Alyse Nelson
President & CEO, Vital Voices Global Partnership
Alyse Nelson is president and chief executive officer of Vital Voices Global Partnership. A cofounder of Vital Voices, Alyse has worked for the organization for 15 years, serving as vice president and senior director of programs before assuming her current role in 2009. Alyse has worked with women leaders to develop training programs and international forums in over 140 countries and has interviewed more than 200 international leaders, including Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and former presidents Mary Robinson and Bill Clinton, as well as Nobel Peace Prize laureates Aung San Suu Kyi, Wangari Maathai, and Muhammad Yunus. Under her leadership, Vital Voices has tripled in size and expanded its global reach to serve a network of over 14,000 women leaders in 144 countries.
Previously, Alyse served as deputy director of the Vital Voices Global Democracy Initiative at the U.S. Department of State. Her position aided former First Lady Hillary Clinton and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright’s commitment to promote the advancement of women as a U.S. foreign policy objective. Alyse helped design and implement Vital Voices initiatives throughout the world. From July 1996 to July 2000, Alyse worked with the President’s Inter-agency Council on Women at the White House and U.S. Department of State. She attended the UN Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China, in 1995. Alyse is a Member in the Council on Foreign Relations. She serves on Secretary Clinton's Advisory Committee on Strategic Dialogue with Civil Society and is a Board member of Running Start.
Alyse is the author of the best-selling book "Vital Voices: The Power of Women Leading Change Around the World," which shares the stories of remarkable, world-changing women, as well as the story of how Vital Voices was founded, crossing lines that typically divide. Alyse has been featured in international and national media, including the Washington Post, Financial Times, the Miami Herald, the Wall Street Journal, USA Today and Reuters, and has appeared on BBC, PBS, CNN, NPR, FOX News, and CNBC. She completed her graduate degree work at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. In 2006 Alyse was named one of ''Ten Women to Watch'' by Washingtonian Magazine and was honored by her Alma Mater, Emerson College, with the distinguished speaker award. In 2011 she was featured in Newsweek as one of ''150 Women Shaking the World,'' and in 2012 she was a TIAW World of Difference 100 Award recipient.
Previously, Alyse served as deputy director of the Vital Voices Global Democracy Initiative at the U.S. Department of State. Her position aided former First Lady Hillary Clinton and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright’s commitment to promote the advancement of women as a U.S. foreign policy objective. Alyse helped design and implement Vital Voices initiatives throughout the world. From July 1996 to July 2000, Alyse worked with the President’s Inter-agency Council on Women at the White House and U.S. Department of State. She attended the UN Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China, in 1995. Alyse is a Member in the Council on Foreign Relations. She serves on Secretary Clinton's Advisory Committee on Strategic Dialogue with Civil Society and is a Board member of Running Start.
Alyse is the author of the best-selling book "Vital Voices: The Power of Women Leading Change Around the World," which shares the stories of remarkable, world-changing women, as well as the story of how Vital Voices was founded, crossing lines that typically divide. Alyse has been featured in international and national media, including the Washington Post, Financial Times, the Miami Herald, the Wall Street Journal, USA Today and Reuters, and has appeared on BBC, PBS, CNN, NPR, FOX News, and CNBC. She completed her graduate degree work at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. In 2006 Alyse was named one of ''Ten Women to Watch'' by Washingtonian Magazine and was honored by her Alma Mater, Emerson College, with the distinguished speaker award. In 2011 she was featured in Newsweek as one of ''150 Women Shaking the World,'' and in 2012 she was a TIAW World of Difference 100 Award recipient.
Denise Evans
Vice-President, Market Development, IBM Corporation
In this capacity, she leads an organization responsible for developing IBM’s strategy for and marketing to Asian, Black, Hispanic, Native American, and women owned businesses and IBM Suppliers in North America. Her focus also includes the strategy for and marketing to women owned, led and influenced businesses in select countries worldwide.
Prior to her current position, Denise served globally as Director of e-Relationship Marketing for ibm.com, Director of Customer Loyalty for IBM and Director of e-business for IBM Enterprise Systems Group. Denise has served in numerous global leadership and executive positions in IBM marketing and sales for 34+ years. Her marketing experience includes customer and e-relationship marketing, customer loyalty, eBusiness on demand-now Smarter Planet, diversity marketing and social media marketing.
Denise was named a Sequoyah Fellow by the American Indian Engineering and Science Society in 2006. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Native American Chamber of Commerce, the Women Presidents’ Organization, and the Center for Women’s Business Research where she also serves as the Treasurer. Denise is active in her community where she serves on the National Advisory Council of the Center for Excellence in Education and is a Lifetime Member of the Girl Scouts. She is a mentor to many in marketing and sales.
Denise earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and Economics from Brown University and a Masters of Business Administration from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Prior to her current position, Denise served globally as Director of e-Relationship Marketing for ibm.com, Director of Customer Loyalty for IBM and Director of e-business for IBM Enterprise Systems Group. Denise has served in numerous global leadership and executive positions in IBM marketing and sales for 34+ years. Her marketing experience includes customer and e-relationship marketing, customer loyalty, eBusiness on demand-now Smarter Planet, diversity marketing and social media marketing.
Denise was named a Sequoyah Fellow by the American Indian Engineering and Science Society in 2006. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Native American Chamber of Commerce, the Women Presidents’ Organization, and the Center for Women’s Business Research where she also serves as the Treasurer. Denise is active in her community where she serves on the National Advisory Council of the Center for Excellence in Education and is a Lifetime Member of the Girl Scouts. She is a mentor to many in marketing and sales.
Denise earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and Economics from Brown University and a Masters of Business Administration from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Anthony "Tony" Marino
Chief Human Resources Officer, The Bank of Tokyo-Mitusbishi UFJ
Anthony S. Marino is one of a small cadre of strategic global Chief Human Resources Officers that are highly sought after by CEO's who understand the importance of Human Capital Management and its impact on the bottom-line.
Currently, Tony is Chief Human Resources Officer for The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. the largest bank holding company in the world with more than $2.8 Trillion in Assets and operations in more than forty countries. He has recently been named General Manager for Global Human Resources, making him the first American appointed to an office in Japan.
Prior to joining BTMU, Tony was CHRO for Ally Financial where he was instrumental in the restructuring and turn around of the nations largest Auto Finance company. Tony has also worked for companies long known for HR Best Practices including Pepsi Food Systems, Honeywell and Bank of America.
Currently, Tony is Chief Human Resources Officer for The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. the largest bank holding company in the world with more than $2.8 Trillion in Assets and operations in more than forty countries. He has recently been named General Manager for Global Human Resources, making him the first American appointed to an office in Japan.
Prior to joining BTMU, Tony was CHRO for Ally Financial where he was instrumental in the restructuring and turn around of the nations largest Auto Finance company. Tony has also worked for companies long known for HR Best Practices including Pepsi Food Systems, Honeywell and Bank of America.
