donna Brazile is a veteran political strategist, a Fox News contributor, an adjunct professor at Georgetown University, and just completed a two-year appointment as the King Endowed Chair in Public Policy at Howard University. She previously served as interim Chair of the Democratic National Committee and of the DNC’s Voting Rights Institute. She managed the Gore campaign in 2000 and has lectured at more than 225 colleges and universities on race, diversity, women, leadership and restoring civility in politics. Brazile is the author of several books, including "Hacks: The Inside Story of the Break-ins and Breakdowns That Put Donald Trump in the White House." @DonnaBrazile

Rep. Val Demings (D-FL) represents Florida’s 10th District in Congress. The first woman to serve as Orlando’s Chief of Police, she now serves on the House committees on Homeland Security, Intelligence, and the Judiciary. Demings is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, Women’s Caucus, and New Democratic Caucus. She is a member of the Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery Review Board and the Elections Security Taskforce. Besides serving as a Subcommittee Vice-Chair, Congresswoman Demings’ leadership positions include serving as Assistant and Regional Whip for the House Democratic Caucus, Co-Chair of Candidate Recruitment for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and Vice Chair of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. She recently made history as one of the first women and first African Americans to serve as an presidential Impeachment Manager. Rep. Demings has been a leader on numerous issues, including bipartisan and bicameral work in Congress to reaffirm America’s commitment to media diversity.

Ai-jen Poo is the co-founder and Executive Director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, a non-profit organization working to bring quality work, dignity and fairness to the growing numbers of workers who care and clean in our homes, the majority of whom are immigrants and women of color. Her widely acclaimed book The Age of Dignity: Preparing for the Elder Boom in a Changing America helps Americans make meaning of the need and opportunity in the elder boom -- to improve access to care for all families while ensuring a strong care workforce for the future. Ai-jen Poo is also a leading voice in the women’s movement. In 2019 along with Ceclie Richards and Alicia Garza, Ai-jen co-founded SuperMajority, a new home for women's activism, training and mobilizing a multiracial, intergenerational community who will fight for gender equity together. She has been recognized among Fortune’s 50 World’s Greatest Leaders and Time’s 100 Most Influential People in the World, and she has been the recipient of countless awards, including a 2014 MacArthur "Genius" Award. Ai-jen served as a member of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation sponsored Partnership for Mobility from Poverty, currently serves as a trustee of the Ford Foundation and a member of the Democratic National Committee. She has a BA from Columbia University and honorary doctorates from Smith College, the New School, and the City University of New York.

Carla Harris is a Vice Chairman, Managing Director and Senior Client Advisor at Morgan Stanley. She is responsible for increasing client connectivity and penetration to enhance revenue generation across the firm. She formerly headed the Emerging Manager Platform, the equity capital markets effort for the consumer and retail industries and was responsible for Equity Private Placements. In her 30 year career, Ms. Harris has had extensive industry experiences in the technology, media, retail, telecommunications, transportation, industrial, and healthcare sectors. In August 2013, Carla Harris was appointed by President Barack Obama to chair the National Women’s Business Council. For more than a decade, Ms. Harris was a senior member of the equity syndicate desk and executed such transactions as initial public offerings for UPS, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Ariba, Redback, the General Motors sub-IPO of Delphi Automotive, and the $3.2 Billion common stock transaction for Immunex Corporation, one of the largest biotechnology common stock transactions in U.S. history. Ms. Harris was named to Fortune Magazine’s list of “The 50 Most Powerful Black Executives in Corporate America”, Fortune’s Most Influential List, U. S. Bankers Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Finance (2009, 2010, 2011), Black Enterprise’s Top 75 Most Powerful Women in Business (2017), and “Top 75 African Americans on Wall Street”, and to Essence Magazine’s list of “The 50 Women Who are Shaping the World”.

Tiffany Cross is a journalist, political analyst, and the host of “The Cross Connection with Tiffany Cross” airing Saturdays at 10 a.m. ET on MSNBC. Cross is a longtime cable news veteran having previously served as the D.C. Bureau Chief for BET Networks, an Associate Producer for CNN, and a freelance Field Producer. Most recently, she published her first book “Say It Louder!: Black Voters, White Narratives, and Saving Our Democracy” and was a 2020 Resident Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics. She also spent time on the campaign trail having both covered and worked on numerous local, state, and federal campaigns. In 2016, she co-founded The Beat DC, a national platform that intersected politics, policy, business, media, and people of color that was widely read by elected officials, CEOs and C-Suite executives, opinion leaders, and media influencers. She attended Clark Atlanta University and lives in Washington, D.C.

Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP, is President and CEO of SHRM, the Society for Human Resource Management. He is a member of the American Workforce Policy Advisory Board and Chair of the President’s Advisory Board on Historically Black Colleges and Universities. He serves on the boards of the University of Miami, Jobs for America’s Graduates and the American Red Cross and authors the weekly "Ask HR" column in USA Today.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has served as Senator for the State of New York since 2009, having previously served in the House of Representatives. Throughout her time in Washington, Senator Gillibrand has led the effort to appeal “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell”; successfully advocated for compensation for 9/11 first responders and fought to reform the justice system for sexual assault survivors in the military and on college campuses.

Angelica Ross is a leading figure of success and strength in the movement for transgender and racial equality and a current star in Ryan Murphy’s hit FX series “Pose” Making TV history, the show features the largest transgender cast ever for a scripted series – five transgender women of color cast to play five series regular roles, including Angelica’s role as ‘Candy Abundance’. Ross is also the President of Miss Ross, Inc. and founder of TransTech Social Enterprises, an organization that helps people lift themselves out of poverty through technical training and digital work creating a social impact and bringing economic empowerment to marginalized trans and LGBTQI+ communities.

Sallie Krawcheck’s professional mission is to help women reach their financial and professional goals (or, put more bluntly, to get more money into the hands of women), thus enabling them to live better lives and unleashing a positive ripple effect for our families, our communities and our economy. To that end, Krawcheck is the Chair of the Ellevate Network, a 135K-strong global professional women’s network; she is also the CEO and co-founder of Ellevest, a digital-first, mission-driven investment platform for women; she is Chair of the Pax Ellevate Global Women’s Leadership Fund, a fund that invests in the top-rated companies for advancing women; and she is the best-selling author of “Own It: The Power of Women at Work.” Read more about how women support each other at work through Ellevate Squads.

Before launching Ellevest, Krawcheck built a successful career on Wall Street: She was the CEO of Merrill Lynch, Smith Barney, US Trust, the Citi Private Bank, and Sanford C. Bernstein. She was also Chief Financial Officer for Citigroup. Prior to that, Krawcheck was a top-ranked research analyst covering the securities industry.

Krawcheck, one of few executives to find success in large complex companies and as a startup CEO, is widely recognized as one of the most influential women in business. She has been recognized by Inc. as a "Top Female Founder", called "The Last Honest Analyst" by Fortune magazine, was named the seventh most powerful woman in the world by Forbes, was # 9 on Fast Company's list of the "100 Most Creative People in Business," called one of the top 10 up and coming entrepreneurs to watch by Entrepreneur Magazine and has landed on Vanity Fair’s “The 2018 New Establishment List.”

Krawcheck received a BA summa cum laude from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an MBA with honors from Columbia Business School. She has two children and two cats.

Claudia Romo Edelman is a social entrepreneur, an advocate and a catalyst for change. A frequent public speaker and media contributor, Claudia is a leader for diversity, inclusion and equity, focused on unifying the U.S. Hispanic community and promoting sustainability and purpose-driven activities. Claudia is the Founder of the We Are All Human Foundation, a New York-based non-profit foundation, dedicated to advancing the agenda of diversity, inclusion and equity through developing and hosting global,national and regional events, conducting research and developing research pieces/publications, creating content and corporate activation. A Mexican-Swiss Diplomat, Claudia is also a Founder and Co-Host of ‘Global GoalsCast’, a podcast distributed by CBS News Digital, which highlights global progress through the stories of champions making a difference. Prior to her role at the We Are All Human, she was seconded to the Executive Office of the Secretary-General of the United Nations to lead communications and advocacy for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Claudia was instrumental in the creation and launch of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Lion Awards and is a special advisor for the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. She is a Jury Member of the SDG Lion Awards in 2018 and 2019. She also has been a Jury Member of the D&AD Impact Awards for the last three consecutive years.

Reshma Saujani is the Founder and CEO of Girls Who Code, the nonprofit organization working to close the gender gap in technology while teaching girls confidence and bravery through coding. A lifelong activist, Saujani was the first Indian American woman to run for U.S. Congress. She is the author of three books, including the International Bestseller Brave, Not Perfect, Women Who Don't Wait In Line and the New York Times Bestseller Girls Who Code: Learn to Code and Change the World. Reshma lives in New York City with her husband, Nihal, their son, Shaan, and their bulldog, Stanley.

Dr. Tarika Barrett is the CEO of Girls Who Code, an international non-profit organization working to close the gender gap in technology by inspiring, educating and equipping young women with the computing skills to pursue 21st century opportunities. Prior to becoming CEO, Tarika served as Chief Operating Officer of the organization. She led the organization's free Summer Immersion Program and after-school Clubs Program, which has reached 450,000 girls around the world to date. Additionally, she managed the launch of international Programming, Alumni Programming, and managed the People & Culture team.

Tarika has served on the boards of CSforALL, Eskolta, and McGraw Hill, a leading learning science company creating world-class educational content and providing best-in-class digital platforms for learners and educators. She also sits on AT&T's Accelerator Advisory Board. Tarika is the recipient of the New York University’s Steinhardt School Dorothy Height Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award, and most recently was named as one of Crain’s 50 Most Powerful Women in New York.

Tarika lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two children.

General Lori J. Robinson is a retired United States Air Force general who served as commander of the United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) and commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) from May 2016 to May 2018. She was the first female officer in the history of the United States Armed Forces to command a major Unified Combatant Command.

Robinson previously served as commander of Pacific Air Forces; air component commander for United States Pacific Command; and executive director, Pacific Air Combat Operations Staff, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. The Pacific Air Forces command has responsibility for Air Force activities spread over half the globe and supports 45,000 airmen serving principally in Japan, South Korea, Hawaii, Alaska, and Guam.

