Day 1 Speakers
Tara Jaye Frank
Tara Jaye Frank
Tara Jaye Frank is an equity strategist who has advised and educated thousands of Fortune 500 executives across multiple industries and large member organizations. Her work, fueled by a deep belief in the creative power and potential of every ONE, focuses on building bridges between people, ideas, and opportunity. Before founding her culture and leadership consultancy, Tara spent twenty-one years at Hallmark Cards, where she served in multiple executive roles, including Vice-President Creative Writing and Editorial, Vice-President Business Innovation, Vice-President Multicultural Strategy, and Corporate Culture Advisor to the President.
Her book, The Waymakers: Clearing the Path to Workplace Equity with Competence and Confidence (May 2022), is an invitation to all people with power and position to open doors, remove barriers, and facilitate access and opportunity for those who have been historically denied.
The Waymakers: Illuminating Your Leadership Promise
See Agenda2:05 pm - 2:45 pm
Trudy A. Rautio
Trudy A. Rautio
Ripple Effects: When Women Stand Up for Women Who Stand Out
See Agenda2:45 pm - 3:30 pm
Molly Biwer
Molly Biwer
Ripple Effects: When Women Stand Up for Women Who Stand Out
See Agenda2:45 pm - 3:30 pm
Nicole Wright
Nicole Wright
Nicole Wright, Regions Market Manager for NextUp, is a high-energy leader that has experience in learning and development, DEI strategy, merchandising management, social media, sales, and marketing. A NextUp member since 2012, Nicole has used the power of the NextUp Community to advance her career, develop her professional skills and take on high visibility stretch assignments. Within her current role, she supports seven NextUp regions and assists with the overall regional strategy, goals, and execution.
Prior to joining the NextUp team, Nicole spent 12 years within multiple roles at Acosta where she led DE&I, served as NextUp Ambassador, and as Communications Officer for the NextUp Virtual and Texas Regions. Nicole has a passion for connecting people and has moderated conversations and emceed conferences for Dallas Start-up Week, SMU Graduate Women in Business Club, and Sisters Traveling Solo.
Ripple Effects: When Women Stand Up for Women Who Stand Out
See Agenda2:45 pm - 3:30 pm
Will Storr
Will Storr
Will Storr is an award-winning writer. He’s the author of six critically acclaimed books, including the novel The Hunger and The Howling of Killian Lone and the Sunday Times bestseller The Science of Storytelling. His journalism has appeared in titles such as The Guardian , The Sunday Times , The New Yorker and The New York Times . His prizes include a National Press Club award for excellence and the AFM award for Best Investigative Journalism. His work on sexual violence in warzones earned the Amnesty International Award and a One World Press Award. He’s also been presented with the AIB Award for Best Investigative Documentary for his BBC radio series.
The Status Game: How to Play for Maximum Impact
See Agenda3:45 pm - 4:15 pm
Danit Schleman
Danit Schleman
As the VP of strategic value, Danit leads NextUp in honing its mission for corporate partners and members, aligning its strategy to that mission, and catalyzing future growth. Danit’s first priority will be to develop and launch Ascend, a solution for organizations seeking to design more equitable and inclusive workplaces for women of color. Danit has been working at the intersection of strategy and DEIB for over 20 years. She acquired a strategic, data-driven toolkit over a decade of leading management consulting projects at Oliver Wyman across diverse industries. She then took on a role building the Inclusion and Diversity team at Oliver Wyman. Most recently, she has consulted in the education, non-profit, philanthropy, and corporate sectors, helping clients align their organizations with their missions, strategies, and values. Danit holds an M.B.A. with Distinction from the J. L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management and a B.A. magna cum laude in social studies from Harvard College. She lives in Chicago with her husband, their three children, and their dog. In her spare time she enjoys reading, yoga, and playing board games with her kids.
Track 2: Power Tactics to Retain Talent and Drive Growth
See Agenda10:15 am - 11:45 am
The Status Game: How to Play for Maximum Impact
See Agenda3:45 pm - 4:15 pm
Libby Saylor Wright
Libby Saylor Wright
Libby Saylor Wright is the Operations Leader for Microsoft’s US Retail & Consumer Goods Operating Unit, an organization driving over $5B worth of revenue and shaping the future of retail and consumer goods with game-changing solutions. Libby is responsible for the organization’s strategy, performance management, operations, and people and culture.