Barbara Annis
Founder and CEO, Barbara Annis & Associates
Barbara Annis, Founder and CEO of Barbara Annis & Associates, Inc. (BAA) is a world-renowned expert on Gender Intelligence, Inclusive Leadership, and Cultural Intelligence, advocating the value and practice of Gender Intelligence and inclusiveness in over 75 Fortune 500 companies, ten governments, and numerous educational institutions worldwide. The insights and achievements developed by BAA have pioneered a transformational shift in cultural attitudes across the globe on the importance of gender unity to organizational success.
Over the past twenty-seven years, Barbara Annis and her 51 global associates have facilitated over 8,000 corporate workshops and conducted thousands of leadership assessments and executive coaching sessions. BAA has introduced breakthrough research on the practice and benefits of inclusive leadership and gender diversity, and offers diagnostics, workshops, and coaching session’s onsite and online.
Barbara Annis is Chair Emeritus and Member of the Executive Committee of the Women’s Leadership Board at Harvard Kennedy School and was recently conferred the International Alliance for Women, Lifetime Achievement Award. Her extensive studies have included work with exceptional thinkers such as famed psychologist Dr. Virginia Satir, Dr. Fernando Flores, director of the PhD program in Linguistics at Berkeley University, and Dr. Willis Harman, Founder and President of the Noetic Sciences Foundation.
Barbara’s first book, Same Words, Different Language, offers ground-breaking insights and proven methods for breaking through gender barriers. Her following book, Leadership and the Sexes, reveals the latest in brain-behavior research on gender differences. Barbara’s new book, released in May 2013, is entitled Work with Me: The 8 Blind Spots between Men and Women in Business, and is written in conjunction with John Gray, author of the best-selling relationship book of all time: Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus. Barbara and John’s book exposes and debunks the eight blind spots that frequently result in misunderstandings and miscommunication, affecting men’s and women’s ability to find success and satisfaction in their work life as well as in their personal life.
Over the past twenty-seven years, Barbara Annis and her 51 global associates have facilitated over 8,000 corporate workshops and conducted thousands of leadership assessments and executive coaching sessions. BAA has introduced breakthrough research on the practice and benefits of inclusive leadership and gender diversity, and offers diagnostics, workshops, and coaching session’s onsite and online.
Barbara Annis is Chair Emeritus and Member of the Executive Committee of the Women’s Leadership Board at Harvard Kennedy School and was recently conferred the International Alliance for Women, Lifetime Achievement Award. Her extensive studies have included work with exceptional thinkers such as famed psychologist Dr. Virginia Satir, Dr. Fernando Flores, director of the PhD program in Linguistics at Berkeley University, and Dr. Willis Harman, Founder and President of the Noetic Sciences Foundation.
Barbara’s first book, Same Words, Different Language, offers ground-breaking insights and proven methods for breaking through gender barriers. Her following book, Leadership and the Sexes, reveals the latest in brain-behavior research on gender differences. Barbara’s new book, released in May 2013, is entitled Work with Me: The 8 Blind Spots between Men and Women in Business, and is written in conjunction with John Gray, author of the best-selling relationship book of all time: Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus. Barbara and John’s book exposes and debunks the eight blind spots that frequently result in misunderstandings and miscommunication, affecting men’s and women’s ability to find success and satisfaction in their work life as well as in their personal life.
Ronald C. Glover
Vice President for Diversity and Workforce, IBM
Ronald C. Glover is IBM’s vice president of diversity and workforce programs. Under Glover’s leadership, IBM’s diversity effort extends across borders, throughout the company’s worldwide locations. Glover is responsible for ensuring that the principles of equal opportunity and inclusion remain intact as the company completes its global integration journey.
According to Glover, twenty-first century diversity is primarily a matter of economic survival, not only for IBM, but for all companies in today’s competitive global marketplace. Today more than ever, equal opportunity means building on the talent, creativity and skill inherent in a multicultural workforce. Under Glover’s stewardship, IBM’s industrious diversity task forces, along with 72 diversity councils around the globe, are implementing local diversity initiatives. While the cultural makeup of the organization varies greatly by location, Glover and his colleagues work to ensure that increased understanding and inclusion continue to serve as universal business drivers.
According to Glover, twenty-first century diversity is primarily a matter of economic survival, not only for IBM, but for all companies in today’s competitive global marketplace. Today more than ever, equal opportunity means building on the talent, creativity and skill inherent in a multicultural workforce. Under Glover’s stewardship, IBM’s industrious diversity task forces, along with 72 diversity councils around the globe, are implementing local diversity initiatives. While the cultural makeup of the organization varies greatly by location, Glover and his colleagues work to ensure that increased understanding and inclusion continue to serve as universal business drivers.
Kay Koplovitz
Founder, USA Network, Chairman And CEO, Koplovitz & Company
Chairman and Co-Founder, Springboard Enterprises
Kay Koplovitz is the Founder of USA Network, and the Sci-Fi Channel and USA Networks International. She created the business model for cable networks by introducing the concept of two revenue streams – licensing and advertising. Ms. Koplovitz served as Chairperson & CEO until the company was sold for $4.5 Billion in 1998.
Ms. Koplovitz served as Chairman of the Board of Fifth & Pacific (Formerly Liz Claiborne Inc.) from January 2007 until May, 2013. She is also Chairman and Co-Founder of Springboard Enterprises the premier platform where entrepreneurs, investors and industry experts meet to build great women led businesses. Springboard educates, sources, coaches, showcases and supports high growth companies seeking equity capital for expansion. , Since its inception in 2000, Springboard Companies have raised over $5.5 Billion and created over 10,000 jobs.
Kay counts among her accomplishments the Presidential appointment as Chair of the National Women’s Business Council (1998-2001). In recent years Kay has stepped into a leadership role in the area of Board Diversity and getting more women on boards joining the efforts of NYSE/Euronext, The Women’s Forum, Yale University and The Partnership for New York City, and Corporate Board Member.
In addition to Fifth & Pacific, Kay is a Board Member of CA Technology, and ION Media. She has also served on the boards of Oracle, Nabisco, Instinet and General Re. She is the author of Bold Women, Big Ideas and speaks on the topics of women’s leadership especially in the areas of Entrepreneurship, Board Diversity and media. She is frequently interviewed on these subjects by news and media outlets including, The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Business Week, Mergers and Acquisitions, CNN, Fox News, Bloomberg , Tech Crunch, Variety and others.
She serves as trustee of The Paley Center for Media as well as The University of Wisconsin-Madison, College of Letters & Science. She holds a master’s degree in Communications from Michigan State University and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin as well as honorary doctorate degrees from Emerson College, St. John’s University, Michigan State University and Canasius College. A native of Milwaukee, Ms. Koplovitz is married to private investor William C. Koplovitz, Jr.
Ms. Koplovitz served as Chairman of the Board of Fifth & Pacific (Formerly Liz Claiborne Inc.) from January 2007 until May, 2013. She is also Chairman and Co-Founder of Springboard Enterprises the premier platform where entrepreneurs, investors and industry experts meet to build great women led businesses. Springboard educates, sources, coaches, showcases and supports high growth companies seeking equity capital for expansion. , Since its inception in 2000, Springboard Companies have raised over $5.5 Billion and created over 10,000 jobs.