On March 18, 2016, United States Secretary of Defense Ash Carter announced that Robinson would be named by President Barack Obama to replace Admiral William E. Gortney as commander of USNORTHCOM and NORAD, subject to approval by the United States Senate. In 2016 Robinson was named to Time magazine's list of 100 most influential people. Robinson was confirmed and took over from Admiral Gortney on 13 May 2016.

Cindi Leive is a journalist, media leader and co-founder of The Meteor, a feminist media collective that launched in 2021. A cultural critic who appears frequently on TV and live events, she is a senior fellow at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg Center; the former editor-in-chief of both Glamour and Self magazines; the force behind

barrier-breaking initiatives like Glamour Women of the Year and The Girl Project; and the author or producer of numerous books including the 2018 New York Times bestseller Together We Rise about the making of the Women’s March. Cindi has interviewed heads

of state, Hollywood and fashion’s biggest personalities, and iconic leaders from all walks of life. Her many awards and honors include recognition from the White House and the United Nations, as well as an Emmy and multiple National Magazine Awards.

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Aida Rodriguez is an Afro-Latina taking the world of entertainment by storm with her wit, strong performances and charismatic personality. Making history as the first Latina to appear in two comedy specials airing in one month on both HBO and Showtime, Rodriguez was handpicked by director Taylor Hackford for his film The Comedian starring Robert De Niro. Aida’s half-hour special was featured as part of Tiffany Haddish's breakout series They Ready which was executive produced by Haddish, Wanda Sykes and Paige Hurwitz for Netflix. She is currently in development on her half-hour scripted series with Warner Media, for which she will write, executive produce and star in. Haddish, Chris Case and Nastaran Dibai are also on board to executive produce. Rodriguez is also developing an animated series with ITV Studios and Nick Weidenfeld. She will produce her first one-hour special (also with Warner Media) for HBO Max.

Geraldine Laybourne is currently chairman and co-founder of Katapult Studio,a technology start-up company for the creative generation. Gerry is a serial media entrepreneur. She founded Oxygen Media, a 24-hour cable television network for young women, where she served as chairman and CEO until she sold it to NBC Universal in 2007. Gerry was a cable programming pioneer in the 80s and 90s: she led the team that created Nickelodeon and Nick at Nite. She also served as president of Disney/ABC Cable Networks (From 1996-1998) where she ran cable programming for the Walt Disney Company and its ABC subsidiary. Gerry has been singled out for her many contributions to the industry. She was ranked No. 1 among the 50 most influential women in the entertainment industry by the Hollywood Reporter in 1996 and named one of the 25 more influential people in America by Time Magazine that same year. She serves on the board of directors of Symantec Corporation, 9 story and Betaworks. She is on the board of trustees of Vassar College and on the board of Vital Voices.

Margery Kraus is founder and executive chairman of APCO Worldwide, a global advisory and advocacy communications consultancy headquartered in Washington, D.C. She specializes in public affairs, communication, and business consulting for major multinationals. Ms. Kraus founded APCO in 1984 and transformed it from a company with one small Washington office to a multinational consulting firm in major cities throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Ms. Kraus’s achievements have been recognized over the years through a number of prestigious awards, including the PRWeek U.S. Power List (2020); Enterprising Women of the Year Award (2019); PRWeek Top 20 Most Influential Communicator (2018); and many more. Ms. Kraus is active on other institutional and corporate boards and committees. She is chairman of the board of the Women Presidents’ Organization; serves on the international advisory board of Tikehau Capital, the social responsibility advisory board of Univision Communications Corporate, and the advisory board of Enterprising Women magazine. She also serves as a trustee of American University, the Catherine B. Reynolds Foundation, and the Institute for Public Relations.

Author Richard Lui is a veteran and award-winning journalist with more than 30 years in television, film, technology, and business. Currently, at MSNBC and previously with CNN Worldwide, he is the first Asian American man to anchor a daily national cable news program, and a team Emmy and Peabody winner. He is the author of the bestselling and award-winning book "Enough About Me: The Unexpected Power of Selflessness" from HarperCollins/Zondervan. In addition, Richard’s 15-year business career involves a fintech patent and launching six tech brands over three business cycles. Richard has lived, worked, and volunteered on every continent. Learn more at www.richardlui.com

Jamal Simmons has spent most of his career at the nexus of politics and media. He is currently a political contributor to CBS News. Until early 2020, Jamal produced and hosted several segments for Hill TV where he interviewed presidential candidates, congressional leaders, celebrities and activists for the digital platform.

Krissah Thompson is The Washington Post’s Managing Editor of Diversity and Inclusion. She is the first Black woman to hold the Managing Editor title at the organization. She began her career at The Washington Post in 2001 and has held multiple roles including intern, Business reporter, covering presidential campaigns and writing about civil rights and race. Before becoming an editor in the Style section, she covered the first lady’s office, politics and culture. She is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin School of Journalism and College of Liberal Arts Plan II honors program. She also earned a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Maryland.

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Chairman Mark Takano became the first openly gay person of color to be elected to Congress in 2012. He serves as Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and as a member of the Education and Labor Committee.

Born and raised in Riverside, Mark's commitment to public service began at an early age. His family roots in Riverside go back to his grandparents who, along with his parents, were removed from their respective homes and sent to Japanese American Internment camps during World War II. After the war, these two families settled in Riverside County to rebuild their lives.

Mark attended Harvard College and received his bachelor's degree in Government in 1983. Upon graduation, Mark returned home to Riverside and began teaching in the Rialto Unified School District in 1988. As a classroom teacher, Mark confronted the challenges in our public education system daily. In 1990, Mark was elected to the Riverside Community College District's Board of Trustees.

Mark Takano represents the people of Riverside, Moreno Valley, Jurupa Valley and Perris in the United States House of Representatives.

Mr. Morgan is managing partner of D. Morgan & Partners, a government relations and public affairs firm at the center of business and the political system. Prior to launching the firm, Mr. Morgan served for almost ten years as Vice President Government Affairs for the American Express Company. Notably, Mr. Morgan is President and co-founder of the Multicultural Media Correspondents Association, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization committed to moving the needle on media diversity. In addition, he is co-founder of the National Infrastructure Investment Alliance, a coalition comprised of investment and development industry leaders helping local governments secure financing and technical assistance for their priority public-private-partnership and Opportunity Zone projects.

Licy Do Canto, a veteran of public policy, corporate strategy, health care communications and diversity and inclusion, is managing director of APCO Worldwide’s Washington D.C. office headquarters and mid-Atlantic region lead. A well respected expert in public health and health care policy, with nearly three decades of experience at the international, national, state and local levels across the nonprofit, philanthropic, corporate and government sectors, Mr. Do Canto is an accomplished, values-driven leader with unparalleled experience in developing and leading integrated public affairs campaigns combining strategic communications, public relations, political/legislative initiatives, policy, coalition building, grassroots efforts and advocacy. Mr. Do Canto has held a wide range of positions and has worked across diverse sectors and industries over the course of his successful career, making him uniquely qualified to understand and support leaders and organization to successfully navigate both the opportunities and the diplomatic, technical, and multifaceted industry challenges with which they are confronted. Mr. Do Canto has vast inside knowledge of the Washington political process, and deep substantive experience on a wide range of public policy issues from public health, health care and social impact to immigration, trade and economic development.

Maxine Williams is the Global Chief Diversity Officer at Meta. In this role, she and a team of Diversity and Inclusions specialists develop strategies to attract, retain and support the growth of underrepresented people at the company. Maxine’s team works towards increasing the cognitive diversity—different ways of thinking based on people having different backgrounds, experiences and information—of all teams across Meta..

Jacqueline is the New York Times best-selling author of “The Blue Sweater”. Her second book “Manifesto for a Moral Revolution” will be published in May 2020. In 2001, Jacqueline founded Acumen with the idea of investing philanthropic “patient-capital” in entrepreneurs seeking to solve the toughest issues of poverty.

As I reflect on current times - I am wondering about the "legacy" from these times... what will we keep? What does the "future of work" look like next year? 3 years? As a CHRO - I am excited that during disruptive times - we have the opportunity to positively disrupt our talent practices. We have permission, in fact are being asked, to be more agile, strategic and keep the 'human' fully in the middle of what we do.

Judy Chu was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in July 2009. She represents the 27th Congressional District, which includes Pasadena and the west San Gabriel Valley of southern California.Rep. Chu currently serves on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over legislation pertaining to taxes, revenues, Social Security, and Medicare.

U.S. Representative Adriano Espaillat proudly represents New York’s Thirteenth Congressional District.

Representative Espaillat is the first Dominican American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and his congressional district includes Harlem, East Harlem, West Harlem, Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill, and the north-west Bronx.

First elected to Congress in 2016, Representative Espaillat was sworn into office on January 3, 2017, during the 115th Congress and is serving his third term in Congress.

A steadfast champion for working- and middle-class New Yorkers, Representative Espaillat is a staunch advocate of a fair living wage, immediate and effective investments in affordable housing, meaningful criminal justice reform, infrastructure improvements, expanded youth programs, and better educational opportunities.

Throughout the tenure of his career in public service, Representative Espaillat has been a vocal advocate for protecting tenants, improving schools, and making serious, smart investments in economic development, job creation, and environmental protection. Prior to coming to Congress, he served as a New York State Senator during which he represented the neighborhoods of Marble Hill, Inwood, Washington Heights, Hamilton Heights, West Harlem, the Upper West Side, Hell's Kitchen, Clinton, and Chelsea.