Prior to her role at Microsoft, Libby was the Chief Operating Officer of Women’s Foodservice Forum (WFF), the food industry’s thought leader on gender equity providing research, insights, and solutions to enable some of the world’s most recognized brands to close the workplace gender gap. With more than 20 years of marketing and innovation experience, Libby has leveraged her client and agency experience to build business and brand strategies and lead cross-functional teams to improve business results.
Legendary Leadership: Ideas for Staying Power
See Agenda4:15 pm - 5:00 pm
Laura Maxwell
Laura Maxwell
Laura is currently the Senior Vice President of Supply Chain for PepsiCo Foods North America, the $26 billion snack and convenient food business that includes Frito-Lay North America (FLNA) and Quaker Foods North America (QFNA). In this role, which she began in March 2020, Laura is accountable for 30,000 associates across manufacturing, warehouse, transportation, in-market operations, and all supporting headquarters functions. Her priorities include building strategies and ensuring execution in support of the commercial growth agenda, along with productivity, quality, environmental health and safety, and sustainability.
Legendary Leadership: Ideas for Staying Power
See Agenda4:15 pm - 5:00 pm
Sri Rajagopalan
Sri Rajagopalan
As Chief Customer Officer for U.S. Retail, Sri Rajagopalan oversees all customer activities for General Mills in the U.S. He leads the nearly 1,000 sales professionals charged with growing the $10B U.S. Retail business. Sri was promoted to this position in July 2021.
Sri joined General Mills in March 2021 as a CPG industry veteran in leading omnichannel transformation after leadership positions in customer management at Frito-Lay North America , PepsiCo, Johnson & Johnson consumer Inc., and at Revlon.
Legendary Leadership: Ideas for Staying Power
See Agenda4:15 pm - 5:00 pm
Day 2 Speakers
Dagmar Boggs
Dagmar Boggs
Dagmar Boggs is an executive at The Coca-Cola Company with a diverse leadership background with deep experiences in general management, P&L responsibility, operations, customer management (retail and foodservice), channel acumen, franchise leadership, and people development.
In Dagmar’s current role as President, Foodservice and On-Premise, she leads the premier, stand-alone Foodservice organization within the industry which encompasses sales, strategic planning, marketing, commercial and operations. Coca-Cola Foodservice leads the industry in share and availability in outlets.
Welcome to Day 2
See Agenda9:00 am - 9:05 am
Jim Young
Jim Young
Jim Young is an executive coach, facilitator, author, professional comedian, and speaker. Jim leverages his experiences from the corporate C-Suite to help leaders and organizations build healthier and more equitable workplace cultures. His recent book, Expansive Intimacy: How “Tough Guys” Defeat Burnout, provides a roadmap through the malaise of burnout into a new, more expansive, form of success that spans all aspects of life.
Driving Burnout: How to Lead Your Teams to Health
See Agenda11:30 am - 12:15 pm
Lisa Baird
Lisa Baird
Lisa Baird is a proven leader across private and non-profit sectors where she has been instrumental in building some of the world’s most iconic brands and sports properties. Her diverse marketing, communications and sales expertise spans sports, media, technology, healthcare, consumer and automotive. She has a demonstrated track record of revenue and profit growth. Most recently, Lisa was the Commissioner of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), the world’s leading professional women’s soccer league. Prior to joining the NWSL, she was the Chief Marketing Officer at New York Public Radio and served in the same capacity for the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee for over a decade.
Meet the CEO
See Agenda3:20 pm - 3:30 pm
Slam Dunk: The Power of Active Allyship
See Agenda9:15 am - 10:00 am
Anshu Bhardwaj
Anshu Bhardwaj
Anshu Bhardwaj is the SVP & COO of Walmart Global Technology & Walmart Commerce Technologies. Due to Anshu’s multi-faceted role, her responsibilities spread cross-functionally throughout the organization – working alongside Suresh Kumar, Global CTO and CDO, to ensure technology is being optimally leveraged to drive innovation and growth at scale.