Kay counts among her accomplishments the Presidential appointment as Chair of the National Women’s Business Council (1998-2001). In recent years Kay has stepped into a leadership role in the area of Board Diversity and getting more women on boards joining the efforts of NYSE/Euronext, The Women’s Forum, Yale University and The Partnership for New York City, and Corporate Board Member.
In addition to Fifth & Pacific, Kay is a Board Member of CA Technology, and ION Media. She has also served on the boards of Oracle, Nabisco, Instinet and General Re. She is the author of Bold Women, Big Ideas and speaks on the topics of women’s leadership especially in the areas of Entrepreneurship, Board Diversity and media. She is frequently interviewed on these subjects by news and media outlets including, The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Business Week, Mergers and Acquisitions, CNN, Fox News, Bloomberg , Tech Crunch, Variety and others.
She serves as trustee of The Paley Center for Media as well as The University of Wisconsin-Madison, College of Letters & Science. She holds a master’s degree in Communications from Michigan State University and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin as well as honorary doctorate degrees from Emerson College, St. John’s University, Michigan State University and Canasius College. A native of Milwaukee, Ms. Koplovitz is married to private investor William C. Koplovitz, Jr.
Adele Gulfo
Pfizer Regional President, Latin America
Adele Gulfo is Regional President of Latin America in Pfizer’s Emerging Markets Business Unit In this capacity, she leads a team of over 4,000 colleagues operating across more than 23 countries. In 2012, Pfizer Latin America achieved more than US $3 billion in revenue and has become the largest revenue generator within the Emerging Markets Business Unit. Previously, Adele served as President and General Manager of Pfizer’s U.S. Primary Care Business Unit, which included the Managed Markets (Corporate and Government Customer) organization for all of Pfizer’s Biopharmaceutical Business Units. In 2011, Pfizer’s U.S. Primary Care business generated more than $10 billion in revenue under her leadership.
Prior to joining Pfizer, Ms. Gulfo was Vice President of Business Development, Innovation and Design for Launch at Astra-Zeneca Pharmaceuticals. In her nine years with the company, she led the multi-billion dollar cardiovascular business, including marketed and emerging products. Among her top achievements, she grew Toprol-XL sales from $200 million to $2 billion and launched cholesterol-lowering medicine Crestor with a significantly differentiated life-cycle development program, which enabled dramatic growth to over $2 billion in 2009 in a highly competitive market.
The highpoint of her work on Crestor was leading the strategy and execution of the JUPITER trial, the first study of the effects of cholesterol-lowering therapy on people with “normal” cholesterol levels but elevated hs-CRP levels. The unprecedented results secured a new FDA indication to prevent heart attacks and death in people with no evidence of heart disease, and enabled a 29% growth trajectory for Crestor while other statins were declining.
Before joining AstraZeneca, Ms. Gulfo held positions of increasing responsibility at Warner-Lambert, including senior director of cardiovascular marketing. It was in this role that she launched LIPITOR, the world’s most successful medicine with over $10B in peak year global sales. Ms. Gulfo developed award-winning medical and public education campaigns that helped to establish the significance of lowering cholesterol in preventing and managing heart disease. Partners included the American Heart Association, the National Institutes of Health and leading academic institutions.
Trained as a scientist with experience in both operational and strategic roles, Ms. Gulfo serves as an advisor for the Cleveland Clinic’s Innovation Center. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Volunteers of America – Greater New York, Council of the Americas (COA) the premier international business organization committed to economic and social development throughout the Western Hemisphere, and the Committee of 200 (C200), an invitation-only membership organization of the world’s most successful women entrepreneurs and corporate leaders.
Ms. Gulfo has been awarded five U.S. Patents for innovative packaging designed to help patients adhere to their medicines. She frequently speaks at leading industry and business conferences including The Wall Street Journal’s Women in the Economy: An Executive Task Force conference, and has been featured in Fortune, Forbes, BusinessWeek, ICEDR (The International Consortium for Executive Development Research), and the Wall Street Journal. She is a member of the National Association of Female Executives (NAFE), and the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association’s (HBA) Advisory Board. Among many honors, she is especially proud of receiving the 2012 C200 Luminary Award for Corporate Innovation, and the 2013 Oracle Award by Springboard Enterprises.
Ms. Gulfo holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology and Chemistry from Seton Hall University and a Master of Business Administration degree in Marketing from Fairleigh Dickinson University, both with honors. She studied post-graduate microbiology at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.
Prior to joining Pfizer, Ms. Gulfo was Vice President of Business Development, Innovation and Design for Launch at Astra-Zeneca Pharmaceuticals. In her nine years with the company, she led the multi-billion dollar cardiovascular business, including marketed and emerging products. Among her top achievements, she grew Toprol-XL sales from $200 million to $2 billion and launched cholesterol-lowering medicine Crestor with a significantly differentiated life-cycle development program, which enabled dramatic growth to over $2 billion in 2009 in a highly competitive market.
The highpoint of her work on Crestor was leading the strategy and execution of the JUPITER trial, the first study of the effects of cholesterol-lowering therapy on people with “normal” cholesterol levels but elevated hs-CRP levels. The unprecedented results secured a new FDA indication to prevent heart attacks and death in people with no evidence of heart disease, and enabled a 29% growth trajectory for Crestor while other statins were declining.
Before joining AstraZeneca, Ms. Gulfo held positions of increasing responsibility at Warner-Lambert, including senior director of cardiovascular marketing. It was in this role that she launched LIPITOR, the world’s most successful medicine with over $10B in peak year global sales. Ms. Gulfo developed award-winning medical and public education campaigns that helped to establish the significance of lowering cholesterol in preventing and managing heart disease. Partners included the American Heart Association, the National Institutes of Health and leading academic institutions.
Trained as a scientist with experience in both operational and strategic roles, Ms. Gulfo serves as an advisor for the Cleveland Clinic’s Innovation Center. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Volunteers of America – Greater New York, Council of the Americas (COA) the premier international business organization committed to economic and social development throughout the Western Hemisphere, and the Committee of 200 (C200), an invitation-only membership organization of the world’s most successful women entrepreneurs and corporate leaders.
Ms. Gulfo has been awarded five U.S. Patents for innovative packaging designed to help patients adhere to their medicines. She frequently speaks at leading industry and business conferences including The Wall Street Journal’s Women in the Economy: An Executive Task Force conference, and has been featured in Fortune, Forbes, BusinessWeek, ICEDR (The International Consortium for Executive Development Research), and the Wall Street Journal. She is a member of the National Association of Female Executives (NAFE), and the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association’s (HBA) Advisory Board. Among many honors, she is especially proud of receiving the 2012 C200 Luminary Award for Corporate Innovation, and the 2013 Oracle Award by Springboard Enterprises.
Ms. Gulfo holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology and Chemistry from Seton Hall University and a Master of Business Administration degree in Marketing from Fairleigh Dickinson University, both with honors. She studied post-graduate microbiology at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.