Alejandra Y. Castillo is a change maker in the fields of public policy and law, as well as an accomplished leader of large public, private, and nonprofit organizations. A native of Queens, New Yorker and daughter of immigrants from the Dominican Republic, Alejandra calls herself the bridge and translator between two nations, two languages, two cultures, and two socio-economic systems. Holding true to her Queens and Dominican-American roots, Castillo is a huge Mets fan! Castillo has served in senior level positions in three presidential administration (Clinton, Obama and Biden) On August 11, the U.S Senate confirmed Castillo by unanimous vote to serve as the 23rd U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for the Economic Development Administration (EDA). EDA is the sole federal agency focused on economic development, workforce development, technology and innovation to ensure our nation’s global competitiveness. As she leads EDA, Castillo is responsible for the management of $4.5 billion dollars. She is also the immediate past CEO of YWCA USA, which serves 2.3 million women and girls around the country with a network of more than 200 associations. Under her leadership YWCA USA strengthened is presence as a leading voice for women and girls, and a national advocate for racial and social justice. In 2014, Castillo was appointed by the Obama Administration as the national director of the Minority Business Development Agency, becoming the first Hispanic woman to lead the agency. She helped secure financing and capital in excess of $19 billion and created or retained more than 33,000 jobs. Castillo served in the Clinton White House working on issues related to drug trafficking, interdiction, money laundering, drug prevention and treatment. Castillo has been featured in various media including The New York Times, Forbes, USA Today, CBS Cares, PBS, and The Chronicle of Philanthropy, as well as a frequent speaker in Spanish-language media outlets such as Univision and Telemundo.

Dr. Maya Rockeymoore Cummings is Founder, President, and CEO of Global Policy Solutions, a mission driven strategy firm. She previously served as the chair of the Maryland Democratic Party. Dr. Rockeymoore Cummings has announced a run for Congress in Maryland’s 7th Congressional District to succeed her late husband Congressman Elijah E. Cummings.

Representative Ritchie Torres is a fighter from the Bronx who has spent his entire life working for the community he calls home. Like many people in the South Bronx, poverty and struggle have never been abstractions to him, and he governs from a place of lived experience.

In 2013, at the age of twenty-five, Ritchie became New York City's youngest elected official and the first openly L.G.B.T.Q person elected to office in the Bronx. At the City Council, Ritchie stood out, and during his seven-year tenure he tenaciously tackled problems big and small for the Bronx and New York City. He passed over forty pieces of legislation, including legislation protecting the City's affordable housing stock and tackling the city's opioid epidemic. As the Chairman overseeing NYCHA, he held the first committee hearing ever in public housing, which led to a $3 billion-dollar FEMA investment, the largest in NYC history.

Ritchie currently lives in the South Bronx and represents NY-15 in the South Bronx. He is a member of the Committee on Financial Services and serves as the Vice Chair of the Committee on Homeland Security.

Susan is a Partner and Global Head of Strategic Finance at Apollo Global Management and was previously named Chief Financial Officer of Citi’s Global Consumer Banking business in June 2019.

Previously, she was Head of Investor Relations from 2012 to 2019, where she was responsible for managing Citi's relationships with institutional investors and research analysts in both the equity and fixed income markets. Susan was the senior sponsor of Citi’s Financial Management Associate and Analyst programs from 2016 to 2019, and she remains integrally involved in the recruiting and development of future Finance leaders. She is also the executive sponsor for Citi’s Women in Finance program.

Prior to joining Citi in 2009, Susan served as Senior Vice President, Investor Relations for Lehman Brothers, Inc. From 2005 to 2008, she was a senior banker in equity capital markets, responsible for structuring and marketing equity securities for corporate clients in the retail and consumer sectors. She joined Lehman Brothers in 1998 in investment banking, where she advised clients on M&A and capital raising activities.

Susan received her MBA from The University of Chicago Graduate School of Business and a BA from Duke University. She is a member of the YWCA Academy of Women Leaders (2018) and the David Rockefeller Fellows program (2019).

Racquel Oden is Head of National Sales for Chase Consumer Banking responsible for servicing over 20 million customers with direct responsibility for over $980 billion in deposits and investments leading 40,000+ employees. In her previous role, she was the Northeast Division Director, managing their Consumer Banking and Wealth Management business. In the division she served 4.9 million customers with over $300 billion in deposits and investments overseeing 10,000 associates and advisors. As the Division Director, she defined frameworks for bankers and advisors, driving transformative initiatives to develop strategies to enhance and evolve the client experience.

Previously, Ms. Oden was an executive member at Merrill Lynch, where she spent eight years in several leadership roles. Her most recent role was Market Executive of the flagship New York Fifth Avenue Market, the firm’s largest market with more than 250 advisors serving high-net-worth individuals and institutions with over $35 billion in assets under management. Prior to that, she was Head of Advisor Strategy and Development, responsible for coaching the firm’s 14,000 advisors and leading initiatives designed to recruit and train the next generation, and before that, Head of Global Product Strategy & Business Development where she oversaw the team’s new product business development supporting all channels within Global Wealth & Investment Management.

Noor Tagouri is an award-winning journalist, producer, and podcaster blazing a trail across mainstream media. With an aware and engaged community of over 2 million followers, Noor has garnered international praise as one of new media’s most influential voices, using innovative storytelling to emphasize subcultures and marginalized communities in the U.S. Her documentary and podcast series, Sold in America, received a Gracies award for Best Investigative Series. In 2019, Noor founded At Your Service (AYS), her production company and consultancy, telling stories through a lens of service. Her popular podcast interview series, PODCAST NOOR, is a guided storytelling session that creates spaces and curiosity for impactful conversations. Noor's work focuses on identity, inclusion, proper representation in media, and breaking barriers through storytelling. From viral stories and global speaking tours, to releasing her own line of fashion and partnering with brands like Prada, Valentino and Tommy Hilfiger, Noor is raising the bar every step of the way.

Reggie Greer currently serves as Senior Advisor to the U.S. Special Envoy to Advance the Human Rights of LGBTQUI+ Persons and previously served as the White House Director of Priority Placement and Senior Advisor on LGBTQ+ Engagement for President Joe Biden. He previously served as the LGBTQ+ Engagement Director for the Biden-Harris campaign. Previously, he was the Constituent Engagement Director at LGBTQ Victory Institute where he supported LGBTQ+ elected and appointed leaders around the country.

Prior to joining Victory, Reggie served as Deputy Director of Public Engagement at the United States Department of Transportation where he developed strategies for effective communication and engagement with thousands of transportation stakeholders across every mode on key White House and Departmental priorities. Appointed by President Barack Obama and Secretary Anthony Foxx in May 2014, Reggie served as the Department’s liaison to the White House Business Council, engaging business leaders across the country on a wide range of transportation-related initiatives, programs, and issues. Reggie began his tenure at the Department as a special assistant to Secretary Foxx. And, in 2016, Reggie was appointed to serve on Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser’s LGBTQ Advisory Committee.

In 2009, Reggie received his Bachelor of Arts in Government and History from Georgetown University, having concentrated his studies in education and social policy.

Tiffany Dufu is founder and CEO of The Cru. Their algorithm matches circles of women who collaborate to meet their personal and professional goals. She’s also the author of the bestselling book Drop the Ball: Achieving More by Doing Less. According to foreword contributor Gloria Steinem, Drop the Ball is “important, path-breaking, intimate and brave.” Named to Entrepreneur's 100 Powerful Women and Fast Company’s League of Extraordinary Women, Tiffany has raised nearly $20 million toward the cause of women and girls. She was a launch team member to Lean In and was Chief Leadership Officer to Levo, one of the fastest growing millennial professional networks. Prior to that, Tiffany served as President of The White House Project, as a Major Gifts Officer at Simmons University, and as Associate Director of Development at Seattle Girls’ School. Tiffany is a member of Women’s Forum New York, Delta Sigma Theta, Sorority, Inc. and is a Lifetime Girl Scout. She serves on the board of Girls Who Code and Simmons University and lives in New York City with her husband and two children.

Jonah is an Internet entrepreneur and co-founder & CEO of BuzzFeed. Prior to BuzzFeed, he was a co-founder of The Huffington Post.

James Rhee is an impact investor, founder, CEO and educator who empowers people, brands and organizations to fulfill their true potential by marrying capital with purpose and truth across multiple systems. The acclaimed story of the remarkable transformation and re-imagination of Ashley Stewart, one of the country’s largest brands serving Black women, under his leadership as chairman, CEO and investor (2013-2020) has served as proof to millions of people, as well as the world’s leading businesses and organizations, that one can do better by being better.

James is at the vanguard of making knowledge, opportunity and capital accessible to all. He holds appointments at both MIT Sloan School of Management and Duke Law School as a senior lecturer, where he teaches future leaders about organizational systems and deconstructed investment principles relating to money, life and joy.

Richard A. Fowler is a television talent, radio host, and millennial messaging expert who currently serves as a progressive contributor at FOX News Channel. Fowler has been providing political and cultural analysis across the cable network’s highly rated slate of programming since September 2016. Fowler also hosts the nationally syndicated Fowler Show, a weekly radio program which can be heard in more than 9.1 million homes.

Additionally, Fowler serves as a staple on SiriusXM’s Progress and Urban View. His written work has been featured in: The Hill, The Grio, The Root, Ebony Magazine, JET Magazine, the Charlotte Observer, Huff Post and FoxNews.com.

As a first-generation American, from Jamaican parents, Fowler began his political career in his home state of Florida, volunteering with numerous local and statewide races. Since then, Fowler has been an advocate for youth, social equity, and the African American LGBTQ community.

Most recently, Fowler was named a Senior Media Fellow for the New Leader’s Council and Chairman of the Center for Black Equity Leadership Council. In both of these roles, Fowler focuses on training, equipping, and empowering the next generation of millennial and LGBTQ leaders to use their voice to advocate for change.

Erica Cobb is a seasoned television host and social commentator who is currently a co- host on Tegna’s “Daily Blast Live” (“DBL”), the only national daytime talk show airing live in all time zones. Erica also hosts her own weekly podcast called “Comeback with Erica Cobb”, which airs on all major social platforms and lives at www.comeback.tv where Erica’s motto is “everyone is deserving of the comeback they are willing to earn.”

Prior to “DBL,” Erica was a morning radio personality, a host for the Denver Nuggets and lifestyle contributor to various media platforms. Erica started her media career in her hometown of Chicago, radio then took her to California and Colorado. She’s been an on-air talent for WBBM-FM in Chicago, KALC-FM in Denver and KZZO-FM in Sacramento.

Erica’s social justice and entertainment commentary has introduced more than 58 million unique viewers to “Daily Blast Live” on social media.

Erica’s on-camera resume expands to include commercial print modeling, appearing in ads and signage for clients such as Ebony, Complete Woman Magazine, Galyans, Jack Daniels and McDonalds. Erica holds a B.A. in Communications Studies from DePaul University.