The Future Has Arrived: Putting Tech to Work
See Agenda2:15 pm - 3:00 pm
Beth Marrion
Beth Marrion
Beth Marrion is a Senior Managing Director at Accenture. Beth serves as the Office Managing Director for Accenture’s Chicago office, leading 6500 people at the newly-opened Accenture Tower. Beth is also Senior Client Account Lead for one of Accenture’s largest clients globally, with P&L responsibility across all four dimensions of Accenture’s business (Strategy & Consulting, Song, Technology and Operations).
Beth has over 25 years of consulting and transformation experience as an advisor to c-suite and business leadership. She is a complex commercial deal shaper, innovation leader, and Senior Client Account Lead. Beth has a strong track record of building leadership, I&D sponsorship, collaboration, teaming and people development. She’s an effective communicator and critical thinker with a deep understanding of the retail industry.
The Future Has Arrived: Putting Tech to Work
See Agenda2:15 pm - 3:00 pm
Dr. Radhika Dirks
Dr. Radhika Dirks
Dr. Radhika Dirks is CEO and co-founder at XLabs, a company that knows how to dream big by making AI moonshots – achievements that change the perception of what we think is possible – a reality. She has been named one as a Forbes Women in AI to Watch & one of the Top 30 Women advancing AI today. She is passionate about addressing the state of diversity in the AI industry.
Radhika’s artificial intelligence leadership includes co-founding Seldn, an AI start-up that accurately predicted the rise of ISIS two weeks before the New York Times coined the term, and her work as CEO and co-founder of XLabs, a moonshot factory for artificial intelligence innovations that is already solving huge problems—like getting closer to the cure for cancer. Her latest AI has found potential cures for 11 cancers within 1.5 years of launch.
Moonshot Thinking: Marrying Technology & Humanity
See Agenda1:45 pm - 2:15 pm
Jacquelyn Fletcher Johnson
Jacquelyn Fletcher Johnson
Jacquelyn Fletcher Johnson is an award-winning author, corporate trainer, content designer, and coach who has helped thousands of high-potential executives at Fortune 50 companies become holistic leaders for the modern era. Now more than ever, leaders need a whole new set of skills to be successful. Through experiences that help develop empathy, storytelling, communication skills, mindfulness, resilience, and much more, Jacquelyn helps leaders tap into their full powers to lead.
Driving Burnout: How to Lead Your Teams to Health
See Agenda11:30 am - 12:15 pm
Newton Cheng
Newton Cheng
Newton Cheng is a husband and father, competitive powerlifter, and is Director of Health + Performance at Google. His goal is to offer a different model of vulnerable leadership that inspires culture change in the workplace so that we can take better care of ourselves and each other.
Drawing on his unique background at Google as well as his journey to becoming a world champion powerlifter, he has unique expert in the intersections of health & wellbeing, and performance of individuals and teams. Despite still working as an executive at Google, Newton has openly shared about his struggles with mental health and burnout in order to model what it looks like to pierce the stigma around mental health.
He’s spent his 14-year career at Google developing, launching and scaling global programs aimed at helping Googlers to thrive. Today he oversees a global portfolio of Google’s physical and digital health & wellbeing amenities. He spends much of his time exploring how Google can leverage spaces and services, community, culture and technology to support the physical, mental, social, and spiritual health of Googlers, their families, and our neighbors.
Driving Burnout: How to Lead Your Teams to Health
See Agenda11:30 am - 12:15 pm
Stuart Claxton
Stuart Claxton
Stuart has over 20 years experience in the marketing and communications field. Born in England, he relocated to New York in 2002 to launch the Guinness World Records office in the U.S., re-aligning the business from print to digital and creating revenue streams which generated $13M+ in additional revenue within 3 years. In 2015 he joined the ranks of Time Inc. where he led ideation, planning and execution of client programs across all category verticals for the Fortune and TIME brands working alongside blue chip brands such as Mercedes, Samsung and IBM. A bilingual Spanish-speaker, Stuart then joined TelevisaUnivision in 2019 as Senior Director, Ad Sales Marketing where he was responsible for the B2B marketing and communications strategy supporting TelevisaUnivision’s position as the world’s leading Hispanic media company generating $1B+ in annual revenue. An avid traveller he has lived in England, Spain, Mexico, Hungary and the U.S.