Justine Metz
Head of Global Wealth and Investment Marketing and Sales Support Bank of America
Justine Metz serves as Marketing and Sales Support Executive for Global Wealth & Investment Management (GWIM) for Bank of America. She is responsible for developing and executing marketing plans for the Wealth Management businesses which serve affluent, ultra wealthy, corporate and institutional clients. The GWIM lines of business include Merrill Lynch, US Trust and Bank of America Merrill Lynch institutional retirement which represent 2 million clients holding $2.1 trillion in assets who are served by 17,000+ advisors.
The GWIM Marketing and Sales Support team drives brand building, client segmented programs and thought leadership via the Affluent, Ultra High Net Worth and Institutional Segment marketing teams. The Product Marketing and Field Marketing organizations support advisors and specialists at both the national and local market level through communication, marketing coaching programs, and client and advisor programs support. These teams are further supported by the Digital Marketing and the Global Events Marketing center, which support all Bank of America’s client managed businesses and also report to Justine.
Prior to joining Bank of America, Justine was Senior Vice President of Segment Management at Fidelity Investments where she was responsible for driving the growth, loyalty and profitability of the Mass Affluent, High Net Worth, Small Business and Active Trader customer segments by building programs and sales/service models to meet customer needs. Prior to that, Justine spent time at Morgan Stanley and General Electric where she led their respective Market Research teams as well as other marketing strategy and regional marketing manager/B2B sales teams. Justine started her career as a market researcher in packaged goods companies including Kraft General Foods and Lipton.
Additionally, Justine serves as a mentor to a Haitian woman as part of Bank of America’s Global Ambassador Program which focuses on making connections globally to empower women. She further serves as a mentor for the Bank of America Women’s Exchange, is an active participant in the Leadership, Education, Advocacy and Development (LEAD) Women’s Group, and beyond Bank of America volunteers through Volunteers in Providence Schools (VIPs) and with the Georgetown University Admissions Program for Low Income Students.
She earned her B.S.B.A. in Marketing from Georgetown University where she achieved academic All America honors as a member of the Women’s Volleyball team.
The GWIM Marketing and Sales Support team drives brand building, client segmented programs and thought leadership via the Affluent, Ultra High Net Worth and Institutional Segment marketing teams. The Product Marketing and Field Marketing organizations support advisors and specialists at both the national and local market level through communication, marketing coaching programs, and client and advisor programs support. These teams are further supported by the Digital Marketing and the Global Events Marketing center, which support all Bank of America’s client managed businesses and also report to Justine.
Prior to joining Bank of America, Justine was Senior Vice President of Segment Management at Fidelity Investments where she was responsible for driving the growth, loyalty and profitability of the Mass Affluent, High Net Worth, Small Business and Active Trader customer segments by building programs and sales/service models to meet customer needs. Prior to that, Justine spent time at Morgan Stanley and General Electric where she led their respective Market Research teams as well as other marketing strategy and regional marketing manager/B2B sales teams. Justine started her career as a market researcher in packaged goods companies including Kraft General Foods and Lipton.
Additionally, Justine serves as a mentor to a Haitian woman as part of Bank of America’s Global Ambassador Program which focuses on making connections globally to empower women. She further serves as a mentor for the Bank of America Women’s Exchange, is an active participant in the Leadership, Education, Advocacy and Development (LEAD) Women’s Group, and beyond Bank of America volunteers through Volunteers in Providence Schools (VIPs) and with the Georgetown University Admissions Program for Low Income Students.
She earned her B.S.B.A. in Marketing from Georgetown University where she achieved academic All America honors as a member of the Women’s Volleyball team.
John Gerzema
New York Times Best Selling author, social strategist and leadership consultant
John Gerzema is a pioneer in the use of data to identify social change and help companies anticipate and adapt to new trends and demands. An author, speaker and consultant, his books have appeared
on the best seller lists of The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Fast Company among many others.
A Fellow with the Athena Center for Leadership Studies at Barnard College, John is an expert on emergent leadership, innovation, social responsibility and their impact on consumerism. John’s TED talks have been viewed by hundreds of thousands people. As an advocate for the rights of Women and Girls
for The United Nations Foundation, his New York Times Best-Selling book, The Athena Doctrine: How Women (And The Men Who Think Like Them) Will Rule the Future—explores the rise of feminine competencies and values and their impact on leadership, policy and progress.
All proceeds of The Athena Doctrine support The United Nations Foundation’s Girl Up Campaign
All proceeds of The Athena Doctrine support The United Nations Foundation’s Girl Up Campaign
Agapi Stassinopoulos
best selling author, Unbinding The Heart
Greek born, Agapi Stassinopoulos is a best selling author and speaker who inspires audiences around the world. Her most recent book, Unbinding the Heart, has been featured on Oprah.com, HuffPost Live, CBS’s The Talk, and The Martha Stewart Show, among others. She uplifts and warms the hearts of audiences from the American Heart Association, Women’s Conferences, Entrepreneurial Organizations, the Girl Scouts of America, TED, and many more. She was trained as an actress at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London and then she received her Masters in Psychology from the University of Santa Monica.
Agapi has written two books on the Greek Archetypes, Gods and Goddesses in Love, and Conversations with the Goddesses, which were turned into PBS shows. She developed a curriculum on Heartfelt Leadership for the Wharton Business School that shares the tools to bring conscious leadership into today’s workplace.
In her book, Unbinding the Heart, Agapi brings her innate gift to connect with her readers by sharing the stories of wisdom from her childhood; how she was raised by an amazing mother who instilled in her deep values and the journey of how she found her voice. Her passion is to help others unlock their gifts to fully express themselves and help her fellow human beings live a fulfilling life.
Agapi has written two books on the Greek Archetypes, Gods and Goddesses in Love, and Conversations with the Goddesses, which were turned into PBS shows. She developed a curriculum on Heartfelt Leadership for the Wharton Business School that shares the tools to bring conscious leadership into today’s workplace.
In her book, Unbinding the Heart, Agapi brings her innate gift to connect with her readers by sharing the stories of wisdom from her childhood; how she was raised by an amazing mother who instilled in her deep values and the journey of how she found her voice. Her passion is to help others unlock their gifts to fully express themselves and help her fellow human beings live a fulfilling life.
Michaela Walsh
Founding President, Women's World Banking
Michaela Walsh is activist, scholar, mentor, educator, and author. She was a pioneer woman manager with Merrill Lynch in Beirut, Lebanon, in the ’60s, first woman Partner of Boettcher in the ’70s, and in 1980, Founding President of Women’s World Banking.
Throughout her career, Michaela has maintained a vibrant commitment to education and service. She was an Adjunct Professor at Manhattanville College and Director of Global Student Leadership programs there. Board appointments have included Synergos Institute, and Union Theological Seminary, with advisory roles in a wide range of governmental and social-justice organizations over the decades.