Judy Choi is the Chief Administrative Officer of Private Credit & Equity (PC&E) within Morgan Stanley Investment Management (MSIM), a global investment manager managing $1.6Tn of AUM with over 40 years of history delivering innovative investment solutions across public and private markets worldwide.

She oversees a broad range of initiatives managing the business of direct private equity and credit investment including organizational management, product development, recruiting and retention, compliance and risk management, expense management, technology management, and process reengineering in close partnership with MSIM and corporate-level support organizations. She leads the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) integration effort across PC&E investment teams and represents the division on the MSIM Sustainability Council. She also serves on the Investment Committee of the Morgan Stanley Next Level Fund, a venture fund that invests in early-stage technology and technology-enabled companies with women or diverse members as part of the founding team.

She received a B.A. from Hunter College, an M.H.A. from the University of Cincinnati, and M.B.A.s from Columbia University and London Business School. She serves on the Board of VillageCare of NY, on the Advisory Council of American Corporate Partners (ACP) and is the co-President of the London Business School Alumni Association in New York.

Michelle Kim is the co-founder and CEO of Awaken, a leading provider of modern and interactive diversity, inclusion, and leadership workshops. Prior to Awaken, Michelle had a successful career in both tech and management consulting, working with C- and VP-level executives to build high-performing organizations around the world. As an immigrant queer woman of color, Michelle has been a lifelong social justice activist and a community organizer, serving on a variety of organizations such as the San Francisco LGBTQ Speakers Bureau, UC LGBTIQ Association Steering Committee (commissioned by the UC system’s Office of the President), San Francisco Human Rights Commission’s Advisory Committee, and LYRIC youth nonprofit’s Board of Directors.

Kristy Wallace is the CEO of Ellevate Network, and is responsible for executing Ellevate Network’s mission of changing the culture of business from the inside out by providing professional women with a supportive community to lean on and learn from. She directs the Network’s staff, is responsible for business growth and strategy, and works closely with Ellevate's Chapter Leaders, Business Partners, and Champions to further Ellevate's impact. Kristy is host of the Ellevate Podcast: Conversations with Women Changing the Face of Business and is also a regular speaker and thought leader on Leadership, Diversity, Social Entrepreneurship, Networking, and Entrepreneurialism. Most recently, Kristy was recognized as a Woman of Influence by the New York Business Journal.

LaFawn Davis is Senior Vice President of Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) at Indeed. She leads teams that focus on Sustainability, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging, Accessibility, Social Impact, Inclusive Hiring Products and AI Ethics. The focus of Indeed’s ESG commitments are to close the opportunity gap, break down bias and barriers, and conserve the environment.

She is a globally-recognized operator with 20 years of experience serving in leadership roles at innovative Fortune 50, 100 and unicorn technology companies like Google, Yahoo, PayPal and Twilio. Leveraging this experience, she brings deep expertise for transforming companies through driving results, creating a culture of psychological safety and belonging, and building high-performing teams.

LaFawn is an advisor, speaker at events worldwide and a frequent contributor to articles as seen in Fast Company, Forbes, TIME, Variety, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post. She was recently named one of Entrepreneur Magazine’s 100 Women of Impact, which is an annual celebration of the women leading today’s most influential, innovative companies, and changing lives while they’re at it. For two years in a row, she was named one of Fast Company’s Queer50, a ranking of the most influential and innovative queer women and nonbinary people transforming the world of business, tech, and beyond. The San Francisco Business Times also recognized her as one of the Most Influential Women in Business.

Peter co-founded and led Prezi for its first 12 years, building the most engaging way to share content with live and remote audiences. Prezi is one of the first global brands to have originated in Hungary, with more than 100 million users in 175 countries and adoption across the world’s leading enterprises.

He’s been named Entrepreneur of the Year by the EU Commission, Alumni of the Year by the Royal Institute of Technology. In 2015, he became the first openly gay and visible CEO in Central and Eastern Europe and has been included multiple times in Financial Times’ ranking of the world’s most influential LGBT executives.

Peter also co-founded and chaired WeAreOpen - a gathering of over 1,000 CEE companies that work for diverse and inclusive work environments, representing over 100k employees.

Liane Hornsey joined Palo Alto Networks as chief people officer in September 2018. Liane previously served as chief people officer at Uber Technologies, Inc. where she helped transform the culture during a period of significant turbulence. Prior to that, she served as chief administrative officer and operating partner at SoftBank Group International. In this role she traveled the globe helping portfolio companies scale and achieve unsurpassed human capital success. For almost ten years before joining SoftBank, Liane led People Operations for Google’s Global Business and became Google’s first female vice president in human resources.

Liane has held senior leadership roles at lastminute.com Group, Virgin Media and BMG Music. Liane is widely recognized as one of the world’s pre-eminent practitioners in people operations as well as organization and leadership development.

Liane serves on the board of BUILD, a nonprofit organization that provides real-world entrepreneurial experience to empower youth from under-resourced communities to excel in education, lead in their communities and succeed professionally.

Strategic business leader with proven experience in managing start-up Internet businesses and leading traditional media businesses transitioning to new, digital formats. Results-oriented management style with demonstrated success in building and marketing consumer-focused media brands, directing business operations and leading the creative process. Skilled at identifying critical business needs and executing to address those needs. Ability to build and motivate a team.

Frida is an award-winning Harvard-and-MIT trained neuroscientist turned startup founder, who is passionate about revolutizing access to economic opportunity through unbiased tech. She is the CEO and co-founder of pymetrics, which matches people to top jobs while removing gender and ethnic bias from the hiring process through neuroscience and AI technology.

Melissa Bell is an American journalist and technologist. She helped launch the Indian business newspaper Mint, and held several positions at The Washington Post, starting in 2010. In 2014, co-founded the news and opinion website Vox where she currently serves as publisher.

Rha Goddess is THE entrepreneurial soul coach behind hundreds of breakthrough changemakers, cultural visionaries, and social entrepreneurs. In 2011 Rha founded Move The Crowd, an entrepreneurial training company dedicated to creative and cultural entrepreneurs working at the intersection of values, profitability and social impact.

Ceyenne Doroshow (pronounced Kai-Ann) is a compassionate powerhouse performer, activist, organizer, community-based researcher and public figure in the trans and sex worker rights’ movements. As the Founder and Executive Director of G.L.I.T.S., she works to provide holistic care to LGBTQ sex workers while serving on the following boards: SWOP-USA, Caribbean Equality Project, SOAR Institute and NYTAG. As an international public speaker, her presentations include The Desiree Alliance, Creating Change, SisterSong, Harm Reduction Coalition and the International AIDS Conferences. She was a featured emcee for Toronto Pride and MOMA/PS1’s Sex Workers’ Festival of Resistance, lifting her voice as a trans woman of color. Ceyenne has been heavily featured in the media, has performed on television in Showtime’s OZ, for the documentaries Red Umbrella Diaries and Miss Major. Known for her skills in the kitchen, Ceyenne co-authored the Caribbean cookbook Cooking in Heels, while incarcerated on prostitution charges. She is currently working on her second book, titled Falling Into the Fire.

I have had the honor of launching or reimagining iconic media brands to find new audience, build new products, diversify revenue streams and create lasting brand loyalty. I am a champion of change and creative innovation. But what really drives me is helping women and the next generation of leaders step into their power—at work, in relationships, and in their lives. I was editor-in-chief of legendary teen brand, Seventeen, for the better part of a decade and repositioned that brand to reach a new audience and drove it to number one by every metric. Most recently I've built an events and community platform to inspire and unite a network of women and men who are devoted to helping each other achieve and succeed. The business evolved from my book, The Big Life, which is a guide for the next generation who are changing what it means to be powerful and successful in the world—for everyone. I've been a consultant and contributor to Good Morning America, helping re-launch its website with a new editorial strategy and leading important on-air conversations about the next generation. With a message of embracing change and building bridges between generations, I give speeches and lead conversations for major conferences and brands, including TEDx, Forbes, Microsoft, Facebook and Avon.

Charlene A. Wheeless, senior advisor for equity and justice at APCO Worldwide, is the former principal vice president of global corporate affairs for Bechtel Corporation. Ms. Wheeless was responsible for global communications, issues and reputation management, sustainability, stewardship and public affairs. She served on the company’s ethics and knowledge management committees, as well as the boards of the Bechtel PAC and Bechtel Group Foundation.

Before joining Bechtel in 2009, Ms. Wheeless was vice president of communications for the Intelligence and Information Systems (IIS) business unit of Raytheon Company as well as the site executive of its Falls Church, Va. facility. In these positions she oversaw global public relations, advertising, media relations, marketing communications, employee communications, and community relations and served as the lead executive, responsible for facility operations, security and quality audits, and employee morale.

Prior to her years with Raytheon, Ms. Wheeless was senior vice president of global communications and marketing for American Management Systems (AMS) and corporate vice president of communications at DynCorp. She also held executive and staff positions with PRC, Inc. (later acquired by Northrop Grumman Corporation), Steuart Petroleum Company, and IBM Corporation.

Ms. Wheeless was recently named by PRWeek magazine one of the 50 most influential PR professionals in the industry, for the third consecutive year.

Accomplished D & I Executive with 20+ years of experience across multiple industries. Consistently achieved or exceeded organizational expectations by properly aligning business goals with human resources & diversity strategy. Recognized for attaining improvements in key metrics linked to revenue, profitability, productivity, and attrition. Key Competencies: Diversity Strategy: Create, Communicate & Execute Succession Plans: Identify, Develop IDPs, and Training plans Organizational Development & Change Management Performance Management Talent Management Compensation Management Legal Compliance, OFCCP, Data Privacy, HIPAA, PHI, PII Supplier Diversity Budget Administration & Reporting & Contract Compliance Project Management: Certified Six Sigma Greenbelt Certified Diversity Professional (CDP), MBA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP

Jill Filipovic is a journalist based in Nairobi and New York City, and the author of The H-Spot: The Feminist Pursuit of Happiness. A contributing opinion writer for the New York Times and The Guardian, she is also a weekly columnist for Cosmopolitan and CNN. She is also an attorney. Her work on law, politics, gender and foreign affairs has appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, VICE, TIME, Al Jazeera America, the Nation, Foreign Policy, Marie Claire, and others. She was an editor at NYU Law’s Journal of Law and Social Change, and a contributor to the Yale Journal of Law and Feminism and the anthology Yes Means Yes: Visions of Female Sexual Power and a World Without Rape, named one of the best books of the year by Publisher’s Weekly A winner of a 2014 Newswomen’s Club of New York Front Page Award for her global health reporting and two Society of Professional Journalists Sigma Delta Chi award for political commentary, she was also a UN Foundation Fellow in Malawi and Indonesia, and an International Reporting Project fellow in Brazil and India. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @jillfilipovic.