Disruptive Leadership: How to Push Past the Expected
See Agenda10:45 am - 11:30 am
Nami Yamamoto
Nami Yamamoto
Nami Yamamoto is the 11th-generation CEO of Yamamotoyama U.S.A., a subsidiary of a 333-year-old family-owned and operated company originated in Japan. Yamamotoyama is the originator of steamed Japanese green tea known as sencha and the leading nori seaweed purveyor to homes and restaurants. Among its various businesses, Yamamotoyama is also the parent company of Stash Tea.
Under her leadership, the company has expanded its presence in the U.S. market and launched new product lines. She led global branding initiatives to develop cohesive, high-quality teas, and innovative packaging, with a commitment to sustainability. In 2021, Nami was selected as an awardee of the Exceptional Women Awardees Foundation for her leadership and contribution to the industry. With her leadership and dedication, Yamamotoyama is poised for continued growth and success while also upholding its values and making a positive impact for future generations.
Culture Shift: Meeting the Future of Business
See Agenda9:05 am - 9:45 am
Margot Goodson
Margot Goodson
Margot is an seasoned professional with 28+ years of progressive experience in finance/accounting, project management, and Diversity & Inclusion, across various industries. Now having her passion as her profession, her goal is to Make D&I our DNA at SAP!
As VP, Head of North America Diversity & Inclusion, her role is to help SAP embrace and leverage employee’s diversity dimensions to support the achievement of organizational goals, outperform competitors, and exceed customer/employee expectations. Margot is responsible for identifying, planning, executing and monitoring diversity activities related to the regional Diversity & Inclusion strategy across four focus areas, including Talent Attraction & Sourcing, Employee Onboarding & Engagement, Career Development & Advancement, as well as Supplier Diversity.
Margot is a CPA, CSSGB, and Certified Diversity Executive who also serves as an SAP CSR Ambassador, and currently oversees multiple SAP Employee Network Groups. Additionally, she sits on the Board of the Pennsylvania Diversity Council, HR.com, AnitaB.org MSI Community Advisory Board, and the Black Tech Taskforce for Black Professionals in Tech Network. Outside of SAP, she is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and Jack & Jill of America, Inc. and other local community service groups.
Disruptive Leadership: How to Push Past the Expected
See Agenda10:45 am - 11:30 am
Michele C. Allen
Michele C. Allen
Michele C. Allen serves as the Vice President Sales – East Region for Altria Group Distribution Company. She has held this position since January 2023. Michele joined the Altria in 1995. Previous leadership roles include Vice President Operations Services & Facilities; Vice President Customer Supply Chain; Senior Section Director, Sales, AGDC; Senior Plant Director, Franklin Park, USSTC; Senior Director, Engineering, USSTC as well as several other Engineering, Technology and Continuous Improvement leadership roles with Philip Morris USA.
Michele received her undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1991 from the University of Delaware and received her Master of Business Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2001. She serves on the boards of the YWCA Richmond and Altria Pac. Michele is also a certified professional coach and the author of the book, I’m That Girl.
Disruptive Leadership: How to Push Past the Expected
See Agenda10:45 am - 11:30 am
Erin Newkirk
Erin Newkirk
Erin Newkirk has spent over 30 years building profitable consumer businesses that improve the world. An early adopter of Environmental Social Governance (ESG), Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEI&B), and digital transformation, Newkirk has held several executive leadership roles at the intersection of building strong consumer brands that drive healthy returns.
Erin currently serves as the Chief Brand & Marketing Officer for Caribou Coffee. She and her team are accountable for how Caribou’s brand comes to life across all customer and consumer touchpoints while keeping team, guests, and global responsibility as their central guideposts.
Disruptive Leadership: How to Push Past the Expected
See Agenda10:45 am - 11:30 am
Elaine Bowers Coventry
Elaine Bowers Coventry
Elaine Bowers Coventry is the Chief Customer and Commercial Officer of The Coca-Cola Company. She is responsible for the Customer & Commercial Leadership function, which encompasses revenue growth management, integrated execution and customer development. Coventry is also responsible for representing the company with retail and consumer goods industry stakeholders.