She was Chairperson of the 59th United Nations DPI/NGO Conference in 2006. She received the Woman of Vision Award of the National Organization for Women, the UN Development Program’s Paul G. Hoffman Award for outstanding work in development, and in 2012 was honored by Women’s Funding Network for changing the face of philanthropy
Throughout her career, Michaela has maintained a vibrant commitment to education and service. She was an Adjunct Professor at Manhattanville College and Director of Global Student Leadership programs there. Board appointments have included Synergos Institute, and Union Theological Seminary, with advisory roles in a wide range of governmental and social-justice organizations over the decades.
She was Chairperson of the 59th United Nations DPI/NGO Conference in 2006. She received the Woman of Vision Award of the National Organization for Women, the UN Development Program’s Paul G. Hoffman Award for outstanding work in development, and in 2012 was honored by Women’s Funding Network for changing the face of philanthropy
Gloria Feldt
Co-Founder, Take the Lead
Gloria Feldt is a nationally recognized speaker, bestselling author, world changer, and expert on women’s lives, rights, and leadership. Her newest book, No Excuses: 9 Ways Women Can Change How We Think About Power reveals why women are stuck at 18% of top leadership roles and, through inspiring stories and practical leadership “Power Tools,” shows how women can redefine power to reach parity from the boardroom to the bedroom for good—their own and society’s. She teaches “Women, Power, and Leadership” at Arizona State University.” Her passionate interest in women’s complex relationship with power and leadership has inspired her to cofound Take The Lead, a women’s leadership initiative designed to bring women to leadership parity by 2025. Stay tuned for a 2013 launch.
Former president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, her journey to leadership in social activism began as a teen mom and high school dropout in rural West Texas. Feldt was thus dubbed “the voice of experience” by People Magazine. She initiated the Responsible Choices Action Agenda, which resulted in state and federal laws requiring insurance coverage of contraception and increased access to emergency contraception, while growing the Planned Parenthood Action Fund and PAC to be the largest nonpartisan pro-choice political action entity in the nation. She traveled the globe to visit international family planning programs and served on the official US government delegation to the UN Conference on Population and Development 5-year review. She attended the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing as both NGO delegate and press.
Vanity Fair named Feldt to its “Top 200 Women Leaders, Legends, and Trailblazers and Glamour honored her as Woman of the Year. Previous books include New York Times best seller Send YOURSELF Roses co-written with actress Kathleen Turner, The War on Choice: the Right-Wing Attack on Women’s Rights and How to Fight Back, and Behind Every Choice Is a Story. She’s been a newsmaker and commentator in national publications such as the New York Times, Washington Post, the Daily Beast, ForbesWoman, and Salon, is a regular contributor to Politico’s “Arena” column, and has appeared on most major network public affairs shows. Find her Heartfeldt Blog and 9 Ways Blog at www.GloriaFeldt.com. She serves on the boards of the Women’s Media Center and the Jewish Women’s Archive, and is co-chair of US Women Connect, the nationwide coalition of state coalitions working to connect US women to the global women’s agenda.
Feldt and her husband Alex Barbanell share a combined family of six children and 14 grandchildren. Connect with her on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter @GloriaFeldt where she hangs out far too much. Contact: gloria@gloriafeldt.com
Dr. Roland Rich
Chief, UN Office for Partnerships
Dr. Roland Rich, an Australian national, assumed his position as Executive Head of the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) in 2007. UNDEF’s primary purpose is supporting democratization around the world by funding projects that strengthen the voice of civil society, promote human rights, and encourage the participation of all groups in democratic processes. Dr. Rich is concurrently Officer-in-Charge of the United Nations Office for Partnerships (UNOP) which serves as a gateway for corporate and philanthropic partnership opportunities with the UN family.
Dr. Rich brings to the job over 30 years of experience as a diplomat, a scholar and a democracy promotion practitioner. Prior to his appointment to UNDEF, Dr. Rich was at the Australian Defence College, teaching and mentoring colonel-level officers. In 2005, Mr. Rich was a research Fellow at the National Endowment for Democracy in Washington DC. Between 1998 and 2005, he was the Director of the Centre for Democratic Institutions at the Australian National University which is Australia’s democracy promotion institute for the Asia-Pacific region. Mr. Rich joined the Australian foreign service in 1975 and had postings in Paris, Rangoon, Manila and, from 1994-1997, as Australian Ambassador to Laos. He has also served as Legal Advisor and Assistant Secretary for International Organisations
In 2004, he edited The UN Role in Promoting Democracy. In 2007 he published Pacific Asia in Quest of Democracy. His most recent book is Parties and Parliaments in Southeast Asia – Non-Partisan Chambers in Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines, published by Routledge in 2012.
Dr. Rich brings to the job over 30 years of experience as a diplomat, a scholar and a democracy promotion practitioner. Prior to his appointment to UNDEF, Dr. Rich was at the Australian Defence College, teaching and mentoring colonel-level officers. In 2005, Mr. Rich was a research Fellow at the National Endowment for Democracy in Washington DC. Between 1998 and 2005, he was the Director of the Centre for Democratic Institutions at the Australian National University which is Australia’s democracy promotion institute for the Asia-Pacific region. Mr. Rich joined the Australian foreign service in 1975 and had postings in Paris, Rangoon, Manila and, from 1994-1997, as Australian Ambassador to Laos. He has also served as Legal Advisor and Assistant Secretary for International Organisations
In 2004, he edited The UN Role in Promoting Democracy. In 2007 he published Pacific Asia in Quest of Democracy. His most recent book is Parties and Parliaments in Southeast Asia – Non-Partisan Chambers in Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines, published by Routledge in 2012.
Ambassador Josephine Ojiambo
Chief, Executive Board, UNFPA
Dr. Josephine Ojiambo was recently the Ambassador/Deputy Permanent Representative at the Kenya Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, where she notably engaged with a range of committees at the UN General Assembly on themes including international peace and security development and humanitarian aid. At the United Nations she provided inputs to processes of South South collaboration, UN Women, ATT and development, the MDGs, and Global Governance among others.
Prior to representing Kenya at the United Nations, Dr. Ojiambo managed a Public Health Consultancy in Kenya. She has worked in the private sector and with non-governmental organizations advocating for multi-sector interventions to promote equity in social development, particularly for women, for the youth and for vulnerable people. Additionally, she has worked for the Ministry of Health, for the Ministry of Planning and National Development and for other Government departments in Kenya . Ambassador Ojiambo is an active member in a number of organizations, including the Women’s Democracy Network, the Medical Women International Association, and the Pan African Women’s Organization, among others. She holds a Master’s degree (with Distinction) in Public Health and Community Medicine, a degree in Medicine and Surgery and several certified skills, including one in diplomacy.
Prior to representing Kenya at the United Nations, Dr. Ojiambo managed a Public Health Consultancy in Kenya. She has worked in the private sector and with non-governmental organizations advocating for multi-sector interventions to promote equity in social development, particularly for women, for the youth and for vulnerable people. Additionally, she has worked for the Ministry of Health, for the Ministry of Planning and National Development and for other Government departments in Kenya . Ambassador Ojiambo is an active member in a number of organizations, including the Women’s Democracy Network, the Medical Women International Association, and the Pan African Women’s Organization, among others. She holds a Master’s degree (with Distinction) in Public Health and Community Medicine, a degree in Medicine and Surgery and several certified skills, including one in diplomacy.