Named one of Business Insider’s “Top 16 Power Player Execs in AD Video Streaming Space”, Damian leads the finance, business development and advertising sales / operations departments at Revry. Revry is now the world's largest Queer TV Network, reaching over 280 million households and devices. Revry was also featured on the cover of The Los Angeles Times Business section, named “App of the Day” by Apple app stores globally and recently featured Jennifer Lopez and Joe Biden in their “National Coming Out Day - QueerX Live! award show. Prior to his role at the company, Damian worked as the Head of Business Development in the US for live-streaming German-based company Make.tv (recently acquired by LTN Networks). Previously, Damian worked for General Motors domestic/international brands Chevrolet and Cadillac, developing and creating new media opportunities to promote new car lineups at live events and auto shows across the US and Europe. Damian has produced over 50 web projects, short films, feature films, and commercials. Damian has acted as an Adjunct Professor at Columbia College Chicago, has lectured at over 20 universities and colleges across the globe including the University of Southern California, Los Angeles Film School, and BAU University Istanbul Turkey amongst others. Damian also worked for YouTube Space Los Angeles and New York teaching creators live streaming and strategy.

My team and I are building a future with less sexual shame and judgment and more permission to build sexual wellness, whatever that means for each person. Every human being on this planet deserves comprehensive education about sex, pleasure, and relationships. Serial founder, ex-investor, contributor to New York Times, SELF, and Forbes.com, author of Sextech Revolution, the Future of Sexual Wellness, & professional public speaker who has spoken at TED Unplugged, Women in Tech Festival, and more. I was raised in a religious, conservative, first-generation Filipino-American family that only taught abstinence. Struggling with my own sexuality and the shameful messages I received about sex and the importance of virginity, I couldn't find reliable resources online. I became obsessed with the question: what exists between Planned Parenthood and porn? Our mission at O.school is to make sure the next generation has more trusted resources than we did.

Christina Chong is an international television and film actress who stars in the brand-new CBS series “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” (May 2022) alongside Anson Mount and Rebecca Romijn. As series regular ‘La'an Noonien-Singh,’ she channels her inner fighter, to win over adversity no matter what. The series will expand the iconic franchise, adding six new crew members on the USS Enterprise, alongside its familiar trio of lead characters. For Christina, the focus on equality and diversity in the Star Trek franchise very much leads back to her own personal journey in Hollywood.

Christina is the proud daughter of a Chinese father who immigrated to the UK from Hong Kong and English mother. Her tireless work ethic stems from watching her father working low wage jobs in restaurants, often jobs only immigrants would be willing to take on, and her mother staying at home raising six children. She credits her ability to succeed in the arts to her mother, when despite living in government housing and raising her family on welfare, always managed to support Christina’s dreams.

Her career has seen no bounds to what she can achieve. On the television side she can be seen in hit series such as Netflix’s “Black Mirror,” BBC America’s “Doctor Who,” Fox’s “24: Live Another Day,” “Halo: Nightfall” with Mike Colter, British crime drama “Line of Duty,” and ITV’s “Grace.”

Esther K. Choo, M.D.,M.P.H., is an emergency physician in Portland, Oregon and an associate professor at Oregon Health & Science University. She cofounded Equity Quotient, a company that conducts assessments of healthcare company culture, and was a founding member of TIME'S UP Healthcare, which advocates for workplace safety and dignity for women. She is a past president of the Academy of Women in Academic Emergency Medicine, and a popular health communicator who writes for NBC Think and Self magazine, has a regular column for The Lancet focused on health disparities and appears as a medical expert on CNN and MSNBC. Choo is the host of the Doctor's Log podcast.

Jane van Dis, MD is an Obstetrician-Gynecologist, Co-Founder and CEO of Equity Quotient. She is Medical Director for Ob Hospitalist Group, and Medical Director for MavenClinic. She received her medical degree from the University of South Dakota and trained in Obstetrics & Gynecology at UCLA. A national expert and speaker on gender equity in the physician workplace, she has published on the topic in the NEJM, Slate and Harvard Business Review. She has written for or been quoted in the NYT, TIME, US News, Allure, Bustle, Becker’s, Reader’s Digest, Popular Science and multiple medical publications. She is a single mom to twins, Brooklyn and Miles.

Sue Marcus is the Regional President of MSP, RPO and Payroll Solutions for Randstad Sourceright North America. Sue is bringing together this organization to support clients initiatives to bring the best talent into their organizations, with the goal of an agile model, aligned to changing business demands – creating a new path for a customer toward total talent management. Initially joining the Randstad organization back in 2004, under the brand Spherion, Sue has been driving client performance, strategy and innovation for the past 10+ years by working closely with and supporting the growth of the company’s RPO delivery teams.

Avra is an expert in catalyzing societal change that supports women and working families. Her approach integrates public policy, strategic communications and intersectoral partnerships for maximum impact. Avra is currently the Head of US Policy Programs at Facebook. She is responsible for coordinating and developing the company’s efforts to maximize social and economic impact in the US. Prior to joining Facebook she was the Director of Public Policy and Strategic Partnerships at Care.com, the world’s largest destination for finding care. Avra previously served for 6 years at the White House under President Obama, as the Deputy Director of the White House Council on Women and Girls and lead on women’s economic security at the White House National Economic Council during the financial crisis. She has worked on multiple Presidential and local campaigns. Avra holds a BA from the University of Michigan and an MPA from NYU’s Wagner School of Public Service. She lives in Washington D.C. with her husband and two young boys.

Erin L. Thomas, PhD, is head of diversity, inclusion & belonging at Upwork. She brings a distinctive mix of research and practitioner expertise to this role, which includes leading diversity, inclusion, and belonging (DIBs) strategy, implementation, and coaching. Prior to Upwork, Erin was a managing director at Paradigm, a diversity and inclusion strategy firm, where she partnered with companies to embed DIBs into their organizations through culture transformation and people development. Prior to Paradigm, Erin held positions at Grant Thornton LLP and Argonne National Laboratory developing D&I strategies, programming, and metrics. She holds a PhD in social psychology; a Master of Philosophy in social psychology; a Master of Science in social psychology; and Bachelors of Arts in psychology and international studies from Yale University.

David J. Johns is known for his passion, public policy acumen and fierce advocacy for youth. He is an enthusiast about equity—leveraging his time, talent and treasures to address the needs of individuals and communities often neglected and ignored. A recognized thought leader and social justice champion, David’s career has focused on improving life outcomes and opportunities for Black people.

On September 1, 2017, David Johns began his next life chapter as the executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC)—a civil rights organization dedicated to the empowerment of Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people, including people living with HIV/AIDS. NBJC’s mission is to end racism, homophobia, and LGBTQ bias and stigma.

In 2013, Johns was appointed as the first executive director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans (Initiative) by President Barack H. Obama and served until the last day of the Obama Administration in January, 2017. The Initiative worked across federal agencies and with partners and communities nationwide to produce a more effective continuum of education and workforce development programs for African American students of all ages.

Lex Pe'er Horwitz (they/them) is a queer, non-binary transgender Jewish nationally recognized LGBTQ+ Educator, Activist, Consultant, Public Speaker and Model based out of Philadelphia and New York City. Lex received their B.A. in Psychology and Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies from Bowdoin College, where they competed on the Varsity Men’s squash team and became the first out transgender athlete in all of collegiate squash, and the first out transgender athlete to compete at Bowdoin.

Their work focuses on educating people of all ages and backgrounds on LGBTQ+ identities, topics, and issues through a multitude of pathways—facilitations and workshops, lectures and public speaking, one-on-one support, and consultation services to name a few.

Currently, Lex is a research co-investigator, consultant and writer in Gender Affirming Health Care at Temple University and Temple Health. Additionally, Lex works with higher ed institutions, nonprofits and businesses creating LGBTQ+ curriculum and training, developing inclusive policy, producing educational resources, and providing feedback and action steps to address areas of growth (and for Lex’s business partners, they create marketing and campaign development plans).

You can learn more about Lex and access their free educational resources on their website. Stay connected and follow Lex’s journey through Instagram, Patreon and LinkedIn

Jeff Wald is the Founder of WorkMarket, an enterprise software platform that enables companies to manage freelancers (acquired by ADP). Jeff has founded several other technology companies, including Spinback, a social sharing platform (eventually purchased by salesforce.com). Jeff began his career in finance, serving as Managing Director at activist hedge fund Barington Capital Group, a Vice President at venture capital firm GlenRock and various roles in the M&A Group at JP Morgan. Jeff is an active angel investor and startup advisor, as well as serving on numerous public and private Boards of Directors. He also formerly served as an officer in the Auxiliary Unit of the New York Police Department. Jeff is the author of The Birthday Rules and the Amazon Best Seller The End of Jobs: The Rise of On-Demand Workers and Agile Corporations. Jeff frequently speaks at conferences and in media on startups and labor issues. Jeff holds an MBA from Harvard University and an MS and BS from Cornell University.

Regina currently serves as Senior Vice President at MINDBODY, your source for fitness memberships, workout classes, wellness services, beauty appointments, while also serving as the Vice Mayor for the City of East Palo Alto. Previously, Regina worked as Chief of Staff at both eBay and Facebook.