Coventry serves as a board member of Enactus, a global network committed to using business as a catalyst for positive social and environmental impact and as an advisory board member of the LEAD Network, a group with the mission to attract, retain and advance women in the retail and consumer goods industry in Europe. She also served as the Co-Chair of the inaugural World Economic Forum Future of Consumption Council.
Global Leadership Insights: Thriving in a Dynamic World
See Agenda9:45 am - 10:30 am
Veronica Fernandez
Veronica Fernandez
Culture Shift: Meeting the Future of Business
See Agenda9:05 am - 9:45 am
Helene Pamon
Helene Pamon
Helene Pamon serves as the President at Yamamotoyama U.S.A., a subsidiary of a 333-year-old family-owned and operated company originated in Japan. Helene has built a strong background in consumer-centric business, refining her skills through progressive roles at Kraft, Nestle, and Sanofi Consumer Healthcare. She is committed to strategic leadership, transformational change, and driving innovation. Helene’s contributions have been honored with numerous industry awards. Fueled by her passion for health, wellness, and meaningful purpose, Helene is a dedicated advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Culture Shift: Meeting the Future of Business
See Agenda9:05 am - 9:45 am
Haben Girma
Haben Girma
The first Deafblind person to graduate from Harvard Law School, Haben Girma is a human rights lawyer advancing disability justice. President Obama named her a White House Champion of Change. She received the Helen Keller Achievement Award, a spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, and TIME100 Talks. President Bill Clinton, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Chancellor Angela Merkel have all honored Haben. Haben believes disability is an opportunity for innovation, and she teaches organizations the importance of choosing inclusion. The New York Times, Oprah Magazine, and TODAY Show featured her memoir, Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law.
Untapped Talent: The Case for Accessibility
See Agenda3:30 pm - 4:00 pm
Day 3 Speakers
Kiesha C. Nix
Kiesha C. Nix
Kiesha Nix is the VP of Charitable Affairs for the Los Angeles Lakers & Executive Director of the Lakers Youth Foundation. Kiesha directs programming and funding priorities for the team’s charitable arm. She is responsible for implementing the Foundation’s mission which is to assist underserved youth develop and recognize their full potential by providing positive experiences and resources in education, health & wellness and sports. Kiesha oversees support of 100,000+youth in 20+ Boys & Girls Clubs through Jr. Lakers basketball and has helped to build 40+ basketball courts, Reading Rooms and STEM Labs in schools & centers throughout Los Angeles.
Formerly Kiesha was as a Vice President of Enterprise Business & Community Relations at Bank of America and a Private Wealth Associate in the Private Banking & Investment Group of Merrill Lynch, serving 21+ yeas at Merrill Lynch – Bank of America. In 2021, Kiesha was voted to Sports Illustrated 100 Influential Black Women in Sports.
Slam Dunk: The Power of Active Allyship
See Agenda9:15 am - 10:00 am
Lisa Baird
Lisa Baird
Lisa Baird is a proven leader across private and non-profit sectors where she has been instrumental in building some of the world’s most iconic brands and sports properties. Her diverse marketing, communications and sales expertise spans sports, media, technology, healthcare, consumer and automotive. She has a demonstrated track record of revenue and profit growth. Most recently, Lisa was the Commissioner of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), the world’s leading professional women’s soccer league. Prior to joining the NWSL, she was the Chief Marketing Officer at New York Public Radio and served in the same capacity for the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee for over a decade.
Meet the CEO
See Agenda3:20 pm - 3:30 pm
Slam Dunk: The Power of Active Allyship
See Agenda9:15 am - 10:00 am
Tamara Fields
Tamara Fields
Tamara Fields, Office Managing Director for Accenture in Austin, is responsible for bringing innovation to clients, recruiting and retaining top talent and strengthening Accenture’s impact in the Austin community. As a business veteran with more than two decades of cross-industry, multilateral project management experience, Tamara helps better serve clients with creative, strategic, and transformative solutions. In addition, she is also the Chief Operating Officer for Accenture’s U.S. South Market Unit, responsible for executing the business strategy and operational excellence to drive growth and efficiency and engaging and developing high performing leaders across the 13-state region business.