Liz Lyman
Chief Manager, Corporate Communications and CSR, Global Business Unit, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ
Liz Lyman is currently the Chief Manager for Corporate Communications and CSR, Global Business Unit of Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ.
She was previously the Director of Executive Communications for Union Bank, the wholly owned subsidiary of BTMU headquartered in San Francisco. Her varied background includes strong experience in the performing arts. Most recently, she was a member of the renowned professional choral group Woodley Ensemble and was a guest artist with Tallis Scholars during their recent U.S. tours to Washington, DC and New York. In addition, Liz has sung with the Charleston Bach Soloists and Charleston Renaissance Ensemble in Charleston, South Carolina, and the Washington Bach Consort, in Washington, DC. As a much sought-after professional church musician, Liz was a member of the choirs of the Cathedral of St. Luke and St. Paul in Charleston and St. Paul’s K Street in Washington.
Her arts experience extends beyond performance to management, and she has served as the Executive Director of the Washington Bach Consort and the Theater Chamber Players of the Kennedy Center. She was the Director of Public Relations for the Choral Arts Society of Washington and the Director of Public Relations and Programs for the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs where she managed operations for the Piccolo Spoleto Festival.
Apart from her work in the arts, Liz has an extensive background in both government and corporate sectors. She was the Chief Speechwriter for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service and Senior Speechwriter and Executive Communications Manager for Hewlett-Packard, Technology Solutions Group. Liz holds a BA in English (cum laude) from Upsala College and Masters Degrees in both Human Relations and International Relations from Webster University (Summa cum Laude). She is also a graduate of the Cambridge University, England Choral Scholars Seminar. Liz is married to Captain Mel Lyman, USN (ret), a former nuclear submarine commander, and they have one son, Christopher, who is a systems engineer with the Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey, California.
She was previously the Director of Executive Communications for Union Bank, the wholly owned subsidiary of BTMU headquartered in San Francisco. Her varied background includes strong experience in the performing arts. Most recently, she was a member of the renowned professional choral group Woodley Ensemble and was a guest artist with Tallis Scholars during their recent U.S. tours to Washington, DC and New York. In addition, Liz has sung with the Charleston Bach Soloists and Charleston Renaissance Ensemble in Charleston, South Carolina, and the Washington Bach Consort, in Washington, DC. As a much sought-after professional church musician, Liz was a member of the choirs of the Cathedral of St. Luke and St. Paul in Charleston and St. Paul’s K Street in Washington.
Her arts experience extends beyond performance to management, and she has served as the Executive Director of the Washington Bach Consort and the Theater Chamber Players of the Kennedy Center. She was the Director of Public Relations for the Choral Arts Society of Washington and the Director of Public Relations and Programs for the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs where she managed operations for the Piccolo Spoleto Festival.
Apart from her work in the arts, Liz has an extensive background in both government and corporate sectors. She was the Chief Speechwriter for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service and Senior Speechwriter and Executive Communications Manager for Hewlett-Packard, Technology Solutions Group. Liz holds a BA in English (cum laude) from Upsala College and Masters Degrees in both Human Relations and International Relations from Webster University (Summa cum Laude). She is also a graduate of the Cambridge University, England Choral Scholars Seminar. Liz is married to Captain Mel Lyman, USN (ret), a former nuclear submarine commander, and they have one son, Christopher, who is a systems engineer with the Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey, California.
Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury
Former UN Under-Secretary General
Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury, till recently the Senior Special Advisor to the UN General Assembly President, has devoted many years as an inspirational champion for sustainable peace and development and ardently advancing the cause of the global movement for the culture of peace that has energized civil society all over the world.
As a career diplomat, Permanent Representative to United Nations, President of the UN Security Council, President of UNICEF Board, UN Under- Secretary-General, and recipient of the U Thant Peace Award, UNESCO Gandhi Gold Medal for Culture of Peace, Spirit of the UN Award and University of Massachusetts Boston Chancellor’s Medal for Global Leadership for Peace, Ambassador Chowdhury has a wealth of experience in the critical issues of our time - peace, sustainable development, and human rights.
Ambassador Chowdhury’s legacy and leadership in advancing the best interest of the global community are boldly imprinted in his pioneering initiatives at the United Nations General Assembly in 1999 for adoption of the landmark Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace and in 1998 for the proclamation of the “International Decade for Culture of Peace and Nonviolence for the Children of the World (2001-2010)”.
Equally pioneering is his initiative in March 2000 as the President of the Security Council that achieved the political and conceptual breakthrough leading to the adoption of the groundbreaking UN Security Council Resolution 1325 which for the first time recognized the role and contribution of women in the area of peace and security. He served as Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations in New York from 1996 to 2001 and as the Under-Secretary-General and High Representative of the United Nations, responsible for the most vulnerable countries of the world from 2002 to 2007. He has been the Chair of the International Drafting Committee on the Human Right to Peace, an initiative based in Barcelona, Spain.
In March 2003, the Soka University of Tokyo, Japan conferred to Ambassador Chowdhury an Honorary Doctorate for his work on women's issues, child rights and culture of peace as well as for the strengthening of the United Nations. In May 2012, he received a Doctor of Humane Letters honoris causa degree from the Saint Peters University of the United States. He is the Honorary Chair of the International Day of Peace NGO Committee at the UN, New York and Chairman of the Global Forum on Human Settlements, both since 2008. He is a part of the 12-member Wisdom Council of the Summer of Peace 2012, a world-wide participatory initiative to advance the Culture of Peace.
He is among the five-member Board of Trustees of the New York City Peace Museum and a member of the Advisory Council of the National Peace Academy in the US. He is the founding Co-Chair of the International Ecological Safety Collaborative Organisation (IESCO). He has been decorated by the Government of Burkina Faso in west Africa with the country’s highest honour “L’Ordre Nacionale” in 2007 in Ouagadougou for his championship of the cause of the most vulnerable countries.
Dr. Chowdhury has structured curricula and taught courses on “The Culture of Peace” at the Soka University of America and the City University of New York in 2008 and 2009. He also served as an Adjunct Professor at the School of Diplomacy, Seton Hall University of the United States. He is an Honorary Patron of the Committee on Teaching About the UN (CTAUN), New York. Public speaking and advocacy for sustainable peace keep him engaged at the present time.
As a career diplomat, Permanent Representative to United Nations, President of the UN Security Council, President of UNICEF Board, UN Under- Secretary-General, and recipient of the U Thant Peace Award, UNESCO Gandhi Gold Medal for Culture of Peace, Spirit of the UN Award and University of Massachusetts Boston Chancellor’s Medal for Global Leadership for Peace, Ambassador Chowdhury has a wealth of experience in the critical issues of our time - peace, sustainable development, and human rights.