Milagros Chirinos is the head of communications for Advancing Hispanics & Latinos (AHL) at JPMorgan Chase & Co based in Washington D.C. In this role, she oversees communications for the AHL initiative including deepening relations with Spanish-language outlets, Latino and global media and leads strategic efforts to support the Hispanic and Latino community. She brings a wealth of experience working in Hispanic media strategy and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts from her previous roles. During her five-year tenure with the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, Milagros led Spanish-language strategy and managed in-country programs designed to promote workplace inclusion Mexico, Chile, Argentina and Brazil.

She started her professional career in media and journalism working for bilingual outlets including, CENTRO Tampa and CBS radio in South Florida. Milagros holds a master’s degree in Hispanic Literature and Culture from the University of South Florida and is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She was born and raised in Lima, Peru and lives in DC with her fiancée.

In 2018, Edgar released his first book, Decolonizing Wealth, which offers hopeful and compelling alternatives to the dynamics of colonization in the philanthropic and social finance sectors, and established Decolonizing Wealth Project (DWP). In 2019, he founded Liberated Capital, a fund that invites individuals and organizations to give through a reparations model that trusts and supports the leadership of those most impacted by historical and systemic racism.Edgar advises organizations ranging from

Fortune 500 companies to global and national philanthropies and nonprofits on advancing racial equity inside of their institutions and through their community investment strategies.

He holds two degrees from the Gillings Global School of Public Health at The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. and is an enrolled member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina.

Steve Mason, is one of the finest and most experienced broadcasters in American today. Steve is a mental health advocate speaking openly about his 2002 bi-polar diagnosis. He also came out as gay on ESPN in 2015. He has co-hosted the nationally broadcast “The Late, Late Show” with Tom Snyder, anchored “Good Day LA” on KTTV Fox 11 in Los Angeles, hosted morning drive radio on WNEW in New York, anchored 7 Olympic Games for NBC, and since 2004, he has co-hosted “Mason & Ireland,” the #1 rated radio sports show in Los Angeles where he has interviewed everyone from Kim Kardashian to Lebron James. In 2019, Steve established the CulturePop Podcast with stand-up comic Sue Kolinsky

Minda is a sought after speaker and thought-leader, frequently speaking on topics of Advancing Women of Color, Leadership, Equity, and Entrepreneurship. Minda is the best-selling author of The Memo: What Women of Color Need To Know To Secure A Seat At The Table and the founder of The Memo LLC, a career development company for women of color.

Elinor Tatum is the Publisher and Editor in Chief of the New York Amsterdam News, the oldest and largest black newspaper in the City of New York, and one of the oldest ethnic papers in the United States. Ms. Tatum was appointed to Editor In Chief in 1997, becoming one of the youngest publishers in the history of the black press. She began at the newspaper as a journalist, covering issues local and national issues affecting Harlem and the black community. In addition to publishing the Amsterdam News, Ms. Tatum produces and co-hosts a weekly segment of Al Sharpton’s Weekly Radio Show “Keep’in It Real” – a nationally syndicated talk show. In addition to her career in journalism, Ms. Tatum is a philanthropist and holds many civic positions. She is currently, a member of the Board of Trustees of her college alma mater, St. Lawrence University. In addition she sits on the board of the New York Urban League, the Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem, the Chinatown YMCA, Manhattan Community Board 3, and the Creative Visions Foundation. She is also the former Secretary of the National Newspaper Publishers Association.

Deesha Dyer is a speaker, community leader and organizer, creative event strategy consultant, and most notably known as the former Obama Administration Social Secretary. The Philadelphia native and former hip-hop journalist became a White House intern at the age of 30 while attending community college and completed a seven-year tenure there that honed her expertise in event coordination, logistics, protocol, and statecraft. She led a team that coordinated the monumental 2015 visit of Pope Francis, State Dinners with heads of states from China, Canada, and Italy; and booked legendary performances by stellar artists such as Beyoncé, Bruce Springsteen, and the cast of the Broadway musical Hamilton. A life-long community advocate, Deesha co-founded beGirl.world, an organization that empowers teen girls through global education and travel. Deesha sits on several boards including SIECUS, an organization dedicated to comprehensive sex education and MNDFL Ed, which brings mindfulness in to schools around New York City. Following a community college and study abroad scholarship she created, Deesha also recently launched The Black Girl 44 scholarship, which financially supports black female college students interning in Washington, D.C. Deesha is currently the CEO & Founder of Hook & Fasten and an advisor at the Ford Foundation and shares her incredible journey with audiences around the world.

Claire Wasserman is an educator, author, and founder of Ladies Get Paid, a global community that champions the professional and financial advancement of women. She is also the producer and host of John Hancock’s podcast, “Friends Who Talk About Money”. Claire has traveled the country teaching thousands of women how to negotiate millions of dollars in raises, start businesses, and advocate for themselves in the workplace. Claire was named one of Entrepreneur Magazine's 100 Most Powerful Women and is a highly-sought-after expert for Fortune 500 companies working to improve diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging within their organizations.

Patricia serves as the President & CEO for the Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement (HACE), leading strategy, fundraising & development, leadership programs, and expanding impact on a national scale. As an advocate for access and equity, Patricia strives to create a multi-generational, diverse, and inclusive support network to catapult the career growth Latinos across the country. Patricia leads with a diverse industry background, from co-founding a nonprofit, leading in community affairs for local government, marketing for corporate utilities company, to administration in higher education, to circling back to nonprofit at HACE as a Director in 2010, Sr. Director 2012, then CEO in 2015. Patricia has a strong history of serving the community, as reflected by her service on various nonprofit boards and committees, and several accolades, most recently appointed as a commissioner on the Illinois Hispanic Employment Plan Council and named Crain’s Business Chicago Top 25 Most Powerful Latinos. Patricia earned a double Bachelor of Arts degree from Indiana University Bloomington in Spanish and Communication & Culture and a Master’s in Public Affairs (MPA) in Public Management from Indiana University’s School of Public & Environmental Affairs (SPEA)-Indianapolis. Patricia is also a certified leadership coach, Insights Discovery© licensed practitioner, and a proud Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow.

Lauren McGoodwin is Career Contessa’s CEO, #1 power move advocate, and has a life mission to help women build successful and fulfilling careers on their terms. Lauren launched Career Contessa in 2013 out of her master’s thesis project to close the gap in career development resources for women. Career Contessa now helps over 3 million women each year with their careers through content, online learning courses, and job listings.

Formerly, Lauren was a Recruiter for Hulu focused on hiring, employer branding, and talent development. She has a Bachelor's in Education from University of Oregon and a Master’s in Communication Management from USC where she wrote her thesis on millennial women and career resources.

Lauren has spoken at TED Women, Watermark Conference for Women, and South by Southwest, appeared on Cheddar TV, Good Day LA, and regularly contributes on career advice to outlets like Good Morning America, Goop, and more.

Lauren is also the host of The Career Contessa Podcast, the show that delivers helpful, actionable career tips and advice so that you can be more fulfilled, healthy, and successful at work.

Most recently released her first book, Power Moves: How Women Can Pivot, Reboot, and Build a Career of Purpose, from Harper Business, and loves to stay in touch on Instagram:

Website: @careercontessa

Lauren: @laurenmcgoodwin

Sian Morson is the ultimate multi-hyphenate; a change-agent, entrepreneur, author, and investor. An accomplished entrepreneur, Sian has founded 3 tech companies and has been at the forefront of technology for the past 15 years. In 2015, Sian was named one of 3 winners of the L’Oreal Women in Digital Award for her app Cast Beauty; the first Black woman to do so. Sian has authored two books, the best-selling Learn Design for iOS with Sketch and Design for iOS Development. She is currently at work on her 3rd book. Her educational background includes graduation from New York University’s Tisch School of the arts with a bachelor’s degree in Film & Television and a master’s degree in Electronic Art from Middlesex University in London. Currently, Sian is the Director of Strategy and Investments at the Starfish Accelerator – the first of its kind accelerator that invests in storytellers of color. In addition to her work at Starfish, Sian is an active angel investor and advisor to startups and founders including Funder.ai, GlowUp Games, and Kanna. Sian is regularly called upon to speak about topics ranging from diversity, to design and investing; and she has been featured globally in publications including the Wall Street Journal, Marie Claire, Essence, Inc. Magazine and Fast Company.

Dr. Korin Reid earned her Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology where she leveraged Artificial Intelligence and Operations Research to determine cost-effective means of producing biofuels from biomass in the southeastern United State. In addition, Dr. Reid has held various Data Science roles in the healthcare space. This includes building massively scalable Machine Learning solutions scaling to billions of records and impacting more than 160 million covered lives and a third of US hospitals. For this effort, Dr. Reid was named to Forbes 2017 “30 Under 30” list in the Science category. Dr. Reid has a wealth of experience leading large Data organizations including Data Science, Data Engineering, and Software Development teams. Dr. Reid currently serves as CEO of Ellison Laboratories, a consulting firm that specializes in leveraging Artificial Intelligence and Operations Research to transform organizations in the healthcare, energy, and education technology verticals.

Candace Mitchell Harris is cofounder and CEO of Techturized Inc., a high tech hair care company based in Atlanta, GA. Their first product, Myavana, is a personalized hair care service that recommends products and services based on scientific analysis of consumer’s hair type and texture. She was recently named on WWD’s Top 50 Beauty Innovators Under 40, 2016 Forbes 30 Under 30 list in the category of Retail and E-Commerce, and BET’s Next In Class STEM Award Winner. She graduated from Georgia Tech in 2011 with a B.S. in Computer Science. Her technology background includes undergraduate research in IT security and human computer interaction. Her company has been featured nationally on ‘The Real’ daytime talk show, Marie Claire Magazine, MSNBC’s Melissa Harris Perry show, ESSENCE magazine, Ebony Magazine, Black Enterprise, and Business Insider.

Andrea Breanna is the founder and CEO of RebelMouse. RebelMouse is a creative agency and CMS platform for enterprise brands and media companies. The platform reaches 160 million people monthly. Before launching RebelMouse, Andrea was CTO of The Huffington Post. Andrea is also on the Consumer Advisory Board for American Express, and is an advisor to Lerer Hippeau Ventures. Andrea is proudly and openly transgender. She lives with her wife and 4 kids in Brooklyn NY.
You can find her on Twitter @AndreaBreannaNY.