Passionate about promoting an inclusive and diverse workplace, Tamara serves as the U.S. co-lead for Accenture’s women’s employee resource group. In support of the company’s goal to achieve 50/50 gender balance by 2025, she advocates that Accenture’s rich diversity makes teams stronger—more creative, innovative and competitive—helping Accenture to better serve clients and communities.
Track 1: Generative AI: Friend, Foe, or Both?
See Agenda10:15 am - 11:45 am
Heather Hildebrand
Heather Hildebrand
Heather Hildebrand is an Accenture Song Managing Director responsible for driving growth across all consumer accounts in the South Market Unit – across retail, travel, auto, industrial and CPG clients. Heather helps clients design digital and experience transformation and achieve high performance through business process transformation, customer experience strategy, personalized omnichannel experiences, analytics, operating model design, operational and marketing efficiencies, monetization, change enablement, and design thinking strategies.
Heather is a seasoned professional speaker, leading presentations at Fortune 100 clients, universities, marketing organizations, and tier one marketing events. Heather teaches marketing for top universities, has been a featured at SXSW mainstage speaker, presented at Adobe Summits and ran innovation events with start-up accelerators like Capital Factory and Austin Start Up Week.
Track 1: Generative AI: Friend, Foe, or Both?
See Agenda10:15 am - 11:45 am
Dr. Kristin Lee
Dr. Kristin Lee
Dr. Kristin Lee is the Director of Research and Learning Strategies at NextUp. Her background includes a Doctor of Education degree in Global Training and Development, master’s degree in Counseling, and bachelor’s degree in chemistry, coupled with 10+ years’ worth of learned and acquired knowledge and skills delivering optimal learning experiences virtually and in-person have enabled her to build a successful brand and career. Having spent most of her career designing curriculum and learning strategy, Dr. Lee is equipped to understand the needs of the most discerning audiences, delivering an experience rooted in service, integrity, and expertise. Specializing in translating business outcomes to build a value-based culture, she brings a much-needed difference to a terminal generation. Some of Dr. Lee’s key competencies include accreditation programing, compliance, technical, DEIBA, allyship, and leadership development, among others. Dr. Lee has published research focusing on the attainment of 21st century skills in the workplace and uses it to educate learners on how hiring managers evaluate these skills.
Track 1: Connect, Work & Lead Across Generations
See Agenda2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Track 2: Power Tactics to Retain Talent and Drive Growth
See Agenda10:15 am - 11:45 am
Danit Schleman
Danit Schleman
As the VP of strategic value, Danit leads NextUp in honing its mission for corporate partners and members, aligning its strategy to that mission, and catalyzing future growth. Danit’s first priority will be to develop and launch Ascend, a solution for organizations seeking to design more equitable and inclusive workplaces for women of color. Danit has been working at the intersection of strategy and DEIB for over 20 years. She acquired a strategic, data-driven toolkit over a decade of leading management consulting projects at Oliver Wyman across diverse industries. She then took on a role building the Inclusion and Diversity team at Oliver Wyman. Most recently, she has consulted in the education, non-profit, philanthropy, and corporate sectors, helping clients align their organizations with their missions, strategies, and values. Danit holds an M.B.A. with Distinction from the J. L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management and a B.A. magna cum laude in social studies from Harvard College. She lives in Chicago with her husband, their three children, and their dog. In her spare time she enjoys reading, yoga, and playing board games with her kids.