Ambassador Chowdhury’s legacy and leadership in advancing the best interest of the global community are boldly imprinted in his pioneering initiatives at the United Nations General Assembly in 1999 for adoption of the landmark Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace and in 1998 for the proclamation of the “International Decade for Culture of Peace and Nonviolence for the Children of the World (2001-2010)”.
Equally pioneering is his initiative in March 2000 as the President of the Security Council that achieved the political and conceptual breakthrough leading to the adoption of the groundbreaking UN Security Council Resolution 1325 which for the first time recognized the role and contribution of women in the area of peace and security. He served as Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations in New York from 1996 to 2001 and as the Under-Secretary-General and High Representative of the United Nations, responsible for the most vulnerable countries of the world from 2002 to 2007. He has been the Chair of the International Drafting Committee on the Human Right to Peace, an initiative based in Barcelona, Spain.
In March 2003, the Soka University of Tokyo, Japan conferred to Ambassador Chowdhury an Honorary Doctorate for his work on women's issues, child rights and culture of peace as well as for the strengthening of the United Nations. In May 2012, he received a Doctor of Humane Letters honoris causa degree from the Saint Peters University of the United States. He is the Honorary Chair of the International Day of Peace NGO Committee at the UN, New York and Chairman of the Global Forum on Human Settlements, both since 2008. He is a part of the 12-member Wisdom Council of the Summer of Peace 2012, a world-wide participatory initiative to advance the Culture of Peace.
He is among the five-member Board of Trustees of the New York City Peace Museum and a member of the Advisory Council of the National Peace Academy in the US. He is the founding Co-Chair of the International Ecological Safety Collaborative Organisation (IESCO). He has been decorated by the Government of Burkina Faso in west Africa with the country’s highest honour “L’Ordre Nacionale” in 2007 in Ouagadougou for his championship of the cause of the most vulnerable countries.
Dr. Chowdhury has structured curricula and taught courses on “The Culture of Peace” at the Soka University of America and the City University of New York in 2008 and 2009. He also served as an Adjunct Professor at the School of Diplomacy, Seton Hall University of the United States. He is an Honorary Patron of the Committee on Teaching About the UN (CTAUN), New York. Public speaking and advocacy for sustainable peace keep him engaged at the present time.
Constance J. Peak
Chief Strategist and Chair, IMPACT Global Advisory Council
Constance J. Peak is a businesswoman and serial entrepreneur. She is the Co-Founder of Maverick Vision International and MVI Advisors, in the capacity of Chief Strategist, Career and Branding Coach, and Confidential Life Coach. She is the founder of MVI Sustainable Technologies, focusing on water conservation and usage worldwide. Constance is also the Director of Program Development and Support at the United Nations Headquarters, New York City of an international non-governmental organization (NGO), Foundation for the Support of the United Nations (FSUN-UNO).
Constance has extensive experience internationally in corporate communications training, English proficiency training, personality development training, and professional presentation. She is sought after for her expertise in coaching business owners and executives of multi-national companies on strategic positioning for positive growth, and personal branding. Constance co-founded Maverick Vision International with her business and life partner, Janet C. Salazar.
Constance is passionate about rights to education, women's economic and socio-political empowerment, philanthropy, diversity and inclusion and LGBT equality. She is a strong advocate of environmentally sustainable practices and encourages support for social entrepreneurship. Constance is the creator of FSUN-UNO women's initiative, the Special Women's Economic Empowerment Training for Success (SWEET Success), to increase the presence of female entrepreneurs. She speaks regularly on perceptual influences and transitional thinking as The Tune-Up Coach, inspiring her listeners to make life altering changes.
Constance has extensive experience internationally in corporate communications training, English proficiency training, personality development training, and professional presentation. She is sought after for her expertise in coaching business owners and executives of multi-national companies on strategic positioning for positive growth, and personal branding. Constance co-founded Maverick Vision International with her business and life partner, Janet C. Salazar.
Constance is passionate about rights to education, women's economic and socio-political empowerment, philanthropy, diversity and inclusion and LGBT equality. She is a strong advocate of environmentally sustainable practices and encourages support for social entrepreneurship. Constance is the creator of FSUN-UNO women's initiative, the Special Women's Economic Empowerment Training for Success (SWEET Success), to increase the presence of female entrepreneurs. She speaks regularly on perceptual influences and transitional thinking as The Tune-Up Coach, inspiring her listeners to make life altering changes.
Dr. John P. Fernandez
President, ARMC Global
Dr. John P. Fernandez is the founder and president of Advanced Research Management Consultants Global, LLC.
Prior to founding ARMC Global, John worked for 15 years at AT&T, becoming the first Black division level operations manager. Responsible for a division which had over a 500,000 of customers, John developed and enhanced processes for selling, construction, engineering, human resource management and technological innovation.
Based on his extensive experience working with many corporate clients and issues, John has written and produced more than 36 videos on human resource management, leadership, cross cultural teams, Diversity and Proactive Inclusion®, and GlobalTREEsmfrom a global perspective. He has written and developed e-learnings for Bank of America, Citi, GlaxoSmithKline, and Lucent.
Dr. John P. Fernandez is the author of nine books, and has received critical acclaim as one of the world’s leading thinkers in areas of leadership, teambuilding, diversity, child care, elder care and human resource management. He is currently working on a book about global Leadership, Diversity, Proactive Inclusion and GlobalTREEsm which focuses on building cross cultural world class teams. After graduating Magna Cum Laude from Harvard, John received his PhD from the University California at Berkeley. As a highly sought out speaker, John has appeared on CNBC, CNN and Marketplace on National Public Radio. John has taught at Yale, New York University, Antioch, and the University of Pennsylvania.
Prior to founding ARMC Global, John worked for 15 years at AT&T, becoming the first Black division level operations manager. Responsible for a division which had over a 500,000 of customers, John developed and enhanced processes for selling, construction, engineering, human resource management and technological innovation.
Based on his extensive experience working with many corporate clients and issues, John has written and produced more than 36 videos on human resource management, leadership, cross cultural teams, Diversity and Proactive Inclusion®, and GlobalTREEsmfrom a global perspective. He has written and developed e-learnings for Bank of America, Citi, GlaxoSmithKline, and Lucent.
Dr. John P. Fernandez is the author of nine books, and has received critical acclaim as one of the world’s leading thinkers in areas of leadership, teambuilding, diversity, child care, elder care and human resource management. He is currently working on a book about global Leadership, Diversity, Proactive Inclusion and GlobalTREEsm which focuses on building cross cultural world class teams. After graduating Magna Cum Laude from Harvard, John received his PhD from the University California at Berkeley. As a highly sought out speaker, John has appeared on CNBC, CNN and Marketplace on National Public Radio. John has taught at Yale, New York University, Antioch, and the University of Pennsylvania.
Leslie Grossman
Leadership Strategist, Author, LINK OUT: How to Turn Your Network into a Chain of Lasting Connections, Vice-Chair, IMPACT Global Advisory Council
Leslie Grossman is a leadership and business/career development expert, and advocate for women leaders. Grossman created and co-founded Women’s Leadership Exchange, a national organization that produced more than 100 conferences and events, with a mission of creating more women leaders in the world by building leadership, relationship building and business skills. Previously, she lead an integrated marketing agency, Communications/Marketing Action, whose clients included many national brands in the fashion, entertainment and business worlds.