Urvashi Tyagi is the Chief Technology Officer at ADP, where she is responsible for long-term technology vision and strategy, modernization and migration to the public cloud, enterprise customer experience and developer experience, ADP’s approach to emerging technologies such as Blockchain and Real-Time Payments, and ensuring technology alignment across the enterprise. Prior to ADP, Urvashi served as Vice President, Global Commercial Data Engineering at American Express, where she led technology transformation for global products and modernized company platforms. She also led the Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Center of Excellence for commercial payments. Before Amex, Urvashi was Director of Engineering for Amazon Audiobooks and original programming at Audible, where she launched the mobile store worldwide, modernized the consumer tech stack, launched a scalable platform for international expansion, led entry into enterprise business, and established digital technology teams for CRM and search traffic. Earlier, Urvashi worked at Microsoft, IBM, and Bridgewater associates. Urvashi is the founding advisor of Her Computing, a non-profit that makes coding accessible, easy and fun for underrepresented students in K-12 and is a co-founder of Scarlet Fresh Shoe which drives innovation in shoe repair that reduces our carbon footprint.

Naimeesha is the Founder at ProductsbyWomen.com – a skill-based platform that helps women identify gaps in their skills and recommends suitable training opportunities, mentorship and best fit jobs to accelerate their career in innovation and tech. Naimeesha also serves as an advisory board member at Pace University, New York and a Forbes council member. She also serves as a mentor at Barclays RISE and advises early to mid-stage start-ups. In addition, Naimeesha is also an angel investor in early stage companies in the Edtech, Wellness, HRtech and Femtech space – she is passionate about backing women led ventures and products that create a social impact.

Shirley M. Carswell is a journalism educator with decades of experience in the news business. She recently became the Executive Director of the Dow Jones News Fund. Since 2015, she has been a lecturer at her alma mater, Howard University, in the Media, Journalism and Film Department. Before returning to Howard, she was deputy managing editor of The Washington Post. She retired from The Post after 25 years, during which time she held several management positions, including assistant managing editor for planning and administration and metro copy chief. Ms. Carswell previously worked at the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the Oakland Press in Pontiac, Michigan, and the Detroit Free Press. She is a graduate of the Dow Jones News Fund editing program and Northwestern University’s Media Management Center, which she attended as a McCormick Fellow. She is a longtime member of the National Association of Black Journalists and served as NABJ interim executive director in 2017. She graduated magna cum laude from Howard University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.

DeAnna Hoskins has been at the helm of JLUSA as the President and CEO of JustLeadershipUSA (JLUSA) since 2018. A nationally recognized leader and dynamic public speaker, Ms. Hoskins has been committed to the movement for racial and social justice, working alongside those most impacted by marginalization for over two decades. Her own life experience has been this driving force, having been directly impacted by the system of incarceration and the war on drugs, and with her professional experience, from working on grassroots campaigns to state and federal government. Ms. Hoskins has been a part of JLUSA’s national alumni network since 2016, as a Leading with Conviction Fellow. Prior to taking the helm at JLUSA, Ms. Hoskins was at the Department of Justice where she joined under the Obama Administration. There, she served as a Senior Policy Advisor (Corrections/Reentry) providing national leadership on criminal justice policy, training, and technical assistance, and information on best and promising practices. She oversaw the Second Chance Act portfolio and managed cooperative agreements between federal agencies – the Department of Labor’s Clean Slate Clearinghouse, supporting formerly incarcerated people with expunging their records; the National Reentry Resource Center; the National Inventory of Collateral Consequences and Convictions; the National Institute of Corrections Children of Incarcerated Parents initiative; and more.

Dr. Tana M. Session is the CEO & Founder of TanaMSession.com, with over 20 years of Human Resources experience. Dr. Session specializes in cultural engineering, facilitated experiences and leadership & organizational development. She has spent 10 years as the top Human Resources executive for both domestic and international organizations where she led various change initiatives and up-leveled entire departments, including talent, systems and infrastructure. Her experience has enabled her to embed her passion for Diversity, Equality & Inclusion in everything she develops and implements. Tana was recently recognized as a “Top Company Culture Consultant” by Fond.co and a Huffington Post “Top Female Expert to Follow,” and in 2019, Tana received her Honorary Doctorate (PhD) degree in Philosophy/Humane Letters. Tana is the official LinkedIn Learning expert for Diversity & Inclusion in recruiting and interviewing and was also recognized by Forbes as a “Top Diversity & Inclusion Business Leader.” Dr. Session is an international speaker who has spoken at professional events throughout the U.S. as well as Bangkok, Dominican Republic, Cuba and Jamaica.

Lourdes Ashley Hunter has served as a catalyst for change for nonprofit organizations, community organizing initiatives and legislative campaigns for communities for over 25 years. A Black, disabled, non-binary trans woman living at the intersections of multiple identities deeply impacted by state sanctioned violence, Lourdes’ work is rooted in dismantling systems of oppression while creating and cultivating tools that work towards collective liberation for all oppressed people. Currently based in Washington D.C., Lourdes is the Executive Director of Trans Women of Color Collective (TWOCC). TWOCC is a grass-roots global initiative led by trans and gender non-conforming people of color that works to uplift the lived narratives, experiences and leadership of trans and gender non-conforming people of color, their families and comrades while building towards collective liberation for all oppressed people through healing and restorative justice.

Julie Lythcott-Haims believes in humans and is deeply interested in what gets in our way. She is the New York Times bestselling author of the anti-helicopter parenting manifesto How to Raise an Adult. Her TED Talk on the subject was one of the top talks of 2016, and in 2020 she became a regular contributor with CBS This Morning on parenting. Her second book is the critically-acclaimed and award-winning prose poetry memoir Real American, which illustrates her experience as a Black and biracial person in white spaces. A third book, Your Turn: How to Be an Adult, will be out in April 2021. She also wrote the foreword for Writing Memoir, a book of writing prompts developed by Julie and The Writers Grotto for those hungry to share their lived experience. Julie is a former corporate lawyer and Stanford dean, and she holds a BA from Stanford, a JD from Harvard, and an MFA in Writing from California College of the Arts. She serves on the boards of Foundation for a College Education, Global Citizen Year, and Common Sense Media, and on the advisory board of LeanIn.Org. She volunteers with the hospital program No One Dies Alone. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her partner of over thirty years, their young adults, and her mother.

Manoush Zomorodi is the host of NPR’s TED Radio Hour and co-founder of Stable Genius Productions. She also produces and hosts ZigZag, the business podcast about being human from TED. Investigating how technology and business are transforming humanity is Manoush’s passion and expertise. Her book Bored and Brilliant: How Spacing Out Can Unlock Your Most Creative Self (2017, St. Martin’s Press) and TED Talk (3.3m+ views) are guides to surviving the “Attention Economy.” She was one of Fast Company’s 100 Most Creative People in Business for 2018. Manoush created and hosted the podcast Note to Self from 2013-2020, in partnership with WNYC Studios. The Academy of Podcasters named Note to Self Best Tech Podcast of 2017. Manoush has received numerous awards for her work, including The Gracie in 2014 and 2018 for Best Radio Host and a Webby for Best Podcast Host in 2020. She is half-Persian and half-Swiss but was born in NYC, where she lives with her family. Investigating how technology is transforming humanity is Manoush's passion and expertise. In 2017, she wrote a book, Bored and Brilliant: How Spacing Out Can Unlock Your Most Creative Self (St. Martin’s Press) and gave a TED Talk about surviving information overload and the “Attention Economy.” Before founding Stable Genius and the podcast ZigZag, Manoush created, hosted, and was managing editor of Note to Self at WNYC Studios, which the Academy of Podcasters named Best Tech Podcast of 2017. She's won numerous awards, include The Gracie in 2014 and 2018 for Best Radio Host. Her team won a Webby in 2018 for The Privacy Paradox, an interactive digital project about personal data.

Tami Forman is the chief executive of Path Forward, a nonprofit organization that creates mid-career internship programs to ease the transition back to work for women (and men) after taking a break for raising children or other caregiving responsibilities. Path Forward has worked with more than 80 employers, including Amazon, Netflix, Walmart, Apple, Comcast NBC Universal, Verizon, and SAP, to launch, implement and expand these programs. Before founding Path Forward, Tami spent a decade as a tech marketing executive with data solutions provider, Return Path. Before that she worked in book publishing at Simon & Schuster and Houghton Mifflin and held senior-level editorial positions at iVillage and News Corporation. She is a frequent speaker on issues related to women’s participation in the workforce, having presented at the Grace Hopper Celebration, DisruptHR, Tech Inclusion, and the Conference Board’s Women’s Leadership Conference. She writes a career column for Forbes, is a Fairygodboss VIP, and was named by Flexjobs as one of the top 20 career experts for working moms. She lives in New York City with her husband and two kids, aged 11 and 13.

Carol Fishman Cohen is the CEO and Co-founder of career reentry consulting, training, and events company iRelaunch. iRelaunch produces the iRelaunch Return to Work Conferences, has worked globally with over 200 clients on return to work programs and programming, and leads a community of over 100,000 "relaunchers." iRelaunch has led hundreds of trainings for managers, recruiters, and participants in return to work programs. In addition to its work with individual employers, iRelaunch co-leads the STEM Reentry Task Force with the Society of Women Engineers, a multi-employer initiative involving 34 leading employers launching and running in-house return to work programs. More than 700 relaunchers have participated in Task Force company return to work programs and 84% have been hired. Cohen’s TED talk "How to get back to work after a career break" has over 3.6 million views and has been translated into 30 languages. She hosts the popular 3,2,1 iRelaunch podcast, is the author of the Harvard Business Review Magazine articles "The 40-Year-Old Intern,” and the recently released “Return-to-Work Programs Come of Age” and writes regularly for Harvard Business Review on career reentry topics. Cohen is a graduate of Pomona College and Harvard Business School.