Track 2: Power Tactics to Retain Talent and Drive Growth
See Agenda10:15 am - 11:45 am
The Status Game: How to Play for Maximum Impact
See Agenda3:45 pm - 4:15 pm
Alicia Petross
Alicia Petross
Alicia Petross is the Chief Diversity Officer for The Hershey Company. A member of the Human Resources Leadership Team since December 2015, she leads the development and execution of Hershey’s diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies. Alicia partners with key internal and external leaders to develop more innovation and robustness in Hershey’s global climate and inclusion programming. Externally, Alicia expands Hershey’s partnership framework and represents the company in key industry commitments, including Paradigm for Parity, CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion, the National Organization on Disability Look Closer Campaign, and Financial Literacy for All. In 2022, Hershey was recognized by Forbes as one of the World’s Most Female-Friendly Companies and earned its eighth consecutive 100% rating on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index. This May, Hershey ranked #3 on the DiversityInc Top 50 list in addition to being certified as a Great Place To Work.
Alicia has more than 15 years of progressive human resources experience. She joined Hershey from the Target Corporation, where she played a key role in advancing and executing inclusion and engagement strategy and led the company’s ascension to the Top 20 in the Diversity Inc. Top 50 Companies for Diversity rankings.
Track 2: Power Tactics to Retain Talent and Drive Growth
See Agenda10:15 am - 11:45 am
Heather McIntyre
Heather McIntyre
Heather McIntyre is the Vice President of Sales for Kellogg’s US National Grocery Business . She is responsible for over 30% of Kellogg’s North American business, which includes representing Kellogg’s portfolio across all categories and cross functional partnerships within her customer base. Heather is a seasoned executive with a history of successfully leading consumer goods organizations to achieve significant growth and market presence. Heather joined Kellogg in February of 2022 and has over 25 years of experience in leadership positions in various sales and sales strategy roles. Prior to joining Kellogg’s, Heather spent 14 years at Campbell’s Soup Company where she led their Global Walmart & Sam’s, East Regional and National Grocery Teams.
Track 2: Power Tactics to Retain Talent and Drive Growth
See Agenda10:15 am - 11:45 am
Kat Ortiz
Kat Ortiz
Kat Ortiz, M.S. is an Industrial Organizational Psychologist, and Learning & Development Program Manager for the NextUp. She is a certified administrator and facilitator for the Center for Creative Leadership’s 360 assessment, EQi 2.0, EQi 360, and ADVanced Insights. She is passionate about the individuals who make up organizations. Kat uses psychological tools grounded in science to increase worker balance and well-being, reduce burnout, further efforts on equality, and generally help work be a rewarding experience. A proud “yinzer” (Pittsburgher), when not studying psychology, Kat enjoys kayaking in beautiful southwestern Pennsylvania, boxing, and spending time with her husband of 19 years and their 2 children.
Track 3: Building High-Performing Teams
See Agenda10:15 am - 11:45 am
Jen McCuen
Jen McCuen
Jen McCuen is the founder and Chief Future Proofer of FutureEdge Advisors, specializing in unlocking the future of work through learning. With a diverse background encompassing over 30 years in various industries and company sizes, including business and HR roles, she embarked on a new journey in early 2023, establishing her consulting firm. Jen’s extensive experience and broad business perspective in talent development allow her to assist organizations in prioritizing their most valuable asset – their people. Her proven track record in building and leading transformative teams over the last 15 years has enabled leaders and teams to achieve sustained high performance. She believes that high-performing teams are methodically built, not magically formed, and understanding this process is vital for thriving in a disruptive, complex, and uncertain environment. Based in Richmond, Virginia, Jen finds joy in cooking, playing board games, writing, engaging in witty banter, spotting real-life Seinfeld moments, indulging in occasional TV binges, spending time with her French bulldog Charlotte, and volunteering with a national poverty education program.
Track 3: Building High-Performing Teams
See Agenda10:15 am - 11:45 am
Kylee (Eblin) Fischer
Kylee (Eblin) Fischer
Kylee (Eblin) Fischer is currently an Executive Director at SC Johnson and Son, Inc., leading the NA Global Consumer Brands Supply Chain. In this role, she oversees various functions, including Supply Chain Strategy, Capabilities, Business Integration, Logistics/Warehousing, Planning, Manufacturing, Customer Supply Chain, and Procurement Operations. Prior to this position, Kylee served as the Global Consumer Brands Supply Chain leader, responsible for the global coordination of several supply chain functions within the Global Consumer Brands Business Unit. She also spent five years in Shanghai, China, working for SC Johnson, where she established the Registration and Regulatory function for Global Safety Assessment and Regulatory Affairs (GSARA) and the Asia product commercialization team. Upon her return to the US, Kylee built the current Global Product Commercialization Function for SC Johnson. With over 15 years of experience at SC Johnson, she has led multiple organizational re-designs and implementations across different regions, cultivating high-performing teams. Kylee holds a BS in Chemistry from Illinois Wesleyan University and a PhD in Pharmacology and Toxicology from the University of Arizona.