She is author of Link Out: How to Turn Your Network into a Chain of Lasting Connectors (Wiley, 2013), and Sellsation: How Companies Can Capture Today’s Hottest Market: Women Business Owners and Executives (WPE Press, 2005). Recently Grossman toured Japan on behalf of the U.S. Embassy, speaking to women about the opportunities of entrepreneurship, and was rated as “one of the best speakers of the year.” Her workshops and keynotes on entrepreneurship and leadership integrate her philosophy of achieving success by creating life-long connections, building one’s personal brand and developing leadership skills.
Grossman is past president and founding international chair of the National Association of Women Business Owners, has served on many boards, including her present role on the board of Unleashed, a nonprofit that transforms middle school girls into leaders and social change agents, and vice chair of IMPACT's Global Advisory Council. She been a professional speaker and trainer for over 12 years, speaking and leading workshops at associations, universities like Cornell, NYU and University of Maryland, and corporations, like JP MorganChase, MetLife, IBM, Aetna, Northwestern Mutual and Jones NY. For more information visit www.lesliegrossmanleadership.com.
She is author of Link Out: How to Turn Your Network into a Chain of Lasting Connectors (Wiley, 2013), and Sellsation: How Companies Can Capture Today’s Hottest Market: Women Business Owners and Executives (WPE Press, 2005). Recently Grossman toured Japan on behalf of the U.S. Embassy, speaking to women about the opportunities of entrepreneurship, and was rated as “one of the best speakers of the year.” Her workshops and keynotes on entrepreneurship and leadership integrate her philosophy of achieving success by creating life-long connections, building one’s personal brand and developing leadership skills.
Grossman is past president and founding international chair of the National Association of Women Business Owners, has served on many boards, including her present role on the board of Unleashed, a nonprofit that transforms middle school girls into leaders and social change agents, and vice chair of IMPACT's Global Advisory Council. She been a professional speaker and trainer for over 12 years, speaking and leading workshops at associations, universities like Cornell, NYU and University of Maryland, and corporations, like JP MorganChase, MetLife, IBM, Aetna, Northwestern Mutual and Jones NY. For more information visit www.lesliegrossmanleadership.com.
Mark Szollar
Executive Director, Ascend/NAAMBA
Mark joined AscendNAAMBA as the Executive Director on July 8, 2013. Prior to joining AscendNAAMBA, Mark enjoyed a terrific 30 year career at The New York Times. Prior to his appointed as the Executive Director, Mark served on the NAAMBA Board of Directors. At the Times he for worked in a variety of positions and departments and retired as the Advertising Director of Diversity and Recruitment.
In addition to his career at the Times Mark is an active member of “VOCES”, the New York Times Hispanic-American Affinity Group. He is also on the Advisory Board for the National Association of Black Sports Professionals and the Advisory Board for Veterans Across America. Mark was also a judge of the 2006 Out and Equal, “OUTIE” awards. In addition, in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 Mark was invited to the World Diversity Conference held in Prague, the United Nations, Washington, DC and most recently Harvard University, to moderate a panel on how Sports brings people from Diverse Cultures together. Most recently in 2012, Mark received the “Advocate of the Year” award from the Student Corporate Internship Program”, which identifies the most promising minority high school students in the New York tri-state area.
In addition to his professional career, in 2003, Mark was inducted into the Youth Baseball Hall of Fame in Coopers town, NY, (not as a player but as an umpire). He loves youth baseball and volunteers his time umpire Little League and Babe Ruth baseball. Mark graduated in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Resource Recreation Management from Oregon State University and he received his MBA in Business Administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 1989.
In addition to his career at the Times Mark is an active member of “VOCES”, the New York Times Hispanic-American Affinity Group. He is also on the Advisory Board for the National Association of Black Sports Professionals and the Advisory Board for Veterans Across America. Mark was also a judge of the 2006 Out and Equal, “OUTIE” awards. In addition, in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 Mark was invited to the World Diversity Conference held in Prague, the United Nations, Washington, DC and most recently Harvard University, to moderate a panel on how Sports brings people from Diverse Cultures together. Most recently in 2012, Mark received the “Advocate of the Year” award from the Student Corporate Internship Program”, which identifies the most promising minority high school students in the New York tri-state area.
In addition to his professional career, in 2003, Mark was inducted into the Youth Baseball Hall of Fame in Coopers town, NY, (not as a player but as an umpire). He loves youth baseball and volunteers his time umpire Little League and Babe Ruth baseball. Mark graduated in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Resource Recreation Management from Oregon State University and he received his MBA in Business Administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 1989.
Maria Gamb
Founder and CEO NMS Communications, Amazon best selling book “Healing the Corporate World: How Value Based Leadership Gets Results from the Inside Out”
Maria Gamb is Founder and CEO of the coaching and training company NMS Communications. As a former Fortune 500 executive, she spent more than twenty years in the trenches of corporate America directing and managing successful businesses valued in excess of $100 million. Providing her with invaluable global experience working in the Asia, Australia, Europe, Turkey and parts of South America which lead her to write the Amazon best selling book “Healing the Corporate World: How Value Based Leadership Gets Results from the Inside Out”. Her specialties include value-based leadership, gender intelligence and communication, team collaboration as well as championing women in emerging leadership roles. Her belief is that we all are responsible for shifting the environment within business to a more constructive and collaborative model – together, regardless of gender we can accomplish more together than divided.
Forbes magazine identified Maria Gamb as a new thought leader to follow and tapped her as a regular contributor addressing women in leadership. Her approach to leadership has also been featured in Inc Magazine, Time Magazine, Wall Street Radio Network and the Women’s Media outlet. She is a sought after professional international speaker, author, trainer and advocate for women as change agents – leading the charge for positively changing industry norms within organizations, groups and governments cabinets.
Maria sits on the Global Advisory Board for Impact 21 Leadership and the Board of Directors for Collective Changes; advancing women’s leadership worldwide. She is a member of the Women’s MBA International (WMBAI) association and the United Nations Association of New York (UNA – NY). In 2013 Maria begins her work with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) developing a women’s entrepreneurial program for the Arab Nations.
Forbes magazine identified Maria Gamb as a new thought leader to follow and tapped her as a regular contributor addressing women in leadership. Her approach to leadership has also been featured in Inc Magazine, Time Magazine, Wall Street Radio Network and the Women’s Media outlet. She is a sought after professional international speaker, author, trainer and advocate for women as change agents – leading the charge for positively changing industry norms within organizations, groups and governments cabinets.
Maria sits on the Global Advisory Board for Impact 21 Leadership and the Board of Directors for Collective Changes; advancing women’s leadership worldwide. She is a member of the Women’s MBA International (WMBAI) association and the United Nations Association of New York (UNA – NY). In 2013 Maria begins her work with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) developing a women’s entrepreneurial program for the Arab Nations.