I am on a mission to humanize the workplace. I do in several ways: At the macro/cross-industries: I work with the Conference Board’s Fortune 500 corporations-members and help them rethink their workplace and workforce strategies through research and facilitated conversations so they can prepare for what's ahead. With the organizational leadership: I lead Reframe.Work Inc. and consult on how to create great workplace experiences through the use of technology, human-centered design, people analytics, and future-thinking. At the individual level: I've founded amazing.community - a nonprofit extending the work horizon for women 45+. Our sweet spot is age+gender+technology and our solutions are focused on helping women prepare for the workplace of the future, and for organizations to create inclusive environments for them. At the professional development level: I am an adjunct at NYU School of Professional Studies teaching Digital Workplace Design and Design Thinking (part of Human Capital Analytics and Technology Master's program) At the network level: I am the co-founder of the Strategic HR Analytics Meet-up that over the past five years has been bringing together almost 2,000 members in the NYC area to shape their thinking about people analytics. Previously I transformed the workplace at the intersection of technology, analytics, and HR at Fidelity Investments, TIAA, IBM, Price Waterhouse, and PwC Consulting and their clients. I've been recognized as one of the Top 100 HR Influencers by Engagedly, the top 40 global Influencers in HR Tech by Digital HR Tech, and I am the judge for MIT’s Inclusive Innovation Challenge. I hold a diploma in Mathematics and Computer Science, speak English, Romanian and Russian, have a patent-pending for a social sentiment analysis tool, and am a sought-after speaker on the topics of People Analytics and the Future of Work.

Christian Fuscarino has deep roots in New Jersey, growing up in Belmar and spending much of his youth in and around Asbury Park. Fuscarino has been an activist and organizer in the LGBTQ community for over a decade. He credits his positive experiences in Asbury Park as helping influence him to become an activist. In 2016, PolitickerNJ named Christian the 2nd most influential advocate in New Jersey politics and later that year The Observer listed him on the Power List 100.

At GLSEN, Christian worked with high school Gay Straight Alliances (GSA) for several years. In 2007, Christian joined the Pride Connections Center of New Jersey as a program developer serving gay inner-city youth. That same year, he won a student Emmy award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for his End the Silence public service announcement. In 2008, Christian founded The Pride Network, a national leadership development non-profit.

In 2013, Christian joined Alan van Capelle, former Executive Director of Empire State Pride Agenda, by serving as his digital strategist at Bend the Arc: A Jewish Partnership for Justice. They focused on mobilizing Jews to advance social issues by speaking out against injustice and inequality. One of the organization’s greatest accomplishments was a campaign that resulted in California Governor Jerry Brown signing The Domestic Workers Bill of Rights.

Ann Mei Chang is a leading expert on social innovation and author of Lean Impact: How to Innovate for Radically Greater Social Good and a fellow at The Bridgespan Group. Ann Mei served as the Chief Innovation Officer at USAID and first Executive Director of the US Global Development Lab, engaging the best practices for innovation from Silicon Valley to accelerate the impact and scale of solutions to the world’s most intractable challenges. In addition, she was Chief Innovation Officer for Pete for America, Chief Innovation Officer at Mercy Corps, and Senior Advisor for Women and Technology at the U.S. Department of State. Prior to her pivot to the public and social sector, Ann Mei was a seasoned technology executive, with more than 20 years’ experience at such leading companies as Google, Apple, and Intuit, as well as at a range of startups. As Senior Engineering Director at Google, she led worldwide engineering for mobile applications and services, delivering 20x growth to $1 billion in annual revenues in just three years. Ann Mei earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Stanford University and is a member of the Aspen Institute’s Henry Crown Fellows’ class of 2011. She has been recognized as one of the “Women In the World: 125 Women of Impact” by Newsweek/The Daily Beast in 2013, "23 most powerful LGBTQ+ people in tech" by Business Insider in 2019, and "20 Top LGBTQ+ Entrepreneurs, Executives and Thought Leaders" by Global Shakers in 2019.

Diamond Stylz is one of the veteran voices of the millennial black trans community. Currently, Diamond is the host and producer of Marsha's Plate, a weekly podcast that archives and centers the trans social justice movements and pro-black feminist culture. Also she is the Executive Director of Black Trans Women Inc, a national non-profit that is led by Black trans women focused on social advocacy, economic equity and building strong leadership among Black trans women.

I have many years of experience working in a Management environment in recruiting and staffing. I am also a Certified Professional Coach and have used my experience and training for career counseling. I am now working with women over 40 on their career paths. I have spoken at events on managing ageism in the job search and written articles on ageism in the workplace. My goal is to use this knowledge to assist women professionally and educate companies on ageism. My personal experience and background have allowed me to gain the knowledge necessary to address this issue.

Flossie is an active duty Navy Spouse and accomplished serial entrepreneur specializing in e-commerce, marketing strategy, business development, growth of operations, and sales. She generated over 7-figure revenues within the first year of launching her meal prep and delivery company-Healthy Momma-in 2015.

She went on to sell over 500k meals, create over 100 Military Spouse jobs and donate over 10k meals to homeless Veterans.

Flossie is known in her role for National Military Spouse advocacy and public speaking across local and national venues such as Fox News, CNBC, CBS and PBS. She has helped build and scale multiple accelerators and military programs. She has served as the CMO for a technology startup and serves on various boards supporting the startup and military community. Flossie has even been invited to the White House and featured on the Nasdaq Tower in Times Square for her work.

Flossie has four children and currently resides in Upstate New York. She loves being near the ocean, the sunshine, reading a book a week, and listening to all things NPR.

Aiko is a leader, builder, and connector who has successfully navigated leadership roles in government, philanthropic, nonprofit, and private sectors. In each sector, she created inaugural roles to meet growing organizational needs. After leading a legal team at the City of Atlanta under the leadership of Stacey Abrams, Aiko served as Director of Compliance for the City of Atlanta and Deputy Director of a compliance department at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Most recently, she was the Head of Diversity and Inclusion for Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center.

The founder of RARE Coaching & Consulting, Aiko guides leaders and organizations to remove barriers to inclusion. She serves as an executive coach to leaders and teams of Fortune 100 companies and global nonprofit organizations. She has been recognized by Forbes as one of the top seven anti-racism educators for companies and by CultureAmp as a DEI influencer to follow. Aiko is a Senior Director of the Daring WayTM and Dare to LeadTM facilitator communities of the Brené Brown Education and Research Group. Aiko’s writing has been published in Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and the upcoming anthology You Are Your Best Thing. She holds a law degree from UNC-Chapel Hill and a bachelor’s from Smith College.

On most days Aiko enjoys spending time with her two sons. You can stay connected with her on IG at @rare_coach.

Alexandria Noel Butler, affectionately known as Lexi B, is considered one of Silicon Valley’s candid and prominent voices. Her thought provoking advice and opinions on how to create a more equitable work environment stem from her own experiences working in some of the most popular tech companies. In April 2017, Lexi B founded Sista Circle: Black Women in Tech, a community that supports Black women in tech companies and tech related professions. This 10,000+ international community has partnered with organizations such as Phenomenally, Instagram, Youtube, Linkedin and Slack. Lexi’s main mission is to inspire people to create their desired life journey by understanding their purpose and life goals. She is a former Stanford Black Alumni Association Board Member and National Leadership Council Fellow.

Dr. Kryss Shane, LSW, LMSW (she/her) has been featured as America’s go-to Leading LGBT+ Expert in The New York Times, ABC News, Yahoo!, and CNN. She is a cast member of TLC's "I Am Jazz." Her writing has appeared in the Journal of Nonprofit Education and Leadership, Huffington Post, International Council of Professors of Educational Leadership, The New Social Worker Magazine, and many more.

She is the author of 3 books: "The Educator's Guide to LGBT+ Inclusion," "Creating an LGBT+ Inclusive Workplace: The Practical Resource Guide for Business Leaders," and "Creating an LGBT+ Inclusive University: A Practical Resource Guide for Faculty and Administrators." For more: ThisIsKryss.com. IG: @ThisIsKryss

Ashley T Brundage started her second career as a means of survival. Fighting discrimination, harassment, and homelessness she found employment as a part time associate then rose to national Vice President of Diversity & Inclusion in less than 5 years at a major financial services organization. She captured this process of career development in her new award winning book and online course called Empowering Differences. Personally she enjoys time with her 2 teenage boys who serve as the main source of inspiration and empowerment for her. She volunteers for numerous organizations most notably as the Vice Chair for the GLAAD National Board of Directors, which works to accelerate acceptance for the LGBTQ+ Community.

Jiggly Caliente is a trans drag performer and recording artist best known for competing in the fourth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race and the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars. She has appeared in a wide variety of roles in television (Pose, Saturday Night Live, Broad City) and film (The Queens) and released an album (T.H.O.T. Process). She currently is a part of the incredibly topical and inspiring weekly roundtable talk show, “Translation” and continues to bring audiences around the world to their feet.

The Vixen is a multi-talented performer dedicated to making the world a better place. Growing up on the South Side of Chicago, her art has always been intertwined with social justice and activism. An accomplished drag queen, songwriter, fashion designer and dancer, she credits her creative family for her love of the arts. As a student at Columbia College in Chicago, Vixen learned the makeup skills it took to create her growing drag persona. After turning 21, her athletic performance style quickly gained her attention in the Chicago drag scene. Through hard work and dedication The Vixen has become an influential member of Chicago's gay community - interviewed by many publications for her unique style and outspoken viewpoint. As a rapper, her bold lyrics and intricate delivery has earned her national attention for her show-stopping collaborations. Her proudest achievement is creating BlackGirlMagic, a drag concert, where queens of color can celebrate their unique experiences through storytelling and performance. The Vixen lives by her grandmothers belief that helping others makes life worthwhile.

Marti Allen-Cummings (They/Them) is an activist, community board member, gig worker and drag artist running for city council in uptown manhattan. Marti has been working in NYC for 13 years after moving to the city at age 17 to pursue a performing arts career. They know what it’s like to make it in new york living paycheck to paycheck and without insurance. For over a decade, marti has been deeply involved in the community - advocating for LGBTQIA+ Young people through the ali forney center and aiding new yorkers experiencing homelessness.

Throughout the pandemic, Marti built upon that experience to plan PPE handouts, grocery deliveries, coat drives and mutual aid efforts. During the 2016 election Cycle, Marti started organizing and Their political activism energized the community and has brought people together who are seeking progressive change in the nation’s politics. Marti currently sits on community board 9 serving the people of Upper Manhattan, and IS an advisor on the NYC Nightlife Advisory Board.