Track 3: Building High-Performing Teams
See Agenda10:15 am - 11:45 am
Neale Graham
Neale Graham
Neale Graham leads the commercial excellence team at premium spirits leader Beam Suntory, helping ensure the company’s iconic brands like Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark, Courvoisier, Yamazaki and Roku are showing up for consumers in the right place, at the right time, with the elevated quality and experience they expect from the company’s products. With more than 30 years of experience in CPG, including 25 years in beverage alcohol, Neale values the unique environment in spirits and the opportunities that exist to engage people in the stories behind the brands.
Neale has deep expertise in leading high-performing teams, previously serving as Beam Suntory’s Managing Director, Canada and Canadian Brands. During his tenure, Beam Suntory Canada was consistently recognized by Great Place to Work in Canada and as a Best Place to Work for Women, for Giving Back and for Retail & Hospitality. Neale is a champion for Beam Suntory’s inclusive culture and fostering diverse teams where people’s unique insights, experiences and backgrounds are truly valued and respected, in line with Beam Suntory’s core values.
Track 3: Building High-Performing Teams
See Agenda10:15 am - 11:45 am
Christine Armstrong
Christine Armstrong
Recently named one of the top 200 Women Wealth Advisors, as well as one of the Best-in-State Wealth Advisors, by Forbes for 2022 and preceding years, Christine Armstrong brings a wealth of experience and a distinctively global perspective to a career spanning more than 38 years in the investment, legal and financial industries.
For over 35 years, Christine has served as Executive Director, Financial Advisor, Senior Portfolio Management Director, and Family Wealth Advisor at Morgan Stanley. Prior to that, she previously held positions as a Public Defender, a labor representative for a major U.S. automaker and an income tax specialist working with expatriate Americans.
Track 4: Maximize Your Wealth
See Agenda10:15 am - 11:45 am
Danene Cronin
Danene Cronin
Danene Cronin, a Vice President and Financial Advisor, acts as the Chief Operating Officer of the Armstrong Group at Morgan Stanley. Drawing on 20 years of experience, Danene focuses on the top concerns of successful families including investment management, tax efficient investing and risk management. Armed with the prestigious designation of a Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA), a certification awarded by the The Investment & Wealth Institute, Danene enjoys getting to know her clients deeply and using the information she discovers to provide customized strategies for a comprehensive range of financial needs.
Track 4: Maximize Your Wealth
See Agenda10:15 am - 11:45 am
Luann Abrams
Luann Abrams
Luann Abrams is the founder of CEOX, an organization whose mission is to elevate women into CEO and board roles. She is a partner in The Abrams Group, advising, investing in, and supporting the people, companies and causes that will “leave it better.” Prior to starting CEOX, she ran Founders Pad, an early-stage venture fund with a dedicated mentorship program in Bend, OR. She was the inaugural member of the Women in STEAM group led by the Technology Association of Oregon (TAO), whose mission is to support and encourage women in male dominated industries for a gender balanced future. She is a founding board member of Strengthening Central Oregon Political Action Committee (SCOPAC) with the mission of recruiting and supporting under-represented groups to run for political office. Luann has a background in aerospace engineering and spent most of her 15 years in aviation working for a start-up aircraft company in Bend, OR. Here she led the certification engineering program at Columbia Aircraft where she oversaw the certification of several aircraft models and ensured that all designs met applicable regulations. Due to her diligence and integrity she was granted the authority to sign off on regulatory compliance on behalf of the FAA prior to aircraft delivery. When she is not working and living the Bend life with her husband and two sons, you will find her curled up with a good book and a hot cup of coffee.
Track 5: Think Bigger: Stepping Into the C-Suite
See Agenda10:15 am - 11:45 am